Beyond the Sky - Session 36.6

Later that day, Valaire finds and brings along Adrian to the Red Lily, taking him and Ginei to the first floor, to see Genevieve.
Ginei: "(This place seems weird... all the people here aren't wearing much.)"
Valaire: "Please do not mind it, Ginei. This is a place where people don't need to wear much."
Adrian scowls silently, looking irritated.
Valaire holds onto Ginei's hand, walking towards the door to her old room where Jillia and Genevieve are currently staying.
Valaire: "I do expect she will like to hear the news."
"And besides... they'll love to meet you. Who could dislike an adorable daughter like you?"
Ginei: "Um... really bad people!"
Valaire: "And they will be punished."
Ginei: "Yay~"
Valaire: "(I'd almost think she was related...)"
Valaire spares a glance towards Adrian, before knocking on the door to the room.
Jillia Illendis: "Aha! Who is it?"
Adrian: "(You should be careful saying things like that, little one. You're not wrong, but it could give a bad appearance to be too excited about such things.)"
Valaire: "Darling Jilly, it's me. I've come bearing news and guests."
Jillia Illendis: "Ah, guests? I'll just put something more on."
Valaire: "(That's probably for the best...)"
Adrian sighs, leaning against the wall to wait.
Jillia Illendis opens the door shortly after, in a simple black dress.
Valaire: "May we come in, dear? I would think the little one may tire of standing so much."
Jillia Illendis: "Right away!"
Genevieve: "Mummy, who is it?"
Adrian: "Hello, Jillia. I hope you and Genevieve have been well?"
Jillia Illendis: "It's auntie Valaire! ...and your father."
Jillia Illendis steps to the side, sitting back down on the bed, where Genevieve sits, holding a book.
Valaire steps in with Ginei, beckoning Adrian to follow.
Genevieve: "Daddy! Hi!"
Adrian steps inside after Valaire, smiling down at the younger girl.
Genevieve waves enthusiastically to her father.
Genevieve: "See, mummy? I told you he was coming this time!"
Adrian: "I did tell her I would visit. I... suppose it was not an advisable means of communication."
Ginei: "Hi there! Are you Genevieve?"
Valaire: "I would imagine magic words would come across strangely to a child..."
Genevieve: "Yes! Who are you?"
Ginei: "Hi, I'm Ginei, this is my mum!"
Jillia Illendis: "Mum? Valaire... did you...?"
Valaire: "Adoptive, Jilly. I am still barren."
Jillia Illendis: "Shame..."
Valaire: "She was from an abusive home. We rescued her, and I adopted her."
"More or less."
Adrian takes a seat at the table, raising an eyebrow at Valaire's statement.
Jillia Illendis: "Ah, I see. Taking more under your wing. Ginei... would you like to come read with my daughter here?"
Valaire: [Mockingbird, whispered to near Adrian] "Some truths are not fit for innocent ears."
Ginei: "Oh! What are you reading?"
Genevieve: "Ragnar the Wed!"
Jillia Illendis: "Red, dear."
Genevieve: "It's about a hero, who goes to rescue a princess from a fire breathing giant bad dog!"
"It has pictures!""
Ginei: "Pictures? I think I can read that to you."
"(I'm not that good at reading common yet...)"
Adrian: "Can you read it by yourself yet, Genevieve?"
Valaire: "(Certainly something I can assist on teaching, if you wish it, darling Ginei.)"
Genevieve: "Not yet..."
Adrian: "Perhaps you and Ginei can practice together."
Genevieve: "Like there's a word here... wol... wollano."
Valaire: "That does come to the news portion of my visit, Jilly, Gene."
Jillia Illendis: "Volcano. Ah, yes, I'll be there in a moment!"
Jillia Illendis gets up, and takes a seat at the table, as Ginei scampers over to the bed, Genevieve talking excitedly to the new girl.
Jillia Illendis: "So... what's new?"
