Phoebe's World XXV
Previously: Phoebe mourned Aahana's death but soon reconnected with her ghost. Meanwhile, the death train unfortunately kept rolling, claiming Jane as its next victim and leaving her young son, Jerome, in the care of the Srivastavas.
In case you wondered how Phoebe is continuing to cope after the death of her beloved, she is coping by resuming a steamy romantic relationship with her dead spouse like nothing ever happened. Hey, whatever makes her happy! She doesn't have much time left herself, so I can hardly judge her for seeking out pleasure where she can find it.
Did I say steamy? Because it's very steamy.
Aahana was definitely satisfied with that lightning round of closet woohoo; she's positively dancing inside her urn.
She busies herself in the daylight hours when Aahana's not around by helping her newly adopted care dependent, Jerome, with his homework while mixing strong cocktails for herself. Sounds totally responsible to me!
And just like that, Jerome is already a teen! He's actually pretty cute, and he loves the household's cats almost as much as Aisha does. Poor King is feeling under the weather, so Jerome volunteers to take him to the vet.
I never paid much attention to the hedge sculptures in front of the veterinarian's office before, but they're so quaint and charming!
Jerome looks so proud of himself for taking King's wellbeing into his own hands.
He's diagnosed and cured in no time, all thanks to a hilariously oversized magnifying glass.
Phoebe, Jerome, and Aisha decided to pay Elliot and Madeline a visit in their new home now that they're all settled down.
What could possibly be so shocking about a perfectly normal bathroom, Phoebe?
Aisha: Geez, Mom, what's the big deal? Like I'm not going to take advantage of a beautiful clawfoot tub when I see one.
Elliot: All right, everyone! Gather round to see the wonders of my DNA in action!
Madeline: Ignore him. He's been like this ever since we brought her home. How are you?!?
Elliot: I have to say, even I was utterly shocked by how flawlessly my perfect genes translated themselves in my beautiful firstborn child!
Aisha: Shut the fuck up about your perfect genes already! Until you're the one experiencing the excruciating pain of pregnancy and labor, I don't want to hear another word about it!
Madeline: Amen, sister, amen!
In other news, Jerome is feeling a little self-conscious about his string-bean body and has taken it upon himself to bulk up.
Doctor: Hey, I recognize you guys! Nice to see you're both working off the baby weight so soon after delivery!
Elliot: Dude, you almost killed my wife. Cool it with the pleasantries.
Madeline: Yeah, fuck you, you idiot hack!
Well, that didn't last very long. It appears Jerome has already abandoned the pursuit of fitness for the temptation of a juicy, calorie-laden burger.
Also, it's apparently very slippery outside. Elliot fell flat on his ass, and Madeline is nearly freezing hers off. I guess that makes sense, though, since it is the middle of winter, which can only mean one thing: Winterfest is right around the corner.
I mention this because Phoebe is planning a big family get-together for the holidays, and everyone's pitching in to make sure the culinary spread is divine. Elliot's on ice cream duty, though I think he might be doing more tasting than making.
Aisha's on all of the other desserts. Despite her messiness, she's actually a really great baker.
Aisha: Mom, those are supposed to be for tomorrow!
Phoebe: Well, someone's got to do a taste test. By the way, these fruit tarts are amazing. What's next on the menu?
Finally, on the morning of, Phoebe arrives at their rented venue early to prepare the Christmas roast.
Lady, those presents are not for you! Get out of here! This place is supposed to be reserved!
Ah, yes, look at that beautiful table of Christmas goodies ready to be gobbled! Full disclosure: I actually meant for this to be an even bigger party, with the extended family and all, but then I realized I couldn't officially host an event on this particular lot and everyone had to be invited over individually, so it ended up being a slightly smaller affair.
Aisha: Mmm, these lemon bars are divine! The most talented baker on earth strikes again!
Elliot: Yeah, well, wait until my ice cream hits your taste buds. We'll see whose dessert is better then.
