[The more he hears, the more Cater's expression changes. That was, well, it was quite the story. Even without Idia's input, even without having enough experience to empathize with what he was going through, he could understand a little bit better now just why Idia was struggling. Of course he couldn't know for sure, but if this was all fresh...yeah, losing Ortho would have definitely been a trigger.]
Seven...
[Cater lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, shaking his head. He keeps hearing it ringing in his brain: Idia saying he was supposed to be dead. Had he meant that he thought there was no preventing it, or because he wanted it to be true?]
He's clearly been holding this all in while he isolated himself. I wish I knew how to help, but...maybe he'll listen to you. I hope he does.
I hope so as well, he's been more skittish towards me than usual. As things are, I'm not sure what the last thing he experienced from home is.
[He closed his eyes and thoughtfully tapped his finger on his cup before taking a sip.]
Given my experience- this place first took me moments before my overblot, then sent my home for a few hours and brought me back after it. If he's got a similar experience then he might not know the state of Ortho, or he may remember myself and the other housewardens attacking him.
He seemed more aware at what happened during his overblot than I was at anyrate. I'll probably have to figure out where he stands before anything.
[When Vil brings up his own overblot, Cater realizes that he doesn't actually know any of the details on what happened there, either. Really, the only overblot he knew the full details of was Riddle's, being as he was on the front lines for the entire incident. Maybe someday he'd ask Vil more about it, but...now was not the time. This was about Idia.]
Sorry to pass the burden of responsibility onto you. If it was just a personality clash issue I'd suck it up, but this is clearly something much deeper than that. Still, let me know if there's anything that I can do on my end--like, if Idia tells you he needs me out of the house for awhile to feel more comfortable, I can figure something out.
There's nothing to apologize for, Cater, you've done the right thing.
[And he'll offer Cater a reassuring smile at that, he really has done well. Which means he's also waving off Cater's offer to leave immediately.]
But, don't forget this is your house too. I'm not going to have you tossed out when you've done nothing wrong, even besides the fact that it's doubtful you're even the issue in the first place. You've been nothing but helpful since you arrived, I want you somewhere you can relax and know that others are watching your back when you need.
This is a complicated issue, don't ignore your own feelings alright? I'll handle Idia, so don't fret about that, is there anything you need in the meantime? This is a lot to process.
[Cater relaxes a little more at Vil's reassurances. Honestly, if anyone could talk some sense into anyone, it was Vil Schoenheit. As oddly guilty he felt even having broached the topic in the first place, this had to have been the right thing to do to get Idia on a path forward from this depressive and angry rut he was in.]
No, no, I'm good. I feel a lot better now that I've said something. Things were already a bit tense between us, but then after Ortho went back home and then the party in December, the vibes were thrown way off. I thought he was just feeling awkward about getting stuck under the mistletoe with me, to be honest.
[Oh yes, he’d nearly forgotten about what happened at that party.]
Ah yes, the December party. Now that I think about it, perhaps that is why he targets you in particular. He’s obviously never kissed anyone before, being compelled to do so must have been frightening for him. Now I imagine he’s confused about his own feelings. Of course that’s no excuse to treat you poorly, but it might help to fill in any missing pieces as to why he’s acting the way he is.
[Another thing he would have to bring up with him, though in this subject he was far more confident. He’d been in many relationships, and knew enough to provide solid counsel.]
[They could've been worse! All things considered, Cater thinks he behaved himself remarkably. Yeah, it was obvious that it was Idia's first kiss, but he was also all but throwing himself into it. What was a sexually-charged teenage boy supposed to do with that? Be responsible and say no? No way did he have that level of foresight and self control.
In any case, for as confident as Vil seems to address the subject with Idia, Cater's definitely feeling a little more awkward about it.]
I wish I'd realized that the food was spiked. Definitely explains how enthusiastic he was, but at the time I just thought he was, you know, repressed. Hindsight's 20/20, I guess.
