The Eagle and the Vixen (Closed)

[Lillorainen]

I put my head to the side in confusion, then remembered: He was from Lillorainen.
They did that differently.
It made me smile: "No, it was rather cheap. Bicíní actually makes school uniforms for most schools in the Free Lands for rather little prices. Every Middle and High School and quite a few Elementary Schools have their own school uniforms, you see?" I let a beat pass. "Some students, from not-so-wealthy-backgrounds, get theirs from the uniform store at the school, but most buy it themselves. And, one should add, some schools give their uniforms to their students as signs of achievements, for example on the academic fields."
I let a beat pass.
"My school actually has blazer-style Uniforms.", I added with a grin.

Okay, prices for blazers could heavily vary from store to store, but Chris had an imagination now.
So, it actually seemed quite sensible to him - less wealthy students got theirs from their school's uniform store, the others bought them themselves. They could also just be given by some schools as a reward.
Chris had also noticed how confused she was that he wasn't overly familiar with the Selkie school system, including uniform policies. He felt free to interpret this as a sign he had arrived here well, not even being perceived as a foreigner any more. In fact, Cel's friends had accepted him quite quickly, his accent changing more and more towards the way the Selkie spoke English - no one in here was bothered by his foreign name and foreign faith, either.
He snorted. "I could imagine that it was a funny moment when you had to explain that! 'Sir, it wasn't my fault, it's just that one of my foxes damaged it a bit when getting his dessert!'"

[The Selkie]

Okay, prices for blazers could heavily vary from store to store, but Chris had an imagination now.
So, it actually seemed quite sensible to him - less wealthy students got theirs from their school's uniform store, the others bought them themselves. They could also just be given by some schools as a reward.
Chris had also noticed how confused she was that he wasn't overly familiar with the Selkie school system, including uniform policies. He felt free to interpret this as a sign he had arrived here well, not even being perceived as a foreigner any more. In fact, Cel's friends had accepted him quite quickly, his accent changing more and more towards the way the Selkie spoke English - no one in here was bothered by his foreign name and foreign faith, either.
He snorted. "I could imagine that it was a funny moment when you had to explain that! 'Sir, it wasn't my fault, it's just that one of my foxes damaged it a bit when getting his dessert!'"

I laughed at his imagined conversation explaining that, but I shook my head: "No, I explained it away as me spilling some milk. I think, my teacher recognized the kind of stain, she was a mother herself... she took me aside after the lesson and asked me, if everything was alright and I told her about the foxes and the shop and everything... she's the one, who took Cladhaire's brother in a few months later, after I graduated from Middle School."
I let a beat pass.
"Today, I would have no qualms about saying it that way - especially to the foreign exchange teacher, which we currently drive mad.", I grinned at that, "Might be worth a try..." There was a soft burp from my chest as Soiphrigh paused for a moment. "Well, had your fill?"
As if to reply, his mouth went back to work.

[Lillorainen]

I laughed at his imagined conversation explaining that, but I shook my head: "No, I explained it away as me spilling some milk. I think, my teacher recognized the kind of stain, she was a mother herself... she took me aside after the lesson and asked me, if everything was alright and I told her about the foxes and the shop and everything... she's the one, who took Cladhaire's brother in a few months later, after I graduated from Middle School."
I let a beat pass.
"Today, I would have no qualms about saying it that way - especially to the foreign exchange teacher, which we currently drive mad.", I grinned at that, "Might be worth a try..." There was a soft burp from my chest as Soiphrigh paused for a moment. "Well, had your fill?"
As if to reply, his mouth went back to work.

Of course, the teacher had been a she ... that's the disadvantage when speaking English. Too ambiguous.
He laughed. "And from that point on, it was always the foxes who have eaten your homework, eh?"
Just like Cel had forgotten about Chris being a foreigner, he had totally forgotten that Cel hadn't finished school yet ... there was just one Spring of age difference between her and the Twins, but it looked as if it was rather six years - Patty and Nora looking like twelve, Cel looking like eighteen. Strange world.
Soiprigh burped, but signalized this wasn't a sign of his hunger being sated.
"And your exchange teacher will have a lot of fun with you guys too."

[The Selkie]

Of course, the teacher had been a she ... that's the disadvantage when speaking English. Too ambiguous.
He laughed. "And from that point on, it was always the foxes who have eaten your homework, eh?"
Just like Cel had forgotten about Chris being a foreigner, he had totally forgotten that Cel hadn't finished school yet ... there was just one Spring of age difference between her and the Twins, but it looked as if it was rather six years - Patty and Nora looking like twelve, Cel looking like eighteen. Strange world.
Soiprigh burped, but signalized this wasn't a sign of his hunger being sated.
"And your exchange teacher will have a lot of fun with you guys too."

