Like Father, Like Son

[Demeter]

Romi, sitting sidways on the couch, leaned back against the arm, hands tucked behind his head. "I would not like to live your life, my friend. I have had enough issues deal with when it comes to family." Romi grinned. "So let me get this straight. You hit on your father's girl, got socked in the face by your father, told your father that he is your father, and, while he was confused or whatever, the girl comforted you?"

When Foster confirmed this fact, Romi tilted his head back and laughed, letting his fangs flash in the lamplight. Foster knew what he was; one vampire always recognized another. "So, does Foster need his ego stroked?" Still flopped back against the arm of the couch and grinning, Romi waited.

They'd worked out a agreement during the first few days of living together. They were free to be casual bed partners but there was nothing beyond that. Romi didn't do serious attachments with roommates as they never ended well and Foster didn't seem like the type to settle down in a serious relationship at this point in time. So long as Foster didn't use any incubus tricks on him, Romi would let his body be used. He did enjoy it after all.

[Maira]

The squeeze around her waist and kiss on her shoulder were sweet and tender and left Lia very confused. She wanted to be able to act normal around Talbot still but there was so much that needed to be said. Not even knowing where to start, she just dished up her plate and wandered over to the tiny two-person dining room table she had shoved against the wall in what was supposed to be her dining room.

Once she was seated, Lia nibbled a bit on her food and then gave up. The food was good, she just couldn't concentrate on eating. Looking up at Talbot, Lia watched him for a few moments as he ate then she asked, "Feel better after your nap? That was as close as she was going to ask how he was feeling after the encounter with Foster. She couldn't bring herself to raise that topic with Talbot because she was scared he might get deffensive and leave, or that he was angry with her for nearly falling completely under the boy's spell and into bed with him...

[Shinigami]

Talbot seated himself across from Lia at the small table once he had his food in order. He shoved a few bite fulls into his mouth, but after that he mainly picked at his food, his stomach on revolt because of his mood. He was a father. It was definitely something to get used to, and he still wasn't quite sure what to think. Especially because of the incidents from earlier.

He looked up when Lia asked him a question. "Oh, yeah, I feel a little better." He looked back down at his plate as he continued to fiddle with his food. "It was an exhausting day, to say the least. And now I know that I have a son. A somewhat irritating son, but he's mine none-the-less.." he grumbled a bit toward the end. The boy talked back, but he guessed that was to be expected since Talbot had never been in the role of father for him, so he didn't have any real authority over the kid.

And Foster irritated him because he had been playing with his powers without fully knowing them, and with Lia, of all people. The one person his influence would probably work on and confuse the most, simply because of how similar his powers were to Talbot's due to their relation. He looked up at Lia. "How are you feeling? Any better since you worked on your art a bit? I know today must have been overwhelming..."

***

Foster pouted as his own friend and roommate laughed at him. It was an absurd situation, he realized that, but it wasn't -that- funny... When Romi calmed hsi laughter and spoke, however, that got Foster's attention. He glanced sideways at him, eyeing him with a bit of a smirk. He enjoyed having a friend he could occationally take to bed. It was less awkward, especially because they both agreed it was strictly casual, no strings attached. And he certainly did need his ego stroked after the day he'd had.

First thing was first. He shifted himself up onto the couch and settled himself on Romi's lap, propping himself up by his hands, which were on either side of Romi on the arm of the couch. He shifted closer so their faces were almost touching. "Help me get my lip ring out?" He nipped at Romi's own lip. "Then stroke my ego?"

[Maira]

Lia was happy when Talbot didn't seem to get angry at her. Of course, it had been a perfectly innocent question but still, she was scared... When he mentioned his son, and called him 'somewhat irritating' the corner of Lia's mouth turned up in a small smile. In all honestly, from what she knew of Foster in her classes, the boy had seemed anything -but- irritating. He was a brilliant artist, much like his father, and quiet a good part of the time. Probably because, like his father, he tended to get absorbed in his work. Of course, if she were to tell Talbot how much like him Foster really was, he might find him even more irritating just out of spite. Men were very odd sometimes...

