Star Struck

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((July 3, 1622. Caden, Julian, and Cepheid only. If you want to join, please ask their RPers.))

Caden had turned ten two days ago, and though he had desperately hoped that Reuben would drop by with a gift for him, the other hadn't. In fact, there hadn't even been word of him. He hoped that nothing bad had happened to his big brother.

Still, he had really enjoyed his birthday. Julian had made him cake and had gotten him things! It was the happiest birthday he had had since his parents had died and Uncle Isaac and Reuben had vanished. The only thing that would've made it better was if they had all been there to celebrate with him.

Right now, the boy was in the sitting room, playing with a puzzle that he had. He would solve this puzzle!

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Cepheid glanced at the address on the piece of paper. The coal had smudged it lightly, but it was still legible enough. Mask donned and his whole repitoire of tricks and illusions ready to go for Caden's amusement, he stepped up to the stoop. Double checking the name on the mailbox, he took a breath, flourished his cape slightly and, with a gloved hand, knocked lightly on the door. He had left his bag of charts behind on the ship, wanting to be able to have a full range of movement if so needed.

He waited on the front step, idly wondering what Mr. Shard would be like. Did he look anything like his daughter, he wondered? She was a sweet little thing, he must have been a decent parent to raise such a child. Not like his own. Ceph had recently discovered that, as far as Andy knew, the two of them were kidnapped and not sold.

Frankly, Andy's lack of faith in humanity made him decided to never tell his twin the truth about their parents. He didn't need to add to his brother's burden.

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Julian sat, relaxed, upon one of the lounge chairs in the main room, his reading glasses perched on the edge of his nose while he read over a book in his hand.

Naturally, when he had learned that it was Caden's birthday, he spared no expense. He had made a cake for the boy and, not only gifting him with a couple sets of new clothes, but some new puzzles and a few toys to keep him occupied.

Julian was idly toying with the idea of getting Caden into reading. Did the boy even know how? If he did, how well? He'd love to be able to discuss his favorite authors with the boy.

He looked up from his book when he heard a knock on the door. A visitor? Ah, it must be Reuben, coming to wish his brother a belated happy birthday. He'd let the boy answer it, if he so wanted.

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Unfortunately for Julian, Caden didn't know how to read that well. But given the activity, once he learned, it was likely that he would rather enjoy reading. It would give him a chance to simply sit down and snuggle with someone that he liked while enjoying a good story. Stories were amazing! Why, he knew all the secret passages into the theater!

When he heard a knock on the door, Caden perked up, abandoning his puzzles. That had to be Reuben, right? Almost no one but Reuben visited! It didn't even matter if Reuben was late to his birthday, at least he had showed up. The boy happily ran over to the door, and opened it.

Only to see him. The Star Man.

Caden stared up at the man for a bit before he let out a purely delighted childish squeal. It was not any squeal; it was the mother of all squeals. "Y-You're the Star Man!" Cute awed, big-eyed little boy.

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Well, if Caden was going to be staying with him, he'd likely begin schooling the boy. After all, everyone needed to know how to read, at least!
He listened as Caden got excitedly from his seat and opened the door, and was contented to allow the boy and his brother time together as he enjoyed his book.

The squeak that ripped through the air had different plans, though. Caught by surprise, Julian leap from his seat, the book hitting the ground as he grabbed the fireplace poker and dove for the door, mistaking the fangasm for a squeal of panic.

Reaching the door, Julian held the poker in front of him protectively, pulling Caden back, before realizing who it was.

"A-Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't realize!"

Someone was jumpy.

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The Star Man took control as the door opened, and he looked down to meet the gaze of the little awestruck boy. Yep, he could see the resemblance, he was like a chibi version of Reuben.

"Hello there, Lad. Caden, correct?" He asked.

And in reply got a rather familiar squeal of childish delight. He missed the adoration, not the squeals. Yeesh.

When a blond haired man showed up in the door way, looking flustered and wielding a fire poker, he only had a brief moment to react. Grabbing the poker and holding it steady, he looked at the man who was clearly Mr. Shard.

"Well, that is truly a unique greeting." He commented casually, letting go of the fire tending tool as the blond apologized profusely.

"Think nothing of it, as a matter of fact, that answered an awful lot of my questions right from the get go. May I request permission to enter?"

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Thankfully for the eardrums of both Cepheid and Julian, Caden's squeal was cut off the instant that Julian grabbed him and pulled him back from the door. This allowed Caden to make a squeak of surprise before he got himself under control. He didn't squeal this time, but he was very obviously star-struck with the man in front of him.

"Y-Yes!" he said. "M-My name's C-Caden, Mister S-Star Man!" Oh god, what was the Star Man doing here in their home?! He slipped aside, eyeing the poker that Julian was holding so that the man could come in.

"H-How do you kn-know my name...?" That awestruck expression? Nope not leaving anytime soon.

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Looking thoroughly abashed and more than a little guilty, Julian leaned the poker against the wall and released Caden, allowing The Star Man inside. "I am very sorry. When I heard Caden's squeal, I just though..."[/color[

He paused.

"A-Anyway, what may we owe this visit?" He asked, glancing down to Caden as the little fanboy of a ward was fawning over their guest. Oh, you silly boy.

"Come, we can speak more in the sitting room." He said, leading the two of them to where he was previously, picking up the book that had launched across the room. Baw, hopefully he didn't damage it.

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"Please, do not worry. As a matter of fact, you would not believe by just how pleased your reaction has made me." The Star Man chirped, earning a confused expression from his host as he stepped inside.

