Who: Finn and Jericho What: A chat and drink Where: The Well’s Family Tent When: 25th March, near dusk Rating Low Status: Complete
Finn had spent the day looking after Lizzy, of course Finn never minded doing this when they all had time off and he was sure Jericho enjoyed the odd day to himself as well. He had taken her on a riverboat cruise, followed by a walk along the walkways that lined some of the swamps around New Orleans. It was quite an educational experience for them both and Lizzy got many of the moments captured on her phone, she had taken to technology much better than he had.
With a smile (and probably a bit of sunburn) they walked back through the empty Zion towards the tent that Jericho and Lizzy called home, Finn hoped that she had enjoyed herself and that she'd sleep well that night.
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Jericho smiled when the two returned, Lizzy gave him a hug and immediately went into her room. He looked back and shook his head. “Love you.” A reply was called back. He just shook his head and looked to Finn. “Just wait for it.” He said with a knowing grin.
The Iron Wells had taken the day to venture into town. While Lizzy was very independent and not a ‘kid’ in the modern sense, in their time children typically didn’t have the normal childhood- at least not those who didn’t live where schooling was mandatory. But with the dangers that had been introduced to Zion and the unknown of their current time, or where the men who’d harmed the carnival had gone- Jericho wanted someone to be with Lizzy. Even if she protested. Thankfully she liked her Uncle Finn, so when he showed up in the morning with promises of a day full of adventure… she jumped at the chance. This allowed Jericho to get some things done. He was interested in exploring his work, expanding it. He also had enjoyed some of the metal projects he’d done and was interested in doing more, so that meant supplies. Of course while he was there he couldn’t resist picking up something for his daughter.
“Pa!” Lizzy squealed from her room. The sheet flew open as she ran out, arm wrapped around a bolt of fabric. Her other arm wrapped around him as she seemed like she might jitter out of her skin. “I love it!” It was a simple flower pattern, the kind that would have normally cost a months worth of shows, but fabric was much cheaper- well compared with what they’d been bringing in each night.
“And if you want more, we can go to the shop at the next blackout.” He said, brushing his hand down the top of her head as he glanced to Finn with a chuckle.
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Finn was grateful, the two men had talked so many times about their own personal losses and although he knew that no one could ever replace his stillborn daughter, just spending time with the Wells’ did help fill that gap that had been left. He was more than happy to be ‘Uncle Finn’ and take Lizzy places or supervise her visits to stores.
When Lizzy went into her room and Jericho said to ‘wait for it’ Finn raised an eyebrow, but his curiosity was filled when she came out with the bolt of fabric in her arm. He knew that Lizzy was turning into quite the seamstress and that the material would be well used, probably several dresses or other garments for herself. He smiled at both Lizzy and then turned his gaze up to Jericho, seeing the beaming smile on the very happy father.
“That is beautiful Lizzy, you’ve had a very good day indeed!” Of course Finn had known nothing about what Jericho had gotten for her, but she seemed to have enjoyed their day out exploring the less popular areas of the city that they were still stuck in.
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“And what do you say to Finn for taking you out?” Jericho asked, giving her a look.
Lizzy rolled her eyes. “Thank you Uncle Finn.” She gave him a hug. “I had a great time.” It was clear by her tone she meant it. She then gave Jericho a look that seemed to ask ‘can I go now?’. He nodded and she ran back off to her room.
“We’re gonna be out back if you need me.” He said, a vague reply could be heard as the sound of rummaging came from her room. Jericho just shook his head and nodded to Finn as he left the tent. “So, how’d she really do?” He asked, moving around to the back of the tent where he still needed to store the metal he’d gotten. Jericho had secured a wooden palette and already had built up the sides and top so he could pile the metal inside and it would be protected on most sides. He then had a tarp he could tie down over it so it would protect it. Of course, he still needed to move the metal from the tarp on the ground into the open shed.
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Hearing Lizzy saying she had a great time made Finn smile even more, he was glad that she had enjoyed herself, he did worry that sometimes the things that they did might be more interesting to him than to her. “It was a pleasure Miss Lizzy.” He said before she went back to her room.
Finn followed Jericho out to the back of his tent where he had some metal stored and stood to the side so as not to get in the way but there to offer a hand if needed. “She went really well.” He said with an honest smile. “We went on a tour down a river boat and had a giggle at the man talking about the history… most of which happened only a few years ago for us.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Then we went for a walk around the boardwalks in the swamps, Lizzy will have to show you some of the photographs that she took of the animals.” And probably a few selfies of the two of them, he’d have to find out from Jericho later if Lizzy had actually enjoyed herself or was just saying so to be nice to him. “She’s a pleasure to take anywhere, such a young lady already.”
