sheriffskid (sheriffskid) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2018-07-08 00:52:00 |
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Entry tags: | #group scene, #november 2017, grady, hunter, jen |
Who: Grady, Jen and Hunter
When: Evening, Thursday, November 2
Where: Home
Status: Complete
It had been an insane couple of days and Grady had spent almost every waking minute thinking about them. The department was still dealing with the aftermath of Halloween and Grady himself was checking his phone every hour or so to make sure he didn’t miss a call from the lab just out of town that was working on testing Lia’s DNA. Rationally he knew he probably wouldn’t get the results until Friday at the earliest, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. It was insanity to think that girl could actually be Amelia Lucas, but after he had gotten back to the station, he had studied her picture again, the one Olivia had given him, and he got a cold feeling in his gut that it was the same person. If it wasn’t, there had to be some relation there because the two girls looked so damn similar.
Tonight, however, Grady was determined to push work aside and spend some time with his kids. He was feeling guilty and neglectful, but what else was new? They didn’t seem to resent him for it, at least not to his face, and he got very little pushback when he asked them both to be home tonight so they could ‘hang out’. Grady left work early and picked up Chinese food on his way home. He sort of figured maybe he ought to cook something, but Grady wasn’t much of a chef and he didn’t want to risk making something inedible where they would end up calling for a pizza anyway.
Once he was home, he set everything out on the kitchen table for them to share before heading upstairs to change out of his uniform. It felt good just to be in jeans and a t-shirt again, and once Grady grabbed a beer from the fridge, he called out to his kids to come eat. He was thinking about watching a movie or something after, something funny and light. Grady had no idea what, but they had Netflix, and whatever else, so he was sure they could find something.
As it turned out, both his kids were in a good mood today and for similar reasons to do with cute boys and shit not hitting the fan in a horrible way the night before for any of them. They joined Grady in the kitchen and flopped down in their seats, happily humming at the smell of the food as they started helping themselves to it.
"We've been hearing some really weird rumors at school," Jen said, giving her dad a curious look. "About Halloween, about people just going nuts all over town. They're saying someone drugged people or something?"
Hunter nodded, looking a little more worried about it. He'd gone to Main Street but come home early and now he was really glad he'd done that and that everyone he knew was safe. He'd heard first hand about the weirdness from Mak who'd been one of those people who got all weird and it was honestly scary. Especially since some people died.
Grady scooped some Lo Mien onto his plate and glanced warily between his kids. "It's still technically an open investigation," he said, always relieved to have that to fall back on when they asked questions he didn't want to answer. "But that's definitely one of the possibilities. Something laced in the candy." Grady didn't believe that, but he couldn't argue much with the Mayor. He had been relieved to find Jen and Hunter hadn't been involved because it seemed half the town had. He smiled faintly at the both of them. "So it's my night off and I'd love not to spend it talking about work. Why don't you two tell me about what you've been up to. How's school? Your friends?"
Jen and Hunter looked at each other a bit worriedly. Who the hell would go around putting drugs in candy? It sounded like an urban myth. And if that wasn't it, then what was it? Their okay mood was dragged down with a bad feeling and that wasn't the first time today. It seemed to come in waves, random little niggling of doubt.
Grady had asked them a question though and since he didn't want to talk about work there was really no use forcing the issue, even if they both wanted to ask about a million questions.
"School's fine," Hunter replied first, glancing at his sister again with a little shrug. He wasn't going to blather on about her making new friends and he didn't have much to report about himself, at least nothing he could tell his dad. "Never thought I'd be glad I was tired and bored on Halloween but I am."
Jen nodded softly. "Yeah I watched a movie with some friends, I've been hanging out with Ophelia McCarthy, do you know her?" Not necessarily the same friend she'd been watching movies with but that wasn't what she'd said so she wasn't exactly lying.
Grady wasn't naïve enough to believe it was that simple. Teenagers were teenagers, and most of what they got up to were things they would never want their parents to know. Grady understood that, he'd been young once too. But it still didn't help him feel any better. He felt like he was missing out on something because he wasn't around more to witness whatever it was they were going through. He shook his head at Jen's question and swallowed his food before wiping his mouth with a napkin. "I don't know her personally, no. But I know her parents." James McCarthy had helped Grady rework his will a couple of years ago, and of course he spoke to the man and his wife often at various events in town. "Their son plays football, doesn't he?"
