Winter days on Tolaria had never grown on Chandra. Her Kaladesh formed mind couldn't come to terms with the blinding sun in her eyes being accompanied by the frigid air crawling over her face. Despite this, she had spent her entire morning and afternoon sitting on her doorstep in anxious anticipation.
As day turned to night, her psyche was able to make sense of the cold but that did little to relieve the tension built up from a day of waiting for Liliana's mother. Chandra was never given a time beyond 'before 7:00' for when her guest would show up and couldn't stand waiting inside in case that would somehow cause them to miss each other.
When the last sliver of daylight was tucked away, Chandra heard the sound of a car coming to a stop, as if Claire had been summoned by the darkness. Pia was still at work, Liliana and Jovi were meeting with Jirina so the slow, measured steps that were coming up the walkway sounded so much louder than they really were; even though she knew who it was, Chandra was still taken aback when the figure came into view.
Even in the dim porch light, Claire was more intimidating in person than she had been when they spoke through the universities relay. When Chandra had faced Liliana's mother then, the Kamigawan descendant had the makeup and attire of a warlock, but as they stood face to face, Claire was looking entirely aristocratic which was more unnerving than the robes and black makeup.
Chandra shakily put her arm out to offer it to Claire, who was gliding toward her in a floor length jet black dress with a cane she clearly didn't need. Liliana's mother had her hair tied into such a tight bun that it must have been giving her a headache which Chandra wished was the reason why her guest looked so unimpressed, but that wasn't likely the case – a guess reinforced by Claire ignoring the half extended hand.
Claire's voice matched her sneer perfectly. "My task is complete, Ms. Nalaar."
"So he agreed to it?"
"Correct. Everything will be finalized by the end of the week, though I am still unclear as to why you insist on this being a surprise."
Probably because you don't know the meaning of the words fun or whimsical. "Thank you so much for your help, Ms. Bennett."
Claire nodded – the closest thing she had shown to emotion in Chandra's two meetings with her. "I only agreed because I felt the idea was worthwhile. I believe Jovi and Liliana will find it to their liking."
Anything from this woman that wasn't, 'you are a fool and I hope you die alone' seemed like a ringing endorsement to Chandra, so her confidence was unnaturally high, despite the intimidating presence washing over her. She even found herself hopeful that Claire might not be completely terrifying under better light.
"We should go inside. I'll make you some tea while we wait for Liliana."
Without pause, Claire responded, "actually, Ms. Nalaar, I will be taking my leave now."
Five minutes ago, Chandra would have been disgusted at the idea that Claire would find her home too shabby to enter, but now she was wishing that the older woman thought it equivalent to a dumpster. It would have been a more favourable reason for not wanting to stay than the alternative – that Liliana's mom didn't want to see her.
"But..." Chandra stuttered a response, afraid of what would happen when she finished talking. "But she's going to be here soon. I checked the planar portal schedule. You can't even get home for another few hours."
Claire became unnecessarily impatient with Chandra's objection. "If you intend for what we are doing to remain a secret, how you were planning on explaining my presence here?"
Chandra's eyes were wide with confusion. "When you agreed to this, I just figured you would make something up, like maybe you just wanted to see her." The young woman's shaking from fear was being overtaken by shakes of anger and she let out some unintended sarcasm. "If that's somehow too unbelievable, we can tell her the truth."
Unsurprisingly, this didn't work.
Unemotionally, Claire grunted and turned to leave and Chandra responded with contrary emotions by reaching out and grappling onto the cold wrist hovering away from her.
"What the fuck is your problem!?" Claire did nothing to pull away, giving Chandra some theories about what the cane was actually for. Even more than your average person, Liliana's mom didn't seem like the type to appreciate people grabbing her – especially a commoner.
Chandra was expecting a caining, a vocal beating or even Claire turning around with a petrifying glare, but nothing happened for a drawn out period before she finally responded calmly with her back still turned. "Does Liliana believe I favoured Josu?"
Chandra scoffed with purpose. "Yeah, can you blame her?"
"Children are such odd creatures. They have such faith in their parents that their imagination overrides common sense." It seemed safe to let Claire go as she seemed ready to make a point. "Josu felt I cared more for Liliana than I did for him. They both thought themselves unlovable rather than concluding the reality that I was not fit to be a mother."
Chandra wasn't sure what to expect going into this encounter, but from the stories she had heard as well as her sole experience with Claire, humility was never considered a possibility, but it was more irritating than any of the pompous things Chandra could have imagined. This grown ass woman is ignoring her daughter because she's just giving up on being better?
It was time for Chandra to resist stamping her feet in hopes of accomplishing something for the woman she loved. "She doesn't need you to be perfect," Chandra pleaded. "She just wants her mother."
"No, Ms. Nalaar." Chandra was furious that Claire wouldn't even turn to face her – furious that someone so close to Liliana could be so cowardly and even more furious that she was walking away.
"She wants a family and now she has one." No crack in her voice, no hesitation in her step and within seconds, the wraith had faded away in the night.