Go ahead and laugh

[Drew deGrey]

It was very late that Yule night, and rather then return to the Greystone like his parents expected him too, Drew went somewhere else. His big brother was proving to make himself useful that night with his vineyard, and Drew had practically helped himself. It was a happy occasion right? The news that he was going to be a father? To not only one, but two babies. He never thought his twinness would be passed on, but apparently, it was. Drew had gotten his latest mistress pregnant. His bad karma had finally come to bite him in the ass, and he was now going to rue the day.

Declan was going to be so tickled pink, he surely wouldn’t mind the bottles of wine his brother had consumed. Drew was currently at the piano in his brother's sitting room. Tapping away at keeps as his head lolled from side to side, in his drunken state. His hair was a mess, something Drew took great pride in. His shirt was unbuttoned by several buttons, his tie loosened. His jacket had been tossed half haphazardly across the back of a chair along with his vest, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, as his drunken self did a poor rendition of O’Silent Night..

When the song was over he reached for the wine bottle that was resting on top of the piano, and took a swing of it, nearly toppling backward off the bench before he righted himself. One of the empty bottles he’d drank from the wine cellar to the room was on its side on the floor, and there was a small fire burning in the hearth. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to see a figure. A bright drunken smile spread across his face but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Heeeeeeeeey!!!!” He slurred. “C’mere, I-I’s got news to tell ya!” He said waving them over with a bottle, patting the bench beside him.

Declan deGrey and Dani deGrey if she wants to come in at somepoint

[Declan deGrey]

The servants had alerted Declan that his brother was waiting in the sitting room. They looked upset enough that Declan sent the girls to their rooms immediately, despite their protests that they wanted to wish their uncle goodnight. Declan insisted they could greet him in the morning over breakfast, and that he would handle this unruly version himself. They disagreed, but at least they did as they were told. Thankfully his ex-wife was nowhere to be found--likely still cavorting with some rake or another back at the ball.

What they had not done, much to his annoyance was prepare him for the state that he found Drew in--drunk and disheveled. Declan stopped in the doorway and stared, the look on his face somewhere between disgusted and concerned. In truth, he was about equal parts of each emotion. As unbecoming as his brother's current state may be, it was still his brother, and family ties weren't so easily undone in the mind of Declan deGrey.

After sweeping the room with his gaze to evaluate what resources he had available, he did a few things. First, he walked calmly up to Drew, and without even a flicker in his calm expression, he took his brother by the wrist with one hand and pried the wine bottle away from him with the other. He promptly brought it across to the bookshelf and set it on top--he was counting on the fact that his brother's reflexes and balance were too damaged by the drink for him to recover it.

Next, he went to the ash bin that was next to the fireplace, glanced into it to see how full it was, then brought it over to Drew. "If you must be sick, do it in the bucket," he instructed dryly.

Lastly, he took one of the armchairs and turned it around so that he could sit facing his brother. He sat on the edge of the chair, leaning his forearms onto his knees and clasping his hands together, and took a moment to look quietly at his brother. He wasn't sure he was entirely ready to hear whatever had sent Drew into this particular spiral, but he didn't seem to have much of a choice.

"Alright then, what is it?"

[Drew deGrey]

Something was certainly wrong for Drew to be in such a state. For one, Andrew deGrey was not a nice drunk. Infact he could be incredibly mean, nearly violent if he wasn’t careful. He tended to watch himself so he never got that state, but lately he’d been trying to cope with the guilt he faced at being the cause of his fathers loss limb. There was a inner hatred towards himself, and depression at set in on his shoulders. But this? This was the freaking icing on the cake.

He had really fucked up now…

He didn’t fight Declan as he took the wine bottle from him, infact he thought it was time for celebration honestly, at least for his brother. “Yer gonna….neeed dat.” He had to focus on the words as they slurred together, and then watched Declan with childlike curiosity as he put it up on the shelf. Well why would he do that? He needed that for his news! But Declan was always a stick in the mud, so Drew wasn’t all the surprised.

“I’m not-” He belched suddenly, furrowing his brow and making a disgusted face at the after taste of what came up from his stomach. “Go’na be sick.” He said wagging his finger at his brother. He took the ash bin none the less, cuddling it close to his chest as if he was snuggling up with his old teddy bear before Dani and him had accidently set poor Barry on fire when they were ten. He missed that bear...He’d have to give his babies both bears when they were born. He thought for a brief moment.

Once Declan was situated and was giving Drew his undivided attention, Drew pursed his lips, staring at him, before he leaned foreword. Hugging the bin tighter to his chest. “Guess what I did,” He whispered, his eyes wide as if he knew a big giant secret. He waited a few seconds before he grinned widely. “I FU’KED UP!” He practically shouted. He started to laugh then, his shoulders shaking as he slightly shook his head. The world really hated him didn’t it?

