I Take It In But Don't Look Down @mrconnorandrews - Tumblr Blog

cassiebennett:

Cassie couldn’t help the smile that formed as she listened to the man speak. She herself had never really been through a rebellious stage, that had come later when she had already moved to New York with Jenny. However listening to the things Conner did made her regret not stepping outside of her shell a little sooner. Yeah the things he had done were a little rebellious but nothing that she would look at as criminal acts. Although now as an adult they might be considered such. The law seemed to be a little more lenient on minors.

Cassie listened to him speak about the upper elite of the city. Personally she couldn’t relate in anyway but she still listened. “Yeah I’m sure that those types of people really don’t take kindly to being called out.” She chuckles lightly. Most of them benefited off of others peoples despair, she’s sure that it got hard responding to people when they called them out for such things. Cassie wouldn’t be able to look in the mirror let alone prance around the city wearing expensive jewels and being driven around by private drivers, not at the expense of others.

“Oh, they really, really don’t. Especially by someone who was usually much younger then them and clearly couldn’t know anything because of that.” he said with an eye roll. “Colin and Chloe manage to play the game with that crowd for the most part but … that was just never gonna be me. Chloe thinks she can change it all from the outside, kill them with kindness, basically. Colin just mostly stands to the side and nods and smiles where appropriate. I don’t have the patience for either.” he explained.

“Life’s so much more fun when you just stop caring what people think.” he said with a grin, “I mean ... I care what my siblings think, and my friends, but they’re not gonna stop loving me if I do something stupid, you know? Really all that means is that I try to put a little thought into things before I do them. Well, most of the time.” he said, he could acknowledge that he was the very definition of impulsive, but he did try to at least consider if what he was doing was dangerous, for Chloe’s sake at least.

#para #Cassie

tcmmykane:

𝕥𝕜~

Tommy laughs, “Math’s not so bad.” He says, but he’s never found it difficult. “Though I don’t understand, to this day, why they push it so hard when most people don’t use anything beyond basic multiplication and addition, maybe some percentages and fractions, in their day-to-day lives, ya know?” He shrugs, lifts his glass for another drink then laughs when he’s putting it back down. “The youngest is usually an accident. I was, too, man.” But he’d been born sick and his mother had coddled him his whole life, always telling him he was her little surprise.

Tommy nods his head, not mentioning that a lot of people don’t get to that point before their lifestyles take them out. It makes him feel sick, a little, but maybe that’s something. Maybe that is a step in the right direction in itself. He smiles at Connor and raises his glass. “Cheers to that, bro. You’re a wise young man.”

Tommy swallows another swig from his glass and sets it back on the coaster, listening to Connor speak. “Of course, she freaked out. You said she practically raised you. You’re like her first baby. She was probably terrified of what would happen.”

“I don’t get it either, I mean, I think it makes a whole lot more sense to it more like they do in some other countries, where you pick what you want to focus on in like high school, and by college you’re only studying what your major is. I mean, I get maybe a couple like ... related classes in other subjects. But not everybody needs every class.” he said.

“Maybe so, but I was … well, a very unwanted accident. My mom made that pretty clear, and my dad was just … uninterested, really.” he explained. That was putting it very lightly, but he doubted anybody really wanted to hear the details of his mother’s extremely thinly veiled hatred of him. Narcissist's never did well with things not going their way.

“Yeah, I mean, honestly Chloe’s my mom in every way that ever mattered.” he agreed, sipping at his own drink. “Her and Colin were the ones who were there for me when I was sick, but Chloe … I mean, I think Colin had to pry her away sometimes. He’s always been the voice of reason for both of us.”

#para #Tommy

jeremiahlodge:

𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔟𝔬𝔶~

Jer inhales deeply, filling his cheeks up with air before blowing it back out slowly. He knows a thing or two about being manipulated. “You know what? I hate that, too.” He says, looking right at Connor as they’re waking, pausing for just a second to nod his head before he picks up his pace again. He thinks the two of them are going to get along.

