ORIGIN

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Pride trotted into Orion quietly, today bare of armor, and also without the hare familiar. Mischief he'd left behind with the kids; his intention, today, was to speak with Charity alone.

He'd spent time with her and with Envy. He'd spent time with her and strangers; but he'd never spent time with her alone. He wanted to speak to her, to see how she was doing, what she had learned, and what she knew. He wasn't sure, either, how well Envy was holding up; the weasel had claimed to be "just fine" last they'd spoken, but Pride still wasn't sure how much of that had been--well, pride.

His floating gait brought him to the foot of the Throne, and he paused to eye the stone, for a moment. He wondered why it had been made, and for whom--and more than that he wondered how, and why, it had come to be abandoned. Perhaps in time they would learn more. But for now, he had to push aside his thoughts of mystery and magic, and focus on something far closer to home: family. One could not neglect such things, he knew, lest the legacy they leave behind wind up a wretched, foolish story for someone else to uncover in a thousand years. Plus, it wouldn't be fair to the child.

"Envy? Charity?" he called out, craning his head to peer back toward their den.

@Charity

Charity was eating when Pride arrived, excitedly chowing down on the yellow fruits that her parent could somehow summon. They'd been amazing at first, the sweet taste new, and fresh, and wonderful- and the sparkle they gave her made her feel awfully proud- but she was rapidly growing tired of them. Bananas were the only thing she ate! --Actually, they were the only thing she'd ever eaten.

Charity couldn't help but wonder if there was more food out there somewhere. She stopped eating for a moment, and looked up at her parent, who stood over her, waiting for her to demand more so that they could provide.

It was then though that her ears perked sharply at the sound of a voice- she couldn't help but notice her parent falter slightly as they did- but she was too excited to pay them any heed. They were getting a little tired of Envy, and their strict routines. Seeing Pride was always a welcome break. "Pride!"

Charity leaped to her feet and started running towards him with a burst of startling speed- she'd grown a lot since her hatching, and was almost double the length of her parent. Her plumpness was beginning to give way to sinewy length. Halfway to Pride, though, the little one guiltily thought back to her parents teachings and she slowed in her wild sprint to a steady trot. She tilted her head back, puffed out her chest, and tried to imitate Pride's flowing trot.

But the excitement in her expression was impossible to hide, and she rapidly picked up speed again to meet her parent. "Pride!"

Envy waited expectantly for Charity to finish eating. Her voracious appetite was exhausting to deal with, but they were glad that they at least had a spell to deal with it. Still, as Charity was eating, they couldn't help but notice she had slowed down, and there was less enthusiasm in her eyes than normal. A spark of worry lifted their spines for a moment, but they didn't say anything. Was she sick? Or was she just being ungrateful?

Charity was growing well, she was learning well, and she was certainly eating well. She took everything they said to heart. She was, in appearance, the perfect daughter and they were awfully proud of her. When Charity was there, their pains were numbed, their anxieties redirected. They knew with all their heart that she was theirs, and theirs alone; they would teach her, and raise her up to be their perfect Prince.

Parenting was hard, but equally, it was rewarding. Charity had everything that they couldn't at that age- and they would make sure that she grew up to appreciate it.

Envy's head shot upright, and their thoughts were shattered by the sound of a voice- and a jolt of fear rocked them. The weasel's quills stiffened, but already Charity was taking off. Envy stared after her, bewildered, and felt sharp tears pricking at their eyes, a dormant feeling creeping once again into their heart. Whenever Pride came- even if it was to help- he reopened the same wound. Why did Charity never greet them like that? Pride was mysterious and beautiful, but they were the one doing all the work.

Charity was their only child. Pride didn't care for her the way they did. He had others. He had another family that was more important to him.

"Ch-" they began to speak, to call the child back, but stopped as Charity remembered their teachings after all- slowing to a trot and holding herself proudly. Envy sighed and followed with pattering steps. "Pride! What a... surprise," they said, trying to sound even, but a trace of exhaustion leaking in.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride seemed happy enough--content, and pleasantly so, with no sign of noticing Envy's apparent discomfort--aside, perhaps, from their exhaustion--which with a child was to be expected. Hell, he was tired. Arsu and Azizos were good children, but they were children nonetheless, with energy to spare. Energy that kept them bounding about at all hours, begging for play, exploring beyond the bounds of what they should really be exploring...

