#simblrstories

“Raj!” says Cookie, trying to hobble after him in her towering heels and tight skirt. He turns around at the top of the stairs, his determination to get as far away as possible undiminished by her doleful eyes and quivering mouth.
“Where are you going?” she says. “Have you forgotten we’re supposed to be having drinks with Bronwyn and Graham?”
“I’m going home,” he says. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you this evening, but I’m in no mood for socializing. I hope you’ll forgive me. ”
“But- I don’t understand!” she says. “What happened to make you so upset? What were you and Lincoln Porter talking about?”
“I’ll tell you tomorrow, after I’ve calmed down,” he says. “I’ll ring you, alright? Now, go back to your friends and enjoy the rest of your evening. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I just need some time alone.”
“Raj-” she says plaintively, but he is descending the stairs without another word or glance in her direction, and he doesn’t look back when he reaches the bottom, either.

After the performance Cookie and the two other ladies in the ensemble are encircled by a fawning knot of devotees, and Raj sees an opportunity to approach Lincoln Porter. Lincoln is a multi-millionaire property developer, and Raj used to count him as a friend and business associate before his incarceration. Lincoln gives him an affable smile.
“Looking sharp, Raj,” he says. “How’re things?”
“Good, good,” says Raj. “Where’s Jasmine tonight?”
“At home. She can’t handle going out at night anymore, she gets tired too easily,” says Lincoln. “Did you know she’s pregnant? Seven months.” He adds proudly, “It’ll be our third.”
“Congratulations, my friend,” says Raj. “That’s wonderful news.” Lincoln gives a modest smirk.
“Are you here with anyone?” he asks.
“I’m here with Lavinia,” says Raj. Lincoln raises an eyebrow.
“You’re here with Lavinia Cook?” he says. “You’re dating?”
“We have been spending some time in each other’s company, yes,” says Raj.
“Well, well,” says Lincoln. “You sly devil.”
“How’s business?” asks Raj, not wanting to talk about Cookie. He has never felt the compulsion to share details of his private life with other people. Lincoln talks about his ideas for expanding into retirement homes and student housing, which he says offer “relatively stable cash flow, high occupancy and good liquidity.” Raj nods sagely.
“You’re still on the Chamber of Commerce, aren’t you Lincoln?” Raj says. “Because I made an application a few weeks ago to rejoin and I haven’t heard anything back yet.”
“Ah, ” says Lincoln. “Well. I thought you would’ve heard by now-”
“Heard what?” says Raj. Lincoln makes a slight grimace.
“I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you, Raj, but your application was rejected,” he says.
“On what grounds?” says Raj. The room seems to have become a few degrees cooler. Lincoln can feel goosebumps pimpling his skin.
“Moral and ethical grounds,” he says.
“The hell are you talking about?” says Raj.
“You were convicted of a felony, Raj,” says Lincoln. People are starting to turn around and stare at them. “I’m sorry, it wasn’t my decision-”
“I was the founder of the Chamber of Commerce in this town,” says Raj. “Without me, this place wouldn’t even have any fucking commerce. I put this town on the map!”
“Raj, I’m sorry.” says Lincoln. “If it had been up to me-”

Cookie has come  hurrying over, her eyes huge and liquid in her flawlessly made up face.

“Raj, what’s going on?” she says. “You’re making a scene. Everybody’s looking.”
“In that case, I’d better leave,” he says. “Delightful to see you again, Lincoln.”

After their game, which Isaac wins effortlessly, they sit down with their drinks in the karaoke area. Mia has now drunk three beers and is staring into the depths of her fourth. She is feeling even less sociable than she was at the beginning of the evening. It’s as if each beer has provided an even thicker layer between herself and the rest of the world. 

“I wasn’t sure if I’d actually like bowling, but any sport where you get to drink beer is okay in my book,” says Milo.
“Yeah, it was fun,” says Jackie. “It’d be nice to get together for a bowling night once a month or so. What do you think, Mia?”
“Yeah, whatever,” says Mia.
“Where did you learn to be so good at bowling?” Milo asks Isaac.
“I used to bowl every Friday night back home in Lucky Palms,” says Isaac. “I was even on a team. We called ourselves ‘4 Guys, 12 Balls’.
"Ha!” says Jackie. Mia doesn’t respond. Milo and Jackie and Isaac chat until Milo starts yawning and Jackie apologetically says that they have to be getting home; Milo has to get up at 4 am to go to the flower markets.

“What do you want to do, Mia?” asks Isaac.
“Jump off the nearest bridge,” says Mia.

Isaac rubs the back of his neck helplessly while Jackie and Milo exchange a look.

