songerein | [Open] ☆ 5th Page ☆ Owl Be Back

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[Open] ☆ 5th Page ☆ Owl Be Back

Who: Stolas and you!
Which: Open Log
Where: The little cabaret club in Reverein.
When: Back dated to when he puffed for his canon update three days later
What: Stolas returns back from disappearing to have a jolly ol' time back in Hell, only to puff right back in the middle of town looking like a cat chewed him up.
Warnings: Possible talk of death. And dad jokes

The day started out normal enough. Well, as 'normal' a dreamland could be after the most recent event that rocked Reverein that is. The town square was probable a buzz with native and dreamers alike as they went about to survey the damages the Stary Eater's chaos had brought. Though whatever powers were at play had another idea instore.

As if a new arrival was entering Reverein, though the timing was all wrong, a portal opened smack dab in the middle of The Square. Unceremoniously it dumped out one Ars Geotia out on his ass. The sudden drop got a shocked hoot from the massive owl as he crumpled to the cobblestone below and the gateway closed behind him, its job complete. Welp, not as graceful as the first time he arrived... Though Stolas had seen better days. The Goetic Prince had returned sporting injuries that he did not have when he disappear. He was covered in bandages with his left arm and right leg in a cast, making it impossible for him to stand. In fact, he was just laying there limp as a ragdoll as he stared up at the sky.

What the Hell was going on? Trying to make sense of what he had just experienced... It felt so real, going back home, no memory of this place... He would have chalked it all up to it being a vivid dream if his injuries didn't painfully throb. Yep... yep... it was real. It all happened. But why did this place send him away only to bring him back? Ugh... He would have to wait to address that later... First thing first, getting himself off the ground would be a good start.

Rolling over onto his side, Stolas called out for help. "E-excuse me, could you lend me a hand? Currently I have no leg to stand on."

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Octavia immediately got to work on preparations once she heard the news. The others would bring him back home and she wanted to be prepared for whatever happened. She can help tend to injuries; she saw to his last few. He's back home and she can try to see to him and see him at all again and...

...and it's not enough to prepare her for the instant she sees him. He's...really hurt. Even worse than the desert expedition. He's back, yes, but...

"Dad!"

The younger owl cries out in surprise, eyes immediately watering when rushing to his bedside.

"What happened? You were gone for days and now you come back like this..."

The Goetic Prince knew it was only a matter of time before his little princess caught wind of his return. He was glad to see that she was alright but this was a conversation he was dreading. Stolas still had no idea on what to tell her. There was no illusion that Via knew how terrible her mother was, but that was something a young lady shouldn't have to bare.

Simply he wrapped his good arm around his child, pulling her close in an attempt to calm her. For a moment he didn't give her an answer, just gently stroked her feathers gazing at her with loving eyes.

"Oh I'm so sorry Via. You must have been worried sick. I never meant to leave you behind." More soft feather strokes, mulling over what to say next. "I went back home for a spell. Ran into a spot of trouble I'm afraid. All the matters is that I'm here now."

Octavia leaned in close, nestling up with her greatly wounded father. She wants to hug him tightly, bury her face in his feathers and cry about his return, but his injuries give her tears less joyous reasons to flow. What the fuck does someone need to do to a goetia to hurt them like this? To break them so much, they're left in bandages and casts?

"Dad..." She's already crying and her voice shaky. "I know you didn't leave on purpose. Something happened that woke you up, and that something was...all of this..."

She gestures towards his wounds and especially the broken leg. "This is so much more than a 'spot' of trouble, dad! This is...something put you in the hospital! And...even then, you want to protect me from the truth. I get it. Maybe it's something I'm not ready to hear. I might never be ready to hear it, but I know for goddamn sure I'd rather be overwhelmed by the truth. A lie's not gonna make any of this okay!"

The young owl's already prone to her own emotions, so the sobs quickly win out. Whatever truly brought this upon him, Via isn't prepared to see Stolas like this. Sure, she's seen him vulnerable and abused and even injured, but not to this degree. She can only guess at who would hate Stolas enough to put him through so much pain, but did things escalate so much that her mother would try to kill him...?

Stolas' eyes fluttered wise at Via's emotional outburst. Everytime she cried it pained his heart, twisting it in his chest. Was this how she truly felt? He was reminded how strong and brave his little fledgling was... So much tougher than he was.

For a moment he let's her get it all out, continuing to give his owlette gentle head pats. When she had calmed down a bit he reached down to tilt her head up with a talon, brushing away the damp tears off her check.

"I need to stop forgetting that you're getting so grown up... I'm... sorry Via. It my fatherly instinct to shield my child from pain. But in doing so... I've only caused you more distress." Stolas paused. "... Your mother hired an assassin to kill me. Striker is the fellow's name. Somehow he has managed to get his greedy little claws on some Holy Artifacts which was how he was able to wound me so. I would have died if not for Moxxie and Millie."

Going to leave out that what actually saved him was Stella's strange change of heart....

There's a moment when Octavia's hair feathers start to turn jet black.

"...What the fuck is wrong with that woman? Torturing you your whole life isn't enough? Now she wants you dead and won't even do the job herself?! That...that bitch's only use was a working uterus! She needed others to be a parent for her and now she needs others to be a vengeful ex. What a complete waste of air!"

Octavia shouts and swears, but eventually cuts her rant short. Her rage isn't helping things. There's nothing she can do about Stella here; even then, what would she do...?

None of that matters now. The younger owl calms herself, hair returning to normal, returning to snuggling her father.

