donovan murphy can make you strong (enhancement) wrote in invol_rpg, @ 2012-12-23 02:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! log, donovan murphy, mason laughlin |
WHO: Donovan Murphy [USA] and Mason Laughlin [USA], with Eileen, Gwendolyn, Cormac and William Murphy [NPCs]
WHAT: Mason meets the Murphys, part two. These are the difficult ones.
WHEN: Thursday, December 20th
WHERE: The Murphy home, NYC.
WARNINGS: None!
STATUS: Complete!
Donovan's old bedroom was spacious and warm, with the distinctive air of a room that has gone unused for months. Everything was in its proper place, everything was spic-and-span... or at least it had been, until Don and Mason practically collapsed into the queen-size bed the moment they got through the door. A few hours later, Don awoke, limbs entangled with Mason's. He smiled down at the sleeping man, pressed a kiss to his temple, and then took in the feeling of being home. It was so strange to have a guy in bed with him there, in the house he'd once been kicked out of merely for saying the words 'I'm gay.' That was a long time ago, he reminded himself, though truly four years wasn't a very long time at all. I can't dwell on the past. It doesn't do any good. His mother had been great. Gwen had been great. But it was his father Don was worried about, his father and his brother Liam, sweet Liam who had been so distant on Skype and in emails over the last few months. Doing his best to put those thoughts aside, he settled back down and watched Mason sleep. "Mm," Mason responded to Donovan's kiss. The trip had completely wiped Mason out. He really needed that nap, especially if he wanted to have his wits about him during dinner with Donovan's folks. He murmured a few unintelligible things to Don and proceeded to bury his head into his boyfriend's chest. "Just let me..." Stroking Mason's hair, Donovan craned his neck a bit to speak softly in his ear. "We gotta get up soon, babe. Dinner's in an hour." He kissed Mason's earlobe, then down his jawline. "Not that I'm not enjoying this, because I definitely am." "Whyyy," Mason whined. He really just wanted to stay in this really nice, soft bed with the nice, soft sheets and his nice, soft boyfriend. He pulled his arms back from around Donovan and rubbed at his eyes. "Okay. I'm up." Donovan laughed and pulled Mason back into his chest. "We don't have to jump out of bed just yet, but we gotta be awake at least. I don't know if you want to make yourself pretty, or what. I am just gonna drag a comb through my hair and be done with it." He gave Mason a quick kiss on the mouth. "Thank you for coming here with me. I know I keep saying that, but it's just... I'm still all excited about it." "I'm taking a shower, you should too. You stink." They spent a lot of time traveling, and then a couple hours sleeping, that was a lot of sweaty funk going on. Mason stretched out, still being held against his boyfriend. "It's no big, it'll be fun." He said things like that over and over during the week whenever Don was nervous or excited or anxious in hopes that Don would maybe take some of the calm, reassuring energy for himself. "Well, I'm not sure there's really time for both of us to take showers!" Donovan waggled his eyebrows. "Unless we consolidated, I suppose." Yes, in his parents' house. Initial nerves had quickly given way to 'what can I get away with?' He eyed the door. "I have my own bathroom. I mean, it's me and Liam, but he's not home yet." "It's up to you. I can shower pretty quickly, like ten minutes or so." Mason raised an eyebrow at Don. Did he really want to fuck around after he was all worried about getting in trouble with his father in the first place. Mason really wasn't interested in getting in the middle of that. It was Don's decision, ultimately. "Come on," Donovan said, sitting up and tugging Mason's hand. "We'll be quick. Mom and Gwen are at the liquor store, and Dad won't be here for another half an hour." He grinned. "You keep telling me not to be nervous! So... let's not be nervous." "Alright, if you say so." Mason got up and out of the bed and waited for Don to lead the way to ---- That was exactly what Donovan had needed. Some alone time with his boyfriend and a luxury shower had done wonders for his nerves, and afterward he felt much more relaxed about the arrival of his father. He stood in front of the mirror, combing his hair into place. "Have you seen my watch?" he called back into the bedroom, where Mason was retrieving some of his own things. All-dressed and mostly set, Mason snagged the watch on his way back to the bathroom. He let the device hover in the air in front of Don while he continued on his getting ready regimen. Mace skipped a few steps because of time--he wanted to be ready in case Don's father or someone stopped by early--so skipping a lengthy moisturizing routine, he started blow-drying his hair so he could get the right lift on the top. It was a very important step. "Thanks, babe." Donovan grabbed the hovering watch (it was amazing how normal the telekinesis had become to him) and fastened it around his wrist. His father had given it to him for Christmas a few years ago, and he felt like it'd be gauche not to wear it at dinner. Don had a much less involved getting-ready process than Mason, so he largely stayed out of the way