Bagage and smashed hopes

[bachjones]

The first thing Bach had done was change - no, the honest way - change his mother's car for a pick up truck. Because beds and clothes and other stuff they needed now took a lot of space.
And he liked the heavy, solid feeling of the big blue truck around him. Almost safe.
The second thing was shave his face and his head. Alfred loved sleeping on his curls a bit too much, waking up claws first when Bach made a move. And the kid had discovered that tucking the beard would make his dad very susceptible to whatever was asked of him.

Here was Siren Cove again. After weeks in the no-magic world, with only the songs of ordinary people, it was like walking into a wall of music notes. His son started to hum Lara's song, and wasn't that terrifying. Bach barked at him to shut the fuck up, immediately apologized right away, and explained that you just couldn't sing everyone's song like that. 
It didn't get better when the boy asked "Who?" a few minutes later, only for Bach to discover that he had been singing Alfie's song. Alfred had looked up from the boy's lap like he knew exactly what was going on. Which was impossible, because Bach didn't even know that, so why would a cat.

For a second Bach wanted to sing his old land-lady into an accepting lull, so he could spend his money on other things, but that wasn't fair to her. He knew how unfair life was, and he didn't want to participate in making it worse for anyone. So he paid, and he moved back in, with a real bed, a kiddy bed, and a lot of healthy food.

Bach wanted to go see Lara alone, but his son started humming about being deserted and Alfred put his claws in Bach's shoulders whenever he tried to lift him off. 

So here Bach was, back in Siren Cove. A ginger cat next to him, and a little dark-haired four year-old, eyes so very similar to his father's, in his arms. Almost ready to face whatever was necessary.



ooc Find Bach on the way to/in Watersong

Comments

[alfiehaywood]

When Alfie had gone out grocery shopping this morning, he had thought nothing of it. Admittedly it was more difficult with the whole shoulder in a cast thing, but that was the same for the last few weeks. He’d adapted and changed some of his habits – and gotten the awkwardness of sometimes having to ask people to get something for him. After all, it was only temporary. He’d be done soon.

Another downside of his shoulder. Still couldn’t flipping drive, so he was on his way home, couple of carrier bags in hand and that was when it happened.

On first glance he didn’t recognise Bach. The whole haircut and kid in tow didn’t register as the same guy. And then he did a double take.

It felt a little bit like a kick in the stomach. Bach had been gone, gone a while at that and suddenly there he was. As if he’d never been gone. And there was a kid who looked way too like him to be coincident. Fuck Alfie had probably been embarrassing himself when he thought Bach was flirting, the guy probably had a girlfriend and the kid someone and… Clenching his jaw a little he swallowed and suddenly realised he was making eye contact. Well fuck.

[bachjones]

Hey, I'm home.

Like it hadn't been like months since he had left, Bach wanted to go over there and talk to Alfie. That's what neighbors did, right? Why was the guy still trussed up with all that plaster anyway, had something gone wrong, had he fallen again?

The kid mewled and the cat pawed at him and Bach was pulled back into this reality. Maybe Davin had never showed up to help Alfie, maybe Alfie didn't appreciate Bach just leaving for a bit. Maybe Alfie didn't like surprises.

"You still wearing that thing? Jesus."

His kid opened his mouth, probably for a song, and Bach patted his ass. "Not now. Hey. Alf."

[alfiehaywood]

That was his opening line. Really. If there wasn’t a kid present, Alfie may have said some ruder words. But then why was he so angry – he knew, of course, from his end why he was hurt. The thing was that he probably had no rights to feel so betrayed though considering he and Bach had never really had anything with a label. Or… anything. The guy had sent his one night stand to check on him after all and Davin had been as confused by it as Alfie. That didn’t exactly stop his heart beating angrily in his chest.

Swallowing to try and prepare his mouth for words he managed a quick, “It’s coming off next week.”

His eyes flicked back to the kid currently in Bach’s arms. Alfie’s words gentle but probably layered with confusion and audible hurt, “And who is this?”

[bachjones]

"That's ..annoying, I guess. Stuff itching a lot?"

Alfred walks over to Alfie, and Bach feels a large sense of OH SHIT cascade on him. He's pretty sure Alfie's name is Alfred, and now there's a cat named Alfred as well. Not that he named the cat, it was that hotel owner's son but ..

The cat sits down at Alfie's feet, meowing for attention before head-butting his calves. "New cat, but this one's way more relaxed than Cinderella. And uh .."

