NYC, 2015, December 22nd
Meg Giry turns on the vacuum and makes a point to vacuum the spaces in front of the sofa and TV, she turns it off and stares pointedly at the occupants of the sofa and spreads her arms wide and half bows aggressively.
"Ta da! It's fine, no, really. I'll do it." She switches it on again. Lorne turns to RC.
"I get the feeling your mother wants us to clean," RC shrugs.
"We have a maid service for that," RC refocuses on the program.
"If it's on the floor, I'm throwing it away!" Meg voice calls from the other room. After a minute RC jumps to his feet.
"Where'd I put my flute," he runs to his room, Lorne laughs and changes the channel.
RC stops and meets his mother, who is standing outside his room with the vacuum, she crosses her arms and sighs.
"I'm raising a barn animal. Good to know." She tsks and RC enters his room. He starts picking random objects and clothing, while his mother sighs and judges from the doorway.
"Are you not aware of the wardrobe? That is where you put items like your garments. You pull the drawer by the handle, and oh my gosh, it slides out and you can store things in there!" His mother poses dramatically and slaps her chin.
RC ignores her. Meg is only ever irritated if his Papa does something especially hurtful or, if they are going on vacation and she wants the house clean, or if they are having company, and wants the house clean.
"Clean your room like you're a serial killer covering your tracks. We leave in an hour!" Meg turns on the vacuum again and moves on. RC mutters something, Meg pops her head into his doorway.
"I heard that!" She then leaves again. RC exhales relief and continues cleaning like a teenager.
"Erik, I swear to the Powers That Be, I will leave your ass if you don't hide your LSD better! If I find anymore, I will throw it away!"
RC peers out into the hallway. His mother must be agitated something fierce if she is threatening Papa like that. His mother is holding something in her hand, Papa causally takes it from her and closes the bedroom door. She screams in frustration and vacuums the same spot angrily.
"I need you to remove your mask," The TSA Agent huffs, they half glare at Erik. They are undaunted by his height and mask. Before Erik can put them in their place, Meg appears and slides a paper over.
"No, he doesn't," Meg winks at Erik before turning to the TSA Agent. They read the paper that says Erik has a severe unique rare skin condition that requires him to always wear a mask, no exceptions, the simplest of light will cause a lethal reaction.
"Fine," they motion for Erik to go ahead.
"Everyone has their seat assignments. Nadir, I will buy you a bar," Meg hands him his boarding pass. He checks it briefly before he ha's sarcastically, a few people turn to glare at him.
"You owe me two for this," Nadir whistles. He is seated with Lorne and RC, babysitting duty already starting.
"First class?" Erik asks, not bothering to check his pass, Meg nods he runs his gloved fingers through her locks in approval.
"Here we come, Disney!" Meg cheers.
"We have two rooms booked," Meg tries to sound casual and cool; she watches Nadir, and he picks up on her meaning before he smiles and half whines like a dying motor.
"Three." He says, his eyes are bright. Erik watches the bellman take their luggage and follows behind with predatory movements, waiting, wanting, to strike. Meg apologizes to Nadir in maladroitly silent movements as she walks to catch up to Erik and the luggage.
Lorne and RC chat away about what parks and rides they hold the most favor, Nadir makes lists for all the things Meg now owes him for making him a babysitter on this holiday.
"Not playing parents this trip?" Erik asks as Meg joins him in the elevator.
"There may have been an ulterior motive in inviting Nadir. Obviously, spending Christmas Eve and Christmas as a family, but the rest of the time and New Year's, no. Lorne and Rezy are not in our universe." Meg smacks her lips together and watches Erik.
"You planned this well," he praises, he tugs at her hair, he likes playing with her long locks.
"Erik, I love this," Meg gestures to his three-piece dark charcoal suit," but I said, I'm going to the pool, and this outfit pool does not make," Meg tsks and clicks her tongue. Meg is wearing a vintage inspired two-piece with a sarong around the waist.
"You said, 'casual,' this is casual," he replies dryly. He could take the jacket off, be even more casual like a slacked-jaw simpleton that seems to be the dominate species of this hotel. It is supposed to be a four-star resort, he disagrees.
"Maybe lose the jacket. The vest is doing all sorts of things for me. The jacket is giving me heat stroke." Meg crosses her eyes and sticks her tongue on the corner of her mouth.
Erik sighs, he takes off his jacket with care and hangs it up in the closet. He turns and Meg nods, gives him a thumbs up.
"Better! One day, you'll understand Everyman Wear," Meg winks, Erik growls in disagreement. Meg does her best not to show intimidation and opens the door, she motions for him to take the lead out the door.
"I don't think you understand what a pool is." Lorne shakes his head and rubs the back of his neck. RC is wearing his red and black jeans and a dark long sleeve shirt.
"I'm not going in," RC holds out his book.
"Okay, but a couple of things. We're in Florida, so all of this," he gestures RC's outfit," is wrong and we're going to where water lives."
