[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

[an_evening_star]

Is the narration really sure that was a day or so?

That really couldn't have been a day or so - it didn't feel like a day or so. Unless someone was really skimping in the 'or so' department. (And they shouldn't do that. It's not nice.)

"Not helping," she chimes, voice sing-songing and wispy, frayed and beginning to waver again. That vague, horrified feeling is attempting to claw its way back up her throat again to strangle her from the inside.

Which, all things considered, might be a blessing.

[tristranthorn]

He makes to blindly find her hand, fingers tightening around hers for a brief moment.

"Sorry," he utters. "The wall's up ahead. I wonder how long we have been gone. After our 'vacation' at Milliways, my sense of time is a little skewed."

[an_evening_star]

"I'm worse than you, dear," she manages a tiny smile, and any blindness doesn't make the finding any less accurate - it's automatic enough by now, how they fit. "I'm lucky if I can tell you what year it is."

She can't. So he really shouldn't ask.

[tristranthorn]

He laughs. He won't ask; Yvaine doesn't need to worry.

The distance between them and the gap is closed relatively quickly. He can see the vacant area where the Fair used to be held - now there are simply empty streets and seemingly abandoned buildings.

"Perhaps we can meet at the Slaughtered Prince - dreadful name as it is," he suggests.

[an_evening_star]

"It is indoors - out of the sun. And there are probably tables," she agrees easily enough, nodding. "If it is all the same, dear, you would not mind terribly if I don't have to wait for you there?"

A grin.

"I didn't exactly return the key."

And she'd rather be closer to where he is, itchy as the lack of magic makes her. (Not that that part needs to be said.)

[tristranthorn]

He raises an eyebrow at that last bit, but nods anyway.

"All right. Where do you suppose we should meet, then?"

[an_evening_star]

She overpaid. Granted, she doesn't know by how much she overpaid, but that's not the point - she's going to keep that key for as long as it damn well pleases her.

"I can walk with you as far as I can go, Prince Charming."

Shortening the amount of time left alone is a good thing as dar as she's concerned.

"And I can meet you right there," the smile goes a little sheepish at the edges. "To be entirely honest, I am going to be pacing and muttering to myself the entire time either way."

[tristranthorn]

He smiles in return, bringing her hand up to his lips and pressing a quick kiss against her knuckles.

"That sounds good," he agrees. "But don't worry too much, hmm? It'll all work out fine, remember?"

[an_evening_star]

The Look she gives him is usually the one that ends with her mumbling something about how utterly ridiculous he is.

But she'll leave it at an implication for the moment.

"I'll practice how not to speak in polite company. Get it all out of my system," she teases, then casts her gaze upward with a wry grin. "Need to keep my sisters entertained somehow."

[tristranthorn]

That is what he is. Ridiculous. (It's how he rolls.)

"Well, I am sure they'll be entertained either way," he says, glancing up at the sky for a moment.

"I can't say I've ever heard of a story quite like yours."

At least not one that did not end in the star getting her heart cut out and eaten by crazy old witches.

[an_evening_star]

"And what do you know?" she hums thoughtfully, tilting her head to rest briefly against his shoulder. "I can't say that I've ever heard one quite like yours either."

This time, the smile sets her glittering.

"Good thing we shared - now no one will have a better one."

Poor, poor fairy tales. It's all really just ever so sad for them.

[tristranthorn]

Bah. The fairy tales will get over it. (After some emo-ing, perhaps.)

"That's true," he replies with a nod, feeling quite a swell of pride. It is nice to know that their story can never really be matched by anyone in all the land.

And it occurs to him, once more, just how much he loves Yvaine. (Even if she is a little 'off-the-wall' sometimes - but that is more of the narration's opinion than Tristran's, perhaps.)

"All right. Well, shall I go and fetch my family, then?"

[an_evening_star]

Cheer up, emo fairy tales! At least your narration isn't a snarky bastard.

"Wait just a second," she murmurs and makes a show of fixing his collar, straightening out the tiny glass flower pinned to his lapel, and jokingly fussing like a right proper pastry.

(It's rather surprisingly accurate, all things considered.)

"There," she grins, leaning back and tilting her head. "Now you're perfect."

And for all that the words are bright with unvoiced laughter, they're true enough. Even if she isn't exactly the sort for saying them. (At least not when anyone can possibly hear her say them.)

"Ah, wait - forgot something!"

Another cheeky smile and she's up on her toes, fingers lacing themselves together easily enough along the nape of his neck and lips pressed to his. Simply wouldn't do to be forgetting that, after all.

[tristranthorn]

Oh, indeed not.

Grinning a bit against her mouth for just a brief moment, Tristran returns the kiss, holding her tightly against him.

Ah, well that is lovely.

Another moment later, Tristran is whispering 'I love you' into the star's ear before marching on forth towards the gap in the wall, and towards the place where his parents will likely be going about their daily routine, quite unaware that their son has returned so soon.

[an_evening_star]

She hums out an absent agreement, mostly to herself by this point, and blinks the haziness from her eyes - watching with a quiet sort of appreciation and the kind of smile that likely looks rather ridiculous and entirely besotted.

(Well, it was a good kiss.)

"Oh," she grins upward at the sudden silence. "You're all just jealous."

She'll remember to be nervous in a little while.

Once the tingling fades.