Blood and Water (♠ Blue Suit ♠)

Mia's gaze softened at his response. Of course he'd be. Everyone had something to fear for... And Mia was sort of starting to realize Tome did have a great fear to rejection. But that was to be expected. All his life rejected by his father in such a cruel way. Rejected by the people around him because of what he was. "Of course you are. But how do you win things if you're never willing to risk others?" He could try. What was there to lose anyway?
 
Of course you are. Was he so bad? He'd he sunk so low? Was he a coward even in her eyes? Then, what would he be in his mother's? He didn't even want to think about it. ". . . she won't want me. . ." He said, voice small and afraid and vulnerable. He didnt want to speak of these things, didnt ever want to be so weak, but he was and he hated it. Joachim whined worriedly down at Tome, able to see better in the darkness even than his 'father', and wriggled a bit trying to get Mia to put him back down on the bed. He didn't like seeing Tome in distress.


((So tired -_- night))
 
Mia glanced down at Joachim and gently placed him back down on the bed as he seemed to want. Hands free, she rubbed her temple softly "You don't know that" And she even wondered if she should really keep on with that conversation. But, what was the point of stopping now? If she did, Tome would keep on thinking he wasn't 'good enough'. Now that was stupid enough "Did she seem not to like you in your memory?"


(Night! ^^)
 
Joachim waddled over to where Tome was lying and climbed up to lay out on Tome's torso how he liked to sleep, whining softly in discontent. A little stunned, Tome lifted his arm away to blink down at the little dragon, frowning when he realized that Joachim was being sad because he was being sad. Carefully, he sat up and cradled the baby in his arms, cooing softly to him and rubbing his belly how he liked. "Shh, it's okay," He whispered softly, one last time, and looked at Mia again, able to see a bit more clearly in the dark than she could. ". . . I was an infant." He said, shaking his head. "Of course she smiled at me." By that point he hadn't really done anything wrong but been born.
 
Mia's brows scrunched together. Ugh, he was not getting the point! Raking a hand through her hair she shook her head a little "She didn't dislike you back then. Don't be so sure that she'd do so now"
 
She was exasperated with him, which wasn't really doing anything to disprove his point, so he just stopped arguing, lay down on his side and curled up around Joachim in bed. ". . . I need to think." He couldn't sleep. Not after something like that. He needed to think it over, and there were hours left until morning. He could let the two of them sleep for now and deal with it more in the morning.
 
Mia blinked before pursing her lips together so as to stop the words from leaving her mouth "Do as you like" She replied finally and turned on her heels to leave. Her voice had come out as weary instead of as exasperated and sharp though. She shook her head and walked out of the room. He needed to think... Yeah right. Think of what? Of how Malia wouldn't want him and such? Mia couldn't just convince him. He didn't allow himself to be convinced. Well why didn't she tell Malia herself, hmm? He was her son after all!
 
Tome curled a little tighter around Joachim when the dragon didn't start to screech, since he'd seen Mia leaving safely. He did whimper a bit, and Tome held him close and tried to soothe him. He didn't like any of this at all.


Malia answered her door in sleeping clothes, pulling on a jacket even as she did so and looking at Mia with weary but alert eyes, long hair lying loose and tousled over her shoulders. "What's wrong, dear?" She asked, worried. "Is everything all right?" Oh, she hoped nothing had gone wrong with little Joachim. Hatchlings were so very unpredictable in the first few weeks.
 
She was determined... She... Well she had been determined. But things were easier said than done. Being there, facing Malia she couldn't help it but hesitate. And what if she really did not want Tome? Mia didn't want to have her rejecting him, he'd never forgive her and he's be hurt by that as well. Her lips quivered but she bit her bottom lip. "I, Er, well I..." She wasn't making much sense and was considering to perhaps give up on that. "I-I woke you up. Sorry" It was a barely audible whisper as she turned a bit on her side to leave. Coward! She told herself as she did so.
 
Malia frowned a little, worriedly. "It's the middle of the night, dear - of course you woke me up." She stepped out to reach for Mia and take her gently by the arm. "Come in and sit down, won't you?" She smiled a little, reassuringly. "You're already here, and we're both already awake. Come. Tell me what's on your mind." Something had to be bothering Mia or she wouldn't be up so late and wouldn't have looked so worried. So long as nothing was wrong, they could just sit and chat a little while.
 
