Can you smell something burning?

- @sick-and-sleepy

"Hello."

Lune’s hair had grown astonishingly long over the past year, thick curls cascading all the way down to the backs of her thighs. The dark strands bounced with every little movement she made as she sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by scraps of colored paper, glitter, and half-finished arts and crafts projects. A pair of scissors rested loosely in her hand while she focused on cutting shapes from construction paper.

Then her attention drifted.

Slowly, her gaze shifted from the scissors to the heavy curtain of curls pooled beside her. The scissors paused midair. A curious expression crossed her face, eyes narrowing slightly as though some dangerous little idea had just sparked to life in her head. She lifted a thick lock of hair between her fingers, studying it carefully. For a moment, she hesitated.

Snip.

- @sick-and-sleepy

Lune’s hair had grown astonishingly long over the past year, thick curls cascading all the way down to the backs of her thighs. The dark strands bounced with every little movement she made as she sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by scraps of colored paper, glitter, and half-finished arts and crafts projects. A pair of scissors rested loosely in her hand while she focused on cutting shapes from construction paper.

Then her attention drifted.

Slowly, her gaze shifted from the scissors to the heavy curtain of curls pooled beside her. The scissors paused midair. A curious expression crossed her face, eyes narrowing slightly as though some dangerous little idea had just sparked to life in her head. She lifted a thick lock of hair between her fingers, studying it carefully. For a moment, she hesitated.

Snip.

Lune’s hair had grown astonishingly long over the past year, thick curls cascading all the way down to the backs of her thighs. The dark strands bounced with every little movement she made as she sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by scraps of colored paper, glitter, and half-finished arts and crafts projects. A pair of scissors rested loosely in her hand while she focused on cutting shapes from construction paper.

Then her attention drifted.

Slowly, her gaze shifted from the scissors to the heavy curtain of curls pooled beside her. The scissors paused midair. A curious expression crossed her face, eyes narrowing slightly as though some dangerous little idea had just sparked to life in her head. She lifted a thick lock of hair between her fingers, studying it carefully. For a moment, she hesitated.

Snip.

Lune’s hair had grown astonishingly long over the past year, thick curls cascading all the way down to the backs of her thighs. The dark strands bounced with every little movement she made as she sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by scraps of colored paper, glitter, and half-finished arts and crafts projects. A pair of scissors rested loosely in her hand while she focused on cutting shapes from construction paper.

Then her attention drifted.

Slowly, her gaze shifted from the scissors to the heavy curtain of curls pooled beside her. The scissors paused midair. A curious expression crossed her face, eyes narrowing slightly as though some dangerous little idea had just sparked to life in her head. She lifted a thick lock of hair between her fingers, studying it carefully. For a moment, she hesitated.

Snip.

Lune’s hair had grown astonishingly long over the past year, thick curls cascading all the way down to the backs of her thighs. The dark strands bounced with every little movement she made as she sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by scraps of colored paper, glitter, and half-finished arts and crafts projects. A pair of scissors rested loosely in her hand while she focused on cutting shapes from construction paper.

Then her attention drifted.

Slowly, her gaze shifted from the scissors to the heavy curtain of curls pooled beside her. The scissors paused midair. A curious expression crossed her face, eyes narrowing slightly as though some dangerous little idea had just sparked to life in her head. She lifted a thick lock of hair between her fingers, studying it carefully. For a moment, she hesitated.

Snip.

@twinnightmares

He walked over to the door and opened it, carefully holding Claudia. "Zeno? Are you here?"

"Shh, baby, shh... filia mea..." He placed a kiss on her forehead and slowly slid one arm away from the girl, careful to still hold her properly even with only one hand now, and pulled Zeno closer to himself. "Come on, it's alright. It's just the blanket. The mattress is soft, that's why you sink a little. Nothing to be scared of."

He looked down at Zeno, then at Claudia, "Zeno, have you met Claudia Augusta yet?"

