tapestodiane | 031

Entry tags:

031 - 4th wall

[If you're around ... wherever he is, but it's out in the woods somewhere, you might hear gunshots. And if you're curious enough to see what's up, you'll see that Coop evidently has his gun back and is shooting at targets. Where they're from is a mystery, but he's making the best of their presence - his skills have waned some in the years he's been stuck in pokémonland, but it's evident the longer he's at it, the more confidence and skill shows in his shooting.]

[Until he's at the point where he's consistently hitting the bullseye in every single target every single time.]

[Yeah, he's that good. He could shoot you a pattern if you like.]

[... and there magically seems to be ammunition around whenever he needs it, so hey.]

(Action absolutely anywhere as per usual - feel free to just bump into him wandering if you prefer. COME AT ME.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Dad.]

Everybody says it's 2012 here. But it's supposed to be 2003. I mean, um, that's what it was yesterday, was 2003.

[But then it clicks; he's no fool, this boy.]

That's why you look different, right? Because you think it's a different year. That's why you don't remember, and your hair's different. You had it like that in pictures from when I was little.

_{[The look on Cooper's face probably confirms it along with the small intake of breath. He just might cry, even if he's not entirely sure why, but it's not quite at the surface yet; what is is a hint of a smile when he shakes his head in disbelief and touches Tom's shoulder with some hesitation, almost making sure he's even real.]}

That's fourteen years from now.

_{[And more to himself, somewhat faintly,]}

I wasn't sure I'd ever have children.

Edited 2012-11-25 04:42 (UTC)

[Well, you know, it's been a hard day for an eleven-year-old in a strange land trying to be a good brother and all, and the combination of relief at finally being recognized and the tone of Coop's voice is enough to send him dashing forward, burying his face somewhere in the vicinity of Coop's stomach and holding on tight.]

Me and Lily walked forever, Dad. And I carried her when she got tired and made sure she ate lunch and everything. Where were you?

[HE'S NOT CRYING BECAUSE HE IS A BIG KID AND STUFF. A big kid who really needs a hug.]

_{[That's okay, Coop is more than willing to do hugs, and he crouches down with one knee on the ground to better return it - the gun was holstered a while ago now and he gladly wraps his arms around the boy (his son) without anything getting into the way of that hold.]

[He almost laughs at the other name, recognises what it has to be immediately, but he's also kind of tearing up himself as he looks over Tom's shoulder.]}

I'm sorry, Tom, I didn't know.

_{[If he'd had any idea at all, he would have helped. He would.]

[And he'll just hug his son for a moment to try to convince him of that before he pulls back a little, to try to find his face.]}

Where's your sister?

I found you.

[It seems important to repeat it, now that it means something, and he'll understand.]

She's hiding. Because we didn't know if you were you or not. So she hid so she could run away if something happened to me.

[Gosh, is that the beginnings of a martyr complex? WONDER WHERE HE GETS THAT FROM.

He hangs on to the hug a little more, face crumpled with relief, and then calls out.]

Lily! Hey, Lilypad, come out, it's okay. It really is Dad.

You did.

_{[But that explanation strikes him as so very wrong, and he can't help an expression of worry to flick over his face as he lifts his gaze to see where Lily might appear from.]

[Lilypad. Tomcat. Just ... just wow.]

[He focues on that and tries to force the gnawing feeling of dread from his mind. He's okay, and his kids are okay. That's the important part. Right?]}

I'm here too, Daddy.

[Comes the voice from the bushes well away from where Tom originally appeared, and amid some rustling, Lily appears, still poised on the back of the Ninetales as if she'd been prepared and ready to run at any moment, and with an amiable-looking Politoed flanking her.]

We can't do any of the tests if you don't remember us, though.

_{[Coop watches her for what feels like a long time, just taking her in. He lifts a hand in invitation to the half-hug he's still sharing with Tom, a silent beckoning. He just. He wants to hug her too, but the wariness in her makes an eerie amount of sense and pains him to hear, which shows in his voice; a slightly breathless quality to it.]}

What tests, Lillian?

To make sure you're okay.

[When they're only a few feet away, she slides a little ungracefully off the Ninetales's back (one leg, then the other, with her stomach and torso still pressed against the column of its spine) and regards him quietly, unconsciously mirroring the calm, independent posture she's seen her mother wear so many times before.]

But if you have Tom's charm then you must be okay, because we wear them to keep us safe and his was yours first.

_{[And he recognises that posture - already figures Carmen is their mother for a handful little reasons, and when he keeps his eyes on Lily and answers, it's with those coming to mind.]}

Your mother gave it to me.

