last spring whisper | benny

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

may 29th 2028

PRECISELY TWO WEEKS AGO RUE Weiss almost died to an overdose. The potions and drugs they had consumed was enough to kill at least three men (or maybe three mice), but yet here the potioneer was, alive, healthy and looking sober. The latter was a major issue for the Weiss. They hadn’t been clean in almost eight years. They didn't know how to. There were weeks in between where Rue would decrease her potion consumption in order to feel a better high in the long run, but nothing like this. Cold turkey for two weeks? A potential three? Impossible.

Though, first came the withdrawals. The unbearable stomach cramps, followed by the itchiness and burning sensations, the occasional drool and the overwhelming fatigue. But no matter how much Rue tried to fight back, consume more potions to overwhelm herself, their body wouldn't stop purifying it. On the night of their overdose, Rue was sure she was close to dying. Maybe she did die she was unsure. But in the course of fifteen minutes, the Weiss was brought back (or essentially saved) because of her stupid, small will to live. By Merlin's hand, the potioneer had developed a new kind of ability and it was something unexplainable when Mina and Benny held her that night. But now Rue believed she knew what it was.

Testing her theory since then, Rue consumed bottles of alcohol, tester and experimental potions and even purchased her usual order of weed brownies for herself and Mina. But nothing still worked. The burning sensation either in her nose, gut or throat was there for what felt like a few minutes before the feeling scattered altogether, disappearing quicker than it was meant to. Rendering the effects entirely useless. To many, such an ability was fascinating, something to be researched into. But the more the Weiss discovered, the more she hated. She had to finally confront her demons after eight years of silence.

By default the Weiss wanted to scream - and did so within their warehouse. As day in and day out the withdrawals came, worse and harsher. Rendered useless and not wanting to go anywhere - not even home - Rue stayed within their warehouse. The soundproofing was better there than home. Their phone buzzed often of course, given the scare she had given both Benny and Mina, but as always, the Weiss chose to ignore it. That was until the door of their warehouse started being hit again. Finding the strength to raise out of her seat, Rue leaned against the door as she pulled it open, seeing Benny on the other side. ”Was it you that just texted?”

| gehry benjamin ollivander |

hopefully this works!

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

yesterday

all my troubles seemed so far away

May 29, 2028
prudence oria weiss

The memory and the mental visuals still made Benny incredibly uncomfortable. It was unlike anything the youngest Ollivander ever had to deal with. Fortunately, Mina had also been there, but it didn’t make it any easier to talk about. All Benny knew was the strange sensation in his chest that he chalked up to anxiety and that he knew he did not like at all. Merlin, is this what Nell felt all the time? No wonder she needed calming draughts. Benny was tempted if only he hated that groggy feeling. It was so far removed from the tranquil, peaceful, or floating feeling he craved instead.

But, in a strange move, Benny had woken up at a reasonable time that day (his day off) and told himself he could check on Rue. Really, Benny hadn’t remembered feeling that frightened in a long time. Such negative feelings hadn’t arisen since he realized Frankie wasn’t coming home at so young, and again that awkwardness of when he had returned. These were the feelings he’d spent so much time steering clear of, but he cared about his friend and wanted to know they were alright. It didn’t help they were adept at ignoring phone calls and text messages, which is why Benny had found the resolve to march over to them in person that day.

Taking a deep breath, Benny sent another text message as he stood before the warehouse door. No response. So he raised his fist and began banging it against the door. People might have forgotten that Benny could be persistent when he wanted to be. And finally the door opened. Rue looked worse for wear, but they were on their feet and talking—a good sign. ”Ah, so your phone does work?” Benny asked, gently pushing the door open so he could enter before getting locked out or something. Stopping, he turned back around to look at them. ”How are you doing?”

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[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

BEING COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY WEAK due to the withdrawals from the various amounts of potions and items Rue Weiss consumed on a daily basis, going stone cold-turkey was proving to be more challenging than ever. Given everything in the last few weeks, the Weiss only wanted nothing more to be left alone in that current moment, but considering they had almost died alone...Benny's and Mina's more frequent visits were only bound to happen. As Benny responded with a question, rather sarcastic no less, the potioneer made a grunting sound as the door was pushed open further and the Ollivander stepped in.

Rue wasn't exactly in the mood for guests, but given the fact that both Benny and Mina considered themselves as emergency contacts over fleeting visitors, they knew that requesting for Benny to leave would be met with a 'no'. But there was no shame in asking anyway. "I'm alive, great actually." They began, flashing a weak smile while their voice dripped in sarcasm. Can you go now?" The Weiss had nothing to do though, no immediate orders and no more tests, they just had a date with more painful withdrawals and screams from it.

| gehry benjamin ollivander |

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

yesterday

all my troubles seemed so far away

May 29, 2028
prudence oria weiss

”No.” Benny responded casually but quickly. That was the thing with the youngest Ollivander when he wanted to do something—he did it. And the goal was not to leave Rue alone and satisfy his anxiety over what had happened. It wasn’t often one was met with something so potentially devastating. The thought almost felt impossible to process or imagine. Benny walked further inside, eyes quickly scoping all the cauldrons and random items lying about.

”Merlin…” Normally, some quip about empty bottles, a party, or something would come to the forefront of his mind, but nothing of the sort did. Rue looking barely alive made him uncomfortable, but one didn’t simply wake up rested from everything they usually ingested. Not to mention the overdose. ”All right—have you eaten? Surely, you have something around here.” Benny gave himself a reason to walk further and further from any possible exit Rue could throw him out of. ”I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” What else was new? The likelihood that Benny was hungry was the same as asking if the sky was blue. One could be certain it would always be true. But he knew Rue needed to eat if recovery was the goal.

