[027] OOM - Meet the Parents

[tristranthorn]

As every good traveler knows, there must be a destination for which to head towards - otherwise, there is aimless wandering which makes for wasted time, wasted resources, and a more or less miserable time

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[tristranthorn]

The walk is familiar; so much so that it brings to mind a thousand little memories, like photographs in an album.

He remembers playing here, or walking along here to get to school. And he remembers the time - in this spot right here - when he'd had his ears boxed by his father for behaving badly.

Good times, really.

Tristran climbs up the small stony pathway that leads over a short hill and towards the familiar Thorn farm, where he hopes his family will be when he arrives.

[nosequels]

There's the rising sound of voices from somewhere behind the door - voices doing some rising, even.

"-- already married, Daddy. Married. And you still won't even let me go out on a date."

Well, to be entirely honest, only one of the voices is doing any real rising - but it's doing an impressive job of it nonetheless.

"I am going to wind up an old maid and it is going to be all your fault."

[tristranthorn]

He smiles to himself as he approaches the old house, looking exactly as it had before he left.

Well, it is obvious enough that his family are at home.

He raises his hand to knock on the door.

[nosequels]

"Oh, you are completely unfair!"

Footsteps now - quiet at first, but slowly louder.

"And as you can tell," another voice replies, lower and hiding it's amusement much less successfully than it likely intends to. "I'm utterly devastated for you, dear - but, the door."

A frustrated huff, one that would very nearly be a shriek if that wasn't entirely unladylike and even more likely to lose her argument for her before she's even able to properly plead her case.

"But Daddy!"

The low voice is laughing outright now. "Door, Louisa."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran knocks again, and waits.

It is too late now to wait until their argument is finished. Besides, he is more or less used to Louisa's whines.

[nosequels]

"You're just going to answer it? Suppose that they heard us! Oh, if that is Bobby Robinson I am going to be furious with you, Daddy!"

Really, now. No consideration for her future at all.

"They heard regardless of whether or not I answer the door, Louisa."

And answer the door he does, swinging it open easily (and with, admittedly, no regard whatsoever to his daughter's future courting) arms crossed and one eyebrow arced lazily.

"Ah," a slow smile spreads its way back across the man's lips. It is, he might admit, something of a surprise. "Back already, Tristran?"

[tristranthorn]

"Hullo, father," he says with a slightly shy smile.

[nosequels]

He grins back, letting the door open the rest of the way and stepping back.

"Miss us that much, did you?"

[nosequels]

A blond head pokes its way around the hall - shy for a moment before she catches sight of who, exactly, is standing there and straightens, hands on her hips and lips pursing.

"Oh," she sighs. "It's just you."

[tristranthorn]

"Yes, it's just me," Tristran says with a bit of a laugh. "Nice to see you too, Louisa."

He steps into the house, taking in a breath. Everything is so familiar, it gives him a pang in his chest.

[nosequels]

"Well," she grins back at him. "Then I am not particularly worried about the sort of impression I am making. You're already unimpressed."

The grin widens and her arms fold over her chest, moving forward, "And if you're feeling terribly misty, Tristran, I can call Mum in for you."

Dunstan tugs the end of her hair when she comes to a stop at his side.

"I'd tell you not to tease your brother, but I'd sound far too much like your mum."

[tristranthorn]

Tristran laughs again. He's really missed his family, all things considered.

"I suppose that all of you have been doing well, then?" he asks, grinning.

[nosequels]

"We have been doing very well," Dunstan returns.

A shrug - he feels like a gossip, but it's mostly relevant, he supposes.

"Miss Forrester - well, no longer Miss Forrester, I suppose. Either way, as you may have overheard, the former Miss Forrester is married - and expecting, if I'm not mistaken."

[nosequels]

"And Daddy still refuses to acknowledge the fact that I am grown up."

She glares pointedly.

"Even you have," a sudden noise, turning back to her father abruptly. "You let Tristran --"

[nosequels]

One golden curl gets itself tugged mildly - in warning - once again, and Dunstan continues easily.

"And how is your girl, Tristran?"

[tristranthorn]

He grins.

"Ah, that - actually, is why I am here," he says cheerfully, walking further into the house, peering at things as though he is looking at them for the first time.

"Where's mum? I'd like for her to be here too."