Pietro was looking at the small package Penny had just given him.
Earlier he had decided that today will be the first day for her to go outside and leave the military headquarters and laboratories.
Penny was supposed to take a walk around Atlas City for now. This was her first time outside after all and he didn’t want her to be overwhelmed by too many of the new things she might discover for herself. He also wanted her to be near just in case something happened or she would somehow get into trouble.
All worries aside however Pietro wanted her to see the outside world with her own eyes. Penny herself had also been hankering to go outside for quite some time now and Pietro knew that he had to at some point let go and allow her to spread her wings.
Still he figured that baby steps were the way to go since Penny had to also still get accustomed to interacting with people outside of the military and science department personnel she had been around so far and the City of Atlas alone should offer more than enough for her right now.
Pietro had also given her some money just in case and so she had left early in the morning and was supposed to be back by noon to check in with him. If she still wanted to go outside some more afterwards she could leave again for a few more hours.
Dutiful as she was Penny had been back and standing in front of him by noon on the dot, holding a small package in her hands that she had given him both arms stretched towards him, smiling brightly and eyes shining.
“I have acquired this for you.”
Pietro had taken the package from her and scratched his head.
“I..see...”
He decided to open the package first and see what it was before asking questions as to why she had bought whatever was inside and so he removed the lid.
“A mug?”
Pietro looked at Penny in confusion.
“Correct.”
She nodded at him gleefully and Pietro once more scratched his head.
He carefully reached inside to take the white mug out of the package.
#1 DAD
Pietro’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the written print on the mug.
“You...you got this for me?”
“Yes, while I was outside I heard others talk about how today was a special celebration. I believe they called it ‘Father’s Day’.
I was told that it was a day where people would give presents to their fathers who have created and/or raised them.
And since you, Mr. Polendina, were the one who created me and you have also been teaching me about many different things, which I believe equates to 'raising me' I have concluded that you are what would be my father.”
Pietro was speechless as he listened to Penny’s words. Did this bright and happy girl that was standing in front of him right now really consider him to be her father?
“And...so you bought this mug for me?”
Pietro never had any children of his own and while he had always wanted them, he had also always put work first and before he knew it he had reached an age where he thought that it might simply be to late for him to start having a family. Penny was slightly bobbing up and down and she continued to talk.
“To get accustomed to life outside I thought it might be important to also partake in cultural rituals and I have therefore used the money you have given me to buy an appropriate present for you and the occasion.
I have looked at various other options, this mug however seemed to be the most appropriate one to get my sentiment across. I would also from now on like to refer to you as ‘Dad’.”
Dad. Pietro never thought that he would ever be called that and when he had started his latest work project he didn’t think that after all of those years it would lead him to this.
And who would have thought that hearing this single word would get him as emotional as he was slowly starting to feel as he was looking at this bright-eyed child that he had put his heart into creating, teaching and, yes, raising into a compassionate soul capable of thinking for herself and living a full life of her own.
“I think ‘Dad’ sounds just fine.” He laughed gently.
Penny stepped in front of him and leaned down to put her arms around his shoulders and nuzzle her cheek against his head. She let go off him again after a short moment and placed her hands on his shoulders to look at him.
“I believe this was ‘a hug’, right?”
“Yes, Penny.”
Pietro chuckled at his new daughter and suddenly realized how much brighter his life had actually become ever since she had become a part of it.
