[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[The snow is falling, but Stella doesn't see this as a reason to stay inside, and neither does Sophie. So, mother and daughter are outside and in front of their house, playing a game that Stella recently constructed. It's a large piece of cardboard with a big hole cut out in the middle, and around it are bright and vibrant colors. A few feet

Comments

[action]

[nadarejin]

[Nothing like a walk outside and stumbling across the scene of a little girl pelting an adult with a beanbag. He comes at a point that that's all he sees, and he's rather stunned to see a woman being knocked off her knees like that.

Picking up his pace, he approaches the woman but keeps the distance between the two of them. Getting too close might make things uncomfortable.]

Are you all right?

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[A little girl who's barely two-years old at that. Stella blinks a couple of times from that voice, lifts her head up, then lets it fall back in the snow with a groan. The blush on her face indicates that she's only embarrassed.]

Yes... I'm all right. Thank you.

[action]

[nadarejin]

[She must take after her father. Her lying down like that looks painful, if only because her wings are there and she fell. He looks at the infant before turning back to who's presumably her mother.]

She's quite strong. Do you need help getting up?

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Sophie quiets down once the new person looks at her and gives a blank face, another trait she took from her father. At that question, Stella smiles a little and holds out her hand.]

If you wouldn't mind.

[action]

[nadarejin]

[He's not all that sure if he's comfortable with that blank face, really. Nevertheless, grasping the hand offered to him, Leonardo tries to pull her up gently.]

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella winces a little as she's being pulled up, as her wings automatically shake themselves out from underneath her coat. Once she's up, though, she relaxes and gives Leonardo's hand a friendly shake.]

Thank you... What should I call you?

[action]

[nadarejin]

[Although he wasn't expecting a handshake, he quickly returns the gesture and throws in a nod.]

It's not a problem. My name is Leonardo.

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

I'm Stella. And this... [She lets go of his hand and moves to pick up the baby, who smiles at the sight and feel of her mother.] ... is Sophie. She's... a little stronger than I thought she was.

[action]

[nadarejin]

It's nice to meet you. [And with a glance at the baby he adds:] Sophie, too. Is she yours?

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

Ah, yes. She's nineteen months old now... [She awkwardly looks away and shifts her weight from one leg to the other.] Which makes this even more embarrassing. Assuming you witnessed all of that, at least...

[action]

[nadarejin]

[ . . . A mother in a place like this. He keeps a straight face, despite how distasteful he finds it.] . . . She's very young. Some children are stronger than others. I guess Sophie happens to have exceptional strength.

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[She has to laugh a little at that face and waves her free hand.] Perhaps... [But then it dawns on her. That flash of light she saw before...] ... You're right.

[action]

[nadarejin]

[The expression changes to something of mild curiosity as she seems to have realized something.] . . . Yes?

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[At first, Stella shakes her head, knowing that Leonardo doesn't know what Erens are... But then she decides that it's fair for him to know, especially since he asked.] Her father has the ability to absorb energy around him and turn it into great strength. She must have gotten that, too. [She speaks with a sort of awe in her voice - So far, Sophie was showing abilities mostly based on her own powers and hardly any of Senel's, but now...]

[action]

[nadarejin]

Absorb energy around him? [He eyes Sophie as he listens. If she's already showing this much potential, how strong would she grow up to be?] That's very interesting. It almost sounds like magic, and yet not quite.

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

You can think of it that way. I can do it, too, but it doesn't turn into strength for me. I use it to create magic spells.