7019/Meeting Her Parents

Meeting Her Parents
Date of Scene:	24 March 2019
Location:	Jason Todd's brownstone in Gotham
Synopsis:	Jason gets introduced to Kitty's mother and gets the blessing of her parents. A promise ring is given.
Cast of Characters:	Shadowcat, Red Hood

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Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty's mother was scheduled to fly in from Deerfield the day before Purim. There would be some baking to do, as part of the religious holiday is giving away gifts and food to others. And there are traditional treats that are part of that.

Theresa Pryde? Excellent cook.

Kitty Pryde? Not so much.

Kitty texts ahead that she picked up her mother at the airport and are on their way to Gotham. Kitty spent the previous day at the brownstone, cleaning and scrubbing, and if Jason tried to get her to relax he got a look and a shake of her head, and back to cleaning she went. Even things that didn't need it.

The Toyota Avalon pulls up outside of the brownstone finally. The doors open and the mother and daughter climb out. Kitty goes to the trunk to get her mother's bags and the two come upstairs. Kitty opens the door without knocking, something no doubt noticed by Theresa even if Kitty wasn't thinking about it.

If looking at a girl's mother is a reflection of what she'll look like when she's older, then Jason my have some pleasant years ahead of him. Theresa is a beauty, with lighter brown hair than Kitty, but the same pleasing features and showing few effects from the extra years.

Kitty looks up as they come in. Her hands wring in front of her a little nervously, though she's smiling as she sees Jason. "Mom, this is Jason Todd. Jason, this is my mother, Theresa," she tells him.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason couldn't stop Kitty if he wanted to. But he could make sure that the house is presentable. So while Kitty was gone to the airport, he put in his own call - to Alfred and there was a delivery made to the house. He's just setting out the last of the ricotta tartlets when he hears the keys jingle in the front door, and there's a last glance around the kitchen, and a stashing of the delivery box from the local Jewish bakery. He's willing to let Kitty take the credit for it, after all. And he's used to hiding his identity as the Red Hood from the world. Hiding a delivery box from a nosey potential mother in law may be slightly harder.

Arriving in the living room as he dusts off his hands, Jason is dressed in a long sleeved polo-collared shirt, a pair of slacks and leather shoes. He very much cleaned up as much as he did the first day that Kitty met him in the park. "Missus Pryde, I can tell where your daughter gets her beauty from." he offers with a warming smile as he offers his hand with a polite bob of his head.

"Welcome to Gotham. I hope your flight was pleasant?" to Kitty, he moves over to grace her with a brief kiss and a report. "I was able to secure you a pair of suites for the celebration. I will not be able to make it. It's not my place - and trust me, I'll be more than busy." There's a grin at that.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde's eyes light up as she sees how cleaned up Jason is. Theresa smiles and steps forward to shake Jason's hand. "Oh you're so sweet! It's very nice to meet you, Jason. Katherine has told us so much about you, I feel like I already know you," she tells him. "Yes, the flight went without a hitch," she tells him. Theresa looks around the room and says, "And such a lovely home you have here. I haven't been through Gotham in forever. I used to live in New York for a few years," she tells him. "The architecture is always so distinct here," she comments.

Kitty's hovering around behind her mother, smiling as the introduction goes well. She moves over to Jason's side, sliding her hands about his elbow like she belongs there. "I would have liked to invite Jason to Purim, but I told him we're doing the intervention for Lorna's father and it would probably be best to limit the people there," Kitty explains. Her mother nods and says, "Of course, that sounds like the best idea. So, Jason, Kitty told me you work in security?"

Red Hood has posed:
There is plenty in the house that suggests Jason comes from wealth. This is one of Bruce's brownstones, after all. "Have Kitty tell you the story of the city's beat sometime." he says, beaming a warm smile towards the woman on his arm as his hand covers Kitty's. He shakes his head. "The intervention is important to you, sweetheart. I wouldn't want you to feel as if you had to explain everything to me while taking care of your other business."

