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 Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:55 pm
Clutching the strap of her satchel that was slung over her shoulder, Mattie skipped through town, looking around at the various delights the town offered. Her stomach couldn't help but growl at the sight of all the pastries she saw. Ears perked up slightly, she walked over to stall offering the goods, paid for a small tart and went off on her merry way, nibbling on it in sheer bliss.
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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:21 pm
Aubrey had just gotten off from a shift at the tavern and was wandering the town in search of a bit of food to buy with the coins he had earned that day. It had been a busy morning, and he felt he deserved something special. He passed many stalls, smirking at one full of stuffed dolls, eyeing enviously at high value cookwear, and shaking his head at one rather riskeh shirt and toy store. When had those started up?
Finlly, he reached a soup camp that he often volunteered at. He grinned and called out to the head, who was talking with another worker. "Hey! How's a guy supposed to get any food around here with you chatting way?" He called playfully in his bold voice, not realizing his daughter might be anywhere nearby.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:44 am
Mattie's ear twitched as she heard Aubrey's voice. Was that...? Excited, Mattie ran to the source of where she had heard the voice, ending up in front of the soup camp. Recognizing the tall man that she loved so much, she called out, "Papa!" dropping her tart to the ground in excitment before running over to him.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:29 pm
In imitation of the girl, Aubrey looked up from heckling the owner, ear twitching. He held a hand up to tell the other male he'd be back, then turned with a wide grin, holding his arms open at catch the running teen. "Mattie, I swear you are growing too fast to be real." He said as he kissed the top of her head.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:58 pm
Mattie flew into his arms, clinging to her father, grinning. "It's all these sweets I've been eating." her tail swished to and fro happy to see him again. "So what have you been up to? You haven't visited Mama yet." The girl didn't have any idea of how much her mother and father didn't get along.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:07 pm
Aubrey chuckled, tickling her ears a little. "We'll have to cut you off from those sweets then. You'll be all grown up before I can say cracked lobster bake."
The mention of her mother made him shake his head at her continued innocence. He wanted to help her understand, but he also didn't want her to know about it. "Well, we're both very busy. My free time and her free time don't coincide often. Business at the tavern has picked up, so I'm there a lot. I have my commitments here. I have to take care of my house." He smiled and brushed her cheek gently. "And I have to spend time with you whenever I can."
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:34 pm
Mattie giggled, "Which tavern do you work at? Maybe we can come visit one day." she paused, "If Mama wants to. She doesn't really like town much you see." she babbled, "She doesn't like the crowd and the noises." The centaur sighed, "Mama doesn't like anything really. She just likes to clean all day and spend time with Riome and me." she suddenly frowned, thinking of the Naga that Riome called his son. Trying to take that thought out from her mind, shaking her head, she continued, "How about we spend the day together today? Mama's out with Riome anyways!" she grinned.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:48 pm
Aubrey nodded. "I can show it to you. It's not far from here, so we can go past it as we walk." He shrugged dismissivly. "You're mother has never liked crowds much." Then he grinned. "I, however, like the town. You seem to share that affection. I was hoping you would ask." He bowed and kissed the back of her hand, acting very formal for her. "My dear, it would be my pleasure to escort you through town." He said with an exagerrated sweep of his arm.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:01 pm
"You're too kind sir." Mattie said, curtsying for Aubrey. She took his arm politely, but tugged him away from the soup kitchen back into the main road.
"We sure do have a lot in common Papa. It's kinda strange when you think about it..." she said, actually thinking about it. "Why do you think that?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:12 pm
Aubrey sighed softly. He had always wondered if she had ever understood when she called him 'Papa' and now it was becoming clearer to him. Now, should he take her somewhere quiet? How much should he say? Should he get Pa-? Worst idea ever. Should he wait until later? Should he be forward or break it gently? First, he prodded a little more, just to be sure. "Mattie, do you know why you call me 'Papa'?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:19 pm
Mattie snorted, "Of course! Why wouldn't I?" she laughed at his foolishness, "It's your name silly!" she dismissed the entire subject, wondering why he was asking such a question. "So which way is the tavern?" she asked, looking both ways and at the various buildings and stalls. "What's it look like? I'm sure that would be easier to look for."
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:35 pm
Aubrey bit his lip. He had been right. That damn wench had never made it clear to Mattie! Yet, then again, it looked like that neither had he. Apparently, his attempts had been too subtle. Maybe he should wait until she was an adult... A small voice chastized in his mind.
He ignored the tavern questions, slowly pulling her to the side of the path. "Do you know any friends with two parents? With both a mother and a father?" He felt sweat pop on the back of his neck. "Do they call their fathers by any other names?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:50 pm
"Two parents...?" Mattie blinked at him, wondering why he was asking this suddenly. "Well...there was this girl named Priscilla when I was younger...but she had no parents. But there were other kids I used to play with that had both a mother and a father yes. Why do you ask?" It was an extremely weird thing to talk about when exploring town for the day. "They call their dad...dad?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:00 pm
Aubrey rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "They have other names too. I'm sorry. I really thought you had understood before. Really." He shifted slightly to face her. "Some of those kids also call their fathers... papa. It's not a name. It's a title. A title... for daughters... to call their fathers."
He felt a sweat drop run down his back, he was so nervous. He tried hard to not let it show. This had moved much faster than he had anticipated this converasation to go. His grip was gentle but firm on their linked arms, attempting to convey support for the revelation the girl had just recieved, and a little for himself.
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:13 pm
Her smile faltered, "Wh-what?" she stuttered, Mattie was at a loss for words. This couldn't be true could it? But if he was really her father, then...then shouldn't he be living with her and Mama? "H-how?" she didn't know what to say anymore. The man that she had loved so much as a child was really her father. Her stomach turned over making her feel lightheaded and even more anxious. She moved her mouth again trying to talk, but no words came out.
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