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Post by seraaches on Nov 14, 2007 20:43:03 GMT -5
Watching Theofilus speak about his experiences in the Lowlands broke the skunk’s heart, though she wasn’t certain how to reach out to the man. He had another boy now? She didn’t know the name Calia, though she thought Rogers had mentioned it once in passing. As he finished speaking, Kel couldn’t be certain if it was because he had finished speaking or if it was because he couldn’t continue on. On an unexpected impulse, the skunk moved to the bird’s side and flung her arms around him, burying her head in the soft blue and white feathers.
”Wotever you want to tell me is fine,” she said softly. ”As is wotever you want to leave out. I just want to help you,” her voice was low. ”Any way I can. Just tell me how to.” She prayed he wouldn’t find her forward, wouldn’t push her away. She wanted so desperately to be of use to the man and she would do pretty much anything to do so.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Nov 14, 2007 23:16:32 GMT -5
He accepted the hug. Theofilus certainly needed this sort of comfort, and at this point he was too tired to take it. He never wanted to ask too much from the people he cared about.
"Thank you so much," he said as he squeezed her a bit tighter. He wasn't sure if the words would come out right. They never seemed to come out right when he was upset. Silence was the best he could muster, but he had to explain. He had to.
"I am very in need of someone who can play the part of a mother. Frankly, I need all the help I can get. I can't do this alone." He was not explaining things properly. He needed to calm down. "I'm just... can we stay like this for a little while," he whispered into her ear. Rogers had already slipped out of the room. If Theofilus was not so distracted he would have been able to notice how upset the German Shepard was.
Sometimes it was hard to see through a mist of tears that were being held back by sheer will alone.
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Post by seraaches on Nov 14, 2007 23:45:38 GMT -5
Kel was more than pleased to remain in Theo’s arms, able to cling to him as she tried to pretend she was not. She nodded into the pure feathers, unaware of Rogers’ exit, though she need not have been concerned about it. He was the epitome of the perfect companion, silent when needed, pushing when needed, and he was the queen of discretion. She let Theo’s words seep into her even as she threw her heart through the hug, trying to tell him with that wot she couldn’t say aloud.
Wait, Theo was looking for a mother? She blinked pale blue eyes as she tried to decide wot exactly that might mean. It wasn’t a proposal, -couldn’t- be a proposal. Once that little heart attack passed by, she realized that it must just be a cry for help.
”Just tell me wot I can do to help,” she murmured softly. ”I would love to help you.” She rolled her eyes up to glance up at his face, her willingness in her eyes.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Nov 15, 2007 1:05:46 GMT -5
"The boy. He needs someone other than a father." The sparrow clarified as best he could. "Things happened in the Lowlands that I never want to think about again. I swear if I see a Lowlander I may just snap into a thousand pieces."
Theofilus shuddered as he hugged Kelasia. He could trust her. She was one of the few people he could trust. He had no idea why, he simply knew that she was safe to be around. The sparrow loosened his grip of the skunk. He had to calm himself down or this was going to go absolutely nowhere. "I never thought any place in the world could be so disgusting. It made my heart break when I found out the truth of it all. I never thought people could be so cruel. I never want any of my family to suffer. I never want anyone I care about to suffer like that."
He took a deep breathe. "Do you understand how heartbroken I would be if something happened to you? Your part of my family."
There. He said it. He admitted it to himself and her. Family. That's what they were. Rogers already knew, now she needed to. This really was not going as well as he had hoped.
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Post by seraaches on Nov 15, 2007 7:40:05 GMT -5
Kelasia nodded at his words, tightening her arms around the man when he first spoke of the Lowlands. She’d never seen him so tense and that worried her so much more. Even when he released her, she simply began to pet gently along the soft feathers of his arm. She couldn’t stop touching him when he so obviously needed a lifeline. She listened without speaking because it felt like he needed her to just listen.
Her hand froze as she stared up at his face then she swiftly shifted her eyes away again, trying to figure out exactly wot she was feeling and wot she should admit back to the man. Part of his family? She was pleased. In part. But part of her thrilled uneasily. Wot exactly did that mean? Her feelings for Theofilus went beyond anything she had ever felt for her family. Was this an improvement? Yes, she finally decided. It had to be an improvement. She needed it to be.