The little blonde’s hat was puffed up with the usual static, he made a little frown- he shouldn’t be scared. No one else is scared. Maybe there’s something wrong with him? Maybe…

His head would tilt a bit, what was a claw-die-uh? August?? Isn’t that the word used for the.. the paper thing on walls, he thinks. Is it a person?? And then, he looked at the little girl- ah! It was the tiny person he saw one time.. “What’s that?”

He explained and looked at the baby in his arms. He was smiling, like the world didn't matter because his little girl was there. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking back at Zeno. "And it looks like she really wants to see you."

…maybe it shouldn’t have made the blonde boy’s chest grow cold, to see the man so. Affectionate. That’s his Papa, and his papa is nice, but… he wonders. What does it feel like.. to be held and kissed and smiled at when you’re a baby? He doesn’t really know. He doesn’t remember much- not much at all’s he remembers a bit about Achie as a baby.. he remembers all those times he woke up with blood all over the ground and a pain in his head. Before he left… was he ever smiled at like that…? Did… no. His mother wouldn’t have. The misters and misses told him, she died of disappointment. Of having someone like him. That she got rid of him and died from how ashamed she was. She never held him and smiled.

He loves his papa ro… he loves Nero. But. He wonders if his mother would’ve held him close. If he wasn’t this. A demigod. Maybe…Regardless, the little boy shook away the chilly feeling that threatened to sink into his skin, what was he thinking about? Hm. Doesn’t matter! He’s here and papa Roro is letting him meet the tiny human… why does she have two names? Why does her hair look different? Why is she so small? So many questions. The little guy would lean more into his papa’s touch- he was warm, and very comfy! He loves his papa. Zeno’s eyebrows furrowed a bit, clearly confused as he echoed the last words, “..wants to.. See me?” She’s very small, very tiny and seems happy. Why want meet him? She must be happy, so why meet him on top of that?

When… when was the last time someone wanted to see him? The… they never wanted to. Aside from. The mask. The mask was always smiling, when he had it off. Like he wanted to see the child- more like he wanted to break the fight in him. Never ended up working out, but.. when has someone purposely met him? When has.. why… what…?

"Do you want to hold her?" Because she certainly seemed to want to be close to him. And Nero was really happy about that fact, because that means she wants to get along with the other children he's parenting. Or at least trying to parent. She never exactly gave him much practice with that. He obviously does not blame her! He's more mad at whatever disease it was that took her all those years ago... whatever. It doesn't matter now. She's here, that's all that's important.

He looked at Zeno again, "See how I'm holding her? With both arms in this specific position, that's how it should look. Remember to always have a hand under her head, and be gentle with her. She's very fragile right now." He hoped that would make the boy look up at the emperor's hold on his daughter. He wanted to make sure Zeno knows what to do before handing him the baby. "And don't freak out if she starts trying to move around. Just don't let her fall. I'm here if you want me to help you hold her."

Anyways.. Zeno looked at Nero and how he said to hold the small gal. Zeno stared very intensely, as if trying to memorize the stance, because he was terrified of the small baby getting hurt, that would make Papa Roro HATE him if he got the little girl hurt. “..mmh… okay Papa..” Zeno copied Neto’s position, and he looked at the little baby. So tiny

He watched the children closely. Look at that, two of his babies interacting with each other. And Claudia likes Zeno. And Zeno seems curious about Claudia. It makes him smile. He also wonders where Lune is...

The little gal made claps, is she happy? He thinks people do that when happy.. maybe? She seemed to wiggle around sometimes- Zeno was afraid he’d drop her! So he held on real good, he wasn’t gonna drop the tiny person. What was he told before when he first meets someone..? He has to use goo words.. he hasn’t been using good words lately. Been saying things ‘improperly’.. “Um… hello..? You’re… very small?” He didn’t know what else to say? Does the small person even understand him? He doesn’t know.

He especially kept his hands close when Claudia decided to reach out and grab at Zeno, knowing the kid might get scared or surprised or something.

