What Child is This? [Aurrealis]

[Hadrian]

Hadrian stared at the boy. There were things a bit off about his appearance, too. A bit too pale to be Vantha, and with those freckles. Kendall would call them adorable, but Kendall wanted to be a mother more than anything these days, more even than wanting her body back, which would enable her to bear children again. "Ah... I could take you to your Hold. I'm sure they will adopt you. Whitevine and you're a healer. Where else would you learn to be a healer if not among your Hold? I think they would hunt me down and kill me if I took you, and who said anything about leaving Avanthal?" He had plans, of course, but... He crouched down, trying to be on an eye level with the lad, thinking that might make this easier. Apparently some people were put off by his height. "Look, I'm not going to let anything happen to you, but even if your parents are gone, I'm sure there are people in your Hold who are ready to take you in, who will be worried if you disappear. It's true, I have to go back to Zeltiva soon, but not until I've helped here and... If I were to take you to Zeltiva, you would probably need to get permission from your Hold or Morwen or something to go..."

[Aurrealis]

And to remember these Lights, the constant mourning my father endured for my mother? To be told constantly that I have my mother's eyes, only for the memory that I was the one that ultimately caused her death, hurting everyone that loved her? Why stay here? The market is flooding, the snow is gone. Thieves and prisoners run loose among the shadows, the Queen's castle itself is on the verge of collapse. Sure Whitevine would take me, without a doubt. It is my Hold, I was born there under it's care. It's a tight-knit, community, watching out for each other. But they wouldn't want me to stay. Even under their care, they would be far too busy with patients from the storm. A famine might occur if the markets do end up submerging entirely; food will be sparse. I won't be able to learn anything - who would want to tend to a library, or the time to teach a child fleeting dreams? What can a child help to do in these times; live in this broken city, slowly falling out of place, piece by piece? Thoughts like these circle in his head, searching for answers and decisions, far too complex and difficult than a child should ever endure. He continues to look, his judgement completely scrambled. Aurrealis remotely enjoyed the fact that Hadrian crouched down to his level. He finds more reassurance and relief when people are his size. He turns away from him, resting his chin atop his knees, blinking at the distant horizon. It continues to incline in temperature as the mass of ice and snow continue to decline. Large snow banks that are reduced to mounds are all that remain, including shaded ice and Morwen's Castle. Zeltiva. He heard of that name before. Possibly in a distant history book, or a family map. A port city, filled with conversation and negotiation. Surely the storm hadn't traveled all way to the Western reaches of Mizahar. It's away from Avanthal and it's vivid memories of death. Aurrealis stood up to look at Hadrian, still making him crouch awfully low to make eye contact. Semi-describing his thought process, he finds logic behind his words. "The market is flooding and the snow is gone. Bad people run loose through the streets, the Queen's castle is melting. What happens then?" He cocks his head, taking a breath and looking down. He pauses briefly. "Whitevine is my home....But they wouldn't want me to stay. They couldn't. To watch this place fall apart, and for me to fall with it?" He shakes his head softly, continuing to look down. His facial expression calm and unsmiling. His breath is slow and even and his eyes modest with curiosity. Aurrealis wouldn't care if Hadrian wouldn't let anything happen to him, he just needs a way out. His eyes grow fierce, looking up and squinting. There's no naivety crossing his expression. He's determined and logical, reading the ways he could get through to Hadrian. "I need no pity. I need to go far." His voice wasn't through anger, nor passion. It was simply a statement for future application. He turns away and thinks to himself, why mustn't anyone understand?

[Hadrian]

The boy was so calm, so seemingly mature, even as he spoke of things that should make a boy terrified, inspire tears. His parents were dead, his city falling apart, and he wanted Hadrian to save him. He wondered briefly if this was the sort of trials and tribulations through which he had put his own parents, having been accused of many of the traits this boy exhibited in his own youth. "All right. I'm staying at the Savintar Warrens with my friends," he said. "If you want, you can bunk with us for the time being. Everything is crazy here. When things calm down, we'll be catching a ship for Zeltiva. We'll talk about you coming with us, but I'm going to have to talk to someone in the Whitevine Hold. I'm not going to abduct you. But let's do what we can for Avanthal now, all right? You healing, me rebuilding. I mean, well, we can continue to help tomorrow. Let's head to the Warrens. Later we can get you stuff from the Hold if they'll allow it." They were all in a little bit of shock, and this way he could help by keeping an eye on Aurrealis. Whether he still wanted to go when things were improved, or whether they would let him come at all, those Whitevine people, would come out in time. But if he was indeed an orphan, he would need care. Between Hadrian, Kendall, Ethan, and Tiki, they should be able to keep him out of trouble. He put out his hand again to shake. "Deal?"

[Aurrealis]

He couldn't go with this man just yet. He, of course, knows he isn't being abducted, but he can't let Hadrian tell the Hold, or god-forbid some authority. Aurrealis wishes to disappear entirely, though for what logical reason? They'll let him go; they would want him to make a life for himself. Sure the healing attention is at a peak here, a perfect time to gain the practice, the environment is in no way a suitable area to host a child. Aurrealis want's to be known as What DID happen to that man and his kid? and for them to shrug it off, to let Aurrealis fade like worn fabric. Though, why desire to want that? Growing up, he's never been extremely close with anyone. It seems like his father never allowed; growing attached to someone to potentially and unescapably lose them in the end. He's never had a best friend - mind the trees and the flowers, and a few wild animals which all disappeared in due time. Through all of this, he wouldn't miss anyone, and no one will miss him all that terribly as well. They might question his absence for a time period, but for the next two weeks, he could lie that his father is still alive, bedridden. He could lie about a lot of things - tales of intricate webs of lies weave through his mind. Could this be due to his determined knowledge seeking mindset? He could lie about anything, feeling no remorse, getting where he wants to go and as far as he can without explaining the real truth to anyone. This wasn't him though - It could never be him...quite yet. Though if the time arrives, he'll know how to bend that little white lie. Too many people know Aurrealis's name. If people knew, would his father's name, his children's names and their children's names be ruined, all because of Aurrealis's one decision; this one mistake? Aurrealis turns back around as Hadrian recites his offering. "Deal" He repeats, putting out a small freckled hand and shaking Hadrian's with a swift downward motion. He turns briefly, stuttering with this steps and turns back. "And I'll be fine, thank you. I'll see you then." Aurrealis smiles, his voice confident and his smirk inspiring, turning back. He starts down the steps, readying to leave back to Whitevine.

[Hadrian]

They shook hands, but as the boy skipped away, it seemed like he was changing the deal after it had already been made. Blinking at the sudden departure and the denial of his offer for lodging -- Aurrealis had seemed so keen to go with him that he was surprised the kid was going to let him out of his sight -- he called after him. "Wait, when?" If the kid just showed up on the day he wanted to sail, there would have been no permissions from Whitevine Hold or Morwen. He grit his teeth. This was going to be strange. END

[Macabre]

Thread Award

Hadrian
XP: Reimancy +1, Negotiation +1
Lore: N/A

Notes: Aurrealis, please fix your character sheet as per Shepherd’s request. When you have done this, I will release your grade. If you are at all confused about how acquiring gnosis works on Mizahar, please see your local storyteller or a founder to correct the issue—you cannot use a gnosis in thread without proper acknowledgement and approval. If you have any further questions about the grade, please PM me.

Two more points to master, Daniel, and then what?