[For Kratos's part, the ride is occupied by the middle child. The toddler wakes fussing with the sway of the rickshaw, so Kratos occupies his sister by pointing out landmarks in the city, and telling her about festivals. By the time they arrive, she has even gone so far as to release her grip on her mother's trousers; but when they pull to a stop, she goes right back there.
[At least now she isn't trying to hide.
[Contrast to Yuan, Kratos gets off last, swinging the girl down off the rickshaw while she giggles. He's the slowest of them all, after all, and someone has to let down the luggage.
[Acacius's home is inset into a plateau, humble but well-kept; and the clatter of wheels must have drawn attention, because the door opens on Acacius looking worried not long after. Kratos can imagine what his former lieutenant must have been imagining, hearing that clatter.
[That expression transforms nearly at once; he drops what's in his hands and runs down the steps. The eldest daughter lets out a shriek of joy and pelts toward him in turn. The rest of his family aren't too far behind, and the result is a weeping multi-person embrace on the street in front of the house, while Acacius tries to hug all of them at once.
[Quietly Kratos lowers the last bag to the ground, and then himself out of the second rickshaw so it can depart, meaning not to disturb them -- but not quite able to look, either. He'd arranged this at least in part so Yuan can see what he's wrought; he didn't anticipate the aching nostalgia it would create in him.]
no subject
[At least now she isn't trying to hide.
[Contrast to Yuan, Kratos gets off last, swinging the girl down off the rickshaw while she giggles. He's the slowest of them all, after all, and someone has to let down the luggage.
[Acacius's home is inset into a plateau, humble but well-kept; and the clatter of wheels must have drawn attention, because the door opens on Acacius looking worried not long after. Kratos can imagine what his former lieutenant must have been imagining, hearing that clatter.
[That expression transforms nearly at once; he drops what's in his hands and runs down the steps. The eldest daughter lets out a shriek of joy and pelts toward him in turn. The rest of his family aren't too far behind, and the result is a weeping multi-person embrace on the street in front of the house, while Acacius tries to hug all of them at once.
[Quietly Kratos lowers the last bag to the ground, and then himself out of the second rickshaw so it can depart, meaning not to disturb them -- but not quite able to look, either. He'd arranged this at least in part so Yuan can see what he's wrought; he didn't anticipate the aching nostalgia it would create in him.]