Twinflame: Having left their carriage behind when they arrived in Gridania, K'ile Tia insisted on going immediately to retrieve Maka's daughter. He practically fled discussion of anything else, and would not cease moving in directions he did not know. After all, where was the orphanage? He was still getting over the fact that Gridania wasn't built out of a single giant tree, like he had assumed it would be based on how Ul'dah had appeared to be one giant rock.
Of course, left to his own, K'ile would get lost in Gridania immediately. He didn't know how to pick Maka's child out of a crowd, so he couldn't even get lucky. In fact, "I don't even know her name," he admitted, stopping for just a moment to turn to K'luha, "Hopefully you're better-equipped to find her than me."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha was none too happy about K'ile insistance. She'd slept most of the ride over after he decided to stop being a wuss, only to wuss out again. She wanted to get settled in Gridania again first but nooo. K'ile had to find her now. Right now. And there was no other way about it.Â
"Of course I am." she snapped back. "I was here for a month with K'ailia remember?"
*
Twinflame: "I know that," he said. "I mean her name. Where we find her! What she looks like, and who to talk to."
*
K'luha Haaz: "The orphanage is over this way." K'luha sighed heavily, motioning for K'ile to follow to another older looking building made of wood. She carefully came up to the door and knocked. "We'll talk to the woman who is in charge and she can tell us." K'luha huffed as the door opened.Â
"Oh, hello. You're in charge of the Orphanage? I'm K'luha of the Hipparon tribe. This is K'ile." She motioned vaguely at the other miq'ote. "We're looking for the daughter of one of our lost members and we received a letter she was here? Would you direct us to her." K'luha smiled kindly before the elder Elezen would blinked at them.Â
"Oh, yes. Of course." The orphange director nodded before walking the two in towards the main living room where most of the children were seated, reading or playing.
*
Twinflame: K'ile followed quietly. He was vivdly aware of his surroundings, but he coudln't understand them. he could sense the many kinds of people, plants, various things of the city, but this mesh of things was so foreign from any experience that most of it didn't make any sense. There was a certain warmth to the smell of the place that he didn't understand.
The orphanage and the people inside were no exception. It leaft him careful and aware, but he didn't feel threatened at all. Just, out of place. And trusting that K'luha knew where they were going and what to do with it. She let him into a building full of children, and the sounds the made had him frowning before he took his first step in. he didn't complain, though. he just kept pace.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: A young Miqo'te girl sits reading to a group of younger children, one small boy is pulling on her tail while another is trying to sit on her shoulders.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Miss K'tahjha..." The Elezen woman called out, motioning to the miqo'te girl reading in the back corner alone. She gave a frowned and called out again. "K'tahjha, these people are responding to the letter."Â
K'luha's eyes glanced over to where the Orphange caretaker motioned and nearly had to do a touble take. She looked so much Maka it was almost like... she was a young Maka.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears twitched at the sound of her name and she glanced up from the book she was reading. Spotting the two strange Miqo'te her ears drooped slightly but she put the book aside and approached the group with a shy smile.
*
Twinflame: Doing his very best not to greet the orphaned girl with too much upfront examination, K'ile kept his lips a straight line and forced his ears to pop up and forward. The girl did look like one of them, at least as fair as features went. He found himself suspicious, though. Not because they were in Gridania or because he thought of the girl as an outsider. The girl was Maka's daughter, and that was enough. All the same...
To K'luha, he muttered simply, "She looks well taken care of."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flickered up and down, confused whether to be happy or sad or what entirely she should be feeling. "She does..." was all she could mutter back to K'ile before clearing her throat.
"Hi.. um. I'm K'luha. I would be your aunt. Your mom was... is my sister."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: For a second Tahj thought all the air had left her lungs, it was easy to see the family resemblence to her mother in this woman's features. Â Hertail tucked firmly between her legs in a fit of nervousness, she offered her hand to K'luha,"H-Hello, my friends call me Tahj." her voice trembling slightly.
*
Twinflame: With his arm's crossed over his chest, K'ile moved ato stand beside 'Tahj', saying, "Hey. I'm K'ile. We're a bit more distantly related, but still family. Your father is nephew."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha took her hand and smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you Tahj. You look... a lot like your mom. Although... I hate to ask so soon but... what happened to Maka, I mean, your mom? We always used to call her Maka..."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiled shyly at the male and bobbed her head courteously,"nice to meet you."Redirecting her attention to K'luha, her ears flattened against her skull in repsonse to the question. Eyes fixed firmly on her feet she spoke soflty,"It was five years ago, our camp was destroyed.." her voice trailed off and she swiped at her eyes and fell silent.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Ah..." K'luha quickly shut her mouth and decided she shouldn't have said anything. "Maka... I'm so sorry..." she muttered to herself, turning away to take a few breaths.
*
Twinflame: K'ile lifted a hand to put it on Tahj's shoulder, looking at K'luha with a smile, "Yeah, not the best hello, Luha." And then, grabbing Tahj by the shoulder and into her face, he said, "Hey, Tahj. We all loved Maka. How would you like to have a family so big you can't even remember who half of them are, but they've all got your back anyway?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: K'tahjha's ears lifted slightly and she managed a small smile,"I have more family? I'd like to see where mama was born."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha turned back around, putting on a smile. She couldn't fuck this up that quickly. Or she was going to look worse than K'ile. And that was just sad.Â
"So much family you won't know what to do with them all. I certainly don't know what to do with them. Or K'ile." she chuckled softly.
