Well, now that made a lot more sense - actually it sounded a lot like what a normal person would do, at least from what his mother had told him people do.
"Ooh, so that's it. Sounds pretty fun actually, to be able to enjoy all of it" he said, more like for himself, judging by the look on his face.
The boy chuckled a bit, as he was pushing the tile back in its place.
"Just the front of the mansion and the green house. Mother used to say those places have a direct exit to the outside, so theres no need for a tunnel there. The farthest they will go is at least one or two rooms before them"
Damien sighed again, shaking his head.
"I'm not that sure…" he whimpered. "I guess you'd be right about me being the only half breed kid my age, but how would we even run into each other? i have no idea if he even is in the area."
He didn't have much hope when it came to reuniting with his estranged parent whom he hadn't even met, especially because of all the clues he was missing. There was a whole world out there and he was just one person, way too behind on everything going on.
"I dont know, who's to say he hasn't forgotten about me in the meantime? I never managed to send any letter to him, he doesn't even know if i'm alive. if only i knew where to start looking, maybe then i could perhaps try find him, tho i'm still very unsure about it."
If he had to be honest, a small part of him did want to meet his father, but on the other side, he still harbored a weird sense of tension when it came to adults, especially men. Had he carried this conversation back when he was still with his mom, before his trauma, then he would have been quite eager to meet him, but now he wasn't as sure.
She smiled at him and nodded a little. “Well, I think it is. It feels like a nice balance… Though there are times when I can't tell which I feel like doing.” she admitted. It was enough to drive her a little crazy when that happened. “Oh, I’m sorry. You asked a question earlier and I completely missed it. I think it was about those mind studies I told you about?” she asked, feeling a little embarrassed that she had forgotten until now.
Mari grinned, glad to hear him laughing and more relaxed, and nodded again. “That makes sense. Those areas don't really need a secret exit so there's no point for them to open there.” she noted.
She sighed a little when he whimpered like that and carefully set the books on the table before taking a step towards him. With gentle motions she softly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him. “There are ways to find people if you really want to find them. It doesn't always matter where they are.” she assured him softly. One of the first ways she could think of was to put a message in the newspaper or a missing persons article on the web, but that might be a little too much public attention for Damien and his father. “If he's a good man, a good father, then he wouldn't have forgotten you. No good parent would. He probably just doesn't know where you are.” she pointed out as she remembered him saying that he had been sent away… and his parents probably had a meeting place planned out. Damien just… never made it there. “I’m sure there's a way to find where you lived before, if your dad is still there…”
"With so many options, i can see why you'd be stumped sometimes" he giggled lightly, finding the whole thing a little amusing. To have so many options of what to do that you got stuck in them, he could only imagine what that felt like. "Oh, I did? Don't worry, i'd forgotten about it too. But i'm still curious to know the answer if you would still like to tell me"
The boy replied with a smile of his own, stepping on the tile to ensure it didn't jiggle in its place.
'They'd also be easier to discover if they were there. Perfect entrances for unwanted guests, and no one wants those" he added.
Damien tensed up for a second as the girl wrapped his arms around him, before relaxing and resting his cheek on her shoulder. The last hug he'd ever received had been from his adoptive mother, right before she passed; to receive one again, after so many years, it brought back memories for him. It felt nice.
"If there's ways… could you help me find him?"
With all his doubts and hesitations, the small wish to meet his parent pushed Damien to finally pop the question. It was a lot of him to ask her that, but if there was at least one glimmer of hope, then he would take that chance to try and look for him. At least he would know he did all he could.
She smiled a little at his first comment. Honestly, it was a little less of having so many options and more of being slightly overwhelmed when she made the wrong choice. “Yeah… I think you asked if studying the human mind was generally helpful. And the answer to that is definitely a yes. Because of those studies, it's easier for people to know or recognize when something is wrong with them mentally.” she told him. “Though people still have a hard time admitting that they need to get help for it.”
