Phin wondered if anyone would really complain if he decided to spend the holidays at school. He didn't think anyone was particularly enthused about him being at home, but to be fair, he hadn't actually asked. Sometimes the path of least resistance was just... easier. And if he did it once, maybe he wouldn't feel bad about staying behind later on. What he felt and what his family actually cared about probably wasn't the same thing, but Phin had to at least focus on what he could control, he supposed.

He was already regretting the decision after the better a part of the day on the train, and by the time he dragged himself across the threshold of the house, he thought that at least he'd get to go to bed in his own bed tonight. So, at least there was that. Phin found his way into the parlor under some semblance of not simply spending the entire holiday break locked up in his room, and found his aunt already there. "Hello, Aunt Ella."

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