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 Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 5:21 pm
There had been a phone call from Clem, as there usually was at least once a week, but Henry seemed very eager about this one. He had been brief with Ethiriel of the exact details, but it seemed as if the mother Knight wished to spend time with the Frei. Normally, as of late, Henry preferred to have Ethiriel around for his free time to make up for past transgressions, but he found this to be a good idea.
He couldn’t pamper the Frei as well as Clem could.
”It’ll just be for a few hours,” Henry said, his smile clear in his voice. ”I know you’ll have a good time.”
The car ride didn’t take long, as it usually didn’t. Ethiriel found herself staring out what she assumed to be the window – of course, there was nothing. ”Of course,” she replied, sounding neither excited or unamused. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see Clem, not at all – she just didn’t know what to look forward to. She’d probably get a decent grooming, it was about time for that, and surely being pampered was nice. It didn’t feel like she was being dumped off like with Leo, but it was still a strange feeling.
Maybe she would learn something new.
Henry pulled up to the driveway carefully as to not jostle Ethiriel via the seatbelt (given she had no rear to sit with and couldn’t be kept in place otherwise). First was the sound of his door opening, promptly shutting and then her own opening after the nurse went around the front of the car. The Frei carefully unbuckled her seatbelt, making sure she didn’t tear her already fragile ribbon in the process, before floating out beside Henry. She smoothed her sundress – the article had enough flare at the bottom as to not bother her aforementioned ribbon; she couldn’t stand that feeling.
As was usually the case with any visit to their household, Clem was quick to greet them not at the door but out in the driveway. ”Hello, dears,” she chimed, stepping quickly across the pavement to meet them halfway.
”Hey, mom!” Henry cheered from beside the car. Ethiriel offered a polite nod.
Clementine held onto one side of her skirt, though she didn't really need to considering the length was above her ankles enough to not get in her way. Once she reached them, Henry was given a big hug. Clem touched Ethiriel's arm to let her know where she was before easing into a hug as well.
”How was the trip?” She paused a moment to glance at the car. ”No Gabe, I see.”
Henry laughed, ”Nope; only you and Ethiriel today!”
”I look forward to it,” said Ethiriel with another bow.
”Well good, I think we could both use some girl time.” Clementine beamed at the frei, then poked at Henry's chest before leading the way to the house, ”If you're not busy, why don't you spend the day with your father? He's just been cooped up on his days off. The weather's nice, you could take him fishing.”
”What a great idea!” Henry beamed, chuckling once at the poke to his chest before following, Ethiriel in tow. ”I’d love a day with dad!”
Ethiriel followed closely behind; she was starting to feel naked without Nedhudir but he was fine at home – she had no real need of him here. She would have to give him some extra love when she got home for sure.
”I know he'd love to spend more time with you and your brother,” she opened the door and lead both of them inside, ”I would, too, but today is girl's day.”
Clementine moved towards the living room and leaned in to whisper, ”Henry and Ethiriel are here, love.”
A soft ”oh” was followed by the closing of a book and a few long strides. Jonas peeked out curiously, then smiled wide at his eldest from under his bushy beard. ”Good day so far?”
Ethiriel couldn’t help but grow a small smile with Clem’s obvious excitement – the day was off to a better start than she anticipated, so hopefully it would end just as well, though she had no idea what she was up for.
”Of course, of course!” Henry said, opening his arms wide for an impending hug from his father. ”Especially now that I can lay claim to you for the day!”
The hug was returned warmly, though Jonas was definitely a slower mover than his more boisterous son. He chuckled while pulling back, bushy brows raised high – the pleasant surprise on his face met his voice. ”Oh? What are we doing?” With another soft laugh, the man turned his attention to the frei and offered a mildly shy ”Hello, Ethiriel. Good to see you.”
”He's stealing you so Ethiriel and I can have the house to ourselves,” Clementine hummed, delighted.
Jonas gave an approving grunt.
”It is nice to meet with you again,” Ethiriel said, her voice mimicking Jonas’ softness. She didn’t feel timid around these people, though she held her usual quietness.
Henry moved away from Ethiriel after leading her closer to his mother. His hand then found its way against Jonas’ back with a hearty pat. ”I had no plans otherwise today so we can do whatever you want! What’d’ya say, pop?”
Clementine's hand made its way onto Ethiriel's shoulder once she was brought over; she smiled while watching the two men.
”Sure,” Jonas spoke softly, laughter tickling the edges of his voice, ”Let's drive and see what's available.” The wide man moved from his son to his wife and gave her a prickly kiss on the cheek before fetching a hat to shade his eyes. ”Have fun, you two.”
”Enjoy your day!”
”Can do, mom! You guys have fun too!”
As the two men left to do their own thing, Ethiriel turned her had lightly towards Clem, her expression softening into a neutral smile. ”Am I correct in assuming you have some things planned?” she said, trying to sound playful despite her soft tone.
Clementine gave a knowing chuckle and patted Ethiriel's shoulder gently. ”I might have some ideas. But we can do whatever you like, dear. It's been so long since I lived with both of those boys under the same roof, I can bet you need a break from all the testosterone.”
With a slight loop to her arm, Mother Knight lead Ethiriel to the living room and helped her to a comfortable seat. She retrieved some hot water for the frei, as well as a few tarnished pieces of silverware for her to snack on. Since the first visit, care had been taken to adorn major entryways with silver as suggested by the boys but there was considerably less scattered around.
”I am free of ideas, dear mother,” Ethiriel hummed, taking her seat gratefully. The silver had been taken note of and she was thankful as she did not know this house well. It must have been difficult figuring out just where to put it when you had so little, but the gesture was what mattered.
The Frei took the water and silver eagerly. She wasn’t exactly hungry, but once again, it was the gesture that mattered.
Without waiting for the mug to cool down, she dipped her thumbs into the warm water. ”What does our day have in store for us?”
”I was thinking we could get you cleaned up, I could comb your hair. Oh, I picked up some cute tops you might like but you'll have to tell me if the fabric's uncomfortable or anything.” Clementine's voice was light and genuine, clearly sharing her eagerness.
”Oh, I see. I would love to try on anything you have for me.” Ethiriel smiled. She reached over with her free hand, searching for the coffee table to place down her drink. Once she found it, she set the mug down and made herself comfortable in the chair once more.
Clementine chuckled as she took a seat across from the raevan. ”Would you like to start with your hair? I could brush it or we can give it the full treatment.” She gave a thoughtful murmur, ”There's some very nice tea tree oil shampoo I picked up the other day.”
Ethiriel smiled, turning her head slightly to meet Clem’s – it seemed as if she took a hint from Henry and wore silver jewelry for the Frei; she definitely appreciated it.
”That sounds absolutely wonderful,” she replied, nodding her head. Henry took care of her appearance, for sure, but it was rare that she got properly pampered. It had been a while since their last visit with her guardian’s parents, and while she was still a bit nervous, so far things seemed fine. ”I would love a touch up for my hair. It is a bit unruly, isn’t it?”
Her dangling silver earrings swayed gently as she laughed. ”I wouldn't say unruly – but gosh, there is a lot of it. Lots of people would be jealous of your hair, you know.”
Before Clem could approach, Ethiriel reached back her hands and pulled her hair loose from its bun, running her fingers through it to comb it out. She then shook her head to loosen it more. Then, she double checked to make sure her branches and crown were put away for her guardian’s mother’s convenience. ”I suppose I should be grateful,” she smiled.
”My hair's all limp, honestly. The boys are lucky they got their father's volume.” Clementine's amusement tickled her voice.
Even if only to encourage the woman, Ethiriel let out a small, amused laugh – thought she didn’t quite understand exactly what was said. She knew nothing of volume of hair or any visual appearances, but if Clem was amused, the Frei would play the part.
Once Ethiriel was ready, the older woman gently lead her by the hand through the house. Their bathroom had a large wall-sized mirror and a counter top with an inlaid sink that was deep enough to wash someone's hair in. Unlike at home where the doorways were marked, there were little silver markers draped over the doorknobs (small trinkets, rings mostly, tied with other non-silvery means). The frei was lead to the counter where Clementine placed her hand to give the raevan her bearings.
”Would you like to have some privacy and take a bath or does just a run through on your hair sound better?”
”I am fine with just the washing, thank you. There is no need for a bath.”
Not that Ethiriel really ever had one, she generally stayed pretty clean.
Clem let out another short chuckle, ”Alright. I'll go get what we need and a spare shirt for you.” She gave Ethiriel a soft pat on the shoulder before heading towards the door again. Before leaving completely, Clementine stopped on her heel with a soft gasp. ”Do you mind if we blow dry your hair or do you prefer drying naturally?”
Unsure, Ethiriel lifted her chin to the question. ”Blow dry?”
”Oh, I'm sorry, dear,” Clem gave a sheepish laugh, ”It'll be a little warm and noisy but it dries your hair much faster. We can test it first. There's plenty of time today. so it's not like we need to rush, but the sooner your hair's dry the sooner you can try on your new clothes.”
”Oh. Well, it does not hurt to try. Proceed.”
There seemed to be some excitement in Clementine's reply before she set out of the room. It only took a short minute for her to return with a small clatter of items on the counter, which she carefully sorted. The tea tree shampoo, Clem explained, would give her hair a good thorough cleaning while the coconut milk conditioner would help keep her hair silky and – she seemed to find this especially amusing – it smelled a lot like Gambino. The process was not a long one. She talked Ethiriel through it while leading her along, describing to the frei what she was going to happen step by step, warning about the temperature of the water before running her hair under.