She chuckled softly and nodded. “Well, I don't know… They seem pretty well-hidden to me. But if someone got lucky, then I see the problem.”
Mari was a little nervous that she had overstepped their boundaries when she hugged him, but was very relieved when he didn't pull away. She had just wanted him to feel better. At his question she smiled softly and nodded. “I’ll do my best. I can't make any promises that I’ll be successful but I’ll do what I can.” she said sincerely. Honestly, she didn't have much to go on at the moment to find Damien’s father… but that didn't stop people from searching for El Dorado or Atlantis. And if they were able to find clues and keep looking, than so would she.
"Why would they not want to admit they might need help? Are they scared?" he asked. Surely, if someone was a bit sick in the head then getting help should have been the first thing they did, right? Or was there some kind of stigma attached to it, like people of the old did?
He confirmed her statement with a nod, making his way to the door, so they could go back into the room, to put the books away.
"Thank you… Just.. thank you" he whispered softly into her ear, as he was resting on her shoulder, closing his eye. Even if she couldn't help too much, at the very least she was willing to, which meant so much for Damien and he was very thankful for it.
Mari shrugged a little at his question. “I’m not sure. There's a lot of reasons that people will give you for not getting help though.” she told him. “It’s too expensive. I don't need it. I’m fine.… And not everyone has a positive view of psychiatric help.” she explained.
(Once she released him from the hug she picked up the books and followed him back to his room.)
“Don’t thank me yet.” she whispered back, holding him a little closer for a moment before slowly letting go. “I don't know how much I'll actually be able to help… But I will try.”
Given the response, Damien frowned slightly, intrigued by the reasons one could produce to avoid getting help. It felt so bizarre to him.
"Why would they not have a positive view? I mean, its supposed to help them right?"
In the room, the boy gathered some of the things she'd brought to him, arranging them in neat little piles so he could inspect them carefully later on.
"So, we go exploring now, right?"
Damien shook his head at her comment, saying:
"I'm most grateful for the fact you are willing to help me, and thats what matters the most to me right now. im not sure we're gonna succeed either, but its the effort that counts."
“I’m not sure. Most people just have a hard time asking for help in general.” Mari answered. “You’re right. It is supposed to, and usually does, but… I think it's the fact that psychiatrists used to treat people who were clinically insane and no one wants to be associated with that just for minor help.”
While he was sorting his new possessions, she carefully placed the books in her bag. “Sure!” she nodded, excitedly.
Mari found herself blushing at his comment. “Well, of course, I’m willing to help you. You're my friend, Damien.” she reminded him with a gentle smile.
"i never quite understood the stigma about mental illness. I mean, sure, no one wants to be around a crazy person but still…" he muttered, lost in throught.
"This way" he led down the usual steps and corridor, but this time through a different set of rooms, leading to the promised green house. It was Damien who opened the large door, revealing the lush green landscape within.
Being reminded he did have a friend made the boy feel a pleasant warmth in his chest, which he really enjoyed.
"But, where would we even start looking?" he asked, after returning her smile.
“Me neither.” she agreed softly with a shrug. “I also don't understand why some people are so reluctant to ask for help when they need it.” she added, even though there were times when she had that problem too.
She smiled eagerly and followed Damien through the house. It may have been a simple thing but she was excited to see the indoor garden and the plants growing in it. When he opened the door to all the greenery, Mari took a careful step in and breathed in the scent.
She smiled softly at him. “Well, we can always start at the library. That's a great place for research and… Even though you never met him, you know more about him than I do. Maybe your mom might have mentioned something… Oh! You don't happen to have those letters, do you?” she asked. It may be a long shot but it still seemed like a lead.
Damien shook his head in defeat.
"Maybe its just the way the world is now, i have no idea" he suggested, remembering some weird things of the sort that happened back in his time. His mom had been the one to tell him about them, and they felt just as weird as this did now. Society changes after all, who knew what other stuff appeared and disappeared that was so baffling.
