Stand By Me (Genevieve)

[Genevieve]

She nodded as he spoke, taking another bite of cake. "He and Meredith are... complicated, I think. She would definitely be good for him, but," she paused, considering her words. "I've never seen her like she was right after they... you know. She was out in the courtyard burning her clothes with fireballs. It was kind of scary. I think she's doing ok now, but he is not a straightforward person, and I don't think a relationship with him would be a straightforward relationship." She shrugged, looking up at Tristian. "I just worry that if things didn't go well - if he did something to hurt her - it wouldn't end well for either of them."

She smiled a little sadly at him. "You will. Mordred can't be the only person out there for you. There's someone better, someone who'll love you back, and you'll be happy. I know it."

She looked up at him, a startled and concerned look on her face as Tristian started describing what would happen if they were home. "Tris - don't tell Mum. I am so not ready for that conversation yet. I haven't told anyone except you." She was not ready to talk to anyone other than her big brother about this whole thing - there would be too many questions, too many invasive queries into things she didn't fully understand herself yet. No, definitely better to keep this between them, for now.

She frowned as he mentioned 'Blondie'. "Erm... well she's not blonde exactly, her hair is dyed loads of different colours. But, yeah," she gave a small smile, "she is quite forward and flirtatious... do you know her?"

[Tristian]

Genevieve had a point, he knew how Meredith’s tempers could get, he had spent a great deal of their youth trying to provoke them before he finally ‘accepted’ his little sister. The problem as that she had a temper like father’s but all the magical energy of Merlin, a rather explosive combination. That combined with Mordred’s temper and his magic…yes…he could definitely see where Genevieve was coming from.

“They might find a balance together,” suggested Tristian, “reign each other in. I think they both need to understand what you’ve just said, that it’s never going to be straightforward, that there’s going to be tough times and at one point or another they are going to hurt each other…but what they need to realise is that its what they do after that that counts. It’s how they find their way back to each, how they make it right. All relationships have arguments, they have problems, but the difference between a good one and a bad one is how you make it right again after times have been tough…or at least…that’s how I’ve always seen it. Hopefully…hopefully they’ll see that too.”

He nodded and smiled, but there was a large part of him that didn’t believe her. The kind of guys he fell for were not really in to the whole ‘love’ thing, he didn’t see much of it, and he didn’t see how he was every going to stop loving the person he had been in love with since he was a kid. Not only that but he was gradually beginning to think that he just wasn’t the sort of person that people fell in love with, oh there were plenty that wanted to take him home for a tumble in the sheets, but perhaps not take home to meet mum and dad. It was fine, he thought, he was just beginning to accept that.

“Well, we’ll see,” he said to her with a smile, taking another sip of tea, “maybe I’ve already met them, maybe I just don’t know it yet. You know, like one of those romantic comedies…gods…now I’m starting to sound like Lorelei.”

He looked at her seriously and said, “don’t worry, I won’t say a thing to mum. But you know Genevieve, she would want to know, and you know that no matter what she’ll support you and love you. I can give you my word and first-hand experience on that one. I won’t say a thing…but you should.”

Colours in her hair. Uh huh.

“Yes,” said Tristian, putting down his cup of tea, “I definitely know her…big Adele fan apparently. We…took care of some bullies together and then grabbed a hot chocolate. So…she’s who you went on a date with?”

He could feel the big brother hackles rising.

[Genevieve]

“Perhaps.” She shrugged slightly, taking another bite of cake. “I hope so, anyway. I don’t want to see Meredith hurt like that again.” She said shortly.

She laughed as he compared himself to Lorelei, shaking her head. “No, your romance will end up being much more straightforward than one of Rory’s stories. At least I hope so - I couldn’t imagine having to live through the kind of traumatic experiences her characters go through.” She grinned.

She sighed looking a little guiltily at Tristian. “I will tell her, just... not yet. I haven’t told anyone but you, I guess I just want to enjoy it for a while before all the questions start? I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to happen, I don’t even know if I can call this a relationship yet. It’s all so new and it’s scary and exciting and confusing, and I’m just not ready to try and explain it to anyone else yet. Except you. But you’re different.” She smiled.

She watched him as he put his cup down, feeling slightly cautious. The way he looked, the way he spoke - she sensed the big brother mode being activated. “Yes,” She said a little nervously, “that’s Cal. She asked me out in the middle of the food fight in cafeteria.” She couldn’t help the smile appearing again as she thought back to the date; the cafe, the singing, the walk in the park... the other things in the park. “So you’ve already met her then - that saves me from the awkward meeting the big brother conversation at least. What did you think of her?”

