The Ink Family Legacy: Generation 2 Chapter 11
Hello all~! Wow, we're at chapter eleven already! Last gen this was the last chapter, but two extra kids means two extra chapters I guess. :) Last chapter we had Juliet/Miles/Ophelia drama, the youngest four growing up, and Rigel making a friend. Let's see how the Ink family's doing now...
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"Hi everyone! Welcome back!"
Solstice looked up from his breakfast curiously. "Sis, who're you talking to?"
"I'm practicing my public speaking. I'm gonna sway crowds with my charisma one day, you know."
"That or threaten them with unfathomable violence."
"Only in extreme cases, my dear Solstice. Or if someone pisses me off."
"I'm HUNGRY!" Orion whined.
"There's breakfast on the kitchen counter Oreo. Just get up and get it." Finn sighed, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he herded his children. Since Star was at work, it was up to him to get all six fed, dressed, and on the bus.
"Get up and move?! Father, do you not understand that I must eat quickly if I want to be on time?! I still have to wash my face!"
"And that alone will take me half an hour! What will I do?!"
"Seriously. You could have been halfway done if you had just moved instead of whine." Rigel deadpanned in reply.
Things eventually got settled, but their small kitchen got quite crowded in the morning. It was a good thing that they were planning on a house remodel soon, because pretty soon there would be all adults in the house and tantrums would fly.
Orion did eventually get around to breakfast though.
"Hey Vi, do you know why today's your lucky day?"
"You tell me."
"Why, it's because you sat next to me! Clearly some of my overflowing beauty and confidence will rub off on you."
"This boy be trippin'."
"She's just too young to understand. One day she too will appreciate me."
"Keep telling yourself that."
"I don't recall asking for your opinion Rigel!"
--- --- --- --- ---
The little twins, now that they weren't so little, started going out with their friends instead of coming straight home. Viola had made friends with one of the Ivanov boys - Jamie, was it? She didn't really know his name, but that's not what she was worried about.
You see, Viola had ideas. Big ideas. And for this to work, she needed a big support base of loyal followers...
"Thanks for letting me come over, uh..."
"Jamie. It's Jamie."
"Right." Viola said, waving off his words. "Like I said, we could be great friends. You have the rare opportunity of becoming my first and dearest follower."
The boy looked at her curiously. "You mean friend?"
"Friend, follower, cult member - it's all the same."
Just then there was a screech from the kitchen, some breaking glass, and suddenly two older women were arguing with each other. Jaime tugged on Viola's arm to lead her away, but she watched in awe.
"Sorry." he muttered. "My family's a little on the mean side." When she didn't reply and kept watching with bright eyes, he added, "...Viola?"
"Oh, sorry. That's good to know." she said with a sweet smile. "For the future."
--- --- --- --- ---
"I feel like Vi just said something vaguely ominous."
Solstice wasn't in any position to do something about it, though. Since he knew Viola wouldn't be home, Sol decided to do his homework in the grassy field next to the school.
Once finished, Solstice saw no reason to go straight home. The house was always so crowded and he never got any time to himself. Instead he opted to bike around town and see what was up.
He felt himself drawn to a quiet lot off over the bridge next to the river. It wasn't until he was inside the gates that he recognized the place - Riverview Cemetery.
But he didn't feel uneasy at all. The silence that had settled over the graves at dusk was calming in a way.
He spent a long while chasing moths and reading the tombstones, trying to imagine the lives of these long gone people. It was quickly becoming his favorite place to stay!
But then Solstice noticed something rather...odd.
A man was standing quietly, staring up the hill at a house in the distance. But he didn't appear entirely solid - he was transparent, with the iron wrought fence showing clearly through him.
Solstice didn't dare make a sound. The man turned around, smiled at him, and pointed up at the house on the hill.
Sol finally found it in him to speak. "What do you-"
A sudden gust of wind sent the moths into a flurry. Solstice startled - the man had disappeared before his very eyes, and in his place was an old tombstone.
Well, needless to say Solstice ran. And fast.
Adrenaline pumping, Sol could barely keep his feet from slipping off the pedals and scraping his heels, as well as catching the hem of his jeans now and then in the chain. He fell off a couple of times but would not rest until he was safe at home.
But even once he returned home, he told no one.