“A word, please Mia,” Jackie says. She steers Mia towards a corner.  
“Babe, listen. I think you need professional help,” says Jackie, above the breathy falsetto of the girl on the stage trying to strangle Blue Bayou. 
“Fuck off,” says Mia.
“I have access to a lot of specialist services at the hospital. Why don’t you let me-
"The comment about the bridge was a joke,” says Mia. “We don’t even have any decent bridges in this shitty backwater, in case you’ve never noticed.”  
“Okay, but I’m still worried about you. Will you let me make an appointment for you with one of the hospital’s grief counselors, at the very least? Just one appointment. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go again-”
“I do not need a grief counselor, for fuck’s sake,” says Mia. “I’m dealing with shit just fine on my own. I came out tonight, didn’t I? I’m socialising again. That’s progress, isn’t it?”
“Babe, you said you felt like you were cursed. That’s not progress.”

Mia gives her a sullen smile.

“I was only wallowing in self-pity, just like you said, ” she says. “I’m fine. I’m going to have a couple more drinks, then I’m going to go home. With Isaac. As long as he doesn’t get shot or stabbed beforehand, of course. That was another joke, by the way.”

Jackie sighs and shakes her head, looking her up and down.

“Will you just think about talking to someone about what you’re going though?” she says. “Just like, give it some serious thought? For me?”
“Why?” says Mia. “Why is it so fucking important?”
“Because I love you, is why,” says Jackie.

“What are you talking about?” says Jackie. “Why is Isaac going to die?”
“Because people I get involved with die horrible, violent deaths,”  says Mia, giving her a wounded look from beneath her fringe. Jackie was proud of Mia for getting out of the house tonight, and had hoped it represented a kind of turning point; she knows she is selfish, she knows Mia is hurting and needs time to heal, but Goddammit she also wants her fun-loving, irreverent, loud, cursing, inappropriate bestie back. She decides to adopt a no-nonsense tone.

“What a load of crap, Mia,” she says. “Look, I know how terrible the last month has been for you, how Noah’s death must have made you revisit a lot of very painful memories, but that statement simply isn’t true. Besides, Noah was a criminal. The odds of him dying a violent death were pretty high, and had absolutely nothing to do with you. Please stop with the self-pity. You need to start celebrating the fact that you’re alive, surrounded by people who love you-”
“I don’t care what you say,” says Mia. “I’m cursed. I know I’m cursed.”
“I’m the one who’s cursed, having to sit here listening to this rubbish,” says Jackie. “Snap out of it, Mia. Otherwise you’re going to lose Isaac too.”
“He’d be a lot better off, ” says Mia morosely.

Thursday 7.35 pm

Mia and Isaac are on a double date tonight with Jackie and Milo at ‘Balls to the Wall’, a Bowling Alley-slash-restaurant-slash-entertainment venue that has not long been open in town. It’s a month since Mia and her mother Nanette have returned from Paris, and the first time Mia has been out in public with Isaac. They’ve fucked a few times, but Noah’s death still feels like a heavy rock lodged in her heart, and most nights she would rather just sit on the couch under a blanket and binge-watch her favourite soap operas and reality shows. She has come to realise that one of the reasons she loves her soap operas so much is because their endless nature rarely provides the viewer with any closure. Mia finds this comforting, and very relatable.

Isaac has revealed himself to be an expert bowler.

“Oh my God,” says Jackie, “He’s got anotherstrike!”

Isaac does a little victory dance, while Milo grunts in admiration.

“Yay,” says Mia dully. “Whose turn is it now?”
“Milo’s,” says Jackie. Milo climbs to his feet with very little enthusiasm. Isaac asks if they would like him to get them all a drink. Milo says he’ll have a beer.
“I’d love a  lemonade,” says Jackie. “Nothing stronger because I’m on call.”
“What would you like, Mia?” Isaac asks.
“I’ll have a beer too,” says Mia, and then adds as an afterthought, “Thanks.”
“He’s a sweetie,” says Jackie after he’s out of earshot.

Mia’s bottom lip juts out.

“Yeah. He doesn’t deserve to die,” she says.

Bowling Alley by @minasavenue

Based on the snippets of information that Sonia had provided about her parents, Violet had envisioned Frank and Estelle de Prima to be a pair of reactionary relics, trapped for posterity in a paranoid, xenophobic existence, all their energies spent bemoaning the disintegration of the traditional family and the threat posed to their way of life by liberals, socialists, and immigrants. Frank had been just as she had expected, although she had been surprised he had actually shaken her hand. (The reality was that he was a man who prided himself on his good manners, especially towards the fairer sex, and any lapse was perceived as a threat to the civilized order.) And now Violet is standing in the de Prima’s living room and Estelle is standing in the kitchen, looking small and frail, and blinking in confusion. The room is blanketed in intoxicating layers of smells, pie crust and fresh-baked bread and garlic and coriander. Michael Bublé croons innocuously from the stereo. 

“Hello!” exclaims Violet. “You must be Sonia’s mother. I’m Violet. It’s lovely to meet you, Estelle!” 

