The large country manor that Dareios and Ikinya call home is located out in the country, but yet isn't too far away from town to be a burden on his patients. His driveway is rather long, but this is for safety reasons, and is accessible through wrought iron gates - electric ones of course. There are no fences that surround his property, only dense tree lines around his rather large garden. The country manor was once farmland, but was converted into a state home when the farm went broke many years before Dareios came to buy it.
Slightly modernised with the main features of the house untouched - exposed beams, brick walls - the manor is a most lovely place to live. The upper floor is nothing more than a large lofty area that is just for bedrooms and the Master bathroom. A basement that was once a wine cellar is now just a brightly lit cellar which doubles as the laundry, accessible through the steamy, sauna-like pool room. The most redeeming features of the manor are the large vegetable garden and the rather big child's playground. The likelihood of Ikinya growing older than a child is pretty low - although it does depend on the Spirit Guide. Dareios is pretty sure that Ikinya loves her playground too much to want to grow up for the time being, so having a second set of eyes in the house is going to be a very good idea.
First floor
Entrance/Lounge Room/Stairs, Kitchen/Dining, Living Room, Bathroom, Indoor Pool, Private Therapy Office
It was easy to see the look of surprises on their faces, the guard's and the bellboy's and the girl's, although Mia didn't understand the cause for it. She didn't care, either, carrying Ikinya as if she weighed nothing and padding silently after the unicorn, keeping close to his side. Even here she knew better than to try to wander away, and didn't want to give them any excuse to keep her here, away from them. Not that she thought he'd allow it, she thought with a wry smile to herself. Dareios was stronger than he gave himself credit for, perhaps, and the little spirit guide had a stronger will than many creatures she'd seen. Watching the exchange curiously, Euthymia had to smile when he said he didn't need to look over the information they had on her after all. As they walked outside she paused only to take a deep breath of the fresh air, her eyes closing slightly in pleasure at the sensation. Quickly catching up to the man, Mia realized they were heading straight home after all, but certainly didn't care if they bought her things or not. All that mattered to her was having a home and people to love, everything else was completely irrelevant to the nature spirit.
A bit uneasy in the car, Mia allowed Ikinya to start braiding her hair again, shifting once or twice and trying to get somewhat comfortable. The girl's hands in her hair was almost soothing and her eyes looked over to Dareios when he asked her to tell him about herself. Then the little spirit guide piped up as well and Mia laughed, the same warm laugh, and shook her head gently. "It's all right. Curiosity is healthy in a child and I'm not offended," Mia assured him, turning her smile over to the man before looking back to Ikinya. She was clearly waiting for answers and Mia thought for a moment. "Well, I like chocolate and peppermint. Peppermint tea is a favorite of mine," she began lightly, her ear twitching. "I also like being outside and listening to...what did they call it...classical music," the spirit continued, having to think on that. She gently stroked the spirit guide's hair while her own was braided, not minding the gentle pulls and tugs in the least. Having someone be so unafraid to be familiar with her was calming to the older spirit. Most creatures, human or not, were too afraid to be so easy with her.
"As for how old I am, I can't tell you that because I don't know myself," Mia said with a smile. "But I was born the first day the autumn chill cooled those suffering from the heat of summer, when the first touch of crimson began to bleed into the earthy greens of the leaves on the trees of my forest." Her voice took on a story-telling like quality, her expression fading to see something that was in a distant memory. "I don't know where to say I am from. My home was a large, large forest. Bigger than anything they have now. I took care of it and helped the autumn air bring its cooling touch to the creatures who lived there, watched the forest explode in a symphony of color and light around me." Euthymia sounded wistful, but not sad, not regretful. "Do you know about Alexander the Great?" she asked the girl, looking down at her. While Ikinya shook her head, she saw Dareios nod out of the corner of her eye. "You will. I was old when he first came to my lands. He was the first human I spoke to. He was young, but very wise," she remarked. It was clear she had a great fondness for the long-dead warrior and smiled a bit.
Settling back against the leather of the chair, the autumn spirit's ear twitched a bit as she thought. "I'm looking forward to seeing your home," she said softly, changing the subject. It wasn't out of any sense of discomfort - she merely felt that there was nothing much to tell about her life at all, despite living for so many years. Euthymia didn't see how anyone could find her or her years interesting and would gladly tell more if prompted. "You said you have a vegetable garden, and trees. Is it a forest?" she asked curiously, her bright purple eyes - too bright to be called violet - fixing on the male near her once more.
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So far, things seemed to be going on really smoothly. Mia was happy to let Ikinya braid her hair, and it seemed like the questions the little girl had asked hadn't been too intrusive after all. Watching the woman direct her answer towards his daughter as the limo comfortably drove them to the city. Trying his best not to seem too interested in what Euthymia was saying to Ikinya, the unicorn listened as he relaxed into the pleather seat. Chocolate; peppermint - especially the tea; the outdoors; classical music, just a few likes that Dareios didn't mind himself. The spirit guide seemed quite at home on the woman's lap, her large eyes fixed to the sunset coloured strands she was delicately weaving together in a sweet little braid. Looking up for a moment as fingers messed into her thick hair, Ikinya just grinned and went back to braiding. "I like peppermint flavoured chocolate. It's nice." Came a spontaneous statement so suddenly that Dareios had to keep back a laugh. Her innocence and carefree nature was simply a blessing to the male.
But when the woman actually answered Kini's question about her age, Dareios didn't actually think she'd admit the truth, and was quite surprised when she did. Instead of feeling relieved, he just felt more nervous than before. An older woman, he hadn't had to live with a woman so much older than himself. Yet, the way she described her, well, birth was like poetry and the man found himself trapped in her wistful voice as she spoke of memories long past. Even Ikinya stopped braiding the woman's hair to listen to her speak of her home and what she had seen. Attention snapping back to reality as the woman asked Ikinya a specific question, he gave a reassuring nod from over the top of her head. She hadn't learned that much about the world yet, but he knew of the man, and his curiosity about the spirit he was to live with just intensified.
As Ikinya finished off the braid she had been working on, Dareios found that Mia's attention had turned towards him now, the subject changing. Smiling hopefully as the woman admitted to wanting to see his home, he canted his head a little as she questioned him about his garden, her bright violet eyes striking him dumb for a moment. "My home is surrounded by forest; I live out in the country. I can't be in the city for too long or I start to get sick. Plus the peaceful environment has been beneficial for the people that seek my help. The forest is thick, from what I can tell. You're.... Welcome to explore it." Was he offering her too much freedom by saying she could venture into the forest? He doubted she'd run from him, but he wouldn't blame her. Being a slave wasn't a fun life, and he would happily guide her to happiness if it meant she could live free and happy. Speaking of being free and happy, it was about time he manned up and finally did what he'd been meaning to this whole car ride. As the limo found it's way into town, the trainstation on the outskirts of it, Dareios carefully made his way over so he was sitting next to Mia, Ikinya's eyes turning expectantly upwards to her father.
"Don't fret, there's... there's something I have to do before we get on the train." Inhaling and exhaling through his nose, as the car pulled to a gentle stop, Dareios' gentle hands reached up and with a bit of fiddling, freed Euthymia from her collar. Tucking it inside his slacks for the time being, he smiled weakly. "I hope that made you more comfortable." He said softly, before climbing out the car and offering his hand to Ikinya to help her out, the same hand extended for Mia if she wished to take it.
