Tweak

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Tweak says, "I ain't yo mama, sucka!"

Miniver Cheevy (miniver) wrote in utr_logs,
@ 2008-12-30 01:27:00

Entry tags:

liam brennan, miniver cheevy

WHO: Liam Brennan and Miniver Cheevy
WHAT: Meeting the family!
WHERE: Liam's place
WHEN: Tonight
Warnings: This looks to develop more or less like an episoide of Looney Tunes. Otherwise, unless they end up in a porn shop, god only knows.

-----

It's not long before Miniver arrives at Liam's flat. He's a bit nervoius, to be honest -- the only members of his mother's family he's seen since he was 8 or so are his brother and nephew, and they'd been raised Cheevy if not born. Liam had seemed a nice enough chap, but Miniver still harbored reservations from his time spent knowing his mother.

Finally,l after milling about on the front stoop for a few minutes with a cigarette, he works up the courage to actually knock.

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:01 am UTC (link)

Liam was beaming at that, "Ain't lived in the same spot a single day for twenty years, meself. Lived in the same cities me whole life, only moved the once, 'cept for when we went Under-the-Hill." He quipped. "Think it might be a recessive gene, like. What makes us all have itching feet." He looked down at the small garden statue of a snail that was the portkey and tilted his head. "Hey, I never woulda even noticed that! That's quite clever, wot?" He said, beaming to Miniver. "Western outskirts of Dublin, if you please. Closer to Kingswood."

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miniver
2008-12-31 07:06 am UTC (link)

"Exactly. And hey... if wandering's genetic, I got it too. I kinda live five places, see. Much more with my husband now than before... I tend to wander more when I get into depressive moods, then burrow wherever I am when I get hit by that bullshit where I don't want to move for days. But I'd so much rather be with him. So much."

He's a bit fog-eyed as he takes Liam's hand. "Now, hold on tight, and do what I do."

He touches the portkey, and holds on tight. In just a few seconds, they're right where Liam asked to be placed -- Miniver may not be any sort of wizard, but he can use Portkeys like a pro. Call it a hidden talent. Also, something he got used to with Draco.

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:21 am UTC (link)

He grinned wide at the way Miniver talked about the one to which he was Twined. He figured it was better not to say anything, because all would be revealed in time. He said something to the young blond man who'd taken him to lunch, because he was young, and Liam had to remark that the Twine was unique to his experiences.

He did just as Miniver did, and once they were right where he'd grown up, he looked around, smelled the air, and then nodded, "This is Kingswood alright, look, there's where the mill were, and over there's where me school once was. Ain't there no more, obviously, thing was old as God's Toenails when I went there for me education. Come on, let me show you to me hill." He said, taking Miniver by the hand, and walking briskly one direction. They took the side streets and alleyways, and even had to climb a fence or two, but it wasn't more than ten minutes before they arrived near a farm, and a rather large hill. The hill was bracketed by a cropping of large ash trees on either end, and there was a single, ancient looking oak on top.

Liam stood back from it with a look of minor reverence for a few seconds, smiling a mad smile, before turning his head to gaze at Miniver. "You don't see the door, but after tonight, you will, mate. Oh. And when we go through, be aware of the slight dip." He squeezed Miniver's hand before walking up the hill, and up to the tree, which he walked around once, feeling the bark, caressing it, and then just stepping through it, taking the poet with.

The 'slight dip', as Liam called it, was about a three foot drop, into a hallway that looked old as time, but still often used. There were torches lit down the hall, glowing golden and illuminating the carved stone walls. Liam walked silently down the hall, turned a corner, and went out a proper doorway, where they found themselves outside again.

It was a different Outside. The air was warm, and sweet, and the grass was green and lush. The trees were glowing with fairy lights, and the sky was perpetual dawn. Their immediate vicinity had little thatched roof homes and shops, and there were things bustling all about.

The first one to approach them was an elf which looked up, first at Liam, then at Miniver, and crossed his arms. "He'd better behave himself, he smells like he's been drinkin', Liam."
"We both've been drinkin', sod off, sprite." Liam answered.

