[027] OOM - Meet the Parents

[tristranthorn]

As every good traveler knows, there must be a destination for which to head towards - otherwise, there is aimless wandering which makes for wasted time, wasted resources, and a more or less miserable time.

But as any good observer knows, Tristran and Yvaine do not follow rules whatsoever.

So the two companions - still terribly (and pathetically) in love - are doing exactly what good travelers do not: they are wandering aimlessly, wasting time and resources. Whether they are having a miserable time remains to be seen, though it is unlikely that they are even able to follow that part of the rule, anyway.

"You know," Tristran starts thoughtfully, turning to glance at the star, "it has come to my attention that you haven't met my family yet."

Why this thought suddenly springs up in the young man's mind is a mystery, but now that it has taken precedence in the forefront of his thoughts, he believes it important not to let it go.

"Before we left, I told my father about you," he continues. "And I am positive that my mother - my other mother - and my sister want to meet you too. What do you think?"

Comments

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

Dunstan settles back almost immediately.

"Tristran has something to say - which, one might imagine, is important enough to drag him all the way back here."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran smiles quite a bit as he hugs his mother, and then clears his throat a moment afterwards in preparation for his announcement.

He feels a little nervous all of a sudden, though he knows he doesn't really have any reason to be.

(Though that pesky narration would once again object to that, considering there is a Yvaine waiting outside of the village for him and his family, and that - well, enough said.)

"Yes, well. It is just - as you know, I've...I've met someone," he starts, very decidedly avoiding Louisa's very focused gaze on him. "She is actually waiting right outside the wall, in fact. She...well, she cannot exactly come into the village, you see."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

(Hey, the narration would also like it to be noted that it knows what it's talking about. It has personal experience with that Yvaine.)

Daisy's back straightens and her lips pull into a frown, one hand bracing itself upon her hip.

"Are they not letting the poor thing through?"

[tristranthorn]

"Ah, not...exactly," Tristran says, refusing to shuffle his feet like he used to when he was younger, and guilty of causing some sort of trouble (though that wasn't particularly very often).

"It is more that she ... she is ... not -" he pauses. "Not exactly..."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

"Real," Louisa supplies dryly. "Now I'm never getting a new dress."

Bloody figures.

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

"Louisa!"

Daisy's eyes narrow in displeasure, voice raising itself above its usual murmur.

"Now you be quiet right now and let your brother explain or you are not getting dinner let alone new dresses."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

"But -"

Dunstan clears his throat pointedly and the protest cuts itself off.

"You heard the woman, now hush up."

A mild glance over toward his son, "Now, don't shuffle your feet unless you've murdered someone. Why can't your girl cross?"

He's got something of an idea, but it's best not to speculate about things you don't precisely understand.

[tristranthorn]

Better to just come out and say it, Tristran. Rip off that band-aid quickly.

He takes a breath.

"She is a star, you see. She is the star I went searching for. Only, outside of Wall, she is a young lady as well." His heart is thundering with nerves, and he glances briefly towards his father, but then keeps his eyes more or less locked on the wooden floorboards beneath him. "But as soon as she crosses the wall, she becomes exactly what you believe a star should look like - that being a hunk of celestial rock."

He waits for the accusations of insanity, or plain disbelief.

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

"Ah," Dunstan nods, leaning an elbow upon his knee and propping his chin on his hand. "Well, that clears up the bits that I was wondering about - would be awfully difficult to meet your girl if she was a rock, Tristran."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

"Oh," Daisy blinks.

Then blinks again, thoughtfully this time.

"Oh!" her eyes widen. "And we're leaving the poor thing waiting out there all this time, Tristran? You should have told us sooner!"

[tristranthorn]

He glances up once more, clear surprise written on his face.

They aren't - they don't think he's -

Well, what a relief.

He nods, allowing himself to smile faintly. "I - it would be wonderful if you could meet her. I know she is eager to meet all of you as well."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

This is coming from a family with a son who is part fairy and a father who was seduced by one - the unbelievable is a little old by now.

Louisa shrugs mildly, "Certainly better than finishing the mending."

It is pretty interesting. (Even if she would, at this point in time, rather get a new dress than meet a star.)

"Well, then we should be going then," Daisy agrees. "Don't you agree, dear?"

Dunstan flashes an indulgent smile, "Of course."

[tristranthorn]

And so, the Thorn family - father, mother, daughter and son - march together, talking animatedly, with Dunstan inquiring Tristran of his recent whereabouts while Louisa adds the occasional quip.

