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The last few days of the month are busy ones. And it's the last day of the year when Fever tugs Degas out of his own dwelling to follow her to Zivia's house, claiming he can help with something that she wants to remain frustratingly vague on. She's banking on being able to play upon his sympathies to get him there, and through trickery, flattery, and sheer stubbornness, the man does end up following her there.
What greets him when he arrives is a small gathering of friends, the house set up to accommodate them in comfort, and all of them wishing him a happy birthday. None of them need anything terribly fancy, but an effort has certainly been made to make it special. Those in his circle who cannot attend in person will have been invited to write messages for him for the upcoming year. There is a cake, among other refreshments, and there is a paper hat Fever will make pathetic eyes at Degas to wear, just so he can seem important. And there is love, love in abundance. The world might be gearing up to watch another year pass, but they have come together to remind him that the new year is one they wish to greet with him, and that he is not something to be sidelined.
Those that need to depart afterwards will be fully able to, but those that want to also bring in the new year will be invited to what comes after. Fever and Angel have plans to watch the first sunrise of the year, and if one wants to pull an all nighter, they'll be free to join.
[ooc: i'm taking a cue from midnight mass and creating a general onscreen place for attendance. if you guys want to thread further, feel free - i just didn't want to make anyone feel like they had to do anything formal. have fun!]
What greets him when he arrives is a small gathering of friends, the house set up to accommodate them in comfort, and all of them wishing him a happy birthday. None of them need anything terribly fancy, but an effort has certainly been made to make it special. Those in his circle who cannot attend in person will have been invited to write messages for him for the upcoming year. There is a cake, among other refreshments, and there is a paper hat Fever will make pathetic eyes at Degas to wear, just so he can seem important. And there is love, love in abundance. The world might be gearing up to watch another year pass, but they have come together to remind him that the new year is one they wish to greet with him, and that he is not something to be sidelined.
Those that need to depart afterwards will be fully able to, but those that want to also bring in the new year will be invited to what comes after. Fever and Angel have plans to watch the first sunrise of the year, and if one wants to pull an all nighter, they'll be free to join.
[ooc: i'm taking a cue from midnight mass and creating a general onscreen place for attendance. if you guys want to thread further, feel free - i just didn't want to make anyone feel like they had to do anything formal. have fun!]
The old man's eyes are wet and stinging all night long, but he keeps himself from dissolving into a mist of tears like a squonk until most of the crowd has departed. He really did expect Fever to forget.
Not a chance. Not a wisp of a chance, particularly when she's practically been floating on clouds the last few days, and it means when she sees those tears, she has no hesitation to pull him into a hug. She'll never say it aloud, but she intends to do this next year, and the next. And so on. Really, it's easy to remember - the last day of the last month. Forgetting would be unpardonable.
"My girl, you know you hardly had to do this, right? My beautiful, thoughtful girl." He kisses her cheek, wetness against her skin, and lets her hold him.
"I wanted to."
Sometimes it is as simple and straightforward as that. She could argue that of course she had to, but that will only make him think he is a duty, instead of cared for. It is a choice, over and over. One chooses who they reach for, who they seek out.
"You were the one that told me a birthday's about letting other people make a fuss over you, after all. We wanted to make this fuss."
Sometimes it is as simple and straightforward as that. She could argue that of course she had to, but that will only make him think he is a duty, instead of cared for. It is a choice, over and over. One chooses who they reach for, who they seek out.
"You were the one that told me a birthday's about letting other people make a fuss over you, after all. We wanted to make this fuss."
The conversation that's ahead of them is...daunting, to say the least. No matter how much Helena tries to talk herself down, how much she knows Phil is a kind man and supportive and everything that Darcy would look for in a parent, there's a part of her mind that screams they should have had this conversation first. She said yes too quickly, too afraid of losing her beloved again. There should have been more leadup to this.
In the end, she had simply insisted. What's done is done, but they can't hide the truth from him overly long, or it won't be fair.
So, here they are, and here she is, back at the familiar house. She's walked here so often she could do it half asleep. And dinner, this she can do, and she's somehow managing to remain normal about this. Mostly. Phil can probably already discern they have Something to bring up, given how well he knows his own kid and how Helena seems to be a tiny bit on edge.
At least it's impossible to choke on the food. It's too good to subject to that, and despite herself, Helena has a healthy appetite. Just...stay focused.
In the end, she had simply insisted. What's done is done, but they can't hide the truth from him overly long, or it won't be fair.
So, here they are, and here she is, back at the familiar house. She's walked here so often she could do it half asleep. And dinner, this she can do, and she's somehow managing to remain normal about this. Mostly. Phil can probably already discern they have Something to bring up, given how well he knows his own kid and how Helena seems to be a tiny bit on edge.
At least it's impossible to choke on the food. It's too good to subject to that, and despite herself, Helena has a healthy appetite. Just...stay focused.
Here's a few things that Phil will have noticed.