Oh dear Lord Those words echoed on her head as Malia guided her inside. She was already there. Taking a sit where signaled to, she fiddled nervously with her fingers. Oh please don't hate him, please She begged mentally as the tried to find the words to start with a conversation she knew she wasn't supposed to have "I-I..." She breathed in softly to stop the stammering "I have something to ask you" Again she spoke in something that was barely a mutter "It... It make not be of much sense to you and perhaps a personal matter, but I beg for you to hear me out" Slowly, she raised her head to look at Malia "And please, if I'm wrong, please keep it between the both of us"
 
Malia nodded slowly and took Mia's hand in hers once they'd settled in chairs near each other. "Don't worry, darling," She said, patting lightly at the back of it. "Whatever you say is between us. Of course it is. Now please, tell me what's wrong." Sometimes just listening was good enough to help, even though Malia was perfectly willing to do more than that.
 
Her voice failed her for a moment and she looked down. Tome would hate her, he'd hate her and knowing that hurt. Being aware of such thing after having come to like him in such a way... Oh wasn't that just cruel? She'd be 'betraying' him a second time and she was sure... She was sure he wouldn't forgive her when he found out. Closing her eyes, she tried to take a breath in. It's okay... It'd be okay. Even if it wouldn't she had to believe so herself. She had to persuade herself to believe that with the same exact words her mother used to say so often after she fell ill. With a nod, she looked up, opening her eyes to meet Malia's stare "Do you have any children?" Well, that was an easy one. Still hadn't said something important.
 
Malia paused, taken slightly aback by the question because she'd been expecting some sort of deeply personal matter, not a question like that. Oh, heavens above, she hoped Mia wasn't pregnant. But Malia always gave people the benefit of the doubt, so she stopped herself from thinking that. She tucked a few locks of hair behind her ear and shook her head with practiced ease, having fielded that question countless times throughout her life. "No, I never married." She smiled a little wryly. "My work is my husband."
 
"Oh" That made her hesitate even more. She said she didn't. But then again, why would she tell a stranger about Tome? If she had been banished as he said it may have been quite the awful experience to her. Nodding she breathed in again, not that she actually needed it but it was a habit. 'When facing something difficult, just breathe, breathe and it shall give you courage' Heck never would she have thought, she'd find something like that so difficult "Never?" She asked softly and lowly "Never had a... half-breed son? Half-elf son?" Her voice came out lower and lower while she spoke those last words.
 
((Aaaaggghhhh I might not have internet tomorrow because of our power being shut off for workers across the street but I'm so tired and I have to go -_- Night))


Malia's eyes went wide and she let go of Mia's hand like she'd been burned, standing up sharply enough her chair screeched backwards a half inch or so on the floor. "How -" A faint light began to grow behind her and she shook her head, pushed down on that instinctive magic because she didn't need it now and she was used to it making the dragons nervous. When she looked at Mia again, her eyes were no longer so gentle as they usually were, full of pain and accusation and faint trickle of fear. "Explain yourself, young lady. Now."
 
Funny how the mind works. It was in that moment, seeing Malia not as gentle, not as composed that gave Mia a certain sense of braveness. For it was her reaction something that proved Tome's memories to be truth and at the same time what made her realize she couldn't go back now. She stood up slowly as she maintained her eyes glued to Malia's "So you did have? You did. I'm sorry, Malia. I didn't mean to broach the subject in such a way. But I... I... " She shook her head "Please don't hate him. He wouldn't be able to... Please don't hate Tome" It was just her blurting out things there, but she had to get those words out.
 
"Why would I-" Malia shook her head sharply, took a step further away and did everything but glare at Mia. "What is going on here! Where are you from and why are you truly here?" If they were using that poor infant just to get to her somehow - if this was some sort of plot, the king finally trying to find and be rid of her completely - she didn't know what she would do. She didnt know what she could do.
 
Mia attempted to take a step forwards but stopped herself. Malia was reacting in a way she wouldn't really know how would she react if she did so. She didn't know the woman, she had to be careful "We came here for Joachim, Malia. No ulterior motives. That was until... Until something changed" Narrowing her eyes, she looked into her eyes "You truly haven't noticed, right? Hadn't noticed your own son when he has being next to you these past days"
 
Malia's eyes went wide by the implications but her mind ran through the facts without being prompted. Tome. He was half elf, half fairy, and she hadnt thought anything of it because she made it a point not to judge people based on those things. There was nothing wrong with it because - because of her son. Because of him? "No." She shook her head again, sharply, and turned her back, fists clenched tight at her sides, eyes shut. "No, that - that isn't possible."


