Sunday, January 6, 2013

Overlord Legacy - Chapter Fifty - But Snow Can Be Fun, Dad

The days following the death of Amaranth Overlord have been rough, but the pain has become more and more manageable as the minutes tick by. After a week, they feel they can finally breathe again. The house doesn't smell like death anymore. The lack of her presence isn't felt as strongly anymore. The bed doesn't feel quite so cold for Gator anymore. Is she still missed? Incredibly so. Not a day goes by that Severin doesn't think about her. But he feels he can finally move on with his life. The letter he'd written to his great-uncle Oliver had helped him tremendously with the grieving process. He still hasn't heard back from Oliver - and at this point, he's okay with not hearing from him. Severin knew he had to write it just to get it off his chest. The response from Oliver really doesn't matter as much.

The winter is still bitterly cold. Severin can't stand this season. Everything about it just reminds him of death. Were homeless citizens allowed in Moonlight Falls, they would certainly die in this cold. The wind blows hard, making the chill even more stinging. The snow won't go away.
Every day Severin has to trudge to work in this mess. Every day he wishes spring would come. He doesn't even know what spring will look like. But it must be better than this.

Gator has been overcoming his own grief in his own way. In a way, he wishes he hadn't quit work. He knows he'll be an old wolf soon and he knows he's desperately needed at the castle to take care of Katt (and Darth Furball as well), but he admits to himself that he's a little envious of Severin being able to go to work and get his mind off of Amaranth. Sometimes when Gator gets up to take care of Katt, he listens for Amaranth to tiptoe into the room and wrap her arms around him from behind. But if anything does stir behind him, it's almost always Darth Furball.
So Gator tries to put his all his concentration on taking care of and playing with Katt. The little girl delights in spending time with her grandfather and eagerly accepts his attention.

Gator's even been trying to warm up to Darth Furball. Only a little.
Darth Furball: "Mew!"
Gator: "You know, when you're not attempting to swat my balls, you're not so bad. You're good for Severin, anyway. I'm just glad your litter box is in his bedroom and not mine."
HURK.
Gator: "And I'm glad you cough up hairballs in his room and not mine."

Glancing at the calender, Gator realizes it's time to pay the bills. The bills typically aren't too large - only around five hundred Simoleons. As lavish as the castle looks from the outside, it's actually rather small. It was full with Gator, Amaranth, and Severin, almost too full when Tobie lived in the house. Gator can't imagine what it was like for Amaranth growing up, when she shared the castle with her father, mother, and two "uncles."

Of course, back then they had a dungeon for the men to sleep, which Amaranth removed and replaced with parking spaces and a new car. Gator wonders if future generations will decide on building a cellar or basement in the future to store more things.

Reaching the mailbox, Gator pays the bills and sifts through the mail. Junk, junk, a letter in the pink envelope addressed to...him? Typically Severin gets several love letters, not him. Gator opens it and peeks at the scented letter, written in flowery letters and containing a steamy message from an old co-worker of his. It appears she's had a liking for him for a long time and she'd been waiting for the right time to tell him how much she wants him.

Gator would disagree that this is the right time. Not long ago, Gator still had his wife next to him. There will never be another woman in his life. Never. Gator makes the short trek to the trash can and flings the letter inside.

Then he notices one more. This one has a return address from Oliver Portland.
It's a largish envelope, addressed to him. Swallowing, Gator gently opens it. There's a letter inside addressed to him, and another smaller envelope addressed to Severin. Gator takes it inside to get out of the cold and sits down to read.

"Gator,

I hope that, as you're reading this, you're feeling much better than you were the last time we met. Her memory will never fully leave you, as well it shouldn't. There will always be a place in your heart that only she can fill. But I hope you're allowing yourself to grieve and to move on. I know it isn't easy, but I'm glad you recognize it's what you need to do, for you, for your son, and for your granddaughter.

Now for the real purpose of this letter. Your son Severin sent me a long note some time ago. He asked me many questions, though I believe he was mostly writing to me to talk through his feelings and be able to make sense of it in order to start the grieving process. He needed to be heard, and I have heard him. I have also written back to him. However, I ask that you save it and do not give it to him until after you have been reunited with Amaranth. He has much to learn and much strength to draw from you yet. You are his father and he can still lean and rely on you, which I believe he should do rather than depending fully on me at this moment. You are still a strong tower for him. When it is your time to shake hands with the Reaper and meet with your wife, Severin will no longer have that authority to lean on. He will feel quite alone and overwhelmed. The letter I have written to him will serve a much greater purpose then.

