smash_logs | jingle bell jingle bell jingle bell

Wow.

Connor thought that was so funny, he forgot to laugh. Was that really her being sarcastic? Well, that was mighty rude. Or maybe she doesn't know. He remembered when he first saw it happen...

"On my first day on these grounds, I saw a person turn into one of them. A boy turned into a odd looking stag. Like it was nothing. But he was in perfect health," he just...kept talking. W h a t ever.

He actually went to pick it up, and the bird was too weak to really object to it. Or maybe it knew it was being saved. In any case, it was just weakly chirping and pathetically shifting closer into the warmth of Connor's hold. Its eyes were closed shut like it was in pain.

"I could bandage up the wing and take it to a clinic. I have learned you have to take them to a special doctor."

"You obviously missed the part where I said I assaulted one unintentionally." Ziio shook her head and refrained from rolling her eyes because it really was sort of like him just to roll over what she said in favour of whatever his one-track mind was paving.

"Although I was unaware of the doctor," she admitted. "The one I knew of I took back with me and administered to his wounds."

She looked from Connor in the direction of the academy, not something she could see from where she stood, but knew of the direction well enough. "Were you thinking of the one in the town or the academy? Either ought to do, I think."

It wasn't really that...he just didn't know what to say to it. So he just...didn't. Unless if it was dead, then she would say right? Or well, she wouldn't be here if she killed him/her. The justice system catches up easier here.

Did you want for him to scold you?

"It is not that," he said in defense. He really was only thinking of this thing being weak and injured in his hands. But her comment made him take a breath. Okay, he just needed to take one step back for a moment.

"...We should just discuss it later. We can do something now for this one."

He looked to the academy.

"We can start at the academy."

So the real question that came out of this was...

"Do you need me to go with you?" Because it wasn't like he was some child any longer and she couldn't see much of a use in both of them going together for the sake of the bird. Aside from simple company for her son, which she was fine with, but she knew he was about as independent as she was, so it seemed somewhat unwarranted for her to immediately join him.

He found it. It was his bird- for the time being -until it poofed into a person (if it did). She was just a witness to the situation.

But it was odd...it was hard for Connor to abruptly leave his mother. Despite his own independence, feeling of independence. How was that so? He was with his mother at least a little every day.

Besides...he was curious to how it went down with the walking plant....God, walking plants, seriously.

"We can go together," he said.

...

"You have cloth, do you?"

...Wait, he forgot.

"Actually, there is something I must discuss with you as well," he said, still holding on to the bird. "On the way."

Edited 2013-12-09 02:05 (UTC)

She nodded to him, which was meant to be an answer to both matters pertaining to the situation. Cloth was something easy and she usually had some on her, just for the possibly inevitable injury.

"Yes. We should be well," she replied as she reached into one of the satchels she'd brought along. Withdrawing a smaller bundle of what seemed to be tan linen, she offered it over to him. "We can keep it warm." Because she was pretty sure that was what he wanted.

In the back of her mind, however, she felt her nerves flare up a bit. He had something to discuss and while she didn't ask about it, she had a hard time not wondering what it was that he wanted. It couldn't be anything good if he was looking to discuss it.

"Thank you," he regarded as he accepted those cloths, kindly and calmly. The bird seemed to also calm itself, now feeling like it was being saved and not the other way around. It snuggled up to Connor's arms, actually. Feeling safe. It understood. Connor knew the Pokemon here can react to humans, he had seen it. So, uh...we can try talking to it now.

"Come...you are safe, we will find you a doctor that can help."

Tweet.

He started walking, but looking behind so Mom knew she was free to follow.

Tweet, indeed.

And Ziio was sort of certain that Connor would eventually adopt everything if he could. A lover of nature and the world, which she would have wanted for him. He was softer than her in nearly all ways, and she admired it, because it was so different from her. Even without deception in her history, she had chosen to hardening even more over time, but he...

In the face of it all, he was not brutal. And Ziio loved that about her son.

She followed after him, taking the opportunity to scout and look around as they wandered. He could keep an eye on his bird, and she would steer him appropriately, at least until they got to the infirmary. And then from there, she wasn't sure what she'd do.

"How long until you start adopting children?" she asked him off-handedly, with a smile she was content to hold as long as he couldn't see her.

Ulp.

Why ask this. Why. It always got him at least a little flustered to be speaking of such things.

Can't let her know...!

But it did make him flush before putting his head down, almost a little shyly.

"Mother..." Connor simply trailed. "That is..."

Fail.

She cocked an eyebrow and was good about not chuckling, despite the way one wanted to escape. For she wasn't laughing at him, but rather that she thought it a bit sweet to see her son still so modest when it came to a world of adulthood. He had already, after all, made his decisions for that young woman of his. Perhaps her requirements for grandchildren of a sort were something he'd not considered a possibility.

