“Hey Eber!“ Johan said as he walked into his twin’s room and went over to his desk. Eberhart looked up from the book he was reading to look at his twin. Jojo smiled at him as he leaned over his desk intentionally being all over and in the way of Eber’s books, papers, and studies. Eber sighed and rolled his eyes.
“What are you up to this time Johan?“ he asked.
“Just being curious. What did you get our dear papa for his birthday this year?“ Jojo replied. Eber raised a brow, that was slightly less...mischievous than he was expecting from his twin.
“Well, i took a page out of your book,” he said. Jojo raised a brow of his own in curiosity. “I found this nice pen that writes wonderfully. I think it’ll work nicely with papa’s uniquely flowing handwriting, but the catch of it is? It smells like blueberries,“ he explained. Johan laughed with glee and gave his twin a thumbs up. “Also got him a journal to go with it. The inside covers have blueberries on them and it may faintly smell like them too. Or it could just be because of the pen. I’m not sure.“
“You were definitely looking at my page this year my dear twin!“ jojo said in amusement. “Do you remember that picture of us when we were little?“
“Which one Jojo, you know you have to be more specific,“ Eber replied. Johan grinned mischievously and Eber almost regretted asking. There’s the Jojo he was expecting.
“That one Halloween we dressed up as fruits? Where you was that adorably handsome blueberry? And I was the silly little mango?“
“Oh my Gott! Johan no!“
“Johan yes!“ Jojo said before erupting into hearty laughter. “You did a horrible job of hiding that photo brother! I had it enlarged slightly and made a few copies. One I put in a blueberry frame for papa and I found a mango frame so mama can have a new copy too! I’m sure they’ll love it! I’m keeping the other copies for now. Unless auntie Armi wants one as well...“
Eber shoved his brother and, subsequently, some of his papers and books, off of his desk in embarrassment. Jojo was not even fazed as he hit the floor. He just began to chuckle more at his twin’s reaction. “You are the worst Johan!” Eber said in exasperation before letting his head fall on his, now mostly clear, desk.
“I am the best, my dear twin brother, and you know it!”
It was pumpkin season again but Alvara had not begun to do anything yet. Nor did it seem as if he had any plans either. It bothered Hilde that it seemed that for another year her dear older brother would not be doing much. Pepi partially understood why he had been this way. This time of the year, and onwards really, were more painful or guilt ridden occasions for their artistic brother rather than joyous ones.
However, as Mara had noted on a previous year after a certain visit to their cousin Karlene, he was not the same anymore. Even before this time of the year had came up. It honestly only made her resolve to be the one that takes over the family business grow even more. Alva and Diet were not the same older brothers that she used to admire and look up to so much when she was little anymore. They may never be again, but maybe she can help take some of the weight and pressure off of their shoulders if she continues to be ever diligent in her studies. Maybe then...they could heal some of their pains together. At least...that’s what she hopes for.
“I don’t zink...“ Joshka began but paused as he glanced around the kitchen, making sure it was just him and his twin still, “he’ll ever recover from...vhatever is going on vith him.“
Isana sighed softly as she watched her twin attempt to cook a recipe their older sister Prima gave him. “You mean he von’t come off of auto pilot? Ja...his paintings, zough still lovely und shows his talent as always...aren’t like zey used to be,” she said softly. “But vhat can ve do? I mean, ja, he still shows love und affection to mama, und tries to be zere for us but...”
“I know, but I don’t zink zere is anything ve can do...“ he said in return as he read over the recipe once more.
Made using this: https://picrew.me/image_maker/16952
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Too tired atm to write the prompt Mara wants me to, so here are pictures of her(on the left) and her twin Hilde(on the right). These pictures are basically how their peers see them. Hilde the cheery, social one, and Mara the disinterested/super serious, studious one.