“Honestly… a lot of people wind up mirroring the things they saw when they were growing up, whether they liked it or not.” Jer responds with a shrug. It’s sad, he thinks, but there’s probably some psychology to it – and Connor probably knows more about it than he does. “I’m glad you had positive role models in your life. Some kids don’t have that, you know? I bet you end up doing a lot of good.” Jer already perceives Connor as a very helpful, kindhearted person. He imagines that any child under his care would do well.

Jer laughs at Connor’s response to his bringing down the mood with the sunshine comment. “You’re a real silver-lining kinda guy, aren’t you? Me too, usually.” He’s still smiling, enjoying the cool breeze against his skin as they walk. “Oh, I try to try something new all the time – it’s a little side project of mine, I guess. I don’t want to be stuck in too many routines. I got enough as it is.” Jer grins, “But they’re really good – maybe tell me some stuff you usually like and I can probably suggest something?”

Connor nodded, “They do, but I think usually it’s when they don’t know anything else, or they’re unconsciously trying to please or impress someone. I had good examples from my siblings, and I only cared about pleasing them so ... it was easier for me to break the mold then it seems.” he said, much more willing to give Colin and Chloe the credit then himself. “I hope so, I mean, I want to work with kids, so I hope I can teach them how deal with the stuff life throws at you and … still come out a decent person.” he said with a small shrug.

“Oh, I’m an optimist to a fault. I can make an art form out of it, most of the time.” he said. He had his moments, sure, everyone did. But he made a conscious effort to find the silver lining in things. Connor grinned as they walked into the coffee shop, “Well, I’m usually partial to the sweetest thing they have on the menu, to be honestly. Mocha or caramel or something like that. I’ll admit I definitely have a sweet tooth!”

#para #Jeremiah

josh-cole:

☼

“You’d think it’d make things easier, right?” In many ways he feels selfishly fortunate to have been so distant from his dad when he died - there was no extra loss that way but, over the years, Josh has come to realise that it only made the void already there all the more painful. Never to be filled after years of hoping. Mostly though, he focuses on his new life. Separates himself entirely, and it mostly works.

“Josh,” he replies, tilting his drink towards the man in lieu of a handshake. He’s been giving out way too many of those at work recently and has since caught himself shaking hands in more casual settings than he’d like to count. He’s working on it. “It’s good to meet you, Connor. Do you do this a lot? Braving bars alone? It’s kinda new to me.”

Connor shook his head, “Not easier, just different. If there was hope for a relationship, hope can be incredibly hard to lose. What ifs can be just as painful as knowing what you lost.” he said sincerely. He knew that personally, losing his siblings would be infinitely harder then losing his mother, but bridges had long been burned there. But his father? There had always been a bit of hope for the man to come around. It would be different.

“Good to meet you too.” he said, tilting his own drink at his new friend. “Sometimes I come with friends, sometimes I come alone and make new friends. Like tonight.” he said with a small shrug and a smile. Connor was social, and outgoing. Going somewhere alone had never been a challenge for him.

#para #Josh

jeremiahlodge:

𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔟𝔬𝔶~

Jer is also an open book, for the most part. He doesn’t hide his feelings, at least, and he’s pretty upfront about what he’s thinking. “I just don’t like it when people play games. I can’t keep up.” He needs things to be very straightforward. If someone’s behaviors don’t match what they’re saying, he can get very lost.

“You showed good restraint. Most people use their upbringing as an excuse for their behavior. It’s always admirable to meet someone who uses it as reason to not misbehave.” Jer thinks the excuse is tired, anyway. He’s always believed it’s possible to learn from the mistakes of others, especially if those mistakes were influential in one’s life.

Jer looks up when Connor enthusiastically comments on the sunlight, “Not for much longer.” He quips, not to burst the bubble of happiness or anything, but it’s getting later and the sun goes down earlier these days. “Good idea, Connor.” Jer says with a bright grin, looking up at the other guy as they walk down the street. “It’s just at the end of the block.”

Connor nodded, “That kind of thing always drives me crazy too. I hate when people try to be manipulative.” he agreed. That was something he had been around often as a child, and it had always bothered him. Even his grandparents could be manipulative at times, though they were certainly more well meaning then his parents and others in their circle seemed to be.