"Oh, he does!", I replied with a grin, "He's actually from Kyrenaia, teaching at the Madrasa Boys' Academy. A good teacher, but he can be embarrassed easily - something, which we use samelessly!"
I grinned at that and retold one of the many pranks we played on him. In theory, it was simple: Pretend to see rats everywhere. Getting everyone to see rats everywhere had been the hard part. And they had managed, by a liberal application of charme, wit and shameless usage of people wanting to see the world burn. Or at least had a lot of black humour.
Even a few other teachers helped.
And so, of her school with around fourhundred students, around three hundred one day began to report sightings of rats - from girls letting out girly screams and jumping on tables (clichee, but effective) to the Seniors, the oldest age, taking their Younger Militia Issue Muzzle Loading Arquebuses and going on rat-hunts - without success, of course, but scaring the living shit out of people.
For around a week, the not-seeing were driven crazy, before we finally resolved the crisis... by gifting the non-seeing teachers with plush-rats, for snuggles at night.
Cladhaire giggled to the side in his vulpine way.

[Lillorainen]

"Oh, he does!", I replied with a grin, "He's actually from Kyrenaia, teaching at the Madrasa Boys' Academy. A good teacher, but he can be embarrassed easily - something, which we use samelessly!"
I grinned at that and retold one of the many pranks we played on him. In theory, it was simple: Pretend to see rats everywhere. Getting everyone to see rats everywhere had been the hard part. And they had managed, by a liberal application of charme, wit and shameless usage of people wanting to see the world burn. Or at least had a lot of black humour.
Even a few other teachers helped.
And so, of her school with around fourhundred students, around three hundred one day began to report sightings of rats - from girls letting out girly screams and jumping on tables (clichee, but effective) to the Seniors, the oldest age, taking their Younger Militia Issue Muzzle Loading Arquebuses and going on rat-hunts - without success, of course, but scaring the living shit out of people.
For around a week, the not-seeing were driven crazy, before we finally resolved the crisis... by gifting the non-seeing teachers with plush-rats, for snuggles at night.
Cladhaire giggled to the side in his vulpine way.

Chris laughed his butt off a Cel's story about how they had mocked their exchange teacher.
"Same worked with my Geography teacher in my last year of school" - he said. "The one year which I moved away from my hometown for, I've told you. I've used my advantage of being The New One whom nobody knew quite often, not only in that elementary school. Now, she was in her forties, her name was Mrs. Dürrweiler - and the name fit perfectly: she was bigger than me, about the Khana's size, but skinny, thin like a rail. Now, this fact brought us to a lot of jokes anyways, but aside from that, she was afraid of mice. Do you know these gum mice, these white candies formed like a mouse? Hiding these in the corners of the classroom already worked to scare the livings daylights out of her! Once, she even jumped onto the table, and there wasn't a lot of space between her head and the ceiling anymore."
He let a beat pass.
"And no one suspected The New One!"
He had to laugh when remembering that.

[The Selkie]

Chris laughed his butt off a Cel's story about how they had mocked their exchange teacher.
"Same worked with my Geography teacher in my last year of school" - he said. "The one year which I moved away from my hometown for, I've told you. I've used my advantage of being The New One whom nobody knew quite often, not only in that elementary school. Now, she was in her forties, her name was Mrs. Dürrweiler - and the name fit perfectly: she was bigger than me, about the Khana's size, but skinny, thin like a rail. Now, this fact brought us to a lot of jokes anyways, but aside from that, she was afraid of mice. Do you know these gum mice, these white candies formed like a mouse? Hiding these in the corners of the classroom already worked to scare the livings daylights out of her! Once, she even jumped onto the table, and there wasn't a lot of space between her head and the ceiling anymore."
He let a beat pass.
"And no one suspected The New One!"
He had to laugh when remembering that.

I laughed at the anecdote, the image in my head. Cladhaire laughed, too, with Soiphrigh too occupied to chime in.
It was evil, but so much fun!
"We once broke into the school at night, a few friends and me, especially in the teacher's lounge.", I retold as I held the little fox to my chest. "We didn't go after any recods, but we labelled everything with post-it-notes, from the chairs to individual paperclips, in half a dozen different languages - Selkie, English, German, Kyrnaian, French and Spanish. And I mean everything!"
I giggled.
"They found out, that it was my class, though, and the awesome part was their revenge!", I retold, still grinning, "One morning, we come into the classroom and find everything labelled in ten languages on post-it-notes, from the blackboard to the potted plant in the corner. They even dressed the two skeletons we had in the teaching material collection up and labelled them, seating them in our chairs." I let a beat pass. "Okay, that was a bit scary, especially when Marla found a pair of panties again she was missing... anyway, there was also a note on the blackboard: Learn your vocab."
Cladhaire giggled, I laughed at their punchline.

