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Post by Dina Doo on Nov 6, 2016 17:10:58 GMT -8
"Of course, Kaleb. Whenever you're ready and you don't have to if you're not comfortable," the father said as he followed his son out of the hotel and into the comfortable night. For a moment, Anderson let his gaze wander about the quiet streets, to the illuminated buildings and the glowing lights that lit up the street. "You know," he suddenly said. "This is probably the most I've ever been able to travel. For leisure at least," Anderson added with a rather bitter smile that faded a moment later. He turned to Kaleb, his face suddenly solemn. "You know, even if things were rough at first, I'm glad things are different for you and your brother. Even if there wasn't a whole lot I could do for you, you both deserve this freedom. You deserve the world and more."
"I don't really know where Merek is," Gabriel said and he sounded genuinely sad about that truth. Because it was then he realized what a horrible "friend" he had been. He had practically abandoned Merek when he had married his wife, hadn't he? Not that it lasted. "If I remember correctly, I believe Merek is an elf, the kind that live away from society and value magic. As for Ruse, I think he might still be in Calder, Winifred as well." The ancient ketsuki gave a small smile. "I'msure Ruse wouldn't mind a visit. He'd probably adore the both of you."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Nov 6, 2016 17:30:09 GMT -8
Kaleb watched his father. His brows came together and he reached up to grasp either side of his father's face. "Dad," Kaleb said gently. "I don't need the world. All I need is my family." He smiled softly. "You can have the world too, okay? You can explore it with the uncles." He wrapped his arms around his father. "You just always have to call me." Pulling away, he started down the road. He paused and looked back at his father. "Dad... I have a serious question." His brows pulled together. "Do I have to have children? B-Because... Gabriel has children, Clyde had children," Kaleb counts both (C)(K)asimirs as Clyde's children, "Ennet won't stop having children. I don't... want any."
(Merek: It takes him over a hundred years to realize this. Dear gods.)
Timothy curled to hide his face in his arms. His stomach began to twist and he forced himself to take careful breaths. Watch him have a dream about meeting Ruse, and it turn into a nightmare. He glanced up to cast Malcolm a glare. The boy grinned brightly at him, looking quite mischievous. "Yes!" Malcolm said brightly. "We should meet him. Maybe we will run into Merek! And maybe my dad went to Calder."
Stomach sinking, Timothy reached across to grasp Malcolm's hand to squeeze it gently. "You're right, Mal." He smiled softly.
"Mmhmm! Gabbie, can you tell us more about horse stories?" Malcolm smiled brightly.
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Post by dingus dangus on Nov 7, 2016 17:48:17 GMT -8
Anderson smiled at Kaleb's question, certainly a welcome distraction from darker thoughts. The ketsuki followed after Kaleb before reaching out to take his son's hand. "I think Kenneth will have enough kids for all of us," he chuckled. Anderson couldn't help but wonder if Kaleb really understood where children came from. "Having children is a very personal choice, Kaleb. And usually one made by a husband and wife together. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, do you understand? Besides," Anderson started, pulling away from his son for a moment only to drape his arm around the young ketsuki's shoulder. "I don't think I could let some girl have you anyway. She'll have to fight through me to get to you."
(Shhh, he's probably realized before.)
"I have many of those," Gabriel murmured, his tone thoughtful. "I'm sure you gather learning to ride a horse whilst being blind is no easy task. Apparently I became rather good a riding a horse backwards. But riding a horse blind into the heat of battle was the worst." His eyes glazed over at the memories that came forth. "Or being thrown from your horse. I think that was actually the worst. Have you ever ridden a horse before, Timothy?"
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Post by clouds just clouds on Nov 8, 2016 15:05:20 GMT -8
Relief filled Kaleb and he leaned against his father, his eyes bright with happiness. "I don't want you to fight with anyone, Dad." He smirked mischievously. "I don't want you to lose again." He let out a breath and nodded. "Thank you." He was happy, more than anything, that it seemed like there needed to be two people to make a baby. Maybe. Kenneth always just showed up with one... "Um, Da?" Kaleb looked up at him. "Did... Uncle August not want any kids either?"
