[ota] On the Ninth day of Christmas....

[maskofhearts]

Chicago had been grand; so much food, a lot of family time that surprisingly wasn't laced with cold expressions and frowns, shopping (he had to get a whole new suitcase to bring home the clothing Audrey and Aunt Debbie had simply insisted he needed), yet more food, and then the countless presents. However grand Chicago had been though, coming home

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[uncutclarity]

"So, you went to The Nutcracker? It's my favorite ballet." And far better than the interminable date last Spring when Sieben had taken her to see Wagner's Ring Cycle. Any opera that provided luncheon was an opera that was too long.

[maskofhearts]

"It was nice. His Aunt asked about half a dozen times if it was as good as the ballet in Paris. Which...I have no idea. I've never been." But he shrugged a little. "Felt kinda weird, pretending to be from some place I didn't really know...I mean. I've only been once."

Being able to explain the entire history of France for the last 400 years was not the same as having grown up there. He'd successfully avoided most of the Paris talk though.

"I got you a gift, you know."

[uncutclarity]

"The Joffrey's supposed to be the best ballet company in the States." Diamonds tended to be almost as into the arts as Clubs, and that was the kind of detail Avery had picked up over the year. "So it probably was. Elisha really should have let you pick your own home country. I had it easy when I was Outside - could just say I was from Australia."

She grins, though, leaning her elbows on her kitchen island. "Did you really? Is it a good one?"

[maskofhearts]

"Well, I don't think he thought about it until the last moment when asked where I was from. And obviously claiming Israel was out." He said with a shrug. "France is fine- Explaining my name was a bit...interesting." But then, he supposed it was always nice to claim an English parent when it came to that.

"I think it is a good one-" he said, handing over a rather decently sized box with a marble board into side. "Let me set it down. It's kinda heavy."

[likemarilynsaid]

"Sooooooo?"

Maybe she had been told if she found him, to alert the relevant parties, but that didn't mean she was dragging him back to Henry any time soon, or at least not before hearing about Chicago, and how the presents went over. Theatre could wait. This was clearly much more important.

[maskofhearts]

"He liked them. Even if he was slightly surprised by the Kindle...But he liked them." He said with a bit of a shrug and a small smile. "Probably easier when you only need to buy one gift a year for someone, I swear. Audrey and Debbie both seemed equally impressed with the gifts I gave them, as did his uncle. So all in all- success. I've already been invited back anytime I want to come to Chicago."

He was a hit, apparently. And a slightly exhausted one at that. He suspected that Debbie and Audrey had always been a bit disappointed that Elisha was gay (or bi-sexual, however one wanted to put it) and hated shopping, because they took an extreme liking to the fact that Hadyn did somewhat enjoy shopping for himself at least.

[likemarilynsaid]

"Good, good. I'm glad." Delighted, actually. He'd be soon stressed, and she only hoped she'd been able to help enough. Looked like things had all worked out for the best. "Planning on making a return trip any time soon, or are you two keeping it to the holidays?"

She wasn't entirely sure how their thing worked, after all. Though to be fair, he own relationships had hardly been the meet-the-family types. Iggy had been an exception, but then, he had been for a lot of things.

[maskofhearts]

"I'm sure I'll go back eventually, but no rushing back. Just...sort of figured fair was fair- Elisha's had to sit through more than his fair share of Novak or Bernard dinners." Though with Hadyn's family being on Deck (and having been so for many generations) it was harder to escape the 'meet the family' events.

"Happy to be home, though. I don't think I could have eaten any more food if I tried."

[so_complicit]

"And how was the trip?"

Because of course Davin had been aware Hadyn was gone...and he's just as happy to see his nephew was able to return safely, considering the rumors flying around that no one has been able to leave.

"You look well," except for appearing tired, but then...Hadyn had been looking tired for more than just today, recently.

[maskofhearts]

"It was good." Hadyn said with a bit of a smile. "Long, and slightly exhausting, but good."

He did, however, also hold out a box with a gift inside. He won't mention he got it on extreme sale, but it looked like a nice watch- and that was what counted.

"As do you," he said with a bit of a snort. "Happy Christmas Uncle." He was going to start a new trend in this family, he thought.

[so_complicit]

Davin smiles at the package, accepting it with a nod. "Thank you, Hadyn..."

But he'll wait for the actual holiday unless Hadyn insists he open it now. "I'm glad it was good. Elisha's family entertaining?"

[maskofhearts]

He won't insist, though he isn't entirely used to Celebrating the holidays. Laureline had not particularly believed in them. As for Elisha's family...

"They were warm, and welcoming. If that's what you mean." He said, tipping his head a bit curiously. "Nothing like ours." Which was a bit of a plus.

[lowtohigh]

People to hug. Don't forget people to hug.

Because, well, maybe this family octangle isn't horribly clearly defined. And maybe there's still a lot of getting to know each other to be done. And likely she'll never call him anything but 'Hadyn.'

But he's been gone. And he's back. And he's the sort of person she'll jog to catch up with, tug at the hand of, and hold arms out at expectantly now. "Welcome home."

[maskofhearts]

He wasn't used to getting hugs- and in turn was not used to giving them except with select few people. Surely Eileen would forgive him for looking a touch surprised at the tug on his hand and the open arms before he gave in to that hug she wanted.

"Glad to be home, I assure you." He said with a smile for her, before handing over a box with a gift inside for her.

"Happy Holidays." He said, tipping his head a little.

[lowtohigh]

Absolutely forgiven. She'd train him eventually to expect them. Or, well, perhaps they'd strike an accord about it. She simply suspected that it would be better to have more hugs than less.

"Happy Holidays, Hadyn," she echoes before the pre-rehearsed words have to be rehashed the way they always are. "You oughtn't have gotten me anything. Was it a nice visit?"

[maskofhearts]

They'll come to some agreement at some point, that is certain. For now, they'll continue to just...be slightly awkward in their relationship.

"I don't tend to think there is a reason to not get people gifts. I found it and thought of you." He said with a shrug, before smiling a little more. "It was a very nice trip. I quite enjoyed the time with Elisha's family." More so than he did with his own, at least.

[sirforawhile]

"I think this time all the forcefeeding worked. Does this mean everyone here should move to the same standard, or should we just keep them away until the wardrobe change isn't so obvious?"

Don't mind the kid on the toddler-leash.

[maskofhearts]

"Haha...." He'd only come home with an extra five pounds on his bones, but god save him from the extensive over eating that any time in Chicago was now sure to exhibit. It was not, however, a standard he wanted to start here. "Contrary to popular belief- I do eat, and everyone else's obsession over my weight is mildly disturbing."

But he is going to look at the kid on the toddler-leash a bit curiously before pointing. "New Addition?"

[sirforawhile]

For Iggy's part, he hadn't actually been keeping an eye on how much (or little) weight Hadyn had gained, but he did know a thing or two about how Jewish mothers operated. "Saying that they do it because they care doesn't make it any better, does it?"

He tugs gently on the leash, not making the slightest difference to the way the child is buzzing around. "Only new in that this is the first time she's not in the company of her siblings or cousins. We're being forced into uncle and niece time. Say hi, Tabby."

Tabby magnanimously elects to ignore them both.

[maskofhearts]

"No, no not really. Particularly when I am not even her child." He said with a smirk as he shook his head. "That aside, really, it was at least a fun visit."

As for Tabby, he just smirked a little before eyeing Iggy. "You sound like you've been stuck with the plague." Which, granted, Hadyn had never been overly fond of kids, but he did work with them. "Who came up with this idea of bonding?"