The train station was rather nice and clean, and the tall man lead the way to a platform separate from the main one. "Because we live in the country so far away, we're taking a special train. It has beds so you can sleep if you wish. And somewhere to eat. The journey will be a few hours... So you're welcome to sleep if you want." Almost promptly Ikinya yawned, her tiny hand sneaking into her fathers - and Mia's as well. Looking down to the little girl as she lazily swung herself about with her hands tightly held by the older two, Dareios allowed himself a look at Mia and quickly turned away blushing. As the train pulled into the station moments later, Dareios could see his reflection in the shining train's carriage body, and was surprised to see how neatly they fit together. "What a sweet family..." Turning around wildly, an old lady climbing aboard the train with her husband was smiling at the trio, pointing them subtly out to her husband. Blushing furiously, Dareios lead the two ladies in his life to the train and guided them aboard and to the compartment they'd be staying in for the journey. It was a nice little sleeping compartment; two single bunk beds comfortably fit into the "family" designated compartment, and again the mention of family made the male feel just a bit more nervous. He'd long ago had to abandon his ideals and concerns about living with a woman out of wedlock, but these days it was just so common he'd managed to push it behind him. Didn't mean it was any easier, sharing a small space with a woman of indescribable beauty.
As Ikinya climbed up into the top bunk, she stretched herself out and promptly curled up for a nap. Smiling up at his child, the man sat down on the edge of the bed, offering a polite smile to Mia. "What would you like to do when the train takes off? Would you like to go get food? Or have a rest? We.. We can go to the seated area and talk if you want? I-It's up to you..." Sliding the hairband out of his hair, the white strands that looked silvery in sunlight rested down his back like a waterfall, before they were quickly swept back again into the neat ponytail at the nape of his neck, waiting expectantly to see what Mia wanted to do. The train was due to leave in about ten minutes, so she had a while to think of something.
Listening to his answer, the female smiled warmly when he said she was welcome to explore the forest on his land. It was an unspoken measure of trust, as they both knew that she could easily slip away. But she was already in love with Ikinya, enjoying the gentle tugging as she felt her hair woven into a braid, and would never leave the girl. Perhaps it was because they were both spirits, or a kinship she felt with the unicorn. Perhaps it was a maternal instinct long buried within Euthymia, but whatever the cause, she was fiercely attached to the little girl in her lap. The spirit guide was there to help them, but to the autumn spirit, she was there to protect Dareios and his daughter from the world, from those who would hunt down a unicorn and his little girl. The day would come, possibly, when she was no longer necessary to them. If that day ever did arrive, than she would consider herself free and retreat to her home, what remained of it. But now her heart belonged to the both of them, even if they weren't quite aware of how deep her devotion was to them so quickly.
Her ear twitched curiously when he scooted down the seat to them, her tail resting between their legs as the spirit guide looked up at her father. She seemed to be expecting something, while Mia was simply curious, watching him with piercing eyes. As his hands came up towards her collar, she tilted her chin up, more than happy to get the horrid thing off. A sigh of relief escaped her as she felt her magic return, no longer bound by wards and spells, and the color in her hair and eyes only seemed to become richer, more vibrant, in a few seconds. "Thank you, Dareios," she said softly, before he got out of the car. It certainly did make her more comfortable and she felt more alive, reaching out with her senses for a moment as Ikinya climbed off her lap. Having never been in a city, it was a sickening surprise and she quickly withdrew back into herself, shaking her head. No wonder humans were so unhappy, so eager to spread their misery to those who found solace in other places such as this. Even happier now that their destination was not one of these terrible places, Mia put her hand in his and let him help her out, a bit unsure of the car and almost hitting her head against the doorframe as she stood.
As they walked through the train station, Mia followed behind, looking around her curiously, tail twitching against her leg to avoid being pulled or stepped on. As Ikinya laced her fingers through the other spirit's, Euthymia looked down with a gentle smile and laughed a bit as the girl began to swing herself. She obliged, raising her hand up a bit. Though she wasn't much for physical strength, she was more than capable of holding up the little girl for as long as she wanted to amuse herself. Hearing the comment, her ear twitched towards the sound of the voice and she smiled a bit more. Rather than feel embarrassed, the spirit was more than pleased to hear such a thing. To her, it meant that she was already fitting in with their lives, already seeming as if she belonged with them. That made her happy and she looked at the unicorn curiously when she saw him blush. While she felt emotions and could be embarrassed or shy, Euthymia simply looked at things in a different way sometimes and didn't see why Dareios might be embarrassed. Not worried about it in the least, as she felt he would say something to her if it concerned her, she hummed a bit and stepped into the train after him, just a bit hesitantly.
She would certainly be glad when this journey was over. So much metal, hustle and bustle, the sounds of humanity crying out for 'more, more' when they didn't know what to do with what they had...it made her heart ache. Just as her breeze soothed their brows from the feverish heat of her sister summer, Mia wanted to soothe their fears and sorrows, but that was not what she was meant to do anymore. Now she had two special people in her care and she would devote herself to them, make sure they were safe. That gave her a purpose she hadn't had in centuries.
Mia looked around the sleeping area curiously, then back to Dareios once she was sure Ikinya was settled and sleeping soundly. After a moment she moved to sit next to him, everything about her graceful even in a cramped space such as the one they were in. The female had been called many names before, beautiful one of them, but it meant nothing to her. For one, they were shallow words, with no meaning for her to understand. For another, she simply didn't understand the importance on appearance. "I would like to see more of this, if that is all right," she told him, her voice soft to keep from waking Ikinya. "I'm not very tired...most likely from the excitement at seeing our home. But if you want to rest, I can look around myself," Mia added, not wanting to cause him undue stress. Peering at him for a long moment, her hand came up, her fingertips resting on his temple, a touch as light and cool as the autumn breeze, and yet somehow giving off a source of warmth. "Are you all right, Dareios?" she asked. It was easy for her to tell he had been troubled before, and while he didn't seem so any longer, there was something in his air..."Are you tired?" she guessed, tilting her head a bit as her ear twitched again.
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There had been a very obvious shift in Mia's energy and demeanour ever since the collar had been removed, and Dareios hadn't missed it. Her hair and eyes seemed to gain some added vibrancy, and it just made the male feel awestruck to be around her. He knew first hand what it was like to be stared at, to have people gawk at you for being special, different, beautiful. The man was trying his best not to stare at her hair, her eyes and even her glowing skin tone, but it was very hard to do when you were in a confined space, and even harder to do when the subject in question was sitting right next to you. Perking up a little at the idea of leaving the room to sit in a more open area, he nodded to show he was listening, feeling no need to use words right now. The need to speak was extinguished even more when fingertips were placed on his temple, his eyes going slightly wider as she asked if everything was okay. Staring at her for a moment, her fingers an equal mix of soothing coolness and comforting warmth, he shut his eyes and sighed in a somewhat defeated manner. "There's something I should come clean about. But I'll tell you when we leave this room. I don't.... I don't want Ikinya to hear; she's too young to understand and it will break her heart." Keeping his voice soft, his own hand reached up to brush his fingertips over the back of her hand. "I'm quite alright, honestly." Smiling gently at her, he appreciated her concern more than he'd ever say.
Within ten minutes, the train was on it's way. Sitting awkwardly in the room with Mia, the announcement over the intercom from outside the room said the dining car was now open. Standing up, he smiled down at the spirit with her fox ears. "Come, my treat. You can grab anything you want." Opening the door for the woman, he shut it fast behind him after pulling down the privacy blind, pocketing the key that came with the room - he wasn't going to leave Ikinya in the room without locking the door. Leading Mia down the passageways of the train to get to the dining car, he let her in first, surprised to see the place so empty. Admittedly the train had been incredibly empty when they'd boarded, so at least they'd have some privacy.
