#ThomasxRiver

[orleans-jester]

“And not just this world either,” Thomas said, almost feeling … smug about it all. They had friends in high places, and friends in the low places too. And oh how he wished he could sit with Zeke and Brig and Valerie and just talk about all of their exploits for hours but it was impossible under this time constraint. So just fun for now. That’s what parties were for, after all.

This was part of the reason why it was good that Elsa came. Her demeanour was always great at being the brunt of jokes and yet - they all respected her for it. She took it all in stride, not attempting to change for anyone, not trying to get away from the joking too hard. It was almost like that was her place in the group dynamic and it was a comfortable one.

It was a shame that River had to leave but Thomas understood. He probably needed what strength that he had left to head back to their home in Auckland and keep an eye on things there. Thomas could take it from here. It was Halloween, and the night was here, and his hellish instincts seemed more aware than ever of what evil forms were lurking, and how to keep his wife away from them. She wasn’t getting possessed on his watch, no sir.

And he was thinking now that he needed a good staple gun, just in case. Great minds think alike.

Though Chip and Thomas never had the whole ‘father and son’ thing going on, never really sat down and had that kinda talk or had something happen to bring them closer - though Thomas had secretly been hoping that they would since they were both wolves but it wasn’t as if Chip was super touchy feely anyway - he considered these girls to be his own daughters in a way. Save for Raya, who was more like a sister because of what they went through together in their nightmares. That hellscape that they could both call a second home.

He had gotten them to name some of the huskies with them, of course they were family. He put his heart into each dance, none of them being an obligation, giving them spins and twirls and complimenting their dresses and their dance skills that were far more superior than his own but he was able to keep on his own two feet.

And then back to his wife, to his proper place, taking a bit of a breather himself. He had a good stamina, thank you Dug, but even he was getting a little winded with all of the fun that they were having. He was going to have himself a real good sleep once this was over and done with.

Once his wife was settled and comfortable, anyhow.

His hands were sneakily underneath the dress - no, not sneakily, the cheeky little grin on his face told anyone who looked over that he was in the midst of enjoying his favorite thing, and that was this set of legs. Massaging, kneading, smoothing and then lightly scratching. He leaned his forehead down against hers so they were skin to skin and responded, “As do I, love. As do I.”

He did have a little chuckle at River’s joke, and would shake that dismembered hand.

“Yeah, ditto on that, you’re getting wolf-mauled the next time that you show up like this,” Thomas grinned. He had a definite fondness for River that showed in the way that he treated him. It almost felt like if it wasn’t for River, he wouldn’t be having this life right now in the first place. He was the one who reintroduced him and Flotsam after years apart. “Make sure our house is in one piece, kid.”

“Do you know what it makes me think?” Thomas asked, leaning back against the chair, his hands still up on her thighs, lightly brushing the back of her knees and the soft skin that was there. “That it shows how good you did, love. The best four kids I’ve ever had the pleasure of meetin’ - and then the good ones that we all chose.”

Chips wives, of course, he was grinning over at them, watching them through one of his eyes. Even Raya was having fun out there tonight, surprisingly lucid, and she … well, she looked beautiful. He hoped that Chip was getting a good look through Valerie’s eye at her, seeing how she shone tonight, of all nights. Go-Go was pretty good to have around too. Nothing stayed broken for long in their house, whether electric, vehicular or furniture.

And then there was the chosen family - The Trouillefous, like brothers. A staple in their lives. The craziness and kookiness - or as Clopin would describe it, the purple and the gold, were always nice little breaks from reality. Bastien and Maddy - they were a good couple-a kids too, even with how everything turned out. Figaro and Willem, little adventurers. Elsa, leaving now, to do who knows what, almost like the stern aunt or grandmother of the family despite not being far from their age at all. Go-Go was pretty good to have around too. Nothing stayed broken for long in their house, whether electric, vehicular or furniture.

Gepetto greeted Valerie the way that he had with everyone tonight. A big, warm, welcoming smile and a pat on the back, and a lil chuckle to go along with it, even if he wasn’t a hundred percent confident on who the person was. As long as they were nice to him, as long as Figaro didn’t get mad, they were friends. “Nice to see you too, my girl,” He nodded, and then shook Thomas's hand. Thomas remembered the old fella too. Met him quite a few times when Figaro was going back and forth between staying at home and staying at his place.