*
Twinflame: "I'm difficult to figure out," he said, sounding cheerful. "What have you been doing with yourself for the last five years? I heard you're good with a bow."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Allowing herself to be distracted Tahj grinned,"Mama started me on her bow when I was little, and the archery lessons have been helping. I've learned some about plants from the teacher here, and mostly learning to read and write and helping take care of the smaller kids." Finally stopping to take a breather she blushed faintly,"Sorry to talk so much."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha waved a had dismissively. "You can't get K'ile or myself to shut up most of the time so don't worry about it. Besides, I'd like to hear what you've been up to all this time." K'luha smiled brightly and Tahj and offered her a hand. "We can talk about it over some lunch  maybe?"
*
Twinflame: Somewhat less enthused about food hunted and cooked by others in a foreign land, K'ile just shrugged and said, "I'm sure we'd love to hear all about you, tahj."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Not hesitating Tahj took K'luha's hand with a smile,"It would be nice, can we eat outside?"
*
K'luha Haaz: "Of course!" K'luha promised, leading Tahj and K'ile towards the door. "I know a good place around here. Even K'ile will like the food there." She chuckled.
*
Twinflame: Not following immediately, K'ile gave K'luha a frown. "Want to make a bet on it?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Grinning at the exchange between the two adults,Tahj walked beside K'luha quietly until her brow furrowed,"Mama taught me to scrape hair off the hides so she could tan 'em, and I can cook and she taught me to bandage wounds." she peered up at K'luha witha worried expression,"Is that good enough? I don't want to be any trouble."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded to Tahj quickly, giving her another warm smile. "Of course. Anything you need to know I'll teach you, so don't worry about being a burden. We're really happy to have you." K'luha turned her hand back at K'ile and snorted. "Yes. I will bet on that by the way. If I win you owe me a favor. Etc."
*
Twinflame: "Great. Favor." K'ile said, unenthused, but as he follwed them outside he stretched and grinned, saying, "I'm probably not going to lose a bet about my own tastes, ya know."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Eyeing K'ile curiously, Tahj asked,"Are you the tribe's Nunh?"
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha snorted loudly.
*
Twinflame: "That didn't take long," K'ile muttered, and turning his eyes on Tahj, he said, "No. I'm just a friend of Luha's. The Nunh is still your father."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Brow furrowed in thought Tahj was silent several moments."He'd be kinda old? Do I have many brothers and sisters?"
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed a bit and rubbed her aching hip. Which was, yes, stil very painful. She was trying not to mind it as she walked. "No, he's actually younger than K'ile. A little older than me. And you have my daughter K'ailia. Then there's K'mih and K'nahli..."
*
Twinflame: Giving K'luha a knowing look, K'ile interjected, "There's K'mih and K'nahli at least. And K'haali. A mess of others, but those three would be the closest to Tahj's age."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Eyes wide, Tahj smiled,"That's a bunch, kinda like here. Except here there's no kids like me, and the boys like to pull my tail,"she frowned slightly.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Well don't worry. No one's gonna pull your tail. But you can pull K'ile's tail if youw ant." K'luha chuckled, subtly moving her tail to hit K'ile again as they walked.
*
Twinflame: K'ile moved his tail away, "If she can get it. It's not that easy."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Peering from one adult to the other Tahj was slighlty puzzled,"Why would I pull his tail? It hurts."shrugging and moving on she tugs at K'luha's hand,"Are we almost there? I'm hungry."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled and shook her head lightly. "We're almost there. Just a bit further." she motioned as they walked out into Old Gridania. There was a small hole in the wall sort of place with outdoor tables and the best food she'd ever had there. She'd eaten there for almost the whole month she was there with K'ailia.
*
Twinflame: As they went, K'ile was mostly distracted by the strangeness of Gridania. He didn't talk much.
*
K'luha Haaz: With all the silence, it was good there were only a few feet from the place. "Here we are!" she smiled, presenting the place before walking inside of it. "Everything on the menu is good, but if you want I can order for everyone. What sort of foods would you two like?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj shrugs, suddenly shy again,"Anything is fine, I like fruit for dessert though."
*
K'luha Haaz: "And you K'ile?"
*
Twinflame: "It's you bet," he said, looking over the stall and the people around, smelling the various samples of food and business. "You bet I'd enjoy the food, so you order."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed and gave a small shrug before motioning them to the tables. "Pick your favorite seats. I'll order and bring back the food. It'll only be a few moments." She smiled brightly at K'ile and at Tahj, a smile K'ile probably hadn't seen in awhile.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Studying the available tables the young girl reached for K'ile's hand to pull him towards a table in the corner.
*
Twinflame: Distracted by watching K'luha's behavior, K'ile's ears twitched when Tahj took his hand, and he let himself be led to one of the tables. "Oh, alright. So we just sit over hear?" Taking in the area again, he muttered, "This isn't too strange. Outside cooking and eating. Is this normal for around here?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: K'tahjha nods happily,"It's nice to sit under the trees and listen to the bitds while you eat."
*
Twinflame: "No birds and trees in the Sagoli," he said, sitting at the table Tahj had taken him to. "Well, there are birds. Just not as many of them. Not usually very pretty."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj settles in a chair next to K'ile hooking her feet over the rungs,"Is it very different than here?"
