Topic: 21st Century Digital Boy

Tag Sentry

Date: 2016-09-15 12:30 EST
It was midafternoon when he had picked up the land line at the house to call Fin to ask him if he was able to come over to help with things. The Dark Man rarely requested help at home being that he was capable of fixing everything up to the point it was an electrical issue. Tag had been clear, though, that this was for help and not a social visit.

Fin said he'd be right over, wondering what on earth Tag might need his help with because Tag was very independent and capable. The type of man that prided himself on it. Also, there were so few things at which Fin considered himself skilled enough to school others. It wasn't a long drive over there, his beat up metal truck pulling up in the lane in front of the house. He climbed out and jogged up to the porch so he could knock on the door. "Tag, it be Fin," calling out in his customary manner whenever seeking entrance to another's house.

The door opened. Under the dark glass locks of hair hung a somewhat pensive expression. It was lightened briefly by a partial smile in greeting before his arm extended, opening the door fully for Fin before he stepped back.

The front door opened immediately to the living room with a small area to the immediate right where the shoes were kept. Their son, Ame, was on an unfurled baby blue blanket with some toys. He had discovered the joy of sitting upright on his own and was mostly working on that crawling bit. Tag motioned to the couch, where he sat on one end and surveyed with a heavy expression the items on the table. Prominently and neatly placed there was a black cellphone. It looked rather innocuous, sitting there as it was.

Tag was not a man of effusive expression and so the small half smile was enough for Fin to know he was welcome. He returned a warm grin, nodding to the man as he brushed past into the house. "Good afternoon," he murmured, glancing to the motion in his periphery. The Scot's expression brightened considerably to see the wee lad on the floor. Fin made a beeline for him, cooing in Gaelic while Ame smiled and babbled in his baby language. Fin picked him up to buss a kiss to his cheek before glancing down at Tag.

"I want to make a text for Madi." His hands wrapped around his bent knees as he leaned forward to look at it and then to Fin, "It won't."

Brows rose and he looked between Tag and the phone - it took a moment for the dots to connect and then he chuckled and nodded. "Aye, o' course." Now it made sense. Technology was the one thing over which Fin had an edge in comparison to the handy man. Barely. By the skin of his teeth. He still sometimes considered computers to run on magic.

Taking a seat next to Tag on the couch, Ame was balanced on his lap, arms a loose cage around him while he picked up the phone. Made sure it was on before finding the main screen where the little phone icon was usually placed. Next to that was a strange little picture of a yellow box but it had the word 'Messages' underneath so he figured that was it. "See this here?" pointing to the picture and word combination for Tag's benefit. Little fingers tried to grab for the shiny phone but Fin kept it beyond the babe's reach. "If ye want to send a word message tha' ye type, ye touch this wee yellow box."

What he knew was that on the porch at the inn Fin and Madi would text each other, so it had to be a skill he possessed. What he had wanted to do was to surprise her with a message, but he was inadvertently trying to email her phone number instead of send a text message. The small envelope icon had seemed like the right one to use when trying to do that. Looking up from the phone he reached over, giving his index finger to Ame to grab ahold of. Ame was relatively happy, kicking his legs a few times over because that was a new thing he loved to do.

"That one?" Wrong box, apparently. Tag's free hand reached over to tap on the screen as Fin had indicated. There were two saved contacts in his phone, obviously, but there were so few numbers he was required to call. He had Madison's cell and Charlie's bar memorized. Beyond that, Fin and Charlie's numbers were hand written and taped over the landline in the kitchen for him.

"Aye. There be no messages now but when ye do send her a message, ye will see it there. An' if she replies, ye will see it there, as well." Not that there was a question of whether or not she'd reply but that was how the instruction came tumbling out of his mouth. "Yer phone may make a noise or vibrate when she does reply to ye, to let ye know." Ame leaned on Fin's arm, drool leaking down his wee chin as he stared at the digital screen.

Fin pulled up the two contacts Tag had in his phone and touched Madi's name to bring up the texting keyboard at the bottom of the screen. "When ye want to type somethin' to her, just touch her name here in this screen. An' now, tap out the letters ye like. When ye want to put a space between words, ye touch this one," indicating the space bar.

The phone was handed over to Tag for experimenting and in the meantime, Fin leaned back against the couch and lifted Ame over his head to see if he could make the baby laugh.

Ame was in a good mood. Fin had arrived not too long after a diaper change and feeding, so he was ready to kick his legs, look around and make noise.

The screen with the keyboard hidden under glass glowed at him. His mind became a void for a moment where all he could do was stare at it, waiting for inspiration. What did Fin and Madi text each other? Taking his bottom lip between his teeth he looked at Fin and Ame, his smile appearing shortly and then his attention going back down to the screen.

Dear Madison. This is Tag. I bought a cell phone today for calls and the text messages. I do not have email. Going to get more milk and ammunition so do not worry about getting those. Sincerely, Baby.

There was a look to Fin as he angled the phone towards him for approval, followed by the question, "And now she has it and will write me back?"