Clementine's hands were gentle, if not a little shaken. The more she spoke, it was obvious this was from enthusiasm rather than anything negative; she kept a smile that reached her voice, much like Henry did. When it came time to rinse out the conditioner, the older woman gave a soft hum.
”It's been years since I helped anyone like this.” She helped Ethiriel lift up enough so she could wrap the towel around the tea raevan's shoulders before her length of hair soaked her back. ”Henry and Gabe were so small, then.”
Ethiriel had practically zoned out, always appreciating the feeling of someone cleaning or toying with her hair. It was a nice little gesture as it didn’t happen often – the Frei had been lucky to be born with genes keeping her clean at just about all times, so hair washing wasn’t completely necessary in her routines. It was hard to wash such long hair on a daily basis, so she lucked out again.
The Frei lifted her arms to gingerly touch and hold the towel in place. ”I never had a ‘childhood.’ To be honest, you could… probably consider me a child, now, at three years old, I suppose.”
Such a strange thought.
Clementine gave Ethiriel's words a thoughtful hum as she sorted through the items upon the counter. ”I suppose,” she repeated, fingers wrapping around the end of a comb, ”You don't speak or act like a child. You definitely don't seem like one.” Gently, the woman gathered Ethiriel's hair in one hand and began combing in sections, from the ends towards the top. She moved slowly, getting through any tangles without pulling too roughly and softly apologizing if there were any small snags.
There were a few tangles as it had been a handful of days since Henry last brushed Ethiriel’s hair. They didn’t bother her much, but she would offer a gentle nod as a silent ‘ok’ each time Clem apologized. Thinking of youth and children, Ethiriel began wondering again about Gabe. Henry gave her a brief rundown, but what really happened? Would Clementine know? She almost thought better than to bring it up, but she wished to know the younger of the Knights better.
”Dear mother…” she started, pausing for a brief moment. ”Do you… know what has happened to Gabriel to make him as he is now?”
Part of her already regretted asking, but she had to know. There was a moment's hesitance from Clementine – only a moment.
”Oh, Gabe,” she sighed, ending her breath with a soft, humorless laugh, ”I wish he came and spent time with his father today, too. But... that is part of how he is now. Did he do something?”
”Nothing in particular. He is often… distant, despite our spending time together. He is so hostile towards Sir Kn—Henry. I just wish to understand him.”
Clementine exhaled through her nose. Disappointment seeped into her tone. ”That's a shame – but not surprising. He's been this way for a long time, dear. Has Henry told you anything?”
Ethiriel stared ahead, her expression neutral despite the discussion. Despite all of his animosities, she did like the man and wished to make friends. In a way, they were similar.
”He told me of Gabriel’s childhood illness and how he had changed afterwards. They had apparently once been good friends when younger.”
”That's a start,” Clem murmured, ”They were good friends, for a long time. Of course, it seems a lot shorter now. When Gabe was eight – still small – he caught pneumonia.” She took a breath, slowing her hands. ”That was a scary time for everyone. It's a harsh illness, especially for kids. He had to stay in bed for weeks; couldn't go outside and play, too weak and feverish to move much, coughing so much it hurt to breathe...”
With a soft clearing of her throat, Clementine resumed her previous pace with Ethiriel's hair. ”That's when Henry decided to become a nurse, you know.” Her voice lifted some, back to a more positive tone, ”He helped with Gabe a lot. When Jonas and I couldn't watch him because of work, Henry was there to make sure he was safe.”
The last bits of hair were run through and she set aside the comb. Her fingers brushed gently through the damp strands. ”He never really got better, though. Not like he was before. He still gets sick a lot, he just knows how to manage it better now. As for his attitude, well...” Clem sighed, finally pulling her hands away. Her voice softened and carried doubt. ”I don't know. Maybe he resents us.”
Ethiriel’s neutral expression had long fallen, her brows knit together as she lightly chewed on the inside of her lip. She couldn’t quite remember if Henry had given his reasoning for becoming a nurse, especially now that he was specifically a nurse for children. In some ways, it warmed her and her rune thrummed, but it still weighed heavy on her. She noticed how sickly Gabe was nowadays, but she couldn’t have imagined it being that bad. The Frei didn’t quite understand just how serious these illnesses were and she was glad that, despite the consequences, Gabe had made it out okay – relatively.
”I… cannot speak on his behalf as I do not know his troubles… but I do hope that he comes to accept these things and make amends. He is far kinder to me than he is to Henry, and I hope that one day he can extend that courtesy to you all.”
”Is he?” Clem asked, after a moment of quiet that felt longer than it truly was.
With another brief pause, Ethiriel nodded her head. Aside from some hiccups early on, they seemed to get along pretty well, at least in her eyes. He’s always so much softer spoken for her, even after arguments with Henry. She couldn’t say for sure but it certainly seemed like it.
”That's good. He shouldn't be taking anything out on you.” Clementine moved back to the counter and set the comb down. ”I know he's upset with us. I think, at least partly, he's upset with himself, too.”
”I am unsure. I do hope he comes to his senses.” Probably not the best choice in words, but for now Gabe wasn’t here to huff and puff. She found little reason to be upset with Henry at the very least, especially with all he did for the younger Knight, and wished for him to someday come to terms. Even if he was cross with his family, there comes a point when a grudge lasts too long. She couldn’t judge him as she didn’t know the exact reason. Maybe someday she could speak with him in private if he ever opened up to her.
Clementine gave another humorless laugh but, when she spoke, her voice seemed a little brighter. ”This might surprise you but Gabe used to be a lot meaner.” There was a soft clattering upon the counter as something was plugged into the wall outlet and a thick wire unraveled to the floor.
Ethiriel followed suit and chuckled under her breath. ”Had he?”
”Oh yes,” Clem sighed, bemused. She stepped over with the blow dryer in hand, still turned off and quiet. ”It was the worst when he was in high school. Shouting all the time. Every little problem turned into a huge blowout. He moved away from us as soon as he could. Considering they've been under the same roof for almost a year now, I'd say things are at least a little better. Don't you think?”
”I see. I am inclined to agree.” Her eyes flicked toward Clem as she was able to pick up the lingering scent of the last time the hair dryer was used. While they weren’t hot anymore, she could smell the burnt wires and metal. ”If you would like, I can possibly keep you up to date on happenings in the Knight household. Unless Henry has already been doing the same.”
”Well, Henry certainly talks to me more than Gabe does.” One of her nails softly clicked against the outer casing of the dryer. ”Though, there's probably some things he doesn't say because he doesn't want me to worry. If you don't mind... that would be really nice.”
”Later on today you can add your information to my phone, if you would.” Ethiriel said, her voice a bit more content than before. ”I do not use it often, but I will let you know if anything is amiss.”
”I appreciate it, dear. I need your number, too.” Clementine giggled a might bashfully. ”We're family, now. If you ever need anything, don't be afraid to call me.“
Ethiriel smiled at the notion. Family. It was such a weird thing for her – she could never consider Henry as anything other than a guardian; not as a father or brother, but she was glad she was accepted.
Next was the hairdryer, which Clem had kindly warned that it would be loud and warm. It wasn’t too bad on the lower setting, and in a way the constant noise was lulling. Ethiriel closed her eyes and allowed her ‘grandmother’ to do what she would with her hair.
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 9:33 pm
It was hot and only due to get hotter as the week wore on. Gambino was usually on the warmer side, especially during Summer, but today there were few clouds and the breeze was lacking. Henry was at work today, which meant it was just Ethiriel, Nedhudir, and Gabe. The offer for her to come along was made a little last minute, a passing thought, but it was better than being cooped up all day. Gabe just didn't realize how oppressive the sun would be until setting foot outside and they were quick to don shades and dress down.
Thanks to Gabe's warning, Ethiriel was able to dress accordingly to the heat; she donned the sunhat that Duncan have given her for her birthday, some spare shades from the Knight household and she hid her silver from the world.
Tourist season was practically in full swing, which made the streets crowded. That meant the air conditioned car interior was a blessing but today was a day of errands and that meant leaving the coolant enriched sanctuary. They pulled up to a strip of stores and Gabe managed to find a parking space after a few minutes with only minimal cursing under his breath.
”Do you want to come in or stay in the car?” He already had one foot out the door when he asked. His hand lingered on the key, ready to turn the power on for the radio so she wouldn't be bored out of her skull.
"I would not mind coming in," Ethiriel said, her hand searching for the door's handle. While it was nice and cool with the air conditioner on, as well as Nedhudir being cooped up, she figured she could stretch her ribbon.
The two of them entered the store quickly, they didn't want to leave Nedhudir in the car in theis heat. He followed along eagerly as they hopped out of the car.
---
Justin figured that the more places he applied to, the better chances he had of finding a job, fast. It wasn't that he needed a job quickly - luckily, Justin had a tidy pile of savings despite being cut off - he just was afraid of falling into the 'useless blob' style of living. He'd done it before and it was incredibly hard to get out of. That, unfortunately, meant he had to brave the heat and try to scout out some places. First on the list was Home Alliance 'making sure your appliances don't rebel' (not their actual slogan, but Justin liked it better), a shop that specialized in any sort of repair: refrigerators, sinks, electronics. They also sold refurbished appliances on the cheap. Justin had already applied online for a computer technician job, but he figured meeting the hiring manager might be good. He said a few word to the service desk girl (lovely, with long blonde hair and a smile that needed to be measured in kilowatts), and waited, watching people enter and exit the store.
Which is how he saw Ethiriel and Gabe as they entered. The appearance of a raevan in town, one he had only briefly seen before, would have sent his tail wagging. If he were a dog. But since he was not, he resisted the urge to rush over and pepper them with questions. Instead he tried to watch them surreptitiously out of the corner of his eye. He tugged on the hem of his polo shirt.