*
Twinflame: "It isn't even similar," K'ile answered, looking Tahj over. "But you'll handle it jsut fine if you're anything like your mother, which I bet you are."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sighs at the mention of her mother,"I miss her so much, she was always strrong she took care of us. Why did she leave home and bring us here?"
*
Twinflame: "Uhm." K'ile blinked, frowned, looked paralyzed for a moment. "You don't know why she left Sagoli?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: FrowningTahj toys with her right ear,"It made mama sad to talk about it, all she would tell me was we weren't alowed to talk to anyone from there."
*
Twinflame: K'ile made a face, and pulled on one ear for a moment. "That's... true. I guess you've figured out by now it wasn't exactly something good that happened, right?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: She nods solemnly,"But mama loved her family, she said family was more important than anything. She couldn't have done anything bad."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha returned after a few moments with three large trays of food balanced along her hands and one atop her head. She set the first one down in front of Tahj, the second in front of K'ile, and the third in the empty seat.Â
"Here we are. Did you guys want drinks? I'll go get some." she smiled again and walked back up to the front.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles at K'luha and nibbles on a slice of apple while waiting for an answer to her question.
*
Twinflame: (ah, hey, you should tell me what she got Twin, cause of the bet and all! No cheating!)
K'luha Haaz: ( How about a Miqabob with Oppopo meat and Muy Bean Sauce? )
Twinflame: (Sounds good. Dafuq's a Miqabob?)
K'luha Haaz: ( A shishkabob. xD )
*
Twinflame: K'ile gave the strange item on the plate a look, frowning at it as he tried to discern what exactly it was. Obviously meat. Not a kind of meat from anywhere near Sagoli or Thanalan. It didn't look or smell anything similar, but he could smell the residual blood beneath the char. As quickly as she'd come, K'luha was walking away from them, and K'ile's pleading look at her back didn't do any good.
"Urg." He looked over at Tahj, and said, "Is this stuff typical or did she get us something weird?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj eyes K'ile's plate,"Nope those are good.But I like my burger better."she picks it up and takes a large bite bloody juices oozing down her chin.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha busied herself at the counter again, procuring three drinks. Water for Tahj, Lemonade for herself, and Water for K'ile as well. She returned a few moments later and set the drinks down before taking a seat and sighing.Â
"Finally. I'm starving." she smiled faintly and picked up her own kabob. With a swift movement she bit off the first vegatable on the stick and chewed it happily.
*
Twinflame: Giving K'luha a dubious look, K'ile tried to decide if she was plotting to poison him somehow. Not kill him, but get him sick. She would do that, to get back at him for earlier. There was no other way this bet favored her.
Well. If that's how it was, then that's how it was. He would just have to deal with her plotting. Thus resigned, he pulled a vegetable from the metal shaft and stuck it in his mouth to chew on it.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Soooooo~?" K'luha grinned widely, watching K'ile eat. He would love it. She was positive of it. There was no way he wouldn't like it.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj raises an eyebrow at K'ile with a grin,"It's all ready dead it won't bite back."
*
Twinflame: K'ile made a face, and muttered, "That thing tasted like a campfire. What kind of meat is this? Looks sort of... brown? Smells like wood." He gave the Miqabob an inquisatorial look, as though he could pressure it into revealing its secrets.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Eat it K'ile. Before I eat you." K'luha chuckled and leaned back in her chair, moving on to eat the rest of her own lunch.
*
Twinflame: K'ile feigned intimidation, and looked at Tahj, "Well, I wasn't gong to say it up front, but cannibalization does happen in our tribe." He put the meat in his mouth, and chewed on it thoughtfully.
*
K'luha Haaz: "It doesn't." K'luha retorted, looking to Tahj. "He's just a big baby."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears flatten slightly as she peered from one adult to the other trying to figure out who was pulling her leg."Aunt K'luha,K'ile won't answer my question." she pouted.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Your question?" K'luha tilted her head looking at Tahj. "What was that? I'll do my best to answer it." she smiled.
*
Twinflame: K'ile said warningly, "Wait a second, Tahj. Got a secret for you." And K'ile, who had learned the hard way how exquisite K'luha's hearing was, leaned in to whisper to Tahj, "Don't ask about your mom. It makes K'luha very sad."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Ears flattening slightly further, a spark lights in Tahj's eyes showing she recieved more than her looks from her mother, but she keeps quiet and takes another biite of her food, tail lashing against her chair.
*
Twinflame: Leaning back again, still holding that peice of meat in his mouth, K'ile followed up with, "We'll talk about it later," and then, to K'luha, "So about that bet..."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha was about to make a remark about secrets being rude but K'ile distracted her with talk of the bet. "Oh, yes? You like it, right? And don't lie and say you don't when you do!"
*
Twinflame: Shaking his head, K'ile said, "Sorry. It tastes like they cooked it over wood or something weird like that. Tastes like the trees smell."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "You're too picky."
*
Twinflame: "And you should know I don't like things that taste like wood and dirt." He pointed at her with the miqabob, "You're aquiring the same tastes as the outsiders."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: With a sigh Tahj cuts a piece off her burger, exposing the rare, juice filled meat and shoving it towards K'ile's mouth. "It's antelope, it's good."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha pouted again and looked away. Aquiring the same tastes as outsiders? Well she was in Gridanai for a month..
*
Twinflame: His ears popping up and his eyes brightening, K'ile bit it right out of K'tahjha's hand.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj grins and shoves her plate in K'ile's direction,"Trade?"
