one foot in front of the other // open

[blake k.]

Tommy had woken up from naptime early, so she decided to take him out of the room so he could play and not wake up his sister. She was seated on the floor while Tommy had crawled over to the couch, pulling himself up to stand. This wasn't new, both twins now stood up but never walked. 

Until now.

Charlotte was the first to talk, which was obvious but Thomas wouldn't learn to sign for a bit longer. But he would be first to take steps. He turned to look at Blake, who had been watching him anyways and started walking towards her with a huge grin seeing her face. She was in awe, but was quick to hold her hands out and eventually move towards him to catch him as he fell. He had taken a decent amount of steps, but he wasn't walking. Not yet.

Blake scooped him into her arms and was so close to just tears. Blame the hormones if you want, but her kids were so big now and she didn't like it. This was also the first big milestone she got with her son, so she was beyond excited.

"Oh god you guys are gonna be walking soon."

[spoiler=TAGS 3/8]
One taught me love — general
▪ Blake Kegan | Blake, Blakie | open to nicknames
▪ AFAB | Identifies as Genderfluid | she/they
▪ 20 | Born July 26th | ages real time
▪ combat | member of Flintlock Lodge

One taught me patience — physical
♦ Health: 100%
— They stand at 5'9" with semi-long wavy ginger hair. She has a rose tattoo and a few scars from past events. She's closer to an athletic build and is on the thinner side.
— minor injuries: n/a
— major injuries: n/a

And one taught me pain — important info
▪ Broad Australian accent
▪ She's either your mom, sister, or wife friend
▪ If you find a cat in the lodge it's probably somehow hers

Now, I'm so amazing — personality
— I like to think Blake is a good example of the whole "strong, independent woman" thing even if she doesn't identify as a woman. She has a short temper and what I gently put as homicidal tendencies. She will gladly fight someone, regardless if they're bigger than her or not. However, she's also rather maternal and is more likely to protect a child than anything. Her maternal side has massively shown itself since the twins were born, though that leaves her more violent side to be overlooked or forgotten.
— Maternal, "Strong Independent Woman", Protective
— Violent, Homicidal Tendencies, Short Tempered

I've loved and I've lost — relationships
▪ Ryan Kegan x Katherine Kegan
▪ Pansexual | Panromantic | Polyamorous
▪ Single | Crushing on no one | Maybe Crushing on no one
▪ Ex-wife of Edmund Moray
▪ Mother of Thomas Moray and Charlotte Moray

But that's not what I see — interaction
— Physically very hard | Mentally intermediate
— Uses combound bow and arrows
— Also skilled in hand to hand combat
— No killing and ask before major injuries or major interactions
— To attack, [member=9567]Noccy[/member] & attack in #B34600
[/spoiler]

[freddie]

[align=center][div style="background=transparent; borderwidth=0px; bordercolor=; width: 400px; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; color: black"]

— fred made it a habit to be out and about. he didn’t want to be the kind of person to miss something in the lodge. in other words, he seemed to always want to be in everyone’s business. always in the know about everything going on inside the ever-growing group. he didn’t know that him trying to catch each milestone in flintlock would involve watching some kid walk.

children weren’t his forte, even if he casually bragged to himself that he was good with them. still, he watched with raised brows and curious eyes as the little tommy stood up and stumbled towards blake. blake got emotional - fred would never understand why - and meanwhile fred simply huffed a short breath.

“look at him go,” he mused, gesturing towards the kid before saying, humorous and just begging for attention (nothing new), “that’s how the other tommy walks, too. when he’s shitfaced.”

[truce.]

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #000"]Tom had missed the moment Finn ever took his first steps. In fact, he missed many moments before that as well, and afterwards. Finn barely knew his father’s face, Tommy absent from his three year old’s life for longer than he’d been in it. But, it’d never been what Tom had wanted - only now did he feel safe enough to associate himself with Tara and Finn again. Before Alfred’s death, his former wife and his son would have targets on their heads if seen around Tom.

