Welcome to Gaia! ::

Thaw stopped to think about the questions. Could he really not breathe fire anymore? He gave it an honest try, fully expecting a cloud of flame to come billowing out of his mouth when he blew.

All that came out was some dust, and a little bit of smoke.

"How terribly disappointing. I never thought to try that, I simply assumed I had all of my functions still available to me.. I feel impotent."

Doing well so far, Dawson.

He flung out his great wings, nearly slamming every wall in the vicinity as he did so, and tested their strength. "I cannot say for sure. I daresay I should not desire to test it. Let us simply assume the answer is yes, for my piece of mind."

He almost corrected Dawson on being cool, as he was sure he was still very warm, but he wasn't that naive anymore. He knew what the phrasing meant. And he was suddenly very proud of himself for knowing so.

"Why thank you, my friend. That's very kind. I do my best taking care of the child, as she does need so much taking care of. But you know that better than others, I needn't tell you such things." He huffed, a chortle of amusement leaving his gritty voice. "Such a spitfire. I love her as if she was my own. In a way I suppose she is. Though I would have taken better care of her."

He waved a giant taloned hand, as if to get off the subject.

"I'm pleased to say things have been excellent for the child. She's grown quite a bit, in the past year. I hardly ever hear her speaking to herself, anymore. She takes care of herself, looks after her health and wellbeing, and,"

He took a deep breath.

"She's just.. better."

He'd betrayed Maebe's privacy once, before. He wasn't going to make that mistake again.

"And you, friend? How have you been? And how are you doing, with this new, ah, path you tread?"

"She was doing her best to deny the reality of those Hunters who have turned younger, and remained so. I believe dealing with America was a shock to her, but a helpful one. She needed to come to terms with the facts as they are."

Thaw's face lifted in a smile, which made a soft, strange sound. It was as if rocks were being rubbed together, or crumbling apart. "I too much express how delighted I am that this coupling has come to pass. I find her choice in mates disturbing and tiresome, and want nothing more than for her to settle down with someone like yourself, a healthy and stable companion. Someone who will actually take care of her."

The smile faded when Dawson asked him about the talking. He hadn't even realized - was this one of those things he shouldn't be discussing?!

"Ah. That's. Well. Mm. It isn't necessarily a discussion about anything. But perhaps we should not focus on that. After all, she hasn't done it in quite some time."

"Dawson." Thaw sounded worried. "The last time I spoke to you concerning the reasons behind the child's mental instabilities, I was chastised quite severely for breaching my contract of privacy within her. She is better, now. She no longer hears them, she no longer responds. These troubles, all of which she has privately overcome, should not concern you, as she's passed these hurdles before accepting your hand. Please.."

He sounded a little desperate.

"Do not prevail upon me to reveal her secrets further."

"Balrog mates are chosen at childhood, we have no say in the matter." He said this with no inflection, clearly unworried about such things - he would never have to deal with whoever he'd been arranged with, after all! "But she has accepted your hand. Perhaps not in marriage, but in companionship certainly. And in my humble opinion, that is a miracle. All things considered."

Thaw huffed quietly. He'd thought the child would have been alone forever, after the debacle she'd put herself through. After the boy and his wandering lusts.

The look on Thaw's face was clear as to whom he was thinking about in that moment.

"She does not pity you, Dawson."

Thaw's voice was so gentle, so confident. He was so pleased to be able to talk about this. "She believes you are the nearest thing there is to perfection in this wretched world. She would have waited her entire life for you, I suspect." His stony face cracks a proud smile. "I'm very glad she didn't have to."

Thaw took these questions very seriously. He wanted the child to remain content with this man, which meant Dawson would need to know all of her delights as quickly as possible. And of course, he had no filter which meant.. Dawson was about to get a head full of TMI.

He takes on a thoughtful expression. "She prefers the way you normally smell. I would not mask your scent, were I you. And when it comes to gifts, she is - forgive my bluntness - impressively shallow. She enjoys things she can wear. Jewelry, clothing, shoes, underwear, lingerie might be a good option. There are times she will wear such things just to walk around her room alone - I will never understand it."

He paused and rose an eyebrow, looking down at Dawson." You did not hear that from me."