Chapter Text
A family sitting around the table to have dinner together would be considered a heartwarming event at best, an average, everyday event at worst. For the children of Alador and Odalia Blight, it was their regularly scheduled nightmare. Night after night, they sat before their parents, knowing even the slightest slip up in tone or what they’ve been doing could lead to being screamed at and beaten. Their parents being coldly indifferent to them doing what they were told is the best outcome they get every night.
“How was school?” Odalia was always the one to ask first, and she always started off with that.
“High Honors, Mother,” Amity, Edric, and Emira spoke at the same time.
“Good,” Odalia displayed no pride in her children, just a very cold and causal statement, like hearing minor good news.
“I take it the friends of made are also doing well?” Alador asked.
More like the friends you picked for us, Amity thought, bitterly.
“Yes, they’re doing well,” Edric and Emira spoke.
“Boscha isn’t,” Amity said.
“Yes, so we’ve heard,” Odalia sneered. “Looks like my daughter is the better one after all, Harriet. Good job, Amity.”
You’re only proud that you’re better, not proud of me, Amity thought, but she said something different. “Thank you, Mother.”
“We’re going to cut off the chatting about what you kids have been doing these past few days,” Alador said.
The Blight siblings all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
“The Blights will be hosting a Gala, and went to make sure you’re all straightened out before the party begins,” Alador began. “I will not have you humiliate the Blight name with any of your odd behaviors.”
“Like what, Father?” Emira asked as innocently as she could.
“For starters, no mentions of your sexuality,” Alador began. “If anyone asks, you have boyfriends.”
Edric looked up.
“Accept you, Edric,” Alador growled. “I also expect you to wear the suit we brought you for Grom. We spent our hard earned money to get it tailor made for you, and I would like it if you appreciated what we did for you.”
“I-I brought my dress with my hard earned money, I got a job because you said I could get whatever I want with my money,” Edric said. “You didn’t have to waste money if you just let me-”
Alador slammed his hands on the table, and Edric quickly shut his mouth. Odalia shook her head at Edric, as if he had done something wrong.
“Now that we got that straightened out, it’s time we talk about what Amity has volunteered for.” Alador looked towards Amity.
“What did you sign up for, Mittens?” Emira asked, trying to lighten the moods.
“I-” Amity began.
“Amity agreed to sing at the end of the Gala in exchange for me graciously letting her waste her time by going to a stupid carnival,” Odalia answered for Amity. “A thank you wouldn’t go amiss, by the way.”
“I had a good time, Mother,” Amity said. “Thank you.”
Odalia just hummed as she was chewing her food.
“With the exception of Boscha, I expect to see all of the friends you made there,” Alador ordered. “You’ll be personally inviting them to the party.”
“We’ll be checking up on your friends throughout the party to make sure you’re spending time with them,” Odalia said. “If I see a face I don’t recognize, or learn you’re trying to avoid them…” her grip on her utensils tighten. “…there. Will. Be. Consequences.”
“Understand?” Alador glared at his children.
The Blight siblings all nodded.
“Good, that will be all for tonight,” Alador said, causally returning to his dinner. “Finish your food and then go to bed.”
Amity gulped and glanced at Edric and Emira, both looked as terrified as she did.
Luz yawned as sat up in her sleeping bag. “Another beautiful day in the Boiling Isles!”
“Ugh!” King moaned, covering his ears. “Be quiet!”
“You sleep at my feet knowing I’m going to be loud,” Luz said. “Can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!”
“Ugh!” King groaned even louder.
“Hello kraken that stays outside my window every morning!” Luz waved to the giant tentacled monster.
“Hello!” The Kraken waved before sinking back into the Boiling seas.
“I can’t believe I was creeped out by him, he’s actually a really nice guy,” Luz noted.
“You seem to be a lot more happier the usual,” King said, knowing going back to sleep would be impossible.
“Because I have a girlfriend, King!” Luz picked up King and spun him. “Back in my old school, every guy and gal I liked didn’t like me back! They thought I was weird, but now I have someone who loves me for me! Which is ironic, because she stared off not so different then those people, but then she did the whole defrosting ice queen trope and now she’s not!”
“What are you even saying?!” King tired to push himself out of Luz’s grasp.
“I have no idea!” Luz cheered, happily.
“I hear cheering!” Hooty popped in through the window.
“Good morning, Hooty!” Luz dropped King.
“Morning Luz!” Hooty smiled. “Glad I didn’t get karate chopped in the head like last time!”
“Same here!” Luz stepped towards him. “Guess what?”
“What?” Hooty asked.
“I have a girlfriend!” Luz cheered.
“Oh my Titan…I don’t know what that is!” Hooty’s smile never left his face. “Hoot!”
“Come on, let’s go see if Eda and Lilith are awake!” Luz lead an enthusiastic Hooty and a grumpy King down the stairs, and sure enough Eda and Lilith were up, Eda was making pancakes. “Good morning!”
“Well, you seem extra cheerful, today,” Lilith snarked.
“Yeah, well I have a girlfriend!” Luz sat next to Lilith. “Trust me, I never thought I’d get one. I wasn’t exactly popular.”
“Same here, kiddo!” Eda flipped a pancake. “All the guys and gals army school hated little trouble making me, then I met…” she frowned.