"Yes, this is more than a social visit, I admit." He began, though was cut off at his little fanboy. He chuckled and looked down at him. "I will get there, little one. Be patient."

He walked behind Julian into the sitting room, and examined the place carefully as the blond picked up the book. He examined the walls carefully, noting the numerous pictures of a beautiful woman and a very familiar little girl. Yes, this was was clearly the father, and a loving one at that.

He turned to the pair of them once they were ready. "I come as a messenger on Reuben's behalf." He began, bowing slightly. "He has become...mildly incapacitated, and was unable to arrive here on his own. He experienced a little bit of trouble at the hands of some ruffians in Dula, but I assure you he is in good hands, and will be back on his feet in no time at all." He gave Caden a reassuring pat on the head and, withdrawing his hand, revealed a couple rubber balls between his fingers, as though he pulled them from the boy's hair.

As he spoke, he'd juggle the small balls and, after a moment or two, would make them appear to vanish as he did so until his hands were free.

"But what I really come here for, is to give you, my good sir, some information." He looked to Julian, who seemed completely lost.

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Caden, not taking his eyes off of Cepheid in his Star Man costume, allowed Julian to lead him into the sitting room. He squeaked again as Cepheid called him 'little one'. Oy, he wasn't that little! But he nodded enthusiastically and went off into the room with a flourish, trying to show him around. Oh Caden, he wanted to impress.

He sat down on a chair, and watched the Star Man as he was... oh wow! Reuben knew him?! That was so cool! How come Reuben hadn't told him that...? But what happened to his brother? Was he hurt? "H-He's okay? I hope so... I d-don't want him to g-get hurt!"

What had Reuben been doing at Dula? But at least he was okay. He squeaked again as the Star Man patted his head, but... hey! Where did those balls come from!? Caden's hands flew to his hair, a baffled and amazed expression on his face as he tried to find the rubber balls.

"Wow!" And they vanished! Cue the big-eyed child staring at Cepheid. "That was cool~!"

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Julian watched with a small frown as The Star Man explained what was up with Reuben. Oh dear, the young lad was hurt? It was no small comfort that the Star man was able to give the news yet keep Caden from flipping out by using his illusions.

After smiling softly at the disappearing ball trick, he focused on the Star Man's words as he finally got down to business.

"I-Information? Of what breed?" He had to ask. What kind of information could a complete stranger have to provide? He ran his hand idly through Caden's hair as he focused on his guest.

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"Worry not, child." The Star Man calmed. "Reuben is, despite his condition, still as rambunctious as ever and is, as we speak, likely making his care takers pull their hair out." He chuckled. "It'll take more than this to take him out, I assure you. He's strong."

He then turned his focus to the man before him, who so far had proven himself not only unafraid to get into a tussle over his wards, but was clearly a very doting man. Caden's appearance seemed clean and healthy, too.

As much as the girls would object, this man deserved his little girl back.

"As I said before, Reuben is unable to come here himself, so I come in his stead. I bring information on your daughter, Lapis."

This got a reaction as he watched Julian's eyes widen.

"When she was taken from you, she was brought to Dula by a group of slavers. Through her own bravery and ingenuity, she escaped and stowed away on the ship of a mutual...friend, of Reuben and myself. She has been in their care since, as they sought you, her father, out. Only recently did Reuben once again gace us with his company that we put together the pieces, and he gave me this address."

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Caden nodded slowly as the Star Man told him that Reuben was alright, despite being injured. The thought of his brother annoying people was kind of funny, too. Reuben hadn't gotten along with too many people outside of their family and that lady next door that kept putting him in dresses, but at least he was fine.

"O-Okay! I know h-he's really s-strong~!" Caden beamed a bit, and curled up next to Julian. Caden had better look clean and healthy, Julian likely wouldn't have a scruffy, underfed child in his home if he could help it.

Oh! Lapis? Caden had asked about the pictures once and had heard a bit about her. So the Star Man knew Mr. Shard's daughter and Reuben? Wow! He listened to the story, choosing not to say anything. Though he did perk up at the thought of Reuben having a friend that not only knew the Star Man, but being the Star Man's friend himself.

He was a bit confused, though; if Lapis came back, would she be his sister? Or just a friend? He wasn't quite ready to call Julian by parental terms just yet, but it did make him ponder.

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Julian had, gradually as The Star Man spoke, stilled, only vaguely aware of Caden cuddling at his side on the couch where he sat. It was a good thing he was sitting, because he would have collapsed otherwise.

Slavers? His precious little girl was stolen to be a Dulan slave? "...Is she well?" He asked, putting his hand over his mouth as he couldn't help but tear up slightly. "My little girl? She's alive and well? Where is she? Did you bring her?"

Caden, you'd likely be her foster brother, if nothing else. He was more than happy to have both of you, and Lapis would likely be happy to have someone close to her own age to play with.

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The Star Man tilted his top hat towards Caden in a nod of affirmation. "Tougher than grits, that one." He smiled before turning to Julian.

He wasn't sure how to explain that the 'mutual friend' was his brother and Reuben's father. Maybe once the dust settled. "She is well, and quite doted upon, I must say. The crew she is currently with is comprised mostly of twenty something females, and she gets quite a lot of affection from the lot of them. She is quite happy, but she speaks of you often and when mention was made of her going home, she was more than overjoyed." Ceph replied. "I did not bring her with me, as not only do I have other things I must see to, but because, I mean no disrespect, we were concerned about the 'parent' we would be releasing her to. I will not lie when I say she has stolen the hearts of every person on board." He had your number, Andy.