omimouse | Family Portrait

This is pulled from bits and pieces of memories of my family. The portrait itself is not an actual event, but it's still a good picture of Sanctuary when we're all at home and being together.

Rain is softly dripping on the windows. There is music playing in the living room. It changes frequently between the SchoolHouse Rock DVD, Rammstein, Rob Zombie, Indigo Girls, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Smith, Blue Oyster Cult, classical, Metallica, Lorena McKinnet, and various techno beats. The volume is set low enough so as not to interfere with conversations, but loud enough for the lyrics to be audible if you listen for them.

Bear-Cub and Puppy are in the living room with Phooka. Bear-Cub is reading a book to her two younger sisters. When she finishes, she glances down to see that Phooka has fallen asleep on the couch. She carefuly gets up, lets the rest of the adults know that the baby is asleep on the couch, and then she and Puppy tip-toe back to their rooms to play Barbies together.

Ebon and Warin are bent over gaming books at the kitchen table, heads almost touching. On hearing that the baby is asleep, their voices lower to almost whispers. They seem to be referencing the BOVD and the BOED at the same time. Louis walks up behind them, glances over their shoulders, and says something which has lightbulbs going off over both of their heads.

Catchild is baking something in the kitchen. The smell of chocolate is rich and heavy in the house, and she is softly singing along to 'Murmmurs Dance'. She's already told everyone that she's just throwing stuff together, and that she doesn't know how edible it will be. Everyone's already got a bowl ready. Ebon leaves the kitchen table for long enough to hug her and drop a kiss on her neck.

Dragon is sitting on one of the living room couches with a book. Drake is curled up on his shoulder with all the regal dignity of a queen. Her purrs are almost audible over the music and conversation. Every now and then, Dragon reaches up to pet her or scratch her chin. She accepts the attention as her rightful due, and bats at the book he's reading if he doesn't pet her enough.

I look up from the book I'm reading. I'm sitting in the big green rocker/recliner in the living room. Ebon notices and grins as he asks me if I've reached whatever point in the book yet. He's already read the Wheel of Time, and is in fact the person who introduced me to the series. I shake my head, and his grin gets even bigger. He goes back to the gaming material when Louis asks him a question about something. Catchild has just come back into the kitchen from dealing with a minor spat between the girls. Phooka wakes up on the couch with a giggle as Kaelas lands next to her and is promptly grabbed.

I look around at my family. I know that this moment of tranquility is just that, a moment. But I smile, and go to join the group in the kitchen. I hug Catchild, and poke my head into the mass of heads and shoulders clustered around the books at the table.

This moment is just that, a moment. But the moments have been getting more frequent lately, and the stability that they bring lasts longer each time.

I'm not sure how good I'd be on putting out information on living in a poly family. But, if folks are willing to deal with my rambling, I'm willing to give it a shot.