damn-it-daniyah-blog

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She nods, head bobbing along to the rhythm of Ev’s stammering. He’s tomato-ing again, but it’s not the good sort; it’s the kind that reminds her of Roshan every time he was caught hanging around the kitchen. Guilty, but not for a reason she particularly understands, or cares to parse.

But she at least understands not wanting to speak it in Stormwind. Being associated with blood elves in the Alliance capital? Possibly a bad idea. 

“Right, thank you dove.” She pats his side, and laughs a little. “Goodness knows I can understand being rusty. Did you know, I used to be able to speak Pandaren? Only the Kun Lai dialect, of course, but I was semi-fluent. It’s mostly gone now, I’m afraid, which is such a shame because it’s a terribly beautiful language.”

It’s not just self-centred rambling, although it’s no small part of it. Ev doesn’t want to talk about Thalassian, that much is becoming clearer and clearer, and she’s good at reading people. She knows it’s not the language that’s the problem. And, frankly, she wants to discuss it about as much as he does, which is to say, not at all.

Anyway, his voice is doing the Thing, so that means it’s definitely time for a change in subject.

“You’re ever so forgiven,” Jai answers with a flair and a breathy quality to his voice that tells Ev that his brother really is probably just fucking with him. Probably. Hopefully. He’s lived with Jai and helped Jai sneak out on enough dates that he – rather unfortunately – knows that it could just as easily be sincere. 

He blinks, then, at the question, and hesitates. By now, Daniyah obviously knows that he’s familiar with the language, even if his own knowledge is more shaky and rusty than it is comprehensive. It’s silly, to flush and fidget when it comes to translating a word as simple as ‘father’ – he knows this, he understands this, but it still doesn’t mean that Ev can shake the old block without a bit of a fight. 

It isn’t that he dislikes Thalassian, or elven culture in general, not really. He just doesn’t like how distinctly…well, how distinctly not Gilnean it is, or even just human in general. Thalassian is fine at home, sometimes, as long as he can pull his voice back into something more resembling a Gilnean accent than a Thalassian one. 

It’s a bit futile, and his voice shifts accents just as often as his pitch slides about, but he tries nonetheless. It’s easier to be a Gilnean in Stormwind than a high elf – blood elf? – in Stormwind. Ev’s not stupid. 

“Ann’da is ‘father,’” Ev answers, and shakes his head with a small smile. “No, you’re right, you’re not making a fool out of yourself. I mean, I don’t know much of it, either..?”

Jai gives him a quizzical look, not quite accusatory, but still curious. “You speak it ‘bout as good as the rest of us, though? You and Kalyani talk in it.”

The flush of his face deepens, and Ev drops his gaze to his shoes a moment, and then shakes his head again. It’s fine speaking it with his cousin; Kalyani’s different. He feels secure in the fact that any blood elf who sneaks her way into Alliance cities by hiding the green of her eyes behind obnoxiously bright goggles and bedazzled sunglasses won’t give him any funny looks for slipping between languages every now and then, or laugh at his accents and the clear juxtaposition between human and not.

“I mean, kind of? Yeah. Not – but not often, I mean?” He steals a glance at Daniyah’s expression, and then draws his chin back up. “It’s just – being out of practice..? I mean, I guess I shouldn’t speak it much in Stormwind, because – you know, it’s just…”

He does know, and he supposes that there are solid reasons as to why not to speak Thalassian in Stormwind – there are far more blood elves than technical high elves, it suggests that he isn’t human and maybe not even really part of the Alliance, or – no, he really only cares about the first thing. His reason is self-consciousness, which is the exact type of reason that he’s satisifed with never, ever discussing. 

#smacks head against keyboard: heres a reply im sorry #but EV DARLING i love him oh my god #Hug Time #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She gasps, and bats her eyelashes at Jai when he kisses her hand, then gives him an exaggeratedly flirty look in reply. Unfortunately, her other hand is occupied in keeping Ev in close proximity; not just because he’s really the only familiar face, but also just Because. (There are a lot of Cadburys.)

“I would never hope to cause offense,” she lies blatantly, voice breathy and an inch away from giggles. But Daniyah does not Giggle, unless it’s little cackles with Ev, so she contains it like the proper performer she is. “Please accept my sincerest apologies, Mister Jai.”

It takes a minute for ‘Ann’da’ to click, because she’s not good with languages but she’s beginning to think it’s not a name. If Minn’da is Mother, then Ann’da is Father. Ev doesn’t really talk about his parents, but she thinks his dad is okay. Not great, really, but less... Vimala-y. 

And Nitin is... she racks her brains, and finally settles on ‘maths professor.’ Oh, Yu’lon. That might prove awkward. She huffs out a laugh, and hopes that Roshan doesn’t have Nitin as one of his professors. That would be... potentially awkward. Roshan is a good student but also a complete ditz. Embarrassingly so.

“I’m sure I’ll get to make a terrible impression at some point.” She draws herself up - not that it makes a difference, since they’re all so bloody tall - and smiles beatifically. “Ann’da is ‘father,’ correct? Or am I making a fool of myself?”

Ev tenses at the touch, for just a second, but then he shakes his head and bumps her hip with his thigh. For a moment, for just a flash, he’s hit with a rush of concern – he thinks that Daniyah is joking, he really does.

 But he also remembers clouds of opium smoke, her ease in lighting and handling the pipe, in instructing him on how to actually breathe in without accidentally hacking up a lung while exhaling. A practiced air to her motions, a learned familiarity that suggested plenty of experience. 

Still, no, she must just be making a joke. And even on the odd chance that maybe she wasn’t quite–

Well. Ev’s learned not to ask questions, anyways. He certainly isn’t going to press over a stupid joke. 

Besides, he has Jai and Kapil’s feigned shock to divert his attention and send him into another fit of giggles, still not quite calm but not nearly as anxious, either. Jai nods toward the stairs, and then with another quick glance at Ev, tugs her hand up to kiss it. Ev makes a face. “Yeah, sure, I know he’ll want to meet you, too. And no, although – I get what you’re implying there and, frankly, I’m offended – he got here just before you and Ev did, so he’ll probably be downstairs for a bit with Ann’da. They’re really close.” 

#MY STOMACH JUST. FWOOMP. I HATE THIS REPLY #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She wraps her arm around his waist and yanks him close, shaking him a little and tutting. He’s doing that ‘every statement is actually a question’ thing, and that means he’s nervous, and she’d much rather focus on his nervousness rather than her own. Just don’t think about it, and pretend everything’s fine, and sooner or later you’ll convince yourself too.

“Fifteen and you’d never been drunk before?” she demands, laughingly, and bounces her hip off his thigh. This seems like safer territory than sparklefingers - literally. “You innocent baby angel! I can’t believe this - and with so many tricksters in the family!”

She flicks her gaze to said brothers and laughs, shaking her head. “You’re practically paragons of virtue, goodness.”

