Daybreak | IC Inbox.

[awooligan]

CLIFFORD NORMAN
UN: REDRIDINGHOODIE

STATUS: grade 11

ACCOLADES: n/a.

BIO: name's cliff. let me know if you'll buy cigarettes and shit for me, we can work something out.

© TESSISAMESS

Comments

[awooligan]

rip to Mili

rip to Cliff, too, because he was really hoping she would know something he doesn't, but apparently not...! Not that it's her fault. It wasn't like they'd had too firm a handle on things even without the complication of parents, thanks to this whole having their faces light on fire and stammering around stuff. It's...a little easier in this space, not that he can put his finger on why. Guessing was easy -- he was closer to her than he's been able to be in a long time, no more ocean or technology between them, and they'd decided this was just for them. No worrying about someone disturbing things while they worked it out... Not that they've got forever, or anything.

"Yeah, and that 'lovebirds' thing he said." This is probably mostly his fault? Being a fool, asking if he could visit her for Valentine's weekend like he wouldn't be figured out even if he didn't explicitly say it. "I guess we haven't really talked about it that much. Because we are still friends, just, uh... Coco? Did I ever officially ask you to be my girlfriend, or did I just imagine it a lot?"

It'd be dorky, if it was an attempt at being smooth, but unfortunately he's half-genuine. It's been so long and full of panic?

[kept_his_letters]

She laughs nervously as she says, "Y-yeah. That."

She'd tried to brush it off as teasing. It was teasing. But she'd opted not to put much thought into how much truth was behind it. Only that, maybe, there was some. Because Cliff is right. They hadn't much talked about it. She almost felt afraid to talk about it, like something would come apart on her if they did, though what she doesn't know. She doesn't know if it's their friendship, even if she does feel relief when he says that's still firmly in place.

All the same, another nervous laugh breaks from her and her eyes stay down on the floor. Her face stays red.

"You, um, you didn't ask me. Imaginary me must be pretty happy for all the attention," She jokes. She swallows her nerves. "Did you want me to be?"

[awooligan]

Wow. She should probably punch him? He thinks she should punch him. This is a gross oversight on his part and, like, sure, he'd refrained from asking over text because it was more important than that, and he hadn't wanted to end a video call prematurely on an awkward note... Okay, looking at it from that angle, it makes sense to him, but now that he's right next to her, after flying across the world? What would an awkward note put an ending to now?

But she looks like she feels just as nervous as he does, and she said imaginary her must be happy. She looks really pretty when she laughs. He likes her a lot, and that thought hits him for maybe the twentieth time today after too many times for him to have kept track of since he met her. Cliff swallows hard.

"Yeah. I, uh, really want you to be. Do you? Want to be my girlfriend?"

[kept_his_letters]

She wouldn't very much like to punch him. It would probably hurt them both and make them both upset at that. Besides that, it's hardly his fault. She'd kissed his cheek. She'd... needed to thank him somehow, some way more than just saying thanks. It needed to be more and then... then she was going to go. She was going to run away and then go back home and, truth be told, she'd kind of assumed he'd forget her. Maybe not right away, but eventually. And it would be okay and they would have been friends and she'd treasure what was. Life would go on.

Thinking about it, it was kind of how things might have gone with her Papá. If music hadn't been banned, if she'd been allowed that quiet but fading memory, if he'd never come back for that brief time... Mamá had never wanted to be the mournful maiden of fairytales and though she didn't like what happened instead, Coco wouldn't have wanted to be like that either. She would've allowed the memory to be and go as new memories were lain over. She realizes it's how she expected to be thought of too, one day lost in the layers of memory, neither an act of malice nor completely out of mind. Just a very small piece of someone's big life.

But Papá had come home for her. Mamá had always held her tight, even when she disappointed her. Cliff didn't just let go. She wonders why, but, she doesn't want to ask. She wants to answer.

"Yes," She says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "That would be really nice."

[awooligan]

"Oh."

