I wrote this on my spare time. I get bored every now and then and when I don't feel inspired, my head spits things out and sometimes they're good ideas. This is supplementary reading sort of. It features my characters but it's still a fanfic for a certain game. I don't really expect anyone to read and understand it unless they've read some of my other fics and know the characters. In that case, thank you very much for reading!
It's a couple of years before Double Edged and expands on Ty's family relations. This is leading up to a more dynamic fic for a certain game in the future. It's not that hard to guess what it is if you're familiar with the game. It's pretty popular.
Not an Abnormal Morning
I don't know much about dimensional magic. I just know that other people know how to use it so I just go with the flow.
It's pretty useful. Gotta run off for a bit? Rip a tear in reality and jump into a new adventure…
"But why does it have to be in white picket fence suburbia?" I groaned to myself, squinting from the Monday morning Sun leaking in from the window shining its harsh rays into my bleary eyes.
I glared at the window before throwing the thick covers off and slide out of bed. I drug myself towards the window next to my desk. The light shone on to the messily spread sketches of flora and fauna on the desk and scattered across the walls.
For a moment, I peered out into the street at a passing yellow school bus driving off to pick up its load of kids on the first day of school.
Scowling, I yanked the curtains closed and plunged the room back into darkness leaving only a sliver of light shining on the clothes that I prepared yesterday that were left on my desk.
They weren't for school.
I'm not allowed to go to school. Kids are supposed to start school around this place at age five. I'm nine and four years late. But I know just as much as other nine year-olds. I'm good at looking at critters and I can multiply (I have to look at my fingers every now and then but I'll grow out of that).
"I could totally go to school," I puff my cheeks up angrily and storm over to my bed, throwing myself under the covers again. "If it weren't for that dumb play that happened in the Pacific or whatever. And maybe if I wasn't sick…Heh, I don't even need to go to stupid school in this stupid town."
"Hey!" Someone started banging on the door. "Half-Pint! Aren't you going to get up? Your sister's going to school."
I sat up and sprung back out of bed to hastily throw on my clothes and gloves.
Even though I couldn't go to school, I had to look pretty and see my sis off on her first day.
"Blaire!" I shouted, bursting out of my room hoping I wasn't too late.
"Hold it, fat-head," A slender hand reached out and grabbed me by the collar, pulling me back roughly. "Shut your trap. It's too early for your yapping."
"Who are you calling fat face, fat face?" I tried to slap her away but my arms were too short.
"Is that how you're going to thank me?" The bully scooped me off of the ground from under my arms and holds me away at arms-length. "Look at yourself; you're an absolute mess! You can't see your sis off if you're looking like the shit I pull out of the shower drain."
"Rrrrrg. Li-like you're any better, Virelai. You and your butt face" I retorted lamely, kicking and punching at her, hitting the air in front of her perfect face instead.
Virelai was gorgeous; a picture of perfection. Even with an evil smirk, her sea-green eyes narrows just the right way. It makes me mad, jealous and blush all at the same time. She had probably just jumped out of bed and walked straight to my room to pick on me and somehow she still looks flawless. Her blond curly hair was free of tangles and frames her freckled face. The freckles were even sprinkled perfectly across her cheeks.
"Hurry up and get ready. Didn't you say you wanted to make breaky for Blaire?" Virelai dropped me on my backside with a thump. "Blaire wouldn't want to eat anything from something that looks like a midget Medusa. Food would probably turn the poor girl into stone too." She snickered and padded away on the hardwood floor with her slim and long legs.
"Meanie." I muttered, pushing myself back up on my stubby legs to get to the bathroom and smooth my hair down.
When I reach the tiled floors of the steamy bathroom, ignoring my father's greeting as I walk in.
"Ty! What are you doing up so early in the morning?" He asked over the sound of running water, pressing himself up against the opaque glass. "Bad girl! You're not supposed to come in to the bathroom when someone's using the shower." His laugh echoes and grates against my ears.
"Go away, dummy." I huff, pulling over the step stool to reach my toothbrush and hairbrush before slipping off my gloves.
