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]

"Didn't know what?"

His son struggles to get down, and Bach lets him. "Oh, the kid? No, happened like at one of my last shows out there. His mother found mine and dumped he because of scales when he came out, so he's screwed en-"

And now there are tears from the little boy and it takes him a second to realize what he did. "Oh, fu- shit. This is what happens all the time, I have to watch everything I say and at least cats just claw at you when they hate you, you know?"

Bach gets on his knees and hugs the boy against him. "Want to pick a name together? Hey? Like Alfie just said?"

"Alfred."

"The cat's already Alfred, kid." He looks up at Alfie. "You're still not working? Do you get money for sick leave?"

[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?"

[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.

[alfiehaywood]

As soon as Bach starts talking about the kid’s mother, Alfie finds himself wincing in sympathy. Because he understands that feeling, understands what it feels like for someone to find a ‘flaw’ in you and decide they can’t even try to cope with that. It’s a horrible situation. And Alfie hates that he can’t help feeling a little empathy toward the mother as well. If she wasn’t aware of all of this magical stuff in the world then it must have been a horrible shock. But watching the little boy crying strikes a chord deep down.

Babies are a great repellent to Alfie because he just has no idea how to deal with them. But small children are definitely a magnet, and if Bach wasn’t there comforting then he’d have definitely swooped in. It should seem strange to him that Bach actually isn’t doing too horribly, after all the last time they saw each other the other guy was tucking him into bed and making sure he’s ok. But on the flip side he knows about Bach’s lothario tendencies and Davin showing up on his doorstep being completely confused cemented he wasn’t exactly perfect.

But still, something in his gut clenches when he hears his name. Followed by a small quirk of the eyebrow when he realises the cat by his ankles is his name buddy. Better replacement probably.

“Gerry doesn’t want me hurting myself any further,” he answers, unable to word any of the questions fizzing in his brain. “But he’s still paying me. Says I do enough overtime to keep it up.”

[bachjones]

Just give him a name.

Bach has always been shit with names and titles. His mother would add a title to whatever song he wrote and names .. Cinderella was Cinderella because someone was humming something about cinders, it was only later that he learned about the fairy tale.

He wasn't going to give him a family name. Bach's father - shit, he had turned into his father now, dropping kids around like they were dirt - would probably never show his face again. Corry had been sweet, but angry and was probably going to be more angry about this. And how did you turn Corrine in a man's name anyway? Same for April, and Abbie. Joel? Nah, no way, even though he liked the guy, it would be too weird.

"That's good enough, I guess. I made a lot of money, the past weeks. Don't know how long it will last though, so I'm going to need a job."

The kid was calming down again, wiping his face against Bach's shoulder.
"Isaac." Bach didn't know where it came from, but it was like a bubble inside his chest. He pushed his son - Isaac? a way a bit so he could look him in the eyes. "Isaac? That's a normal name, right? Not for bullies?"

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie hummed a sound of agreement. He realised he’d never really known if Bach had a job or quite what the guy did. He played music; Alfie knew that much and he’d just assumed there was something there. Much like Alfie’s side wood business – although with the injury that had been on hold as much as his real job. The sooner the cast was off, the better. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. If nothing else, you have the whole Siren community thing, which means the Matriarch’ll help you or something right?” He rocked on his heels a little bit, “I don’t know how it all works. But you’ll be ok.”

He still didn’t really understand the whole Siren thing. Les has tried to explain; Lara was Matriarch and oversaw everything within the community. But his understanding was still minimal in comparison to what he knew about witches. Although Siren song felt good. That much he had experienced.

Whether the question for him or Bach’s kid- Isaac- was unclear. He paused a second before he calmly added, “Isaac’s good. And not bully fodder.”

It was easy to find himself unintentionally slipping into some sort of weird domestic situation. Which was stupid because kids, were not a thing Alfie had ever even wanted and yet part of him wanted both Bach and Isaac to like him. Really it sucked, because his life couldn’t just be simple for a minute. Clearing his thought, he said softly, “We’re gonna have to talk… about things at a later point. Because you kind of just disappeared man.”

[bachjones]

"Isaac", Isaac pointed at himself. "Yes, Isaac?"

"Yeah, sure, yes. You be Isaac. I don't know how this changes things but you can be Isaac Jones." My son.

