Welcome to Gaia! ::

Willis glanced down at Sera and Aria, chuckling as he watched his daughter squirm out of Aria's cloth embrace only to wrap her own little arms around the Essentic and hug it. Aria paused a moment before mimicking the action, returning the hug. "It would seem so. I'm relieved.. she's been rather blank the past two days. I suppose she just needed some time. Ah, I'm sorry. My daughter's name is Sera." How in the world had he been able to forget to introduce the light of his life?

Aria turned her head, looking over towards the woman. "Yes, I know."

"Daddy, I'm hungry." Sera looked up at her father from where she stood, arms still thrown around the Proto.

Willis glanced down at his watch, giving a slight start. "It is almost dinner time, isn't it. Your invited to stay, Ms. Ellandra."

Willis colored slightly, leaning down to cough into his hand. "Look at me, I'm sorry Ms. Ellandra. I don't mean to make you feel as though you are obliged. I trust you." He looked up at her and smiled, eyes softening gently. "It must be incredibly awkward for you. No... I do believe I'm the one imposing himself on you. Please forgive me."

She was a pretty, small thing. Like a bird, he thought. Caught and fluttering her wings in a panic.

He cleared his throat again, turning away to busy himself with pulling down a few glasses. "You wouldn't be rude if you wished to decline, madam."

"Nooooo!" It was a loud whine from somewhere around Ellandra's skirts. Sera reached up to take the woman's hand and hold onto it, looking at her in hopeful earnest with large, dark eyes. "You have to stay! I didn't get to talk to you!"

"Sera!" Willis turned around, a look of shock at his daughter's actions on his face.

Aria glided forward as well, head tilting back to gaze up at the woman. If a look of concern could be expressed on the feline's virtually expressionless face it would be there at the moment. A light touch of her strange appendage to the woman's hip. "Please do not be distressed."

Sera gave a whoop of joy, bouncing up and down in front of Ellandra as she continued to hold the woman's hand. Aria remained motionless beside them. Willis paused a moment, smiling serenely at the gentle scene before him. "Well... I'm glad you've decided to stay. Are there any requests for food, then?"

Sera had begun to tug lightly on Ellandra's hand, trying to pull her towards the hallway. "Can we have tomato soup? Tomato soup is fancy!" The second part was added as an informative comment towards Ellandra. "I bet you eat fancy food all the time. Do you go to parties? Daddy never goes to parties, you know. He says they're for young people."

Willis colored hotly at his daughter's conversation. "Hrm... would tomato soup be alright with you, Ms. Ellandra?"

Aria glided slowly behind Sera and the woman, making sure to keep the small girl within her sights at all times. The feline Proto kept an eye on Ellandra as well, watching the way she moved, the way she carried herself.

With a nod Willis got to work on the meal. Tomato soup... to use canned or to make his own, that was the question. Canned was Sera's favorite but it wasn't exactly the most classy thing, and Ms. Ellandra seemed a very classy lady indeed.

With a small smile he decided upon a compromise. Canned soup, home-made sandwiches. Getting to work about the kitchen he set pots on the stove to warm and pulled out the makings for what he hoped would be a good cheese sandwich...

In the hallways Sera let go of Ellandra's hand, eyes widening as she tilted her head to look back at the beautiful woman. "You get a whole cake to yourself?" Bare amazement shone across the child's face. A whole cake all to one person?! "Can I go to one of your parties?"

Aria was stationed silently beside Sera, little head tilted to the side as she listened to the conversation. "Y-You must be very good about brushing your teeth." A small stutter in the strangely androgynous voice caused the Essentic to even shake her head.

Sera frowned, sticking out her tongue. "I hate brushing. It makes your mouth taste funny forever after."

Willis peeked around the doorway, the smell of food wafting around the corner with him. He spotted Sera sitting on the couch with Ms. Ellandra, Aria floating at the woman's feet as she gazed up at her. Sera was speaking quite animatedly to her. He watched for a moment, realizing with a pang of guilt and sadness that Sera had never really had the chance to talk with a woman so properly before.

If his wife had still been alive... would it have been her in Ellandra's place on the couch, smiling and tilting her head to listen to the words of their daughter? For a moment he almost saw her in their house guests' face. That same gentle smile... Ellandra's was simply more shy. Harder to coax out but just as rewarding to see.

Willis shook his head, running a hand over his face and leaning back a moment, waiting for the flush to disappear off his face before stepping around the corner and calling out to the trio. "Supper time! I'm sorry it took so long."

Sera broke from the conversation and slid off the couch. "Did you forget how to make it or something?" She put her little hands on her hips, giving her father a silly scowl before turning it into a laugh and running to him, arms outstretched. He scooped her up and held her in his arms.

"Oh, I'm sorry, madam. Next time perhaps you should cook, hm? Maybe it'll be ready sooner." He looked up from his daughter, his expression unguarded. He was smiling as he held out a hand in a welcoming gesture for Ellandra to come over and join them.

"No thank you!"

Willis lead the way to the dining room, setting Sera down in her chair and moving to his own. There was a third and even a fourth place set, one across from Willis, one next to Sera. "Take your pick, either of you."

Aria looked up at Ellandra, blinking her cattish yellow eyes a the woman. With a small bow of her head and a motion of one long, silky sleeve she backed up a pace or two. "You should sit first."