“You are more than correct, Madame Szardos,” Eclipse stated bluntly. “I am a monster, and I deserve to die. I have always deserved to die. But that is why I am here. I wish to make amends and to keep myself from taking the lives of any others.”
He looked at Kurt’s still form, expression carefully guarded.
“Your son had trouble accepting me as well,” he said carefully. “But he will tell you that I do what I can to minimize suffering. I am a cursed creature, but I have guilt for what I do. Much guilt. And I do what I can.”
He flinched under the woman’s stare.
“We are prisoners of our birth,” he said quietly. “I was born as an infant, the child of parents who wished to defy fate itself. I have taken many lives, but I wish to cease my bloodshed if at all possible. I am little better than an animal, clawing its way back from the brink of death, but I try. And I promise that while I am in your world, no harm will come to any creature in it.”
She turned to look at him, her green eyes cold. “Minimizing suffering does not justify what you do, Beng.” She opened her mouth to continue, but was distracted by the fluttering of her son’s eyes. A different woman seemed to emerge, a worried, tender mother in the place of the hateful witch. “Kurti? Liebchen, are you all right?” She smoothed his hair back and stroked his furry cheek.
“Mama? When did I…” Kurt saw Eclipse. He smiled, he’d made it. He’d gotten them back to his world. “Sorry I passed out.” He apologized. “I hope you didn’t have too much trouble getting to the school. Wait,” he turned his attention back to his mother. “Did you just call him ‘beng’?”
Her eyes cut to Eclipse. “It’s what he is. He is a—”
“I know what he is, Mama. Really, I should think you would know better. Your son and fiance both look like we do and people call us devils, then you go calling someone else one? What about getting to know someone before you judge them? What about being accepting of those who are different?” He used her own words back at her. She’d spent his entire life teaching him that such accusations and condemnations were wrong and presumptuous. It bothered him to see her reacting the same way to Eclipse as so many others had reacted to Kurt.
“That’s different, Baby. He hurts people, you and Papa do not.” Margali smoothed her son’s hair again. She did not want to have this conversation with that creature here.
“Papa did. I have, though you know it wasn’t my fault. You even have, Mama. Eclipse does what he has to to survive. You can’t say you wouldn’t do the same.” Kurt’s yellow eyes were intense, but he broke his stare to look at Eclipse. “I’m really sorry about—”
“Hush. I bet you’re thirsty.” Margali rose from her chair to get some water. She was very familiar with the infirmary. She had spent quite awhile here helping to take care of Kurt when he had been injured on duty last year. “Besides, he should not exist. There is no reason for him to take lives to sustain his own when he has no business even living himself. It’s cruel and selfish. Not even Papa has the body count this thing does, and both Papa and I have changed. He cannot.” She looked at Eclipse. “I want you gone while I go get my son some water.” And with that, she walked away.
Kurt called after her. “That’s why he’s here! To change!” He sighed and turned back to Eclipse. “I’m really sorry about her. She’s not very nice to most people who aren’t her kids. I had hoped she wouldn’t be here, but I guess the school called her when I went missing. Again, sorry. So how’s it going with Dr. McCoy?”
17th June 2013
Reblogged From bookishmonster
Notes: 4
“Excuse me, er, ma’am?”
Eclipse looked exceedingly uncomfortable. He had his full child act on, but he knew she could see through it.
“Margali. I, ah. Want to apologize for acting the way I did when Kurt was…injured.”
He cleared his throat.
“If it is all the same to you, I would rather not show you what I normally look like—I do not show anyone but close friends, because it is rather unnerving and I do not like to make people uncomfortable—but I assure you I mean you no harm. “
He paused, fidgeting.
“And since I have no intention of getting out of your son’s life, I suppose it would be easier if we got along. Or something. Er, at least if you tolerated me, it would be easier. I really do not like conflict.”
He waited, hoping she would take his words seriously and not twist them in on themselves.
Margali turned when the curtain around Kurt’s bed was moved. She had assumed Hank, but it was that filthy blood-drinker instead. She could hardly contain her look of contempt. “That’s Madame Szardos to you, Beng.”
She didn’t attempt to get up from her seat next to her son’s bedside to address Eclipse. It was meant as an insult, a sign that she did not see him worth her time. “Your apology is worthless. You are an abomination; you should not be alive. Your words hold no weight and your charade means nothing. I can see you for what you are, horrific, mangled, a waste of magic and of life. You take others’ lives so that you can sustain your pathetic own. You have no right to it. There is a reason vampires do not exist in this world, and you have no right being here. If you so much as kill one person, I will see to it that you join your ancestors in death.” She threatened, still holding Kurt’s hand all the while.
“You would be smart to leave now, and never come back, never contact my son again, because I will not hesitate to undo what should never have been done.” With that, she turned her head, signalling that she was finished with the conversation. He was not worth more of her breath.
