Interlude - The Young Scion (2/2)
”Nephew!” Cornelius cried gaily, as he approached the massive oak desk. ”Why are you hiding yourself away on such a fine day!? Come, have lunch with me!”
Connor groaned. ”I'm busy, Uncle Cornelius.”
”Busy, pah!” His uncle waved a dismissive hand, while scooping up one of the documents arrayed on the desk. ”What is it that you are—” He blinked. ”Upgrade documentation?” An eyebrow raised incredulously. ”Why do you have all of these?”
Connor hesitated for only a moment. Lying here would be unbecoming. ”I'm reconsidering the Twice-Born upgrade.”
”Oh.” The reply was laced with unsubtle disbelief. ”That seems a... poor decision.”
Connor shrugged. ”I'm merely exploring my options. I still have time.”
His uncle wore an expression that Connor had never before seen. Uncertainty. The older man took a seat on the nearest chair, leaning forward to meet Connor's eyes. Even while seated, he towered over the desk.
”You've been training for this your whole life, Connor,” he said cautiously, measuring every word. ”It's normal to have some jitters. Natural, even.” He cracked an unsteady grin. ”I've got a bottle of bourbon that might help ease those symptoms. It's a little early but we can tell your mother that it's for your health!”
”That's not it,” Connor denied, deliberately ignoring the invitation to drink. He couldn't be sure if it was a joke, and had no intention of finding out. Freya would castrate him if she found out that he got drunk at one in the afternoon on a Thursday.
Uncle Cornelius furrowed his brow. His hand swept through his hair, to absolutely no effect. The finest hair gel had been slathered through those red locks. It popped back into aesthetically pleasing chaos with an almost audible sproing.
”Is this about the, ah,” the older man cast about for an appropriate word. He settled on, ”The other thing?”
Connor's kidnapping. It was an uncomfortable topic in the household. There was shame there, hiding among the family, though the source and direction was unclear, even to Connor. It was a conversation killer. Nothing constructive could be found on the topic.
”No,” he decided. ”It's not about the other thing.” It couldn't be. The conversation wouldn't happen, if it was.
Cornelius lightened considerably upon hearing Connor's words. ”Well then, what's the problem? I should be able to answer any questions you might have. I am, after all, an expert in my own upgrade!”
”I'm not convinced of its efficacy,” Connor replied simply.
The very idea seemed to stall his uncle's enthusiasm. ”You— But it's... Connor, the upgrade is extremely well documented. Our family has spent a great deal of time and money optimizing the path to greatness. You're aren't going to get a lemon.”
”Not that sort of efficacy, uncle,” Connor corrected, shaking his head. ”I'm not convinced that it will help me attain my long-term goals. Or, at least, not better than a different option.”
Cornelius frowned. ”The Twice-Born is the single best all-rounder available to us. The whole idea is it will allow you to succeed in whatever specialization you want. It's an exceptional upgrade.”
”No,” Connor mused. ”Exceptional is what it isn't. It's unexceptional in every way. It simply makes me more me.”
An awkward expression flashed across Cornelius's face, a hint of discomfort, as he held up both hands. ”Okay, that's a little more than I can unpack. Would you like me to call Freya?”
Connor shot him a puzzled look. ”No. Why would I need you to do that?”
”Oh, no reason. Its just been a while since I was your age. Hard to identify with, y'know. Teenager problems,” Cornelius replied with both hands still held in front of him. ”It's better to talk to a woman about these sorts of things, anyway.”
”I feel like we're having two entirely different conversations, uncle,” Connor stated blandly. His pocket buzzed before the older man could reply. Connor fished out his phone, scanning the text message.
”A friend of mine has asked for my assistance,” Connor announced. He no longer cringed at calling Newman a friend. The odd man had grown on him like a fungus, and seemed to be seated in a much higher social position than he had first appeared. Besides, Miss Summers might have some interesting insights on Connor's upgrade choices. He scooped up the scattered papers, and quickly dumped them into a nearby envelope.
”I'll be taking my leave now, uncle Cornelius.”
”Ah, yes.” Cornelius flashed him a cocksure smile. He waved his hand dramatically. ”Go, young man! Spend time with your friends! Recollect yourself, and find me when you return! We can go over any issues with your upgrade that might remain, at that time.”
Connor rolled his eyes at a man that had once been his personal hero. There were times he wished that he was still young and naive. It made life so much simpler.