Parent Traps - Vincent Black
May 24, 2021 20:26:22 GMT -5
☠ VooDoo ☠, Paul Montuori, and 2 more like this
Post by somethingwicked on May 24, 2021 20:26:22 GMT -5
The exterior of Vincent and Vhodka’s apartment is bathed in the neon lights of the chinese restaurant beneath. The smell of eggrolls fills the air, but is barely noticeable by those who have turned a blind nostril to its presence. The stairway leading up to the apartment is dark as it is precarious. The handrail hangs off the wall, pieces of drywall encrusted around it’s brackets, the steps made of wood from before the great flood with nails that were more aluminum than metal. But up the stairs Buck Bickett went despite. A message in his mind and fire in his eyes. Buck had overheard something. Something he didn’t want to believe. And rather than ask the person who’d spilled the soup where they got it, he decided it was best to just go right to the source. Even if that source was a few hundred miles away.
Pushing the ‘door’ open, Buck watched as it swung on it’s one remaining hinge, which had been moved to the middle, and then fell to the floor, keeping the hinge with it. From the back of the apartment, Vincent Black walked out slowly, expressing shock at seeing his girlfriends father before him, and anger that it isn’t someone he can kill for intruding. His shoulders slumping down as his defenses drop, Vincent walks up to greet Buck, but finds that his shoulders are still up, and his hands and fists are both clenched.
Vincent Black
“ ...Bu- “
Buck Bickett
“ Don’t you dare say my name right now! Don’t you dare say a word to me!I didn’t drive all the way here just to listen to you speak. Now I got some questions and you’re gonna answer them, got it!? “
Vincent nods in response, and sits down on the couch. Buck pulls his phone out of his pocket, and waved it for dramatic purposes.
Buck Bickett
“ I want you to keep in mind, if you lie to me, I will surely call alexis and she’ll tell me whats what. Now. Did you or did you not get my Cricket pregnant? “ Vincent nods, his face expressing the certainty that this was going to go badly. “ And did you ask her to get rid of it? “ Vincent nods, regret painted across his face. “ And that child, that you wanted to get rid of, that was Ripley? My Cricket gave her to Alexis? And you found out, and boy, you didn’t rush off to tell this child? You best not nod this time, son. “
Vincent Black
“ We spoke to Alexis. The kid is in some very complicated programs at school. None of us wanted to upset her. I can’t stand the idea of having a child that doesn’t know me, Buck. You can think what you like, but I’m a good father. I pride myself on it. “
Buck Bickett
“ How can you give a child up and call yourself proud? “
Vincent took a breath and buried the feeling to tell his girlfriends father where to go, how to get there, and what to do when he arrives. But with his hands. And maybe that lamp. But instead, he simply spoke to the man, as a father to a father.
Vincent Black
“ I didn’t know she existed until a few months ago. I met her and...I knew. She’s got the same wit, the same humor. It threw me off because, I’ve never met her before. Yet she’s me. And her. I was mad she kept it from me, but not that she didn’t go through with it. She made the right choice. We just have to fix the par...JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. “
Buck Bickett
“ now don’t yo- “
Vincent Black
“ Look at your phone, Buck. You called her!! “
Remember when he said i’ll surely call alexis? Well his phone had thought he’d said ‘Siri, call alexis.’ Which wouldn’t be a big deal, if it wasn’t for the fact that upon seeing that it was her favorite person ever, GrandPa Buck calling, Ripley had picked up the phone and not gotten the greeting she had expected.
Buck Bickett
“ hello? hello? “
Vincent walked into the back of the apartment, muttering under his breath. As he went to dial, another call came in, and intercepted his attempt at dialing. Cursing, he answered the call despite.
Tommy Wheels
“ Weirdo.. “ Tommy was Vin’s oldest friend. Also, Vin was Tommy’s fist enemy. Having been sicked on Tommy by his father, Vin was the first person to ever hit Tommy. He was also the last, as the two became quick friends, and no one ever laid a figner on Tommy. Someone did put a bullet in him though, but that’s not important right now.
