InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Il porcupino nil sodemy est."

Lucas Cortez | Otherworld (lucascortez) wrote in madisonvalley,
@ 2016-12-17 19:36:00

Entry tags:

!log, !open, ~2016 december, ~40 points, ~~athelstan (hears_both_gods), ~~lucas cortez (lucascortez)

WHO: Lucas Cortez and OPEN
WHAT: Thinking and Christmas shopping
WHEN: Saturday afternoon
WHERE: Downtown
WARNINGS: TBD, talk of miscarriage
STATUS: Open/Ongoing

Lucas was not feeling the Christmas spirit even a little. The shadow of his loss seemed to extend over everything, darkening even the lights that twinkled and the carolers that sang as he walked down the streets. It was supposed to have been a happy Holiday season this year, with he and Paige counting down the days to expanding their family, looking towards the future with hope and optimism. Instead, it was shrouded in grief, and it was a grief that Lucas wasn't sure would ever go away.

It had affected his relationship with Paige, too. He still loved her more than he could ever express, but there was tension there that hadn't been before. They were each dealing with the loss in their own way, and he was afraid that he'd permanently damaged their relationship somehow by suggesting that they try again soon. It had apparently been too soon to her. Lucas had only been looking at things logically, believing that if they were able to conceive again, maybe some of the sadness would fade. He knew that losing this child would never stop hurting, but at least they might have a little bit of joy to counteract it.

Apparently Paige did not think the same way.

He was out Christmas shopping right now not because he wanted to be, but because he knew that he had to be. He didn't feel festive, or intoxicated by the season. He felt...empty, as if someone had shoveled out everything from inside of it and left it on the curb with the garbage. But he had to get something for Paige for Christmas. It was expected. And he would do it for that reason and that alone.

Not that he'd found anything. His frustration was growing as he went in and out of the stores, trying to find something that struck him. But his heart just wasn't in it and he hadn't had any luck so far. If there was anything he was looking forward to, it was New Years, and putting this terrible year behind him.

(Post a new comment)

hears_both_gods
2016-12-17 10:09 pm UTC (link)

It'd been a tradition that the two of them have take-out every Saturday evening, especially since this was one of the few times they could just relax for the evening and not worry of work or school. With the cold weather, Athelstan agreed to get some dinner from Lou's-no alcohol of course, it felt wrong to drink infront of her when she couldn't indulge either.

He was taking a detour through the streets, just recognizing one of the men looking through the windows. At the very least, he recognized the name and the face. "Evening.." He kept his tone neutral, incase the man didn't wish to talk. "It's Cortez, right?"

(Reply to this) (Thread)

lucascortez
2016-12-18 09:27 am UTC (link)

Lucas looked up when addressed, nodding when the man spoke his name.

"Yes," he said. He recognized him as being from around town, even if he didn't know him well. There were many people Lucas knew that way. He was forced to have some knowledge of the people here through his work, but that didn't mean that he was terribly comfortable being social with very many.

"Good evening."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	hears_both_gods 2016-12-18 10:08 pm UTC (link)
	He looked at the window display before studying the man again. Even holiday stress didn't result in that sort of strain. "There are several days before christmas." There was time, and frankly he found that the day or so before the holiday was always more calmer. At such a point, people didn't bother. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lucascortez
2016-12-18 10:50 pm UTC (link)

"Indeed," he replied. He was well aware of the timeline and the fact that he did have sufficient time to obtain Paige's gift, whatever it might turn out to be. It was not Christmas shopping which was weighing so heavily on him.

He only wished that it was something as simple as that. But he would not burden the man with his sadness during the holiday season.

"I fear I simply have not given enough time to it," he admitted. "I have had other things on my mind."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	hears_both_gods 2016-12-19 10:56 am UTC (link)
	He nodded. His and Angie's life was hardly calm, and the holidays were stressful enough, for all they didn't really celebrate as much as others. "Maybe something more for sentimental value." Those were usually smaller then other gift ideas. In light of not getting personal, he also figured it was a good way to not intrude. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lucascortez 2016-12-19 11:47 am UTC (link)
	Sentimental value was, of course, the best option. He agreed with Athelstan on that. But how did one get something sentimental at this point in their lives without making Paige cry? And that was the last thing he wanted to. "Or maybe simply something...fun," he said, although he had no idea how to go about finding that either. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	hears_both_gods 2016-12-19 01:57 pm UTC (link)
	He sighed. For all he didn't want to pry, helping someone with a gift idea could only go so far without some information. "Who is the gift for-and you don't have to give details beyond that." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lucascortez 2016-12-19 06:03 pm UTC (link)
	"My wife," he said simply. His wife who had just lost the baby they'd been trying for over a year to have. It had broken them both, but for obvious reasons it had been harder on her than it had been on him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	hears_both_gods 2016-12-19 09:07 pm UTC (link)
	He read a lot into what the man wasn't saying-something fun, but his expression showed more a 'need to escape' in the sense of having fun. "What about one of those spa bath sets?" Angie usually enjoyed those, and while he wasn't sure they were 'fun', he could see the appeal. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lucascortez
2016-12-19 09:12 pm UTC (link)

"Something to spoil herself with," Lucas said immediately. It was an excellent idea, and his eyes brightened a bit. Paige had gone through such a difficult time lately that the idea of a spa package - maybe not just soaps, but an actual day at the Spa - might help her spirits. He could pamper her. It wouldn't fix what they had lost but maybe it might bring her back to herself a little.

"That's an excellent idea."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	hears_both_gods 2016-12-19 09:54 pm UTC (link)
	Athelstan found himself smiling: the idea was just that, an idea. "You're welcome. My wife has a lot on her plate at the moment, so anything to help her relax is something I keep an eye on." Though now that the idea was said outloud, it didn't seem like a bad one. He made a mental note to find something for her later. Even Yule didn't forbid gift giving. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lucascortez 2016-12-19 09:56 pm UTC (link)
	Lucas felt like a load had been lifted from his shoulders. He knew what to get Paige now, and that meant the world to him. Just like Paige herself meant the world to him. "Would you perhaps like to have a drink with me?" He owed it to him, for his help. (Reply to this) (Parent)