Striking Looks
Presence
Kaze is so out of his head when he gets back to his hotel room that he actually considers drinking some whiskey for the effect instead of just for social lubrication and taste. He doesn't, but wow. Mind blown and emotions all over. Acting tomorrow might be hard. He can hardly concentrate right now anyway, his mind keeps going back to...things he said. Not necessarily all true things, but the stuff that he proved are enough to think about the other stuff being true.
He's definitely his Dad. He knows...everything. The stuff no one else would.
He's definitely Awakened. And an Arrow. He says he's Thyrsus. Not something it makes sense for him to lie about.
The part where his grand dad, 'The Colonel' was his Dad's superior in the Arrows, and forbade him to heal his mother of her cancer, even sent him away where he wouldn't be able to give into temptation...that's harsh.
Kaze searches his feelings, tho.
"Yeah. That's like both of you, the way I remember you." Kaze says out loud in the empty room.
The Colonel was always, all about discipline. And Kaze had already suspected his grandfather knew about the Awakened world, the way he made it a condition of his Trust to go to Okinawa and hang out with people who just happened to be Admantine Arrows.
And Dad, what Kaze remembered about him was always...a guy who did what felt right to him at the time. He'd seen him blow off sales visits to perform at a jazz lounge when someone else was there he just couldn't say 'no' to jamming with.
That was why it hurt so much when he abandoned him and his mom when she was dying. Okay, it would have hurt no matter what, but it was so out of left field, and just felt like...something he couldn't believe his Dad would do.
The years of watching over him after he went to college, remotely with magic made sense too. Kaze knew he had a lot of anger in him then. He didn't blame his Dad for not trying to contact him and tell him...'the Truth'? Well, his side anyway.
And once he was an Arrow...well, he was still really hurt and mad at his Dad. It was only after he came here, to Sacramento, after being here a while, like a year...and breaking up with Phoenyx. He somehow...felt like he could let himself remember his Dad as more than a worthless jerk. He could let himself remember the good times they had together. And could maybe understand a little about having to do things he didn't want to do, and losing someone he loved, even if it was only breaking up a relationship, not losing her to death, having to choose a life without Phoenyx as his girlfriend...changed him.
And practically, up until Alastor left, Kaze spent most of his time living in a Warded Sanctum anyway. Dad couldn't really keep tabs on him much.
Then Kaze moved out, and had to do his own soul searching, and then saw that show advertisement, and went to see the man in concert, mostly to see if it was really him. And it was.
Even then, Kaze didn't go to him. He stayed for the whole show, but left right after. But his Dad, at least he says, he recognized Kaze and started keeping tabs on him again, spying on him, but...it doesn't feel like it.
Kaze searches his feelings again. The Offer. It could be...no, it is everything he's been wanting. A mentor to help him reach Life Master. Not being an orphan. At least...no guarantees, but it's gotta be worth a shot, right?
Kaze grins and says out loud, "Yes. Thank you. See you tomorrow, after we're done shooting, okay Dad?" He's sure Dad is watching and listening. He as much as said he would be.
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