“If I didn’t like it, why would I want to be like that?” he said with a small shrug, “I think people can fall into the same patterns more easily if they think it will make someone proud, or they’re just trying to please someone who expects it. I honestly think it says more that my siblings are different then that I am. I always cared more about making them happy then anybody else.” he explained. He thinks it helped for them that their nanny had been a wonderful woman from the stories he heard, and they had the influence of their paternal grandparents as well. But he also had come to realize that the shock of how their parents had treated Connor might have done a lot to distance them from those behaviors as well.

“Oh, details, details.” he said, waving his hand with a laugh as they headed for the shop he could see coming up. “What do you usually get at this place?” he asked, “I always just try to work my way through the menu until I’ve tried everything, then I figure out what my favorite is.” he said. He had always been of the opinion that he couldn’t know if something was really his favorite unless he had compared it to everything else.

#para #Jeremiah

tcmmykane:

𝕥𝕜~

“I respect you for that, man.” Tommy says and there’s a little bit of reverence in his voice. Because he does respect it. It’s a route he should have taken himself, but he didn’t. He gave up where Connor kept going. That’s admirable in Tommy’s book. “I’m glad you’re at a point where you can actually enjoy what you’re learning about. I know that undergrad shit can be a bitch.” He laughs when Connor says Tommy’s close to his brother’s age. “Oh, yeah? That’s… yeah, that’s an age gap. My oldest sister is only nine years my senior.”

Tommy shrugs, “What if what keeps you going is a really shit way of living?” He asks, eyebrows curving with the question. He thinks of addicts – people like himself. Not that he’s going to freely speak about that, but talking about it in hypotheticals never hurt. “I like that. I tried that with my mom, but she wasn’t having it. I was babied. Total opposite of you, I guess.” His eyes cast over the younger man’s face, and he smiles just a little. “You’re real close with your sister, huh?”

Connor grinned, “Thanks, man.” he said before shrugging, “Yeah, I mean, I like learning but it has to be something interesting. Like, I can do math alright, but it’s boring as crap. I know some people like it, but that’s just not how my brain works.” he explained. He was very glad to be out of the world of core subjects now. “Colin was thirteen when I was born, and Chloe was ten. I was very much an accident.” he said bluntly, “But it worked out for me, cause they basically raised me when my parents had no interest.”

He pondered that question for a moment, “I think that once you’re able to recognize it’s not a good way of living, that means you’re ready to find something healthier. Might not be easy, but there really is something to the whole concept that recognizing the problem is the first step to fixing it. It tends to work better if you can replace a habit with something better for you then just trying to end it completely, so it’s a lot better if you're able to really think about how you do want to live your life, what you actually like, what would make you happy. Sometimes that’s easier to figure out with somebody else, which is one place my future job comes in to play.” he pointed out.

He smiled, “Chloe still likes to baby me when she can. I guess they kind of needed me to be more independent when I was little, once I was about two or three, the nanny was only there while my siblings were in school. But she’s honestly always been more like a mom to me, I think she’d be a lot happier now if I let her take care of me. She was always been protective but she sort of … freaked out a lot when I got sick.”

#para #Tommy

admeto:

“Something of the like. His father insisted upon making a public appearance in return for a small favor.” Small being a relative term if signing over the land rights to six blocks of the lower boroughs counted as such. It was far from a favor though and more like insurance. Blackmail was a tricky thing these days but she wanted to make certain the deal went through. Heinrichs were notoriously slimy and found loopholes in every deal to work it in their favor. A headache really.

She grins a little when he recognizes her in turn. It was always nice finding kindred spirits to to speak. “I’m sure there’d be enough of us to get jackets. Our siblings would simply hate it.”

“If I recall I think it was Chloe that spoke to my brother at length during the last charity ball. No wonder the two of them got on so well, they’re practically twins. Reforming the corruption from the inside? Archibald would simply have a field day.” Laughing she takes the spot Bradley had occupied and doesn’t bother looking in the crowd for her ‘date’. Puppies had a tendency to wander, it wasn’t her fault.

