Chapter 28 Absolutely Nothing
twenty-eight
absolutely nothing
It’s not like I didn’t know Damien’s last name, exactly. He did tell me, at some point, but it never clicked for me that he could be related to that Mark Iverson. Mostly because I don’t pay that much attention to provincial politics.
Then again, he also told me that his family were a bunch of conservative assholes. I didn’t realize he meant an actual Conservative politician, though. Somehow that seems worse, but maybe it’s the same. Assholes are assholes, right?
In any case, I know he doesn’t share any of those values, and he barely tolerates time spent with his family, besides his sister. So it’s not like I’m buying into the whole SconesIsFascist thing.
But some people are.
I only had a brief chance to speak to Damien before work, and he hasn’t been responding to my texts all day, but it seems that people have been hounding him to do a face reveal and prove that this doxxing is a scam.
Although many are already sharpening their torches and pitchforks—yes, these people sharpen their torches because they are thorough—waiting for him to prove it right.
I finish up orders early and get to my computer just in time for his afternoon stream to start. Only it doesn’t.
It’s not like he never takes a day off, but there’s usually an update on his channel’s community board to let people know the stream is cancelled for the day.
Today there’s nothing. He hasn’t made a single online appearance since yesterday, at least not publicly.
He’s not replied to anyone or made any statements or defended himself.
This morning, he told me there was nothing to defend, and I thought it was because he knew these accusations were stupid and he was going to ignore them like all the rest, but now I think he’s just giving in. Letting them win.
There’s nothing to defend because they’re right. Mark Iverson is his father. And since Damien hasn’t committed patricide yet, then he, too, must be cancelled.
Except he’s the one cancelling himself. Refusing to show up. Refusing to stand up for himself, to make things right.
I send him a text now—a phone text—to call me, but he doesn’t respond.
Not until I’m about to start my own stream, and he texts me a curt, sorry, and then wishes me luck on my stream.
Because, yeah, I’m probably going to take some heat on this, too, as Scones’s girlfriend.
But it’s not like I’ve ever met his father—and at this point, I don’t intend to, if I can help it.
What I don’t expect is quite so much heat.
HadTrash93: I looked up what Scones’s dad did and how can you date him knowing this?
ToastOnBeans: Here I thought you were dating a bi icon but turns out he was just making a homophobic joke like all these bros
SammyIsMyBaby: He’s not even that cute, idgi
I don’t even know these people, but it hurts that they don’t trust me and my judgment.
HadTrash, and even TOB? I thought they were my…
Well, maybe not friends, but were on my side, at least. Rooting for me, for us.
(I’m also a bit torn up about SIMB’s assessment, even though I know that’s ridiculous.)
WonkyWillow: I’ve never watched this guy’s channel but I’m gonna have to stop watching yours if you keep working with him. I don’t care who you date but keep him away from here.
ToastOnBeans: Oh, no, I absolutely care if you’re still dating him, considering people like him and his asshole dad think that people like me shouldn’t exist
ToastOnBeans: If you’re okay with that then we have a problem
HadTrash93: I’m gonna give Oddly the benefit of the doubt and say she might not have known all this
ToastOnBeans: He’s still a jerk and she’s okay with it
I stopped actively playing Paper Plains several minutes ago, but the chat keeps going like I’m not even here. They’re not even directing their messages at me anymore and are just arguing with each other.
I don’t know what to do in this situation.
I don’t know how to defend myself—how to defend Damien—without sharing more information than he’d want.
It’s not my place to say, Actually, yes, he is bi, he’s just socially awkward.
Or, He doesn’t even like his family and hardly ever sees them.
Or even, He never even talks about his dad because they have nothing in common.
He’s the one who should be telling them these things, not me. But he’s not going to, because he’s still hiding.
So I do what he does best:
Absolutely nothing.
I try to start a voice chat with Damien as soon as my stream ends, but he doesn’t pick up. Instead, he sends a message.
SconesOfAyor:
I don’t feel like talking tonight
Okay
But are you okay?
SconesOfAyor:
I don’t know
What does that mean?
SconesOfAyor:
It means I think I know how you felt now
When you called me your nemesis
What does THAT mean?
SconesOfAyor:
You ignoring all the shitty comments
It feels awful
So I’m sorry I did that to you
It’s one thing for people to hate me for the things I actually do or believe but this is bullshit
And I’m not in the mood to talk right now
Are you kidding me??
SconesOfAyor:
Maybe we’ll talk tomorrow.
MAYBE?
We are definitely talking tomorrow
Even if I have to force your jaw open with a crowbar
Fine, I’ll let you sulk about this for now
But then we’re going to figure out how to get out of this mess
Together
Because I’m here for you
Nothing. Not for another hour.
SconesOfAyor:
Maybe you shouldn’t be
What the actual fuck?
What are you saying?
I fall into a fitful sleep several hours later, still with no answer.