[Lillorainen]

I laughed at the anecdote, the image in my head. Cladhaire laughed, too, with Soiphrigh too occupied to chime in.
It was evil, but so much fun!
"We once broke into the school at night, a few friends and me, especially in the teacher's lounge.", I retold as I held the little fox to my chest. "We didn't go after any recods, but we labelled everything with post-it-notes, from the chairs to individual paperclips, in half a dozen different languages - Selkie, English, German, Kyrnaian, French and Spanish. And I mean everything!"
I giggled.
"They found out, that it was my class, though, and the awesome part was their revenge!", I retold, still grinning, "One morning, we come into the classroom and find everything labelled in ten languages on post-it-notes, from the blackboard to the potted plant in the corner. They even dressed the two skeletons we had in the teaching material collection up and labelled them, seating them in our chairs." I let a beat pass. "Okay, that was a bit scary, especially when Marla found a pair of panties again she was missing... anyway, there was also a note on the blackboard: Learn your vocab."
Cladhaire giggled, I laughed at their punchline.

Chris laughed again, the images in his head, too.
"Well, in the beginning, I had a hard time in Jillich, with all these arrogant kiddos in my new class, I told you ... what got me accepted was that it was me who brought all that fun there. Mrs. Dürrweiler was one of these teachers who offered a shitton of possibilities to mock her that it was totally beyond me how some new guy had to come first to bring them in. For example, her nickname - as she had not only the figure of a pale, but also a unique way of showing her flat hand and saying 'Stop!'" - he imitated the gesture, "I nicknamed her Stoppschild, which soon got used by others whenever she was out of earshot. Everyone agreed that, were her hand red and octagonal, one could really just place her at some crossroad."
He snorted.
"That went well until one of the girls accidentally used that nickname too loudly when talking to another girl in class. She didn't find that funny at all, which she made that girl feel quite obviously. The extra homework, which she had to do as a punishment, turned her into an expert on the geology of the Great Ice Shores."

[The Selkie]

Chris laughed again, the images in his head, too.
"Well, in the beginning, I had a hard time in Jillich, with all these arrogant kiddos in my new class, I told you ... what got me accepted was that it was me who brought all that fun there. Mrs. Dürrweiler was one of these teachers who offered a shitton of possibilities to mock her that it was totally beyond me how some new guy had to come first to bring them in. For example, her nickname - as she had not only the figure of a pale, but also a unique way of showing her flat hand and saying 'Stop!'" - he imitated the gesture, "I nicknamed her Stoppschild, which soon got used by others whenever she was out of earshot. Everyone agreed that, were her hand red and octagonal, one could really just place her at some crossroad."
He snorted.
"That went well until one of the girls accidentally used that nickname too loudly when talking to another girl in class. She didn't find that funny at all, which she made that girl feel quite obviously. The extra homework, which she had to do as a punishment, turned her into an expert on the geology of the Great Ice Shores."

I laughed, wanted to reply, as I suddenly felt a lick at a very sensible spot, my eyes shooting down as the shudder had passed. Soiphrigh was looking at me with big, sleepy, but thankful eyes.
"Well, seems like someone had his fill!", I said with a grin and he burped. I looked to Chris. "That's a yes."
Adjusting my hold on the little fox slightly, I looked to Cladhaire, then to Chris: "One thing's missing..."
I let a beat pass, thinking about something, then began to sing, in a low voice, only for those three males.

Over at the River's Crossing,
Many years ago,
My Mother sang a song to me,
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good ould Selkie way.
And I'd give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day!

How could I send one of my boys to his little bed, if I didn't sing him a song for the night, in Selkie, as it was proper for a mother, even if she was a human and her kids were Foxes. It was also important to me... and, of course, to my foxes and kids.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's a Selkie lullaby.

I smiled as I saw the fox in my arms yawn, his paws stretching as he was preparing to go to sleep. But the song was not finished... to me, it was special, too, as it was a reminder of another, different time.

Often in dreams I wander
To that cot again
I feel her arms a-huggin' me
As when she held me then
And I hear her voice a hummin'
To me as in days of yore
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door.

I began slightly rocking back and forth as well, cradling the little life in my arms to sleep, his deep blue eyes slowly falling asleep, resting his head against my breast. His fur felt coarse, but his warmth was all I needed.
Was this, how my Mum felt, back in the day, when I had been little? When she had held me like that? Far away from all troubles and issues?

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's a Selkie lullaby.

It was a long time ago and it was a time, that would never return.
But I held the memory close, to myself, to my heart, and now to my foxes. The love I felt back then, a mother's love, went into song and from there to them. Chris would feel that love soon enough himself.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's a Selkie lullaby.