[Tristian]

Tristian also did not want to see Meredith hurt again; however, she did have a knack of picking the most destructive path. It was inherited.

“Even if she is, and I hope she isn’t, she’ll get through it, our Meredith is the resilient sort,” he said with a smile, “I’m sure she would be back on her feet and driving us all up the wall in no time.”

Genevieve would probably chastise him for that, but it was meant teasingly…mostly.

Laughing he said, “they do seem fairly tragic don’t they? I was thinking of maybe paying for a ‘Creative Writing’ course for her for Christmas, see if someone can’t take all that creative energy and focus it a little more. With the right pointers I think she could be really good. I thoroughly enjoy reading all of her fiction at the moment, imagine what else she would be capable of with a little fine tuning. But thank you, I shall hope for my love life not to go that way.”

An idea suddenly popped into his head, and glancing a little to note where Todd was, he cleared his throat a little and said a little louder, “did I tell you I have a new roommate? Richard Locksley. Have you heard of him?”

Hopefully that little bit of information would make it back to mother, he hadn’t had the time to tell her yet so this seemed the perfect opportunity to test his theory.

Smiling warmly at his sister he said, “I understand that. It’s ok to not know what something is yet, to figure things out, and I’m glad you felt you could tell me. I just wanted you to know that when you are ready to tell mum, I know she’ll be as supportive of you as I intend to be…and…on my part at least, I will try to keep the questions to a minimum.”

Which was going to be difficult now considering that he had just realised who this new ‘paramour’ was.

‘What did I think of her? Well she was far more tolerable once she stopped flirting with me,’ he absolutely did not say.

He had to be supportive…this was all new and exciting for Genevieve…he did not want to mess this up…however…nor did he want anyone taking advantage of his little sister…perhaps he ought to have another little chat with this Cal…

“Very intense,” he said eventually, choosing his words carefully, “she has an amazing voice, very good at Adele. We went for Hot chocolate, in here actually. So…when will you see her again?”

And can I speak with her before you do…

[Genevieve]

He was right, she was going to chastise him for that. She frowned at him over the rim of her teacup, scolding him with; "Tristian, be nice."

She smiled at his idea for Lorelei. "That sounds like a lovely idea. I wonder if she has any other less... contentious story ideas." She laughed. "Perhaps a creative writing course could pull those to the service, spare the rest of us a little." Not that Genevieve was too worried about her own appearances in Lorelei's stories - she didn't draw enough attention or do anything interesting enough to warrant anything more than fleeting cameos in the stories, and she really hoped it was going to stay that way.

She raised an eyebrow at Tristian's next revelation, noting the glance in Todd's direction and the louder tone. She put her cup down, studying her brother with slightly narrowed eyes. "Is that true, or are you just testing you-know-who?" She asked in a low voice. "And if it is true, is there... something there?" She asked delicately, raising an eyebrow slightly. She had of course heard of Richard's return to the family, but if Tristian had asked him to move in he couldn't be all that bad, and she found herself hoping that this might be the first step to Tristian moving on and being happy.

She reached across the table and squeezed Tristian's hand with a smile. She couldn't help but think how lucky she was to have the family she did. She knew her mum would be supportive and happy as long as Genevieve was happy, and many people wouldn't have that. She had her big brother, who in her eyes was the most wonderful person in the world, sat opposite her supporting her and loving her, and she knew that whatever might happen she would always remember how blessed she was. "Thank you, Tris." She said quietly, glancing at Todd. "Of course, it might be that neither of us need to tell her anything." She said with a smile and an eyeroll.

Intense... Genevieve wasn't entirely sure what to make of that description. She frowned slightly, her expression thoughtful as she watched Tristian. "She does have an amazing voice. She took me to a cafe where she performed. No Adele that time though." She said with a smile, taking a bite of cake. She shrugged a little at his question, trying to appear as casual as possible, when in reality she had spent the last couple of days wanting to call Cal every hour just to ask when she could see her again. "I don't know, maybe she's going to this karaoke thing Lorelei has organised. I imagine she won't miss an opportunity to sing to an audience." She smiled. "Will you go to that?"

[Tristian]

“I’m always nice,” he said with a grin, “it’s just so hard with Mudball-I mean…Meredith.”

He loved his sister, he really did, but she could be a real pain sometimes as well. Genevieve was too nice, she never saw that side of Meredith, that irritable and stroppy little side that was so find to wind up every now and then. They got on better these days, but every day was an argument waiting to happen when they were younger.