Don't doubt yourself now, Gator. Werewolves are remarkably strong creatures. I've lived with one long enough to know.

Sincerely,

-Oliver.

-An afterthought- About the question you asked me at the funeral. No, Serena was not my first wife. No, she was not the one I grieved the deepest. No, she was not the one I spoke with you about. More than this I cannot say."

Gator swallows, rereading the letter again. Gator had asked Oliver for any consolation, any advice, any strength to draw from after the death of Amaranth. He'd known Oliver had lost his wife, Serena Durwood, quite some time ago and had gone through what Gator had been going through then. Oliver had spoken with him about the grieving process, the pain, the memories. But the wife he spoke about hadn't seemed to be the same as Serena. Gator had asked if Oliver was speaking of Serena or if he'd been married previously. Oliver had simply replied, "I will answer that question at another time," and had walked away.

While Gator puts away Severin's letter in a place where he won't find it, Darth Furball gets a curious feeling in the bedroom.
Why, is this...aging? Is he finally going to turn into a real cat? Will he finally be a competent attack cat?
The sparkles swirl. It is! It's his birthday! Excitedly Darth Furball waits until finally the transformation is over. He's now a full-grown cat. And boy, does he feel more powerful! His master will be so pleased to see him.
...But why should his master find him right away? Master needs to be prepared for the hero who could be hiding anywhere, right? Darth Furball might as well observe how astute his master is at checking places for the hero. He shall hide and see if his master can find him before he springs out!
--
The birthday sparkles aren't only for Darth Furball. It's someone else's turn to get bigger.
Katt grows into a lovely young girl, though she does develop a distaste for art. Perhaps it's the sloppy way her father keeps the castle that she's quite accustomed to. Regardless, she's a bright and perky young lady. Smelling dinner from the top of the stove, Katt bounds down the stairs excitedly. Gator is startled to see her. He glances at the calender.
Gator: "My word, I thought your birthday was tomorrow. Had I known it was today, I would've--"
Katt: "It's okay, grandpa. I don't need anything special! What's for dinner?"
Gator: "Stu surprise."
Katt: "...You just threw a bunch of leftovers into a pot, didn't you?"
Gator: "It's a surprise."

True enough, Gator has thrown a bunch of leftovers into a pot, but it actually turns out quite well. Katt helps her grandfather with the dishes afterwards, then sits down at the table.
Katt: "Grandpa, when's dad going to get here? It's Snowflake Day tomorrow and I want to ask him if we can spend the day at the winter festival. I want to play in the snow!"
Gator: "Your dad's not going to be here until late tonight. You can try asking him tomorrow."
Katt: "No, I want to ask him tonight."
Gator: "He's working until ten o'clock. That's your bedtime."
Katt: "Since when did I get a bedtime?"
Gator: "Since now. Your bedtime is ten o'clock. Most other kids have to go to bed by nine, so be thankful."
Katt: "Please can I stay up and see dad tonight, grandpa? I promise I'll go to bed by ten every single night after tonight. Dad hasn't seen me all grown up yet."
Gator: "Haha! All grown up? Well..."
Katt: "Please, grandpa?"
Gator: "...Alright. You can stay up tonight. But I expect you to be in bed by ten after tonight."
Katt: "Thank you, grandpa! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Katt quietly plays with toys until ten o'clock approaches. Gator tries to stay up to help enforce bedtime after Severin arrives, but finds he's so exhausted that he can barely keep his eyes open. He'll have to trust that Katt will follow his instructions (and that Severin won't botch everything by having her do something with him once he gets home). Expectantly Katt watches out the front window, smiling at the cars that go by and the people walking through the snowy sidewalk. She wonders what they think when they look in the direction of the Overlord Castle. She can't wait to go to school in a couple of days - she'll be known as the girl who lives in a castle. Even the richest kids in town don't live in castles!

Finally - finally! - Severin's BathroomMobile rolls across the bridge and into the parking space. With a beaming smile on her face, Katt bounces off the couch and waits by the table. She can't wait to see dad's reaction to how big she's grown!
Severin: "Gah, why's this stupid dog on my front porch? Where's my attack cat when I need him? Ugh. I'm glad it's warm in here--...why is there a random child in my castle?"
Katt: "Hee hee!"
Severin: "...Katt?"

Severin strips off his snow clothes, then starts to walk towards Katt to observe her. Gator had circled Katt's birthday on the calender as tomorrow, not today. Severin's a bit surprised to see her in a child state rather than a toddler state.

