Been Around For a Long Long Year [Ferris & Roman]

[Devon Wentsworth]

A year ago today, Devon's plane had landed in Vermont. It felt like it had been so much longer than a year, and yet at the same time it felt like no time at all. The road here had been filled with many setbacks, but at the same time he felt better about his life than he had done for a long, long time. Work was (mostly) great, he had an actual house for the first time in his life, he'd had plenty of time to do more projects, he had two cats who were both awesome in their own special ways, and he'd recently succeeded in taking the test to get his driving license transferred from a UK one to a US one. Most importantly for him, though, was that he'd managed to make a pretty decent group of friends.

To someone with as high a social drive as Devon, a core group of people he could rely on for companionship and merriment was vitally important, and in truth he struggled to think of anyone he would rather be friends with than Ferris and Roman. Except maybe Matt Bellamy and Carice van Houten, but that was irrelevant. Sure sometimes there were moments when their heads butted, but that happened between everyone at some point and there was no one else he would rather be celebrating this milestone with.

Except Cade, of course, but he was a very long way away right now. Hopefully recording the Red Hot Chili Peppers set at the Isle of Wight festival for him. At least going out tonight was doing a good job of keeping Devon's mind away from places it probably shouldn't be wandering. Tonight was about celebrating! Not being miserable over brother's in other lands and festivals being missed.

“Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name. But what's puzzling you is the nature of my game.”

Devon had never been afraid of the stage and was very merrily singing along to the song playing through the karaoke system, his confidence backed up by the knowledge that he had a decent enough voice and by the vodka and coke's that were already in his system. As the song came to a close, Devon handed the microphone over to the person going next and returned to his friends at the table, downing the last of the drink that he had left behind. “One of you havin' a go or not, ey?” Oh yes, tonight was for celebrating.

Despite the horror of his first week, the homesickness, the stress over moving, the problems with some of the kids, missing his brother and the harsh virus that he was still recovering from, Devon had survived a year in the States.

That was something worth having a drink to. “Hey, Cecil? Same again when you've got the chance, mate, thanks.”

[Ferris Macklin]

It was hard to believe it had been a year. A year since he'd started working at Hammel, moved back to the States, met the pair of boneheads sitting with him at the table. One who authoritative people had trusted with the job of helping children with problems and the hyperactive pseudo-rock star who'd bought himself his own crayon maker. Still, Ferris had had a great deal of fun since coming to Vermont. He'd met fellow sandwich enthusiasts, gotten a good start on his gaming habit, worn a (borrowed) suit for the first time in over a decade, and hey, his houseplants still hadn't died.

As much as he liked Devon, and he liked him very much, he was still a little bemused at the man's habit of procrastination/distraction/boredom relief via drink. Ferris still didn't, but that just meant the other two guys had a built in DD.

Somewhat surprisingly, Devon both loved karaoke and had a singing voice that did it justice. He wasn't going to be winning American Idol anytime soon (was that even still on?), but if Ferris had to listen to him sing for a few hours he didn't start hating life after the first song.

"I do not sing," Ferris protested, laughing and sipping his ginger ale. He'd sprung for a dipping plate on the off-chance Dev or Roman would like some solid food with their liquid dinners. When the Brit ordered yet another vodka-Coke, he grinned. "You know, I hit my max of cleaning up foreign illness already this year."

Taking a bite of a chicken finger with bbq, he asked, "You know anything more modern? Like... oh, maybe that Justin Boobhead kid?"

[Dr. Roman Tilford]

Out of the three of them, Roman was the only one that had spent more than a year in the area. In truth, since going to Hammel he'd really never left. He'd gone to Hammel, and from there he'd gone on to University, and had landed both his internship and his job at Maddock. Granted, it had been just over a year that he'd left the hospital setting to work in private practice, and so far he'd really enjoyed it. Sure, there were different problems he encountered in private practice versus the hospital, but it was all new challenges and he liked it. It helped that Ben had been a fantastic partner to enter the field with, and between the patients he'd inherited, as well as his own, he had a healthy client base.

