Welcome to Gaia! ::

"It's a boy." Joshua was there to keep his 'aunt' company while his mother was busy thinking of ways for Risa and her crush to meet up. Thali was determined to help them along. Of course, Risa knew nothing of this. Josh planned to keep it that way. He knew what fae could do when angered.

When the child had caught sight of the cabbage, and asked Risa what she thought it would be, she could only respond with the typical 'We'll see when the time comes.' She watched as her nephew frowned, seemed to focus and stare at the cabbage.

"It's obviously a boy, auntie. Can't you tell?" He asked with a tilt of his head and a frown. He could easily tell that the child within was male. Why couldn't she?

Risa could only shake her head. How could this child tell? She saw an ordinary though overgrown cabbage, with no especial scent. Maybe it was wishful thinking. Yeah, that was it. Joshua had just gotten two baby sisters, maybe he had decided he didn't want anymore female relatives.

"You never know Josh, it could be a girl." She said cheerfully. She was surpised when the boy shook his head.

"He's a boy." He said firmly. "It's just like when I told mom the twins would be girls. And they are." Risa opened her mouth to argue, to say that it had been a lucky guess. That was before she remembered something Ben had mentioned a few weeks before. He had confessed that he didn't believe that his oldest was quite.. what was the word he used for it? Normal?

Now Risa knew why he'd said that. Josh, was not, in any sense of the word, normal.

It was Easter morning (Not that Risa paid attention to Christian holidays.) when Risa awoke to find that something strange was starting to happen. She had fallen asleep reading to the cabbage, of all things. More recently she had been using it as an outlet because she really was, just a lonely fae.

She sat up reluctantly, and stretched. Her eyes flickered open, and she carefully hid her yawn with a hand. Her eyes quickly fell to the coffee table in habit, the blue green orbs widened in surprise. The cabbage was wilting! Was it something she'd done? Or forgotten to do? How had she messed up? She'd followed Thali's instructions like one keeps to the Bible. ..But no. She had been told to watch for something like this. It was.. Opening? Hadn't Ben said something like this would happen? She stared as the leaves continued to fold back until they revealed an infant.

An infant! She picked the small child up from his cabbage bed, and held him close to her chest. He was the size of an average one year old, his checkered cape wrapped around him like a blanket. His hat covered most of his strawberry blonde hair--his eyes were shut tight. He was sleeping soundly.

Risa smiled, and leaned back against the couch. This was one gift she'd always remember. Thali had given her life, and now she'd given her a child. The fae knew there was no way she could repay her. That didn't mean she wouldn't try.

Oh yes, she would try. The princess had granted her a son in her time of need. A son. And Risa was determined that they'd be just as good of a mother son duo as Thali and Josh were.

Can you do this?

RP In progress.
As usual, I'm in black, Marina is in green.

"A kitten? Really?" Miles had consistantly bothered his mother for a pet for around a week. And Risa, always one to want to make people happy, had finally agreed.

"Really." Risa said with a nod. She handed the toddler a small, blue kitten. It curled into a ball on his lap and purred. "Her name's Sora." The fae said with a smile. "I have another surprise for you, tomorrow." She added, teasingly. "You'll have to wait and see."

"Sora." Miles repeated. "Nice name." Risa got the feeling he was talking to the kitten rather than to her. "Thank you," He added, looking up at her. He didn't have to say more, the fae could see the graditude in his eyes. Why he didn't go for his mother's teasing was beyond the fae.

She had guessed he'd been lonely. He'd needed a pet--that or a sibling. Risa wasn't planning on adopting another child until she was settled--meaning, until she had found 'Mr. Right'. She would set up playdates with Zemel--the boys really seemed to get along. And maybe Miles could get to know his cousins better.

Then, maybe he wouldn't be feeling the only child syndrome. He needed friends.

"But you said..." Miles said, staring in amazement. There was his mother, the fae who had vowed not to bring home another child until marriage, holding an infant. An infant, of all things; a green one. And a girl!

"I know what I said." Risa said with a slight frown. "But she needed us. And you need a sister." The fae said this with such conviction that the toddler didn't argue. He just nodded.

"She's diff-er-ent though." He said, peering curiously at the new baby. "Why's she green?" He asked. He'd never seen a green person before.

"Why do you have blonde hair?" Risa asked. "Why are my ears pointed? Everyone's different." She explained. "I suppose she's green because she was born that way. She can't help the way she is." She tapped the toddler on the nose. "Just like we can't help the way we are."

'But why's she green?' Miles couldn't help wondering. 'Green like a plant?' "Mom, where'd you get her anyway?" He asked, trying to sound both polite and interested.