As a pool boy? You would be smarter to stay in college.
I would probably find a new job. I really don’t know what I’m going to do, I just know I’ve got to start bringing in a bit more income. Babies are pretty expensive, you know?
Alex is back, so I should probably give him his phone back. It was nice talking to you Madame.
Yes, I know. I’ve had three. Good luck to you.
It was nice talking to you too, young man.
No you’re not. All right, all right. I don’t want to argue this anymore. Though I never thought I would hear you say that you would be okay with me sleeping with anyone. I know, I know. And to be fair, I guess you’re right. I did end up almost getting carried away with Haley…
Thank you for that sentiment, but according to my Vitsa, I am marime. They consider me Gadji. I explained this to you. Well, as I’ve told you before, you are a sexual being. This is no surprise to me. I’ve always been aware of the chance of you getting married and even having sexual relations. See? You told me about that. She stopped you. I know you weren’t going to go all the way, but I you said you felt you were going further than you wanted to go.
But you’re not. We’re not traditional, but there are many more non-traditional Roma now. You are still Romanipen. I know, I know. Ja, can we not talk about this? It’s awkward. You’re right. I will listen to you more from now on.
You’re right. We are. All right, we can skip this subject. Now it is late and we’ve had this whole conversation online, which is silly since you’re only in the next room, but I’m going to bed. I’ll come give you a hug like a promised. You need to get to bed too. I know you wanted to go to Mass at Vater Heinrich’s tomorrow, and you need to get up and get a bath before Mass.
How did you get so wise, little one? You are so young, yet so wise. Thank you, Kurti. I will do my best to remember that, my sweet one.
I don’t know. You live, you learn, I guess. You learn how to deal with things or else you go crazy. You’re welcome.
Well, you are quite wise to have come up with these things.
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
She’s absolutely beautiful and you should be proud. Take good care of that baby. You may be young, but I am sure you are completely capable. I wasn’t much older when I had my first child.I’m extremely proud. She’s the coolest baby ever. I am doing my very best, I promise. My fiancee and I are hoping to get married in July and then I’ll be able to spend more time with them and everything.
And what is your job, young man?
Right now I am just a pool boy at a pretty nice hotel. I’m still in college, but I’m thinking I’ll probably drop out and work full time for them.
As a pool boy? You would be smarter to stay in college.
Not when he could have died, it’s not. Perhaps I should take back what I said about you being prepared to be a father. I should hope you wouldn’t think it was funny if your daughter got hurt.
I would never do that! It was definitely not funny at the time! I was freaking out because I thought he was going to die, but when you look back ten years later, it’s okay to laugh.
I should hope not. Hmmm.
(Source: therealnightcrawler)
She’s absolutely beautiful and you should be proud. Take good care of that baby. You may be young, but I am sure you are completely capable. I wasn’t much older when I had my first child.I’m extremely proud. She’s the coolest baby ever. I am doing my very best, I promise. My fiancee and I are hoping to get married in July and then I’ll be able to spend more time with them and everything.
And what is your job, young man?
I know she’s not. How is that any different from you and Papa? He’s Gadje. He’s had other partners, and now you two are sleeping together, out of wedlock. Why is it different just because you’re older? I have self-control. I’m not a slave to my desires. I can adhere to my standards. I wish you would have more confidence in me rather than expecting me to fail. I know she’s not always joking, but she knows how I feel on the matter and she respects me enough not to push it.
I’m pretty well unclean anyway. I had two other children, you know. But, I am old enough to know the implications of sex and responsible enough to handle them. You are too young. I’ve experienced enough that I’m free to make my own choices of that sort now. If you’re ever forty years old, divorced, and want to sleep with the woman you love even if you aren’t married, I have no objections to it. I do have confidence in you, Kurt, but I know how things get. You both may get to a point where you forget your convictions. You get carried away. I just don’t want you to get upset.
No you’re not. All right, all right. I don’t want to argue this anymore. Though I never thought I would hear you say that you would be okay with me sleeping with anyone. I know, I know. And to be fair, I guess you’re right. I did end up almost getting carried away with Haley…
Thank you for that sentiment, but according to my Vitsa, I am marime. They consider me Gadji. I explained this to you. Well, as I’ve told you before, you are a sexual being. This is no surprise to me. I’ve always been aware of the chance of you getting married and even having sexual relations. See? You told me about that. She stopped you. I know you weren’t going to go all the way, but I you said you felt you were going further than you wanted to go.
Then who should I apologize to? Myself?
As a matter of fact, yes. You should. You should not be devaluing yourself in such a way.
Yes, ma’am. I just told myself I’m sorry.
Don’t be a smart-aleck.
Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.
Good.
