WHO: Will Moody, Freddy & Iris Adler WHAT: The truth shall make ye fret free... WHEN: Monday, August 5, noonish WHERE: Under the awning of the general store, Snowcap. RATING: Low, but mildly controversial opinions within.
It wasn't unusual for the weather to change on a pidge in the mountains, and Will wasn't unduly startled as he came out of the diner, where he'd picked up lunch for himself and his supervisor, to find clouds rolling in. His mind was still on JJ and the mystery of where she could be, and he was sending her yet another text when the first drops hit his shoulders. He paid no attention to that minor inconvenience until a few drops became a hard pelting, and he dashed the last few steps to take shelter under the awning of McDermott's General Store, where he could dry off a little before continuing back to the reserve to try to calm the herd after last night's commotion.
He wasn't the first person to take shelter under the awning: Cate's older brother was already there with his daughter, both of whom he recognized from the bar and from various events, and Will nodded at both of them. "Good day," he greeted them with a little smile as he set down his bags of food and pulled out his wand to begin attempting to dry out his shirt. "I hope you are well. 'Twas a sudden shower, was it not?"
Iris was huddled under the awning next to her dad and was still pouting when they were joined by Will. It wasn't fair! She just wanted to go jump in all the nice puddles that were forming and daddy wasn't letting her because it was still raining too heavily.
"Morning," he greeted, even if it was far closer to the afternoon now, with a nod. He gave a slight bump to Iris who eventually greeted Will pleasantly enough. "We're both well, even if this one is a bit upset that I'm not letting her jump through the puddles at the moment. Sure was. Grew up here, and been living back here for three years, and somehow the weather still surprises me."
"Aye, it can change very quickly in the mountains," Will agreed, and smiled down at Iris. He loved kids and sorely missed his own nieces and nephews back home, and being around Cate's niece soothed that ache a little. "I also like to go through the puddles, but our boots would soon be very wet, and 'tis wise to take good care of thy boots, aye?" He looked out at the rain, which was coming down quite heavily, and tucked his hands into his pockets, standing straight to wait out the sudden downpour patiently. "Where did you live in between, sir?" he asked.
"But I wouldn't mind!—" Iris quickly exclaimed before taking a second to think about it. "—much... Plus boots are s'posed to get wet." That was half the fun about jumping in puddles; even if getting wet socks really wasn't very nice but it made for a fun squelchy feeling afterwards though.
"Couple of places. Studied at the Alta California University in Monterey, and then after our studies were done Anne and I moved to San Diego. Oh, plus I went to the West Coast Academy for school. But then um... well, Anne died and so we moved back here," he responded, anxiously biting at his lip a moment, as he shoved his hands into his pockets. No matter how much time passed, there were still moments when it wasn't easy talking about Anne. Though it wouldn't be until much much later that he'd wonder why it was he'd been so open with someone he didn't know particularly well. "So I've pretty much spent my time either here or in California really. What about you? I mean, all I kind of know is you lived somewhere back East?"
Will nodded somberly; he recalled that Cate's brother's wife had died suddenly, and it was very sad. "I am sorry for your loss," he said quietly. "God has a plan for every beloved soul, but 'tis still hard for us here on the earth to lose one so young. I pray you have found comfort in your family here and your daughter, sir." He smiled down at Iris. "I am very far from my own family, aye. I come from a community called Old Plymouth, far away in Plymouth Territory. My folk are what your folk call Traditionalists. I left there nigh on four years ago, and now I cannot return, though I sorely miss my own family. I have nieces and nephews there who must be just thy age," he told the little girl. "Art thou in school?"
Freddy gave an appreciative nod at the sentiment. "I don't think I'd have managed or even still be here at all if it wasn't for them, or Iris for that matter," he responded. Iris knew they were talking about her mummy, and even though it still seemed like an adult conversation she reached up to give her daddy's hand a squeeze as she smiled up at Will. That went a long ways to explaining the speech pattern that he'd always felt was a bit rude to ask about. "Sorry to hear that. I know that can't be at all easy."
Iris brightened at the question but shook her head. "Not yet. But I start this month! And it's the same one that Daddy, Uncle Benny, Aunty Nora, and Aunty Cate all went to too! Although everyone says I won't be learning magic yet but that's okay because I get to learn other stuff anyway."
Freddy shook his head as he grinned. "She's been looking forward to it ever since she learned she could after her birthday this year."