---
Gabe lead the small group towards the front desk, Nedhudir leading Ethiriel along just a step or two behind. The collie's bright harness clearly read 'GUIDE DOG', which quelled any questions burning on the tips of customer and employee tongues. Without the heat beating down on them and the sharp glare of the sun, Gabe tucked his sunglasses atop his head.
Ethiriel was definitely the happiest to get out of the heat, just as Nedhudir was, and the first thing she did upon entering was listen carefully to the banter of those around them; people idly chatting to one another, whispers and murmurs-- she was used to people commenting quietly on her appearance, and she almost found it amusing.
The goal was to apply to every store. He had already checked them online but he was ready to apply physically as well as digitally if it would stand to up his chances in the slightest. That would make for a pretty boring trip on its own, however, and there was still plenty of daylight left so wandering and window shopping wasn't out of the question, especially with Ethiriel in tow.
”They have a headset over there if you want to sample some audio,” he mentioned to the frei when the blonde girl at the service desk disappeared briefly to help another customer, ”I don't know how long this might take.” Gabe leaned his arms against the counter and glanced around the show floor. Most people were minding their own business, but the attention of one guy in particular caught Gabe's eye. He stared briefly at Justin in return, brow creased.
"I am fine," she answered plainly, looking away.
"Alright," Gabe replied, glancing away for just a moment to check where the service rep was.
---
When the other man's brow creased, he glanced away, trying not to clear his throat. Justin was, at best, awkward. At worst, he was embarrassing. He opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again. "Ah, did... did you go through Lab 305, by chance?" A poignant beat (poignant only in that it contained all of Justin's nervousness wrapped up in a pretty bow of syllables). "Me too! ...Sort of."
--
As soon as a new voice addressed them, he turned back to stare at Justin with an expression that read very plainly he thought this was inconvenient. "No," he responded flatly. It was true, he hadn't. "She's right there, you know, you can ask her Lab s**t yourself."
The silvery Frei had heard Justin's approach, turning to face his footfalls. Gabe's reaction was, well, expected of him, and Ethiriel didn't flinch at his 'greeting.'
"My guardian is not here, but I recognize your voice and scent -- we have met before, with Cruz."
---
He blinked, puzzled. Justin had thought he wasn't awful in asking who he presumed to be her guardian because, well, he was a guardian. Almost. Some sort of vaguely defensive look passed across his face and Justin's eyebrows rose. "Well, it was a legitimate question." He opened his mouth to say something else - something very much not pleasant - but Ethiriel spoke, effectively cutting him off. For a moment, he looked at her, at the sort of otherness that might feel strange to some, but instead, Justin felt a crushing sense of urgency. Aadhira was coming and Justin was not prepared enough. He shoved his hands into his hair.
"Hello, I'm Justin - yeah, I saw you at the beach." He grinned, remembering the silly burial at sea for his poor, poor dslite. "How has Cruz been? I've been gone for a rather long time - oh, and I guess I'll be a guardian soon, too. Just sent my bottle off." A faint note of regret colored his voice. He didn't even like his family, but being cut off was not necessarily a pleasant experience.
----
The only thing her guardian's brother had to say in response to Justin before Ethiriel lead the conversation was a dismissive hand wave just as the service rep returned. Occupied with job and application questions, the two were left to their conversation in peace for the mean time.
"It has been an unfortunate amount of time since I have seen Sir Cruz, though I do wish to remedy it."
Ethiriel cocked her head as Justin mentioned a Raevan of his own, a small smile spread across her lips. "I see. Well, I eagerly welcome you into the Lab family."
---
"Ah, really? Shame, though I guess he's probably a busy bee. I'm hoping Aadhira can meet him, and you, too, when he comes, though." Justin was filled with both excitement and dread. Dreadcitement. It was not the most comfortable of feelings. Just then the clerk beckoned him over. With a murmured 'one moment' to the raevan, he went. What followed was a brief conversation saying the hiring manager would likely be a bit longer, was that quite alright? Justin nodded. After all, he had nothing better to do. He drifted back to Ethiriel, thumbs hooked into his belt loops.
He fidgeted for a second, shoving his hands fully into the pockets of his khakis. "Ethiriel - was there like... anything you wished you'd had upon coming home for the first time? I admit, I'm kind of lost and I just want to be welcoming, I guess." Justin was honestly feel of questions, but also lacked the ability to express himself well. So Ethiriel got stilted questions, spoken in a voice full of uncertainty.
---
Ethiriel waited patiently as Justin spoke with the girl, once again turning her attention to the other people in the store.
The Frei gave a small "hm?" when Justin's attention was on her with a question before turning her own back on him.
"I had no needs upon being born, I was just thankful to have a home," she said, her brow twitching in the memory of Leo.
At Ethiriel's denial of needs, Gabe stared at the back of her head skeptically. He frowned, made pointed eye contact with Justin, gave a brief shake of his head, then returned forward to continue his own conversation. The service rep was being difficult about a physical application and suggesting repeatedly he apply online.
---
Justin opened his mouth, then frowned at Gabe's pointed look. It was obviously a warning to discontinue this line of questioning, which was a shame, because it was the very sort of thing Justin was most worried about. Sighing, he rubbed a hand through his hair. "Well, I guess that's what's most important. Who's your guardian, by the way? Since the ray of sunshine over there isn't."
---
The Frei couldn't know of the silent exchange between the two males, instead taking Justin's lack of remarks or questions as him thinking -- though she certainly wouldn't have put it past Gabe to do such a thing. However, once the guardian-to-be spoke against Gabe, Ethiriel raised her chin.
"His name is Henry Knight. This is his brother, Gabe. May I ask what is yours?"
When there was a lull in his conversation with the service rep, Gabe shot Justin a cold look. Ethiriel moved past the man's snark and by the time the woman helping him at the desk asked him a question his response all but died on his lips. He clicked his tongue after answering and pulled his phone out, ready to make a note of the man's name and number for his absent brother.
---
Ah, <********> - had he seriously not introduced himself? "Oh, shi-" He stopped before finishing the curse, shooting Eth a guilty look. "I'm sorry - all over the place today. I'm Justin Lindsey. Gonna have my own raevan soon, which is making me unconscientiously brusque and nosy, obviously." If he had been fairer, it would have been extremely obvious that he was flushing wildly. Instead, he looked mostly just uncomfortable. He glanced over at Gabe and shot him a sheepish smile; the other guy was helping, at least, and not everyone was required to be nice. Although, if he was considering applying to the storefront, then a measure of false sincerity would do wonders. But... it wasn't required now, and even Justin hated putting on that mask sometimes.
"Thanks, I'd appreciate it; I really don't know exactly what I'm doing." He pulled out his own phone to look up his number. All these years with the same number, and Justin still needed to look it up nearly every time. Justin looked back at Eth. "Ethiriel, despite our, uh... not-so-ideal meeting, I hope sometime we can meet up again - like when my kid arrives?"
---
Ethiriel, all the while Justin fumbled nervously, smiled enough to meet her eyes. Charming, in a way, she figured. She gave a gentle nod.
"I am glad you would consider your Raevan a family member."
She had never really considered herself a true member of the Knight family despite their hospitalities -- as lovely as Henry was to her, she couldn't call him a father figure. In some ways, despite her age, she felt... somewhat older than him.
"Kid," Gabe repeated skeptically under his breath.
He scrolled through his phone for a moment, not lifting his gaze to Ethiriel or Justin until he typed Justin's first name into a text message to his brother. Gabe held a slight frown at Justin, which looked even less kind thanks to his tired eyes and lowered brows.
"What's your number? He'll probably want to talk to you." With a short scoff, he added, "Who knows if they put you on their new call sheet yet or whatever the hell."
---
"There's nothing else for me to consider them as, er, whenever they get here," he replied, a little surprised by Eth's comment. Charge, ward: those sounded too sterile. Pet was entirely inappropriate and untrue. Family was warmer, realer. He shot a look at Gabe. "Maybe 'kid' is, in itself, a rather presumptuous tern, but it seems rather like becoming a dad, I guess, just skipping all those infant years with the diapers and such." He knew, eventually, Raevans grew lower parts and those presumably came with well... Just hoped adult diapers wouldn't be needed. He honestly had not thought of these things before.
He blinked, realizing that Gabe had asked for his number. He rattled it off while looking at his phone. "I doubt I'd be added yet, being new and all. Though I do have some phone numbers off of the list, I haven't talked to many yet." He cocked an eyebrow. Gabe was dutiful, if not exactly nice, and Justin thought he knew the answer to his next question before he asked it. He asked it anyway. "What's your number, Gabe?"
---
"Pet," indeed, wasn't the right name for it. Ethiriel had forgotten that, that careless comment was what planted the seed of, not hatred -- of strong dislike, for Henry in their meeting. This, however, was none of Justin's problem; at least he hadn't said it aloud for the Frei to hear. Then there might have been problems.
"However you wish to consider them, I hope they are happy within your care."
Gabe's thumb plodded away at the screen while Justin recited his phone number. He paused though didn't raise his eyes to Justin while the other man continued speaking; he did, however, offer a passive "mmhm" to acknowledge Justin spoke at all. At the request for his own number, Gabe finally looked Justin in the eye again. "Zero." With that, he sent the text off to Henry and returned his smart phone to his back pocket.
He reached over to lightly tap Ethiriel's arm with his knuckles. "Unless you need anything else here, I'm done."
