Mum's Diary (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dominics_mum) wrote2005-05-12 12:03 am
dominics_mum) wrote2005-05-12 12:03 am
Entry tags:
Harry and Matt Damon with Mum - Before the Collaring Ceremony
(Occurs during the party, specifically during the first part and before the Collaring Ceremony.)
Seeing Harry waiting where he'd left him when he'd run off to the loo, Matt grinned and made his way over. "Hey I'm back and boy you should have seen that lavatory! There were some things in there that I didn't recognize. And a woman cleaning a whip!!"
He suddenly realized that Harry was talking to someone else - a woman. "Oh I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't realize Harry was with someone. I'm Matt. Matt Damon."
"Good to see you again, Matt," Harry said, fighting the urge to shake his head. Whether this was how any of them wanted to be introduced or not, he couldn't exactly ignore the fact that Matt had just walked right up to them. "This is Juliet Monaghan, Dominic's mother. Mum, this is Matt Damon."
Juliet could see the shocked reaction roll through the young man next to Harry. Having had time to face the fact that he'd be here, Mum relaxed and offered her hand to Matt. "Matt! Dom's spoken so much about you that I'm glad to finally met you. He's very pleased you agreed to come today you know. It really means a lot."
Matt shook her hand numbly, just staring at her and wondering why it hadn't occurred to him that she was in fact Dom's mother. They looked enough alike, he should have seen it. He finally let go of her hand and just stood there indecisively for a moment.
"Matt's going to be working here at Palace now," Harry said smoothly, putting a hand on Matt's shoulder, hoping to ground him a little bit. "He'll be working with the legal department."
"Well good for you, Matt. It's a wonderful place to work -- best place actually. I quite miss it." Juliet was trying to get him to relax but it didn't seem to be working all that well. Poor lamb! "Harry, you aren't still nervous about the ceremony are you? You know that Dominic and Trent don't want you to pass out during it." She turned to Matt and winked. "If Harry starts to sway, you'll hold him up won't you?"
Matt realized he was leaning up against Harry, the other man's hand feeling warm and solid on his shoulder. "We might all be swaying, but I'll try." Standing more upright again, Matt stole another look at her. "It is quite an honor to work here. Dom... he said you used to work here? When he was... younger."
Grinning, she nodded. "I did indeed. In fact, I met Harry here one day when I was working, didn't I luv?"
Harry snorted and rolled his eyes. "Walking around in a towel no less, thanks very much. How the hell long was it before it actually occurred to me it might be a good idea to put clothes on? Though, in my defense - you brought sandwiches and cookies. Distracted me."
Giggling, Mum swatted him. "Well luv, you clean enough rooms in Palace, half-dressed men are not that extraordinary. And you looked quite hungry, poor thing."
Smiling as he watched their exchange, Matt saw again traces of Dom in her face -- the set of her mouth, the way she obviously loved teasing. Would she have teased me like that if she had been my nanny? Worried that I was hungry and brought sandwiches to my games?
When he saw her looking back at him, he flushed and then flushed more when he thought of what she had just said. "You lived here Harry? Back then?"
"Nah, not exactly. I lived in a lovely little bachelor suite over the pub across from Palace. But I crashed at Sean's a lot, and that's when I ran into Mum for the first time. Met Dom a few weeks later-- how old would he have been then - six? Seven?"
"Umm, lord, it must have been seven I think. Terror even then. Football mad really. Even slept with his trainers on if I didn't stop him." Juliet smiled over at Matt. "Dom tells me you're more into tennis. The facilities here are wonderful. Harry, do you play tennis at all?"
Wishing he could just relax and talk to her, Matt stood there feeling like his tongue was twice as large as normal. She couldn't be more different than his own mother if they were even the same species. Is that why she wouldn't stay? Glenn made it too nasty to want to stay? Made the reality of financial debt as a single parent more appealing than living with them? Of taking care of Michael.... and him?
He couldn't help reaching out to hold onto Harry. Somehow as long as Harry didn't leave him alone with her, he'd be okay -- wouldn't embarrass himself more than he was already.