Somewhere during the second repeat, I nudged the wickerbasket they all inhabited to me, smiling as I bedded Soiprigh in his basket, where there was enough space for everyone, softly covering him. Was I spoiling him? Sure, quite a bit. But I wanted to.
I motioned for Chris to be quiet, then wiped a few stains off, watching with a smile as Cladhaire joined his 'brother' and snuggled up to him, before I motioned for Chris to leave with me.
As the lock clicked shut behind us, I exhaled.
"Sorry for the delay.", I told Chris with a smile.

[Lillorainen]

I laughed, wanted to reply, as I suddenly felt a lick at a very sensible spot, my eyes shooting down as the shudder had passed. Soiphrigh was looking at me with big, sleepy, but thankful eyes.
"Well, seems like someone had his fill!", I said with a grin and he burped. I looked to Chris. "That's a yes."
Adjusting my hold on the little fox slightly, I looked to Cladhaire, then to Chris: "One thing's missing..."
I let a beat pass, thinking about something, then began to sing, in a low voice, only for those three males.

Over at the River's Crossing,
Many years ago,
My Mother sang a song to me,
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good ould Selkie way.
And I'd give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day!

How could I send one of my boys to his little bed, if I didn't sing him a song for the night, in Selkie, as it was proper for a mother, even if she was a human and her kids were Foxes. It was also important to me... and, of course, to my foxes and kids.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's a Selkie lullaby.

I smiled as I saw the fox in my arms yawn, his paws stretching as he was preparing to go to sleep. But the song was not finished... to me, it was special, too, as it was a reminder of another, different time.

Often in dreams I wander
To that cot again
I feel her arms a-huggin' me
As when she held me then
And I hear her voice a hummin'
To me as in days of yore
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door.

I began slightly rocking back and forth as well, cradling the little life in my arms to sleep, his deep blue eyes slowly falling asleep, resting his head against my breast. His fur felt coarse, but his warmth was all I needed.
Was this, how my Mum felt, back in the day, when I had been little? When she had held me like that? Far away from all troubles and issues?

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's a Selkie lullaby.

It was a long time ago and it was a time, that would never return.
But I held the memory close, to myself, to my heart, and now to my foxes. The love I felt back then, a mother's love, went into song and from there to them. Chris would feel that love soon enough himself.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's a Selkie lullaby.

Somewhere during the second repeat, I nudged the wickerbasket they all inhabited to me, smiling as I bedded Soiprigh in his basket, where there was enough space for everyone, softly covering him. Was I spoiling him? Sure, quite a bit. But I wanted to.
I motioned for Chris to be quiet, then wiped a few stains off, watching with a smile as Cladhaire joined his 'brother' and snuggled up to him, before I motioned for Chris to leave with me.
As the lock clicked shut behind us, I exhaled.
"Sorry for the delay.", I told Chris with a smile.

Cel was laughing - until she suddenly felt a lick at a very sensible spot.
Obviously, someone was satisfied, which got confirmed by them both a moment later.
Now, Cel prepared for something, and Chris was absolutely sure what - and indeed, he was right with his assumption, singing Cladhaire and Soiprigh a lullaby. Chris quietly listened and watched first Soiprigh being bedded and, one stanza later, Cladhaire joining, snuggling against him.
When she was done, Chris grinned and indicated clapping - for not waking them up, of course.
Then they left the room.
"No problem!" - he said.

[The Selkie]

Cel was laughing - until she suddenly felt a lick at a very sensible spot.
Obviously, someone was satisfied, which got confirmed by them both a moment later.
Now, Cel prepared for something, and Chris was absolutely sure what - and indeed, he was right with his assumption, singing Cladhaire and Soiprigh a lullaby. Chris quietly listened and watched first Soiprigh being bedded and, one stanza later, Cladhaire joining, snuggling against him.
When she was done, Chris grinned and indicated clapping - for not waking them up, of course.
Then they left the room.
"No problem!" - he said.

I smiled.
"Thank you.", I replied to him with a small bow of my head, as if I was on stage, "Encore later tonight, after the main event!" Still smiling, I pulled my swimsuit back up again as it belonged, packing up my milk shop, so to speak, with a smile. I thought for a moment, whether or not I should just do, what came to my mind and then smiled as I pulled the white summer dress up again, deciding against leaving it here. Well, this was a decent house, after all, and there would be enough time later. "Maybe even during the main event, let's see, what the others have with them."
I motioned for Chris to follow me back into the entrance hall.
"Both in the ways of instruments and in the ways of... fluid bravery!", I added with a grin.

[Lillorainen]

I smiled.
"Thank you.", I replied to him with a small bow of my head, as if I was on stage, "Encore later tonight, after the main event!" Still smiling, I pulled my swimsuit back up again as it belonged, packing up my milk shop, so to speak, with a smile. I thought for a moment, whether or not I should just do, what came to my mind and then smiled as I pulled the white summer dress up again, deciding against leaving it here. Well, this was a decent house, after all, and there would be enough time later. "Maybe even during the main event, let's see, what the others have with them."
I motioned for Chris to follow me back into the entrance hall.
"Both in the ways of instruments and in the ways of... fluid bravery!", I added with a grin.