????? why did he say that

Cliff goes to clear his throat, but he's interrupted by a laugh that's both nerves and happiness as oh it settles in again that she's said yes. She wants to be his girlfriend, and being his girlfriend would even be nice, as unbelievable as that is to hear. He glances away from her, brushing his knuckle to his nose like maybe that will be enough to sweep his blush away or hide his embarrassing, giddy grin. It's not. He doesn't want to not look at her much longer, so...he decides it doesn't matter, and he turns his smile over to her again and lifts his other hand to touch the back of her arm in a sort of invitation. Not that he really knows what it is he's inviting.

"Okay. Good, that's...really good." That established, "So, uh, does what happens in secret base stay in secret base, or...? I mean, not that I'm say we would announce it or whatever. Unless you wanted to! I...guess."

Help.

[kept_his_letters]

He so very carefully avoids contact. It's not something she's ever seen anyone do, really. People in her town, complete strangers even, would be familiar as old friends. But she's tried to mind differences and mind him too, as much because she wants to be kind as that she wants to be kind to him.

Perhaps it's because of that that such a little touch could send her heart racing. It makes her breath catch and her eyes fix on him, wondering and wondering what's to come next, if anything at all. Maybe if will be more of the same as they've been. Maybe everything will be different. She leans in either way.

"We don't have to announce it. Or keep it secret. We can just... keep it. Say it if we feel like or not. Is that okay?"

[awooligan]

That's a relief, too. Just because things were a little different, it didn't mean things had to change. They'd comfortably do what they wanted at their own pace -- maybe a little longer, thanks to his introverted nature, but not too long, hopefully. "Yeah. Okay."

His eyes fall to her lips, but the thought makes him flush even harder. The flip-flop in his heart is oddly pleasant, but there's another, less comfortable one in his gut as the familiar voice inside reminds him that he isn't the same as she is. He had a mouth that was also fangs and blight. Not safe... Never mind everything he's been told about only being a risk while turned into a wolf. What if!!!

Cliff swallows and looks away again, instead trailing his fingers down her arm to rest his hand next to hers. Maybe when he had a little more confidence. It wasn't like he was in a rush -- it was just the first day!

"So...we'll meet back here again later, when there's more time? I don't know what getting the mist is going to be like, but if I can help... You know. I want to hang out with you more up here, and..."

[kept_his_letters]

Her breath is held. She waits, her gaze fixed on him. But, ultimately, nothing comes of it. His gaze falls away and his hand doesn't even clasp hers. She feels disappointed for a moment, but only that. It would have been too much, too fast for him. She can understand. She smiles in a way she hopes is reassuring.

"Yes," She says with a nod. "Hopefully. You never know how crazy things are going to be."

But, if nothing else, she would find a way to make some time. A little lie for her family never hurt anything. Much.

"We should probably head out in case they've come back though. So it stays a secret."

[awooligan]

His own nod is small, gaze trailing the different piles in the attic to give himself something to focus on and keep him from kicking himself for both considering kissing her and not just going for it. Both things were terrible, obviously, and he's not allowed to win.

She was absolutely right, though -- there was no telling how crazy things were going to be. Something that might help is making sure they're where they're supposed to be, not doing anything they're not supposed to be doing.

"Yeah. Probably." As unwilling as he is to end their time alone together, he's more unwilling to lose out on future opportunities to do so, so he pushes himself onto his feet and holds his hand out to her. He can manage this much with her, shyness and fears be damned. He'd chickened out a lot, outside of the flying cat. "Come on. You can show me other places, for now."

[kept_his_letters]

She's a little surprised when he offers his hand, but in a moment, she beams. There's no hesitation in taking it and she rises to her feet with him.

"Happily."


They don't get too far before the chaos returns. She shows her garden and she shows him her room-- another humble little thing, simple pictures on the walls, embroidered pillows, a bedside table, an old doll on a shelf where a tiara of paper flowers also sits, and the closet in which she hides her Tíos' funnier inventions, not to mention a makeshift superhero costume of spider theme which she laughingly says she made when that other boy was staying with her, before they'd moved to a city someplace else.