Pride tried, though, to make as much time as he could for Charity. He'd not really thought it through, when he offered Envy the stone--it had been a gift, yes, and he could hardly have withheld it from them. But he hadn't considered that it would be another child, another living, thinking Gembound to care for, and he worried about not splitting his time enough between them. This, of course, was why he was here.

He lowered his head, giving Charity a gentle nudge of greeting; his voice was warm as he replied.

"Hello, Charity. How are you?" He then looked up to Envy, shaking himself a little to rid himself of a bit of Orion's dust.

"And Envy; how are you? --I'd thought perhaps I'd offer to take Charity for a time. We've not had a chance to get acquainted on our own. If that's all right with you? Only a few hours, of course," he hastened to reassure. He didn't want Envy to think he was here to just--make off with Charity for weeks on end.

His demeanor, though, was easygoing. Despite being weary, he had the glow to him of a content parent. He, unlike Envy, was not worrying and fretting. It was clear that he was pleased with life, his children, and how the caves as a whole were treating him.

@Envy

Charity eagerly reached up to meet the touch of Pride's nose, and headbutting his muzzle excitedly. She was full of questions; where have you been, what kind of adventures have you been on this time? Do you have any new stories for me? The more she thought, the more eager she was to ask them. "I'm good, I'm good! Do you have any new stories for me? Have you been on any more adventures? What kind of things have you seen? Did you bring anything back for me?"

She paused as Pride spoke to Envy, although it was clear from her stance that she was itching to interrupt. As Pride said he'd come to take her away, a look of surprise- and then sheer excitement crossed her face. She let out a short gasp, and jumped several times in sheer glee, as her weasel parent had done many times in nervousness. She bounded towards Envy, and before Pride had finished speaking, was already launching into her own tirade. "Did you hear that, Mamma? Pride wants me to go with him! Can I go, mamma?" She looked at Envy, and then Pride, and then back at Envy, and then, in a fit of glee, skipped around them.

Abruptly, she seemed to stop- seemingly remembering all of their exchanges- she tried to look calm, despite the panting breaths now escaping her, puffed out her chest and tried to look regal like they'd taught her. "Please? I promise I'll act like the perfect Prince!"

Envy, at first, felt a thrill of distaste for the idea of letting Charity go, even if it were only for a few hours. What if he never brought her back? What if he ruined all of the time they'd spent teaching her how to act, how to speak, how to present herself to those in the Seven, and those outside? Or even worse, what if she wanted to stay with Pride forever?! Their first instinct, of course, was to say no. But they stopped themselves short.

They forced themselves to stop and just think for a moment.

Taking care of Charity was exhausting. She was running them ragged. They had barely a moment to themselves since she'd hatched. They'd lost count of the times that they'd wished for a moment where they could just go and revel in a quiet moment to themselves. So why, when the offer simply came out and presented itself to them, were they hesitating. Perhaps it was the sheer joy on her face at the idea of going with Pride, over them. Was she not even a little bit hesitant to leave her beloved Mamma?

The weasel looked over her, and then up at Pride, trying to keep the look of sheer betrayal out of their eyes.

It was getting hard to think straight, they were torn two ways. But then Charity turned and asked them herself. She thought- no, she perhaps knew that they wouldn't let her go. And asking them, well, that was a show of respect that Envy clung to. Suddenly it was a lot harder to say no. But it was also a lot harder to say yes. The weasel found themselves grappling with the feeling.

Finally they closed their eyes and forced themselves to breathe. I'm Pride's King. He wouldn't dare steal her away. And if I make sure they're be back soon, they won't have time to go meet Pride's other two. I'll ask Charity what they talked about later, yes...

Finally, they looked up, letting out a small sigh, and forcing a smile that didn't reach their eyes. They looked first at Pride, then Charity. "Sure, Pride, a--... A few hours. I'll be counting." They slowly turned their back and began to scamper for the throne, the motion hiding their suddenly bristling quills as they immediately regretted their decision.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride listened, and for a moment his gaze lingered on Envy as they scampered off. Something was... wrong, off. His King was clearly lost in thought on something, bothered, or tired, or both? But they were rarely open about their thoughts and he knew that now was not the time. Charity was at his feet, and he looked down, offering a smile.

