xp_logs | Julian & Jan: Disowned

After receiving a letter from home, Julian finds himself without a family. Jan follows-up with him after hearing about it.

((Backdated to Yesterday because there is another log coming up right after this that is not done yet)).

Jan knocked on Julian's door. Apparently, Nico's magical fun hadn't been the only big event at the mansion in the past few days. While what had happened to Julian wasn't anywhere near as noticeable as decorations-come-to-life, Jan knew it was something pretty huge from Julian's perspective.

Opening the door, Julian smiled at his RA as if nothing was wrong. There wasn't anything to be bothered by, the letter had just been a misunderstanding that he would straighten out shortly. "Hey Jan, what's up?"

"I just wanted to drop by, see how you're doing," Jan said. Not that Julian was necessarily going to tell her the truth, she realized.

"Everything is just fine, thanks," Julian returned, it even sounded sincere. "How have you been doing?"

"I'm ok," Jan said. "If you don't want to talk to me, it's ok, you know. Dr. Samson's away right now, or I'd suggest that, but we could try to see about arranging for you guys to talk if you wanted. The Professor's always available to talk, too, or anyone on the staff, really. Anyone you feel comfortable talking to."

"Talking to about what?" he asked, knowing full well what she was probably referring to. "Did I do something wrong?"

Well, his parents certainly thought he had done something wrong, obviously, but Jan wasn't about to actually say that to the kid. "Whatever you want to talk about," Jan replied. "But, well, your parents... I know it has to be rough. It's been more than a year since my dad took off without leaving a forwarding address. Not quite the same thing, I know, but still."

Unaware the family lawyer had contacted the school, Julian's face fell. "Wait, what about my parents? Did one of the Cuckoos tell you something?" Perhaps one of the blond gossips had stolen the information from his mind as they so often did. "Because whatever it is, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."

Jan looked confused. "Julian, there's all sorts of legal stuff involved in this. It isn't just my dad going off somewhere and no longer putting money in my bank account. Not that anyone here ever has to worry about paying to go here, but your parents were paying tuition, and now they're not. I mean, we can hope they''ll come to their senses and change their minds, but for now, this is real, and it's ok for you to be upset and hurt and angry and all of that stuff."

Julian just stared at her and blinked a couple times before taking the letter out of his pocket. "I thought it was some sort of misunderstanding," he said, looking at the creased envelope in his hands.

Jan started to get a better idea of what was going on. "Oh. Yeah, that's what I thought, too, when my dad seemed to vanish. He left a note, and he sold our house, so I knew he hadn't just disappeared, but I still thought it had to be some sort of mistake, that he wouldn't really do that. I mean, I'd always known he wasn't the world's greatest fan of mutants, but still." She sighed. "It's going to be ok, Julian. And, like I said before, they could still change their minds. But, you are an adult, legally at least, and you're smart and you're talented and you have friends... The school year just began, you know, so you would have been here through the end of the school year anyway, right? Maybe things will change by then, just give it time, and know that you've got people who are here for you."

It was at that moment that Julian realized that his parents would never change their mind. "Yeah...uh...yeah...,"he stammered, unsure of what to say. "I mean, I'm...sure it was just a mistake, right?"

Julian seemed to be repeating himself, no matter what Jan said. "I think what they did was a mistake on their part," she said carefully. "But I'm sure they gave this some thought before calling in their lawyer. I recommend not counting on using your credit card anymore."

Collapsing down on his bed, Julian ran a hand through his hair, "I am so screwed."

"No you're not." Jan shook her head. "It will take some getting used to, but you'll be ok. Really. It's not the end of the world. It seems like it now, I'm sure, but it's really just an unexpected roadblock. Give it time, you can get around it." Jan was pretty sure that nothing she said mattered, what Julian was going through was horrible, but she really wished she could help and make him feel better.

"Hey, Jan," Julian said, finally looking on her. "Thanks. And I'm sorry that happened to you."

"I'm sorry this is happening to you now, too," Jan said. "Parents are real jerks sometimes."

"Yeah, they really are," Julian's face was turning red. A few moments of silence passed before he sat up and crumpled the letter in his hand. "They really, really are."