While Nadia (now a toddler - my, how time flies!) adorably enjoys her lemon bar, the hired help is having an existential breakdown because Aisha, aka the former object of his failed affection, is on the premises.
Moses: It's okay. You've got this, buddy. You've got this! Now get over there and tend some bar, damn it!
Moses: Oh my God, she's right there. Why does she have to be so sexy? Lord, give me the strength to make it through this night...
Aisha: A round of your finest white wine for everyone, unknown bartender who I have definitely never interacted with or even seen before!
Ever since becoming a father, Elliot's been taking it easy on the alcohol, and he's become a total lightweight as a result. Two sips of wine in, and he's already got a killer buzz.
Oh God, Madeline's getting tipsy, too, and Nadia is on the run! Who knows what kind of trouble she's about to get up to behind her oblivious parents' backs.
She headed straight for the toilet. I should have known. That precious little party dress did absolutely nothing to deserve this horrible treatment!
Look how proud of herself she is! It's hard to stay mad at that delightfully pudgy face for too long.
Here comes Father Winter, hopefully with a bag full of toys to distract Nadia from further toilet shenanigans.
Yes, give us all the presents, kind sir!
We even have Christmas crackers! No expenses were spared for this holiday blowout.
That is... oddly underwhelming. Who is responsible for these horrible dad jokes?!?
I don't have a lot of great captions for these because they're literally just pictures of presents being opened ad nauseum. I just love the cozy holiday atmosphere of it all!
Whatever's in that box, I hope there were no more lame jokes attached.
Oh, no, look at that little face peering out from behind the pile of boxes. Someone has had enough of patiently waiting her turn. Toddler tantrum in three, two...
ONE!
Apparently, the conspicuously huge stuffed bunny wasn't enough for everybody's favorite little princess. Elliot and Madeline are both way too drunk to deal with this, so they're just going to ride it out and see what happens.
It's finally ice cream time! Again, I don't have any witty captions. I just love the sense of familial camaraderie and love on display.
Unsurprisingly, once Nadia gets a little sugar in her system, she forgets all about her disappointment that not every gift under the tree was for her.
You know what? Let's linger a moment longer on the wholesomeness of this event. By now, you probably realize that I went to the trouble of arranging it for a very specific reason. I'm afraid that reason is arriving now, quite abruptly and without ceremony. Are you sure you're ready? I recommend taking a deep breath or two first...
Yes, it's true. Phoebe Srivastava (née Benali-Chen) is finally bidding farewell to this world. Honestly, as sad as it is, she lasted a much longer time than any of her peers and lived life to its fullest until the very end. Plus, she's clearly ready to go. You know that finger is pointing directly at Aahana's urn atop the bedroom dresser, as they'll soon be together forever in the afterlife.
It's just a little rest, nothing more, nothing less. She lived well, and her children are ready to carry her legacy forward.
That is, once they realize what's going on...
Elliot: Babe, does it seem a little weird to you that we've been here for, like, thirty minutes and Mom still has yet to greet us? What could she possibly be up to?!?
Oh God, this is too much. Of course she had to die right in front of the only painting Aahana ever made and her children's paintings immortalizing Aahana's death. Why must fate be so cruel?!?
Once the reality of his mother's death hits him, Elliot copes the only way he knows how: through art. This time around, his grief-inspired painting has a much more hopeful quality, which makes me believe he'll be all right after all.
Aisha, on the other hand, needs a stiff drink to help her cope, but she's got a much more momentous task to undertake before she can truly say goodbye...
Once she's got her wits about her, she returns to the hidden world Aahana shared with them shortly before her death.
Aisha: Yes, this looks like the perfect spot.
Aisha: Do you see those stars, Moms? They'll shine down on you forever now. You'll never want for a beautiful view again.
Are you crying? Because I'm definitely crying. With that, needless to say, we close the door on Phoebe's World, but the worlds within her orbit continue to revolve and will hopefully make her proud in whatever the adult chapters of their lives hold. Sleep well, Phoebe. Sleep well.