Compared to the company she hung around at fifteen, they really are. She can’t remember the first time she got drunk, which means she was probably nowhere near old enough. Then again, she doesn’t, really, actually remember a whole lot from her teenage years, up until 17, so it’s not much of a surprise.

She swings Jai’s hand, and directs her next question to him, because Ev’s still tomato-ing and he needs at least a moment to de-blush. “So, do I get to meet this Nitin fellow, or has he forsaken you all? Because frankly, I wouldn’t blame him. Not that you aren’t wonderful,” she adds reassuringly, flicking her eyes to the others as well, “but I daresay you are... somewhat energetic, perhaps.”

And by ‘somewhat energetic’ she means ‘utter terrors’, and she’s not repentant in the slightest.

Jai gasps, all delight and mock surprise, and turns his head to bat his eyelashes at her. Ev gags, as exaggeratedly as he can manage, but he can’t hide the furious flush creeping all the way up to his ears. 

See, he doesn’t really mind, the littler stories. A joke about Miran’s druid forms here, a tale of Ev’s accidental career as a lighter there. He knows that the absurdity of the situation is comedic, at least among, the lot of them. Sometimes, it’s almost comforting in a way; it eases a bit of his terrible anxiety over his own magic, knowing that his slip-ups can make his brothers laugh. 

But the story Jai just told is – he had been fifteen, then, fifteen and a twig with a swinging braid and too many books. Fifteen was…it wasn’t great, but it was fine. Fifteen was quiet magic tricks, earnest discussions on magical theory with Miran and sometimes even Jai. Fifteen, however, is terribly close to sixteen, and to an incident that Ev never wants to recount to Daniyah.

Nobody talked about Ev’s magic anymore, after sixteen. 

He’s still never told her that the burn scars twining up and down his arms are, technically, self-inflicted. 

So he just laughs, the pitch higher than he’d like, and shakes his head. “It was an accident, though..? I mean, I was fifteen, then? I’d never been drunk before, and some family members of mine decided to be irresponsible, and, well – it’s only happened once, since? Nitin got over it pretty quickly, and his husband thought it was pretty amusing, too. So there’s that..?”

#EV SWEET THING!!! I ONLY NYEHEHED A LITTLE AND YOU GIVE ME THIS YOU HYPOCRITE #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She shoots Dev a reassuring look, a little gentler than she likes, then looks up to listen to Jai. Laughter comes easily; the affectation in his voice is amusement enough, let alone listening to him moan about ego boosts. She pats his arm, then just to fuck with Ev, raises their joint hands and kisses Jai’s knuckles.

Her laughter drops off, and her smile turns a fraction nervous, as Kapil does an uncanny impression of Ev and Jai paints an all-too-thorough image of the scene. Fire and Daniyah do not mix. Fire and Ev and Daniyah...

She knows, theoretically, that Ev does the whole spontaneous combustion routine. But there’s a difference between idle knowledge, and anecdotes, people creating a vivid image as a Thing That Happens. It’s hard to conceptualise how Jai can be so - so casual about it, about Ev just, oh, y’know, setting himself and the table on fire. 

Fire and Daniyah do not mix.

But, neither does Daniyah and a faux pas, so she forces a laugh and stares at Ev, wide-eyed, as if she’s shocked rather than afraid. It’s just a story. It happened, once, and surely it won’t happen again. She tries not to calculate the statistics.

“Everett Heathen Cadbury, you did not!” she gasps, and fans her face. “Oh, I can’t believe it, how could you? You fun-ruiner! And did Nitin ever forgive you? I should hope not, gracious, he sounds like a saint. Dear Yu - Light, Sparky.”

Ev catches the flash of surprise that crosses over Dan’s face, and he nudges her arm in what he hopes is a silent affirmation. What exactly he’s trying to affirm, he isn’t quite sure, but he thinks that he’s starting to get a better grasp on the subtleties in Daniyah’s expressions. At least, he hopes. 

Dev flushes, but visibly relaxes, and lets Kapil continue his fussing. “I – thank you so much. I hope, I mean, as long as it’s speechless in a good way! Light, yeah, it’ll be – it’ll be fine. And thanks, Kapil.” 

He pauses, and for one brief moment, Ev thinks that he might have found an ally, but then Dev grins over at Jai, who grins back, and Ev knows that he is, to put it scientifically, fucked. 

“Dearest Everett,” Jai starts in his best dramatic drawl, and Ev contemplates stomping on his foot. Kapil snickers, and ruffles his hair. “Is regularly a pretty flammable guy, right? Always hot. I don’t mean that as a compliment, sorry, because I’m struggling in a few of my classes right now and I really gotta have the ego boost that the title of Most Attractive Brother gives me–”

Kapil and Ev stomp on Jai’s feet in unison, and he yelps and bursts into laughter. “Fine, fine! I mean, Ev’s kind of a walking matchstick, and scientifically, it’s fantastic. But alcohol is flammable, and that applies to mixing alcohol and a fire mage–”

“That was so not my fault, you’re the ones who let me drink!”

“You accepted the drinks!” Jai can hardly speak; he’s laughing too much. “Minn’da yelled at us for ages about it, anyways, but that’s not the point. Ev got excited about something, can’t remember what, so he did his clappy thing, you know, the..?”

Kapil stops to demonstrate, bouncing up on his toes and clapping his hands together, and Ev flushes and sticks out his tongue. It’s accurate, and he hates it. 

“Right, that one! So, Ev claps, his fingertips turn into these great little flamethrowers, flames hit the bouquet on the table, Rasik puts it out with his drink, Ann’da looks up from across the room with this look of complete horror, and I’m pretty sure that Minn’da yelled at us so loud that a glass shattered somewhere.” Jai closes his eyes, swinging the hand still clasped in Daniyah’s, and takes a bow. Ev just groans. “Nitin just gave us all the most unamused look, too, like he wasn’t even mad, just used to it by now. It was hilarious.”

#nnnnnnnnnnnNOPE #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

Her cheeks are beginning to ache, faintly, from smiling so much, but that doesn’t stop her from beaming at Kapil. Daniyah likes being complimented. It’s a character flaw.

She glances up at Ev, eyebrows rising unconsciously, and blinks at him in surprise. He talks about her? To his brothers - as in, enough that Dev knows about Gen’s fascination? She flushes red, and looks back at Dev, and determinedly ignores the heat in her cheeks. Hopefully, no one can see it past her foundation.

“Your shirt is perfect, sweetheart,” she says, and her fingers twitch reflexively. No straightening strangers’ ties, Sadik, that is Weird and Not Done. At least Kapil has his priorities straight. “I’m sure Aeron will be positively speechless.”

(She is assuming, of course, that Aeron is his fiancée. It’s a firm assumption, she thinks. She should probably have looked a little harder at the invitation Ev had flashed at her, but frankly, she had other things on her mind at the time. Somewhat literally.)

