#fankidception

Phospho: *squints at 16-Beta* ...thought your dad was fuckin' ancient.

Andrea: He's not Morrison. He's simply one of the many clones of him created for the sake of attempting to replicate the SEP serum.

Phospho: ...so they were just cloning a blue-eyed blonde guy over and over?

Andrea: ...yes.

Phospho: *sucks in breath through teeth* Not a good look.

Andrea: The logic was if they could understand Morrison's physical responses to the serum, they could perfect it for a much more widespread use.

Phospho: So this is our baby now! *pulling 16-Beta’s lips back from his teeth* Got all his teeth, too.

Andrea: Please don't call him that. Or do that.

Phospho: Right! *swinging arm around 16-Beta* He needs a proper name! Like Ripper, or Tearer, or Slasher, or Gouger!

Andrea: Reyes said we should make a point not to continue the violence of previous generations.

Phospho: *raspberry sounds* Killjoy. *pause* Ooh! What about Killjoy?

Andrea: No.

Phospho: Night-Watcher.

Andrea: No.

Phospho: Tapetus Lucidus.

Andrea: Nnno.

Phospho: Russ.

Andrea: ...Russ?

Phospho: *points at herself* Phospho. *points at 16-Beta* Russ. Phosphorous! Get it?

Andrea: *sigh*

Phospho: ...Wesley?

Andrea: Wesley?

He knows he didn't start as "a thaice". Once he was an experiment, a piece of proven hypothesis. And because of that, he knows that if his mother spent enough time around his kids, she would see them as more than just extensions of her research. She'd love Hannes for his unrestrained laughter and Aoife for her clever wordplay. She'd see them as their own people. And the tragedy of it all is that he knows she's too dangerous to ever let them near her.

That's also the tragedy of seeing the best aspects of Moira in his own kids; in their bearing, style, resilience, and creativity. There's a sort of hollow feeling if the family ever finds themselves in Oasis, since that's where he met Rei, but that's also where he actually grew up outside of the Amnio-Tank, and despite its loneliness, it was a very privileged upbringing, but he's also kind of forced to contend with the idea that all that luxury was propped up by his mother's very unethical work--but there's still this ache of wanting to give his kids every opportunity he had--but the world has changed so much since then.

I've answered this briefly before, but I could go into more detail! Rei started out very enthusiastic, but as more kids got stacked on...

Rei with Kid #1: Annie, you don't need to worry about a thing. I am ride or die for little Akira. We're going to be besties. I'm going to be such a cool aunt.

Rei with Kid #2: All right! Player two has joined the game! Aw, Callie takes more after you, Annie! I bet you're gonna give your big brother hell.

Rei with Kid #3: Reina--after me? Annie, you don't have to--Oh I'm the godmother--that's... *voice cracking* greeeeaaaaat!

Rei with Kid #4: Yes Colette is very cute but please tell me you two are done now.

The twins can be off-putting to a lot of people, but not Rajeev. It's kind of funny because both Rei and Aedan are kind of aware of when the twins are being off-putting, just because Aedan's very aware of when his own nanite stuff can make him off-putting, but it just never seems to faze Rajeev. He adores the twins and goofs around with them and horses around with them without even batting an eye at them fading and going wraith-y. He like, would spoil them if he wasn't always dragging them on hiking trips to "build character" and constantly pestering everyone to go outside when the weather's nice.

Aedan cooks the most out of the three of them, so food and snacks are kind of a love language for him. He'll often bring snacks as an excuse to talk and check in with Rayyan. He's actually deeply affectionate and it's kind of interesting because his own relationship with his mother was like... not cold, but definitely more emotionally restrained and you can tell Aedan's kind of operating off of this mindset of "Actually I realize you need a lot of assurance, security, and support as a child and I'm not just saying that because I was artificially aged in a tank." Like Rei's more in the "I trust you to figure things out on on your own and make your own mistakes and learn from them and I'll check in from time to time but I won't pry too hard and you can come to me if you need anything" kind of Mom, but Aedan is extremely devoted and is totally the "will drop everything he's doing and rush over the second he senses something is off" kind of dad. Aedan always helps with homework, is kind of a stickler for making sure Rayyan's clothes are clean and his teeth are brushed and he's not leaving the house looking like a slob. On top of all that Aedan has absolutely terrible puns and is always asking a million questions about what's going on with your friends at school.

In conclusion:

Rajeev:

Aedan:

Aedan: *pointing at a picture on his phone* I’m holding Aoife and Rei’s holding Hannes.

AU!Rei: *snort* Cute.

Aedan: Really? No, ‘Augh! Hellspawn! Disgusting!’

AU!Rei: Psh. No, why would I say that about kids? You guys all look really happy.

Aedan: ...thanks. I’m... I’m really happy to have them.

AU!Rei: I get it. *takes out her own phone and shows him a picture* This is Rayyan.

Aedan: ...he’s beautiful.

Aedan: *holding their infant daughter* I like it. It suits him. *looks down at their daughter* But you... what should we call you? So pretty just like your mother... and I bet you’re gonna be just as strong as her. You should have a name that reflects that.

Rei: *snort* You have something in mind?

Aedan: Yeah... yeah I do... *waggles his finger at their daughter* Our little Scáthach.

Rei: What.

Aedan: Scáthach. *cooing* Our little shadow.