But before he can even take two steps, Katt charges for him and slams into his body, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Severin: "Whoa!"
Katt: "I had my birthday while you were at work, dad! Are you surprised to see me? I'm all grown up!"
Severin: "All grown up?"
Katt: "What did you do at work today, dad?"
Severin: "I had to set the stage for an opera that's being performed tomorrow. What have you done all day?"
Katt: "I grew up, silly!"

Severin can't help but grin at his bubbly daughter. She seems so excited just to see him. Of course, other people around town get excited to see him because of his celebrity status, but...it's just different when it's his daughter.
Severin: "Well, you certainly did."
Katt: "Hey, dad, can we go to the winter festival tomorrow for Snowflake Day? Can we play in the snow?"
Severin: "Uh..."
Katt: "Come on, dad, please?"
Severin: "I hate snow, Katt."
Katt: "But snow can be fun, dad! Think of all the stuff you can do with it!"
Severin: "Tell you what. I'll think about it and give you an answer in the morning."
Katt: "But--"
Severin: "I'll see how I feel in the morning. I can't give you an answer now. Has grandpa given you a bedtime yet?"
Katt: "Yeah. I have to be in bed by ten o'clock."
Severin: "Well, that's certainly generous. I had to be in bed by nine when I was your age."
Katt: "Grandpa told me you never obeyed your bedtime though."
Severin: "Nonsense."
Katt: "Hey dad...will you read me a bedtime story?"
Severin: "...Yeah, I can do that. Let me go find something."

In truth, Severin's very tired himself and had planned on just falling right into bed. But he knows his daughter wants to spend a little bit of extra time with him before they have to go to bed tonight. Besides, he knows he has to take whatever moments he can get. She's already school-age. It won't be too long before she's a teenager. He has limited time to be the best dad he can be - and to influence her in the ways of the Overlord.
Severin: "Oh, what would be a good one to read tonight? Mm...this one will work. 'Knights vs. Bishops.' Overlords have to be clever and use a lot of logic. Perfect. She can solve math equations and logic puzzles in her dreams tonight."

Grabbing the book on logic, Severin walks into Katt's bedroom...but finds she isn't there. Wondering if perhaps she's still downstairs getting a drink of water or something, Severin heads downstairs. She's not there. Then he walks into his bedroom.
Severin: "What in the world...? This isn't your bed."
Katt: "I know, but...I don't want to go to sleep in my bed yet."
Severin: "What's wrong with your bed?"
Katt: "I saw monsters under it."
Severin: "Really?"
Katt: "Really."
Severin: "Cool."
Katt: "No! They're scary monsters! I don't want to go up there. Can I...can I sleep in your bed tonight?"
Severin: "I fart in my sleep, Katt."
Katt: "That's less scary than monsters under the bed."
Severin: "Not really."
Katt: "...I don't..."
Severin: "Okay, okay, fine. You can sleep in my bed tonight. I've been told I growl in my sleep sometimes, so be aware of that and don't get alarmed if it happens tonight. Tomorrow night I expect you to start sleeping in your own bed though."
Katt: "I know. Thanks, dad."

Not enthusiastic about sharing his bed with his daughter but not wanting to force her out either, Severin just sits down beside her and opens up the book he brought down, reading until her eyes get heavy.
Severin: "And see, this logical fallacy here is called the 'Straw Man.' See? 'Straw Man.' That's where someone argues against an easy position that you don't actually hold. Look, here's an example. One man says, 'Sunny days are good.' The other man uses the Straw Man fallacy and says, 'If all days were sunny, then we'd have no rain, which would bring famine and drought.' But see, the first man never said only sunny days are good. His opponent is arguing against something that the first man never actually meant. People might try to do this to you in school, Katt. But Overlords are smart. So here's how you would answer a Straw Man fallacy--...Katt?"
Katt: "...Zzzz....."

Severin's a little bummed that she's asleep already, since he'd been getting into the book, but at least he can get some sleep himself. Gently, he leans down and plants a kiss on Katt's temple. He's been trying to make it more natural to kiss his daughter.
He starts to  climb into bed himself...then he hears the rustling. His breath catching in his throat, Severin slowly backs away from the bed, preparing to grab the cat's scratching post to bash whatever foul creature was under his bed. What if it were the hero, waiting all this time for him? What if the hero knocked him out and kidnapped his daughter?