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miniver
2008-12-31 07:32 am UTC (link)

He follows Liam with unsure feet -- he has never been known for natural grace, a stumbling, bumbling little person. It's a little worse with how distracted he is by everything. As soon as the scent of the place hits him, he knows it's different. He can feel the air change.

He tumbles into Liam a bit as they hop down the drop, but at the sight of the elf, he's rendered speechless. He's seen elves before. He's met Puck himself, been mothered by a high elven queen of Valinor, met sprites and fay-folk and a leprechaun once, but that was far away and long ago in a place he has not seen in a long, long time, where ghosts were as real and solid as he was, and the end of the world was a regular and unremarkable occurrance.

Now, for some reason, there is something far more real about it. This is HIS world, and exists in a reality far more unstable and vivid than the Bar once had. This is magic that comes to him in a truly unusual environment. He is struck by the reality of it in a deeper way than he's really believed in anything for a long time. And as the awareness blossoms into their more distant surroundings -- into the light, the scent, the creatures all around -- he pounces Liam in a tight hug and just clings to him for a few seconds.

Because this is real.

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:43 am UTC (link)

Liam understood. In the way that one who'd only ever dreamed of something, who'd only ever wondered and loved and desired and never truly saw. He hugged his relative with a small smile, shushing him sweetly, speaking in Gaelic.

He then smiled down at the elf who'd still been standing there and he sighed. "This here be me half cousin from the United States, Miniver Cheevy. He ain't ever seen Avalon before, and I promised I'd show him around a bit like, for his tellin' me about America so well." The elf's eyes went wide, and he squeaked loudly, "He's been to America? Is it true as they say that there's chickens who lay square eggs there?"
Liam laughed, "No! But you know what, there's a great big ball of twine bigger'n me whole body! As big as a house!!!" He answered, eyes wide.

Truly, there were wonders in both worlds.

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miniver
2008-12-31 07:47 am UTC (link)

Miniver laughs at that. Laughs in pure delight. It's not just chickens laying square eggs. It's the pure wonder in the people of his own dreams who see the world he comes from in such a way.

Shyly, he reaches towards the Elf, and almost reverently lets his fingers brush against a scrap of his clothing before he draws away again, his arm linked with his cousin's, almost hiding behind him a little, almost again a child.

"I would tell you, too, if you want to know, some other night. Liam's kept me talking for hours about it just now."

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:57 am UTC (link)

Liam smiled smugly, "Aye, and you can't have him tonight, Sprite. He's me cousin, ain't yours. Get your own American." He stuck out his tongue, irreverent and childish, before ruffling Miniver's hair. He walked down the cobblestone path, towards the market, where they were selling all sorts of odd and unearthly fruits from stands, as well as fine cloth and all manners of strange baubles and trinkets. The street lamps were indeed slightly lit to accommodate the visibility of things, glowing an ethereal purple and giving down a natural light. Liam nodded to those who knew his name and soon, they were spotted by an incredibly tall, blue, somewhat gaunt figure which had the horns of a ram and legs like an insect, though wearing an outfit similar to something one would find on a disco king. Approached, Liam lifted his head up, and grinned, "Ah, hello lad, I see you've grown!" Liam said to the beast.

The blue... thing, replied back, "And I see you've brought a visitor. Is he kin? He looks very much like your father."
"I know, right? He's Miniver Cheevy, and he's a man what lived in the United States most of his life, and I found him on the internet, up topside!" He beamed. "Miniver, darling cousin, this is Dianth'rin N'toli, and don't make me pronounce all your bloody name, I'll get a case of the hiccups, I keep doin' it like. I call him 'Chuck'."

Chuck offered his slender, six-fingered hand to Miniver.

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miniver
2008-12-31 08:02 am UTC (link)

Miniver takes the strange hand and bows -- a nervous but sincere gesture. "Dianth'rin N'toli," he repeats just to prove that he can -- he can remember his grandparents, dim shadows now, and flitting snatches of Gaelic, and parroting it so long ago. The shape of the words is a passing familiarity, like a half-remembered dream he can still recall the plot of. "Chuck," he says then with a grin. "It's good to meet you. Liam, this place is... amazing. Just amazing."

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 08:15 am UTC (link)

Liam simply nodded to Miniver's exclamation and patted him on the shoulder.

