The "Would you still love me if I was a Rock" trend, but with its Shendrontanth and her Son, Dimitrios, when he was 7 years old.
Setting: Duke Karamazov's kingdom, Moscow.
Time: November 28th, begining of the long winter.
Shendrontanth's monthly visit for her three day free period to see Dimitrios.
(If you don't know the trend, it's sad— brace yourselves.)
——
Shendrontanth was walking slow, heels clicking against the cold stone as she went at the pace her beloved little was going. Her expression soft and full of love as she watched him attempt to walk only stepping on one stone at a time.
"You're doing so well, my little bat." The soft and caring tone she always used specifically with him.
Dimitrios looks up at her with a giant smile, a small gap residing where his left canine tooth would have been. "Really? You should have seen me last week! I did the same thing at the frozen creek behind the garden!"
Shendrontanth nods, stopping in her steps to crouch down and turn Dimitrios towards her. "I'm sure you did splendid, little bat." She reaches her hands up, adjusting his Svita with care. "How are your studies going? You're excited to become the Duke someday?"
Dimitrios nods his head quick, filled with excitement at the opportunity to talk about this. "My teacher is very proud of my recent—...improvements!" He struggled to find the correct word at first, luckily quickly finding it soon after the pause.
"I've gotten better with my writing, Papa was even impressed." He takes hold of the pale hand offered out to him, watching as Shendrontanth stood back to her full height. Her Orenburg Down Shawl sliding against the cold stone as she did so.
"I'm very glad." She waits for him to begin walking again, helping him keep steady with each step on the individual stones. "I'm proud of you, Dimitrios. Always." She felt the need to say it, not getting enough chances to see him lately, wanting him to know.
"You don't need to stick to just being a Duke either. I'll love you even if you find another passion to strive in." Looking down at him, the hair poking out from under his Gorlatnaya hat bobbing up in the air as he took more prideful, and confident steps.
A few silent moments pass as they continue walking, Dimitrios' expression shifting to one that seemed so serious and deep in Thought for a boy his age.
Shendrontanth had to stifle a laugh.
Suddenly, he stops. Looking up at his mother with his big mismatched eyes, one brow rose in question before he'd even spoken. "Mommy, would you still love me if I was a rock?" He tilts his head to the side, looking like a curious puppy now.
She mirrors his head tilting, a soft smile mixing with her curious expression. "Why on earth would my little bat be a rock?" She chuckles, crouching back down to wrap her arms around him and pull him in for a tight hug.
"Of course I would. I would Cherish you with all my heart and Keep you with me wherever I go." She adds, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. A dark print of lipstick staying in the spot.
——
In another Universe.
Shendrontanth steps out of the back door of her church, letting the door close behind her. The rain poured harshly, quickly soaking into her hair and dress. Her hands clenched around the handle of the basket she carried, filled with mismatched colored flowers, fresh picked from the next village over.
Walking through the graveyard in the same path she'd come accustomed to walking in, it was muscle memory by now.
Stopping in front of the all too familiar gravestone. The child she'd loved with all her heart, residing six feet under the dirt. She got to enjoy the joy of motherhood for Seven months. Over a year ago now, that had ended.
She crouches down, a hand bracing and holding the bump that was her stomach. Beginning to arrange and replace the mismatched flowers that matched her little bats eyes.