"Tennis... that's the one with the white shorts and the net-like thing, right?" Harry pretended to be confused, ducking a swat from Mum. "I played tennis when I was a kid, but not much after I started going to college. If I had something that qualified as a sport I participated in, it would probably be riding. I can't do any of the fancy stuff, but I've got practical skills. And I loved going to Dominic's footie games - even if you did think I took it too seriously," Harry mock complained.
"Wha-what did you do at the games Harry?" Matt blurted out nervously. He flushed a bit at how loud he sounded to his own ears. "Were you one of those people yelling at the referees?" He could see Juliet's grin and wink but kept his attention focused on Harry.
"Well the bloody fucking wankers wouldn't know an offside if it nipped 'em in the nuts!" Harry protested. "And I wasn't yelling at them - I was just making my points in a less then quiet voice."
Picturing Harry yelling at a game full of seven year olds made Matt lose it. Sputtering in nervous laughter, he tried several times to say something until finally he managed. "They were little kids! Probably could barely get from one end of the field to the other."
Happy to see that Matt had finally lost that paralyzed look, Juliet giggled along with him. "Everyone thought he was a mad man. And when he tried to take one of the cupcake snacks at halftime, he made one little girl cry." Juliet snickered and patted Harry's hand. "I had brought extra but he didn't know that yet."
Laughing louder, Matt yelped. "You stole a cupcake from a child! Oh my gosh!"
"I did not steal it from her - 's not like her hand was on it or anything! If she wanted it that badly, she should have called it, like I did!" Harry huffed, crossing his arms in front of him, secretly pleased that Matt was loosening up. "And Sean was bad too, so don't put it all on me."
"Sean went too?" Matt smiled at the thought. "And was he stealing food from kids too?"
Juliet shook her head. "No, but he did almost get thrown out of the game. Or sidelines actually. Got in a big fight with one of the referees on some call. My gods, his face was red wasn't it Harry? We had to bribe him with a few dozen cookies to come and sit down."
"Didn't steal it," Harry registered his protest again, grumbling. "And yeah, Sean really laid into him - but can you blame him? The forward on Dom's team probably still has cleat marks on his shin from that little fuck who kicked him when the referee's back was turned - why even have them if they're not gonna do they're fuckin' job!"
Matt chuckled thinking that Harry was still as riled up about it after all these years. "Wish I'd had you guys to yell at a few of the line judges in my matches."
Stroking Harry's back, Mum nodded toward Matt. "They probably would have either embarrassed you to death or made the judges feel sorry that these crazy people belonged to you. So Matt, Dom tells me he really likes your flat. I have a few clients in your building. It's truly one of the most beautiful buildings in town I think."
"I love living there. It's the first place I've ever owned. I can't cook anything but I order really well."
"Oh, we didn't embarrass Dominic - he loved it. Mostly," Harry qualified, before moving on. "Lord, I wouldn't have survived if Mum hadn't been bringing me food. Plus, there were times where I'm certain my place qualified as being distinctly hazardous to the health of any living thing." Harry shuddered. "You going to keep living there and commute to Palace then?" Harry asked, curious.
"I have to live there." Matt saw they both were waiting so he added. "I, well, I promised to host a few parties, things like that, and I need a place to do it."
Juliet nodded easily. "I'm sure your parents will appreciate you having nice parties, dear. I can give you the names of several caterers if you ever need them. You know, I think Dom's keeping his old room here for storage and his music things, though Harry I think it's a bit of a secret. Perhaps he could get your bracelets coded so you can stay over there if you want to?"
"'S not like there's a law that you have to give up your room or anything," Harry smiled at Mum. "I can't see Sean minding about it anyway - the admin section still has plenty of space on it. But yeah, shouldn't be too much of a problem. Especially if you have a late night, and are too wiped out to crash. Y'know, from work or whatever," Harry said, keeping his face deadpanned.