Estelle’s blinking intensifies. Sonia stands at the top of the stairs, unable to move. Her mother’s head swivels in her direction.

“Where are the children? Where’s Roy?” Estelle asks.

“We left the children at home,“ says Sonia. “And Roy….Roy isn’t coming, either.” 

“But I made his favourite lemon chiffon pie!” says Estelle. She looks like she might cry. They can hear the thud of Frank’s footsteps coming up the stairs. 

“It’s okay, Estelle, I love lemon chiffon pie!” says Violet. Estelle has so far refused to acknowledge her presence. She again addresses Sonia.  

“Why aren’t Roy and the children here?” she says in a plaintive voice. Sonia looks helplessly at Violet, who gives her a smile of gentle encouragement. 

“I’ll explain when we’re all sitting down,“ says Sonia.

“Don’t worry, Estelle,” says Frank, standing behind Sonia. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly plausible explanation.” 

Sonia turns to face him, and his face is waxen with repressed fury. 

“You will not do this, Sonia,” he hisses through clenched teeth. “You will not do this to your mother. I forbidit.”

Sonia’s mouth moves soundlessly, the coldness in her father’s eyes robbing her of coherent speech. Violet steps in to rescue her, her arms outstretched, her voice dripping with honey. “My name’s Violet, Mr. de Prima,” she says. “I’m so glad to finally meet you!”
After a few moments’ hesitation Frank shakes her hand, while Sonia avoids making any further eye contact with him.
“I was just telling Sonia how much I admire these lovely old brownstones,” Violet says. “Have you lived here long?”
“Nearly forty years,” says Frank tersely. He turns to Sonia. “Sonia, please answer my question. Where-”
Violet slips past him and up the stairs. Sonia feels giddy, as if she has just stepped off a roller coaster.
“Sonia!” says her father. “I demand to know what’s going on!”
Sonia throws her shoulders back and lifts her chin. Then she pushes past him to follow Violet inside.

“Well, I’d better be heading back home before Saoirse calls out a search party”, says Roy. “Thanks for dinner, hon. I’ll be over at around 2.30 tomorrow to pick up Angus and take him to the game, okay?”
Sonia is stacking the dishwasher and doesn’t answer.
“Right, then,” says Roy. “I’ll just go and say goodbye to the kids and then I’ll be off.”
Sonia waits until they hear his footsteps creaking above their heads and then turns to Violet.
“So now we know why he bought a new Ferrari,” she says.“To bolster his poor ego.”
“So you don’t believe him either?” says Violet.
“Not a single word,” says Sonia.“I knew it wouldn’t last. Any fool would have known that.”
“Why don’t we invite them both around for dinner?” says Violet. “Then we’ll find out for sure.”
“Over my dead body.”
“But if they’re not together anymore-”
“He’d probably pay her to come with him, just to perpetuate the lie,” snorts Sonia.
“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” says Violet. “I mean, you wanted Roy to go with you to your parents’ place tomorrow, which is also perpetuating a lie-”
“It’s not the same thing!” shouts Sonia.“Why are you on his side?”
“I’m not on his side,” says Violet. “I’m just making a point. And don’t scream at me like that. I know you’re stressed about seeing your parents tomorrow, but there’s no need to be such a bitch.”
“Sorry,” says Sonia sulkily. They hear Roy yell out a cheery “BYE- BYE!” from the hallway, and then the front door slams. Sonia turns away from Violet to wipe down the counter tops. The raucous throb of the Ferrari’s engines as Roy accelerates through the gates makes the window frames rattle.
“Babe?” says Violet, after the noise has receded. Sonia turns around, her face a mask of rigidly controlled emotion.
“I want to come with you to your parents’ place tomorrow,” says Violet. ”If you’re ready to tell them the truth, that is.“ 

Vy brushed Brooke’s tears away and took Hayden’s hand, nodding at her. Indeed there was a world of knowledge, though Vy didn’t want her to read what her parents had planned to do with her. How they had planned to make her into an ‘incubator’. Even the world felt gross on Vy’s mouth.

Vy: I will teach you. That way you can use what they learned to help us. I will teach you -he nodded-

Emil sat on the roof of the dorm room, still quite overwhelmed with all that happened and all the energy they consumed. They realized now, that they were calmer, that they had fled like a coward. But they had stolen a kiss to help Flynn, but also, perhaps, a part of them hoped that kiss would have a meaning to Flynn once he calmed down. But instead, full of fear Flynn pulled back. Emil had overstepped…

Emil sighed, they had wanted to apologize for what they did. But Flynn didn’t return to the dorm. Had he been taken to his home by the older mage?

With a whine, Emil hit their head. They were so far away, they couldn’t even sense Flynn. And not feeling Flynn only made the dragon more anxious, their heart racing with each second the feeling of void augmented. Had something happened to Flynn?!

