Work Text:
Alador was a very lucky man.
He had a loving family, a home, wealth, status and had managed to make his passion into his career.
Everything was perfect.
…
Well, sure, he was chronically fatigued, both his body and mind constantly feeling sluggish and not fully present, but that was normal, wasn’t it? Just a part of growing older, especially with the way his brain was wired. As long as he could still focus enough to keep on tinkering and building and coming up with new designs, no matter the struggle, it didn’t matter. As long as he could still provide for his family it was all good.
That’s what his wife kept telling him to reassure him too. He didn’t need to buy groceries, cook or clean- not personally at least, that’s what his Abominations were for after all- or take care of anything at all. It was ok if he forgot the time and missed dinner with the family or anything of the sort, if he was actually required to be present anywhere but his workshop Odalia would make sure he’d be there. His only responsibility was to create the Abomination-based machines and gadgets for Home Security that provided their income, everything else was taken care of by her.
She would handle marketing, prices, mass production, salaries, hiring and firing employees at the factory and, of course, managing family matters, taking care of their three kids and her husband, always making sure that everything was running smoothly and that both their wealth and status as a family were rising to the top. Without Odalia people wouldn’t look at him and see a “genius inventor”, instead all they’d see was a forgetful, distractible slob.
He’s still amazed that she was even putting up with him, Odalia was always shooting for the top, for best at everything, the only things that satisfied her were power, profit and success. Alador wouldn’t describe himself with any of those terms. The only reason he was being successful was because of her. But, apparently, it was enough for her. As long as he managed to keep working through his fatigue and scrambled thoughts, he’d be enough.
He did consider taking potions once, after mulling over how annoyed his wife had gotten with his absent-mindedness, but she’d assured him that he didn’t need them, he had been handling himself just fine so far after all.
He was good enough for her and their family, despite her high standards, so obviously she was right, he didn’t need any help from a potion or a therapist. Those would only be a waste of time and resources. He just had to continue working and try harder whenever he’d make a mistake. He was supposed to be a genius, after all, so he just had to stop acting stupid!
Simple as that.
…
He wished he could take a break every once in a while. Just to shut off or spend a day with his family, but that’d be selfish and lazy. He’s selfish and lazy just wanting that. Isn’t it enough that he was able to tinker for a living? That’s all he ever wanted. He had everything he ever wanted in life and more, didn’t he? He should be happy, grateful, but instead he just felt tired.
Odalia thought he was good enough, but he wasn’t so sure. He’d just have to keep trying to do his best and ensure that their kids wouldn’t turn out like him. They deserved to be better, they had a bright future ahead of them. Amity especially was well on her way to join the Emperor’s Coven, which was a huge deal. He.. wasn’t too sure what either of the twins were up to, actually…
Huh.
When was the last time he’d even spoken to them? A few days ago? A couple of weeks maybe? Longer?? Had it really been that long or was he just forgetting something more recent? He had no idea.
Time often lost its meaning to him. That’s why Odalia was in charge of making sure that he made it to appointments and such after all.
She wouldn’t think it necessary for him to spend time with their kids. What would he even do with them? Sit in awkward silence? Take them to a fair they’re already too old for? Teach them his bad mannerisms and laziness? Titan no…
He’s sure if there’s anything of actual use that he could do with their children without making a fool of himself Odalia would let him know. Until then, the door to his workshop is always unlocked while he’s working in it, so they’re always free to come to him should they need anything.
They might already be doing so actually. With how intensely focused on his work he tends to get and Odalia’s habit of joining him in his workshop only to ramble on about things he doesn’t really need to pay attention to, he usually doesn’t even notice people coming in or talking in his workshop anymore. He can’t sense another witches presence and voices are merely background noise to him while he’s engrossed in his work, so he can’t say for certain that they don’t visit him in his workshop. And if they don’t, well, then clearly there’s no reason for them to do so. It means they’re fine.
His kids are doing fine. His wife is taking care of everything. They have a manor and snails and a good rep to their name.
And he’s somehow good enough.
He’s truly lucky.