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The older boys were picking up new hobbies. Rigel was into computer programming now and was earning a little money on the side for web page design. He was learning a bit about computer security as well, but for the time being he was interesting in stopping hackers, not joining them.
Orion took a sudden and unusual interest in fashion one day, arriving home with an armful of magazines and a drafting table. He had been researching new fashion concepts ever since, always fighting to stay on the cutting edge of fashion.
When working on these drafts, he actually seemed somewhat serious. But then he'd open his mouth and remind you that yes, this was still Orion.
"HEY! You see this drawing here?"
"Dazzling and masterful, right?"
"Rigel had the gall to call it 'okay'! OKAY?! This is clearly a work of art!!"
"Yeah, sometimes I just do that to piss him off."
--- --- --- --- ---
Solstice was a little...on edge after his trip to the graveyard. He kept going back to see if he would see something else, but no experience was as clear as that first day. Not that there weren't more subtle things...
It wasn't until he literally freaked out over the dishwasher being broken - not that uncommon, really - that Star gently suggested that he write what he was feeling down.
He felt weird writing about himself, so he started a sci-fi novel titled "Beyond the Veil". It was about a young boy with an odd power...
But sometimes he wasn't safe from these visions in his own home.
Sometimes he would get this close to talking to them...
...but then he would run away. He wasn't brave like his twin. He had even asked Viola if there was anything weird about the family graveyard, but she just gave him an odd look.
Just another thing to keep to himself, he supposed.
--- --- --- --- ---
The Ink children were always popular. A veritable army away arrived home on the bus with them, and there was never any peace for Finn and Star.
That day Miles came over, which was quite unusual. After Miles and Ophelia kissed, poor Filly stammered something incoherent and dashed inside. While Filly took some time off to sort out her feelings, Julie took advantage...
"Thanks for coming over Miles. You seem to have been avoiding this place since we went to France!"
"Er, yeah. That's for...various reasons..."
Julie was currently pretending that she had not seen the kiss and merely thought Filly was avoiding him for no reason. That made this a lot easier.
She pulled him into a close hug. "You know you're always welcome here. I don't know why Filly's acting this way, but I'll always hang with you at least."
"Thanks Jules. You're always easy to be with. Lia is..."
"Difficult?"
He stared down at their interlocked hands. "Well, no. Just different. You and Lia are so different, Jules."
Juliet sensed the conversation shifting tone, so she quickly brought up a new subject.
"Hey My? You know the scene we have to shoot next week? Where Violet and London finally affirm their love?"
"Yeah. It's our big kissing scene." he replied.
"Mmm. I was thinking...we don't want it to look awkward, right? I think we should...practice a little."
"Pr-practice?!"
Without another word, Juliet ducked in and kissed Miles.
Viola gave a disapproving glare from behind the newspaper. She didn't like drama interrupting her baking report. She didn't like that Julie glanced into the kitchen before kissing that boy.
And she didn't like that Filly and Julie made eye contact before it all happened.
There was a sudden bang in the kitchen, and both Miles and Julie looked up to see Filly dashing from the window. Miles went inside immediately - Julie looked extremely guilty for a bit before heading into the living room.
Vi rolled her eyes and returned to her paper, trying to ignore the shouting from the kitchen.
"Why are you even upset about this?! I confessed to you and you did nothing about it!!"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"And you're always like this! Lia, for once, tell me how you feel!!"
She was quiet for a bit, then spoke.
"Betrayed."
Miles could only gape in stunned silence. Ophelia glared at him and said, "You wanted my feelings, so there. Now get out."
Miles sat down on the couch by Juliet, who was pretending to intently watch the news.
"Jules, I...I think I messed up. Bad. Lia's really angry with me."
"Why? We're just doing what we'll do for the show. Why should she care? It's not like there's anything between you two, right?" A little more of Juliet's true feelings slipped into those words than she would have liked, but Miles was too dazed to notice.
"Noting between us. I...maybe you're right, Jules. What is there between Lia and I?"
This sentence only piled on the guilt even more. Juliet abruptly stood up and said, "I've got, um, things to do..." before making a hasty retreat to the bathroom.
Juliet hated this.
Why did they have to like the same guy? She was sure that Filly didn't even like Miles that much anyways. She was always going on and on about how most actors were arrogant and that she wouldn't want to befriend them.
