They call him Neil now, which comes as no surprise considering Jonathan had been the first to see his brother on live TV, picking a fight with no one less than the Devil’s spawn. To this day, he didn’t know whether to admire his brother for his courage or judge him for his stupidity and naivety to think he could ever get away with something like that. — But: It worked out for him in the end. It worked out pretty well for BOTH of them. Jonathan Abel Wesninski had died in the house that night together with his father and his people. Joe Abel Josten was born.
As much as he likes to blame Neil for it, he doubts that anyone believes he stayed because he didn’t have another choice. He did have several alternative options, after all. He could have easily left with their uncle, as someone who was not only used to but grew up in the midst of murder, torture, and whatever games needed to get what you want, he’d have fit in just perfectly… But he’d finally met his brother. Finally seen him, seen the very same boy that used to share a bed with him. The cuts on his face couldn’t hide who he was;, arguing with an FBI agent to get to his damn foxes. — Neil Josten is HIS brother. And if Nathaniel Wesninski had died, Jonathan had to, too, in order to become NEIL’s brother again.
He doesn’t like the foxes. Doesn’t trust Wymack and certainly doesn’t trust either the shrink or the nurse. Even now, he’s sitting in the common area at the foxhole court, glaring holes through the wall and waiting for Neil to get ready to leave despite knowing his brother didn’t want him around let alone wait for him.
his identity a selection of names and traits , he is real . neil josten is real . nathaniel wesninski died a long time ago , somewhere between a californian beach where his mother’s bones swim six feet beneath the sand , and the road to arizona . in truth , he hasn’t existed since the night his mother decided a life with the ravens ; a life kept under the wing of the butcher to learn his trade , was not the life she wanted for her son . one of them , at least . in a moment of cold hearted bargaining , she cut their ties and left the other with a life sentence , forced to share his cell with a murderer . jonathan wesninski is every inch his father’s son , neil can tell . they share the same lie : you can change your name and disguise your face , but you will always resemble the same man that sparked fear into the eyes of mere children .
neil hates him , because that’s the only feeling left he hasn’t exhausted . want , pining , guilt ━━━ he used his trading cards too early in the game . pure and untamed loathing is the only thing he has left , within good reason . he shouldn’t be here . one of them should have died in the basement , one of them should be held prisoner within the walls of castle evermore . yet here they stand , jagged puzzle pieces that don’t seem to fit right , and neil hates him for it . hates the way he watches , studies , like he’s trying to figure him out . it’s different to the way andrew watches , where neil doesn’t feel suffocated or pinned down . joe , he should call him , watches like neil is breakable .
❛ you don’t have to wait for me . ❜ irritation floods his tone as he shoulders his bag , i don’t want you to wait for me remains unspoken , but it’s there in the crease of his brow and downward curve of his mouth . he heads for the door ; andrew’s gone ahead with aaron to their session with betsy , and secretly neil wishes he were here instead . at least then , he’d have some excuse to completely ignore his own mirror image .
blakekathryn
kianamaiart
gummygunk
tangentwithtanner
snowghoul
jbbartram-illu
ellievsbear
