#whina teach

[dragonmuse]

If Eddy’s mom hadn’t died when she were young, would they had transitioned earlier?

(ok, I was going to do a Lucius-centric one next, but Eddy hasn't gotten nearly enough airtime recent, so here's our girl and her mother, hereafter known as Whina. This one is 'she said love don't come easy')

-"Mama, I got a job." The house was so empty these days. Eddy had been slowly leaving, they realized now. Preparing for this, before they'd ever met Hornigold.

"Oh, where?"

"It's kind of a consulting gig."

"You're seventeen," Mama looked up from her sewing, eyebrows knit together. "What could you possibly consult on?"

"It's a real job," Eddy said mulishly. "And I get to travel. Learn the ropes."

"Like an apprenticeship?"

"...yeah," Eddy nodded. "Exactly like that."

-They packed their bags at sunrise. Mama was already up, had likely been up for hours. She handed Eddy a lunch bag like they were going to their first day of school.

"When will you be back?"

"Dunno, but I'll call when I get there," Eddy promised.

It was a promise Eddy broke. The first of many.

-"Surprise!"

"You nearly gave me a heart attack," Mama gasped then threw her arms around Eddy, hugging her tightly. "You smell awful."

Eddy smelled like gunpowder and interrogations. Nothing Mama should be able to identify.

"Thanks," they laughed. "See if I get off a plane and come running home first thing."

"You best do that once and a while," she hadn't let go. Eddy's good humor evaporated and they just rested their cheek against her mother's hair. Closed her eyes. The world went blissfully quiet.

-"Mama," Eddy said over the phone, uncaring that her voice broke in the middle.

"Are you okay?" Her mother asked urgently.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just really tired," Eddy pressed at the wound on her side. "Wanted to hear your voices, is all."

"Oh, Eddy. Where are you?"

She wasn't even sure. They'd moved around a lot the past few days. Lines blurred together.

"At my place," they said. "Just got in. Long day."

"You can come home, you know. Whenever you want."

"I know, I know. I will soon." She watched the blood drip between her fingers. If she died here, who would tell Whina? Who would call her? Hornigold? Unlikely. The cops maybe. If there were cops wherever the fuck they were. "I love you, Mama."

"Love you too. Please-"

"Got to go." There was a knock on the door, urgent staccato. "Talk to you soon!"

- "Be polite," Eddy snapped.

"Yeah, I fucking will."

"Don't fucking swear in front of her either."

"Jesus fuck," Izzy growled. "Why don't I just wait outside?"

Tempting, but she had said she was bringing someone and Mama would notice if she didn't. Why had she even bothered?

Right, because Mama was worried Eddy was an antisocial loner with no friends. It wasn't like most of her friends were Mom-meeting material. So. There was fucking Izzy. Who at least owned a pair of slacks and button-down even if they made him look like a pall-bearer.

The door opened before Eddy could have further regrets.

"Hi Mama," Eddy said quietly, accepting the hug that came their way. "Uh, this is Izzy. Izzy, this is my mom."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Teach," Izzy said, polite as anything. Huh.

"I prefer Whina, really. Thank you for coming. Come in out of the cold, both of you."

Izzy was polite. Izzy did not swear. Izzy was quiet, but not in a bad way. He asked questions, small talk things, and when Mama said, "Tell me something about my child. They never talk about work."

Izzy replied, "They're very good at the job. Our boss said so last week and he's not very free with praise. Diligent. Thorough. Clever."

"Are they?" Mama looked at Eddy with a soft smile. "Well, what else can a mother ask for?"

After dinner, which Izzy carefully ate most of, he even got up and helped wash the dishes. It was like he'd been body snatched.

"What a nice young man," Mama watched Izzy then turned back to Eddy and whispered, "The tattoo on the hand seems...ill-advised."

"Well," Eddy, who had not so much as rolled up their sleeves in front of her since they were seventeen, grasped at straws. "He had a hard childhood."

"That's obvious. Twitchy little thing," Mama pat Eddy's knee. "Good of you to bring him over if he had no where else to go."

"Sure, he's my friend," Eddy settled on. Something like that anyway.

On the way out the door, Mama took one of Izzy's hands in both of hers and smiled at him, "I feel better having met you. Knowing someone's out there with them who has their back."

Back out on the street, Izzy stared at Eddy like he was trying to make out a particularly tricky column of numbers.

"What?" They demanded as the mounted the bike and he slid on behind them.

"Fucking nothing," Izzy muttered. "I like her."

Eddy had no idea what to do with that.

Except to maybe take Izzy back next time she visited. And again after that. And eventually, to tell him in the deep dark of a long night,

"If anything happens to me..."

"I'll take care of her until I die."

And even after she kicked Izzy out of her bed, he was allowed at the house. Mama kept asking after him, no matter what Eddy did. So. There he was.

-"How are you celebrating?" Mama asked, tinny over the phone.

"Oh, you'll see!" Eddy grinned. "Are you almost there?"

"Yes, I don't understand why this needed to be today. I gave up cleaning two houses for this," Mama scolded. "That's good money."

Eddy watched as she walked down the road, then came up the driveway and Mama yelped into the phone,

"You trickster!" She scolded, hanging up and walking faster. Eddy jogged to her, meeting her halfway. "Why are we at the dream house?"

The dream house had been a shared fantasy of theirs, so long ago that Eddy had been sure it would no longer exist. It wasn't large, but it was so pretty with it's a sky blue cape cod with yellow shutters, one rounded set of windows right out front where an old dog used to keep watch, and lovely smooth paving stones instead of a regular cement path to the door.

The train station was just up the street where Eddy had waited many nights for Mama to get off, so they could escort her home. That was After. Before, their father had picked Mama up, often half or all the way drunk and ranting in their car that ate more gas then miles. After, Eddy had proudly stepped up, even though walking wasn't as good as driving. They had passed the house many times, and Mama said it was so pretty and neatly kept that she wished she lived there. A perfect modest house with a real view of the ocean instead of the dock, usually obscured by a massive cargo ship.

It had been on the market when Eddy idly checked last. They hadn't hesitated once.

"Thought you might want to see the inside," Eddy showed her a key ring.

"How'd you get that?" she demanded. "Eddy. What have you been up to?"

"Mischief and tricks," Eddy laughed, offering up an arm. "C'mon."

"Fine, fine, if we're already here," Mama decided and rested her hand on Eddy's forearm.

Inside it was perfectly clean. Eddy had hired someone else to take care of it, then swept through with Izzy making sure it'd be up to Whina's standards of freshness. They had left it empty, waiting.

"It's so light," Whina sighed. "Look at those windows! Whoever gets this place next will be very lucky."

Eddy took her mother's hand and dropped the keys into it. "They are."

"Eddy!" Her mother stared down at the key.

"It's in my name," Eddy explained. "But it's yours. I picked out one of the bedrooms upstairs, put a few of my things in it. When I'm in the country, I'll probably crash, but this is your house, Mama."

"Eddy- it must've cost a fortune!"

"I have money," Eddy shrugged.

"You say that," Mama tilted back her chin to look them in the eye. "But Eddy, money comes and goes."

"Mama, I have enough that I don't owe a dime on the place. Bought it out right." In cash. The owners had liked that. Settled for a little less to get the ready money. "I've been saving."

"Saving." Mama repeated, turning slowly on her heels. "How? Eddy, you're only thirty. And I love you, but I know what you're grades were like, what your prospects were. You don't dress like any professional anything that I've ever met...what the hell are you doing?"

"Mama, do you really want to know?" Eddy asked, a hush in their voice.

"Is it hurting you?" The circle ended, and she was looking into Eddy's eyes again.

"No," Eddy lied.

Mama frowned.

They spent the rest of the day preparing Mama to move. She didn't ask any more questions.

-"Call your mom!"

"We're in the middle of a shoot out, Hands!"

"It's Mother's Day, you fucking twat! Call her, I've got this!"

"Fuck, fine......Hi, Mama! Izzy's got a movie turned all the way up, sorry about the noise...Mr. W said what to you?! And what did you say?"

"Tell her he's got fifteen parking tickets!"

"Stop doing background checks on my mother's dates you fucking lunatic! No, no, sorry Mama. He's joking. I'm glad you had a good time."

-"Hi, Mama," Eddy sat on a fire escaoe, feet dangling above a thirty story drop. "How are you?"

"Busy! I thought retirement would be dull, but honestly, I've got so many things to do I can barely keep track. I was over at Vivian's yesterday for hours helping her get ready for her daughter's wedding. And then I was down at the shelter because Alicia was going to miss her shift. By the time I got home, I was practically asleep."

"You don't have to run yourself ragged," Eddy chided. "That's what you retired from."

"Oh, but I like it. You'll see, when your time comes. It's not like work at all," she sounded like she was smilling. Eddy stared down, down, down. "How are you?"

"Had the day off," Eddy said dreamily. "Went for a long walk. Listened to a band play in the park."

"What did they play?" Mama asked, so quietly. So gently.

"Jazz. I don't even like jazz," Eddy laughed roughly.

"Even the daydreams are coming out wrong now?"

Eddy closed their eyes, "Mama-"

"What happened today, Eddy? Just tell me. Are you okay?"

She brought one knee up to her chest. Rested her chin on it.

"I've got the business. My boss is retiring."

"Oh, and you're...not happy?"

"I am. Or I will be. Right now...it's a lot. It's going to be a lot resting on me."

"You can carry it," Mama said confidently. "You're stronger than you know."

-"Put it down," Mama's voice curled over the phone. Eddy was laying on the floor, cigarette smoke curling up above her head. She'd been there a while. The call had taken her off guard. She shouldn't have answered.

"I can't now," Eddy closed their eyes. "It's mine."

"Eddy, you're crying."

She was? She touched her cheek. Huh.

"Everyone cries sometimes."

"Baby," her voice dropped, and it felt like a hug. Eddy was definitely crying now. "You lied to me."

"I did," Eddy agreed.

"You're not happy."

"I'm not."

"So quit. Sell the business. You have enough now. I'm comfortable. You can find something else."

"There's nothing else for me. This is all I know."

"You're capable of many things. I know you can do this."

"I don't-I'm a monster," Eddy told her. "I can't change."

"That's a lie again," Mama said sharply. "You're all done lying to me."

"But-"

"I'm calling Izzy."

"No-" the call ended. "Fuck."

Izzy showed up a half-hour later. Got in with the key they never should've let him have. He stared down at them.

"So. We're retiring."

"Fuck." Eddy informed him bitterly.

"Yeah. Well. Your fucking mom, boss. Let's talk exit strategies."

-"Tell me the truth," Mama demanded.

Eddy sat in the pretty window seat. It was comfortable there. The ocean crashed not a hundred feet from the door. Their room was as they'd made it a decade ago. They'd been here two days, drifting from room to room and apparently that was the end of Mama's patience.

"About what?" Eddy asked, resting their head against the glass.

"About anything," Mama decided and sat down beside her. Took Eddy's hand in her own. Their fingers matched, same exact shade and tone, both callused. One just a little more wrinkled and soft than the other.

"I like men. Women too, but mostly men."

"I know. I figured you and Izzy...but he said no when I asked, years ago."

"Yeah, no, not really" Eddy glanced at her. Mama's face was neutral. "You don't care?"

"It troubled me when you were younger," she admitted. "But now...I just wish you had someone."

"Why? You don't. Unless you and your 'gentlemen friend' have gotten closer."

"I had someone," Mama said, looking away. "A worthless man in the end, but I remember what it felt like to be someone's love. I hope you have that and that that part doesn't end for you."

Eddy folded down around her. "You could have that too. Someone should love you like that. For real."

"Maybe it's something for us both to look for."

-"I have to tell you something," Eddy said all in a rush before Mama could even say hello.

"All right," Mama laughed, "Go on then."

"I just..I met someone. And it's been a week and I have no idea if it'll even last another day, but I wanted you to know."

"Only a week?"

"It's been a really good week," Eddy gushed. "He's just...he's so good looking and smart and funny and he likes me. I think."