Ordering a basic chef's salad, along with a lemon and lime slice, he paid for the woman's choice of food as well as a pot of peppermint tea to share, two china cups balancing on the tray that he took over to a seating area towards the back of the carriage, the tray rattling gently as it sat on the table between them. Dishing out their lunch, Dareios clasped his hands in his lap and looked out the window. "I wasn't going to mention this for a while, but I'd like to get it out in the open. I was... I was once like you. I.. I had the collars, the chains... The.." Swallowing loudly, he rubbed his legs at the thought. "Punishments. I was captured while still a young stallion, they... Lured me with a virgin female. I spent years.. So many years being a pet for sorcerers... Until this one witch found me... She changed me, gave me the gift of form changes, taught me how to speak and even sent me to schools for education." Lifting his eyes to meet those fabulous violet orbs that made him feel calm, Dareios sat slightly taller in the seat.
"She freed me, she gave me a new start to life. I owe my new life to her completely, and as contradictory as it was to go to... That place... I don't want her lessons to have been in vain. I was a companion to this woman, a friend. And your promise earlier - the one you gave about protecting us - I want to promise you that I'll never, ever send you back to that place. If the time comes, if you get the chance, I want you to take it." Reaching out for her hand, the man found her touch to be very soothing earlier, and he wanted that feeling right now. "I promise to never lay a hand on you in harm, and to treat you with the utmost respect, Euthymia." Smiling warmly at the woman, a weight was lifted off Dareios' chest, but there was still one thing he needed to mention. "Also... I-I'm sorry for how I've been acting. It's just... I haven't been around someone as... Radiant as you before. I've never been in the presence of someone that has so much wisdom and... I don't know what the word is, but it's awe-inspiring to be around you. I guess I'm just not used to being around a proper lady." Shrugging, the blush returned to his cheek and he chuckled in an embarrassed way. The bright side, at least it was off his mind now. Letting go of her hand, he picked up a fork and speared some salad greens with it. The bright sunshine filtered through the window and made the man's hair shimmer in the light, the cityscape thinning out slowly into suburban landscapes with the promise of better views in the horizon.
When the male said there was something he had to "come clean about" - which she knew by now meant that he wanted to be honest with her - the spirit tipped her head to the side a bit and looked up at him curiously. Even sitting down he was much taller than her, not that she minded. A small smile appeared on Euthymia's lips when his fingertips brushed against her hand. She was simply pleased to have physical contact with someone after so long. And the fact that he wasn't afraid of it, of her, enough to avoid touching her made her even happier. The spirit could tell he was...she supposed 'skittish' was an appropriate term, considering what he was, with other people and the last thing she wanted was for Dareios to feel uncomfortable with her. It was why his behavior, however slight, worried her. Had she done something to make him question buying her? Or was he perhaps just nervous around her? Whatever it was, she wanted to know so she could do her best to fix it. More than pleased when he said he was all right, she nodded and fell silent. The quiet between them didn't bother Mia in the least and she simply relaxed, her tail flicking a bit here and there as she felt the slight motions of the train underneath her. While she had been in transportation before, it had been a while and she never really enjoyed it, always nervous when she couldn't have any control over where she was going or where she was to start with.
Mia looked up at him when he said they could go eat and returned the smile happily. "I am a bit hungry," she admitted, having grown used to eating modern food in the last few years and rather enjoying it. She followed the unicorn obediently through the cars, staying close to him and looking around curiously with bright eyes. There weren't many people there and she was a bit disappointed, having wanted to see what humans were like lately. Unsure what she wanted, the spirit simply ordered what Dareios did and followed him over to the table, sitting down. She could smell the peppermint and her ears twitched a bit happily. It had been a while since she had been able to have her favorite drink and realized he had been listening to what she had told Ikinya earlier in the car.
The spirit watched him calmly when he began to speak, her hands clasped in her lap when she wasn't taking a bit of salad or a sip of tea. She had old-world manners, her back straight in the chair, her ankles crossed and legs tucked to the side a bit. While she wasn't staring, she was certainly watching him with an intense sort of gaze as he continued to speak of how he had been captured and what had happened to him. The last thing she liked to hear was the story of such a beautiful creature had been tricked and abused by humans and she wished she had been able to help somehow. Even though it would have been impossible, it was still a desire welling in her chest. She couldn't stand seeing others hurt. Her hand rested on the table for a moment as she put her fork down, having taken another bite of the leafy greens, and her ear twitched a touch when his hand came over and rested on her own gently. Mia turned her hand over so she was holding his, she nodded when he made his promise. Although it was completely unnecessary for her to hear it, as she knew he would never harm her, the fact that he felt he should say it and wanted to make it so clear that she was safe with him was touching and she appreciated his being so forthcoming. And she could understand his deeper reasons for wanting to buy someone, to free them and let them lead their life. His speech of telling her to leave when she wished, when she could, surprised her however and she wasn't sure how to reply. She certainly was at a loss for words when he continued to speak and explained why he had been acting in such a manner around her.
Euthymia took a few minutes to look at him, her gaze piercing as she appeared to be weighing something. When she seemed to come to a decision, she slid off the bench she was on and rose, moving over to sit next to him instead. "I don't have wisdom, Dareios," she told him softly, reaching up and running her fingers through some strands of the silvery hair. It was a stunning contrast, the pale glowing strands next to her own fiery ones, one she was completely unaware of. "I simply have experience. I can certainly make mistakes," she added, with a small smile that suggested she had made more than she cared to think about over the years. Letting his hair slip through her fingers like silk, the spirit tipped her head to lift her gaze from his hair to his eyes, smiling. "But I promise I will do my best to guide Ikinya and teach her. And I will do my best to help you when you wish it," she added honestly, her voice gentle. "Just as I belong to you, as much as you will accept me - you and Ikinya belong to me now as well. There is nothing I would not do for either of you," Mia told him honestly, the words a promise.
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Euthymia was from another era, from a time when ladies were ladies, not the things that were portrayed on TV and in magazines. The way she sat and presented herself was just so breathtaking and refreshing, Dareios knew he'd be constantly trying to present himself equally as well. The fact that she'd held his hand while speaking meant the world to the unicorn as he spilled his secret so early, but what really surprised him was her reaction to his little speech. Watching her move from one side of the table to join him, Dareios quickly scooted over to make room for her, and immediately found her fingers in his hair. Staring a little wide-eyed, his eyes flicked between her face and her own hair, the colours so bright and vibrant, her eyes an almost perfect contrast to her bright hair; the violet colour was so different but lovely. Finding himself oddly entranced by the woman sitting next to him, feeling like a schoolboy with a crush, he listened to her soothing voice as she nit-picked a few points that made him grin.
She was surprising, that was for sure. Preferring to hide himself from society these days, there was still a number of things that surprised Dareios, but hearing Mia say that himself and his daughter belonged to her just as she belonged to him, he felt his spirit soar. Her words had been a promise, a promise that oddly meant the world to him right now. He needed someone that would be around to teach and watch Ikinya when he couldn't be around, and even more so, someone that wouldn't take the land around his house for granted. Being a slave, he'd known the itch to just run away when presented with a home that was not only surrounded by forest, but was in a setting that allowed for one to flee without being seen. Part of his skittish nature felt nervous about what would happen once she saw his home and it's forest, but Mia seemed genuinely happy to be living with him and Ikinya, so Dareios let himself relax a little.
"Mia..." Was all he could say in reply, her person being so close to him was something new. He was used to people being close in his true form, but someone sitting with him, letting his hair run through their fingers, it was new. He could tell the woman used touch as a reassuring factor, and while it was still mildly intimidating that she was a much older being than himself, it was also incredibly reassuring. She could pass her knowledge onto Ikinya, and she loved the outdoors as much as his own darling girl. Everything would be so much better from now on. The unicorn was mildly confident that he wouldn't have to worry anymore, and that his stress levels would lower considerably as time went by. Of course, it would all depend on how Euthymia acted once she saw just how much space there was to hide, and possibly flee. He wanted to trust her word so badly, her touch had been so reassuring and warming, but it was that nature of his that was preventing him from trusting her so early on. He'd been tricked so many times before...
