vatheon | No more procrastinating

[Lloyd was already up and out of his room, raiding the kitchen when the knock comes.]

I'll get it!

[He's not sure if Angelo is awake yet, so he pitches his voice just loud enough to reach through the bedroom door, but not so loud that it should wake him up if he's asleep. Setting down the cup he'd just finished drinking from, he heads to the door, curious. There are a few people he can think of who might drop by, not counting anyone Angelo might know.

None of them, however, are Kratos. Kratos, who he hasn't seen since he got drunk. Kratos, who he's been hoping not to see for a good while yet. Lloyd's expression blanks when he sees the man at his door. Dammit, he isn't ready for this. He hasn't had a chance to sort any of his feelings out yet.

The silence that only lasts a few seconds is incredibly awkward, and feels longer than it is.]

Kratos... What're you doing here?

[The seraphim clears his throat. As he suspected, Lloyd is not comfortable with the memories he managed to dredge up while intoxicated. He reaches back and pulls out a beautifully done portrait of Anna and Lloyd. It's stylized, but still easily recognizable. He holds it out to Lloyd while forcing his face to remain impassive.]

I asked Amaterasu to paint this. I thought that you should have a picture of your mother.

[Because he's not willing to give up his own picture of Anna if he's going to live!]

[Caught off guard, Lloyd accepts the picture before he realizes what it is. The mention of his mother startles him even more, and his eyes drop to the picture in his hands. This... This is his mother?]

Mom...

[Forgetting the awkwardness of the moment before, his eyes drink in the picture. Hesitantly, he traces the contours of her face with his finger. His mom... And that's him, a tiny baby in her arms.

It doesn't occur to him until nearly a minute later that there's something wrong with the picture. He looks up, frowning.]

What about you?

[What about him? He's taken aback by the question, though it's honestly one that he should have expected. At the time he'd asked Amaterasu to paint the portrait, his relationship with Lloyd had been even more precarious than it was now. He didn't want to force his presence on the boy, he wanted him to feel free to look at his mother without having to see Kratos staring up at him as well. Will Kratos explain any of that properly?

Of course he won't.]

I thought you would prefer it that way.

[Something stiffens between Lloyd's shoulder blades. Kratos had claimed him as his son, had said that he would always think of him that way no matter what Lloyd said, but did that necessarily mean he wanted it? Kratos was the type to take responsibility for his actions, even if he didn't personally like it. He was Lloyd's father no matter what-

-but he'd literally taken himself out of the picture. The same picture Lloyd is pretty sure Kratos showed him in his locket. A picture that had Kratos in it, too. Whoever had painted this one, he must have told them not to paint him, too. He'd done it deliberately. Because he thought Lloyd wanted it that way? Or...?

Lloyd bows his head, a shadow casting into his eyes.]

...you really thought I wouldn't want a picture of my father, too?

[His intentions had been good, but somehow, Kratos had managed to screw it up again. What was he supposed to do?]

You did not accept me as such at the time. I did not wish to make you uncomfortable.

[He hesitates as he looks at Lloyd's lowered head and slightly sunken shoulders. Whatever it is about Kratos being missing from the picture that upsets Lloyd doesn't matter, what matters is the result. Hesitantly, he reaches up and unclasps his locket, holding it out.]

If...

[Goodness, this is awkward.]

If you would prefer it this way, we can trade. I do not require a picture of myself, after all. It's you and your mother I wish to see.

[Lloyd isn't sure whether the words make his chest loosen or tighten again. The unreasonable fear he'd carried so long, had thought he'd buried only to have it resurface, that his father didn't want to be his father after all... That fear eases again at that statement.

Kratos wants to see him.

Not just Kratos, but daddy. Parts of the night he'd gotten drunk are still a blur to him, but he remembers. He remembers bits and pieces of being three years old, of sneaking tomatos to his dog with his father, being tossed in the air and going waaay up. Holding up his arms. Daddy, pick me up! They're only small pieces, but he remembers. He remembers his father.

