Unexpected.

@ Dandy Darling;

Oliver sucked in a huge breath as Sean dropped the bomb that his father was dead and his mother was spiriling downwards into her own grave. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes but he refused to let them fall. "So he's gone.." Oliver said quietly, his voice shaky. He thought he would be relieved that his father was dead, but really it didn't make him feel better at all. His mother loved him, no matter what. Even when he beat her blue, she stood by his side and told him she wasn't going anywhere, ever. His mother was dedicated to him and that was clear to see. "Is that why I'm dressed? Are we.. Going to see her?" Oliver really hoped so, he wanted to see her, to make sure she was alright. What if she didn't want to see him, though? He hadn't been around for years, she had no clue what happened to her son. What if she was angry at him for living and told him to go? He couldn't handle anymore disappointment in his life. "I need to see her."

@ alex g

It was easy to read the toll that this was taking on Oliver. His eyes were glistening while his body shook. "Yes, he is gone," He confirmed, walking over to Oliver's side of the table. Placing his hands lightly onto his shoulders, Sean gave it a squeeze. Of course, he could not relate to the passing of his father, but Sean did offer his condolences. "That is being arranged as we speak," He reassured Oliver. "Sir, we have the car ready," One of the men informed the two, peaking his head inside of the office. "Thank you. I've cleared your schedule for the rest of the week, Oliver. Let's go," Sean started toward the door. "Oh, and, happy birthday," He added on. Although, this had to be by far one of the worst presents that Sean had given to someone.

@ Dandy Darling;

Oliver gave him a small, sad smile, appreciating his kindness. Sean didn't owe him anything, and he certainly didn't have to take him to see his mother. But, he was doing it anyway. Whether it was for the kindness in his own heart or for the company to keep Oliver he didn't care. He appreciated it anyway. "Thank you, for all of this. Has to be the most exciting birthday I've had so far." He replied with a small snort, shaking his head. Birthdays the past few years hadn't really been exciting, but this one wasn't really either. His dad passed away and his mother was freaking out. Following Sean, he couldn't help but wonder what helped his father to his death. "Sean, what exactly did my dad die from? Did they say?"

@ alex g

At least Oliver was being optimistic about the whole situation. "It is no problem," He stated with a small nod. The expense of the trip would be nothing for the company, and Sean would be able to work from his phone to keep everything running smoothly. Plus, he figured that Oliver would feel more indebted to the company after the whole ordeal. Opening the car for Oliver, he slid in after him. Sean had decided to take a less flashy car, especially since they were heading into treacherous territory. They wanted to maintain minimal detection. "There were no details given about it, but, from the previous times we have checked on your father, it seems that he was getting deeper into his drinking. I'm going to assume that it was something along those lines," Sean explained, glancing over at Oliver. It was bit surprising how well Oliver was keeping himself together despite the tragedy.

@ Dandy Darling;

Of course that bastards bad habits were going to be the death of him. Over and over again he swore to his mother that he would be a better man, a better father. And over and over again he disappointed her, but that never slowed her devotion for him. Swallowing a huge lump down his throat, he glanced over at Sean before getting in the car. "What if she hates me and doesn't want to see me?" He asked quietly. His mother had never been mean to him, she loved him dearly and always promised him things would be okay and that she needed him to stay strong for her. Oliver loved her, and was sad that he left her behind with his father. But, he needed to go, his dad was just getting worse and he hoped she understood that. "I'm scared to see her." He admitted softly.

[ my replies are gonna be a bit off and on today, I work 2-11 so I can reply on breaks and such c; ]

@ alex g

[ No problem! I have work from 5:30 - 9 ]

Growing up, Sean saw little of his mother. His childhood was made up of mostly books, lectures, and training with his father. She was still alive, of course, but he spent minimal time with her. "We'll just see when we get there. Even if she does, at least you came all this way to see her. That should at least tell her that you care," He responded as the car pulled out of the parking garage. Hopefully seeing her would put Oliver's mind at ease. Maybe the company could even get her into one of their rehabilitation programs. "I know you're scared. It's been a while since you've seen anyone in your family, but it's for the best," He attempted to calm his nerves. "It's going to take us a couple hours to get there," Sean informed Oliver, turning his attention to the scenery outside the window.

