Obsession of the Week

Nestor loves his wiggly boy. It’s cute. It often makes him smile and laugh to watch Fethry wiggle around. He wonders if he should be concerned by how still Fethry is. He softly hisses at him and runs his fingers gently over the top of Feth’s feathers.

…But then suddenly words. A lot of words. Woah.

Nestor doesn’t follow all of that. He doesn’t know what Fethry means when he’s talking about an egg. Egg, what egg? He’s not going to ask, he’s just going to focus on the parts he understood.

Zé has Nestor convinced it’s best they hide the most concerning aspects of their relationship away from Fethie. But if Zé was being a manipulative jerk, well… then that’s already revealed. “Zé can be a real fucking asshole sometimes…”

“I think it’s for the best you walked away and didn’t let him tangle you up…. I’m glad you left.” The corner of his mouth twitches slightly. Nestor thought Zé was being nice to Fethry, but what if he’s been subtly using him for things for awhile and this was just the first time someone noticed? Nestor will destroy him. Absolutely destroy him. Zé is not allowed to do this to Feth.

Despite some anger boiling up, having his husband snuggled up keeps him fairly calm. Nestor continues to rhythmically pet Fethry. Slow soothing motions.

Nestor isn’t mad at him. Fethry starts nuzzling against Nestor’s chest. Nestor’s not mad. He did the right thing.

Scrooge gives a tiny smile and a shrug at comment. It was true that Quackmore didn’t really like anyone, and he didn’t know much about Fethry’s father, but he’d take his word for it.

“Ah’m sure she wasn’t, lad.” A hand is placed on his nephew’s shoulder. Scrooge isn’t tremendous at comfort, but he tries his best. “An’ Ah’m sure ye are too.” A bigger, encouraging smile forms on his beak.

“Do ye know why Ah believe in people like Gyro, or Launchpad, or Fenton, or even Quackfaster? It’s because no one has ever given them a chance. Everyone sees them as dangerous, or crazy, or useless, but Ah don’t. Ah see wonderful, magnificent people who can work jus’ as hard as anyone else. Even more so. Ah see th’ same in ye.”

Fethry blinks owlishly at Scrooge, letting his words really sink in. Scrooge believes in him. And his face lights up with that realization.

“Ok sweetie. We’ll stay here for now. If you want something different make a noise and I’ll figure it out.” Any time Fethry wants to go somewhere else they’ll go. For now Nestor is thinking Fethie wants to stay right here.

He can remember that it used to be any time Fethry was upset, Nestor would panic. He didn’t know how to handle Fethry’s big emotions. But now this feels very natural. Yes, his heart hurts that his husband is distressed but… He knows Fethie will be ok. And he feels like he knows what he needs to do to help.

Click… Click… Click…. Rattle rattle. He’s making small noises. The clicks are slow and follow a repetitive rhythm. The rattles last longer and have a fascinating rolling noise quality to them.

Fethry is snuggling and cuddling up real close. Nestor understands this to mean that lots of affection is good right now. Fethie would like to be held in a way that feels loving and secure. He’s glad to hold Feth close. These very intimate hugs are Nestor’s favorite.

He makes a few tiny hiss-clicks for Fethie. I love you handsome bird I’m glad you came and asked for a hug this feels good for me too. His feathers have fluffed up a bit as they tend to do when Nestor feels protective. It makes him feel softer. It’s so easy to snuggle and hide in.

Helping Fethie feel safe and protecting him is of immeasurable importance.

He assumes Fethry is feeling less interested in words right now so he doesn’t want to talk too much, mostly make bird noises. But Nestor has one question he’d like to ask. “Would you like to go to the living room?” Or is staying here fine? Cuddling on the couch would be more comfy. He expects Feth to answer with a head movement or a noise.

Fethry loves Nestor’s bird sounds. They’re safe. They make sense. 

Nestor had been in the middle of trying to unclog the sink using a sink snake. He doesn’t have any confirmation but he has vague suspicion that this clogged sink might be the result of Dugan… or Zé… Probably not Maude. Probably not Fethry. Those two tend to let Nestor know when something happened he needs to fix.

Sink isn’t as important as his husband, of course. “Scaring?” Nestor repeats. Anger. It’s a very familiar emotion he’s VERY used to directing at his best friend. He wants more details so he can reprimand José, but he can tell Fethry just needs only hugs right now. Not explaining. Nestor will be angry later.

