Healing isn't always easy | Eden

"I think it'll take some time before I talk to her .. but I'll keep your words in mind," maybe it was easy for Eden to say as he clearly didn't have any parents to open up to. But there was still deep seeded trauma that he couldn't just ignore. And he needed to come to terms with everything before he went to her, because she would have a million questions, so if he couldn't answer them she would get frustrated with him. Breathing out in a sigh, Eden at least seemed to like the idea of him contacting some friends. "And I still want to go back there .. with you of course," he smiled a bit. He wanted to show Eden everything if he was being honest. But maybe they should just start with where he had grown up.
He could hear the rumble and he chuckled softly at the former vampyre's complaint. He could imagine how much he had pushed himself. "Well if it's any help you'll hopefully get used to it," though he wasn't too sure about that. How long had Eden truly lived as a vampyre? Much longer than a normal human's lifespan that was for sure. Not that Romeo needed an exact number, because it really didn't matter, did it? "You should go eat something .. and I should too," he said softly, though it was clear he didn't want to hang up. He just loved hearing his voice as it seemed to calm everything in him.

“I think we should do that soon. Well, whenever you’re given the green light and feel ready… and when I’ve come to terms with… whatever I am now.” He agreed with a small smile. Romeo’s words werent really that much of a help but he appreciated it regardless. He however didnt want to end the call already, mostly because it felt like they wouldnt have time again in some foreseeable future. "Let's talk again soon. I've missed you." he sighed. He let Romeo hang up before he got up and went to get some food. He also had to wash his face and do things that seemed so unnecessary. He had however realized how dry his skin could get if he didnt do the proper care. He checked the stubble that was building up on his lower face and grabbed a razor. As a vampyre, he had never had beard growth. As in ever in his life. So it wasnt that surprising that he wasnt really sure about what he was doing. Luckily he had tried it before as a sort of pass the time activity, but never on his own skin. He made a small cut under his jawline which stung crazily much. He cleaned his face off and sighed.
He had a few things to go sort, so he got dressed for the weather and went out.

Romeo nodded at the suggestion. It would be good to wait a bit, because while he missed him a lot, he also had a feeling that they needed time apart to simply heal and grow. It wasn't easy to confess that, but right now they needed that peace and quiet to sort themselves out. "I might be allowed a video call next week if you find the time for it?" He suggested, mostly because he missed seeing him. "If you're alright with that?" He just had to add it, because if Eden felt too self-conscious, then Romeo would be the first to understand. He hung up after proclaiming his love for him a lot of times and returning to his walk. Not that he was excited about where he was going next, but hopefully therapy this time around wouldn't be too bad.

A video call? Eden confessed that he would need some time to think about it, at least because he wanted to get a bit more used to himself and his current condition before he had to become too aware of how he looked. Eden had never had issues like that, but he had also been a vampyre before and that meant that he had pretty much looked the same at all times. Now he could be puffy and dry or oily and all... weird. So he needed to come to terms with that before he would be confronted by it.
The call ended and Eden went out. He was still so surprised by how quiet it was and yet not. He picked up on the noises around him, but it wasnt at all like it had been as a vampyre. He met up with one of his contacts for a coffee. The contact was rather surprised to meet Eden and realize that he wasnt a vampyre anymore. It sparked a lot of questions that Eden had to answer. They sat in a small café, mostly going over Eden's assets. He was still very rich, even without the Parish fortune. Romeo and him would be fine. And yet it annoyed him endlessly that he for once had to ask his contact to find his money. They moved outside, the contact offering him a cigarette. Eden accepted it without a second thought, but was rather surprised by how the smoke affected him so strongly all of a sudden. At least he managed not to cough and embarrass himself at the same time that the nicotine was making his brain feel a different kind of high.