Her eyes widen with Ev’s, but instead she leans forward eagerly and waves a dismissive hand in Ev’s direction. If she won’t get interesting stories out of him, she has absolutely no qualms in quarrying them up out of his brothers; especially if she can use them as teasing fuel. “Ignore him, what did he accidentally do?”

Smile flickering into something a bit more apologetic at visibly startling her, Kapil reaches over to ruffle her hair, the same way he does with Ev. “I do try, really, I know there’s portals! And really? That’s great, Stormwind’s great – oh, I really like your earrings!” 

Ev lets out another small laugh – not at anything in particular, really, just the giddy sort of happiness that comes with being back with his brothers, and now with Dan. Even if she is a nasty brother flirter and smoocher, it feels – right, having her here, the same way it feels right having her at home with Ben and the girls. Another hand finds Ev’s shoulder, and he glances over to see Dev, still chewing on his lip and fidgeting with his tie, even as he’s smiling. Or at least trying to.

His smile turns shy at Daniyah’s words, and he ducks his chin, briefly, before turning his attention to tugging at his jacket, instead. “Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Daniyah, Ev’s told us all about you, too – I hear Gen still thinks you’re a princess, right? He talks all the time about how great you are with them, it’s really – fuck, wait, is my tie messed up? My shirt looks funny, does it – does it look funny?” 

Kapil wiggles around Ev, and then Jai and Dan, to start tugging at Dev’s tie. “No, I think you’re fine! You have a bit of time still, the rest of the family’s still getting here, and I know Aeron’s still getting ready. Besides, you’ve been together for years, d’you really think she’ll dump you at the altar just because your tie’s crooked?”

“I don’t know, maybe?” Dev’s hands fly up to his face, and he groans. “Sorry. Sorry, it’s ridiculous, it’s just – nerves. It’s just a lot when, well, you’re the one actually getting married. The only thing I was scared about with Nitin’s wedding was when Ev accidentally–”

Ev’s eyes go wide, and he whips arond to violently shake his head, because there is no way he is telling that story to Daniyah. None. “It was – it hasn’t happened since, I swear! It doesn’t matter, really, it’s just – you’ll be fine, Dev, I promise.”

#THEYRE S O #IM SUCH A MESS #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

“Yes, I’m Stormwinder,” she says, and cocks a hip, wagging a finger facetiously. “And continents are no excuse; portals exist these days, young man.”

She startles as Kapil rockets up, the sudden leap of movement utterly - although probably mistakenly - unexpected. He moves with more energy than she’s used to. She’ll have to remember that; there’s nothing elegant about jumping whenever someone so much as gets to their feet.

Her gaze bounces between the brothers as they speak, following the conversation, and she briefly wonders who Ann’da is before there’s another unruly head of dark hair sticking out from a door. This, then, is the groom himself. 

She smiles, mostly amused, and nods. “The one and only. Congratulations, darling; it’s not every day you get married. Ev’s told me lots about you - good things, I promise! Mostly. No, I’m kidding, it’s a pleasure to put a face to the name.”

It’s a little strange, though, knowing that they’re all brothers. If they didn’t look so alike - or have so many freckles - she’d think they were a tight knit group of friends. The ‘family’ label just... doesn’t sit right. (For one, they all seem to like each other, genuinely. If she hadn’t just met their mother, she’d be convinced they were playing a joke on her, and did just coincidentally all look alike.)

Kapil laughs, at the little kiss, and shakes Ev when his expression shifts from mildly judgmental to full-out bleugh. “It’s nice to meet you, Daniyah! And nah, Ev’s alright, usually. Besides, I still live in Darnassus, sorta far! You’re from just around Stormwind, right?” 

Ev just laughs again as he gets up, and then pulls another face at Daniyah, just to spite her, as he helps Kapil up. The process of helping Kapil up is really just grabbing his hand and then almost flying backwards himself, because Kapil doesn’t move, he bounces. Not the way Ben bounces, though, not really; Ben’s bounces are small, usually just him rising up on his toes and swinging his arms, while Kapil bounces are full-body, full-energy, human rocket style. 

“Dev upstairs?” Jai swings Dan’s hand down from his chest, and at Kapil’s easy nod, tries again. “Alright, so, is Dev upstairs and does Dev care if I break into the stash before the actual ceremony starts? We had a, well…”

He glances to Ev, who shakes his head and leans against Kapil’s arm. “Run-in with Mother. She, well – she’s still as – Mother-ly as ever..?”

“Oh, yeah, no, that’s fair. Sorry, I was hoping Ann’da had her distracted, she’s been a little pissy at him because Saral, well – he and Saral almost knocked something over and their cover up didn’t work well.” Kapil lets out a low whistle, and then lowers his voice. “’Sides, I think Dev’s getting kinda nervous–”

“I’m not nervous!” First comes Dev’s voice, sounding fantastically nervous, and then his head of uncombed hair, poking out of the doorway of his room. “It just seems like a bad idea to – Jai, it’s so early, we really need it now? But I’m not drinking right before getting married, it just seems like a bad idea, even though possibly under other circumstances, I – oh! Oh, hi, sorry, hi, um – Daniyah, right?”

#AND ANOTHER ONE #THEYRE ALL CRAWLING OUT OF THE WOODWORK #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major #confused daniyah noises

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

Why does everyone seem to think she’s Elyon? Does she look like an Elyon? (Reasonably, she knows it’s because Ev and Elyon are, well, Evelyon, but also; ew.) Daniyah would hate to look like an Elyon. Elyons are skinny and won’t let her give them haircuts.

She smiles at Kapil, and blows him a kiss. Just a little one, though. Proper smooches are for Jai, whose arm she reclaims and pats once in appreciation. Conveniently, it also marks a quiet Ev bleugh.

“Charmed,” she says, and her smile widens faintly at his cheer. She’s never met anyone with a bigger smile, and that includes the time Zuri tried going on their meds for the first time. “High praise, I’m told. I’m of the opinion that really, Ev’s the asshole for not introducing us sooner.”

She winks at Ev, then laughs at his scrunched nose. “Oh, chin up, doll, don’t pull faces at your guest.”

Kapil, on his knees and up on the landing, is at her height, so she doesn’t offer him a hand up. It seems all of the Cadburys carry the ‘unnecessarily tall’ gene, and Daniyah isn’t going to just start making it easy for them to tower over her. But she reaches over to ruffle his hair anyway, because she can, and beams at him. 

Jai grabs Daniyah’s hand and clasps it to his chest, eyelashes fluttering, but then Daniyah snorts and his demure expression cracks back into grin at her barely-disguised snort. He hums again at her thoughtful expression, and then his brows shoot up. “Sixty-five? Damn. You’re on. And I think that’s fair, I know which ones you’re talking about – those are definitely double points.”

He pulls his expression back into something more neutral as Daniyah leads them both up the stairs, and eyes the mess that is Kapil and Ev, resident Graceful Brothers, attempting to disentangle their limbs. And in Kapil’s case, attempting to free his hand from where it’s stuck in between the thin wood planks holding up the banister. “No concussions, right?”

