Breakfast at the Thantossas

“B-bless me, Father, for-for I have sinned...” I stammered before the pastor.

At this point in Tahvin's young life, I was attending a private Catholic elementary school. This meant that on top of a religiously tailored education, reconciliation through confession was mandatory, no matter how much existential dread it filled me with. Being one of the few things I dreaded more than my mother's disappointed glare, it was one of the few moments in my young life that I consistently positioned myself at the back of the pack. But no matter how far away I sat from that small room, after almost an hour of waiting, the time always came for me to enter the confessional to face my divine judgment. 

I had entered the room as I always did, stepping through the incense-fumigated space meant to cleanse my soul like a dousing of Mace Bodyspray and deprive my mind of necessary oxygen for optimal holy reckoning. It was then, as the door closed behind me, that I was met with the choice that most children my age struggled with. It was up to each of my classmates to decide whether they wished to hide behind the mesh screen, keeping their sins anonymous, or speak with the priest face-to-face. Unfortunately for me, being one of the most active altar servers in our parish, it didn’t matter which side I was on, as Monsignor Clarke always knew it was me. Because of this, I acted as normal, opting to sit before him, feeling as though this somehow placed me closer to God and maybe earned me bonus redemption points.

“It has been a year since my last confession." I continued with the dogmatic mantra. "These are my sins. Umm—I talked back to my mom and dad, I got angry and punched my sister in the back…” 

I continued for a few minutes, adding in a litany of minor offences that seemed big to my childlike mentality. Though in reality, I was merely stalling. This was because there was something I feared confessing. One thing I actually felt bad about and was nervous to say. Finally, looking up from the sweating palms that rest in my lap, I locked my eyes on the priest before me. Monsignor Clarke was deep in thought, his head bowed into his hands in prayer as he listened to my sins and prayed for my eternal soul.

“I’m—Ashley is my girlfriend," I began, gulping anxiously as I opened the door to my soul. "Even though I like Kristen. B-but Cailtin likes me, and I kind of like her. I feel ashamed that I want to hold all their hands and-and, maybe, kiss all of them. Am I going to hell, Monsignor? Am-am I wrong for feeling this way? Does God hate me for liking multiple girls at once?”

Monsignor Clarke shifted, and my heart skipped a beat. A brief exhale signalled to me that something was wrong, as I immediately began to panic that my lustful sin was unforgivable before the eyes of God. Hesitating, I peeked at the priest, fearful to meet his gaze. But I knew that if I were to be forgiven for this heinous sin, I would need to face the man who was closest to God in this congregation. So, adjusting my gaze to meet his, I quickly noticed the man's closed eyes and deep breathing. 

It was then that I recognized that the priest had fallen asleep.

“M-monsignor Clarke?” I whispered cautiously. “Ummm—”

“Huh—” He stirred, inhaling a gasp of air deeply as he adjusted himself into the chair. “Oh, Tahvin, sorry. I must have dozed off. Uh, God forgives you, try to be—who am I kidding, you’re a good kid, Tahvin. I can already tell that God has a great plan for you. Say three Our Fathers and five Hail Marys, and think about how you can go forward in the light of God.”

—ooo—

With a soft gasp, I awoke to all three members of the triop looking down over my resting form. I was still lying in the hall across from Rionriv's room, my world spinning as I looked up at the figures standing a few feet from me. It appeared that Aesandoral and the sorceress had been arguing with each other in the moments before I awoke, but as I began to stir and both looked my way, I suddenly became their mutual enemy.

"Iz, what did I tell you!" Aesandoral managed to sneak in first. "I told you it was a bad idea to go to Ri!"

"I—"

"Have you ever heard of knocking?!" Rionriv cut my apology off. "You're such a disgusting lecher!"

"I—"

"What are you even doing here, Iz?" The sorceress continued, not giving me a moment to explain myself. "I want you gone!"

"Ri!" Aesandoral snapped. "Stop being so-so—so you!"

"What does that mean?!"

"It means you need to stop being such a b—"

"Young misses." A soft voice cooed, drawing the attention away from me and towards the deer maid at the other end of the hall. "Breakfast is served in the main parlour. Your parents are requesting your attendance this morning. As well as yours, young master Oracle."