The first is that this dinner is a little bit last minute. Darcy's invited Helena over to eat a number of times before, but usually with more warning than this. Then there's how the pair of them act- it doesn't look like they've had a fight per se, but the usual ease of their connection while Darcy was helping to cook (nothing strenuous) very quickly quietens into something tense.
So something is up. And Darcy is looking into the venison stew in their bowl so intently that they may very well establish a psychic connection and remember a past life where they were a deer. It's not that they think Phil will take it badly, but they do remember the... 'pirate empress' conversation, and part of them is worried he won't approve. Think it's too rushed, or they're too young, or even worse- get stuck in his memories of Rita and get even more melancholy than he had been.
So it's a very very quiet and tense dinner table. Hope Phil enjoys that.
The first is that this dinner is a little bit last minute. Darcy's invited Helena over to eat a number of times before, but usually with more warning than this. Then there's how the pair of them act- it doesn't look like they've had a fight per se, but the usual ease of their connection while Darcy was helping to cook (nothing strenuous) very quickly quietens into something tense.
So something is up. And Darcy is looking into the venison stew in their bowl so intently that they may very well establish a psychic connection and remember a past life where they were a deer. It's not that they think Phil will take it badly, but they do remember the... 'pirate empress' conversation, and part of them is worried he won't approve. Think it's too rushed, or they're too young, or even worse- get stuck in his memories of Rita and get even more melancholy than he had been.
So it's a very very quiet and tense dinner table. Hope Phil enjoys that.
Mulcahy comes, of course. He preludes this with warning Fever and Angel that he may have to depart early, to prepare things for the ongoing days of Christmas. Magnetized by the warmth and the love, however, he never quite goes. Even if he is quiet--that's alright, he always is.
Degas' gift is given in a box. There is a jar of fruit jam and a little thing of lotion inside. There is a note in Mulcahy's neat scrawl:
Degas,
You have been unfailingly kind and welcoming to all manner of strange faiths to this island. This is a kindness that I could never do enough to repay, especially when I had been denied this before. More than that, however, you have been a patient friend and a decent man. May the next year be as good to you as you have been to me.
- Mulcahy
Mulcahy is determined to see the sunrise with Fever and Angel. He doesn't quite make it there, dozing off on Angel a little before morning light.
Degas' gift is given in a box. There is a jar of fruit jam and a little thing of lotion inside. There is a note in Mulcahy's neat scrawl:
Degas,
You have been unfailingly kind and welcoming to all manner of strange faiths to this island. This is a kindness that I could never do enough to repay, especially when I had been denied this before. More than that, however, you have been a patient friend and a decent man. May the next year be as good to you as you have been to me.
- Mulcahy
Mulcahy is determined to see the sunrise with Fever and Angel. He doesn't quite make it there, dozing off on Angel a little before morning light.
All of it puts him back in mind of the ship, a little. A little more than a little. He hasn't been... the most well lately, and he can hardly be stopped from running the entire gamut of worried parents everywhere. Back then, this kind of tense atmosphere had a forecast: somewhere there's been the social equivalent of a bridge collapse, and he should brace himself for the news. Things are better here, but with these two, in this house of refugees, he just--he doesn't know. Obviously they didn't break up, at least not catastrophically, but he doesn't know.
So he putters around trying to help or busying himself with side chores until dinner is set, and then eats quietly, listening too closely, and just.
...
"Sso," he says, "what's new?"
So he putters around trying to help or busying himself with side chores until dinner is set, and then eats quietly, listening too closely, and just.
...
"Sso," he says, "what's new?"
Of course he knows. And of course Darcy isn't saying anything beforehand, because she knows, this must be exhausting for them too and as nervewracking as Helena would feel sitting down with her own parent, but something in her desperately wishes they would. Not saying anything to anyone yet has been torturous - all those people in books who hid things for so long, they must have had nerves of steel to not let it slip.
She's about to shatter in this environment. Give her the most malicious hunter to pursue her, and in this state, she thinks she could outrun them for hours, too alert.
"There's some good news to share," she offers, hoping that's enough of a lead-in for Darcy to pick up. If not...oh, this should have been a much more lighthearted conversation.
She's about to shatter in this environment. Give her the most malicious hunter to pursue her, and in this state, she thinks she could outrun them for hours, too alert.
"There's some good news to share," she offers, hoping that's enough of a lead-in for Darcy to pick up. If not...oh, this should have been a much more lighthearted conversation.
"We're engaged," Darcy says, overlapped with Helena's attempt to ramp in gently. Oh. Tackling it more carefully probably would have definitely been a better solution, but Darce is so stressed about the whole thing that they just want to get the hard part over with.
They're still not really looking up from the stew.
They're still not really looking up from the stew.
Phil chokes on his food with a clatter of his spoon, thumping his chest to clear it.
When he does—blinks. Owlishly.
“Oh!”
…
“Congratulations!”
…
…??????????
“Uh—what? When? I mean, uh, wh…”
When he does—blinks. Owlishly.
“Oh!”
…
“Congratulations!”
…
…??????????