“Yes, yes. Is this a good hug?” He wraps his arms loose around Fethry. Nestor will gauge how Fethy reacts and give him the kind of hug Feth needs. He’ll hold him close and tight if that’s what Feth needs. He doesn’t need Fethry to answer using words. Feth could sigh, hum or whine. He could move his body closer to snuggle up more. Nestor will know what it means.

Fethry is so grateful Nestor doesn’t need an explanation right away. It was so difficult figuring out that initial sentence. He doesn’t know how he’d even start to explain all the implications behind what José said and why it upset him.

Fethry does not owe an explination to anyone. But he's shaken up and scared. So he's found Nestor. Because José said he was going to tell Nestor and he can't let José talk to him first. He can't- he can't-

"Can I have a hug? I tried to talk to José about stupid people, but he ended up scarying me."

Asking José to stop smooth talking is a difficult request. José doesn’t know how to stop. He doesn’t realize he’s doing it. The best lies are lies the liar believes. How can he be treating Fethry awful right now? José believes he’s being nice. The belief shows in his body language. The concern on his face. Isn’t it obvious José is being nice? Why is Fethry mad at José for being protective? A good friend? José isn’t doing anything wrong by deeply caring about his friend.

“You were making it sound like you would not tell me if it happened again. Like you were upset I might look out for you, so you would hide it from me.” José replies. He tries to make his reaction justified while deflecting the blame onto Fethry. If Fethry had made it clear he would continue to be open with José, he wouldn’t have began to make any of these threats. He tries to make it Fethry’s fault.

“I have been through hell and I am terrified to think you might go through it too.” He disclosed a deeply personal thing to try to make Fethry feel a sense of obligation and pity. He told his tragic backstory as means to justify his reactions. “It terrifies me to imagine you going through anything like I did.” José has had an awful time, Fethry. José has more experience in this industry.

“But we can stop talking for now. I think it is an intense conversation for us both.” He respects Fethry’s boundaries a little. Not fully. Just a little. When José gives someone a little it makes him look like he’s taking their feelings into consideration. “But I would feel guilty to keep this secret from Nestor for too long.” The threat is still present. José presents it as feeling guilty for Nestor’s sake rather than being manipulative.

The entire time José talks he is very calm. He uses a tone that is gentle and respectful. He never sounds harsh or angry at Fethry. It’s so much easier to know without a doubt that someone is being mean when their voice is mean, but José sounds so nice.

“I am sorry if you are upset. I am trying to be a good friend.”

There’s a buzzing in Fethry’s head. It’s not showing on his face or even fully registering in his thoughts, but he’s panicking. 

He has to hold on tight to the fact that his feelings are valid and justified. José is trying to gas light him and it’s terrifying. Because Fethry has been in this situation before.

And already said he would open up? Why is José still pushing? He agreed to get away from the words, but José is still pushing pushing. Trapping Fethry with words like they did. He feels claustrophobic. Fethry knows he wants to believe  José. It would be so much easier just to believe him. But he can’t. He’s trapping him. He’s using Nestor against him like they used the egg against him and-

And Fethry just turns and walks away from José with no further response. He ignores the bonds of social construct. He ignores his fear for Nestor like he ignored his fear for the egg all those years ago. He walks away. He can walk away. He has control. it doesn’t feel like a concision decision to walk away. It feels like something that his feet just started doing. It feels almost like when he walk off stage during filming. But that’s okay. It’s close enough. 

The smile remained on Scrooge’s face until Fethry’s comment. He blinked and turned to look at his nephew. Oh. Perhaps the compliment he paid his Bin staff wouldn’t be that too well received with everyone. Perhaps he should’ve thought that through.

“Yer grandmother might’ve mentioned it.” He admits, putting his hand in his pocket for gold coins to squeeze. “Ah didnae’ really know Quackmore’s side of th’ family very well. Didnae’ even know Quackmore that well either.” He shrugs, glancing away.

“They didnae’ like me that much.”

“Grandma likes you.” That much Fethry knows for sure. “And to be fair, I’m pretty sure my dad and uncle Quackmore didn’t like most people.. “

“Anyway I just.. My mom wasn’t crazy. Sometimes I feel- I mean everyone seems to think I’m... I don’t know about myself, but my mother was a good person.”

Oh, Fethry spotted him. José does a lot of things to try to manipulate people into doing the things he wants them to do. They don’t always notice. The fact Fethry is glaring means he noticed. José may have underestimated Fethry.

Will he back down? No. He’s going to double down on the manipulation.

“Let me tell you a secret I am not supposed to tell. But Nestor is your husband so I think you have a right to know. There is so much Nestor tells me that he does not tell you.”

