[The Welcome Home] Returning a Stray (Fhera, Stitch)

[Sturlin]

Timestamp: 35th of Spring

The child led the way through the city until they came to the door of her orphanage. Sturlin had trouble fitting in here. More than his appearance or his profession it was his desire to avoid other people that caused the most trouble. By the time they had made it to the building they sought his face had set in a frightening, scarred scowl which warded passerby away from him.

Sturlin was wearing his leather vest and jacket, with similar pants and high boots to protect his calves. The smell of the forest clung to him, along with a faint smell of blood and sweat. His nearby stream could have washed away the smell of the animals he had butchered the morning before he found Fhera, but he did not want to let her out of his sight long enough to bathe. Nor did he want her to accompany him when he did so.

He led Francis with one hand and with the other he absently clenched and unclenched a fist. Gripping and releasing helped to soothe his nerves from being surrounded by strangers. It was better to look like you were going to beat someone than to freak actually freak out on them, he supposed. One could only hope that he was not required to answer any questions at the orphanage. In and out with as little trouble as possible.

Once they reached the door he extended a large fist and banged heavily on its surface three times. It was late, the sun was setting, and he was eager to have this child back where she belonged before she decided to cling to his leg forever. The look on his face did not soften when the door opened. If and when this happened, he would push the child forward with a guiding hand and wait for her to explain herself.

OOCEdited to include timestamp. Sorry I forgot it.

[Fherasoone]

I felt a bit unsure of myself as Sturlin beat on the doors. Questioning how Stitch was going to react to my sudden disappearance. I felt frightened at the idea, watching as the door was to be opened by whoever may wait within. Slowly, I slid behind Sturlin, grasping at his leg, unwilling to go ahead of him. Please don't let him be too angry... Please don't let him be too disappointed... I thought to myself, playing a cruel game alone in my mind, sending me off into a state of depression before things even happened.

I could feel my entire body shudder with anticipation now, be it a good thing to come, or negative thing, I felt myself already reacting. Slowly, the door cracked open, about to reveal whoever may have been within. Instead of facing it, I closed my eyes, listening instead to who it may be. I want to just disappear... but I also don't want to disappear from this place... Please don't be angry Stitch... Please...

[Stitch]

Stitch was busy helping Fentya in the kitchen when the knock came. Cocking his head in the direction of the noise, he took a step toward the door, then turned his head back to Fentya. Surrounded by pans, she noticed his hesitation, and shook her head quickly. "I will be okay here Stitch, just go and greet the guests." Stitch smiled, nodding at the girl and exiting the kitchen. Fentya sighed with relief, the young girl gazing around at the dozens of burnt pans Stitch had manage to produce. Shaking her head, a small smile on her face for the poor blind man, she went about trying to cook, and clean up the mess. Stitch had a good heart, and Stitch thought he was an amazing cook, but Fentya knew better then that.

Stitch strode through the rooms of the Welcome Home, taking a moment to focus at the doorway to see who was beyond it. He paused right outside of it, dipped within a small bit of his Djed, and simply looked. It was different then how he normally looked, this was looking beyond. The doorway was always a mass of aura to him, the whole world was normally a mass of various auras. If he focused, they sharpened for him, but if he really focused, he could do even more. This time, he looked through the aura of the door, saw beyond what the door was, saw beyond where the door existed. The two human auras behind the door became evident to him, after a bit of concentration, and he smiled.

So they had returned.

Opening the door, he presented both with a beaming smile. Sturlin, having never met Stitch before, perhaps would be surprised to see Stitch was something like him. They were both scarred. White bandages were wrapped around Stitch's head, covering his injured, blinded eyes. The rest of the man was pristine, handsome, but the fact that he was blind was painfully apparent. The way he saw was unique to him, and it was a gift that had developed due to his blindness. However, this gift was also what would allow him to look past Sturlin's scars, and see the real man beneath the face, see the aura. Stitch didn't even know the scars existed, all he knew was that of the aura. An odd aura it was, brimming with distrust and dislike for the world around him, and a longing to be somewhere else. Not in a different world, but in a different area. There was also a gentleness underneath all the gruff, if Stitch studied his aura hard. A gentleness for... Stitch wasn't so sure, he couldn't tell. If he took some time to truly grow in tune with the aura, perhaps he could find out... But that would be prying, and it wasn't something he wanted to do.