*
Twinflame: "Awesome," K'ile said, eagerly placing his plate of food in front of Thaj. "Now, antelope is a thing I know. I can eat that all day. Hey Tahj," he leaned forward again, smiling from ear to ear, "Your dad, the Nunh, is a super boring stuffy guy. You should let me be your dad. I'll teach you how to cook all the best meat in Sagoli. And fire dance too!"
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flattened atop her head as she pouted at them. But only for a moment. She couldn't help but lighten up and chuckle at K'ile's suggestion. Wasn't it not that long ago he said how he would be a terrible father? Well, she guessed they were going to find out now.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj giggles at K'ile  biting a piece of well cooked carrot off the skewer and chewing on it.
*
Twinflame: "Although," K'ile paused while he bit into the burger, and swallowed. "You did just lose the bet for me. I don't like that weird thin on the stick but the antelope is good, so now I like the food here.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha grinned to Tahj and gave her a thumbs up. "Excellent. Thank you Tahj!"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj flashes a smile at K'luha although still slightly puzzledas to what she had done,"You're welcome!"
*
Twinflame: "Save your demand for later, Luha," K'ile said, still smiling as he munched on the meat Tahk had given him. He couldn't win them all, so why pout? "We wouldn't want you tramatizing your new daughter."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha blushed a bit and chuckled. "New daughter huh? So then we have a kid together now?" K'luha snorted again and picked at her meal. "Anyway Tahj, you never said if you wanted to come with us or not."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's smiles fades slightly at K'ile's words and she looks at K;luha with a serious expression,"Are you adopting me? Do I have to call you mama?"
*
Twinflame: K'ile stears clear of this particular question, chising to hide behind the eating of his delicious plate of antelope.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha bluhsed again and coughed awkwardly. "Well, I think we might have to fill out that paperwork to take you home anyway but, but you don't have to call me that unless you want to. Haha."
*
Twinflame: "What're you going to call me?" K'ile snapped forward, his eyes twitching and tail swinging around behind him. "Dad? Papa? Pop?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj is silent for a moment, deep in thought then chooses this particular moment to be disobedient,"Before I say yes I want to know why mama left home!,"she demands dropping the now empty stick back in the plate.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked at Tahj's sudden force. Feisty one... just like her mom. Still, it surrised her that she didn't already know. K'luha looked down, saddened for a moment while she recalled what she could of the fight.Â
"She left because she was exiled." K'luha answered quietly, her eyes looking to the table in shame. "She didn't have another choice. And she was exiled because of me. We got into a fight. She accidently knocked my head back into a rock. By the time I woke up it was a month later and she was long gone..."
*
Twinflame: K'ile put on a disappointed frown, and said, "It was a mistake, and sometimes mistakes can't be undone even when everyone knows it." He watched Tahj carefully.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sat quietly for several moments a few tears trickling down her face before she queitly gets up and crosses to stand behind K'luha. She slips both arms around her aunt's neck and nuzzles gently into her right ear,
on't be sad, mama loved you and missed you very much and I think she's be happy for me to go with you."
*
K'luha Haaz: That was it. K'luha was so sure that Tahj would walk away now. So much for that trip to Gridania. It was so long ago, but the shame seemed to bubble up fresh like it was only yesterday. Luha gripped her shirt tightly, preparing herself to listen to those words of rejection. Strangely enough though, they didn't seem to come. Instead, she felt arms around her neck and a soft nuzzle into her ear. K'luha turned her head lightly towards Tahj and quickly tried to wipe her eyes. Damn waterworks. She had to stop getting so emotional. "I hope so... I never meant to hurt Maka. I never meant for her to leave. I loved her. I still do. I had always hoped she was doing well somewhere out in the world..."
*
Twinflame: "I spent a long time worrying, too, for what it's worth." He took another bite.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj hugs her aunt a little tighter for a second then whispers in her ear,"I have a present for you."
*
K'luha Haaz: "A... present?" K'luha mumbled, glancing back to Tahj again.
*
Twinflame: K'ile leaned back and tossed a suspicious look over at Tahj and K'luha.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj lets go of K'luha's neck and comes to stand beside her,"I notice you wear your hair like mama did."she reaches out to touch the hair ornament, then fumbles in her pocket pulling out a pair of silver hair ornaments."I- Â I want you to have them, they were mama's."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha watched Tahj for a moment as she fumbled with her pocket. Just what was she getting...? Her face paled a little as Tahj pulled out her present and presented it to K'luha. Maka's hair bands...? She didn't... well she certainly wasn't hungry again. K'luha shakily took the present and unclapsed her own to replace them with Maka's.Â
"T-thank you Tahj..."
*
Twinflame: He just smiled at that and finished off his food while the girls did girl stuff next to him. Hair braids? Okay, whatever.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha had to pull herself together before before breathing in slowly. "Well, if you want to come with us you'll have to see about that paperwork. It might take some time to process but we should sign it today."
*
Twinflame: "I'm signing the 'dad' line," K'ile said, which thoroughly demonstrated his failure to nderstand anything about the adption process.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled faintly and wiped her eyes again. "Alright then Mr. Dad."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles and nods reaching out to take K'luha's hand,"I'm ready."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha squeezed Tahj's hand tightly before standing.Â
"Then let's go finish the paperwork. We can leave tomorrow morning bright and early."