With swift motions and a lot of bravery, Severin grabs under the bed to see if he can feel a human. Instead he grabs something furry and yanks it back out. Darth Furball hisses at him as soon as he emerges from beneath the bed.
Severin: "Darth Furball, you don't know how badly I want to toss you in the dryer and turn you into an extra fluffy throw rug."
Darth Furball: "Mrow."
Severin: "Well...it did keep me alert, so if there were a hero down there, I was prepared for him. So I suppose I can thank you for that. And, uh...I just noticed you're not a kitten anymore."
Darth Furball: "Mew."
Severin: "Alright. You're forgiven. Now why don't you go to bed like the rest of us. And no more hiding under my bed."

Double-checking under the bed to make sure there isn't anything else under there, Severin finally crawls into bed beside Katt and tries to position himself closer to the edge to give her plenty of room. Within minutes he's asleep.
Darth Furball watches his master for a couple of moments. He's not so happy that his master had grabbed him so firmly by the tail, but at least his master did check for him before he had the chance to leap out. A brilliant man! Satisfied, Darth Furball curls up on his bed and falls asleep.

--

The next morning Gator gets up bright and early. He prepares to make a breakfast of pancakes...then he notices a subtle but strange scent over by the stove. He remembers smelling something weird last night, but he'd figured it was the trash, since it hadn't been taken out in several days. But he'd taken the trash out last night and the smell is still there. He knows he hasn't used the actual oven part of the stove since Amaranth passed away. Curiously he checks inside.
Gator: "Oh Deity."

Trying not to gag, Gator reaches inside and pulls out the moldy, smelly, charred remains of what look like waffles. How in the world...? How did they get there? He hasn't used the oven, and he knows Severin doesn't cook. Did Amaranth use it before...? No, he knows she wasn't cooking.
Gator: "Ugh...where's that trash can? Who in their right mind would--..."

Then he remembers. It was at the funeral. Phantom had attempted to make waffles in order to lighten the mood a little bit, since he could hardly handle the way the thick emotions in the air were affecting him. He must've turned the oven off, but gotten sidetracked before he could reach inside to take out the waffles. Gator had seen him making the waffles, but hadn't noticed Phantom walk away from them, and his mind was so many places that day that he'd forgotten all about them.

These waffles are close to a week old. Yuck.

Quickly Gator gets rid of the waffles and cleans the inside of the oven to help get rid of the smell. Then he gets to work cooking his pancakes. He finds it's a bit more complicated than he first thought. He's almost afraid he'll burn them. One area where he really misses Amaranth is in the area of cooking. She made such good food. Gator's a complete failure in comparison.
As he tries to blow on it and swipe away some of the smoke, Gator wishes more than anything that he could just pull out his cell phone and order a pizza. But he knows Severin would completely freak out at the idea of letting a stranger with a box approach their front door.

After managing to not totally destroy the pancakes, Gator eats his a little early. He doesn't know how long it will be before Severin and Katt get up.

Fortunately they're up fairly soon. They eagerly grab the pancakes and settle at the table to dig in.
Katt: "So dad, can we go to the winter festival today? You told me last night that you'd give me an answer today."
Severin: "I know. After we finish our pancakes, you and grandpa are going to the winter festival."
Katt: "But what about you?"
Severin: "I have to practice my songs with my guitar. I have a gig coming up that I need to be prepared for. I also have...other business I need to attend to."
Katt: "Do you have to?"
Severin: "It's part of my job, Katt. I have to improve if I want to be promoted. And you know I have to get promoted in order to get closer to fulfilling my part of our family legacy."
Katt: "Sigh. Okay..."
Severin: "Don't worry. We'll get to hang out soon."
Katt: "...Promise?"
Severin: "Promise."

After the pancakes are finished, Gator and Katt dress warmly and head for the winter festival. Katt's excited to spend the day there, and even more excited to spend it with her grandfather...but she's disappointed that her dad can't come too. She'd wanted to spend the day with her grandpa and her dad at the festival.

Her disappointment doesn't last for too long once she gets to the festival. It only seems vaguely familiar. There's so much cool stuff! She asks grandpa what they're going to do first. His reply? "You know, if we form bricks with the snow and then get them solid and frozen...I bet we can make a couple of little houses."

The idea of building houses with snow is absolutely magical to Katt. Eagerly she gets to work, racing and trying to build her ice house faster than her grandpa.
Back at the castle, Severin spends some time practicing his songs. Then he plops on the couch, allowing Darth Furball to hop into his lap. He's always fantasized about having a throne room, where he could sit on the throne, stroking his evil cat, and laughing at his power over the world.
Severin: "That would be fantastic, wouldn't it, Darth Furball?"
Darth Furball: "Mew!"
Severin: "Then some peasant who tried to revolt against us would be brought before us, begging for mercy after being such a horrible annoyance. And what will our response be?"
Darth Furball: "Hiss!"
Severin: "Oh yes. And then we'll--....hmm. Pardon me, Darth Furball. I have some business to attend to outside."

