will finish and code when I wake

Mink sighed heavily as she set the teapot on the table, settling on the floor before the table. Her eyes flicked up to her guest of the evening, a soft yet apprehensive smile on her lips.

"And what do I owe the pleasure?" Mink hummed as she poured both Ayame and herself cups. The large man before her gave a soft 'thank you' as he accepted the cup.

"Isn't my company enough of a pleasure?" The man peeked at the smaller woman from behind his cup, a slight devious smile on her lips. Mink let loose a polite laugh, yet her eyes stayed frozen on him, hands refusing to touch her cup.

"I'm not sure. Last time you came you were wailing about how the local teens didn't respect their elders. I'm not in the mood for another rant." Ayame tensed at her words, and she choose this time to take a delicate and maintained sip of her tea, pleased with herself. Ayame's tails lashed briefly, hands raising to rub the back of his head.

"That did happen, you're correct." He admitted in defeat. "That's not the reason for my visit this time, I assure you." Mink set her cup down, folding her hands into her lap with purpose. "I'm sure you've kept up with the news of my people." He continued, eyes drawing to her modest television in the corner of the room.

"Perhaps." Mink mused, her eyes drawing to where his had laid. "It's of interest to me and my people whenever we learn of those like us. My pack was just as confused by the outside world as your people are, we can't help but be curious."

"I can see why that'd interest you."
"Is that your reasoning for coming here?"

Mink's tone hinted at the fact she wasn't interested in playful chatter. It wasn't as if the two didn't get along. Mink assisted Ayame in adjusting to the new world, and Ayame gave her knowledge of his people, which she found fascinating. Yet, sometimes Ayame was tiring. His constant fretting was something she didn't have the patience for, and his temper reminded her of someone she was quite glad to have gotten rid of. He was a good man, Ayame truly was, but he was misguided on his opinions of the world.

"Throughout my years I never had a child." Ayame began, hands folding neatly in his lap. "Nagoro did. My sister did. Even Rinko, although she lost the child young. I never found the time for it, and in a way I was afraid to. I kept using the excuse that I hadn't found the one, or that we didn't have enough stones. In reality, I was afraid of hurting them."

Mink gave a soft nod. She never had kids for similar reasons, and because Kestral at the time refused. Her life had blossomed the day she adopted and then later imbued.

"When the barriers came down I realized that my life is full of change. One second I am in a village where we lack stones and we believe the outside world is out to get us, the next I am struggling to comprehend just how big the world is. I realized that there may come a day I couldn't imbue, or that I'd die before I could. That frightened me even more then having children. I realized I wanted kids."

There was a lengthy pause before Mink dared a response.

"And how does that include me?" Ayame shifted nervously, eyes flicking away.

"I will not deceive myself in saying we would ever be a thing, nor do either of us want that. But, you are strong, and someone of great passion. You are clever and honest, as well as gentle. Yet, you run a pack, even with your tenderness. I feel my children would greatly benefit if they came from both you and I. You have what I lack." Mink reeled her head back slightly, blinking at Ayame before, with a coy smile she rested her head on her hand.

"My, if I didn't know better I'd say you were flirting with me." She cooed, leaving a red blush on Ayame's face. He squirmed, head snapping away as he began to push himself from the table.

"I'm sorry, this was a stupid id-"
"Sure."

Ayame froze, watching her with disbelief before he, nervously, sat down. "Sure?"

"I mean yes, Ayame. I'll imbue with you."
"You will?"
"On a few conditions."
"Of course."
"My boys aren't ready for more in the house, and honestly, I can't afford them to be here constantly either. I still want to be in their lives, though. If you had primary custody of the kids and let them visit me twice a month, I'd be happy." She paused, mouth tightening. "And second, you will let me educate them about the world around us. They cannot be confined to your village, like you were."

Ayame hesitated, eyes narrowing sharply at her last comment. Nodding stiffly, Ayame's eyes lowered. "That was the intention." He promised, ears lowering slightly. "I don't want to make the same mistakes those before me did."

With a smile, Mink took another sip of her tea, setting it gently down. "Then it's a deal."