CONVENTIONAL FAMILY? Who’s that?
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Chapter 17: In which Logan has been permanently traumatized and Roman is a mess
Logan, now permanently traumatized by the dynamic between the elusive Sanders family, got in his car.
Immediately, he turned away from the chaos that was the Sanders house and intently drove away, planning to not come back to the house as long as he could.
Logan was, for all it was worth, a reasonable man. He knew that, logically speaking, he shouldn’t judge the sanders family from one impression.
Then again....
That was QUITE the first impression.
Shaking his head while still keeping his eyes dutifully on the road, Logan focused his whole attention into driving home. He just hoped that his house helped him forget the confusing things he had witnessed. Or, more accurately, heard.
He arrived after a while, parking the car and entering his house.
He noted the absolute silence in the room and almost sighed in relief. But, his sighing was cut short by sounds of roman pacing.
How exactly did Logan know it was Roman pacing?
By the indistinguishable and way too loud stomps the teen did.
Logan sighed, this time from frustration instead of relief. What was it now?
He went up the stairs and was about to knock on Roman’s room when he noticed the door was open.
Logan pushed the door lightly, staring impassively into the room where Roman was.
The teen was stomping, as Logan had deduced, while Princess, the Berry family’s persian cat, simply watched him walk and followed him with her head.
Logan had been opposed to the idea of getting Princess at first, finding an animal to be an unnecessary addition to their family. They DID have the space for a pet, but Logan still found no use to getting one.
But Roman had been stubborn about getting a pet. The boy fought and fought until finally, Logan allowed Roman to get a small pet.
Logan had meant a goldfish or a hamster.
Naturally, Roman chose a cat of all things. He reasoned that Princess (back then a kitten) was small and therefore counted. Logan had been quick to argue, of course, but had found it useless since they had already purchased the cat and the cat food by that time.
The cat in question looked up through wide eyes to stare at Logan. She had grown since they adopted her for sure, but she never quite lost that kitty charm that had drawn Roman in.
Of course, Logan knew the cat’s true nature. Roman might think she was an angel, but Logan had way too many shoes as proof that Princess was in fact a secret mastermind intent on ruining the house’s overal cleanliness.
Oh what a devious monster that cat was.
Logan didn’t let himself dwell on memories of Princess’ many crimes, instead looking up at his still pacing son.
“Roman” Logan said sternly “Why are you pacing around your room?”
Roman looked up, looking like a deer caught in headlight.
‘Not literally of course” Logan thought to himself “He didn’t transform into a deer or gain black eyes or antlers. He’s still very much human’
“Uhh—“Roman started, clearly intent on lying.
Logan was not having it and continued with his impassive look.
After a moment, Roman finally let out a small sigh
“Okay, fine” he said defeatedly “i’ll tell you why i’m pacing around”
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~~•~•~
“Well? Why are you pacing around” Roman’s dad asked, looking impatient after Roman’s dramatic pause for effect
“I’m getting there” Roman whined before clearing his throat “as I was saying, i’ll tell you why i was pacing around”
Pause.
A glare.
“Fine fine” Roman said, raising his hands. After a moment, his expression turned genuinely somber
“There’s this... school play coming up, which concerns me a bit” Roman says after a moment “And I’m also a bit worried about.... Virgil”
Saying his name was always a weird occurrence for Roman. He was so used to the quips and nicknames, but found that it wasn’t appropriate right now. His worry wouldn’t communicate quite as well if he didn’t even call the emo nightmare by his name.
(Roman was, after all, one of the few not emotionally constipated people and he held on to that title proudly)
His father, Logan Berry, did NOT get into the ‘not emotionally constipated’ category
“Worried about Virgil?” His dad asked “Why would you be worried about Virgil?”
Roman sighed as if he were in pain. This conversation was so painfully awkward that he might as well have been.
“I— I don’t know! I just am” Roman said defeatedly “And the school play thing isn’t helping either”
Roman went on
“I auditioned for the school play this year and I got a very big role for a freshman. There’s seniors that auditioned for the role! And still, I got it. It’s a lot of pressure”Roman said, sharing some of his insecurities “and we’re heavily understaffed for the play which means the play might not even happen and if it does, it’ll be a bloodbath”
The last part might have been a bit overdramatic, but Roman did tend to be overdramatic
“Bloodbath?” Logan asked before realizing this was one of the instances of Roman talking metaphorically “As in, it’ll be bad?”
“Yesss!”
“Oh” Logan said neutrally, sounding robotic to Roman “What are you understaffed in?”
“We’re missing backstage crew” Roman said, pouting as he did “you don’t seem too worried”
“Because i’m not” Logan said matter-of-factly “You could ask Virgil to help”
If Roman had been drinking anything, he would have spit his drink like they did in drama shows. Alas, he was drink-less therefore he settled on spluttering wildly
“Vi-Virgil?” Roman said “That gloomy gloom? He wouldn’t go near the drama club in a million dreams. Why would you consider him?”
“Well, I had an... enlightening conversation with Virgil and found out through ‘small talk’ that he was good with tech” Logan explained “Therefore, he could help as the backstage crew”
Roman was ready to laugh, thinking Logan was joking. But one glance at Logan’s deadpanned expression and remembering who he was talking to made him realize Logan was being serious.
Huh.
Now that he thought about it....
“You know what, Pops? That’s a pretty good idea” Roman said with a grin. He remembered the moment he almost had with Virgil and thought that maybe it could work.
“And really, you shouldn’t be so worried about it” Logan continued “The school play is really far away, so you have plenty of time to prepare.”
Roman smiled, knowing this was Logan’s way to comfort him.
His smile was wiped by Logan’s next words.
“And even I appreciate that you’re choosing to start earlier than your peers, you should focus on more pressing matters. Like your math test coming up”
Roman’s eyes widened. Oh shucks. His math test!
He turned away from Logan and sat at his desk, beginning to flip through his notebook with wide eyes.
Logan exited the room, smug that he got Roman to study at last.
The little demon cat followed after him, which showed Logan that he had succeeded even further. Roman would have never been able to focus with Princess on his room.
As he went down the stairs and towards his study to get more work done, Logan felt like the traumatizing events he went through had been pushed aside. He just had to avoid encountering the Sanders and life would go back to normal.
Oh if only he knew that trying to avoid the Sanders was like trying to put out a fire with more fire (something the Sanders WERE prone to doing). It was simply impossible.
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