Out of the Blue

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Location: Seria Docks

30 May, 1622. Afternoon.

<sub>Poor Lila, she wasn't precisely accustomed to being nearby the sea nor walking on the awkward stone and wood that was used to jut out into the sea. However it was a pretty quiet place for him to rest up in. After all the past few months and he had been all over Seria, making sermons, defending himself from angry people, and dealing with Lila.

Both had lost quite a bit of weight since then, but Benedict could manage. He was used to it after all. The man looked around at the people who turned to observe the man and his white horse.

It didn't occur to him that he might wander into anybody familiar. He went around so much that he wasn't sure if his face would be familiar to those, but he was modest like that.</sub>

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Caden, for his part, had trotted over to Benedict's as usual considering that the man had said he was always welcome. Benedict was nice, and Mr. Shard was really nice, too. So when Benedict had wanted to go somewhere, Caden was quite happy to go along with him! And when Benedict had offered to let him ride Lila, the boy's face had lit up like a Christmas tree.

So there Caden was, a little scrawnier than he had been though otherwise perfectly normal, on top of Lila. He was careful as he held onto Lila to not tug her hair or skin; she was a very nice horse, and he loved her a lot.

"...~. Why are we here, Father?"

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<sub>Andy was still in this place, Seria. He'd parked here since Nerys got herself in a pickle last time. Except now he was in a pickle. He was in public, int he afternoon, and he was a wanted criminal. In Alfya. God damnit! Why did he have to go out in the day, hell... why did the payer have to insist on it being daytime, and why did his girls have to be sick? Nerys and Godwine had a cold, Selena had an allergy attack... and Daniela's back was killing her again. Bleh, girls...

Also it was that time of the month for them. He'd leave Cepheid to defend himself with his weapon. Now he would just wait on the street corner, wearing a had, and hoping to GOD nobody notices him.

Of course, there were a bunch of drunk people stumbling around and about to harass that man and a um... horse. It's a nice horse. He's stolen some before so he knew a bit about how they were. Stubborn, usually.

"What a day."</sub>

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<sub>Benedict looked behind him. Yes he had let the kid climb onto Lila and ride with him. the kid seemed to enjoy it and he was happy caring for him. After all the kid needed it anyway, since he lost his parents and all. Lila was just as happy witht he kid, since he wasn't as heavy as, say, a woman. Benedict will be forever single thanks to Lila.

"We're going to go to one of the churches near the port to deliver a sermon." He spoke up. Of course then a bunch of drunken people got in his way and he went quiet.

"Um, please excuse me..." He spoke up. Of course, spicy old Lila had other plans. She trotted in place and then butted one of the people.

Out of the way! Preacher and his horse coming through with a little kid! She snorted.

"Whoa, Lila!" Benedict pulled on the reins to get her to back up, which she did, but she still was going to do her best to give those jerks the evil eye.</sub>

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Caden was definitely quite happy to be on the horse, who didn't seem to mind him there at all. Besides, the more he was around the church, the more likely he could play with and care for Lila by giving her food and brushing! She seemed to like it, at the least. He stroked the hair on her head a bit.

"Oh, okay~." Wasn't something he normally did, but he didn't mind going along. Maybe he could care for Lila while he gave the sermon. Of course the boy went quiet when they came across the crowd of drunks. He normally avoided drunks, since he never knew if they were the kind that would get annoyed at the smallest things or not.

"S-Steady, Lila..." Sic 'em, Lila! They were making your adopted human son nervous!

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<sub>The drunk people started laughing as the horse tried to headbutt one of the guys. He then went to slap the horse, and that's where Andy went in. He covers his eyes with his hat and then walked over to the group. He then gave the drunk people a dangerous look.

"Back off the horse and the Father, and your lives will be spared." He spoke up dangerously. The one who slapped the horse swaggered to him, looked at him, and then spoke up.

"Eeey you're that guy i was supposed to meet. Well. I spend all the money on beer!" He spoke up. Andromeda just stared at him.

"... I expected to meet a professional. Apparently I got a child." He'd skip the money for now. For now, Andromeda just picked the guy up and chucked him into the waters. The other guys then ran off.

He then dusted his hands off as a bunch of people panicked and tried to get the guy out, who probably... shouldn't be swimming while drunk. Deaths happen more that way.

"Sorry you had to see that you two. I think your horse wanted them out of the way."</sub>

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<sub>Lila raised up when she was snacked, nearly causing Benedict to fall off, but he managed to steady himself and Caden easily. He was good with a horse, if that counts. Lila herself wound clonk one of the guys over the head as this guy came up and tossed the guy who smacked her over the docks. She then bobbed her head and neighed.

Yeaaah throw him overboard! She seemed happy now.

"Was that necessary? You could have moved him over." He asked Andromeda, not noticing him at a glance. Of course once he noticed Andromeda he double backed.

"You're one of the pirates, aren't you?" He spoke up, his tone showing disapproval.</sub>

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Caden let out a small squeal as Lila reared up, clutching at her and Benedict. Thankfully Benedict caught him and he didn't fall off, because a tumble to the ground would have hurt! He giggled a little as the guys were clonked and another man came up and threw him into the ocean. Hopefully the guy could swim... who didn't know how to swim.

"O-Okay, Lila?" Caden petted Lila, glancing curiously at Andromeda, not really recognizing him. Of course, Benedict then mentioned that he was a pirate, causing bright green eyes to widen and shrink back against the man.