His son opens his mouth and hums his song, the few words in it 'papa', 'pain', 'sing' and 'Alfie'. Fucking great.

"He hasn't got a name yet, I don't know what to do."

[alfiehaywood]

“It’s not been too bad… except the inability to use my arm. Y’know…” It’s surreal, having this almost normal conversation in such an abnormal situation. His eyes keep drifting back over to the small child in Bach’s arms like he does not quite believe what he’s seeing.

His attention is pulled to a ginger tomcat at his ankles. Apparently some things don’t change, Bach has a new cat and he finds himself leaning down to stroke it as he hears the child humming. He has no idea what the tune is, but he feels his shoulders tense all the same with ‘something is not right here’.

Especially when Bach finishes speaking. His hand pauses mid-stroke on the cat’s head and he stares up at Bach wide eyes and slightly parted lips. “He’s like 4 years old – how can he not have a name? You did even mention that you have a kid.” It's all just too much right now, he wants to sit down and think about something else but right now... huh.

[bachjones]

"Hey, my mother didn't give him a name because she wanted to know which musician he resembled most or something. Or composer. Or - whatever she was thinking, I don't want to talk about it. About her. Stop it, dude", he added to his son. "Seriously, you have to start learning words, not songs for communication. No-one will understand you. Or understand you a bit too well and you're way too young for that."

"I don't know how it works, names. I don't - I can't think up of anything and he doesn't say anything either and it's all just sh- bugger."

"Bugger", echoed from his arms.

"And I have to watch what I say because that happens. But people helped you, right? With your arm? I mean, I even asked Davin if he -" Maybe he shouldn't bring that one up. "How was Christmas? Siren Cove is still in one piece, so it must have been a snooze, yeah?"

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie straightens up, “So… you didn’t. Didn’t know?” It’s moments like this that Alfie is glad that he has pretty much 0 chance of any surprise children out in the world. It’d been a big concern when he’d been with his most serious girlfriend. What if they did want children, would it be possible?

He wants to be angry, and he’s sure he will at some point later. But right now his neighbour looks a little like he’s been thrown in the deep end without a life preserver so he can’t help trying to help a little. “Bach, names are really simple. Think of something you like – that won’t get him teased. And name him it. Just… something you like.”

Not that Alfie would know what to call a kid, because he never planned on having any. So names seemed the last thing he’d think of.

“Yeah. Yeah people are helpful. Although being off work sucks.” It’d been lonely really. As much as he’d bothered Riley, the man from the press had really spooked him into staying in the house. He nervously itched the back of his neck, “My sister took me in so I was in Indiana. Um, how about you… two?”

[asharpertongue]

The last person Lara ever expected to see was currently standing in the door to her office. With a child. The cat wasn't a shock but the kid...that really was.

"Bach!" She said, not even bothering to keep the surprise out of her voice. "When did you get back?"

[bachjones]

".. two hours ago?" At least she wasn't angry. Yet. "This is the woman's song you heard when we got in here, kid. She's like the boss of this place, and maybe she can help you."

He met her eyes. "If she wants to."

Alfred walked into the office and jumped onto the desk before curling up in the center of it. "Sorry. The cat's a bit ..free?"

[asharpertongue]

"Help him?" Lara said, looking between Bach and the boy. She stood up and rounded the desk, smiling and brushing a hand over the cats fur as she passed. She knelt down in front of the little lad and smiled. "And what's your name?"

[bachjones]

"He got my problem. I think he deserves some more control sooner."

Bach lets the kid down. "We don't know yet, my mother wanted to wait and see which name she could use that would fit him best or some bullsh- nonsense. I'm still thinking about something, but I'm not good with names. And he just doesn't say a lot."

[asharpertongue]

The boy smiled up at Lara and started humming a tune. "Well he has your musical abilities, that's for sure." She smiled at him and reached out with her power, winding it around the child. He giggled and the tiniest hints of scales appeared on his skin. He had power, it felt like Bach's but smoother...less spiky. It clearly came naturally to the boy. "And some of your power too."

Lara got to her feet and lifted the boy when he stretched up his arms to her. "You need to name him, Bach. He deserves his own identity."

[bachjones]

"He's my son." If he kept repeating it, it might feel less terrifying. "My mother wanted him for another Bach, because I was such a bitch about everyth- shit."

"The good thing about him barely talking is that he at least doesn't copy all of my mistakes."

