A/N: Sorry for the long absence. I will be picking up the threads of where I left off, but first I have a few other things to set out of the way first. This story takes place before my last one, based mainly on RPs between me and Mariel. Go read her stuff! All characters here are Mariel's, except for Soulful who is mine. Care Bears are © to Nelvana.
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Not All Feelings Are Your Friends
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It was late afternoon one day when Soulful Heart Fox walked up and knocked on the Liger's door. Inside, Stellar Heart Tiger sat down his newspaper and answered the door. Opening it he nodded. "Oh, hey Soulful."
"Hello Stellar. May I come in?"
Stellar stood aside. "Yeah, come on in."
"How are you?" Soulful asked as he walked in. "I think I left a book here last time I visited."
"Yeah, you did. It's on the coffee table. We were gonna bring it by earlier, but we got side-tracked."
Soulful nodded. "Appreciate that. Never answered my question though: How are you?"
Stellar sighed. "Eh, I'm fine. Just tired. Beastly nearly screwed up one of my Missions, and I ended up chasing him around Central Park for an hour. How are you?"
Snorting, Soulful answered. "Can't complain. Beastly huh?"
"Yep. He's still around, unfortunately." Stellar shrugged not that he wishes him dead, mind you, he just wishes he'd find a new line of work or something.
"Surprised that flying bicycle never broke up mid-flight or anything." Soulful shrugged, not caring much. "Where's the pride?" He asked with a twinge of amusement that a tiger, solitary creatures by nature, now lives in the most crowded house imaginable.
"Um--
From the den Chance, playing (and losing at), some game on the Wii let out a moan. "WHY?!"
Soulful couldn't resist going in to look. "Chance?" He poked his head in.
He found Chance playing Bust-a-Move Bash. "Hey." He said as a new game started up. "If you're looking for Ma, she's not here.." he grimaced as he made a mistake. "Shoot..."
Looking at the game, Soulful couldn't help but blink. Then Faith came in and jiggled Chance's arm. "Do a barrel roll!"
"Grah!" Chance yelped. "Wrong game, and don't do that!"
"Oh, I know, I just like distracting you." She smirked. "Hey, Uncle Soulful."
Soulful tried to suppress a smile and failed. He loved it when he was called 'Uncle Soulful' by Regal's kids...not that he'd admit it. "Hey Faith." He pat her head. "Don't mess with your brother's mind....he doesn't need any help."
"That's right!...hey!" Chance belatedly objected. Faith leaned back on the couch, laughing loudly as Soulful shook his head slowly.
"Where's the rest of you lot?" He asked.
"Hope's with Darien, I think...Pace is still at work, and Connie's in the shower--" At that moment, Connie came down, fluffy from the hair drier. "That monkey is one chromosome away from being a potato..." She grumbled.
Soulful looked up and snorted. "What he do to you now Conners?"
"Let's just say it involved Caro syrup and feathers." Came the answer. Chance looked guilty at that; that actually wasn't Playful Heart's doing...and it wasn't meant for Connie, either.
Soulful crinkled his muzzle. "What kind of low-life...." he shook his head.
Chance turned off his game and slowly started to slink out of the room, knowing it was VERY hard to stay anonymous when Soulful can see right through people. This however, did not go unnoticed. "Chance? Where are you going?" The fox asked.
Chance cringed and winced. "Ah, well, things to do, you know..." He started to speed-walk.
Not convinced but not terribly interested either, Soulful shrugged. "Fine, but be back here later. I've got presents."
From the kitchen where he was making a sandwich Chance called back, "What, more Pop Rocks and cola?" He asked, referring to a joke Soulful had once played on him
"Only if you keep up the cheek, kid." Was Soulful's reply.
Connie nodded sagely. "Oh, he will." She figured it was Chance and not Playful after his guilty behavior, but is saving that for later. "So, what have you been up to?"
"I've been getting music and movies for my library...figures it can't be print materials alone." Soulful shrugged.
Connie raised a brow. "You're really serious about this library thing, aren't you?"
Soulful shrugged. "Bright Heart has his lab, Champ has his gym, Gentle Heart has her garden, Treat Heart has her kitchen, Take Care has her infirmary, and your mother apparently wants to break Octomom's record. Gotta have a little something for me....and the family, I guess."
"Guess so." Connie shrugged. "You do realize, it'll mean more people disturbing your privacy. If you're okay with that, I say you should go for it."