“Mmh??” Zeno was a bit confused. Little baby liked saying the word ‘no’. But he just focused on holding the small gal, making sure to not drop her, because his papa would never forgive him. He had to be on the bestest behavior- because if he messed this up then his papa Roro would never forgive him.

He resisted the urge to be irresponsible and pick Zeno up while the little guy was holding another baby. That would not be very safe. He smiled at his daughter when she tried to get comfortable in Zeno's arms.

He walked over to the door and opened it, carefully holding Claudia. "Zeno? Are you here?"

"Shh, baby, shh... filia mea..." He placed a kiss on her forehead and slowly slid one arm away from the girl, careful to still hold her properly even with only one hand now, and pulled Zeno closer to himself. "Come on, it's alright. It's just the blanket. The mattress is soft, that's why you sink a little. Nothing to be scared of."

He looked down at Zeno, then at Claudia, "Zeno, have you met Claudia Augusta yet?"

The little blonde’s hat was puffed up with the usual static, he made a little frown- he shouldn’t be scared. No one else is scared. Maybe there’s something wrong with him? Maybe…

His head would tilt a bit, what was a claw-die-uh? August?? Isn’t that the word used for the.. the paper thing on walls, he thinks. Is it a person?? And then, he looked at the little girl- ah! It was the tiny person he saw one time.. “What’s that?”

He explained and looked at the baby in his arms. He was smiling, like the world didn't matter because his little girl was there. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking back at Zeno. "And it looks like she really wants to see you."

…maybe it shouldn’t have made the blonde boy’s chest grow cold, to see the man so. Affectionate. That’s his Papa, and his papa is nice, but… he wonders. What does it feel like.. to be held and kissed and smiled at when you’re a baby? He doesn’t really know. He doesn’t remember much- not much at all’s he remembers a bit about Achie as a baby.. he remembers all those times he woke up with blood all over the ground and a pain in his head. Before he left… was he ever smiled at like that…? Did… no. His mother wouldn’t have. The misters and misses told him, she died of disappointment. Of having someone like him. That she got rid of him and died from how ashamed she was. She never held him and smiled.

He loves his papa ro… he loves Nero. But. He wonders if his mother would’ve held him close. If he wasn’t this. A demigod. Maybe…Regardless, the little boy shook away the chilly feeling that threatened to sink into his skin, what was he thinking about? Hm. Doesn’t matter! He’s here and papa Roro is letting him meet the tiny human… why does she have two names? Why does her hair look different? Why is she so small? So many questions. The little guy would lean more into his papa’s touch- he was warm, and very comfy! He loves his papa. Zeno’s eyebrows furrowed a bit, clearly confused as he echoed the last words, “..wants to.. See me?” She’s very small, very tiny and seems happy. Why want meet him? She must be happy, so why meet him on top of that?

When… when was the last time someone wanted to see him? The… they never wanted to. Aside from. The mask. The mask was always smiling, when he had it off. Like he wanted to see the child- more like he wanted to break the fight in him. Never ended up working out, but.. when has someone purposely met him? When has.. why… what…?

"Do you want to hold her?" Because she certainly seemed to want to be close to him. And Nero was really happy about that fact, because that means she wants to get along with the other children he's parenting. Or at least trying to parent. She never exactly gave him much practice with that. He obviously does not blame her! He's more mad at whatever disease it was that took her all those years ago... whatever. It doesn't matter now. She's here, that's all that's important.

He looked at Zeno again, "See how I'm holding her? With both arms in this specific position, that's how it should look. Remember to always have a hand under her head, and be gentle with her. She's very fragile right now." He hoped that would make the boy look up at the emperor's hold on his daughter. He wanted to make sure Zeno knows what to do before handing him the baby. "And don't freak out if she starts trying to move around. Just don't let her fall. I'm here if you want me to help you hold her."

Anyways.. Zeno looked at Nero and how he said to hold the small gal. Zeno stared very intensely, as if trying to memorize the stance, because he was terrified of the small baby getting hurt, that would make Papa Roro HATE him if he got the little girl hurt. “..mmh… okay Papa..” Zeno copied Neto’s position, and he looked at the little baby. So tiny

He watched the children closely. Look at that, two of his babies interacting with each other. And Claudia likes Zeno. And Zeno seems curious about Claudia. It makes him smile. He also wonders where Lune is...

