• Closed • Introductions

[Faith Augustin]

85th Vhalar, 716
Following the events:

here

He had turned and run, and she had run to keep up with him. News of the birth of his child had caused him to have exactly the kind of reaction that Faith would expect and she ran with him until she could not keep up with him. He made his way faster than she could and she cursed herself for not being quick enough, not being speedy enough and not thinking about bringing a horse, but just leaving the house and making her way to the University because Lady Elyna had asked it of her. So, she determinedly made her way as quickly as she could and, inevitably, she arrived some time after him.

Hot, sweating and dishevelled, the young slave made her way in through the entrance that she, and those like her, used and then she made her way to Lady Elyna's room. She tapped at the door gently and just popped her head in, fully expecting to see her, Malcolm and their child together. But he was not there and the new mother was sitting up in bed, holding the babe and looking down at her child in what seemed like surprise. The babe was asleep in mother's safe arms and Faith stepped in, careful to stay quiet. They looked like they fitted together, the two of them, Faith considered. Like they were holding on to each other somehow and she smiled slightly at her own flights of fancy. It did not change, though, the simple truth of what she saw; a family unit. It caught in her throat as she remembered Lady Elyna saying that she felt sad for what Faith would never have, a childhood of love and for the first time in as long as she could remember, Faith wondered if her mother had ever held her in her arms, ever smiled in pleasure at the very sight of her newborn babe. She dismissed the thought as pointless, but she could not deny its existence.

"How are you?" she asked, a curtsy dropped to the Lady as someone else might nod in greeting or smile in such. It was a well trained and unconscious gesture. "Did Ser Malcolm step out? He must have beaten me here, Lady Elyna, I could not keep up with him. He had a horse" she explained, apologetically. "I should have thought to bring a horse, my apologies. But he was so delighted. Has he... was he allowed in Lady Elyna?" she asked in her usual forthright manner. She did not step too close, because she was very aware that she was sweaty, out of breath and frankly a bit grubby looking. "He was worried about you, about the babe and then his feet flew like there was nothing he could do except race to you. What would you like me to do?" she asked, her expression earnest and more than happy to go get him and bring him in here if Lady Elyna wished it.

[Elyna]

In some ways, Elyna had never been in so much pain. It was a different kind of pain to a stab wound or evening poisoning. It was different again to the bruising that came from the training yard or wrestling to control a Volareon. It felt like every part of her ached or stung…and yet it was so very unimportant. She’d managed to have a hot bath in the small hours of the morning. The baby wrapped up and asleep in a basket beside her. Her mother had teased her, but she wasn’t letting the child out of her sight.
They’d wrapped linens around her waist when shew as dried. Not too tight, but enough to support the muscles and to encourage her body to return to its pre-baby condition. It was uncomfortable, but still it was insignificant to the overwhelming adoration that coursed through her veins.
She had begged that they find Malcolm and had been assured that messengers were sent. Messengers and servants returned that he was nowhere to be found. Not at the barracks, or the house, or the town house or the taverns. Exhausted, she’d drifted in and out of sleep, arms wrapped the small bundle in soft blankets. Something was wrong.
It was then she has asked for her Mother to send for Tristan…Tristan’s slave. Faith had arrived and Elyna had passed the task onto the girl. Confident that if there was a way to find Malcolm, Faith would do it. She wouldn’t give up. She wouldn’t knock half-heartedly on a door before turning away if it wasn’t answered. The dark-haired girl had sped away and Elyna had been able to rest. Secure in the knowledge that for the time being, there was nothing else she could do.
Faith returned and Elyna looked up from her sleeping daughter and the haze of baby smell, sweet and powdery. She blinked, struggling to understand. Had Malcolm stepped out? Her brow drew together in a frown. He hadn’t arrived. A sly voice whispered that maybe he had run…but fled the city. Maybe he wanted nothing to do with her and now the baby was born, Elyna would be able to defend them both. Then why stay so long. Faith continued her description and the young woman felt the burn at the back of her throat. Something was definitely wrong. With no attention to the sweaty state of the girl before her Elyna closed her eyes and considered her options. All she wanted to do was sleep. This wasn’t fair though, this wasn’t right.
The Skyrider counted to three, before she pushed the covers back from herself. She slid her legs over the side of the bed. Her toes. Maybe they were the only things that didn’t hurt? Her head throbbed, and the circles beneath her eyes were dark with pain and exhaustion. She was dressed though, in a pair of old breaches that were loose against her middle and a long pale shirt that reached her knees. Bare feet landed on the wooden floor board and she stood up slowly. With the baby in her arms she struggled to regain her balance without disturbing the child.
“Faith…could you…would you kindly throw my clothes into my bag?” There was a neat pile of the clothes she’d worn the day before on a nearby chair. The room was otherwise fairly plain and Spartan. Somewhere the young woman hadn’t spent much time in the past few arcs. Balancing the baby against her chest, and the other hand outstretched for balance the young woman made her way out of the bedroom door.
She walked at a slow pace. Head throbbing and body screaming protest at the movement when it needed to rest. Brown eyes fixed though on the stairs. Hand curled around the rail and she descended. One step at a time. Feet landing on the cold floor before she caught her balance and took another step down.
It was Pavoo who saw her descent and came speeding out of a study. Rushed down the stairs and caught her by the elbow to steady her. He smelt of tobacco and Elyna looked up to smile at her Father. A half-smile of appreciation. He didn’t argue but simply assisted her to the main hall of the house where her Mother paced the oiled floor.
“Elyna!” Caelan dashed forward, seeking to help or to remove the child from her hands.
Feet planted on the icy floor, the Captain straightened and met her Mothers gaze, “either let me out, or let Malcolm in.”
“You should be in bed,” Caelan protested, she laid gentle hands on Elyna’s elbow and tried to coax her back to the stairs, “you should be resting!”
The Skyrider refused to move, “Faith has my bag,” she looked over her shoulder, confident that the girl would have followed, “and you either let me out, or you let Malcolm in.” She kept her voice low and steady.
“Elyna, you can’t be serious-” She fell silent at the unflinching look from both Elyna and Pavoo.
“Caelan,” Pavoo’s soft voice was a growl that rumbled across the quiet room. A warning to his wife.

