Eridanus' light, dappling down through shifting leaves, caught slivers across the white stag that passed now through the foliage. It bathed him as though in white fire, catching across the gemstone at his throat and reflecting in blinding sparkles, and reminded him yet again that he was incredibly bad at staying hidden.

Pride was not, at least, trying to stay hidden--not now. He'd never done anything like this before and he honestly wasn't too sure how to justify what he was after. He had two children: but he now knew Vivilene, his grandchild. He admired a great deal about her, and his goal today was twofold. To offer her a sibling, related in blood (...so to speak); and to, he hoped, add another like her into this world.

The recent happenings in Orion both warned him against this--did he really want to put another child into the caves, with things like that going on?--and left him, too, hoping to safeguard against some darker future. Surely if there were enough of them--enough generous, bright, kind-hearted Gembound--they could stand together against any threat..?

He shook the thought aside. It would cost him nothing, of course, to create life--or, at least, very little. But he had to get Attikias' acceptance, first. His approval. He knew the other's name, but little else--not his appearance, nor his precise location, though he knew the whereabouts vaguely from Vivilene. So he paced along its outer edges (unaware that Attikias hunted deer, but aware at least that he'd befriended--sort of--Azizos), calling out now and then.

"Attikias? Is there one called Attikias near? -Vivilene?" When at last he stumbled upon the grove, the little living-space with clear signs of tool-use, and artistry, he paused only for a moment. Then he pushed through the foliage, head tilting as he called again. "Attikias?" he asked, hoping to find the other one here, in what he hoped was his home.

@Attikias

After the various encounters with the monster that called itself Orthoclase-Alpha, Attikias'd found himself a bit more on edge. It could come around any time it wanted (at least, he'd implied), and while he didn't mind, it felt like he had to be on edge to fight.

There was also the fact that his kids weren't really kids anymore; they'd grown stronger. Hunter, particularly, and (he sighed in thinking about this) Vivilene, they could protect themselves. After all, they had him as a teacher! That didn't stop him from worrying, but it gave them confidence to strike out further and leave his nest rather empty. But, he deflated as his mind wandered in this direction, curling a fleck of wood off of the statuette he held in his hands.

He had one final piece to add to the little family picture, and they'd be all done. Would the new kid he'd made be put there, too? A huff of breath escaped his lips as he readjusted his position, propping his knee up to the roof of his little lean-to as he laid on his bed. He'd see them eventually- both his existing kids, and this new one.

A calling voice- much calmer than typical visitors as of late- had approached, and Attikias listened quietly. With bated breath, he straightened up slowly, tail curling around himself. They didn't sound antagonistic? As the gentle shuffling of leaves came through the camp, the elf turned his head to emerge from his tent, the work abandoned for now. "That's me-" He'd begun, before realizing who he was talking to.

It was a ghost of all those deer- no, nono, Attikias, you're being paranoid. Second option: Azizos's dad? Attikias's eyes widened as he straightened up fully, a faint streak of memory hitting him. Of course it'd be the twins' dad. He preferred dad, right?

The fact that he'd never searched out Vivilene's grandparents despite being the father to their grandchild hit him starkly as he stood there for an awkwardly long time, his fingers tapping together. "Uh-" he began before the beat of his conversation had passed to the deer- "Vivilene's not here; I think she went out to get something for her garden?"

At least, he assumed Pride had come for her. He was calling her name, after all. "I should probably have some dried fruits if you want a snack while we wait. If you wanna wait." He tossed a thumb in the direction of his pots, with some being freshly broken thanks to a certain alien that liked to come in here.

@Pride

Pride had agonized over what, exactly, to say; he'd somehow worried that Attikias would be a stiff, cold sort of person. But he found that he liked him at once; he warmed to the elf-like creature's immediate openness, and freely-offered hospitality. Pride felt himself relax, a little, and offered a deep, respectful incline of his head.

"Peaches, perhaps; she seems to like those," he suggested, with gentle amusement. Okay, so maybe the kid wasn't gathering entire peach trees for her garden, but...

The white stag stepped delicately closer, still leaving polite distance but approaching enough to not seem to linger rudely at an awkward distance. "You know me, I take it-? Or does Vivilene have quite so many friends, that all visitors are for her? She is a good child," he added, warmly, "and it is good to know that she seeks to help others--ahh, my apologies," and here he interrupted himself. "I am rambling. My name is Pride. I am Azizos' father, and if I'm not mistaken, Vivilene's grandfather." He guessed that Attikias knew of him, but introductions were polite, regardless. He offered a gentle shake of his head to the offer of fruit, and a murmured 'thank you;' he was too anxious to accept, and didn't want to take Attikias' food supplies, really. He himself could just eat grass, after all.

"I have... a strange request of you, given that we've never met before." A breath, as he studied the tall, purple-hued creature, as silver eyes ranged over the expressive face and the survival-honed musculature. This was, indeed, a father; and one who provided for his family, Pride felt. "I have Azizos and Arsu, my sons--twins--and their father, Mercurius, is a close friend of mine. Now Vivilene is my granddaughter, but I hardly know her family--you! and whomever else," he began.