Bach curls himself around him, adding the name to his song, trying - trying so hard to make the both of them sure about this entire situation.

"Lara? Dude, you know how she feels about me and I feel about her. I'm going to have to ask her for help because I don't want him discovering he's siren-like when he's thirty-something, like me. But .. I don't know. I don't know anything, right now."

"Thanks, thanks man." Maybe if he doesn't mention it, Alfie will forget about it. Alfred pats the guy's legs, eager for more attention. "Found him near one of the hotels I was staying. Loves attention and cuddles."

[alfiehaywood]

“You say that like I know anything about Lara other than two very conflicting opinions on her character.” Considering Bach had only ever had a negative opinion and Les only ever sung her praises. Then again Riley had suggested he see her in regards to the press issue – in the end hiding seemed to have worked. For now at least. “But right now though, take all the help you can take. She’s in an authority position; she’s not going to be able to just ignore you, and she’s definitely not going to ignore him if help is needed.” Ok. Some people wouldn’t help a child in need, but Alfie refused to acknowledge their status as valid people. And he was sure Lara wasn’t like that.

“Do you at least have some basics for him? Food, clothes, something for him to do like toys or colouring books?” He wasn’t going to claim he was a child expert. His nephew was still little and hardly in Alfie’s life anymore, but he knew people at work with children. And he spoke to the kids club reps often enough to know bare essentials. Not that Bach wouldn’t know them. But maybe a little reassuring wouldn’t go amiss. “I mean you’ve got the whole name and hugs thing down now, so it can’t be going too badly.” Alfie added with a small smile.

He wasn’t going to cause a scene in front of Isaac. Poor kid only just found his Dad and got a name, he didn’t need Alfie’s own selfish questions to upset him anymore. And Alfie knew it was selfish, but right now in life he had limited people he’d put any sort of trust in and Bach had kind of stomped all over it so he wanted to know if it was Isaac or something else that he’d left for. He looked down at the cat, waiting a second before petting him again, saying quietly, “Apparently not just a name we share then buddy.”

[bachjones]

"Only two?"

Bach gets up, Isaac (it has a good sound to it) clinging to him like a starfish again. "I need to get a cap or hat or something. I shaved the lot of it off, not my brightest idea during winter but I was getting desperate."

"We've got food, yeah. Healthy stuff. Lots of vegetables, not so much meat because that's expensive anyway. I just need someone to cook, because I always blow things up in the kitchen. Like you, in your living room. And not with so much broken bones."

"Toys?", Isaac echoes, but Bach's not going to give into that. "We're still adjusting, it has been like ..a week since we met, right, kid?"

Meanwhile the cat is being all touchy-feely with Alfie, and Bach wants to throw something at him. "Nothing else changed for you, I guess?"

[alfiehaywood]

“Can’t say I have many conversations about Lara, no. Being a plain human who doesn’t really go to Watersong or need any of the other services she runs.” He can almost imagine what an awful time an escort would have trying to do their job with him. Alfie might have sex but it’s more because he enjoys the other person enjoying it. So escorts would be a complete no go.

Alfie tries to hide a small smile at that. Sure, he’s a little sad the curls are gone but at the same time he really wants to rub his hand over the top of Bach’s head to see if it’s spiky at all. Not that he’s going to do that of course, nope, not at all. But he can wonder in the safety of his own mind. “Might be an idea, can get a bit cold around these parts in the winter months.”

“One time,” Alfie says with a small shake of the head, although the faint edges of a smile say he’s not angry about it. Just… playfully exasperated. “And I’d like to blame the blackout entirely rather than my very competent wood work skills.” On the plus side, he could be smug in the knowledge that he could cook. Baking, no, but cooking he was all over.

“Holy –“ He cut himself off before he said anything he shouldn’t in front of a small child. “A week. And your Mom hadn’t said anything to you earlier?” Alfie can’t help feeling a little sick. His own Mom would probably call him instantly to be a weird combination of proud he’d knocked up a female and disgusted because no sex before marriage and all that. Probably more pride at proof he wasn’t gay, not that Alfie had ever been gay. It had always been bisexual.

Hearing Isaac ask about toys and how Bach glosses over it makes him realise what Bach had just said about money. And he suddenly feels a need to somehow help at least a little… He’ll have to look into it later. Although he’s not sure if Bach will actually want him butting his nose in. Either way he continues stroking the cat’s head, if his other shoulder wasn’t in a cast he’d probably have just picked Alfred up but it would be too difficult with one arm. “Not really. Still got my job, still the family black sheep, still got the dogs. Just less under the influence of meds than when you left.”