Will smiled back at the child, crouching down to her height to offer his hand for a high five, which was one modern custom he'd taken to with great enthusiasm. "I understand. 'Tis an exciting thing to go to school. I pray thou wilt be as clever as thy Aunt Cate, and I am sure the rest of thy family." He glanced up at Freddy, with a smile for him, too. "Your youngest sister has been a kind friend to me, sir, though I am sorely concerned about her consorting with Dr. Brightstar and Mr. Wyrzykowski at once. I know she does not find it wrong, but I consider she is acting the Jezebel, and I am afeart 'twill hurt her in the end." He hadn't voiced these concerns to anyone, not even Cate, but it seemed so natural to share his true feelings right now, even with the child listening.
Iris smiled brightly and happily gave Will's hand a high five. "I hope so but it's okay if I'm not. I still like learning lots of new things."
"That's Cate for you. Ready to be friendly and try to make anyone feel at home," he responded. Though as Will continued on the smile he'd had disappeared and settled into a frown. It was only the fact that Will was a friend, and thus not being deliberately insulting, that he didn't erupt in anger.
Iris frowned. She wasn't entirely sure of what Will was meaning but part of her suspected it wasn't entirely nice. "It's okay cause Tony is really nice and funny, and I like Sir Dr Kent — he's nice too and really smart and treats me like I'm big. And they both really like Aunty Cate too, and make her smile lots," she piped up wanting to let Will know they weren't bad people or anything.
Freddy shook his head and smiled as he ruffled Iris' hair a little. "It's natural to worry about a friend but Cate's grown up, and knows what she's doing. Might not be normal but doesn't mean it's wrong. We can't help who we like or love y'know?"
Iris nodded in a sage-like manner. "Uh huh, daddy's right! Like sometimes I see him looking at Miss Bettina with a funny smile on his face. Even though I know he loves mummy a whole lot still."
Will nodded thoughtfully, rising again to tuck his hands into his pockets. "Aye, I consider love may be unpredictable, and mayhap I am wrong," he agreed, his eyes going out to the shower again. "I've often erred in such matters, and since coming into the world I have learned that so much of what I learned at home is… is wrong." He swallowed hard after that bit of heresy; he'd never said in so many words that the Congregation's teachings were wrong, only that perhaps they weren't the only way to be right, but now it was out there and he felt freer for saying it.
He smiled over at Freddy. "Is your Bettina Miss Esposito from the medical office, sir? She's very kind. I consider she's very beautiful as well. Are you courting her?"
Freddy gave a slight shrug. "Life is a continual learning process. And sure, I worry about her but they make Cate happy, and it's not anyone else's decision except hers as to what she gets to do with her life."
Just like Iris said there was that slightly dopey smile he got whenever he looked at or thought about Bettina, and a slight flush to his cheeks at the last question. "She is — on both accounts. If not for her this little princess would've had to put up with a store bought cake for her birthday last month but Bettina rescued me from the disaster that my kitchen had turned into," he responded. "Not officially no. I don't know about love... After Anne I didn't think that I'd ever actually find anyone again, and not that she's difficult or anything but having a daughter doesn't exactly make dating at all easy and some people even find it off-putting. But Bettina she's... amazing, something special, and I really really like her."
"I am glad for you," Will told him, smiling. "I consider 'tis a blessing to find a person who makes one so happy. I never considered that I would find such a match, either, but… I have. " He was pink in the cheeks, but it was a pleased blush, and he glanced down to see the faded bracelet wrapped around his finger as a ring. "We are promised to one another," he added. There hadn't been many people he'd told yet: JJ and Healer Goldstein were the only ones at the reserve who knew, but it didn't feel strange to tell Cate's brother and niece, though he barely knew them. "He is working in Central Territory this summer, but when he returns I shall live with him and be his -- his husband." Just saying that word sent a warm, shuddering anticipation through him, and he had to take a deep breath and shake his head to clear it. "I am joyful, but -- but also afeart, for I still wonder if 'tis truly God's will that I may have my Luke, or if I only believe 'tis his will because I want it to be."
He looked back up at Freddy. "How did you know?" he asked. "That your wife, God rest her, was the person you should spend your life with?"
