Nestled in a small meadow between the towering trees of the dense forest, a charming cottage stood amidst a lush garden. The intertwining branches and vibrant flowers painted a whimsical image, as if the dwelling had sprouted from the very ground itself; and in fact, much of it had. The abode was an architectural curiosity, a mighty cherry blossom tree- much larger than any on Earth due to being [Harboreal]- stood at its core and supported the small second-story rooms, which had walls of interwoven branches and ivy, leaves shivering in the gentle breeze. Whether a failure to match the uniformity of its neighbors in Elaeden or an artistic departure, the first floor’s walls were made of cobblestone, adorned with more ivy as well as moss. The roof was a patchwork of thatching and wooden shingles, both covered in a thick layer of lichen; a canopy of leaves shielded the abode from harsh sunlight, casting dappled patterns on the home below.
It was here in this beautiful haven, among whispers of ancient trees, that Max found himself as the newest addition to a loving family. Having agreed to accept Cloudsong as his mother only hours ago, he now was faced with the prospect of meeting the living example of her taste in men, his new father Malkyn.
"Welcome home, Maximum Million," Cloudsong said softly, her eyes warm and kind as she ushered him through the door. "This is where you truly belong now."
Open and inviting, the main area of the home Cloudsong had built with Malkyn contained the living area and kitchen, both of which startled Max with the modernity of their amenities. Live branches growing from support beams and spheres of crystal illuminating the room firmly placed the home in the fantasy aesthetic Max had grown to accept, so the stove and sink were welcome sights. A small dinette stood near a rather ostentatious storage cabinet Max correctly assumed was a magical food storage equivalent to a fridge. There was even a very plush couch, and though it may have more closely resembled floor cushions sewn together each seafoam green pouf looked incredibly comfy to lounge on.
This is so cute and cozy, I wonder how much of the style is Cloudsong’s and how much is Malkyn's influence. Compared to Elaeden’s ritzier homes- or especially the palace itself, this feels sooo humble, not what I expect of a Duchess at all! Bet it was still mostly her decor, just seems like there's a feminine touch.
At the rear of the room where the stairs led to the upper floors, Max watched in growing anticipation as a man descended. His clothes, while clean and well-kept, were nothing like the regal attire of Cloudsong. Malkyn wore plain, brown leather breeches which showed his pale lithe legs and a deeply v-cut, ruffled, linen henley shirt. The poet-style tunic was loosely laced, displaying his hairy chest, dark except for a patch of white at the center of his sternum. A mop of shaggy matte black hair nearly hid the tufted feline ears atop his head, covered inside and out with dense ebony fur. Only as his prospective dad reached the bottom of the stairs, coming to greet his wife and her passenger, did Max finally notice his happily swishing tail, coated in the same glistening fur as his ears. A strong jawline offset his otherwise delicate features and his cherubic, clean-shaven cheeks, held high in a tight smile, highlighted his relative youth; younger even than Cloudsong, the youngest of the [Eladrin][Ducal] generation by nearly a millennium.
“Cloe, yer back!! I'm surprised to see you so soon ifn I'm straight with ye. Thought id ‘ave time to finish up but I didn’t get to the washroom yet. Is this ‘im then?”
“Nooo,” Cloe said, elongating the vowel patronizingly, “it's a different infant, I left ours behind. Just brought this random one by to say hi, see the place, we'll be going now,” and turned to leave.
Malkyn quickly closed the distance between them; taking her arm from the door and turning towards him, he snarked back, “oh ‘ush yer smart mouth, I asked only ta be sure. Ye’ left in a blur, sayin’ ta prepare a nursery. That's not much to go on love.”
“I know I just enjoy teasing you. Yes, this is him.” Holding back tears she said, “He's ours,” looking to Max expectantly she continued, “Maximum Million, this is Malkyn, my husband. Your father, if you'll have him.”