After taking another sip of tea he replied, “Oh I hope she never stops writing about all of us, I enjoy them immensely. I partly like it because it is so amusing to see what genre she’ll put us in next, I’m hoping I’ve dropped enough ‘Austen’ hints to appear in one of that ilk soon, but it’s also because I think it gives us a good insight into her and what she’s thinking…what she’s feeling. You can tell by the characters she ‘assigns us’ what she thinks of us, how she relates to us…it’s one of the reasons I want to get her these lessons, not only that but I plan on going with her. I get the feeling she feels left out, sort of…on the inside looking in at the rest of her…I want to try to make the effort to make he feel more included.”

Tristian thought about his response and then in a quieter voice said, “It is true, but yes, I am also testing, that seems like the sort of thing he might feedback if he’s her spy, and it’s something I haven’t had the chance to tell her yet. As for there being something there, no, there isn’t.”

Richard had been very clear about wanting to keep that particular part of his life quiet, and it wasn’t really a lie, there wasn’t anything there; it was just sex. However, he still felt like he was keeping something from her and he did not like that, he was already keeping so much. Choosing his words carefully he added, “Richard is a very private person and I promised to provide him that discretion. It’s good. The two of us can just be ourselves. No expectations, no judgement. Well…some judgement, we’re both quite snarky, but…yeah…nothing there but a weird sort of friendship with…added bonuses.”

He squeezed her hand back and glancing at Todd smiled and said, “Well…I guess we’ll find out. But I’m always here for you, whenever you need me.”

‘Well I definitely am now’ he thought when she asked him if he would be attending the karaoke.

He had still been trying to decide but given that he wanted Lorelei to feel more included, and now that he knew that his little sister’s new paramour that had just been flirting with him a few days ago was also going to be in attendance, it would appear his mind was made up.

“I am,” he said smiling, “although don’t expect me to get up and sing. I’ll leave that to the experts…like your Cal…will you be singing?”

[Genevieve]

She rolled her eyes at the use of his nickname for Meredith, pursing her lips slightly but saying nothing. She knew the relationship between Tristian and Meredith had been difficult when they were younger, but as far as she was concerned the main thing was that they got on well now, and a little bit of sibling wind up and rivalry was to be expected.

"I wouldn't hold your breath on the Austen fiction," she said with a small smile. "I get the feeling that might be a little too tame for Lorelei's brand of story. Unless it's, I don't know, Pride and Prejudice with werewolves or something." She laughed. "I wonder who you'd appear as in that one?" She nodded though, understanding and agreeing with his feelings of including Lorelei more. "I went to see her when she was recovering, I know what you mean. I got the same feeling." She said with a small sigh. "It's a shame she didn't get to spend more time with us growing up."

She nodded seriously at his comments about Richard, but couldn't stop herself feeling a little thrill of excitement for him. She was very much able to read into the meaning behind people's words, and she fully understood what Tristian was saying, or rather, what he was not saying. And she couldn't help but hope that perhaps what was there now might grow into something a little more, something to make Tristian truly happy. "It sounds like a good... arrangement." She said with a smile.

Another smile appeared at the mention of Cal's name, and she looked down at her plate, pushing a piece of the cake around with her fork. When she looked back up at Tristian, the look on her face was that of someone completely smitten, someone who had fallen head over heels for the other girl. "Yes, I don't think she'll miss the opportunity to get up and sing in front of a captive audience. I'm glad you'll be there! You should sing though." She smiled, even though she had absolutely no plans of singing herself. "I don't think I'll sing though, I'd be far too embarrassed to get up in front of everyone like that. It sounds like Lorelei has invited the entire population of Trenale after all."

[Tristian]

He mulled it over, “Pride and Prejudice and Werewolves? Now that I would definitely read. Hmm…well you dearest sister would have to be Jane, I adore Jane so you would have to be her…Meredith is definitely an Elizabeth, although Mordred is almost certainly Wickham…I don’t know…I’m not sure I would actually fit in Pride and Prejudice…I’m more of an Emma.”

Smiling to himself at the truth in that statement he took a little sip of his tea. “Then, that’s settled, I’ll make sure I get her those lessons then, now to figure out what to get the rest of you,” he said with a mock long suffering sigh, “you’re all so hard to buy for, honestly.”

He was glad when she didn’t press any further in regards to his rooming with Richard and said, “it is a very…beneficial arrangement. For both of us.”

