<span style="font-size: 85%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #33FFEE">As he watched yet another full glass be placed in front of him, Silver had to think for a moment. What was this one? Four? Five? Probably more like six or seven. But did it really matter? No. He smiled in thanks to the man behind the bar before taking the cold glass in his hands and downing a few big gulps before the man next to him started to speak once more. Setting the glass down and using his sleeve to wipe his mouth (he really didn't care anymore), he turned to face the stranger.<br/><br/>In all truth, he was right. This man he'd never met before had hit the nail right on the head with this one. Then again, he imagined that by the looks of him, it wasn't too hard to tell that something was troubling him. The tear stains were the perfect indication that something was, indeed, wrong. But just as he was about to open his mouth, the other's last words took him by surprise. What the-<br/><br/>Now, on any given day, it wasn't too hard to make Silver Morgenstern blush. Vulgar things (in moderation and good taste, if there was such a thing) would most certainly do the trick. But that night, with who knew how many beers and a few shots in him, a little flirting did just the trick. Had he not been more than just somewhat pissed (drunk), he might have retaliated and flirted right back. Though for the moment, he pushed it out of his head. There were only so many ways he saw this night ending and maybe flirting with a stranger wouldn't be a bad way to end a horrible day.<br/><br/>Looking down, he took a deep breath. May as well say something. The man had bought him a beer and it didn't look like he would give up until Silver told him what was wrong.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #99AAFF"><span style="font-weight: bold">"Today was supposed to be a lovely Sunday lunch with my parents and brothers,"</span></span> <span style="color: #33FFEE">he said.</span> <span style="color: #99AAFF"><span style="font-weight: bold">"But when you put me and my father in the same room, nothing can be 'lovely' or civil; not for long anyway. He's 'disowned' me quite a few times for being, well, gay. It never usually lasts long with my mum talking him down off the ledge. But today was an entirely different story. I can usually handle my dad's remarks, I just thank whoever that he isn't religious because then that would be a whole new mess. Today....I'm not even sure what happened. My mum asked if I happened to be seeing anyone, to which my response was no, then he just...exploded. Telling me I was a horrible person for 'choosing' to be the way that I am, that I should be ashamed for disappointing him and not wanting to 'continue the family name'; his words exactly. He loves to turn it around on himself more often than not. And, to be honest, all of that was fine, it's nothing I haven't heard before. But when he told me that...he never loved me, never even wanted me, that, because my mum wanted a third child, that's why I'm here. He's never said anything like that to me before. Don't get me wrong, I know he loves me, well did, and I rarely ever heard it, but to hear him tell me that... Then my mum started to cry and my brothers started yelling. So I left. And that's my sob story of the day."</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #33FFEE">Looking up, eyes already watering even though he fought the tears, Silver looked at the man, letting out a small sigh of relief. For a moment, he'd thought the man would have left by now. Who wanted to deal with this age old story? Gay child's parents hating them? It was a little over told. True, nonetheless, but still...</span></span>