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I had a very lovely day, besides missing you and the boys. Some of my snowdrops have just begun to blossom out in the yard! I can not wait for you to see them.

[sus who]

[Aww they miss everybody. (Move closer!!)]

That sounds nice. Want me to come over?

[They'd said it wasn't anything bad, but.]

[But their garden....!]

Casey, you know I would never turn you away. But I also do not want to eat up all of your free time that should be spent with your friends. If you already have plans or simply want a day free to do nothing, you deserve it.

[....

Mmmmmmmmwanting to be there for Mom but also wanting space and sensible amounts of free time. There is a war in his heart.

It really does not sound urgent, though, and he does technically have some things that need doing today. Not urgently, but he definitely couldn't do them and also commute all the way back and forth to Gram and still get home before nightfall. That's asking for trouble.]

How about later in the week, then?

[Rue is more than happy to wait for when it fits Casey's schedule better. The last thing they ever want to do is add inconvenience to his day or put him in any danger returning home late.]

That would be wonderful. Thank you, Casey. Whenever works best for you.

[His schedule is a little more full than it used to be, now that he has school, but he still likes to make time for Rue, of course. And he has 4 days of the week where his schedule can be whatever he wants it to be.]

It's on my calendar! That I have. Definitely. [It's on the relic somewhere.] Are you going to tell me what's going on?

[rue is so very grateful for any time that their boys will spare for them. that is one thing they shall never take for granted.]

I do not know if he's spoken to you yet, but Hunter and I have decided that he would very much like to be a part of our growing family. So I will be adopting him.

[The surprise in his voice makes it evident that he did not get told about this, actually.]

Oh... oh, wow! That's- amazing. I'm really glad... if anybody deserves a new family, it's Hunter.

[He doesn't know what Rue knows, but after certain recent revelations, this is even better news than it would have been before learning Belos' true nature. (And he already knew enough to want to ruin that guy's whole life, so. That's saying something.)]

[They weren't too worried over Casey being anything but supportive over the news, but there is, perhaps, just the slightest exhale of relief on Rue's end of the line.]

I hope you are not too cross that I've stolen your roommate and turned him into another son, but you did say no one would be surprised if I showed up with another.

[He laughs, followed up by feigned offense.]

Just because he's your son doesn't mean he won't be my roommate. You're not allowed to steal him! I'd get so lonely you'd never hear the end of it. [A little dramatic, but also weirdly honest.] You'll have to deal with sharing instead.

[He's joking... but also!! It would so very much bum him out if he didn't get to see Hunter every day. He loves the routine, the company... but most of all his friend.]

[Rue will just pretend they aren't offended that Casey is more concerned about sharing Hunter than sharing Rue!]

Of course, we know he would not want to live here with me anyway. You have nothing to worry about. My stealing is all figurative.

[~~please, he knows he's the favourite~~

He might think of that later. Right now he's really just happy for them.]

Good. Anyway it goes without saying, I'm not cross and I don't mind. I wonder if I should have seen it coming, actually! Any time we talked about you, he kind of cheered up.

[A soft, thoughtful pause, before Rue's voice comes out just a touch quieter.]

Truly?

Uh-huh. I wouldn't lie about that.

[He knows better. Rue takes their opinions of them seriously.]

[They can not help but hold that knowledge close to their heart.

Hunter is so open with them, yes, but he is also very young and so desperate for that parental approval and love that it worries Rue that they might not be exactly what he needs. They want to do their best for him, to give him the support he needs to grow past this trauma and hurt he's been through, to see him become someone confident and mature and happy.

So there has maybe been a tiny tingle of worry that Rue might not be enough.

But if Hunter has spoken about them positively, if the very topic of them has managed to cheer him up in anyway, then maybe their fears were for nothing.]

I know you would not lie, you are right. What a silly thing to ask. Thank you for telling me. I'm... [a delicate pause] It warms me to know that he feels that way with me already. I want to do well with him. To keep making him happy like that.

[Their words are heard, felt, and processed, and met initially with a quiet exhale, almost a sigh. That delicate pause is echoed on Casey's end, then doubled, before he quietly asks,]

Has he told you much about his uncle?

[He doesn't want to break Hunter's confidence, because this has been such a delicate subject to tackle since they met, but. He has so, so many worried thoughts, Rue. He's been keeping his mouth shut for two months now and it's been very difficult.]

[Rue understands completely, Casey. Like always, they are already on the same page.]

He has. Almost every time that we've spoken, his uncle eventually comes up. And it has only gotten worse with every conversation.

[A gradual decrease of Rue's opinion of the man until it just hit a point where it could go no lower.]

Though it has been a point we could bond over, as much as I wish that wasn't the case for him.

