Laura Hale (
hereditare) wrote in
thepicketfencecliche2015-03-06 05:04 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
spamalot } { of blessings and unexpected returns
[After they make it to Thomas’s home in Santa Clarita, Jason began the process of the rituals of asking for their daughters hand in marriage. Jason is going to be sitting them down at the table and there will be tea and miso soup, and he will be dressed like this. He has to do all the roles that his family would at this meeting. So he would serve the soup and the tea, Thomas getting his first, then Talia, then himself.]
Jason: [when they are done with the meal, he puts a bamboo wood box on the table and looked at the two of them] It has been an honor meeting your daughter and the six years she and I have been friends and partners. When we made our choice to move back to Beacon Hills, I spoke with my ancestors on what my path would be, and they gave me the answer. I have asked for this meeting to ask you both for your blessings and permission so that I may join our houses and take Laura as my wife.
Thomas: [he had a feeling this was the purpose, and looked to Talia with a smile]
Talia: [smiles a bit as well, before nodding] Did you really think I would say no? [she can't help the little bit of snark that comes with being a Hale.] Of course, Jason.
Thomas: [nods] I'm not going to say no to someone who makes her happy.
Jason: [there is a small smile, but he has to keep with the traditions. His parents would be displeased if he didn't in their wake] For this, I have gifts to honor the Hale and Cartwright family to bless this day. [he opened the box, pulling out three items and laying them on a woven cloth as he describes them] This is Naganoshi, [a dried clam] Konbu, [a dried piece of kelp] and a set of takasago [a pair of dolls with white hair but faces painted to look like Jason and Laura. He slid them across the table to the parents] My family sends their blessings and wishes for this union to avoid ill fortune, have many children, and allow both Laura and I to grow old together - a feat that in our genetic code will be a long time.
Talia: [there's a slow sigh as she nods, one hand wandering to the dolls of the two of them for a moment. She doesn't look at Thomas, as much as she may like to.] We hope the same.
Thomas: That is one of the best gifts you can give her, Jason.
Jason: [nods, and then he reached into the kimono and pulled out a banded stack of cash, and he placed it on the table next to the gifts] This is my kosoderyou. The Nakagawa family knows that the Hale family is an old name with great meaning, one that your son Derek will pass along to his children. This is our offering in respect of the name, knowing that children Laura and I will have will be the heirs of both families under the Nakagawa name. [ not that he has asked Laura about naming their children just yet, but it was tradition to respect the names of powerful families giving up their daughters]
Talia: [not that she needs it, but she accepts the money graciously all the same, understanding that it's part of the tradition, and it will probably find its way back to him surreptitiously somehow. Not right away, but somehow.] Thank you.
Jason: I would have brought the ring for the blessing, but I am deviating from tradition to allow Laura to pick her own.
Thomas: Actually... I may have something. Give me a minute?
Jason: Of course. [bows his head]
Talia: [her head tips as she glances back to Thomas, watching him go curiously]
Thomas: [is up and goes to his room, and returns a few minutes later with a small box. He opens it and shows it to Talia first]
Talia: [her eyebrows raise a bit as she recognizes it, before there's a small smile] A good choice.
Thomas: [nods, and puts it on the table with the gifts] This belonged to Laura's grandmother, and her mother before her. [the unspoken that it would have gone to Talia is things had been different] I don't know if your traditions let us give a gift, but in England usually the daughter's family gave a dowry for their daughters to marry. Let me give you this instead, with my blessing for you to marry my daughter.
Talia: [she nods in agreement] You can consider the house mine.
Jason: [nods his head] You honor us greatly. Thank you.
Talia: [there's another small smile] Just take care of her. That's all either of us want for her.
Thomas: Exactly. Make her happy, and safe, and loved.
Jason: I will do so until my dying breath.
Talia: [she nods] Good.
Jason: [and he pulls out the sake bottle and three tiny cups] Then let us drink to the future between our families.
Talia: [smiles a bit as she waits for him to pour]
Jason: [he does, again serving Thomas first, then Talia, then himself before putting the bottle down by all the gifts and raising his cup and speaks in Japanese] May the ancestors bless this union.
