Non-prompt RP log with
asinthecity | Backdated to May 2nd
Tab's arm was linked with her brother's as they walked through the streets in Edinburgh. She had worn her tartan skirt as promised, with stockings and knee-high boots so she didn't get too cold. Maybe it was summer, but she was hardly in danger of overheating. She gave him a huge smile as she glanced up at him, the petite redhead's steps changing to accommodate a slight skip. She was excited about Twin Day. Quality time with Riley, and getting to see the place she'd lost him to for three years. It was like getting that final piece of a puzzle to let her see the whole Riley picture. She was his twin, but she hadn't been here with him. She couldn't imagine all the places he talked about with any real confidence, and that was what she had wanted.
"So what's it like being back, Big Bro? You regret coming back to the States, or is that your home now?"
Riley laughed as he swallowed a mouthful of Red Bull he was nursing in his free hand. "Why would the hell would I regret that, squirt? The States is my home. Edinburgh is just my adopted home. I love it. I love being here. I love everything about it, but I can deal with just coming back for visits. I'm glad we came. It's been a brilliant trip, especially having everyone here simultaneously, but it's not the same here anymore. Those were my college days. My wilder days. We've all settled down now. At least, on the face of it. I'm not sure Lachlan and Josh will ever be truly 'settled'." They turned off George Street and he led her onto Rose Street, which was for pedestrians only and typically crowded with people. "This is where you'll find the best pubs in Edinburgh. It's where just about all our pub crawls ended up and in the next block was our regular hang out, where Lachlan and Josh's band played regular gigs on the weekends."
"Just asking. I mean, when you came back I think a huge part of you missed it, which is okay. I was just caught up in having you back, and then the needlestick happened and I never really got to talk to you about it. I think we should do every Twin Day. I like the idea of a Twin Day," Tab replied with a laugh of her own. "Not sure if we need gifts, but I like the idea of this. And I do actually like Edinburgh, too. I'm kind of sorry I never got to come with you." She smirked as she tugged on his arm to pulled him out of the way of a gaggle of girls clearly about to start fawning over him. Even married, her brother had this oblivious flirting thing going on. He didn't even need to flirt anymore to get the girls to go ga-ga. "You had wilder days? I don't believe it! And I don't think Josh is settled, is he? He's hardly on the same level as Lachlan. Lachlan's just himself but with a wife and kid." Tab glanced around them, drinking it all in. "It would be awesome to play here."
Riley nodded, looking around the familiar street with a smile. "I did miss it. I guess it was because here is the first place I ever really felt settled and like I belonged, you know? Plus, you can feel it. The place just feels friendly and warm. But you move on, just like Lachlan. I mean, he gets physically sick with homesickness, but he comes, and then he's fine again." He hardly noticed the girls, too busy enjoying his old haunts. "Josh isn't settled, but he will be. I predict he will be, he'll just deny it until he's blue in the face."
They made it to a large pub on the corner and he grinned. "This is it. Wanna get a drink? This is where Lachlan got scouted the first time."
"I bet he can still play drums while he's blue in the face," Tab laughed. She gave her brother a brief hug. "And yeah, I know. I know that this place was somewhere you fit in finally, and I'm glad. I'm glad you got to come away with friends like Lachlan, and Josh. I'm glad the ties still exist, too. That they're practically family, and that I get to fit in with all." She raised her eyebrows and smirked. "'Course I want a fucking drink, beanpole. I'm not a cheap twin date. Plus this is Scotland. I'm not going to have Lachlan pulling the piss for the rest of my life and talking about how I couldn't keep up with the boys."
Riley laughed and led her inside. "Which he would. But he gets over it and moves on to someone else." The pub was huge, but not too busy at this time of day. The stage for the bands sprawled the back wall and Riley felt a tweak of nostalgia remembering the many nights he had spent here. Not that Lachlan contained it to the stage. He used to stand on the bar and sing, or weave through the crowds encouraging them to join in the songs. It's no wonder he was scouted. "It was after a night here that I got my first tattoo. I can hardly remember it. I was pretty drunk. What do you want? Scotch?"
Tab shook her head a little in disbelief. "I can't believe you got a tattoo and never told me. You're never going to live that down, arse pain. I missed my brother getting inked! Good thing you let me relive the memory with you with our matching tattoos." She kept a grip on him as she nodded, eyes on the stage in the back of the bar. Her lips pressed together as she imagined playing it, an itch developing to have a guitar and mic in hand. "Scotch sounds good. I'll have whatever you have."
"I mostly forgot about it! I just remember it hurting like a bitch by the time the booze wore off. There is video of the whole process somewhere. Just like there is apparently video of my bachelor party, which I never want to see. Ever." Riley slid on to one of the stools at the bar and ordered two Scotchs with ice. He turned on the stool and leaned back against the bar, looking around the interior. "This place used to be heaving with people. Wall to wall, you couldn't move, and they spilled out onto Rose Street. It was loud, hot, smokey, but it was brilliant. Lachlan's been pulling tricks out of his arse all over on this trip. Don't be surprised if he arranges for you all to play here at some point. He still knows the owner."