[bachjones]

"That's good to hear. And I'll go find something after I talked to Lara. If I'm still alive after, of course."

Bach shakes his head. "Didn't talk to her for five years, had to work a bit to find her. Going to have to work harder to make sure he's not going to be as scr- messed up as I am, because no-one deserves that. Or like - no-one I know, being okay with yourself is important."

Isaac takes that moment to give Bach's cheek a sloppy kiss before hiding his face against his shoulder again, and something deep inside hurts in a great way.

"I know dude, I'm kidding. You're like mister safe and sound. It just wasn't our best night."

[alfiehaywood]

He’d forgotten Bach could be a little dramatic sometimes. “You’ll be fine. You know you will. Just think about Isaac if you start getting stressed.”

Part of him wants to have a big reassuring speech, but not only is he completely unprepared for that but he’s also still baffled and a little angry. Somewhere, deep down, under all the new squidgy feelings that he wanted to pretend weren’t there. Considering they’d come out of nowhere. It wasn’t really fair, all he’d wanted was to know if Bach had any sort of feelings for him, and now he’d turned up with a kid and Alfie was melting like ice-cream in the Sahara. “Well. Sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought it… to say it’s only been a week. And you’ve got people around to help.” He just about held his tongue from saying ‘you’ve got me’, and felt a little proud of himself for not being quite so obvious. Although who knew what Bach was hearing in his song.

“Well your Da-“ He couldn’t finish the word. With a small cough, he tried again, speaking to Isaac. “Well, you’re going to go to your home – which is in the same building as mine, so I now it’s very safe there. Lots of really nice people like Mrs Gordon on the third floor. She makes cookies a lot.”

[bachjones]

"What if he's the reason I'm stressed though? I mean - I wouldn't even have been here if it wasn't for him."

If Bach kept telling himself that often enough, he might start believing it.

"People, help me? Who? Corrine is just angry all the time, April has probably left by now, Riley thinks I'm a turd, Gabe only wants me when he's drunk, Joel is starting a cute little family as far as I know and La- I have you, right?"

He gets up, hoists Isaac up a little bit higher. "Want to walk me to Watersong? Even though you never go there?"

"Cookies?"

Isaac was probably never going to be a big talker. "No, you're not getting cookies. Not now, anyway."

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie couldn’t help swallowing back a little hurt at that, because his mind automatically interpreted the whole thing as ‘I’d not be back in Siren Cove’. Nice to know Bach’s long term plans involved leaving when Alfie was out of his mind on hospital meds and delirium and not letting anyone know that was his plan. Considering Corrine hadn’t known where he was when Alfie had asked that one time. But then she was a little busy being newly married so he hadn’t wanted to press the situation like a stupid puppy. Davin clearly had no idea based on the note he had and Riley had said that she’s had a falling out with the Siren. So…

He opened his mouth to say something before thinking better of it. Letting out a small breath before averting his eyes to an interesting patch of the pavement. He listens to Bach talking, listing off people that on the whole he doesn’t really know before Bach mentions him. Looking back up with a slightly defeated expression, he half shrugs. Trying to keep a hurt tone out of his voice, he answers, “Guess so, huh.”

Part of him wants to say no, but he knows that’s just his own petulant side showing itself. He’s not going to deny he can have some childish mood thoughts to say he is actually 23 years old. So instead he tries to weigh up the positives – he might get the chance to see Les if he’s at work today. Assuming Lara is, then it seems likely, the tall supermodel-esque guy who’d found Les for him last time had joked as much. “Sure, my walking skills have improved with the inability to drive.”

[bachjones]

"Hey, dude, I can drive now! I even have a car, you know. Big blue pick-up. Lady said I was like a natural, took me only a couple of weeks. Having a car is really handy, I get that now. So if you need a lift somewhere.." Bach shrugs. "It's the least I can do, because you're always so helpful and stuff."

At least things didn't change with Alfie, and it felt really good. Alfred matched the man's steps and okay, maybe Bach just was doomed to forever be second place in a cat's life. Maybe he could be okay with that.

"Great. Means we don't have to visit the hospital again any time soon, hah?"

[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."