Who: Fever, Helena, and those threading with them What:January non-event things. When: All month. Where: Across the isle. Warning(s): To be noted in threads individually
Yeah. Darcy can always read him just as well as he reads them, is the thing, and that joke was just dangling an obvious plea in front of them. Of course they knew what question they were answering. He didn't want to just ask, because announcing an engagement is not the place to whine about how much you're worried about losing your kid. God forbid, if he's the cause of any doubt or worry, just take him out back. Look, he just... Darcy feels more and more like they're going to strike out on their own, and Phil can't get in the way of that. Even if he's not sure he could bear the distance. A few precious years and a lifetime of loneliness. You break your own heart on purpose.
But they don't want to go, either.
It's a feeling like the way one's stomach can go cold while the rest of you is warm. Guilt for having brought it up, chilly and bitter, but mostly just relief. The breeze that follows him unstiffens, like a breath let go.
Quietly, "Me neither. Uh--good to hear you're staying in the neighborhood, ehn?"
"I don't think I'd voluntarily choose to resettle my life for a fourth time, anyway."
Given that every time before was involuntary, moved by the hands of beings far more powerful than her. And no matter how near they are to Phil, she can imagine that Darcy will be over to see her mom every day, or vice versa.
"...if it helps anything as well, Darcy did have the chance to meet my father. I can only regret I didn't ask you to come meet him when circumstances permitted."
But she had been in the Visitor's Center as long as she could, pouring as many hours into her reunion as she was allowed. How does one concentrate years into days? It had been almost unbearable stepping back to allow Darcy to even have dinner on their own with the man. Still, the proof of his existence is in the glasses she wears, meaningful for their presence alone.
If anything, it's the perfect time to ask. Darcy and Helena are making plans for the rest of their lives; it makes sense that Phil would want to check that he's still along for the ride.
Darcy adds-
"He was nice. Super protestant, but nice."
Kind of terrifying, but he was nice and so they won't speak ill of him.
"I think you would have gotten along. He was fine with like," just kind of gestures between them and Helena, "everything."
"You make it sound like you guys make it hard for yourselves. I mean, yeah, I know, extraordinary circumstances and personal biases and all--" among other things, "--but you guys, like... you guys are good, you know? You're both good, strong people, with a lot of reasons to be proud of yourselves. You match well."
He takes a moment to stuff some more food down just to ease his nerves. He knew being a parent was stressful, but Christ.
"It would've been nice to meet him. I'd like to meet the man who raised the person my kid chose to marry.But mostly I'm glad you got to see him again, and you got to meet hiim... that was the Visitor's Center from a while back, right?"
Happiness at such praise, such approval - oh, it's as sweet as birdsong in the late morning, for how her heart leaps and bounds. And yet, there will always be that ache, a scar that will forever remain. Somehow, she wants to say, they'll manage to mend this gap. But maybe not. And she will have to bear it, as she's borne many other things.
Still, Helena knows, they had some time. Bitter comes, but the sweet is still there.
"Yes. I can hardly believe how time has passed since then - but I'll forever be grateful that it occurred." A little more formal than she meant it to sound, but she doesn't want to drag down the mood here. She can let her own private impossible dreams come later. "And...sorry if we seemed on the verge of announcing a crisis. We really haven't told anyone yet but you. This is all so new."
Darcy ducks their head a little at the praise. It's always impossible to bear just how much pride Phil seems to have in them, how complete his love for them is. Overwhelming as stepping into a grand old cathedral, and knowing that its spires climb higher than can be seen from the inside.
They stretch a hand across the table and give two small taps for Helena to find their hand with. It's not hard to read how touched Helena is by it, and this... it wasn't on their mind when they proposed. But it's something that is clear to their mind now, in this room, having Phil be so pleased for them. It's about folding Helena into their family, the same people who give them warmth and safety, offering that to her too. Helena will probably always miss her dad as long as they're separated, but she has Phil now just as she has Darcy. Their home is her home.
"Thanks, mum," they offer quietly, before adding onto Helena's comment-
"And we're going to keep it quiet, too. Just for now. But. It's important you know."
He chuckles. "Yeah, of course. Well, I appreciate you guys telling me." Toothlessly but teasing: "Finally."
Idly stabbing the stew, "Helena, do you have a key to the house yet? We can arrange that if you don't."
Even if they aren't moving anywhere, if there's an engagement afoot, this is the least they can do. Helena's going to be part of the family. She already knows how they run the house and they're all already used to her, but now's a good time to settle into that even more.
"Well, we'll probably talk to Dimes and Rubes first--wait, have you told them yet?"
Her hand has already found Darcy's by the time Phil starts talking again, moving towards the other as easily as any other reflex. The moment they make contact, Helena minutely relaxes even further, reassured by their presence.
