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 Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:18 pm
Life after Callum’s awakening was certainly unique. Getting attention from the populace was both a boon to his performances and a liability to his personal health. Perhaps if he were anywhere other than Yael it wouldn’t have been as much of a challenge, but as it was Callum could have been a walking curse to these people. His pale physique and propensity for sheer material already placed him as a beacon among the throng of darkened forms, but now…Well, he didn’t stand a chance.
”Just decorations, friend! Accessories for the dance.”
If they knew the feathers were attached he’d be lynched.
Not every yaeli was as superstitious as he’d thought. There were several locals who’d accepted their family into their fold and made life on Yael comfortable. So much so that Callum was able to comfortably watch as their kids went off to explore on their own and…the realization that they were old enough to do that hit him like a punch to the gut.
He was a grandfather, four times over even, but…it just didn’t settle as well.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:19 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Nimueh wasn't sure why they'd decided to go to Yael, other than the fact they'd been in Matori for years by then and were stir crazy, yet unwilling to travel through Oba once again. They'd been stationary long enough that their younger children almost saw Matori as their home, so it was definitely a ... change. Morain seemed to wilt a bit under the changes, and if Nim was honest he worried their son would float off and disappear one of these days.
And knowing that could happen, any time, was... a lot.
Unlike Callum, he had no feathers or other strange pieces. And... strangely, they were close enough to the extremist settlement that the people, while wary of his aishan heritage, weren't as unused to it as other settlements had been.
... He wondered if his 'aunt' was still here, somewhere. "Well. At least we have our space." He said to Callum, gesturing vaguely to the crowd that gave them a rather wide berth.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:20 pm
As worried as he was that Morain would seep into the earth at any moment, Callum also grew concerned over Siel. The boys naturally flamboyant attitude didn’t catch on as well with the more drab, reserved yaeli as it had in Matori and while girls were certainly interested enough to look he often found his son just…meandering. Looking off at places that Morain should have been, picking up chores around camp, practicing his craft…It was practically unheard of for the boy to be that attentive.
“Sound a little more excited about it. If I had shoulders like yours, I would be.” He knocked into his husband’s side with a little smile. As hard as the adjustment had been Yael was entirely bad, and Callum was determined to keep it that way.
“Since we have some time to ourselves I wanted to get your opinion on a few things.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:21 pm
[Scar via Discord]
By all accounts, they probably shouldn't be staying in Yael with how cold the reception had been. But the place was just... interesting. Nim enjoyed it, he liked the unique geography, the mists, the trees - the strange soil. It was intriguing, and enjoying this new place with his husband and children was lovely. Considering how crowded Matori had become, with so many people trying to enjoy the sun and beaches, this place had more space - and it was easier than he was used to to find somewhere to stay.
Nim snorted softly, and lightly bumped his shoulder into Callum's in turn, idly stroking his fingers a bit over some of the feathers that sprouted from his collarbones. It was... still strange, but he'd become fond of it. "Hmm? Opinion of what?" He asked, distractedly. He assumed his husband would suggest leaving Yael, as they'd been here a few weeks already.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:22 pm
It was impossible not to give in to a little hum when his feathers were messed with. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling; just a new one that he wasn’t quite sure how to adjust to. “Two things, really.” In moments like these Callum honestly wished one of them had a womb so he wouldn’t have to go about asking, but then again he really enjoyed what they already had so… “How would you feel about having more kids?”
As they walked he looked up at Nim, no longer sneaking looks after broaching heavier subjects. They were long past the dodgy stage now, and at least around his husband Callum was comfortable enough to speak his mind.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:22 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Maybe, when he was younger, the question would have taken him off guard. But, as startled as he was, he didn't come to a sudden stop or do a double take or anything as dramatic as that. Instead, he just made a noise to show he'd heard him, then fell silent. It... was a lot. To realize his husband wanted kids again. Why else would he ask?
A lot of days, Nimueh felt ... old. The prospect of his children being old enough to leave was... a heavy one, but one he felt more prepared for after Ygraine and Sol. With his younger three children, he felt more... fulfilled in how they'd been raised. There were more memories, more happy ones at that, no regrets other than the fact their childhood was over, and clearly they were starting to want to branch out, and leave the nest.
He was sad it was over. "You said two things." He reminded, without answering the first question, still wanting a moment to compose his thoughts.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:23 pm
Callum’s eyes occasionally drifted to the yaeli as they passed and found himself smiling when a younger woman greeted him with one. He’d found the younger generations far more accepting of foreigners with all their eccentricities which was lovely for his children. A part of him was jealous it hadn’t happened years earlier, but that really couldn’t be helped.
“Ah, yes, I did. The second subject was the topic of a surrogate. I may have already found one.” Catching himself, Callum raised his hands and added, “I haven’t brought it up to her or talked about anything so there’s no pressure. I’ve been speaking with Azusa regularly and she’s offered to help a few couples in the past.” The woman in question lived closer to Zinris than most yaeli because her partner happened to be an Elarian. “She genuinely enjoys pregnancy and we share surrogacy stories.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:24 pm
[Scar Via Discord]
Goddess, but Nimueh loved Callum. He loved that, after so long, his own blunt manner of speaking didn't affect the man, or make him withdraw or doubt himself. Nimueh, thankfully, had never had to struggle through life to find a partner who would accept his peculiarities, he was... incredibly lucky to have found Callum early in his life. And they'd only grown together, more and more, as the years wore on. Like a tree's roots intertwining with a rocky crag.
