When he watched them, he became acutely aware that he'd never really considered what that kind of...relationship might be like. His upbringing had simply been accepted, seen as a natural course of events rather than something distinctly different from others'. Then again, he wasn't even sure if it was - perhaps it was Halycon that differed in his approach, and perhaps fathers who kept their distance were more normal than those that didn't. Whatever the case, Elohim couldn't help but entertain the idea but for a brief moment: he'd probably know how to fight with more form than instinct but what else? What else was there between those like Yami and Halcyon that those like Elohim and Eden did not have? Did they feel some different way, or experience things differently just because of that closeness? Like many times before, he practically sighed in relief when he had called out and Yami had responded immediately - thank god, he thought, he didn't have to keep exploring the rabbit hole of thought.

Elohim sighed but he also couldn't help but grin, utterly amused by the boy's immediate defensive edge. Not surprising, right? In fact, the most surprising response had been Halcyon who calmly moved forward as if simply greeting, well, something more akin to an old friend in any case. In fact, it was so surprising that Elohim found himself at a loss for a moment, wholly still as if Halcyon's actions had caused him to short-circuit entirely (which wasn't far from the truth.) But he shook it off - almost literally with a small shake of his head - and moved forward to meet the other man halfway.

"Ah, it's no joke - if I hadn't seen you there, I might've guessed Aster herself was here instead," he said mostly to Yami but his eyes moved back to Halcyon in a moment, just a little curious to see whether the name itself would strike any particular emotion in him. He had to wonder, after all, how Halcyon had been coping over the last few seasons. Aster had...chosen some strange paths, and the last time Elohim had seen her, he had expected her to rise up once more but instead, she had withered away and turned into dust once again. For him, it had been accepted too - a natural course of events - and so he had simply done as he always did and in time, he felt little more than a dull curiosity when he thought of her. Wildfires always did return to ash and embers, after all.

But Halcyon? Elohim looked up in thought - just why had he come? With an easy shrug, he returned his gaze downward and gave an almost mischievous smirk. "I had come with other business but when I realized you were nearby, I thought it would be better to tend to older business too." He spoke easily, brushing over the details with grace though he knew Halcyon would understand in his own way. Yami didn't need to know the entirety of it, of course, unless Halcyon had felt forthcoming in that regard. "You've made Taviora your home now? It does suit you, I think. Are your other children -" he looked briefly at Yami, keeping him within their conversation to some degree "- your sisters?" Then, back to Halcyon, "- here too?" He asked the final question with an edge of hesitancy, for it felt unusual to say it as such while they both knew that Aspis, at least, was still very much...missing. But what of his and Aster's daughters? Elohim had found a peculiar fondness in their mute daughter though he had never been able to learn her true name. To him, she was simply Quietam Puella. Perhaps some part of him regretted not being a closer...friend to Halcyon in the past, for he found himself lamenting at times over whether his influence might have given Aspis some way out. It was folly, of course, but too much time to think often made folly exciting to explore.