"Well....I think I can manage."
Connie nodded. "Sounds like quite a project." Faith turned off the TV, and got out something to work on.
"Might be a good idea to have an "Open and closed"...time period...thing..." She suggested as she started crocheting.
"I...It's good to keep busy." Soulful said weakly.
Connie's brow creased a little, and she eyed him shrewdly; suspecting that something was on his mind...but then again, that's nothing new.
Pushing forward Soulful went on. "Anywaaay, since I was getting CDs and DVDs for the libraries, I thought I'd offer you kids first pick of any one movie or CD you wanted to keep."
"Aw, that's nice." Connie smiled. "Hey, you got any comedies?"
"Hmm...does that video of your last birthday count?" He asked cheekily. Connie's response was to glare at him.
"No, it does not."
"Sorry, sorry....it wasn't MY fault remember?" He held up his paws.
Connie tried to hide a smirk, her glower gone. "Yeah, yeah, I know...you probably laughed harder than anyone, though."
Soulful looked a bit sheepish as he responded. "Well it WAS funny when you face-planted into your own cake..."
"I was tired, okay? I gotta say, insomnia bites..." The liger sighed. Soulful went over and patted her back, giving her a hug. "Yeah...you had a rough time last year didn't you?" Soulful sighed. "Anyway, I do have some comedies. Mel Brooks, Marx Brothers, Monty Python..."
"Ooh, you've got Monty Python?" Connie went, her interest perked.
"Yeah." Soulful nudged her playfully. "After dealing with you kids, I needed some sanity to watch at home."
"... Oh, we're not THAT bad, are we?" Connie asked. Soulful gave her a look that seems to say 'You're kidding right?'
Then Faith chimed in. "'Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl' was on once, we thought it was hilarious...though half the jokes made my dad turn redder than you."
"I actually have that. Monty Python Live, right? It's at the Hollywood Bowl and has them at Aspen getting some award. Want it?" Soulful offered.
"Ooh, yeah!" Faith grinned.
The fox nodded. "Consider it done kiddo. Connie, that good for you too?"
"Put me down for "The Life of Brian"." The older liger grinned.
"Done." Soulful smirked. "So how's Tugs?"
Connie grinned and crossed her leg, putting her paws on her knee...the left one sporting an engagement ring. "He's great." She beamed. Soulful's eyes widened to the point of bulging and his jaw dropped. Connie laughed. "Well, why so surprised? We've been going together since we were cubs." Soulful gestured something, still not capable of articulate thought. That made Connie's smile fade a bit. "Hey, are you all right? You're not gonna faint, are you?"
Soulful shooks his head. "N-no! No! I'm fine! Congratulations!" He impulsively hugged Connie. "Congratulations!!!" Connie laughed, hugging back.
"Thanks." She smiled. "At least you didn't start crying...Unlike my dad." She added silently. But she thought too soon as Soulful sniffed loudly. "Um..."
"...Uh, got a hanky? I, um, got something in my eye." Soulful mumbled lamely, sniffing again. Connie said nothing, merely rolling her eyes and handed him a tissue
"Here ya go."
Soulful mumbled his thanks then blew his nose loudly. "HONK!"
Faith let out a surprised "Eep!" dropping her crochet project.
"What?" Soulful looked up, wiping his eyes.
Faith picked her stuff up again. "Nothing, just startled me."
Soulful tuned back to Connie. "So, you two set a date Connie?"
"We're still talking about that. Probably some time next year, most likely in the spring." Soulful rolled his eyes, then proceeded to bats them at her.
"Waiting for it to be all romantic and the flowers to bloom?" He teased. "Sap."
Connie snorted. "No, smarty. But summer's way too hot, everyone would be roasting at the reception. And winter weather is too unpredictable. And in the fall, we're too busy." She shrugged. "So, by default..."
"So....busy picking out china patterns yet?" He asked, then paused. "Say, who's gonna be your maid of honor and best man?"
"Eh...that's another reason we're putting it off until next year. Whoever we pick, someone will end up disappointed..." She sighed.
Nodding knowingly, Soulful said, "Ah. The joys of the groom having a twin sister and the bride having a twin sister...to say nothing of you having two brothers."
"Exactly." Connie nodded. "Pace was very cool about it, and said whoever we picked was just fine with him...Of course, Chance was all, "Pick me, pick me, pick me!"" She rolled her eyes. "Darien told him to quit being a 'dork'..."
