[forty] This so isn't going to work.

[goodgrasshopper]

I try this every time this static stuff happens, but no luck so far. Any little Carpenters out there?

Comments

NOPE. ALWAYS LITTLE.

[goodgrasshopper]

[She knows exactly how it's been.] Yeah.

I know they do, but I'm glad they're okay. The little ones, too? [Yup. And so not happening.]

WELL HE LOVES YOU ANYWAY SO THERE I GUESS THAT SHOWS YOU?

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

Yeah. They miss you too. [GUILTBOMB] Harry's been asking about you. Amanda's cracking down for end of year tests. Matthew and Alicia are both kind of upset because the school district is talking about cutting back extra-curricular activities after dark-- so that's football and soccer. And Hope and Maggie are trying to teach Mouse some agility tricks they saw on Animal Planet but he learns too fast.

YES IT DOES... I THINK

[goodgrasshopper]

[GUILTBOMB ON TARGET AND SUCCESSFUL] I miss them, too. [so, so much.] I'm sure they'll work out something for football and soccer--the athletic boosters will probably get involved. Tell Matthew and Alicia not to worry too much. Amanda will do great--and at least Hope and Maggie aren't trying to ride him like a pony. I don't think he'd really like that, but he'd probably put up with it.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

They're not really small enough. Not even Harry's small enough anymore. He's starting to grow again. Not growth spurts yet, but mom keeps having to let his pants out.

It's like he was tiny just last month. [And things were normal. And Molly was home. :( ]

[goodgrasshopper]

No, I guess not, but Mouse is pretty big, and they might get silly anyway.

I know. You know how Mom and Dad say we all grew up so fast? It never seemed that way with you and me, but the little ones... It seems like time just flies.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

Obviously we took our time and did it right. [Half-hearted joke.]

Molly... where are you? [She looks like she's clean and eating, which is-- so much better than the last time he saw her.]

[goodgrasshopper]

Well, yeah. We're the oldest. We had to set a good example. [Ha. Ha.]

I'm not in Chicago anymore. It's... kind of hard to explain.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

But are you okay?

[goodgrasshopper]

I'm okay--more or less. Sometimes things go to Hell around here, but we manage to pull through. Kind of like home.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

[Sibling bluntness]

You're not looking as anorexic anymore.

[goodgrasshopper]

A couple of months of good meals will do that.

[beat]

You're looking a lot less pissed off.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

I. After. Dresden. I talked to dad some. I've been praying a lot.

[He looks a little awkward saying that.]

[goodgrasshopper]

...Yeah.

I... haven't. In a while.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

[Awkwardface]

I figured. Neither had I. But it's not like I'm-- [hands.]

Mom's going to be so glad to know you're eating.

[goodgrasshopper]

[PARENTAL CONCERN. Much easier topic. She laughs.]

Yeah. Tell her I'm back to eating like the daughter she raised. [Nowhere near as much crap, now that she doesn't need to just GET FOOD.]

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

Like the daughter she would totally cook for if you would just eat dinner with us once a week? [NO ESCAPE FROM THIS]

[goodgrasshopper]

Daniel. I get it, okay? You want me to come home. Everybody wants me to come home.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

Then why won't you? [Frustration face. You are seriously hard sometimes, big sister.]

[goodgrasshopper]

I can't. I just can't. Okay? Drop it.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

[RRR]

[But]

[ARRGH]

[He rubs his head with a hand]

I just. Miss even having a little bit of normal.

I, uh. [Man up, Daniel. Even if she looks so normal and non-insane that it makes you hurt for how things were.] I miss you, big sis.

[goodgrasshopper]

You and me both, little brother. I... You know I miss you guys, like, all the time right? I don't stop thinking about you.

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

Me either. None of us. I'll tell everyone you're okay. Okay?

[PRIVATE THREADJACK] ...sorry, I couldn't resist!

[cisskabob]

She won't come home because she's trying to protect you. All of you. She thinks staying away will keep you all safe. Or safer.

...Um--sorry. I probably should have done this part first: I'm Cissie, I'm a friend of Molly's here. ...Don't tell her I told you all of that, because I really need her to keep talking to me.

[Private] HI MOLLY'S BUD!

[sonofaknight.livejournal.com]

I know she thinks she's keeping us safe but it's like she thinks that because we aren't magic-- that I'm not magic-- that I can't handle myself. Like because Dad's hurt he's stopped being Dad and I just want my family back together.

I'm, uh, Daniel. Daniel Carpenter. [Weak sorry for yelling at you smile. Sorry I've been having temper problems that have become a tactical weakness smile.]

[Private]

[cisskabob]

Hi Daniel; it's nice to meet you. Molly talks about you guys all the time. ...Well, she used to talk about you more. Now it makes her sad.

Listen, I don't think it's that she doesn't think you can handle yourselves. I think... I don't know what happened, but something did. Something big. She was here and then she went back home, and came back... different. Do you know what happened? All I know is that Harry died, and she won't talk about it. And that she ate about a dozen hamburgers her first night back here.