everyonelives | but oh what a year

( not that his plans would have changed, but there is a slight melancholy to the Christmas proceedings. people have returned, but, from the dead. and william has someone he loves and for the first time, way too many places to be at once. )

Mia, you didn't tell me you were having the cool kids over.

Mia didn't know the cool kids were coming over.

Besides, you still would have ditched us for Coop anyway.

You know, William, I'm starting to see some anti-Merlyn bias here. Tina and I come back to town and all of the sudden, splitsville. Everyone gets to meet William's new boyfriend but us.

What's with this guy anyway? He doesn't even have a real face.

[Insert the actual picture from OK! Magazine that he butchered earlier.]

Mia, you know what I'm doing isn't ditching.

( all of them are alive and have been, as far as William knows. not trying to trigger his sister without knowing it. as for Mr. Merlyn. )

The only bias there is, is Cooper bias, because he hasn't seen his brother in a long time. I would think you were happy I was finally providing a boyfriend of mine emotional support.

I don't understand the face thing. Everyone has a face. He has a face. You just haven't seen it in person.

Zoe, please tell JR he has a face.

Edited 2026-02-06 18:09 (UTC)

I promise, he has a real face.

Cute face too.

[And she will attach a picture of William and Cooper that she took at one of their hangouts.]

Okay, I will acknowledge that that is a cute face.

Still rude that you fled town before letting us meet him.

Relax, Q. He and Coop will be back before you both head back to Oxford.

... You will be back before they go back to Oxford, right?

My leaving town is a longer story neither of you need to know.

Neither of us? Quentin and I aren't the only ones disappointed we missed you.

Either. Neither. It's a family thing. It's also another thing. Like a Slayer thing. Do with that what you will.

That really is a great picture of everyone. You guys will still be here for New Years?

He still hasn't answered if he'll be back before they go to Oxford.

He is deftly trying to dip and dodge, good call, C.

But yes, to answer your question like a polite adult: We will be here for New Year's. The new term doesn't start until February first.

I'm
I'll be back before you guys leave.
I promise.

And if something comes up, I'll bring Coop personally to Oxford so you can see his face in person.

That is an acceptable compromise. As soon as we have a date, I'll start planning the menu.

[If all else fails, bribe with food.]

So what are you guys doing in Baltimore? Anything fun?

We're with his brother and his brother's girlfriend, who has a bigger family than I was ready for.

Then stopping through Virginia tomorrow.

Say hi to Uncle Barry for me. And let me know if you need any extra hands for that project.

[She'll sneak into the Arrowcave and do what she can.]

You're helping Uncle Barry with a problem in Virginia? Isn't that usually a bit out of his range?

It's a real big, Barry-sized, Barry-themed problem. He's the expert.

I don't envy you there. Uncle Barry problems tend to make my head hurt.

Exactly. Focus on people's palettes and Oxford's graduate program in whatever it is you're studying.

Is Quentin actually studying anything or is he just at Oxford for the life experience?

Ha.

Honestly what I'm studying is really boring. Way less interesting than the life experience.

Isn't it something with Policy?

Edited 2026-02-13 22:25 (UTC)

Depends on the cousin. You may have to be slightly more specific.

[He can narrow it down, it's one of two answers, but he is also fishing for what JR is looking for here.]

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done

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DONE

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1/1

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private, to barry

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