[Malcolm]

The man paced, quite sure that his back and forth dance of frustration on the front doorstep was likely to wear a hole in the stonework. Like a stallion separated from his mares, the man was so one-track-minded he didn't care to think about anything else but getting to Elyna now. It had been at least an hour, and short of walking the grounds to peek in through every window in the hopes that he found the right one, there was little Malcolm felt he could do. He had knocked on the door twice, and both times the same tired looking servant had answered and told him to wait while she fetched the lady of the house, but Baroness Burhan never answered, not after the first time.
Impatient, he drummed a closed fist against the door again and waited, listening to footsteps, and when none followed, the man turned to the steps and sunk down, finally giving his burning feet a break. He bowed his head to catch it in his hands and sat with his elbows propped against his knees, long, black curls drawing a veil around his face, hiding the anguish there. Was it possible to be this excited and disappointed at the same time? He would sit on the steps all night if he had to.
The door opened suddenly and Malcolm jumped to his feet, spinning about to find Paavo at the door. “You better come in then,” the man said, his face as hard to read as it had been the day of his recent promotion, but Malcolm wasn't about to argue.
They had managed to get Elyna back into bed on the agreement that Malcolm was let in just to visit, the noble woman’s mother had been clear. Paavo led Malcolm up the stairs and stopped outside Elyna’s room. “Let me take that,” he insisted, and Malcolm removed his cloak, and pulled his leather tabard up over his shoulders, leaving him in a long-sleeved, black shirt with a small v in the front, a light smattering of chest hair on display. There were sweat-marks on the shirt under his arms from all of the unexpected running and pacing back and forth in all of the layers he had just removed. “You look terrible,” Pavoo commented, and Malcolm raised a brow, thinking the observation rather familiar of him.
Malcolm filled his lungs and released the spent air slowly, ready to go in. Paavo waved him in and passed the man’s belongings to one of the servants outside, lingering at the door a moment before returning to his office. Malcolm completely ignored the man’s wife, who sat in the corner shooting daggers at him with a foul look, and went straight to Elyna’s side.
The room smelt like bath salts and fresh linen, but as he drew closer to the newborn, that new-baby-smell bombarded his senses, convincing the man that his eyes were not playing tricks on him, that their child was finally here. Malcolm’s smile was so effortless, he didn't know himself, how long had it been since he had smiled without thought? He moved to sit on the edge of the bed to Elyna’s right, and stroked her hair with one hand while the other reached out to hover an inch from the babe, almost as if the child were too fragile to touch. Happy tears, he convinced himself as he felt a warm bead of salty water roll down over his cheek. Happy that both mother and child were well, happy that their wait was over, and that he had been home in time to see this when really he should be up in the mountains hunting down rebels, or back in Ne’haer doing what his aunt had asked of him.
“Can I hold him?” Malcolm looked at Elyna, her arms glued to the child.
The baroness scoffed. “It's a girl, you fool.”
His eyes lit up. “A girl?” The knight beamed, of course it was a girl.
Elyna handed the baby over and Malcolm put his hand under the child’s head, supporting the rest of her tiny body with his arm. Elyna’s mother got to her feet and left the room in silent protest, she hadn't been able to hold her granddaughter yet, and wasn't pleased to see Malcolm get the chance before her. The man had eyes only for the child then, staring down at her little button nose and thin, red lips. The light covering of hair on her head was quite dark, but had a slight auburn shade to it in the sunlight, and he knew then that she had taken after her beautiful mother. He counted her fingers, the palm of her hand scarcely bigger than the pad of his thumb, and drew her closer to his chest.
“Hello, little one,” Malcolm's deep voice cracked, broken down into a husky whisper. He leaned forward to press his lips to her temple and breathed in the smell of her of feather-fine hair. “Look at you, you're so beautiful,” he couldn't stop staring at the babe, nothing in the world was more important in that moment, and short of the burning mountains erupting, nothing would steal his focus away from her.
“Thank you for fetching me, Faith,” Malcolm raised his gaze to rest with the dark-haired slave girl for a second before it was lowered again. “She's so perfect…” he mouthed, his voice momentarily lost.