"What's his name?"

"Stede," Eddy breathed out. "His name is Stede."

-"Do I look all right?" Stede tugged a little at his collar.

"Yes, of course you do," Eddy assured him.

"I just want to make a good first impression."

"You couldn't make a bad one if you tried, c'mon."

"I'm going to trip!" Stede laughed. "Stop tugging!"

The front door opened. Mama stepped out and Eddy skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Mama," Eddy beamed. "This is Stede."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Stede offered up the gift basket he'd insisted on bringing. "Eddy said you liked preserves."

"Oh!" She took the basket with a smile. "I've heard such good things about you and now I know at least one of them is true."

"What's that?" Stede asked gamely.

"You're very handsome."

"Mama!"

"Oh, I have eyes. Come in, come in."

"Thank you, Mrs. T-"

"Whina. And thank you, Stede. Trust me, thank you."

-"I can't do it."

"What the fuck do you mean you can't?" Izzy crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's...if she....I can't," Eddy groaned.

"So what's the goddamn plan? You put on the jacket, wipe off the make up and pretend? Forever?"

Put that way, it made Eddy's stomach turn a little.

"I can't believe you're the one advocating for this. You had a fucking meltdown."

"Yeah, I'm a piece of shit. She's not. Bonnet would be telling you the same fucking thing if he wasn't a fucking idiot, who thinks contradicting you is a death sentence."

"He argues with me plenty."

"Not about this shit. He treats you like you might shatter over it. I've seen you drop two stories, then get back on your feet. You'll survive this too."

"If she hates me-"

"Fuck off," Izzy slammed a hand on the desk. "She does not now and will never hate you. She knows what we did now, how you lied and then how I lied to cover your fucking lies and the woman still calls me once a month to make sure I'm breathing. And pump me for information about you."

"Oh, I see," Eddy narrowed her eyes at him. "You just want to stop lying to her."

"I don't- yeah, Eddy. Fuck. There's no one the fuck else who cares, is there?" Izzy straightened, huffed out a breath and stomped out of the office. "I'm taking the day."

"Fine!" She yelled after him.

But she did make the drive. She didn't change out of silky red shirt or the high-waisted pants or the heeled boots. She didn't wipe off her lipstick or rub away her eyeliner.

No one was home, so she let herself in and sank down on the downy dove grey sofa that had been the first thing her mother had bought for herself After. It was old now. Old as her mother's independence. Old as the blood on Eddy's hands.

The front door open late and her mother came in slowly.

"Eddy? I saw your bike...oh, there you are."

"Hi, Mama," she winced as the light flicked on. When had it gotten so dark?

"That's...a very nice shade of lipstick," Mama ventured, taking a step into the living room. "Trying something for your...act?"

"I have to tell you something."

"All right, let me just use the bathroom."

"I-yeah. Okay." So Eddy had to sit and wait, thrumming with every molecule of her body.

"All right," Mama reappeared and sat down beside her. "I'm listening."

"I-" Eddy cleared her throat. "I'm not...I'm not a man. I like she/her mostly, but they/them pronouns too. And my name...my name is Eddy. Actually."

"Eddy," Mama repeated with a slight frown. "I used to call you that when you were very little."

"I know," she swallowed thickly. "I remember."

"Have you always..."

"I didn't let myself think about it. But...yeah. Yes."

Mama nodded, then leaned in and drew her into a tight hug.

"Eddy."

"Please don't cry," Eddy begged. "Please don't be sad, I can't-"

"I'm not sad," Mama's hug only went harder. "Or I am. But for all the lost years. Not for right now. Not for today."

Eddy bent her head to press her cheek to her mother's. Their tears mixed together.

-"That's good," Mama praised. "Very straight."

"Wow! Thanks, Whina," Alma held up the skirt, looking over the hem. "That looks so much better."

"You should get your own machine," Mama told her. "It's simple enough and you've got the patience for it, unlike some."

"Mama, I'm right here," Eddy laughed.

"And you know very well who broke my antique sewing machine, you terrible child," Mama scolded.

"Eddy, you didn't!" Alma said scandalized.

"I was younger than you, twiz," Eddy rolled their eyes. "And I was trying to fix a hole in my shirt."

"Almost took out her own eye somehow," Whina informed Alma. "Would you like some lemonade?"

"Yes, please!"

"Charlie?"

He was in the window seat, a book in one hand, but he was watching the ocean. The salt of it was still drying in his hair from a swim he and Eddy had taken. "Hmm?"

"You want lemonade?" Whina asked.

"Yes, thanks," he got to his feet and came to her side. "I'll help with the pitcher."

Whina squeezed his shoulder, "Love a helper."

Stede came in from outside, holding a heavy bag, "I think I've got everything on the list."

"Thank you, dear," Whina reached for the bag and despite her seventy years, easily hefted it out of Stede's grasp. "I think I hear Izzy's bike. Someone tell him not to park in the street again."

"I'll go!" Charlie forgot the lemonade and dashed outside. Stede watched him go with a sigh.

"I'll help with the lemonade," Alma said gamely.

"It'll be a mad house once everyone's here," Stede stepped in close and gave Eddy a kiss. "Excited?"

"Yeah," Eddy decided. "Nice to have a party we're not hosting for once."

"Says you, my to-do list isn't even half done. She's a taskmaster."

"Funny, I don't have any jobs."

"Because it's your birthday, dear heart," Stede pulled away.

"Eddy!" Whina called. "Come put away the groceries."

"Or maybe not," Stede laughed. "Want me to do it?"

"Nah. You've got to string the lights. Anyway, it means I get first dibs on the treats."

The little house of dreams would be full to bursting soon. Eddy followed her family into the kitchen and prepared.

[our-flag-means-death-ao3feed]

AU of the AU: she says you can't hurry love

by Vera (Vera_DragonMuse)

Anon asked how Eddy's life would have gone if her mother hadn't died.

Meet Whina Teach.

  As always Eddy's pronouns and name are intact from the beginning, but she is not yet out when the story begins.

Words: 3602, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 23 of Leda House and the Kraken 'Verse

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Multi

Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Blackbeard | Edward Teach's Mother, Israel Hands, Stede Bonnet

Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands/Lucius Spriggs, Black Pete/Lucius Spriggs

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/42458313

[whinaalestari]

Kenapa CS?

“Computer science is not about machines, in the same way that astronomy is not about telescopes. There is an essential unity of mathematics and computer science” — Michael R. Fellows (1991)  “Computer SCIENCE and Mathematics in the Elementary Schools”

Saya ingat sekali, dulu semenjak masuk tingkat 2 semangat belajar saya sama dunia komputer masih begitu tinggi. Yaa, maklum lah masih awal masuk departemen setelah satu tahun menempuh tingkat paling bahagia alias TPB, ibarat baru keluar SMA kelas 4 nya anak2 di kampus. Awal-awal masih disuguhkan dengan belajar algoritme dan pemrograman yang awalnya saya bisa bilang “ah ini mah bisa lah, saya kan hobi berlogika..”. Shock pas UTS nilainya kayak kursi kebalik wkwk. Ini akibatnya meremehkan. Semenjak saat itu, saya sadar kalo kuliah di ilkom itu ga bisa main2 kayak di SMA yang masih bisa pake intuisi setajem apapun. Perlu logika, kreativitas, dan pemahaman yang benar2 menyeluruh namun juga detail. Setelah hasil UTS keluar, saya belajar dengan giat untuk menghadapi UAS terutama untuk teorinya karena alhamdulillah kalo praktek saya selalu menempati leaderbord 5 besar soal programming. Jadi sepertinya cukup membantu. Qodarullah, materi UAS yang kata orang lebih abstrak justru saya menyukai hal2 tersebut. Belajar pointer, struct, array, dynamic memory dll mengantarkan saya bisa dapet A kurang lebih di nilai akhir (entah dosennya pake sebaran apa wkwk mengingat departemen teknik mesin pas angkatan 2000 an gak ada yang lulus kuliah matkul ini). Semester 3 yang saat itu masih diisi penuh sama mata kuliah dari departemen matematika dan statistika mulai perlahan menambah ketertarikan saya sebelum akhirnya saya yang hobi gambar pun ingin mendalami lebih lanjut Computer Graphic. Ga muluk2 mau nyiptain software macem photoshop sih, bikin animasi rumah2an pake kodingan yang sampe 1000 an line aja udah seneng heheh.

Ya, pada semester 4 saat belajar computer graphic saya mulai menemukan ketertarikan untuk mendalami bidang ini meski artinya saya harus menguatkan mata kuliah pendukung seperti aljabar linear dan kalkulus lagi. Akhirnya hasil browsing jatuh di salah satu universitas di jerman yang spesialis bidang itu. Semester 4 udah mikir mau S2 dimana wkwk visioner ceritanya. Dari dulu, ternyata saya kecantol sama jerman dulu sebelum ke jepang wkwk. Eh sekarang balik lagi pengen jerman gara2 ngerasa belum punya jiwa peneliti yang baik dan masih bolong basic keilmuannya. Yaa boleh deh kalo mau lanjut nanti ke Jepang pas udah mau phD aja. Udah dua tahun semenjak lulus tahun 2015 apa yang direncanakan ternyata ga kunjung tiba. Mungkin Allah mau meyakinkan saya dulu bidang apa yang bener2 saya butuhkan. Saya yg berubah2 minat dari Graphic ke Data Science berubah lagi ke kombinasi keduanya. Ih napsu amat win ^^v. Ya, tahun ini insyaAllah saya apply beberapa univ di jerman, termasuk di Bonn. Selain kurikulum S1 yang mirip universitas2 di sono, ada satu univ yang punya struktur mirip ipb alias jurusan CS nya ada di bawah FMIPA. Pun penelitiannya ada yang berhubungan dengan pertanian. Pas. Soal keterima apa engga nanti aja, hehe. Dicoba dulu aja kan, ga salah ya?

Salah satu rencana riset di masa depan, kalau Allah izinkan. Di kampus yang katanya matematikawannya number wahid se-jerman (cenah mah gituu)

Alhamdulillah, 2 tahun ini Allah kasih saya kesempatan untuk bekerja di perusahaan yang memang cocok untuk jiwa nerd dan geek kayak saya yaa meskipun rada culun-culun gitu shock sama realita pas keluar sangkar kampus. Membuat saya melek kalo saya belum ada isinya dibanding orang-orang di kantor yang udah jauh banget langkahnya. Plusnya, bisa belajar untuk melek dengan perkembangan algoritme di dunia computer science yang mudah sekali obsolete dan up to date. Yaa macem2 lagu pop indo gitu deh. Kalo digambarkan, kondisi saya sekarang udah kayak gini. Ga jelas hehe. 

Source : gugel

Graphic dan Vision, Intelligent System, dan Data Science insyaAllah akan menjadi fokus saya ke depan kalau Allah beri kesempatan saya untuk lanjut studi lagi. Seabstrak-abstraknya dunia CS, hatiku masih terpaut di sana ternyata tssaah. Atas alasan falsafah keilmuan matematika dan stats yang masih remah2 rengginang ini lah saya memutuskan pengen dalemin lagi CS dengan konsentrasi di Data Science dan Computer Vision secara general namun terfokuskan. Yap, ini hasil perenungan seminggu kemarin semenjak diceramahin temen saya yang skrg kuliah di Wageningen. 

“Kalo kamu passionate, ya kejar! Jangan karena mata kuliah nya susah terus kamu milih jurusan yang dianggap “mudah”. Ini salah ku dulu waktu S1 gak ambil minor biokimia karena ngganggep matematika lebih gampang dibanding biokimia. Ternyata pas ambil minor mate pun cuma sekali dapet nilai A dan itu yang bikin gue ga bisa dapet IP 4.” 

