[Drama] The Sins Of The Father Are To Be Laid Upon The Children

[Basil Benson]

Basil sighed, flipping Dani's yarmulke between his fingers as he spoke idly.

"Dani was born a girl. Girls in our family cover their hair with a scarf."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Oh, ohhhhhhhh. And Dani's parents are... reluctant to recognize zat Dani does not believe zemself to be a girl?"

[Basil Benson]

"Mmmmmmmhmmm...

Of course, I'm putting a bandaid on the real problem. Like always."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Zat is better zan ignoring ze problem entirely, is it not?" Colette offered. "And I am certain zat when she really needs ze help, she will be happy to have you to support her, even if it is just to lend an ear."

She thought for a moment before she spoke again. "Do you zink zat Miss Sherlock could assist any in zis situation?"

[Basil Benson]

Basil shrugs.

"Perhaps, but she also has the chance of making it worse. I don't Jezabelle will take a pair of parents forcing a child to choose a Mitzvah they don't want very well..."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"I cannot say. I have not discussed such issues wiz her much. But maybe she could help zem understand how Dani feels by putting it into words zat Dani cannot."

[Basil Benson]

Having been eavesdropping as she cleaned up,Esther finally spoke up from about ten feet away where she was wiping down one of the tables.

"This isn't gentile society girl. Children do not get to decide they won't start 'adulting'."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette looked toward Esther and tilted her head to one side.

"I am sorry Madam, but I fail to see in what way a child's gender and zem acting as an adult are related. Is zis based on ze opinion zat girls mature faster zan boys?"

[Basil Benson]

Esther sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration in a fashion Colette would be familiar with in her own boyfriend.

"I'm sure you've heard this before, but our people have ceremonies required to pass into adulthood. There is one for boys to become men, and one for girls to become women.
These symbolize the talking on of community and personal responsibilities.

How do you have a Mitzvah for a child who cannot make a decision?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Oh, Dani is genderfluid? Or razer, I suppose at zeir age it can be difficult to know, especially when one must choose a label." Colette wasn't really getting the point.

"Surely zere is a Rabbi or some ozer expert who has encountered an issue like zis before, is zere not?"

[Basil Benson]

Esther knitted her brow, looking at the ceiling and muttering something to herself in another language.

"...Well at least we know you're paying attention during learning exercises..." She commented, never actually answering Colette's question.

[Colette Rosenhof]

"I have been trying. From my lessons, I read zat compassion, sympazy, empazy, and..." She thought for a moment. "...understanding, were ze most essential parts of Judaism. Zat is correct, yes?"

Colette looked to Basil. "I do not know, ze only ozer person I can zink of for advice would be Ms. Sherlock. I do not know of anyone else who is active in ze Pride movement, or who might now where to find such resources."

[Basil Benson]

Esther looked less than pleased about being told what her own religion was about. But again mirroring Basil behavior, Esther didn't see any reason to debate the topic of this with Colette. Esther was more than confident she knew the laws, better than an outsider anyways.

She therefore engaged in very Basil, or perhaps very Stolarz, behavior. She changed the subject.

"Tell your friend goodnight or take her somewhere else Basil. We're old and we need to rest."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette hadn't meant it in an accusatory or better than thou way, but like most ideas she tried to express leaving out certain details sent a different message than she intended. She was just trying to apply what she had learned to the situation at hand. If the traditions didn't allow for a solution, then one should look to the foundations for answers, right?

"Yes, your grandmozer is correct Basil. It is late, and everyone needs zeir rest. Even you. You have had a busy day."

"And I have more than worn out my welcome. Check the kitchen later, I sent something special for you. Though if it survived the night, I can't say. You said that Mr. Harold would be able to help me?"

[Basil Benson]

At the idea that she was leaving, Esther seemed to relax a bit, and made herself busy with other cleaning.

"He will." Basil replied. He wasn't entirely certain of what else to say."I-..."
He bit into this lip, staring off at nothing.

"Can I walk you out?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Of course you may. I'd be disappointed if you didn't." Colette smiled softly, brushing off her lap and started to get to her feet.

[Basil Benson]

A quick message to Howard and Basil went to hold the door for Colette. Howard would follow them out but keep a distance.

Basil remained in French. "I'm sorry... I don't..." He stuttered, the anxiety face ramped up to eleven.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette glanced inside to see if the coast was clear before she cupped Basil's cheek with her gloved hand, giving him a sympathetic look.

"I am afraid I have put you under considerable strain tonight, and that was unfair of me. But you did wonderfully all the same. Say what you will or must to your grandparents that will make things easier for you, I don't mind, it may even be the truth. If you're not comfortable speaking right now, then text me when you go to bed - we can talk that way if it is easier for you."

She glanced back toward the street where Howard was preparing to put her bag in the car that had pulled up, then back to Basil.

"A kiss before I go?"

[Basil Benson]

Colette barely had a chance to ask before she felt him on her lips, his hands on her hips to steady her as he kissed her voraciously.

Some of the straggling relatives 'saw' him, but if he noticed, it didn't stop him.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette was surprised by the intensity of Basil's kiss, her gasp muffled by tongue and spittle. It didn't take long for her to return the token of affection, even lifting one of her legs despite herself. When the kiss was eventually broken it was more with a wet suction cup sound than with a gasp.

"W-wow, I should crash parties more often."

