Teen Audience Rating for: Past reference to Minor Violence, Past Ambiguous Relationships of the Adultery kind.
"You been awfully quiet since you woke up this morning," says Hector, as he sets his mug of hot coffee onto to the table. "Not only that, you been quiet since you came back from your shift at the Fish District last night as well. What's going on this time?"
Widdershins continues packing the small portable icebox. "Nothing that concerns you."
"Any problem you have always concerns me." Hector dries his hand with towel hanging below the sink. "Let me guess...The concern starts with a 'T', and it ends with a 'Y'. What did Thursday do this time around that ruffled your feathers?"
"Bold of you to assume I saw Thursday again." Widdershins grabs the thermos.
"I never said anything about you seeing him again. With or without seeing him, we know that man is becoming a major thorn on our sides. Do you know Fernald is still shaken by the fact his father is in the city only to find his second wife and his child who been 'missing' for years?"
"Aye. At least one of the two. Fernald told me after...well long story short, Fernald knew of his father's second marriage. Said he's not surprised his old man went after Miranda Caliban. Things got awkward, so I changed the topic on how to break the news of Thursday to Fiona."
Hector clicks his tongue, and then rolls his eyes. With one quick movement, he takes a few steps closer to Widdershins.
"Don’t you try slapping me again." Widdershins turns around, and leans back against the counter. "Despite the icepack you gave me, my boss still thought she needed to call the police."
"I didn’t plan on slapping you again." Hector crosses his arms. "I just want to ask why it's taking you and Fernald so long to tell Fiona. It's been almost a month since our last conversation."
"Isn’t it obvious? Fernald still thinks I'm Fiona's father. But I'm not!"
"You don't have to keep on insisting your innocence to me. You weren't exactly like the other nautical volunteers. Besides, Gregor was always sweet on you in his own scientist-y way."
Widdershins eyes widen. "He was being whaton me?!"
"Sweet on you. That's why I don't think Gregor is Fiona's father either," says Hector, leaning against the counter as well. "Whoever started the rumor, I would like to smack them in the face."
"Aye. I too, would like to smack them." Widdershins then turns back around to the counter. He grabs the portable icebox, and begins walking out of the kitchen, family room, and living room.
"Since we're in agreement," says Hector, as he follows Widdershins, "care to spill what's bothering you and your ridiculous mustache?"
"...It’s Miranda. I saw her shopping at one of the fish markets yesterday. She looks the same as ever. Miranda's temper is still intact as well. I'm quite glad she didn't slap me as a greeting."
"You talked to Miranda!? Did you talk about the island? Thursday? Anything at all!?"
"Aye." Widdershins sets the portable icebox down near the front door, and starts putting on his boots. "After she and Thursday sided with that old coot Ishmael, Thursday left her when pregnant with their daughter. Aye! Friday! The name that was supposed to be for Fernald, but not Fiona! But she didn't tell me more than that. Miranda didn't look like she wanted to talk about the past. Aye. Miranda told me she's focusing on being a proper mother to Friday now."
Widdershins soon rubs his eyes. "She showed me a photo of Friday. That little girl looks so much like Fernald. Seeing Friday made me realize I had to warn Miranda about Thursday."
Hector picks up the portable icebox, and hands it to a now standing Widdershins. "Thursday did put her through a different nightmare. You did the right thing by warning her. I still can't believe Miranda agreed to his proposal. Given Thursday's age, she’s old enough to be Fernald’s sister."
"With the way you spoke, you think of him as some dirty old man. Are you saying my wife was a deviant as well!? Aye! A degenerate who possibly could have slept with Gregor!? Despite you saying you think Gregor isn't Fiona's father! Hector, please don't tell me you agreed with me to get on my good side! Aye! Here I thought we were actually getting along for once!"
Hector resists the urge to clicks his tongue. "I guess it finally occurred to you that you're old enough to be Fernald's older brother. Congratulations. It took you long enough."
Widdershins doesn't reply. All he does is unlock the chain bolt lock, as well as the bottom two locks. He opens the door. He doesn't leave though.
"What’s got you all hesitating at the moment?" asks Hector.
"...It’s nothing to worry about. Aye. It's just a stray thought unrelated to the topic."
Hector continues to resist the urge to click his tongue. He then drags Widdershins by the collar, before pinning him to the wall. "How long have we known each other? Ten years? Twelve years? I honestly lost count. But I do know one thing. Hesitating isn't something you normally do. You better spill the beans, or I'll force it out of you. Believe me when I say I can!"
"Alright fine! I’ll spill! Miranda said while she won't tell her daughter the truth about Thursday —not yet at least— she's thinking about telling her daughter about her half-siblings. Aye! Miranda finally changed her tune about Gregor at last! But what should I do? Fernald is still heart-broken over the fact Thursday has another child! Whenever I try to bring it up, he clamps up!"
Hector loosens his grip. "Do you think Fernald wants to acknowledge Friday?"
"No." Widdershins gives out a sudden hum. "Fiona however, I can see acknowledging. She always wanted a younger sibling, but I never dated again after her mother's death. Aye! At least she has the Quagmires now as her pseudo-siblings! She grown fond of them all! Especially Quigley! Aye! It got me wondering if I mistook her fondness for Klaus Baudelaire the wrong way! But I’m getting off topic! How do I get Fernald accept the fact he has another sister?"
Hector finally clicks his tongue again. "For starters, you and Fernald need to tell Fiona the truth. Only then you and Fiona can work together to get Fernald to change his tune."
Widdershins gives out a scoff. "And this is coming from the man who still hasn't told the Quagmires of his own secrets. Aye! You're no better than me at the rate you’re going!"
"Don’t compare your past so-call justifications with mine. My reasons are nothing like yours. I never suspected the Volunteer Fire Department would reenter my life. I truly believed the organization finally let go of its grips on the Village of Fowl's Devotee for good. Guess I thought wrong."
Hector lets go of Widdershins, and then readjusts the coat collar. Hector gives out a deep sigh as he brushes off the dirt off the coat's shoulders.
"Besides, I'm waiting for you to break the news to Fiona. Given your family is the stars of whatever telenovela we're in, I feel revealing my connections to V.F.D. makes more sense if there's existing background lay out already. Despite what you may be thinking, I'm ready to accept the possibility the Quagmires will hate me for lying to them, as well as needing to re-earn their trust. Especially Quigley. He'll probably feel vindicated of some conspiracy theory he cooked up that I'm a shady person who selfishly wanted Jacques dead."
"You're still beating yourself up over Jacques?" Widdershins places his free hand into his coat pocket. "Hector, you got to understand that just because you kept quiet, it doesn't mean you have to punish yourself with extra guilt. We know perfectly well who's responsible for Jacques' murder, and it's not you. I said it before, and I'll say it again. It's not your fault."
Hector smiles, and then semi-affectionally pat Widdershins’ shoulders. "...Thank you for your attempts of reassurance, Widdershins. I think I somehow needed that of all things."
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