“Questionable,” comes Kapil’s voice, still light as ever despite his head having been quite thoroughly introduced to the ground. Ev reaches to help tug at Kapil’s arm, and his hand finally pulls free. “Thanks! Yeah, no, we’re good! Hey, wait, you’re Ev’s friend, right? You’re…Elyon? Daniyah? Zuri?”

He bounces forward, so that he’s sitting up on his knees, and slings an arm around Ev, who can’t help the tiny giggle that escapes. Kapil is – Kapil. He has a permanent enthusiasm, and on more than one occasion, Ev has contemplated putting together an experiment just to prove that it’s contagious. He’s entirely convinced. 

He’s also entirely appalled by Dan’s words, and he wrinkles his nose at her. “Oh, um – yeah! Yeah, this is Daniyah.”

Ev briefly considers introducing her as the disgusting brother smoocher she is, but decides against it. He doesn’t want her getting any more ideas than she already has. “Dani, this is Kapil. He’s actually not an asshole?”

#K A P I L OH MY GOD HONEY!!!! #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She lets out a shriek as Ev runs headfirst into someone who must be another Cadbury - there’s only so many freckles a guy can have before he becomes family by association. The shriek is mostly laughter, though, and she covers her mouth as she grins. 

“I would catch you, never fret,” she says to Jai earnestly, trying - and failing - to contain her laughter. It catches the edges of her words and she has to fight to keep from snorting. “It would be such a tragedy for your handsome face to meet the floor over such a trifling thing, Mister Jai. I should catch you, in the most dramatic of fashions, and perhaps request a kiss for my - ”

A snort does make it’s way through, and she covers it with a hasty fit of coughing, because Jai is speaking of bets and bets are not won with indelicate noises of amusement. Bets are won with copious Ev bleughing, and sonnets about Jai’s grin, and lots of ‘Mister Jai’s and ‘Miss Daniyah’s. 

She tucks her hair behind her ear and pops her lips, contemplative but teasing. “I’m an optimist; let’s go for sixty-five. Maybe the really big bleughs can count as two.”

Then, because she is a Good Friend, debatably, some of the time, she leads the way up the stairs and bends faintly as she gets to a few steps away from the tangle of elbows. “Are you two quite alright? We were having a Moment, and now you’ve gone and interrupted us.”

Ev bursts into giggles at the exact moment that Dan’s disgruntled expression breaks into something far lighter, and it only gets worse when Jai pinches his expression into something of a wise, wistful stare off into the distance. The distance happens to be the slightly chipping green paint on the wall, but Ev knows not to question the sincerity of that look. 

“There’s no shame in trying and then–” His monologue is cut short, by Ev’s bleugh, and he snickers as he turns his head to bat his eyelashes back at Daniyah. “Oh, Miss Daniyah, I’m not offended in the slightest. I – I think that I might swoon, though, if – Miss Daniyah!” 

Jai’s grin becomes so wide at the smooch that Ev has to question just how it’s possible that it hasn’t reached his ears, but he doesn’t have time for scientific investigation, because he’s making the most appalled noise he can muster and rocketing up the stairs. He’s done, he’s disgusted, he never wants to see lips near Jai’s stupid smug Annoying face again and certainly not Dan’s and oh Light is that how Jai felt that one time he caught Ev and Ben having a friendly conversation with their mouths just really close because he’s officially repenting, Ev has seen the Light, and he is never–

He runs right smack into Kapil, and they both go tumbling backward – thankfully – into the hall, where they land in a heap of gangly limbs and dreadful freckles.

From the staircase, Jai winces, and then turns back to Daniyah and whispers back, barely holding back another snicker, “You’re on. How many d’you think we can get in one day? Solid fifty’s my bet.”

#BLESS THIS THREAD!!!! #EV IM SOOOOO SORRY #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

“Trust me, I understand handfuls of mothers.” She makes a face, but it doesn’t last long, because she has Ev pretending to be Serious and Thoughtful on one side and Jai’s hair on the other. “I’m impressed you even try, honestly; I gave up on mine long ago.”

General Fatima certainly doesn’t have the same ill-intent that Vimala seems to have, but nonetheless, shows the same amount of understanding towards her child. Daniyah doesn’t take all too much offense to it, but getting to crackdown on Vimala wasn’t as hard as it perhaps should have been. 

Ev wanders up the stairs first, so she hitches up her dress with her now free hand and follows with Jai. Stairs and heels aren’t difficult, per se, but with her weight she still has to be careful. It would be such a shame to ruin them, after all. The warning is appreciated.

The bleugh is not. She laughs, and just to wind Ev up, bats her eyelashes at Jai. “What’s the matter, dove? I’m just... appreciating Mister Jai’s fine genetics, is all. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?”

She bites her lip, mostly to keep back a grin but also because Ev’s tomato impression is uncannily accurate. And because Daniyah is a bad friend - a very, very bad friend, which she’s sincerely apologetic for - she just holds Ev’s gaze and bounces up on her toes to smooch Jai’s jawline. 

As she drops down again, she tilts her head away, hair a convenient cloud of a barrier, and whispers to Jai, “Bets on Ev’s bleughs?”

Jai bursts into a fit of laughter all over again, and bends his knees a bit to help Daniyah along with her tugging. “Look, she’s our mother, she occasionally tries, there are certain levels of familial respect we ought to maintain, so on and so forth, but Minn’da’s a bit – hey, Ev, what’s a nice euphemism for ‘bitchy?’” 

Ev furrows his brows in thought, and moves a hand up to tap his chin, but he can’t keep up the solemn thinking charade. “Um, rude? Not pleasant company? A handful?”

Jai hums, and then shakes his head, stupid hair flicking with the motion. “I like ‘a handful.’ Anyways, yeah, I can help you out with the whiskey thing. Or maybe later? We’ll all be heading out then, too. See, Dev and Aeron say that they moved here for ‘work’ and because ‘the area was nice,’ but his house’s also less than ten minute’s walk from the Blue Recluse, so…”

Ev grins, and then stops, squinting a moment at Daniyah’s joke, but then decides to just go with it. He’s certainly not going to argue. “Oh. Yeah, I – yeah, upstairs? Fourth step up is a bit loose, watch your heels, Dani.”

He stops on said fourth step, catching the comment and – unfortunately – when he glances back over his shoulder, Daniyah all up on a very amused Jai’s arm, holding it like she would a bottle of her favorite liquor. Bleugh. “I’m right here!” 

#JAIDAN JAIDAN #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major #B LEUGHHHHH

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

“Umarım sen ve ailen iyisinizdir!” Daniyah calls merrily after Vimala, eyes dancing and fingers twirling in something resembling a wave. She’s heard enough ambiguous sentences from various folk (usually in the guard, bless their hearts) to no longer be worried about their actual intentions and implications. Words are just words. Of all people, Daniyah gets that.

