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Post by ealasaid on Nov 11, 2009 2:47:40 GMT -5
The painting was indeed valuable, something which Vingo had protected well over the years. Nuori had given it to him the night before he left for his travels. It was part of their mother's collection of family portraits, and his sister had stolen it for him because she knew how hard it was for Vingo to leave everything that he knew behind.
He watched Caden's reaction and felt his own eyes misting over. As Ladorak spoke, Vingo couldn't help but shed a few tears, for he could sense the regret which Ladorak felt, and also felt a welling of pride for his sister. Had the ermine lost his opportunity to repay Nuori? The marten's eyes fell on Caden. An inkling of a thought passed through Vingos' head, too small and quick for him to grasp and voice it, but just enough to leave a taste of something that would likely come up later. Perhaps Ladorak was still working on repaying the marteness.
Vingo sighed and wiped his eyes once more, sniffling. "Enough o'that sad kind o'talkin'. It's a fine morn an' here we are, all weepin' inside like a bunch o'sad old ladies. Caden, I want you t'have that paintin'. I've got a good image o'your mom right up here," he tapped his head, then moved his paw to his chest, just above his heart, "An' part o'her is right here, too. I think it'd do you good t'have a solid piece o'somethin' t'remember her by."
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 11, 2009 18:47:38 GMT -5
Snuffling back his runny nose, the ermine nodded, but knew why he was weeping. Even though it was eight years ago....he had never really faced her death head on. Their lamentation was well founded. Vingo hadn't known about his sister's death until a few months ago, and Ladorak had not had the time to cope with it. He'd been given rapid commands in the Welkin Navy....commands that had ultimately led him nowhere with any major combat. He had yet to place himself at the heart of a large engagement.
It was right for him to weep when he knew the reasons why. Brushing away his own tears, he pursed his lips again, looking from Caden down to Vingo. The albino marten was obviously pleased that he was able to hold on to the picture of his mother. "Thanks Vin." Caden said gratefully, still looking down at it now as his trust for his uncle grew. At first it was awkward, but presents always softened Caden's heart, and this one meant more to the kit than he was capable of saying right now.
"Hey you know...could go right on that dresser I just bought you. I'm still in the process of stocking his room you see. Most of the guest rooms in this house are devoid of furniture....hard financial times and all that." the ermine explained to Vingo. He figured now was as good a time as any to get this out of the way.
"Jal Sken....might I have a word with you alone for a few moments? You don't mind if I talk to your uncle Vin then do you Caden?" asked Ladorak as he looked down at the white furred marten.
"Oh, uh-uh, that's OK." Caden shook his head, indicating he didn't mind. He turned to the windowsill and set "Nuori" down, framing her nicely in the light of the climbing sun.
"Why don't you get back to your studies then while I'm talking with your uncle?" Ladorak suggested, his smile still there. It was good to see Caden applying himself to something other than beating up other kits. He was changing....slowly...gradually...but he was changing. They still had their artless moments, but they were moving past them until they were becoming less and less.
"Jal Sken, my kitchen would suffice. That is if...now's the proper time to talk." Ladorak stated, motioning towards the kitchen that was visible past the foyer off to Vingo's left and Ladorak's right.
((Feel free to auto Ladorak into the kitchen if Vingo does go there.))
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Post by ealasaid on Nov 11, 2009 20:13:33 GMT -5
Vingo nodded, rising to his footpaws. He was not sure what Ladorak wanted, or what it was that they could not discuss in front of Caden. As he followed the ermine into the kitchen, the marten looked back at his nephew with a small smile. From first impressions, Caden seemed a good sort of kit, perhaps slightly headstrong and lacking in tact, but what male kit his age wasn't? And especially one raised by the hellish rat, Helandria.
They entered the kitchen, Vingo sipping at his hot mint tea. "So, what's it you wish t'speak with me about?"
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 11, 2009 22:39:42 GMT -5
Ladorak ushered Vingo into the kitchen. The room was nicely furnished enough, with a center table, a counter to eat at, and all the usual 18th century appliances. Pots and pans in cupboards, but the woodburning stove was in a separate building on the grounds...too dangerous to cook inside the house.