Mara is certain that most of her classmates wonder if she can even smile. It also seems to her that they sometimes forget that Hilde is indeed her twin because of how different they are personality wise, even though they are almost identical in looks. Granted that Mara doesn’t give much thought to these things when they cross her mind anyway. Her studies are far more important. (But then...there is Fionn...) Even more so with what she’s planning for the future.
Audwin had to pause in what he was doing to look at his cousin Aldrich. There were a few things that caught off guard. Besides how calmly and mater of factly it was said, besides the fact that it was technically true...from the way it had been said, Aldrich was not including himself. “Ve share ze same birthday!” Audi exclaimed in exasperation after a minute or so of silence.
“Ja, but...“ Aldrich paused and waved a hand towards him nonchalantly, “You’re ze one getting older,“ he finished while keeping a grin off his face for now. “Why soon, you’re going to have a little army of grandchildren to chase after.”
Audwin sighed and rolled his eyes. “Why must you be zis vay? Ve’re practically ze same age!”
“Perhaps, but you have more gray hairs zan I do~!“ Aldi said teasingly, finally letting the grin he was holding back appear on his face. Audwin could only groan and throw his hands up in defeat. Aldrich chuckled loudly and leaned against the fireplace to support his laughing self.
“Oh, I wasn’t the only one to notice?“ Lily asked innocently as she came into the large family room where two of the several birthday men were waiting.
“Even you Liliane?“ Audwin asked his niece in slight disbelief. She smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry uncle Audi, I can’t help but notice...” she said softly and trailed off as she mimicked drawing on something. “I...do kinda have the eye for those details...”
“Don’t worry zough...I do believe I have you beat in zat department my dear brozer...“ a tired sounding voice chimed in. Aldrich, Audwin, and Lily turned to look at who else just entered. With a tired smile, a sheepish wave, and a few pronounced streaks of gray in his hair, it was Albertus. Peeking around behind him were his four sons, proud of themselves for being able to get their father to tear himself away from his work. Lily pouted slightly at seeing her uncle looking so weary, even though she knew Quincy and Pascal did what they could for their father.
However, there is just something about the Richter family and the trait of stubbornness...
“Albert...have you been sleeping lately?“ Audwin asked softly in concern.
“Not really,“ came the four voiced answer from his nephews.
“But believe me,“ Pascal started in an exasperated tone.
“We try whenever he does return home for the night,“ Quincy finished.
“You can see the result though...“ Zak and Sev chimed in. Audwin put his face in his hands with a quite sigh and shook his head slowly. Maybe he, Aldrich, and Ambros, along with Marcel, can mandate some bedrest for him later.
“Boys, bitte...” Albert said softly. He wasn’t upset with them for outing him to his brother and cousin. However, he wasn’t trying to make them worried.
“Hmmm...it does seem like Albertus is getting ze oldest,“ Aldi mused trying to lighten the mood again.
“Zat doesn’t even make sense!“ Audi and Albert said in unison causing Aldi to start laughing again.
“That would go to our gracious host,“ Pascal said while chuckling a little himself. Quincy sighed quietly himself while their younger brothers joined in on the laughter.
“Speaking of uncle Marcel...“ Lily said as she brought a finger to her chin. “He disappeared on me. Probably to try and sneak a peek on what auntie Darcy, auntie Shams, auntie Marga and my mama are doing...“
“Where is uncle Ambros?“ Quincy asked.
“Papa? Oh he’s...talking with cousin Alva right now,“ Lily answered. Quincy raised a brow slightly, well aware that how Lily answered meant there was more to that than it seemed. “He’ll be joining us later closer to celebration time. After all we’re still waiting on uncle Rys and his family.“
“It is usually simpler to include him on our birthday, although his is a few days later...“ Aldrich mused.
“And where is Ludwin?“ Pascal asked. Lily shrugged.
“I haven’t really seen cousin Ludwin yet today. Granted...I don’t think he was ever into anything more than a small celebration,“ she said.
