Bedtime Stories: The Gate of Souls

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The low teekwood table that sat in the middle of the Black Cat was a mess. Inkwells, candles, books, random notes scrawled on loose papers, and more than one stylus littered the worn surface as well as a number of other odds and ends. A number of figurines had been scattered about; some white onyx, others glossy black, and even a few more recently carved wood figures lay about. It was quite possibly the messiest the table had ever been, and compared to the neatly ordered nature of the rest of the shuttle, it was a bit of an eye-catcher to anyone walking in.

One book, a large white leatherbound volume, sat at the bottom of a pile of loose notes, and a journal - open to a random middle page - sat atop those. Designs had been drawn on one of the journal's page; hasty scrawlings with small notations alongside them, and a few had been circled in red ink. On the other page was a crude map, lines dotting what were supposed to be traveling routes, and simple designs to signify mountain chains, cities, and forests. Red ink had also been used on this page, tracing what might have been a journey from the top of the page to the bottom.

To most the mess would make little to no sense, but to one person at least, there was a method to the table's madness.

With a single scrutinizing blue eye, Loklorien s'Ilancy pursed her lips and inspected the paragraph she had just finished writing. With one hand she reached out, taking hold of one of the small sculptures and idly turning it over in her hand as she studied her penmanship. It had changed little from her younger years. Maybe it had become more refined, but there were still those little quirks in certain letters that made her writing her own.

The Lupine paused then, her ears picking up the faint sounds of little girls playing and jumping about elsewhere aboard Layla. She even heard a few gruff words from Zem who - no doubt dozing - had been disturbed by the girls' playing. She smiled at the responding giggles, and what she guessed to be further pestering of the old man. Of course she didn't think herself any luckier, for soon enough though the two would bound back into the Cat. Until then the quiet time spent writing would be used well.

The figurine was set down, and she picked up her stylus once more and continued on.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Playing with Zee was always fun, even if he was old and had lots of wrinkles. It'd taken a while, but Tak had grown fond of the old man; he said words that Dama had strictly forbidden! He also had the funniest hair. Too many times to count now, the little girl had snuck up while he was sleeping and tried to comb it out. She'd even once enlisted Daani to help her braid it. The little Cizerack was of course more than happy to help. They never got very far before the old man would wake up and growl bad words at them, but this never failed to send them laughing and squealing away in mischevious delight.

And now, the two girls were in a race. A race to see who could count the most wrinkles on Zee's face. It was challenging since he'd already woken up once and tried to shoo them off with curses that only made them giggle, hide, then tip-toe back once he'd dozed off again.

Perched precariously over his face on one side, Tak was busy furiously counting while pointing out each wrinkle.

"... sefentain, eightain, ni-tain, twenny... umm, uh -" Basic failed her, and the girl lapsed into Cathar, " -a'jhak, a'jhaki'u, ajha'ram -"

[Daanarri Meorrrei]

"Hey!" Daani forgot to be quiet, and then slapped her own hand over her mouth. "jI mean," she went on, in subdued tones, "jIt doesssn't count jif jI can't underrrssstand what numberrrss you'rrre usjing!"

Tak made a face, and Daani reciprocated, then turned back to the impossible task of cataloging Zem Vymes' wrinkles. "FRELL IT I LOST COUNT!" she bellowed, and Vymes woke up and she shrieked and dove for the door.

[Sanis Prent]

...and right into me. The sheer velocity of the careening Cizerack girl was enough to send me sprawling. I wasn't exactly anticipating it. I smacked my head against the hull as I went down.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

The stylus paused for a few moments as s'Il stopped her writing to listen to the noises coming from outside the Cat. With a puzzled look on her features she set the pen down, and placing the palms of her hands atop the table, pushed herself up to her feet with a mild groan.

Whatever it was the two girls had gotten into sounded as though it'd suddenly become a bit more serious, and the Lupine crossed the distance between the table and the hatchway on bare feet. Hair tied back loosely, she anchored herself on the doorframe and leaned out a small ways.

The sight that greeted her eye was enough to make her crack a bemused smile; Tak still perched over Zem, and Daani and Sanis in a magnificient pile on the deck.

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

She was winning! And it didn't matter whether Daani had dashed for cover or not. Tak used the chance to roughly climb up and deposit herself on Zee's chest rather roughly.

" -a'jhai'ko, a'jhani, a'jha'ana- "

And on and on she went, madly counting and poking at the old man's face.

She was winning!

[Zem Vymes]

I cupped my gnarled hands around Tak's diminuitive ones, and cracked an eye open.

"Git!"

[Daanarri Meorrrei]

"Ack!" Daani bounced off of Sanis, hit the bulkhead, and then fell backwards and on top of Sanis again. He oof-ed underneath her, and she moaned dramatically.

"Git!"