Drew stood up from the piano bench and then stumbled a bit towards Declan, before he reached down clamped a clumsy hand on his brothers shoulder. With the other hand he grabbed the edge of the ash bin and made a toast like gesture at Declan. A bit of the ash plumed up into the air. “Congrats Uncle Ducky!” He said. Patting Declans shoulder lightly before he dropped the ash bin on the floor. “Dani!!! Wher ‘re youuuuuuuu!” Drew proceeded to call. “Yer gonna be an Auntie! Er-Again! Twice Over!”

[Declan deGrey]

Declan sighed and rubbed his temples. Not only was he drunk, but he was also loud as hell. Why couldn't the dolt have talked to him before getting himself absolutely trashed? It was exhausting.

All the yelling didn't happen to make much sense, either. Uncle? Twice over? The girls were trying to go to bed, and here Drew was screaming fit to wake the entire household. Hell, he'd probably even wake Rebekah. At least that part would give him some satisfaction.

What would not, was the ash now all over his floor, his shoes, and his clothes, from the cloud generated by the dropped ash bin. Lovely. The maids were going to come back from seeing their families for Yule and find the house torn apart.

"Drew, I'm going to need you to lower your volume. The girls are trying to sleep," He directed, rising to his feet to press Drew back down onto the piano bench by his shoulders. "Sit down and tell me what's the matter. Shouting like a madman isn't helping."

[Drew deGrey]

If only Ducky really knew the predicament his dear sweet little brother was in. Then he’d really understand. He actually laughed, chuckling to himself. Duck thought he was being loud? He could get really loud if he wanted. Shout his woes from the tops of his lungs, but in all honestly that sounded exhausting.

He flopped down on the bench reaching to grasp Declan’s wrists. “Karma’s come to get me brother.” He whispered loudly, patting the bench beside him. “You see, I’ve done a truly and awful thing.” He started to explain, and his whole demeanor started to change. Declan knew what a drunk Drew was really like, and it wasn’t this pathetic mess. That Drew was cold, and angry, and mean. A ripe ole asshole, and tonight, Drew was being the asshole to himself.

“You know me and my mistresses right?” Of course, he did. Drew was private to the public, but not to the family. Declan certainly knew of his rakish habits when he was on shore leave. Brown eyes tried to focus on Declan as whatever was left of his smile faded away. “Little Sienna, the last one from this fall, you know her?” He asked, motioning with his hand to indicate how tall she was. “Sweet little thing mind you, and she’s smart. God is she a witty one,” He exclaimed, leaning back against the Piano. The chords sounded as his back hit the keys, and he rolled his head towards Declan, reaching to wrap an arm around his shoulders. “Guess what she told me tonight!” He whispered loudly. Leaning in towards Declan as if it was a great secret. Drew rested his head against his shoulder and snuggled in a bit before he made a dramatic sigh. “She’s pregnant Dec. I’m gonna be a father,” He admitted with a low chuckle. “What’s worse!? Well, Grand if you ask Nana,” He said leaning up wave a hand through the air. “Twins! I’m getting twins!” He exclaimed before he threw his head into his hands and leaned his elbows on his knees.

“I’m ruined.” He groaned.

[Declan deGrey]

Relieved to at least have calmed his brother a few notches, Declan nodded along, following the story. Drew had always been one to sow his wild oats, so to speak; though he was reliable in other fields, romance wasn't his strong suit. Declan had accepted that years ago and quit trying to argue about it. Having made it this far without trouble, Declan had assumed that Drew was being smart about his conquests. Apparently, he had slipped up. He guessed that much before Drew even got to the announcement.

The snuggly bit had him grimacing, but he forced himself to wait. Better to let Drew get this out of his system without distracting him.

“What’s worse!? Well, Grand if you ask Nana,” He said leaning up wave a hand through the air. “Twins! I’m getting twins!” He exclaimed before he threw his head into his hands and leaned his elbows on his knees.

“I’m ruined.” He groaned.

Now that...that was a surprise to Declan. Twins! Surprise registered on his face first, and then the corners of his mouth began to twitch, and he realized, much to his horror, that he was going to smile. He clapped a hand over his mouth to try and stifle it, but he couldn't. He just couldn't do it.

He wound up leaning against the piano himself with a horrible discordant chime, laughing helplessly.

"I'm sorry, really I am. Laughter isn't appropriate, but--" he struggled to get a breath in. "Do you know how many times I wished you'd have children as troublesome as you and Dani? Apparently, the man upstairs took me a bit too seriously, dear boy." He patted his brother's shoulder in clumsy commiseration of his misery.

Declan managed to reel himself in, pulling out a handkerchief to dab at his eyes. "Bloody hell, this is going to be a mess. But dammit man, you're not the one that's ruined, this Sienna girl is! A man can get away with whatever he likes, but she--her marriage prospects just got washed out to sea." He sighed heavily, changing his posture to match his brother, though his chin rested on his hands, rather than being buried in them. Perhaps it was odd for him to see it that way, but he'd been worried for years now about this very thing happening to one of his own daughters. It was a fear that haunted him at every party when young men with charming smiles dazzled his daughters with clever words and dance steps.

"Well, seems you've got a choice here, Drew. You either marry her yourself or set her up with a big enough dowry that some other sap will do it for you. I assume you're not planning to just throw her to the wolves with nothing?"