Beginning-Previous- Next

Hayden stood up, wrapping his arms around both of them, standing there as a family would after bad times, just comforting each other.  After a while, Brooke looked up at them, giving both a little smile as she felt her tears dried by a gentle hand. 

Brooke: That book has all their knowledge, all their potions, everything.. Perhaps there is something in there that can help you, help El and Lene.. -she looked at Vy.- Can you teach me to read it? I would love to learn, and that way maybe all their evil doings can be used for some good?

She would love that, to take all their shit, and make it into something good. She also knew it would have infuriated them to no end which made her a silly amount of happy if she was honest.

River: Ooh … They kissed you … -he shook his head- Give them time. I know from Vy that a kiss is something sacred. Perhaps it felt ashamed.

River decided not to confess to his son that Emil looked rejected. He had already figured out Emil had feelings for his son, though he wasn’t sure if it was love, devotion, loyalty or all three. He brushed his son’s back, pulling a blanket. Letting Flynn rest. He was sure Emil would return. He tried to locate the phoenix he sent after the dragon and chuckled.

Beginning-Previous-Next

Although she was still slightly wobbly on her legs, she pushed herself up, walking right over to Vy, hugging him tightly, sobbing against his chest. Wishing so much she could have stopped them from taking their son. Vy wrapped his arms around the girl, hugging her tight. Hearing her sob against his chest, Vy found himself crying too. Crying that this girl had gone through all this due to such monstrous parents, but also crying for his missing child and his wounded ones. Everything felt like it would never be the same, yet this felt a little like hope. 

River: I think they’ll come back… Did something happen? I mean, they seemed out of it, almost regretful… Did they do or say something?

He kept brushing his hair gently. He had seen the look on the dragon’s eyes, the dragon looked remorseful and dejected. Heck, they looked like they had been rejected actually.

Flynn: No I don’t think so.. -he pondered some, to him it had felt like a kiss, but one that drained his energy, kisses were sacred.. perhaps that was why he had flown away.- It’s going to sound silly, but it felt slightly like a kiss in a way, just that it did something more, it drained me of my energy.. a lot of it. Probably too much…

He sighed, slightly snuggling closer to his dad. It had been another rough day, and he knew there would be more to come, he had to learn how to handle a completely different amount of magic than what he was used to. On top of everything else, Emil had run away, and right now it felt like all too much for one person. 

Beginning-Previous-Next

Vy looked down, tears started going into his eyes and he tried to wipe them up.

Vy: I miss my son… I feel so powerless. Like… I can’t do anything to help, anything to fix this… I need to help. And this way I can help. You deserve better, I know you’re already a young adult, and won’t make any difference, but… Until you graduate from college and find your way, you can stay with us. We could foster you, be the family you deserved. I know it’s not much…. but… consider it a thank you…

Brooke watched the two of them as if she could not quite believe what she was hearing. After all, they had been through, they stood there, offering to take her in. 

Brooke: Really? -she had always wanted to be a part of this family, that was why she broke all her parent’s rules and started to hide them, they had been what she wanted.-  Are you sure?

He looked between the two, noticing Chris and Hayle smiling at her, they had thought much the same, but seeing Vy and Hayden taking her in felt right. 

Hayden: Yes. As my husband said, you kept our kids safe for years, and that cost you a lot. You are welcome here with us, for as long as you want. 

Beginning-Previous-Next

River: I can stay, don’t worry. You can sleep, I’ll be here watching over you.
Flynn: Thanks dad. -he sighed, feeling safe in his dad’s arms like he always did. - You think Emil will come back soon? 

It was on his mind, with their bond not being as strong, and him being this tired, he couldn’t feel him right now. Closing his eyes, he just relaxed against his dad, happy it had ended as well as it did, after all. 

Vy: Yes, stay…

He looked at the book and shook his head. 

Vy: These… monsters didn’t deserve you, you were a far better daughter than what they deserved. To think they hurt you so much, that they used you and planned to…

Vy walked over and took Hayden with him while holding his hand, smiling sadly at him then at Brooke.

Vy: I miss my son… And my two little ones are hurt. They could be dead if you hadn’t tried to help us. I could have lost them a lot sooner if you hadn’t done what you did. You protected us for as long as you could, even knowing you’d be hurt. They punished you so much, they wrote down every time they punished and used you… 

Beginning-Previous-Next

Vy: You can stay with us… If you’d like. 

Brooke looked at Vy as if she didn’t quite grasp what they meant, stay with them?

Brooke: Stay? I ehm… 

She felt so small where she sat on the sofa, Flynn having been carried out, Hayden sitting down next to her. 

Hayden: Stay with us yes. -he looked at Vy, hoping he caught on to what they meant. - You don’t have a home, somewhere to go right?
Brooke: Well.. no, but… I helped cause all this?
Hayden: No you tried to stop all this, prevent it from happening.