Soulful looked incredulous. "Wait, Chance WANTED to be the best man? Be in a tux and get stared at?"
"You're talking about CHANCE." Connie looked at him. "The only problem he'd have with such close scrutiny is he won't be able to pull any obvious pranks."
"True, true.....so what about the other couples? Pace and Hugs? Hope and Darien?"
"Eh...well, Hope and Darien have been acting rather secretive lately...Pace and Hugs are still "hanging out", as Chance puts it.
"'Hanging out' ?" He repeated incredulously, quirking a brow.
"You know, going to the movies, grabbing a shake somewhere, trips to the museum..." She reflected on that, realizing that actually, Soulful probably wouldn't know, given that she had yet to see him date. "All casual stuff friends might be doing." She finished.
"Ah." Soulful flicked his tail. "What's it like?" That brought Connie up a little short
"Um...it's...well, it's like...Casual dating, you mean, or..." Gestured, meaning the "more in-depth" kind, involving kissing and such.
"Is it...fun?" Soulful asked curiously.
"Yeah, if it goes well. It's sort of like spending a fun day with a friend - which it is, really - but there's...well...You know how your heart beats really fast when you've been running for a while? You feel something sort of like that when they look at you sometimes..."
"Hrm." Soulful said neutrally.
"Sorry, I've never really tried to explain it before..." She apologized. "At least, not to someone who didn't have a basic idea of the concept." She thought to herself.
Soulful looked at her, as if hearing the part she didn't say. "Not my fault I've never had that kind of social interaction Conners"
"Didn't say it was..." She soothed. Soulful just shrugged, then shifted looking uncomfortable. Like there was something he's not saying. "Is...is something wrong?" She asked.
"N-no." Soulful said quickly, too quickly, meaning, "yes" Faith got up and went to see what Chance was doing. Connie stayed, giving Soulful a Significant Look.
"Yeah there is. Did I say something wrong?"
Soulful shifted uncomfortably. "No...no you didn't." He looked this way and that, checking to make sure the coast was clear. "Can I tell you something and PROMISE never to tell another living soul?"
"Of course..." Connie nodded. "I promise." Looking both pathetic and desperate, Soulful pressed her.
"And you swear you won't tell? Or...or laugh?"
"I swear." Connie said firmly. "Look, if it has you this upset, there's no way I'd laugh. Just tell me."
"I...I think I have a crush on someone in the family." Soulful admitted, turning a bright red.
"Okay...who?"
"Someone....unavailable"
"That does present a problem..." Connie admitted.
"It's worse than you think...." Soulful warned.
"......Uncle Soulful, I can't really help if you don't tell me. If you don't want to say, I won't force you..."
Soulful groaned. "I think I have a crush on...on your mother"
Connie raised her eyebrows, clearly very surprised...but not really upset. Of course, this WAS rather awkward...especially with her father in the next room, reading his paper and drinking his coffee. "Well...um...hm."
Soulful just slumped back on the couch, holding his head in his hands. "Arrgh."
"Well...Hey, look, it's okay, really. People feel the way they feel, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just the way things are. But...well...nothing can come of it, though, I'm sure you know that..." Connie said, sitting next to him on the couch. She didn't want to hurt him, she really didn't, but it was the truth.
"I'm not an idiot." Soulful bit off, a bit testily. "I KNOW that! But...I still feel that way!"
Connie ran a paw through her headfur, not taking offense at his tone. "Yeah, I know. This won't go beyond us; I promised, remember? Besides...there could be someone else someday."
Soulful let out a sour bark of laughter. "Yeah, sure." He sighed. "It's just...I don't know. Your mother's always been so great to me. I just...I don't know...you know?" Connie nodded, understanding. Soulful snorted. "I must be the biggest idiot in the whole Kingdom..."
"Oh please, you think you're the first guy to have a thing for someone who's already taken? It happens all the time, and a lot of those guys do move on to find happiness with someone. Even if that isn't what's in store for you, you have no way of knowing that now." Connie patted his leg.
Soulful looked down. "Look...I--I hope this doesn't make it awkward for you and your siblings to call me 'Uncle Soulful'...I'm not trying to replace Stellar or trying to be an extra parental figure....I just--really care about you kids, you know?"