His "business" had texted him earlier that morning. This entire week he'd been shooting back flirty texts with her, but hadn't been able to actually meet up with her. He and his other romantic interest had gotten together a couple of times for wine and WooHoo, but not this one.
Candy: "Well! It's about time we got together. It's been quite a while."
Severin: "Yes, it has. Much too long."
Candy: "...I've been thinking about you a lot."
Severin: "Well, good. I've been thinking about you a lot too."
Candy: "Severin...you know all those times back in high school, when we'd, you know...get frisky in the hallways?"
Severin: "Yep. Then the hallway guard would yell at us. I'm pretty sure that man still hates me even to this day."
Candy: "Ha! Well...I miss those days. I...I really, um...I like you a lot, Severin. I know I haven't really admitted anything, but...I really do. I don't mean to gush or anything, I just--"
Severin: "Hey, it's alright. I miss those days too. You're a beautiful girl, you know."
Candy: "...You really mean it, don't you, Sev?"
Severin: "Of course I do. Meanwhile...aren't your legs cold? It's freezing out here."
Candy: "Well, I...yeah, I didn't realize how cold it would be. I just wanted to look pretty, that's all."
Severin: "Your tush will get cold pretty soon. I can think of one way to warm it."

Slipping his gloved hands up Candy's skirt, Severin squeezes her butt gently. Candy lets out a squeak and a laugh, swatting his arms.
Candy: "Severin! There are neighbors, you know!"
Severin: "Hey, I was only trying to be considerate to you."
Candy: "Oh, I'm sure."

Working together, Katt and Gator finish one ice house, giving it a cool round structure and an arched entrance.
Katt: "Wow! Look at it, grandpa!"
Gator: "I'm pretty impressed, actually. I think I know a good career for you when you get older."
Katt: "You really think I could be an architect?"
Gator: "Honey, if you can build that, you can build anything."
Katt: "Oh come on, grandpa, you did most of the work."
Gator: "I did the lifting, but you suggested the design."
Katt: "Still, you get equal credit."
Gator: "You know what? If you're going to fight and argue with me, let's do it properly. To the barricades!"

Katt glances at her grandfather and grins. She knows what this means.

Snowball fight.

Candy: "You know, I should've admitted all this sooner. We could've gotten a little more serious a little earlier."
Severin: "Mm. Well, we have plenty of time today to make up for what we didn't do in the past. Sound good to you?"
Candy: "Sounds really good to me."

As they embrace, Severin swears he can feel Candy pressing against his manly bits and slowly grind her hips against him. He lets his hands rest on her butt again, gently squeezing. He feels his blood pulse through his veins. He's ready to take her. He's always been ready to take her.

Candy: "I'm pretty lucky. The sexiest man in town wants to be with me."
Severin: "Oh, does he? I'll have to meet him someday."
Candy: "Ha! You goof."
Darth Furball: "Hiss!"
Severin: "Darth F--...go away!"
Candy: "Wait, what?"
Severin: "I wasn't talking to you. Just..." He lowers his voice to a whisper and glares at his equally-glaring cat. "Shoo!"
Darth Furball: "Hiss!"
Severin: "This is none of your business! Leave me alone!"
Candy: "Who are you talking to?"
Severin: "My future fluffy throw rug."
Darth Furball: "Mrrrrr..."
Candy: "Oh, is that your cat back there? It looks like he doesn't like me."
Severin: "I'll have a talk with him later."
Candy: "You talk to your cat?"
Severin: "I've done stranger things before."

Katt: "Here it comes, grandpa! Look out!"

Gator smiles, but underestimates Katt's wicked throwing arm. The snowball soars through the air at an alarming rate of speed and smacks right into Gator's chest, knocking him backward.
Gator: "If you don't want to be an architect, you certainly have a future in sports. Some of my former teammates would kill to be able to throw like that."
Katt: "Can you throw like that?"
THWAP.
Katt: "Urgh...yes, you can."
Gator: "I held back just for you."
Katt: "Nuh uh!"

After sending Darth Furball sliding across the frozen moat, Severin wastes no time and immediately plants a firm kiss on Candy's lips. When it comes to sex, Severin's discovered he's rather impatient. He has all these strategic plans going into it, but after a little while, he just wants what he wants and he decides to boldly go after it. It almost always works.

And it certainly does this time. Candy retreats with him into the house. It's quite cold outside, so they decide to immerse themselves in a nice hot shower. Together.