His father. The man standing in front of him right now.

His father wants a picture of him.

Abruptly Lloyd shakes his head and shoves the portrait in his hands back toward Kratos's chest.]

I don't want it.

[His voice is rough, filled with a strange emotion. Something fierce, almost angry, but when he looks up, his eyes are blinking rapidly, as though holding back something wet. That fierce anger is still there, though.]

I don't want your locket. I want this fixed.

[Though Kratos braces himself for the worst at every turn, when Lloyd initially says "I don't want it", it stings more than he expected. The anger in Lloyd's words and actions is clear to him, but... that isn't all there is to it. He wants it fixed. He wants Kratos in the picture as well. His expression changes to one that Lloyd wouldn't have seen since he was too small to remember it, one of open wonder.

His first reaction is to tell Lloyd that it's not that simple, that paintings can't be changed so easily, that they mustn't trouble Amaterasu since she'd just fought so hard. Logic over emotion, just like always. He manages to rein that in long enough to think it over. Amaterasu is a goddess, isn't she? She probably could add Kratos to the picture without any trouble. Kratos curls his fingers back around the locket and moves to take the portrait.]

Very well. I do not know how long it will take her.

[Lloyd's hands drop from the picture when Kratos takes it back, and some of the anger seems to drop with it. He isn't backing down, though. Not one bit.]

I don't care how long it takes. I told you before, you can't just choose not to be my father. You can't pretend you weren't there. I can't either. You're my father. You're... daddy.

[The pitch of his voice changes, almost like he's a child again, and he feels so small and vulnerable even saying that word. Daddy was someone precious, and now he's giving that title to this man. If Kratos rejects it, doesn't want it anymore, something that means so much to Lloyd...

But it's his. Lloyd can't deny him that any more than Kratos can. But inside he can't help but steel himself, waiting for Kratos to react. How does he even begin to interpret that expression on Kratos's face?]

[Finally waking up after awhile since he's not a morning person, Angelo yawns and promptly gets out of his bed not even bothering to tie his hair up. Thus wearing only a plain silk robe that's gold and red silk pajama pants, he ventures out into the living room still in a bit of a groggy state not entirely paying attention to anything or anyone.]

Lloyd, did you make breakfast for us yet? I'm starving. [As he slowly begins to wake up a little more and make his way into the kitchen, his eyes spot Kratos out of the corners now that he's more aware of things.] ....What is he doing here?

[He shouldn't feel grateful to Angelo for "rescuing" him from having to reply in kind, but he does. For all his years of experience in life, Kratos is rendered speechless by his emotions quite easily. Thankfully (in most situations), being quiet is not strange for him and people tend to not notice. He hesitates slightly when Angelo mentions food. Kratos is a decent cook, though he can't really taste much of anything himself anymore. Just leaving after Lloyd said something like that seems wrong, so he clears his throat and speaks up.]

Would you like me to make something?

[Lloyd doesn't know if he's grateful or disappointed by the interruption. Kratos didn't say anything, didn't acknowledge what Lloyd said, but that also meant he didn't reject it. Instead, he's...

...staying?

Lloyd looks up, searching Kratos's face. Was that the same as accepting him if he wasn't going away? He bites his lip, throwing a look Angelo's way. Then he decides.

To take a chance.]

Um... sure. [A little bit hesitant.] I mean, if you haven't eaten yet? We could have omelettes, or something...

[Glancing at Angelo again, he answers the question.]

He came over to give me something.

[Never mind that Lloyd's hands are empty.]

[He should get dressed and brush his hair, but he's not in the mood. The call for food is much more important to him than anything else right now.]

I'll eat anything that's food at this point, Lloyd. I'm that starving. [His eyes also glance over at Lloyd.] I see. Well, it doesn't matter to me what you two do.

[If he hasn't eaten yet? He hasn't eaten since the curse that turned him human. Why would he? He doesn't mind cooking, but eating it too? Well... it's not as if it's something that repulses him. Kratos nods.]

