forum Romance Roleplay (Closed O/O)

Started March 02, 2020 by @Rainy_day_artist_classic group

tune

As expected, Mr. Brennahan came around the corner, smiling softly when he saw Lucas. “Hey, Lucas. How was school?” He asked softly, keeping up a light smile as he entered the kitchen.

"It was alright." Lucas smiled weakly as he looked up at Mr. Brennahan. "How was work?" He asked softly.

“Same here. Alright I guess.” Mr. Brennahan gave a little shrug, pulling a glass from the cabinet. “I feel like I’m being blunt here, but it seems silly to beat around the bush. Melissa came up and talked to me last night… how are you doing after that?”

Lucas flushed lightly and looked away. "U-Um… well… to be honest, not fantastic? Like… I can't stop thinking about it." He sighed. "I've been trying not to do that I don't worry Melissa, but… it's hard…" He rubbed his forearms nervously, the cuts seeming to twinge when he talked about them.

Mr. Brennahan’s face dropped some, and he let out a soft sigh. “It’s a lot worse than I thought… do you wanna talk about it?” He offered in a soft tone, not quite sure how to respond. “I’ve really never had to deal with this kind of thing before, honestly just tell me what you need. Is there anything I can do?”

Lucas looked up at Mr. Brennahan weakly, not quite sure what to say. "I… um… what all do you want to know…?" He asked quietly, fidgeting a bit from nerves.

“If you’re willing to talk with me, whatever you deem important.” Mr. Brennahan replied simply, filling a glass with water. “But if you don’t want to talk, either to me, or just in general, you don’t have to. I’m just concerned about you, and want to know what I can to try and help.”

"Okay, um… I think it was sorta triggered by… um… w-well, I feel really bad about keeping my situation hidden for so long, so I try to tell Melissa details and stuff, but… it tends to get me in a bad mindset because then I'm thinking about it… and then I get to reading into it way too much and start blaming myself for everything, and that's when… that's when I usually end up… y-you know…" He looked away again, clearly nervous. "Knowing more about what was happening to me upsets her, and I hate that, but… I-I feel like she deserves to know what was happening…" He sighed shakily, trying not to think to much in an attempt to keep himself from crying. "And after… um… this-" He vaguely gestured to his forearms. "-I generally end up having nightmares, which are… stressful. And very vivid. Generally they're of my family members or Melissa getting hurt or dying, or just flashbacks, or the rope thing… and it's to the point where sometimes I can't even remember whether or not my dad is alive…"

Mr. Brennahan listened to him in silence, noting he was starting to get pretty worked up. Setting aside the glass he was holding, he slowly approached Lucas with a soft expression. Though he wasn't smiling, knowing this was too serious to pretend it wasn't. "And how long has this been happening? If you don't mind telling me, that is." He replied in a soft tone, resting a hand on Lucas's shoulder.

"U-Um… a few years…? I've had the nightmares since my mother died… they've just… they've just gotten a lot worse as everything else got worse." Lucas jumped a bit when Mr. Brennahan touched him, but didn't pull away, only starting to tremble lightly.

Mr. Brennahan went to pull away when Lucas flinched, but slowly relaxed as he did. "And, with all things considered, you haven't told anyone? You've never gone to therapy, or anything of the sort?" He asked, his voice still soft. He was trying his best to be friendly, but wasn't really sure if that was working.

Lucas shook his head nervously, fidgeting with his sleeves a bit. "N-No sir, I… um… I've never been able to afford therapy, sir… and I'm sure my father wouldn't have allowed it. And… um… I haven't really told anyone other than Melissa and you…"

A light sigh escaped his lips, as he nodded a little bit. "That's what I thought… I really didn't expect you to have. I'd be pretty surprised if you had said you had." Mr. Brennahan admitted, gently rubbing up and down his arm. "Clearly, you need some kind of professional help; but would you want it?"