A soft yet very fresh smell gently enveloped them as they entered the greenhouse, accompanied by the soft rustle of leaves, most likely caused by a gentle breeze coming through a missing glass pane. The place was relatively neatly arranged, with a path down the middle, framed by what looked like trees or tall plants with many leaves. One side contained relatively recognizeable plants that could be harvested as food - Damien's work no doubt - while the other was populated by more exotic looking plants, some with a strange vibe to them.
"Here we are." the boy announced, gesturing to the plants. "This is where i get most of my food from."
He stopped to think for a bit, considering his information about his father. How much did* he know?
"I cant say i know too much, all i know was from my mom." he replied. "Sadly i dont, she always put them away somewhere safe, i never had any of them… I do have one small letter from him though, which i'd gotten short before i parted from my mom. I never got to give it back to her, so maybe that would be helpful?"
“Yeah, I think so too.” she nodded. She may have been used to this little fact about people but she didn't fully understand why it started or became so widely accepted. “Maybe it has to do with “doing things on your own”. You know, “being able to stand on your own two feet”…” she suggested after some thought.
Mari nodded in awe at the beautiful sight. It was honestly more impressive than the library, if only because it was full of living, thriving plants… Though one could argue that books were just as alive as any plant. “You… You are a man of many talents.” she turned her impressed smile to Damien. “What kinds of plants are those?” she asked, gesturing to the more unique ones that she didn't recognize.
She listened to him, nodding a little. “That’s ok, Damien. I can understand why your mom did that. She really didn't tell you much about him?” she gently pressed again though she perked up when he mentioned that he did have one letter. “That could be very helpful.” she assured him. There could be a lot of information in even just one letter. “Have you read it?” she asked, not wanting to violate his family's privacy.
"Well, theres nothing wrong with being independent, but sometimes you should still admit you can't do it." he added. At least, that was how he thought things through, using his mother's teachings.
The boy blushed at her compliment, swaying his body left and right as he relished in the warm feeling it gave him.
"Oh, those? They're exotic plants from far away. Some of them grow some really interesting fruits, that are actually delicious. Like that one over there" he pointed at an interestingly shaped tree, with yellowish-orange pear shaped fruits. "Mother called it a Sunsettia tree. The others were here long before i came, but i know a few things about them!"
He shook his head, looking at the ground.
"Unfortunately no. Not stuff that could help track him at least…"
The boy finally lifted his gaze back at her, still gently swaying left and right.
"I did read it, since it was for me. It was the first letter he directly adressed to me. i can go look for it once we go back inside if you want to see it"
She nodded with a hum of agreement. “Seems to be hard for some people to reach that balance though.” she told him, thinking about what she's seen… and even been through a couple times.
“A sunsettia tree? I don't think I've ever heard of that before.” she said, looking at the new plant in wonder. Her interest clearly captured. “Where’s it from?” Mari asked as she gently touched one of the fruits. “So pretty… Do they taste as good as they look?”
She gave him a soft look at that. “It’s alright. Maybe your parents never thought that you would… get separated.” she offered as a possible explanation. “May I ask what it said?” she inquired gently. “I… I would like to see it. If you don't mind.”
Damien shrugged, just accepting things as they were and moving on. People had always been weird for him, there was no reason he would start now and here, with just Mari around. It'd just confuse him more.
"You never heard of it? I thought they were common outside." the boy frowned, observing her as she admired the tree. "I dont really know, it was but a small sapling when i first arrived here. Mother said she heard of it, but never really figured out where it came from. You can pick one if you want to try. The taste is pretty nice, in my opinion."
"Most likely that, i believe" he agreed, considering he'd been separated last minute from his mother, not getting to travel with her like he should have. "It was his first letter to me, with things he wanted to tell me now that i was old enough to know how to read and write by myself. It's alright, you may see it."
“If they are common, it must be in a different country. Though it looks like it grows very well here… That or you take incredible care of your plants.” she said as a possibility. “It’s a very beautiful plant.” she added, picking a ripe looking fruit and smelling it before taking a bite of it.