"I don't know, exactly." Risa said, frowning slightly. "She was left on our doorstep. She needs us. So she's staying."

She needs us. Miles looked at the infant again. She was different, but his mom was right. She needed them. Whatever color she was, she was an infant. And being green made you pretty cool--right?

At least, it made you magical. Or an alien.

Risa shrugged again. "Unseelie." She provided. "I gathered that you were fae, otherwise Thali wouldn't have paid you so much attention. She's always been like that." She paused. "My mother was unseelie. The reason I have a temper."

"Not all unseelie have a temper, you know." Matth said calmly, looking amused. "You're rather perceptive, aren't you?" He took a couple bites of his food, already half-way done. "So, what do you know about my 'kind'?" he asked, his tone interested.

Risa shrugged. "I've never met one who didn't. Rather frightening, when angered." She said, before grinning. "I suppose that is what Vate thinks of me." She paused, and looked thoughtful. "I don't know about perceptive. I know Thali well--much easier to get along with than the rest of her family." Another pause. "I don't know much about your kind, persay. I have never met a fae quite like you. Never one that caught my interest."

Matth chuckled. Frightening; that was one way to put it, he supposed. "I take it that you frighten Vate?" He chuckled, amused at the thought. He listened to her politely, toying with the remainder of his food. "Ah...I see..." was all he managed to say in response.

"I did, once." Risa said, sounding rather regretful. "He's never really recovered. It's not very easy--frightening Averi's top assasin." She paused. "Tell me more about yourself."

Matthias paused. "Assassin....?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. That little elf, an assassin? Now that was laughable. He paused, then shrugged. "Not much to tell, really. I live over in Aekea, I like painting and writing, and I'm fond of literature."

"Yeah, the best." Risa said with a nod. "Surprising, I know. He's... what's the word, mellowed since he met Stasia." She paused and smiled. "Aekea?" She repeated. "I've never been there--never really been outside of Barton, until now. Oh, you write?" She asked, genuinely curious. "What do you like writing about?"

Matthias really doubted that, but he kept his mouth shut. "Aekea's a pretty interesting place; never a dull moment there." he said, smiling. "And yes, I write. I usually write historical fiction and poetry, with the occasional horror novel."

"I should visit sometime then--Barton's rather slow. Nothing interesting happens there. It's too bright." She said. "Horror novels are always interesting." She said with a smile and a nod. "I prefer fantasy myself. I don't seem to be able to write much else."

"I'm sure plenty of things happen there, if you scratch the surface." Matthias said. He didn't argue on the 'too bright' point, though; damnable sun. "Fantasy, eh? Hm. Never tried to write it myself, though it does make for interesting reading."

Risa shook her head. "Even the shop keepers are..what's the word? Boring. Rina's always wanting to pick flowers, and Ian's always talking about his cat." She smiled. "Maybe I'll let you read some of mine--if you like."

Matthias chuckled. "Perhaps, but they can still carry interesting conversations if you give them the chance." he countered. "That'd be nice. I'll let you read some of mine, if you wish to read them. They aren't published works or anything, though."

Risa shrugged. "Maybe I'm too judgemental. I always try to be kind, and listen. But unless I'm interested in what they're saying.. My eyes get all glossy, and I stare. Like Thali when she's doing math." She said, with a sheepish grin. "But yes, I'd love to see your work." She smiled. "Mine isn't up to publishing standards, either."

The dark-haired one chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't we all do that, though?" he pointed out. "Hm, we'll do a literature switch, then. That ought to be rather entertaining."

Risa gave another smile. "I suppose so." She said, taking a bite of pasta, and swallowing. "That'd be fun. Maybe you could come to my place, and we could do it there." She offered. "Maybe bring Aife along? I'm sure Miles would like to meet her."

Matthias thought a moment. "That would be nice." he said after a moment of thought. "Aife does need to meet more people....Miles is a friend of yours?" He had no idea that Risa had a child; none what so ever.

"I don't have many friends--Miles is my son." Risa said with a smile. "Thali sent me a cabbage, telling me to take care of it. She 'forgot' to mention that said cabbage held a child within it--I have to remember to thank her."
"I didn't know you had a son." Matth said, looking surprised. He then chuckled. "At least I warned Stasia when I gave her a cabbage." he said, chuckling at the memory.

Risa just smiled. "Eventually Ben told me, just before it opened. Thali'd been worried about me, seeing as I didn't know anyone. Thought I'd be lonely."

The man listened, shaking his head. That was no reason to give someone a child! That was so....irresponsible! Well, at least Risa seemed to have a some-what-level head on her shoulders. "Well, atleast you were informed before he was born."

