Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 9, 2022 19:31:43 GMT -5
As soon as he was sure the man had left, Winter met Tim's eyes. Annoying the crap out of him and pushing his buttons might have been his favorite pass time, but Tim was the only adult he had come to trust in his life. The only constant thing in his every changing life. "Do I have to?" he muttered.
Tim sighed and nodded. He knew how much Jace hated the changes and the starting overs. He knew that, while a lot of his behavior could be changed if the boy put some effort, a lot of it was a learned response from the hand he had been dealt. Sadly, a lot of children in his position had a lot of the same issues, and it was hard on them to improve when there was not a good, safe environment to stay in for a long period of time. Under the calloused and jaded exterior was just a kid wanting to stay with someone he knew and could trust. "Yes, you do," he replied. "Actions have consiquences, and you've got to face them. But I honestly think this time will be different. The Risings are good people, Jace. They'll take care of you and treat you as their own."
He had heard that line before. Winter could count on one hand the amount of homes he had been in that were genuinely "good" homes. The foster parents were kind and attentive and the children already in the household were, for the most part, chill. But he had always gotten sent back, for one reason or another, because his antics were just too much for them to handle. This one would be no different. "Can I just pay for the damages and be done?" he asked. He didn't have a whole lot of money, but Tim had helped him set up a bank account where he would deposit money he had acquired from doing odd jobs here and there to help pay for his own things. It wouldn't be enough to cover all of the damage he caused, but if it kept him from staying here, he would give every last penny he had.
"I'm afraid not," Tim replied. He stepped closer to give the boy a brotherly hug, one that he thought he wasn't going to get a response from, but he eventually felt Jace return it. "You can call me if you need anything, and I'll be back in two weeks to check in." Of course, he didn't need to remind Jace of the schedule, but he repeated it anyway. He released him, gave him a pat on the shoulder, and made sure he made eye contact with him before continuing. "Promise you'll try, Jace. This can very well be the last pace you have to move to. Play your cards right, and you'll have a good time here."
"Yeah, sure," Winter muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets again.
Tim nodded, knowing that was all he was going to get. "Then I'll be going. I'll see you in two weeks. I'll see you then."
Winter said nothing as his social worker walked over to the kitchen doorway and informed the Risings that he was heading out. He got one more pat on the shoulder as he walked by, and then the man was out the door and beyond his sight.
Tim sighed and nodded. He knew how much Jace hated the changes and the starting overs. He knew that, while a lot of his behavior could be changed if the boy put some effort, a lot of it was a learned response from the hand he had been dealt. Sadly, a lot of children in his position had a lot of the same issues, and it was hard on them to improve when there was not a good, safe environment to stay in for a long period of time. Under the calloused and jaded exterior was just a kid wanting to stay with someone he knew and could trust. "Yes, you do," he replied. "Actions have consiquences, and you've got to face them. But I honestly think this time will be different. The Risings are good people, Jace. They'll take care of you and treat you as their own."
He had heard that line before. Winter could count on one hand the amount of homes he had been in that were genuinely "good" homes. The foster parents were kind and attentive and the children already in the household were, for the most part, chill. But he had always gotten sent back, for one reason or another, because his antics were just too much for them to handle. This one would be no different. "Can I just pay for the damages and be done?" he asked. He didn't have a whole lot of money, but Tim had helped him set up a bank account where he would deposit money he had acquired from doing odd jobs here and there to help pay for his own things. It wouldn't be enough to cover all of the damage he caused, but if it kept him from staying here, he would give every last penny he had.
"I'm afraid not," Tim replied. He stepped closer to give the boy a brotherly hug, one that he thought he wasn't going to get a response from, but he eventually felt Jace return it. "You can call me if you need anything, and I'll be back in two weeks to check in." Of course, he didn't need to remind Jace of the schedule, but he repeated it anyway. He released him, gave him a pat on the shoulder, and made sure he made eye contact with him before continuing. "Promise you'll try, Jace. This can very well be the last pace you have to move to. Play your cards right, and you'll have a good time here."
"Yeah, sure," Winter muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets again.
Tim nodded, knowing that was all he was going to get. "Then I'll be going. I'll see you in two weeks. I'll see you then."
Winter said nothing as his social worker walked over to the kitchen doorway and informed the Risings that he was heading out. He got one more pat on the shoulder as he walked by, and then the man was out the door and beyond his sight.
