|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:40 pm
Ren had a new little sister and he had not quite yet figured out how exactly to tell Jove this fact.
He had put it off for as long as he could, though for what reasons he wasn't exactly certain himself. Jove was as much a little brother to him as anyone had ever been, closer to him than Medieval - and she was blood related. And Ren had been perfectly content with that for all this time, happy and pleased while with the boil.
So why was it that he could not seem to tell Jove that his parents had had another child? A little ghoul by the name of Baroque.
He had tried to reason it out. Tell himself that he was still at odds with his parents (that much, at least, would never change), and that he wasn't sure how he felt about them having another kid after the life he had gone through with them. Rationed that he still needed time to process things.
Except now Baroque was nearly three weeks old and Ren still had not mustered up the courage to tell Jove. Which meant that all his excuses was not exactly the real reason why he had not said anything.
Standing just outside of Jove's dorm room, Ren fidgeted, rocking back on his heels. His wings fluttered almost nervously, finally settling against his back, and he was twisting his tail absently in his hands.
He was going to tell him.
Today. Right now.
Just as soon as he managed to open the door.
Almost ten minutes later, the heavy silver handle finally twisted (he had very nearly lost his nerve) and Ren stepped quietly into the darkened room that belonged to the foxfire. He wasn't sure Jove was even home, but a telltale glow that was emanating out from beneath the bed negated any doubts. Crossing the room silently, Ren got down on his hands and knees and peered into the darkness.
"Hey, little brother."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:49 pm
The room was silent, only a couple foxfires in evidence watching the gryphon from atop Jove's bed. But when Ren peered under the bed, a pair of happy blue eyes watched him back. There was the brief swishing sound of a tail wagging in those close confines, and then the pup wiggled out to see what his brother wanted.
He had been doing some 'gardening', although it was hard to tell exactly what that involved. Unlike the potted fungi Jove often retrieved from the forest, scattered here and there on shelves and surfaces like a constellation of glowing trinkets, the mushrooms under his bed seemed to grow there naturally without any help. They didn't even have soil to root themselves in, and yet they grew. And they never failed to amuse the little foxfire who could spend hours watching them glow.
Jove brushed some invisible dirt off his clothes and sat on the floor, waiting for his brother to tell him what the point of the visit was. Usually the gryphon just flopped on his bed or on the couch where there was room. So there must have been something he wanted to talk about. Jove hoped it wasn't LW. He was happy for them, as happy as one could be while still disapproving of the whole romantic relationship paradigm, but he was happier not knowing the details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:57 pm
The foxfires made Ren feel more at ease, somehow; probably because he had his own fair share of the poofy creatures occupying his own bedroom, back in the monster dorms. The eyes beneath the bed, however, were clearly pleased, and Ren felt his expression soften. Because of the boil, he had clearly developed a particularly ridiculous and overprotective brother complex, but there was really no one else in the world that could make him feel the way Jove did. It was difficult to even describe, since it was different from how he felt around LW and Gabrian and Alessa. With each one there was a separate sense of special that was very nearly inexplicable.
A small bit of scuffling later, a swishing noise, and Jove appeared out from under the bed, a smear of what appeared to be potting soil across one cheek. Ren reached out and wiped it off with his thumb, then settled back onto the floor, cross-legged.
For a few moments neither of them spoke.
"Er," said Ren finally, trying to figure out just how to say what he needed to. "I need to, um...talk to you. About...about something important."
There was another long pause. A sigh escaped Ren's lips. Just say it. Get it out and over with. He'll understand.
...will he?
Just say it.
"Jove, I have a...sister."
Ren swallowed, then added hastily "Er, I mean...what I mean to say, is that i have a...a new sister. Her name...her name is Baroque. She was born a few weeks ago..."
He trailed off a little helplessly, floundering for words.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:31 pm
Jove felt his heart sink at the look on Ren's face. It didn't look like he was here to talk about something good, it was like he had bad news to share. He wasn't usually so awkward, unless he was trying to express something overly sappy and straight from the heart, but even then the whole atmosphere was different. Like he was holding back something, instead of struggling to articulate a feeling that was trying to come out. The pup's tail stilled. It didn't feel very good...
When he finally got to the purpose of the visit, Jove just tilted his head. Of course Ren had a sister. The evil one. But that was-
Oh.
Jove felt like he should have been relieved. So the new scareling wasn't another little brother, and that was what he had been worried about, right? Except the knotted feeling suddenly reappearing in his stomach didn't lessen. The pup's brows furrowed slightly in confusion, he was still Ren's only little brother, but at the same time... The anxious feeling wouldn't go away. He couldn't still be worried Ren wouldn't want him anymore, could he? Surely his brother wouldn't love the little one more, and decide he didn't need a little tagalong ghost. Ren would never give him up for a real member of his family, a little gryphon who actually shared his blood...
