That One Talk

The winter has quite thoroughly arrived. When it does not snow, the clear evenings bring deep cold. The wind along the Redridge does not improve the situation. Fortunately, stone is an excellent insulator and hearths burn merrily.

The home upon the hill, as some in the city may have come to address it, is toasty and comfortable. Verna is, as well, or certainly moreso that many recent days. The lovely evening meal has settled within her and she has settled into her favorite chair. It is no great shock that she has a half-cup of tea nearby as she peruses a book. Or attempts to.

Hunter currently assists from upon her lap... by either standing atop the page she attempts to read, batting at page-corners when turned, attempting to climb her house clothing, and other 'helpful' feline maneuvers. "Please, Hunter, attempt to behave yourself." Her tone is more exasperated than harsh, and when an attempt to push him aside results in him nuzzling, her pushing hand polymorphs into more of a petting.

Auranar comes downstairs, her hair wet and wearing her bathrobe with a towel done up in her hair. She smiles immediately upon seeing the kitten relaxing and playing with Verna. "I know he came demon-possessed, but I'm glad that we brought him in anyways. He's the perfect addition to our home." She moves down the stairs and slides into her chair comfortably. "If he hadn't helped that demon steal one of the totems, I'd have no regrets at all."

Verna looks up from her book at Auranar's descent, attention pulled from tome and kitten, both. The smile is returned with no conscious effort, as well. "He may not have arrived of his own will, but he was obviously in need of a home, regardless." Hunter deems her lack of attention a grievous offense and bounds his way up atop the book and then the arm of the chair nearest Auranar's own.

This earns him a fresh series of stroking fingers. "I do not regret your decision at all, and what occurred was no fault of either of you, Dearest. Keeping a pet was never something I had previously considered... even my magic was more easily bound into an object than a living familiar that many others acquire..." A glance between the kitten and back before she admits, "Yet he has quickly grown upon me."

"I have to admit..." Auranar begins, finding some small space to pet the kitten also. The double affection has him purring in no time. "I didn't think I'd ever end up with a pet myself. I mean... I grew up in an orphanage; pets weren't really allowed. So I'd gotten used to the idea that I wasn't going to have one. Even though I was secretly quite envious of those that did."

Verna does not hoard all of Hunter's pettable surface area, though she does not abandon him, either. Being able to touch both of them is not a bad situation at all. Hunter certainly has no objections.

"You were most excited when you brought him in," she agrees; factual yet still with the smile. "I do not expect that I could not have dissuaded nor denied you if I had attempted, though I am pleased that I did not."

"You just had to say no. I would have abided." Auranar smiles. "Though I'm glad you had no objections. He just makes this quiet house seem more homey. Particularly when you're gone. I'm sure he does the same for you when I'm away."

"Aura," Verna eyes her, even abandoning the shared affection for a moment, "you presume that I have the ability to deny you. I am not convinced. Yes, his presence is a welcome addition and he certainly chases away any semblance of boredom..." as she mentions this, Hunter takes the 50% decrease in affection as a cue to hop/cling/climb onto Auranar and/or her chair "... among other things."

She watches the clinging pair quietly for a moment. "Is the house not quite full with only the two of us? No offense to you, Hunter."

Auranar laughs at the kittens antics and picks him up, cuddling him and giving him all the love and affection that he could want. The question draws a long moment of silence and then a more serious look from the wild elf. "Are you... Would you want more than this Verna? Children perhaps?"

"I..." (did not expect the inquiry to be reversed?) Verna begins at the rebounded query, "I have never given such much thought. I do not know?" Pursing of lips follows, one part thought and one part consternation at lacking a definitive answer. Auranar would know all-too-well how she feels about absences of answers.

"I did not know that I desired all that I have now, before you. Now I could not imagine a future otherwise. What would you desire?"

