[FIN] Growing Up Too Fast [Sindri + Parents]

[Daisicle]

Several weeks had passed since Sindri had snuck with his brother and Cousin Quetzal to the Venus Mountain Resort, and in that time, all of two things had dominated the young teen's mind.

1. Peaches' offer for him to visit her mother on the surface.
2. How absolutely adorable Kore was.

Depending on the day, the prevalence of one versus the other tended to vary. He was starstruck by how amazing they each seemed in their own way. For 1, the more the teen thought about it, and the longer he spent back in the Spring, the more right being on the surface felt. Like he'd finally belonged, at least a little bit.

For 2, well, she was just so pretty and cute he could melt. He hoped they could meet again someday.

Talking with his nephew had helped him to sort through his feelings further and come to a decision - that being to take Peaches up on her offer. He hadn't heard or seen her since the party, but there was no way she'd turn him away once he got there. It just wasn't in her personality. All that was left to do was to get his parent's permission... Hopefully they'd agree. They'd probably agree. Heck, they went to these parties every year, and OBVIOUSLY the family had quite a few surface pae in it, so what could the problem be? He just had to ask.

"MOM. DAD. CAN I GO VISIT PEACHES IN BREEHEART?"

While he may have been a bit more straightforward than intended as he blurted out his question, no context, no prompting, wholly unannounced to his parents having some kelp snacks in the kitchen, it was too late to back out now.

Menelie

 

[Menelie]

Kelebek was still feeling buoyed from her and Hjortur's relaxing vacation to the mountaintop resort. It had been irritating to travel to, but once they were there, it had been divine. No evil goddesses or surprise pregnancies this year, just wedded bliss.

Sindri's abrupt, contextless question gave her pause, and her initial reaction was to frown. Truth be told, Kelebek had forgotten the name of the place where Peaches and Kelee lived with their mother. Her knowledge of surface geography was murky at best. Ah, it seemed just weeks ago she and Hjortur were babysitting those sweet girls as tiny, precious infants. Then that reminded her of her own tiny, precious infants, who had become, before her very eyes, teenagers.

"I..." she began, then stopped. Kelebek didn't know what to say. The request was harmless enough. What harm could a visit to the surface do? But she knew. One visit to the surface led to another, and soon he'd find his place with the surface dwellers. Peaches and Kelee hardly visited. Neither did Dysmas--she only really heard about him through Anxo. It was hard enough seeing her extended family leave the Waters forever, but her very son?

Stop. You're overreacting.

Kelebek, as casually as possible although looking very wobbly, popped a seaweed snack into her mouth and turned to look at Hjortur. "What do you think, love?"

Daisicle

BE COOL KELEBEK

 

[Daisicle]

Hjortur simply blinked as he looked over his now visibly-awkward son as he slowly placed another kelp snack into his mouth to mull things over. Weird. What had brought this on? Had the adults' trip to the surface piqued his otherwise (as far as dad had been aware) nonexistent curiosity for life outside of the waters? He had to admit he had a healthy admiration for the way of life up there himself - it was part of the reason he made it a habit to always attend these parties - but it was equally chaotic up there.

That said, he couldn't say no just because he was a bit wary of it. They had brought Autumn and Pearl with them when they were Sindri's age to a Venus party... perhaps they should have offered the same to their own? Especially since he had legs of all things... well... it may have actually been a more valuable experience.

Hindsight was 20/20.

He looked over at Kel as he licked his fingers before offering a shrug and a response. "I don't see why not, personally."



Sindri's eyes were beginning to metaphorically light up and his body lean forwards towards his parents in anticipation as they talked.  

[Menelie]

Kelebek made a sort of wide-eyed "really?" expression at Hjortur. She chewed on her seaweed snack very pointedly in his direction.

It was her fault for expecting him to be the gatekeeper. Hjortur's enjoyment for the surface predated their relationship, and she couldn't really expect him to change that at this point. Best to n** this right here. There was absolutely no way she was letting her baby go up to the surface. Between this and the way Kadri had been acting so strange with that bag of kelp flour...Kelebek rubbed her temples. She did not remember her older children being such...teenagers.

But then she saw Sindri's face, and she softened. It was only natural for him to be curious about the whole wide world. And just because she wasn't impressed with what the surface world had to offer....Kelebek sighed.

She swished forward and put a hand on Sindri's cheek, giving him a wet-eyed "my little babyyyy" smile. They really did grow up before your eyes. Turning back to Hjortur, she put a hand on her hip. "Certainly not by himself!" she said. Turning back to Sindri, she clarified, "No, my darling, you'll need an adult to go with you."

Kelebek started to suggest Hjortur go with him, then stopped. Absolutely not. Who knew what nonsense the pair of them would get into? "What about Anxo? Or Quetzal?" She hesitated a bit volunteering someone else's kid for this, but Quetzal had done an admirable job minding the boys while she and Hjortur had been at the resort, and Sindri seemed to enjoy his company.

She looked back at Hjortur for his take.

Daisicle

 

[Daisicle]

Hjortur returned her look with an indignant one of his own, as if to say 'what..?' Did she really expect him to say something different - she really ought to have known better by this point. Especially with boys. Sure, he was probably a bit overly-protective of the females in his family, but that was because he wanted to ensure they would be treated right. If that made him seem a bit hawkish over them, well, so be it.

