You're my only hope

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Anthony looked frazzled as he cast a careful glance over his shoulder before slipping back under what appeared to be a blanket fort so he could stare at his phone. ]

Ok look, bad week... shit happened. Lots of shit happened, most of it was my fault. Got engaged, broke it off the next day, had to spend most of the rest of the time at the hospital looking after a sick relative. The visit from the creepy alien hunting suit was incredibly spooky... But none of that compares to this!

[ He swallowed and hushed his tone so he wouldn't be overheard. ]

Mum is here. Actually here in my flat right now, cleaning everything and making dinner because she says I look unwell even though she has done the magic heat sensing mum hand trick three times already and I don't have a fever. What do I do!? I can't tell her about even half of this stuff without--...

[ A second voice, much sweeter and calmer broke in to ask... ]

What is this?

[ And Anthony paled as he and phone broke free of the covers to see his grey haired mom holding that conspiratorial message from the mysterious MMF. Never had a man shot so quickly from a blanket tent to snag the paper, crumbled it, and chuck it into the nearest bin. ]

Nothing! Just some chain letter, probably thinks he is being funny by sending weird notes... Nothing to worry about at all! I told you everything is fine!!

[ His mum merely gave her poor highly strung son a sympathetic look and once again set her hand to his forehead. ]

Honey, you really need to calm down. I know what will help!

[ She turned and dug through one of her many bags until she found a tattered old teddy bear wearing yellow wellingtons. This was pressed into Anthony's arms as he was ushered back to the blanket covered sofa. ]

Its Mr. Yellow Boots! Now you and he can sit here all cozy until dinner is ready.

[ Anthony was sulking but he sat back on the sofa and looked helplessly after his mom until she was well out of ear shot. ]

Send help. Anything... I need her to stop worrying.

Comments

Video

[darkforcerising]

[Anakin is eating a grilled cheese sandwich.]

How old are you?

Video

[serpentinthegarden]

As if that matters! Whenever your mum is around you're instantly six again!

Re: Video

[darkforcerising]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[LBR here, Anakin is always six.]

Have you thought about therapy?

[serpentinthegarden]

No, but I'm sure as soon as mum gets into the topic of my having dreams about being a demon in a past life the suggestion is going to come up...

I just need a way to skirt around that.

[bearshermark]

[Trying and failing to hold in a laugh, resulting in some awkward sniggers]

Do you really need help?

[serpentinthegarden]

Would I be asking for help if I didn't need it?? You are a kid so maybe you don't know what it's like yet but family can be overwhelming!

[bearshermark]

What? [Brushes hair out of his face and puts on a charming smile] You think I've never been fawned over?

[serpentinthegarden]

Eeehhh...

How would I know what your mum is like?

[Video]

[chenqing_player]

[As someone who has never had a mother this is all...fascinating.]

Does she really think the bear will solve everything?

[serpentinthegarden]

Yeah, think so. I mean when I was a kid he solved a lot of problems... monsters under the bed, that sort of thing. He's not really helping much now.

[chenqing_player]

To her you are still a kid. Keep the bear and use it as a shield when you start telling her..stuff.

[serpentinthegarden]

A bear in yellow wellies as a shield?

Its original, not something I considered doing... but I'm not sure I want to perpetuate the feeling that I am actually still a kid.

[ Says the man hugging the stuffing out of a plushie. ]

[temptationaccomplished]

[Anthony sounds like such a little boy here, it's sweet.]

Oh, but Mr. Yellow Boots is there to help. I don't think I could possibly offer anything greater than that.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Fell! Suddenly felt torn between being thrilled to hear the other man's voice and wanting to melt into the floorboards for the Mr. Yellow Boots comment. ]

Like you never had a favorite childhood toy??

[temptationaccomplished]

[He considers answering that, smiling that Mona Lisa smile Anthony clearly likes.]

[serpentinthegarden]

.....

I know I'm going to regret asking this but...

[ Deep breath. ]

Was it a plush snake?

[text response]

[hardtoignore]

Hello Mr Crowley. I didn't realize you were on this network.

Also, I'm starting to understand why you would run away all the time.

[serpentinthegarden]

Yeah, unfortunately. I'm one of the Different. I didn't know you were!

I love her but it's a bit much. She's only been here thirty minutes.

[hardtoignore]

Oh yeah. Trust me, I wasn't happy to find out I was "different" in ways that other kids are beyond the usual.

It seems like she's been worried about you. Is it because you've been gone so long, or is she like this even when she sees you every day?

Video

[scotch_egg]

Poor sweet baby.

[said with dry sarcasm as he lies on his own sofa while, behind the closed bedroom door there is the sound of a massive fight going on. The camera even captures a bit of his step father who looks wide eyed and uncomfortable at the raging storm.]

Remember to send you a sympathy card.

[and by the way]

They snagged me right out of hospital.

[serpentinthegarden]

Kidnapped right out of the hospital, that sucks.

[ And he might have made some quip about four letter covered sympathy cards if WWIII wasn't going on. ]

Wha... what's going on over there? What's the fighting about?

[scotch_egg]

[something crashes and he doesn't even flinch. He just hopes it wasn't breakable]

Mum and Dad. Have you met them?

[maybe not. They had always been on best behavior when baby cousin and Aunt Evie's perfect family were around]

text

[darkenedmoon]

At least your mother seems to have your well-being in mind. There are worse things.

[Yotsuyu would know. It's difficult to tell over text, but she's not having a laugh at his expense, or poking fun.]

My son seems to have this well in hand, so far, but we could always claim a real estate deal and I could barge in in the name of work. If you're desperate.

[serpentinthegarden]

Which one is your son?

[ Anthony thought he had a guess but better to ask than assume really. ]

Real estate might be dicey. She would want to know if I was moving, where to, what is the neighborhood like... As I said to some one else, she is in overprotective mode.

[darkenedmoon]

You asked him how were you to know what his mum was like. ;)

[She reads, and he has very valid points--but she's been in the business for years.]

You needn't say it is for you. Perhaps one of your employees or some such? Mayhap they're the one who needs the help. And even if she decides to be nosey about it, I can work with that. I understand where she comes from, but I also understand how much pressure that puts on a person.

[She does try hard not to be a helicopter mom to Elliott, after all.]