Ask Shattered Fantasies

[Laila Din]

"Aw, you're not getting married?" Clove's answer elicited a pouty look on Laila's face as her dreams of being a flower girl were shot down.

And then everything got... tense. Kasim spit venom, and Jabari backhanded him in response. Laila looked shocked at her older brothers' responses - both of them - but said nothing. She inched a bit closer to Khalani without really thinking about it. She hated when everyone fought. Her eyes seemed to say it though. 'Why was Kasim upset?' and 'Why did Jabari hit him?'

Laila pulled out her NalPhone and began scrolling through GalaxyGram. "Do you have a GalaxyGram?" she asked Clove, trying to ignore the fighting. "You should follow me."

@LilyNion @Scoobert @Sreeya @SlagathorTheUnknown @Versok @Altaris @everyoneelse

 

[Khalani Din]

Khalani was in the midst of conversation with Clove when the word hypocrite had come out, then followed by firm sound of a hit. This family has it's tussles and likes to rough house, but this was sturdy, intentional and fueled by something. Khalani turned to see what had happened, and when she noticed what was going on, she stayed quiet. The others had embarked in debate on the family and it was embarrassing for her to sit and listen to this.

Kasim had been stirring the pot, and it was odd. Khalani always remembers the sweet little boy that lived on the farm still, but he's changed and grown up. If this was how he felt about the family then why didn't he talk to someone? They'd still care about no matter what, this is family..

This entire debacle felt weird to listen to, but she figured it'd be beast not to butt in for now and if it gets more heated, then she'll get into defusing the situation. She just felt bad for Clove, as her first impression of Kasim was this. Khalani stood next to Clove and placed a hand on her shoulder to give her some sort of comfort.

Then almost perfect timing, looking down, Laila was there pulling out her phone asking for Clove's GalaxyGram. Khalani gave a smirk while she had also chose to ignore the fighting going on. "You know what, let me get it too. And you better add us."

@lizziie @LilyNion @allothers

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

Another reminder of marriage, and another stinging pain in her chest. She couldn't blame Laila because she didn't know. Nobody in here knew anything about it, for that matter. But that didn't make it any less sensitive.

The fight seemed to be getting worse. Kasim locked his gaze on Clove and began an almost literal outburst. She didn't need to be connected to her Force to feel the Darkside swirling around his mind. His eyes told her everything she needed to know. But, as awkward as it was to be placed in the middle of it all, she could see where he was coming from. After all, he'd just been hit in the face in front of a stranger. And, based on Altair's stories, this wasn't the first time he—or any sibling—had been hit. His warning was fair and square, and she would remember it. But she knew right there and then that not a single soul would touch her child, no matter if they were the child's family or not.

But she couldn't say anything since Khalid jumped in to calm things down. Or tried to calm things down. Because the moment he pointed his finger at her, stating who she was, what had happened, and that she was on her own, she felt every single wall she had built over the past year crumble little by little. She stared at him, her ears lowering, a blush crawling up her cheeks in humiliation. Thunder started to rumble through the hole in her heart, each fresh crackle echoing Khalid's words like poisonous whispers as it tried to fill in the hollowness.

- music -​

The hand lowering on Clove caught her off guard, making her shoulders rise for a split second before sinking completely. She bit her trembling lower lip, fiercely fighting back the sobs that sprang from her chest. And for a moment, it looked as though she was succeeding—until Laila and Khalani mentioned Galaxygram. The countless pictures she had taken of her parents, her house, and even the picture of the swan boat journey with Altair all flooded back into her mind.

Her hands clenched around her mouth, muffling the first few cries that had been trying to escape from her chest for months. Every muscle in her body clenched and warm tears began to fall from her eyes, staining her pale cheeks. She had tried everything she could to avoid these overwhelming feelings, shutting them all up to desperately ignore reality. She knew they were gone; she had just realized how alone she was. But hearing these words said aloud, by a stranger, turned her biggest fear into a reality she could no longer hide from. Vahl had taken away her entire life in a matter of seconds with an explosion that happened an hour too early.