// Will be using Josette as an NPC through Romeo for this topic //

Things at the mansion was going great! She felt like she had everything under control business-wise, and yet there was just something off about it all. Avila and Judah were a great help, but it seemed that they were trying to drive her and Kareema apart. Everything was just a little messy, but she was certain she was going to figure this out. For once she had gone out of the mansion, though Kareema was busy that day to her sad surprise. So she had decided to cheer herself up with a bit of shopping. It always seemed to do the trick, but today was a little harder. She wasn't sure why, but she had been thinking about Eden a lot, and while she was still angry with him, she still had so many unanswered questions. She had tried to look him up, only to find that his name wasn't registered anywhere. Then she had tried Romeo and his name wasn't anywhere either. Of course she hadn't thought as far ahead of them taking a new last name, but how would she know?
However she stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted a guy that looked exactly like Eden. Only his cheeks were red from the cold wind and he looked like he was struggling smoking. So unlike the stoic and cool father she had come to know. Carefully she decided to approach. Maybe out of curiosity? Maybe because she thought she was going mad, and as she stopped not far from them her eyes widened as she saw those familiar blue-green eyes. "Eden?"

Quite frankly the young vampyress was stunned to see her father like this. Or whom she had used to perceive as father at least, everything had gotten so complicated and the twins were feeding her all sorts of information. He was hostile, which she couldn't really blame him for, but she had also had time to think everything through. Moving closer, the contact left and she motioned to the chair as if to ask if she could sit down. If she couldn't she would simply remain standing. "What happened to you?" She asked, clearly noticing everything so easily. His stubble, his flushed cheeks and most of all his loud heartbeat that shouldn't be there. What was truly going on?
And then after a bit of silence she looked down, "is Romeo alright?" She then asked softly. She was still conflicted about her father and Romeo and how they had killed her mother. But they had always treated her kindly, and she wasn't really sure how to navigate all of this. It wasn't like it came with a manual. "I should go, shouldn't I?" She said, not really as a question that needed to be answered. It was quite obvious. He didn't want her around after what she had done, and she wasn't sure she felt comfortable talking to him in this state. He was so strange, and frankly she wasn't sure he looked too comfortable in this form.

She felt her throat tight as he spoke of the things that had happened, although vague, she wondered if he was even telling her the truth. Somehow she was sad to see him like this. Sad that she had helped in all of this. He spoke of remaining dead and she nodded, looking down as she got up. "I am sorry," she whispered, her voice broken and she was fighting back the tears. Not that she needed pity, but she didn't even have Kareema to rely on these days. She however lingered. Maybe because she felt desperate and longing for the days of ignorant bliss. "I can't do this being the head of the family much longer," she admitted, and it was so clear that the normally happy Josette had been reduced to a work horse for the twins. Though she would never complain, she knew she was pushing the limits of everything she knew. Her hands dug into her pocket almost as if to warm them, but it was mostly because she wanted to hide herself a little. "I won the assault case .. and I'm planning of just going into oblivion and never return," knowing it wouldn't be wise to do so, but everyone around her looked to her as if she knew something and she felt so clueless. "I could re-instate you as leader .. I know you probably want nothing to do with the Parish name .. but if I keep going like this then I'm afraid I may break."

Josette knew that she had done bad. But what had he truly thought she would do? Would he have kept that secret from her for the rest of her life? Lied to her face every day just to keep her in ignorance and unable to mourn her mother properly? He was cruel, wasn't he? "You killed my mother," was she just supposed to stand here and take all of the vile things that he threw at her and not hold him accountable as well? "And deep down I know that you could never love me .. because I was born by her .. and you hated her," she said, shaking her head no. She wasn't going to take this. She had been good. She had kept her feet on the ground through it all, and now she was getting blamed for the actions of others. The twins had their twisted ways, but at the time Josette had seen it as the only answer.
"The twins did however teach me one more lie that you kept from me," she looked at him, tears in her eyes because she was aware of what sort of abomination she was. "You're my father .. my real father .. and I'm a product of two people who should've never known each other in such a way," it was clear that she was just unloading. Because the twins seemed fine with yheir existence, but Josette was weighed down by it. "How am I ever going to have a family of my own with this knowledge?" She shook her head no. She wouldn't be furthering the line of Parish, that was for sure. What the twins did was up to them, but she had heard strange sounds coming from their rooms, though she was unaware of their affair.
She dried her cheeks, knowing it wasn't a good look for a vampyre to be crying out on the streets. "I hope you and Romeo never find peace knowing what you did and what you kept from me." And with that she turned to leave.