*
Twinflame: "Don't be in a rush," K'ile said, standing. "There's something I need to do in town that I'll need K'luha's help with. It might be wise to wait an extra day."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked a bit confused and glanced back to K'ile. Something he needed help with in town? "Oh, yeah. That's fine then..."
Of course, left to his own, K'ile would get lost in Gridania immediately. He didn't know how to pick Maka's child out of a crowd, so he couldn't even get lucky. In fact, "I don't even know her name," he admitted, stopping for just a moment to turn to K'luha, "Hopefully you're better-equipped to find her than me."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha was none too happy about K'ile insistance. She'd slept most of the ride over after he decided to stop being a wuss, only to wuss out again. She wanted to get settled in Gridania again first but nooo. K'ile had to find her now. Right now. And there was no other way about it.Â
"Of course I am." she snapped back. "I was here for a month with K'ailia remember?"
*
Twinflame: "I know that," he said. "I mean her name. Where we find her! What she looks like, and who to talk to."
*
K'luha Haaz: "The orphanage is over this way." K'luha sighed heavily, motioning for K'ile to follow to another older looking building made of wood. She carefully came up to the door and knocked. "We'll talk to the woman who is in charge and she can tell us." K'luha huffed as the door opened.Â
"Oh, hello. You're in charge of the Orphanage? I'm K'luha of the Hipparon tribe. This is K'ile." She motioned vaguely at the other miq'ote. "We're looking for the daughter of one of our lost members and we received a letter she was here? Would you direct us to her." K'luha smiled kindly before the elder Elezen would blinked at them.Â
"Oh, yes. Of course." The orphange director nodded before walking the two in towards the main living room where most of the children were seated, reading or playing.
*
Twinflame: K'ile followed quietly. He was vivdly aware of his surroundings, but he coudln't understand them. he could sense the many kinds of people, plants, various things of the city, but this mesh of things was so foreign from any experience that most of it didn't make any sense. There was a certain warmth to the smell of the place that he didn't understand.
The orphanage and the people inside were no exception. It leaft him careful and aware, but he didn't feel threatened at all. Just, out of place. And trusting that K'luha knew where they were going and what to do with it. She let him into a building full of children, and the sounds the made had him frowning before he took his first step in. he didn't complain, though. he just kept pace.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: A young Miqo'te girl sits reading to a group of younger children, one small boy is pulling on her tail while another is trying to sit on her shoulders.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Miss K'tahjha..." The Elezen woman called out, motioning to the miqo'te girl reading in the back corner alone. She gave a frowned and called out again. "K'tahjha, these people are responding to the letter."Â
K'luha's eyes glanced over to where the Orphange caretaker motioned and nearly had to do a touble take. She looked so much Maka it was almost like... she was a young Maka.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears twitched at the sound of her name and she glanced up from the book she was reading. Spotting the two strange Miqo'te her ears drooped slightly but she put the book aside and approached the group with a shy smile.
*
Twinflame: Doing his very best not to greet the orphaned girl with too much upfront examination, K'ile kept his lips a straight line and forced his ears to pop up and forward. The girl did look like one of them, at least as fair as features went. He found himself suspicious, though. Not because they were in Gridania or because he thought of the girl as an outsider. The girl was Maka's daughter, and that was enough. All the same...
To K'luha, he muttered simply, "She looks well taken care of."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flickered up and down, confused whether to be happy or sad or what entirely she should be feeling. "She does..." was all she could mutter back to K'ile before clearing her throat.
"Hi.. um. I'm K'luha. I would be your aunt. Your mom was... is my sister."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: For a second Tahj thought all the air had left her lungs, it was easy to see the family resemblence to her mother in this woman's features. Â Hertail tucked firmly between her legs in a fit of nervousness, she offered her hand to K'luha,"H-Hello, my friends call me Tahj." her voice trembling slightly.
*
Twinflame: With his arm's crossed over his chest, K'ile moved ato stand beside 'Tahj', saying, "Hey. I'm K'ile. We're a bit more distantly related, but still family. Your father is nephew."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha took her hand and smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you Tahj. You look... a lot like your mom. Although... I hate to ask so soon but... what happened to Maka, I mean, your mom? We always used to call her Maka..."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiled shyly at the male and bobbed her head courteously,"nice to meet you."Redirecting her attention to K'luha, her ears flattened against her skull in repsonse to the question. Eyes fixed firmly on her feet she spoke soflty,"It was five years ago, our camp was destroyed.." her voice trailed off and she swiped at her eyes and fell silent.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Ah..." K'luha quickly shut her mouth and decided she shouldn't have said anything. "Maka... I'm so sorry..." she muttered to herself, turning away to take a few breaths.
*
Twinflame: K'ile lifted a hand to put it on Tahj's shoulder, looking at K'luha with a smile, "Yeah, not the best hello, Luha." And then, grabbing Tahj by the shoulder and into her face, he said, "Hey, Tahj. We all loved Maka. How would you like to have a family so big you can't even remember who half of them are, but they've all got your back anyway?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: K'tahjha's ears lifted slightly and she managed a small smile,"I have more family? I'd like to see where mama was born."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha turned back around, putting on a smile. She couldn't fuck this up that quickly. Or she was going to look worse than K'ile. And that was just sad.Â
"So much family you won't know what to do with them all. I certainly don't know what to do with them. Or K'ile." she chuckled softly.