Timothy really wished the question hadn't turned on him. He swallowed and shook his head, before realizing his father couldn't see him. Malcolm giggled quietly. "I... no. I don't... think I've ever seen a horse, to be honest with you." He reached and ran a hand through his own hair, brows pressed together. "I think... it's really incredible what you can do." Timothy's cheeks scorched deeply, but he felt the need to tell his father how incredible he was to him. And perhaps to distract Gabriel from any... ideas.
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Post by Dina Doo on Nov 8, 2016 16:43:19 GMT -8
The older ketsuki's brows fell at Kaleb's question and for some time, Anderson did not answer. He only thought. That was.. for August to tell, wasn't it? Did he have the right? But, it was Kaleb. "No, your uncle always wanted his own child, very much so," he started slowly, uncertainly. "He still does but you know he spent much of his life taking care of me. He still does," Anderson added with a small smile. "And he was married once. But your aunt, (Lilian ??) (couldn't have children/died of cancer before the two could have any.) Though, I wish he would. I think after everything he's done for me, he deserves it, deserves to do something for himself for once."
Except it was too late and Gabriel was already considering all the possibilities. "You've never seen a horse? Ah, I suppose you wouldn't. The Order stopped using horses some time ago. But I think I'd like to take you out riding sometime. You and Malcolm," he said, smiling the way only a small child about to get their way could. And it was almost devious. "I think I'd enjoy that and I'd have the two of you riding by the end of the day."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Nov 8, 2016 17:43:37 GMT -8
Kaleb's brows fell. "Maybe... it makes it better that you're here." A smile pulled Kaleb's lips and he nodded, determined. "Yeah. It definitely does. Because he makes you happy, and you make him happy. It's always great to have family." He shyly pointed at the convenience store they were fast approaching. "Do... you still want slushee...?" Kaleb paused and looked up at him. "Do you think... Kenny is upset because Kass isn't... okay right now?" Frowning, Kaleb shook his head. "I don't care about Kass. But Kenny does."
Horses couldn't be that bad, could they? Timothy swallowed and slipped out his phone. He frowned as he asked the search engines 'how hard is it to ride a horse'. Malcolm started laughing. He buried his head into Gabriel's shoulder and giggled. "Quiet, Malcolm," Timothy muttered, his skin heating. His distraction hadn't even fazed his father. "Horses look pretty big," Timothy said under his breath. His eyes passed by an article: YOUNG RIDER NOW PARALYZED AFTER HORSE FALL. His gut tightened.
Through his giggles, Malcolm said,"Riding horses sounds pretty fun! Maybe there's a horse place in Calder. I know Clyde has horses! But I don't think Clyde's at home anymore."
"Let's not take any favors from that man," Timothy muttered dryly. He sighed and melted against the bed, withholding a groan.
Whispering, Malcolm told Gabriel, "Timothy was looking up horses on his phone~"
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Post by Dina Doo on Nov 10, 2016 13:22:11 GMT -8
"Mm of course I still want a slushee," the father mused. If he was still holding Kaleb's hand, perhaps Anderon led the two towards the convenient store. The automatic doors parted with a subtle squeak and the motion sensor rang softly as the two newcomers entered the store. "And I can't really answer that, Kaleb. You know your brother is an enigma lately and I, of all people, certainly can't get an answer out of him. But I don't think it's that. They're still hanging out together and your brother's mood changes far too randomly for it to be about Kasimir." There was a brief pause before Anderson returned his attention to his son, a light smile playing at his lips. "Perhaps you could get him to tell you what's wrong? Because something is wrong. Kenneth has never been subtle."
"Was he now?" Gabriel mused. He readjusted his position in Malcolm's hold before settling back against the child, a small part of him whispering that he would certainly be okay remaining as small as he was. "I'm glad he's already taking the initiative, even if he's already growing nervous." His smile fell and he took a moment. "Timothy, you certainly don't have to ride a horse if you want to. And I certainly wouldn't except you to already ride a horse trained to gallop and jump. Everyone starts somewhere. If not, then at least I could have fun riding with Malcolm for a bit if," he glanced up at the child, "he even wanted to."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Nov 11, 2016 20:39:44 GMT -8
(That's a really fancy convenience store holy fuck do you guys have that in Michigan?)
A smirk pulled Kaleb's lips. "Maybe he's upset he's not small and cute anymore, like me." He looked around the convenience store and pressed his brows together. "Too bad there wasn't instant rice around here." Walking over towards the slushee machine, Kaleb got a cup ready for his father, passing it over to him, before he picked out one for himself. "It helps a lot to have something to barter with. Kind of like... positive reinforcement." Kaleb laughed and looked around. "With my luck, he probably has a bat around here, listening in." Kaleb glanced over at Anderson, with a soft smile.
