Chương 923: Day Nine Hundred And Twenty-One

Dear Diary, Y'know, I remember a quote from an old video game, one that I'm pretty sure came from an earlier military guy, but it goes something like 'I studied the blade, that my son might study diplomacy, that his son might study art'. Always sounded kinda pretentious to me, because everybody I knew of who 'studied the blade' did so either to keep their ass alive, or were talking about watching way too much Anime and spending money on 'authentic replications'.

But even if 'studying the blade' is a pretentious way to put it, 'kicking the living shit out of everyone who threatened my family' is something I can definitely get behind. Yeah, I think Saffron and I double teamed history here and now, what with me studying my Blade and my Kitten studying Diplomancy. I mean, that's not the only one we've double teamed, although frankly I'm now sort of surprised to say that list contains one person, that being Marie.

Like, multi-partner shenanigans all over the place, but Saffron and I focused on one other partner has pretty much just been Marie. Which is weird, considering how much we all enjoy us our Darling. Then again, we kinda take turns with her, because I think she might be intimidated or overwhelmed or scared and holy fuck but do we ever have to see how many of us can focus on her at one time once she decants.

My point, and I did have one, despite all my dilemma hunting turning up nothing but common spawn digressions, because RNGesus hates my team, is that between me stomping the shit out of anyone and anything local who thought about doing violence unto me and mine, and Saffron convincing even Ophelia Orange and Lenny Lancaster that the Alliance is the last best hope of their family names living on into history, our kids don't have to study either of those things. Shitkickery and manipulation, that is.

I mean, yeah, Alex still wants to kick ass, I can't tell if Ria wants a major in casting with a minor in shitkickery or the other way around, and our kits are one and all inheritors of claws and fangs and the kind of natural talent for violence that wishes a motherfucker would, but even with the kits not all of them want to be fighters.

I think maybe a couple of them might get into the diplomacy or politics end of things, like Ria is still her mother's daughter, Maze is surprisingly good at people wrangling, and then there's Davey. Davey is the kind of social butterfly who will absolutely wind up functionally in charge, whether that means 'in charge of the Alliance' or 'in charge of the game room'. She just loves socializing, and has a knack for getting people to work together. But then there's the others. Garde the poet. Daya the...

I don't even know what to call her, because she combines artistry and crafting. She's a Maker, not unlike my older adopted boy. Lindsey may not consider herself a 'painter', but she's the one who painted all those landscapes, and she's damn good at it. The same goes for Ria and her ability to paint wildlife. Finally, of course, there's my musical trio. There's a lot of overlap there, too. Garde can sing. Ria has fantastic handwriting.

I haven't seen Daya do any art except nails, but it would not surprise me if she was good at some portion of visual art as well, with her sense of color. Yeah, none of that is my thing, except maybe the connection to cooking, but holy shit my kids are gonna be a whole assed artistic troupe. Also, today I might have clued them in to the fact that while our musical trio have obviously connected to one another via that, the rest might want to team up for things other than decorating their rooms.

Or maybe they already knew and I've just been too clueless to see, but I'm gonna go with the former. So yesterday after a day spent listening to Garde read and sometimes even sing her poetry, I might have gushed a little to her about it. I tried not to be too cringe and make her think I didn't mean it, but I absolutely did. Weird, because poetry was not my thing back in the day. Maybe it's 'cause she's my kid, maybe I've grown and matured as a person. Maybe she's just that good.

But after that, once Davey and Daya headed for the Dining Room, I asked, "hey, do your sisters know you sing?" You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. She looked at me quizzically.

"I just did? So yes?" I laughed, shaking my head.

"I meant Borysthenis, Calliope, and Erato. The three who are gearing up to put on a whole assed musical display for the fam." She looked away, shaking her head.

"Not them."

"You haven't told them, or you don't want to tell them?" I held out a hand and we started walking to dinner. She took her time thinking, and I took my time walking. I also might have picked her up so she maybe didn't realize how much I was slowing my roll. When we hit the Bore, she said, "haven't. Should I?" I shrugged.

