RP:The Triplets Meet Emilia's "Friend"

From HollowWiki

Summary: Irenic meets Emilia's triplets, but towards the end of the night Emilia shares with Irenic that she has a quest ahead of herself.

Academy for the Healing Arts



Emilia | The large academy for the healing arts was nearly complete in construction. Finishing touches were being made to the large green house that surrounded the building, pieces of furniture were being moved in, and rooms were being put into proper working order. It would not be much longer before the grand building was open to the public. Entering the large oak doors the entry room was still bare as more important rooms were being attended to first. Following up the grand staircase to the second floor the voice of the Genasi could be heard, by those with adept hearing, singing a soft melody to herself. All the doors on the second floor were shut except for one that was held open by a massive obsidian stone carved into the shape of a resting dragon. Since arriving to freedom the healer kept her door open, refusing to be behind a shut door at nearly any cost. Within her office there was a large circle window that overlooked the small garden outside, a large cushioned bay beneath, walls lined with partly filled bookcases, a dark wooden desk, and a large trunk in the middle of the floor. Progress was being made in putting together her space within the new academy. There was a stack that consisted of a chair for a base, an upside down bucket on the seat, a series of books, and then standing atop the wobbly self made ladder was the little woman. Emilia was on tip toes with her stump resting on a lower shelf while stretching to place a large tomb on the topmost shelf near to the window.


Irenic trots in with a large basket of baked treats from the Gingersnap bakery and most of the workers stop to take a small break with a treat. Irenic takes a blackberry tart and fruit salad container for Emilia, but only a cheese danish for himself, knowing exactly where to find her. Taking the steps two at a time to the second story and briskly walking down the hall to her office, he grins when she’s finally in his sighs. “There she is,” placing the food down on a napkin atop her desk and then slipping behind her to wrap his arm around the healer’s slim waist. Taking the book Emilia is holding in order to place it where she was aiming to and gently lifting her from the ladder, giving a little twirl as he places a gentle kiss on her cheek. “I got us a little lunch,” the avian says while lowering the Genasi to her feet. “Asked if they could make a dry fruit salad and they gave me this honey on the side if you want to add it,” he sits on her desk since it’s clear for now and pats the empty space next to him as he offers the treats. “Hopefully, you like blackberry because I got you a fruit pastry as well,” with a large bite of his danish, the man waits for Emilia to get comfortable and starts eating the fruit salad before he grins over at her. “The weirdest thing happened while I was waiting for our food, by the way,” he couldn’t stop grinning at her, he almost seems giddy. “So, I'm just sitting there, reading and this woman walks on up to me wanting to talk. Turns out that it’s Valrae and we had a full blown conversation,” his grin grows even wider and he shrugs. “During which… I felt totally fine and calm. It’s like I had a clarifying moment that made me realize that chapter of my life is closed and everything is going to be okay, you know?” He takes another large bite of his danish.


Emilia froze in place, stiff as a statue as she heard footfalls coming down the hallway toward her office. Inhale, exhaling slowly the healer reminded herself to breath when the voice that greeted her was Irenic’s and not the guard nor the Queen's. Her face turned from his view and could not see the moment of fear that faded away back to a calm expression. Still stiff as a statue as his arm linked around her waist she whispered, “thanks,” to keep her voice from cracking after a moment of internal panic with his arrival. Her body loosened during the transition from top of a makeshift wobbly ladder to the floor. The healer's cheeks a flushed hue of blue for a brief moment after feeling the warmth of his lips against her frozen cheek. Playing it off as if nothing was wrong with her, Emilia flashed Irenic a warm ear to ear smile as he mentioned at lunch, “I love blackberries…all fruit really,” she rambled happily. With a small jump she landed her rump on the empty space of the desk next to him. Picking up the blackberry tart the Genasi took a big bite out of it as he began to share his tale of what happened at the bakery while he waited for the order. Lowering the baked delight from her lips that were now stained purple, berry smeared at the corners of her mouth and some on a cheek, she swallowed the bit down. Without bothering to clean her messy face she spoke up with a serious tone that matched the change in her facial expression, “I am happy to hear it went well this time with being around her,” she paused for a moment as she tried to find the right words to say next. Turning to face him those icy blue eyes filled with an almost broken look that betrayed the otherwise normal expression, “I know it wasn’t a loss of love that tore the two of you apart from one another. I wouldn’t be upset if you wanted to rekindle that flame with your ex-wife, to make that family dream of yours come true with the future you once had envisioned…” It was a quiet offering an ‘out’ of this path he was walking now, if he wanted. Though he just admitted that chapter was closed while portraying a happy mood about it, Genasi wanted to see him happy, even if that meant watching him leave.


Irenic doesn’t even want the hesitation of chewing and swallowing the massive bite he just took to reply to Emilia, so he evacuates the yet to be chewed bite out in his hand and says, “no. I’m right where I want to be. Here, with you,” he grins again and returns the morsel of food back to his mouth. With a chuckle, he uses his thumb to wipe away the blackberry fruit from her cheek. In an adoring and joking way, he says, “look at you. You’re gonna need a bath by the time you’re done with your snack,” but he loves it anyway. All her quirks and clumsiness- he accepts it all. After wiping his mouth with a napkin, he leans down to place another kiss on her forehead and says, “all I can see in my future now, is you, Liam, Leo and Lynn” with genuine confidence. He opens the container of fruit salad and pops a grape in his mouth after his cheese danish is all gone, “how are you doing? I know I was gone for a moment there when I got the food, but I could feel a tenseness when I came back.” His silvery gaze looks down at her, trying to read her expression and slipping his arm around her for comfort. “I’m anxious, too… I don’t know what to think about what happened. I feel like you’re the only person who could understand the fear prickle when doors close behind me. The mystery of what was really going on there and the odd feeling of wanting to help them for whatever sick reason.” He holds the fruit salad between them so they can share.


