[Please never break his heart, Hunter. You might actually die.
Speaking of, though... considering her response to the other thing he hadn't told her, maybe he should stop avoiding it.]
...I'm... also sorry I didn't warn you about the... future you, and what happened. I kind of hoped I'd have more time, and that I could tell you properly.
[Unsurprisingly, Thirteen had other ideas. He'd also not really wanted to tell her at all but that's a whole other thing.]
[She'll take that into consideration. But all thoughts of her son's love life and any potential retribution she might visit upon his boyfriend are quickly forgotten with that topic change, accompanied by Casey letting out a shallow breath.]
...A-ah. Yes. ...That. That I can... understand you waiting to tell me. [She respond slowly, without her usual energy.]
That is alright, Casey. It... it is best for me to know such a thing. It is a lot to process. But... even more than that... I- I keep on thinking of what you've had to go through!
[He hadn't expected that. Maybe he should have? She's already taken to heart her role as his mother with such passion, and has been appropriately protective. Knowing his life was a struggle and that she missed so much of it, that's a reasonable conclusion to reach. This was never his intent, though.]
It's okay, though. I had a pretty good life. [Well. Okay. It was terrible, compared to what he knows life can be like now. But at the time he really didn't know any better.] I mean- it wasn't all bad. Everyone took good care of me. They saved me.
[It has been a lot to process. Initially, she could distract herself for the most part by playing with the young Junior. But afterwards, it weighed on her that not only was she gone, but she was gone when he was so young. Accepting her mortality almost seems easier next to accepting leaving her own son's life so soon. At least she can be comforted by knowing him now and seeing firsthand how well he turned out.]
Yes... yes, that is true. You have grown to be a splendid young man! And I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who's looked out for you and helped you. [She had already felt that way, but that was when she simply thought he was separated from his mother only by traveling through time and coming to this world. Now that she knows her fate, her feelings towards any and all other parental figures of his have intensified!]
I- I am sad that I could not be there for you all those years of your life, as a parent should... but I am still happy that you've lived and have so much good in your life. Now I wonder... if this was another reason I was brought to this world. To have time with you that... otherwise could not be had.
[It's a depressing thought, but then again, many aspects of his life are depressing, and if true there's an element of hope and kindness to it. One more thing to feel grateful to Thirteen for? That sure wouldn't fly with all the people who hate her or want to kill her, but they don't have to know.
On the other hand...]
It could be that you being here doesn't have anything to do with me. I'm sure Thirteen saw your potential, too. Because you're amazing. [Which is true in his eyes. And she deserves to stand on her own, and not only be his newly-discovered mother. She's still Cassandra- the first Casey. A warrior and a badass and a great person regardless of who she's related to.] I mean... the world's been saved. We stopped the Krang. You're not going to die. We'll meet in New York too, one day, and then we'll have our whole lives to figure all of this out.
[Which is still so wild to imagine. A year ago he'd never imagined living so long. He'd been ready to go down fighting in those final days.]
You're right, I am amazing... [She nods along, as if her son just reminded her of a basic fact of life.]
Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions! So I won't die, and we can still meet! I just, I did die before, in the future, but now I won't, except for when I did...
[She shakes her head quickly to try to dispel the confusion.]
Anyway!! Regardless of that, I have decided for myself that being your mother is part of my purpose in this world! To be an ultimate hero and an ultimate mother! Those are challenges that I intend to crush!
You're already crushing it. So definitely, definitely don't die!
[No doubt that she's rocking the mom vibe. But there's plenty of relief in his tone. He's glad! For all of it, really. Not dying, and being his mom, and a hero, too... just so long as her version of hero doesn't include dying like her counterpart or so many others he knows.
There's just one more thing:]
Hey, how did you know? About me being Cassandra, too.
[It'd been a presumption before, based on that old yokai friend of hers in the future, and Hunter asking (and therefore reminding him it was a thing). But confirmation! For sure! He has to know.]
I see... So you never knew for sure? [She does ponder for a moment. Could she have named him something else? ...Nah.]
Well as your mother, I decree that what I called you before is your proper name! Let's stick with that. I do like the concept of being able to call someone Junior!
I remember an old yokai who called me Cassandra when I was a kid. She was a friend of my mom's. So it was more like a toss up between it being my name or her being senile thinking I was you.
[And considering how long yokai can live while being of sound mind, like Draxum? The latter felt unlikely.]
I don't mind being a junior. It makes me feel closer to her. And, well, you.
[It is fine, child, very fine. Mother just wants to make sure to do motherly things!]
Good. I am glad that you feel those feelings on this subject. The Jones Clan stands strong, with our combined power! The power of our familial affection!
[It really is impossible to resist her enthusiasm, and her confidence. He can't help wondering if this is what his life was like, before the Krang destroyed their base and took everything away. How much more like her would he have been?
It's not a regret, exactly. He'll always be grateful for everything sensei and everyone else did. But he's so very grateful for this, too. This second chance to learn from Mom.]
[On the inside, she does feel inklings of fear and doubt as she thinks about her, or rather her other self's fate. Even if that's a timeline that no longer exists, it still means it is possible for her to fall and die on her child. But this is a world of vaster possibilities, and she ultimately feels determined to keep becoming stronger so this can be a world where she never leaves her son behind!]
Our combined powers are without peer! I feel so hyped up that I'm ready to launch into a training session immediately!!
[Death is, unfortunately, an ever-present threat in Casey's life, though far less so these days, thankfully. But it's only made him want to make every single day count, and be the best it could possibly be. There's no way he'll not be grateful for each opportunity that crosses his path to get to know his family- a second time.
