Domicile: 1st Floor (Kitchen)
Click to viewRalph Balmont strolled into the kitchen & opened the refrigerator, surveying the drinks available that Charles had set on display- and to Ralph, it looked like they had been set on display, which he thought was a bit peculiar- and after looking them over one by one, Ralph closed the door, and opened a cabinet door, revealing a jug of sweet tea he'd set aside for himself much earlier. He was about to do a lot of talking & he wanted to be well-hydrated, because if he wasn't he would start coughing and would appear weak before his audience, signaling to them an opportunity to be predatory and pounce upon him- and he wasn't having that, not in HIS house and not on THIS day.
As he held the jug in hand, Ralph found himself staring into the open empty cabinet; he was flooded with warm feelings as he remembered how he used to hide there as a small boy. Kneeling down, he put he hand on the wood; as he ran his hand over it, the sensation felt so welcoming that he wished he had time to climb in the cabinet for a minute and reflect. He smiled to himself as his ears alerted him to movement in the hall and he abandoned his trip down memory lane as he stood up, opened his tea jug and took a soothing swig of herbs & pure cane sugar suspended in water. His somewhat forced smile turned genuine as the feeling of well-being filled him. As he closed the cabinet door, Ralph swished some more tea in his mouth and awaited his audience.
All three entered the kitchen at once, as Ralph predicted, with Jackie in the lead, Talbot slightly behind her & Charles in the rear; Ralph could see both were steering his brother- each with their separated agendas, no doubt. The woman's motive was relatively obvious- after all, what does any woman see in a relationship with a man, if not material & financial gain? The only other possible answer is a power trip via emotional abuse, but that didn't seem to fit their body language, so that was to be ruled out in this case. Ralph was all too aware of the underlying causes of his distrust of women, but despite his self doubts as to his degree of mental health, he knew he was right about the opposite sex: they were not, and would likely never be true supportive partners a man should put on equal footing- in a moment of uncertainty, they will turn against men if the options for doing so even remotely appeared favorable. Their men & their children are merely pawns to be used, thrown away & destroyed in the blind quest for feminine gratification of the fragile ego... it was at this point Ralph was glad he still had tea in his mouth, otherwise the strong taste of vaginal fluids would well up, and the memories of abuse would surface & color his perceptions. He shut his eyes momentarily to shake off the negative influence, and when he opened them again, he was staring at three faces staring back at him, as near to neutral as the world offers.
"So you are decided then, Ralph, about keeping the house?" Charles, having read both Talbot & Jackie easily, sought to sidestep being part of any oncoming disagreements by voicing his interests first. Ralph shot him a glance, aware of this approach, yet uncertain of what Charles would follow it up with. For a moment Ralph's eyes were searching, then they looked back down at his jug of tea, and Ralph took another swig before answering.
"Yes."
Jackie was dumbfounded. What had their trip been for then? Sensations in her body were making her quite uncomfortable, and she broke from the conversation developing to go the refrigerator to get herself a drink.
Talbot was equally at a lost for words, but was quicker to overcome his confusion with questioning responses.
"Why did you call us all out here then, Ralph?"
Ralph's expression became uncharacteristically neutral; it was something entire alien on his face. Never in all his life had Talbot seen his brother look so obtuse. Neither anger nor sadness nor amusement- emotions far more frequent- could be made out in Ralph's expression. Ralph stared at Talbot, acting almost as if accused of something unspeakable, and just stared silently at him. For a long moment, they were locked in a stare, neither giving quarter. Finally, exasperated, Talbot threw up his hands and turned away.
"Is it revenge to drag us out here, or some dark romantic secret?!?!"
"My secrets keep themselves, brother," Ralph said, adding "can you say the same of yours?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Meaning is subjective, as are grounds for offense. My personal life is private, and I dare say, would harrow up thy soul to know the depth of it and the suffering I've endured just to keep part of myself private. While the world abounds with people anxious to whore themselves out to an indifferent society, selling every bit of their life off peacemeal for the promise of rewards that are altogether lacking, I mind myself and want no part of other people's madness. I am my own man, a separate singular entity, and no one shall ever be my master."
At this, Ralph lowered his head and closed his eyes, repeating what he'd just said in his mind, nodding his head in agreement with it. It was his quiet declaration of war with all humanity. In truth, there was nothing else to say.