Emilia raised a brow when he was quick to spit out his food into his hand so that he could answer her without a pause to eat his food. Then he ate it after getting out what he had to say and she let out a breath that she didn’t even realize that she had been holding when he used his thumb to wipe the berry off her face. As he spoke, she quietly, yet rather quickly, devoured the tart after realizing just how hungry she had been up until that first bite. Picking up a napkin this time she wiped her own face clean with a small giggle at his comment about needing a bath. She was dirty from unpacking and sporting her snack upon her face, he could be very correct in the need, yet Emilia was a farmer so being covered in mud and more didn’t phase her like it would other people. “All I want in the future is a life with you and the triplets,” she replied back with a warm glow that almost made her seem more alive than frozen in that moment. The Genasi relaxed more in his arm as she snuggled close into his side for a moment. “I am alright,” she lied while smiling up at him. Admitting she was less than on-point was not something that came easily to the independent woman. Those months held captive a room away from him without letting him see the torture she’d gone through when he wasn’t around made it all that easy for her to smile while saying she was alright. Picking up a piece of fruit she popped it into her mouth and chewed slowly. After swallowing she finally started to talk about those moments they recently escaped, “I don’t know what it was like on your side of that mirror at night…I do know I am afraid to close my eyes…If it wasn’t the guard’s face it was the queen’s face shortly after I closed them that would wake me. Most of my nights were spent in the company of one or the other…fighting or being turned into an experiment for the night…I know, I should have told you sooner, but they said you’d be dead for sure if I didn’t partake…I didn’t want any of them to harm you more than you got in the arena.” She cared for him long before she ever admitted feelings for him, deeply enough she let herself be tortured to protect him. As she finished opening up some to him about her side of the stay her gaze fell to staring at the floor.


Irenic put the container down and wrapped both of his arms around her. He rests his chin on the top of her dreadlocks and lets out a deep breath. "I hated that they were able to manipulate us like that. I would have done the same thing and I know you are quite impervious to pain, but that doesn't make what they did to you any better." Of course he's sickened that she went though something like that without him knowing, but what were they supposed to do!? "I'll do anything to protect you, but I do know that you are a powerful and fierce woman that can hold her own," his fingertips press into her back muscles and knead the muscles there in a small massage even though she won't really feel it, maybe it will release some tension being held there. "At least I've been able to sleep a lot better," he releases the healer to beam a smirk down at her. "How about, we finish setting up your office and then retire back to your place with some take out after a nice long bath? I think we deserved it after all the work we did today." His tone is completely caring and not laced with any lewd intentions like any other guy that's so lucky as to have Emilia as their mate. It's hard enough just getting back to normal after being captives without that sort of pressure on their new relationship. Just then his dusky thick brow quirks up when commotion can be heard downstairs, but it dies down quickly and his arm that went protectively around Emilia drops, "maybe we should go check that out."


Emilia rested her head lightly on him as both his arms wrapped about her, somehow melting away the rest of the world beyond this room with just the two of them in it. She wasn’t sure how he managed such a magic trick with only an embrace, but the healer wouldn’t trade it for anything. She exhaled a breath slowly as she whispered, “Oh, Regi showed me exactly what it is like to feel pain again.” The genasi didn’t go into any other explanation as a shiver ran down her spine simply thinking about it. Going from numb to every nerve in your body turned on high volume at once made her nauseated just to think about it. “I like the sound of that,” she admitted to his idea of a simple date night after a long day of putting in work around the academy. He was different from others she had met over the years that had tried to pursue her, though she had rejected all of them before anything became a thought. Perhaps it was because he began as her best friend before becoming her boyfriend. Then there was commotion happening downstairs followed by silence. Regretfully she slid herself out of his comforting embrace to start toward the downstairs, “I do believe we best investigate.” She agreed with him. However, as she went to exit the door there a blur of green leathery wings and white dreads as Emilia was crashed into by one of the boys. It ended with the healer laying flat on her back on the floor under the weight of a black-haired lad, easily a smidge taller than the woman, with green wings slowly coming to stop. He was dressed in black slacks with a black button-down shirt. Irenic would not have to wait to learn who it was that had just crashed their lunch date. No sooner did the pair hit the floor and the boy’s voice could be heard through a pant, “Mom! Lynn is doing it again!” Then at the door what looked like a mirror image of the teen in the room stood another with those same icy blue eyes staring in at Irenic, “Who are you?” Leo questioned with a hand reaching already for the dagger in his left boot. Liam’s gaze instantly, the moment Leo asked a question, was on Irenic sporting those same blue eyes.


Irenic stands quickly to help Emilia, but when he realizes who knocked her down, he relaxes and grins again. It was easy to tell that these were two of Emilia's kids and when he's questioned, he knows exactly what to say even though he's currently being targeted, but that actually brings a little comfort to the avian. Her kids are rightfully protective of their mother and it's quite noble of them. It reminds him of how he was with his own mother after the loss of his father, "my name is Irenic. I am an old friend of your mother's and I've been helping her with the academy." A relaxed confidence emanates from the man as he helps Liam and Emilia to their feet. Then he reaches out to shake either Liam or Leo's hand and then the other, "you two must be Liam and Leo." The handshake is firm and quick, nothing intimidating, but rather friendly and warm. Silvery hues drop to Leo's boot where he was reaching for a dagger and he asks with a playful smirk, "are you armed?" Holding out a hand with interest, "may I see it?" Irenic is genuinely curious about whatever weapon the preteen is hiding and is attempting to make a connection on it because he likes his weaponry as well. All the while, he is stepping out of the office in order to make his way downstairs, hopefully with the other three in tow, "what is Lynn doing?" The question is addressed to Liam since he was the one who mentioned it.


