Family

[thehorseman]

Twilight. Dusk slipped like silk over the granite-strewn field where a cloud-grey stallion waited. Within the stallion's form, Anraí tried to steady the potent brew of anticipation and nervousness ratcheting through him.

Telling his family that he'd gotten engaged when he'd only let slip that he was involved with someone maybe a month previous ... well, the response on all fronts had been an instant and unanimous Dear God you never said can't believe it keeping secrets thought you were up to something WHEN DO WE MEET HER?! A little overwhelming, but heartfelt.

So the púca waited at the chosen place and time, his coat nearly blending in with the stone and the twilight. He'd meet them here, father, brothers and sister, and take them to meet his wife to be.

Rory arrived first, his sleek, steel-grey horse form nearly dancing with excitement. A brief mock-fight between the two stallions ended with them both in man form, Anraí having gotten his younger (and much taller) brother in a headlock. Rory was still insisting that he'd only lost because he didn't drop his duffel bag in time when Da and Caitlín arrived, silvery stallion and pure ebony mare. In short order he was collecting a warm embrace from his father, followed up by Cait jumping on his back, laughing and tossing her ink-black curls.

"Laine's not here?" she asked, looking around after collecting her own hug.

"She's at the house. I'll take you all up as soon as Tadhg arrives." He had no sooner finished speaking then he felt a firm shove in the middle of his back. Turning around, he saw a smug-looking charcoal-colored horse shimmer and melt into an equally smug-looking, dark-haired man. "You were saying?"

And so, after reclaiming the bags (Anraí insisted on taking one of Cait's pair), the slightly-other-than-ordinary family went to meet the woman who would become its newest member.


This is both a JustPrompts response and RP post for rein_it_in, sonofgranite, fey_fire, gifted_hands and a_chaitlin.


Muse: Anraí MacEibhir
Fandom: The Grey Horse by R.A. MacAvoy
Prompt: 2008/07/03-13, Family
Word count: 326

Comments

[fey-fire.livejournal.com]

Rory laughed out loud as Harvard produced a near-human sigh of disappointment and moped his way back to Tadhg's side, where he placed his chin on a convenient knee. Dropping into a seat next to his sister, Rory joined Cait in tickling the pup's tummy.

"Anything cold is fine for me. Iced tea, lemonade ... whatever's handy." His smile was warm and affable as he stretched out his long legs.

Though he didn't look it, Rory was carefully taking in all the details he could about Laine. About Laine and Anraí together. He very much wanted to write a song for their wedding, and hoped to gather ideas while here.

[rein-it-in.livejournal.com]

Laine smirked the dog's antics and began filling glasses with ice, pulled a pitcher of tea from the fridge. "Darlin'?" She arched a questioning eyebrow at Anraí, asking if he wanted anything himself.

She also grabbed a lemon from a bowl of fruit on the counter and a paring knife from a wooden block, slicing the citrus globe into wedges in quick, deft motions. Pressing the fruit onto the rims of the tumblers she smiled, "What about the rest of you?"

She enjoyed playing hostess, having something to do while she snuck glances at Anraí's family, trying to find the familial resemblance as well as satisfy her own curiosity about them.

[thehorseman.livejournal.com]

The vote was for iced tea all around, and Anraí quickly checked the level in the sugar bowl, knowing that Rory and Cait took theirs almost tooth-achingly sweet. Fortunately it was full up. He and Da stayed at one spoonful each. Tadhg, after a test-sip, pronounced it fine without.

After a long pull at her glass, Cait turned to his wife-to-be with a demure smile on her face and the sparkle of Cait-merriment in her eyes. "So, Laine, what sort of dirt would you like dished on Biggest Brother? Don't hesitate to ask; as the youngest I still feel it my duty to embarrass my brothers as needed."

Chuckling, Ruairí reached over to rumple his daughter's hair, setting off a filly-ish snort and head toss. "And you're always welcome to ask any other questions you might have," he said. "You already know what we are, and we've few enough secrets beyond that. As few as possible, where family's concerned."

[rein-it-in.livejournal.com]

Laine tried to not make a face at the, to her, disgusting amount of sugar Rory and Cait plied their glasses with, instead opting to refill her wine glass before resting a hip against the counter. Winking at Cait, "I'm sure they all deserve it."

She shrugged a shoulder, acknowledging the inquiry but not sure what to make of Ruairí's candid offer. She had her own secrets after all, and she wasn't sure what, if anything Anraí had told his family about the near fiasco that had occurred here not that long ago. Sometimes truth was as messy as a lie. "About that...I don't know if Anraí told you how that even happened."

Laine chuckled to herself as she glanced at him, remembering quite clearly the look on his face when he'd been caught out. "I don't think I've ever been more pissed off at somebody..."