When the meaning of Harry's comment hit him, Matt blushed and stared at Harry. Juliet's knowing smile wasn't helping either. Clearing his throat, he looked around the room, even more filled now. "Well, I'll have to talk to Dom about that sometime later. I doubt he'd care much about it today. Do all these people work at Palace? I only really know one part of the building really."
"A fair number at least. Admins, a few Libertines, both East and West, I'd imagine. I'm sure Elijah's around here somewhere," Harry mused. "Wonder if anyone has started a pool yet on whether they think it's going to be me or Sean who punks out first if push comes to flogger."
Juliet laughed out loud at that. "Well I trust Trent to know the audience. He's too in control of things to have the party go to pieces as the West side of the crowd falls into dead faints or runs away. And I must find Elijah. He's deep in the thick of the planning."
Matt nodded as he made a note to find Elijah as well and to find Guy again when the ceremony started. As he thought about Harry's last comment, he added. "Dom will be disappointed if we don't stand by him. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you Harry?"
Mum raised her eyebrows at Harry, amused and touched that Matt was speaking up for Dom.
"Dominic would be disappointed, yes. And although they've been teasing bloody fuck about it, Trent would never set up a situation that would lead to Dominic being upset or disappointed. We'll all manage just fine, mate," Harry said with a smile to Matt, and an almost imperceptible wink to Mum. "Now c'mon - you want me to introduce you to a few of these crazy bastards?"
Nodding again, Matt got excited as he caught sight of a few men he'd very much like to meet. "Oh please! Thanks Harry."
Knowing he'd have to think about this meeting again but later when he was alone, Matt held his hand out to Juliet again, this time more easily. "It was very nice to finally meet you, Juliet. Thank you for the offer, the caterer names I mean."
"It was lovely meeting you as well Matt. I'm sure you'll have quite a time today. Perhaps Dom should key in your bracelets tonight." She winked at him and wasn't surprised to see a blush rise again. Grinning at Harry, Mum leaned over and gave Harry a kiss and whispered. "Take care of him, luv, or at least set him up with a nice lad."
"I'll see if I can manage both. I'll join you with Dominic when you give me the signal, yeah?" Harry whispered back. "Okay, Matt - pick your target, and lets head out..."
Seeing Harry waiting where he'd left him when he'd run off to the loo, Matt grinned and made his way over. "Hey I'm back and boy you should have seen that lavatory! There were some things in there that I didn't recognize. And a woman cleaning a whip!!"
He suddenly realized that Harry was talking to someone else - a woman. "Oh I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't realize Harry was with someone. I'm Matt. Matt Damon."
"Good to see you again, Matt," Harry said, fighting the urge to shake his head. Whether this was how any of them wanted to be introduced or not, he couldn't exactly ignore the fact that Matt had just walked right up to them. "This is Juliet Monaghan, Dominic's mother. Mum, this is Matt Damon."
Juliet could see the shocked reaction roll through the young man next to Harry. Having had time to face the fact that he'd be here, Mum relaxed and offered her hand to Matt. "Matt! Dom's spoken so much about you that I'm glad to finally met you. He's very pleased you agreed to come today you know. It really means a lot."
Matt shook her hand numbly, just staring at her and wondering why it hadn't occurred to him that she was in fact Dom's mother. They looked enough alike, he should have seen it. He finally let go of her hand and just stood there indecisively for a moment.
"Matt's going to be working here at Palace now," Harry said smoothly, putting a hand on Matt's shoulder, hoping to ground him a little bit. "He'll be working with the legal department."
"Well good for you, Matt. It's a wonderful place to work -- best place actually. I quite miss it." Juliet was trying to get him to relax but it didn't seem to be working all that well. Poor lamb! "Harry, you aren't still nervous about the ceremony are you? You know that Dominic and Trent don't want you to pass out during it." She turned to Matt and winked. "If Harry starts to sway, you'll hold him up won't you?"
Matt realized he was leaning up against Harry, the other man's hand feeling warm and solid on his shoulder. "We might all be swaying, but I'll try." Standing more upright again, Matt stole another look at her. "It is quite an honor to work here. Dom... he said you used to work here? When he was... younger."
