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 Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 4:05 pm
Jove tried to relax, but he feared the weight of the little scareling would pull him down if he tried. So after a minute more of stiffly holding her up, he slid back on the chair, pulled up his legs to cross them in front of himself, and rested the little bundle there in his lap. It was easier to relax with her resting on a more stable surface.
The pup sat there for a second as if afraid to touch her, but his ears turned to listen to Ren. He was right, she did have freckles! It must have been a good sign in the gryphon family. And such light coloured hair too. He gently petted one tiny ear, pulling his hand back quickly as though Baroque was about to wake up and catch him, and when nothing bad happened he petted it again. Only his youngest foxfires had fur that soft. It was amazing, and Jove found himself slightly jealous that Ren would have such a cute little sister.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:16 pm
The freckles were what made Ren so taken with Baroque. He had a feeling he would have loved her anyway - she was his sister, after all, and how could he not? - but the freckles made him feel as if she were really related to him. Neither of his parents, nor Medieval had those markings. They had skipped that generation, as his grandfather had had them - at least, Ren had surmised as much from seeing old photographs.
He stood, slowly sliding into the seat beside Jove as the foxfire stared down at Baroque, very hesitantly touching one fluffy ear and then jerking his hand back as if terrified she would wake up. It was rather endearing; Ren did not want to intervene, so instead he sat in silence for a few moments, just watching.
One of Baroque's tiny ears flicked; a very small, barely audible purr thrummed through her small body, and sleepily she stirred, wriggling in the blankets. One hand unclenched, then clenched again, this time holding a fistful of Jove's sweater.
"She looks just like you," Ren said softly, reaching out to brush her hair away from her face. "Don't you think?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:25 pm
When he heard that quiet little purring noise, Jove's ears perked straight up and his eyes went as wide as saucers. That was what Ren did! When he was happy! His fluffy tail wagged beside him, but he stayed very still until she relaxed again. And when he realized she had a handful of sweater, Jove was suddenly reminded of how he had once grabbed Ren's shirt like that, when he was weak and vulnerable.
And that was all there was to it, Jove decided little Baroque would be his too. It didn't matter if she was a gryphon, she would be his little sister, and he would protect her and keep her safe forever. And even if she grew up and was taller than him, she would still be his to protect.
His tail gave a little wag, until Ren spoke up. Then he shot his brother an exasperated look, clearly saying "Don't be ridiculous. She's a gryphon, and looks nothing like me," before once again focusing all his attention on the little thing in his lap. She would need a good ear rubbing, he decided, and gave the little blonde ear another little scratch. Big brothers had to be especially good at ear rubbing.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:23 pm
Ren did not know what was going through Jove's mind. However, what he did know was that he would take care of the both of them for as long as he lived, whether or not his parents agreed with it. The look on his little brother's face - a calm sort of rapture, adoration, was the same as Ren's.
And speaking of the parents...
There was a loud clatter outside the door, a scuffling sound, and then it was thrown open abruptly. Medieval was standing there, looking harassed, and beside her stood a tall, thin woman with tumbling golden hair pinned up into an elaborate twist at the nape of her neck. It was clear from the way Medieval's arms were outstretched that she had been - for whatever reasons - attempting to prevent the woman from entering, though she dropped them quickly, scowling.
"Renaissance," said his mother, and Ren stood slowly, putting a hand on Jove's shoulder to keep the boil from standing as well.
"Mother," he said coolly, without bothering to walk towards her. "Fancy meeting you here."
She gave him a cold look. "I do believe I live here. And I do believe..."
His mother trailed off, her eyes finally having fallen on Jove, Baroque in his arms.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:42 pm
Jove was startled by the loud noise from outside, and although his ears perked up in a most alert manner, the only move he made was to scoop up the little bundle into his arms and hug it protectively. This was a dangerous place filled with scowling adults and evil clones, and you can't be too careful with a brand new baby sister!