What was best of all was the friends he'd made the past year. He loved James like an older brother, but it was harder to get him into mischief. He liked rules and order and the misadventures that Rome got into with Ferris and Devon were hardly up James' alley. That suited him just fine. He still had his special things with James, but he knew that he always had him to fall back on if he really screwed up, or needed someone to bail him out of jail.

As Devon rocked the little stage, Rome happily nursed another round of rum and coke. He was trying to limit himself, really, because despite being tall he was still a lightweight. But the way Devon could drink... it was hard. Especially when karaoke was involved. He had no problem making an ass of himself on the stage, but drinking definitely made it easier. At least he was sort-of remembering to drink water between drinks, and the dipping plate helped. As Devon came back, Rome stole a chicken strip and pointed it at him. "I'll go next. And it'll be better than yours."

Though Ferris' suggestion made him pull a face. "Do you know how many girls I've had to talk to because their parents are worried about their Bieber obsession? Because the answer's more than ten." No Bieber. Not ever.

After taking another drink, Rome left the table to flip through the choices, grinning when he found the perfect one. Devon might murder him, but with the amount he'd already had to drink? Rome liked his chances. When the previous person finished, he hopped up and keyed up the machine before taking the microphone and happily singing 'You Give Love A Bad Name.'

And he looked at Devon the entire time.

[Devon Wentsworth]

In truth, Devon thought himself incredibly fortunate. Despite the hell of his first week, within it he had met Ferris and for that he knew he was very lucky. That fish and chips that he'd yoinked off the chef had, most likely, been the single thing that had kept Devon from completely bowing out and going back to his normal school and his normal life in England. Sure there were some days he desperately wanted to go back to that life, but... He loved his home here. He loved his students, his home, his cats and, most of all, he loved his friends.
Of course, he wouldn't tell them that.
Well, not until he'd had a bit more to drink, any way.

Devon did miss the stage, of that there was no doubt. He missed the band he had been a part of back home and he missed the thrill of performing. The drum kit in his basement was much loved and much used (and abused), but it just wasn't the same without someone to show off to. Granted karaoke in the bar was hardly the same as a gig in a rock club, but it fed that attention-seeking streak within him for a little while, as well as serving to slow his alcohol intake somewhat. Slumping back into his seat at the table with little grace but a grin across his lips, Devon rolled his eyes at Ferris. “One day you will. One day you'll sing, even if I have to bribe ya with somethin'.”

Snagging a mozzarella stick from the dipping tray, Devon laughed at Ferris' quiet concern and gave a dismissive wave with the hand holding the cheesy nibble. “I ain't gonna get wasted. I'm just gonna get... get nicely drunk.” Giving a decisive nod of his head, as though he'd just outlined the most sensible measure of drunkeness ever, Devon took a bite from the mozzarella stick just in time to nearly spit-take it out again at Ferris' suggestion. “I'm allergic; I can't even say the name. If I do, my mouth'll seal shut and my dick'll fall off in shame.”

Turning to thank Cecil as the bar owner brought over the drink for him, Devon caught the slightly odd look the Welshman momentarily cast towards the back of Ferris' head. Puzzlement frowned Devon's brow for a moment, but it was quickly dropped as Roman's voice came over the sound system. The Brit's head sloooooowly turned to face his friend, and Rome's staring and smug humoured expression were like a red flag to this particular bull. Knowing that Rome was oh so very easily flustered, Devon proceeded to spend the entire song batting his eyes and making kissy faces at Rome, using his hands to make little heart shapes and trying to encourage Ferris to join in.

[Ferris Macklin]

Rolling his eyes, he still grinned. "Like those mothers didn't obsess over some famous person themselves."

Ferris had, in his own way, too, but as per usual he'd been too into studying and discovering the world to get into pop culture. His fascination had been with the Tokugawa shoguns and had not been based at all on how they'd looked.

