Much Snuggles.

[Onrai]

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

"You can cleave to that red-headed vixen as much as you want, but she will never be more family to Darren than you or I." She held her hands open by her sides. "He's been safe with me this entire time, and no harm has ever come to him." With regards to travel, she sighed. "The Republic is full of crumbling architecture and the Fringe is full of incessantly hostile personages. I don't see why he would want to go to either such locale. But if, and only if, he desires to go to such a place - then I will gladly call you up and allow you to take him. Or such can be scheduled during your week."

"You say that I have no power over you. Your spirit is still tied to mine from that ritual Spencer made post-mortem, however weak the tie may be. And who do you think was responsible for developing the intricate arcane rituals responsible for the combination of Sith magic and alchemy with Vong flesh? Certainly no one else in the Horde... I know you, and how you were made. But I don't want to unmake you. I don't want to harm you. And I know more about you than you remember."

She paused, placing herself in a defensive position in the event that Ven chose to attack. "Now calm down and we can discuss an arrangement."

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

"I want Darren near-full time. Can't you see he'd be safer within Protectorate space? No one has hurt him yet... but damn it... He's been threatened. Repeatedly. There are people who would cut him down in a second to get to you. If more people knew about him... he'd probably already be dead. The older he gets the harder it'll be to let him hide. More people will find out about him. And that means that more people will try and hurt him. The least you could do is permanently change his name to Renn'Dar Sekairo. Sekairo is a less-hated name than Savan." The beast let out a heavy sigh. "It would be best to have him stay under the care of one parent for long periods of time, instead of switching around every week. Moving around like that ain't good for a kid. Puts a lot of stress on 'em."

"I don't know why I'm trying to bargain with you. It would be pretty easy to just walk out of here, go get Renn, and leave... Whatever 'power' you have over me... you don't seem willing to use it."
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

"I know he'll be safer in Protectorate space, Ven... That's why I'm going to be moving there full-time. Not to mention I have direct business dealings with the Lord Protector - I'm positive Darren will be perfectly protected from those who'd wish to do him harm." She sighed. "He has both names legally... Not much we can really do."

"Moving around is an opportunity for him to get some fresh air, get away from one parent to spend time with another. As he grows up and reaches those teenage years, he'll see it as an opportunity to get the space he wants."

She then paused for a moment, looking at Ven. "I don't want to hurt you. That's the last thing I want to do to you, or anyone - harm you. But if you try and take our son by force, and refuse to come to an agreement here - I don't know what else to do."

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

Damn it, she was making sense. Enough that the merc visibly relaxed. "Feth this... I don't... I don't want to trust you. I don't- I don't want..." Ven took several steps back before sliding down the wall (much like her son had done a minute earlier). "Okay... We... We'll do this the right-ish way. You're... you're good at raising kids. So... you can do most of that, I guess. Ventasia and me will help of course, but we'll also do whatever it takes to keep the two of you safe. Mostly Darren. But we'll try to keep you unharmed as well... Just... promise me to be careful?" With another sigh she gestured for Circe to come closer. After spending so much time with the odd woman... well, she had grown accustom to cuddles 'fixing everything'.
And so it was time for some 'cuddles'.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

"I will be, sweetie." She moved in, opening her arms - but first bringing a fuzzy blanket to her grasp, which she partially wrapped around Ven'Rain as the snuggles continued. "You're so snuggly when you have a big fuzzy blanket on. It warms my heart... and my body." The more cuddles she could achieve now, the better - it was good that she and Ven had reconciled for the sake of Darren.

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

"Didn't Tai'ko aka Vanessa like these blankets as well? I don't think I ever saw her relaxing without one..." Ven mused with a chuckle. She was about to mention how much she missed her 'second sister' when she heard a bit of shuffling. Moments later the door to the room slid open. In walked a sad-looking Darren. Before anyone could react the young boy dashed forward, joining his parents in the 'snuggle-fest'. A few sniffles let Ven know he had been crying. "What's wrong, little one? Did you have a nightmare?" She asked, gently rubbing his back.

