Adriel had hoped by taking Tia to the park everyday that she'd get a bit more friendly towards him, after all he had carried her...why was she so firmly attached to Duncan? He hated to admit he was jealous...though he vaguely understood how his mate must feel. He got Iah, and could hug and love him all he wanted and Duncan didn't get that luxury. Leaning over he placed Tia in the sandbox and then went to sit on the bench to watch her play, his hand lightly lying on his exposed flat stomach. There were scars from the C-sections and it wasn't that he wanted more children...but he felt so distant from his little girl.
Tia on the other hand was quite content to sit in the sandbox and dig around with her fingers. She formed little mounds to symbolize houses as she found rocks to then pretend were people. The little girl didn't mind playing alone, and in a whole she wasn't interested in her 'mother'.
Puck ran a bit ahead of his Mother as he wandered toward the sandbox, of course his feet got a bit ahead of him and so he stumbled over the sandbox ledge and onto the sand. Thankfully there were no causalities, or at least hopefully there wasn't. He sat up a bit and went to dust himself off, even his tentacles helped clean him up a bit since it was a bit of annoyance when sand got stuck in the crevices of the metallic tentacles. As he finished straightening himself out he noticed another in the sandbox and their guardian nearby.
"Hi!" He bubbled cheerfully, unable to contain himself. New people! Puck loved new people! There were so many people out there and he wanted to meet them all.
Adriel had stiffened mostly due to his eyes latching onto the rather metalic looking tentacles on the young boy who had suddenly arrived. Chii and Fuu also had taken notice as they 'peered' in the young boy's direction. He was about to move when he relaxed seeing the boy's supposed guardian.
"Hello there." Adriel replied with a smile, leaning forward so that his own tentacles could reach out closer to Tia if need be.
Tia merely looked up at the boy, her one tentacle, covered in many eyes looked at the boy lazily. Blinking she seemed unable to properly reply, though her tentacle then did end up giving a lazy wave.
Riulve meandered closer and nodded to Adriel quietly with a small chuckle while she watched the boy, "Hope you don't mind us. He's been bothering me to go to the park since early this morn."
Puck scooted a bit closer to the smaller girl and beamed cheerfully, "My name is Puck and you're very pretty," he chattered happily with as much sincerity as he could muster which was a lot. One of his tentacles slid to hide behind him as was its nature. He was careful not to knock over any mounds or anything, "what ya makin'?"
Tia blinked at him, then she smiled and clapped her hands together gleefully. Puck had just won him a fan for life. Even at her young age she understood a compliment by its tone. And daddy called her pretty all the time. "Puck!" She repeated pointing to him, "Tia!" She explained pointing to herself. "Does Puck wanna pway?" she inquired leaning forward eagerly. Apparently she only opened up if she liked the person. She looked to the mounds on the ground and pointed at them. "Twurtle houses." She explained, "Pwayin house."
Adriel recognized Riulve from when he used to play with her daughter Wynni. "Hello there...I didn't know you had a son too...how is Wynni?"
Puck nodded encouragingly, "Tia! That is a pretty name, just as pretty as you are," he keened happily as he continued along complimenting her and meaning it. He stared at the houses and then at her with wide eyes, he nodded a bit, "Yes! I would love to play with Tia, please~," Puck said in a chipper tone as he got a little more settled. "What do I get to do?"
Riulve smiled lightly and nodded, "Aye, got him a bit ago, also birthed me a son...So t's a bit crazy at home," she laughed lightly and crossed her arms at her abdomen thoughtfully. "She's well. Wynni just grew recently; mayhap you'll see her soon. She's been wantin' to visit ya."
Adriel offered a small smile, he knew all the spawn grew at different rates. For example Tia grew rather slowly compared to her brother, he laughed and then nodded his head in Riulve's direction. He understood only too well how having a baby was. "Well congratulations. I would love to meet with her again, it's been a really long time." He agreed.