- Adzkia, Bioinformatics students via chat whatsapp yang katanya lagi sibuk (sibuk belajar genetika kali ya wkwk salute)

Oke, saya akan ambil apa yang saya inginkan. Gak menyalahkan sepenuhnya aktivitas ngebem 3 tahun berturut2 pas S1 yang bikin saya ngantuk2 ga jelas di kelas sih, tapi memang dasarnya saya kurang cerdas memahami ilkom dulu. Ciee ada yang mau bales dendam. Yaah.. meskipun artinya saya harus inget2 lagi mata kuliah abstrak2 di CS. Tidak lebih dari alasan karena saya passionate di bidang itu dan berharap banyak kebermanfaatan dari sana. Meskipun jurusan saya sama sekali ga seanggun jurusan yang dimimpikan sama kaum Hawa semisal di kesehatan, pertanian, dll inilah saya yang lebih suka bertahan depan komputer. Meskipun nanti nilai kamu jeblak jeblok sana sini tapi inilah konsekuensinya. Kurang waktu untuk mendalami ilmu agama karena berkutat terus sama komputer? Mungkin managemen waktumu yang kurang baik, selama dalam jalur yang tepat insyaAllah BISA WHIN. Selama itu bikin kamu curious dan bermanfaat, jangan pernah menyesali yaa :)) No pain no gain, whin. Kamu pasti bisa!!! Dari dulu saya selalu berdo'a aja minta Allah tunjukan jalan yang diridhoiNya dan dihindarikan dari mengejar sesuatu yang dimurkaiNya :))

Riset Ceria. Anak-anak lab Computational Intelligence (saya ga ikut hiks) sama pembimbing S1 dulu yang keceriannya sebenernya ga seceria pas bimbingan atau ngerjain thesis/skripsinya wkwk

“CS is not merely about programming, it teach us how to think clearly” 

- Whina 2017

[dragonmuse]

Okokokok I'm absolutely in love with she said love don't come easy, how do you keep doing this to meeeeee (thank you). Whina would absolutely go to a show at the Revenge, right??

(Thank you! this is actually, very quietly, warm up for a main storyline bit, so I'm very happy it went over. Regency first then, time for feels! Here's Whina at the show for you.)

"You're sure I look...appropriate?" Whina asked.

She had dressed up a little for tonight. The dress was new, a little scoop-necked, the pattern a deep blue and green chevron. The cardigan was a gift from Eddy, a silvery grey that dusted down almost to her ankles. The shoes were older, but Izzy had never seen them before, a pair of kitten heels. Her hair was loose, a grey and white cloud around her face and shoulders. There was even makeup which Izzy hadn't been sure she owned, a dusty pink lipstick and mascara.

"You look better than half the people on the stage," he said and meant it entirely. "Real challenge will be staying awake."

She was halfway through a yawn and sent him a peeved look.

"Don't tease. I took a nap and drank coffee with lunch. This is best we're getting."

He drove her into the city and let her choose the music. She didn't fidget because that wasn't her way, but her nerves radiated through the air anyway.

"I should've come before," she murmured as they got close. "Why did I put it off so long?"

"It's new," Izzy glanced at her. "Freaked me out the first few times. You don't have to like it."

Whina nodded once, said no more.

They got there well before the show and he took her to the bar where Lucius was waiting.

"Heya!" he smiled at her. "Let me guess...you're a martini lady."

"How'd you know?" She blinked.

"I had insider intel," he admitted. "I pumped Eddy for information. How many olives do you like?"

"How many can I have?" She asked impishly.

Lucius delivered her drink with two of them speared on a toothpick and a small dish of several more for snacking. Izzy was given what looked like radioactive waste in a glass and a quick kiss, before he was off down the bar.

"Let's get a table," Whina decided and Izzy gave up his usual barstool. They got closer to the stage and settled in. Whina ate an olive, and then looked upwards. "Stede does love a little bit over the top. Two chandeliers?"

"He's a mad man," Izzy agreed.

"It's nicer than the bars I went to back in the day."

"You liked a dive bar?"

"Like is a strong word for it. My girlfriends and I would go for quarter shots night."

"You did?"

"I had a youth too, you know."

The lights dimmed after a few minutes and Lucius was on the PA. Whina did smile at his opening lines and set down her drink, folding her hands her lap. Izzy braced himself.

Leda House was in full regalia tonight, big sweeping gown, towering wig and big paint.

"That's Stede?" Whina whispered eyes wide.

"That's Leda," Izzy nodded.

And Leda launched into "I Am Woman" with gusto, prancing around the stage.

"Oh, I love this song," Whina pressed a hand to her chest.

A seed of suspicion planted in Izzy's chest.

Roach cartwheeled onto the stage with "Ballroom Blitz", the chainsaw sending sparks out over the audience as the soundtrack wailed. Whina's eyes went wide and her drink had definitely been forgotten.

Ethel and Pete juggled mirrored balls to "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" and the seed sprouted into a full born plant.

"I saw them working on those costumes!" Whina realized. "Oh, I like how they turned out. They can move very fast, can't they?"

"Yeah, fast footwork," Izzy agreed neutrally.

Teal crossed the stage, her saloon girl outfit traded for a glistening robe, the feathers dripping from cuffs, hem and fluffed up around the neck. She launched into her usual spiel about saving tipping for the end.

"Why?" Whina frowned. "What's going to- oh!"

The knife went flying across the stage. Whina grabbed Izzy's wrist.

"They've never missed," Izzy told her firmly.

"I should hope not!"

Frenchie's hammy rendition of "I'll Always Love You" eased the mood a little and Izzy was at this point rolling his eyes. The audience ate it up though, singing along and clearly enjoying having a whole new slate of numbers unexpectedly.

"And now," Lucius' voice boomed over the PA, "our siren of the deep, our beastly mistress, the tentacles of wonder, let us all say-"

"RELEASE THE KRAKEN!" The audience yelled along with him.

Whina's grip on Izzy's wrist tightened.

The Kraken took the stage. The dress was a deeper shade of red tonight, a ruched up affair that showed off a lot of leg. The wig was black with matching red streaks and cascaded long and loose to their waist. Tentacles writhed and she took center stage. Eyes front. Not seeking.

"At first I was afraid," the music began,the Kraken lipsynching. "I was petrified..."

The audience cheered. Whina's hand returned to Izzy's arm, he couldn't really make out her expression in the dark.

"Never thought I could live without you by my side," one hand swept out slowly, tentacles dancing along with it. "But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong....And I grew strong..."

The Kraken sucked in a breath, "And I learned how to get along!"

She threw up both arms, a rain of silver glitter tumbling from her hands.

Izzy had seen the Kraken dance, and tonight was a spectacular showcase of her talents. She didn't do nearly as many tricks as Frenchie or Roach, she didn't have a stunt talent like Ethel or the Menace. She just danced with all of the energy that powered her. And dismantled her costume as she loved to do, shard of red silk peeling away to crystal encrusted glory until she ended the number breathing hard, and shining as bright as a diamond.

The lights came back a minute or so later. Whina's eyes were damp and her other hand was clapped over her mouth. Her other one was holding Izzy's arms so tightly that her fingers must be cramped.

"We can go, if you want," Izzy said tightly, already trying to figure out damage control on that if need be.

"No," Whina gasped out, hand falling away. "We used to sing that. Eddy and me. After...oh, my girl. Can we go see her or is she hidden away somewhere?"

"We can go," Izzy decided. Fuck the rest of them. "Come on."

They didn't have to actually breech the dressing room. Eddy was lingering behind the curtain. The tentacles were gone, but otherwise, they were still in full gear, Leda hovering behind them.

"Eddy," Whina took the steps with speed.

"Mama, did you-" Eddy started and then was cut off as Whina hugged her. Eddy made a soft pained noise, and hugged her back, even more ludicrously tall than the poor woman than usual in her heels.

"You're so beautiful," Whina said, her voice shaky.

"Thanks," Eddy managed, clinging to her.

Leda stepped carefully around them and wound up standing next to Izzy.

"You're a manipulative asshole," Izzy informed her.

"I don't know what you mean," Leda scoffed. "I just put on a nice show."

"Those were all songs off her favorites list," Izzy rolled his eyes. "Did you assign them out?"

"Everyone was very willing to help out, thank you very much," Leda said tartly. "It wasn't manipulation, it was a gesture."

"It worked whatever the fuck it was."

Eddy had pulled back a little, talking animatedly now and Whina was gazing up at her, listening intently.

"Should we give them some space?" Leda sighed.

"Probably," Izzy conceded.

Izzy didn't see Whina again for an hour. He went back to the bar, and it was almost a normal Friday night again, lingering while Lucius mixed drinks and Frenchie led karaoke.

Eventually, Eddy, entirely de-dragged, and Whina turned back up.

"Iz, can you drive Mama home before she turns into a pumpkin?"

Whina sighed, "Annoyingly, I am actually very tired."

"Then let's hit the road," Izzy slid off the barstool.

She was so quiet for the first half of the drive that Izzy thought she might've actually dozed off.

"I wish I'd gone earlier," she said quietly. "I should've gone the very first time they asked. What was I so afraid of?"

"New stuff," Izzy nodded. "Can be tough."

"Foolish. The first thing Eddy really wanted me to see of them in years and I was so scared of it. But she's just beautiful and funny and talented."

"Yeah," Izzy agreed helplessly. "She is."

"Will you take me again in a few weeks?"

"Yeah, of course."

And in a few months, he'd pick her up bright and early. Take her to the summer festival where she and Nana would have a frankly frightening meeting of minds.

And by the end of the performance, she'd be in tears, clinging to Izzy's arm again as Stede got down on one knee. Holding him in place so they could witness it all together.

[dragonmuse]

( @internerdionality @weirdnatasha @beatle411and @greenapricot all wanted Eddy finding out about Whina and Dave, then Pete's little joke. We hear in the last bit that Stede kind of tells her as soon as Whina tell him, so this takes off from Stede coming back from that phoen call.

“He’s dating my mother!” Eddy repeated, voice climbing octaves as Stede came back inside. He was glad he’d already said good night to Whina since she would undoubtedly been able to hear the cry. 

“Yes, that does seem to be the case, honey.” 

“My mom!” 

“Yes? Darling, I’m not really sure-” 

“Oh my god,” Eddy covered their face with their hands. “She didn’t tell me because she knew I’d be like this. Why am I like this?” 

“You’re surprised,” Stede crossed the room to her. “That’s understandable.”

“I shouldn’t be,” the hands dropped away. “I’ve been teasing her about it for ages. I kind of knew that she did really like him. But...” 

“But what?”  Stede held a hand out to her and drew her to the couch.

“I don’t know,” Eddy groaned and all, but collapsed against him. “I should just be happy for her. I am happy for her.” 

“Is it Dave?” Stede couldn’t quite picture that.  They’d met Dave several times before he ever collided with Whina and Eddy had clearly liked the man very much, wheedling old unionization stories out of him. 

“No, he’s fine,” Eddy confirmed. “I like him even. If I had to pick someone....he’s in our network. We know him.” 

“All right, is it her being in some kind of other role? Less mother and more...” 

“Please don’t find a word to end that, but no. I know she’s a human being and all.” 

They sat quietly for a long minute before Stede ventured, 

“Honey, do you think just maybe it’s because you have some bad associations with your mother living with a man?” 

Eddy thunked their forehead onto Stede’s shoulder. “Yeah. I think maybe.” 

“You’re not alone,” Stede put an arm around her and dropped his nose into her thick curls. Eddy still loved the grassy kind of lavender scents and he found it infinitely comforting. “She’s scared too.” 

“She told you that?” Eddy asked, muffled by Stede’s shirt. 

“She did. Made sense to me.” 

“If he touched her...” 

“I know, honey, I know, but I don’t think Dave is the type.” 

“Pete said his dad never even spanked him,” Eddy recalled. “Can you fucking imagine Pete as a kid? Dave is a saint.” 

Stede laughed, “He probably talked a lot, but it’s not as if too much talking ever induced you to do more than sigh at Charlie and Alma.” 

“Yeah cause they’re good kids and you shouldn’t hit any fucking kid any way,” Eddy grumbled. “I’m just saying.” 

“I know, darling.” Soothing themselves, going over the facts. Stede considered a few options then finally with a wrinkled nose said, “You should ask Izzy to do a background check.” 

