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tumblingxelian · 1 year ago

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I am glad I managed to convey just how unsettling the relationship feels. Plus even without the "that kind" of stuff, its still like, deeply damaging and unhealthy to say the least. Sort of a being spanked with a belt is worse than being spanked but both are still abuse thing.

Yeah I can totally see this being the point where any issues he had with his dad, (IE forever treating him as a product and trying to keep him dependent, emphasizing he's a child who needs Bob to speak for him ETC) Spill over into "Oh OK he's actually just a terrible fucking person and so are the other." Now, given Bob also has Jagged I can see him having the money, but the insight that XY is the only other person to use holograms is pretty interesting, so I'm kind of neutral but interested!

Also yeah I can definitely see that being part of what motivates Bob. He wants money but he also wants control. Its rather like how I tend to think Audrey is as cruel as she is because she doesn't want her kids becoming more than her. Some new talent like Marinette is great, she discovered them, can take credit for them, can create a beneficial contract and power dynamic for herself. If Chloe becomes a world famous figure skater though? What did Audrey provide, what does Audrey hold over her, what does Audrey feel when she isn't superior? She can dismiss the talent as worthless but if Chloe doesn't listen and become successful anyway... Well what does that say about Audrey? & its not like she wants to go through the effort of parenting so she could take credit, business relationship are so much easier. All the benefit, none of the labor.

Mhm, I think that works well. Especially cos the Audrey angle would have been a bit... Normalized to him. Yeah whenever they meet up she's shifted from using Chloe as a measuring stick against XY to a damage sponge and rhetorical device. Which is obviously cruel, but she's always been mean and is so to everyone. Its unpleasant but like Bob its normal. The Andre thing is a new facet he's not seen before and it makes his fucking skin crawl. Musing on that and then his dads lack of reaction and his own frustration it all spills over.

Aside, low key wondering if he reaches out to Jagged a little.

Mostly cos Jagged is under Bob to but doesn't seem to like him and would thus is perhaps one of the only adults XY can even potentially reach out to for advice. Granted early Jagged was also frankly kind of an asshole a lot of the time before shifting into "Super nice rich guy" mode, but still. I can see him being potentially helpful and one of the few semi external resources XY can actually communicate with, without it getting back to his dad.

XY: So, willing to hear me out?

Jagged: I'm an old school rocker pop star baby, so that means if you're lying to me and this is some scheme from Bob to fuck me over? Well, I am hitting you both over the head with my third and second favorite guitars.

XY: Sure, whatever, you can hit dad with both if you like, it'd make my life easier.

Jagged: Hahaha!

But yeah, tied to that thing from before within the framework of just Chloé & XY are cousins AU, I sort of mentally have it like.

They obviously meet several times when they are fairly young, Chloe especially given the let's say 5/year age gap? Its about what Xavier expected, his dad boasting, his aunt preening, both lobbing snark and snipe back at one another.

He's not really present, having been cosigned to the background with Chloe. who can talk, finally, but doesn't have a lot to say given she's five & wants to be her mom.

So it is mostly her trying to match what she can see of her mothers dynamic with Bob but its hard, cos Xavier's not playing into it, he's not playing his role!

Expressing this actually garners some interest, some insight, a bit of self reflection. & Xavier sort of waves off the idea of replicating the pair because "They're siblings, we're cousins, totally different."

Chloe is shocked and a little lost, "I don't know how to be a cousin." She clamps her hands over her mouth a second looking panicked but Xavier takes it as "This is a five year old" thing over anything else.

With nothing better to do they slink off to go watch movies, before sporadically being paraded around by their parents. While heckled by the other sibling, then taken aside and verbally torn to shreds by said parent.

Both trying not to cry they give a performative hug they both really need and depart.

This trend largely continues over the years, though Audrey shows up less, or always has something or someone other than Chloe to talk about.

She's still there, but she's a sponge for insults and derision, of herself & Andre's parenting; of how Audrey found other, more exceptional talents that she wont waste her time stuck in one industry with a couple of cash cows. She's not reliant on family and an aging rock start like old Bob is after all.

Meanwhile Bob's not exactly better, he's got a more jocular veneer, his child, his product is selling so well after all and its only his soft launch. Its clear where all the talent in the family went. Xavier just needs to stand there, he's not meant to think or have opinions after all, those are for his dad.

Whether he & Chloe can slink off for a movie, or anything oscillates kind of wildly, as do any text conversations or emails.

