Evelyn and Cole approached to a quaint cafe. Prior to them arrival, Evelyn gave Cole the run down that both Skylar and Tednor were rich but owned a cafe and mostly donate money and try to keep a nice living. The cafe was at a busy street but it was walkable and no vehicles to be found. People chatted amongst themselves and others just sat at the patio, reading their datapad or conversing with others. Evelyn kept a neutral appearance but she really was nervous. She hasn’t seen Skylar in almost eleven years. She never thought she would be here. For years, Evelyn avoided her emotions and thoughts on the matter but lately, she found herself wanting to visit. Just to see how they were doing.
And she was terrified. There was less colors in her cheek whlie they made their way. When they approached, a female Echani with her hair looped over to the side and she had a small buzzcut on the opposite side, giving off a rather feminine but tomboy appearance. Silver eyes and silver hair, she was pale and obviously an Echani. Her eyes widen as she-
“Lynie!” The woman exclaimed, running up to them and wrapped her arms around Evelyn and Cole would notice the dents that the woman’s arm was leaving on Evelyn’s body. It was a very tight hug. Evelyn returned the hug but it didn’t last long as her arms lowered.
The woman did not let go.
“… Sky-”
“It’s been eleven fracking years, Lynie, let me karking hug you, you fricking schutta.” Evelyn sighed as she just… waited. Skylar gave another long squeeze before finally releasing the poor pilot from her grip. She then looked at Cole with a smile.
“Hi! Well, come on over, come on over, saved you a spot-” She gestured to the patio chairs that were not occupied.
“Teddy is dropping off the kids at the school so he’ll be here soon. Give me a bit, need to take care of something real quick inside, and I will be right back!” She passed them the menus and went inside the cafe.
<@432543120635461643>
Cole hadn’t known how to feel when Evelyn reaches out about meeting Myla’s parents. He still wasn’t sure now. There was a energy there that wanted to fidget, or to not be here. Nervous. Which was silly, it was meeting two people.
Two normal people who had raised his niece.
Cole had opted for one of the hoodies Sofila had gotten him, a nice pair of pants to balance the outfit so he didn’t look messy but forcibly set into a casual look. It rode high enough on his neck that the only scars easily visible were those on his hands and face, and the one that went up the side of his neck. Cole rarely felt self conscious about the scars, but today….
He felt like a wolf among sheep and for once wasn’t happy about it.
Observing the hug didn’t help much. Nor did not getting the chance to introduce himself as Skylar offered him a smile, rattled off info, and rushed off.
Cole had managed a nod of confirmation, his expression neutral.
After a moment, he glanced to Evelyn and moved toward the incidcated seat. There was nothing to say, yet.
Evelyn sat down as her hands slipped to under the table and rested on her leg. She was nervous. A bit scared. She stared off into the distance and watched people walk by. People watching was one of her favorite things. Then she slowly glanced over to Cole for a moment before back down to the menu.
Should she? Maybe a small talk would help him. Especially if it’s about Skylar. Maybe it was more to help her nerves too.
“When we were young, every summer, Skylar comes over to our home. I.. always looked forward to summertime. Which, to me, says a lot.” Evelyn realized Cole doesn’t really know her and vice versa so she tried to get her point across. Evelyn wasn’t the kind of person to really look forward to anything. It was also when her parents weren’t that horrible to Evelyn and usually left her alone when Skylar was around. But somehow, Skylar knew what was going on and she made her disdain towards her own aunt and uncle very well known every summer despite Evelyn’s protests.
“Sorry about that! Business stuff.” Skylar returned and sat down by Evelyn. With a smile, she reached her hand over the table for a handshake from Cole.
“I’m Skylar Wyvern! You can call me Sky.”
Cole had looked toward Evelyn. Not that he knew what to say but he’d nodded, understanding what she meant. That Skylar was a good person. It helped in a way, but not in another. He wasn’t a good person.
But then she was back and there was no time to meander a way to a response. He offered a polite smile, taking her hand for the shake with a firm but not obnoxiously so grip.
“Cole.” He paused for a second but if they’d known Graham they knew the other part anyway. but if someone else overheard- “Cole Farrow. But, just Cole is fine.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Cole.” Skyla released her grip from his hand. She looked up with a smile as someone was walking up to them.
