11/22/07 - Thursday
Who: Sydni and Mikhail, and the rents What: Mikhail has a big question Where: Sydni's parents home in CA When: Wednesday
The plane rides had been fun. In the not fun way. It was too close to the full, and there had been way too many people. It was a good thing Mikhail had been with her. Sydni had gotten quite snappy on the plane, and probably would have been snappy with her parents if Mikhail hadn't taken certain measures to make her a pleasanter person. The ride from the airport was spent with a lot of chattering. Sydni's mother was an incredibly amiable person and she had a million friendly questions to ask. Sydni's dad was quieter, but more prone to making smart alek remarks here and there. Sydni herself opened up and joked and chattered away like few ever saw her.
As soon as she got home, though, the brunette determined a shower was in order. And Molly was near crazy to go out and run around. Since she knew the area better, Sydni told Mikhail she'd take the pup out after her shower. Her father clearly enjoyed the pup, and he offered, but Sydni wanted her parents to get a chance to know Mikhail. Besides, he'd have to face her father at some point. She just hoped Dad wouldn't be too disappointed when the handcuffs ended up busted. Giving Mikhail a quick kiss, she took up Molly's leash and headed out.
Plains. Mikhail felt he was good at riding any sort of craft. What he hated about plains, however, were the airports. Look at the people rushing around on their cell phones, whining and shouting at children who cried. God. Couldn't people just shut up for a moment? Mikhail was glad he knew how to shut down and just focus on a few things. Sydni was his only thought and all things revolved around her, much like she was the sun.
On the ground, at the house, Mikhail was glad to be indoors. He didn't know what to make of the California weather. Why wasn't it cold? Or, as cold as it should have been. He felt a little concerned and just decided to follow his girlfriend and her parents. But she was gone sooner than he anticipated, off to take a shower. Figures. And without him. Ah well.
"Mister, Misus Wilson, thank you for having. Is generous."
Mikhail's formality clearly impressed Sydni's mom. She was old fashioned and always introduced herself as Mrs. Wilson. "It's a pleasure, Mikhail. Sydni has talked so much about you." Sydni's dad smiled slightly, thinking obviously, and then nodded. "Call me Riley. If you say Mr. Wilson, I'll look around for my father, and he's dead." "Riley!" Jane cried, appalled at his callous words, but he just winked at Mikhail, clearly amused at flustering his wife. "Would you like a drink?" the older man asked (well, older looking. He was in his 70s). "Or something to eat? You two must be starved," Jane worried, glancing upstairs toward where her daughter was showering
One would hope that Sydni warned her parents about the language gap as well as the occasional passive response to things that were said. Mikhail didn't always understand the humor. When Riley smiled the werewolf only nodded lightly back, feigning a smirk of his own. For the trip he had worn his eyepatch so as to not worry Sydni's parents, though it was hard discrete. It was just easier on the public. In the recent weeks he had lost almost all of his vision out of his left eye, though it didn't bother him terribly. Because it had been a slow loss he adjusted and only occasionally missed things he was looking for on the left.
"Riley it is," he replied with a nod, the man's name pronounced with a thick "R." As long as he didn't have to use any "Vs" he would be okay. "Ah, drink is nice. Yes. What have?" he inquired. "Sip not hurt."
had probably mentioned that Mikhail was Russian. But to her, Mikhail was Mikhail, and she understood him, so her parents would, too. Well, that was what her mind assumed.
The brunette wished Mikhail didn't feel he had to wear that patch. She loved him just the way he was, and he shouldn't feel like he had to cover up.
"What do you want? Gin? Rum? Vodka?" he smirked. Whether he chose it or not, Riley would find the whole Russian/vodka situation amusing. Jane, for her part, had disappeared into the kitchen, saying something about having cheese and crackers. Sydni would have laughed - it was the day before Thanksgiving. Her mother had more than cheese and crackers. About the same time that a drink was brought out, Jane returned with cheese and crackers... and nuts, pepperoni, grapes, and cookies. Sydni would have been right
Returning to Riley's question with the answer of "vodka" and not finding it funny himself, Mikhail paced slowly around the living area they had been standing in. He didn't want to sit after being on that plane for so long, he just wished to move around and stretch his legs. It was nice to stand.
"Thank you for kindness," he said. "I grateful." He really was glad that her parents seemed to be so nice and generous. Allowing him to stay in their house, eat their food, be with their daughter. Mikhail was sure he'd be the sort of father who never wanted to let his baby girl out of his sight even when she was 30.
The walls of the living room were decorated with a variation of family photos, photos of Sydni, her rewards and recognition, and Riley's rewards and recognitions, including several newspaper articles.
"Oh, it's nothing," Jane smiled. She was a true homemaker. She loved nothing more than to invite people into her home and care for them. After Sydni had left for college, it had been hard at first, not having someone to care for. The house soon grew to contain many plants.
Riley had much the same outlook as Mikhail. He had listened to his daughter's excited babble, and paid very close attention to what she was saying. Now he got to meet the man for himself, and while he was certainly amicable, he was observing this man who had come into his daughter's life. Also, while he may not have been able to best Mikhail in a physical fight, he clearly had an alpha mentality. He did not sit while Mikhail stood. Sydni had once blessed an amulet for him - a lion, because she knew it was his spirit animal. Pride certainly fit him.
