[They push themselves to their feet and... put a gentle hand on Adora's shoulder. Careful to make sure she can see where their hand moves so that it hopefully doesn't feel like a threat.]
I... I hope... that one day you'll feel confident enough that you can say that to my face. That you can believe it.
But you don't have to, if it scares you. I don't need you to love me or see me as a father or... to push yourself to feel any kind of way about me. All that matters to me is your safety and happiness. You don't owe me anything.
You... didn't know about that? The king has a new ward every few years--I always thought they were married off or sent to school or something, but people say they were all pretty young when they left.
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I should go. The guards are antsy when I'm around you guys at all and you're still recovering.
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[But maybe... this is as far as they can push for today.]
...What you wrote meant a lot to me. About having a father.
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I... I hope... that one day you'll feel confident enough that you can say that to my face. That you can believe it.
But you don't have to, if it scares you. I don't need you to love me or see me as a father or... to push yourself to feel any kind of way about me. All that matters to me is your safety and happiness. You don't owe me anything.
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[But they're smiling. Adora approximating something like talking back is almost encouraging.]
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It's better than no future, which is why she came to Sefiro in the first place, but.]
... The guards will want to see to you. You should get back to bed.
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Oh, you should know. If- when we get back alive to the capital... we have a refugee from the faelands staying with us.
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[For once, Ranma looks uncomfortable. Looking away, scratching their cheek.]
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The... former... ward... of...the fae king...?
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They shake their head.]
Well, Nia is young too. The situation is... complicated.
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