And Figaro was good with affection, they just were awkward about initiating it. Being someone who used to feel outta place made them a bit more solitary. But they were lovin it all tonight, hugging Lancy Pantsy, Papa G, even throwing a thin arm around Wulf at one point to ask if ghost peppers were just regular peppers to him now. So Valerie coming over was like the cherry on top of an incredible night. “This is tattooed on my brain,” They agreed, nodding.

It seemed like everytime they were ready to go, there was another person to say their goodbyes to. Cheshire was no exception. He found Valerie to be absolutely adorable though, clearly having a craving for home the way that she had for Nutella when she had been pregnant. If only going home was as easy to do as getting the chocolatey spread.

“You are absolutely no trouble at all Cheshire,” He said, hand around his wife’s waist, and nodding towards their cuddle-buddy. “I’ll come back ‘n get ya if you need it, just send a text. Ringer will be on.”

Once they did what they could, and Thomas had made that promise to Cheshire, he would be up behind Valerie, arms around her waist, leading her out of the large castle without stopping to bump into anyone else. “Now, home is a bit far away from here, love,” He pointed out, nuzzling his nose into her neck. “But what I can do is bring you to the inn for the night, how’s that sound?”

"A demon? My-my." Brigitte gave him a knowing look. She may not have known the demon or the story behind it, but she knew that meant these two were messing in other worlds. To her that meant a little something.

"Moving along in the world it seems." There was some pride in her voice, the sort of pride that came with power. She knew it took power to make alliances on the other side.

Zeke was sniggering at Elsa's response. It was hard for him to take much too seriously, but he sure did remember that demeanor. "Well, good thing because I'm not going to be around. But alright. Alright. If it ever runs out of gas and you need a furry friend again we'll just see who you wish was around." He was having a hard time keeping a straight face. He put his hands up in surrender before refilling them again with more toothpicks to pick up more bacon.

Brigitte asked him, "Why even bother with the toothpicks at this point?"

"Good point, darling." Then he started picking them up by hand more efficiently to get a better mouthful at once.

Valerie would look over from her embrace with Brigitte when it finally happened and woo-wee Thomas's smile too. Speaking of his little gap tooth it was something she never even fathomed to change of him either. She never thought of it as something to fix. That wasn't even how her mind worked. All she saw was the familiar smile grew to love, the one that smiled at all the right times, and cheeky at all the inappropriate times. He was her so beloved smile.

She loved watching it as he offered River to figure out how to sew his arm back on. That really tickled her. It reminded her a bit of Sally though considering where they were she decided not to say so in case Frank had any feelings about that, but she was guessing Sally would know just how fix this one. However, remembering Sparky it would only hold so long the more he decayed. Valerie understood his night was coming to a head. Then Thomas thought of an even better one. "Victor. Oh that's good, Love. I bet he's used to it."

Valerie was laughing, so River was laughing. They all had a sense of humor about it. Something told her she was going to get him a blinged up staple gun for Christmas and he would love to hate it damn it. It would probably even get used.

Then that's when Raya walked up and her heart couldn't have been more warmed than seeing Thomas dance with her. That one almost made her tear up. It was good though. Watching Thomas mingle with Chip's wives made it feel like the family was in tact and stable as ever. There was a time they thought their world was falling apart. That feeling felt so long ago from how she felt right now that it felt almost like a lifetime ago. An age. She really should have known Halloween always fixes everything.

Ray would jump in after Raya. Pippin and Jenna would take a turn too. Ziya however was back home with the kids at the moment. Mrs. Responsible. That said watching everyone take turns while Chip was having his fun outside felt like the dream she always had for her family. This was it. As she stepped back she could see it. She'd been so swept up in a whirlwind of the past year's diapers with the triplets it was hard to slow down and see. But now that they were a bit older and the world was slowing down and this party let her stand back and see it she knew she was there. She was finally there. Even after her dead son just blew her kisses on a dismembered hand they were all here. She had it all. She made it. Dear Loa Fuck. What an overwhelming but absolutely beautiful feeling.

That's when Thomas finally came back and was dancing with her. It swept her off her feet to the point of feeling dizzy. Thomas must have noticed and it must not have been all in her head nor just the surreal feeling because he ushered her to go have a sit. She knew she felt woosy, but she thought maybe it was drinks. She wasn't usually a lightweight though. She let her inner thoughts that were trying to figure it out drift away the moment they sat down and he pulled her legs up over his. The air whooshed in and it felt so good after being under all that fabric. She leaned her head against his shoulder and took that moment to rest. She'd whisper while she leant there, "I love tonight and I love you."

