[Bridget Lacey]

[nospaces]

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

[break]

[attr="class","BRID"]

---

[break]


It was an unfortunate truth that Ferris pointed out. Just like there were bad apples in any group of people, there were certain Gifted who used their abilities to do more harm than good. Or, at the very least, used their gifts in completely self serving, self indulgent ways. Putting themselves above others, taking advantage of others and manipulating people. [break][break]

Those were the people that the hunter groups pointed toward, the examples that made them think that all gifts were evil, all Gifted were evil or bad or less than human. But they were still very much human, making the same kinds of mistakes while they tried to live their lives. Some humans murdered people. Some humans led cults. Some humans robbed banks or held up convenience stores or committed numerous other crimes on a daily basis. But they didn’t have the added mystifying qualities that made some people fear Gifted. [break][break]

“I’ll definitely let you know when I’ve got to go back out there again. At the very least, even if follow up is not either of our strong suits, together we might be a bit better at it.” She smirked and finished off the last bit of her lunch. [break][break]

He seemed amused at the thought of her in a language class, and she had to admit looking back it had been funny. She’d aced all the oral exams easily, but the written exams were always a different story, she would struggle more on those, especially in the beginning. Now there were a handful of languages where she was nearly as fluent in reading and writing as she was speaking, but she had to remember to keep practicing when she wasn’t using those languages as frequently. [break][break]

“Oh, I definitely had to explain myself to the Spanish teacher a couple times. He always assumed I just wasn’t trying on the written tests though, so that worked out for me.” She laughed lightly, remembering one particular test where he was resigned to thinking she just didn’t care enough to put any amount of effort into the written portion. She let him keep thinking she was just lazy until she got better at it, then suddenly she was passing every test, written or oral. [break][break]

It seemed like Ferris understood her explanation, and she was glad. “Exactly. Like, how radios give static unless you tune into the right frequency. And you know how if you touch the antenna it makes it clearer? I figure it’s like that, when someone touches me or I touch them.” He mentioned kissing after a date, and Bridget sat back and let out a small ugh sound, letting her eyes roll in exasperation. “You have no idea how awkward that can get. Ten out of ten, do not recommend.” She laughed, even though she was very serious about how awkward it could be. [break][break]

“So, what brought you to the Sector?” She was always curious about the reasons non-gifted employees came to work for the agency, how they learned about it or even just why they wanted to work there. She also figured it was a good way to get to know a bit more about him instead of their whole conversation being about her. [break][break]

---

[break]

Ferris Felwinter [break]
Sorry for the long wait. Let me know for any changes.[break][break]

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[Ferris Felwinter]

“I think we can manage,” he agreed. He still didn’t know Bridget all that well, but it had been a while since he had pleasant conversation at work. Of course, he was pretty sure she was doing all the heavy lifting but he was a team player.

He was glad to know that at least when it came to school, she hadn't had to worry too much about her Gifts. It always seemed like a point of stress, having to hide something that came naturally. At least in Bridget's case, some things had worked out. Though…considering Ferris himself had never been a good student, he didn’t put as much stock into being considered a lazy worker in class settings.

The man tried to pay a bit more attention as she explained again. It helped, having something he could sort of relate to, to understand how she felt about her Gift and how it worked. What was that saying, about people being afraid of things they didn’t understand? Something about the unknown. Granted, not everything about Gifts was easy to understand, but that was why they were here. To keep tabs on people. More personally, he felt a lot more at ease knowing she couldn’t just eavesdrop on his thoughts. Not that he figured there was much of interest to spy on. His thoughts on the run-down break room, his relief about being mostly through paperwork, his anxiety about picking the kids up from school and how uncomfortable his pants were. Beyond the higher-level thoughts around their conversation.

Her expression of frustration and disgust was a lot more emotion than he had seen from her and it made him smile. Really smile. “I’ll make a note the next time I kiss my wife not to read her mind,” he said firmly. Probably sarcastically. Especially considering Darcy had never given him any reason to question that her thoughts while kissing him were about anything other than getting him naked. But…he imagined that wasn’t what someone wanted to know on a first date.

His smile faded as she brought them back to work, more specifically why he had joined Sector. Ferris shrugged. It wasn’t a story he liked sharing. “I worked as a private investigator for a while after the air force. Mostly dealing with missing persons, some civil disputes, crazy exes, that sort of thing. One of the cold cases I was working on the side ended up being…a not so cold case. Long story short, some Sector agents and I ended up tripping over each other and things got out of hand with the Gifted I was following that I didn’t know was Gifted at the time and…well, I’m lucky to be alive. And to be here.” He got up to throw away his trash and then stretched. “Pays a hell of a lot better than private work,” he added.

