Getting By

There is an adage that says that youth is wasted on the young, although to watch my son, you would never believe it. Besides his capacity to wind people around his finger, an inherited trait he didn't get from me, he seems intent on fitting all of life's possibilities into a few short years. Not quite two, but he's wise beyond this, and he races about soaking up every detail he can/ What is more, he is consistently creating new past times for of us, and I sometimes have trouble keeping up. I am glad of it, however, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Still, he finally asked me the question I have been dreading all along. It caught me off guard nonetheless, coming as it did on the heels of our trip to Cos, and enjoying the tea house behind Stylus as we were. He'd come to me with grime on hands, and when I sat wiping it off, the query came. "C'sta and Sage have a mommy. Sean and Billy have a mommy. The twins [Nathan and Marlo's] have a mommy. Why don't I have a mommy?" Despite my going over this in brain for quite some time, I was yet at a loss for words for several ihn together. Eventually, I told him that he did have a mother, but that she had to leave us, and I didn't know what happened to her. He was silent, and I admit I held my breath, but he accepted the explanation. How long that will last, I have no way of knowing.

When I emerged from the tunnels this time, life had gone on without me. I am used to it by now, and whereas usually it is a measure of some pleasure in the thought, it just bothered me this round. I'd had a few plans laid when those of the club pulled me away to tend to monetary matters, and now things have taken a turn that renders those plans pointless. Flesh of interest is now owned by another establishment, and because of this I went about thinking on what to do about hands being in the shop. It was then that the redhead showed back up, and after she begged me in the library for something that wasn't entirely comprehensible, I paid the city for her. Known as Ann, I call her Shop Slave more often than not. This is not one of those purchases due to some consuming wish or need to possess, but entirely a business arrangement. I use her, I mark her, and she will remain as long as she is pleasing. There is nothing more really to say about it.

I suppose you could say, I am getting by.

The Club

I've been down in the tunnels again, though this time not merely to get away from humanity. It's Winter Break from classes, so I've had the opportunity to begin work on the club meant for Ar's more elite male patrons. There is direct route from the back of Bound Knowledge, but this will be one of those invitation only establishments, unlike the book shop. The work has reached a point, however, where only the Builders and their crew can really do anything below. That being the case, I went home determined to replot and plan for another trip to the ruins. Julian had other plans.

My son was most emphatic that he had to see his Aunts Th'rise and Lilah, not to mention the hoards of children that live in the Ubar's home. I still haven't figured out exactly how many children Lucien and Therise have between them. Then there are also Nathan and Marlo's progeny to think about, not to mention the possibility that perhaps Lilah might be expecting an arrival now that she has been companioned for an extended period.

We arrived in Temos last night, but it was very late, so we holed up at the White Larl instead of going on to the manor. I ran across Arlene, Therise's younger sister, who I only know slightly. She asked me about Julian, and I told her a few details, including how I chose his name. I asked her if she had ideas for the names of her own children, since she is after all companioned to Niros, the Deputy Administrator of Ar. She seemed, if not caught off guard by the question, hesitant in a way about her reply. It was most strange.

I'll have to ask Therise about it, and apparently some bit of news that Arlene said Hithy would likely have for me. She wouldn't divulge whatever it was, and since the ahn was in fact early by the time we parted ways, I took to my room in order to sleep.