but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[morethanfaith]

Making it? No.

[Bradan was also a sports kid. And occasionally an animal kid, to accompany Callahan somewhere.]

I do appreciate it, though.

[primerib]

Me too. Love abstract, you know.

( He thinks Cole's drawings are works of art, of course. )

Some might say what you do is an art in its own.

[morethanfaith]

I suppose.

[He doesn't really feel it as much, because he does cheat just a little.]

You have to really know people.

[And people are the start of all good art, one way or another.]

[primerib]

You always did get people. I loved that about you. Always had the right readings.

( Even if his reading of Charlie felt out of nowhere. )

Miss that. ( And you plays on the tip of his tongue. ) You miss university?

[morethanfaith]

Absolutely not.

[He feels much older as he says it.]

I discovered sleep in my old age and am much better for it.

[Another pause as his eyes divert up to the sky.]

Did miss some of the people, though.

[primerib]

Same.

( He settles back as his eyes find the sky and he takes another sip. )

I missed you, Ford.

[morethanfaith]

[There's a moment when his eyes linger on the sky, because if he actually makes eye contact, he's worried Niall may see more than he wants him too. No matter how much he desperately wants to see the same.

But in the end, he does tell the truth:]

Missed you too.

[primerib]

We should do something. Get together with or without the kiddos. Catch up, proper.

( if that is something he's into. )

[morethanfaith]

[He does look down at that, looking at him before nodding.]

Yeah, sounds good. Grab a beer or something.

[Just a beer. He's treading around this new start to their relationship very carefully.]

[primerib]

Yeah.

( Just a beer? Alright. So, this is like square one. He can dig it. )

Sounds good, then. Beer.

[morethanfaith]

[Look he's not going to assume about anything. They're refinding their sea legs with each other. Might as well keep it casual.]

Good. Let me know when you're free and I'll have a look at my schedule.

[primerib]

( He smirks from behind the glass. )

Oh, so your people will call my people then?

[morethanfaith]

[He laughs.]

You've got a kid. I've got a job that has weird hours sometimes. Pre-planning may be required.

[primerib]

I can plan. I like plans. We'll make a plan.

( He's good with it. )

[morethanfaith]

Good.

[There are other things he wants to say, but he doesn't want to assume. It will be better to do this later, when they're alone and he actually knows more about what Niall is looking for.]

How do you feel about cats?

[Just out of curiosity.]

[primerib]

They aren't my enemies.

( What kind of a question is that? )

Oh, is this about Teabag? You still live with your brother, right? ( He hasn't heard about Bradan's cat. ) Ah'm not allergic.

[morethanfaith]

Not just Teabag. I have one too. Name's Milo.

[He holds up a finger.]

Granted, Milo likes one person and it's Maeve. I am only given grace because I feed him.

[primerib]

Your cat doesn't even like you?

( How is that somehow on brand. )

Interesting theme, though. Milo. Teabag.

[morethanfaith]

Cats are not required to like you. They are gracing you with their presence, and you should be grateful.

[That being said, sometimes he gets snuggles from Milo and it's incredibly rewarding.]

We didn't name them together. In fact, I didn't name Milo at all, it was his name at the shelter.

[primerib]

I'll remember that when he and I come face to face.

( Hopefully, there won't be Kill Bill sirens. )

Guessing Cal did name Teabag.

[morethanfaith]

Yes, he did. I didn't ask. I didn't want to know.

[Teabag was a present, during one of Cal's lowest points in dealing with the loneliness, so Bradan let him name him whatever he wanted. At this point, it is what it is.]

[primerib]

Maybe he just likes tea.

( He also doesn't want to know. )

Have we been away from the festivities long enough, you think?

[morethanfaith]

Probably.

[Bradan finishes his beer, before looking to the door.]

If we don't, all of the dessert will be gone.

[primerib]

( He stands, putting the finishing touches on his own beer before moving in the direction of the open door. )

I don't need another dessert on my bones, but, I'm gonna have another dessert on my bones. 'Less you want to share.

[undermyfeet]

[Bradan's a grown man. He'll have his own dessert, thank you.

But with that they head inside, and we cut across down slightly to Danny, Lizzie and Eliza. Eliza's kids are grown and in either another country or another continent, and her husband is gone, so putting on a holiday dinner for Danny and Lizzie is her pleasure and Danny's delight because Eliza? An excellent cook.

When they've finished dinner, the next step in an Eliza Christmas is dessert and Christmas movies and he's moving the plates of Christmas cookies into the living room when there's a knock on the door.]

I got it.

[He jogs his way over and pulls open the door.]