just do it

After watching Strife's... whatever, Beryl had attempted to leave via the garden. Every time he tried he just ended up at the door leading outside. Now he watched the man who was unmistakably Ferron, brother number four and the man who had unceremoniously dumped Duri.

"She's better off without you, you know." He said, impassive. "But I was never quite sure why anyone would want to marry you anyways. You always pinched me when you thought no one was looking."

beryl's mask

…

“I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, to be honest. Knowing would imply the thought living in your brain.” Dee sighed, reaching up to quickly push her hair back from her face as she fell back even further in her chair. “I’m fine. I don’t want to drink away any pain or cry or throw things. I was never gonna be someone’s forever.”

--

“I may have learned another language around the same time I found out, just to force the knowledge out of my mind.” Beryl admitted. “Hey now, there’s still plenty of time to be someone’s forever. It’s not off the table yet.”

…

“Grow up, Baby Beryl, we’re all big kids now.” Her eyes rolled, and she leaned back in her chair, eyes finally cutting sideways toward him, eyebrow lifted, eyes narrowed slightly. “Wait– you did know your brother and I used to hook up, right?” Unconsciously, Dee rubbed the scar around her wrist, a panging in her chest as she did. “We weren’t exactly subtle about it.”

--

He gave Deidra a look right back. Spending time with Peter and Peter’s friends had made him bolder. “Knowing your brother is having a lot of sex and having to think about your brother having a lot of sex are two very different things, my friend.”

…

“Did Nick send you?” Deidra’s frustration bled from every pore. She didn’t need Nick sending people, especially baby Beryl peeking in and checking on her. “Tell him if he’s worried, he can come check on me himself, and remind him that I’m a big girl while you’re at it, and that I’ve bent him over his desk just as many times as he’s bent me over mine, so I don’t need to be coddled.”

--

“When do I ever do what Nickel tells me?” Beryl asked, before adding, “These days.” At the mention of anyone bending Nick over a desk Beryl made a truly terrified face and waved his hands a bit frantically. “I will buy you so many drinks just to get you to stop mentioning unmentionable things. Why would you do this to me, Deidra?”

open

“I’m fine. People break up with people every day. It doesn’t need to be a thing.”

--

“Well, sure. But it could be, if you wanted it. Or if you wanted some free drinks, which I’m happy to provide.”

Beryl still can’t quite believe that he’s managed to make another friend. He’s never been very good at it, the fact Millicent seems so honestly eager about knowing him it sometimes blows him away.

Beryl hasn’t had the heart to let Millie know being his friend also means having to develop many opinions on classical music and composers

When he’s feeling particularly in his feelings about not having her around any more, he tells himself it’s for the best because he doesn’t even know that many zombie jokes and he’d definitely have to had to make loads since she came back from the dead. It doesn’t really work but neither did any of his potential zombie jokes.

When he’d spotted Beryl outside of his door, Nickelos had, for a short moment, been certain that his brother was drunk and confused. But his speech had been clear, he hadn’t been stumbling or close to throwing up anywhere. So, not drunk, but most definitely confused.

He was here. And Nick’s apartment.

Now, Beryl was sprawled out on the ground, having made the rug in the center of the room into his home while Nickelos sat on his sofa, eyeing his brother a little oddly. “Which of your friends is having a child?” he asked, brows furrowing. “It entirely depends on whether it’s born yet or not. If it is, you get them a bottle of something strong. They’ll need it.”

He rolled his eyes at Beryl’s unnecessary jab at his music taste. “Pachelbel is fine. Not that you’d know or anything.”

--

“Markus. I would be rather surprised if Millicent managed to sneak a whole pregnancy past me, but I’ve only known her so long. Maybe she does have a child and I never noticed.” Oh lord, did Millicent have a child? Would the child also need to come meet the sheep? 

“Aren’t you not supposed to drink around babies, or did Saph make that up?” All he remembered was the look of far off longing when he’d shown up to the ‘hey you’re a mother now’ party with a nice bottle of Goblin-made wine.

He rolled over to give Nickelos A Look. “Oh please, Pachelbel is not fine. He knew maybe five chords and gave the world the most annoying piece of classical music I’ve ever heard. Put on something better, I beg you.”

The only thing more unbelievable about this whole situation was still the fact he’d come over to his brother’s house willingly. Pete was out for the night, Millicent was busy with something, and Markus had a child.

“What do you get for your friend when they have a kid?” He asked the room at large from his spot lying in the middle of the floor. “Is it different from when Emerald or Saph had kids? Also, your taste in music is terrible. Do you have any Bach to put on?”

“Unsurprising? I wouldn’t love your company if you weren’t surprising.” WIth a small smile she peered into his eyes. “Be kinder to yourself, Beryl. There’s so much good in you. I can see it.” Millicent ought to listen to her own advice.

As they waltzed, Millicent felt a bit of peace. She was moving her body to the rhythm of the music. She could feel the music inside her. Dancing was something that made her feel alive – even the waltz. “It’s so nice, isn’t it. The dancing bring joy?” She asked, slowly blinking. “What makes you feel like that?”

At the word boyfriend, Millicent perked up. “See? I didn’t know you were in a relationship! Surprising, surprising.” She winked. “Undersecretary? At the Ministry? I must check in and make sure he really is your better half.” She felt happy in that moment and it was thanks to Beryl. “I know it’s the waltz but dip me?”

---

Beryl opened his mouth but didn’t actually know what to say to that. He’d spent so much of his life striving to blend in, to be nothing spectacular if he could help it. Good in him? He was a coward in most things. Good felt a bit like a stretch.

He hummed, thinking her question over. “Languages, usually. And music, the proper stuff. Classical.” He could practically feel his brothers rolling their eyes at the statement. “Spending time with Markus; and obviously Peter.”

Amused, he raised an eyebrow. “Junior undersecretary to the Minister, yes. He’s quite busy you may not be able to spend much time with him. Just a warning.” Usually when he saw Peter at work it involved stealing lunch or time during a break. “I’m warning you now, it’s been a moment since I’ve dipped anyone.” But he did know the theory, so how hard could it really be? He slid his hand down to the small of her back and shifted his weight, dipping her down.