This was most certainly not what anyone had been expecting as Market Day at the Thai Temple came to an end: Anne and Olivier had been saved from a drunken bum by a mysterious woman…who turned out to be Eda's older sister, Lilith AKA Olivier's aunt.
To the surprise of no one, it was Eda broke the silence as she avoided eye contact with Lilith.
"I know what you are going to say. And my answer is still: NO."
"But, WHY!?" Lilith scowled. "Joining the Emperor's Coven was our childhood dream! Stop running, sister. Let me help you."
She said that last part with desperation in her voice.
"More like "Delusion." answered Eda.
Lilith scowled angrily, annoyed that once again she was failing to get through to her sister.
"Look Lily. At one time? Yeah, I did want to be part of the cult." Eda admitted. "But when they made us fight for a chance in? I realized something; making our home a better place is great and all. And you do that well. But I could and never will fight those I love for the amusement of some masked moron. Even if they somehow could pose a threat; family always comes first."
There was also the fact that she'd later spied the tryout sheet and found it was blank; the scout was just being lazy because he could be.
"…What's a cult?" Lilith asked
Eda smacked her face and groaned into her hand, as did many in the assembled crowd.
'I give her that whole speech on family and she focuses on one aspect. She hasn't changed a bit.'
However, Lilith's attention was directed back at the child standing near her sister's leg. Just one look at his shiny eyes, one gold and one blue, told her all she needed of his magical potential; potential that she would NOT see go to waste.
"I didn't know you had a child." spoke Lilith.
Eda glared at Lilith like a viper poised to strike as she remembered HOW she'd found Olivier; hidden in a tree, not too far from a what remained of a corpse. While she didn't want to believe it, Eda wouldn't put it past her sister, as devoted as she was to Belos, to having killed Olivier's biological parents.
"HI, AUNT LILY!" exclaimed a beaming Olivier, oblivious to the tense situation.
Lilith blushed at being addressed with that title.
"um..he-hello. Olivier." said Lilith, feeling awkward as she waved back and then gave a slight bow. "it is quite pleasant to meet you."
This eased the minds of many in the crowd; some even laughing at Lilith's awkardness around the little boy.
Olivier smiled, then looked at his mother. "I like her, Mama. She seems nice."
"She looks like a witch to me." Anne muttered under her breath, but not quiet enough
"Anne!" Oum chatsized her daughter.
"Oh, no need for that. She totally is." Eda smirked, delighting at her sister's annoyance face before she became stern. "Don't talk to her, Olivier."
"Why? Isn't she family?" asked Olivier, confused.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean she can be trusted." said Eda. "I learned a long time ago that her loyalty to the Emperor ALWAYS comes first."
"Don't make me the villain here, Edalyn." Liith scowled.
"Oh, what am I supposed to do?" Eda snapped. "Give you a medal? Sing your praises? You could've said something, done something, but NO! You left me, mom and dad to figure out what happened to me that day! While everyone laughed at us and pelted me with junk while calling me a good for nothing, you ignored it all to enjoy your new, cozy life!"
Was that what had really happened? Maybe Eda embellished some bits. And it had been years, yes. But? Coming to California and seeing the closeness of the Thai Community, never mind how open they were with people from other groups?
It made the Owl Lady envious of humans; what they lacked in magic, it seemed most made up with in understanding and willingness to help: Ideas that had been beaten out of the Isles when Belos took over…Further reason for her to stay away and set up shop here; no self-respecting parent (aside from her own, and they were old money and old clan) would want their baby growing up in such a world.
Eda was so caught up in her anger and thoughts that she didn't notice Olivier clench her hand tightly. He was scared and wanted to calm his mother down; she didn't get mad like this!
And then it started: The little boy suddenly felt something grown from his mother's skin. Something he knew so well he didn't need to look down. But he did anyways:
Feathers.
'Oh no.'
"Look, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most, but I am here for you now. Please sister…please don't push me away."
Eda scowled. a small part of her wanted to listen; to give Lilith a chance. Despite their differences, she was still her big sister and, she did miss her.
But, she also knew that no matter what, Lilith would ALWAYS trust Emperor Belos, and obey him without question.
How could she trust her..when with but one word, she would easily turn against her. And again, considering how Eda had found Olivier in the first place?
"Renounce your wild ways, and serve the emperor alongside me." pleaded Lilith. "I give you my word, we will not only lift your curse, but I will personally give your son the BEST education."
Eda snapped her gaze back to Lilith.
"Don't believe everything that bone head tells you, Lil. I don't care what he does to me. but, as long as I still draw a breath...he will NEVER lay a hand on My Boy."
Lilith scowled angrily. "why must you be so stubborn?!"
Eda smirked. "I dunno...WHY must you be so gullible?"