_{[There might be no tests to be made, but he says that with as much truth as he can, and maybe that counts for something. He's still gesturing for her to come join them, but he's not going to rush or pressure her.]}

Uh-huh. You picked mine. And made the beads.

[She fishes for a cord tucked securely beneath her shirt and retrieves a pendant comprised of hand-carved beads and some kind of animal claw.

Absently, she rotates one of the beads between two fingers, a motion that's clearly habitual and long-practiced.]

I could've walked more but Tom said I'd get too tired.

[And at last, she comes over for her hug, too.]

_{[Thank you, Lily.]

[Coop circles one arm around her, keeping the other still lingering by Tom, and leans his chin on her shoulder. Closes his eyes for a moment. His little girl, who would have thought?]}

He's just looking out for you.

I wouldn't have. I'm not too slow.

[It's not her fault she gets tired. It's not her fault she sometimes goes places when she dreams, either.]

Yes, you are. It takes twice as long when I have to hold your hand everywhere.

[Tom remarks companionably, without derision.]

She wasn't that heavy, anyway.

_{[For a moment he doesn't say anything; just feels his heart swell a bit over the slow-forming breaks. Then he withdraws, both hands on Lily's upper arms now, smiling a little mixed at her before he comments on what Tom just said.]}

Wasn't she?

_{[He has kids.]}

Do I get to try?

[And then, at last, Lily's hesitance finally seems to break, and with it goes her guarded expression — her face breaking into a smile like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.

Because yes, that's her dad, all right.]

Uh-huh!

_{[It's impossible for Coop not to mirror that smile, the mixed up expression giving way to a simpler kind of happiness when he stands up, repositions his hands to her sides, and just lifts her.]

[Straight up - and she really isn't very heavy, his girl - and he does a little spin on the spot for her amusement before he lowers her into a hug again. The kind that doubles as carrying.]}

[She laughs, of course; in the grand scheme of things, that sort of lift isn't nearly so impressive as hanging on to her mother as they pitch backwards off a building, or pressing her face to the window as they soar through the air, but there's a unique sort of thrill that comes with this sort, because it brings memories rushing back of her dad, the strongest person in the world, never too weak to hold her on his shoulders.

I can't reach them, she'd told him once, plaintively, on a summer night when the cloudless sky was filled with stars (and Tom knew their names and showed her, every one), and he'd laughed and lifted her up high like this, and told her to try reaching again.

Don't ever stop reaching for them, he'd said.]

_{[Those are memories he doesn't have. But the moment feels no less real to him despite it, and he nuzzles the girl for a moment before he sets her down, letting his hands linger before he raises one to gently touch her cheek, cup her face.]

[That prickling urge to cry didn't quite leave him yet. He wordlessly reaches out for Tom in a siilar way he did Lily, earlier - can't quite seem to keep his hands off these two now when he knows them.]}

Are we gonna see Mom?

[That's Tom, chiming in a little tentatively because, well, it's always a sort of delicate subject to approach, asking where Mom is. Asking when they'll next see her is usually a safer bet — after all, Mom never forgets important dates.]

Lily knew you were here, but we didn't know about Mom.

_{[Coop actually laughs, just a little - not in any way to be mean, but because they know just as well as he does that she's not easy to get a hold of. And because this is still a little surreal. Too good to be true, isn't that what they say?]

[He sort of ushers Tom into their little circle and touches his forehead to his for a moment in another show of affection, then reaches into his coat pocket when he leans back from the two of them.]}

I can't tell you where she is any more than you can tell me.

_{[He pushes a few buttons, gets a certain menu up, and then hovers over the "call".]}

But you can leave her a message if you'd like.

Maybe she'll find us, now that we found Daddy.

[Mommy always knows where Daddy is. Always. Even when she's half a world away, she knows.

And Lily looks like she wants to take the Gear, but then hovers a little and draws back, snuggling against Coop instead.]

You can talk first.

[Tom, meanwhile, lets himself be gathered in, and whether it's from exhaustion or relief, the tiredness is starting to catch up with him, and leaning on Coop is proving more and more comfortable all the time.

He is not, however, too tired to tell his sister how things work.]

It's supposed to be ladies first. That's chivalry.

That's why we have the 'mendment.

[Her face scrunches a little as she thinks, peering at her fingertips and tapping each one in turn as she takes a count.]

The fourteenth one. And anyway, you did more work than I did so you're supposed to sow more too.

It's a-mend-ment.

[LITTLE SISTERS. B|

But sigh, he supposes she has a point. She usually does.]

Can I, Dad?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/4

no subject

no subject

no subject