Whistle While You Work

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<sub>Andromeda lifted his head when Reuben patted his shoulder. In a very awkward display of father and son affection. Heck if he knew what his other son would believe. But... well, you never know unless you try. He looked over to Reuben, kind of glad on the inside at least he doesn't hate him forever or something.

"Thirty-Three, surprisingly enough." He tapped his chin. "... yeah I was active even as a teenager, sadly. I was actually expecting myself to get killed escaping and Sine and I met up for the last time..." He explained, but decided to shut up about it. Reuben probably knew the rest.

"Well, I can assume he was either adopted or raised by the church. So I'll either not know who I get, or a Christian Boy. Which isn't much better, since you know my views." He mumbled.</sub>

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It was indeed a very awkward father-son display, but at the least Reuben wasn't going to stab your guts out and hang them on a flagpole. He didn't have the heart to do that to too many people, and he couldn't bring himself to commit patricide, anyways. The thought of it made him sick, no matter who said father was.

"Only thirty-three? You're... really young. I'll be eighteen in two months." Had he really been only fifteen or sixteen when he'd been conceived? That was... Reuben couldn't imagine himself having a child at that age. He still felt like a child at times.

He chose not to comment on Andy expecting to be killed, but didn't take his hand off of the other's shoulder, instead keeping up that patting motion. Geez, lost his girlfriend, lost his non-illegitimate kid (he was illegitimate, he didn't count, he was sure), probably down in the dumps after everything.

"It's... probably too late to change that, though. You really can't help how people turn out or act. And judging from your expression that day," he added dryly, "you weren't expecting me or any other half-siblings of mine to even exist."

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<sub>Andy was glad Reuben didn't hate him in that way. This man may not be afraid to rape and pillage, but anything involving his family and rejection usually exposed a sore wound on his heart. He drew one of his knees up to rest his arms on it, still looking a bit glum, but better than before.

"I am really young, at least for a father with older children. i wouldn't be surprised if there were some younger kids." ANd then he inadvertently thought out loud to himself. "Well, i wasn't so bad taking care of Nerys, I wonder if I could properly raise one..."

Luckily for Reuben, Andromeda felt that, even if Reuben was illegitimate, Benedict was too since he and Sine weren't married that time. They would have, but... well, he couldn't do anything about that now. He took a deep breath.

"I slowed down in that department as I got older. Back when I was young I had no concept of cause and effect, apparently. I wasn't aware of the serious issues that went around it; how I could possibly be a father to a bunch of kids like you, or how I broken so many families. I'm actually very lucky I haven't even gotten any health issues from all of this. At this point there's no way for me to be able to redeem myself for what I've done." He paused. "Well, at least to Truesdale and Seria."</sub>

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Reuben himself didn't understand why, either. Maybe it was because of his severe and sudden lack of family that he was allowing Andy to become a part of his, no matter who the man was. There wasn't pride, he would probably be scrutinized very closely if people learned he was Andromeda's child, but there was something.

"It makes me wonder how people I've run into that I was related to, and didn't even know it," he admitted, though he raised his eyebrow at the mention of Nerys. Oh lord, Nerys. She had definitely turned out fine and dandy. "She ended up the exact opposite of you - cuddling, loving on, and goading into dresses anything that she deemed cute." Oh god he hadn't just let that slip. Meh, maybe Andy wouldn't think anything of it...

"In other words, half-siblings of mine are likely to be closer to my age than Caden's" he murmured. He nodded a bit, wondering just how messed up Andy was health-wise. He himself definitely was, but he probably was an early conception, meaning that he probably hadn't had too many things passed on...

"I suppose just... do your best? I probably can't stop you from doing what you want, but you know it was wrong, which is... a good thing."

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<sub>Andy had no family, that is, until Cepheid came back into his life. So he was willing to do anything for them. Even risk his own life, ironically. He was no hero though. Andy knew that perfectly well. The man lifted his head as both men went into their own little inner struggles.
"I forget how many female victims I've had that could result in this. Definitely around three or more, and definitely in my earlier years." He explained. "It is ironic, since Nerys was going to be part of Dula's experiments too. I'm just glad she had a normal life-wait.." Andy just stared at Reuben. "Dresses?"

He paused, trying not to laugh, though a snort came out of his throat before he forced himself to shut up. "Yes, most likely."

Andromeda stared at Reuben when he said that, and he looked ahead, seemingly in deep thought. How can I do my best, son? Even if I know it was wrong... He'd finally, after a few moments speak his thoughts.