“What? Why?” Eddy’s head came up. 

“Just for your own peace of mind. He’s probably done one anyway, you know how  protective he is of your mother and Dave has been spending time with her.” 

“Huh,” Eddy gave him a close look, “You know, Mr. Teach Bonnet, you’re pretty clever sometimes.” 

“Thank you Mx. Teach Bonnet, I do try.” 

“Wait. Does that mean I’m the one that has to tell Izzy my mother is dating?”  

“Pay the ferryman, my love.” 

So the next day, Eddy had to go into the office and pay the fucking ferryman. Good thing for her, Izzy was in a relatively good mood. One had to determine such things by whether or not he’d responded to her morning greeting and then how much he sighed at them dumping things on his desk. He’d both responded and only done a little performative grunt of annoyance, so she figured this was as good as it got. 

“Iz, I gotta tell you something.”

“Can it wait until after I’ve sent out the invoices?” 

“No,”  she plucked the pen out of his hands. It was a nice one. She shoved it in her shirt pocket, she might need it later. 

“Fuck, fine, what?” He leaned back in his chair. 

“Remember when you respected me as your boss?” 

“That was before you decided to make a grand gesture and say we were partners without fixing the workload,” Izzy rolled his eyes. “And then running off to become a part-time bar owner, so I basically run this place. So no. I don’t really remember anymore.” 

“Your life is a misery,” she agreed. “Okay, so Mama called me last night.” 

“Uh huh,” Izzy crossed his arms over his chest. “And?” 

“And it turns out she’s been dating Dave for like...months apparently.” 

Izzy’s face didn’t change for a second and then his eyebrows went up and he frowned. Eddy’s eyes narrowed. 

“You little shit! You knew!” 

“I didn’t!” Izzy protested. “I just guessed something was going on! They were together all the time and she kept telling me what Dave thought of this or did you know Dave used to do that?” 

“...she did do that,” Eddy subsided. “I assumed they were friends.” 

“You were the one that kept poking her over it.” 

“I know, I know. So they’ve been dating. And it turns out that Dave isn’t going to buy a house, they’re going to try to live together.” 

“Huh,” Izzy frowned. “Seems fast.” 

“Is it?” 

“...I mean I still don’t live with Lucius and it’s been years, but you moved in with Bonnet on the first fucking date. Maybe we need to ask a normal person.” 

“Do we know normal people?” Eddy considered. 

“Jim and Oluwande lived together before they started dating,” Izzy considered. “I think Fang and his girlfriend moved in after a year. John and Frenchie? Maybe? Not clear.” 

“Right,” Eddy nodded slowly. “So. Maybe if you average it altogether it’s pretty normal.” 

“That’s not how math works. That’s not how anything works,” Izzy growled, but he was also sort of smiling, so that was fine. 

“Okay, we’re not going to be talking her out of it anyway. I just...did you do a background check on him?” 

“Of course I did,” Izzy put his hands to his keyboard, fingers flying. “Years ago. Mostly to see if half the shit Pete said about him was true.” 

“Was it?” 

“Yeah, surprisingly,” Izzy pulled something up, turned the screen so she could see it. “He got arrested for trespassing during a strike. When he was a teenager, he had a speeding problem. Pretty impressive considering the shitbox cars he was driving. The divorce is there, but it was no contest, he was the one that initiated it after she left the state.” 

“Pete’s mom left town?” 

“Yeah, you never heard that?”

“No. Figured she was dead.” Eddy leaned in to look over the arrest record. Dave had gone peacefully, let out on bail in the morning then the charges were dropped when he brought a suit against the company which was settled out of court for him and several of the other strikers.

“You’ll have to ask Pete if you want details on his mother. One of the few things he’s pretty private about,” Izzy shrugged. “But it was a long time ago. There’s not a lot about Dave’s life outside of work that’s online. He’s not a big internet user. He owns the house outright because it was his parents’. Drives trucks into the ground. Has a pension and social security now. There’s money saved up.” 

“So he won’t suck her dry,” Eddy said quietly. 

“If they wind up getting married-”

“Woah woah, who said anything about marriage?” 

“No one. I’m just saying that there’s ways to protect both of their money if they do. But probably they won’t anyway. Not like either of them had banger first times around.” 

“Fuck, Pete would be my step-brother.” 

Izzy barked a laugh, “Could do worse.” 

“So no red flags, huh?” 

“No,” Izzy confirmed. “And you’ve met him. He’s fine.” 

“Yeah,” and her breath did come a little easier. Stede had been right. Izzy wouldn’t let anyone shitty around Mama.  “Want breakfast?” 

“Some of us have been here since 9.” 

“So you don’t want me to get you one of those granola bars you live off when I get my coffee and danish?” 

“....yeah all right.” 

On her way to get the coffee, Eddy called her mother. 

“Hello,” Mama said neutrally. 

“Hi, Mama,” Eddy sighed. “I’m sorry I was weird last night.” 

“No, sweetheart, don’t be sorry. I know it must’ve been surprising to hear.” 

“Little bit. But...hey, if you’re happy about then I’m happy about it.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, really! Come on!” She protested. “I just want you to be okay.” 

“I am. Thanks to you. You know that.” 

Eddy smiled down at her feet, “Do you need help with anything?” 

“Oh, no, sweetheart, not right now. Dave isn’t going to move out there for another month or so. He’s still trying to get his place sold and all. But maybe when the time comes, you and Stede could come down and help us shuffle some things around?” 

“Yeah, of course. If you���re willing to cook for a group, we can have as many bodies there as you want.” 

“Please not everyone,” she laughed. “Can you just imagine? What an invasion. But maybe a handful. Pete and Lucius will come. Izzy too. Between the five of you and the two of us, we should get it done.” 

“Mama, I know you like him, but Lucius is actually minus a person in the help department.” 

“I figured I’d have him hang pictures,” Mama agreed. “He can mess around with a tape measure and at least get out of the way.” 

“Smart lady.”  

And that was how it went down. Two months later on a hot summer morning, Stede rented a car and they drove down. When they got there, Izzy’s car was already in the driveway and Pete was standing with his father, pointing up at something on the roof. 

“Something wrong?” Eddy approached them.” 

“Whina noticed a brown spot in your bedroom ceiling,” Dave said off-handed. Eddy warmed to him another notch. Eddy hadn’t slept in that room much since meeting Stede and it barely held any of their things anymore, but they did still think of it as theirs and not just a guest room.  “Not sure if it’s paint discoloration or a leak.” 

“...which corner?” Eddy shifted onto the balls of her feet guiltily. 

“The one over the window.” 

“Just discoloration.” Eddy might’ve occasionally smoked in there, right by the window so Mama wouldn’t smell it. 

“That so?” Dave glanced at her and grinned. “I’ll just paint over it then.” 

“Or one of us can do it today,” Pete said hurriedly. “It’s just white paint. Easy fix.” 

“Don’t take every job away from me,” Dave pat Pete on the shoulder. “Got to make myself useful.” 

“Eddy!” Mama called from inside the house. “Do you still want this box of CDs?  Or are you all done with Miss. Spears?” 

“You listened to Brittany as a kid?” Pete asked, eyes widening. 

“She’s a fucking genius and I won’t hear any slander on her name,” Eddy snorted. “And anyway, it’s just got-” 

“EDDY! Is this pot?!” 

“...my old stash in it,” she winced. “Sorry, Mama!” 

“Have I mentioned that I’m grateful that you were a boring teenager?” Dave turned to Pete. 

“Hey! I was plenty interesting.” 

It was an afternoon of organized chaos. Boxes were moved from room to room, furniture relocated then relocated again. The formally emptied crawlspace was stuffed back full with who knew what. Lucius managed to actually re-do the entire back wall of the living room, incorporating both sets of photos in a very aesthetically pleasing way even if had taken him most of the day.   

Despite earlier requests, Eddy kept Mama out of the kitchen and just ordered in a metric ton of food which they all devoured in various stages of being slumped over the table. Izzy’s hair was a mess and Lucius  kept ‘helpfully’ fixing it by racking his fingers through it until it fell in a messy curtain around the man’s face. 

“Thank you all,” Mama leaned back in her chair surveying them peacefully. Dave sat beside her and Eddy was relatively sure he had his hand on Mama’s knee. Which was cute. And a little....something, that tugged at her chest. 

Eddy’s father had never really been tender with Mama. He must’ve been once. She had to have loved something about the man, but by the time Eddy’s memory began, there was none of that left. 

“I can’t imagine a better way to start off in a new place,” Dave agreed. “Feels like the right way to do it.” 

“Here, here!” Stede toasted him with his jam jar glass of orange juice.  

They all got up to clear the table, wanting that last bit of mess done and dusted. Mama took a plate from Pete to slot into the dishwasher as Eddy eased by them both to get to the sink with a glass. Lucius was coming in with the salad bowl. 

“Could you get this bit of potato?” Mama handed the plate back to Pete. “This dishwasher is so cranky.” 

“Sure thing, Mom.” 

Eddy stopped dead, glass hanging precariously over the bottom of the sink. To her left, Lucius made a strangled gasping sound. 

“What. The. Fuck.” Eddy demanded turning on Pete, who was pink in the face and then busted out laughing. 

Then to Eddy’s horror, her own mother started giggling along.  Betrayal!

“Your face!” Lucius cried delightedly. “Oh, babe, why didn’t you warn me, I could’ve gotten the best photo.” 

“I don’t want to be in this family anymore,” Eddy decided, setting down her glass. 

“Cool, does that mean I get your room?” Pete managed through his laughter. “I can finally put up all my posters!” 

“Oh sweetheart,” Mama put her hand on Eddy’s elbow. “I’m sorry, but it really was a little funny.” 

“Everything all right in here?” Stede put his head around the door. 

“Pete almost gave Eddy a stroke,” Lucius informed him “Also she might still kill him, undecided.” 

“Please don’t, honey, he’s only halfway through making that new gown and I was looking forward to it.” 

“No one is doing anything except finishing loading the dishwasher,” Mama declared. 

Eddy grumbled, but settled back into helping.  

“Sorry, Eddy.” Pete offered, a little sheepishly. 

“It’s fine,” Eddy sighed. “..it was kind of funny. Once.” 

“Got it!” 

“What the hell kind of posters would you be hanging up anyway?” 

“I have some 80s action movie posters,” Pete said, already warming to the subject.

Eddy let him tell her about them, including increasingly unlikely ways he’d procured them as they finished washing dishes. As he talked, her attention drifted to the dining room which she could just see through the door. Mama was showing Dave where the good plates went in the china cabinet and Dave carefully taking them from her and tucking them where they belonged. 

When Mama had to stretch to reach, Dave put a hand on her waist to steady her and didn’t take it off even as she settled back down. Mama didn’t shrink away. She let him keep contact and when he reached forward and brushed a wisp of hair of her face, Eddy turned her attention back to the silverware. 

“I think those crazy kids are going to make it,” Pete said quietly. “What do you think?” 

“Yeah,” Eddy settled the last fork and closed the dishwasher up. “I think they will.”

[dragonmuse]

Mrs. Teach should go berrypicking with Pete's dad. As a little treat :-)

(So I was like...yeah obviously in "she said you can't hurry love' Dave also lives and yes they would meet eventually and how nice that would be! So not berry picking exactly, but here’s Whina and Dave meeting for the first time) 

“It’s very crowded,” Whina stayed by the door. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it like this, not even last summer.” 

“Seems like we top ourselves each year,” Lucius agreed.

 He was holding a clipboard, a phone in a hot pink case that she didn’t think was his, a folder full of paper and there was a walkie-talkie hanging from his belt. His hair was sticking up in every direction and she didn’t think it was intentional. 

“Just point me in a useful direction,” she suggested. “Sister Eulalia said something about assembling lunches?” 

“That would be a huge help. We make sure all the performers and vendors are fed,” he explained, walking briskly across the floor so that she had to double time to keep up. “It’s a good spread, but we need to box it all up so they can take them as needed. I already put Dave to work there.” 