Talia: [nods and raises her glass as well]
Thomas: [follows suit] To the bride and groom. [and he drinks, and Jason follows.]
Talia: [and she does the same, swallowing hard] It's been a while since I've had sake.
Jason: [smiles, the ceremony part over, and he relaxes a bit] Well, I did bring enough to make sure we could have a good celebration.
Thomas: He plans ahead. I like that.
Talia: [she laughs softly] He does. He and Laura have that in common.
Jason: The Nakagawa and Hale families are very similar in age and respect from the other clans. Being the eldest in each family, I think we understand each other a lot more then you'd expect. [he shifts a bit] If neither of you mind, I'm going to go change. I never really liked the way the kimono's sit on me.
Talia: Of course. By all means.
Jason: [gets up to head back to the bedroom where his real clothes are]
Thomas: He's a very interesting young man. How did Laura find him?
Talia: They were at Stanford together. I think it was more of her nose finding him than anything else - he was in one of her classes, she noticed that he was not quite human and wanted to make friends out of shifter solidarity. It ... grew from there.
Thomas: Our kids and their noses. [chuckles, looking at the dolls again] But I'm glad for her. She deserves to get that kind of forever commitment.
Talia: [she nods in agreement] He's very comfortable with her position in the pack as well. He's a good choice for her.
Thomas: Sounds like he's the eldest in his family too.
Talia: [she nods] I haven't met them, though I'd like to at some point before the wedding.
Thomas: Sounds like a long trip to Japan would be in order. I take it Laura has met them?
Talia: I'm not sure, but I'm assuming yes, if they're giving their blessing.
Thomas: When I talk with her, he's all she can talk about sometimes. I'm just happy she's happy. [finishes off his sake] How're the other two doing?
Talia: Well. Derek is at Georgetown for his Masters. He's staying with a local pack there - Fiona, his girlfriend, her sister their alpha's second.
Thomas: He had sent me an e-mail about that. I'm glad to know he's still following his dreams while he can. He told me some about this Fiona. It's good to hear he's finally moved past that girl who died.
Talia: He is. They're doing ... very well. And Fiona is ... [there's a pause as she tries to figure out the best way to phrase it] She's not like a lot of the girls he's normally used to.
Thomas: Well, maybe that's just what he needed.
Talia: I think so. He's very happy. Peter's going to see him this weekend.
Thomas: Good. Peter needs to get out of Beacon Hills every now and then for his own good.
Jason: [comes back down, his kimono back in it's bag and he leaves it at the door] We should probably head back if we don't want to be driving over the mountain in the dark.
Talia: [glances over to Jason for a moment, before turning back to Thomas.] If it's all the same, I think I'm going to stay for a while. Thomas and I haven't seen each other in some time ... I'd like more of a chance to catch up. [she then turns back to Thomas] That is, if it's alright with you?
Thomas: [chuckles] Of course you can stay. I can drive you home. [looks up at Jason] You be okay heading back on your own, son?
Talia: [glances back to Jason. If he's not good on his own, she'll go with him, but she thinks he'll be fine]
Jason: I think I can handle an hour long drive through the mountains on my own. I'll text you and let you know when I'm back safe, Ms. Hale. Mr. Cartwright, it was an honor to finally meet you.
Thomas: Same here, Jason. And I'm sure I will be seeing you again soon.
Talia: [nods as she gets up to give him a hug goodbye] Drive safe. And it's Talia. You're almost family.
Jason: [hugs her back.] Talia. I can do that. [lets her go, nods to Thomas, and he heads out to head back to Beacon Hills]
Talia: [watches out the door as she waits for him to drive off, before turning back towards Thomas. She closes the door and makes her way back to the couch.] Now where were we?
Thomas: Halfway through a bottle of sake and talking about the kids.
Talia: Right. [she resettles next to him, leaning back into the seat] Cora is with Laura this weekend. She took her sister and some friends to go have a look at Stanford. She's going to be a senior in September.