Ame did end up drooling onto Fin's jaw but he didn't mind, just wiped it on his shoulder and kept it going. Currently, the baby was settled against his chest, trying to grab handfuls of Fin's mouth and cheeks while blowing raspberries.

Brows rose as he tilted his head, surprised Tag would want him to see the message (what if it was personal or...intimate?) but he read it quickly (for him). "Well, ye have to send it. See this wee arrow here?" pointing next to the text box where he typed. "Ye've only typed the message, ye have to send it off before it will get to her."

"When will she get it?" He pressed the arrow as Fin told him to. There was the swish sound that followed, which he blinked at and then the screen showed the message he had just sent. Huh. "I told it to send..." Ame let out a squeal, either to get attention from them or because making noise was still a fun new thing for him to be doing. It had the effect of making Tag's firm expression jump to the boy's dark eyes and smile.

Realizing at that time that he had been so fixed on the mission of the cellphone, he blinked and looked towards the kitchen, "Can I get you something to drink or a snack? There is still some chips."

"Eh, well, tha' depends. It takes a wee moment or two to get to her phone an' if she no' be lookin' at it now, it will be waitin' whene'er she does look at it next." So it depended upon their service and whatever Madi was up to that was keeping her busy. The squeal had Fin grinning, laughing softly along before pretending to eat the baby's stomach. Ame squealed some more and tugged on Fin's hair.

He had to peer around the form of Tag's child to answer the invitation for refreshment. "I would like some water, please. An apple if ye have it but no chips, thank ye." He was happy having baby time. "How have ye been?"

Not that it had been a terrible long time since he last saw Tag but he liked to stay abreast of current happenings.


(( Thanks to FinMack for rping this scene.))

Tag Sentry

Date: 2016-09-15 12:32 EST
The truth was that he'd been through a short bout of Hell. It took someone knowing him exceptionally well to see it. Tag was a meticulous man with ingrained habits. His hair was kept neatly shorn and his clothes, while sometimes aged and stained, were clean and well kept. He was the sort that didn't like loose strings or clutter, despite Penny's young teenage girl influence. The indicators that the dark man was worn showed in his need for a haircut. His hands being a little rougher didn't signify much considering the work he did.

"Not sure of the apple." He was hesitant to put down the phone. Wary of it up until the screen darkened. His attention when to Fin and when he didn't seem alarmed he slowly set it down and then rose. He was gone for only a moment. The sound of a glass being retrieved and an apple being washed, cored and cut into four pieces followed. It was habit, really, from having kids to do that. He set the glass of water on a coaster and the paper towel with the quarters of apple on the coffee table in front of Fin. "There has been a lot of work to do. But it is good."

Fin knew some of it from Madi but he'd never betray her confidence or presume that he knew all of what transpired between the couple. "If ye do no' have the apple, tha' be well enough." Fin was always hungry, no matter the time of day, and would hardly ever turn down a snack if offered.

Ame leaned close enough to try and chew on Fin's stubbled jawline, which had the grown man giggling because it tickled and he did the same to the babe's neck. "I think yer wee monster be tryin' to eat me," grinning as Tag came back into the room. Ame was balanced on his knee once more, swiping at his jaw with a wrist as he leaned forward to grab the water, murmuring his thanks. The cut apple had him grinning warmly, seeing the evidence of fatherhood in the neatly cut quarters and the fact that it was cored.

"Aye, I ha' been keepin' busy at the forge, as well. Thank Christ because I was worried tha' I would no' be able to keep the roof o'er m'head." He munched on a piece of apple, picking off a tiny, miniscule piece to offer up to Ame. The babe gummed it experimentally, reaching into his mouth to try and chew his fingers at the same time.

"Eh, wha' would ye think of a wee trip away? I know tha' both o' ye leavin' would mean closin' Charlie's for a few days but life be for the enjoyin' of it, aye? I... I could take ye, all o' ye, to a wee cabin north o' the city. There be a lake there, no one else 'round for miles. Would the lot o' ye want to come along?"

Fin also tended to keep Himself to himself, at least when it came to the general population. A public breakup last year had soured him on that entire scene and now, only his closest friends knew what was going on in his life, the things that mattered to his heart. Better for his sanity and his stress levels.

With a grunt, Ame was surrendered to his father while Fin kicked back once more and munched on the crunchy, sweet apple. Another wee bit was picked off and set at the babe's lips and he let it be transferred to his tongue with another excited wiggle.

"It belongs to a friend o' mine but I know he would no' mind. I go up there all the time withou' any forewarnin'. The lake be a short walk from the cabin an' there be a proper bedroom for yerself an' Madi. There be a loft for Penny wit' another bed or I could show her how to camp in the field around the house. Sleep under the stars as I was shown when I was a lad," smiling at the memory. He was, in so many words, offering to be the baby sitter so Tag and Madi could have some quality time. "Think on it, tell me if ye would be wantin' to see it."

