"Small and relatively meaningless?" He didn't release his hold but loosened it as she came around to his front, but he tipped his chin down to keep her in his mismatched gaze. "The fewer that know of your workshop the better," he added as his fingers lightly stroked the inside of her wrist. There were only a few that even he entrusted the location to, and he was not looking to expand that list any time soon.

With her in front of him, his other hand rose and swept through her bangs, both to brush them aside for a moment and to remind himself of the impact that he had on her life. That had been his hair style once upon a time, and it hopefully would remain as long as he could convince her that the look suited her. It was one of the few physical tells to the world of who his daughter associated with so strongly, a link to a past him who he had long convinced himself had died. He didn't need anyone, except that he clearly did.

"You've been spending more time with certain little rats lately, haven't you? Are you bored with the tinkering projects I have requested of you?" More bombs, more of a threat that he could wield to his enemies and to keep those who allied with him in line. He stepped in closer, the back of his fingers stroking along her jawline. "Or is it something else that makes them interesting, hmm?"