Lilith glared angrily. "Okay, THAT'S IT!"
Shye whipped out her staff, ignoring the gasps of the assembled as Eda smirked
"That's more like it!"
"MAMA!" Olivier said, pulling on her arm desperately. Eda was about to gently shush her son when she saw what had started to grow feathers around her hand.
'No! No, no, no, no, no! Not here!' She begged. 'Not with all these people!'
Sadly it seemed the curse didn't share in that thought; more feathers burst from her arm. Olivier was quick to hold onto Eda's arm to try and cover them as she took him into her free arm.
Lilith kept marching forward, not seeming to realize the worry in her sister and nephew's eyes. If she did, she must've assumed that something was holding them back.
Much like she was now; several of the humans had stepped forward to block her from her family/
"I don't care how good you say your Kool-Aid tastes, Eda IS NOT drinking any of it!" Bee snapped.
"…Kool-Aid?" Olivier, Anne and Lilith asked.
It was then the adults finally remembered children were in the area.
"….We'll tell you when you're older." Oum assured her daughter and Olivier.
"But…?"
"WHEN YOU'RE OLDER!"
"Miss? You are causing a disruption." A member of the staff told Lilith. "Please, settle down and discuss this civily….or leave."
The Head Witch was annoyed but, remembering these were humans, decided to be diplomatic.
"I apologize for causing said scene. But my sister…"
"Ran away from home with her son. Yes, she's told us." Oum cut in. "And your nephew saved my daughter and two close friends. You may be able to do so in…wherever you came from? But here in California? We are not and will not let you just come up and take them."
Lilith applauded these peoiple' loyalty at least, misguided as it was.
"My sister is a danger to herself and others. I simply want to make sure she and my nephew…"
"Ma'am. Last time we will ask nicely. Please chat respectfully. Or leave. The police are on their way."
Assuming that this 'Police' was like the Coven Scouts, Lilith's worry grew and morphed her diplomacy into annoyance.
"And what exactly can you do if I refuse?"
"Oh I'm SO glad you asked, Lily." Eda smirked as she snapped her fingers.
The next thing Lilith knew, she was on the ground out of the temple grounds, cars zipping away. By the time she recomposed herself, her sister and nephew were long gone.
COA
Late that night, Eda, having set up exorcism equipment all over the pizzeria when her shift ended (the damn bot seemed perplexed by her so that was a start), decided to make a call.
"Whatever you're selling I ain't buying." The gravelly voice on the other end said.
"Not even if its my naughty wear?" Eda teased.
"Marilyn!?" The voice screamed in shock before composing themselves. "I-I mean…Eda."
It was taking some time to get used to her real name, she guessed..
"Hey, Stanley." Eda cooed back. "How goes the scamming game?"
"Meh, could be worse." Stanley Pines, her husband of 45 minutes in Las Vegas, replied. "The move go okay?"
"Believe it or not, the cops helped us out."
"Oh, you lucky, beautiful witch." Stan grumbled.
"You know it!" Eda smirked. "In all seriousness though…I might've unintentionally made em look bad…"
"Oh, this I gotta hear!" Stan beamed, then composed himself. "But maybe another time….. Something bad happened, didn't it? You wouldn't be calling otherwise."
Eda sighed.
"My sister found us."
"Oh jeez…" Stan grimaced. "The one in the cult?"
"Yup."
"…Did she at least show up somewhere you could lose her?"
"No. She jumped us at the Thai Temple." Eda began, realizing too late she may have chosen the wrong words.
" 'Jumped?' You and the kid okay? What was his name? Oliver? Oliro?"
"Olivier." Eda reminded him, somewhat annoyed. "No worries, it ended okay."
"How'd you even get in there?" Stan asked.
"Oh, no ones blocked as long as they're respectful." Eda said. "But remember how I made the cops look bad? Well, long story short? Ollie snuck away and ended up befriending and saving a few kids from bullies. And one of the kids' folks, Anne, real sweetheart, they run and own a resteraunt; so we get 50% off for as long as their friends."
"Heh, lucky you again." Stan smirked. "I got banned from several places over Soos' Birthday."
"Soos?" Eda asked.
"My new handyman."
"What happened to that skinny fella?"
"Fired his ass! Besides, you and Ollie never saw Soos, he's in school. Sweet kid, little bit of a dunce in weird ways…and cursed with possibly the worst father ever and I say that with my hard-ass of an old man in comparison."
"…In what way?" Eda asked, a firmness in her tone.
"The way that would rather travel the world then see him ion his birthday."
Eda growled at that.
"Dad would've never done that; hell, he rushed a few jobs just so that he could be there for me and Lily's birthdays."
