Jun 27, 2018 22:12:01 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 22:12:01 GMT
((Takes place in 2025. Tags: Rosalind Neveah Bonner . Warnings: self harm mentions))
“Dad got another tattoo!!!” Ikaika cried out as he ran through the house. “He said he’d let me get one when I’m 18.”
Rosalind showed up in the hallway, looking to Deimos. “Did he now?” She asked, staring straight at her husband. She sauntered over to Deimos, tugging at his arm to see it. This was his eighth tattoo in the last year. And sure, thanks to the flower shop being successful, money wasn’t really a problem anymore, but to spend so much on tattoos was ridiculous. Although she could see the art in it, she never understood the appeal of having tattoos. But Deimos seemed infatuated with them from the second he got his first one a year and a half ago, a tiny semi-colon on his wrist. What did you get now?
Watercolor tattoo. Deimos told her, pulling out his phone and checking the time before grinning. I can uncover it now, if you wanted to see.
Rosalind let go of his arm, letting him pull off the square gauze, her arms crossed. He took off the bandage to reveal an admittedly rather beautiful rose that went from reds and pinks at the top through the colors of the rainbow to a light green by the end.
Ikaika showed up in view, now with Aoede fluttering behind him. “Mom, can I really get a tattoo when I’m older?”
“Uh… Maybe.” Rosie replied simply. She pulled Deimos off into the kitchen, telling the kids they could either play in the living room or help her make dinner, which she knew they’d refuse. Deimos did actually help her (he’d always been the better cook anyway), but she waited until he was finished chopping vegetables before confronting him. Demi, why have you been getting so many tattoos? What’s with this sudden fascination?
Deimos stiffened, turning and giving Rosalind a weak smile. It’s art… I like art.
Rosalind didn’t have to read his emotions to know he wasn’t telling the whole truth, and she narrowed her eyes. It seems more like a new addiction to me. She knew tattoos came from pain and blood.
Deimos began fidgeting with the knife he had just been cutting vegetables with, and Rosalind casually took it from him and put it in the sink. He let out a sigh. Okay, if you must know… Last year, Ikaika asked me about the self harm scars. He had been looking at one tattoo, He pointed to the semi-colon on his wrist, And then just saw everything else. I didn’t know what to tell him and I panicked. I managed to distract him then but I still don’t know what to say. He held out his arms, he had so far only mostly covered one of his arms. And what will I do if they end up facing hardships or depression in the future? I’d just be a hypocrite. I’d probably be accused of that. I’m still fighting depression and addiction.
Rosalind sighed, Then tell them the truth. She said simply, taking his hands in hers. You were at war with your mind and you won, Demi.
As if on cue, Aoede came over to her parents, apparently Ikaika had told her about their dad’s newest tattoo. Wow daddy it’s so pretty! She said, looking right at him. Her hand traced it, then continued up to one of his scars, What’s this?
Maybe it was because she had Rosalind’s teachings as a constant in her life, Aoede learned telepathy really, really fast. She was still growing into it, and so far, it was the only ability she seemed to possess, but heaven knew it took Rosalind over 20 years for her powers to fully develop, so who knew what their daughter would be able to do by the time she was an adult. Otherworld was keeping close tabs on her, since she was still the first and only tri-hybrid, but she was still a mystery. She had a slight sensitivity to sun, and ironically unlike her father, a garlic allergy. Silver irritated but didn’t burn her, though iron did. She knew how to fly and use telepathy, and seemed rather insistent on learning telekinesis even if her mom couldn’t simply so she could get more cookies whenever they were made. Despite not (yet) having empathic abilities, she was empathetic in general, and looked up when Deimos hesitated and didn’t immediately say anything. “Daddy?” She asked in sign language.
Rosalind took her daughters hands, holding them as she crouched down to her level. She glanced up at Deimos, who was watching them intently but still rather frozen. “Your dad um…” She began, trying to think of something. An idea came to mind, something she had seen on his phone while looking over Deimos’ shoulder one lazy day a long time ago. “Your dad has some battle scars. Those scars are proof that he won.”
Aoede looked up at Deimos, “Really?” She asked him.
Deimos shrugged, finally seeming to relax as he also got eye level with them. “Uh… Sure.” He signed. “Battle scars.”
“Neat!” Aoede said, seeming to drop it pretty quickly. She looked to her mother, “Mom, when can we have dessert?”
“After dinner, you know that.” Rosie said. She eyed Deimos as he stood up, looking at the stove with a strange face. She dismissed her daughter and wrapped her arms around Deimos’ waist. You’re not a hypocrite. And it’s not a lie to tell them you were fighting a battle. Just… If they ever ask, or heaven forbid have to face depression themselves, you can tell them for a while you had a hard time. You’ve already helped Felix in that regard.
