"I think you're getting a bit off topic." Andronikas said icily, staring his sister down in a silent warning for her to keep her opinions about their brother to herself. Andronikas had absorbed some things from his father-- namely, his domineering presence. Livia observed quietly as her father loomed over her aunt. Even decades since his years in the ring, Andronikas Tannaras was a physically powerful specimen-- something even her grandfather hadn't been.
He was lucky, in a way, for his father's cruelty. While both he and his sister had been filled with varying levels of hate and bitterness, their vastly different treatments at the hands of their father had caused that hate to be directed completely different. Where Pterygas constant chastisement and verbal abuse towards Andy had fostered hatred towards his father, Livilla's treatment had been entirely different.
While their father had certainly pressured her, Livilla had never been faced with the constant psychological and verbal abuse both Andronikas and Claudias had experienced. In fact, there were several times where their father was genuinely affectionate with her-- much to the confusion of her older brothers. She was able to absorb what little affection he provided, and with it all of his hateful, disgusting ideas. Ironically enough, the child who'd turned out to be most like him was the one he'd been the most decent towards.
As the conversation moved on, Andronikas went back to nodding along, listening to his sister and daughter's inputs. Livilla's comment about the ISCRA brought an entirely different perspective to the situation-- one that, suddenly, began to make sense.
"It's... it's charity." Andronikas muttered, the words fumbling from his mouth. His daughter cocked her head, unsure if she'd heard him right. "Pardon?"
"Tristodd, Claudias-- it's obvious that neither of them are the father, so perhaps they're just... doing this because they think it's right?" He suggested. Livia remained silent for a moment-- and than, she smiled, and began to giggle.
Before he could react, Livilla made a suggestion that left him gaping at her like she'd just suggested they skin a lothcat.
"You... you want me to MURDER them?" Her older brother asked, staring at her first out of a mixture of shock and horror, and than, out of rage. "Is that what you think I am, Livilla?!" He asked louder, face twisting into a snarl. His daughter's laughter ceased as she watched her father's wrath beginning to boil over. "We're LORDS, not GANGSTERS! We don't order HITS on people-- especially not a pregnant woman and some COMMON WHORE!" The man snapped, blinking as the last insult was blurted out regarding his former lover.
Closing his eyes, he turned back to Livilla, a veil of calm suppressing the anger burning just beneath. "We... are NOT hiring assassins! If you have a problem with that, you can go off and try and solve this the way you want on your own-- I'm sure father would be proud, if he weren't busy drooling and shitting his britches like an invalid!" Andronikas spat, unable to mask his disdain any longer.
His son and eldest nephew, degenerates, his youngest daughter, an obsessive freak. One daughter was duty driven, the other was to busy with her poems, songs and baby to succeed him. His brother and younger nephew, naïve children, his sister, the spitting image of his father-- and now, her, back into his thoughts again. Her, and that brat she'd try to pass off as his son. "Look at what we're reduced to, you old fool. I hope it was all worth it." He thought, and he wasn't sure if he was speaking to his father, or to himself.
Without a word, he left the room. He needed to take his heart medication.
--------
Whatever eccentricities the young man had, he was at least polite. When he mentioned his time at the academy, Claudias couldn't help but flush with embarrassment. "You're f-far to kind, my lord." He declared, trying to avert his eyes from the rest of the party. Anna obviously thought the situation was sweet, while Saura wore a grin as she stifled the urge to call both of them pansies.
As their greetings concluded and Jobin ushered them towards the speeder, Claudias would turn to the young mother to be. "I d-do hope all this d-drama hasn't c-caused you to much trouble, my dear." He whispered, to which the girl sighed. "You don't need to apologize, Mr. Tannaras. Everything you've done... honestly, I couldn't have hoped for more-- besides Reegian marrying me." She said, a smile spreading across her face, before she swallowed a lump in her throat and wiped her eyes.
The older aristocrat sighed, pursing his lips. He wasn't sure how he might console the girl-- he'd never been in love, and what relationship experience he had was far from the young passion that Anna and his older nephew had engaged in. He was, however, intimately familiar with feelings of unrequited love.
"It's... p-painful, for love to g-go unrequited-- but just b-because that l-love isn't reciprocated doesn't m-mean it isn't there." He began, trying his best to articulate what he meant. "S-soon, you'll be a mother to a h-healthy child. You'll have a h-home, n-neighbors, friends, t-time to learn, to experience wh-what this world has to offer." He went on, and Anna's expression began to soften as she listened.
"P-pour your love into all of these th-things. Y-you might not have f-found fulfillment with m-my nephew, b-but your life c-can still be a h-happy one, if you choose to pursue it." He finished. "If you only f-focus on the pain, your s-sorrow will turn into anger, and th-that will only make things worse."
Anna was still teary eyed as they entered the speeder, but as it took off, and the ride went on, she began to relax. Claud sat silently in the back, waiting for them to arrive, while Saura stared out the window, trying her best to pretend she hadn't heard all the man had said.
Trying her best to ignore that she was living proof that he was right.
@LouJoVi