“I can only imagine holidays for you as well. Do they look like sour lemons when you walk in the room too?”

Connor made a face, “Ugh, that kind of stuff is why I’m glad I let Colin and Chloe deal with all the formal stuff. I think it’d drive me crazy even if I didn’t hate my parents. You clearly have more patience then me!” he said, shaking his head as he imagined how badly something like that would go if it was up to him.

“Ooooh, jackets would be fun.” he said with a grin, “I don’t know though. Chloe would hate it, but Colin would laugh … as soon as Chloe wasn’t around.” he pointed out. Chloe still had hopes that Connor would mature and stop poking the bear when it came to their parents, and she never liked it when he called himself a black sheep. She was still idealistic enough to hope the situation could improve someday.

“That definitely makes sense, Chloe could probably use an ally in that mission. I know she means well but … some things I’m not sure are fixable.” he said with a small shrug. He didn’t regret the bridges he burned, even if Chloe was still trying to rebuild them. “Oh, they used to be. I only show up if my grandparents are there now. They’re not perfect, but they’re miles ahead of my parents. Even Chloe doesn’t push that anymore, if it’s just immediate family, she and Colin usually ditch my parents by about one or two in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day with me.” he explained. It made sense to Connor, truly his siblings were better parents to him then his actual parents ever were.

#para #Betrice

jeremiahlodge:

𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔟𝔬𝔶~

Jer scrunches up his face, “Damn, I hate it when people do that.” Do things just t make themselves look better, he means, because then it wipes away all the good. “You’re only as good as your intentions.” He says, and that’s why he always tries to have the best of intentions – tries to leave a good mark on the world, and doesn’t care who sees him doing it. If you do it for the reputation, it’s worthless in Jer’s eyes.

Jer can’t imagine what it must’ve been like, growing up as the son of a socialite, but it doesn’t seem like it’d be great. In fact, it seems like all those dramatized programs proved right and these super rich ladies just don’t have enough affection for their children. Which is disappointing.

“Well, I’m glad you turned out the way you did, for what it’s worth. You seem like a really humble, nice dude.” And Jer needs some more of that in his life. He offers Connor a bright grin as he pushes out of the Library’s doors and out onto the street. “You’re on. We’ll have to exchange numbers so we can make sure there is a next time.”

Connor nodded fiercely at that, “Exactly! I hate it when people are fake.” he said sincerely. Connor himself was an open book. He had no real filter, no impulse control, and for the most part, he was proud of that. He liked that he didn’t hide anything except for the darkest bits of his own person baggage, but nobody exactly wanted to drag that kind of stuff out with a stranger, so figured it didn’t really count.

He shrugged softly, “I try.” he said casually, “I figured out early on that the best method was to look at all the people in my parents circle that I didn’t like and just do the opposite of what they do.” and that was really Connor’s guiding force in a nutshell. Be more like Colin and Chloe, and as little like his parents and the jerks they often hung around with as humanly possible. But he also acknowledged that he was sure if he had grown up in different circumstances, without his nanny, without his siblings, without the few good friends he’d made early on, he might have been very different.

Connor stretched his arms out as they headed outside “Sunlight!” he said with slightly exaggerated happiness, “You get buried in books too long and you almost forget what that’s like.” he joked. “Yeah, definitely. We can switch phones and put numbers in once we get to the coffee shop.” he said, already knowing that he definitely liked his guy.

#para #Jeremiah

tcmmykane:

𝕥𝕜~

“I, too, enjoy a challenge.” Tommy replies with a little smile. It’s true, he’s always enjoyed puzzles and the like – one of his favorite pastimes, to this day. Brain challenges, keep himself going. Otherwise, he’s afraid it’ll all turn to mush. He’s lucky to be in the state he’s in, as it is. “I’m sure you don’t. I didn’t feel like a baby at twenty-four, either, but I got fourteen years on ya, bud.” He thinks Connor’s got a lot of life ahead of him and hopes that the young man keeps going on the route he’s on. Seems like he can do some good in the world. “That’s nice… I like that. I bet you’ll help a lot of kids.”