When he shook his head... her eyes went wide in understanding.
He had heard everything.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

Circe said nothing, but continued to cuddle with and embrace Ven'Rain, as well as her son once he joined in. "It's okay... It'll be alright, darling. I promise." She smiled, nuzzling her head against his own. "Mommy and I will get things all situated. I promise." She paused, looking at Ven. "We promise, right?"

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

At first the boy didn't respond, instead just cuddling closer to Circe. When Ven confirmed that things would be alright he relaxed a little. With another sniffle he raised his head and spoke. "Are you... going to get back together?" The thought of his parents, who he had seen once love each other so unconditionally, staying apart... saddened him. What had gone wrong?
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

She paused, not wanting to say anything to upset her son further. "I don't know at the moment, darling." She paused, looking at Ven once more. "But I promise you, so long as I can, I will make sure that we don't ever argue with one another like we did today. I'm sorry we caught you with that - that was not at all my intention."

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

The little boy nodded, still clinging onto his parents. "I guess..." he sniffled, "I should go back to bed now..." Quietly he stood up, tugging gently on both women's sleeves. This time he wanted both of them to tuck him in. Just like old times.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

Circe went into the bedroom with him, hopefully with Ven following, and pulled back the sheets, getting them situated for their son. "There we go... Now get nice and comfy so the Sithspawn won't bite. You're a Savan and a Sekairo, though - you can definitely take anything ever handed to you." She kissed his forehead before pulling back to let Ven do what she wanted to do.

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

"I love you mommy, I love you mum," Darren said with a little smile. Returning the gesture Ven leaned down and gave him a little kiss on the forehead. He laughed a little at that. Sounded like the manliest giggle ever. Or so he thought. "Goodnight, my little one. Sleep well..." Ven said, adjusting the boy's blankets once more. Once she was satisfied she turned to leave the room, turning the lights off as she did.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

And Circe followed. She smiled, looking over and up at the giant mercenary who was the mother of the son before them. "You know... I'm very proud of you and how you handled that situation. That could've ended up scarring our son for life, and the grace you handled it with showcases how much I know you truly love our son. Thank you."

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

"What did you expect? He's my son. My family. I have to love him. I have to take care of him. More importantly... I want to do so. Darren is probably the most important thing in my life right now." After a deep breath she leaned back once more. "So... now what? I've been a pretty bad guest so far... Should we just... head to Protectorate space? Or should I... should I go?"
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

"Let's head to Protectorate space. Together. It's what Darren would want, and we can meet up with Ventasia there as well." She paused, moving to snugle Ven once more. "You're so snuggly... I wonder if I should make a 'mega-Ke-Ni' in your image so I can always snuggle you whenever I want to." Quite the silly thought, honestly...

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

"Sounds like a plan... in the mean time, why don't we get some sleep? I could use a really, really long nap..." Ven said, letting out a yawn. Gently, and semi-subconsciously, she rubbed Circe's back. Her fingers traced little swirls around the smaller woman's back. It was something she used to do. Frequently. Nowadays she only ever did it to Ventasia, and only when they were about to fall asleep.

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Ven'Rain Sekairo"]

Circe smiled, allowing her back to be massaged as she kept calm and carried on. "Let's get some sleep... My bed should be big enough for the both of us, but if we can't fit together, I'll go sleep on the couch." She grinned, allowing Ven the pleasure of being snuggled once again as the two prepared to take their first rest together in a long time.

 

[Antoir Setrrin]

"Oi, I better fit. If not... I guess you can sleep on top of me. You ain't sleeping on the couch." Luckily for both of them, the bed was indeed large enough. And there was enough room for decent cuddling! Almost like Circe had planned it... Hmm. Ven had to wonder a bit about that. But she pushed the thought out of her mind. Well, her tiredness did.
[member="Enigma"]