He looked at Vy, to see what they had to say. River sat down in bed next to his son, pulling him close. He gently brushed his hair and pressed his lips to a thin line. He hated to see his son like this, this upset, this broken up, this lost. It seemed like life didn’t give them any break, as if they hadn’t gone through enough, all of them. He sighed.

Beginning-Previous-Next

Flynn signed against his dad as he got carried to his bedroom, half wanting to ask to stay in the Den, but he figured he would just beg his dad to stay with him for the night regardless. As he felt himself put down on his bed, he grabbed hold of his dad’s hand.

Flynn: Can you stay.. please?

He just did not feel like being alone, at all. He had no idea where Emil was, and although he knew the spell just used would keep him safe, the safety of having his dad there was still just what he needed. 

Vy watched them go. He had healed most of Flynn’s wounds and he knew the boy would heal the rest on his own just fine. Nonetheless, he was concerned, he had never seen Flynn so out of it since the attack. Thinking of the attack had the dragon wince and hug himself. If Fannar was here, he would have helped Flynn, but Fannar wasn’t here.

His thoughts trailed to his son, and the worries that he could not feel his little star. Deep inside, he knew Fannar was alive, Chris told him so. But that hollow void, that missing energy, made Vy feel like a part of him and was ripped out of his chest, like the day the heartlight was broken. He wanted his son back, he wanted to be able to comfort him the way River could comfort Flynn, and hear about how his day had been. Rubbing his eyes, he turned to Brooke. Here he was longing for his lost child, and there was a child that never had a family to start.

Beginning-Previous-Next

Brooke: It needs touch. -she gently took Flynn’s hand in hers, explaining, and using the spell so River could easily follow.- It’s not too tricky, but it requires to be close to someone and to know how much to take, but you can feel when they start to feel tired, it’s enough.. or well now, a little before he starts to feel tired, so he can get used to it slowly. 

She let’s go of Flynn’s hand again, pulling back, giving him a tiny smile. How many times had she done this through the years? She had thought about it so many times, to tell them, tell them everything, but she had been held back by fear that she would lose everything.. Now here she was, and she had lost them.. but not all.

Flynn: Thank you. -he took Brooke’s hand after she pulled away.- I’m sorry that they were never good parents, I’m sorry you lost it all.
Brooke: I still have friends, so I didn’t lose everything. 

Hayden walked up to Vy, putting an arm around their shoulder, wondering what else had been written in there, what had made him go pale, he had a hunch it was not the last part. 

Hayden: We are here for you too, to help if you want. -he hoped Vy agreed, but to see her so lost, it made him want to do something for her. -

River mimicked Brooke and gave the girl a smile as he realized what she was doing. He pulled back, noticing how Flynn was starting to look exhausted. 

River: I think I got it, Brooke. Thank you.

He placed a hand over his son’s shoulder, gently giving it a rub.

River: How about we get you to bed for now. So you can rest. And tomorrow, after we work on a schedule to start training this, I’ll take you back to your dorm.

He would prefer to keep his son close, to make sure something like this didn’t happen again. But he also understood that if his son wanted to be a vet, he needed to finish college, and was already behind after what happened to them a month back. He didn’t want to put one more wall on his son’s academic achievements. So, he’d work a schedule with him, and trust both Brooke and Emil to help him keep him safe. Plus, he could just teleport everywhere, so the distance wouldn’t be an issue.

River: Come on… 

Noticing his son looked too tired to carry himself, River picked Flynn up and carried him to his room.

Beginning-Previous-Next

Vy fell quiet and closed the book as it revolted them and made them sick. Their heart threatened to come out of their mouth.

Vy: You’re nothing, like them, little scale. -Vy looked at Brooke with sad eyes and walked to her, gently brushing her hair- I know you can help us. Show River how you did what you did. 

River watched Vy, realizing what Vy had read. Gold, like sunlight, light, fair, warm. A miracle. Lucas, the dragons they attacked were Lucas’ family, and they had wanted to try and adopt Lucas, probably to test some crazy plan, but gave up on it… because Brooke found Flynn and Fan instead. And those twins told them about Vy, that’s why they gave up on Lucas and turned to his family instead. He took a deep breath.

River: Alright, Brooke. Show me, if you can.

Brooke went pale as Vy read, it was clear she too realized who they were talking about, the one they had listened to at lunch, whom she had always loved the music off, her parents were to blame for their loss of their entire family. Her eyes met Vy’s and for a second or two, all she wanted to was to hide against their chest and cry. But she didn’t, instead, she nodded, starting to show River how it was done. 

Beginning-Previous-Next

Brooke: Is there anything in there that can help? -she noticed him going pale, imagining it being because of something in there. - Is it the two dragons they killed before I was born? They bragged to me about it, how they killed two, but lost the third one somehow, a child.

