[Seven Sins] Kick in the Head
Title: Kick in the Head [preceded by Breathe]
Characters: Temperare
Series: Seven Sins
Author: Skeptic's_Secret
Rating: PG/pg-13
Length: Drabble
Disclaimer: My characters. All mine. But if you want to play with them, just ask.
Author's Note: At some point all the Sins will meet the Virtues (I'm sure you can guess how pairing will go), but I haven't actually gotten around to writing those meetings yet. In fact, I've mostly just been trying to get to know the characters. So I figured I'd let you all get to know them the way I have. Feel free to request drabbles about any of the characters.
Summary:Tem must tell his younger brother that there parents have gambled everything away.
Tem’s head snapped up as he heard the door click open. He jumped to his feet when he saw Temerity come in, laden down with books and small blocks of wood. He rushed to relieve Mer’s burden and placed it on the floor, before sitting cross-legged by the pile. As he brother looked around the empty room in confusion, Tem patted the space in front of him. “Sit, Mer,” he sighed resignedly.
Hesitantly, Mer sat, the question plain on his face. “Look Mer, I don’t want to have to be the one to tell you this. I wish…” Tem ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I wish no one had to tell you this.” He lapsed into silence, lips pursed in disgust. “Mer, our parents…” He trailed off, unsure of how to break the news to his little brother.
“What is it Tem? Are mum and dad okay?” Mer asked worriedly.
“They’re fine,” Tem assured him. “They’ve gone to Uncle’s,” Tem bit out. His voice was laden with contempt as he continued, “They ran off so they wouldn’t have to tell you themselves.”
“For Glutton’s gravy, get on with it Tem. Just spit it out already,” Mer said impatiently.
“Fine. I don’t know how else to say this Mer. Our parents, Glutton eat their souls, have gambled everything away: the money, the house, and everything in it. They’re staying at Uncle’s because they’ve got nowhere else to go. Unfortunately, that also means that we’re out on the streets. I’ve sent a runner over to the Henderson’s to see if you can stay with them.” Tem exhaled, defeat in every line of his body.
Mer took a breath to steady himself, obviously fighting for his composure. “Alright,” he said, voice shaking minutely. “So I’ll stop school and get a jo-"
“No!” Tem’s vehemence startled Mer into silence. Tem continued more gently. “No, Mer. I won’t let you drop out. You’ll continue your schooling just as you have. Just because our parents screwed up, doesn’t mean I’m going to let that keep you from the education you deserve.”
A spark of defiance blazed in Mer’s eyes. “And how exactly is that going to work, Tem?”
“Don’t worry about that part. Whatever it takes, Mer, I will make sure that you get through school,” Tem promised.
“What about you? We both know that what you earn as a blacksmith won’t put me through school.” Tem flinched, but Mer pressed on. “Are you going to give that up? We both know you love it. It’s all you’ve ever wanted to do. And to put me through school by yourself, you’d have to-“
“Enough Mer!” Tem cut him off. “I know full well what I would have to do. And I repeat: I will do anything to see you get that education. I won’t let our parents ruin your future like that.”
“But-“
“No buts. I’ve made up my mind. You will continue your schooling, no matter what. You will study hard, you will relax with your friends, and you will continue your music lessons. You will change nothing and you will act as though nothing has happened. Am I understood?”
Mer weathered Tem’s fierce gaze, but he relented with a terse nod. Tem opened his mouth to say more but snapped it shut as a knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Mer called from his seat on the floor.
A messenger hesitantly entered, clutching a note in one hand. Tem jumped up, startling the messenger slightly, and crossed the room. He held out a hand, nearly snatching the note as the messenger offered it to him. “Thank you,” Tem added tersely, nodding toward the door in dismissal.
As the door closed behind the messenger, Tem tore open the note. A wave of relief rushed through him and he exhaled as he read the response, tension bleeding out of his shoulders as he finished reading. “The Hendersons have agreed to let you stay with them as long as necessary. Now Mer,” Tem became stern. “I have briefed them about our situation. Outside of them, you will nit speak of our circumstances to anyone, am I clear?”
Mer frowned. “But Tem-“
“Am. I. Clear?” Tem growled at him.
“Yeah, but-”
Tem held up a hand, forestalling Mer’s protests. “No buts. I don’t want to hear it anymore. Now pick up your things and go to the Henderson’s. They’re waiting for you.”
Mer pursed his lips angrily and started snatching up his things carelessly. He stormed to the door, yanking it open, and turned to glare at his older brother. Tem opened his mouth to speak, to say good-bye maybe, but before he could get anything out, Mer turned, slamming the door behind himself.
