Surprise Visit
The housewarming went swimmingly, if you could believe it. In spite of a fearsome arrival, it only took some quick introductions and a shoring of bravery from the men folk for Caim, Angelus and their child to be welcomed like any other newcomer. There was ample small talk (primarily on the side of the welcomers), divvying of local info and the passing off of gifts. Angelus unsurprisingly found it all tiresome, and was extra annoyed to find the succulent shaak carcass had gone to rot by the time the entourage finally clammed up and left. The upside was that the machine folk had finished construction by then, so the family had shelter at least… though one sorely lacking in furnishings (just two handcrafted drawers, a wardrobe and crib to their names, as well as random housewarming amenities).
This issue was readily resolved the following day when the trio flew out to a nearby town to do some shopping. As luck had it, the craftsman they found was offering a New Homeowner's Giveaway Special: an entire house-load of furniture at no cost whatsoever! A way of helping ease the burden of starting a new home in a new universe as he put it; certainly no divine meddlings in the dreamscape to speak of, oh no sir. The trip also afforded the shoppers a chance to oooh and aaaah at the new resident fire-breathing dragon and her baby (of further annoyance to the mother). Conversely, this also gave the couple a chance to meet those of the more common, "townie" variety, which were more agreeable to Caim's social sensibilities.
But that was about all the excitement for that first week on Naboo. Caim and Angelus kept to themselves for the rest of it, breaking in the new house, taking the first awkward steps in parenthood, and making flights around the area. The furthest they traveled was to the outer borders of Theed, but felt no desire to engage with city folk just yet. Instead, they contented themselves with being homebodies, and thankfully their neighbors respected this decision by leaving them alone (really lucked having neighbors that courteous, huh?).
Thus was the general state of things on their eighth day in the Republic: lounging within their cottage, whiling away a warm and cloudy afternoon. Angelus was laid out, cooling down from an hour of sunning out on the hill. Her husband sat at the table by her head, engaged with a knife and a block of wood; Nowe slept soundly in a crib in the sleeping nook by his father's bed. Caim had decided to try his killer hands at wood-carving, and though his attempt at a cow was looking shoddy at best, scraping out slivers proved quite relaxing.
Angelus opened her deadly maw and let out a silent yawn.
It grows late. Were you wanting to go out flying today, Caim?
Caim tilted his head with a similar inquest.
Not particularly. I have seen about all I wanted for now, and I'm not feeling hungry.
Caim mentally noted that one thing they should really get around to doing.
I am aware, dearest. I just do not feel like associating with them right now.
A head tilt of concern.
No, nothing about them bothers me. Not more so than with any other humans. At least these ones have been helpful, and they do appear nice, if long-winded about themselves. I just… don't feel compelled to be around anyone besides you and Nowe.
Caim nodded in understanding.
It's not because of fear. Nothing about these lesser lords would incite terror in one such as myself!
He assured her that he would never make that assumption and that she didn't need to explain herself further.
Eventually I'll face them and… socialize. At least make an attempt. In a few more days.
He told her to take as much time as was needed, and that he wasn't in much of a hurry to mingle either. Right then, there was a knock at the door, prompting the dragoness to raise her head.
Who in the hells could that be?
A mental shrug from Caim before he got up, putting down his tools. Stepping on over to the door, he kept one hand hovering near his sword by the wall and brought the other one onto the door handle. Cracking it open a peek, he pulled it in further at seeing who it was.
"Hey-ho there, Caim. Surprise!"
"Hi~! I hope we're not bothering you, coming out of the blue like this."
The swordsman shook his head and stepped back, beckoning the visitors in. Over the doorstep entered a brown baggy runt short of three feet, followed by a red beaky raptor more than twice his height as they came to the steps leading down. Angelus perked with surprise at seeing and hearing the familiar pair.
"Yo ho hi there, Angelus! It's Squishy and Sylvia; remember us?"
Keep it down! Our child is asleep.
"Oh whoops," chuckled the Jawa awkwardly.
"Is he… oh, right there." Sylvia moved silently over to the crib, leaning forward to peek at the bundled babe within. "Ohhhh, he's so precious," she whispered, then to Angelus, "No troubles getting him to sleep?"
None. Now I ask why you are here?
"We just thought we'd come visit, check on you, see how things are going," Squishy rambled as Caim went past him down the steps over the table, pulling out a chair. "Oh, thank you!"
Squishy went and plopped himself in the proffered seat, while Sylvia took a spot by the table.