Between them, Ferris often thought when Devon and Roman were together things just devolved into who could revert to his inner ten year old first. And sadly enough, the win usually went to the doctor. Seriously. Why didn't these two have their own reality show yet?

"Bribe? Hm." The cook pretended to think and said, "Oh wait. What about no hugging ever?" But he smiled. Still, Devon was weirdly tactile for a Brit. Maybe he had some Italian in him somewhere. He shook his head in mock (...sort of mock) amazement. "Not even that last photoset to Cade can keep you from not mortally offending at least one woman after you've had another two."

Okay, now Ferris wanted Devon to say 'Bieber' just to see that. And if Roman had been closer he would have agreed and started egging the skinny expat on. Not seeing Cecil look at him, he did catch Devon's odd look, but thought... well, who knew. Maybe a potted plant he didn't find attractive had winked at him or something.

What had he thought about entertaining? Ah yes. There was never a shortage of it when he was with his fellow professionals. He'd laughed outright when Roman's song had started, and tipped his head back at the Brit's reply. Ferris didn't join in, but took out his phone (the upgrade? was so worth it) and slid out of the table to film Rome's singing and Devon's devoted fangirling.

[Dr. Roman Tilford]

There had been a time that Rome would have been far from comfortable trying to dominate a karaoke stage with friends. Long before he’d met Ferris and Devon, he would have been much more at home doing things like sticking to the crowd. As he’d gotten older, he’d become much more okay with being a little more outgoing, and with Devon and Ferris around it was impossible not to be. Between himself and Devon, they liked to egg each other on, with Ferris generally dragged into the middle of things. Because seriously, he needed to have more fun.

“Bribe? We can bribe. We can totally bribe.” And that would be the mission for the rest of the night. Bribe Ferris into getting on that damn stage. They’d find a way, he was sure of it.

Suppressing childish giggles due to Devon’s protest to Bieber, Rome managed another little swig of his rum and Coke. He couldn’t get too drunk, mostly because Kiko would kill him, but also because he didn’t want to know what would happen if he did. He suspected it would end a little like being the first to fall asleep at a teenager sleepover. He wouldn’t remember what happened, but he’d probably have a suggestive Sharpie tattoo or something.

... Maybe he needed to ask Cecil to mediate, just in case. Or cut him off after a few more. You know. Just in case. Because with Devon around, who knew what could happen.

Up on the stage, Rome was proud of himself. He was making a point, subtle as it might have been to bystanders. Unfortunately, he hadn’t banked on Devon making faces at him. It caused a few falters and forgotten lyrics, but he made it through, only to march right back through the bar to the table and sit his butt back down. Though he was blushing a little, alcohol made him brave. “Aww Devs, d’ you get all tumor-y feeling with me, too? Y’ know I’m married. Go make faces at Ferris.” Who he was still determined to make sing.

After finishing his drink in one go, he waved to Cecil and pointed at his glass before giving him a thumbs up and a hopeful smile. One more couldn’t hurt. Especially if Devon wasn’t going to play nice.

[Devon Wentsworth]

“I think everyone's obsessed over someone at some point. I mean, I know I have. Cade too. He used to get all squirmy over that blonde one from the Spice Girls.” Cade hadn't, of course. Devon's big brother's taste in music was very similar to his own, and they had both viewed the Spice Girls as a blight on humanity. However, that wasn't going to stop Devon mocking his big brother even though Cade wasn't there to defend himself. Devon counted it as some form of pay-back for the pictures that Cade sent to Ferris and Rome.

