Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Driftwood
Paid publication
Book #1	Welcome to Dorley Hall
Chapter	13
Free publication
Date posted	Feb 28, 2022
Word count	10,838
Points of view	Christine, Stefan
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Chapter 13: Driftwood is the thirteenth chapter of the first book of the series.

The title is a reference to the metaphor Christine used a few weeks ago, that toxic masculinity can be like a piece of driftwood boys cling to. The programme teaches them to swim without it.

Plot

2019, Stefan

Stefan diaries about his experience on estrogen, which is to say very little effect. He chats with Christine in the notes to his diary. It's lonely being in the basement because he has to present an edited version of himself. The routine of daily life carries him through the dreary days.

In the shower, Stefan wonders if Aaron is flirting with him. He helps him get conditioner in his hair; Aaron claims his shoulder has limited range of motion. They chat about the next round of the anti-androgen, goserelin. Aaron thinks some of the others might try something, while Stefan thinks that as long as the "mean girls" (Raph, Ollie and Declan) don't do anything things will stay calm. Aaron probes Stefan's thoughts on fighting back, and when Stefan says there's no point in it, he easily accepts it.

Pippa is nervous around Stefan, proposing that she give him both the "vitamins" and the goserelin at the same time. Stefan tries to reassure her. Aaron asks about Pippa's relationship to Stefan before he's chased off, with Stefan thinking once more about breast development.

The usual crew gather for breakfast. As usual, Aaron carries the morning conversation, complaining that his sponsor Maria treats him much worse than Stefan's. Aaron says Will's sponsor Tabby treats him like he's radioactive, which Will doesn't seem to mind. Martin's sponsor Pamela seems to hate him. Adam's sponsor, Edy combs his hair.

Everyone is ushered to the common room and there are almost all of the sponsors present, which raises tensions. Stefan wonders if it's the start of the force feminisation part of the programme, but it's just Declan being reintroduced into the general population. Declan threatens Aaron and Stefan before being ushered away.

2019, Christine

Christine wakes up in Paige's room. She's become a lot more fond of shopping for clothing, which they've done several times in the last few weeks. The two are very cute together and also have had sex in a very different way than the last time they were together in their second year. They prepare for the day and head down to the kitchen, meeting Aunt Bea who compliments her, innocently saying "Paige must be rubbing off on you."

Christine thinks about the woman. She is confident that the innuendo was intentional. She also suspects that Aunt Bea disappeared Karen over the last few days, wiping records both electronic and physical. It is disturbing that she has so much power.

She chats with Pippa about the morning's goserelin injection and Stefan. Pippa is happy that Stefan considers her a friend. Aunt Bea immediately makes it transactional and brings it to the subject of manipulation. She tells Pippa to deepen their rapport and to be his friend against the faceless programme. Pippa seems to have been briefed on the plan before.

Christine has been chatting with Stefan via his diary. She enjoys it, but worries that she's intruding, or that Stefan doesn't see her as a friend. It particularly hurts when he calls her a "true believer" or "Dorleypilled," because it's true.

Monica is angry about Declan's behaviour as she comes back up the stairs. It seems Declan hasn't changed his ways when he was put in the cells, and relates the events. Christine notes that everyone calls him "Stef" now, a trend started by Pippa. Monica vents that she beat him up in hopes that it would help reform him, but all that ended up happening was her feeling terrible and Declan getting a win. She thinks Declan is going to act even worse than before, and that he's warping the dynamics of the basement. Pippa thinks they should just wash him out, but Aunt Bea cautions her that everyone deserves a fair chance.

2019, Stefan

Stefan, Aaron, Will, and Adam decamp to Stef's room to discuss what to do about Declan's return. The mood is tense, all of the boys are worried about Declan attacking them. They decide to go back to their old system of sticking together in a group to insure that they always have an advantage in numbers, leaving out Martin. They discuss the implications of his return, Will notes that it has weakened the sponsor's authority due to taking the worst the sponsors can give and not breaking.

The boys then discuss their theories for what the programme's goals are. Stef says that Aaron and the other boys are the first friends he's had in a while, mentioning Russ and Melissa.

2019, Christine

With Declan out of the cells, Christine is worried about Stef accidentally outing himself. She decides to get advice from the Trans Youth UK Consensus Server, who reassure her that the situation hasn't really changed that much, and that the boys are unlikely to notice or work out that Stef is on hormones. Alex mentions that she was technically forcefemed, with Christine leaning on her supposed cis-ness to explain her confusion.

Page then comes into her room and asks Christine what the big secret is, and the two of them get ready to talk it out over tea.

2019, Stefan

Having moved back into the common room and ousting Declan and his "cheerleaders" from the couches by the TV, the boys again reaffirm their plan to stick together. Will thinks that while Declan may be stupid, he's unlikely to try anything unless he has numbers on his side.

Stef listens into Declan's conversation with Raph and Ollie, something he's never bothered to do before, and realizes Declan is joking about raping his girlfriend. Stef, before even thinking it through, jumps up and punches Declan in the face.