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| Scene Title | On Parole |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Lucille's future fiance is given the conditions of his "probation" when he meets with his father-in-law. |
| Date | August 5, 2011 |
In Dreams
What was once a lush and green park is now overgrown with weeds and trash. The fountain's water is green, thanks to the algae that coats the cement base. A few weeks ago, it would have been dusted over by snow and ice, but the spring thaw has revealed its ugly underbelly once again. Above, the skies are gray with smog, clouds, and the ever-present smoke that seems to loom overhead in these times. It's hardly a romantic spot, nor an auspicious one to meet with the father of one's fiance.
Anders Stuart stands, dark eyes alert for any movement, friendly or otherwise; one hand curls around Lucille's while the other holds a gun in the pocket of his thick corduroy coat. They are still several blocks from what once was considered the ruins, but of course more and more of the city looks like Midtown these days.
"You're sure you don't just want to run away with me to Fiji or something?" Anders asks, squeezing Lucille's hand. "It might be safer." It'd certainly be easier. Lucille had told her family she was dating the former DoEA mole just a few months ago; that was before he proposed, and he had yet to meet with Ryans himself for any sort of blessing.
Anders' light colored eyed companion squeezes his hand and knocks her head into his shoulder. Lucille's hand withdraws from her leather jacket as she surveys the area. She has her own weapons but her ability is what she has been depending on more recently. Her stormy grey eyes flick up to Anders as she chuckles softly. "It'd be prettier I'm sure, but no. I can't.. just disappear from my family all together."
She's done that too many times already.
Her combat boots step on a piece of trash and the oldest Ryans daughter kicks the piece of trash away. A hand goes to brush a few tendrils of dark auburn colored hair to the side. "You have to meet him, there's no way around it." She says softly, no matter how much she wishes there was. "Just promise.. to behave. He doesn't laugh.."
She almost adds much but that isn't exactly true.
"Damn. I thought I might get a different answer the 873rd time I asked," Anders says with a grin, his eyes crinkling. "Can't blame a guy for trying, right?"
The dreary landscape is watched through his narrowed eyes. The wind picks up the navy blue scarf he wears, and he tightens his grip on Lucille, slipping an arm around her to keep her warm. Spring is coming reluctantly. His head turns slightly when his eyes catch sight of movement, and he steps forward, shielding Lucille as he watches a figure approaching through a copse of trees. "That him?"
"Maybe if you asked 27 more times I would give a different answer." She grins back and leans into him as he wraps his arm around her. It can still feel so new to Lucille, trusting a guy like this. A few years ago she'd shove the guy off, adamant that she didn't need his warmth. Times have changed definitely.
As her fiancée comes to stand in front of her, she peeks over his shoulder. A slight nod followed by, "I believe that's dear old dad, yep." The nerves hit her like she's just slammed into a wall. Though her expression in unreadable. Anders can probably tell she's tense, she's squeezing the hell out of his arm right now.
Boots crunch and thick fabric flows around long legs, as the figure approaches. A rifle that hangs at his side marks him as a potential threat, not helped by the tilt of his head, has the brim of his hat covering his features. Lucille will recognize the old brown duster, stained and patched so many times, but still iconic of her father.
What isn't. The hat. Closer, Benjamin Ryans looks up revealing unreadable features underneath a cowboy hat that Delia had found, declaring that now he looked like the man he should be. The man in dreams. Only his oldest daughter will see the stress, lines deeper then they were and hair so much grayer then she ever remembered.
Thanks to the death of his long time lover, Lynette last year and the steady decline of a woman who had become a part of his family, he looks more like he was before his age has been reversed.
His gaze is judging as it sweeps over Anders, sharp and observant. Then he's dismissed for Lucille, no smile still. Those are rare anymore. "You look well, Lucille." He doesn't show it, but it hurts to see her. She's his first born, and he still can see her as a baby, even at this age. "I hope you're not too old to give your old man a hug."
When Lucille tightens her grip on him, Anders winces; rather than trying to hide it, he makes a show of being in pain, to make her giggle and to make her less nervous. "Great, now I'm gonna be crying when he gets here," he mutters quietly, a small smile curling his lips.
When Ryans reaches them, he lets go of Lucille so that she can do as the older man requests, and also so that his hand is free should Ryans want a handshake.
"Sir," Anders says, a little bow of his head to acknowledge his fiancee's father, but waiting until their reunion is over, and until Ryans is ready to address him.