In turn, Mikhail would not sit until invited to do so, though he still wanted to stretch his long legs. He was not a small man by any means after all his years of exercise and work. Though he gladly did take a snack of cheese and crackers, looking at photographs and awards upon the walls. It was all very nice and showy. The only thing he ever got were some decorations from the navy. But now what did he talk about? Mikhail had never been the kind of man to speak often unless he was replying.
He had never been a particularly patient man when it came to extremely exciting matters, either. While he was pretty patient on all other things, the idea in his mind was stuck on the tip of his tongue.
"Ah, Mister Riley, can talk to?" he asked. Part of him figured this might be the only time he got a chance to speak with her parents without her. May as well now, then he could be kicked out of the house ahead of time if need be.
It was only showy because Jane was too proud of her daughter, as was Riley, and Riley was proud of his service. At Mikhail's question, Riley cocked an eyebrow. "Sure. Let's have a seat in the dining room." Riley led the way, and waited for the other man to take a seat before joining him. Then he waited expectantly, sipping from his gin and tonic now and then.
Following the man in, Mikhail sat at one of the seats away from the head of the table and shirked out of his leather jacket. Ah, much more comfortable. Putting his elbows on the table and leaning against them, Mikhail even removed his eyepatch. This was serious business.
"Realize just got in," he started while looking at Sydni's father. "But...will not want so good hospitality if not discuss now." Pausing, he half turned and reached into a pocket within his jacket lining, pulling out a small box and putting it on the table. It wasn't actually a ring box, because that was too noticeable, but a more slender box used for the same purpose.
Putting it on the table, he waited to let it sink in before continuing.
Riley listened carefully. This was a serious man. His attitude reflected the other man's, though Riley tended to be more of trickster. He regarded the box carefully, took a sip from his drink, then reached out and opened it, just to be sure, before nodding and setting it back. "Have you talked to Sydni yet?"
: If this man tried to trick Mikhail in any way that related to such an important matter, Mikhail would have been deeply hurt and disappointed. In reply, he shook his head. "No," he told the father.
"Mister Riley, am old. Raised to ask father first. Is what expect if I in your place." Crossing his arms loosely, leaning on his elbows, he let his head hang slightly before picking it up to look Riley in the face again. "Never have feeling like this. I always alone. Is hard, being wolf. Sydni...Sydni makes me happy."
"Fair enough," Riley said. His level of respect for this man had raised already. He was a decent man, and that was the best he could hope for for his daughter. "I'm going to be level with you. I don't really care what makes you happy. I care about what makes my daughter happy." He paused for a minute, then shrugged and smiled. "And she is happy. It's strange having a daughter. When she was little, she'd tell me everything. Now, she tells certain things to her mom only. I know what they're talking about. Jane worries. But I know she's thinking of children. And I don't know that she's ever thought of that before. Not seriously enough to talk about. Do you want children, Mr. Dmitriv?"
Riley would never be cruel to someone and trick them over something this serious. But he was more likely to flippant and try to cheer up the mood. He just couldn't stand too much seriousness.
It was good he cared about what his daughter wanted. Mikhail nodded, finding all of this very good. He was also glad not to have been kicked out of the house. While too much seriousness never did any good, Mikhail wanted this out of the way so he could go and surprise Sydni later. Perhaps this weekend, even. He wasn't sure yet.
"I...never consider before..." said the Russian slowly. Children were passing thoughts. His paternal clock only once ever ticked and that was after losing Ivanna when he realized he was a lot more lonely than he thought he was. After a while it stopped moving, the clock, because he told himself he'd be that "lone wolf" all of his life. Now that he was with Sydni it could move again, he supposed, though he had yet to allow it.
"Ah. Yes. Would say want. Not now, no, but future. Never talk about with Sydni. Is subject I not think of to ask."
"Good. It's an important thing to her, and she can't have her heart broken if you two don't agree. And she's in no rush, either." Of course, that may have been his paternal denial of his daughter's sexual activity.
"Here's the thing, Mikhail. I don't know you well enough to know if you're good enough for my daughter. In fact, I doubt you are." He didn't mean it as an insult, but no man, or woman, would ever be good enough for his daughter. "But, if Sydni thinks you measure up, then I trust her judgement. So, I think it's best you ask her opinion on the matter. You'll get better results," he grinned. "Oh, and if you want to keep it a secret, don't tell Jane. She wouldn't spill the beans, but I'd appreciate her not being totally atwitter for the time it takes for you to ask the question."
Smiling softly, Mikhail nodded. Of course he would ask for Sydni's "opinion." But he wanted to make sure he had the go by her father first. Nodding once, the biologically older man got to his feet and rubbed a hand over his face. Why was it warm here? It gave him a headache for some reason. That, or he was getting stressed already about this whole thing. Love was so damn complicated.
"Excuse," said Mikhail. "Need wash before dinner. Thank you for talking with. I appreciate it."