and let the other man work. He dabbed a little bit of cologne onto his neck and did a half-turn to make sure his clothes weren't in disarray anywhere he hadn't noticed. "No prob," Mason said as he dabbed a little hair product into his fingertips and went to set his hair to his meticulous standards. "I'm really glad I hit the barber before coming out here. The whole having to wait a month to get a cut at IVI is really stupid." Even waiting the three weeks was more than Mason was used to. He liked to keep his hair neat and trim. He washed the excess product off his hands. He watched Don in the mirror as he dried his hands before turning around himself. "Let me see." Donovan took a step back and spread his arms in a 'ta da!' sort of motion. He was wearing a nice green button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows, a nice pair of khaki slacks, and some no-doubt expensive loafers. "How do I look?" he asked. Don was pretty confident in his dress sense, but it never hurt to have a second opinion. Mason fiddled with Donovan's collar, making sure it looked perfect. He ran his hands over the fabric of his man's shirt where it slightly bunched up at his broad shoulders. Moving around to check out Don's back, the telekinetic didn't see anything out of place. He did pat Don on the rump for good luck before moving back over to face his boyfriend. "Looks great to me." Grinning at Mason's luck-pat, Donovan raised an eyebrow. "Do that and we'll get distracted again. Then we'll never make it to dinner." He reached out to pull Mason in for a kiss, only to be interrupted when their lips met by a call from the kitchen: "Don! Your father's home!" "Seriously," Mason chuckled as he adjusted himself. He pushed himself up into the kiss, not wanting to give Donovan an opportunity to pull away. The only way they were going to get through this was acting as normal and casual as two gay Vols could. Mason threaded his fingers through Donovan's and gave them a good squeeze. "Ok. You ready for this?" Donovan opened his mouth into the kiss, deepening it, his hand cradling the back of Mason's head as he drew the contact out for a few moments. When they broke apart, he nodded. "Yeah. As ready as I'm gonna be, I guess. Shall we?" Turning toward the open door, he called back toward the kitchen: "Coming, Mom!" Putting on his best 'I'm not nervous' face, he led Mason toward the dining room. Okay then. Mason took a deep breath and released whatever nervous negative energy he was holding on to. It was something that Understanding taught him. He wasn't sure how much of it he actually believed, but it did help to change his thinking by performing the physical action of release. Shoulders back, chest out, Mason followed closely behind Donovan. Cormac Murphy was sitting in his typical place at the head of the dinner table, still in the crisp suit he'd worn to work that day. He was already on his first glass of scotch, which he sipped while glancing over the day's mail. From the awning of the room only his grey hair was visible, his face obscured. "Hi, Dad," Donovan said, with only a moment's hesitation. His father looked up, and nodded. "Donovan." He gave his son an even, measured smile. "Welcome home, son." "Thanks. … Uh, this is Mason." Don indicated his boyfriend, then eyed Gwen, who was peeking in from the kitchen with interest. He tried to pretend he hadn't seen her, and instead turned to Mace. "Mason, my father Cormac." "Mr. Murphy, Mason Laughlin. Good to meet you," Mason spoke in his professional voice as he extended his hand to Cormac Murphy. He was accustomed to meeting people like Donovan's father. Going to school in the heart of Silicon Valley meant that Mason had met so many bright, successful people. It also wasn't that different from meeting with strict military people back home. "Laughlin," Cormac repeated. He considered this for a moment, then nodded, shaking Mason's hand with a firm and deliberate grip. "That's a fine Irish name." He eyed Donovan. "That's good; this one won't try to drag you to synagogue." Mason grinned at the joke (that was a joke, right). "No sir." Donovan winced. "Jacob never tried to take me to--" "Well I suppose we should start getting ready," Eileen said, already on her way in with the roast as though she had cooked it herself and not put it on a to-do list for Gloria. "Your brother isn't here yet," she said to Don, cheerily. "I am going to have him killed." "Do you need some help, Mrs. Murphy?" Mason offered. Even though he was a guest, he felt like he should do something to repay their gratitude. He considered clarifying that he meant with serving dinner but he didn't want to be too familiar. "Oh, that would be lovely, thank you." Eileen gestured for Mason to follow her into the kitchen. "It's just a few things, really, but it's so kind of you to offer." "It's my pleasure." Mason moved around the table to follow Eileen Murphy, sending a lingering gaze at Donovan before he disappeared into the kitchen. Hopefully they all behaved in the short moment he'd be gone for. But you could never know for sure with the Irish. Donovan smiled over at Mason, pleased that he was turning on the charm. It was a relief that his mother seemed so won over; one down, one to go. He glanced back at his father, who was going through the mail