Grinning, she nodded. "I did indeed. In fact, I met Harry here one day when I was working, didn't I luv?"
Harry snorted and rolled his eyes. "Walking around in a towel no less, thanks very much. How the hell long was it before it actually occurred to me it might be a good idea to put clothes on? Though, in my defense - you brought sandwiches and cookies. Distracted me."
Giggling, Mum swatted him. "Well luv, you clean enough rooms in Palace, half-dressed men are not that extraordinary. And you looked quite hungry, poor thing."
Smiling as he watched their exchange, Matt saw again traces of Dom in her face -- the set of her mouth, the way she obviously loved teasing. Would she have teased me like that if she had been my nanny? Worried that I was hungry and brought sandwiches to my games?
When he saw her looking back at him, he flushed and then flushed more when he thought of what she had just said. "You lived here Harry? Back then?"
"Nah, not exactly. I lived in a lovely little bachelor suite over the pub across from Palace. But I crashed at Sean's a lot, and that's when I ran into Mum for the first time. Met Dom a few weeks later-- how old would he have been then - six? Seven?"
"Umm, lord, it must have been seven I think. Terror even then. Football mad really. Even slept with his trainers on if I didn't stop him." Juliet smiled over at Matt. "Dom tells me you're more into tennis. The facilities here are wonderful. Harry, do you play tennis at all?"
Wishing he could just relax and talk to her, Matt stood there feeling like his tongue was twice as large as normal. She couldn't be more different than his own mother if they were even the same species. Is that why she wouldn't stay? Glenn made it too nasty to want to stay? Made the reality of financial debt as a single parent more appealing than living with them? Of taking care of Michael.... and him?
He couldn't help reaching out to hold onto Harry. Somehow as long as Harry didn't leave him alone with her, he'd be okay -- wouldn't embarrass himself more than he was already.
"Tennis... that's the one with the white shorts and the net-like thing, right?" Harry pretended to be confused, ducking a swat from Mum. "I played tennis when I was a kid, but not much after I started going to college. If I had something that qualified as a sport I participated in, it would probably be riding. I can't do any of the fancy stuff, but I've got practical skills. And I loved going to Dominic's footie games - even if you did think I took it too seriously," Harry mock complained.
"Wha-what did you do at the games Harry?" Matt blurted out nervously. He flushed a bit at how loud he sounded to his own ears. "Were you one of those people yelling at the referees?" He could see Juliet's grin and wink but kept his attention focused on Harry.
"Well the bloody fucking wankers wouldn't know an offside if it nipped 'em in the nuts!" Harry protested. "And I wasn't yelling at them - I was just making my points in a less then quiet voice."
Picturing Harry yelling at a game full of seven year olds made Matt lose it. Sputtering in nervous laughter, he tried several times to say something until finally he managed. "They were little kids! Probably could barely get from one end of the field to the other."
Happy to see that Matt had finally lost that paralyzed look, Juliet giggled along with him. "Everyone thought he was a mad man. And when he tried to take one of the cupcake snacks at halftime, he made one little girl cry." Juliet snickered and patted Harry's hand. "I had brought extra but he didn't know that yet."
Laughing louder, Matt yelped. "You stole a cupcake from a child! Oh my gosh!"
"I did not steal it from her - 's not like her hand was on it or anything! If she wanted it that badly, she should have called it, like I did!" Harry huffed, crossing his arms in front of him, secretly pleased that Matt was loosening up. "And Sean was bad too, so don't put it all on me."
"Sean went too?" Matt smiled at the thought. "And was he stealing food from kids too?"
Juliet shook her head. "No, but he did almost get thrown out of the game. Or sidelines actually. Got in a big fight with one of the referees on some call. My gods, his face was red wasn't it Harry? We had to bribe him with a few dozen cookies to come and sit down."