“Uh—what? When? I mean, uh, wh…”
Edited 2025-01-11 15:27 (UTC)
Angel is content to be Mulcahy's pillow, a look of peace that transcends its usually-stony expression on its face. There might be a point when it gestures at Fever to request a snack or some water, because from the moment Mulcahy dozes off, it's not speaking a word.
"When do we get to fuss over you, then? I need to get my full and proper revenge for this." One of his hands plays in her curls lightly.
About a week and some change into January, Degas invites Mulcahy over for tea, served with scones and that same jar of jam and some of Angel's honey. It all tastes better when shared.
"Since Christmas," Helena admits, having set down her own spoon in favor of holding her own hands. "I know we should have spoken to you sooner, but between their recovery and the restaurant and everything else..."
A tiny pause.
"I know it is perhaps old-fashioned of me, but, belated as it is, I've come to ask you for your blessing. And to answer whatever questions you have. We've agreed to this being quite a ways in the future, after all."
There's time enough to hear every doubt he might have, everything he needs to know or wants to know. They're not going to run out the door and come back with it all settled - Helena would never agree to something so impromptu. And for Darcy's sake, she's not mentioning that she thought it had been discussed before they had made their move.
A tiny pause.
"I know it is perhaps old-fashioned of me, but, belated as it is, I've come to ask you for your blessing. And to answer whatever questions you have. We've agreed to this being quite a ways in the future, after all."
There's time enough to hear every doubt he might have, everything he needs to know or wants to know. They're not going to run out the door and come back with it all settled - Helena would never agree to something so impromptu. And for Darcy's sake, she's not mentioning that she thought it had been discussed before they had made their move.
"If we're to be precise about it, you'll need to wait almost a year. But I'll be kind, and tell you to pick a day, and I won't raise any objections."
He can surprise her, as much as she did him.
"I have a question for you before we get to that point, though."
He can surprise her, as much as she did him.
"I have a question for you before we get to that point, though."
"What's the question?" Anything for her, always.
Darcy vwoops behind Phil to make sure that the good news isn't actively killing him, carefully thumping him on the back and trying not to outright panic. He seems fine? He's fine, okay, Helena has this handled, they go to shoot her back a look but that would help absolutely nobody, so they return back to their seat to continue to let her handle it.
"It was when we went out the back at réveillon."
"It was when we went out the back at réveillon."
"A while ago, you offered me use of your last name, if I wanted it." Her voice is soft, still keeping close. "Is that offer still open?"
Giving herself a birthday, a name - all things to anchor her in her skin. To grow roots, and let them gain strength.
Giving herself a birthday, a name - all things to anchor her in her skin. To grow roots, and let them gain strength.
"Of course it is. I would be honored to know you as Fever Clayton." The words come out tiny and gentle. "It's the best birthday present."
"It's my honor to be able to introduce myself as her. It'll take a bit to get used to, but I like the sound of it."
Pulling back just a little, she uses her thumb to wipe the teartracks from his face.
Pulling back just a little, she uses her thumb to wipe the teartracks from his face.
Edited 2025-01-11 22:57 (UTC)
He smiles at her, lifts a hand to echo the gesture against her cheek. "They're happy tears, I promise."
Thank god Darcy chose Helena, is his first thought, because god love them, she’s the only one doing anything reassuring right now. Not that there’s any reason to reassure him, it’s a happy occasion, his kid’s found someone good for them and they’re going to be happy, and…
… yeah, it’s just—he had no idea. They never mentioned anything or gave him any indication that they were planning on this. But she’s still asking for his blessing—the two of them don’t need it, they don’t, but it’s still reassuring to know that they want his approval. Are asking for his input. They’re probably just in a hurry—that’s why weddings happened on the ship so fast, everyone was trying not to think about who was gonna go next, and even then they’re putting it off for a while, but, uh—
Phil chuckles gently. “Christmas. Well, damn. The kids got engaged right under my nose.” Why does he feel like Darcy just eloped?
He clears his throat again, drinks some water to really get it down. The glass clunks as he sets it down. When he speaks, it’s warm. “First of all, yes, you have my blessing. The two of you make a good pair and I don’t see a reason to object. Second, uh…” harrumphs again, “you said you were planning this some way into the future—how far were you thinking?”
… yeah, it’s just—he had no idea. They never mentioned anything or gave him any indication that they were planning on this. But she’s still asking for his blessing—the two of them don’t need it, they don’t, but it’s still reassuring to know that they want his approval. Are asking for his input. They’re probably just in a hurry—that’s why weddings happened on the ship so fast, everyone was trying not to think about who was gonna go next, and even then they’re putting it off for a while, but, uh—
Phil chuckles gently. “Christmas. Well, damn. The kids got engaged right under my nose.” Why does he feel like Darcy just eloped?
He clears his throat again, drinks some water to really get it down. The glass clunks as he sets it down. When he speaks, it’s warm. “First of all, yes, you have my blessing. The two of you make a good pair and I don’t see a reason to object. Second, uh…” harrumphs again, “you said you were planning this some way into the future—how far were you thinking?”
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