Felix, for all that he was healthy, had some trouble lately, and ended up diagnosed with a mild case of depression after his parents divorced. He had also finally confronted their biological parents at 20, having managed to avoid them for years prior. Having been conditioned to treat hybrids more equally, they were somewhat nicer to their younger son, but still, harsh words were exchanged at their meeting. It escalated until Felix had contacted Deimos, consequently sending his older brother into a panic attack when he was asked what he did to fight feeling like dying. Deimos had some choice words for their bio parents, and he refused to hang up the video call with Felix until he was sure the boy was feeling better and, more importantly, wouldn’t try to kill himself. A few days later, he also sent Felix a plane ticket to Greece so the boy didn’t have to think about the holidays at two separate houses, which would not help his mental state, and instead would let him see his niece and nephew and catch up with his brother and sister-in-law.
Deimos leaned heavily on the counter, I guess.
Rosie cupped her hands over his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. Deimos, you have a way with kids I don’t think you see. You give great advice because you... She seemed to hesitate, like she wasn’t sure where she was originally going to go with her sentence, You saw hell and lived through it. She finished. And you don’t want the people you love to experience that same pain. She stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. And I know you will fight like hell to make sure your brother or kids never feel like you did. She looked down, running a hand along his now-colorful arm. I’m not saying it’s not beautiful artwork, but really, don’t you think you should own up to your past? She glanced up at him, If you’re honest with your story, if our kids ever feel the same, they’ll be more comfortable coming to you, like Felix did. You were the first person he reached out to, even before the Headmaster or another trusted adult. I don’t want to learn secondhand - or even more belatedly - that my children are hurting, and I know you don’t want that either.
Deimos looked down at his as of yet mostly un-tattooed arm, scars not yet covered by ink. A hand went to his most recent ones, though they were still years old by now, and he sighed. I guess. There’s a lot of stigma behind mental illness still, let alone for men… When I came back after graduating, my parents were the only ones actually worried about my behavior. Everyone else just saw it as being a guy. His hand dropped. Admittedly, I have a couple more tattoos planned, but after that, I promise, I’ll stop. He took a deep breath, And when the time comes, if they’re old enough to know the whole truth, I’ll tell them. Teach them how to find the light in the darkest times.
Rosalind smiled, about to say something else when she heard the doorbell ring. As the lights flickered, an upgrade suggested by Deimos’ parents as a way to let a deaf person know someone was at the door, Deimos looked around curiously. “Who’s here?” He frowned a moment before snarling. “It better not be Cai.”
“Uncle Cai!!!” Aoede screeched after Ikaika opened the door. She squealed again as she jumped to the person behind Cailean. “Uncle Felix!”
Rosalind appeared in the doorway, looking back to make sure Deimos stayed where she told him to, and went to join the others in the doorway.
“Does he know?” Felix asked. He had a smile on his face, which was refreshing considering the last time they saw the boy.
Rosalind shook her head. “I don’t even think he realizes what day it is.” She told him with a short giggle.
“Turn off th' lights, it'll be funny.” Cailean said with a grin. Ironically, despite spending nearly ten years at the school, it took less than five years in Greece for Cailean to start losing his accent. Or maybe it was just the combined 15+ years since he’d been in Scotland. The most amusing thing was Deimos was having a harder time understanding him the more he lost his accent.
Rosalind did so, immediately hearing Deimos. Rosie? What happened to the lights? She kept quiet in their link, but giggled out loud.
Deimos looked around, hands balled tightly into fists. What happened to the lights? Why wasn’t Rosie answering him? They were just having a very serious conversation and she just up and leaves?
His questions were answered when Rosie appeared again holding a cake. Cai, Felix, and the kids were signing happy birthday. As the cake was set down in front of him, Deimos finally realized.
It was his 30th birthday.
He made it.
He wouldn’t become a statistic.
At least that explained why Felix was here despite it being the middle of the school year.
It took him a while before he blew out the candles, only doing so after Cailean nudged him, telling him the wax was getting on the cake.
Of course, not becoming a statistic didn’t mean he was out of the danger zone. In fact it almost felt more daunting - he no longer had spite as a reason to live. Though as he looked around the table, he knew that even if thinking of one year in the future was still too overwhelming, he had four (he supposed Cai counted as a half) reasons to continue living (Five if you included Cai’s wife; she was a nice person).
“Daddy what did you wish for?” Aoede asked, bouncing on her chair.
“Contentment.” Deimos replied. He knew his daughter wouldn’t understand, but the adults would.
“Cake before dinner!” Ikaika exclaimed excitedly.