(Besides, we all know how this game works, don't we? Somehow, I doubt this is the last we'll ever see of her...)
In case you wondered how Phoebe is continuing to cope after the death of her beloved, she is coping by resuming a steamy romantic relationship with her dead spouse like nothing ever happened. Hey, whatever makes her happy! She doesn't have much time left herself, so I can hardly judge her for seeking out pleasure where she can find it.
Did I say steamy? Because it's very steamy.
Aahana was definitely satisfied with that lightning round of closet woohoo; she's positively dancing inside her urn.
She busies herself in the daylight hours when Aahana's not around by helping her newly adopted care dependent, Jerome, with his homework while mixing strong cocktails for herself. Sounds totally responsible to me!
And just like that, Jerome is already a teen! He's actually pretty cute, and he loves the household's cats almost as much as Aisha does. Poor King is feeling under the weather, so Jerome volunteers to take him to the vet.
I never paid much attention to the hedge sculptures in front of the veterinarian's office before, but they're so quaint and charming!
Jerome looks so proud of himself for taking King's wellbeing into his own hands.
He's diagnosed and cured in no time, all thanks to a hilariously oversized magnifying glass.
Phoebe, Jerome, and Aisha decided to pay Elliot and Madeline a visit in their new home now that they're all settled down.
What could possibly be so shocking about a perfectly normal bathroom, Phoebe?
Aisha: Geez, Mom, what's the big deal? Like I'm not going to take advantage of a beautiful clawfoot tub when I see one.
Elliot: All right, everyone! Gather round to see the wonders of my DNA in action!
Madeline: Ignore him. He's been like this ever since we brought her home. How are you?!?
Elliot: I have to say, even I was utterly shocked by how flawlessly my perfect genes translated themselves in my beautiful firstborn child!
Aisha: Shut the fuck up about your perfect genes already! Until you're the one experiencing the excruciating pain of pregnancy and labor, I don't want to hear another word about it!
Madeline: Amen, sister, amen!
In other news, Jerome is feeling a little self-conscious about his string-bean body and has taken it upon himself to bulk up.
Doctor: Hey, I recognize you guys! Nice to see you're both working off the baby weight so soon after delivery!
Elliot: Dude, you almost killed my wife. Cool it with the pleasantries.
Madeline: Yeah, fuck you, you idiot hack!
Well, that didn't last very long. It appears Jerome has already abandoned the pursuit of fitness for the temptation of a juicy, calorie-laden burger.
Also, it's apparently very slippery outside. Elliot fell flat on his ass, and Madeline is nearly freezing hers off. I guess that makes sense, though, since it is the middle of winter, which can only mean one thing: Winterfest is right around the corner.
I mention this because Phoebe is planning a big family get-together for the holidays, and everyone's pitching in to make sure the culinary spread is divine. Elliot's on ice cream duty, though I think he might be doing more tasting than making.
Aisha's on all of the other desserts. Despite her messiness, she's actually a really great baker.
Aisha: Mom, those are supposed to be for tomorrow!
Phoebe: Well, someone's got to do a taste test. By the way, these fruit tarts are amazing. What's next on the menu?
Finally, on the morning of, Phoebe arrives at their rented venue early to prepare the Christmas roast.
Lady, those presents are not for you! Get out of here! This place is supposed to be reserved!
Ah, yes, look at that beautiful table of Christmas goodies ready to be gobbled! Full disclosure: I actually meant for this to be an even bigger party, with the extended family and all, but then I realized I couldn't officially host an event on this particular lot and everyone had to be invited over individually, so it ended up being a slightly smaller affair.
Aisha: Mmm, these lemon bars are divine! The most talented baker on earth strikes again!
Elliot: Yeah, well, wait until my ice cream hits your taste buds. We'll see whose dessert is better then.
While Nadia (now a toddler - my, how time flies!) adorably enjoys her lemon bar, the hired help is having an existential breakdown because Aisha, aka the former object of his failed affection, is on the premises.