Tem sighed, still staring at the door. He hated being the bad guy.
Characters: Temperare
Series: Seven Sins
Author: Skeptic's_Secret
Rating: PG/pg-13
Length: Drabble
Disclaimer: My characters. All mine. But if you want to play with them, just ask.
Author's Note: At some point all the Sins will meet the Virtues (I'm sure you can guess how pairing will go), but I haven't actually gotten around to writing those meetings yet. In fact, I've mostly just been trying to get to know the characters. So I figured I'd let you all get to know them the way I have. Feel free to request drabbles about any of the characters.
Summary:Tem must tell his younger brother that there parents have gambled everything away.
Tem’s head snapped up as he heard the door click open. He jumped to his feet when he saw Temerity come in, laden down with books and small blocks of wood. He rushed to relieve Mer’s burden and placed it on the floor, before sitting cross-legged by the pile. As he brother looked around the empty room in confusion, Tem patted the space in front of him. “Sit, Mer,” he sighed resignedly.
Hesitantly, Mer sat, the question plain on his face. “Look Mer, I don’t want to have to be the one to tell you this. I wish…” Tem ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I wish no one had to tell you this.” He lapsed into silence, lips pursed in disgust. “Mer, our parents…” He trailed off, unsure of how to break the news to his little brother.
“What is it Tem? Are mum and dad okay?” Mer asked worriedly.
“They’re fine,” Tem assured him. “They’ve gone to Uncle’s,” Tem bit out. His voice was laden with contempt as he continued, “They ran off so they wouldn’t have to tell you themselves.”
“For Glutton’s gravy, get on with it Tem. Just spit it out already,” Mer said impatiently.
“Fine. I don’t know how else to say this Mer. Our parents, Glutton eat their souls, have gambled everything away: the money, the house, and everything in it. They’re staying at Uncle’s because they’ve got nowhere else to go. Unfortunately, that also means that we’re out on the streets. I’ve sent a runner over to the Henderson’s to see if you can stay with them.” Tem exhaled, defeat in every line of his body.
Mer took a breath to steady himself, obviously fighting for his composure. “Alright,” he said, voice shaking minutely. “So I’ll stop school and get a jo-"
“No!” Tem’s vehemence startled Mer into silence. Tem continued more gently. “No, Mer. I won’t let you drop out. You’ll continue your schooling just as you have. Just because our parents screwed up, doesn’t mean I’m going to let that keep you from the education you deserve.”
A spark of defiance blazed in Mer’s eyes. “And how exactly is that going to work, Tem?”
“Don’t worry about that part. Whatever it takes, Mer, I will make sure that you get through school,” Tem promised.
“What about you? We both know that what you earn as a blacksmith won’t put me through school.” Tem flinched, but Mer pressed on. “Are you going to give that up? We both know you love it. It’s all you’ve ever wanted to do. And to put me through school by yourself, you’d have to-“
“Enough Mer!” Tem cut him off. “I know full well what I would have to do. And I repeat: I will do anything to see you get that education. I won’t let our parents ruin your future like that.”
“But-“
“No buts. I’ve made up my mind. You will continue your schooling, no matter what. You will study hard, you will relax with your friends, and you will continue your music lessons. You will change nothing and you will act as though nothing has happened. Am I understood?”
Mer weathered Tem’s fierce gaze, but he relented with a terse nod. Tem opened his mouth to say more but snapped it shut as a knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Mer called from his seat on the floor.
A messenger hesitantly entered, clutching a note in one hand. Tem jumped up, startling the messenger slightly, and crossed the room. He held out a hand, nearly snatching the note as the messenger offered it to him. “Thank you,” Tem added tersely, nodding toward the door in dismissal.
As the door closed behind the messenger, Tem tore open the note. A wave of relief rushed through him and he exhaled as he read the response, tension bleeding out of his shoulders as he finished reading. “The Hendersons have agreed to let you stay with them as long as necessary. Now Mer,” Tem became stern. “I have briefed them about our situation. Outside of them, you will nit speak of our circumstances to anyone, am I clear?”
Mer frowned. “But Tem-“
“Am. I. Clear?” Tem growled at him.
“Yeah, but-”
Tem held up a hand, forestalling Mer’s protests. “No buts. I don’t want to hear it anymore. Now pick up your things and go to the Henderson’s. They’re waiting for you.”
Mer pursed his lips angrily and started snatching up his things carelessly. He stormed to the door, yanking it open, and turned to glare at his older brother. Tem opened his mouth to speak, to say good-bye maybe, but before he could get anything out, Mer turned, slamming the door behind himself.
Tem sighed, still staring at the door. He hated being the bad guy.