Piper Solo - Parents Week
Piper relied quite a bit on the fact she didn’t have to see her mother that often. Her sanity depended it on it honestly. Her mother was the root of all inner chaos. All her problems, every issue traced back to what that woman had done to her. Her father wasn’t so bad all the time, except for the fact that he was completely in her mother’s pocket. She wasn’t exactly sure how that even happened. Her mother was a conniving and cruel woman, even all these years with her had not changed her father. She supposed being naive helped him turn a blind eye to her cruelty.
One day, Piper swore she’d bring her mother down. Whatever it took, she would show her exactly the revenge she needed to be shown. Even now, when she felt better and was working on her mental health that revenge still weighed heavily in her motivations. There was one thing stopping her. Her father. He’d be crushed, and he might just reject her too, in a way that she wasn’t sure she could survive. At least now she knew he wasn’t purposefully denying her, he just so happened to be her mother’s puppet.
Despite every single thing wrong with the estate. Despite the fact that she was pretty much stuck here whether she had chosen to partake in royal classes or not - there had been a few good things. Like the fact she didn’t have to worry about security things as much. The guard team might have been pointless against royals sneaking out, but they were fairly effective in unknowns getting in. Even Tomas, his strike had to wait until she had left the safety of the estate.
The other thing just happened to be that she got away from her parents. She was safe from the constant berating brought on by her mother, the glare, the comments that she would never succeed. Her daughters were safe too. She didn’t have to feel the frustration at her father for not realizing what was being done. It was easier to focus on her education instead, without her mother trying to sabotage her. And her mother wasn’t there to try and mess with the lives of her children either.
The news had arrived last week. She should have been given more notice, she almost instantly thought. Though, even if they’d told her three months ago she was certain there was no notice that served as enough for a visit from her mother. The last time she’d seen her mother was standing in the throne room, practically begging her to be taken seriously in her bid for the throne. It had been hours before she convinced her.
Honestly, her doubt had said enough. The reservation was obvious. Even though Piper had worked tirelessly, day and night to ensure she got near perfect grades, even though she dedicated every extra minute to charity work and fundraisers, she feared when her mother showed, she would belittle her. Say she hadn’t donated enough, or she’d only settled on one kind of charity instead of being well rounded, that she didn’t dress right to certain events and still needed work. Or that the grades she fought so hard to get would not be enough because they weren’t absolutely perfect, or that she should have gotten extra credit.
So far, every resource they had had went into Phoebe. They paid money to get her photographed, put her in the perfect situations to be caught in. While they couldn’t technically endorse her yet, there were things they could do before the election started, things they could make happen. They’d done none of that for Piper, even though by rights she deserved the position as the eldest. All she wanted was a fair chance. She knew without a doubt in her mind she could do well if she wanted. She could excel as Queen, make it a better world for everyone. She just needed the chance.
Honestly, Piper had spent most of the week worrying about her incoming parents. She had barely slept, if she was honest. Even with her sleeping meds she’d had prescribed. And finally it was here. Classes were canceled for the days, and the classrooms were reserved for different royals to meet with their parents. And it was time for her to go. She’d put her kids in daycare purposefully. Maybe her dad had a right to be a grandfather, but she didn’t want her children anywhere near the toxicity of her mother.
Maybe she couldn’t put her mother off forever. It was quite possible that one day her mother would insist on meeting the children. But today she could protect them. Tomorrow she would protect them. Whatever it took, her daughters would never fall victim to the cruelty of her mother. Piper would give up everything. Money, the throne, anything before her daughters experienced what she had. It was bad enough her mother had sunken her talons into Kaia for so long.
Even with barely moving a finger, her mother had forever changed Kaia’s life by taking her away from Piper. Her daughter had spent some of her most formative years in foster care. Probably bouncing back and forth between houses since she was old enough to talk. The idea irked Piper beyond belief. She hated every moment she hadn’t been able to be there for her little girl.