Slowly, a hand reached up to brush some of Euthymia's vibrant hair off her face, his fingers trailing through her long strands of hair. "I cannot thank you for what you've just said. Please don't be offended though if at the moment I'm still unsure... Us equestrians aren't the most trusting." Making a joke about himself, he smiled and took one of Mia's hands in his. "But I do feel confident I will be the happiest I have been in years with you here." Like a gentleman back in the days greeting or thanking a lady, Dareios touched his lips to Mia's knuckles and smiled up at her gently. Returning back to normal, Dareios initiated gentle conversation. Just simple things like what her likes were, what she didn't like, what her favourite pass times were. Simple things to get to know the woman a little better, and so he could learn to open up a little bit more. As the train made it's way past urban areas, the city now left behind, more people began to filter into the dining car, mostly cute little old couples that watched the young "couple" with interest, and a few business men here and there with their laptops and briefcases. Watching these people in between talking with Mia while Ikinya slept, Dareios could easily admit that he was in a very happy place right now. He didn't know one woman could make him feel so safe so soon, but here she was, this vibrant Autumn Spirit, making him feel warm and comforted within hours of meeting her.
Mia smiled, happy he was calm enough around her to do something as simple as tuck her hair behind her ear like that. She wasn't bothered at all when he said he still was unsure - she wouldn't expect him to trust anyone completely so soon, let alone someone like her who could easily escape. Only time would reassure him that she had no intention of going anywhere. If she disappeared for a day or two to wander, she would be sure to let him know beforehand. The seasons' calls were unavoidable and all she could do was to let the magic of the land flow through her. The spirit was more than elated to hear him say he was happy with her there. That was important to her, the most important thing, that they both be happy with her. Ikinya was already quite so, she knew, but Dareios was more difficult for her to reach, she feared. Pleased that it wasn't nearly as difficult as she had feared to put him at ease at all, Euthymia relaxed and smiled up at him as he continued to make small talk with her. It was soothing, doing something so simple as the landscape passed them by, and she enjoyed it immensely. While he got answers from her, she returned with questions of her own, the same small things to let her know more about the man she was going to be living with.
After a time Euthymia switched seats with the unicorn so she could watch the cities and suburbs melt into countryside. She clearly enjoyed it, her eyes brightening in anticipation of seeing her new home, even as she continued to speak to Dareios. Soon enough they were nearing the station they would get off at and he decided that it was time to wake Ikinya up. The spirit nodded and followed him back through the train to the small room the girl was in, unaware of the people assuming they were a couple and commenting on their exotic coloring. Once he unlocked the door, the female slipped past him and perched up on the bottom bunk to see Ikinya sleeping soundly. She smiled, almost wistfully. One thing that had always been denied her was children and she loved them so. Perhaps in the end Euthymia needed them much more than they needed her, at least in some ways, and she touched her hand to the girl's cheek lightly. "It's time to wake up, sweet one. We're almost home and then you can show me how marvelous your land is," she told the girl softly, stirring her awake. The elder female got down to her feet as the little spirit yawned and climbed down easily, stretching. She still looked tired and Euthymia scooped her up to carry her with a smile. Ikinya put her arms around the woman's neck and smiled, nuzzling into her neck just like a cat would, and the autumn spirit laughed softly.
Turning her attention to Dareios, her eyes were bright with anticipation. "I'm so excited to see your home," she told him eagerly, although it was quite unnecessary to say that as her expression made it clear. Following him to the main section of the train where they would disembark, she looked out the window curiously. "How are we getting from here to your home?" Euthymia asked him, turning her gaze from the outside that was slowly beginning to come back into focus as the train slowed to the unicorn at her side.
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The train ride back home suddenly didn't seem quite as long with Euthymia around. The small talk, while it was exactly that, was pleasant enough to not be awkward. It was nice to learn things about someone who was from a whole different world, and it was always fascinating to see other people's points of view. When asked to change seats so she could view the scenery better, Dareios didn't object, and happily swapped spots with the pretty lady. Her facial expressions and the way her eyes seemed to brighten was all that the man needed to know he had done the right thing by taking her out the Hotel to live with him. The universe had it's weird way of leading him down the right track, even without Ikinya's help he seemed to somehow find the right path. But his little African girl was the worlds best bonus to his life. She meant the world to him, and now they had another being to share their lives with. With the station in sight, Dareios mentioned it was time to go wake the spirit guide up, and offering his hand to help the woman off the bench-like seat, they walked back to the compartment. Mia seemed to not hear the whispers from others, but Dareios did, and he had to try so hard to keep his face it's soft pale colour. He wasn't embarrassed at the thought, but he was awestruck that people would even imagine she would be with him. It was the good kind of embarrassed smile that tugged at his lips when they entered the compartment, but it melted into a more adoring one upon seeing how gentle Euthymia was with his girl.
With Ikinya awake and snuggling against Mia like any good cat, Dareios nodded and lead her to the main area of the train. Sitting down as the train came to a stop, there was an almost permanent smile on his features, a very much excited smile. Mia was truly excited to see his country home. There was nothing more beautiful that the English countryside, at least in the unicorn's mind anyway, so he knew she would love their slightly larger than normal home. Seeing Mia focus back on him, the man was asked a rather decent question. "By taxi, since we live in the countryside." Stroking the sleepy little girl's head for a moment, he turned his focus back on the woman with the lovely purple eyes. "Most of the journey is over thanks to the train, so it'll only be about twenty minutes in the taxi. You'll get to see the view change between lush villages to open grassy fields and soon forests will come into view. It's a lovely drive."
Train coming to a stop, a voice over the intercom gave the passengers permission to disembark now it was safe to do so, and leaving the train first, Dareios offered his hand up to Euthymia to help her down. Did he care that people were staring at them, making little comments about the exotic couple? Not anymore. If people assumed they were a couple, it meant there was no air of uncomfortableness around any of them, and that was always a good start. Dareios hadn't expected to find a beauty like Mia hidden away in a slavery, but now she was with them, already he couldn't bare the thought of what might have happened if Ikinya didn't lead him to her. His daughter needed a strong female figure in her life, and this woman with her affiliation to nature and her gentle disposition was what they both needed right now in their life. Dareios probably would never be able to admit it, most likely because he didn't realise it himself, but he was the one that needed Euthymia more than Ikinya did.
Exiting the train station, there was a small bunch of shining black taxicabs waiting in a nearby bay. Leading Mia to the front cab, he offered to take the slightly more awake girl but Ikinya had other ideas. Climbing down carefully from Mia, the dark-skinned little lady scampered over to the cab and made herself quite comfortable on the lone seat. "Opskud pa, ek is honger!" Making a mock-whining sound, Ikinya just grinned. "Da-d, I'm hungry!" She whined like any good child, making a playful sound to show that she wasn't trying to make too much of a fuss. Shaking his head, the man regretted turning down the chance to learn Dutch when it was offered to him by... Someone he used to live with. At least if he knew Dutch he'd be able to begin to understand some Afrikaans; at least 'honger' was easily enough to understand, and the little girl used 'opskud' too often so he knew it meant 'hurry up'. Allowing Mia to get in first to face the smiling girl - the cab's had some pretty odd seating compared to some others - Dareios gave the driver instructions and settled himself next to Mia. There was a small amount of space between the two, but it didn't stop Dareios from feeling a little bashful when his shoulder gently bumped against Mia's around corners.