“Morning. I’m Tednor. Also known as Teddy.” A male seemingly Echani but he had dark brown hues. Silver hair and pale skin, so perhaps a hybrid of another species. He leaned down, gave a kiss on Skylar’s cheek and sat down by her as well Cole as he let out a deep sigh. Skylar rose an eyebrow.
“What is it?”
“Myla tried to sneak into Lestrom’s class. Again.” Teddy chuckled as he leaned forward and glanced to the menu out of habit. Skylar shook her head softly then looked over to Evelyn and Cole and figured she should explain the situation a bit.
“We adopted two other children- fraternal twins- how long ago was that?”
“Three years ago.” Teddy replied as he moved back into his seat.
“Yes. Lestrom and Maeva. Maeva is spirited, just like Myla, but Lestrom.. he’s… very shy and quiet. Prefers bugs over company of strangers. Myla is insanely protective of both of her siblings.”
“I did not know you two adopted more children.” Evelyn told Skylar, a bit surprised but at the same time, she wasn’t. Skylar loved children and wanted a big family. Evelyn was… happy that Myla wasn’t being raised alone. And it seems like Myla loves her siblings very much. Skylar gave Evelyn a pointed look.
“Well, if someone would answer my-”
“Would you like some caf, Cole?” Teddy asked quickly, he knows how Skylar can get when she’s peeved and if he didn’t cut if off now, she would go on a tantrum for possibly hours.
Spirited. Kark that was one word for it.
A part of him wanted to ask if Myla had punched anyone yet, Grahams genes mixed with Echani, by the stars-
He blinked at Skylars near outburst, and took the bait from Teddy to interrupt it. As much as he’d be fine with the attention on Evelyn, sitting there while she got yelled at wouldn’t be ideal.
“Caf would be great. They didn’t have any on the transporter.”
Skylar huffed as she knew what Teddy did. Fine. She can lecture Evelyn later.
“Sounds good. Would you like any flavors, Cole? And I am guessing you still enjoy salted caramel caf, Lynie?” Skylar asked as she got up from the seat. Evelyn gave her a nod.
“Yes please, thank you.”
“Black is fine.” He answered, offering another polite smile. It was perhaps a bit forced but he knew how to relax his features to disguise that. To make it look like tiredness, rather than actual distress. He was content to be there, not uncomfortable at all.
Skylar nodded, “Alright! I will be right back and I’ll just bring different assortments of food.” Skylar headed into the cafe.
Teddy and Evelyn just looked around. There was some awkward glances. Then Teddy coughed.
“So. Any … questions?” Teddy asked, with a bit of uncertainty in his voice. Evelyn had so many before they arrived, how was it when they are here, she completely had forgotten the questions she wanted to ask?
“How old are Lestrom and Maeva?”
“They are now eight. We got them when they were five. A bit of a… rocky situation with their family if you ask me but they are out of it now and safe. Funny. They weren’t our first choice, you know? We had Myla helps us out. She picked them, specifically. And she said and I quote, ‘I won’t be a good kid if you don’t take them home with us!’”
Cole chuckled slightly.
“I’m guess spirited is the nice word for stubborn, then?”
Teddy followed with the chuckle.
“Both. She’s really spirited, I mean, Myla always wanted to watch adventure holofilms that involved fighting. She would do play fights with me all the time when she was younger. Then we enrolled her into martial arts classes and she loved every second of it. One time, something happened and she couldn’t go, you would think that it was the end of the world for her. Crocodile tears and wailing, the whole nine yards.” He chuckled and shook his head at the memory followed by a deep sigh.
“Then Lestrom and Maeva came into our lives and Myla became much more fierce. Before, she hasn’t got into any fights. After? We would be lucky if we go a week without getting a call from the school.”
Evelyn glanced sideways to Cole.
“I know she did not get that from me,” She gave him a half-hearted smile.
“She also has your stubbornness, Lynie. But she’s worse than what I remember from you growing up so I assumed the father was stubborn as well.” Skylar joked as she returned with a tray. She set the mugs down for all four of them and then a massive plate to set in the middle of the table with different kinds of breakfast like foods. Setting the tray aside, Skylar sat back down.