She shoves the costume away when she hears Pepita land outside the window, then she's running to the gate. Even now, even with company, she races to the front door and when her Papá steps through the gate, she runs to him with arms wide and he catches her. They hug, he kisses her, and neither let go, as if it were more than a mere hour apart.

Teto looks around the place. There's a little redness in his eyes, but it's fading, proof that whatever got into his system has at least settled for the moment. He takes the place in with awe.

Then Imelda steps forward. She places a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder, but speaks to him sternly.

"Now rest."

"Ay, mi amor, but you must know the pain I feel to leave you now. To part from you--"

There's a hint of red to Imelda's cheeks as she counters, "And it will be for much longer if you do not go."

He grins, then reaches for her hands, kisses her, and steps to the house.

"¡Buenos días, mi familial!" He calls back. "And you too, Cliff. Have fun!"

Imelda, exasperated, shoos her husband through the door before turning back to help her brothers with the luggage.

[awooligan]

Being in a girl's room is weird, even when he reminds himself that they used to stay in the same room. Her stories take his mind off that fact, bringing him to the present, which is the perfect time to be teasing her over being a nerd. At least she's a really cute nerd.

He'd looked up a second before her, hearing Pepita's wings, but he still trails along behind her at a more casual pace, leaning in the doorway to watch with an amused, fond smile. He shakes his head at Héctor's ridiculousness, passing by him with a wave on his way over to Teto to gently nudge him with an elbow. You good, kiddo...

Mili's great, at least, running to quickly catch up to their dad so they can coax him down and kiss him on the cheek before padding over and lightly tugging at Imelda's skirt. "Mamá! I can help, too! Can I help?" Because they will absolutely load themself up with everything and march it into the house, if given the opportunity. Them strong.

Once reunited with his luggage, Cliff carefully unzips it just enough that he can peer inside and feel assured that it all survived the trip just fine. Without removing anything else, he pulls something wrapped up in brown packing paper and awkwardly tilts it in Imelda's direction. It's a jar with a small sprig rooted inside.

"Uh, since he's gone to rest... Mr. Rivera was convinced these would have some kind of magical property, because they're kind of weird. I've only ever seen them in Podunk." Also it's Valentine's, sort of, and she's hosting him, so??? "They're blue roses. Or will be, I guess, when they grow -- uh, can I help you?"

Because Mili's back and trying to sniff at the jar, but the way they're leaning in only makes Cliff lean away, as uncomfortable as they are curious.

[skeletones]

He calls her a nerd. She says he's just jealous that she got to swing off a building and he didn't.

At cliff's nudge, Teto puts on a smile. It's partly instinct, to plaster it on, but in this case he mostly means it. He's good. Enough to bump Cliff back before going to say awkwardly hi to Coco.

Héctor stops with Mili's approach, laughing because they had a whole car ride together, but he easily bends low to press a kiss to the top of their head before ruffling their hair. Imelda soon finds herself amused too, only by Mili's offer of assistance. She allows it, but he bids them to be careful, even knowing the luggage might be safer with them than her brothers.

She looks a little surprised by Cliff's offer but then Mili is right in the middle of that. Her hands go on her hips.

"Milagros. Do you want to help or do you want to smell roses? Because you cannot do both." She holds out a hand. "Give it here then. I will find a place for it, once I've checked it for residual magic."

[awooligan]

No one can honestly expect Mili to not stick their nose, literally, half the time, into everyone's business. Their name makes them look up, and as much as it disappoints them, they have to accept the logic in their Mamá's words.

"Definitely seeded with magic, at least," they confide in a whisper to Imelda before trotting off to lift something heavy above their head, where it rests with ease. Cliff relaxes again at having his space to himself. He probably shouldn't comment on weird fairy shit in front of the weird fairy's mother...but maybe he can chat with Teto about it, later. He was looking awkward, too, even if was doing much better now. For now, he'll just pass the jar along and hold his arms behind his back, hands on each opposite elbow. The other one he can take care of later...

