Board Thread:Archive/@comment-24866242-20140529214504

Ilrea posted June 26, 1998 04:47 PM

"Mommy says today's my birthday, Tilvos. I'm six years old! She and daddy are planning a birthday party for me with a cake and everything! I've never had a birthday party before. Everyone's gonna be there and mommy says she's buying me a special present. I can't wait, Tilvos. I wish it would happen *right now*!"

The little girl bounced around the baby's room, carrying on an excited, yet one sided conversation. Tilvos seemingly understood her constant chattering, adding his own coos and raspberries just at the right moments as he watched her through the bars of his crib. Ilrea, Kat and Ry had been planning this party for a week and, now that they day was finally here, Ilrea was having a hard time containing her excitement.

Kat had sent her in to find clothes for the baby, but instead, Ilrea had been chattering incessively from the moment she stepped through the door. Now, as she heard Kat calling for her, Ilrea hurried and pulled clothes out of the little dresser, making sure Tilvos would look nice for the party....*her* party.

Laying them on the changing table, Ilrea ran out of the room and towards her mother's voice.

David Murdok posted June 26, 1998 05:35 PM

Slayne smiled as he reread the invitation. Nodding, he set the invitation aside and got dressed.

He walked to the shuttle bay, where his battlemech was stored. Opening the cargo hold under the NARC pod, he removed the small item and smiled. It had belonged to his daughter before she... he stopped that thought as soon as it began. That part of his life was over. He had to move on.

"Illrea..." His thick asian accent twisted the name strangely, but he felt the name fit the young panther-girl.

Closing the hatch, he climbed down, cradling the item in his arms. This would make a fine gift for the remarkable young girl.

Setting the item on the table next to a box he had bought at the Market the other day, he sat in his chair, staring at it.

He asked the computer to alert him an hour before the party so he could finish his preparations. Closing his eyes, he began to meditate, his thoughts travelling unbidden through the years to the day his own daughter turned 4... 