costiayoung

[costiayoung]

therealnichols​:

The momentary start his mother began caused Liam to furrow his brow for a brief second, but when she coughed and began speaking he merely chalked it up to some sort of protective parental instinct he didn’t understand. “Yeah, cool - I’ll just swing by their place later and gather what few things the Faye around here offered me.“ He nodded. “Kind of wish my bags of clothes from the college made the trip over here with me, but I guess I can see what process we got to go through to get new clothes. What do they even use for money here?” He chuckled slightly.

“Have you gotten much of a chance to explore this place? Or much of the town itself?” he questioned her lightly.

.

“No rush, just whenever you get a chance - I’m really grateful you had a couch to crash on in the meantime, but as long as we’re stuck here I’d much rather have you under the same roof with me.”  Overly protective of her, perhaps, but she was okay with that.  Not to mention the inherent danger of him being under the same roof as the Nichols and finding out things that he didn’t need to know and she wasn’t ready to talk about.  “That would have been handy, wouldn’t it?  Not to worry, though, we’ll find you some things easily enough.  I actually don’t know, I’m assuming it’s probably some kind of faye coin or something though.  Maybe branches or leaves or something,” she chuckled too.

Costia shook her head.  “To tell you the truth, I haven’t.  I’ve pretty much kept to myself since I got here; explored the edge of the woods a little, but I haven’t seen much beyond that.”

#char: liam young

[costiayoung]

therealnichols​:

“That’s okay though. I know how hard you worked for us. Besides, cool mom or not, there’s no one else I’d rather be here with.” He grinned and leaned to wrap his arms around the woman for another moments. The perks of being such a ‘mama’s boy’ meant that all of his brown-nosing was just as much joking as it was seriousness.

“Oh, speaking of Crescents… we really need to find a way to thank a couple of them. Particularly, their alpha and her husband… Tara and Nic. I met them a while back and they’ve been letting me crash on their couch while everything was getting sorted out and stuff.” He explained. “They’re good folk.”

.

It wasn’t every child who’d have been as understanding of their circumstances as he was, and Costia was grateful all over again to have such a wonderful son.  Pulling him close for a moment, she gathered some comfort from the embrace before she spoke again.  “That feeling’s very mutual, I promise you that.  I can’t imagine being here without you to appreciate how cool I am.”

She started violently as he mentioned the names of the Crescents he’d been staying with, but did her best to disguise it as a cough.  “We’ll figure something out,” she promised.  “I’m glad they were here to offer you a place - you’re stuck with your mom now, though, and I’ve got an actual bed you can use.”

#char: liam young

[costiayoung]

beautifulxtragedy​:

“I mean, seven year old me wouldn’t have been too happy that vampire and werewolves existed. But, you know, here we are.” she half joked. “i wonder why those mermaids wanted to attack all those people. I mean, they had to know that people from their own world would get caught in the crossfire, right?”

.

“No, she likely wouldn’t have,” Costia agreed.  “Unless your seven year old self was into Twilight, which I suppose would have made the whole thing seem more romantic.”  Cassie’s question actually echoed some of her own thoughts, and she nodded.  “They must have.  Which means one of two things - they didn’t care about collateral damage or they wanted it.  And if they wanted it...then this place is more complicated than we knew.”

#char: cassie west

[costiayoung]

therealnichols​:

The young man could only laugh at his mother’s theatrics; shaking his head and drumming his fingertips on the glass as another drink was brought over to the table. “An island getaway… we always did need to find the time and means to have a little family vacation.” He mused with a soft humming. He winced some at his mother’s lingo and laughed quietly.

“I don’t know if that phrase is still popular to use or not, but it just sounded… so weird.” He teased her lightly. “Maybe it’s good that it’s just us among all these Crescents. I mean, some of your – our – pack are kind of set in their ways about that whole Us versus Them mentality with the Crescents.” He remarked.

.

“We really did.  Unfortunately it just never seemed to work out the way I wanted it to.”  Being a single mom was not inexpensive, and the idea of a proper getaway was something that had proved largely elusive.  She’d given Liam all she could, but some things had remained frustratingly out of her power to give.  His wince didn’t surprise her, but it did make her laugh in return.

“I see how it is, your poor mother just isn’t cool anymore.  It’s like that old joke - I used to be with it, now I’m not even sure what it is.”  He wasn’t wrong about the pack dynamics, and what it might have meant to have more of their pack in a place surrounded by so many Crescents.  “I think you’re right about that, actually.  A few more of us and we’d be snapping at each other’s heels all day.”

#char: liam young

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

“Yeah, we all kinda came together…” He admitted softly, “I’ve never met a North East Atlantic wolf before I don’t think.” 

