| Episode: | Season 1, Episode 1 – Chaos! At The Gala |
| Location: | Edwin Ross’ Residence |
| Written By: | Edwin Ross Natasha Ross |
| Date: | 08/26/2026 |
| Word Count: | 1,244 |
Natasha had sat in silence throughout much of the opening interviews for the gala, and even as those came to an end and the camera shifted she was still quiet. The woman kept looking toward her brother trying to find a new opening to try and ask him the question. She was a guest in his apartment, and while not completely uninvited, an unexpected one at that.
Edwin had noticed his sister looking at him as they watched the tele-net. He sighed heavily, “I get the sense that there was something more to your visit than just wanting to spend time with your brother?” He finally said breaking the silence.
The young woman looked at her brother again, there was her second opening for the day. But, there was something about his tone that told her she might be treading dangerous waters with him. Natasha took a breath, then she decided it was now or never. “Yes actually,” She admitted with a little bit of strength in her voice.
Either he was going to get upset, or he was going to open up to her. It had been years ago, and she thought that perhaps it was time that he spoke about whatever bothered him. “I wanted to talk about Mom and Dad.” Natasha told him.
Edwin stared at his sister, took a drink from his bottle, and emptied it. He stood up, “Oh boy,” He grumbled before stumbling toward the small kitchenette that occupied the corner of his apartment. “Lemme get another drink before we start that.”
Edwin was stalling, he didn’t know what her intentions were with that question. He grabbed the second bottle and popped the cap off. Then Edwin wandered back toward his chair and flopped rather roughly into it. “What about them?”
Natasha watched the entire thing, this was his third which given how many hours ago he’d started drinking she guessed wasn’t terrible. Though, she wasn’t really a fan of the drinking that had started so much earlier. The tele-net was now forgotten, it was the boring part right as the speeches were beginning anyway.
She adjusted in her seat, turning so that she was facing him at an angle. “I wanted to know why you don’t really talk to them anymore? I wanted to know what was going on when we were little kids and why you left the way you did?”
The series of questions were enough to get Edwin’s attention, but not in the way he’d expected. A burning sensation had already began in the back of his mind. As the words of their father started to come into focus. But were those words wrong? Edwin didn’t know if his father had been right about him all along, or completely wrong.
It didn’t really matter anyway, he had a job and had a decent enough life. It was perhaps why he’d never really had a relationship other than being alone. He had his sister, he had his nephew and that had always been enough for him. “I don’t really wanna talk about it.” He grumbled and tried to look at the tele-net again.
Natasha tilted her head, had she really lost her opening that quickly? Maybe she’d asked too many questions or her approach had been flawed? She was always a blunt instrument whenever she had to be. Perhaps she should have asked their father that question first? Natasha’s mental questions didn’t provide her with any answers.
“No,” She said suddenly, and far faster than her brain was able to process. “I think we should talk about this now.” Natasha directed without really providing any details as to why she was on this right now. But, she felt as if it were important.
Edwin was somewhat shocked by the approach taken by his little sister. He didn’t look at her, refusing to make any sort of eye contact with her as he stared at the tele-net. The speeches were about to start at any moment. “I said I don’t want to talk about them,” He began with a strange hoarseness to his voice. “Why is that not enough?”
Natasha brushed the question to the side, she could hear the open hostility in his voice. “Because talking about it will make you feel better?” She tried the question, though it tasted rather sour considering her real intentions. “Honestly, big brother, you’ve been in a rut for years and years. I just want to know why you abandoned me?”
Maybe, Natasha considered, if I make this more about me it’ll be enough. She knew her brother’s feelings for his younger sister. She knew how protective he’d always been over her. And, yet even as she said the words, Natasha could already tell it was going to get her nowhere fast.
Edwin turned and looked at his sister, and for a single fleeting moment he thought she might have been right. But, the hate for their father and the seething rage toward their mother seemed to grip him tighter than the lofty feelings of the alcohol coursing through his blood. He sighed and stood up, “I said I don’t wanna talk about this.” He said to her and went out onto the balcony that overlooked part of the station skyline.
Natasha watched him for a little while as he stood there. She heard the hate and anger in his voice, and for a moment she considered just leaving it alone. Then, there was that part of her that refused to really surrender. She finally got up and followed him out onto the balcony and leaned over it. She let there be silence between them for a moment.
“Dad’s dying,” Natasha told her brother suddenly. “He’s been sick for over a year, you’d know that if you actually spoke to him.”
Edwin heard what she said, their father was dying and a part of him celebrated it. Maybe it was the alcohol or even the years of hatred speaking, but it didn’t really matter. He didn’t say a single word, just continued to stare at the building across the way.
Natasha looked at him, “I want to know what happened, and I want you to find some way to make peace with it. Because you can’t go on hating him, or Mom like this. And, you may regret it someday after he’s gone.”
Edwin sighed and lowered his shoulders before looking straight down at the ground, “Dad wasn’t exactly the nicest person to me. What you didn’t see were the bruises, what you didn’t hear was him constantly telling me how worthless I was.” Edwin told her without looking at her.
Natasha stared at him, letting silence fall over them once again, so their father had been abusive. She guessed that made sense about why Edwin was why he was. Years of that would certainly take a toll on anyone. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, wrapping her arm around the lower part of his back.
“So, part of you is probably celebrating?” Natasha asked him.
Edwin shrugged, “I don’t know,” He admitted. Then he let the silence fall again as he stared forward. He’d spent so many years just trying to not think about what happened, that he nearly drove his sister away in the process. Perhaps it really was time to just get over it? But, then there was a single question playing in the back of his head. How?..