"I know that, Uncle Soulful." She made a point of calling him that, quirking a smile. "Yeah, it's a little awkward to hear, but you know how I said nothing about 'that' situation will change? Well, nothing will change the way we feel about you."
Shaking his head, Soulful chuckled. "When did you get so wise?" He hugged her tight. Connie hugged him back.
"I think about the time I grew up." She smiled.
"When did you grow up?" Soulful asked in faux surprise.
"Physically, at the age of three. Mentally...that was delayed a bit." She smirked. Soulful leaned in and looked in her ear.
"Hmm, looks okay in there to me." He mused. Connie rolled her eyes and peered into his ear as well, grabbing it by the tip and pulling it a bit
"How do you like it?" She grinned. Soulful gave a little yelp. She let go, giggling. "Oh, come on, that didn't hurt."
"I'm telling your mother kiddo." Soulful warned, sticking out his tongue at her.
"Go ahead." Connie smirked, proping her feet up on the coffee table, lacing her fingers behind her head. "I won't deny it."
Soulful made a face. "Hmm..." He grabbed Connie's feet. "Eenie Meenie, miny mo, catch a Liger by the toe..." He grinned. Connie was EXTREMELY ticklish on the soles of her feet, and ended up nearly kicking him
"EEE! Stop!" She squealed.
"..If she hollers....good!" Soulful chortled, tickling her feet. Connie squealed and twisted, trying to pull free and laughing like a maniac. Over her squeals, Soulful raised his voice. "Hey kids, free shots at Connie!"
That sent Chance running in, holding Connie's arms down while Faith bounded in and tickled her tummy. "This is for all those headlocks you put me in, mwahahahaha!" Chance laughed as Connie, screamed, struggled and laughed.
That left Soulful free to get up and smirk as he got out his phone's camera. "Smile! Oh wait, you're doing lots of that already. Nevermind." Click! "Regal? You home yet?"
Regal called. "Yeah, I'm in the kitchen!"
"C'mere!"
"Just a sec, lemme turn the stove down!"
"Chance, I'm gonna KILL you!" Connie shrieked. "HAHAHA!"
"Uh-uh, no murdering siblings!" He scritched Connie's feet pads. "Hey Regs!"
"I said just a minute!" At that Regal came in, munching a carrot stick, and smirking. "Oh, you're cruel!"
Soulful smirked back. "Hey, I just offered, Faith and Chance leaped at the opportunity!"
Regal shook her head. "Heh. I gotta make dinner. Hey, you wanna eat with us tonight?"
Soulful stopped tickling Connie long enough to look at her, as if asking if he should. Connie, though, was too taken by the giggles to do more than squirm. "Um, sure Regs. That'd be nice!" He nodded, his tail wagging a little.
As Regal nodded and started to head back out, Connie wailed in despair. "MOOOOOM!"
Fortunately for her, Chance lost his grip, as he noticed something a little odd in Soulful's expression...and paid for it as Connie took the opportunity to twist around and pin him. "Oof!" Soulful stood back to let Connie wreck her revenge. "Mmmpfffhahahahaha!" Chance laughed. Faith looked at Soulful, shrugged, and dove in.
Soulful shook his head and smirked. "Kids..." He said, as if he had no role in this.
"Yeah..." Regal shook herself a bit as she went. "Dinner's in about half an hour."
"Yum!" Soulful licked his lips. "So what do you sprats want to do in the mean time?" He asked the kids as they settled down.
"I'unno." Chance shrugged. "Got any ideas?"
Soulful walked over and sat next to Connie. "Why don't you and Faith play your video games?" Lower, he whispered to Connie; "You okay kid?"
"Me? Yeah, why?" She smiled.
"Wanted to make sure you didn't bust a gut." He lowered his voice even more. "Um, do you think I should tell Regal about...?"
"Um..." Noticing the other two in hearing distance, she herded him to the back of the room. "Well, it might not really be a good idea...Her answer would be no, and it'll probably just make things really awkward between you guys."
Soulful flattened his ears. "Alright....I trust you. This is just...so...confusing, you know?"
She felt bad to be letting him down like that, but it was the truth...and besides, she didn't like even the thought of her parents splitting up for any reason. It was...complicated, and would only be more so if he told Regal how he felt. "Well, sure it is. These things always are..."
"You say that like you have some experience in this regard."