Lost in her thoughts, she’d barely noticed that she’d arrived at the room her parents must have booked. She wondered if they would even bother calling Phoebe in. After all she was their ‘golden’ child. Phoebe could do no wrong. Maybe they’d just spend an hour kissing Phoebe’s ass the entire time.
With a deep breath to steady herself, she opened the door and walked in, faced with the personification of dread. Her mother. Sitting down on one of the lounging seats was her father as well. He seemed happy to see her. Her mother did not. Piper could tell from the disdain on her mother’s face she wasn’t happy at all.
“Piper, it’s so wonderful to see you,” her father started. Piper didn’t let herself smile, just a tiny one. Her mother would probably say something about it being improper form. And that smiles were meant to be large and pointed in the direction of the paparazzi. Her mother didn’t bother with any sort of hug. In fact, her mother didn’t even show her any sign of affection. Even disdain seemed to be absent from her expression today.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on you since you returned here from your trip to Greece, on your progress. Since your bold proclamation that you were fit to be Queen,” no pleasantries. She supposed manners were overridden and didn’t matter much in terms of her mother.
Piper was almost certain that her mother was about to tell her she was entirely unfit to be presented as a proper royal. She was certain that despite months of tireless effort and sleepless nights that her mother would no doubt absolutely end up telling her that there was no way she’d receive their support. Technically, they couldn’t stop her of course. She was the oldest, and it was the public’s decision to make at the end of the day.
It was hard to please the public if her parents were outwardly unsupportive. It would be hard to gather their support if the last memories of her thrown into the press were of her dancing topless on tables and doing lines of cocaine off someone’s behind. Or worse, press releases that she had killed another royal, self defense or not. She needed her parents to talk her up in the press, to pay for photo ops and support her bids in charities or she’d be nothing. She needed a pathway to having a voice. And she simply wouldn’t have one without her parents.
“I thought I’ve been doing well. My grades have been near perfect, I’ve volunteered at local homeless shelters and soup kitchens here. I’ve been involved in donating to charity. As often as I can, and I’ve been working tirelessly on my etiquette. I’ve even been trying to involve Kaia,” she said the last part rather proudly. Her little girl had been eager to put on an apron and gloves and start serving food at the homeless shelter and soup kitchen. She’d been all too excited to help Piper select charities.
“Let’s not speak of your little bastard,” her mother’s cold voice was unnerving. And her words made Piper want to throttle her. Old world ideals might have been retired legally, but in the minds and hearts of royal families, such things were still to be ashamed of. Most royals didn’t outwardly say it, but they still held a lot on the legitimacy of children.
“That’s my daughter, watch it,” Piper might have been challenging her mother there. But she didn’t care. She had said from the jump she wouldn’t sacrifice the lives of her children in this bid for the throne. She wasn’t going to sacrifice herself either. And she wasn’t going to keep quiet when her mother threw insults towards her children. Her mother seemed surprised.
“You think as you beg for my attention you might watch your tone,” her mother said with a look of partial shock.
“You would also think that you would call your granddaughter something besides my bastard. But family has never been of remarkable concern for you,” Piper sniped quickly. Despite everything Piper had been working towards, all that effort to change. Her mother was the best woman to ignite her temper again. All those nasty bad habits and lack of patience came flaring up as soon as her mother was in the room.
“Tone, young lady!” Her mother snapped once more.
“I am an adult. I am twenty four years old and I have been through more than you can possibly imagine. I am not a young lady,” she wasn’t particularly snarky in tone, but she was firm. This journey would not make her swallow every lick of her pride, not even if it meant losing the throne.
Piper’s mother looked as if she was about to start up once again. It looked as if she might very well leap down her throat. Of course, the full expanse of her rage could not be seen. There was a bystander with far more power than her sitting in the room, watching carefully. “I think that’s enough, Nikola,” her father said, rising from his seat. “I don’t think it’s fair to apply such old school thinking in such a new age,” he said the words kindly, not a bit of spite or anger. She didn’t think she’d seen her father angry before.