Hunter's heart picked up speed as he thought about how deputy Gaines had caught him and Sebastian making out. Maybe Grady already knew and was subtly dropping hints just by mentioning that he knew Ophelia had a brother. It made no sense but what if?
Jen nodded at the question and it would have been so easy to be mean now, to tell him Hunter probably knew more about it than she did but Hunter was on her good side these days so she didn't. "Ophelia's in band, they're totally different but both really sweet," she said between bites. "They have one older brother too but he's away at college."
Grady had a bit more to eat, nodding along a bit as Jen spoke. He was a bit relieved that Jen had made a friend. He kind of worried about her, always holed up in her room with those bugs. His gaze ticked to Hunter as he reached over to spear a piece of chicken from one of the take out boxes. "What about you? How's Mak doing?" He wasn't home enough to know whether or not the two of them were still hanging out, but he had to assume they were. Grady figured if the two had a falling out that he would have heard about it by now. Maybe.
"She's okay," Hunter replied with a little shrug. Did Grady need to know she was one of the people affected by whatever the hell had happened on Halloween? Probably not. He'd just needlessly worry. "She's kinda seeing someone now so I'll need to find another date for winter formal." He still thought they might all go together just as friends but god he wished he could take Sebastian as a real date and show off his boyfriend to everyone.
Grady's brows raised at that. Winter formal? Hadn't they just had homecoming at the high school? He chewed slowly and then washed down the food with a swig of his beer, feeling a little awkward, but curious and he didn't want Hunter to think he was uncomfortable with his son's sexuality, because he wasn't. He was just... awkward. But Grady would have been awkward with Jen's love life too. They were his kids, after all. There was a need to protect them from broken hearts while letting them experience life, but also the desire to not know about the.... sexual aspect of it all. "Are you uh... thinking about asking someone? As a real date, I mean, not a ... going as friends date."
"No," Hunter muttered though he didn't sound very sure. Of course he wanted to take Sebastian to the dance but ugh. It was weeks away still so maybe things would have changed by then but he wasn't sure if that would be a good thing or not. "If I did though-" he started, eyeing his dad curiously. "Would you feel weird about it?" They all knew it'd be a guy if it was an actual date but they never really talked about those things, not since Hunter had come out to Grady.
Grady sort of wished his mouth was full of food again so he could take his time with his answer. Not that it was a negative one, it was just a conversation he wasn't sure how to have. But then again, maybe it wasn't as difficult as he was making it out to be. He set his beer down and picked up his fork again, shrugging softly. "Why would I feel weird about it? You're seventeen. I was dating at that age." Definitely dating, and then some. Not that Grady was going to get into that. "Just... you know, anyone you... go out with... I'd like to meet them." Guy, or girl, it didn't matter. Grady wanted to make sure anyone taking his son or daughter out was someone he liked and trusted with them.
Hunter had a feeling that Grady would feel a lot more at ease with him dating if he was dating girls, dating guys was definitely something his dad didn't want to think about. It wasn't malicious so Hunter didn't resent him for it, it was just so typical for a straight parent. Like guys were more dangerous than girls, like Hunter might be getting fucked in more than one meaning. "Okay," he said with a little smile, because of course Grady would want to meet his boyfriend. It made him feel a little guilty for keeping Sebastian a secret but it wasn't like that was his decision to make. Maybe it would be easier though, if Grady knew, if he could keep a secret too. "I'll tell you if I find a date for the dance," he added, still thinking it over because he was all too aware that telling Grady might mean he told Sebastian's parents. Parents were all about keeping other parents in the loop with their 'I would want to know' bullshit.