They had made a bedtime story about it for her, she had heard it many times, but she always felt like it was just them bragging, in their own way. Telling her how good they were who rid the world of these awful creatures, and how she would join them when they were older. 

Brooke: That’s why they stayed here, they had enough from them, and they always said there was more here. -she looked at Vy.- I am so sorry about them.. I really am.
Flynn: Your not them though, you tried to keep us safe, remember?
Brooke: Still..

Vy lifted their eyes from the book. Eyes falling on Brooke.

Vy: Child?… Huh… 

Quickly he looked through the book and found the detailed account of the family of dragons they had hunted down. They had followed the dragons through a portal, as the dragons had hidden within this land, being from another Universe. Their description, however, was deadly familiar.

Vy: The golden dragons, they are like sunlight if sunlight was a beast. Their scales are golden and light, their wings large and iridescent. Everything about them reflects the light. As humans, they are not as different, pale, blond, fair beyond belief. We found them through the music, they, of course, sang. They had a child with them, but though we got the parents, we were unable to recover the child. Tiny boy, blond and beautiful, the type of boy that catches everyone’s eye. We had plans to capture it again, but there’s too much media attention on this child. The miracle one. Perhaps we can adopt them and raise them. Test our theory if a dragon raised by us would be subservient to us. It worked with our…

Beginning-Previous-Next

Brooke took the book in her hands, holding it out to Vy, as Hayden came walking up as well, Eltanin and Arlene both busy with schoolwork. He could feel the magic, but it was controlled enough for him to ignore it. 

Brooke: This was my parents.. it was the only thing left where our house was, they never told me how to read it, said it wasn’t for me. I thought, maybe you would know..?

River: That sounds like a good idea. For now, I think we need to focus on keeping your magic calm and under control so it doesn’t flare again. And then we can start training you to control it… After you rest. -he imagined after overcharging that his son was absolutely exhausted.-

He turned to Brooke and gave her a gentle smile, now feeling a little guilty that he had been so mean to the girl. She had lost everything in one day. Her family, her home, her boyfriend, and though she had gained a friend, he wasn’t entirely sure if it was better when Flynn was the only comfort she had had back then.

River: Brooke, I will need you to show me the spell, so I can mimic it.

Vy took the book and opened it, eyes widening at what he read. It was a compendium, written in Saryon and Varys. It didn’t sing, which meant that though powerful, the mages didn’t really have a domain over the Vyrs.

Vy: It’s written in my tongue. I imagine the twins gave it to your parents, and they had been taking notes on it. 

Vy read through it, through the many spells, they could also read the parent’s plans. How they had been hunting dragons for decades, and had eaten the hearts of dragons, but were yet to successfully take control over one heart for them. He read their attempts to enslave dragons, but how the adults rebelled and foiled their plans, and then they read the last part. The gross part, the part that had Vy pale and close the book quickly. How could they have done this? How could they plan such a thing to their own daughter? Here Vy was trying their very best to aid their children, and this was what these things (they were too despicable to be called parents) had planned to do to their daughter.

Brooke: I can teach you, unlike them, I’m not afraid to share, especially when it can help someone I care about. 

She looked at Flynn, who looked like he could fall asleep sitting up, it made her sad that she in a way had caused this, and not even thought about what could happen when she stopped leeching his energy. Her attention moved to Vy, who seemed to read the book.

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He didn’t really want to say it had been like a kiss. He knew kisses were sacred for their kind, he had learned from his uncle. He tried to smile a little at them, but he was tired, his head hurt, and he now realized that all the power the sages had admired him for, was just a small amount of how strong he really was.

The effect of the calming spell helped, he recognized the feel of it from his dad, allowing himself to just lean against him, helping the calming spell keep him calm for now. 

Flynn: Scar’s.. heh, I guess I’ll be even more like you dad…  Is there a way I can control it.. its so strong, it’s like too much too soon?
River: Yes, we’ll just have to teach you to control it. But we might need to replicate what you were doing Brooke -he looked at the girl- Or at least get Emil to do what they did again, so it can lower your power into more manageable levels. Until the point, you have adapted to it enough that you don’t need it.

Vy looked between them and back at Brooke. 

Vy: What did you bring there? Does it say how you did? Perhaps we can do it until Emil returns.
Brooke: I can still do it, I can borrow his energy and hide your family again, the same way as before.. I can try and teach Emil if you want. -she still felt horrible about what her family had done.-
Flynn: That would be okay for me, at least until Emil is back and maybe you can teach him.. maybe we can adapt it to slowly let me handle more and more.. -he looked at Brooke then his dad, as if checking it this was a good plan.- 

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River: What did Emil do to put your magic under control? Brooke, what did you use to do?

Chris helped Brooke to the sofa next to Flynn, letting her sit there, holding the book for her until she could ask later. 

