#dalexthomas

[cryptid-killjoy]

Father’s Day

It was a complicated day for Valerie. She wanted to celebrate Thomas big and loud for his first official biological kids having Father’s Day. She knew it was bigger than that though. Scout and the boys were plotting which touched her heart. Chip was having his own big day and meanwhile honoring the Jet’s memory with Dale. That was something the twins had in their hearts. The non-traditional family had a web of love they had strings still tied to. Even in death some even had access to. To say the family was delicate but strong was one Hell of a conundrum but oh so true. 

Not only that, but she’d been preparing for feelings of Flotsam as Father’s Day approached. She didn’t want to step on Thomas’s day and yet everything in her, Flotsam was clawing at her insides to get out for this. 

She herself always took a moment out by her altar for Dr. Facilier, the shadow man of a father Flotsam grew up with. Valerie would even take a moment to flip through pictures of Zeke and put some bacon and bourbon out like a small tribute. She felt the need to wear her top hat and carry around her cards in her velvet bag for much of the day just to feel close to her Dr. F. She stuck a card in the band instead of a feather like her daddy sometimes did too. She chose the strength card. It would sit there with a big drawing a lion on the side of her head all day. She’d explain it would always fascinate her to stare at whatever card her dad had on the side of his head for however long he wore it that way. Valerie felt like she needed some strength today. It was a good card. 

It seemed she needed it more than ever when Maddy’s gifts arrived. It jarred her emotions even more unexpectedly. After her heart attack and everything else, it was just a lot. She needed calm on such an emotional day for all she held inside her about this day. She needed Thomas’s support on this all while she was trying to make it Thomas’s day. She’d only take her top hat with her strength card off for Thomas’s special performance. 

Thomas did not get any traditional breakfast in bed or greatest dad tee shirts or mugs this year. He didn’t get any power tools. But that man best bet his family had something in store for him. Maybe it was a lucky thing Scout had a month more with no sight because she and Chip and Dale were able to plan for this day without him seeing it coming. He’d only be able to see them setting up the living room come Father’s Day morning, but they had it all planned. 

Valerie would get herself all dolled up in most “Valerie” fashion, very Amy Winehouse hair, the big poof, wings on her eyes, fuck me pumps and all. She threw on her dress she wore on their first date and oh boy did fit so much nicer with a real body. She hadn’t worn it since. 

All the dogs, Dug, Willy, Wanker, the whole sled team were in the living room which was difficult. Willy, Wanker, and Dug were trained. The sled team were more their “outside dogs” that were allowed in whenever they wanted and were still in training. Still Scout managed to get them all in there and behaving for this image. Rephrase. Dug was able to snarl them into submission until they behaved nicely and settled down.  

It was set up for band practice they way they used to do it before everyone moved back away only holy smokes Chip and Dale were up at the mics too, not Valerie. Valerie and Scout were set to play the music with guitars strapped on. The triplets were in bouncers in front of the older kids. The lines of dogs were on the left. Valerie looked like a doowop girl. Thomas must have known he was in for a show when he was told he could come in. They were ready. River appeared on the drums in the background when the music started transparent, but he held those sticks and tap-tap-tap when that old school music that fit Valerie’s aesthetic started up his Father’s Day.

 Scout stood up and sang the first phrase with a twinkle in her eyes, eyes that could see right back through his own: 

 There's a man at my house, he's so big and strong He goes to work each day, and he stays all day long He comes home each night looking tired and beat He sits down at the dinner table and has a bite to eat Never a frown always a smile When he says to me how's my child I said that I've been studying hard all day in school Tryin' very hard to understand the golden rule I think I'll color this man father I think I'll color him love Said I'm gonna color him father I think I'll color the man love, yes I will

Then Dale steps up and says the next lyrics: 

He says education is the thing if you want to compete Because without it son, life ain't very sweet I love this man and I don't know why Except I'll need his strength until the day that I die My mother loves him and I can tell By the way she looks at him when he holds my little sister Nell I heard her say just the other day That if it hadn't of been for him she couldn't have found her way I think I'll color him father I'm gonna color him love I've got to color him father I think I'll color this man love

Then oh yes Chip stepped up and sang these lyrics: 

