Kip smiled a bit as Darren was quick to the rebuttal – he always was. That was how it was with them, though. Kip had him bested on experience, but he had the gnawing suspicion that Darren was more stubborn and a bit more proud. He never went down without a fight. And Kip rarely did, true, but his fighting looked a lot like innocent learning. He was skilled in the art of getting someone to argue against themselves with simple questions and then posing the opposite truths they had insisted on so as to prove his own point. This often worked with Remy and Rory as well – it was only Yuri who seemed immune to it, mostly because he was even better at it then Kip was. Then again, that was how it was with most things for Yuri.
“To you, no,” Kip conceded. “But the happiness of the child that is half you and half the love of your life?” Not that either man would understand for, as far as Kip was aware, neither had been in love. If Kip did not believe in the psychology of the human condition to seek love as a means of survival (people lived longer if they loved) he would doubt his abilities to even enter into such a weakened emotional state. However, the odds of evolution were against him, so he was not completely adverse. Darren, however, was the more stubborn, the more proud, the fighter. It might take him longer but his fall was certain to be harder and much more jarring.
How Kip would enjoy taunting him when it came to that finally.
Kip scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Don’t bore me, Darren. If you really prescribe to the archaic ideal of the family unit I will personally write to your school and request you be put into remedial classes. It’s an anachronism. It may make things easier, but it is no longer the only mode of child rearing. If you recall, some children from unconventional family units turn into respectable, intelligent, and perfectly handsome adults.” He smiled and indicated himself. “And not a seed on unhappiness from my mother in regards to my father. She claimed we were much better without him, and not for reasons of contempt or bitterness, mind you. You’ve met my mother, haven’t you? I’m an objective man, so I’m not going to say she’s the best mother there ever was. But the only mothers to best her were Goose and Teresa.”
The couple had looked at them, before moving on. Still, they chanced another glance and Kip waved, smiling warmly. He raised a hand to his mouth and cupped his lips, calling to them, “I’m on your side. Rooting for you. Congratulations!” They gave each other looks of confusion and concern and quickly ducked into another aisle distancing themselves from the strange men regarding them like scientists noting changes in the behavior of mice. Good fight or flight instincts. Who was to say their parental instincts would not be as quick, as up to par? He had said it mostly to be cheeky to Darren, but he found that his sincere interest in the well-being of his fellow species really meant it.
Kip smiled. “That may be in order one day. I could plant the seed that I’m a metamorphogus, with complete control over my vocal chords. She’s a skeptic so she wouldn’t want to believe it, but you’d be just as persistent as me. Ooh, Cherie, baby, you have a surprise coming.” He grinned. “We’d better duck out now before she sees you, or the plan is shot. We’ll spy from the window, though, see if her expression reveals any true affection for me.” He grinned.