#rinasova01

For just a moment, the Guardian of Knowledge looked caught off guard in the gentlest way. He reached first for the quills and scrolls, careful with them in those long, practiced hands, like each one was something precious. Then his gaze lifted to the coat, and a quiet smile curved across his face.

“Well now,” he murmured, warmth threading through his voice. “this is lovely.”

He ran his fingers over the dark blue fabric, feeling the fine tailoring, the care in every stitch, and the clear thought that had gone into choosing it. It suited him far too well already.

Before he could say more, Cipher was already bouncing a little on his heels, far too excited to stay quiet.

“We picked the color ‘cause it looks like the sky when it gets all dark and pretty,” he said proudly. “An’ the quills are new so yours don’t get all scratchy and bad.”

Nearby, Seren gave an eager little squeal from where he was perched in Unknown’s arms, tiny hands opening and closing as he stared at the coat like he understood that this was a very important moment. He kicked his feet once, then reached out in Templar’s direction with a soft babble.

Templar’s expression softened even more somehow.

“Did you, now?” he said, looking to Cipher first with clear fondness. “Then I should consider myself very fortunate. That is a thoughtful choice.”

He glanced toward Seren and let out the faintest huff of a laugh as he kept reaching for him, bright and wiggly and very pleased with himself.

“And you,” he said softly, stepping closer to brush a knuckle gently against his little hand, “I take it you approve as well.”

Seren answered with another delighted babble and immediately tried to grab his finger.

That got a warmer laugh out of him.

He folded one arm around the coat, still holding it carefully, and looked back at both of them.

“New quills, fresh scrolls, and a coat made just for me.” His voice dipped, gentler now. “That is no small gift.”

Cipher puffed up proudly at that, beaming. “We did good, right?”

Templar looked at him, then at Seren, then finally toward Unknown.

“Yes,” he said, with quiet certainty. “You did very good.”

Unknown added, almost casually."I also got you a present, but it'll be between you and me."

Templar’s brow ridge lifted.

Slowly, his smile turned sly.

“Oh?” he said, and that familiar glint of mischief returned to his expression. “A private gift?”

Cipher immediately made a face.

“Ewwww,” he groaned, dragging the word out with the full force of a child who had decided adults being soft with each other was embarrassing. “Do I gotta go now?”

Seren, completely unaware of the offense to older sibling sensibilities, simply clapped his little hands once and babbled again, more interested in the sound of everyone’s voices than the meaning.

Templar actually laughed then, low and warm.

“No, little scholar,” he said dryly, glancing at Cipher. “You are not being exiled from the room. Not yet.”

Then his gaze returned to Unknown, intent and fond and just a little teasing.

“Well,” he murmured, shifting the coat over his arm, “now you have my full attention.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough to make the moment feel secret already.

“You do realize,” he said, “that telling a man there is a secret gift and expecting him not to be unbearably curious is a dangerous game.”

Cipher groaned, taking Seren from Unknown, making a face. "Get a rooooooom." He called them out.