[ The smile spreads to his mouth. It's getting ahead of things, of course, to assume he'll find them, and assume they'll want anything to do with him, and assume the inevitable initial awkward distance will be bridged and it will ever really be anything like having a family. But he can imagine this part clearly: introducing Byerly to people who matter, without any diplomatic calculations or cover stories or preexisting dislike or wariness to contend with, with all his love and pride out in the open. He's never been able to before. He wants to. ]
What's mine is yours.
[ Cheesy. True. Except for the books, the books are his. And the cello.
Anyway. ]
And if it does not work out for either of us, we will get five more dogs right away.
[ He rubs his cheek briefly against Bastien, like an affectionate cat. Or a possessive one. Cats' affection is often the same thing as possessiveness. ]
And maybe a few street urchins. I feel like we could teach a few pickpockets how to run more ambitious scams.
[ A half-joking suggestion which is, of course, rather adjacent to fatherhood - But he's not going to examine that too closely. ]
[ Bastien snickers. It's a much more appealing idea than a baby—but Byerly was so certain and mildly panicked about the concept of children before, he can only assume it is a fully-joking suggestion. ]
I did give music lessons for money, back in earlier times, but they were - you know - music lessons.
[ Said more with a bit of drollness rather than a wink-wink-nudge-nudge attitude. A job is a job, after all, and even though that sort of work seems titillating it's still, in truth, work. ]
[ Bastien huffs a single ha, devoid of judgment or particular concern. ]
Singing lessons.
[ A compliment. Sometimes he drives even Bastien, who is very quiet when it isn't a matter of putting on a show, to make an earnest and involuntary sound. ]
You should try it. Especially if we don't need the money, and you can teach the sort of people who wouldn't be able to afford it otherwise. Now and then, you know, when there is a lull between wrongs to right.
[ Through laughter, ] C'est mon garçon. They will love you.
[ Perhaps his nephews could have lessons, too, Bastien thinks, and puts it with all his other hopes. Quietly. Until there's word from Gwaren, every mention will have unhappy caveats.
Instead, he gives him a kiss on his shoulder. ]
I love you. If I deserve more than the world, you deserve two. We'll have to get you the moons.
[ For a moment the silent oh and beginning of a full-body melt can probably be felt, the way they're sitting, but the joke startles him into laughter and pulls him back from the edge of turning into goo and dripping all over the floor. ]
And similarly pockmarked, [ is a gross exaggeration, ] and inhabited by whales, [ is a Moonlight on the Feast of Shadows moon-whale joke for Thedosian nerds and, also, a dick joke. It is a accompanied by a light and cheerful grope. ]
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What's mine is yours.
[ Cheesy. True. Except for the books, the books are his. And the cello.
Anyway. ]
And if it does not work out for either of us, we will get five more dogs right away.
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And maybe a few street urchins. I feel like we could teach a few pickpockets how to run more ambitious scams.
[ A half-joking suggestion which is, of course, rather adjacent to fatherhood - But he's not going to examine that too closely. ]
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Burrz and Bah's School for Ne'er-Do-Wells.
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[ His legs are falling asleep. He does not care. ]
Especially music. You ought to really do that, someday—pass along some of that talent.
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[ The idea has, evidently, from his tone, never occurred to him. ]
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[ It's an interesting idea. ]
I did give music lessons for money, back in earlier times, but they were - you know - music lessons.
[ Said more with a bit of drollness rather than a wink-wink-nudge-nudge attitude. A job is a job, after all, and even though that sort of work seems titillating it's still, in truth, work. ]
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Singing lessons.
[ A compliment. Sometimes he drives even Bastien, who is very quiet when it isn't a matter of putting on a show, to make an earnest and involuntary sound. ]
You should try it. Especially if we don't need the money, and you can teach the sort of people who wouldn't be able to afford it otherwise. Now and then, you know, when there is a lull between wrongs to right.
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And I could become an absolute tyrant. Bully students till they start to cry. Slap their palms with the bow for failing a note.
[ Said with an amused tone. He doesn't really mean it. ]
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[ Equally amused. ]
You would tell them jokes and teach them to play the fun songs.
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[ He smiles wryly, and then admits: ]
I'd teach them to play the smutty songs.
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[ Perhaps his nephews could have lessons, too, Bastien thinks, and puts it with all his other hopes. Quietly. Until there's word from Gwaren, every mention will have unhappy caveats.
Instead, he gives him a kiss on his shoulder. ]
I love you. If I deserve more than the world, you deserve two. We'll have to get you the moons.
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[ A loving nuzzle - ]
Quite content with what I have. Probably because what I have has an ass that's like two moons. Perfectly-shaped.
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And similarly pockmarked, [ is a gross exaggeration, ] and inhabited by whales, [ is a Moonlight on the Feast of Shadows moon-whale joke for Thedosian nerds and, also, a dick joke. It is a accompanied by a light and cheerful grope. ]
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And full of intriguing mysteries that brave men thrill at the thought of exploring.
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Poor Benedict. ]
If you're very good, [ as if he'd ever be anything else, ] you can establish a colony.
[ What does that mean, in this context? He has no idea. He's just saying words now. ]
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Perhaps we'll be there to mine moon ores. Set up a whole business operation.
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To make moon swords and defeat Corypheus with a piece of my ass.