It was barely twenty minutes, most of the time flying past with Ikinya playing typical car-ride games like 'I spy' and 'twenty questions', but as the countryside began to become thick with trees after being open pastures for a short while, there was a sense of merriment in the car as the trio was quite excited to return home. Ikinya was mostly excited because she wanted to show Euthymia around their house, and Dareios was just happy to be home. Driving up the rather long driveway, the cab stopped at the top of the circular parking bay right near the path to the door. Letting himself out, followed by an excited child, again Dareios offered Mia a hand to help her out. "Welcome to our home." He said gently, paying the cab driver and stood to watch him leave as Ikinya began to run around, scampering back and forth between the female and male. The house was a straightforward single story with a loft for the sleeping quarters, and nearly everything could be seen straight from the front door. Opening his house, Ikinya ran straight in with a happy cry while Dareios gestured for Mia to enter. Running back to the two, Ikinya gently tugged at Mia's hands. "Come! I'll show you around! Could you please please please make me some lunch Pa?" Batting her eyes up at her dad, it was easy to see she often got her own way, as all the man could manage was a chuckle and a nod before the excited African girl dragged Mia off for a "tour". Shutting the front door, the man went for the kitchen to make a simple chicken and salad sandwich for the girl; sandwiches were easiest and the man baked his own bread weekly. How long the tour would take depended on how hungry Ikinya was.
[translations: Hurry up dad! I'm hungry!] [outfits]
As they stepped down from the train, Euthymia looked around curiously. She was completely oblivious to the whispers about them, about what a beautiful couple they were, and the other usual things people would say about such exotic beings. Carrying Ikinya as if born to do so, the female followed Dareios over to the cabs. She wasn't very keen on getting inside one, but the little African girl scrambled down and made such a playful fuss that she couldn't help but laugh softly as she slid into the seat next to the unicorn. Mia wasn't bothered at all by the closeness of the seating arraignment, her shoulder bumping into his bicep gently with the movements of the cab as they traveled down the road. Despite how relaxed she was, the female was clearly excited, looking out the window with an expression of anticipation on her face. she had no idea what it would look like, save for what she'd been told of it, and the spirit couldn't wait to see her new home and the place she was going to help care for Ikinya and her father. It was obvious that both of them needed some sort of love and care, though in different ways, and she was determined to keep them safe and happy.
Her eyes widened in amazement as they reached her new home. "It's beautiful!" Euthymia exclaimed happily, almost as energetic as the little girl, who was bouncing in her seat eagerly. As the cab pulled to a stop, she had to restrain herself from running out of the car and into the trees. Not to escape, but merely because it had been so long since she'd been able to be in a forest. She could sense the garden as well, all the growth and life lingering in the air of the home, and it made her feel alive again, as if she'd been in a dream or a daze this entire time. While Ikinya ran back and forth, eager to go, Mia smiled and let the unicorn help her out of the cab. Walking up to the home and through the doorway, she looked around with wide eyes, the purple color almost glowing with joy as she took in the ease and comfort of the home. Nothing was overdone or uncomfortable, it was welcoming and made her feel like she belonged here.
When Ikinya grabbed her hand and tugged her along, Mia went easily, her tail swishing happily. It was almost like a cat's when being petted, flicking back and forth. The little girl dragged her through the main floor of the house, explaining this and that and everything else. It was a bit overwhelming for the spirit, but she took it all in with good grace and the excitement of a child. As they headed upstairs, she was shown her room and smiled, surprised to see that she had one. When asked if the little girl could sleep with her sometimes, she laughed and nodded, kissing her head. "Of course, sweetheart. Whenever you want to, I love having company." She wouldn't mind sharing at all, the comfort of having another person nearby was more than welcome and she hugged the girl happily. Ikinya went on to explain the bathrooms and lights to her, in case she was unsure, and then went on to drag her back downstairs, announcing she was hungry. Euthymia laughed, shaking her head in amusement, and allowed herself to be brought back to the kitchen, where Dareios was finishing up food for them. The little girl scampered over and grabbed a sandwich with a happy 'thank you' to her father, having been taught manners, and sat down with a plate to eat it.
"You'll have to teach me how to cook, so I can help you more," Euthymia suggested, looking over at him with a smile. "Your house is absolutely beautiful, and I love my room. Thank you so much for it," she continued, her tail wrapping around her ankles a little bit. "I may go explore the woods when you don't need me, perhaps tonight after Ikinya goes to bed. It's been so long since I've been been able to go out like that," she said, sounding a bit wistful. After a moment, Mia smiled up at him as her ear twitched. "You mentioned that someone would be coming to speak to you when we got home. Is there anything I should do with Ikinya?" she asked, wanting to know if he had a routine or if she could do as she pleased, at least for today.
⊱⊱D▸A R E I O S⋮The Reformed Slave ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
Dareios couldn't wipe the smile from his face as Ikinya lead Mia away to explore the house. The man wasn't just happy because of how happy Ikinya was, but because Euthymia had instantly complimented his home, and seemed to already feel comfortable. Watching the two walk away, the woman's tail moving in a pleased manner, Dareios took his time making the sandwiches for his daughter. He was a little worried about Ikinya's childish joy clouding the tour of the house, but since he felt nervous enough at the idea of having a woman living with them, it was definitely the best idea. Mentally checking off the list in his head to make sure that he'd prepared everything in time, he was alerted by the hurrying footsteps of a small child in need of food. Looking up from the dishes he was doing - just a few glasses and what he used to prepare lunch - Dareios smiled as Ikinya all but pounced on her lunch and promptly thanked him for it; Ikinya was a very well mannered little girl after all. There were some extra sandwiches made, if Mia was still hungry after the train ride, but most likely it would be Ikinya who'd eat them, since she was going through a bit of a growth spurt. It was Mia's voice that snapped Dareios out of his little thought bubble, and looking to Mia as she offered up a rather good suggestion, his face relaxed into a grin. Teaching someone to cook would be fun, and definitely a good stress relief. What caught him off guard though was the sudden compliment about his home. Turning away with a shy but proud smile, all he could do was utter a soft 'heh' and drain the water from the sink, drying his hands until the blush from his cheeks subsided.
He next statement was sudden, but it made sense to the male. She needed her own space to be free in this place, and if exploring the woods was something she needed to do, then so be it. Waiting for her to finish up with a question about what she should do with Ikinya while he was conducting a therapy session, the man hummed in thought. "Generally she just runs around the house and does whatever she wants, so I'm sure she'd relish the change at having someone to talk to and play with. If you like, my garden needs looking at; I haven't had a chance to check my vegetables. You're welcome to take her down there with you. Aside from that... I don't mind what you two do. I teach her schoolings in between sessions, and sometimes she practises while I'm away for the hour. If you want to teach her anything... I'm more than happy with that." Turning to face Mia, Dareios pushed some hair off his face, his eyes studying the bright purple-violet hues that looked so beautiful even in the artificial light. He couldn't help but think that, having little to no contact with an adult female in so long, and it caught him off-guard, so he simply began to speak again, fighting to be polite and keep eye contact.
"You are more than welcome to go explore after dusk. Just... Be careful, please. While we are far away from any neighbours, people still use these woods for pheasant hunting and rabbit trapping. They don't hunt for fun, they're farmers that live off the land because we're so far from town. If it was sport hunting I'd never allow it..." Looking out the kitchen window for a minute, he turned back to Euthymia and taking the chance while Ikinya was distracted by food, he took up Mia's hand and stepped close to the woman. "You can go explore those woods any time you like. I will never stop you from having this freedom. All I ask is you be careful, and come back to us." Smiling a little half smile, he rubbed her thumb with the back of his hand and released it to go take the now empty sandwich plate from Ikinya, who was almost purring with happiness. "I have to go work now, kitten. How about you take Mia down to the vegetable garden and make sure everything is healthy." Perking up instantly, Ikinya grinned from ear to ear. "Goed, Pa! I'll go show Miss Mia our garden, and my playground!" Chuckling a little, Dareios moved past Mia to exit the kitchen area, a hand gracing her lower back for a second to indicate he was moving behind her. "I'll be back in an hour okay? You can follow her around, or do your own thing, it's quite okay. She's used to having an hour to do whatever she wants." Speaking softly to Mia, he moved over to Ikinya to kiss her forehead, and then excused himself and headed for the private office space where he conducted his sessions.