Let's see what you have.

[He steps inside the apartment, heading for the kitchen. Hopefully he won't be met with a terrible mess or a complete lack of food in the refrigerator.

...do they know how to use the refrigerator?]

[Hey, hey, fridges aren't anywhere near as complicated to figure out as dishwashers are. A cabinet with a door that's cold inside? Would clearly do for a cellar. The fridge even has a decent selection of food, eggs and various meats, milk and juice, even a few assorted vegetables, fruits, and condiments.

There's also a bottle of ketchup in there, but it's notably positioned well away from everything else.

Lloyd follows his father into the kitchen, suddenly feeling awkward again. Kratos hasn't cooked anything for him since they were on the Journey of Regeneration. Now here he is, like nothing ever happened. How does he even act?]

So, um...

[Lloyd fumbles for something to say.]

About the other night. I, uh... you know... Thanks. For... for all that.

[For getting him off the roof so he didn't break his neck, for getting him home, getting him to the toilet to puke out his guts, and putting up with all the stupid things Lloyd had said and did.]

[Angelo struts into the kitchen after the two and sits down at the kitchen table with his legs crossed in a very well mannered style. His arms are also crossed as he yawns again, just watching the other two having their moment together as father and son while remaining silent the rest of the time.]

It is not something you need to thank me for. Though if you would like to...

[Kratos points back towards Angelo.]

Don't do anything suspicious he asks you to do.

["Suspicious" like drinking and gambling. Or going to the Host Club, since apparently Angelo is a member of that as well! Kratos strips off his gloves and washes his hands thoroughly before getting out eggs and sausage. After a little thought he gets out some cheese as well and sets to preparing omelettes.]

[All the awkward of a moment before flies out the window at those words. Angelo is a friend. No way are comments like that going to fly with him. Lloyd scowls defensively on Angelo's behalf.]

Hey, he didn't ask me to do anything suspicious! He just took me out to have fun and play some games! And I'm the one who asked for the rainbow drinks with gin. I just didn't know what gin was. It's my fault I got drunk, not his.

[Angelo is used to comments like Kratos says, but he just shrugs it off like he usually does. But part of him is also a bit surprised Lloyd is actually defending him.]

Exactly and besides, I didn't know he had no idea what gin was. Yet even if he did know, he still asked for it and I gave it to him. So you can't fault me for not knowing or being able to predict the situation, I'm not a mind reader or a fortune teller.

Edited 2012-08-19 22:25 (UTC)

[Is Kratos still suspicious of Angelo? Yes, he is. Something about him makes the angel uncomfortable, and he usually trusts his instincts. He's also learned by now that once Lloyd has declared someone "friend", there's no helping it.

Lloyd's idealism: 2, Kratos: 0]

You shouldn't eat or drink unknown substances, Lloyd. I suppose it ended without anyone getting hurt, at least.

[In some ways, it even ended well. Who would have thought?]

If I never ate anything new, I'd miss out on a lot of good things. Just because one thing I drank was bad doesn't mean anything else I don't know will be.

[Sorry, he's not going to sacrifice his curiosity and his love for food and new things because of one bad experience.]

I just need to learn what kinds of alcohol there are and then I won't get drunk again.

[Seizing the opportunity, Angelo dives in and decides to speak up.]

Lloyd, we can go to various bars during the week so I can teach you about all the alcohol they provide. That way you'll be able to learn about them, correct?

[...what just happened here. Grumbling inwardly, Kratos continues his cooking without comment.]

Hey, that's a great idea!

[Lloyd sees nothing wrong with this. What could possibly go wrong?]

Let's do it when we're bored and don't have anything else going on.

[He sniffs the air. It's starting to smell really good.]

That's a wonderful idea, since I do need a bit more to do in the bubble too.

[Nothing will go wrong, Lloyd. Nothing at all. But he also smells the air and is getting hungrier.]

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