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 Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 9:21 am
Elka 1 If tension could be cut with a knife, than the sharpest blade would have been rendered useless after five minutes and an entire country's supply of weapons and sharp tools would be dull. If Elka could have predicted this kind of reaction, could she have prepared better for it? No. This was not something she could ever have thought could happen. Not even in her wildest nightmares. It just seemed so impossible, like if the rain currently falling outside starting going backwards, back up to the clouds from where they came. How had Kayde always managed to deal with this with such grace?
She was sat in the living room, an open book ignored in her lap. On the opposite side of the room, Kayde sat, where he had moved his chair to a few days ago. Instead of sitting beside her on the couch as he had always done, this was his new spot to relax in. As far away from her as he could get without leaving the room. By all apperances, everything except that one fact was normal. His face was emotionless as he focused on the book in his hands. Anyone who came in now wouldn't know there was something going on. No one but her and the kids. And she didn't know how to fix it. At least not in a way that would make only him happy. She didn't think it was that big of a deal to move the family into her brother's new mansion. Living like that was better than like this, with their two kids having to share a bedroom. A boy and a girl shouldn't share a room. In fact, no siblings should have to share rooms. At least if they took up her brother's offer, they would all have plenty of space.
But he didn't see it that way. He somehow saw it as a splitting of the family. As her saying he was inadequate. Not good enough. How could he ever say that, after all she'd sacrificed for him? It had been almost a decade since she had left her home in Zena. Almost a decade of living simple. Could anyone blame her if she missed it? She wasn't asking him to give up who he was. She wasn't going to change. It'd be a better life for the kids, as well. They could grow up not wanting for anything and see all their dreams come true. She couldn't do that with their current situation.
Still staring at him, Elka cleared her throat. Kayde shifted on the chair, but didn't look up. Still ignoring her. He had been ignoring her for days. "Kayde..." she started. trying to keep her voice quiet enough the kids wouldn't hear but also authoritative, to let him know she wasn't going to accept his quiet today.
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:30 pm
Kayde 1 Had there ever been a time in Kayde's life when he had been mad? At anything, for any reason? Mildly annoyed even? Not that he could ever remember. He couldn't even say he disliked anyone. Maybe when he was younger and just starting the journey through being a teenager, he might have had some moments with the other boys in the orphanage who picked on him for being different. Namely for his long, pointy ears. Only from far away could he pass for an Oban
No. Nothing in life had ever caused him to feel the burning anger that he did now. It was such an alien emotion for him, that he tried his best to keep it to himself, separating himself from the causes of it. Or trying to. There was only so much one could do in these circumstances. He knew he wasn't fooling anyone, though. Least of all the kids. He saw the worry in their eyes at the sudden way their parents were suddenly behaving. He couldn't help it.
Why didn't she just understand?
"Kayde..."
The soft voice from across the room cut into his concentration of his book. The Leaf shifted in his seat, again, trying to continue to ignore her. He had hoped his anger would eventually fizzle itself out or maybe she'd come to her senses. Neither happened. It wasn't like he didn't love her anymore. There was nothing Kayde wanted more than to go to her and hold her in his arms,=. He just couldn't. It hurt too much to be near her.
Why didn't she get that?
"Kayde." Stronger. Louder. He finally sighed and looked up, staring her straight in the eyes.
"What?" Maybe he said that with too much force, for he saw Elka wince a bit at his tone and instantly regretted it. He tried to soften his features a bit more, waiting for her to continue with what she wanted to say.
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 6:40 pm
Elias 1 Elias had gone outside as soon as the rain had started, eager to play in the puddles he hoped would start forming. That is, if the rain fell long enough to settle over the ground, which was rare. Not that he'd be all that disappointed. The back-up plan was to use the rain to his advantage and make a sand town. It was better than staying inside.
The tension between his parents hadn't gone unnoticed by the youngling. Elenora was also aware of it, he could tell by the stressed looks on her face. He didn't want to admit that it scared him, seeing the two adults behaving as they were to each other. Where before they had been disgusting in their affection for each other, always touching arms and kissing when they thought he couldn't see them, now they were the opposite. His father wasn't even sitting by his mother on the couch as they read like he'd always do. Didn't they love each other anymore? He'd heard of kids whose parents had been like this. They'd always split up in the end.