Moses: It's okay. You've got this, buddy. You've got this! Now get over there and tend some bar, damn it!
Moses: Oh my God, she's right there. Why does she have to be so sexy? Lord, give me the strength to make it through this night...
Aisha: A round of your finest white wine for everyone, unknown bartender who I have definitely never interacted with or even seen before!
Ever since becoming a father, Elliot's been taking it easy on the alcohol, and he's become a total lightweight as a result. Two sips of wine in, and he's already got a killer buzz.
Oh God, Madeline's getting tipsy, too, and Nadia is on the run! Who knows what kind of trouble she's about to get up to behind her oblivious parents' backs.
She headed straight for the toilet. I should have known. That precious little party dress did absolutely nothing to deserve this horrible treatment!
Look how proud of herself she is! It's hard to stay mad at that delightfully pudgy face for too long.
Here comes Father Winter, hopefully with a bag full of toys to distract Nadia from further toilet shenanigans.
Yes, give us all the presents, kind sir!
We even have Christmas crackers! No expenses were spared for this holiday blowout.
That is... oddly underwhelming. Who is responsible for these horrible dad jokes?!?
I don't have a lot of great captions for these because they're literally just pictures of presents being opened ad nauseum. I just love the cozy holiday atmosphere of it all!
Whatever's in that box, I hope there were no more lame jokes attached.
Oh, no, look at that little face peering out from behind the pile of boxes. Someone has had enough of patiently waiting her turn. Toddler tantrum in three, two...
ONE!
Apparently, the conspicuously huge stuffed bunny wasn't enough for everybody's favorite little princess. Elliot and Madeline are both way too drunk to deal with this, so they're just going to ride it out and see what happens.
It's finally ice cream time! Again, I don't have any witty captions. I just love the sense of familial camaraderie and love on display.
Unsurprisingly, once Nadia gets a little sugar in her system, she forgets all about her disappointment that not every gift under the tree was for her.
You know what? Let's linger a moment longer on the wholesomeness of this event. By now, you probably realize that I went to the trouble of arranging it for a very specific reason. I'm afraid that reason is arriving now, quite abruptly and without ceremony. Are you sure you're ready? I recommend taking a deep breath or two first...
Yes, it's true. Phoebe Srivastava (née Benali-Chen) is finally bidding farewell to this world. Honestly, as sad as it is, she lasted a much longer time than any of her peers and lived life to its fullest until the very end. Plus, she's clearly ready to go. You know that finger is pointing directly at Aahana's urn atop the bedroom dresser, as they'll soon be together forever in the afterlife.
It's just a little rest, nothing more, nothing less. She lived well, and her children are ready to carry her legacy forward.
That is, once they realize what's going on...
Elliot: Babe, does it seem a little weird to you that we've been here for, like, thirty minutes and Mom still has yet to greet us? What could she possibly be up to?!?
Oh God, this is too much. Of course she had to die right in front of the only painting Aahana ever made and her children's paintings immortalizing Aahana's death. Why must fate be so cruel?!?
Once the reality of his mother's death hits him, Elliot copes the only way he knows how: through art. This time around, his grief-inspired painting has a much more hopeful quality, which makes me believe he'll be all right after all.
Aisha, on the other hand, needs a stiff drink to help her cope, but she's got a much more momentous task to undertake before she can truly say goodbye...
Once she's got her wits about her, she returns to the hidden world Aahana shared with them shortly before her death.
Aisha: Yes, this looks like the perfect spot.
Aisha: Do you see those stars, Moms? They'll shine down on you forever now. You'll never want for a beautiful view again.
Are you crying? Because I'm definitely crying. With that, needless to say, we close the door on Phoebe's World, but the worlds within her orbit continue to revolve and will hopefully make her proud in whatever the adult chapters of their lives hold. Sleep well, Phoebe. Sleep well.
(Besides, we all know how this game works, don't we? Somehow, I doubt this is the last we'll ever see of her...)