I… I have no clue what to say here
I shoulda been prepared for this
Calling her mom in the vault was so awkward, especially when it made her so happy
How would they expect me to decline his paternity anyways??
I figured they knew that I knew parenthood is a package deal with your spouse!?
Max buried his face in Cloe's shoulder, vigorously nodding his head up and down, desperately hoping to get past this uncomfortable interpersonal exchange as quickly as possible.
“Shy, lil fella?” Malkyn leaned across the huddled boy to give his wife a quick kiss, and continued, “Don’t fret, there's no rush ta call me da’. Watching ‘er smile while ye cling ta ‘er is already mawre than I thought we could ‘ave. I’ll let Cloe take ye ta get cleaned up and get some rest.”
Cloe stopped Malkyn before he could walk off, “Before we go get you cleaned up, I do want to talk about one last thing now that Malkyn, or I guess I should say your father- that's going to take getting used to! Now that your father is with us I wanted to talk about your name.”
“Traditionally when an [Eladrin] is one week old their parents will bring them before a priest bearing the Gorget and a representative of the crown family, to have Mnemet’s blessing when they take a name- as you just did. Afterwards, the parents will choose a nickname or given name that is usually what children will go by in daily life. Only some, like Timekeeper, insist on their full name being used in its entirety at all times. You've heard Ma- I mean uh- Dad call me Cloe, yes?”
Max, still smothering himself against Cloe, nodded again.
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“Since our situation is a bit unique I’d like to have your permission as well, but since you've taken my surname,” Cloudsong looked to her husband awkwardly, embarrassed by the idea she'd had while choosing to speak to Max in [Common] all morning. “I'd like to honor Malkyn in your given name and shorten Maximum Million to Maxym.”
Malkyn stammered, “That's a lot to ask of ‘im for a fella ‘e’s just met”, cheeks beginning to flush.
Maxym. Honestly, vastly better than Maximum Million already, and Cloe makes a good point that I didn't really give him any reason to feel like I'm accepting him like they asked... I should-
I should throw him a bone, or I guess in his case, a… catnip mouse?
Max raised his eyes to meet Malkyn’s and, equally red in the face said carefully, taking time to breathe before each word, “Maxym’s perfect.”
“I think I'll save both my embarrassed boys and take Maxym upstairs to wash up and lay down, then,” Cloe said, kissing each of them on their blushing cheeks. “You've had a very tumultuous day and your body is expending so much energy as you finish becoming a [Changeling]. Even if you don't realize it yet, you need the rest.”
Cloe brought them up the spiraling stairs and down a narrow hallway that followed the branch supporting their former study, Maxym’s new room. Overnight, Malkyn had removed the desk and Cloe’s file cabinet, bringing in a small bedroll and dresser. He'd even built out a couple walls and was nearly done creating a bathroom to complete the transformation from office space to bedroom suite.
The bathroom was clearly unfinished, missing a toilet or its equivalent, but Maxym’s entire attention was affixed to the first glimpse he'd gotten of his new face. Despite realizing and repeatedly reminding himself that his infantile form was not his former body, somehow he still expected to see Max’s sandy brown hair and eyes looking back at him. Instead, the image he saw in the mirror, the stark white hair and electric blue eyes, shocked him to his core.
Reaching up he was relieved to have no sense of touch within the small stems of snowdrop flowers budding from his temples, but the alien sensation of his unrecognizable reflection was too much. The dam burst and all the emotion he'd been trying to suppress while he tried to adjust to his situation exploded.
"What's wrong, my love?" Cloe whispered, her voice filled with worry, as she watched Maxym devolve into hysterics.
"Ach, is our little Maxym ‘aving a tough time?" Malkyn questioned, coming up behind her. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, concern clear on his face.
"Maxym," Cloe tried to softly get through to him, "I know you might be feeling overwhelmed right now. This is a new life for you, and I understand if it's difficult for you to adjust."
