alexia-simmons

[alexia-simmons]

In spite of my complaints about my children from other timelines, I do wish having them naturally here once or if they make their return back home where they belong. I'm not sure how screwed it could get if I have two versions of at least Odessa and Lenore around.

My heart really goes out to you, truly. Wait, wait, wait, hold on and pause for a minute while I process all of this. You not only share a son with Prince of Lust himself, but you are telling me that you're Azriel's brother? I mean, I knew Cael was floating around somewhere and it's not like Az asks for parenting tips either way, but this is fucking crazy.

It was definitely a trial, but I wouldn't trade those years despite the difficulties. I'm sure you'll feel that way once you have them naturally, if you want children in this timeline, that is.

I do. It goes in waves, from manageable to borderline debilitating. My son is here in this timeline, but he's not mine if that makes sense. His name is Cael, and his other father is Lust. The version you've probably come across is actually the son of my brother, Azriel.

[alexia-simmons]

That sounds like something a hostage with Stockholm syndrome would say.

You're Lysander, right? Aemon's twin? Look, we don't have much time before Envy notices anything wrong, but it's time to go.

No, I'm not being held hostage.

[alexia-simmons]

He better not believe he can swoop into this timeline and claim you back as his Queen or I will pluck Kingslayer from Wrath's possession before running the fucker through even if the sword doesn't work for me. I'll warn Greed, but Bel, what are we going to do?

It is. Apparently, he comes from a timeline where I am his queen. It was... alarming to say the least, but I wanted to make sure you and Greed were aware of him walking around.

[alexia-simmons]

As long as you know your worth, that's what counts. If your version was the product of a cheating scandal and found family in the least likely of places, I say we did have similar upbringings. I knew the two of you were two peas in a pod the moment I saw you both together. It warms my heart seeing my daughter have someone like you at her side, Quinn, I'm reminded of me and Azriel.

You're right about that– I'm an absolute delight to be around. That's not the first time you've said that to me. It sounds like my version of you and my version of you had similar upbringings. I'm not surprised she went through those hoops– she's my girl. We've been attached at the hip since the moment we could toddle around.

[alexia-simmons]

Alexia's gaze touched the glinting metal of Azriel's mechanical arm, a staple of his for as long as she could remember. Many in the coven glanced his way with curiosity, wondering as anybody would about how it worked. She had her own questions, but she kept them to herself for the most part. "Yeah, Lust might blow a gasket about any attack on his mother. Greed isn't her favorite child, so I've actively avoided her at all costs. Still, you think a fucking Queen Mother of demons would know that you must not value your life if you dared threaten any of the Foxwood siblings." Someone fucking with Gianna alone burned a fire of retaliation so fierce within the hybrid, that it hardly mattered whose body she was burying in the backyard. "I understand the worry, but not keeping a close eye on him means abandoning him and I don't want to become my father. That's a promise I made myself, when I had and now have children of my own, I need to do better. As much as Aemon makes it easy for me to smack him across the head, there is good in him." Lexi glanced down at her hands and found her attention back on Az, "Just like I know there's good in you."

His gaze fell to his metal arm as it ticked uncomfortably, his fingernails scratching bluntly at the panels. "It's not just them. Lust isn't just... upset about me fighting with Gluttony. It's more than that. Also adding the fact that I fucked with their mother after she dared to say she would use my siblings against me if I continued on my path and kept hurting her son." The words by the end were spat out, almost like Azriel couldn't handle saying it. Did he regret what he did to Sera? No, she needed to be knocked down a peg, but things were spiraling. The witch glided a hand through his hair, pulling at the hairs of his nape sharply to force himself to exhale. "Don't get pulled down with him, Lex. If he continues this trend, he's going to get involved with someone who won't blink at killing him the moment he settles his scathing words on them. Just be careful."

[alexia-simmons]

At least I'm not suffering the terrible two's or the dreadful teenager years. I cannot imagine raising Lenore or Aemon as adolescents.

I'm sure you're missing him terribly. Who is he and his other father, if I may ask? I might have come across one or both of them already.

I figured so. It's hard to learn to be a parent when they're already so much older.

Just one. He's unfortunately back in my original timeline, but at least he's with his father until I'm able to return.

[alexia-simmons]

Alexia continued fiddling with the pendant before realizing the stress-induced habit was doing nothing for her unrelenting nerves and released the hold altogether. She understood the why behind Aemon's actions, his experiences with the Delacroix brothers, the hybrid would have done the same if it was her father. The problem is, that man wasn't as powerful as Azriel, not even by a longshot. "He's my son, I still feel partly responsible. You will always be an ally of my House, Az, I would vouch for you no matter what. No, your track record with the princes hasn't been the greatest. Envy is a given, but I don't think Gluttony views you as the enemy. He knows how you are with Gianna and so does Lust if he happened to be a little miffed at the fight against his twin." An attack on one brother is an attack on all of them. Though, what she heard about Envy's new personality switch could shift the game. Lexi pressed her lips together at Azriel's last question, shrugging, "It's only a temporary fix. Once the cool down period is over, he may lash out with someone else who doesn't show mercy. Greed and I will chaperone him around the city, but we cannot staple his mouth shut."