Brooke: Our family’s hiding spell.. -she looked at Vy, then at Flynn. - It allows me, by touch to bind someone’s energy to my own, which means that it can hide that family’s energy, by draining their original user’s energy..-she thought for a bit.- Flynn’s magic has always been so strong, that the energy I borrowed made him a bit tired, drowsy. 

She knew to keep the spell active for the entire family she had been borrowing a lot, and she only now realized that this had stopped him from ever having to handle his full power. 

Brooke: I think what I did means he never learned to control his full power.. it’s always been used to hide you all.. Oh Flynn, I am so sorry!
Flynn: So that’s why I felt tired after being with you?
Brooke: Yeah….
Flynn: Well… ehm.. for what Emil did.. I think it felt like draining.. like feeding? Maybe how he used to “eat” people, just controlled as if trying to dissipate my magic.. I don’t know how to explain it. 

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Vy: River? Can I come in? I got the message. Hayle is coming too.
River: Come in.

Vy opened the door and walked in.

Vy: What happened? - they watched River and Flynn as they entered- 
Flynn: Thanks, dad.. I just..-he shook his head as he sat down on the couch.- I just feel bad, I could have hurt someone, if Emil wasn’t there, I would have hurt the ones in my dorm.. 

That was what scared him the most, that he could have hurt several people with this, all because he thought it would happen once.. and he should have told his dad, he knew his dad’s story, he knew where the scars came from. As Vy walked in, he lowered his head. His uncle didn’t like mages, and here he was not able to control his own magic, putting people at risk. 

Flynn: I overcharged. I somehow seem to have lost control over my magic, it’s suddenly much, I mean so much stronger now. Emil helped… and then he ran away I think. 

Hayle came walking in after Vy, having gotten the same message, just listening to his grandson, as he noticed Chris walking aiding Brooke who wasn’t fully able to walk by herself just yet either. He had told her what had happened, and she instantly thought she knew why. She had a book with her, one that she wanted to ask Vy about, it had been where her house once stood, and she was sure it belonged to her parents

Vy walked to his nephew, gently kneeling in front of him. He tried to stifle the hiss as he felt the powerful magic. It was so strange, there was magic there that was like that of Hayle, the power of a dragon god, yet, at the same time, it was mixed with a very powerful untamed magic, that he recognized to be much similar to that of River. He touched Flynn, checking his wounds.

Vy: You have frostbite burns and electrical burns. I can easily heal these, but you’re gonna get these very cool fractal scars! Your energy seems subdued, but it’s still bubbling in there. 

River sat next to his son, again placing an arm around him for both support and comfort. He had felt what Vy was saying, it truly felt like it was about to hit another threshold, and he was aware the more nervous his son got, the worse it was. So he did the same he used to do for Rylan and often did for Lucas, he activated the calming spell, directing it for Flynn, to hopefully calm him and his magic.

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He sighed and looked at his dad, half of him wanting to just cry in his arms for a while, the other not sure that was safe, regardless of his dad telling him it should be.  The mixed feelings the bond sent him didn’t help much either, it was just confusing. All of this was confusing to him right now. 

Chris: I’ll go pick up Brooke, and I’ll see you two back home. And I am keeping tab on your dragon, don’t worry. 

He smiled and vanished, sending a quick text to his husband, so the ones as home were prepared as well. 

Flynn: I’m so sorry dad.. I should just have told you the first time, I don’t know why I thought it was a one-time thing.. -he slumped his shoulders. - Take me home?
River: Flynn, you don’t need to apologize for that… You dealt with it the best you could. You’re a young adult, and you have the right not to tell me everything. All that matters is when you truly need it, you trust me to aid you -he brushed his hair gently, holding an arm around his son and with his free hand wiped a tear from his cheek- And don’t worry, I think they’re just struggling with themself right now. It’s not your fault, give them time. They’ll return once they’ve calmed down. Now, come on…

He waved his hand, a portal opening. He helped Flynn cross over to the other side, finding themselves on their home, right on the dungeon. He helped his son sit and brushed a hand through his cheek, checking to see the marks on his flesh. They were fractal scarring, from the electricity of the overcharge. Suddenly he heard someone knock at the door.

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River: Yes, you can learn to control, it may take time, and both Brooke and Hayle’s help. I believe you’re the same type of dragon as Hayle-

They gripped the hem of their hoodie, as conflicted emotions fought them. They could still feel the panic and pain on Flynn. It was overwhelming them, perhaps, this too would overwhelm Flynn. How out of it Emil felt, how pained they felt. They opened their wings and did the only thing they could think of, they couldn’t burden Flynn with their own problems. They lifted flight and ran off. Just for now, just until they were in control of themself again.

River stepped back in surprise as the dragon just set off. Noticing how it seemed to fly rather clumsily as if it had no balance.

