[After herding the girls plus Cole to their table, Bairre’s hand finds Niall’s shoulder. If their tables were closer, he’s sure that Bradan would probably prefer to handle this himself but since Lindsay had put the twins on the other side of the room, so Bairre steps up.]
Hey, are you alright?
[The realization of the supernatural can be a lot, and he doesn’t know how familiar Niall was before all this.]
Priority one, the kids are safe. Cole was more wide-eyed and gaping at the entire display and the younger girls looked like they knew what to do to stay out of the danger. But, nobody in the wedding party - cared isn't the right word. Because, most sprang into action. And there were weapons hidden in the pews. In bouquets. Like they were expecting it. That's all well and good.
He is going through the motions, still, now that the kids are herded. He wants a glass of something. Cole and the girls are in some kind of animated conversation and engaging the grandparents. He's not shell-shocked. But, he's - something.
He finds Bairre Jr's hand with his eyes and then follows them up to his concerned face. He's always been like a big brother to Niall. Back when he was just the visiting university kid who fancied his brother. Though, he doesn't know how far that went. He doesn't know if Bradan even knows. He finds himself nodding. He's nodding, right? Yes. That's what nodding feels like. )
I'm happy the kids are all safe. And that everyone's safe. And that there's this party we're all still... at.
The organization Beck and Lindsay work for - things like what happened are stuff they're trained to stop. But also that can mean that it can crash into events that are supposed to be separate.
[He's not sure if it makes it better or worse. To know that they were in the hands of people who were trained to keep them save the entire time versus knowing that they knew there was a chance of it happening and he put him and his son in danger anyway.]
It can be a lot to take in, though. I wouldn't blame you if you needed a minute.
[Bairre never knows how to feel about the fact that he knows this, sometimes. He learned it at such a young age that it was never a shock that these things existed. But as he got older, he began to understand more and more that people had a completely different world presented to them as children, and that makes things more complicated trying to learn it now.]
( He takes that in. He saw them turn to dust. He feels like he was the only guest that really had a reaction. And Bairre Jr.'s talking him down or, or through. )
[Bairre's eyebrows go up just so, but more in commiseration than anything else.]
Powers run in our family, too. Different ones for each of us, but it runs on my Dad's side. We're not really sure where it comes from. Ma was the one who pulled us into the vampire stuff, though. She worked for Beck's organization for a long time.
Beck's Council? ( Interesting. But, that is a lot of information. ) Honest, I never figured my gran for anything but an old kook. But, there were things she thought she knew. Before our surrogate even confirmed Cole. I just thought... she's intuitive. ...What kind of powers? Like, fighting-powers?
You've been to my bakery, haven't you? How do you feel after you eat something here?
[It's incredibly consistent, no matter how terrible your day has been - aside from that one day after the death of his wife, anyway. He usually aims for warmth and contentment, a projection of how much Bairre does enjoy preparing food for other people.
That being said, when it comes to his brothers:]
All of my brothers, plus my Dad. It starts when you turn twenty, so the girls, if they get them, haven't kicked in yet.
[Normally it would be assumed, but Bairre's wife was a witch, and there's always a chance that they could wind up with magic instead, and Bairre isn't sure if one cancels out the other.]
Depends. Changes, I guess. Real loved up most of the time. Warm. But I go with Cole, so, it's bonding time.
( But maybe that's reinforced. Emphasized? Kinda cool to think he has an influence on him. His feelings. There was a melancholic day, but he'd never blame him. )
Not just a guy thing, then. ( He scans the Ford's in different parts of the venue. ) What's Braid's?
[It's one thing to explain himself, it's another to out his brothers' and the choices they might have made as a result. But before he could continue there, Catroina is coming up to his side with a small smile.
"Bairre, love, the photographer wants to get a picture with you and the girls."
Right. He's still the best man and is supposed to be photographed. He nods before stepping away, giving Niall a small nod and leaving him in his mother's care.
Catroina looks over to him with a small smile. "And how are you doing? Quite the exciting ceremony, no?"]
[The goal was always to keep everyone safe. That's why Lindsay decorated the way she did.]
And yes, it is. Of course, I'd prefer for it to be something far less formal, but we take our opportunities where we can get them, considering my sons chose to throw themselves to the four corners of the world.
[But that's what your children are supposed to do. They're supposed to go out into the world and find their own way.]
You ask her, she fully realized it. I just thought she was eccentric.
( And had some lucky instincts. )
Probably runs in the family, but I am not the one gifted. Got my gift, anyway. ( His son, and he looks off in his direction, fondly. ) Reconnecting these last few months - I'm real grateful for it, Catroina. Gave me the touchstone I needed after the divorce.