"Ugh, really?" Rionriv sighed, her attention shifting between her sister and Sharzin before resting on me. "Fineee. But after breakfast, I want you to leave! You hear me?! Gone!"

Without another word, Rionriv turned and stormed off in the direction of the maid. She disappeared within seconds, leaving me with Aesandoral, who seemed as displeased with her sister as she was with me, and Sharzin, who smiled slyly at the prospect of breakfast.

"Come on, Iz," The archer spoke softly as she took my hand, tugging me to my feet before pulling me along. "Let's at least eat together before Mama forces me off to training again."

Unsure what to say or do, I followed quietly behind my guide as we moved through the house and eventually emerged into a large dining room. The south-facing walls of the space were awash with light, bathing the room in a pleasant radiance. Their surface was lined with large windows that revealed the inner sanctum of the manor, the very garden that Rionriv had once whisked me away to. My heart skipped at the memory, recalling the kindness I had found so odd, but now longed for just a fraction of it to return. 

Glancing away from the windows, I took in the dining hall, which was decorated in the same whimsical, duid-chic as the rest of the house and bustling with activity. The pleasant smells of savoury breakfast beans, juicy sausages, and buttery pastries filled the air, causing my mouth to water as I observed the decadent spread. Seated around the table, slowly filling their plates as they read from pamphlets and drank from steins, half of the parents were already in attendance.

I watched as the mixed bag of individuals went about their morning, seemingly oblivious to us. Rowan, a lanky lilac-skinned figure with merlot orbs for eyes and a single curved horn, rested in a bohemian robe and mindlessly dragged a finger across the rim of their mug. Wren, the powerful-looking blonde woman with a sizable chest and intense amber eyes, ate away at a sausage as she read the small pamphlet in her hands. Her body was already armoured and, by the looks of her half-empty plate, was ready to begin her day at any moment. Ellis, one of the parents I hadn't gotten the chance to meet my last time here, wore a floral nighty that matched her notable blue-green hair and expressive eyes. A Cheshire smile stretched across her face as she prepared to pluck at the platter of pastries. Finally, Haven, the white-haired Kalish, wore a silken dress that hung loosely to the floor. She appeared to be the only one who had noted our arrival, her ruby gaze fixed upon mine like a predator on its prey.

Looking once more at my casual attire, I glanced at Aesandoral and Sharzin, who were still wearing the same clothes they had greeted me in. Meanwhile, notably less naked, Rionriv had put on a well-fitted caster’s robe that was belted and fixed, revealing little skin and no cleavage. As my eyes shifted up towards hers after casually glancing at her chest, I realized that the sorceress had caught me. Scowling, she snapped her fingers, casting a bright spark before my face.

“Ah, flash burn!” I cursed, closing my eyes quickly. “What was that for?”

With a blink, I tried to look around, only to find Rionriv's scowl and a blind spot burned into my vision.

“Pervert.” Rionriv huffed as she adjusted her robe to be even tighter before she sat beside Rowan.

The figure, no longer enthralled by their drink, looked between her and me—or at least I thought from the little I could see past the superimposed white blur.

“Awww, lover’s quarrel?” Rowan moaned, pulling the mug close with a slight grin as they looked over to me. “Shall we take his head, princess?”

“I’m sorry, what?” I panicked, my heart racing as I suddenly felt as though this would be my last meal. "Please no—"

“Iz, it’s okay.” Aesandoral spoke reassuringly as she helped me to a seat next to Ellis while taking up space on my other side. “Dama Rowan is always grumpy in the morning. Dama, don’t be so-so—no favouritism!”

“Oooh, how school has lit a fire in our innocent Duchess,” Rowan whined melodramatically. “My children, I love you both equally and how I so hate to see you disagree over this ruby boy. I was merely saying if we split him in half, each of you could take a piece to do as you see fit.”

“Ohh, that could be fun,” Rionriv replied vindictively. "Sister, you can keep that bottom half you so desire."

"What are—what are you—! Screw you, Ri!"

“Do I get a say?” I replied, carefully raising my hand.

“No, dear boy,” Wren spoke, her words sparse and calculated as she lowered her pamphlet to look my way. “It is best you remain impartial. This is a family matter.”

