New Setting|Malagard, Khelek

[Darastrix]

~What, no snowflakes?~ Schuldig asked, all innocence. ~You never see those in Khelek.~

He didn't think the Efil matter needed his input there, and if Filly was going to handle things, he was happy to stay out of it.

He pointed to the necklace Harmony had indicated. "And we'll take that with the heart and Soahc's sign."

[Kender Bard]

The jeweler smiled and went over to the case to remove it and swap out the charms. That done, he carefully clasped it around Harmony's neck. "There."

Filly smiled; it looked very nice on her. "You look gorgeous darling."

Harmony smiled a little at that, fussed with the chain so that it was to her liking. "Does it make me look more grown up?"

[Darastrix]

"You'll have to find someone more objective to ask, kiddo," Schuldig told her. "We're your parents."

Privately, he didn't think it made her look any more grown up than she already was, but he had the feeling things would just go south if he told her as much. Schuldig also thought that if she was worried about being childish and looking "grown up," Harmony probably already thought she was getting too old for dolls.

"Looks nice, though," he added.

[Kender Bard]

Schuldig's answer satisfied Harmony. Of course her parents couldn't tell her if she was looking more adult or not. "I'll ask Locket when she's home," Harmony said, fiddling with it some more.

Filly smiled and walked over, kissed her on the forehead. Harmony grimaced and scrubbed at it with the back of her hand. Undeterred, Filly pulled her daughter into a gentle hug instead. "Why don't you stay with us today, dear, instead of running off to wherever it is you're always going to?"

"You'll just get bored," Harmony protested, wriggling free.

[Darastrix]

Right. We'll get bored.

Schuldig shook his head a little and turned to pay the jeweler for the necklace and charms.

"Don't underestimate my ability to keep us entertained," he said. "I'm sure I can think of something if I decide we've hit a lull."

[Kender Bard]

Harmony made a face at him. ~Yeah, like get all kissy-touchy with Mom. I don't wanna be around for that.~

Filly pouted at Harmony a little. ~Don't you want to spend time with your parents, dear? We miss you sometimes.~

She wavered and walked over to Schu, slipping her hand into his. ~Okay for a little while, I guess...~

[Darastrix]

Schuldig smiled and squeezed her hand. "Besides, I'm going on a little trip this summer. Take the chance while you've got it."

~And for your information, I do not always get "kissy-touchy" when I want something to do,~ he added.

Just usually.

[Kender Bard]

"I'm gonna miss you," Harmony admitted as she leaned against him a little.

Filly walked over and took Harmony's hand, leading the family out of the shop. "I may take you with me to Sensatia later on in the summer when I need to go study under Mikasi. Libre will possibly be there."

A look of happiness stole over Harmony at that thought and there was a pleasant, almost buzzing sensation to her mental voice, as if she were humming to herself gleefully inside her head. ~I'd like that!~

Filly smiled in amusement at Harmony's obvious crush. "But there's still months to that so until then you've got both of us."

Harmony nodded. "Good... Say! Can we go on a picnic?"

[Darastrix]

"Sounds good to me," Schuldig said, already plotting to steal whatever cherries were stored in the pantry. There were enough that they shouldn't be missed in any case.

[Kender Bard]

"Yay!" Harmony cheered.

Filly smiled to herself. Nothing, ever, could displace the joy she felt at seeing her family together and so happy.

She let go of Harmony's hand as the girl broke away from her parents to run ahead, giggling in excitement. Moving closer to Schuldig, she replaced Harmony's hand with her own, the new ring brushing against his hand as she did. "I love you," she murmured to him.