"Some people have a hard time letting go of their independence, Rajni," Asha explains. "She just needs to be reminded that she's no less of a person just because she's pregnant."
She nods, remembering how hard it had been for her to deal with having people that loved and worried about her now. "Yeah....I can understand that. I try not to make her feel that way....I just....she just seems so tired and I guess...I just didn't want her to feel like she had to deal with everything alone. Some people just have a hard time asking for help, even when they need it. She seemed okay with it once I offered...so I just left it at that. You think that was okay mama?" She didn't want to make Arista feel like less of a person, she was just trying to help.
Asha nods. "That was probably the best that you could do. Well, you and Dillon enjoy your dinner."
She nods and gives her mama a hug, "Okay mama, I'll see you later. Love you." She says as she takes his hand and looks up at him with a smile, "Ready to go love?"
Dillon nods. "Yes. Have a good night, Miss Asha."
He then walks with Rajni to Hadrinn's.
** spoiler omitted **
Undressing, she slips beneath the covers and drifts off to a peaceful sleep.
"You both make sense. Better to do this right than rush in at the chance to finish this quickly." Sadhana says after a moment of thought."How about we fly ahead to pinpoint his location but wait until everyone catches up to take him out? Should give us time to scout the defenses."
Sighing softly into the loving kiss, Rhadaya settles back. Tes knew how to take care of her in every way possible, something for which she was eternally and indescribably grateful. "Mmm, I think I’ll start with a grape.” she giggles.
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"I didn't know he was a Vampire when I was fighting him before. Now that we know it'll be different." Cyna says.
Sādhanā grins at Cyna's statement knowing how utterly deadly the ranger could be when she set her eyes on a target.
Giggling slightly she plucks a grape from the bunch she has lying on the platter and holds it up to Rhy's lips before taking one for herself. After Rhy takes the grape from her she grabs her glass of wine and heads around to the other side of the bed. Setting her wine glass down on the bedside table closest to her, she sets the tray down as well before climbing into the bed with Rhy and props herself up with pillows as well so she could lean back while enjoying their snack and wine in bed. She brings the platter back to her lap and picks her wine glass back up. Holding her wine glass up to Rhy she says, "To the most beautiful and loving woman in all of Vesaria....maybe even the universe." She says with a smile and a slight blush before drinking to her wife.
"Alright," Ylrhea says. "We'll follow you."
Sienna grants herself flight and prepares to follow Cyna.
Arista lets out a sigh as they get back to her families home, "Thank you so much Rajni...for everything. If you'll just set those down on the counter I can start cooking right away." She says as she sees Rajni to the door, watching her walk away for a bit before going back to the kitchen to start dinner while Celine played on the floor in the living room.
She carefully seasons the whole bird she got from the market and starts it cooking while she gets the vegetables to go with it. Once her vegetables are ready she gets out another pan and makes some dough for fresh biscuits. She was hoping that her roasted chicken and vegetables with biscuits would be ready by the time Alethiro got home.
She plays on the floor with Celine while the vegetables cook. Every thirty minutes or so she pours more juice over the chicken and checks the vegetables. After two hours the meat seems very tender, but some of the vegetables still seem a little hard so she recovers the pot and reduces the fire a little so the embers are just smoldering in the oven before putting the large iron baking dish with their dinner in it back inside. She'd wait another thirty minutes or so before putting the biscuits in. If Alethiro wasn't home by the time dinner was ready, she'd just feed herself and Celine and set aside a plate for him that he could have whenever he got in.
Going back out to the living room where she left Celine, she watches her as she picks out the different shapes and puts them in the correct places in the puzzle. She's even more amazed when Celine can name about three or four of them without help. She really needed to see about that school.
On the way to Hadrinn's she just sort of leans into him as they walk together and is a little quiet as they reach the restaurant.
"You okay?" Dillon asks Rajni before they go inside.
She nods, "Yeah honey...I don't know, I guess I was just off somewhere else for a moment. Sorry...I'm fine though, really." She says before stretching up to give his cheek a kiss.
"If you say so, but, if there's anything you want to talk about, let me know," Dillon says.
Arista hears a knock at the door.
Getting up from the floor she goes to the door and opens it.
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Esme smiles at Arista as she opens the door. "I could smell your cooking from my house. I thought I'd drop in and say hello."
She thinks for a minute as they walk inside, absentmindedly tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Looking up at him she says, "I...I guess I was just thinkin'....bout Celine and stuff, well not her specifically...but as I was watching her today, she was just so cute. I mean....I know there's a difference between watching someone else's little one for a few hours and....and actually having one of your own.....but....but maybe I'm warming up to the idea a little. Not for a while yet still....but....it's got me thinkin' bout it I guess." She sort if just lets it all spill out at once, not even sure herself of where all these thoughts were coming from. Shaking her head she says, "Sorry Dillon....I'm not sure where all that came from."
Dillon chuckles as they find a table and sit. "That's fine. I'm not sure I'm ready to be a father yet either. It's good to know the option's on the table though."
Sitting down she chuckles slightly, "Oh...I'd say it's pretty safe to say that it's definitely on the table. Just....just not right away. I just...it's something I might want someday." She looks down a little, a slight quiver to her voice.