Emilia might have turned a flushed shade of blue for a moment as Irenic helps both her and Liam up from the floor. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t impressed with how easily he addressed the boys, the status of who he was, what he was doing, and keep a calm everyday demeanor like this was flipping pancakes for breakfast. Dusting herself off she simply watched the interaction between the three males in the room without saying too much. The boys both shook his hand, firmly because they were trying to present as men and not almost teenagers. As he questioned the names both boys spoke in turn while pointing to the other child, “Leo” and “Liam”. Neither used their own name but pointed out he had said them in the incorrect order. Liam was pointing at Leo while naming his brother and Leo was pointing at Liam saying his name. Can not make it any more confusing could they. Emilia took leave of the office ahead of Irenic as he was making the introductions with the twins. Leo handed over the small dagger from his boot to the tall man. It was made of an obsidian metal that wasn’t from these lands with a hilt of a dragon head, the eye of the dragon a vibrant green. It was a custom blade that was geared toward his left hand as the lad was a lefty. Of course, Liam was getting his out of his right boot to show off to Irenic. A matching blade to his twin’s only fitted to his right hand and sporting a green eyed dragon. Down the stairs they would follow Irenic with interest in this man who kept their mother’s company. Liam would answer as they went to find their sister, “Well, see. I was practicing my skills with the ladies in the clinic. Don’t want to look like a fool next time I see Meri, ya know. And Lynn goes about making the walls talk and the dead show up. Scared off the ladies!!” Clearly Liam was distraught his game was thrown off. Downstairs in the empty entry the trio of men would find a duo of ladies, Emi’s back to them. Lynn was shorter than the boys with wild untamed curls of midnight that mirror the natural curls of Emilia. In fact, she could almost pass for a dark haired twin of her mother as the two looked so similar. There was no sound, but it was evident from the arms folding over the girl’s chest that some conversation was taking place. Liam would poke at Irenic’s side, “You know it’s bad when Mom doesn’t talk aloud too.” When the boys stopped Lynn would turn her mismatched gaze, left eye a vibrant green and the right the frosty blue, on them. Her voice was like a sharp sudden crash of a wave as it echoed in the room, her lips never moving, “You boys are little cry babies!”


Irenic takes each blade and looks upon them with great interest, "these are a couple of really cool blades. I see you're a lefty Leo," he hands Leo's back with his left hand, "same here." It's so rare to meet another lefty, "maybe we can get a friendly spar in one day." This felt so natural, his footsteps matching the twin boys as they come to the stairs and he's handing Liam's dagger back, "Meri?" He grins in a mischievous way, "she is quite cute, huh? You know, she is another friend of mine, maybe I can put in a good word for ya, Liam," he thought it was cute that Liam is such a ladies man already. Irenic would glance at Emilia if he heard the 'cute' comment and wink, but he's trying to connect here, woman! And they have to keep the 'friend cover' going for a little bit. Once Irenic is up to speed on what is going on, he plays it cool with a comment of, "well, that is just in bad taste. It's got to be dark out for that type of spooky fun," then he leans toward Liam to mumble, "plus. If the ladies get scared, then you have the perfect opportunity to comfort them," a soft playful nudge with his elbow to Liam and a grin. Irenic knows that he probably shouldn't be encouraging such behavior, but he finds it sort of endearing. When he sees Emilia and Lynn, he really is surprised at how much she looks like her mother, "wait, when she doesn't 'talk aloud too'? So, Lynn is telepathic?" That can't be good for their little 'friend' ruse. Then he hears her clear as day in his mind while watching her lips not form a word and all he can do is grin. The only thing that comes to mind for Irenic is, 'wickedly awesome…' if she were attempting to poke into his brain. When he comes closer, Lynn would be able to pick up her favorite scent coming from the avain, something the twins probably picked up on as well, "hey, Lynn. Liam here was telling me that you do this interesting thing where you make the dead show up?" Irenic used to be able to talk to the dead before his ex-wife was killed and there are times he misses the ability to do so.


Emilia didn’t make a remark when she heard Irenic mention that Meri was cute to Liam, she would have agreed if anything to the statement. Leo smiled a moment when Irenic mentioned he was a lefty too, “Even though Mum only has one had she used to be amazing with both. Someday, I want her skill with both hands!” He was quick to brag up about his mom who managed three children while missing her right hand. Liam grinned from ear to ear with the advice from Irenic about comforting the ladies and questioned himself as to why he had never thought of that before. The tall man was winning points with the twins left and right. Each lad moved with motions at the same time to tuck away their daggers, it was eerie. Leo laughed as he gently shoved Irenic with a playful motion, “You call yourself Mum’s old friend and you don’t know Lynn’s abilities! You are in for a wild ride. I hope you enjoy headaches and the dead, she comes with both.” Liam found himself also, laughing after Leo made the comment about their sister. Irenic would find the answer to his question being replied as her voice poked into his thoughts, ‘Let’s play two truths and a lie.’ Only he was able to hear the current conversation, Lynn was playing carefully in his mind alone. A dark devious grin curling on those lips of hers, ‘One. There is a dead man that follows you. Two. You are in love with Mother. Three. You are using Mother for an end game.’ She didn’t give him much room wiggle as she rattled off the numbers before, he could agree to play. She sounded similar to Emilia, more alive and less wintery though. Emilia turned to look at the lads with a roll of her eyes and then turned to Lynn, “Play nice, Lynn.”