The Frei didn't turn her head at Gabe's touch, but her eyes met his direction -- and his necklace. She nodded before saying, "I have no need here."
---
Ah, yes, the very sort of answer Justin had been expecting. It was almost a challenge, he thought - not to push to get Gabe's number, but to wear down, gently, slowly like a stream or some other zen bullshit. Justin didn't press it, although he snorted amusedly at the answer. Ethiriel's answer got more consideration.
"If they are not happy, we will work it out. That's part of why I'm there as their guardian." Just then, the store clerk gestured him over. "It was nice meeting you two. I hope I run into you again - hopefully Henry will give me a buzz." He waved and hurried to the desk.
---
"Alright," Gabe leaned back, giving Justin a passing glance as the man gave his parting words. "Yeah. Good luck with that."
Sarcasm.
"Come on, Legolas," the younger Knight murmured to Ethiriel's guide dog, patting his thigh to get Nedhudir's attention. The collie was quick to acknowledge and turned to follow Gabe, gently leading Eth to the front of the store.
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Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:33 pm
The last few hours were less than fruitful, from what little information Gabe gave to the frei. Something about the stores setting applicants up for failure, making them chase their tails. They finished up the strip of stores after meeting with Justin in relatively short order and, once the task was complete, the drive back in refreshing cooled air was a quiet one.
Ethiriel didn’t mind the downtime between each stop, usually having her hand reached into the backseat for Nedhudir each car ride. It was comfortable in the car, despite how much she preferred walking over vehicles of any kind – but she much rather preferred it than the heat of the day, she had to admit. The Frei was more than happy when the task was over for the day, as well as the air cooling to a much more comfortable temperature.
Without the sun setting entirely, Ethiriel approached Gabe within hours of their separation from job searching, Nedhudir in hand.
”Gabe,” Ethiriel started, her chin lowered slightly. ”I was wondering if you would mind a walk?” To clear his head, the Frei initially thought. The day was finally cooler and she knew that he had to have been frustrated by today – especially with this Justin man’s comments. Ethiriel had no qualm with him, but his snide remarks were a little off putting, even for her.
There was a slight delay in response – his typing stopped, followed by the familiar creak of his chair as Gabe leaned back. ”Yeah, okay,” he answered, after a few moments.
It was much cooler out than it had been at the peak of the day but still balmy, clearly Summer beach weather. Evening in their neighborhood was always quiet, though with Gambino's tourism so high it was easy to hear distant cheering and excitement from several streets down. It was a blessing their home wasn't right along the shores and boardwalks or perhaps none of them would get sleep this time of year.
Something that Ethiriel was subconsciously happy about, as well.
They went through the usual motions that came before walks; making sure Ethiriel was comfortable and making any adjustment to do so, making sure Nedhudir had his harness and was secured as well as checking the weather for any subtle changes. Luckily, all of these things checked out immediately and their walk went underway.
For the most part, at least for the beginning, Ethiriel was quiet as she studied her own thoughts. The interaction with Justin today, as well as words from the mother Knight and questions Ethiriel had swarmed in her mind, and she did everything she could to lay them out internally. Especially if she were to try and discuss in full with Gabe, she needed everything to have been thought out as to not insult.
”Today took longer than I thought,” Gabe mentioned, unprovoked. His voice was low and it was a little difficult to tell if the comment was directed to Ethiriel or merely a passing thought to himself.
Ethiriel thought it over for a moment. ”Yet you did it, and that is something to be proud of.”
Gabe scoffed. ”I guess. I'll be lucky if even two of them get back to me.” The faint shuffle of his sneakers and Nedhudir's claws padding along the sidewalk mixed with the evening bird calls. ”Bet it was boring to tag along for.”
”Not at all,” said Ethiriel, hardly missing a beat. Despite Gabe’s usual demeanor, the Frei really didn’t mind spending time with the man and, often, looked forward to it. Henry was a lovely person, and the longer they knew each other the better he became, but his energy was far higher than her own – Gabe was more her speed, and – at least in her eyes – they got along pretty well. ”Save for the car, I had a nice time.”
”Right, you don't like cars much,” he murmured distantly. ”Better than being cooped up all day. I guess.”
Nodding, Ethiriel passed a glance to the Knight’s necklace. ”You are not as horrible company as you may think, Gabe.”
Though there was no pause in his pace, Gabe's response had a marked delay. ”Thanks?” His tone was somewhere between skeptical and confused.
The Frei took note of his hesitance. ”By ‘as horrible,’ I mean… I can often prefer your company over that of others, if I may be honest. I have noticed the differences between our interaction and that of others.”
He gave Ethiriel an uncertain sound in response. ”That's not something I'm usually told.”
”You are often quite abrasive with others from what I have seen. Yet, you are so much more kind to me. Is there a reason?”
”You don't piss me off as much,” Gabe said, without a hint of trepidation.
”Aside from my previous grievances?” she asked, eyes still on his necklace – the closest she could give him to eye contact.
Fabric shuffled lightly beside her – he shrugged. ”Everyone pisses me off.” Gabe huffed, his voice lowering. ”There's just s**t I don't get, with you.”
”I see,” she said, turning away to face forward. Ethiriel then eyed the silver bangles on Nedhudir’s collar. ”Are there words for what you ‘don’t get?’”
”Yeah.”
Though his affirmation was quick, Gabe seemed to stop there. It was only by way of his change in breath, when he would intake as though to begin speaking, hold it, then release a moment later. This repeated a few times within the span of a minute but the anticipation made it feel much longer.
Finally, he found those words. ”You're just--” or, perhaps, he still needed to find some, ”--you're really hung up on s**t that's out of your hands. Things you've never had.” Gabe scoffed, then continued. ”Like, you can float, right? I can't ******** float. I'll never be able to float. Doesn't bother me. I don't care.” The ring around his neck jostled slightly with the movement of his head. ”I don't get it.”
Ethiriel’s brows furrowed; he had a point, but at the same time – ”Sight is not an impossibility for me. I do have vision, it is just… extremely poor and inconvenient.”
”You're not the only one whose body is inconvenient.”
The Frei faltered, finally being the one to lose words. Her gaze returned to Gabe, though instead of at his necklace, she tried higher – closer to his face. As close as she could muster, anyhow, with guesswork.
She sighed. ”I must ask forgiveness, for I have done some snooping.”
The sole of his sneaker scuffed against the pavement, letting off a muted chirp. Gabe's pace slowed and his voice lowered. ”Great.”
”I just wished to understand you better,” Ethiriel added, her own voice lowering to mimic Gabe’s. Already, she was off to a bad start. Could she blame him for being upset? No, not at all. None of this had been in her place. ”I did not pry too far. All I have learned is of your illnesses and the way they have molded you into who you are today. I still long for the words out of your own mouth, before the day is done.
What has changed you?”
”None of your God damn business, frankly,” he snapped with a tone much like he had used with Henry not far from her door. Gabe seemed to catch himself, and he released a slow breath. ”It's all bullshit anyway.” His breathing sounded a little unsteady but his voice was softer.
Ethiriel’s voice did not waver. ”I understand.” She tore her eyes away from his face, expressionless. She hadn’t really expected more or less of a reaction, and she knew it was exactly what she asked for. It really wasn’t any of her business; not in the slightest. She knew this all too well.
For a few moments more, Gabe was quiet. They had already gone around half of the block and the sun dipped down past the tree line. What was left of the humid day was replaced with a cooler salty air, bugs in place of birds.
Compared to his previous harshness, when the younger Knight spoke next it almost sounded weak.
”I want to sit down.”
Despite her curiosity over his changed tone and demeanor, Ethiriel kept silent as she gave a brief and curt nod; unknowing whether or not Gabe had seen it. Her arm, originally holding Nedhudir’s leash, linked carefully around the man’s after a quick switch of hands. She kept her hard expression as she was led to the nearest bench, followed by more silence.
She was not upset, despite the outcome or her reaction.
As soon as they were all settled, Gabe retreated from Ethiriel's grasp. There were sounds of fabric shuffling, a dull hollow noise followed by clicking; the scent of a flame and ash. Anxious breath.
Smoke.
He didn't speak.
The smell of smoke immediately hit Ethiriel’s senses – her initial response would have been to cover her nose and mouth, perhaps cough, but she held fast. Instead, she turned her attention to her dog, who then was showing her affection by licks on the hand and nuzzles. Supposedly, man’s best friend was dog – the Frei laughed silently to herself, a single humorless chuckle; what were Raevans to man? With a quick ruffle of Nedhudir’s crown, Ethiriel sat up properly, despite the pooch’s desire for more love.
Ethiriel was at a loss; she deserved this treatment – she had pried into business that was none of her own, and she was paying for it, but she still wanted to know. There were no words for her now.
After a few short drags from the cigarette, Gabe attempted to suppress a cough of his own. He cleared his throat and settled back onto the bench with a sigh.
”Henry told you?” He seemed to be attempting to hold his typical candor, despite his obvious shift in mood.
”Partially,” Ethiriel responded, placing both hands at her sides to gently scrape at the chipping paint of the bench. There was a pause on her part before she finally continued, her voice a bit stronger. ”He and the mother you share only knew so much; it is mostly speculation on their part.”
A bitter laugh devoid of humor came from him. Gabe flicked the end of his cigarette, sending ash and cinders onto the sidewalk.
”That's real funny.” The cigarette paper crinkled slightly as it singed. ”Twenty years of my damn life, of course they don't get it.”
Turning to face Gabe, Ethiriel frowned. ”Perhaps it is that you do not let them understand. Forgive me for my own view on what I have heard, but since your illness as a child you have pushed others away. I still do not make the connection.”