“Dave?” 

“Pete’s father,” Lucius slowed a hair. “He’s deaf in his left ear, so make sure you’re on his right. You’ll love him. He’s a sweetheart.” 

“All right,” she tried to remember that as he led her to a table in the back, past the chaos of dozens of performers and their assistants preparing.  “I’m sure we’ll get along fine.” 

The table was piled high snack sized bags of goodies and platters of fat sandwiches and a tray of pasta. The man scooping pasta carefully into plastic containers was definitely her age. He looked like a weathered bulldog, short, thick and mullish, but when Lucius said,  “How’s it going, Dave?”   a wide lovely smile unfolded over his face and Whina could see that he shared Pete’s bright blue eyes. 

“Making progress! Need them by 11, right?” 

“Exactly,” Lucius came around the table, gave the man a one-armed hug. “You’re amazing. Got you so help.” 

“Oh, if you need someone somewhere else-” 

“No, I think this is perfect,” Lucius determined, releasing him. “Dave, this is Whina Teach. Whina, Dave Black. Have fun!” 

And then he was rabbiting off, barking something into the radio. 

“He’s going to wear himself out,” Whina predicted. 

“Always does,” Dave agreed, holding out his hand. She shook it and found it pleasantly warm where he’d been handling the pasta. “Pleasure to meet you, m’am.” 

“Whina, please. Show me what I can do to help.” 

“I’ve got the pasta packaging going okay. Could you get the sandwiches wrapped in wax paper? Then it’ll all be prepped and we just gotta bag it all up.” 

She made sure to stand on his right side, then got to work. It was familiar labor to her, after all the hours of working at the soup kitchen. The air conditioning in the Revenge was laboring, but managing to keep up. There were far worse ways to spend a morning. 

“I think Lucius mentioned that you live fairly far away?”  She asked once they had their rhythm going. 

“It’s a haul, if I drive, but I quit that last year. I fly and then it’s not so bad. Pete has been on me to move closer and don’t tell him, but I’m starting to consider it. Just not a big city fan.” 

“I live about a half-hour south,” she offered. “I just couldn’t leave the sea. But it’s close enough for easy visits, not so easy that Eddy gets underfoot.” 

Dave laughed, “You worry about your space?” 

“She’s just a terribly nosy person for someone that loves a secret,” Whina admitted. “Sometimes a person just wants to keep a few things to themselves. And Stede is a lovely man, but he takes a lot of energy.” 

“I don’t know them nearly as well as I should,” Dave carefully tapped an errant noodle into its plastic container. “When I visit, I mostly spend time with Pete and his people. Lucius is the nosy one, but he’s so funny about it, hard to get bent out of shape. Pete just keeps trying to make me take vitamins.” 

“It feels all wrong, doesn’t it? How they fuss over us now?” She shook her head. 

“Does it ever!” He chuckled. “I pulled that boy out of a dozen scrapes a day when he was small and now he’s on me about my insulin like I don’t know how to manage myself. But I like it better than the alternative. Some of my friends, they never hear from theirs.” 

“I don’t know how they bear it. No matter how much I want to swat her, I would just go to pieces without my girl around sometimes.” 

“Did I hear rightly that you help sew some of the costumes around here?” 

“Oh, not that much,” she demurred. “I just lend a hand in a tight turnaround.” 

“I think Pete said you were the best with lace though.” 

“They all do go too hard on it,” she allowed. “And I do the occasional re-heeling. A newer hobby.” 

“How do you go about that?” He asked with what seemed genuine curiosity. “I did a bit of leather work once. Belts mostly. Shoes seemed a little intimidating.” 

They talked about their crafts, their old jobs, and soon the pile of food started going neatly into bags with Whina’s careful markings on them for contents and allergens. They went on talking as the food was carried away and was replaced with folders and some papers for last minute additions to a local resources packet. 

“So you like your neighborhood?” Dave asked. “I’ve always liked being near water, but for me that’s lakes. Never even been to the ocean.” 

“Never been to the ocean!” She shook her head. “Absolutely unacceptable. How long are you in town?” 

“Rest of the week. I knew I’d barely see anyone if I stuck to this weekend and it’s not like I’ve got anyone waiting on me, except my dog and my neighbor has him all taken care of.” 

“You have to come visit me,” she decided. “Do you play bridge?” 

“Sure, I know the rules at least.” 

“I bet my neighbor is going to drop out, she was already fake coughing when she heard me come outside this morning. She’s a big flake. Come by on Tuesday and play a hand or two. Bring the boys if you like.” 

“I wouldn’t want to intrude-” 

“Not at all,” she hesitated then rested her hand lightly on his arm, “you’d be doing me a favor, really. New company is always a treat for us. We get sick of each other.” 

“If you’re sure.” 

“Absolutely, and we can go for a walk on the beach after.” 

“You know,” he smiled down at her hand, a little pink in the cheeks. “I think I’d like that very much.” 

It was Izzy’s car that showed up, all of them unloading from it to the delight of her bridge club. 

“Whina!” Emily grasped her arm. “Where did all of that come from?” 

“You lay off,” Whina laughed. “Just Izzy and his folk.” 

“Are the single?” 

“Just the old one and you lay off now.” 

“Oh ho,” Emily grinned at her. “Why would that be?” 

“Mind yourself,” Whina sniffed. “I’m just being friendly. He’s thinking of moving out here to be closer to his son, so let’s not scare him off.” 

It was a nice afternoon, so they took the cards into her back garden. Dave impressed Emily and Lawrence immediately by producing hard cider which they all had a preference for.  Pete and Izzy went to go talk over her car like it was doing anything except sitting there and Lucius had laid claim to her hammock, clearly asleep the second he laid out. 

She couldn’t have asked for things to seem homier, but she did sweeten the deal with a plate of cinnamon cookies to share along with the cider. They played bridge and Dave was better than he’d let on, but not so good that anyone got annoyed. 

Lawrence and Emily left for some church obligation, but not before Emily extracted a promise that she’d call later with more information. Interfering busybody. What had Whina done that she was plagued with nosiness? 

“Best go now if we’re going,” Whina came back to the yard to find Dave tidying up. “You don’t have to do that, I’ve got it.” 

“Nonsense,” he brought the plates into the kitchen. “Never held with making a host do all the work. Let me at least get these into the sink.” 

They wound up doing the washing up together. Pete looped back in then, catching sight of the scene. 

“Working already?” He chided. 

“It’s a dish, son, I’ll survive it,” Dave said in the same tone right back. “We’re going to walk the beach. You coming?” 

“I’m going to get Lucius up and get some food in him so he’s not pouty on the drive home,” Pete said. “You guys have fun. Whina, Izzy said he was going to pick up your woodchips.” 

“Did he say if he was getting the-” 

“Regular brown ones, not the red. He was clear,” Pete smiled. “Guess he’s done it a few times, huh?” 

“Just a few,” she allowed.  

So Whina got her shoes on and found a sweater. It was summer, but the beach was windy year round and she got chilled easier these days. Dave followed her lead across the street and down aways until they came to the ramp that cut clean between two houses. 

“We don’t get many tourists because it’s a bit rocky,” she explained. “But the town keeps this stretch sandy for families and we all work together to keep it clean. Hard sometimes, the way people drop bottles and things.” 

“That’s a shame,” he came down the last step and looked out over the water. It was putting on a good show today, the green-brown waves tamer than usual, crashing to the shore in even ebbs. “Now that is a sight.” 

“Isn’t it?” She admired the long stretch of water, the pebbly, sandy shore. “I come out here almost every morning.” 

“Thank you, for inviting me,” he said emphatically. 

They walked down along the water, far enough that the waves couldn’t nip at their toes. This early in the summer it wouldn’t yet be warm enough to enjoy. At one point, Dave stooped and picked up a bit of seaglass. 

“It gets polished by the water over time,” she explained. “All the hard points softened up.” 

“I sympathize,” Dave smiled and tucked it into his pocket. 

“Me too,” she confessed. 

They walked for longer than she usually would, content in each other’s company. Long enough that by the time they got back to the house, Izzy had already spread most of the wood chips. He got up off his knees as they came close. 

“Eddy called,” he told her. “Said she tried you first.” 

“I don’t get much reception by the water,” she admitted. 

“Well, she hear we were all here and she wants to come down with Stede for dinner. Promised to buy it, something about shrimp.” 

“That’s the shellfish place I was telling you about,” she told Dave, touching his wrist lightly. “Would you mind?” 

“Not at all.” 

They had to open up the dining room table, adding a leaf which Izzy and Pete did while Lucius got down dishes to set the table. Eddy and Stede arrived with bags and bags of food and soon the whole house smelled like seafood and butter.  

“Mama,” Eddy leaned in, a twitch of a smile on her lips. “You’re being very nice to Dave.” 

“A person can always use more friends,” she tapped Eddy on her nose. “That’s all.” 

“Mhm. I heard he’s thinking of moving out here.” 

“It’s a good place to live. I can’t be proud of my town now?” 

“Be as proud as you like,” Eddy plopped more shrimp on her plate. “But if I’m getting a stepdad this late in life, I think I deserve to know.” 

“Stop it,” she chided. 

But she did give Dave her number before he left. Just in case. Someone should help him find a place out here, after all, if that’s what he wound up doing. It was just neighborly.

[dragonmuse]

what does whina and izzy's relationship look like from his perspective? does he tell her anything about his personal life? does she ever meet lucius?

(yes! Of course, let’s have some Izzy getting mom time. Another Anon asked an adjacent questions about Izzy and Whina, so here is his POV and their slow growing bond.) 

Izzy hadn’t been sure what to expect when Eddy had thrown words ‘You’re coming to meet my mother’ at him like a grenade. Like he would with Eddy throwing an actual grenade at him, he caught it like a fucking idiot and let it explode in his face.   

Maybe, if he’d been pressed to imagine which wasn’t his best skill, Izzy would have thought of a woman with steel in her spine. As big and as consuming as Eddy herself. Someone tough, dressed for battle. Or maybe a brassy matron, full of commands and master of her domain. 

Certainly, he wouldn’t have imagined the truth. Whina Teach was a small woman. Not just in stature, but in her whole manner. Her clothes were faded and layered. Shirt, long sleeve shirt, cardigan, all pulled in close to her body. when Eddy hugged her, she disappeared inside the ring of their arms and the fall of their hair. Just the faint rose blush of long skirts swayed free of the pool of black. 

She fed them hearty food, the kind that stuck to the gut on a cold day. She asked quiet questions, never anything that Eddy couldn’t turn away with an easy smile.  

And when Eddy went to the bathroom, she turned her attention to Izzy with an intensity that was, at last, familiar. There was the shape of Eddy under the façade of simplicity. There was the person who had borne the charismatic monster that Izzy worshiped. 

“Are they happy?” Whina demanded. 

What kind of question was that? Izzy rolled a piece of chicken over with his fork. 

“Yes,” he said. “Sometimes.” 

“You do your best by them?” 

“Yes.” An easy one. Thank fuck. 

“If something happened to them, would you tell me?” 

Izzy glanced towards the bathroom. The sink was running already. 

“As long as they let me,” he settled on. 

“I’m giving you my number. Before you go.” 

She had to slip it into his hand while Eddy’s back was turned. Izzy left his own behind on a napkin by the sink.  

“Hey, Mama asked about you,” Eddy told him months later when Izzy had mostly forgotten the whole thing. Or at least assumed it was another weird episode in a long line of them. 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah, you’re coming with me when we go back. Proof of life.”  Eddy waited. Prepared for argument. 

“All right. What day?” 

“Dunno yet,” Eddy turned her back on him. “It’s whenever.” 

It was a Sunday. Izzy hadn’t put on a nice shirt on a Sunday morning in years, but at least he wouldn’t have to sit through a sermon. ‘Not into Christ’ was all Eddy had to say on that matter. Whina looked just the same, but her hair was braided back from her face. She took Izzy’s hand, gave it a small squeeze as Eddy went into the house. 

