Blood from Stone [AU]

[Smith Family]

"Seli noticed a few things and- well, I'd noticed I've been a bit poor in the mornings but- she did the spells this morning and- oh Cindy!" her mother gushes, stepping in to pull Cindy into an embrace again.

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy hugs her mother tight. "Wow," she says, giddily. "A sister and an aunt both, at the same time!"

[Smith Family]

"What?" Jaina asks, giving Cindy a wide-eyed look. "But- who- Will isn't even-"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No, no-- Sorry, Liz's sister!"

[Smith Family]

That throws Jaina for a moment, her mind already having made some assumptions. "I- oh. Liz's... young Bethany? She's... not married, if I recall correctly?" she asks tentatively.

[Tethras Clan]

"Not traditionally, but as I understand it, she's been in a long-term relationship with a catfolk, one of their leaders, I think. They don't practice monogamy, so she's likely just following their culture," Seli says evenly.

[Smith Family]

"I- I see," Jaina says, not entirely approving but accepting her friend's word for the rightness of it. "Well. Then yes, a sibling and a niece or nephew all in the same year. And... perhaps a marriage?" she hints unabashedly. 

The wounded but still loving waif thing far outweighs the unconventionalness of a female-female relationship in Jaina's mind. Plus, she loves her daughter and wants her to be happy. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"We-- we'll see," she says, blushing. "Liz isn't ready and I'm not going to pressure her."

[Tethras Clan]

"Good for you," Seli says firmly. "There's no need to rush things. Best do them right instead, focusing on the comfort and care of those involved."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Indeed," says Cindy, surprised. "That's exactly it."

[Tethras Clan]

Seli laughs softly. "I should share with yo the story of how I courted and finally seduced a widowed and up till then, apparently hetrosexual Vangalite paladin while married. Slow and gentle are key." She winks at Jaina. "Jaina certainly enjoyed hearing it."

[Smith Family]

Jaina blushes a deep red and turns around to fuss with the food, slipping the ceramic dish into the oven.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I ah, I rather suspect our story is a bit different, but I'll take your word for it."

Cindy hasn't spoken much about what happened to her, where she went, where she met Liz, what they found in common. Nor does she speak about the Delve she needed, nor Liz's delve or trauma. She's preferred, where possible, to direct the conversation to the present, the future. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Of course. Every story is different. But I suspect some aspects are shared to more stories than people would suspect," Seli replies. 

[Smith Family]

"Right, yes, of course," Jaina agrees, still sounding a bit flustered. More than the tease might seem to warrant, on the surface of things. "Ah... So. Baby. I wanted to know if you and Liz could come over for dinner tonight. For baby talk- and the reveal." She coughs. "And then if Will can stay the night here with you?"