"You know how when we're children, your parents would tell you all those stories about the prince who would ride in to save the eternally sleeping princess with a kiss and defeat the evil witch dragon? I wish life was like that, where good and evil was just straight black and white. In reality, it isn't." Andy shook his head. "I'm no hero, Reuben, even if I know what I did was wrong. I'm no villain either, even if I've done such horrible things because I believed it was necessary... But I wish I could be one of those goodie knights. At least when I was five, before I was taken."</sub>

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Heroes didn't exist in real life; they only existed in fairy tales, where the knight would slay the dragon and rescue the princess. Reuben shifted his position a bit, and looked over at the man when he mentioned that he probably had a lot of female victims that could have resulted in children like Reuben existing.

"...I-I meant she put Caden in dresses! Not me!"

Oh Reuben, if only you realized that told Andy she put you in dresses too. Andy seemed to be in deep thought, so maybe he didn't realize that Reuben had been put in dresses, but he spoke up about fairy tales and such.

"Yeah, I heard those fairy tales when I was younger. They're fun to listen to, but they don't reflect real life at all. If it did reflect real life, I would have gotten away with no consequences that day and you'd already be dead from all those heroes of justice," Reuben pointed out to the man. "Heroes don't exist. I'm sure of that." He patted the man, clearly curious about what happened when he was five, but knowing better than to ask.

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<sub>Andy wouldn't say anything though. Not much to say. Except he would ask Nerys about those dresses and what kind he put Reuben in. You never know. he could be a great crossdresser! Looks like poor Caden was victimized by girls of doom as well. He'd shift his position and glanced back to Reuben. So he had a childhood. But... you know, he should tell his son everything.

"I never told many about what really happened to me." He spoke up. "At least outside of Swire Incorporated. Sine knows, and her husband knows. My twin brother knows. My girls know, Loki knows... but I haven't told you yet." He shifted his position.

"Cepheid and I were taken when we were six. I'd do anything for my twin brother, and at the cost of me being trapped in Swire Inc, I helped my brother escape. After that was eight years of torture, humiliation, and psychological manipulation. I wouldn't have it though, thanks to Sine. She told me what they really were up to, and she and I planned to escape. She couldn't in the end escape at the same time as I, but my brother came to help me and we were separated again." He paused for a moment to swallow. "I lost my entire childhood. It was a huge blow to me and that's how I started doing all of this."</sub>

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Oh dear lord, Reuben would die of embarrassment if Nerys told any stories about the sort of dresses she put him in. Hopefully Nerys wouldn't say anything to Andy, just for Reuben's own sanity. It would be awkward if the man was amused by his son being forced to crossdress as a child... and disturbing, considering who it was.

"I don't think that would be something you'd tell many people, anyways... Loki?" Who the heck was Loki? He didn't know of any Loki. Oh well, maybe he'd explain later who Loki was, the Loki person wasn't important right now.

"............" Good lord, he had known that Dula and their rulers were corrupted, but he hadn't known that it had been to that degree. He didn't take his hand off of the man, but it definitely explained why he was the way he was. It didn't excuse him, no, but it explained a lot. "You haven't lost everything, though..."

Okay, that probably wasn't the best thing to say, though Andy still had Cepheid, the girls, this Loki person, and him, at least.

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<sub>No, no amount of insanity plea would let Andy get away from what he did. Plus some people might not believe him. It would take the rest of his lifetime to make up for his mistakes, and his childhood. For now, he would start with Reuben. He looked back at the kid. Oh yeah, Loki. He smiled a bit when he thought of her.

"Oh yeah you haven't met her yet. She's pretty. Had black hair. Very sneaky. She's quite the thief." He seemed to be happier mentioning her than Dula. Awww.

He went quiet when he said he hadn't lost everything. Andy smiled, this time an actual, genuine smile, small but modest. Very odd for him. he was actually feeling... happy. Again... Just like when he found Cepheid.

"... Thanks. I know I haven't. I'd be a lot worse if I had nobody."</sub>

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Too true, a lot of people probably wouldn't believe him. It was also incredibly likely that anyone that learned of Reuben's connection would automatically blacklist the boy just because he was related to him. Like either one of them could have helped something like that from happening, with everything. The smile upon Andy's face upon Loki's name... Reuben raised his eyebrows.

"Sounds like your kind of girl. Joining the crew?" He wouldn't be surprised if she was, with how fond the man seemed to be of her.

A... genuine smile? That was actually pleasant to see instead of that nerve-wracking smirk that he constantly wore. Was it a mask? Quite likely. Reuben found himself cracking a smile, too.