River would be right there, ever devoted son, Chip had been calling him Norman for how devoted to his mother he was. But truth was any of the others would do just about anything for her too. He was just teasing though. It wasn't quite Norman level though Chip liked to debate it since he went all ghost boy about it. Still, there he was right when she was in slight distress standing outside Thomas to shake his hand. He'd stick out the hand that was dismembered to shake just to be silly. Leave it River to keep making a joke of it.

"I miss hugs." River admitted after Thomas said such a thing. It was a tad difficult for a touchy feely boy from a touchy feely family not to be able to reach out for affection anymore.

"Every time you're tangible honeypot. You come get as many as you like. That's a promise." Valerie nor Flotsam weren't very big on promises as they were too easily broken, but that was one they were sure they could easily keep.

"I'd hug you for saying that, but I'm worried something else might fall off if I do. I'm going to meet you, see you at home again. I should go."

As River backed away Valerie lifted her head and pointed for Thomas to look. Their son was blowing them kisses goodbye for now.

River wanted to leave before he completely fell apart in front of the whole ballroom. He could feel it happening. So he waved goodbye to Thomas and Valerie holding the offed-hand in his still connected arm to do the wave. He even used it to kiss off the palm of and blow across it. He'd do the same thing as he sent his farewell to Elsa. Then he was gone.

Valerie was too happy to weep a single tear at that goodbye. She knew he'd be back. All she could do was laugh because that was so River to do such a thing with his dismembered limb. Nothing could make her happier tonight. She didn't believe so anyhow.

She noticed Elsa making her way out. It made her assume she was leaving the party entirely. There was this very calm but euphoric joy that encased Valerie as she stayed partially in Thomas's lap. She motioned the whole dance floor after that. Even with the kids in their eyes outside which she knew he could also see, a shared feeling she hadn't experienced with anyone since Jetsam, only now the person across from her paid attention. Everything he could have never been was there in this shared experience. Thomas cared about it all. He never missed a beat. He even cared that Jetsam was out there somewhere now. Thomas just got it. He let him be Valerie. He let him be Flotsam. He let him be whatever he wanted and still that gap tooth side smile always upturned for them. He was right there when his heart needed a little break on the dance floor.

"Look at our family out there." She whispered as she leaned back down again.

Sure some were outside but she knew he could see them as he could to an extent. Chip's family went back to dancing and having fun. Lil John was currently taking his chances with Raya. Even seeing their old archery nemesis out there dancing with his wife brought back some competitive feelings. Their inner Flotsam wanted to challenge them, but another voice told them they'd had enough for one night. Plus, they didn't bring their bow or quiver. Clopin and Kuzco dancing were stealing their heart. Bastien and Maddy with their little one. The whole floor was covered in people they cared for or were connected to in one way or another. It wasn't like going to a random event full of strangers. This whole place had her heart tonight.

"I think I'm ready to go home. Love, I'm tired. Plus, I don't want to see everyone disappear. I want to remember the room all full, just like this. Drive me back?"

Then her eye caught Gepetto. "Oh, but not before I give him a hug." Then she walked up behind him in the middle of Willem and Figaro's full throttle chatting and gave him a big hug from behind. She knew too much of the man after listening to Hook drone on and on complaining. She knew how to read between the Hook lines though. Flotsam had been chasing lost boys since he was a little kid in the never swamps.

"G'night Papa Gepetto. So glad you stopped by." She squeezed and squeezed from behind his chair with her head around the side of his face. Then she'd explain, "We're headed out, Can't really stay and chat. But it's so great to see you."

Then she placed a hand on Figaro's shoulder. Maybe they weren't a gal who wanted her affection but Figaro was going to get it anyway. "In coming." She warned and gave Figaro a hug from behind their chair too. They whispered while they were down there, "You'll never forget this. Not one second of it. It stays. Every single one. Mine do of Momma." That was just for Figaro. Then she lifted away.