"Tyyyyyyyy, that means I have to get out of the shower," Father complains. "Do you need help out there? Or maybe you should take a shower with me first. Your hair must be a mess."
"Gross!" I stuck my tongue out, reaching for the red tube of toothpaste. I try to squeeze out a pea sized dot of paste on my own but end up squeezing too hard again. It gets all over my hands and on the bathroom counter. Frustrated, I turn the tap on and stick my hands under the water.
"Tyyyyyyy, turn the tap off. I'm going to get boiled alive if you keep that on."
Just to spite him, I turned the tap to the highest setting and flushed the toilet nearby.
"That's mean, Ty!" Father exclaims but failed in hiding his laughing.
"Serves you right!" I giggled with the toothbrush hanging out of my mouth as I try to brush the knots out of my hair. The toothpaste was too spicy and it hurt when I tug at my knots but I still laugh.
Once I finished and looked somewhat decent, I put my gloves back on and ran out of the bathroom and skip down the stairs. Music was playing from the bright kitchen and as I got closer, the French lyrics of a new and old song danced its way into my ears.
"La mer. Qu'on von danser le long golfes claire, a des reflets dargent." The violins in the background played to the beat of the far away waves of the sea. Their notes flowed over the sunlit flowery wall paper and potted flowering houseplants decorating the room.
"Just in time," My brother, Eric, puts his newspaper down on the dining table, knocking over his mug of coffee. "Whoopsie," The cup freezes midway on its way to the floor, sloshing the coffee over the tiles and Eric's shoes. "I put the tools out on the counter for you," He told me, sighing at the splattered brown sticky liquid spreading over the floor as he picked the cup back up.
"Is Blaire up yet?" I grabbed a small plastic purple footstool from the side of the whirring fridge.
"She should be down soon. Probably putting some clothes on." Eric checked over his white dress shirt and tie for any stains. "You still have time. Also, good morning."
"Morning Eric," I pull the fridge open with some difficulty, stumbling back when it gives way. The eggs, milk and blueberries were had been placed on the lowest shelf for me last night.
On the carton of eggs was a note.
Please forgive me. Work got in the way so I can't have breakfast with you or Blaire. Eric and Domenico are home though. Make good pancakes for Blaire for her first day of school. It'll be your turn soon. Once we move down there away from the petty grudges of the parasites and when you get better, you'll get to go to school with Blaire. You've been making such good progress. Keep up the good work!
-John
PS. Maybe just hold back a little more on the berries.
I fold the note neatly and put it away in the pocket of my navy blue skirt. I was going to put it away with the rest of John's notes to me.
"Need help, Ty?" Eric asked, smiling behind the newspaper. His blue eyes glinted as he smoothed his blond hair back and plops his hat on, all ready for today's work. The spilt coffee levitated off the ground and floated into the sink.
"Nope! I practiced lots for this so I'll be fine." I grabbed two eggs, one in each of my hands and run to the stool to jump up and place them in a green mixing bowl.
"Ces oiseaux blanc," The record player sung from the windowsill as I run back to the fridge to heft the heavy milk bottle up. I was feeling gutsy so I thought that maybe I could pick the carton of blueberries up. "Et ces maisonm" the record sings just as the carton slips out of my hands along with the bottle.
"Not so fast!" Eric opened his palm and the bottle and scattered berries stop in mid-air, hovering just above my toes. Without even looking, Eric moves them through the air and lowers them on the counter.
"I could have done that," I stare down at my bare feet, stepping one on the other.
"Of course," Eric hummed contently to the music, reading another article on the disappeared people. "I'll leave the rest in your capable hands." He nodded his head along with the song as he flips the page of the paper to another crisis.
"Why so late this morning? No new cases?" I stepped up on the stool and pull the mixing bowl towards me. The eggs roll around in the bowl and with careful hand, I slide a box of pancake mix closer to the bowl.
"Just the usual. Missing people and all that. That place is almost finished so I guess there'll be a big rash of disappearances. We should head down there soon." Eric stood, making his way to the front door and ducked under some hanging plants. "I'm going to check on the mail. Be right back."
