when the embers burn low

there is always hope

"He's a stick in the mud who has to learn how to have fun," Ronin counters cheerfully regarding Sunjata and his status as a good friend to have. It's not that the Star disagrees with her one bit - he doesn't - but it doesn't mean he can't get some good natured ribbing in there while he's at it. A shame that Sunjata isn't around to hear it; never mind, Ronin will undoubtedly tell him at some point in the near future.

"My daughter," Ronin repeats; enough time has passed for him to feel comfortable speaking about it, regardless of the fact that it had nearly broken him when Seren had first arrived, unexpectedly and accidentally into his life. While Aurelia gets her head around it in a way that isn't unlike Ronin on that first night, the Star occupies himself with grabbing a fresh bottle of liquor - rum, vodka, whiskey, he hasn't really checked.

"Well," he replies, cracking open the bottle and taking a drink, holding it out for Aurelia, "I wasn't really keen to have any more daughters with Safrin, if you catch my drift. I tried to be diplomatic about it, but that's not really possible with a goddess. So I have a lot of making up to do."

Ronin hasn't noticed the fire either - not yet, anyway. It'll be fine, surely.