again. Don opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again. "Liam is so Mom's favorite," Gwen huffed as she ushered Donovan into his chair, leaving a space on his left for Mason and a space on his right for her. "If I was late to family dinner I'd be grounded for a week!" "I'm sure he'll be here soon," Donovan said, frowning. He looked at his dad across the table. "So, uh, how was work, Dad?" Cormac chuckled. "An absolute disaster, but that's just how things are at year-end. The estate tax is changing again, so we've got to get everything in by the 31st or half our cases become obsolete." He quirked a silver eyebrow. "You keeping up your studies?" "Yes," Donovan said, nodding vigorously. "I should have, um. Enough credits to finish my Columbia degree, actually. I called them about it, I want to see if I can file the paperwork while I'm here. It comes down to whether or not they'll accept the credits from, ah... the school I'm at now." He glanced at his shoes. "But I think they will." In the kitchen, Eileen pointed to a few covered dishes. "If you could just grab the potatoes, Mason, that'd be perfect." She herself hoisted a big salad bowl. "So if you don't mind a bit of inquiry, how long have you two been seeing each other? Don likes to wait a million years to tell me anything about his love life -- I can't imagine why." Mason nodded, walking over to grab the bowl with his hands. He probably could take the other dishes too, but that'd require him to use his telekinesis which would probably get frowned upon. "Me either," Mason said with a smile. "It's been... months. About five months, I'd say." He had to count backwards, but they had gotten together pretty soon after meeting that first week. "Oh, so right around when you both arrived? Honestly, Don's been very tight-lipped about the whole thing. Says you do a lot of calisthenics and the classes are a bore." Eileen led the way back into the dining room, shaking her head. "Donovan! Mason tells me you two met ages ago; why didn't you call to talk about it until last month?" Donovan's eyes went wide. "I, uh... I mean, I don't usually feel like you guys want..." He was saved from this conversation, blissfully, by the front door swinging open. Liam Murphy was eighteen years old and finally reaching that end-of-puberty phase where your face has started to settle into a grown-up arrangement. Unlike Gwen, he looked absolutely nothing like Don, but instead took after their mother -- he had dirty blond hair, blue eyes, and a lean frame. Liam's messenger bag was slung over his shoulder, and he was decidedly underdressed by comparison to the rest of the family. He looked down at his t-shirt and jeans, then looked back up, deciding he didn't care. "Hey," he said. His eyes met Donovan's, and he frowned just slightly. "Hi, Don." Setting the potatoes down on the table, Mason was sure that they'd come back to the conversation of keeping Eileen out of the loop. Part of him felt bad that he fronted Don off so hard but without talking about it in advance, he didn't know what story he should have told. He didn't feel right lying to his boyfriend's mother either, especially not when she was being so nice. He walked around the table and lingered at the open seat next to Don before he sat down. Donovan squeezed Mason's knee affectionately under the table in a little 'I'm not mad' gesture. He just knew the moment his mother had Mace alone she would start the inquisition. Liam's arrival stopped all other thought processes, though. Don loved his little brother beyond measure; he had been devastated that he couldn't help move Liam in at the start of his freshman year at NYU. But there had been a distance between them lately, and Liam had been so difficult to get a hold of. "Liam!" he exclaimed, standing up immediately to go in for an embrace. "Don't get up," Liam said, raising a hand. "It's cool, man, I'll be right there." With that he sauntered off into his room, presumably to drop off his bag. "William, you get back in here!" Eileen called. "We have company." "It's okay, I don't mind." Mason hadn't exactly gotten up to meet the new entry anyway. He did look like he might want to get settled too. But they did seem to be more strict about etiquette than Mason was used to at his parents' house. People were in and out of there all the time. Not reacting in the slightest to his rude son's rude arrival, Cormac turned to Mason. "So, Mason. What is it you study?" His expression was inscrutable. Eileen shook her head. "Gwendolyn, can you go sit on the other side of the table, dear? Otherwise Donovan and your father are going to be catching up over your head." "I don't want to sit with Liam," Gwen protested. "Do as I say, please." "Fine." Gwen got up and moved her plate over to the other side of the table, sitting opposite Mason. Cormac looked between the two women, and then cleared his throat. "As I was saying. Mason, what is it you study?" "I'm studying Public Policy at Stanford, sir," Mason answered while he set his napkin in his lap. Once again, he had to namedrop his university, partially to impress Don's family that he was going to one of the top universities in the country, but also because he was damn proud of his place there. "It's the best parts of political science and economics with a little bit of philosophy and psychology. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to do a co-term and spend an extra year at Stanford to get my Masters or start applying to law schools." Mason probably should have taken a breath to let someone say something but he was a little more nervous than he let on. "Stanford," Cormac said, nodding. Clearly the namedrop had the proper effect, as Mason was suddenly slotted into the 'smart enough for me to give a damn' category of his brain. "Good school, a good school to be sure. I'd advise going straight to law school, personally, but you'll get lots of different advice from lots of different people I'm sure." "Do you think you'll all be out by then in time for you to apply?" Eileen asked. "That would be lovely, really." Cormac gave her something of a Look. It was clear the whole Vol situation just wasn't something discussed in this household. "Well, um. With all that terrible stuff over it seems, I think we might get out at the end of the year, yeah." Donovan smiled uneasily. "I mean, we've all made a lot of... progress. And they don't want to disrupt our lives too much, or that's what they say anyway." Mason was focused on Eileen so he totally missed the Look that Cormac gave her. "I don't know exactly, but I've been taking courses long-distance with some of my professors back in Palo Alto. I was supposed to be spending a semester this year at Oxford anyway, so I'm just treating this like my year abroad." Eileen laughed at that, completely ignoring Cormac's silent admonishment. "Well, I think that's a very positive attitude! Donovan can be such a pessimist. Don, you really ought to let this young man rub off on you." Gwen choked on her soda. Having at least taken the time to remove his baseball cap, Liam strolled back into the dining room and took his seat next to Gwendolyn. "So what can you do?" he asked Mason without preamble, helping himself to some of the meat and potatoes. "Don doesn't even have any powers." "Jesus, Liam!" Gwen hissed. "No swearing at the table," Eileen said, reproachfully. Donovan had gone rather pale. "I really don't think that's--" "No," Cormac said, evenly. "Do go on. I'm interested as well." Mason looked from Cormac back to Don, who looked like he was going to be sick. He gave Don's leg a squeeze, hoping that he'd calm down some. "I'm a--" Mason cut himself off. While most people that grew up on X-Men and science fiction and stuff knew what telekinesis was, those that weren't really had no clue what it was. "It's probably easier to just show you." He reached across the table with his powers, picking up the spoon that Gwen hadn't used yet and raised it a good foot over the middle of the table. He gave it a spin to add some flourish before he "handed" it back to Gwen. "I can lift bigger things than silverware but that's the gist of it." Gwen stared at the spoon in her hand. Silence fell in the dining room. A beat. Another beat. A third beat. "Awesome," Liam said. Cormac began to eat, which was everyone else's signal to begin eating. He didn't have anything to say about the telekinetic display, clearly, though his eyebrows didn't seem inclined to leave the general vicinity of his hairline anytime soon. Donovan put his hand over Mason's on his leg, exhaling slowly. That had gone better than expected. "Mason's gotten really good at it. And um, with my... well I can make him stronger, so he can do more impressive stuff. So we work well together." "Can you fly?" Gwen chirped, eyes wide as saucers. Eileen clucked her tongue. "Gwendolyn, don't be rude." "It's fine, I get asked that question any time anyone finds out about what I do." Mason smiled, feeling pretty good about how this dinner was going. "I can." This was the single greatest thing Gwen had ever heard in her life. "Oh my gosh! Mom, can we go flying? Can we?!" Cormac broke his silence with a steely, cold, response: "Not in my house." Donovan had heard those words from his father before, of course. He heard them just about every time he had trouble getting to sleep, in fact. Hearing them again was like a shock to the spinal column; he sat up intensely straight and did his best to avoid visibly recoiling. Cormac cut his meat. Gwen fixed him with an angry glare. Liam looked down at his potatoes. "So," Eileen said briskly, as though nothing at all had happened. "How long will you be here in New York, Mason?" Mason took a drink of water, an action meant to break up whatever awkwardness had built up with Cormac's response to Gwen going flying. So they walked over the cliff on the Vol issue, Mason knew how to fly, it'd be okay. "Not long. I'd like to spend more time seeing the city but I have to be back for Christmas with my parents. It's just my folks and I, so I don't like leaving her alone for major holidays like that. I already missed Thanksgiving..." Donovan caught the slip -- 'her' instead of 'them' -- and frowned thoughtfully. He gave Mason's knee another little squeeze. Eileen nodded. "Oh, of course. That's very good of you! But I do hope you'll be in town at least through tomorrow evening, because I bought Donovan two tickets to the theatre." This was news to Donovan! "Wait, really?" "Wow. Thank you, Mrs. Murphy." Mason was surprised as well. "Merry Christmas," Don's mother said, with a little smile. His father said nothing. |