Ferris' input of a possible thing that he could be bribed with caused Devon to put on a mock grumpy face as he took another swig of his drink. “Ah, y'know I can't do that. It's compulsive, I can't control it. I'm not a grumpy bastard like you.” Devon's tone and expression were teasing rather than condescending or cruel, and he gave Ferris a bright smile. That smile, however, turned into a good mockery of shocked offence as Ferris mentioned his nature around women after he'd had a couple. “Ferris Macklin! How dare you! I'll have you know I'm a perfect gent, even after a few! I'm not offensive! I'm... delicious.” Devon gave a defiant nod of his head and tried to keep a stern face, but it was obvious he was struggling not to laugh around the rim of his glass as he took another swig.

The look that Devon had caught the bar owner giving Ferris was weird and Devon couldn't quite place it, but he mentally shrugged and put it to the back of his mind for now. He was sure if it was anything important Cecil'd let them know. The Welshman wasn't normally shy about joining in their chatter after all, though he was yet another that they'd never been able to get to join in the karaoke.

Devon adored this atmosphere, of having friends he could egg on and who he could egg on in turn. It had taken a full year for him to get to this point, where he was happy and settled and close enough to his friends that he knew he could drop his guards and just let his usual nature out without worrying about them wandering off or judging him. Well, he supposed they did judge him often, but usually only by how worthy his current antics were of being recorded to be sent to Cade. Still, for as wild as he could get, Devon knew where limits were and he always stopped before things got too out of hand.

He had been well aware of Ferris recording his fangirling of Rome but that had only served to add fuel to the fire. So what if it got sent around; it was hardly the most embarrassing thing he'd ever done. When Rome returned Devon was laughing so hard he had to brush away a tear. “Of course I did babe; y'know how much your drunken singin' does it for me.” He smiled brightly, snagging another mozzarella stick (damn they were good) and turned to Ferris. “How 'bout this. If ya sing, I wont make kissy faces at ya?”

At that moment the bar owner arrived, placing down a drink for each of them on the table. He had clearly figured it would save time to just do a round for all three now rather than bringing them for each of the men individually. There was humour in the Welshman's voice as he spoke. “They're on the house. I think your entertainment's making people want to get drunk more than normal to blot out the pain.”

[Ferris Macklin]

Ferris had always considered himself a guy open to having fun and doing stuff like playing video games and reading comics and skateboarding. He'd realized after meeting Dev and Rome that he was a rank amateur. How he, who had taught his kitchen minions how to Evil Laugh, was the voice of reason... it boggled him.

It wasn't that he didn't like karaoke (well, okay, he didn't, but he didn't hate it either), but he didn't think he sang particularly well, didn't know many songs (in English, really, he'd been listening to Euro radio for the last decade), and most of all he didn't like being strong-armed into something he didn't want to do by this particular pair of rowdy drunks. The only song he could remember all the words to was that song about ninety-nine balloons. In German. Of course, not knowing words wasn't a problem with karaoke. Dammit.

"Maybe you should see a doctor for that compulsion," he suggested dryly, sipping his drink. But he smirked back. At the mention of being a culinary delight, he snorted. "That is gross."

When Rome finished and came back to the table, Ferris groaned and rested the side of his face in his palm. "We are not going into the tumor again, Roman." Shaking his head, he laughed. He couldn't help it. His friends were quite amusing. He stuck his tongue out at Devon. "Right. No kissy faces just means like... pelvic thrusts or something. I'm not falling for it."

At the mention of the free round and its reason, Ferris held up his glass to toast the barman. "Hear hear!" Smiling at Cecil, he said, "So what do you suggest I threaten these two with if they keep bugging me to sing?"

[Dr. Roman Tilford]

Being subjected to two older sisters really hadn’t afforded Rome a way to mess around when he was growing up. Sure, he’d stuck his nose in video games, but things like mischief and pranking? That hadn’t come until later, in boy scouts, and eventually at Hammel. Though he still had fun with his best friend, he couldn’t really picture James being involved in most of the things he, Devon, and Ferris got up to. Being around the two of them let Rome let his inner teenager out in a way he didn’t often get to, and he loved almost every minute of it.

Kissy faces from Devon aside, of course.