She was just beginning to relax a bit and had finally taken a real bite of her dinner when Talbot asked her how she was feeling. Her head went into instant panic mode and Lia had to force herself to swallow so she wouldn't choke. Shakily she answered, "I'm still a pretty shaken up but yes, getting lost in my art for a few hours helped a bit."

She couldn't look him in the eye so Lia just toyed with her dinner. She knew her face was white as a sheet but she couldn't help it. Never before in her very long life had Lia had feelings for anybody like she had for Talbot and if he walked away from her because of her stupidity, she likely wouldn't recover from the loss of him for a very long time.

She was already mentally planning an extended trip to Hell as she waited for Talbot to speak. Eris would welcome her home as she always did, she might even feel sorry for causing the turmoil in her surrogate daughter's life. Maybe. Eris was a goddess of Chaos though and likely was enjoying the show, even if it was at Lia's expense...

[Shinigami]

Talbot was worried. Lia's reaction, while not severe, was enough to let him know she still wasn't comfortable. Though, he didn't blame her for that. Now, however, she wouldn't meet his gaze and was picking at her food, as he'd been doing not to long before. Lia's face also looked rather pale. He didn't want her to think he was angry with her, or even upset about it. It hadn't been her fault.

He reached across the table, settling a hand over top of one of hers. Tale lifted the hand up into his grasp and rand his thumb over her palm until she finally looked up at him. "I'm not angry you know. Or upset. At least not at you..." He couldn't help but fear that she might not want him around. When that thought came to mind he couldn't stop the impulsive request he made. "Don't pull away from me.. please?"

[Maira]

When he took her hand, Lia hadn't been expecting it and she nearly jumped out of her chair at his touch. Her heart was racing and she was seriously tempted to take her hand from his grip until he started running his thumb over her palm. It was a very gentle and soothing action and one that, against her better judgement, made her look up at him curiously.

When she looked up, Talbot started talking. She listened and was relieved when he said he wasn't upset with her. Then, when he asked her to not pull away from him she couldn't help but frown. That question had sent a knife straight to her heart and before she could stop herself she asked, "How can you -not- be mad at me Talbot?" Her voice broke on his name and she had to take a moment to regain her composure before continuing. "I'm how old and I fell right into a baby Incubus' charms? Your son of all people Tale!"

Now her face was flaming crimson with embarrassment and frustration. "I won't pull away Talbot but how can you possibly still want me after that fiasco?" Her voice was gruff with her emotions and she pulled her hand out of Talbot's to gesture toward where the altercation between the three of them had taken place earlier that afternoon.

[Shinigami]

He blinked as Lia began to break down, a little stunned that she had been holding that in, but glad she put it out in the open. Tale only hoped he could quell those worries, after all, it would have been almost impossible to tell him and his son apart by their powers alone. He frowned when she pulled her hand away, if only to motion towards where the earlier scuffle had occured.

Talbot reached across the small table, not even paying attention to the food-filled plates, and took Lia's face in his hands. He wanted her attention, and he wanted to keep it until he was sure she understood him. "Lia, what happened with Foster was -not- your fault. The whole reason you fell into the charms of a "baby" Incubus is because of the fact that he's my son. The only Custos blood he has is from me, so his Custos powers would be so similar to mine, that if you couldn't see us and our differences physically it would be nearly impossible by our powers alone."

Tale let one of his hands fall back to the table, the other still cupping one of Lia's cheeks. "We always use our powers every so often to excite one another, so you unconciously accept mine, as I do yours. It would make sense that it would happen with Foster as well. And how could I -not- want you? I -" He cut himself off, having shocked himself with the sudden almost use of the word "love." Talbot hadn't realized his feelings ran that deep until that moment.

[Maira]

What Talbot said was completely logical and no matter how much she wanted to object to it, she wound up accepting most of it and being comforted somewhat. As he talked she tilted her face into his hand to let him know just how much it meant what he was saying.

Out of everything that Talbot said, Lia's mind instantly focussed on whatever it was he'd stopped himself from saying. The surprised look on his face caught her attention and held it. "You what Talbot?" she asked curiously. He had been about to say something and when he didn't, Lia's heart jumped a bit. Had he been about to say what she thought?

[Shinigami]

Tale's look of surprise shifted into a bit of a smile. He was happy. He had never thought he would find someone he could truely say he loved, but he suddenly had. Talbot thought he would be cursed to live the existance that most Incubi lived, that of traveling and trading in one lover for another. Though, he had never even entertained the idea of leaving Lia or letting her leave him. He was so happy, in fact, that he started to speak again. "I.. I -"

Talbot was suddenly overcome with a bit of childish embarrassment. He'd never said those words, at least not when he meant them. He'd never meant them, only speaking them when he knew it had been what his lover wanted ti hear. His eyes flicked away from Lia for a split second as a flush stole across his cheeks, and incredibly rare occurance. He brought them back almost instantly, however, willing himself to finish. "I.. love you."

[Maira]

The blushing and the stammering were absolutely adorable and they hinted even more at just what Talbot had meant to say a moment before. When his eyes momentarily flickered away from hers, she started to get a bit worried until he was looking at her again. And when he did, the look in his eyes made her swallow nervously. He -was- going to say it wasn't he?

Then the words she'd thought he'd been about to say before came stumbling out of his mouth and she felt tears prickling at her eyes. "Sweet Eris..." Lia whispered by way of thanks to her goddess, then she got up from her chair and walked around the little table and plopped herself down in Talbot's lap. Looking him straight in the eyes she answered him with a soft and shakey, "I love you too Tale." Then she buried her face in the crook of his neck and shoulder. She didn't want him to see her cry...

[Shinigami]

Talbot was a bit startled when she stood, a sudden fear striking him, thinking she may walk away. Or worse, tell him to get out, but when she settled herself in his lap, looking him right in the eyes, and telling him that she loved him as well. He was so happy he wanted to just hop up out of his chair and spin her around, but he contained himself to just smiling like a fool after letting out a breath he hadn't even been aware of holding.

When Lia buried her face in his neck he wrapped his arms around her tightly, reluctant to let her go now that he had her, truely had her. He was content to just hold her, or cling to her as he was, praying to both Hipnos and Morpheus to tell him this wasn't a dream. He kissed the top of her head before laying his own against hers, not even noticing the dampness of his shirt from her tears.

[Maira]

As she lay with her face buried in his neck, all sorts of thoughts were running through Lia's mind. Key among them was, **Did I really say that?** and right up there with it was, **Oh gods, I -do- love him!** She had no idea what to do with the feelings that were suddenly brimming inside of her. It was almost as if admitting them made them grow and overflow whatever had been holding them in before. So, instead of trying to say or do anything about it she just stayed where she was, crying into Talbot's shoulder.

Then, out of the blue, the strangest thought yet raced through her mind and she jerked her head up, smacking it on Talbot's chin, and she asked him, "Does this mean you want kids?" Then with a nervous laugh she added, "Other than Foster that is?" The last thing she had ever pictured herself as was a mother. If Talbot said 'yes' she would have to do some serious self examination. As she waited for him to answer, Lia unconsciously wiped away the wetness on her cheeks that her tears had left behind.

[Shinigami]

Talbot was knocked out of his reveries when Lia's head hit his chin, causing him to jerk his head backwards to get it out of her way as well as to look at her. He was blinking, utterly speechless at the question she had blurted out almost immediately popping her head up. He had never thought about whether or not he wanted children, at least children he would be helping to raise from infancy. Tale had never seen himself as much of a father, at least not until that day. And he wasn't even sure he could really be considered a father, other than in the physical sense.

It took him a while to answer as he tried to work out his own thoughts on the subject as well as why Lia and reacted like she had when she thought to ask it. Tale could only figure that it meant she really -didn't- want them or she really -did-. He wasn't sure which yet, so he'd answer causiously. "Well.. uh, if you were willing I wouldn't say no. But I never really imagined myself as a father. Well, until now, but I'm not sure that counts."