Vincent Black
“ Tommy, I can- “
Tommy Wheels
“ You were right. The twitter account, the email set up on it, the phone number, it’s all fresh as a daisy. I also found out that the number used for it is for a burner phone. “
Vincent Black
“ How can you tell that? “
Tommy Wheels
“ The fuck you just ask me? Because I’m good, man. I’m so good. “
Vincent Black
“ And it’s who I think? “
Tommy Wheels
“ All signs point to yes. “
Vincent Black
“ Fucking piece of...alright. I got other shit going on. Thank you. “
Tommy Wheels
“ Hey, Got a new girl. Want you to meet her. Can I plan a party around it? Figure you could meet her friends, they can meet you. We can tell them all about our lives. “
Vincent Black
“ ...you’re an asshole. “
Vincent hung up to the sound of Tommy laughing. The idea of meeting new people, plus social situations, plus being anywhere was three times the normal amount of shit that made Vin sweat. If he didn’t have an ass to kick that he’s been waiting to kick, he might have required a nap.
Vincent Black
“ Alright, genius. I’ve got some other shit to deal with and you’re coming. “
Buck Bickett
“ Boy who you think you’re talking to? “
Vincent Black
“ You. Let’s go. “
Buck Bickett
“ Fine! But we’re gonna keep talking the entire time! “
Vincent and Buck were silent the entire drive. Each reflecting off the choices they’d made, and the situation they were in because of it. VIncent, having chosen his ex-wife, due to not knowing how to process these complex things known as emotions, and setting himself, his girlfriend, and every one in their lives on an even more complicated path. And Buck, who had come to chastise this absentee father for keeping himself a secret and inadvertently blowing that secret to hell like a truck driver trying to rescue a girl he just met from an asian demon.
As they made a turn, the engine roared and Buck smiled, and also noticed Vin had smiled. It was then that Buck really took notice of the car. Stock everything, well cared for. The seats smelt of a sweetness that left a faint hint on his fingers after touching it. The dash shined as if it was pulled from the factory moments earlier. In fact the entire car seemed to have that look and feel. Buck gathered that he took pride in his car, and it put him to ease to know they had that in common.
Buck Bickett
“ This is a nice car. Did you trade in the other one? “
Vincent Black
“ No. I own this one as well. I own every type of Cadillac. “
Buck Bickett
“ ..you can’t possibly. “
Vincent Black
“ I bought your entire town on a whim, Buck. “
Buck Bickett
“ Still not ok about that. “
Vincent Black
“ You don’t have to like me. I will turn your town into a ski resort, though. “
Buck Bickett
“ Don’t start joking with me, boy. You knocked up my daughter. “
Vincent Black
“ With all of the practice we do, you should be glad it only happened once. “
Buck Bickett
“ STOP THIS CAR! “
Vincent Black
“ No. Your daughter is an adult. I am an adult. You need to be one too. No one is perfect. No one. We make choices. Some of them are good, and some of them are the worst we could make. I do not regret the choices I made because I love my children. I love my family. So you can hate me for the choices I made then, but I am choosing now to correct these things. Which is all any man can ultimately do. “
Buck Bickett
“ ...suppose. “
Vincent Black
“ Suppose this. Suppose you would let people make their own choices, and support them, rather than you trying to feel like a hero by imposing your own wants. Your daughter is a grown up. “
Buck Bickett
“ My daughter is not known for making the best of decisions. And I tell you what, the jury is still out on you. You could get bored, run back to your family. You could fall for another the way you fell for her. You can earn a trillion dollars but you can’t earn my trust overnight. “
Vincent went to respond, but as his face expressed a loud bang shook the car and the two men in it. Vincent took a deep breath and threw the car into park, muttering a few words under his breath that a man like Buck would not be very pleased to hear.
Behind the car, a small dodge neon sits, smoke pluming from it’s now crumpled engine which sits tight against the massive trunk of the Caddy. The driver, a mid-30’s attractive woman, sits behind the wheel with tears in her eyes. Her hands gripping the wheel while simultaneously shaking despite. Buck steps out and is amazed at how badly the compact car is damaged, and how little the Caddy is. A few scuff marks and scratched paint, but nary a dent to be seen.
Vincent meanwhile approaches the drivers side, and knocks on the window, trying and failing to get the drivers attention with at least 3 attempts. On the fourth, Vincent smacks the glass with intent and finally snaps her out of her daze. She looks up and him and begins to wail, her face red and wet from the cascade of tears and sweat.