Usually post visits are a terrible time as Chloe's self destructive and lashing out, while Xavier's just zoning out.

But they are family and cousins are expected to talk, so they always come back to speaking. & Xavier is a little protective, even as Chloe starts acting well beyond her age and has sharp words for everyone. She is still his cousin and frankly still the nicest family member he knows and she still plays the role of kid cousin well. Chloe understands roles.

Then he's, let's say 16.

He's been left in the hotel on his own for awhile during a tour. His father has to handle something so "Uncle Andre" is nominally in charge. Still, XY is expected to stay in his room and not say anything childish or stupid (Incriminating) as he knows he needs his father to do the talking for him.

But naturally Chloe comes by and there's movies and silted conversation. That oscillated wildly between supremely superficial and flashes of genuine gut wrenching exhaustion slipping through both their well worn facades.

Turns out they got distracted and Chloe is late for a schedule meal with Andre and flips her shit. She is not "presentable" and races off, while XY decides to do the responsible cousin thing and say he had kept her busy and so swings by the private dining rooms. Maybe he'll order dinner while there too, who knows.

Andre however, rambles, he always rambles, the man loves talking and preening and now Chloe's here. Her hair is... off, her clothes are more like her mothers than merely stylish and mature. Her Audrey impression, usually seen by Xavier at a distance before cousin mode locks in is out in full force but its also... off.

Because she's apologizing, and simpering and giving Andre praise, loafing around on him while Audrey can usually barely stomach anyone's touch unless its worshipful and subtle. Andre's please preening is leagues beyond before, his face tinged red and its like they don't notice he's here? He was heading out the door but still...

Still, something about this feels, off to him. Not just off, creepy. Unseemly even? He hasn't used a word that large in a while. But it feels fitting.

The thing is, even after he leaves, he can't stop noticing it now. Can't stop quite thinking about Chloe interlocking her arm with her fathers like he's her escort. Or sits besides him when spectating from a private booth. Or, or, its a million little things in these moments that shouldn't be odd, but something about where the hands rest, how the bodies lean, the tones used.

They make him deeply uncomfortable and once that sensation has settled in him, he can't eject it. Naturally, XY asks his father.

The answer he gets is... Less than comforting.

A dismissive shrug, a reminder not to tattle on his contemporaries without running it by him first. A faintly considering glance at Chloe with a sly aside about some fellow high flying players who would like what Andre has with her & that's it.

Or so his father says, but Xavier is starting to think maybe its not just the mothers who are absent or cruel in this family. Maybe the fathers are all too present and all too comfortable with their control an the liberties it could allow them.

XY knows he's a doll to sell records, but Xavier is a cousin and he is concerned. He doesn't have the words yet, or a method, or even the self reflection to know if he's no better off. He might be, but whose splitting airs at this level?

But even with all that in mind, the thought never leaves Xavier even as the hotel fades away behind him and absently he shoots Chloe a text, much faster than he usually would.

He's not sure what if anything to say or offer, but he can use some of that time his dad allots for skin care to chat with Chloe right? It snot like he has any friends anyway, just groupies. Might as well keep in touch with family. Might as well keep that door open in case she ever needs to run through it.

The question is... Does she even think she needs to?

Ok, first off. Congratulations, even though we all agree it isn’t "that kind" of horrific, the implications made my skin crawl even though I know most of this is performative and nothing actually happens.

Second, this would probably be around the time XY starts making his plans to "move out" eventually (escape). I headcanon that XY is actually really smart. Like, he developed the hologram technology used in the show, does his own special effects, kind of smart. Mostly it was cause besides Hawk Moth, XY is the only one to USE holograms in the show, and I refuse to believe Bob Roth has that kind of talent or money.

It also adds another layer to XY's frustration with his dad, cause like. XY is mostly there as a moneymaker. He's conventionally attractive, has a decent voice. However, if this was purely about profits, XY could be making his dad INFINITELY MORE MONEY if he was allowed to pursue his special effects/programming skills. He's that good. But that would require Bob ACKNOWLEDGING that XY's talents are his own, not tied to his dad in anyway, so that’s out. Can’t have your son smarter or more successful than you, unless it was your doing.

But, like, before, XY was willing to put up with it. Not entirely. He didn’t enjoy it. But it was his usual. He was used to it. But then he starts observing Chloé. Her relationship with her dad - her lack of one with her mom. And he starts to think "This is wrong. She doesn’t deserve this.". And eventually those thoughts lead to, "If Chloé doesn’t deserve it . . . I don’t either."

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