Notes: Hey, sorry, I'm late. But college has really taken a lot of my time (among other hobbies)
I hope you'll enjoy this one.
Oh btw, I don't own the owl house and am not making any money off of these fan fics (unfortunately)
Alador walked down the hall of Blight Manor, completely burnt out from working on the new line of Abomitons since last night. And since Odalia was off at a business lunch with some of their investors, he decided to take this rare opportunity to take a small break.
As a kid, he always felt intimidated by the stern-looking portraits whose cruel, unforgiving gazes seemed to follow him whenever he walked down the hall. At the time, they alluded to a regalness that upheld the Blight family name, looking at him as if he might come and ruin it. But after learning that the Blights weren't all that rich and powerful (or even their "real" name), his father was appointed head of the Abomination Coven after wild witches killed the first ones. Since then, Alador's terror slowly turned into indifference, and he would pay less and less attention to them when he walked down the hall, especially now that he spent more time in his lab than in the house itself.
There was one portrait that still gave him pause.
His old family portrait. Alador thought. In front of him were the last family portrait of him, his parents, and siblings. His father, Ulrich Blight, former head of the Abomination coven, was as stoic and merciless there as he had ever been, if not more so. His mother, Caralee Gardner, former coven head of the Illusionist Coven. (hadn't taken his father's last name to avoid confusion) her face dignified and reserved, but her body language stressed and tense; his sister Rosaline Blight was a combination of poised and confident but still eager to please and to wait for the timebomb to go off at any moment—his brother and Rosie's twin, Ulrich (more commonly known as Ricky) Blight Jr. Their face was blank. Their overall demeanor was not caring but trying to make it seem like he did. And finally, Alador Blight himself. He remembered being nervous, not that you would guess by his facial expression, serious but still blank, body language proper, but its spirit broken.
He honestly hadn't thought about it in years. But seeing it again brings back waves of nostalgia mixed with grief; why he didn't know his childhood wasn't great, and he was glad it was over. But maybe it wasn't that time in his life he missed, but his family.
As shitty as it was, ⅘ of them weren't all that bad. While constantly trapped in a prison of her trauma and everyday anxieties, his mother was kind and loving. She could be very attentive and warm when she forced herself out of the bubble she worked hard to create for herself.
Rosie and Ricky were his best friends (well, more like frenemies most of the time). Rosie was a people pleaser to the end, but she could be assertive and sarcastic when she wanted to be. Not to mention witty.
Ricky was known as the slacker of the family but was actually motivated when it came to stuff they were passionate about.
And their father…
Ulrich Blight was a hard man. Nothing was ever good enough for him, between Alador's goofing off and Ricky's last-luster efforts. Rosie was technically the "golden child," but still, he barely tolerated her. For whatever reason, Ulrich continued to put so much stock into Alador. Probably because, despite everything, Alador was a gifted Ambominations witch. And he thought if he pushed hard enough, screamed, shouted, slapped, and punched hard enough, he could smooth out all of Alador's faults and mold him into the perfect coven head. But, of course, that day never came.
Alador's work ethic never improved, so Ulrich eventually moved on from him and set his sights on a new mentee.
After their mom died and they were alone with their father, they drifted apart. Choosing to find comfort in school work, significant others, friends, and careers. But they did try to do their best to take care of each other.
And then, when their father died, they were all they had left. Despite the twins being almost 18, Alador tried his best to fill the role of a parent the best he could. Doing his best to make up for years of abuse and emotional neglect.
While he didn't always get it right, he did try. He succeeded in keeping them alive, at least.
Mostly. Who cares if they were no longer talking to him anymore?
Alador forced himself out of the nostalgic fog and forced himself to continue his trek to the kitchen as he wiped a tear that managed to escape his eye. If he let himself break down now, he'd never stop. And he knew Odalia would be disappointed if she caught him sobbing hysterically, and the Abomitons were only halfway done.
Alador opened the fridge and pulled out an apple. He needed something healthy to keep his strength up but also something simple without energy.
Absentmindedly taking a bite, Alador started thinking about his siblings, wondering how they were, what they were doing if they were okay. Ricky seemed happy with his job as a will attorney, and Rose seemed to be doing better.
