“I would like that as well,” Tevos replies, a smile making its way to her lips. “That would mean a lot, actually.” Pleasant familial interaction was a skill that Tevos still needed heavy practice in…but she’s trying.
Liselle’s eyes are bright, and she looks happier than she has in a little while. She knows Tevos is trying to be a good mother, and she appreciates the effort more than anything. “Great!” she chirps. Her face falls then, but it looks more thoughtful than unhappy. “… Have you met my bondmate yet? I have no idea if I’ve ever introduced you two.”
Tevos is entertaining somewhat of a grim smile, only due to her ineptness in comfortable, casual interaction. “We have not been introduced, no.” She replies quietly, arms down at her sides. The butterfly-feeling deep in her core and the tingling in the back of her neck worries her; she hopes it’s normal. She’s almost uncertain with herself when it comes to anything less than business-savvy, so she intends to work on her level of comfort.
Hopefully, the crawling sensation in her lower back won’t last much longer while around her child. Because if Tevos is sure of one thing, it’s that it’s not a sensation a normal mother experiences. And she intends to sever that awful point in time from her current person.
“I suppose it does.” Tevos responds with a quiet sigh. “ - I just meant that it does not feel like you are an adult, considering how little I know you…It’s a shame.”
She smiles, rubbing the back of her neck for a moment. “Well, I’m gonna be around a lot for the next while so … Maybe you can get a chance to get to know me better? I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you, Mom.”
“I would like that as well,” Tevos replies, a smile making its way to her lips. “That would mean a lot, actually.” Pleasant familial interaction was a skill that Tevos still needed heavy practice in…but she’s trying.
“That is a beautiful name, Liselle,” Tevos replies, smiling gently. “I mean to say that I have only recently gotten to know you and that you were still a child, but that now you are a full-grown woman. …Hard to believe, is all….”
“Time flies, huh?" She smiles a little, and then steps closer to her mother. She chuckles. "I’ve been full-grown for a long time now, Mom. But I guess it’s only now that I’m actually acting like it.”
“I suppose it does.” Tevos responds with a quiet sigh. “ - I just meant that it does not feel like you are an adult, considering how little I know you…It’s a shame.”
“…Expecting? … Expecting a child? So soon?”
"Yeah, a daughter. Her name’s gonna be Hira." She pauses. "I’m only about three weeks along right now … What do you mean by ‘so soon’?”
“That is a beautiful name, Liselle,” Tevos replies, smiling gently. “I mean to say that I have only recently gotten to know you and that you were still a child, but that now you are a full-grown woman. …Hard to believe, is all….”
“Liselle? What is it?”
“Nothing, uh, bad, it’s just something I figured I should tell you sooner rather than later. Anyway, my … partner and I … we’re expecting.”
“…Expecting? … Expecting a child? So soon?”
If Tevos had found Liselle instead of Aria….))
“Perhaps I could fit you for a commando uniform? Act as if you are my niece?” She cannot help but smile at her daughter’s antics, shaking her head.
“I think it would be safer for me to pretend to be your niece.” She pauses, thinking. “I could always just take my old name again. Y’know, ‘Liselle Rani’. I’d only come up as dead if they arrested me or something, and I’m not gonna give them a reason to.”
“Yes, that is probably the safest idea.” Tevos replies, a small nod of her head accompanying her words. “And I am glad to hear you say that, what with your father’s reputation and all.”
[ ∞ x uhhh well ∞ uvu ]