Chris grinned. "Be prepared."
He knew what she was thinking - she was considering just leaving her summer dress in here. But she seemed to decide against, for there would be enough time for that later.
Aside from that, it wasn't from precious metals, which lowered the risk of it ending up as a stranded good.
He laughed at her last comment she gave while he followed her back into the entrance hall.
"Neither instruments, nor fluid bravery will be something we'll lack in, I'm sure!" - he said.

[The Selkie]

Chris grinned. "Be prepared."
He knew what she was thinking - she was considering just leaving her summer dress in here. But she seemed to decide against, for there would be enough time for that later.
Aside from that, it wasn't from precious metals, which lowered the risk of it ending up as a stranded good.
He laughed at her last comment she gave while he followed her back into the entrance hall.
"Neither instruments, nor fluid bravery will be something we'll lack in, I'm sure!" - he said.

I grinned - no, neither would be amiss. But we wouldn't be without radios as well, or at least one radio, but that was fine - the important part was, that there was music.
We entered the Entrance Hall and as soon as I stepped a foot into it, there was a cry of "Cel!" by a childish and sweet voice, with a brunette whirlwind of maybe five years slamming into me a moment later, causing me to laugh and nearly throwing me to the ground - I didn't care as I modified the momentum of the girl, which barely reached my hips, into a twirl, picking her up along the round.
I laughed, despite her feet nearly missing Chris, pulling her close.
"Enya!", I said with a cheer, followed by a bit in Selkie, to which she blushed and looked a bit apologetically sad, before I kissed her onto the forehead, the two of us beginning a lively conversation just as another brunette came jogging towards us. I greeted her as: "Hi, Mistress Mamaí!"
"Cel, my dear...", she said and smiled, shaking her head, then turned to Chris, offering a small bow, then her hand: "Mhairin Mamaí of the Tribe of Kildare... I'm that whirlwind's mother."
"And Supplementary Mother Hen to this entire bunch of Hot Chicks!", I added with a grin, only to wilt under the glare. The girl on my arm giggled as I pulled in my head and squeaked a "Sorry..."

[Lillorainen]

I grinned - no, neither would be amiss. But we wouldn't be without radios as well, or at least one radio, but that was fine - the important part was, that there was music.
We entered the Entrance Hall and as soon as I stepped a foot into it, there was a cry of "Cel!" by a childish and sweet voice, with a brunette whirlwind of maybe five years slamming into me a moment later, causing me to laugh and nearly throwing me to the ground - I didn't care as I modified the momentum of the girl, which barely reached my hips, into a twirl, picking her up along the round.
I laughed, despite her feet nearly missing Chris, pulling her close.
"Enya!", I said with a cheer, followed by a bit in Selkie, to which she blushed and looked a bit apologetically sad, before I kissed her onto the forehead, the two of us beginning a lively conversation just as another brunette came jogging towards us. I greeted her as: "Hi, Mistress Mamaí!"
"Cel, my dear...", she said and smiled, shaking her head, then turned to Chris, offering a small bow, then her hand: "Mhairin Mamaí of the Tribe of Kildare... I'm that whirlwind's mother."
"And Supplementary Mother Hen to this entire bunch of Hot Chicks!", I added with a grin, only to wilt under the glare. The girl on my arm giggled as I pulled in my head and squeaked a "Sorry..."

All of a sudden, Cel's name was called quite loudly.
The childish voice seemed to belong to a whirlwhind - that description did fit quite well to the about-a-meter-high brunette hurricane slamming into Cel, her twirl nearly missing Chris.
Another brunette came jogging towards them. She left a 'Cel, my dear' to her, then introduced herself to Chris as Mrs. Mamaí, the mother of the whirlwind. She offered a bow, then her hand.
Chris bowed, too, then shook her hand. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance! Christopher Riescheid, or 'the famous Chris' - which of these one may prefer." He shrugged and grinned.
Not only about this, but also Cel's comment, but he kept that for himself.

[The Selkie]

All of a sudden, Cel's name was called quite loudly.
The childish voice seemed to belong to a whirlwhind - that description did fit quite well to the about-a-meter-high brunette hurricane slamming into Cel, her twirl nearly missing Chris.
Another brunette came jogging towards them. She left a 'Cel, my dear' to her, then introduced herself to Chris as Mrs. Mamaí, the mother of the whirlwind. She offered a bow, then her hand.
Chris bowed, too, then shook her hand. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance! Christopher Riescheid, or 'the famous Chris' - which of these one may prefer." He shrugged and grinned.
Not only about this, but also Cel's comment, but he kept that for himself.