Mari nodded as he told her about the letter. “That sounds very sweet of him.” she smiled softly, touched by the sentiment of it. “Thank you, I'd appreciate it. Maybe there's something in it that can help us find him.”
After meaauring the tree up and down with his gaze, Damien turned back towards the girl, one hand twisting the long sleeve of his sweater.
"it could be possible, i just thought they grew out there just like any other tree. Guess i was wrong then" he laughed a bit, trying to pass his wrong assumption as a small joke. "Thanks.."
The faint pink blush returned to his visible cheek, as he started swaying his body again from side to side.
The taste of the fruit was in a way, strange but also pleasant - unusually strong taste, but pretty similar to the peach flavoured yogurt one could find at the supermarket. The pulp itself easily melted on the tongue, allowing the combination of sour sweet to spread.
"Yeah.. I think it was… I wont lie, getting a letter from him directly was very important to me, back then." he confirmed, remembering the long gone hype of the moment. Honestly he did love looking at the letter from time to time, whenever he felt too lonely, and it brought him some peace.
"I hope so too"
He could recite the whole thing with his eyes closed, but he did not know what exactly in it could help them track down the sender.
Mari’s eyes widened at the surprising but wonderful flavor. “Oh my Go… Mmmm.” she mumbled around the mouthful of fruit. “This is amazing! I never knew fruit could taste like that.” she exclaimed, bringing her hand up to her mouth as she swallowed.
“Hey, it's alright. Maybe they are local and I've just never heard of them before or they're very rare here.” she offered as assurance, not wanting him to feel bad. He hadn't left this building in years. Of course, he wouldn't be familiar with plants outside his greenhouse. Though she smiled back at his cute blush again. “You’re welcome.”
She nodded softly, listening to him and understanding how meaningful this letter was to him. At the moment, she couldn't think of anything she had gone through that would have the same impact on her but she could imagine being without a parent and getting a message from them. “There’s a lot of things we can look for that might give us a clue where to start.” she encouraged. She knew the note and the information was old but it was better than nothing.
"You like it?" the boy piped up, encouraged by her reaction. "Is it that weird for it to taste like that? What's the matter?"
He eventually shrugged, accepting her suggestion.
"Could be either one of those, or both, who knows, really? Im just surprised its not as common as i thought."
Now that he thought of it, he hadn't seen other sunsettia trees around, mostly in the surrounding forest, or in any of the herbology books he had available.
"Um, what kind of things could we look for?" he asked, curious as to what exactly in the letter could prove useful to them.
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I like it. Very much.” she smiled. “Nothing’s the matter. It’s just… unusual but it's delicious.”
“It’s definitely possible.” Mari agreed, still thinking about how this plant was so unique. Maybe it went by a different name? But if that was the case, then why was the fruit not popular? More kids would definitely eat more fruit if they had this option.
“Well… As someone who hasn't seen the letter; if he happened to sign his name, THAT would be a huge help.” she admitted, though she was a little doubtful. It was more likely that he just signed ”Dad”. “The possibility of an address would be good too. Umm, little hints could be a big help. Maybe he even put some information in a code for you.” she pointed out.
"Its unusual how? Do fruits taste differently in general or is this just something you've never tasted before?" he proded, still curious.There were more plants in the greenhouse that could be considered unusual, if she liked to proceed.
"i only have old biology books to look at, and sunsettias do not show up there. But then again, mine are off by almost two centuries, so i probably dont have enough material anyway." he said, trotting along the path, moving on next to a weird bush like plant, with several crimson bell pepper looking fruits stemming from its upwards branches.
Damien thought a little bit, reviewing the letter in his mind before answering.
"i dont think he ever used his name - i knew it back then, so no use for him to ever use it - nor was there an address. Mom and he never used addresses, because they did not need to" he replied, looking at his fingers to make sure he wasnt forgetting something. "I dont know about the code tho, you could be right about that one"
“Both, really.” she shrugged as she followed him. “I mean this almost tastes… a little peachy but it's also more than that. Definitely unique for something that you can grow and harvest.” she explained.