Anders' reaction does work and Lucille giggles. As in.. giggles. Holy hell. It's short lived though as her father opens his mouth to speak.
It's that moment that comes every time these two reunite. No matter how long or short it's been. The tension, she never knows whether she's mad at him or not. Today though, today she's decides to be happy to see her father. "You look old." She states simply and looks up at Anders before she leaves from behind him and comes to stand in front of her father. The chain with the locket at the end peeks from under her leather jacket.
"The only way you're getting a hug cowboy is if you look happy to see me and give me a smile." She says as she wraps her arms around her father and hugs him. A bit stiffly but it's a hug. Taking a step back she beckons for Anders to come forward. "Dad, this Anders. Your soon to be son-in-law."
It's said with her head held high, Lu is damn proud of her relationship with Anders. Damn proud.
Her reaction has him tensing up, a flash of anger, but only briefly. "You know I am." Ben doesn't feel the need to have to show it, apparent in the gruffness of his voice.
But he doesn't linger on it, when the news is announced. No, Ben is suddenly interested in this young man again. "The ex-mole you mentioned in your letters." It's not a question, just fact. His tone makes it hard to know whether he's happy about that or not.
A hand is offered, if only for the sake of his daughter. "It's… nice to meet you finally. I apologize for the the location," does he really? Probably not, "but it is protocol."
Anders nods, stepping forward to take the taller man's hand. If he's at all upset about the way he's labeled, he doesn't show it. Instead he flashes an amiable smile at the man, then reaches to take Lucille's hand once more in his right hand. The ring on her finger glints in the sunlight — it's small and modest; it's not like Anders can go to Tiffany's.
"No worries," he says, waving his free hand as if to dismiss the issue. "I wouldn't expect more."
He looks over at the woman beside him, and smiles to ease any worry on her part, then turns back to Ryans. "We probably have a few things in common," Anders says lightly, the implication there that they were both once an "enemy" to the network. "But the most important one's that we both love Luce."
"There you go making me feel loved, the both of you." Lucille says softly as she intertwines her fingers with Anders and tilts her head at her father. He looks more stressed than usual to her. Then again it's been a while since they've seen each other. As Anders speaks, she leans over to give him a kiss on the cheek. Good, he's not afraid of her father. That makes things loads easier.
"How is everyone? ..Deli?" she asks about her sister in almost a whisper. She misses Delia fiercely so much so that she's been dreaming about her. She's sure that it isn't Delia using her ability though. She would feel the difference she thinks.
"Are you eating well?" she asks, this is probably the part he won't miss about his daughter. The fact that she almost mothers him at times. But they way she sees it is, hey you only get one dad.
Oh wait. There was a hint of a smile, amusement at the sappiness. It is only there a moment, before it and Ben's hand drop away. "Your sister is fine. You should go see her and your nephew." There is some chiding to that, since she's not been around much. "I'm fine. I have plenty making sure I eat." Nicole has been making sure of that. "But…"
Lines deepen as he continues, in a gruff voice, "…you should go see Huruma. Even if she isn't all that lucid." It's evident where some of her father's stress is coming from. "Megan says her health is failing. I wouldn't want you to miss…" the chance to say goodbye. He doesn't finish it, just letting the words trail off, jaw clenching as he looks away from them both.
Anders glances at Lucille when she whispers Delia's name, and he squeezes her hand again, before looking up to watch his future father-in-law speak. His brows knit at the mention of Huruma being ill; he obviously is familiar with the names of the people in Lucille's life, if not the people themselves.
"I'm sorry I can't meet her," he says, a rare serious tone changing the quality of his voice. He smiles sadly at Ryans. "Don't worry. I know. Protocol. I totally understand, sir. Got a rap sheet, and I'm on parole." So to speak.
"There you go making me feel loved, the both of you." Lucille says softly as she intertwines her fingers with Anders and tilts her head at her father. He looks more stressed than usual to her. Then again it's been a while since they've seen each other. As Anders speaks, she leans over to give him a kiss on the cheek. Good, he's not afraid of her father. That makes things loads easier.
"How is everyone? ..Deli?" she asks about her sister in almost a whisper. She misses Delia fiercely so much so that she's been dreaming about her. She's sure that it isn't Delia using her ability though. She would feel the difference she thinks.
"Are you eating well?" she asks, this is probably the part he won't miss about his daughter. The fact that she almost mothers him at times. But they way she sees it is, hey you only get one dad.
