#Toi'uhla and Lordakai met when Lordakai took zer to hold for ransom

[bitchfitch]

I'm once again making myself sad about that pirate thing yehaw

<3

Toi'uhla and zer newly found sibling return to Cu'Liona to confirm if Jikal is truly who ze looks to be. Lorinuses always remember their chicks chirps no matter the time, and they retain the ability to make their own well into adult hood. so Asu'uhla would be able to recognize zer if ze was one of the stolen chicks.

Toi'uhla wants to go too, since they might be family despite everything that's happened between zer and Asu'uhla. Which means Lordakai goes because he doesn't trust Asu'uhla to not pull some shit, and so does Eri because they get really upset and stop eating if their father and dam are both away for too long.

They arrive and Lordakai sends a greeting party to demand a conference with Asu'uhla. Says he and Toi'uhla must speak to zer about an urgent family matter.

Jikal is nervous, they don't know if they want the suspicions to be true or not.

Eventually the three of them go down to greet Asu'uhla just beyond the port, Guards readying and keeping an area private and somewhat free of onlookers.

They have a few of the pirates with them and Jikal is wrapped up to keep their feathers hidden until they feel ready to greet Asu'uhla. Surrounded by lorinuses they really are distinct. Of the hundreds ze can see, only ze and Toi'uhla have pink feathers in their crests.

The start of the conversation doesn't go well, Lordakai rages and tells zer ze should be greatful he hasn't killed zer. Ze destroyed his clutch. Toi'uhla gets him to calm down a bit and greets Asu'uhla coldly. Barely any less agrivated and angry than Lordakai. But ze knows Eri is safe, and so long as ze focuses on that ze can stand to look at zer dam without wanting to wretch.

Asu'uhla eventually snaps and asks why they're even here.

Toi'uhla introduces Jikal, and tells Asu'uhla they found zer while sailing.

And Jikal comes forward, and Asu'uhla can't believe zer eyes. Jikal tells zer when ze and zer siblings were taken, but ze doesn't know which flock ze belongs too or who zer parents were. Ze jokes that it's silly... but would Asu'uhla be willing to hear zer? just in case appearances are the truth?

Asu'uhla encourages it. And Jikal feels stupid chirping like a chick, but Asu'uhla needs to be cought, zer knees going weak as ze begins sobbing. and clinging to zer long lost chick and returning the call. Jikal is just as emotional, and holds zer through it. Ze's found zer family.

After a moment Asu'uhla reaches out to Toi'uhla and asks ze join the hug. Ze knows Toi'uhla will never forgive zer, but ze needs zer chicks together in zer arms at least once.

Toi'uhla has to bite back a response about how ze too would love to hold zer lost chicks. but ze obliges for a moment to let them both pretend this wasn't a mess.

Lordakai says what Toi'uhla was thinking when they part, and asks if Asu'uhla is going to pull some miracle out of zer ass and reveal his cubs weren't destroyed while they were still in the egg. He would quite like a tearful reunion with his young too you see.

Lordakai acknowledging it had Toi'uhla tearing up, and turning away from zer kin to go to him for the comfort ze needed in that moment. Lordakai hugged zer and cracked that little bit himself. He never let himself publicly mourn what was taken from him, but it was hard to hold back all of that grief masquerading as rage sometimes.

"We should go." Toi'uhla says before ze can embarrass zerself too publicly

"No! Please, stay a few days at least," Asu'uhla had never once believed Toi'uhla wanted those eggs. but zer almost breaking down over them these years later... Lordakai, the monster himself having to turn away to hide that he's on the verge of tears thinking about that clutch...

"We will not." Toi'uhla said firmly.

"A celebration is in order, I want you there Toi'uhla... He may attend too. I... It pains me to say this, But i will not stand between you two while the celebrations are under way, if you stay. Please,"

"No." Lordakai said, "I have no interest letting you use me and my love for zer as a Bargaining chip, We will be leaving. We have far more important matters than you to attend."

"Is this because of your chicks? From the second clutch I mean. They are welcome too. More than. I... I am greatful to have my chicks together again, but i would do anything to meet my grand chicks."

"They Arnt Yours." Lordakai snaps, "You have no right or claim to them after you slaughtered their elders. And Fuck, How Dare you think either of us Stupid enough to let you near them. Say your pretty words Beg and Cry, I don't fucking care. I'm not letting another of my cubs fall to you."

Toi'uhla doesn't speak up, Lordakai voiced zer own anger better than ze could even as ze shook with them. Ze starts crying, fully against Lordakai's chest. and he was his raging in an instant to comfort zer, apologizes for yelling and holds zer close, Putting himself between his mate and zer dam. His love for zer unmistakable to any willing to see it, and zer's for him too.