And oh no, she said the magic word.]
Are you really gonna train? Can we do it together?
[Training with Mom! It's been over a decade! He can't not ask.]
Of course! I would never false declare a training session! [Her excitement builds with each sentence.] And we absolutely can! What better way to further cement this bond of ours through some training together?
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[Please never break his heart, Hunter. You might actually die.
Speaking of, though... considering her response to the other thing he hadn't told her, maybe he should stop avoiding it.]
...I'm... also sorry I didn't warn you about the... future you, and what happened. I kind of hoped I'd have more time, and that I could tell you properly.
[Unsurprisingly, Thirteen had other ideas. He'd also not really wanted to tell her at all but that's a whole other thing.]
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...A-ah. Yes. ...That. That I can... understand you waiting to tell me. [She respond slowly, without her usual energy.]
That is alright, Casey. It... it is best for me to know such a thing. It is a lot to process. But... even more than that... I- I keep on thinking of what you've had to go through!
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[He hadn't expected that. Maybe he should have? She's already taken to heart her role as his mother with such passion, and has been appropriately protective. Knowing his life was a struggle and that she missed so much of it, that's a reasonable conclusion to reach. This was never his intent, though.]
It's okay, though. I had a pretty good life. [Well. Okay. It was terrible, compared to what he knows life can be like now. But at the time he really didn't know any better.] I mean- it wasn't all bad. Everyone took good care of me. They saved me.
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Yes... yes, that is true. You have grown to be a splendid young man! And I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who's looked out for you and helped you. [She had already felt that way, but that was when she simply thought he was separated from his mother only by traveling through time and coming to this world. Now that she knows her fate, her feelings towards any and all other parental figures of his have intensified!]
I- I am sad that I could not be there for you all those years of your life, as a parent should... but I am still happy that you've lived and have so much good in your life. Now I wonder... if this was another reason I was brought to this world. To have time with you that... otherwise could not be had.
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[It's a depressing thought, but then again, many aspects of his life are depressing, and if true there's an element of hope and kindness to it. One more thing to feel grateful to Thirteen for? That sure wouldn't fly with all the people who hate her or want to kill her, but they don't have to know.
On the other hand...]
It could be that you being here doesn't have anything to do with me. I'm sure Thirteen saw your potential, too. Because you're amazing. [Which is true in his eyes. And she deserves to stand on her own, and not only be his newly-discovered mother. She's still Cassandra- the first Casey. A warrior and a badass and a great person regardless of who she's related to.] I mean... the world's been saved. We stopped the Krang. You're not going to die. We'll meet in New York too, one day, and then we'll have our whole lives to figure all of this out.
[Which is still so wild to imagine. A year ago he'd never imagined living so long. He'd been ready to go down fighting in those final days.]
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Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions! So I won't die, and we can still meet! I just, I did die before, in the future, but now I won't, except for when I did...
[She shakes her head quickly to try to dispel the confusion.]
Anyway!! Regardless of that, I have decided for myself that being your mother is part of my purpose in this world! To be an ultimate hero and an ultimate mother! Those are challenges that I intend to crush!
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[No doubt that she's rocking the mom vibe. But there's plenty of relief in his tone. He's glad! For all of it, really. Not dying, and being his mom, and a hero, too... just so long as her version of hero doesn't include dying like her counterpart or so many others he knows.
There's just one more thing:]
Hey, how did you know? About me being Cassandra, too.
[It'd been a presumption before, based on that old yokai friend of hers in the future, and Hunter asking (and therefore reminding him it was a thing). But confirmation! For sure! He has to know.]
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But she is confused by his question though, as if he's asking about some basic, elementary fact.]
It's obvious, isn't it? What else would I call my own child that 'Casey' would be short for? [With a snorting laugh-] Casington?
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I don't know! Everyone always called me Casey, or Junior. Definitely not that, though.
[Still, it is nice to have it confirmed.]
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Well as your mother, I decree that what I called you before is your proper name! Let's stick with that. I do like the concept of being able to call someone Junior!
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[And considering how long yokai can live while being of sound mind, like Draxum? The latter felt unlikely.]
I don't mind being a junior. It makes me feel closer to her. And, well, you.
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[Just lightly scolding there. Ultimately, her heart is warmed by his final statement. Her hands hover over her heart.]
V-very good then! The closer, the better. That is what I chose to say! I am happy to honor the link that I... th-that she forged!
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I'm glad for that. And... and grateful! We Joneses have to stick together.
[There's only two of them!]
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Good. I am glad that you feel those feelings on this subject. The Jones Clan stands strong, with our combined power! The power of our familial affection!
[They can make it if they try!]
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It's not a regret, exactly. He'll always be grateful for everything sensei and everyone else did. But he's so very grateful for this, too. This second chance to learn from Mom.]
Yes! We'll be unbeatable, together!
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[On the inside, she does feel inklings of fear and doubt as she thinks about her, or rather her other self's fate. Even if that's a timeline that no longer exists, it still means it is possible for her to fall and die on her child. But this is a world of vaster possibilities, and she ultimately feels determined to keep becoming stronger so this can be a world where she never leaves her son behind!]
Our combined powers are without peer! I feel so hyped up that I'm ready to launch into a training session immediately!!
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And oh no, she said the magic word.]
Are you really gonna train? Can we do it together?
[Training with Mom! It's been over a decade! He can't not ask.]
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[He sounds equally hype. Training! With! Mom!]
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