TV Killed the Radio Star (Open to Mansion Folk)

[dolemeck]

He really did not want to, but Dolemeck honestly felt he had no choice but to finally give in and be a part of the reality TV show based on his Father. All he would have to do is act, right? Pretend they were a happy family, that his parents were not addicts, and he was a good son going to a good school in the States. But when the cameras were not filming? It was complete chaos.

The damn thing had not aired, yet. They had only three episodes in full, and needed another nine before the Summer ended. Producers kept trying to tell him to be more "interesting", even trying to set him up with some starlet his age for publicity. He thankfully knew well enough to turn that down, but everything else he did. He performed music for the cameras, ate meals with his folks, then at the end of the day... take a cab back to the mansion.

After the cab dropped him off inside the gates of the mansion, Dolemeck decided to take a bit of a walk before heading inside. It was only dusk, and there was still some light on the grounds to enjoy. Despite it being the Summer, he had on his leather coat, matching pants, and a long sleeved white shirt. If anything, he appeared more ready for winter than anything else.

Comments

[dolemeck]

"What do you mean?" He raised an eyebrow, before adjusting his eyepatch. "You mean the whole "we're a totally normal family" bit? Until the producers tell me they've finished filming I suppose."

He put his hands in his coat pockets rather gingerly from what Fred could see.

"How long do you plan to stay in that tree?"

[dark_scion]

"I find this soothing. I suppose it appeals to my animal nature," Fred mused. He shrugged. "I have not decided."

He glimpsed down at Dolemeck.

"I was referring to the damage you have been continually trying to hide," he said bluntly.

[dolemeck]

"I do not know what you are talking about." There was no way Fred could know. He was bluffing, trying to fish information out of him.

"I am not trying to hide anything, Fred. Well, maybe my smoking habit, but that is about it."

[dark_scion]

"Oh it's relatively simple to hide," Fred conceded. "However I know such things very well from my own..highly questionable upbringing." Fred's tone remained even, though there was a slight hint of edge to it. "You have advantages I did not. You have friends you can turn to. You would be wise to utilize them."

[dolemeck]

"I unfortunately cannot." He ended up muttering. Dolemeck got closer to the tree, and then took his time sitting down under it.

"Me brother may have legal custody of me, but me Da and Mum still hold the purse strings. If anyone finds out about this, me funding for the school goes away. Not just that, I could be sent back across the pond. So you cannot say a thing to anyone, Fred!"

His eye narrowed a bit, right before his head lowered.

"It will just be until the end o' the summer, and then it'll be done with. Then I can go back to studying, classes, and being boring. I will not have to deal with Da anymore after the filming is done."

[dark_scion]

"You needn't worry," Fred replied, nonplussed. "It is not my place, and even if I were to do so I would have done it already."

"So funds is the sole thing keeping this regrettable arrangement in place?"

[dolemeck]

"Aye. Da pays for everything. The clothes on me back, me sewing machine, my tuition at the school... Hell, he even paid for one of me brothers to go to Uni and the other to start his own band." He frowned, one hand going through his hair.

"He doesn't care that me back is screwed up. He's still pissed about how I talked back at him months ago... and how Professor Franklin stopped him from punching me. I mean, aye, that was my fault... I should not have done that..."

His green eyes began looking around, trying not to focus on anything.

"I just have to try better for the stupid show is all. If I try harder, it will not be as bad, aye? Maybe he will finally even be nice to me..."

[dark_scion]

Fred was quiet for a time.

"Do you have an estimation of how much money you would require?"

[dolemeck]

"I do not know." He admitted. "It has to be a lot, though. I got what I guess could be considered a "trust fund" for me care. I do not have access to it until I reach a certain age or if me condition worsens."

He looked up at Fred. How easy it was to forget he no longer had two eyes. Dolemeck just continued to fiddle with his eye patch.

"Regardless, it is still under someone's control. And the fact I am not an American citizen yet makes it even worse. If me family wants me back, I would have to go back. So even if I had the money, it would mean nothing if I was ordered back to England."

[dark_scion]

"I see. Well there is nothing I can do regarding inconvenient legalities, however," Fred paused once more before looking back down at Dolemeck. "I would consider perhaps offering you a substantial "loan."

[dolemeck]

"A loan?" He blinked, before frowning once more.

"Knowing you, you would have quite the interest rate if I borrowed from you. And the conversion rate from a euro would be murder!"

He tried to fold his arms over his chest, only to flinch. Dolemeck then quickly did his best to look serious, and not in any pain.

"As good as a friend as you are, Fred, I will pass. I just... I need to toughen up some more is all. I got a handle on this! And as long as I keep doing what needs to be done, things will be fine!"

[dark_scion]

"I was attempting humor. It would appear I need to work harder. I do not expect it is something you would be paying back," Fred explained.

"I have patents under false names that leave me a substantial sum of funds I used to stay ahead of my progenitor until I arrived here. Until now I have yet to find a means of utilizing them. Whether you take my offer or not, I have no immediate use for that money any longer." Fred maintained a calm veneer, not wanting to showcase any deeper emotions.

[dolemeck]

"Maybe you should just donate it or something? A hospital for sick kids or something." He was hesitant. Mostly because he thought he had a handle on the whole situation. Now Fred was making him question everything. Or was that his conscious?

"Thank you though, Fred. That was very kind of ye. Something I doubt you've heard a lot of, but I mean it. Every word."

[dark_scion]

"I question whether the money would go to the intended recipients, but it is food for thought."

Fred didn't no what to say, so he simply said, "..Thank you."

[dolemeck]

"You are welcome, Fred." He managed a weak smile.

"And thank you for keeping my secret. It means a lot to have someone I can trust, again. Since Illya left... I have not had that."

[dark_scion]

"I see..well..you are welcome as well. As I said, it is not my place to say anything, though you would perhaps want to consider a confidante a bit more..empathetic than myself," Fred advised.

[dolemeck]

"Empathetic or not, it is just nice to have someone listen, Fred." Dolemeck had to point that out.

"You keep putting yourself down a lot. Anyone ever tell you that?"

[dark_scion]

Fred frowned.

"I am merely being honest."

[dolemeck]

"I say something nice about you, and you have to find a way of erasing it." Dolemeck said in a huff.

"You just find some way to put yourself down each and every time, Fred. I just do not get it! You are not as bad as you think. A little cold at times, aye. But you do have some really great qualities."

[dark_scion]

"Hmph, I am aware of my strengths. I am simply cognizant that pointing them out to others could be misconstrued as egotism," Fred objected.

[dolemeck]

"It is not egotism. You can just simply say "thank you" when given a compliment, instead of saying something negative." He pointed out, cringing a little as he adjusted his seating from under the tree.

"We are not our Fathers, you know that, aye?"

[dark_scion]

Frew was quite for a time. "..I suppose not."

[dolemeck]

"We're growing up to be better men. At least I would like to believe that." He gave off a long sigh.

"I once wanted to be a rock-star like him. On stage, he's charming, fun, loves his fans. Behind the curtain, he's a violent addict who sleeps with groupies, and neglects his family. I could never be like that."

[dark_scion]

Fred said nothing at all at that. He was nowhere near ready to discuss the events that constituted his "upbringing", for lack of a better word, so he just listened.

[dolemeck]

"What about yours? You do not say much about him... other that he hurt you the way mine hurts me." Dolemeck asked, though he wondered if he should have at all.

"Never-mind, I am asking too much o' ye. Forget I said anything."