be discreet

[msmage]

It's not much later, in Isabella's room, that she asks:

"So... is Alex really a dom?"

Comments

[mrmage]

"Supposing my father wants to pull me out of school, and supposing I would rather set myself on fire than that, do you know if there's a way for me to not have to, given that he has had me heal every injury pretty thoroughly and it's only my word against his on the abuse?"

[kindestgarden]

"...The situation isn't what it should be. With a sufficiently rabid prosecutor you could get it to trial, and if you did you might win, but there's nothing guaranteeing you'd be able to employ one of those. I can put you in touch with a social worker if you want a more expert opinion."

[eclipsi]

"This is idiotic. They made me talk to a lie-detector to make sure you weren't hitting me, and Sadde can't get that?"

[kindestgarden]

"They have a particular interest in making sure kindergarten teachers aren't knocking around little children. It's very difficult to get a lie detector in for any more routine case."

[mrmage]

"...a teenager claiming their parent has physically and emotionally abused and role-pressured them for years is a routine case?" He looks at Isabella. "Can we take over the world faster?"

[eclipsi]

"Please tell me how if you think of a way to speed it up."

[kindestgarden]

"It's not uncommon," says Renée, shaking her head. "Not uncommon enough. Do you have grandparents or aunts or uncles who'd want to take you in, who'd do the legwork for you...?"

[mrmage]

"Mom's parents were in Tobias' congregation, but they're both dead now, and she was an only child. Tobias' family isn't any more likely to help," he sighs.

[kindestgarden]

"And your stepmother?"

[mrmage]

"She might be able to take care of a goldfish, if someone told her to and showed her what kind of food to give it and how often."

[kindestgarden]

"It's possible she's being mistreated too, in which case you may not have a full picture of what she'd be like if she weren't."

[mrmage]

"I suppose you're right," he says doubtfully. "My mom never told me about Tobias mistreating her, but then she died when I was just shy of eleven, she might not've wanted to talk about it... But as far as I can tell, my father's perfectly fine to people he believes are following whatever natural order of things's in his head."

[kindestgarden]

"I did notice he seemed to assume I was a sub."

[mrmage]

"Yeah, and seemed to assume Alex was my dom, that in spite of my holding Isabella's hand, and the way she presents, I mean how can you look at her and it not even occur to you that she's a dom?"

[eclipsi]

"I was assuming he knew exactly what was going and said that to set expectations for the conversation."

[mrmage]

"...yeah, that's, that actually makes a lot of sense."

[eclipsi]

"Hello, stranger, are you aware that you are an abhorrent minority."

[kindestgarden]

"I'm used to people assuming I'm a sub," shrugs Renée. "I all but encourage it at work. But - yes."

[mrmage]

"Ugh, why does he have to be such an asshole."

[eclipsi]

Isabella sighs and hugs him.

[mrmage]

He hugs her back!

"I'm not sure how much brainpower I should devote to trying to figure out what to do in case he actually just pulls me out of school. I might just shapeshift and run away."

[eclipsi]

"Wouldn't blame you a bit."

[mrmage]

"But then I wouldn't have the nurturing environment of Selene and, again, wouldn't have you."

[eclipsi]

"If he pulls you out of school you won't have me anyway, lovely."

[mrmage]

"Unless I somehow make a new identity for my new shape and enrol again..."