There are several, drawn out heartbeats before either of the Cadburys move, and for a brief moment Daniyah wonders if she overstepped, but then Jai’s shaking her and Ev is headbutting her and she’s trying to hold back a grin.

“I know,” she says to Jai, tugging at his arm to get him down to proper smooch height. Then she laughs, and slings her free arm around Ev’s waist. “I accept payment in the form of margaritas, or if you’ve got a really nice whiskey hidden away somewhere I wouldn’t say no. Your mother’s charming, by the way.”

She looks up as Ev mentions the little exchange. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t curious, and she really does want to ask, but it sounds like it would result in Talking. And, after all, Talking is something neither she nor Ev have any particular inclination to do.

“What’s Thalassian?” she asks teasingly. The smile in her words tells him it’s a joke, but one she means as acceptance. “I’m sure I don’t know. Now come, come, you promised to introduce me to your other brothers. Although,” and here she tugs Jai’s arm a little closer, “I’ve clearly met the best already.” 

She likes Jai. What can she say; flattery will get you everywhere, and there aren’t a lot of people who appreciate her particular skill set.

Ev is a horrid liar. He knows this; for someone who doesn’t Talk very much, he’s still terribly transparent, and said transparency unfortunately applies to the situation at hand. His own reply comes a few seconds too late to be convincing, but he segues quickly enough into a nod and an answer before his mother has time to speak. “Right, um, sorry, Dani.” 

Mother arches a brow at the tell-tale twitch of his lip, and he can see the question forming in her mind, he can hear the whir and click of her thoughts, but then Dan’s clutch hits the ground with a thunk and a clatter.

And – yeah. Yep. That’s a flask and some sort of drug. Ev’s eyes become saucers, and next to him, he can hear Jai’s jaw dropping and the wedding bells in his head. 

“I’m sure.” Mother’s expression hasn’t changed, but her voice is flat, frozen, and Ev knows that Daniyah’s won. “I hope that you can avoid any further incidents. An injury would be very unfortunate. I’ll be out back, if you need anything. Everett, do come speak to me later.” 

He can’t quite tell if Mother just tried to express fake sympathy or made a threat, and judging by Jai’s expression, he can’t seem to, either. Ev nods, although he has no intention of speaking to her again and they both know that, and forces a smile. “Right. Of course.” 

As an afterthought, because he’s feeling particularly emboldened just by Dan’s presence now, he adds, “Nice to see you, Minn’da.” 

She just nods in reply, before turning, and moving back toward the back door where she came from. Still, Ev waits several moments before he even dares to let his expression shift, and Jai doesn’t move. 

When no surprise reappearances come, Jai turns, breaking into a beam, and shakes Dan’s arm. “Holy shit, you’re brilliant.” 

“You – Light, Dani.” Ev finally lets out the breath he’s been holding. His posture loosens and his jaw relaxes, and he slips around them so that he’s on Dan’s other side, where he can nudge his forehead against the top of her head. “You – yeah. I’m buying you drinks later, or something, I – yeah.” 

Here, with Dan and Jai next to him, he actually feels secure at a family event with his mother for the first time, at least as much as he can. Except–

“So, um, that Thalassian thing,” he says with a small cough, ignoring Jai’s bemused look. “That – we don’t talk about it. I mean, me – yeah. Ideally. Please?” 

#IM JUST #IM S OOOO GL AD HOLY SHIT #OH MY GOD BABIES #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

Her expression doesn’t change as Vimala falls into Thalassian - at least, she’s about 83% sure it’s Thalassian - and she just shifts on her feet, leaning a little into Jai. She knows this game. She doesn’t like it, and usually it isn’t played apart from in very impolite company, but she’s familiar enough with it to know what it’s meant to do.

She catches Ev’s look, and beams at him readily, nodding at his question-statements. Frankly, she’ll agree to whatever he wants her to, just because it’s not so much the agreement as the support that’s important. 

“He’s terribly busy, these days,” she says helpfully, because Vimala is right; today she’s the helpful friend, the well meaning but slightly dim blonde. Keep it up for long enough, and most people start questioning if it really is the act it seems. “He almost never comes to see me, it’s such a shame. Too busy working. I keep trying to convince him that work is such a waste of time, but he never listens, do you, sweet thing?”

Is it true? Doesn’t matter. 

She blinks, wide-eyed, at Ev, then looks at Vimala sidelong with a naïve little smile. What does Daniyah do? She’s not going to answer that question. It’s much more amusing to act and let Vimala draw her own conclusions; she’s not particularly interested in hearing what those conclusions are, but so long as they’re nothing good, she’s done her job.

But she’s beginning to get the feeling that Ev just wants his mother to leave, so they can go up and say their congratulations to Dev &co, and - oh, whoops, there goes her clutch, what a coincidence.

“Oh, gracious, I’m awfully sorry!” Her voice is Anduin levels of earnest. She bends over, and there was a reason she chose this dress, and it’s most obvious when she leans. She swipes up the bag, hastily sweeping the little silver flask and the flash of a bag of white powder back inside. The strap is slung over her shoulder, and she rises, waving a hand in front of her face as if to wave away an embarrassed brush. “Oh, I’m so sorry, please forgive me. Awfully clumsy, you know; serves me right for wearing these shoes.”

The thing with Mother, with her purposeful mistakes – it isn’t that he’s not used to it. He’s grown terribly accustomed to it, more than he should be; misgendering from his mother is as expected a staple at family events as Saral and Anit pulling stunts is, or Nitin frowning at them and rubbing his temples. It shouldn’t bother him so much. 

Except it does, and there’s still the anger, that shifts in and out of focus, dim to consuming. There’s the twist in his gut and the pounding in his chest. There’s the flood of memories of Keel, the incidents of strangers passing him and eyeing first his face, and then the line of his throat, the shape of his hips, and averting their eyes as soon as he caught them. It’s too much all at once, for someone already overwhelmed by the fact that he has his own set of emotions.

But Ev’s breath catches in his throat, stuck somewhere between an incredulous rush of breath and a snort of laughter at Dan’s next little spiel. The latter wins out, enough to relax his shoulders just that bit more. Jai taps his fingers against Ev’s shoulders, the are you seeing this translated through the motion and his suddenly wide eyes. 

Ev taps back, because – yeah. He is. 

Mother isn’t fazed for long; she never is. Her voice remains steady, sharp, and she cocks her head to the side, giving Dan another once-over. A twice-over, perhaps. Her dark hair shifts, sways, just enough to reveal one pointed ear. “Miss Daniyah Rana the friend, then. You can imagine what a relief it is to see that my child has found such helpful, knowledgeable company. What is it that you do? The two of you must have many discussions of such linguistics and the flexibility of pronouns – no studies must free up much time, Everett, yes?” 