Az drew a leg towards his chest to loop his arm around; eyes dropping to the pendant that the redhead fiddled with, border-lined obsessively. His entire interaction with Aemon wasn't... unexpected. Azriel didn't mince words, didn't hide what he thought about people. He would, forever, be someone who unabashedly stood up for what he cared about, even if it made him powerful enemies. Though the witch couldn't imagine that was the only thing that the alternate version of himself did. The other him was a supposed murderer, and perhaps that anger was in him in this time, too. "You shouldn't blame yourself; that type of anger isn't your fault. It's... deep-rooted. I don't know what the other me did fully, but I know what I'm capable of. We'll see how long I remain an ally of your House, Lex. It appears that I'm on the fast track to becoming the Prince's public enemy number one." Not all of them, of course, but who knows who will stick by Envy's side in the end. Does he want to be on opposite sides of people he cares about? No, but he would do, has done, everything and anything for his sister. "You think grounding him is going to work?"

[alexia-simmons]

No, it doesn't change anything, and it's honestly a fault of theirs if they weren't willing to know you. Your family is who you surround yourself with, not just the blood flowing through your veins. Lenore's made it loud and clear you were a part of ours and I can't argue with her.

I can't either, but it's not like I care. I had everything I needed, so whether it was because my father drew a line or they honestly didn't want anything to do with me, it doesn't change anything.

[alexia-simmons]

Just so you know, bowing at the foot of any man and kissing the ground is a rare offer I don't give apart from one other. The problems are mounting higher in the mortal realm anyway. So, how can I lighten your load and help?

Fair. I'm already ignoring a bunch of duties back in Hell to be walking the mortal realm right now. How about we nix the 'kissing the ground' and we'll be even.

[alexia-simmons]

I had to shoot my shot before you were swamped, right? Anything you can do to remedy that for me, I would be most appreciated and I'll lowkey kiss the ground you walk on.

Should have figured that was coming. I don't know if I can or not– but I will look into it. That's all I can really promise, Alexia.

[alexia-simmons]

The statement still holds merit no matter how many children are in the family. I can't imagine a world where I would hold back my own daughter and her curiosity out of sheer fear. God, I just have so many questions about your timeline, sweetie. I'm all for believe knowledge holds power, but why were we so cautious? And what were you trying to change our minds of?

Well, in my timeline, I didn't have the additional brothers, and it was just Lenore and me. You weren't harsh or anything– didn't force me to do anything. If anything, you were very cautious in both of our upbringings when all I wanted to do was travel the realms. It's why I read and studied so much, knowledge was power, and I thought it would give me more power to change my dad and your mind.

[alexia-simmons]

While I can commend the versions of Sloth and Greed for stepping up and helping raise you, Quinn, I can't speak for the other brothers in your timeline as to why they wouldn't help. Maybe Sloth didn't trust anyone in his family to care for you.

I can imagine it, trust me. I only trust two men with everything I have, and that's my father, Sloth, and Lenore's dad– they raised me along with you and Mama Mara when no one else wanted to. Everyone else can go suck rocks for all I care.

[alexia-simmons]

Yes, well, imagine how strange it is that I'm house-hunting with my Prince one day and then I have a brood of children the next. Given the small fraction of your history Lenore has relayed to me, you have every right trusting very few men. When they have done nothing but fail you your entire life, treat you like a body warming their beds, you don't expect much apart from the exceptions in our lives.

Right. We just found out you were pregnant with Odessa not too long ago, actually, so it's... strange to see a grown version of her walking around. I can't vouch for the 'raise' part, but I can attest to the 'complicated to be around part'. There are very few men I actually like to be around.

[alexia-simmons]

I just had you, Lenore, and Odessa on the way, right? It's in my experience that men are oftentimes very complicated to raise and be around.

Uh... to be fair, in my timeline, you're not a boy mom.

[alexia-simmons]

I'm one of those new parents due to certain timelines coming through. Which makes my job just as challenging.

The benefits aren't lost on me. How many do you have?

I'm afraid even as a veteran parent, that's a question that never gets answered.

Brutal but worth it in the end.

[alexia-simmons]

It's a lot contained in one mansion. Odessa, I hope I wasn't one of those parents who placed the weight on your shoulders to become the perfect daughter because of her siblings. A different me might've raised you that way, but I don't want to be that type of mother.

Varying personalities, varying timelines. It's a lot, undoubtedly. Hopefully, I can keep holding that mantle. I tend not to stray too far from my studies or books for too long.

[alexia-simmons]

Alexia released a long sigh as her fingers fiddled with the pendant around her neck, the boon once gifted to her by the First Witch reminding her of the bond she shared with Greed. Her love, her husband, how easily their lives were turned upside down by the appearance of their children. "I still blame myself, though, knowing how unpredictable I'm learning Aemon is. He never completely explained the issue with you was, but I appreciate you going easy on him. I think every kid in my house understands you cannot attack an ally of House Greed without consequences." A slow smile crept along the hybrid's mouth, the sound of Azriel's laughter a warm surprise she didn't expect from him in a while. "Good, getting our heads totally scrambled is so not cute. I promise, Aemon's been placed on strict house arrest and won't be seeing you or anyone else for that matter anytime soon."

Azriel nodded, knowing that Alexia would know more than the rest what it took to survive when the odds of the world were against them. He wasn't capable as a child, had blood on his hands before he could even comprehend what it meant, but everything he went through made him a survivor. A slightly mal-adjusted, crumbling at the seams survivor. He raised a brow at the hybrid's anger over the situation, what had happened between him and her adopted son. "I don't blame him, you know– from what he told me of what I've done to him in his timeline, I can understand why he lashed out. Which is also why I took it easy on him," the witch sighed. He may be a coven enforcer, a killer that was bound by duty to the council, but he still had a conscience. He didn't kill for fun. Az blew out a small huff of laughter. "We're fine. I don't go back on my word– if he comes back, no telling what I would do, though. I wouldn't go after you, anyway."