The family, coming from Milliways.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle originally hadn't wanted to go home. Everyone was so loud at Milliways, though, and when Edward starts to even think the phrase There would be fewer people to listen to -- Carlisle's already standing to go

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[keptherwaiting]

Jasper was watching the television with Alice when Carlisle comes in. Some fashion show or another where they remake someone over. His wife keeps a running, colorful commentary on the clothes as they watch, he mostly frowns and keeps his thoughts to himself.

- Something's wrong with Carlisle. He's agitated. Oh! Alice would look nice in that. I wonder if - God, this woman needs to keep her mouth shut. She has the most annoying voice, how can Alice watch this? Is she the host? I would rip her throat.

And as soon as the last unbidden thought occurs, a slew of bloody images accompany it, some memories and others not, until Jasper shifts uncomfortably on the couch, attempting to rid himself of the thoughts and the tickle in his throat.

Only, the more he tries not to think about it, the more he does.

Stop thinking about it. Think of Alice. Think of your wife. Just stop thinking about it.

[themidnightson]

Edward left the office and walked downstairs calmly, pulling on decades of lying flawlessly without meaning to, even if he is distracted by most of his focus staying on Carlisle waiting in his office.

"Jasper, Carlisle and I were hoping we could talk to you."

His glance shifted to Alice, with a bit of a smile for the place her thought were in on the tv and fashion clothing. He'd be watching her do new designs in the closet soon enough. "We'll return him soon enough."

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper disentangles himself for Alice, only stopping to drop a kiss to the top of her head before she shoos him away because a nice pair of shoes just flashed on the screen.

He follows his brother. Is something wrong with Carlisle? He doesn't think the request for his presence would be about the stray thoughts he just had. He has those all the time. That's normal, Edward deals all the time with, Carlisle's distress is not.

[themidnightson]

There's a glance at the question, making sure to catch Japer's eye when he does so. It comes with a pause long enough that means even though the answer isn't yes and isn't no there's something missing in the middle.

Something Edward isn't saying out loud yet, due to his respect for Carlisle handling this as he would. He's sure between that and his feelings Jasper got a clear enough picture that this isn't about the fashionista on the TV.

Edward opened the door holding it for Jasper, with a nod inward that made it even more apparent his request wasn't exactly for Carlisle and himself. It was about getting Jasper to Carlisle.

Once Jasper is in, Edward closed the door and moved toward the wide window silently.

[ofthefamily]

Hello, Jasper.

Carlisle silently gives Jasper a wan smile when he enters, clearly distracted.

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper stands patiently in front of Carlisle's desk, eying the older man with an eyebrow raised. Just waiting. For orders, a reprimand, an explanation.

Anything other than the somewhat unsettling smile Carlisle gave him.

When no words are exchanged, he glances quickly at Edward - Am I missing something? - before turning back to Carlisle. "You wanted to speak to me?"

[themidnightson]

Edward cleared his throat lightly, without looking away from the window perfectly framing the setting sun through the hazy dissipating clouds that were heralding tomorrow's sunny day.

He can't hear you that way.

[ofthefamily]

"Oh! Right." Back to Jasper, Carlisle straightens in his seat.

"Through...various events, I...temporarily -- "

So far as I know, at least --

" -- can hear thoughts."

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper has never had any reason to doubt Carlisle before. But, as if in a test, his mind thinks of a number - 57 - even as he tries to calm the sudden buzzing curiosity in the house at Carlisle's news.

[themidnightson]

"Don't."

It's a sudden, quiet, sharp demanding hiss.

He can sense everyone in the house's shock in three different ways suddenly -- through their thoughts, through Carlisle and through Jasper.

"You'll overwhelm him if you all come up here right now." He doesn't say they already are. Maybe only he and Jasper ever need to know that.

[ofthefamily]

Remember, no punching. I'm okay for right now.

Mostly.

"Fifty-seven."

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper's frown is a troubled one as he glances between Carlisle and Edward, doing his best to not suddenly think up a thousand questions at once. Like the hows and whys and whens.

He settles for a simple, concerned thought: Is he - Sorry, are you going to be alright?

Seeing as the whole house will probably be asking all the same questions soon enough, he'll hear all about the rest then.

[ofthefamily]

I think -- "I think so. I'm not in any sort of physical pain."

Only the smallest of obfuscations: Carlisle hasn't been in physical pain in decades. Loss of mental acuity and focus is painful enough, even if it's a theoretical exercise.

"Everyone is very loud." The smile is a little more believable.

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper snorts. "So Edward says. If you need the quiet - " He starts to offer the use of his powers before he pauses with a frown.

- Should I stay away?

He knows his thoughts are not always the easiest to bear, his presence might do more damage than good, and he looks to Edward as he momentarily forgets that Carlisle can already hear the apprehensive inference.

[ofthefamily]

"No."

Carlisle stands from his chair, moving around the desk. If he were speaking to others besides his family, he might want to pull Jasper away. Or tell Edward to leave.

There isn't room for secrets at the moment.

"It's as I told Edward earlier. I may not have understood, but I always knew."

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper's gaze stays on Edward another moment, almost as if willing him to say something to the contrary, before he looks to Carlisle again.

So you say now...

He snorts, an attempt to lighten the mood.

Wait until I start thinking about Alice.