"W-Well, yes, I… I'm sure it would help, but I… um… I know I'm working now and all, but I still can't afford therapy. It's… um… it's not super cheap…" Lucas sighed, training his eyes on the floor. "And I'm afraid I'd end up with the wrong therapist… and… I'm scared they'll send me to a mental hospital…"

Mr. Brennahan didn't make Lucas look up at him, continuing to rub his arm gently. "Hey, we're not talking about what could go wrong, right now. If you're worried about it, I'd always be willing to help you, Lucas." He insisted in a soft tone, hearing Melissa's footsteps from upstairs.

"B-But sir, I… I couldn't possibly make you do that for me… you've already done so much." Lucas replied weakly, turning his watery gaze up to Mr. Brennahan. "I can just… I… I can wait for a bit until I have enough money, and… I dunno… it might take a few months, or a year or so, b-but I… I'll be f-fine…"

"Lucas, I can't let you go on like this. It's not good for you," Mr. Brennahan insisted, resting his other hand on his other shoulder. "I honestly owe you this. For everything you've done to try and help Melissa… I hate to admit it, but I had no clue what was going on." He admitted, letting out a soft breath. "And if you insist I can't help you for your sake, let me help you for Melissa's sake."

"S-Sir, I… I c… I c-can't…" Lucas stammered, no idea where his sentence was going. His chest and throat tightened up and his breathing grew more raspy and quick. "P-Please…" He coughed a bit as he tried and failed to draw in a full breath, black creeping in at the corners of his vision.

Mr. Brennahan started pulling back, feeling a slight panic arise. It took him a moment to think straight, noting he looked rather hazy in his panicked fit. "Oh god, he's gonna black out." Quickly he came up and wrapped an arm around his waist to lead him into the living room. "Hey, shhh," He whispered, sitting him down on the couch. "Come on Lucas, I need you to try and breath for me."

"I c-can't…" Lucas whispered weakly, wincing as he held one hand to his throat. A wave of heat washed over him and he swayed a bit where he sat, his heart racing in his chest. His face was very pale and he didn't seem to be quite able to focus.

Mr. Brennahan rest a hand on his shoulder, trying to rub it soothingly. "I don't want to bombard you with questions, but do you want to lie down? Or is there something I can do?" He asked slowly, trying to keep from stressing him out anymore.

"I-I dunno, I just…" Lucas exhaled shakily and closed his eyes, getting dizzy from his spinning vision. "I can't… I can't think…" He murmured, more color draining out of his cheeks. His ears were ringing loudly and he could hardly focus at all.

Mr. Brennahan nodded, falling quiet. That's all he could think to do right now— give him space, and give him time. He would sit here in case Lucas needed him, but didn't want to engage any further. There wasn't much he could do otherwise.

After a few minutes of struggling to breathe, Lucas managed to force himself to draw in a full breath. "I-I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" He whispered once he was coherent again.

With Lucas starting to relax, Mr. Brennahan looked up at him from his spot on the floor. "Hey, you don't need to be sorry, Lucas. I put a lot of stress on you just a minute ago, I should be the one apologizing…"

Lucas nodded weakly as the feeling slowly came back into his fingertips. The fogginess in his head started to fade a bit. "B-But I… I shouldn't have freaked out like that… I'm sorry…"

"Lucas, you really don't have to apologize. You did nothing wrong." Mr. Brennahan whispered, keeping his legs crossed while he sat on the floor. "Are you feeling any better?"

Lucas shrugged a bit and sighed. "I guess so… I mean… I can breathe now, so that's something." He ran his fingers through his hair, tapping one foot on the floor nervously.

Mr. Brennahan gave him a soft sigh, starting to push up off the floor. "That's true… is there anything I can do for you? If not, I can just leave you alone for now..? Or- if you need some alone time, I can always tell Melissa for you."

"Um… m-may I have a glass of water, please? I'm sorry…" Lucas said softly, fidgeting a bit. "My throat is still really tight…"