Arista lets out a girlish squeal before wrapping her arms around Esme in a hug, "Oh....Oh Esme! I'm so happy to see you!" Releasing Esme from her bear hug she steps back, "YES...yes...of course. Please come in. Would you like to stay for dinner? It should be ready in about thirty minutes....oh....the biscuits. I need to put them in the oven. Celine...Auntie Esme is here." She calls out with a smile as she hears the small feet running through the house. She moves out of the way just in time as Celine, who has a running start, leaps up into the air at the last moment and flies right into her aunties arms, wrapping her arms around her neck before giving her kisses.
Standing back Arista snickers, "Okay...okay Celine. Not so rough baby. Be gentle baby. As you can see Esme....she doesn't need her braces anymore. Let me go start those biscuits. Can you get the door for me Esme?" She heads to the kitchen and leaves Esme with Celine wrapped around her neck.
In her auntie's arms she laughs at the look of surprise on her face, "Got you auntie Esme!" She laughs again before squeezing a little and giving her another kiss.
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Esme narrows her eyes as Arista walks away then smiles at Celine. "Yes, you did."
She shuts the door with her foot before heading into the kitchen. "Where's that husband of yours? He never seems to be around whenever I see you."
Nyder walks up to Rajni and Dillon's table. "Good evening. What can I get you to drink?"
Giving him a smile she asks, "Could I have a hot tea please with some lemon and honey?"
Feeling Esme's eyes on her, she giggles as she heads to the kitchen. As Esme asks her about Alethiro, she shrugs before taking the pan of biscuit dough that has risen since she put them in the pan and using a little bit of butter she spreads it very lightly on the tops to give them a golden brown look and buttery taste as they cook. As she works she says, "I don't know...something about investigating something in the mines for Lovecraft. Who knows....he apparently took on some tasks for the temple and sent some of the others to deal with one of them, while he collected Pandi and Charity to help him look around down in the mines...which...I'm glad he's not going alone...it's just...I don't know." She finishes with a sigh before checking the chicken. The meat all but falls off the bone and she nods approvingly before making room in the oven for the pan of biscuits, "Well...dinner should be ready in about fifteen to twenty minutes now." She says, changing the subject as she really didn't want to get into what they found out in the woods.
Esme sighs inwardly. "It does smell really good."
"I'll have a lemonade," Dillon says.
"I'll be right back," Nyder says, heading to get the couple's drinks.
Looking at Esme as she holds onto a clingy Celine she tries not to chuckle, "You don't need to keep holding onto her if you don't want to Esme. It's okay to go ahead and put her down, she has toys in the other room. Don't you Celine. Can you go play with your toys and let mommy and aunt Esme talk?"
Celine looks from her mommy to her auntie with her lower lip stuck out. Looking into Esme's eyes she says, "I hold you?"
Getting that look on her face her tone changes slightly, "Celine...I asked you to go in the other room and play with your toys. Please be a good girl and do what I say Celine." She just stands there a moment to give Celine the chance to be good and do as she's told.
Hearing that tone in her mommy's voice she decides not to press her luck. Looking sadly at her auntie she says in a sad little voice, "Okay mommy....I go play now. Sowrry aunt Esme..." Her lower lip quivers slightly as she releases Esme from her iron grip and lowers herself to the floor before walking slowly into the living room.
Arista just sighs and moves to put the kettle on, "So...you gonna stay for dinner or what? Can I get you anything to drink?"
Nyder returns with Rajni and Dillon's drinks. "Now what can I get you to eat?"
Feeling her stomach start to growl she asks, "Does he have any specials tonight?"
Esme chuckles as Celine heads to the living room. "Sure, I'll stay for dinner. I don't have anything better to do. I'll just have some water for now. I might change my mind once dinner's ready."
She nods and gets her some water in a cold tankard, "Here ya go." She says as she hands her the tankard. Going to the cupboards she starts gathering the dishes to set the table with before getting a cup down for her tea. Selecting a tea bag she pours the hot water in the cup before adding the bag. As her tea steeps she sets everything on the table, "So....have you talked much with Mirrin recently?" She asks innocently.
"A spiced deer steak with buttered potatoes and asparagus," Nyder answers.
"A little," Esme says. "She's been through some stuff."
Sienna smacks her forehead then touches Magestreia and Ylrhea. "Duh. I forgot I can let you fly too. Ammon, why don't you head back to town and let Barclay know what's going on with the so-called cultists and the vampire guy?"
"The special sounds good. I'll have that," Dillon says.
She nods, "Yeah...that sounds good to me too. Could we please have some rolls as well, and if he has some could I have a side salad with some of his dressing before the dinner please?" Her cheeks turn slightly darker, "Sorry...I guess I really worked up an appetite after lunch. I didn't think I was this hungry...but sitting here and smelling everything...I just feel like I'm starving."
She looks contemplative as she adds a little honey and milk to her tea, "I....I can't even begin to imagine. I just....I don't know everything...but I know she's suffered a lot of loss and I can understand that...like really really well...but...I hope she knows there are people here that will do whatever they can to help her. I just....I know what it's like to feel all alone...and I don't want her to think that she's alone....or that we don't care about what she's gone through. Ya know?" She sits down for a moment as the smell of the biscuits cooking fills the kitchen where they sit. She sips on her tea a little before looking up at Esme and then back down again.
Esme nods. "She knows she's not alone. Now...what's going on with you?"
"I'll see what I can do," Nyder says, heading to the kitchen.