paradisalogs | The soul is healed

Who: Felix, his son Ryuga, and ANYBODY
What: Watching after his child
When: Today
Where: The play room at the resort
Rating: PG for kids

Years ago he might have worried what people would think if they saw him now - the people he once knew in the Mirador certainly would be laughing themselves silly - as he sat at a comically tiny set of table and chairs. Considering everything else that had happened, it was now the least of his concerns. One of them was Ashura, who he'd left in their room to rest after quite a bit of goading, while he took their fussy impossible progeny out to play. He watched with a tired but gentle smile as his son rolled a tiny plastic truck across the floor to his feet.

His son. He could never quite get over that.

Felix rolled the toy back with his foot, but Ryuga simply frowned and tossed it away, evidently unsatisfied with this.

"You don't like that one?"

Ryuga shook his head, obviously pouting.

"Well, what do you want?"

The boy only whined louder, and Felix rubbed at his temple. The boy had been much easier to entertain when he was smaller, and not quite to the age where he could articulate it effectively. But he'd have to think of something soon, before this turned into a tantrum.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ryuga crossed his arms and looked askance at Penny, keeping up the pout more out of principle than anything, when the reason for it in the first place had been simple boredom.

"Play what?" he asked sourly, as if dubious of anything she might come up with.

Felix quirked a smile at the youngsters, forbearing to roll his eyes at his own son. Calling him childish would seem pointless given the boy was still only three.

"You're looking well," Felix said to Phoebe.

Penny thought for a moment, even going so far as to tap a finger against her cheek in an imitation of a gesture her mother uses. If the boy was going to be a grumpy pants she shouldn't give him time to argue, should she? In that case there was only one option. She grinned mischievously before reaching out and tagging his shoulder, "Tag. And you're it."

With that declaration she takes off running in the other direction. Come and get her, Ryuga!

Phoebe stifles a laugh as she watches. It was remarkable, really, how like Phoebe and her sisters she was. Phoebe was grateful that, though she definitely inherited his curiosity and charm, she didn't inherit her father's shyness.

She smiled at Felix, "Thank you. I'm... doing better." There was still healing to be had since the Event Horizon but she was a great deal closer to things feeling normal again. "You do, too. Are you getting any more sleep than you were the last time he was here."

Ryuga, after a moments pause, dashed after Penny, unable to fight back a grin.

"Some," he answered, smiling, "though in part due to the fact that Ashura is in need of care-taking as well. More than he prefers to admit at this stage."

Outright, he didn't want to mention the Event Horizon or what had occurred there. It was enough to imply, given she'd been in much the same position as he, though at least he was not around to hear it happen. He still was not sure if that was a blessing.

Penny was pretty fast, Ryuga, good luck catching her.

Phoebe nodded slowly, reaching out and gently touching Felix's arm. "I understand. Peter and I have been going through the same thing. We actually moved out of the castle for a little bit - to Peter's apartment in town."

She took a breath, watching the children for a moment. It was difficult thinking of the events of the Event Horizon and the emotional and mental fallout since then. "This has been helping. Though it will take time to fully heal. "

The thrill was in the chase, anyway. Ryuga didn't seem to mind, for the moment, that she kept out of reach. Mercifully it kept him occupied for the moment.

Felix stiffened just slightly. Even used to Phoebe's affection, he still found it difficult to accept, and was too fond of her still to say anything.

"Yes, that it will. I only wish we could be rid of that ship sitting outside. It isn't a pleasant reminder regardless of what didn't happen on it."

Of course, it would be easier if that was the only thing weighing on Ashura's mind. Gideon's arrival continued to put a strain on them both.

Penny was pretty fast for a little girl. She dodged around toys and climbs over a play structure to try to put more obstacles between herself and the boy.

Phoebe felt Felix's stiffening and frowned slightly. She understood but it still saddened her somewhat. The frown was easily redirected at the thought of the ship, however. She sighed and let her hand drop, arms wrapping around her midsection as if she suddenly felt a chill. "I agree. I know I'd sleep better if I didn't have to look at it..."

Ryuga stumbled over some of the toys and things, doing his best to keep up.

He didn't mean anything by it. He just didn't like being touched, for reasons that were not easy to explain, even to people he trusted.

"If you're having nightmares, my offer is still open..."

Penny slowed down a little when Ryuga stumbled. It's no fun if someone gets hurt, after all.

Phoebe could understand that, which is precisely why she would never push him. She knew that if he wanted to talk to her about it he knew she would always listen. "Thank you, Felix. I'll certainly keep that in mind. I think time is the best thing for us right now." She looked over at her daughter laughing as she looked over her shoulder at the boy chasing her. "This is definitely a welcome distraction."

Felix looked up at that and quirked a small smile. It was difficult not to. Not only because of his fondness for the child he no longer bothered denying, at least to himself, but the pure joy of their existence and how sharply that contrasted with the one he had.

"I cannot argue there."

Meanwhile, recovering, Ryuga continued after Penny, curling his fingers and making growling sounds, apparently deciding this chase was better if he was tiger.

Phoebe clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle as she watched the children. Oh this was better than any movie or TV show ever made. She nudged Felix a little, "Now who does he get that from, you or Ashura?" She winked at her friend. It was nice to laugh and joke again. For a little while it felt like all the joy had been sucked out of the castle.

Penny giggled at Ryuga's transformation. "Oh no!" Her laughing caused her to lose some ground but she recovered quickly, climbing on top of some of the larger climbing blocks and waving down at him. "I'm queen of the mountain!"

The soul is healed

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject