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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 27, 2021 20:28:02 GMT -8
"I don't think waiting's a good idea," he said, dumping the granules in the sink as he tilted the mug. He watched how the drops split apart the dregs, like tiny explosions.
"Seeing as you seem super determined to invite weirdos into our lives." He had hit the limit of his maturity, and went for sarcasm on a topic he had no idea how to broach.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 27, 2021 21:02:29 GMT -8
Ivory nods.
"I'll make the call," she affirms, "just let me know what time works. And we'll go. I... know it doesn't always seem like it? But I am dedicated to making this work. And I'm trying. I want you to know that, okay?"
The sarcasm caught the Pale Dragon off guard, prompting a genuine snort and laugh from the Fairest.
"Oh puh-lease, compared to some of my other friends you've met, Kai is frightfully normal," Ivory said, a smirk on her lips, "Any classes today?"
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 27, 2021 21:33:27 GMT -8
"I was talking about the guy you were taking heroin with."
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 27, 2021 21:54:35 GMT -8
Ivory froze.
"It wasn't heroin," Ivory commented, "It was a drug called Rose Water. A nasty little concoction that should-not-be. A union of chemicals and... well, that doesn't need to be explained."
She let the comment sit for a long moment, her eyes eventually flicking up to Anthony. Her expression was stoic, if a bit tired, as the Fairest left the stool to stand tall on her feet.
"You know, I had a whole plan for this?" she offered, though the question was rhetorical, "A calm, gradual process. Something to ease you in. To clue you in on your father's and my behaviors over the years. I had hoped to make your exposure to the truth comfortable, but seeing as how you seem so adamant on thinking less of me?"
The Pale Dragon's forefinger and thumb raised, pressed together.
"Fuck it."
The fingers snapped... and the Glamour burned away, enveloping Ivory's body in golden light as the Truth came to pass.
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 27, 2021 22:34:34 GMT -8
As Abigail stands, Anthony straightens his own back, dropping the mug in the sink with a loud clatter.
...gradual process. Something to ease you in. To clue you in on your father's and my behaviors over the years. I had hoped to make your ě̷̱x̵̣͝p̷̹͋o̶̮͘s̸̲̀u̵̙̾r̷̭̚ė̶͎ ṭ̵̉̇͑ͅo̶͎̬͓͊ ̸͇̍̊ͅt̷̨̜̞̆̊h̸̠̿̐ͅę̶͎̦̓ ̸̺̓̏t̷̡̫̘̏r̷̡͕̺̃͋́u̵͙͗͛t̷̙͠ĥ̶̲̈́̕ͅ ̷̻̎ċ̴̡̱̭̩̺͖͈͕̠̰̓̊̉͗͒̈́͠o̵̰̤̅͋̌͒͘͘m̶̜̫͕̙̦͕͉͖͐̃f̵̡̘͇̤̼̠̻̬͙̳̅̾͒̽̌̅̓̐͒̏̅o̶̡̨͖̼̣̯̳̟͍͇̣̯̓̓̄̊̀̀̅͌̿̔̆͝͝r̸̟̝̥̰͚͙̻̭̀̍̏̕t̷̡̢̯͍͍̟̬͔̬̜̠̲̗͎̰̙̔͆̊̾̾̒͐͂̈̆̆̉̚̕͝ͅá̴̧̨̫̞̠̖̟͔͚̥͐̓̒̐̔͠b̴̡̧͙͕̘̼̼̪̮͍̠̲̳͔͇̣͋̊̇͋̿̒̒̇̇̆͋̕͠͠͝ͅl̶̨̢̛͚̝̠̖̱̘̇̐̒̋̄͐̊͂̅͋̎͝e̷̢̲̼̮͚͙̟̳̼͐͊̔̅̑̽́͐̋̾.̵̖͚̮̭͔̠̏̎̋ͅ.̶̡̦̼̱̰̼̫̠͇̺̪̳͒̎̇̆̈́̆̍̐͂͠.̶͎̲̲͍̦̹̘̪̬̱̲̼̱̈́ͅ...
He blinks, his mind turning to static to the familiar speech,
"P-please d-"
As the finger snaps, he flinches, expression pained with confusion and disbelief.
The sharp exhale might have been a sardonic snort, or the bubbling panic attack.
"Don't."
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 27, 2021 23:43:20 GMT -8
Terror.
It's what Ivory had expected, but she had hoped it would happen in an environment she could control. An environment that at least had Anthony expecting something might happen. She hadn't planned on this and, as she saw her son's expression twisted by fear, it hurt.
Tears rolled down the Pale Dragon's cheeks with her true form revealed, her bottom lip trembling. Nonetheless, the dragon stood tall, her regal bearing granting her the strength she needed to stay. In another wavelength, however, this was a little liberating for Ivory. For so long Anthony had been judging her friendships, her habits, and her activities. Today, the facade ended. Today Ivory could finally stand up for herself.
"This probably already apparent," Ivory managed, her voice trembling between anger and emotional anguish, "but the affairs of my existence are way the fuck outside of your understanding!"
The usual formality of the dragon's demeanor was gone. Anthony was getting something more raw from his guardian.
"My overdose was the result of an investigation, not some bender," Ivory continued, "And I can't keep standing by while you attack me on some perception based on the Lie. Not after everything I've done!"
The hard edge softened, the motherly nature of the Fairest taking over as she truly takes in the scene she has created.
"I love you, Anthony. Truly, I do," Ivory offered, her heart breaking as she stared at the frightened visage of the child she had helped guide. Her boy. "And I know that part of you hates me. I... don't think any of this is going to change that, but... I need you to know more. I want to protect you, do you understand?"
