bryanzilla: ([David] Love is love)
Bryan Collins ([personal profile] bryanzilla) wrote2015-05-01 10:07 am

[For David - May 6]

So it wasn't exactly the sort of wedding he'd always pictured himself having - he's barefoot, for starters, there isn't a single rented trumpeter swan to be seen and they were being serenaded by the musical styling of some hippie with a guitar who just happened to be on the beach that afternoon - but that hadn't made it any less perfect.

Perfect for them, anyway.

There weren't any lavish yet tasteful decorations, no burnt almond meringue cake and no blood relatives of the groom and groom in attendance. That last detail might have just been Bryan's favorite part. Or his second favorite part, really. Because while it may not have been the ceremony of his dreams in terms of the superficial aesthetics of it all, he was standing there with a man who, minus the height, surpassed all of his dreams, holding their son, with their family standing witness. As a very wise ten-year-old had once said, many, many weeks ago: Family is who you choose; it's the relatives who are chosen for us.

How could swans, a pretentious cake and all of those other small details improve on what was surrounding him? Flowers wilted, rented table linens and chairs all had to be returned and the swans would no doubt have made a mess of the aisle runner. But this? David, Sawyer and the people they cared about most... and guitar playing hippie? That's what mattered. That's all that mattered. The hippie, probably less so. All of that other stuff just wasn't important in the grand scheme of things.

With the rings and I dos exchanged, standing hand in hand with David, Bryan finds that he doesn't feel any of the anxiety he'd felt the first time they'd tried to do this. It just serves as further proof to him that this is how it was meant to be.

"Then by the power vested in me as a child of God, I now pronounce you... a family," Father Michael concludes and Bryan's smile brightens before he leans in, Sawyer nestled comfortably in the sling between them, and kisses David. For the sake of tradition he'd wanted to have the wedding before Sawyer was born, but in that moment, with each squirm and shift his tiny body makes in his cocoon of fabric, Bryan can't really remember why. To hell with the traditional.

It's the sudden chill in the air that makes him break the kiss off short and open his eyes, instantly glancing down and pulling the side of the sling protectively over Sawyer to shield him from the breeze. "I didn't dress him for this," Bryan says, brow knit with worry when he finally looks up... only to find everything and everyone who had been there just seconds ago were now gone. Goldie and Shania, Rocky and Nikki, Father Michael and their makeshift, beach discards chic alter and archway. Gone. Random hippie? Him, too. In the distance, he notices that the whole of Santa Monica pier has vanished from the backdrop, and that's when he really starts to panic.

"David?"
gaynecologist: (i reacted too fast)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-04 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
No lightning bolts, David recalls. That's what Father Michael had said. There might not have been a flash or thunder clap but he had definitely felt a zap, a shot of electric adrenalin that couldn't be attributed to Bryan this time, or their first kiss as an officially married couple.

No, this one was different and not in a good way. It's a conclusion David reaches as soon as he realises the low, warm glow of a slowly-setting sun has gone, along with the feel of a sand-scattered towel beneath his feet. Along with Bryan. Along with Sawyer.

For a moment he thinks he can hear Goldie's laughter but when he looks frantically around him to locate the source, there's not a wisp of long blond locks in sight.

"Bryan?" He calls out, a hand screwed in hair as he twists to scan his surroundings again. He starts off in a direction he's put zero thought into, favoring instinct over reason, all traces of Boy Scout logic gone the way of the sun and the soft sand and their son and-- "Bryan!"
gaynecologist: (pic#9100292)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-04 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
He should be leaving some sort of trail to follow back, markings in the sand or a pebble line. He'd taught boys what to do if they ever got lost or separated from their group but David doesn't find himself looking for shelter, a source of fresh water or dry wood for a fire. He finds himself searching for two things far more integral to his survival.

Breathe, David coaches, shaking out his hands to try and bring his growing anxiety under control, breath quickening despite himself. What would Bilbo do? There is a pier protruding into the horizon, a boardwalk above the shoreline and uneven stone steps leading down to the beach. Higher ground, better view, he concludes, moments before a tiny Bryan-shaped figure appears in the distance. Besides the birth of Sawyer and possibly the first Lord of the Rings movie, it's the best thing David has ever seen and it takes less than a heartbeat for him to start running.
gaynecologist: (gotcha nose)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-05 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"Please tell me you know what just happened," David calls out as soon as he's close enough, arms held out in reference to their new surroundings. One look at Bryan's face and he sighs, already knowing the answer. Unfortunately, that's about all he knows right now.

