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#Post#: 109--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: Mascii Date: March 22, 2013, 2:23 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Yukito Maki
Erin pouted. She was obviously displeased with the way that her
comments were being brushed off, almost as though she hadn't
spoken to begin with. "Well, truth is relative, so maybe my
truth was that I bugged him to do it, and the way Yukito sees it
is that he let me. Isn't that the cool thing in philosophy now?
Relative truth?"
Yukito glanced over at her. He wasn't even sure what she had
just said. But before he could send her more than a raised
eyebrow, Hal spoke again. His voice was low and seething with
pride and testiness, and it made a chill run up Yukito's spine.
“Do I need something?” The mockery in the phrase was obvious.
Yukito managed to hold his ground, his expression relating how
he found the retort petty. “Excuse me, but this is my house. I
need answers. Why was this door locked? Why is she here?” His
gesture toward Erin made Yukito step between the two of them
instinctively. “The first day you ever have any girls over and
it’s two in one day? One suddenly excuses herself, the other is
locked in your room and blatantly lies to me? You expect me to
not find this behavior suspicious?"
"What, he's not allowed to have girl friends? Are we gonna give
him cooties or something?" Erin obviously found the whole
situation quite ridiculous. But Yukito couldn't understand why
she didn't exercise a little more caution. He had just told her
his suspicions that Hal had lied, kidnapped, and manipulated,
pulling the strings on the lives of well into a few dozen
people. Yet she remained bothered most by the fact that he
wouldn't let girls come over? Hush, Erin. Or you'll make it
worse. I don't know what he'll do if he sees you as a source of
my unwanted behavior. But if he's mad at me, the consequences
are more like a father reprimanding his son He won't kill me. As
soon as the idea came into his head that Hal had deliberately,
knowingly put so many lives in danger, he couldn't release the
thought.
Yukito met Hal's eyes again. How far are you willing to go to
accomplish your goals, Dr. Ramsey?
Dr. Ramsey's eyes focused on Yukito. “Explain yourself.”
"It appears I am not quite so hated by my classmates as you
would hope," his voice was calm and quiet, but his eyes snapped
with each word. He knew there was enough honesty in his words
for it to be believable. His voice was even threatening to
crackle as he attempted to stand steady and firm in front of his
adoptive father. "I'm tired of being left alone all the time.
But it's obviously not okay with you, so I'll find my own way to
do it. Even if it means locking my door so I can have a little
privacy without you breathing down my neck." He put his hand on
the doorknob, his tone trying to be reasonable, but warning, all
the same. "It's not going to interfere with any of the
alterations, check-ups, further Enhancement surgeries, school or
diet regimes, I can assure you. So allow me just this little bit
of normalcy. I'm human too, you know."
#Post#: 257--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: morethanmusic Date: April 15, 2013, 1:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Hal Ramsey
“To my knowledge, you have never come to visit him before. So,
enlighten me, Miss Spenser, why did you feel so pressured to
visit him suddenly?”
Miss Spenser raised a disrespectful eyebrow, looking confused by
the question. Odd, he remembered her being such a bright girl.
"Uh, 'cause once you're friends with someone, you wanna hang out
with them more?" she said, in a tone that sounded to him like
when a young driver took a turn too hard on old gravel and the
tires ground against the rock.
He sighed, pushing up his glasses with his index finger.
"Because, young lady, if you only wanted to 'know him better',
you would have waited until it was a decent time to come around,
and you would not have felt the need to sneak in without my
knowledge." His tone resounded the way the crack of a whip felt,
even to him. Maybe he was being a bit too harsh with her... but
maybe she needed it. Maybe she really needed him to chastise
her. "Sneaking around is never the best way to start a
friendship. However, if that is the way you prefer to make
friends, then I will happily report that to your father." His
eyes flashed.
'He's my boy. Don't think sneaking into his bedroom will go
unchecked.'
Hal turned to his son, still staring harshly. "Yukito?" No
immediate response. "Well?"
"That was a lie," Yukito said, at last.
Hal turned his glare to Erin. “Oh? Not off on a good start, are
we, Miss Spenser?” he queried, watching her closely.
"I asked her to come over. Do you need something?" the boy
continued, making Hal's head snap in his direction.
"Excuse me?" he hissed.
Miss Spenser seemed to take it as a signal phrase. "Well, truth
is relative, so maybe my truth was that I bugged him to do it,
and the way Yukito sees it is that he let me. Isn't that the
cool thing in philosophy now? Relative truth?"
Hal's eyes narrowed, his jaw set. "And perhaps my truth is that
the two of you are covering up something you don't want me to
know about, because you are well aware that I would not approve.
What do you think of that, Miss Spenser?" His face was breaking
the emotionless stare, his eyebrows furrowed to show his growing
discontent -- something abnormal for him. It was a bit
uncomfortable on his face -- anger -- and he wasn't sure that he
liked how much of his other side was leaking out. "And, if you
are going to talk philosophy, I can set a little chat between
you, your father and I, and we can discuss your relative truths
lately."
