2023-12-29: .not even my family may escape these everyday tragedieS
- Cutscene: .not even my family may escape these everyday tragedieS
- Cast: Yuliana Kafim and her mother, Sashenka Dian
- Where: The Silent Castle, Kaffeklubben Island / The Dian's Estate, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
- Date: 2023-12-29
- Summary: Sashenka Dian rings her daughter with terrible news: her cousin has died, leaving her young sons behind. She's taken over their care as their great-aunt, but she wants Yuliana to come and see them, and it leads to something which isn't quite an argument over Yuliana's present circumstances. Eventually, Sashenka manages to convince Yuliana to visit -- in the company of her wife.
Sashenka Ivanova Dian, née Morozov, calls her daughters often. It is her duty as Yuliana's mother to ensure her daughter is treated well and their house is in order -- and there is much she must impart, to Elisa, who has not benefited from her lessons since she was young. These calls have not abated since Yuliana's actions at the North Pole; despite her misgivings, Sashenka supports her daughter.
Today, when she rings Yuliana, her expression is grave. Her grey-salted hair sits large on her head, her dark eyes severe. She wears black, though it's not her habit. "Yulya, darling," she says, her words heavy. "I've terrible news."
"Mamulya," Yuliana beseeches her mother, fondly, "what is it?" It is habitual for her to wear black, these days; she couldn't know it's fitting.
"Your cousin, Lyubov Tatyaninichna -- she is dead," and Sashenka chokes up, a little, in saying it, but she maintains her poise admirably. Sashenka's sister's daughter...
"She took ill?" Yuliana frowns, reaching to the screen. "Oh, mamulya, I'm sorry," and her own voice trembles, now. "I know her heart was sick, but for this to happen!" Yuliana swallows down the grief she feels for her mother, trying to work through the loss. "What of her mothers? What of the boys?" She asks, instead.
"Tatyana Ilyinichna is supporting Anastasiya Ivanova as... best she can." And Yuliana can tell her mother is upset, with the way she refers to everyone so properly. "Maksim Lyubovich and Makar Lyubovich are still well," Sashenka assures her, weightily. (They borrow their mother's name for their patronymic -- because Lyubov never wished to marry.) "Their donor has no responsibility for them, so I've brought your cousins here with me. They're asleep now, the poor dears... Makar Lyubovich is still only four," and she sighs, deeply, burying her face in a hand. "Maksim Lyubovich isn't so much older... it is too much responsibility for such a young boy. I worry he will think he must lead them, now."
"But you are here, mamulya," Yuliana insists, shaking her head. "You can care for them!"
"As I will." Sashenka straightens, and wears a smile, though she's still wearied. "I told her to have children earlier, but with her condition... she was unsure for so long if she should. Haah, this is the impossible logic of mothers... but I hope you'll not delay so long, Yulya. I know your father expects you to carry on your line, but..."
"Mama," Yuliana starts -- and while she's hardly formal, it's less outwardly affectionate, at least in the Zaftran style -- "I'm afraid... I have bad news, and ayah will be furious." She takes a breath, and keeps going, encouraged by her mother's nod. She was afraid to tell them for this long, but -- "I... I'm barren, mama. Elya says she will think of something, but... oh!" She exclaims, and it's her turn to hide her face in a hand. Her fins flare out, but her mother knows about them.
Those dreadful experiments.
"Ah, Yulya," Sashenka slips back to Russian, her brow creasing with concern. "There, now... hush, my dear, you can no more be blamed for this than Lyubov for her heart. Come. Your father will understand. I will help you. But... still you want children, yes?"
"Of course!" Yuliana sniffs, and reaches into her pocket to fetch a fine cotton handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "Mamulya, I wished to give Elya children... I wanted a family for us! A thing that is ours, which ties us together... what wife wouldn't want that?"
"I understand," Sashenka says, and doesn't speak of the debate she and Tri Darma had over children. How many they should have -- if they should have them at all. It's not a secret from Yuliana, but Sashenka won't demand support of her sensitive daughter while she's distraught. "But there are many ties which bind you, my dear. What of your support groups?" That's what she calls the Silent Calling, anyway. "You've collected a marvellous following. And... they may not be your children, but perhaps you could visit, help me see to the boys. You're far closer to Lyubov's age than old great-aunt Sashenka... you know, I'm in my sixties, now!"
Yuliana's own smile is strained, but she tries to wear it, regardless. "That may be difficult. I am a very wanted woman, mamulya. Not only to the REA and G-Hound, now, but all the world... they do not understand the pressures I am under."
"I admit I do not understand everything, myself," Sashenka sighs, though her voice is still fond. "You have gotten yourself into quite the mess, haven't you, dochushka? There is no news station on this Earth which has found a positive way to speak of what you have done. They have even tried to speak to me, the nerve of them!"
"I told you," Yuliana says, tension rising in her voice, "this was the will of --"
"This Empress, yes," Sashenka frowns. "But as your mama, I have my own duty to you, Yulya. If this creature from beyond will command my flesh and blood to break herself upon her altar, I'm against it!"
"It's not like we're that happy about it, either..." Yuliana scowls, looking away from the camera. "But we're getting off-topic." And if she's pouting, pointing that out, don't hold it against her. She can't very well argue with her own mother, and she isn't even sure if she should. "I wish I could see you and the boys, but it simply isn't safe for me to travel so freely right now. I'm not in a position to be that carefree."
"It must be difficult," Sashenka sighs, with a weary smile. "You always loved to travel, dear... I worry for you, cooped up that way."
"The Castle is vast," Yuliana assures her mother, looking to her and putting on a smile again. "I want for nothing, mama."
Sashenka presses, intently: "Even so. If it's such a concern, could you not have Elisa escort you? Surely her magic is enough to evade patrols. It had best not be out of her way, after involving you in something like this."
"It's not her fault," Yuliana frowns.
"Of course not," Sashenka assures her. "But I'd like to see her, too, you know. And it would do well for her to meet the boys."
Yuliana shifts, in her seat, and smiles to her mother again. "You're right..."
"I always am. Come, let us set a date." Sashenka knows better than to leave things to a hopeful we ought to, when her daughter is this uncertain.
Sashenka assumes Elisa's compliance in the process.
Broadly speaking... they both care about Yuliana's welfare.