"Then why was I even invited to—"

"Hush." Haven hissed my way, her eyes focused on her daughters. "You'll get your time, boy."

Feeling a sense of frustration wash over me as the 'adults' that weren't much older than I had been as Tahvin spoke down to me, I sat back into my chair and remained quiet. For what felt like too long, I sat at the table awkwardly watching as a heated discussion raged on between Aesandoral and Rionriv. Occasionally, parents joined in, mostly to keep everyone’s heads level, but sometimes they merely stirred the pot a little more. Though the second half primarily fell on the shoulders of Rowan, who was also regularly quieted by Wren. 

After a while, it began to feel as though I had stumbled into a familial court hearing. Sharzin's letters were questioned as Rionriv was interrogated to see if she had forced the rogue to opt for secrecy. I listened as Aesandoral delivered her evidence that Rionriv had requested the staff keep me at bay. Xavier, the grizzly butler, who had just walked in at this point, quickly slunk back out. Unfortunately for him, even he couldn’t beat Aesandoral’s perceptive prowess.

"Oh no, you don't!" Aesandoral growled and, with a snap of her fingers, summoned the butler back to the room. "Xavier, you will explain—"

"Don't treat Xavier like that!" Rionriv snapped. "He was only doing as I—"

"As you? As you?! So you admit it!"

"Well, I—"

Silencing her sister, Aesandoral motioned for Xavier to take up a position at the head of the table. From there, she berated the butler with questions, which he in turn answered fully. While he attempted not to take sides in his responses, he inevitably confirmed that he had sent me away numerous times. At this, Aesandoral, who was not one to get angry, shook her head and gripped the table hard enough that I could see her knuckles growing whiter by the second. Rionriv responded soon after, speaking her mind and insisting it was her right not to have me in the house, and that Xavier had been helping her accomplish her wishes.

"You're making this all about you, Duchess!" Rionriv hissed, electricity arcing from her body and striking at the walls.

"Rionriv, dear, manners," Haven insisted, nodding towards the scorch marks. "Indoor auras, please."

"Xavier, you may leave," Aesandoral ordered, sending the butler away as she reached for a pitcher of breakfast ale. "Please prepare a set of travel clothes for me."

"Of course, there she is," Rionriv huffed in reply, crossing her arms as though she had won. "Big Aesandoral, going to run away from home the minute anyone goes against her. You're being so inconsiderate to Mama! An-and to me and what I need, sister."

I feared looking towards Aesandoral as she poured herself a mug. Out of the corner of my vision, I could see her vibrating in the moments before she chugged the drink and slammed the stein down.

“Sure, I may be inconsiderate," Aesandoral hissed as she stood from the table, the chair whining against the floor in the moments before she screamed. "But you’re being a selfish bish punishing Iz and, by extension, us with no explanation!”

With that, the elf turned and stormed away from the table in a way I had only ever seen Rionriv do. Exhaling anxiously, I sank my head into my shoulders, gritting my teeth as I looked down at my lap. This was not what I wanted to happen. In fact, if I had known this would be the result of my appearance, I would have remained away. Taking a shallow breath, I chanced a glance at Rionriv, who immediately made eye contact with me. Our gazes locked, and even without the feline tells, I could see just how furious she was with me in that moment. I watched as her jawline revealed itself clenched tight enough to break bone in the moments before she, too, stood from the table.

“This is all your fault.” She hissed my way before storming out after Aesandoral.

“Me?!” I instinctively responded. “What the fug did I do?”

“Iz,” Sharzin suddenly spoke up from across the table where she had been sitting in silence beside Haven for the debate. “Shame on you.” 

Standing, the rogue quickly made her way out of the room, following the others.

“I-what—?” I gasped, looking down into my lap as my already broken heart shattered into even smaller fragments. “What is even happening? I didn’t do anything!” 

Finishing my statement with a grumble, I glanced at the plate of breakfast meats and pastries that I had plucked to enjoy but never got around to eating. No longer hungry, all I could think about was the triop and how I was going to fix things. So, standing from the table, I moved to charge after the group.

“Ishara,” Haven's cold and confident voice spoke from across the table. “Sit. You will now explain your journey to us.”