“Once Myla gets her mind set on something… you have no chance of changing her mind. You’re better off winning the massive Galaxy Lottery.” Skylar smiled as she took a sip of her caf.
“Graham was stubborn as.. anything. Especially when it was something important to him.”
It was a family trait, really.
“And well. I’m glad to hear she doesn’t fight her siblings. If I had to guess, from what you described of Lestrom, she’s protecting him right?”
It wasn’t difficult to put those pieces together. He’d never dealt with bullying himself, even with other teens around when he was in his pre-teens, but you don’t kark around like that. Especially not with the son of your boss. But, it was still obvious where that was going.
Teddy nodded to Cole, “Yes. Kids at school are picking on Lestrom and we have been trying to put an end to that. Talk to the kids family, talk to the teachers, everything. Sadly, kids will be mean and we can’t control that. Teachers can’t catch everything. Myla, however-”
“Thinks she can solve that problem by being intimating and telling the entire school that she’ll put them to the ground if they pick on him.” Skylar murmured as Evelyn smiled while she took a caf.
“Admittedly, It did work. He has far less bullies now then he did in beginning of school. Myla said, and I quote, ‘Just picking them out one by one now, soon there will be none.’” Teddy interjected with a deep sigh. Skylar rubbed her forehead. It was obvious. They love and adore the kids, even amongst the chaos. And they were worried for them.
“Lucky for us, Myla hasn’t been… that rough when she does get into a fight. Just enough to let the entire school know that Lestrom and Maeva was off limits,” Teddy cleared his throat before continuing, “From what Maeva reported, there’s only two bullies left.”
Skylar looked over to Cole, “We jokingly called Maeva, our news reporter. You can ask her exactly what happened on what day and she will recite, word for word, of what she heard or seen on that day. Down to the color of her outfit.”
“Have you two tried to talk Myla finding other ways and not be so violent?” Evelyn asked while she set the caf down.
“Of course we have! To put it simply, I would had so better luck talking you out of being a pilot.” Skylar pointed out, jokingly but also proving to Evelyn that, she would rather die than stop piloting.
“Oh,” Evelyn paused then quietly chuckled.
“I don’t have much advice for the stubborness, I’m afraid.” Cole added in with a slight chuckle. Graham had been better with people than him, yes, but an insult was an insult. It was either wait them getting bored out, or knocking the kark out of them.
Well. Usually… Kark.
“It… sounds like a lot on your plate, though they sound happy at least. Hopefully martial arts can slowly teach Myla some patience, it did Graham. Mostly.” Cole paused for a second before adding on with a slight grimace, “Sometimes.”
Teddy and Skylar softly laughed before sighing.
“The classes sort of work, but apparently like her father, it works. Mostly. Sometimes.” Teddy joked with a slight smile.
“We wouldn’t change it for the world.” Skylar added, giving Cole a serious expression. There was a moment of silence. Evelyn was curious about something.
“Teddy mentioned earlier about the twins situation being a bit rocky?” Skylar’s expression changed as she grimaced and sigh.
“Short version their mother was a Hapan who slept with an Echani. Hapans if you remember-”
“Are very xenophobic and … strongly matriarchal, correct?”
“Yep. So imagine the twin’s maternal grandmother when her precious daughter had slept with an Echani. While she was married to another Hapan, no less.” Evelyn winced.
Teddy quickly continued, “So there was a bit of a battle with the father’s parents and ourselves. In the end, we won. Mostly because the father wanted nothing to do with the kids and the twins are brings too much shame to the mother’s family. It was only their paternal grandparents that wanted the twins.”
Cole grimaced. That was a rough situation to come out of, and explained Lestrom’s struggle being outgoing easily enough.
“They’re doing better now, though?”
Skylar and Teddy exchanged glances. They didn’t say anything.
“Skylar.” Evelyn set her empty mug down and glanced to her cousin.
“There…” Skylar looks back to Evelyn and Cole. “There was some threats from the paternal grandparents for a year. But after getting the authorities involved and the father putting his foot down that he didn’t want them, they haven’t bothered us since. But yes, since then, the twins have been doing good. They took to Myla faster than they took to us actually. Lestrom … didn’t talk to Teddy and me, for a year. Maeva was happy to chat. But Lestrom? For a whole year. Except to Myla and Maeva. It was rather sweet, to hear him talk so low to his sisters. Oh, I cried when he talked to us one day.”
