Jylat - Starting Over

[Yolanda Riona]

Crosis nodded a few soft times. He looked on past the garden to the village not far from them.

"It's strange how old things have a habit of catching up to you. My grandfather. Now, he was an inspirational caster as some called them. Mage. Arts user. Magician. Warlock. They're all the same, really. Titles. It's the one behind it that makes the difference. I thought magic was a dying breed of possibilities. Yet, here you stand. And now, Jocelyne, too. Maybe it's just rebirthing to something else.

"I wonder whether to be afraid or excited to see a recurring phenomenon that I thought had died in my childhood. Fear if only it were to end up in strong, wrong-doing hands like Robotnik. Fear that admittedly? Overwhelms me from what I hear of Sarath. People here are quiet as always. Trying to shut out the outside world. But deep down, we all know. We're all flipping through the pages of the latest print and shaking in our scales, fur, feathers. Whichever is your preference. I wonder what Jylat will do if it suddenly falls into a dilemma where it has to face this fear."

[Links Tyrell]

Links remained silent as Crosis spoke, the hybrid wol-fox seeming to frown ever so slightly as he did. He let his legs drop, the swirl of particles around him fading to nothing as his feet gently touched the ground. He let his staff drop, the bladed tip slowly falling and stopping just above the ground before Links lowered it the final inch to the soil.

"People have every right to fear magic in the wrong hands, it is a terrible force...capable of much that would be considered impossible." He stopped, clenching his free hand beside him and looking squarely at Crosis, "But I must say, if anything did try to harm Jylat they would have to go through me in order to do so. This place has been a home for many years and whether its residents trust me or not I would not willingly abandon such a place. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."

[Yolanda Riona]

"I wouldn't doubt you for a moment, Links."

Crosis returned to his prior knelt position as he noticed another stray weed. He plucked it from the ground with little strain and discarded of it, then grabbed another one and yanked that one out, too. Wiping his scaly brow, he picked up a small shovel and nicked a few shallow holes into the ground. He filled each one with a couple seeds before replacing the soil.

"You like gardening? It's a very calm hobby, you know. At first, I thought I wouldn't enjoy it, but Esmeralda insisted. Now, I'm the one out here on my hands and knees and she's the one grumbling over the thought of getting up that extra hour in the morning. It's slow, steady progress. It's tedious. You have to give it time and patience. And too much or too little water and you kill the danged plants. But eventually, you are rewarded. I think. Magic might be just kinda like that. It's at least the closest I think I'll get to understanding it."

[Links Tyrell]

Links gave a small nod at Crosis, "That would be a fitting comparison, actually one of the best I've heard. I've been practicing my skills for the last 40 years and there are still things I don't know. Time and patience...very much like gardening as you say. I'm afraid that I have never had much experience in it. Alindel on the other hand is quite fond of the matter, if she were not inside I can assure you she would be on her hands and knees joining you in your endeavour. She has a love of nature...quite a profound one. I myself simply enjoy its fruits."

Links fell silent, watching Crosis for a moment, "I imagine it is very hard for everyone in you family, this revelation with Jodie I mean. Are you...happy...with this outcome?"

[Yolanda Riona]

Crosis grimaced in thought as he returned to digging out a several more shallow reliefs. After planting and burying the next row of seeds, he sheathed the shovel into the ground and sighed.

"It's hard to say. I trust my son's judge of character. He knows a good person when he sees one. And he's practically raised those two from what I know, Jodie and Riarios. So, I can't see her being someone to fear having a power like that. But at the same time, she's not exactly the patient type. And who knows what else is out there to snatch her away for what she can do. She's not much now, but... my grandfather made those "magicians" out there literally look like cheap parlor tricks.

"It's a power that underneath so many monumental organizations out there yearn for. To have control over even one element makes them hungry for the madness of immortality and supremacy. I can't say for sure anything like that would cause Jodie to be caught in such a tight rut. But for the sake of precaution, keep it a secret. And keep her safe."

[Links Tyrell]

Links bowed his head as Crosis finished, "You needn't fear, I don't intend on letting her go the way of my brother..." Links trailed off, going silent for a moment before he continued. "One keeps out of the limelight by not drawing attention and I would hope that Jodie understands that. At first glance she seems rash, impulsive...self dependant...very much like any young person. But like me I would think this revelation will change her, and if not then she will learn through experience. But I will watch over her, its strange...I've only known her for a few short hours but I already feel protective. Perhaps its my parental instinct taking over but then I've never had a child of my own."

[Yolanda Riona]

Crosis chuckled mildly.

"Ah, she does have a habit of that though. It's not just you. Essy and I, too. Despite her attitude, she sure does seem to bring people together. Oh, yes. Certainly brings everyone out and about. Fortunate that we have as much room as we do. I've never seen so many guests here since my Essy's big debut in Rain on Heaven back in the day. Good time. A tad too many strawberry daiquiris. Ah-haha. Haha.

"So, how long have you been with Alindel anyway, if I might ask?"

[Links Tyrell]

"You may, it's been about 13 years now if my memory serves me correctly. It's been an interesting number of years by any use of the word. Although I can say its been enjoyable, Alindel has been a very supportive partner." Links chuckles for a moment before going silent and looking down slightly. "We didn't get further than that I'm afraid to say..."

[Yolanda Riona]

"Thirteen years?" Crosis sputtered. He rubbed the worn scales on the back of his head and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, sorry. That was rude of me. I'm just surprised. You're not betrothed yet after all this time? No family? Given, it took my Esmeralda and I years to decide to have a child, and it's not an uncommon thing. Are you concerned about the cost of raising a little munchkin? The handful? The headaches? The three in the morning wake up calls? Children aren't easy to care for. I would know. Oh, but don't feel you have to go on about this if it's something perhaps better resolved between the two of you?"

[Links Tyrell]

Links remained quiet all through Crosis' rant, simply looking back at the dragon with a slight smile on his face. As he finished he spoke, "I'm impotent...suffice to say. It was quite a shock for Alindel...she had always wanted a family and after...no, I shouldn't go into her past."

Links paused, looking away slightly as he continued, "It was a surprise for myself too, I had not been a part of a relationship until I met Alindel so I had no idea myself either. I'm afraid the magic in my blood is responsible...it seems it has gone so far as to alter my genes...making them incompatible with everyone."