I mean, you weren’t wrong, there was just more at play than you knew. Had I been thinking more clearly myself, I would have brought food for us, or at least warned everyone that such things aren’t uncommon, but I admittedly wasn’t at my best.
[A party encouraging couples when he’d just lost his boyfriend hadn’t put him in the best of places mentally, and he hasn’t been as prepared as he would normally be. Still, it was really nobodies fault but those that spoiled the food.]
And for someone with such limited experience, he’s likely confused how much was him and how much was the food. He’s got nothing to compare it to.
[It was probably thanks to Cater handling the aftermath well that it hasn’t gone worse. Again, Cater had proven to be a saving grace in this place.]
I’m glad it was you at least. It could have gone far worse if he’d latched onto the wrong person. Still that’s a lot for you to be dealing with as well, you were just as much a victim as he was.
[When Vil lays it out for him like that, reassures him that he's not wrong to be feeling stressed, Cater feels an immense surge of gratitude. He leans back in his chair and gives Vil a tired smile--nothing like one he might put on for show.]
You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Actually, I had no idea how much I needed to hear that.
[He really had tried to approach the aftermath of that night with as much grace as he could--had figured Idia would have simply moved on from it, pretended it never happened. Maybe he'd been wrong about that, but it was difficult to know just what was the best course of action when Idia barely left his room and emotions were so elevated.]
Thanks, Vil. I really mean it--if you weren't here, I don't know what I'd do, and not just about this.
[It hit him that after being out of the spotlight for so long, and being away from school and his housewarden duties, it had been a while since he’d gotten feedback like that. It… felt nice to hear again. A reassurance that he was on the right track here.]
I could tell you were bothered by virtue of how much you cared.
[A subtle way of saying he’s a good person. He didn’t want to sound like he was trying to flatter him, but he looked like he could use the little boost of praise himself.]
Well, regardless of where we are, I’m still a housewarden, and I’m going to be here for you and anyone else from home that might need it. I’ll make sure things are alright, so you don’t have to stress about things that you don’t need to. This place gives us enough reason to worry on its own.
[Cater's cheeks flush slightly. Even mild praise is still pretty great, coming from Vil. And as someone who spent so much time acting like he didn't care too much, how could he not be a little bit bashful.]
Yeah, for real. Once I get my magic back, I'll step up a bit more. Housewarden or not, I don't want to put too much on your shoulders.
I'll hold you too that, but you've done more than enough for now.
[And witht he tea cups emptied, he takes them both and starts towards the kitchen.]
Sp go get some rest, alright? That puppy of yours is taking quite a bit of time and energy as it is. She's getting rather big now, so I expect you to be staying on top of her training.
[Vil's subtle way of telling him to go de-stress with the pup.]
[But he'll take the hint. It'll be nice to lay down on the floor of his bedroom and get smothered with unconditional affection. Standing, Cater stretches.]
Thanks again, Vil. For everything.
[With that, he'll head off to get himself some sorely-needed puppy love.]
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Seven...
[Cater lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, shaking his head. He keeps hearing it ringing in his brain: Idia saying he was supposed to be dead. Had he meant that he thought there was no preventing it, or because he wanted it to be true?]
He's clearly been holding this all in while he isolated himself. I wish I knew how to help, but...maybe he'll listen to you. I hope he does.
no subject
[He closed his eyes and thoughtfully tapped his finger on his cup before taking a sip.]
Given my experience- this place first took me moments before my overblot, then sent my home for a few hours and brought me back after it. If he's got a similar experience then he might not know the state of Ortho, or he may remember myself and the other housewardens attacking him.
He seemed more aware at what happened during his overblot than I was at anyrate. I'll probably have to figure out where he stands before anything.
no subject
Sorry to pass the burden of responsibility onto you. If it was just a personality clash issue I'd suck it up, but this is clearly something much deeper than that. Still, let me know if there's anything that I can do on my end--like, if Idia tells you he needs me out of the house for awhile to feel more comfortable, I can figure something out.
no subject
[And he'll offer Cater a reassuring smile at that, he really has done well. Which means he's also waving off Cater's offer to leave immediately.]
