[Khalid sighs, leaning into Sylvain's hands and closing his eyes for a moment.] I love you. [He murmurs softly before Sylvain draws back again, smiling softly.]
We'll have plenty of time to figure it out. Maybe we could ask Teach for some pointers, I know I would've done just about anything to make it right if I thought they were disappointed in me back at the Academy.
[Who is he kidding he'd do the same thing now.]
Not that they're like my parent or anything, just-- someone I don't want to disappoint.
[Sylvain doesn't say it back out loud, but his eyes shine with it.
His little smile spreads into a full grin, and he shakes his head.] You don't need to explain it. I know exactly what you mean- I was thinking the same thing. Being a parent is also being a teacher, it's just also a lot more than that.
[He wonders what Jeralt was like as a father. Clearly he did something right, even as a single father with the strange enigma child that is Byleth.]
Hey, it's my turn.
[He decides to declare, reaching out his open hands for Nadine.]
Heh, Teach really had quite the impact on all of us. [Khalid can't keep the fond smile from his lips-- he's still utterly smitten with them.
He gasps in mock offense as Sylvain demands a turn with Nadine, pouting exaggeratedly but shifting to pass her over to him. She fusses a little at being moved, but quickly settles again.] Alright, but only because you look so good holding her.
Even now I sometimes wonder if they're actually real.
[Sometimes there is the faintest glimmer of jealousy, when Khalid talks about Byleth and gets that look on his face, but it's ultimately just a wish that Sylvain had more time to spend with their professor.
Warm memories from the calm days at the Academy float around in his head, and he smiles down at Nadine as he remembers what Lysithea used to be like. He leans down to kiss the top of her soft head, feeling the strange and powerful urge to squeeze. She's just so chubby and perfect!!!]
Look all you like, my love.
[He turns his head up to grin back at Khalid.]
You know, kids with your genes would look an awful lot like Nadi.
[Now his utterly smitten look is directed at his husband, watching him smiling down at a baby that really does look an awful lot like Khalid's own children likely would. He's filled to the brim with love for the man, imagining a chubby baby with green eyes and red hair in his lap instead.]
What can I say, people like Nadi and I get the best of both worlds. [He winks playfully.]
[When Sylvain looks up and sees the way Khalid is looking at him, it makes his heart leap into his throat and get stuck there. He feels a blush cross his face.
He holds his fingers out for Nadine, letting her grip one on each hand in her strong little baby grip, and he holds her upright like that, waving her little arms up and down. She burbles happily, yelling in her happy baby way when he swoops down to kiss the top of her head.]
You most certainly do.
[He grins back.]
What are the expectations on you, regarding heirs? And what can we get away with fudging?
The main expectation is that I have several. [Khalid chuckles, watching Sylvain make Nadine do a ridiculous little dance with her arms and reaching out to tickle her tummy in between bites of food.]
All the better to make them compete with each other for the throne, right? [He rolls his eyes-- clearly that's not a concern for him. He has been subtly pushing Almyra down a different path, after all.]
[Sylvain sighs and rolls his eyes. Yeah, he could have predicted that. His frustration at that expectation melts away when Khalid reaches in to tickle Nadine's tummy and she laughs. Her strong little fat legs bounce her up and down on Sylvain's thigh, and she squeezes his fingers even tighter.]
Right, that's exactly what we want, to pit our children against each other.
[There's more bitterness to his tone than he intends, thinking of Miklan, thinking of Claude's own elder half-brothers. He's quite confident that is absolutely not what either of them want.]
Would you want to take your time and find another consort, or just... ask someone we trust?
[He is supportive either way, though the former would certainly take more time, and as far as he knows, Claude doesn't have anyone in mind.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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We'll have plenty of time to figure it out. Maybe we could ask Teach for some pointers, I know I would've done just about anything to make it right if I thought they were disappointed in me back at the Academy.
[Who is he kidding he'd do the same thing now.]
Not that they're like my parent or anything, just-- someone I don't want to disappoint.
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His little smile spreads into a full grin, and he shakes his head.] You don't need to explain it. I know exactly what you mean- I was thinking the same thing. Being a parent is also being a teacher, it's just also a lot more than that.
[He wonders what Jeralt was like as a father. Clearly he did something right, even as a single father with the strange enigma child that is Byleth.]
Hey, it's my turn.
[He decides to declare, reaching out his open hands for Nadine.]
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He gasps in mock offense as Sylvain demands a turn with Nadine, pouting exaggeratedly but shifting to pass her over to him. She fusses a little at being moved, but quickly settles again.] Alright, but only because you look so good holding her.
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[Sometimes there is the faintest glimmer of jealousy, when Khalid talks about Byleth and gets that look on his face, but it's ultimately just a wish that Sylvain had more time to spend with their professor.
Warm memories from the calm days at the Academy float around in his head, and he smiles down at Nadine as he remembers what Lysithea used to be like. He leans down to kiss the top of her soft head, feeling the strange and powerful urge to squeeze. She's just so chubby and perfect!!!]
Look all you like, my love.
[He turns his head up to grin back at Khalid.]
You know, kids with your genes would look an awful lot like Nadi.
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What can I say, people like Nadi and I get the best of both worlds. [He winks playfully.]
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He holds his fingers out for Nadine, letting her grip one on each hand in her strong little baby grip, and he holds her upright like that, waving her little arms up and down. She burbles happily, yelling in her happy baby way when he swoops down to kiss the top of her head.]
You most certainly do.
[He grins back.]
What are the expectations on you, regarding heirs? And what can we get away with fudging?
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All the better to make them compete with each other for the throne, right? [He rolls his eyes-- clearly that's not a concern for him. He has been subtly pushing Almyra down a different path, after all.]
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[Sylvain sighs and rolls his eyes. Yeah, he could have predicted that. His frustration at that expectation melts away when Khalid reaches in to tickle Nadine's tummy and she laughs. Her strong little fat legs bounce her up and down on Sylvain's thigh, and she squeezes his fingers even tighter.]
Right, that's exactly what we want, to pit our children against each other.
[There's more bitterness to his tone than he intends, thinking of Miklan, thinking of Claude's own elder half-brothers. He's quite confident that is absolutely not what either of them want.]
Would you want to take your time and find another consort, or just... ask someone we trust?
[He is supportive either way, though the former would certainly take more time, and as far as he knows, Claude doesn't have anyone in mind.]