*
Twinflame: "I'm difficult to figure out," he said, sounding cheerful. "What have you been doing with yourself for the last five years? I heard you're good with a bow."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Allowing herself to be distracted Tahj grinned,"Mama started me on her bow when I was little, and the archery lessons have been helping. I've learned some about plants from the teacher here, and mostly learning to read and write and helping take care of the smaller kids." Finally stopping to take a breather she blushed faintly,"Sorry to talk so much."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha waved a had dismissively. "You can't get K'ile or myself to shut up most of the time so don't worry about it. Besides, I'd like to hear what you've been up to all this time." K'luha smiled brightly and Tahj and offered her a hand. "We can talk about it over some lunch  maybe?"
*
Twinflame: Somewhat less enthused about food hunted and cooked by others in a foreign land, K'ile just shrugged and said, "I'm sure we'd love to hear all about you, tahj."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Not hesitating Tahj took K'luha's hand with a smile,"It would be nice, can we eat outside?"
*
K'luha Haaz: "Of course!" K'luha promised, leading Tahj and K'ile towards the door. "I know a good place around here. Even K'ile will like the food there." She chuckled.
*
Twinflame: Not following immediately, K'ile gave K'luha a frown. "Want to make a bet on it?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Grinning at the exchange between the two adults,Tahj walked beside K'luha quietly until her brow furrowed,"Mama taught me to scrape hair off the hides so she could tan 'em, and I can cook and she taught me to bandage wounds." she peered up at K'luha witha worried expression,"Is that good enough? I don't want to be any trouble."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded to Tahj quickly, giving her another warm smile. "Of course. Anything you need to know I'll teach you, so don't worry about being a burden. We're really happy to have you." K'luha turned her hand back at K'ile and snorted. "Yes. I will bet on that by the way. If I win you owe me a favor. Etc."
*
Twinflame: "Great. Favor." K'ile said, unenthused, but as he follwed them outside he stretched and grinned, saying, "I'm probably not going to lose a bet about my own tastes, ya know."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Eyeing K'ile curiously, Tahj asked,"Are you the tribe's Nunh?"
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha snorted loudly.
*
Twinflame: "That didn't take long," K'ile muttered, and turning his eyes on Tahj, he said, "No. I'm just a friend of Luha's. The Nunh is still your father."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Brow furrowed in thought Tahj was silent several moments."He'd be kinda old? Do I have many brothers and sisters?"
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed a bit and rubbed her aching hip. Which was, yes, stil very painful. She was trying not to mind it as she walked. "No, he's actually younger than K'ile. A little older than me. And you have my daughter K'ailia. Then there's K'mih and K'nahli..."
*
Twinflame: Giving K'luha a knowing look, K'ile interjected, "There's K'mih and K'nahli at least. And K'haali. A mess of others, but those three would be the closest to Tahj's age."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Eyes wide, Tahj smiled,"That's a bunch, kinda like here. Except here there's no kids like me, and the boys like to pull my tail,"she frowned slightly.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Well don't worry. No one's gonna pull your tail. But you can pull K'ile's tail if youw ant." K'luha chuckled, subtly moving her tail to hit K'ile again as they walked.
*
Twinflame: K'ile moved his tail away, "If she can get it. It's not that easy."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Peering from one adult to the other Tahj was slighlty puzzled,"Why would I pull his tail? It hurts."shrugging and moving on she tugs at K'luha's hand,"Are we almost there? I'm hungry."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled and shook her head lightly. "We're almost there. Just a bit further." she motioned as they walked out into Old Gridania. There was a small hole in the wall sort of place with outdoor tables and the best food she'd ever had there. She'd eaten there for almost the whole month she was there with K'ailia.
*
Twinflame: As they went, K'ile was mostly distracted by the strangeness of Gridania. He didn't talk much.
*
K'luha Haaz: With all the silence, it was good there were only a few feet from the place. "Here we are!" she smiled, presenting the place before walking inside of it. "Everything on the menu is good, but if you want I can order for everyone. What sort of foods would you two like?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj shrugs, suddenly shy again,"Anything is fine, I like fruit for dessert though."
*
K'luha Haaz: "And you K'ile?"
*
Twinflame: "It's you bet," he said, looking over the stall and the people around, smelling the various samples of food and business. "You bet I'd enjoy the food, so you order."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed and gave a small shrug before motioning them to the tables. "Pick your favorite seats. I'll order and bring back the food. It'll only be a few moments." She smiled brightly at K'ile and at Tahj, a smile K'ile probably hadn't seen in awhile.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Studying the available tables the young girl reached for K'ile's hand to pull him towards a table in the corner.
*
Twinflame: Distracted by watching K'luha's behavior, K'ile's ears twitched when Tahj took his hand, and he let himself be led to one of the tables. "Oh, alright. So we just sit over hear?" Taking in the area again, he muttered, "This isn't too strange. Outside cooking and eating. Is this normal for around here?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: K'tahjha nods happily,"It's nice to sit under the trees and listen to the bitds while you eat."
*
Twinflame: "No birds and trees in the Sagoli," he said, sitting at the table Tahj had taken him to. "Well, there are birds. Just not as many of them. Not usually very pretty."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj settles in a chair next to K'ile hooking her feet over the rungs,"Is it very different than here?"
*
Twinflame: "It isn't even similar," K'ile answered, looking Tahj over. "But you'll handle it jsut fine if you're anything like your mother, which I bet you are."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sighs at the mention of her mother,"I miss her so much, she was always strrong she took care of us. Why did she leave home and bring us here?"
