Unaware that Esmeralda is talking to her son Benton; Amanda headed back downstairs to the kitchen after putting her clothing purchases away. In her fursona; a black furred were-panthress; she pours herself a cup of coffee. Placing the warm mug to her muzzle and sipping the hot brew, Amanda looks out the window to see her daughter having a snowball fight with her friends. Allowing herself a light chuckle as she sees Frieda enjoying herself; Amanda grabs an apple and absently munches on it as she watches the snowball fight. Seeing Spencer bean Eric good as Eric tags Frieda and then watching Eric and Frieda rush Spencer and tackle her into the snow. Amanda chuckles again as she refills her coffee and heads to the dining room.
With her coffee in paw; Amanda heads to the dinning room to see her father in-law Anton, brother in-law Lance and her future sister in-law Lila Carpenter. While Amanda was able to tolerate Anton and Lance to a degree; them being Knights and Benton’s blood kin; Amanda had a less than stellar introduction with Lila Carpenter yesterday. Making an offhand insult of Lila at least not being a were-mare; Amanda had to endure the undignified response from Lila doing an excellent whinnying sound as she walked past to help the Andersons transfer belongings from their car to her husband’s town car.
Staring at the were-tigress in front of her; Amanda could not help but utter a low growl, being forced to play hostess with a fellow were she feels is beneath her.
“Amanda,” Lance picking up on the growl; “you may have gotten off on a bad paw with Lila yesterday, but remember you started it.”
“And,” Lila staring back at Amanda; “I’m more than willing to finish it.”
“Are we going to have a genuine bona-fide cat fight,” Anton looking surprised.
“Not if I can help it dad,” Lance answering; “Amanda, Lila be civil towards each other.”
“Why should I,” Amanda staring at Lilia; “give me one good reason why?”
“Because I popped the question to Lance this morning,” Lila growling; “you frumpy old cow.”
“You two are engaged,” Anton looking shocked; “when were you going to tell me and mother?”
“I was planning on making it official,” Lance looking dour; “on Christmas day.”
“To cheap to get a ring,” Amanda snorts.
“That’s enough Amanda Vonhoffen,” Lance growling and looking ready to lunge at the black were-panthress; “I’m getting sick and tired of your snooty nature towards me and my family.”
“Lance,” Anton chiming in; “back down.”
“I will not,” Lance growling; “just because she came from a wealthy family, does not give her the right to lord over everyone who wasn’t born into the lap of luxury.”
“Old money has its advantages,” Amanda smirking as she makes a subtle hint that she knows some of the Knight’s past that her husband told her during lunch at Grrrrrrr.
“Well it looks like,” Lance shouting back; “that your parents skipped out on sending you charm school. Because you could use some!”
“ENOUGH,” Anton shouting; “both of you stop your bickering right this instant! Don’t make me,” Anton snarling; “call for Esmeralda, because I will if I have to and you do not want to feel her wrath!”
Lance stares at Amanda before reluctantly sitting back down; still glaring at his sister in-law but now not growling at her. Knowing how swift Esmeralda can be with dishing out punishment; Lance reluctantly back off.
Amanda still spoiling for a fight, but being denied one; she just gets up in a huff and storms out of the dining room. Seeing Esmeralda leave Benton’s study she marches straight towards her and utters; “your husband and son are insufferable.”
“To you maybe,” Esmeralda answers; hearing the entire argument as she finished talking to her son Benton; “but you do bring it on yourself by trying to act all superior to everyone around you. And before you try and come with a snappy comeback that gives you a measure of satisfaction,” Esmeralda staring the were-panthress down; “Don’t, I’ve heard it all and will not listen to any of it. So suck it up woman.”
Esmeralda walks off before Amanda could comment; still angry and being denied a fight for a second time she marches into Benton’s study to see her Husband at his desk on his computer.
“You just going to hid in here while YOUR family turns our house upside down,” Amanda snapping at him.
“I do have work to do,” Benton answering; “and explain to me how my father and brother having a chat in the dining room with Lance’s girlfriend counts as turning the house upside down?”
“And what of you mother,” Amanda shouting; “do you have any idea what she might be doing?”
“Most likely,” Benton answering while staring at his computer; “making fresh biscuits to go with the stew. If you want,” Benton answering; “you can help, it will be great experience in learning how to use the oven. We can’t expect our daughter to teach us how to use the kitchen appliances and cook a meal or two.”
“I’d rather hold silver,” Amanda grousing; “then have your mother show me up on common work. Besides,” Amanda glaring at her husband; “you can’t make toast.”
“And you can’t figure out how to use a microwave,” Benton rebutting; “I at least was able to figure that device out by reheating my coffee.”
“Well bully for you,” Amanda huffs; “now I know who to call on when I want popcorn. Dammit Benton,” Amanda shouting; “are you going to pay attention to me?”
“Look Amanda,” Benton getting up; his ten foot frame while in his were-panther fursona towering over her. “It’s clear you want to fight, but I’m not going too baited into one. So find another outlet for your anger, and it better not be our daughter or her friends.”
“I wasn’t planning on attacking Frieda,” Amanda having to look up to stare into Benton’s amber eyes; “her playing outside-“
“Yeah,” Benton chuckling; “that snowball fight of theirs does look inviting. I checked up on them earlier. Amanda,” Benton escorting her out of his study; “watch some television or read a book, but for the sake of Frieda and my sanity, please be civil with my parents.”
“You never mention Lance or Lila,” Amanda grinning; “Can I be rude to them?”
“Tread carefully there Amanda,” Benton speaking; “Lance might put up with you for my sake, But Lila just might be willing to make you eat your words.”
Amanda still feeling sore, and wanting to tear a new hole in someone just walks off as her husband closes his study door to head back to work. Entering the living room, Amanda looks at the video game console that Spencer brought over the other day.
“If Benton can figure out how to work the controller,” she comments; “then I should be able to as well.”
Turning on the tv and the console; Amanda boots up the game disk already inside and begins playing the latest Mortal Kombat game for the first time.