"Broken Shards"

[zauberdecke]

"In the dark
I need to taste the blood
Go on, draw another line
We can cross this time."
- Blindfold by Sleeping Wolf

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[ Essek Thelyss: Shadowhand to the Dynasty.

One who reached further then the Luxon would allow, who would do absolutely anything for knowledge. Oh no, the man did not care for power, not really. He wanted to cast himself into the portal of knowing, he wanted to surrender himself to books and learning without having to deal with the mundanities of socio-politics that all of the Kryn engaged in. It was tedious and it filled him with sickness even as he plastered on an urbane smile for all and sundry to see.

Within the Dynasty, it was customary to take pets of the Empire; they were brought in across the border of Asarius, across the mountains and into the Dynasty. There were Dynasty born pets on the other side, both lost to the ravages of the other's civilization, generally never to be seen again.

Essek had never really had an interest to begin with when it came to pets; at the market he carefully avoided the slave blocks where those not of the Dynasty were paraded around. However, it had come to this-- it had come to his trading of the Beacon, and in return he recieved a Volstrucker to serve him. And yet, for all of that, Essek Thelyss had not thought he would receive a broken Volstrucker.

In fair trade, he and recieved a dossier on the man in question and had perused it with only a small semblance of annoyance while Trent Ikithon had assured him that a man like him could be rebuilt, the honeyed words of a silken snake which Essek recognized.

After all did not a predator recognize another predator? So now he held in his household a man whom had to be guarded carefully, though Essek was not cruel despite how he imagined Dynasty pets were treated, the cage that he had placed this Volstrucker named Bren within, well it was comfortable-- he'd seen pictures of Vergossen so he supposed it must be far better than that place. But he had not precisely interacted with him-- most of his unseen servants were given the walking of him, the care and maintenance of him.

Perhaps because he did not precisely know what to do with him, or what use he had for something broken. Though he arguably did not know what manner of broken the Volstrucker was, but after a week-- he decided perhaps it was time to summon him and see for himself; acertain what sort of work was cut out for him.

If this man was worth putting back together again.

So it was one evening, he had the Empire man summoned to his chambers. ]

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[zauberdecke]

The lights were dim within the room, it was warm but quiet and and from the bed came the softest little coo along with a husky laugh that sounded tired but happy. And then as Caleb came closer, he would see his mate propped up with pillows behind him and swaddled close to his chest was the tiniest little bundle, so very small though Essek had not grown exceedingly large, the smallness of the child would make sense.

He heard the whisper of footsteps on rug as Caleb approached and he looked up.

A smile as he recognized his mate, curls damply clung to his face and he looked very sleepy but he was happy to see Caleb finally. "She is very beautiful.. come and crawl under the covers beside me, we can hold her together?"

After the last five hours, he was happy to see his mate but also he wanted to show him the tiny little bundle that they had both created, already he could see that perhaps the child would have her father's freckled pale complexion and puffs of orange hair was already evident, but those ears were tipped and pointed attesting to her drow heritage.

[ausgebrannt]

It was the most breathtaking sight that Caleb had ever seen in his life, his mate who looked exhausted but more beautiful than he had ever seen him. And oh their child so small and held safe and sound in Essek's arms.

This was about when Caleb started crying, quietly, eyes filling with silent tears that he could not hope to hold back. But that did not stop him from moving to join the other man on the bed. He settled himself beneath the covers, tucking himself close to Essek and looking down at the cooing little bundle in the drow's arms -- pale and ginger but with those unmistakably elven ears.

"She is perfect..." He sounded awestruck, and he looked up to Essek, reaching up to smooth back that sweat-damp hair from his forehead. "You are perfect. How are you feeling? Are you all right?"

[zauberdecke]

She was so small but she looked like she was a good natured little one, already grasping and attempting to hold everything including a lock of her Ilharni's hair which she had firmly in her tiny little fist and she was tugging on it only a little bit. It was of course unclear as to what her eyes would be like just yet as they were barely opened, but she seemed to be hyper aware of everything that was going on around her.

"It was nothing more than I expected; painful.. yes-- but worth it." Essek said as he ran a light thumb over her little cheek, seeing the warmth there and then he turned to look at Caleb and then paused there, seeing the blue eyes looking impossibly watery.

"Caleb.. my love-- why are you are crying?" he had never seen anyone cry because of happiness before so perhaps it was a bit perplexing to him although he settled into the circle of those arms and rested his head lightly against his Mate's and angled the baby so that she could rest in both their arms as if that could wipe those tears away.

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb reached out to brush a fingertip oh so delicately against those tiny fingers. So small and so perfect. He traced along that little puff of orange peach fuzz hair. He was already so in love with her, would do anything to see her safe and happy. Along with his mate.

He looked up at the question, smiling a sheepish smile at the question. "I am crying because I am happy. Too happy to hold it all in, I think." It had to overflow somewhere, so the tears were inevitable. He turned his head to press a kiss to Essek's cheekbone, lingering there.

"She will need a name. Have you thought of one?"

[zauberdecke]

Essek's hair had grown a little bit longer in the process, perhaps because it gave him pleasure when Caleb ran his fingers through his hair; an honest and heartfelt pleasure that was rooted in intimacy of such a wonderfully integral way. It was like recognizing a part of oneself in the other and wanting to curl up within them where it was safe, allowing to touch the deepest and most guarded parts of you.

