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Travis Marks (travis_marks) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2013-04-27 11:38:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2013 04, character: bud hammond, character: douglas hammond, character: elaine barrish hammond, character: margaret barrish, character: maura isles, character: thomas hammond, character: travis marks

RP: Travis, the Hammonds, the Barrishes
Who: Travis, TJ, Doug, Maura, Elaine, Bud and Margaret
Where: Blue Bayou
When: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Summary: they celebrate TJ's seventh month of sobriety

Travis had worn his suit pants with a bottoned down shirt. It was nothing like he would normal wear at the parks. He was a jeans kind of guy. Even at work, where most detectives wore a suit, he still prefered jeans, something he got away with, because of his past years in undercover. To say that this was unusual was an understatement, but then, TJ would know.

Unlike TJ's birthday, he didn't tell TJ what he should wear. While they had reservation at the Blue Bayou, no one would have cared if they had gone in with jeans. Of course, it wasn't surprising to see the rest of the family dressed up as well, or dressed up by touristy standards. They probably considered it normal.

They met at six after spending the day doing different things (although Doug and Maura had spent plenty of time with them), and went to the restaurant. The Blue Bayou was the 'in' restaurant at the park, but it was still in a dark room, with a ride going through it, and yeah, there was nothing sophisticated or grand, except for the price tag. Although Travis figured that even that, they'd find cheap.

Dinner was relatively normal, if one considered where they were and their situation, but as they were finishing their meals and getting ready for dessert, they had more of a chance to talk. Travis grinned at TJ. "I'm not sure anyone celebrates a seventh month anniversary, but in case I haven't said it lately, I am very proud of you," he said softly as he leaned over and kissed TJ.

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hammond_tj
2013-04-26 10:25 pm UTC (link)

TJ cupped Travis' cheek as he returned the kiss, letting himself have this moment despite the public nature of the restaurant or the fact his parents were there. It was his moment to take, every bit as much or more than opening of The Dome, this was his moment, something he never actually thought he'd achieve, whether that meant anything to his parents or not, -- and he doubted it did. "Thank you," he replied just as softly before sitting back with a smirk. "I wouldn't want to celebrate like just anyone else. Just anyone else isn't me. But, we can celebrate like normal people in five months when it's been a year. All the literature says the last few months of the first year are the hardest, after all."

They may or may not be able to do much in the way of celebration in five months. Who knew where they'd be.

But, it certainly wouldn't be anything like this. And only Travis would come up with something like this. He hadn't asked, but TJ wouldn't have put it past Travis to have had a word with the Director about Disneyland after their last conversation about Disney and faerietales. The timing of the trip along with TJ breaking that six month barrier and staying clean for seven months was too coincidental and TJ didn't believe in coincidence. TJ had taken his cue from the fact his lover was dressing up and dressed accordingly. The charcoal suit vest, white oxford shirt, and dark form-fitting jeans might not be the quality he craved, but he felt more human and they coordinated without coming across like a cutesy pair of matching bookends.

Besides, between Travis looking hot as hell in that outfit and the secret amusement of watching his parents trying to retain their dignity while having dinner in the middle of an amusement park ride, TJ could ignore enough of the cheesy, tacky faerietale world around them that he was actually able to enjoy the day, most of which had been spent with Travis, or Travis, Doug, and Maura. The smile he was wearing when he returned his full attention to the rest of the table was one of those real ones that had been too rare at home and was still rarely public here. "And thank all of you for being here. I know it's not a big deal to most people, but it's a first for me."

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elaine_hammond
2013-04-27 02:53 am UTC (link)

Elaine wasn't sure why they couldn't have gone to a nice restaurant in LA instead of being in Los Angeles, but she knew better than to complain, especially when Travis had organized it. "You're welcome, honey, and we're very happy to be here, because if it's important to you, it's important to us."

Doug used his wine glass to cover the snort, although he was hardly subtle. "Yes, TJ, what's important to you, it's important to us."

Travis kept his composure. Regardless of what these people thought, he had survived undercover and knew how to act, regardless the situation. He put his arm on TJ's chair, his hand squeezing TJ's shoulder. "We can celebrate tonight, and then we can celebrate the one year chip if that's what you want, because it is important to me to see you happy and clean I'll have to see what amusement park we can find them." He looked at Doug, smiling. "And don't think I'm not dragging you with us. Someone needs to make sure you have fun," he teased, although he wasn't joking. Rachel had been good for Doug, ready to party, making sure he had fun. He liked Maura, but she wasn't like Rachel and the situation didn't let itself to carefree fun.

"Since I love this so much," Doug said with a snort.

"Oh come on! You complained about the Christmas park, but I know you had fun." He played with the shorter hair at the back of TJ's head as he spoke. "You both learned to have fun like the common folks, and there might have been a few smiles today, so don't even try to deny it."

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hammond_tj
2013-04-27 06:34 pm UTC (link)

"You know, I remember when they were building this place," Nana interjected. "Word around town in Las Vegas was that Disney was nuts. It would never get off the ground, let alone make a sustainable income. He should have stuck to the original plan to build a small park at the studio in Burbank. If I recall, there was a heat wave of over 110 degrees and a plumbers' union strike on opening day. They were cutting it so close to the wire, the asphalt wasn't entirely dry and high heels actually sank into the street. That was 1955 and here we are today. Maybe the dreamers know something the rest of the world hasn't figured out, yet."

"Really, Nana? You were paying attention to the construction of a theme park outside L.A. while living your Vegas dream?" TJ smiled.

"Well, I might have been too preoccupied with being romanced by my second husband-to-be and potty training your mother at the time. But, I read about it."

"I think it's charming," Maura added. "There are several glaring historical inaccuracies in the architecture and costuming, of course. Still, there is a certain charm to things here. It's rare to find so many happy people in one place these days. And not just the tourists. I don't think I've ever had so many friendly, smiling people wait on me in years. And the barbershop quarter was really quite talented. It's surprising to hear those kinds of harmonies with so much of today's culture being tied up in pop music and hip house music."

"Hip Hop," TJ said, chuckling. "House went out with 90s. It's Hip Hop, today."

"Oh. Well, that. I still liked the quarter very much."

TJ smiled. It never ceased to amuse him that Maura could speak in depth and with perfect accuracy about obscure points of science, math, history, literature...and get confused by pop culture she should have grown up around much like they had. Even if he knew Doug had no interest, TJ still liked her and thought the company was good for his brother even if there was nothing else there. Reaching up, he removed Travis' hand from his hair and laced their fingers together instead. As good as it felt to have Travis play with his hair, TJ had a hard time resisting the impulse to close his eyes and relax into it...something he couldn't afford to do in front of his parents. The moment he relaxed was always the moment they chose to strike with whatever criticism was coming next.

"Well, I can't deny enjoying the Haunted Mansion all three times...but that had nothing to do with the ride," he told Travis, smirking. "Are we going back to the other park for that dance club they have going tonight?"

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