Or he had and it was just a little embarrassing to discuss with her.

"You are of that age," she reminded him. "Undoubtedly your father and I would both be pleased by it. Could it be that you have decided your princess is not fit for just such a thing? Her world would be undoubtedly different and royalty seems difficult to please, if not fleeting with their affections."

It was a lot embarrassing. He didn't want to have this conversation. Abort, abort etc.

This wasn't not only the time, as he was more focused on the bird. But fine, you wanted to talk about this first? Fine. He will humor her for it. Especially since she said questionable things.

"She is not like that," he replied. "It is not like that, Mother. I hardly think it is the right time to even talk such things. We hardly started courting."

Too far ahead. So many things in between. You're going from A to G as opposed to A to B, Ziio. Too many unknowns and uncertainties. It just made Connor blush more.

She was not like that. Ziio wondered which part of what she said he was contesting. For her, it was idle conversation. Connor didn't have to stop to talk with her, and she genuinely wanted to know what he planned to do with his life. It was unfair to compare herself to him and her life's accomplishments. Although she supposed she had to hand it to him.

Somehow in his busy schedule, he'd managed to hold onto a love affair, despite its inevitable short-lived romance, she was sure. Almost, anyway.

"She is not like what. A young foolish girl with juvenile eyes and a fickle heart, or unfit for motherhood?" she asked nonchalantly, though genuinely curious. Although the age was less a problem and the fickle heart more the issue.

"Neither...she is a fine woman, Mother," Connor protested. Maybe a bit protectively. A little.

"She bears a lot of responsibility. More than what most should carry. She tries to be strong-" Connor stopped himself.

"Nay, she is strong. She would make any man proud and lucky."

Of course, he would say such good things.

"I think you underestimate the things a person is capable of," Ziio pointedly replied. "This... girl, for instance. From what you have said, a position of leadership, which means she is accustomed to having influence and knows well how to control people, without being apparent about it. And she is strong, meaning she is aware of the power she has and how to wield it."

Joining at Connor's side, her head tipped, "I did say so before. Tread this path with caution, my son. Eyes invested become blind and filled with denial. Do as you will, and if she genuinely brings you joy, then cherish it, but do not lose yourself too easily. I fear her position would leave you without one. What is there for her to gain from you in comparison to what she must be used to?"

Not to hurt his feelings, but rather to point out the reality of the situation. Dreams had a way of ending.

A lot of sides of Connor tried coming out at once. On one, Connor was annoyed and defensive. What? She didn't approve? Didn't like her? Should it even matter? Did she trust him? What did she want him to do then? Be paranoid? Break it off? When he went there, he got a little sad, hurt even. He was happy now. As realistic that could be, did she have to remind him of that? He found happiness, so what else needed to be really said? Then it went over to...she was his mother, concerned. Didn't WANT him hurt. Maybe. He wasn't sure.

It's not like Connor didn't have some trust issues. But he cared for her. Mom and Eirika. He didn't want to argue about it. Even as much emotions as there were. It took a while for him to format a good response. So he had to think, else he might show rage or anger then regret it later.

"I knew there were risks," he said. Submitting a little. Just a little. "So did she. I went to her knowing there can difficulty on the way."

"Trust me, Mother. Trust that I can survive an ordeal should one come up."

Even though this was so new, and he might have more difficulty from that...he was doing it mostly on his own for over twenty years. Remember that, Ziio.

"She makes me happy, I do not think she would ever do harm. I have seen the cruel hand of royalty. I just feel she is...different from that."

And if Connor had gotten angry, Ziio would have wasted no time in reminding him of her and Haytham and how she had been hopeful and how that had been completely destroyed. And it affected Ziio even in the present, even past death. Love was something akin to a sharp blade and living through being impaled with it was not an enjoyable experience. And yet he didn't argue with her and didn't tell her anything that would have set her off.

Instead, he spoke with reason and as his mother, his confidant, and to some degree- a friend, she listened, with as little judgement as she could. Naturally she wanted to protect him from things, but as she'd told herself before, he wasn't a child and she had to stop treating him like one. (Part of the reason she was rather on the 'up and up' about his own coming of children.)

"It is not you I do not trust," she reassured him. "Although at times, I concern your gentle heart will lead you to being hurt. You are my son, my only child. It is important that you be able to have the things I could not. I am determined to see you endure a life not as mine was."

Naturally she wanted the best for him. She wanted him to be happy. She wanted every dream of his to come true, whatever those might have been, and if she had the power to, she wanted to give that to him. But it wasn't quite that simple or that easy, and she was aware of it.

A pause. And she awkwardly continued, "I love you. That is all I meant." And she couldn't remember herself saying it too often before. An infrequently rare set of words to come from her, and she knew well enough that she'd apologise before wanting to say anything kind or affectionate of a sort.