Jai is already hissing out a warning “Minn’da” when she turns her head from Daniyah to Ev, but it falls on deaf ears. When she speaks again, it’s in Thalassian, and Ev grits his teeth. He thinks that he might like the language, if not for everything else; it’s lilting, musical, smooth, every phrase a song in itself. Now, he wonders again how Mother somehow always manages to make it sound so sharp and incisive. “But not enough time to answer my letters, no?” 

His own Thalassian is rusty, awkward, and certainly not something that he wants to pull out around Dan, but clearly Mother is using it as her bargaining chip for the night. It’s one of her go-to’s. “I’m afraid I didn’t receive any letters, though?”

“Did not receive them, or threw them out?” She doesn’t even blink before replying. 

“I mean, I did get letters, but they were addressed to the wrong person. I’d feel guilty reading them.” He hooks a finger in his pocket, feeling for frayed thread, and straightens up before looking back to Daniyah. Common, when he shifts back to it, tastes like relief. “Daniyah and I meant to go see Dev, actually, right? I’m sure that we could speak later, if – if you’re so interested in how I spend my time, right..?”

#farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major #THIS THREAD IS SO GOOD OH MY GOD #FIGHT ME VIMALA

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She smiles and nods merrily as Vimala repeats her name, and flicks her curls over her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye she can see Ev’s posture shifting and changing, and - well, he really ought to have expected Daniyah to do something like this. But he’s never seen her at a party, never seen her in her natural element. It’s comforting, sometimes, but now it’s mostly amusing.

Then Vimala keeps talking, and inside, Daniyah sighs a little, because she had hoped to avoid that little bit of farce. Vimala is using the right name, check. Now to get her onto the right pronouns.

“Your Common is terribly good!” she says, smiling and resting her free hand on Jai’s arm, next to her other one. “Such a charming accent! Is it your second language, might I ask? I only inquire, see, because - and I do so hate to be discourteous here, but one must understand I simply seek to save you from future predicaments - in Stormwinder Common, we actually have multiple pronouns associated with gender. And do not mistake me! The Tirasian dialect I, and my mother also, have learnt does not have this distinction, so I am most sympathetic to the learning process. But it should perhaps be awkward to introduce the groom with the wrong gender, do you not agree?”

She follows up her little speech with a beaming smile, eyes lit with nothing but helpful eagerness, and bounces very faintly on her toes. It’s not quite childish, but there’s a certain youthful element to it that makes her tone about as far from accusatory as it can get. (A trick, ironically, she learnt from Yuuki, who rather than merry leant towards earnest. But the same cunning applies.)

“Linguistics aside,” she continues, and pats Jai’s arm, “indeed, I am a friend, and I daresay I must thank you for the invitation; after all, surely a woman as esteemed as yourself could be the only one responsible for the forethought of a plus one.”

It’s not like Daniyah tries to be a bitch. She’s just very, very good at it.

Ev finds himself turning, head lifting, not out of any desire to look his mother in the eye – no, definitely not that – but out of something almost like curiosity at Dan’s chatter. He doesn’t know what he was expecting, exactly; he didn’t have the time to come up with several worst case scenarios. 

Perhaps it’s surprise, that’s sending his singed brows shooting up and a strange flutter through his chest – Light knows that surprise is what’s written across his mother’s face right now. But no, he isn’t exactly surprised, either. Just…just grateful. Relieved. Confused by a rush of emotion, certainly. 

“Daniyah Rana,” she says, looking her up and down, expression pinched back into its usual solemnity. Still, though, Ev can see her brow twitch at the sudden flash of thigh, and then the heavy praise.

 Dan is…Dan’s good. 

“I can’t say that Ev has mentioned your name before, no.” Mother, as she always does, speaks his name as though the syllable is the heaviest thing to ever fall from her tongue. Her gaze flicks to Ev, and then back up to Daniyah, who, in her heels, stands currently just a few inches above Mother. “Thank you, Daniyah Rana. Although – I did not know that she was bringing a friend, if that’s what you are. Ev doesn’t usually tell me these things.” 

Ev’s chest is tightening, just like Jai’s hand on his shoulder, but he still nudges Jai to give a quiet no. He learned long ago that getting Mother to listen is a feat that not even Thael’Kas could accomplish, and that it’s best if he tries to save himself some time. 

Still, it’s comforting to know that as he grits his teeth, Mother is wishing that she could do the same in response to Dan.

#IM SORRY EV #you deserve better than this poor thing #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major #misgendering /

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

Daniyah isn’t, contrary to the narrative she tends to push, ignorant. She knows, very well, what the trials and tribulations of being trans are. When she was very small, barely four, Zhaleh became the woman Daniyah knows now. Grandmother Sadik had been open minded, and did her best to use the right pronouns, but sometimes that one slip of the wrong name...

Daniyah knows.

And she loves her sister. She wishes she didn’t, but she does. She loves Ev, too, enough so that she doesn’t mind being pushy and attention seeking at a wedding she isn’t even needed at. It’s what she’s best at, after all.

“Rana, actually!” she says cheerfully, turning and smiling up at a woman who can be none other than Ev’s harpy of a mother. “Daniyah Rana; I assume Ev’s told you about me, and I can’t blame you for getting the name wrong, you were very close! Oh, and might I offer my most fervent well-wishes on your son’s marriage? A beautiful affair, truly, you must be so proud.”

She holds out her hand, and cocks her hip, red silk shifting to expose way too much thigh. Her eyelashes flutter, and she lets the hand on Jai’s arm loosen from where it had clenched reflexively. 

“And I feel I ought to congratulate you on your sons, too.” She rocks forward enough to nod at Ev, and the flick of her hair encompasses Jai as well. “Obviously, it must take quite the mother to raise someone with such fine hair as Jai, and goodness knows where to start with Ev. He’s simply splendid. Honestly, you have my sincerest thanks.”

“The worst,” Jai agrees, slinging his other arm around Ev’s shoulders, and Ev relaxes from his stiff stance and lets himself laugh at Dan’s remark. “Well, if you don’t mind so nobly sacrificing for us, that’d be great. And hey, you can meet Dev, too, and I think Kapil ran upstairs a while ago.” 

Jai stops to survey the room one last time before leading them over toward the staircase, and he cocks his head to the side. “Miran and Stane are gonna come, right? What about Ben and the girls, they’re not..?”

“Miran and Stane are coming,” Ev says, and then gives a small shake of his head. “I – no, um, not this time.”

“Oh. Alright, remind me to send you home with a few things then, I found these old blueprints, thought Ben might want ‘em.” Jai’s voice is as casual as ever, and another rush of gratitude sweeps over Ev. He doesn’t need to explain it to Jai; he knows. He gets why the Levitts don’t make frequent appearances at any family events where – well, where their parents are present, too. 