It was bad, that smile at the mention of Cal worried him, but he did his best not to let that show on his face. He could tell his sister was falling, and falling hard, and right now he really wasn’t sure about this girl. Oh they had a mostly pleasant time sipping hot chocolate together, but still, he couldn’t forget what had preceded that. He was one to make quick judgements of people, and ‘commitment’ hadn’t been something he had picked up from her.

“You have a lovely voice Genevieve, you shouldn’t be afraid to show it,” he said with a smile at her, “you could always sing with someone else…maybe…maybe Cal will want to sing with you.”

‘I hope not’ he couldn’t help but think.

“So…what do you know about her?” he asked as casually as he could.

[Genevieve]

"Mordred can't be Wickham, because Jenny is definitely Lydia, and that's just a frightening pairing." Genevieve smiled mischievously at her brother. "And you're a Bingley through and through, Tris." She said with a warm smile, before suddenly pulling a face. "Oh, but in that case I can't be Jane." She shook her head slightly, disturbed by the thought. "Or maybe you're right, you should stay as an Emma."

Shaking her head, she swallowed the sip of tea she had just taken before speaking again. "I don't need anything for Christmas, don't be silly. Spend the money on something else, or yourself, or... something." She smiled at Tristian. "The others aren't that hard to buy for though." She gave a small shrug. "Something crafty or for the pets for Jesse, something from the comic book store for Gaston, something shiny for Jenny." She grinned. "Simple. You're the difficult one in that respect. Perhaps I'll ask Jesse to carve a bust of you, and I'll give you that for your flat." She teased him with a sparkle in her eye.

She intuitively knew not to press any further on the Richard point, and she simply smiled at him, pleased that he seemed happy. She hoped that his happiness would grow, and she would be keeping up with the situation from a distance, making sure that the arrangement continued to make him happy, and it wouldn't turn into another Mordred situation.

Blushing as he complimented her voice, she shook her head. She had never been good at receiving compliments, never fully believing them and so not knowing how to react, changing the subject quickly to defer the attention away from herself. Just as she did now. "Cal would outshine the sun onstage, I think. Actually not just onstage, but anywhere. I'm more than happy to sit back and just enjoy it." At his next question she thought for a minute. She had learned a lot on their date, and she smiled again at the memory. "Well, she told me about her family, who sound very different to ours." Not that there were many families like theirs, she thought as she caught Tristian's eye. "Two mums, and one's a vampire - I bet that would interest your dad." She said with a small laugh. Arthur's interest in vampires was a badly kept secret, after all. "She's musical, she's smart - she makes really good pancakes, she made me breakfast the next morn-" She stopped speaking suddenly, cringing as she realised what she'd said and avoiding looking up at Tristian.

She had not meant to reveal that little bit of information.

[Tristian]

“Jenny is definitely Lydia,” he agreed with a smile, laughing as she was pointing out the complications, “it does get rather complicated doesn’t it? I love Austen but when it comes to my sisters I’ve always thought of you as the March Sisters.”

Tristian reached into his pocket and took his phone out as she started to rhyme off what were the best things to get the others and took a couple of notes. “Thanks,” he said when she was done, “otherwise they were all just going to get the outfits they should be wearing and not something that they actually want…and don’t worry, I’ll think of something special for you.”

As he put the phone back in his pocket he laughed and said, “I’m not that hard to buy for, I’m happy with a nice scarf and some tea…although a bust of me would surely be glorious.”

It was good to hear her so happy as she talked about this girl but something still irked him about it, about the girl to be exact. What kind of girl was she? The love them and leave them type or was there something more going on? But he was determined to be the supportive big brother…he’d look for Cal later. Nodding and smiling, laughing when she mentioned the vampire, and then…

“The…next morning?” he said raising an eyebrow, he kept the smile in place, trying to keep his tone light whilst internally he was going into panic mode, “she stayed the night?”

[Genevieve]

She rolled her eyes with an indulgent look on her face as he promised her something special - she knew there was no point arguing with him. "You must have a hundred scarves by now." She said with a smile as she reached for the teapot to pour both herself and her brother another cup.

She looked sheepishly away from Tristian as he picked up on her hastily cut off sentence. Turning her attention to the tea, she busied herself adding milk and sugar, avoiding looking up at him as he questioned what she'd said.

"Erm... well..." She could feel her cheeks flaming as she avoided his eye. She really, really hadn't wanted to reveal that piece of information, but she knew there was no going back now. Taking a deep breath, she decided to reach inside for some of that fire that Cal had seen, and looked up, looking Tristian in the eye and hoping she looked confident.

"Yes. She stayed the night." She gave him a small smile. "I guess I'm full of surprises today, huh?"