Rosalind set down plates. “Just this once.” She said, trying to sound as If this hadn’t been the plan all along.
“Dad got another tattoo!!!” Ikaika cried out as he ran through the house. “He said he’d let me get one when I’m 18.”
Rosalind showed up in the hallway, looking to Deimos. “Did he now?” She asked, staring straight at her husband. She sauntered over to Deimos, tugging at his arm to see it. This was his eighth tattoo in the last year. And sure, thanks to the flower shop being successful, money wasn’t really a problem anymore, but to spend so much on tattoos was ridiculous. Although she could see the art in it, she never understood the appeal of having tattoos. But Deimos seemed infatuated with them from the second he got his first one a year and a half ago, a tiny semi-colon on his wrist. What did you get now?
Watercolor tattoo. Deimos told her, pulling out his phone and checking the time before grinning. I can uncover it now, if you wanted to see.
Rosalind let go of his arm, letting him pull off the square gauze, her arms crossed. He took off the bandage to reveal an admittedly rather beautiful rose that went from reds and pinks at the top through the colors of the rainbow to a light green by the end.
Ikaika showed up in view, now with Aoede fluttering behind him. “Mom, can I really get a tattoo when I’m older?”
“Uh… Maybe.” Rosie replied simply. She pulled Deimos off into the kitchen, telling the kids they could either play in the living room or help her make dinner, which she knew they’d refuse. Deimos did actually help her (he’d always been the better cook anyway), but she waited until he was finished chopping vegetables before confronting him. Demi, why have you been getting so many tattoos? What’s with this sudden fascination?
Deimos stiffened, turning and giving Rosalind a weak smile. It’s art… I like art.
Rosalind didn’t have to read his emotions to know he wasn’t telling the whole truth, and she narrowed her eyes. It seems more like a new addiction to me. She knew tattoos came from pain and blood.
Deimos began fidgeting with the knife he had just been cutting vegetables with, and Rosalind casually took it from him and put it in the sink. He let out a sigh. Okay, if you must know… Last year, Ikaika asked me about the self harm scars. He had been looking at one tattoo, He pointed to the semi-colon on his wrist, And then just saw everything else. I didn’t know what to tell him and I panicked. I managed to distract him then but I still don’t know what to say. He held out his arms, he had so far only mostly covered one of his arms. And what will I do if they end up facing hardships or depression in the future? I’d just be a hypocrite. I’d probably be accused of that. I’m still fighting depression and addiction.
Rosalind sighed, Then tell them the truth. She said simply, taking his hands in hers. You were at war with your mind and you won, Demi.
As if on cue, Aoede came over to her parents, apparently Ikaika had told her about their dad’s newest tattoo. Wow daddy it’s so pretty! She said, looking right at him. Her hand traced it, then continued up to one of his scars, What’s this?
Maybe it was because she had Rosalind’s teachings as a constant in her life, Aoede learned telepathy really, really fast. She was still growing into it, and so far, it was the only ability she seemed to possess, but heaven knew it took Rosalind over 20 years for her powers to fully develop, so who knew what their daughter would be able to do by the time she was an adult. Otherworld was keeping close tabs on her, since she was still the first and only tri-hybrid, but she was still a mystery. She had a slight sensitivity to sun, and ironically unlike her father, a garlic allergy. Silver irritated but didn’t burn her, though iron did. She knew how to fly and use telepathy, and seemed rather insistent on learning telekinesis even if her mom couldn’t simply so she could get more cookies whenever they were made. Despite not (yet) having empathic abilities, she was empathetic in general, and looked up when Deimos hesitated and didn’t immediately say anything. “Daddy?” She asked in sign language.
Rosalind took her daughters hands, holding them as she crouched down to her level. She glanced up at Deimos, who was watching them intently but still rather frozen. “Your dad um…” She began, trying to think of something. An idea came to mind, something she had seen on his phone while looking over Deimos’ shoulder one lazy day a long time ago. “Your dad has some battle scars. Those scars are proof that he won.”
Aoede looked up at Deimos, “Really?” She asked him.
Deimos shrugged, finally seeming to relax as he also got eye level with them. “Uh… Sure.” He signed. “Battle scars.”
“Neat!” Aoede said, seeming to drop it pretty quickly. She looked to her mother, “Mom, when can we have dessert?”
“After dinner, you know that.” Rosie said. She eyed Deimos as he stood up, looking at the stove with a strange face. She dismissed her daughter and wrapped her arms around Deimos’ waist. You’re not a hypocrite. And it’s not a lie to tell them you were fighting a battle. Just… If they ever ask, or heaven forbid have to face depression themselves, you can tell them for a while you had a hard time. You’ve already helped Felix in that regard.
