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Elias: *steps into his cabin, a...rather intense look on his face...and no game or fish in hand either. His gaze sweeps over the three.* We need to talk. *tone says he's not giving them a choice.*

Tam: *worried frown* What’s wrong? *something’s obviously happened…he’s /making/ himself not speculate what*

Rihn: *also worried*

Elias: Nothing is wrong unless you make it so. We're going to have one more staying here, and I'll not allow him to be harmed. *looks from one to the next* I know you to be decent people, but I've seen decent people do stupid things before. I'm trusting that won't be an issue with you three. *he doesn't think it will be, not after all he's seen with how close the brothers are with Terris, and recalling Tam's words about their family having a few j'har, but he wants to be sure.*

Terris: I can promise you that no one has anything to fear from us, Elias. We defend ourselves, but we do not otherwise hold any prejudice against others of any race or ability. *risky to say, but he's got a feeling this is what Elias wants to hear from tgem.*

Tam: *knowing grin* Half-blood? *grin turns lopsided* Boy or girl? No, you said "he", right? *one would think he was talking about a newborn baby - and like once before, he's figuring if it /is/ a problem (he doesn't think it will be), he and Terris can defend themselves...so he's making the same point, just more directly*

Elias: *looks from Terris, to Tam, to Rihn...and finally his shoulders relax. That is exactly what he was hoping to hear. He doesn’t answer Tam, simply turns over his shoulder to speak. He’d not left the doorway, and hadn’t let the door close either.* Rao. Come on in, boy. You’re safe here.

Rao: *a scraggly, dirty, slip of a boy shifts hesitantly up beside Elias. He looks maybe Mitham’s age, so he’s likely about six, seven at the oldest. He’s clearly starved, in need of a bath, and a haircut... and he’s got one bright blue eye (left) and one bright purple eye (right)*

Elias: Go sit at the table. *will move to get the boy some food if someone else doesn’t do so first.*

Tam: *at the sight, all humor drops from him and he starts for what amounts to the kitchenette area* Terris, start a bath while I get him food? *stops...looks at Terris with a small, wry grin* On second thought, you do food, I'll do bath. My nose isn't as sensitive as yours.

Terris: *chuckles, shifting to stand* Not sure I’d trust your cooking, brother. *will shift to get some food*

Elias: *pauses... well... he’s glad he was right about these people...*

Rao: *shaking, uncertain, eyes wide as he looks around in wonder even as he heads for the table as told.*

Elias: Rao, this is Terris, Tam, and Rihn. Rihn can’t speak, but know that he’ll not hurt you.

Rao: I-I... *looks around at everyone* W-why?

Rihn: *gives a shy wave*

Tam: *has picked up a bucket and started for the door to get water for a bath, pauses to look over his shoulder, his face solemn* Because the world is messed up and /wrong/ about a lot of things, especially j'har and half-bloods. You're not a monster or anyone's pet tool. You're a /person/. At the moment, one in desperate need of some decent food and good scrubbing.

Rao: ...*a few soft gasps as he fights to not cry... and fails. He’ll break down sobbing softly.*

Terris: *comes over with a bit of food, resting a gentle hand on the boy’s shoulder* Tam’s right. You’re a person, and that’s all the reason we need to show you kindness. Here. Try to eat slowly. No one will take it, and you don’t want to eat too quickly and make yourself sick.

Rao: *soft hiccups as he tries to stop crying so he can eat*

((Character List:

The Family: AMIN: Terris; HUMANS: Ziomi, Wes, Mitham, Naijah, Khepri, Patch, Harlequin, Tam, Rihn, Riana (baby), Elias Klements (Gear’s human persona); J’HAR: Zera, Talim, Jerrica (spirit), Jimn (earth); HALF-BLOODS: Nyri (air), Jendayi (air), Rao (water/spirit); INRIOMAI: Ilmari (white wolf), Raizen (white dragon), Daithi (hawk); CYBERTRONIANS: Optimus (TFA)

The Animals: Rory (horse), Toby (horse), Squeaks (fox), Crackers (goat), various unnamed chickens

Other People: DESTROM: Lyria (the lady), Darien (son half-blood), Soren (lady’s lover, j’har), Dycus (bear amin); LA’KAR: Kalan (lord), Lunnaei (lady), Darden (human), Mairi (Darden’s wife), Aren (j’har), Klatu (lion amin), unnamed others; ALVIERDA: Vashti (lady, half-blood), Warrik (j’har), Tyli (cheetah amin), Rashek (mountain lion amin), Skif (j’har, Warrik’s son), Zasha (panda amin), Bixby (cat amin), Kelsier (j’har), Vin (j’har), Nasha (j’har), Scraps (aka Ameya, fennec fox amin)

