"That's somewhat how it is with Noah. He'd have been fine if I didn't want to. Da would've lived with it too, I think, but...either way, they're glad I want to try something." Aedan laughed at the writing checks part.
"That's somewhat how it was at home. The version of Da here...he's younger and a lot more...tolerant than the one I left behind at home. Shop owners or the guard would drag me to him and demand payment for whatever I'd taken.' he laughed. "it'd have been handy to have a reasonable out. But as it was, it was a bad look for the heir and..."
He ducked his head. "Made me do it more, to be honest. The stress and knowing one day it'd all dry up, the support. And that he was going to be madder no matter what...it felt good then. Here...he got mad but...also disappointed. Which felt different and somehow made ME feel worse...so...more of it."
"And I see what you mean. It's like...stuff people have, and sometimes just...stuff in general. Felt like a challenge. whatever was bothering me...whatever IS bothering me, still...getting something new, the rush from not getting found out AND something new to boot...there's nothing like it. I've not done it in a while but there's times it's been tempting. Really tempting. I may've also even...rescued one of my pets." He'd definitely stolen Mollie. And Aedan was fine with that.
"You know, at home we've got people who look different too. Elves and dwarves...quanari most of all...but not quite like you describe. Sounds cool all the same. And huh. Trying o figure out the kids...seems like a certain type of adult who doesn't quite GET how to show they care. There were some counselors like that, at the ranch. They'd look like they were giving you extra work detail to sort you out and were trying to be detached about it all, but...they'd go out of their way to help you identify the bits of your saddle for riding class tests too, you know?"