Thomas: Good school. She know what she wants to study yet?
Talia: [she shakes her head] She's ... undecided. I think that makes deciding what school she wants to go to hard, because she feels like in order to know what the right school is, she has to know exactly what she wants. I think looking at Laura and Derek who knew exactly what they wanted is making her feel like she's doing it wrong.
Thomas: My poor angel. She knows she doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to. Not right away anyway, right? I mean, there are other ways to learn how to be a grownup.
Talia: She does, but ... I don't think she understands it. She sees her friends talking about colleges and she doesn't want to be left out of that. She'll figure it out, she just needs a little time.
Thomas: Most schools these days are fine with kids going in not declaring a major, aren't they?
Talia: [she nods] She just has to pick one. I think Stiles will help with that, though. He's good at getting her out of her own head.
Thomas: And Stiles is the boyfriend now, right? [he heard about it from Derek since Cora doesn't talk to him much]
Talia: Stiles is the boyfriend. Do you remember the deputy, John Stilinski? His son.
Thomas: I remember him. He was a good man. [pause] Does he know...
Talia: [she nods] He knew before they started dating. His best friend was bitten, and joined the pack. Stiles was part of the package.
Thomas: I was thinking about John, but that's good to know. Not good about his friend being bitten though. [he's so out of the loop here]
Talia: Oh. Yes, the Sheriff is fully in the loop. As much as I think he wishes he wasn't. [there's a pause] Scott was ... a fluke. I'm still not sure why, beyond the fact that the alpha in question thinks he has ... potential. I'm doing my best to give him somewhere safe to go.
Thomas: Well, wouldn't be the first time you took in a stray. [meaning himself]
Talia: [she smiles a bit] I'm getting good at it.
Thomas: I'm glad to hear that Cora's got someone though, one who knows and understands. She needs that.
Talia: She does. And as I said, Stiles is good at keeping her from insulating herself too much.
Thomas: Good kid. How's Malia taking that? She and Cora were connected at the hip.
Talia: Oh, she's got a boy of her own. And they're still just as close.
Thomas: I guess I should ask how Peter's taking that.
Talia: About as well as can be expected. Though I've told him that he can't terrify the boy too much, so he's inflicting a lot of it on Stiles. Isaac has a history with abuse.
Thomas: Poor kids. Don't get how a parent could hurt their children like that.
Talia: Neither do I. But he's gone away for a long time. He's staying with Scott - the new beta - his mother took him in.
Thomas: Good, that's good. [gives a bit of a yawn] Damn, used to be able to hold my alcohol better.
Talia: Mmmm. [she has a feeling it's more than that. She reaches for his hand gently closing it in hers] Price of getting older, I suppose.
Thomas: [laughs] Yeah, guess so. Course you still look like you did the day I fell in love with you.
Talia: [her head tips to the side a bit] Hardly.
Thomas: Okay, maybe you aged five years at most. But you're still the beauty I remember.
Talia: [her hand comes up, brushing against the side of his face gently] So are you.
Thomas: [smiles, his hand coming up to hold hers against his cheek] You're too good to me, Talia. I know how old I look now.
Talia: [she smiles slightly] But your eyes are still the same.
Thomas: [nods. He looks at her a moment, then sighs a bit at her smile] You can smell it, can't you?
Talia: [she doesn't bother to lie to him. He knows better than that] How bad is it?
Thomas: Stage two. Maybe three, but the doctor isn't sure yet. We just discovered it about a week ago and I was waiting to get a firm diagnosis before telling you.
Talia: [her hand comes down to rest on his arm gently, giving it a small squeeze] Does he think it's treatable?
Thomas: Right now, yeah. We've got to plan surgery and therapy, but he won't know how far it spread until he gets back in me and looks around. [chuckles] Who needs all of their large intestine anyway, right?
Talia: [she watches him for a moment, a bit of sadness in her gaze] I can be here, if you'd like.
Thomas: Much as I'd like that, you got our kids to take care of, babe. Now you even got a wedding to plan.
