[ota] there ain't nothing that I need

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

It's been a gloomy sort of week. He's blamed the holiday season for it. Holidays made a person think about home, after all--and for a large number of people, that wasn't a pleasant thing. Cadogan's hardly the only one who gets quiet when asked about family, about traditions, about 'would you be going back now if we could leave?' Home is such a completely odd word, shifts this way and that and really doesn't need to be highlighted just because it's time to celebrate the winter holiday season.

But Friday morning... Friday morning he's going to vanish for a little bit. Not out of the Deck, clearly, but into his office for a few hours when it's entirely possible he really ought to be out being a Ten.

He'll reappear in the afternoon, play catch-up with files and monitoring and all the other work he's meant to be doing in a day. With, of course, two notable breaks being made.

He's got to hug Sophie for telling his mother to come. And he's got to hug Silas for bringing her here.


{ooc; Catch Cadogan (or be caught in a hug by Cadogan) here, but if you want a whack at his mother answering questions about what a little shit he was as a kid, she's also here.}

Comments

[onlytolerable.livejournal.com]

She's become better at receiving ninja hugs since being around Sitara and Adrien. That doesn't mean she doesn't still erupt into a surprised squeal when grabbed when she'd expected a smile and a pleasant hello.

There's really nothing else to do save laugh and hug back. "Hello to you, too!"

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

He'll explain himself in a minute. He needs to just cling to her tight for a few minutes, bury his face in her shoulder and squeeze her in against his chest. There's a firm kiss to the side of her head before he lets go.

/Thank you./

[onlytolerable.livejournal.com]

Never let it be said that Sophie Berthier possesses the perfect poker face. Her attempt at an innocent expression is ruined by the dimples playing on either side of her mouth and a smile she can't quite conceal. He definitely gets a hug back, so he'll have to settle for words instead of sign.

"Um...you're welcome?" See how good she is at keeping a secret?

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

It feels good, just clinging like this as a form of appreciation. He'll fall back into thanking (Roisin wasn't particularly good at keeping this sort of secret, apparently).

But really, it's amazing how much this means-- that she's here, that Sophie helped bring her here. He can't begin to express it properly.

[karatofquality.livejournal.com]

Silas is pushing the paperwork through to officially claim Roisin as a Two of Diamonds when Cadogan comes in, and his smile is quiet, but knowing. Of course he did everything in his power to get her here for the holidays. He didn't intend to trap her here, when the plans went into effect. But he wasn't about to cancel them once she'd been convinced, so this would just have to do. If he's very, very lucky, she won't want to leave by the time the borders open again.

"I hope you're having a marvelous day, my friend. You've earned one," he hums contentedly, scratching at his chin before adding his swooshy signature to the papers. Everything is nice and official, now. No worries, no problems. Perfect. Welcome to Diamonds, Ms. Thomas.

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

There don't need to be words, right? There doesn't need to be an explanation as he shuts the door, sweeps across the room to the older man's desk and gives the king's shoulder a light tug.

Up. Up instantly. Up and into a tight, appreciative, overwhelmed sort of hug.

[karatofquality.livejournal.com]

That hug is sufficient. His arms are tight around the other man, a grin properly spreading across his face while he chuckles.

"She was glad to come," he hums, pressing his forehead to Cadogan's temple. "She wanted to be with her son. Merry Christmas, my friend."

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

That doesn't mean this isn't the best Christmas gift he's ever received. That he isn't going to cling her just a few moments longer, tight and quiet and completely overwhelmed with the kindness of the gesture.

It takes a moment to detach, lean back enough to speak.

/It's too much. Really./

[karatofquality.livejournal.com]

"Hush. It couldn't possibly too much for me to reunite my best friend with his mother. I know it stressed you out, having her so far away that you couldn't see her every day, and it stressed her out that she couldn't see you every day, too."

He bumps his forehead against the other man's, chuckling. "It's my gift to you, and it's the best I can give you. Don't expect anything to top this, all right?"

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

/I can't begin to think how to repay you./

How do you match this sort of a present? This sort of a massive, life-changing gift?

[karatofquality.livejournal.com]

His expression is teasing, light, and so very amused when he says, "Find a man for me, Cadogan, who will date me and enjoy doing it."

He's kidding, honestly, but it's still amusing.

