The Result of the Vangelis' C- Parenting
Jonny curses after checking the time, “Damn it where the fuck is Ashes?” “I think they were at a party last night. Must still be trying to wake up.” Jonny grumbles at Brian’s words and keeps fiddling with the cords to the mic, wrapping them around and around his fingers. The door finally opens and Ashes stumbles through, no makeup and hair merely brushed, not styled. With them comes the smell of cheap beer and cigarette smoke, making the yell Jonny had in his throat die. His face goes pale as the smell fills his senses, and he’s back in that house again, red walls leaking nicotine stains and the smell of alcohol making him sick. He runs out of the practice room.
Ashes comes looking for him, worried they might have done something wrong. He’s sitting outside the door, taking large breaths as he tries to calm down and get the memories out of his head. “Jonny, wha-” “Get away from me while you smell like that!” Ashes flinches just a bit but Jonny can’t see with his head between his knees. Ashes walks back into the practice room, “Raph, can I borrow that perfume you have?” Raph raises an eyebrow, “It’s experimental.” Ashes nods, “And strong. Please? I’ll let you take notes later.” Raph’s eyes light up and she digs in the bag next to her wheelchair, tossing an unmarked bottle to them. They walk back outside and spray down, letting the wind do most of the work.
Tucking it in their pocket, they turn back to Jonny. “You gonna be okay now.” Jonny nods slowly, “Yeah, just… just give me a minute.” “Do you want to talk about it?” Jonny groans, “Yeah…” Ashes sits next to him and he starts. “When I was still… living with my parents. Before they died. Fuck it was a shitshow. All they did was smoke and drink and fight and it was always that shitty ass beer, fuck it smells so bad. I couldn’t breathe in that house there was so much smoke and the walls dripped with nicotine and fuck-” “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me more. I’ll be sure not to smell like that around you, okay? Do you want me to send Nastya out to help you?” Jonny nods again and Ashes walks into the practice room once again.