spellswordkhint

[spellswordkhint]

Hiatus!

[So, I uh... yeah, I’m gonna take a semi-hiatus on this blog. It’s thesis time, and I really need to focus on my school work more. Good news, though! I got a job with a Japanese company, so I have something to do after I graduate! I’ll likely still be somewhat active on seekerofstarlight and cookiesandkeyblades due to the KHX hype that is the update, but I’m not feeling Khint as much. 

If anyone wants to thread, or continue a thread or what have you, message me. I’ll make sure to at least respond to those? Again, semi-hiatus. But yeah. Only if someone really wants to.]

[spellswordkhint]

Oh, phew. Eight wasn’t a bad time. Or if it was, Quince was just... accepting it. Which, he guessed, was as good as he could hopeful. “Alright then. Eight AM it is. Make sure to bring some sort of computer or tablet.” There was nothing preventing Quince from going to the cafeteria, or even bringing his own lunch, so that could go unsaid. “Do you have any questions? Any requests?” Just in case they were missing something that could make this easier on the both of them.

Growth

[spellswordkhint]

Khint shrugged dismissively. “The world is a place full of tension. Between races, between classes, between countries.” He looked to fluffy, happily scratching behind the creature’s ears. “I hate it as much as you. Although it does make me coin.” Really, that was most of where he made his money. It was embarrassing, and immoral, but he needed what he could get. 

“...Although, I’m sure your tevene friend gives fantastic romance advice.” 

Who Likes the Desert?

“Ah, that’s such a good point.” She said, leaning back and rocking slightly. “Almost as appalling if they’d ever heard I’d been going to a Tevinter for romantic advice.Or if I ever did.” She said with a small hum. “They’ll be appalled when I eventually use him.”

She sighed. “I wish your words weren’t so true.”

[spellswordkhint]

“You would be an adorable child with far too doting of a mother, though.” Khint nearly smirked his amusement, the tease clear in his voice. Talia would look adorable in such a dress, but she did have a point. “...Mm, I can’t say I feel strongly either way.” His feelings toward clothing were... neutral at best. “They’re... cuter than many popular fashions.”

Firsts

She flushed at the compliment. “I-I don’t think I could pull it off.” She said, definitely flustered a bit more than she had expected. “I’d look like a child with far too doting of a mother.”

She tried to think of something to distract, but was falling short. “Do you like these kinds of dresses?”

[spellswordkhint]

“That is a fair worry.” Khint trailed off, looking to the ground has he thought. He knew she meant nothing by it towards him. No, she was simply applying it to herself. Worried that her overworking would affect her relationships with others. It was a concern he knew well. 

“...Well, you have full access to my children. If you’d like them. They like you, insofar.” That was an odd thing to say, perhaps, but something he meant. They would likely benefit from another parental figure. “That way we can both overwork.”

☏

“I know.” She said, lightly waving her hand. “I actually get questions a lot along that line. It’s harmless.” Besides, now she at least had an idea of the direction she should speak in. It didn’t hurt to be asked so much as it did a long time ago. 

“I really admire you for doing that. I would, but I …” she sighed. “I worry that, with my work, I can’t give them what they deserve. N-no insult or expectations on your side meant in that. I just, I don’t know.”

[spellswordkhint]

True to her expectation, Khint’s expression had softened the moment he’d turned his attention to his children. No matter how somber the occasion, it was difficult for his spirits to stay low with Amira and Jackal by his side. The two were unfailingly ridiculous and adorable, especially when they weren’t trying to be. It was her thanks that drew him out of his fond reverie, forcing him to look up and give her a brief nod. What was one to say to that, anyway? 

Jackal colored, rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah, well... Nice to meet you too, and stuff.” He knew Khint would have his hide if he wasn’t polite. “I’ve been meetin’ a lot of people today. Guess everyone decided that this memorial thing was a good idea.” 

Khint sighed softly and ruffled Jackal’s hair. “I hope you’re not complaining.” 

“No, sir, Chief. Not complainin’.” He straightened up, embarrassed. “Just commentin’!” 

The woman giggled, amused by their back and forth. Any two siblings tended to remind her of her own childhood. In good and bad ways. It depended on the day, really. And how mean the kids were. But that was neither here nor there.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Jack. I’m glad you’re well.” 

She looked at Khint, hoping to catch a glimpse of fatherly affection. “Thank you.”

