• Closed • Meet the Family (Faith)

[Rey'na]

5th Ymiden, 718

Having met Faith, Rey'na was so grateful for the chance she'd been given. Her beautiful, amazing sister had been one of the most inspirational people she had met, and that was just in the short time they'd spent. Nothing mattered more than what she had now, nobody mattered more than her new family. Her sister, her nephew and niece, her brother in law. She knew she would love them all until the end of time.

But what the fuck was Faith thinking when she bought this house?

As Rey walked along the bridge, that was the only question she could ask. It wasn't particularly dangerous, or it didn't look it at least, but that didn't diminish how scared Rey'na was of the entire situation. Heights had never been something the girl agreed with, though she wouldn't say she was terrified of them - just somewhat uncomfortable. Yet this bridge gave her a new level of fear that, admittedly, she hadn't expected when visiting her sister.

Eventually, the girl made it to the door, sighing with relief that she was no longer on the bridge. Yet for a moment, she hesitated. What if something had changed, like Faith's opinion of the girl? It wasn't likely, but could it have happened? What if her nephew and niece hated her, too. Shaking her head, Rey'na rid herself of the thoughts. There was no point worrying now, she had to just go for it, to meet her family and do the best she could to make a good impression.

With a knock on the door, the girl waited patiently, smiling politely at whoever would answer it.

[Faith Augustin]

Faith was nervous.

No, that wasn't quite right. She had to be honest with herself, it was her way. Faith was terrified. What if Rey'na had changed her mind? If she somehow found the whole idea repugnant or distasteful? If, having had time to think about it, her sister had decided that she didn't want a family?

No. That wasn't going to happen.

"You're going to do yourself a mischief," Cyrus commented, drily. Faith stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him and then grinned. "Did I mention that we're having a visitor?" Faith asked, her eyes apparently serious. Cyrus looked back at her with an equally deadpan expression. "I don't know, Faith. You might have mentioned a sister." Faith smiled at him and Cyrus motioned around. "The house is so clean that dust is afraid to land. The children have been fed into a milk coma and Katie, Luna and I are responding with military precision, terrified to put a single foot out of place" Faith stopped moving and looked at him and a brief almost-smile crossed Cyrus' face.

"I just want everything to be.. but you know that. Oh! Oh! She's here!" Faith turned and ran from the room and Cyrus watched her with a slightly raised eyebrow. Faith ran to the long hallway and then opened the door to see "Rey'na! It's good to see you!" She moved and, without thinking, hugged her sister and then motioned for her to step through the threshold. "Come in, please."

The door opened into a long, winding hallway which had light flooding into it from the large windows. All the rooms were high in the ceiling and the place was a warren. No two internal doors were the same and the corridor wound around. There were shelves all over the place, filled with books and things. Bits and bobs and odds and ends. There was a loud bark and then in came a strange, slightly glowing, blue and white dog. No longer a puppy, he was a large beast, but Faith spoke to him "Cosmo! Guest. Friend. Friend," and the dog's tail began to wag as he walked up next to Faith. "This is Cosmo, our dog. There's a cat around here somewhere, too. Quattro."

"And a few two legged folks," came a deep male voice. The man, looking to be in his fifties or so, had salt and pepper hair and deep amber eyes. "This is Cyrus, my father in law, and Katie," the woman with Cyrus looked to be maybe thirty, but probably not yet. She clung on to him with a determination, though, "my mother in law." Both the older folks smiled at Faith. "It's a pleasure to meet Faith's sister," Cyrus said and nodded his head. Katie was much more effusive and she moved over, "Well look at you, you beautiful little Princess, you're just a cherry pie with those beautiful eyes. Our home is yours, darling, Faith is such a wonder. We're so happy that you two have found each other, why.." she was fit to go on a while, but Cyrus interjected with a "Why don't we go make some tea?"

Faith grinned at Rey'na once they were gone. "I can't wait for you to meet the children," she said and then admitted, "I was so nervous you might change your mind. I'm so glad you came." If Rey'na was willing, Faith would lead her through a door to a small, high ceilinged room which was a place with one large crib, toys and childrens books, a desk with strange looking equipment on it and books on medicine against another wall. Large sofas and a space on the floor. And in the crib were two, currently sleeping babies. Asleep under the crib were two wolf pups.

"This is your nephew, Noah, and your niece, Madison," Faith said and looked at Rey'na, hopefully.

