tramitem_comm | (no subject)

I am. Look I've got meds, haven't I? It'll be fine. Just a rough start this morning. Will you stop worrying?

[ Will you stop worrying... was there any phrase in the universe designed to cause more worry than that one?! ]

NO, I won't stop worrying!

[ But he would at least sit down and stop flapping around the kitchen like an angry rooster. ]

What does your Doctor say?

[He rubbed the bridge of his nose. He did not want to have this conversation and all it entailed. Why couldn't Anthony just leave well enough alone?]

What do you think I have these for? [he poked the meds again]

How I am supposed to know, you haven't said anything about this!

[ Sitting in this chair giving Alec a glare. ]

I'm not leaving until you tell me.

It's a treatable condition. What more do you need to know?

[he could really use some coffee about now, or getting away from his snarling cousin, but he wasn't sure standing up was a good idea so he kept where he was]

What is the condition called? What is the name of your Doctor? I thought you needed surgery for this not just pills? How many times have you blacked out recently?

Do you need more, cause I have dozens of these. I want to know everything.

Ugh. I'm not in the mood for this. [he rested his forehead on his arms, the anxiety blooming in his chest not doing his wincing heart much of any good. If he told Anthony the truth, the brat would never leave him alone.]

I'm fifty years old now, I don't need a nanny. [only a second after he said it he realized that might be a bit of a pointed barb right now--] Sorry. [grumbled reluctantly]

Can't you just trust that I'm looking after it? Why do you have to hover?

I'm hovering because you look like you are going to pass out and you aren't telling me anything which mean you don't want me to know!

[ And if you were going to bring up 'Nanny' well! He could take a page from her book, couldn't he?
Anthony held up his phone as a threat. ]

Start talking or I start dialing.

[damnit.

The rest of it gets him a confused look]

Dialing who?

I could start by dialing home. Once I told mum about this the whole family would hear about it.

I could dial nine eleven, get an ambulance out here to make your day difficult.

Or punch up the network and make sure every single Different out there knows you need looking after.

[ He paused and then looked to Alec's own phone. ]

Got the number of your school on there? Nah, nevermind... it would be easy enough to look it up.

[he would do it too, damn him. It was telling that Principal Downing was the least of his worries shortly followed by nine-eleven. The Different threat was just embarrassing-- but the family-- God-- He'd have Mum down his throat and Ellie-- Ellie he didn't even want to think about. She'd set up camp in his living room for God's sake and refuse to leave.]

Alright fine. But if I hear one peep out of anyone about this I am never talking to you again. [and he'd probably have to flee the country]

It's a heart arrhythmia. I go to Doctor Singh for it. [who had better respect doctor/patient confidentiality] A pacemaker could help but it's not necessary [a lie] and I could die during the operation if I had it. [a stark truth]

But it's treatable with these bloody things and diet and so on. Are you satisfied?

[ Anthony found he had been staring at the tabletop, glaring a hole into the wooden top. ]

Yeah.

[ He was satisfied. All that sounded true enough... and if the surgery could kill him. He frowned. ]

You shouldn't be living on your own if you're sick. You could pass out and nobody would find you.

Oh don't start. I've been living with this for years now. I'm fine. [and he didn't want to be bundled off into someone's care like a child or someone long retired. He wasn't that old and he wasn't dead yet]

[ They would drive each other crazy. There would be one battle after the next. A bathroom monopoly would be created. They would have to share the bed... it was large enough for two people but Alec was not as snugly as Grace. That would put a real crimp into his lovelife.

And yet he found himself saying. ]

Pack some things. You can stay with me.

[ Because Alec's life was important to him.
Anthony stood and paced across the room to search out a suitcase. He had to have one some where. Everyone had a suitcase. ]

No.

It's not happening. And you're not coming here either so get it out of your head.

For one thing we'd kill each other. [he didn't even want to think about Grace]

[ The phone was raised over his shoulder and given a wiggle threateningly. ]

I can't just leave you on your own, with no one. It's going to suck... but deal with it. I don't want to hear on the news you died trying to climb those damn stairs. My place has a working elevator and a doorman. There would always be some one there.

[bastard]

Fine. Call them. Call whoever you like. I don't care. I'm not letting you bully me into this.

[ Damn you. Couldn't you for just once in your life allow some one to help you?! ]

Look, you were sent to keep me out of trouble...

[ He tried bargaining, as he pulled the suitcase out from it's storage place and blew some of the dust off of it. ]

How are you going to do that across town?

You seem to be doing well for yourself and we decided I wouldn't interfere, remember? [he pushed himself upright and went over to the coffee pot. He kept himself from leaning on the counter-- pouring what was left in the coffee maker from last night into a mug and putting that in the microwave]

It's not going to happen, Anthony. Let it go.

Yea, I was doing well... one memory and I was a total mess. And there will be others. Maybe some worse than that! At least I knew that one was coming, I had some warning.

[ The inside of this suitcase was a total disgrace. Old socks and lent from centuries past... er, he hoped it was lent. A trashcan was collected as these things were tumbled into it. ]

Besides... we have the day off. Its the perfect time to get you settled in the new place.

Don't try to manipulate me that way. It's beneath you. [he came over and shut the suitcase.]

I get that you're worried, but if I were going to collapse it would have been years ago. This. Is not. happening.

You did collapse years ago! I was there!

[ And some how that manipulation hadn't felt beneath him at all... it had felt familiar.

He stood as the suitcase was closed, temporarily forgetting they were the same height and therefore would end up nose to nose. ]

What do you want me to do!? Just turn around and forget you!? To Hell if you live or die?? Couldn't you, for just once in your life, allow some one to give a damn about you!?

Nghh. [he ran a hand through his hair. He was not awake enough for this. He didn't feel sane enough for this.]

That was a long time ago. It doesn't happen anymore. I get that you're worried and I appreciate it but I have to live my own life on my own terms.

[but...]

There's got to be a compromise.

Compromise?

[ Anthony nodded his head as he stepped away from the suitcase. What would make him feel better about leaving Alec in this run down place... ]

You check in regularly so I know how you are and...

[ Alec wouldn't care for this but it would be a massive weight off his shoulders. ]

They make medical alert bracelets with fall detection. You hit a button and some one is here in minutes, you fall and the cops are called. I'll spring for it all you have to do is wear it.

First, yes. Second, not a chance in hell.

[he wasn't that old and he refused to be before his time. He also couldn't imagine what the school would make of that. Probably not much]