Irenic shrugs down at Leo, "I did used to get headaches often when I had a memory wipe and I used to be able to talk to spirits, so I'd happily welcome them again." His silvery gaze locks to Lynn's bi-colored one and with a subtle grin he answers in his mind at her, knowing it was probably futile to keep the truth from this one, 'truth, very much the truth, lie.' Irenic doesn't outwardly react to their one on one secret conversation as he asks, "did you guys help yourself to the baked goods from Gingersnaps, yet?" He motions to the large basket still half full with plenty of treats. Then he finds Lynn's gaze again, 'since you took my turn. Two truths and a lie, go-' he prompts her with a friendly grin. Carrying on and asking Emilia, "hey, Leo just reminded me of something. I haven't seen Righty since we got back. Where do you think it is?"


Emilia watched the interaction carefully between Lynn and Irenic with a curious and cautious gaze. Of the three, that was the one she was most worried about. Liam heard the word sweets and his facial expression turned into a twist of curious nature to how he missed that factor. Turning he waved a ‘see ya later’ and was running off for food. If anything beyond being a ladies man he was a food junkie. Leo raised a brow at Irenic’s admission before he turned to walk after Liam, “Someone better make sure he doesn’t eat them all.” It was his only comment before he stalked off after his brother. He surely didn’t want to deal with Liam with another stomach ache from overeating, again. Lynn never broke her gaze with Irenic as she listened to his answers with a wide grin along with a ‘I knew it’ expression on her face. Lynn would think for a moment before answering, ‘One. I see the spirit world over the living. Two. I love chocolate. Three. The man standing behind you is your father.’ In the silence moments between their speaking the girl had been carefully pressing further into his mind than she normally would with a stranger. It was subtle when she spoke to her mother, making it harder to feel what she was doing. Emilia watched as the boys walked off for food without a surprise in the world. Then she had to think about the question posed from Irenic. Righty had been missing longer than she had been missing from the surface world, “I think I last saw him in Frostmaw when I ran into Krice. I might have to message Krice to see if he knows where the rascal wound up.”


Irenic tries to reign in his expression, but he isn't heartless and there is pain deep in those silver optics. He swallows hard, 'truth, lie… and… truth. Are you certain it's my father? During the time I used to be able to converse with spirits, he never appeared and I hoped that he was on the other side,' this was quite a lot to get into right away with a stranger- let alone Emilia's child. One of his hands smooths down the light blue sweater and the other pushes the long hairs on the top of his head back. Emilia would probably be able to pick up on the avian masking his nervous/uncomfortable ticks. He glances over his own shoulder as if he could actually see what she was seeing and his jaw tenses a moment when he only sees the stairs across the hall behind him. "Certainly. Hey, Lia, do you have any requests on where to get takeout? Let's get enough for all five of us," whenever he looks at the healer, though, he does grin again and finds it so easily.


Emilia watched with careful eyes as Irenic’s demeanor changed after what she assumed was a conversation with Lynn, but what she wasn’t too sure. Stepping closer to Irenic she naturally reached out to take his hand. She could tell something was off and simply wanted to comfort him. Irenic would look back to only see stairs, but when he turned that gaze of his back at the dark haired girl he would start to see a male figure, blurry at first standing next to the girl with mismatched eyes. Lynn’s voice in his head, ‘Correct on all three accounts. I guess I should make the dead appear for you since you have told me no lies. He looks like you only with a scar on his neck.’ He had asked earlier about her making the dead appear to those without the sight she had so now it was his turn to witness her gift. As the features of the spirit came to light for all in the room to see Irenic would be staring at a familiar face. The man wasn’t headless, the head was sitting atop the neck with a scarred line where it had been removed. The devious grin of the child turned into a simple and soft smile, much like her mothers. Emilia was about to answer Irenic about take out when the spirit became visible to the three of them. Not knowing the conversation between the pair the woman spoke in a harsh tone at the girl, “Lynn! What did I say about…” however, her words got cut off when the face became more clear and looked ever so familiar.


Irenic takes Emilia's hand and gives it a soft squeeze like he does when he needs her. What a crazy turn of events today! His gaze fixates on the blurry figure who is just a couple inches taller than Irenic currently is and a soft gasp comes from him as he gently pulls Emilia closer when the details come clear. There is no fear of Lynn's power from Irenic as his expression is nothing short of awe. Of all the impossible things he's realized since his rebirth, he never thought there would ever be a day he could see his father again, "Edlin Corier Senior…" Yeah, Irenic was a Junior when he went by the name Edlin. There is so much he wishes he could say to his father and shame fills him for the things he's done in the past. His father would have never raised the type of man that Irenic used to be, "Is he… at peace?" Concern knits his thick brows together as he speaks out loud this time to Lynn, but he cannot take his eyes off Edlin.


Emilia squeezes Irenic’s hand after he spoke the name of the figure standing in the entryway with them. It made sense more to her now what had been going on between her youngest and him. It was a weird way to bond with another, but Lynn only knew the world of death more than she did that of life. Her fears that these two would not find common ground washing away. Lynn didn’t turn her gaze away from Irenic as her lips parts and words slowly left her lips in a voice that was not the little girl’s voice, but a familiar voice only to Irenic, “My Son…” it was a whisper, barely there distant coming from the other side through the child. He lingered for a moment before he slowly faded out again as if he had never been standing there. Blinking Lynn’s vision came back into focus of her mother holding hands with Irenic by the stairs. She smiled and her voice spoke out in a small whisper to the room, “Partly. We can fix that.” She gestured between herself and Irenic as the ‘we’ that she spoke of. Emilia’s hand squeezed an almost death grip on Irenic’s when Lynn spoke aloud to him before turning to go find the boys to let them know they were getting takeout for dinner. The Genasi paused, “Sorry!” she said with a quick pat of her stump to his hand she just crushed, “She never talks..”


