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Ugh, finally, he could start his own day. Every morning, the same routine. Wake Terzo, have him get ready. Make breakfast, hesitate, then attempt to wake the beast that was Secondo before 10 AM. That boy hated mornings. Then get the kids to eat their breakfast, ensure their uniforms are proper, and send them out to the school building of the ministry. He didn't mind it, it was just hard to do it on his own. The ghouls could really afford to help at least a little.
He stood in the kitchen, leaning tiredly on the counter as he sipped from his mug. Coffee. He desperately needed it. Early mornings, then struggling to get the boys to sleep at all at night.. it was a lot, okay? He slowly set the mug down and crossed his arms. Now to think about his breakfast. He had a routine. He didn't like his father, but the man was incompetent. Always, without fail, Primo would make himself breakfast. Enough to have "extra" by mistake, so Nihil wouldn't starve.
Just before he could get through another thought, the devil must have heard his name spoken, because Nihil stumbled tiredly into the kitchen, mindlessly stopping at the counter and accidentally shoving Primo aside. "Agh- Papa!" He yelped, rolling his eyes. Was Nihil hungover again? He thought to ask, but Nihil spoke first. "Primo, where are the boys?" He asked in a slurred voice, not even looking up at his eldest.
Primo sighed and shut his eyes, leaning his head back as he tried to keep himself awake. "They're in their classes, Papa. Like they are every morning." He answered. It always frustrated him, how little Nihil cared, how little he truly paid attention. Asking questions, always, that he should know the answer to by now.
Primo stared in annoyance as Nihil got down on the floor to open up the cabinets under the counter, rummaging around with little care. Silent. Primo remained silent. He'd leave soon enough. Nihil snatched a beer bottle from the cabinet, how had that gotten there? He must have misplaced his drinks while drunk. He stepped past Primo to get to the sink, finding his bottle opener by the side. There it was...
Primo couldn't help but watch on as Nihil snapped it open. Alcohol, alcohol. That's all he ever remembered. Nihil's hand holding a wine glass, grasping a can, gripping a bottle like it was all he had to cherish. He turned his head to the side to try and ignore it, but couldn't help it as he rolled his eyes yet again. "Papa!" He spoke, Nihil's attention shooting to the boy. "Hm-?" His brows furrowed and his eyes widened. Primo never raised his voice.
Primo huffed, as though Nihil should know what he was upset about. "I mean, do you really have to drink before 7? Before I even get to breakfast??" He asked. Nihil stared, but didn't respond. Primo's tense and high shoulders relaxed in almost defeat. "..do you?" He asked again, his eyes shiny, but no tears hinted at falling. He was just... frustrated.
Nihil stared in shock. He paused, then glanced down at his open bottle of beer, as if looking to see what the issue could be. A nervous smile broke onto his face and he let out an uncomfortable chuckle. "You- hah.. you're funny, Primo. What room do you have to judge?" He asked, shaking his head.
...What? Primo had no idea what that implication was. Nihil chuckled as if he'd realized it was a joke, turning his head as he took a sip from his drink. "You're a grown man, Primo. You're telling me you've never had a drink or two before? You've had.. what.. six years of teen.. teen-hood? You're eighteen, you've had drinks." He scoffed. With a sigh, he took another sip.
Primo was genuinely shocked. Sure, Nihil was shitty, but he didn't think he'd forget something so simple. "Papa, I'm- I'm not eighteen." He muttered. He couldn't even fight the groan of annoyance when Nihil froze, and stared at him. What was the confusion for? What, did he care now? What good timing.
"...Yes- yes you are-" Nihil started, though he winced when he was interrupted.
"I'm sixteen, first of all, and second- it's a weekday! You should have known where the kids were! I get them to their classes every day, papa, you can't really forget that! Do you forget? Or is it really just easier to bother me about it every day? You can't remember to feed them, you don't remember their schedules, you don't remember my age apparently, you don't even call us by name! Do you even remember those? Our names!?" Primo yelled all the sudden, turning to stare at Nihil with an anger even he'd not expect from himself.
Nihil hesitated to speak at the... hatred it felt like Primo stared at him with. He fought himself for a few seconds, then spoke. "I-I remember! It's just early, Primo, calm-"
"You forget, every day, every evening, every night! Or do you truly remember? Is it a choice, then? Do you choose not to care? Not to act? To leave it all to me? You don't even think I do a good job! You get onto me all the time about shit! Papa, I'm sorry, but I need you to just think about your questions before you ask them today. I can't do this right now." He hissed, rushing out of the kitchen as fast as he could. He just wanted out. He realized after he left that he'd forgotten his coffee. Damn it anyways. He didn't need it.
Nihil stared on, he hadn't even had a moment to respond! Bullshit. And that yelling? From Primo- from his son? That wasn't acceptable! He almost, almost got angry. But it wasn't like he didn't know why Primo was upset. He knew. He hated that he knew. But was that enough to change him? Not.. not quite, no. He had a drink in his hand already, and all he wanted was to forget this, along with everything else he wasn't brave enough to remember. To hell with it. What was another day of drinking his thoughts away anyways?