[Open post.] Little boy blue and the man on the moon

[justin_out]

Justin is a mess. Watching Vivien die hit him hard. And he's feeling guilty as well, because those twins needed a caregiver and he didn't step up to the plate. He wasn't being entirely selfish though; being an only child with no experience with babies, he had no idea what to do with them, and there were far more qualified people to care for the

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[the_crat]

Sometimes people just need to get things off their chest and who better to confess to than a cat crat. Echo has been nosing about, watching people and learning more about them every day. This really is an interesting place and he's content here. He wouldn't mind another crat to talk to, but he's gone his whole life as the only one so it doesn't bother him much. He slips in, perhaps coming on Justin sewing or moping, curious about someone he hasn't met yet.

[justin_out]

Justin's head is bent over the dress on his lap, though he's so distracted, he manages to stab his finger with the needle. He mutters to himself before sticking the bleeding fingertip in his mouth. It's then he spies the crat. His eyes widen slightly. "Well, hello there kitty cat. I didn't know someone had a pet here." Not that he expects a reply, and the finger is back in his mouth.

[the_crat]

Echo comes a bit closer, watching Justin carefully.

"You should put a plaster on that rather than suck."

[justin_out]

"Oh, but I'm really good at sucking," Justin quips before realizing the cat - just - spoke. "Whoa, you talked!"

[surfaceshine]

So very, very soon, Justin may not want to actually know Dean; he's been in a pretty bad place, shut down and avoiding people and closing ranks with Sam, not without reason. The only person, THING, in existence Dean Winchester has actually managed to hate, even after everything, is here. Agravain tried to kill Sam for no reason either brother is aware of, and Dean shot him dead for his trouble - that's bound to blow up in both their faces any day now. It doesn't make the elder Winchester feel very social at all, but there are still people here he cares about, and people who picked him up when he was intent on going down.

He's got one of his button downs in one hand, torn at the shoulder after a lifetime of abuse at the hands of the hunter, when he turns up at Justin's door and knocks. He will utterly fail to miss the fact that Justin isn't doing well, and then you're in for it, buddy boy.

[justin_out]

Justin is muttering to himself, a rather bad habit he tends to fall into while sewing. He's getting a headache, though that be caused by lack of sleep rather than too long staring at small stitches, or too much time alone, or perhaps all three. He sighs and glances up, as if he senses someone at his door before he even knocks. He opens it, head tilted to one side, and then smiles ever so softly at the man on the other side. "Dean. It's been ages, doll."

[rubberbaby_bump]

He might have the odd feeling that he's not alone, and then Vivien approaches, carrying Daniel, who's grown a bit: he's three months old and looking about him with large eyes starting to darken into their future shade of brown.

"Hey, Justin..." she says, smiling, reassuringly. "Well... I'm back," she adds, a bit awkward but happy.

[justin_out]

Justin visibly startles, his entire body flinching. He hadn't heard a thing and then suddenly Vivien is there. Vivien!? "Vivien?! Wait, what -- you --"

[rubberbaby_bump]

"Yeah, I'm back; I'm here now, with my family," she says. "I just... found myself in the laboratory downstairs and here I am now."

She's not sure how to break it to him that she's actually a ghost now...

[justin_out]

No one has yet told Justin that those that die at the Mansion often return, so he'll probably think she's a ghost eventually. But just now, he's just really confused, and thinks he's possibly hallucinating. "I'm imagining things, huh? You're here to fuss at me for not taking care of your sweet babies?" His throat is raspy with guilt and grief.

[kidscissoreaper]

Something red and rather short and slender might be perched on top of a cabinet, watching the room, but of a sudden, it hops down, gracefully. "Ooh, *you're* a pretty one: why haven't I seen *you* before, or was the house holding out on me?" a fruity alto voice asks.

[justin_out]

Justin lets out a yelp, and then widens at the new person. He is dressed up, in a summer dress and heels, make up on though he's sans wig, his bald head shining. He can't help but smile briefly at the compliment, though his heart's not in it. "We haven't met," he states the obvious. "I'm Justin."

[kidscissoreaper]

"Grell Sutcliffe, at your service," the other replies, bowing. "And might I ask, just *who* designed your gown? It's quite fetching and *seasonal*.'

[justin_out]

Justin smiles. Normally, he'd be beaming, but he's subdued. Not so much he's not appreciative of the compliment though. "Sweet of you to say so,, since I made it," he admits, looking Grell up and down. "Who dresses you, doll?"

[in_summer_leaf]

And who should happen to show up but Hisoka, toting Daisy. (He's been going to get one twin at a time, and sometimes both, to give Lystra, who had adopted them, a break, and Vivien, too, after she returned. He spends time with them every day, if Viv and Lystra permit.) The twins are now three months old and noticing everything, being social with everybody. He's got Daisy tucked into the crook of his arm instead of held face-in against his body. He wants her to be able to see the world coming at her, and not to relate only to him when he is holding her.

He taps on Justin's door.

[justin_out]

Justin isn't even dressed up, having slept in and wallowed in bed. He is wearing lavender pajamas, though just the bottoms. He has been having quite the pity party, never one to handle guilt and grief well. He trudges to his door, opening it quietly, unsure who might be visiting. He's not even sure he's fit company, and when he sees it's Hisoka and a baby, he inhales sharply.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Hi, Justin! Me and Daisy came to visit." Then he sees the expression on Justin's face. "Are you all right?"

[justin_out]

Justin's eyes fill with tears; he doesn't even try to hide his emotions. "Oh, it's -- Daisy," he murmurs, eyes locked on the baby. "I -- I'm supposed to be her godfather," he admits, even as he opens his door wide, steps back and allows Hisoka to enter.