Irenic can feel the tears welling up along the waterline of his eyes and he is able to easily blink them away until Lynn becomes a conduit for his father's voice, thus causing a silent tear to trail down the stoic man's cheek. The voice, though faint, is so warm and loving that it contrasts Irenic's rough and gravelly timbre as he mumbles out, "father…" A separate ache comes over him as he finally focuses on the large pristinely white wings framing the tall slender man just before he fades from their plane of existence. His eyebrows raise as he blinks away anymore tears threatening their way out when Lynn, herself, speaks! He does remember when Emilia told him all about her kids back in Alithrya and how Lynn was mute, but he doesn't make a huge deal about it in front of Lynn because he's afraid that maybe it would turn her off of ever doing that again. He just grins charmingly at Lynn with a nod even though Emilia is crushing his hand until the girl runs off to join her brothers and then he turns his gaze down at his short stack by his side, "yeah. That was amazing." The avian's gaze is lingering as he looks upon Emilia's face and it's obvious that he probably want to plant a kiss on her, but he decides that is probably nor ideal in front of her kids and drapes his arm over her shoulders in hopes that it looks platonic enough to at least fool the boys. "Lets go get some dinner with the kids," he suggests knocking off a little early and spending some quality time together, all five of them.


Emilia looked up at Irenic as he wrapped arms around her after having admitted that he found the whole situation simply amazing. Em twisted around in his arms so that she was facing him, staring up at him with the emotions plastered on the small woman’s face were a panic mixed with fear and apology. “I am really sorry about that, Irenic…I should have warned you more about Lynn. I will talk with her later about that. It wasn’t right of her to go digging in your head and bringing your father from the other side,” her words came in a whisper, laced with apology for her child’s actions and a slight fear he’d change his mind on their future after witnessing a crashing rush of all three different personalities of the triplets without warning. It was with a hesitant hand that she brushed away the tear that still lingered by his chin. A quick glance to see none of the children were within eyesight of them as she rose to tiptoes to kiss his chin, if only because her height still wasn’t tall enough then to plant one on his lips. Lowering back to her feet she still spoke in a whisper, “I really am sorry she did that…are you sure you want dinner with all of us?” His acceptance of her, all three children, especially Lynn was hard to fully accept when the past had proven on repeat that no one ever really accepted all four of them together.


Irenic shakes his head, "no, she's fine. I mean, that might make other people uncomfortable, but I find it sweet in a sense and I wouldn't have her be any other way because it's what makes her unique. I'm kind of happy she did because, as you know, I haven't seen my father since that night when I was ten and I've always hated that was the last thing I remember about him, but now... I have some hope." When she aimed to kiss his chin, he bent a little so her peck landed on his lips instead. "Don't be, Lia. They are all little bundles of awesome, just like their mother and I find each of them adorable. The undead don't phase me like other people because of the time I was able to converse with them. Remember when Quizzical would follow me around everywhere after his death?" With a scoff, he begins to walk over to where her kids are with her under his arm, "I'm offended you think I would scare that easy. I am all in short-stack and you're stuck with me now." He teases with a sly grin down at her just as they come upon the triplets and asks the four of them, "so, what are we getting to eat?"


Emilia smiled a genuine smile that lit up her features giving her an almost lively human look to those otherwise frozen features at his reply. The grin only spearing ear to ear after their lips connected for a moment, warm against cool. Before he would start off toward the kids she whispered, “I love you, Irenic.” It was kept at a lower voice so the children didn’t overhear to phase the friendship into something more to them already. Lynn might know, but the boys didn’t yet. Wrapping an arm about his waist with her head lightly resting on his side she walked with him toward the children under his arm. Lynn just glanced at the pair with that look on her face like she knows something the boys didn’t. Liam had a mouthful of sweet as Irenic spoke up about dinner. The lad scarfed down the food faster than one would think before he blurted out, “That little place with the fried rice!” Leo was quick to add in, “Oh? The one that makes the different noodles and fried meat choices?!” Liam, “Yes! That one!” Lynn’s voiced only giggled around the room as if it had come from the walls around them listening to the boys easily come to a choice about food. In turn both boys cast those bright blue eyes up at Irenic and their mother, “Can we?! Please!!!!” Their voices speaking at the same time with a bright expression of excitement in their expressions.


Irenic chuckles at their excitement, "that sounds good to me." Once they are outside, he quickly slips his sweater off and hands it to Emilia, "last one there is a stinky fish egg!" His wings of fire blaze to glorious life after he makes sure he isn't too close to singe anyone or scare them. The challenge was for all of them, including Lia and her frozen wings, but he knew the boys would take it more seriously and of course he will let one of them win (unless they both tie, then they both win). With a leap, Irenic takes off into the dusky skies after the boys, all the while chuckling and giving them a convincing run for their money.


