featherduster | ( sheep ) overflow

Mm...It would be nice to have some playmates for the kids. I really don't think most of the people I know will have kids anytime soon, though.

You're just gonna have to find some dads to be friends with, then!! Then you can all hang out doing dad stuff.

[tries to picture it

comes up empty]

We'll see how it goes. We're still traveling around a lot, so it'll have to wait until we're settled back in Korea regardless.

--Wait, you're trying to save the whole world while raising three human kids and a dozen furry kids.

[ COMICALLY HORRIFIED. IMPRESSED. VERY VERY CONCERNED. ]

You make it sound busier than it actually is. Raising furry kids is my job, and it's directly tied to saving the world. And the only kid that's independently acting on his own so far is the oldest; the other two still sleep most of the time.

--Is that... normal? Are they okay?

It's normal. They're doing fine. They don't completely separate from me until I give them their names, so until then they sleep a lot. The middle child, Seol, requested I not give him his name until after we've taken care of some business. And he's really attached to his youngest sibling, so they're staying together until then.

[ Palpably relaxes ]

They should have birthdays and naming days, in that case.

Should I do both? I thought just one birthday would be good.

One is a celebration of birth and one is a celebration of independence!

I'll figure out how to throw the name day ones.

[ Because he's just making shit up and nobody can stop him ]

[starts counting on his fingers]

Six parties for the kids, plus Yerim's birthday, plus Yoohyun's birthday, and I should do something for the rest of the household... I'll need your help with that, or I'm going to end up needing to make a dozen cakes a year.

[ Flaps a hand ]

I've got it, I've got it! Don't you dare do more work!

[ The bond makes it clear that he's not bluffing. He is dead fucking serious. ]

[squints at him like he's CHECKING TO MAKE SURE!!! but there's a strong sense of relief in there too.]

I'll hold you to that, Uncle Minuet. Don't make my kids cry.

[ TAIL WAG TAIL WAG ]

Uncle Minuet, huh... that's cute.

What, is that a first for you? I know you've played with the kids from Styx's orphanage before; don't they call you uncle? If you help look after the kids that makes you an uncle. And it means you can shirk your duties. But they're good kids, so I know they won't give you trouble.

Ahaha...

[ Sheepish. Kinda wistful. Fond. Sad. ]

Nah, not the first time... I just never got to see those kids much before they were grown.

Wolfwood's kids just call me "Mister Whatever My Actual Name Is," though.

[quiet, for a few moments. thoughtful, like he's trying to piece together the puzzle of Minuet's life without having to ask him too many questions that will trigger more sadness]

'Mister' isn't as cute as 'uncle'. They take after Styx.

Ahahaha... no, don't blame him. They've only met me a few times, and the first time was, uh...

[ Lethe gets a brief but probably familiar glimpse of the absolute depths of grief before that shit is locked down again. ]

Anyway, in time, maybe.

[he startles because he absolutely thinks it's his own grief for a second and tries to lock it down before realizing it's Minuet's. awkward.]

...In time. Give it a few months and they'll pick it up.

[ wow! awkward!!! he craves death!! ]

I just gotta get Miss Melanie to stop using it, 'cause they're never gonna stray otherwise...

Anyway. 'Uncle Minuet's fine.

Stop doing that with your emotions, please, it's distracting.

[rubs at his face and allows himself a single comment about the emotions they're both trying to ignore]

...He's alive, you know. It'll be okay.

[ Instantly chagrined but also a lil exasperated because bitch, how.

Looks away sharply. ]

I know.

I just mean...the grief is always still there. And sometimes you'll wake up and think it was all a dream and he's still gone. But hearing other people talk about him, and seeing him, and knowing he's still moving through the world...makes it easier to handle. Most days.

[ Takes a deep breath, with some self-admonishment. Wanting Wolfwood awake is selfishness, plain and simple. ]

Well.

... Once we've solved this place.

Hopefully before then.

[he wants to tell him not to be so self-admonishing. but any way he could think to say it sounds harsh in his own mind, and he doesn't dare say it out loud]

Re: Day 69 (nice), emotionshare

featherduster - 2024-05-01 19:14 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Day 69 (nice), emotionshare

mykidisthebest - 2024-05-02 02:57 (UTC) - Expand