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<sub>Andromeda pushed the brim of his hat around as he looked up at the two of them on the horse. Lila seemed happy about him tossing the idiot overboard, and Caden did too, so he didn't seem bothered by it at all. He then rolled his neck to get rid of the soreness in his muscles before he folded his arms.

"Spare me the sermon, Father." he waved his hand, of course his eyes went to Caden and he blinked. "... Hey, is your name Caden, by any chance?"

Hopefully he was right and didn't make an idiot of himself. Caden was Reuben's brother so hopefully he could tell the kid about Reuben and get along with it. Benedict didn't seem happy about him just existing, despite the fact he was so young.</sub>

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<sub>Lila was happy to stick her nose, quite literally in Andy's business. As in she was sniffing his coat and hat, trying to take it. Benedict frowned at Lila when she did that. Seriously? He took a deep breath and looked over to Andy as he explained himself. As for Caden... you shouldn't amuse yourselves of other's misfortunes, kid!

"Alright, fine. The guy probably... deserved it anyway since he hit my horse." He patted Lila, who looked behind her stubbornly.

... Benedict, look at this guy. He's your kin! I can smell it. Lila snorted, however Benedict, being unable to speak Animal, didn't understand her and he just went to introduce himself.

"I'm called Father Benedict Armstrong." He perked when Andy mentioned Caden's name, though, his eyes widening a bit. Lila snorted against stubbornly, trying to remove Andy's hat. In public.

He smells of pain and suffering too, can't you see this you stupid priest?! Lila was about to go insane. Humans! How do they not ee these things...!

"How did you know his name?"</sub>

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Caden put his hand against his mouth, trying to hide his amusement as Lila just stuck her nose into Andy's coat and hat and tried to steal them. Oh, he loved Lila, she was such a funny and friendly horse! He patted her again, gently trying to discourage her from taking the hat. That wouldn't be very nice!

"Lila, th-that's his h-hat, not y-yours~," he said, not really scolding the horse at all.

Alas, Caden couldn't speak horse or understand it either, so it went unnoticed. Poor Lila. If only Caden had been born with the ability to talk to animals instead of always knowing what time it was in the world. Then she would have probably had better luck.

When Andy said his name, the little boy's eyes widened, and he grabbed one of Benedict's arms and hugged it to himself. "H-How do y-you know m-my name...?"

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<sub>Andromeda jammed his hands in his trenchcoat pockets, only to have a horse nuzzle and sniff his coat. He took her nose and gently guided her nose away from him, but then she went to try and steal his hat. Luckily for his reflexes, he grabbed it before she tried to pull it off. he then looked at the horse.

Yeah." Benedict, huh? He then nodded to the kid as best he could. "Pretty young to be a Father, huh? Oh well, nice to meet you." Man if only he knew. Of course both asked about his name and he finally got fed up with Lila.

"I know your a gorgeous mare and want the hat, but I need it so people don't scream and panic, girl." He patted her nose and then managed to pull it out of her teeth, adjusting his hat again. Thank God he was right about Caden, though, now he could tell him what was going on.

"I ran into your brother, Reuben Stevenson. Through some... strange and unusual circumstances I found out he was looking for you." He explained. No, not telling the kid that he's actually a half brother and Andy is truly Reuben's father.</sub>

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<sub>Lila was being chastised! But hey, she tilted her head up in a haughty way as she was called a 'gorgeous mare.' That left Andy enough time to adjust his hat, but still. Why? Why doesn't Benedict get it? Oh well. She'll try and find a way to sneak out some time and follow Andy. Maybe getting them in a more private conversation would help anyway.

You two will definitely be meeting later! Lila plotted to herself as Benedict patted her. Hah, it's great they don't speak Animal. She could plot all on her own! Benedict blinekd as Andromeda explained it. Hm, Reuben huh?

"I didn't know you hd a brother, Caden." He commented. Then again, Caden was a mystery to him. An adorable mystery.</sub>

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Caden was of course very amused as Lila continued to try to keep stealing the hat. Of course then she had to act all proud and haughty when the man called her gorgeous and he couldn't help but let out a giggle. She was always going to be like this, wasn't she! He stroked some of Lila's hair to organize it, and looked back at Andy.

"Uh huh... I h-had a b-brother, R-Reuben. I h-haven't seen him i-in years th-though, he w-went adventuring on a sh-ship!" Caden's eyes shone a bit. Sure, it had only been a merchant ship that he had gone on, but that was the story that Caden had been told. Glamorous as Caden thought? Probably not.

"I w-wanna see him~. D-Does he s-still want m-me?" He toyed with Benedict's sleeve a bit. Sure, Andy said that he was looking for him, but was it a good looking for? Did Reuben know about Mummy and Daddy and Uncle Isaac? He didn't even remember Nerys at all...

"H-He's my only b-big brother, th-though~."

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<sub>Andromeda was pretty amused at Lila. Hey he managed to distract her anyway. Either way, he wasn't aware of what she was thinking, but now he was focused on Benedict and Caden. He wouldn't offer anything though. He was a pirate after all.

"He does want to see you again." He explained. Of course, he didn't want to mention that Cepheid aka. The Star Man was related to him now, and other dramatic stuff. For now he'll just let Caden know what's going on.

"I'd offer you a free ride, but my girls are all sick and I don't even know if Reuben is in town. That and... I'm a wanted man. Not a good combination. And I don't do well with kids. He usually hangs around the docks last I checked." He shrugged. Well.. the part about him and kids was a lie. He babysat Nerys, after all, and apparently did a damn good job at it.</sub>