Emilia held onto the sweater with a smile, trying to keep her eyes off his exposed chest before his flaming wings exploded from his back. The boys were both clearly envious of his wings, but in no time were up in the air chasing after him laughing all the while. Emi didn’t fly herself as she wasn’t comfortable with her ice magic in that capacity since the bracelet had been on so long. It would be Leo at the little restaurant first followed by Liam and Irenic. Shortly behind them would be Lynn with her mother held loosely in her arms, the girl wasn’t much shorter than her mother, but they still kept pace with the boys. Walking up behind the trio Emilia would offer Irenic his sweater back. “Well, let's order and then retire to Gualon for the night? How does that sound kiddos?” There was a small debate with Liam as there was a pretty waitress, but in the end Em convinced him to take-out. In turn, the boys would place their order followed by Em placing hers and Lynn’s then the group would let Irenic order. Food in packages to go after a short wait Lynn would glare at Irenic, linking into his head alone ‘You can carry her this time! Last one is a rotten squid!’ No sooner than she finished grinning to him did the triplets take off toward the skies for Gualon in a heated race. It left Emi standing there with arms full of food and Irenic outside the restaurant. A smile, “Let’s head home?”


Irenic had put his sweater on for the duration of their order and, boy, did the avian order a lot of food. Irenic did feel a little guilty leaving Emilia to be carried by Lynn, but he thought her strength was back enough to fly and it sort of helped out their 'friends' white lie for he doesn't want to look too eager. 'Gladly,' he replies to Lynn with a smirk on his lips. Luckily the kids took off ahead of them this time, leaving just enough time for him to plant a smooch on his girlfriend and lift the burden of carrying the food from her before whispering, "I love you, too, Lia." He didn't really get a chance before they left because they were right in front of the kids. "Ready," he asks while bending down at the knees so she can cling onto him and then wrapping his free arm around her waist securely. Soon enough they are up in the skies and he easily catches up with the kids. Soon enough they are landing in Gualon in front of her home that he remembers her mentioning she used to share with her ex and he gently places Emilia down to take the lead inside. With a glance to Lynn, he mentions, "technically, your mom is the rotten squid. Her feet touched down last," and then sticks out his tongue at her.


Emilia's Gualon Home



Emilia chuckled as she was indeed the last to set foot on the ground, “Fine! I am a rotten squid, but that also means I am not cleaning up after dinner!” Lynn was the first to the ground before the boys could land behind her. Since she didn’t race the first one she had more energy than the twins did this time around. The house looming before them Em ushered the kids inside behind Irenic. Inside the house was a bit dusty since it had been sometime since anyone stayed here. There was a large open living room with a fireplace, a small kitchen that melded into a dining room that had a long table easily seating more than the five of them, three bedrooms on the lower floor, and then the upstairs that sported another four rooms. The lower floor rooms were guest rooms still at the ready for visitors. Upstairs the children’s rooms each still had cribs in them as they were just toddlers when their dad fled with them. Then a master bedroom sporting a disaster where it had been through a violent outburst, everything broken. The mantle on the fireplace downstairs was old photos of the family. Mostly the children up until they were less than two. Some sported the Genasi with them and one or two had Xersom in them. The kids were rushing around having fun with dust rags that Emilia had given to them to tend to the dust in the living and dining room. Standing in the living room staring at the rather empty house, eyes on the old photos, Emilia didn’t say much to anyone. Lynn was more than happy to fly over the table setting places for everyone to eat, Leo was gathering cups filled with cold water, and Liam was eagerly helping to get the food onto the table.


Irenic is already planning on doing that, so it all works out in the end! Irenic slips his sweater back on before bringing the food in and sets it down at the table so he can go around lighting the sconces and oil lamps to breathe some life back into this home. He was just about to go help setting the table and such when he saw the kids are already eager to do so and he grins at them, "you can set up my food family style," which means that his dishes can be placed in the middle so anyone can share his food with him in case the kids wanted to try something new. "These two dishes are spicy though, if you're daring to try," he pointed to one that had thin yellow colored noodles and another with many vegetables, chicken, fried rice and peanuts. Then he realizes that Emilia isn't with them and irrational panic trickles down his spine that she was taken or gone again, but relief finds him easily when he sees she is just in the living room. He menders up next to her and looks at the pictures with her. Then he can see why she seems quite somber all of the sudden as he catches a couple pictures of their father. "Wow," he says softly, "they look a lot like their father." A hand gently rests on her shoulder as he lowers his voice to ask, "are you okay?" He doesn't want to intrude where he doesn't belong and definitely isn't aiming to replace what their father is to them, but maybe seeing her old home like this is giving Emilia second thoughts.


Emilia looked up to Irenic with a pain buried in those blue eyes, memories and pains that had been buried away revealed. It only lasted a moment before she moved to quietly lower the photos that held the face of her ex-husband in them. That flawless face that wasn’t even a fully real face behind the mask of what it hid beneath it, ancient darkness. When she turned around to face Irenic again she offered a soft smile for him alone, “Just promise me you mean it when you say you are not going anywhere…that I am stuck with you forever now.” She patted his arm with a wink at him while smiling as if nothing out of the normal had just happened. “Mom! Your food is cold already so come on!” Liam exclaimed from the table. All the meals had been set out in the middle with Irenic’s desire for family style, their plates already sporting food on them and even a plate for their mom was made. They knew she wasn’t one to go trying other foods but what she ordered. The twins were each keen on trying some of the spicy food Irenic had ordered. Lynn was content with trying some of the non-spicy food. It wasn’t long before everyone was laughing at the twin’s faces after putting spicy food in their mouths. Liam was chugging water and Leo was doing his best to man-up without making a scene that his mouth was on fire. Lynn ate quietly to herself. She was normally the quiet one. The littles after a flight over from Cenril to Gualon were easily devouring their food in no time. Emilia wasn’t much behind them in eating her meal while sharing stories of the kids from their toddler days. “Oh, Leo you used to run around here crying as you tripped on your tail, Liam you were a little nudist peeing on things, and Lynn you were always playing with the spirits.” Were the general bases of the stories shared.