The little gal made claps, is she happy? He thinks people do that when happy.. maybe? She seemed to wiggle around sometimes- Zeno was afraid he’d drop her! So he held on real good, he wasn’t gonna drop the tiny person. What was he told before when he first meets someone..? He has to use goo words.. he hasn’t been using good words lately. Been saying things ‘improperly’.. “Um… hello..? You’re… very small?” He didn’t know what else to say? Does the small person even understand him? He doesn’t know.

He especially kept his hands close when Claudia decided to reach out and grab at Zeno, knowing the kid might get scared or surprised or something.

“Mmh??” Zeno was a bit confused. Little baby liked saying the word ‘no’. But he just focused on holding the small gal, making sure to not drop her, because his papa would never forgive him. He had to be on the bestest behavior- because if he messed this up then his papa Roro would never forgive him.

He resisted the urge to be irresponsible and pick Zeno up while the little guy was holding another baby. That would not be very safe. He smiled at his daughter when she tried to get comfortable in Zeno's arms.

He walked over to the door and opened it, carefully holding Claudia. "Zeno? Are you here?"

"Shh, baby, shh... filia mea..." He placed a kiss on her forehead and slowly slid one arm away from the girl, careful to still hold her properly even with only one hand now, and pulled Zeno closer to himself. "Come on, it's alright. It's just the blanket. The mattress is soft, that's why you sink a little. Nothing to be scared of."

He looked down at Zeno, then at Claudia, "Zeno, have you met Claudia Augusta yet?"

The little blonde’s hat was puffed up with the usual static, he made a little frown- he shouldn’t be scared. No one else is scared. Maybe there’s something wrong with him? Maybe…

His head would tilt a bit, what was a claw-die-uh? August?? Isn’t that the word used for the.. the paper thing on walls, he thinks. Is it a person?? And then, he looked at the little girl- ah! It was the tiny person he saw one time.. “What’s that?”

He explained and looked at the baby in his arms. He was smiling, like the world didn't matter because his little girl was there. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking back at Zeno. "And it looks like she really wants to see you."

…maybe it shouldn’t have made the blonde boy’s chest grow cold, to see the man so. Affectionate. That’s his Papa, and his papa is nice, but… he wonders. What does it feel like.. to be held and kissed and smiled at when you’re a baby? He doesn’t really know. He doesn’t remember much- not much at all’s he remembers a bit about Achie as a baby.. he remembers all those times he woke up with blood all over the ground and a pain in his head. Before he left… was he ever smiled at like that…? Did… no. His mother wouldn’t have. The misters and misses told him, she died of disappointment. Of having someone like him. That she got rid of him and died from how ashamed she was. She never held him and smiled.

He loves his papa ro… he loves Nero. But. He wonders if his mother would’ve held him close. If he wasn’t this. A demigod. Maybe…Regardless, the little boy shook away the chilly feeling that threatened to sink into his skin, what was he thinking about? Hm. Doesn’t matter! He’s here and papa Roro is letting him meet the tiny human… why does she have two names? Why does her hair look different? Why is she so small? So many questions. The little guy would lean more into his papa’s touch- he was warm, and very comfy! He loves his papa. Zeno’s eyebrows furrowed a bit, clearly confused as he echoed the last words, “..wants to.. See me?” She’s very small, very tiny and seems happy. Why want meet him? She must be happy, so why meet him on top of that?

When… when was the last time someone wanted to see him? The… they never wanted to. Aside from. The mask. The mask was always smiling, when he had it off. Like he wanted to see the child- more like he wanted to break the fight in him. Never ended up working out, but.. when has someone purposely met him? When has.. why… what…?