[Rey'na]

5th Ymiden, 718

Rey hugged her sister back, with both excitement and hesitation. Of course, she loved the embrace of her sister, she knew she would. Something about it just felt strange, that kind of relationship. Though, the girl could only assume that would change overtime as she grew used to it. After all, this was Faith. Hugs would become fairly common if she had anything to say about it.
"It's good to see you too, Faith" the girl said as she walked in the house, looking around with interest. It was, albeit strange, a beautiful house. Compared to where she lived, that was. Though, where she lived wasn't on a strangely high cliff with an unpleasant bridge to get to, so Rey'na would stick to the house she currently had for the time being. It was enough for now, at least.

As Cosmo came in, Rey smiled a little and offered her hand to the animal, before immediately standing up politely at the sound of other people in the house. "It's a pleasure to meet you both, I'm Rey'na" she smiled at the two, bowing her head politely - something she had seen and done often in her time in Rynmere. When the woman called her a beautiful princess, her cheeks turned red and her smile widened just a little more. Then, the two left the room, with a friendly wave from Rey'na.
"I can't wait either, and of course I came. You're my sister, there is nothing more important than family. I couldn't change my mind like that. Though, I did have the same nerves admittedly" she chuckled, realizing the hypocrisy of what she had just said. Then, following Faith, the girl found herself in the kids room. Two beautiful wolf pups caught Rey'na's gaze, followed by the sight of two beautiful children. Her eyes almost widened a little as she looked down at them both.

"They're beautiful" she whispered, her face looking down at them both in awe, her eyes unable to look away. Her nephew and niece. Her family. This was it. Beside her was her sister, and in front of her were the children that would grow up to call her "aunt". It was then that her hand lightly went to her sisters shoulder, gripping it lightly before glancing to Faith with a small smile. "They're so very beautiful."

[Faith Augustin]

When Rey'na hugged her back, Faith felt the nerves leave her and she grinned, delight evident on her face. Rey'na, her sister was here and she had come and Faith felt a swell of contentment. It was something which astonished her, one in a long line of astonishing things, in fairness, the notion of her sister actually existing. At some point, she supposed, there would be a need for them to sit down and talk about serious things, about Morana, their father, Rey'na's past and her own. But right now they had right now and that was more than enough for Faith. Famula, her beloved Immortal, was all about second chances - those who had refused Vri for whatever reason were given another chance. Faith understood forgiveness in a way which was basic and fundamental to her and the resurrection Famula offered was the truest and most absolute chance at redemption.

So, in a very real sense, none of the past mattered to Faith.

Cyrus gave a slight smile, fleeting and gone as quickly as it came, whereas Katie was much more effusive, much more prone to public displays of affection and cheek pinching. That they both accepted Rey'na so immediately though, delighted Faith. Cyrus gave her just a slight nod as he left, almost imperceptible, but Faith saw it and she smiled to him. Then, she and her sister went into the room where her son and daughter slept and Faith watched Rey'na's face, then turned her gaze down to her children. As Rey'na's hand moved to her shoulder, Faith's hand lifted and covered Rey'na's, squeezing it. "They are. I am so overwhelmingly in love with them. If I have my way, they will grow in a better world." A world where children weren't sold into slavery, neglected or harmed by their parents. A world where poverty did not exist.

The world which all children should grow up in.

As Noah wrinkled his nose and rubbed it, Faith smiled and motioned as Madison did the same. The twins opened their eyes in the same moment, Noah's silver like his mother and Madison's a deep golden amber. They looked between Faith and Rey'na and started gurgling and giggling, making strange little noises. "Well hello, sleepy heads. Did you dream beautiful dreams? Hmm? This is your aunt, Rey'na." Scooping first one, then the other of the twins up into her arms with the kind of dexterity born from seven months of practice, Faith looked at Rey'na and asked. "Would you like a cuddle?" There were serious conversations to have, important things to talk about and think about and do.

But first, four little eyes gazed upon her and four chubby arms reached to her.

[Rey'na]

Truth be told, Faith wasn't the only person that Rey'na was nervous to meet. Anyone that had been a part of her little sisters life would be terrifying to have to introduce herself too, purely out of fear of judgement. Yet of them all, she had yet to meet one that truly judged her - if she had been judged at all. Everyone met her with a smile, more kindness in just this break alone than she had in the past arc combined. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the girl was beyond just content - she was happy.
First it had been Cyrus and Katie, who gave her warm smiles, compliments and friendly conversation. Everything about them made her feel at home, like she finally had a place to be and stay. Then, of course, was her beautiful sister Faith. Of all the immortals, not one could make her feel emotion like the woman in front of her did. Every second she had suffered and struggled for redemption was made worth it from the smile she brought to Faith's face. Every trill in Moseke's dungeon, every agonizing second of having the Egg ripped out of her head, all of it was worth it to finally have Faith - and she'd do it all again just to keep her.

