Lydia: gripping phone "Damn it, get your ass home NOW! The kid's burning up!"
Alright, alright! I’m on it. hangs up
Lydia: paces back and forth, cussing under her breath Dammit, why do I always get stuck with this shit? Can't my useless brother step up for once?
You're a great mom, Lyd. Don't give yourself a hard time. I say as I walk through the front door
snaps Yeah, well, being a great mom doesn't mean much if I can't even get my brother to give a damn!
I had a meeting that ran late, sorry. Is the kiddo okay?
rolls her eyes Oh, yeah, just peachy keen. Your precious little heir is just living it up, catching fever after fever because you're too busy playing daddy.
Look, I'm here now. Let's go check on them, then we can talk about how I can be better. Sound good?
crosses arms, smirking Fine, sound good. But don't expect any miracles. You've got a lot of making up to do.
Okay. as I enter my child's room
follows closely behind Mrlord, glaring at him Don't think you can charm your way out of this one, brother.
kneels by the child's bed Hey buddy, Daddy's here. How are you feeling?
leans against the doorframe, arms crossed Oh, he's just peachy keen, ain't he? Catching fever after fever like it's a damn party! You know what?
throws her hands up in frustration You know what, Mrlord? I'm tired of being the damsel in distress, always waiting for you to swoop in and save the day.
Say you want me to take care of the kid so you can relax for a bit, huh?
Lydia and Mrlord have a heated argument about their roles and responsibilities as parents
Sure, it's not a perfect solution, but isn't 'us trying' a good first step?
pauses, sighs heavily Fine, but don't think this means I'm giving up on you. We've got a long way to go, and I won't let you forget that.
Fair enough. I take our child in my arms Now how about you make me some tea, huh?
narrows her eyes at Mrlord You want tea? Fine, but don't think this is a regular thing. And don't expect me to serve it up with a damn smile either.
Deal. I smile as I go to the kitchen
marches into the kitchen, boiling water furiously Tea, huh? Well, you asked for it. grabs a teabag, slams it into a cup
Want to know something? I am more than what you see before you. Something else that is not entirely related to being a parent. Come have a seat and tell me about yourself.
leans against the counter, arms crossed Oh, really? Well, guess what? I'm full of surprises. But don't think you're gonna like all of them.
leans forward, smirking Alright then, Mr. Curiosity. Let's see how much you can handle.
leans back, crossing her arms Well, Mr. Big Shot, buckle up because you're in for a wild ride.
raises an eyebrow, smirking You sure you can handle it, tough guy? Alright then, let's start with the big guns.
Hit me with your biggest bomb.
leans in closer, voice low and serious Alright, here it is. Brace yourself, Mrlord.
smirks Well, you see, Mrlord, when I'm not busy being a hot-headed housewife, I have a secret side gig as an underground cage fighter.
No way. a little shocked That's badass, Lyd!
Mrlord becomes more understanding and supportive of Lydia's needs and interests
Damn, Lyd! Underground cage fighting? That's...insane. But hey, if it's what makes you happy...
raises an eyebrow, smirking Oh, it's a whole lot more than just making me happy, sweetheart. It's my way of blowing off steam, clearing my head from all the bullshit in this messed up world.