Extended Vacation~

As the group arrived in Hawaii, Lazarus immediately got busy on a couple projects. With Yui and Phillipus by his side, it was only about four months (including time for getting a proper lab set up) before they were both complete. He was able to make Solomon a regular human, and supress Darius' mad enhancement, giving him the ability to speak properly.

Julian and Aaron stayed as well. Julian had to return to his usual day job, which luckily he could do from Hawaii. Aaron busied himself with opening up his father's vacation home for extra space for everyone, helping babysit and homeschool the kids (and Darius), and hanging out with his new friends. He definitely liked to have small parties on the beach with food, alcohol, and various other illicit substances. He even got just a tiny bit better at Japanese!

Avalon, however, got a lot better at Japanese. She continued to date Mari and also played a large roll in watching and schooling the kids. She also began learning to surf and scuba dive. This was literally one of the happiest times of her life.

Carlotta went about spending the money she got from Marisbury, but did offer to take the girls on an expensive shopping trip with her. She was a bit tired from the war, so she spent most of the time relaxing, and assembling the notes produced by the magi doing research into reports that could be submitted to the magical community. She was happy to absorb information without doing any of the ground work.

Marisbury thanked Lazarus for his help and left to go back to his business immediately after the potion was finished. Yui helped Lazarus with whatever he needed, as well as directing the rebuilding of the Tohsaka mansion. Ayaka shortly went back to Japan to live with Mari's family. Artoria had managed to find a hobby training youths with sword practice.

It wasn't long after Darius gained the ability to speak that he confronted Aaron. He waited until he knew Julian was off busy with something important. He found Aaron and sat down on the floor, crossing his arms and looking sternly at his Master. "Have you done anything about Julian?"

"Oh!...no? I guess? I thought about it. I just don't really have any proof whether or not anything happened. So I guess I'm just trying to keep an eye out? Like if it happens again or something...I dunno..." he plopped down onto the nearest sit-able surface.

Darius frowned. "I may not have experience with abusive relationship, but I know a subjugated man when I see one. He doesn't have to actually hit you to control you." He sighed and looked to one side. "He asks you to do a lot. Do you ever ask him to do the same things he asks you? Cleaning the house, and such."

"Well no because he pays for everything. He works I take care o the house I'm more than okay with that. Also, please tell me how I'm subjugated I'd love to hear details." he crossed his arms, a little angry.

"Have you tried saying no? How do you think he would react?"

Mari poked her head into the room. "What's going on in here??"

"Okay well that would make me an asshole. My guess is he would react not well because that would be rather ungrateful of me, don't you think?" he sighed, "Hi, Mari. Nothing much just talking with Darius."

Darius kept frowning. "Perhaps he works more than you, but that doesn't give him the right to work you like a slave. He's acting like he owns you."

"And it's not just about what you do around the house. You barely do anything without getting permission from him. On the other side..." He looked uncomfortable. "He does many things to you without consent."

The air around Mari's head and shoulders grew hazy with a sudden rise in temperature. "Who's fucking with Mr. America!?" She gritted her teeth and took a deep breath, the air going back to normal.

"Darius, why do you say that?"

"OKAY wow firstly the consent is implied secondly why are you watching us do that?! But in any case while I agree that nobody should be forced to take care of the house if they don't want to, I'm perfectly fine with this arrangement! It's not an issue."

Darius pounded his fist against the floor, shaking the walls slightly. "Consent is never implied! Secondly, when it looks like you are being attacked, I have every right to be concerned." Despite his lowered Mad Enhancement, he still held onto a deal of anger. "It is not just that you don't want to displease him. You are afraid of displeasing him."

She clenched her fists, eyes wide. "He's right!! That's super fucked up!! Avalon always asks me before - I mean!!! Whatever!!! If you respect someone you always ask!!"

"I'm-guys! C'mon. This..." he let out a big sigh. "I appreciate your concern. I really do. But this is...a big subject. It's a really big subject and even if I felt like it was true I don't know what I would do about it and I'm...I have a good life! I enjoy it! And I love Julian. I can't...picture being without him." his eyes watered a little, but he took another breath, "AND I feel like I have to point out, what are you doing Darius? I'm not listening to you and you're getting aggressive. So I don't think you can really cast judgement here..."

Mari reached up and lightly smacked Darius's arm. "He's still a Berserker, whaddya gonna do?"

Darius grumbled. "I do not wish to frighten you, I'm simply trying to impress my point. I suppose an ancient Persian Emperor--and a Berserker, yes--may not make the best counselor."

"I truly do wish to protect you. Are you really happy, or are you just trying to be happy to please him? If you truly reach down into your heart, I think you will find the fear and pain there that you are trying to deny."

"That's right. We're your friends, we know you're a good person. We don't want anyone to take advantage of you." Mari pulled Aaron into a hug, chin on his shoulder.

"OKAY. So, in that case. Let's just have a pow-wow here." He pushed the door closed with his foot and asked Darius to sit against it. "Darius, please tell Mari why you think the things you think. Full disclosure. I'll answer any questions Mari might have. We will analyze this situation and figure it the hell out."

Darius sat down firmly and told Mari everything he had observed over the past months. From the little things like Aaron's overexertion to please Julian and body language, to the big things like Julian's overt controlling and non-consensual advances (trying not to use too raunchy language). He spared no detail, confident they were getting some progress.

Mari listened, nodding occasionally, processing everything the Berserker said. "Mm... Mmhmm... Well, if it were me, Julian would have a broken jaw by now. That's just..." She looked up at Aaron, brows knit with worry.

"Are you really happy? Is this what you really want? And... All of those people... You can't even remember if something's real or not, and I'll bet he doesn't want you to."

"Well that's the thing! I'm REALLY not sure if those are dreams or not and I don't want to get accusatory if they are. That's not a good look..." he thought for a moment on the other questions, "I immediately want to say that yes, I am happy. However, thinking about the situation as promised, since Darius first brought it up and because I keep having nightmares like that I will admit I'm starting to feel some doubt. I think Darius has a point, about me being afraid..." he slumped, resting his face in his hands. What the fuck was he going to do?

She gently held Aaron's shoulders, giving him a light smile. "Whatever happens, we're your friends. I'm not gonna force you to do anything, I'm just here to support you. Like a..." She paused, mulling over words. "Like a soft new bra!"

He laughed, "Okay but no underwires I hear they suck ass."

Her tone turned dark with over-familiarity. "They do. I'm not an underwire."

Darius nodded. "If you told him you were feeling abused... A good partner should be concerned and want to put you at ease. A bad partner may not necessarily get angry with you, but would still try to paint themselves as the victim. I can guess which side Julian would tend toward."