Purpose?|Neo'anar, New Anarlina

[Kender Bard]

"You might want to talk to Twilight about it, if you're interested," Sunray told him. "But all in all, it's up to you. You could do nothing at all and just continue to be a court bard and noble. I think when the Forces gave you your sign, they didn't do so expecting you to do anything but merely gifting you with the opportunity to. It IS a nice gift."

[Darastrix]

"It is," Zack agreed. "That's why I'd like to put it to better use than just amplifying my music and scaring Zira half to death when I go up with Autumn."

[Kender Bard]

"Well if you make any decisions and want a future reading that's a bit more specific, let me know and I will try again," Sunray offered. "I can't guarantee I'll see anything but maybe the Forces can give a better answer with a narrower field."

[Darastrix]

"I will," Zack told him, smiling. "Thanks, Sunny." Well, that hadn't been too bad at all. He figured could hunt down Twilight and talk to him next. With Dusk's time so near, he couldn't be too far away. That reminded him....

"Oh! How do you feel about having a pet kitten? Dream should be having a litter in a week or so, and Zira wants to make sure they have good homes."

[Kender Bard]

Sunray grinned widely. "Oh! I'd love that. I'm quite fond of cats. So quiet and affectionate. I'd be happy to give a home to one of the little ones. Have you spoken with Dusk yet too? I'm sure she'd love one as well."

[Darastrix]

"I'll bring it up with her, of course, but I think her mind is on other things right now," Zack said. "What with the babies coming and all." Dusk was so large by that point, Zack had to agree that she and Twilight would probably be having more than one.

Quiet and affectionate? Has he seen Erebus lately? Well, Erebus was affectionate, but quiet? Not so much. "Just remember who the mother is--we're won't be sure until the kittens are born, but they might be Minds, too. In that case, you can kiss the 'quiet' bit goodbye."

[Kender Bard]

Sunray chuckled. "Well, all right, but I still wouldn't mind. Especially not if one of them is a Mind, though I'd be happy to take a non-Mind too. And yes, poor Dusk. Or perhaps more poor brother. Have you seen Twilight when he's not working? He's about ready to work himself into a fit. Not that he's nervous, precisely. Anxious and excited is more like it."

A brief wistfulness stole over Sunray. "I wonder how Sunlight feels about it all."

[Darastrix]

"Well, have you tried to go ask him?" Zack asked. "I know things have been kind of strange with you leaving the throne and everything, but he's still your nephew. You ought to be able to visit him."

[Kender Bard]

Sunray looked uncomfortable at that. "I don't know," he said quietly. "I don't want to upset or confuse him. I thought it would be best for everyone if I kept my distance unless I was with, say... Twilight or Snow. I haven't gone to visit him by myself yet."

[Darastrix]

"Kids can be pretty resilient, you know. Have you talked to Twi about it?" Zack asked. "Or Dusk?"

[Kender Bard]

"No," Sunray admitted. "It's been hectic. I told you what kind of mood Twilight's been in and, well, I just haven't really gotten the time before now. I don't want to bother Dusk either... Say! Why don't you come with me? Then I won't be alone with him and there won't be any problem."

[Darastrix]

Zack grinned and gave an easy shrug. “I’ll take any excuse to visit the kids, you know that.” Honestly, though, he didn’t see what the problem could be if Sunray visited his nephew by himself. If the whole “Sunray is your uncle and Twilight’s your dad” thing was confusing to the little prince, he was going to be confused about that no matter who was with Sunray.

Well, if Sunny doesn’t think to mention it to Twi after the babies are born, I’ll do it for him, he thought. Regardless of what they’d led the public to believe and what the truth was now, Sunray was still part of the boy’s family and he clearly loved his nephew. It was a silly restriction to put on himself, really.

[Kender Bard]

Sunray returned the smile, visibly relaxing. "Come, let's go then," he urged and led the way to the playroom. "Sunlight," he called out.

Aurora's head popped up from where she had been focusing intently on a pile of blocks.

"Hello Aurora," Sunray greeted his niece, unsurprised to find her there.

"Hi Uncle Sunray," she chirped back. "Hi Uncle Zack!"

[Darastrix]

Zack smiled, both at seeing Aurora and at being called uncle. Between his own family and his "adoptive" one, he felt like he was related to at least half of the people in Anarlina and Caelium.

"Hi there, sweetie," he said, bending down to kiss the top of her head. "What are you up to today?"

Sunlight looked up from a piece of parchment he'd been industriously covering with swirls and squiggles and grinned. "Hi, Uncle Zack! Hi, Uncle Daddy!"

[Kender Bard]

Sunray's mouth quirked at that. Uncle Daddy. He wasn't sure what to think or feel about that. Walking over, he knelt down next to Sunlight and patted him softly. "Are you drawing a picture there?"

"I'm building a castle," Aurora told Zack. She'd already piled up the blocks to make four walls. She peered at the construction. "Now to see how strong it is." Lashing out with her heel, she kicked down all the blocks and giggled at the mess. "Oops. Want to help me make a better one?"