"Oh," says Serik. "Of course. I can't imagine why I ever thought you wanted to meet me for anything resembling a sentimental reason. You want me to build you useful magic fixtures."

"Well, will you?"

He rolls his eyes.

"When I figure out how to duplicate the fountains you can have as many as you like."

"Not that I'm under the impression this justifies any of the anything but wow, you were not kidding when you called him a sarcastic emotional void," she tells Seofar.

Serik, who hasn't heard that one before, giggles.

"We put up with him because he's very very good at running an empire," says Corino. "But I don't expect he was very comforting to have as a parent."

"I don't think we're remotely their fault," says Serik, with a gesture to himself and Seofar on 'we' and Esarkan on 'their'. "I can't imagine the parenting situation that could possibly have turned us out benign and well-adjusted."

"And my mother was an emotionally neglectful bitch, but I turned out alright."

Corino nods.

"You don't currently have a way to duplicate the fountains, then?" he asks Serik.

"I don't! I'm going to take another look at it after I manifest my soul in case that comes with any helpful magical conveniences."

"Oh, it probably will one way or another."

"Well. Yes."

"Fine. Get lost, then," Esarkan says amicably.

"Lovely meeting you," snorts Serik.

"Kelora-slash-Iri is definitely the most well-adjusted human being in the family," Siva nods, once they're out of the office.

"I'm certain I can take no credit for that at all," says Serik.

"None whatsoever," Seofar agrees.

"It occurs to me that I know literally nothing about any of the mothers involved in this."

"I don't know much more about my own mother than you do, Kelora's is dead and I don't see any benefit in going into more detail than that..."

Serik shrugs a yeah-same-here kind of shrug.

"How old Kelora was at the time might be a relevant detail, but I wasn't planning to ask for--other kinds of detail."

Awkward shrug!

Oookay. Well, she's not going to ask any more questions about that. She will hug him, how's that, does that reduce the awkward.

Yes that is good.

Good. Change of subject: "It's kind of awkward, interacting with Taliar's parents, because if Esarkan sent him intending him to declare war on you and win I'm kind of glad I showed up and--dealt with things--instead. Like, I guess there's nothing saying I couldn't have shown up and him not vanished, but..."