Perhaps that was why he felt obliged to take such good care of his niece and nephew - maybe he could experience what he should’ve experienced with his own son. And so, Tom lounged back on the sofa, book in his lap and glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. But, he wasn’t focused on the book. Instead, eyes curiously watched as little Tommy - the baby that Eddie had named after him - seemed to bounce feebly on the spot before he began to take a few small steps towards Blake. Tom frowned, though lips threatened to twitch into the tiniest of smiles.

❝ Did I just imagine that or somethin’? ❞ He questioned before leaning forwards to gently pinch little Tommy’s cheek. ❝ He’s gonna be a stealthy one when he’s no more knee-high to a grasshopper. ❞ Eyes soon darted up as Freddie passed a remark, Tom’s features shriveling up before he sat up straight. ❝ And with remarks like that, soon you’ll be unconscious on the floor. Like when you’re shitfaced. ❞ Although gruff words came across as harsh and threatening, Tommy’s words were no genuine threat. His humor was just a little… warped.

Besides, if he was really genuinely angry, then he'd strike silently.

[blake k.]

Of course, the sight of Tommy walking was nothing but praised, causing Blake to kiss the little one on the cheek. "I don't think I'm ready for the two of them to walk yet." she frowned, looking at her little boy who seemed proud of himself, as he should. He was, of course, a mommy's boy. Though there were more milestones for her to witness for him, like the first time Tommy signs.

She listened to the two go at each other, laughing in amusement between the two. Though also because she was safe, they never had seen the ginger drunk. "Well don't you two sound like a hell lot of fun." she mused "It's fun not having anyone depending on you like this, huh?" She added, looking back to her son who was now babbling with his hands - the equivalent of babbling for a baby that he did in sign.

[spoiler=TAGS 3/8]
One taught me love — general
▪ Blake Kegan | Blake, Blakie | open to nicknames
▪ AFAB | Identifies as Genderfluid | she/they
▪ 20 | Born July 26th | ages real time
▪ combat | member of Flintlock Lodge

One taught me patience — physical
♦ Health: 100%
— They stand at 5'9" with semi-long wavy ginger hair. She has a rose tattoo and a few scars from past events. She's closer to an athletic build and is on the thinner side.
— minor injuries: n/a
— major injuries: n/a

And one taught me pain — important info
▪ Broad Australian accent
▪ She's either your mom, sister, or wife friend
▪ If you find a cat in the lodge it's probably somehow hers

Now, I'm so amazing — personality
— I like to think Blake is a good example of the whole "strong, independent woman" thing even if she doesn't identify as a woman. She has a short temper and what I gently put as homicidal tendencies. She will gladly fight someone, regardless if they're bigger than her or not. However, she's also rather maternal and is more likely to protect a child than anything. Her maternal side has massively shown itself since the twins were born, though that leaves her more violent side to be overlooked or forgotten.
— Maternal, "Strong Independent Woman", Protective
— Violent, Homicidal Tendencies, Short Tempered

I've loved and I've lost — relationships
▪ Ryan Kegan x Katherine Kegan
▪ Pansexual | Panromantic | Polyamorous
▪ Single | Crushing on no one | Maybe Crushing on no one
▪ Ex-wife of Edmund Moray
▪ Mother of Thomas Moray and Charlotte Moray

But that's not what I see — interaction
— Physically very hard | Mentally intermediate
— Uses combound bow and arrows
— Also skilled in hand to hand combat
— No killing and ask before major injuries or major interactions
— To attack, [member=9567]Noccy[/member] & attack in #B34600
[/spoiler]

[freddie]

[align=center][div style="background=transparent; borderwidth=0px; bordercolor=; width: 400px; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; color: black"]

— god. tommy’s fatherly side was beginning to show. fred thought he was going to be sick. save the whole “being cute with kids” thing for his own son in northstar; fred didn’t want to see it around here. still, with tommy’s gruff words, he felt the brief nausea wash away. he grinned, throwing up his fists playfully. “oh yeah? i’d like to see you try, big guy. bring it.” the half blonde quickly jabbed at the air with a fist, as if to show he knew how to throw a punch.