Another laugh, followed by a murmur under his breath. ”This is ******** incredible.”
Gabe turned to face Ethiriel, the ring shifting in turn to stare at her head on. ”You do the same s**t. You're upset 'cause you feel inconvenient. You feel like a burden because you need help. Of course you need help. You're still figuring your s**t out. But you won't forever. You don't have people tripping all over themselves, telling you not to ******** try because, God forbid, you over exert yourself. No one is telling you that you can't do the things that you want to do because of your eyes. Only you are.”
He paused to take another drag of the cigarette. Gabe turned his head and covered a cough with the back of his hand. ”I got that s**t all my life from everyone else and I am past that. I don't want to hear it anymore.”
Ah.
There was another silent shift, Ethiriel turning her body to face Gabe completely. Again, she attempted to meet his eyes as best as she could. She could empathize, at least for part of it – Henry checked in on the Frei often… he must have done the same for Gabe. No… more often. Her rune thrummed uncomfortably.
”I understand now,” she said, her voice lower than before. Ethiriel’s brows knit together and her eyes lowered, once again focusing on the ring. Part of her wanted to reach out and touch a shoulder, a hand, but she had no way of finding these things without awkwardly fumbling – not to mention she had no idea how Gabe would react, so better off left in words.
Perhaps she would have a word with Henry. No… she would, for a fact.
”Do you?” There was an almost eerie calmness to the question but the words were steeped in spite.
She glanced up again.
”You are tired of this ‘special treatment’ that they give you. You cannot stand the unintended condescension of others despite their good will. You and I just want to feel ‘normal.’
If I am correct, that is.”
He scoffed, sounding a touch unsteady again. ”I want to feel how I used to feel. You were born this way. It's how you are. I'm not--” Several coughs interrupted him, which Gabe was quick to cover with his hand. He flicked the cigarette out of his hand and stamped it out with his heel. It took a few moments of muffled breathing before he lowered his hand again and turned to face forward. ”I'm not supposed to be like this.”
”But you are, and we can only work from the bottom up.”
Looking away, up into the vast darkness that was her sight, Ethiriel bit her lip. She could have told him something along the lines of “this is how you are now,” but that was easily turned back on herself. Yes… she should work towards loving the way she is, but with such a goal as surgery in her sights… The Frei was torn. Yes, she had been born this way, but perhaps she was destined for this change, just as Gabe had been as a young man.”Things are subject to change. Nothing is constant.”
Gabe grew quiet. His breathing leveled after a minute or so. It was always difficult to gauge his next reaction, what sarcastic and contrary quip might be lurking around the corner.
”Let's get back inside.”
He sounded tired.
”Let’s.”
Instead of initiating contact this time, Ethiriel held her hand out for Gabe to grab. Her other hand kept its tight grip on Nedhudir’s leash – it hadn’t let up the entire conversation.
Whether he hadn't noticed the offer at first, or by way of some internal debate, it took Gabe some time before responding to Ethiriel's hand. He didn't give his own in turn, instead moving his arm over enough for it to brush her fingers – for her to notice.
Ethiriel immediately took it.
The trip back was a little slower; Nedhudir matched the younger Knight's slow gait and pulled Ethiriel along for a comfortable ride. He didn't speak the whole way, not until they rounded upon their driveway and Gabe let out a soft huff. It seemed Henry was finally home, as they changed their trajectory to navigate around his vehicle towards the door.
The Frei matched Gabe’s silence. Nedhudir pulled lightly on Ethiriel’s arm, given slack, and once they were inside her first order of business was removing the collie’s harness and leash. She had let go of the younger Knight without a word and floated toward the hallway’s buffet table to put away the dog’s accessories. Gabe did much the same, removing his keys and locking the door up for the night.
A shouted ”hello!” sounded from the open doorway at the end of the hall. Henry didn’t expect an answer, but he wanted to let them know that he knew they were home.
Floating towards her room, Nedhudir in tow, the silver girl didn’t offer a passing glance before she opened the door. From behind the frame, she halted.
”Things will be all right,” she said.
She had intentions that she would fill soon.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:33 pm
With the volume down as low as she could while still being able to hear it, Ethiriel watched her door carefully. She hadn’t felt like an audio book – not while she wasn’t paying attention – she instead, she had light, classical music chiming in her sensitive ears. The Frei was so focused that nothing else in the room mattered, save for Nedhudir, who rested peacefully at the foot of the double-sized bed. With her earbuds in, the room was silent and peaceful.
Then came that expected knock.
”Ethiriel?” Henry asked, slowly cracking open the door to peek in. He had his usual smile and his usual demeanor.
”Sir Henry,” she replied.
”Just checkin’ in on ya!” said the nurse, hesitating for a moment to get a good look at the situation. Before he could close the door, Ethiriel stopped him.
”Henry—“
Stopping, Henry popped his head back into the room. ”Yes?”
”We must speak.”
Filled with curiosity, the nurse opened the door wide and stepped in. He was careful not to jostle the new necklace that hung from the door since Ethiriel’s accidental devouring of the last one, just to make sure it wouldn’t clack harshly against the wood. ”What about?” he asked calmly, his smile intact as he sat down next to Nedhudir – who he offered scritches to. The collie accepted them gratefully.
”It is about Gabriel.”
”Oh?” Henry hummed, scooting himself further onto the bed so that he could rest against the wall. ”What about Gabe? Did he… did he yell at you, again?”
”No.” A small, white lie. There was no need to get Gabe in trouble over this conversation – and if anything, she hoped to aid the younger Knight in this action. Ethiriel took in a deep breath before sitting herself more upright – or hovered, as she had no lower body. Her eyes immediately focused on Henry’s ring.
”Then what’s up?”
Another, more shallow breath. The Frei turned off her Walkman and set it aside gingerly, careful not to accidentally drop it off the bed.
”Forgive my invasiveness – but if I am to be honest, you are smothering him.”
Henry blinked. ”What?”
Ethiriel folded her hands over her ribbon, which rested flatly against the bed. ”We have talked. The two of us are not so dissimilar, but that is beside the point.”
”Then what is the point?” Henry asked, his voice gentle and curious. There was no malice in his inflection.
”He wishes for no more ‘special treatment;’ just because he is prone to illness does not mean he cannot function. He is tired of being told what to and not to do. The way you and your mother treat him is suffocating.”
Ethiriel’s voice was low and soft to keep from sounding through the wall.
Pausing, Henry thought it over. His hand idly patted Nedhudir’s head in silence. Was he really suffocating his brother? All he wanted to do was show concern and take care of Gabe – like he had when they were young. Gabe was doing such horrible things to his body, and while Henry couldn’t do anything about it necessarily, he wasn’t exactly meaning to police his younger brother at all. It was just concern that powered his actions, and immediately the nurse could feel his heart sink.
”I see…”
”Do you?” A cue from Gabe.
Henry sighed, his brows furrowed and lips pulled into a tight line, he then stopped petting the collie. ”But what am I supposed to do? I’m just trying to help.”
Ethiriel lowered herself into the bed, her silverless back against the headboard. ”Do not check on him tonight. Leave him be.”
”B-but—“
”No. When he is home, do not bother him. Allow him his own space.”
”Does my checking in bother you, too?” He asked in earnest.
”It does not; I am fine with your periodic check-ins so long as I am not busy. Gabriel, however, is not a child and does not need to have an eye kept on him. Leave him be.”
Now fiddling with his hands, Henry let out a sharp exhale. It wasn’t too much to take in, not in the slightest, but he felt truly awful. He wasn’t meaning for any of this to be negative in his brother’s eyes, and obviously Ethiriel knew more than she was telling – but if Gabe had talked to her in private about these issues, surely she had reason for keeping it secret and he wouldn’t pry. The nurse would never get over his nervousness for Gabe’s pastimes, constantly fretting over his younger sibling, but to know that it was bad and taken poorly… it broke his heart.
”Okay…” he finally said, defeated.
”I wish you to know that I am not angered. I merely wish to advise.” From her spot she couldn’t reach the older Knight, so instead she offered a small bow of her head. ”I would also like for you to know… that, if I am honest, here has been the happiest home for me. There are no negative emotions, anymore.”
Anymore.
Henry smiled, though Ethiriel couldn’t see it, and he resumed his loving on the pup. ”I’m happy to hear that,” he said. At least that was a good thing. If this really worked – if leaving Gabe to his own accord would make the house more pleasant, maybe things would get better. ”Is there any other advice you can give me?”
This time, Ethiriel smiled.
”Yes; there is one other thing.”
”Yeah?”
”Do not wear so much cologne.”
Laughing, Henry silently agreed.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:35 pm
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:37 pm
Henry watched from the front porch like a worried father, gnawing lightly on one of his fingernails. He had shown Ethiriel how to use Siri to the best of his ability (which wasn’t the greatest; he didn’t have the most knowledge over electronics other than how to use them generally), and today she was testing it out. She had Nedhudir by her side, which eased Henry’s mind a bit, though general nervousness was prevalent.
Already, the two had made their way down the street – there was no real destination other than, for the first block, going against the GPS’ directions so that she could have it lead her home in the end. Nedhudir led her forward while Ethiriel held the phone daintily in her palm.
”It won’t be long,” she had assured Henry before the “trip” was planned; probably only around a couple of blocks, and in this neighborhood she was in no real danger – everybody loved and welcomed her, so if anything were to happen, most likely someone would step in.