[spellswordkhint]

Khint’s expression stayed somber and calm as he nodded his head. Even those who hadn’t lost has faced the fear of losing someone they loved. “I see. I’m sorry that you two went through such a trying time.” It seemed that close calls were becoming more and more frequent in the Triad. It was concerning to say the least.

At least many were only close calls. Thankfully medicine could cover the... closer ones. 

After being addressed, Jackal flushed, glancing away and scowling. “Jackson. Or Jack. Or Jackal. I don’t care. ‘Hey you’ works most of the time.” It wasn’t like him to be shy, persay, but if she was Kell Kilim, she was sort of a celebrity. 

“Jackal’s what Daddy calls him.” Amira explained with a smile. “We were trying to make the name ‘Jack’ sound cool, and that one sort of stuck.” It had been a little bit more complicated than that, involving a one of Khint’s ancestors having a similar name and some other tid-bits of information she couldn’t remember, but this was the easiest way to put it. 

“Y’know what, you get to call me commander from now on.” 

“Isn’t that sort of close to Chief? And that’s daddy?” 

“Y-Yeah, well--” 

Kell smiled at Amira, her heart warming – but responded to her father first: “I agree. I’m here for the same reason. And I…” She sighed, her shoulders shaking a little. It was hard to admit it out loud. Still. It was fair to tell him upfront. Maybe it would even explain her absence a little. “I almost lost a friend of mine. We were very lucky.”

There. It was out. 

“It’s good to see you well, Amira. Both of you.”  Her gaze flicked to the boy. Friendly, she added, “And you..?”

[spellswordkhint]

Khint stayed quiet, shifting his position to get more comfortable. (Although there was some awkwardness to it too.) “...I can understand the sentiment. I had it for a long time.” Always quiet, always stern. Even if children found him reassuring in small periods of time, he’d always worried that that they wouldn’t like him. “Jackal and Amira were simply... They needed someone. I volunteered. Making connections came after.” He’d never thought he would end up so... attached to someone until Amira. He never thought he could be a parental figure to anyone until her. She’d... changed him a lot, that little girl. “I’m not suggesting anything. To be clear.” 

☏

“Thank you!” She smiled happily. If nothing else made her day, this certainly did. It would be two birds with one stone, really. She would get the chance to be around children, and Quince would get off her back about taking time to rest. She would probably have to start gathering things that would entertain them, but …

She broke off her thought before it went too far. There would be time to figure out and prepare later. To determine what kids liked at certain ages, what might be more appealing to Khint’s children, and what may or may not be their restrictions. It sounded like so much fun. 

“I always have.” It was a small nod that accompanied those words, both terribly concealing. “But I’ve never been good at relationships. So … I always figured it would be unfair to my children to do that to them. Some of us just …well, sometimes we just can’t reach what we’d like.”

[spellswordkhint]

“Aurora seems to go through cycles of fashion. Some more demure than the rest.” He couldn’t help but look at a small display of frilly, pastel dresses. He’d seen such a style even in Meridian, but he wasn’t surprised that it was popularized and had originated in Aurora. Such outlandish patterns of sweets and cute things... “You might look good in this. It’s just as cute as you.” 

...Was that a flirt? It hadn’t meant to be. But it certainly had been. 

Firsts

“I’m sorry.” She giggled. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. If it helps, I am a particularly horrid dancer. I’ve fallen so many times with a simple waltz that it’s almost a comedy.”

To his request, she motioned to the next display. Which was surprisingly a little more modest, but not by much. It seemed to be a trend for the next few following, though. 

[spellswordkhint]

“I don’t remember. I do remember a lot of people admiring my abs.” Now he was more than a little embarrassed, but it was a fun story. “...Shall we move on in the exhibit? I’m getting flashbacks. Specifically the ones that make me wonder how women’s fashion works.”

Firsts

She giggled, though it attempted to be hidden behind her hand. Now there was an image. Then again, he could probably almost pull it off. Almost. “So? How did you do?”

[spellswordkhint]

Oh, so she DID want to babysit his children. That changed things entirely. “If I need someone to watch them, I’ll certainly give you a call.” Talia was someone he could trust. Probably better than a normal babysitter in many ways. “They aren’t too difficult. They usually are well behaved...” He paused in thought. “...Do you want to have your own some day?” Just out of curiosity. 

☏

She nodded. “Really. Any time. I never get a chance to be around children, not since I got this office. I don’t exactly have any relatives or siblings whose children I can take care of.” She smiled sheepishly, shrugging a little. “And I never really had the opportunity to have my own. It’d be enjoyable, to have the company.”

