The day was drawing to a close, but Vynira had one more visit on her schedule: her youngest. She had – reluctantly – been allowed to leave Ilyna’s apartment with the caveat that she returns once before retiring to the ship for the night.

Ehanis may be an object of worry to any close family, especially her mother, but Vynira didn’t see it like that. The girl did what the girl wanted to do, and like the coming weather all you can prepare for is the outcome.

“I’ll take it for here, Yavin,” she said, approaching the front door to the apartment. “You may return.”

“Leaving you with those people?” Sylea said with a grin. “No. Just no.” Vynira did not know whether Mian would be present, but she hoped she wouldn’t be.

Vynira sighed. “You wound me, Yavyn,” she said, placing a hand on her heart. “They’re kids. What do you expect?”

Sylea folded her arms as the two came to a stop by the doorway. Vynira had offered her opinion many times this overbearing policy, but Miss T’Jora wouldn’t bulge. There was a method to the madness, however, for the matriarch was an important part of the company; a figure of authority that could shut even the most difficult clients up when they insisted on absurd ideas.

The matriarch hit the door’s panel without giving whoever’s inside advance notice, and stepped inside.

“The fuck you doing here?” Said someone from the couch, drawing the attention of the matriarch and the security guard alike. It was Ehanis, obviously. The living room was well heated, and the young asari was dressed accordingly in an orange crop-top and short pants.

The room was a cozy, albeit messy living room. There was a couch with a blue jacket slung over the backrest, an end table with empty packaging and bottles on it, and a small kitchen that could use a wiping down. The vid screen in front of the couch on the other side of the room was the only lighting available.

“It’s good to see you too, Ehanis,” The matriarch said with the smallest smile.

The security guard stepped inside and closed the door behind them. She was content to quietly stand in a corner.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” she said, standing up from the couch.

“I was invited to tomorrow’s wedding,” she said. “Now come here, give your old mother a hug.”

Ehanis didn’t move, which didn’t faze the matriarch. She’ll find a way to break even the most permissive boundaries.

Vynira sighed and crossed the distance between them herself. “Come on, I know you have it in you to be nice once in a while,” she said before wrapping Ehanis up in a hug; she was not met with any resistance.

Ehanis frowned. “Says the old lady that didn’t even fucking knock.”

Vynira scoffed. “Should have locked your door then,” she said before patting her back and letting go of the hug. “Tell me, what is my little troublemaker up to these days?”

“Not a whole lot,” she said. “Ilyna is up the chain at work, you know.”

“And still Rakhana happened,” she pointed out. She knew why, of course, but she wanted to hear Ehanis’ take on it.

“She had no clue,” she said. “She’s gonna be watching the rosters like a hungry krogan from now on.”

Vynira placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve heard Ilyna’s side of this, many times, believe me,” she said, “and I can’t help but wonder why you’re not talking.”

Ehanis shrugs. “Ilyna’s stubborn, she doesn’t know me,” she said. “She thinks she does, though.”

Vynira laughed softly and sat down on the couch, pulling the young asari with her. Ehanis thought herself above sitting on her mother’s lap, however, and maneuvered to take the seat beside her. “Do you understand Ilyna?”

“Of course,” she said. “She’s had it so fucking hard with… her thing, so she thinks everyone else’s problems is simple crap she can solve.”

The matriarch couldn’t help but laugh again, this time not so softly.

Ehanis raised an eyebrow. “What’s so fucking funny?” she said, sounding a bit frustrated.

Vynira sighed. “Relax,” Vynira said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Things won’t change if you don’t have a talk, you know.”

“Are you even listening to what I’m-,” Ehanis said, interrupted briefly by the firm squeeze of her shoulder, “…saying?”

“You insult me,” she said, though her tone stays light-hearted. “Of course I am. The better question is: are you?”

“What do you mean?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Vynira threw her arms over her shoulders and pulled her closer, evoking a scoff from the young asari. “You’ll figure it out, kid,” she said with a deep sigh. “Goddess knows I cannot tell you what to do.”

“Is that why you’re here?” Ehanis asked. “To give me unsolicited ‘matriarch wisdom’?”

Vynira planted a kiss on top of her crests. “You don’t think old Vynira just wanted to see her little girl?”

“I’m not your little girl anymore,” she muttered.

The matriarch laughed. “You never stop being that,” she said. “If I’m still alive when the sun sets on your matron years, you know I’ll be sure to remind you.”

Ehanis is quiet for a few long seconds.

"Okay, so, you done?"

She looked up around the room. “Not yet,” she said. “The wedding tomorrow – are you prepared?”

“I’ve got some decent clothes if that’s what you mean?” she said. “Nothing formal, though. I wasn’t really planning on-…”

The matriarch let go of the asari and reached for the fleece jacket that’s thrown over the couch. “I think you’re going to show your mother around the town’s market.”

“What?” Ehanis said, furrowing her brows. “No, I’m not planning on going anywhere in this fucking weather.”

Vynira threw the fleece jacket in her lap and stands. “Did that sound like a question to you?” she said. “It’s your employers’ marriage.”

“They’ll know it’s fake anyway,” she said. “So why bother?”

The matriarch pulled her out of the couch. “Fake or not, that you at least care enough to dress well speaks volumes in an of itself.”

“Fine….”