[Demeter]

Romi nipped back, catching Foster's upper lip rather then the lower. "Glad to, so long as there is no whining like a baby." Romi helped Foster ease the ring from the swollon lip, cringing when he did. "Yet another reason why I refuse to put holes in odd places. Something like this eventually happens." Once the lip ring was out and resting on the coffee table, Romi scooted out from under Foster and wandered into the kitchen. He returned moments later, holding a cold gel pack wrapped in towel. "I enjoy stroking your ego but I like it more when you don't have a swollen lip."

Romi sat back down and, after pulling Foster over, held the gel pack up to his mouth. "I know, you have wonderful healing abilities but this will help it go down even faster and then I can enjoy myself even sooner."

Romi leaned back against the couch, grabbing up the remote to the tv on his way, and moved Foster with him, nudging him off to the side so that he could wrap one arm around his shoulder to keep the gel pack in place. He didn't mind caring for Foster, having often cared for the frightened villagers his family often dragged into the bowels of the family villa. Handling a swollen lip with a brusied ego was easier then comforting young children who'd been turned on a whim.

After a while Romi lifted the gel pack and smirked. "Already looking better."

[Shinigami]

Foster smirked, giving a playfull little growl when Romi nipped back, and he was a little grateful the man had chosen his upper lip. His smirk turning into a mild scowl when he was warned against whining like a baby. He didn't whine... and he could handle the pain of removing his lip ring at the very least. When Romi moved to help him he ended up squeezing his eyes shut and clenching his jaw shut, hissing through his teeth until the metal ring was free of his lip.

Once the ring found itself on the table Foster was quite willing to move on to the ego stroking, but pouted as Romi scooted out from under him and wandered off. He almost got up to follow, but he was back soon enough with an ice pack. Foster sighed and moved to allow Romi to get back onto the couch, but before he could move back into his previous spot on his roommate's lap and take the ice pack, he was being pulled closer and the ice pack was applied for him. He chuckled as Romi berrated him automatically, already knowing Foster liked to let his heightened abilities do all the work.

He settled down with Romi, letting the man take care of him. "You know, sometimes I think you know me too well. I don't even get the chance to protest before you start to lecture me." He quieted down, Romi's actions only reaffirming his belief that having a friend as a casual bed partner was better. They had a certain level of caring without getting attached, and he wouldn't deny that he enjoyed it.

When the gel pack was lifted from his face he looked up at Romi, smirked back when he declared that his lip looked better. It was numb from the cold of the ice pack, but even so he could tell it had already started on the path to healing. He maneuvered his way back into Romi's lap, but sitting upright this time, hands fiddling with the hem of Romi's shirt. "Does that mean I get my ego stroked now?"

[Demeter]

Romi grinned at Foster and tossed the gel pack over to the coffee table, not even bothering to look when something crashed to the floor. He nipped at Foster's upper lip again while drapping his arms around the hybrid's neck. "I do believe that we can finally move onto the ego stroking. Shall we take this somewhere a little more private? I can still remember what happened the last time I decided to stroke your ego in the living room."

Romi chuckled as he stood, pulling Foster towards Foster's own room. He had a bigger bed. The last time they'd started fooling around in the living room, their roommate had walked in the front door. He didn't mind their casual relationship but the public displays were something he hadn't wanted to see.

Romi pulled Foster along by the belt loops on the other man's jeans. He pushed Foster into the room and kicked the door shut. "Now then, I'm all yours."

[Maira]

His answer to her question left her mind still reeling. Why couldn't he give her a good answer?! Worrying at her bottom lip for a moment, Lia thought over just what his answer might mean. He did say he'd never thought of himself as the father type, much like she'd never thought of herself as a mother so did that mean he didn't want any? Or did it just mean he'd been too busy living the relatively carefree life of an Incubus, like she had been, to even really contemplate children?

Oh how her brain wanted to explode...