Unfortunately it was now the mother of said little sister who was scowling at him. He wilted ever so slightly, it was clear the gryphon was dismayed at seeing her youngest in his arms. Dismayed being an understatement. Ren was the only one who accepted him as family, and he clearly understood that his presence could be seen as an intrusion on what was clearly a family occasion. Not just an intrusion, but an intrusion holding the new scareling hostage.
He did the best he could do, ducking slightly into a canine gesture of pacifism as though saying he wasn't going to be a threat. However, he didn't relinquish his hold on the little ghoul. Not yet, she was too precious for that.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:17 pm
Ren's mother didn't say anything at first. She stood there, framed in the doorway, just staring down at her son and the pale skinned boil beside him that was holding her newborn daughter. Medieval, behind her, gave Ren a warning look, as if trying to tell him not to say anything stupid.
"What are you doing here?" came the familiar, cold voice, and Ren's expression tightened.
"I'm here to see my little sister," he answered. "Considering that she's as much mine as she is yours."
The answer might have been a little too snippy; his mother's eyes flashed dangerously, and Ren automatically backed up, one arm slightly outstretched in front of Jove as if to protect him.
It turned out not to be necessary, however.
"Mother," said Medieval, stepping in. "Mother, just...let them alone for now."
Ren stared at her. What on earth was going on with his sister lately? First the sandwiches from their last trip, now this...
Clearly his mother was just as stunned, since she was looking at her daughter as if she'd never seen her before. After a few moments, she turned back to Ren and Jove.
"Five minutes," she said in a tight voice, and sat down in a chair opposite them, arms folded across her chest.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:11 am
Jove watched the situation play out, and realized he might have to re-evaluate his impression of the evil clone. Today she seemed almost half-hearted in her efforts to resemble the elder gryphons. Judging by the surprised look on Ren's face, not to mention their mother's face, this was a new development.
He looked back at the tiny ghoul who still had a handful of sweater. Five minutes wasn't very long, the little pup felt like he was being granted only enough time to say goodbye... Jove looked at the tiny little hand and sadly tried to detach it's grip from his sweater, which resulted in the scareling holding onto his finger instead. His tail wagged slightly. Such tiny little fingers she had.
After a second Jove freed his finger from Baroque's little grasp and gave her soft ear another gentle scratching. If he could only hear her purr a bit more, maybe he could bear to give her back when his time was up.
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:52 am
Ren could not, for the life of him, figure out just what the Jack was up with Medieval. It was like she was bipolar; one moment she was screaming at him for having a (fake, but she didn't know that) boilfriend, the next she was trying to keep the peace between Ren and their mother.
He did not understand.
So was his mother, for that matter. She was looking at Jove with an expression of great dislike, her thin lips pulled downwards in an irritated frown. But she hadn't kicked them out - that much was clear, and also very strange. Normally she would have not given a flying fancy that Ren had come all the way to see his little sister; if she was mad, she was mad.
Except she wasn't moving. She just sat there, glowering at Jove - but without moving.
Ren was starting to get a headache.
Sitting back down beside Jove, he reached a hand to gently run his fingers over Baroque's warm face. She had her tiny fingers wrapped around one of Jove's, clearly not wanting to let go - either of them, for that matter, Ren thought, as he caught the look on Jove's face.
Baroque stirred; one ear flicked forward against Jove's hand, and then a soft, gentle hum thrummed through her tiny body. She gave a small mewling noise, then turned her face so that it was buried against Jove's stomach, fast asleep.
Ren reached out a hand, placing it on Jove's head and biting his lip somewhat. He did not want to take Jove away, but the look on his mother's face was going to wind up scalding them both eventually.
"Jove?" he said quietly.
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:50 pm
Jove's tail wagged at little Baroque's response. There was that noise again! At first he thought scarelings were just helpless, pointless little things that made terrible howling sounds that hurt the ears, but he was starting to realize they weren't as helpless as he had imagined. Somehow this little one had managed to win him over completely, and he couldn't imagine ever letting her wind up in trouble. That was their natural ability, he supposed, to get others to care for them.
When Ren touched him, the pup knew his time was up. Time to give Baroque back...
