Doomed and Determined Snippets

Meet Zephyr's parents

    "I'm...fine," He wanted to argue, it was there, but he chose instead to intertwine his fingers together. Even if it was to stop him from reaching out for her again. "I'm just shocked is all." Shocked? That was more than a shock, that a full-on moment of him wanting to find something to rip to shreds, to find his Uncle and demand a way to make this better. Actually, his Aunt might have been a better choice, Murv would have probably left him on his own.

    He watched as she was quick to tear the letter open, and he was sure it was so he didn't just steal it from her grasp and do good on his threat to read it. He shifted, leaning back on heels and back again. It was a slowly rocking that took his attention elsewhere, waiting for her to decide if there is anything of actual importance. There's a moment where she freezes, he was almost sure she stopped breathing, and then she was looking up into his eyes.

    "They want me to come home," He stopped rocking, head tilting to the side like a puppy. Was this good news? There's a moment of silence, one where he was almost sure she'd burn the letter herself-

    "They want me to come home!" There's a smaller body suddenly entangling itself around him. The force was enough to have him stumbling back a few steps, arms automatically wrapped around her waist. He was sure anyone could read the confusion on his face, even as she pulled back. He caught the quick worry in her expression, but it was swallowed by the brightness that now seemed to encompass her.

    "Go home?" He muttered, but it went unheard as something he'd label as 'Excitable shriek' seem to ring across the bar. Was she dancing? Or is that considered spinning? He was not sure what to think as he watched her dart around, more like a hummingbird than the Dove he called her after. Should he be organizing a party?

    She stopped, taking a deep breath, and he waited for, something. Then she was off again and he sat down on a barstool, leaning back wondering if he should step in. It happened a few times, her pausing and something seemed to weigh her shoulders down, but then she was off again. It was almost concerning, but Zerxes figured she'd wear herself out in a few more minutes. A few patrons seemed to stop and stare, and he made sure that caught his own unflinching glare. They were quick to look away after that.

    Sure enough, a few minutes later she was falling into the stool beside him, hunched over with her face buried in her arms. He hummed, tabbing the bar a few times. "Good thing then?" And there was the tension again. He was positive that he had emotional whiplash now, was this how his uncle felt around Daevaris? Then again, he was sure Dae was...calmer than his own spitfire.

    "Zephyr," He murmured, resting an arm around her shoulders, rubbing at them gently. "You can tell me, I promise I'm not gonna explode and do...whatever that was just now." Sure it was fun watching her bounce around, but he'd much rather keep his excitement to himself. For a minute, he was sure she wouldn't tell him. If just by the way she remained tense and silent. And he wouldn't force her. He'd poke and prod, but never force. Besides, she was a big girl, she could make her own choices.

    Didn't mean he wouldn't be waiting for behind her without a joke or hug waiting. Or threatening to rip apart what was threatening her at the moment-

    "I haven't been home in years," He didn't stop rubbing at her shoulders, though he did so more slowly and firm now. "They haven't sent a message in years, I've sent plenty." He frowned. There was a shadow of doubt starting in his mind, something small enough he didn't want to call it out.

    "Perhaps," He started slowly, simply holding her now, placing his other elbow on the bar and propping his chin in his palm. "They were otherwise occupied?" Too occupied to send even a simple sentence back all those times? Something whispered in the back of his mind, but as Zephyr finally looked up at him, he shook it off. "Mother does it sometimes forgets to write back to me and sometimes I have to send someone to hound after her." But doesn't respond for years? He frowned, mentally telling the voice to shut it.