Who: Astraios and Boreas When: Sunday night Where: Eos' place What: Astraios has some questions Warnings: Surprisingly, just some very mild violence Status: Complete
He had seen to Orithyia, made sure she was settled before he left. She had told him to go, and Boreas didn’t dare to stay behind any longer than he had. Astraios had made it quite clear that he wanted to see him. It had, in fact, been the only thing to mar the time Boreas had spent in Vermont. It had been Iris who told Orithyia Astraios was back - and for once, Boreas had to admit his sister-in-law had been useful. Coming back any later without replying to his father would only have succeeded in angering him, and it would have been an unpleasant surprise for Boreas, besides.
He already knew he was going to have to answer for the snowstorm….he didn’t know, however, if there was anything else he’d have to face up to. He hadn’t given his mother any trouble, and it was a damn good thing……but there was no telling what Zephyrus might have said. He’d been upset over the snow, and over Iris. Whether it had been enough of an issue to bring up, Boreas couldn’t say. Despite all their fighting, there was still a certain connection between him and his brother - and some mutual feelings about their father. That Astraios had spoken to Zephyrus, Boreas didn’t even question. He knew if Astraios had had his way, they all would have been lined up in a dusty room and been subjected to inquiries.
Boreas made his way to his mother’s doorstep and was not surprised to find the door opening before he even knocked.
Astraios didn’t have to wait long once Boreas was back in the city, and that, at least, was in his sons’ favour. He opened the door and laid eyes on Boreas for the first time in many ages. Part of him was pleased to find him just the same - looking strong and determined, with a forceful presence. At the same time, however, he knew Boreas was likely just as foul-tempered and stubborn as he had always been. Talking to Zephyrus had been a challenge, and so would talking to Boreas……though not in quite the same way.
“Boreas, I’m glad to see you.” This was true, as much as what may follow might indicate otherwise. He stepped back and let Boreas enter, waiting to see the door closed behind him before turning and leading the way to the same room where he’d had the conversation with his other son. Astraios took the same seat he had that time, and looked to Boreas to take the other. He closed his eyes briefly when Boreas shook his head slightly and remained standing.
“You can sit and we can discuss this calmly, Boreas.”
“I prefer to stand.” Boreas knew he was going to get questioned, and he knew his answers weren’t going to be what his father wanted to hear. Sitting back in a chair wasn’t going to convey the level of respect he figured he needed to in order to diminish what was certainly going to be his father’s anger. He also didn’t want to be sitting across from the man when he had his hands on that cane.
“It’s been a long time, father.”
“It has.” A few moments of silence passed as Astraios thought. What to begin with? The most important, or least important? Private matters or public? Thinking it over resulted in his deciding public matters first. They were less likely to bring them to a real argument. “So tell me, son, why you caused a veritable blizzard in Spring. I have not been able to find anyone besides your brother who even knew it was you, and he could not tell me why you did it.”
Astraios waited patiently while Boreas shifted slightly on his feet, looking him right in the eyes as he came up with his response. He didn’t think the boy was stalling…..just trying to put his answer together.
“I was angry. I was furious. I don’t know if Zephyrus told you anything about Orithyia and I, but…..we had been apart for a long time -”
“I knew that, but not from your brother. I had the good fortune of meeting Orithyia during the time you were not with her.” At this, Boreas looked as though he’d been struck, and Astraios had to remind himself that whatever pain his son felt was his own fault. “That, however, is not what we’re discussing.”
Orithyia had run into his father? Astraios had known she was alive and well. He had found her….had spoken to her. What had Orithyia said? He wanted to ask, but clearly, Astraios was not prepared to tell him. Swallowing his questions, Boreas tried to decide just what more he had to tell him about the storm. “We….we were apart. I found her not very long ago, but she and I had some differences in how we viewed what happened all those years ago and what had happened since. I didn’t know if she would still have me.” Boreas had discussed this same thing with his mother, but since it had been resolved, telling his father about it was a great deal less emotional. He was able to detach himself a little more from what he was saying.
“The storm?”
Clearly, he wasn’t going to be allowed to be evasive. “Orithyia told me…..there had been others. That was what the storm was about.”