How bad must it have been then...to be dead one moment when you were so small to then see your kin grown. It was still hard to think about. His mother was here, had to be around the same age as he. That was when she died.

Life went on and on, without her. Without guidance. Hard as it was, he still thought about it.

She spoke of a mother at times when it would strike his heart the most, and it gave him sadness and joy at the same time.

It was that sort of time in which Connor felt more like savoring than regretting. As he was carrying that injured bird. It probably set off more feelings in them both more than they thought. The bird was snuggling up to his chest, like a small child would. What he could imagine he did when he was even younger than when she passed on. It was a little overwhelming, but he was quick to transfer that into a reaction. A sane one. Connor had few outbursts after all. Very few.

"I know, Mother..." Connor said. "Thank you. I promise, I will be as wise with my actions. I can only promise. These gifts that have been given to me, to this day I still find it a hard medicine to take. I almost feel as if I were much younger, perhaps it is all better late than never."

True that in watching him, she saw then not only a reflection of herself, but also perhaps the birth of her son becoming a man. What would he be like as a father? Considering the closest one he had was Achilles, that was hard to say. Haytham having been absent as much as she was, and likely less of a father when they reunited later on in life. In most ways, Connor seemed the Templar's opposite and it relieved Ziio to know such a wall existed. Although she still would have preferred it if they could have been a family together.

Tentatively, she lifted a hand and rubbed at his shoulder reassuringly. A brief touch and not one that lasted long for they both weren't too into that, except with those they trusted. So themselves naturally. But she couldn't picture him being okay with Gordon coming up behind him and patting him on the back of taking him by the arm. In fact, she was relatively certain he wouldn't like that at all.

"True enough," she agreed. "I know you will do your best to look out for yourself, and I will also look out for you. I will not interfere so directly with your life, however, only to offer my opinion where I think you will need it. Guidance periodically."

He wouldn't mind...too much. He wouldn't be fond of it, but Gordon wasn't so much a stranger at all or abrupt. But a mother's touch was different and he was never to turn down Mother's company in any way, shape, or form. If Gordon did come up to touch him like so, it might make a little discomfort. A lot of hell of discomfort.

He just couldn't help but smile a little at his mother. If she trusted him, that meant a lot to him. "I told you I would be more open with myself, I will keep doing so."

Her chin lifted when she heard him and she kept her eyes on him briefly and then gave a short little nod. And what followed along with it was a half smile, one she'd given several times, but not to several people. Because she really couldn't resist.

"Implying you do mean to tell me when I can expect grandchildren." He wasn't escaping that. He just wasn't.

When it...HAPPENS. It wasn't happening NOW. Connor made one more bashful look he tried to hide before shaking it off. He remember now what he had also set out to do today.

"Actually...there is something of other matters I wanted to discuss."

He didn't forget about bird, trust me. Connor was moving at a good pace. Safe to assume they were near indoors by now.

Her smile grew, but she relented, believing she'd made her point explicitly clear. She wanted to be kept informed of his decisions and of what he chose to do with his time. Not everything, but the important things. Settling down with a family was an important thing, as was his decided wooing of the princess he so desired.

~~She didn't even know he knew how to woo a woman. Achilles, you sly dog, you.~~

"Yes, I remember you said you had something to talk about with me." And Ziio hadn't forgotten. So she nodded and motioned for him to continue. "Speak then. You have my attention."

"It is of importance, you have every right to know. Though not as lighthearted as new kin, I am afraid," Connor said outright. Probably one of the most outright things he had said to his mother.

"But you really should know there is another from our land here. I had known him before but then he vanished...he had just now come to me again."

Ziio wouldn't get a word out before he continued.

"He is an Assassin like I. Though from this day and age, the future from us."

Just the thought of new kin made Ziio smile. The kind of smile she really didn't give to just anyone, and it was clear and transparent that the idea of being a grandparent was a very appealing one. There was a good deal of pride that she got from watching her son grow. It was hard, undoubtedly, but he was her son and by Iottsitíson, did she love him a great deal. Even if she had a difficult time saying it, or showing it. And yet she did.

She grew serious, however, when she heard him.

"...An Assassin?" she asked with interest. Her eyebrows lifted, "The very same Brotherhood and Creed we know? From the future... I was unaware we had anyone like that here. Or that you knew of him."

"He was here before but he had gone before I had gotten to know of him. I only learned he knew of our legacy, that and the rest of our kind."

He was stroking the bird as it shivered. Now inside, it had to adjust to the temperature. It was much more comfortable, if a lot confusing for it. He chirped a few times before laying his head down to rest.

"But yes...it would seem he is. He had just returned today actually right before I was to meet you. He said he had something to tell me. But I...I had wanted to tell you first before speaking more with him as our hunting meet was the best way to tell you."

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