I told you that I need affection; any

Vulgaris

" when she's coming for my heart it feels like armageddon. "
He has kept to himself when it comes to his new home in Loess, though he’s been busying himself in the meadows and forests lately. There is a tinge on remorse spreading like ink through him the more he thinks of it. Vulgaris knows very well that he has been a miserable example of a father to his previous children and even sculpted Cellar to be nothing more than a slave for the highest bidder. What right did he have to go about bringing more of his offspring into this world? A frown fixes itself to his face and he racks his brain for some idea, some opportunity for redemption within his family. His sage-colored eyes lift from the ground before him to examine the kingdom – safe, quiet, stable. Perhaps he could bring them here?

He swallows nervously at the thought.

Hunting down Faolin and convincing her to become a resident of Loess sounded like trying to bathe a cat, so that option was clearly off the table. Leliana could snatch his heart from him in an instant if he didn’t keep himself guarded. He’s not ready for anyone to sink their teeth into him like that just yet, so he dismisses the idea of approaching her with such a request. That left only Ailana, the beautiful girl with flowers in her hair. Sure he’d slept with her, but he couldn’t see himself making any vows of eternity for her. He still finds the idea of having her and whatever sort of monster they produced nearby a nice thought, however. There would be some comfort in knowing they’re safe so long as they’re with him.

The serpent boy wanders to the area dominated by the cacti and aloe plants, away from the scent of pine needles and firs. He’s surprised the desert flora do so well here in the autumn when his breath is coming out in little puffs of white air. Vulgaris likes the way they look when the morning frost collects on their little needles, though, so he’s certainly not complaining. His gaze finds the horizon as he takes some comfort in having made up his mind, leaving him in the right state of mind to appreciate the orange and purple colors of the sunset. A slow sigh leaves him as the dying day paints him in shades of gold and dark blues to match the kingdom.

Perhaps the future isn’t as dismal as he previously thought.

Vulgaris

" when she's coming for my heart it feels like armageddon. "
Vulgaris has not been around children since Cellar was just a newborn thing, all ribs and knobby knees while she trailed along behind him. (He forgets, of course, about Pond. She’s a plaything in his mind and not a child at all.) He has no idea how to behave as the little colt comes hurrying to his side while calling for his mother. The gray serpent turns his head to watch his approach with a look of surprise across his face but he doesn’t recoil from the attention. Instead, he lowers his head to the child’s height and watches him explain.

The name Lepis does not bring a face to memory but he can understand why a child might assume everyone knows their parent. His mother is the center of his universe, at this age. There was a time when Larva and Dillan were gods among mere mortals whom everyone must know. It brings a soft chuckle from somewhere in his throat with a smile that lingers in place. He keeps his lips pressed together, though, so that his fangs might not frighten the boy.

That is when he recalls the murmurings he had heard of Lepis being a captive, however. He supposes a distraction is necessary then. After all, he needs practice for when his own children are born in the spring.

“I haven’t seen Lepis today, little friend. You can stay with me until she comes home if you’d like,” he says softly as he searches the boy’s face for some gauge of how he feels. “My name is Vulgaris. What’s yours?”

He was never separated from his father as a small child and so he does not know what must be going through Delta’s mind. Of course, he assumes fear and loneliness, but those are abstract ideas for him at this point in life. Solitude is nearly all he knows anymore so there’s no one to long for when he finds himself isolated from the world.