Hour Time Skip
It was a good hour, give or take a few minutes, until Dareios re-appeared back in the house. It was quiet, which most likely meant that Ikinya and Mia were out in the garden, or somewhere in the back area. He felt drained, emotionally. This poor woman and her daughter. They had been his regular clients for a number of years now, and his heart seemed to break every time he saw them. Without a second thought, the man pulled out a notepad by the phone and quickly wrote a note for Mia, just in case they came looking for him. "I'm going to do a couple of laps in the pool, just in case you wonder where I am. I won't be long, I just need to unwind." Drawing a small smiley face just to make sure they didn't worry, Dareios headed straight for the indoor pool. He kept his bathing suit in there, along with a separate supply of towels just for pool use - they were very long and very fluffy, perfect for after a swim. Changing in the small bathroom that was nearby, the man pulled down the sun screen blinds to dim the room a little, and dived straight in. Instantly, the warm water calmed his mind and soul, his limbs relaxing. It was odd, since he was a Unicorn, but he loved to be in the water. It made him feel lightweight, and utterly free. Spending a few minutes to get rid of pent up emotions through rapid laps of the pool, he moved into the small spa section to de-stress fully.
Folding his arms on the tiles, he rested his head on them and let his hair float around him, while the bubbling water began to wash away the emotions. It hurt, hearing all the sadness in the people's lives he was helping, since he knew everything they were feeling. While their positives helped him feel less hurt, their pain was what got him every time. These people didn't deserve it in their lives, and the sensitive creature felt every single ache of their hearts in his own. Letting himself cry while hiding from Ikinya helped, but he didn't want to show this side in front of Mia so soon. Dareios felt bad enough that Ikinya had woken up and come down stairs a few times and caught him teary eyed, but her smiles and mature attitude made everything better almost instantly. But he was worried about what Mia would think, especially as he silently let the tears fall, forehead resting on his arms as his hair flowed within the bubbling water. What Dareios hadn't be on was Ikinya suddenly wanting a drink, and dragging Mia back inside the house to show the woman just how grown up she was, and how easy it was to get her own juice box from the fridge. The other thing he hadn't factored in was Ikinya being the one to find the note he'd written, and the girl just shrugging at it, catching Mia's attention. "Pa's swimming, he's probably sad." Was all the girl said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, which obviously surprised Mia (her tone would have surprised anyone; it was like Ikinya understood better than anyone else realised).
"Pa swims when he gets sad. The people he helps are very sad, and they get hurt. It hurts Pa, because he's such a good Pa with a biiig heart!" Stretching out her hands to show just how much of a big heart her dad had, Ikinya just smiled in the most innocent way. "I know Pa gets sad, because he wants to help the people so bad. He likes helping people get better so they can live happily like we do. That's why I found you. He needs you to be happy." Throwing away the plastic wrapper that held the straw, her last statement was just another surprising thing to come from the mouth of the young Spirit Guide that showed her true nature. Smiling up at Mia with her big eyes as she turned back, she giggled lightly. "We're a proper family now! While I make Pa happy, he needs a grown up to listen. You should go listen and help him now. I know it'll make him happy." Taking a sip of her juice box, Ikinya skipped away with a cry of "I'm going to play with my legos Miss Mia!" and disappeared into the lounge room, leaving Mia to do whatever she wished. Dareios by now had relaxed enough and was just enjoying the feeling of sadness disappearing from his heart so he could focus on the positives on the session. Back facing the door, the man looked out the shaded windows to the garden outside, his free hair dancing with the bubbles, the silvery-white locks contrasting with the clear, mildly salty water (chlorine irritated his skin too much, so he kept the pool clean with salt treatments instead). Was he prepared for someone to come see him while shirtless? Not really, but at least his midnight blue board shorts were a good length.
More than pleased with her new life so far, Mia laughed softly as he took her hand. She smiled at the unicorn as he took her hand, surprised by the gesture, but touched by it as well. Physical contact of any sort was a blessing to her, when it was so gentle like his was. The small movement of his thumb over her skin made her smile and she simply nodded at his instructions, or explanations, whatever they were meant to be. Perhaps a little bit of both. "I will take care of her," she promised him softly. It was easy to see the worry in his eyes and she didn't take any offense to it. She had to prove that she wouldn't abandon him, or his daughter, and simply run off to the forest they lived next to. At the suggestion to go down the vegetable garden with Ikinya, the spirit smiled and nodded. At the little girl's urging, she laughed softly as Dareios gently led her from the kitchen. The touch of his hand on her back was comforting, knowing he was there and just to have that physical contact with people again. "All right, I'm coming," she said with a soft laugh, as Ikinya grabbed her hand and pulled her from the house and into the sunshine that warmed their skin as they went outside.
The elder spirit followed the younger through the yard to the aforementioned vegetable garden, holding her smaller hand in her own and a gentle smile on her face as she listened to the small girl talk happily to her. Mia was glad that the young spirit guide didn't seem to want to go away from her, or have her hour all to herself and want the other spirit to leave. It was beautiful outside and Mia let out a slow breath, closing her eyes and savoring the feeling of the sunshine on her skin again. The garden was so much larger than what she had expected and her eyes grew a bit wide as they stepped into it's neat boundaries. It was obviously taken care of and cared for and Ikinya giggled when she saw the other female's look of surprise. She chirped happily away as she led her around, showing her what things where and how they took care of them, and just about everything that Euthymia could want to know about it. "I'm glad you're the first lady to come live with us. Pa is too; he might not say it but I know he is." The words left her when they were by tomatoes and Mia looked down at her, clearly startled for a moment at the sudden words. A smile graced her features in the next heartbeat and she crouched down, one hand in the earth and one hand resting on Ikinya's cheek. "I'm very glad that I've come to live here as well," Mia said softly, kissing Ikinya on the forehead as Dareios had. "And I'm very happy that you and your father are both glad to have me."
The two spirits shared a brief moment of kinship, a silent heartbeat that stretched for an age before they began to continue through the garden.
It was a peaceful time, being outside in the sunshine, with a child's chatter in her ears. As they walked through, Ikinya seemed to notice the older spirit's gaze lingering on the trees that marked the beginning of the forest. Taking her hand, the little spirit guide gently tugged her away from the garden and across the spacious yard to the trees. They took their time, their pace easy and relaxed, and Mia peered into the trees. For a moment her thoughts were far away, to her home, her own ancient forest that could be destroyed now for all she knew. Her thoughts were far, far away from the country home of her new family, of the small forest, and Ikinya fell silent. She simply held the woman's hand as they went a bit into the trees. The sunlight seemed to make Mia glow as she was in her natural state of living. Her body was still that of a woman rather than her natural fox form, but being amongst trees after so long was making her practically bloom. The spirit guide seemed to understand how important it was to her and stayed silent, letting the older female drink in the trees and fresh air and sunlight as she paused and simply looked around at the young trees, the new forest growth around them. "Did you know that Pa feeds the animals that live in the forest? He tells me he doesn't, but I know he does. We have a family of foxes he looks after, since they're on our property. I can tell when he's seen them because he's always happier. We're not supposed to because they're wild, but making seed balls for the birds is fun." Ikinya told her suddenly, breaking the spell with a wide smile and tugging on the spirit's hands. Euthymia smiled widely at the words and her free hand reached out to stroke the tree bark. "Your pa is a very, very kind man," she said softly, thoughtfully. That made Ikinya smile, though it was a mischievous one, something that hinted at other thoughts in her head.