Tak squeaked from inside the room, and Daani scrambled up to her feet, elbowing Sanis in the temple as she struggled to get away. "Oh no he's coming!"

[Sanis Prent]

"You see, this is why I don't think Corellians had kids in mind when designing ships."

I slowly righted myself, cupping a hand to my throbbing head. I leisurely reached up and caught Daani by the ear with my other hand.

"Don't break anything on my ship. Including me."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Watching with growing amusement, s'Il finally pushed away from the hatch and stepped out of the Cat. It was high time the two youngsters were heading to bed, and the Lupine had intentions on making sure that happened.

It was a short enough trek to Zem's temporary napping spot; it seemed the man could sleep anywhere, and with a fleeting look of realization she surmised that she herself had become very much the same way. Perhaps it was just another sign of growing older. Of course the thought was quickly discarded as she lowered herself down to precariously perch on the side of the older man's makeshift hammock. It was tricky, and despite her size both occupants dipped slightly in a controlled shift.

One hand went out to try a tame the wild blonde locks that belonged to her daughter as the little girl giggled, squealed, and tried to pull her hands from Zem's.

Her voice took on a tone that only a mother could. "Don't you think it's almost past your bedtime?"

An eye was turned to Daani, "For both of you?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Giggling, Tak tried to pull her hands away again, and failed. Zee's hands were just so big! Dama's presence was met with another fit of giggles and renewed squirming. And even when the fateful word - 'bedtime'' - was uttered, she didn't seem to mind.

"Zee won't let me!" the little girl laughed, trying to place the blame of her and Daani's nighttime tardiness on the old man.

[Zem Vymes]

"I'll let you, alright."

I cracked a wry smile as I stood up, tucking the little girl under my arm like a bundle of sticks. I presented her forward with both hands, hanging her upside down.

[Daanarri Meorrrei]

Her eyes widened in horror, Daani 'collapsed' against the bulkhead, clinging to the frame of the door with her hands. "Bedtjime?" Her ears drooped dramatically, and she held the pose for a moment before perking up to see if anyone was paying attention.

Zem was handing Tak over to Lok, and Daani scampered over. "Ok, but jyou hafta tell usss a storrrjy orrr we won't sssleep. Everrr."

[Sanis Prent]

Still rubbing my head, I asked a question to nobody in particular.

"Are we really out of Protein Comp?"

It was a generic, cheap canned meat subsitute that I always spread onto toast, but not a week after stopping for supplies, the pantry was spent of it.

"Who else is eating it?"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Without missing a beat, s'Il accepted Zem's 'offering' while turning a lazy eye to Sanis.

There were no words said on her part; instead, a gentle smile was afforded him as she carefully flipped Tak right-side-up in her arms before settling the little girl on her hip.

Taking Daani by the hand, the Lupine set off towards the Cat.

"I suppose I could tell you a story," she answered the little Cizerack while brushing past Zem, "What kind would you like to hear?"

[Teagan s'Ilancy]

Reaching out an arm, Tak managed to land a slap to Zee's shoulder as they passed by.

Hearing Dama's question, her attention was instantly drawn away from the old man. She'd heard many bedtime stories from Dama, and had already started learning some! She'd not gotten a chance to tell any to Daani yet, and if Dama was going to tell a story before bed, than maybe...

"A Lupine sstoree!"

[Cirrsseeto Quez]

Cirr bounded up the ladder from the engine room, shirtless and with a sheen of sweat on him. He paused once to wipe sweat from his brow, and then headed to the galley with an intent look on his face. He hefted Daani out of the way, edged past Sanis, and ducked into the pantry.

[Daanarri Meorrrei]

Daani didn't mind as Cirr moved her, and ran up to follow Lok and Tak as they headed for the Black Cat. "Yeah! A ssstorrrjy about the Loopeenes!" She was working hard on trying to say things without such a strong accent. Cirr could do it, and so she would too!

"Orrr jI could tell one... about Saanjaarra!" She caught up and grabbed Lok's free hand, tagging along happily. "Therrre arrre some grrreat ones about the temple worrshjipperrrs. Thejy get all naked and then thejy - ow!"

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

It had been a small pull of the little Cizerack's tail, done with the Force as s'Il's hands were both occupied. She knew enough about Cizerack culture to know that the stories Daani was thinking of weren't exactly bedtime fodder; possibly for Sanis, but certainly not for two little girls who were nearing their bedtime.

"Nooo," she hummed at Daani as they stepped through the hatch and into the Cat, I think we'll save those stories for a later time."

[Zem Vymes]

I watched Lok pass with the two kids, and smiled a knowing smile as I leaned against the bulkhead. It was such an enlightening thing to see her dote on children. I wouldn't have figured she had a mother's instinct in her, but it was there, hiding mostly.