Octa

Summary: Theodore must leave for Clan, and the Classico household has to live with it.

Warnings: None. Theodore is around 13 here.

Words: 300

Prompt: June 27th – Wherever you Will go – the Calling / “To watch you, to guide you"

The air is crisp in those early hours, sky clear and blue as if covered by a sheet of glass. On the steps, Albrecht takes a deep breath, watching the men moving around the carriage.

“Careful with that, I have some important books in there… yes please, put that box with me – thank you!”

Theodore’s among them, giving some last-minute directions as he surveys the finishing touches. His belongings are all stored away – Albrecht had helped with that himself – and so all that remains now is the last few items he’ll need for the journey.

Once that’s done, the men step away, and everyone goes quiet.

“Young Master.”

Theodore turns to look at Albrecht. How strange, that it hits Albrecht only now – right outside the mansion, on the morning of Theodore’s departure to Clan.

The size of him. His height. The cut of his shoulders, his jaw, the baby fat long gone.

Albrecht takes another breath, forcing the words out. “I wish you safe travels. Please let us know as soon as you’ve settled.”

Theodore smiles, and Albrecht bows, feeling his neck itch. Lord Dino had refused to join them; yet the curtains to his study are drawn, windows open.

“To watch you, to guide you… has been my biggest pride. I look forward to seeing what kind of vampire you’ll become.”

There’s a pause, Albrecht still bowing respectfully – and then a weight crashes into his chest.

“Really, Albrecht,” Theodore laughs, pink-cheeked and bright as he hugs him close. “I appreciate the sentiment, but please – save these kinds of farewells for gloomier occasions. I won’t be away forever, alright?”

He pulls away, and oh, how much he’s grown. With a last I’ll see you, stay safe! Theodore boards the carriage, and Albrecht watches it go until it disappears from sight.

any time someone is in any kind of crisis or upheaval, offer to feed them. tell them they don't have to choose what it is if they can't make decisions, just ask about allergies and preferences and tell them you're just gonna make food happen at their house.

friend having a baby? delivery gift certificate to order food to the hospital after the kid shows up.

someone's relative passes away? offer to make them dinner.

buddy gets laid off? ask if you can order them lunch.

pal stuck in a depressive episode? offer to drive them to fucking mcdonalds, if that's what they want.

people in crisis are tired and sad and angry and the last thing most of them are doing is thinking about feeding themselves. so if you have the ability or time or money, providing that is always, always a good move.

people miss you. they do. even if you haven’t talked in years. even if they are only a distant memory from a time that you didn’t have a major impact on their life, they miss you.

my parents went to a tech meet up tonight and they came home telling me they met a friend i went to school with and they said her name. i didn’t remember her to begin with. the last time we talked for longer than a comment on each others instagram was 6th grade (we’re both juniors in college). but she remembered me. she remembered even when we didn’t have classes together or during all of my absences in high school. she remembered and she told my parents “i hope he’s doing okay now, he had it rough when we were in school but i’ve always hoped he made it out the other side.” the most time we spent together was some after school stuff in middle school and now, almost 11 years later, she still cares

Summary: Gerhard refuses to dance. Angelico is going to fix it.

Warnings: None; pure fluff.

Words: 300

Prompt: June 19th - Raise Your Glass - P!nk / “Don’t be fancy, just get dancy”

Angelico's Papa is the best in the whole world.

Strong, as every vampire should be; pretty, like all the Fras are; and kind, though he struggles really hard to hide it.

Truly, there’s nothing he can't do.

Which is why, Angelico doesn’t understand why he won’t do this.

“Papa, please…” he whines, to no avail. Gerhard stays rooted to the table, pretending like the cheer around him doesn’t exist.

Three days have passed since the kidnapping incident. While things are mostly back to normal, the Delico servants had still decided to throw a party for the children, mentioning how everyone needed a break. The idea had been welcome; and the nursery was transformed into a miniature ballroom, toys put away and musicians invited to play.

Sidelined, Angelico stares as the others have fun, screaming and laughing their joy away. Henrique is twirling his girls, the twins giggling loudly. Raphael waltzes with Dali, expression bright. Even Dino and Theodore, usually ones to shy away from the spotlight, are awkwardly trying to work around each other.

Everyone but them.

“I’ve already told you no,” Gerhard grouses, eyes not leaving his papers. “Fras do not engage in such frivolous activities – it’s unbecoming.”

“But –!”

“Go play somewhere else.”

The dismissal stings – though perhaps not as much as the tears blurring Angelico’s sight. Stubbornly, he wipes them away.

A few days ago, he would’ve already given up, fear tying his tongue. But after everything – Pendulum, the fighting, their hug – there’s no going back now.

“Don’t be fancy, just get dancy!”

Gerhard gapes at his shout – but just then Dali appears.

“Angelico’s right, we’ll write those reports later. Unless… you don’t know how to dance?”

“What?! Of course I do!” Gerhard barks, grabbing Angelico’s hand, and Angelico swears he feels his heart burst in happiness.

A few months ago, I was on a tram when I met an Afghan woman speaking Persian. Since Persian is my first language, I joined her conversation. She shared her hope that one day Afghan women will be able to protest against the Taliban, just as women in Iran have done.

Today, Afghan women are showing incredible courage by standing up against policies that try to control their bodies and their lives. These policies, introduced since 2021, have included restrictions such as revoking access to education and limiting women’s presence in public spaces.

Kurt Vonnegut wrote: “When I was 15, I spent a month working on an archeological dig. I was talking to one of the archeologists one day during our lunch break and he asked those kinds of “getting to know you” questions you ask young people: Do you play sports? What’s your favorite subject? And I told him, no I don’t play any sports. I do theater, I’m in choir, I play the violin and piano, I used to take art classes.

And he went WOW. That’s amazing! And I said, “Oh no, but I’m not any good at ANY of them.”

And he said something then that I will never forget and which absolutely blew my mind because no one had ever said anything like it to me before: “I don’t think being good at things is the point of doing them. I think you’ve got all these wonderful experiences with different skills, and that all teaches you things and makes you an interesting person, no matter how well you do them.”