Memories had a way of fading with time, blurring, changing, warping. But, Flotsam lost his parent too. Mambo Lavaeu. One. They called her shadow their dad, but they knew better. That shadow was an altar. It was all one person making a single mother life split after all its complexities personified into Dr. F. But, it was all pieces of his moma and they'd gotten the chance to meet them in the afterlife too. More than once, and every single second of those were as vivid in their mind as if it was yesterday, almost more vivid than the life lost. It was like they forgot to remember life was important the first go around. But after every second became so precious it felt impossible to forget. It never lost it's color. Something told them it'd be like that for Figaro too. They wanted to make sure at the very least, just in case they worried, they knew how it was for them, so they could rest easy. This memory wouldn't fade.

She took Thomas's hand. "I think I'm ready now."

She looked around one last time. She still couldn't seem to find Delta and Frank. She had wanted to thank their hosts before leaving but that was okay. She was sure with a big party like this they were busy. She's already spent time with her earlier. It'd be okay.

They saw Chess on the way to the door and she was looking extra tipsy. It worried her. One more stop apparently, "You can come to our place if you need. You know that, right? Anyone could give you a ride."

Valerie was going to make sure her friend didn't go driving or realm jumping drunk. That could end up worse than driving. "Tell her she's no trouble, not ever, right Thomas." As if Thomas's encouragment might convince her to be more mindful. Valerie was of the silly mind that just because she cared what Thomas thought everyone should. It worked wonders for her life.

Then by the time they got through a Chess barely worried about it conversation as most tipsy people are not Valerie had done all she could and again said, "Okay, now I'm so ready."

[orleans-jester]

Usually after the Full Moon, Thomas would chug down pure black coffee and that would be enough to get Summer either back to her dorm and then home, or just take them all the way back home. But he had been so worried upon not seeing her there, about not being able to look for her, that he had entirely forgotten about the caffeine boost. When he pulled up in front of the school, he looked completely exhausted. A quick look around and he was able to see the familiar crown-type beanie bobbing among other people.

He started to walk there and then he stopped dead in his tracks, catching something. The senses still strong from the night before. Death was in the air, in more than one way. But everyone was walking around like normal. So no bodies had been found or there would be a panic. He turned on his heel, following them, heart beating heavy, until he got to the outside of the Forbidden Forest. Stupid place to have a school, next to this thing.

“Well, fuck.” He said, falling to his knees in front of the foliage. He was going to have to power through some way or another. Especially since he smelt vampire on those same leaves.

[orleans-jester]

Hiya Toad

All that talk about Summer being weird to Eleanor? It was pretty honest.

Because this girl went ahead and brought the toad home. The one that somehow survived through going through the wolf’s body and somehow didn’t die? Yeah. While they were on the way back, by canoe, Thomas would take a few seconds to text River,

Thomas: Your girlfriend is weird. Thomas: And when she’s acting weird, she’s your girlfriend, not my daughter. Thomas: Good luck.

And River would find out for himself when Summer would walk into the house, looking a bit worse for wear but not nearly as bad as she usually did when she would come back from the castle, and certainly not as bad as the last full moon in the Forbidden Forest, with that frog between her palms. “I named him Proto,” She would laugh, showing him off. “Short for Protozoa, a kind of parasite. I thought he was kinda cute, and he stuck around so I thought I’d bring him home.”

[orleans-jester]

Thomas @ River

Thomas: Am I reading the news correctly?

Thomas: That idiot LeFou was actually killed by a wolf?

[orleans-jester]

Thomas was lounging in the grass, a six-pack sweating beside him in the sun. Once he saw River approaching, he took two out, tossed one over to the young man. Twenty-one be damned. The law didn’t apply to this place.

“Figured it’s been a while since we last talked. Things have changed.” Well no shit things have changed. When they last had their man-to-man talk it was when Summer was addicted to caffeine pills and Thomas, well, he had been straight at the time. Now Summer seemed to be better than ever, a few little bumps but she was getting there, and he was in a happy and truly loving relationship for the first goddamn time. “How are you dealing with things?”

[orleans-jester]

Thomas @ River

Thomas: Care for a chat?

Thomas: Shit that sounded ominous

Thomas: Didn't mean it that way.

[orleans-jester]

“A gift from a demon itself,” Thomas said, waggling his eyebrows to try to make it sound all the more impressive. Oh, Jules was a master when it came to fashion, that much was true, and this hat was no exception. A one of a kind hat for a one of a kind man.

Elsa was still playing the part of snooty, though it almost felt like a part at this moment. Playing it up to be the person that Zeke remembered - which was a little amusing, actually. If she had started to smile the way that she did around Koda, it might be a bit disconcerting for those who were around. And she sort of liked him being the only one who saw the ‘warm’ side.

