Comms and Other Long FE Oneshots

Frosty Glass, Blazing Gold

*Part of the Takumi Timeline

"Corrin, dear." Flora poked her head into the room and then frowned at him. Or, he realized with a slight pang of guilt, the papers in his hands. "Ran-Ran's not with you?"

"No, she's not," Corrin replied, a slight frown of his own crossing his face. "I thought she was with Camilla? Velouria said something about wanting to hang out with her other transforming cousin, and Camilla said she'd take good care of both of them."

"Camilla may have passed her along to another aunt." Flora sighed. "This castle is too big, and your family doesn't communicate well. I guess I'll just keep looking." Corrin moved to get out of his chair and she shook her head at him. "No, finish your paperwork. Gods know if you'll have another chance once L... Elise finds out you're hiding in here. Or any of your sisters, for that matter. I can find Ran-Ran on my own. Do you have enough coffee? Should I-"

"I'm fine on the coffee front, dear," Corrin interrupted, easing himself back down into his chair and raising a hand. "I'll send a servant to let you know if Ran-Ran winds up in here."

She smiled gratefully and gently closed the door. Corrin sighed heavily, adjusting the blanket around his shoulders, red eyes flicking to the sword leaning against the bricks that housed the dimming fire before going back to the papers that were littered with numbers representing his fief's finances. It was fine. It would be fine. His siblings had already weeded out most of the untrustworthy servants, and those who still weren't absolutely trusted were not allowed as far up as the guest rooms. Camilla knew better than to take his daughter into the depths of Castle Krakenburg, especially regarding the track record of his visits here.

Flora was right. He needed to finish these before something pulled him away. Xander had enough on his plate without Corrin making him wait on the information that he'd asked for. He took a deep breath, pouring himself another cup of coffee. He really wished that she hadn't vanished, though, the urge to pick up the sword and strap it on before going out to search the castle himself was ridiculously strong. "Trust, Corrin," he reminded himself quietly, before taking a sip of the coffee. Trusting in his siblings had gotten him through the war. Castle Krakenburg was their home, Xander was in charge. Ran-Ran would be fine.

"DADDY!"

Corrin nearly spat out his coffee at the squeal and thump at the window. As it was, it was a good long moment before he was able to unfreeze, swallow the beverage, and turn his head to look at his grinning daughter and...

Oh gods. Of all of the siblings she might have been picked up by...

"What are you doing out there?" he demanded of the three-year-old, forcing his gaze from Takumi's fiery brown eyes to her pleased red ones as he got out of his chair and headed over to open the window. "It's freezing!"

"It's fun!" she protested, but made no objections when he opened the glass and Takumi set her down on the floor inside. "I can scare the creatures in the snow with my dragon pouncing and rawwwwwwwwr!" She beamed again after making her ferocious dragon face,-which was honestly ruined by the snowflakes everywhere in her pale blue hair and dark blue winter coat and mittens- then hurried to the side and waved her arms at the Hoshidan leaning halfway through the window as if he wasn't sure he wanted to come in or not. "Come on, Uncle Ta-gloomy!"

Ohhhhhh gooooodssss noooooooo, whyyyyyyy?

Takumi only frowned slightly at the incorrect pronunciation despite Corrin's internal freakout, however, quietly slipping into the room and stepping far away enough from the window that Corrin could close and bolt it. "It's not very nice of you to invite me into your father's space without asking first, Amaranthe."