Honestly one of the worst things for a ketsuki with pride, was to have his father know every time he was an anxious little bitch. Timothy nearly whined. Nearly. It was something he would have done with his sister, if she had continued bugging him.
"I'm not afraid like Timmy, Gabbie!" Malcolm mused, his lips quirking with a smirk. "I really want to learn how to ride a horse. I think it will be fun." His eyes sparked with mischievousness. "I'm brave."
Opening his eyes, Timothy straightened and puffed out his chest. His pride spoke for him, "I am not afraid. Riding horses shouldn't be any different than riding a motorcycle, really." He glanced away from them, and suddenly wished that he hadn't fallen victim to Malcolm's obvious bait. He sighed.
"You can ride a motorcycle?" Malcolm said, surprise.
"No, but... it doesn't look very hard," Timothy muttered under his breath. Clearing his throat, he shook his head. "How did you learn how to ride a horse, father?" Timothy tried to ignore his blush, and the way his heart jumped from the word father. It had slipped from his lips too casually, and of course, he hoped he didn't bother Gabriel with it.
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Post by Dina Doo on Nov 13, 2016 15:37:25 GMT -8
(Do your gas stations not have automatic doors? And ding? LOL ours do. Sometimes)
"Mm, I haven't sensed any bats nearby," Anderson noted as he filled his cup with a various slushee flavor. Dina doesn't even know what flavors they have anymore, just Coke and cherry. "And bartering, Kaleb? It sounds oddly suspicious but if you think you can barter with your brother, I won't argue." A thoughtful smirk suddenly curled his lips. "Well, do you think if I barter with Clyde and get him a slushee that he'll let me dress him up in more kids' clothes?" Poor poor Clyde. "I certainly wish I could dress you and your brother again, you were certainly adorable children. Mm, too bad, you both became these horrible little trolls."
If only Timothy knew that Gabriel felt his own heart leap in a quiet joy when his son called him 'father.' A very small part of him was still afraid of still afraid, still nervous that even now Gabriel could lose his son, could lose Timothy and Malcolm. But.. perhaps he should at least enjoy the moment. "Timothy, I can't help but think riding a motorcycle is very different from riding a horse. There's not even a remote chance a horse could explode," he mused. "But as for how I learned? Well, there was a lot of learning to trust my horse. I couldn't see very well but I knew horses were smart enough to never willingly walk or run themselves into something dangerous. And I had plenty of help learning, especially from Ruse. He'd throw me on a horse every day, even if I didn't want to, until I learned how to ride properly."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Nov 15, 2016 13:03:17 GMT -8
(they ding!! but you manually push open the door and a bell at the door dings LOL)
Kaleb focused on the colors, mixing a vibrant array of different colors. He smirked over at Anderson. "I'm not horrible. No where near as bad as Kenny. Kenny dyed Elaine's hair pink. I haven't done anything like that, yet." He looked around the little store and gave his father a smile. "I think Clyde would enjoy a gift more... Like, see that little kitty key chain? Dad, I'm not sure if you noticed, but he really treasures everything you give him. But.. I don't think anything you buy him will make him submit to that." He laughed and headed towards the counter. "Maybe if you made him something."
"That's what you should do with Timmy!" Malcolm said brightly. "If he's scared, he's only going to get less scared if he tries a lot."
Timothy shot Malcolm a glare, shaking his head. He pressed his finger to his lips, but the child grinned evilly. Gods damn that child.
"Timmy why are you sitting on the ground? Why don't you lay up here with us? We can all cuddle and get ready to sleep." Malcolm paused, his voice softening. "I remember.. when I was with my parents, I slept between them." He rested his head against Gabriel's, his eyes sad. "That way I never got afraid of the dark. If I woke up, my dad always sang to me."
Timothy's eyes saddened. "My sister, Alan, and I would sing together. Malcolm, both Gabriel and I are here for you."
"I'm not afraid of the dark anymore," Malcolm said quietly, smiling. "But will you sing to me, Timmy?"
"Definitely not. You're out of luck." Timothy shook his head, face flushing with heat just at the thought. "No."
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