Chuck gave a similar bow, turning back his leg and bowing low enough that he almost was as low as they were short. He repeated back "Miniver Cheevy, A great pleasure. Liam is a good friend of our family." At that, Liam stage-whispered into Miniver's ear, "He's one of Oberon's descendants." And then straightened back up to smile cheekily at the great blue creature before them.

"Indeed I am." Chuck said with a nod of his thin, rigid head, before stroking his inky black beard. "It is of some surprise that you come here just in time to hear of festivals that are about to occur, when you never attend them, Liam."

Liam shrugged and smiled innocently. "Don't know what to tell ye, mate. Ain't one for parties what stay on 'til everyone's fallen asleep a'least twice. What's it this time? Epiphany? Ah, perhaps I'll come mince about the place, take me cousin along with. What says you to it, Miniver, ol' chap?" He asked Miniver, loving that he didn't have to look down or up to talk to him.

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	miniver 2008-12-31 01:43 pm UTC (link)
	The height similarity is a nice one -- one Miniver rarely enjoys in the company of males who are not his husband. He nods at the suggestion. "This ain't one of those things full of curses and mortal traps is it? Just checking, y'know, better to be safe than end up a victim of pomegranate seeds." He's joking. Mostly. "Chuck, d'you mean THE Oberon?" (Reply to this)

mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 02:32 pm UTC (link)

Liam rolled his eyes and put his hands behind his back and he rocked on his heels. He was bored with all the silly misconceptions and downright lies about his second home. "That's only Midsummer." He muttered under his breath as he rocked back and forth.

Chuck nodded once more before tutting, more at Liam's reaction than anything. "Yes, I'm born of royal blood. But things have changed since the Golden Age. Oberon and Titania's children gave the throne a miss and have since let a council rule the plane, including our town of Underhill."

Liam nodded, "S'right."

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	miniver 2008-12-31 04:28 pm UTC (link)
	Miniver just... grins. "Liam? This is the best thing like... ever. Evereverever. Right so if this is just like... just one town... how big is it?" He might be wandering off a little, in pure distractedness. Miniver is one of those mortal-minded fellows who is the epitome of trouble in places like this. (Reply to this)

mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 05:11 pm UTC (link)

Miniver's exuberance made Liam feel better, and he caught up quickly. He wasn't quite walking on the ground, but that was probably for the better, because that way, he could be eye level with Chuck, who followed along after a moment.

Liam smiled, "Place is only about the size of the UK all-told. Avalon's got boroughs and townships and cities just like our own, only not at all like it. This is Underhill, what be me second home. Underhill's only got a residency of about 800, and this is considered one of the larger towns. The largest city, also named Avalon, also the capitol, only got's about 5000 folks livin' there, includin' the Council, what's made up of every creature what talks proper. Avalon's near the Great Sea. Oi, Chuck, you ain't got a map at your residence, wot?"

There was a deep, thoughtful sound that came from the blue man, and he then responded, "I might. Topographical or roads?"

"Ain't you got one what shows both?" Liam pouted.

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miniver
2008-12-31 05:28 pm UTC (link)

"Ifd you get both, and use a holepunch or some scissors in one of them and lay it on top of the other, it's kind of like seeing both," Miniver points out helpfully. "Can we see the shops? Do they take money? I got gold I can trade too..." He fingers his earrings and tugs up his sleeves to see which bracelets he's wearing today. He has entirely too much fan-crap that means absolutely nothing to him aside from their qualities as shiny, expensive objects.

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 05:57 pm UTC (link)

Liam's eyes lit up, "Yes, let's do that!"
Chuck shook his head, "Let's not. Brennans." He sighed dramatically, and Liam landed beside Miniver.
"We could go to the shops, yeah. Chuck, could you shove off and get us the map then? Would be fun to show Miniver what Avalon looks like." He scooted Chuck towards his home, and Chuck huffed another sigh before wandering off, likely not to return.
Not that Liam would notice, he was already too busy holding up a string of beads that looked like they were made out of living, moving opal. He was very, very impressed with it.