*
Twinflame: "Uhm." K'ile blinked, frowned, looked paralyzed for a moment. "You don't know why she left Sagoli?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: FrowningTahj toys with her right ear,"It made mama sad to talk about it, all she would tell me was we weren't alowed to talk to anyone from there."
*
Twinflame: K'ile made a face, and pulled on one ear for a moment. "That's... true. I guess you've figured out by now it wasn't exactly something good that happened, right?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: She nods solemnly,"But mama loved her family, she said family was more important than anything. She couldn't have done anything bad."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha returned after a few moments with three large trays of food balanced along her hands and one atop her head. She set the first one down in front of Tahj, the second in front of K'ile, and the third in the empty seat.Â
"Here we are. Did you guys want drinks? I'll go get some." she smiled again and walked back up to the front.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles at K'luha and nibbles on a slice of apple while waiting for an answer to her question.
*
Twinflame: (ah, hey, you should tell me what she got Twin, cause of the bet and all! No cheating!)
K'luha Haaz: ( How about a Miqabob with Oppopo meat and Muy Bean Sauce? )
Twinflame: (Sounds good. Dafuq's a Miqabob?)
K'luha Haaz: ( A shishkabob. xD )
*
Twinflame: K'ile gave the strange item on the plate a look, frowning at it as he tried to discern what exactly it was. Obviously meat. Not a kind of meat from anywhere near Sagoli or Thanalan. It didn't look or smell anything similar, but he could smell the residual blood beneath the char. As quickly as she'd come, K'luha was walking away from them, and K'ile's pleading look at her back didn't do any good.
"Urg." He looked over at Tahj, and said, "Is this stuff typical or did she get us something weird?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj eyes K'ile's plate,"Nope those are good.But I like my burger better."she picks it up and takes a large bite bloody juices oozing down her chin.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha busied herself at the counter again, procuring three drinks. Water for Tahj, Lemonade for herself, and Water for K'ile as well. She returned a few moments later and set the drinks down before taking a seat and sighing.Â
"Finally. I'm starving." she smiled faintly and picked up her own kabob. With a swift movement she bit off the first vegatable on the stick and chewed it happily.
*
Twinflame: Giving K'luha a dubious look, K'ile tried to decide if she was plotting to poison him somehow. Not kill him, but get him sick. She would do that, to get back at him for earlier. There was no other way this bet favored her.
Well. If that's how it was, then that's how it was. He would just have to deal with her plotting. Thus resigned, he pulled a vegetable from the metal shaft and stuck it in his mouth to chew on it.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Soooooo~?" K'luha grinned widely, watching K'ile eat. He would love it. She was positive of it. There was no way he wouldn't like it.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj raises an eyebrow at K'ile with a grin,"It's all ready dead it won't bite back."
*
Twinflame: K'ile made a face, and muttered, "That thing tasted like a campfire. What kind of meat is this? Looks sort of... brown? Smells like wood." He gave the Miqabob an inquisatorial look, as though he could pressure it into revealing its secrets.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Eat it K'ile. Before I eat you." K'luha chuckled and leaned back in her chair, moving on to eat the rest of her own lunch.
*
Twinflame: K'ile feigned intimidation, and looked at Tahj, "Well, I wasn't gong to say it up front, but cannibalization does happen in our tribe." He put the meat in his mouth, and chewed on it thoughtfully.
*
K'luha Haaz: "It doesn't." K'luha retorted, looking to Tahj. "He's just a big baby."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears flatten slightly as she peered from one adult to the other trying to figure out who was pulling her leg."Aunt K'luha,K'ile won't answer my question." she pouted.
*
K'luha Haaz: "Your question?" K'luha tilted her head looking at Tahj. "What was that? I'll do my best to answer it." she smiled.
*
Twinflame: K'ile said warningly, "Wait a second, Tahj. Got a secret for you." And K'ile, who had learned the hard way how exquisite K'luha's hearing was, leaned in to whisper to Tahj, "Don't ask about your mom. It makes K'luha very sad."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Ears flattening slightly further, a spark lights in Tahj's eyes showing she recieved more than her looks from her mother, but she keeps quiet and takes another biite of her food, tail lashing against her chair.
*
Twinflame: Leaning back again, still holding that peice of meat in his mouth, K'ile followed up with, "We'll talk about it later," and then, to K'luha, "So about that bet..."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha was about to make a remark about secrets being rude but K'ile distracted her with talk of the bet. "Oh, yes? You like it, right? And don't lie and say you don't when you do!"
*
Twinflame: Shaking his head, K'ile said, "Sorry. It tastes like they cooked it over wood or something weird like that. Tastes like the trees smell."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "You're too picky."
*
Twinflame: "And you should know I don't like things that taste like wood and dirt." He pointed at her with the miqabob, "You're aquiring the same tastes as the outsiders."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: With a sigh Tahj cuts a piece off her burger, exposing the rare, juice filled meat and shoving it towards K'ile's mouth. "It's antelope, it's good."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha pouted again and looked away. Aquiring the same tastes as outsiders? Well she was in Gridanai for a month..
*
Twinflame: His ears popping up and his eyes brightening, K'ile bit it right out of K'tahjha's hand.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj grins and shoves her plate in K'ile's direction,"Trade?"
*
Twinflame: "Awesome," K'ile said, eagerly placing his plate of food in front of Thaj. "Now, antelope is a thing I know. I can eat that all day. Hey Tahj," he leaned forward again, smiling from ear to ear, "Your dad, the Nunh, is a super boring stuffy guy. You should let me be your dad. I'll teach you how to cook all the best meat in Sagoli. And fire dance too!"