"I wish you would've," she said, even if what he was saying was brutal, she didn't wish to be born and not like this. After finding out she had cut ties to Aurel, not wanting to be leading him on in any way. She wasn't meant for love. She wasn't even meant to have been born as her own father told her. Had she expected he would spare her at least a bit of his now beating heart? Not really, but being faced by such coldness wasn't doing her good either. It was settled then. Her hands shaking a bit as she made her leave. She had too much to think about, and she so wished she could find Kareema. She still didn't know, did she? What sort of monstrosity she truly was. She wasn't sure, and part of her wished she would never know. She left her father behind, not wishing to look back because it hurt too much. Little did she know that she was being watched by an angry set of eyes and that her future was now in the hands of someone else.

Outside the building stood a young woman, holding a paper that she was basically shoving in the face of the guard. "Listen, because I think you didn't hear me," she was clearly upset and frustrated. "Trevino-Altera," pointing at the paper she had, "I know he lives here, check your listing again, because this is ridiculous." She was wearing long black pants and a crop top with a bit knitted cardigan over. "Tell him Saige Black is here, he knows me, I swear it," she said, but the guard just shook his head. The silent type. Groaning she shook her head, taking out her phone in pure frustration. Looking through he messages and mails, tis was the only address she had. Had he moved already? No, he wasn't one to jump around much, at least not the Romeo she knew.
She had not come all this way to just be turned away at the door, that was for sure. "Alright, how much do you want to let me into the building and see for myself?" She then said, taking out her wallet. Fuck it, bribery usually worked but even then the guard declined. "Please, I'm here because his mother asked me to," she just turned to pleading, clearly upset as the guard was as interesting to talk to as a wall. Though the wall might've emoted more than this guy, she thought.

Arriving back at their apartment building, he caught the commotion of the rather frustrated girl and security guard. Her mention of Romeo's old name caught his interest and he stepped up, remaining in the background as he listened in. Saige Black. The name didnt ring a bell at all. Romeo had never mentioned a girl like her before. She tried to bribe the guard but obviously it wouldnt work. "He isnt here." Eden said as it was ridiculous to let this play out any longer. He eyed her carefully, unsure of what to really do. He wouldnt just let her in, because Romeo had never mentioned her; But she obviously knew the lycan if she had gotten this far and claiming that his mother had asked her to come. "He wont be here for a while. But I can pass a message or a number?" he suggested. He had to admit that he was getting curious despite how Romeo might react. If she was someone who knew the lycan from back home or before Eden.

Saige turned around as she looked at the stranger who appeared. Tilting her head a little to the side she was clearly confused before a few pieces fell to place in her head, "oooh, you're the boyfriend?" She was hopefully on the right track. He told her that he could pass on a message or number but she shook her head no. No, that wouldn't do. "I have a letter from his mother to prove my validity .. as well as pictures if you don't believe that," she said, being rather serious about this. She breathed out, shaking her head no, "I know that it might be rather strange for me to come now, but I just wanted to see if he needed help." She wasn't sure how much he knew, but she would keep her cards close for a little while. Just for it all to play out correctly. "You can call his mother too - or basically anyone from his family to vouch for me," she said in a serious tone.

