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 Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:13 pm
He nods slowly and he leans back in his seat as he ponders what he's told. "I.. I see." He frowns a little and he drums his fingers along his arms. "So, in other words, once we started working here, we would practically be stuck here? Because if I left for a day in my time, it would be weeks in this time before I came back." He closes his eyes and takes a few more slow, deep breaths. This seemed like a do-or-die situation. He had to commit, one way or another, because there was no having it both ways.
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:20 pm
Serenity nodded. "If it's possible," she said softly, reaching one hand out and putting it lightly on his arm, "I think it would be best for you to find a job in Naosho, or in Gaia ... it would be best for you, for your family ..."
And there was of course another reason.
"For every year that passes here," she added quietly, "only two weeks pass back home, as near as we can figure. It means ... that if you were to live here ... in only a year and a half, our time, you would be older than your parents. In two years ... before my baby brother and sister are even talking ... you would be an old man. Yes, we would still have our lifetime together, but your parents would lose you in only a few short years rather than the lifetime they also deserve with you."
He wasn't immortal ... there were times when it seemed as if nothing in this world ever changed, but that was because this area of this world was a place of immortals. They never changed, they never died - they couldn't even grow sick. But Gaunt was a real human ... he would be able to visit his family, certainly, but they would be watching him age at 25 times the natural rate.
And if it was fated that he would have to go far away from where she was able to visit, then she was certain that she wouldn't mind going with him. As strong as her feelings for him already were, she knew she would go anywhere just to be with him.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:23 pm
He nodded, then stood and bowed to Ulani and Ulrich. "Then I am very sorry. But I have to refuse your offer." He smiles softly at them. "I do hope you understand. The grief I'd cause other people.. because I'd pass so quickly.. I don't think my soul would be able to bear it."
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:33 pm
Ulrich smiled and nodded. "I understand," he said warmly, nudging Ian back towards Serenity. "And I have a great respect for your decision. But please, feel free to visit us from time to time, even if it's just for a few hours or something."
Serenity smiled her gratefulness to Ulrich. "Thank you," she said softly. "I hope that we can."
She scooped Ian up into her arms and rose to her feet. "When should we come back for the bow?" she asked Ulrich. "I know you'll need time to make it ..."
Ulrich looked thoughtful. "Come back in the morning?" he suggested, and then he added a bit in elvish.
Serenity looked to Gaunt. "What do you think?" she asked him. "There are extra rooms for us to stay, if you like, and even if we stay the night and all of tomorrow it will probably be no more than an hour back home."
If he didn't want to, then she was fine with that, too. She would leave it up to him.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:37 pm
He nods and he smiles softly. "Spending a day or two here won't hurt at all. I'm not against that." He smiles softly and he nods a little, looking again to Ulrich and Ulani. "Thank you very much for your hospitality today. I do hope we will be able to see each other more often."
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:20 am
Ulrich and Ulani both nodded at Gaunt, smiling widely.
"I would like that very much," Ulani said warmly. "I wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavours, Gaunt, and I really hope that things work out so that you and Serenity can be together."
Serenity blushed, but she smiled widely. "Come on," she whispered to Gaunt, "we should get going. It's a bit of a walk to the ranch, it's not in the valley."
Ian grinned at Prince from his place in his mother's arms and held out one hand to his friend. "Come on, Prince!" he said brightly. "We're gonna have loads of fun there!"
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:37 am
Gaunt nods and smiles, bowing again to the elven couple before joined Serenity. "Alright. Lets go." He smiles and slips one hand around Serenity's waist. He looked behind him to see if Prince is coming, and sees him favoring Ian, the child taking Ian's hand and letting Serenity and Ian be the middle of their little entourage.
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:51 am
Serenity and Ian also bid Ulani and Ulrich farewell, and very soon the foursome were once again walking through the woods, this time heading west instead of east, back the direction they came from.
"So what do you think?" Serenity asked Gaunt, walking with one hand around his waist just as he was with her. "Of Ulani and Ulrich I mean. Or of this world in general, whichever." She giggled softly.
Ian was holding tightly to one of Prince's fingers, which was about all he could hold onto now, and grinning at Prince happily. "Isn't this place great?" he beamed. It's all sunny and warm and the people here are really nice!"
