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PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

Oleander had always liked being an older brother, but tonight...he very much did not.

He adored his two little sisters, Effie and Genie, and doted on them as much as any big brother would despite there only being a year between them. When they wanted to play, he would play; when they cried, he would make them laugh. His sisters often reached for him first before they reached for their parents or even their eldest sister (much to Eloise's annoyance). So when Buck, Magda, and Ezra sat down to tell them that they would be getting a new sibling soon, it was a surprise to absolutely no one that Oleander was the most excited about the news.

He had spent the last several months trying to make sure his younger sisters were well prepared for the new baby, trying to impart his big brother wisdom, and asked his mother nearly every day when the new baby would be arriving. When the baby's arrival finally came just a few days prior, Oleander was the first to come bursting into his parents' bedroom to meet the new baby, little Aloysius.

For the first few days, he was still giddy and excited about his new baby brother, he often sat with his mother while she fed him and was even allowed to hold him while Magda rested in bed nearby. However, his excitement ebbed when he was reminded of the upcoming spring equinox and promises his parents had made to dance with him and feast were now compromised with the early arrival of baby Alo.

And they were.

Magda had dutifully showed up as one of Buck's partners and the mother to their children to show off the newest princeling, but only stayed long enough to make sure everyone offered their well wishes to her and the babe before she excused herself and the baby to return to the family home. Buck had gone to escort her home and make sure she got settled and while Ezra had lingered at the gathering with their children...it was not the same.

Regardless of whether he intended it or not (he didn't), baby Aloysius had ruined the party in Oleander's opinion and for that, he was upset at the baby.

He stomped off to the banquet table and stuffed his pockets full of sweet almond cookies and lemon-rosemary shortbread and grabbed two handpies before ducking under the table to stew by himself. He shoved a pie into his mouth and chewed with an aggressive pout, all the while fighting back tears from having wanted to dance with his mom and play and feast with his parents.
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inchargemarge · Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7943

The evening had just barely started, only on account of fae parties tended to go for the whole night. But poor little Yuka was already so overwhelmed. From the moment her and her family arrived, her parents were swept up by pleasantries with people Yuka had never seen before. Her mother, Ikumak, tried to softly reassure her that things were fine. Ikumak was tall, taller than Yuka’s father by several inches. Yuka felt like she was standing before a large sequoia tree, when nestled at her skirts. Yuka and Ikumak shared the same features more or less. Yuka’s face was a bit rounder with baby fat, her cheeks more red. But she had the same dark brown hair and flat nose, the same soft brown eyes that were upturned; puppyish.

“It will be alright, go get something to eat and find yourself a seat at one of the tables. Your father or I will come find you shortly.” Ikumak had said.

But like most parents at parties, they got busy with their socializing, and Yuka sat quietly at a table; feeling forgotten and sad. After a little while, she had slinked under the table to weep privately. Yuka pulled one of her top skirts up and around her shoulders to conceal herself more as she sobbed into the fabrics. She didn’t expect anyone would find her or come looking for her until after the party quieted, and that notion made Yuka that much more sour. Her wet face dotted the fabrics of her dress with tears, and she sniveled deeply. It was dramatic, but to a small child alone at a party, she felt even smaller and even more alone. So alone she didn’t even notice the shift in sound as the table cloth lifted and dropped again, indicating someone’s entry.

PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

Oleander was about to shove a cookie into his mouth when he heard sniveling nearby. He took pause and looked a little further down to find that he wasn't the only one who had hidden away. There was a little girl, probably the same age as him, crying as she was tucked away in her skirts. He furrowed his brows and scooted himself closer. He reached over to gently pull the fabric from around her face.

"Hey, why are you crying?" He asked, as if he himself weren't on the brink of tears just moments before.
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inchargemarge · Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7943

Yuka sort of chirped in surprise when someone pulled her skirt away from her face. Another child, a boy, nearly nose to nose with her had appeared. Busy with her own crying, she couldn’t be sure when he came or where from. She glanced around with her eyes, but not moving her head. Her tears briefly paused, startled and shy, though she still sniveled.

“I’m scared..” She admitted to the boy.

PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

“Scared?” Oleander looked bewildered. These parties weren’t scary, they were usually fun. “Don’t be scared, there’s nothing to be scared of.” He reached out and rubbed at the little girls wet cheeks with the heel of his palm like he did for his sisters when they were upset.
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inchargemarge · Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7943

Yuka didn’t recoil, instead her heart gave a little flutter at the tenderness. Yuka was a sensitive girl, her feelings were big and she loved everyone and everything without much coaxing. She wasn’t in love with the boy (yet) but she found herself immediately endeared to him.

“It’s scary because I’m alone, my parents left me.” Yuka explained hopelessly. Though her parents didn’t leave her of course, but we’re meandering around the party somewhere.

PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

Oleander felt his heart give a squeeze at that. He very much felt as if his parents had left him all alone (despite the fact Ezra was still there with his sisters, Buck would be returning soon, and at the end of the night Magda would be waiting to get them all ready for bed). He pursed his lips, eyes a bit sad again.

“My parents left me alone too.” He said, but didn’t linger on the sentiment too long as he didn’t want to upset the little girl further. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out some shortbread. “It will be okay though. I’ll stay with you.” He said, offering it out to the girl. “My name is Oleander.”
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inchargemarge · Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7943

Yuka felt her heart soften more, her eyes water again but for a different reason now; she was touched. She smiled and dropped her skirt, before reaching out to accept the shortbread.

“Thank you…” She smiled sweetly, “my name is Yuka.”

PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

“Yuka? That’s a pretty name.” Oleander smiled in a way that made him look just like his father, who always smiled as bright as the sun and with his whole face. “Do you like dancing, Yuka?”
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inchargemarge · Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7943

Yuka brightened, Oleanders smile was so bright; she felt its warmth and felt instantly healed. She smiled back, fully perked up and mood renewed.

“Yes.” She nodded.

PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

"Let's go dance then! My mom says I'm a very good dancer." Oleander said, reaching for Yuka's hand before clambering out from under the table.

He crawled right in between the legs of a goblin, who let out a grunt of surprise and perhaps annoyance, but quickly closed his mouth when he saw it was one of the little princes of the wood. He bent himself in a bow, which Oleander only returned with a little dip of his head in acknowledgement.
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inchargemarge · Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7943

Yuka let out a giddy little laugh as Oleander took her hand, and she followed after him from under the table. She made note that Oleander and the goblin made a little exchange, Yuka didn’t realize Oleander was a prince or anyone of nobility. That being said she didn’t feel any differently about him, she did give her own little courtesy, out of respect and sort of to copy Oleander.

“‘Scuse us.” She said to the goblin with a little dip of her head to bow.

PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

Oleander pulled Yuka along through the throngs of folk, some calling after him in the same delight offered to all the other family members of the court. He responded to most by the way of little dips of his head or eager waves depending on familiarity until they reached the clearing set up for dancing. Little flower lanterns magicked to float hovered around them, bobbing up and down to the music, which was a mix of older rhythms from old court days and modern music played on classic instruments. Currently, a version of Mr. Brightside trilled and warbled in the air with many of the younger folk laughing and dancing to the familiar beat.

Oleander took both of Yuka’s hands and beamed giddily.

“Do you know this song? My dad sings it all the time to annoy my other dad and my mom.” He cheesed.
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inchargemarge · Site Admin Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7943

Yuka had never felt so enchanted, quickly, this party was feeling like the best thing that could’ve happened to her. She allowed Oleander to keep her hands, she was smiling so sweetly that her cheeks were starting to hurt. She shook her lead a little bit, “I don’t think so, do you know the words?” She asked him.

PeanutButterGoddess · Joined: 25 Apr 2016 Posts: 7962

“Some of them, but my dad knows it best.” Oleander lightly boasted. He always felt as if his parents held the moon and all the stars in their own ways. For Buck, it was his love and affinity for music. He knew things about music and musicians that no one else did. He could listen to a song once and know the exact beats and even most of the lyrics if a song had them. “It was only a kids, it was only a kiss!“ He sang and hummed some of the lyrics he didn’t know, grinning all the while.
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