♫Please just come back home♫

[hardtoignore]

Who: Clarence with Elliott, Yotsuyu, and then maybe YOU??

What: Attempting to avoid home

When: Early April (the 3rd) and onward

Where: Visiting with the Naeuris, and out at various parks

Rating/Warnings: Teenage angst, possible mentions of previous memory murder

April 3rd-5th, Closed: Elliott and Yotsuyu

Although Yotsuyu had offered to let Clarence come over whenever he wished he hadn't planned on taking her up on it so quickly. Or under such strained circumstances. Though it probably wouldn't have happened at all if Clarence hadn't been on the verge of tears when he first ran into Elliott that Friday at school.

He hadn't asked if he could bring Cheddar with him but he wasn't going to leave his cat at a house he wasn't staying in, even if it was only for one night or two. So now Elliott had to contend with a cat as well as an extra sleeping bag on the floor of his room. Yotsuyu had to find a way to feed another person for the whole weekend. And Clarence... Clarence didn't want to say anything. Just painful things were going to come out of his mouth anyway.

April 6th-10th, Open: Various Parks

There's a thin, scowling teenage boy wandering around parks after school and well into evening for several days over the second week of April. Most notably would be the cat he had harnessed with a lead to take it with him on walks through the park. While the cat seems content enough to flop around in the dirt and grass while stalking the occasional bug, the teenager seems less than thrilled.

Mostly he sticks to sitting on benches or under trees, his backpack next to him while he attempts to do his homework. Occasionally he gives up on this and takes out a sketch book instead, taking time to flex his artistic muscles instead. He seems a lot happier when he's sketching but after a good half hour an alarm on his phone will go off and, scowling again, he goes back to hitting the books.

Comments

[darkenedmoon]

"Stop. You are not a burden." It was hardly as if he were, and it bothered Yotsuyu to hear Clarence speak as if he were. She shook her head.

"If you were, you would not be here. Certainly I could afford a hotel room for you and Cheddar if necessary. I need not do so, because you are welcome. So please, stop being silly."

She glanced over at Elliott. It wasn't as if she needed to have him back her up, but it would be nice if he did. Though then, she snorted a little. "It is not as if Elliott has not had friends over before."

[hardtoignore]

He nods, knowing she doesn't like to hear stuff like that. But he still feels like he's imposing with his sudden request to stay over for several nights. If it wasn't the weekend, he would probably have only insisted on one night, but as it is...

"I guess you're right. I'd hate it more if you spent money on me further, though, so I'm glad you're cool with me and Cheddar staying over." He certainly wouldn't have been able to say no if she had offered that instead, however. He hadn't stayed outside a home overnight since he tried to run away from his uncle years ago. That had been terrifying. And more terrifying when he got dragged back home.

"Yeah..." He glanced to where Elliott had run off to find their movie, unable to stop a small smile. "He's way too nice for his own good, you know. He's gonna get hurt someday."

[darkenedmoon]

"It is what it is, Clarence. Should I not have the means to put you up elsewhere, if it were necessary? If it was what you preferred? I am not a fool. I would not overstrech my means. Believe me, you're wanted here. And not just by my son. I'm fond of you." Maybe if she says it enough, the boy will begin to believe her.

In truth, Yotsuyu is just happy he's willing to stay here, where his guardians will know he's safe. She's not precisely a stranger.

She glanced aside at Clarence, and followed his gaze after where her son had gone. "He has a good heart, but do not think that he is weak for it. There is a good head--and yes, a stubborn one!--on those shoulders. If he gets hurt, it will be a learning experience, and he will come through it all the stronger. He is no fool, either."

Arrogant to say, perhaps, but Yotsuyu has done her best to make sure of that.

[hardtoignore]

"I get that, and I, um, I do appreciate it. I'm just..." He bit his lip, trying to find the right words. And that was just the issue, wasn't it? "... I don't know how to properly say 'thank you' to people. I... I don't know how to express when I'm grateful without throwing some shade at myself."

He didn't want to talk about it, but maybe that's what this whole truth curse thing was about. Maybe he needed to say it.

Clarence smiled crookedly, glancing back towards Yotsuyu. "I mean, I'm sure that's the case. But it doesn't mean I don't worry about someone really hurting him. It would be like... like watching someone kick a puppy. Sure, it'll mean he'll learn to be more wary, but it's never nice to see."