[It hadn't sat right the way Bradan had let him slip away, no matter what his reasons, but she knows that he was young and had a lot to figure out about himself. Still, no matter what happens between them, she hopes that Cole will give them a reason to stay close.]
I was feeling unmoored when I made the connection at the Christmas pageant. The last six months have been everything I've needed. And everything I think Cole needed.
( He's even closer to his best friend now, too. )
I know I lost touch, but you should know, I saw you all as family. Every one of you. I really missed this.
( The maudlin moment set aside, he joins the party portion of the evening. He is his charming, cheeky self, and can't help keeping one eye on his old friend. There's a power within him. Something else that makes him special. Niall's always seen him as special, power or not. It's easy to stay in his orbit. And his family's. )
[Bradan's been kept to his side of the room for most of the evening, but as dinner service passes and the dance floor opens up, Cal seems to be pulled in to the jazz singer from a few nights ago, and Bradan intends to give him space to do just that.
It's few and far between that his brother gets to make an actual connection. He's not going to stand in his way, even if it's only a one-off.
Sophie and Eliot head off to dance, and Bradan and Vincent head over to the bar for a drink, leaving Cal and Serena alone. Eventually, they're joined by Freya, which allows Bradan to take his whiskey, slip from the conversation, and find his way to the seat next to Niall, giving in to the need to check in that he's been sitting on since the end of the ceremony.]
( Callahan for his part, keeps his distance but has drank enough to dance like a spaz. Is this the most fun his brother has seen him have since? Probably. He's careful, aware he's around other people and their swaying hands and moving arms. But, other than directly kissing anyone, he's covered head-to-toe.
Niall has done some silly dancing, a lot of conversing and some light eating. It's still a bombshell, but it's settled more now.
His face scrunches as he shrugs. )
I wouldn't say that. Just taking a breather. Wedding's always high energy. It's been a day. My batteries just need a little recharge. ( He laughs, shaking his head. ) Look at Cal.
[Bradan follows his eyes and glances to his brother with a smile. Serena is very much matching his energy, breaking out some old school moves of her own.]
Yeah, they seem to have hit it off, for better or worse though with those dance moves, it might be worse.
[Kidding. You should always have someone who matches your dance energy.]
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tables 2 & 3 | catroina, bairre sr., bairre jr., chelsea, niall, the kids, the millers
Hey, are you alright?
[The realization of the supernatural can be a lot, and he doesn’t know how familiar Niall was before all this.]
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Priority one, the kids are safe. Cole was more wide-eyed and gaping at the entire display and the younger girls looked like they knew what to do to stay out of the danger. But, nobody in the wedding party - cared isn't the right word. Because, most sprang into action. And there were weapons hidden in the pews. In bouquets. Like they were expecting it. That's all well and good.
He is going through the motions, still, now that the kids are herded. He wants a glass of something. Cole and the girls are in some kind of animated conversation and engaging the grandparents. He's not shell-shocked. But, he's - something.
He finds Bairre Jr's hand with his eyes and then follows them up to his concerned face. He's always been like a big brother to Niall. Back when he was just the visiting university kid who fancied his brother. Though, he doesn't know how far that went. He doesn't know if Bradan even knows. He finds himself nodding. He's nodding, right? Yes. That's what nodding feels like. )
I'm happy the kids are all safe. And that everyone's safe. And that there's this party we're all still... at.
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The organization Beck and Lindsay work for - things like what happened are stuff they're trained to stop. But also that can mean that it can crash into events that are supposed to be separate.
[He's not sure if it makes it better or worse. To know that they were in the hands of people who were trained to keep them save the entire time versus knowing that they knew there was a chance of it happening and he put him and his son in danger anyway.]
It can be a lot to take in, though. I wouldn't blame you if you needed a minute.
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I am. This is my minute. ( Another beat. ) Their faces...
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[Bairre never knows how to feel about the fact that he knows this, sometimes. He learned it at such a young age that it was never a shock that these things existed. But as he got older, he began to understand more and more that people had a completely different world presented to them as children, and that makes things more complicated trying to learn it now.]
Their faces change when they attack.
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( He takes that in. He saw them turn to dust. He feels like he was the only guest that really had a reaction. And Bairre Jr.'s talking him down or, or through. )
My gran - she was... clairvoyant.
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Powers run in our family, too. Different ones for each of us, but it runs on my Dad's side. We're not really sure where it comes from. Ma was the one who pulled us into the vampire stuff, though. She worked for Beck's organization for a long time.
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[None of the Fords are particularly combat ready.]
