Incline 27: Ivahstar

"Are you all done?" I ask my daughter as she emerges from the room. All prettied up in that dress she got from the now dead nuisances. She shrugs her shoulders, her face not entirely there for me in the way I want. I don't show it, but it saddens me to see her like this.

I know I can be rough with her. I know my line of work is rough. But I've also never seen her as she was before, not ever to my memory. I fear she might come out at me in anger if I say anything, so I best keep my thoughts to myself. Let my actions speak a thousand words and a thousand sentences. Each one telling her one thing: My daughter, please be happy.

"Come on, then, Princess." I say to Heiya, gesturing her closer with the wiggle of my fingers. My beautiful woman of a daughter nods and gets going and I turn to our human companion. I offer him a paw as a parting gesture and he reaches out to stop me. The metre wide gap stopping him from doing more than catching my attention.

"Don't worry about the house or that. I'll handle it," he tells me, nodding as if it's not obvious. I give him a little smile, breaking my tradition of severe professionalism. If my daughter is to be happy, I need to show it myself as encouragement. Not inspire her... I guess, but something close to it.

"I know you will." I say to Hrurim, waving him off and closing the door behind us. I move a hand along, getting Heiya to move further ahead, away from the house. A brief jog speeds me up and I slow down at her side. An unfortunate quiet takes over and the depths of Agadton come ever closer.

I keep looking her way and find nothing in her eyes that gives me hope. She cannot find the strength to look up, around or anywhere. It's always down. Outside what is strictly necessary to navigate a street, there's nothing from her. 

My jaw shifts about and a sniffle sounds off. My hands have never felt more useless and in need of finding something. Some memories go through my head and I try to wonder up some inspirations. I usually have plans, not here, however. I have no plans as to how to bring the mood of my daughter up.

"Do you think there's a carnival or fair happening right now?" I ask, hoping that she might be aware of something as a result of that pool party. She shakes her head, not offering much of anything. We come across a couple of girls absorbed into their own worlds. It only makes Heiya feel worse, and I move closer.

"Pops... I hate my life," she admits, a choke developing in her throat and nose. I blink, not sure how to take this information. I... I don't blame her, however. The answer to why is pretty clear.

I am a hitman by trade, a trafficker and saboteur. A criminal. She was never meant to be involved in this life, but when Gamtambo came after us, I had to keep her safe. She's all I have left. And the only way I know how to keep her safe is to cling to the prime of my youth. Fleeting as it increasingly is.

I am getting old and I will not always be able to protect her... By the name of all the gods that kept All-That-Remains within Creation, however... I will defy Death himself to keep her safe. I will...

"I'm sorry." I say, not all that sure as to what to say. My thoughts fizzle out before they can become actions. It really feels like there is nothing I can say that will soothe her in any capacity. My eyes glance at the girls again and I note their makeup. Maybe their doll up is bothering her...? I can always take her to another beauty parlour. I brought enough money for any kind of activity.

"When this is all over, Pops. I want out. I don't want to do this anymore. The longer is goes on, the less of a chance I have at ever... Being normal." she explains to me and I nod without any complaints. This is not new information. She's let out such details before in moments of bother or long quiet. When we're on a job or not. Between moments of effort and in flashes of rest and quiet.

Times when her thoughts get the better of her and she cannot be anywhere else but up there.

"We will. We both will." I say, knowing full well I can make my skills transfer to another theatre of employment. All my smuggling can go into trading. My time killing can make me a capable hunter of game and pestering wildlife. Bounty hunting is also an option, if a little too close to what a hitman is. Moving away from the life means properly detaching myself from it. Yet I will never settle down in a boring shop selling carpets, no.

"I'll hold you to it," she mutters, her paw straining itself around a nearby lamppost. I grab her free one, tugging her closer to give her a one-sided hug. She leans on my shoulder, a sigh blasting out into the open as we get into town proper. A few more roads and we're on an impromptu market street.

"Seems like the earthquakes did a fair number here." I point out, gesturing to how many of the shops have been forced out onto the street. Business is as strong as ever and, if anything, seems to be all the more popular. The illusion of it, at least. All these people selling their different services and the customers all intermingling, no brick walls to keep them separate.

There's a community that is no doubt never usually there forming.

I nudge Heiya toward the stall market and she comes along without resistance. A thoughtful noise blows out my cheeks and then pops out through my lips. Maybe I can appeal to Heiya's sweet tooth for the moment? What does she like... Though?

"Mmm." I let out, observing her nose and expression to see if she does anything. She doesn't. No pulling of my arm, no curious glances, no anything. She might as well not have a single care in her body. 

I get her moving again, taking my time with my pacing so she can look around. I goad her a bit, encouraging such behaviour and get nothing from her. We pass by jewellery stands, makeup ones, clothes and more. It's not even just stuff that will make her pretty, but toys and other things, too!

She does complain about being bored on the journeys we take. Maybe she'd like a toy to pass the time with...? I don't know. I do not know...

"I'm sorry, Pops... I'm just in a bad mood. I know you're trying to do something out of your depth," she tells me, coming closer and holding me tight as we slip out of the busiest part of the street. We come across a stall marked by a heavy metal backend and churning machines.

