22. The City of Love

[nyochhavar]

[It was just another day in Paris for Lilith Nightroad, another day in the perfect life that she had been blessed with. There was a definite chill in the air today, a precursor for Christmas Day (something greatly anticipated by her husband more than anyone, for when else could he play dress up and make the children look at him with such adoration

Comments

[echivoc]

[Having left the bar in capable hands, Cross departs from Éminence Rouge to take a walk through Paris. It is nice to walk through such familiar streets and hear a familiar language, which he discovers he can speak fluently instead of using Paradisa's native tongue for once.

Man, this world change is going to be great.

He is passing said park today, going through it and, like a gentleman, acknowledging every woman he passes by. World change or not, manners still count!

He spots that red hair from a distance and raises an eyebrow. Immediately he rules out Alexstrasza - the overall body shape plus the hair style itself does not belong to her. There is one other redhead that comes to mind, though, but he withholds judgement as he nears her.]

[echivoc]

My, where would I start? I would also keep you here for too long, and I am sure your children would get restless after so long.

[nyochhavar]

Nonsense, my children are magnificent at amusing themselves in the park for hours - a trait they get from their father.

[echivoc]

Is this a good trait for the kids and a bad trait for the father?

[nyochhavar]

It is good for all, child and father alike, in moderation.

[echivoc]

[Abel and the word "moderation" should never be said in the same breath.]

Many things are good in moderation.

[nyochhavar]

[One of the children, the absolute spit of Abel if he had blond hair, is tugging on Cross' trousers.]

What's mod-ray-shun?

[echivoc]

[......

It's creepy how the castle makes kids look so much like their non-parents.]

"Moderation" is how parents keep their children from eating too many sweets, such as ice cream.

[nyochhavar]

[The children look scandalised, Charlie sounding uncannily like his father.]

There's no such thing as too many sweets!

[echivoc]

[It is freaky, this tiny!Abel doppelganger. Cross smirks and leans down a bit towards Charlie.]

Where I'm from, hardly anyone eats sweets.

[nyochhavar]

[Charlie's eyes widen, looking utterly HORROR STRUCK, bottom lip wibbling slightly.

Lilith puts her hand on her son's head, amusement lighting golden eyes.]

Be careful, Cross, or you may give him nightmares.

[echivoc]

[Trolling accomplished. He straightens and looks at Lilith. Nightmares? Really???]

Oh?