Building a Home IV

It took a couple minutes but I found M'rissi and Inigo talking quietly in a corner of town.

"Hey you two, it's time to go. What're you talking about?" I ask as I approach.

"Oh, there you are, my friend. The young one here was just asking me about-" Inigo starts to say before M'rissi quickly covers his mouth.

"She asked this one nothing! Nothing at all! We must depart now!" M'rissi shouts in denial as her tail swishes and her face blushes as she glares at Inigo with a threatening gaze before removing her hands.

"Um... Yes... We spoke of nothing at all my friend. In fact, I was just talking to Mr. Dragonfly about how much he misses that bee in a jar you had and wonders if there are other friends in jars he might have. We should definitely look for them." Inigo says as M'rissi sighs in relief.

"Well... I do like collecting stuff, so I don't see why not? And I'm glad to see the two of you getting along. But we'll have to leave that for after this errand of ours. Let's head out while there's still some daylight left." I say, grabbing our gear and heading out.

"Yes let us go, my friend." Inigo says as M'rissi silently follows behind occasionally stealing glances at me before looking away in a hurry.

And much like that our journey passes uneventfully before we decide to set up camp for the night. Me and Inigo take first watch together as usual waiting for M'rissi to fall asleep.

"Alright, what were you two actually talking about?" I ask after hearing M'rissi's breathing steady with my heightened nighttime senses.

"I'm sorry my friend, but it seems your kitten doesn't want you to know yet." Inigo replies with raised hands and a large Cheshire grin.

"Com'on there's nothing you can say?" I ask in desperation.

"Well... I can give you some advice... Don't fight, just enjoy." Inigo says with a knowing smirk and a wink.

"You damned crazy cat! Why can't you just speak straight!?" I growl in exasperation before stomping off to do a little late night hunting to burn off some steam and run out the wild energy building up in me.

And with that the night passed as I spent another day without sleeping and the strain builds once more as we break camp and make our way into Riften.

"Alright, Inigo. I want you to turn in the job I did in Whiterun and collect the reward and the new quest. M'rissi, you can come with me to the orphanage." I say as Inigo nods before sneaking off the street and into the rat way.

"Fluffy... She is confused as to why we are going to the Orphanage? Do you plan on adopting even more children?! They cannot all stay in the Tower! There is no room! She is certain!" M'rissi protests in shock.

I pat her head gently, "Don't worry, kitten. I have a plan. Just watch." I reassure her as we head into Honorhall Orphanage to the sound of children playing happily, a stark but happily accepted contrast from the sounds I heard last time I was here.

Constance Michel can be seen going about cleaning up a mess made earlier as she chastises the boy Samuel, "You know you're not supposed to be throwing around the ball inside. Now, you're going to sit in the corner and think about what you've done." Constance chastises as she picks up the spilt food before noticing me.

"Oh! Sorry you had to see that! Are you here to adopt? I promise all the children are well behaved with good hearts, they're just a little rambunctious at times. I'm Constance, the new head mistress. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Constance says, happily introducing herself after cleaning up the mess.

"It's no trouble, and you could consider it as such. I actually have a job proposal for you." I say taking a seat at the table.

"Thank you, Mister, but I'm quite content with where I'm at now and don't plan on leaving." Constance says firmly rejecting me.

"That's a shame, I think you'd be perfect for this job and you come highly recommended." I say with faked remorse.

"Who would recommend me? And what job?" Constance asks in confusion.

"I'm sorry, please allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Commander Silvantus Malborne of the Dragon's Maw Mercenary Company and it was my son, Aventus. Who sung praises of the kindness and compassion you showed to the children under your care. With the job being almost the exact same as the one you hold currently." I explain to her.

"Aventus is alright?" Constance sighs, "I'm so glad he found a home, I've been so worried about him after he ran off and wasn't sure if the rumors I've been hearing were true. But what do you mean the job would be the same? I don't know of any other orphanages in all of Skyrim."

"That's true, as of right now. But I'm currently constructing a new compound out in the wilds of Falkreath for the children left behind in the wake of these chaotic times to call home. And to be a family. I plan to call it the 'Wyrmling Children's Sanctuary' once it's completed and I'd like for you to become it's head caretaker and watch over the wayward souls and children taken in from this war filled, chaotic time." I say trying my best to sell her on this idea.

"I don't know..." Constance says hesitantly before the children who had been silently listening in the other room come in and a Nord boy, named Hroar speaks up.

"You really want to take all of us away from this terrible town, together? We don't have to be split up and Constance will still get to give us snacks and play with us?" The kid, Hroar, asks in hopeful disbelief as his words resonate with all the other children who stare at Constance expectantly, even Samuel who carefully peaks out from the corner he's in.

"I..." Constance hesitates for a second under the assault of childhood hopes and dreams being fulfilled before her will crumbles and says with a sigh, "When would you like us to leave?" As the children cheer.

"Calm down everyone," I say with a chuckle. "It'll be a few weeks for the place to become livable, but I promise I'll get you there soon enough. I'll send word once the main structure is done and then you all can begin the process of moving in. How does that sound?" I tell them.

The children sigh in disappointment before Constance says, "Now kids, is that anyway to treat the Commander's offer? What do we say to someone who offers us a great gift?"

"Thank you, Commander!" The children say in unison with big smiles.

"No need to be so formal," I say kneeling down and opening my arms with a smile. "You can just call me Papa from now on."

"Yay!" The kids shout before dog piling on top of me causing me to topple over and then to laugh as M'rissi and Constance look on and try to suppress their urge to laugh as well.