Vincent opens the door, and kneels at her side. Taking her hand, he gets her to calm down to a slow boil of terror filled breaths and yelps, and eventually gets her to breath normally.
Vincent Black
“ You ok? Not hurt? “
Bre’ Frenafta
“ I...I don’t know. I still can’t feel anything. “
Vincent Black
“ Being hit by an airbag will do that. Do you remember what happened? “
Bre’ Frenafta
“ ..I hit a car. “
Vincent Black
“ You did. It was mine. My name is Vincent Black. “
Bre’ Frenafta
“ I...I know who you are. I saw you live a few months ago. You played wonderwall. “
Vincent Black
“ I did. How’d I do? “
Bre’ Frenafta
“ you were great. I’m sorry about your car. “
Vincent Black
“ Don’t be. It’s fine. Why don’t you stand up and we can see if you’re ok? “
Bre’ Frenafta
“ k... “
In the minutes to come, an hour passed and the entire time, Vincent and Bre’ talked, with Buck standing off to the side, watching. She told him she liked his music but had never seen him fight. He had told her he was ok with that. She told him that her ex-husband was a big fan of his fighting career, but not so much his music. Vin informed her that he could guess easily how people knew of him just by their look. Angry people liked his fighting, somber people liked his music, depressed people liked his writing, and all of them usually liked his painting. Bre’ joked that he was a renaissance man from the old days but immortal, and Vincent smiled, informing her that he couldn’t deny it, but wouldn’ confirm it either.
Vincent Black
“ So tell me, Bre. Why did you hit my car? “
Bre’ Frenafta
“ ..I was upset. My ex and I have shared custody of the kids. I had gone to jail for bit due to drinking and driving for the umpteenth time, and when I got out... “
The story she tells is not an easy one to tell and not an easy one to hear. She had lost her visitation rights, Not because of her ex, but because of the judge. Known as a no nonsense type, he all but threw the book at her, despite the ex-husband begging for leniency. She was denied shared custody, she was to pay child support of a set amount that would be hard with two well paying jobs, let alone the three shitty ones she had trouble getting and keeping. She had just left her children who she knew she wouldn’t see for another week. And it all just got to her at the wrong time. She apologized profusely, and told him she’d find a way to pay him back. Vincent smiled, and watched as the tow truck pulled her car away from his, revealing that there was even less damage to him as thought.
Miles away in the double wide mansion of Bent Fork, Beaulah Bickett swishes across the floor to the neon orange base with blue orange receiver rotary phone that hangs on her wall, and pulls an earring from her ear in order to answer.
Buck Bickett
“ Bea, it’s me. “
Bea Bickett
“ Buck Bickett where in the heck did you runtawf to? I’ve been looking for you for half the day! “
Buck Bickett
“ Came to see Cricket’s boy and talk to him about the child he fathered. And well.. “
Bea Bickett
“ Don’t you tell me you shot that boy! “
Buck Bickett
“ I already promised I’d not do that a second time, Bea. You got to let that go. “
Bea Bickett
“ Still can’t look at that rug the same way. “
Buck Bickett
“ I’m calling because of the darndest thing. We were in this little fender bender. Everyones fine, save for the lass who hit us. Well, She’s fine but her little dodge neon didn’t stand a chance against the Cadillac. But how he responded just about blew me away. “
Bea Bickett
“ He didn’t hurt the woman did he? “
Buck Bickett
“ No. he hired her. Turns out she’d made some mistakes, gotten her kids taken away. Was having a hard time making child support and because of that, the judge wasn’t letting her have shared custody. Apparently the father was okay with her seeing them but the court shut it down on account of her record. She was going from one job to the next when she had a bad moment and hit us from behind. He should’ve been mad, but the boy just offered her a job and said they’d get her back with her kids. Because he knows what its like to not be with your kids, and he doesn’t want that for anyone. I tell you, Bea. I may have judged this boy all wrong. “
Bea Bickett
“ Sounds awfully like what I’d done told you a handful of times, Buck. Jolene loves ‘em. Always has. That girl never done loved nobody. “
Buck Bickett
“ I can see why. He’s not my kind, but he’s definitely hers. “