Stitch continued beaming brightly at both Fentya and Sturlin, sensing the impatience about the man, and the fear about the girl. "Hello milord, hello milady." He reached out a hand to Sturlin, offering a formal handshake. "This one is known as Stitch, it is a pleasure to meet you. Did the two of you have a good time in the forest?" He cocked his head, still smiling brightly. An odd warmth radiated from the blind man, something Fhera might be familiar with, but that Sturlin would be new to.

ooc :

Sorry, this seems a bit off to me. I felt a bit off writing it, don't know why. </3

[Sturlin]

The two scarred men could not be more different in appearance, in spite of their similarity. Where Stitch was pristine but for the bandage about his eyes, all of Sturlin's scars were visible in their hideous glory and he was dirty, sweaty, and slightly bloodstained from his work. Something inside of him refused to take this man at face value. No one was this warm, this friendly, to strangers that they could not even see.

Reaching out with his good hand he clasped Stitch's offered handshake. "I did not. She may have. Call me Sturlin." The words which came out of his mouth were clipped and short, as if he did not want to become too personable at first. When he released the blind man's hand a bit of dirt and a small bit of dried rabbit blood was left behind.

Using his scarred hand he was sure to catch Fherasoone in the small of her back and guide her closer to the man. It was important to make sure that she did not cling to him or hug him or any such nonsense. Once he had guided her forward he hooked his thumb in the front of his belt and stood their, waiting.

[Fherasoone]

Stitch had opened the door, his usual bright positive feel radiating but still, Fhera felt slightly scared, or perhaps more depressed. Stitch had helped her so much, but instead of being good and staying nearby, she ran off and worried him, or even worse, disappointed him. The thought made her shudder as the two men had their short exchange and felt herself being pushed towards Stitch.

She stood there for a moment, her mind racked with a number of thoughts. Each one throwing her deeper and deeper into her negative mood. As she spoke, she sounded as though about to cry, her chest hurting over the fact that she worried people and caused so much trouble for others. "I'm..." She began, pausing for another moment, trying to stop herself from shedding any tears, "I'm sorry..."

After that alone she was at her limits, emotionally, and physically, still exhausted by the travel this day, but still fighting hard to keep in control. Standing between the two made it even worse, feeling as though they were both hovering over her with anger or disappointment, Sturlins manner of speech not helping keep such thoughts out of her head.

[Stitch]

Stitch had found it odd that the two of them managed to coexist. Fhera's aura was so needy and dependent, always swirling about to touch at and cling to others. Sturlin's aura was the exact opposite, tight and contained, even bending away from other people at times. While Fhera thrived on the social aspect of life, Sturlin shied away from it, appearing to despise it, even.

Odd how the two had managed to find their way to one another.

His other senses heightened a bit, due to his blindness, Stitch could easily smell the man. It took a good deal of control not to wince when Sturlin took his hand and shook it, because Stitch could feel the grime, and had no idea what it was. His face never twitched though, never betrayed any of his inner thoughts. Just that genuine smile, and that amazing warmth, pushing at Sturlin and Fhera at every single moment. He sensed a bit of distrust in Sturlin's aura, the emotion pushing against his warmth, and he didn't not quite understand why. Did he come off as someone who shouldn't be trusted? Should this concern Stitch? However, even with those worried thoughts running through his head, Stitch couldn't help but chuckle at Sturlin's next words. The man had delivered it in a monotone, his words short and hurried, and it somehow struck Stitch as amusing. What had Fhera done to him to make the man so eager to get rid of her? Shaking his head, he let go of Sturlin's hand, his grin more bright then ever. "She must have been a handful, milord."

His head tilted toward Fherasoone, right as the little girl managed to spit out her trembling words. Stitch paused, tilting his head further, considering her for a moment. After a bit, he knelt down in front of her, his blind eyes still mentally pointed right at her. He took a few seconds to touch at her aura, to sense the fear, the sadness, the shame, the regret. After a few more moments pause, Stitch finally reached out to pat her head, ruffling up her hair a bit. "It is okay. This one can tell you are sorry, and at least you chose good company." He pulled her in for a hug, head tilting up to gaze at Sturlin. "Thank you for bringing her to this one, milord. This one is happy she found someone nice to stay with. Would you consider adopting?"