"Thank you, and it is," he responded cheerfully enough. Freddy wasn't a god-fearing man, if anything he'd said a few too many angry words to the man upstairs as it were, but it really was kind of a blessing to have found someone who not only made him happy but that he actually looked forward to seeing whenever he could. Freddy smiled glancing to where Will's gaze had gone, he could remember doing the same after he'd first proposed to Anne. "Really? Congratulations!" he exclaimed, grinning. "I'm probably the wrong person to talk to about belief but... if Luke is what makes you happy, and if he's who you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with, then you should be joyful — and you should celebrate that because life is too short to be worrying about "ifs" all the time."
There was a soft snort of laughter from Freddy's direction as he shifted his stance. "I don't know that I ever really did actually know for sure. I first met her because we both shared some of the same classes, and worked on the project, at the university we attended. She kind of knocked me off my feet, thankfully not literally, and as they project was coming to an end—plus we were graduating—I just didn't want to say goodbye. Not long after we started dating, and eventually we started living together, and I guess it was kind of then just one night where we were both just casually watching something and... I don't know I just couldn't imagine not coming home to that at the end of the day, or not being able to share things with her."
He smiled wistfully before shaking his head. "Mind you it still took me another year to actually propose. Had this whole big moment planned, and in the end we were both running back to our apartment after getting soaked through by the rain, and the second we were in the door and I looked at her... I just knew."
Iris had been pretty silent through what she imagined was a very grownup talk but when she knew her daddy was talking about mummy she got a little sad. It was nice hearing him talk about her though, and as he was finishing up she leaned over and hugged him as best she could — even if that meant she was mostly hugging his leg more than anything.
Will nodded thoughtfully, mulling over Freddy's advice as well as his story, and finally smiled down at Iris with sympathy. "Thy mother must have been very wonderful," he told her. "I am sorry she could not stay with thee and thy father. But mayhap thou wilt have a new stepmother one day." He glanced back at Freddy, then out at the rain again. "My elder brother, Favour-From-Above, lost his wife in childbirth. 'Twas after I had left home, but I consider he loved her very dearly, and it must have been very painful for him and his daughters, as the death of your wife is to you. But my sister writes he has recently remarried, to the girl I…" He hesitated a moment, trying to decide how to truthfully describe what his new sister-in-law was to him. "Well, to be truthful, I had almost promised to her before I left. 'Twas what my family wanted. But I did not love her, and I consider we had not been happy, had we wed."
Iris gave a tiny nod even as she continued holding on to her father's leg. Her memories of her mother were fuzzy at best given how young she was when she'd passed. Though Freddy had done his best to tell her stories and his own memories, and sharing photos, so that she might have at least some memory of her mother even if it wasn't directly from her own mind. The comment about a new stepmother had her gazing up at Will first before looking at her dad with a look that was a mix of curiosity and a tiny sliver of expectancy.
Freddy coughed suddenly at the implication, and was still startled when he peered down at Iris who was looking back up at him. "I uh... perhaps." It was early days yet, and he certainly hadn't considered marriage yet at all — though other thoughts had been had but he wasn't sure Will would appreciate hearing those particular thoughts. He nodded sympathetically. "That must've been awful for them all, and the rest of your family." He blinked at Will's addendum to the story, and had to remember for a moment that as weird as it might seem to him that it wasn't necessarily weird to someone else. "I see... So, no regrets as to what might've been then? Must still feel a little strange for you though, I imagine."
"Aye," Will agreed honestly. "'Twould have been strange to be there, and 'tis strange when I think on it. But I do have one regret." He looked down at Iris again, wistfully this time. "Had I wed Mercy, I consider we may have had a child by now. I wanted a child so dearly. 'Twould have been such a blessing." He hadn't let himself think too much about how choosing this path meant he was closing off the possibility of parenthood, but now he was thinking about it, and it made him sigh. "I would have liked a daughter like thee," he told Iris. "Or a son. Mayhap that would have been enough to make me contented there."
"You still can though. Have a child, that is," he pointed out. "It may or may not be yours, or your husband's, biologically but it wouldn't make that child any less yours as long as you love them all the same. Plenty of kids, from babies to much older, out there that for some reason or another need a loving home. Something for you, and your Luke, to keep in mind for the future perhaps?"
Iris blushed prettily at the compliment. However, there'd been something about what her daddy was telling Will sounded really familiar, and when it finally clicked she looked up at him brightly. "Uh huh! Daddy's right! My friend Sophie has two mummies, and she was adopted cause... um it was cause daddy told me that they weren't able to have babies so they talked to somebody and then they adopted Sophie. They're both really fun and super nice and they love Sophie lots and lots!"