Our real old man he got killed in the war And she knows she and seven kids couldn't of gotten very far She said she thought that she could never love again And then there he stood with that big wide grin He married my mother and he took us in And now we belong to the man with that big wide grin I've got to color this man father I'm gonna color him love I've got to color him father I believe I'll color this man love He's just been so good to me I know I've got to color him love I'm gonna color him father I've got to color this man love He's just been so kind I think I'll color him love I'm gonna color him father

Valerie would be there doowopping little background oh’s and ah’s and swaying her hips as her kids did this all the way till the end when she pointed at the dogs and got them all howling for a final extra round of singing the chorus all silly and fun. River would disappear the moment the music stopped however, but he’d have his moments. He’d look Thomas right in the eyes smiling as he tapped away. 

Valerie was so happy by the end she managed to get through it without crying. It was such happy dappy doop-doop-dee-doo sounding song, but with all their history she knew it was emotional strings they were strumming. 

Scout would break the ender with a run up to Thomas jumping up and down, “Did you like it?” 

[cryptid-killjoy]

Dale would come to Thomas privately when Valerie was napping which she was doing more lately since the triplets, but the trip really did her in. She was trying to gear up to bring that shark back from the dead. 

“Da- I gotta talk to ya. It’s important. You got a sec?” 

He was glad Scout was out of the house doing with GoGo, something about checking out some paranormal activity center in a local haunted house. It was pretty routine. He didn’t want her overhearing this. 

[cryptid-killjoy]

Flotsam slept the rest of the day unable to make peace with themselves after Thomas confronted their stapled on smile, as it was so named now after their conversation. He just had to dig in there and couldn’t leave it in peace. Making Flotsam talk about it stirred it up and brewed it up. A bubbled up Flotsam was never a good thing. They wished Thomas could focus more on the fact it was their way of trying and being as nice and good as they can instead of rattling up their worries and feelings that cause problems. This was why Flotsam stayed a shut in within themselves. They didn’t want to make Thomas as miserable as them no matter how much misery loved company. This was just untrue whether they made Thomas miserable or not. 

To hurry this along so Flotsam couldn’t make it any worse than it already felt they got with Delta and decided they were doing this old fashioned way. They just plain didn’t care what they were supposed to ease into. They were knocking down the damn tower if only because Delta was excited for a new one now and didn’t want to disappoint her or make her angry. But, there was absolutely no talking them out of it for any sort of health reason. They were given the green light and they were going, end of story.  However, they couldn’t connect with the real reason they were doing this anymore. It became all about leaving so they wouldn’t make Thomas look so worried and sad anymore. They hated themselves even more for it. 

That was until the moment Delta led Flotsam up the stairs. That’s when it all flooded back. It was like their brother lived in those stone walls. They could hear the screams and Maleficent’s laughter echoing. It made them actually take a step back out of the room to catch their bearings and closed their eyes. 

Delta rose a brow and looked over at Frank. “Dude a PTSD freak that can’t handle his pain or what?” She asked in Frank’s mind trying to figure out what was going on there, but had a pretty good guess. The physical was one thing, but Maleficent knew how to be cut throat with the emotional too making all their mistakes fall on their brother. 

Flotsam would ask if he could have a moment alone there. “Then I’ll be ready. I’ll get this done.” 

Delta looked over at Thomas then up to Frank. It wasn’t like she intended to be in the tower when they took it down. She was a little surprised they didn’t have a team of people with them, but whatever. She didn’t care how they did it, just that they did it now that they’d gotten her excited for a new chamber. 

“Fine. Whatever. You guys just better not break anywhere else when it falls.” 

Flotsam nodded. They thought they had that challenge covered. That’s why they made Chip and Dale tag along. Delta would head down the stairs making eye contact with the one in camo. 

“Hick.” Popped into her mind as she passed. It didn’t matter if the guy had brains or not he looked like one. Dale looked like the guy at a frat party who was passed out in a bathtub with a lampshade on their head after every one else had already gone home. But, Frank would be the only one to hear those opinions. 

When Delta and Frank would be gone Flotsam would look at their crew, Thomas, Chip, and Dale. They were waiting for them to step out too. “I just need a minute.”