Nimueh's eyes did sharpen the slightest bit, looking at his husband when he brought up a surrogate. He wasn't... jealous by nature. If he was, then their relationship never would have worked, as his husband... while his alone in his heart, was more liberal with his physicality. He didn't mind it, even if it meant Callum's family tree was quite... spread.
But... a child with one? This must have been what Callum felt, when Nimueh suggested Odeya as a surrogate. "... I'm not opposed. To more children." He said softly, his hand reaching up to trace one silver curl on his husband's neck. "We're much older now. Grandfathers. You're willing to go through this, all over again? With me?" (edited)
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:25 pm
Callum’s smile softened a touch. “Young grandfathers, as strange as that is. We have some time before your hair starts to look like mine.” As rough as the time around their elder children’s birth had been it had been relatively early in their own lives. It was a decision that both Sol and Ygraine themselves were making, which was exciting to see and a little heart breaking. The last time he’d seen his grandsons he couldn’t help seeing Ygraine’s chubby little hands reaching up for him.
Reaching for Nimueh’s other hand, Callum gave what he hoped was a comforting squeeze. “I am, but um…Now that you say it like that I might have three topics. I’d like it to be you; like with Odeya.” There was a certain gravity to saying it that settled in Callum’s stomach. He still wasn’t entirely comfortable with how things had happened last time, even if it was necessary to having their beautiful children. It was…strange how he could be so free with his own physicality and yet when it came to his husband he became so salty.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:26 pm
[Scar Via Discord]
Young grandfathers. Was there such a thing? Nim laughed softly, shaking his head. But then Callum took his hand and kept talking, and now he paused, eyes widening. Just like that, the nervousness he'd felt abated. Yes, the... process was unpleasant, as he'd come to learn he was thoroughly apathetic to the female form, and he was awkward enough with people to find it a strain... and he did still worry that Callum would find that same discomfort. He was also... strangely disappointed that he couldn't hope for a child that would have Callum's pretty eyes, or fluffy hair.
"You are still... opposed to fathering children?" Purposefully. As he'd thought before, they both sort of silently accepted the fact that there were likely plenty of children in the world wearing his husband's features.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:29 pm
“It’s not that I’m opposed to it, exactly…” They both knew that Callum had no qualms with giving himself to others. In hard times he’d done so quite freely so long as Nimueh was consenting, but this was another matter entirely. There was such a mental divide in his mind that even the thought of siring children himself brought down Callum’s mood.
“I am just…entirely opposed to it.” Closing his eyes, Callum let out sigh. Chi, was he so easy to read? “I could if you’d rather not, but I still have my worries.” No amount of earned confidence could replace years of self-degradation. He’d long since accepted that part of himself, no matter how much he wished it were different, but that feeling was mitigated when he’d raised children that weren’t his by blood. They felt safer that way; blessed, in a sense.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:30 pm
[Scar via Discord]
To that, Nim raised a brow, waiting for Callum to continue. But... instead he seemed to wilt a bit under the realization. It was a topic not frequently brought up, not for... many many years, after all. Nimueh considered admitting that he would have liked more children with Callum's features, but ... he understood his husband enough, could ready his frame and the sudden tension in it, well enough to recognize that it wouldn't quite make up for the discomfort Callum would feel.
"No, love. I won't put you in that position." He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, brushing a few locks of his curls behind his ear. "And I am not against Azusa either, although - ah. If she didn't agree - we could take a leaf out of Sol's book, perhaps, and..." Adopt?
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:20 am
Something as simple as a forehead kiss never failed to warm Callum’s spirit. Before Nimueh he’d never known stability and while his grandmother had always tried to be a steady presence in his life even she’d failed to give him what he really needed. Nimueh was always there, even when he really should have gone, and it was for that reason alone that Callum felt comfortable expanding their family.
“We’ll just have to ask her. I think the only way she would be against it is if someone else approached her first, but she hasn’t mentioned anyone.” But she maybe she wouldn’t have? Their talks may have been frequent enough to pass information, but it wasn’t as if they were close. “Adoption? We could…just maybe not on Yael. They barely tolerate us as it is.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:21 am
[Scar Via Discord]
He loved this man, so much. And... that Callum wanted to continue their family meant the world to him, even if he'd been cautious about it minutes before. Now, he just grasped his hand, twining their fingers together, nodding along. Yes. They'd have to ask, and... that meant that this, potentially, could happen soon - within the year, if they hurried. While their older children were still around.
Would they all leave then, knowing they wouldn't be leaving their fathers alone? Or would they stay, and they could be a proper community together - the family they'd made together?
"Yes, I can imagine. The large, and the feathered boogeymen are stealing the babies." He said, lowering his voice dramatically, a playful smirk rising onto his face.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:22 am
What he failed to mention to Nimueh was that all the children Azusa had carried up til that point had been pureblood yaeli. The way Callum saw it was that if she was partnered to an Aishan then surely she was open-minded enough to try? In the past they had gone for surrogates who more closely resembled aspects of one another, but now Callum valued a connection more than anything. Someone he could feel comfortable with his husband being around was key.
And Azusa seemed to fill that role.
Callum couldn’t help the snort that slipped out. “Beware! They’ll steal their souls in the night and turn the bodies into birds!” He shifted his tone into that of an old crone, complete with a cackle that drew attention from passerbys.
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