wickedchouette | (no subject)

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[Alfie greets and makes nice with newcomers when he comes across them, but he doesn't go out of his way to seek them out. He's not interested in being part of any de facto welcome wagon, especially not now that more and more people are filtering their way in, either to use the Meadous as a waypoint or to settle down and stay; that can be a job for people like Meulin and Harley. He does, however, notice new houses as he passes them by, and today there's one on his regular walking route. He takes note of the name on the mailbox - Beauregard, good lord - and is all set to continue ambling onwards when a flash of movement catches his eye. Is that--

-- yes. That absolutely is his cat, leaping up onto the windowsill and slipping in through the open window.

With a sigh, he turns and heads towards the door instead, giving it a firm knock.]

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[ she wrinkles her nose at that, looking vaguely annoyed. a pause. ]

I'm lucky to have him. [ she says, almost a correction. she sinks down into her seat. ]

You're lucky to have each other, then. And is that not the best situation of all?

[ she sniffs. ]

Guess so. [ she's definitely drunk, judging by how sulky and sad she suddenly sounds. ]

[Propping his feet up on the coffee table (the exact thing he fusses at Royce for), he leans back into the couch, regarding her.]

Am I gonna have to drag Gwen here to shower you with compliments and loveliness and all?

[ somewhere in the distance royce is screaming ]

No. [ she says, scowling. ] I don't want compliments.

[ which is a lie, but it's easier to say than what she really means. ]

You do seem like you might need them, though, don't you.

[ STOP WHEEZES she gives him such a look. ]

What am I, five? [ yes ] I don't need pity compliments, dude.

Did I fucking say the word pity? Eh?

You don't have to say pity. It's fucking implied by you might need some.

It's fucking not. If I'd meant I thought you needed unearned compliments, right, I would have said so.

[ her mouth twists. ]

Nobody gives me compliments sincerely. [ she says, almost grouchily. ] I don't want them.

Nobody. Not even these friends of yours?

Huaisang does. [ she says finally, still sulky. ]

Well. Good for him. But at home? What about your family?

[ she lets out a bitter sort of laugh. ]

No. [ and she looks away. ] Especially not my family.

[H...uh.]

Are they out of your life, now?

[or are they still shitting up your life]

[ she shrugs. ]

Yeah. They kicked me out and I'm not welcome back.

Mm.

[Alfie's mouth twists, but for once, he keeps his opinions to himself. He has plenty that he could say, but for all that he's prone to needling, this isn't a situation where he's going to just come out and insult someone else's family if he's not sure that it would be welcome.]

S'fine. I was a shitty kid.

[ maybe she will reach for the booze again actually. ]

[Oh, fuck no--]

They took the coward's way out.

[He says sharply.]

Yeah, it's easier to just run someone off than it is to work to solve the problem. Fucking disgraceful when it's your own kid you're shoving out.

[ a pause. ]

... I guess. [ that's how she feels, quietly, but. ] I'm just saying it wasn't just them. He could've been a better dad, but.

[ she looks down at her bottle, frowning. ]

I was a fucking prick of a child, and my family never cast me out. No, there's no excuse for it.

[ she fiddles with the bottle absently. ]

Like, how bad of a prick?

How many twelve-year-old boys have you met?

[ huff. ]

There's a difference between shitty teenage boys and girls who sell their dad's wine on the black market and undercut all his sales.