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 Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:15 pm
Cedric had a point. If there was one thing in the world Edmund feared his Lord mightn't be able to attain victory over... it was likely children. His own, at least, and the Children's Crusade as a blinding example.
"I shan't ask for advice on diaper changing," Edmund shook his head slowly, "It is... a question of upbringing, in a way that is right and proper." He paused and considered for a moment how to broach the subject. Mordred, he knew, would follow Edmund's lead when it came to the children... but there was vast opportunity for misunderstanding (or simply total lack of understanding) to be wrought from the populace at large. Which was why, of course, he had singled out Cecric from the rabble.
"What was... customary, in the raising of a child in your court?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:51 pm
Well. This was curious. Cedric picked up Alex a bit as he crossed one leg over the other, and then thought about it. "I suppose...it depended on their gender, of course. And rank. Girls were kept at court more often than not, save for a few years learning under the local priestess. As for boys...well, unless you were a prince, one would be sent to live at a neighboring kingdom from the age of about 10, until they were of age, at least 20. It fostered realtionships between kingdoms, kept them from arguing, for the most part. As an added bonus..." He smirked. "Older courtiers weren't threatened by younger ones that were familiar with their court." He paused. "Why do you ask?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 5:33 pm
Little waves of satisfaction lapped at the shore of Edmund's mind, eroding what had seemed a daunting issue into a mere question. "I ask, Cedric, because I have been of late quite baffled as to how to conduct such an upbringing. It seems odd, perhaps, to wish to raise children in such a way when kingdoms are of no consequence... but there are advantages to the tradition that I am loath to abandon, should the opportunity arise."
He smiled, somewhat ruefully, "It has, as is clear by my continued concern, not arisen as yet."
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:42 pm
"I see." Cedric imagined that there were very few people who WOULD understand where Edmund was coming from. But he did. There were no courts, but entrusting your children to someone else's care required a strong bond, and would most likely form an even stronger one as time went on.
...And yes, he was certainly one of those few.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:40 pm
"And thus, bereft of a solution... I sought you ought, in hopes that you might find, if not an answer to this plight, the beginnings of one," Edmund's shoulders rolled into an elegant shrug and he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees and chin perched on interlocked fingers.
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:47 am
He had an idea. Or rather...he had an idea of what Edmund's ideal answer would be. Or...well. In any event. He thought he knew what the coon wanted. "Perhaps you should come back to the apartment with me and meet the other two terrors." He...actually smirked, answering in a round-about way. "We can brainstorm on the way?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:37 pm
And here was absolute proof that he liked Cedric. Not that he merely approved of the angel's upbringing and ingrained nature, but that he respected the man's intelligence. No further weaving required. Not that this was cue to be blunt - nor that Edmund was ever blunt, but from this point forward... There would be no need for wordplay. Somewhat.
"If you do request it, and it should prove survivable... I would most gladly ascend to the field of 'battle' with you, my friend," Edmund stood with a flourish of hand and bow. "What terror there may be cannot stand against two men of courage."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:54 am
Cedric smiled at the flourish in Edmund's words and gestures, shifting Alex another time so that he could stand back up. "Indeed, let us go." There was something self-mocking in his speech, but he seemed pleased. He was quite glad to have found a friend in the coon.
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Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:06 am
 By his count, he'd been left with Arthur and the four boys for well over an hour. Or two. Maybe less. It wasn't like he'd had time to look at the clock! It had been perfectly fine while the boys had been asleep. It had even been fine when they'd started waking up. The problems had arisen when it had become time to actually deal with awake, screaming little terrors.
Given, they weren't all screaming. Or terrors. But they were awake, and the were little. Too little to be trained with the sword, according to Edmund.
...and there were FOUR of them. Mordred knew he couldn't handle this after Arthur started laughing, so the angel did the only thing he could think of. He mangaged, barely, to grab all four of them and soar out the window towards the sense of Edmund.
Spotting his mate on the bench, Mordred swept down gratefully-- trying to ignore the fact that Damocles was clawing at his arm, trying to get down. "Edmund! Edmund, there are FOUR. You said to hold them, but I only have two arms!"
True, Edmund was with someone. But surely they'd understand. There were FOUR of them.
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Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:05 pm
...What terror there is has seemed to strike at the fear of the Lord of War himself, however. Perhaps we will not be so fortunate.
While the typical feeling aroused in Edmund at the sight of his mate was something derived of pride and devotion, at the moment all he could manage to muster up was a vague mixture of surprise, amusement... and a little bit of disappointment. Surely, this side of Mordred might be more personable and thus appealing to Cedric, but... oh, but nothing. While it wasn't the intoxicating, powerful image he had at first been so enamored with, it was doubtless still his Lord.
