Bitter Sweet Identity: XLII
"You were caught doing what exactly?" Asher leaned in, pinching the bridge of his nose. Stalana hopped from foot to foot swaying with her hands behind her back.
"Stealing from Mr. Casgain to redistribute to the other kids so we could start a people's utopia." Asher deadpanned his daughter.
"Who on Toril let you read this shit.." He laughed to himself. "You're six for Ares sake.. I don't need you stealing the red cattle just yet." He wondered what Apollo would actually do in that case.. Maybe he'd watch his kid have to invent some musical instrument on the spot. That would be amusing.
"Asher!" Karenia scolded. He became aware of his wife's presence once again, having tuned her out for the lesson to his kids.
"Sorry sorry.." He apologized for swearing, he set a hand on Stalana's head and ruffled her short hair, careful to avoid her small growing horns.
*SNEP*
Asher nearly jumped darting, his eyes still alert.
"Sweetheart.. That was nothing." Karenia moved in closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He took several deep breaths attempting to remind himself the war was in fact over.. He'd survived. "Stalana.. Do you know what you did was wrong?" his wife asked the young tiefling girl in a disapproving voice. His daughter looked around, finally settling on his face. Asher raised his eyebrows signaling her to say yes before giving his girl a quick wink.
"Yes mother.." Stalana looked at the ground sheepishly. Asher gave his wife a glance before waving his daughter off.
"It's alright, just apologize to Mr.Casgain next time you see him, huh?" Asher reached out, poking his daughter's stomach, getting a laugh from the girl as she ran off, having promised him nothing. "Bunch of misfits." He mumbled, he turned his head and placed a kiss against Karenia's face his mind felt.. Woosy and in flight, like he was not completely there.
"They take after you." She giggled back. Asher pulled away admiring his tiefling wifes smooth complexion, he placed a hand against her back and pulled her in for another kiss. Dancing on his feet on the consequences of what he wanted to say. No, he'd wait.
"What?" He faked offense leaning back into the table behind him. "If anything they take after you.. You're the sneaky one here." he mimicked a goblet in his hand and pulled it up, faking a long gulp of imaginary liquid.
"T-that was one time!" She sneered back. Asher pulled a doll out of his belt. Then a large longbow and a small harp from his bag, something he'd been saving. "What.."
"For the kids.." He grinned looking out the window he saw the pouring of snow, which wasn't uncommon this high in the north, however with the approach of the winter solstice on the next day Asher relished the chance to give his kids new gifts. Karenia ran her fingers against the harp.
"Come on.. You know Adol doesn't have it in him."
"He just needs practice!" Asher protested. He lifted the small golden instrument knowing his son would probably love it. "I'm telling you he's gonna be amazing." Karenia rolled her eyes.
"I know.. But he needs.. Confidence."
Asher flicked his wrist sending an echo to his right, a perfect replica of himself into the kitchen. His wife raised an eyebrow. "It's the solstice!" He cried. "Anyway, you know, you say no magic but it seems to me you like the echo trick other times.." Her face grew beat red which Asher wasn't really sure how that was possible since her skin was red.
"Shut up!" She shyly hit him and turned, her long black dress fit her figure well, something Asher planned to take full advantage of. "Az, are you even ready?" She cursed, her back still turned to him.
"Of course I am.. Just cause I stopped to scold our daughter.. Wait. Hey! Don't I look ready?!" He looked down at his multi piece suit one Vestus had sent him in the mail. 'I think it looks nice..' he thought to himself, brushing down the suit's wrinkles. Kareina spun back around pushing herself against his chest in another happy act of affection. "I think I'm dressed to part. Though maybe a bonnet and a weird hat could work, you're right." His wife rolled her eyes.
"Mmm.. I think it needs something."
"O-oh.. hi dad.. How do i.." Asher was cut off from his grinning and beautiful wife by his son entering the room, even smaller horns than Stalana Adol looked like the spitting image of his mother; red skin small bump, short, and dressed in a small beige suit.
"Zeus be with us, Adol." Asher leapt over getting on one knee he slid his hands down his son's attire. "You look like a handsome youngman. Super, just absolutely amazing." He laid it on thick not wanting to be too snarky with his own son. The grin he got next was worth a thousand gold drachma. Stalana entered the room next, getting some praise from her mother. Asher grabbed his two kids' hands and then his wifes. "We'd better hurry, I don't wanna miss the show. Otherwise your mother here will have to give me a show later and-" His hand was clenched so tight it nearly hurt. Asher glanced nervously at his mask resting on the wall nearby.
"You don't need it." Karenia told him. He nodded, Asher licked his teeth and opened the door venturing his family down to the open stage Winter solstice theater.
"Ladies and gentlemen! We are proud to present.. The wedding of Thor." A large burly dwarven man yelled from the top of the stage before the play commenced.
"So these are your gods huh?" He leaned in whispering to Karenia. Thrymr the god of Jötnar triumphantly stole the hammer of Thor. his wife smacked him.
"Shush! At least it's not like your ratty gods.. Impregnating everything that walks."
"Pretty sure Ares actually stabs everyone in a different way.." Asher reminded her.
"Except Aphrodite." He had to admit that was a pretty good comeback. The show was.. Admittedly boring for him, he was used to fighting elves, giants, and whatever else Exitium house would throw at him. Here the play made it seem like the story was so very easy. Fighting giants was in fact not easy! He watched Adol start to laugh when Thor put on a wedding dress trying to pretend to be Freyja. If the story was good enough for his eight year old kid. It was good enough for him. Asher set a hand on Adol's shoulder and gave him a wink.