Felix, for all that he was healthy, had some trouble lately, and ended up diagnosed with a mild case of depression after his parents divorced. He had also finally confronted their biological parents at 20, having managed to avoid them for years prior. Having been conditioned to treat hybrids more equally, they were somewhat nicer to their younger son, but still, harsh words were exchanged at their meeting. It escalated until Felix had contacted Deimos, consequently sending his older brother into a panic attack when he was asked what he did to fight feeling like dying. Deimos had some choice words for their bio parents, and he refused to hang up the video call with Felix until he was sure the boy was feeling better and, more importantly, wouldn’t try to kill himself. A few days later, he also sent Felix a plane ticket to Greece so the boy didn’t have to think about the holidays at two separate houses, which would not help his mental state, and instead would let him see his niece and nephew and catch up with his brother and sister-in-law.
Deimos leaned heavily on the counter, I guess.
Rosie cupped her hands over his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. Deimos, you have a way with kids I don’t think you see. You give great advice because you... She seemed to hesitate, like she wasn’t sure where she was originally going to go with her sentence, You saw hell and lived through it. She finished. And you don’t want the people you love to experience that same pain. She stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. And I know you will fight like hell to make sure your brother or kids never feel like you did. She looked down, running a hand along his now-colorful arm. I’m not saying it’s not beautiful artwork, but really, don’t you think you should own up to your past? She glanced up at him, If you’re honest with your story, if our kids ever feel the same, they’ll be more comfortable coming to you, like Felix did. You were the first person he reached out to, even before the Headmaster or another trusted adult. I don’t want to learn secondhand - or even more belatedly - that my children are hurting, and I know you don’t want that either.
Deimos looked down at his as of yet mostly un-tattooed arm, scars not yet covered by ink. A hand went to his most recent ones, though they were still years old by now, and he sighed. I guess. There’s a lot of stigma behind mental illness still, let alone for men… When I came back after graduating, my parents were the only ones actually worried about my behavior. Everyone else just saw it as being a guy. His hand dropped. Admittedly, I have a couple more tattoos planned, but after that, I promise, I’ll stop. He took a deep breath, And when the time comes, if they’re old enough to know the whole truth, I’ll tell them. Teach them how to find the light in the darkest times.
Rosalind smiled, about to say something else when she heard the doorbell ring. As the lights flickered, an upgrade suggested by Deimos’ parents as a way to let a deaf person know someone was at the door, Deimos looked around curiously. “Who’s here?” He frowned a moment before snarling. “It better not be Cai.”
“Uncle Cai!!!” Aoede screeched after Ikaika opened the door. She squealed again as she jumped to the person behind Cailean. “Uncle Felix!”
Rosalind appeared in the doorway, looking back to make sure Deimos stayed where she told him to, and went to join the others in the doorway.
“Does he know?” Felix asked. He had a smile on his face, which was refreshing considering the last time they saw the boy.
Rosalind shook her head. “I don’t even think he realizes what day it is.” She told him with a short giggle.
“Turn off th' lights, it'll be funny.” Cailean said with a grin. Ironically, despite spending nearly ten years at the school, it took less than five years in Greece for Cailean to start losing his accent. Or maybe it was just the combined 15+ years since he’d been in Scotland. The most amusing thing was Deimos was having a harder time understanding him the more he lost his accent.
Rosalind did so, immediately hearing Deimos. Rosie? What happened to the lights? She kept quiet in their link, but giggled out loud.
Deimos looked around, hands balled tightly into fists. What happened to the lights? Why wasn’t Rosie answering him? They were just having a very serious conversation and she just up and leaves?
His questions were answered when Rosie appeared again holding a cake. Cai, Felix, and the kids were signing happy birthday. As the cake was set down in front of him, Deimos finally realized.
It was his 30th birthday.
He made it.
He wouldn’t become a statistic.
At least that explained why Felix was here despite it being the middle of the school year.
It took him a while before he blew out the candles, only doing so after Cailean nudged him, telling him the wax was getting on the cake.
Of course, not becoming a statistic didn’t mean he was out of the danger zone. In fact it almost felt more daunting - he no longer had spite as a reason to live. Though as he looked around the table, he knew that even if thinking of one year in the future was still too overwhelming, he had four (he supposed Cai counted as a half) reasons to continue living (Five if you included Cai’s wife; she was a nice person).
“Daddy what did you wish for?” Aoede asked, bouncing on her chair.
“Contentment.” Deimos replied. He knew his daughter wouldn’t understand, but the adults would.
“Cake before dinner!” Ikaika exclaimed excitedly.
Rosalind set down plates. “Just this once.” She said, trying to sound as If this hadn’t been the plan all along.