Bea Bickett
“ Well you hurry on back home now. Got us some stew going that ain’t gonna sit well once the meat gets tough. Tough enough from the sun. “
Buck Bickett
“ Be home soon. Once he gets a hold of this boy he’s training. Apparently he did something not so great. “
Bea Bickett
“ Ooh. Find out what his favorite food is. All four of ‘em, dear. “
Buck Bickett
“ Can’t promise but i’ll do my best. Love you.“
Bea Bickett
“ Love you more. Don’t come home without what I asked for. See ya then. “
Buck hung up the phone, and walked toward the stairs which were barely stairs. More like planks of wood nailed into the wall with screws and glue. His first step onto these planks was the least sure step he’d ever taken since the war. Instinctively he reached out for a handrail but found none was present, Not even the little brackets were on the wall. Meaning a handrail had not been there ever. Making it to the top of the steps, he pushed out a metal door that had no locks, and found himself in a bowl of cereal from his daughters childhood. Brightly colored everything as far as the eye could see. Orange walls with pink and blue striping, and a carpet so ugly even a bowling alley would be impressed. Poking his head into the living room, Buck saw three people. One a man that looked like a woman, one a woman that looked like a man, and one that just looked like an undead version of both. They sat on a very nice leather couch, looking up at a 75 inch tv. Two of them had brand new iphones in their hand, with the third one sitting near a pile of broken Jitterbug pieces. Buck tried to read the room but having never met any of them before, he wasn’t sure if this was a good silence, a bad silence or just an average one. As he opened his mouth, Vincent stepped out of a room, his phone to his ear. A smaller...person followed behind him, hanging on his every word.
Vincent Black
“ ..ok. It’s done. He’ll be here next week. BUT. If I find out you took a single dime from anyone not in this business, I will end you. You realize this, yes?. “
Asher Jules
“ On me lungs, bruv. Swear it. “ Vincent nods to Buck that they’re leaving, and as they reach the door, Asher calls out to Vin, who stops and turns. “ ...really. Thank you. “
Vincent Black
“ Don’t say it. Show it. “
Asher Jules
“ Right. Will do. “ Asher turns to find Noelle looking at the tv, and he balls his hands up and yells as loud as he can, which is very. “ WHO FUCK TOLD YOU TO WATCH ME TELE, SWUNT! “
The argument that ensues is all the reason Buck and Vincent need to leave. Vin who is much more sure footed on the calamity steps than buck, is outside and leaning against the car when by the time the man steps off the last plank. Buck goes to speak, but before he can, Vin cuts him off.
Vincent Black
“ Buck. You and I have very little in common. But we care about our children. We want to see them happy, and treated properly. I also get the sense that you care a good amount about Ripley. Which is nice. But we’ve talked with the woman who raised her, and out of respect for her wishes, we’ve kept our distance. Careful not to upset the child during the school year, as she has plans, and doesn’t deserve to have them sidelined by a truth that was hidden from her. We’ve no way of knowing if your accidental phone call has revealed all of this to said child. Of course, if it has, I’m not going to be pleased, Buck. It’s been hell for me knowing that I have a child I’ve never met. I’ve done what I’ve done because I was asked. And I do not appreciate you putting that at risk. Putting that child’s mental health at risk. Do I need to explain further? “
Buck Bickett
“ No. I didn’t want that either. I just. I just didn’t understand the choices you make. I’ve never understood my Cricket’s. But you I can fight. And at the end of it, maybe I understand a little. And if I can understand you, Maybe I can understand my Cricket. So I am sorry for how this played out. But you best understand, it’s in no way benefitting to you for Bealuh to ever find out about this. “
Vincent Black
“ I agree but.. “ Vincent holds up his phone and reveals he’s been facetime Beaulah the entire time. Her face is bright red and her mouth is moving at the speed of light. Vin smirks as Buck lifts his eyes from the phone to Vincent’s gaze. “ oh no. I have accidentally called a person and spilled a secret. Whatever shall I do.”
