Chapter Text
Kim Rok soo never really grew up with much, his past was that of a lone child barely scraping by day by day, he never had time nor the luxury to invest in the freer pleasures of life, and yet, he was aware of a phenomenon called "affluenza", where young children of wealthy households would feel isolated, guilty or would even lack motivation solely because they feel some physiological fear for having so much fortune.
It confused him.
How could someone so lucky feel bad because of their fortune?
It took him a period of time in his later years to realize that having money isn't nearly as fulfilling as it is to have love, neglectful parents and wealthy young teens with no limitations and bounds set upon them make a bad combination.
Following that thought process Cale began to sympathize with the Original owner of his vessel, his life had been perfect until the age of eight in which his mother died, following that incident his father neglected him and his mental health as seeing Cale who looked so similar to his late wife caused him to hurt.
He was comforted by a child when the opposite should have been true, how cruel can one be to their children?
Soon after he introduced his new wife and revealed to already have a child on the way to his still grieving first born, less than 2 years since his own mother died Cale had to welcome 2– soon to be 3 new people in his life, and yet Cale accepted them without complaint.
He let his father do whatever he needed to do in order to move on yet gave no thoughts to his own mental health.
Then after they joined the family Original Cale ruined his reputation, not because he hated his family nor because he was a bad person, he did so in order to make sure his cousins and other nobles would not talk down on his new mother and brother, as a child he accepted his fate to live as someone who was hated so long as his new family was happy.
Sighing Cale takes a look around the room he was in, on the far side of the room there was a large window letting in yellow light with transparent curtains on either side, on the the right wall a grand piano, or what looks to be one, stood, dust accumulating as it seems to not have been touched for years, to his left stood what looks to be a guitar leaning against the wall, above it on a small wooden shelf looks to be a long silver flute.
Quite the collection of instruments, Cale muses.
Looking at the guitar he sighs, he wanted to play the violin as it always was something so out of reach for him as a child, being too poor to invest in classes, books, and the instrument itself but it seems that this instrument is either not created yet, or not kept in this room.
Still, he makes his way from the doorframe, smooth gait and long strides across the wooden ground underneath, all the while brushing his left hand along the partially chipping off-white painted walls.
Picking up the guitar he admires the beauty of it, red frame with gold markings making it far more noble esq. than modern guitars, taking a small red handkerchief with tangled gold and white embroidery decorating the edges he wipes it down breathing life into an old item.
(If you look closely you can see the names On in white, Hong in a dark red & Raon in black in the bottom left corner messily stitched)
Tucking the handkerchief back into his ruffled sailor top's pocket, he holds the guitar and walks over to the window opening and it letting the crisp spring air enter the room, curtains billow slightly, next he starts moving the short raven piano stool towards the middle of the room, there were many things he wanted to play but this room seems to be a memorial of sorts, flipping through his records there have been hints of a young Cale Henituse and his mother playing songs in this very room.
It felt wrong to not sing something dedicated to either of them, he needed to show their memories made in here some acknowledgements.
Easily a song for this moment comes to his mind, backtracking to his previous thoughts of child affluenza, he recalled this one song titled that very word, it seemed almost to perfectly describe Cale Henituse's 'trash' years.
Clearing his throat he doesn't hear slight shuffles and fast footsteps behind him, peering around the open doorframe On, Hong & Raon watch as their father gets ready to,,,, play an instrument ?? Raon, in his human form, hits his wrists together lightly in excitement.
Suddenly, an idea strikes, On makes furious whispers into Raon's ear and a communication device is pulled out and started, due to their haste it connected to more than just Alberu, Choi Han, and other close family but in the end it doesn't matter as there really wouldn't be any issues if other such as the Whale tribe, or common nobles were able to hear their fathers playing,
right?
As the orb flashes most of the continent's see Cale Henituse holding a guitar, his body isn't facing the window and is instead facing the left wall so everyone gets a clear image of part of their hero's face.
Cale, blissfully unaware of what's happening starts strumming a few notes on the guitar, after getting the hang of it he clears his throat a few times and begins playing properly.
A soft, melancholic voice fills the room.
—-
Mama's got a new man
And daddy's got a new mansion to keep
He never really calls back
'Cause he's got too many finances to reap
—-
People who have been waiting patiently for their hero to begin playing are surprised he's singing, that surprise and excitement quickly melts into confusion over the lyrics they hear.
Most people are puzzled yet a few feel something hit close to home.
Ron, who was previously in the kitchen with his son, was surprised to see a call on his communication device, even more so when he saw his young master sitting on a stool holding a guitar, his body wasn't facing the device, a clear indication of not knowing what he was playing was being broadcasted, the breach in his young master's privacy was immediately overridden with astonishment and sorrow as he realized just where his young master was.
He was in the late countess's music room, a special place often frequented by Cale and her when he was younger, it hasn't been touched in years and if you look at the grand piano in the corner you can see dust being illuminated by the light, a soft sneeze right before his young master started playing was a tell-tale sign of it being unclean.