"And--" He turned to Yukito, his shoulders tense, “Do I need
something?” His voice was almost a hiss now, strangely
expressive for his deep, almost robotic voice. “Excuse me, but
this is my house. I need answers. Why was this door locked? Why
is she here?” Hal gestured to Erin in a less-than-calm manner,
suspicious and full of blame. “The first day you ever have any
girls over and it’s two in one day? One suddenly excuses
herself, the other is locked in your room and blatantly lies to
me? You expect me to not find this behavior suspicious?”
"What, he's not allowed to have girl friends? Are we gonna give
him cooties or something?" Erin slipped in, and Hal nearly
rounded on her. This feeling of being out-of-control...
expressive... it was so foreign. He fought to keep himself
physically distanced from both of them, though it was likely not
as obvious to anyone who was less aware of his behaviors.
He made a disgusted face as her words echoed in his head.
"Cooties? Hardly, Miss Spenser," he hissed, "Perhaps this house
is very different from yours and that of your friends, but here
there are rules about guests and bringing home anyone with whom
you have intentions, and, when Yukito is permitted to follow
them, things will be very different indeed."
Turning to Yukito, a calming, controlled sensation came over
him. There was anger, frustration in Yukito's eyes and posture,
and he fought to contain his own in order to balance them out.
“Explain yourself," he demanded.
"It appears I am not quite so hated by my classmates as you
would hope," Yukito said, deep and quiet. Hal met his boy's
eyes, standing firm. "I'm tired of being left alone all the
time. But it's obviously not okay with you, so I'll find my own
way to do it. Even if it means locking my door so I can have a
little privacy without you breathing down my neck." Yukito's
hand wandered to the doorknob, and Hal's eyes flashed. "It's not
going to interfere with any of the alterations, check-ups,
further Enhancement surgeries, school or diet regimes, I can
assure you. So allow me just this little bit of normalcy. I'm
human too, you know."
Hal took a step back. "Am I such a stale, obtrusive object in
your life that you wouldn't discuss a modification in our
agreement? That you would simply disobey me, rather than speak
to my face? That you would lock me out like a criminal?" He
frowned. "I am very disappointed."
#Post#: 296--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: GGJ5 Date: April 16, 2013, 5:18 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Erin Spenser
“To my knowledge, you have never come to visit him before. So,
enlighten me, Miss Spenser, why did you feel so pressured to
visit him suddenly?”
"Uh, 'cause once you're friends with someone, you wanna hang out
with them more?" Usually, Dr. Ramsey intimidated her.... but
now, with the knowledge that he'd been so awful to Yukito... and
that he continued it.... she was mad at him. So, everything
Ramsey said or did grated her to no end.
He sighed, pushing up his glasses with his index finger.
"Because, young lady, if you only wanted to 'know him better',
you would have waited until it was a decent time to come around,
and you would not have felt the need to sneak in without my
knowledge."
Erin's eyes narrowed. She wanted so badly to snap back that, no,
she would good and well get to know her friends whenever she
pleased, thank you very much. But enough fear made her hold it
back. So she took to glaring for the moment.
"Sneaking around is never the best way to start a friendship.
However, if that is the way you prefer to make friends, then I
will happily report that to your father."
"He probably already knows, anyway," she muttered in retort.
"Yukito? Well?"
"That was a lie," Yukito said, at last.
Hal turned his glare to Erin. “Oh? Not off on a good start, are
we, Miss Spenser?”
"I asked her to come over. Do you need something?"
"Excuse me?"
She hated seeing him berate Yukito for absolutely no reason. So,
she jumped in. "Well, truth is relative, so maybe my truth was
that I bugged him to do it, and the way Yukito sees it is that
he let me. Isn't that the cool thing in philosophy now? Relative
truth?" Probably pushing it too much... but he was making her so
mad!
"And perhaps my truth is that the two of you are covering up
something you don't want me to know about, because you are well
aware that I would not approve. What do you think of that, Miss
Spenser?"
She clenched her teeth, wanting very badly to point out that
that was still relative, so technically, he couldn't argue that
he was right or that she was wrong. At least not if he was going
to use her stupid argument.... Why was he using her stupid
argument? It was stupid...
"And, if you are going to talk philosophy, I can set a little
chat between you, your father and I, and we can discuss your
relative truths lately."
"Fine with me." She didn't look away. It was her semi-silent
defiance.
Ramsey shifted his attention back to Yukito. Erin could feel the
heat in her face rising. “The first day you ever have any girls
over and it’s two in one day? One suddenly excuses herself, the
other is locked in your room and blatantly lies to me? You
expect me to not find this behavior suspicious?”
"What, he's not allowed to have girl friends? Are we gonna give
him cooties or something?" She couldn't help herself. For
someone so genius, the way he was talking down to them was so
stupid.
"Cooties? Hardly, Miss Spenser," he hissed, "Perhaps this house
is very different from yours and that of your friends, but here
there are rules about guests and bringing home anyone with whom
you have intentions, and, when Yukito is permitted to follow
them, things will be very different indeed."
She cocked an eyebrow. Intentions?!
“Explain yourself," he demanded, attention back to Yukito.