“I’m not your girlfriend,” She said, the corners of her mouth stiff as she said that. “And it was entirely out of necessity, I still prefer my moped.”

Which in itself was a little funny, even Thomas chortled at that. It was one of the most Elsa-like answers that she could have given.

But yes, thinking abour ugly Christmas sweaters made him think about the upcoming season. Christmas was just around the corner. Less than two months away. The feeling of it growing close made him feel cheerful, like a kid again. The Laveaus always made their Christmases special. They turned it into a work of art with the sweater, the tree, the decorating that Valerie would go crazy on and Thomas did nothing to try to stop her.

The only thing that would make it better is if Brigitte and Zeke were able to be there with them for it this year.

They had it all. Chip, Scout, Dale and Koda had Jetsam back, going out there to go buck-wild, as he could see through Scout’s vision, the blurring of cars and zombies, Chip getting a good shot off, helping Go-Go get blood off of their her face. Looking around briefly - seemed like everyone save for perhaps Elsa had someone, or were off doing something, but it was happy nonetheless. He was grateful to have his family around him again. Very grateful.

Valerie’s reaction to seeing her sister too, was a thing of damn beauty. That smile right there, the larger than life one, that was something that he didn’t know that he needed until that very moment, and it made his own grow, showing off the slight gap on one side of his teeth, an imperfection he never thought of getting fixed.

He got a little distracted, watching River’s arm come off, and chuckled a little bit, shaking his head. “Want me to see if I can get some duct tape for that?” He offered, watching the man he thought of as a son try to pop his arm back in. “Maybe a staple gun? Or I’m sure Victor has a sewing kit in case Frank ever pops his stitches,” He was half-joking. It would not have surprised him at all if that were the truth. Helpful to the end, Mr Fix-It, that was our Thomas.

“Hey love, I didn’t expect it either,” He said softly to Valerie, watching her happiness grow more and more. If there was a limit to smiles, Valerie seemed to get there in the end. And of course he had to sneak his phone out and take a picture of it when she wasn’t paying attention. “This has to be in the top Halloweens ever.”

Only beat by the one when they were all still alive, of course. Without the knowledge that it was all going to end that night and some of them would be slipping away for another year. Though that did also bring back the anticipation of the next time. It was like Christmas. It ends so fast and then you look forward to it next year.

Arms around his wife and Zeke as they did the funny five-way dance, all just enjoying themselves, not caring what they looked like to anyone else. That was something he learned being a Laveau. Fuck what anyone else thinks. He had a touch of that before, but it grew a lot stronger, falling in love with Valerie. The only ones with opinions important enough were right in this circle -

And the new addition.

Oh, he was touched. He had felt Raya come in here with Chip, but had assumed that maybe she had gone with him, or was going to stick near Ray. But here she came up to him, of her own volition. His face softened, looking at the other wolf. The one with the same maker. The one who shared in his Hell. That connection held strong.

He didn’t see Valerie’s look. He didn’t need to. Of course he was going to dance with Raya without any sort of prompting from anyone else. “I’d be delighted,” He said, letting go of the two around him to take hold of Raya’s hand and bow to her, the way that a Gentleman was supposed to. “A dance with you, sister, sounds perfect.”

He wasn’t scared of her. One of the few who wasn’t, even if she could lash out and be volatile at random times, the zombie part taking over. There was a real risk that she could turn him into a zombie and yet - he had this trust that she knew that they were already alike, and wouldn’t go for him like that. So he gave her a little twirl, like she was a ballerina, under his arm - with her being short enough to do so - and grinned at her as they got a little closer for the dance.

He’d offer a dance to Chip’s other wives - swooping in and saving them from the Merry-Men when they needed it, and would potentially have offered Elsa one if she hadn’t disappeared, unknowing that it was to go and do Bastien a favor. That would come later, to the surprise of many.

And then he was back at his wife’s side, his favorite place to be, an arm around her waist. Noticing the dizziness, the sound of her heartbeat, he was right there in an instant, holding her up, and holding her close, the smell of her hair fresh against his nostrils. “I’ve got ya,” He said, soothingly. “Let’s have a little sit down.”

They’d sit down together, chairs pressed together, the legs of them almost tangled with how close that they were, Thomas pulling her thighs over top of his lap and rubbing them. He wasn’t ashamed of being outed as a leg-man in public like this. Anyone who knew him for ten minutes knew he was obsessed with his wife, regardless.

