dollsome: (modfam;; cam & mitchell)
dollsome ([personal profile] dollsome) wrote2010-03-11 09:27 pm

promising light (Modern Family ensemble)

Title: promising light
Pairings/Characters: Phil/Claire; Cameron/Mitchell; Ensemble
Word Count: 1,919
Rating: G
Summary: A follow-up to “Truth Be Told.” Of lackluster Hugh Grant movies, scary psycho devil women, siblingly vengeance, prospective turtle names, and good mornings (at long last).
Author's Note: What's this?? I know! Something written! By me! It is some manner of miracle, you guys. Which makes sense, in a way, because this show is miraculously joyful. This is kinda the only thing I've written all week, when I am supposed to be writing stuff like ... my thesis, but I am pretty sure this brought me considerably more joy. So there! JUSTIFIED.

(Yeah, I'm doomed.)



+

“Wow,” Claire says when they come out of the movie theater, “Music & Lyrics was better than that.”

Which Phil totally agrees with, no question, because Music & Lyrics had tons of sweet eighties dance moves, not to mention a kickass soundtrack. (‘Pop! Goes My Heart’ has like 46 plays on his iTunes, and yeah, he’s also got the dance routine pretty much down; hasn’t had the chance to show it off to anybody yet, but he’s sure that day will come.) He can tell Claire doesn’t mean it in a good way, though. Claire hasn’t liked a Hugh Grant movie since Love Actually; just between you and him, he thinks she’s kiiiiind of a way-too-harsh critic.

“I thought it was decent,” Phil replies, rising gallantly to the defense of the Morgans. “I liked the part where they had to dress up as the front and back of a bull.”

“Yeah, well, honey,” she says distractedly, fishing the car keys out of her purse, “you would.”

They get into the car. Claire drives, so Phil fiddles with the radio ‘til he finds a good song. Then he drums along to the beat on the dashboard.

He’s all tik-tok-on-the-clock-but-the-party-don’t-stop-no-oh-oh-oh-OH-in’ when he remembers the almost-empty bag of M&M’s in his pocket, and pulls it out.

Claire sighs. “Hon, why didn’t you just throw that away at the theater? The last thing we need is more trash in this car—”

He holds it out to her.

“Saved the blue ones for ya,” he says, grinning at her.

She looks over at him (not the safest driving, but honestly, it’s kind of a relief to be in the car without the kids and get to slack in that department a little). The corner of her mouth quirks up. “Thank you.”

He thinks about Denise’s hotel room key, hidden in the kitchen like some emblem of – of Facebook confusion and weird unfaithful debauchery that he wants no part of, would never want any part of. Not even if Scarlett Johansson started messaging him, all, ‘Hey Phil, How are you? I filmed a pretty hot sex scene today.’

It’s not like he’s Facebook friends with ScarJo, of course, but maybe one day.

Doesn’t matter.

“I love you, Claire.”

“Um,” she says, tossing a confused frown his way, “okay.”

“Really? That’s what I get? ‘Um, okay’?”

“I love you too, sweetie, obviously,” she says, in the tone that she tends to use while explaining to Luke that no, apples cannot grow in your stomach even if you do eat the core by mistake. “It was just a little random, that’s all.”

“Well, I do. You’re the best. You’re the only one for me.”

“That’s very reassuring,” she says, all sarcastic. “Because I was worried.”

“It’s just, Denise kinda got me thinkin’. And – living in unholy terror.”

“Phil, seriously, I was wrong, okay? Honey, I understand how women act, and she was just being friendly—”

“Uh, no. She grabbed my ass. With you in the room.

“Oh, Phil, don’t make a whole big thing about it, she probably just tripped—”

“Claire. She gave me her hotel room key. It’s in the kitchen. When we get home, I’m showin’ it to you.”

Finally, she starts to look at him like she’s actually taking him seriously. Better late than never. “God. You mean she actually was—”

Yes! Like, a lot. And it was totally, totally uncool.” He reaches over and pats her leg. “Thank you for not being a scary psycho devil woman.”

Claire shrugs. “I’m a little scary.”

Phil considers this. It’s a good point. “Yeah,” he acknowledges. “But you’re my scary psycho devil woman.”