[spellswordkhint]

“You were making the joke of a desert-dwelling mercenary being your financial adviser. Might as well make it accurate and significantly stranger sounding by making it a ‘desert-dwelling mercenary from Tevinter’, considering how Orleasians feel about Tevinter.” How long had it been since he’d had a friendly conversation with someone outside of his own mercenary band? Too long. It was almost tempting him into relaxing.

Khint shrugged. “Nobility in any country is a mess of scandals and interbreeding. Money laundering wouldn’t be particularly strange.” At least, not by his experience.

Who Likes the Desert?

“What about Vints?” She asked, her head tilting in a manner that nearly matched his. She had Dorian around, after all, and he was an utter pleasure. Whiny at times, and a bit of a wilting flower when he was unhappy, but he was nothing like the stories her people told. 

“Only if you’re nobility.” She hummed in consideration. “And even then, I doubt one would want to be the focus of attention for spending money that wasn’t theirs. It could get particularly messy.”

[spellswordkhint]

“...Yes, business attire is both our styles.” Comfortable semi-formal seemed about right for the two of them. Things they could work in. Anything else... well... “...Back in the NDC academy...” He started. “I lost a bet. I don’t remember all of the details, but my fellow officers took me to Aurora for belly-dancing lessons.” There was a definite, embarrassed pause. “They talked the instructor into giving me the female uniform. They had something in my size.” He had pictures at home, in a journal filled with his odd adventures as a younger man. “It was green.”

Firsts

“Ah, that’s true.” She said with a laugh. “To be fair, it was a lot bigger on me than it should have been. Looked dreadful. Mm, with your height …” finally, she registered that image. It was … a strange thought. 

“Um … maybe not. Perhaps it’s best we stick to business attire.”

[spellswordkhint]

She was offering? Really? He knew Talia worked just as hard as he did, so would it be fair to dump his children on her? “... Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” If times got dire and babysitters got thin. Or, if Talia just really wanted to babysit his children, for some reason.

☏

“Well, if you ever need a small break or vacation or … even some extra time to handle something at work, I have enough vacation time. I wouldn’t mind babysitting them.” That was put mildly. She couldn’t imagine something she would enjoy more. 

[spellswordkhint]

Even in the face of disappointment, Talia could find some humor. What an interesting person. Even if he wouldn’t rob her blind, it was probably good to remind her that she was talking to a bandit, not a templar. “How do you feel about ‘Vints, then?” His head cocked to the side, his unbound hair following his movements. “Money keeping practices in Tevinter can be just as ridiculous as those in Orleasian courts.” 

Who Likes the Desert?

Her expression fell a little at that. She hadn’t exactly considered that possibility. She had to focus on Fluffy for a little while, trying to regain some composure and rationale. 

“Well, I’m certainly not asking an Orleasian to do that.”

[spellswordkhint]

Khint shrugged. He couldn’t argue that. Being a single father of two while working full time was a feat. And he liked to think he was doing a good job at parenting. “I...well... thank you.” He shifted awkwardly. “It would likely be easier if it wasn’t just me, but considering it was my choice to adopt...”

☏

She smiled. It was admirable, how modest he was. “He looks happy. I would bet everything that he’s very happy to have you, too.” With how they worked together, how much of a unit they seemed to be, how could it be anything else? “You’ve done so well with them. And while working so much. It’s such an admirable feat!”

[spellswordkhint]

He couldn’t help an amused snort. Well, he supposed that it served Talia’s father right, being long gone enough that his wife would confuse and fluster him in such a way. An outfit like that could probably fluster any hotblooded man. (...Khint, on the other hand, liked to think he’d be pretty unaffected.) 

The mention that it was recently made Khint’s mind stop in his tracks. Talia? Wearing something so... skimpy? It didn’t quite make sense to him. Also, while she was lovely, such a thing wouldn’t suit her. “...Ah. Well. I do look good in green. But it would cover very little.”

Firsts

“No. She’s from Meridian, but she was rather interested in Auroran things. She’d go on occasion when my father had been gone too long. Sometimes, she’d bring strange shiny things just to fluster him and prod at him.”

It was the second question, however, that had her exceedingly embarrassed and flushed. It pulled some hesitation. “No, when I was younger it was more the fluffy things. This was … a year ago… It would probably have looked better on you than me. It was green.”