↕ - a memory that may or may not have happened
Chaplan encountered plenty of familiar faces in her time at OI.
Cassy and Rex, usually.
But on one particular occasion it was her father.
There was the instant clash in her mind of the fact that this couldn't be happening, he couldn't be there, coming up against the fact that he clearly was, that left them speechless for a few moments barely absorbing the string of thinly veiled insults and I told you so's being thrown in her direction.
"I knew you'd come crawling back eventually." She hadn't heard his voice in years but in that moment it felt like not a day had passed since she moved out, left that shit excuse for a home behind forever. "Did you get what you wanted out their? Going off to ruin yourself."
"Fuck you. How did you even find me here?"
"On my doorstep? Son..." He looked concerned for a moment, which was so much worse than angry. What right did he have to be concerned about them. She looked around and she was in the doorway of their apartment in Cali. How had she even gotten here. She was in OI.
"Don't." Don't call me your son. No. They weren't having this argument again.
"Oh well. If you're here I suppose that means you're willing to start cleaning up your act. I've been letting out your room but, maybe I'll give you a family discount, if you're committed to fixing your behavior." Scummy fucking piece of shit.
"I'm not here to move back in with you." Why were they here? They stared at his face till he finally seemed to notice that something was wrong, taking a step back. Why had she come back here?
Oh. Oh yes. Of course.
The knife was in her hands before she even fully realized she was going to reach for it. What other reason could there be?
"Now, now hold on- we can talk about-" Her father took another step back.
"I don't want to hear another word out of your mouth. Actually." She could make it slow and painful. Between Rex and Eagle they'd absolutely learned how to do that. But honestly, as cathartic as it might be to watch him suffer, she really did just want him to shut up.
There was a hand on their shoulder when the work was done, and she turned around to find Eagle, with his usual unnervingly cheery grin. "Good work. I knew you had it in you."
She blinked. They were still in OI. She swallowed, didn't turn to check who the body behind her actually belonged to. "Thanks... Sir."
"No problem, Chaplan."
