#then Meadowlin comes out with arms thrown wide hollerin IS THAT MY WEE WANDERER COME HOME

[slverblood]

It's also like . . . Erlona was entrusted by Selûne with Aylin's upbringing, so of course she saw herself in more the teacher sort of role. Like she was a headmistress at a boarding school Aylin was sent to. It wasn't entirely wrong; it just wasn't entirely right either. What that approach failed to take into account is that "school" was never out for Aylin; she was never going "home" to her mother. Not for a long time, anyway. The only family she could have possibly had would've been those entrusted with her upbringing: Erlona, Meadowlin, and the Moonhaven community.

Meadowlin understood that, likely due to his background. Erlona was raised in a monastery, and Moonhaven was a famously Selûnite town that grew up around the temple. Meadowlin, however, wasn't always a paladin, wasn't especially religious before the werebear experience, and wasn't really raised religious either. (His family undoubtedly favored the halfling pantheon anyway.) So he was able to look at the matter from a different perspective. He instead approached Aylin's upbringing like they were fostering her — which is honestly the more accurate take on the situation. He not only felt more comfortable slipping into a paternal role but felt like he should, like that's what he signed up for in taking responsibility for Aylin. He trained her, yes, but also tried to generally guide and impart life wisdom to her as a father might.

#eh we'll put it in the tag why not #META / HC: PRIMARY. #they're definitely both dead by the present timeline #but if they weren't I think you'd see the difference in how Aylin greets them #there would be unmistakable fondness in her eyes as she looked at Erlona which would be reflected back. a shared smile between them as well #but there'd be more formality in the body language as well. a sweeping bow from Aylin rather than an embrace #altho she does call her 'saint most beloved' or 'dear hallowed saintess' — again with clear fondness #then Meadowlin comes out with arms thrown wide hollerin IS THAT MY WEE WANDERER COME HOME #and Aylin throws her head back to laugh and reminds him 'dearest sir I wield a sword taller than your venerable self' #but she's immediately kneeling in the dirt so she can give him the biggest hug #the two of them settle into banter and call-and-response exchanges immediately #whereas her convos with Erlona are again more formal. not without fondness but more knight speaking to saint y'know