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 Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:40 pm
The class with the fosterlings had gone over well- they had learned part of a new routine and there were no major accidents, just the occasional fall or bumping into one another. All the children had left happy and that was what mattered more than anything else. They really were Leo's favorites to teach as it was more fun than actual work. Once it was done they headed back to Leo's room again.
"Never realized how much I missed that bunch." Leo pulled off his slippers and flopped rather unceremoniously back onto the bed. "I guess the next question is- would you object to having dinner in here tonight, just us?" He turned a bit to look up at Rio, patting the spot beside him.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:45 pm
"They're good kids. No wonder you missed them." It made him miss Adi and Kin a little, but he'd gotten considerably better about fretting over the twins. Of course, it had only been a couple of days, so it was early yet.
"Not at all," he answered, and was more than happy to join Leo on the bed.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:04 pm
"Alright." He leaned over to give Rio a quick kiss. "I do need to let the kitchen servants know, so I will be back shortly." It really had not needed to be done right away, but might as well get it over with before he was not willing to get up because he was too comfortable.
A couple of minutes after Leo left there was a light knock on the door.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:10 pm
Rio made a soft, happy sound when kissed. "I'll be here."
Trying not to doze off. A fight he was beginning to lose when he heard a knock. He stared at the door for a moment, perplexed. His first thought was that Leo was returning, but why would he knock on his own door? Hmm. It must be someone looking for Leo, then. The god got up and went to the door, opening it to see who was there.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:18 pm
When Rio opened the door he would find a slightly surprised Émile waiting on the other side. He had not expected the man to be staying in Leo's room with him. The boy looked like he had been crying a short time ago and sniffled as he talked. "I'm sorry...I was looking for Leo. Do you know where he is?" He probably should not be bothering Leo right now, he knew that...but the man had told him to come talk to him whenever there was a problem.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:24 pm
"Oh, hello." Rio looked down at the boy with a smile, though the expression fell somewhat when he noticed the telltale signs of recent tears. "He went to the kitchen, but he should be back soon. Would you like to come in and wait for him?"
Parental instinct had him wanting to scoop the child up, but as Émile didn't know him very well, he offered him his hand instead.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:41 pm
Émile nodded. "Please." He reached out and took Rio's hand tentatively. Hopefully Leo would be back soon like he said.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:49 pm
Rio led him gently into the room, closing the door behind them, and marveled a little at just how quiet the boy was. If this had been Adi, she'd have been halfway through the story of why she'd been crying already - even to a stranger! "You can have a seat, if you like."
Not that there were a lot of options, but he'd let him choose. "How are you tonight, Émile?"
He didn't want to make him uncomfortable by asking him directly about why he'd been crying, so he went for something less prying.
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:06 am
Émile was not about to climb up onto Leo's bed so he just sat down on the rug in front of the fire. "I'm okay, or, I was..." He wiped his face with the heel of his hand, trying to get rid of the last of the tears. It didn't occur to him right away that he might have to elaborate, since this was not Leo he was talking to.
"The older kids pick on me sometimes." Usually it was just teasing, but sometimes they went too far.
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:12 am
"I'm sorry to hear that," Rio said with a small frown, moving to sit across from Emile on the rug. "They should know better." But kids were kids, and unfortunately, they weren't always nice.
Since he didn't seem averse to talking about it, the god continued. "What do they pick on you about?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:06 am
"We were playing a game. Someone said something and it got the others started." Clearly this was not the first time it had happened. "Mostly its because I'm smaller than everyone else...and I'm quiet." He frowned, in a way that was most definitely not like Leo. It was probably one of the few things he had gotten from his mother.
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:15 am
"That's not such a bad thing, to be quiet. Or even to be small." Rio offered a little smile. "Not everyone can be big and loud, hmm? The world would be an awfully noisy place."
The god paused for a moment, thinking, then reached one hand behind his back, where he just so happened to 'find' a small box of chocolates to offer to Émile. Ordinarily he'd have broken off a bit of his wings, but he didn't have those at the moment. "Here. Do you like sweets?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:36 am
Émile nodded in agreement and glanced at the box for a second, then up at Rio. Well, he had always been told don't take sweets from strangers- but this was Leo's patron so surely it would be alright?
"Go ahead, Émile. I won't tell anyone if you won't." Leo leaned in the doorway watching them, he had not been there long however.
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:34 am
Love looked up when Leo spoke, grinning. Not taking candy from strangers was, apparently, a Universal Law of Childhood, and one he often usurped, because really. He was harmless, and he had a lot of candy! It would have been a shame not to share it.
He set the box down between them so Émile could take it if he liked. "Welcome back."
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:46 am
Leo came in and closed the door, then went to sit down on the side of the two of them. "Were they giving you a hard time again?" When the boy nodded but did not look particularly upset about it anymore he realized Émile must have talked to Rio about it. "What do you think, Rio- should we let him stay and have dinner with us? Assuming of course you haven't spoiled it with too much chocolate." He laughed, joking of course. If he did stay it would give Leo a chance to talk to the boy.
Émile for his part was investigating the box since Leo said it was alright to do so.
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