3 Dear Father

London, England,

Trambelio Subsidiary Mansion,

Roman POV,

The tapping of a cane, heavy footsteps accompanied by light and graceful ones, the eldest son of McDonell Trambelio Elrod, Roman Trambelio Elrod, walked with a regal air about his person. A car was parked some distance behind him, the one he'd arrived in of course and right now, he was headed towards the cars near his home.

They looked expensive as all hell and the number of suited men stationed around the place made the young Trambelio put on an amused smile, he didn't know who had sent them but he did know they were here for him... He was the only one who even lived in this far-off mansion after all... Well Thea lived here too but them being there for him made more sense.

"Yoo! How ya been Roman?!"

"Ugh... it's the bloody Weins." Roman snickered, averting his gaze in mock annoyance as a young man, no older than himself, ran up with a bright smile on his face. Grey hair, shining eyes of a similar colour, a sickly skin colour and a relatively thin frame. He was quite the handsome man, wearing a beige knee-length coat, a scarf around his neck, a black jersey underneath and dull grey jeans.

"Come on, call me Melvin!" Melvin 'Weins' laughed and patted his back, the two clearly weren't strangers, one might even think they were old friends seeing them and they would be right in doing so.

"So, what you doin' here?" Roman questioned with a sigh, he was even excited over someone new coming up but it was this guy. The Weins were a branch family of Trambelio so naturally, the two were acquainted, one might even call them childhood friends.

"Eh, nothing much. Just visiting, also that thing you asked me about." Melvin whispered the last part in his old friend's ear, looking around with slight wariness in his eyes.

Now, here came the big question.

Why would Melvin Weins treat him like a dear friend when most magus shunned him? Well it was simple, Melvin was an even shittier magus than him and coughed up blood when he tried to even use his magic circuits to perform a spell... Still however, he was treated with equal or greater respect by everyone, why? Well, it was because he had the unique ability to manipulate, refine and empower the magic circuits of other people... It was the Weins family specialty but his talent in it was completely insane and the same father that had once discarded him welcomed him back with open arms, as did everyone else.

But there was a difference too, Melvin had had a mother who refused to leave his side even when he was discarded by all... Well anyway, that all wasn't really important now, the point was that he'd become rather whimsical and thrill seeking after the whole event. Someone like Roman, was someone who could understand him, if that wasn't all then, Roman was also far more interesting. He'd expected a depressed and dull person but he found a kindred spirit instead.

".....And you thought it was a good idea to bring it here?" Roman lightly hit him with his cane, this man had dropped out of his department at the rank of Fes, and pursued his own goals now. The thing was however that he had insane amounts of wealth thanks to his ability, procuring certain things was child's play for him. Coupled with his immense value and connections, Roman was grateful to have Melvin as an actual friend.

"Ahaha, in hindsight, that was kinda dumb." The grey haired teenager laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"You don't say..."

"Oh come on." He lightly jabbed Roman's arm, this guy could be a real asshole sometimes.

"Still though." Roman turned his gaze to the suited men observing him and Melvin with cold and apprehensive eyes, "Why bring so many people?" His own eye also took a sharper turn, the Weins wasn't a man to do such things.

"Me? Bring these lot?" Melvin pointed behind him with his shoulder, "Nah, I came in a helicopter." He waved his hand dismissing the claim, the helicopter landed in the backyard and Melvin wasn't one to bring entire entourages, he did trust Roman too so there was no need.... Most of all, it wasn't like what he'd brought was something to be seen by the public eye.

"Lord McDonell is here." Melvin informed in a serious tone, "I'll head back and keep an eye on the 'goods', keep him away. We'll cause a diplomatic incident otherwise." His voice conveyed the scale of the matter, he wasn't joking at all.

"No shit." Roman slightly waved his hand, closing his eye and smiling as the Weins walked away with clenched fists.

Once Melvin had entered the mansion, Roman too started walking, a slight limp in his step, the black cane tapping against the ground.

"Yo gentlemen, to what do I owe this visit?" His smile turned into a slightly crooked one, clearly suggesting that he was mocking them. Roman held a finger near his mouth, and looked at them in mild curiosity.

"Lord McDonell awaits you in the study."