"Not from that side of the fence, but yeah...Hope used to have a crush on Tugs, you know. When it came out, things were really awkward for all three of us for a while, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry about it. But now she's got Darien, and we're all good friends again...in fact, things were fine long before Darien came into the picture."
"Hmm..." Soulful mused. "Is Pace gonna be here for dinner?"
"I hope so. He must be running late." Connie said. Just then the door opened and shut, and Pace came in. "Speak of the devil!"
"Oh hush." Soulful nudged her. "Pace? Hey." He waved.
"Hello." Pace smiled, then sighed. "What a day...If by some weird quirk of fate someone asks you to walk a mastiff, just say NO."
"...Eesh." Soulful winced. "Lucky you didn't become a chew toy."
"No...but he sat on me." Pace said.
"...Oh." Soulful said in lieu of anything stronger. Connie tittered.
"Maybe he was trying to tell ya you were the "butt" of a joke..." Soulful snorted, wheezing as he tried to hold a laugh in. Connie went on. "You're not laughing, Pace; did I leave you "behind"?" She smirked as Pace gave her a wry smirk as he hung up his lab coat. That set Soulful off.
"Conners, you creep!" He laughed.
"Don't be an "ass", Connie." Pace said, poking Connie. "I'm gonna go shower, I smell like a kennel." He headed up the stairs.
Soulful smirked at Pace's uncharacteristic crudity and shook his head "You kids....Chance, did you hear this?" Chance was playing against Faith in Bust-a-Move Bash, and didn't hear a thing.
"Huh?"
"Nevermind..." Soulful shook his head.
"Hm'kay." Chance said distractedly as he lost to Faith. "Oh come ON, even my little sister beats me at this..."
Connie rolled her eyes. Soulful snorted. "Faith's a real go-getter."
"Actually, he just stinks at it." Faith stuck her tongue out at Chance.
"Be nice to Chance, Faith...you only have one big brother." Soulful reminded her, chuckling.
"What about Pace?" She asked.
"Oh yes...Nevermind. Ignore what I said." Soulful smirked. Then he sniffed. "I think Regal's ready with dinner." Soulful and the kids went into the kitchen just as Regal took her stir-fry off the burner and got a bowl for the rice. "What're you making Regs?" He watched her with something approaching awe as she cooked.
"I thought I'd try a new recipe, orange chicken stir fry." Regal answered as Stellar came in to get the dishes, going to set the table.
"Smells great!" Soulful said brightly as Connie noticed for the firs time that Soulful is a bit freer with the compliments around Regal than with others. She felt a slight sense of foreboding as she went up to get Hope and Pace.
"Thanks, wanna try a piece?" Regal asked Soulful.
"Love to, thanks." He replied. Regal handed him a fork with a piece of chicken on it, and scooped the rice into a bowl. Soulful bit down on the chicken, his eyes widening as he tasted it. "Hmmm....delicious!" He pronounced.
"Thanks." The lioness beamed. "Got it from a lady who runs a restaurant on Earth. Seems I helped her daughter out more than I knew." She got the bowls and brought them to the table.
"I still can't cook anything more complex than ramen noodles." Soulful sighed.
"Give it time; there was a time when you couldn't even cook that." Regal said encouragingly.
"Hmm...true." Soulful admitted.
Stellar went and got a stack of napkins for the napkin holder. "Hun, have you seen Hope?"
"She's upstairs. I'll--" Regal heard Hope chatting with Pace as they came down. "Never mind, here she comes."
"Oh lord, the whole pride together....it's a miracle there's enough food here to feed them all." The fox grinned.
"Oh, we manage. Chance, put that down." Regal said calmly. Chance put down one of the serving spoons, which he was twirling like a baton. Soulful rolled his eyes, but couldn't resist smiling. There was no place he'd rather be.
"Pass the salt please." Soulful asked. Pace passed the salt shaker to Stellar, who passed it to Soulful.
"You think we need a bigger table?" He asked.
"It's hard enough to kick Connie under THIS one." Chance joked.
"No kicking your sister, Chance..." Soulful said absently as he liberally added the salt and tucked in.
"Yeah, Chance." Connie grinned and kicked her brother under the table. "That's my job."
Soulful shared a glance at Regal as if to say, 'what did we do wrong with them?'
"Mm..." Stellar swallowed a mouthful. "It's wonderful, Regs."
