Jon released it to the child without anything further, and it was Cris who smiled at the reaction. "Good. We were hoping to find a proper home for it. You think that you fit the bill?"

The light-hearted reaction may have fit the scene, but Jon stared at Nigel, eyes locked on. "Will you take care of it? No matter what happens."

It was something of an irregularity to say, and Cris looking back at the other, before understanding. Something for stability. Something to care for when there may be nothing else. Something to focus, when the mind was shifting far too much. The shorter of the men dropped to silence, and let the interaction play out.

Jon continued, repeating the intention, "Can you promise to watch over it?"