It was a lovely day. The Frei relished in the songs of birds nesting in their trees, the cool breeze and even the guarded barking of dogs secured in fences. It was relaxing communing with nature, and the Frei loved every minute of it. She had her sunhat on and her silver hidden, saving her from some of the impending heat of summer – just about every day she mentally thanked Duncan for such a wonderful and helpful gift. She couldn’t think of anything else she used so often, not counting Nedhudir.
The collie in question continued to lead Ethiriel forward, always stopping short of four way stops and general corners to keep her from running into oncoming traffic. Every once in a while the two would stop for some scratches and pats before starting on their way again.
Siri chimed in every few blocks, reminding Ethiriel to turn back around and head back, but the two ignored the voice intentionally as they made their way around the block. She would have to ask Henry to change the voice – this one sounded so affronted and upset when you didn’t listen to it – the opposite of what Ethiriel found helpful or relaxing.
If he knew how to, anyway.
Ethiriel chuckled to herself, thinking of Henry figuring out her phone for her. He wasn’t much of a texter, nor did he use his phone much outside of calls from the hospital or setting up plans for his ward, and listening to him get confused was, admittedly, amusing. Despite his perpetually happy disposition, which wasn’t that bad in of itself, Henry wasn’t a bad person to be around. The Frei found herself enjoying their time together much more than she had originally, no longer minding prolonged time with him. She silently wondered why she had so intently made things seem so bad. He was always so helpful, even in the beginning.
At the next corner, as Nedhudir halted, Ethiriel then turned them to the left and started floating down that way. The Collie’s claws ticked in time on the sidewalk beside her, resulting in another relaxed smile for the silver Frei.
Finally, the phone’s GPS guided her in a different direction than Ethiriel was originally going. She then listened closely as it guided her around the block; Nedhudir making all the appropriate stops and pulls when she got too close to edges of sidewalks – he did his best to keep her from tripping despite her lack of legs, and the Frei was definitely grateful for his training.
Back at home, Henry relaxed (or tried to) on the large swinging bench on their porch, watching carefully for Ethiriel’s return. He laughed at himself – he never knew he would feel this way about anything! Maybe he’d make a good father after all, he teased himself.
A good fifteen minutes later, resulting in half an hour of travel, Ethiriel found her way back home with a gentle smile on her face. While the GPS was still going, Nedhudir knew the house and cheerfully led her home without a problem. He jumped at the open gate to open it further, leading Ethiriel inside with the biggest grin a dog could have. He was rewarded with a treat and some pets before his Service Dog jacket was removed and he was free to run around to the back yard, though not without some kisses to Ethiriel’s hand.
”How was it?” Henry asked, placing his hands gently on the Frei’s shoulders.
Ethiriel smiled and met the man’s wrists with her fingers. ”It is a lovely day. I believe we have done well. Nedhudir is a good boy.”
”Agreed,” Henry chuckled, closing the gate behind Ethiriel before leading her back inside. ”I had some water boiling for when you got home. Thirsty?”
Ethiriel nodded quietly.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:39 pm
A Soothing TouchAfter being invited by Aaron, Henry and Ethiriel visit to-be guardian Claire to check up on her.---------- Luck seemed to be on their side as Claire and Eth were on their way out of the pharmacy; while the drive-through had been closed as it was on weekends (Claire had, unfortunately, forgotten that fact), the line inside had been short and the pharmacist had laughed upon the familiar sight of the blonde woman, prompting him to ask, "Ivy forgot again?" Now, with the meds safely tucked away in her purse and her arm extended out for the Frei to take, she directed them outside, exiting back into the early afternoon sunshine, the clouds from earlier all but dispersed.
Claire: -turns to Eth with a smile, giving her hand a gentle squeeze- Why don't we take a walk? It's only a few blocks from here and it's such a nice day. I've got plenty of coins in the meter, after all.
Eth: -had been her usual, quiet self as the transactions and friendly banter took place, save for if it had been directed at her- -perks a little at Claire's squeeze and proposition- "I am not opposed. It sounds like a lovely idea."
Claire: -her smile brightened at Eth's perking- "Wonderful." -carefully turns them towards the right direction and walks with measured steps, careful not to go too fast- "We can find more wonderful things for your sunroom. I bet it's lovely."
Eth: "I would love that." -is rather used to being pulled along but doesn't mind Claire's careful disposition- "We may also find something for your garden."
Claire: -laughs softly- "Here's hoping. My garden certainly needs a lot of work, but I'm sure we'll find something." -squeezes Eth's hand again- "Do you spend a lot of time in your sunroom?"
Eth: -hums a small chuckle- "I am sure it is lovely, but you can never have too many flowers." -glances down toward the ground once her hand is squeezed, then looks back up and out- "I do. It is where I go when I need some time to myself and don't want to be in my bedroom. Plus, Nedhudir likes basking in the sun with me."
Claire: "I feel much the same way about my garden. Once it's done, it should be nice, but we'll see come next spring when my bulbs are properly grown and the patio is finished." -smiles and then tilts her head towards Eth at the mention of the unfamiliar name and even more foreign pronunciation- "Nedhudir?"
Eth: "Oh, I am sorry. My seeing-eye-dog. He's a wonderful companion."
Claire: "Ahhh yes, that makes a little more sense than my original thought." -laughs again- "I was thinking for a moment that might be the name of Henry's brother; Aaron mentioned he had one."
Eth: -chuckles a bit louder this time- "Oh, no, that would be Gabriel-- or rather, Gabe."
Claire: -smile widens at Eth's louder chuckle- "Oh, hold on, we have a crowd coming; let's take a shortcut." -gently directs them down another street when she notices the large group of people takes up the sidewalk- "There we are. Anyway.. does Gabe live with you and Henry?" -admittedly is picturing someone much like Henry, although much younger; Aaron HAD said that Henry told him he takes care of his younger brother-
Eth: -allows Claire to lead her out of the way of oncoming traffic, something she actually appreciated- "Yes, he lives with us. I believe he is still looking for work."
Claire: -that statement dashes the thought of the mysterious brother being a child out of her head, and she chuckles- "Ah yes.. employment is hard to come by, sometimes hard to hold onto as well. I know that feeling. Hopefully he can find something soon." -glances around- "One more turn to get onto the street we need." -once again gently directs them down a street to the right- "How has Henry been liking Pediatrics? Has it given you more time together?"
Eth: "Hmm..." -hums this, glancing at a couple pieces of silver jewelry in the sea of black- -nods as she's directed and instructed, following Claire easily- "I do believe he likes it better than being in the ER. He does make more time to see me like this, though."
Claire: "That's good to hear on all fronts. He seems like he's very good at his job.. judging by earlier, anyway." -laughs and touches the fresh bandages at the back of her neck with a free hand- "Do you have much company during the days he works? Or is it mostly just you and Nedhudir?" -does her best to mimic Eth's smooth pronunciation from earlier but stumbles the last syllable-
Eth: "He handles children very well, from what I've come to understand. I have not gone to the hospital with him, however, so I cannot say first hand." -catches Claire's hand movement just from the shift in their linked arms- "It is usually Nedhudir and myself, yes. Gabe is sometimes home and we read in peace."
Claire: "I'm glad you have company during the day. I go see my mother since she's retired and lives just down the road from us, but sometimes the empty house gets a bit lonely." -perks up at the mention of reading- "What kind of books do you like to read? I'm a reader myself."
Eth: -nods, keeping her eyes ahead now- "Yes, it certainly helps. Things have gotten better over time." -definitely relates with the loneliness, so is happy to have Nedhudir- "Oh. Well, Gabe has given me Tolkien novels via audiobook, as well as a few other things. I suppose I do like fantasy."
Claire: -chuckles- "Aaron likes Lord of the Rings quite a bit. I liked The Hobbit a bit more myself, but maybe there's a point of conversation for another time." -glances up, noting that they are almost there as she can see it just a short ways ahead- "I like most anything, really, but fantasy is very nice. I read a lot of Terry Pratchett in high school. I really like children's books though! I've got quite a few." -a bit of a bittersweet thought for her there, as they were in preparation for her own children, but she keeps her tone even, not trying to betray the bitterness of that memory-
Eth: "I am always open for suggestions. Audiobooks are far easier to find than braille, but I do know it." -smiles- "I have read a few children's books -- when I first learned braille. Henry thought it would be easier for comprehension."
Claire: -pats Eths' hand gently- "Well he does have a point. One has to start slowly until they're used to it. Which ones have you read, if I may?"
Eth: "Goodness, there were a few..." -goes silent for a moment, raising her chin in thought- "Many Dr. Seuss books, The Secret Garden and many other similar titles. They were quite cute."
Claire: -sighs wistfully at the titles- "Ahh, I loved The Secret Garden when I was a child. They are very nice." -with a start, glances ahead and realizes they're just outside of their destination and slows their pace- "Here we are, shall we head inside?" -smiles, with it evident in her tone-
Eth: -nods in agreement- "It was quite nice, I enjoyed it. I do prefer more intricate stories like the ones that Gabe gets for me." -turns her head toward Claire once they stop- "I can smell the flowers from here; there are many wonderful choices."
Claire: -emboldened by Eth's statement, takes a deep breath - the scent of flowers is very thick just outside the door- "Let's go in and find out for ourselves?" -laughs softly and walks her up the steps, holding open the door as it swings wide with a gentle chime; a shop assistant, a girl in her early twenties, glances up from the row of flowers she is watering near the window-
Assistant: "Hello! May I help you find anything today?" -sets the watering can down, all smiles-
Claire: "Just browsing for now, unless.." -pauses and turns to Eth- "Do you have anything in particular you would like to ask about? Or should we just meander?"
