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cryptid-killjoy · 3 years ago

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orleans-jester:

Frank wouldn’t tell a soul. He would take any secrets, sad or not, to the grave. Again and again. They were similar in a lot of ways but - also a little different. He was only affectionate with her. Sometimes with his mother, but not as much as he had been in his original life. Having just her for so long in Hell had made him develop an avoidance for other people. He didn’t come back wanting to live his life to the fullest and make new friends and have all sorts of crazy experiences. In fact, he missed Hell. He missed just having her and none of these other people with loud voices. Sigh. But he was making the best of it that he could. He even had himself two friends. Bastien, despite the fact that he was more of a pet but at least he was someone that he could go for drives with, just quiet, listening to the entirety of The Wall, as they drove around town, him smoking his cigarettes and Bastien with a joint. And Arthur. Oh, the hatred had been strong but now it was just funny to make fun of him and the fact that he had foolishly given up his chance with Delta over some fear. He’d never persay admit to caring about the cripple, but he had shown it through doing the schoolwork and laying off on the carrying him around like he was a marionette. Though the temptation to make him into a ventriloquist dummy was still there.

If Arthur made it to Christmas, that was going to be their Christmas photo, for sure. He hated the cheerful shit but come on. That was too good. And if he didn’t make it, even better, he could just Dead Silence a wooden stick in there and make his mouth move.

Frank let out a grin and then a snigger when Hugo went toppling over. Interacting with those three was as a bit more fun than Bastien himself, though sometimes that guy could take him for a loop. It seemed like all four parts, including the main Bastien, was happy about being able to name their kid after him. Flattering? Maybe a touch. It lessened a bit when he found out it was going to be a girl. Though the grin might have looked like it was about Valerie too, the first sign of emotion to her, Delta and probably Bastien would know, as the other two who could see all of this.

It was even more amazing how Bastien watched all of this with a straightface. If Frank had these three knuckleheads all around him, not that his own would be nearly as entertaining, he’d be cracking up all the time. Guy had a good pokerface. Putting that observation aside for later.

Maddy could make a guess, since the banter comment wasn’t enough to make Frank laugh more than likely, but she was too excited to even recognize that right now. They got the name. Thomas just smiled along, not catching on about the gargoyles but just glad that everyone was having a good time right about now. This was a good surprise.

Frank went ahead and put that image in Delta’s head from his own imagination. A bit Whack a Mole board. Little babies with the poofball hair but in a darker color, popping on up. He and Delta both standing there with hilariously big mallets, smashing them down like they were cartoon characters. When they got a hit little stars danced around their heads. And then since that felt a little too PG - fucking pregnancy bitches effecting him - he turned it into just gore, brains all over the board. ‘Ten points if the brain matter hits your clothes.’

And then the subtlest little snort from a resident Frankenstein. ‘I’d have to tie it to my leg so these guys don’t kill themselves out of shame’ he thought, having no insecurity, no humbleness in him at all. He lost whatever little bit of those traits that he had in Hell. He’d become a sort of grumpy old man down there, but at least he still had his sense of humor. He found it amusing what people focused on. The height. Fair, that was the first thing noticed at a distance. But then there were the scars. The differences in skin tones. The tongue. The constantly healing cuts that he picked at without shame. And yet it was always the goddamn height. If he heard one more time from some old biddy that he should be a basketball player, he was going to kill.

Thomas would take it as Victor had some news about Marina. About Thaddeus. What more did he need other than that? But he appreciated the subtlty. So far, it seemed that Thaddeus was keeping his mouth shut too, thank fuck. At least something got into his head.

Maddy had thrown her arms around Bastien and it was a smoochfest there, through giggles and smiles and just an excitement that couldn’t be contained. They had their name. She wasn’t even going to start thinking about what their second one would be named, not until it came to that, this time around was just too stressful. But the payoff was great. She really could not get the grin off of her face, holding onto his arm happily and dreamily as they went back to the living room. Thomas was ready to give out a wolf whistle worthy of Zeke but it appeared he didn’t have to, his wife had it all under control. There was a lot of good emotions going on right now, so he was grinning as well, making himself comfortable on a seat and pulling her into his lap. No shortage of PDA in this house.