Tia looked Puck over and then grabbed a stick and offered it to him. "You pway..monsta...you break houses...den " She went to grab the pinecone she had found and the showed it to him. "Then Misa pwincone come save day."
Riulve nodded a bit, "Thank you," she replied sincerely. "I'll tell Wynni that you send your regards and want her to come visit then?" The white haired woman gazed at the young man with a small smile. "You seem fairly happy in life?"
Puck took the stick and nodded a bit with a small chuckle, "Okay! Whenever you're ready to start let me know," the boy offered cheerfully. He didn't want to destroy anything until the girl said it was alright, it seemed rude somehow and he didn't want to upset her!
Adriel nodded his head, he supposed he was content. A wonderful mate, two children...there wasn't much he could complain about. Well he could nitpick...but .."Thinks...are fine.I feel bad that Duncan has to work so much since I stay at home and look over the kids," He explained as his gaze lingered over to where Tia was playing. "I would like to set up a day to meet with her..it's been so long."
Tia giggled, a positive sign, her tentacle reaching out to then nudge one of Puck's. "Stwart...now!" She squealed as she made a dramatic whooshing sound like the pinecone could fly.
The woman smiled and nodded a bit, "How about you tell me the days you are free for a visit and I'll be sure to tell Wynni about them and nudge her your way. Would be no trouble."
At the nudge and consent to go he went about his destruction with a soft 'Rawwrr!' and began to smash down the poor Turtle Houses that were built up. Oh the terror, oh the humanity, but wait there seems to be a superhero nearby but will it save them?! Only time would tell! For now Puck and his friendlier tentacle was waving about and knocking things over. "RawrRawr~," Puck giggled.
Tia shrieked and giggled as Puck did an excellent job playing villain. She soon though was too excited with all the rawring that she got carried away and then launched herself at Puck. "Monsta Puck!" She glee'd as she tackled him.
Adriel tapped his fingers on his lips about to answer when suddenly Tia was tackling Puck. He stiffened looking to get up just in case it was needed. "Ah..I am free almost anytime.." He stated distracted.
Riulve nodded but noted the young man's reaction and gazed at the two children as they played, "I'll keep that in mind," she murmured. She was a little perplexed as to why the young man should be so tense about the young ones playing so.
Puck squeaked and giggled as he went under, for the most part he didn't wiggle too much since he seemingly realized he was much bigger, plus she was supposed be a hero so the hero always had to win, "Oh nooooes! I'm going to be defeated!!!"
Yep Tia had just found her second most favoritist person in the whole wide world! Daddy came first of course. Which was a bit sad since Adriel was considered the mommy...and Tia wasn't particularly fond of him cause he had too many rules and no don't do this...blah blah blah. "I defeaaats yooou!" She crowed happily as she went to mush Pucks face with her hands. Her tentacle didn't really seem that interested in playing...so strange... compared to Iah's this tentacle seemed almost lethargic.
Adriel couldn't help but be nervous, after all he recalled his own childhood and how his tentacles just refused to behave. "H..ave you noticed anything strange about your son's tentacles?" He inquired slowly.
Riulve glanced over at Adriel before she pondered the question a bit, "One tentacle seems playful, outgoing, like he is but the other one is more antisocial always hides behind his back. They don't do anything ... I had been told they might do. I was wondering if that was something that comes at a later age...?"
Puck giggled and let her mush his face with her hands as he gently pushed at her, even his more outgoing tentacle reached out to try and tickle her side, "Aiieee, helphelp," he giggled out not really fighting against her all that hard. He was having so much fun with the smaller girl!
Adriel wasn't sure if he should mention anything, a warning would of been nice for his mother.."Well I know with my own they never listened to me when I was younger...they still have a mind of their own now...but when i was a bit older than Pucks age I know they were a handful. They always were doing...'naughty things'." He explained slowly.
Tia was more than happy to continue to squish him, she gave a sharp giggle yelp as she was being tickled, she tried to stay on Puck but it was hard and in fact she fell off of him and to the side of him still laughing away. "P..puck funny!"