"Cedric..." he inclined his head towards his friend, "This is my Lord Mordred, and our..." he trailed off, counting small heads and coming up with... "....My Lord, where is Castor?" For he could count three of four, red-eyed Damocles, Roderick who seemed such an image of Edmund himself, quiet Perseus but... That little red-haired brat was nowhere to be seen. No chance of letting that one go without his own watchful eye.
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Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 4:35 am
To be perfectly honest, Cedric was still a bit intimdated. Those man's eyes... there was something...not quite right.
...But yes. It was mostly eclipsed by the honestly comical sight that Mordred posed, with three...the number seemed vaguely off, but he was too suprised at the entrance to take note...children in his arms, frantically seeking his mate. Of course, it really wouldn't be polite to express such amusement - and said amusement was somewhat lessened by sympathy for the fellow angel's position - in light of the fact that this was Edmund's honored Lord, and mate. Thusly, someone he did not want to make angry, for fear that his friend would follow suit.
His sense of formality was such that he would have bowed, had he not had a sleeping - ...Ah, perhaps not sleeping, the red-haired beauty of a child was blinking his eyes sleepily - child in his lap. "It's an honor to meet you," the angel was murmuring, when the revelation was made. Cedric's lips pursed - the instantaneous paternal response being to mentally check that his two were still wehre they were supposed to be - and he glanced from one to the other, not being able to offer any advice or assistance at the present time.
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Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:07 pm
Castor... Castor... which one was-- oh! That one was Castor! "He's right..." Mordred glanced about as he thought about it-- oh!! That's where it--he--baby was! Placing the other three down on the ground, Mordred reached to his back-- there, nestled within the Lord of War's powerful wings, slept Castor. Sort of slept. He'd been kind of sleeping. "...here!" Mordred presented the aforementioned child with some pride.
Noting Cedric about then, Mordred placed the boy on the ground with his brothers and took in the other angel. Not particularly threatening. But someone... of some standing. In past lives, War had come across creatures like Cedric. Many, many creatures like Cedric. Useful creatures.
Something shifted drastically within Mordred after the children were removed from him. He seemed to stand a bit taller; his eyes flashed with an inner dark brilliance, flaming with the depths of hell as he smiled slightly-- a smile that had seen millions of men, women, and children destroyed. "A pleasure."
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Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:46 pm
Resisting the urge to clap a hand over his eyes - for what would the use of mere meaningless gesture be? Mordred would only be flustered and he would lose precious time in ensuring the children's immobility - Edmund gave his Lord a cursory look before scooping up the now stirring Castor and directing a cautionary look at Roderick - he didn't particularly fear the other two boys wandering off.
"My Lord," he murmured, somewhere between a warning and mere notice, "If you remember the predicament that had clouded my mind of late... Cedric and I hoped to discuss the situation further in his home."
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Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:25 am
...Ah. And now Cedric's impression of the other angel was significantly less...amusing. As a prince, the change was seemingly taken all in stride - no outward flinch or cowering, though Cedric could only hold Mordred's gaze for a few moments before he politely looked away.
Inwardly, he wondered just who this man that his friend had mated...was. He was frightening, in all honesty, although in a manner that Cedric couldn't quite pinpoint. Of course, he was more than suited for the title of Lord. But Edmund, he knew, was smart. And certainly wouldn't get himself in any situation that he couldn't extricate himself from.
"You are, of course, welcome to come as well, if you wish." Cedric murmured again, daring to look up into the angel's face. Of course, he didn't imagine that Vasu would respond well to this one, but...he had to be polite. And he supposed for this particular discussion, all involved parties should be present.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:36 pm
That the two didn't even bother with a glance of affirmation was either a sign to some deep, spiritual bond or that Edmund preferred to avoid nonsense and Mordred understood that desire or that... any number of things, really. But mostly that they'd long since abandoned the necessity small conversation and the minor decisions that came of it, for whatever reason.
Not that Mordred didn't like a good little meaningless exchange every once in a while. Never anything so... er... what was that word again? 'Tender'? Something like that. He'd ask Arthur later. Just words. He liked it. Didn't really have to get into that sort of thing around other people however. Take Edmund's friend here, for example. Mordred recognized the glimmer - though it seemed long dimmed - resting in Cedric's eyes. It puzzled him as to why Edmund so very much wanted for this exchange to cocur, but when it came to the matter of the children he had thus far almost unquestioningly let his mate take charge. They were just so tiny! It was very confusing.
"I would most graciously accept your invitation," Mordred replied with a cordial smile, red eyes flickering in a moment of amusement. They said animals smelled fear. Ah, if only they knew what he could smell.
That was settled then. Castor held firmly to his own body, Edmund inclined his head to Cedric in tandem with a small, outward stretch of hand that stopped just short of a bow. "We depart in the company of friends then," he said - almost warmly, as far as Edmund went. "Lead and we shall follow, Cedric."
Provided none of the children managed to escape. The coon shot another glance at Roderick. That child...
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