Sherry #18, Ember #13, Bubblegum Pink #11

[shadowsong26]

Name: shadowsong26
Story: Stay
'Verse: Feredar
Colors: Sherry #18. And his Metallic Peace, Ember #13. Hearth, Bubblegum Pink #11. Show and Tell
Supplies and Materials: eraser (Accident AU), novelty beads (can't kill an idea), yarn, beading wire, glitter (mystery), glue ("There's no need to be dishonest. The truth is absolutely required; however, it's less about what you say than how you say it. Don't upset any apple carts now -- unless you want to waste precious time picking up apples throughout the week.")
Word Count: 460
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Nolani, Isshiri
Warnings: Discussion of character/parental death
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always. This takes place in an alternate 973 FY. Isshiri is about four and Nolani is about eight.


"'Lani?"

Nolani looked up from her spelling lesson, to see her little brother standing in front of her. "I'm busy, 'Sshiri."

Isshiri, brat that he was, ignored her and climbed up onto the couch next to her. "I wanna know 'bout Daddy."

"I have lessons, can I tell you later?"

He pouted. "I wanna know 'bout Daddy. Mommy won't say anything, an' Ri an' Uncle 'Toki an' nobody."

She sighed. "I don't 'member much, 'Sshiri."

Now he turned on his biggest puppy eyes, which it was really not fair he was so good at. But probably he wouldn't be as good once he got bigger, since four-year-olds get away with lots more than bigger kids, even when they can't do Eyes. "Please?"

Nolani sighed again, and closed her eyes. "He was tall. Taller'n Uncle King, but he didn't have a beard. He was...you know how Mamma's kinda like a snake, watchin' everyone?" She felt Isshiri nod against her side. "Well, Daddy was more like...like a big friendly dog. He watched everyone, too, but he wanted to look out for 'em and make 'em happy, 'stead of makin' 'em do what he wanted. And he was a doctor," she added. "He made sick people better."

Isshiri was silent for a long time--for him--after that, then said, much quieter, "How come he's not here any more?"

She opened her eyes, not wanting to remember Mamma telling her what 'dead' meant, and really, really, really wishing Ri had answered 'stead of making 'Sshiri come to her. "He had...um...there was a accident, when you were a baby. And Daddy had to go away forever."

"Why?"

Nolani shrugged uncomfortably. "'Cause the world works that way sometimes, I guess."

"That's stupid," Isshiri said.

"Yeah, it is."

He was quiet again, and Nolani was about to push him away so she could finish her lesson, when, "Can I stay here?"

Nolani blinked, a little surprised. "I'm just gonna be reading, 'Sshiri. It'll be boring."

He looked up at her, wounded. "But I got Bear an' I can be really really still, I've been practicing..."

He was probably lonely, Nolani decided. With Mamma and her snake-watching, and he didn't even have Ri to play with. "...okay. But no noise."

Isshiri nodded, very seriously, and snuggled close, hugging Bear tight. "...'Lani?" he asked, just when she was starting to figure out where she'd stopped.

"What?"

"...don't go away like Daddy did, 'kay?"

Nolani looked down at her baby brother's serious face, and said, "I won't if you won't."

Isshiri brightened, and grinned up at her. "I promise."

"Then I do, too," she said. "Now remember you said you'd be still."

He nodded way too energetically for still, but somehow Nolani didn't mind so much anymore.

Comments

[kay_brooke]

Aw, this is a sad but sweet scene. I love this sibling relationship.

[shadowsong26]

Thank you.

[bookblather]

Awwww. I like that Nolani lets Isshiri stay and draw comfort from her, even if that's unconscious on her part.

[shadowsong26]

Thank you.

She does love her little brother, even when he follows her around to the point of annoyance. And this is even before Ulore, so.