#maus limerence

[ibroughtthisonmyselfpixels]

Amelia: “Hup... hup... look at me go, baby! Do you see Bibi?”

Russell: *gurgles* 

Another strange thing happens about an hour later. Since no one’s working today anyway, Amelia’s not ringing anybody... so imagine their surprise when someone rings them.

Amelia: “W- what was that?”

*ring*

Laurel: “Aren’t you going to get that?”

Amelia: “Yes, in a minute, let me just-” *ball flies away* “Ack!”

Laurel: *dodges* “Whoa!”

Amelia: “It’s okay, Laurel, I’ll ge--”

Laurel: “No, never mind that! Just pick up the phone!”

Amelia: “Wait...” ... “It’s stopped. Shoot...”

Laurel: “Pick it up anyway, maybe they’re trying to leave a voicemail.”

Amelia: “R- right, right. Sorry, it’s been so long since...” *tapping buttons* “... hm. ... They’re not leaving a voicemail, Laurel, it is the voicemail.” *taps to accept* “It must’ve rung before and I missed it, but I can’t think how--”

“Hey... Amelia. Sorry, I must’ve caught you while you were asleep... I’ll try and make this quick.”

Amelia: “--Dad?”

[ibroughtthisonmyselfpixels]

And in the house that Amelia and Laurel share? 

It’s a reuniting - or perhaps, a uniting. It’s an echo of what a neighbor and father once proposed, one already long gone in search of the for-now-oblivious Hank. It’s an immediate ceremony, unintentionally separate from the children, and yet binding them all to the redeemer in a way that they can all, one day, be proud of. 

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Maus: “Just wanted to let you know, uh... Ivan finally asked about you yesterday. You know, our - your half-brother.”

Amelia: “...”

Maus: “That sounds - that sounds like I haven’t told him about you at all, that’s not what I mean, sorry. He’s asked bits and pieces about you over the years, why you’re human, what you did to make people - et cetera. And I’ve told him, best I can, about what you did... but yesterday, he asked about you. The child I raised. About - how I raised you versus how I raised him, what you were like, what you’ve been like all those times you’ve come onto the steps. And so on. And, and I told him everything, of course, all the good memories we had, and it - it made me realize... 

“I don’t know. I had this all in my head last night, and it’s gone again. And there’s so much I want to say, but you’re asleep, and - I’ve heard rumors of... I told you you’re still my child, at the start, you’re still my child whatever happens, but if you manage to pull this off, make that prediction of yours come true, it’ll - fuck...

“I guess what I want to say is. If things don’t go like people are hoping, we... want you to come over to the house Sunday. In the house. If they do... make it Tuesday. Either way, Ivan’ll be off, and he’ll be happy to meet you... and so would I.” 

Amelia: “...Daddy... I--”

Maus: “Wait, lemme guess. I know what you’re gonna say.”

Amelia: “--?”

Maus: “Love you too, Mimi. Against my worse judgement, I love you. See you - whichever day ends up working, I guess.”

*beep* 

Amelia, Laurel: “...”

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Amelia: “... What? Maus? ...um, yes, I just visited him last week. ... No, I know. I - ... I know. He already told me. I just hope he’ll get back to Dad soon so he - 

... Wait, did I never tell you? ... I’ll tell you Wednesday. ... Yes, you’d better, hadn’t you? Alright, talk then.”

...

Sophie: “You talking about Maus again?”

Amelia: “Yep.” 

Sophie: “You’ve gotta take me up there to see him one day. Even if just once, when I’m fit enough. I mean, fuck, my grandpa’s right there, you know?” 

Amelia: “I know, sweetheart. When you’re both ready.”

[ibroughtthisonmyselfpixels]

Apart from that, everyone’s done with what they need to do fairly quickly. Amelia returns from work slightly later than usual, weary from both jogging back and the caravan’s events, but finds enough energy to kick the bag around some more. Sophie becomes Spidergirl temporarily, and Eplis even finishes her painting…

which looks… oddly familiar, actually. 

Eplis: “Hey, I’m done with my jogging strip! 'cept it kind of wasn’t towards the end, so I… Bibi? Why are you crying?” 

Amelia: “Hm?”

Eplis: “Oh nooo! Sorry, Mama told me I could - I’ll stop–” 

Amelia: *wipes eyes* “No, Eplis. You’re fine, baby. You just… reminded me so much of your grandfather, coming off of that thing.”

[ibroughtthisonmyselfpixels]

...

...

Maus: *looks up at the sky* “Lord, what have I let myself in for?”

But as entreating as it sounds in his mouth, he can’t deny it’s smiling.

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Honey: “Hey Maus, Joey asked me to... di- did I miss something? Why are-?”

Maus: “Long story. I’ll be with you in a minute. Make sure Ivan’s good for me, will you?”

Honey: “Sure.” *heads up*

Amelia: “Is that my cue to go?”

Maus: “Yeah. We’ve both got little big ones we can’t keep waiting.”

Amelia: “Okay... It was nice to catch up with you, Dad.”

Maus: “And me with you, I suppose. ...well. See you later, Amelia.”

...

Maus: “Amelia?”

Amelia: “‘See me la--’” *grins widely* “You still want to see me again?”

Maus: “Well, you--”

Amelia: “Oh Dad, I’d love to! We can make this a re- well, maybe not a regular, I don’t know your schedule. But certainly more often! I’ll fill you in, you’ll fill me in, we won’t have to miss this anymore - it’ll be great! When would be a good time for the next one? You’d better schedule it, or I’ll forget again.”

Maus: *floored* “...after your next one’s born, I guess. Monday after.”

Amelia: “Okay! I’ll ask Laurel to remind me. And maybe Ivan can come too, if it’s in the evening--”

Maus: “Amelia, I’ve really got to get in.”

Amelia: “Oh, of course! Sorry. I’ll...” *ahem* “I’ll see you later, Dad. Thank you. So much.”

[ibroughtthisonmyselfpixels]

...

Maus: “Anything yet?”

Amelia: “Plenty, but nothing I can - oh? Wait -”

Maus: “What?”

Amelia: “...oh. Oh my goodness. This has never happened before - maybe it’s because you’re - we’re - ”

Maus: “What are you talking about?”

Amelia: “I see him.”

Maus: “You- you see Hank?”

Amelia: “I see ᚻᚫᛝᚴ as you see Hank. In my mind’s eye, in the Dimension. It’s clear as day. And he’s smiling,” *voice unsteadying and steadying both at once* “and he’s crying, and I’m - you’re trying not to cry. It’s a beautiful night. Lights everywhere. Stars. Runes. It is all on this one night. It will all be on this one night, they spell it - they spell for you and for the world and for the aurora.

ᚱᛁᚢᚾᚪᛃᛏ.” 

...

Amelia: *blinks, lifts hand from Maus’s head* “Whoa.”

Maus: “I’ll say. That was... a lot.”

Amelia: *tinged with hope* “A lot more optimistic?”

Maus: “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Amelia. It’s all ‘maybe’ right now.

“But a very convincing maybe - I’ll give you that.”