The Oldest is a Boring (and Fearful) Man

[What do you have on the child?] Daimone asked Jamal.

Daimone was currently in the shower, washing the soap out of his hair, while he imagined Jamal was sitting at their usual table in the next room, laptop out in front of him.

[Nothing much], Jamal replied.

Daimone frowned at his brother's speech. If Jamal was emulating how vaguely most people were speaking these days, he had perfected it. [How much is nothing much?] he inquired impatiently.

He heard Jamal's faint chuckle from the other room just as it rumbled loud and clear across his mind.

[Feel free to do a little research yourself, big brother, rather than taking your time, ordering me about, waiting for the end…]

Daimone ignored the retort and stood under the running showerhead, waiting. After three seconds, Jamal shifted in the chair that was too small for him and, soon after, he heard Jamal's voice.

[Well, we were kicked out by a five-year old-- if you are ever so interested to that extent--and her name is truly Darrow Farlan. I have to admit, I thought she was lying about her name--you know how toddlers lie even around that age, even I did. I remember that one time when Father asked about the goat that I had untied so it could roam for more grass and had never returned. I had been so sure of its loyalty, yet even I couldn't keep up with the lies that covered the goat's absence. Oh, did I fear Father's rod more than--]

[Back to the girl, Jamal.]

[--I feared dying. Funny how I fear death now. Hm. Right, back to the girl, sir.]

[Father already knew you were lying the first time he asked about the goat.] Daimone said. [Your eyes tremble every time you lie.]

[Not true. I was a great liar, still am. Remember the time when--]

[Jamal. The girl.]

[Right, captain, sure. Darrow Farlan is her true name--which makes her more distinguishable by the moment.]

[I wouldn't call her name unique. This past decade's generation has more unique names than any other's: Zero, Kiola, Vixi, Naruto, Light, Shade--]

[Brother, back to the girl.]

Daimone blushed and turned off the water. He was glad Jamal was in the other room. [Continue, Jamal.]

[Gladly, person-in-charge. Darrow is a four-year old child currently enrolled in Preston School, located two blocks from her house. Perfect attendance and academics, for a toddler. Hm. Her teacher is a Miss Shining Joy, and much to her name, her face is very shiny indeed…she's hot.]

[You can seduce the teacher, if need be. Anything else?]

[Her participation points are in the negatives.] Jamal chuckled, then stopped. [Miss Joy wrote, 'Has violent tendencies when around the other children. I recommend she is kept in isolation and apart from her peers.']

Daimone thought about his brief interaction with the child and couldn't help himself. [She has a point.]

[Or a motive], Jamal threw back.

[Fine, look into it if you want. What about the child's parents?]

[Parent], Jamal corrected. [Our little Darrow lives only with her mother, Tammy Darrow, who works multiple, odd jobs. I've tried looking for the father, but nothing comes up.]

[A tryst in the woods, then.]

[Aaah, so you think Tammy Darrow was "knocked up". Hm. I don't like the way you said that.]

[I'm merely being honest. And it wouldn't be surprising if it was true.]

There was a moment of silence, and in that silence Daimone dried his body off with a towel.

[What do you mean by that?]

[Did you forget about how she was able to hear us?] Daimone responded. [No one has ever been able to tap into our connection before. She isn't a typical child, and I'm sure her father isn't either. And you saw how empty her bedroom was, nothing but the bed. Clearly, her mother is neglecting her.]

[What are you getting at?] asked Jamal.

[Can you call yourself a human for living this long?] asked Daimone. [I can't. I've lived in my own skin for almost three-hundred years. I can call myself a monster, Jamal. So, I can't be blamed if I'm expecting a monster to help me, to help us. Not a human.]

[You're not the only one calling yourself that], Jamal said slowly. Then his voice turned hard. [But DO NOT dare call the child that.]

Silence befell his mind, and Daimone walked out of the bathroom.

[You aren't going to apologize, then?] Jamal asked after a while, astonishment apparent in his tone.

[About what?]

[You truly are the jackass of this century.]

Daimone frowned at the insult. [I don't know what you're talking about. I truly don't.]

