Russell's hands slow as the aunts both leave, but he keeps at it. It's hard to say what would be easier - their reactions watching the process, or their reactions as they return. By the time they return he's finishing, and the slight inhales as they really see him sting as badly as he'd expected.
He picks up his cup but doesn't sip yet, gently tilting it in circles, watching the liquid inside spin slowly. It wouldn't do to spill it, so keeping his eyes on the cup is the closest to an excuse to keep looking away he can manage.
Likewise Rosemary isn't certain, as she returns, if it wouldn't have been better to sit and watch her nephew's reveal. She doesn't startle so badly as to spill the tea... but the hollowness to Russell's cheekbones and eyesockets is upsetting for her to behold. It looks like some combination of hunger and illness, except there's no other signs - his skin has no strange textures or discoloration, no blemishes or rashes, and from what she sees, he's moving with his usual energy.
Benjiro's face, at least, seems the same as ever - if solemn and unsmiling. He's grown, but what teenage boy doesn't grow? It's harder for her to see, just from looking at him, what concerns and fears he's hiding.
"So... you've been to a doctor. Something more cursory, or did they direct you to a specialist yet?" Rosemary asks, after a moment of looking between them.
Russell glances toward a window, as if Mary Ann's clinic is visible from here. "A... general practitioner. But there's other changes, in other people, and some with me that... I promise, I haven't picked up stage magic, but it might seem like I have, when I show you."
sorry for late, I got stuck on something and only finally figured it out
He picks up his cup but doesn't sip yet, gently tilting it in circles, watching the liquid inside spin slowly. It wouldn't do to spill it, so keeping his eyes on the cup is the closest to an excuse to keep looking away he can manage.
Likewise Rosemary isn't certain, as she returns, if it wouldn't have been better to sit and watch her nephew's reveal. She doesn't startle so badly as to spill the tea... but the hollowness to Russell's cheekbones and eyesockets is upsetting for her to behold. It looks like some combination of hunger and illness, except there's no other signs - his skin has no strange textures or discoloration, no blemishes or rashes, and from what she sees, he's moving with his usual energy.
Benjiro's face, at least, seems the same as ever - if solemn and unsmiling. He's grown, but what teenage boy doesn't grow? It's harder for her to see, just from looking at him, what concerns and fears he's hiding.
"So... you've been to a doctor. Something more cursory, or did they direct you to a specialist yet?" Rosemary asks, after a moment of looking between them.
Russell glances toward a window, as if Mary Ann's clinic is visible from here. "A... general practitioner. But there's other changes, in other people, and some with me that... I promise, I haven't picked up stage magic, but it might seem like I have, when I show you."