“How about our other cousins, uncle Audwin?“ Pascal asked next wondering about where his uncle’s interesting bunch of offspring were.
“Likely exploring or helping out zeir mother vith tasks,“ he answered.
“Uncle Aldrich? Same question.“
“Amel is likely keeping Elias und Cohen from getting themselves lost zanks to zeir curiosity or from being in ze vay und underfoot. Karle...mentioned about seeing to something before zings get started, but zat could mean many zings vhen it comes to her,“ Aldrich said with a raise of his own shoulders.
“This is going to be an interesting day...“ Zak said in amusement as he lightly patted his father’s back.
“Ja...zats vhat ze 25th of October usually means for us Richters born on it...“ Albertus said with a slightly exasperated sigh, thinking on many of the past years.
Lily tilted her head slightly and brought a finger to her chin. She was mulling over what her cousin Quincy had told her thanks to her own curious questions on a couple of people. It had been some time since she had last talked to Niko or asked him for some help with her studies so she had been wondering how he was doing.
And she was thinking about making treats for him and her cousin but that was a side thought now.
However, she had also asked about Filomena. Lily had not really had the chance to talk to her, herself, but knew of her. She had seen her around in her interestingly cute dresses, and knew that Filomena was really smart like Quincy and Niko. Although, like with Niko, she did not really see Filomena with other people too often. So she was curious and wanted to make some treats for her as well, and maybe become friends with her.
What had the friendly Richter tilting her head, however, is that Quincy mentioned that Filomena did not quite seem like herself lately. Although he had admitted he wasn’t quite sure he could really tell.
But it seemed like she wasn’t wearing her normal dresses because of the rainy weather lately, and he figures that it maybe had something to do with how she was,
“I wonder...“ Lily began to muse, “maybe we could get her an umbrella that matches those dresses?“
Quincy furrowed his brow and began to lightly tap his cheek in thought. “I’m not sure if it would be enough to...” he began knowing his dear cousin would understand where he was going. She sighed a little and tilted her head the other way.
“It would still be a nice gesture though.“
“But it would still be nice...“
The cousins said at the same time and looked at each other fully. Quincy adjusted his glasses and gave a little chuckle. “Granted I don’t think it would be wise if I gave it to her...”
“Being a male Ricther and all. I understand,“ Lily finished softly. She knew how her dear cousin was and felt about their family’s reputation. She still wishes he would try to reach out more and make friends too, as she knows how her cousin’s heart is, but he’s still a Richter and stubbornness was seemingly in their DNA like it or not.
“There’s also still the question of where we could even get a Victorian umbrella in the first place. I can’t even think of a shop off hand that might have one at the very least,” he said with a small sigh.
“Well...that’s part of what I was thinking about. Maybe somewhere safe in the manor there might be a couple. We could ask some of our cousins who live there to help us. I mean...if the old portraits are anything to go off of...that was our family’s style...” Lily said as she pointed the figure she had on her chin upwards. “And if not...I could ask Lula! I’m sure she’d know where to find one! Fashion is one of her interests so...”
“Hmmm, that seems as good of a plan as any. Pascal and I don’t have anything planned after classes so I’ll be free,” Quincy said. Lily nodded and had a determined look on her face.
“Same here. Also if you could find Niko and unbury him from books long enough to maybe ask him what kind of treats he likes...I would appreciate that. I mean yeah I could just do cookies but...he’s help me in the past so I wanna make something more geared to his tastes,” she said. Quincy chuckled softly and gave Lily a warm smile as he reached to lightly ruffle her hair.
“You would not be you otherwise my sweet little cousin,“ he said fondly.
“Give him really cheesy science related gifts, dad or parental pun included is a bonus.“
“So glad we’re on the same page little bro,” Angeline said with a chuckle as she started getting the cook wear they would need. It was early in the morning and the two were mainly just confirming was already put into motion. Good thing the night before had been one of the night their mama had been able to nudge their papa to bed instead of sleeping at his desk.