Still, she had a nagging feeling that Filly didn't see Miles like she saw most actors. But it couldn't work between them, right? They'd just break up over things like this - like acting as a lover to another woman - and they'd both get hurt. It was better for Julie to win now to make them both happier in the long run.
Right?
"Guys who play with girls' hearts are trash."
"Uh..."
"Especially my older sisters' hearts. You follow?"
"Er, yeah."
And honestly? Miles felt like trash. He had two beautiful, wonderful girls as his friends and he was going to mess up everything they had. Even now he was comparing the kisses in his head - which he enjoyed more, which invoked a stronger feeling...
As he left, he could hear Ophelia talking to Rigel quietly in the next room.
"I'm just tired, Rye. Tired of trying to compete with Julie. I mean really, who am I kidding?"
Miles shook his head and walked determinedly out the door. He would have to sort out his feelings, and sort them out soon.
--- --- --- --- ---
Star was moving up the ranks of the military at lightning speed since she returned. In fact, after she left that morning, the family finally had enough money for a house upgrade!
Orion approved.
He also approved of this brief tour to orient you...
Long story short, it was a much bigger house. Everyone got their own room and there was more space to get away from each other if needed. After all, with an eight person family, a house could get crowded fast.
Plus the big new kitchen and dining area made the resident chef Finn very happy. :)
♥
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"What's that? Oh, I agree, dazzling reflection of me, we are beautiful. Who cares if Rigel's got a friend downstairs. You're all I need."
Rigel poked his head in the door. "That's probably for the best."
"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT MY MONOLOGUES?!"
Truth was that Rigel did have a friend coming over...sometime. This friend was always so vague.
"Wait, where are you?"
"Closer than you think, my dear Rigel."
Rye sighed, "You mean hiding around the corner of my house? Can't you knock like a normal person?"
"That would be boring!"
Yes, Mendy was still as crazy as ever. She wore the weirdest clothes with odd patches on them, ridiculous makeup, and to top it off a flame tattoo down her right arm and shoulder. Most people stayed far away from her.
Rigel, of course, was still her closest friend...
"I still think the leftmost pillar of your garden fence needs to be fuchsia!"
...although sometimes he did worry.
--- --- --- --- ---
Juliet found the time to pick up a new hobby, sculpting. She used to spend most of her free time with Filly, but ever since the whole Miles thing it was pretty awkward between the two, mostly because neither knew the whole story.
While Filly played guitar...
...and made paintings as confused as her feelings...
...Julie...well actually, no one was quite sure what Julie was doing.
With her sisters out of sorts, her brothers being weird, and her twin going a little crazy with his ghost novel, Viola was left to her own devices. Namely, raising funds for her big plans.
She appeared to have the innocent look down to pat.
As well as the innocent whistling when she took not-so-subtle bites out of her baked goods.
And when she didn't sell anything, she vented with the dollhouse.
"Oh hello little girl! Selling baked goods are we? Well I'm going to be a huge douche and buy a pastry from the coffee shop across the street, then come back and eat it on the park bench in front of you! :D :D :D"
"FUCK YOU OLD MAN!!"
"Viola! Language!"
--- --- --- --- ---
One day, while leaving the stadium after a military event, Star got a phone call that she wasn't quite prepared for.
"Mrs. Star Ink?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to say this, but..."
"...your mother..."
Star didn't know what to feel. Sad? Relieved? She hadn't talked to her mother since before Solstice and Viola were born. And now here she was, in the earth.
"Mom."
As soon as Star spoke that word, the floodgates opened.
She loved her. She hated her. She loved her.
She wasn't a good mother. There was no doubt about that. This woman recklessly dated men which made Star hide under her bed in a locked room. This woman married Solomon. This woman never chose her daughter first.
But it wasn't all bad times. There were memories that she could barely recall, hidden behind the more recent pain...
'Jebediah! Look, look, Star drew a picture of Mommy! Didn't you, baby?'
'Yep! Ones of Mama ands Papa.'
'Well? Isn't she smart? The smartest little three year old in the world?'
'Soon she might be smarter than you, Kiki, eh?'
'Hey!'
Star still remembered the warm smile on her father's face, the excited, near tears reaction her mother had to that simple crayon drawing. And even after Jebediah died, Kiki had her moments.