Her mother was fuming though. She could see it in her eyes. She would smile and act kind, but she didn’t like her behavior starting to be discovered by her father. “Apologies,” she said the word like it physically pained her, as if apologies were rejected by her body.
“As I was saying, I’ve been working hard, I think perhaps it is time that I’ve earned your backing in my bid for the throne. I am the eldest. I’ve more than suffered for the throne, I think it’s time you’ve considered me,” the suffering was a reference to Tomas. And that had been just that. More than suffering honestly. That had been a horrible mess. Only one good thing had come from it. Her daughter Ella.
“We’ve noticed your progress,” her father said rather quickly. And he seemed proud. Despite the fact he seemed to be blind to the horrid wench his wife was, Piper couldn’t bring herself to hate him. Sure, he was flawed, but he was her dad and even if her mother didn’t support her, he always did. “But the throne is a rather large commitment Piper. And a few month’s of good work may be something good, but are you not scared you will become too stressed? After all it’s been only a short while since you’ve been free from the hospital. And you are raising two young girl’s.”
“And Phoebe has been training for this her entire life,” Piper’s mom chimed in. “I’m just not convinced you’re stable or prepared.”
Piper felt herself fuming a little. She knew her father couldn’t really think that. He’d always believed in her. She knew that her father was only reciting everything that her mother was whispering in his ear. While she loved her father, he wasn’t good at thinking originally anymore. Or perhaps her mother had all but beaten his ability to think on his own out of him. They had been married for so long it wouldn’t have surprised her if he had long since lost his hope and dreams and ability to stand up to the woman. Piper knew that it didn’t take long to give up. About twelve years it’d taken until she had felt her strength flailing.
“I know it will be stressful, I am ready for that. Greece needs a ruler who can bring new ideas to it. It needs a Queen who understands the desires of the people. Someone who's willing to dedicate themselves wholly and entirely to the throne. I can be that person. I was around these people. Phoebe wasn’t. You don’t learn about your people by being around royals from other countries. You don’t prepare for the throne from just books. It takes life experience. It takes time, effort, and it takes being around the people. And Phoebe never had the chance to learn what the people cry for,” Piper was passionate, firm and certain. She knew she had what it took, she just needed the chance. Just one chance and she knew she could go so far.
“Are you saying Phoebe is incapable?” Her mother wasn’t defending Phoebe, Piper knew that. Instead she was defending herself, because she had been the driving force behind nearly everything Phoebe had done thus far.
“I don’t think she’s incapable, I think she’s perfect for the kind of rulers we’ve had, the kind we’re still churning out. But Greece needs someone new to flourish. A new approach, and I think I can do that,” Piper said confidently, not wavering or breaking under her mother’s cheap tricks.
“I amend your certainty Piper. And I’ve heard your ideas. They are good ones. And you’re right, Greece does need something new,” her father said before her mother could speak. Piper for once felt something she so rarely did. Hope. Could this be it? “But your mother and I just don’t think you’re ready for this yet. It is too big a responsibility. Perhaps we can review again in a few months, and see if you’re still doing well.”
Piper wasn’t sure why she was surprised. Disappointment shouldn’t be surprising. Not when it came to anything her mother sank her claws into. As long as she was around, Piper was sure she wouldn’t be given a true shot.
“I understand,” she said. Her mother could interfere as she wanted, but she wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of being sent over the deep end. She would stand strong, and keep fighting. That she was sure of.
“Where are your daughters too?” Her father asked, changing the subject over. For a few moments in Greece, he had met Kaia. But he hadn’t gotten a chance to meet Ella yet. She felt bad, robbing him of meeting his grandchildren. But she couldn’t let him, not while her mother still grasped him so tightly.
“Kaia’s in school right now, and Ella is with Mateo, maybe I’ll bring them out to Greece instead sometime,” she said rather quickly. It was a lie, both children were in daycare, but she wasn’t taking the chance that her mother completely destroy them within five minutes. “I have studying to do, so I’ll take my leave. Thank you,” she said with a nod. And with that she turned on her heel and left.