Helios had a sunny grin as he began to get out the ingredient they would need to begin making breakfast. Sometimes they both had their trouble putting into words just how immensely they cared about, and loved, their father. No one could ever replace him. He was just too unique! “My dear big sister, do you think we’ll be able to organize his study before lunch?” he asked curiously.
“Oh, you know as well as I do it depends on the state of it. However, I would not rule that out completely either,“ Angie answered with a wink. “Now, whether or not we’ll be able to wake him for breakfast before the food starts getting cold is the tougher question,” she said with a laugh.
Ayazi was back in town again to visit and stay for another few months. She wasn’t quite sure what drew her back instead of going some place newer to look for scattered Maundrells. However, maybe it had been fate. She had informed her cousin Damien that she was back in town just the other day, because of course she wants to hang out with him when he has time.
And yet...
When she opened the door she did not expect to see her cousin looking slightly distressed along with his cousin Bianca. “Ayazi...do you mind if we...crashed with you in your hotel room for a bit?” he asked, a bit embarrassed that he was imposing on her in such a sudden way.
“You ask as if there is a chance I’ll say no. Get in here,” Ayazi said as she motioned inside the room. She waited until the two were inside before closing and locking her door. She then turned and leaned her back against it casually. She watched as Bianca gently sat on the edge of the bed while Damien slumped into the couch and covered his face in a slightly dramatic manner. However, she could hear his breath catching as if he was trying to stop himself from crying in front of them.
Bianca looked at her cousin in concern for a moment before looking at Ayazi. The younger Rose then began to fidget with her dress slightly and looked down shyly. Aya sighed softly, feeling a pull at her heart at the scene. Fate surely brought her back here for these two. “What’s going on and what can I do to help besides just providing shelter?” she asked softly.
“I’m an idiot Aya,” came the slightly broken response from Damien. “I don’t have a real plan but...I just...I can’t!”
Ayazi pushed herself off the door and went to sit beside her purple haired cousin. She rubbed his back for a few moments before placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not an idiot. Take a few deep breaths cousin, then give me more details,” she said.
Damien lowered his hands, but rested one at his heart, and did as he was told. His eyes were lined with the tears he had just been fighting. “I can’t take Bianca, or myself, being so restricted because of our family name. Because of being part of the Rose family. Her more so zan I,” he began to explain. He told his Maundrell cousin about his heartache once more. How much its beginning to hurt him to keep his distance from Quincy. How he wishes he could at the very least be his friend but can’t because of being a Rose. Damien told her of how Bianca was trying to make friends, and perhaps had found a mother figure. However, because of the her place in the family she is so restricted and watched over she can’t see them as much as she would like.
He told her how he’s been so worried she might get caught and what may happen if her new friends realize she’s a Rose or worse if her grandfather finds out what and who she’s been around. Damien wants her and himself to be free from that and his frustration and heartache swelled to the point he couldn’t take it anymore. So today he grabbed at the chance to be Bianca’s chaperone and brought her here.
“He...he vould have taken me to miss Darcia, but he was worried zat he might not be accepted like I vas,“ Bianca said softly.
“Und I couldn’t go to my father because zat is one of ze first places zey would try und look for us,” Damien added and then sighed. “But also I knew I would not be able to explain clearly to miss Darcia right now. I was, und still am, too emotional.“
“I’m sorry you two have to go through this,” Ayazi said softly to them. She placed an arm around her cousin and patted the space on the other side of her lightly beckoning Bianca to join. The younger Rose hesitated a moment before she stood from the bed and sat down beside her. Aya then lightly placed her arm around her as well. “You guys wholeheartedly have my support. Damien, you’re a Maundrell no matter what. And Bianca, you can be one too! We could even help you dye your hair purple! Only if you want though,” she said and laughed a little trying to pick up their spirits a bit. “Also...I can’t help but be curious. Do you also have a crush like Damien does?”
