Blood from Stone [AU]

[Helene Dakesh]

"Correct. This one considered Xe, Xem, and Xir," they add, naming terms for celestials whose gender does not map to any mortal concept, "but this one has determined that Ne, Nem, Nir is more accurate."

[GamesMaster]

"So, just to check, you use it in a sentence like..." Don frowns. "Helene went to the store, and Ne brought home some cookies? They are Nem's cookies? Something like that?" 

[Bethany]

"It's kind of a pattern really. He, she, ne. His, her, nir. Him, her, nem." Almost positive I did that right. "So... Ne went to the store to get nir new shoes of which I think really suit nem." A pause. "Right?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, smiling broadly. It's actually a little odd to see -- ne never smiles this broadly, never seems quite this happy. It's almost euphoric, as though ne had taken some odd new drug or drank some new cocktail, but there's a hint of pride in it, a sense of being pleased with nemself. "Yes, exactly so."

[Bethany]

Beth grins broadly, then slips out of her chair to approach Helene. "I would say this really suits you- suits nim, right Don?" That said, she twitches her arms out in silent request to give Helene a hug.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene embraces nir stepdaughter tightly, giving an unsteady laugh. "I think so."

[GamesMaster]

Don gets up, padding towards them, though he doesn't crowd Helene. "I'm bound to screw up once or twice, but I'm really happy for you," he says, tail twitching. "You is still correct, right?"

[Bethany]

"Yeah, pretty sure," Beth assures him. "Actually... I don't think... is there a non-you second person pronoun in common?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"No. Technically, there isn't my pronoun in common either -- even 'they' is disputed among strict grammar prescriptivists. However, the differing second-person pronouns in celestial do not change according to gender, and so, 'you' is still appropriate here."

[GamesMaster]

"Then I'm definitely happy for you," says Don, smiling faintly. 

[Bethany]

"I think they have ones the differentiate between singular, plural, and many-in-one, but yeah, nothing for gender," Bethany agrees, still hugging Helene. She doesn't get a lot of cuddling with either of her parents, given how touch averse they usually are so she's not going to waste this chance.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene does pull back after a few moments, dabbing at nir eyes. "Thank you both. I am eager to tell my husband, but unfortunately, I have no idea where he is. Ah, but, I do suspect that, were he here, he would tell this one to rest," ne admits, sheepishly. "So, this one shall obtain a few hours rest, and then go searching once more. Please, enjoy your day, both of you." So saying, ne bows, beginning to back out of the room.

[Bethany]

"I'm going to make sandwiches in a bit- I'll make you up a plate and leave it in the cooler. Eat them when you get up," Beth calls after nem. Laughing, she turns to Don. "That was so great. Thank you," she adds, voice low and soft.

[GamesMaster]

Don plants a kiss on her cheek. "Of course. I don't think I've ever seen your parent that excited."

[Bethany]

Beth shakes her head a little, leaning against him. "Yeah... last time I can think of was when that Seeker from Runis, the beholder, came to town for that conference on magic based entropy." Only Nyra, seriously. "I love you all the more for being so good about... the strangeness of my family. It... it makes me feel so much more comfortable about the future."