It's not one of those things I'm comfortable broadcasting, to put it one way. Or make obvious just through interacting.
My family's had a lot of time to recover.
[And if they were to come back to Mossgate, simply for his sake... it'd feel too much like crossing the streams. Particularly if they ended up on the news somehow, and that old ringmaster saw.
It's one of the few things Walter would admit to being outright paranoid about.]
[And Walter really does want this to be a 'later' and not a 'now', given Sadie's already assured him he doesn't have to share everything... but the sharing's not entirely out of the question, either.]
You need any assistance over at your place? Or just company.
[His classes that day pass all the more slowly with worry on his mind for his friend, but he makes it through the routine with Sadie. Heading home rather than staying to work as soon as classes let out, he pulls up into the short drive with his motorcycle and removes his helmet to walk it to the shed.]
[The necessary delay is a sufficient compromise, letting Walter prioritize his thoughts and worries in a way that doesn't leave him stewing in them.
Russell is out much of the day still, so apart from leaving him a message for when the man got home - and a general check-in with Ben's aunts - Walter didn't have to give much advance warning.
He doesn't go too far out of his way to time his arrival, but he still manages to get there before Ben does.
[Spotting Walter waiting for him, Benjiro raises a hand briefly then pushes his motorcycle up to the door. Looking to his friend with a welcoming smile from behind his mask, he greets him.]
Hey Walter. Thanks for coming over.
[Benjiro bends down to unlock and raise the door of the shed, and wheels his bike in to park in its usual place. Helmet left hanging from the handle, he shifts his backpack to hang from one shoulder rather than two. He doesn’t want to take it off yet, not until he knows how they will spend the remainder of this Tuesday.]
[A nod is given in acknowledgement, and he walks back to the door of the shed.]
About mine and their own. They have been getting much more personal items than I have. Including an old dress I think Aunt Agatha snuck out of Aunt Rosemary’s collection.
But it also seems to be the hot topic in general.
Had to double-check the mod post for whether it was ONLY the Numbered receiving things, heh.
I couldn’t say. Aunt Agatha made a comment about it in passing, and I don’t think she’d admit to it if she had taken it from the house.
[The teenager nods in agreement. Worse could be returned than an unfortunate dress. Barring the reappearance of living beings, incriminating documents that had been tossed might cause a variety of issues.]
Returned things aside, we need to decide on what we should do. So, what is your preference? [He asked first, so the responsibility for choosing an activity falls to Walter.]
[Walter doubts that they would, but otherwise it's not exactly either's place for Ben or Walter to intervene.]
We could visit the zoo again, perhaps?
[Ask discreetly about the investigation regarding the zoo break-in, he means. It has almost been a year, and if the authorities haven't caught that trio they may well be seen again.]
[Regarding the option of coming in or waiting, Benjiro has no particular preference, but Walter can avoid pleasantries with his aunts by staying outside.]
I’ll be only a minute, but you can come in and say hi if you’d like.
[With that, he heads inside to clear out his backpack and prep for the trip briefly.]
[A foot in the door is all it takes for Walter to be greeted in a friendly manner, and for both of them to be given baked snacks that Benjiro stows in his backpack.
Together after a proper amount of small talk had been paid, the two are off on their bikes heading to the petting zoo.
Once they arrive and park, Benjiro doffs his helmet and looks to Walter.]
[Helmet stowed at his bike, Benjiro loosens the straps of his backpack from the ride.]
I would question their choices in management if we did.
[Walking with Walter, they pay for entrance and head inside. He pauses briefly to study the map provided, and holds to the straps of his bag with his hands as he looks to his friend to confirm agreement on a path that leads to the far end the quickest.
Rather than trying to stoke conversation, Benjiro leaves a comfortable window of silence to see if Walter has anything he wants to discuss.]
Edited 2019-06-16 16:22 (UTC)
Re: Handwave is a beautiful thing for just such an occasion
For most of the walk it's obvious Walter's thinking, and he'll point out animals that are otherwise well-hidden but not say much besides.
By the time they make it to the goats, though, Walter's settled on something to broach:]
I never saw animals like these, growing up. Even if my fifteen-year-old self could have remembered things from picture books, it still wouldn't have been enough context.
[The quiet between them is left intact, Benjiro nodding or briefly commenting on the animals hiding that are pointed out. Seeing the animals here instead of trying to chase them is a nice change of pace.
When Walter does start to talk again as they come to the goats, Benjiro readily engages.]
I can see why. It lacks scale, indication of how movement is accomplished, and the awareness they display. Although, it does come with the benefit of less odor.
[Walter snorts, bemused - and, fortunately, not startling the goats in the process.]
Odor wouldn't have made a difference for me.
There was a lot I didn't grow up knowing existed. When we got out and settled in in London, I felt I had to learn all of it first, so I could help Haley learn it.
[He sighs.]
I thought, back then, that she needed the help more than I did. But I know now that that wasn't quite right.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
warped_replica) wrote2018-07-27 06:58 pm
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As Sadie would say, 'Magic is bullshit.'
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[Accepting the existence of magic does not necessitate his liking of it when it defies every law of science.]
So...
A cult? I would never have suspected.
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My family's had a lot of time to recover.
