Legend of Ransera

"Oh, we definitely have time for a boat ride," he said, face lighting up. He laid his hand upon Korvaelis' shoulder, arm draped like a cape behind the proud mother. Aurin began to walk toward the docks where a rowboat or similar might be rented. "If you promise not to drown me."

At this point, Aurin could hold his own at court, though he largely eschewed it, preferring instead to have his eyes and ears planted there. He still wasn't angry; after all, he had never been miserly with his seed - odds were there were other red-headed bastards running around with a hint, at least, of his features. It didn't seem as though Korvaelis was attempting to use little Garnet as a lever to move him, and Aurin's reputation wouldn't take a hit at the revelation. House Dahshida might take a dim view of him, but at this point, they didn't have a view of him. Korvaelis was the one with something to lose.

Despite his calculated distance from court and his roundabout way of getting there at all, he was more a master of his mien. He had made a small gaff, not expecting Aki to be out of the loop as well. Perhaps he was dimmer than Aurin remembered; living with Korvaelis, he ought to have figured things out.

"Are you happy now, my fair fae fishie?" he asked, genuinely curious. Aurin was not the sort to lay all his cards on the table, but he had been relatively honest with Korvaelis from the beginning. Certainly, a connection with a Great House could be lucrative, but that was a long-game gamble. He had been kind and supportive of the lonely widower, and his affections hadn't been feigned. Being shut out hadn't sent him spiraling or anything, but it might have upset him - just a little bit - but he wouldn't admit it if so.

Despite the boats on offer that were magically powered, he paid for a row boat, helped them onto it, and then doffed his coat and rolled up his sleeves. He made a comical face at Garnet.

"Whoo! Cold!" But once they were settled, he began to row, forearms flexing muscle, and he began to warm up. Parts of the lake were certainly frozen over, but taxes kept the harbor clear, at least.

"If anyone can conquer the world on their back..." He smirked, but didn't cross the line. His fair cheeks were starting to flush as the chill chafed them and his blood began to warm for the rowing. Perhaps he was bringing Korvaelis out where he could drown them. Or perhaps he just wanted the clarity of cold air and exercise, the privacy of spans of water between them and anyone else.

Aurin wondered if they looked like a happy little family on holiday. He might have snorted at the thought; he just didn't have any positive, pleasant family memories upon which to base such a daydream. Of course, he had observed other people, even borrowed the sensations via his knowing trick.

"So..." He shipped the oars, then pulled his coat back on so he wouldn't lose too much heat. It truly was beautiful out there, what sunlight that came around the edge of the eclipse glittering across the waters. "Now you want me to babysit, I take it?"

The fox-faced man grinned. Likely Korvaelis would never ask, fearing the confidence man would teach them all sorts of bad habits, which was probably true. He would be a terrible babysitter, let alone a father. Mists, Torin had been horrified when he mentioned hiring a proper whore for Timon once the lad's voice started to crack. He was a bad man. He wondered how wise it was for Korvaelis to reach out once more, to introduce him to his spawn.

"Huntress is still alive. A child can't be that much more difficult to keep alive than a wolf pup..." He rubbed thoughtfully at the ginger shadow limning his chin.