A new pair of characters come into the scene this time. Before you meet them, and before you wonder if they're yet again an example of my tendency to write caricatures in order to make a point (I feel like I've done that a few times throughout the course of this series of stories), I assure you that they are modeled almost precisely like a pair of people I know from my own life.
From my own family, in fact.
Once you read the chapter, I'm sure you'll be able to guess my feelings on that particular score.
Still, I hope you find it entertaining.
Let's see what happens, shall we?
"You're still letting that delinquent stay here, after how he treated Matthew?"
Enid Brinkley tried to keep her face neutral, and she was thankful at least that Gareth had the common decency to look chagrined as his "wife" spoke. Gareth was the black sheep of the Boulter family, and she'd long since come to terms with the fact that she no longer enjoyed her brother's company; she could almost say that she no longer loved him.
And most of that had come from the choices he'd made since meeting…
"I asked you a question, Enid!"
"I am refusing to dignify it with an answer," Enid replied smoothly. "You have been invited into my home, and I expect you to treat everyone under this roof with respect. That includes me, and it includes Mokuba. If you can't do that, leave."
"Don't get all high and mighty with me!" Nadine Kerns crowed. "You know well as I do, this is Leonard's house. You didn't pay for it."
"And you didn't pay for the lovely used Pontiac in the driveway," Enid said. "You still drive it, do you not? Leo may have bought this house, but I still live here. And I still expect you to refrain from insulting the people staying here."
"Oh, so nobody can insult you in this house, but some random rich bastard can come in and insult my son whenever he wants, is that it?"
"I may not approve of the way Mister Kaiba treated Matt," Enid said, "and I have asked that he refrain from that kind of behavior in the future. He has graciously complied. Your son, however, has not held up his end of the bargain."
"Bargain?!" Nadine looked like a bullfrog, the way air puffed into her cheeks in her fury. "That man assaulted my son!"
"Matthew assaulted his."
"He doesn't have a—"
"Word games might be a pleasant pastime," Enid cut in, "but I'm growing tired of them. Seto Kaiba is his brother's legal guardian. It is his job to take care of him. Matthew put himself into a very dangerous position, and I will not take responsibility for it. I have told him time and time again to respect my wishes; he refuses to listen. I suggest that you take him home, and teach him proper manners."
Gareth looked embarrassed. Nadine looked murderous.
The Brinkley home wasn't a large one. The living room, in which Enid was now engaging in such wondrous conversation with her extended family, was only separated from her son's bedroom by a short hallway and two walls. Considering the volume of his aunt's voice, Connor (and thus, Mokuba) had to be able to hear it.
Enid walked over to the small faux-leather couch that took up the majority of the north wall of the room and sat down. "If you would like tea or coffee, perhaps we can continue this conversation civilly. If not, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Enid," Gareth said, plaintively, sending such a withering glare at his wife that Nadine's mouth snapped shut. "I…I know we've made some mistakes with Matt. He's going through a lot, and…and we haven't really been helping him as much as we should. But…but you have to understand…we can't just let this go. A man came into your house and almost choked him to death. That's…that's…"
Enid didn't bother to argue that Seto Kaiba hadn't even come close to choking Matthew Kerns (for some reason Enid couldn't fathom, he preferred to go by his mother's name) to death. The thought crossed her mind that when Seto Kaiba wanted to kill someone…they died.
That argument was just as limp and stale as the ones Nadine was flinging at her, and Enid refused to sink to that level. She said instead, "I understand, Gareth, and I apologize. However, it is not Mokuba's fault that his brother chose to behave that way. The poor boy has no more control over his brother than anyone else. So as to the question, yes. I continue to allow Mokuba into this house. And I will continue to do so for the foreseeable future."
That Mokuba had no control over his big brother was so far beyond a lie that it felt slimy to say it.
"That's…fair. From what Matt tells us, though, Mokuba has been threatening him, using his brother as a…as a…kind of weapon."
More like a shield, Enid thought.
"Mokuba defends himself, and he defends his friends. Of which Connor is perhaps the one. Shall we bring up how Matthew has been treating my son, too? Or would you rather just save that conversation for another time? Shall I have him show you the bruises?" A dark, sharp look visited Enid's face, and Gareth quailed.
"They're boys," Nadine squawked.
"So, when Mokuba threatens Matthew, it's assault. But when Matthew threatens Connor, it's expected." Enid stood up, eyes blazing. "Get out. Now. I've heard enough, and judging by how loud you've been, I'm sure Connor has heard enough, as well. If you're going to ignore the way Matthew treats my son, again, then I'm done listening to anything you have to say."
"Enid—"
"Out, Gareth. Come back without her, and we'll see if we can resolve this."
"Don't you talk about me like that, you b—"
A knock came at the door, sharp and quick. Authoritative. Enid knew who it was almost before she heard it, and a certain dark part of her personality started giggling like a fool. She stepped aside and opened the front door.
Seto Kaiba stood on the porch, dressed in a tan suit with a black shirt and tie. He inclined his head. "Missus Brinkley," he said. "Mokuba has a meeting with our development team in an hour. I'd like him to get ready at home."
"Of course, Mister Kaiba," Enid said, stepping aside and gesturing for him to enter. "I'll go get him."
He stepped inside, and Enid noticed with some amount of satisfaction that he was blatantly ignoring the glare Nadine Kerns was leveling on him. His hands were in the pockets of his slacks, his stance was easy. He looked like nothing at all concerned him at the moment.
She entered the hall and walked down to her son's bedroom, where Connor and Mokuba were playing a videogame. Well, Connor was playing. Mokuba seemed to be coaching him. He was pointing to the screen, explaining various things about the game as if he were a private tutor, and Connor his student.
"Mokuba," Enid said, and the black-haired boy looked over.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Your brother's here, sweetie. He says you have a meeting."
Mokuba's eyes went wide and he pulled a cellular phone out of his pocket. "Oh! Sorry, Connor, I gotta go. Thanks, Missus Brinkley!" He shot out of the room and blazed past Enid like a certain body part were on fire.
Connor blinked. "…Whoa."
Enid smiled.