The king would never let his heir go so far from home, never let him fraternize with a common girl like the one he was with, or take a potential asset like a dragon away from the castle. But . . . But, oh gods, he had her eyes, the King's stature. But she'd seen the scars on his arms, and had seen the rest on a day when Joachim had spilled something on the boy's shirt and he'd had to take it off. They were . . . The scars were jagged and sharp, and numerous, but - but she'd asked him about it only once and he'd kept silent. He'd had the brand on his shoulder and she'd thought he was a freed slave, still bearing his master's mark, so she hadnt asked again.


A faint, gasping breath escaped her and she folded a shaking hand over her mouth, eyes filling with tears. No. . . No, she'd left him there because he would be safe, because he would be an heir and live a good life and not have to struggle as she did. She'd left him so he would never . . . She'd left him alone. . . She'd abandoned him. . .
 
Mia couldn't get a look of Malia's face as she had turned her back at her but she could sort of guess what was she feeling when she heard the gasping noise the left the woman's lips. Mia was not really the most... tactful person. "He's afraid" She finally muttered. She didn't want for her to feel guilty or whatever was going through her head at the moment. "He's afraid that you won't want him" She added quietly.


Wrapping her hands around her own body, Mia rubbed her arms lightly. After that, she couldn't think of anything else to say. "...Thanks for hearing me out" Declaring after several seconds she turned on her heels to leave. She couldn't comfort her. She didn't know her. As such, she could just leave her to think things through.
 
Tome was still awake when Mia came back, of course, still lying wrapped around little Joachim while the baby slept. He didnt ask where she'd gone or why, just closed his eyes and tried to sleep even though he knew he couldn't. Somehow, he felt uneasy, even not knowing what she'd done. But she was safe, and he could deal with her being angry with him still if she was safe. He was used to people being angry and hating him. It hurt a little more with her, but he was still used to it.
 
Mia curled on herself as soon as she laid on the bed. Her heart was pounding against her heart as she finally considered the consequences of her actions. She couldn't afford to regret it though, even if it meant that she'd be losing her place again. Malia had to know. She just had to. Mia could just hope she wouldn't be the one to reject Tome as well. With those worries haunting her head, she finally fell into a restless sleep.
 
In the morning, Tome rose and fed Joachim from the bottle they'd left in the room just for that purpose. He usually made an extra just to make mornings easier, since Joachim tended to be groggy at first, then explode into action. Mia wasnt up yet, so Tome set Joachim on her bed and let the little baby wake her up, then told her he was going down ahead of her.


Tome tried to help take care of chores in the mornings, since he and Mia were staying free, but this time he didnt get the chance. Malia was out helping the others like usual, but the moment she spotted him, something changed. Her eyes locked onto his and just . . . got sad. She made a beeline for him, came straight up to him and stopped to stare up t him with watering eyes before just throwing herself at him, wrapping her arms tit around his neck and shaking against him, saying over and over that she was sorry. He held her even though he was shocked, and the pieces of Mia's disappearance the night before fell together. He couldn't bring himself to be mad at her, just held his mother close and tried not to let the emotion swirling in his chest.


"It's okay." He said faintly, even though he hadnt any idea what he was apologizing for. "It's okay. . ."


((I'm gonna go for a bit, not sure when ill be back))
 
Mia followed Tome with her sight until he left the room and - with a short, loud sigh - slid her legs to the side before scrambling to her feet. "Care to walk with me?" Bending over, she picked up Joachim gently and smiled at him as she asked her question. The events from last night were still quite fresh on her mind and she considered it'd be good for her to try and clear up her head a little. What would happen when Malia and Tome met? Just how furious would he be with her when they did? Quite a lot, she was expecting that.


". . . Get up." She winced when those words resonated on her ears as if they had been actually said at that very moment. Walking outside the building, where she sort of hoped she wouldn't meet with neither the mother or the son, she was reminded of that time she had been kicked out "Get dressed." Mia closed her eyes when the next two words were recalled because she knew which two others followed "Get out." Amazing how did those actually hurt more than the first time.


As in reflex, she brought Joachim closer to her, leaning her forehead against his snout as if wanting to feel the heat of the little dragon. When he say those words to her what would she do? Because he would and that realization made her want to cry.


(Aww :( Kay!)
 
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