River: What the…? -he watched as they disappeared in the horizon- I have heard of drunk driving, but that’s new. You could have stayed and helped! Whatever you did helped… -he sighed and looked at his son. With another sigh he summoned another familiar, the phoenix again- Go keep an eye on him. -The phoenix chirped and flew after then he turned back to his son- Let’s get you home. It’ll be safe. Your grandparents and I are used to dealing with this.

Flynn: Emil? -he stood there confused as the dragon flew off- This day is just not my day is it… 

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Emil: Is Flynn… are you alright?…
Flynn: It was a family spell though, wasn’t it. but I am sure she would help…

He noticed Emil as well, the way they walked wobbly, clearly, they were not quite well from all the energy. But they had stopped it, which he was very thankful for. He almost reached out for Emil, but as he worried it would trigger a new transfer, he held his arms around himself instead. 

Flynn: I’m fine, thank you for helping. -he looked at his dad. - Take us both home, let Vy check us both? Then if Chris gets Brooke, we can ask her.. see if she can help?

He could feel the effects starting to make themselves more felt. Like last time, a slight ringing in his ears, as well as a headache sneaking up on him. A part of him worried about going home, what if happened again, what if he hurt someone there. 

Flynn: Are you sure it’s safe though.. taking me home? What if it happens again before I can learn how to control it? I can learn, right?

Emil noticed the way Flynn pulled back, as they were the only thing they could focus on right now that didn’t feel too much. Yet, such a simple movement caused the dragon to flinch and blink. They felt their breath stuck inside them as they realized they had gone too far. In the desperation to help Flynn, they had gone too far and stolen the most sacred thing. They had stolen Flynn’s words, they had stolen the feeling of their lips and sweet mouth, they had stolen a kiss. Before they hadn’t cared, they had been eating, but now, it hurt. Was it the sting of rejection?

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He knew Brooke was still on the mend from the damage her parents had done to her, currently in a facility that helped her with her motor skill and such. They could always ask her there if they needed her. River looked at Chris and nodded.

River: Maybe we can get Brooke over to our house, and she can tell us exactly what she had been doing. 

Then his eyes fell on the dragon, as an idea crossed through his mind.

River: It needs energy to live. Perhaps she can teach it. -River shook his head, it was easy to forget at times- I mean, maybe she can teach them how to take some energy from you without hurting themself. Perhaps they need to get used to it. We did find them starving back then, so perhaps they’re not used to such large amounts of energy… I’m going to portal you home, Chris can you take the…

Slowly and carefully Emil tried to get up, actually gripping onto Chris’s clothes for support so they could find balance. They blinked trying to focus, seeking Flynn, and pushed off Chris, walking to Flynn, wobbly, completely ignoring River and Chris. At first, River feared they were going to do something, readying himself to repel the dragon if need be. But the dragon stopped, as they seemed to snap out of it.

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He almost pulled away from his dad when he touched him, afraid his magic would somehow lash out and hurt him when it seemed it didn’t though he calmed down some again. 

Flynn: I don’t know… I don’t understand, it’s never been like this before… -he sighed, struggling to not break down and cry, his mind trying to understand what was happening to him. - It’s like the magic I could once control has grown out of my control all of a sudden…

He looked at Emil, who was on the ground… his dad had said he was high from his energy.. and he could only guess he had taken on a lot of it. It scared him though, to see him on the ground like that…

Flynn: It doesn’t hurt.. not now, but it hurts when it builds.. and.. -he hung his head.- it happened once before, but I thought it was just a reaction to everything.. I’m sorry dad, I should have told you.. 

Chris walked over to Emil, watching him while he let the two of them talk, he could feel the energy in the dragon, putting a hand on their shoulder to help them calm down a little. 

Chris: If Brooke has always borrowed your energy to hide you.. perhaps you never got used to your full power? 

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He walked past Chris towards the two. Everything felt muddled, hazy in their mind. Emil couldn’t breathe right and their heart raced in their chest. Was Emil going to die? River noticed something off with the dragon who was starting to heave heavily as if trying to breathe. The dragon leaned against Flynn, trying to catch their breath. The pain on their body worsens with each breath. Yet everything felt overwhelming, every sensation blinding them, elating them. What was wrong with them? They felt so out of the body.

River recognized those symptoms and walked to the two. He touched his son, feeling the electric energy coming from him. It was subdued, but still very powerful. He looked for signs his son was wounded and saw the straining marks of pain and an overcharge. His eyes fell on the dragon first and he waved a hand in front of him.

River: Don’t worry, they’re fine, -he assured his son- He appears to be high as a kite on energy and having an anxiety attack over it. Doesn’t seem like they’re overdosing.

He turned to his son and released him from the dragon on fell on their side covering their head with a groan. He helped Flynn up, seeing the tell-tale signs of an overcharge. The veins on his skin, the marks from electric burns, the wild eyes, and frantic breathing. He brushed his cheek.

River: You overcharged… We need to get you home. Get you checked by Vy. How did this happen? Does anything hurt?

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