Valaire: "There has been an invitation from the palace. I have been able to speak with Her Majesty, Queen Rozeal, and she has agreed to provide home, food, and caretakers not only for Ginei, but you two, as well."
"It would mean moving out of here, and likely impair your ability to continue work as a courtesan... but it means someone will be able to watch Genevieve while you are busy, which likely would make you much less harried. Stress brings wrinkles, you know, darling."
Adrian: "It would be a much more proper place for a small child, as well."
Jillia Illendis: "...you're joking, right?"
"(Did I drink anything last night...?)"
Valaire: "Not at all, my darling. I spoke to Queen Rozeal herself just earlier today."
"In all her blinding radiance."
Adrian: "Have you ever known me to participate in a joke, Jillia?"
Jillia Illendis: "...never."
"So... wow. Seems I've been touched with a miracle..."
Valaire: "We all have. The miracle that touched me is busy telling stories to your little one."
Jillia Illendis: "I could really do with some help in watching Genevieve... I only have so much energy after work..."
Adrian: "You could have asked, after... the incident before. I could have hired a nursemaid for her."
Valaire: "They are preparing a room for you to stay, in any event. In a fit of delicious irony, it is the original residence of the man who once tried to see little Gene harmed."
"As he is... no longer in use of it, they are cleaning it and preparing it for new occupants. And it is certainly spacious."
Jillia Illendis: "That... is ironic. What is the place like? Any larger than my old house?"
"Spacious? Thank gods, Genevieve could use space to run around in."
Adrian: "Very much so. Better than my own quarters, actually."
Valaire: "Certainly large enough that all of us could live comfortably in it and have space left over."
Jillia Illendis: "That's... wow. I knew her Majesty was kind, but..."
"Wow... that's great. When can we move in?"
Adrian: "The common knowledge does not do her justice."
Valaire: "There will be food, cleaning... the queen has offered even the prince's own nursemaid to help look after the kids."
Jillia Illendis: "I'm still able to work, right?"
Valaire: "I imagine so. Though you will likely need something proper to wear when going to and from the palace..."
Jillia Illendis: "I mean... help is great... but I want to provide for little Genevieve myself."
Valaire: "There are still appearances to put up, after all; it would be unbecoming to be half-dressed within the royal halls."
Adrian scowls, letting Valaire handle the discussion and looking over at the two girls.
Jillia Illendis: "Of course, yes."
Valaire: "It should be so much better for you, Jilly. You can get proper rest, and you can go to work knowing that little Gene not only has a caretaker to watch over her and help tutor her, she even has an honorary big sister."
"Just look at how well those two are getting along, darling."
Jillia Illendis looks over, as Ginei seems to be reading the book to Genevieve, trying to act out the evil fire breathing hellhound and the dashing hero Ragnar.
Jillia Illendis: "True, they do seem to be getting along, and gods know she needs some more friends vaguely her age."
Valaire: "So, darling Jillia. Do you accept?"
Jillia Illendis: "Of course. I'd have to be crazy not to."
Valaire: "I assume this resolution pleases you as well, Lord Adrian?"
Adrian: "It does. It would be good to know the girl will be someplace safe."
"And Jillia is right; she could use more children to spend time with."
Valaire: "Of course. And I have you to thank for introducing her to me, my lord."
Jillia Illendis: "Did you and Her Majesty make a good connection, then?"
"I mean, if you got this for us..."
Valaire: "She gave me the key to her room. I imagine if that is not a sign of a connection, then I don't know what is."
Jillia Illendis: "Wow... you truly have a way of making connections, Val."
Valaire: "I always told you, darling. Connections are the way through life."
"And what sort of big sister would I be if I did not let darling Jilly in?"
Jillia Illendis: "This is... fantastic. You're the best, Val! When can we start moving in?"
Valaire: "They are expecting to have the room ready tonight."