[Basil Benson]

Basil pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and swiped his face clean, revealing a smirk. He bobbed his eyebrows at the gelatinous woman.

"Goodnight, Madame Rosenhof. " He replied with a headbow. Then turned to go back inside.

Howard cleared his throat loudly to get Colette's attention.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette's knees were a little more jellied than normal after that kiss, the woman having to grip the handrail to maintain her balance.

"Goodnight, monsieur Benson." She said softly before drifting back toward Howard and following him to the waiting car.

[Basil Benson]

Howard opened the door for her and let her climb into the backseat, politely shutting it behind her.

Colette might have thought she'd seen the end of him until he opened the other passenger door and climbed in next to her with a tight little grin that looked far too amused as he stared at the girl, looking like he was going to burst at any moment.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette was surprised that Howard had joined her in the car, and seeing the expression on his face didn't clear things up for her much.

"Did... zings not go as terribly as I zought zey did? Or worse?"

[Basil Benson]

" Oh God no, things went terribly.

~But you're in love with my little mate and he's in love with you~" He replied in a sing song voice.

[Colette Rosenhof]

The redness returned to Colette's face as she stiffened up.

"I... I... of course I am. Would I go zrough all of zis if I were not?"

[Basil Benson]

"Eeeee! Tell me everything!

Wait no- not everything! Omit anything you wouldn't tell his mum for propriety reasons, but tell me everything else!"

Howard seemed exceptionally excited for someone not a participant in this relationship.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette was left at a bit of a loss. She'd never seen a man act like this before. He was acting more like an excited family member than Basil's own family.

"I... I do not know what zere is to tell? We met at ze school, and he has been an absolute sweetheart and a gentleman to me. A prince charming, is zat ze phrase?"

[Basil Benson]

Howard beamed at the girl.

"Yes luv, that's the phrase.

I'm glad at least he learned how to behave himself with ladies. I was honestly a bit concerned for a spell after how the last one ended."

[Colette Rosenhof]

"Hmm, yes, he told me about zat. I zink zat Basil has changed a lot, but he is... complicated. Coming to an understanding has been difficult, and zere are still issues zat come up but... I am so glad zat we kept pushing forward."

She looked to Howard for a moment. "Do you... do you zink zat I am using him?"

[Basil Benson]

"I don't know you well enough to say one way or another Colette." He paused, providing a sympathetic smile.

"What did Basil tell you about the last girl exactly?" He asked, hoping to glean why she'd ask him such a thing.

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette fidgeted. She didn't want to betray Basil's trust, but at the same time this man probably knew more about what had happened than she did - he'd lived through it.

"Well, I met her actually. She is a... dominatrix? And zere are ozer... services zat she sells. Zey shared an apartment, Basil wanted a relationship, she wanted to continue working, and zere rose ze conflict.

"She seems... I suppose I could see ze appeal she has."

[Basil Benson]

"That's.... more than we knew actually."
"Hmph... like father like son." The driver replied from the front seat in a gruff but amused tone that Colette was familiar with from before.
"Hush you. Keep your attention on the road."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette felt a little ashamed at herself for spilling Basil's secret. If his family hadn't know, then... how did they know to take his apartment before?

"Monsieur Benson had similar tastes? I did not zink zat Madame Benson was zat type of woman but... I suppose I can see it."

[Basil Benson]

Through the rear view mirror, Harold and Howard shared a glance, some form of twinsies communication that only the two of them could know the meaning of.

Harold spoke again, his comment was very deliberate.

"Well... I mean... What sorta normal person would introduce John Thomas to that wretched maneater?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

"John Thomas Benson?"

[Basil Benson]

Harold had a hard time holding in his amusement, a long snort devolving into childish laughter.

"Alright enough of this." Howard stated, glaring at his brother from the back seat.

"The point I was making was that while we did not know about her... specialty, we did know about her line of employment- "

"Found that out all by myself, no help from that one." Harold interjected, motioning to his brother." Tracked her while she worked I did. But ya kno'... Didn't exactly force myself into the rooms or nuthing. Prolly shoulda I guess, woulda saved the kid an arse whoop-"

"Anyways," Howard interrupted back. "My point is Basil comes from a long line of people who carry the 'too much' gene. He literally doesn't know when to stop. With anything. Especially if what he is doing could help someone he cares about.

Based on what we have to go on, I believe what happened between them is that Mia knew that because she grew up with him. They literally lived under the same roof since he was a boy. And with her ever so slight advantage on him as a teensy bit older person, she exploited his lack of self control to her benefit.

If I'm reading the tea leaves, I would say as long as you avoid repeating that all over again, you can't be any worse than her in terms of using him."

[Colette Rosenhof]

Colette scowled at that last part. "I do not want to be on par wiz such a woman. I do not wish to exploit Basil! But he is so kind and generous and sweet, and he wants to do nice zings for me. I worry zat I will forget to appreciate all of zose zings and just take zem and him for granted. I do not wish to be a prospector."

[Basil Benson]

"Forgive me if this is speaking out of turn but.... If one is this level of concerned over doing a bad thing, doesn't it stand to reason that the likelihood they are doing it is low?"

Howard hesitated before speaking again, but after a moment he did.

"I.... may I provide some advice?"

[Colette Rosenhof]

“Perhaps, but very few people believe zemselves to be bad, or do bad zings....”

Colette looked relieved when Howard offered her some advice.

“Dieu merci yes please, I need all of ze help zat I can get.”