Regal didn't see Soulful's look, she just grinned at Stellar, accepting the praise. "Thanks."
"So..." Pace said as a lull drew in the conversation.
"So...anyone had any interesting missions lately?" Soulful asked.
"I did." Chance beamed. "It was at a High School Graduation, there was a rumor going around that someone was going to pull a REALLY inappropriate prank, and the valedictorian was afraid he'd ruin her speech.
"And you stopped it? Talked some sense into the would-be prankster?" Soulful asked, a touch incredulously.
"Sort of...You see, his prank was to run across the stage in a...costume, right in the middle of her speech, and I talked him out of doing that. However, I did give him this really fun idea for when everyone was going up to get their diplomas...Every now and then, he'd hit some random student with a jet from a concealed water pistol. No one found out who it was, everyone had a laugh, and no one got in trouble."
"....'Costume'?" Soulful repeated.
"Yep. Don't ask me what it was. And it's a good thing, too, because his previous prank idea would have gotten him arrested for sure."
Soulful gave him an odd sideways glance, debating whether or not he wanted to know. "So...you stop a prankster huh? *shakes his head* What're the odds?"
"Nooo, not exactly, I just redirected his energies. Water pistols are harmless fun, and it wasn't exactly a super soaker, so nobody got drenched." Chance said.
"Heh. So, what about you Pace? How was your day, dog sitting aside?"
"It was okay." Pace answered. "Most animals don't appreciate having check-ups, so I got my fair share of hisses and swats..."
Stellar shrugged and gives a little head tilt, as if to say he can sort of understand that.
"When was your last mission, Uncle?" Faith asked.
Soulful couldn't restrain a tug at the corner of his mouth, he really did like being called uncle. "Oh, about a month ago? A kid didn't like going to see the doctor....so I told him about life in places without doctors, like Ethiopia....I may have gone a bit overboard. By the time I was done he tried joining the Peace Corps."
Hope laughed. "Maybe you can talk some sense into Darien; he still avoids seeing Take Care."
"Heh. Perhaps we need to find a doctor more...suited to Darien's personality. Like Dr. House." He grinned, having become incredibly fond of the snarky TV doctor.
"Why, so Darien can punch their lights out?" Chance asked around a mouthful of food.
"House has a cane. He might hit back." Soulful observed.
"He doesn't do stuff like that anymore..." Stellar said, then adding with a mutter, "Not if he's smart..."
"I don't think House would get on too well up here." Regal joked.
"Hmmm....no, no he wouldn't. Maybe if we took Darien to New Jersey..." Soulful mused.
"House doesn't even exist!" Hope chuckled. Soulful winked at her.
"People used to same the same thing about talking animals, deary."
"Some of them still do." Connie noted. "Ever try doing a Caring Mission for someone who's high on something? Ugh..." Soulful looked at her in askance. "I'm serious. One guy thought I was a hallucination. "You're not really here, I don't have to listen to you"...yeah."
"Eesh." Soulful shook his head.
"Hnh...well...it doesn't happen that often, fortunately..." Connie said.
"So, hm...anyone see anything good on TV? Movies?"
"Well, there was a "Golden Girls" marathon on not too long ago." Regal noted.
"I've been addicted to "Meerkat Manor"" Soulful admitted. "I teared up when poor Flower died...." Then he winced, not meaning to have said that last part.
Stellar looked at him in surprise. "She died?"
Soulful nodded glumly. "She got a fatal bite from a cobra lurking in their den. Trying to save her kits."
Stellar clicked his tongue. "Aw, that's sad...I haven't seen that show in a while. Poor thing..."
"Oh, don't you start now." Regal said.
"I'm not. I was just saying..." Stellar protested. Soulful meanwhile tried to discreetly dab his eyes with a napkin."
"Yeah....then Mozart not long after." He sighed.
Connie cast a rather droll look to Chance, as if to say, "Can you believe these saps?", and gave the fox a pat on the shoulder before resuming her meal.
Soulful blew his nose, mumbling something about grit in his eyes, as he wiped them with his paw. Everyone politely ignored it, and Hope went back to the kitchen for seconds.
After getting himself under control, Soulful asked "So Regal how have you been?"
"Pretty well, thanks. Busy, as usual."
"With what?"
Regal was reluctant to mention it, but since he asked... "Well...things seem to be escalating a bit on Earth."
"'Things?' Which things, specifically?"