Severin warms up in more ways than one.

Katt: "Hey grandpa! I'm winning!"
Gator: "Hmm. It appears you are. Don't let your guard down. I can make a great comeback."
Katt: "Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah! You can't--...dad!!"
Severin: "Hey, Katt. I leave you for a few hours and you're already beating up your grandfather. Shame, shame, shame."
Katt: "Come on, dad! Join my team!"
Severin: "Your team? I believe I overheard that you were winning. Sounds like grandpa needs back-up. What happened to you, Mr. Former Athlete?"
Gator: "Have you seen the arm of your daughter?"
THWAP.
Gator: "...Well, you've felt it now."
Severin: "We could very well end up with concussions after this snowball fight."

For many more fun-filled minutes, the Overlords continue their snowball fight. Severin almost can't help but laugh to see the joy in his daughter's face - and in his father's, for that matter. Severin knows Gator's probably trying to be as active as he can before he turns old. His birthday's coming up quickly.

After the snowball fight, Katt remembers the snowmen in front of their house and asks her grandpa to help her make one here. Gator gets to work teaching her how to roll and pack big balls of snow.
Gator: "See, we have to pack these two together to make one big ball for the snowman's body."
FOOF!
Katt: "Whoa. What was that?"
Gator: "I think your father just exploded."
Katt: "Dad, what are you doing?"
Severin: "Making a fallen angel in the snow."
Katt: "A fallen angel? So like a snow demon? What's wrong with a regular snow angel?"
Severin: "What's wrong with a regular snow demon?"

Sighing, Gator kicks some snow in Severin's direction, sending it flying all over his face. Katt bursts into laughter. Severin lobs a snowball back and conks Gator over the head with it. Gator smirks at him, but continues to work on the snowman, with Katt working with him.
Katt: "Ooh...it's heavy."
Gator: "Yeah, it--...Katt, where are your gloves?"
Katt: "I didn't bring them."
Gator: "Honey, your hands are going to get numb."
Katt: "They're fine right now."
Gator: "Here, borrow mine."
Katt: "Are you sure?"

Gator insists on Katt taking his gloves while he scoops up the snow barehanded. Katt feels a little embarrassed at forgetting her gloves, but grandpa doesn't seem to be disappointed in her (and dad is blissfully lost in his own little world), so she helps out with the snowman as best she can.

Next stop is the ice rink. While Gator and Katt grab some skates and head over, Severin looks at the snowman and decides it needs to be unique, something that will obviously mark it as an Overlord snowman. Finding a nearby shed, Severin finds his way in and notices some of the haunted house props for the autumn festival. He uses them for the snowman.
Severin smiles at the finished creation. Last week, when he'd written the letter to Uncle Oliver, he'd been so angry at the Reaper for taking his mother. Now he knows he doesn't have the right to be angry at him. The Reaper simply did his job. He came when he was supposed to. He could do nothing else.

Severin decides to briefly join his dad and daughter on the ice rink.
Katt: "...Look, dad, look! I'm doing it! I'm skating!"
Severin: "I see you. Don't get too excited, I don't want you to fall down."

Severin keeps an eye on Katt, but realizes (uncomfortably) that there's really nothing he can do in case she falls down. He's not that good at skating either. Fortunately he can rely on his dad. Gator's been skating several times before. He could probably zoom over to her and catch her right before she hit the ground.
Katt: "Whoa! Grandpa! How are you doing that?! You're skating backwards!"
Gator: "Takes a lot of practice. Don't try it until you're really sure on your skates."

Slowing down, Gator waits for Katt to catch up with him, as she seems to be struggling a bit on the ice. Slowly Gator skates beside her, ready to grasp her hand if she begins to lose her balance.
Katt: "Hey, grandpa...was grandma really good at skating too?"
Gator: "...Yes, she was. She was even better than me. She knew how to spin on the rink."
Katt: "She could spin without falling over?"
Gator: "And look graceful doing it."
Katt: "I only remember little memories of grandma...but I remember she was really kind and sweet and nice. I remember she told me she loved me."
Gator: "She did love you, Katt. She loved you with all her heart."
Katt: "...Do you miss her, grandpa?"

Gator chooses not to answer. If he attempts to speak past the lump in his throat, he'll start crying. He knows he will.

After a few more minutes, Katt starts feeling very cold. Severin trots over to the fire pit and lights it, and Gator and Katt quickly join him.
Katt: "How should I toast my marshmallows?"
Gator: "I like them lightly golden-brown on all sides, just enough to give it a flavor boost."
Severin: "Bah. I catch mine on fire and only blow it out when my marshmallows are black. That's the only way to eat them."
Katt: "Black marshmallows?"
Severin: "They taste best that way. I promise."
Gator: "No, they don't."
Paparazzi: "Ooh! Juicy! Severin Overlord likes his marshmallows burned completely black!"