Besides, of all the things the kid could ask for, going to visit a relative on the surface was pretty benign as far as he was concerned. If they said no now, it would just fuel that rebellious spirit and they'd be less likely to have him listen in the future.

His expression softened and he reached for another snack as he saw and felt her grow more relaxed. It was almost strange how attuned he felt himself becoming to even the most subtle of her emotional changes (when he was paying attention anyways). It seemed they wouldn't need to retreat to the back to have a discussion this time.



Sindri's slackened expression scrunched up in embarrassment as his mom came and offered some physical affection. "Mooooom... I'm not a kid anymore..." he weakly whined in protest, wanting to make his discomfort known but not wanting to jeopardize how things seemed to be going almost too smoothly for him. He rolled his eyes at her next, obvious, statement. "Well duh, I don't even know how to get there."



Hjortur visibly pouted as he was dismissed from the role of potential supervisor. Perhaps Kel would notice this or feel how much he wanted to interject and volunteer himself at that moment. But, alas, a happy wife made a happy marriage, and this one seemed pointedly against him going off on his own. He was still sulking when she looked back at him and he dismissively shrugged. "You could always send both if you are unsure. Seeing the surface might be an invaluable experience for Quetzal, while Anxo should be more familiar with how it works and keep the two innocents in check."



Sindri's eye twitched as he tried to keep his expression neutral at the implication that neither he nor Quetzal had ever been to the surface before. Of course not. They were good children...

Menelie

 

[Menelie]

Kelebek felt Hjortur's disappointment in a palpable way. She loved how close they'd become, and how in tune with his emotions she felt. Kel made a sympathetic expression in his direction. "Unless, you'd like to go instead?" she suggested, somewhat nervously. Sure, Hjortur would keep Sindri out of trouble on the surface, but she would miss them both unbearably. Kelebek wanted her husband to be happy, but she also wanted him here with her. Plus, she couldn't quite tell if Sindri would have more fun getting into shenanigans with his father, or with Quetzal, who as far as she could tell was tons of fun.

Cevizi floated into the room and she tucked him under her arm and petted him distractedly. The idea of both Quetzal and Anxo hadn't occurred to her. Quetzal was fun, and Anxo was responsible (and didn't care much for the surface world, so would encourage them to return promptly). "That's a lovely suggestion, Hjortur," she said. Turning to Sindri, she added, "Do you think Kadri will want to go?" Her heart ached even as she made the suggestion. Sending both her sweet boys so far from home...

Daisicle

narrator: Kadri, in fact, did not want to go

 

[Daisicle]

Hjortur was (generally) smart enough at this point to know when his wife's questions were actual questions or when they were there largely for show. This last one seemed the latter. Sighing in defeat, he continued pouting before waving it off with a defeated, "No, that's fine..." He ran his hand through his hair before reaching for another snack and nodding at her suggestion. "Only seems fair both could go."



Sindri visibly grimaced as the coconut made its way into the room and he had to consciously control himself from taking a step back. The damn thing just gave him the creeps. He was quite pointedly staring at it in disgust as his parents coordinated the trip for him until he heard Kadri mentioned, which earned an automatic, "Not a chance." After a pause, he added in, "I, uh... heard from around the Spring that naiad with fins like him don't, uh... they don't get legs up on the surface." Another pause. "Besides, it'd be weird as heck if he brought that kelp bag with him." That thing also decidedly creeped him out.

Menelie

 

[Menelie]

Kelebek floated back over to Hjortur and kissed his cheek, leaning against the counter next to him. "I'll make it up to you," she murmured into his ear, hopefully at a volume Sindri wouldn't hear. She could tell he was still disappointed, but letting her have this one, which she appreciated.

"So, that's settled, then. I'll tell Anxo. Sindri, will you ask Quetzal if he'd like to go?" She felt that giving him that responsibility would be good for him. "And you may be right about Kadri, darling, but I still think we should ask him."

Kadri's voice floated in from the next room: "Not even a little bit! The surface world sucks!" Then, after a short pause, "I've heard."

Kelebek made an open-handed "there-you-have-it" gesture, trying very hard to suppress a gleeful expression. At least one of her sons had the good sense to know where he belonged.

Daisicle

 

[Daisicle]

Sindri did, in fact, hear his mother's talk and was old enough to understand the implications, which about made him want to gag. He managed to not show this on his face by pure teenaged force of will.



Hjortur smiled deviously at Kel's sweet nothings, thoroughly ignoring his son in the room as he returned with his own whispered, "Well now I've something to look forward to." Seemed good things did come to those who knew how to hold back. Hopefully his reward would come quickly - perhaps the boys could stay over at Quetzal's a day or two? Or worst case, he could always pawn them off on Beltan or Xoana.



Enjoying the opportunity to get out of dodge, so to speak, Sindri readily nodded and replied. "Got it!" before moving to swim out of the room. That said, being a teenaged boy with a teenaged brother, of course he had to return back, "Well the surface thinks you suck too!" A pause. "Probably!" Before smugly grinning and going about to find Quetzal.

Menelie