"Do you want to hold her?" Because she certainly seemed to want to be close to him. And Nero was really happy about that fact, because that means she wants to get along with the other children he's parenting. Or at least trying to parent. She never exactly gave him much practice with that. He obviously does not blame her! He's more mad at whatever disease it was that took her all those years ago... whatever. It doesn't matter now. She's here, that's all that's important.

He looked at Zeno again, "See how I'm holding her? With both arms in this specific position, that's how it should look. Remember to always have a hand under her head, and be gentle with her. She's very fragile right now." He hoped that would make the boy look up at the emperor's hold on his daughter. He wanted to make sure Zeno knows what to do before handing him the baby. "And don't freak out if she starts trying to move around. Just don't let her fall. I'm here if you want me to help you hold her."

Anyways.. Zeno looked at Nero and how he said to hold the small gal. Zeno stared very intensely, as if trying to memorize the stance, because he was terrified of the small baby getting hurt, that would make Papa Roro HATE him if he got the little girl hurt. “..mmh… okay Papa..” Zeno copied Neto’s position, and he looked at the little baby. So tiny

He watched the children closely. Look at that, two of his babies interacting with each other. And Claudia likes Zeno. And Zeno seems curious about Claudia. It makes him smile. He also wonders where Lune is...

The little gal made claps, is she happy? He thinks people do that when happy.. maybe? She seemed to wiggle around sometimes- Zeno was afraid he’d drop her! So he held on real good, he wasn’t gonna drop the tiny person. What was he told before when he first meets someone..? He has to use goo words.. he hasn’t been using good words lately. Been saying things ‘improperly’.. “Um… hello..? You’re… very small?” He didn’t know what else to say? Does the small person even understand him? He doesn’t know.

He especially kept his hands close when Claudia decided to reach out and grab at Zeno, knowing the kid might get scared or surprised or something.

He walked over to the door and opened it, carefully holding Claudia. "Zeno? Are you here?"

"Shh, baby, shh... filia mea..." He placed a kiss on her forehead and slowly slid one arm away from the girl, careful to still hold her properly even with only one hand now, and pulled Zeno closer to himself. "Come on, it's alright. It's just the blanket. The mattress is soft, that's why you sink a little. Nothing to be scared of."

He looked down at Zeno, then at Claudia, "Zeno, have you met Claudia Augusta yet?"

The little blonde’s hat was puffed up with the usual static, he made a little frown- he shouldn’t be scared. No one else is scared. Maybe there’s something wrong with him? Maybe…

His head would tilt a bit, what was a claw-die-uh? August?? Isn’t that the word used for the.. the paper thing on walls, he thinks. Is it a person?? And then, he looked at the little girl- ah! It was the tiny person he saw one time.. “What’s that?”

He explained and looked at the baby in his arms. He was smiling, like the world didn't matter because his little girl was there. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking back at Zeno. "And it looks like she really wants to see you."

…maybe it shouldn’t have made the blonde boy’s chest grow cold, to see the man so. Affectionate. That’s his Papa, and his papa is nice, but… he wonders. What does it feel like.. to be held and kissed and smiled at when you’re a baby? He doesn’t really know. He doesn’t remember much- not much at all’s he remembers a bit about Achie as a baby.. he remembers all those times he woke up with blood all over the ground and a pain in his head. Before he left… was he ever smiled at like that…? Did… no. His mother wouldn’t have. The misters and misses told him, she died of disappointment. Of having someone like him. That she got rid of him and died from how ashamed she was. She never held him and smiled.

He loves his papa ro… he loves Nero. But. He wonders if his mother would’ve held him close. If he wasn’t this. A demigod. Maybe…Regardless, the little boy shook away the chilly feeling that threatened to sink into his skin, what was he thinking about? Hm. Doesn’t matter! He’s here and papa Roro is letting him meet the tiny human… why does she have two names? Why does her hair look different? Why is she so small? So many questions. The little guy would lean more into his papa’s touch- he was warm, and very comfy! He loves his papa. Zeno’s eyebrows furrowed a bit, clearly confused as he echoed the last words, “..wants to.. See me?” She’s very small, very tiny and seems happy. Why want meet him? She must be happy, so why meet him on top of that?