Rolling his eyes, he leaned over to give Devon a small, playful shove. “You need neutering, my friend, if that’s all it takes to do it for you.” As for Ferris’ comment about the tumor, Rome attempted something of a guilty look, though it was thoroughly marred by the fact he was slowly getting tipsy, and now that Devon knew it was a joke, he wasn’t all that sorry anymore. “Hey. I apologized for that. Devs forgave me. He even named the thing.” Which Rome planned on exploiting down the line. Just not tonight, if Ferris was going to be Captain No Fun about it.

When the drinks arrived, the psychologist practically dove for his, knowing full well that if he got too tipsy, Kiko would probably be a little annoyed for having to look after him. At least being out with the boys kept him out of her hair for a few hours. He had to make the most of what he could get. “You can’t threaten us, Ferris. It’s two against one. C’mon Cecil, you wanna hear him sing too, right?” Hey, he could hope.

[Devon Wentsworth]

Music had been such a huge part of Devon’s life for so long that he couldn’t even attempt to imagine his life without it. It was a vital part of who he was as a person, and it was very rare that a single day went by that he didn’t have it influence some part of his world, even if it was just listening to his ipod on the way to work. He firmly believed that his drum kit was a key contributor to his sanity here, hundreds of miles away from everything that he had once known.

Well… as much as he could be classed as ‘sane’, anyway.

The Brit laughed brightly and gave a small shrug of his narrow shoulders. “I did forgive ya, but I ain’t forgettin’ it. Just wait until I get a real one; then you’ll really be sorry.” Devon took a swig of his drink, rolling his eyes melodramatically as Ferris spoke of pelvic thrusts. “Jeez, guys. You make me out to be some kinda sex-crazed lunatic or somethin’!” He couldn’t help but laugh though, and gave Ferris a playful shove on the shoulder, his voice playfully teasing. “You’re just jealous anyway.”

As the magically arriving drinks appeared, Devon cheered and toasted the barman, his spirits rising ever higher as his blood alcohol level did. “Yeah, c’mon Ferris. You can’t be any worse than him over there that tried to sing Thriller. Uno yowled less than that when he had to get his shots.” Grey eyes flicked up to the barman, full of amusement. “Hey, Cecil? You want me to sing a drinkin’ song or somethin’? I know a couple.”

“No, there’s really no need for that.” Cecil laughed and shook his head slightly, resting a hand on the back of Ferris’ chair as he chatted with the small group. Devon thought he saw the barman’s eyes lingering down a moment, but brushed it off as just the play of the lighting. Cecil seemed to hesitate for a moment, unsure of which side to take, before holding up his hands palm-forward. “I admit, I’m curious to see if he could show you how it should be done, but as someone who can’t sing for anything, I’m going to have to take Ferris’ side on this one.” Devon was about to protest but Cecil addressed Ferris before he could get a word in, the Welshman nodding his head in the direction of his fellow Brit. “Just tell that one that I’ll send Mal over if he doesn’t behave.”

The light threat was enough to make Devon’s jaw drop slightly, and he stared at the Welshman with what could only be described as stunned disbelief. For a long moment, Devon was uncharacteristically gobsmacked. “You… That’s… Noooo.”

[Ferris Macklin]

If Roman had wanted to get into pranking, Ferris couldn't think of someone less suited to it than Dr. James Campbell. He'd never met the man face to face, but from speaking and emailing him (and hearing about him), Ferris guessed good doctor was at least 80% of the reason why Roman was alive now.

“Jeez, guys. You make me out to be some kinda sex-crazed lunatic or somethin’! You’re just jealous anyway.”

"Uh huh. I've always wanted to know what it felt like to be smacked by a lady." Ferris raised his glass. "

The chef exhaled while he tilted the rest of his ginger ale back. "'Course he named it," he murmured into his drink, though he was grinning. And he wasn't going to be Captain No Fun, Rome had brought the thing up, but if they both drank too much more he'd probably have to become... Private No Fun, at least.