Tommy takes the phone when it’s offered, putting in his name. “I’ll do ya one better and text myself. That way it’ll be easier to add you as a contact later.” He says, tapping out a text message to myself. He feels his own phone buzz in his pocket with the notification and hands Connor back his. “You’re right. Simple as that: life is what you make it.” He likes Connor’s outlook – it’s making him think a lot about his own choices. Maybe it’s time to make some new ones. “Stubborn is as good as brave in some situations.”

He nodded quickly, “That’s why I don’t mind the PHD thing, school kind of bored me when I was younger, but now that I can choose what I’m studying, I actually enjoy it. I mean, grad school is a lot, but it’s mostly a fun challenge.” he explained. Most people didn’t understand willingly taking on all the extra schoolwork, but psychology was interesting and if he could help people with it, that was all the better. “Oh, you’re closer to my brother’s age then.” he said with a grin, “Colin says I’m a baby too, so I guess it comes with the territory.” he added with a small shrug.

“Oh, true. I should have thought of that.” he said before taking his phone back. “Maybe, I guess it’s really about what keeps you going. I just don’t tend to give up on anything, even when I probably should. My sister says I hit two and then I just never grew out of the ‘I can do it myself’ stage.” he said, a small smile on his face as he pictured the fondly frustrated tone of voice she usually said that in.

#para #Tommy

admeto:

A huff of laughter slips free and Brad sways on his feet as Betrice regards the man with an amused little smile. Sure she’d seen him once or twice at her brother’s ridiculous charity balls he insisted upon throwing for the good of the Maycroft name. Andrews something if she remembered right. Bradley hiccups and she’s quick to shove the cranberry and club into his hands with a charming smile. “There there, oh look the brunette at the bar is waving,” she whispers at his ear. Bradley Heinrich is grinning like the moron Betrice pegged him as and shuffles off into the crowd.

“Oh you’re entirely right.” Betrice sips her gin and tonic, easing into Bradley’s spot and gesturing idly towards the crowd. “Jameson is an ass and his son failed to inherit any speck of a backbone or a braincell.” She smiles slow and warm, offering a hand to the man. “We’ve met in passing, Betrice Maycroft. I’m certain you’re from the Andrews family if memory serves but my brother was far more attentive to the details than I was. Apologies for that, I usually make an effort to know all of New York’s finest black sheep. We’re an appallingly small flock.”

Connor chuckled in amusement as she easily distracted the man she was with. “Babysitting duty?” he questioned, remembering the days when his parents had tried to get people to do that for him, though he had rarely been one to get quite so sloppy drunk, or easily distracted. He had usually just ‘needed’ someone to keep him from upsetting the wrong people, though that had been given up on eventually.

“Ah, yeah, I know that type.” he said. They were unfortunately common, but not usually as much trouble, or even as frustrating to Connor, as those who did have two brain cells to rub together. Recognition lit in his eyes and he nodded at her words. “We should start a club!” he said, “My brother and sister are much better at the social aspect of things in our parents circle too. Chloe has the patience to deal with them and try to improve matters from the inside, Colin usually just keeps his distance and stays polite … but they never quite taught me any of that.”

#para #Betrice

arthurgustin:

Arthur’s nodding fervently as the man speaks, in wholehearted agreement that it’s nowhere near accessible enough. “Yeah, the transit authority could probably tell you if there are any plans already in the works,” he muses, “and if there aren’t, they may be a good place to start.” Politicians, in theory, could be a better route to take, but getting to them is hard. “M’gonna ask around and see if I know anyone who knows a politician. I don’t know one but I bet I know someone who does.” A couple friends come to mind, actually.

As the man speaks, Arthur takes another sip from his glass, resigned to the fact that he’ll be getting a ride home somehow. “Does your sister get mad when you do things sober, too?” he asks, because it sounds like those activities are one in the same for Connor. “What do you like to do for fun?”