[Faith Augustin]

"Oh Lady Elyna what are you... oh, I didn't mean that you should spring up. Please, let me help you?" she fussed as the Skyrider and new mother pushed the covers back and then stood up. "Of course, Lady Elyna" was her immediate response to the request to put her clothes in the bag and Faith did that, trying to juggle care and speed with equal importance. By the time she had achieved her task, the determined Lady in question had left the room, babe in arms and Faith turned and followed her with as much speed as she could muster. It was evidently not something Lady Elyna was prepared to be discussed, she was going to see Malcolm and that was that. It was not surprising to her that this was the case, not in the slightest and Faith bit back a smile of approval at the lady and her actions and when Lord Burhan and Lady Burhan spoke to Lady Elyna, Faith stood close behind her. So, when Lady Elyna turned to look back, checking that she had done her duty, the young slave dropped a curtsy and spoke in soft tones "At your command, Lady Elyna" She hoped that the Lady in question understood that and what it meant. If necessary Faith would do whatever was needed in order to ensure that Lady Elyna's wishes were met.

The moments which followed saw Lady Elyna agreeing to get back to bed, but only on the reassurance that Malcolm would be allowed in. Faith moved ahead, to make sure that the bed and the basinette were both ready for their inhabitants, comfortable pillows behind Lady Elyna's back, soft blankets for the babe, a fresh glass of water by the side of the bed and so on. She did her best to make sure that the place was as comfortable as possible. The baroness came in, Lady Elyna and the babe too and Faith fussed to the extent that she thought that Lady Elyna would accept. She looked exhausted, Faith thought and the young slave determined that she would do all that she could to make the Lady comfortable.

However, when Malcolm came in Faith stepped as far away as she could whilst remaining in the room. Lady Elyna did not approve of her kneeling to wait, so Faith stepped back and sat in the far corner. She had no wish to interrupt this moment which to her mind was intensely personal and she sat with her hands folded and her eyes lowered, trying to not be there and not interrupt them in their time. When Malcolm spoke to her, Faith met his gaze and smiled a slight smile, acknowledging his thanks. She did not speak, though, it did not seem like she should. Instead, she sat and was ready to act should Lady Elyna need her to, leave if dismissed or sit and try to be as inconspicuous as possible.