"It appears I am not quite so hated by my classmates as you
would hope," Yukito said. "I'm tired of being left alone all the
time. But it's obviously not okay with you, so I'll find my own
way to do it. Even if it means locking my door so I can have a
little privacy without you breathing down my neck." It felt
extremely awkward now, watching something that seemed so
personal.... even though she knew through and through that
Ramsey wasn't his real father, even by legal means... because
apparently nothing he'd done with Yukito was legal, much less
for good reasons. "It's not going to interfere with any of the
alterations, check-ups, further Enhancement surgeries, school or
diet regimes, I can assure you. So allow me just this little bit
of normalcy. I'm human too, you know."
"Am I such a stale, obtrusive object in your life that you
wouldn't discuss a modification in our agreement? That you would
simply disobey me, rather than speak to my face? That you would
lock me out like a criminal?" He frowned. "I am very
disappointed."
"Or maybe he just needs his own space, like a normal guy!" She
couldn't keep silent any more. The sense of histrionic
manipulation reeked from Dr. Ramsey.... how had she never seen
this before?! Erin's eyes locked on Yukito. Was he telling her
to leave? To stay? To shut up? To stand with him? What did he
want?! She couldn't leave him alone, could he? Not with
someone.... like this....
#Post#: 306--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: Mascii Date: April 17, 2013, 10:06 am
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC: I'm going to try and wrap this up, guys, okay? ^o^ Maybe we
can continue it as a Hal/Yukito scene, if you want. BIC:
Yukito Maki
The more Hal pushed, the more irritable and protective Yukito
got. It came to the point where he was deliberately trying to
place himself - physically and verbally - in between Hal and
Erin. He cringed inwardly every time Erin spoke up, trying to
retort. He knew it wouldn't help her case at all. But the best
he could do was try and make it as much about him and Hal as
possible. After all, it wasn't Erin's fault in the least. He had
been the one to drag her here, and tell her about the photos.
“Explain yourself," he demanded, attention back to Yukito.
"It appears I am not quite so hated by my classmates as you
would hope," Yukito hissed, "I'm tired of being left alone all
the time. But it's obviously not okay with you, so I'll find my
own way to do it. Even if it means locking my door so I can have
a little privacy without you breathing down my neck. It's not
going to interfere with any of the alterations, check-ups,
further Enhancement surgeries, school or diet regimes, I can
assure you. So allow me just this little bit of normalcy. I'm
human too, you know."
"Am I such a stale, obtrusive object in your life that you
wouldn't discuss a modification in our agreement? That you would
simply disobey me, rather than speak to my face? That you would
lock me out like a criminal?" He frowned. "I am very
disappointed."
Yukito's chest clenched painfully at each over-enunciated word.
The words were cold and cruel, like a jagged and rusty blade
that was meant purposefully to hit him where it hurt. I'm your
only family, he was saying. Why would you distrust me, embarrass
me, betray me like this, when I'm all you have in the world?
"Or maybe he just needs his own space, like a normal guy!" Erin
interrupted again, and Yukito shut his eyes to clench back the
tears he feared were going to come. He felt like someone had
comprised his soul out of a large bucket of fear, anger,
confusion and stubbornness. He was lying to his own father's
face, to the one person he could depend on. Hal did everything
for him. Because of Hal, he had a home, he never had to worry
about how he was going to eat, he went to a prestigious school
and got an education, he had a future where he would be
considered above normal, one of an elite. I'm not a normal guy,
Erin.
Even as he knew that Hal Ramsey was not all he appeared to
be...Yukito couldn't help but think that stooping to the level
of deception and betrayal in one's own family made him worse
than Hal himself. What kind of a person did he want to be,
anyway?
"Please give me five minutes, and she'll be gone," he said
quietly, broken. Holding his feelings in check with a balance
more delicate than a paper trying to cling to the ground as a
breeze pulled and tugged, hoping to embrace it, he shut the door
one more time and turned to Erin, not meeting her eyes directly.
"You should go, Erin." he said simply, walking over to where she
was, crouching down and picking up the newspaper clipping and
the photo, handing them to her as he spoke. He wanted her to
take them with her. There was still a chance Hal would find the
clippings, especially with how suspicious he was feeling. Erin
could keep them safe for him, he was sure. Don't let Hal find
them, whatever you do. "I'm sorry for dragging you all the way
out here. I guess..." he swallowed hard, staring at the edge of
his bed. He didn't worry too much about keeping his voice low,
but it automatically dropped as he added, "I was just feeling
lonely, and all. But I'm fine now. Sorry about your band
troubles, too. But I'm sure it will work out somehow for the
best. And..." he finally looked over at her, fighting to smile a
little for her, and let her know his sincerity. "Thanks."
#Post#: 381--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: morethanmusic Date: April 28, 2013, 6:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Just saying, I went to write this and "This Is Only The
Beginning" by Ilia came on my Spotify... That made writing this
post a little bit too easy, so you know... haha
BIC:
Dr. Hal Ramsey
"Am I such a stale, obtrusive object in your life that you
wouldn't discuss a modification in our agreement? That you would
simply disobey me, rather than speak to my face? That you would
lock me out like a criminal?" Feeling anger start to pump
through his veins, he fought it with a frown that was only
beginning to his frustration. "I am very disappointed."
