Damage Control ((1914))

[amanika]

Tugger did his best to open the front door quietly, well aware he should have been home a good two hours ago, he'd missed his bus home after cutting afternoon classes to go downtown with his friends. There had been another one from Main Street an hour later, but Tugger had gotten on the B route by mistake which took him the long way around, resulting in his only just getting in.

He hoped his father wouldn't notice, he didn't half the time, perhaps he could just sneak up to his room and pretend he'd been there all along.

[victoriousscarf]

No such luck. Deuteronomy was spread out in a chair in the living room, a bottle in paw and several more spread out over the ground in front of him. He looked up at the sound of the door opening and growled. "Is that Rum Tum Tugger?" he thundered out.

[amanika]

Tugger shrank back a little at the use of his full name, ears flattening on his head as he saw his father. He closed the door quickly behind him, "Hello sir," he skirted for the stairs rather than come any closer, quickly taking in the number of empty bottles around. "I'm sorry I'm late, I missed the first bus."

[victoriousscarf]

Deuteronomy's eyes narrowed at that. "That hardly excuses it," he said, his voice slurred. "Been too long for that ta be the only problem."

[amanika]

Tugger took another step in the direction of the stairs, "The next one went the long way round."

[victoriousscarf]

"Don't you dare walk away from me," Deuteronomy growled, hoisting his bulk out of the chair. "I see what you're doing and," he toppled a little, bottle still clenched in one paw. "And you've always been so useless in this house and now you think you can just walk away when I'm talking ta you?"

[amanika]

Tugger froze, trying not to shrink back further as his father approached, "I'm sorry sir," he eyed the bottle warily, "I have homework... I thought it would be best if I got on with it straight away, since I'm in so late..."

Tugger rarely did his homework, but right now it was any port in a storm.

[victoriousscarf]

"You wait until I tell you you can go," Deuteronomy growled.

[amanika]

Tugger stiffened, those words telling him to run more than anything, but he stayed where he was, eyes dropping to the floor as he curled his tail tight around himself, "Sorry sir."

[victoriousscarf]

"Don't you go looking at tha ground either!" he thundered. "You look at me, stand up straight and you do what I tell you ta, right?"

[amanika]

Tugger visibly flinched this time as he was shouted at, though he managed to raise his head and look at his father, making a visible effort to straighten his spine, though his tail stayed curled tight around one leg. "Yes sir."

[victoriousscarf]

He leaned his head back, looking his youngest son up and down. "Now, again, where were you? You useless little sod, what was so important that made you late?"

[amanika]

"Nothin' sir, the bus left a few minutes early maybe, I didn't mean to miss it." Tugger knew attempting to lie to his father was a dangerous game, but seeing as the alternative didn't look like it would end any better he went for it anyway.

[victoriousscarf]

Deuteronomy peered at his youngest son, squinting his eyes a little. "Tha buses in this town never run early, boy."

[amanika]

"I must've been late gettin' out of class then." Tugger tried quickly, "It won't happen again sir."