When River came over, he’d hold out a hand to shake River’s once more. “It was great being able to hug you again, kid,” He said with a grin. He hoped he’d be able to do it again. Leave it to the ever brilliant River to figure out a way to get a body, even if it was just for a short while. It was damn good to see it, and he was never going to underestimate him again.

One hand on her back, rubbing it softly, the other on her thigh, squeezing it, kneading it underneath her dress, seeing all the smiles around, Thomas was feeling damn good. This Halloween had been exquisite.

"Is it?" Brigitte asked hoping Thomas would lead into a story of why it was special.

Brigitte felt the same about Thomas. The moment the man was important to Flotsam he was on the radar. The warmth of family extended across worlds with this one.

Zeke would call to Elsa as her ice-mallow hit the ground, "It was a compliment. Don't think I don't remember you, girlfriend. Riding all up on my back helping the cause." Everything in Zeke wanted to say 'helping ol' fork-eye over there' instead of the cause, but even the Wolf's had learned sometime's it was best to tone things down... just a little. Maybe. Sometimes. Off and on.

Valerie was getting complimented to no end as usual from Thomas. Everyone was laughing as Zeke called out, "Sho' nuff, sho' nuff. You got me there, boi." He was also shoving bacon into the chocolate fountain and shoving them into his cheeks one after the other garbling his words. Zeke was not wasting his time on earth. He was staying right there by the good food next to this buffet.

But it was Valerie's eyes that lit up when she saw her sister back from the dead that bestilled her heart. She'd spent so much time praying for a Jetsam return year after year, not for her sake, but for Scout's, her mind didn't even fathom any other lost. Her heart had been aching so much for her daughter's broken one. But, the moment she saw her sister she was free to feel her own. But, it filled up so quickly it didn't have time to panic. Zeke's voice came bolstering in bantering with Thomas. All she could do was laugh at first because her body couldn't move forward.

It took her moment to gain control and River helped keep her balance when she nearly toppled over at the shock. Then there'd be a run in that big autumn dress kicking off her heels as she went. She didn't care. She slammed her arms around Brigitte and held on tight.

Oh yeah, it was family hug time. River slowly moved in. He was moving extra careful at this point not wanting to digress any further and have pieces of himself fall off. It didn't work. Once Zeke got involved with those Big Bad Wolf arms one of River's was pulled out of socket by the elbow as they group hugged too tight.

Zeke bent over and picked up River's forearm and hand. He handed him the limb and said, "Oops. Uhh here."

"Thanks Uncle Zeke." He'd say attempting to pop the joint back in place. None of this would phase Valerie though. She was too used to it with Sparky. This was old hat to her. Corpse people were commonplace in her mind. She was a happy pea in her family huggie pod that couldn't quit grinning now.

"I don't know why I didn't expect to be this happy today." She was beaming brighter than she had in who knows how long. Her daughter was finally not going to be heartbroken by the end of Halloween. River progressed to visits. She was in a gown surrounded by family and friends.

Time wise this is when TSG would have started his upbeat music and she could see her children behind her eyes having fun out in the streets of Feral shooting zombies and racing cars. They were never missing from her scene. Everything felt so alive to her, the togetherness was back. Even Cheshire, the cuddler as Thomas seemed to refer. Having her bestie in sights was all the more love. Valerie felt like her heart was going to explode with happiness and for a broody little shit like their inner Flotsam that was saying something.

She'd start having a three way dance with Zeke and Thomas that spread open with River and Brigitte. They were all dancing in group to the TSG activity expressing all their reunion joy when one more face came into the circle. She'd tap Thomas on the shoulder.

It was Raya. It was a bold move for Chip to even bring her to the party. Valerie hadn't realized he did. Still, it was her words in such a lucid state that caught Valerie's heart.

"I dance brothers sisters too? I sister too."

Valerie's hand went right to her chest and looked at Thomas like dear Savvy Above and Below, please dance with that woman. It was obvious she'd overheard and wanted to be a part of the pack. Then she put her arms up slowly, deceptively slow, as the woman could speed up out of nowhere like a vicious predator. But, she kept up the slothy-zombie-like motions lagging behind the beat wanting to join the group dancing aside Thomas.

Everything felt so surreal. Even Raya, the zombie-werewolf hybrid sis was lucidly coherant and participating. She kept watching to make sure Chip got a good view from wherever he was outside. Hell, even Chip seemed to be stable tonight. It was like all the cards were in their favor for once after all. It was making her head spin.