"...It's alright, dad. You've always done your best to protect me and be there for me. I wouldn't be anywhere near the person I am now if you didn't try as hard as you did. And I'm glad you did."

What th-

Stolas' eyes widened seeing his daughter's feathers turning black. This was the first time seeing her reflect his and her grandfather's ability to change her form. Under different circumstances, this would have been a happy occasion witnessing his little fledgling grow into her own. But it was tainted by hatred. ~~Though the line about Stella only being good for her uterus was a good line which would have gotten a chuckle out of him.~~

Being brought back down to the present, Via held him in her arms. He hated to see her in pain. And despite his personal feelings towards the vile serpent, that was still her mother. it was just unfortunate that she wasn't given a better one.

Leaning into the embrace, Stolas nuzzled his little owlette. "I am truly sorry I had to deliver such bad news, Via. This isn't something any child should have to face. I cannot believe that I was blessed with such a beautiful and strong daughter. I honestly don't know where you get that from."

The owl lets out a small little hoot, stroking her long feathers with a hand.

"Looks like you took care of things while I was away. Nothing is burnt down."

Edited 2023-07-08 02:36 (UTC)

"I thought not burning things down was the office's standard." Via jokes. Granted, Blitzø did come over to make sure she and Akechi were okay, so the possibility was there. It thankfully didn't happen. ~~Maybe the office getting busted up again prevented it~~

She happily nuzzles her father's feathers. "You cared for me, dad. Despite everything, you were there for me. You encouraged me to think for myself and pursue my interests. You shared your love and enthusiasm for the stars, plants, music, your favorite books...you taught me to not be ashamed of who I am. You taught me to love. Everything I am now, is because of you, dad."

He wasn't going to cry, he wasn't going to cry, oh fuck he was going to cry. Burying his face into her head feather, the old owl couldn't hold back his tears. It pained him with how much love he felt for his daughter. He was terrified of never seeing her again, to leave her alone, leave her with Stella and the mercy of the other Goetia.

"I am so glad you are mine. You were the best thing to happen to me, Via" He mumbled into her hair before he sat back up, wiping his eyes. "Care for another father daughter duet?"

Aww, dad...if you start crying, she's gonna start crying...nope, too late. Via's already on an emotional high, so the waterworks come back on. It's a mutual good cry, she feels. Dad taught Octavia to never be ashamed of her emotions, to let the laughs flow as freely as the tears. That's what's happening now, with the younger owl smiling despite the tears running down her cheeks.

"Always."

She didn't want to move him too much, but Via instead snuggles up close enough to softly bump her forehead against his.

Via's old man might be wounded but he still got the magic in him. He smiled softly as he raised his one good hand, the world around them fading away to a galaxy of stars. Soft sounds of a piano began to play as music filled the room to a song he hoped his daughter knew. Giving her a warm smile, he waved his glowing hand in front of her.

"Lets practice your illusion magic, shall we?"

Via's eyes light up like the stars around them once the piano begins. She recognizes this song! She loves this song! Wordlessly, she begins arranging her illusion, shifting some of the stars around into familiar shapes right before she starts singing.

Likenesses of Stolas, Blitzø and a younger Octavia between them holding hands, calling back to the dream where she first learned the truth of her home life. Where she learned of her mother's abusive tendencies, where she learned Stolas found true love in Blitzø, where she learned the imp cared deep down. How could he break what was already broken? He did them all a favor by coming into their lives.

A smile stretches across his beak watching the little figures dance, recognizing the scene. That dream felt like a life time ago, but it held a special place in his heart. It was the night he realized the depth of his feelings for Blitzø. Their happy little family.

When it came to his part, Stolas waved his hand to create an illusion of his own. Blue magic swirled taking form of their quant treehouse. The three of them tinker and toyed with the structure, creating a home for themselves. There was an added addition of a forth figure that looked like a certain teen that appeared along side them, their little found family.

The amusing part of this image is the reality of her father using construction tools. She watched him use a hammer once; he tried his best. Via laughs because she's not much better, and is still proud of him for giving it a try. One of several reasons to be thankful for having Blitzø around.

She smiles warmly at the fourth figure joining their family. Akechi really does fit right in as an older brother, and the son Stolas didn't know he wanted. Once Via's part came back, she had the family looking up proudly at the home they built together. Eyes go towards the newest additions to their family, the familiar Little Raven and sweet Denji, and ease into a big ol group hug. Each of them shed a single tear, nourishing the ground and expanding into a vibrant garden to adorn their new home.

The owl's small room swelled with positive dreamotions as the song filled the air, easing some of the pain he still felt after the deer's voodoo and bitter medicines he had forced him to swallow. Seeing their little family blossom warmed his heart. Words from his talk with Akechi whispered in his head, how he must remember his time here. The friends that he made, bonds he had forged he couldn't lose that.

Even as the music started to fade, the illusion held like a still frame hung in the air. Silence returned to the space as he held that soft smile, gazing up at the glowing figures above them.

"You know.... there was once a time I really wanted to return home. But... this is home now. I don't know what I would do if I forget all this."

"...I don't want to forget any of this." Octavia confides, the end of the song and the illusion shaping naturally leading to the warm, but somber, truth. As nice as all of this is, it's still a dream. As wonderful as all of these people are, it's still a dream.

"We're not alone here, like we are back in Hell. We talked things out, we made so many incredible friends and expanded our family. We're away from the people who want to tear us apart..."

She sighs.

"I know we have to wake up eventually, but...if we have to go back, I wish we could bring them with us."

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[Open] ☆ 5th Page ☆ Owl Be Back

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