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Idyllic rises with the morning sun.
It's routine at this point, how she dresses herself: slow and methodical. She ties her belt, dons her gloves, and hesitates if only for a moment over the mask.
It was once her father's. Now it is hers.
The mantle.
The name.
She pauses, thumbs trailing wood. It's solid. Smooth. She wonders just how long it took to carve: The work and care and love that went into it.
It fits like it was made for her.
Maybe... maybe in some way it was.
It feels heavy against her face.
Idyllic grimaces. But, no one is around to see it. So, who's to say if she did. She shrugs if but for herself.
The halls are as welcoming and quiet as always. There's the urge to skip and dance- haunted by memories of a younger, free self. Could she ever twirl again? Tiny hands enveloped by a loving father's: Ignorance had been, and always will be, bliss. A little girl. A loving family.
No. Idyllic walks down the halls: slow and calculated.
The door is open. As expected. But, being the polite older sister she is, she knocks.
Starlight looks up. The crow they're holding looks up, too.
They stare at each other; seconds ticking by like the droning beat of a drum. Who will speak first? The test of time will only tell. Idyllic tilts their head to the side. Starlight follows.
"Breakfast," Idyllic eventually utters. Starlight knows what her presence means, at this point. But, again, Idyllic has manners.
Before Idyllic can step away, Starlight is standing up: speaking in their typical dry tone.
"Hold."
Idyllic waits.
Soon enough, a crow is being pushed into her arms. She blinks.
"... It wishes to be pet."
She looks down. The crow- one of many she's familiar with; Starlight's murder is part of the family at this point- looks up at her. She reaches out a tentative hand; The feathers are soft beneath her phalanges, as she gives the bird a few gentle pats.
This seems to appease Starlight- Idyllic can tell by the gentle pulse of their aura: shining silver, a trickling creek.
They reach the bird back out; Starlight takes it graciously.
"... Thank you," they whisper, honest. "I'll be down soon."
Idyllic nods her head.
-
Acrylic's room is next.
Idyllic knocks once, twice, and then a third time.
Huh.
"... Breakfast," she calls out, a little tentative.
A shuffle.
Hm. So she's being ignored. She frowns.
"I'm opening the door," Idyllic says, as she turns the knob.
Acrylic looks at her like Idyllic had just murdered her entire family: imaginary dog included. She's settled on her bed, smoothing out her eyeliner, mirror in hand. She grimaces as Idyllic steps inside the room.
"Ew," she says. A statement onto itself.
"Breakfast," Idyllic repeats, a broken record.
Acrylic throws one of the many plushies decorating her bed at Idyllic's head. Idyllic side steps it with ease.
Idyllic steps outside the door, making sure to leave it open about a half an inch. She doesn't have to turn around to know that Acrylic is pouting: brows knit tightly together.
"Maybe dad would do some target practice with you later. You seem like you need it."
Idyllic snickers as she hears yet another plushie thud against the door.
-
The halls seem a bit brighter: the shining sun peeking through half open curtains. There's a sense of warmth. A calling. Idyllic basks in it. Will she allow herself to hum? The music sings to her, inside her mind: a lilting tune. It wouldn't hurt. So, Idyllic hums as she makes her way to the next room. She nearly jumps out of her bones when she nearly runs into her father.
"Father," Idyllic squeaks out: an apology.
"Child," Prism smiles, gently brushing off a piece of invisible debris from Idyllic's shoulder. He reaches up, hands practiced, as he pushes the mask up from Idyllic's head. He smiles. "How's my little creation doing this morning?"
Idyllic almost instantly calms under the contact. Her father has always had a way of doing that. He may not have an aura- not to most. But to Idyllic? He is her touchstone. Her father.
"I'm fine. Gathering everyone for breakfast."
Prism frowns, soft.
"You know you don't need to do that," he says. His hand remains on her shoulder, steady.
Idyllic shrugs.
She likes to feel helpful. She likes checking on her siblings. Seeing their faces: bathed innocent in the morning light.
Her father accepts her silence. "I have something to tell you," he says, eventually.
Idyllic stills.
Stars.
She groans, unable to hide her distressed expression. "Please don't tell me I'm going to have another sibling-"
Prism barks out a laugh. He shakes his head, wiping at his eye sockets.