“How are you?” She asked. Sincerely. Like she genuinely gave a fuck. 

“All right,” he didn’t smile at her. But she didn’t smile either. She didn’t seem like a woman prone to smiles. You probably had to earn them. 

“Mama!” And fuck, Izzy wanted to poke at them over that. What grown person called their mother ‘Mama’. But he never would. Izzy did have had a limited understanding of the sacred. “Where’s the sugar?” 

“I got a little ceramic dog to keep it in!” She yelled back, not very loudly, but it carried apparently. They both heard the ‘tink’ of the a lid being removed.  “That kid and sugar.” 

“Yeah, they don’t really do vegetables,” Izzy offered. Whina sighed, releasing him. 

“I suppose some things don’t change.” 

Eddy changed lightbulbs after drinking their coffee.  

“Hey, can you check her oil?” Eddy gestured outside to the driveway. 

It was due for a change. Izzy spent the afternoon puttering around Whina’s car. She brought him out a sandwich, set it on the hood. 

“You know Eddy’s napping,” Whina said wryly. 

“Figured,” he shrugged. “This is my area, not hers.” 

“Is that what you do? At the job?” She asked tentatively. 

“Sometimes.” 

“And others....” 

Izzy gave her a sharp look. She didn’t shy away from it. He picked up the sandwich and took a bite. Whina nodded and  folded her arms over her chest. 

“Are your parents alive?” She asked. 

“Yeah. Were last time I checked.” 

“When was that?” 

Izzy had called over the holidays. Not long after he’d met her. 

“Hello?” 

“Hi, Ma. It’s me.” 

Hopefully: “Jonah?” 

“No...no. It’s Izzy, Ma.” 

“Oh. The check cleared if that’s why you’re calling.” 

“I was calling because it’s Christmas. Just wanted-” 

“You already told me you weren’t coming.” 

“I can’t.” 

“So?” 

“So...Merry Christmas, is all.” 

“Your sister has mono. It’s not very merry. And your father lost his job.” 

“I’ll send more money next month.” 

“Do you want to talk to your sister? Delilah! It’s your brother! ....Israel. No....YOUNG LADY, GET BACK HERE RIGHT-” 

Izzy had hung up. 

“Few months ago,” he mumbled. 

“Do they worry about you?” 

“No,” he said without hesitation. He prepared for an argument. Some appeal to his tender side. 

“I didn’t think so,” she nodded. “I’ll do it for them then.” 

“You don’t-” 

“I’m already worried about Eddy all the time. I can spare a little for you. Thank you for the oil change. Eat your sandwich.” 

He ate the sandwich. 

The calls started after that. Just one every six weeks or so. She usually got his voicemail and would leave very short, unemotional messages. 

Izzy, this is Whina. Call me back if you get the chance.  

The first time he had played the message twice through, trying to determine if there was some emergency or urgency. But there was none. The only other message on his machine had been from his dentist and he’d been gone for three weeks. 

He called her back. 

“Hello?” 

“Hi, Whina, it’s Izzy. I got your message,” he stared blankly out the window. His view was of a brick wall. This place was such a shitbox, but it was a blissfully quiet shitbox. 

“Thank you for calling me back,” she said, a thin thread of warmth there. “How are you?” 

“Uh, I’m fine. So’s Eddy. We landed a few hours ago.” 

“Where were you?” 

“Belgium. Cold this time of year. I think Eddy sent you a postcard.” 

“I’ll look forward to that,” she said mildly. “The worst part about travelling is coming home to no food in the house. What are you doing for dinner?” 

“I froze some stuff before I left. Probably just reheat that.” 

“You cook?” 

“I-yeah. A little. Nothing fancy.” 

“Me either. But fancy isn’t really necessary, is it?” 

“Not for me,” he agreed. 

“Well, I won’t keep you from your dinner. Be well, Izzy.” 

“You too. Good night.” 

“Good night.” 

It was the longest conversation he’d had with someone he didn’t work with in weeks. Possibly since the last time he’d seen her. He held onto the phone for a long time. 

After that, it became a regular thing. He would call when he got the message. They wouldn’t stay on for more than five or ten minutes, but she’d ask after him. Get more specific the more she knew. He would tell her about Eddy, feeding her what drips and drops he could. She never pushed for what he couldn’t. He lied to her, but as minimally as he could. 

Sometimes, she sent him letters. They didn’t contain anything handwritten. Just recipes or an article she’d cut from a magazine that she thought he’d be interested in. He’d find them tucked among the bills and catalogs like gold nuggets in mud.

He made all of the recipes. Told her as much on the phone. 

“Did you like it?” 

That he tried to be honest about. What worked and what hadn’t. Once he’d fucked up and filled the apartment with smoke and when he sheepishly told her as much she’d laughed and it was Eddy’s laugh, startlingly loud. 

“I almost burned down my mother’s kitchen when I was sixteen,” she assured him. “Doing something almost just like that. It happens. No one was hurt, it’s all fixable. What did you wind up eating?” 

“Toast,” he admitted. 

He didn’t tell Eddy about the phone calls. Especially not once Eddy made it clear that whatever time he’d spent in her bed had come firmly to an end. What if he told her and Eddy made him stop? He would. Of course he would. But what she didn’t know, she couldn’t put an end to. 

“Let’s go,” Eddy snapped at him, after a particularly ugly job. Izzy wanted nothing more than to crawl into his shit apartment and sleep for a week. 

“Where?”  He pushed his hair out of his eyes. His hand met with grit and oil. Fuck. 

“Mama’s.” Eddy shouldered her duffel bag. “Hustle.” 

Izzy hustled. He had assumed his invitation had been permanently rescinded, but instead, he was welcomed with the same hand press Whina had always given him as soon as Eddy had been duly hugged, petted and sent inside. 

“You don’t look well,” she determined. “Either of you.” 

“Rough job,” he agreed.  

“Come in, eat dinner. Don’t fix anything.” 

The food disappeared, both of them suddenly ravenous when everything smelled fresh and good. Eddy even wolfed down the broccoli without comment, apparently deeming it acceptable with all the cheese. Afterwards, Whina produced a bowl of fresh cut strawberries, swimming in whipped cream and didn’t bother dividing it up, just handed out forks. 

“Where’d you get these?” Eddy asked, spearing several in one go.

“I went berry picking with a gentleman friend.” 

“Mama.” 

“What?” She lifted her brows. “Am I not allowed to have a friend?” 

“No, of course. I just...” Eddy glanced at Izzy, helplessly. 

“What’s his name?” Izzy asked. 

“Stan. Nice man, widower. He paints houses, I met him at Mrs. S’s place. You remember her, Eddy.” 

“The blue haired witch,” Eddy said sourly. 

“Yes,” Whina agreed with a shrug. “But she hires nice painters. And anyway, it was just an afternoon picking strawberries and lunch.” 

“Lunch is where the danger is,” Eddy warned. 

“Not in my experience,” Izzy kept his eyes on the bowl, so he would miss Eddy’s reaction. “Gotta watch out for after dinner drinks.”

The steel toe of Eddy’s boot cracked hard into his ankle, but Izzy barely noticed. Whina was smiling at him, her eyes crinkling up. 

“That’s been my experience too.” She ate a strawberry slowly.  

Izzy thought that was definitely the last time Eddy would bring him around. He dutifully returned Whina’s calls anyway. Made her recipes. And the next time, Eddy barked ‘Come on, she's expecting us an hour ago’, he tried hard not to look surprised. 

It took another few years, but eventually, he visted her on his own. Another thing he never told Eddy, wasn’t sure if Whina ever mentioned it either. They weren’t long visits, just like the calls weren’t long. Usually he’d check her car over, they’d eat lunch and talk lightly about nothing and always a little about Eddy. 

Lying was a part of the life. 

Fuck did he hate lying to her though. He was absurdly grateful that she rarely made him. 

“Can I ask something personal?” She ventured, so far down the road that it surprised him that she bothered to check. 

“Yeah, shoot.” 

“Eddy...” she began then, sighed. “There’s no good way to ask this. But you and Eddy, are you together?” 

He hadn’t turned that red that fast since he was a kid caught with his hand in a literal cookie jar.  

“No,” he answered quietly.  

Whina nodded once, not looking him in the eye. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t even have asked. I worry that I ruined that for them. Me and their father. That something broke that can't heal. They don’t have much romance in their soul.” 

“Not exactly a valentine myself,” Izzy frowned. “I don’t know. What they think about love. It’s not the kind of thing we talk about.” 

“So that ring around your neck? Not Eddy’s.” 

“No.” 

“Who were they then?” 

“Faith,” Izzy swallowed thickly. “Her name was Faith.” 

“Tell me about her.” 

He would’ve helped Eddy with the logistics of buying the house anyway, but he did it without a single complaint after that long afternoon. 

“You sweet on my mother?” Eddy teased, in a very good mood as Izzy handed them a pile of things to sign. 

“Someone should fucking get something nice after the goddamn Shanghai job.” 

“Amen,” Eddy groaned. 

The years went on. Whina retired and sometimes Eddy and Izzy would show up to her house to find it full of women her age working tirelessly at some project or another. Cell phones lodged into their pockets and Whina gave up on calling Izzy’s landline as soon as she figured out he would always pick up on his cell right away.

“I want a computer,” she told Eddy and Eddy gifted her a laptop for her birthday. It was Izzy that talked her through making an email address, tapping into reserves of patience that would leave him without any for weeks after. 

But it was worth it when he sat down after a run ragged day and found a typo-riddled message from needleandthread4876@ail.com asking about his attempts at lasagna and mild complaints about the weather. Once, she sent along a link with a coupon for the brand of boots he always wore. 

“Those new?” Eddy asked. 

“Yeah,” Izzy shrugged. “Soles were worn out on the old ones.” 

“Heard a rumor you can own more than one pair at a time.” 

“Sounds like a fucking scam.” 

It was a rainy day in March when Whina called late at night. She was usually in bed by nine, an early bird by need once and now routine. Izzy sat bolt upright, heart thudding in his chest. 

“What’s wrong?” he demanded. 

“It needs to stop, Izzy,” she sounded like she’d been crying. “You and Eddy...you need to get out.” 

“What? Why?” His mind raced, he reached for his gun. Had he missed something? Had someone told her something? 

“Those moods. Those dark moods, Izzy. Do you think they have nothing to do with what you get up to?” 

“You called Eddy.” Shit. And they’d picked up. Usually Eddy didn’t bother with the phone when they were like this.  Once, Izzy would've been with them to make sure she didn't. Eddy wouldn't let him stay anymore.

“When they were just a little thing, it happened sometimes. But I knew why then. Now...whatever it is your doing it stops. Do you hear me? You both get out.” 

“They’ll be all right. And I’m-” 

“You’re a goddamn wreck.”  She had never sworn before in his hearing. He’d tried so hard not to do it, at first because Eddy had told them and then because she never did. It was bone chilling. “You twitch and bark and pace. They’re lying and suffering and day dreaming their life away. It’s enough. Get Eddy out of there and take yourself with them while you’re at it.” 

“Yes, m’am,” Izzy said automatically. All the protests, all the anger he would’ve blasted at anyone else simply could not rise in the face of her heartbreak. 

“Do it now,” she pleaded. “Please.” 

“Yeah. Yes. All right, I’m going.” 

And he fucking went. 

The business was sold and done within a month.  

Within another month,  they had an office. A sign on the door. Apparently insurance companies always needed someone to follow a fake, poke around supposed claims. It was, after the madness of the last twenty years, easy work. 

Whina sent them a fruit basket, carefully free of all stone fruit, the day they opened. 

“How long have you been talking to my mother behind my back?” Eddy dug out an apple. 

“Wasn’t being sneaky about it,” Izzy shrugged. 

“The whole fucking time then, huh?” 

“Just about,” he admitted. 

“Of fucking course,” Eddy bit into the apple. Izzy waited for the anger, but it didn’t come. “Thanks, I guess.” 

“Yeah, sure.” 

