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 Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:51 am
Saffron awkwardly cleared his throat, then smiled, realizing, yep he was obvious still. Didn't take Texas' powers of observation to tell that. Still, he hadn't meant to imply that Texas had to be the one to leave. He could just have excused himself if he knew things were cool now. Yet, before he could say anything, the demon was on his feet, clapped him on the shoulder with a farewell, and was gone to the kitchen.
The mixed angel sat in indecision for a moment before climbing to his feet to follow. Before the two could start their conversation, he interjected, "Uh, hey...I'm going to go ahead and head out. Got a lot to do and all." He looked towards Takeko with a serious expression. "You. We'll talk later. You owe several batches of deceit cookies for this. Maybe some scones. Payment will be negotiated." His expression cracked when he could hold it no longer, and with a chuckle, he moved to hug the angel goodbye, whispering, "Love you" before pulling away.
Then, he turned to Texas, hesitating slightly. He reached to take his hand, a firm handshake being his intention. Then, on a whim, before he had time to think about it, he pulled the demon closer until their chests were nearly touching and clapped his free hand around the other's shoulders briefly. "Hey...thanks." It was a general expression of gratitude; for his acceptance, for not holding things against him, for advice. Then, he backed away, releasing his grip before things got awkward, hopefully.
"I'll see you both again soon," he finished, nodding before backing his way out of the kitchen. A few moments later, the front door was heard to open and close again.
Takeko chuckled slightly at the exchange, shaking her head before turning to Texas with a smile. "Cookies are all packed and ready to go if you are. Though, you're welcome to stay a while longer if you like or if there's anything else you need, dear."
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:31 am
Saffron followed him? He'd admit, that he was not expecting that.
Silently, Texas watched Takeko and Saffron, though he could not help a quiet chuckle when Saffron had adopted his moniker of deceit cookies. In his opinion, the moniker was deserved, considering the false pretenses she had led him here under... Okay, she didn't really lie, Texas just worried, but that was irrelevant!
A hand being offered brought Texas' mind back into the here and now, and he smiled, going to take it, before ending up yanked forward instead. For all the awkwardness Saffron had been showing, the closeness he chose to adopt was a little surprising, but Texas made all effort not to show it on his face. It didn't make him awkward, though, and the response he made was nothing but gentle. "Sure. Anytime, Saffron."
When the other pulled away and fled, Texas offered a half wave before turning his attention to the woman of thinly veiled attempts of trickery. She had managed to get them, though.
"Actually, I had something to ask you." Texas took this chance to swipe another cookie, nibbling on it. "You mentioned good news? Can I ask what was so good that you seemed thrilled about it?" There was a small, teasing grin on his face.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:19 pm
Only moments before distracted by the somewhat awkward, surprising farewell, she shook off the hidden amusement to blink in surprise at the question. Of course! She'd been so wrapped up worrying over these boys, she'd forgotten what she had been about to tell Texas before! Granted, the timing seemed much better now that things had been smoothed over and this wouldn't serve so much as a distraction.
"Oh, it IS good news," she gushed, taking Texas' free hand in hers, all the glee of a little girl told she could have a second dessert. "But...I suppose some explanation is necessary first," she said, pausing as sense overrode joy for a moment. "Just a moment."
She'd been pacing worriedly while the boys talked earlier, going so far as to pour herself a cup of tea...which remained untouched on her worktable. She moved to collect it, then crossed back to a small circular table with two high stools set next to it. They were high enough that she had to set the tea on the table, then hop up onto the stool. Impractical, perhaps, but she'd always been fond of them; an early carpentry project of hers and Aspen's. They had ended up far too tall...but she refused to have them lowered, stating firmly that she liked them as they were.
Now perched upon the stool, sipping her tea and feet kicking freely like a child, she grinned at Texas. "Now, where to start...?" After pondering this for a moment, she set her cup down and leaned over the table. "I know you and Kane have had some time together. I don't know how much, or what he would have talked about with you, to be honest. But, out of curiosity, did he ever mention his brother? Not Saffron, I mean...but older, his age."
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:04 pm
Definitely excited. That was a reaction Texas honestly couldn't recall Takeko having before.
That just made him all the more curious.
The stools were indeed a little on the higher side. Though he didn't struggle nearly as much as Takeko seemed to when she got on them, Texas still had to haul himself upwards before he could sit on the chair, legs still hanging off the side despite his taller height. His attention was fully on her after he managed to figure out how to sit himself on the overly tall stools--was Takeko certain she didn't want to fix these or something?--eyes following her rather excited movements.