"I'm more comfortable standing, thank you," she said, then looked around the interior. "This is such a nice house."
"Yeah, all roomy and ventilated and old-fashioned," Squishy agreed. "Like something you'd find in a fairytale, honestly."
Fitting, given the terror that resides within. But it is a fine domicile. Those constructs did a praiseworthy job.
"Oh yeah, the Mavericks and Robot Masters are super reliable when they're not going haywire… though that's never happened in years. Or will ever happen. But how are the both of you? Settling in nicely and all?" Squishy asked in a rough shift of topic, playing it all casually.
We have. The humans here have been welcoming. Even shown curiosity at my very presence. Hmph; if they only knew a quarter of the things I've done, how quickly that would turn to fear.
"Doubt it; this galaxy has seen a lot of wars. Plus everyone had put up with dragon attacks for half a month just about," Squishy said. "The fact you hadn't opened fire on them makes you good in their book. Uh, you didn't open fire on anyone so far, have you?"
No. Although I had been tempted when one of our welcomers wouldn't cease bemoaning his estate's timetable, and everyone there just let him carry on.
Caim telegraphed his sympathy and commended her for the willpower she exercised in that trying moment.
That is one of the things I abhor about those with wealth and entitlement: None of them have ever experienced true suffering in any capacity.
"We would have come for the housewarming, but we were caught up in other matters," Sylvia explained. "Survey work needed to be done; had to make sure everything was back in place. It was only yesterday we were finally dismissed and allowed to do other things."
"Like resuming work on our space station resort, Jawa Home," Squishy elaborated. "We were passing by the system, actually, and I told Sylvia we ought to drop in, see how you were faring and, well…" Squishy shifted in his seat to better face the pact partners. "It's somewhat late, and it's just the two of us, but on behalf of the Jedi Order, I want to welcome you to the Galactic Republic, and wish you great prosperity and brotherhood. Er, or would that be motherhood? Fatherhood? Parenthood, that's it!"
"That would be the official greeting, but personally speaking, I'm happy you've chosen to stay."
"Same here. Very much so," Squishy agreed with his wife, earning a modest nod from Caim.
It wasn't much of a choice, if you had an inkling of what Midgard was like. But thank you all the same. Your lot has shown considerable decency (for the most part), and your god has been very accommodating.
"Yeah, Contractor can be nice, when he's not being, well… quirky."
"Aggravating and manipulative, you mean," Sylvia corrected. "Granted, we have met far worse and more overbearing deities. But still…" Sylvia left that hanging and asked Angelus, "Were things alright after we left you back on Draconia? Did anything happen?"
No. The wildlife bothered us none, as they were wise to do. And up until the world shifted and we found ourselves floating before a cold sun, it was very peaceful.
"Odd no dragons of any kind happened upon you," Squishy thought aloud.
They knew their place. They knew death was certain if they fell into our sight.
Caim nodded firmly.
Speaking of, all other dragons are truly gone? It is only I that remains?
"Yes," Sylvia replied. "Part of the survey was seeing if there were any stragglers or resistors, but nope: everyone left without fuss."
Good. There were far too many in this realm, and I honestly never cared to associate with them back in Midgard to begin with.
A cheeky thought from her mate.
Why that's precisely it, Caim: your apelike being radiated a charm that none of my kind could match. Dragons are absolutely ruined for me because of your disgusting yet alluring raw animal magnetism. Show mercy on this poor, helpless maiden of the wilds. That's exactly why I chose you; no other reason whatsoever.
Caim shrugged with a smirk as his horned darling sniffed to change topics.
Putting that senseless discourse aside, the rest of your comrades had other matters to attend to, hence their absence?
"Yes: gone our separate ways, like the Asia song," Squishy replied. "We've always done that after every major galactic crisis, and this one was a doozy! Like, I really don't blame them for wanting to split right away, though it would have been nice if some stuck around to say hi. The kids especially…"
What of those others? The dark one, the fat one, the one that wanted to kill me?
"Gone back from whence they came," said Squishy. "Well, in the case of Sam Jackson and Grey. Lann chose to go to the Eragon universe, which is cool I guess. Why study dragons here when he can live with them? He certainly earned it with the help he provided; I'm sure he's doing well."
"I bet he is," Sylvia agreed. "He definitely kept his cool during Nowe's birth."
"Yep: him and you and Sam, dear. Just the trio for the occasion."
