[ uGH UGH HELP HIM DAD WHINE HE WANTS TO CLIMB LIKE U ]

I'm glad that you're able to forgive and forget. I wish I could be like you, Ren.

[ But she's not, and she can't be. It's true, she thinks that Akechi had redeeming qualities, he's not all bad, but she also recognizes what he is: a murderer, who would have killed the very young man sitting next to her, had they not all had some quick thinking. ]

I can't trust that easily. I'm always going to wonder when he's going to snap. [ She reaches down to finally help tug their whining dragon son up onto the branch, and as she does, Sparkles is content to curl himself up between them. ] ...But I do trust you and your judgment. So, I'll give him a chance. For you.

[ For Ren and only Ren. She pets Sparkles, glancing off to the side. ]

Fair warning, though. If he does something I don't like, or if I feel like he's a threat to you, the claws are coming out.

[ Because there's no Metaverse versions of themselves to sacrifice here, and she's not taking that chance. Oh. Right, the other guy-- ]

He said his name was Seto Kaiba, something about a card game? And being a CEO and I should remember his name.