For Feldman

[itsallovernow]

So simplystars organized a Sprog ficathon in honor of the SeaMonkey's ultra imminent arrival, and really, the only thing sprog related I have to offer is a tiny sliver of Hughes verse, because really, there isn't a post-PKW 'verse that exists for me outside of the one we've created.

So beyond the wee drabble, I just want to say that writing with you is an honor and a joy, something giddy and wonderful and sometimes delirious and I'm a better writer for knowing you and an entirely better writer for working with you. I've learned more about families and commitment and parenting from writing these stories than I ever could have imagined and I'm just so entirely thrilled that you are about to perpetrate all of this on a real live human being.

I love you, and really words are inadequate, so this is just a moment, somewhere there in between.



Graduation

He finds Aeryn lingering at the edge of D's room, not exactly in and not exactly out.

"Think we're gonna have to live with the pink hair, babe, unless you've got a real urge to strap her into something long enough to hack it off."

She makes a noise halfway between yes, it's fine John and not a chance in hell, and he bumps his hip against hers, puts his hand on her waist.

"What's up?"

She turns slightly, cocking her head, mouth open like she's got something to say, then shuts it abruptly, turns back to their son's room.

"Our boy's all grown up," he agrees, rubs his thumb in circles over her hip. "Hell of a thing babe, to have raised a boy out here."

"Sometimes," she says slowly, leaning against him, hip riding his waist. "It doesn't seem real…" her voice trails off.

"Trust me, when you see exactly how pink her hair still is, these kids will seem so far beyond real that they're enterin' Dali territory."

Aeryn ignores him, puts her fingers to the edge of her gun. He knows she's looking for something familiar, something to ride against, to press on as she looks at the room of a child grown into a man.

"He… it was one thing to allow him to go to school. I didn't think beyond…" she stops and her hand rests heavy and lax against her weapon. But John knows what she means.

"We raised him to find his path, to go where his talents and interests took him."

"I thought," she said softly, "that he'd come home. And yet…"

"He's good at this," John finishes.

His wife nods.

"We could always try a different tactic with Peace," he says, trying to keep a straight face, but Aeryn snorts. "Always been an advocate of the locking her up and letting her out when she's 40 method of parenting."

"Because I see that ending well."

He scratches at the back of his neck. "Be easier if we could find a lock she couldn't open. Damn kid's like a trick pony with locks."

Aeryn's mouth twitches. "I blame that on pure indulgence."

"Mmmm, yeah, her mom's a total pushover."

Aeryn grunts. "Her mother is going to shave her blasted head and chain her to a DRD. Hezmana, John, he was never this much trouble. Even you were never this much trouble."

She pauses, "All right. That's a lie. You've always been more trouble."

He lets his hand trail down, slaps her lightly on the ass, doesn't say that they never gave D' the reins, never gave him the leverage to wreak havoc, all their energy, all their fears in that bright, sweet, serious kid. Doesn't say that they held so tight until they realized the only result was going to be resentment and rebellion. That the realization hurt like pulse fire, felt like holding your breath long enough to pass out. It's all stuff she knows.

He shrugs. "It's like bein' a shrink babe. The only way to tell if you've done it right is if you're out of a job."

She raises one dark eyebrow, "That is a very poor analogy."

John presses his mouth to her neck. "We've done a good job. Kid's gonna be a good man, got stuff to offer the universe, loves his family. We did good."

"Miracle, that," she says, but he sees her mouth quirk, turns to him to press her lips hard against his.

"You didn't lie," she murmurs, breaking the kiss, leaving him breathless and a little dazed. "It's been worth it."

"Don't get to cocky," he says, veering back in to catch at her lips, to kiss her jaw. "We still have to survive the second go around."


And now back to Lysistrata, the black market and public health.

Comments

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Random:

One of the funniest things I saw during my time as an undergrad happened the day my professor, a very distinguished, sixty-something man who routinely ends night classes with "And that's enough for the night. Is anyone going to Wilf's (campus pub)?", performed a one man performance/reading of the Lysistrata.

I nearly died.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Hee. Lysistrata is always, always funny!!

[raithen.livejournal.com]

*morning smile*

thanks for sharing!

[kernezelda]

Awww. Wistful, nostalgic, hopeful, apprehensive. How hard it must be to raise a child to be able to live beyond the nest, and then watch it leave.

D'Argo's not even present, and I love who he'll be now, from what I've seen him being.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks dear. It's so nice to see you 'round here!

[ixchup.livejournal.com]

He lets his hand trail down, slaps her lightly on the ass, doesn't say that they never gave D' the reins, never gave him the leverage to wreak havoc, all their energy, all their fears in that bright, sweet, serious kid. Doesn't say that they held so tight until they realized the only result was going to be resentment and rebellion. That the realization hurt like pulse fire, felt like holding your breath long enough to pass out. It's all stuff she knows.

This phrase is so true. You hold on so tightly and make the mistake of thinking you can protect, teach, mold, and it is the letting go that gives them the gift of knowledge. I love this sentence. I found myself nodding and smiling at John and Aeryn and then grinning at the idea of the second child. You were able to paint a picture with John and Aeryn's words so that we could see the entire family and their history. I think this is lovely.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. This is a snippet that would take place between two stories so the characters were pre-fab, but for me, it's the only post-PKW verse:)

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

this is lovely and poignant and so very real, very them too.

[sevathediva.livejournal.com]

This is so very poignant, breaks my heart in so many ways. I happen to have an 8 year-old, and I can so see this in our future, the letting go, the trust and the pride.

sniff...

seva

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, thanks honey.