Jillia Illendis: "Tonight... I'll get my things packed and ready."
Valaire: "Is it too soon, love?"
Jillia Illendis: "Not too soon... I just didn't expect this so quickly."
Adrian: "Tonight or tomorrow, from the sound of it. I imagine it could be polite to want to give them some time."
Valaire: "Indeed... staying here tonight and moving in tomorrow should give them time to finish as well as give you time to acclimate."
Jillia Illendis: "Right... Genevieve, darling!"
Genevieve: "Mummy, what issit?"
Jillia Illendis: "We're... going to be moving house, again, Auntie Valaire has helped us out a lot and given us a place to stay at the palace, where you'll have more space and be taken care of better, doesn't that sound fun?"
Adrian: "You'll be able to come visit me when I'm in the city, too."
Genevieve: "Whoa... I can go to where fancy people are?! That sounds cool!"
Valaire: "And little Ginei will be there too, so you can make a friend."
Genevieve jumps off the bed, running over and embracing Valaire.
Genevieve: "Thanks, Auntie!"
Adrian: "It would be good for you to learn to act a bit like a fancy person yourself, Genevieve. Perhaps we can buy you some pretty new clothes later today?"
Genevieve: "Whoa, that would be awesome!"
Valaire pats Genevieve on the head, smiling.
Genevieve: "Mummy! Mummy! Can I go do that?"
Adrian: "Perhaps in a little while. I'll come back later, if you behave yourself and don't disrupt your mother's packing."
Jillia Illendis: "Of course you can..."
Jillia Illendis turns to Adrian.
Jillia Illendis: "Just bring her back before dark."
Adrian: "Of course. It's just a shopping trip."
Jillia Illendis: "Right... so I guess I'll see you later."
Ginei: "Mum! Can I stay here for a little bit, please? I wanna get to the end of this book."
Valaire: "Of course, darling. Be a nice big sister to Genevieve, won't you?"
"I'll come back with Adrian."
Genevieve releases her hold on Valaire, rushing back and jumping onto the bed, where Ginei recoils a little bit, before, settling back down, going to read.
Ginei: "Okay, I'll see you later~"
Valaire: [Mockingbird, whispered to Ginei] "(Don't forget your little trick~)"
Ginei: "Oh! Right! Genevieve, check out what mum taught me how to do!"
Ginei concentrates really hard, placing a hand on her head, changing her hair to match Genevieve's colour.
Genevieve: "Whoa! How did you do that?!"
Ginei: "Magic~"
Valaire: "Hmhm~"
Adrian: "You may have some talent for magic yourself, Genevieve. It's something you could do one day, perhaps."
Genevieve: "I wanna change my hair too!"
Valaire: "Maybe big sis Ginei can teach you how."
"If you're a good girl, you get to use magic."
Genevieve: "Ooooooh~"
Adrian: "Hm. She might learn better in other ways. I never had much aptitude for the arcane, myself."
Genevieve sits on the bed quietly, trying to be a good girl.
Valaire: "To each, their own specialty. There are more roads than one to strength."
Adrian looks over at the child for a moment, Genevieve's hair turning to a shimmering golden color with a violet streak.
Adrian: "It's something I can try to practice with you if you'd like, Genevieve."
Ginei: "Whoa! Your hair changed colour!"
Genevieve: "Did it? I can't tell."
Ginei: "Maybe we can find you a mirror..."
Valaire steps up from the chair, moving back to the door.
Adrian stands up to leave, waving to the children on the way out.

The two exit the Red Lily, leaving Ginei to play with Genevieve, as they walk back to the palace.
Valaire: "Children... a month ago, I never understood the appeal."
Adrian: "It's another matter when one of them is your own, isn't it?"
Valaire: "So many of my 'sisters' had them... it's a common risk in the profession, of course, but..."
"Once I had my own... my world changed."
"Lor--no. Adrian. I want to protect her. I truly want to be her mother."
