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[fiddlestick]

Elliot Craig

[MUFFLED VIOLIN MUSIC IN THE DISTANCE]

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[fiddlestick]

Thanks. And when we do get engaged, I'll be sure to tell you right away.

[He'll actually offer a smile]

And...hey. We're okay. Okay?

[nachetanya]

[ She nods. ... She nods, but then she sighs, shaking her head and waving a hand, ]

One day, you'll be the one to really offend me!

[fiddlestick]

Eheh....I hope not.

[He doesn't want to upset Nat because he does love her. Also because you know. Grudges, she holds them]

[nachetanya]

I can't always be the apologizing one.

[ Nudging him a little, she laughs. She's mostly being... silly. ]

[fiddlestick]

Haha, it's not like you're in trouble all the time! Pretty sure Zack sticks his foot in his mouth way more!

[nachetanya]

Well that's the truth. [ Olivia as much or more, honestly, but she would never apologize... She giggles all the same and... ]

... I miss him around.

[fiddlestick]

[He laughs with her, but smiles a little sadly]

Yeah. Me too...he always filled up the room.

[nachetanya]

I mean, he still does, just not here right now!

[ It's uncomfortable, really, to think about it as a past tense thing... ]

[fiddlestick]

O-oh, right. Sorry! Of course.

[...]

I managed to get him on the phone the other day.

[nachetanya]

You did?

[ She hasn't even started to try? ]

[fiddlestick]

Yeah! Just for about a minute or two, then it cut out again.

But it was really him! He's doing okay!

[nachetanya]

I'm sure auntie is hassling him about now...

[ But really? She actually - no, her hands are full now or she'd get her phone ]

[fiddlestick]

Haha, if not setting up arranged dates, yeah....

[nachetanya]

Though she and uncle must be grateful to have someone to help out at the farm.

[fiddlestick]

Yeah...

I bet they missed him.

[nachetanya]

Probably... in that respect, we got to hog him.

[ She frowns and... ]

... I should call mama and dad too.

[fiddlestick]

Yeah...I bet they'd be happy to hear from you.

[nachetanya]

Probably. Maybe a little bit cross for going so far off the grid for so long, but...

[ Well, they're understanding and there's no need to drag that given his situation... ]

If calls are going through, should we work out some short message for the aunt and uncle?

[fiddlestick]

[Ah yeah, the big elephant in the room. Elliot worries his lip as he glances down at this feet]

I don't know...maybe? N-Not sure this is anything I can cover in a minute or two though...

[nachetanya]

Probably not, but we could make some carefully prepared series of statements, basically?

[ Like. If he wants. That's implicit in how she says it. ]

[fiddlestick]

Yeah....

[He gets the implication, and he sounds pretty unsure himself. It's a pretty big thing]

I-I'll....I'll think about it.

[nachetanya]

[ A beat and... ]

... You know, though. We could probably polish off one of Mr. Carlisle's challenges if you say something nice about them now?

[ That whole why we love family thing. ]

[fiddlestick]

Huh? - Oh, yeah. I forgot that was a task....

[He worries his lip]

Well, I guess....they do practice what they preach? That's admirable.

[nachetanya]

[ She glances over at him, prompting him to say more if he wants, or to save him with her own gushing if he wants. She's not sure which is the better course in this situation. To make them into more boogey men or to humanize the positive traits. ]

[fiddlestick]

[With that glance, he squirms a little. He knows he should say more, but it's a struggle]

I-I mean, they are't bad people. I really do think they are following their own convictions when they make choices. They aren't hypocrites, or cruel- er, intentionally cruel. They...

[he slumps his shoulders, trailing off as he tries so hard to think of nice things to say about his aunt and uncle. He knows they have a lot of good qualities. He knows they aren't demons, they're good people but...

He wasn't what they wanted. He was never what they wanted. Ten years they stuck to their convictions. They never tried to reach out to him, never compromised. It was always their wants. It was his job to meet their standards.

And when he failed to do that....]

I-I'm sorry....I'm not sure I can do this.