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:48 pm
He shrugs and he smiles, his free hand slipping into his pocket as they made their way toward the ranch. "If it wasn't for the time difference, It would be an ideal place to live. But you were right, you know. I'd be causing grief to everybody who knew me back in my world, because I'd expire so quickly to them."
Prince nods and he smiles warmly. "I really like it here! I hope we can visit often!"
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:17 pm
Serenity nodded thoughtfully. "That's why I didn't want them to encourage you so much," she said sadly. "Yes, this place is wonderful ... but it is far from ideal. The slavers aren't the only problems here ... they're just the problem that can be dealt with. But you know," she added, looking over at him, "that isn't the only solution, if you can't find work in Gaia or near the portal in Naosho ..."
She swallowed and looked away shyly, then murmured, "If you have to leave ... I don't necessarily have to stay with my family ..."
Ian grinned and nodded his agreement with Prince's opinion. "My grandma and grandpa go here a lot," he told his friend, "so maybe we can too - like every weekend or something! Wouldn't that be cool?"
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:28 pm
He nods, his thumb softly stroking along the back of Serenity's hand as they walked the path that she led them on. "Mmm. I understand." He blinks, then. When she says that she doesn't have stay with her family. He looks at her warmly, smiling softly. "Even though we probably shouldn't, since we probably won't be married, I would like it if you would come with me if I had to leave."
Prince nod and he smiles softly. "I'd like that, a lot!" He smiles as he squeezes Ian's finger. "Though it sounded a little like it might be a problem for Gaunt. They made it sound like he'd die fast if he spent a lot of time here. I don't want him to die fast.."
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:01 pm
Serenity watched their hands as they walked. She wasn't sure if she would be able to go with him if they weren't married, as much as she knew already that she wanted to. Though to be strictly fair, marriage was a negotiable term ... for her mother's people, it meant choosing someone to live your life with and then doing just that, no wedding required.
"At least, being an artist," she murmured, "I really don't have to be tied to any one place. As long as I have space to paint ..."
Or whatever, considering she was planning on getting a tablet soon.
Ian winced. "Yeah ... me neither. Maybe if it's just once in a while or something ..."
Now that he was thinking about it, everyone in his family was immortal - at least, as far as anyone knew. Those who weren't born from feathers or vases were elves, a race that did not die, so the travel and time spent here wouldn't affect them at all ...
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:07 pm
Gaunt tilts his head when Serenity didn't address the wedding question. Was she willing to move with him whether or not they were officially bound together? That was interesting, something very interesting. He smiles softly at her and he gently squeezes her hand. "If I can afford a big enough place, I might be able to set aside a room for you to have as a studio."
Prince nods and he bit his lip softly. "Maybe.. if Gaunt is really busy.. Serenity and you and I can come visit?" That would work out, right? They could be there for a couple days and be back before Gaunt even realized they were gone, because of the timing change.
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:47 pm
Serenity blushed faintly, but her smile grew very wide. "I would like that," she admitted. "And of course I would help every way I could."
She grew silent once more, thoughtful, and finally she asked, in a very quiet voice, "What do you think of weddings?"
If they did marry, would he want to have one? She knew they were expensive, and she honestly didn't care to have one: to her it was nothing more than showing off. But if he wanted one, if it was important to him, then she would go along with it happily.
Ian's pale lilac eyes lit up brightly, and he nodded vigorously. "I bet we can!" he said enthusiastically. "And you're like me, so you won't get old like that neither, so it wouldn't even matter!"
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:57 pm
He smiles softly and he nods. "I'd like it too. And if your art sells, then of course that can go toward keeping the place and keeping ourselves, and Prince and Ian too, fed. That is, if you want that money to go toward those things. I hope to be able to find a job good enough to support everybody. But I can't make promises." He glances sideways at her question and he hums softly to himself. "I think weddings are a celebration between families. Where families get together and celebrate the blossoming of love. Where families can come together and celebrate the fact that they are now tied together through this eternal bond two people share."
Prince smiles softly and he nods. "Exactly! So we can visit for a long time over there, and we can be back when Gaunt gets home from doing whatever he'll be doing! It'll be the best of both worlds!" Of course, little Prince failed to recognize that if Serenity is too busy painting, then they'd be stuck in the house. At least until Prince grew a little more and could wander off better on his own.
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