"Or maybe he just needs his own space, like a normal guy!" Miss
Spenser shouted. He was about to simply ignore her when he saw
Yukito with his eyes shut tight. Hal froze, taking in his son's
posture and reaction to her words.
That was it.
Turning quickly as he stepped towards her, Hal felt heat rising
up the back of his neck. "You are so arrogant! Walking into our
house and acting as if you understand us! How dare you?" Hal
tried to hide that his hands were shaking. He did rather well
for Erin, but he had a tightness in his stomach that thought
maybe Yukito could see. "Ignorant, selfish girl! I have given
everything for this family, dying every day to keep people like
you away from him!" He wasn't used to the sound of his own voice
yelling. It was entirely foreign to him. Impulsively looking to
the side at Yukito, he realized how upset he was and took
several steps back, a frighteningly sudden calm coming over him
as Yukito began to speak.
"Please give me five minutes, and she'll be gone," Yukito
managed, his voice sounding like shattered glass. The distinct
stabbing feeling in Hal's chest made him nod, clasp his hands
behind him, and walk out as the door shut behind him.
He wouldn't look back. He wouldn't turn back. He wouldn't say
another word.
He went to the bathroom, turning on the water in the sink as
high as he could. Taking off his glasses, he set them as
carefully as he could on the counter, and looked up at the
smudged, distant vision of himself in the mirror, fighting to
steady his hands and his breathing.
'He isn't going anywhere. He isn't. Stop this. Stop this now.
I've worked too.hard. It can't end here... it can't... it
won't... Stop this! Stop this right now. Think about what kind
of weakness he just had to see.... but.... she can't take him
away... not like this... She won't!'
A strangle sensation in his eyes made him reach up. He didn't
understand. Were these...... tears?
No. None of that.
Fumbling, he made the water as cold as he could and washed his
face until it was numb again, then turned off the sink. Drying
it completely, he carefully put his glasses back on and tried to
remove any signs of his panic. This was completely ridiculous.
He couldn't break this now. Yukito would never up and leave with
just anyone. True, the boy was likely not entirely happy here,
but he was far more happy here than he would be with someone he
barely knew. While the two of them differed in many ways, their
logic and analytical minds were far too similar for not being
related by blood in any way.
No, if Yukito were ever to leave, he wouldn't be quiet about it,
and he wouldn't do it suddenly.
But Hal would have to watch him more carefully from now on. And,
somehow, without being more restricting, because that would make
Yukito more likely to run... Something had to be done. Taking
out his phone, he checked his calendar, his hands still a bit
shaky. There was the trip to New York... Yukito would never want
to go, but he didn't have to know about it.
That was it. He needed time with Yukito, away from all of these
other influences. But he couldn't take them away here... that
was obviously not going to work. He needed to get Yukito to a
place where they were both not at home. They needed time alone.
He thought about going into his office, but decided against it.
He would wait until he knew Miss Spenser was gone, and see if he
could at least say something to Yukito before the boy hid
himself up in his room. Hal knew he had been wrong to get so out
of control... to yell at the girl...
Hopefully the trip to New York would help that.
#Post#: 383--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: GGJ5 Date: April 28, 2013, 3:19 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Erin Spenser
"Or maybe he just needs his own space, like a normal guy!" How
could you expect someone to thrive if they were suffocating?!
Surely someone with as much knowledge as him knew that, but
why...? Erin didn't finish the question in her head. She could
figure out why, after seeing what Yukito had shown her.
And here she was, berating him in his own house.
You picked the worst person ever to trust with all this,
Yukito... I'm so sorry I've ruined it already....
It felt as if someone had flipped a switch-- and that someone,
of course, being Erin. She'd obviously pressed a button she
wasn't meant to press, and like lightning Dr. Ramsey shifted
into a form she'd never seen in him before. "You are so
arrogant! Walking into our house and acting as if you understand
us! How dare you?"
Instinctively, Erin took a few steps back. She'd never thought
he was a shouter, and now with the knowledge of what he'd done
to get Yukito, it hit her like a baseball bat exactly how stupid
it had been for her to try and stand up for Yukito now. In her
stupid attempt to help him out, she'd probably just made
everything ten times worse.... Her eyes darted to Yukito. If
he'd do all that to get him, what would he do to him? Nothing
physically damaging, obviously... he'd invested too much money
in his precious experiment. But what kind of control, what kind
of manipulation would he put Yukito through? The idea scared her
even more than Ramsey's rant.
"Ignorant, selfish girl! I have given everything for this
family, dying every day to keep people like you away from him!"
Erin's jaw dropped at the insult. Despite everything in her
telling her that it was totally stupid to say, the words tumbled
out: "I am not a disease!"
"Please give me five minutes, and she'll be gone," Yukito
managed, his voice so quiet compared to both of theirs. It made
her feel guilty.... that he was visibly upset, that she'd
obviously made everything so horrible...that this was probably
one of the worst days ever for either of them. And really, it
was all her doing.... most people would have been quiet and
obedient and would have left, carrying the secrets quietly in
their heart. But no, she had to kick and scream and throw a
hissy fit for justice.