Kau pasti pernah merasakan cemas, khawatir berlebihan, tiba-tiba merasa kosong, tidak tau harus berbuat apa, dan seakan melamun adalah satu-satunya hal yang bisa kau lakukan saat itu. Waktumu terasa terbuang percuma, yang seharusnya bisa kau gunakan untuk diisi dengan hal-hal yang lebih produktif, malah dihabiskan sia-sia demi kekosongan yang tak berarti. Lalu kau mencoba memutar sebuah musik yang dapat mengembalikan inspirasimu. Hasilnya? Sama saja. Kau masih mencoba menemukan tujuanmu, alasan sebenarnya kau ada, di dunia yang bahkan mungkin tak peduli jika kau hadir. Dunia yang sepertinya belum bisa menjamin kau akan sukses atau tidak. Menjebak memang, rasanya tidak adil mengetahui kau bisa begitu naif dengan mengatakan kau tidak berguna sama sekali tentang keberadaanmu di dunia ini. Lalu apa? Kau mempertanyakan hal yang paling tidak penting, seperti mengapa kau terjebak dengan situasi membingungkan nan aneh ini, paling tidak seharusnya kau perlu tahu alasanmu untuk berimajinasi ria. Lalu kau mencoba mencari kegiatan lain, mencuci? Atau mungkin memasak? Atau mungkin menjelajah? Tapi ke mana? Rasanya sedikit membosankan jika memikirkannya saja. Bagaimana dengan menghayalkan hal lainnya? Seperti pergi ke luar angkasa, menyentuh awan, menikmati hujan, menemukan bintang, melayang-layang seperti kapas yang tertiup angin, menjelajah angkasa, ah tidak. Terlalu jauh, bahkan untuk melihat ketinggian dari lantai 2 pun kau sudah merinding. Selanjutnya, masih terjebak ruang, berpikir kembali apa yang sama sekali belum kau lakukan saat ini. Resolusi tahun kemarin mungkin ada yang belum tercapai? Memiliki peliharaan, atau menanam tanaman? Olahraga, mencintai seseorang lalu menjadikannya salah satu pusat kehidupanmu, memiliki tempat merenung dan jalan sendiri, nongkrong dengan teman sebaya di salah satu kafe terkenal, ah, terlalu kasual. Masih bukan, bukan hal itu yang kau benar-benar perlukan. Kembali dengan pertanyaan kenapa kau bisa hidup, masih bertanya-tanya dengan keberadaanmu yang sebenarnya menakjubkan. Ketika kau mengingat beberapa prestasi yang kau buat, ketika kau membanggakan orang tuamu, membuat senyum mereka mekar mendengar dengan hal unik yang telah kau perbuat. Ya, kau mulai ingat saat-saat itu. Saat-saat di mana hidupmu bisa berharga, saat kau tahu itu baik untukmu dan orang di sekitarmu. Menempa hobi dan menambah akal, melatih otak lalu menggunakannya demi kepentingan bersama. Kau terhentak, ya, itu dia. Itu yang kau butuhkan, hal mendasar yang kadang lupa kau utarakan setelah menginjak usia keberapa. Oh, betapa nestapanya jika terkadang kau bisa melupakan mereka dengan mudah. Orang-orang dengan kemampuan yang kadang bisa membuatmu bertanya-tanya mengapa kau bisa terikat bersama mereka. Kemudian semua jadi sedikit jelas, hal paling kecil yang kau butuhkan mulai terlihat. Kejelasan hidupmu, sedikit demi sedikit terajut kembali. Bangkit dari lamunanmu, kau melangkahkan kaki dengan mantap ke salah satu sudut ruangan. Mencoba meraih asa kembali sembari menarik nafas.
“ Let’s move. “
Kau membuka mata, yang tadi hanya khayalan, sekarang kau dengan posisi terhempas menghadap ke bawah. Setengah meter sebelum menghantam tanah. Rupanya lantai 2 kemarin tidak berhasil, maka lantai 15 sudah cukup mewakili.
Brukk.. darah mengucur perlahan. Terdengar suara teriakan seorang wanita.
Full Name: Alma EndradeGender and Sexuality: Female and BiPronouns: She/HerEthnicity/Species: Human, Hispanic Birthplace and Birthdate: Redridge in Year 3Guilty Pleasures: loves chocolate ohmyword she loves itPhobias: fears being immobile/powerlessWhat They Would Be Famous For: winning in a brawl against an entire townWhat They Would Get Arrested For: winning in a brawl against an entire townOC You Ship Them With: Cran! mine and @rhinocerocket‘s worgen hunter. hes a big friendly guy who is super endearing (just followed her around like a puppydog until she started liking him)OC Most Likely To Murder Them: Aldri, aka Cran’s best friend. they get...soooorta competitive over himFavorite Movie/Book Genre: action beat em up genres, female protags preferred, likes horror/slasher filmsLeast Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: RomcomsTalents and/or Powers: rly rly good fighter just because shes been doing this for so long, able to endure a lot of pain, tho at the end of the day shes just a normal humanWhy Someone Might Love Them: independent, wild, fierce in their loves and hates, wicked sense of humorWhy Someone Might Hate Them: rly agressive and shoots off their mouth a lotHow They Change: learns to settle down a bit and take a less dangerous life but this is mostly because she LOST HER LEG and cant be a bodyguard/sellsword anymore. she does keep adventuring tho because no one can stop her. overall shes still the same person. Why You Love Them: i love women who can beat me up 10/10