A hesitant pause, and he glanced away, and back. "It is a strange and admittedly very personal request I wish to make of you. The caves have been chaotic, of late. I think it is in those like our children that we may place our hope, and I wished to further join our families. To get to know you, as allies, perhaps as friends. And to add another good life to the caves, one like Vivilene. If I were to offer a piece of my stone, would you consider bringing it to life? I understand it's an abrupt question, so of course if you are not comfortable with that, please do refuse; I will take no offense. But..." Another pause, hesitation, and Pride glanced around, at a loss for words, for a moment. "But I think more Vivilenes in the world can only be a good thing," he settled on, at last, looking to the father of his granddaughter.

"I would be glad to help raise the child, or entirely raise them if you'd prefer," he added, head tilting.

@Attikias

"Oh, peaches!" Attikias lit up at that idea. It was perfect- she'd love that, if she didn't have one there already! (Attik, it seemed, wasn't very knowledgeable on recognizing his plants by their saplings.)

Pride'd begun talking and Attikias tilted his head with a soft "well," at the implications there. he half-knew Pride, kind of? He'd turned to the storage pile and rummaged, slightly, pushing aside a lid and moving an urn to retrieve yellow-ish, mango-like pieces of dried fruit. They'd been cut up for easy handling and, in this case, better storage in a wooden bowl the elf'd procured for the two of them.

"Ah- Your kids'd talked about you." He returned with the Bowl in both hands and knelt down to a fallen log that made up a seat by the firepit. The deer shook his head and Attikias shrugged. The bowl he'd gathered, then, might as well just sit in his lap as he took his eyes off of Pride to pick up a sliver to eat. "'M hungry anyways," he offered as a small excuse in return, laughing under his breath with a shrug.

He let his hands drop from his consumption activities when Pride spoke again. "I've gotten my fair share of requests." His dark hair fell to the side as his head cocked. The words came from not worry, but from a curious laugh, though he was concerned if Pride wanted to come up to him and see his... Past, was it? He didn't really need that again.

But Pride was nice. And, besides, it wouldn't hurt- but what if he saw him hurting deer?

However, the more the deer went on, the closer Attik got to an understanding. He nodded to the ramble, encouraging- it wouldn't weird, right? It did sound almost like a marriage proposal at first, until Pride mentioned adding another life. This was about a kid?

Oh! He could do that, and Attikias straightened with wide eyes. "Oh no, I- it's a great idea!" He waved his hand to dissuade the hole Pride was beginning to dig himself into. It seemed a bit funny that he'd come so soon after Alpha'd grabbed him- but maybe that was just fate, huh? Attikias's smile was genuine as he looked back into the bowl. "The kid'd be safe here- you're always free to raise with me or anything." He grinned at Pride. "Might be good to have an additional hand- er, hoof?- to help."

He stood, leaving the bowl on the log and approached Pride if allowed. His hands came out, cupped upwards to catch the gem if it was released close to him. "Hey, it's good you came around, too- I've been meaning to talk with Vivi's grandparents." He rumbled out a chuckle. "I hope you uh-" Approve? Oh, how should he put this. "I hope I'm... Cool? Good for ya."

The final laugh that came out was nearly sheepish as he looked down to his offered palms. He could feel a ramble of his own coming on, but he held it back- wait for Pride to ramble on his own, after all.

@Pride

Pride dipped his head as Attikias admitted hunger, and then gave a quiet laugh at the idea that his kids had mentioned him. "Only good things, I hope-? You met Arsu too, then, I take it?"

At the mention, too, of Attikias getting many requests, Pride gave another quiet laugh. "Well, I am sorry to have added another," but as the elf went on, it became clear that he was more than enthusiastic about the idea. Pride's own eyes lit up, some, pleased at how well Attikias was taking it.

"Ahh, by all means! And if you ever wish a babysitter for the rest of the family, I had raised those two," he added, with amused dourness in his tone--because of 'those two,' it seemed, at least one had shown a tendency toward getting drunk and unexpectedly leaving children about. Pride studied Attikias for a moment, and wondered; he remembered the pillars. Azizos' strong connection to them; to, Pride thought, the idea of pairing, of love. Was he more closely-linked with Attikias than he had realized-? It was an unexpected thought, but not an unwelcome one, though he hoped he was stepping on no toes, then, by adding more children to the strange and jumbled mix.

He didn't mention it, either way--it would be awkward if he were wrong, and it wasn't really any of his business otherwise. But he did dip his head, smiling as best a deer could, and segued topic. "I can also offer magical practice, if you ever need someone familiar with mind-magic. I am fairly well-practiced in it, among other sorts... stone and the like, too, I think. Now, ah--thank you for this... let me see." He leaned down, a few inches, as if to see his own stone--then realized how foolish this was, and lifted his head high over Attikias' proffered palms.

A moment of focus, then, and he shed a shard of stone, feeling the strange and unnerving sensation of it fracturing, of the sliver sliding free and falling away. The hairs on the back of his neck raised; it felt vaguely wrong, somehow, each time--as though he'd lost a tiny piece of himself.