Talia: Our kids are mostly adults. They can live without me for a few days.
Thomas: You sure about that? I mean, I know Peter'd be there, but he's not the alpha. [gives her a smile, because he was always proud of her and how she ran the family]
Talia: No, but he's close enough. It's not like I'm flying across the country.
Thomas: I've been going back up to LA for treatments. Same doc I had last time. Been thinking about retiring anyway now that I can get my pension from the government.
Talia: [nods, listening quietly for a moment] You could come home.
Thomas: [sighs] You remember when this happened last time? Derek curled up in my lap watching a ball game and asking me why I smelt funny? I can't do that to the kids again.
Talia: You keep thinking they're kids, Thomas. They're not. They're old enough to understand what it means - and you're their father. [she sighs softly] The only one who still lives at home is Cora. And if this is ... worse, is this how you want to leave things with her?
Thomas: [sighs and closes his eyes, leaning onto the back of the couch] They're still kids to me, Talia. And Cora barely talks to me at all. I don't know if I can even fix how much I hurt her anymore.
Talia: You never know if you don't try. And if there were ever a reason to try, this would be it.
Thomas: I don't want her thinking the only reason I came home was because I'm sick. That's not fair to her.
Talia: Things are never that simple. She's still a teenager and I can't guarantee that she'll welcome you with open arms, but she's not heartless. And she deserves time with her father.
Thomas: Peter told me before I left that if I ever needed help, the pack would always be there. He's come down to see me a few times since then. Don't know if he's ever told you that.
Talia: [she looks slightly surprised] No, he didn't.
Thomas: Figured as much. He kept me up on you mostly. We'd go drinking and he'd ask me about things he wasn't sure about on raising Malia, tell me how you were. Usually somewhere along the way he'd try and convince me to come back home to you and the kids. I think he felt he could eventually wear me down. But it's been a few years now since he's called, so I had thought he had finally given up.
Talia: [she's going to have to thank her brother for that later] I think he's had a lot on his mind lately.
Thomas: I was hoping the reason he disappeared was that he met someone finally.
Talia: [frowns slightly, before shaking her head] Unfortunately, no. He's had it a little rough in that department.
Thomas: Poor guy.
Talia: [nods] But I wouldn't count him out yet. Between Derek and Laura, I'm sure they'll find him someone eventually, so long as he's open to it. [which is ... the major hurdle of the problem]
Thomas: Those two still plotting together? [chuckles] Good to know some things will never change.
Talia: [she smiles] Only instead of practical jokes or getting their sister into trouble, they've taken on the project of finding someone for their uncle. Much more productive.
Thomas: I'm sure Peter loves being their pet project. [reaches over to run his fingers along Talia's face] They never tried to find you someone?
Talia: [her eyes meet his as her hand comes up to cover his this time] I think they knew I was spoken for.
Thomas: Good. Cause there ain't ever been any other woman in my life 'cept for you, babe.
Talia: [she nods as she leans into him a bit, pressing a kiss to his cheek] Another reason you should come home.
Thomas: [closes his eyes] You know even if I make it through this, I'm probably never going to recover fully. You'll just end up having to take care of me until that day comes. [he doesn't want to go home just to die, Talia]
Talia: You say that like it should bother me. It doesn't. If I get to have time with you, I want to have it.
Thomas: I wish I was still the young man who could keep up with you, babe. Give you the time like we used to have.
Talia: [she laughs softly, giving his hand a squeeze] This time is just as good.
Thomas: [he looks at her, giving her hand a squeeze back] If you're sure...
Talia: Yes. [her voice is soft, sure, keeping her grip on his hand tightly] I never wanted you to leave.
Thomas: Leaving was the hardest thing I ever did. Staying away so long... every day I said it would get easier, but it never did. I just don't want to go home because I'm dying.
Talia: You're not. You're coming home because I asked you to.
Thomas: Then I guess tomorrow I should start packing.
Talia: [she smiles softly] I can stay and help. I would have to tell most of them over the phone anyway. [because no one is home.]