The comment about his job gardners a nod from the young man. "I work in private security for WayneTech. It may be part of my father's company, but I've always rather earned my own way in life." A ding comes from the kitchen, and Jason ohs. "The tartlets you asked me to keep an eye on are done, Kitty. You two get comfortable, and I'll be right back with them. Do you have a preference in wine, Mrs. Pryde? '

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde smiles over to her mother and back to Jason as she confirms with a smile, "Oh, I did tell her." Kitty's mother smiles to her daughter as if remembering the story. "She told me how completely charming you were. A couple on their anniversary at dinner too?" Theresa says, smiling approvingly at the young man that her daughter has set her heart on.

"Oh, maybe just a small glass of white?" Kitty's mother replies. Kitty, meanwhile, has only the briefest moment of confusion over the tarts, a split second before she realizes it is yet another example of how wonderful her boyfriend is. That list has already grown beyond the ability of Kitty to remember. But they are all held close in her heart just the same.

Kitty and her mother sit down, their shoes left at the door. "Kitty was mentioning that about you, how you are working your own way through life. Her father was much the same way. The Prydes owned the local bank, but Carmen went his own way for several years. Only finally came back to the family business after a few successful ventures of his own." She speaks well enough of Carmen, though Jason will know that Kitty's mother and father are divorced now, with Carmen living in Genosha.

Red Hood has posed:
It takes a few moments, but Jason returns with the tray of spinach and ricotta tartlets, folded and baked - a bottle of Gewürztraminer that he moves to set down on the coffee table. He allows Theresa the catbird seat - that is the lounge chair, while he and Kitty take over the love seat. His hand rests in Kitty's, twining their fingers together before he smiles, a light blush touching his cheeks.

"I was fortunate to have found someone that was willing to take me in off the streets and raise me as his own. Though I am hopeful that when it is my time to have a family that I can pay the favor forward - but have plenty of children of our own." he admits with a small shrug of his shoulders. "So do you have any grand plans while you are in town? There is an exhibit at the Gotham museum, but I think you would find New York's museums more to your liking."

Shadowcat has posed:
Theresa Pryde takes the glass with a gentle smile, sitting in the chair and crossing her legs as her daughter and Jason take the seat nearby. "Oh, these look delicious," she says, trying one of the tarts. Kitty looks over to Jason, her eyes filled with a light for everything he's doing for her. For them.

Kitty looks back over to her mother and Theresa says, "Well, we have a lot of baking to do for Purim. Kitty asked me to make hamantaschen and a few other things for Lorna's family." Kitty tells Jason, "those are the triangular cookies, with fillings in the middle that I mentioned. My mothers are the best!"

Theresa smiles and tells Kitty, "You know you could try to learn to make them again. It's not that difficult." Kitty gives a soft laugh and shakes her head as her mother tells Jason, "Cooking was the one thing I could never get Katherine into. If she had her way she'd just eat cereal for every meal." Kitty gets a guilty look. Not like she still does that. The number of boxes of cereal at Jason's house have gone up exponentially since they started dating.

"I don't want to be in your hair very long though," Theresa tells Jason. "After we're done cooking, hitting a museum or two in New York does sound like a good idea. I haven't been to any of them since I was there in college," she says. Kitty nods her head and looks over to Jason. She squeezes his hand and says, "If you're free, if you have to work though we understand." She leans her head against Jason, smiling. Her mother seems to note the strength of her daughter's feelings for him in her daughter's body language.

Red Hood has posed:
"The kitchen is yours for as long as you're here, Mrs. Pryde." There's a chuckle at her comment about Kitty. "I know. I showed her a box of cereal that was all crunchberries, and it's been a battle." He puts a hand to his head dramatically, before Jason cuts a smile towards his girlfriend. "Anything that you need from the grocer, I have a number for my service on the fridge door. I don't have as much time as I would like to do my own shopping and such." He keeps busy - Kitty's already realized this by now.

Noticing that Kitty is being a little bit more affectionate, Jason squeezes her hand in reassurance. "These last few months with your daughter have been some of the best times of my life, Mrs. Pryde. She is a class act, she makes me smile, and she's been patient and kind with me, even when learning about each other." he considers for a moment, then continues.