Irenic can share in that pain of having a vision of your life ahead of you and then one day it all gets ripped away. It's one of the many reasons they connect so perfectly on so many levels, "oh, you're stuck big time, babe." His gaze locks down into her's with a soft and genuine smile on his lips, just for her. Slowly, the atmosphere of her living room fades away and it feels like it's just them alone, but as it seems he is about to lean down and plant an anticipated kiss on her lips, he's pulled out of the moment by Liam. With a larger grin and chuckle, he steps aside for her to lead the way into the dining room and goes to sit next to her, but then the boys point out his seat between them and he gladly takes his assigned seat. Irenic blends in well, actively enjoying the baby stories about the three and even making a point to include Lynn in the fun. The avian ate his food with ease, especially the spicy foods, but he has really taken a liking to the more heat themed seasonings since his phoenix rebirth. They all stayed up pretty late just rambling on about their lives, answering any questions they had about his fire wings, and he let the kids talk about themselves as much as they wished, but soon it was evident that the trio were getting tired and if they reach to clean up the table, he aviann would wave them away, "no, no. It's fine, I will clean up- you guys get some rest," Irenic says goodnight to the boys, giving them a light fist bump and then kindly smiling with a wave to Lynn. As soon as they are upstairs, he begins gathering plates and he says, "they are really good kids, Emilia and I can tell a lot of you is what makes them so great." He knows that she was anxious for him to meet them because she thinks they are a lot to handle, but Irenic is ready for it all and he gives her a loving kiss on her forehead before taking some of the dishes into the kitchen.


Emilia would be lying if she thought her face didn’t hurt from all the smiles and the laughs the group of five was having with dinner. The boys rattle on like Irenic needed to know every single detail of their recent adventures, including how Liam almost died in a search party for their mother thanks to mermaids. Before they got to heading upstairs the Genasi remembered the mess it was and shifted their direction to the three guest rooms that had actual beds over cribs. Leo yawned with a sleepy smile as he returned the first bump, “I like him” he stated through the yawn. Liam nodded with agreement, “Me too. Lynn makes the spirits appear so he can comfort a pretty lady today!” he added with a laugh, using Irenic’s advice against him. Lynn waved, but not before sharing a message with him mentally, ‘He came back with you. I don’t think he ever really left you. Goodnight.’ Then the three were making ways into their rooms. There was a bright smile on her lips from his forehead kiss before she followed after the kids to tuck them into the beds in the three lower rooms. They were already about asleep by time she got in to kiss each one’s forehead and tuck them into the covers. Each door was shut gently before she made her way out to join him in the kitchen to help clean up from their dinner. “They seem to really like you,” she said softly grabbing a dry plate to stick in a cupboard. It is here she grabbed something from inside. Holding it in her hands it was dusted over, but even then, looked ancient. Rubbing her thumb over the dust she smiled down at the relic, remembering where it came from. “You know. I really was worried they’d be too much for you. I still worry you will get overwhelmed by them. Three is a lot, especially when they are already partly grown into individuals.”


Irenic, of course, had thanked Lynn again and said good night in the way that she is accustomed to when she spoke to his mind. He has gotten most of the dishes washed by the time Emilia comes back and begins to rinse them as she starts to help. "That's a good first step then. I'm glad they like me so far," he says optimistically. "I understand why you'd think that with anyone else, but I think they are quite pleasant. I did grow up in a pretty rough orphanage and as soon as I was old enough, I got placed in a boarding school for troubled youth. They don't come anywhere near some of the kids I used to know," heck, he was one of those hellians, too! "I do know that you have to take it one day at a time with kids their age and it won't always be sunshine and rainbows, but I am ready for it, Lia." He takes the dry hand towel from it's draped place over his shoulder to dry the dishes and hand them to her to put them away since she would know where the items belong better than he would. Catching sight of the item she found, he asks, "what's that you go there?"


Emilia turned to look up at Irenic, “I was gifted this when an ancient shaman in Venturil saved my life after being attacked by bandits. It was also the moment when the magic binding the genasi in me was broken and my life was changed forever frozen…and a promise was made to an old friend…that I never kept.” Memories flashed of a different time. Irenic would be able to see the reflective glaze in her eyes for a moment before she blinked it away with a subject change, “One day at a time sounds like the best way to live with small children. Somedays I never know which way is up. I bet all those parents with just one have it so easy. Or even ones that are not the same age at the same time.” She giggled before standing up on her tiptoes with puckered lips for a kiss.


Irenic listens intently to everything she has to say and when the last dish is placed where it belongs, he gives his hands a good wash, wipes down the sink after the water is let out and dries his hands. Neat freak habits die hard. "Yeah? What promise was that?" He spent a week there, touring the byrgs for his and Valrae's honeymoon, but no bad memories come from that place and he actually never spend more time in Venturil before or after that. "You're a woman of impossible strength to be raising three kids at once, but I already knew of your badassery long before I learned you had kids. So, no surprise there," he gently cups both of her cheeks as he bends down to meet her for a kiss. His lips flush against her own and part slightly in the sensuality of it.


Emilia continued to wipe off the dust from the old amulet while he finished the dishes, the kitchen skept spic and span under his watch. While she cleaned the old item she answered his question, “I promised to help rebuild that city with my skills as a farmer. I’d meet the second wife of the once king Eboric. She was with me when I got attacked and in part a reason I lived long enough for a freak meeting with some ancient undead spirit to heal me. I promised I would get a farm up and running to help provide for the people, help get other farms going, and restore happiness to her people. I built a house. I started a farm, but I left after the kids started to grow and the weather got hot for a season…that is when we moved to Gualon instead.” She sighed softly when it came to be that she had broken a promise to a person she hadn’t even heard from in many many moons. Setting down the amulet on the counter before she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as their lips met one another. She held the kiss with him, letting all the emotions of the day melt away. The kids were asleep in their rooms so there was no need to keep it a short one.