Cole had been sipping from his cup, doing so again as Skylar spoke.
“That’s.. good. That they have adjusted now.” This was weirdly… normal. In a way. It wasn’t really, not to them but… huh. He didn’t quite know how to approach the conversation.
The authorities were a group you paid off to look the other way for him. Or the people who had a bounty on you large enough that you’d avoid their designated zone for a while. Or both.
It was usually both.
“What.. does Myla know?”
“She was young-”
“But she was smart.” Teddy added glanced over to Skylar. Her jaw tightened. It was obvious that the situation for a year was pretty rough. “She knew that the twins parents didn’t want them but their grandparents did. In fact-” He paused for a moment, considering.
“Go on.” Skylar sighed as she laned back on the chair.
“We wished this never happened but it did. Myla was playing with the twins here, at this cafe, and I was chatting with one of the workers. The next thing I knew, I heard a scream and turned around to see the grandfather trying to take the twins and Myla straight up grabbed his leg cause she was still small and bit him. With the help of the workers, we snatched the twins back, and it took us even longer to get Myla off of him. He’s still in jail for attempt abduction for several years. All she was aware of that he was a bad man trying to take away her siblings. No… child should have to to through that.” Teddy ran his hand through his thick white hair as he glanced over to Skylar and grabbed her hand that was on the table and gave it a squeeze.
Evelyn crossed her arms out of discomfort. Her brows were furrowed in confusion, hurt, and anger.
“Myla was.. jumpy for a while. But we started to take her to therapy, we also told her that the man was in jail and the grandmother wasn’t going to try anymore, she started to do better. It has been five years now and Myla had already forgotten what happened.” Teddy glared at the food on the plate.
“But I haven’t. It was the first time I was scared for our kids.”
That.. wasn’t the knowledge he’d expected. Probably should have clarified he meant about her own history but that would be an awkward diversion to make now. It wasn’t he didn’t care at all for the twins but they weren’t why he was here.
He didn’t know they existed until five minutes ago.
“It’s.. good that he’s in jail then.”
Cole placed his still partially filled cup on the table, unsure how to progress the conversation. He glanced at Evelyn. Had she really not known about all of this? He understood avoidance but… To not talk to your own family, espeically the part of it you liked for so long seemed insane to him.
Teddy then shrugged and reached over to grab the food.
“He was lucky that Myla was on him to be honest.” Tednor was no stranger to violence. He started to eat one of the mini bagels that was one the plate.
Skylar noticed the glance as she cleared her throat.
“Well! Anything you two wanted to ask? Oh, I have some pictures if… you two wanted. I know Evelyn has been ignoring-”
“Skylar.” Teddy said again, a bit muffled with his mouth full of food. Skylar scoffed as she held up her hands.
“Okay, okay.”
“I would. Though, do you have any questions for me? I assume you know what I.. was a part of. I appreciate the kindness but I doubt you don’t have any concerns about that.”
Cole kept his tone even. He wasn’t ashamed of it, but he wasn’t a fool. If they were lawabiding citizens, he was what they typically would tell their kids to avoid.
“Not really. Evelyn said she told you about Myla awhile ago. If you wanted Myla, you would’ve already tried taken her away awhile ago.” Skylar pointed out.
“Instead of meeting us. For karking caf. Refill, Lynie?” Evelyn shook her head softly.
“And we know that… the business isn’t there anymore. We also heard of Graham’s passing. You have our condolences.”
“Are.. you going to tell her?”
“Tell her what?” Skylar asked in confusion.
“About us. I mean, what is the plan?”
“Oh. Well, Myla knows she was adopted from birth but unlike the twins, her parents did love her and just wanted what’s best for her. She hasn’t asked any questions since then but we are prepared to answer truthfully when she’s older. Unless… you two don’t want her to know?”
Cole grimaced. Their condolences. Right. Why did it always feel so bitter when people offered that? They didn’t know him.
“I have no issues with her knowing. I’d just want her knowledge on what… we were to wait until she’s old enough that we can make sure she doesn’t romanticise it.” He placed his hands in his lap.
