Loki could tell Seto was awkward about it, but he definitely wanted and appreciated the hug. So he moved to do so, embracing the other fully and warmly. Acknowledging and recognizing, and smiling when he heard the whispered words. Holding it for a good moment, before letting it fade. Letting the other pull back if he wanted.
"...You're a bit too old to be offered adoption like I did with Alice, but I would count you as part of my family here. Your brother too. No strings on either of you."
Seto relaxed into the hug just a moment later. He did it right, it was fine. And he felt the warm sort of peace that could only come from finding a place to belong.
When he pulled back, he was still smiling. "I'm actually at the right age for what my country calls adoption, though those work more like apprenticeships than anything. And I guess I'm already in one."
He laughed a little. "But names and labels don't matter much...yeah, you're family to me. And I doubt Mokuba will have a problem with it, but we'll ask."
"It's also more that you're...hmm." Loki pondered his words. "You're too grown up in so many ways, to need the same kind of 'adoption' as one would have usually for a family member, were you to be my son so to speak." Hopefully that made sense.
"But the family tie is there for you all the same." Then more quietly. "Your clarity on the matter, and reminding me to see that, really does mean quite a lot to me. Thank you."
There was a brief pondering of what could've been, but it didn't last long. He smiled again and reached out to squeeze his arm.
"Family's the only word needed. I haven't had one other than Mokuba in ten years, and...some childish part of me always wondered what it would be like. I don't have to wonder anymore."
Loki shifted that squeeze of the arm, so that it was a formal handsclasp for them both. "Family it is." With all the solemnity of an oath. "And I was just conversing with one of our other residents the other day about family, and various definitions thereof. Blind of me to have not seen the parallels myself sooner.
"Agreed," Seto answered, squeezing Loki's hand firmly with a smile. He held the oath for a good moment before letting go. His heart felt a little lighter today...and he was relieved he could return the favor for once, after everything Loki had done for him.
"Hey, I didn't see it either," Seto admitted. "Like I said before...where I'm from, family is a rigid concept defined by bloodlines and strict roles. The concept of adding an outsider to the family is inconceivable for most people. But I think I like this better."
"I am certainly happy to have you be part of mine." Loki affirmed, before letting Kaiba pull back if he wanted. "Thank you, also. Those two words are inadequate, but I can't think of how to put the feelings out in any other way."
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branchandroot
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Date: 2024-03-14 03:01 am (UTC)"...You're a bit too old to be offered adoption like I did with Alice, but I would count you as part of my family here. Your brother too. No strings on either of you."
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Date: 2024-03-14 03:17 am (UTC)When he pulled back, he was still smiling. "I'm actually at the right age for what my country calls adoption, though those work more like apprenticeships than anything. And I guess I'm already in one."
He laughed a little. "But names and labels don't matter much...yeah, you're family to me. And I doubt Mokuba will have a problem with it, but we'll ask."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-14 03:31 am (UTC)"But the family tie is there for you all the same." Then more quietly. "Your clarity on the matter, and reminding me to see that, really does mean quite a lot to me. Thank you."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-14 03:41 am (UTC)"Family's the only word needed. I haven't had one other than Mokuba in ten years, and...some childish part of me always wondered what it would be like. I don't have to wonder anymore."
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Date: 2024-03-14 03:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-03-14 04:47 pm (UTC)"Hey, I didn't see it either," Seto admitted. "Like I said before...where I'm from, family is a rigid concept defined by bloodlines and strict roles. The concept of adding an outsider to the family is inconceivable for most people. But I think I like this better."
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Date: 2024-03-14 08:36 pm (UTC)