82 - stage four

[perfektsymmetry]

[Crowe's hit stage four, though like most, he doesn't realize this. He's frustrated beyond belief with this little event, and makes a call that starts out as some venting with innocent enough intentions. He's been telling people all the bad things about himself, and learning things about his friends in town he isn't sure how to deal with. Surely

Comments

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[snipingmissy]

[You can't think Not!Mom didn't overhear this, Crowe. She has really good ears, so if she's in the house, she heard it.]

Crowe...

[Thankfully--for her--she did not quite catch his question at the beginning of his litany, otherwise she'd be stuck with no option other than to answer said question, and that was probably not what he needed or wanted to hear.]

[perfektsymmetry]

[He's standing there by the phone with his hand over his mouth, face bright red.]

[snipingmissy]

[She's frowning, and wished that there was more comfort to offer other than words.]

I'd ask if you are all right, but that seems pointless.

Would you like a cup of tea?

[Not!Mom is going to prepare you one anyway, and then you are going to drink it. It's the best way she can think of to calm him down a bit.]

[perfektsymmetry]

[He sits down at the kitchen table with a thud.] I give up.

Wanna give Crowe a hug ;_;

[snipingmissy]

[She's quiet as she prepares the tea, and when she's finished, she places it in front of him before sitting across from him. She knew how awful it felt to reveal your secrets to people whom you didn't want to share them with, but questions would only force him to answer and she didn't want to do that to him.]

Don't give up, now. That's what this whole fuss is about--an attempt to get us to give up.

There is nothing worse than sharing secrets you don't wish to share. There are few better ways to defeat the morale of a group of people.

>:

[perfektsymmetry]

M-Most things in this town are. That's why i-it's so hard to get anything done in around here. We're always being driven apart.

[He puts his head on the table and wraps an arm around it. He mutters underneath it.]

I can't believe I told the whole town I like guys.

*huggles for Crowe just not from your Not!Mom, from Not!Mom's mun <3*

[snipingmissy]

[She pauses. That wasn't something she knew much about--men liking other men--but though it was something she didn't know, she didn't particularly find it awful, either.]

I don't understand how that would change anybody's opinion on you, Crowe. You're a very polite and friendly young man.

[perfektsymmetry]

[He peeks up at her.] A-A lot of people have a problem with that sort of thing.

[snipingmissy]

[Her slightly confused expression doesn't change.]

Hm. Well, that's a bit foolish of those "people" you are referring to.

[perfektsymmetry]

M-Maybe, but some people a-are really against it a-and will hate you for it. My parents weren't exactly e-excited about the idea, you know, a-and,

[He puts his head down again, to cut himself off.]

[snipingmissy]

[She sits quietly for a moment, before deciding to change the subject entirely.]

You ought to drink that before it gets cold. Unless you'd prefer something else?

[If he were to look up, she had a rather perplexed look on her face.] I suppose I should have asked what you wanted first, hm?

[perfektsymmetry]

[He does look up, giving her the tiniest smile, and fiddles with the tea cup.] R-Right. Sorry, i-it's fine. I like just about any tea.

[snipingmissy]

[She nods, returning the smile albeit somewhat awkwardly.]

Relax, Crowe. I'm not going to repeat anything you say, nor will I pressure you into talking...

[Headdesk this is not her forte, and this oversharing thing was making it difficult to hide that she wished she could do more.]

I don't have children, and though my commanding officer has poked fun at my 'maternal instincts' I really don't know what sort of thing a mother would say in this instance.

[Ohno. Did she say that out loud?]

...sorry. I didn't...really...mean to say that...

[perfektsymmetry]

[He smiles faintly, sheepishly.] D-Don't worry about it. Y-You're not actually my mother, b-but I appreciate you trying to help.

Its mutual awkward share time XD

[snipingmissy]

[She's flushed a bit, at having let that comment slip. Sheepish, she looked down at the table.]

I...know. I do wonder sometimes though, what it would be like. If nothing else, Mayfield's given me the opportunity--

[That may have been even worse than the first thing she'd said. She actually covers her face, shaking her head.]

I don't know exactly what is at work here, but..again..I didn't mean to...

[perfektsymmetry]

I-I know. You need to get used to these sort o-of things in Mayfield. A-At least no one's dead. There's no hazmats looking for the supposed Communist, wh-which is what I thought would happen. [He barely suppresses a shudder.]