Yeah. We can stop by your quarters but after that, I want you to join me for a drink. I promised you one as celebration for your becoming Dawnservant and though it wasn’t the way you expected, I still owe you.

[He has a boyish smirk. What was he scheming…?]

// the shit eating grin I have rn

// well, there’s no escaping that… short temper, huh? Ok I’ll see myself out.

// that’s honestly way cooler than mine (looks around nervously) .enirboeh saw enim
I still know how to type backwards because of it…

—to find Noel. He has a terrible habit of wandering off. I turn my back for one moment and next thing I know, he’s probably off trying to wrestle Bakool Ja Ja or some nonsense.

[Noel seems too absorbed in his book to bother. It was… certainly a sight to see a boy his age studying military theory outside of Ishgard or Sharlayan.]

[Meanwhile, Thancred stops, noticing the Vow of Reason.]

Koana, good. I was looking for you. I wanted to ask you something but first, I need—

You should ask his husband to help you next time. She’s good enough to be the Manderville’s personal chef when they stop by the Bismarck.

And yet the man has a gift for alchemizing meals together just fine. Don’t ask how.

A friend of mine. A terrible cook. He’s quite horrible. If you thought archon loaf was bad, his creations are worse.

Thank the gods you didn’t learn from Aster…

Was the person you watched an unusually short Xaela male with goggles?

Did you try following a recipe…?

—Thancred could be heard, sprinting around in full panic.]

Has anyone seen Noel?! He’s 11 years old, looks like me except with orange hair! Noel??? Noel!!!! Godsdammit kiddo, where are you?!

[Meanwhile Noel was perfectly content reading his book on Eorzea military strategy.]

“I could, but if I don’t call you Uncle Koana, I might be calling you Vow Koana instead, and that feels even more stiff.”

[Noel pulled out a book from his bag, an impressive sized one for one his age.]

“Oh… I may have wandered off from dad… oops.”

[In the distance, if you listen very carefully…—

How are you not a bigger mess?
Then again… I’ve seen worse with less damage so I shouldn’t be so quick to judge.

“Well… Uncle Ran’jit told me that a good guardian has good manners and if anyone took being a guardian seriously, it was that butthead.”
[Noel pouted for just a moment before composing himself.]
“I’ll wait here. Plus, dad’ll figure out I’m here too… eventually.”

Dear gods, how are you even… never mind.
[He tosses her a towel.]
Here.

[The boy shakes his head.]
“No. My dad was just looking for you. He’s out somewhere right now but I think he should be swinging by here soon.”
[Noel looks past Koana.]
“Have you seen Gulool Ja? He said we’d spar after he finished training for the day.”

A-Are you sure…?
[He is mildly horrified.]