tristranthorn | [027] OOM - Meet the Parents

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?"

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He shakes his head.

"Oh, no. No, no. Nothing like that," he says, going to join his father in one of the chairs opposite from him. "It is still a big step for me, though."

"Getting good at those, aren't you?"

And then the sound of footsteps once more and not-so-quietly whispering female voices. Or, a not-so-quietly whispering female voice, really.

"Dresses, mum. You would have to let me, you know. If there were, for instance. Not that there is, but I'm just saying."

The one that replies is just naturally quiet, "You'll have to talk to your father about that, dear."

He sees them as they enter the room, and a fresh wave of affection goes out to his mum - the woman who took care of him all these years with a fair level of caution and weariness that he didn't understand until now.

"Hullo, mum," he greets, rising to his feet.

"Oh, hello there, Tristran. Now, aren't you looking very handsome - all this sun does you well," she steps forward into the room - arms very neatly, and very tightly around him, dismissing her daughter's continued case-making with a mild.

"Behave, Louisa."

Dunstan grins smugly from his seat.

"And you too, dear," she steps back enough to glance around Tristran's shoulder (and straighten his lapel). "Sometimes you are worse than the children."

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."

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."

(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?"

"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..."

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

Bloody figures.

"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."

"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.

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.

"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."

"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!"

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."

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."

[027] OOM - Meet the Parents

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