you and i are obvs in the same brain-space lol i was just posting a post for thisremovethisworldMay 30 2011, 15:08:53 UTC
To Elsie, Memorial Day had always meant a day off school and a barbecue with her neighbors. It had meant another day to sleep in, another day for her to put off doing her homework, another day for her to spend flirting with boys at the pool instead of focusing on more important things. She had always been vaguely aware and vaguely grateful for the sacrifice of American troops, but since nobody in her family had served, it wasn't a very significant day.
When she was in college, Memorial Day meant watching the Rolling Thunder parade and cheering at all the middle-aged bikers and police and firefighter pipe bands as they walked downtown under the sweltering summer sun, then going off and getting shit-faced with her friends in the name of patriotism.
Now that she's moved on, in more than one sense of the word, and now that she's with Steve, Memorial Day holds a completely different significance in her heart. True to her promise, she'd dressed up a little, picking out something that was a little nicer than her normal wear but not
( ... )
TWINZ!!11!!1!!!calledmechampMay 30 2011, 15:53:39 UTC
Steve could not express how thankful he was that she came along. He had done this Memorial Day thing with his Dad on several occasions but this year it was extra hard without his Dad around.
A soft cry got caught in his throat, and he grabbed out for her hand. He was usually more than skilled at keeping his emotions in check but today was different. A rush of emotions took over him and he was at a loss for words.
Elsie gladly held Steve's hand, letting him grip her fingers as tightly as he needed to, knowing that no matter how hard he squeezed, he wouldn't hurt her. Curling her free hand around the inside of his elbow, she leaned against his side a little, tipping her head to rest on his shoulder. Her heart was breaking for him, seeing him battling with his emotions like this, and she stretched up a little to press her lips to his jaw.
"Do you want to go lay the wreath down?" she asked quietly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles.
i have ADD today. O___O;calledmechampMay 30 2011, 18:34:18 UTC
Coming from a long line of strong men had forced Steve to learn and calculate his emotions but now that he was the last McGarrett...It was difficult to control. He thought about the sacrifice his Grandfather had made for his country, dying in the worst possible way; leaving behind his son Jack, and his wife.
He nods silently before stepping forward to lay the wreath at the foot of his Grandpa's headstone. Of course it was an empty grave, but it was the thought that counted, right? He swallowed hard, taking in the lightly etched words:
STEVEN MCGARRETT USS ARIZONA FATHER, SON, HERO DECEMBER 7, 1941
Having been raised in another country, Rachel understood the sentiment behind the holiday, she'd just never celebrated it before moving to the United States. Even then, it had been the hallmark of the beginning of summer; a time for barbecues and the first sunburn of the year. Now that she had a reason to celebrate the holiday with actual sincerity, she was glad to do so openly.
She wore a red poppy pinned to her dress, as was custom, and had brought a small bouquet of flowers for Steve's grandfather's grave. When she saw him talking quietly with Elsie, she stood back, waiting until the moment was right to approach the couple.
Once Steve got waylaid by another veteran in full dress uniform, Elsie stepped back a little to give them some space, noticing Rachel and making her way over.
"I like the poppy. That's a British thing, right? I've seen some others wear them."
"Actually, it's an American thing. Moina Michael was inspired to wear them by a poem called "In Flanders Fields" and wrote a poem of her own in response. Now the Veterans of Foreign Wars sells them to wear on Memorial Day as a way for everyone to remember."
Rachel remembered meeting such a veteran outside a shopping mall in New Jersey and being educated on the holiday. Looking past Elsie, she nodded. "How is he doing?"
"For real?" Elsie looks skeptical. "No way. I've only ever seen Brits wear them. And Canadians. But they're almost like Brits."
She looks over her shoulder at Steve and sighs softly. "It's hard. Memorial Day is important to the McGarretts, and this is his first without his dad. And Mary's still on the mainland, so he's essentially alone. But, you know, Navy SEALs don't cry, their eyeballs just sweat." She winks a little. "It's a very hot day."
Once Steve is done paying his respects at his Grandfather's grave, he pulls his attention away from the gravestone to greet Jean-Paul. A half-hearted smile crosses his face, and his eyes are red from the attempt to stop the tears but he tries his best to greet him properly.
"Hey, JP." He holds out a hand, "It means a lot that you came. Thank you."
/late to the party, apparently.jerseyhaoleMay 30 2011, 22:58:31 UTC
Danny's family had only really been big on Memorial Day because it was a good day for barbecuing and getting drunk with your neighbors, and it was usually the day the pools opened. They'd pay tribute to family members who'd fallen in the line of duty, either as policemen or firefighters, but not many Williamses had ever enlisted, so some of the significance had been lost.
When Steve asked him to come today, though, he knew he couldn't say no. Didn't want to, either. It meant a lot that his partner wanted him to share in this near-religious experience for him.
So. Dressed as nicely as he felt appropriate -- okay, he's wearing much what he would wear on a normal day, but he made sure to polish his shoes and wear a nice tie pin and shave properly -- Danny shows up at the cemetery and readies himself for a day of pomp and circumstance.
Comments 99
When she was in college, Memorial Day meant watching the Rolling Thunder parade and cheering at all the middle-aged bikers and police and firefighter pipe bands as they walked downtown under the sweltering summer sun, then going off and getting shit-faced with her friends in the name of patriotism.
Now that she's moved on, in more than one sense of the word, and now that she's with Steve, Memorial Day holds a completely different significance in her heart. True to her promise, she'd dressed up a little, picking out something that was a little nicer than her normal wear but not ( ... )
Reply
A soft cry got caught in his throat, and he grabbed out for her hand. He was usually more than skilled at keeping his emotions in check but today was different. A rush of emotions took over him and he was at a loss for words.
Reply
"Do you want to go lay the wreath down?" she asked quietly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles.
Reply
He nods silently before stepping forward to lay the wreath at the foot of his Grandpa's headstone. Of course it was an empty grave, but it was the thought that counted, right? He swallowed hard, taking in the lightly etched words:
STEVEN MCGARRETT
USS ARIZONA
FATHER, SON, HERO
DECEMBER 7, 1941
Reply
She wore a red poppy pinned to her dress, as was custom, and had brought a small bouquet of flowers for Steve's grandfather's grave. When she saw him talking quietly with Elsie, she stood back, waiting until the moment was right to approach the couple.
Reply
"I like the poppy. That's a British thing, right? I've seen some others wear them."
Reply
Rachel remembered meeting such a veteran outside a shopping mall in New Jersey and being educated on the holiday. Looking past Elsie, she nodded. "How is he doing?"
Reply
She looks over her shoulder at Steve and sighs softly. "It's hard. Memorial Day is important to the McGarretts, and this is his first without his dad. And Mary's still on the mainland, so he's essentially alone. But, you know, Navy SEALs don't cry, their eyeballs just sweat." She winks a little. "It's a very hot day."
Reply
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"Hey, JP." He holds out a hand, "It means a lot that you came. Thank you."
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
When Steve asked him to come today, though, he knew he couldn't say no. Didn't want to, either. It meant a lot that his partner wanted him to share in this near-religious experience for him.
So. Dressed as nicely as he felt appropriate -- okay, he's wearing much what he would wear on a normal day, but he made sure to polish his shoes and wear a nice tie pin and shave properly -- Danny shows up at the cemetery and readies himself for a day of pomp and circumstance.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
He smiles a little and bumps his shoulder into Jean-Paul's arm. "You okay, babe? You look a bit under the weather."
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