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flattened atop her head as she pouted at them. But only for a moment. She couldn't help but lighten up and chuckle at K'ile's suggestion. Wasn't it not that long ago he said how he would be a terrible father? Well, she guessed they were going to find out now.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj giggles at K'ile  biting a piece of well cooked carrot off the skewer and chewing on it.
*
Twinflame: "Although," K'ile paused while he bit into the burger, and swallowed. "You did just lose the bet for me. I don't like that weird thin on the stick but the antelope is good, so now I like the food here.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha grinned to Tahj and gave her a thumbs up. "Excellent. Thank you Tahj!"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj flashes a smile at K'luha although still slightly puzzledas to what she had done,"You're welcome!"
*
Twinflame: "Save your demand for later, Luha," K'ile said, still smiling as he munched on the meat Tahk had given him. He couldn't win them all, so why pout? "We wouldn't want you tramatizing your new daughter."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha blushed a bit and chuckled. "New daughter huh? So then we have a kid together now?" K'luha snorted again and picked at her meal. "Anyway Tahj, you never said if you wanted to come with us or not."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's smiles fades slightly at K'ile's words and she looks at K;luha with a serious expression,"Are you adopting me? Do I have to call you mama?"
*
Twinflame: K'ile stears clear of this particular question, chising to hide behind the eating of his delicious plate of antelope.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha bluhsed again and coughed awkwardly. "Well, I think we might have to fill out that paperwork to take you home anyway but, but you don't have to call me that unless you want to. Haha."
*
Twinflame: "What're you going to call me?" K'ile snapped forward, his eyes twitching and tail swinging around behind him. "Dad? Papa? Pop?"
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj is silent for a moment, deep in thought then chooses this particular moment to be disobedient,"Before I say yes I want to know why mama left home!,"she demands dropping the now empty stick back in the plate.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked at Tahj's sudden force. Feisty one... just like her mom. Still, it surrised her that she didn't already know. K'luha looked down, saddened for a moment while she recalled what she could of the fight.Â
"She left because she was exiled." K'luha answered quietly, her eyes looking to the table in shame. "She didn't have another choice. And she was exiled because of me. We got into a fight. She accidently knocked my head back into a rock. By the time I woke up it was a month later and she was long gone..."
*
Twinflame: K'ile put on a disappointed frown, and said, "It was a mistake, and sometimes mistakes can't be undone even when everyone knows it." He watched Tahj carefully.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sat quietly for several moments a few tears trickling down her face before she queitly gets up and crosses to stand behind K'luha. She slips both arms around her aunt's neck and nuzzles gently into her right ear,
on't be sad, mama loved you and missed you very much and I think she's be happy for me to go with you."*
K'luha Haaz: That was it. K'luha was so sure that Tahj would walk away now. So much for that trip to Gridania. It was so long ago, but the shame seemed to bubble up fresh like it was only yesterday. Luha gripped her shirt tightly, preparing herself to listen to those words of rejection. Strangely enough though, they didn't seem to come. Instead, she felt arms around her neck and a soft nuzzle into her ear. K'luha turned her head lightly towards Tahj and quickly tried to wipe her eyes. Damn waterworks. She had to stop getting so emotional. "I hope so... I never meant to hurt Maka. I never meant for her to leave. I loved her. I still do. I had always hoped she was doing well somewhere out in the world..."
*
Twinflame: "I spent a long time worrying, too, for what it's worth." He took another bite.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj hugs her aunt a little tighter for a second then whispers in her ear,"I have a present for you."
*
K'luha Haaz: "A... present?" K'luha mumbled, glancing back to Tahj again.
*
Twinflame: K'ile leaned back and tossed a suspicious look over at Tahj and K'luha.
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj lets go of K'luha's neck and comes to stand beside her,"I notice you wear your hair like mama did."she reaches out to touch the hair ornament, then fumbles in her pocket pulling out a pair of silver hair ornaments."I- Â I want you to have them, they were mama's."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha watched Tahj for a moment as she fumbled with her pocket. Just what was she getting...? Her face paled a little as Tahj pulled out her present and presented it to K'luha. Maka's hair bands...? She didn't... well she certainly wasn't hungry again. K'luha shakily took the present and unclapsed her own to replace them with Maka's.Â
"T-thank you Tahj..."
*
Twinflame: He just smiled at that and finished off his food while the girls did girl stuff next to him. Hair braids? Okay, whatever.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha had to pull herself together before before breathing in slowly. "Well, if you want to come with us you'll have to see about that paperwork. It might take some time to process but we should sign it today."
*
Twinflame: "I'm signing the 'dad' line," K'ile said, which thoroughly demonstrated his failure to nderstand anything about the adption process.
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled faintly and wiped her eyes again. "Alright then Mr. Dad."
*
K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles and nods reaching out to take K'luha's hand,"I'm ready."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha squeezed Tahj's hand tightly before standing.Â
"Then let's go finish the paperwork. We can leave tomorrow morning bright and early."
*
Twinflame: "Don't be in a rush," K'ile said, standing. "There's something I need to do in town that I'll need K'luha's help with. It might be wise to wait an extra day."
*
K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked a bit confused and glanced back to K'ile. Something he needed help with in town? "Oh, yeah. That's fine then..."
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