When… when was the last time someone wanted to see him? The… they never wanted to. Aside from. The mask. The mask was always smiling, when he had it off. Like he wanted to see the child- more like he wanted to break the fight in him. Never ended up working out, but.. when has someone purposely met him? When has.. why… what…?

"Do you want to hold her?" Because she certainly seemed to want to be close to him. And Nero was really happy about that fact, because that means she wants to get along with the other children he's parenting. Or at least trying to parent. She never exactly gave him much practice with that. He obviously does not blame her! He's more mad at whatever disease it was that took her all those years ago... whatever. It doesn't matter now. She's here, that's all that's important.

He looked at Zeno again, "See how I'm holding her? With both arms in this specific position, that's how it should look. Remember to always have a hand under her head, and be gentle with her. She's very fragile right now." He hoped that would make the boy look up at the emperor's hold on his daughter. He wanted to make sure Zeno knows what to do before handing him the baby. "And don't freak out if she starts trying to move around. Just don't let her fall. I'm here if you want me to help you hold her."

Anyways.. Zeno looked at Nero and how he said to hold the small gal. Zeno stared very intensely, as if trying to memorize the stance, because he was terrified of the small baby getting hurt, that would make Papa Roro HATE him if he got the little girl hurt. “..mmh… okay Papa..” Zeno copied Neto’s position, and he looked at the little baby. So tiny

He watched the children closely. Look at that, two of his babies interacting with each other. And Claudia likes Zeno. And Zeno seems curious about Claudia. It makes him smile. He also wonders where Lune is...

He walked over to the door and opened it, carefully holding Claudia. "Zeno? Are you here?"

"Shh, baby, shh... filia mea..." He placed a kiss on her forehead and slowly slid one arm away from the girl, careful to still hold her properly even with only one hand now, and pulled Zeno closer to himself. "Come on, it's alright. It's just the blanket. The mattress is soft, that's why you sink a little. Nothing to be scared of."

He looked down at Zeno, then at Claudia, "Zeno, have you met Claudia Augusta yet?"

The little blonde’s hat was puffed up with the usual static, he made a little frown- he shouldn’t be scared. No one else is scared. Maybe there’s something wrong with him? Maybe…

His head would tilt a bit, what was a claw-die-uh? August?? Isn’t that the word used for the.. the paper thing on walls, he thinks. Is it a person?? And then, he looked at the little girl- ah! It was the tiny person he saw one time.. “What’s that?”

He explained and looked at the baby in his arms. He was smiling, like the world didn't matter because his little girl was there. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking back at Zeno. "And it looks like she really wants to see you."

…maybe it shouldn’t have made the blonde boy’s chest grow cold, to see the man so. Affectionate. That’s his Papa, and his papa is nice, but… he wonders. What does it feel like.. to be held and kissed and smiled at when you’re a baby? He doesn’t really know. He doesn’t remember much- not much at all’s he remembers a bit about Achie as a baby.. he remembers all those times he woke up with blood all over the ground and a pain in his head. Before he left… was he ever smiled at like that…? Did… no. His mother wouldn’t have. The misters and misses told him, she died of disappointment. Of having someone like him. That she got rid of him and died from how ashamed she was. She never held him and smiled.

He loves his papa ro… he loves Nero. But. He wonders if his mother would’ve held him close. If he wasn’t this. A demigod. Maybe…Regardless, the little boy shook away the chilly feeling that threatened to sink into his skin, what was he thinking about? Hm. Doesn’t matter! He’s here and papa Roro is letting him meet the tiny human… why does she have two names? Why does her hair look different? Why is she so small? So many questions. The little guy would lean more into his papa’s touch- he was warm, and very comfy! He loves his papa. Zeno’s eyebrows furrowed a bit, clearly confused as he echoed the last words, “..wants to.. See me?” She’s very small, very tiny and seems happy. Why want meet him? She must be happy, so why meet him on top of that?

When… when was the last time someone wanted to see him? The… they never wanted to. Aside from. The mask. The mask was always smiling, when he had it off. Like he wanted to see the child- more like he wanted to break the fight in him. Never ended up working out, but.. when has someone purposely met him? When has.. why… what…?

"Do you want to hold her?" Because she certainly seemed to want to be close to him. And Nero was really happy about that fact, because that means she wants to get along with the other children he's parenting. Or at least trying to parent. She never exactly gave him much practice with that. He obviously does not blame her! He's more mad at whatever disease it was that took her all those years ago... whatever. It doesn't matter now. She's here, that's all that's important.

He looked at Zeno again, "See how I'm holding her? With both arms in this specific position, that's how it should look. Remember to always have a hand under her head, and be gentle with her. She's very fragile right now." He hoped that would make the boy look up at the emperor's hold on his daughter. He wanted to make sure Zeno knows what to do before handing him the baby. "And don't freak out if she starts trying to move around. Just don't let her fall. I'm here if you want me to help you hold her."

He walked over to the door and opened it, carefully holding Claudia. "Zeno? Are you here?"

"Shh, baby, shh... filia mea..." He placed a kiss on her forehead and slowly slid one arm away from the girl, careful to still hold her properly even with only one hand now, and pulled Zeno closer to himself. "Come on, it's alright. It's just the blanket. The mattress is soft, that's why you sink a little. Nothing to be scared of."

He looked down at Zeno, then at Claudia, "Zeno, have you met Claudia Augusta yet?"

The little blonde’s hat was puffed up with the usual static, he made a little frown- he shouldn’t be scared. No one else is scared. Maybe there’s something wrong with him? Maybe…

His head would tilt a bit, what was a claw-die-uh? August?? Isn’t that the word used for the.. the paper thing on walls, he thinks. Is it a person?? And then, he looked at the little girl- ah! It was the tiny person he saw one time.. “What’s that?”

He explained and looked at the baby in his arms. He was smiling, like the world didn't matter because his little girl was there. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking back at Zeno. "And it looks like she really wants to see you."

…maybe it shouldn’t have made the blonde boy’s chest grow cold, to see the man so. Affectionate. That’s his Papa, and his papa is nice, but… he wonders. What does it feel like.. to be held and kissed and smiled at when you’re a baby? He doesn’t really know. He doesn’t remember much- not much at all’s he remembers a bit about Achie as a baby.. he remembers all those times he woke up with blood all over the ground and a pain in his head. Before he left… was he ever smiled at like that…? Did… no. His mother wouldn’t have. The misters and misses told him, she died of disappointment. Of having someone like him. That she got rid of him and died from how ashamed she was. She never held him and smiled.

He loves his papa ro… he loves Nero. But. He wonders if his mother would’ve held him close. If he wasn’t this. A demigod. Maybe…Regardless, the little boy shook away the chilly feeling that threatened to sink into his skin, what was he thinking about? Hm. Doesn’t matter! He’s here and papa Roro is letting him meet the tiny human… why does she have two names? Why does her hair look different? Why is she so small? So many questions. The little guy would lean more into his papa’s touch- he was warm, and very comfy! He loves his papa. Zeno’s eyebrows furrowed a bit, clearly confused as he echoed the last words, “..wants to.. See me?” She’s very small, very tiny and seems happy. Why want meet him? She must be happy, so why meet him on top of that?

When… when was the last time someone wanted to see him? The… they never wanted to. Aside from. The mask. The mask was always smiling, when he had it off. Like he wanted to see the child- more like he wanted to break the fight in him. Never ended up working out, but.. when has someone purposely met him? When has.. why… what…?

"Do you want to hold her?" Because she certainly seemed to want to be close to him. And Nero was really happy about that fact, because that means she wants to get along with the other children he's parenting. Or at least trying to parent. She never exactly gave him much practice with that. He obviously does not blame her! He's more mad at whatever disease it was that took her all those years ago... whatever. It doesn't matter now. She's here, that's all that's important.