#mechanical monster

I have this idea like--

So she always wanted to have a kid (continue the Ashar bloodline!), but she also always wanted to raise it herself, none of that pesky coparenting business (because obviously she doesn't want a relationship with the guy either)

And of course in comes Los who's wacky enough to be like 'yeah okay I'll do that, it might not work since ~shit genetics~ but why not try' (even tho it's a dumb choice for multiple reasons but)

Only problem is Los can't just go on never seeing the kid, like sure he wouldn't be a good parent but he can't just not see them at all! But damn it Los is the perfect candidate to Aer otherwise so if that's the stipulation, fine. You can exist in the kid's vicinity but I make the decisions.

So it ends up working out and the kid is just the cutest little girl, curly hair and big sweet eyes. And a manipulative little shit because she's being raised by an Ashar. Los is more like an uncle or something than a father, she knows he's her dad and all but he sticks with the deal and doesn't make parenting decisions.

He helps around when Aer permits it, especially when she's still an infant, things like watching the kid for a while while so Aer can get a shower or a nap in and things like that, which Aer does appreciate once he proves he's capable and not trying to override her. He likes spending time with the kid, and even if they're not in a relationship he likes Aer, he doesn't want her to burn out. He'll bring her stuff from the café or do a grocery run for her or fix something that broke in her apartment/wherever and she acts irritated but honestly this parenting thing IS hard and while she COULD do it on her own she starts kinda liking that he's around to help out a bit (not that she'd say that)

And Los just absolutely adores the kid and she just absolutely adores him, she definitely gets his borderline obsessive love for science and when she's older they're constantly doing dumb little mechanic projects and science experiments together, Aer tolerates it since it's good for her mental growth

Beni stared in a strange mix of reverence and horror. Regardless of what rank his late parents may have held, there was no way a street urchin turned thief would have ever set foot in the Renjin Celestial Palace under normal circumstances. And yet, here he was in the innermost courtyard behind the Temple of Ice, where only the royal family and their most trusted servants ever walked, looking up at the frozen pillar encasing the Residence of the King of Heaven.