Freddy quietly chuckled to himself. "She's not wrong. Sophie couldn't ask for two more loving mums than Ally and Lisa," he added. "But back to what you said... maybe it would've been enough to make you happy but would it really have been enough if you weren't being true to yourself and trying to be someone you aren't?"
This new idea had Will stock still, eyes wide and mouth open as he turned it around in his mind. He'd never known that such a thing was even possible, and the misty images it was raising in his mind's eye of a child with blond hair like his, or red like Luke's, sent an aching yearning right through him. "Aye, sir?" he said, his expression gone distant and contemplative. "I did not consider thy Confederation would allow such a thing, but…" His astonishment turned into a startled, helpless little smile. "I hope we will," he said almost to himself.
It was rude to stare off into the distance dreaming about the surprising, intriguing possibilities that had just come into his head; he shook his head to clear it and tucked his hands back into his pockets, rocking back on his heels as he considered Freddy's question. "Mayhap 'twould have made me unhappy," he acknowledged after a moment. "But marriage -- to a woman -- and children had been the Lord's plan for a man as I understood it then, and my folk are concerned with duty over happiness. 'Tis a part of why I left home." He looked down at the sidewalk beneath his feet. "I was always taught 'twas selfish, seeking my own desires over what my family desired for me. And though I could not change what was in my heart, and I am very glad to have found my Luke and my dear friends who love me just as God in his wisdom made me, I still feel selfish and wicked to leave behind my home and my family for a -- a life of licentiousness and sin, as my folk would think it." Will's shoulders rounded and hunched; even if he didn't believe that anymore, or anyway was doing his best not to believe it, there was still shame and doubt there.
Freddy gave the younger man a sympathetic look. "Mhmm," he responded nodding. "It's not to say that there isn't a whole lot of paperwork and such to go through but it's certainly not an impossible feat."
Whether Will decided to be dreaming about the future or not in front of him, Freddy honestly didn’t really mind. After all he knew what it was like to be picturing what the future might hold with the person you loved and wanted to spend the rest of your life with — he’d be a bit of a hypocrite if he started complaining about it now. He listened attentively, and wished there was more he could say... some words of comfort or something. "I can only imagine... Look, I’ve no idea what it’s like obviously but I imagine that perhaps part of what you’re feeling is maybe also missing your family, and wishing for them to accept you as you are?"
"Aye," Will agreed without even having to think about it. "I do sorely miss my family. Before I met Luke, mayhap I could have gone home and consecrated to the church and become the son my parents wanted, but now… well, I must be content. 'Tis impossible that they could accept all that I am, and at least I have my friends here and all the folk who have been so good to me."
He smiled down at Iris, crouching again to touch her shoulder. "Thou hast a marvelously kind family here, young mistress Iris, and I can see thou art kind and caring as well, just like thy father." He looked up at Freddy with honest gratitude in his face. The rain had stopped minutes ago, and he hadn't even noticed, so involved had he been in spilling out his fears and hopes to this little family he barely knew. "I thank you, sir. I have not spoken so plainly about my situation to most folk, and I scarcely know why I've spoken thus to you when we are so little acquainted, but I am greatly obliged to you for your kindness and your understanding. God bless you." He squeezed Iris's shoulder. "And God bless thee, dear little one."
"Thank you." Iris smiled happily at the compliment about her and her family. She didn't know why it was he talked a bit differently to everyone she knew but she liked it, and thought it was nice and almost kind of fairytale-like to her still very impressionable mind. Freddy had noticed the rain stopping as much as Will had but now that he had he probably ought to get himself and Iris home before it started over again. "It's no problem. Sometimes we just need someone who's removed from the matter to talk to," he responded, shrugging his shoulders. It didn't seem at all strange, and yet for him to talk about someone he liked with a near stranger before even his best friend or family was odd. "I know it won't ever make up for your actual family but I dare say you've friends and colleagues enough here who care about you to be something of a surrogate family."
Will smiled, quietly pleased by that idea. "Aye, I consider I do," he agreed. He gathered his bag of food in one hand and stood, reaching out to shake Freddy's hand. "I must return to work. Farewell, sir. Thank you." With one last smile down at Iris, he turned to leave the shelter of the awning, barely noticing the sun that now shone down as if the rainstorm had never happened. His head was too full of possibilities and imagining what Luke might say if he brought up the idea of adopting children someday to wonder how such a heavy rainfall could disappear just like that, leaving behind only blue sky, a few fast-drying puddles, and a lot of truths spoken.