"Kay." I replied, carefully pouring pancake mix into a measuring cup.
I had been practicing for weeks in secret to make the greatest most tastiest breakfast for Blaire before she left for school. In pursuit of the perfectest blueberry pancake, I had almost murdered both Eric and John with my test cakes, tearing their throats with eggshells, soiling their guts with half-cooked batter and nearly impaling them with flying forks but it was all going to be worth it.
I had it down to an art.
"Better hurry, half-pint," Virelai sneered, making me spill the mix from surprise. She stood at the doorway, leaning on the door frame as she checked her nails. "I can hear Blaire walking down the stairs." She said in a mocking tone.
Virelai's voice makes me panic and I dump the pancake mix into the bowl till the box was empty. I smash the eggs against the bowl, letting slime and shells fly everywhere. Everything becomes a whirl of powder, broken eggs, milk and partially frozen berries.
Before I could stop myself and calm down to fix the mess, I had already dumped the bowl into the pan on the stove that Eric preheated for me.
"What the hell? I fucking blinked and then this happened" Virelai laughed, clutching her stomach.
"Vierlai! Shut up!" I shouted, absolutely panicked. I turned the heat up high and the mixture bubbled and splattered on the stove top. That's okay. I can clean the mess up later. I just need to cook this faster.
"Maybe if I stir it enough," I grabbed the nearby wooden spoon and stirred the scorched mix around in the pan. Smoke started to rise as the song repeated.
"Good morning." A sweeter voice floated into the kitchen. Blaire walked in dressed in clothes that father must have laid out for her. They were the first actually comfortable looking outside clothes she's worn in years.
"Blaire! Are you hungry?" I forced a smile, holding up the dripping plastic spatula. "It won't take long to fix this. Just give me a few minutes. And wow! You look really nice today. Even though you had to dye your hair blond, you look really-"
"I do not feel hungry. Goodbye." She walked through the kitchen, past the table, under the potted plants and into the hall towards the front door. I heard the casual opening and closing of the door that might as well have slammed on my fingers.
"Good…" I finished my sentence, dropping the spatula into the festering pan.
Envelopes glide through the open window over the record player and land on the table.
"I put the mail on the table!" Eric shouted from the driveway as he climbed into his car. A white cloud shot into the sky from the front door and disappears over the houses across the street. "Was that Blaire? She shouldn't be doing that here!"
"You shouldn't be throwing things around with your mind either!" I shouted back at the top of my lungs, jumping off the stool and stomping over to the table to pout.
"Um, alright then. I'm going to work now. See you when I get home?"
"Just go already!" Everything was gaudy and annoying now. Eric's voice was getting on my nerves, the kitchen was too bright and colorful with its tacky wall paper and it was overcrowded with plants. The record got stuck and now the French man was stuttering over how the sea had rocked his heart for life. It was all stupid.
"Uh sure. See you later, Ty," I could see him slowly getting into the car and backing out. The car was crawling down the road like a snail and Eric was staring intently through the window at me. I folded my arms over the table and laid my head on them to hide my face.
"Hey, you shouldn't talk to your brother like that, pipsqueak," Virelai scolded me, voice sharp and jagged as a rusty nail. "And be careful in the kitchen. You're going to burn the entire house down." She switched off the stove and stared at the half-cooked muck in the pan. "What are you going to do with this crap?"
"Don't care." I crossed my arms, biting down on my cheek and swallowing.
"Good morning everyone," Father waltzed into the kitchen, unaware of the tense mood. "I gotta go out today so enjoy your…" The air-headed idiot finally noticed that something was off and I felt a hand gently touch my shoulder. "I see that Blaire ran off early. You want me to stick around for a while."
"No." I answered, voice muffled by my arms. My eyes were hurting and I didn't want anyone to see.
"Okay. I'll be back home around six. Blaire'll come back home earlier," Father paused, glancing around the room. "Lyla and Virelai are sticking around so I hope you won't be lonely. You sure it's okay for me to leave? I could sit and talk with you for a while."
