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 Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:45 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Yes, it was... a dark time for their family. Uquin would have resented these ears regardless of when they decided to appear, but to have it happen now when his wife and child were suffering felt ... like an insult to their pain. For HIM to receive a blessing, when they were the ones to have nearly died. He decided not to speak of those worries with his grandson though - frank though he may be with his children and their children, he was still a father and didn't want to put any more weight on them than he already had.
"That you came to show your support is already a kindness." Uquin pointed out. Yes, he'd asked for family to come, but was to gather the strength of their family together in this moment. "No one is asking you to... fix anything. Family bonds are their own gift in times like this."
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:47 pm
[9]
"...When you left for Belrea I wanted to keep you here." He twiddled his thumb around the base of the teacup, occasionally smoothing it over the curl of the handle. "I hated the thought of you leaving because it felt like you'd made a new family with better people. I knew ours wasn't....perfect-" Eurig shrugged, "-but I always knew that no matter what happened you would always be in Tale. That even if I was seperated from everyone else you would be there and then you just...weren't."
When he looked up there was a frankness in his eyes. No resentment, no anger or bitter betrayal; just a blunt, open honesty that mirrored Eurig's internalized struggles.
"Between you leaving and mom traveling I got angry. For a lot longer than I should have." Eurig took a deep breath to steady himself. "Hearing that your grandfather had children with someone around your own age through a letter hurts, but not as much as knowing you were hurting too."
He set the tea cup to the side and looked back to his grandfather. "The next time I saw you you'd gotten back with Maritza and there was just this...light in you I hadn't seen before. I wanted to protect that, even if it meant letting you go and when I heard what happened to her I was scared. Scared for her, of course, and Isaia, but also for you. And I know that's selfish but I thought that if the worst happened we wouldn't just lose two people in this family but three and that's stupid but I just...."
Eurig let out a huff, unaware of the moisture that had collected in his too tired eyes.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 3:02 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Uquin's eyes shot to Eurig's face, confused for a brief moment before realization hit him. He sat back a bit, setting his cup down so he could give Eurig his full attention. It was... tempting to try and speak up, to interject, because - well. He knew his family wasn't pleased with his move, Ujana had made that more than clear and Padma's own kicked puppy reaction had been its own kind of agony. But he'd believed his grandchildren were fine, surrounded by plenty of family - that having their grandfather hanging over them wasn't necessary. He'd missed them terribly, but admittedly had let time fly by as he focused on rebuilding his healing career in Belrea, and raising his younger children.
Did Eurig truly fear being separated from his parents and siblings? He only had to consider it for a moment before he scolded himself for his naivete - because Ujana had, just like him, found a new wife and made a 'new' family too. Did Eurig see it that way?
"Eurig..." Uquin said his name, putting as much feeling into that single word as he could, as he gazed intently at his grandson. His eldest grandson, who ought to have been coddled but instead had been overlooked by his grandfather, a self reliant, capable boy as he was.-
It was a bit of a reach, but Uquin managed to clasp his hands around where Eurig's were clutching the teacup, his thumbs rubbing awkward, reassuring circles against his wrist. "I know I caused our family a great deal of pain, and... while I would never take back Maritza or the life we have, I do regret... making you feel abandoned, and left behind. You're my family, and I should have done better by you when you needed me most." He drew in a shaken breath, eyes shining as he gazed at his grandson. "I wouldn't leave you behind. If... if Maritza had been lost, it would be one of the most painful things I could ever experience. When your grandmother... was gone, I lost myself and missed so much of your mother and aunt's lives because of it - I could never make that mistake again."
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 3:37 pm
[10]
His siblings had never known what it was like to be split between two countries. They were hybrids, but somehow Ika and Ujiri had lived a much more stable life in Jauhar than Eurig ever could have hoped. He tried, had done his best to adjust to all the changes, and when it became too much he just left. Like everyone else.
But that hadn't fixed anything and now he'd come back.
"Don't - I'm - " Eurig closed his eyes, took a deep breath through his nose and released it on an unsteady exhale. "I don't hate that you left; not anymore. Not if it made you happy." Acknowledging that didn't assuage the ache, but it did make it easier to bear. He very nearly looked down when Uquin got closer, but Eurig made himself bring his eyes up to meet Uquin's. That singular eye that was so very like his own.
Hearing that he wouldn't lose him, even if Maritza had been lost...Eurig was ashamed to admit how relieved that made him. "I'm glad she's still here, though." He murmured. Describing how Eurig felt about Maritza and the children she'd birthed was complicated, but Eurig could safely say he didn't feel malice toward the woman. He was genuinely glad both she and Isaia had lived through this. Even if they were marked for life.
Eurig cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter. "Sorry - don't know what's got into me. Guess I'm a little more tired than I thought."
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 3:44 pm
[Scar via Discord / Fin]
Uquin's lips twitched up into a grudging little smile, and he squeezed Eurig's hands before letting go. "Me too. And... I'm glad you came. I've missed you, kid." He reached up to lightly rap a knuckle against Eurig's forehead, then shuffled back to his original seat. "Besides, hearing that you took over the tavern? I've got to come visit and see what you've done to the place."
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