04-15-2018, 08:37 PM
hold me in this wild, wild world
'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be
'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be
To his relief, the boys are willing to heed his call to a stalemate, and his heart lifts as it always does when they come towards him. Honey-brown eyes scour every inch of both boys, until he is satisfied that neither one is injured in any way. Briefly, he raises that gaze to investigate the clearing around them and a lack of obvious scorch marks leaves him feeling reasonably sure that they hadn’t been going totally overboard before he arrived. Despite knowing that Drax will object, he takes the time to touch each of them, showing them physical affection that he is quite sure both boys will spurn as they get older; it’s a parent’s prerogative to get the most out of their children’s childhoods before they start to think they’re too grown-up for such things.
A little half-smile finds it’s way onto his face when Drax immediately ruffles his feathers back up – he knows from vast experience that it’s not comfortable to have feathers out of place, but if being contrary is more important to the bay colt, who is Brennen to object? At least Dario is still young enough to shelter closer to his father, and he supposes if he wants to be cuddled he’ll just go find Galilee and little Khaeli – his youngest daughter is clingier than the octopi who call the surrounding ocean their home. He doesn’t miss the exchanged glances that point out the children are not being entirely forthcoming about their day’s activities, and not for the first time since the boys arrived, Brennen is thankful for the fact that their humid climate and sandy soil prevents fire from spreading, even when their aim is particularly bad. He doesn’t have to worry about the damage they’ll do to the island, just what they might do to each other.
Still… “Found anything interesting?” he asks innocently, as if he completely believes their story about adventuring and doesn’t have a pretty good guess that it might just be code for ‘getting far enough away from dad and all of our older relatives to set each other on fire’. As he attentively listens to whatever response they come up with, he sends silent thanks to whatever gods or fae that watch over him for that, too – the sheer number of his children and grand-children who currently reside on Ischia make raising children while organizing a mutiny and running a Kingdom bearable. It’s a challenge for the colts to ever be out of sight of an older family member who knows to keep at least half an eye on their mischief.
When they’ve finished talking, Brennen offers whatever response is appropriate and then injects a note of solemnity in his voice to get their full attention. “I have something to tell you both,” he starts, making sure they are listening before he continues. “This morning, I became King of Ischia. That makes the two of you royalty, but it’s not all fun and games. It means anything you do, good or bad, will reflect on Ischia and everyone who lives here, not just on your mother and I. It also means that you’ll be more important in the public eye than you were, and so will all your siblings and your cousins.” Everyone knows how strongly Brennen feels about his family; they will be the easiest way to strike at him or his Kingdom. “You’ll have to be very careful; the island should stay very safe with all of the new Brothers to guard it, but I don’t want either of you to approach any stranger alone unless the parrots know them as friends, and under no circumstances are you to leave Ischia without an adult escort.
As you get older and stronger, we’ll renegotiate your boundaries. Okay?” He takes the time to meet each boy’s gaze fully, waiting for their agreement.
A little half-smile finds it’s way onto his face when Drax immediately ruffles his feathers back up – he knows from vast experience that it’s not comfortable to have feathers out of place, but if being contrary is more important to the bay colt, who is Brennen to object? At least Dario is still young enough to shelter closer to his father, and he supposes if he wants to be cuddled he’ll just go find Galilee and little Khaeli – his youngest daughter is clingier than the octopi who call the surrounding ocean their home. He doesn’t miss the exchanged glances that point out the children are not being entirely forthcoming about their day’s activities, and not for the first time since the boys arrived, Brennen is thankful for the fact that their humid climate and sandy soil prevents fire from spreading, even when their aim is particularly bad. He doesn’t have to worry about the damage they’ll do to the island, just what they might do to each other.
Still… “Found anything interesting?” he asks innocently, as if he completely believes their story about adventuring and doesn’t have a pretty good guess that it might just be code for ‘getting far enough away from dad and all of our older relatives to set each other on fire’. As he attentively listens to whatever response they come up with, he sends silent thanks to whatever gods or fae that watch over him for that, too – the sheer number of his children and grand-children who currently reside on Ischia make raising children while organizing a mutiny and running a Kingdom bearable. It’s a challenge for the colts to ever be out of sight of an older family member who knows to keep at least half an eye on their mischief.
When they’ve finished talking, Brennen offers whatever response is appropriate and then injects a note of solemnity in his voice to get their full attention. “I have something to tell you both,” he starts, making sure they are listening before he continues. “This morning, I became King of Ischia. That makes the two of you royalty, but it’s not all fun and games. It means anything you do, good or bad, will reflect on Ischia and everyone who lives here, not just on your mother and I. It also means that you’ll be more important in the public eye than you were, and so will all your siblings and your cousins.” Everyone knows how strongly Brennen feels about his family; they will be the easiest way to strike at him or his Kingdom. “You’ll have to be very careful; the island should stay very safe with all of the new Brothers to guard it, but I don’t want either of you to approach any stranger alone unless the parrots know them as friends, and under no circumstances are you to leave Ischia without an adult escort.
As you get older and stronger, we’ll renegotiate your boundaries. Okay?” He takes the time to meet each boy’s gaze fully, waiting for their agreement.
hold me in this wild, wild world
and in your heat I feel how cold it can get
and in your heat I feel how cold it can get
BRENNEN