[Bridget Lacey]

[nospaces]

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

[break]

[attr="class","BRID"]

---

[break]


Bridget couldn’t help but let out a small, amused laugh when Ferris joked about not reading his wife’s mind. She didn’t know much about him, knew practically nothing about his wife other than the fact that he had one, but she could guarantee that it would be for the best even if he could read her mind that he didn’t. She could only imagine how awkward that could get for them. “Probably the best for everyone.” [break][break]

He explained his job before, and how he got tangled up with the Sector. Bridget could understand how it could happen. Too many times, she’d been tied up with local police or other law enforcement when she was trying to do her job. Generally the Sector would take over when it was clear they were dealing with a Gifted incident, but sometimes things got messier than that. If the Sector recruited him for employment instead of having someone like Tawny just modify or wipe the memories, she imagined he was good at what he did. [break][break]

“Yeah, I bet that was strange when you had no clue about Gifted.” She tilted her head slightly to the side. “So, what does your wife think you do? I mean, does she know, or does she think you’re still a private investigator?” She was curious. Maybe he wasn’t even with his wife yet when he started working for the Sector, but that thought hadn't really occurred to her before she asked. [break][break]

It piqued Bridget’s interest for several reasons. One of which, though she wouldn’t say it, was that she wondered how many times people used the profession of private investigator as a cover for something else. Jordan had used that as a cover for being a Hunter. Although maybe Jordan was a private investigator as well, it seemed like it could be a convenient cover up for a lot of things. When you’re a PI, you really can’t talk about your cases to anyone. Keeping secrets came standard. Of course, she knew that there were legitimate private investigators out there, but that didn’t stop her curiosity. [break][break]

---

[break]

Ferris Felwinter | Let me know for changes.[break][break]

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[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris nodded firmly. As much as he enjoyed being close with his wife, reading thoughts was decidedly not something he wanted to share with her. He imagined it wasn't all that fun for Bridget either, at least most of the time. Hopefully she found some more positive uses though, and not just what might be required through work.

"A lot strange, yeah," he agreed. He following question was a bit surprising. Though he supposed it was reasonable. A lot of the people here weren't exactly the 'married with children' sort and it was a bit easier to tip toe around the truth with family and friends one didn't live with. That, or even more common, they were Gifted and from a Gifted family and talking about Sector was generally like talking about the CIA or something.

"No, she doesn't. As much as I don't enjoy keeping it that way, I think it's better to not know." He fidgeted uncomfortably in his chair and then got up to throw away the container. He still debated that sometimes. But it was one of those things where, while he hadn't been lying about his work initially, the moment he didn't tell her when it changed years ago, and that he had been maintaining that lie for so long...that was the scary part. Ferris could invoke the name of safety for his family all he wanted, but in the end, he knew it was because he was worried what Darcy would think if he said he had been lying to her for so long. It was less about the content of the lie and more about the fact that it existed. The man stretched and set his hands on the back of the chair, but didn't sit back down. He'd done a lot of that today. "When we first met, I was a volunteer firefighter, looking for better work, which is when I fell into being a PI. She thinks I still do private investigation work, but for the local police or the government. Which is why I usually can't be specific. Sometimes I can though and just leave out a few things. Explains the salary though." That he certainly didn't keep from his wife.

His work only came up on occasion. More often when meeting with friends or meeting strangers. Telling them what he did could be a challenge. "Not being Gifted, sometimes I still feel like I'm on loan like I make it sound," he said with a shrug. Even if it had been years.

[Bridget Lacey]

[nospaces]

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

[break]

[attr="class","BRID"]

---

[break]


Even though he answered, Bridget could see the discomfort in Ferris. Fidgeting while answering, getting up to dispose of his lunch tray. While it was a normal action, it seemed more like an excuse to move in the moment, something to do with his hands. Signs that Bridget had learned to look for in her training. She wasn’t sure if it was the question itself, or if his answer was what made him the most uncomfortable. He admitted that his wife didn’t know, that meant on some level he had to be lying to her. [break][break]

There was no judgment from Bridget about it. They were all lying to people, it wasn’t like they could just tell people what they did for work. Wouldn’t that negate the entire reason the Sector even existed? The whole agency was about secrecy, from the very fact that it existed down to protecting Gifted and non-gifted humans alike. Knowledge of the agency would naturally lead to knowledge of Gifted, and that would be a problem. [break][break]