"Ah, that Chris.", Mhairin said, smiling, as she looked my boyfriend up and down. "I honestly expected you to be taller. And harier..."
"Mam!", I said, blushing in a red-hot embarrassement. It was true, I had a thing for harier men, but Chris was hary enough! Thank you very much!
Enya giggled as her mother grinned at me. I'd been had. Revenge for the Mother Hen Comment, I assumed.
She was a few centimetres, not many, but a few, taller then me and although being ten years older then me, she could easily pass as an upperclassman of mine, especially in the blouse and short-shorts combo she wore, her daughter wearing a white little, cute summer dress with a hair bow in her brown locks.
"Fun aside..." Her smile screamed, that fun would not be aside for the foreseeable future. "...it's a pleasure to meet you. Cel very happy, when she thought of you."

[Lillorainen]

"Ah, that Chris.", Mhairin said, smiling, as she looked my boyfriend up and down. "I honestly expected you to be taller. And harier..."
"Mam!", I said, blushing in a red-hot embarrassement. It was true, I had a thing for harier men, but Chris was hary enough! Thank you very much!
Enya giggled as her mother grinned at me. I'd been had. Revenge for the Mother Hen Comment, I assumed.
She was a few centimetres, not many, but a few, taller then me and although being ten years older then me, she could easily pass as an upperclassman of mine, especially in the blouse and short-shorts combo she wore, her daughter wearing a white little, cute summer dress with a hair bow in her brown locks.
"Fun aside..." Her smile screamed, that fun would not be aside for the foreseeable future. "...it's a pleasure to meet you. Cel very happy, when she thought of you."

Taller ...? - Chris thought. Taller than 184 cm, good to know. And hair's enough there where it belongs, thanks for nothing ...
Of course, he didn't express these thoughts, but smiled.
Luckily, he had to fit Cel's taste, not hers.
Chris guessed from the woman's smile that if one thing would be little likely, at best, be put aside tonight, then it was fun.
"I can imagine" - he said, grinning. "Not even been here for half a day, and I don't really have to drop any full introduction on myself so everyone knows what's up." He shrugged. "Though, of course, most of my friends back know about Cel, too."

[The Selkie]

Taller ...? - Chris thought. Taller than 184 cm, good to know. And hair's enough there where it belongs, thanks for nothing ...
Of course, he didn't express these thoughts, but smiled.
Luckily, he had to fit Cel's taste, not hers.
Chris guessed from the woman's smile that if one thing would be little likely, at best, be put aside tonight, then it was fun.
"I can imagine" - he said, grinning. "Not even been here for half a day, and I don't really have to drop any full introduction on myself so everyone knows what's up." He shrugged. "Though, of course, most of my friends back know about Cel, too."

"Things is...", Mhairin said with a smile, "...when it came to talk about boys we met recently, which we found cute, Cel was always talking about you. It was really cute." I blushed a that, deeply, Enya not understanding a word but smiling nonetheless. "It is nice to put a face to the stories..."
Please don't say which stories..., I thought with desperate hope, only to be saved by someone.
Enya was speaking up, speaking in Selkie - she was four, she had no command over the English language yet, but that didn't hinder her. With a smile, her mother translated: "Enya is lucky to have met you, too, and asks, how you grew so tall."
The way, how puzzled Enya looked at him, was almost too cute to handle!

[Lillorainen]

"Things is...", Mhairin said with a smile, "...when it came to talk about boys we met recently, which we found cute, Cel was always talking about you. It was really cute." I blushed a that, deeply, Enya not understanding a word but smiling nonetheless. "It is nice to put a face to the stories..."
Please don't say which stories..., I thought with desperate hope, only to be saved by someone.
Enya was speaking up, speaking in Selkie - she was four, she had no command over the English language yet, but that didn't hinder her. With a smile, her mother translated: "Enya is lucky to have met you, too, and asks, how you grew so tall."
The way, how puzzled Enya looked at him, was almost too cute to handle!

Chris had to grin when little Enya looked at him like a broken car, because of his size, as he now knew.
Although he would have been quite interested in what sort of stories got told in these parts (mainly to correct some of them in case they didn't display the truth), he could deal with the topic change. It was good to know that there were some told, though.
"Oh, that's easy" - he said. He looked at Enya, still grinning. "Mainly because it's some sort of a common feature of my family, no Riescheid is actually small. Then, I've drunk a lot of milk as a child, and ate milk products such as yoghurt. It is said that this generally can be helpful to grow taller - at least it's a known fact that it strengthens the bones."
He nodded to Mhairin, to signalize he was finished talking, so she could translate what he had said.