[Elyna]

It was good to have a friend. Which is what Elyna considered Faith to be. Glancing over her shoulder at the dark-haired girl, she’d been steadied in her resolve. The slave provided unquestioning support in a time of need. If Elyna needed to leave the house, she would have help. If she returned to the room as her Mother begged, she would have assistance. It was a comfort and a source of strength to realise, for the first time, that she was not alone. Not anymore. So she had argued with her Mother, speaking a few short words until agreement was given.
It had been a slow return up the stairs and a grateful return to the bed. Faith fussed and she smiled. Caelan took up her perch on a chair, still itching to hold the baby which Elyna had so far refused. The Skyrider closed her eyes, listening to the movements in the distance and the sound of boots on the stairs. In danger of drifting into the sleep her body craved she forced herself to open her eyes, watching as Malcolm entered the room. He filled up the door way and then the room with his presence. His weight caused the bed to dip as he sat. Fingers curled around her hair but his attention and gaze was fixed, unwavering on the baby. It was without hesitation that Elyna passed the child to the Mortalborn. Having refused to give the child to anyone else.
“Faith…” Elyna propped herself onto the pillows, “Thank you.....” the words stuck in her throat and she found that she was blinking too fast, “c-could you see if I can have some tea? Just something other than the water?” The dark-haired girl looked uncomfortable.
As Faith departed, Elyna reached out to touch Malcolm’s bare arm. Brushing her fingers over the dark hairs. “Elsie Adele Vri,” she introduced Father to Daughter with a smile that ghosted her features, “of course…everyone will just think she’s a Burhan.”
Happiness had filled her up but the confrontation with the Baronness had left her drained of energy. The woman sank down against the pillows, “you smell terrible,” she teased, quiet, “as though you’re sweating whiskey?” it wasn’t a reproach. If anything she was glad he’d had a night off. A night away from worries and the loneliness that was chasing both of their heels like a hungry wolf.
“I’m sorry they didn’t fetch you…I’m sorry they didn’t let you in…I want you to stay,” she closed her eyes. With the baby safe with Malcolm she felt that she could finally rest, “and then I want to go home.”

[Malcolm]

“Elsie,” he couldn't stop smiling. The perfect name for the perfect girl. Malcolm looked at Elyna as she brushed his arm, he had folded his sleeves back on the way in. She’s beautiful, his look seemed to suggest.
Elyna spoke again as his attention was turned on Elsie once more. “Now Elsie, you must always listen to your mother, unless she is talking about me,” he grinned and flicked a cheeky side-long glance at Elyna. “That's what a real man smells like,” he bent to kiss the child again. The baby stirred and stretched her arms out of the blanket she was wrapped in. Malcolm covered her again and tucked her in nice and snug against his arm. “Shh, shh, shhhh,” he soothed and looked at Elyna as she spoke, apologising for all he had been put through. “It's no trouble,” he stood up and stepped into the sunlight coming in through the window. “No trouble at all,” he whispered quietly to the baby, “now that we have you.”
Malcolm drew the curtains, dimming the natural light in the room. He could see how tired Elyna was and didn't blame her for being so with the baby being so new to the world. The man returned to the bed and sat facing her this time, Elsie cradled in his in left arm. He reached out with his right hand and brushed Elyna’s cheek with his thumb before leaning close, his nose touched to hers. “Well done, my love,” he pressed his lips to hers in a brief kiss before kissing her cheek and temple while burly fingers were combed through her hair. “Get some rest, I won't put her down,” he promised.
It was wrong of him, he knew, to kiss her when she was so tired, to take advantage like he was, but the man could not help himself, Elyna had never been more beautiful to him than she was now, the mother of their child. Her lips were soft under his, the embrace lasting only a few seconds before Faith returned with tea, and the kiss was broken.
Malcolm got to his feet again, and with careful footsteps, carried young Elsie over to the armchair in the corner where he could sit and watch Elyna or the door while he held the baby. Once Elyna had finally drifted off, Malcolm waved Faith over and had her sit in the chair. “Ever held a baby?” He smiled and if the woman was receptive, would lower Elsie into her arms, kneel beside the chair, and watch like a hawk, never letting the babe out of his sight. “She looks like her mother.”