There was a final look as the Pale Dragon moved on, returning to her seat with a defeated sigh as she willed the Mask back once again, the golden light briefly enveloping her again before dissipating to reveal the face of the woman Ivory could-have-been once again.
"This wasn't how any of this was supposed to go," she said her tone solemn as she blankly stared into her ice cream, "I understand if you need time. I could even understand if you want to leave. I won't stop you, but... please stay?"
A shaky hand retrieved the spoon, scooping up another serving of ice cream as she granted Anthony some space to speak.
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 27, 2021 23:59:33 GMT -8
He flinched, shoulders hitching as she raised her voice at him.
When she accused him of hating her, his jaw worked, eyes rimming red.
When she asked him to stay, his hands shook from the force of his gripping the counter.
He didn't move.
He didn't speak.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 28, 2021 0:10:48 GMT -8
"Whiskey's on top of the fridge, if that helps," she said, "It's not every day you find out your moth-"
There was a pause, the Fairest stopping her thought. How could he consider her his mother after that? How could anyone in his position.
"It's not every day," she repeated, her tone heavy with sadness, "you find out your guardian is a monster."
Her eyes looked up for the first time, rimmed with red from her tears even as she fought to keep her composure from crumbling out completely.
"You can ask, questions, you know?" she offered, "Um... or I can go? Stay somewhere else for a while. Give you time?"
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 28, 2021 0:40:37 GMT -8
Anthony raised his hand, "Abi, stop."
Clearing his throat, he took the whiskey bottle she indicated, rolling the spout between his palms. "This isn't the time to be tearing yourself down. Stop weaponizing language against yourself."
The alcohol started going down the sink. "Stop asking me to fix it."
Running the back of his sleeve against his nose, he returned to the same position as before, leaving the tipped bottle in the basin.
"I don't see how any of this shit changes the fact that you thought it was cool to put yourself in danger. 'That doesn't need to be explained'—don't give me that shit. You know how much it hurt to watch your stupid girlfriend tell me not to worry about it, and that it was a one time thing?" His voice was thin, hand shaking as he gestured,
"And like, turn it into how I was accusing you of being a junkie? Really? And you sided with her, even now. Like, this is so fucking toxic- that you," he chuckled dryly, tears flowing, "Even now, you think this is about me picking on you, and judging you. LISTEN. TO. ME."
He jabbed a finger into his heart as he emphasized the request. "You thought it was OKAY to FUCK AROUND and MARTYR YOURSELF for WHATEVER BULLSHIT I AM SURE YOU GOT YOURSELF INTO, BECAUSE YOU'RE DESPERATE FOR PEOPLE TO LOVE YOU. Did- did you ever think- Am I not good enough? You let EVELYN convince you that I'm an immature asshole kid who's just looking down my nose? Really? You think that little of me? That this isn't about how I can't comprehend why you were in that situation? You need to invite this lady you've known for a few months- so you can ignore that? Tell yourself 'oooh he would never understand!'" He waved his hands, hoarse as he stayed where he was. He wasn't going to pace and throw his weight around or get in her face to try and intimidate her.
"You chose this," he gestured to the situation at large, "Because it was easier for you to let Evelyn tell you you're perfect, I'm a sanctimonious dumbass who doesn't know any better, and this- Kai- will understand you. That's why you invited her after only knowing her for a few minutes right? The rush of knowing you're helping? That you'll finally be worthy of someone? You want me to walk away so you can tell yourself your fear was true all along and fucking wallow, OR, better YET, I give you a hug and tell you I accept you in every way."
His face was red and hot. "Well. I don't."
He picked up the half-empty bottle, walking out of the kitchen, before he pointed at her,
"But not because of the reasons you're trying to manipulate out of me right now. This has nothing to do with the fact that you have scales. Get your shit together. If I see Evelyn around here to start your pity party, we're done. She only cares about having fun, and if you care about me more than feeling perfect, you'll drop her."
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 28, 2021 0:52:56 GMT -8
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 28, 2021 10:09:15 GMT -8
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 28, 2021 13:43:03 GMT -8
Fuck. That Hurt.
As Anthony launched into his attack, Ivory stood stunned, her psyche cracking as she witnessed her world come closer to crumbling. She wanted to talk back, force him to understand, but the Fairest could not find the words, instead withdrawing while the tears rolled down her frozen expression. Nonetheless, Anthony got what he wanted. Ivory was listening, but the attack on her Clarity rendered her unable to formulate an effective response.
As he moved to leave, Ivory's eyes became desperate, watching as he began to slip away and not knowing how she could reel him back.
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 28, 2021 17:05:20 GMT -8
"I'll book the appointment," Anthony called from the stairs, the door to his room closing with the normal amount of force.
A slam would have at least been satisfying to the emotional block.
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Ivory
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Pres 4 (Regal) - SL 1 (Noble) Fairest Hunterheart
Posts: 588
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Post by Ivory on Feb 28, 2021 18:23:25 GMT -8
Ivory listened to him leave and proclaim his intent, but there was no optimism. It was beginning to feel like Ivory's world was slipping through her fingers.
Her body was shaking, pent up as it was with sorrow, anger, and resounding frustration at all that had come to pass. Then, with a pained yell, the Fairest slapped the bowl off the island, sending it careening off for a collision course with the fridge.
It shattered, sending ice cream and glass shards on a violent dance into the surrounding environs.
At the center, the Fairest sobbed into her arms, face down on the counter as she rode the low deep. Eventually, the head rose with heavy breaths as Ivory began to assert her control and calm down.
After some moments, she rose. She'd move to the mess, picking up the glass in silence and cleaning the explosion if dairy with a rag and soap. The deed done, she'd slowly walk back into the foyer, open the door to the basement by the stairs, and entered.
The door locked behind her and the Fairest would not emerge until the next morning.
((Good to close, on phone and can't input the quote formula))
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