"Well..."
"No Heart seems to be stepping things up a bit, that's all. His shadows are all over the place." Stellar put in.
Soulful ears flattened as he showed his canines, growling a bit. Regal nodded in agreement with Stellar. "Yeah..." She didn't want to say No Heart's name because the subject tended to upset him, with good reason. "But nothing we can't handle."
"Wonder what it'd be like to prank him..." Chance mused, causing his parents glare at him sternly enough to make him sink down in his seat. Soulful furiously added to the glare
"Dont. Even. THINK. It." He warned.
"Okay, okay! I'm not gonna DO it, I was just thinking out loud." Chance backed down.
"Well, don't." His mother warned. "He's no laughing matter."
"Try thinking and THEN opening your mouth." Soulful suggested in a mixture of anger and fear.
Chance held up his paws. "I'm sorry...seriously, I won't."
"...Good." Soulful sighed.
"Well, I'm full." Faith announced, breaking the tension as she cleared her place, then came back to wait until everyone else was done. Soulful chuckled.
"You sure can pack it away, can't you pipsqueak?" He asked, patting her belly.
"Look who's talking." She smiled.
"Excuse me, missy?" Soulful quirked a brow.
"You ate more than I did."
Regal chuckle as she got up. "I better put the leftovers away, unless anyone wants more."
"I'm good." Soulful announced. "Thank you very much for dinner Regal."
She smiled. "You're welcome. Come over anytime." Stellar nodded in agreement and helped to clear the table. Soulful smiled at Regal and then felt like a heel when he looked to Stellar.
"I appreciate that. Really." Stellar, fortunately was already on his way into the kitchen and didn't notice.
"Oh boy...if you want to keep it a secret, you'll have to be more discreet than that...don't set yourself up for heartbreak..." Connie thought to herself, watching the scene as she cleared her place.
*she clears her place*
"Lemme help, Conners." Soulful offered.
"Yeah, all right." She nodded, as Chance bound out to his video games. She rolled her eyes. "At least SOMEONE is staying behind to help."
"Oh leave him be. He's not doing any harm....and at least we can keep an eye on him." In a lower voice Soulful added. "Thanks for...ya know, listening Connie."
"That's true." Then, whispering, she went on. "Anytime." He might have put her in a somewhat awkward position, but she could understand why he had to tell someone; that type of secret is tough to bear alone.
Soulful nodded, leaning his head against her. He felt exhausted after all that. Connie, wondering if he was okay, put her arm around him and briefly rubbed his back. "Let's get these out of the way, we can hang out in the den. Maybe make fun of how much Chance sucks at Bust-a-Move."
"Sure. Sounds like a plan." He nodded as he washed and put the dishes away, then let Connie guide him back to the den. "So what's the point of this game? Is it like DDR?"
"No, it's sort of like Tetrus, only you're popping bubbles instead of fitting shapes...and the level keeps lowering. If it gets below the line, you lose..." He explained just as the level gets below the line, and he huffed. "Like so."
"Ah. How illustrative." Soulful said blandly.
"Statistically speaking, you should have ACCIDENTALLY won by now..." Connie pointed out.
"Hey, shut up..." Chance pouted.
Soulful snorted. "Don't tease him now....Chance is a modest fellow...with lots to be modest about."
"Now you're teasing me." He smirked.
"Mwah?" Soulful tapped his chest with a wide-eyed expression. "What ever gave you that idea, now?" Chance smirked and tossed a pillow at the fox. Connie caught it midair and tossed it right back, catching Chance in the face. Soulful chuckled. "You two are more trouble than the rest of your siblings combined." He mused before his mouth opened up in a huge yawn.
"Awww, someone's sleepy." Chance grinned.
"Oh be--" He yawned again. "--quiet." Soulful finished lamely, looking sheepish.
"Want me to get you my teddy bear?" Chance offered with a grin.
"Why, so he can play "connect the drool spots"?" Connie made a face.
Soulful looked at Chance oddly. "You still have a teddy bear?" He said, sliding over the fact that he often slept with a fox plushy at home that he would never, EVER admit to owning. He wrinkled his nose at Connie's remark. "Ewww...."
Chance nodded. "Yep, 'cept I keep him on my window sill these days. And for YOUR information, dear sister mine, I put him through the wash so he's all clean and fluffy."
"I'm good thanks..." Soulful mumbled around another yawn.