A key to the house. Somehow that feels as formal as if they were talking about getting her an engagement ring (which she had firmly expressed wasn't necessary, with the bracelet Darcy gave her as a perfectly suitable stand in) or something else intensely valuable. The look on her face probably says enough, with how surprised she seems.
An actual key. How long would it take before she stops knocking out of habit, waiting to be invited in?
Oh right, there was a question.
"Not yet. You're the first person we let know." A pause. "But we might as well tell them tonight, since I'm already here." If Darcy won't simply Perish at the concept of being perceived thrice over in a night.
"After dinner, then. When they both get home. Unless you'd like to tell them one at a time?"
Since he knows Darcy hates a fuss, but all of them are always going to make a fuss, because why not when it comes to someone you love doing cool and important things? They may not be throwing huge bashes, but there can be some fuss.
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cw flippant suicide comment
But they don't want to go, either.
It's a feeling like the way one's stomach can go cold while the rest of you is warm. Guilt for having brought it up, chilly and bitter, but mostly just relief. The breeze that follows him unstiffens, like a breath let go.
Quietly, "Me neither. Uh--good to hear you're staying in the neighborhood, ehn?"
Shoves some more stew into his mouth.
no subject
Given that every time before was involuntary, moved by the hands of beings far more powerful than her. And no matter how near they are to Phil, she can imagine that Darcy will be over to see her mom every day, or vice versa.
"...if it helps anything as well, Darcy did have the chance to meet my father. I can only regret I didn't ask you to come meet him when circumstances permitted."
But she had been in the Visitor's Center as long as she could, pouring as many hours into her reunion as she was allowed. How does one concentrate years into days? It had been almost unbearable stepping back to allow Darcy to even have dinner on their own with the man. Still, the proof of his existence is in the glasses she wears, meaningful for their presence alone.
no subject
Darcy adds-
"He was nice. Super protestant, but nice."
Kind of terrifying, but he was nice and so they won't speak ill of him.
"I think you would have gotten along. He was fine with like," just kind of gestures between them and Helena, "everything."
no subject
He takes a moment to stuff some more food down just to ease his nerves. He knew being a parent was stressful, but Christ.
"It would've been nice to meet him. I'd like to meet the man who raised the person my kid chose to marry.But mostly I'm glad you got to see him again, and you got to meet hiim... that was the Visitor's Center from a while back, right?"
no subject
Still, Helena knows, they had some time. Bitter comes, but the sweet is still there.
"Yes. I can hardly believe how time has passed since then - but I'll forever be grateful that it occurred." A little more formal than she meant it to sound, but she doesn't want to drag down the mood here. She can let her own private impossible dreams come later. "And...sorry if we seemed on the verge of announcing a crisis. We really haven't told anyone yet but you. This is all so new."
no subject
They stretch a hand across the table and give two small taps for Helena to find their hand with. It's not hard to read how touched Helena is by it, and this... it wasn't on their mind when they proposed. But it's something that is clear to their mind now, in this room, having Phil be so pleased for them. It's about folding Helena into their family, the same people who give them warmth and safety, offering that to her too. Helena will probably always miss her dad as long as they're separated, but she has Phil now just as she has Darcy. Their home is her home.
"Thanks, mum," they offer quietly, before adding onto Helena's comment-
"And we're going to keep it quiet, too. Just for now. But. It's important you know."
no subject
Idly stabbing the stew, "Helena, do you have a key to the house yet? We can arrange that if you don't."
Even if they aren't moving anywhere, if there's an engagement afoot, this is the least they can do. Helena's going to be part of the family. She already knows how they run the house and they're all already used to her, but now's a good time to settle into that even more.
"Well, we'll probably talk to Dimes and Rubes first--wait, have you told them yet?"
no subject
A key to the house. Somehow that feels as formal as if they were talking about getting her an engagement ring (which she had firmly expressed wasn't necessary, with the bracelet Darcy gave her as a perfectly suitable stand in) or something else intensely valuable. The look on her face probably says enough, with how surprised she seems.
An actual key. How long would it take before she stops knocking out of habit, waiting to be invited in?
Oh right, there was a question.
"Not yet. You're the first person we let know." A pause. "But we might as well tell them tonight, since I'm already here." If Darcy won't simply Perish at the concept of being perceived thrice over in a night.
no subject
Then a small sigh, because Ruby and Dimitri will both make Things out of it and it'll all be A Lot to deal with.
"We will, just... not just yet," and she gently squeezes Helena's hand. The three of them, quietly sharing in something deeply wonderful.
no subject
Since he knows Darcy hates a fuss, but all of them are always going to make a fuss, because why not when it comes to someone you love doing cool and important things? They may not be throwing huge bashes, but there can be some fuss.