Grady would probably admit there was some truth to that, because in his mind, guys were more dangerous than girls. Girls could break hearts, but guys could do much more and he didn't want to worry about Hunter. He would worry, of course, but... it was just a tangle of emotions that he didn't feel adequate enough to deal with just yet. He nodded at Hunter and then scooped up some more lo mien before turning his attention toward Jen. "What about you, huh? Are you planning on going to winter formal?" It was a roundabout way of asking if Jen had a boyfriend, or liked a boy or... anything really. His kids weren't exactly open books, and Grady really did want to know more about what they were getting up to.
Jen made a small gagging sound in reply because no, it was so not her thing. It made Hunter laugh a little and shake his head because yeah, that was his sister. He loved those things, the dressing up, the sparky decorations whereas she seemed set on rolling her eyes at it all.
"I'm kinda seeing someone," Hunter mumbled, as if he wasn't head over heels in love and ready to give up his life for Sebastian. "But I can't tell you yet who it is because he's in the closet and like... Coming out could ruin his life." He didn't even know why he was telling his dad that, maybe because he wanted him to know and wanted his approval. He was sure Grady would approve of Sebastian and he wished he could tell him his name and everything but things were so fragile.
Grady was amused with Jen's response, but he was almost immediately distracted by Hunter's revelation. His gaze ticked back to his son and Grady took a moment to digest that. His son had a boyfriend. A closeted boyfriend. He wondered how long it had been going on, if the guy had been there, in their house. Not that Grady had a problem with it, if he had, but... ground rules and all. There should be ground rules, right? "That's great," Grady said before he shook his head and waved his hand quickly. "Not great that he can't come out, but it's great that you're seeing someone." Grady lowered his hand to the table. "You know that you can trust me, right? My knowing who he is doesn't mean anyone else would."
Jen was doing a little face journey of her own when Grady wasn't looking because of course Hunter would babble about his boyfriend to their dad. He was so naive it was almost adorable. As long as he didn't start talking about demons and witches.
"I know you'd want to talk to his parents," Hunter mumbled petulantly. "They're the only reason he's not out and he will tell them, you know, just... Maybe not until college." Or after college. Damn it sucked to have a closeted boyfriend. Maybe Grady already knew though, maybe Gaines had told him all about it and he was just fishing to see how honest Hunter would be with him. "He's really nice though, like, really nice. Good at school and no drugs, all that stuff."
If it had been under any other circumstance, Grady would have definitely wanted to talk to the boy's parents. But... if he was closeted, that wasn't his place to out the kid. "Coming out to his parents is his choice," Grady pointed out, "not mine. It's not like I'd be on the phone the second you tell me his name." It was a relief to hear the kid was nice, but Grady knew Hunter could be just saying so to keep Grady off his back. Lying came way too easily to teenagers. "If you don't want to tell me, I respect that, Hunter, as long as you know I wouldn't... it wouldn't be my place to be outing him to his parents."
Hunter glanced at his sister as if she might have the answer but she was horribly focused on her food and obviously not interested in participating in this particular conversation. Neither was Hunter even if he was the one who'd brought it up, the difference was she had the luxury to keep quiet right now.
Hunter's shoulders slumped a little and he looked at Grady again, gnawing on the inside of his cheek as he thought about it. "You promise you won't talk to them," he muttered then but even then it just felt wrong to out Sebastian to anyone, even if it was his dad.
"I promise," Grady said. He meant it too, though Grady was observant enough to recognize Hunter's discomfort. Finding out the kid's name wasn't as important as Hunter trusting him, and coming to him with the information when he finally felt comfortable to do so. "Hey, you don't have to give me his name. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do. You can tell me if you want, and that'll be that. Or you can just promise me that you two are being safe and staying out of trouble, and that'll be that too. It's honestly fine with me."
"I can ask him if he's okay with you knowing," Hunter suggested. "And if he is I'll totally tell you. But yeah, we're staying out of trouble and keeping up our grades and everything." He grinned faintly, not really wanting to start babbling about whether they were being 'safe' with his father because it was most definitely about sex. "I promise, he's really nice. If he's okay with you knowing I can introduce him to you."