[Faith Augustin]

She exited to get a cup of tea but, before she did, as she curtsyed she looked at Lady Elyna and made sure that she was alright. Grateful to see that the young noble Lady was firmly esconced with her baby and her husband, or whatever it was that he was in name or station, Faith exited. Lady Elyna had asked for a cup of tea, and such she would get. But there was more to be done than that and so, when Faith returned she had a tray in her hands. Perched on said tray was a cup of tea the way that Lady Elyna took it, a tea and a coffee for Malcolm (she didn't know which he drank) and a selection of small, bite-sized treats, both sweet and savoury, in case she could tempt Lady Elyna to eat something. Faith had practiced the movements of entering quietly down to a fine art and she did so, balancing the tray with ease. The tea and the selection of food she put down next to Lady Elyna and the mug of coffee and tea she took over to where Malcolm was sitting, putting whichever he chose within his reach, but on the other side to where he held the babe with a slight smile. "I took the liberty, just in case you might want a drink." she explained

She returned then, to Lady Elyna's side and if she needed anything Faith was quick to help if she were permitted to. She would try to get her to eat something, even if were only to nibble on a biscuit with her tea. But she spoke as little as possible and when she did her voice was even more hushed than usual. She had grown more used to the young woman who had just given birth and Faith did not crowd her, rather did what needed doing and then got out of her way and let her rest.

When Lady Elyna had finally fallen off to sleep, Malcolm motioned for her to come over and Faith did so, sitting in the chair as he bade her to. Faith lifted her eyes up in surprise, though when he asked if she had ever held a baby before and she shook her head "No, Ser Krome" she spoke in quiet tones and her eyes told of just how earnest she was about the next words that she spoke "But I have been reading to try and make sure that I can help Lady Elyna. I believe one must hold the head most..oh" the last was a gasp of genuine delight as he placed the baby in her arms with all the care that was appropriate. "Oh yes, she does look like her mother. She is beautiful and strong" she smiled down in absolute delight at the newborn infant in her arms, her gaze transfixed. Lowering her head she whispered to the babe "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Elsie. I hope to help your parents and be part of those people who will help you grow up in love and safety" and then she looked at Malcolm with a vaguely embarrassed look on her face "I... I know she does not understand me, but it seems important that I tell her. She is beautiful. Congratulations, Ser Krome. Your daughter is perfect" she said and for the first time since she had met him, Faith really wasn't interested in looking at Malcolm or thinking about what he thought, she held a much more powerful draw for her emotions in her arms.

[Elyna]

Elyna had drawn her knees up beneath the blankets. Propped up in soft pillows she watched the man moving around with their baby with a smile that teased her features, “Elsie,” she agreed, “wait until she opens her eyes again,” the smile expanded before she curled up, wriggling down into the covers, “she’s got your eyes, Mal.” There seemed to be a peace between them. The drawn curtains dimmed the light. Her limbs were too heavy to lift or move and eyes too heavy to keep open. She felt the brush of fingertips against her cheek and turned her face into his hand. A small kiss pressed against his palm before he kissed her in turn. Emotions, exhaustion and pain running high, his lips would have brush salty tears as they made silent tracks down her cheeks.
Faith returned. The door swung open and broke the moment. Elyna offered her friend a smile and accepted the tea with a quiet word of thanks. It was hot against her tongue and sweet. Laced with willow bark which worked quickly to soothe the pain and discomfort in her body. Unable to eat, Elyna sank down and curled up in the blankets. Struggling to watch Malcolm, Elsie and Faith before she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore and drifted into Emea.
The Skyrider slept deep and pain free and it was Pavoo who stole into the room, with Caelan at his heels. The Judge simply asked “May I?” and accepted the chance to hold his grandchild. Though Elyna’s mother watched Faith and Malcolm as though she wanted to skin them alive, she remained silent and accepted the baby was Pavoo laid Elsie in her arms. Soft coos and whispers warmed the woman’s expression before, prompted by her husband she passed the baby back to Malcolm and departed in a whisper of skirts. Pavoo, smiling nodded before making his own exit and closing the door behind him.
***
It was some breaks later, when Elsie was stirring and making small noises that Elyna woke. The young woman propped herself up on her elbows, had she slept? Eyes were bleary and struggled to focus. Finally they settled on the tall man, long legs stretched out from the chair and the baby tucked in his arm. Elsie was staring at her father with dark eyes that hadn’t settled on their finally colour yet, but were unmistakably tinged with green.
Elyna looked around the room for Faith before she rubbed a hand across tired eyes. Another sip of the cold tea and the aches faded once more to a manageable level. “Mal?” Her voice was cracked from underuse and sleep. She tried to coax him awake. It was with a smile though that she slid from the bed and padded across the dark room towards him. She rested a hand on his shoulder, aware that if he was sleeping deeply then nothing short of a miracle could wake him. However, with the new born in his arms it was unlikely.
“Mal...I think I need to feed her…” she murmured. Her fingers slid through the dark locks of his hair and across his skull before she lent and pressed another kiss to his cheek, still trying to coax him into full waking.