Daisy listens, smiling and adding a soft word of praise from time to time, and overall the picture of the Thorns is a lovely one.

"G'day, Mr Thorn," Mr Robinson greets as they pass.

Dunstan nods.

"Goin' somewhere?"

"A walk, Robert," he returns. "A walk with the family."

"Ah, very nice."

Tristran glances at the man - Bobby's father. Louisa could do so much better than the Robinsons.

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

Dunstan has to agree, really - and his fingers reach up to tug on the end of his daughter's hair once more as she flashes her second-most charming smile at the man.

(Her most charming smile is reserved for Bobby himself - and for getting out of trouble.)

He rolls his eyes as they continue walking.

"I am hoping that it's the same guard that let you in, Tristran," he says. "I should hate to have to get into an argument - not exactly the best impression to make on your girl, I'd imagine."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran laughs a bit.

"I hope so too," he says. But it doesn't matter too much about what Yvaine might think; she's pretty much seen him in every situation possible, after all.

He smiles to himself as they near the gap with the guard-towers. This is it!

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

"Mister Bromios!" Dunstan calls out cheerfully. "Why, you do make my life easier on an increasingly regular basis."

The tall man laughs, loud and deep, smile curving upward pleasantly and head bowing in a gesture of thanks.

He knows the drill.

"I had a feeling that the little mouse over there was waiting for you," he grins, clapping the other man on the shoulder when he's close enough. "So much trouble, Mister Thorn."

[tristranthorn]

"Right, well, I'm really sorry," Tristran says, quickly. He is already looking beyond the wall for Yvaine.

"We won't cause any more of it - soon enough."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

The man booms out another laugh, sweeping out his arm in a gesture for him to continue forward - eyes bright and knowing.

Dunstan nods gratefully, rolling his eyes at the other man behind his son's back.

So impatient, young people in love.

[an_evening_star]

The star had moved right past impatient and back into fluttery and paranoid within the passing of a mere handful of minutes - and pacing had gotten rather boring (and vaguely achy) after a little while too, really.

So she's flopped herself down on the grass not too far from the gap in the Wall, hands folded in something resembling propriety and head tipped back and blinking toward the sky.

She hasn't quite figured out how she plans on getting herself up quite yet.

[tristranthorn]

That's quite all right; in no time at all, the Thorns will be about and will be happy to lend you a hand.

Like, now, for example!

Look yonder! There they are, Tristran leading the brigade.

He waves.

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

It does not take very long for Louisa Thorn to catch up to her brother, and as she pokes her head over the side of his shoulder, she mentally scrutinizes the girl her silly brother is so infatuated with.

Tristran's girlfriend has to be pretty, but not too pretty (at least not as pretty as her, since she still has to be the best looking in their family) and she must be as smart, as clever, and as capable as her but not any more.

"Hullo," she says, her tone quite polite, "it is nice to meet you. I'm Louisa Thorn."

[an_evening_star]

The bright smile that made its way across her face at the sight of Tristran (The waving is terribly enthusiastic. It's charming.) flickers a bit, tapers off into an equally polite curve of lips.

It's the dangerous sort - Tristran may very well be familiar with it.

"Yvaine," she replies - voice mild and musical and eyes just as calculating, but with many more years behind them. "Very pleased to make your acquaintance."

[tristranthorn]

"Yvaine!" he says to her almost too cheerily, as though there is a rather impressive bucket of nerves lodged somewhere in his stomach. (Which would not be far from the truth, actually.)

He clears his throat, takes his sister by the elbow, and pulls her a little farther away from the star.

"Right, so. This - this is Yvaine."

[nosequels.livejournal.com]

Louisa wrinkles her nose at being displaced, resisting the urge to stick out her tongue at her brother in a rather impressive moment of maturity.

He really is a rather spectacularly rude, isn't he?

Her head tips back at the sound of her father's voice piping up from behind her.

"One would certainly hope so, Tristran."

[an_evening_star]

Her gaze slants upward, lips twitching amusedly, and she holds up her hands in expectation - tugging his fingers in quiet affection once she's properly upright.

And then - well - oh.

The grin flickers just a bit nervously and she keeps herself rather close to Tristran's side. (Well, he has offered himself as a human shield before - she figures that the offer still stands.)

"It is," she blinks, clears her throat. "I mean, I am. Yvaine. Pleased to meet you."