Oh wait. There was a hint of a smile, amusement at the sappiness. It is only there a moment, before it and Ben's hand drop away. "Your sister is fine. You should go see her and your nephew." There is some chiding to that, since she's not been around much. "I'm fine. I have plenty making sure I eat." Nicole has been making sure of that. "But…"
Lines deepen as he continues, in a gruff voice, "…you should go see Huruma. Even if she isn't all that lucid." It's evident where some of her father's stress is coming from. "Megan says her health is failing. I wouldn't want you to miss…" the chance to say goodbye. He doesn't finish it, just letting the words trail off, jaw clenching as he looks away from them both.
Anders glances at Lucille when she whispers Delia's name, and he squeezes her hand again, before looking up to watch his future father-in-law speak. His brows knit at the mention of Huruma being ill; he obviously is familiar with the names of the people in Lucille's life, if not the people themselves.
"I'm sorry I can't meet her," he says, a rare serious tone changing the quality of his voice. He smiles sadly at Ryans. "Don't worry. I know. Protocol. I totally understand, sir. Got a rap sheet, and I'm on parole." So to speak.
"They should trust you because, they should know I don't just fall in love with anyone." They being the Ferrymen.
The news of Huruma has a quick effect on Lucille. Her back straightens noticeably. "I'm going to come back and visit everyone.. and come say.." she doesn't finish either. There are so many things she didn't say just then. How she would come back, but without Anders since he wasn't trusted enough and how she would come back to say goodbye.
Her gaze steely, she squeezes Anders' hand. Willing herself to keep it together. Huruma is more like a favorite aunt now then just her father's best friend. Hell, Huruma was apart of the family the day she helped Ryans rescue Delia and she.
The urge to embrace her father again is strong but she doesn't, "Have you seen her yet?" of course he has.
There is a mild look of appraisal to Ander, his head nodding slowly. "You understand then." He addresses Anders more then Lucille. "I talked to the leaders and they agree that for now" A sharp look goes to his daughter, as a sort of warning to let him finish, "you are to be kept away from most of the assets until we feel comfortable." Who knows how long that would be.
"That being said, it doesn't mean your assistance outside of things isn't appreciated." He focuses on his daughter for a long moment. "I need to talk to you alone about the restrictions.
"And yes…" Benjamin finally addresses the subject of Huruma. "I've been staying out there more. Since Megan said things were getting worse. Just in case she…" a glance flickers to Anders and back to Lucille "In case, she reverts in her state."
In other words take her down if she becoming a raving man eater again.
"Anything you need, man," Anders says, before clearing his throat. "I mean sir." At least he's outgrown dude. "And whatever I can do to help. I'm at your disposal."
He turns to press a kiss into Lucille's temple. "I'll let you two talk privately, all right?" he asks, again, turning to nod at Ryans, giving the taller man a broad smile, then reaching to give another handshake before he steps away. "I'll stay in sightline," he adds over his shoulder, eyes sparkling. "That way you'll know I'm not eavesdropping."
Booted feet crunch through the overgrown weeds and grass as he moves away to give them space.
Her eyes close briefly as he kisses her on the temple and she watches as he walks away before turning to face her father. Reaching a hand out to touch her father's arm, Lu moves forward a bit. Gripping his arm in comfort, support in whatever he needs. "I love you." She says softly, though the words would sound alien coming from that hard gaze of hers.
"You know the way you use to look at mom, when you thought nobody is looking. Like she was all that mattered in the world?" she asks her father before following with, "I catch him sometimes giving me the same look." Lu breathes that out with a shudder, the weight of what she has just said hitting her. She's really in love.
A hand moves to rest on hers, squeezing it gently. "I love you too Lulu." He still calls her by the nickname she had as a little girl. He studies his oldest daughter curiously and sighs softly. "And it's about time you found someone." Clearly, he believes her. "But the council's decision is their decision. We have have to be careful. You've seen what happens when we are not." Which means everyone and Anders is a prime suspect for the suspicion.
"Still. Make sure he knows I'll hurt him, if he hurts you." The words are delivered in that flat unemotional way he's known for. He takes her hand and puts it through his arm. "Now. We don't have long. Walk with your old man a little. I need to tell you where you can and can't take him." He starts to move, talking softly. "I got them to agree to let you come out and see Huruma, but of course, your man stays on the mainland."