"I always have stories; perhaps you can tell me what you'd like to hear about, and I can tell you a story? But we can head somewhere first, if you like." He glanced up, and around, thinking. Envy's strange "I'll be counting" had seemed a bit out of place, but perhaps they'd been joking. If not, it hardly mattered; he wasn't going to take Charity too far, regardless. But where could they go?

"Is there anywhere in Orion where you have not been? --Has your mamma told you of the sky-birds?" he then asked, casting a curious glance down to his daughter. My daughter. What a strange thought.

"...Have you been to the tower? And to the amphitheatre?"

He glanced one last time back at the Throne--his mind distractedly wondering what was wrong with Envy--but then looked back to Charity. They were going to spend time together--and it was late in coming.

She'd have his full attention.

@Charity

Charity jumped for joy, spinning and prancing around Pride's forelegs as Envy let her go- she didn't even think to say goodbye. "Yes, yes!" she chirped, as she bounded ahead, before stopping and waiting for Pride. She wanted to be out of the throne room; the place that served as her nursery had rapidly become boring to her. Her mother, she knew, was too afraid of her running off to let her go very far. They had walked together, it was true; but never very far. Perhaps the king feared the things that were out there.

Mother had, after all, spoken of monsters that would destroy Charity at any chance they got. "There's a lot of places I haven't been! I can see so much from the throne but I've never been very far from it." she panted gleefully, as she trotted back towards the stag. "What are the sky-birds? What's the tower? What's the ampi... theatre?"

The long little creature's paws danced, and she hopped up and down before her father. It felt so good to have him all to herself. "Can you show me?"

@Pride

Pride gave a soft laugh of amusement, turning to lead the way.

"The amphitheatre first, then." Strange, that she hasn't been there, but perhaps Envy's been trying to keep her safe.

"There are many ruins in the cave; there is a great deal we don't know. But we know that we have magic, and stones. Have you explored your own magic, yet?" he asked, glancing down with amusement. He stepped along, graceful and stately. "The three birds are... someone that your momma and I spoke with. They taught Envy to fly. They spoke of something called the sky--and they say that they came from beyond these caves. We do not know what lies beyond, but they claim that there are many places, and before they came to be trapped here, they taught the sky to dance, and to sing."

Pride had learned, from Mercurius, the spellwork to create fanciful imagery and lights. It was still new to him, but his intention had always been to use it to embellish his stories a bit. Now, he struggled to call upon it, to form his magicka into the shapes of the Kings and their dance across the sky, as they had shown him in turn.

Before them, the aurora-streaks of color flickered into being--a little faded for his liking, and damn did it take effort to maintain. But it was there, nonetheless, and it was beautiful. Shimmering ribbons of color, sparkling with stars, fluttered through the air far above and before them. At their head spun the Three Kings, in magical light form, dancing in fanciful fashion.

"They looked like that, and they weren't far from here." He was easy-going, not leading to any particular point: just regaling Charity with the tale, and hoping that she found it enjoyable. He glanced down to her, warmly, almost envious in a sense: to first hear this story, to have the spark take light in one's imagination--how wonderful it must be! ...But would she even find it so?

For the first time, the father felt himself worried that he might be boring one of his children, peering at Charity for any sign that she found it interesting.

@Charity

"Magic?" Charity felt certain she'd heard it discussed before, but she strained to remember what it did. She knew for certain that she hadn't used it herself. And then... Yes! She remembered now! That's what mamma used to fly! She had seen magic before! She'd always wanted to fly as well, but Envy said only a rare and chosen few could do it. She also remembered the bird, that had burned itself to make that terrible smell. Less impressive, but still magic.

"I know what magic is! I've seen mamma do it before!" she bleated as she bounced after him, struggling to keep up with his flowing gait. She had to crane her neck up just to see his face.

She listened with wonder as Pride described the kings. Envy certainly hadn't told her any of this. "Can I meet them, one day?"

Charity bounced with excitement as she watched, in sheer wonder and amazement the images Pride summoned before her. "How did you do that!? Can I do that, too?! Teach me, teach me!" she gasped in between jumps and bounds, full of the energy of both youth and her weasel blood. She twisted and hopped on the spot, spinning and dancing, looking for all the world like a little green weasel overcome with sheer excitement and joy, the necklace at her neck jingling as she danced.

@Pride

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Livius

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Livius

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