Dr. Ramsey left. Behind him, Yukito shut the door. "You should
go, Erin."
She just nodded, afraid her own words would betray her further.
Yukito gathered the articles and clippings, handing them to her.
Erin didn't have to hear his words to know what he was asking
her. It was a huge, huge thing, but she could easily do it. It
wouldn't be hard to protect this secret. But it would probably
hurt. "I know," she finally spoke, letting it answer both his
statement and his silent request for her.
"I'm sorry for dragging you all the way out here. I guess..."
His eyes stared at a random spot behind Erin. She could feel her
heart beat in her chest. It was scared for him, and full of
guilt, and weighted down. "I was just feeling lonely, and all.
But I'm fine now. Sorry about your band troubles, too. But I'm
sure it will work out somehow for the best. And..." He finally
looked up at her, giving the smallest of smiles. Quickly, Erin
blinked away tears that threatened to spill over. "Thanks."
Holding the secrets in one hand tightly, Erin gave him a nod.
"Of course." And just as quickly, she gave him a hug, turning to
go out the way she came. And carrying secrets that weighed more
than her sorrow.
Erin has left the Ramsey residence.
#Post#: 385--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: Mascii Date: April 28, 2013, 4:18 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Yukito Ramsey
"Or maybe he just needs his own space, like a normal guy!"
Yukito closed his eyes, unable to keep back the sudden dropping
of his heart into his toes, feeling the cold, hollow of it as it
hit bottom. Erin was getting herself into so much more trouble
than she needed to. In a way, he regretted bringing her here.
She shouldn't have had to bear it with him. Erin was too nice,
too honest, for her own good. In this situation, he should have
born it silently.
But someone needed to understand. Anyone. But anyone I trusted.
But Erin...why couldn't you have let me take the brunt of it for
you?
As it was, Hal's true fury was beginning to unleash, and Erin
was its target. He took a step toward her, his face twisting and
writhing like it was a paper on fire, curling in disgust. Erin
stepped back, and Yukito took a movement to come between them,
but his own heart stopped at seeing the expression on Hal's
face. He couldn't put a word to it. But that didn't matter.
Chills ran up and down Yukito's spine, as he could only stand
and watch while his father berated one of his closest friends
like she was a rat infecting the place. A feeling overcame
Yukito, reminding him of a distant, fuzzy memory. Being small
enough to hide underneath the short table in the living
room....waiting eagerly for his father to come home, only to
witness them arguing... Yukito wrapped his arms around his
chest, wishing he was still small enough to fit under a coffee
table.
"You are so arrogant! Walking into our house and acting as if
you understand us! How dare you? Ignorant, selfish girl! I have
given everything for this family, dying every day to keep people
like you away from him!"
Yukito stared at the floor hard at Hal's words. He had pushed
too far, extending his anger to Yukito's friends. If it was
himself alone, it was fine. He could take the words and
understand that Hal just wanted the best for Yukito. But when it
reached the level of his friends...he felt that was going too
far. Unfortunately, he had only spoken the words that Yukito had
understood wordlessly for a long time; that Hal got to choose
who, when, and how he associated with others outside their home.
"I am not a disease!" Erin retorted, her shock and dismay
apparent. Yukito felt that if they went much longer, he would
begin to cry, weak and unable to face either of them squarely.
He didn't want them to become enemies. He just wanted to reach
out to one person, at least, without permission.
"Please give me five minutes, and she'll be gone," Yukito
managed, his voice quiet, struggling to stay even. Amazingly,
his words carried a weighted effect on both parties. Hal's
posture returned to its former controlled state, and he left
without another word. Erin seemed to finally give in to the
cruelty of Hal's words. Yukito wanted to apologize to her again
and again, but he knew that Hal could probably still hear them,
and he didn't want Hal to harbor any resentment against Erin
herself. He shut the door, feeling as though such a defense was
weak and futile. But it was all he had.
"You should go, Erin,” he said simply.
She just nodded, and Yukito wanted to embrace her, comfort her
in some small way, but he couldn't. His own arms had lost their
strength entirely. He gathered up the article and the clipping,
handing them to her wordlessly, conveying to her with his
expression that he knew this was a heavy burden to ask her to
carry. But that he trusted her. He had to.
"I know," she finally spoke, and it was his turn to nod, his
gaze flickering away from her.
"I'm sorry for dragging you all the way out here. I guess..." He
could only stare at the bed as he spoke, afraid that there would
be blame (or worse, pity) in her eyes when he looked at her. In
many ways, he was sure he had always been like this. Hiding,
unable to stop the fighting, always with this tension in his
chest. "I was just feeling lonely, and all. But I'm fine now.
Sorry about your band troubles, too. But I'm sure it will work
out somehow for the best. And..." He finally looked up at her,
giving the smallest of smiles. Tears were in his eyes, and his
expression turned apologetic. He knew that Hal's words to her
had been uncalled for, and hoped she could forgive them both.
"Thanks."
She gave a nod, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Of course."