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	miniver 2008-12-31 06:30 pm UTC (link)
	Miniver was likewise impressed. He tentatively touched the stones,nearly forgetting about Chuck for the time being in favor of OOH SHINY. "It's like water. Must be worth a king's ransom. Is it magic? HEY. That reminds me. Figure my girl's got it, too?" (Reply to this)

mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 06:36 pm UTC (link)

"There ain't a thing here what ain't got magic innit, Miniver." Liam said, smiling as he offered one of the butterflies in his hair (which had since turned to glasslike hair clips) as barter for the string of beads. It was gladly accepted. He handed the beads off to Miniver. "Sable? Yeah, she got Brennan blood, don't she? Don't see why she wouldn't. Ladies in our family's got the thicker, stronger, more apt magics anyway."

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miniver
2008-12-31 06:58 pm UTC (link)

Miniver takes the beads and handles them appraisingly for a few moments before tucking them away. "I want to give those to her. They'd suit her. She needs more shiny things. Not that her beau doesn't try to deck her like the halls of Buckingham. I think she won't have that kinda tacky, though. She needs to meet you. YOU need to meet HER. She's something. Barely believe she's mine. Good thing I had no hand in raising her, heh." He continues to paw through the peculiar odds and ends. "So's what I got all-over magic or is it gonna be centered in something? Like specialized? Like I heard of some wizards who can only do fire magic or fly or something."

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:02 pm UTC (link)

Liam was yet again tuning Miniver out in favor of something else, namely balancing a bundle of utensils on his nose. "Wot? Oh, aye, there's those what can only do certain things with their gift, and it's a bloody shame, too. Some ain't got nothin' but the ability to throw water on people, which could come in slight useful if they was on fire or sommat, but nah, we got a general affinity for all sorts of things. They says if I ever focused enough on one specialty, I'd be better at things all 'round, like, but I ain't like that. I like bein' a jack of all trades, and master of none. Keeps things fresh. Alive." He caught the bundle before it fell to the ground, and set it back down while the vendor clapped.

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	miniver 2008-12-31 07:13 pm UTC (link)
	He laughs at Liam's antics also. "Hey! Do they sell instruments here?" The clear spark of an IDEA is in his head. (Reply to this)

mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:18 pm UTC (link)

Liam had to really ponder that question, before he shrugged, "Dunno, could ask." So he did and batted his lashes at the vendor, who pointed out the way to the music shop about two blocks down. Liam beamed and gave the vendor a proper kiss on the lips before taking Miniver's hand and leading him there. "Ain't very musical, meself. Never noticed the music shop there 'fore, but then 'gain, this might be the same Underhill, only different, since the world above's the same, but different."

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miniver
2008-12-31 07:23 pm UTC (link)

Miniver scrambles after Liam. "So I guerss it'd be silly to ask what sort of instruments they sell down here. I wasn't real musical either until Pickles taught me to play a guitar. I learned cello as a kid, but it was never anything but a way for mom to get rid of me. Um, I wanna buy Pickles something cool."

It's rare to see a married couple as consistent infatuated with one another as Miniver and Pickles seem to continue to be after 15 years.

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mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:28 pm UTC (link)

He smiled fondly and patted Miniver's shoulder again. "The two've you are really connected, like. S'great to see such love in people. I really love love, it's the most wonderful thing to see and feel, but I ain't had one for thirty years, though many and numerous lovers." He stepped into the shop and looked around, "Have your pick, they know I'm good for it in this town. They know where to send the bill."

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	miniver 2008-12-31 07:34 pm UTC (link)
	"I can trade things for it, too," Miniver mumbles a touch defensively. He leaves Liam's side and wanders a bit. "Hey, do they have drumsticks here? Ooh... man, wouldn't that be sweet? Y'know he's got magic too. His band woke up a lake troll." (Reply to this)

mincingbrennan
2008-12-31 07:39 pm UTC (link)

Liam was poking at something vaguely resembling a lute while Miniver spoke and he turned when the words 'lake troll' were mentioned. "Really? Did they put it back to sleep again? Waking up trolls ain't so hard, it's the catchin' up with them to put them to sleep's that's the tough bit. That and they don't smell too good, neither."

They were soon in the company of a little old satyr who wore spectacles, and looked positively gentle. "What can I do for you boys?"

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