• Graded • Boundaries

[Darius Baer]

Arc 697, 11th of Ashan

"My friend Bert, the large stuffed bunny, thinks that you're being rude!"

Darius had yelled the incriminating words, and he'd even stamped his foot on the grass outside and folded his little arms in a huff to drive home the point, but Josef wasn't budging.

"I don't care what Bert the bunny thinks, lad," his father spoke in the slightly exasperated tone that every parent recognised. "You still have to go to bed."

From the grass, a pair of round, dark brown eyes watched the altercation. Whiskers bounced delicately as the small furry jaw between them nonchalantly chewed at an oversized piece of cabbage. Large ears flopped to either side of its head, a nose constantly twitching as if it was nervous about the outcome of the verbal dispute.

And yet, all it got in return was an angry glare from a young blond boy who was up past his bedtime.

"But it's not fair!" Darius pouted. "My friend Bert, the large stuffed bunny, doesn't have to go to bed!"

"That's because," Josef sighed, trying to remain calm, "he's still eating what's left of your dinner, lad. He wouldn't be large or stuffed if you ate your own cabbage."

"But I don't like cabbage!" Darius stomped his foot again for good effect. "It's yucky!"

"I know, lad," his father responded, trying to resist the temptation to chuckle at the sight of such a small boy attempting to throw his negligible weight around. "But it's the only way you'll grow up big and strong."

Darius paused, biting his lip as he contemplated what he'd just heard. Dark grey eyes, brimming with tears, looked up at Josef.

"...like you?"

"Aye, lad," Josef grinned, before bending down to lift his son into his arms. "Eat your cabbage, and one trial you'll become big and strong like me."

Darius said nothing, but simply clung to his father. His little arms were not long enough to wrap around Josef's neck, but he tried his best anyway. He felt the heat of a tear run down one cheek. Maybe cabbage wasn't that yucky.

"Come on," Josef added, his gentle voice rumbling through Darius as the boy rested his head on his father's chest, "let's get you to bed."

As the two Baers returned to the house, Darius felt bad for being mean to Bert. And he wondered if he could ever be as big and strong as his father.

Meanwhile, a certain rabbit watched on and chewed emotionlessly, unsure who had won the argument, but glad they hadn't taken away the yummy cabbage.

[Darius Baer]

Arc 697, 12th of Ashan

Jean Baer marvelled at the difference a good night's sleep could make. The previous evening, her son Darius had refused to finish his meal and had fed his vegetables to the pet rabbit. Then he'd thrown quite the tantrum when his father Josef had provided some firm but fair correction. And yet, she mused as she looked out the window and into the family's small garden, there he was but one trial later, trying to impress Maud's daughter.

Darius liked Gwendoline. She had curly brown hair, pretty green eyes, and freckles across her nose. And she seemed to like Bert, which was lucky, because Darius had Bert and Gwendoline did not.

Not yet, anyway.

The bunny's nose twitched nervously as Darius picked him up rather roughly. The boy had yet to learn how to properly handle an animal, and Bert's eyes flitted in every direction possible as his body left the ground. The family pet had clearly been forgiven for his dinner indiscretions the previous evening, but that apparently didn't save him from potential harm at the hands of a young Darius Baer.

"Yay!" Gwendoline squealed. "A bunny!"

Gwendoline's eyes widened in excitement at the sight of Bert, and she jumped on the spot, clapping at the sight. This did nothing to calm the bunny's nervous gaze, and his fur-covered form twisted and contorted, slumping in the awkward arms that carried him. He was unceremoniously dumped into a similarly awkward pair of arms, the young girl struggling to hold the weight of his large frame.

It was a very stressful experience for Bert. He wasn't used to being lifted off the ground and given to strangers. He much preferred to eat cabbage. And it all became a bit overwhelming, so he did what his body demanded of him.

"Eww!" cried Gwendoline. "It pooped on me!"

The girl dropped the rabbit, her hands and the front of her dress now smeared with fresh, smelly rabbit poo. Darius' eyes widened at the sight, but his shock was nothing compared to Gwendoline's.

"Icky!" she yelled, before bursting into tears and running back down the street towards her home.

Darius' shoulders slumped. He had tried to impress Gwendoline but he was pretty sure she wouldn't like him any more. His bottom lip pouted at the thought, and it took everything within him to be a brave little boy and hold back his tears.

Until his mother picked him up, anyway. And then they came streaming down his cheeks.

"There, there," she gently comforted him as he sobbed. "Let's get you into the bath before the big trial tomorrow."

[Darius Baer]

Arc 697, 13th of Ashan

"Stop fidgeting, Darius."