“Honestly, I don't think I've seen them in my books at school either. They might be a few years old but I would think they would be at least mentioned.” Mari admitted thoughtfully. “But I can always look closer next time. Maybe I just missed them.” she said looking at the new pepper plant.
She nodded, not really surprised at what he was telling her. “Ok… Though what do you mean they didn't need to use an address?” she asked as she didn't understand how mail could work without that. “Do you still remember what his name was?” She knew that his father could have changed his name by now, because of moving or to avoid detection for living so long.
"Ah, i see" he murmured, looking at the fruit in her hand as if it had suddenly become an interesting object to study. "But at least you like it right? That's good!
"Do tell me if you find any information on them! i really want to know more about them and where they come from." he encouraged, before noticing her gaze towards the new plant.
From up close, it only loosely resembled a bell pepper, being very red, with its bottom elongating outwards in the shape of a flower, standing upright as if it were an actual lilly like flower, looking for sunlight.
"This one is a chilli plant. Mom had a name for them, but i kinda forgot what it was, so i just used chilli. You might wanna avoid taking a bite out of these, they're pretty hot on their own… " he cautioned, gesturing towards it. As interesting and potentially delicious they looked, they were just as spicy. Finally, an answer as to where the boy got his spicy supply from.
"They didn't use one." he explained. "Whenever mom sent a letter or got one, there was always a bird looking mass of smoke that delivered it. I have no idea where she made it come from or how she did it, but that was how it worked."
The look on his face indicated that having stuff delivered by some really dubious, yet intriguing was the standard for normal in his eyes.
"Sadly i dont…. I think it was something starting with C? i dont know anymore…"
Damien wasnt even sure what letter his father's name started with, let alone his whole name. All that he could recall was the fague sonority of the name
“I do! It's really good.” she nodded. To her the fruit really was a mystery and she was eager to find out more… if there was more to find.
“Oh, trust me, I will.” she promised, smiling back at him before turning back to the chili plant and listening to his explanation. “I’m sure your mom had a great name for these but honestly, until you remember what it was, I’m half tempted to nickname this one a “Lilly pepper”.” she chuckled, even though she felt it was a very simple and unoriginal name. “Don’t worry. I can handle spicy to a certain extent, but I have no intention of trying that straight off the branch.”
Mari looked over at Damien, raising a brow at the description of the… creature. “So like messager pigeons. Makes sense… I forgot about those for a bit. Both of your parents could do that? I mean, it sort of sounds like an ability a vampire might have, if those myths are right. But your mom could make or summon one of those?” she asked, very intrigued. Even if it was only his father who could do that then at least it gave her an idea on where they could start when Damien was ready to practice his own powers. She nodded gently when he admitted that he was no longer sure of his father's name. “It’s ok, Damien. Maybe you'll just know it when you see or hear it again.” she offered, hoping to cheer him up a little.
Damien was honestly glad the fruit fit her taste; he was attaching himself to every little thing they had in common despite it seeming a little bit weird. But alas, he made a mental note to one day maybe cook something for her using the sunsettias.
"Lilly peppers… That is actually a pretty nice name! I like it!" he chirped, enjoying the new name suggested by his friend.
As for the pepper, it was perhaps a good choice on Mari's part to be cautious, as the spicy smell began reaching her - it was a rather pleasant kind of spicy, once again different than the one emanated by the regular ones, pleasant enough to push one to try and eat it, had it not been for the stingy spiciness causing the ones around it to sneeze.
"Ah, no, she couldn't make it herself, she had something from dad that helped her create it. Like an object, you know?" he explained, mimicking with his hands a small, perhaps lighter shaped object. His mother had once explained to him how it worked and what it did, but he'd never had the chance to use it himself.
"I think i could recognize it if i see it again, at least i hope i can"