Breathing in deeply, Elias forced his bottom lip to stop trembling at the thought of his family being split up. He didn't want that. Who would he live with? Would one parent take him while the other took Elenora, so he'd never even see her ever again, too?
Giving a yell, the young hybrid looked down on his unfinished town, only a few buildings fully finished. He raised a foot over one, stomping on it until it was a squished lump of wet sand. Than he did the same to the rest of his creations. It wasn't fair. Married adults should always love each other. That's why you got married, wasn't it? It made him angry, too. So angry, that he stormed towards the door and opened it, at the same time he heard the annoyed tone of Kayde saying "What?" All the courage that had been building up in Elias suddenly vanished and he pulled the door softly towards him, not quite shutting it tight. Was his father talking to him? He'd never heard that tone of voice before. It was always his mother taking that tone, either at the kids or her husband. Never Kayde. Sounded like they were going to fight, again.
Where had Elenora gone?
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 1:36 pm
Elka 2 There was nothing Elka wanted to do more than sink away into the couch and disappear from those pale eyes looking at her the way they were. Those beautifully pale eyes. Some people might say that didn't make them stand out very vividly against his dark face. But she disagreed. It made them all the more noticeable. They could still cause a hitch in her breath. Kayde was such an exceedingly handsome man, full of unintentionally seductive looks that he never realized he was making. The soft, baby face that she remembered so well when they were teenagers was gone, replaced by this rugged man before her. How he never noticed the attention he'd get from random women and men on the streets was beyond her understanding. He'd always laugh it off whenever she'd mention it.
Not today. It scared her a little to see such anger reflected back in them. There had never been a single time when he had even been a tiny bit mad at her. Not even annoyed or irritated or slightly miffed. Was this how marriages ended? Was hers about to crash down around her feet. It made her eyes water, but she blinked the tears away instead of allowing them to fall. She didn't want him to see her cry. Not this time.
At least his face had softened when he noticed her wince at his tone. Elka took a deep breath and continued on with what she had wanted to say.
"Kayde...Don't you think you're blowing this far out of proportion? I...We didn't think it'd be this big of a deal?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:34 pm
Kayde 2 Not a big deal? He was the one being foolish, was he? Making a mountain out of a tiny mound of dirt in the garden? He, who never got angry or even complained about a single thing that she had ever done in their over ten years of knowing each other. Did not even mention how unhelpful she had been when they had been saving to move to Matori. How many times she'd spent her side of the money on something pointless like a new hat when the old one still looked brand new. When she'd spent so much on a single dress that he didn't even think she wore once when she still had it. Despite how frugal he had been with his money and she the complete opposite, not once had he said anything about it.
But this. This was him making a big deal out of something small, was it? Kayde just looked at her dumbfounded by what she was saying. Was she serious?
"Why wouldn't it be a big deal?" he answered slowly, his voice hard with emotion and repressed anger. "I thought you enjoyed our life. But it could never be good enough for your tastes, could it?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:10 pm
Elias 2 His position directly behind the slightly opened door gave Elias the perfect position to hear everything behind said in the room just beyond. Including the tones being used. His mother was speaking just as strangely as his father was, as if she were afraid to say anything. He had never known her to be afraid to speak up about anything to anyone, be they stranger or family member. But even from his spot, with the door completely covering her from his view, he could still easily sense the tension between the two adults, could imagine the look that was probably on her face at being addressed so. He didn't understand what was going on and it made him more upset than the actual fights ever did. He felt like he was watching his life crumbling around him.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 5:32 pm
Elka 3 "No!" Elka yelled, nearly jumping straight out of her seat in desperation. Why was he saying things like this? She just couldn't understand his reasoning behind it. Of course she loved her life with him. She loved the peace of it and how happy he made her feel despite how simple it was. It had even surprised herself how easily she fell into it because she had Kayde by her side. But she also had to admit the lure of her old life was too tempting to pass up. Not just for her. It was a lifestyle she wanted to share with her entire family. The kids would grow up with all the room they could ever need to play in. The best food and clothing. They would each have their own room. And Kayde, he always worked so hard that he deserved a break. And it wasn't as if they would be living solely off the charity of her brother. No. They'd still be using what money they earned from their dancing to pay for everything they'd need, just as they were now. They just wouldn't have to pay for the house itself. Or the furniture inside it.