The Overlords all turn their heads to see the paparazzi nearby, scribbling on his notepad.
Katt: "Dad? Who's that creepy man in the hospital gown who's writing stuff about you? Is that supposed to be normal?"
Severin: "Sigh. People follow me around and write things about me and take pictures of me because I'm considered a celebrity, Katt. Apparently toasting marshmallows is a 'juicy' fact that they can include in the next magazine issue. I have no idea why he's wearing a hospital gown. He could be a patient who escaped from the insane asylum. I don't know."
Katt: "Oh...do you think he's dangerous?"
Gator: "Your father and grandfather are both werewolves, Katt. Trust me, you don't have anything to worry about."

After finishing their marshmallows and warming up, Gator asks if there's anything else Katt wants to do. Katt smiles, looking at the enormous structure behind Gator - the snowboard rink.
Gator: "...You want to go snowboarding?"
Katt: "No. I think I'd get hurt. I want to see you go snowboarding!"
Gator: "So you can watch me get hurt?"
Katt: "You're good at skating, grandpa. You're probably good at snowboarding too!"
Gator: "I don't know about that..."
Katt: "Please, grandpa? I just want to see you try."
Gator: "...Alright. I'll give it a try."

Wondering what on earth he's just agreed to, Gator trudges through the snow to the snowboard rink. Katt hurriedly tries to finish her marshmallows so she can go watch her grandpa snowboard. Severin glances over,  then feels his face flush. It seems like she always shows up whenever he spends a considerable amount of time somewhere.
"Mind if I sit here?"
"Not at all."
Jackie: "Who's your little friend, Sev?"
Severin: "This is my daughter, Katt. You've met her before."
Jackie: "Katt?? My goodness, the last time I saw you, you were a toddler!"
Severin: "Well, she was yesterday."
Katt: "I...I don't...remember you."
Jackie: "That's okay. I'm Jackie. I'm your dad's...friend."
Katt: "Oh! Nice to meet you, Miss Jackie!"
Jackie: "Aw, you're a sweetheart. Must've picked that up from your grandparents, because you certainly didn't get it from your dad."
Katt: "...Oh! Grandpa's about to snowboard!"

Katt hurriedly finishes her marshmallows, then dashes up from her seat and charges to the snowboard rink, waiting for her grandfather to start. Severin and Jackie sit quickly by the fire for a moment or two.
Severin: "...I can be a sweetheart when I want to be."
Jackie: "You will be silent and submissive when I want you to be."

Severin glances up at Jackie. She gives an innocent, playful smile in return...but her eyes are the same eyes that she makes every time she wants him. She nearly always wants him silent and submissive. He doesn't mind too much.

He looks around the festival. His dad and daughter are here. He's being hounded by the weird paparazzi. And he thought he saw Candy enter the festival at some point. There's a lot of people here. It will be an enormous challenge to find some place private for him and Jackie, some place they can get intimate together, some place he can lay back and let her abuse him for pleasure.

But he's up for it.

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Author's notes: I love giving little tidbits of Oliver's story. There's still a lot of mystery surrounding him. Fortunately he'll be around. He can't die, you know.

Gator's discovery in the stove was a surprise for me too. And it was Phantom. He'd started to cook something in the oven and then left it. I'd noticed it, but for whatever reason it didn't start a fire or anything. It just didn't cook all the way. I forgot all about it until I instructed Gator to use the stove, and he kept refusing. Then I noticed something was still in it. Eww.

Severin's a much better dad now, I think. But, of course, he's still Severin. He's got to keep some of his old ways. Candy was a planned move on my part. Jackie at the festival was a spontaneous, unplanned event, but quite fortunate nonetheless. Next chapter will be a long one, but a fun one to write. :D

Also of note: coming up in the near future, there will be another reader's poll, where you get to determine a decision in the story. I won't reveal anything of what it's about until we get there, but just know it's coming up!

Leave the comments below! I love hearing from you!

23 comments:

  1. Oh I LOVE reader polls! : D I can't wait.

    I think Sev is really warming up to his daughter, especially when he thought there was a hero in his room and he instantly worried about his daughter. He may not think it, but he really is a good dad.