Vincent tossed the phone to buck, and smiled. His teeth looking more like fangs then ever, and his smile far more a snarl than usual. Buck would spend the next few hours explaining to the love of his life just how he could make a mistake so stupid. While Vincent Black disregarded the love of his life’s wishes, and went to go meet his daughter.
The flight was bumpy and annoying, as the small dual engine puddle jumper barely made it there in one piece. The makeshift runway the town had was bad enough. The fact that it doubled as a grazing patch was that much worse. As the plan sputtered to a stop, the door opened and fell to the ground, with VIncent jumping down right behind it. Landing in a standing position he took to his souls and walked toward a small taxi that was abandoned by a port-a-potty. Vincent hopped in and made his way toward the house of Alexis Austin, and Ripley Austin-but-also-Black.
On the way he would arrange for Asher to not be arrested for trespassing in a gym that said 24 hours, but really meant 8. He would leave another voicemail for Sarah, trying to appeal to her sense of logic, and just as he reached the house, he got another call from Xavier. He took this phone call out of need. Not that he needed to speak to his brother, but that he needed a moment before he’d walk up to that house.
Vincent Black
“ Xavier. “
Xavier Wolf
“ What up, 2nd place? Why does Buck have your other phone? “
Vincent Black
“ It’s a story. What can I do for you? “
Xavier Wolf
“ I got some tea. “
Vincent Black
“ What kind? “
Xavier Wolf
“ The gossip kind. “
Vincent Black
“ Disappointing, “
Xavier Wolf
“ Guess who has a kid they didn’t know about? “
Vincent Black
“ Is it me? It’s me, isn’t it. “
Xavier Wolf
“ NO! Paul Monty. “
Vincent Black
“ ...is it Vhodkas? “
Xavier Wolf
“ No. Machelle. “
Vincent Black
“ Does Brandon know? “
Xavier Wolf
“ NOT MI-CHELLE. MA-CHELLE. Why do I tell you these things? “
Vincent Black
“ I really don’t know. I think I’m facing Paul this week. V and me verus P and K of T. “
Xavier Wolf
“ Stop trying to be hip. Sounds horrible when you do it. “
Vincent Black
“ Fair. “
Xavier Wolf
“ Hey, does Sarah hate us? “
Vincent Black
“ Yes, of course. “
Xavier Wolf
“ I really don’t understand why! “
Vincent Black
“ We broke our promise to her and made what happened to her more of our issue then it was hers. We lied for years on top of it, and used her love for us to play her. On top of which because of our negligence, someone who should have never had access to her was given all he needed to damn near kill her. Would you like us right now? “
Xavier Wolf
“ ...what do we do? “
Vincent Black
“ We shut the fuck up and see if it passes. If not, we go to our graves knowing we did what we set out to do. “
Xavier Wolf
“ That’s...that’s terrible. But I think you’re right. “
Vincent Black
“ Wonderful. I’ve got to go. I need to speak to my daughter. “
Xavier Wolf
“ Ciara or Rose? “
Vincent Black
“ The other one. “
Xavier Wolf
“ ..wait there’s another one?? “
Vincent Black
“ Goodnight Xavier. “
Vincent placed his secondary phone onto the dashboard, and looked at the small and modest house Alexis and her partner had built for themselves. Plants hung carefully in every window. A trellis stretched up the side of the house, delivering roses and other vines to the window above it. And on a tire swing in the dark, A young girl sat, looking at her phone as the goodyear kept her in a semi-circle.
Vincent was quiet in his approach, but not on purpose, out of habit. He had reached her before she saw him, and got a look at her phone. She was not looking at clothes, or movies, or even social media. She was looking at him. And that was all he needed to know.
Vincent Black
“ Hi, Ripley. I’m your father. “
Over the next few hours, There would be screaming and crying, anger and sadness, confusion and distrust. They would yell at him, and ask him how he could be so foolish. There would be disgust at the revelation that it wasn’t hois doing, but it was his mess to clean up. By the end of it, the child had stormed out again, leaving Alexis and Vin to discuss the facts. The fact was that he was her father. And now that he knew of her, that meant he would want to see her. But they all agreed that regardless of what he wanted, or they wanted, it was only about what she wanted. Vincent asked as nicely as he’s ever asked for anything to be the one to talk to her. Alexis looked upset about this, but knew that the years he hadn’t known her had hurt Vincent. Say what you want about him, he loved being a father. And he was itching at the chance to do it for her.
