Away From The Sun [Idalia]

[Cecil Wathen]

Idalia’s mock shock was met with a laugh from Cecil, and he gave a bold nod of his head. “I definitely would, you know.” It had been far, far too long since he’d seen his family and he knew that he needed to see his siblings kids while they were still young. Just because he was so far away that didn’t mean he couldn’t be a part of their lives somehow. Even if that part was the distant but doting uncle who embarrassed them by showing their pictures off to everyone he met. “I’ll bring loads back, I promise.”

Cecil knew that sometimes times were very tough for Idalia, and it was a real joy being able to see her laughing and smiling so openly and hysterically. He laughed along with her, giving a small roll of his eyes at her statement. “Look out their window, watch which ways the birds are flying, use one of those rain-stick things… Nah, we’d all be lost without you. You know that.” Idalia’s mischief was a delight to witness, and he laughed brightly at her showing off her in-built VIP pass. “You know, I’m glad I’m immune to that particular pass. I’d have gone out of business by now with how many free drinks that would’ve earned you.” At the mention of her using his phone number as a bribe, Cecil smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Tell you what, if any of them ever look like Chris Hemsworth, you’re more than welcome to do that!”

One thing that Cecil always wanted was for his friends to be happy, and when Idalia announced that she would at least try to see if she could get the family holiday to work a bright smile lit up Cecil’s face. “Good! You should!” Her explanation about why she couldn’t return the favour and take Mephit for a while was met with a dismissive wave of Cecil’s hand. “Don’t worry about that. She’s wired and needs a lot of work to keep her settled, and I wouldn’t want to put that on you. I know you have your hands more than full with Ike as it is. But he is always, always welcome here.”

Vermont was beautiful, there was no denying that, and the mountain surrounding Pilot Ridge really had captured Cecil’s heart. They were a very large part of the reason he had chose to settle down here when he had abandoned life in New York. However, no matter how beautiful they were, to him they would never even come close to comparing to the magic of his homeland. Idalia’s stunned reaction was met with a warm, if ever so slightly tinged with sadness, smile. There were not enough words to explain just how badly he missed his home. “I’ll go, I promise. I’ll check out prices tonight.” The dragon swooped down low over the sea, dragging its tail through the water and creating rippling waves in its wake. When Idalia squeezed his arm, Cecil lightly looped it around her shoulders and gave her a sideways hug. “Thanks for being here.” He slowly let the image fade away from her mind, the dragon soaring back up into the darkening sky before disappearing completely.

[Idalia Tsavaris]

Idalia looked absolutely hurt, that is, she would have if she could have kept a straight face. “You know exactly how to hurt a person, you know that Cecil,” she said with mock annoyance. She shoved him lightly in the shoulder. “You’d better. I’m excited to meet your family. So to speak,” she said. She grinned at Cecil, chances were she’d make him sit through a similar slide show if she traveled anywhere. And half of those would probably be from the plane when she saw a really cool cloud formation. She had long since accepted her role as a nerd with pride. She was that person on the airplane that always asked to wanted to get a window seat so she could look out it. And take pictures and watch the clouds travel by. Honestly, having learned more about the atmosphere made it both more exciting and more nerve wrecking to fly. Great because she could see the weather happening, bad because she knew what was happening and she could only imagine the effects of said weather systems would have on a tiny little plane.

Laughter bubbled from Ida’s lips. “You know there is this thing called a weather doll. It’s literally a little rag doll you put outside. And it’s got stupid things like ‘if the rock is wet it’s raining’ on it and such.” She grinned conspiratorially at Cecil. “I bought one.” She admitted in a low voice as if it was a secret. “Awe, you’re sweet Cecil,” she smiled warmly at him. She really appreciated him saying so. Meteorologists had a thankless job. She laughed harder and shrugged her shoulders. She patted his shoulder. “Honey, if any of them look like Chris Hemsworth, you can bet you’d have competition. But I promise to send them your way.” She winked at him teasingly. “Have you found yourself anyone recently?” She asked, not even worried about seeming like she was prying. “Someone as handsome as you, you must get phone numbers left and right.”

“Don’t get too excited,” she laughed, “With my sisters its bound to be as easy as herding cats.” Between all of her sisters with children and all the ones that would want to bring their significant others, they could probably rent out an entire hotel just for the Tsavaris clan. She smiled warmly up at Cecil. “One of these days I’m going to find a way to repay you for all you do for me.” She didn’t know how only that she was determined to find a way. She watched the dogs chase each other around. Ike had found a stick and was playing keep away which had ended up making a very entertaining show of Ike holding his head up and Mephit making running leaps for the stick only for Ike to move it out of reach. She chuckled. They were too cute, the best of friends. She was so grateful to have found Cecil, he had become her best friend. There was no one she trusted more or who she could count on more. It was a rare thing for someone who had been used to depending only on herself.

“Good,” Ida said and watched the dragon fly, so calm and relaxed. It relaxed her and she was amazed by Cecil’s power. Idalia scooted over to lean into his hug, slipping her arm around his waist. Cecil felt like the brother she had never had. She loved her sisters but there was only so much one could handle in a house full of girls. She watched the dragon go and the bar came back to life around her and she sighed wistfully already missing the image. “Always, Cecil,” she said squeezing him tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the slight chill that came from the night. She looked up at the stars and smiled to herself. She had always been so thirsty for adventure but now she was content just to be here among friends. “You know what, I’ll make you a deal. When you book a ticket I’ll bake you a whole pan of baklava, just for you.” She smiled at him, he’d had her baklava before and she was not above bribery. Besides all this thinking of family made her want to bake spontaneously.