Ferris shared more of his story with her, from starting out volunteering as a firefighter up to how he got on the Sector’s radar. She didn’t envy the position it seemed like he’d fallen into, getting sucked into a world that he didn’t know anything about so suddenly. It made sense that he wouldn’t have told his family, not even his wife. [break][break]

“It must be tough sometimes.” Bridget got up to move to the sink and rinse out her own now emptied lunch container. “The secrets we have to keep suck, but it’s usually for the best.” She shrugged and grabbed a paper towel to dry the container before she would drop it back into her lunch bag. “What does your wife do?” [break][break]

Maybe she was coming across as nosy, but really she was just trying to get to know Ferris a bit better. There seemed to be a divide between Gifted and non-gifted employees sometimes, and maybe it was just a natural consequence that came from a lack of understanding. She didn’t want to be one of those people that thought it was sort of ‘us versus them’, she didn’t want to be othered. [break][break]

---

[break]

Ferris Felwinter | Let me know for changes.[break][break]

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[Ferris Felwinter]

The man certainly knew he was no saint. He had weighed the cost and benefits of telling Darcy versus not telling her. But it wasn't solely about her, it was about the kids. At the moment, it was safer and better if none of them knew about this world. Maybe there would come a point where that changed. But until then, he would keep the dam in place. Not to mention it was company policy, as a secret organization. Ferris would like to keep his job.

He looked down at the seat of the chair before him and then up at Bridget, a lopsided, partly forced smile on his face. "Very," he agreed. He hoped it was for the best. It had to be.

The change of topic was actually a relief. Ferris didn't volunteer information about his family or really go around talking about them without prompting, but he was a proud father and a proud husband and any questions on the topic of his family were hard to resist. "She's a trauma surgeon at the local hospital. Long hours, but she enjoys what she does." Arguably more than he enjoyed his job. "She's working a night shift at the moment, so we don't get a lot of time to each other," he added a bit

"What about you? You mentioned dating but...any current...partner?" He didn't wear a ring himself, so he tried to avoid making assumptions about others, especially around the office. Though really, Ferris wasn't the chatty sort, nor always very friendly, especially when it didn't feel like he was wanted around the office. But...the man was aware this was a two-way street so he tried not to hold anything against anyone. But Bridget let him talk at her so...making getting to know her in turn wasn't such a bad idea. Not to mention she had invited him on a field work gig. That more than anything was an olive branch he wanted to repay.

[Bridget Lacey]

[nospaces]

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

[break]

[attr="class","BRID"]

---

[break]


When Ferris stated his wife’s occupation, Bridget let out a slow breath. That was one job she couldn’t imagine. She saw some shit on her bad days at work, but for a trauma surgeon, that had to be a regular occurrence. How much did she see, how much did she keep from Ferris, to protect him? Maybe they had some rule, some kind of agreement not to discuss work with each other. It seemed like it would be fitting. Make the secrets less hard, not as much lies or cover up stories involved. [break][break]

Or maybe she had it all wrong, and it was still hard as shit, keeping a secret from his wife. [break][break]

“Wow, she sounds like a saint.” Bridget smiled. She knew it was probably what a lot of people said if they just found out what his wife did, but that didn’t stop her from making the comment. “I can tell you really love her. Your eyes light up a little, describing her.” One of the signs Bridget learned to look for, reading people while they spoke, changes in their eyes and expressions. It came in handy for more than just crisis situations. [break][break]

He turned the question on her, and Bridget shook her head slightly. “No, not right now.” She answered in a nonchalant tone. She didn’t mind being single, especially after her last serious relationship. No, it wasn’t all that bad. She didn’t have to worry about lying about herself, about who she was and what she could do. She didn’t have to look over her shoulder, fearing that her partner wasn’t who they seemed. [break][break]

She’d learned a lot from her experiences with Jordan. Not least of which being to be cautions with her heart. [break][break]

“So, do you and your wife have any kids? Or do you want them if you don’t?” She turned the topic back to him, knowing kids could be a sensitive topic but taking the gamble since he’d been so open to discussing his wife. She could see him being the kind of dad who wasn’t afraid to rough house with his kids. The kind of dad that would be there for them through a heartbreak just as quickly and easily as a skinned knee. He just seemed like the type.

