All The Things She Said

[Salem Croft]

Salem soaked in every word Emiko breathed, each syllable like the rattling of a pick in the lock of his own heart, feeling it unhitch as she went on to explain that she wanted Salem to be a permanent part of Kyra's life.

It was touching, listening to Emi's confession, revealing personal things like she had to him so long ago, though looking at Kyra, it suddenly felt like yesterday that the two of them were holding hands and dancing together in the ring.

"Emiko..." Salem said softly, reaching out to take her hands in his, holding them as he smiled down at the strong but vulnerable woman.

"Thank you. I'm really happy you feel that way...and I promise, she's always safe when I'm around. It means a lot to me, that you said that."

...wait, did she say "cockerhead cough"?

"Wait, she says what?!"

 

[Fox Platinum]

Hands taken out of her pockets and held in the hands of Salem, Emiko raised a brow at this.

Speechless in astonishment, at the thankfulness she had rarely ever experienced. Emiko couldn't quell this feeling this time.. and smiled.
Though with Salem's slow catch, she managed to c**k it into a halfway, shrugged her shoulders.
"Doesn't enunciate when wrapped up in play."

 

[Salem Croft]

Salem chuckled as he rolled the scene around in his head that Emiko described, smirking as he suddenly started pulling Emi by the arm and run by the speeding Kyra, hollering at his daughter as the little monster bolted about in her tiny convertible.

"Hey, Kyra! Bet you can't catch us!" he yelled, trying to get the child's attention before dragging her mom in the opposite direction!

 

[Fox Platinum]

Yanked forward, shocked by the sudden tug run, as Emiko was brought from one matter, into playtime!

Stopping, Kyra faced the call of a challenge, and answered in full roar of her quiet electric corvette engine!

 

[Salem Croft]

Salem had sprung for the good toy, so it wasn't surprising when the little vehicle quickly cornered and accelerated towards them, but he hadn't expected the look of fiendish glee on Kyra's face as she approached! A slight urgency grew in his stride, Salem running with Emiko around the yard in efforts to escape into a grove of pretty trees nearby, perhaps confusing her with having to weave around the trunks!

 

[Fox Platinum]

Emiko pulled along in this game of chase, a slight look of anxiety grew upon her face with Salem's uptick in urgency!
Despite the worrisome expression, bearing down upon her, she unfathomably had an edging smile curving the corners of her lips!

 

[Salem Croft]

Salem took note of the nervous excitement on Emiko's face as they entered the treeline, Kyra hot on their tails! Deciding to spice it up a bit, Salem would split hands with Emi and branch off into another direction, seeing who Kyra would take off after as they split up!

 

[Fox Platinum]

Hands separating, Emiko would make a few jogging steps more before stopping, as Kyra's decision was that of Salem!

Standing for a moment, straightening her jacket, Emiko would start briskly follow in walk at the chase in hand.

 

[Salem Croft]

Salem looked back to see Kyra in pursuit of him with Emiko trailing after, and let out a laugh as he started leading hid daughter around the trees, bolting back and forth and trying to shake her by hiding behind one and attempting to juke another direction when she drove past! Doubling back to Emiko, Salem would wrap his arms around her and hug her from behind, embracing her while using the woman as a human shield!

 

[Fox Platinum]

Gasping at the sudden clinging of her, Emiko had to grasp at Salem's wrists for balance and reactive muscle memory!
Glancing back at Salem, she gave a n** to her bottom lip, turning her sight forward once again..

A foot of Emiko halted Kyra's raging toy machine, placed upon the hood! "Hey there, winner." A word of congratulation, coming from a smirk.

Kyra's face in elation and her arms shot up with little victorious fists! "Yesssss!"

 

[Salem Croft]

Salem smiled and held onto Emiko a moment as Kyra cheered in her victory, enjoying the breeze and sun filtering through the leaves, wishing he could just take a picture of this moment. Then he remembered, pulling his phone out while keeping an arm around Emi, turning to take a selfie with her, Kyra bombing proudly in the background. Letting go of Emi and giving her a wink, he went to approach Kyra while reaching in his pocket.

"Yep, you won. Here's your prize, Mad Max." he said, pulling a small satchel of black leather from his pants pocket and showing it to Kyra.

"Your grandma sent me this for you. You haven't met her yet, but she's so excited to see you. This is a medicine bag. But not like the doctor, this is special. Just for you."

Pouring the contents into his palm, Salem showed Kyra the assortment of polished stones, carved wooden tokens, and seeds from their family farm. Tiger's eye, agate, quartz, obsidian, tumbled minerals anf crystals of different colors glinted in the sunlight as he showed the little girl.

"You've got a whole family who filled these with love and luck for you, so take care of them and keep them close, okay?"

 

[Fox Platinum]

A brief sight of confusion clouded Kyra's face in a blank stare at the name before her time, which was washed away quickly as it came, to an awe in her eyes!
Kyra listened intently to the explanation of her gift and marveled over various contents spread in her Dad's hand!

Her finger poked and doted in following behind Salem's, to each one. Smiling in acceptance of these treasured gems and tokens! "Mhm, thank you.." She whispered out.

Emiko folded her arms, looking down at this.. knowing she would be the one responsible in watching over it for a good while.

 

[Salem Croft]

Salem diligently put the contents back into her small leather satchel and cinched it closed, tying a simple knot for added security and handing it to Kyra.

"Make sure you don't play with those, it's not a toy honey. But no one has another like it in the whole world. Protect it, and it'll protect you."

With that, Salem kissed Kyra on the forehead and ruffled her hair a bit, standing up and turning around to see Emiko standing behind him, offering her a little smile.

 

[Fox Platinum]

Taking the satchel, she plopped it behind her, inside the hoodie for safe keeping.
Grabbing her plush lion, she sat it on top of the satchel for added protection!
"Protected!" She stated confidently with a proudly earnest stern face!

Krya smiled at the kiss of approval, yet frowned at an assault of her hair! She immediately had her hands smoothing stray hairs.

Emiko sent back a light hearted smile back to Salem. "Time to pack up the fun machine." With that, she walked over to Kyra Corvette.
Lifting Kyra out, putting her feet to the grass, she had to make a slight crouch, as she rolled Kyra's toy toward their larger transport.

 

[Salem Croft]

Salem followed along with Emiko and Kyra as she was preparing to leave, a little sad at their soon departure but immensely happy with how the visit had gone. He wasn't expecting them, or Emiko's sudden custody papers, but Croft knew there'd be more times like this on the horizon for the three of them.

As they approached the luxury vehicle Emiko had arrived in, the chauffeur helped with managing the toy car into it, Kyra wide-eyed with concern for her convertible's safety more than her mother's six-figure vehicle. Turning to Emiko, Salem smiled and fished something else from his pocket, reaching for Emiko's hand and placing a second leather pouch inside it, this time the leather had been dyed red.

"Mom made one for you, too. She can't wait to meet you both, gave me a pretty long talk when I told her about Kyra. She's not mad. Just happy I've got some family of my own, y'know...and so am I. Thank you." he said, his vision tunneled as he looked into her exotic eyes and features.