@ Dandy Darling;

Oliver nodded. It would put him at ease, seeing his mother. Hopefully she wouldn't shut him out, not when she was feeling so low and losing control. But at least he would get some peace of mind, knowing that he tried. Oliver leaned back into his seat, glancing over at Sean and clearing his throat awkwardly. He had never really been alone with the other, only speaking to him yesterday when they had that conversation about his age and what that meant for the company. He could feel his eyes growing heavy as he watched the trees pass by quickly, looking like a blur of green. "Let me know when we get there," he murmured before allowing sleep to take him.

[ sorry this is short and lame haha. I only have a 15 min break right now, so I'm trying to snack on some food and reply haha ]

@ alex g

[ Haha, it's okay. I'm crying though cause I typed out a response and it didn't go through ]

"Okay," He stated, taking out his phone to busy himself. This was definitely going to be a long ride. Even as a child, Sean had difficulties with sitting still. Minutes seemed like hours, and hours seemed like days. Throughout the ride, he kept crossing his legs and shifting inside of the car. He was careful not to wake Oliver though. "Sir, we're here," The driver informed them, pulling over to the side of the road. Sean could not wait to stretch his legs, leaning over to gently shake Oliver's shoulder. "We're here," He repeated, taking in the condition of the house. It was a one-level somewhat white house. There were bars on the windows and the grass was growing wildly. "Do you want me to come with you or would you rather have me in the car?" Sean asked, moving his gaze back to Oliver.

@ Dandy Darling;

[ ugh I hate when that happens! Especially when you work really hard on a reply haha ]

Oliver was shaken awake, a small yawn passing his lips as he gave Sean an appreciative smile. Letting his eyes wander over the house, he pursed his lips in thought. The house was pretty much the same as he had known it when he was younger, the grass was almost to his head, but then again he wasn't very tall to begin with. Eyes flickering over to Sean, he nodded. "I would really appreciate it if you could come in with me. Please." He added afterward, licking his lips. Going in alone didn't seem appealing, not wanting to face her by himself.

@ alex g

[Yes, exactly!]

Exiting the car, he reached out a hand to assist Oliver. "Alright. If you change your mind, you can always tell me, and I'll leave," He stated, glancing over his shoulder toward the house. Considering what type of neighborhood they were in, he asked the driver to leave and that he would call when they were ready. Hopefully, his mother was still unharmed after his connection left last night. They would have been on high alert, especially if they stayed long. At night, this was a highly active gang area. "After you," He gestured for Oliver to go first then followed behind him. "It'll be fine. Just knock on the door," Sean encouraged, staying a foot or so behind him.

@ Dandy Darling;

Oliver took his hand and got out of the car, giving Sean's hand a gentle squeeze before quickly letting go, swallowing thickly. So many thoughts were swirling through his mind, it was hard to process them all. His main concern was just hoping that his mother was okay, even if she absolutely hated him and wanted him gone. Balling his hand into a fist, he raised it level with the door, hesitating for a moment before knocking a few times and waiting for her to answer the door. Would she recognize him? It hasn't been but a few years since she had seen him, and all that changed about him was his face got more defined and he got a few inches taller, but he was still kind of short.

The door opened, and all of the air left his lungs. His mother looked bad, worse than he remembered. Her eyes were blood shot and puffy, her hair looking like she hadn't brushed it in days. Before he could speak up his mother beat him to it. "I-Oliver?" She croaked out, tears rushing to her eyes. "Where have you been this whole time?! Do you know how worried I've been about you?!" She exclaimed, grabbing his arms and looking him over, wrapping her into his arms for a tight hug. A lump formed in his throat as she hugged him, wrapping his own arms around her.