Stitch's tone held a note of amusement. He was poking fun at Sturlin, now.

[Sturlin]

Sturlin watched the strange young man carefully as he knelt with Fherasoone and comforted her. He couldn't see anything that she needed to be comforted about. The whelp had been rescued from the monster-ridden wilds and whisked back to her home with a minimum of fuss and danger. It isn't as though she had withstood painful trials or been wandering for weeks. Kids these days. Fragile.

"Adopting?" he said when Stitch looked up at him. His emotions were split between bafflement at the question and wondering why the man was looking at him. He couldn't see. Why did he have such a habit of looking in the direction of people. Curiously Sturlin took two quiet steps to the right to see if Stitch's gaze followed him. "I'll pass. Why, too many kids?"

When the hunter stepped out of the way it opened the perfect gap for Mr. Pickles. The hairless cat slunk his way forward and wrapped himself around the ankles of the blind man. Carefully reaching toward Stitch's arm he nipped at it, begging for attention. Sturlin gave his longtime friend a look which clearly proclaimed him a traitor.

[Fherasoone]

Fhera immediately calmed down as Stitch closed in on her, wrapped in his warmth again, immediately making her smile. Why am I not surprised, she thought to myself as she wrapped around Stitch with a large smile spread across her face. After what had happened and after throwing herself into such a deep spot of depression, it all seemed to vanish in an instant, the only troubles remaining, her legs which were slowly starting to give out on her. She was upset with what she had done, but now another thought started racing through her head.

How she had chased Mr. Pickles through the forest, and how far she went. She never felt so alive as the day she hunted down her new feline friend. This thought of course made her smile even bigger, thinking about how fun it was. However even with this thought, she also was overly thrilled about being home. Before long she noticed her little friend she had thought of play at Stitch. Before Stitch could react to the cat Fhera knelt down to the cat, petting him with her usual smile. "This is Mr. Pickles." she said with a neutral voice, keeping her smile, but finally out of her thoughts enough to notice how tired she was.

After petting the cat she stood up, trying to hide the pain in her legs and fatigue, "He's a very nice cat." she began before turning her eyes to Sturlin, "Even if he looks different from the other cats. Maybe even acts a little different then them. He's a really nice cat." she then paused and looked at Mr. Pickles once more, "No matter how grumpy he can seem." In her own way she was poking fun at Sturlin, but at the same time she was complimenting him happily after all that he had done.

She then took one of Stitch's arms with a smile, hanging onto it happily, ignoring how tired she was and wanting to see the rest of this day through. Not wanting to sleep and wake up to find Sturlin gone so soon. However then she thought the thought as selfish and tried correcting her thinking. I don't want him to leave. Not without me at least saying thank you one last time, and good bye.

[Stitch]

Stitch chuckled as Sturlin poked fun at him, and chuckled once again as Fhera poked fun at Sturlin. While they were distracted, Stitch gave a little wave and a smile at the cat, pleased to meet a new animal friend.

Noticing the emotions lingering in Fhera's Aura, Stitch gave her a short pat on the shoulder, and then pushed her toward Sturlin. Giving the man a small grin, Stitch vanished back inside the Welcome Home.

He knew the girl would soon follow. But he was going to allow them some time to have a private goodbye.

He knew that was what Fhera wanted.

[Archon]

Illumination of Development Sturlin +1 Observation Lores: Felines can be fickle, Glares are good for space Care to see more? : A little Observation experience for paying attention to the uniqueness of Stitch. Fherasoone +1 Storytelling Lores: It hurts when you're tired, Hugs make everything better Care to see more? : A little Storytelling for using Mr. Pickles as a way to tease Sturlin. Stitch +2 Auristics +1 Rhetoric Lores: Grumpy outside but kind inside, People can make interesting combinations Care to see more? : A pair of Auristics experience for your use of it, and a bit of Rhetoric for your kind-hearted teasings. Notes:A fun start to what could have been an interesting relationship.