I didn’t do it for you, never made it through his teeth, but he thought it very hard. 

The Revenge and Stede motherfucking Bonnet crashed like a comet into their lives, scattering the scraps of normal they had started gathering together. 

“What’s he like?” Whina asked.

“He’s-” Izzy had a line of insults built up. He could curse Bonnet’s name in three languages and still not be satisfied. “Fine.” 

“Izzy,” she scolded. “Tell me about the man my child loves.” 

“He’s a doofus,” he settled on. “But he mostly means well. He’s terrible at business, but too rich for it to matter. He...he treats her well. Really well.” 

“What else can I ask for?” Wistful, grateful. 

What else could Izzy ask for?  Eddy still at his side for work, but more even-keeled. Happy about it even, dancing around the office, prodding at him with a toothy grin. Still carrying him along in their wake, but their wake was a good place to be now. 

“I don’t know.” 

“Well, maybe for you to find the same,” she amended. 

Izzy, who had been walking just out of Spriggs’ reach for weeks, finally let himself get caught. Maybe even did some reaching back. And when things were serious enough that Izzy thought it might stick, might mean something, he found in himself to ask, 

“Would you come with me sometime to meet someone?” 

“Someone who?” Lucius licked his lips. “I fucking love this, by the way. What the hell kind of cheese did you put in this? Is it laced with drugs or something?” 

“Someone who taught me how to make that.” 

“I will meet them and gladly kiss them on the lips.” 

“Don’t do that. For all our sakes, but mostly yours. Eddy would actually kill you.” 

“Who am I meeting?” Lucius’ eyes went wide. 

“Eddy’s mother. She’s my...” Izzy had never had to put a word to it before. Whina was Whina. Immutable and factual as Eddy herself. “Friend, I guess.” 

“Your friends with Eddy’s mother,” Lucius repeated. “For real? What is with you two, honestly.” 

“A lot," Izzy shrugged.

They drove down on a Sunday. Lucius wore a blazer which seemed like overkill, but Izzy didn’t say a word. The house had only gotten more pretty under Whina’s care, flowers blooming along the paving stones and pale wood rocking chairs on the porch. 

“What if she doesn’t like me?” Lucius asked, staring up at the cape code like it was a fiery pit. 

Izzy shook his head, “She will. Come on.” 

Whina stepped out before they could get to the door. She held out her hands to Izzy and he took them. 

“I’m so glad you brought him,” she said solemnly. Then released him in favor of taking Lucius’ hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” 

“From Izzy?” Lucius’ voice rose in disbelief. 

“And Stede. A little from Eddy. Apparently you torment them,” Whina raised her eyebrows. 

“Uh,” Lucius winced. “Little bit?” 

“Good,” Whina nodded once. “She needs that sometimes.” 

Lucius laughed, “Oh, does she ever. I bet she doesn’t tell you how mean she is to me first.”

“Is that so?” Whina glanced at Izzy. 

“Don’t look at me. I’m not there for it. I just get the complaints at both ends.” 

After that, Lucius unwound enough to just be himself, asking the right questions, listening and then telling saucy, but not racy or cruel stories about Eddy’s early days in drag.  

“But what about my Izzy,” she asked, when Lucius wound one down. “What has he been up to that he won’t tell me?” 

He didn’t really hear the tale that Lucius told. It was fine, barely embarrassing, anyway. 

My Izzy  rang in his ears.  

The drive home was filled with music for a while, then abruptly, Lucius hit the mute button. 

“I like her a lot.” 

“Yeah, pup. She’s likeable.” 

“No, I mean...she’s cool. Funny. And like...I don’t know. My mom is a fucking pill, even if I could just bring you home to her, I wouldn’t. It’s a punishment, not a rite of passage.” 

“Yeah, I figured. If I met her, I’d probably have some words for her you wouldn’t want me to fucking say anyway.” 

“Probably, but not really my point,” Lucius rested his hand on Izzy’s thigh. “Thanks, is my point. For letting me meet her.” 

Izzy could hear the things Lucius didn’t say these days. Clearer and clearer it seemed. The gaps that he left for him to fill in. 

“Did you give her your number?” 

“Yeah, while you were in the bathroom.” 

“Pick up. If she calls.”

“I can do that.” 

“You can...you can tell her whatever. If she asks.” 

Izzy had no idea what she and Lucius talked about over the years, but they definitely do. Lucius visits with him one out of every three times and they’re always laughing over some private joke or another. When Read arrived, Izzy started pointing her into the backseat too. Whina doted on her, filled her with carbs and practical advice, sent her home with mended clothes. 

“How did Eddy come from her?” Read asked, bewildered after that first visit. 

“What do you mean?” 

“They couldn’t be more different.” 

Whina wasn’t tall or ferocious. She didn’t make anyone tremble with anger or charm. But she had rearranged Izzy’s life. Arrived into it with ceremony and rendered him unable to resist, given him marching orders that he was helpless not to follow. 

“They’re more alike than not.” He settled on. “You’ll see.”

[dragonmuse]

Has having supportive parents around (for the older generation) in SSLDCE impacted Lucius in any way? Dave is so dad shaped and Whina is everything, meanwhile his mother is...the wicked witch of whatever erea she lives in.

(it has! Here's a time it did.)

“I’m going to throw up,” Lucius announced. 

“You are not,” Pete chided, squeezing his hand. “You’re going to get there and it’s going to be great. You always do this before openings and you never throw up.” 

“This is different,” Lucius groaned, rubbing a hand over his chest, the shirt he’d chosen suddenly too scratchy and the wrong shade of green.  “There’s no one else to split the attention with.” 

“That’s a good thing, right? Babe, you’ve wanted a solo show for years. You’ve been over the moon all month.” 

“I know, I know, I just...it’s so much. What if it gets panned? What if the only people that show up are our friends?” 

“Then we’ll have a party and you don’t have to talk to strangers?” Pete offered. 

“...okay yeah there’s appeal there,” Lucius conceded. “Fuuuck.” 

The car stopped and Pete fiddled with his phone for a second, giving the guy a generous tip for the threat of vomit. Lucius got out and stared at the window where the poster he’d helped design hung. 

His own show. This was his. A decade of sketching and second guessing himself and somehow he’d still wound up here. It felt like a mistake. Maybe that’s what was making him sick. Even though they were well over a half hour early, Stede was standing in front of the doors in a gray suit with one of his fussy embroidered vests. 

“What are you doing here?” Lucius asked, bemused. Stede was never early to anything. 

“I thought you might want another pair of hands,” he smiled at him. “Let me be the assistant for once.” 

There was some setting up to do though the gallery was handling most of it. But they both knew it had nothing to do with the damn canapes or postcards. This was moral support in wingtips, doing its fussy best. Lucius hugged him and Stede hugged him back without reservation. 

“Well done, you,” Stede whispered and Lucius had to close his eyes for a second. 

“Yeah,” he said roughly. “Thanks.” 

“We going inside?” Pete put a hand to Lucius’ back. “I mean we can hang out here for a bit, but..” 

They went in.  As usual Stede’s helpfulness was high on intent, low on the execution, but somehow it was still comforting to have him in the way, even if it was just to get exasperated at.  Lucius kept his eyes on arranging his business cards and not on his work looking down at him from every angle. 

‘The Body of Friendship’  it said on all the promotional cards and Lucius still wasn’t thrilled with the title, but how else could he summarize it?   

Now he was questioning his whole ridiculous artist’s statement too. He hated the damn things. Had he used too many pretentious words? Not enough? Was it him or the stilted voice of someone without the confidence of their convictions? 

“Hey, someone want to get him a glass of water or something?” 

Was that Eddy? When did Eddy get there? 

“Lucius,” a soft familiar voice filtered through his panic. 

“Whina?” Surprise shook him out of his head a little and he turned to face her. “Did I know you were coming?” 

“No, I asked Eddy to bring me.” She was dressed up even, in a dress and heels. “I hope that’s all right.” 

“It’s more than all right,” he said readily. “Uh...I mean, hope you’re okay with the content?” 

“I’ve seen genitals before,” she rolled her eyes. “Your generation did not invent sex.” 

“Mama!” Eddy protested, having already wandered away to Stede’s side. 

“You came into this world somehow,” she scoffed. “Anyway, your work is very nice and respectful.” 

“I-” Lucius started. His heart stuttered unevenly in his chest. “Did you see the one of Eddy?” 

“I haven’t, show me?” 

He led her to the corner where he’d set up the portraits of Stede and Eddy to face each other. Stede was standing in front of Leda’s closet, the rainbow of pastels giving the work a glow. He faced the viewer, chin raised a little in defiance, his lips just beginning to form a smile. He was stripped down to an undershirt and his boxers, a playful touch of sock garters around his ankles though he swore he had never owned such a thing. Stede himself was barely colored in, just the edges as if the clothes behind him were starting to leech in. 

In contrast, Eddy was a burst of brilliant color against a black and white background. She was sitting on the velvet couch, arms folded over the back. The suggestion was of nudity, though nothing was showing below her elaborate chest tattoo. Her face was turned slightly so that their gaze seemed to meet Stede’s.  Her expression was tender, though unsmiling.  

“That’s my girl,” Whina touched Lucius’ elbow. “You caught her, look at how lovely her hair falls.” 

“She wouldn’t sit still or I would’ve done a full body piece,” he admitted.  

“I think it’s perfect just the way it is.” 

“Babe,” Pete was at his other side with a glass of water, “you okay?” 

“Yeah,” he decided. “I’m okay.” 

“Good because people are starting to show up.” 

“Fuuuck, okay,” Lucius took a deep breath and a sip of water. 

“You’ll be fine,” Whina assured him. 

Other people did come. A lot of other people. The gallery owner had assured him that their mailing list was large and that there would be a decent showing, but the relief was still tremendous. Lucius made himself available and tried his best to be gracious. People asked such inane things or worse, good questions that he struggled to answer. Pete was there, the whole time and Izzy arrived not long after opening. Between the two of them, they were an effective defense team, turning away anyone that was clearly annoying him (Izzy) or offering a distracting comment with a grin when things got too intense (Pete).  Or shoving canapes on him when he was clearly getting hungry (both of them). 

“Dad!” Pete said happily during a lull. 

“Dave?” Lucius glanced up and there he was. “He came in for this?” 

“Of course I did,” Dave said jovially, yanking Lucius into a hard hug. “I don’t get invited to things like this every day, you know.” 

“But the flight-” 

“It’s fine. Anyway, I promised Whina I’d look at some houses this week.” 

“Did you now?” Lucius asked with a grin. 

“Well, I’m about ready to finally give up the old place and come out here and she knows it best,” Dave said as if he’d caught none of the tone. He drew back, clapping Lucius on the forearms. “I hear tell there’s a racy picture of my boy on these alls.” 

“Uh..maybe?” Lucius hedged. “Most of the pictures are pretty naked. And I draw Pete a lot.” 

“He does,” Pete said happily. “Come on, I’ll show you.” 

Lucius did not track that visitation at all, just turned to Izzy. 

“Did you know he was coming in?” 

“Yeah,” Izzy shrugged. “We figured it would just make you nervous if you knew.” 

“Probably,” he sighed. “I’m sorry I’ve been nuts over this, it’s going pretty okay.” 

“You know half the pieces sold already, right?” Izzy lifted his eyebrows. 

“No. Not that many?” 

“Up to sixteen last time I counted.” 

“You’re the artist?” A pointy looking woman asked. 

“That’s me,” he said gamely, shoving aside the swooping feeling in his belly. 

He was passed around for another half-hour before things started to die down. Alone at last, he posted up beside the picture of Jim. Thank fuck Nana hadn’t appeared out of the woodwork or he would’ve had to hope that Izzy wasn’t opposed to taking out a nun.  Jim sat on the edge of their bed, entirely nude, the leg closest the viewer pulled up just enough so only some tasteful bush was on display.  Both their heels rested on Oluwande’s broad back, his face hidden by their thigh, just one hand bold and spread over their hip. They leaned back on their palms, their hands fisting into the covers, head tilted back, eyes half-mast.

