Happier Times (Dj)

[Djoser Aneksi]

Djoser would quietly note that statement. Just playfully rolling his eyes. His smile taking away from the sass.

"No, I was the last of a few survivors of a pure ancient Egyptian bloodline. Christmas wasn't really in my area. So now, as the last survivor of my people, I have no clue about most people's holidays and traditions."

[Drake]

Drake shrugged.

"Yeah I guess that makes sense..."

[Djoser Aneksi]

The pretty man would smile bigger as they made it to the festively decorated store. He'd turn and his eyes would seem to glitter with the same light his soul would. changing color to reflect the deep purple. "Maybe you could tell me how it works?"

He wasn't going to pry into the stranger, just give him a good time and an open ear if he wanted it.

[Drake]

Drake shrugged.

"I don't know if I'm the best to be answering questions... I don't personally care for or partake in the fluff of the season. But I guess if you really want to know, I can share what I know."

[Djoser Aneksi]

"You are much more knowledgeable than me on the matter, I know nothing more than tacky colors and celebrating family." He'd say before ordering the cocoas.

[Drake]

"It's supposed to be a time of giving. Family is... an operative word, but really its a time of gathering. It's supposed to blur the line between strangers and friend and friends to family. Most make it out to be a holiday to get things, but in reality its a time for one to give to others. Not necessarily an item but themselves, their love, support, and kindness."

He would shrug.

"Or so I'm told."

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would listen quietly and attentively. He would show a great deal of wonder as he did.

"Hmm so if I wanted to celebrate..." He would hand Drake the cocoa with a warm smile.

"Doing this with you would be a good start." He'd say with a playful chuckle.

[Drake]

"Yeah, I guess so."

He would say taking the Cocoa.

"If you can stand being in my miserable company."

[Djoser Aneksi]

"I find it quite enjoyable. Every harsh comment or angry glance has immediately followed by an adorable look in your eyes or a display of kindness. If this is miserable I should hang around more." He'd say with a chuckle and gesture to ask if Drake would like to keep walking.

[Drake]

Drake scoff chuckled as he continued walking with Dj.

"I'm just in a sentimental mood today... around this time last year... I discovered that all the woman I grew up with died in a fire. This-"

He would say touching his scarf.

"Is all that remains of them."

[Djoser Aneksi]

"Sentimental is never a bad thing. It is much better than always being cold and brutal. It gives you something to connect to."

As the talk went on, Dj would just listen quietly. He was honored that Drake decided to open up to him. It was good for healing. After he spoke his smile faded again, and he seemed to stare into the distance as he drank his cocoa.

"I'm sorry that happened to you." Was his first thought of what to say. Though just as he was about to let the words escape his lips he decided against it. Those were a dreadful waste of words that do not help and have probably been said a million times. This time he would just be as emotionally honest as possible.

"The way your scarf moved earlier. I could tell they love you." He would take a deep breath before going further. "If words alone could heal you, I'd say them a million times over. I won't insult you or your pain with that. It sucks, to a degree I can't even begin to understand. However, if you'll let me, I'd love to try remember them with you. Maybe even make a happy memory along the way."

He was no longer smiling, and that same warm, genuine aura from before exuded off him. "Would you like to share what they were like?"

[Drake]

Drake turned to look at DJ.

"I- wasn't expecting that. I was expecting the normal platitudes of apology and understanding or some such."

He would drink his Cocoa for a moment before speaking again.

"If I'm being honest, they weren't good to me, aside from a handful, most of them were... harsh..."

He would lead them to a bench to sit down.

"I was born in a brothel. My father, was... being pranked by his uncle and his teacher, they locked him in a room with my mother, a whore, she hated the men. I'm not entirely sure why, but she took out her rage, and frustration on my father... doing... horrible things to him. Including rape. Which is how she ended up pregnant with me."

He took a sip of cocoa.

"She raised me out of spite, filled me with the anger that she had and manipulated me, made me strong to fight and kill my father and the men he worked with. I was 4 when she... 'Put me to work' in the brothel. The other girls in the brothel... some of them cared for me and helped me when my mother beat me, others... followed in my mothers footsteps and saw me as little more than stress relief after a long day. So, the memories of my... 'family' are filled with more pain and sorrow, than happiness."

He would shrug as he drank his cocoa.

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would be curious but reverent as Drake spoke. He'd follow exactly as he was lead and would listen carefully, looking him in the eyes as he sipped his cocoa. After Drake was finished the look in his eyes would be filled with sorrow but comfort. It was a truly horrible situation, and in some ways, similar to his own. He would nod in understanding, a silently appropriate way to respond before saying.

"Wow. All that anger, other repressed feelings, they must feel heavy..." He'd say almost to nobody. Instead of just leaving it at that though, he thought sharing his own story may go deeper than just words of regret or affirmation. It may make a deeper mark.

"My story is a bit similar and strangely the opposite." He'd say with a sip. "My mom killed my dad, and then herself after she couldn't find me. She was a famous dancer who wanted to make a new life with a richer man, but ended up not being able to go through with it." He'd pause and run his hand through his hair, messing it up a bit.

"After that the only people willing to take me in were a group of young dancers working with my mom's theatre. I never made friends and worked very hard from dawn till dusk cleaning the theatre and dancing, but I was always cared for. They were harsh and demanding, occasionally abusive. They were dancers and strong women. They are the reason I present myself so feminine now."

Another sip. "My parents, combined with the world it was and the unloving environment, I never had joy to express. So now that I do, I refuse to let it be taken from me." He would say almost bitterly. There was a bit more to that story that he didn't want to tell right now, but that was only because he got the parts that were similar out.

[Drake]

Drake nodded.

"I get that, to a degree... unfortunately I had the opportunity to meet my father, and he was a prick. I hate him, ALMOST as much as I hated my mother. Which actually made it easier to live in his territory... Raikotsu Sudeki, the Blood Dragon, The Crimson King... he gave his life so that we may survive the Arc transfer here. In his final moments he apologized, explained that he did what he thought he had to in order to make me strong..."

He would raise his arm.

"This arm belonged to him. I lost mine... well, thats a long story for another time, in either case a friend of mine used their Special Qi to graft my fathers arm onto mine. So, my mother's soul hangs around my neck and I wear my fathers arm."

He turned to DJ.

"I will never be free of them."

[Djoser Aneksi]

Dj would listen, once again he would feel called to answer with total honesty. He knew this was once again not something to submit to with half-assed condolences.

"While I am infinitely grateful to him for giving us an opportunity for a better life, I cannot say I approve of his methods. Valuing a child's strength over their happiness will only lead to ruin. If he really wanted you to be strong, He would have given you the love for yourself as your weapon, not the hatred of him."

He would turn to Drake. Saying something that may end up backfiring, but it was the most honest, helpful advice he could give.

"You are free of them right now. Even though their memory is bound to you physically, you are free of them because you can make strides to undo that hate, that anger. I'm not going to bullshit you and say it comes like some easy revelation in the night. I am saying that you are free because you can choose to be the best of what they were and the best of what they weren't. Not limited to an arm and a scarf, which even they can serve as a reminder and a push to the best version of you."