With a wistful little frown he carefully put Baroque back in her real brother's arms. It was hard with that hold she had on his finger, but he managed to carefully detach that too. What a cute little thing...
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Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:33 pm
Ren did not want to take Jove away from Baroque, or vice versa. It was clear just how taken his little brother was already with the little ghoul, and was only with the greatest amount of reluctance that he held out his arms and let Jove place the tiny scareling into them. Baroque felt warm and small against his chest, her tiny fingers clenching and unclenching on his shirt as Ren turned to face his mother.
She was still sitting in the chair, her eyes narrowed, her gaze frosty, but she had not said anything, nor had she moved from where she sat. They both looked at each other, mother and son, for quite a long moment before she looked away, eyebrows drawing together in irritation, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Ren turned towards the crib, leaning over to lay Baroque back down. She wriggled when she was let go, letting out a soft, mewling noise, but then curled up with her blankets, still fast asleep. Without another word to his mother, Ren took Jove by the shoulder and propelled him from the room, closing the door behind them.
Medieval was still standing there, leaning against the wall with her arms folded across her chest.
"What?" said Ren snappishly.
She glowered at him. "Father's on his way home," was all she said, before turning on her heel and disappearing down the hallway. Ren stared after her for a moment, then turned to Jove.
"That means it's time for us to leave," he said tightly.
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 1:49 pm
Jove frowned, his tail lying limp as he was ushered from the room, only just having time to grab one strap of his backpack as he went. When Baroque made those little noises he wanted nothing more than to run back in and scoop her up. But he wouldn't risk the ire of the mother any more than he had to, not if he wanted the chance to see her again on another occasion. And the pup fully intended to take every chance he could to see his new little sister!
Maybe it was his desire to see Baroque again that tempered his mood, he regarded the evil clone with none of the usual suspicion and distaste. Maybe it was because she was acting with something that resembled consideration.
When Ren spoke up, Jove's ears fell. He didn't want to go, he wanted to stay longer and see the little scareling awake. A part of him worried he wouldn't be able to come again, and Baroque wouldn't know she had two big brothers who would do anything for her. If she never got a chance to see his face...
Suddenly he startled, and grabbed something out of his backpack. Then he ran down the hall after Ren's twin, grabbed her by the wrist, and put a small pot of glowing, blue mushrooms in her hand. They were picturesque little things, with dainty stalks and rounded caps, the blue fading into pale white towards the gills. "For Baroque," he said to Medieval, almost pleadingly. Scarelings would get frightened in the dark, right? Baroque would need a fright light.
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:12 pm
Ren did not want to leave either, but the last thing he wanted to do was stay and face his father - nor did he particularly want Jove to have to deal with that man. And, unfortunately for the both of them, it meant they would not get to see Baroque while she was awake. It disappointed Ren, since he could see the wilted look on Jove's face as they left the room, but the idea of seeing his father was enough to squelch any desire to go back right now.
"I'm sorry, Jove," he said, reaching out to pat the boil's head. "I promise I'll bring you back again. This won't be the last time, I - "
Ren blinked. Jove had taken off abruptly, running back to where Medieval was about to disappear around the corner. He followed at a slower pace, an expression of bemusement on his face. What does he want with...
"For Baroque."
Ren stopped abruptly, staring down at the little pot of mushrooms. He recognized them, of course - Jove had several beneath his bed. At night they glowed a bright, shimmering blue - a fright light.
For a few moments all three of them just stared at each other. Ren's heart gave a little skip.
Then -
"...all right," came Medieval's voice, quiet and barely audible. "...I'll...put it in her room."
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 4:14 pm
Jove's tail wagged, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Ren's twin would put the mushrooms in Baroque's room... So even if she never got to see him, she would know he had been there, and he could provide a little comfort and security while he was gone.
He darted forward and gave Medieval a quick thank you hug, and ran back to Ren's side, ready to go. Already he was thinking about next weekend, and whether he could come back... And if he could remember how to take the train if he had to come visit on his own.
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