Cassandra (predicted) wrote in musingslogs, @ 2011-03-01 17:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | batgirl, oracle |
Who: Quinn and Gwen (and Runt, everyone's favorite)
What: A discussion on Wren leaving and their family
Where: Bathos 101
When: After Quinn finds out about Wren leaving (log forthcoming)
Warnings: This is like an episode of Full House.
After everything, Quinn and Gwen’s relationship was...civil. Quinn saw it as a good point that Gwen was starting to talk to her again after the disappearing act she pulled, so it was mainly her fault anyway. Everything had made her think and on her little journey of trying to figure herself out. She did figure out one thing she hated about herself that she really wanted to fix. That is, if Gwen was feeling up to speaking to her still.
She peered in to Gwen’s room, looking carefully at the woman’s back before she pushed open the door with her hip as she carried Runt in to the computer room with her. With a little smile, Quinn leaned over Gwen’s shoulder to deposit the puppy in her lap before she gave Gwen’s shoulder a squeeze, “Hi. Talk now?”
Gwen looked up the second her door opened, though she had to turn her head slightly to see who it was. The smile was quick before she turned back to her work, thinking the visit wasn’t for anything in particular. That thought was dashed when a certain puppy was dropped in her lap and she was being called for a talk.
“Sure?” She had set the comm silent the second Runt was in her lap and sniffing the fabric of her shirt. She rolled back, careful to mind Quinn’s feet, and let go of her wheels to pet the pup. “What’s on your mind?” She hoped it wasn’t more requests to have Luke stay over. Those always ended in No.
Quinn dropped herself in to one of the desk chairs and gave Gwen a hesitant little smile. As Runt made himself comfortable on Gwen’s lap, Quinn had her usual face of concentration to gathering her words. “Um, want to talk about stuff,” she said with a little shrug of her shoulders. She had a laundry list of things she wanted to go through, but she figured she needed to tell her the bad news first.
Resting her elbows on her knees, Quinn propped her chin up with her hands as she sighed. “Um. Wren left,” she gave the news as plainly as she got it. “When...gone. She just left. Said nothing and went.” That was that. She thought about asking Gwen to track her down, but realized that she maybe had changed her name. For not the first time, Quinn wondered if she had known her friend at all.
“Left?” Gwen’s had been so surprised that her hand stilled atop Runt’s head, an action that he immediately hated and whined against. She picked him up and cradled him to her chest before continuing to pet his head. It was odd that Wren just up and went. She was under the impression that her and Quinn were very close. She wondered if Kyle knew. She’d would have to check on that later. Now was something more important.
“How are you taking it?” Sharing their feelings wasn’t exactly the norm in their house but it wasn’t uncommon. The fact that Quinn was here wanting to talk about stuff showed great change in her, and Gwen couldn’t be more impressed.
“Not good,” she admitted, though it sounded like just getting that out was hard. They had talked before about being more open with each other and she had wanted to. Reaching out, Quinn gently scratched Runt’s back, which the dog was clearly loving being the center of attention. She frowned a little and gestured vaguely with her hands, “Miss her already. Still mad. Hurts. But miss her and...sad about everything.”
Gwen smiled slightly at Runt’s happy expression, clearly unaffected by the conversation and reveling in all the affection. “I know,” she said unhelpfully. “I’m sure she had her reasons but the hurt is... expected. She was a friend.” She let her hand rest atop Quinn’s for a moment as the petted the dog. “Does anyone else know that she left? Have you talked to anyone?”
Quinn couldn’t help the small smile as Gwen’s hand covered hers, looking up to meet Gwen’s eyes. “Luke told me,” she explained, “Said left things with Ba--Thomas. She just was gone.” Luke had been just as blindsided as she was by everything. It was strange to think about, knowing she could easily do the same thing. That she had got up and disappeared from cities just as easily as Wren could with far less ties, but the idea now just didn’t sit well with her.
There was a pause as she turned her hand over to hold on to Gwen’s. She looked seriously at her, “Know I do stupid stuff....run away. Disappear.” A deep breath. “But wouldn’t ever...leave-leave. Like that. Not saying goodbye or things. And...Sorry again. For worry and not...thinking clear.”
Gwen frowned for a moment before shaking her head. Why Wren had left her things with Thomas, she had no idea, but it wasn’t like she would’ve been enlightened to those reasons anytime soon. The frown deepened when Quinn started talking about her recent runaway scare, and all the old feelings started bubbling up once more. The worry, the rage, the hurt - the absolute hurt that came from yet another stunt where Quinn knew better.