Auranar studies the cat in her hands studiously. "I have thought of it but... I have no interest in men Verna. None. I don't even know how most women find them attractive. The thought..." She shudders delicately, and pets the kitten more attentively. "I would not begrudge you a male lover if you wanted children. I would welcome a child of yours in our home."

Even as she speaks though her eyes fill with tears. "But a small piece of me would die with our child Verna. Because any child you bore would die before me. It is hard enough to accept that you... That Vardama will call upon you before me but to open my heart to a child and watch them wither?"

First, caught unawares by the reverse; now, Verna is ... well, she is silent. Her mouth feels as if it is full of cotton, likely from the insertion of not one, but at least two figurative feet. "Aura..." Eyes close in vain attempt to block out the sight of the tears, mask the growing of her own, better choose her words, and seeked to reverse time a few seconds if only she were able.

"I would -never- ask of you such a thing, nor would I believe you would ask such of me, to bring a child into this world. Biology be damned. If we both ever desired a child in our home, there are enough already upon Ea in need of parents..."

That she can counter, at the least. The other? No. Her eyes re-open to find hers again. "I cannot deny the cycle any more than any other, Love, no matter how much I might wish to, now; for you and for us."

Auranar stifles her tears as best she can, nodding to Verna. "I... I'm sorry." She says quietly. "To some people biological children are very important. I would not deny you if you wanted one, but it would..."r Be unbearable in the end.

She lifts Hunter up and gives him kisses until he squeaks in protest and then releases him. The kitten flees off in the direction of one of his toys and she gives a watery smile. "Perhaps we could adopt someone, that would be nice. I think I'd like that. Helping someone like myself have a real family again." She's crying softly in spite of herself.

Verna leans over and reaches for her, going so far as to slide herself up to sit on the arms of the chairs. It is no coincidence that their respective favorite seats are immediately adjacent to one another. "You need not apologize. I should not have broached the subject, or done so more ... properly. You and Hunter just now, your expression when you brought him home, the mention of empty home, the limitless depths of your care for others... The thought struck that you would be a most wonderful mother..."

Auranar lets out a little laugh and leans against Verna. "I wasn't sure it'd ever come up between us. But I'm surprised you didn't think of all the logical points before asking. I guess Hunter is more distracting than I thought?"

The laugh. The laugh is a wondrous thing. The lean helps convert the comforting touch into more of a cradling embrace. The laugh is then echoed briefly by Verna before it tapers to a pleased sigh. "I did not consider any of it, and only sought your thoughts, Love. Yes, Hunter can be a distraction, but I do not blame -him-, in this instance." Auranar receives a light squeeze in accentuation.

"My thoughts ventured too far ahead. There are many, many more years for us to consider such things. At any rate, I have yet to consider all of the logistical points of the wedding, and it is much more near."

Auranar hums at that, thinking and relaxing. She dries her tears and leans her head back. "The wedding is largely... For us. For those that want to share in our happiness. Most elves don't have them at all, but we've so many friends and it seems a shame not to invite them to share in our joy. Especially during these dark times. As for the rest... that will be private. Grandmother would have a... well she would be very unhappy if we invited anyone else to the planting."

Verna nods lightly; reflexive, really, as it is hardly necessary. Comfortable in the cuddle (perhaps her dealings with Hunter have improved her technique), she muses, "I welcome our friends and allies, and made certain to inform any who may have been unaware. Your grandmother and your customs will be respected. I am eager to meet her, yet also anxious of her judgment. My social discourse is far from the most... social. I fear that I might offend."

Auranar wraps her hands around Verna's arm where it wraps around her. "Don't worry about her approval. Or offending her. All that matters is that _I_ love you." She leans in and kisses the other woman's arm gently. "That's all that matters at all."

Auranar receives a return kiss to the top of her head and the breeze of a most delighted sigh. "And I you. Thus I shall attempt to not worry... and also worry, as you deserve the best that I might offer." Thus she is caught in a logical(?) Auranarian loop of her own making. Not that she would prefer any other way.

-End