the girls were long asleep and thalassa was leaning against alexius as they relaxed on the couch, only that suddenly, she had to laugh. "ayse has been spending too much time with erida's boy," she said with a light chuckle. "before you ask, yes, she did ask if i have any intention to make an honest man out of you."
shifting lightly so his arms remained at her shoulders, alexius heaved out a greater sigh than he needed. “That’s it. I’m ready gamble my life savings - this is chaila’s fault, one way or another.”
arin is a sweet boy, there’s no way to deny that. somehow, being raised by the two people with the most aggressive energy alexius has ever met, resulted in a kid who got stars in his eyes every time he saw a butterfly, or dessert, or a glowing sign, or ayse, or - well, the kid was easily excited “I’m pretty sure arin is serving as chaila’s enabler, co-conspirator & therapist all in one. gods be good, arin will learn to step over chaila crying on the carpet, and chaila will learn to remind arin there are more movie genres than just romantic comedies.”
really, it was a surprise it’d taken this long for the kids fascination for love to rub off on ayse. erida && caprian’s idea of a romantic date probably involved more tax fraud &&& acrylic paint than any other couple, so arin had learned to turn his attention elsewhere.
with a cautious joking tone, like he’d be fine if she laughed it off or ignored the words all together, alexius drums his fingers lightly on her shoulder & grins “but the good news is, people can have an intention for years without acting on it. so if everyone phrases their question so eloquently - we’ll be in the clear.”