Nursing his own drink, the ermine took a moment to form his thoughts. "My apologies Jal Sken. It might seem more like subterfuge than anything else...cloak and dagger...but you have to realize I intend none of that." Ladorak declared sincerely. He shook his head now, as if trying to clear it.
"I just want to know a few things. I hope you have found your nephew well. I....I realize now that I'm perhaps trying to repay your sister for saving my life by looking after him. I could never admit that to him though...I just........well see I'm a modest beast, and well....that wasn't my initial intent anyways. I took him because the thought of him being on the streets without guidance...it consumed me. I had no idea he had actual family though. Which of course...brings me to the point of why I asked you back here."
Gulping his gin, the ermine needed a fortifying drink before he began this next part. "Forgive me beforepaw sir...for I mean no disrespect at all. It's just that I was wondering...now that you have found your nephew. What is it that you intend to do? I....I have of course considered the fact that while I may be Caden's legal guardian...papers and all...that now that he has actual blood relatives....or a relative rather....he could of course pass to you." The ermine swiveled a bit, looking at Vingo in profile now.
"I.....I would of course grant you stewardship of the lad it's just...." he sniffled again, feeling those stormy emotions passing over him. "I'm so...so sorry.....you may call me selfish if you wish sir...but I love Caden. I don't have any kits of my own you see...and though my wife is expecting....it's been an experience. I mean I didn't raise Caden from birth...I've only come to care for him from the age of eleven or so. I watched him turn twelve in May....I'm not that well off because I don't work at the moment...I only get half pay...but I still managed to buy him everything he asked for." the jack cracked a smile at this, but still facing Vingo in profile.
"It's...." his eyes were once again misty. So many times had this happened today. "It's been so good.....I've loved the experience......loved the times he's looked at me as if I'm more than just....just some mustelid who took him in...if you know what I'm saying." he turned his head slightly to face Vingo, but not head on. Shaking it again he lowered it to his chest. "It would pain me to part with him but....I can't...." he inhaled heavily, his body shuddering as he turned to face the marten. "But I could never deprive you of the only family you technically have left. I'm sorry....once again forgive me." Ladorak hung his head, as if in shame.
"I didn't know about you....if I had you would have been the first one I would have contacted to make sure that Caden was safe. Now all I've done is just complicated things....oh I can be such a sentimental fool sometimes." Ladorak acknowledged. He closed his eyes...and the way his head was bowed it was almost as if he expected Vingo to lop it off or something....though of course the ermine knew the marten wouldn't do that. It was just.....complicated now. He viewed Caden as part of the Fugate family....when in reality he was a Sken....and there was one living relative who had not had the opportunity to be there when his sister had died. Complicated indeed....
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Post by ealasaid on Nov 12, 2009 1:40:05 GMT -5
Vingo gazed into the depths of his tea, considering Ladorak's words carefully. Of course this was going completely contrary to how Vingo had expected and the marten knew this was something that needed careful consideration. He had to be concerned with more than his own wants, and even those were confused.
It was still something of a mystery as to why nobeast knew he existed, or at least knew he was alive. When he had gone to withdraw money from the Sken account at the bank, the creatures there were rather surprised to see him. They had thought the only beast that would be withdrawing funds ever again was Caden, and even then they were doubtful, for the kit had not been seen for some time. Vingo had had some difficulty in convincing them that indeed he was a Sken. They only became convinced when he showed them the Sken signet right which he carried.
And, once again, with Ladorak's mentioning the fact that he did not even know Vingo existed, he was feeling something like the forgotten son. It's as though I'd fallen off the face of the earth and time continued without me, everybeast moving on with their lives as though I never existed.
That, however, was not the primary issue at paw. This was a matter of what was best for Caden, though Vingo was hard-pressed to keep his own feelings out of the matter, at least at the moment when he was in such an emotional state.