“it’s fun not having anyone depending on you like this, huh?” fred crinkled his nose at the remark. “it’s great. tom still has finn to check in on-” he waved a hand dismissively, turning the focus back to himself. “but i think i’m going to be a bachelor the rest of my life. by choice. nothing to tie me down. besides,” he brushed a hand through his hair as he said, “i think i’ll be one silver fox, don’t you think?” fred noted almost as an afterthought that he didn’t see himself growing old at all. to die on the fields of battle was a dream of his -- but maybe seeing if he aged like a fine wine would be worth sticking around.

[truce.]

#794044[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #000"]❝ When the both of ‘em start walking, you’re gonna have to keep ‘em both on a leash. ❞ Tommy kidded lightly, choosing to ruffle little Tommy’s hair lightly before leaning back on the sofa. It wasn’t long until the little shit, Freddie, began to pass a couple snotty remarks. Ah, shit - Tommy could whack him across the back of the head for actually making Tom want to laugh at that comment. Tom nodded his head slowly as he watched Fred jabbing the air before he wordlessly stood up as if he was ready to start a fight.

Not in front of the little one, though, ‘ey? Big Tom had to set a good example for Little Tom.

❝ It's fun not having anyone depending on you like this, huh? ❞ ❝ Ah, nah - is a blessing, innit? ❞ Tommy remarked, gesturing towards the youngster before he said, ❝ I’d kill to see my little one every day. Make the most outta it, Kegan. ❞ He spoke whilst slowly, sneakily nearing Freddie, eyes still lingering on the mother and her son before he suddenly tried to reach out and put Freddie into a headlock. ❝ Not if you go bald, cousin! ❞ He commented roughly, messing his hair up before pushing him away. ❝ Besides, knowing you, you gonna get yourself killed before you’re even thirty, ya damn goon. ❞

[freddie]

[align=center][div style="background=transparent; borderwidth=0px; bordercolor=; width: 400px; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; color: black"]

— whether tom was amused or not, freddie would never know. when the man was being humorous and playful, he was grumpy and grumbling. when he was happy, he seemed grumpy and grumbling. when he was irritated, he was equally as grumpy and frustrated with anything and everything. he was a tough book to read, and a tough egg to crack. nonetheless, as tommy wordlessly stood up as if preparing for a fight, fred noticeably flinched and took a step back. though, seeing that tom wasn’t actually in the mood to fight fred’s bullshit with his fists, he relaxed and lowered his arms to his sides.

“a blessing?” he repeated incredulously, brows raising slightly. “when did changing diapers become a blessing?” it was definitely a blessing fred could live without, he decided. the dirty blonde seemed too wrapped up in his thoughts, rambling about his non-committal lifestyle to think much about tom getting closer, and closer. hell, he didn’t think anything about it until the man had already put him into a headlock. “hey!” with a playful grunt of effort as he attempted to get out of tommy’s grip, he huffed a few breaths as the man messed up his hair. running his fingers through his hair once tommy let go, he shook his head in amused disbelief. “i think i already see a couple gray hairs-” he teased, poking a finger against the side of tom’s head.

then again, it wasn’t like a lot of stirling men lived long enough to truly know if baldness ran in their family. instead he simply grinned at tommy’s last remark, seemingly more flattered than anything. “that’s the dream, isn’t it?” he waved a dismissive hand towards little tommy junior over with blake, adding with an absent smile, “not having kids or anything to worry about leaving behind? that’s part of the dream, too. nobody to miss me when i'm gone.” for such a dark and somber topic, fred surely seemed too lighthearted. "besides." he suddenly aimed to try and put tommy in a headlock, gritting his teeth as he ruffled his hair and muttered, "gives me more time to make you want to pull your hair out, cousin!"