#mo's oc

[rainyday-deer]

Time for the yearly appearance of the Sun. Everyone say “Hi, Solaris”!

[steamyartstuff]

Made a new OC called The Wisp-Maker’s Apprentice! Also started a little ask blog for their tiny corner of the internet here 

Feel free to drop by and leave a question!

[momopeachchild]

The first time James knew the little girl his parents had adopted was different was when he caught her talking to nothing. He had told their mother, and she assured him it was just an imaginary friend. He had had one after all, and so had Lyn. It was normal and natural, especially after all that little Cal had been through. She asked him to be kind, and he tried. But she was weird and didn't make it easy.

 The next time he knew she was different was when they had gotten a new tutor, this one from Arielle. He didn't know much about Arielle beyond that was where his parents had thought about sending Lyn when she had gotten old enough, and their sisters for finishing school. But that was when Lyn was still a baby, and his sisters had been theoretical, not living people. Before Lyn was the Star Child. Their new tutor treated them differently, James could see it, and he knew Lyn did to by the pursing of her lips. But Callehan had asked they not say anything to their parents. She didn't want to make trouble.

 It hadn't mattered, when one day they were all to go on a picnic in the gardens while the Lord and Lady of the house were attending business, and Cal had been made to stay inside and work on her studies. Lord Olson had returned home with his wife. Callehan couldn't say much of why she wasn't allowed out, and went back to her book. James couldn't quite hear what was being said, his father's study door was quite thick, but he knew when their tutor had said something that upset him, as he could hear him loudly dismiss the woman, and his mother exited the room with her face pinched. Cal, he knew, was suppose to be treated like their sister, given everything exactly the same. The servants were good about that, and he knew they doted on her quite a bit. 

 When James turned thirteen he was told he was no longer going to attend certain events with Lyn. Cal would be going in his stead, as certainly garden parties and afternoon teas were boring him by now, and he had studies to attend to. He had argued he was Lyn's protector, and that he needed to be with her. And besides, he liked the cakes that were always there. Their father had taken him on a long walk after that, and when they returned he understood a little bit more about Cal's position in their family, and how truly was their equal, but he could not say much to her, for her safety.

 Lyn and Cal's next tutor had come from Sarielle and had been so strange to him, but Cal seemed to be thriving, and their tutor suggested she learn dance, as she didn't seem to have much talent with instruments like Lyn had. James was proud when he heard that Cal had mastered a difficult dance, just as proud as when Lyn had gained her mastery of the harp. 

But Callehan was still strange. She seemed to react to things not there, and he still sometimes heard her talking to no one. Perhaps she was a bit soft in the head, and his parents merely wished to keep any attention from such things. Still, he accompanied them around his school schedule, glad to still be able to be there as needed. Not that he had to worry, Chauce was always there, and if there was anyone James knew could protect his sisters, it was Chauce. 

Lyn's introduction into society had been years in the planning and was the most extravagant affair that year, followed at a shockingly close month later by Cal's introduction. It was less grand, and she took it in stride that Lyn was the center of attention, as it always was when they attended functions, even when they were meant for her. James led her in first two dances for her card, and Lord Olson had followed for the third, and afterwards she seemed contented to watch Lyn dance and sparkle all night. 

She didn't seem as vibrant in public as she did at home. Perhaps it was hard to stand out next to someone who shone so brightly as the Star Child, but she never seemed to get jealous or resentful. 

 When she went for air on the patio, James went with his foster sister, and she confided a little about her life before coming to live with them. Her father had served in the war, the one they'd learned about so many times in school. The one he was studying currently. 

"You know it was to help Sarielle, right?" he asked and she gave a nod, looking up at the stars. "The colonizers there had disposed of what was probably their royal family. Though that's not what anyone ever describes them as." "I know, Jamie." She was still the only one to still use his childhood nickname, but only ever in private. 

"They aren't royals. They're..different. Like Lyn is. Mistress Sula likes to tell me about her home planet, their culture, their dances. She told me one day she'd like to take me to see Sarielle." 

 It took everything in James not to react to that, knowing Cal still hadn't been told, and he pat her shoulder, before directing her back in before the chill got to her. As soon as they entered, Lyn laid claim to her, and he smiled as he watched them go, Cal perking up some as she made sure to tend to Lyn, gently brushing a few strands of loose hair behind her ear. 

 When they were told a dignitary from Sarielle was coming planetside, and that his family would entertain them, he went to his father. They had to tell Cal, he insisted, for fear she wouldn't handle finding out any other way well. Their father told him that he would, in time, and he wanted to see how the meeting went first. 

It surprised him little when a week later Cal fled from the bakery they'd been at. He shouted for Claire and Cora to entertain the Lady Comforter and he was going to get Cal. Never once did he expect her to be able to run so fast, and he heard the carriage race by. Clearly his sisters had had sense enough to fetch their parents.  But he knew Cal quite well by then, and he knew she would want to be alone for a time. And that she'd never leave the house like she had entered. 

He was waiting for her, under the window to her room and caught her gently around the waist. He couldn't let her flee like she wanted to, but he could help her have some time to herself. There was a small cottage on the grounds, one that had been used by a groundskeeper ages ago, but had been abandoned for years. James had slowly been converting it into a small guest cottage for his parents as a project, and he let Cal stay there, with him for fear she'd leave the minute he turned his back. He could hear them searching the grounds for her as he put the kettle on for tea. They passed the cottage as he knelt before her and gently took her hands. It was then he realized she was crying. He'd never seen her cry before, and he pulled her into a hug, stroking her hair back as he rocked her slowly. 

 It should have been his father and mother telling her this, they could explain it better, but as they'd not seen it fit to tell her yet, he'd do it himself to keep her with them. At the very least with Lyn. The exact details of the war he left out, as she would either lean them herself, or eventually be told. For now he'd spare her the worst of it, and merely tell her what parts involved her and her family. They had gone through a pot of tea by the time he finished and she merely sat silently, staring into her empty cup. 

 "Callie?" 

 "I'm tired, James," She whispered, and he took her cup from her, cleaning up a little before they departed. He helped her up and put his coat around her shoulders and slowly led her back home.  

Chauce saw them first, and James shook his head when the man started towards them. Bless his heart, he nodded, offering to take Cal's bag for her, but she held it close, and he moved to open the door for them. His lady mother was next, and he cut her off with a sharp look, one he knew he shouldn't have used, but she gave him a single nod and went to arrange a bath for Cal, instructing everyone to let Cal be for the evening. She personally went to make a light meal for her.

Claire and Cora came bounding out of their rooms, hugging her tearfully, and he was relived his little sisters had sense enough to depart shortly there after to help their mother. His lord father was next, and he knew they were to have a long talk later, but he leveled his chin and led her right past him. "I told her, Father." and nothing more was said as he made sure she was secure in her room, offering to help her put her things away before departing to stand outside her door, a silent sentinel. 

 Lyn came half an hour later, he knew she would and he let her into the room and departed then. Lyn would keep her safe and help her in ways he could not. Now he had to be a man and have a discussion with his father, though he wasn't sure how it would go. Breakfast was a late affair the next day, and Cal still looked quite pale when she came down with Lyn, but she gave him a smile and settled quietly in. She was a strange person, James thought. But she would be alright, and perhaps her strangeness had been a blessing from the Stars onto his family.