TOTCF content because my brain go brr

Cale's Breakdown

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Have an angsty speech. 

TW: mentions of death 

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"You think I don't know that?" Cale couldn't help but laugh at Alberu's sorry attempt at insulting him. "You think I don't know that I'm an orphan? That I lived through my life oblivious to that fact? That I wasn't aware?"

"I lived my whole life as an- no, as the orphan. I'm pretty FUCKING AWARE. You think I didn't see anyone else? All the normal families?"

"I didn't have a mother who taught me her favourite home-made tea recipes," Cale said, increasingly getting more agitated. Furious even. "Nor a father who would spend time with me; who'd warn me about the dangers of the world. Someone who would protect me or to empty their schedule just because I wanted him too."

Beacrox looked away, uncomfortable at that callout. He knew that he had suffered trauma, but he also knew he could've had it much worse. He never compared his trauma to anyone else's and he was grateful everyday. He held a strong loyalty and pride towards the Henituse Duchy. His skin at the back of his neck prickled in shame.

 Ron's chest felt slightly crushed under the weight of those statements. His prosthetic arm felt cold and heavy as he held the children. He couldn't believe he once thought about leaving his puppy master alone, without a note. If it meant he could've protected him more, he would've chosen it in a heartbeat, but he'd have written a note. A long one. Better than five words.

To the Molans, all their young masters were important to them. Their past kind-of bratty, lonely puppy of a young master who was once like a member of their family was still relevant and missed. They were glad to hear that he was happy, but of course they wanted to protect him. But that didn't mean their new Cale was any less special. Nor was either of their siblings forgotten. They cared for all of them, but how were they meant to express that? The father-and-son duo shared conflicting emotions, unaware how to help.

"Nor did I have siblings that supported my childhood aspirations." Cale continued, oblivious to their sweet thoughts. And to be honest, it wouldn't have helped. He wasn't going to close his floodgate of anger even if they had said something.

"I didn't have a chance to follow any dreams I could've had. I didn't have anyone who supported me until I met Soo Hyuk and Jung Soo. I couldn't have a childhood where my main worry would be whether my older sister would drop a ball of magic water on my head. I didn't live in a palace when I was lonely, I lived in a dirty shack. And it wasn't as freeing as people pretend."

Rosalyn inhaled sharply. She didn't let those words hurt her before, so why did they feel so painful coming from Cale's mouth? It was because she cared about him. And she didn't want him to feel inferior to her for losing in a race that was rigged against him. For a split second she questioned whether her struggles were really valid. 

But of course they were, even if they seemed less than to others. She worked to get where she was, and just because others saw it was easy, it didn't mean that it wasn't for her. Cale knew that. Cale was the one who told her that in the first place. Cale had been proud of her. And he still was. He was just angry right now. And she was glad to be his punching bag if it meant he stopped bottling his emotions.

"I didn't have parents who loved me. I didn't have parents at all. Not strict ones, not sweet ones, none that would want me."

"I didn't have anything like that." He laughed, the painful memories resurfacing from his childhood. "I had my uncle."