From across the room, Kayde's eyes narrowed.
"No...Kayde....Of course I do. I always did. I still do. But it's just--"
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 7:02 pm
Kayde 3 "I don't want to hear it!" the Leaf yelled, slamming his book closed on his lap. As the room went silent and Elka sat frozen on the couch, sitting on the very edge of it as if she was just about to get up off it and was now afraid to make a single move, Kayde realized he had spoken far too loudly. Giving a sigh, he raised two fingers to rub at the bridge of his nose. Already the guilt was strong, coursing through his body and making his heart beat faster. He was so unused to being this bent up. Nothing ever got under his skin before and now he was snapping at his own family, making them feel scared of him. This was not him. He hated being like this. It felt so...Wrong. Like someone else was living inside his skin and controlling him.
"I'm sorry." He kept his hand pressed over his face, eyes closed.
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Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2023 6:56 pm
Elias 3 Elias flinched at the sound of his father's voice, so harsh when before it had always been soft and inviting. Why was he so mad? What could have possibly happened to have made him this mad? The youngling didn't like it. Not one bit. He could feel the tears forming behind his eyelashes. Giving a sniff, he brushed at his face with both hands, the door slowly swinging open. Not enough for anyone to see him hiding behind it, but enough that he could see the bare feet of his mother, posed as she was on the edge of the couch. If she looked this way, she might see his shoulder poking over the edge of the doorframe. Just like he would see her clearly if he moved just slightly to the right.
As they continued to exchange words, Elias moved his head just slightly to the side until he could see her face, framed as it was by the dark hair that always fell down either sides of her head. She looked so upset, as if she, too, was about to cry.
He couldn't take it anymore. Smacking the door with one hand, the young hybrid stormed into the room, fists clenched at his sides.
"Stop yelling! Why are you yelling? What's wrong with you?!"
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 6:47 pm
Elka 4 The volume on his voice was enough to make Elka finally quiet down. She sat there in stunned silence, trying to rack her brain for any instance of ever hearing Kayde getting that angry at someone before. Never at her. She admitted to having mistreated him in the past, even punching him in the stomach upon first meeting with him after being years apart. Not once had he ever yelled at her or slightly raised his voice. She'd heard him when his patience was finally wearing out, when strangers would say something to her they really shouldn't. Especially when they'd refuse to back down and admit their faults. Real creeps were the only thing to rattle the Leaf, in other words. Certain never her or the kids. It was impossible to stop the quiver of her bottom lip at his tone now or stop the few tears from falling down her cheeks.
"It's okay," she answered softly, scooting back against the couch, wanting nothing more than to keep going and hide underneath all of the cushions. How would she face him in the darkness of their own bedroom later? "We don't have--"
Suddenly someone else was yelling. Someone else more prone to getting annoyed, in the way impatient children sometimes will. Elka's golden eyes snapped over to her son, standing in the doorway and looking like he also wanted to cry. She gave a little sob at the sight of him, cutting it off quickly with a hand over her mouth. She hadn't wanted the kids to hear them when they stared fighting. She knew what it was like to watch. They were far too young for this.
"Elias...." She scooted forward once more on the cushions, ready to make a run for her child and shield him, despite how late she would be to do so now. He had heard enough, clearly.
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Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 2:02 pm
Kayde 4 A part of Kayde was screaming at him to stop this, to rush towards his wife with words of comfort. As he'd always done before. As he always would until the day they parted. Which he'd always assumed would be death, for how could anything else part a love like theirs than one of them passing on to the next life? Even now, with him feeling so betrayed by her, he couldn't imagine ever leaving her. Maybe he was just far too hopeful of everything working out in the end. He couldn't live in that house, he was sure of it. She wanted to. So where did that leave them?