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[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

KNOWING THAT SIMPLY ASKING BENNY to do something he wanted the opposite of doing, Rue felt their eyes roll anyway. Rue knew that he was probably here to keep an eye, or at least update Mina on the situation, especially since Rue and Mina hadn't spoken since the..accident. The Weiss had promised to Mina that they would slow down and eventually stop the thing that was killing them. But the overdose was a clear break of that promise. A break of that trust.

Sure, Mina had come along with Benny that night and held Rue throughout their shakes, but that was the last time the potioneer had seen the Oliveira. "How is she?.." Rue asked, finally finding the courage to do so, knowing that Benny wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Eyes watched as Benny scoped the area, filled with empty potion bottles and all sorts.

It was Rue's way of trying to find an escape and simply meeting with a dead end. "Not really..but you can check the fridge..third room on the left." The warehouse was huge in itself and with it being soundproof in..most circumstances, it allowed Rue to stay there overnight, working, eating, sleeping, the works.

The thought of food only made the Weiss feel mentally and physically sick, but Benny's company was worth it.

| gehry benjamin ollivander |

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

yesterday

all my troubles seemed so far away

May 29, 2028
prudence oria weiss

Benny never considered himself stubborn or difficult, but willfully ignoring Rue’s plea to leave was still quite easy. More often than not, verbal directions would enter one ear and exit the other. In this case, he was acting in his own way with some purpose. Even without a name, Benny knew who Rue was talking about. Mina. While Benny had supported them, Mina had done most of the work to help their friend after that terrifying night. He had even covered a few of Mina’s shifts, working overtime hours for the first time in…possibly forever.

Opening his mouth to speak, he closed it again. Fortunately, his back was turned for the moment. ”Worried.” He answered. Opting for more honesty than the ‘fine’ his brain had defaulted to. The trio were known for having fun, not for all these heavy feelings. But their loyalties to one another were always clear when it came down to it. ”Alright.” Benny declared, removing his sunglasses from his head, where it had pushed his hair almost straight up. Slipping them into his pocket, he took long strides to the third room on the left and noted what little remained. However, he found some crackers, which seemed a good place to start.

Merlin knew basic saltine crackers had been miraculous during several rather extreme hangovers after helping Rue test some experimental potions. ”Here—“ Benny walked out of the room, where he took a seat on a small couch, patting the spot next to him. ”Have a few of these.”

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[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

FROWNING FROM THEIR FRIEND'S ANSWER, Rue knew eventually they needed to face Mina. Out of the three of them, Mina was the one that could be the most serious, and given the circumstances of everything, if she needed to take charge, she would simply do just that. Biting down on their lip as Benny removed his sunglasses and walked inside a bit more, Rue made sure the warehouse door was shut before casting its usual protective charm again.

Turning back just as Benny walked out of the room and took up a seat on the couch, Rue truly felt like they could vomit at the sight of crackers. Funnily enough, crackers was the Weiss' go to after a potion or alcohol filled night, as that alongside gallons of water somehow made them feel better. But with no appetite for what felt like weeks, the thought of chewing down on something in that present moment felt impossible.

"Has she said anything?.." Rue decided to question as they sat, they took a couple of crackers into their hand and fiddled with it a little, before their hand raised and teeth nipped at the savoury item. "I..promised her you know?..That I would stop.."

| gehry benjamin ollivander |

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

yesterday

all my troubles seemed so far away

May 29, 2028
prudence oria weiss

Benny and Mina had not discussed the incident at length. It wasn’t that Benny didn’t want to but these were difficult conversations. Out of everything the two had ever been vulnerable about with one another, this was new territory because it involved someone so important to both. The fear that had run through his soul that day was indescribable, and he knew Mina felt it, too. Plus, it wasn’t for him to speak for Mina in this case.

Sitting and making sure that Rue got through at least one cracker, Benny sighed. ”Rue…” He paused, looking at them thoughtfully. ”If you want to know what Mina thinks…you should talk to her.” Looking at the ridiculously large box of crackers, Benny couldn’t help but grab a sleeve for himself. There was plenty for Rue to nibble through until they managed a full meal. Besides, it was so typical for Benny to be hungry.

He didn’t respond immediately. All the experimenting and stupid things they had done over the years, and suddenly, the consequences had become incredibly real. ”I was really scared, you know.” Benny admitted, his voice just barely above a whisper. Short of something happening to a family member, he wasn’t sure what he would have done had Rue not opened their eyes in the end.

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[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

HEARING THE KIND OF RESPONSE that the Weiss knew they didn't want to hear, only made their brows furrow and their frown reappear. Rue hadn't spoken to Mina out of sheer fear of it all. She couldn't really explain how she had pretty much died from the overdose but was brought back by some mystical willpower. It was simply a conversation the potioneer couldn't see themselves having anytime soon.

But Benny was right. If Rue wanted to make amends, to know how one of their only friends were doing...They would have to make the effort. "I guess.." They mumbled, going for another cracker while somewhat smiling small - knowing that Benny was probably hungry like usual. As silence fell between the two of them once more, the Weiss didn't expect Benny's next words. It only brought back the frown on their lips and the threatening urge to cry.

Wiping at their eyes before such a thing could happen, Rue looked up at Benny, trying to force a smile. "I know..I'm sorry." They began, taking Benny's hand in her own. "I won't let it happen again..I can't anyway.." She hadn't entirely explained the change to Benny, but the potioneer didn't even know where to begin.

| gehry benjamin ollivander |