"Didn't steal it," Harry registered his protest again, grumbling. "And yeah, Sean really laid into him - but can you blame him? The forward on Dom's team probably still has cleat marks on his shin from that little fuck who kicked him when the referee's back was turned - why even have them if they're not gonna do they're fuckin' job!"
Matt chuckled thinking that Harry was still as riled up about it after all these years. "Wish I'd had you guys to yell at a few of the line judges in my matches."
Stroking Harry's back, Mum nodded toward Matt. "They probably would have either embarrassed you to death or made the judges feel sorry that these crazy people belonged to you. So Matt, Dom tells me he really likes your flat. I have a few clients in your building. It's truly one of the most beautiful buildings in town I think."
"I love living there. It's the first place I've ever owned. I can't cook anything but I order really well."
"Oh, we didn't embarrass Dominic - he loved it. Mostly," Harry qualified, before moving on. "Lord, I wouldn't have survived if Mum hadn't been bringing me food. Plus, there were times where I'm certain my place qualified as being distinctly hazardous to the health of any living thing." Harry shuddered. "You going to keep living there and commute to Palace then?" Harry asked, curious.
"I have to live there." Matt saw they both were waiting so he added. "I, well, I promised to host a few parties, things like that, and I need a place to do it."
Juliet nodded easily. "I'm sure your parents will appreciate you having nice parties, dear. I can give you the names of several caterers if you ever need them. You know, I think Dom's keeping his old room here for storage and his music things, though Harry I think it's a bit of a secret. Perhaps he could get your bracelets coded so you can stay over there if you want to?"
"'S not like there's a law that you have to give up your room or anything," Harry smiled at Mum. "I can't see Sean minding about it anyway - the admin section still has plenty of space on it. But yeah, shouldn't be too much of a problem. Especially if you have a late night, and are too wiped out to crash. Y'know, from work or whatever," Harry said, keeping his face deadpanned.
When the meaning of Harry's comment hit him, Matt blushed and stared at Harry. Juliet's knowing smile wasn't helping either. Clearing his throat, he looked around the room, even more filled now. "Well, I'll have to talk to Dom about that sometime later. I doubt he'd care much about it today. Do all these people work at Palace? I only really know one part of the building really."
"A fair number at least. Admins, a few Libertines, both East and West, I'd imagine. I'm sure Elijah's around here somewhere," Harry mused. "Wonder if anyone has started a pool yet on whether they think it's going to be me or Sean who punks out first if push comes to flogger."
Juliet laughed out loud at that. "Well I trust Trent to know the audience. He's too in control of things to have the party go to pieces as the West side of the crowd falls into dead faints or runs away. And I must find Elijah. He's deep in the thick of the planning."
Matt nodded as he made a note to find Elijah as well and to find Guy again when the ceremony started. As he thought about Harry's last comment, he added. "Dom will be disappointed if we don't stand by him. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you Harry?"
Mum raised her eyebrows at Harry, amused and touched that Matt was speaking up for Dom.
"Dominic would be disappointed, yes. And although they've been teasing bloody fuck about it, Trent would never set up a situation that would lead to Dominic being upset or disappointed. We'll all manage just fine, mate," Harry said with a smile to Matt, and an almost imperceptible wink to Mum. "Now c'mon - you want me to introduce you to a few of these crazy bastards?"
Nodding again, Matt got excited as he caught sight of a few men he'd very much like to meet. "Oh please! Thanks Harry."
Knowing he'd have to think about this meeting again but later when he was alone, Matt held his hand out to Juliet again, this time more easily. "It was very nice to finally meet you, Juliet. Thank you for the offer, the caterer names I mean."
"It was lovely meeting you as well Matt. I'm sure you'll have quite a time today. Perhaps Dom should key in your bracelets tonight." She winked at him and wasn't surprised to see a blush rise again. Grinning at Harry, Mum leaned over and gave Harry a kiss and whispered. "Take care of him, luv, or at least set him up with a nice lad."
"I'll see if I can manage both. I'll join you with Dominic when you give me the signal, yeah?" Harry whispered back. "Okay, Matt - pick your target, and lets head out..."