"Yeah. You've got your brother, Nerys, the other girls, and... me."

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<sub>Unfortunately, anybody related to Andy would be blacklisted. It's why he ensures none of the girls have bounties or are known to him. Only Dani has a bounty and he ensures her safety anyway. He looked over to Reuben.

"Very likely." He seemed pretty damn proud of her. "She's a damn good thief. It would be a waste to keep her in Dula. Has a bit on common with me too." He trailed off. "And great to tease~."

Haha, Andytrolling. Oh boy. Though in reality, Andromeda really was smiling, but whether Reuben would believe that or not, nobody would know. Everything to him felt so real... for the first time in his life. What did they call it... recovery? Or something that involved coping with dissociative behavior? Andy looked over to Reuben in a bit of surprise.

"... You? I thought you..."</sub>

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Reuben already had a bounty on him for that person he killed in Dula; if Swire Inc ever found out that he was Andy's kid, they would probably have a field day and he would be blacklisted forever in that country. Good thing he had no plans of going there anytime soon.

"Why am I not surprised? I'm going to have to see what this girl is like, though just from what you say, she sounds like the exact sort of person that would join your crew." Reuben was amused at that; this Loki person had to be interesting if he was letting her join the crew instead of doing questionable things.

He honestly didn't know just how happy the man was, but he was smiling, and it did look genuine (he'd looked in a mirror enough times to know that his face changed when smiling genuinely or when not). Though Reuben tinted a little when Andy caught the last person he mentioned, and he turned his head away.

"D-Don't think anything of it... I don't know, I can't forgive you for some things, but I can't find myself hating you or wanting you dead, or..." Man, this was awkward.

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<sub>Andy shifted his legs a little to lean back and just recover a bit. Now what was he to do? Well... introduce Loki to Reuben... threaten Cepheid now that he's involved with Nerys... Court Loki. Maybe. Andy wanted to do something genuine this time. Knowing him he'd keep flirting with her though and go nowhere.

What a hopeless romantic.

"She's great, a fantastic woman, clever... a big flirt when she can be. She's a big eater though and can wield a hairbrush and a broomstick as a weapon." Not going into those details, but now he was getting carried away. Mainly before he was more mindful of what Reuben said.

"I... well I keep saying I don't care about you, but I do. I guess it's a genetic paternal thing or something. I just can't stop fretting over you or worrying about you. Even if you hate me for some things, I'm just... surprised you even have any consideration for me, especially after what I almost did..." Andy looked down, sullenly.</sub>

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Reuben would likely be amused with Loki, considering what the woman was like. Though if he developed a crush, it would be awkward since his father liked her too. No need for more tangled family vines... though he doubted every single woman he'd been with had been violent. He'd probably seduced a bunch.

...Then he banished the thought from his head. It was just too awkward considering who he was thinking about.

"I'm going to guess you like her, a lot." Reuben still sounded amused upon hearing Andy continue to talk about Loki. The topic switched back to how they felt about each other, and he fell quiet.

"I thought so. If you really didn't care, then that day when you found out about us, you would have... and then when I was drunk, you would have just left me somewhere else or probably not even bothered to do anything." He still didn't remember what happened during his drunken episode, but he had a good enough idea.

"To be honest, I'm surprised too. Maybe it's the whole 'you're my genetic parent' thing after I found myself without family." Reuben glanced at him at the mention of his... near-rape incident. Multiple times. "I can't deny that I'm scarred from it, but..."

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<sub>Andromeda would drop Loki for now. Of course, if Andy found out that Reuben was thinking about Loki THAT way he would smack the kid. Crazy Reuben! We don't need more messed up family matters! He'd drum his fingers on his knee, wondering what to say.

It was a bit more emotional and dramatic than before, so... yeah. When he found Reuben it was... well a bit of a shock to him.

"Honestly if I was your father I would have smacked you and punished you for getting yourself beyond drunk, but I didn't feel it was my jurisdiction since you're old enough and we were... have a very rocky start." He'd pause. "I just want to cling to whatever family I have left that actually cares. not my parents though. I wonder where they are..." He paused. "Likely dead. it's Dula."

How cold Andy was to his parents was no surprise. His family ditched him and Cepheid. Of course he looked regretful when Reuben mentioned how scarred he was from those incidents.

"Those were my fault. I take full responsibility on it. And if Nerys told me AFTER, I would have..." He stopped. "I probably would have hated myself. I'm not lying there."</sub>