but the call of home is loud

@arigatosmiles​

⚔ - Jake waits at the front desk as the librarian processes his returned books, foot idly tapping against the ground as he waits for her to finish. He had been planning on checking out a few more today, if they had anything new in stock. 

Reading wasn’t exactly the half-elf’s favorite thing to do (not because he was dumb, but because he got restless quickly), but if it meant being a better father to Orland, he was more than happy to do it. Well. Maybe not happy… but it was a necessary sacrifice, one he was willing to make.

Once the librarian lets him know everything is in order, Jake nods, turning to head into the library proper when—

“Whoa. ‘Scuse me.” He takes a step back before running into the taller man that had been approaching the desk, a vague sense of familiarity striking the half-elf when his eyes land on the man’s face. Did he know this guy from somewhere?

Rather than How to Parent books, Soseki had recently progressed to checking out more children’s stories. They were fun and playful to read aloud, and Soseki made sure to include strange voices for his children and even, at times, acting. Despite the long nights and occasional tantrums, Soseki was enjoying being a stay-at-home dad.

Iris was, fortunately, free for the day after having clocked out early. And while normally she’d have returned straight home - or at least right back to Arcadia - sometimes it was awfully nice just to wander around a little. The air was crisp and cold and invigorating; winter felt like home, doubtlessly because of her closeness to the element of ice.

She was walking through town, humming under her breath, when she spotted a familiar figure - albeit in an unfamiliar, if not entirely unexpected, situation. About to call out to Soseki, she saw him stumble and felt her heart lurch. But he kept to his feet without difficulty, the only potential casualty his dropped phone.

Well. She could help with that, at least.

“Soseki!” She crossed over at a jog, grateful she had gone with slacks over a dress for the day, and hurried to get his dropped device. “Let me get that.”

Still considering his predicament, Soseki looked up at the familiar voice and smiled. “Iris! Oh, thank you!” He accepted his device back. “Funny enough, walking with babies wasn’t in any of the parenting books I read.”

🐎 - Georgia had been pretty high on pride from her recent culinary feats, but the mention of fish is quick to bring her plummeting back down to earth. She makes a face, but finds that she can’t outright deny Soseki’s point. A good chef would be able to make a dish out of anything, even foods they didn’t like…

“Ugh. Why do you have to be right…?” She gives him a halfhearted glare, but gags at his next comment. “Wait, no. I take that back—a fish smoothie? That sounds SO wrong.”

She shakes her head, shoulders lifting in a shrug. “But maybe I can try making a sushi bowl sometime or somethin’. Those aren’t so bad..”

Soseki was only teasing but found himself unable to stop. “No, no, it has to be a fish smoothie. I’ve heard they’re very delicious and nutritious. I saw one recipe that uses sardines, celery, an onion, jalapeno peppers, and a beet.”

🐎 - “W-what? No, of course not!” She protests, almost immediately. Was her cooking really so bad that people thought she’d do something so weird to her food? Yeesh. “I’ve been followin’ the recipes by the letter, and they’ve honestly been comin’ out pretty good.” 

She takes a sip of her milk, refreshed by the coolness of the beverage. “But if there’s anything else you’d like to try, I could make a crack at that, too. I wanna cook as many things as I can, really work on those culinary skills.”

When Clorica had the time she often tried to visit Sofia’s relatives and drop off food or offer her help when and where she could.She felt it was important that she knew her family as she spent so much time with the Hunts. With an afternoon to spare, she traveled over to Evelyn and Soseki’s home to bring them a variety of dishes she had made. She knew that the two of them had twins and thought that they could use the extra energy to lift their spirits. Although she didn’t have children of her own, she took care of enough of other people’s in her lifetime to know the struggles.

With the bags on her arms, she carefully lifted one to not tip the containers as she knocked. It was a brief moment before she heard the door opening and saw a tired Soseki. Perhaps she had chosen a great time to stop by? “I came to drop this off for you and Evelyn,” she held up the bags. “It’s fish stew with a few side dishes and extra fruit for your wife, especially apples and strawberries.”