"At least let me get you something?" I suggest, giving a brief nod to the stall as I watch a happy child walk away with what appears to be an ice cream. Heiya sniffles, her thoughts keeping her quiet. She nods, eyes closed. I put a smile on as she opens them again and nothing happens.

I keep the smile on, even as it grows weaker, and I pull her along. We arrive at the stall, not much of a queue to keep us from it proper. I give the man behind the makeshift register a gesture for one and point to the big tubs they have on offer. I look at Heiya and she silently taps some options.

I prepare the money and she wanders off, staying within sight but leaving me alone, "Daughter?"

"She is." I answer, turning back to face the working man.

"You're there for her, that's what matters," he tells me, offering some advice while keeping to himself. I nod, putting the money in front of him and taking the tub of ice cream. It's topped with things I don't recall Heiya asking for and I give him a squinted eye. He nods Heiya's way and my demeanour relaxes.

"Thank you." I tell him, tossing him a quick tip and I catch up with Heiya. She turns, minding the ice cream, and a weak grip takes up one of the disposable spoons. She empties it of its contents and suckles on the barely covered end of the spoon. I frown, taking a more full load into my mouth.

The cream, sauces, and sprinkles make a mess on my tongue, overwhelming me. My usually bland diet of necessity is unsure of what to make of all of this, and I choke a bit. I smile over my cough and manage to get something from Heiya. She huffs and her expression goes down again, like an alarm was triggered and knocked a machine into rhythm.

I urge her to put one paw under the tub and she does so. It seems to encourage her to eat more, and she digs in, occupying her mind with mutters and flavours. She fiddles around, playing with the sauces and melting cream. She lets her frustrations out on the stubborn toppings, too demanding about their hatred of utensils to leave on one. They cannot fight for long, though, and they crunch between her teeth. 

We find a bench and sit down, enjoying the ice cream for what it is. I steadily give way to her, letting her take in more of it until she is the only one eating. It never crosses her mind to notice my lack of spoonfuls and I focus on stroking her quills. Gently easing the spots that those dead nuisances messed with. She might not see them, but I can see it. The swelling.

She leans towards me, going against my chest and making my job all the harder. But it's fine. I can simply let my arm rest around her instead. I know I don't always do a good job of it, but, as her father, the best thing I can do is make her feel safe. Have that comfortable space to go when her mind cannot handle life any more.

A rock for her to rest on when the world is mostly shifting dunes. She snuggles in closer, bringing her legs up and occupying the public bench in such a selfish way. I huff, my smile growing as she takes a moment to feel like a child again. A momentary lapse in maturity I will never berate her for or hold against when the time comes. 

I give her a kiss on the head and shake up the fur on her exposed arm. My eyes go wayward, glancing around the market until they land in a specific place. A photography shop or a camera one? Is the seller showing off his goods or actually using them?

"Heiya... You mentioned before about taking a picture with me?" I ask, recalling a conversation we had closer to the shipwreck on the way into town. She shuffles about, sitting upright with a degree of energy she hasn't shown all day so far. I point her the right way and she sticks up. A clueless animal in the headlights. She nods, the action growing ever quicker, and she gets to her feet.

She pulls on me, and I follow after her, smiling as she keeps a relatively flat expression. We arrive before the stall, my hand already digging about for the money. The shop man turns our way, a smile on his face as his greed obviously takes hold. However, it seems to be that this is just a camera shop...

"Do you perhaps take pictures and hand them out?" I ask, hoping we might be able to get one.

The man's eyes widen and he scratches his head, disturbing his slicked back quills, "I guess I can."

"Wonderful." I say, breathing a sigh of relief as a burden slips off my shoulders.

"I don't quite have a studio for it, though..." the man mutters, moving some things around to make a rough sitting area.

"It's alright, the sentimental value is worth more than gold." Heiya says, some of her normal pitch coming back as she sits down. She sets what is left of the ice cream aside and gets herself ready. I get down next to her and she leans on me again, a clear smile on her face.

"This better not be just for the picture." I tease, nudging her a little as a giggle comes out of her. I blink, almost baffled by such a thing, given her mood of the past few hours. Feels so long ago since I saw her happy. It helps me feel the same.

"No... But who wants a picture where you're miserable?" she asks me, smiling ever wider as she holds me tight. I turn the way of the impromptu cameraman as he sorts himself out, getting an appropriate tool for the job.

"Say earthquakes!" he goes, a nervous chuckle leaving him as who knows what goes through his head. As if we care about some collapsing earth, right? Me and my daughter are alive and together, that's what matters. On our way to put an end to the worst part of our lives!

"Earthquakes!" Heiya lets out.

"Earthquakes." I say, a fraction of the energy my daughter just put into it. But, no matter. The camera flashes and my smiles grows, my heart fluttering all the more for the special moment. As long as I am here for her, she will be alright. Moods come and go, but I will stay with her for as long as I can be.

My little Princess, you're all that I have left and I will treasure you forever.

"I love you." I tell my daughter, holding her close as embarrassment makes her skin-covering fur useless. What a terrible place for paler fur, she must be thinking. My sweet little princess.

"Pops..." she whines against my chest, a couple of limp fists smacking against me. I huff, my smile almost as set in stone as the world is in the remnants of Creation.