"I do not know how much luck you have had on the documentation to make thing properly legal, but..."
"I would do what I can for her. I would march up to Silske and destroy him myself, if it meant the world was safe."
Adrian: "The difficult thing is when no matter how much you want that, you still don't have the power to do so..."
Valaire: "Alone, of course, I am just Valaire. But... being a mother means understanding that I'm not alone, doesn't it?"
"I would join your cause in earnest. Not as a retainer doing what she's told for money, but as a mother fighting to change the world for her daughter."
Adrian: "Thank you. I value the difference more than you may have thought. If there's anything more I can do in exchange, for you or Ginei... do let me know. I want her to be safe, as well."
"...I want to march up to Silske and destroy him, too. For the sake of my country and duty, for Ginei and Genevieve and all the other children like them, and for Invesse as well. It's almost physically painful, knowing that to try now would only mean humiliation and death, or worse."
Valaire: "I know what you mean. Now, more than ever."
"You're not the cold emotionless tyrant I once took you for. Maybe not all men are shallow egomaniacs."
Adrian: "Thank you, I try not to be. Sometimes I try more successfully."
"The matter of a formal adoption shouldn't be too much of an obstacle. You'll have to attend a meeting for it... may be asked a few questions about your livelihood that I'm confident you can answer adeptly. But it's not usually difficult, unfortunately by necessity."
Valaire: "Legal systems irk me, but for Ginei, it's worth it."
"I suppose I'll have to learn them at some point, won't I? I'm apparently going to be queen..."
Adrian: "That's more about the big picture than the legal minutiae anyway. Keeping in touch with what the people think matters far more than knowing which official to consult about a stolen horse."
Valaire: "I suppose I'll always have you to handle the fine details, won't I?"
Adrian: "You always will. And to handle the people handling the finer details even than that."
Valaire smiles earnestly, offering a clawed, runed hand.
Adrian: "I think I'm going to need a more thorough network, with as large as the scale of our problems seems to have become..."
Valaire: "Well, you've been watching and listening to people over the world. If nothing else, networking is something you were born to do."
Adrian returns the smile, shaking Valaire's hand without hesitation this time.
Adrian: "Thank you. And your help has been extremely valuable, of late. I'm sure it will be even moreso, with your heart behind it."
Valaire: "I fully intend to show you what a mama bear looks like when she has a cub to defend."
Adrian chuckles quietly, remembering the burning forest.
Adrian: "It should be quite the sight."
Valaire: "Oh, Adrian. You haven't seen anything yet."
Adrian: "...Perhaps you should know. I don't mean to neglect Genevieve. It's simply... I've felt I should keep my distance from her. You saw what happened when her connection to me became known, and you would know now how I've had to choose between one duty and another. All I'd be able to do for her is leave her with another caretaker, and if that's so... it may as well be one she can call kin."
"I hadn't meant to have a child; not this early, at least, and not as a product of mere entertainment. But I'd rather she not see me as a fault in her life."
Valaire: "Let alone see herself as a fault in yours..."
Adrian: "...Do you think she does?"
Valaire shakes her head.
Valaire: "You saw how she reacted when she saw you."
"You saw how eager she was to go shopping."
"She loves you, Adrian. That special kind of pure love only a child can have."
Adrian: "...Ah. I see your meaning, now. My apologies."
Valaire: "And, Adrian?"
Adrian: "Yes, Valaire?"
Valaire: "Thank you. I wouldn't have met Ginei if it weren't for you."
Adrian: "And if it weren't for you, I might not have been able to save Genevieve in time. I think we're past keeping count of favors by now, really."
Valaire chuckles to herself.
Valaire: "Maybe we are."
"Then let's just call it friendship and work from there."
Adrian: "Here's to friendship, then. Maybe we really can make the world a safe enough place for those two, all of us together."
Adrjan and Valaire continue walking back up to the palace, with a fresh new determination.