"Ach, o' course," smiling warmly, eyes crinkling with it. "I would no' turn ye away. Yerself an' yer family...well, I consider ye family, as well," flushing slightly. He hoped that didn't come off creepy or too presumptuous.

When Tag started working, work became his focus. He was the sort of man who rarely took days off and turned in vacation days for money. He had always been careful about money, the jobs he worked didn't pay much but being frugal and careful with it had allowed him to put aside a good bit. The most he really did in terms of splurging was to go to the inn for a few drinks.

"Is the peace you find... is it always a good one?" Dark eyed gaze made a gentle, but very apparent, study of Fin's face. Ame's bottom rested on his forearm. He gurgled, wriggling down until his face was buried against Tag's chest, fighting for a little more darkness to help his nap along.

This vacation wouldn't cost them a dime, which was part of what was best about the locale. Fin never paid to go there - he hunted to restock the freezers, sometimes brought up beers or other dry goods to restock the pantry but otherwise, it was just the cost of gas to get him up there.

"Up there, aye. I always find a good peace when I be in nature. The trees an' animals an' the quiet. I...I sometimes hate the city," confessing in a low voice because he wasn't sure how it would be interpreted. "It makes me feel as if I canno' breathe. Out there, I am lighter. M'thoughts clear."

When Fin looked down at Ame Tag smiled a little. It was the sort of smile that portrayed a quiet, powerful tide. The sense that the little boy was incredibly precious. Just by existing there had been more love. He was coffee cups spilt on the rug. The moment Madison told him she was pregnant he was too overwhelmed to even react-- he had to step away from her to just wrap his mind around the fact that they would have a child. He was the incarnation of worry, the life that might have taken Madison's on the day he came into the world. He was Ame, the rain.

"For vacation don't... people do that?" He offered, but did not move to ask about Lucy. If that had been misunderstood or simply no longer was. Maybe it was all in its infant stages. There was a look down to Ame and then back to Fin, "It can just be... family."

Ame's back rose and fell gently with each huffing breath, seeming even more innocent in his repose. Had Fin ever slept that soundly? He couldn't remember a time. Something like envy blossomed in his chest but it made him happy that Ame had the family he did, that he was cherished and protected.

"If they have a lass or a swee'heart, than aye, but I do no'," chuckling to himself. Lucy was his best friend, something like a sister - also one he considered family. They were strictly platonic but he did tend to take her everywhere with him, escorted her to balls and parties so that she wouldn't have to show up alone. "I...do no' know if I will again," shrugging his shoulders. "Does no' seem to be righ' for me."

"I had felt that way, once." Tag nodded with the recollection. His free hand rose to stroke Ame's back once. It was unnecessary to give his child a reassuring pat when he was sound asleep so the motion must have come from habit. A child had a way of training its parents in that manner.

"For a few years there was this gypsy, Rona..." Tag shrugged his shoulders a bit, looking forward as he recalled, "When it fell through it felt like... I couldn't understand. That it would be all there was but..." a glance around himself, to Ame. The secret about marriages most people didn't understand was that they weren't perfect, that the imperfections of both partners would always rise to the surface. Tag smiled briefly at Fin, "The loss of your first girl will... prepare your heart."

A half-smile tilted his mouth at a crooked slant, one corner higher than the other. "I feel as if it did no' prepare for anythin' except to push others away. I...I am weary o' the struggle for it." Love shouldn't be a fight, should it? Constant second-guessing, feeling as if he wasn't good enough for the other person. Or maybe it was, in which case, Fin didn't have the energy for it. Either way, it wasn't much of an interest to him right now.

"It's part of it. I think the mind... the body... needs a space to heal and understand. I didn't date for... four years, after?" There was the smile at the mention of it being a struggle. He would have said that loving Madison had been a struggle to breathe around her. But knowing it was love? Even in their darkest hour, they had not doubted that or the other, only swayed with the uncertainty they had for themselves. Each viewing the other as making it all seem so easy. Finding a way to shine more light on who they were without making apologizes.

Charlie had asked him once ow he and Madison did it. He had told her that it was important to keep digging. They were armed with shovels now, putting spots of rest into an upheaval... together.

"I will leave ye to put the wee babe down." Tag's phone was picked up and swiped to bring the screen to life. "I will put m'telephone number in here so tha' if ye have any questions, ye could call me again, aye?" It was programmed into his contacts before he put the phone back on the table. Leaning close, a brief peck to Ame's head before he pushed to his feet. "Call if ye need anythin', aye?"

"I will call." Of that, he was certain. Hopefully it wouldn't be because the phone had confused him.

With a warm smile, Fin pushed to his feet. "Next week, I shall come an' cook supper for all o' ye. An' if yerself an' Madi ever wanted to have a quiet nigh' to yerselves, I would be happy to come an' watch the wee ones for an evenin'. Think on it." With a nod, Fin cleaned up the napkin from his apples and his glass of water, putting them in the kitchen before showing himself out.


(( Thanks to FinMack for rping this scene!))