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 Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:29 pm
Zi was surprised by his brother's reaction and became silent. He had never once thought that his nieces didn't think their cubs needed fathers. He had just considered it unfortunate that they wouldn't be raised in a whole family but happy for them that they could experience the joys of raising a little one of their own. "Manny, I don't think..." He lost his voice again, closed his mouth. What could he really say to that?
"You're a good father. You did what you could for them. And you still do." He looked up at his brother uncertainly, but maintained the gaze this time. He also wasn't usually so supportive, but the occasion was definitely calling for it in this circumstance. "Maybe they're comfortable with their situations because they know they have family to fall back on. And a father who could teach them that... That's a good dad, I think." Even if he wasn't the touchy feely type, Zi had always put a lot of stock in family ties and the importance of them.
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Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:51 pm
Manny wanted to be argued with, to be told he was being ridiculous, and Zi's hesitation didn't make him feel any better- if anything, it made him feel worse. He wanted to be told he was ridiculous but he wasn't sure it would change what he thought about it. He listened, frowning, as Zi offered a.. reasonable explanation, a hopeful one. He didn't like the idea of disagreeing that family was important, he loved his family, all of it.. it was just trickier than that.
"I guess," he muttered, though not sounding completely convinced, "This just isn't how I wanted things to work out."
He sighed.
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Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:05 pm
Zi was doing the best he could. He was being honest with Manny, and speaking his mind. It was more than he'd done with any of his siblings since they were young and the only thing that mattered was which one got to sleep on top of the pile of fur. He stayed silent while his brother spoke partially out of respect and partially because he was at a complete loss for words now.
Eventually, he sighed as well. He'd been doing that a lot lately. It was a habit he wasn't happy with. "If there's one thing life's taught me, it's that things don't work out how we want them to." He was referring to many things. Their mother's sudden abandonment, his lack of fatherhood, his lack of a mate... His lack of everything... And of course the way Manny saw his life playing out. "It seems so far, though... that it hasn't killed me to not get it." They were tough words for him to say, considering his longing for a family of his own. He felt, though, that it needed to be said. It was as comforting as he could get. There were plenty of better ways to put it, but it just wasn't in him.
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Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:09 pm
Manny didn't have anything else to say now, he just listened to his brother try to be comforting and stayed quiet. After a long silence, he sighed again.
"Well, don't do anything stupid," he said, looking back at Zi and wondering if he might actually actively seek out the kind of situation Manny had accidentally gotten himself into, "If you're desperate, you could ask Shani. She set up Enzi and Kafara, you know. Maybe she'd find someone who could put up with you."
He smiled, though it wavered. It took a lot of effort to be cheerful after all of that. They could hide behind a joke and pretend it never happened, though, if that was more comfortable for them.
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Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:24 pm
Though he smirked at Manny's joke, his wheels started turning. He should go see Shani. He'd never thought to ask anyone about this before. After all, he hadn't even brought up that it was bothering him until he'd gotten sucked into the moment here. He was doubting his ability to actually approach his step-mother about something like this. But... maybe she could help. He was sure she'd keep quiet about it if he asked. Well, as quiet as you can while you're trying to find someone. This definitely needed more consideration.
He wasn't sure how to handle their conversation, either, but he knew he couldn't just laugh it up and move on. He stayed rather mellow, not having much else to say. "I won't do anything stupid." He nodded and winked with some effort, and almost said 'like you'. That was a bit too jokey for the situation.
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