[There's another pause and some shuffling around, and the solid click of a door closing. Finally, Casey's tone is relieved when he speaks next, the worry of before still lingering.]

He's awful, right? He's awful. I never want to see him near Hunter again. I'd...

[Rip him apart, probably. Even if he's a powerful wizard. Powerful wizards still have throats. The owlbear part is new, but Casey's carried a violent streak for years back home, not afraid to show his teeth for his family. There's not been much reason to show it here before, and it's usually been unleashed against monsters.

...Belos is... a different kind of monster.]

I've- ...I've never hated someone I've never met before.

We are of exactly the same mind then.

[Rue has always prided themself on the natural ease of their patience and cool-headedness. They have so very rarely been baited into fury, and even less times sworn violence against another, but there is no doubt within their mind that they would sooner tear Belos' throat out before allowing him even a glance at their new son.]

I promised him before all of this, it must have been long before the fae ever began their procession, that I would do anything to protect him from that man. I vowed that Belos would never have him again. And I meant every word. Whatever happens, even if he should dare to show his face here, Hunter will remain free of him.

...Yeah. Good.

[He's not surprised that Rue is protective, but it's still nice to hear. He'd assumed from the start, when he found out they were on good terms, that Rue would throw down for Hunter just like he would. Knowing Rue has also taken Hunter in under their wing is deeply comforting. If Belos ever showed up, they could all face him together, and make sure he knows once and for all that he's never allowed to touch Hunter again.]

Things have been, um. Extra rough recently. It's why I don't want to go too far for a while. I promised I wouldn't leave him.

[That's a bit worrisome to hear, but Rue will tuck that particular worry away for a conversation on another day.]

He told me what he discovered. I imagine it has been very difficult for him, even just going by how little he's told me.

But Hunter is strong and he has support on all sides now. There is no doubt in my heart that he will not rise up from this again.

Edited 2023-11-27 08:06 (UTC)

He told you...?

[Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. Hunter had been so anxious about it, gratefully accepting reassurances that nothing had changed, that Casey didn't think differently of him. Maybe he couldn't accept the idea of being part of the family if he wasn't honest about what he was. Or maybe he needed to talk about it with someone who could support him further.]

Yeah, it's been... bad. All he ever had was his uncle. We read his journal together, and it was so much... he was so horrible. He's taking some time to figure out everything before we give it another try. I'm glad he has more than just me or Flapjack, though.

He did, at least the outline of what was discovered. I can not speak to how thorough an explanation he gave. To be quite honest, my focus was more on reassuring him that my feelings for him were unchanged and that he should only tell me if he truly felt like he could.

I did not want him to feel some pressure from within, as if he was keeping a secret from me. But still, he did choose to tell me of that nightmare he discovered. And you are quite right. That man was horrible.

[Understatement, but Casey knows exactly where Rue stands on that. (Murder.)]

And of course, he knows that he can come to me with anything, anytime. That is the difference from before, that he has a whole support system to reach out to. It's only that he's has had to deal with so much on his own before, so it may take some gentle reminding from us that alone is no longer his own option.

[Casey doesn't have any more to contribute to the what than Hunter, so he leaves that part alone. It doesn't matter to either of them, it seems, so the details are only important when it comes to helping Hunter anyway. He wants to read up on grimwalkers from a field medic perspective, but that's about it.

Though this is audio, he nods along with Rue's response, mulling it over. He didn't expect Rue to have pressured him (how could they know, anyway?) but if Hunter offered it up, he must really need to talk about things. Maybe he should broach the topic again, gently.]

I've noticed that. He's so confident about some things, like how he fights, but when it comes to personal stuff it's like he has no idea what it means to have someone care or help him. He asks if I'm sure about stuff when I offer, and... [He trails off briefly, then,] Oh. You were... really patient with me.

[That moment of powerful self awareness.]

Come now, Casey.

[Even through audio only, Rue can read just where this boy's mind is going.]

I hardly had to be patient with you. It was and still is a joy to help you where I can. Besides, you've come such a long way in such a short amount of time.

[And maybe this is a little too honest for most parents, but the one thing that Rue and Casey have always mutually agreed upon is open honesty.]

It has always been easy with you. I do not know why beyond our personalities being a perfect match for one another, but loving you has always been the very simplest thing for me. Even when you were struggling, though I worried, I felt I always knew what to say or how to help. I never once thought I might lose you. Being your parent has always just made sense.

[So put that self awareness away.]

As for Hunter, he will get there. I've experienced about the same with him - the uncertainty, the need for reassurances that he has friends who like him dearly - but those fears do not go away overnight. We must keep being patient with him, or at the very least, learn to redirect those questions. It is important to keep good boundaries, even with those you love.

Edited 2023-11-27 17:45 (UTC)

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