When Ikinya wanted to go back inside for a drink, Mia was more than willing to let herself be dragged into the kitchen, all smiles and softspoken words as she talked to the girl. While the girl went to the refrigerator and saw the note, Euthymia sat down in the chair and watched her calmly. There was a small smile on her lips as Ikinya proudly got her juice box, though there was surprise lingering on her face from the matter-of-fact tone with which the spirit guide said her pa was sad. Her words confused Mia, who wasn't sure what to make of them, or how to understand them. She barely had a chance to register the girl's giggle before she skipped away to go play with her toes, her hands clasped in her lap. He needs you to be happy. Because he needed someone to help? Mia wasn't sure how else to take such a statement, thinking nothing more of it than the idea that Dareios needed someone to take care of, to make happy, to 'fix', maybe? It seemed the most likely explanation and was the predominant thought in her head as she settled that in her mind and then thought over if she should go find Dareios. Ikinya had said she should and Mia was hesitant to disregard any information the spirit guide gave her, or any suggestion she gave her. Sighing softly, she rose to her feet, the folds of her dress draping over her figure as she brushed some hair from her bright eyes. Recalling that he was swimming, and remembering her tour of the house, Mia went through the house and into the room that housed the swimming pool.
Seeing Dareios' back to her, she smiled slightly and went over to kneel near him, her hands resting on her knees. "Ikinya said you were sad," she said softly, her gaze resting on him gently. "And that you need a grown up to listen and help. Although, I do want to help, not just because your daughter told me to," she said with quiet amusement. "We're family now and I want to make you happy, as well as Ikinya. You are no less deserving of happiness, after all." That was simple to her and she looked at him calmly. Nudity, or any state of it, never fazed the female after so many years and so many different ways of life, ways of looking at people. There was no blush to her skin and her eyes rested solely on his face, not lingering anywhere else as another woman's might have, objectifying him.
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Had Dareios known that Ikinya might have sent Mia to talk to him while he was in the pool, he might have jumped out and re-dressed; modesty was something that meant a lot to the male after he was given a human form. Back to the door, forehead resting on his forearms now, at least he'd stopped crying. His heart still hurt and felt too heavy for his chest, but at least the tears had ceased. The door of the steamy room opening didn't meet the man's ears, neither did the gentle swish of the woman's robes as she moved across the tiles to crouch nearby. Only when her voice sounded did Dareios feel himself freeze, and dropping his arms into the water, he just dipped his head as she spoke, revealing that his daughter did indeed know more than she let on. The man should have known, she was different to other children after all, but Euthymia's words told more than what he assumed. Regardless of Ikinya, the woman would have come to find him anyway, concerned for him and his state of well-being. It was nice to know someone cared for him in that way, but it was slightly frightful as well - what if he couldn't show her the same amount of care as she already was showing them?
Cupping some water in his hands, Dareios gently splashed his face, rubbing his hands carefully against his features. The warm water felt good against his slightly flushed skin, and taking in a deep breath, he exhaled slowly and turned his face to meet Mia's eyes. The purple-violet hues didn't flick or deviate from his own, something he found to be refreshingly nice. She had no interest in what lay under his clothes, or the fact he was three-quarters bare. In fact, she didn't even seem phased that he was barely clothed at all. Sitting up a little straighter, he placed his arms on the tiles once more, stretching them out before him and lacing his fingers together, looking up at the woman that was kneeling in front of him. Maybe it would do him good to vocalise some of his problems, maybe it would lift some of the heaviness from his heart.
"You're right. Everyone deserves happiness in one form or another." He said softly, his semi-dry bangs falling around his face. "I guess I just take some of their stories to heart because I know how they feel. I know their pain, their suffering... Their sense of hopelessness." Shrugging his shoulders a little, dislodging some of his hair a little, the man looked down to his hands, fingers lacing and unlacing together. "The woman that comes by every Wednesday... She has two young children... The man she trusts, loves and thinks the world of began to hurt her, and her kids. She still loves him, but she wants to leave him for safety reasons. I can see it in her eyes every time she comes in; the sense of despair, the pain of not wanting to leave someone, but knowing she has to if she wants to survive. Her kids don't know she sees me, since she comes while they're at school. I don't know how she hides it from that man, but she somehow does." Rubbing his face with his hand, his normally warm complexion seemed cold, and quite sad. "I wish I could get her to understand she's doing the right thing, but I'm afraid I'll push her away. She does seem to be coming around slowly..." Shrugging his shoulders again, this time looking a little more hopeful than lost, Dareios looked back to Mia.
"I feel horrid... I'm sorry, I know you want to help, but I feel like I'm putting too much pressure on you by expecting you to listen to my troubles. It's just... My own little way. I don't like to push my troubles on others... But..." And smiling a little bit, there was some life back in his eyes and some colour had come back to his cheeks. "I do feel better." Pushing himself away from the edge, Dareios realised something and made a small 'oh' sound. "I had a cancellation today; it was my last appointment of the day, and I already got through two early this morning. I'll go get changed, and we'll all go sit outside until dusk - I'll make some dinner then." Waiting for an answer from Mia, he moved away from where she knelt to climb out the pool and hurriedly wrap a towel around his shoulders. Rubbing the ends of his hair dry, he looked over at Mia from over his shoulder. "I'll just run to my room and get changed. I'll meet you out on the patio. I'll get Ikinya to join you." Smiling as he walked past the autumn spirit, the male hesitated next to her for only a second, before hurrying off to get changed. Finding Ikinya on the way to his room, he kissed her atop her head and said they were all going to sit outside until dinner. Agreeing when the brown-eyed girl asked for a snack platter, he left the room with a smile, hearing her give a happy purr.
While her dad changed into something better than just a towel and boardshorts, Ikinya began to feel restless. Running to her room, the young girl shut her door and folding up the clothes she was wearing, allowed her child form to shift into her animal one. Giving a happy sound that was more like a growling sound than a cat's meow, the black panther let herself out the room and bounded around the house, feeling much better. Getting rid of this energy before bedtime was something that Dareios had taught the girl early on, and the young but surprisingly mature child knew she always slept better after this little stretch. Plus it was more fun to play as a bit kitty than a young child. Bounding out the house and hiding under a chair on the deck, the panther waited for the two adults to come outside. Changed and smelling nicer than pool water, Dareios hurried to the kitchen and found a nice porcelain platter with a delicate design on it and placed some crackers, a block of mild and creamy cheese, cherries he bought just yesterday and a few other nice things like dried fruits and a french onion dip. Carrying the tray outside, he set it on the table and felt something tug at his jeans.
"Ikinya..." He chided in a playfully soft tone, getting a soft 'mew' from under the chair he was standing near. The panther wouldn't emerge until Mia joined them, which also made Dareios visibly perk up. Sitting down on a lounge chair, he just smiled up at her, before remembering a most important piece of information, which caused him to blush slightly. "I am so sorry... I forgot to organise clothing for you... Umm.. How about after dinner we go organise something. We can go into the closest town to pick up some things that we can order from here." Feeling almost stupid for forgetting to buy basic clothing and nicely scented shower stuff for the woman, he rubbed his face, his hair quickly drying now he was outside. Ikinya, ever the tension breaker, came out from hiding and wound herself through Mia's legs, batting at the woman's robes gently - she knew claws were a big no-no.
Mia watched as the man moved in the water. He wasn't a water creature by any means, being a unicorn, but even in an element unsuitable for him he was graceful. Kneeling there in front of the pool, his fingers only inches from her knees, the spirit listened to his hurts and watched his face carefully, memorizing every line, every emotion that flickered through it. He seemed very reserved, keeping all of his problems locked away inside of his soul, that Mia was afraid for him. Hurt could poison as easily as anger could and holding in sorrow was painful, something that no one should have to do. One of her hands moved from her lap to rest on his, her skin warm where his was cold. The story was a terrible one, one she had seen so many times throughout history. Human or otherwise, it seemed no one was immune to the trap of love, or what could masquerade as it. What pained her more was hearing that children were hurting because of this as well. If there was one thing Mia would always put before anything else, it was a child's safety. She held it paramount and would never let something happen to a child as long as she was able to prevent it.