Quite suddenly, she threw her arms around him, shocking him and
making his heart rate increase to a dangerous rate. He had been
unprepared, but he accepted the embrace as well as he could. In
a moment, she was out of the room, and the front door was
shutting behind her. Yukito stood leaning against his door
frame, feeling as worn out as if he had just ran a mile for no
apparently reason. He slowly sank to the floor, his knees pulled
up to his chest as he waited for Hal to return. He knew the
conversation wasn't over just yet, he merely had to be patient
and his father would return with a little more control, but no
less fury.
While he sat there, his mind replayed the conversation of the
evening over and over again. He shouldn't have brought Erin back
tonight, of all nights. After the Natalie event that afternoon,
and still being wet from the rain, showing that he'd been out
that night..and then Erin being all torn up over her band
issues...it had all just been horrible, horrible timing on his
part. Very likely, he should have just stayed in his room for
the evening. Then Erin wouldn't have had to hear Hal's angry
words, pointed at her in such an accusatory way. Without willing
it to, a tear began to slip out of Yukito's eye, quickly
followed up by several more. Angry at himself for his stupidity
and now his weakness, he rubbed at his eyes until they hurt,
trying to cover up the signs of tears before Hal returned. What
would Hal think, finding his teenage son crying in the hall?
Such weakness.
But when Hal returned, he had still been unable to wipe away all
the traces of his tears, his eyes still feeling puffy and his
throat thick and uncooperative. Staring at his knees with all
the ire that he wanted to shoot at Hal directly, he declared,
“All we wanted to do was talk. You didn't have to say those
things..” As soon as he had spoken, he felt his throat begin to
crumble over his futile attempts to hold back his anger and
disappointment, and his lip started to tremble uncontrollably.
He instantly brought both hands up to his face, desperate to
hide the idiotic tears. It took him a moment, but he forced
himself to breathe in and out, calming himself until the stupid
crying had stopped. All he had been able to say were a few,
simple words. But his throat felt dry as though he had screamed
out an emotional monologue for hours.
"You made her feel like a disease, dad!" The words were choked,
and the last one felt so heavy on his tongue, he feared he
couldn't have swallowed it if he had tried to hold it back.
#Post#: 424--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: morethanmusic Date: May 3, 2013, 3:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Hal Ramsey
He'd finally managed to regain his composure, washing his face,
he listened before coming out of the bathroom. Turning the
corner, he saw Yukito slumped against the door frame, sitting on
the floor. Pausing, Hal linked his hands behind his back and
swallowed.
"...Yukito..."
The boy didn't look up, his head tilted down so Hal couldn't see
it, facing his knees as they were pulled up against him. “All we
wanted to do was talk," he said, his voice thick with the strain
of tears. Hal felt everything inside of him stir, but it only
registered as a slight intake of breath outwardly. "You didn't
have to say those things..”
Hal took in a shaky breath, licking his lips slowly. "I know I
should have given you more time to explain. I jumped to
conclusions," he began, testing his voice. It seemed stable
enough. "But you must understand... sneaking around? That
concerns me, Yukito..."
As a reply, Yukito began to shake, putting his hands on his
face. Hal froze, tilting his head to the side a bit.
"...Yu...kito?"
He was crying... not just a few silent tears of frustration. It
was close to sobbing by now, uncontrollable tears that refused
to be silenced as the boy's entire body was rocked by the force
of the emotions pushing the tears to the surface. Hal just stood
there, unsure of how to react, not moving a muscle, his mouth
open slightly. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed
to comfort his son when he'd caused the hurt himself?
How was he supposed to comfort his son, whatsoever?
Taking a moment, Yukito seemed to calm a bit, and just as Hal
was about to say something to him, the boy choked out a few
words that sounded like the surrender after the verbal abuse of
an argument that had gone on for too long.
"You made her feel like a disease, dad!"
The words hit Hal like a wall. He straightened at first,
fighting it, but when his eyes fell back to Yukito, he lost his
resolve.
"Son... I..." Breathing heavily, he lowered himself, uneasily,
to kneel beside Yukito on the floor. Lowering himself to as
close to his son's level as he could, he broke the barrier of
air between them, but it didn't seem to help. "Yukito. Listen to
me."
Hesitating, he reached out and put his hand on Yukito's knee.
"I... I am so afraid for you... for how much you hide the effect
people have on you... how reserved you are... how much others
can influence you... I worry about us losing you... both of
us..." He moved his head a bit, trying to look at Yukito's face.
"Son. Look at me."
This was so incredibly difficult for him. Why? Every father
should be able to talk to his son.
"I..." He licked his lips, looking down at where his hand laid
upon Yukito's knee. "I never meant to make you miss the entire
world out there. I only wanted to protect you from it until you
were strong again... strong enough to block out what others
could do to hurt you... strong enough to stand up for yourself
and not let anyone else tell you who you were, anyone who didn't
care about you so much."
He backed up a little, balancing against the toes of his shoes,
feeling how unsteady he was. "I have done so much to try and
make you happy. If there's something missing... son... tell me."
Hal took in a breath, looking at Yukito, waiting. "I only want
what's best for you. That's all I've ever wanted."
Hal had always known he was never meant to have children. Yukito
had changed his mind about it, but he was still so supremely
incapable... Yukito could see it, couldn't he? That was the
absolute worst feeling a parent could have, he thought...
knowing their child could see their weaknesses.
