Hello again, it's been a while

Allegro spotted Aranea approaching them shortly after he called for her. The hope in his chest began to fade as she didn’t come to greet him, instead giving their children a few licks on their heads and only looking at him to question where Forte might have been. ”I kept her home. She’s still ill and I didn’t think the trip would be good on her. Some of my family is keeping an eye on her,” he explained, though it was hard to focus on his own words as he was distracted by the palpable tension between himself and their mother. He glanced toward Balthier, Psalm, and Solo to gauge their reactions and was both surprised and not surprised at all at their timid and distant reactions to her. He kept a smile on his face even as Psalm pressed into his leg and he dipped his head to nuzzle at her cheek.

It made him feel like it was a mistake. He had wanted so desperately to keep their family whole, to keep their mother as a part of their lives that he had been willing to ferry them across Boreas and down to Auster to make it happen. It brought back that doubt and frustration he felt toward her even though he hid it very well. For their sakes. ”Yes, it was a long journey,” he chimed in when Aranea mentioned how they must be tired. He gave the children an encouraging nod followed along with them toward the castle.

He wasn’t really sure what he had been expecting, but her leading them to a room in the castle straight away hadn’t been the first thing he had imagined them doing. ”It’s nice that there’s so much space here,” he mentioned as he walked into he room with their children, still grinning happily as he looked around the spare room. ”This is a nice guest room.” He turned to face Aranea as he began to move back toward the door, saying, ”Perhaps we could have some dinner before we all rest? I can go out and hunt tomorrow to replace whatever we eat.”

Walk | "Talk" | think