Just as Jamal was going to respond, a small tingle tapped their connection--something Daimone could only describe as their mind widening to make room for another presence--and a new voice entered the conversation.

[What are you guys arguing about now?] Ellerslie asked.

In the distance, Daimone heard the front door of their house sliding open, then sliding close with a soft thud.

[Welcome back], he said, throwing on some clothes.

[Welcome, indeed. Well, you just happened to miss Daimone insulting our princess.]

[She is not a princess, and she is not ours, Jamal.] Daimone said as he proceeded to meet Ellerslie at the front of the house.

[Let's see what Ellerslie have to say about that, Daimone. Well, Ellerslie?]

Seeing that since last night something had changed within Ellerslie, Daimone was curious about how his youngest brother would answer.

[The answer lies entirely up to her], the youngest answered.

It wasn't really an answer, noted Daimone.

[Well said, Ellerslie. Maybe you can teach the oldest how to think the same.]

Daimone sighed as he felt the other two talking silently to each other. Although he heard nothing of their conversation, he knew they were discussing about him. Talking to each other in this way had always baffled him. His connection to Jamal started when Jamal was just a toddler, and both of their connections to Ellerslie started when he was still in Mother's womb. Their shared conversations of the mind had only continued to strengthen as they became older.

He still remembered the days when they learned how to shut each other out, talk to one but not the other, and more importantly, to share memories. At times, it was beyond exasperating; there were times Daimone wanted to rip out his brain to end all connections, to finally go back to a state where there was only one connection, his own. However, he couldn't deny what came out of it all was the strongest bond of all brothers he had yet seen to be broken.

YET, he thought sullenly to himself as the main connection opened.

[The best you can do is apologize], Ellerslie said tensely.

[I say again, I do not know what you two are ranting about.]

[Let me break it down for you], Jamal responded sweetly. [You implied that Darrow was conceived by a lover, in a fleeting moment of passion.]

[Yes.]

[And you imply that Darrow is a monster. This is justified since you say her father is gone, her mother neglects her, and only a monster could save us from our fates?]

[Yes.]

[And from this perspective, you will be visiting the child?]

[Yes.]

[This five-year old child, who hasn't even tasted the cruelness of the world yet? And here you are, questioning the blood that runs within the father that now runs in her--]

Daimone interrupted Jamal. [You can't assume the child hasn't yet lived in the dirty underbelly of the world. As for the child's traits, alright, maybe she inherited it from her mother, not the father. Why does it matter?]

[You both believe her father to be dead?] Ellerslie asked.

Daimone walked to the front of the house, saw Ellerslie in the kitchen, and joined him there.

"Merely that he is probably not where the child would want him to be," Daimone answered as he watched his brother. Ellerslie was currently putting a large jar of pickles into the refrigerator.

Ellerslie glanced at him over his shoulder, his eyes alight until it dulled, then he went back to stocking the fridge.

[Whether he's dead or alive--and we will find out which--and whether or not the blood within her is red, do not approach the girl with such a cold analysis of her. It will not help our situation.]

[Are you saying that for my sake or for the girl's?] He pettily added, [Are you worried that if she does not love me, I will die? Or are you worried that since I do not care for her, she will surely suffer under my indifference?]

There was silence before Ellerslie stood up and said, "You have to ask?" [After all we've been through?]

Again, it wasn't a proper answer, Daimone thought to himself even as shame made him turn away. Maybe the prospect of death had him more scared than he had thought. Was he irrationally taking out his fears on a little girl they had just met? Maybe he was indeed the asshole of the century.

[Sorry], he began.

Ellerslie smiled crookedly. "It's not me you should be saying that to."

[Then it's settled. Daimone, you will apologize], Jamal declared.

[No], Daimone mumbled.

[Oh, come off it. You may as well, since you will have nothing interesting to talk about when you spend time with the kid.]

[I have plenty], he said edgily.

[Ha--and what is on the top of that list?]

A chuckle escaped from Ellerslie, and Daimone narrowed his eyes.

[I already said--]

[Talking about how your company came to be doesn't count.]

Jamal's laugh rebounded its way across the walls and ceilings into the kitchen, and Daimone walked away, growling under his breath.

[Apology it is], Jamal howled gleefully.