OTHERS: Taren Hordel (trader, Vashti’s friend), Kadar Ander (noble), Gren (slaver’s amin), Suki (slaver’s j’har)))

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Rihn: *watching with a small, sad frown of sympathy.../soooo/ understands*
Tam: *will return presently with water and get a bath going*

Elias: *has retrieved the rabbits and will take care of those... LifeLight, he can't express how glad he is that Terris, Tam, and Rihn so readily accept Rao.*
Rao: *w-will finally regain enough control to eat. He...will end up eating a little faster than he should and looks mildly ill when he's done...at least Terris didn't give him much...*

Tam: *lopsided grin, mildly amused in spite of himself* Ate too fast, didn't you? Give it a few minutes, you'll feel better again.

Rao: *soft blush*
Terris: *chuckles* Your bath should be ready soon. Tam will help you get cleaned up, and then I'll give your hair a trim so it's not in your face.
Elias: *just... this does his heart so good. He'll sit in his rocking chair near Rihn, a very small smile on his face, that softness there that was first seen when he first started learning handsign.*

Rihn: *grinning, will wave for Elias's attention, then point at the boy* "R-A-O." *will slowly spell till Elias gets it, then slowly spells "half-blood" until Elias gets it, then teaches him the handsign for "half-blood"*

Elias: *Rihn easily gets his attention...Rao he gets easily enough, and there will be a bit of guessing before he picks up on "half-blood". He'll repeat the gestures.*
Terris: *will take up Rao's plate* Go to Tam now. It's time to get you cleaned up.
Rao: *n-nodnod and will get up and move to Tam, stopping awkwardly a few paces away. He'll peek up at the jester from behind too-long bangs.*

Tam: *just sits there, not reaching for the boy, gives him an easy smile* It's okay. I know I'm human, but I don't believe the most others do. My name's Tam. *won't make the boy come to him...won't even really ask beyond just being obvious that he'd like the boy to get into the tub*

Rao: *will stand there and study Tam for a long moment. Finally he pulls his gaze away and to the tub. He shuffles closer to it and... will step in, fully clothed if not stopped.*

Tam: Heh, whoops, hang on. *gestures for him to stop, tone light and movements non-threatening* Clothes off, kiddo. We'll wash those separately. You need help with that? *being /very/ soft and low-key, movements minimal, so very unlike him - Elias may guess that he's got a lot of experience with this sort of thing (Terris /knows/ he does, from Rihn)*

Rao: *flinches to a stop...and gives Tam a bit of a funny look. He's gone a long time with washing himself and his clothes at the same time. It's faster and works fine... right? But he sees that Tam means it, so he'll strip and slip into the water. He's got some wcars from what looks like some kind of large animal attack... probably survived by killing the animal with Spirit. He's got typical scrapes and bruises a little boy gets just from being a boy, and a bit of a cut on his ankle from the snare. Nothing bad, though. He'll settle in the warm water... and seems to melt into the warmth...*

Tam: *yeah, he'd thought about that, but really?...the clothes just need to be thrown out and replaced - he'll let the boy soak for a few minutes, then touch him softly before moving in earnest to gently scrub him down*
Rihn: *soft whistle for attention, tells Tam to give the boy his extra set of clothes*
Tam: *nods* Yeah, I was just thinking about that. *they'll be too big, but the sleeves and pant legs can be rolled up, at least until proper clothes can be gotten, maybe one of Mitham's outfits*

Rao: *flinches again at the touch, gaze snapping to Tam before relaxing again and accepting the help... He... he can't believe this. I-it can't really be real... c-can it? Tears fill his eyes again, and before he can stop himself, he's crying softly again. H-he's safe. H-he's really safe. O-or he's dying and having a pleasant dream before fading into nothing.*

Tam: *knows what's going through the kid's mind, won't bother trying to verbally reassure him, further words would be empty, just proves himself with his actions*

Rao: *after a moment or two he'll shift in the tub, turning to throw his arms around Tam to cling and sob against his shoulder. Please be real. Please, please, PLEASE!*

Tam: *just wraps his arms around the boy, /hugging/ him, heedless of the soapy water* It’s okay. You’re safe now. It’s all right. You’re not alone anymore.
Rihn: *understanding grin . . . it’s been /years/ now, thankfully, but he still remembers…*

Rao: *deep, shuddering sobs leave him trembling in Tam's arms, just clinging as though his life depends on never letting go.* P-please don't be a dream! *he's terrified to find this is all in his head*

Tam: *rubs his back* Not a dream, kiddo. I promise you. This is real. It’ll probably take a bit to really realize and trust that – you’ve been through too much to think otherwise – but I promise you’ll find it’s real. A good man found you. There aren’t many really good people in the world, but there /are/ a few, and one found you. That’s a good thing.

