Chapter Eight - Two Parties

There were always more bills. But now that Tamsin had decent savings, she was finding them much less of an issue. She was still depressed, and still dressed to impress. Although she had grown close to her daughter, she still had a guilty sense that she didn't love her daughter.

Moonlight was often pushed into the background of Tamsin's day. Cory came over sometimes, unpaid, to check that Moonlight was being cared for. To the degree that Tamsin was motivated, she looked after Moonlight: Feeding, changing, the obligatory snuggle.

Anyway, sometimes Moonlight and her entourage creeped Tamsin out a bit.

Sorting her mail after breakfast Tamsin found an invite to a party at Jed Barracks's house. She'd only met him once, briefly, but she decided she and Moonlight would go. It would mean a walk in the sunshine, and she needed to get to know more people. The only company she had was Cory, who, she had to admit was becoming a dear friend despite being only a teenager.

Tamsin also wanted "adult company" again. It had been a long time. She seriously considered leaving Tamsin at home, but decided to make a go of being a good parent.

The party was... ...weird. The house was ill-lit, and instead of playing music, there was sport on the television. Jed was making rather unappetising looking nibbles.

Tamsin spent most of the evening talking with the only other guest to show up, Jimmy Ropata. At first she had mistaken him for his father, Russell, who she had met at the hospital a few weeks earlier. Where Russell was mature and opinionated, Jimmy had a sexy glow of youth about him. He made for nice conversation. Unfortunately he had to leave for work.

Tamsin was left alone with Jed and Serge Barracks, and a television. She was getting tired, and dreading the trip home, so she tried to make conversation.

- "So, Jed, what do you do?"

- "I was stationed in Symria for two years", he replied.

- "Oh", she replied. Then she added, "I did oppose the invasion. I mean, we haven't really helped anyone, have we?"

- "I think you should leave", Jed said.

It had been an odd moment. Tamsin relaxed when she got home. She would have to find an excuse to call Jimmy. He seemed like a nice guy. He had probably paid more attention to Moonlight at the party than she had, it was obvious he was good with children. Maybe she needed someone like that?

The idea struck her like a bullet. She'd just been to one party, and checking the calender she wasn't wrong - it was Moonlight's birthday! She'd throw a birthday party and invite her friends! She even went out on a limb and invited Perseus, not expecting him to come. He was Moonlight's father, though. She figured she sort of had to.

He was the first guest to turn up. He and Tamsin exchanged an uncomfortable greeting.

The party started to come alive when people she and Moonlight actually liked arrived. Perseus, throughout the party, made no attempt to get to know his daughter. Jimmy, however, did.

Moonlight became a Child

A cross-eyed child.

After the cake was dished out, Cory dragged Tamsin aside. She was upset that Perseus had been invited. She said everyone in town had heard him bad-mouthing his daughter.

It wasn't long into the evening when Perseus snapped. He had been moody all afternoon.

- "You just had fucking cake, you heifer!", he shouted at Moon as she helped herself to more food.

In that moment, any doubt Tamsin harboured about her love for Moonlight fled. She ripped in to Perseus, insisting that he leave her home. Cory, for the first time, was impressed by Tamsin.

Moonlight was less happy. She understood that man was her father. She understood that Tamsin was her mother.

Her parents were fighting.

She snuck outside, and played with her doll in the porch-light. "Leafie", she had named him, because her mother liked leaves so much. She felt happy with Leafie, and sad with her mother.

That night Tamsin could hear Moon chattering away to Leafie. She felt pleased with herself. The party had been motivated by selfish desires, but in the end it had lit that spark of loving loyalty to Moonlight that she had sought. Little did she realise what had happened.

Moonlight had snapped. In her head, Leafie was there. All her senses told her so.

Reality was a different matter.

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Challenge Notes

Due to her rough childhood, Moonlight has developed the Can't Stand Art trait. I'm eager to get to the heir, and so I'm going to be angling for Tamsin to meet up more with Jimmy. I found it really funny that SP has shoved Jimmy into exactly the same career as his father. They look very alike in their uniforms.