[The Selkie]

Chris had to grin when little Enya looked at him like a broken car, because of his size, as he now knew.
Although he would have been quite interested in what sort of stories got told in these parts (mainly to correct some of them in case they didn't display the truth), he could deal with the topic change. It was good to know that there were some told, though.
"Oh, that's easy" - he said. He looked at Enya, still grinning. "Mainly because it's some sort of a common feature of my family, no Riescheid is actually small. Then, I've drunk a lot of milk as a child, and ate milk products such as yoghurt. It is said that this generally can be helpful to grow taller - at least it's a known fact that it strengthens the bones."
He nodded to Mhairin, to signalize he was finished talking, so she could translate what he had said.

Mhairin smiled as she translated for her daughter, who's eyes grew - as did her grin.
Then she chirped something to her mother, who smiled and kissed the girl, who was still on my arm, onto her forehead. Then the mother told her daughter something.
Enya looked to Chris and bowed her head lightly, speaking something.
"She thanks you very much for the kind reply.", I translated and Enya added something, "She also notes, that she is on the best way to become as tall and pretty as her Mum, then." I grinned at Mhairin, who smiled and blushed. "Something I can only agree to."

[Lillorainen]

Mhairin smiled as she translated for her daughter, who's eyes grew - as did her grin.
Then she chirped something to her mother, who smiled and kissed the girl, who was still on my arm, onto her forehead. Then the mother told her daughter something.
Enya looked to Chris and bowed her head lightly, speaking something.
"She thanks you very much for the kind reply.", I translated and Enya added something, "She also notes, that she is on the best way to become as tall and pretty as her Mum, then." I grinned at Mhairin, who smiled and blushed. "Something I can only agree to."

Guessing from the child's grin and eyes, Enya was quite keen on that idea.
She said something in her mother tongue.
Mhairin translated - which made him grin again. He nodded to her thanking, in a 'No problem!' way. It was indeed not unlikely that, in twenty years, she would look like her mother did now. Chris inwardly agreed, but decided to express it through the flowers, without any too obvious compliments, but still getting the right message to where it belonged. Janz effe - as a Lillo would put it.
He nodded and said, "Without a doubt."

[The Selkie]

Guessing from the child's grin and eyes, Enya was quite keen on that idea.
She said something in her mother tongue.
Mhairin translated - which made him grin again. He nodded to her thanking, in a 'No problem!' way. It was indeed not unlikely that, in twenty years, she would look like her mother did now. Chris inwardly agreed, but decided to express it through the flowers, without any too obvious compliments, but still getting the right message to where it belonged. Janz effe - as a Lillo would put it.
He nodded and said, "Without a doubt."

Mhairin got the implication and blushed, I grinned and despite not understanding a word, Enya did, too.
"Oh, if she's going to be as big and pretty as her mother, we're going to loose our jobs!", Amy suddenly said from the side, making Mhairin blush even further as she hugged her with a hearty "Mam!" Looking to me, she motioned for Enya: "Mind if I take her off of you for a moment, Cel?"
"Hm...", I made and relayed the question to Enya, who seemed to be hesitant, then Amy announced something to sweeten the deal and off of my arm she was, in Amy's arms and, with a nod from her mother, gone.
I smiled before I returned to Chris' side, now fully, smiling up to him and then to Mhairin.
"Kids are such a wonderful thing, aren't they?", Mhairin asked innocently - with the mischief dancing in her eyes.

[Lillorainen]

Mhairin got the implication and blushed, I grinned and despite not understanding a word, Enya did, too.
"Oh, if she's going to be as big and pretty as her mother, we're going to loose our jobs!", Amy suddenly said from the side, making Mhairin blush even further as she hugged her with a hearty "Mam!" Looking to me, she motioned for Enya: "Mind if I take her off of you for a moment, Cel?"
"Hm...", I made and relayed the question to Enya, who seemed to be hesitant, then Amy announced something to sweeten the deal and off of my arm she was, in Amy's arms and, with a nod from her mother, gone.
I smiled before I returned to Chris' side, now fully, smiling up to him and then to Mhairin.
"Kids are such a wonderful thing, aren't they?", Mhairin asked innocently - with the mischief dancing in her eyes.

Enya grinned, without understanding him - although Chris was sure she got the gist.
Suddenly, Amy Ramallae showed up next to him, making Chris laugh up again.
She asked Cel if she could take Enya off for a moment - she hesitated, asked Enya, who agreed hesitantly, too.
Enya changed from Cel's to Amy's arms - Enya's mother nodded, then both went off.
After the smile exchange, Chris remembered his conversation with Cel on this.
Then he said, "They may be, sure."