The white haired woman listened patiently and nodded a bit, "All things change with age...Things awaken," Riulve said in thoughtful reply as she watched the children play. "Thus far Puck and his tentacles seem to be in a certain amount of harmony, but he doesn't seem to exert a lot of energy correcting them at this point. Mayhap he should start?"
The boy gazed over at the girl as she fell to the side of him and giggled lightly as his cheeks flushed, "Tia is lots of fun to play with. Let's be friends!" he said cheerfully to her. He reached out to grasp a hold of her hand as if to solidify the pact between them. Yep! This girl was totally going to be his friend and it will be awesome!
Adriel nodded his head though Chii and Fuu butted against him as if offended by what he was saying about them. He reached out to settle them down. "It may be for the best...they could turn out like my sons...his tentacles won't let anyone near him.." He explained with a sigh.
Tia looked up to him and she was grinning like crazy. Friend? Yes yes of course! Puck was fun! More fun than her brother who seemed to sulk..more fun than Mommy who made so many rules. He was a very close first to Daddy..but no one could be more awesome than Daddy. "Puck is Tia friend toooo!" She agreed.
The woman nodded a bit in understanding, she chuckled slightly as she caught the movement of Adriel's tentacles from the corner of her eye, "Yes, that would be a bad thing. He loves people a great deal, he'd be sad boy if he couldn't make friends," she observed with a small sigh.
He grinned back at her and nodded, "And we will do all sorta things together an' we'll go explorin' together! We'll do almost everythin' together!" there were things they couldn't do together...Like go to the bathroom. That'd get a little awkward. "Tia, Tia~," he called out in a sing song tone. He adored the name it was easy to say and remember!
Tia looked to her newest friend...actually besides meeting that strange little glowy kid Puck was the only one who said they could do everything together. "You...weally mean dat?" She asked looking at him with big eyes. She did like the idea of doing EVERYTHING with him. She liked the way he sang her name she liked basically everything about him.
Adriel nodded his head, yes it was a sad thing...he sighed wishing there was more he could do for his son. Though Tia seemed to have gotten off lucky with a lazy tentacle, he still couldn't help but worry anyway. "Yes it's been a challenge thus far anyway."
Puck nodded firmly after he heard her question, "Yes! I really, really mean it," he said cheerfully. Why would he say something he didn't mean? That just seemed really silly! He slowly sat up a bit, "One day we go to a movie together and stuffs! It'll be fun!"
Riulve smiled a bit and nods, "Life is nothing if it doesn't have a few challenges and bumps, Adriel. People that live 'smooth' lives aren't living at all. I am sure your little ones will rise to the challenge just as you have." She chuckled at the Puck's words upon hearing them, "Seems my son is making plans a head of time again."
Adriel knew she was right, but at the same time if he could prevent...some of life's challenges he would. He didn't want his little girl knocked up... at too young an age. "I suppose your right..." He looked to Puck who seemed more than a bit eager to make friends. He couldn't help but feel nervous about that.
Tia looked to him with big eyes. Go to the movies??? She had never been to the movies! That would be so much fun! She clapped her hands together excitedly. "Moiiiveee moooooviiee" She chanted with a nod of her head. There were so many shows she wanted to see right now! "Go now?"
She nodded a bit, "Doesn't mean we can't help them whenever possible." Riulve observed as she watched the pair and chuckled a bit. Going to the movies now wouldn't be in the cards she only hoped that Puck would field that response on his own without needing her intervention.
Puck giggled a bit and nodded, "Movie!" and as much as he wanted to go RIGHT NOW with his new friend he had to shake his head. "No not RIGHT NOW but soon. I promise! I have to go home soon so I can help my Mama make dinner," he explained quietly. "But soon we will go to the movies and we will have fun."
Tia's face fell. What? Puck was leaving?? Tears brimmed in her eyes, NO Puck couldn't leave! They just became friends! That wasn't fair at all. About to protest in a fit of crying and yelling, Mother dear swept in.
