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 Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:00 pm
Blinking down at the box, Mr. Katan looked back up at Rory, then back to the box. "You did this? My, my... Very impressive." All that ran through the man's head was how much the boy could make off his carvings.
Well, he should have known this day was coming. "Th-that's... good, I suppose. We're not exactly ready to be having grandchildren running around quite yet, either." Sighing with disappointment -- less at Lee than at what was happening -- the man thought for a moment, not once looking up at Rory. "If she... does get pregnant... you'll be sticking around whether you like it or not, do you understand?" For once, he was going to have to give Rory a demand, not just a suggestion or question.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:06 pm
"I ain't th' sort t' gae abandoning me family, e'en unexpected bairns, sir. Me parents brought me up better'n tha'," Rory said, a faint smile at his lips. "You donnae know much on didikai, yeah? W' really prize family o'er e'erythin' else. There are nae unwanted children in our clan, just them tha' are sometimes unexpected." He sat up a bit. "I ain't ready t' be a father an' Lee ain't ready fae weans either. I can see tha'. We'll be careful, but if somethin' happens an' there are children, I wonnae leave her. I'll marry her an' take care o' her an' th' baby reet proper."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:16 pm
"You're a good kid, and I hope you really mean that." Mr. Katan smiled faintly back, confident that Rory was speaking honestly. "You can go see Lee now, if you'd like. She might be waiting for you on the steps. And, I'll try to take care of the Jeremy situation as best I can." He rubbed the bridge of his nose as he looked back down at the papers on his desk. He was quite comfortable in Rory's presence now, even after everything he'd learned today. Even if his wife wasn't happy about the pairing, he was starting to grow attached to the boy...
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:18 pm
"Jeremy might be a bigger problem than expected," Rory said, getting up with a soft groan. "I didnae wanna say anythin' wi' Lee here, but I think he tried t' kill me. Twice."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:22 pm
Blinking incredulously up at Rory, Mr. Katan opened his mouth to speak, not able to find the words to say. "Tried to kill you? How's that?" Was that some kind of didikai phrase or something and he just misunderstood? Surely he didn't mean literally kill.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:25 pm
"I cannae swim, sir, an' I'm pretty sure he pulled me int' th' pool when he an' Lee were swimmin'. He tried t' play it off as an accident, but I felt him holdin' on an' pullin' me from th' side," Rory said softly. "I got sick after he brought me th' hot chocolate, too. Lee said it's not supposed t' be bitter, but mine wis." He looked up at Mr. Katan. "An' tha's th' sort o' man your wife wanted fae Lee?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:34 pm
Sitting back in his chair, Mr. Katan's eyebrows raised with shock and slight confusion. "The boy's disagreeable, sure, but... a murderer?" They were awfully strange circumstances, though. No one else was complaining of an upset stomach from dinner, so it couldn't have been that. And with the swimming incident, it could have been an accident, but... "Would you like to confront him, then?" Perhaps there was a very reasonable explanation for all this.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:36 pm
"Nae, not wi' Lee here. I donnae want her t' be worried," Rory said, looking down. "If he comes t' th' carnival, though, an' tries somethin', he'll be enterin' didikai lands at his own risk." He sighed, not looking too good. "I should gae get Lee so w' can gae home. Stomach still hurts a bit."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:43 pm
The man gave Rory a solemn nod, understanding the boy's position. If Lee didn't know, there was no reason to try to scare her. "Be cautious until this is all sorted out..." He rubbed at his forehead, worry clear on his face. "Tell Lee goodbye for me."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:45 pm
"You should come tell her yourself," Rory said, looking back at the man. "She misses you both a lot. An' I donnae think it's good-bye, sir. You'll just see her later."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:12 pm
Glancing up at the boy, he nodded and smiled weakly, somewhat speechless. Getting up from his seat, he looked back at Rory before pushing through the door and heading through the hallway, finding his daughter on the steps with a pile of books on her lap.
Lee stood as she saw the two approaching, arms full of various books for Lauss to read through, just to keep him entertained. Her expression showed how nervous she was, hoping that her father and Rory still got along alright.
"I hate to see you go, but you're right, Rory really should get some rest. I suppose I'll be... seeing you later." Wow, the expression really didn't sound right coming from him.
Blinking up at the man, Lee nodded, happy to see nothing seemed any different. "I'll be coming back for more of my stuff, just so ya know. Bye, dad." She smiled up at him, not exactly able to hug him with everything in her arms.
The man smiled softly down at his daughter, rubbing her hair affectionately. "Take care good of Rory, alright? We love you, Lee."
Nodding and smiling softly, she walked to Rory's side. "You wanna help me with these books?" She giggled lightly, gesturing to the pile in her arms.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:23 pm
"Sure, lass," Rory said, taking some of the books. He smiled back at Mr. Katan. "Come by th' carnival sometime soon, eh? We'll see about horse ridin' or something. Bring Lee's mum, too, if you want."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:32 pm
Smiling warmly to both Rory and his daughter, Mr. Katan nodded. "Of course." He wasn't sure his wife would ever agree to tag along, but he wasn't about to tell the boy that. "Take care."
Lee smiled back, unable to wave, and headed with Rory through the door toward the car parked outside that would take them home. "You and my dad seem to be getting along better, ne?" She couldn't tell him how happy that made her.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:34 pm
"He's a good man," Rory said, nodding. "A lot more reasonable than your mum."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:39 pm
A servant opened the car door and Lee slid inside, leaving room for Rory as she laid the book down on the floor. "Hope that wasn't too much torture for you.... Oh!" She rummaged through the books beneath her, pulling out a cookbook. "Lauss was wanting to read this, but you can use it if you want, too. It's the one with the scallops recipe in it."
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