[Cecil Wathen]

As Idalia shoved him in the shoulder Cecil made a big display of swaying dramatically to the side, as though she had shoved him with all her might. He rubbed at his arm, and though he tried to make his voice sound hurt the laughter in it was audible. “Owww! You are such a bully!” He couldn’t keep the pretence up for long though, and smiled when she said she was excited to ‘meet’ his family. “Y’know, I think they’d be really excited to meet you too.”

Cecil listened as Idalia explained about the weather doll, giving a soft chuckle as she announced that she owned one. They sounded completely twee and ridiculous, but were probably rather cute in their own weird little way. “Maybe I should get one for out here, for once the planters are all set up. Might help me work out what the weather is doing when you’re not here to tell me.” He gave her a teasing smile, although he was now actually considering getting one. If nothing else it might prove to be a strange little conversation piece. At her own teasing Cecil chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, the way I make drinks, I shouldn’t have any competition at all. There should be a whole queue of Chris Hemsworth’s waiting their turn.”

When Idalia turned the casual banter into asking specifically about him, however, Cecil’s mirth dropped noticeably. “Ah, well… sort of? I mean, there’s a guy that I really… really like, but… it’s so complicated.” Since the divorce Cecil hadn’t even thought of another man that way, but then Ferris had swanned into existence and Cecil had found himself crushing hard for the first time since he’d first met Aaron over two decades ago. A part of him had hoped that the crush would vanish over time, but instead it had intensified. For the life of him though, Cecil could not work out what to do. He hadn’t dated in over twenty years and had never been with anyone other than Aaron and, as sad as it made him to admit, Ferris had never shown even the slightest bit of interest in him beyond casual friendship. The truth was, Cecil struggled admitting all of this to himself, never mind to anyone else. Watching the dogs romping, Cecil managed a small smile to Idalia and spoke sincerely. “You never have to repay me for anything. Your friendship is reward enough.”

With autumn on the way there was a slight chill to the air but it still wasn’t uncomfortably cold yet, and Cecil relaxed fully as Idalia looped her arm around his waist. As much as he adored Idalia the action made him pine for his own sisters and he hugged Idalia close. When she rested her head on his shoulder, he gently rested his head on top of hers in turn. He gave a soft chuckle at the mention of baklava. “If I didn’t have incentive enough, that’d certainly persuade me. Have your apron on standby, because you’re going to need it.”

[Idalia Tsavaris]

Idalia gave Cecil a wicked look, her smile proving how remorseless she was. “Awe, poor Cecil,” she teased, “How you suffer!” She laughed, she didn’t think she could hurt Cecil if she tried, not that she would. She loved Cecil and well anyone who messed with her friend would have her to contend with. For a seemingly ‘harmless’ woman she liked to think she would be a fierce defender in a fight. Her smile broadened and she became very excited indeed to see Cecil’s family. Even if it was just in a picture. When Cecil talked about them, he seemed to light up with love but there was also the lingering sadness. Anyone with eyes could tell he missed them. She had lived for a while away from her family when she was in school, but now she couldn’t imagine not going over to her parents house whenever she wanted.

“That would be super cute,” Ida declared with a smile and laughed at Cecil’s teasing. “Damn dolls, taking all the jobs,” she joked right back. It wasn’t a serious statement but there was something to be said about broadcast jobs. They often could go to any student that majored in communications or something, but now more and more the meteorology degree was starting to mean something. Idalia herself wasn’t yet certified through the American Meteorological Society, she hadn’t been working long enough, but when she could apply, damned if she wouldn’t work extra hard to get it. Cecil’s comment pulled her out of her thoughts and she nodded. “You’re damn right. I will admit that I did cheat on you the other night and I went to that new bar downtown with a coworker. Never again. Soon I’m sure they’ll just have to shut down all the other bars in town.”

Ida ducked her head and wondered if she said the wrong thing. Her and her nose getting into everything! Maybe things were going so well with Cecil. She nevertheless put her focus on him and listened gravely. She cocked her head and ventured a question. “Complicated how?” She had had her share of complicated relationships and at this point in her life she was over the whole casual hook ups. She wanted a relationship where she could finally open up to someone and let them see her in all of her crazy neurotic glory. “You’re sweet, Cecil,” she said. Definitely one of the sweetest men she had ever met. Anyone who didn’t want him was crazy and a half. Honestly, she would go after whoever hurt him for blood.

Cecil was like the brother she never had. Honestly, one would think out of ten children that one of them would end up male, but no. No matter how much her father longed for a son, all he got were daughters. And Idalia thought that now, he couldn’t have been more pleased with that. Just sitting in the comfort of his arms made Idalia’s heart warm. It had been a long time since she had had a true friend and finding a best friend in Cecil had been both an unexpected and a wonderful surprise. “Alright,” she smiled, “Maybe if you have a few hours free you can come over and I’ll teach you how to make it. Maybe it’ll even inspire you for a new drink.” She smiled, if Cecil could concoct something that tasted like baklava in a drink, well Ida wouldn’t drink anything else. Ever.