Eth: -smiles softly- "Let's." -follows inside, floating foward as Claire held the door open- "Oh." -closes her eyes and takes another whiff, gently shaking her head- "I believe meandering is the way to go. Thank you for asking."
Assistant: -laughs- "That sounds fair. Just let me know if you need anything, alright?"
Claire: "We will, thank you very much!" -turns back to Eth and uses their linked arms to indicate where they could go next- "Shall we take a look at some bulbs, then? And enjoy other flowers as we go." -chuckles-
Eth: "I would enjoy that." -follows along closely, linked arms close- "Is there anything in particular you would like to get for your garden?"
Claire: -hums thoughtfully- "Well.. I could use some lilies, the pansies are awfully lonely by themselves. A bit early to try to start my herb garden, perhaps in the spring." -tilts her head towards the tea Frei- "How about you? Anything your sunroom might be in need of?"
Eth: -brings her free hand up to her mouth, hovering just away from her lips in thought- "Generally, I buy my flowers and other plants by scent -- sometimes I buy out of their use for Henry in the kitchen, though." -hums, lightly pressing her fingers against her lips- "Maybe you could pick out a surprise for me? I would love your input."
Claire: -smiles and squeezes Eth's hand- "I'd be happy to. Let your nose lead the way and we'll go from there?" -laughs and sets them walking down the small aisle-
Eth: -hums and squeezes back gently- -nods and leads Claire by the hand, taking time to smell each flower and feel their petals- "Hmm..." -stops in front of a large cluster of purple Aster flowers and takes a whiff, contemplating before moving on- -running across some Dahlia, pauses and contemplates- "These are not in my collection."
Claire: -walks with Eth and pauses when she does, eyeing each flower the frei stops to feel and wonders what to add to her own garden as well, but also pauses at the dahlias- "Dahlias. They've got quite a variety of them here.. shall we try each and see which feels right?" -leads her to the anemone-flowered variety, these ones yellow and pink in color, and giggles at the name- "They call this one the 'Boogie Woogie', what a cute name.."
Eth: "I would appreciate that." -lead easily, hand idly and gently running atop the bunches of flowers as they went- "What a silly name -- I wonder who came up with it?" -chuckles softly-
Claire: -chuckles too- "Well it certainly is a lovely one, regardless of name." -peruses the next variety, which were waterlily dahlias- "These are charming. This one is called 'Cameo'." -holds her own hand out to gently stroke the petals- "The white would look nice as a contrast in my garden.." -purses her lips momentarily before reaching down for a pack of the bulbs, pausing in thought- "If you mostly have amaryllis in your sunroom, and lilies.. perhaps a brighter, rounder dahlia to compliment it?" -strolls them forward down the aisle a little bit until they are in front of the star dahlias- "How does this one feel, Ethiriel?"
Eth: -listens carefully and softly searches between each flower, but once her attention is drawn to a particular Dahlia via Claire's guidance, becomes more focused as she felt each petal. this particular breed had many, many petals- "I do like it, I must say."
Claire: -hums thoughtfully- "Since I don't know what variety of lily you have in your sunroom, I'm going to have to venture a guess, but these would look lovely regardless." -finally she straightens up, smiling- "Shall we get a pot of them for you?"
Eth: -nods along- "I am sure whatever you may choose shall be perfect, Lady Claire." -moves so that she could loop her arm around her companion's- "A simple pot would be best. I do not wish to take the beauty away from the flower, itself."
Claire: -pats Eth's arm when it loops through her own- "I couldn't agree more.. luckily for us they keep them below the displays." -bends down just a touch to pluck two plain clay pots from the pile, tucking her bulbs into it to free up space- "On second thought we probably should have driven if we wanted to keep browsing but hey.. gives us another excuse to come back, right?" -gives her arm a fond nudge-
Assistant: -pokes her head up from the next row over- "Have you ladies decided?"
Claire: "If we could get two of these Alloway Candies.." -hums once again- "Maybe one of these Cameos too, if you could. I think that might do us for now, we've got a few blocks to walk back."
Assistant: "No sweat! Let me just get those set for you." -hustles forward on Claire's free side and transplants a couple of them into the same plastic planter- "Shall I take these up front for you?" -balances them easily as she takes the pots and bulbs from Claire-
Claire: "That would be wonderful, thank you." -smiles as the girl hustles off, and turns to Eth- "Want to do a little more window shopping or shall we get these lovely pieces back to our gardens?"
Eth: -had remained quiet for most of the banter, mostly keeping her attention on the scents of various flowers floating around the shop- -brought back to reality at the nudge, but she smiles- "I would have to agree, coming back sounds lovely." -hums, glancing into the direction of the assistant- "I believe if we look further I may want more. Perhaps it is enough for one day." -chuckles again-
Claire: -laughed a little more loudly than the soft laughs she had elicited before, one that spoke of relation- "Very true, I most certainly understand that feeling." -steers them gently towards the front of the shop towards the register, where the assistant was ringing up the goods- "Besides, I want to get a good look at your sunroom before I pick out anything else for you, but this is a good start."
Eth: "I wish I could explain to you my sunroom, but we will just have to wait and see." -smiles warmly at Claire's laugh, following closely-
Claire: "As far as I'm concerned, that just gives me and Aaron another reason to come visit. You can show me around properly then." -her smile is evident in her voice, eyes crinkling at the corners happily as they reach the register-
Assistant: "Aaand here we go, totalled out. Card or cash today?" -shakes out a plastic bag and gently sets the flowers inside-
Claire: -fishes into her purse with her free hand, plucking her wallet free and working between both hands to wrestle out her card- "Debit, if you can."
Assistant: -takes the card from her- "Can do! Just a minute please." -sets to work on that-
Claire: -turns to Ethiriel again with a small giggle- "Besides I think we'd better make sure the boys didn't totally destroy the house, don't you think?"
Eth: "That sounds like a deal, to me." -happy to hear her smile- -listens to the bag crinkle and move in the girl's hands, glancing back in her general direction- -lets out another chuckle at Claire's joke and nods- "I can only imagine the remains."
Claire: -laughs again- "And I was just settling into the new house too. I suppose Ma'll just have to help me pick through the wreckage."
Assistant: -hands the receipt and card back to Claire, who tucks them back into her purse- "Thanks for coming in today, hope to see you all again soon!"
Claire: "I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot of us. Thank you for your help!"
Assistant: "My pleasure." -smiles-
Claire: -picks up the couple of bags, looping them through her free arm- "Shall we go check on those two, then?"
Eth: -offers a small bow to the assistant- "The pleasure was ours. Have a wonderful day." -turns back to Claire- "Such a pitty, I thought that I had Henry trained better than that."
Claire: -laughs again as they moved forward- "We'll both have to keep our fingers crossed, then." -opens the door with a happy jingle-
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:40 pm
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:47 pm
Right On KeyAfter having babysat Aina for a while, this time it was Ethiriel to visit the Duncan household and learn a thing or two.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:48 pm
[x]Meeting Revontulet by chance, Ethiriel gets a chance for some sudden girl-time, as well as making a new friend.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:50 pm
Out For A RunWhile Henry, Ethiriel and Nedhudir go out for a run, they meet another to-be Guardian who has a few questions.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:52 pm
Burnt CrustWith a newly born Aadhira, Justin decided to meet up with some familiar faces -- Ethiriel and Henry.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:53 pm
Flowering FriendsWith the promise of free flowers, to-be Guardian Ian invites Ethiriel and Henry to his shop.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:53 pm
SEPT 2015
It had become a weekly thing, taking care of Aina for Duncan. Honestly, it was one of Ethiriel's favorite things -- along with her hikes with Candice and her group of children. It got her out of the house (sometimes) and she got to interact with people who were interested in her. Not to say that the Knights weren't, but it was a little different being around children -- something Henry knew well.
With Henry next to her, Ethiriel nodded for a knock on the door, which he did promptly.
Duncan greeted them at the door, opening it wide for the two of them. Smiling, he stepped aside to allow them in. “Hello, you two! Mordekai’s just finished lunch for us – Aina’s right inside.”
Henry was all smiles as the door opened. “Oh, sweet! Looks like we made it just in time, ‘ey, Ethiriel?”
Politely bowing her head, a gentle smile grew on Ethiriel’s lips. “It seems as though we have. It is a pleasure to see you again, Sir Duncan.”
The nurse offered his hand for a shake – like he usually did. “Ethiriel’s got an announcement for later! Something special!”
Returning Henry’s handshake, Duncan grinned. “Oh! It must be quite good news, from the look of it. We’re so happy to have the both of you over for lunch,” he said, closing the door behind them and leading into the kitchen.
Aina, clutching onto Mordekai’s shoulders as he plated the last of their meals, smiled up at Henry and Ethiriel, waving. “Hi, Eth! Hi, Mister Henry!”
Mordekai laughed and steadied his hold on Aina, nodding toward them. “Ey, you two!”
Her smile widening a bit at their greetings, Ethiriel parted from henry with her hand out before her, searching for Aina. “Hello, Sir Mordekai, Miss Aina,” she said, offering a gentle kiss to the pomegranate’s forehead once they made contact.
Mordekai crouched down so that Ethiriel could reach Aina.
Henry chuckled, “you can just call me ‘Henry,’ sweet pea. It’s good to see you again, Mordekai! The sunroom is still holding out perfectly!”
Giggling at the girls, Mordekai smiled over at Henry. “Yeah, it’s holdin’ up? Break some windows an’ gimme a good reason to come over!” he said, kneeling to let Aina off his shoulders.
Aina giggled and kissed Ethiriel’s forehead back and once she was let down, she floated forward to give the older Frei a big hug. “Hi…!”