I bake feelings into cakes. Into any baked good, actually.
[Which is a rather blunt way of putting things but sometimes cutting right to the point is the best way to handle it.]
Most of them are more quirks than anything else.
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( He doesn't -- understand the idea. )
That's a quirk, alright. Everyone here, your brothers, everyone has quirks? Braid?
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[It's incredibly consistent, no matter how terrible your day has been - aside from that one day after the death of his wife, anyway. He usually aims for warmth and contentment, a projection of how much Bairre does enjoy preparing food for other people.
That being said, when it comes to his brothers:]
All of my brothers, plus my Dad. It starts when you turn twenty, so the girls, if they get them, haven't kicked in yet.
[Normally it would be assumed, but Bairre's wife was a witch, and there's always a chance that they could wind up with magic instead, and Bairre isn't sure if one cancels out the other.]
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( But maybe that's reinforced. Emphasized? Kinda cool to think he has an influence on him. His feelings. There was a melancholic day, but he'd never blame him. )
Not just a guy thing, then. ( He scans the Ford's in different parts of the venue. ) What's Braid's?
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[It's one thing to explain himself, it's another to out his brothers' and the choices they might have made as a result. But before he could continue there, Catroina is coming up to his side with a small smile.
"Bairre, love, the photographer wants to get a picture with you and the girls."
Right. He's still the best man and is supposed to be photographed. He nods before stepping away, giving Niall a small nod and leaving him in his mother's care.
Catroina looks over to him with a small smile. "And how are you doing? Quite the exciting ceremony, no?"]
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Understatement, but everyone had it handled. Thank you for helping with the kids.
( It's weird to be back here with this family, but it also feels right. Cole is comfortable. Happy. That's his biggest concern. )
Proud day for you. Must be somethin' having everyone all under one roof again.
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[The goal was always to keep everyone safe. That's why Lindsay decorated the way she did.]
And yes, it is. Of course, I'd prefer for it to be something far less formal, but we take our opportunities where we can get them, considering my sons chose to throw themselves to the four corners of the world.
[But that's what your children are supposed to do. They're supposed to go out into the world and find their own way.]
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( But, New Orleans and wherever Brogan goes on tour - far. )
Bairre gave me the crash course in your sons' legacies. My gran' was a clairvoyant. Seems I'm in good company.
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[She's just grateful she didn't lose all of her sons to the Brits. Catroina nods at the mention of the family legacy, however, considering carefully.]
It would seem you are. Did she realize her gift? Or was it more uncanny predictions that just happened to pop up?
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( And had some lucky instincts. )
Probably runs in the family, but I am not the one gifted. Got my gift, anyway. ( His son, and he looks off in his direction, fondly. ) Reconnecting these last few months - I'm real grateful for it, Catroina. Gave me the touchstone I needed after the divorce.
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[It hadn't sat right the way Bradan had let him slip away, no matter what his reasons, but she knows that he was young and had a lot to figure out about himself. Still, no matter what happens between them, she hopes that Cole will give them a reason to stay close.]
You are always welcome. Always.
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( He's even closer to his best friend now, too. )
I know I lost touch, but you should know, I saw you all as family. Every one of you. I really missed this.
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[She gives his shoulder a small squeeze as the dinner service starts to be delivered to the tables.]
Come. Have a drink, eat, and then the fun will really begin.
[Because as with all Ford family events, the more alcohol that's gone around the more exciting things get.]
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( The maudlin moment set aside, he joins the party portion of the evening. He is his charming, cheeky self, and can't help keeping one eye on his old friend. There's a power within him. Something else that makes him special. Niall's always seen him as special, power or not. It's easy to stay in his orbit. And his family's. )
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It's few and far between that his brother gets to make an actual connection. He's not going to stand in his way, even if it's only a one-off.
Sophie and Eliot head off to dance, and Bradan and Vincent head over to the bar for a drink, leaving Cal and Serena alone. Eventually, they're joined by Freya, which allows Bradan to take his whiskey, slip from the conversation, and find his way to the seat next to Niall, giving in to the need to check in that he's been sitting on since the end of the ceremony.]
Partied out already?
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Niall has done some silly dancing, a lot of conversing and some light eating. It's still a bombshell, but it's settled more now.
His face scrunches as he shrugs. )
I wouldn't say that. Just taking a breather. Wedding's always high energy. It's been a day. My batteries just need a little recharge. ( He laughs, shaking his head. ) Look at Cal.
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Yeah, they seem to have hit it off, for better or worse though with those dance moves, it might be worse.
[Kidding. You should always have someone who matches your dance energy.]
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