He walked out the backdoor, and was met with a very cute, very quaint, very lesbianic backyard. Flags of rainbows, and barrels with things like ‘pride’ nailed into them. There was more than one sweatshirt with a kitten airbrushed on it, and that was the gayest thing he’d ever seen. And he’d seen Xavier’s taste in men.
The young girl sat at the base of a tree in the very back of the yard. As he crossed to her, Vincent could see her mother in her. The way the small amount of light hit her, the way her face seemed to contort to the way it wanted her to look. He hoped at least that she might not fight the same way.
Vincent Black
“ Ripley. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ You don’t get to use my name! You have to call me something else! “ So much for that, he thought. “ Call me Captain. “
Vincent Black
“ Captain? “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ Captain General. “
Vincent Black
“ No. I’ll do nothing of the sort. You’re trying to crazy your way out of this. It’s a solid tactic, but I’ve dealth with more impressive versions of it.“
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ I don’t care. I don’t want to talk to you. “
Vincent Black
“ Then Listen. I never knew you existed. Your birth mother decided to hide you from me, rather than tell me, because she felt discarded. And she was right to. I aslo understand why she couldn’t keep you. I say this because I want to express to you that there is no one to blame for this. I didn’t know about you, your mother didn’t abort you, which she could have. Instead she gave you to someone who has loved your in every possible way. And your mother, Alexis, She’s cared for you so well, that even when you discovered she had lied, you didn’t threaten to hurt yourself, you googled me. Which is impressive. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ I don’t want to impress you. You didn’t want me! You told my moms friend that. “
Vincent Black
“ ...you know, everyone can know something, and still not believe it. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ ...is this about jesus? “
Vincent Black
“ Not quite. Tell me, have you ever seen a wet paint sign?“
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ Yes. “
Vincent Black
“ You ever touch the paint to see if it was indeed wet? “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ yes. “
Vincent Black
“ Because you knew they only put those signs up if the paint is wet. And yet you questioned it. Your mother, your birth mother, knew I was an insane person. And she chose to ignore it. Maybe because her crazy and my crazy were compatible, I don’t know. But when you were conceived, I was not ready for kids. So yes, I told your mother to abort you. And then I found out that my girlfriend was pregnant, and in that moment, I realized that I could not do that twice. I had never wanted to do it the first time. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ But you did. Because you didn’t want me! “
Vincent Black
“ I can’t defend against who I was then. You have that in common with...I..I just can’t. It’s over, I was who I was, and now I am not. So this is what I’m going to do. I am going to take Alexis to court. And I am going to spend my vast fortune to obtain full custody of you. So that you will know how much I do want you. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ My mother will fight you. “
Vincent Black
“ And just like everyone who fights me, she will lose. Maybe not at first, but I will always come back. If one judge says no, I will find a new judge. If this court refuses, I’ll go to a higher one. I will spend every dollar and minute I have proving you wrong. I don’t mind. I need a hobby anywayay. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ ...please don’t. “
Vincent Black
“ Ok. I won’t. But you can’t say I don’t want you. I didn’t then. I do now. I would like nothing more than to be your father. No, that’s not true, I’d really like to kick the fuck out of Paul Mont for some shit he said, but that’s a close second.“
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ ...So, like what do we do? “
Vincent Black
“ That is up to you. Our relationship goes where you say. IF you want to see me, you call, I come. If you want to talk, you call, I answer. We can worry about holidays and birthdays and all that later. For now, let’s do our best to just know one another. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ ...ok. What about...her? “
Vincent Black
“ Different bag, lots more cats. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ Thats what my mother says. “
Vincent Black
“ Ripley. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ Yea? “
Vincent Black
“ There is a spider on you. “
Ripley Austin (Black)
“ OMG!!! “
Ripley leaped to her feet, sending the small brown spider hurling through the air, Vincent put his hand beneath it and caught it, carefully putting it down onto the grass. Ripley, who was still shaking at the idea of the spider, and Vincent, who had saved it from certain death, stood there and watched as the spider crawled off into the shadows, and vanishes.