A hum, because this made him happy-- the love and joy in Caleb's eyes. He had seen him happy but right now he positively glowed and there was a selfish part of him that knew that he was the one who had given Caleb this happiness. Even though their first month had been his own selfish desires, it had unfurled like a fragrant blossom.

"I have not, I was hoping that you would help me name her?" Together.

And then Essek continued, "And what would you have her call you, in drow it is called "Ilharn" and I rather expect that she shall call me "Ilharni" which is mother, but.." and then his own shyness. "If there is something in your culture that you would like her to refer to you as?"

[ausgebrannt]

Caleb liked the longer hair on his mate, perhaps because he enjoyed running his hands through it. Hells, if he were being honest, he enjoyed any touch he was allowed where Essek was concerned. He cherished the ability to be affectionate, to be close to the other man, the knowledge that Essek cared for him in turn. It still felt like a dream he did not deserve, all the more so now that they were growing this little family.

"Ja, of course. We will think of something that suits her. Our precious little one." Theirs. Another surge of tears that he tried and failed to blink back.

He considered Essek's question though, looking down at the little bundle in their arms. "Vater means Father, but that is very formal. I think the better choice is Papa." And the thought of their little girl calling him Papa melted something in him irreversibly. "Ilharni," he echoed, tightening his arm around the drow. "You did so good. She is a wonder."

[zauberdecke]

"It took too to make her, I am not the only one... " Essek snuggled up close to the other man, resting his head lightly back against the shoulder as they held their little one together. "Papa, look she looks very much like you.. with her hair and her skin." he said this a bit wryly but also too was he illustrating a point that was very much valid.

"She is very much a treasure, like a little diamond or a pearl." Essek said with a soft little bit of wonder to his voice. "Look at how she already expresses so much curiosity for everything around her." and in that moment the small little bean let go of her Ilharni's piece of hair and then reached for a finger that had been caressing her cheek, she fit her tiny fist around the index finger and gave it a squeeze.

A small little purring sound came from her, the sort of purr that Essek made when he was content.

[ausgebrannt]

"I think my role was the much easier part," Caleb murmured, amusement in his voice. He'd contributed, yes. But Essek had carried her, had birthed her, had done the heavy lifting of this. But now Caleb would make certain that he shouldered the load as well, that he was a part of raising their little treasure.

"She is a redhead, ja. Anywhere else, she would have to be wary of the sun." But that was not a concern in Rosohna. So no sunburns for their little ginger.

And oh. She purred. Well, she clearly got that from her mother, and Caleb was visibly charmed by it. "She is so small..." How could someone be so small and so perfect? "Pearl is very pretty, for a name."

[zauberdecke]

"Please do not underestimate the fact that I could have killed you during the process." Essek said with a knowing smirk as he watched with more than enough pleasure the fact that their child was latching onto her Papa, then the word was spoken, the name.

Instantly Essek knew it was the name for her.. 'Pearl' which was indescribably lovely, their little magical component. "I quite like the name, it feels perfect for her. Do you like that name? Pearl?" Essek asked of the little baby in their arms.

There was a coo followed by a little hiccup as she took in a little bit too much air, and then the most tiny pint-sized burp. Still getting used to those lungs, that one. "Our little Pearl. I suppose there is no help for it, that is her name now." and then he shifted his head so that he could look at Caleb's profile. "I do not think I will be trancing this night, I feel like perhaps it will be sleep.." Essek was so very exhausted but thankfully he had been given a leave of absence from his duties so that he could bond with their child.

Directive of the Bright Queen herself.

"I think that it is safe to say that she will be very spoiled by the both of us?"

[ausgebrannt]

"Maybe, but I would have left this world with a smile on my face." Amusement sparkled in blue eyes. Fucked to death by his mate and his impressive heat-driven libido. He could imagine worse ways to go.

Looking down he melted once more, that strong little grip, the tiny little noises, precious and adorable. Their Pearl. "I love it. It suits her." A tiny treasure who had already clearly cast her first spell on her parents who were so charmed and enchanted, they would never recover.

"You should rest however you need, Liebling. You have had a very eventful day. Sleep, and I will keep watch." He would make sure that Pearl was also resting and comfortable, would probably spend an inordinate amount of time just watching his mate and their child. He wished his parents could have met her, knew full well that his mother in particular would have made it her mission in life to spoil the little girl.

But oh she would be spoiled by Essek and him. "Ja. Without a doubt. She will be incredibly spoiled. As she deserves."

[zauberdecke]

"I do need my rest, and I am tired but I suppose I am just awash in whatever hormones got me through the birthing." namely the most beautiful of adoration, she would be doted on by her Ilharni and her Papa, and he would tell Verin that he could visit as well. And mayhap the Bright Queen.

His mother, he would like to put off that for a little while longer, this was a secret that he wanted to keep to himself for a little while longer especially where his mother could not come in and attempt to take charge. No, he did not want that right now, nor in the foreseeable future.

He tilted his head so that he could press a kiss against the neck, the side of it. And while he did so, Pearl started hunting for sustenance, which Essek was glad to guide her to; and that inspired another wave of calm within him. The heart starting to glow even deeper. Surrounded by his two precious ones, he felt like the home that he had felt with Caleb was finally complete.

"I love you, Caleb..."