Rao: *about hyperventilating as he just sobs. Tam's right. It's going to take a little bit to accept this, though the physical contact certainly helps.* I-I want th-this t-to be r-real. I-I w-want t-to be s-safe.
Elias: *heart broken for this poor boy.*
Terris: *same...though he'll leave Tam to comfort him.*

Tam: I know . . . I know. Seen this several times now. It’s never easy. It wasn’t for Rihn . . . over there? Him? *will gently get the boy to let go enough to untuck and look* Rihn was about your age when we found him. He’d been like you too – hurt and starved and scared, alone. *pulling the boy out of himself and his own experiences, giving him someone else to focus on for a moment…and to hopefully connect to*
Rihn: *nods, eyes dark with those memories…but gives the boy a reassuring grin, signs*
Tam: He says, it’s true. He remembers that. He’s mute, so he talks with his hands…or as best as he can right now, with only one hand.

Rao: *reluctantly shifted back. He gasps and shudders, but looks where directed. He studies Rihn, finally starting to calm...* Y-you saved him too?

Rihn: *nods, then shifts and pulls up his shirt so the boy can see the scars on his stomach and side, the ends of whiplash scars peeking around his flank*
Tam: About ten years ago now. He’d been enslaved at the “pet” of a really bad, horrific man. He didn’t even know he was human until my brother and nuncle and I worked with him. He thought he was an animal.
Rihn: *soft blush, shrugs – it’s silly /now/, but…he’d had nothing to go on as a child*

Rao: *eyes go wide* I-I didn't think it was allowed for a human to be treated like that.
Elias: It's not, but that doesn't stop people from doing it anyway.
Terris: *nods* Another man back at our home was in a similar position for most his life. It's rare, but not unheard of for humans to be treated so badly. It's never right, no matter the race such treatment is directed at.

Rihn: *nodnodnod, it’s really not*
Tam: */grimacing/ deeply, tone dark* Got that right. *not looking at Rao so hopefully he doesn’t mistake anything being directed at him*
Rihn: “But I okay now. And you too.” *glances at Terris to hopefully translate, since Tam’s looking down and away just then*

Terris: *of course he translates for his little brother.*
Rao: *looks around at everyone again...* Th-thank you. For being nice to me. *will finally lind of sink back into the warm soapy water.*

Tam: *gives his dirty hair a friendly ruffling, then will set to scrubbing the grime from the boy*

Rao: *has recovered completely by the time Tam has him clean. He'll crawl out and is a little surprised when Terris offers him clean clothes. Definitely too big, but they're nice and warm, and put a little grin on his face.*

Tam: *helps him get dressed, rolling things up as needed* Think you can do a little more food? At least drink something.

Rao: *makes a little face* A drink? *he's stuffed still.*

Tam: *bit of a frown at the face, wondering for an instant if the child’s just being stubborn or something, but…* How are you feeling?

Rao: ...my belly hurts. *gaze down. Worried they won't feed him again since he's turned food down now....*

Tam: *small frown and will ask him a few questions trying to determine if he just ate too much or if they should be worried*

Rao: *will answer as best he can.*
Terris: It will probably be a week or more before his belly can handle a full meal. Just tell us whenever you're hungry, Rao, no matter the time. We'll make sure you eat. We'll also offer you food whenever we eat, okay?
Rao: *nodnod* Thank you.

Tam: *will get the bath water taken care of*

Terris: Rao, if you're tired, Rihn would not mind sharing the bed with you.
Rao: ...*looks at Rihn*

Rihn: *grins and shakes his head, then will start working himself off the bed*

Terris: Don't get up again, little brother. He'll fit in bed with you. *will come help Rao up beside Rihn.*
Rao: *will...end up snuggling to Rihn if he seems okaybwith it.*

Rihn: *mild pout – but he already spends so much time in bed! – but…won’t argue, shifting the other way to make room for Rao, and has /no/ problem with the boy snuggling to him*

Terris: *gives Rihn a fond smile.* I know, little brother. We'll make sure you get some time up again in an hour or two.

Rihn: *shy grin and nods*
Tam: *will help Elias get the game cleaned that he brought back with him with Rao*

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