Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aten slicked his bangs back and cleared his throat. He wanted to argue with Smolder so badly; to rip him a new one for considering having a child without consulting Cassie -- let alone a child that wasn't even hers in any way besides eventual proximity. If the two stayed together. Aten had faith the two would make it through this, and the child certainly didn't deserve to suffer for Smolder's rash decision.

Breathing in deeply through his nose, Aten began, trying to distract himself from the anger he felt on Cassie's behalf. "Smolder ... when last we talked -- and I mean, when we truly last had a real conversation -- we had discussed our feelings for one another. I know you were rather final with your words ... and I do not imagine your feelings will have changed at all. That being said ... I have found myself harboring feelings for your Cassie. And for yourself still. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of this evening and the sudden responsibility you find yourself delving in to ... I wanted to broach the subject of a triad with Cassie and you."

Aten stood tall and stoic, hands clasped behind his back as he watched Smolder's expression. This news hadn't exactly surprised Smolder at all, but he wasn't exactly sure how to process it.

Smolder cast his gaze downward, not looking at the floor nor his feet, just down. blue eyes looking a little lost in thought. Had they done anything with one another? Did Cassie feel the same way? Was Aten toying with Cassie at all? He had some concerns he needed to address ... true, he didn't feel anything for Aten presently ... but if it would make Cassie and Aten both happy and bring his little family closer together ... what did he have to lose.

But first things first.

"Just tell me one thing." Smolder said almost sharply, taking a protective stance. "You're not just playing with Cassie's emotions to try and get closer to me, are you?" his voice was bold and strict, taking on the tone he normally would when Aten misbehaved as a child.

Aten snorted defensively. "Don't be ridiculous, Smolder!" his voice was sharp, though his volume did not raise in anger. "You know me. I would never do that to either of you ... and if you do not trust me on that, you know what you have learned of my people; we tend to be polyamorous. At times, it's even preferred." he stepped forward then, placing a fluffy, clawed hand over his heart. "I care for the both of you! Deeply and sincerely. And while I do hope one day you will come to love me too, even if it isn't in a physical way, I want us to be family. I want us to have a future."

Smolder let Cassie and Aten's words swirl over him, trying to absorb things. He closed his eyes, trying to focus inward on himself and his own feelings, trying to force his empathetic heart to only hear his own truths.

Aten was a dear friend. Cassie was easily the love of his life. And if the three of them together as a unit would make them both happy, then ...

"Alright," Smolder sighed after a few long moments of introspection. "Okay. I'm alright with the idea. So long, Aten, as you promise me you'll take care of Cassie when I can't. While I may not be in to men, I would still like this to be some sort of a partnership between us."

The Imp perked a little, looking quite shocked. Was this really going to be so easy? Was this really going to go so smoothly? Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, with the contrast of the child situation this likely didn't seem like that big of a deal to Smolder.

Aten took the chance while it was still available to him and nodded swiftly. "Yes!" he breathed a happy sigh. "Yes, of course. So long as you promise to keep an open mind towards you and I. About letting that possibility flourish and thrive if it ever presents itself to us."

Smolder wasn't sure it ever would, but he nodded all the same. "Alright." he agreed. "That's fair."

Smolder leaned in to Cassie's kiss, then watched as she walked over to Aten and kiss his cheek. He was ... oddly a lot more okay with it than he had been anticipating. While triads were not uncommon for Nightmares he had never considered one for himself. But he could see that Cassie and Aten had a connection, and that had to stand for something. He could learn to genuinely be more than okay with their private connection. He would just need to adjust a little bit and get used to sharing Cassie's free time, for he already got so little with his busy schedule.

"The baby?" Smolder straightened out a little, not having realized he was slouching something fierce. "His name is Rhys!" he puffed up a bit proudly. "He's part fallen, part Litch. I really think you're going to fall in love with him as soon as you see him, babe." Smolder seemed a little more like his usual self again, reaching out to grab one of Cassie's and Aten's hands each in his own. "We can go now!"