"Your voice is great, and your poetry rocks. Maybe it won't work with their music, but... What if it does?" She thought about that some more, and right before we walked out of the Kitchen into the Dining Room she looked up at me and said, "come with me?" I nodded, paused, and asked, "tonight or tomorrow?" She looked oddly relieved at that.

"Tomorrow." Dinner was steaks. Good ones. Mostly bear, although the way Marie cooked it might have been beef. The girls who weren't as into red meat got some kind of fish steaks. Back in the day I would have said tuna, but I'm not sure if we get tuna here. Still, the girls who don't like red meat like fish. Not sure what I'd do if one of my girls was entirely vegetarian. Then again, Ria started that way, mostly, and she's come to appreciate some protein.

I think maybe she's also started to put on a little more muscle, either from more protein in her diet or weapons practice with Alex. Either way, I think she's healthier now, and not just physically. She's still not Davey or anything, but she can talk with her sisters without looking like she's afraid they're gonna bite her. She still spends most of her socializing time with Lindsey or Maze, and I think the latter is mostly a 'Fae thing'.

Played with the kids and Loki in the Bath, mostly doing quiet splashy stuff rather than my by now normal 'mock battle' thing. Had some throwback fun afterward toweling off each of my daughters. I'd started with little D while Bonnie was talking with Sarah about something, then traded for Lucas and dried him off, and then I had a line of little girls waiting their turn. Then a much shorter line of ladies waiting for the same treatment.

Had to use tentacles on Murder Mittens, because she so tall, but I don't think she minded. Speaking of double teamed, does it or does it not count as a double double team if there are four of them telling me I'm cute and am not allowed to move or reciprocate? All five of us slept well, as did all the kids. Bonnie, Larry, and Sarah all joined us in the big round bed. With the kits getting bigger, it wound up maybe almost not entirely un-full.

Which I personally think is awesome, because everyone in the bed wound up warm and connected and if I die from oxytocin overdose that's the way I wanted to go. In the morning, when Saffron pulled me aside, I said, "kinda want to go with Garde to talk to our musicians today?" She just nodded, kissed me, and said, "have a good day, love," before hopping off to Alliance HQ.

Well, I assume she's hitting Drivers' for breakfast, because I don't see her skipping a meal or not taking advantage of Drivers' creme filled crepes. She'd better not be skipping meals, at any rate. I like my Saffron squish. After breakfast I waited while the girls all wandered off to do their own things, then walked over to where Garde sat poking at her eggs and toast.

Somehow she'd managed to eat most of the cheesy yolky gooey eggs and some of the crusty toast without getting a single crumb on her frilly black dress.

"Hey, there's my little poet. You ready to talk to your sisters?" She shrugged.

"Nervous?"

"Yes." I held out a hand.

"Tell you what. If you really want, we don't have to. You can just read poetry to me or something. Or we can go up to my office and read other stuff. Heck, I could even take you to steal some books on poetry if you want." She shook her head.

"No. I'll ask."

"You sure you want to?" She nodded and took my hand. We walked up to the trio's room and knocked on the door. Erato answered.

"Hi Mama! Hey Garde." I didn't miss the less than enthusiastic greeting, but she didn't seem dismissive, just, I dunno, like she was excited to see me and maybe just accepting of Garde. I turned to my little poet, who for her part took a deep breath and said, "I want to help."

"Help?"

"I sing. I write." Erato blinked.

"Uh. Okay?" Garde looked up at me, obviously flailing a little, and I smiled at her, then looked at Erato and said, "she's got a really good singing voice, and her poetry is amazing. I think some of it would make amazing lyrics, and go well with your music."

"Oh!" Suddenly Erato's whole posture changed. She grabbed Garde's hand and practically pulled her out of my grip, dragging her to where her sisters were tuning their instruments.

"She's a vocalist!" I'd worried I'd wind up having to mediate, but instead I spent my day listening to the kits come up with music to accompany Garde's poetry. They even said they were almost ready to show it off at dinner!