"Hm, I see. Wonder what he wants." There was a strange tinge of annoyance in the Trambelio's voice.

-x-X-x-

In a typical office room, built in a Victorian style with polished dark wooden furniture, a table lying near the centre with a window letting in natural light right behind it, a few shelves lay on either side filled with old looking books, and a small chandelier hung from the ceiling. The office itself was averagely sized, not too spacious but not annoyingly small either.

At the table sat a tall broad statured man with short blonde hair and a goatee, his white suit had clearly been custom-made stuck to his body, highlighting his muscular build. Judging by appearance alone, he looked to be in his 40s but he was a magus so appearance couldn't really be trusted.

Lord McDonell Trambelio, husband of around 6 wives, father of 11 daughters and 1 son, the head of the Trambelio Family, Head of the General Fundamentals Department of the Clocktower and Leader of the merit focused, Democratic Faction with numerous other families behind him. A serious man, one who respected accomplishments more than lineage and a pacifist.

Currently however, for all his reputation, cold sweat rolled down the Trambelio head's forehead, his hands locked together as he leaned on the table contemplating something. He was about to meet his son...

Then, like thunder to his ears, the door was opened and young black haired man walking with the help of a cane stepped inside, "Stay outside." His words weren't directed towards McDonell but rather the homunculus accompanying him who showed some hesitation at his words but bowed and complied all the same.

"Lord Trambelio, welcome to my humble abode." Roman Trambelio bowed exaggeratedly, holding out a hand to one side, a wide smile plastered on his face.... Though, it was not one of happiness, the disinterest in his eye spoke volumes about his feelings.

".....Roman." McDonell's voice was slightly strained, he didn't know how to interact with the youngster but he did know that he deserved the treatment he was getting.

"Any tea? A drink? You can find it somewhere." Roman placed his cane against the wall before sitting directly across from McDonell and folding his legs, "So... father, what really brings you here?" He tilted his head with a strange smile on his face.

"I was just here to ask about how everything was going."

"Oh. Well don't you think over a decade is a little too late?" Roman tilted his head with an 'innocent' smile, this guy didn't even acknowledge his existence for the first ten years of his life so he wasn't going to be respecting him. He'd never talked with him, never asked him anything and ignored him whenever he tried to show some accomplishment, so he wasn't going to be respecting him. Cry about it.

"You have to understand.."

"What?" Roman leaned forward, tilting his head to the side, "Understand that my mother still refuses to accept I'm her son? That my sisters look down on me every chance they get? That even branch families take shits on me with no one to stop them?"

"Roman, control your tongue." McDonell spoke in an authoritative voice, a gust of wind reeled off him, blowing away the lighter objects in the room.

"Das ist kostbar! You think this scares me?" Roman laughed loudly, leaning back on his chair with a grin on his face, did they think he was afraid of being hurt or something? He'd bloody died before! What would trump that? Really? He wanted to know the answer.

"You don't want me to talk about how you ignored your own son? You think a change of heart now makes it alright? It's too late, dear 'father'." Roman wouldn't be respecting him, he didn't like him and he made no effort to hide his distaste. Why would he? Magus were assholes, they treated him like shit so he could do this much at least.

"I suppose so.." McDonell looked down ashamed, it was true. There was no denying the kid had made a lot of effort as a child to garner familial attention, he'd ignored him. His wife refused him and his sisters disdained him.....

It wasn't like he could completely blame them either.. Roman was a cripple that took a longer time even doing the most basic of spells, he wasn't to be completely blamed either.

"But you know what?" Roman leaned back into his chair, staring at the ceiling with a sigh, "I don't really care anymore."

McDonell looked at him in thought, "It remains undeniable that you're a failure, even if my son." The older man spoke with a straight voice, seeing no flaw in his judgement and words...

"You..." Roman sighed again, "You really are a magus."

Just as silence enveloped the room however, the younger Trambelio snapped forward, ripping off his eyepatch to reveal a red gemstone in place of an eye, he pointed at it in anger, frustration and annoyance,

"Denkst du, ich hab mir das ausgesucht?!"

Sure he'd looked at the Origin of all Creation but it was in every fucking direction, he didn't exactly have the liberty to close his bloody eyes!