Despite herself and her efforts to have little physical contact while he seemed so uncomfortable with it, she couldn't help but lean forward a little and brush some of his hair from his face. He looked so...lost and sad. Ikinya was correct, Mia thought, in saying that her pa was the one who needed someone. The spirit truly hoped that with time, he could learn to see her as a friend and someone he could confide in, whenever he wanted. His apology made the corners of her lips curve up in a bit of a smile, as if amused at something. He looked better for speaking, at least, and Euthymia straightened up when he got out of the pool. "Sitting outside sounds like a marvelous plan, I would love to see more of it. And Dareios - you do not need to apologize to me," she told him softly. "I am here for you to speak with about anything you need to." When he paused near her as he left, she waited for him to speak, but it seemed there was nothing to be said.
It hardly bothered her. She was simply happy that he spoke with her at all, and confided in her even a little bit. When she left the pool room, Ikinya had already run into her room and Mia smiled. Quite honestly, she had no idea what the little girl was up to, but wasn't worried in the least. Instead she took herself to her room, planning on only staying a moment before going outside to wait for the two of them. They were quite a pair, the unicorn and his spirit guide, and she wondered how she would fit in with them. Easily attached to people, especially ones she was sure she was supposed to be with, Euthymia already loved both of them dearly and wanted them to be happy. And if she could do anything to make their lives even a little bit brighter and sunnier, than she would do it. It was what family was there for, after all. She realized the sun was warm on her face and turned her head to look out the window. Lost in thought, the spirit had stayed in her small room for longer than she had meant to and shook her head slightly at herself. It was so peaceful here and after so long, she was very used to having nothing but her own thoughts for company. That was something that would have to change.
Her skirts swished around her legs as she headed down to the deck, greeting them both with a smile. She didn't notice Dareios' reaction to her arrival, laughing when the panther cub scooted out from under his chair. She crouched down to pet her, looking up when the man fretted about clothing and things for her. "Aren't you an adorable little kitty cat," she cooed, before laughing a bit at Dareios' expression. "It's fine. I only wear clothing because society today requires it," she remarked in amusement, reminding him that she was from a time long before clothing was a standard of any sort of civilized culture. Scratching behind Ikinya's ears, the woman gave him a smile. "It's perfectly fine, I'm happy with what I have. There's no reason to worry about something like that with me," she assured him, before straightening up. "Would you like a playmate, Ikinya?" she asked the spirit guide. Getting a few happy 'mews' as an answer, Euthymia laughed a bit. Normally she would simply step out of her clothing then and there, but the unicorn would certainly be uncomfortable with that.
So she took herself around the corner of the house, unable to shift inside without damaging something. Taking off her clothing, the woman folded them neatly on the ground before closing her eyes. It had been ages since she had taken her fox form and it felt like a weight was lifted from her heart as soon as she had four paws on the ground. She was large, about the size of a full-grown Kodiak Grizzly or larger. Her coloring was the same as her hair, shades of orange and red fading to white at her paws and tips of her ears and tail. The only thing jarring about her appearance was the fact she didn't look quite...corporeal. Perhaps it was the fact the edges of her were a bit hazy, if one tried to focus on her, or the way she moved. But she was a spirit and that was to be...well, expected.
Euthymia came back around the house in a few minutes, faint golden wisps trailing in her wake as she approached the two. The panther spirit was not fazed in the least, mewling and running over to play.
⊱⊱D▸A R E I O S⋮The Reformed Slave ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
The brief moment he was alone on the chair with the panther cub hiding underneath, Dareios felt quite relaxed. He didn't feel the same stress after a session, and in fact felt oddly calm. Euthymia had been in his home for a couple of hours at most, but here he was, already feeling relaxed. Or was it tired? The sun was warm on his feet, and the cushioned body of the sun lounge was incredibly soft. Not to mention he'd had a long day... Thankfully though, Ikinya had distracted Mia during his little spaceout, but he'd directed his attention to the beautiful woman upon hearing her voice. The answer he'd got though? Not what he'd been expecting. A blush rose on his cheeks and he ran a hand through his front bangs to try and direct her attention away from his cheeks. Her statement though was an eye-opener; there had been a time when he'd thought clothes were silly, and she was from a vastly different era of life than he was. Then again, outside influences and the life he'd been forced to live had changed his views tenfold, and now the thought of not being clothed around anyone was scary and embarrassing. Again, thankfully, Ikinya was a perfect distraction and his blush had gone unnoticed. Mainly because he too had been distracted and hadn't seen Euthymia disappear down the side of the house. Helping himself to some food - some crackers with the french onion dip - and throwing a stone-free cherry to Ikinya, and hearing an excited mew, his eyes looked up to the source of the panthers attention, and all he could do was stare.
She didn't look real. Dareios knew she was, but it didn't mean she looked real. She looked.. Wispy, almost like an artists had painted her in the most delicate of ways straight onto his view. Trying to focus on her form, he found that no matter what, she still retained a delicate haze, like the borders that constituted solid and liquid were blurred. A trail of golden haze seemed to follow her as she wandered around with the panther, who was so insanely thrilled to have another animal to play with she couldn't stop meowing. It was like Ikinya hadn't registered the change Mia had made, it was like the two of them were simply playing in their human forms. If Dareios changed too, he knew he'd feel the same connection, but... He couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to show that much. Not just yet. It had been an age since he'd let someone see him in that form; Ikinya was exempt, she was his daughter after all, and he had to run after her often in the first year when she decided that the forest was a great place to play hide and seek.
Sitting on his chair in awe, the large fox spirit galloped about with the panther cub, and Dareios was entranced. He remembered a time when people were entranced with his beauty, the way he too had a hazy shimmer about him. But his shimmer was nothing like Euthymia's; a unicorn was still solid, it's haze simply just a reminder of it's magical properties. He was a pure white unicorn, his mane and tail almost like liquid, yet he knew there was no way he could compare to Mia's beauty in her spirit form. The plants seemed to react to her spirit too (not like it surprised Dareios, she was a seasonal spirit), his garden perking up slightly. It wasn't much, since most plants prepared for winter in autumn, but it was enough to be noticeable. As the two played, Dareios snacked a little while his eyes began to feel heavy. Today had taken a lot out of him mentally, and he was feeling very relaxed around Mia, her shimmering form rather pleasant to watch. Without meaning to, and with the aid of the slowly setting sun warming his legs, Dareios fell asleep in his chair. The man was incredibly exhausted mentally, and a nap was something he well and truly needed, even if he would never admit it. What the unicorn didn't realise was just how peaceful he looked at the moment, like already a large weight was being lifted from his chest and shoulders. While it was still early days, the simple fact that he knew Mia would play and help look after Ikinya was enough to already settle his heavy heart.
The nap didn't last long, for by the time the sun had nearly set, a sharp set of teeth were gently chewing on his fingers that hung off the edge of the lounge chair outside. Blinking, the man realised he'd fallen asleep, and it was getting very close to dinner; teeth were only used when someone was obviously hungry. Removing his hand from chewing range, the black cub decided jumping on her father's stomach was the next best option to get his attention, and with a loud 'oof!' Dareios was forced to sit up and wake up quickly as the black panther kitten proudly sat on his lap now. "You're heavier than you think you are." The man croaked, his just-woken-up voice slightly husky. The only answer he got was a head nudging his stomach, a happy purring sound coming from the black feline. Sighing, Dareios caved in and gently began to stroke the cub's soft fur. Who could stay mad at her?