There were people here, sharply dressed. Armed.
He had a knife and a blaster pistol hidden on his person. As time passed and the pair remained they were becoming more notable to himself. Just in case.
“We had people who joined who had notions about what we were that were inaccurate like that. They often didn’t make it.”
“Hm.” Teddy leaned forward and folded his hands on the table. He said nothing else. Skylar just took a sip of her caf, but she seemed like she’s not bothered.
Evelyn, however, slightly was.
“I think that… idea of that will be rest aside when you meet her. She has her own goals and aspirations. Regardless, I will also respect you for what we tell her and what we don’t.” Teddy rested back in his chair.
“Then it shouldn’t be an issue unless she gets curious about Graham’s past. Or my own.”
It was’t as if he could easily hide the fact he’d been through some kist.
“That’s my only concern, with what she knows. Anything else, is fine.”
“We can tell her to wait until she’s older in that case. And once she’s an adult, well-” Skylar set her mug down.
“It’s out of our hands.” Teddy finished for Skylar.
“Do you want a refill, Cole?” Skylar asked.
Cole shook his head. He leaned back, casting another look toward the pair. They weren’t staring at the table which was good. It at least implied they weren’t a threat. Actively.
There was two exits, and one place to rush where there’d be a advantage to take over a situation if needed. Windows didn’t look blast proof but that didn’t mean they would break to something less. It was getting busier, now that work and school had cleared out evidently. It’d be too busy to do anything but run without casualties.
Not that these two were even actively posing a threat. Yet the back of his neck still prickled.
Cole brought his attention back to the table. It.. was not going how he had it in his head. He’d expected to be questioned, thoroughly. To be checked he wouldn’t be a threat. Them assuming he’d okay based off of Evelyn’s opinion and the fact he hadn’t tried to straight up kidnap a child was… it felt like a stretch. But maybe it wasn’t. He’d ask more questions but maybe they really trusted Evelyn?
It was hard to know. He’d be certain this wasn’t enough… if they were like him. But they weren’t.
“I might be able to recover photos of Graham soon. I can’t promise it, but I had some in a secure location at our home. If the safe didn’t get breached by the fire, I should be able to get copies of the relevant ones to you all if you want them for Myla.”
Evelyn’s facial expression finally softened since the entire they had been here. She looked over to Cole. A hint of sadness for many reasons. Myla was never going to meet her birth father if she wanted to. And Evelyn doesn’t even have any pictures as herself, growing up.
“That would be lovely especially when she ask, we can have something for her to look at. The only picture we have of Graham was him holding Myla for the first time when she was born and cleaned up.”
“It’ll be in a few weeks. Perhaps months. It’s more complicated than simply going there and getting them but I can pass copies along. Or at least let you know that they’re gone.”
Cole kept up the smile, letting it fade slightly as was appropriate but it was a decision not a reaction. The pain of that potential loss, finding out about the fires that had been set, still stung fresh and… Well. If it wasn’t for years of training he’d have struggled to get that out cleanly. But he did.
His grief wasn’t for here.
Evelyn noticed. But similiar to her, this wasn’t the place for her to mention.
“And when do you two want to meet Myla?” Skylar added.
Evelyn flinched bad enough for anyone that was paying attention to notice. The two armed people noticed it and waited for a few minutes before looking ‘busy’ by scrolling through a datapad.
“I.. I do not know,” Evelyn answered. This time, there was no rudeness or harshness from Skylar. She simply nodded.
“I have an assignment next week that will take me quite a ways away and.. I will probably need some form of recovery time after.” Cole mused for a few moments, “I can keep Evelyn updated but it would probably be best to give at least myself 3 to 4 weeks.”
He noticed the shift. The pair perking up. They weren’t subtle at all. Cole narrowed his eyes slightly but kept quiet about it for now.
“That may change, for better or worse, depending on how it goes.”
A month was frankly a low estimate but it’d depend.
“Very well, then we will keep in touch. I should go back to work.” Skylar got up and kissed Teddy on the cheek.
“Thank you. Skylar.” Evelyn quickly said as Skylar grinned and went behind Evelyn. Her arms wrapped around her as she squished her face on the side of Evelyn’s cheek. Evelyn just awkwardly patted her arm.