Connor nodded, “That’s probably a good idea. And I could do a little research, see if there’s any kind of campaign already in place about it too.” he said before grinning, “I’m sure my brother or sister could find a politician but … finding one who would work with me after the scenes I caused at the last couple public events I was dragged to might be the bigger challenge. I’m not exactly known for my filter.” he added with a small shrug. He supposed in some ways it was a character flaw, but he thought a lot of those people could use somebody actually telling them like it was. Someone outside his parents usual social circle might be a better option.

He laughed when he realized the other man seemed to have pinned him for the mischievous person he was. “It depends on what it is. Usually she’s just worried that if I get too drunk I’ll do something to get myself hurt.” he explained, which he supposed was not an entirely unreasonable worry when your little brother was disabled and already lacking in impulse control. “Mostly I just … do what I want? I like new things, I like to explore. She worries sometimes about me going to parties, or dropping everything to to take a trip at a moment’s notice, or maybe getting into arguments with people that … it’s not super smart to argue with?” he said, listing off a few example. “I guess that’ last part is not so much fun, just things Chloe worries about.”

#para #Arthur

cassiebennett:

Cassie didn’t have the slightest clue what it was like to grow up surrounded by money. She envied those who didn’t have to work for the things that they were handed when she was younger. Not understanding why some kids were getting I-pads for birthdays while she was receiving third or fourth hand me down books… not that she minded much because a book was a book and she was always happy to read something good.

However what she liked about Connor was that he didn’t hide that he came from money but at the same time he was never one to rub it in your face either… plus she knew for a fact that he donated to multiple different causes so it balanced it out in her opinion.

She found herself taking another sip of her beer before humming “Oh yeah?” She asks him when he mentions that he hasn’t been the most clean cut person in his lifetime “What have you done that you’re worried your political opponent might dig up on you?” She questions him raising an eyebrow.

Connor laughed, “Oh, nothing that bad. I just had my typical … rebellious teen phase. Parties, drinking, a little bit of pot, a little bit of exploring that was maybe technically trespassing. And my boarding school claimed vandalism, but I personally thought that painting all the classroom doors down that one hall purple was a nice touch.” he said, grinning at the memory. Truthfully, at least half of his antics had simply been to see the reaction from his parents and inconvenience them as much as possible. As far along in his psychology studies as he was now, he could identify it as a bit of an ‘even bad attention is still attention’ issue with his emotionally neglectful parents.

“Nah, the worst of it is just that I’m very clearly the Andrews family black sheep. I got in too much trouble and called too many people on their crap in rather public ways to ever be accepted with New York’s upper crust again. Not that I mind, almost all the cool people in that group are their family’s black sheep too.” he explained. Where Colin and Chloe were peacemakers, Connor was decidedly not. His siblings could be calm and patient and deal with pretty much anything without causing a scene, but Connor had never seen the fun in that.

#para #Cassie

tcmmykane:

𝕥𝕜~

“Me neither. There’s no sense in standing for the status quo; things can’t change if you’re content with the way they are.” Tommy used to be the guy who cared, who would do anything to try to make his space better and more livable. When he was younger, he helped in community clean ups and the like. Now, he thinks the world’s just a shit place that he’s waiting to leave. “Twenty-four.” He repeats, whistling low. “You’re just a baby.” He teases with a bright grin. “What area of psychology are you looking into getting into?” Tommy’s not college educated, but that doesn’t mean he’s not intelligent or learned. He likes to read and will read anything. “Hey, lemme give you my number, maybe I can help. I can be pretty obnoxious.”

Tommy’s a little stung by Connor. It seems like Connor is an alternate universe version of himself; if he had chosen to keep fighting for what time he had left instead of just giving up. He supposes a lot of things led him here, and he should be happy that Connor is the way he is. “It’s a good outlook.” He says, and he grins widely at the other man, reaching over to pat him on the back. “Life is technically the longest thing you’ll ever do, but I guess – for some – it is too short.” He thinks, briefly, about how he was supposed to die a long time ago, but he shakes the thought out. He’s trying to have a good time. “Damn. The swelling and water retention causes a lot of shift, I imagine.” Tommy continues, sighing lightly. “Well, you’re a very brave young man. I commend you for that.”