Jove's ears slowly fell, the confused look giving way to worry as the unpleasant thoughts wiggled their way into his mind. That couldn't be why Ren was so uncomfortable, his brother would never do anything to hurt him, including abandoning him for a scareling even more loveable... The pup tried to convince himself, but the doubts were strong enough to freeze him in place, and he couldn't even bring himself to coerce a reassuring snuggle from the older boil. The fear of rejection was just too strong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:32 pm
Ren had almost chickened out.
Almost. Until he realized just how much worse it would have been if he hadn't told Jove. Despite the fact that it would have been lying by omission - and Ren was not that type of person - he couldn't imagine how hurt Jove would feel had he heard it from someone else.
Except seeing that wilted expression on his little brother's face after telling him almost made Ren regret his decision. Jove's tail had stopped wagging, flopping down limply beside him. The colour in Ren's cheeks rose, and he looked away, feeling ashamed of himself for having hid it for so long.
"She's...she's only a few weeks old, um..." he said, flustered, his hands moving awkwardly in his lap as if he didn't quite now what to do with them. Why was this so hard? He did not like the way Jove was looking at him, as if the poor boil was confused, his face a mask of uncertainty. "And...and like I said, her name is Baroque. And...and she um...I met her a week and a half ago and....she's really tiny and warm and..."
Ren trailed off again, biting his lower lip. He wanted so badly to say Don't look that way, I won't abandon you, you're always my brother, to reach over and hug Jove, but for some reason the words just wouldn't come, and his voice was dying in his throat.
"Um," he said, feeling stupid. "Um. Jove, I'm sorry I didn't...tell you before, I just...wasn't sure how I felt about it yet."
Ren's tail flipped into his lap, and his fingers twisted it nervously around his hands. "But I..."
He couldn't figure out what he wanted to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:21 am
The pup seemed to sink into himself nervously, his little shoulders narrowing as he hugged himself. He didn't want to be forgotten by his brother, and the feeling that he was about to be replaced was wreaking havoc with his insides.
The pup could hear some fondness in his brother's voice when he talked about the scareling, Baroque. About how she was small, and warm. Unlike himself. A baby gryphon would be so much better than a lifeless stray, and a little sister too. One who could grow up with Ren, and accept his hugs and fly with him, and actually laugh or talk when he was being a loveable goof. Jove had no idea if scarelings could even laugh before they were a certain age, but the little one would eventually.
He glanced around the room nervously, and struggled to meet his brother's eyes. "Ren?" He asked, quiet and frightened. What was it his brother was trying to tell him?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:33 am
It was the first time he had ever heard his name coming from Jove's lips.
A strange thought, considering how long he had known the boil - which was just over a year. He knew very well that Jove did not talk much, but Ren had never minded. They communicated in other ways, after all; facial expressions, hugs, snuggling, little notes. Words were not always necessary, especially when he understood Jove so well without them.
But now, hearing Jove actually say his name, it was like hearing it for the first time, and that was what did it. The colour rose even higher in Ren's cheeks, embarrassment, uncertainty, and every other raging emotion twisting his insides.
He leaned forward, almost hesitantly, but wrapped his arms around Jove's tiny shoulders, hugging the little wisp to his chest. He didn't speak for a moment; just held Jove against him, but after a short while of silence he finally said something.
"This doesn't change anything," came the slightly muffled voice, Ren's face buried in Jove's pale teal hair. "You're still my little brother. You're always going to be my little brother. You're not going away, I'm not getting rid of you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:45 am
When Ren hesitated, Jove leaped forward right into his brother's hug. Please don't let this be the last hug... Please...
He closed his eyes as Ren snuggled into his hair, finally felt that relief settle his butterflies as his brother spoke. It doesn't change anything. That was what he needed to hear, that Ren wasn't going to abandon him. The pup grasped the gryphon's shirt possessively with one hand, and rubbed at his eyes with the other. Of course his brother wouldn't let him go, he felt silly for even entertaining the notion. But Ren hadn't seemed right, and he had gotten worried...
The little ghost pulled away just enough to look up at his brother. If Ren wasn't there to say goodbye, why did he seem so nervous? Did he have to go back home? Jove would clearly go with him, so that was nothing to be so worried about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:07 pm
Relief flowed through Ren, almost as tangible as water in his veins. Jove had leapt forward, without the hesitation that Ren had had, his little hands clenching into fists that held tight to the dress shirt Ren was wearing. He nosed into Jove's hair, inhaling the scent of soap and the slight earthiness that resulted from his little brother's "gardening;" it was both familiar and reassuring.
"I'm staying right here," Ren mumbled, embarrassed, but he reached down a hand and rubbed his thumb at the corner of Jove's eye anyway, brushing back what may have been just a slight dampness - though the latter would deny it.
With a small sigh, he pulled back, a frown still tugging his lips downwards. Absently his hands fretted over Jove's head, patting down his fluffy hair and ears, like he wasn't entirely paying too much attention to what he was doing.