But despite every ounce of happiness she felt from Cyrus, or from Katie or even Faith - the twins beat them all by a thousand. Those two pure, stunning children before her, resting in Faith's arms and looking between them with a laugh as their stunning eyes opened. Rey'na was beyond awe-struck, she was entranced. So when the offer came of a cuddle, with nothing more than a nod, the girl gently took the babies in to her arms as she had seen Faith do.
Within a trill, she found herself crying, a small sob leaving her with a smile on her face. "You two are so, so beautiful" she whispered to the two giggling children, small hands and fingers grabbing at her and warm faces smiling back to her. Another sob left her lips as she found Madisons hand lightly press against her cheek, Rey'na kissing it and a small tear running down on to it.

Her eyes then met Faith again, and every bit of pain she had felt over the past Arc came falling out for the first time. Even before when she had cried, be it to Faith or alone, she had hidden from it all. Denied the pain. But now, she was letting it out to make room for the love in her life. Careful with the babies, Rey'na moved slightly closer to Faith, leaning her head lightly on her shoulder.

"I love you all so much, Faith. All of you" she started, hugging the twins just that little bit tighter, her head resting on her sisters shoulder. "So, so much."

[Faith Augustin]

There was something, Faith thought, fundamentally totally accepting about babies. Young children under an arc old simply loved and accepted and as Madison reached her hand up to touch Rey'na's cheek, Faith felt a swelling of emotion, the likes of which she couldn't fully describe. Her sister, holding her children, in her home which she shared with her husband and his parents. Faith, as a slave, had dreamed of freedom, but it had never been so perfect. Never, in all the dreams had it been this. It had been the only place where her desire to be free came out, in dreams, and she recognised that now. Free to love, to serve and to make her own choices - for only in freedom was service a choice.

And now? She had exceeded even the dreams she had then.

Breathing in, Faith watched as Rey'na and the children met each other, Madison babbling at her and a wide, cheeky grin on the little girl's face. Noah was more serious, more reserved and his silver eyes watched her for a while before he, too, burst into a grin. Watching it, Faith felt her own tears prickling behind her eyes and then, as Rey'na moved towards her, Faith made a strange noise, like an almost moan, half sob and she hugged her sister and her children. Both of the babies looked between the two women and then, at exactly the same second, both twins started to laugh as though they had shared a joke about the strange behaviors of adults.

For all Faith knew, frankly, they had.

And then, Rey'na spoke and Faith nodded, barely able to keep herself in check. Then, holding herself in check stopped and she sobbed in relief and delight and raw emotion. "I love you too. Oh, you know, I am bad... very shoddy at showing emotions. The first time Padraig told me," she was hiccuping and laughing and crying all at once. Noah reached up and wiped a tear from Rey'na's face and looked at his hand. "Ub," he said, quite eloquently. Madison, at the same time was reaching for Faith's tear and she too commented. "Ub," she said and Faith smiled at her children. "When Padraig first told me he loved me, I told him I was pleased he had told me, glad to know how he felt and needed to sleep now, so he should leave the dishes." Faith shook her head at the memory. "I can be very bad at saying with my mouth what my heart feels. But I feel.." Tears flowed freely and she couldn't speak any more. Madison reached up to her mother and Faith grasped the little hand and kissed it.

"Ub," both babies said in solemn unison. "Ubububububub"

Looking at her sister, Faith couldn't help but chuckle. "Ub," she said and, from that moment, that would be a much easier way to express her feelings with Rey'na. And just as meaningful.

[Caius Gawyne]

Here's your sarding thread review already.

Rey'na

Points

XP:
15 | These points cannot be used for magic.

Renown:
N/A

Goodies

N/A

Consequences

N/A

Knowledges

Skill Knowledge:
None requested.

Other Knowledge:
None requested.

Faith

Points

XP:
15 | These points cannot be used for magic.

Renown:
N/A

Goodies

N/A

Consequences

N/A

Knowledges

Skill Knowledge:
None requested.

Other Knowledge:
None requested.

Comments

Aw this thread was so cute and full of feels and cute babies. Yes. Like all good things. Hugs and Faith with some actual, expressed feels (like, what, where have I been? Under a rock!) and sistery things. I love how both of you had the same sense of caution and hesitation, a similar fear of the other being full of rejection, only to have that fear melt away. Baby cuddles solve everything. It's the truth.

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Be not afraid of greatness:
Some are born great, some achieve greatness,
And some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

- Malvolio | Shakespeare's Twelf Night (II, v, 156-159)