Better to go join his fellow teens for now, though he slows his approach to assess whether this is actually a good time. Maybe they were bonding, he doesn't know!!

[skeletones]

"Thank you, Mili," Imelda says, warmly, before the fairy child runs off. "And thank you as well, Clifford."

The conversation between Teto and Coco tends for the tentative and shy side. There's some warmth there for certain, but both seem unsure how to navigate it.

"--still the same. A bit."

"I guess things don't change much in Santa Cecilia," Coco laughs lightly.

"Are Señor y Señora Rivera-- er- your, um Abuelitos? Are they still in town?"

"They were on the outskirts for a while, in the old house, but they've moved further away. Not too far."

"Ah... And Señor Herrarez?"

"Who- Oh! Yes! I think. You mean that man in that old brown hat with the clay rattle on it?"

"Yeah! You've never talked to him? He tells all kinds of stories! All about the old temples and stuff. He even taught me a bit of the language. There was a song... Xikiyehua in xochitl, Xikiyehua ipan noyollotl, Pampa nimitzlazotla--"

"Pampa nimitzlazotla, Ika nochi noyollotl," She finishes, though with only half his grace.

"You know it!"

"I know Makochi Pitentzin better, but it's hard to remember either until I hear it sung."

"...Cause of, uh, Señor R?"

Coco laughs and rubs at her arm, unintentionally mirroring the boy across from her. "Yes," She admits. Then, after a pause, she adds, "Maybe we can show each other different songs sometimes. There's got to be a bunch we don't know."

Teto brightens, "That sounds great! Cliff's being showing me the phone and the internet and stuff. Right Cliff?"

[awooligan]

Somehow, he's surprised when he's addressed, having been content just listening to the awkward pair. They're nice to listen to. Needed to find their footing and all, but there was a lot of common ground for them to stand on, once they figured more of this shit out. But there he was, being invited to stand there, too, even though his own place was shaky. He settles between them at their sides.

"Like I had any other choice?" His voice, at least, has confidence bordering on punchable. "Easiest way to get you access to music. Besides, I had to find something I could teach you in exchange for help with Spanish." There hadn't been any chance of Mr. Rivera being able to figure it out enough to be of any help, either, with how he'd stuck to such an old phone. "And I'll bet some of that music's good for the two of you to dance to. Finally got someone around that can keep up, right?"

[skeletones]

What Cliff apparently doesn't realize is that he's one of their greatest commonalities. He's someone they both know, are close to, and can be at least a little at ease around.

Teto gives Cliff a wry grin for that punchable confidence like he wants to shove the other boy. But the access to music more than gives Cliff a pass. His grin turns to a look of surprise.

"Dancing?"

"I hadn't thought of that," Coco admits.

"That could be fun," Teto says. He hadn't danced with a girl before but it's probably not weird to do with a sort-of-sister.

[awooligan]

Cliff is dumb that way. And yet he says, "Good thing you guys have me around so I can share my genius ideas."

Mostly he's just...relieved. He still wants to dance with Coco someday, and he's sure it will get easier as time goes on, but it's nice to be able to offer them both this solution in the meantime, with how they both loved it. His hands go to his pockets, and though he keeps talking to them, his eyes follow the back and forth of the fairy carrying things above their head like it weighs nothing. What the fuck... Well, he could do that, too, but it was still effort.

"So, uh... What's the room situation going to be?"

[kept_his_letters]

Teto makes a pffft noise whilst Coco covers a laugh with her hand. They both feel no hesitation with laughing at him apparently.

"Oh! Right!" Starts Coco. "Come on, follow me."


She leads Cliff back into the house and Teto into the house for the first time. She greets Mili as they pass and urges the other two to hang back as Mili sweeps past. She almost thinks to point out what's new and what's old but realizes how silly that would be when everything is new to them.

