18.Nov.12, 05:56 AM
I'shan smiled nervously at Ce'lie, his normal brightness dampened by the serious matter at hand. "Hi," he said to her, watching as Ishadhe ran to hide behind him. A knot formed in his throat. "Hey there little guy. Don't worry! You're safe from Mommy," he said, casting the kid a small wink before looking back to Ce'lie.
"Hey, um...you ought to go get yourself some klah and sit down for a minute," I'shan suggested lightly. Shards, she looked exhausted. The bluerider found himself feeling timid. Her current state reminded him of just how much his own lifestyle might be jeopardized by this decision, but it was too late to go back now, wasn't it?
"Besides," I'shan said, clearing his throat as he reached for his bag. "I need to talk to Ishadhe in private, okay?"
He waited for a few long moments before opening his bag. "Okay, bud," he said, offering the boy a gentle smile. "I got you a present. I'm... sorry I missed you birthday," he said, taking a step back and pulling the gift from his bag. It was a toy dragon, sewn by one of I'shan's greenrider friends. It was, naturally, tailored to resembled Ilveriath.
Shards, this was harder than he expected. I'shan knelt, placing both hands on Ishadhe's arms and looking down at the floor. It took the flighty bluerider a few seconds to still his heart. It was one thing to offhandedly decide to do something like this, but immeasurably more difficult when actually preparing for a life-changing moment.
"Um, Ishadhe? I want you to listen to me real careful, okay?" the bluerider murmured, eyes widening and becoming glassy. Was he about to cry? Was that knot in his throat real, and not just something he made up to be dramatic? "I know I haven't been around much. I try to visit, but..." Shards, would the boy even understand his excuses? Did he deserve to have to hear them.
I'shan bit his lip and turned his head away for a moment. His courage almost failed him, but a gentle nudge from Ilveriath reminded him of his promise. He let out a nervous laugh, then turned to the child again.
"Ishadhe? I'm your dad..."
"Hey, um...you ought to go get yourself some klah and sit down for a minute," I'shan suggested lightly. Shards, she looked exhausted. The bluerider found himself feeling timid. Her current state reminded him of just how much his own lifestyle might be jeopardized by this decision, but it was too late to go back now, wasn't it?
"Besides," I'shan said, clearing his throat as he reached for his bag. "I need to talk to Ishadhe in private, okay?"
He waited for a few long moments before opening his bag. "Okay, bud," he said, offering the boy a gentle smile. "I got you a present. I'm... sorry I missed you birthday," he said, taking a step back and pulling the gift from his bag. It was a toy dragon, sewn by one of I'shan's greenrider friends. It was, naturally, tailored to resembled Ilveriath.
Shards, this was harder than he expected. I'shan knelt, placing both hands on Ishadhe's arms and looking down at the floor. It took the flighty bluerider a few seconds to still his heart. It was one thing to offhandedly decide to do something like this, but immeasurably more difficult when actually preparing for a life-changing moment.
"Um, Ishadhe? I want you to listen to me real careful, okay?" the bluerider murmured, eyes widening and becoming glassy. Was he about to cry? Was that knot in his throat real, and not just something he made up to be dramatic? "I know I haven't been around much. I try to visit, but..." Shards, would the boy even understand his excuses? Did he deserve to have to hear them.
I'shan bit his lip and turned his head away for a moment. His courage almost failed him, but a gentle nudge from Ilveriath reminded him of his promise. He let out a nervous laugh, then turned to the child again.
"Ishadhe? I'm your dad..."