Husband? Well that didn't really matter, "congratulations," she nodded politely. Just because she could be a hothead, didn't mean that she couldn't show she did in fact have manners. He kept his offer the same and it annoyed her. Groaning she took out a piece of paper, writing her number down before handing it to him. "Just tell him I'm here for a check-up, alright?" Romeo would know what that meant, and he for sure knew her name. Though she was a bit saddened by the fact that he had never mentioned her, and even more so when this man claimed to be his husband. "I'm also at your disposal should you need me," of course he couldn't understand that now, but if Romeo told him, then she might as well make it clear. She stood for a bit looking up at the building as if she considered scaling it, but decided not to. "I'm currently staying at a hotel," she said, mentioning the name as well, "if things go well I might settle down in Churchill so I'm not so far away." She turned to go before looking back at him, but she had a final thing to add, "if I find out you're messing with me, I won't treat it lightly .. Romeo's safety is of priority to me." After that she left, heading down the streets, the security guard looking confused at Eden.

It was finally the next week, and Romeo felt a little giddy as he had gotten up that morning. He had finally gotten the feeding tube out, and while it had been greatly unpleasant, he felt ready to work on himself. Not that he hadn't been ready before, but he felt like it was time to stick his head into the business, and he had so many factors that drove him. Of course he wanted to get better for Eden and the business they were going to start. But this time around, he felt ready to just give it a try and do it for himself as well. And while it wasn't easy, and he struggled the first few days, he eventually got around to at least eating a bit for every meal.
An evening he wrote to Eden, updating him on everything and feeling hopeful that things were looking up. He also wrote how much he missed his voice, but that he shouldn't feel pressured to make time for him. With all of this had come a sort of independence. His therapist however warned him about going too fast, but he was doing better, so he was simply being monitored.

Romeo had to be honest, he hadn't really expected a phone call, but he moved over to sit on his bed, thankful that he didn't have to share his room with anyone. He picked up, placing the phone on his stomach and laid down to rest a little. "Ciao," he greeted him, a smile on his lips as he felt so happy to just have the opportunity to talk to his husband. He knew he was a busy man, but perhaps this was something pertaining to Eden's changes? Or maybe it was just because he too missed him. "It's very unlike you to just call right away .. is something wrong?" He just wanted that out of the way if that was not the case. It was clear that he thought about him a lot, and maybe it would always be like this. He sighed softly, closing his eyes as he waited for Eden to answer him.

It was maybe a little odd for him to just call, which was why he didnt just blurt it out the moment Romeo picked up. He blinked a few times at the greeting, realizing how he had missed hearing his voice. He just missed him in general. Being close to him, spending time with him. "Hi." he greeted him a little delayed, realizing he had been quiet. The lycan seemed to have caught on right away and Eden exhaled deeply. "Yes and no." he answered, folding his lips as he thought about his words. "Uh. Yeah so... Some girl showed up in the lobby. Saying she knew you. That your mother sent her. That she wanted to do a check up on you, or whatever she meant." he said, not name dropping her right away as he wasnt sure how Romeo would even react to what he was telling him now.

Romeo just knew something was up, not only from the delay but also the way in which he had called. Eden was a very orderly man; he did things the proper way, and he was not one for a surprise out of the blue phone call. No, that was much more something that Romeo would do, but he also respected the fact that the former vampyre had a lot to deal with. And he felt saddened that he couldn't help him more. The mention of a girl made him frown, sitting up as he thought about what Eden said. Then he realized, "cazzo," he muttered, shaking his head at himself. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair that really needed a touch up of bleach. "Saige?" He asked, scoffing, "did she make a big fuzz about it? She didn't start yelling at you, right?" She was a hot-head that one. He chuckled softly before he realized something. He hadn't ever really told Eden about her. And he supposed he had a lot of stuff that he hadn't told, or hadn't really thought about saying. Maybe because it felt like Eden knew him in and out. "She's an old friend; she helped me a lot with my trauma and last time I was very neurotic about food she helped me out too," he admitted, referring to before he had met his husband of course. Scratching his neck a little he felt bad for not mentioning it, but he did wonder why his mother had sent her. Or rather, he knew, but Saige had her own life to worry about. "You can trust her." He just said. And that was a big thing for Romeo to say about anyone these days.