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 Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 3:47 pm
 serrpost oneThe trees in this part of Oba were thinner than the ones back in Tale, but in the time since they had chosen to stick around, Serr had found a suitable perch near the clinic. It's where he was now, mostly hidden by branches and leaves as he watched people pass just below. There weren't many today, in fact the only one who stayed put long enough for him to form any opinion at all was the partner of Eziya's new acquaintance, the one who had just given birth to a pair of very delicate infants. The man was holding one now, its tiny fists punching the air as it wiggled.
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 3:53 pm
 kauffpost one"What're you hitting, kid?"
Kauff chuckled at Layn's attempt to box the sky, whispering at the baby so he wouldn't disturb Linnea. Fatherhood was about what he expected on the chore side of things—diapers, feedings, lack of sleep—but the children themselves... they were a surprise every day.
He held Layn out away from his body and bounced the boy with his hands and forearms, smiling when the baby stopped fussing and let out an interested coo.
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 3:57 pm
serrpost twoOh.
That seemed easy.
Serr had expected the wailing to begin, the baby's face to go as red as his hair as he screamed and screamed the scream of the undulating toothless horror, but he quieted at his father's reassurance, burbling curiously as he was soothed. Serr leaned forward, a small smile gracing his lips as he watched. He thought of the children on the road with their wild laughter and exuberant questions and he—
His hand brushed at the bark beneath him, and a single seed about the size of his trick coin shook free and fell, plunking off of the baby's flawless little forehead.
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 4:34 pm
kauffpost twoLayn's eyes widened and he stopped moving for one, two, three, four seconds before he stabbed his limbs straight out into the air. His legs didn't make it very far, trapped by his tight swaddling.
"Bu bu bu bu bu bu."
Kauff cast a sharp look into the trees.
"Hey! Who's up there?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 5:53 pm
serrpost threeHe was out of the tree before the wind's question was complete, dropping to stand in front of the other man with his hands raised in surrender.
"Me. Sorry. It was me. I didn't mean to. Is the baby okay?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2023 6:18 pm
kauffpost threeYears of fighting foes quicker than he was had earned Kauff a near-immunity to the sudden appearance of a silent opponent. He barely reacted to Serr's arrival, gathering Layn to his chest and rubbing his thumb over the child's head instead. There was a faint red mark where the seed had struck, but beyond that and Layn's rekindled fussiness, all was well.
"No real harm done, especially when we're so close to the healer. Just don't tell my wife you threw something at our kid."
He shushed his son, looking to the sleeping Linnea every so often to make sure this guy wasn't pelting her with nuts as well, and when Layn had sufficiently calmed, Kauff turned back to the man in front of him.
"You're..." He was aware that Xariy's healer had a companion? Lover? Protector? Whatever he was, there was a leaf who stayed by her side, and the only distinguishing feature Kauff had been given to identify this person was hair. "Are you with Eziya?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2023 10:54 pm
serrpost four"Yes. I'm Serr. Sorry again."
He meant his apology for the man, but Serr's eyes never left the baby. It didn't look like there was anything wrong with him, but honestly, Serr had no idea how he would even tell.
"I am with Eziya. Always." It was the real reason he had been lurking in a tree, waiting for her day to end. "We've been traveling together a long time, but it looks like we'll be settling here for a while. For the clinic."
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Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2023 10:26 am
kauffpost fourKauff nodded. "Glad to meet you." He wouldn't dwell on the whole tree and seed mishap for now, not even to joke. Serr didn't seem like the type to join in with any speed anyway.
"I used to travel all over the mainland, but I guess I've settled down too." He'd made that decision at least a year ago, but it was one thing to want to stay and another to admit it to anyone but Xariy. "It's a fair trade," he added with a grin.
"I'm Kauff. This is Layn and Linnea."
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 6:31 pm
serrpost fiveThe undisguised adoration on Kauff's face as he introduced his children was simultaneously captivating and uncomfortable for Serr, and he turned away after a moment's acknowledgment, looking out at the trees.
"Fair and frightening," he muttered.
Serr thought about the kids he had met on the road, how readily they had given him their attention while he performed his coin tricks. It had never been the children themselves that had scared him, it was the process of getting them in the first place that worried him.
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 12:17 pm
kauffpost five"What is?" Oba? The trees? Traveling?
They weren't standing so far apart that he couldn't hear the other man's murmuring, and while he was pretty sure Serr couldn't mean anything but the kids themselves, he allowed plenty of time to respond, fussing over Layn until the child began to calm.
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Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2024 10:55 am
serrpost six"Having babies." He thought he wasn't embarrassed to admit as much, but as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized that maybe he was after all. A little.
"I don't mean... the act of creating them." Serr coughed into his hand. "I am worried for Eziya."
He had heard all of the stories about his mother and how his own birth had ruined her. Even though he knew there was more to it, a part of him couldn't help thinking that Eziya would despise him if he was responsible for something so debilitating. A far more rational side knew that he was being ridiculous.
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 5:34 pm
kauffpost six"Oh, that. It's all completely terrifying."
He chuckled, but as Serr continued, Kauff let his mirth subside into something less teasing. Sure, he had worried for Xariy during the pregnancy, but before? If he had been more concerned then, everything that had happened afterward might have been less unexpected.
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Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:17 pm
serrpost sevenWell, that settled it.
He would snuff any spark of interest he might have fanned these past several months. He would forget the possibility of children, no matter how intriguing. No matter how much he wanted them.
Serr stood stock still and unblinking, fingers weaving together like a braid.
"Oh. Okay."
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 6:34 pm
kauffpost seven"No, no, c'mon. I didn't mean that kind of terrifying. Look..." Kauff propped Layn against his shoulder. "I'm not trying to tell you not to worry, but she's a healer. I would trust her to tell you if she really thought she could be hurt."
Still unconvinced that he had helped the situation, he added, "It's a good kind of terrifying, I swear. You look like a guy who knows about good terrifying, right?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2024 4:23 pm
serrpost eightSerr nodded, taking a deep breath and swallowing. It all made sense. Everything was fine. Eziya was an adult who certainly knew better than he did about such things. And he was observant. All he had to do was talk to her. Whether she was happy with his suggestion or not, he would be able to tell.
"I guess I do." He laughed, mostly to himself. Life wouldn't be nearly as interesting if it wasn't a little harrowing.
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