“That’s really so romantic,” Claire deadpans, but she eats the blue M&Ms one by one, and doesn’t even roll her eyes when he turns up the volume so he can really rock out to the police shut us down-down-po-pos-shut-us-DOWN line. (Best part. No question.)

+

“If she takes me,” Luke says miserably, “am I gonna have to switch schools all the time? How far do you have to travel when you’re a door-to-door saleswoman?”

His voice is all muffled because he’s lying facedown on the floor.

Haley looks up from her computer. “Oh my God, Luke, she was just messing with you, you dweeb.”

“Really?” He twists around so he can look at her, but doesn’t sit up. Now he looks all weird and contorted. Her family is so full of freaks.

“Really. I was there when we brought you home from the hospital. Mom’s your mom. Not that that’s so great or whatever. At least Denise has all that makeup. I bet if you were her kid you could totally get free makeup all the time.”

“I don’t want free makeup,” Luke pouts. For a couple of seconds, he doesn’t say anything. Just looks sad. “Alex is mean.”

And don’t get her wrong, he is so annoying, but Alex is pretty much annoyinger, so. Besides, he is her little brother, and he might get his head stuck in the banister and forget to wear pants (which is LAME unless you’re Lady Gaga), but she figures she can stick up for him sometimes. And Dylan had to leave his computer to go put the clean dishes away, so it’s not like she even has anything to do for like the next twenty minutes.

She closes her computer. “You wanna flush her Einstein action figure down the toilet?”

Luke brightens. “Yeah!”

Haley bounces off of her bed, and Luke trails happily after her.

+

Jay suggests that Manny get a new turtle. Manny, with all that creepy wisdom of his, says that Shell Turtlestein will always hold a special place in his heart, and this is a wound that can only heal with time. Jay doesn’t exactly understand this philosophy – the way he sees it, what you do when you lose something is distract yourself from the pain with a new something that’s better (see: his marriages) – but he’s not about to argue with the kid. Still, Manny looks a little sad, and doesn’t even make it halfway through his first cup of coffee, so Jay keeps trying. They could at least pick out names, he suggests. So they’ll be prepared when the time comes. Manny agrees with that, after quoting some W.H. Auden. And then explaining, after Jay tells him, “Hey, kid, that sounded pretty good”, that he was quoting W.H. Auden, and didn’t just make it up off the cuff.

Excuse him for not knowing. He’s not a poetry anthology. (Although, for the record, the conversation inspires Manny to offer to lend him his.)

They get a pretty good vibe goin’.

“William Shakeshell.”

“John Shellbeck.”

“The Duke of Shellington.”

“USS Marshell.”

“Shell Woods,” Gloria contributes.

Jay and Manny stare at her. “Huh?”

“Legally Blonde. Ees a very good movie!”

“Girls,” Manny says, shaking his head.

“Totally,” Jay agrees. (Although privately, he’s a little surprised Manny’s not all over that. It kinda seems like his thing.)

Gloria leaves them to it, looking back down at her magazine; she’s smiling, though. And Jay doesn’t want to get sappy about stuff or anything, but that makes him feel pretty good. Like he’s doing okay here.

“Shellton John,” Manny suggests then, mischievous.

“Hey. Maybe if we’re giving it to Mitchell.”

He expects a lecture on – jeez, he doesn’t know, search him, the emotional resonance of Tiny Dancer or something along those lines – but instead Manny just laughs, this happy normal kid laugh. Jay chuckles back.

+

Mitchell doesn’t get out of bed ‘til almost ten; when he does, it’s to the sound of Cam singing Shout! in the kitchen while he makes breakfast.

“Morning, gentleman of leisure,” Cam says, smiling, when Mitchell shuffles in.

“Morning,” Mitchell yawns, stretching.

“How’d you sleep?”

“Well. Sort of weirdly well, actually. Are you supposed to feel this relaxed in the morning?”

“See, this is good for you,” Cam says sagely, poking Mitchell’s shoulder as he crosses the room to get the orange juice out of the fridge.

“Yeah,” Mitchell says – but then just agreeing seems a little too naively, blindly optimistic. There are at least a hundred things spectacularly wrong with him quitting; even now, he knows it. And it’s possible he’s tempted to make an actual, literal list, if only so he’ll have it to refer to when Cam gets too sunny. “We’ll see if you’re still saying that when we’re buying generic everything.