Astraios’ grip on his cane tightened, he stood, and he did not bother to disguise the exasperation he felt. “You had left her, Boreas. What did you expect? For her to sit and wait patiently for you maybe to return to her?” He shook his head. “Did you?”
“I didn’t mean to leave her! It just……happened. She was still my wife, I was going to return. As for others, anyone I was with didn‘t mat-”
He cut Boreas’ protest off with a good hard whack of his cane. “You left her. How could you not mean it? You did to her what your brother does to his own wife on a regular basis, except you did not tell her a thing and you did not return to her.” Astraios calmed down, and his voice quieted. “How dare you defend yourself.”
It hurt. It hurt a lot, but even more, what his father said was true, and that hurt differently. While the time he’d gone through without Orithyia had been punishment enough to teach him a lesson, he knew it couldn’t compare to what he’d done to her. He still felt the guilt, and the anger, but all he could do was attempt to prove he hadn’t meant it, and that he did love her. “I explained to Orithyia -”
“I’m certain you did, and I’m certain she didn’t put you through half of what she should have before returning to you. I will never understand how you and your brother can stand to behave the way you do, and how those girls can forgive you.” Boreas risked a look up at his fathers face and didn’t like the fury he saw there. Harming family was one thing Astraios had never tolerated beyond the occasional squabbles, and even then, any disagreements were held out of earshot where he was concerned.
“You’re right.” At this admission, Boreas saw faint surprise in his father’s face. “I know you’re right. I’ll admit that. I…..I was angry, though. I couldn’t help that.”
“You might have helped covering the city in snow. You’re lucky no one made a great deal out of it.”
“Zephyrus made a big deal out of it. If anyone else complained, I don’t know. I don’t care, either. If even Zeus didn’t mind - “ This time, Boreas stopped himself. He wasn’t used to censoring his words, and mentioning Zeus had simply happened before he’d thought it through.
“Zeus?” Astraios was once again surprised. “Did he speak of it to you?” Something about how Boreas had cut himself off made Astraios believe there was a little more to it than that. What, he couldn’t guess. They had not had much to do with Zeus over time, though he’d occasionally given aid to his relatives and subjects when they required it.
Boreas watched him warily. “I woke him up with that storm. He….I had given him my place to stay at for awhile. Taking a break from all those others…..seemed like he could use it.”
“You hid Zeus.” Zeus, who had fought against the Titans. Zeus. It had been long ago, long enough that Astraios harboured no ill will, but even so……Astraios sighed. Of course. Boreas was no fool. He couldn’t be bothered to involve himself in politics, but he wasn’t one to ignore any advantage. “I see. Is there anything else you should tell me, Boreas?” When his son shook his head, Astraios nodded and went back to his chair. “You caused a snowstorm in Spring which caused trouble for your brother, you hid Zeus, and above all, you left Orithyia alone for countless ages. I’m disappointed in you.
You have never been able to keep your temper, but while I am here, you will try, Boreas. I will not have anyone in this family needlessly anger others, I will not have you hurting each other. It is bad enough I have never been able to stop Zephyrus from running off….if I have to see Orithyia go through what Iris has, I will not hesitate to beat you both into staying put.” Astraios thought he may not have told Zephyrus that…..but Zephyrus had had enough warnings he’d completely ignored over the years. One left unsaid was not, in all probability, going to affect him.
“I’m not going to leave her.” Boreas finally sat, though he kept a careful eye on his father. Just because he seemed calm again did not mean he actually was. “And other than the storm, I don’t think I’ve instigated anything worth complaining about.” Boreas sat back and tried not to show the pain he felt from getting hit with the cane. He watched his father sit silently, probably thinking over everything that had been said and no doubt trying to remember if there was anything else to give him hell over. He wanted to ask if there was anything else, but made himself sit still and quiet.
Finally, Astraios looked up, and Boreas breathed a silent sigh of relief. The look on his fathers face was unmistakeably calm.
“Alright, Boreas. You have heard what I had to say. I imagine you’ll want to get back to Orithyia. If you want to leave, go ahead.”
With as respectful a gesture as his pain would allow, Boreas nodded and bowed slightly before making a hasty retreat. It was always wise to leave Astraios on a good note.