Back Home, For Now|Malagard, Khelek

[Kender Bard]

~It's nowhere near as bad as that~ Filly murmured to Crawford as she continues to fuss over Nagi softly. She would have taken Locket into her arms too but that would have been clumsy and, well, Locket seemed to be recovering better anyway.

~I'm going to have plenty of healing water on hand~ Filly admitted. ~And with triplets I may need it.~ She wouldn't get into details; he didn't really need to know them to understand the situation. ~There's some risk to the babies. Women carrying more than one tend to go into labor early which puts the babies at risk of course. The mother is at risk for blood loss. Worst case is that something tears and needs healing but I can't get the water to it. I don't think that will happen though. The risk is... manageable. I think they'll be fine.~

Locket looked back at Nagi and shook her head. "I don't know," she said. She gave it some hasty thought. "I guess... I guess I want to go." The idea of being stuck in Khelek for all summer and fall and winter was a deplorable one. "I'd like it if Filly were there too though."

[Darastrix]

Nagi nodded in agreement. "I would, too." The whole thing just kept getting more daunting, and from what he'd seen of Thelon, he didn't think the man would be much in the way of comfort. Cascata would be, Dusk would be, even Twilight could be. Thelon? Not so much.

[Kender Bard]

Filly smiled at the two of them. "I'd been planning on going towards the end of summer anyway," she admitted. "I want to learn some things from Mikasi. Well, if you two really want me with you-"

"I do," Locket said quickly.

"...Then we'll see about making arrangements," she concluded. ~Do you think it'd be a problem?~ she asked Crawford.

[Darastrix]

~I don't believe so,~ Crawford replied. ~Since Locket will be there and she is with child, I don't think it would be any great surprise to anyone if she brought a personal healer. I'll notify Thelon beforehand to be certain, though.~

"Thank you, Filly," Nagi breathed.

[Kender Bard]

"You two need to unwind," Filly said, stepping back from Nagi. "You just got back and now all this. Why don't you both go to your room to rest and I'll have some wine brought to you." To Nagi, she asked, ~Would you like me to tell Schuldig to talk to you?~

[Darastrix]

Nagi nodded in reply to Filly's spoken offer. If ever there was a time for wine, it was now. Not a lot, mind. He just wanted enough to make him relax and stop thinking so much. He was almost certain that it would do more harm than good at the moment.

~Maybe later?~ He wasn't sure how calm Schuldig would be, and he was anxious enough.

[Kender Bard]

"All right, you two go," Filly urged. ~Very well.~ Locket rose from her seat and hugged Filly one more time before walking off towards their rooms. Filly contacted one of the servants and gave the directions regarding the wine and saw them out of the room. She shut the door behind them and turned to face Crawford, blowing her bangs up with a puff of breath.

"Well then, welcome home," she said with a wry smirk.

[Darastrix]

"For the moment, anyway," Crawford replied as he rose. "If we do go to Sensatia, it will be soon. Two weeks at most. I don't think I'll be sorry to go; Sensatia is a pleasant place to visit and even I found much of our stay in Maelstrom rather dull."

[Kender Bard]

"I was going to ask how it was," Filly said. She sent her mind to poke against Schuldig's to get his attention. She wasn't as used to multiple conversations as he was, but she'd give it a try if he wasn't busy. "Actually there were a few different, better ways I had imagined greeting you that quite got thrown out the window in the midst of all the news and whatnot." She smiled suddenly. "Close your eyes for a moment."

[Darastrix]

Schuldig was occupied in the temple, but it was nothing he couldn't split his attention on. ~You know,~ he drawled to Filly, ~I can't decide what I like better--someone who openly enjoys being made to beg or someone who does and doesn't want to admit it. What do you think?~

Crawford raised a brow at Filly, wondering what she was up to. He picked his glasses up and put them back on before closing his eyes. He trusted her, but if she happened to startle him, he knew he'd rather be able to see clearly when he opened his eyes again.

[Kender Bard]

Filly grinned at Schuldig's comment. She decided that perhaps now wasn't the best time to interrupt him with what had recently happened. ~Both are fun. When you're home, let me know, okay?~

When Crawford had his eyes shut, she teleported the gift she'd had picked up a couple of days before, anticipating their arrival. She placed the flowers in Crawford's hands and closed his fingers around them. "Okay, you can open your eyes," she remarked cheerfully. "I got you these."

There weren't a great many flowers. Filly had also wanted to buy some flowers for Nagi and Locket (they were in a vase in their room currently) so she had to be careful how many she selected for each of them. Crawford got three; a magnolia, an orange rose, and a zinnia, all tied together with a white bit of ribbon.

Filly now felt a bit silly giving them to him but she pressed on. "Between Etaf and myself, you must be sick of flowers. But you know how much I like them. I missed you--and the kids--while you were gone."

[Darastrix]

~Will do,~ Schuldig promised.


"I missed you as well," Crawford murmured, turning the little bouquet in his hands. He'd gotten more gifts in recent years than he had in most of his life, but it still surprised him a little when he was given something. It surprised him even more when it appeared that some real thought had been put into a gift.

"You know the meanings?" There had been meanings attached to flowers in Morilanta; it was a good way to send a subtle message.

[Kender Bard]

"Of course," Filly answered. She touched the magnolia. "Nobility, dignity... This is your flower to me. Magnolia just means 'Brad' in my mind." She wondered if he remembered from when he came into her mindscape the last time. She touched the zinnia. "Lasting affection... and thinking of friends. I think both apply in this case." She brushed the rose and just quirked a brow pointedly at him, though her mouth did tug into an amused smile.

[Darastrix]

~Passion or passionate thoughts.~

He'd not entertained such thoughts recently, though he imagined he could have had a brief affair in Maelstrom. The problem was, he didn't want a brief affair, and nobody had interested him enough to bring to mind thoughts of courtship.

At this rate, maybe I should visit the Sundancers, Crawford mused, and lifted the flowers to smell. He found the scent pleasant, though after Etaf's gift, it was a little disappointing that normal flowers didn't let a person feel the sentiments of the giver. Being a Mind gave one an advantage in that respect, however.

He brushed his mind against Filly's, the touch light and inquisitive. ~May I feel it?~ His voice sounded different for a moment--not quite as deep--but in the next breath it was as usual.

~All of it,~ he clarified, not wanting to give the impression he wanted passion at the moment.

[Kender Bard]

~Of course~ Filly agreed. She brought down her shielding and pressed her empathy against his mind; her usual sense of fondness and affection when she was with him, a bare hint of admiration, and the dark and beckoning undercurrent of attraction lurking beneath it all.

"Did you dally with anyone at all while you were there?" Filly asked, reaching her hand out to stroke his cheek softly. Concern and curiosity mixed into the blend of empathy.