Finally she decided to be completely honest with him. "I never really saw myself as the motherly type. The things I do just aren't conducive to child rearing..." Oh shit, that sounded horrible! Quickly she added, "But I've never once in my life felt for anybody like I feel for you. Now that I've got you in my life, maybe children wouldn't be so bad. I think it was just the thought of raising them on my own like my mother did that turned me off of the idea before."

It took a moment before she realized that for the first time she had mentioned her own mother to Talbot. At that realization, she hoped that he wouldn't ask too many prying questions about her childhood or parentage. Explaining that her mother had been left to raise her and her twin all alone would be embarrasing. Telling Talbot that her father was a God would be just plain awkward and he likely wouldn't believe her anyway.

((ooc: feel free to have him ask about her family, it'll just make her squirm more *grins evilly*))

[Shinigami]

Foster snickered at the memory of what had happened the last time they had decided to 'stroke egos' while on the couch. He clearly remembered the look on his other roommate's face, and he had taken some enjoyment in embarrassing the man. Besides, he didn't have anything against someone watching, so it hadn't bothered him to be in the reasonably public area of their livingroom. He wasn't quite sure whether Romi minded being watched or not, but it had been clear that day that their other roommate didn't like doing the watching, so they had always moved into one or the other's bedroom - usually his.

He stood to let Romi up and let the man pull him towards his own room by his belt loops. Foster was eyeing him, a smirk plastered onto his face as he thought about what he wanted to do to the older man. Once the door was kicked shut and Romi declared he was all his, it was his turn to push the man around. He grabbed Romi by his hips and pulled him forward, nipping once again at his bottom lip before diving in for a kiss, all the while pushing the man back towards the bed.

***

Talbot waited as Lia seemed to contemplate what he had said. He was nervous about her reaction, still reeling from the fact that he had confessed his feelings for her, and getting her confession in return. He didn't that to change just yet, wanting to hold on and actually get the chance to experiance it once their shock wore off, so he wanted to be carefull about what he said.

When she finally answered, he gave her words all of this attention. He couldn't help but be happy over the fact that having him could change her mind about a subject such as children. He had never felt for anyone as he felt for Lia either, and probably would have never considered children with anyone else. When she mentioned her mother, and how she had raised Lia alone, he couldn't help but think of Foster and had to ask. "You're mother raised you alone?"

Then he realized that he really didn't know anything about her family. He hadn't spoken about his own, but that was mainly because he didn't -know- his family, let alone if they were still alive. "Do you have any siblings? A father?" He was suddenly very curious.

[Maira]

Oh shit, he'd asked about her family. Damnit! Lia didn't even try to evade his questions though because he would just find a way to get it out of her later anyway... "My mother raised me and my twin brother on her own until I found my way to the goddess Eris. My father really only donated his half of our genetics and one measley visit when we came into our powers." There, she'd answered all of his questions without giving away anything about her father's true nature. Talking about her brother and mother wouldn't be too bad but she most deffinately didn't want to talk about her father.

Then, in hopes of distracting Talbot from herself and also because she realized she knew nothing of -his- family life, Lia asked him, "So what was it like for you growing up? Any crazy extended family members I should be on the lookout for?"

[Shinigami]

Tale was a little shocked to hear she had a twin brother. He would have thought that Lia would have mentioned something like that, but there was probably a reason for it. He was curious to know if her brother was an Incubus, and if she got her Custos powers from her father or mother or both. Unfortunately he didn't have time to ask any of those things, because as soon as he had opened his mouth she had asked him about his own family.

There were times when that subject could be touchy, but mostly he considered Hypnos is father and Morpheus his brother, having been raised well by both gods. He felt no remorse for never having known his real family. They had supposedly abandoned him, after all.

He smirked at Lia's question. "Well, if you think of the gods as crazy, then I have a fairly large crazy extended family. Though not by blood. I never knew my parents. Hypnos raised me like his own, which is why I spent such a large portion of my life with the gods and not wandering earth."

Talbot was unsure of how much Lia had wanted to know, but he left it open for her to question him further.