Irenic bends at the knee and wraps his arms around her waist to lift her onto the kitchen counter behind her so she is a little more level with him and the kisses don't have to make them awkwardly reach for each other. His hands smooth down her back and knead her muscles along the way while their lips continue in their passionate lock as his lips change pace a bit. When their kiss finally breaks, he looks slightly dazed a moment with a blissful and charming grin on his lips, "sorry. I just have been wanting to do that for hours now… About this Venturil business. Are you saying that you feel like you're ready and in a good place in your life now to make true on the promise you swore long ago?"


Emilia made no objections as he lifted her off the floor. The Genasi melted into the passion of the kiss, gasping slightly for a breath as the kiss finally broke. There was a blueish blush across her pale cheeks as she stared into his eyes, “Don’t be sorry. I love kissing you.” Reaching up she gently ran a finger over his lower lip before he started into the Venturil topic once more. Smiling still she nodded, “You might just be a Genius, Irenic. I think finishing that promise is just the right thing to do. Far enough away from Cenril and the rest of the cities that seem to have the most cause for trouble. I am sure the farm is still there, just probably in need of mending and some remodeling…some furniture for the children… “ The life that sprung into those blue eyes was almost as if she was rattling about the clinics or the people she mended, yet this was more of a passion.


Irenic claims the sides of her face again with his hands, fingertips gently caressing over the short hairs on the sides of her scalp and he plants another sultry kiss on her again, "well, it sounds like quite the noble task. Once the academy is complete and running, would you like for me to fly you there and help you check things out?" He smirks mischievously, "I promise I will definitely be of help with remodels or furniture shopping and definitely won't be greedily sneaking kisses from my short stack." Jokingly trying to convince her to bring him along, as if he had to do much of it.


Emilia lingers on the kiss with the faintest of pouts left on those blue lips when he pulls away again. The pout vanished shortly as she grinned at him, “Well, I don’t think it would be wise for me to be traveling alone and so far away after just finding my way back to the surface. I am prone to accidents and being kidnapped. Would you really let me go alone?” The woman smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair slowly, “I would be honored if you came along with me.” There was no convincing needed, she would have asked him to go anyways. In part she was still afraid to be alone.


Irenic closes his eyes a moment as her fingertips cress through his hair and he becomes putty in her hands. Her words bring a chuckle to him, low and short, "yeah. My helpless little icicle, as if you could even keep me from you." He leans in again, but instead of planting a kiss on her lips, he places slow trailing kisses from her cheek to her jawline and one last one on her neck before meeting her gaze again. "Let's get you tucked away in bed and I'll take the couch just for tonight," he suggests only because he doesn't want her kids thinking anything was going on with them sharing a room and all.


Emilia shivered under his kisses, her fingers lightly tugging at his hair with little twists of it around her fingers. “How about, no. You can sleep with me tonight and every night. I don’t think I can sleep peacefully without you there. I can lock the door to the room and to the adjoining room that was once the nursery. This way when they wake you can just slip into the other room and pretend to have slept in there,” she said with a soft beg to her words. The nightmares still came when she closed her eyes, but in his arms at night she found a peace that easily sent them away.


Irenic gently caresses his thumbs along her temples as he looks far off into her eyes, "of course I will." How could he ever say no to her? "By your side is exactly where I want to be, I just did know if you wanted to while your kids are home." He also didn't know if she really wanted to share the same bed in which she used to lay with her ex husband, but it is her house and what she says goes. "Let's go get cleaned up and retire for the night then?" His grin is back and he takes a step back with a hand out to help her off the counter.


Emilia accepted his hand as she slid from the counter to follow along with him, "I always want you by my side." There was a smile that never seemed to leave her lips when he was around. It felt so natural to be so happy all the time. Turning her gaze up the stairs she cleared her throat quietly, "I should warn you that the upstairs is rather a terrible mess of things. There really is not much left. I kinda raged, destroyed it and burnt up most of the things. There is a closet of blankets and pillows that we can use to make a bed....I know you like things neat and clean, but that is anything but the state..." She frowned thinking about how messy of a house she kept. Reaching the top of the stairs she added, "Someday, when we have our own house I will try better to keep a more clean place."


Irenic chuckles softly to stay quiet while the kids sleep, "its okay, Lia." He bends down a little to kiss her forehead where her dreads meet, "you go get cleaned up and I'll clean things up a bit and make us a bed, okay?" He would wait until she pointed him to the door where he needed to go and he would do everything he could to make them a comfortable area to sleep for the night. Making sure to sweep debri and dust into one corner until he could get to it tomorrow before lighting some candles and taking the mattress from the last spare room to place on the clean part of the floor.


Emilia showed him the ruin of a ruin that there was. The little woman could surely make a mess when she wanted to, judging by the state of this room. Then she pointed out the closet in the hall filled with blankets, pillows, and all sorts of other extra items. Em would kiss him once more before she departed to get herself cleaned up. It was a time before she wandered back into the room with her wet dreads clinging around her towel covered figure. “You are rather magical, you know? But now you need to clean up. You are covered in dust and dirt now,” she commented on his cleaning skills during her wash up while also pointing out his state now. “I put a clean towel in there for you and there is plenty of warm water. I only used the cold,” she giggled at how silly that sounded.