“He has been terrified out of his mind about you being an actor. He’s afraid, so afraid. He has watched Hollywood chew me up and spit me out. He watched me try to kill myself by overdosing because of the stress of Hollywood. Do you have any idea how scared he is for you? Terrified someone will mistreat you? Terrified the cruelty of fame will hurt you?”

“Should I tell him something bad happened to you? Is it his right to know because he is your husband? He has been trying to stay away from your Hollywood career and isn’t being watchful because it’s stressful to him. He has so many bad memories. But maybe I need to tell him so he can look out for you… Or I can look out for you so Nestor doesn’t have to be stressed. If I trust you will let me look out for you I won’t feel like I must tell Nestor to look out for you. What do you think?”

José wants to help Fethry and keep him safe. He will use his own best friend’s mental health as a bargaining chip. He doesn’t see any of his threats as being wrong. Because he knows how hard the industry can be. He sees it as necessary to protect Fethry whether Fethry likes it or not.

A hurt expression settles on to Fethry’s face as José tells him about Nestor’s worries.

He holds his hands up, palms out. Like that will stop the on slot of hurtful things coming out of José’s mouth. It takes him a bit to find his words. “Stop.” Fethry takes a deep breath. “I was already talking to you. I was nervous, but I was already telling you things. Just- stop with the smooth talk. You didn’t need to say any of that to get me to open up.” If anything it was making Fethry put up walls.

Fethry sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck. When he had first heard Scrooge use that phrase he had been rather angry, but the feeling has since simmered down to discontent. How could he stay mad when his Uncle obviously wasn’t saying it maliciously?

“You do know.. My mom was a Loon right?” Fethry asks tentatively. He doesn’t know if Scrooge knew. Doesn’t know if he ever even interacted with his parents. Doesn’t know if Lulubelle would even make that information public after marrying into the Duck family.

“Fethry, Hollywood is a nightmare. You need to learn to stand up for yourself or have someone stand up for you. There’s a reason so many human celebrities struggle with so many disorders and problems. And you know we toons can also develop problems too.” José doesn’t want to see Celebrity Culture chew Fethry up and spit him out. He doesn’t want to hear Nestor yelling I told you so I knew this was a bad idea blah blah blah…

“I will not act in any way to protect you if that’s what you want. I won’t talk to anyone about this issue. I promise this, swear on Walt’s spirit.” He draws an x-pattern over his chest. “But for me to agree to this deal, I want you to agree to promise me that you tell me if anyone gives you troubles. Even small troubles. I want to hear about all of it and I want to support you at least in conversation.”

“I am telling you this industry can be a bad place and I want to make safe for you. It does not have to be a bad place, it can be wonderful and good.”

Logically Fethry knows José is only trying to help right now.

But something in José’s wording flipped a switch inside Fethry and he feels angry. That’s not a deal José’s offering. That’s blackmail. Do what I want or I’ll do this thing that will have bad consequences for you. So what if José’s trying to help?! Fethry is so sick and tired of other people deciding what’s better for him.

Fethry can’t think of anything to say. He’s too angry to form words. He just glares at his good friend for apparently no reason. It’s very unlike Fethry.

Scrooge tilted his head a moment before he understood what Fethry was explaining. “A weekly pill organizer, Fethry.” His uncle answered in a kind way. It was always important for Scrooge to not have a wrong tone whenever explaining things to his nephew. He’d take to sound condescending. “Though even wi’ its help Ah too sometimes forget.” He gives a tiny chuckle before nodding.

“Ah think it’s a grand idea. Launchpad usually keeps Gyro’s old inventions in a crate in th’ back. Let’s look for it, shall we?” Scrooge said, heel-turning towards the Sun Chaser. “Ah’m sure it’ll be easy tae’ find.”

Fethry snaps and points at scrooge. “Those are the words!”

“We did actually.” Scrooge says, chuckling a bit at the memory. “My main inventor, Gyro build some sort of a megaphone tae’ make small voices large and large people small.” He was quite proud of all the inventions Gyro made, even if all of them usually flipped everyone on their heads. Metaphorically or physically.

“What exactly are ye thinkin’?”

“Well if we can shrink it down it’s going to be a lot easier to carry out of here. If we get it really small we could even carry it something inconspicuous like- uh. The thing?” Fethry makes some ambiguous hand gestures. “That holds pills? There’s a little cubby for each day of the week? I’m drawing a blank on what it’s called. You have one of those on you right? If not you should probably get one. They’re really helpful for remembering to take medicine.”