XIII - Death

[Scherezade deWinter]

Nessarose offered no immediate response to either of them. Most people were gone, and her father had resumed his life. There was little to expect, truly. The only thing that tugged with pain within her chest was the thought of Dio and their children, a thought she would set aside for now. There would be a time to search for them, or to bury them. The time for either though, was not right now. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she slowly worked on her mind's attention to switch to other things.

"I'm hungry," she said at last when her eyes opened, offering Asteria and Cameron a little smile.

[member="Cameron Centurion"] [member="Asteria deWinter"]

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Asteria merely nodded to her Godfather's words. Nessa's children were part of her, she would have known. Asteria... If anyone would know, it would be her sister. The other bit though, the blonde turned her head to [member="Cameron Centurion"] as soon as she heard him speak of their father. He had survived. It was expected as much. Father refused to even grow old and weak, he was switching bodies even when they were little.

The fact that he had not sought either of them out was an unwelcome feeling. Asteria had always known Xander was egotistical in a great many things but at least in her youth, it seemed as though he did care for family. Now, she didn't think that was true.

But her eyes widen when Cameron revealed that the last time he had seen the Starkiller, he was celebrating his daughter's sixteenth birthday. "He has another child?" Her head turned, her turquoise irises moving left and right. It was as if a dagger had been dug into her back and then turned for extra effect. It was betrayal. An actual blade to her back would have hurt less. Her body temperature fell drastically, small traces of ice covering her fingers.

The next thing she heard was [member="Nessarose deWinter"]'s remark. Her gaze darted to her, the emotionless glare not leaving her face. "Then eat."

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron's smile remained for a few moments after [member="Asteria deWinter"]'s remark. However, when the blonde woman snapped at her younger sister, the Sith Lord's smile dissipated rather quickly. He had thought, no he had hoped, that perhaps Asteria's first comment was just one born out of amusement. It was a foolish desire, he knew Asteria too well for that. That didn't make her inability to deal with the realities of her family any less...grating on his nerves, especially after so long. "And you should get over the fact that you and your full-sisters are not the only children of Xander Starkiller. Besides - this child was born over a century after your mother and father had...gone their separate ways."

Waving a dismissive hand, Cameron signaled that he did not require a reply on the subject. Arguing with Asteria about her family relations was like... Well that was the point. It couldn't even be compared to anything. Shifting his gaze between the two sisters for a moment, Cameron permitted himself a brief laugh in spite of himself. "Neither of you have changed one bit."

To be determined if that was good or not.

[member="Nessarose deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Nessarose frowned at Asteria's surprise. Of course daddie had sired other children. Fertility had never been an issue, and he had fathered most of their half siblings. But why was that so important? Their parents had split long before any virus showed up. He hadn't cheated on their mother. And they were... Adults? Nessa blinked now. She was an adult. Nope, it was still weird to use that word when referring to herself. But when Astrie sent her that remark, the glowing green eyes of the Sith Sorceress narrowed.

"He can spread his seed around as much as he likes," she said in a low voice as she got up from the rock and walked over to Cameron with a light stride, "he didn't take a vow of chastity or anything silly like that. Get over it. Make your own damn babies. Let's go eat."

Taking her godfather's hand in hers, she motioned out of the cave. It was time to go up and see what state Endelaan was in. And if there was any food lying around.

[member="Cameron Centurion"] [member="Asteria deWinter"]

 

[Asteria deWinter]

She should get over it? Asteria's snapped to the side, eyes narrowing at her Godfather. She should get over it? If there was something the blonde hated, it was most definitely that statement. Were they not the only children their father Xander had made? Asteria was aware of that. He had made more children than her Mother had before they had come. But having children after Shery deWinter, was not acceptable. He had already made children with her, he could only go lower from then on.

And apparently, the fact that an entire century passing before another child had been born should have been taken in account. "Why? I slept through it. The last century was yesterday for me, Godfather." Hardly enough to get used to it. Besides, what Asteria didn't quite understand just yet and most didn't even consider, was that her love and hate were important parts of whom Asteria was. They drove her to her heights, both of those feelings, to the good and bad sides of her. Asteria could do no wrong against her siblings, minus the occasional bumps towards Morgaine who simply needed to be locked away before she did anymore damage in the galaxy...

But at last she smiled, as [member="Cameron Centurion"] pointed out her lack of change. It was true but also expected. "Are you really that surprised?" They had slept this long. How could it be surprising.

Then her attention turned to [member="Nessarose deWinter"] once she spoke again. He could spread his seed around as much as he liked? Asteria frowned at the literacy of the statement. "Because that's always worked so well." The Witch, the disgrace son... it just went on and on. But she was supposed to get over the disappointments? Make her own babies? Asteria frowned again. "Thanks, I'll pass." Candidate list was at zero. She wasn't delusional about that. Though only her brain had processed as much, not her heart yet. There was no time for that.

Instead, she ended the conversation her end with just a shrug, and turned on her heal, following after the two. So far, the return to the galaxy hadn't been all that spectacular.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

See? Pointless to argue. Cameron merely afforded both women a shallow smile. This little family reunion was just a touch...abrupt. At the feel of [member="Nessarose deWinter"]'s hand around his, the Sith Lord recoiled instinctively. It was slight, but it was apparent enough. Turning his head to Nessa, Cameron allowed his smile to dissipate. "We haven't all been asleep, ladies. You'll find much has changed." For a moment, Cameron allowed his silver-green gaze to hold [member="Asteria deWinter"]'s intently. "Or perhaps the amount of change is merely the typical shifting of existences. In which case...I suppose as much as things do change, they inevitably remain the same."

Cameron's rambling stopped there as his smile returned and he gave Nessarose's hand a brief, comforting squeeze. As cold and emotionless as Cameron most certainly was, he maintained certain levels of affection for certain individuals. Typically in private.