"Yes--I had time to prepare." Risa said with a nod and a smile. "I'll always be grateful to the Princess--I needed someone around the house. It is... rather difficult to get back to socializing after being exiled for so long."

"Exiled?" What on Gaia was she talking about? "Care to explain?" He asked, folding his hands on the table next to his plate.

"Lynwood." Risa said with a slight frown. "You know the stories--if you weren't there. The king ruled that every fae was to leave the kingdom..our family didn't leave. We were found hundreds of years later--by a toddler. The current king allowed us to stay for a while, as motivation for his daughter to stay. She didn't--so we were exiled."

"I don't believe I've heard of that." Matthias said, his tone calm. "Then again, I've never really paid much attention to the affairs of so-called 'kingdoms'." Which wasn't the complete truth; he'd heard bits and pieces about this Lynwood place. And he definitely didn't like what he heard.

Risa looked surprised. She'd never met a fae who hadn't heard of Lynwood before. "Oh.. Well.. You're lucky to not have heard of it." She said with a nod. "The only thing good that's ever come out of it--well, is the Princess."

"You have a high opinion of Thali, I take it?" Matth asked, his tone calm. Why else would she call her princess? He highly doubted that the girl was royalty; she surely didn't act like it...

"I practicially raised her." Risa said with a shrug. "Her parents weren't very kind back then--tried locking her in a room. I saved her. Luckily, the little Prince doesn't have to deal with that."

Matth just nodded, listening. "They are not getting parent of the year." he said, making an attempt at a contemporary joke and failing. Prince? Well, maybe she called all children pet names like that.

"I don't believe any king or queen of Lynwood has." Risa stated, though she smiled at Matth's attempt to joke. It didn't suit him. "Things have gotten better since Davian was born. I've never met the Prince myself--but apparently he's the polar opposite of Thali."

Matthias paused. "Wait....you mean actual royalty?" Obviously, they were on different pages here. He figured Davian had to be Thali's brother, so he didn't bother asking Risa that. But still, actual royalty, in this day and age?[

Risa was surprised by his question. "Yeah. I thought the Princess had explained to you--never mind. You have heard of Lynwood, haven't you? Rumors?"

Matthoas shrugged. "I might have. It's been a while; I could be thinking of a different place." he said dismissively. He toyed with his now-empty plate, and was almost finished with his drink.

Risa took the final bite of pasta, swallowed and said, "It's buried deep in the woods. Hard to find if you've never been there. Used to be two giant adders who'd attack any elf that dared leave."

Matthias snickered, but otherwise didn't say anything. He stood up, pushing his chair in. "This has been interesting." he said, not thinking of how it sounded. "I must be going, though."

Risa stood up as well. "It's been nice getting to know you better." She said with a smile. "I'm glad we had the oppurtunity to talk." Interesting? Was that all it'd been? Not fun?

Matthias offered a small smile. "As am I." he said, gathering their plates to take up. To him, interesting and fun were two exchangeable words, meaning nearly the same thing.

Risa followed Matth, and shyly tapped him on the shoulder. "Um." She started, "I was just wondering.. do you want to do this again sometime? It was fun and... It's okay if you don't."

Matthias paused, thinking about it. He knew it wouldn't be that good of an idea, but what could it hurt. "Sure, I do not see why not." he said, offering her a small smile.

Risa was surprised, she'd half expected him to say no. "Thursday sound good to you?" She asked. "Or are you busy?"

Risa had been thinking this week's events. Well, one event in particular. The so called date with Matth. The fae still couldn't get over the fact that he had agreed to meet her again. She'd been worried that he didn't like her.

When Miles was informed of this, he merely gave his mother an amused look. "He likes you." He said it so matter of factly that Risa had to wonder if the boy knew something she didn't. Nah. He was just trying to reassure her.

"Nah, I don't think he does--" The fae started. "He---" She was interrupted.

"Will he make you happy?" Miles asked, looking up at his mother. "Will he make your wish come true?"

Risa stared at her son for a long while. She nodded. How'd he know what her wish was? And how'd he know...? How did he know?

Miles offered her a smile. "Then, he has my approval." He said it with an authority Risa had never heard him use before. "As long as he doesn't hurt you." He told her sternly. "If he does, I've claimed the right to hurt him."

The fae was silent for a long time. Then she did something particularly Thalish. She giggled. He son frowned at her.

"I haven't said anything funny." He said.

The fae had to take several deep breaths before she could speak. "You..." she started, her expression told Miles she was trying hard not to laugh. "Don't worry." She said, suddenly serious. "I haven't been broken yet."