“Isn’t it perfect?” Maddy couldn’t help but reply to Scout in that fashion. Now she really did have everything she wanted. AND THE PROMISE OF SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS, good lord, could life be any grander?

She started to calm down a little, sitting beside her husband, crossing one ankle over the other, hand on his thigh, just as excited for his own present as she had been for hers. Frank still did not sit. He liked to lord over people. Enjoying looming. He just leaned against another wall, watching all of this. He picked up on what the present was before Bastien got it, thanks to Valerie’s thoughts, as well as what was in the backyard. That, he had to admit, was impressive. The powerful necromancy that it must have taken to raise something so old, so large. But once again, keeping that between him and Delta. He didn’t like to dole out the compliments.

When Bastien looked to Maddy, she just tilted her head in response, not really sure how they got a shark onto their land, but it wasn’t all that surprising. Then she broke out another smile again. “I love the Lord of the Rings theme you’ve got going on. Balrog is a great name for a shark.”

Thomas nearly had the same reaction as Valerie to Bastien’s question. He never really thought a grown man - apart from Flotsam when he was being ultra cute - as adorable before but Bastien was taking it. A pound for fish. If that wasn’t an idea that his little charitable wife hadn’t dwelled over, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was now. But Maddy had changed, and just thought, like everyone else, that was cute as all hecking heck, and gave his knee an affectionate squeeze.

The image of River came into Frank’s head too. Good. Little fucker deserved to die for seeing Delta like that. No excuses.

Frank wasn’t really one for hellos. Nor was he one for goodbyes. He just gave a little nod to the room, all cool, his only outer words being to Bastien since they got here, which wouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone. But Bastien did come up and said a goodbye. In a way. He gave the guy a little clap on the back in return, large hands against Bastien’s smaller frame. And then a genuine little laugh at his outer question. “I got it,” He nodded. “I wasn’t lying though. Raise her right, I’ll be watching.”

Maddy felt the look at the good cheer, and turned a little bashful but she couldn’t help it. She’d just been given some of the most beautiful gifts in the world. Just like that - even if it wasn’t meant in that way - she did feel a bit loved. Thought of, at the very least. Her husband’s insistence won over Delta. Cheers to being an obstinate little shit indeed. She would give a wave towards Delta and Frank though as a goodbye. “See you later,” She said, even more excited for Hobbiton than before.

“Take care guys,” Thomas said, giving more of a salute than a wave.

Bastien looked at Frank. “Oh, I’ll make sure. I’ll lay down the hammer of the law.”

Hammer of the law jokes and that Bastien had final word on things in the stoner circle at Wulf’s cabin were pretty common anymore. So, the phrase came out as natural as could be. But, oh did he mean it too.

The giggling Delta was doing with the wack-o-mole-babies Frank was sending her had to have had the whole room thinking she was just in the best mood ever. In a way, she was. It just wasn’t for the same reasons others might think she was. Yes, she was fine with giving the mouseketeers the name, and yes she was even glad to see Flotsam even if it was in Valerie form, but Frank knew how to keep her little fae giggles rolling, and the curls on her head bouncing. Maybe there was one more partner in this group of misfits that knew how to take care of their person best.

Delta would hang onto the edge of her Frankenstein until they made their final leave. From there she’d sound for Tree to let him know it was almost time to go home. She’d basically make sure he was okay after all the time gone and was cared for satisfactorily. Then she’d let him know to say his own goodbyes to whatever forest friends he’d made out there. They’d only be a couple nights and they’d be making their voyage back. Delta still felt iffy about leaving Heresy alone despite her being so silent and still, or maybe it was the Horned King she didn’t trust, but she wasn’t sure she could enjoy being gone for too long. She did all this from Frank’s back, her official place, creating the true two headed dragon as she spoke to the giant tree.