He wasn't sure why he was nervous. Maybe he'd thought Jove wouldn't want to be his little brother anymore. Maybe he'd believed, somewhere, that Jove would be mad at him for having another younger sibling, maybe Jove would be distant.
He didn't want that.
"Um," said Ren, now twisting his hands together. His tail, mostly of its own accord, had slunk over to his little brother's, wrapping around it. "I want, um...I want you to...to meet her..."
He trailed off rather weakly, face red.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:14 am
For once Jove sat still without squirming or making faces as Ren hugged and petted him. It calmed him down as he thought things over. So he wouldn't have to say goodbye to his adopted brother, but Ren would need to spend a lot of time with his new sister. And like all children facing the arrival of a new sibling, the pup contemplated the decrease of attention that was to follow.
He wondered what the little scareling looked like, probably a little thing with pale hair and creamy skin. She would probably look like Ren. Except tiny. And she would obviously be his sister, in all sense of the word, a part of his family for real. Not like himself, who didn't really belong. It would be Ren's little sister, but it couldn't be his too, the rest of the gryphon family would make sure of that...
The idle petting kept him calm throughout all of this, and when Ren's tail wrapped around his own he grabbed the fluffy end and began to play with it. Finally his ears perked. Ren wanted him to meet his little sister? But... wouldn't his family protest? And why was he blushing so much?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:28 pm
Ren knew exactly what that look on Jove's face meant - why is your face red and why are you nervous?
And both questions could be answered by the same thing: fear.
Not the kind of FEAR that allowed him to put people to sleep with just a single word, either.
Having already been through the process of Medieval abandoning their relationship in favor of following in their parents' footsteps, the last thing Ren wanted was for Jove to leave because he felt unwanted anymore. He had put off telling his little brother about Baroque for that very reason.
Seriously, what was wrong with him?
Ren absently toyed with the ends of his long, golden brown hair. His wings fluttered for a moment, as if nervous, then finally settled against his back, still and silent. He could feel Jove's small hands tugging at his tail, the gesture so very Jove-like it actually relaxed Ren.
"Will you come with me to visit her, then?" he asked, biting his lower lip. "I mean...I really want you to meet her."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:44 pm
The pup hesitated before he nodded. Ren actually wanted him to come visit his sister? Jove puffed up and nodded more enthusiastically. Of course he would go with Ren, and keep his brother safe from the evil parents and the evil clone while he visited- Oh, Ren wanted him to meet the little gryphon too? Not just accompany him?
That made the pup a little nervous. He wasn't sure he wanted to meet Ren's little sister just yet, what if he got jealous? He didn't want to do anything that would threaten his relationship with the gryphon, not while things still felt uncertain and unresolved. Wouldn't it really be the best thing?
The pup snorted to himself. Both of them were a mess, nervous and unstable and untrusting, afraid to say or do something wrong... It was just silly. He reminded himself that Ren was his big brother no matter what, and just flopped against his chest as though saying "I'll go with you anywhere, stop asking dumb questions."
And with his mind made up, the pup began thinking about what he had to pack, because there was no way he was traveling in a suitcase again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:01 pm
Relief shifted the expression on Ren's face, a smile appearing for the first time since he had come to Jove's room. He wrapped his arms around his little brother's shoulders, squashing the boil against his chest and once more nosing into the pale, teal hair.
"I love you, Freckles," he said happily. "You know that, right?"
With one last squish, Ren leaned back, flipping his tail - and Jove's with it - back and forth. He wondered when it was that they should leave, already making plans in his head.
He got to his feet, reaching down to pick up Jove easily, toss him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and proceeding to gallop around the room like a dork.
"So," Ren said, after a moment and when he had swung Jove back down to the floor. "When do you want to go?"
Now that Jove had agreed to go, Ren was finding he was strangely excited for his little brother to meet his little sister.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:19 pm
Jove rolled his eyes. Ren was back to the sappy stuff, and in his normal irritatingly loveable mood. It was better when the gryphon had no worries to squelch his happiness, he was such a good natured-
The wisp barked in protest as he found himself hauled off the floor and tossed over Ren's shoulder. This was too good a mood! He flailed a bit, but didn't have long before he was set down. Right back where he had started.
He gave his brother a frown, and made motions to brush himself off as though he wasn't even listening to Ren's question. Seriously, he wasn't a snot anymore, he was even on the bruteball team! Ren had to stop treating him like a little kid! Yet even his thoughts lacked bite. In all honesty, Ren could do whatever he wanted with the pup, even take him home to the evil gryphon nest to visit his new baby sister. It was clear the boil was about ready to pack up and leave, maybe almost that second had Jove said they could go right now.
But why not go right now? The weekend was only beginning, and they had plenty of time to go and come back before classes started. With a sigh the pup glanced up at his brother as though saying "I'm ready whenever you are."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