[wherethewild.livejournal.com]

No one is hugging Peter, and that's perfectly fine. Because Peter is sulking. Admittedly, it's not like he wanted to go home and visit his parents. But it would have been nice to have the option.

Instead of getting stuck in some kind of Stepford prison.

Still, he can be a professional in the IT version of the word, which mostly involves giving Mr. Cadogan Thomas a level glare as he holds up what he knows damn well is a fairly state of the art bug, even if it looks like an mp3 player.

"Shorted out."

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

Glaring is perfectly acceptable. Glaring isn't going to ruin the fact he's having a perfectly wonderful sort of day. In fact, glaring is going to be met with the same quiet blank today it would be met with any other day of the year.

[wherethewild.livejournal.com]

As long as he's not getting called on not being a cheerful ray of sunshine, he won't mention the excuses he's going to have to make up for not showing up for Christmas goose.

"Probably." Of course he can. "Can't promise that the Brandenberg concertos will survive intact, though." Really. This was the music his terrifying great-aunt Pippa listened to.

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

Just to be in the proximity of one. And really, this is an entirely subdued version of one, compared to, say, McCartneys and the other unreasonably cheery folk who couldn't turn it the hell off.

There's even a faint wrinkling of his nose, but his shoulders lift calmly enough.

[wherethewild.livejournal.com]

"Well, it is so old that the previous model was carved out of stone by a tech-oriented caveman." Okay, so it's not so bad as that. Still. There's a jerk to his shoulder and a faint twist to his lips.

"Something to ask Father Christmas for, I expect."

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

Ah, well. He's fairly certain his Christmas wishes have already been a million times more than fulfilled. Maybe he'll just buy a new one in January.



Danielle had taught him technological words he swears.

[wherethewild.livejournal.com]

That's always the more pragmatic option, so far as Peter's concerned.

"If I don't, it's only a matter of time before something self-destructs. You might want to consider the virtues of upgrading occasionally." Instead of, you know, spending all the money on the very nice Waterford that's being polished for the shindig later this week.

[likemarilynsaid.livejournal.com]

A rather cheery Cadogan is enough to give anyone pause, isn't it? Not that most people would notice the difference, mind, but Eden's got a sharp enough eye to notice the softer corners of his mouth, the slight twinkle in those blue eyes. So here's a friendly face grinning curiously at him, searching that face for answers.

"Well, darling, what's got you all smiles today?"

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

It'll be their little secret, won't it? She won't blow his cover and let the whole world know he's actually quite happy rather than just passively letting the world be?

/My mother's here./

And he doesn't have to explain that that's absolutely the best thing he's ever had happen to him, does he?

[likemarilynsaid.livejournal.com]

Of course she won't betray the secret of his expressions. Or at least, the trick to reading them. But this news is so tremendously wonderful, she can't help the excited squeal that escapes her lips, nor can she stop herself from flinging arms around him and hugging him tight.

"Really truly? Here? On Deck? But that's wonderful news!!"

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

True, this would usually be a time for flailing, struggling, swatting. But today?

Today gets a tight hug back.

He'll have to wait to properly explain beyond nodding against her head. It is wonderful news. There aren't actually words for how wonderful it is.

[likemarilynsaid.livejournal.com]

Times like this deserve hugs, after all. She's glad he isn't going to reject them. That would be awfully rude and not at all in the spirit of things. But not to worry, Cadogan, she won't cling too long. Far too many questions to ask about Mam Thomas. But now probably isn't the time for that. Just for one last quick squeeze and a hand on his shoulder.

"So she's here to stay, then? Joining the Suit?"

[diemwnt.livejournal.com]

/Two of Diamonds./

And wasn't that just the best thing in the world he'd ever heard. Roisin Thomas, Two of Diamonds.

Understand his joy, Eden.

[likemarilynsaid.livejournal.com]

It's certainly amazing, and well worth the grin she's got on her face.

"That's absolutely brilliant. Oh, I can't wait to meet her. When did this happen? Is she settling in okay? Where's she staying? And most importantly, when can I start hearing stories about wee Cadogan?"

Pardon the bombardment of questions, Cads. You know how Eden gets when she's excited. At least she's got a fairly good grasp on sign by now, so you don't have to type it all out?