Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5583506-20160322234619/@comment-5583506-20160410030521

Falana seemed to take the hint, placing a comforting hand on Nyx's shoulder and motioned at a set of stairs with her hand.

Once they reached a building with white pillars they were approached by a guard. "What business do you have with the mayor?" he asked.

Evelyne took his hand into her own, holding it tight with a pleasant smile. "You know", she said. "There might be... some time before she actually gets here", she said suggestively.

"This one thought you were dead", said Ran'Jakho.

"I almost was", said Ran as he finally released himself from the hug.

The younger brother looked around at Ra'Kissi and the two children. "This one... assumes that... that things have been revealed, yes?"

"If they have?" said Rakharo, almost sounding offended. "This one has just found out that he is the bastard son of a Beast Slayer. A Beast Slayer who was very much alive and absent during Khajiit's upraising."

"Rakharo, please", said Ra'Kissi. "Ran... Ran'Jinro is your father. But he is not to blame for anything. He didn't know about your existence. Ra'Kissi believed him to be the dead the moment when they..."

Ran'Jakho looked down into the ground, feeling ashamed. "This one is to blame for all of this... If Ran'Jakho hadn't been stealing back then... Ran'Jinro wouldn't have had to..." The man looked as if he was about to cry again until Ran stepped in and gave his younger brother a hard embrace.

"I would have done so again", he said.

Ri'Mada observed everything cautiously. "Dad, just... what happened back then? This one means that... you have told us, but... just until now did Ri'Mada see the whole picture."

"Oh, you see", sniffed Ran'Jakho and wiped some tears from his eyes. "This one... did something really stupid back then. He stole... from the mayor himself. When this one was about to be exiled, Ran'Jinro intervened. Not only taking the blame, but also the punishment." He looked at Ran'Jinro with a sense of wonder. "Your uncle is a hero who sacrificed everything, just so that your father could stand here today." He turned to Rakharo. "Your... father is a hero."

Rakharo was still staring at Ran'Jinro with a mix of confusion and anger. "He is not my father. He was never around. This one doesn't care whether or not you are this one's uncle, Ran'Jakho. You will always be more of a father than... than this Beast Slayer ever was."

"Rakharo!" hissed Ra'Kissi. "Enough. Ran'Jinro didn't know about you."

"So that's makes everything alright then? That he knocked you up with me and then voluntarily got himself banished. Sounds just like the perfect escape plan."

Ran'Jinro got an expression of devastation as he heard those words. "That's... that's cruel of you, lad", he said. "I had a life planned out for me here. With your mother. I knew little of what was in store for my future back then. I was merely the child, just turned a man. When my young brother was facing exile I couldn't just stand there and watch, knowing that he wouldn't survive out there. So I volunteered to take his place. If it's selfish to voluntarily gamble my life away so that I may save the life of my kin, then I must be the most ego-centric asshole in this world."

When Rakharo heard Ran'Jinro's explanation he looked away to the side. "Sorry", he murmured. "You are right. This one has no saying in this. Rakharo wouldn't know what it was like back then. But... this one cannot accept you as his father. He just can't. To Rakharo, you are just a stranger... who will soon leave us, like many other have."

"Aye", said Ran'Jinro somberly. "I will leave. And I am sorry you feel this way. That you aren't proud of having a father. Because I sure as hell am proud of discovering your existence."

Rakharo looked at him first now realising how similar in appearence they were, and just how impossible it would have been to reject the claims of him being this Beast Slayer's son. "This one just doesn't get it... If you are Rakharo's father, and if you knew that his mother and that your brother lived here. Why didn't you visit before?"

Ran'Jinro sighed. "My roads have never taken me in this direction, lad", he said. "I can't just go wherever I please with monstrous beings out there."

"Rakharo sees your point", lamented the young man.

"How... long will you be staying, brother?" asked Ran'Jakho. "This one is eager to hear what you have been through and..."

"Not for long", interrupted Ran sadly as he didn't want Ran'Jakho to get his hopes up. "My group is currently awaiting another group for a joint operation. Once they arrive we will begin our assignment in the Valus mountains."

"Oh", said Ran'Jakho and lowered his ears. "That's... too bad."

"It is", confirmed Ran'Jinro. "Though I can promise you that if my roads ever lead me back to Dive Rock, I will make time for all of you."