Jean Baer was trying to control her frustration as she wrestled with Darius' collar, while the young fellow shifted restlessly despite his mother's request. He wore a buttoned shirt, white leggings, and shoes that had been scrubbed clean and polished. His head of hair was was a mess of blond strands that had so far resisted the brush that Jean had attempted, though it would eventually succumb to her wishes, as would the boy whose body stood beneath it.

"This is a big trial, Darius," Jean continued, wrapping a bow tie around her son's neck. "Two people who love each other very much are getting married, and you must look your best."

Darius wasn't so sure about the idea of marriage any more. Not after Gwendoline had run away crying the previous trial, at least. He wished Bert had been more polite to their guest and not pooped on her, but he had, and so the rabbit was out of favour once again. Darius wondered who he would give his cabbage to the next time he didn't want to finish his mother's dinner. Maybe they could sell Bert and get another rabbit - one who didn't poop on a girl that Darius liked.

"There, you're done," smiled Jean, kissing the top of the boy's head. "What a handsome young man you are!"

Darius looked up at his mother and smiled, then reached out for a hug. He didn't like wearing such fancy clothes, the bow tie felt tight around his neck, and Gwendoline was probably never going to speak to him again - but at least he still had his mother.



The trial was a chilly one, but the sun was out, and flowers that were just beginning to bloom had sprung up from the earth. Overhead, long ribbons of many different colours had been tied around the trees and each other, interwoven to make beautiful patterns.

Darius took a deep breath as he stood at the back of the aisle between two sets of chairs, looking around at all the adults ahead of him. At the other end of the aisle, he could see a man and woman looking at each other and holding hands, ropes and ribbons tied around their wrists and palms. The woman had flowers in her hair and wore a beautiful dress, while the man wore an expensive looking suit. Beyond them, he could see his father, Josef, dressed in his finest clothes and with his beard trimmed, looking back at him. He was not the only Baer boy with an important role to play. Then he looked down at the small cushion that he held in his hands, and the two golden rings that rested atop it.

Off to one side, a trio of musicians began to play, the combined sounds of a gilra, a plucker, and a lap fiddle wafting over the gathering. The tune was beautiful and lilting. It was also Darius' cue.

After receiving a nod from his mother who was standing nearby, the young boy began to make his way up the aisle. He walked normally at first, but then he began to stomp, baring his teeth and growling at guests on both sides. He even held the cushion with one hand so that the other could form an imaginary claw.

Unseen by Darius, Jean's initial smile had faded. The poor woman was unsure as to what her son was up to, until he made a loud declaration that caused the confused guests to suddenly burst into laughter.

"Rah!" he roared as scarily as he could while stomping up the aisle. "I'm Darius Baer! I'm the ring bear!"

[Darius Baer]

Arc 697, 14th of Ashan

Darius stared at the small stream, his bottom lip pouting as he saw his reflection in the water. His small brow, featuring wisps of blond hair, was furrowed at the sight.

It had been a tough few trials for the young Baer boy.

There had been the cabbage incident, of course, and he had been upset not only with both his parents for making him want to eat it, but also Bert for his betrayal by doing precisely that.

And then there had been Gwendoline, with her pretty brown curls and her freckles, and Bert was once again in the bad books - this time, for getting his icky poop all over her dress.

And not a trial before, he had tried his hardest to be the best ring bear in the history of weddings, but people had laughed!

The face in the river looked back up at him, and it didn't look very happy. Darius picked up a stone and threw it into the water, and his reflection splintered as droplets splashed across it and ripples fled the rocky interloper.

Life was difficult when you were only four and a half arcs old, but by the time the water settled back into its calm form, the boy knew things were going to get better. They had to. After all, his father had told him that if he ate enough cabbage, then one trial he would be big and strong, and that was enough to make any young lad smile.

[Doran]

Darius:

Knowledge:
Animal Husbandry: Rabbits like eating cabbage.
Animal Husbandry: Rabbits poop when they're frightened.
Discipline: Aspire to be a better man.
Endurance: Obey your superiors.
Linguistics: Mishearing a word can lead to unexpected consequences.
Seduction: Animal poop is not an aphrodisiac.

Loot: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5. Little Darius attracted attention in this thread even though it wasn't the kind of attention that he wanted.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 10

- - -

Comments: I love little Darius. He‘s so funny and cute, even when he’s angry!

The scene where Darius refused to go to bed was incredibly entertaining. Josef is quite a well-written NPC.

I know that I told you so before, but he seems to be a really good father.

I also appreciate that we finally got to meet Darius’ mother.

I laughed when the bunny pooped on Gwendoline. Poor girl – it was such an amusing scene though. And poor Darius. Apparently, his attempt to impress her didn’t go as planned.

The wedding scene was absolutely hilarious!

This was such a great thread, and you did a good job when it comes to writing a thread from the perspective of a child. Enjoy your rewards!