But the lyrics that were sang brought far more concern, these words sang brought Ron back to days during Cale's early childhood, at that point the late countess passed away and his father was often away or avoiding his son, it was up to Ron to take care of his Young master yet it seemed as if there was nothing he could do, it was as if someone told Cale to be strong and to not grieve but comfort his father as the child would not succumb to grief and let out his emotions and would instead opt to almost desperately try and help his father.
It was a dark point him his young master's life, and it seemed as if now, far in the future, Cale is reminiscing on his past.
A pang of sadness hits Ron's heart.
—-
Money, money, ain't it funny, honey
When you get what you need
Baby, life is a breeze
—-
Most commoners hearing this can agree, it's seems as if having money was all you truly needed in life, sure we crave love and relationships but in the real world you couldn't live on that alone.
Some scoffed and muttered about young nobles not needing to work hard to earn anything.
Others who heard the statement disagreed saying that life itself was still demanding, even more so if you were a noble as you had to keep up friendly pretences with both those you call friends & family.
—-
Money, money, give me money, money
'Til I'm bloody, bloody
—-
Alberu stiffened at these lyrics, before this began he was quietly working in his office, there wasn't anything too concerning going on just some paperwork to be filled out (courtesy of Cale)
That was until he received a call from his communication device, watching Cale singing was truly a sight to behold, his soft yet profound voice and the minuscule changes in his face such as the soft scrunching up of his eyebrows or the way he shut his eyes tightly as if he was baring his soul made Alberu's heart flutter.
At least, those were his first thoughts until he realized just what his dongsaeng was singing, the way Cale's voice held a somber tone to it was not missed by Alberu, the way he spoke of his family during the first few lines made him empathetic towards his past, but hearing Cale talk about gaining riches till he was bloody put a still to Alberu.
Alberu knew he was a good part of Cale's income, sure Cale had other ways to gain riches but most of the time his golden plaques funded the redhead's miss adventure's, it made him feel partially guilty, then again his funds were used for the greater good, but more often than not Cale was injured after using them.
It left a bitter taste on his tongue
—-
All these kids have got affluenza
Goin' wreckin' their daddy's Benz, ah
Crystal liquor cups and designer drugs, oh, oh
They say, "Money can't buy you no love"
But a diamond cheers you right up
—-
Everyone knew how much Cale adored expensive items during his trash days.
What they didn't know was that when he was younger Cale preferred simple comfortable clothing, soft fabrics were his favourite and he loved to match with his mother, that of course change during his mother passing in which he stopped going for simple attire and instead wanted luxurious, extravagant clothe's, no one knows why but some of the elders of the Henituse territory assume that her death affected young Cale so far as to change his style so he didn't remember her, they assumed the lavishes made him cope better.
The actual reason of his clothing change is that young Cale wanted to do a best to help his father overcome his grief, he changed where he sleepers so his father wouldn't see him as often and changed his style so when Deruth looked at him he wouldn't see his mother as much, though it pained the child to let go a part of him and his mother he still wanted to so his best to help his dad, his own feelings did not matter.
Deruth's heart hurt when he heard his son mention crystal liquor cups, panic settled in when he heard him talk about designer drugs, he let Cale drink as it seemed that he would not stop, he also did not have the heart to say no to his son and since he was old enough he just let it be.
But the mentions of drugs had him reeling, has Cale truly dabbled in drugs? The Henituse territory did not have a black market but, if Cale was able to obtain drugs then there must've been some dealers, the thought that his child may have done substances made Deruth feel as if he's failed Cale as a parent
(He definitely has)
—-
Give me none of your affluence, oh
Affluenza, affluenza
Everyday's your birthday
You threw a party but you kinda hate all your friends
So you're crying in the driveway
Killin' time, gettin' high, can't wait 'til it ends
—-
Cale reminisced about his past a Kim Rok soo, he never told anyone his birthday finding it bothersome and meaningless but somehow new got out about it (CJS) and he wasn't spared that year (it was just a few months before they died, oh how he wishes he savoured their moments together more)
He was forced to drink with his fellow colleagues but soon his energy wore out and he retired home early, yet instead of going home Soo hyuk brought him over to his place with Jung soo happily tagging along talking both their ears off, walking in Soo hyuk's house and seeing him on the lights to a cake and birthday presents for both CJS and him are one of Cale's fondest memories.
That night was spent happily basking in each-other's company, at the very end Jung soo was fast asleep on Rok soo's lap hogging more than half the couch with his body, Rok soo himself was passed out sound asleep on Soo hyuk's shoulder as the former was squished on the left side of said couch, what both Jung soo and Rok soo didn't know what that Soo hyuk planted a soft kiss on both of their foreheads that night while whispering sweet nothings to them both.
—-
Money, mon- *cough
—-
Part way through his song Cale had a short coughing fit, it seemed as if there we too much dust, sighing he lays the guitar on his lap, his throat was already sore today and it seems as if he may be sick so using his vocal cords excessively was not a good idea, even so he's disappointed he couldn't finish the song fully.
Suddenly, he hears a sharp noise and jerks his head to the left only to see Raon closing a communication device before running towards him with Hong in tow, their praise of his playing and singing fill the room.
On is still standing at the doorway sighing as she knows there will be misunderstandings created all over the continent.