Connor nodded enthusiastically, “Exactly! And life’s no fun without some kind of challenge, so sometimes it’s nice to make that challenge something that helps other people too.” he said. Connor was always the type who liked a puzzle, a mystery, something that took a little work. It made the end result better, in his opinion. He laughed as the other said he was a baby, “I don’t feel like one but ... I guess I didn’t feel like a baby at twenty either, but now I look at some of the undergrads and they are absolutely babies.” he acknowledged. “I’m focusing on child psychology. Kids have to deal with a lot of crap, and I’d like to try to help out with that somehow.”

He handed over his phone as the other asked to give him his number, “Just put it in, and call yourself so you’ll have mine.” he said easily. “I think in the end, it’s really what you make of it. You can do a lot with a short time, and a little with a long time.” he added. That was mainly his outlook, he’d like to be able to do a lot with a long time - but he was going to live whatever life he had to the fullest no matter what. He nodded, glad the other understood, “Yeah, it’s always changing, but I guess I’ll get more used to managing it as time goes on. And maybe the technology will improve and that will help things too.” he added before laughing, “Personally, I think I’m a whole lot more stubborn then I am brave.”

#para #Tommy

jeremiahlodge:

𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔟𝔬𝔶~

At the further mention of a break, Jer stands up and stretches – arms above his head in an arc before he reaches down for his belongings and his backpack. As soon as it’s all stashed away, he slings the bag over his shoulder and levels another warm smile at his new friend, however temporary that might be. “Well, say no more. I’m ready for a break, are you?” He gestures toward the staircase, wide and elaborate, and walks toward it, figuring Connor will follow him.

“I participated in a few Jewish holidays with my Bubbe, but that was about the extent of it. My family was more into science and logic, I guess that’s why I wound up where I did. I think my mom just liked the names.” He shrugs with a light laugh. He thinks it’s alright that Connor has religion – he doesn’t mind it on a personal level, it’s when it’s organized that it starts being a problem. “Everyone has their ways of comping with things, I guess?”

Jer’s brow furrows as he listens. It seems like Connor’s got a lot of emotional baggage pent up, he wonders if that’s the main reason Connor got into psychology, maybe to help heal up his old wounds. “I’ll have to remember to call my mom and thank her for not being like… that.” He says, eyes a little wide – he can’t imagine having to grow up like that. “But it seems like you turned out more than alright – how about you let me buy your coffee?”

Connor nodded, “Definitely.” he said as he followed the other man to the stairs. He was grateful that he had gotten better at handling stairs, at least when there weren’t too many. It made life much easier. There weren’t always elevators, and even where there were, they weren’t always convenient.

“That makes sense. My parents never did the church thing themselves either, unless it looked good to show up for like a Christmas service somewhere or something. My mom’s all about playing the perfect New York socialite and ... well, my dad kind of just does what she wants. It’s easier that way.” he explained with a small shrug.

He laughed a little, “That’s once thing she’s good for, learning to appreciate people that aren’t her.” he said, shaking his head, “I turned out how I did cause of my siblings, and I think they did because of my grandparents ... or maybe the nanny they had. Theirs was full time, even though my parents were a little more involved with them.” he explained. “You can buy me coffee only if I get to return the favor next time.” he told his new friend. He never wanted to take advantage of someone else’s generosity when he knew he could more then afford it on his own, but he also knew how to take a social nicety for what it was.

#para #Jeremiah

josh-cole:

☼

“I lost my dad to cancer.” he wasn’t going to say it, but it just sort of… slips out. “We didn’t speak though, and I wasn’t there when it happened. Didn’t even find out ‘til a long while later…” Josh isn’t sure how to explain why hearing the man’s story makes him feel warm somehow, like the guilt will always be there, feeling like he left his father to deal with it alone, but that there are other people who have gone through it and come out happy and confident and motivated.