[And if they were to come back to Mossgate, simply for his sake... it'd feel too much like crossing the streams. Particularly if they ended up on the news somehow, and that old ringmaster saw.
It's one of the few things Walter would admit to being outright paranoid about.]
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I won’t ask anything else, but if you ever do want to talk about it, I’m here to listen.
[At least this helps explain why the returned items have been so upsetting for Walter in particular.]
Well, Nel's encouragements are going to be relevant soon, I'm sure...
[And Walter really does want this to be a 'later' and not a 'now', given Sadie's already assured him he doesn't have to share everything... but the sharing's not entirely out of the question, either.]
You need any assistance over at your place? Or just company.
Yes good
I wouldn’t mind some time out, and company would be nice.
If not in this thread, then in a Soon one.
We shall see what comes out
[His classes that day pass all the more slowly with worry on his mind for his friend, but he makes it through the routine with Sadie. Heading home rather than staying to work as soon as classes let out, he pulls up into the short drive with his motorcycle and removes his helmet to walk it to the shed.]
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Russell is out much of the day still, so apart from leaving him a message for when the man got home - and a general check-in with Ben's aunts - Walter didn't have to give much advance warning.
He doesn't go too far out of his way to time his arrival, but he still manages to get there before Ben does.
He keeps any awkward shifting to a minimum.
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Hey Walter. Thanks for coming over.
[Benjiro bends down to unlock and raise the door of the shed, and wheels his bike in to park in its usual place. Helmet left hanging from the handle, he shifts his backpack to hang from one shoulder rather than two. He doesn’t want to take it off yet, not until he knows how they will spend the remainder of this Tuesday.]
Would you like anything to eat or drink?
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Not right now, but thank you for the offer.
[Walter isn't all that certain where they're going after this either.]
Did your aunts ask you about any of the deliveries?
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About mine and their own. They have been getting much more personal items than I have. Including an old dress I think Aunt Agatha snuck out of Aunt Rosemary’s collection.
But it also seems to be the hot topic in general.
Had to double-check the mod post for whether it was ONLY the Numbered receiving things, heh.
Did the dress ever leave the house, or did only one of them consider it lost?
[Because even with what he knows of the returns thus far, that seems like an odd case.]
Still, I imagine there are worse things that can be returned, in the sense of being able to cause a scandal.
[Imagine if lost people were returned! Particularly those who didn't want to be.]
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[The teenager nods in agreement. Worse could be returned than an unfortunate dress. Barring the reappearance of living beings, incriminating documents that had been tossed might cause a variety of issues.]
Returned things aside, we need to decide on what we should do. So, what is your preference? [He asked first, so the responsibility for choosing an activity falls to Walter.]
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[Walter doubts that they would, but otherwise it's not exactly either's place for Ben or Walter to intervene.]
We could visit the zoo again, perhaps?
[Ask discreetly about the investigation regarding the zoo break-in, he means. It has almost been a year, and if the authorities haven't caught that trio they may well be seen again.]
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The one at Moss Manor? Sure. [A simple task to check off the list and a quiet outing in one.]
Do you want to drive there on our bikes or take the bus? Either way, I should drop off my books before we go.
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A ride, I think. I won't race you.
[That would be unfair.]
Want me to wait here, or come inside?
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[Regarding the option of coming in or waiting, Benjiro has no particular preference, but Walter can avoid pleasantries with his aunts by staying outside.]
I’ll be only a minute, but you can come in and say hi if you’d like.
[With that, he heads inside to clear out his backpack and prep for the trip briefly.]
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Just not very far. Enough to say hello, but not so far in that he can't keep an eye out for the shed and their bikes.]
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Together after a proper amount of small talk had been paid, the two are off on their bikes heading to the petting zoo.
Once they arrive and park, Benjiro doffs his helmet and looks to Walter.]
Where should we begin?
I have no idea what the order of exhibits is. |D
[This answer comes quick.]
Haven't been any further break-ins, so we won't have to worry about corralling animals this time.
Handwave is a beautiful thing for just such an occasion
I would question their choices in management if we did.
[Walking with Walter, they pay for entrance and head inside. He pauses briefly to study the map provided, and holds to the straps of his bag with his hands as he looks to his friend to confirm agreement on a path that leads to the far end the quickest.
Rather than trying to stoke conversation, Benjiro leaves a comfortable window of silence to see if Walter has anything he wants to discuss.]
Re: Handwave is a beautiful thing for just such an occasion
For most of the walk it's obvious Walter's thinking, and he'll point out animals that are otherwise well-hidden but not say much besides.
By the time they make it to the goats, though, Walter's settled on something to broach:]
I never saw animals like these, growing up. Even if my fifteen-year-old self could have remembered things from picture books, it still wouldn't have been enough context.
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When Walter does start to talk again as they come to the goats, Benjiro readily engages.]
I can see why. It lacks scale, indication of how movement is accomplished, and the awareness they display. Although, it does come with the benefit of less odor.
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Odor wouldn't have made a difference for me.
There was a lot I didn't grow up knowing existed. When we got out and settled in in London, I felt I had to learn all of it first, so I could help Haley learn it.
[He sighs.]
I thought, back then, that she needed the help more than I did. But I know now that that wasn't quite right.
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