sunday_reveries 8.16-22 - "Are you insane?"

[take_mychances]

Also serves as an RP thread for arkhams_dr, questionorigin and a_carrion_crow.

Why am I doing this again? Dalia had been asking herself the question all day. Now it was finally time for her to leave work and head over to Crane House for dinner with Duela and Jonathan (and presumably Joshua, who never missed out on an opportunity to condescend to her) and she was still questioning

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[arkhams_dr]

"If you insist." He put down the cup, looking directly at her. "You may or may not know that the first time Nadine believed Harvey dead, she tried to commit suicide. I know that attempt was genuine, as she had no way of knowing that I would find her before it was too late. The second time, however, years later, she knew that Duela would find her body, and only her untimely arrival home prevented this second attempt from success. I knew from the first instance that Nadine valued Harvey far more than she would ever value me, but to do that to her daughter...well."

He pulled a file from one of his drawers, placing it on the side of the desk closest to Dalia. "Neither Duela, who was only fourteen, after all, nor I had the resources to care for her properly after this second breakdown. We placed her in a very well-regarded facility, where I monitored her health and Duela visited her quite often. You can see all of those facts laid out quite plainly in her charts."

"I'm afraid that when Duela returned, her condition took a turn for the worse. She decided to lash out at me, making wild accusations about doing things to Duela. I had never interfered with Nadine's choices, however much I may have disagreed with them, in all my years of treating her. I stood by while her relationship with Harvey grew more volatile and violent, escalating into abuse. I offered advice and opinion, but as long as she understood her choices about her life, I stood back. This time, though, when she began making threats about Duela, when she said such terrible things - I'm afraid I lost my patience with her. In short, I snapped, and when she tried to stab me, I reacted. I regret my actions, but I cannot bring myself to regret the emotion behind them. I know how ill she was, and to an extent, still is, but it does not excuse her behavior towards her own daughter. I wish to forgive her for what she's done to Duela, but I fear I will never forget it."

[take_mychances]

Dalia's face grew increasingly grave as Jonathan went on and at one point, she clenched her fists tightly in her lap. When he finally finished, she shook her head. "My mom wouldn't purposely try to hurt Duela. She wouldn't. She worries about her so much, even now." Her voice broke a bit, but Dalia went on. "She was like a broken record when I was younger. 'I hope Duela's okay. I wish she'd come by more often.' "

[arkhams_dr]

"It's clearly a case of trying to compensate for her earlier behavior. I made it very, very clear to her what I felt she'd done, and besides the sting of my rejection, I think that's what has stayed with her." He folded his hands together. "Surely, you don't doubt my devotion to Duela. If nothing else, you can speak to her about that."

[take_mychances]

Dalia heard him, but didn't look at Jonathan. She was silent a moment, her mind swimming with thoughts. Finally, she said, "I think I'll go back and see my sister now."

[arkhams_dr]

"Yes, we should both probably rejoin her." He stood, heading for the door. "If you have any further questions, I'd certainly entertain the idea of answering, as long as Duela doesn't mind."

[take_mychances]

Dalia followed. "Thank you," she said quietly.

[arkhams_dr]

"Don't thank me. It's merely the truth."

[questionorigin]

Duela was just about at the kitchen when she saw the door open. She stopped in the hall, turning to look at the two. She tried to meet Dalia's eyes, wondering if she should pull her sister aside for a few moments herself. Even if she didn't want to talk further... just to... Well, to give her a little time to herself.

[arkhams_dr]

"Ah, there you are," Crane smiled at Duela. "I think we're quite finished with the serious part of our conversation."

[take_mychances]

Dalia managed a small half-smile at her sister, thought it didn't reach her eyes.

[questionorigin]

Duela nodded slightly. She smiled just a bit, approaching the two. "Jonathan, do you think you could get the dessert plates for me?" she asked, though her eyes remained on her sister.

[arkhams_dr]

"Of course." He looked from one to the other, adding, "I think I'll go to the cellar and get some of my port, as well."

With that, he disappeared into the kitchen.

[questionorigin]

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you."

Duela looked at Dalia and her smile faded a little once Jonathan had gone. She gestured to the sitting room she'd initially shown her sister to. "Shall we have a seat and wait for him?"

[take_mychances]

"I should probably go soon," Dalia said quietly, though she obliged and sat.

[questionorigin]

Duela nodded, waiting for her to sit. She took a seat, not too close or too far away. After a few moments, she murmured, very quietly, "You okay?"

[take_mychances]

"They didn't do it to you on purpose," Dalia finally said, her voice angry. "They'd give their whole lives--even take back me being here--for you--and you don't care, Uncle Jonathan doesn't care, Joshua despises them. You're all so smug about what you think they are. I'm the one who's lived with them for over 20 years--you all think I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I do." She shook her head.