Tab snickered. "No one forgets about a tattoo!" She frowned a little as she thought about that. "Okay, so maybe if you're blind drunk and not expecting to get the tattoo, you'd forget. The pain would definitely serve to let you know something had happened though. There's video, really? Hm... I might have to see if I can get a hold of it. Find out what you and my now husband were getting up to. He hasn't said a word about that night." Tab grinned, unable to hide how excited she was at the prospect of playing in Riley's old hangout was. "That would be fucking awesome, but I won't hold my breath. He should be focused on his family."
"After it healed I forgot," Riley clarified. "I didn't think much on it. And good luck in that. Don't you know the sacred bachelor party rule?" he teased. "He probably doesn't remember much. He was fucking blinded. I hadn't seen Luke that drunk before, it was highly amusing. He's a bit of a wild one, your other half." Their drinks arrived and Riley handed over some cash for it. He licked his lips in anticipation, smirking. "He is. Bloody romantic bastard almost puts the rest of us to shame. He proposed to Tara all over again and they got married a second time on their anniversary at a private ceremony at the Castle. Then he whisked her off to the most expensive hotel in Edinburgh for the night. I'm talking where the Royal family stay when they come here. But this place flows through his blood. He can focus on his family as well as focusing on his past just as much. You'll love playing here. The crowds are brilliant."
"You can't say stuff like that, then call on some stupid sacred bachelor party code! I've only seen Luke somewhat drunk. He's seen me completely pissed, but he's always behaved. Sort of. Come on, give me something! What kind of wild?" Tab asked, her frustration showing through her tone. She curled her fingers around her glass, and looked at her brother in surprise. "They got re-married? Fuck. I mean, one time's enough for me right now. I nearly had a fucking heart attack when you told me Luke had run. It's definitely romantic though, I'll give him that. Yeah, well, we'll see if I play first, yeah? I'm practically in withdrawal from playing anyway. I'd busk on a corner if I could get a crowd." Tab raised her glass, and grinned at Riley. "To you and me, two of the most brilliant twins in the entire world. And Edinburgh, the past, and being married."
"Wild," was all Riley said. "You probably don't want to know how wild," he added, laughing. "I think he just wanted to get married on home soil and renew the vows because he felt as strong as ever for them. He's just spontaneous like that. I never profess to try and keep up with his brain. And you only get crowds on a corner if you busk with bagpipes here. All the tourists love the pipers." He raised his glass. "To us and everything else you said," he laughed, tapping his glass against hers.
"I do," Tab insisted, her voice raising a little bit. "You're such a damn pain, Riley Paris Browne! I'll just have to try and get it out of Josh, or someone. Either way, I'm going to find out just how wild Luke can be." Tab nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I can get that. Luke's been missing Australia... Part of me's trying to work out how to get him back there, but between this trip, and the bar opening in June... it's pretty much impossible. I think his family being in the States for the wedding only softened the feeling so much. See, if I was as romantic as Lachlan, I'd work out a way to get Luke to Australia, and maybe we could do the re-marrying thing, but it's a bit soon. We're still supposed to be in the honeymoon phase." Tab smiled before taking a sip. "Hey, I was never good at toasts. You were always the speechy one."
Riley looked down into the amber liquid swirling over the ice cubs and looked at her with a smirk. "Do you really, really want to know? It was his bachelor party, there were strippers involved, emphasis on the plural there, and there was a lot of booze with Lachlan and Andy conspiring against us. It was just... a wild night all around. Last night of freedom and all that. You need to get your husband drunk. He's quite the promiscuous one intoxicated enough." He sipped the liquor, savouring the taste on his tongue. "I think it's just logistics, squirt. He would probably take you over there if he could, but the opening of the bar is a huge thing and he'll probably want to be around to make sure it takes off the ground and all. Why don't you plan something for later in the year. Like, the anniversary or your first meeting or something?"
Tab had been fine with the idea of strippers. She did understand that that would be a very real possibility at the bachelor party. Boys were boys, and if there was a chance to ogle a naked woman, they would act on it. "What do you mean 'promiscuous'?" she asked, a frown appearing on her face as she tried to keep her tone level. "I know that, which is why I've already been trying to think of another date. I guess first meeting might work. It was fall here, so I guess that would make it spring in Australia, right? Not too hot."
"I mean promiscuous," Riley returned unhelpfully, smirking. "There wasn't just looking type promiscuous. Hey, you could always ask Andrew to help you out with places and stuff. He still has family over there. He would know what you might need to look for and stuff. Or you could just go directly to Luke's family over there. It would be spring, but I wouldn't know anything about Australian weather. But still, it's his home. I doubt he would care what the weather was like, just the fact he was there."
