Colin's posts

"I don't know." Julien admitted honestly.

"I can't tell you." he said.

"Only one way to find out, though." he then told her.

"Am I ready? Don't know." he reiterated.

"Am I willing? Most certainly." he continued.

"I will do everything I can to rise to this challenge."

He then froze for close to 3 full seconds.

"I..." he stammered.

"You... you... you're laden with child?" he asked.

"Or children." Demitra responded. "The Fyrane line has a genetic history of twins." she reminded him.

".....wow..." Julien mumbled, before smiling at her.

"That's wonderful!" he exclaimed.

"You're going to be a mother, I'm going to be a father!"

"....kids?" he replied, before sighing.

"...you know, kids have always been in the front of my mind." he told her.

"And... I always figured it was a bad idea. Me? Kids? Passing down my cursed genes to them?" he asked. "What sort of monster would I be to throw an innocent child into that sort of life?" he asked further.

"And the name stigma attached to them, as well? Nooooo thank you." he said further.

"But... funnily enough, after spending so much time with you and your mother, I've done a complete turnaround on that stance." he then told her.

"I think that having kids might be a wonderful thing." he continued.

"Congratulations to whomever has the baby on the way." he then added.

Julien was silent for a very brief moment, before smirking.

"But of course." he replied.

"After all, an outing into the pond with a gorgeous lady is ALWAYS welcome." he told her.

"...well... only when that lady is you, anyway." he clarified, as he stepped closer and took off his shirt, revealing that years of being on the run and having to fight, as well as the recent positive dietary changes that had come with his living with her and Racquel, had crafted a man of... rather chiseled muscles.

But than again, Demitra already knew that.

"Water looks fine today." he commented.

"Nice and calm."

"...oh yeah?" Julien asked in response.

"All right." he said.

"I'll see you when I get back to the house... probably with Demita." he then told her.

With that, they parted ways, and he made his way towards the pond. He said nothing until his emerged from the trees and shrubbery, looking around and then locating where Demitra was.

"Demitra!" he called out lightly, making his way over towards HER, specifically, now.

"I.... uh, sure..." Julien responded.

"Yeah, sure thing." he told her, as he and Racquel watched her walk off.

"....." he was then silent, before looking to the older woman, and sighing.

"I... suppose I ought to go and talk to her." he commented.

"Here." he said, handing her the basket he had.

"Odds are the sooner I do it, the better." he reasoned.

"Hi, Demitra." Julien greeted her, smiling as well.

"Seems you got back before us." he commented.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"I mean, you went to Candentus Lux to see Emma, right?" he asked further, recalling his memory.

"What'd she say?" he asked her.

"...is anything wrong?"

As she looked around, she discovered that she was, in fact, alone.

The chances that her mother and Julien had gone out to forage or something were very high. It was the season, so it was best to make the most of it while they were around.

However, the chances that it wouldn't take long were also high. They liked to make the trips quick.

Sure enough, she was only waiting for about a half-hour, before she could hear their voices approaching.

And from the sounds of it, it had been quite successful.

"...." Ashley was silent for a moment as the embrace was broken up.

"Okay, didn't think of THAT." he admitted.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"Want me there?" he asked.

"If anything, to potentially reign her in if possible?" he asked.

"Or do you think you'll be able to handle it?" he asked.

"...think JULIEN will be able to handle it?"

Ashley nodded in response, and got up, walking her back to the door.

Once they got there, he merely gave her a hug.

"Again, congratulations." he said.

"I hope everything goes well." he told her.

"And I hope Julien reacts well to the news." he then said further, before pausing.

"...because we know how Aunt Racquel will react." he told her.

"So SHE'S not a worry." he laughed.

"....hm." Ashley mumbled.

"Yeah, okay." he said.

"Well... anyway, thanks for telling me." he then told her.

"It's nice to know you've found a little happiness in someone else." he commented.

"And it's made my day SO much better." he admitted.

"I feel a lot less stressed now." he said further.

"So hey, thanks for that bit of sunshine today!"

Ashley was silent for another moment, and then shook his head.

"...so here's hoping you buck that trend." he said.

"Seriously. Be the first one to have a stable and lasting relationship." he told her.

"Because Julien seems like an awesome enough guy." he shrugged.

"Knows the hardships of being judged because of bloodline, knows loneliness, you two seem to connect nicely." he went on, before pausing.

"...in... more ways that one..." he muttered at the end.

Ashley just laughed in response.

"Yeah, that sounds like her!" he exclaimed.

"I can totally see that happening." he told her.

"Anyway, congratulations." he then said sincerely.

"It's awesome you've finally found someone." he said further, looking around.

"Aunt Racquel was starting to get a bit worried." he then whispered to her, though she could tell he was half-joking.

"Yeah, that makes sense." Ashley replied.

"Speaking of Dani, did you tell her before me?" he asked.

"If yeah, how'd she react?" he asked.

"If you haven't yet, you HAVE to let me know." he laughed.

"Her reaction to this news is sure to be... have been... amazing." he reasoned.

"Because I assume you're not planning to go through ME to tell her."