"I'm not a mutant. And that Kitty is one doesn't matter to me. I fell in love with her before I found out what she was - and that does nothing to affect /who/ she is. My family has accepted her - and I would be honored to earn your approval as well over these next few days. And to know that we have your blessings to be together."

Shadowcat has posed:
"Please Jason, call me Theresa," Kitty's mother tells him. It causes Kitty's head to lift up and glance over, the first time one of her friends, let alone an interest, has been offered that by either of her parents.

Theresa meanwhile is busy laughing. "They make that?" she asks of the cereal. "Then I imagine she's been eating nothing but since she found out," she says, looking over to Kitty.

Kitty protests, "I eat other things too. I mean... sometimes." Kitty looks away rather than confess she's gone through like 2 boxes of it this week already. She looks back to Jason though as he goes on about their time together. "I've never been this happy before, mom," Kitty tells her mother as she looks up at Jason. "And he knows I'm part of a hero team. And even knowing that, he's always watching out for my safety in town and... and I can't imagine a better man to watch out for me. And a family some day."

It becomes obvious where those warm looks that Kitty is capable of come from as they see Theresa's reaction to hearing all of this. "Carmen and I were blessed to have Kitty as our daughter. She was always sharp as a girl, and I think we've seen her judgment has only grown better the older she gets. When she told us she thought you were the right man for her, that was really all we needed to hear. But getting to meet you, Jason, I can see why she feels that way." Theresa smiles over to her daughter and then back to Jason. "You have our blessing. Mine and Kitty's father. He asked me to share it since he couldn't be here," she tells them.

Red Hood has posed:
There's a little chuckle that comes from Jason. "She usually only eats them when she's working on something." He does side with Kitty on that one. As Therea continues and gives the approval of herself and Carmen on the relationship, he lets out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. His hand squeezes Kitty's warmly before he smiles.

"Your and your husband's approval mean a lot to me, Mrs. Pryde. As does your daughter. I hope that I can bring her happiness for as long as we're together.." he responds, before considering. "As such.." Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a small box. He doesn't go to his knee, it's not /that/ type of ring. But it is something that she can wear tonight. "Kitty. Since you've met me, you've just refused to phase through my life. You've stayed put. You've become part of my life that I never saw myself having and made it far better than I could imagine. I know we've still got a ways before we discuss things like marriage, but would you accept this token as my promise to you. That I will be here for as long as you want me to be." He looks up to her with hopeful blue eyes as he presents the ring to her, with red stones and gold and diamond accents.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde is all happy smiles as her mother gives her blessing, and her father's, to Kitty's relationship with Jason. Her hand tightens on his as she turns and beams a beautiful smile over to the young man. Kitty leans in to give Jason a soft kiss before leaning back as he speaks with Theresa Pryde.

Kitty relinquishes Jason's hand as he uses it to pull something from a pocket. This part is completely unexpected by Kitty. She looks over into Jason's eyes, hanging on his words. It might be an old fashioned kind of thing to do, the promise ring. But it's clear from Kitty's reaction how much it means to her.

"Oh Jason," she says softly, her eyes looking just a bit misty. She wipes at one of them and then quickly nods her head to him as he asks if she'll accept the promise ring. "Yes. Most definitely yes," she tells him.

Kitty reaches out her hand to rest it in Jason's. Letting him do the honors with the ring. Theresa has been sitting there beaming as she watches this. That he would do something so thoughtful for her daughter just increases her estimation of Jason.

Red Hood has posed:
Slipping the ring into place on Kitty's hand - well, the ring is a little /small/ to be honest. Jason blushes. "It belonged to my adopted grandmother." he admits quietly. "It was Bruce's blessing to me and you." A hint of color may have touched Jason's cheeks, but that may make it burn even more. "We'll get it resized so that it fits you proper." There's a chuff of laughter at that.