Once Delta and Frank had left Scout said, “I’m really going to miss Tree.”

“Me too.” Valerie agreed. “He really started to become part of the family.”

First Dale left, now Tree would leave. It was a little sad truth be told.

Bastien was still admiring his bracelet and had his mind on Balrog. He pulled out his phone to show Valerie, Scout, and Thomas an image of Chuck Norris fighting a shark. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s a different shark. I had to double check since you brought it back to life I thought... well... maybe? But, it looks like a different kind.”

Valerie about died when she saw the fixed image. “Yeah, that’s not Balrog’s former life. But, thanks for checking, hon.”

“GoGo and I will pick you up tomorrow for your snow tour at the hotel.” Scout explained.

This was a good plan because at first Valerie was avoiding, but now that Bastien and Maddy had gotten there she didn’t feel quite as avoidant as she did about their arrival. The curtness aside Maddy did actually smooth things over and Delta and Frank’s appearance brightened things up even more for them all. Everything just felt better by the time it was the end of the night of this initial gathering even if Val did get some old feelings stirred up. It was nothing a little night talk with her husband wouldn’t cure. He always knew how to whisk those things away for her. Everything felt pretty damn good. Scout would take them out while she got her next check up with Victor. Victor and Thomas would get to have some time. She’d get her own time with Delta during that which she was looking forward to very much and was a great distraction for the guys all things considering. Plus, there was the one thing Valerie would never let anyone forget.

“And don’t forget though. If you’re going to hog my friends up in the snow tomorrow I get them the next day. We can all go to Hobbiton. You’re going to love it. I promise.”

Bastien said, “Cool.”

This kind of talk felt like wind up the evening conversation and though Bastien was a stay up all nighter kind of guy he was used to others not being that way and knew the cues fairly well despite often not heeding them. After the long plane trip he didn’t mind heading back to the hotel and being alone with his wife to “celebrate” their baby’s name.

So, he took his wife’s hand and started to walk them to their piles of gifts to help her pick them up and then carry them out to the rental car. That’s when he mentioned, “The cars are backwards here.”

Valerie laughed. “I know. I noticed you drove in, Maddy. You’ve done more driving here than me already. I’ve only driven once since I got here. But, I’m working on it. I just got my engine working on a car I’m refurbishing so there’s nothing holding me back. I just have to... do it.” She took a deep breath like that was an bigger issue than it sounded like. “I got this.” Then she leaned a little harder on Thomas. “I also have the best chauffer ever so there’s pros and cons to learning. But, I swear I’m going to stop being ridiculous and just do it soon, I swear.”

Scout gave her mother a skeptical gaze as everyone stepped in to say their final good nights to the Belleroses. They’d be seeing them soon. The vacation was just starting. They’d get a full tour soon of the house an Lothlorien and all of New Zealand if the Laveaus had anything to do with it, assuming the mood stayed light.

Then right as Bastien was heading out the door and waving back at the house he said, “See you later, Flotty.” He jumped into the rental car and if quizzed about it he wouldn’t even remember it. It was the shortest black out ever, but it happened, not that anyone could have identified it for sure. But, it sure left Valerie silent in her doorway as they drove off down the bush. No one called her that but Jetsam. Thomas would know that.

She wouldn’t even say anything to Thomas after. She’d just look at him because it would feel like he’d just know too. It would make her cling more when she went to bed that night, that need for closeness. Valerie couldn’t be Flotsam during her pregnancy. There was no going back and Valerie did not want to be touched by Jetsam back then and that was not something that was going to change now. But, other side contact in all forms of life was also something sacred if not haunting to a necromantic mind like theirs. So it was thrilling as well as scary to them for so many complicated reasons.

#deltaxfrank #bastienxthomas #bastienxmaddy #valeriexthomas #valeriexmaddy #scoutxthomas #scoutxmaddy

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