Went back on a dating site, messaged a woman "How are you doing?" and got blocked.
I hate online dating.
Lakeland Echo
Octavia was laying back on her bed, music blasting in her ear buds. Stolas barged into her room. Octavia glared and turned off her music. "Go away!" she yelled.
Stolas sighed and put his claws on his hips, "Now is that any way to greet your father?"
Octavia took out her ear buds and gave him the middle claw, "Fuck you, and fuck off."
Stolas sighed again and preened himself a little, "Honey, do you really hate me so?"
Octavia growled a bit and got up off the bed, pointing at him, "You kicked mom out of the house!"
Stolas nodded, "Yes. Yes. I did."
Octavia stomped up to him, "What is wrong with you? Why did you suddenly decide to do all this? Was that stupid imp so good at fucking you that you lost your damn mind?"
Stolas paused for a moment, then his face got a bit dark as he leaned in close, "Octavia, do you truly want to know?"
Octavia hesitated a moment, she backed up a little, "...do I?"
Stolas shook his head, "I don't think you do. I don't think you knowing will do you any good, if anything I think it'll just make things far worse than they already are. Either way, I'm not here to discuss that."
Octavia folded her arms and then asked, "What do you want?"
"I want to know what happened with you and Lincoln breaking up."
Octavia almost fell over, "Wha-what?"
Stolas caught her, "I said, I want to know why the two of you broke up."
Octavia, gently pushed Stolas away, "You uh, you knew about us?"
Stolas nodded, and gave her some space, "Of course I did. You think I wouldn't notice you creating portals in my house?"
Octavia's face reddened a bit, "I-I just thought you didn't. I mean, I did it a lot and you never asked me about it until now!"
"That's because I didn't feel it was my place to ask about it. You're almost your own woman now, free to make her own decisions. Besides, far be it from me to judge who you wish to be with...though if you want my opinion, I thought the two of you were a nice couple."
Octavia paused a moment, "What do you mean?"
Stolas sighed, "I'm usually a very good judge of character. I saw a lot of potential in the poor lad, him dying being partially my fault yet he was more cordial than I could expect from any of our more haughty peers."
"...is that why you gave him your blessing?"
Stolas shook his head, "No, I did that because you were smitten with him the second you saw him. And I didn't want you disappointed in him having to stay behind."
Octavia nearly tackled her dad, "Wha-WHAT? How in HELL did you notice that?"
Stolas giggled and patted her on the head, "..sweetie, you reacted to him in a way you never did around me, your mother, your family, your friends, or any of the suitors who came calling for you. I have eyes you know, and they saw yours eating him up like a parfait."
Octavia covered her face with her hat, "Ugh...I don't want to hear this..."
Stolas frowned, "All the same, what happened? Did he do something terrible? I figured I should ask before I go and tear him apart."
Octavia glared at him, "Don't you dare! Lincoln didn't do anything wrong!"
"Oh...well, did you just get tired of him?"
"No! I just...it's stupid."
Stolas patted her on the head again, "Oh sweetie, I'm not going to judge you for your decision no matter what brought you to it."
"...I had a vision that he was taken away from me in a bright light. I didn't want to lose him so I broke up with him."
Stolas stopped patting her head, "...wow, that is kind of stupid."
"Dad!"
Stolas sighed, "Octavia dear, you do realize that by doing that, you fulfilled your vision?"
Octavia groaned, "I mean, of course I can see that NOW. It wasn't just that though, I-"
"Was worried what everyone else in our family would think?"
Octavia didn't respond, she sat back on her bed and covered her face.
"Nail on the head. I didn't think you cared that much about what they thought of you. You barely seem to care what I think these days."
Octavia looked away, not wanting to look her father in the eyes.
Stolas turned for the door, he rested a claw on the frame, "Well, as I've said, you're free to make your own decisions, and if those decisions backfire...well, dealing with that is just another part of being an adult. If you wish my assistance, you only have to ask."
With that, Stolas left. Octavia put her ear buds back on and curled up in a ball.
Drowning out the outside.
First we let you down, then we let you go.