[Malcolm]

Malcolm had accepted the tea with quiet thanks and set it aside, completely forgetting about it after that. Time seemed to race by, and all the while Elsie slept, quite content to lie in his arms without any fuss. It wasn't until Elyna’s parents came in to have a hold before bed that the child woke and looked around with wild eyes, trying to make out the blurry shapes in the dim light, her little legs kicking, wrestling her way out of the blanket she had been wrapped in.
Her cry was pathetic, soft and persistent. Malcolm pressed his little finger to the baby’s lip and she made a sucking motion, but too tired, fell asleep again. He had been glad for that, allowing Elyna the chance to get a few more hours.
The man didn't remembered drifting off, promising himself he wouldn't after sending Faith to get some rest, assuring her that he was okay to stay up with baby. He awoke with a bit of a start when Elyna touched his shoulder and looked down to make sure Elsie was all right. She was wriggling around in his arms and screwing her face up as if threatening to cry again. Malcolm blinked, realising it was late still, and stretched his leg out, his joints stiff.
“Feed her? Oh,” he sat up in the chair and pointed Elyna back to the bed, “I'll bring her over,” he insisted.
Malcolm got to his feet, Elsie, the size of a child’s doll, was dwarfed by his large arms and the blanket. He lifted her to press a light kiss to her temple and mumbled something quiet and sweet, having recognised how responsive she was already to the gruff sound of his voice. Elsie seemed to stop and listen, blinking and looking around. He set the baby down in Elyna’s arms and slipped out of his boots to join her on the bed, the mattress creaking under his added weight until he was comfortable and stopped moving. Malcolm fixed a pillow behind his back, putting himself between Elyna and the door, a silent guard, even in rest, something he dearly needed.
He reached out blindly to close his hand over the woman's knee through the blanket and closed his eyes. “I'm so proud of you.” Malcolm yawned then and squeezed Elyna’s leg before letting himself cave to much needed rest.

[Djinn]

FAITH

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Knowledges

[columns=2]Domestic: Keep quiet, don’t wake the baby
Domestic: New mother? Wait on her hand and foot
Domestic: Balancing speed and care
Domestic: Comforting the mother and baby
Domestic: Silent service is best
Domestic: Anticipate their needs
Elsie: Loved by Faith
Elsie: Perfect little angel[/columns]

Comments: Wow. Just... Wow. Faith's softness and willingness to do anything for Lady Burhan was stunning in this thread. I love Faith in every thread, but this Faith is my favorite Faith. She was tender and endearing, and I loved every word of it. Excellently written. Also, a note. For purposes of skills, Domestic: and Logistics: are the same, I just can't be bothered to go back and change them all now.

ELYNA

Story - 5/5
Collaboration - 5/5
Structure - 5/5

Knowledges

[columns=2]Endurance, Childbirth: Excruciating but worth it
When in doubt, send Faith
Elsie: Smells delightful
Persuasion: They can meet your demands, or you will leave
Endurance: Stay awake until Malcolm gets there
Waking up to baby sounds? The best.
Cold tea is better than no tea.[/columns]

Comments: I'll admit, I don't read much Malyna, mostly because I'm Team Lazudore for best ship. BUT, Elyna was so elegantly portrayed in this thread, the newborn mother thing is perfect for her. She was equal parts exhausted and overwhelmingly in love, and I got that in every word. I'm literally sad there wasn't more to this thread.

MALCOLM

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Knowledges

[columns=2]Psychology: Pacing doesn’t actually help
Elyna: Had a girl
Elsie: Is perfect
Elsie: Is beautiful
Malcolm: Mad paternal instinct
Elsie: Fell asleep in daddy’s arms[/columns]

Comments: I've read a few Malcolm threads, and I'll be honest... I never saw him as a father. I get the whole Devotion thing, and I get that he'll be devoted to Elsie... But he never seemed like a father-figure to me. Until now. Everything about him in this thread was sweet and tender, like it was opening something new to him. I, as a man, love children, and related very much to Malcolm in this thread. Superbly written.