"The flowers here are stupid." I muttered, peaking out at him. I couldn't see him well. My sight became blurry.
"Hmmm?" I could vaguely see him kneel down next to me and tip his head to the side. "I suppose there are a lot of them. There aren't many outside though. Why not go relax in the garden for a bit. Maybe put some of the plants into the ground. Set them free."
"They aren't fish or birds y'know. They don't' move very fast." I hiccupped, sitting up straight and wiping my eyes.
"Of course they aren't," Father clapped his hands together and laughs. "But I think they'll like it better if you give them more space to grow. On that topic, do you need space?"
"Maybe…" I sniffed, pushing myself off the chair. The diagrams of a city with tubes connecting the buildings get ruffled on the table by my movements and some little sketches of fish swimming around the domed park had become soggy.
"The grass outside should be warm now and there are a lot of empty places in the soil to plant in. If you run out, Eric'll get you more seeds. Whatever you want. Right Eric?" Father glances out the window and Eric, who was still inching down the road nodded and floored it. He was gone in seconds.
"I'll see you soon, dear." Father messed my hair up. "You-" He mouthed to Virelai. "You're doing that thing again." He winks and disappeared into thin air. The space where he stood rippled for a moment before it all became still.
The music stopped and I rubbed my eyes again with my fists.
"Hey, pi- ehem…you. Aren't you going to clean that mess up and eat something?" Virelai, who I had almost forgotten about, stands by the stove and frowns. "Uh, you could start over?" She suggested, gesturing to the mush and it seemed like she was asking herself the question.
"No. It was your fault that I messed up. You clean it up," I turned my nose up at her. I was expecting her to call me names and make me come back but I heard nothing. "Besides, no one wants to eat what I make anyway." I added on under my breath and left the kitchen.
Once I was outside in the backyard with my gloves and shovel, loud gagging sounds coming from the kitchen window started up.
"Oh god. Oh god, it's terrible," Someone chokes in a high pitched voice. I heard feet running across the hall into the bathroom and a few seconds later, they returned to the kitchen.
"Oh god, it's still awful!" The person gagged.
"What the heck is going on?" I pursed my lips and squinted at the window "Hmph, probably nothing." I shrugged and got on my knees to dig a hole in the dirt.
The gagging and running went on for an hour after that but I didn't really pay attention.
I wondered how long it was going to be before Blaire was gets back.
Turns out, not very long.
A word from John. Elder brother of Ty, Eric and Blaire.
As I write this note, Ty has come back from her episode of sorts. Though I am pleased with the fact that we ended up here instead of some other back water dimension, I worry for both Lyla and Ty. Lyla is exhausted from transporting us here and I fear her health will deteriorate further if she uses her power again. Ty also; her sickness is most vexing. It pains me to know that she could never directly touch another with her hands. The time between episodes has increased and perhaps it is because she has come to terms with Beathan. But now that she is stuck in our temporary house, I fear that it will erase all the progress that she has achieved. Three more months. Just three more months and all of us can move down to that city of opportunity. Some of us are already down there. Eric, Blaire and Virelai are with them. I am away most hours of the day and their presence is most welcome. Once I've wrapped up our business on the surface, we'll move.
Blaire is going to school now as well. I am glad but I fear for her as well. With much convincing, she has finally decided to go outside. If only that terrible theater had never happened, then all of them would be free to be mostly themselves.
Yo, I also put this out here because I haven't been updating a lot. School's started so I can't get much done. Truly sorry about that. *Bows head sadly*
But hey, I made up an RP blog for Ty recently on Tumblr for practice with the character. You'd think that because I made my characters up, I'd be good at writing them. Well *Pained Laughter* maybe it's just me. But it's been fun using it. If you want to check it out, I'll put the link on my profile~
Thanks for reading.
PS. DE and Tiger/Dragon are still coming along and Crossed has chapters completed but I want to space out the chapters. I'm just going to be slower.
*Edit: Added an extra little note that I decided would fit better here than at the beginning of the next chapter.