It’s something that he hopes Daniyah gets, too, even though his own explanations are quite lacking. Summarizing four years of terrible tension while still keeping things vague is – difficult, to put it lightly. But his mother has never taken much to the Levitts, even without Ev mentioning that there are two warlocks in the family. Besides, there are other subjects that his mother likes to bring up, and although he doesn’t keep them hidden from Ruth and Gen, he really prefers that they not be discussed, and especially not by his mother. 

Next to him, Jai stiffens, and Ev is just opening his mouth to question the shift in his expression, but then an accented voice that he wishes wasn’t so familiar answers his question for him. 

“Reena.” 

Ev goes still, frozen, and then he just squeezes his eyes shut. Right. That’s why he doesn’t bring anyone he isn’t related to. His mother exists. 

#YIKES™ #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She beams at the compliment, then gasps and puts her free hand to her mouth at the laughingly spoken list. “Ev, I thought we agreed not to tell anyone! Honestly, Jai, this brother of yours - so unspeakably terrible.”

She flicks her gaze between them as they talk, putting names to personalities and thinking harder than she lets on. Saral and Anit, twins, Evil. Dev, sensible, groom. Minn’da... mother. She taps her fingers idly on Jai’s arm, and looks around the room. Unfortunately, she isn’t nearly tall enough to discern anyone, but it seems Ev’s mother isn’t here anyway. 

Her expression remains carefully flirtatious, a charade as easy as breathing, and she smiles wider at Jai’s laugh. Mrs. Cadbury seems, then, to be much like General Fatima; if more prone to fussing and controlling. The same techniques should work on her then. The unrepentant gaiety, the disinclination towards seriousness, the casual references to less-than-virtuous behaviour. Daniyah knows this routine.

At Jai’s words, she looks up again, and her smile turns natural. “Well, if you insist; I’m not one for drinking but I dare say we all make sacrifices for the greater good.”

It’s a blatant lie, and she laughs merrily. She can’t remember a wedding she didn’t spend drunk, so she understands where Jai and Ev are coming from. (The more she sees of Ev’s family, the more she thinks he may be in the same boat as her: the black sheep of the family. Although, and here she glances between the two men again, it would seem that Ev’s brothers are better than her siblings.)

Ev chokes on air when Daniyah kisses Jai’s hand, and for a split second Jai looks as if he’s about to burst into laughter but then he just winks back. His smile shifts to something terribly wicked, and Ev gets the feeling that there’s a joke that he doesn’t understand and likely doesn’t want to.

He sticks his tongue out at Dan when she pouts at him. Jai snickers, and then tilts his head at Daniyah. “I’m certain you are – you must be far prettier than anyone.”

Jai turns his head just enough to flash Ev another grin; Ev pulls his best expression of Pure Horror. It’s only partially forced. 

“Really? Well, thanks, Daniyah. I do my best. Ev did mention something about the Gnomeregan Mafia, particularly your involvement, an incident with counterfeited money, a story about this string of jewel theft, and so on. But I’m sure we can look past that.” Jai tugs at his jacket with his free hand, and then glances back to Ev. “Just got here, right?”

“Just walked in the door.” And he’s just about to walk out, at the rate things are going. “What’s the damage so far?”

“Saral and Anit spiked all the non-alcoholic beverages. Within the first ten minutes of arriving, too.” Jai says, and shrugs. “Dev was more impressed than irritated. Dearest Minn’da knows nothing about it, though, and it’s probably best if it stays that way.”

“Are you kidding? She’ll murder them.” Ev’s eyes go wide, and Jai just laughs. Ev hesitates a moment, and then lowers his voice, gaze darting across the room. He can see the back of Nitin’s head, but no Mother. “D’you know, um, where..?”

“Outside, and occupied with fussing over everything,” Jai answers, voice softer than before, and he nudges Ev’s arm. “We could hide out upstairs a while, if you want, find Dev? My stuff’s up there, too, if the situation grows dire. And hey, Daniyah, you’re welcome to the stash, too. We’ve all got a system worked out for weddings, and it turns out that they’re best spent drunk.”

#IM GOING TO CHOKE IM SO SORRY EV!!!!!! #IM S O #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

Daniyah has never fallen in love. She says this with conviction, because for twenty-three odd years she thought herself utterly incapable of it in the first place. But upon staring up at Jai’s fantastic hair - and fantastic nose - and fantastically wicked grin - she thinks she might finally understand the feeling.

“It’s a pleasure,” she says, taking his hand and, because she is a terrible friend, smooching it. She winks up at Jai, and smiles with more laughter than glitter. (Which is not to say that there is none; Daniyah knows full well exactly how to turn on the persuasion.) “Ev has told me about you, but he utterly failed to mention how charming you are; an oversight I’m sure was intentional.” 

She looks to Ev, and pouts, thoroughly drenched in mock-disappointment. How could Ev, her favourite Sparky, betray her in this way? She shakes her head, and wipes away an imaginary tear, careful not to ruin her makeup. No, this is too far. Some things cannot be forgiven.

Besides, look at Jai’s hair. She thinks that’s at least deserving of a warning; there’s only so much a girl can prepare herself for unfamiliar territory, after all. And, alright, maybe that grin does look particularly asshole-y, but then again, Ev’s got his own streak of deviousness. He’s hardly one to throw stones.

“I’m afraid I’m not Elyon, but on the bright side, I’m far prettier.” She abandons Ev and adroitly loops her arm in Jai’s. She isn’t trying to make Ev spontaneously combust, but it would be hilarious, and let’s be honest, that’s justification enough for her. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re an asshole. I do hope Ev hasn’t told you anything slanderous about me.”

He laughs, giving her another too-bony nudge, and it’s genuine, but the sound isn’t. It’s forced into something resembling a deeper voice, awkward and rumbling in all the long places, but not rocks, like Zuri’s, who he does find himself trying to imitate in pitch more often than not. It’s pebbles. Gravel. Sand. 

Ev flushes, catching her glance, and his hand darts up to tug at his ear. His ears are large, yes, but thankfully rounded. At least, they’re rounded enough to escape any real scrutiny, which he can work with. He tilts his head toward the group of cousins just ahead of them, a reluctant explanation already half-formed on his tongue, and then his eyes widen at her story. 

“Wait, really? My mother pulls that sort of thing, too, way too often. I get your father there, sort of..? I mean, it’s not Tirasian, but we’re all awful at it. Jai’s the best out of us with actually speaking it, though.” 

“Probably because I’m the best at everything,” comes Jai’s voice somewhere behind him, and then there’s a hand mussing Ev’s hair. Ev snorts, turning his head to grin over at his brother, and Jai just laughs. That’s the thing with Jai. He’s always laughing. 

And his hair still looks great. Ev resolves to muss it at the first available opportunity. 

“Wait, what the shit, you actually brought a plus-one?” Jai ducks over and reaches to shake Ev’s shoulder, but then stops, tilting his head at Daniyah, almost curiously. “I’m gonna guess that you’re not Elyon.” 

