|
Tonya Brooks:
Tonya had finished work, and was now cooking a dinner for the three of them. She was looking....better? She had been social which certainly helped.
But now, she was waiting for her girls to make it home, and be here for dinner. A mix of goblin fruit and Ironside ingredients in a soup.
Azuma Hiroko:
Hiroko came home first, quietly peeking into the kitchen and immediately moving to help Tonya with dinner. She didn't say anything and Tonya didn't have to either for her to help. It was something she was trained to do already.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
Lamp came in a few minutes after Hiroko. She had quiet a few bags of things. She was speaking calmer then normal. "Hia Umm I have a book for the both of you. Also this smells really goods."
Tonya Brooks:
And Tonya didn't mind the help, gently offering Hiroko the next steps. At this point, she knew it made Hiroko happy.
"A book? Whatever about? We are hoping it tastes really good as well."
Azuma Hiroko:
"Welcome home, Lamp." she greeted her friend with a soft smile. She didn't stop helping with the cooking though.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she shows them the book, setting it on the table. "I saw a few of these books and figured it would be useful fir all of us. And thank you Rammy! Or ummm are you ok with ne calling you Rammy?"
* The book is titled Android Phones For Dummies...
Tonya Brooks:
She pauses and looks at the book. There was a raised eyebrow at it.
"For...dummies?"
Azuma Hiroko:
"Lamp can call me whatever she wants." Hiroko smiled.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she smiles happily "Then Rammy it is! And yea... we are all not great at technology. So I got these for us to learn better."
Tonya Brooks:
"Ah! They are beginner's guides. That makes far more sense."
She thumbs through the first few pages quickly, only skimming.
"Thank you Lamp, this will help a lot."
She goes back to the soup.
"What do you think Hiroko? About ready?"
Azuma Hiroko:
The little lamb gave the soup a quick taste, and then nodded eagerly. She was hungry and that taste only increased her appetite.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she quickly grabbed some bowls and spoons and set the table. "Yay I'm excited. I haven't had anything besides pretzels today.... oh and soda"
Tonya Brooks:
Tonya does what is best described as a mom sigh.
"Lamp...you need to eat balanced. Although...I admit I am struggling quite a bit more with how processed everything is."
She works with Hiroko to help serve everyone, mainly letting Hiroko to do the work and thanking her, but she would never admit that.
"What did you two get up to today?"
Azuma Hiroko:
Knowing that Lamp was the more excitable one, she allowed the firey Changeling to relate her adventures first. Hiroko kept busy by ladling out soup into bowls carefully and getting anything else they might need for dinner.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Well I went shopping with Vinny. I got a bunch of things I'm really excited about! Oh speaking of Vinny he invited us to watch movies at his place. Especially you Tonya. He fells its only fair for you to know where he lives aswell." she said as she sat down.
Tonya Brooks:
"What sorts of things?"
She pauses.
"Ah. Well then, we may have to take him up on that. Hiroko, would that be okay with you?"
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Well, foods, wood burner, sodering iron, headphones that play music, and, Vinny is helping me order a 3d printer! I'm excited. How about you two? How was yours days?"
Azuma Hiroko:
She nodded in answer as she sat down to start gulping down her soup... Spoon forgotten... Manners too, apparently... She still drank slowly though, trying not to burn her tongue. Hiroko paused for a moment to answer Lamp. "I helped people in the soup kitchen. Umi-saki Onee-san says that is the best place to help people."
Tonya Brooks:
"That is... quite a lot of things. Where are you planning on putting them?"
She sips her soup rather daintily.
"Umi-saki Onee-san? I don't believe I know who that is."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Uhhh at the hollow for now.." she perked up hearing this new name. She ate her soup happily enjoying the company.
Azuma Hiroko:
She had been shoveling meats and fruits and potatoes into her mouth with her fingers when Tonya asked her about her new friend. She stopped, swallowed her mouthful, then beamed at Tonya. "Yes. Umi-saki Onee-san is my new friend. She is from Tokyo! And she does magic!"
Tonya Brooks:
"I've been told most computers and similar things struggle within the Hedge. Or behave differently than they might Ironside. I'd ask another who understands better before trying to bring them in."
She nods.
"Ah, another friend from Japan. That is good. Is she part of the Freehold?"
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Oh ok, Thank you. I'll definitely ask around and try to figure it out." she listens to Rammy curious about her new friend.
"Yea! Is she nice?"
Azuma Hiroko:
She shook her head while chewing, swallowed and then beamed again. "Umi-saki Onee-san is really nice. She is not part of the Freehold."
Tonya Brooks:
She smiles, super happy Hiroko has found a friend!
"That is good! I am very glad you have found another friend from home. I think this is excellent news."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Mhmmm I agree! I'd love to meet them sometime. How about you Tonya? Anything exciting going on? How's the library going?" she said careful to not open any wounds or anything.