It was not for sale. 

Jim had been very clear that it could go on display as long as it wound up back in their home after.  

Lucius saluted the picture and finally drank down the glass of champagne he’d been carrying around for ages. It was lukewarm and tasted awful, but he finished it anyway. Then very slowly, he walked around the gallery. 

The triptych of Frenchie de-dragging from full queen to pajamas: sold. 

The series of cocks, some of them in this room, some not: all sold. 

Oluwande on his own, from behind, nude and holding a single orange: sold. 

Ethel, holding an enormous weight aloft: sold. 

Pete over and over, happy, sad, naked and clothed: sold sold sold. 

Roach in a pile of fabric, spread eagle and back arched: sold. 

Buttons, weeding his garden in just galoshes: sold. 

Eddy and Stede: sold. (Lucius could guess to who). 

His heart knocking in his chest, he came at last to the pieces he’d had little hope for. They were outside his normal style, far more elaborate and fantastical.  Not nudes at all. They were a pair too, back to back. Alma in a dress of bones, leaning against a grave, her shoulders would’ve touched Charlie’s in the next frame as he emerged from a pool of blood. Both with the same beatific smiles.  

There was Izzy too, none of his nudes allowed out into the world by pained request. This one was almost silly, but Lucius couldn’t help himself when Izzy told him with a pained face about the dream. So here he was, rendered in a trench coat with the collar popped up and a hat angled down to shade his face, a dark cityscape thrusting upwards behind him.  

To match it, Lucius had done one of Pete too, in a wide-shouldered suit striding down a daylit street. The lines were looser, but it was clear they went together. 

Sold. Sold. Sold. Sold. 

He stared blankly at the stickers.  

“I hope you don’t mind,” Whina said quietly, stepping up behind him. 

“Mind what?” He asked vaguely. 

“That I stopped them from going to collector’s or someone important,” she said quietly. “I thought you really caught them.” 

“You bought them?” he turned to her. “But the prices-” 

“Eddy looks after me very well,” Whina shook her head. “What’s it all for if I can’t indulge in beauty sometimes?” 

“But they’re so....” 

“Those are my grandchildren,” she said firmly. “Perfectly rendered. Izzy too as it happens. And Dave managed to snag Pete, it was a close call. That pointy woman was trying for him.” 

“He did?” He asked faintly. 

“Yes,” she took his hand in hers. “They’re all beautiful, Lucius.” 

“Thanks, really,” he cleared his throat. “It was really...thank you.” 

“Dave and I kept saying how proud we were to know you,” she smiled faintly at him. “And I thought maybe I should tell you directly. We’re both very proud of you.” 

“....I’m going to cry,” he warned her. 

“You go right ahead. It’s been a long night. Would you like me to get Pete?” 

“Please.” 

So he hid in the corner of his own show and when Pete did arrive, folding him wordlessly into a hug, he did cry. Nothing dramatic, no sobbing or historians. More like a cleansing rain. 

[dragonmuse]

Ok but can we get some reactions of people other than Stede finding out about Whina and Dave? 😀🖤

(you say 'other people' I hear 'Pete'...and Lucius. )

The phone call came as Pete was contemplating outfits for the evening. He was doing a solo juggling number so that Ethel could oversee the pyrotechnics for Roach’s new number. A stipulation set by Stede that everyone had smile and nodded about, then laughed over later. Ethel as safety would never not be funny. 

So Pete was pouring over options and was warming to the idea of maybe being a little revealing for once and busting out a miniskirt when his dad called. Mood killer. 

“Hey, Dad,” he answered. Lucius perked up from the couch, waving enthusiastically. 

“Hi, son,” his father’s voice rumbled over the line. He tended to speak a little louder on the cell as if he wasn’t entirely confident it would carry his voice. 

“Lucius says hi too,” Pete laughed as Lucius continued to wave until acknowledged. 

“Oh good, you’re both there. Can you put me on speaker?” 

“Sure,” Pete went over to the couch and sat down beside Lucius, adjusting the output, “Okay, you got us both.” 

“Great,” his father coughed a little. “Now look, I want to tell you something and I’d like you to just sit with it for a second. All right?” 

“Okay,” Pete glanced at Lucius, who looked back at him bewildered. “Is everything okay?” 

“Yes, yes, it’s good news. I think, anyway.” 

“We’re listening,” Lucius said quickly. “What’s up?” 

“So you know how I didn’t find much house-wise when I was there last week?” 

“It’s early days,” Pete assured him. “Maybe if we widen the search-” 

“No, no, it’s just I did find something. Or figured something out.” 

“That’s great!” Lucius pat Pete on the leg reassuring, “See? I told you it’d work out.” 

“Can you send us a link?” Pete released a breath. A house. Dad would be in easy driving distance. Hell, maybe this would be the thing that would make Pete buy a car at last. 

“That’s just it,” Dave said slowly. “I’m not buying anything. I’m..well, I’m moving in with Whina.” 

“Oh my god!” Lucius’ face screwed up into excitement. “Oh wait wait, is this a roommate situation or....” 

“We’ve been seeing each other,” Dave admired. “Don’t get mad about me not telling you, we just both wanted to work it out between us first. We know all of you are big ball of twine and didn’t want to get anyone in a knot over it.” 

“Dad!” Pete blurted at last, a torrent of mixed emotion coming out. “You could’ve...no one would’ve gotten upset or anything.” 

“Everyone’s entitled to a little privacy,” Dave tutted. “And in any case, I’m telling you now.” 

“Oh.oh..does Eddy know?” Lucius asked. 

“Whina told them last night, warned me this morning. I would’ve called earlier, but I wanted to make sure you were both awake.”

“Congratulations,” Lucius said warmly. “This is so...sweet! I love it. Moving in together is a big step, you must be serious about each other.” 

“Not a lot of time to dick around, our time of life.” 

“I mean-” Lucius’ next words were muffled, Pete’s hand suddenly over his mouth. 

“No thanks, babe,” he said gently. “Thanks for telling me, Dad. And...wow. Uh, does that mean you’re moving sooner?” 

“Nah, still got to get this place settled, you don’t have to change tickets or anything. Come out on the fifth to help me box up and all. I was thinking...I don’t want to impose.” 

“You know we’ll help anyway we can,” Lucius said, tugging Pete’s hand out of the way, but not before pressing a kiss to his palm. 

“Yeah,” Pete followed Lucius’ tone, trying to sound upbeat. “Whatever you need.” 

“In this case, more what Whina might need. I think she might’ve gotten in her head that she needs to make some room and it sounds like she’s doing an almighty amount of tidying. Maybe someone could check in that she doesn’t accidentally box up something she has a need for?” 

“I’ll get Iz on it,” Lucius assured him. “I’ll even go down with him. He likes having an excuse to visit her, especially if he can be useful.” 

Pete realized as Lucius went on planning, that he was being gently spared. Given an out to say ‘yeah we’ll make sure it happens’ without actually having to look it all in the eye. It was kind and would’ve been easy to accept. 

“Isn’t Alma in town this weekend?” Pete glanced at Lucius. “Stede always worries over her driving. Menace behind the wheel and I know she’ll want to visit. I could take her down in John’s car. Make a day of it.” 

“I know Whina would love to see Alma,” Dad’s relief was palpable and whatever misgivings Pete had about the whole thing dissolved.  “Thank you.” 

And that’s what happened after a little wrangling. Pete picked Alma up at the Revenge. She had dressed for a day of cleaning, jeans, faded t-shirt, and her hair in a practical braid, but her makeup was still ruthlessly on point. 

“Thanks for the lift!” She slid into the passenger seat. “I heard we’re on a mission.” 

“Yeah, apparently your grandmother might try to throw away her fridge to make room for my father if we don’t help out.” 

“Aw, grandma,” Alma smiled. “Must be love.” 

“That’s the rumor.” 

Alma then changed the subject by plugging her phone into the aux and attempting to convince Pete to listen to literally anything that she deemed ‘important music’. Mostly it sounded like a bunch of cats in heat to him, but he let her have her way with only a small showing of a fight. 

When they got to Whina’s house, Pete realized that maybe his father had had some legitimate concerns judging by the amount out on the curb. 

“Uh oh,” Alma said, mostly under her breath. 

“Yeah...” 

Whina came out the front door, her hair a little fly away. 

“Grandma!” Alma got out of the car. “Why is half your furniture on the lawn?” 

“That’s all things from the basement,” Whina huffed. “What kind of hello is that?” 

“Hi,” Alma said contritely and gave her a hug. 

Pete trailed behind her, “I didn’t know you had a basement.” 

“It’s more of a crawl space, but I stuffed all sorts of things in there when I moved and wound up replacing a lot of it,” Whina explained, still holding Alma’s hand. “Come in, come in, there’s soup for lunch, but it needs a little longer on the stove.” 

The house actually did look much the same on the inside. It was always a very tidy place, everything in its place and not much in the way of decorative items aside from a few pictures on the walls. Pete had only been here a handful of times, but he liked it well enough. He even had a favorite amid the photos on the walls. It was Eddy, somewhere in her twenties, sitting at a table with a lacy white table cloth. Izzy was sitting beside her and they were both holding teacups in their leather-clad hands, looking at something out of frame.  

“I have to show you this,” Alma was swaying as she swiped through her phone, “one of my friends at college makes her own hats and they are so cool.” 

Pete didn’t weigh into the conversation. He found a box by the door that was marked donations. 

“Want me to take this to your car?” He offered and when Whina gave him a grateful nod, he swept it away. 

He found ways to be useful for a while until Alma, significantly dustier, had to take a phone call from her mother and disappeared upstairs. 

Whina and Pete regarded each other over the kitchen table where the remains of lunch had already been cleared away. 

“I know it must be odd for you,” Whina said, her hands knotting together then dropping into her lap. 

“A little,” he sighed. “But I like you and you make my dad happy. You know he never really dated anyone he was serious about after my mother left. I didn’t think he ever would.” 

“I’m sure no one was betting on me doing it either,” Whina nodded. “I suppose the right time can be any time, can’t it?” 

“I’d given up on me before I met Lucius,” he rubbed his thumb over his ring. 

“He’s a smart one. I’ve seen how you are with him, you’re really good for each other. And not many men would be comfortable with how he is with Izzy. Even if I’d never met your father, I’d be very happy to know you just for that.” 

“Oh. I mean Luc does what he wants. It’s not hard to love him just like he is.” 

“That’s what I like about your father too,” Whina shook her head. “The two of you think that’s totally normal.” 

“It should be,” Pete said firmly. “And I like Izzy.” 

“So do I. Not many do.” 

“Yeah well. Their loss, I guess.” 

They regarded each other across the table, Whina’s hands restless in her lap. 

“...I’m not going to call you mom,” Pete told her. “Sorry.” 

“Oh please don’t!” Her hands flew up to her mouth, covering a laugh. “Can you just imagine?” 

“Okay, wait,” he smiled, pleased that he’d gotten a reaction, .”Maybe just once? In front of Eddy? It could be Lucius’ birthday gift.” 

“He would really like that, wouldn’t he?” She went on giggling. “Oh no, my poor girl....but maybe just once.” 

Pete figured if they could share a joke, they’d be all right. Even if it was at Eddy’s expense. Lucius really would be thrilled.

[dragonmuse]

My brian knows Whina and Dave aren't in the mainverse but my heart is ready to deny that until the end if time

aww, I mean their presence is felt in the Mainverse! I think Whina is there in some of Eddy's best moments and Eddy definitely draws on memories of her to parent Alma and Charlie.

Pete is absolutely the way he is because of Dave and even before I had a full idea of who Dave was, there are touches of that in the mainverse stories. Lucius' wedding ring is Dave's after all!

[dragonmuse]

Wow, I’m emotional now. Whina getting a happy ending and (step) grand babies. 

She does! Sometimes she even takes them for the weekend and they sleep in Eddy's old room. When she's really getting on and they're in high school, Alma, then Charlie will drive over and do chores around the house for her and take her out to dinner.