She was the one who raised me. [Although he won't go into detail about who his real mother is—everyone else but him seems to know already! He lifts the skull pauldron on his shoulder, letting her reach beneath it, lest there's actual blood stuck there, too.] She's lovely. Strict but supportive. Somehow she does manage to strike that balance very well. But then again, she sees everything, most of everything, at least.

[He has caught himself looking up and wondering if she was watching.] That sounds like a plan, though. I look forward to it. Oh, hey, your ear? [He reaches to clean at her earlobe.] There.