Getting to help out, too, is an opportunity Josh never realised he wanted so badly. So busy with work and juggling family life (he’s only just capable of shopping organically) but it’s about time he put his heart into something that really resonates. “Well I can’t dance either and I don’t even have an excuse. You’ve… inspired me the challenge myself,” he jokes. “I’m sorry, what was your name?”

Connor nodded carefully, it certainly wasn’t the first time that his story had led to a confession like that. “I’m sorry.” he said sincerely, “I’m not close with my own parents either but it would still be … hard to lose them, in it’s own way.” he admitted. Truthfully, harder to lose his father then his mother he thought. It would be easier to mourn what might have been if the man had ever actually tried. He was just absent, where Connor’s mother had been awful.

He grinned, “Well, I do like to inspire a challenge. Life’s no fun if it’s all too easy, you gotta do something complicated sometimes.” he said. He personally intended to live life to the fullest. “Oh! I’m Connor. Sorry, I forget to do the whole introductions thing a lot. What about you, what’s your name?”

#para #Josh

sanctusvincentius:

/𝔯𝔦𝔰𝔢//𝔣𝔞𝔩𝔩/

“I think it is. Especially if you’re driving yourself. ‘Cause then you don’t have to worry about bus schedules or waiting for an available taxi.” Vinny has spent his fair share of time stuck in traffic but the independence of getting around in your own vehicle makes it reasonable to stomach. And his dad had told him before that he’d drive himself if he could, despite the traffic. “You can do things at your own pace.”

“Yeah, the city has it’s priorities all outta wack. It would make a lot of people’s lives easier.” He drums his fingers on the surface in front of him, “You ever try like, going to one of those public city council meetings? I bet if you had some people with you, backing you up, you could get them to hear you out.” Which was the bare minimum, wasn’t it? It was the public office, they’re supposed to listen to the citizens.

Connor nodded, “That makes sense. I guess it’s just weird. I got my driver’s license just cause … I mean, it was the thing to do when I turned sixteen, so I have driven on occasion, my brother has a car, but he stays pretty busy and I never want to bug him when I need a ride. I’ve just never really needed to have a car of my own, the subway was always enough before.” he explained. He knew that Colin would do whatever he could to give him a ride if he needed one, but he also knew that his siblings had already sacrificed enough for him.

His eyes brightened at the idea of a public city council meeting, “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” he said he said with a grin, “I can make a speech, and then if that doesn’t work after a couple of meetings I’m also excellent at making a scene.”

#para #Vincent

arthurgustin:

Arthur is mid-sip of his drink when the man speaks. “Thirty-six?” Arthur repeats, eyes widening in shock or maybe horror, he can’t quite be sure. He leans forward in his seat as he processes the significance of that statistic. “That’s absurd,” he eventually concludes, eyes rolling as he crosses his arms on the table. “That’s like, one in five. That’s so dumb. What do we do? Who do I write to about it?” And maybe the alcohol is fueling some of the haste in that fiery response, sure, but Arthur’s pretty confident he’d be just as dedicated to remedying this were he sober.

“In the meantime, if you need a ride somewhere and can’t get there, call me. I’ll drive you,” he offers, but is quick to add, “but not right now. I’m not-. I can get us a ride tonight. I don’t drink and drive. I don’t usually drink this much at all so it’ll be really safe, I promise.”

Connor was pleased to see that the other man was appropriately upset about the ridiculously low number and he nodded quickly, “It’s awful. It’s like … right at a quarter of them, I think? But it’s still no where near enough. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what to do. I mean, I guess we can probably contact whatever government office handles the subway stuff? And politicians, as useless as that avenue probably is. I’m trying to figure out if there’s any kind of campaign in the works already to change it though.”

He laughed a little at the other man’s words, “I appreciate the offer, I’m sure we can both figure out a cab or an uber or something tonight though.” he agreed, “I’d say I don’t usually drink this much either, but it’s not exactly true. My sister gets all upset about it, but it’s fun. And I almost never get drunk enough to do something I wouldn’t probably do sober.” he said with a small shrug. Not that that really took a lot off the table. Impulse control was not exactly Connor’s stron suit.

#para #Arthur

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