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He began to move the large steel and iron plates with ease. Each were quite hefty, but he didn’t seem to struggle much, occasionally a grunt or noise of strain, but nothing that made it look like it was that hard of a task. Of course Jericho was quite strong, and the metal had a way of working with him. Still, it was a nice work out. “She marvels me every day.” He said, with a laugh. “I swear, she’s more grown up that I was at her age, and so much smarter too.” He slid a plate onto the pile. They were each about four feet by three feet and at least an inch thick. “Actually she’s the reason I got some raw materials.” He admitted, glancing to Finn as he patted the stack that once moved would be about three feet tall- plenty to work with, and plenty to have stored if they ended up going back home. He did want to get some smaller bits of precious metals, but those were a little out of his price range at the moment. “She’s so creative… makes me inclined to try some stuff myself.” And it was cheaper to get large uncut pieces that he could easily make smaller than to get pre-forged bars.
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Finn knew he probably couldn’t lift even one of those pieces of metal, not because he wasn’t strong but because for someone who wasn’t a metal elemental it was a hefty load. “She’s definitely more grown up than I was at her age, I grew up in carnivals too, but they weren’t anything like Zion.” It was a lot rougher, especially the actual travel, none of this magical teleporting, they had dozens of wagons, trucks and other vehicles that travelled down new and old roads to go from town to town.
His head moved, eyes watching Jericho as he moved pieces to his stack. A smile spread across his lips when the other man said that his daughter was the reason that he had gotten more materials, that she inspired him to create stuff. “I wish that I had a skill like yours, I can’t really… create anything with my ability, just move around water or extract the air from it.” Finn said with a little shrug, he knew that others would be jealous to be able to breathe underwater, he knew his gift was unique, everyone was but he couldn’t use it to make anything tactile. “I look forward to seeing what you create with it.”
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“When water’s runnin’ scarce, you’re the one who can save lives.” Jericho reminded Finn. The metal man respected the waters’ powers. “But I can’t say I’m not happy with who I am. Metal is strong but versatile and I couldn’t imagine my life with another element… but I guess you’d feel the same.” He assumed.
He went back to work and glanced back at Finn. “So, have that talk with Riley yet ‘bout the future… or still swimmin round the topic?”
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While Finn couldn’t create water out of thin air, he could control it and sense when it was near. “That is true…” He said with a nod. “There was once, it was before your time… we were in a small town and the river had all but dried up, they had called in a man who said he could use his dowsing skills to find water but had failed. I don’t know how the townsfolk had heard about me, I could perform my show because there wasn’t enough water for my tank but they asked if I could give it a go…” There was an almost whimsical look on Finn’s face as he recounted the story. “I spent the best part of a day walking around dried creek beds, sensing the water still lying deep underneath until I found an area where I could sense it was closer. They called in a well driller and less than fifteen feet down there it was, a windmill was put there and when we left they still had plenty of water for all.” It had felt good to help the people, some had told him he should hire himself out as a dowser but Finn prefered the carnival, he knew no other life.
When Jericho asked about Riley a sly smirk came across his lips. “I didn’t talk to him… but I did do something about it.” He waited until Jericho was looking at him. “He said yes.” It wasn’t something that he had told anyone as yet, and he was amazed Riley hadn’t told anyone and everyone yet.
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Jericho furrowed his brow at first, until he realized what the man had meant. His face brightened and he moved to Finn, large arms scooped his friend into a hug. “Congratulations!” He said with a hearty laugh. “Couldn’t happen to a better couple.” Not that the last to wed was worse of course. Jericho clapped Finn on the back. “We should celebrate. You set a date yet?”
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Getting scooped up in pretty much a bear hug was not what Finn was expecting, but that was Jericho. "Thank you." He said as he patted his friend on the back before the hug finished. "We haven't set a date as yet, it has taken me this long to get this far." Finn said with a nervous chuckle, Jericho knew how seriously Finn took the whole marriage thing and why he was a bit hesitant at the moment, Miriam would be happy for him, he knew it but that fear of losing Riley too still hung around.
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“No need to rush into things.” He said, even though he had himself. “Still, this calls for a celebration.” Jericho held up a hand for Finn to wait and after a short time he returned with two glasses of whiskey and two hand rolled cigars he’d gotten the last time they were in Florida. He thrusted the glasses into the other man’s hands as Jericho grabbed two chairs and set one down. He grabbed one of the glasses and handed him a cigar and clapped him on the shoulder with a raise of his glass. “To your future.”
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An eyebrow quirked when Jericho silently told Finn to wait, he looked at the pile of metal, thinking to himself what interesting things would be made from them until the other man returned with the whiskey and cigars. Taking both he waited that bit longer til Jericho returned with the chairs. Taking a seat and the cigar he raised it in a toast. "May love shine through the darkest nights." He took a sip from the whiskey before taking a draw on the cigar, while he didn't normally smoke he wasn't about to turn down one of Jericho's cigars!