---

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Ferris Felwinter | Let me know for changes.[break][break]

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[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris had never heard his wife called a 'Saint' before. Largely because neither of those were the religious type and didn't usually hang around people who might use that saying, either due to the era or being religious themselves. But it certainly made sense. Even more than Bridget knew. Darcy had saved his life before they were together and she had been there for a lot of tough times. And he had a feeling she always would be. Which was why he tried to be there for her too. And the kids. "She really is," he agreed.

The man snorted softly as she mentioned how clear his affection was, trying to brush off and cover up his embarrassment with amusement. He might not wear a ring, not at work or anywhere else, but they were attached. Inseparable.

Ferris decided to let her simple answer to not having anyone lie. He wasn't the nosy or pushy sort. She certainly didn't need to have someone around all the time or ever. But she'd mentioned it jokingly earlier so it seemed polite to offer to talk about her instead of about him.

If Ferris barely talked about his wife, he didn't mentioned his kids at all. He did have a photo of all four of them from one of the days at the beach. A candid sort of photo though, the younger two building very different sand castles, the oldest on her phone, Darcy looking spectacular sunbathing on her back but giving him a goofy smile catching him taking the picture. That look she got whenever she was really happy and thinking about how much she appreciated him when she didn't think he knew how much she did. But she made it easy to get along with her.

"We do. Three actually. Ellis is just finishing up middle school, will be in high school this fall. She's big into sports. Our son Rhys is eight and Beckett is six. She's a handful still." Better than when she was three and four, but a handful nonetheless. "Darcy and I haven't really talked about it but...four might not be that bad?" He said it with an awkward smile, like he was trying to convince himself it was a good idea. He both did and didn't want another kid. But he knew Darcy would really enjoy being a mother again. Four was his hard limit for sure though. Especially with how far apart they would all be and he was only getting older, which meant more risks of complications.

Bridget was easy to talk to and to be honest, he felt a bit guilty about not sitting down with her sooner. He just tended to prefer to get things done and focus. It wasn't about ignoring or disliking people, it just took more to get him into casual conversation.

[Bridget Lacey]

[nospaces]

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

[break]

[attr="class","BRID"]

---

[break]


For some reason, not one that she could put a finger on, it surprised her to hear that Ferris had three kids. It was probably just because she didn’t know him well. Though she did note how he lit up as he told her about them, much the same way that he did when he talked about his wife. It was clear that he loved his family, especially when he mentioned maybe talking to his wife about a fourth kid. [break][break]

“Four kids aren’t much different from three. That’s what my dad always said when I was growing up, anyway.” Bridget commented, remembering a couple dinner parties where her dad had told his colleagues that four kids were not really any different than three whenever they would make a comment about how crazy his life must be with such a big family. [break][break]

It made him think about her brothers, how she hadn't called home in a while. The last time she’d talked to any of them was when her car had broken down, but that had been a bit now. She hadn't followed up or told them how things had worked out. They were all adults now, all busy with their lives. Even the baby boy, Dean, was in college now and had his own things going on. [break][break]

“Oh, crap.” Bridget had looked down at her watch. She’d gone over her break time, not that she really cared too much. It wasn’t like anyone other than Evan cared, though she knew his desk wasn’t far from hers and it depended on how much of a kiss-ass he was being today if he’d say anything. “Sorry, I just realized my lunch ended a couple minutes ago. I hope I didn’t keep you too long on yours.” She would feel bad if she got him in trouble for getting him sidetracked on his break.

---

[break]

Ferris Felwinter | yolo, this is a mess. let me know for changes.[break][break]

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[Ferris Felwinter]

Ferris snorted. "Tell that to my paycheck," he said simply. As far as everything else went, four kids weren't much different than three. And three not much different than two. And so on. "I think the biggest difference is the age gap," he added after thinking it over a moment. If they had another kid, and that was a big if, their closest sibling would seven years older than them. It was why after they got together and originally decided on another kid, they knew it had to be two, so that they had someone close to their age to bother rather than bother their now teenage sister. But five was a lot different than three. Either way, it was a conversation that needed a lot more consideration.

Ferris wasn't sure he was ready for that step mentally yet but...it was on the table.

He nodded, glancing down at his watch. "Same here," he said, in agreement, though not a worried about it as Bridget. "I won't tell if you won't tell," he added firmly, as if this was some major shared secret between them and it deserved the full weight of his serious tone. Technically they were guilty of time theft but...for a couple minutes, they would probably manage to skate under the radar. "See you tomorrow, Bridget," he said, sincere, but also intentionally using her name to help make sure he wouldn't forget.

[end thread]