Red Hair

Title: Red Hair
Rating: G
Dolls: Eric (CP Shiwoo), Xavier (MNF Shiwoo), Sophie (RL Beige), Galhaia (CP Juri05), Taliesin (Obitsu Haruka elf), ?

Author's Notes: This is an entry originally written for the LJ community "bjd_30minfic", where the purpose is to write a short fic concerning your doll character(s) in only 30 minutes, with a theme set each week. This week the theme was "Twist". Not only was this my first entry in the community, but it was also the first time I'd ever written a fic about them of any length. I've rewritten Rps into storyform before, but writing a fic from scratch is rather different - particularly when trying to write it in only 30 minutes! The response I've had to it thus far has been positive and encouraging, so I thought I would repost it here so it could be enjoyed by a wider audience. Who knows - I might start writing more, longer fics about my characters. :-)

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"Boys!"

Eric and Xavier looked up curiously as Galhaia walked slowly towards them, holding the hand of a small girl who hid slightly behind the elven woman's long velvet skirt. Eric straightened and bowed politely as she paused. The little girl eyed him warily, her eyes incredibly bright blue beneath her dark red hair. Eric smiled at her reassuringly, but she shrank back nervously. He sighed quietly and strightened, one hand involuntarily rising to the scars that marred his right eye; he knew all too well that children were often frightened by sight of them.

Xavier was oblivious to his older brother's discomfort as he grinned up at Galhaia. "Eric's showing me how to fix the chain on my bike!" he said proudly. Catching sight of the little girl, his eyes widened. "Ooh, look, Eric! She's got red hair too!"

Eric laid a warning hand on his little brother's shoulder. "What did we say about manners, Xav?" he prompted gently. The younger boy blushed.

"Sorry, my Lady," he apologised and sketched a hasty and unpracticed bow, his young face red.

Galhaia laughed. "It is all right, Xavier; we are all friends here! Ah, but wait, you do not know little Sophie here, do you?" She encouraged the little girl forward. "Eric, Xavier, this is Sophie. My daughter."

"Your... daughter?" Eric frowned a little in confusion. "You mean, like Alaric and Neph - she's your foster daughter?"

"Nay, Sophie is of my blood, though she takes after her father more in looks," replied Galhaia smiling, as she knelt down and enouraged the little girl to step forward. "Sophie, this is Eric, and this is Xavier. They are your -" She broke off suddenly as she espied Taliesin, the Court Bard, making his way across the manicured lawn towards the house. "Oh, there is Taliesin - I've been looking for him; Eric, would you and Xavier please watch Sophie for me?" Without waiting for an answer she straightened and hastened across the grass to intercept the lavender-haired elf whose nose was deep in a book. She took his elbow and steered him swiftly off towards the arbour and away from the two boys and the little girl.

"We are her what?" wondered Xavier. Eric's answer was merely a groan as he knelt down on one knee to be closer to Sophie's height.

"Just look at her, Xav. Look at her hair. Who does she remind you of?" He held his hand out to the child. "It's OK. Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you." He smiled gently.

"Like us," replied Xavier. "You mean... she...?"

"Just like us." Eric groaned. "Our father did it again. Just how many of us are there? How many of his progeny - how many more Asmodeys, sired here and there? How many more halfbreeds?"

"But Galhaia said Sophie is hers," pointed out Xavier, giving Sophie a reassuring smile. "Isn't that right? She's your mummy, isn't she, Sophie?"

The little girl regarded Xavier solemnly, then nodded her head. "Yes. She's my mummy. And that's my daddy!!" she added with a joyful shriek before running towards the tall figure who had just come out of the house and was walking towards them. "Daddyyyyyy!" she yelled happily as he swept her up into his arms with a cheerful grin, never breaking his stride as he carried on towards the two brothers, who straightened up, faces blank with shock.

It was Eric who found his voice first.

"Marius??"