“I missed you, Lynie. We should talk more.” With that, Skylar headed back inside.
Teddy waited to see if there was anything else from Cole and Evelyn. Evelyn rose from her chair as she looked over to Cole.
Cole was already in motion to get up, finishing off the last dregs of the coffee and placing the cup back down. He threw another glance toward the armed pair. They were watching again. A part of him wanted to scoff, amatuers, but that wouldn’t be appropriate. Still, he felt the need to at least mention it.
“If you paid for those guards to be subtle, they aren’t.”
Teddy blinked and then started laughing.
“Kark. Maybe we should hire you instead.”
The guards looked quite peeved. Evelyn glanced over to the pair of the guards and sighed softly.
“I might be a bit above what you would need for daily concerns. Unless you’re particularly worried about something.”
Cole looked back toward the pair, seeing the annoyance and just shaking his head before ignoring them. If they were so unprofessional to be annoyed at being spotted, then they wouldn’t really be a threat. He finally relaxed, stepping out so Evelyn could get away from the table too.
Teddy rose an eyebrow and glanced over to Evelyn.
“You.. haven’t told him?” Evelyn shook her head.
“Not a conversation to have here,” she explained before looking to Cole.
“I will tell you back at the hotel.”
Cole raised an eyebrow at Evelyn. The tension returned.
“Well I’m glad Tednor asked so you will actually divulge to me.” He gave Teddy a short nod, not allowing the annoyance to seep in too much but making it clear.
He did not like walking into situations with unknowns held over his karking head.
Teddy visibly winced as Evelyn eyes narrowed at Cole. Tension had returned indeed.
Evelyn tapped her hotel room card key on the receiver as it let out a soft unclick for the door to unlock. She entered into the room and step aside for Cole to enter as well.
Cole stepped in, crossing over to a chair to settle down for a moment.
He looked toward Evelyn, expectantly.
Once the door was closed, Evelyn started.
“It is mainly politics. Skylar and myself are the last remaining… ‘blood’ members from our Noble house. Skylar had already been arrested once. Generally, politics do not go after children or spouses so Teddy and the kids are safe but… I guess after what happened with the attempt abduction of the twins, they did not want to take any chances. They hired them to keep an eye on Skylar and the kids when they are around.”
“That would have still been good to know beforehand.” Cole sighed but relaxed a little. It wasn’t like anyone had a hit out at least.
“Are you at risk?”
Evelyn actually had no response. It threw her off guard that he wanted to know if she was at risk. Where… did that come from?
“As far as the Elites are aware, I no longer have the legal rights to the House after being kicked out at sixteen. I also had been arrested but I had an alibi. If anything, I am more likely in danger with Kadnikov than the politics of this.”
She paused for a moment before continuing, “It is also why… Myla will not know for a long time. She does have legal rights but.. no one knows except four of us now. I want her to have the choice to stay away from the House and everything that comes with it.”
Complicated. What does being arrested have to do with being linked by blood to the house? He didn’t bother to ask, hopefully it wouldn’t end up.. being a problem.
“If Kadnikov give you any issues let me know. I have an ear there, and some respect that should still be present.” It was an offhanded comment. But she was his last link to something from home. Corvo being alive was incredible but… still.
“At least I know, now.” He huffed a slight laugh, “Hopefully your House doesn’t need to find out what karking around with Myla with me around would lead to.”
“You are full of surprises, Mr. Farrow.” Evelyn wasn’t sure if Cole can even stop a man like Alt. When his mind was on something, it was done.
He was also why she left.
Evelyn chuckled softly.
“For their sakes, yes. I rather not think how far we would go but I am aware we are capable to go far.”
Cole was confused by what surprised her, but didn’t pay it much mind. This had been a weird day.
“They don’t seem like the type to deal with death as easily.”
Evelyn looked at Cole in confusion.
“They being who?”
“Skylar and Tednor.” Cole blinked.
Evelyn became really quiet. Then the slight shift in her body weight on her feet, she was hiding something.
“Tednor had seen his fair share. As for Skylar..” She trailed off.
“…. She would do what she needs to do.”
“…well?” Cole didn’t bother to pretend he didn’t see there was more.