“You can’t keep doing this, Quinn,” she sighed, more like a weary, worried mother than she had ever been before. “I get that you were upset. And I wouldn’t have bat an eyelash if you had even left your comm. But your cell? I wouldn’t even have to call you, I just want you to have a way to contact me. We’re a family, remember? We have a responsibility to each other.” She felt like a broken record, probably sounded much the same, and she huffed. “Runt was upset.”
“I know I can’t,” Quinn agreed, looking down for the moment and not meeting Gwen’s eyes. “Not street kid anymore. Just so...used to it? I guess. Not Musings anymore. I’m going to try. Be better. Not so...” She didn’t want to say ‘like herself’, because she was trying to be a different Quinn. The more reasonable adult that didn’t climb out windows when she got upset or when Gwen tried to get her to read. That wasn’t her anymore. She looked up and wrinkled her nose. “Runt mad door closed, not I’m gone.”
There was a brief hesitation when she figured out the way to say it. “Trying to be...new Quinn,” she started as she made a face at the phrasing. “Not new change. But some change? Don’t...want to carry around past all time.” She wasn’t even sure she was being clear, so she ended up just blurting it out. “I like being part your family. Want...more official thing? Like Luke and Thomas.” Quinn pointed at Gwen and told her, “So you adopt me? I don’t...want to be Gaines. Want to be Dailey.”
Gwen listened quietly, Quinn’s words and promises making the tense emotions whirling in her die down. Though some doubt lingered still, as this wasn’t the first or even the second time they had promised to change things only to fall back into the same pattern. She was just as much to blame for that as Quinn and she bit back any retorts that would say otherwise.
The request for adoption completely blindsided her, and she was so still for a moment that Runt whimpered and nudged her and to keep the affection coming. It wasn’t that Gwen minded but it never occurred to her to make their little family more official. Her father aside, those she counted as family were not even close to being blood relatives, just tried and tried friends who had earned a place in her heart to be something like aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters, and in this case, daughters.
“Do I look like a billionaire to you?” she teased. Adoption also turned to inheritance, in her mind. They weren’t wealthy by any means but they had a fair amount of money, and the last time Gwen had her will done up, when they first entered Seattle, all of it was going to Quinn. That didn’t even count the cash and important paper documents that were hidden around the house, partly paranoia that any enemy that would take her out was someone she had crossed in her computer work, someone who could route bank numbers and forge documents without breaking a sweat. And partly because she wasn’t sure if Quinn would bother to see a lawyer about a will if she did die. “I can’t magically move you to Aubade right after. Or have a big party announcing the name change.” That cheeky grin of hers just kept getting wider.
Quinn pulled a face at that question, giving Gwen a disgruntled little look before she gently (for Quinn) hit Gwen in the arm. “Not cause money,” she retorted, “Cause don’t want his name. Want yours. You never hurt me. Don’t want to carry that anymore. More parent than he ever was.” Quinn was set in this, a bit in her own stubborn way. She didn’t want to carry the past anymore, not when she was was constantly moving forward. If she could bury him away and start on with the woman who always been more of a parent than he was, she wanted that so much more. “You’re my mom. Want official cause...” A little grumbly embarrassed huff. “Cause love you.” Talking about feelings was the worst ever.
To Gwen’s credit, she didn’t even flinch when Quinn “gently” hit her on the arm. She did toss a mock pout down at Runt, who answered her look with a sniff and then a sneeze. Not exactly the desired effect but she supposed the punch on her arms was much the same. But the conversation took a more serious turn and Gwen could understand the logic in that. She knew about Quinn’s father and she didn’t blame her for wanting to sever any and all ties with that man. And when she ended on an embarrassed profession of feelings, Gwen couldn’t help but feel her grin just get wider.
“Love you too,” she said fondly, quicker and more at ease with a response but no less sincere, pulling her down for a hug, though careful to allow enough space for the puppy. “Quinn Dailey does sound nice. If this is what you want, I’ll start the paperwork.” Her forehead and been pressed affectionately against Quinn’s but she lifted it for a moment to give the girl a long look, half mocking, half not so much. “Though don’t think I’ll be any easier on you with the change. If my dad’s anything to go by, the Dailey name just means I can be worse.”
Quinn went with a little grumble in to the hug, but didn’t hesitate to put her arms around Gwen for a little squeeze. She gave Gwen a quick peck on the cheek before giving Runt a peck on the to of his head. When she pulled back, Quinn was still smiling an honest wide smile. “Is what want. If okay with you,” she told Gwen. “I don’t want easier. Just same but...official.”
“Let’s make it official then.” Runt seemed to enjoy the change and the swirl of affection around her and turned his head to give Gwen’s cheek a lick. “You can be a Dailey too.” His tiny tail wagged happily at that.