Just A Little Question|Malagard, Khelek

[Kender Bard]

Harmony sighed deeply once home. She took her current school book and personal bit of slate and dumped both on the first clean surface that presented itself. She didn't make her usual run for her own room to change out of her clothing into something that her mother wouldn't throw a fit over if she ripped. Instead, with a frown of deep thought (or concern), she sent her mind out to brush against Schuldig's with the flavor of inquiry. ~Are you busy, Dad? Can we talk?~

[Darastrix]

Schuldig's reply was prompt. ~Sure, kiddo. I'm just leaving Lucifer's study. Want to meet me in my room?~

He'd just finished sitting through a rehash of the Amastar raid and discussion on continued vigilance to the south. At least with winter fast approaching, an attack from the west was unlikely. It was doubtful the ships from Fireteeth could handle the thick ice off the northern coastline.

[Kender Bard]

~Okay!~ Harmony agreed and quickly changed course to his room. She sat down on the edge of his bed and swung her legs, wondering and trying to anticipate what his reaction would be to her question. She was optimistic; it wasn't, she suspected, cause for drama or concern. Curiously she reached out towards her mother's mind as well but felt that Filly was deeply absorbed in something or another so didn't bother her.

[Darastrix]

Schuldig entered his room a few minutes later; it hadn't felt like an urgent matter, so he'd decided to walk back instead of teleporting. "So, what do you want to talk about?" he asked as he unbuckled the sword belt from his waist.

[Kender Bard]

Harmony looked at his sword for a moment thoughtfully before diverting her attention back to the matter at hand. "You don't have a surname," she pointed out. "Uh, a family-name. Neither does Mom so I don't either. It didn't bother me before but at school there was a kid who's only going to be here for the winter for some reason or another. Just showed up today. And everyone was introducing themselves and everyone had family names but me. Why don't we have one?"

[Darastrix]

Schuldig paused for a moment, then continued putting his weapon away. "Well, your mom doesn't have one for obvious reasons," he said. "The Forces don't exactly need surnames, and I guess she never came up with one when she was stuck here the first time."

"And I'm...not really that sure what my original surname was." He snorted quietly. "Hell, 'Schuldig' might not even be the name I was born with, though I can't imagine why they'd bother changing it on me."

[Kender Bard]

Harmony looked down at her feet as she swung them back and forth. "Do you remember anything about your parents?" she asked quietly. She seriously doubted it. She knew how touchy treading down Schuldig's past may be, but she felt as though this was something he may have brought up by now. Possibly. But then it was never a good idea to assume anything where Schuldig was concerned.

[Darastrix]

Schuldig's jaw twitched and he shook his head. "I know they were both Minds; they had to have been. And one or both of them sold me to Klaus Kazimir. So as far as I'm concerned, they're not worth remembering," he said, his lip curling into a sneer.

[Kender Bard]

Harmony swallowed hard and backpedaled away from that subject, although curiosity gnawed at her. In a softer voice, she ventured, "Well, um. Why didn't you just make a name for yourself? I mean, isn't it ever awkward to introduce yourself with just your name to all the important people you meet these days?"

"I mean..." She looked at him with a small frown. "Don't you want one?"

[Darastrix]

Schuldig shrugged and sat down next to Harmony. "Why? My name's not common, people know who you're talking about if you say 'Schuldig,' and most important people don't give a shit about the full name of a guard or healer, even if he does report directly to another land's king."

[Kender Bard]

"But it feels like we're the only people without one," Harmony protested. "And yeah everyone around here knows you by name. And they know who I am and who Mom is too because we live here. But what about when I grow up and I meet new people? I can't just say 'I'm Harmony' can I? I mean, you have a really unusual name but mine's just a word."

[Darastrix]

"When you grow up and meet new people, you'll be in a position then to give yourself a surname," Schuldig pointed out. "And Farf doesn't have a surname, either."

[Kender Bard]

"Farf doesn't talk to people," Harmony muttered. "So if I'm going to have my own surname - that I make up - anyway... Why don't I just give myself one now?" Harmony asked. She didn't seem terribly pleased with the notion but she wasn't discarding it either. "I guess then I'd start my own family name. You could borrow it."

[Darastrix]

"If I had to have one," Schuldig said, "I'd rather pick my own." He paused and added, "Well, I guess Filly would need to have some input since she'd be stuck with it, too."

[Kender Bard]

"But you don't have to so you won't," Harmony remarked. She reached over and poked him for emphasis on 'won't'. "Which means I can call myself whatever I want and people will just assume that's your surname cause I'm your daughter. I could say, 'Hi! I'm Harmony Peaceloveflower!'"