[IC] Over the hill? (Happy 300th, old man!)
Kae was up before the sun, carefully wiggling his way out from between his lovers and soothing them back to sleep with assurance that he wasn't going far, before he spent the cool pre-dawn hours on their balcony. The slight breeze was warm and brought with it the scent of the gardens nearby. For a time, Kae just stood there, eyes closed and face turned up toward the sky and willing the stirring discomfort in his gut to go away.
When that didn't help, the first rays of dawn chased the little redhead indoors once more, down to their kitchen to make a simple meal, enough for three and set out neatly on the table for when his boys woke up. His portion remained barely touched, however. A nibble of toast, a bite of egg, half a glass of juice, but no more. Even that was left abandoned as he turned once more to restless wandering.
Food hadn't settled his stomach, maybe a warm bath would.
Kae made it to the mirror before he stopped, ears twitching back as he focused on his reflection. He turned on the light as he leaned in, weight resting on his left hand as his right absently traced the lines around one eye. Lines that hadn't been there only seven short years ago. At least it wasn't too bad yet, though it was worse than even just a year or two ago. Kae grimaced, standing up straight once more and looking down at himself. Even his belly was starting to do that old-man-squish thing if he bent the right way. Sure, his boys might find it cute, but it bothered him. He wasn't that old compared to the rest of his family, he shouldn't be looking like this yet. Sure, the rest of him was fine and wrinkle-free, but that didn't excuse the parts of him that were intent on looking a thousand years older than they were.
Kae turned away from the mirror with a heavy sigh, the heel of one hand rubbing into an eye as the other reached to turn on the water for a bath. As he climbed in, he shot an annoyed look at the offending crease in his belly before settling to lounge as the water filled the tub.
Maybe he was just being overly sensitive about it today. Many elves don't even bother to recognize the passing of another year, after all. For a long time, he hadn't either. There's no reason to, after all, when one measured their lives in centuries instead of decades.
Still, it was a very sobering, distressing thought to know he wouldn't live to see another*.
((* I noticed this read funny, given I gave 3 types of time measurement. I meant another century. Don't panic!))
When that didn't help, the first rays of dawn chased the little redhead indoors once more, down to their kitchen to make a simple meal, enough for three and set out neatly on the table for when his boys woke up. His portion remained barely touched, however. A nibble of toast, a bite of egg, half a glass of juice, but no more. Even that was left abandoned as he turned once more to restless wandering.
Food hadn't settled his stomach, maybe a warm bath would.
Kae made it to the mirror before he stopped, ears twitching back as he focused on his reflection. He turned on the light as he leaned in, weight resting on his left hand as his right absently traced the lines around one eye. Lines that hadn't been there only seven short years ago. At least it wasn't too bad yet, though it was worse than even just a year or two ago. Kae grimaced, standing up straight once more and looking down at himself. Even his belly was starting to do that old-man-squish thing if he bent the right way. Sure, his boys might find it cute, but it bothered him. He wasn't that old compared to the rest of his family, he shouldn't be looking like this yet. Sure, the rest of him was fine and wrinkle-free, but that didn't excuse the parts of him that were intent on looking a thousand years older than they were.
Kae turned away from the mirror with a heavy sigh, the heel of one hand rubbing into an eye as the other reached to turn on the water for a bath. As he climbed in, he shot an annoyed look at the offending crease in his belly before settling to lounge as the water filled the tub.
Maybe he was just being overly sensitive about it today. Many elves don't even bother to recognize the passing of another year, after all. For a long time, he hadn't either. There's no reason to, after all, when one measured their lives in centuries instead of decades.
Still, it was a very sobering, distressing thought to know he wouldn't live to see another*.
((* I noticed this read funny, given I gave 3 types of time measurement. I meant another century. Don't panic!))