"I'm comfortable and I'm not going in the water." Nadir comes out from his room, Meg had the good thinking of booking them a double room suite so, Nadir had his own room and the teens shared theirs.
"Little one, I thought you were going to the pool?" Nadir is dressed for water fun times like Lorne. RC pinches the bridge of his nose and his body stutters as he exhales, trying to remain calm and not snap and kill the cretins who are annoying him.
"I am not going in the water."
"But. There's water." Lorne says and Nadir nods. RC grumbles in frustration and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Teenagers, man." Lorne shakes his head.
RC finds himself a lounge chair and plants himself. He opens the book and gets lost in the words and universe. Nadir throws his things on the chair next to RC and then walks down the steps into the pool. Lorne jumps in.
After about twenty minutes of swimming around, two female teens enter the pool. They spy RC on his lounge chair and find him most intriguing. They smile, giggle and stare at him. RC is oblivious to it. He is entirely focused on the book.
"Ooh, this is going to be painful," Lorne tells Nadir as they watch the females. Nadir nods.
"He is so much like Erik. Most of the time, Erik does not know when someone is attracted to him. Hell, the shah's mother was obsessed with him, like the way he is with Christine, and he did not know. RC seems to be the same make," Nadir is amused.
"Half the girls in our Lit class want Rez, and he has no idea." Lorne scoffs.
"And yet when someone shows interest in their partner, they suddenly pick up on the signs. When Raoul went after Christine," Nadir trails off as he watches his adopted nephew/godson.
"I can see that," Lorne says, they both watch RC with vested interest. The two females find the courage to walk over to RC, it takes a minute for his attention to be caught, and twenty seconds for him to coldly shut them down. Lorne and Nadir wince, cringe and feel sorry for the girls, who walk away in shame and embarrassment.
Meg could spend all of forever in a jacuzzi. The intense warmth of the water is sublime in its relaxation. There is just something magical about the burning waters. All the pain of the day melts away and she is at peace. Meg lowers herself and is almost entirely submerged.
After a minute of this and nearly nodding off, Meg sits up straight, she is startled. She is no longer alone. Two unknown males are watching her. Meg smiles and waves, she lowers herself back underwater, until only nose up is visual. She blows bubbles.
Erik is lounging on the chair, much like his boy. He is not reading a book; his entire face is concealed with a white porcelain mask. He is still wearing his 'casual' suit. He is quite the unique sight. Some of the older women who are in the area are finding it difficult to ignore him.
He is oblivious to it all. One of the older women grow brave and they decide to try to strike an acquaintance and conversation. Linda, walks over, she drops her purse on his legs as she slowly walks by, she squeals and makes a great show of her faux pas and apology.
Erik ignores the noise. He rises suddenly. He moves past the woman vying for attention.
The hair on the back of Nadir's sticks up. That is not a good sign. That means trouble is a foot. Nadir turns around, trying to find the danger. He finds it. He climbs out of the pool and goes for the interception.
Nadir steps up in record time. He blocks Erik from further attempt at the jacuzzi.
"That's your pool wear? I am disappointed it is not bejeweled long underwear. Like with emerald, diamonds and shit."
Erik ignores him, he is watching the jacuzzi and Nadir is not going to let him pass. Nadir may be 5'10 to his 6'7, but he is undaunted and is damn agile himself.
"You know this is a pool right? That you're not going to the theatre?" Nadir pulls at Erik's vest.
"Two against one isn't playing fair," Erik places his hands on Nadir's shoulder and moves him to the left.
"Meg can fight The Phantom off, I think she can handle a pair of normal humans." Nadir says. They watch Meg, who gets out of the water. She is taken aback by Erik and waves.
"See? She lived, you gotta stop being so errr, all the time." Nadir slaps Erik's back. Meg steps up to them.
"I grow weary of this place." Erik says flatly and Meg nods. She turns around.
"We can go back to the room," Erik does not wait for her to finish, he grabs her by the waist and he walks her out of the pool. Nadir sighs with relief and goes back to his charges.
"The Tower of Terror," Meg uses her mysterious voice. Lorne and Nadir are the hesitant ones of the group.
"How is the wait only ten minutes?" RC doubles checks just to be sure.
"Run for it!" Meg does not wait for the others and makes a break for it. Lorne and Nadir do not make such movements, RC and Erik follow the blonde at a casual pace.
"We could go to Epcot next. They have a France." Lorne's eyes sparkle. Erik and Meg being the proper French members of the group are not so sure about it.
"France? Just eat a baguette and lose a world war. There, you experienced France," Nadir teases. Meg narrows her eyes playfully. Erik, being from Normandy, is not impressed or amused, he leans into Nadir,
"You know that's not what happened," his voice as enthralling as ever, he roughly scratches Nadir's scalp, who stares him down.
"To France?" Lorne asks, trying to break the awkward moment.
RC picks up a random touristy Disney themed trinket. It's 50 bucks, he considers it. Erik takes it from his hand and whistles.
