escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ but all i really know, you're where i wanna go

It's only for when they still can't walk. After that, well, there's no containing them.

Mid is already proof of that.

Ah, the horrors that we had to face when Midadol learned to walk...

[There's just the briefest flicker of a bittersweet look before she shakes it off with a laugh.]

You must have been a little devil as a child? Surely it has to all come from somewhere

[With him so close, it's hard for him to not notice that slight change in expression, and he'll watch her for a moment before he chuckles.]

What, me? Why, I was a model child.

Were you? And yet you would raise these little devils.

[He is going to be the dad that gives her gray hairs, isn't he...

But a thought crosses her mind, and she tilts her head up at him.]

You never did tell me much about what it was like.

[He's still wearing that amused smile as he looks at her curiously.]

What, raising Mid?

[A little shake of her head, and her fingers curl into his hair again, brushing softly and idly.]

No. You growing up... your childhood.

[She chews on her lip for a moment.]

... Mine is never worth sharing, but yours? I know very little about it.

[....Ah.

There's a contemplative look at that, his eyes drifting for a moment before returning to hers.]

It's not that interesting of a story.

[There he goes, deflecting... Though in many ways he doesn't really think it so interesting. Or perhaps, not so important.]

[Yes, there he goes, deflecting, and Benedikta can already pick up on it. And while she will not push it—]

You think so, but I do not agree. I find all aspects of my husband quite interesting.

[Yet why does he not want to speak of it?]

[He's just never really been one to talk about himself, is he? And it's not as if he's trying to keep anything a secret, or is so against it. So there's just a low hum before he shifts so that he can lie next to her more comfortably, his arm draped over her waist.]

What, the common tale of a poor boy who had to grow up and survive?

[There's a wry grin as he cants his head slightly.]

[No, he is not... and she wishes to change that. For all the time that they spend together, there are times when she wants to know what he is thinking and feeling. Wants to know more about him. And perhaps spend more time with him as a result of that. So when he turns them so that they're lying side by side, she brushes her fingers over his cheek fondly.]

Is that how it begins? Though, I know that it does not stay so common.

[It's special because it's him!!!]

[A small chuckle as he glances down briefly, thinking of how much to say and what to say.]

No. Not everyone becomes a Dominant.

[Another cheeky grin because he knows that's not what she means. Relaxing a bit, he leans closer towards her.]

My parents were servants to an old lord in the Outer Continent. As you know, magic and aether doesn't exist there so while livable, it was harder. So despite serving a "lord," it didn't mean much. Was only good enough to have a roof over our heads and a basic meal on the table.

But in those days, "enough" could be considered a luxury.

[Her expression sombers a bit as she listens, although her smile never fades. They may not have been so well off like any lord and lady, but it was better than a lot of the lives in Valisthea at the time. Better than hers... and is it strange that she feels a little bit of relief about that? As well as a twinge of jealousy? Or is that only natural?]

Mm. It was like that everywhere, was it not?

[Even as she was growing up. The world did not change much, from the sounds of it.]

Your parents... were they happy?

[There's a slight quirk of his lips.]

Aye. Best as they could, anyway. And knowing that, I usually tried to stay out of trouble.

You? Stay out of trouble?

[She scoffs a teasing laugh at the thought of that.]

I find that hard to believe given your record now... I wonder what changed. You gave them very little?

[What changed indeed... There's a slight quirk of his lips, a small raise at the corner of his mouth that's a bit rueful.]

What, not so uncommon. The bright-eyed youth who learns the harsh truths of the world.

And I suppose I might have gotten into a row or two with the other kids, but they were far worse.

Of course you did. A shame I could not see "the other guy", yes?

[As they say.

She gives his nose a little tap with her finger, and her chest heaves gently with relief.]

Still... it does not sound like it was so terrible?

No... I mean.

[A small half shrug.]

There were good days and bad. But if I had to say, despite whatever tough times we faced, there were more good days than bad.

[There's that distant, melancholic look at his eyes drift to her pendant. He had already told some of its history...]

Mu father is the one who tried his hardest for that. Something about the Telamon heritage or whatnot.

[She knows where his eyes drift, and between seeing that look on his face and feeling the weight of the chain around her neck, her heart cannot help but want to reach out for him with a wish to know more.]

Hm?

[She hums at him, pulling him closer with her arms around his shoulders.]

What was he like?

[He is a little surprised by the display of affection, but he also can't help but smile into it as he nuzzles in close. Who is he to deny whatever comforts she thinks she might need to help encourage him?

Granted... When was the last time he spoke of his parents? Or even really thought of them, as unfilial as that may sound.

So there's just a low hum as his eyes remain on the pendant for a little while longer.]

Strong...well, as strong as a man could be given our conditions.

[Another hum as he reflects while slowly speaking.]

While nothing noteworthy, the family does hail from a line of swordsmen, usually knights or soldiers that served other lords.

[He nods to the pendant.]

That's how we came to have a crest, though my father always said it was something his grandfather made on a whim so it's not even that aged.

But he, too, used to know the way of the sword before an injury left him unable. That's how he came to work in the stables and assist the knights of the old lord instead. Perhaps it was some measure of repayment, even if such repayment wasn't much. Still, he didn't let that destroy his pride.

[A wry grin.]

Might have gotten some of my own stubbornness and ethic from him.

[She watches him as he speaks, her eyes flitting across his face in rapt attention and focus, drinking in every word and every little twitch of his lips, every shimmer in his eyes. Sometimes, in moments like this, she feels like that young girl again, admiring her Lord Commander for being the man that he is. Only this time, it is not brought with a wish to be near him because she already is, and the thought has her running her fingers along his cheek with idle affection.]

I think you may have.

[A smile.]

He sounds like he was a good man, though. You looked up to him...

[Not so much a question as much as it is an observation, just based on the way he spoke of him. She may not have lived a life where her own father showed her that strength, but she can still see it in him.]

[He only smiles in silent acknowledgment.]

Quite so. And even at a young age I was interested in "tinkering" around, so he would bring back any spare wood or things that was no longer needed.

[How cute... She is certain her heart is soaring right now.]

Quite the tinkerer and swordsman you turned out to be, thanks to him in part. I assume you learned the way of the sword from him as well?

[There's a pregnant pause at that before he gives a slight shake of his head.]

...Unfortunately, no. When I was about eight he was killed while running an errand. Bandits most likely.

[Ah.

She knew that he no longer had his parents, but that was about the extent of that knowledge. She never asked, mostly because at some point, she thought she stopped having the right to do so, and then... the opportunity never presented itself, nor did the thought. They'd been so focused on other things, but now that the owlets have hatched and they watched the owl that they had raised become a father...

Of course it would find its way to the forefront again. And not that she has a problem with it, but she does hope that he does not. That he feels comfortable telling her these things because she wants to know.

He'll feel her arms around him tighten, and her lips brush gently against his cheek in a silent apology.]

You were so young... And it was just you and your mother after that?

[It's been long enough that sad as it is, he can speak of it without too much more emotion than the usual nostalgia and melancholy that comes with such things. So he can only glance at her with a light, appreciative smile, the kiss, though perhaps not needed, still welcomed.]

...For a short time. Unfortunately that "errand" was actually to get medicine for my mother. Having fallen ill, there was only so much we could do with what little we had, and after that... Her health deteriorated with the grief and it wasn't long after that she passed.

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