A hitch in Elka's voice as she responded him caused the Leaf's fingers to twitch. He held himself back from rushing towards her. She sounded tired. And so upset and unsure about this as he was. Still, he didn't want to give in, not this time. Of all the times he had given in to make her happy.
But than something else unexpected happened. Usually these arguments ended in a bit of quiet as the two lost themselves to their thoughts, Elka often leaving the room to be alone. This time, there was a third factor to the fight: A yelling child storming into the room and causing both adult's heads to whip around towards him. Elias stood clearly in the doorway, the look in his eyes betraying how close to tears he himself was. Something Kayde could see the youngling was trying so very hard to hold back.
"Elias," the man said just as quietly as the woman. "We aren't yelling." Only he had just yelled and he knew Elias would instantly snap back to tell him otherwise.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2023 5:43 pm
Elias 4 "You just did!"
Now he was yelling and feeling such strong emotions of everything from fear to anxiety to anger that all Elias wanted to do was yell more at his father. How could he have lied to him like that when he had just did what he had claimed they weren't doing. He looked over at his mother, perched on the edge of the couch as she was, the streaks of tears on her face shining in the light from the setting sun through the open window to her right. It felt like everything was falling apart. His safe place didn't feel like a safe place anymore. No wonder he couldn't find Elenora anywhere. She had clearly left and now he wanted to do the same.
With a last look at Kayde, the youngling turned back towards the outside and ran out into the rising darkness, picking a random direction. If he wasn't there, than he couldn't hear them anymore.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2023 5:50 pm
Elka 5 "Elias!" Elka yelled after the retreating boy, hoping he'd turn around and run back to her. He never did. She honestly hadn't expected him to. Elias was such an emotional child sometimes that once he got something into his head, it needed to run its course before he was able to fully comprehend what he was feeling. This was certainly no exception. Nor was it the first time he had ever run off this late in the day or the latest in the day he had chosen to do so.
But none of those times had been as emotionally charged as this time.
The angry mother came to the surface, squashing all of her own insecurities about all the arguing as she rounded on Kayde, standing up so she could look down at him. "Why would you say that?!" before running off after her son.
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2023 10:02 am
Kayde 5 Yes, just as expected. Elias never missed a beat if someone said something he knew was wrong. If only Kayde could have realized his mistake before he had even made it, maybe he could have lessoned the blow he'd sent straight to his son with his unintentional lie. He sat in silence, afraid to say anything else to the boy. Not that he ever had a chance before the youngling turned around and fled.
"Elias!" the Leaf added his own voice to his wife's, just a split second after she also yelled the boy's name. He was about to spring up from his seat when Elka herself came fast towards him, yelling at him with so much pain in her voice before also running out the door. Instead of following fast after, Kayde sat on the edge of his seat, reflecting on how much he had deserved them to yell at him. He deserved their anger. But he couldn't change how he felt. Couldn't just make everything alright.
Finally, he rose from his seat and left the house at a fast jog, just barely catching sight of the flapping fabric of Elka's skirt running towards the ocean.
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2023 12:19 pm
Elias 5 He heard his name being called by both adults, but Elias didn't slow down or even turn his head to see if they were following him. He knew they would be. He didn't care what time of day it was or how dark it might be later,. All he wanted to do was get away, find somewhere more peaceful so he could think or act or...
The youngling made for the sea, lured in by the sound of the waves crashing across the sand and the few rocks that jutted out from the bottom. He could still see the swaying seaweed nearer the shore and turned away from it, aiming for a spot up the beach. His ears caught the sounds of footsteps behind him, just as he knew he eventually would. He didn't want them to catch up. He took a sharp turn towards land, towards a tiny clump of trees he hoped would shield him in the darkness.
What was he going to do? He didn't want to go back there if they were just going to keep yelling at each other. He didn't want to watch as things fell apart before his very eyes. But he was too young to survive on his own.
Elias crouched down behind a trunk, pulling his knees up to his chin to hug his legs, burying his face in his arms.
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