[open] There's a word for that, what does it start with? A word for that, I'll sound so smart

[systematicsupport]

It's been quite the stressful week for most of the castle's inhabitants. S-4 wasn't any different. With losing Frisk, fighting with Sans-Serif not to take any souls, struggling with the overwhelming emotions the funeral brought up, and then trying to deal with his dear friend's return as well as attempting to take care of his siblings (even Sans, despite him holing himself up in some mysterious room in the castle with that weird human), S-4 was a bit exhausted. But he wasn't about to sleep without a bedtime story.

Sans was too busy, so S-4 didn't want to bother him by asking. Sans-Serif would have helped, but he was still learning to read, and S-4 didn't want to frustrate him. It would probably be fine to just read it to himself.

He takes one of the picture books to the lounge, and is slowly flipping through it, a fingerbone pressed to the page underneath the words so he can keep his place.

"Out... came... the baby... bird."

Sophie called him a baby. He knows what that is. And a bird are those singing, flying creatures up in the trees. But the one in this book talks. Maybe only little birds can do that?

"'Where... is my... mother?' he said..."

Now that's a word he doesn't know.

"Mother? Mother... like brother?"

They rhyme, so it must be similar. But what exactly is one? Does he have one?

He's frowning at the book until he realizes someone is watching him read. Usually, he'd have a moment to be embarrassed about being caught like this, but right now, his question is too serious to be ignored for shame.

"What's a mother?"

Comments

[lightofthestars]

She should have made herself known sooner, but the sight of Esfor reading to himself is so peaceful and--healing, that she could not bring herself to stop him.

That he needs to ask such a question makes her heart ache, but she tries to keep the pain from her face. Instead, she joins him where he sits.

"A mother is a woman who raises a child, whether that child is given to her by the grace of Iladar or if she takes on the care of a child who has lost the one or ones who were raising them." She looks to him and smiles. "That is the simplest explanation, but there are a great many feelings tied up in the word. It is not a quick one to define."

[systematicsupport]

He smiles softly as she moves to sit beside her, intense curiosity still making his eyelights shine. She seems a little bit upset, but everyone seems to be since what happened. He hopes she manages to feel better soon.

He looks from his book to her, trying to parse her explanation. Most of it makes sense, but sometimes an explanation just gives him more questions. The scientists found him quite annoying, especially when he went through his 'why?' phase.

"So a mother has to be a woman... so that's why Sans takes care of me, but he's still a brother instead. Um, what's Iladar? And... what kind of feelings are in the word?"

Screw sticking to words pre-1400. I found "parent" in a Middle English dictionary, so nyah.

[lightofthestars]

She smiles in return. How can she not?

"So many questions, pen vuin," she says fondly. "A mother is a woman, but there are also the words 'father' for a man, and 'parent' for others. Iladar is the One who created the Belain, who sang the song that brought Arda into being. It is from his thoughts that Elves and Humans sprang.

"As for the feelings in the word 'mother'...." She looks out into the room, thinking. "A mother may raise a child and be done. Yet to be truly worthy of the name, she is one who loves her child with all her heart, one who keeps them safe and well, who teaches them what it means to live in the world and with its people, who gives them the skills to live on their own so that one day, they may stand strong on their own."

Then who cares that dictionary is right!

[systematicsupport]

"I, um... there are just a lot of words I don't know. Like 'pen vuin'. And 'Belain' and 'Arda'. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so annoying."

S-4 looks sheepish now, lowering his gaze back to his book, but not really looking at the words. He doesn't know a lot of things about the world, but he should have guessed it would be frustrating to deal with him when he was curious. The scientists never amused his curiosity for long. He's supposed to just follow instructions. Asking questions is only wasting time trying to understand things he was never meant to understand.

At least Tauriel is still giving some answers. So a real 'mother' loves and protects their child and teaches them everything they need to know to keep going in the world.

"It must be nice to have a mother," he mumbles absentmindedly. It doesn't seem like he knows he's speaking out loud, too wrapped up in his own thoughts.

Exactly! Gender neutral terms >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> accuracy anyway. Also fml I forgot Arda is Quenya.

[lightofthestars]

"You are not annoying in the slightest," she is quick to assure him. "Ask as many questions as you like, and I will gladly answer."

First come that which is simple: "These are all words in my language. 'Pen vuin' means 'dear one.' The Belain are the beings through which Iladar carries out his will, such as Elbereth Gilthoniel and Ivon. And Ardhon is the name we give to the world."

His last words are not so easy to answer for her. A small, faint smile touches her lips. "It is indeed good to have a mother. Though my mother passed to the Undying Lands before I was yet twenty, I treasure her in my memory to this day."

This is also very true!

[systematicsupport]

"Oh... I'm glad I'm not. I don't want to be."

He starts to smile a bit again, especially as she goes on to explain all the words she used. 'Dear one' sounds so very nice. He didn't think he'd ever be referred to with such endearment, and it makes him a bit flattered and flustered. The rest makes more sense with that explanation.

"So Ardhon is the world, and Iladar takes care of the world through the Belain. That sounds nice."

Like everyone is a child of Iladar.

"Oh... I'm sorry you lost your mother. It sounds like you haven't seen her for a long time."

[lightofthestars]

Her gaze drops. "I have not. She and my father departed when I was still a child. King Thranduil was kind enough to care for me, but...."

She is not sure how to go on. He did raise her when he had no need, but as distant as he is, she could not call him a father. The thought alone is very strange.

[systematicsupport]

"Oh. Um, even if not all children have parents, I guess it could be strange to have them, and then... not have them. And... and maybe it would be strange to not have them, and then have them, I guess."

It sounds as if he's trying to reassure himself of something. Really, it would be wrong to have parents. S-4 doesn't need anyone to care for him. He has his brothers. He would be fine with just them. It's for the best.

[lightofthestars]

She is quick to shake her head. "It is not strange to lose one's parents. The world can be very dangerous. And it is not strange to gain parents where there were once none. Indeed, it is a joyful thing, especially if the choice to raise a parentless child is made out of not duty, but love."

She does not wish for him to feel as though he is strange. He is but a child, brought into the world under terrible circumstances. He deserves love and support, not to be made to feel--wrong.

[systematicsupport]

"The world is dangerous... I don't like that at all. People should have to lose the ones that are important to them. That's... that's why I'm protecting my brother."

He's unfortunately latched onto the wrong part of that. The idea that people out there are supposed to have what he does, only to lose it... It feels unfair. And it makes him even more sure that someone like him isn't supposed to have parents.

[lightofthestars]

He has not yet understood. That is not strange, for his life and his world have been so small. Yet it sorrows her all the same.

"It is very kind of you to care for your brother, and it shows your great heart. I must ask you, though...." She seeks his eyes. "Who cares for you?"

[systematicsupport]

He looks at her for a moment, but her piercing gaze makes him nervous, and he ends up looking away.

"Um... Gaster was, I guess, but he's gone now. Sans was, but I think he's too tired to do that now. I guess no one, really," he finishes with a shrug.

[lightofthestars]

"That is not right," she says, more to herself. She looks up, and back at him again. "You are a child. You should not be made to care for yourself."

Her lips press together. Has she need again to speak to Sans? ...Later. She cannot think of this now, or Esfor will think her poor temper is his fault.

Still, she cannot ease away her frown entirely. "Have you no one else to care for you?"