But, don't forget this is your house too. I'm not going to have you tossed out when you've done nothing wrong, even besides the fact that it's doubtful you're even the issue in the first place. You've been nothing but helpful since you arrived, I want you somewhere you can relax and know that others are watching your back when you need.
This is a complicated issue, don't ignore your own feelings alright? I'll handle Idia, so don't fret about that, is there anything you need in the meantime? This is a lot to process.
no subject
No, no, I'm good. I feel a lot better now that I've said something. Things were already a bit tense between us, but then after Ortho went back home and then the party in December, the vibes were thrown way off. I thought he was just feeling awkward about getting stuck under the mistletoe with me, to be honest.
no subject
Ah yes, the December party. Now that I think about it, perhaps that is why he targets you in particular. He’s obviously never kissed anyone before, being compelled to do so must have been frightening for him. Now I imagine he’s confused about his own feelings. Of course that’s no excuse to treat you poorly, but it might help to fill in any missing pieces as to why he’s acting the way he is.
[Another thing he would have to bring up with him, though in this subject he was far more confident. He’d been in many relationships, and knew enough to provide solid counsel.]
no subject
[They could've been worse! All things considered, Cater thinks he behaved himself remarkably. Yeah, it was obvious that it was Idia's first kiss, but he was also all but throwing himself into it. What was a sexually-charged teenage boy supposed to do with that? Be responsible and say no? No way did he have that level of foresight and self control.
In any case, for as confident as Vil seems to address the subject with Idia, Cater's definitely feeling a little more awkward about it.]
I wish I'd realized that the food was spiked. Definitely explains how enthusiastic he was, but at the time I just thought he was, you know, repressed. Hindsight's 20/20, I guess.
no subject
[A party encouraging couples when he’d just lost his boyfriend hadn’t put him in the best of places mentally, and he hasn’t been as prepared as he would normally be. Still, it was really nobodies fault but those that spoiled the food.]
And for someone with such limited experience, he’s likely confused how much was him and how much was the food. He’s got nothing to compare it to.
[It was probably thanks to Cater handling the aftermath well that it hasn’t gone worse. Again, Cater had proven to be a saving grace in this place.]
I’m glad it was you at least. It could have gone far worse if he’d latched onto the wrong person. Still that’s a lot for you to be dealing with as well, you were just as much a victim as he was.
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You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Actually, I had no idea how much I needed to hear that.
[He really had tried to approach the aftermath of that night with as much grace as he could--had figured Idia would have simply moved on from it, pretended it never happened. Maybe he'd been wrong about that, but it was difficult to know just what was the best course of action when Idia barely left his room and emotions were so elevated.]
Thanks, Vil. I really mean it--if you weren't here, I don't know what I'd do, and not just about this.
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I could tell you were bothered by virtue of how much you cared.
[A subtle way of saying he’s a good person. He didn’t want to sound like he was trying to flatter him, but he looked like he could use the little boost of praise himself.]
Well, regardless of where we are, I’m still a housewarden, and I’m going to be here for you and anyone else from home that might need it. I’ll make sure things are alright, so you don’t have to stress about things that you don’t need to. This place gives us enough reason to worry on its own.
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Yeah, for real. Once I get my magic back, I'll step up a bit more. Housewarden or not, I don't want to put too much on your shoulders.
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[And witht he tea cups emptied, he takes them both and starts towards the kitchen.]
Sp go get some rest, alright? That puppy of yours is taking quite a bit of time and energy as it is. She's getting rather big now, so I expect you to be staying on top of her training.
[Vil's subtle way of telling him to go de-stress with the pup.]
no subject
[But he'll take the hint. It'll be nice to lay down on the floor of his bedroom and get smothered with unconditional affection. Standing, Cater stretches.]
Thanks again, Vil. For everything.
[With that, he'll head off to get himself some sorely-needed puppy love.]