Tab shifted on the stool, her expression darkening further. "Was there kissing?" She took another sip of her drink, and reached up to scratch the side of her nose. "Yeah, true. It's not like I have to be scared of his family anymore. His mum and dad gave me a big hug on our wedding day."
Riley watched her closely for a few moments and then nodded. "Yeah, but he was off his face, Tab. There wasn't just booze involved, there was weed. No way I would've walked away with a pierced nipple otherwise," he snorted. "Luke was into the booze a lot sooner than I was, so he got drunk a lot quicker. And see? That's how it should be. In-laws don't always have to be scary. I can't see myself ever playing happy families with Evie's Dad though."
She turned her face forward so she was looking at the bottles behind the bar, and not her brother. It was probably irrational of her to feel hurt, and she was trying so hard in her mind to talk herself out of it. It was his bachelor party, and he was drunk and high. It was fine... right? He hadn't done anything wrong. She ruffled her short hair, and nodded. "But you can try and play happy families with her half-sister. That's something, right?"
Riley shrugged. "Guess so. Evie hardly knows the sister. She probably needs to do that before worrying about me playing happy families with her. I've only met the chick twice, if you include the day I didn't really meet her in the ER," he said.
"What about our Dad?" Tab asked quietly. "Do you want Evie to be able to play happy families with him?" Mother Superior wasn't even going to enter Tab's thoughts. As far as she was concerned, they didn't have a Mum.
"Sure, eventually. It's going to take time, though. Dad's just woken up and realised he not only has two kids, but he has two adult kids who remember everything about their childhood that he maybe wrote off in his psyche so he didn't have to deal with Mum. We're nothing like who he remembers we are and he's got to get to know us all over again. So, maybe we need to get to know him first before Evie can play happy families with him. But that's okay," Riley added quietly. "We have time, I'm sure."
"Yeah, of course. Always got time. I guess maybe I don't want Dad to think we've forgotten him. Everything that's been going on, I figure family's important. I know we've always got each other, and now there's Evie and Luke, and everyone else... but he is our Dad." Tab shrugged. "Sometimes I just really want my Dad."
Riley nodded. "Of course, and if you do, you should give him a call. Visit him, invite him to visit us. I haven't forgotten him. I've just needed my energy focused elsewhere at the moment or I never would have gone through with the IVF thing. It took all my energy as it was. I guess that's why I didn't have time to even get nervous about the wedding. Somewhere in my brain, I knew I needed to be married if the IVF worked. Stupid traditional values, I know, but it's how I felt. And I did explain a lot of this to Dad last time I spoke to him on the phone, along with trying to explain how much the HIV had changed me, but that wasn't so easy."
"Maybe I will... I'll wait until we're back, though." Tab pulled her mouth to the side as she draped her arm around Riley in a hug. "Hey, when's Evie due to take the test, anyway? We need to make plans for Daddy celebrations if it's positive."
Riley shrugged a little as he sipped his drink. "We're waiting until we get home. If it's not positive then, we can deal with it at home. I have to keep catching myself from gaping at her and wondering if she looks different, though. I remember Lachlan telling me Tara just seemed different in her early pregnancy days. It's just nerve-wracking as it is. She doesn't need me gawping at her like a science experiment."
Tab sniggered as she took a sip of her drink. "Maybe she just thinks you're trying to stare her clothes off. Does she look different? Maybe she has a glow. Does she have a glow? Pregnant women do glow, right?"
Riley scrunched his nose up. "I have no idea. I'm scared to decide. Every time I mentioned it to Tara when she was expecting, I got a cranky speech about sweat that included random threats to my nether regions. I just keep waiting for her to throw up or something, anything physical to give me a clue. I can do physical. No pun intended," he added with a smirk. "But she seems fine so far. I'm the one doing the throwing up from too much boozing."
"Yeah, well, you will insist on keeping up with Lachlan," Tab laughed. "That guy's an alcoholic fish. Same with Josh. I can't get over how much they can hold. Maybe Evie's just not the type to throw up?"
Riley snorted. "Until the morning after. Lachlan's hangovers are epic. Each and every time he swears off booze, until the next time. I could never keep up with him. I'm barely a third of the way in to what he gets through and I still want to die the next day." He nodded and then shrugged. "Probably. It wouldn't surprise me. Or we'll get home and she'll suffer like crazy once we know the results. You either have it fantastic, or you don't. I hope she is one of those to have an easy run. If she's pregnant. It doesn't feel real."
"It'll be real if you ever have a bouncing baby bundle in your arms after Evie spends several hours screaming the place down," Tab pointed out before she shuddered. The one thing that really freaked her about kids was giving birth. Her own body was tiny, and she couldn't imagine anything the size of a kid being popped out from between her thighs. She gave Riley a sloppy kiss on the cheek. "It'll be fine, Big Bro. You'll see."
Word Count | 3,246