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 Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2022 5:39 pm
"I think the kids would all like that. None of them have traveled before that they can remember - I've asked. We'd certainly look like a strange sort of family wandering north." Xariy tried to imagine the sight, laughing softly at the image of Kauff helping her be responsible for three wild kiddos. Though she supposed he'd already been partially wrangling with her. Niyna rushed back down the stairs and snatched up the basket while Xariy motioned to the door. "I guess we should get going then, hm? Wouldn't want to be out too late with the little one."
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 6:24 pm
"Mmhm. Yeah."Family. That word had been coming up a lot lately, and every time Kauff pushed his knee-jerk reaction to it deeper, leaving only the positives on the surface. A part of him longed to stay here and redefine what the entire concept meant to him, but he couldn't help fearing his lack of maturity and what the rest of him might do. He had a glimmer of hope that he had grown up, despite feeling incapable of such a feat sometimes. With the basket taken care of by Niyna, Kauff made his way over to the door and held it open. "After you both." He inclined his head in a bow that was meant to be respectful, but came across as mostly silly. When they emerged into the sun, he added, "Lead the way."
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 3:13 pm
Xariy felt she had always been confident in her actions, but ever since Kauff had decided to stick around more she felt herself growing shy about things. It was silly, being nervous over things she would generally never feel any discomfort in, but now leading him along in the shy silence of her own doing she didn't know how to manage it. Luckily Niyna was fine to talk his ear off since she was struggling to do so. The walk to the area Xariy had in mind wasn't too far, just up the hill from the house near the beach. It was a loose dirt path all the way down, but still pleasant to her. "Thanks for this," Xariy mutters as Niyna rushes ahead towards their typical picnic spot.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:50 pm
Still a little distracted by his thoughts, Kauff was thankful for Niyna's chatter for several reasons. One, he didn't have to fully concentrate to carry on his half of the conversation, and two, it meant the child was gaining some level of trust where he was concerned. His arm gently circled Xariy, squeezing her briefly. "Any time." He watched Niyna scamper ahead with a small smile on his face. "Should I help?" He still wasn't sure what sorts of blankets might have been packed, and even though Niyna had freely spoken to him just now, he didn't want to spook her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 2:47 pm
"If you would like to help, then sure, but you don't have to. Niyna can learn how to do it while we supervise. Unless you want to talk to her more. It's up to you," Xariy explained, pressing into his side as the two watched the child rush to pull out blankets and food. She was doing a good job at it, and Xariy felt like a weirdly proud parent. It was something she wouldn't have even considered a year or so ago, but now didn't mind it so much. "She isn't scared of you. It's good."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:16 pm
"Yeah. I've never hung out with kids much, so it's nice." At least not until recently. "I mean... I'm glad she likes me. Maybe? Even if she's only tolerating me, there's time."Kauff imagined if he tried to lend a hand he'd just mess it all up, so he stayed put. "I think I'll hang back. I said it before, but she really is good at this." He paused, wondering if what he was about to ask was insensitive before asking it anyway. "Do you know much about what she was up to before she came to live with you?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:21 pm
"She does like you. Trust me on that one," Xariy smiled, brushing her hand along his back as she watched the little girl finish up her thorough picnic. She sighed to herself before glancing up at Kauff, hand stilling as she thought over how to explain the situation she was in. "Well....she was kicked out of an Oban noble's house after the war - you know once the whole freeing of the Matori happened, and from what I gathered she lived off of scraps and trash. Not too great. So now she likes food. Likes to cook and bake. Make a lot of what she didn't have before."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 8:25 pm
"Oh. Okay." He had known it wasn't going to be a happy story, but the connection between Niyna's past and her current hobbies was both hopeful and sad. He remembered being so angry after the war, but all of that seemed very far away now. In hindsight, his behavior had been kind of selfish for someone not directly affected by its outcome. Kauff liked to think he was a better person now. "You know you're the most trustworthy person I know," he teased. "So I'll have to take your word for it. Should we sit?" Showing Niyna that all of her effort was appreciated would be encouraging, he thought.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 5:28 pm
"I sure brought the mood down, huh?" Xariy laughed, wandering over to the picnic arrangement and plopping down. Niyna scooted up beside her, trading her the food she'd gathered in exchange for answers to random questions she had. "So you really like Mister Kauff then?" Niyna giggled, glancing quickly at Kauff before holding out a handful of berries. Xariy accepted her offer and popped one into her mouth to chew before responding to Niyna's digging. "I sure do, kiddo. Don't you like him?" Niyna made a face at that. "Not like you do."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 10:26 pm
Kauff chuckled. "I mean, I did ask." The important thing was that the girl was better off now. He took a seat as well, fidgeting in an effort to get comfortable, and he was still wiggling around a bit when Niyna replied with her childlike disapproval. He was surprised to feel his cheeks warm at her words. After all of the embarrassing situations he'd put himself in, this was what flustered him? He leaned closer to their picnic to grab a little flask of... something? Oh! Juice! He sipped at it, deliberately looking away until he forced himself to stop. This was just silly. "I like you too. Not like Miss Xariy likes me." He couldn't help the grin that followed, though he tried to hide it behind his drink.
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 7:55 pm
Xariy chuckled, rubbing at the back of her neck as she shyly glanced in his direction. It was silly really, getting so worked up over hearing Kauff acknowledge what she had said. She'd seen him without anything on she shouldn't get so worked up over simple words. Xariy shoved a sandwich into her mouth before she said something entirely ridiculous, taking the time to chew so she could consider her words in front of the child. Luckily for her Niyna supplied more words. "Oh good you should. I think I'm really cool. But Miss Xariy and you look way better together," the small girl nodded. "I-you uh-well yes. Of course we do," Xariy huffed, covering her face in shocked embarrassment. She was supposed to be smooth. This was not smooth.
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2023 7:41 pm
Kauff made a valiant attempt to be the adult here. No matter how long he ended up sticking around, he wanted these kids to have been positively influenced by his presence. To have another strong role model for any amount of time would be invaluable, surely. But he couldn't stop smiling, not after his charming fake wife turned unexpectedly shy. "I agree," he told Niyna. "You are really cool. And Miss Xariy and I were made for each other." The words flowed effortlessly from his lips, but they came with a sharp pinch of unease, like the ground had unexpectedly dropped out from under his feet. "But enough about us. What did you pack? Berries and juice and what else?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:39 pm
Xariy coughed around a sip of juice, looking over at Kauff with a bit of a disbelieving look on her face. She quickly reasserted herself, brushing her hands against her pants. Niyna scrambled over to the basket as Kauff addressed her, dragging every item out to show off to him. "Oh, oh, I put juice, and berries, and sandwiches, and this weird vegetable thing? Lots of food for all of us cuz I'm a growing girl and you two are uh....big?" "And we appreciate all the effort you've put into it," Xariy agreed, happy to praise the girl.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 6:48 pm
"Yeah, it's all great. Do you think I'd like anything in particular, or are all the sandwiches created equal?" He was curious as to what she would say and if any great thought had been put into the meal by their little chef. Kauff took a quick peek at Xariy while he waited for the child to reply, tilting his head and smirking. "Is everything all right?" He might have been having a little too much fun with their collective discomfort. It was somehow mortifying and amusing at the same time, like getting caught doing something they shouldn't have. The two of them were going to have a lot to talk about when they got home.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 11:44 pm
"Hearty sandwich. One with lots of meat," Niyna reasoned, pulling out a loaded sandwich with several different meats slapped onto it. Niyna stood and wandered over to Kauff again, grabbing hold of his hand and placing the sandwich gently into it. "For you, Mister Kauff." Xariy watched the child present her special sandwich to Kauff, glancing over to meet his eye as he addressed her. "Oh nothing, just didn't expect your comment. It's not bad," Xariy pressed her hand against the small of his back in her own attempt to show she didn't mind the comment. "More how to put it, reassuring? Exciting? Warm fuzzy stuff?"
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