Finally, after several long moments of silence and another sip of tea, Vingo spoke. "Then that makes two sentimental fools standin' here, Fugate," he said softly. "What you're sayin' makes sense, an' I'm hearin' it well enough. It's just...see I came here thinkin' that Caden had been kidnapped an' in need o'rescuin'. Obviously that's not the case, an' so now I'm tryin' to revise what I think needs t'be done. It's just that right now I don't think I'm in the right state o'mind t'be figurin' out what t'do about it all. It wouldn't be smart o'me t'give you an answer right now."
He looked at the stoat, trying to catch Ladorak's gaze. The marten always preferred looking a beast in the eyes when he was speaking with them. "Would you be willin' t'give me some time, at most a week, t'figure this out? Right now I think I'd like t'just spend more time with my nephew an' yourself, get t'know the both o'you better. It's all been so quick for all of us, I think."
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 12, 2009 14:39:39 GMT -5
"Oh yes of course....I shouldn't have expected you to answer this right away. I'm sorry for having brought it up so soon." A roiling storm of emotions were going on right now within the ermine. He felt as if his very future were at stake in this, even though it wasn't as clear cut as that. What happened for Caden had to be best for the kit...not for him, much as Ladorak desired it.
"Do you have a place to stay in town? There's...a tavern but it's mostly for travelers. Burnham Thorpe is a very small hamlet after all. I...do have a guest house on the grounds here. The carriage wing of this property has been converted into furnished quarters, and of course there are guest rooms in this house, it's more than big enough for that. I can offer you hospitality if you'd rather not pay for a room at the tavern...in fact I'd insist you didn't do that unless you'd feel it was too awkward to stay here."
The ermine didn't want to force anything on his guest after all, as this marten had probably been through a lot. First finding out his sister was dead and his nephew was missing, and then having to cross the ocean to find him. He had traveled many days....had gone through much in the ermine's mind.
"Oh and by the way...before we head back to Caden...if there is anything at all you want to ask me that you do not wish to discuss in front of your nephew...any thoughts...comments...concerns....anything at all, please feel free to speak up. I will answer honestly and be open with you. It's the least I can do for you sir." He did look into the marten's eyes, returning his gaze now and cracking a thin if not slightly tired looking smile.
He wasn't going to hold back. He would talk about anything at this point with this member of the Sken family, in spite of his mixed emotions in this. He found he liked the idea of getting to know Vingo better as well, as that could only help to build a bond for both Caden and Ladorak in addition. Move past the uneasiness and open up levels of trust.
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Post by ealasaid on Nov 13, 2009 3:41:28 GMT -5
Vingo stroked his chin thoughtfully. He was indeed staying in the local tavern at Ladorak had mentioned, but to stay there at any length, even if he did get some money for entertaining on occasion, would be costly. Despite having the family fortune (which was considerable) at his paws, Vingo had always been rather frugal, a tendency made all the more by his years living on little more than what he could carry on his back.
"I'll kindly accept your offer, though don't expect me t'be the type who demands t'be waited on or looked after." He winked genially at Ladorak. "I may be the son of a noble, but it's been a long time since I've lived that life. I don't need much an' can help 'round the house as much as is needed. I'm not accustomed t' bein' a guest somewhere without havin' work t'do in return. If anything, I can provide some entertainment once I go back to get my things at the tavern where I stayed last night. As for if there's anything else I want t'say...Well, there's nothin' I can think of at the moment. If I ever do, though, I'll be sure t'find you an' make sure it's said or asked."
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 14, 2009 15:28:49 GMT -5
"Oh that would be most kind of you. The house is big, that's for sure, and there's always something to do around here. I've developed a bit of a passion for gardening and landscaping during my time here on the dry earth, and I have extensive plots out back that I tend to in the spring and summer months. Any work on that would be appreciated..that is if you're one for flowers and plants and other such delicate things as those." He winked back at Vingo, as he knew those things were more often suited to the female gender in the "traditional" roles of jacks and jills.
Leading the way out of the kitchen, the ermine headed back for where Caden was sitting, talking all the while. "Entertainment you say? Oh splendid! A wandering performer must know plenty of methods of keeping his audience amused and captivated. Our guest rooms are upstairs, and if you need more space, the carriage house is the adjoining building on the other side of the kitchen." It was strange but Ladorak felt slightly more at ease now that Vingo had offered to stay with them.