She leads them down a hall that takes a turn, then into a modest-sized room with mostly plain walls, a bed to the side, and a wooden desk for writing, a thus-far-empty dresser. But in amongst the relative plainness, a hammock hangs by a hook bolted into the ceiling, the fabric of it a great rainbow of colors. Teto's eyes light at the sight of it, dazzled. Coco gets as far as saying that her Tíos will set up a cot for him when Teto rushes forward to the thing, hops in, and declares he loves it.

"We figured you'd like a place to play when you come to live with us," She says with a laugh. Then to Cliff, "The bed's yours for the weekend. If you need more blankets or anything, Mamá will have some."

Teto, still swinging slightly, says, "This is so cool."

Coco beams. "Papá has something else for you later, once he's up again."

"Really? What is it?"

"You'll have to wait and see!"

[awooligan]

Cliff doesn't need to be told twice to stand clear of Mili, especially since they're doing some of the same waltzing steps as Coco would do, but somehow came off as much more chaotic and half the time they had something heavy going along with them. Well... At least it means his luggage is just outside the room waiting for him already...

He brings it the last little bit in, looking around the room and feeling out of place. Same as he had when he'd first come to the academy, so it isn't a surprise. He turns and opens his mouth to say something, but Teto's antics make him close it again and shake his head. Arms crossed across himself, he leans over in Coco's direction.

"I was going to say he should take the bed instead, but now I think he might fight me if I do." Boy sure is happy in that hammock. He's curious about whatever this surprise is, too, eager for more things to make Teto happier and more comfortable in this place, this family, but he can't exactly needle Coco about it right in front of the guy. "I should be good on the blankets. If I'm dying or whatever, I can just go wolf until the next morning." When he would probably continue to not bring it up because he doesn't want to be a bother.

With tumbling footsteps, Mili returns to the doorframe and holds onto the side. They did it! They're done! They did a good job! "Oh! You're in the rainbow net! Fun, right?"

Also, for no reason in particular, Cliff glances around the room again. Any windows that look easy to enter and exit?

[skeletones]

(Be nice Cliff.)

Coco laughs at that muttered comment and it goes unnoticed by Teto. When he speaks of going wolf, her eyes dart briefly to Teto, then back, a question in her eyes. Though, she supposes his ease with saying it answers that.

Teto doesn't miss the Fairy in the doorway. With a new kind of uncertainty, he smiles and lifts a hand in a small wave.

"Yeah, it's really cool. I always wanted a hammock like the ones they make Oaxaca. Did, um, did you want to sit too?"

Looks like Cliff is doomed to fairy time.

[awooligan]

(They keep getting too close!! He needs his personal space...)

Mili instantly looks pleased at the invitation, hair seeming to puff just as happily, but they pause after getting two steps in and retreat back to the threshold. They have free reign of the house, and even with the half-change of claim to the room, Teto's question should suffice, but there are rules beyond fairy rules called courtesy, and they've been trying to be more mindful of those ones now that they're spending so much more time with humans. They look to Cliff, who was also staying in this room and should have a say, and ask, "Is that okay?"

"Uh. Sure." He sounds a little uncertain, but it's more about be weirded out that he was asked at all. Mili nods and grins, trotting inside and over to Teto, where they slow again to give him an opportunity to change his mind.

Cliff watches them a moment longer, but he'd caught the look from Coco. With Teto and Mili busying themselves with each other, it's easier to relax a little and pretend it's just her that's around. Still, when he talks, his voice is lowered and has that careful quality like at any moment the floor might turn into eggshell he has to navigate without cracking. If Mili's listening at all, they do an excellent job of pretending not to be. Small mercies.

"He, uh, saw me. That Herald thing with the undead, we were helping each other, and it didn't make a ton of sense to not talk to him, so..." He shrugs. The wolf part still has his voice, no hiding that, unlike how he intentionally leaves the details of the situation vague. She doesn't need to worry about him, and he's pretty sure Teto wouldn't want her given a reason to worry over him, either. "...And your dad. We were talking a little about blight, and... Man, I don't know. It felt like I should, with, uh, everything."

