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Post by The Jenn on Dec 6, 2007 16:05:20 GMT -5
((OMG so happy! *glomp* We so would have begged you to join but you seemed super-busy. You have no idea how this made me squee. XD))
Fino looked up from the little pile of children, one hand carefully reached out to almost-touch again, at the knock on the door, very distinctive. He couldn't stop a genuine smile from spreading across his lips as the door opened and Bernard stepped through the door. He would have invited him to come if he hadn't known his opinion of Pravus quite well.
"Uncle... I'm glad you could come. We're all doing fine." He looked down at the children again, eyes immediately seeking out and finding the serpent before flicking up to watch the other man's face. He wanted to see the moment realization flickered across those scarred features.
And there it was. His smile widened, almost but not quite a smirk, and he reached out to carefully disentangle the pale snake from her brother before moving her closer to Bernard. Pravus would understand. And even if he didn't, he would deal with it for the moment. Lior whimpered and mewled a little at the sudden movement and lack of pressure against him.
"Yes, I was... very pleasantly surprised. A King, no less, the pair of them. Her name is Linda." Crimson eyes were intent, watching and waiting. This was the approval he desperately needed. He just couldn't use that name without his uncle's approval. It meant too much.
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Post by Spiderfly on Dec 6, 2007 16:18:14 GMT -5
Pravus eyes had closed somewhat in exhaustion but opened again as the door was first knocked on then opened. A single eyebrow rose as he saw it was Bernard, though the movement was hidden by his fur. He was even more shocked when his Queen answered for him, though he didn't mind. However it seemed as if his Queen no longer noticed him, and only cared about his Uncle's opinion.
. . Hadn't he just given birth after carrying them for 9 months? Was he not due some respect. He literally pouted, lip out just a bit for a second before he got himself under control. It seemed as if he was going to have to ride out the last of the pregnancy hormones for a while yet. His hand went to Lior and lifted him back up to his chest again as Linda was lifted by Fino. He purred, petting his sons head as his eyes stayed on his Queen and daughter.
Linda curled carefully around Fino's arm again, tongue flicking out at the scent of father. Her head wavered up and down as she noticed Bernard and her small head cocked to the side.
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Post by Nathalia on Dec 6, 2007 16:34:35 GMT -5
Bernard barely heard his nephew's answer...that they were all fine. Good, good. His brain almost felt as though it were on autopilot.
He couldn't tear his eyes from the small bundle of scales, watching as Fino gently lifted it...her, he could tell from the face, how long he had studied hers...what it looked like when she was puzzled...
When she laughed...
He dared not reach out a hand to her, for fear that she might vanish, that he might wake up in his room, and none of this have happened.
Then his nephew spoke again.
He caught one word, a name.
"Linda...?"
His voice was what re-awoke him from his odd state, it sounded hoarse and strained, as though he had been pulling one of his infamous "all-week-works" that Serafino would interrupt to bring him meals.
Linda...
He gently reached out a hand and pressed his fingers delicately to the soft crest, running it down her neck.
"It's perfect...just like her. I wouldn't allow her to hold any other name."
He let his fingers drift over the fine silky baby scales once more, before pulling them back again. Looking over at the feline he finally allowed him a genuine smile, the first he had given Pravus.
"I must admit that I hadn't quite believed how well you would do, Pravus...might I just say that you are worthy of more credit than this old man tends to give new people. Thank you for this...this..."
He gestured helplessly with his hands for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"This opportunity, you have no idea how delighted I am by these wondrous additions to the family..."
He liked the feline no more than he ever had, but the level of respect had definitely increased. Two Kings...that was quite amazing. He glanced at the other child once more, now taking in the body covered only in gold, and the large wings.
"What beautiful children...thank you, Pravus...for what you have done, would you like to be alone for a while? I can take them to the nursery if you would like."
He turned to his nephew.
"I've had it set up on the sixth floor as you asked, near Dymphna's room."
He smiled, eyes drifting back to Linda, unable to stop looking.
He thought he may never be able to stop...