"No- no. Nothing that big," he stifles his giggles, "No, ah. Hm." He pauses, bringing his hand to his chin. He looks at Idyllic, mischievous, "Your dad is surprising everyone with a new recipe this morning- crepes. They're... not very good. Don't tell him though- well, you should always speak your mind. I just think I've already made him feel bad enough." Prism winces at his own words. Idyllic knows her father: his wit and sense of humor. She smiles.
"Okay," she says, enjoying the pleasant silence. Prism lets her think: process. Soon, she's saying something without realizing it. "... I think Starlight is feeling a bit sad. You should check on them."
Prism blinks. He frowns. He nods.
Idyllic steps away, heading towards the next room. But, she is stopped when Prism calls out to her.
"Sunlight?"
Idyllic turns around, hand on mask.
Prism pauses. He shifts his weight from foot to foot: He's thinking. "I love you," he eventually decides on.
Idyllic pulls the mask back down. "Love you too," she says, walking down the halls once more.
-
Solace is waiting, head peeking out from her room as Idyllic walks by. Idyllic can't help but smile, giving the wood a gentle knock. She leans against the door frame. Solace beams up at her.
"Breakfast time, little Lacey," Idyllic says, voice warm. Solace nods, opening the door fully.
"What are we having?" Solace asks, rocking back on her heels. She's holding her favorite stuffed cow in her arms. She won't be letting go of it anytime soon.
Idyllic hums, considering. She taps her chin thoughtfully. "Crepes," she finally says. "They're not going to be very good, though. Don't tell papá"
Solace frowns at that.
"I thought honesty was the best policy?" She asks, innocent as a newborn star. Idyllic grins. She kneels down, reaching out to readjust Solace's hat.
"You're right. Except for when it comes to papá and his shitty crepes."
Solace gasps at the swear, swatting at Idyllic's hand. Idyllic lets her.
"Bad," she utters, finger pointed in accusation.
"Guilty as charged," Idyllic responds, standing back up.
Solace giggles. She'll be down for breakfast, soon. Idyllic can trust her.
-
The next room is Daystar's.
Idyllic is about to knock before she pauses. She listens to her senses- her intuition. She opens the door.
Daystar is still in bed, wrapped in a pile of blankets. Her breaths are long and deep. The curtains are pulled open: the sun shines down upon her. A little star. Peaceful.
Idyllic walks over to her bed and kneels. She places a hand on her baby sister's shoulder.
"Mirri," Idyllic whispers.
Daystar stirs. She looks up at Idyllic with wide, innocent eye sockets. She blinks.
"Time to get up. Breakfast is soon. Yummy breakfast."
Daystar groans, turning herself back around.
"Five more minutes?"
Idyllic hums. Her father should be making second rounds- gathering everyone who hasn't shown their face yet. It... It wouldn't hurt. Sleep is important, after all.
And, who is Idyllic, to deny her little sister?
"Okay," Idyllic whispers, pulling the starry comforter back over Daystar.
-
"I heard you've made some shitty-ass crepes."
"Idyll."
Sol turns around, a streak of batter adorning his cheek like a falling comet. He's got a spatula in hand, he uses it to point at Idyllic. He deflates, though, as he reconsiders his situation. "They're..." He pauses, sighing. "No, you're right, they are shitty." He looks almost guilty, downtrodden. He looks up at Idyllic and chuckles, though. Aura still shining as bright as the morning sun.
Idyllic represses a shudder. She walks over to where Sol is standing over the stove.
"Your army of children should be here, soon."
Sol nods. He hums.
"Hm. And that would make you the leader- of this army?"
Idyllic nods. Solemn.
"A child soldier, led into the life of war... forced to lead child after child into the horrors," she shakes her head, allowing her voice to drop into fake revulsion, "It's no life... Not anymore..." She clutches at her chest.
Sol laughs. He reaches out a hand, patting her on her back.
"And how is my leader doing, this morning?"
Idyllic pauses. "Fine." She shrugs her shoulders.
Sol accepts this.
It's not long before the rest of Idyllic's family has found their way into the kitchen. Solace is first- punctual as always. Then Starlight: posture straight, crow on shoulder: shinier than they were this morning. Acrylic is next- she gives Idyllic a dirty look, from where she's still standing shoulder to shoulder with Sol; Idyllic can't help but blow a raspberry in her direction, expression hidden by mask. And then, her father: little Daystar carried in his arms like the most prized bouquet of flowers.
They'll eat. They'll talk. They'll enjoy one another's presence.
And, Idyllic will ignore the sinking feeling in her chest.
The knowledge.