"They're all gone-" She was mumbling nearly inaudibly while crying out louder as her arms shook and her head hang low. Her hands clamped tighter around her mouth as the realization began to seep in deeper and deeper. But somewhere in the back of her mind, a small voice told her she needed to excuse herself and find a balcony to take a breather. And, small as it was, it was enough to get Clove moving. "I- I'm sorry." She sprang to her feet as quickly as her legs would allow, her blurry gaze darting about the room until she noticed the glass doors. She hurriedly exited the room and stepped onto the balcony without wasting any time, welcoming the cold night sky air against her damped skin while closing her eyes.

Clove grimaced after only a few seconds had gone by. Why were water drops pouring down her legs? Was it raining outside? No—It felt more like she was... leaking. She opened her eyes and looked down, perplexed, only to feel her aching heart sink down her chest and into her stomach. Her water broke. "Sugar!" was all she managed to yell.

---

tag @Sreeya @SlagathorTheUnknown @Versok @lizziie @Scoobert @Altaris @LouJoVi ​

 

[Altair Din]

It was almost as if Altair wasn’t even here. He was silent through the tirade between his brothers, the blatant disrespect and everything else people wanted to dump on him. He had been through it all, and he wouldn’t get riled. The tiefling was poised as a statue, gazing ahead at nothing, at no one. His tail didn’t move, his body language didn’t shift. Nothing. It was as if he was unplugged from all of this entirely and the negativity around him blurred into an abstract.

Until he heard Clove break down.

He snapped back into reality, his head whipping round to regard her. Altair didn’t even hear what led up to it, but he felt that cursed, old and almost instinctual urge to turn towards her. His fingers curled, but he stayed seated. His siblings were there and he wasn’t that Altair that would actively comfort her now. It didn’t feel appropriate anymore.

However, suddenly Clove hunched over. At first, he thought it was all part of her emotional breakdown. Mama Din, who had been through this ten times, spotted the signs right away, “OH LAWDY WE ‘BOUTTA HAVE A BABY!”

“Wh-what?” Altair sputtered dumbly.

“BOY GET HER ASS TO A MEDBAY NOW I RAISED YOU BETTER THAN THAT!”

His brain was mush. He blinked stupidly. One of his nearby brothers punched him in the bicep. Altair finally bolted to stand, grabbing his comlink and ordering people to bring over a repulsorsled to rush Clove to a medical bay. This was happening?? Now of all times? Could this day get any more out of control?

@lizziie @SlagathorTheUnknown @Altaris @Versok @LilyNion @Scoobert

 

[Laila Din]

Laila was not prepared for Clove to start crying. She stared dumbfounded at the half-Annfyn as she ran away and out onto the balcony, wondering what the woman's deal was. "Was it something I said?" she sheepishly asked her older sister, scarlet eyes trailing back to Khalani. Just as she did, Clove shouted something from the other room, and her Ma started yelling once again. This time, in a panic.

"The baby's coming?" Excitement returned and the girl quickly jumped up, wanting to follow. Before she could even remotely follow, Pa's hand reached out and snatched the girl by her bicep, dragging her back. He just shook his head and said, "Not a chance young lady." "But PAAA-" "I said no. No one need go other than her and Altair," he said firmly, eyes drifting to command everyone else to stay.

"Pa's right, darlin'- THOUGH YOU BETTER TEXT ME TAI!" Ma stopped halfway through to shout in Altair's direction.

Laila, in the meantime and now that she wasn't allowed to follow, noticed that her brother had slipped away. Curious as to where Kasim had gone, and already wanting to talk to him, Laila waited until her Ma and Pa weren't watching and slipped away herself.

/ Exit Thread
@LilyNion @Scoobert @Sreeya @SlagathorTheUnknown