"And that, children.. Is why we have winter." The original dwarf stood back up and addressed the crowd happily.
"Like the message of the story was why we had winter and not why you shouldn't let people steal your stuff." He quickly instructed both his children. Leading them away from the theater. "Woah!" He tried to stop Adol from rolling in the snow but his kid didn't seem to care. Soaking his brand new suit. 'C'mon kiddo..' He thought, gripping his son's shoulder to keep him still. The child was still laughing. He looked up at the tall slanted roof of his home, made from tile and straw he laid himself. The inside was far more modern than that of the outside. Trying to keep to the 'All-father's' theme the town had.
"And this.. Is for you." Asher picked up a small harp and handed the present to his son who jumped with joy.
"Oh, Zeus!" Adol exclaimed, grabbing the harp it fit crudely in his hands but the tiefling immediately went to strumming it. "Ah- oh.. Um.. I'm sorry." his son looked embarrassed trying to tuck the harp away quickly.
"No.. no, Adol, c'mon you can play it indoors I promise." He promised his son, before handing his daughter the bow. She jumped up and down snuggling into her father, the eleven year old immediately went to work trying to shoot it.. In doors. "No! That does not extend to you!"
*Thrwump* an arrow pierced the south wall of the house.
"Ah.." Asher whispered nervously. Before his wife could go ballistic he ushered his kids into the dining room gathering them for a Solstice feast. Adol set his harp next to the table, its intricate golden etchings all made by Asher's adopted father Vestus, they had small Olympian runes running down the surface making it appear ancient yet brand new.
"Where did you get it daddy?" Stalana begged, the girl still playing with her bow at the dinner table. The craftsmanship held similar runes running down its surface whispering about. It was made of a strong yet light blend of birch, bass, and Osage orange. It was painted a light whitish grey and recurved for maximum efficiency. Asher grinned recalling the months it took to perfect its figure, getting the spiders silk and so much more.
"I made it sweetie." He assured his daughter with a smile. "Your grandfather taught me woodworking.. Among other things." It wasn't.. A lie.. Just a half truth. He let his kids finish eating, watching Adol nearly go into a food coma. 'A worthy sacrifice for my child!' he believed, giggling to himself.
"Karenia.. Do you think it would be ok if we sent the kids to bed? I'm feeling just a little.. Tired." He fibbed, holding a hand out to the room's couch. Karenia rolled her eyes but nodded.
"Adol, Stalana.. It's time for bed. Both of you."
"What?! But I wanna stay up with Dad- and-" Adol tried but Asher got up, willing an echo out of himself.
"How about both of you head to your room and dad will read you a bedtime story hm?" The perfect copy walked out of his body as if it were a ghost. Adol's face lit up due to his fathers use of magic. 'Easy to please kid.' Asher thought. His Echo escorted his children to bed, while Asher lit the fireplace. Taking in the crackling hearth an orange glow settled on the cottage.
"Sending the kids to bed after gifts.. A show, and dinner. Good job on that by the way." Karenia complemented his cooking. He smiled, wrapping an arm around her as he settled on the chair nearby. Staring deeply in her big black eyes which reflected the fireplace's orange glow like a warm piece of obsidian.
"What can I say? I enjoy eating rich people food.." He smiled painfully, thinking of every Solstice he'd spent with his first family.. And then his second.. Now his fourth.
"Yeah?" Karenia pushed in giving him a kiss. His attention was caught by the reflected glow of the fireplace off his mask on the wall. Karenia tensed. "What's wrong?"
"Just.." He stopped biting his lip. Something felt off. "Nothing.. It's not important."
"Wait, wait." Karenia pushed him further into the chair. "Asher if something is wrong you've got to tell me." her words sounded so sweet.. So sincere. He made eye contact with his mask mulling over the thoughts.
"It's.. sensitive.. Something I can't.. Karenia.. There's something.." He choked up on his words trying to summon the courage in himself to mention this. "And.. If I tell you.. It may change what you think.." He tried to ignore the general fear that filled his throat. 'Damnit.. Why can't I just tell her? It's been years.'
"Asher.." He met her gorgeous obsidian melting eyes. "Whatever it is.. You can tell me." She poured like honey with wine, sweet to the scent and even better when tasted.
"Karenia.. I'm.. the reason I wear a mask.. I'm a.." He leaned in brushing her hair aside and placing his lips against her ear. He whispered the terrible truth he had waited so long to tell her. He recoiled waiting to meet her eyes.
"What?" Asher cringed hearing rage and fear emanate from his love. His wife. "Get- Get ou-"
"Fuck!" Asher snapped up spinning his head from side to side; he felt the bitter cut cold of the brewery, the once happiest memory he'd ever had ended with its terrible conclusion. He breathed heavily feeling his vocal cords be vibrated by the mask he wore. He sighed pain piercing his skull, Asher drooped his arms reluctantly gritting his teeth.
"It's bitter sweet." He looked up, gathering the gaze from Tyval the dwarf. "The brew.. Bitter sweet I suppose, showing you what many.. Can no longer have." Asher turned the small shot glass in his hand over. His mouth no longer filled with the honey fiery sensation of the flayr.. Instead his tongue was covered in a bitter aftertaste. "Wouldn't you agree?" Asher lifted his hand, setting it on his mask he made sure it was still tightly wrapped on. His heart aching for Adol and Stalana.
"Yeah.. I would." He whispered bitterly. Exitium. Vestus. He was an Exitium. Nothing more. He pushed down his feelings of resentment and regret. "I would..."