Thomas: We can leave the furniture and house. Give the kids a place to go to escape down this way.
Talia: [she nods] I'm sure they'll appreciate it every once in a while.
Thomas: First we should make sure Cora is okay with it. I don't want to upset my angel.
Talia: [she nods] I was planning on calling her and Laura tonight. I can do that now.
Thomas: You do that. I'm going to go make some tea. Helps soothe the old bones before bed.
Talia: [nods before reaching for her purse to grab her phone and call her daughters]
Laura: [who are back in one of the suites they booked for their trip. Laura, Cora, Malia and Allison in one, and Argent with the boys in the other, but right now they're sort of mixed and matched - Argent took half of them for dinner, leaving the rest to hang out with Cora and Laura in the suite. The minute she sees her mom on the caller ID she picks up.] Hey Mom.
Talia: Is your sister there? I need to speak with both of you.
Laura: Yeah. [she taps the screen to put it on speaker before gesturing for Cora to come closer]
Cora: [frowns as she moves to sit next to her sister] What's up?
Talia: Your father is coming home.
Laura: [her face brightens a bit] Really? That's great.
Cora: [not looking ... quite so pleased] Oh. Okay.
Thomas: [returns with his cup of tea, standing in the archway between kitchen and living room and just listens. He can hear the hesitation in Cora's voice, but Laura's happiness makes him smile a bit]
Laura: When?
Talia: Soon. I came down to visit this weekend and we're going to start packing tomorrow.
Cora: Why? [there's a beat as Laura gives her a bit of a look, but she doesn't back down] Why now?
Talia: [glances towards the doorway before going back to her daughter] We decided it was time.
Cora: [that sounds like crap to her, but whatever] Oh, well, I'm glad you decided it was now.
Laura: Cora.
Talia: Cora, he doesn't want to do this unless you're okay with it. If you don't want him there, we don't have to do this.
Cora: [that doesn't really feel like a choice. if she says no, she disappoints her mother, her sister, all for a man who's been barely there her entire life and disappointed her enough. She could say no out of spite, but it's about her mom being happy. She shifts a bit in her seat, before shrugging] Whatever. It's fine.
Talia: Are you sure?
Cora: Yeah. Doesn't really matter either way. [she's going to college in a year anyway. Hopefully she won't have to deal with him long.] That it?
Talia: [sighs softly] Yes, that's it. I'll see you all when you get home.
Laura: [and with that, Cora is gone. Laura sighs softly] I can talk to her?
Talia: I think this is something she needs to do on her own. She'll come around.
Laura: Okay. I'll see you both when we get home.
Talia: See you then. [and with that, she hangs up]
Thomas: Maybe I should have stuck with the sake.
Talia: I never said it would be easy.
Thomas: I never thought she would hate me that much when I left. I knew it would hurt her, but I thought it was for the best.
Talia: She doesn't hate you. [it's something a little colder than that] I think we just caught her by surprise.
Thomas: Thank you for not telling them. I know I won't be able to hide it with all your noses, but I want to tell them. [nods] Maybe I should be the one to call Derek.
Talia: [she nods.] Of course. It's something better said face to face anyway. [she pauses at him being the one to call Derek] Do you want to tell him now?
Thomas: He's in DC now... [looks at the clock] We can call him in the morning. Let him get one more good night sleep because you know he's going to fret that he's not here.
Talia: [she nods] Then I suppose all that's left for us to worry about is dinner.
Thomas: There's a nice steak and seafood place a few miles towards the ocean. Come on, I'll take you on an old fashioned date.
Talia: [smiles as she gets up to join him] Sounds like fun.
Thomas: And if you're lucky, maybe I'll even give you a slow dance to the old juke box they have in the back. Though I'm a bit out of practice on that one.
Talia: [the smile widens as she takes his hand] Well, you do have to brush off a bit of that rust before the wedding.
Thomas: Best to start that now then. [holds her hand, smiling down at her and as it always was when she was there, he had no idea why he had ever left at all]
Talia: [she gives his hand a squeeze, and off they go to have a nice married couple date?]