They stayed like that for a few moments before they both left go, his moms gaze going to Sean. "And who is this young man?" She asked, gesturing towards Sean. "Uh. M-my, he's, um... My boyfriend, yep. Boyfriend." He finally said, flickering his eyes towards Sean nervously before back at his mother. He'd rather not tell her that he was a prostitute in some underground ring and that was his boss who sent people to watch her. "Well.. Come inside then, boys. I'll make some coffee or whatever you want to drink, and we can catch up." She smoothed her hand over her sons cheek before leading the way inside.

@ alex g

Sean could feel a small pang of emotion welding up in the pit of his stomach but could not quite place it. It was heartwarming watching the mother and son reunion. A small part of him wanted to visit his own mother, but he was always too busy. When Oliver named him as the boyfriend, it startled him, but Sean would play along. Boyfriend it was. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Reed," He stated, walking inside of the house. The inside appeared to be in even worse shape than its outward appearance. The wallpaper was starting to peel from the walls along with evident water damage from bad pluming. Sean closed the door behind him, following behind Oliver's mother. There were family photos that aligned the walls that showcased the family during their happier years, although one frame was broken. Oliver still looked exactly the same. Sean thought he took on the appearance of his mother more so than the father.

"How have you been, honey? You never even sent me a letter," She stated, rushing into the kitchen to make the beverages. Sean could never turn down a cup of coffee. Silently, he wondered why his mother was not bringing up Oliver's father's absence. How would she even break it to Oliver? "Cream? Sugar?" She called out to the two in the living room. "Black is fine," He responded, settling down on the couch. It practically creaked underneath his weight.

@ Dandy Darling;

Oliver quickly wiped at his own eyes as he walked inside the house after her, biting down on his lower lip. The inside of the house was pretty much the same, if not worse than before. "Um, I'll have the same as him, mom." He called out to her, the name feeling foreign on his tongue. It was weird being back in here, but not having that fear of his father beating him hanging over his shoulder. In a way, he felt free here for once, and comfortable. His mother loved him unconditionally when he had lived here before, and he was glad to see that hadn't changed. A small small drifted on his lips as his eyes flickered over to Sean, then at the picture frame sitting on top of the small TV. It was the last good memory he had of his whole family, his father smiling brightly as he held Oliver with one arm around his shoulders, his mothers around the other.

"I've been good mom, really. Sean has... Taken care of me." He spoke, choosing his words carefully. In all actuality, he wasn't really lying. Sean had been doing the best he could, providing him with food and shelter. "I'm sorry, I wanted to see you but I.. With father around, I couldn't. He was just getting worse."

@ alex g

"Here you two are," She stated, settling the two cups down onto the coffee table. They were chipped at the rims and had coffee stains from previous usage. "Thank you, Mrs. Reed," Sean thanked, picking up the cup to take a sip. The last thing he wanted to be was rude. "That's good, honey. I was really worried while you were gone," She smiled. Her eyes flickered over to a cabinet in the kitchen for a brief moment. Rubbing her arms, she settled onto the love seat and looked over at her son. "Where have you been staying? Far? You should visit more often. I haven't changed anything in your room."

His mother gave a slow nod at the mention of his father, feeling goosebumps form over her arms. "Um, Oli, honey. Your father passed away about three weeks ago. Um, it was alcohol poisoning," She gently explained, reaching over to place a hand onto Oliver's knee. "He-He never treated you the way he should have, but he loved you. I wish he were here to see that you've come back." She smiled sadly but a part of her freedom was restored. She never had to worry about being backhanded anymore on the wrong days.

@ Dandy Darling;

"I've been staying with Sean, he's.. Good to me." Oliver finally said, reaching forward and picking up the coffee mug, taking a sip. He sent an apologetic look towards Sean, feeling bad for dragging him into this mess that was his home life. That and kind of surprising him with the whole boyfriend thing, but he panicked. And Oliver was known to say some pretty stupid shit when he panicked. Feeling a hand on his knee, he glanced over at his mom and paused, swallowing thickly at the bomb she dropped. Sure, he knew that his dad was dead hours before his mother told him, but now it felt more... Real. He was actually gone. A part of him was relieved, but another part of him was genuinely sad for the loss of his father. The last time they even spoke to each other was when his father told him what a worthless son he was, and that was the last time he beat his son because that night, Oliver ran off.

