#but yeeee thats the end of somber sessions! :'/

[dippydots]

Session VI

Everyone stared at Victor in surprise. Edward narrowed his eyes and scowled. "What are you gonna do now? Call Erik a crybaby?" Victor shook his head. "No, no I'm not going to go that low." Dorian raised an eyebrow. "I swear, I swear! Please just listen to me." Victor sighed, looking at the floor shamefully. "I want to...apologize. For everything. I mean it. I've been a truly awful person to everyone in this room. Especially my old friend. Because of my sourness I've pushed everyone who loved me out of my life," he said, his lip quivering. "What do you mean?" Jack asked. Victor looked up. "I haven't seen my family in years. I was so caught up in my own selfish desires that I tuned them out completely. I don't know what my brothers and sister are up to, and I don't know how my father is, all because of my dream to create new life." He took his glasses off and began to clean them off. "I was always busy with other things to actually consider doing anything with those I loved, that's how I drew everyone away, even my darling Henri." Edward wrinkled his nose. "Ew don't talk about my da- er Doc like that, that's weird." Victor scowled. "No, you nincompoop! There's-!" He paused, calming down. "There was a different Henri. Henri Clerval. He was my...best friend, the closest person to me."

"I thought he was your boyfriend," Henry said flatly. Victor whipped his head around, an infuriated look on his face. "What? No! No he was not my boyfriend! Where would you get an idea like that?!" Victor cleared his throat, putting his glasses in his pocket. "Forgive my outburst. Um, Clerval was there for me through thick and thin since our childhood. He was the first person to be kind to me when my family moved from Geneva to London, and he stood up for me when I was bullied. I hardly reciprocated any of his kindness, but he stayed with me nonetheless. He stayed for all those years. Then I met Jekyll and his young son, Edwin. He offered to tutor me since I was learning the same things he had studied. I eagerly agreed, thinking that only good could come out of this."

"How did you two exactly meet?" Dorian asked. "The library. That's unimportant. Anyways, my future boasted of only good things to come. Then I switched from a chemistry major to a biology major. We had been covering the anatomy of humans and then our professor made a one-off joke about how despite our technological advancements that we cannot prevent death. It wasn't even funny, I don't know why other people laughed. I instead thought to myself, "I could probably do that." And then the gears in my head started doubling in speed. I began to research more and more about alchemists and scientists who had experimented with death. I began to pay less attention to my studies and Clerval."

"Things then began to change with my tutorship under Dr. Jekyll. I began to pull all-nighters, and not care about my health. I'm sure he tried to help, but I either didn't notice or I brushed it off. One day he fully confronted me about it, while his son played on the playground. I continued to insist that I was fine, and that there was nothing to worry about, which eventually led to my first of many angry outbursts. Since we were both distracted, Edwin had wandered out onto the street. When we both realized that he was gone, it was too late. He had been hit by a speeding car. Jekyll was consumed with grief, so he couldn't focus on our tutoring. I was, regretfully, angry. I wanted him to pay attention to what I was trying to accomplish, and so I told him what my big goal was. He told me that my idea to create life was complete nonsense and that it was an unethical experiment. So I told him that I didn't need him, and that no one needed him for that matter. I left and retreated to Clerval and I's apartment."

"I had become so fixated on the topic of reanimation that I had changed in demeanor towards Clerval. I became nastier, sleep-deprived, and overall unpleasant. Then one day, he reached his breaking point. He told me that I needed to find help and a new place to live. He said that we were over, and I needed to rediscover myself. I moved out eventually, feeling more bitter than ever. Once I had moved in to my new place, I put my reanimation project into motion. For two years I had spent my time scrounging for body parts and organs to create the perfect man. All out of spite. Then just last year, I had finally finished. I gave life to my creature. I was excited, filled with the utmost joy as he started to open his eyes and stir. But then it hit me. What do I do now? What does one do with an eight foot five inches three quarters tall being? I didn't know, the sole purposes of this project was to see if I would be able to reanimate the dead, and to stick a finger in both Henries' faces. When I looked down at Adam, who was smiling up at me, I could only see the reason behind his birth. I then could only feel bitterness towards him. I kept him locked in the room of his creation, and I would come in every now and then for meals and observations. I didn't want to think much of him. But then I had begun to feel guilty. One day I decided that I would try to educate him, even if it was just for a little bit. But when I went into his room, he was gone. A rush of terror overcame me as I looked frantically around the house. I spent the rest of the hour frozen with fear. After coming to my senses, I decided to wait for the rest of the day, hoping that he would come back. But he didn't, so I went out to look for him. I wasn't successful until two months later, when I came here." Victor sighed. "I've pushed everyone away from me all throughout my life. I don't deserve this hospitality, or to be cared for. I don't deserve to be forgiven. But I want to be better. I want to be a better friend, that's all." He smiled bitterly. "Pathetic, aren't I?" His lip began to quiver, and he began to cry silently. Adam stepped towards him, and kneeled down to eye level. Nervously, he patted Victor's shoulder. "You are pathetic, I cannot deny that. But I've noticed how you are trying. I me-mean you came to these sessions, that means something," he said with a patient smile. Victor smiled awkwardly. Edward suddenly stood up. "Excuse us for a second," he said, dashing out of the room. Adam looked back and then returned his attention to Victor, still smiling slightly. "I do believe that there is a good person in that heart of yours," he said. "Thank you, Cre- er, Adam." The two awkwardly stood there until Victor awkwardly held out a hand, offering a handshake. Adam gladly shook it. Erik walked over and shook Victor's hand with both of his hands with a bright smile on his face, and Jack came from behind and patted his back. Dorian ruffled Victor's hair and shook his hand tightly. "Ahem." The group turned their attention to the doorway. Henry stood there, arms crossed. Edward watched from the mirror. Victor gulped slightly, as there was a rather stern expression on Henry's face. He held out his rather shaky hand, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve. Henry took his hand, pulling him into a hug. Victor's eyes widened slightly, surprised. They began to well up with tears again. He reciprocated the hug, a genuine smile on his face. "I guess that truly ends our sessions," Adam said softly, "I really do appreciate you all for participating, one way or another. Thank you for coming."