Bianca was about to say something on the matter of purple hair but then paused at Ayazi’s question. She immediately started to blush as she thought of one of miss Darcia’s sons. He was so kind and handsome, though to be fair all of her sons could be considered handsome. Most could be considered kind too for that matter. However, the one she was thinking of was Rafael. He was a bit shy, like her, but was still friendly to her when she asked about the lanterns around their manor.
She had been surprised to learn that he had put most of them together. It was a hobby of his that he really enjoyed. Especially with how much his mother loved the results. She supposed it was also the fact that he could relate to how some bright lights affected her, and why he always wore darkened glasses. It was part of why he like making lanterns too. They could be just bright enough to light the way but not so bright that they bothered his eyes without his glasses.
Aya grinned a little to herself as she watched Bianca start to blush and fall into thought at her question. That alone was enough of an answer. Though it was also enough for Damien to lightly elbow her in the ribs. “You know me,” she said quietly to him. They both continued to watch Bianca as she blushed more and fiddled slightly with the ruffles in her dress as her thoughts continued further.
“See...just another reason why I had to do zis, zough I have no plan,“ Damien whispered to Aya. “Her grandfather would never...“ he trailed off there hoping Aya would get the hint. She nodded without saying anything.
“I vant to see Rafael again...“ Bianca ended up murmuring without realizing she actually verbalized the sentiment.
Ayazi hugged both of them with a determined look on her face. She would find a way to help them somehow. She wanted her cousins to have their happiness. The Roses could put a target on her back all they wanted, but she was going to find a way to help Damien and Bianca be free like a Maundrell.
And once Ayazi had made up her mind about something, it would be hard for anyone to change her mind or keep her from achieving her goal.
It was always hard for Alvara to get a moment or two alone with his mama on mother’s day. When his father wasn’t trying to hog all of her time or attention, his siblings were trying to get their chances to spend time and celebrate her as well. Not to mention other family members that wanted to see or wish her a happy mother’s day as well.
His gift for her this year was one of his photo recreations. He replicated a picture he found of his mother holding him and his twin when they were babies into a small painting.
Part of him was hesitant. Would the painting make her happy or would it be bitter sweet or saddening? Alva could not say for sure. He knew he had a hard time painting it, needing to stop every so often and look away from it. Instead of helping him, like he had hoped, it just made him feel even more empty.
He had been sparring with Karlene several days ago...and things did not go well.
Alva had been trying to hide how that day with his cousin had affected him. However, there were probably certain siblings of his that noticed anyway. Painting in general had not been helping like it normally could. And he thought maybe painting this treasured moment of his mother for her would do something positive for him but...
Well...he hoped his eyes did not seem to irritated or puffy.
When he saw her, however, he did his best to hide his inner troubles and gave his mama a bit of a timid smile. He had no time for hesitation. She was alone now, but that certainly wasn’t going to last for too long. He gave her the wrapped painting. “Happy Mother’s day, mama,” he said gently. “My painting skills have been...unreliable lately but...I hope you still like it,” he added and looked to the side for a moment. Alva sighed to himself internally as the empty feeling tried to gnaw at him again. he ignored it and looked back at his mama before giving her a light hug.
“I von’t take too much of your time, as I know zere are still some of my siblings looking for your time as vell,“ he said a bit quietly before he leaned in to kiss her cheek. “So...I’ll see you at dinner. Although, if you need me before zen, if my siblings or father can let you escape, I’ll be in my room,” he continued and then turned to leave. “Ich liebe dich mama,“ he said softly and then started walking. He had to resist the urge to also apologize to her. Today is supposed to be a happy day for her. So he won’t trouble her with his feelings of guilt, or take up too much of her time for himself.
He and his problems have already done that in the past anyway. Even if he could use the comfort...his siblings being able to get her time mattered more to him. After all, one of the things Karlene would say to him is that he needed to be able to stand strong on his own anyway...