She wasn't used to feeling so much joy all at once. If she rolled her magic sight just right she could even see the brave wife that stayed home to watch all their children with a little help from the band members that back up Valerie. She could see the dobies like gaurd dogs paying attention to the perimeter and fighting Chip's zombie kids for the scraps that fell on the floor because her own were watching. She couldn't stop grinning no matter where she looked. She was completely surrounded by love and comedy.

Even in her mind all these reunions only made her memory serve her back to when her mama and papa showed up in the swamps from the beyond to meet Thomas. She was starting to realize she would never be alone. They were words Flotsam spewed since the beginning of time, but it was only now after all the loss, in this moment of unadulterated joy they truly believed it.

She went over to Thomas after letting the others dance with him awhile and put his hands on his face. For a Goddess of the dark she was shining bright. She'd say, "Top ten. Today's up there somewhere. I'm never forgetting today." Then she just kept looking at him cup overflowing.

She felt tipsy, tipsier than the amount she'd consumed. But it was actually her heart. It was racing again. That seemed to keep happening. Thomas was always there to help her know when to slow down so nothing ever got out of hand. She was pretty good at reading her own body too, but she was over excited tonight. Her hands started shaking around his face.

"I should probably sit down." She didn't let it phase her. It came on so fast. If Thomas heard it happening she probably wouldn't have listened right away she was so zoned into her dancing with the group. It was one of those kind of things that pass as quickly as they come after giving the body a second to calm down. Valerie was just still human and aging. The magical switches between Flotsam were stressing a body that had already been through the wringer.

When Valerie was in the chair River would come up and say he'd meet them back home. He was going back before he fell completely apart in front of everyone. Last goodbyes for this night didn't feel so strained knowing it wasn't really the last.

The night was settling down for Laveaus but Valerie was an electric lamp burning bright. She sat in her chair forced to relax a bit and was watching her family dance and eat and talk. She couldn't remember the last time she felt like happy crying. Maybe during preggo time? With the triplets?

The night wasn't just settling down for the Laveaus. The clock was ticking for every spirit that had already passed on. It wouldn't be long till Delta's ball was left with only those who actually garnered true invitations.

[orleans-jester]

Mother is God in the face of a child.

Or so goes that infamous The Crow quote.

Perhaps it would take someone like Flotsam coming out and saying it to start the waking process on Elsa. To realize that her tether with the Laveaus wasn’t as paper-thin as she sometimes thought that it was, that it was the mindset that had grown from years of isolation that had made her think that. She and River had the eyes, after all. Even if his were no longer actually a part of his head and had probably withered away years ago, they still had that. And the secret that came with it - as she might someday realize and remember that it was a secret River had taken to the grave, and thus, so would she. She, a woman who basically did not have a mother, found it hard to say she was fitting in that role well. Always taking the easy way out of being timid. A step-mother for a time. But god, she would never forget when she heard River call out her name in Alaska and feel the sense of home rush over her.

All of Thomas’s attention was on his wife, and for now, all of Elsa’s was on River. Even like this, even while decaying and probably sprouting a hundred types of evil, necrotic fungi, she saw River as the prince that she had helped raised. And this meeting on this night was - more than she ever could have asked for.

She was sold on the idea before he even ventured it. “I’ll be there,” She nodded to him. Almost like now, after so long, the thought of him not having her as a mother terrified her. She’d be going on adventures with Koda and living her own life, of course, but coming back and seeing River? Yes.

“Yeah, go on,” She nodded, letting go of his hand after the dance was over, but gave him one of her rare smiles. She was not against watching that either. Valerie and her son. The son that was on the outside looking in, watching Valerie grow into her own, not there and interacting as much as his brothers.

Thomas had grown unaware of where his children were. He wasn’t paying much attention to the other eye, as long as he could help it. It was hard, it was distracting, and he was still learning, but it was easiest when he was looking at Valerie. It took only a second to realize that one of them had approached and was asking his wife for a dance. A grin grew on his own face when he saw that it was River, the only person that he might possibly have interrupted this for. He knew seeing them would make him feel warmer than standing at all the warmest hearths.

“As hard as it is to leave you, my dear,” He said, bringing Valerie’s hand up to his lips to kiss the top of it. “I suppose I could let this young lad have a spin.”