Smiling, Duncan helped Mordekai finish up arranging their lunch on the kitchen table. “Henry and Ethiriel have some special news for later.”
“Certainly do!’ It kind of effects these visits, but I’ll let Ethiriel give the big news over lunch!” Henry said.
“Ooh~ over lunch, eh?” Duncan asked, walking to the counters to grab them cups for drinks, then gestured toward the dining table. “Take a seat anywhere! Made some quiche an’ grilled asparagus – Eth an’ Henry, what d’you wanna drink?”
Ethiriel hummed approvingly as Aina gave kisses of her own, then eagerly took the hug. “Hello, little one. Did you miss me?” She then glanced toward Henry’s necklace and nodded. “It should not affect these visits for very long, I should hope.”
“I missed you lots! Can we play the piano later?” Aina nodded, but her expression morphed into worry. Tugging her sleeve, Aina asked, “Does that mean you can’t visit anymore…?”
Duncan chimed, “I’ll go get some silver from the garage.” He smiled and waved them over before heading out to the garden.
Ethiriel chuckled, giving Aina a gentle squeeze. “I can still visit, young one, I will just be… absent, for a short time.” Lifting her chin up as she allowed Aina to guide her toward the table. “I would like water. Thank you, Mordekai.” She then lowered her head and turned to Aina. “Of course we can I would love to play with you.”
“That sounds absolutely delicious, thank you! And water for me, too, if you wouldn’t mind!” Henry said, smiling as Duncan excused himself, showing Ethiriel into her seat along with Aina.
“O-oh… okay…” Aina nodded, but immediately perks up with a smile, leading Ethiriel to the dining table. “Can we play songs from The Sound of Music?”
“Sure, sure! Two waters,” Mordekai responded, walking to the fridge to fill the two cups. He then walked back, placing a cup down for both of their guests, then picking up the knife to cut the quiche. “How much’a appetite you got, Henry?”
Leaning back a little, Henry chuckled, “Sure smells good, too! I’ve got quite the appetite today, Mordekai! But don’t pile too much on – gotta watch my girlish figure!”
Returning from the garden with a basketful of silver chock full of patina, Duncan smiled. Walking to the table, he left some rusted silverware on the table for the tea Frei. “Here you are, Ethiriel.”
“But of course, anything for my little one,” Ethiriel smiled. Nodding, she allowed her hand to lightly brush along Aina’s arm as she moved to her own seat. “Thank you, Sir Duncan,” she said, lightly searching the table before her for the water, touch becoming even softer when she found the glass as to not knock it over.
Smiling, Aina settled herself into a seat next to Ethiriel, her hands on her cheeks as she hummed while Ethiriel ate and Mordekai helped Henry to his portion.
“Sgonna take more’n a quiche to ruin your figure I think, eh, belle?” Mordekai laughed, cutting a decent slice for Henry. “Grab as much asparagus y’want.” He then cut a slice for both Duncan and himself, then stood back up to grab water for Aina.
Henry chuckled, “I suppose that’s true, huh?”
“I suppose it would be best to say it now: I am having surgery to remove my cataracts – so that I may have the chance to see.”
Duncan responded, “Of course, Eth!” Once everyone’s settled, everyone gathered around to hear Ethiriel’s news. The older man’s eyes widened. “Ah, I see…! Congratulations, Ethiriel!”
“Ah, wow, yeah! Congrats, girl!” Mordekai said, brows raised.
After sipping her water, Aina wiggled – clearly excited, but confused. “Mhm!! Um!! What’re cataracts?”
Flushing a bit at all of the sudden attention and congratulations, Ethiriel humbly bowed her head as everyone had their peace – she couldn’t help but smile a bit brighter at Aina’s adorable confusion.
“It’s like having an, um… like something’s blocking your vision,” Henry explained. “Ethiriel has had it since she was born, and now they’re going to remove it!”
“Oooh…” Aina pouted. “But—but I thought – um, can’t Eth see already?”
“Just silver, Aina – remember?” Duncan said with a smile.
Pouting again, Aina retorted, “Is that bad?”
Reaching over, Ethiriel lightly brushed her fingers against Aina’s shoulder before cupping the back of her head and rubbed gently with her thumb. “It is not bad, little one. I just wish to see the world, is all.”
After taking a swig of his water, Henry set down the glace to smile sympathetically at Aina, to Mordor and then Duncan. “Zeke presented the idea and Ethiriel took to it, so it was her decision the whole time – no input from me.”
Aina, however, frowned. “B-but—you already do…! An’ it’s gonna hurt… you were born with it an’ you’re cuttin’ it away,” she said, patting her own horns down protectively, still pouting. “Isn’t that gonna hurt lots…?”
Mordekai looked between Henry, Aina and Ethiriel at the discourse – as does Duncan, though the blond reached over for Aina. “yeah, that’s great! C’mere, baby girl—“ he said, scooping her up into his arms and holding her, giggling. “We should be happy for Eth, huh? S’real big news!”
“Have you already met for the consultation?” Duncan asked with a smile, “Do you know when you’ll be going in for the surgery, Ethiriel?”
Ethiriel had begun visually fretting over Aina’s reaction and upset, rubbing her thumb into the Frei’s hair before she’s pulled away entirely – her hands begun fidgeting. “W-well, erm…” Clearing her throat, Ethiriel tried to put more strength into her voice. “October 21st, Sir Duncan. Everything has been cleared.
“Everything’s going to be okay, Aina. I promise. It’s connected to the hospital I work at and everyone there is trustworthy,” Henry said, glancing nervously toward Mordekai before his eyes landed on Duncan. “I won’t let anything bad happen to Ethiriel, I promise.”
Planting a little kiss on Aina’s worried cheek, Mordekai added, “See? Eth’s gunna be okay – she’s real smart, an’ this is somethin’ she really wants! An’ Henry’ll be there the whole time for her, eh?”
“But it’s gonna hurt a lot…! It’s gonna hurt a lot!” Aina cried.
Interjecting, Duncan offered Aina a sympathetic smile, but his expression brightens at Henry and Ethiriel. “I’m sure it won’t hurt at all for Ethiriel, Aina, it’s alright.” He then gave a sound of acknowledgement . “Ah, in a few weeks, then! We wish you the best, Ethiriel – we’ll have to celebrate once you’re out.”
Ethiriel couldn’t help but be distressed over Aina, showling clear on her face. “Little one, my sweet, I will be fust fine – do not worry…” The Frei, herself, wasn’t particularly nervous – at least, not right at the moment.
“Duncan’s right! She won’t feel a thing!” Henry cheered, glancing between the three of them, then back to Duncan. “Yes! It’s getting down to the wire, but we’re not worried.”
“We are not,” Ethiriel said lightly, still trying to comfort Aina. “I cannot wait to see each of your wonderful faces.”
Kissing Aina on the cheek again, Mordekai brushed Aina’s hair away. “See? She’s gunna be alright… she’s gunna be alright, baby girl.” He let out a small laugh and held the pomegranate out toward Ethiriel once the younger Frei looked at him and sniffed wearily. “Think Aina needs some of your love, Eth.”
Duncan nodded, “Be sure to update us every step of the way, Henry – will it be at Gambino, then?”
Once she realized Aina was being handed to her, Ethiriel opened and held her arms out for the little one to take – once in her arms, she cradled Aina like a child and gave her reassuring kisses to her forehead.
Quietly, once in in her arms, Aina looked up at Ethiriel and asked, “You’re not gonna feel a thing…? Isn’t that bad?”
“Definitely can do, Duncan. You guys’ support means everything,” Henry said, leaning toward Ethiriel to lightly ruffle the rain drop’s hair. “We need your support too, Aina.”
Ethiriel smiled and nuzzled her nose into Aina’s hairline once Henry’s hand was retracted. “All will be fine, little one. I would not do anything to put myself in harm’s way. Not when I have you.”
“Mm…” Aina hummed, nodding warily and rubbing her eyes a little. “Is… is the surgery gunna make you happy…?”
Taken back, Ethiriel stared forward for a moment before looking down toward Aina and idly running strips of her hair through her fingers. “It might. We shall see, won’t we? Maybe I will get to see your face. I know that that, would make me very happy.”
“Okay…” Aina said, looking up at Ethiriel. Her frown remained, though much calmer than before. “U-um… if it’s gonna make you happy… then it makes me happy, too…” she said with a nod. “And you’re really gonna be okay? It’s not gonna hurt?”
To Aina’s glance, Ethiriel gave another kiss. “I will be just fine. Henry has told me what the procedure entails and it should not take terribly long,” she said, rocking and gently patting Aina’s head. “I hear while I am healing there will be irritation, but nothing that I can’t handle.”
Thinking, Aina nodded, “Okay…” Kissing Ethiriel’s cheek, she continued, “I’ll support you…”
At the kiss, Ethiriel hugged Aina tighter.
Easing into a more natural smile, Mordekai laughed a little. “There we go, Aina.”
Henry chuckled and ruffled the pomegranate’s hair. “It’s gonna be alright!”
“You always have a home here, Ethiriel. If you ever want to relax in the garden when you’re recovering, you’re always welcome,” Duncan said with a smile and nod.
“I thank you, Sir Duncan. I may just have to take up your offer as soon as I am healed,” Ethiriel said, separating from Aina enough to lightly grab her face and nuzzle their noses clumsily. “And I cannot wait to see your face, little one.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2015 9:38 pm
Quiet ReflectionsOut for a stroll on her own, Ethiriel happens to cross an over-thinking Xiu at the park.
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