Adrian placed the teacup back on the sidetable, the fine china rattling softly as cup settled against saucer. He coughed once or twice, clearing his throat of weak tea and crumbcake, and shambled to his feet, the familiar words already forming on his lips. "Hello, my name is Adrian."
"Hello Adrian" The group chorused, all wide-eyed endearment and smiling trust.
"I've been... I've known about... us... for about three years now." He stared resolutely at his shoelaces, terrified of meeting anyone's gaze. "When I first found out it seemed... it seemed like an adventure. Unreal. Like it happening to somone else and I was just, sort of watching." He paused, the silence swelling up threateningly before him. He glanced up for a moment and caught the eyes of Mr. Truelove. The harmless old gentleman smiled benignly and nodded for Adrian to continue. Reassured, Adrian did so.
"I'd been an investigator for years, a cop for even longer before that and you get to a point in your life where you think 'Thats it. I've seen it all. Nothing can suprise me any more.' And then... this happened. Once I realised it was real and there was no going back... well... it's just a shock, y'know? You don't quite know what's real anymore." Sighing heavily he ran his cold, clammy hands down his suit pants, smoothing out the creases "Anyway, that's about all I have to say. Thanks" The ordeal over, he sat back down and reclaimed his tea. A smattering of applause broke out here and there around the group, then died just as suddenly.
"Thank you kindly, Adrian." Mr Truelove leaned back and crossed his legs, elderly joints creaking. "Be assured we all feel your pain and stand with you in this trying time. It must be difficult to learn the truth of the world so late in one's life, but you have found support now. Here, in this house," Sebastian raised his arms to encompass the eclectic group, "We all know the trials you face. I would like everyone to note as well that though Adrian has been with us for several weeks now, this is the first time he's spoken to the group. Well done Adrian." The old man peered over his half-moon spectacles and smiled again.
"Now, who's next?"
