[Game] Lord Windos' PokeRole Adventure: Celadon City Vandel

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Your kaa-san's expression shifted several times in rapids succession as you unveiled you 'sordid' relationship, with not one of them being what you called negative or disasterous. 

First, surprise, as her mouth went in a 'Oh...' shape as both her eyebrows hiked up straight to her hair line. 

Then, an intense curiosity, as her brows drew together and crinkled in thought. 

Another look of surprise followed afterwards, this one more mild but at the same time....knowledgeable, for lack of a better word. 

Next, a look of sad sympathy graced her features as you described the plight of both Taylor and the promise that left you trapped in Mahogany Town, waiting for one who never returned.

Finally, as you wrapped up your tale and trailed off uncomfortably, no doubt still directly avoiding you kaa-san's gaze, a reminiscence filled her experssion, ripe with memories of the past and....something else, as she stared at you now, hands having folded together and propping up her chin at some point as she drank in the story you wove.

She remained silent afterwards, staring at as she contemplated your words and just how to respond to them...

What initial response she settled on, however, was the very last thing you'd expect: she started laughing. 

Its started as minor chuckling, but it soon escalated into the full blown loud, noble laughs you kaa-san let out when she was supremely amused with something, with her whipping away a few stray tears she said while she did so.

After about a full minute of her doing this, she slowly but surely calmed down, her laughter winding down as she shook her head to dispel the last of her unexpected mirth, staring at you with a motherly smile and warmth that was both gratifying and slightly unnerving to see at the same time, all the more so given the heaviness of the topics they've discussed thus far.

"Ha ha ha....So the root of all this is was childhood  crush, one that had not quite blossomed into youthful love. I knew there was always something more to those 'solo' training sessions you've always went on, with how eager and happy you were afterward compared to the ones Clair put you through. I thought you might have been goofing off and getting in trouble with Sneasil, or prolling the streets in search of beauties that caught your eye - oh don't look at me like that, you were at that age! -, but the truth of the matter...matters, rather, has finally been revealed at long last.

Pausing to let out a few more chuckles, she then continued without hardly missing a beat or her suddenly renewed good mood fading one bit.

"It seems you managed to inherent all of your father's charm, and put it to use a much earlier than him! I wonder if he would be proud of you, or jealous you usurped his title as the family's 'Dragon Charmer.' And you said you had no time for love in Exile~! Ha ha ha!"

...

"*Ha ha…I believe I can understand now why you've acted in such a....inspired and focused way all those years ago, and while I still find your choices HIGHLY wanting - you and I are going to have a long, thoughtful discussion on your actions when we reunite in reality, my son - I don't think I can begrudge nor fault you nearly as much before. After all, me and your father did several foolish and shortsighted things in the throws of our passionate youth, and I'd be a poor mother and hypocrite if I held your own against you. Tease you silly and reprimand you, perhaps, like my own parents, but that is all."

Kaa-san then refolded her hands under her chin, and stared at you in now comfortable, much more tolerable silence.

"....Hmm......is the girl that stole your heart named.....Taylor, by any chance, my little dragon?"

...and then she dropped that question like it was the most casual thing in the world, her amusement unbroken.

What.

'What?!' indeed... [Though I totally saw this coming OOC ] 

Reiner's certainly surprised, though.  "...yes, but...what?!  How do you...?"