“Oh, I will be.”

“Oh, you’ll see.”

“Mitchell?”

“Cameron?”

Cam points soundlessly to the wall in the living room – … where Dad’s WHAT DOESN’T KILL US MAKES US STRONGER poster is hanging.

“You put it up.”

“Oh, I had to, it was such a nice gesture. Besides, it’s sort of uplifting, don’t you think? Not And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going uplifting—”

“Is anything?” Mitchell mutters.

“—but it’s got a certain direct charm.”

“I suppose.” And it’s funny: looking at it, he actually does feel a little bit better. Which is absurd. Especially considering it’s tinged with memories of like five dead childhood pets.

Odds are, him quitting isn’t going to kill him, or Cam, or Lily. And if it hasn’t made him stronger yet – well, at the very least, he’s feeling better. It’s a start.

“We’re gonna have to get a better frame,” he concludes.

“Oh, definitely needs a better frame,” Cam agrees without missing a beat.

“And wouldn’t you know,” Mitchell adds, feeling a smile start to sneak onto his face, “I have all afternoon free.”

Cam beams back. “You don’t say.”

“I do say. Frame-shopping excursion?”

“It’s a date.” Cam kisses him on the cheek, then heads back over to the counter. “Now, I’m going to finish up these waffles, and make some mimosas, and we’re going to have a breakfast befitting two gentlemen of leisure and their little princess.”

“Yeah,” Mitchell says, “no mimosas for the baby, okay?”

“Oh, you’re no fun. How ‘bout you go see if she’s up yet?”

“Sure.”

He’s careful to be quiet as he pushes the nursery door open, doing it slow so there’s no creaking. The window’s open just a few inches: the room is full of air and sun, the curtains dancing gently with the breeze. In this light, even the Your Daddies Are Fairies mural is sort of nice. The sunlight catches on the painted clouds, turning them brighter, and he kind of gets what Cam said to try to justify its existence, that thing about the two of them always being there to watch over her.

Not that he is ever, ever, ever admitting that out loud.

Lily’s awake when he reaches the crib. She’s looking at the ceiling with calm, bright eyed interest. She turns to look at him. He’s not sure he’ll ever get used to this. He’s seen Claire on days when Haley swears she hates them all and Alex won’t dress up and Luke eats shampoo to find out if it tastes fruity too; he knows the parenting thing’s not always like this, all love and quiet. Still. He looks at Lily, and everything turns boundless, and simple, and a little bit perfect.

“Hey there, you,” he says softly, brushing her cheek with one finger. She curls her tiny fingers around it and makes a happy, shapeless little sound. It’s like the world’s best ‘good morning.’

“Yep,” he decides aloud, “Daddy did the right thing.”

“YES, DADDY DID,” Cam calls from the kitchen.

Mitchell glares (a little impractically) at the baby monitor. “Eavesdropper.”

“I EAVESDROP BECAUSE I LOVE.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Mitchell murmurs, smiling.


[identity profile] anoel.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
Awwwwww this is wonderful!!! You nailed all their voices perfectly. Phil's especially, him loving Tik Tok and Hugh Grant movies is adorable. Oh them <3

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you! :D Hahaha, I had so much fun writing Phil; I feel like we are twin souls, he and I. (I don't know if I should be worried about this or not. I choose NOT.)

[identity profile] firthgal.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
Dooooooh, you! You wrote Modern Family fic! And you made me happy cry at the end! Seriously, dude, seriously, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing your baby so perfectly content in their crib with the morning sun peeking in, and then they give you that big old smile and they kick their feet and they make that happy little "hello" sound in baby speak and just... gah, you captured that perfectly. In addition to emotional accuracy, the characterization of everyone was so utterly superb (which, honestly, does not surprise me, because you never fail at characterization). Phil was amazing, but I think the Jay/Manny bits impressed me even more. And the Haley/Luke moment was so sweet! AND CAM AND MITCHELL. OMG, I LOVE THEM. Particularly Cam eavesdropping. Oh, you've captured everything that is so, so lovely about this show.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
Awwww, thank you, buddy! ♥

Seriously, dude, seriously, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing your baby so perfectly content in their crib with the morning sun peeking in, and then they give you that big old smile and they kick their feet and they make that happy little "hello" sound in baby speak and just... gah, you captured that perfectly.

