Home's a nice place to visit...|Clan Fira, Nauroro

[Kender Bard]

Libre nodded thoughtfully. He understood this, somewhat. "I guess that makes sense," he said, and then brightened. "Thanks, Ann. It means a lot to me that you're willing to talk about stuff like this. I'd have gone to someone in the family, but... They'd tease me."

[Northen Light36]

Ann smiled, glad that was over with. "Well I won't," she tells Libre. "Like I said, you can ask me about anything." She smiled at him and added, "Now all the serious things are out of the way, how have you been, Libre? You've lost a little of your tan I noticed, been spending a lot of time in Sensatia?"

[Kender Bard]

"Yeah," Libre agreed. "And other places. I travel with Dad-"

He cut himself off. "I travel a lot..."

[Northen Light36]

"Lucky you," Ann remarked, cheerfully. She didn't like Thelon, much, but she didn't want Libre to feel he needed to censor himself around her. "Where's Thelon been taking you? Anarlina I know about, and you mentioned Maelstrom, but where else have you been? More places then I've visited, I bet."

[Kender Bard]

"Oh he's taken me to each land at least once," Libre replied, feeling a little more relaxed since it seemed Ann didn't mind him talking about his father. "We didn't always stay or do much but he wanted me to see all the old Mind Communities at least once and then all the other lands after that. Someday I'll be able to go anywhere I want myself; I can't wait."

He sighed again. "I wish I was an adult."

[Northen Light36]

Ann laughed and shook her head. "Trust me Libre, you shouldn't be in a hurry to grow up. It's not as much fun as you might think," she replied. "Enjoy being a kid while you can. You'll be an adult for a lot longer then you'll be a kid for."

[Kender Bard]

"Everyone says that," Libre says, puffing his bangs aside with a bit of breath. "But I remember being an even littler kid, and I can say that I'm glad I'm older. So I don't see how getting even older's gonna be different. But, then, maybe you're right. That or people forget how little you can do as a kid."

[Northen Light36]

Ann sighed and replied, "Well maybe it was different for me, since I was caught in the time flux, but... I went from four years old to twelve in a moment... and then uncle Damien got sick. I didn't have much time for being a kid, and I regret that. Yes, there were less really big things I could do when I was little, I couldn't go where I pleased or do anything I like... But I can't now, either." She smiles ruefully. "Well, not without upsetting people and making them angry. And when I was little, there was more time for having fun. You've probably seen that with your father. How often does he have the time for just going somewhere purely to enjoy himself?"

[Kender Bard]

Libre pressed his lips together into a line as he considered this fact. It was true, his father didn't have time for anything.

"You're both leaders of your people," he countered. "And someday, I hope, I get to lead the Minds. But I wouldn't mind being even four or five years older. I wouldn't be in charge of my people and I'd be old enough to do what I liked when I had the time to."

[Northen Light36]

Ann smiled. "You have a point," she agreed with a chuckle. "Well, in that case I hope you get what you want, Libre. But don't be so focused on growing up that you forget to enjoy yourself here and now."

Alyssa crawlled over to Libre and used his leg to help her get to her feet, then lifted her arms up and babbled at him.

"She wants you to pick her up," Ann said.

[Kender Bard]

Libre grinned and picked up Alyssa carefully. "Do you like being a mother?" he asked curiously as he wriggled his fingers in front of the baby playfully.

[Northen Light36]

Alyssa babbled happily and grabbed at his fingers. Ann watched Libre playing with her daughter and smiled. "Yes, I do," she replied. "It wasn't something I planned on, not this soon any way and it scared the hell out of me at first but... I love her and I love watching her growing up."

[Kender Bard]

Libre smiled and spent the rest of the time with Ann in idle conversation and play with the baby. When one of the clan children his age came looking for him, he excused himself to go enjoy at least one aspect of being a kid that he didn't want to give up soon.