Another horrible snort laugh escapes Ev, and he shakes his head, still giggling at the bizarre thought of anyone somehow mistaking Dan for Elyon, or vice versa. “No, not Elyon. Jai, this is Daniyah Sadik. Dani, this is Jai. He’s an asshole.” 

“Hi, Daniyah, nice to meet you,” Jai says, extending a hand, but not before he thwacks Ev with it. Ev snrrrks. “I regret to inform you that Everett is the worst of us. Any slander he’s spread is all lies, probably. Maybe.”

#J A I !!!!!!!!! #HEART EYES #farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

A grin and a quick pat to his arm, and she shakes her head, earrings jangling obnoxiously. “It’s hardly a trouble. Thank you for inviting me; Kaylee was beginning to give me Looks, you know. Apparently drinking alone isn’t done. I’d much rather drink with these asshole brothers of yours.”

She’s being honest, if not entirely genuine. She is glad that Ev invited her, and the faintest bit flattered in his trust in her ability to make an absolute nuisance of herself - the reason he invited her, naturally - and she is ever so curious about these loveable, asshole brothers. After Ev’s idle talk about them, it’s clear they’re good people.

The only reason she recognises the language that catches her ear is, ironically, because of Keein. She knows the vague shape of Thalassian, the way it slides and dances, even if she can’t pick out individual words or even accents. But she recognises it, and immediately wonders why on Azeroth it’s being spoken at Ev’s brother’s wedding.

Then she glances up at Ev, eyes flicking to his ears, and smirks faintly.

He’s stiffened, though, ever so faintly, so she bumps her hip against his thigh and says, “Hey, fun fact, whenever General Fatima is incredibly annoyed at my father, she’ll speak Tirasian for the week, which is honestly worse than it sounds because Emre does not actually speak it terribly well, and sometimes poor Shahnaz has to do the translating. You’ve never met xem, but trust me when I say you do not want to hear what xe thinks is an accurate translation.”

He doesn’t mean to furrow his brows at the inconsequential, all too visibly dubious, he really doesn’t. He wants to take Dan’s word for it, but memories of sixteen, nineteen, last year – they make it nearly impossible. 

It would be nice, if his mother’s opinions could feel as inconsequential as they ought to.

Still, Ev finds himself starting to smile at her tap, and then her attempts to tug his hair into cooperation, and his smile tugs into pink-faced grin at her words. He opens his mouth to at least try and articulate how nice the reassurance is to hear, how he knows that logically speaking his mother can’t change anything and he doesn’t want her to, but all of those old insecurities still creep up on him. 

He means to say all that, but instead all that comes out is, “I – thanks. For fixing my cravat, and – thank you. For – all that. For coming.”

His attempt at a beam back falls just a bit short of the real thing, but he leans into Dan’s side with an awkward shoulder bump in lieu of an (inevitably more awkward, what with all the elbows he has) hug. “Just to warn you, though, my brothers are all assholes? Dev’s alright, which is probably why he’s the one getting married, but he’s still an asshole too. But they’re – yeah, they’re awful. I love them.”

The all-too-familiar knots in his stomach don’t disappear; they never do, when his mother is anywhere in a thirty-mile radius. The house is suddenly terribly intimidating, even though he knows Dev’s home as well as his own, but he lifts his chin and squares his shoulders anyways. He nudges Dan one more time, and then turns them back to go through the open door.

The first bit of Thalassian catches his ear, before they’re even through the doorway, and he regrets it immediately.

#farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major #EV YOUR MOTHER IS A SPANCH IGNORE HER AND FLEE

[damn-it-daniyah-blog]

She reties his cravat, fingers moving deftly - she’s had a lot of practice. Her nails are red, same as her dress. “Mothers,” she says, with the air of one who has spent long hours on a mountaintop contemplating the inevitability of fate and the universe as a whole, “are far more trouble than they’re worth, and rather inconsequential in their opinions.”

As his shoulders hunch, she finishes tying, and taps her finger on his chin. She tuts, and futilely tries to straighten his hair into something less disastrous, then beams up at him.

“Listen to me, sweet thing.” She runs her hands down the lapels of his jacket, and holds on to it firmly. “You can have your own opinions, but not your own facts. Your mother can say what she likes, but the facts are still that you are living with Ben, and two lovely sisters, and you’re the brightest mage-alchemist-nerdboy I know. What your mother says? Irrelevant.”

She flicks the bottom of his chin, then pats his chest, and loops her hands behind her back. She sways back and forth a few times with her thoughts, and beams.

“Chin up, Sparky.”

With that, she loops her arm in his, and tries to convey as much boundless optimism as she can. She knows - she understands - how Ev feels. But anything more than cheerful advice is too close to Talking for her liking, and that’s a line she has no intention of crossing.

“I do only have the one, thankfully?” Ev wrinkles his nose at her fidgeting, and then reels forward at the sudden tug, arms flying out and flailing to keep himself from sending the two of them crashing to the ground. Which seems like a terrible idea, for a lot of reasons. 

He doesn’t know much about fashion, which he thinks is pretty evident; his best attempt at formal attire consists of his usual mess of a vest, except now the serum stains are artfully covered by the suit jacket forced onto him by an appalled Daniyah. Still, though, he knows enough about Daniyah’s tastes to fill in the blanks, so he can assume that her dress – and, alright, that is a very low-cut dress, the type that would make his aunt throw a fit – is something that should not be slammed down onto the streets of Stormwind. 

It’s another moment before he regains his balance, but then he squats to try and accommodate her height. He does not, however, stop wriggling, because Ev is a wriggly bastard. He’s still terribly fussy about all the fussing, just out of instinct now, even if he does appreciate it. “It isn’t that bad! But it’s – well, yeah, she is awful, but that’s not the – I’m not quite sure how to do the whole briefing thing. On my mother and weddings. I mean, I guess just my mother and me and weddings.”

He drops his shoulders, almost resigned, and closes his eyes. Right. It’s time again. He’s given the same rundown to Jai before, although it swiftly turned into a drinking game where Jai had to take a shot for each point that wound up being accurate. 

Jai got absolutely pissed that night.

“My mother is – alright, so there’s the small talk and the required lying, because talking about the mage thing at all is a bad plan. We act as if magic does not exist. She’s either going to use the wrong name or the wrong pronouns, so I think I’d like to speak to her alone, just–”

Ev stops, shoulders hunching up instead, and shakes his head. “Ignore all that? Please..? Um, there’s the university question, usually. Then first she’ll usually ask about when I’m getting married, and then when I’m going to have children, because Ruth and Gen are never acknowledged and we do not speak of Ben. Then something, something, she gets irritated and decides that she’s not going to speak in Common anymore, something, why can’t you be like whichever brother is getting married, something, she leaves. Jai and I get drunk. It’s the same every time, it’s really like she scienced it out for me, which I’d normally say is nice, but, well..? It’s not.”

#farleytailoringco #concerto in E flat major #BABY!!!!! #;________; CMERE HUG TIME