Dinner anyone

"Anytime, Honey." Cora replied with a smile and began to dig into her food more. Just in time to get Aria, Marina's grandmother enough time to open her mouth and say something. "So, any lucky boys coming your way this time? Your pool of options is running low." It was said in a matter of fact tone, that was making the blood in Rina start to boil.

"Maybe one day you and Felix will get back together. He's a nice boy." August said in agreement to his wife. Rina began to slowly slouch in her chair again. She wasn't just item they had to marry off. "Ooh yes! He was nice, wasn't he dear? What about Silas' older brother Linus?" Aria replied. In the moment, Rina just wanted to hide in shame. She also wanted to say something, but she bit her tongue.

"Maybe I don't want to date anyone right now. Maybe if I do date someone, it wont stay within your standards." She said trying her hardest to hold back the anger that wanted to seep out in her tone.

Silas almost choked on the idea of Marina dating his brother. That was a horrible match, even he knew that. He was silently happy that he wasn't brought into this conversation. "Th-that would h-honestly be like dating a sibling for th-them." Silas finally added, taking Rina's side on this.
"I beg to differ, they would be so cute together," Rebecca said smiling. Silas sighed his mom really needed to pick a side and stay on it. He stabbed at another piece of food, but didn't put it in his mouth just yet.

Rina was thankful for Silas' comment, but when she heard Rebecca's her blood began to boil again. Her fist was clenched under the table with her nails digging into the palm of her hand. The frustration was too much. Linus was not someone she could ever see dating. There was no way. She dated one Julius and that was enough. It'd be strange to date more people in the family. It just wasn't right. Marina wasn't interested in status or wealth.

"I have to respectfully decline your opinion." She said softly. The daughter of Vulcan was trying to grasp onto anything she could bring up to move the topic onto someone else. If only her sister were here she'd pawn the dating and marriage talks off on her. Caelia was older after all, but she lucked out with most boys in the high status families weren't her age. There was Cepheus, but it was clear they wanted him to be with Amara.

"I believe you guys should be playing match maker for Caelia and Natalia. They're both hitting their twenties now. Surely they need a suitable husband by now." Marina said to try and get her dating life out of the topics of conversation. Surely Rina didn't believe that you had to get married, but she knew it was an important thing to their families. It was either get married of somehow seduce a god like her mother did.

"Natalia has her eyes on someone I believe. Don't remember what she said his name was though..." Rebecca says, before giving a glance over to her youngest. "If Silas was a year older, him and Marina would be great for each other.
Silas sunk down in his chair, his mom was relentless over this stuff. "M-mom... No..." He says, dating anyone was not in his agenda for anytime soon. The only thing he wanted to have to worry about was getting through this dinner with his sanity intact. He glanced over at his father, who was smartly choosing not to say anything at all. Magnus was not a talkative person, and Silas was thankful for it.
"What? You two would just play checkers all day anyway..." Rebecca said, causing Silas to sink even more in his seat.

Cora's face lit up at the mention of Silas and Marina. "Oh yes! If he were a year older, he'd be perfect for Marina." She said agreeing with Rebecca. At that moment Rina slipped further into her chair. When his mom brought up how they would always play checkers she slouched even more. She felt the nudge from her mother and she got a look. She sat up more in her chair.

"Yes you guys play checkers all the time, it's adorable!" Cora said once again agreeing with Rebecca. Marina was making a silent prayer to her father right now. 'Please if you have any say on this, you'd make this torture stop.'It wasn't fair. In some aspects she rather trade places with Roy. Well, that was a bit extreme, maybe not trade places with Roy at this moment, but still.

"No one else will play checkers, that's why."

"Silas, sit up. You know better. Where are your manners tonight?" Rebecca said, looking over at Silas and watching as he pulled himself back up. "He doesn't know better, that's the problem." His grandfather added. Earning himself a glare from both his son and daughter-in-law.

"I-I'd play ch-checkers with a-anyone, but no one else e-ever wants too." Silas added, choosing to ignore his grandfather, who was for some reason, not being as subtle in his words as he usually was.

Marina just sat in silence for awhile picking at her food. She just wished they'd talk about their own lives. Their own accomplishments and leave her life out of it. Especially her dating life. She was in the middle of eating something when her grandfather spoke. "You know, I did like you and Felix together, Marina. I don't know what happened, but you both seem to be good friends still." Rina still stayed quiet for awhile. Her dating life was something she maybe talked to her mother about, but it wasn't something she spoke to her grandfather about. At least he was the easier one to talk to out of her grandparents.

"We were friends before grandfather, so we still remained friends afterwards." She said, but grabbing more of the green beans that were on the table.  

"Well you never know what will happen. I sure didn't expect to end up with your grandmother." He said with a small shrug. At that point he was getting a look from his wife, but as usual he ignored them. Marina didn't really like being compared to her grandparents the thought of it made her shudder.

Exactly, they never know what will happen, so why do they even bother trying to play matchmaker? Silas wondered, as he shoved a potato in his mouth. Of course Silas knew why they bothered, their parents and grandparents made it sound like they were just teasing, but everyone knew they meant it. They didn't want their kids to end up with someone they considered "lower status" than them.

"C-change of t-topic maybe?" He finally asked, even though he knew asking for that was just going to start something worse. "Why? Afraid we're going to find out about a secret girlfriend of yours?" His mother asked, teasing him. Silas didn't answer, just stuck a carrot in his mouth. Everyone knew he was doomed to be alone, no one wanted to date the kid who could see and talk to ghosts. People seemed to find it creepy.

Felix showed himself into the house, Cora had called him family, after all, before approaching the dining room, catching only the last bit of conversation. "Did someone say secret girlfriend?" Felix asked, masking his tone in a purposefully shrill and high tone, imitating the stereotype of a preppy girl. He'd been into the Prescott household a thousand times, whether it be for politics or for personal matters, though most of that was back when he'd dated Marina. He gave Silas a pat on the shoulder for assurance, as he circled the table. He'd figured his parents would be around by now. He told his dad he'd cover his spot in the House meeting, but figured, his dad was busy enough even without House duties covering his plate. They'd be here soon, he figured. He hoped, especially.

"Lay off of Silas, auntie, he who waits is sure to reap the benefits. And I'm not just saying that because I suspect you'll be waiting at least decade before I can give you any nieces or nephews." He teased. He didn't mind trying to get the spotlight off of Silas with such an embarrassing topic at play. Felix wasn't one to care about people poking around his love life, mostly because he didn't have one most days, or even a regular life. His life was the legion, and then politics. Turned out to be nothing like House of Cards.

"Sorry I'm late, today was a public relations nightmare." He said. First, the Centurion of Cohort Five decided to call it quits and run, and then there was a tri-unit of Shades who tried to attack the Fields of Mars. Not that Felix believed that; he'd been part of planning both events, but he'd practiced his explanations so many times, he almost believed both were real at this point. "Ms. Prescott, it's so good to see you again. Thank you for hosting dinner." He waved to her with his left hand, the tip of his thumb tucked between his middle and index finger, as a sign that the House meeting had concluded well. He took a seat next to Marina, giving her a smile.