The kid clung to Lara already. "Maybe you can keep him and take care of him? I mean, you're like ..you know this stuff. I don't. I can't be good for him, not really. This past week has been so exhausting and I'm only here - no, no, don't start crying now, come on. Please."

"I need your help", he sighed.

[asharpertongue]

Lara bounced the boy on her hip and he quieted, humming and playing with her hair. She hummed in harmony with him for a minute and he settled, sleepily into her shoulder, snoring lightly within seconds. She moved over to the couch and laid the boy down, covering him with the throw she kept on the back of it.

"I'm not keeping him, Bach. He's your son. He wants you. I will help teach him as he grows if that's what you want, but he needs you." She put a hand on his arm. "Want to tell me what happened? How did you find him?"

[meowhistory]

"Shit."

Lena didn't expect Bach to 1: know about his cat not being a cat and 2: Lena being that cat. There was no need to -

Did he get a new cat already? Not that she minded. At all. And the cat looked cute. Hopefully it was a real one, this time.

[snoopsrus]

Jacob stops next to his sister - and that might stop being wonderful someday, but it certainly won't be any time soon - and follows her gaze towards Bach and the - kid? Since when does that guy have a kid?

Somehow, he doesn't think the kid's the reason Lena's come to a dead halt. "Does he know? About you?"

[meowhistory]

"Jacob!"

She covers her mouth because she didn't wanted to be so loud but he startled her, like everything startles her now. You never know when another witch will find you and do something to you.

"I thought he was really gone. That would have been a lot easier."

[snoopsrus]

"Shit, sorry, did I startle you?" Ordinarily, Jacob would make a joke about wearing a bell, but... well, given the circumstances, he's not sure it would be appreciated.

"I thought he was gone, too." So that's a no on the 'did he know' front, then. "Wonder why he's come back?"

[meowhistory]

"No of course n- yes, yes you did. I'm sorry."

Lena finds his wrist and tries to keep her grip relaxed, because yes her brother might be her anchor right now but that doesn't mean he deserves bruises.

"He didn't have a kid before. I never heard him about a kid before. But I stayed with Levi and with you for a while so I don't know, maybe he got news? There's a ne- there's a cat as well. A real one."

[scaledtokill]

Who the hell gave Bach a child?

It was probably not the most charitable thing that Robert could think of his son, especially considering out of all of his children he knew the least about Bach. Once he had learned of Bach's existence he had done his best to find out what he could but there just wasn't a lot. Bach hadn't struck his as the most responsible person in the world though.

The fact that the child look so like Bach? That terrified Robert more than a little. Still, if it was Bach's son then he had to admire the man for taking responsibility.

"Hello, Bach," Robert said, lifting his drink from where he sat at the bar. "Welcome back."

[bachjones]

Bach was still deciding if he wanted to go with something rude ("Hey grandpa", "What, you're still here?" "What, you still know my name?") or just a careful greeting, when his kid spotted Robert, wriggled free and opened his mouth, pointing at him.

"Papa? Pa-pa?"

What the fuck.

[scaledtokill]

Well, that answered that. Damn, he was a grandparent now. Virginia was never going to let him live this down. Taking one last pull of his beer Robert stepped off the stool and walked forward before smiling and crouching down to get on the boy's level.

"That's right, I'm your Papa. What's your name?"

[bachjones]

"What the -" He pulled the kid back, closer to him. "How did you do that? How did you do that?"

Bach hadn't heard anything, hadn't told him about Robert and how he sounded, shit like that was too private.

The boy started crying, silent sobs, but his arms still towards Robert. "Great. Fu- great. I've been with him for a week, I've known about him for nine days and he talks to you?"

[scaledtokill]

"Bach, he's distraught and I'm not going to hurt the boy," Robert said, looking up at his son. The boy was crying, although he wasn't making any sound despite not being mute. Wherever Bach had found his son, Robert couldn't imagine the circumstances were very good.

"Just let him come say hello."

[bachjones]

"I'm just saying that I wanna know why the he- why he would recognize you. Over me. It wasn't until I sa-"

Maybe he isn't the father, maybe they sang together because they're connected in another way. Bach felt bile rise in his throat. He could never ever have something just for himself.

"Whatever." He let him go. "My mother was still trying to come up with a name. I don't know how naming children works. So he has no name yet."

The little boy was gazing up at Robert like he was Christmas and his birthday combined. Shit, Bach didn't know his birthday either. Maybe he should ask Robert for help, see if he could be a proper father. Hadn't he been good for Corrine?