Stan envied his ex-wife for having had TWO great parents, he, Ford and Shermy only had their mom, may she be resting in peace. Even then, she didn't do anything to stop Fiddleford tossed him out after that accident with Ford's science fair project…
No, that wasn't fair. Shermy was barely a year old when all that happened. Harsh as it was, Stanley being tossed aside was probably for the best.
"Hey um….Its the slowest time of year and like I said; Soos is in school. If ya want, I can swing by and…I dunno, look out for ya for a bit."
Eda smiled at that.
"Why Mr. Pines…are you suggesting you care for wittle ol me?"
"Old? Please, you're like a fine wine." Stan mused. "Sides, you're a single mom with a kid; I'd be a pretty crummy person to ignore that."
"Sure..." Eda smiled, knowing he was a softie. "Come on down whenever you can: Ollie could use a daddy."
With that she heard rustling.
"Uh oh. Duty calls. Talk top you later, Stanley. Bye!"
Amnd with that she hung up.
Back in his room in Gravity Falls, Stanley Pines mentally repeated the last word he'd heard his ex say:
Daddy.
"Daddy, huh?"
…He didn't outright hate the title.
COA
Feeling better after the call with Stanley and getting King and Olivier some water, Eda felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She felt even better after a shower and pouring herself a drink as she settled in to watch her shows and read the paper during ads.
"I know you're there, Lily." Eda called out. "Come on in before someone calls the cops."
Embarrassed, Lilith accepted her sister's invitation
"This is….homely." Lilith managed.
"Hey, it was a steal for what I paid for." Eda remarked. "Close to Ollie's school and his three best friends…"
"He has friends?" Lilith gasped in shock.
"….He's kid, of course he…" Eda began in annoyance as if that was the most obvious thing in the world…But then she remembered that until their later years at Hexside, she and Lilith only really had each other. "…Yes, he does. Three girls; Anne the spunky one you saved alongside him, Marcy the cute genius dreamer and Sasha….she reminds me of you when you were little."
"How?"
"Protective, kind, take no scat for those she loves…."
Lilith smirked at that.
"I wanted to…."
"Still no."
"Let me finish! I wanted to…Apologize for how I acted at the Temple." Lilith said. "It was wrong of me, I realize. But Edalyn, you must see some merit in what I suggested."
"What? Making Olivier a foot solider?"
"No! Making sure that he gets what you were denied: A full and proper magic education."
"I did just fine with what I learned." Eda retorted.
"But don't you want the best for him?" Lilith asked. "I see it in his eyes; curiosity, sass….and potential like we had when were younger. Besides, shouldn't he know about where he comes from? And no worries; I'll pay for his education.
A silence fell between the sisters before Eda finally growled a response:
"…I make no promises."
Lilith sighed; that was the best she could get for now. Besides, she was distraced by the drink Eda handed her.
"Listen…." Eda struggled. "…You're right…"
Lilith beamed; was her sister FINALLY COMING A...?!
"…About Olivier learning about where he comes from!"
...round? Nope. Lilith frowned.
"Look, I have work night after tomorrow; you can watch him for me then and tell him all about the Isles and Magic schools."
"You'd trust me?"
"Not as far as I can throw ya." Eda smirked, then growled. "….And if ANYTHING happens to him….!?"
She said nothing else, yet Lilith had never been more afraid of her sister.
"So, you wanna crash on the couch to human TV or sleep in the backyard again and hope King and Hooty
",..King?"
"Oh right, you wouldn't know about him." Eda realized. "Well, about….eight years ago during a really bad boiling rainstorm…"
COA
"So your aunt was hunting you and your mom ever since you moved?" Sasha asked at school the next day while they drew pictures.
"I mean, she saved me and Anne from that guy." Olivier replied, trying to not make Aunt Lily sound like a creepy stalker.
"Nah, she just saved you." Anne grumbled. "She ignored me."
"Well she can't be that bad…" Olivier tried to defend his aunt.
"Of course she's bad!" Anne snapped. "She looks like Maleficent and the Evil Queen from Snow White!"
"…Before or after the transformations?" Marcy asked.
"Before."
"Oh, okay, Good." Marcy said, getting a clearer picture.
"…Yeah, she's not wrong." Olivier conceded.
"So, you guys going to the fair after school today?" Sasha asked.
"There's a fair?!" Oliver gasped in excitement. "And actual fair? With rides, popcorn, candy and games?! We never got to go to those back…!"
He then paused.
"Sorry."
"…Guessing this'll be your first, huh?" Marcy smiled knowingly, pulling out ten tickets. "My dad helped them set up and got these! And I think its Miss Eda's day off so…."
A few hours later…
"WE'RE GOING TO THE FAIR! YAHOO!" Mother and son cheered at pick up time.