Reaching the pair, he lifts a gentle hand to Sawyer's head and examines the vicinity once again, teeth worrying his bottom lip. "Goldie?" He checks hopefully, raising a concerned gaze to Bryan. "Shania?"
gaynecologist: (pic#9100241)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-05 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
David takes that as a no on both counts, his heart sinking further, reeling a little from such sudden emotional whiplash. "I didn't go anywhere," he insists, frustrated with himself for being unable to think of a rational explanation. "Father Michael just married us, I barely blinked and then you were both gone. Locating the pier isn't high on my priorities, Bry."
gaynecologist: (pic#9100242)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-05 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Why didn't I think..." He slips a hand in his pocket and pulls out his cellphone, attention torn between Bryan and the screen. "David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear, you know," he points out, finding Goldie in his speed-dial and lifting the phone to his ear. He lets out a short gasp and drops his free hand to Bryan's forearm when it starts to trill. "It's ringing. Gol-- That's weird. I got cut off." When he tries again, it doesn't even connect this time. Hearing nothing but a strange dead tone, his forehead creases with confusion and he moves to the phone to Bryan's ear so he can hear it as well.
gaynecologist: (Default)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-06 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Suppressing another sigh, David's brows furrow in consternation. Two weeks ago their wedding had been uniquely and amazingly interrupted by the impatient arrival of their son, something he wouldn't change for the world. This time the disruption is far less welcome and brings with it a deeply unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Alright." Pocketing the useless phone, David turns to face Bryan and reaches for his arms, both to seek and offer comfort. He keeps his voice firm and gaze steady, belying his apprehension. "First things first, we are not going to panic. Bryan."
gaynecologist: (pic#9100280)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-07 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
"You can't freak out on me," David insists in earnest, losing a little bit the restraint in his voice. "The second you feel yourself beginning to channel Nicholas Cage or, or, or Faye Dunaway's Joan Crawford, I want you to look at your son." He drops his gaze briefly to Sawyer, raising it resolutely back to Bryan moments later. "Sweetie, he'll pick up every vibe."
gaynecologist: (pic#9100239)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-07 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"A plan of action," David encourages with a nod of confidence, "good, that's all we need." There's nothing to say for sure that Goldie and Rocky aren't just around the corner, doing exactly what he and Bryan are doing right now. Almost by instinct, he turns around to check.

"We'll stop the first person we see and get some answers," he continues, starting up the beach towards the steps that will take them to the boardwalk and civilization. "There has to be an explanation."
gaynecologist: (pic#9100365)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-08 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Unless this is just what happens you get married and nobody warned us," David surmises, desperate enough to actually pause and contemplate it for a second. His gaze drops slowly to his left hand.

"Oh my God. The Rings of Power," he declares dramatically, sliding his wedding ring halfway off his finger, eyes darting around to see if that makes a difference to their surroundings.
gaynecologist: (pic#9100249)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-09 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Bryan's annihilation of the Lord of the Rings narrative pulls David from his trance and he slips his ring back on securely, taking a fleeting moment to appreciate it on his finger.

"I'm sorry, you're right." He lets out a deep, steadying breath and wiggles his shoulders. "Staying calm." He only manages to remain quiet a moment or two longer before he sends Bryan a side-long glance. "That was a really good try, honey, I'm proud of you. But I think someone needs a rewatch."
gaynecologist: (pic#9100377)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-16 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Legolas is and will always be Middle Earth's biggest badass in David's opinion, an opinion Bryan knows full well. On a normal day he wouldn't think twice about defending the elf's honor but today is anything but that.

"When we're back home, safe and sound, I'll show you," he promises distractedly, taking the last step up to the broadwalk. Everybody looks normal. Nobody is running around like a headless chicken like David is inside his head. They all just look as if they're going about a regular day. "Hopefully one of these has a cell phone we can borrow."
gaynecologist: (Default)

[personal profile] gaynecologist 2015-05-20 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
David rolls his eyes but holds in any comment, quickly distracted by a young hip-hop-looking girl, who given her height and sassy demeanor could maybe pass for Rocky's little sister, listening to music on her cell.

"There, there," he points out, flapping a hand against Bryan's arm. "She has a phone. Go, go. Ask her where we are and call Goldie. No! Call my mom."