June 2nd

[bearshermark]

[Text to Yotsuyu]

So I got the job I applied for. Student Extern for the medical services department of the IBA. 10 hrs/week. Flexible schedule.


[Text to Clarence]

I got the job.


[Text to Lisa]

So I don't want to worry you, but I feel like you should know. I started working in the medical services department for the Bureau yesterday.

Comments

[darkenedmoon]

I see. And you did not talk to me before now...why, about this?

I had thought you were going to go work at the botanical gardens.

[Displeased Yotsuyu is displeased. Very. But the powder keg of her temper has not blown. Not yet.]

[bearshermark]

I didn't want to worry you for nothing if I didn't get the job. I thought there was a good chance I wouldn't.

And I do plan to work at the gardens if I can. I'm only working 10 hrs/week at the Bureau.

[darkenedmoon]

Of course. Save now, I get to worry for something. What were you planning to get from this idea, pray tell?

[Mommy Dearest hasn't blown up yet, still a good thing, but it's pretty clear she's not happy about this. And as the old saying goes, if Momma ain't happy, nobody happy. Still, he's getting a chance to explain himself, at least.]

Just enough to get you into trouble, eh? Or see how far they can bully you.

[bearshermark]

[He spends some time on these texts, thinking about what he worked out with Clarence as he types]

I want to lessen the divide a little between us and the Bureau. I'm worried about what will happen if things stay like this. They were worried about 'anti-bureau sentiment', weren't they? Like maybe they think we're plotting a rebellion.

And I think most of us are scared. There's so much paranoia going around, and they're not communicating with us well.

I joined as a gesture of goodwill. Maybe if they see one of us is willing to work with them, and some of us see that I'm not being mistreated, then we'll be less afraid of each other.

[darkenedmoon]

[It does take Yotsuyu a while to respond, as she gives some thought to what Elliot has said. It's so typical of him, attempting to be the peacemaker, it brings a smile to her lips. This has happened often as she's watched him grow up. It does make it difficult to be truly angry, when in truth, she should have expected nothing less.

But she has always been his devil's advocate, as well, and now is no different.]

Then perhaps, if the Bureau is so frightened of us, it should be upon them to be slightly more transparent then they have been? I admit I cannot be too surprised by what you have done, but the onus is on them, not you, Elliott. And what happens if they do mistreat you? What then? Because you know I will not stand for that.

[She doesn't like making that claim where they--the Bureau--might be able to find it, but there it is. Yotsuyu will protect her child. No matter what.]

[bearshermark]

I don't know. I don't think they will. They'd really have to worry about anti-bureau sentiment then. They can't want that.

[Why does keeping the peace suddenly seem like an insurmountable task?]

[darkenedmoon]

I am just trying to make you think. I am not going to forbid you this. It has already happened, how could I?

[Even if she thinks she should, Elliott's almost an adult, and he's going to be out of her aegis of protection someday, whether she likes it or not. (Rest assured, she does Not, but she knows she has no power against time.)]

With agencies like this, it is difficult to say. And of course, the thought is to protect their own people, is it not? Which we are no longer, now that we are Different. But if you believe you can build a bridge--you did not need my permission, obviously, but nonetheless, I grant you it.

[bearshermark]

Sorry. It just seemed like something I had to do.

But thanks. I hope you aren't too mad.

[darkenedmoon]

I am not certain 'mad' is the proper word. Unhappy definitely is. I am not precisely disappointed in what you did, but the way you did it. Though I can understand the why of it. I am definitely frustrated.

But I love you, and you are my son, and this is so completely like you--this peace offering you are making of yourself--that I cannot stay mad at you for long. They had best treat you well, though.

[If it sounds like a threat, well.]

1/2, not here;

[traceofeffort]

[Do you hear that sound, Elliott? Maybe? Probably not? Well, that might be for the better. That's a whole lot of screaming containing a whole lot of words Lisa is too polite to type to you and also some wordless shrieks of rage and concern, echoing out her open window into the streets of Queens, followed by Lisa's roommate holding her back from throwing her phone out said window. However much the poor young woman is collecting in rent, it's not enough. She calms down over the next fifteen minutes or so, and it's time enough to compose a little bit more reasonable a message.]

text;

[traceofeffort]

Congratulations. Hopefully they don't have you doing anything too crazy.

You're doing this the wrong way if you didn't want to worry me, though. I don't know if you could have done this more wrong if you'd tried.

[bearshermark]

Yeah, probably, sorry. I just figured you'd find out eventually later, then kind of hate me for not telling you sooner?

But it's just a normal job, really. Like I'm almost not even sure anyone knows or cares that I'm one of the Different.

[traceofeffort]

Or you could have told me before you did it. I've have worried still, but then at least I'd feel like you knew it'd hurt me but you weren't doing it on purpose. This way you're just making decisions and assuming nobody is going to care about what happens to you.

And don't assume they don't know. It's not like they're going to print it on your name badge. Maybe that's why you got the job in the first place.

[bearshermark]

I didn't assume that at all. I didn't think I'd get it, so I didn't want to worry anyone unnecessarily. Maybe I didn't want to be talked out of it, either.

But I'm telling you now so you don't feel like I didn't trust you or tried to deliberately keep you out of the loop.

[traceofeffort]

I was going to say that you're mature enough to make your own decisions, and if you'd done it the other way around I'd have told you I trusted you to choose what will make you happy. I still do. But you already know I'd worry anyway. What was your plan if it fell through, to just not tell me? Did you tell anyone?

[bearshermark]

I told Clarence after I applied. If it didn't work, then it didn't seem like there would have been a point in worrying anyone about it. But since I did, I didn't want to start lying to my friends, so here we are.

You're right that I knew it would, but I really didn't want to hurt you with any of this. I guess I should have told you before now. I'm really sorry.

[traceofeffort]

[There's no reply for a long moment.]

It's a little late for that. I understand why, I really do, and I appreciate it, as much as I can right now. But that doesn't make it feel any less like a slap in the face, Elliott.

[hardtoignore]

[Dangit. He was afraid of this. Still, he stands by what he said in the past.]

Cool. Do you have any idea what you’re actually going to be doing?

[bearshermark]

Yeah. My first day was actually yesterday. I'll be doing pretty normal stuff. Spend some time taking notes for a doctor, deliver stuff to patients, reroute some phone calls, data entry, that kind of thing.

[hardtoignore]

That doesn’t sound too bad. Are they paying you good for it?

[bearshermark]

I mean, how much should I expect for something super entry-level like this? Min wage isn't that bad, so I'll take it. Not like I have any experience or real expenses rn anyway.

Might pick up a second job though if I can get in at the gardens. They could pay me in free passes and meals, and I'd still be over the moon.

[hardtoignore]

Hey! I know a Different that works at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx! He said it’s free to go on Wednesdays and Sundays (I think!) so we should go on a Wednesday!

[bearshermark]

I think I know who you're talking about. You really want to go?

[hardtoignore]

Yeah! They also tend to have interesting art exhibits featured too so...

[bearshermark]

Okay, then. I'll be working til about noon that day, so I can be at the gardens around 1pm or so if you want. Any other time works too, though.