THAT IS TREMENDOUSLY LOVELY TO HEAR, because I have never had an experience even remotely like that! I have never really been around babies, like, AT ALL, and never even really thought I liked them until -- weirdly enough -- I started watching this show and Lily is seriously THE SWEETEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. So my viewpoint on babies is being totally revolutionized by this TV program. I still don't think I want any, but I want all of my friends to have them so I can be Auntie Hannah.

Also: MATCHING ICON GOOD TIMES. Hahahaha, MANNY; how is he even real. (In the fictional sense.)

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[identity profile] mayonegg.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
Once again, your freakish ability to capture the characters' voices astounds me! Very well done. I especially loved the Mitchell/Cameron segment. Also? Phil. :D

I need a Modern Family icon, STAT.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you! :D I'm happy you enjoyed it!

MODERN FAMILY ICONS ARE GOOD TO HAVE. To aid you in your quest! (http://community.livejournal.com/modernfamily/tag/*icons%20&%20gifs)

[identity profile] hariboo.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 07:36 am (UTC)(link)
YOU WROTE MODERN FAMILY FIC. YOU WIN AT LIFE. PHIL WITH THE M&Ms AND TIK TOK. God, Phil, never and I do mean NEVER change. FYI: I'm all for the Duke of Shellington. The Haley and Luke bit was so perfectly sibling like and then CAM. EAVESDROPS BECAUSE HE LOVES.

Perfect voice, prefect missing scenes. Just perfect!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
THANK YOU! ♥ I'm happy you liked it!!

[identity profile] vega-ofthe-lyre.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
OH MAN, THIS IS, I JUST, YES!

Their voices are all amazing (Phil's especially, WHAT UP) and it's so funny and sweet and the tone is just perfect for the show and can you write more? LOTS MORE. Who needs to write a thesis? I'M ONLY SAYING.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, buddy!!! Maybe on Monday I'll just go into my advisor's office and be all, 'Okay, here's the deal, I know you told me to write my thesis, but how would you feel about some MODERN FAMILY FANFICTION??!?'

I'm sure it would go over just ... so well.

[identity profile] klutzy-girl.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 12:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, the first Modern Family fic I've ever come across! I've been waiting for this.

I loved this fic so much. You have the characters down so well!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! :D I'm glad you enjoyed it! To my knowledge, one other Modern Family fic exists: in the house we see a light (that comes from what we feel inside) (http://irishmizzy.livejournal.com/196460.html) by [livejournal.com profile] irishmizzy, which is full of CHRISTMASY ADORABILITY. ♥

[identity profile] vily.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay, this was note-perfect! It's just what that episode needed and you captured both the voices and the humour of the show so well.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much!

[identity profile] lz1982.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 12:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, I was wondering if anyone wrote Modern Family fic! I kind of want to, but couldn't decide whether Gloria's dialogue should be phonetic or not. So I was amused to see

“Legally Blonde. Ees a very good movie!”

These were all great, but I think the Jay and Manny bit was my favorite.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Hehe, I went back and forth on the accent, before finally deciding it is so integral to the awesomeness of Gloria that I couldn't resist. Thank you for reading!

[identity profile] bennet-7.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 01:03 pm (UTC)(link)
This is aaaaammmaaaaaaazing. You nailed all the characters but I particularly loved Phil, Jay, and Manny.

Write more! I need distractions from my thesis too!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much! :D THESIS DISTRACTION: it's all the rage! And not at all academically irresponsible ...

[identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
OMG SO CUTE I LOVE YOU WRITE MOOOOOOOOOORE.

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[identity profile] noblealice.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
This is so sweet and perfectly in character for everyone and I just loved every bit of it! I think I liked the Luke & Hayley and Mitchell & Cam parts the best, but they were all wonderful.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

[identity profile] crackers4jenn.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh man, oh man, the kind of spontaneous JOY this fic erupted within me at first sight caused me to not realize until, like, halfway through the first section that I didn't even watch this week's episode, but EVEN SO, THE HILARITY TRANSFERS OVER!

You should be writing Phil for ALWAYS. He is my favorite, and how you've managed to nail him in so short of a scene BLOWS MY MIND A LOT. Like this:

It’s not like he’s Facebook friends with ScarJo, of course, but maybe one day.