“They aren’t the people you made me think they are, are they?”
Who the kark had she put his niece with?
“It is not that. It is not like we have the time to go through their entire lives, Cole.” Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. Who was he to talk about her about them not being the people that she had made him think? Evelyn was going to argue. Tell him off because it wasn’t his family to worry about.
Why did he care? Then she remember Zuza’s words about when it comes to family for Cole. If he didn’t have a niece, would he even care enough to want to know more?
“Tednor was part of military before he retired and owns the Cafe with Skylar when he married her. As for Skylar, we were both trained at a young age to take care of ourselves. As far as I am aware, she had not had to.”
“We had a 10 hour flight here where you disclosed they owned a Cafe together and we’re both kind, law abiding citizens.” Cole responded sharply.
He sighed after. Right. Military. That made sense.
“Anything else I should know?”
“I do not know what you think is relevant or not.” She paused for a moment. Maybe something that he might find if he wished to look them up? She already told him that she worked for Kadnikov for ten years. Before that was merc work. After Kadnikov, she was working for Rhylance, and there’s the military. Tednor’s was long but all military related. Skylar’s record was pretty clean except-
“We were both arrested on charges of my parents death. The charges were dismissed when they found we had alibis when they died.”
“…why were you both arrested?” Cole looked.. confused. That was stupid.
“For me, they assumed that me being kicked out was a motive to kill them. As for Skylar, she was the last one to see them but her alibi and the day they died, did not add up. The authorities were looking for answers and we were scapegoats.”
She still maintained eye contact on him, her arms crossed.
“I really do not know what else to say. If you ask me questions, I will answer. But right now, I am exhausted and I am terrified.”
Cole rolled his eyes at the idea of pinning a murder based on motives alone. Was that seriously how civillian authorities worked?
“I don’t know what to ask. I wouldn’t have thought that there was noble house drama between you all that’d effect Myla, nor Tedron’s military background. I never worked with noble houses, not directly. Just trades in poorly arranged back alleys because that was their idea of a good drop off spot and they wouldn’t let us choose. The best guideline I can give you is if it concerns Myla’s safety.”
“This was all before she was born,” Evelyn’s voice cracked for a moment.
She stopped when she realized and cleared her throat. Then she was quiet. Thinking.
“The drama was all before she was even born,” Evelyn repeated, her voice steady once more.
“Everything is stable, save for Myla getting into fights apparently. For her siblings.” She sighed and leaned against the bedpost. She was no longer maintaining eye contact. She was tired and annoyed with Cole. As if Myla had any better choice for a good family when she was born. Graham didn’t want Myla on the compound for a reason.
“Apparently not if they’re hiring guards to protect Skylar. They weren’t there for us, they’re a regular placement in the cafe.” Cole pointed out. Then he sighed and got up. There was no need to remain in her room at this point.
He paused near the door, exhaling slowly, “I don’t like not knowing, you aren’t the only one who’s scared.”
He hated admitting it, keeping his face toward the door and only just inclining it toward her, for politeness more than want. Cole didn’t want one of the few things left in the galaxy that were Farrow in some shape to end up gone for something stupid.
Part of him regretted agreeing to this, because it wasn’t as if being anywhere near him didn’t likely put her in far more danger. There was always eyes on the back, enemies. Watching.
“They are rich, of course there will be risks-”
Evelyn stopped when he brought up that he was scared too. Her breath was stolen from her. She started to shake and her arms tightened. She quickly lowered her head, her eyes stared at her feet while it burned. And her usually sharp eyes were becoming blurry.
“You should go.”
Cole heard the reaction more than saw it, turning ever so slightly more to see.
Should he leave her alone like this? He had Sofila to go to, she had no one. Graham would punch him for it.
Graham would punch him for a lot of the kist he’s done since he died.
“Are.. you sure?”
“Yes.” Evelyn turned and made her way into the bathroom and closed the door.
Moments later she’d hear the door to the room click close, as Cole stepped out and ensured it was, while not being a slam, loud enough to be audible.
It was expected, very much, but at least he tried. That.. was something.
How the kark did Zuza do this constantly and get it right?!
Cole headed for his own room, both glad and a bit tired to know Sofila was there. Recounting all of this would.. be interesting.