A brother? Of course Kane had mentioned a brother, there was Saffron and Melek and -- a third? Texas thought about it for a moment. It was ... certainly possible that Kane had mentioned a third brother that was similar in age to himself, but Texas didn't have much recall of any of that. If he had mentioned something, it was not ... terribly significant. Texas shook his head.
"He's mentioned others, but I don't think he's mentioned a third in any particular detail, not that I can recall anyway." He tilted his head. "I'm going to assume your good news is related to the third?"
Why else would she bring up a relatively unmentioned son?
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:20 pm
Just a touch of sadness seemed to temper Takeko's expression for a moment before she pushed it aside with a sad, understanding smile and a shake of her head. "Of course he didn't. I don't know what I expected." She took a sip, then set her tea cup down. "You know what Kane was like when you first met him? Well, when he was younger, sometimes at least, he seemed like fifty of those Kanes in one." She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I'd be lying if I said he wasn't a handful. And he was my first, so there's an additional struggle, because I had no idea what I was doing!" She laughed lightly, mirth bubbling up for a moment.
"Still worth it."
She smiled warmly, gaze fixed on the wall as if watching the memories play there. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised he never mentioned him. He never really took to Cabel very well," she said quietly. "We were overjoyed when our little Fae tot came to us from out of the blue. A little brother for Kane! What a wonderful idea, right? Instead, seemed as if they were constantly fighting. Correction: that Kane was constantly fighting to be away from Cabel. Cabel was such a happy, sweet child, so affectionate." She laughed, looking now at Texas. "I suppose you can imagine why Kane didn't like him?" A knowing smile.
"Well, when I found out I was expecting, I suppose things changed. They weren't quite children anymore...but far from being fully grown adults. Maybe it seemed too crowded in the house when the twins came along. All I knew was that Kane and Cabel both left. I hoped that they'd gone together, learned to get along finally in order to help each other make it in the world. I'd hoped they'd come back soon. I was disappointed."
"Surprisingly, it was Kane I saw again first. The wild one, instead of the affectionate homebody. Wouldn't have expected that. I didn't see Kane often at first, only crossing paths with him once or twice...but I knew that he was okay. Well, for the most part," she corrected, rolling her eyes. The tiger demon sure knew how to get into more than his fair share of trouble.
"Years went by, and I still never saw Cabel again," she said with a note of sadness. It wasn't for him now that she was sad, not with what she knew. But for her mate, her daughter, who were still missing. "I gave up hope." She looked up at Texas, explaining, "That day in the forest? Before we met those strange Pae? I admitted that I'd lost someone else before. I'd given up Cabel for dead long ago."
She paused, a slow smile returning. "I have lost others since then, sure. But, by the Guardians' grace," she murmured, the thought flickering briefly across her mind that her Fae son wouldn't be so pleased with her pious grace being associated with him, "Cabel...came back to me."
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:54 pm
If it was storytime, Texas was willing to listen.
Fifty of those Kanes-- oh, jeez. Texas' eyes widened a tad. Mikasi was a bit of a monster as a child, but he was always too lazy to let any of his bad traits really come to much fruition beyond being a constant irritant--especially to Vangelis at times. They had settled that out, though, as Mikasi had grown up and become a little less of, well, a pissant. He was still a bit of one, but not to Vangelis, and that seemed to be what mattered.
in
From the sounds of it, Kane and Cabel never really had that making up moment that his son and nephew did, and it brought a small frown to his face. It made sense, though. A cheerful, clingy fae child? That didn't sound like anything like Kane liked. For one, clingy was never something he seemed to be fond of. Cheerfulness was a wholit e different issue--Kane seemed to be drawn to people who could be content without being so full of smiles and obnoxious behavior. Children never really seemed to be Kane's strong suit, or at least, they used to not be? And fae?
-- Well. Hm.
Interesting. If he couldn't stand everything else about Cabel, perhaps Cabel was part of the reason for some of Kane's future behaviors. Kane, at first, had seemed a bit uneasy with Magnus' presence. Texas had just figured it was because Magnus was, well, Magnus, but this brought another idea into the equation, especially since Magnus was not the common denominator there.
He'd have to ponder that another time.
