Stone's Throw

[Andreas Amell]

"Uh, no. I mean, if you want work, then sure, Grandpa definitely approves of people being industrious, but there'd be zero problems with feeding, housing, clothing and whatever else the three of you need."

[Charon Tethras]

"People who can have their own kids generally don't want other people's kids. Especially a cat like me." He winces then. "No offense," he adds. "You're.... different. I'm more of an alley cat. You're like, a pampered longhair owned by a princess."

[Andreas Amell]

Ouch. I mean, not... entirely... inaccurate. But ouch. "They're not like that," he protests. "Grandpa and Grandne don't even have blood children. Mom and Uncle Carver and Aunt Marian are all adopted."

[Charon Tethras]

"What about your mother? how many kids did she adopt?"

[Andreas Amell]

"Officially? None," he allows. "But we live with my Grandpa most of the time and she's helped raise the more recent adoptees and fosters. Plus my cousins. I think she..." He shifts uncomfortably. "The kidnapping and... the rest, it really scarred her. My uncle said he thinks she's scared that if she had more kids, they'd be taken too."

[Charon Tethras]

"So you'd rather pawn me off on your grandfather then?"

[Andreas Amell]

"Huh? Oh, sorry, that did sound like... No. I mean, our family is pretty dwarven style, so everyone helps raise every kid, but no. You're not..." Andreas pauses for a few seconds to gather his thoughts. "Having you back would be... an outright miracle. A blessing even greater than Aunt Marian being found-- long story-- I think. Gods, I think your problem won't be getting fobbed off or being unwanted; it'll be prying her off you. Like... you're going to be hugged and pampered and fussed over constantly."

[Charon Tethras]

"I... don't think I want that?" he asks, hesitantly. "Like, at all."

[Andreas Amell]

"Understandable," Andreas admits with a faint smile. "Mom... Mom's great. She's always there for me if I need help, always ready to listen and comfort. She'd invade the Hells for me and... and that's a really great feeling to have. But yeah, she can be exhausting too." He suddenly looks thoughtful. "Actually, it wouldn't be as bad as I first thought, come to think of it; you'd have me to run interference. And me you later on. Plus Grandpa and Uncle Carver have pulled her up short often enough she's gotten a lot better at, uh, be comforting instead of smothering."

[Charon Tethras]

"I don't know," he sighs. "I don't know what it's like to have family. I think I want to go slow with all this."

[Andreas Amell]

"Uh. Slow. Umm." Andreas leans back against the table, half sitting on it. "Hrrm. We look far too similar for me to try and pass you off as a friend... Aunt Shannon and Uncle Cedric are the only ones that would keep it a secret, probably, for a while anyway, but they're the least like everyone else so that wouldn't help much in easing you in..."

[Charon Tethras]

"Well we don't have to decide tonight what to do. We can keep this secret."

[Andreas Amell]

"That's... true," Andreas admits. Feels strange for such as this to not immediately cause a huge change but he's right. "We need to arrange to meet again. Tomorrow won't work but the day after? I could buy us lunch perhaps?"

[Charon Tethras]

"I'll bring Dil. You can meet him too."

[Andreas Amell]

"That's one of your foster siblings?" Andreas confirms, nodding back at Charon's confirmation. "Excellent; I'd love to met all of your family. Ah, preference on what kind of establishment you'd both prefer? I assume you'd not be comfortable in a posh and stuffy one and I'm certainly not going to cheap out on this but that leaves a rather wide range."