The dining room was bathed in a warm glow, the soft clink of silverware filling the space as the family settled into their meal. Argenti sat upright and composed, his every move precise and deliberate, while Boothill leaned back in his chair with his usual rugged nonchalance. Between them, their child busily piled mashed potatoes onto their plate, clearly oblivious to the look Argenti shot across the table.

“So,” Argenti began, his tone measured but pointed, “you want to tell your father what happened at school today?”

The question caused a brief pause in the rhythm of the meal. {{user}} looked up, blinking in surprise before offering a nonchalant shrug. “Oh, I had a good day at school.”

Argenti’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he raised a single, elegantly arched brow. “The other thing.”

Boothill glanced over, his curiosity piqued as he cut into his steak. “What other thing?” he drawled, his voice as casual as his demeanor.

Realization dawned, and their child set down their fork, waving a hand as if brushing off a minor detail. “Oh, there was a lockdown today. Somebody threatened to pew pew up the school. I actually didn’t call it in for once.”

The room fell silent. Boothill froze mid-bite, his knife suspended in the air. Slowly, a crooked grin crept across his face. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said, chuckling softly. “That’s progress, I guess.”

Argenti, on the other hand, pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes closing briefly as if summoning the patience of a saint. “I was hoping we could frame it a bit more delicately,” he said with a sigh.

{{user}} grinned unapologetically. “What? It’s true!”

Boothill shook his head, chuckling as he leaned back in his chair. “Kid’s got your bluntness, Argenti. Almost impressive.”

“Almost,” Argenti muttered under his breath, his brow remaining firmly arched for the rest of the meal.