[The Selkie]

Mhairin got the implication and blushed, I grinned and despite not understanding a word, Enya did, too.
"Oh, if she's going to be as big and pretty as her mother, we're going to loose our jobs!", Amy suddenly said from the side, making Mhairin blush even further as she hugged her with a hearty "Mam!" Looking to me, she motioned for Enya: "Mind if I take her off of you for a moment, Cel?"
"Hm...", I made and relayed the question to Enya, who seemed to be hesitant, then Amy announced something to sweeten the deal and off of my arm she was, in Amy's arms and, with a nod from her mother, gone.
I smiled before I returned to Chris' side, now fully, smiling up to him and then to Mhairin.
"Kids are such a wonderful thing, aren't they?", Mhairin asked innocently - with the mischief dancing in her eyes.

Enya grinned, without understanding him - although Chris was sure she got the gist.
Suddenly, Amy Ramallae showed up next to him, making Chris laugh up again.
She asked Cel if she could take Enya off for a moment - she hesitated, asked Enya, who agreed hesitantly, too.
Enya changed from Cel's to Amy's arms - Enya's mother nodded, then both went off.
After the smile exchange, Chris remembered his conversation with Cel on this.
Then he said, "They may be, sure."

"A blessing.", Mhairin said with a smile, "Young and energetic as they remind us of a different time, only with slightly different roles... I believe, that our Vixen knows, what I am talking about?"
I smiled and nodded, having just come from breastfeeding one of my cubs.
Mhairin looked to Chris. "Do you have brothers, Chris?", she asked with a small smile. Quite honestly, that was always the bit of a problem with mothers in general, once the topic of children began, they would munch it to death and back. But still, Mhairin was as innocent as the freshly fallen snow. "I admit, that I'm an only-child and despite Enya's many older siblings, she will remain one, too."

[Lillorainen]

"A blessing.", Mhairin said with a smile, "Young and energetic as they remind us of a different time, only with slightly different roles... I believe, that our Vixen knows, what I am talking about?"
I smiled and nodded, having just come from breastfeeding one of my cubs.
Mhairin looked to Chris. "Do you have brothers, Chris?", she asked with a small smile. Quite honestly, that was always the bit of a problem with mothers in general, once the topic of children began, they would munch it to death and back. But still, Mhairin was as innocent as the freshly fallen snow. "I admit, that I'm an only-child and despite Enya's many older siblings, she will remain one, too."

"I must admit that I don't have siblings either, quite unusual for my generation, but still" - Chris replied. "What I do have, though, is a number of cousins, and some of them are like siblings to me." He laughed. "With anything necessary included - some harmless brawling, protecting each other from bullies, doing crap together, telling all these old stories again and again at any family fests."
He was a bit confused by her last sentence - he was also curious what she meant, but was he really willing to pry now ...? Given she was still young enough, one should never say never ...
"How are you that sure Enya won't enjoy the blessing of having younger siblings someday?" - he heard himself ask.

[The Selkie]

"I must admit that I don't have siblings either, quite unusual for my generation, but still" - Chris replied. "What I do have, though, is a number of cousins, and some of them are like siblings to me." He laughed. "With anything necessary included - some harmless brawling, protecting each other from bullies, doing crap together, telling all these old stories again and again at any family fests."
He was a bit confused by her last sentence - he was also curious what she meant, but was he really willing to pry now ...? Given she was still young enough, one should never say never ...
"How are you that sure Enya won't enjoy the blessing of having younger siblings someday?" - he heard himself ask.

Mhairin was silent for a lot of time, as it seemed, watching Enya reunite with her honorary older siblings, then playing with the Flute-Enya and Cladhaire, one on the other's lap. Cladhaire definately got the best deal.
Then her eyes fell on Chris.
"I would much rather not answer that, if you don't mind, Chris.", Mhairin said with friendliness, but leaving little room to negotiate. Her eyes, however, were extremely pained. She took in air, deeply, exhaled and back was the wonderful and chirpy Mhairin we all knew. "Much rather, do you have any female cousins? Dang English, Cousinen would be simpler..."

[Lillorainen]

Mhairin was silent for a lot of time, as it seemed, watching Enya reunite with her honorary older siblings, then playing with the Flute-Enya and Cladhaire, one on the other's lap. Cladhaire definately got the best deal.
Then her eyes fell on Chris.
"I would much rather not answer that, if you don't mind, Chris.", Mhairin said with friendliness, but leaving little room to negotiate. Her eyes, however, were extremely pained. She took in air, deeply, exhaled and back was the wonderful and chirpy Mhairin we all knew. "Much rather, do you have any female cousins? Dang English, Cousinen would be simpler..."

Judging by Mhairin's reaction, it had been rather a mistake to ask.
He saw the whirlwind going off, but didn't pay attention where to. Chris concentrated on Mhairin trying to get her chirpiness back - which slowly but surely worked, by getting back to the cousins topic.
"So, no need to know, I got it" - he said, referring to his question. "So yeah, I also have Cousinen - and of course, male and female cousins alike are counted to my Inner Circle of honorary siblings."