She paused and looked over Aiko and Hayate with a smile. She had met them when the families got together and enjoyed them just as much as Mia and Leo. “If you don’t mind me asking, would you like some help?”

Oh, food! Soseki eyes widened. “That’s so kind of you, thank you.” Aiko burbled but was thoroughly entranced with her father’s hair over any visitor. He stood back and allowed Clorcia to enter. “Please, come in. Sorry for the mess.” Unfortunately, he couldn’t accept the bags at the door, as that would involve not giving Aiko his full support. 

Inside, blankets and toys scattered the house, and Hayato, twin brother to sister Aiko, laid on a pallet. Soseki had been watching and playing with them, hoping the duo would tire out for their nap soon.

🐎 - “Yeah, I love it. It’s a great look for you!” She wasn’t surprised to hear that he was doing it for Evelyn, though. Even after this long, Soseki was still absolutely smitten by her. It was honestly really sweet.

Georgia laughs at his response, giving him one last ‘warning’ look before turning to grab a couple of glasses. “Now that’s what I like to hear. So… oh, water? Okay! Comin’ right up.” She pours herself a glass of milk, and water for Soseki at his request, handing the latter over to him once she was done.

At his question, she grins. Georgia was always happy to talk about things that excited her. “Fruit smoothies! I’ve been using the fruit I grow here on the ranch, so they’ve been comin’ out really fresh and sweet. Full of healthy nutrients, too.” 

She takes a seat over at the dining table, beckoning for Soseki to come and join her. “You might be aware that I’m not… well, the best cook around… so I reckoned this would be simple enough for me to start with. The doc down at the clinic suggested it, actually! Trent, if you know ‘im?”

Soseki accepted the glass and took a sip, letting himself relax. He had been running himself ragged lately. 

“Ohh, those sound really nutritious.” He followed her to the dining table. It was too bad he wasn’t a fan of smoothies. “Dr. Trent? I do, yeah.” Soseki had seen him a few times, though he couldn’t say he had a chance to really just chat with him. 

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Evelyn smiled, humming a little, “That’s a pretty name.” So…would it be Eleanor Aiko? Or Aiko Eleanor? Hm…she liked the sound of Aiko Eleanor a little better than the other way around. Plus, it seemed like a right fit for his mother’s name to be the first name. 

She looked at Soseki and tilted her head a little, genuinely confused, “Does it matter either way? No matter how they come out, they’ll still be our kids. I don’t think it’ll matter whether one’s a boy or both of them or boys or if none of them are boys. I’m still going to love them the same and treat them the same.” After all, her treatment growing up as a woman wasn’t the best. Evelyn was practically treated as a marriage bargaining chip rather than an asset to the family, for crying out loud.

“Why do you ask?” Evelyn rose an eyebrow at him.

“Of course I’ll love our kids either way.” He was surprised she even said it. “But I don’t know if there’s any difference in raising a girl or a boy. I’ve never raised kids. I’ve read a few parenting books saying there is a difference but others don’t agree, and going into the unknown for something so important in my life just makes me nervous. How am I going to be a good dad?” His nerves came out as he wrung his hands. 

Evelyn smiled softly, “I think that’s a great idea.” After all, his mother had such an impact on him based on what she heard of her. It almost felt natural for one of their children to have her name. 

“Then if one of our kids is a girl, then we should do that,” Evelyn continued, nodding affirmatively, “There’s a good chance that at least one of them will be a girl, right? So…maybe we can name her after both of them? Both my mentor and your mother. What was your mother’s name?”

“Aiko,” Soseki answered. “She was a florist.” He remembered there always being flowers around the house. Some were used for crafting, but just as many were there to brighten up their home. It was sad when they died, but she always assured him they would come back, new and flourishing.