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Who: Connor, Ziio
Where: Connor's shared residence with Desmond
When: July 15 - Late Afternoon
What: This is a serious and mature discussion about family and additions to the family.
Warnings: Prooooobably not.

A visit was overdue. Ziio had thought it and said it to herself many times. One thing seemed to spring up after another, however. It all began with the bunker investigations. Now they had the Shadow Bugs. There was the crash in the forest with the blond-haired man. It wasn't going to end there and Ziio seemed to know well enough that eventually she'd be following Connor or Gordon down to the pit of things.

Literally or proverbially. The nature didn't seem to matter much any longer. Just that it was an inescapable reality.

A moment's reprieve was something she was grateful for, however. Any moment she could get with her son before things went poorly as she imagined they would in time, was a moment she wanted to take advantage of. And it couldn't hurt for them to catch up. And that was how she found herself at his door, waiting expectantly, and wondering if she might find Desmond on the other side instead.

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Connor had admittedly been very busy again. He was taking frequent trips into town to survey and going in the bunkers for the same reason.

He made sure there was still time to visit his mother, his lover, and what not; but the visits were decreasing day by day.

He returned for a brief rest and regroup on what to do next, but he happened to return to see his very own mother by his door. Now, what his mother did was her own business but he hardly ever had Ziio actually visit his room. Usually, he came to her.

So, naturally, he went to thinking that something was up. This was something happening.

"...Mother?"

She did not need him. Ziio always stood beside the notion that he could do what he wanted to do. Connor was a grown man and not a child, something she respected, though it was difficult for her to do so at times. Sometimes she still wanted to coddle him, but she somehow managed to refrain.

When he answered and greeted her with his own confusion, she could not resist a subtle smile. He was endearing when he didn't know what to think, and she knew she didn't frequently come to see him. Consequently, she tried to remain as composed and relaxed as she could.

"Ratonhnhaké:ton," Ziio greeted him calmly. "Are you busy?"

Connor was a Mama's Boy, he really loved his mother.

He wanted to do anything he could do for his mother as long as she was in his life. If the months away were any indication, being in her presence was a treat. He could go home, where she was not, and at least be content with getting to know her and having the bond he never got to have growing up.

He could be okay with her not being around, he could be okay with have the opportunities this place gave. Regret absolutely nothing.

Despite the current events, he gave her equal as much welcome. He didn't want to assume something bothered her, but he was awful curious about this visit.

"What is it?" Connor conceded as he came to unlock his door to welcome his mother in. "Come in."

She didn't need a second offer. In she showed herself and she took the time to further examine his room. It wasn't a place she had really ever visited much and she'd never taken the time to memorise it. Whatever she was looking for, she didn't seem to find it and it didn't take long for her dark eyes to find his face again.

Ziio stationed herself by his desk, rested a hand upon the surface and she continued. "I only wanted to see how you were doing. Why do you always seem to think I have an ulterior motive?" But she supposed she understood where he was coming from.

The room used to be very bare and humble, with a few adornments of his own culture at the most. But now that Desmond lived here, it became a lot more modern. There was a "game console", so he heard, by the television. A radio on a cabinet along with a variety of different furniture. There was more food and alcoholic beverages around, which Connor didn't partake in. He was certain maybe Ziio wouldn't be interested in that either.

It was how Desmond lived, and Desmond wasn't so loud and crass to shove the lifestyle down Connor's throat. They lived pretty respectfully.

Though back on Ziio, he never outright said he thought there was an "ulterior motive". It just wasn't common, was all he meant.

"You just do not visit here much, is all," Connor respectfully clarified.

It was a little less organised than she expected it to be, but to be fair, she couldn't really hold it against anyone. Desmond was from a completely different time. They were all mostly different people, Connor and Ziio's similarities aside.

She was still smiling a little when she spoke up once more, "Mm. A valid point. I trust you to handle your own situations and predicaments, so I don't feel that I need to see you so frequently. Not that I wouldn't care to. Just that I understand you are a busy man."

Settling her weight onto one hand, she motioned somewhat absentmindedly. "I did have something I wanted to check up on. As a curious mother ought to. Again, only if you have the time. Otherwise, I'll leave as quickly as I came."

No, as long as his mother was here, Connor was to make time for her. Connor nodded, and motioned for a chair instead. She could stay, and be as comfortable as she wanted.

He wanted to trust that he seemed like a capable adult to his mother, so her saying that did make him feel a form of contentedness. Although, he having to check up on something set off a bunch of flags. He held on to his instincts, and won't judge or attempt to protest unless if he got his facts straight and heard her out.