Grady nodded, because there wasn't much there to protest. Hunter was a good kid, so he trusted him not to get caught up in someone who might be a bad influence. He wasn't entirely comfortable with the thought that Hunter was bringing his boyfriend home without Grady around, but what could he really say to that? Grady was almost never around, and it didn't seem fair to put that off limits. In a vague kind of way, he wishes Alison were there. She would put on her Mom hat and make the right rules known. Grady wasn't entirely sure what the right rules were. "That's fair," he told Hunter. He smirked softly at Jen. "And I suppose if I ask if you've got a boyfriend too you're going to gag some more?"
"I have friends who are boys but no, no boyfriend," Jen replied. "And the gagging was for winter formal, not boyfriends. Boys aren't that gross." She smirked and held her hand up up to indicate a small amount with her fingers. "Just a little gross."
"I can honestly say you're way grosser than me," Hunter told her and when Jen made a snarky sound in reply he made his own back and that escalated a little before he added, "You're the one with the bugs in her room."
"Some of them aren't bugs, they're gastropods," Jen shot back, rolling her eyes, as if it mattered and they kept bickering a little before getting distracted by their food again at which point Jen grinned at her dad. "So no, no boyfriends, just bugs."
It was instinctual for Grady to want to immediately start interrogating Jen about her boy friends, but he bit his tongue in an attempt to resist. He knew it wasn't right of him to just assume that those boys, whoever they were, had ulterior motives toward his daughter, and he didn't want to annoy her by asking a dozen questions. Instead, he tried not to make a face at the word gastropods because they sounded hideous and Grady did his best to avoid Jen's room for that very reason. "Bugs, not boyfriends. Got it." Grady grinned a little. "I'm... not really sure which one I would prefer for you, to be honest."
"Bugs won't break my heart or get me pregnant," Jen said, amused. "So bugs win." What she really wanted was a spider but she knew that was never going to happen while she still lived at home. When both her dad and Hunter were scared of beetles, how could it?
Hunter pulled a face of disgust, both at the bugs and the pregnant comment because ew, he did not want to think about his sister having sex at all.
The grimace was one he couldn't have stopped even if he tried and Grady wiped his fingers with a napkin while shaking his head. "Yeah, let's keep with the bugs." Grady was protective of his kids, yes, but he also knew they were mature and self sufficient, so he had never been the overbearing kind of dad. But he really, really didn't like the idea of Jen having her heart broken, or... worse, getting pregnant. So he would deal with the bugs if the bugs kept her interest away from dating for awhile. God, they needed a topic change. "So do you guys want to watch a movie after this? Your choice."
Normally Jen might have suggested a whole bunch of horror movies just to see her brother's face as he got incredulous and annoyed but he'd been through so much shit and horror movies were probably something he would now never get into. Instead she nodded and gestured at Hunter with her fork. "You pick one."
"No pressure," Hunter said, clearly not realizing the kindness she was doing him, ungrateful dork. "Maybe we can just browse until we find something we all like?" He eyed his dad. "Feels kinda like you should pick actually, you never have time to watch movies."
Picking a movie with his teenage kids felt like a lot of pressure. He didn't know what movies were... cool, or if they would actually want to watch something he enjoyed, or might enjoy. "I'm not terribly picky about movies," Grady told them. "So why don't we just see what choices we have and try to narrow it down to one. If we can't agree, we'll flip a coin." It was entirely possible that Grady would end up falling asleep on the couch anyway, given how exhausting the last few weeks had been. But he would do his best to stay awake, if it meant spending a bit of extra time with his kids.
The idea of what was cool and what wasn't had become really arbitrary lately and Grady's kids for sure did not always agree on what was cool. Hunter liked silly comedies - many of which Jen thought was absolutely ridiculous. Jen liked weird old movies and horror, most of which Hunter thought was boring or gross. They met somewhere in the middle with the things that most people liked whether they admitted it or not. They wouldn't mind it later when Grady eventually did snooze on the couch. It was comforting to have him home, especially to Hunter who was feeling a lot more timid lately than his sister.
"We'll find something, I don't think we'll have to resort to coins," Jen said as Hunter got up and started clearing the table. She just hoped Grady wouldn't end up getting yet another call because of an emergency. He really looked like he could do with some time out.