Texas could easily recall when she said she had lost someone at the forest. That had surprised him, but it wasn't like he got much chance to ask about it, nor was he totally certain that it was his place to. Kane returned, but Cabel never did. Cabel had become dead. It made sense. He couldn't be accounted for, after all. There would be no reason to think otherwise--
Well, until he came back. Despite her mentioning the loss of others--this was not a time to focus on loss--Texas grinned, offering a, "Well, that's definitely a reason for a celebration!" He snorted, "I'd say break out the wine, but my brother isn't here at the moment," and threw a wink in her direction. Perhaps that was what he should bring with him next time he was out here--or next time she came to his place, anyway. Magnus' draughts had a way of being rather intoxicating, but they were good...
"But joking aside, that is really great news! Perhaps if they are meant to, everyone will find their way back home." Texas took another bite of his cookie at this point. "While I wonder what kept him away so long, it is good to hear that whatever it was has allowed him to finally return to where he belongs, even if it came a few years later than expected."
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:54 pm
There was a sort of serenity in the angel's expression as she nodded, chuckling at Texas' enthusiastic response. She'd already been through all levels of joy at her son's return that she wasn't sure there were any she hadn't touched upon yet. "Perhaps another time," she agreed in response to the wine comment with a laugh.
"He's not had the smoothest path," she acknowledged with a nod, then glanced aside sadly. "Far from it. And I get the feeling he's still not telling me everything." After a pause, she glanced up. "Mother's intuition. But, I suppose what we covered already was enough for one day. When he's ready, maybe he'll tell me the rest. Until then...I'm just glad to know he's alright."
After a moment in which she seemed to remember her tea was getting cold and took a sip, she added, "He apparently adopted a little girl of his own at some point." She turned a smile towards Texas, then an amused shake of her head. "I suppose I started a bit of a trend, eh?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:49 pm
Texas made a mental note to make sure he always had at least one spare bottle of spirits at home.
After all, he never knew when he might need it.
It seemed rather believable that after that much time, someone may have secrets to hide even from the ones they were once close to. From the sounds of it, Cabel would probably have a lot he was bearing if life's path had not been easy on him. Perhaps the faerie would open himself back up in time. That was what would matter.
Or, even more importantly, it mattered he was back. Though Texas focused on solving emotional issues and disagreements, that was a very valid point.
"Yeah, it's good to know he's alright," offered Texas, holding up his cookie in a sort of salute before working on finishing it off. -- Yet more children? Takeko's children had certainly been busy, considering how many of them had their own children now, biological or not. That wasn't really the case for the second generation of his family.
He snickered. "I suppose you have. Watch out and that daughter of his might end up adopting someone herself... But anyone from your line will probably turn out at least, related or not." Hey, she deserved the compliment.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:04 am
Flattered by the compliment, the angel giggled, hiding behind her tea cup for a moment. On the other hand, grandchildren were one thing, but the thought of that generation also adding their own children to the expansive family? "By the Guardians, Texas, stop that. You'll have me feeling like an old woman!" She seemed flustered, waving her hand as if she could chase the wayward thought away.
After a moment, she calmed her chuckles to only a small smile, glancing towards the demon. "Thank you though. For the compliment. It's not been a calm road by any means, or an easy one...but I've hoped that I've done well by all of them. The best I could, at least. I suppose that's all we really can do," she admitted, looking back with a slight shrug. They really were alike. Both falling into the role of the head of a rather expansive, extended family, serving as the glue that held everyone together at times.
"So, that's most of the news," she finished with a nod. "I won't hold you hostage for information any longer," she teased lightly. "You're free to go if you'd like...of course, not trying to chase you off if you'd like some more time to rest before heading back home. As I've said before, Texas, you're always welcome here."
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:47 pm
When she thanked him for the compliment, he put his hand up and shook his head, silently saying there was no need for that. She deserved the compliment. She had indeed done all they could do, and she had done it well, from the way her kids had turned out.
Even Kane had softened up from when he had first met him, although not to the point where he was a domesticated cat instead of the tiger he was. That was very much still the case...
Texas chuckled when she remarked on holding him hostage, remarking, "Hostage? Not in the slightest. I always want to know when you have some good news to share. Besides, I like being at your place." He offered a smile to her, even if he was getting up, pushing himself off the large seat and letting his feet hit the ground. He really didn't understand why she kept these seats so high, but it seemed to be something nostalgic for her...
He moved to take the cookies she offered to him earlier, tucking them under his arm. "Thank you for the cookies. I would stay longer, but I think my sons would want some of these cookies." Texas laughed. "Besides, I want to get home before it gets too late. I hope you don't mind?"
Texas motioned in the general direction of his house, as distant as it was. "You're always welcomed at my place, too."
After offering a small hug to the woman that was seated so much higher than she had to be, he waved and headed out.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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