"Yer not alone son," Malkyn chimed in, his voice equally gentle. "We're ‘ere ‘n ye can rely on us."
"We want you to know that no matter what challenges you face in life or how different you may feel from others, you have a home here with us, as our child," Cloe said, her eyes shining with love and determination.
"Yer ma is right," Malkyn said, nodding vigorously. "I'm not much fer words, but I'll do all I can to give you every chance ta succeed and feel like ye belong. Yer cherished ‘ere, we can protect and guide ye, ifn ye let us.”
Maxym finally tore his eyes from his reflection to meet the eyes of his parents in the mirror, their empathy and solidarity shining through like beacons of hope in the darkness. Slowly, the storm of tears began to subside as he allowed himself to believe in their words.
"I need you to know," Cloe added, her gaze locked with Maxym's, "you are not alone in feeling different. Many among the fae have experienced similar struggles, and our family especially so. Together, we can help you embrace your uniqueness and become the person you were meant to be."
Malkyn’s form contorted and, using [Shapeshifter], he dropped to all fours and rubbed against Maxym's legs, purring with contentment. Startled by the sudden appearance of the largest housecat- or smallest panther he wasn't sure- it took a moment to process, but the nudge of acceptance was not lost on the young boy. He looked down at his adoptive dad, heart swelling with gratitude. As Maxym pondered their heartfelt words, something within him began to shift.
Though the weight of his fears still lingered, the unconditional love and support of his new parents as they offered to shoulder his burden together gave him hope. With every gentle word and tender embrace, he felt the first glimmers of newfound determination begin to take root within him. He vowed to himself that he would make the most of this second chance with a nurturing family.
"Thankk -k -k -k you," Maxym whispered, his voice barely audible as he fought back tears. He tentatively reached down to stroke Malkyn's fur, marveling at the softness beneath his fingertips. “I’ll p-prove myself worthy.”
"Of that, we have no doubt," Cloe replied, pulling him into a loving embrace. "Remember, Maxym," she added, "that the true measure of success lies not in how high you can climb, but in the person you become along the way."
Once Maxym’s breakdown had abated, Cloe finished helping him wash his face and tiny clumsy hands. He took one last look at his unfamiliar visage, eyes raw and hollow, before being taken to bed and tucked in.
As night fell and golden hues of the sky gave way to silvery gray, Maxym lay in his new bed, the soft linens cradling him like a gentle embrace. The room was filled with the sweet scent of lavender and jasmine from Cloe’s garden, carried in by a cool evening breeze that whispered through the open window. The soothing sound of rustling leaves outside mingled with the distant murmur of a bubbling brook, creating a lullaby that should have lulled Maxym into a peaceful slumber.
He found little solace in these soothing surroundings, however. Sleep proved elusive, for there was an unrelenting storm of emotions brewing within Maxym's heart. The love and acceptance shown to him by Cloe and Malkyn- so foreign and yet so desperately craved- stirred up a tumultuous mixture of relief, gratitude, and lingering pain from his past life on Earth. The memories of abuse and isolation he had suffered bubbled to the surface like a noxious poison, making it difficult to fully trust this newfound happiness.
The soft crinkling of the flowers in his hair as he tossed and turned served as a constant reminder of his otherworldly nature; although Cloe and Malkyn had welcomed him with open arms, he couldn't help but feel like an outsider. His small body trembled as he clutched the blanket tightly around himself and allowed himself to be vulnerable within the safety of his new home, releasing the overwhelming grief and sorrow in quiet, shuddering sobs. Each choked whimper echoed softly within the chamber, betraying the ache of the fears and insecurities that plagued him. His tears trickled down his cheeks, forming tiny pools on the fabric. Maxym buried his face into the soft, velvety pillow, trying to stifle his sobs and hide from the accusatory system message haunting him in the corner of his vision.
System Log
Soul Trait [Crybaby] unlocked
Are you a [Crybaby]?