'You're...home, Mum? I thought you had a date.'
'Mumzies changed her mind! I want to paint nails with you Star!'
'You want to spend time with me? Why?'
'Because I love you, silly. You're my baby, and nothing will ever change that.'
Star never got to say sorry. She never got to say goodbye. But there was once more thing that she could do.
Funny how a house could still give you shivers after so many years. Too long this house has only represented hatred to her. Now...
"So you came back. I thought her dying would do that."
How feeble Solomon had become! This man that had once terrified her, hitting Finn when they were thirteen and often threatening Star and her mother with the same.
"Hello Solomon. I came for something of my mother's."
He narrowed his eyes. "Taking her things now? You really are looking more and more like your mother every day."
Once, that phrase would be enough to drown her. Now, Star smiled.
"Thank you. My mother was a beautiful woman."
She brushed past a stunned Solomon without another word, slipping into her childhood home.
Star knew her mother kept a diary, writing in it every day. She didn't know what she'd find in there - she didn't even know what she was looking for.
She finally spotted it - a worn book with a green cover. She remembered peering over her mother's lap, trying to get a glimpse of the contents, but Kiki would only laugh and keep it away.
Maybe she'd finally see what her mother was thinking.
There were hundreds of pages in her mother's childish, messy handwriting, but one section stuck out. There was a final entry on the last page, plus three that were torn out from earlier. Star read those first.
"Dear diary." Star whispered.
'Today my life changed. Really! Remember how I told you that I was convinced that the baby was a girl and Jeb kept saying it was a boy? I was right! Star was born early this morning. I'm looking at her now. She's so tiny - I'm afraid to hold her! She's got blond hair already in a little tuft on her head.
She's so fragile. I don't know what to do! Jeb always has to care for her 'cause I'm so scared that I'll do something wrong. But I'll try my bestest! I'm the only mother Star's got after all!
The next page was fragmented and hard to read. Star recognized the date instantly.
'Jeb died.
What do I do. What do I do. What do I do. What can I...
Star's crying. How did Jeb do it? I don't know. I don't know anything. She'll hate me. Star will hate me. She's crying and I don't know what I can...
Help me.
What do I-
And the page dissolved into scribbles.
The third torn page was more legible and had another date Star recognized.
'Star left today.
Solomon didn't want to let her at first. But she wasn't happy. I couldn't make her happy. I thought if I got happy first, maybe I could save her, but...
I think that boy can. Finn.
I really think he's Star's Jebediah.
And if that's true...then letting her go is the best thing I can do for her. As a mother. I'm the only mother Star's got after all...'
The final page was only three days ago. It was neat and legible, but Star could hardly read it through her tears.
"D-d-dear d-diary..."
'I think I'm dying. Solomon says I'm not, but he's never been right. I guess I can say that now. Why didn't I notice that sooner?
It was Solstice and Viola's birthdays the other day. They've gotten so big, eight years old already. I bought the school yearbook and cut out the pictures to put next to my bed. I wish I could see them grow up.
Julie's show was on last night. Her acting's gotten so good! And Filly's artwork at the museum was just lovely.
I saw Star yesterday. She was smiling. She always had the prettiest smile.
I hope she's happy.
Please let her be happy.
Please.'
And those were the last words on the page. Star closed up the book, doubled over, and cried.
--- --- --- --- ---
"I'm so sorry Honey. I know that must have been hard to go through."
"I...I just wished I could've told her...that I loved her too. Even after everything."
"Star, I'm sure she knew. Even when you two were at your worst, I could tell that you still loved her. That's why it hurt so bad."
Star cradled Finn's hand. "You think?"
"I know."
Star looked up into Finn's eyes. "You know, if it weren't for my mother, we would have never met. I wouldn't have skipped school that day, you wouldn't have delivered my homework... I think my mother gave me the greatest gift she could have."
"I couldn't agree more."
--- --- --- --- ---
So yeah. I cried. And I wrote it, ha ha.
Just more two chapters to go! It's weird because Julie and Filly are already young adults in my game, ha ha.
Just so you know, I haven't forgotten about Eva's story. It's in the works and will probably be posted during the week long break for the heir poll. Right now I'm eager to get this six kid gen done! Agh, never again. D: