"Not really. Not that would be wise, anyway."

"Eh, fair enough."

He sits on the couch, next to Lyrame but with enough space between them that she would have to move closer if she wanted a hug.

And Elcisse comes back, helping a middle-aged man who looks like the past few days really took a toll on his health. It may, at first glance, be difficult to tell that he still is only middle aged. His face sags in relief when he sees Lyrame. She gets up to hug him and help Elcisse get him to his chair.

"I'm so glad you're alright," he breathes.

...aww.

"I'm fine, Dad," she says. Her father hugs her very tightly before releasing her, and she goes back to take her seat on the couch.

"Thank you," he says to Solekaran, after a long moment of just studying his daughter's face as though he needed proof that she was really alright and there.

He smiles wryly.

"I failed her. Utterly. It's a parent's job to take care of their children, and--" he shakes his head. "Thank you."

"Sounds like somebody failed you, more like."

"It still should have been me who suffered for it, not her."

"I think I prefer the outcome where neither of you suffers," he says, with a fond glance at Lyrame.

Okay now she will scoot over and hug him.

"Still," her father says, shaking his head.

Hug.

"Are you all right?" he asks her father. "You look..." He can't seem to think of a word.

"I'm alright," he says.

"No you're not!" Elcisse scolds.

"Hm."

"We're not sure exactly what's wrong with him, but his health's been deteriorating badly since we found out," Lyrame murmurs.

"Sorry to hear that," he says, hugging her some more and resting his cheek against her hair.

"I'll be fine," the man insists. His children all give him exasperated looks.

He laughs softly.

"I should go check on dinner," Elcisse says. She gets up and does that.

"So, ah..." the father seems to be casting about for a conversational topic. "What was his name again, Lyrame?"

"...I didn't say. He, um. Never mentioned it to me either."

Alemar snorts.

...he giggles.

"Sekar."

"It just didn't come up!" Lyrame says defensively.

"Sure, sure," Alemar says.

"Really."

"I didn't say anything."

"Alemar."

Awwwwwwwwww. He laughs some more.

"Only child?" her father guesses.

"Yeah."

"I can't even imagine what that must be like. I mean, technically I used to be, but I was, like, one, when Alemar was born, I super don't remember it."