But he couldn't risk assuming otherwise after what happened with Rosie…
Alador thoughts drifted as he started chewing before realizing what he had done, almost immediately spitting it out in the garbage. Rushing toward the sink to rinse his mouth and began scrubbing the apple.
Had his mom seen that, he would've slapped the unwashed apple out of his mouth. Do you know what kind of germs could be on that apple? Different kinds of chemicals? Who knows who handled it when picked?
The perks of growing up with a germophobe, Alador's thoughts as he began scrubbing the apple with his fingers. Then washing out his mouth with water.
Growing up with Caralee, the walking definition of a hypochondriac, he'd picked up a couple of her compulsions habits. Thankfully he didn't inherit her…drive; otherwise, he'd still be scrubbing that apple until dinner.
Once he was done, he returned to the hallway, eating his apple. He'd really need to talk to Odalia about these new deadlines. While he was okay (using that word pretty loosely) with working nonstop to finish the product sacrificing his personal time, hygiene, sanity, and his relationship with his kids… he knew his team wasn't.
He knew they would walk if something didn't change soon, which was the last thing they needed.
He could also take a break, start retaking regular showers, and spend more time with Edric, Emira, and Amity.
He knew he should try to make more time for them, but with the constant crunch deadlines, not to mention the meetings with investors and potential investors, and them with…their things. They often didn't get a chance to see each other.
He could tell Emira was doing better with her cramps; she no longer curled up in bed and seemed happier. Rita didn't come over as much as he didn't think. He didn't recall Edric ever bringing anyone else. Amity was always holed up in her room or at the library, studying or hanging out with her friend from her grudgy days.
Alador felt a twinge of guilt for not remembering the friends he forced her to hang out with names'.
Titan, he needed more time off work.
He and Odalia could get the spark back in their marriage. It seemed like girls; the last time they were alone, they talked about something other than business. Or, on occasion, the kids. It seemed Odalia was so focused on Blight Industries that the company had become their marriage. And Alador was her subordinate rather than her husband.
This wasn't necessarily new; she always called the shots, even when they were friends. She often decided their plans, and when they would go to one of the places Odalia picked, Alador would always pay; she would always be the one to reach out to him. She never picked up when he tried contacting her outside of school hours.
Not that he could blame her; her mother was dirt poor, not like they could afford a raven or a restaurant. Not to mention she was a controlling drunk who tried to live her dreams through her daughter.
But when she decided to be attentive, she was really attentive. Alador felt like he could confide to her about anything, she would always try to distract him when his father was especially controlling, and his mother was having one of her episodes again. And in return, Alador provided Odalia a shoulder to cry on when her mother was out of control.
The two often felt like birds of a feather. He's often heard remarks from other entrepreneurs in their circle that they must have been an arranged marriage when that could not be farther from the truth! Ulrich never approved of her due to her lack of standing and her being an outlet for his abuse.
And it wasn't like she was using him for his money. When Ulrich left him and his sibling his crippling debt, Odalia stayed by his side. Even coming up with Blight Industries and turning it into a multi-million dollar business. Saving him and Ricky and Rosie from financial ruin.
Even now, every once in a while, there were still hints of that sweet Odalia from their Hexide days.
Maybe if I finish the project early, she'll see my devotion to her. And if we sell this new Abomiton we can get an even bigger team and spend more time together, then everything could return to normal.
Alador returned to the basement, throwing the apple core aside as he returned to grinding away at his latest invention. Not noticing how it missed the waste basket filled with crumpled-up designs and ideas.
Yes. This was a totally legitimate plan and not at all a desperate bid in any shape or form. No matter what his siblings, team, or tiny part of his brain said.
Notes: I know it's lackluster, but it sets up some important people who will appear later on. And I really wanted to get this out as soon as possible for you guys
I don't know when the next chapter will be, but I can promise it will have more substance than this (I hope)
I am on the unpopular train that Alador and Odalia were star-crossed lovers and not an arranged marriage based on their small, brief positive interaction in Escaping Expulsion. And all my other headcanons.
Feel free to give feedback on what I can do better, and feel free to follow and favorite so I know whether or to quit while I'm ahead, lol