Luz felt the cheerful atmosphere change. “Eda?”
“Nothing,” Eda answered, voice uncharacteristically low and hollow. “I didn’t meet anybody.”
Luz learned better not to pry. She wasn’t slow, Lilith physically cringing made it obvious whatever happened was a result of the curse. On the subject of Lilith, Luz noticed she had bags under her eyes.
“Didn’t get much sleep, Lilith?” Luz asked.
“No…no, I didn’t.” Lilith sipped her coffee. “Thank Titan I don’t have a job, anymore.”
“See, there is a silver lining for everything!” Luz wrapped her arm around her shoulder. “You know what kept you up? Maybe we can help!”
“Jade,” Lilith answered.
Eda shut off the stove. “What?”
“She was…she was there,” Lilith began. “At my window, staring at me.”
“Lilith, you’re on the second floor,” Eda said. “Nothing is outside that window but a really quick and painful way to get to the ground.”
“I know she wasn’t actually there…” Lilith set down her coffe, suddenly not feeling like drinking, anymore.
“Wait, who is Jade?” Lilith asked.
“My…My wife.” Lilith didn’t even try to wipe away her tears. “I lost her years ago, but she haunts my dreams every anniversary, and now I fear she might be haunting me after.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Luz said, somberly. “Do…you know if you can fix this?”
“No,” Lilith answered, bluntly.
The room was silent for an uncomfortably long time.
“Man, it sure got awkward in here!” Hooty exclaimed.
“Yeah, I guess it did,” Lilith chuckled. “Don’t let my issues ruin the mood. I’m glad you and Amity were able to start something.”
“Same here, and…wait a minute…Eda, you said guys and gals!” Luz pointed at Eda, and then Lilith. “Lilith, you had a wife! You both like girls?!”
“Surprise!” Eda gave Luz jazz hands. “This bad bitch witch is Bi!”
“Lesbian,” Lilith said.
“I’m also bi,” Luz admitted.
“I like guys, I think?” King scratched his head. “I…I think I had a husband, once. So I’m gay.”
“Whoa, not even a bf, full on husband,” Luz said.
“Did you rule the demons as King and King?” Eda asked, sarcastically.
“Probably!” King jumped onto the table. “The mighty King of demons…still needs love, too.”
“What about you, Hooty?” Luz turned to him.
“Luz, I didn’t even know what a girlfriend is,” Hooty said. “I haven’t understood a single phrase you guys have been using this whole conversation.”
“I’m just going to say asexual,” Luz said.
“Still don’t know what that is,” Hooty said.
“Exactly!” Luz gave Hooty bi-finger guns.
“Okay!” Hooty smiled. “I’m am still utterly confused! Hoot Hoot!”
“Aren’t we all when it comes to this?” Luz asked.
“True that, the Boiling Isles ain’t that accepting of other sexualities,” Eda said. “Heck, me being into girls was considered part of my delinquent, trouble making ways. I mean, I wear my societal menace badge with pride, but even I hate that.”
“The only reason Jade and I were accepted is because Belos and the rest of Emperor’s Coven see themselves as above it,” Lilith said. “Not really any moral reason, looking back on it. We all thought we were better then everyone else.”
“Earth is…slightly better…” Luz said, uncomfortably.
“Slightly?” Lilith cocked an eyebrow.
“Let’s just say there are…Conformatoriums specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community,” Luz said. “On the other hand, same sex marriage was legalized!”
“How long has it been legal on Earth?” Eda asked
“Uh…like…6 years ago…” Luz said.
“So…6 years of finally getting the right to marriage, compared to what is most likely thousands of years of mistreatment?”
“Okay, maybe Earth isn’t slightly better,” Luz said.
“Let’s just agree both places suck, but we’re still going to shove our sexualities right in there faces and tell them to deal with it!”
“Heck yeah!” Luz cheered.
“The King of demons approves!” King exclaimed.
“That sounds…cool…I guess,” Lilith said.
“I just want to be included!” Hooty shouted. “Hoot hoot!”
“Okay, wow we really had a conversation, didn’t we?” Eda checked the time. “You still going to Hexside, kiddo?”
“Got a day off, actually,” Luz said. “The Blight Gala is apparently considered a holiday.”
“Ugh, the Blight Gala.” Eda mocked vomiting. “On the subject of only-hetero bigots…”
“Wait, they’re phobics?” Luz asked.
“The Blights have been the go to source of anti-LGBT drivel since the day Belos took over,” Lilith said.
“And Amity is a-” Luz’s horrified realization was cut off at the sound of someone knocking on the door.
“I got it!” Hoot retracted all the way back to his door. “Oh! Hi-A Amity!”
“Amity?” Luz turned towards the living room.
“Pretty early for a significant other to come knocking, isn’t it?” Eda glanced at the clock, again.
“I got it.” Luz hopped off her chair and walked into the living room to see Amity standing in a yellow sundress that was covered in pink flowers. “Hi pretty-I mean, hi Amity!”
“Thanks Luz, you always know how to make me feel better,” Amity giggled.
“So, what brings you here so early?” Luz asked.
“Luz…” Amity pulled out a stack of slips, held them close to her chest, took a deep breath, and handed them to Luz. “…I want you and the others to come to the Gala!”