"I didn't really get a chance to meaure her finger. I'm sorry." he admits to Theresa, before he leans in and kisses Kitty warm and affectionately, sealing the promise between the two of them.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde offers her pinky finger for him to put the ring on in the meantime. There's no diminishment in the smiles of mother or daughter if the ring doesn't fit just quite yet. Kitty throws her arms around Jason and hugs him tight. She gives him a kiss back, long and warm and tender. When their lips part she looks into Jason's eyes. "I love you," she whispers to him. "And knowing it's part of your family means all the more to me," Kitty tells Jason tenderly.

Theresa smiles and rises to go into the kitchen and give the pair a moment. Kitty takes advantage of it to give Jason a deeper, more suitable to express her emotions to him. Eventually it breaks, and Theresa is coming back in with the bottle to top off their glasses. "Kitty, I'll be telling your father that you've found a fine young man to bring into the family."

Red Hood has posed:
The ring is settled on Kitty's pinkie, where it rests as Jason grins back at Kitty. "Love you too, Kitty." he promises her as he squeezes her warmly in return. When Theresa returns, he laughs. "I'm working to learn what I should know about being in love with her. Though I still sneak in some bacon when she's not around. The Big Belly's burgers make it impossible to resist." he admits with a laugh.

"But Kitty has been met with nothing from approval from my brothers and others in my family."

Shadowcat has posed:
Theresa beams a smile over to Jason. "I admit, I was worried that you might not understand what Kitty does. It's kind of like dating a policeman I imagine. Knowing they are in harm's way. Carmen and I... it took a long time for us to accept it. Kitty was kidnapped when she first got in contact with other mutants, and... well, we barely let her go and train with them after that."

Kitty sits quietly, blushing slightly during this. Her mother looks over to her. "But, we accepted long ago it was for the best. I mean, she's literally saved the world. The... the bullet? And the aliens? We're so proud of her. And I'm glad it sounds like you are able to accept that part of her life."

There was no mention in any of that which suggested Theresa knows anything about Jason's part in such a life.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason quietly mouths 'The bullet?' to Kitty. Something that he didn't know, apparently. "She didn't want to tell me at first. I think she was worried that it would color our relationship. Really, for me, she's another person. Well. Not quite. She's special because she's the woman I'm in love with, not because of what she can do. I love her for the total of who she is. All 23 of those chromozones. Though that probably sounds cheesy."

And he then laughs. "I think she brought you here just so she can finally here me gush about her. She's a special girl. And she has my heart. And I'm glad that she trusts me in return."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde looks back to Jason as he mimes the question to her. "I don't think you've heard that one," she tells him, blushing. But really he hasn't heard much of her past beyond the generalities, and even things like Lockheed he doesn't know the stories behind.

Kitty reaches over to gives Jason's hand a squeeze. She blushes but is smiling as she hears what he has to say. Though at the end she laughs warmly and says, "No, and... you gush sometimes that I can recall, anyway," Kitty says, looking just a bit shy, which draws a grin from her mother. "And I do trust you. Anything ever want to know about me," she tells Jason. She leans over and hugs him tightly.

Red Hood has posed:
"Alright alright..." Jason laughs, squeezing Kitty back. "I better get going before you two start discussing wedding colors and china patterns!" he says with a laugh, a wink given towards Kitty as he gives her a hard hug and kiss, before letting her go, his hand dragging down her arm until their fingertips release. Going over to Theresa, he leans down and kisses the woman on the cheek. "You have a wonderful daughter. Thank you for letting me share in her life."

Rising back up, he waves a hand. "Help yourself to the house. Anything you need, just ask. I'm going to get out of your hair so you two can gossip and such!"

Shadowcat has posed:
Theresa shines a smile at Jason and stands up to return the kiss to his cheek. "Just take good care of her," she tells Jason, in a tone as if she thinks her daughter has found someone who will do just that.

Kitty rises and goes over to her mother as Jason moves to give them time together. "Thank you mom. This really means a lot to me. To us," she tells her mother. Kitty's mother hugs Kitty and says, "I think you found a great one, Kitty. Your father and I couldn't be happier for you both."

The rest of the day is spent in baking, and getting to know each other. And Theresa goes off for a nap at some point, giving Kitty time to express her feelings to Jason about the ring. But that's a story for another time.