A Note Or Two

[thatched]

[sometime in the night, two notes will be found under very specific doors]

Espio lad,
Come and talk with me.
-Thatch


My sweetest lady Grell,
I beg your forgiveness for my borish behavior and general bad attitude regarding your lovely person. Please allow me to have but a moment of your kind indulgence at your earliest convenience. I swear that I shall make it up to you in spades.
Forever Yours,
Thatch

Comments

[espio]

Don't care, grab what you got and throw it to me. If I don't like it, I'll tell you.

[...wait. It's Thatch. He's gonna assume he means something alcoholic.]

Better make it water or a soft drink.

You know, apologising and suddenly trying to be nice looks kind of suspicious... I'll go with it, though. [Yeah, he's just gonna sort of sit down and watch Thatch expectantly, waiting for him to introduce a conversation, because right now he just feels awkward.]

[thatched]

[he laughs] It is, right? [he pours Espio a glass of water since he really doesn't have anything carbonated and sets it down for him before sitting across from him]

How can he be like this when he's been an ass. What is his angle? That sort of thing. I would be suspicious, too.

But what is stubborn pride compared to family, eh? Connections are rare enough n this world, or any of them. Might as well cherish each one you have.

[espio]

Hm.

[Sips at the water.]

You're part of Marco's family, which makes you part of mine. Neither of us asked for that, but it's as they say - you don't really choose your family. Seems it holds true even when blood isn't involved. Your family chooses you and you just have to go along with it.

Still, it's hard to make the best of it when the others don't want to try. Should I to take this to mean you've decided to start trying, now?

Because no lie, I was getting pretty pissed off.

[thatched]

You and me both. [he had been trying, but what did it matter? Communication was still such a difficult thing and he brushes the spike in aggravation aside.]

But I am who I am, Espio. Interfering in wedding plans, wanting to invite guests or change the colors--I wanted to be included. Aye, it's your day. But for me, celebrations are about family. Being together and sharing a common united symbol. It doesn't have to be Pops'.

[he lets out an shaky breath and t feels as if he's letting go of something that he can never get back. But for Marco's sake he will. For Marco's sake he will rebuild himself]

I just want something that represents all of us.

[espio]

So basically, you want to take Grell's place as my mother in law.

[Because seriously, she's the one with the actual position to be an annoying, overbearing, controlling "DO THIS ALL MY WAY" pest.]

[thatched]

[He rests his chin on his fist] Well I don't have much experience with mothers-in-law, but no. I want to find a place of my own.

[espio]

You could say it's their traditional role to try and make a wedding "right" according to their own wants rather than the couple's.

Give us some credit. Family's too important to both of us for them to be left out! But please just remember it's our day - we'll always get chances to celebrate being family, but we'll only ever have one wedding. I swear you'll be included, but let us be at least a little selfish with it, okay?

It's already bad enough thinking Grell's gonna try and take control without you two fighting for it.

[thatched]

Aye and understood.

[he would do his best to keep an eye on the situation, then. Hopefully by that time he would understand Grell and Espio enough to tug threads here and there to make the entire day more comfortable and pleasing for both concerned.]

And sometime before that... [he swallowed and his voice broke a little] I would like your help in composing a memorial for my father.

[espio]

My help?

[...huh?]

Thatch... I never knew him. Not really. I know him mostly through stories. To me, he's a figure worthy of respect and someone to look up to, the man who made my best friend who he is, the one who set the foundation for the family I have now. But he's more of a legend to me than a person.

Is that really the kind of help you want? From a person who sees him in that kind of way?

[thatched]

Aye. Because he is a legend. He is a myth taller than the mountain and greater than the sea. And for me he's everything. The fact that for you he's more story than reality adds some perspective I think.

And you are honest, Espio. You see the truth and speak your mind and I would just go into flowery exposition because I love that dance.

[espio]

I guess...

[He just looks confused.]

What kind of memorial do you mean? Like, a speech?

[thatched]

I don't know. It's something that won't happen for a few months. We all need a chance to settle in, I think.

[since he knows he does. He goes to the fridge and grabs a bottle of beer before sitting back at the table]

I appreciate it, though, mate. And, just so you know, I'll probably continue to irritate the hell out of you and vice versa since that's the way families are-- but I've got your back always.

[espio]

When Grell first met me, she tried to kill me with a chainsaw.

I think I can handle some irritation as long as you promise never, ever to impersonate Charmy Bee.

[thatched]

[that makes him laugh] Charming woman, that Grell. [said with all sincerity]

I have no idea who that is, so I wouldn't do it intentionally anyway.

[espio]

You know I said that Chaotix are my first priority, no matter what?

He's one of them.

He's also the most infuriatingly irritating person that has ever existed.

[And somehow, he still misses him.]

[thatched]

[while he doesn't doubt it, he also has the feeling that Espio is annoyed by most people. It's almost charming in a way and Thatch looks forward to poking him with it]

Maybe he'll show up here. Whatever else, this seems to be a place for second chances and new beginnings.

[espio]

Please no. I don't think I can take it.

[Though being here would make him alive, so there's that. He could always go send him to Zabala's office with all his messages, or just for no reason. He's so annoying Espio thinks he'd make a good weapon.]

...it would be good if they could come here, though. It means they can live just a little longer. But it kind of hurts living knowing that you should be dead, especially knowing that your friends died with you and you couldn't stop it.

[thatched]

Aye. I know that feeling all to well. [he leans forward on his elbows, pressing his fingers to his lips. His voice is low and uneven as he speaks, though his gaze remains centered on Espio]

My mate killed me and my brother went off for vengeance. [hotheaded idiot. As if Thatch had been worth that much trouble] He died because of it, and my father died because of him.

[he closes his eyes.]

So much potential wasted.

[espio]

[Quiet.

Because there's really not much of anything to be said.]

I know.

[thatched]

[because Marco tells everyone everything. Because in all things, Marco wants his family to understand eachother. Poor desperate birdling.]

Anyway, that's all I wanted. To make peace between us and to thank you for the bento. [he opened his eyes to watch him] It's a very touching gesture.

[espio]

Don't get soppy. It's a damn lunchbox, the whole family gets one unless they decide to moan about it.

Besides, I like making them. Gives me something to do at six am.

[thatched]

I'll get soppy if I damn well please. [though he says it teasingly] Every time I see one my heart overflows with emotion and I can't help but think 'Oh Espio! You do care! If only you weren't already gone from me'! Then again--

[he rubbed his chin]

Who says love can't be shared?

[espio]

[Looks for something he can throw. Sadly, he's a bit lacking in the things to throw department, unless he takes a shoe off or throws the glass of water...]

Shut it!

[thatched]

[he laughs] You're so cute when you're annoyed.

[and he'll just scoop Espio up in a squishing hug because this is the price of family]

Promise me you'll be this cantankerous forever, sweetheart.

[espio]

Aaaaack!

[As Marco could have told him, Espio is prone to flailing wildly and kicking out when picked up, especially when squished or hugged in any way. He doesn't like being picked up, okay?! He's not your damn pet! Or Marco's! Marco only gets away with it because Espio already learned to just give it up!]

Put me down!