Colin's posts

Jaden was silent for a moment.

"I.... yes..." he said.

"Yes. I was." he told her.

"I learned that... well, my father... I mean, Ni-" he started to say before shaking his head.

"Wait." he muttered.

"Why are you asking that?" he asked Desiree.

"Why would you assume that?"

"Wait, what?" Jaden asked.

"-I- will?" he asked further.

"How!?" he exclaimed.

"I had the barrier modified to keep out hunters, so she could be safer!" he said.

"Desiree was born of a hunter, but she's NOT a hunter!" he went on.

"...right?" he asked.

Nico just groaned.

"Sorry about this." he apologised to Desiree.

"His ignorance is... both our faults." he told her.

"Though he doesn't know about... well... that?" he asked her, gesturing to her closed eye.

"...yeah, those ARE some nasty scars." Jaden admitted, looking at them.

Jaden just nodded and made his way to the front door.

He opened it, and found that Desiree was, indeed, quite injured.

"Oh, holy..." he mumbled.

"Come... come in." he said.

"Please." he went on.

"We have a first aide kit inside." he told her.

"We'll get you fixed up."

Jaden read the text, and was silent for a moment.

"I..." he stammered.

"What...?" he asked.

I... I don't know... he sent her.

"Tell her to come here." Nico said.

"...all right...?" Jaden replied, confused.

He then sent the address of his mother's place to Desiree, telling her to show up there, and that she could get first aide as well.

"What, why?" Jaden asked.

"Why will she not be happy?" he asked them.

"The barrier keeps hunters out." he said.

"Yes, that's the issue." Nico said.

"But why!?" Jaden exclaimed.

"She's just born of a hunter." he said.

"She's not ACTUALLY a hunter."

"Huh?" Jaden muttered.

"Why?" he asked.

"I didn't, but why does that matter?" he asked her.

"I figured I would tell her when she got home." he continued.

"What's the problem with that?" he asked.

"...you don't know?" Nico asked him.

"Know what?" Jaden inquired in responded.

Nico just quietly pinched the bridge of his nose.

"............" Jaden was silent for a prolonged moment, before hanging his head.

"I..." he stammered.

"Damn it." he cursed.

"I was building up a good head of steam to just... let loose, too." he growled.

Nico just sighed.

"Do it later." he said.

"Seriously. If it'll make you feel better, go ahead. I can take it." he told him.

"I've dealt with FAR worse in my past." he assured him. "Not knowing where either of you two were after making sure you escaped was torture for me."

"....." Jaden was silent for a moment.

"No, he isn't." Nico said.

"........he's right." Jaden muttered.

"I... I just... trust me, inside I am..." he stammered further, almost unable to say it.

"Torn?" Nico suggested. "Half of you wants to kill me, the other half wants to hug me? You're wondering where I've been all this time? Why it's only NOW we've met? Why you're just learning all of this NOW?" he went on.

"...pretty much." Jaden confirmed.

"Though I'm willing to bet a lot of those answers stem from my selfishly fucking off so long ago..." he said quietly, a hint of guilt and shame in his tone.

Jaden looked at Nico once more, and thought for a moment.

"I..." he stammered.

"Well, I mean... I can see where I get my hair from." he commented.

Nico just laughed.

"Indeed!" he replied.

"But you're also quite like your mother as well." he added.

Jaden was silent, before taking a bite of the lasagna...

...and Sydney and Nico saw him mellow out almost instantly and completely.

"Heh." Nico chuckled.

"A man's stomach is at the core of his being." he said.

"So... so, the fact that I can smell mana isn't a dhampir thing?" Jaden asked.

"Correct." Nico responded.

"It's a hunter's trait. Or 'gift'. Or whatever you wish to call it." he went on. "It's an A-level one, as well." he added. "So pretty good, but not top-tier, one can say." he explained further.

"Come on, Jaden." Nico said, making his way to where they would sit and eat.

Jaden, on the other hand, looked overwhelmed.

"Human... can smell... not dhampir..." he mumbled.

"FATHER!?" he then exclaimed.

"I'M half-HUNTER!?" he yelled further, before Nico put a hand on his shoulder.

"Let us sit and eat." he said.

"Your mother and I will answer everything in more detail."

"Wait, what?" Jaden asked.

"He's not a dhampir!" he declared.

"You're right, I'm not." Nico confirmed.

"You're a hunter!" Jaden then said to him. "A MANA hunter!" he specified.

"This is also correct." Nico replied with a bit of a sigh.

"So how can you smell me!?" Jaden asked him.

"....boy, you have a LOT to learn." Nico then said.

"And who are you to call me 'boy' or 'the boy'!?" Jaden then demanded.

Jaden was going red in the face, and sputtering angrily, before another male voice spoke up.

"Don't tease the boy so much." they said, causing Jaden to perk up immediately.

"At least, not right now." they added, as they stepped into view, revealing a blonde-haired man.

"You!" Jaden exclaimed.

"Yes. I am me." the man confirmed.

"YOU'RE who I smell!" Jaden declared.

"...aw c'mon, I literally JUST showered." the man said in a bit of a faux-hurt tone.

Instantly, Jaden glared at her.

"Excuse me!?" he exclaimed.

"She is NOT!" he told her.

"She is far too innocent and talented for that!" he declared.

"To even INSIST that is slander!" he continued, before abruptly pausing.

And looking away, flustered once more.