creatures of snow

@Thoth

What happened now? Pasha sighed, not looking much too impressed... Or was that just his usual face? Probably that. But in all honesty, Pasha wasn't entirely sure and that was new for him. He wasn't 100% on what could be done at this point.

"There would be no point in filling out adoption papers for you." She was too old and would become independent shortly. Though he probably would if it was requested of him, there would be little point in doing it aside from the legal aspects, which he didn't figure they needed.

"Otherwise... I doubt the letter would matter much in changing things. It is new information, that is all." The secret was out, but contained to the island and the two of them. Nobody from Russia could hunt him down here. Pasha was utilitarian in that sense; the information wouldn't change his everyday very much. He supposed he could take on a more father-oriented role, but not without Anastasia asking for it.

@Thoth

Family things. Pasha would've cringed at those words if he had less self control. He was one of those types that never really expected to have a family; his parents knew that his sister would be carrying on the lineage and Pasha had always made it rather clear that he wouldn't want children of his own.

"I had never planned on having children." He might as well be upfront about that. "I will help you in any way you may need, as in a way I am still somewhat responsible for you." Yekaterina had written in her letter about things along those lines; she wanted Pasha to watch over her, even if he didn't want to be directly caring for her.

@Thoth

There was a pause at that. Going into the military was a fine idea. In fact, greatly preferred if he had any say in it. But it was true; Manta Carlos had no standing army, or any military structure as far as he was concerned. It was a pity, really, but the forces of magic seemed to keep all people out anyways.

Which brought up the other possibility.

"Hm..." He made a faint sound, mulling it over for a few seconds in his head. "I suppose, given your... newly discovered lineage, it may be wise for you to consider becoming the next Winter."

That was a double edged sword, however. It had a vast number of implications, including the fact that Pasha himself had to die. If he didn't die in Anastasia's lifetime, she would have trained for nothing, too.

To say that it was a large decision would have been an understatement.

@Thoth

So now Anastasia knew, to some extent, how the relationship dynamic had worked between the three of them. Mikhail had loved him first, but ended up with Yekaterina because the government wasn't exactly approving of that kind of relationship. Then there was a permissioned affair, than another affair, then all three of them ended up entangled in one of the oddest webs, then... well, he left.

"Winter does... a lot of things, but not actively." Now, how was he supposed to explain a lifetime of training to her? He'd been Winter long enough to get a handle on things, but he'd had nobody teach him. His mentor had been blown to bits, he'd felt a cold breeze and that was it.

"For you to become Winter, I need to die." Putting that upfront, of course.

@Thoth

Clever girl.

"Yes." It was very simple, really. He'd heard here and there that seasons would go through quite a few apprentices before they actually died, and he had no idea how many his own 'mentor' had gone through before he'd been blown to bits. He himself had never quite considered taking someone under his wing as the next Winter, figuring that if he passed on with nobody in 'contract', then it would be randomly passed on. Maybe.

"There is the off chance that I may outlive you. I am in the middle of no war, unless I return to Russia. Unless something big happens in your lifetime, I don't think you'll ever need to take on the mantle."