.

“I’m glad for you - for all of you.  It’s nice that if you have to be in this place, you can at least be together.”  Costia shook her head.  “I’m not too surprised - I haven’t been around much of the pack other than my father, they stick to themselves for the most part.”

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

therealnichols​:

Liam feigned a playful pout of his lips. “Aw, but it’s adorable seeing you fret so much.” He teased his mother before laughing heartily. “Seriously though, I don’t mind. I’ll think of it as some sort of adventure - and I got you here with me, so it’s not entirely bad, after all.” He smiled warmly to the woman. After a few moments, he bit his lip in thought. “Do you know if anyone else from our pack made it through? Or are we, like, the only two Atlantic wolves around here?”

.

“So cruel to your poor mother,” Costia laughed, pretending to clutch at her heart.  “I think that’s a healthy way of looking at it.  And I feel the same about having you here, it makes all of this so much more tolerable.  Hopefully it’s not too much of an adventure, and no one else gets swallowed by sea monsters and we can turn this into something like an island getaway.”  She shook her head, expanding on the gesture a moment later.  “As far as I’ve seen, at least, we’re the only ones.  A lot of Crescents, but it’s on us to...what do you kids say, rep the Atlantic pack ourselves?”

#char: liam young

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

“I guess I’ll see him around at some point.” He said softly with a shrug before looking over at the woman. “Do you have a pack?” He asked, “I’m a Crescent.”

.

“I’d imagine so, there doesn’t seem to be much room to avoid each other these days.”  Costia nodded, smiling.  “North East Atlantic.  I haven’t run into any others here yet, but I do know there’s a lot of Crescents about.”

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

Max snorted, closing his eyes as he nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense..” He said softly as he looked at her. “Where’s your kid?” He asked. 

.

“I believe he might be at the bar,” Costia noted, gesturing in its direction.  “Either that or back at home by now, one or the other.  His name’s Liam, just in case you two run across each other.”  She felt intensely strange about that idea, but knew it was very possible.

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

beautifulxtragedy​:

“Have you seen many mermaids before…. today?” she asked with a laugh. “I’m pretty sure seven year old me would have a fit if she knew mermaids were real. And that they knew man eating whales.”

.

“Not since I used to put Disney movies on for Liam when he was a baby,” Costia laughed as well.  “I’m sure your seven year old self wouldn’t have been too happy if she knew mermaids tried to get people killed, though.”

#char: cassie west

[costiayoung]

therealnichols​:

Liam tried to hide the confused expression that fought to overtake his features as his mother explained the existence of some sort of ‘guards’ that worked the Isles. He was about to bog her down with more questions she most likely couldn’t answer when she offered getting another round of the sweet liquid for them. “Yeah - that sounds great! This sh-tuff is surprisingly good.” He spoke with a wide smile and settled back into his seat a little more.

.

She couldn’t help but laugh as he covered up his language for her again - a sweet gesture on his part even if it wasn’t really necessary.  Costia flagged down the bartender and ordered them a round, leaning against the bar as she looked over at Liam.  “As much as I wish you were at home enjoying your time off school, I’m really glad that you’re here.  I don’t think I’d know quite what to do without you around.”  She laughed softly at herself.  “God, don’t mind your mother sounding like some maudlin empty nester.”

#char: liam young

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

“You sound like my mom.” He said softly, his heart clenching at the thought of her. “She always said she had superpowers too. That’s why she always knew when we were doing things we weren’t supposed to be doing.”

.

It took every bit of Costia’s will not to flinch at that observation.  But she was bound and determined to stick to her promise and not shake up the young man’s life with a burden he didn’t need to carry.  “It’s in the handbook they give us at the hospital,” she chuckled instead.  “But I can let you in on a secret and say it’s because the minute you got quiet we knew something was up.”

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

Max whimpered into the embrace, his heart clenching as he let the woman hold him. “How do you know?” He asked at her promise, “How do you know everything will be alright? We don’t know what the future holds.” 

.

“It’s my superpower,” her tone wasn’t teasing, but it did have a lightness to it that she thought they needed just then.  “Part of being a mom.  I know you’ve had it pretty rough, but it’s going to get better.  Trust me on that one.”

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

Max hesitated for a moment as the woman offered him a hug, she seemed innocent enough and he did crave the contact. He wanted his mother, but he didn’t know where she was. Part of him was glad she didn’t have to see him like this again, she didn’t deserve to see him struggling so badly. She deserved a better son.

.

