Post by Aurora Graves on Feb 4, 2018 14:32:37 GMT -5
Quinn Residence
Long Beach, CA
April 2006
In the garage, Ian Quinn stood over a weight bench as his firstborn son Leander pushed through several bench press reps with a heavily-weighted barbell. Nearby, Orion was laying into the heavy bag that hung in the corner. As Ian was focused on Leander, he didn’t notice his youngest – and only daughter – Aurora step out into the garage, her hands taped up as if she was going to start working on some punches of her own. Orion looked at his sister and smirked, but even as he shook his head, he moved around to the other side of the bag. Bracing it, he chuckled as Aurora started pounding her fists into the leather surface.
Orion: You know, Dad’s gonna shit bricks when he sees you in here.
Aurora: Like I care. Why should you and Leo have all the fun?
Orion: Whatever, Rory. It’s your funeral.
Aurora stuck her tongue out at Orion, then sent a wicked punch into the bag that caught him by surprise. A satisfied giggle escaped her throat, which caught the attention of her father. Ian looked over at Aurora, disapproval etched in his face.
Ian: Aurora, I thought I told you to stay out of here while your brothers are working out!
Aurora: But Daddy...
Ian held out a hand to silence her, his cold blue eyes focused on her in a piercing stare.
Ian: Aurora Diamond Quinn, how many times to I have to tell you? Just because your brothers are doing something, doesn’t mean I’m going to let you do it.
Defiantly, Aurora stood her ground, scoffing as she glared at her father with her hands on her hips. Her brothers stood side by side, clearly not wanting to get involved as they slowly started to back away.
Orion: Should we say something?
Leander shook his head.
Leo: Better not, Ri. Even if we did, what good will it do? You know how stubborn Dad is.
Orion: Right. Still, remember what happened last time those two blew up at each other....
Leo: If it comes to that, we’ll deal with it. It’s partially our fault, anyway.
The two brothers left the room, leaving an irate Aurora alone to deal with the consequences of her defiance.
Aurora: That’s not a good enough reason, Daddy.
Ian let out a frustrated sigh as he ran a hand over his face in an effort to compose himself.
Ian: Rory, I... it’s just... You’re my youngest daughter, and I don’t want you to get hurt. Why can’t you understand that?
Aurora threw an arm out in the general direction of the door leading into the house, where her two brothers had retreated.
Aurora: You’re letting THEM do something that can get them hurt...
Ian: ...
Aurora continued to stare at her father, who was doing everything possible to avoid her sapphire glare. He began to pace back and forth in front of her, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
Aurora: Why the double standard, Daddy? Why is it okay for them to do something dangerous, but when I want to do it, you say no?
Ian: ...
Aurora: It’s because I’m a girl, isn’t it?
The low growl erupted into a growl of exasperation as he stared dagger-eyed at the blonde pre-teen.
Ian: Oh, why can’t you just be more feminine? You’ll never find a husband if you act like a man all the time! Wrestling is for BOYS, not girls!
Aurora: You know, one day, I may have a daughter, and I’ll be DAMNED if I let her be held back from anything just because she’s a girl. THIS ISN’T THE FUCKING STONE AGE, DAD!
Aurora didn’t wait for her father to react to her sudden outburst, let alone the F-bomb she had dropped. With a torrent of tears in her eyes, she stormed off out through the open garage door, leaving her flabbergasted father standing there red-faced, just as Lorena stepped into the room. She stared at her husband, shaking her head as she crossed her arms.
Ian: How much of that did you hear?
Lorena: Enough to know that you REALLY stepped in it this time.
Ian shook his head and sighed.
Ian: What are we going to do with that girl? If we can’t rein in that rebellious streak of hers, she’ll be nothing but trouble once she’s a teenager.
Lorena’s eyes narrowed.
Lorena: Well, maybe if you made an effort to understand where she was coming from, she wouldn’t be such a handful. Ian, the more you try to force her into being the delicate flower you expect her to be, the more she’s going to resist. Didn’t the thought ever occur to you that if you let her mix it up with the boys, she’ll realize it’s not the kind of hobby she wants to pursue?
Ian: And what if it’s everything she hoped it would be? The bottom line is, I don’t want her wrestling, and that’s FINAL!
Lorena growled in frustration.
Lorena: You’re hopeless, Ian... absolutely hopeless. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going after her before something REALLY BAD happens.
Lorena walked out into the driveway and got into her car, heading off down the street as Ian sat down on the weight bench with his head in his hands.
