Past Time For A Talk [Log]

[spaghettimonster]

Date: May 25th
Characters: Russell Scordato, Benjiro Thorne, and their mutual aunts

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This whole conversation is a long time coming, Russell has to quietly admit to himself. It's closing on a year since that aurora came and went, when something about the world changed... But the only times he's breathed an honest word about the strangeness he's been going through? All have been to other people who are caught up in the same thing.

Today, that's changing. As much as he'd like to keep putting it off, he can't justify doing so any longer. With Benjiro's disappearance last week, after the upset of telling his parents and getting disowned for it, Agatha and Rosemary deserve answers for what's going on. And... Russell can't, in good conscience, let Benjiro have that conversation alone. He shouldn't have to face that fear without the reminder that at least one relative isn't going anywhere, and... well, not least because what a teenager alone says might be less convincing than what a teenager and an adult say, compared to whatever his ex-parents decide to tell the aunts.

"It's a practice run," Russell mutters to himself, as the train pulls into the Moss Manor station. A test for how it feels to admit and reveal these things to family, in preparation for telling his own parents and siblings. Between that, and being here to support Benjiro, he should be able to ignore his fears that the aunts will react similarly - and break ties with them both.

Comments

[warped_replica]

The deceleration of the train barely phases the teenager as he remains huddled in his seat beside Russell with his head down. He stares at the floor with anxiety lacing his veins and heart, the rapid rhythmic pulse threatening to drown out rational thought entirely. Lingering with the want of one more delay, Benjiro stands only after the other passengers have disembarked. Reluctantly, he steps out onto the platform with his cousin.

It has been a week. His great aunts have been incredibly patient as others have spoken to them on his behalf to stall until he could pick up the pieces. It has been difficult to manage while final exams have continued. His outstanding grades could absorb failures, but he found solace in the routine and could not in good conscience go without making an attempt to preserve his performance. After all, they’re likely the last tests he will ever take.

Benjiro pauses long enough to send Sadie a text to confirm their arrival at the station. All week she has been his greatest support, and along the way, had been advocating for informing Rosemary and Agatha. They deserve answers, and their aunts were notified of their pending arrival today.

Looking to Russell, Benjiro silently waits for a cue to start the familiar walk from the station to the house. Words are difficult for him, but he falls into step close to his cousin. He appreciates the company.