This is, by far, without a doubt, the ninth worst thing to happen to Neil. The fact that it's the ninth says a shit ton about his life, doesn't it? Alex breaks contact, and Neil's dark eyes follow automatically, to find a closed expression and silence. It hits him, then. Slams him with the force of a sledgehammer that this might not be as simple as the ninth worst thing in life. He glances back over to his father, his brain trying his best to keep everything together.

James waves at Alex, and Neil can practically feel the reaction.

"Dad," he says quietly.

His father continues with no end. Neil calls again, his tone firm, in an attempt to grab attention. "Dad." Please just stop for a damn minute and pay attention to him, for god's sake.

Except--

Your mother would be so disappointed in you.

Except Dad says the magic words, and everything rots away. Falls away into the background, leaving static on the line and a stone in his belly. Neil inhales sharply, eyes and ears unable to comprehend the scene, unable to grasp the idea that his dead mother would give a flying fuck about her adult son's behavior. That his father is hiding behind a dead woman's existence to convey-- Convey what, exactly?

Neil doesn't want to fucking know.

"Dad," he says, his voice subdued, as if taking pains to cover the destruction occurring beneath the surface. "You have the key to my place." A statement, not a question. "I need that back."