Doesn’t matter.




And then everything just keeps spiraling in this insanely wonderful way of happiness and character voice-perfection! Hayley being sweet to Luke, but only because he's less annoying than Alex! Manny and Jay bonding! (“Shellton John,” Manny suggests then, mischievous. / “Hey. Maybe if we’re giving it to Mitchell.” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, amazing!) And then! Only the most perfect Cam and Mitchell scene in the existence of ever! Funny and sweet and adorable and touching and so, so in character, all at once!

Basically, this fic lights up my life. YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE. Hooray!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you buddy! :D And IT MAKES ME SO SAD THAT YOU MISSED THIS EPISODE, IT WAS (SURPRISE, SURPRISE, EXCEPT NOT) AMAZING. I hate that you're trapped in your oppressive dial-up existence! That you can't just traipse on over to hulu! The world is cruel and full of injustice! I don't know why this comment took such an angsty turn!

[identity profile] sullyvann.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
more more more more!! i'm so sad there are only two modern family fics in the ENTIRE internet. but i lovedddd this!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D Here's hoping there'll be way more fic soon; this glorious show deserves it!

[identity profile] flash-indie.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
This is so, so awesome. You've perfectly captured the tone of the show and all the characters and it's funny and a little sad and sweet, and it's perfect. Seriously. :)

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-12 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you very much! :D

[identity profile] semisweetsoul.livejournal.com 2010-03-13 01:47 pm (UTC)(link)
That was incredibly smart and fun, thanks for sharing.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-13 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you; I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[identity profile] delleve.livejournal.com 2010-03-13 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Can you just.... like... write for every tv show ever. I swear, dude, you could make Two and a Half Men watchable!

This was so sweet and on-point!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-14 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you, buddy! :D I have never actually seen Two and a Half Men, because ... it scares me, but--

Okay, cannot complete sentence, MESMERIZED BY THAT ICON AGAIN

[identity profile] oltha_heri.livejournal.com 2010-03-13 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Phil was so perfectly Phil.

And it’s possible he’s tempted to make an actual, literal list, if only so he’ll have it to refer to when Cam gets too sunny.
I could see this happening. Mitchell pulling out a list every time, saying SEE SEE WE'RE DOOMED!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-14 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Hee, thank you for reading! :D Writing Phil came with an ease that should possibly scare me. I also have an oddly easy and delighted time writing Michael Scott. Odds are I should worry about this.
ext_10634: (teevee | oh cam)

[identity profile] snoopypez.livejournal.com 2010-03-14 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
kdjfkjgolf;skgjks oh, HEART. how do you DO this? you keep writing things all perfectly and in character and just - YAY! <3 I love everyone!

..my icon only vaguely fits, but it's the only Modern Family one I have!

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-14 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you, buddy! ♥ And dude, WHATEVER, that icon fits all situations from sheer comedic genius alone! SIR, PLEASE TELL YOUR WIFE TO CALM DOWN.

[identity profile] irishmizzy.livejournal.com 2010-03-14 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh maaaaan, this was SUPER DELIGHTFUL, DUDE. I loved all the parts the most, but Shelton John made me have to stop reading so I could laugh for like three minutes straight.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-14 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
THANK YOU! Hahaha, Shelton John came to me at glorious random after I had written most of that section, and I was like, 'Thank you, universe.'

[identity profile] ozmissage.livejournal.com 2010-03-15 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
OMG. This is perfect and totally what I needed to read tonight. You capture all of these characters so beautifully---it's funny and charming and touching and just...GUH. Did I say perfect already? Cause it is. :D

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-15 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, thank you so much! :D I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[identity profile] burn-to-emerge.livejournal.com 2010-03-20 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
Awww, this filled me with so much joy, just like a real episode! I think the Phil/Claire bit was my favorite, but it's a close call.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2010-03-20 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you muchly, I'm glad you liked it! ♥

[identity profile] hondagirll.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
My first Modern family fanfic and I LOVED it. Thank you. ♥

[identity profile] edoran.livejournal.com 2011-10-16 09:32 am (UTC)(link)
Another amazing one!!!! Love how right you get the voices, the little details (ke$ha! mimosas! Shellton john!!!)

Wish you had written a million other fics!! :) :)

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2011-10-16 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, thank you again, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! :D