Feeling his eyes well up, Oliver placed his coffee cup down and placed his hand on top of hers. "I understand you are upset mom, but now you can turn your life around, you don't have to keep going down this path. Sean and I would be more than happy to help."

@ alex g

Turning to face Sean, Oliver's mother mustered her best smile and revealed a missing bottom tooth. That must have been from his father. "Thank you so much for taking care of my Oli," His mother stated, feeling partially responsible for all of this. If she just had been a better mother to him. She held back the tears that welled up in her eyes, wishing things had gone differently. Using the back of her hand, she wiped it away quickly and attempted to hide it. Sean caught it the subtle gesture. "It's no problem, Mrs. Reed. I've done everything I can," He attempted to reassure her that he was living a better life now.

"What path? There's no path. I'm fine, honey," She nervously chuckled, letting her eyes travel over to the drawer once more. The markings in her arms were still fresh from last night's fix. Although, the veins were starting become harder to find, so she would need to find other ways of injecting. "Mrs. Reed, we can get you help," Sean reiterated. "I don't need help!" She exclaimed defensively, wrapping her arms around herself. "I mean, I'm doing perfectly fine. I've quit drinking, too. After seeing what it turned your father into, I don't want to be like that. I'm in a better place now, I promise."

@ Dandy Darling;

Oliver knew what she was doing, he wasn't stupid. After having the father that he did, he could tell what the signs were of drug addiction. The scars that were new on her arm also proved it further. Swallowing thickly, he reached over and placed a hand on Sean's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Alright mom, I believe you." He said, figuring it would be easier to just go with the flow for now. He just got to see his mother in years, it would take time to build trust and that kind of relationship again where they could talk openly with each other, at least when Sean would allow. Perhaps he could convince Sean to let them stay for a few more days, maybe try and convince her she needed help.

Looking at the clock, Oliver stood up and smiled gently at his mother. "I'm gonna show Sean around, alright? I'm sure you have stuff to do." Oliver really just wanted to have time to talk with Sean privately, at least convince him to check in a nearby motel and stay for a night or two.

@ Dandy Darling;

Bump (:

@ alex g

Oliver's mother relaxed when her son dropped the argument, letting her arm fall back down to her sides. "Thank you. That means a lot to me, honey," She stated while offering a small smile. Sean's eyes slid over to Oliver, reading his expression. Clearly, his mother had a problem with narcotics that was affecting her psychologically as well as physically. "Of course. I was not expecting any guests, so I didn't clean. Just... be careful around the house," She warned as her eyes traveled over to the drawer. Soon, she would need a refill on her supplies, and the dealer last time was less than pleased with her delayed payments.

"The coffee was lovely, Mrs. Reed," Sean thanked to which he received a smile. As soon as he rounded the corner and was out of site, he knew that Oliver would ask for his mother to have some sort of rehabilitation to fix her. He could already read it in his expression. Although, it was something any son would ask for.

@ Dandy Darling;

Oliver and his mom exchanged huges before following after Sean with promises they would be back tomorrow. A sinking feeling was in the pit of his stomach as he realized she was just going downhill from his father's death, and it would only get worse without help. "She's using, Sean, I know she is! How could she do that? After seeing what that bastard did to me, she's just following down his path," he spat out as they left the house, kicking at a rock as he headed to the car. How could his mother do that? His father was high or drunk most of his life, they were poor and could barely afford shit and now she wants to continue what he was doing? She was just going to screw herself into more debt than they already were with his father, and she was only making it worse on herself. Oliver ran a hand through his hair as he looked over at Sean. They had to help her, Oliver wasn't just going to sit here and let his mother die just like his father did. She didn't deserve any of that, his mom deserved to find someone who would love her and treat her right, and she needed to move on with her life. It was better that way.

Swallowing thickly Oliver just got in the car, ready to go to the hotel Sean booked and just collapse on the bed. It had been a long and emotionally exhausting day, he just wanted it to be over with.