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After lighting up the stogies for both men, Jericho sat back in his chair and took a sip. “May we all be so lucky to find love twice.” He chuckled. Not that it was a priority for him. He had another lady in his life that was his focus. “If y’need a ring… my services are yours.” He offered. He’d actually had fun designing Ben and Fitz’s.
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"May we indeed." He knew how lucky he was, meeting Riley had really helped him not only grieve but to move on with his life. Joining Zion had helped him get through his melancholy but it wasn't until he started feeling some kind of spark inside for Riley that knew that part of his life had drawn to a close. Finn did hope that Jericho found someone, but he knew there would be a big critic that any potential lady would have to please - Lizzy. "Thank you, when we set a date I will let you know." Though he knew if they went back to 1920 before they got married it might not be an actual legal marriage, but he didn't think that a piece of paper would matter to Riley.
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“I expect an invite.” He chuckled, not doubting all of Zion would attend. It was what they did. “So, should ask, how’s the show goin’? These future folk as impressed?” Jericho wondered. He’d had to make adjustments to his own show to get applause.
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"Oh, you will!" Finn replied, chuckling himself. He knew that even if they managed a small ceremony it would be a party afterwards just like for Ben and Fitz, Carnies definitely knew how to throw a good party. Taking another sip of his whiskey he pondered Jericho's questions for a moment. "I have to make it go for longer, two minutes just doesn't seem long enough to these future folk, but your handcuffs are working really well. They look and feel real to anyone who tests them before I go in, but they don't know the tricks behind them." Another soft chuckle. "And I found if I thrash around more it builds their excitement."
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“Up the suspense.” He nodded, pleased his work was proving effective. “Pure strength doesn’t seem to impress these folks either.” Jericho sighed. “But they get bored if ya start with the big stuff. Had t’find the balance.” He explained. “Like, start with some weights, most are bored by that, but I found if I get someone up with me t’try who thinks they can it works better. Bendin’ bars always impresses a’course. Just can’t do that right off. Still, seems I gotta always have someone ‘prove’ it’s not a trick or somethin’. Else they don’t believe.” Of course the only trick was that metal bent easily for him, though his other feats of strength were completely his own. “Seems most have had ta change things. Well, ‘cept for the coochie show, guess watching girls dance is timeless.
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What Jericho was saying was absolutely the truth, these modern folk were more difficult to entertain and impress, there had to be a reason behind it but Finn knew he’d go crazy trying to find out why, he just tried his best with his show and so far it was going okay. It did make him miss for the simpler times in 1920 though, “That is why I have someone test the cuffs to make sure they’re solid and secure, they think that everything is some kind of trick.” They didn’t know that Jericho could bend metal as easily as a piece of rubber, or that Finn could stay underwater for long periods of time, those were secrets only known inside of Zion. He smiled and nodded. “Breasts are breasts… although they do seem to be a lot bigger now. Why a woman would want watermelons on her chest is beyond me.”
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“I will admit, breasts are nice.” He chuckled. “But they should fit the body. Should be able to hold them comfortably.” Jericho held up a hand as if holding a breast. “Though I suppose you don’t have to worry about that anymore.” The tease was in good fun. Jericho didn’t judge his friends' choices. He didn’t understand them himself. Sure, there were people who said it was wrong, but people said his ma and pa shouldn’t be together either. He knew what it was like to be judged for something he had no control over.
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"Does not mean I still can't appreciate the beauty of them." Finn said, pointing his cigar in Jericho's direction. "I can admire their beauty but that's as far as it goes." There was beauty in nearly everyone, the gender didn't matter. They weren't as open about their relationship as others were, knowing the risks for them both, but Kristoph was right, Zion was a safe place for them, it was the rest of the world they needed to worry about. "I do miss our time though… things seemed much simpler than what they appear to be now."
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Jericho nodded. “I miss my kin. Eden went back home just the beginning of the year. Haven’t been back m’self for too long. Near two years? Now… can only hope that someone figures how t’get us back. Sure as shit will be makin’ a trip when we do.” He put forward a strong front, but he was concerned. He’d heard some people looking into the past, seeing what became of things in the time they’d missed. Jericho was terrified to peek. What if things had gone bad for his family? What if it was something he could have helped if he’d been there? While part of him wanted to know, because it was his family after all, he couldn’t live with himself if things had gone wrong for them.
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While Finn didn’t have any family in the US there were cousins back in Ireland but he too didn’t want to look into what had happened to them in the last one hundred years, he had heard about a few things that would happen that he would keep an eye on and try to keep out of, but no one knew if they could get back which made it all a bit uncertain. “If we get back I don’t know about a trip to Ireland but I will definitely be sending more letters to my Ma.” He sent one every few months but if they got back he would definitely send more, and maybe even tell her about Riley. He raised a glass “To 1920.”
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While the situation was still disheartening, it was nice to know he wasn’t alone in not wanting to stay. “To 1920.”