”I’m glad,” she said quietly. ”I would like to be part of your family.” Even if it wasn’t something she understood and still had no idea where she stood. And now to throw them both a desperately needed lifeline, ”Wot is his name? When will we have a chance to meet?”
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Post by Kari Muffin on Nov 15, 2007 13:35:13 GMT -5
"Eilwyn," was all that Theofilus could manage to say. "His name is Eilwyn." It really was all too complicated for him to explain in words alone. The boy was still in a questionable shape, and Zane wasn't about the let the boy out of his sights. Theofilus had even asked Clari to help watch him. Nothing had gone as planed. And he was still asking where his mother was. Every time the words escaped from the boy's beak Theofilus' heart broke just a bit more.
"I don't know," said the sparrow as he found a brief moment of clarity. "I lied to him about his mother. Even if I tell him she's not coming back he won't understand. I have never been so lost. Never."
Even when Theofilus had lost his brother he had not be forced to cope. He never stepped near the lake that had claimed his life. He had moved away from "home" to avoid it. He still couldn't go back for some reason. He wanted to, but it felt impossible. Eilwyn, however, was something he could not run from. The boy needed help. More help that Theofilus could provide.
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Post by seraaches on Nov 16, 2007 1:12:48 GMT -5
Kelasia tried to fight her need to try and shield Theofilus from his inner pain, but there literally was nothing she could do. The skunk continued to gently pet along the feathers, pausing at the explanation around Eilwyn’s mother to take his hand and squeeze it lightly.
”It will be alright,” she soothed gently, tail curling slightly to encircle his legs as well. ”He may not understand at first, but I bet you’re underestimating him. Kids are very resilient.” At least, that’s wot she had read at some point. She knew it did have to be true, at least, because they were constantly growing up into adults and functioning in society. She did want to meet this little boy, whoever he was.
”Perhaps after I have a chance to meet him, I can help you think of a way to break the news?” she suggested gently. She –really- hoped she was right in that.
(( Kel : 15 ))
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Post by Kari Muffin on Nov 16, 2007 20:44:27 GMT -5
'Resilient' she said. It was so easy to say. Eilwyn had grown up in such a terrible place. He hadn't even seen what a clean person looked like, but he knew what it looked like if a person had rabies. He was still young but that could not erase the past clean. The present was more important anyway.
"I don't know anymore," He let out a long sigh. "This is far more complicated than I can even understand. The Lowlands are more awful than rumors can manage." Theofilus shook his head. "I'm probably going to be in my apartment in Capital City for a while. The courts don't currently need me, and if they do they'll just send a message."
It was rare for Theofilus to back out of a job or responsibility. However, he had to take a few steps back from his usual pace after this nightmare. "I may be around more than usual."
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Post by seraaches on Nov 16, 2007 23:03:27 GMT -5
Kel knew about the Lowlands through second hand knowledge. Her mother had certainly never allowed them to enter the Lowlands, though they had made a few trips to Josiggy Marsh. She was silent on the subject, despite having been their neighbour for years. She’d only met one Lowlander face to face and had never seen him again after the initial meeting. He hadn’t been overly pleasant either. She pushed the incident firmly from her mind; it had no bearing here.
She was pleased that Theofilus would be around more often, but she hated the knowledge that it wasn’t because circumstances were good. Theofilus needed a vacation and likely one that would take him far away for awhile. But the child would have to come with him, and, no offense, but Eilwyn appeared to be part of the issue.
”Eilwyn has accompanied you back here?” Kelasia asked gently. She had the first inkling of an idea.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Nov 16, 2007 23:54:10 GMT -5
"Yes. Zane is taking care of him at the moment." He said as he slowly released his grip on the skunk. She hoped that she remembered that Zane was his son, he had mentioned all of his children enough in passing. Somehow she had manged not to meet a single one of them. Curious.
"I think it would be easier for him to get used to Capital City first. After being in the Lowlands all of his life I can't imagine his reaction to the Court." Theofilus shook his head in dismay. This boy had to adjust slowly. The sparrow was terrified that if he exposed him too quickly something awful would happen. Perhaps he was worrying too much, but it was better safe than sorry.
"I think after he's settled I could introduce him to you," The sparrow looked at her with a hopeful expression. At least the future was just a little bit brighter.
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