Attikias was still speaking, too: something about hoping he was good enough (if Pride were interpreting correctly) for raising family. The white stag gave another, quiet laugh as he stepped back, inspecting Attikias' hands to see if he'd caught the gem. "Of course. Vivilene seems very happy; I would not be here if I did not think someone had raised her well." A kind smile, then; it might've sounded arrogant, but that was far from how the stag had meant it.

He went silent, then--as much to allow Attikias to concentrate as anything else, though after a moment he did murmur, "Did it work?"

@Attikias

Attikias gave a nod, eyes almost closed by his smile. "Ah, yeah- Arsu'd grew a bunch of flowers around and they'd both given me the uh-" He gestured an elbow to the stone 'statue' Azizos had shaped that let out a soft light over the back of the tent. There wasn't really a word for what it was. "Installation?" That worked. "Back there."

Attik turned his head to the offer of babysitting. "Ah- you're free to come by and watch them any time, but I wouldn't make you do it if you're too busy or anything." Of course, he would like an extra set of eyes around, but the idea of pressuring someone into it rubbed him the wrong way. Pride had begun to position himself over Attikias's hands, and the elf found it in himself to blabber on in response, excited by the prospect of sticking his fingers into every little avenue he could find.

"Magic training sounds good! I've never been really strong at it, but if you need any tips in response to more physical things we could exchange some pointers?" He shook his head. "Or- if anybody else needs it- not that I'm selling what I know, just, if anybody needs some help protecting themselves or crafting, well." His head turned to the camp and he rolled a shoulder to it. "I'm always here." He let out a huff of a laugh as the gem fell to his hands.

His fingers curled around the smooth stone, peering in curiosity. Pride had given the elf a compliment, and Attik found himself smiling wide again in- well, pride. "I'm glad."

He stepped away, towards the tent more as he held the stone close to the knotted point on his chest. He came to a short stop and drew in a breath. Focus- there was a prickling sensation over his palms, and the magic took hold, if barely, tugging from his sternum in a wispy sense.

The elf held it back out to look at the small shard before kneeling. When he let it down gently onto the dusty substrate that was his camp, it rooted slowly, enveloping into the dirt. Attik gave a hum and a smile, watching it in silence.

"I think so?" He'd responded as he turned to Pride, tail thumping on the ground. He remained that way for a short moment, before- "Oh! Where could I usually find you? I can uh- grab ya once the kid's out."

@Pride

Pride turned to peer at the... what had Attikias called it? 'Installation?'

He eyed it somewhat quizzically; it looked like a statue, but he wasn't sure sure what of. "That was kind of them," he answered, and then--curiosity getting the better of him--"What is it?"

He looked back to the elf-creature, then, blinking. "Ahh, I am usually here in Eridanus--often Mercurius' garden, if you know it--or in Orion, generally near the abandoned throne. That is where the Seven are based, though they all have their own lives, of course..." He looked down to the stone, watching it slowly fusing to the dusty ground beneath.

Pride took a breath. He had only seen life created once or twice in his life, and it was still an awesome sight.

"Thank you, for this," he said softly, nearly choking at the magnitude of his both gratitude and awe. "I will come as often as I can to help. In the meantime..."

He kept on chatting, intending to remain here awhile longer--out of politeness, and curiosity, and idle contentment. Rushing off would have been odd--and anyway, Attikias seemed both eager for company, and a good conversational partner.

The statue, of course, was still mysterious--but perhaps they could get to that later.

baby made
exit Pride
@Attikias

Attikias'd looked to the statue- rock- effigy?- when it was pushed on more. "It was," he rumbled out of contentedness. It'd be nice to have them come around again sometime, but having the statue let their presence stay in his mind as they left their mark in his physical home.

He was silent for a moment. "It's... Supposed to be a statue- I'd done something of them as, hmm." He inhaled briefly, flexing his hands as he grasped for words. "I make art, and made them a figure of them, so they made the gift in return." He rubbed a hand exaggeratedly on his chin before turning around with a grin. "Ain't it the spitting image?" He laughed good-naturedly- it was, in truth, a good shape for being made out of literally melted rock. It wasn't anything Attikias could do, at least.

He let the playfulness die out as he cataloged the locations Pride gave. "Say, I still need to see the garden sometime." It was an offer of sorts, for a way to go when they both desired to. Who knows, maybe Attik had stumbled upon it before? "It'd be nice to meet some more positive people."

The elf grew quiet to allow for Pride to take in the child's formation. He hummed in the back of his throat in a half-whistle, making a soft noise of pleasure, warmly looking up as Pride gave his gratitude. "It's the least I can do," he chuckled after the moment drew on, folding his hands behind his back.

He'd listened, drawn to Pride's more gentle nature. It was something Attikias admired, something he cultivated for himself and one that seemed to imprint off on him as the conversation carried on. It felt right to be kind in turn to the soft voice he held.

He was satisfied to know that they were helping, together, to make another piece of their branching family, to bring kindness to the tumultuous situations the caves seemed to find themselves in.

;exit Attikias