    Candy is pretty. She'd make a good baby mama. (Of course, so would Jackie)

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    1. It's a good thing Katt doesn't remember all the candy Severin stole from her as a tot. I like writing about their relationship now. I think Severin realizes he has to train the next generation for Overlordship just like his ancestors did. Of course, he's sure he only has to train Katt because he's not having any more kids.

      >:)

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  2. I'm looking forward to the poll!

    And that is amusing about the waffles, I've never had that happen before. Definitely made for an amusing addition to the story. I also can't wait to see who gives Severin his next baby to look after.

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    1. I've never had it happen either. I'd seen Phantom put the waffles in the oven and then walk away from them, and I remember thinking, "This is just fantastic. A fire is going to start on my lot at Amaranth's funeral. Welcome to the Overlord household, where NOTHING that's meant to be serious and touching goes right." But then nothing happened. No fire or anything. And I forgot about it until I instructed Gator to cook.

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  3. I love how Severin is getting so attached to Katt now, and I'm fascinated by the drips of Oliver's story :)

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    1. I'm glad you're liking it. :) I'm happy that Oliver's consistently a part of the story. Even when I don't direct to go visit him, he still stays a big part of the story by himself.

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  4. Darth Furball is really enjoying his status of attack cat, isn't he? And with Katt already a child, I'm expecting we might be seeing more babies sometime soon. I hope so!

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    1. Why, being an attack cat is Darth Furball's whole purpose. (Well, that and sitting on Severin's lap to make him look diabolical.)

      You'll get your wish soon! :)

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  5. I love Severin. Always on the look out for the hero. Rufus and Midnight would have been so proud. lol.

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    1. They would. :-} It's too bad Midnight passed away before Severin was born. I think she would've had more faith in the legacy towards the end.

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  6. Darth Furball doesn't like Candy, hmm...does that mean that Candy might be the hero?

    I laughed so hard at the waffles. Classic Phantom. I'll be so sad when he dies, though it won't be for a few more generations. Fairies live about 4-5 times as long as humans, right?

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    1. That would be a twist! Really, I just think Darth Furball was jealous that Severin was paying more attention to Candy than to him. ;)

      Fairies and vampires have the same lifespan, if I remember correctly. I think Phantom has either just aged up to Adult or is just about to. So he's still got quite a ways to go. Which is good, because I can't quite imagine my Moonlight Falls without Phantom either.

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  7. I wonder who will be the next baby-momma? Hehe

    I'm loving Severins' new take on fatherhood :) Katt seems very excitable, and just like any girl at that age, which is surprising considering her odd upbringing!

    Interested to see more 'attack cat' scenes, wonder when his first attack will be? And I'm not sure Severin could live without Gator, so hopefully any more children will come along quickly and he'll still be around to help.

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    1. You'll get your wish two chapters from now - Darth Furball claims his first victim then and I think it's hilarious. :D

      Severin certainly couldn't pull out his generational goals without Gator, that's for sure. Gator's pretty close to turning old.

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  8. YAY, thanks for the update! Very interesting chapter :D And I love Severin's reaction when he walks in and finds a random child in his castle. Lol! Can't wait for the next chapter. (Ohh, that sounds demanding... I'm not demanding... just excited!)
    Oh, and I keep expecting another baby to show up at some point. Severin's spoiled for choice when it comes to baby mamas, after all. xD

    "Gator wonders if future generations will decide on building a cellar or basement in the future to store more things." Me wonders that too, Gator...

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    1. I'm working on the next chapter now. :)
      You won't have to wait too long for a whole lot...

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  9. This is amazing the Oliver tidbits are great, and Katt is cute I like how she and Severin are becoming close.

    funny how the burned waffles didn't start a fire *breathes sigh of relief. Good to know that my psuedo-chapter in corrupt a wish isn't going to happen thank goodness

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    1. Oh, that was YOU? Well, I'm glad it didn't happen either. The Overlords would never have taken over the world. :(

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    2. Yeah it was me I go by different usernames on sites and heaven forbid the overlords fail to take over the world we would all be disappointed Severin would be most displeased as well as Darth furball, I can't wait to see his first victim.

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  10. That's exactly how I eat my marshmallows. It's delicious, but nobody ever believes me.

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    1. You mean completely black? That's how I eat mine too. XD It's the only way to eat marshmallows.

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    2. Yes!

      I stick them right over the coals (or in the flames if there aren't coals yet), set them on fire, twist it around so it burns the entire coating black, blow it out, and then I eat it in one bite.

      Dang, now I really want marshmallows...

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  11. What an adorable chapter. I love Katt! She's so cute. I'm a little worried about Sev and Jackie though. I hope he doesn't develop feelings for her.

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