Adriel had gotten accustomed to the signs of her tantrums and often tried to head them off before they started.
"Ah...I'm sorry about this but I think its best we go..." He started though Tia was already crying and trying to push away from him.
"NO! I WANT PUCK!" She shrieked loudly in his ear.
Puck got up to his feet and wandered closer to Adriel he took Tia's hand and waved it a bit, "Tia, Tia. Don't cries, okay? If you stop crying and be a good girl until I see you again I'll give you something special," the small boy promised trying to get the girl's attention again. Her being so upset really made him upset though he wasn't certain as to why.
Riulve smiled a bit, waiting for her son to say his good byes.
Tia instantly quieted down, sobbing as she pressed the palm of her hand into her eyes. "R...really?" She asked sounding as if she could burst into tears again if he was joking. Adriel didn't really like where this was going...reinforcing bad behavoir is a bad idea. But if Puck was going to give her something it wasn't his place to tell him no...was it?
Puck nodded though he was being very firm with her, "But you gotta be really, really good and do as you're told," he said quietly. He didn't like it when she cried and anything that got her to stop was worth it. "Cause if you don't then I can't come to see you, I can only come see Tia if she is a good girl, okay? So no more crying and you gotta be brave until we can go to the movies." Puck explained trying to drive home to her that being good was the way to go.
Tia sniffled again and then made a grabby motion of wanting to get down. SHE WANTED DOWN. She struggled until Adriel finally relented and put her on her two feet. Once on the ground she looked to Puck squarely and then went to hug him quite fiercely. "I be good Pwuk. Promise see Tia soon?" she asked smooshing her face into him.
Adriel was quite...astounded by how attached she was already of the boy. She was listening to him as well...he had a sinking sensation.
He hugged her back and even swayed with her a little, "I promise with all my heart," he said solemnly even his friendlier tentacle reached down to pet at her hair in a gentle manner before he leaned and kissed Tia on the cheek, a friendly chaste kiss, "So be brave, Tia! I love you, kay?" he said sincerely though it was surprising even to Riulve that he would suddenly say this.
"Puck, sweetheart...T's a bit early for love to be us--..."
Puck looked up at his mother and frowned, "Nah-uh. Tia is my friend. I love my friend."
Tia went still at the kiss, it was hard to see her blushing due to her skin tone, he loved her? Daddy loved her...Iah loved her...she thought...Mommy was just annoying. She nodded her head up and down in a jerky rushed fashion. Yes yes she would be good. "O..okay Pwcuk! I be good." She agreed instantly.
Adriel was about to say something too when Ruilve spoke up. He breathed a bit of a sigh in relief though..it wasn't abated easily. He really wished his heart would stop missing a beat.
"Come on Tia, now that you have promised we need to head home."Tia looked sharply up to mommy, it was easy enough to see she was considering throwing another fit, but reluctantly she let go of Puck and then stood beside mommy. Looking annoyed but being a good girl.
"See Pwuck...soon?"
Puck nodded, "Soon," he promised as he waved a little at her and went to see his mother.
Riulve sighed as she took her son by the hand and looked at Adriel, "We'll see you again soon I suppose. Nice seein' you again, you've grown up well," she complimented with a small smile. Much like Adriel she had a bit of misgiving about all this but it seemed much too late now to try and stop the train wreck (or not) in progress. "We'll make arrangements for the movies soon."
Adriel nodded his head, and then went to take Tia's hand though she promptly refused it. Adriel didn't like where this was going at all...."Yes I believe Wynni has my number still..it hasn't changed if you want to tell her to give me a call." He offered as he went to turn away.
"Come on Tia..I am sure Daddy is waiting for us at home."
The woman nodded a bit, "I'll get it from her." and then her and Puck started to wander home together. Puck gazed back toward Tia and Adriel and gave a small quiet wave as they walked away.
"'Member Tia, be good. That means being nice to your 'Mommy' too!" Puck called out before he and his mother where soon gone from sight. Whether or not this would be taken to heart would be another question entirely.