Jikal speaks up. "A compromise then? You two stay on the ship, and come to shore for the celebrations and then return to your ship. No staying anywhere you don't feel safe... No bringing you know who to shore if you aren't positive you are ready for them to meet."

"It can be arranged," Asu'uhla hates the idea of leaving zer chick with the monster that stole her away. Was Toi'uhla not even allowed a few nights of respite from him?

Lordakai visibly bristles. Toi'uhla is struggling against sobs.

"It would mean a lot to me, Toi'uhla," Jikal says quietly. It was a lie. Ze wanted more time with zer sibling and ze wanted more time with their dam. Ze didn't want Toi'uhla to be miserable to achieve it, or to stir up this vat of bad blood they clearly had going.

"Fine." Toi'uhla spits. "but," ze looks to see dam, "If you speak a single word against my husband, or our family I'm gone. I won't come back."

Asu'uhla agrees.

---

They argue about Eri's name, Asu'uhla demanding to know why Toi'uhla would break tradition just to saddle Eri with a name that carried so much ugliness. Only for Toi'uhla to snap that there's nothing ugly about zer husband's and child's name

---

On a stormy night Asu'uhla tells Jikal and Toi'uhla about their sire. Jikal tells them everything ze can remember about the other two stolen chicks. And eventually Toi'uhla talks about Eri... And Yandoli and her siblings too.

---

It's the last day. Jikal will be staying with Asu'uhla for the time being. Learning the ways of lorinus life and recovering from zer past.

But Asu'uhla asks one last time to be allowed to see Eri.

Lordakai relents under the condition that he be holding Eri, and they be on the ship when the meeting happens.

Asu'uhla agrees and a time is set for zer to board and meet zer grandchild.

Eri is in Lordakai's lap, happily playing with him when Asu'uhla arrives.

They talk about Eri and Asu'uhla is enchanted by them. their babyness being even cuter because of their relatively massive size.

Asu'uhla asks if they were the only one. And Toi'uhla tells zer something ze has been keeping to zerself since Eri hatched.

Only Eri's egg hatched. They were the runt... Zer first clutch had all been tiny compared to the second Smaller than Eri's egg even. The chances they would have hatched had Asu'uhla not Destroyed them was high.

Lordakai needs to excuse himself. he doesn't like Eri seeing him angry. Eri toddles after him anyways until Toi'uhla corrals them back to where they had been sitting.

Asu'uhla asks ze be allowed to hug Eri. and Toi'uhla relents.

They embrace and the magnitude of what Asu'uhla did finally hits zer.

"I though he raped you, that those eggs were curses."

"He didn't. He's Never laid an unkind hand on me, not since the first day we met." Toi'uhla has to swallow back old hurt, "I wouldn't have sat a nest I didn't want. and I wouldn't have hidden my second so thoroughly if I didn't fear to lose them as well. Lordakai didn't even know Lorinus eggs needed warmth. It would have been easy to say they failed on their own. But I wanted them. Lordakai wanted them.

the flood gates were open "He's been nothing but a good partner and loving father. and it didn't matter how many times I told you I loved him, that i was glad to have my nests by him and had forgiven him for the mess that was that first early part of our relationship. And you didn't listen to a Word of it. You decided I didn't love my mate. That I gave him clutches I didn't want, and spent time with him only to soothe his ego. And you killed my chicks because of it. "

"I- Sorry isn't enough,"

"It's not. It won't give Eri their siblings back. It won't let me hold my firsts. or fix what you decided to break."

"But?"

"But nothing. I owe you no forgiveness." Toi'uhla said harshly. "What did Lordakai say? 'Beg and cry I don't care'? You will always be my dam, but I can't look at you without seeing my destroyed nest. Tell Eri Goodbye. You won't see zer again unless I'm dead."

"Will I see you?"

"Not If I have any say," Toi'uhla says firmly, "I was here for Jikal not to fix what you broke."

"Write me, please. Even if it's just to tell me your hate. It kills me to not know if you are dead or alive." Ze let's go of Eri, "I'm sorry, I- Good bye, My chick."

Asu'uhla leaves, and Toi'uhla holds Eri tight. The crew who eavesdroped still giving zer space until Lordakai returned and took them both back to his cabin.

Asu'uhla gets a letter a few years later. Written in messy childish handwriting.

'My name is Erifolda Lordakai the 3rd. But daddy calls me Birdy, I like being called that. My dam says you are zer dam. And that you love us. Ze says we won't meet, but I can write you if I want.'

#this family is a mess #also Asu'uhla should be greatful ze got this much and before anyone asks how Asu'uhla got away with destroyimg the eggs: #Ze is a duke. Lordakai is a pirate. Toi'uhla is a lord #Toi'uhla and Lordakai met when Lordakai took zer to hold for ransom #and Boy Howdy is Lordakai good at making himself seem wretched. #it got him his money but unfortunately he did fall in love with his former captive so things got... messy