Regardless if she sat down or not, Connor did go and get her some water. Simple, non fuss, and probably something that could just be appreciated in this heat.

He was listening.

She did move to take the chair he offered. Ziio didn't know how long she was going to stay, only that she knew she had no prior engagements to attend to. It was a general indication that the only thing solidified was spending some time with her son.

And inevitably making him uncomfortable. That was to be expected, however, and there was no way to prevent that if she wanted to discuss what had been on her mind. She thought about Connor's future frequently. Like where he was going in it, with whom, and if grandchildren were a part of his plan yet. After all, there was Desmond. He played a vital role in their future.

"I'd like to know how you and your princess are doing." She smiled, almost knowingly. Curiosity was powerful, but she knew she couldn't expect a lifestyle akin to hers and Gordon's.

Connor knew that was all a mother thing. She had been curious about his love affairs and he didn't question it so much since she had a right to be curious. Of all people, his mother did have that right.

Even if it did make him slow down a little mentally, because talking about his love life to someone was still a little dicey for him.

He had no idea how to describe it. Considering, what had happened since he came back. That one time when things were...well.

Connor did his best to be upfront about it as he handed her the cup, knowing very well also that this conversation can now go many directions. He had to play it smart.

"It's...good," he said, trying to find a word, any word. He smiled though, sincerely.

'Good.'

He answered her so succinctly. And it was hard for her not to press for more. So instead, she eyed him for many moments and found her smile growing. She leaned against her chair and thought about how she wanted to proceed. If she came off too strong, he'd flat out refuse to talk with her. If she was too subtle, he'd never understand where she was trying to go.

"It must be," she observed. "You don't normally look that happy where she's involved. Did something go right for you two?"

She smiled when he did, there was nothing more he can ask for. Did that mean she was proud of him? That he managed to find that happiness? That he was doing well for himself? All things considered with the trouble brewing in town, having that brief moment of happiness meant the world.

"Yes," he said, outright again, trying his best to be. To think, it almost didn't go right when he got back. Baby steps, however. Those were the key words.

Finally, he took a seat for himself, content as can be.

"We shared quite a bit with each other lately," he continued. He was referring to when they exposed their bare physiques to each other and grew intimate. That moment...there were no words.

If she'd known the full extent of what he meant, who knew how Ziio would have reacted. She didn't discuss in great detail her relationship with Gordon. Connor knew she appreciated him and she cared about him, but she didn't discuss the full explicit details of their relationship. And she didn't expect him to start laying out his own details either.

No matter how curious she was over the levels they passed with one another.

"You two are..." She paused as she considered the wording. "...serious, then? Is that what you want?"

Connor wouldn't dare prod into private matters of that category. Sure, there were things for a mother and son to share. But her private life with another gentleman (who was his close friend) didn't need to be asked about.

At least, that was how he felt. Who knew what Ziio thought. Knowing her, she probably saw right through him.

As few words as those were, those words did quite strike a nerve and it caused him to pause momentarily. He thought about his words, hard. He thought about his very own thoughts, even harder.

Were Connor and Eirika serious? Was that a safe thing to say? If that time they spent a little while ago meant anything, then perhaps they were. But their discussion still stayed fresh in his mind, and the fact that they seemed to throw it out the window for that moment made it even fresher.

Perhaps he was just conflicted on what he could say, and then a wide amount of feelings sprang up.

"I think," he started. "Perhaps so. Or rather...if that is you would call it, 'serious'."

Connor could still the twinges in his chest from when he exposed himself to Eirika, and how she made his skin become welcoming.

The way he phrased himself and how careful he was certainly puzzled her. Puzzled her in a way that she wasn't truly confused, but mostly curiosity. However, mayhap that was a mother's curiosity regardless of how he said things. He was her son, after all, and though he was certainly no child, Ziio had a hard time simply letting it go.

"Oh?" she began, somewhat pleased despite the lack of an explanation. "And what would you call it?"

Because this reminded her too much of the day he came to see her some months prior. About the issue with the robots, the man called Eggman, and the search for his now 'serious' princess. Except in the present, Connor sounded far more certain and not a part of Ziio was displeased by the fact.

To that, Connor chuckled. A little bit.

Not in any way sarcastic either, it was genuine. She wanted him to just say it, stop beating around the bush and just say it. Weird parental things, it wouldn't get old; not ever.

He was only quiet for a few more seconds, now just deciding he should just admit it. Admit how he felt, it would make his mother happy. Probably. She seemed happy.

"Fine," he said, amused. "I suppose it...it is serious."

It felt so weird, but liberating, to say that. It felt correct, it felt like the right answer.