Getting to stay in his home, and the whole being head over heels for the guy's daughter, and all.

"I'm trying to..." Cliff trails off with a sigh at himself. "I'm trying."

[kept_his_letters]

Teto's laugh is soft and a little uncertain, both for the weird hair puffing and the pause, but still, he makes room. He's not about to go back on his words now. Being a hammock, it's bound to put them pretty snug together. He finds himself thinking less about the physical contact than he does the fact that he, whatever magic and energy made him up, partially came from the fairy.

Coco listens, carefully quiet. She nods with the story, putting together the pieces he leaves unsaid. Then, tentatively, she smiles.

"I'm glad," She says, just as quiet. "I think you're doing good. I hope it's... I hope it makes things lighter. Easier."

Even if only a little bit.

[awooligan]

Mili scrambles up, sitting perpendicular to him and hugging their legs as they give him another brilliant grin. Yay!

"I used to have a net! But it was made of sleep silk and nap sap, not human things. Yours is way more colorful! Less fragile, too. We don't always appreciate good craftsmanship, since there's a certain novelty in impermanence."

When you live a long-ass time, it's curious to watch wear and tear, sometimes.

"Now I have a nest. Like a blanket nest! It's on my bed." They seem...very proud of this, somehow, but that pride is quickly replaced by excitement. "Oh! And if you want, I can share those things I got! I haven't put them up yet. I don't know if you like that sort of thing..."

Not that they understand why anyone wouldn't, nor do they seem to register that they haven't actually said what 'those things' are.

Meanwhile, Cliff is cautiously glancing over to Coco instead of staring at his orange and green shoes. The words and the smile make him feel like...yeah, it was easier. At least for now. They also make him really want to kiss her, and why does he have to be so stupid?

"Yeah." Thrilling commentary. "...I met some guys that were okay, too. Other lycans. I mean, I guess I knew them already back in...September? But I didn't know they were like that. Definitely explains why they were so chill about buying me that crap."

Good ol' bad coping mechanism from back then. He's not sure if it's for the better or worse if she doesn't remember what he's talking about... Passing out drunk for a week wasn't the best!!!

[skeletones]

Teto looks somewhere between bewildered and amused. Sleep silk and nap sap, whatever the heck those are. It seems best to let Mili babble, which, he thinks, is probably how people used to think of him too. Though he's certain he never had that much pride for anything like a bed nest.

"Those things?" He repeats, confused.

Coco's brows furrow, trying to recall.

"Oh! Oh, right."

Yeah, that stuff. She wasn't super jazzed about that but...

"I'm glad you came around to finding people," She says, meaning it all the same. "I'm guessing they were waiting for you to admit it to them first, huh?"

[awooligan]

"Stars!"

They hold their hands out to the sides, and twinkling lights float out from their palms before fizzling out. Then they're cupping a hand around their mouth and leaning forward just a bit, as if to impart a very important secret.

"They're not for-real stars like constellations, but they're very pretty. I didn't know humans could make their own, and they're not even magic!"

Cliff just shrugs. "I guess. Then they must've gotten bored."

He'd been pretty angry with them when they'd swung by in the week leading up to November's full moon to pester him about it, but he had to admit that it made it a lot easier to burn the extra energy off, even when the others were either too big or too small to play around with a juvenile wolf very safely. That's what had made him feel safe enough going home for Christmas as long as he had Tobias there with him to soothe the dumb full moon blackout wolf brain. It was good that they'd been able to offer some holiday cheer in exchange.

So. Everything worked out, even if he did feel stupid for not realizing it, and a little pissed that they had let him go on that whole self-destructive bend even if it was for the sake of letting him have his secrecy. Well, at least he still had an easy source for cigarettes and beer when he actually wanted it.

"...It sounds so fucking dumb, but I guess it's something like pack instinct? I don't know. It's easier to be like that when I'm not alone, I guess, as weird as it is to...let people see. It sucks it means this stuff screwed up my brain, too."

Bad dog brain...