Saint Patrick ☘ (shamrocked_) wrote in nevermore_past, @ 2012-07-18 10:53:00 |
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Entry tags: | joseph van der berg, saint patrick |
Who: Saint Patrick, Joseph Van der Berg and Neil Jones [NPC]
What: Have yourself a merry little Christmas (you might not have another)
When: Christmas Night, 2009
Where: Patrick's apartment
Notes: Inspired by <3 and In the Sun by Joseph Arthur and Winter by Joshua Radin
Saint Patrick has been back in New York City only a few months after an absence of decades. He always returns here eventually, hoping to see someone he knows. They say in a New York Minute everything can change; in the years since Patrick has been here, everything has. The city has not changed as much as Patrick himself has. He has become dark and secretive. He spends most of his time drunk, hurting and alone.
He has come back to New York out of necessity. Patrick had been living in Detroit for about five years, and has worked in youth shelters for longer than that. Three years ago he met a boy named Neil who needed him. Neil had been through hell with his family and he had run and Patrick had taken him in and helped him find a place to live. More importantly, he had given him something Neil had never had before. Simple friendship and love without any strings attached. And then poor Neil had been tracked down by his family, and Patrick had been the one who suggested that they move. Both of them. He didn't want Neil to be alone. And New York seemed like a good place to lose two people who didn't want to be found.
The city has been good to them. Patrick O'Doyle is now Patrick Finnegan and Neil Rosenberg is now Neil Jones. They both found work at a shelter for homeless youth, and though Neil is still living in Patrick's apartment, his plan is to find one of his own soon. Patrick doesn't mind the company in the meantime. It means that he drinks less, at least for now. And Neil's cheerful attitude, despite everything, makes Patrick smile.
"What time is Joey coming?" Neil asks, referring to Joseph Van der Berg who volunteers at the shelter with Neil and Patrick. He is fiddling with napkins, trying his hardest to fold them into swans. The results look more like crumpled napkins, but Patrick just lets Neil have his fun.
"He said about seven?" Patrick replies with a shrug. "Which means seven thirty." The pair has only known Joey for a little while, but Joey-time tends to be different than everyone else's time. He arches and eyebrow and pokes at the chicken he is supposed to be cooking. "Uhm, Neil? How do I know when it's done?"
Neil bursts out laughing and he crosses the kitchen to take over. "You, out of your own kitchen. Go play with your scary cat," Neil points in the direction of Grey Cat who is curled in the corner, sleeping away Christmas.
"Alright, alright," Patrick says, backing away with his hands raised. "Is it almost done? I'm hungry." Patrick is pretty much always hungry.
"Eat candy canes!" Neil hisses at him, waving his hands about in a flurry that has Patrick rushing out of the way.
Patrick, who is a picture of maturity as ever, sticks his tongue out at Neil who responds by flipping him the bird. "That is unacceptable behaviour," Patrick informs him. "This is why we can't have nice things." His voice is fond, however, and he is grinning.
"Your crazy puppy is why we can't have nice things," Neil replies, pointing at Downpatrick who is currently dancing around Patrick's legs with excitement because he believes Patrick's tone indicates they are about to play a game.
"Downpatrick is lovely. Cook my dinner!" As Patrick turns away from the kitchen, a knock sounds at the door and Downpatrick barks happily. "Heh. No, boy. Back! Silly dog," Patrick mutters as he goes to answer it. He pulls it open to find a brightly dressed Joseph on the other side. "Joey!"
"Merry Christmas," Joseph shouts, hugging Patrick tightly even though he is carrying a plate of cookies. Joseph smells of cigarettes and gingerbread. "Neil!" Joseph shouts and he carries the cookies to the table. "Is Patrick making you cook?"
"Believe me, it's for the best," Neil explains as Patrick closes the door. Joseph makes a face at Patrick who giggles.
The three of them are without anyone else today. Joseph has been cut off by his because they don't agree with the choices he has made, and his roommate Xavier spends one night a year with his family and tonight is the night. Neil's family is understandably absent. And Patrick doesn't know where his brothers are. He has come to believe that he will never see any of them again, and though it hurts every time he thinks of them, he is grateful for the time they had. He is also grateful he has people to spend today with, regardless.
"I don't doubt it," Joey grins, and he pats Neil on the shoulder. "I brought something extra," he adds, pulling a bottle of whiskey out of his coat and placing that on the table too. "Tis the season."
Patrick's mouth practically waters looking at the bottle, but he makes no sign of it. He has successfully hidden his addiction from Neil for years, though it is harder with Neil living with him. He has had to find hiding places for his alcohol. That doesn't mean the bottle Joey has offered is any less beautiful and welcome. "Cheers," Patrick says with a half-smile.
Their meal is a simple one. Roast chicken, stove top stuffing, and more mashed potatoes and gravy than Patrick has ever seen in his life. They have store-bought pumpkin pie with whipped cream from a can, and Joey's cookies. Not a single one of them cares that their feast isn't fancy or special. It's theirs.
Sitting around the table, delightfully full, Neil points out the window which is behind Patrick. "It's snowing," he says with a grin. "We should go up to the roof!"
Patrick's apartment is situated at the top of his building and thus he is the only tenant with roof access. It costs extra, but Patrick likes being able to head upstairs to think. The three of them bundle up and head for the roof, blankets and bottles of alcohol in arm to keep them warm.
Huddled against a wall, they watch snow slowly blanket the rest of the roof. They cuddle together, covered by blankets, and they pass around Joseph's whiskey, drinking straight from the bottle. "It's so quiet," Neil says.
"It's Christmas. People are...well, if they're lucky, they're with people they enjoy as much as I enjoy both of you," Patrick grins.
Smoke curls upwards from Joey's lips and he laughs at Patrick's remark. "That's the alcohol talking."
"No it's not!" Patrick insists. "I'm really glad you're both here." He bumps his shoulder against Joseph's and Joseph laughs.
"If you insist. You're not going to break out into song for your God are you?" Joseph asks, his eyes narrowed.
"I'll spare you," Patrick grins impishly. "I got it all out at Church this morning." Patrick blows away snowflake that has just landed on his nose and then he takes a deep swig of the whiskey.
They sit in silence for a while, just listening to the quiet whispers of the city, and watching the lights twinkle through the snow. Neil smiles. "This is the nicest Christmas I've ever had," he says softly. Patrick and Joseph glance over at him, both feeling pleased to have given Neil something nice. Both of them know he hasn't had it easy. "Can we do this again next year?" Neil asks.
"Of course we can," Patrick promises. He doesn't know that by the next year, Neil Jones will be dead. There is no way he can. He knows that tomorrow the three of them will go right back to their routine. Joseph will work at his cafe and volunteer at the shelter to fill the gaping hole his family has left in his life. Neil will go back to being afraid his family will track him down. Patrick will continue to drink and hide the fact that he hate all he has become while missing his brothers so much it aches. Tonight they can forget, and Patrick sees nothing wrong with promising Neil that there will be another night of forgetting to look forward to.
Patrick pulls Neil against him and he, in turn, leans up against Joseph who wraps his arms around Patrick and he laughs. "Don't get too comfortable, or we'll fall asleep and freeze to death!"
Patrick grins and he nuzzles against Joseph's chest. "We'll be fine, worry wart."
"You're bogarting all the whiskey," Neil says with a frown and he grabs for the bottle, taking a swig.
Patrick finishes it off when Neil hands it back. It's cold outside, but inside he is quite warm.
He hopes the feeling lasts.