Ferris laughed. "Oh please, with you guys it's more like three-fourths."

Besides the points already made, the curly-haired man wasn't about to do something film-able in front of Thing One or Two, and that was that. Though they were getting pretty sloshed, so the video quality would probably not be the greatest.

“I admit, I’m curious to see if he could show you how it should be done, but as someone who can’t sing for anything, I’m going to have to take Ferris’ side on this one.”

"Dude! Alright!" Ferris held his hand up for a high five. "See, now it's two against... oh, I'll give you one and a half. And we still win."

“Just tell that one that I’ll send Mal over if he doesn’t behave.”

“You… That’s… Noooo.”

Ferris laughed delightedly. He should've thought of that! But hm, distraction! "Guys... game! Uhhhhhh... how 'bout Nothing Illegal?"

Which of course was the Goof Patrol version of Truth or Dare. Because they were old enough to be prosecuted as adults. Chronologically.

[Dr. Roman Tilford]

James Campbell had been the perfect pranking victim, thank you very much. Roman had happened to delight in pseudo-tormenting his best friend, which had continued all through university and well into adulthood. James was just so much fun, and his reactions were priceless. Of course, he was well capable of giving as good as he got, much to Rome’s thorough disappointment some days. How they’d remained best friends over the years, he still wasn’t sure.

“You’re not going to get a real tumor, Devs. If anything, you’re going to be diabetic with all the sugar you eat, and instead of tumors, they’ll be removing limbs.” He was still teasing, though Rome was sure that Ferris was going to hit him with something if he didn’t stop picking on Devon soon. “We’ll still love you, though. Even if you’re a limbless sex-crazed lunatic. Because you’re our sex-crazed lunatic. Right, Ferris?”

The chef’s counting was off, Rome was sure of it. “Hey. Why’d we only count as three fourths?” That hardly seemed fair when it was clearly two against one. “Check your math. Two of us and one of you still makes two against one.” Of course, once Cecil chimed in, it was a tie. Curses.

At least he had the game to distract him. Grinning, Rome raised his glass up in agreement. “Nothing Illegal! Perfect!” Not that they hadn’t come close to running into the law playing the game. There was a reason it was called what it was now. Truth or Dare had gotten a little dicey before, and rules had been made and enforced now. “Who’s first?”

Maybe Ferris would be forced into singing yet. Singing wasn’t illegal. Ha.

[Devon Wentsworth]

As Ferris joked that he’d always wondered what it felt like to be smacked by a lady, Devon laughed and nodded enthusiastically. “Hey, don’t knock it ‘til ya tried it. Never know, that might be your thing. Christ only knows I’ve been wonderin’ just what the hell it’d be to rock your boat.”

Devon was of course only teasing, but he would be lying if he said he hadn’t occasionally wondered just what it would take to break through Ferris’ reserves. Setting him up on that blind date thing had backfired spectacularly last Halloween, and Devon did sometimes find himself thinking that maybe Ferris was just one of those weirdoes that didn’t like sex.

Laughing brightly as Rome spoke about Devon becoming limbless, the art teacher rolled his eyes melodramatically. “I’m not thaaaat bad, I think.” He chuckled again and took another swig of his drink. “Hey Rome, you need to be lookin’ after me better, then. If I lose my arms, I’m gonna need ya to wipe my ass for me.”

Devon wasn’t surprised when Cecil took Ferris’ side against them and gave an undignified tut when the bar owner returned the high five. “You’re both such spoilsports.”

When Ferris changed the subject and suggested the game, Devon’s mock-sulk was very quickly dropped as he immediately got behind the idea. “Oooh, yes! And you’re goin’ first, Ferris, since it was your idea. Agreed, Rome?”

Cecil chuckled and shook his head, holding his hands up and stepping back a pace. “And that is where I leave you. Have fun, and just don’t harass my staff, okay?”