Azuma Hiroko:
Hiroko went right back to polishing off her bowl... And then getting up to get seconds...
Tonya Brooks:
"Today went well. I did not have to work, so I went to the Autumn hollow. I have started meeting some of the other members of Autumn which has been nice."
She is still starting her firsts.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Thats goods, I umm still need to meet more of Winter.... So you have definitely beat me there."
She ate some more of her soup only eating half of it before pushing it aside in the direction of Rammys plate.
"Rammy was that good soup?"
Azuma Hiroko:
She nodded happily as she settled down to gobble up her new bowl of soup as well as Lamp's.
Tonya Brooks:
"If I may recommend it, you both taking the time to go to the Winter Hollow may help in that regard."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Mhmm Yea thats a good idea. It would be fun." She smiles watching Rammy devour her food.
Azuma Hiroko:
Hiroko didn't respond for she was too busy licking the bowls...
Tonya Brooks:
"It would be. I'm sure of it."
She smiles at Hiroko.
"Do you two have the energy for a more serious discussion tonight? If not, that is entirely fine. I would rather have it while you two are well rested."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Yea im good for a more serious discussion." she said getting up and getting a mountain dew.
Azuma Hiroko:
Finally satisfied, she placed the bowl down and sighed. Then she nodded eagerly. What does Tonya wish to discuss?
Tonya Brooks:
"Do you two know what a Motley is?"
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Nope. What is that?" she said after taking a drink.
Azuma Hiroko:
"Is it a type of steak?"
Tonya Brooks:
She chuckles.
"Not a food, no. A Motley is a group of Changings that bind themselves into a promise to one another. Usually this is a group of friends, or a group that Escaped Arcadia together. It is also a sign of an immense amount of trust. Often, Motleys will put their other motleymates ahead of anyone else in the whole world."
She pauses for of either of them have any questions.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"So um just BFFs? Why didn't you just say that?" she said taking another sip of her drink.
Azuma Hiroko:
"You are my best friends." the lamb nodded, agreeing with Lamp.
Tonya Brooks:
"BFF?"
Then Hiroko responds and it makes sense.
"Ah. I suppose Motleys would be...Best Best Best Friends. Its an entire world of trust, bound by the Wyrd."
She looks between the two, and offers a hand to each.
"I don't need an answer now, and it is also fine if the answer is or ends up being no, but I do trust you both a great deal, and I hope I can earn your trust as well. Would you two be interested in making a Motley of our own?"
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she takes Tonya and Rammys hand. She smiles nodding happily. Visibly bouncing in her seat.
"YES That would be Awesome! I would love to join a Motley with the two of you! Also how do you not know what BFFs are?"
Azuma Hiroko:
Hiroko immediately picked up their hands as well, beaming at them brightly. "Yes."
Tonya Brooks:
"It's probably more recent than I was Taken."
Tonya's paper thin smile grows to being ear to ear.
"Okay, okay. I am very glad you both are so willing. There is some work to be done for that, but there are plenty of benefits. Including that the Hollow will be able to accommodate and evolve from you two as well, and not just from myself."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
Her feet tap against the floor with audible excitement. "Yay!!! I'm happy! Hold on when we're you taken? Like both of you if I can ask?"
Azuma Hiroko:
She giggled as Lamp displayed excitement over an official bonding. It was contagious. "Nineteen Ninety Three!" she piped up with her soft voice.
Tonya Brooks:
She smiles at the excitement, especially as Hiroko joined in.
"Which time?"
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Ummm first?" she smiles happily
Tonya Brooks:
"Nineteen Eighteen. Very beginning of it but I don't know an exact date."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she looks at Tonya with raised eye brows and begins to count it out on her fingers by fives. "ummm wait does that mean your more then 100 years old?"
Azuma Hiroko:
Hiroko had already guessed the numbers and she was now staring at Tonya in silent shock, her jaw slack.
Tonya Brooks:
"One hundred and....twenty eight I believe. I look quite good for someone so old, don't I?"
She chuckles at their amazed expressions.
"I came back in 1964 from Her domain. It was only a few years for me There. I was..."
She has to pause here for a second to work out the way to speak. She clearly struggles all the way through.
"Kidnapped by some Privateers and sold off to It 5 years later, near the beginning of Nineteen Sixty-Nine. That's why I was so relieved that some of the Kindred I knew were still here, they were a way for me to connect to my past. And why I was so excited about Alexis's rise to Autumn Queen. She had recently risen to Witch of the Bitter Wind when I was last here."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Your not that old. There is a Tortoise that is 188 years old. His name is Jonathan. He's Bi." She said in an effort to cheer Tonya up. She looks at hiroko for a moment remembering what Vincent had said. "Um Jonathan like male tortoise and females. And I'm happy you still has friends around."