Her heart gave a funny loop in her chest as Costia embraced the boy who she’d given birth to twenty one years before, for the first time in their lives.  “There we go,” she murmured softly.  “Just let it out, okay?  I’ve got you.  Everything’s going to be alright.  I promise.”

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

cfdamagedwclves​:

Brows were quick to furrow at the blonde’s words, his green gaze narrowing as he offered a shake of his head. “That I had a kid,” he questioned bewildered. “I don’t give a damn if we had only slept together once, I had a right to know, Costia. Building a future together or not, I would’ve been there for you and for our kid and not because I felt obligated but because I would have wanted too.” A scoff quickly fell from his lips as he pulled his gaze away, green hues returning to the rippling water before them as he began to shake his head again. “You weren’t trying to tell me about him either,” he retorted. “That’s all? You serious? He’s my son too, damn it. I know you probably thought I was some immature, selfish kid back then but I had a right to know. I had a right to know my damn kid and watch him grow up but because of the choice you made I missed out on it all. His first steps, his first words, his first ball games, his first drink… I’m gonna look at my little boy every day and see everything that I missed out on with my oldest kid. Does he even know anything about me? Have you ever told him or does he just think that I’m some deadbeat that didn’t want to be around?”

.

“Of course I didn’t tell him you were a deadbeat,” Costia snapped.  “What kind of monster do you think I am?  He knows that his father loves him very much, and that he always would.”  As she considered Dan’s words, though, she sighed.  “Maybe you were a selfish, immature kid, Dan.  But here’s the thing, so was I.  I hadn’t been in control of my own life since I triggered at fourteen, and finding out that I was pregnant...it was my first opportunity to make my own choices.  To grow up.  To be a better person for someone else’s sake.  And maybe it was the wrong choice.  It was certainly never meant to hurt you.  I just didn’t want to take your choices from you by making you feel obligated.”

Looking around, as if Liam might have snuck up on them, she lowered her voice.  “Before we talk about this any more, though, there’s something you have to know.  And this cannot go beyond you and me, because it would affect a lot of people.  And I will not let that happen.  If I ever get wind that Liam’s found out what I’m going to tell you, you won’t have to worry about a sea monster because I’ll toss you in that damn water myself.  Okay?  We’re clear on that?”

#char: daniel fredericks

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

Max listened to everything the woman had to say, chewing at his bottom lip as he focused his gaze on the ground in front of him. As soon as she said she forgave him Max’s chest tightened as the tears filled his eyes and he nodded.

.

It hurt her heart to see the tears in his eyes; she might not plan on sharing her identity, but that didn’t make it any less painful to watch her own flesh and blood struggling so much.  Carefully, subtly, she opened her arms to him a little and offered the choice - he could accept a hug if he felt comfortable, but if not that was okay too.

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

howltothemxxn​:

“But they shouldn’t, the things I did…. even if it was an accident. It’s unforgivable. I killed my brother, his girlfriend, the girl I wanted to marry, she was the mother of my child and I mauled her.. all because of a stupid accident that killed my brother and his girlfriend. An accident I caused.” 

.

There was a moment of silence as Costia absorbed all of that.  “I know you don’t know me,” she offered.  “And that you have no reason to take my word or my advice on any of this.  And this might sound like...I don’t know, the kind of trite shit you get out of one of those chicken soup for the soul books.  But no matter what the consequences were, whether you feel you caused it or not, an accident is still an accident.  And losing control happens to all of us, especially the first time.  It’s part of your nature, and that can’t be helped.”

She cleared her throat.  “This may mean nothing to you.  But I forgive you.”

#char: max nichols

[costiayoung]

therealnichols​:

Liam fidgeted as his mother continued, but just shook his head dismissively. It didn’t seem like a big deal to him, no matter how she tried to frame it for him. “Well, thanks anyway.” He finally stated and offered the woman a smile. He chose to willfully ignore the purse of her lips when he cursed so openly and instead paid extra focus to the words she spoke.

He couldn’t help but give her a confused look for a second. “Wait, do they really have, like, police and stuff here? What happens when someone gets arrested by a faerie?” He questioned, but sighed and nodded a few times. “I know and I will be. Best I can be.” He assured her.

.

“Of course, Liam,” Costia promised.  She’d cheer her son on through any accomplishment, big or small.  Whether he saw his potential or not, whether he thought what he did was worth celebrating or not, she always would.  That was a mother’s job, and she took it seriously.

She shook her head.  “I don’t know what happens, but I do know there are some kind of guards around.  If they work the same as police or not I haven’t worked out yet.  Either way, I’d say it’s best to avoid getting arrested.”  For many reasons, she was sure.  “You always are,” she assured him.  “That’s my boy.  Ready for another round?”

#char: liam young