Welcome to Gaia! ::

Em smiles at him, then asks why he's there. "Don't tell me... Mara sent ye up, didn't she? Ari would want to know why I didn't show my face, but she'd only complain to her sister."

"Ai, huh... now that's a surprise. But I supposed he's worried about me too, isn't he? He's an interesting character, yer sira. I never really know what is going on in that head of his. He's a lot like you in a way. Protective like Bez but easy to get close to. Only once yer there yer not so sure who or what is speaking to ye... Sometimes he's as wise as the most ancient of wisemen... sometimes he's as clueless as a cub."

"I try to be wise, but make no claim to wisdom and I am definitle not clueless." he grumbles back laughing.

"Like I knew which end was up at the time... I don't even want to repeat what your first word was..." snort Emnast with a crooked grin.

Em chuckles. "That's the clean version... anyway. I'm fine, little brother. Worried, yes... but there's nothing I can do right now except cause trouble, so I'm cooling my heels and getting in some reading. I appreciate the company though. If Ai thinks I'm avoiding the family, he's right, but it's not because I'm upset or anything. Well, I am a little upset... but what is still rather fresh for you due to your bopping in and out of the void so often is rather faded for me. The pain is still there. I miss her something terrible and I'd do anything to have her back, but I'm also a realist... it isn't going to happen... and while I watched Ari grow up... I've come to love her and Mara a great deal. The two of them are very dear to my heart and I would never hurt either one of them. I'll admit, I'm partial to a certain little red-head... and not because she reminds me of someone, but frankly... she doesn't. I like her for herself... truly I do."

"I was hungry, okay and you certainly didn't turn down the ones I shared with you. Sis did though... I still think she's the one who told on us..."

"And it was so easy to do too... Running circles around Ma until she was ready to brain us wasn't the brightest idea in the book, true, but it did get her to chase after us... all we had to do then is lead her to where Sis was practicing. Ma almost got you though, but that dart through her legs at the last possible moment was sheer genius. Insane, but genius all the same. Ma mad was not the best mood to face her in..."

Em flashes him a small tired s mile. "You have no idea how good it is to hear that... I..." he falls silent. "No.. no excuses... no promises either... just the turth... I won't go that route again... you have my word, Luceil. It's not going to happen. If Shia taught me anything it is you can change... you can turn things around... you just have to want to do it bad enough... and I won't lie to you little brother... for her I would have done anything. She pierced my shadows and nailed me to the wall of truth. Made me face what I had become... it wasn't a pretty picture. But she didn't run from that cruel vindictive man I once was either. She opened her heart to him and burned away the hate."