Connie shrugged. "Ah, the 'rents probably won't mind if you sack out on the couch tonight. Better than trying to feel your way home in the dark."
"Oh, no that's--" He was interrupted by a monstrously, large yawn, that let the ligers see all his sharp pointy teeth. "....is that couch a fold out?"
Chance gave an awed whistle. "Nice tonsils..."
"Yeah, I'll go get some pillows and stuff." Connie said.
"...Thanks." Soulful rubbed his eyes. "Should probably ask Regal or Stellar first." He got up to see if either of them were still up. He found Stellar playing Mahjong on the computer and Regal as she looked for something to read. Soulful poked his head in. "Regal? You around? Here kitty kitty kitty..."
Stellar cocked an ear, smirking when he saw Soulful as he seemed to be in one of his "silly" moods. "Over by the book shelf."
"What's up?" Regal asked.
Soulful's immediate reply was to yawn eloquently. "I'm feeling kinda beat and your spawn offered to let me sleep on the couch. Just wanted to check with you if it was alright."
Regal nodded. "S'all right with me. Stel?"
"Sure, no problem. I'll go unfold the couch...and make sure Chance doesn't put a shaving cream bomb in there like he did LAST time..." Stellar said as he headed downstairs.
"That's what I like about staying here. Even sleeping is something of an adventure." Soulful noted.
Regal snerked and went to get some pillows, but saw that Connie's already gotten them. "Need anything before you crash?"
"Spare blanket, maybe a nightgown...." Soulful rubbed his eye. "...and I just wanted to say thanks for....everything."
"Ah, that's all right." Regal smiled as she slapped his shoulder lightly, and goes to get the other two items. From the den they heard Stellar shout, "CHANCE! Throw that out. And if I see that rubber spider again, I'm taking it!"
Soulful jumped slightly, both at the slap and the shout. A moment later Stellar came out, covered in shaving cream. ".....Don't ask." He sighed.
"...Wasn't going to Stell." Was Soulful's subdued answer.
"Well, I'm gonna go shower. Night, Soulful." The Tiger waved as he headed off. Soulful said his goodnight just as Regal came back down with two spare blankets and a nightshirt for Soulful, leading him back down to the den where the fold out couch was being made up by Connie.
"Thanks." Soulful said as he started to pull on the nightshirt...getting it a bit stuck on his muzzle. "Um, little help?"
Regal gave her head an amused shake, and tugged it over his head. "You're hopeless." She smiled fondly. Soulful blushed, chuckling sheepishly.
"Well, not as long as I have you or yours around."
Regal smiled. "Sleep well. I'll go make a last minute "prank check". I swear, Chance is regressing into his old habits again."
Soulful's tail twitched as his face heated. "S-sure. Um, g'night Regal!" She wondered if she had said something wrong, but decided not to ask and went up after doing what she said she'd do. Soulful sighed, half happily, half sadly. "Soulful Heart, You IDIOT...." he shook his head, forgetting Connie was still downstairs. Her ears lay back as she putt the Wii stuff away. "....Connie?" He said, realizing she was still there.
"Yeah, I know, sleepy. I'm going." Connie started out.
"No wait..." Soulful held out a paw and placed it on her arm. Connie stopped. "I'm...I'm...." he looked down. "I'm sorry..."
Connie let out a sigh. "It's not wrong to feel that way about someone...I'm just worried, is all."
"Worried?" Soulful flattened his ears. "About?"
"Just the whole thing, you know?"
"I'm...not going to do anything to make any waves with your folks you know." The fox sighed as he hugged her.
"I know...but it's not just that, I'm worried about how you'll be. I mean, it isn't exactly an ideal situation to find yourself in. And slips of the tongue can happen."
"I know....I know. I really care about Regal...and how she thinks of me. I don't want to ruin that."
"Yeah, I know." She sighed. "But anyway, as I said, your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks kiddo...really. I know we've had our ups and downs but....I've always known that I can count on you."
"And vice versa." Connie turned and smirked at him. "Now, stop with the mushy stuff before we're both sick." She grinned. "Night, Unc."
Soulful grinned suddenly feeling better. "Good night Connie. Now, hippty-hop it to bed young missy!"
"That's Swift Heart's department." Connie grinned and headed up.
Soulful then crawled into bed and turned in for the night.
&&&
To Be Continued...