Private What the Water Gave Me

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran stiffened almost imperceptibly at her first question, the sharpness of it landing more cleanly than he expected. Suicidal, he hadn't meant it that way, not even close, and the realization that Persephone and perhaps Myra had taken it as such, sent a faint flush of embarrassment up the back of his neck. He didn't argue, though. He just drew a quiet breath, steadying himself before he spoke.

He looked back to Persephone, softer around the eyes, his voice kept low so it stayed between them.

"I didn't mean no one would miss me," he said, calm, not defensive, just clarifying. "Just meant that Zee would definitely prioritize damage reports over sentiment."

A thin, rueful smile tugged at his mouth, acknowledging the misstep without making it a whole thing.

"You got a point there." When she mentioned, Danger Arceneau. Kiran knew the business was thriving, or well what he had gathered just from looking in from the outside. And then she shrugged off the University, as if it wasn't a big deal. Which, he couldn't help but smirk at that comment. It amazed him at how perhaps utterly fearless she could be at times.

That or maybe stubborn....?

"That's not nothing," he said gently after a moment, head tilting. "That's difficult. It matters."

He just watched her a second longer, thoughtful, respect woven into the edges of his expression. "And for what it's worth," he added, voice warm and certain in a way he rarely let show, "You did a lot more than 'just something.' You got out. You accomplished things. Most people don't have that kind of grit."

He leaned back into the couch, letting the movie noise fill the space again, but his gaze flicked toward her once more, quiet, steady, as he reached for some more popcorn and looking back to the film, that garnered another laugh from him.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Oh yeah, although I only have one. So far."

Judah held up his wrist slightly, chuckling as Myra mentioned he had been gifted a bracelet already. Oceanic eyes spotted no less than four on her own wrist as she leaned down to hug him. Apparently his granddaughter was very in to producing the craft. The old salvager found it amusing the girl had latched on to such a thing but he would enjoy the phase while it lasted.

He patted her arm as Myra hugged him, a bit awkward since he was sitting on the floor, busy freeing a doll from her package. It was that time of day before holiday dinner where the younger ones wanted everything opened to create a wall of chaos. Kellan zoomed by with his little hover contraption, lapping through down the hallway.

"Definitely too long. We need to catch up but that can be difficult." A reference to her schedule and all the demands in Myra's life. "I've been alright. Hopefully you have been doing well yourself. My son better be treating you right."

Undoing the last coated twist, Judah was able to pry the doll loose after a bit of a battle. He handed it over to Phoebe who squealed in delight and immediately followed her cousin.

"Someone is having a good Life Day."

Kiran Arlos | Myra Arceneau Dashiell | Balun Dashiell​

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x | Tag: Makai Dashiell

Myra laughed softly as Kellan streaked past again, the little hover device bobbing wildly in pursuit of his hand.

"He's having the time of his life," the heiress said fondly. "I think he's discovered his calling as a test pilot."

She smiled as Judah freed the doll, watching Phoebe squeal and dart off after her cousin, then looked back down at him with an amused shake of her head.

"Yes, well," she said lightly, lifting her wrist to show the colorful proof, "apparently four bracelets means I'm 'very important.' I'm choosing to believe her."

At his question, her expression in her grey eyes warmed.

"I've been well," she answered honestly. "Busy, but well. And your son treats me wonderfully. I promise I wouldn't let him get away with it if he didn't."

She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"We do need to catch up, though. Maybe after dinner, once the chaos settles into something survivable."

Her gaze drifted toward the den, thoughtful.

"Oh, and have you met the young boy Persephone brought with her?" she added gently. "Kiran. He's quiet, but seems like a good kid. Life Day with us can be a lot for anyone new."