Probably the worst scenario imaginable was Vingo just leaving outright...because then Ladorak would have felt all the worse off for it. True, Vingo would need time to consider things, but it wasn't as if he had to make up his mind so soon after seeing Caden. It did cause underlying tension with the ermine though, picturing this household without Caden. He was really a part of it now. Had been for almost a year. But that was the thing....he wasn't officially a Fugate, he was a Sken.
Nevertheless, as much as Ladorak wanted to view Vingo as an interloper, he was unable to bring himself to fully think that way when he saw the albino marten sitting peacefully on the sill-seat, diligently copying some notes down on a piece of paper at his side, his pencil scratching away and etching out the words he wanted to memorize, or some things he wanted to come back to and learn more thoroughly from Ladorak.
He was using the sill for his desk, bracing the paper with it and occasionally stealing a glance with his pink eyes over at his mother's portrait. Smiling to himself, his back to them, he heard them re-enter, and swiveled on his rump by the use of his paws, pushing himself around to face them. "Hi Ladorak! Hi Vin!" he exclaimed, the second name coming out a bit more shyly but still welcoming. He gave a small smile, always having had a problem with fully displaying his emotions, despite the fact he was happy to see their return.
"Hello Caden." Ladorak gave him a small wave, and turned his head to half look at Vingo. "Jal Sken, do you need any assistance with bringing your personal effects to the house from the tavern?" he spoke lower, but Caden heard him nonetheless.
His big ears standing themselves up and angling forward a bit, he couldn't help but to speak right away, unable to hold his tongue. "Are you staying with us then Vin?" There were traces of happiness in Caden's voice, enthusiasm maybe, though it was accompanied by some reservation as well, if only because it was still new to Caden. He wanted to at least get to know this family member whom he'd never had been aware of before, and thus his anticipation was hard to conceal.
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Post by ealasaid on Nov 15, 2009 2:07:03 GMT -5
Vingo dipped his head in a nod at Caden. "Aye. Jal Fugate was kind enough t' invite me t' stay so that I don't have t'be traipsin' from town every day t'come an' see the two o'you."
He turned his gaze towards Ladorak, "An' don't worry 'bout helpin' me with my affects. I'll be glad t'go fetch them myself unless, of course, you insist on it."
The marten was torn between wanting to spend more time with Caden and feeling as though he needed some time alone after the busy, emotionally draining morning. A long walk always did him good and it would give him time to think of what Ladorak had said in the kitchen. However, if the ermine insisted upon this kindness as well, Vingo felt that it would be well enough to accept the offer.
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Post by Ladorak on Nov 15, 2009 2:41:18 GMT -5
"Oh heavens no! I would most certainly help you with the move Jal Sken. I would insist." The ermine said, turning to face the marten now and giving him another smile. "It'll go faster that way I'm sure." He moved over to the front door, the foyer being not terribly far from where they were standing.
Caden saw an opportunity to get outside, and he hopped down off the couch. "Hey if we're gonna be bringing Vin's things to the house, can I help too?" What was this? Caden actually offering to help with something? He either wanted Ladorak to buy him something in town, wanted to go outside or...maybe he really was being sincere.
Pausing as Ladorak retrieved a coat from a small closet by the door, the ermine considered this. "Well...sure...but make sure you get your coat from upstairs OK? You aren't going out in just that." Ladorak chided.
"Oh yeah...OK." Caden charged up the staircase, nearly tripping as he did so (and almost giving Ladorak a heart attack, the poor jack), but managing to reach out and steady himself on the banister.
"Phew..." Ladorak exhaled as the kit disappeared. "He needs to slow down. Nearly bashed his snout in there." he commented to Vingo in a tone that betrayed how much he had felt as if he'd go into cardiac arrest. Taking the stairs two at a time, the eager albino reappeared a few moments later, dressed in a winter coat of tweed and sporting a flat cap as well, his big ears sticking out like bird wings from under the cap on the sides of his head.
"Right...good lad. Now let's be off." Ladorak threw open the door and gestured for Vingo to take point. "Lead the way Jal Sken."
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