He’d give River that grin, give him a friendly and fatherly pat on the back before taking a few steps away. Elsa had gone to the bathroom to gather herself, not being used to having such full-on emotions as the ones that River had awoken in him. Jetsam and most of the kids had disappeared. So he just thought he’d hang back and watch the dancing, but that was interrupted too.

Oh, then that grin grew even more before he even saw who it was. That voice was impossible not to recognize, not with that thick accent and the Queenly way that she spoke. It was taking over his face. Thomas Laveau was a very happy man tonight, that’s for sure. He was happy to see Brig, beyond happy. The only other person that he would hoped to see was Zeke, but he was happy enough with Brigitte not to go looking around for him.

“Whatcha think now?” He asked, adjusting the top hat in the way that Brig had suggested in the hopes of looking better. This was still his spouse’s family. Despite them being dead, he still wanted to impress.

“And I’d love a dance with you, been far too long since I’ve seen you, sister.”

The mom he didn't need as an adult? River would never put it like that. Oh no, not ever. If only Elsa could see herself through his heart instead of his eyes.

If there was one word of advice or encouragement Flotsam could have ever given Elsa it'd have been "A boy always wants his mother." Does he always need them? Maybe not. He'd managed in this world without his own. But want is far more a true color hidden every boy. He'd have wanted to make that impression so clear. That's what Flotsam would say because he knew too much of the pain of it acting like a big shot like his garbage days meant nothing or contrarily-wise how hard life has been since the death of his real mother. He watched River's attachment to Elsa between the transitional time when Gem had come back. He knew the burden of what Cinderella was putting on those kids the moment she left. He knew what being a single father was and what it like to try and fill both shoes. Mother was a heavy and lifelong role. Taking on the literal face of Valerie and the moniker of mom was a heavy likeness all it's own because he knew what it stepped on as she filled those shoes even thought Flo felt he had been trying to fill them as a single dad the best he could. No, even Flotsam would want to say, "However old. Whatever age. They'll always reach for you, just in different ways as time goes by, but they'll never stop wanting their mother." Flotsam could be a cold hearted eel but they always sided with what was best for their children. Right now, even dead ones.

Valerie focused on herself while River danced with Elsa. It was fun. River would tell Elsa, "I can't wait to be around more often. I can't be like this all the time sort of like Sparky, but I'm getting better at it. I'm hoping you'll come visit more if I do."

That was his main agenda. His energy was depleted here and most could see he was already falling apart on this night, but there would be more nights to come. When one song ended he'd say, "I think I'll give Dad-er ... Mom a little dance too. Still getting used to that." He grinned. Maybe the whole world was used to Valerie by now, but River was their kid. It was their father and a little harder to come off the habitual lingo especially when they weren't actually speaking daily stuck on the other side as a ghost. They were a little behind the rest.

Music box dancers. That's exactly how Thomas made Valerie feel like she was the perfect picture of what a little girl wants to be when she grows up no matter what they're ever doing. This moment especially though she felt lifted from her troubles floating around the dance floor like the ground itself was magic. She was pretty damn certain it was actually the man, not the music, or the lights, or even her dress. She only felt this way around him and everything else only amplified it. So there she stayed in the bubble of her music box world until the moment River decided to cut in.

River tapped Thomas on the shoulder. "May I?"

Valerie's face lit up. River was probably the only person in the whole Halloween ball that could have pried her away from her fix it man.

He'd take a moment for hellos with Thomas, not long eager to sweep Val off her feet too. As Valerie and her decaying son took a box step off into the dance floor Thomas got another tap on the shoulder. It came with a "Shh." She held her finger up to her lips. She didn't want to make a fuss just yet not wanting to interrupt her now sister and River dancing. She knew Flotsam might not be able to contain himself over the sight of his sissy.

She'd whisper. "Hey d'ere. Fancy meet'in you here." Then she'd give him a wink.

"I might enjoy a dance with mah brotha-in-law."

Oh, boy. The queen bee was back too. Was there anyone who wasn't? This she-wolf had a hard death. It took a lot to knock out a werewolf.

"My mama sends her love and my papa says ya look good in a top hat. Maybe crook it just a little more to one side. Gives ya a little extra charactar."

If Valerie had wolf senses and heard her parents had sent messages to Thomas from the other side through her sister, Mambo Laveau and Dr. Facilier both, she'd have a mini-heart attack. Maybe it was a good thing she didn't yet.