"I am not so unfeeling and wicked as some people may tell you."
#Post#: 431--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: Mascii Date: May 4, 2013, 2:20 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Yukito Ramsey
"You made her feel like a disease, dad!" It was the truth. Hal
couldn't get around the fact that those words, that
impression...that's how Erin had felt, coming into his home.
Inside this cold, mechanical hole they had formed for
themselves, where he had brought her against her will, Yukito
found himself cursing himself for hoping that Erin's warmth and
sensibility could possibly invade unchecked. He hadn't imagined
that Hal would be so cruel. And they hadn't even done
anything...
"Son... I..." Yukito felt Hal moving nearer, his voice becoming
closer, but he couldn't move. To move would mean to show his
tear-stained face, and he couldn't bear that. "Yukito. Listen to
me." A hand dropped to his knee, and Yukito's sobs quieted
momentarily as he tried his best to listen. The tautness in his
throat throbbed inside at an irregular rhythm, threatening to
tear him apart. "I... I am so afraid for you... for how much you
hide the effect people have on you... how reserved you are...
how much others can influence you... I worry about us losing
you... both of us..." There was a pause, then. Yukito sniffed,
trying to maintain the thin control he had managed in the short
span of time Hal was speaking. "Son. Look at me."
No, he thought bitterly, wanting to scream it in Hal's face but
knowing it would come out as a strangled cry instead. I don't
want you to see me now. But he raised his head anyways, ashamed
of his puffy red eyes, of the way his lip was still trembling
from pure emotion, like he was a little boy again. He was
ashamed that this was the son he had become to Hal. Not strong
or confident, not capable, not controlled. None of the things
Hal had tried to raise him to be. All Yukito could see in Hal's
face was disappointment.
"I..." Hal licked his lips, his eyes flickering away from
Yukito's face almost as soon as he had seen it. "I never meant
to make you miss the entire world out there. I only wanted to
protect you from it until you were strong again... strong enough
to block out what others could do to hurt you... strong enough
to stand up for yourself and not let anyone else tell you who
you were, anyone who didn't care about you so much." Hal backed
a ways away, and Yukito could imagine it must have been jarring
to find your almost adult son sobbing in the hallway. How would
he have tried to handle it? He couldn't begin to imagine. "I
have done so much to try and make you happy. If there's
something missing... son... tell me." Hal took in a breath,
looking at Yukito, waiting. The boy could only rub at his eyes
with the back of his hand, trying to rid himself of the tears
once and for all. "I only want what's best for you. That's all
I've ever wanted."
But what about my mother? Why did you lie to me? What are you
trying to 'protect' me from? Why am I not allowed to be myself
around you? I can't say the things I want to, I can't feel the
things I want to, I can't act the way I please. If I can't be
that person I want to be, then who am I?
"I am not so unfeeling and wicked as some people may tell you."
Yukitos eyes were downcast, the damp fabric of his jeans. Hal
wasn't lying. He had given up so much of his time, money, and
efforts into Yukito's future. Yukito never had to worry about
money or what to eat or if he could buy the things he liked. He
paid for the painkillers, the surgeries that gave him his wings,
his therapy, his education. Everything. But in return, he wanted
obedience. Was that too much to ask? Yukito wasn't sure of the
answer. He didn't think he would ever know.
But still. Hal took care of him. There's was no denying that.
Other people didn't see when he came to check on Yukito, the way
he liked to pretend it was nothing, when he was genuinely
concerned. They didn't see the look on Hal's face when Yukito
received recognition from the school board for his grades. They
didn't see the way he cared, in his own way. Yukito would have
been a hypocrite if he had said that he was any better at
showing he cared than Hal. After all, did any of his friends
know the way he felt about them? Probably they had no inkling,
found him to be a bit of a downer, a drag, too cold, too
mechanical. They didn't see what Hal and Yukito saw.
“I know..” he croaked, his eyes lifting to Hal's, trying to
convey three words. I mean that. It didn't make it okay for him
to have said those things to Erin, of course. There was no
utterance of forgiveness on his lips. But he had to at least try
and convey to Hal that he wasn't so hated as he would like to
believe. At least, not by Yukito.
It was in that moment that he realized something that sent a
jolt of pain to his chest. When Erin had been there, all he had
wanted to do was to fall against her and let her wrap her arms
around him protectively, feeling her warmth her closeness. Erin
was so easy to feel safe around sometimes, that it surprised
him. What came easiest was the fact that she thought nothing of
it. Erin would touch upon greeting, upon parting, for no
particular reason at all. As for himself and Hal, however,
touching appeared to be something they had to contemplate and
deliberately enforce. Hal's hand upon his knee had seem foreign,
even though Yukito was well aware that he had been beneath Hal's
fingertips in each and every surgery. How often did they touch
each other? They never embraced. Yukito was sure of that. There
weren't pats on the back or touches on the shoulder. Hal seemed
to keep a physical distance from Yukito a lot of the time, and
whenever he did invade that bubble he had created around his
son, Yukito was unsure how to reciprocate. He felt like it had
been a missing joint in the clockwork of his mind. He didn't
know if he was even capable or holding someone. With Erin..he
had noticed more acutely this separation of space, and for the
first time, he wanted to invade it. Perhaps that was what was
missing, that was the gap he had wanted Erin to fill.