"Do you want this or NYU?" He turns to RC, who shakes his head and moves on to the next section of interest.
Meg picks up a bag from the shelf and tries out, she checks herself out in the mirror and can herself in the city rocking the shit out it. She looks at the tag, $495, Meg does not hesitate as she puts it back and pets it lovingly as she forces herself to walk away.
Meg meets Nadir as he is considering if he wants Pluto or Donald. He can't have both. He holds onto each and raises them and lowers them in a balance of sorts kind of war with his brain. He doesn't know what to do! It's hurts his heart. He looks at Meg.
"I like both too," she smiles sadly. She knows his pain. She promised herself not to spend more than 100 on souvenirs. Meg tries to be frugal as possible.
"Aaaah!" Nadir cries and he drops both before pulling at his hair. Meg rubs his back comfortingly.
"Give it back to him," Meg is serious. Erik says nothing. Meg crosses her arms and taps her foot, Erik still does nothing.
"Erik, we talked about this, see, want, take, is stealing and a crime. I can arrest you for that." Nadir pinches the bridge of his nose. Erik's kleptomaniac behaviors is giving Nadir PTSD.
There was this one time when he first took Erik to the market, Nadir wasn't paying attention and he tripped into Erik which caused him to spill his hoard, everyone saw that and, Nadir shakes his head nd slaps his face, trying to forget the memory.
"I feel no shame, they were careless. This is what happens when you do not take care with your belongings." Erik twists the gold watch in his hands. Nadir is tempted to arrest him right there. He's about to, but Erik grabs his wrist and adjust the band and lets go.
"It looks good on you," Erik says as he walks away. Nadir stares at his wrist, he is about to rip it off, but he lets his hand drop. He does like it. He can send it to lost and found before he leaves the park, but there is no harm, no real harm, in enjoying it for the time being. Nadir didn't steal it after all.
Nadir checks the watch for the time. He is supposed to take the boys out to some silly dinner that Meg booked for them, while she and Erik get to go out and eat like adults.
"We'll go out for drinks later," Meg promised with her stupid smile on her face, making it difficult for Nadir to unleash even the smallest of his wrath. Nadir pulls at a necklace Meg did not have before.
"Where'd you get that?" Nadir knows the answer, he is using his disappointed Papa Voice, Meg turns away, but her head snaps back up.
"Nice watch." Her eyes on fire. Nadir and Meg both smile angrily.
"Thank you," he says with clenched teeth.
Nadir feels like a fool, but also not, as he hugs both of his stuffed plushies, Donald and Pluto. If Nadir were the playful type to Instagram, he would make accounts and drive all his friends insane with annoyance over the madcap adventures he'd share with his plush crew.
Meg squeals and hugs the black purse. She is going to rock the shit out it. She rocks back and forth as she snuggles the bag.
Best Christmas Ever.
New Year's Eve
It's beautiful out. The air is cool, not hot or humid. Meg can see the stars and the moon. She lifts her hands and pretends to gather the stars and moon like they are jewels and pearls. She is happy.
It's a blue velvet cold feeling, she hugs her arms around her chest and makes up a dance as she walks. She spins around. There is no pain, no sorrow, no bitter. She can't think, nothing good or bad, nonthoughts. Erik took her off the property and told her they were going to see the fireworks and have their own fun.
"What do you think?" Erik wraps his arms around her.
"It's like we're one of those cheesy love songs, under the stars, we'll drift to mars, go to the bars and have breakfast at the restaurant at the end of the universe," Meg closes her eyes and can see it in her mind, becoming moonlight.
"You're made of moonlight," Erik nuzzles her neck. They raise their heads up as the fireworks pull their focus.
"This is what it feels like," Meg whispers.
"Mm?"
"To be alive and in love, fire, chaos, and all of the colors. It's loud, you'll burn, and you may die, and sometimes it's pretty."
"And the rest of the time?" He's still watching the firework display.
"Nothing."
He can't help himself any longer, he leans in for a kiss, Meg lips meet his eagerly.
Now
"Happy New Year, Angel."
Erik blinks, and Meg disappears. He looks over. Christine holds out a flute of champagne. He accepts it.
"Did you want to watch the fireworks?" She asks, he shakes his head. Erik hands her his empty champagne flute.
"The display is the same each year. There's nothing new or unique." Erik walks towards his music studio leaving Christine alone. There was a time he's sure he'd devour her, but right now he's empty.
"Erik," Christine calls out him. Erik pauses, he turns. Christine wants to say something, her eyes are shiny and red, like she's been crying. Erik goes to her, he cups her face with his hands, he uses his enticing voice and kisses her. Christine responds after a few seconds, she's desperate and hungry.
They part and are breathless. Erik's uses his thumb to caress her chin, he leans into neck and inhales her scent.
"I love you," he kisses her neck, then moves to her throat, her skin, her body respond positively. Christine moans softly and pulls and holds Erik against her, not wanting him to go.