Azuma Hiroko:
As Tonya related her story, Hiroko got up to walk around the table so that she could hug her gently.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
lamp joins hiroko to hug Tonya.
Tonya Brooks:
Tonya accepts the hugs and hugs them back.
"He likes...okay then." She remembers what Titania said...what they did...she waves the thoughts away.
"I'm not....it hurts, yes, but I have learned to move on. I have you both, and others I am friends with. It is hard to accept that those I once knew are gone, but it means I have nothing holding me to a past that is no longer my own. I am content to be here now."
Azuma Hiroko:
"And your clarity is good?" she asked, smiling up at Tonya.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
She hugs them all tightly. Not having lots to say at the moment.
Tonya Brooks:
"For now, yes. It is not as strong as many other's are, but is intact for now, thanks to you, dear."
Azuma Hiroko:
She gave Tonya a peck on the cheek and then snuggled her. "You are welcome... Okaa-san..."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Wait what does that mean?" she said curiously.
Tonya Brooks:
She smiles at the kiss.
"San is...a title or honorific of respect. What does Okaa mean?"
Azuma Hiroko:
"Mother." she replied, her eyes sparkling with joy and love.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she squeals happily. "YESSS um can I use Okaa-San Tonya?"
Tonya Brooks:
Her hand goes to her chest in shock, and a large smile fills her face.
"I- oh my. I was not prepared for that. If you wish, I would not be opposed."
She cups Hiroko's face and squeezes Lamp's hand gently.
Azuma Hiroko:
Hiroko snuggled into that hand like a cat would.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
lamp hugs them both happily. A huge grin on her face "yay!!!"
Tonya Brooks:
"And I am happy to call you both my daughters."
She takes a few seconds to concentrate, looking distant for about 5 seconds before continuing. As she speaks Japanese, it is with the correct accents and everything, as if she spoke the language for years.
"Or Musume if you prefer. Or even Hiroko-Chan and Lamp-Chan if that would make you smile and make you feel safer."
Azuma Hiroko:
"Okaa-san can call me anything she likes." she giggled.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she looked at Tonya wide eyed, still super giddy and excited but confused how Tonya suddenly spoke Japanese.
"W-wait could you speak Japanese this whole time?"
Tonya Brooks:
"Daughter then. Or Hiroko."
She chuckles.
"I am a Librorum. Within my mind is a collection of Her knowledge that She stored within me. Languages are one of those things, but because there is so much, I can only access small bits at a time, and it is exhausting to do so."
Azuma Hiroko:
Seemingly unsurprised, Hiroko went back to snuggling her new mom. It made sense, considering her past... Not that Tonya or Lamp knew of her past...
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Ahhh gotcha. Makes sense." she says snuggling them both. Her body warm and welcoming to cuddle with.
Tonya Brooks:
She leans into the soft and the warm of her compatriots....her daughters, her Motleymates.
"I did have an idea for what we could call our Motley as well. After a memory I vaguely have from There. The Bottom Shelf. I...think that's what we called our hiding place, but I don't remember why."
Azuma Hiroko:
"I do not mind the name. It is familiar. And comforting." she nodded.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
"Agreed I like it! And I mean it's were I first met you mom... I think."
Tonya Brooks:
"It is familiar and comforting, and means something to us. It may also mean something to amy others that managed to Escape."
She frowns.
"I...do not remember if that is where we first met. Perhaps we will remember in time as our Wyrd increases."
Azuma Hiroko:
"I remember that I used to nap there a lot."
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
she pats the both. Looking off to the distance, her voice a bit more distant and somber as she spoke. "I... Um I wonder if anyone else made it out....And if....." she didn't finish her thought
Tonya Brooks:
"I...think you did. I remember you being there a lot?"
She squeezes Lamp's hand.
"I'm certain others got out. Just remember that the Hedge is not linear. It's entirely possible that someone that escaped with us comes up in months, years, or possibly decades, and we can be there for them."
Azuma Hiroko:
This time, Hiroko got up and walked around Tonya to go hug Lamp. Her mantle strengthened a touch, enveloping the trio with soothing and peaceful vibes.
Hannah "Lamp" Candles:
She nodded to Tonya still looking lost in thought. She hugged Rammy happily, the floofy fur of her 'sibling' helped calm her.
"Yea your right....."
she stopped talking again and went back to cuddling Rammy. As her emotions flared so did her Mantle, a slight cold winter breeze was felt and you could have sworn you heard the roar of the metro in. But as soon as it's there its gone.
Tonya Brooks:
Tonya meanwhile doesn't strengthen her Mantle, letting the air be overtaken by Winter.
"I'll do some research on Motley Oaths and what else we need to do, and if we need to announce it."
She pauses, then smiles.
"But lets have tonight be a celebration, not one of worry or effort. A night spent for us now that we are free and safe and together."
|