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 6, 2007 16:51:17 GMT -5
That reaction was everything, absolutely everything that he could have hoped for. Later, perhaps, a bit of paranoia would seep though into his mind, wondering just how fond his uncle might become of this girl, to the possible exclusion of their time together. Those were thoughts for the future. Now he was just... happy. Being able to make Bernard smile like that was so difficult and he considered it a victory every time he could, directly or indirectly.
And hearing him actually thank and compliment Pravus? That was an unexpected pleasure. He knew his uncle's dislike plainly and how much thanks like that would cost him at another time, but now he meant it genuinely enough that there was no animosity whatsoever in the words. That pleased him as well.
His uncle about to take them off of their hands? It was just the icing on the cake. "That would be marvelous, Uncle. I think we were just about done. We needed to see them and name them. Maybe you can look the boy over sometime? I could have sworn that he was a Jack yesterday, and the change... startled me. His name is Lior." That necessary introduction finished, he turned to Pravus and his smile actually reached his eyes. For all the hell they had both endured throughout this process, the results left him feeling remarkably satisfied. "Hand him the kitten?" he murmured in a quieter tone, more question and request than demand.
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Post by Spiderfly on Dec 6, 2007 17:02:38 GMT -5
Pravus watched as Bernard regarded his daughter with such fond eyes. He had known of Fino's mother. . in a vague way. The care that Bernard showed the little serpent however let him know more. He had perhaps loved Fino's mother, or at least cared for her a great deal. His clawed hand continued to absently stroke his son, calming him enough that he had snuggled in and relaxed.
However, as Bernard turned his attention to him, and thanked him. /Thanked/ him without any falseness in his voice, Pravus was left blinking a little rapidly before doing a bow from his neck. The only sort he was capable of at this moment. "Thank you Bernard." He said simply, it actually meant a great deal to him, perhaps they could get along in the future? Or at least, not be quite so horrible enemies. He smirked, unlikely. But anything that made Fino happy made Pravus happy and he took the compliment at face value and left it at that.
Pravus nodded slowly and handed Lior towards Bernard.
Linda on the other hand seemed to understand that she'd be leaving with golden-haired. Not quite as fun as red, but pretty nonetheless. She crawled carefully up Bernard's arm and wrapped herself around his shoulders, her head pressed against his cheek, little tongue dancing across his face. Ahh, he was warm.
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Post by Nathalia on Dec 6, 2007 17:18:01 GMT -5
Bernard smiled and took the kitten, surprised at how heavy the child was. The wings must weigh more than he would have thought...heaven forfend that the child grow up to be pudgy, he would have to talk to Dymphna about a special diet for this little one...
He then held out his hand for Linda, suppressing a shiver of delight as she slowly made her way up his arm to relax across his shoulders, her small tongue flicking his cheek.
His face flushed very slightly with pleasure at the gesture, he hefted the kitten again, tucking the wings in more securely, raising his head just in time to catch the small bow and quick thanks from Pravus.
He smiled. The cat was all bad, there was no denying that...but perhaps he had been wrong about the levels...there was depth to all things, however surprising.
"I'll leave you two to your alone time and your tea then, just send out one of the flame serpents to me if you need anything, won't you, Fino?"
He smiled, knowing that they would have no further need for him that evening. Cradling the children gently, he turned and left, heading fro the nursery.
Already the name of the feline child escaped him, only one thing mattered...
He freed one hand and stroked the feather crest gently...
"Linda..."
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 6, 2007 17:30:50 GMT -5
((Concluding the thread... because that is such a beautiful ending. XD We will play with this in the future, oh yes. I love Bernard so hard it hurts. And this gives Lior even more reason for his depression when it develops in adolescence, as well as an eating disorder later on if Bernard goes through on that thought. Made in the best of intentions, of course, but... well. Yes. SO PLEASED. *wibble*))
- fin -
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 8, 2007 17:27:59 GMT -5
Jenn, Nathalia, and Kari all receive 1 token each, to be redeemed in Ashwin's Shoppe.
This will automatically be added to your recorded totals in the shoppe.
Congratulations, and keep up the good RP!
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