"I don't believe it," said Aster. "I refuse to believe it."
"You continue to refuse to believe it, you mean," said Kira, sharply. "You're in denial Aster. It's understandable."
"I am not in denial!" shouted Aster. "And I am so sick of you acting like a condescending dictator! You can stay here in Antarctica and freeze to death! I'm finding a way back to my life in LA, no matter what!"
She shook her head and stormed out of the command center. Jove stayed seated, still reeling and numb. He at least believed in the scope of the unfolding disaster now, even if the details were thin on the surface. He pictured his apartment back home and found himself questioning how much he'd really care if it was destroyed along with everything in it, atomized by a nuclear bomb.
Well, at least now I won't have to ask Mom for rent money, he thought.
"To be honest, this is a bit of a bummer," said Eve. "I suppose I'll at least have the chance to die doing what I love. The skiing here really is awesome once you figure out how to endure the cold."
She also left the command center, though with far more poise than Aster had managed. Jove looked at his mother. She was holding Ryan's phone in her hand and staring at the screen, only distractedly turning to meet his gaze.
"Are you alright, Mom?" he asked.
"Fine," she said. "I'm just… I'm fine. Thank you for bringing Eve back. That's twice in one day."
"The longest day of my life," he muttered. "I'm about to eat and pass out."
"Fuck!" Kira stood up abruptly. "The stew!"
They both hurried to the kitchen to check on it only to be greeted by a delicious and promising scent. Kira stirred it with a ladle before bringing up a small taste with a spoon.
"Here," she said, holding it out.
Jove opened his mouth and smiled as she fed him like she might have when he was a toddler.
"It's hot," he said, talking around a scalding chunk of potato. "But tasty."
"I'm glad," said Kira. "We'll have to figure out the food situation moving forward. Probably best if we have one large meal before shifting into rationing, if only for morale's sake."
He let Eve and Aster know that the food was ready, and the family gathered together at one of the cafeteria tables.
Jove ate in silence, savoring the hearty meal despite the grim circumstances. Stew was a particularly welcome comfort, warming him from the inside out. He glanced around the table at his family, all of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts.
Aster pushed her food around with her spoon, her brow furrowed. Every so often, she'd take a small bite, chewing slowly. Eve ate with gusto, smiling faintly as though she was simply digging in to supper at a ski lodge. Kira remained stoic, methodically working through her portion, mind seeming to be elsewhere.
Jove was surprised by his own hunger. The events of the day had left him famished and his body craved each and every bit of sustenance. He wondered if this was how it would be from now on, a constant battle for food and warmth and even just a basic sense of safety.
His thoughts wandered to the creature comforts he'd taken for granted in the same vein. Online gaming sessions with his friends, the thrill of exploring new worlds and conquering challenges from the comfort of his couch. Dinner dates at trendy restaurants, the nervous excitement of getting to know someone new. Concerts, losing himself in the pulsing energy of the crowd, the bass thrumming through his bones.
He even found himself romanticizing the soul-crushing tedium of working a job he hated, enduring odd hours and irritating bosses. There were so many aspects of his old life that had seemed impossibly unfair. Now, he had the distinct impression that he would be facing a future with challenges that made his old issues pale in comparison.
"How is it?" asked Kira.
"It's great," said Jove.
"I didn't add too much salt, did I?"
"Not too much salt. Perfect amount."
His mother let out a long sigh. "I think I'm going to… lie down for a while."
"Are you going to bed?" asked Eve.
"No, not quite yet," she said.
She stood up and left the cafeteria. Jove was a little worried about her, but his concern was hardly confined to just one family member. He glanced at his aunt, who leaned her head on her hand and gave him an odd smile.
"Do I have something on my face, darling?" she asked. "Other than my sister's handprint, that is."
"No, you don't," said Jove. "Still sting?"
"Not at all."
Aster's words held a level of smoldering, suppressed bitterness that Jove had only ever seen from her before on TV. Of course, Rose of Redding had the option of simply unloading a pistol magazine into her problems when they became too large for her to handle.
"I think I'll also retire to my room, or perhaps the common area," said Aster. "Come find me after."
She touched his shoulder as she passed by him, her soft fingers briefly teasing bare skin just above the hem of his shirt's neckline. Jove felt a sudden stirring of conflicted emotions and cravings that would only lead to frustration, trapped with his family as he was.
"You good, little brother?" asked Eve.
"Fine," he said.
"Are you sure?"
"Fucking hell, Eve. I'm fine. Quit asking."
"Relax, Jovian." Eve leaned back in her chair, looking oddly satisfied with herself. "I'm just making sure. I needed verification that at least one other Faremont is capable of handling the stress."
"What?" He shook his head, annoyed by her, as usual. "Mom is fine, just tired, like she said. Aunt Aster will probably hold a grudge over the slap and be moody for a while, but eventually she'll be fine."
Eve let out a dark laugh. "Never mind. It would seem like you're in denial too, just closer to home."
"Do you have to be such a bitch all the time?"
"Oh, sorry. I forgot I need to sugarcoat my words for my baby brother or he'll throw a little fit."
"Fuck off," snapped Jove. "You aren't making things any better by obsessing over skiing and acting so high and mighty, Eve."
"Neither are you by sucking up to Mom and letting Aunt Aster treat you like her plaything."
They glared at each other until it became pointless. Jove stormed out of the cafeteria one way, Eve the other.