#scarsdale

"...Aye..." Wary. Arms still folded.

"Then, you know I would not 'conspire' with ill intent"

"not against you" her arms folded, he cannot take her hand, but he does know how to put a hand on her shoulder in a way that shows openess.

"But?"

"But?" He repeats "I'm not sure there's a but here. What we have planned we weren't going to throw you into it so much as do a quick steeping. Look, if it all goes wrong, you get to say I told you so for a year at least"

"If what goes wrong?"

"The thing we're conspiring about, of course." Earl says

Hirim is dramatically collapsing in the couch while Ratchet threatens to pound on his chest as Hannah goes to make tea and Aaron opens his book....

Earl glances over at this display on the couch, and mutters "He is faking right?" it's the dedication to the endeavor that impresses/ worries him

Hirim is panting theatrically.

"He is."

"Wait until he calls for his Bubbe."

"he's got a script for this?" Brows shoot up

"Oh yes. So - what is being planned?"

"I do not wish a surprise birthday, aye? I do not like loud parties. I do not want a whole... affair..."

"A brivele..... her.... Mammen....." Hirim croons weakly.

She rolls her eyes.

"Well do write it then, Onkle."

"Zara, it's not a birthday party. I promise"

"And oddly, it's not just going to be about you." He assures, "Though you're the inspiration"

She frowns. "What, then?"

"It will spoil the surprise, is that what you want?" He asks Zara

A stubborn look, chin jutting out. But.. hesitation.

"Because if you want to spoil it, I can tell you," His turn to cross his arms "But you know darn well I never intentionally make you upset." A pause "Beanbag a possible exception"

"Feh. It can STAY in YOUR room."

"It's my Hawkeeyes decoration, and has METS on it... you said I could have my hawkeye decoration in the living area."

To the grumps in the room it might seem like a channel has been switched

"The Mets...." weakly.

"No no, Uncle Hirim. No more Mets for you, you are dying."

"Maybe you can get his spare tickets," earl says

"I also said I did not wish the beanbag in the shared space."

"Yes, but by the very definition of the word 'shared' clearly ..." He says "one vote alone does not a final choice make"

She folds her arms again. "And you could veto something, too!"

"But a beanbag is not furniture. It is not a proper chair!"

"Too bad the furniture expert is dying, or we could ask him," He jerks a thumb towards hirim

Ratchet has exaspiratedly folded Hirim's arms over his chest and declined to give him rescue breathing. Hirim is wheezing and panting, but he opens his eyes at that. "What?"

"It's okay, Hirim, nothing you should waste your last breaths on"

Zara harrumphs.

Hannah reappears with a tea tray.

"And wikpedia says it's a chair so..." He turns to see the tea, "Smells wonderful, Mrs Hannah. It should perk Hirim right up"

"Wikipedia is bupkis."

"A -chair-!?!?!" Outrage.

"Yeah, Beanbag chairs... aka 'the shapeless chair' I think it's Italian" he says to Hirim

"Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini and Franco Teodoro, I think" he tries to recall, "now those were revolutionary designers"

And Zara, and zara alone might notice that Earl is fighitng a bit of a smile.

"I care not."

"Well, an Italian one maybe. -If- you could find something decent!! Leather, and not filled with, thank you Hannah, drek."

Hirim speak passionately. "Furniture that takes shape as dictated by the user is pretty advanced stuff if it's good quality"

"Hirim, it is this." Oh, she has a photo on her phone...

"uh oh" earl says as he didn't expect Zara to break out exhibit A on her phone.