Honestly I would have preferred if you hadn't stumbled upon us. It would have been considerably less stressful without the extra screaming and threat of death. But Caim is grateful for the help you did provide, and that you even chose to stay and help was commendable.
"What's important is that your son came out safe and healthy," Sylvia said.
Indeed. I dare say, it was… miraculous, given the hours of agony I underwent beforehand.
The Ssi-Ruu glanced over in the direction of the little new breed, then asked, "Nowe is doing fine? Healthy? Happy? Liking this environment?"
Yes. He's about as healthy a human child can be, so Caim says. And as you can see, he deems this world safe enough to sleep soundly in.
"That's good to know."
"So how is it, being new parents? I know it hasn't even been a month, but you holding up well?" Squishy asked.
There is hardly anything to say. Apart from occasionally crying at random hours and needing constant feeding, our child has been tolerable. Granted, Caim has done most of the direct handling. But I'm always there to remind him who and, more importantly, what his mother is, so that he behaves.
Angelus' head lowered slightly.
…It doesn't always work.
Caim patted his partner's neck in amicable consolation.
I am happy to say that the warmth I feel for him hasn't wavered, even with his fussing and neediness. It's still strange for me, not feeling the level of contempt or rage I had most of my life. But a pleasant strangeness, so I hold no complaints in that regard.
"That's always good to hear," Squishy nodded. "Enjoy it while you can, because those growing pains sure are something… Or so I've heard. Our kids grew up too fast for any of those to happen."
"Oh there were some, if just briefly," Sylvia reminded. "Sally had her drama moments, and Richter sulked a fair bit as a Knight. And lest we forget that 'rebellious' phase of his."
"That wasn't entirely his fault, but yeah. We were blessed with the trifecta: dramatic, brooding and shy. You best prepare yourselves for the storm of grief that's the teen years." The Jawa chuckled a bit forcefully. "But seriously, I'm sure you'll handle it fine."
We've witnessed the horrors of war and the inhumanities committed by the cruel and weak. Raising Nowe shall be nothing.
"So you say right now," Squishy murmured. Caim directed a thought to Angelus, who made a snort.
This is astoundingly late in asking, but Caim wants to know if you would like something to drink. We only have water, mind you.
"I'd love some, but we really should head out," Squishy announced, getting up from the chair after checking his wrist. "There's some things we need to go see and pick up, then jet back up to Home. This was supposed to be a quick visit anyway; we didn't want to pester you for long."
"It was wonderful seeing you three again, and good knowing you're doing well here," Sylvia said.
I suppose it was fairly nice of you to come over and chat, as we were in the midst of doing nothing. Caim says thank you for visiting… as well as for your help in protecting me and Nowe. That I am also appreciative of.
"It's no problem, no problem. Just the decent thing to do as galactic defenders," Squishy turned, then made a quick snap. "Hey, if you want, we can come back tomorrow. We'll have more free time, and we can bring over and introduce you to Steezy!"
"He's my brother. I just know he'd love to meet you."
Caim and Angelus focused on each other, with the wyvern facing the Jedi after three seconds of deliberation.
Is he loud and/or obnoxious?
"He's wonderful with kids; he'll be on his best behavior," Sylvia assured.
Very well. You may come again tomorrow with this "Steezy" if you so wish.
"Excellent! Probably around the same time, maybe earlier, if that's cool with you?" Caim nodded in the affirmative to Squishy. "Great! Welp, we're heading out. It was real swell seeing you three again, and have a good rest of the day."
The couple marched on up and out the door that Caim held open, with Sylvia waving a parting, "Thank you again for having us."
You are welcome, red one. Or, Sylvia, rather.
The Ssi-Ruu grinned and followed her husband out, and with a shutting of the door the pact partners had the house to themselves and their babe once again. Caim went back to the table and his carving, passing a silent remark to his dragon love.
It certainly was. Which shouldn't be much of a surprise: they appear the most congenial of that group toward us. Undoubtedly because of similar, if less severe circumstances.
Caim agreed as he took his seat and grabbed his knife. Angelus pondered something, then thought idly,
Given that they themselves have raised mixed offspring, it may be prudent to ask them for advice on the matter come tomorrow.
She quickly added,
For your benefit. Although you have done excellent so far in caring for Nowe, you humans have the tendency to bungle in properly rearing your young. How else would you explain your desire to destroy yourselves in adulthood?
Caim huffed in acquiescence while carving away, the two resuming their silent afternoon of calm and relaxation.