If he said it, he meant it. And the first time he approached her for advice, Ziio suspected that he would be invested in it. She had, with Haytham, not wanted a short-lived and fleeting romance, though they both eventually realised that's what it would be. If Gordon hadn't come around, Ziio would have condemned herself to loneliness, which wasn't as bad as death, but perhaps a little less joyful than living life, as it were.

So like her son, having a relationship with anyone and actually defining it as such solidified a part of herself that had otherwise been either dormant or missing. And she imagined that it was quite the same for him. Surreal, of course, and at the same time, it gave to him a feeling that without it he would no longer be whole.

Her features softened and she kept her eyes on him, as prying as they were, for he'd opened the proverbial door for her and she simply had to walk through it. "When can Gordon and I expect grandchildren?"

Granted, Connor wouldn't have left her alone. But if she said anything, Connor would understand. Gordon would give her what he never could.

But he, of course, felt no need to say anything. He looked on to her, not knowing where she went with this in particular. Other than motherly curiosity, obviously.

Then Ziio opened her mouth, and he felt his throat instantly close.

In front of his mother, he froze. He completely, undeniably, froze. He tried to not look like a deer in headlights, just shifting his eyes.

He couldn't even...think of a response to that, not at all.

His silence wasn't completely surprising. If anything, she expected it, especially with such a sensitive subject. Connor didn't handle even talking about his princess well. Discussing the actual relationship seemed next to impossible, so Ziio had considered perhaps she was prying a bit too much.

On the other hand, she knew he wouldn't discuss it voluntarily. Consequently, she had to pry a little more than she knew he was comfortable with her doing. Otherwise, she'd get nowhere. So mayhap in time he would forgive her. After all, they were both doing their best to be a little more open about important things.

She smiled knowingly and waited patiently, in the event that he would cough up an explanation. "I know you've had to have given it some thought. This world gives you a freedom you otherwise wouldn't have had. Here, you can think about a future with her. In the same right, I can think of my own future as well. It'd be impossible not to at least consider it."

It was just difficult for him to discuss it openly sometimes. He wouldn't want to speak for Eirika, as much as he had wanted to keep their relationship since it mattered so much to him.

They always thought about the future. But a future with each other a year or more later was up to them, wasn't it? That was the thing that was a little hard to predict. Connor was optimistic, but their lives were so different that they were just going to have to hope and work towards it. If it all came out well, then it was all worth it.

Then it came to the conversation with his mother, who patiently looked over to speak with him. Waiting for anything, any words at all. He had to give something.

This was the purpose though, wasn't it? Of course it was. It wasn't so much under-handed as it was curiosity making his mother sneaky.

"I would be lying if I said I have not," Connor said, almost bluntly. "Because I do know that. But I cannot...raising a family is something sacred and you should be prepared. Committed."

"And you are afraid of being committed to her."

Except no. That couldn't be right. Ziio tapped at her chin with some consideration. No. That wasn't it at all. Because he was the one who seemed quite willing to chase after her fine skirts. Love had a way of doing that. A person would reach for something they wanted when they realised they wanted it. She hadn't been too different with Haytham. He could have gone and she wouldn't allow him to.

"No. That's not it," she corrected herself without Connor's input. "You're concerned about her commitment to you." Her eyebrows lifted as she eyed him, as if trying to see if that's what the underlying implication was.

He was so close to saying something, because her first comment truly wasn't corrected. But Connor didn't even have to open his mouth, she corrected herself.

After a few seconds, he nodded, slowly.

"I refuse to force a future with her, unless that is also what she wants," he said, maybe a little more sadly than he would want. But that was how it came out and he didn't stop it either.

"I can only reach out so far before it would too much for her," he continued. "I have my duties and she has hers, I can only wish to pursue that sort of life unless I know we could both be comfortable. If there is one thing I have learned is that courtships are only as strong as what the two of them do together."

So he didn't know what she wanted. Or he did and it hadn't worked out in his favour. Except that didn't seem likely either, for he had said that things were going well between them. There had been enough of a pause in him that she knew well enough that there was more present than what he'd chosen to say, but she was going to leave it as it was.

"The strength of courtships..." She had to think about that and it didn't take a genius to realise she was comparing her relationship to that of ideal courtships. She and Gordon were certainly serious enough that they were together most nights. And most of the time, Ziio kept Gordon's thoughts in mind, even if she didn't outright say so. "Hm. That's an interesting way to say it."

Ziio nodded, however, and didn't bother coughing up a protest, because there was nothing to refute what he said. "When you decide you want a future with her, you should tell her. Find out what she wants in hers and how you fit into it. You have known her longer than when I knew your father, and it didn't take me long to know what I wanted."

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