Yukito searched Hal's face. For what, he wasn't sure. His face
began to fade back into the one of control that he wore every
single day. The solemn acceptance that he would just have to
become a stronger person if he wanted to survive. He couldn't
get sentimental over something ridiculous as asking his father
to embrace him. Even if he had, he didn't know if it would
change anything. They would just feel that strange, unfamiliar
territory, that awkward lack of knowledge about each other's
space, and then the subject would drop. He could almost hear
their conversation now.
Slowly, he stood up, still sniffing and wiping at his face, “I
have to go take a shower..” he murmured, his clothes still wet
from the rain and his body more worn out than he would have
imagined. Perhaps that was what always happened when people
cried. Or perhaps it was just him. But he couldn't remember the
last time he'd been this tired. He was in the doorway when he
turned and looked back at Hal, his face set into a hard,
determined expression. “I will become stronger, and I will
become happy.” His lips pressed together for a moment, and he
swallowed before finishing, “Perhaps for us both.” He closed the
door, the conversation over, as far as he was concerned.
Yukito is done here!
#Post#: 443--------------------------------------------------
Re: Ramsey Household
By: morethanmusic Date: May 5, 2013, 5:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Dr Hal Ramsey
Talking to Yukito didn't seem to be doing much good. Hal moved
closer, his hand on Yukito's knee tightening. "Son. Look at me."
Yukito reluctantly lifted his head, and Hal could see the tears,
the red eyes... the pain... the discomfort.
"I..." It made him unsure of his words. He licked his lip,
looking away before he lost his resolve... again. He couldn't
bear the tears that were completely due to him -- Erin hadn't
hurt his son... He had hurt his son. "I never meant to make you
miss the entire world out there. I only wanted to protect you
from it until you were strong again... strong enough to block
out what others could do to hurt you... strong enough to stand
up for yourself and not let anyone else tell you who you were,
anyone who didn't care about you so much." He knew this was too
much. He moved a bit away, trying not to corner Yukito any more
than he already seemed to do naturally. "I have done so much to
try and make you happy. If there's something missing... son...
tell me." Hal tried to breathe evenly, watching his son, only
succeeding in making the boy try to clear his face of tears. "I
only want what's best for you. That's all I've ever wanted."
Yukito made no move to reply. Hal swallowed.
"I am not so unfeeling and wicked as some people may tell you."
“I know..” Yukito croaked, looking up at Hal at last. Hal put on
a smile full of mixed emotion, though he was sure they didn't
all register.
"I hope you do. I hope you truly do."
'Please don't lie to me.'
If there was one person in the world that Hal couldn't bear to
lie to him, it was Yukito. It was entirely unlike him to be hurt
by lies, as he was known for them -- at least, to himself -- and
he thought so little of them most of the time. But the thought
of Yukito betraying his trust was too much to bear, and he
pushed it aside to focus on the conversation at hand.
Hal felt as though he was being scanned as Yukito looked at him.
Perhaps Yukito could see through him. All the way through him.
Through all the lies, through all the pretense, down the bare
core of... I love you... I shouldn't... but I do...
But likely not.
Yukito rose, drying his face. Hal only watched, waiting.
"What are you doing?"
“I have to go take a shower..”
Hal sighed, nodding, pulling himself up with the doorframe. He
knew he was growing weaker. They both were. But, one day, Hal
wouldn't recover. One day, he would simply have nothing more to
give to his son... no more surgeries... no more diets... no more
knowledge... no more love. And that day... that day Yukito would
have no more reason to stay, and he would be gone forever.
And that would be the last thing that Hal would ever have to
give to the world: Yukito.
Yukito stopped, and Hal looked at him expectantly, his arms
crossed over his chest. Yukito's face was determined,
unwavering. Hal raised an eyebrow, unsure what to expect. “I
will become stronger, and I will become happy.” Yukito's mouth
was set in a line, and Hal's expression eased, his mouth opening
slightly. “Perhaps for us both.”
With that, Yukito shut the door.
Hal just stared after him for a moment, trying to understand why
Yukito would say such a thing. He'd never heard such a grown-up,
burdened tone in his son's voice. Become happy? Stronger? Why?
That... that was Hal's job... as the father... Perhaps for them
both? No... he should only be strong for himself... that helped
everyone... Well, everyone important.
What was he going to do with this boy? Too well-behaved and too
over-the-top, all at once. Looking into Yukito's room, he noted
the contrast with the rest of the house. It was as if he knew,
as if he'd always known that he didn't belong here. There was no
cure, Hal had found, for the sense of belonging that was lacking
through the entire house. Hal felt it too. He never felt like he
belonged... he hadn't, anywhere, for a long time.
He would have to do something drastic. Something to remind
Yukito that they weren't so different, after all.
He would have to make plans.
Slipping into his office, he worked out the details in his
pocketbook, rearranging everything to get Yukito to New York
with him. This would be difficult, and maybe it would be a
disaster... but he had to try.
Hal is done here
*****************************************************
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