fandomtownies | Luke's, Monday

Entry tags:

$luke's,
priestly

Luke's, Monday

"Stevesie, no." Priestly groaned, grabbing at the red panda where it sat on the counter, yanking napkins out of the dispenser. Stevesie took the opportunity to climb up onto Priestly's head, sprawling out between the double rows of his hair style du jour. "Jane! Stop this crazy thing!"

"I dunno, Dad," Jane said with a smirk. "He seems to have adopted you."

It did seem that way, didn't it, what with the way Stevesie was grooming Priestly's mohawk, chittering away. "If I have to babysit the raccoon --"

"-- red panda --"

"Then you have to run the kitchen."

"Okay!" Jane said brightly, pulling out a hair-tie and putting her hair up in a quick bun. She let out a remarkably evil chuckle.

Well. That couldn't be good.

Today's specials
Subs by the inch! Get 'em while they're hot and greasy!
now hiring! most shifts available!

Luke's was open.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nothing's on fire yet.

Momoko had Sin finally to herself! She'd made sure Boaz was okay and safely off playing and had managed to loosen Dinah's grip on their SHARED, THANK YOU! daughter. And now the two of them were enjoying a nice lunch together. Just the two of them.

"Are you sure that's all you want? I can totally get you a bigger one? And maybe some more pie?" What? Momoko had ideas about food portions! especially for growing little Akatsutsumis!

Sin gave her an amused look and shook her head. "I'm fine, Momomama. I still have fries." Although not for long! Lasumi might be a human vacuum cleaner, but she did okay when it came to food. "Maybe we can split a pie?" She wasn't going to turn down dessert!

"Now that totally sounds like my daughter." Momoko's sigh of relief was mixed in with her laugh. She reached over and tugged lightly at Sin's bangs. "So are you having fun this weekend? Meeting so many new or different people?"

"Mmmhmm." Sin nodded seriously, taking small bites of her burger, eyes laughing at her second mother. She swallowed and said, "I'm not your daughter in some places, am I."

She'd kind of figured that out from various things Dinah had asked, and Momoko's reaction when they arrived. It was... interesting.

Momoko chewed her own food for a moment, trying to see how Sin felt about that idea before answering.

"Nnn. There are lots of different worlds out there. Some of them don't even have a me in them! Every time we make a decision, we change something and make ourselves different people, right? The same thing happens to whole worlds. In your world, Tokyo City is called Tokyo, remember? Just like that, in some places you're my beautiful niece instead of my beautiful daughter."

"It doesn't mean I love you any less, though. Any me. You know that, right? I'll always be there for you, no matter what you call me."

...

"Although, why Momomama instead of just mama?"

"I know," Sin agreed, eyes staying on Momoko. She smiled. "I love you too." Sometimes it was hard to say, but sometimes it was easy.

"I called you Aunt Momoko when I first came to the U.S.," Sin said slowly. "And Dinah, Sister. I still call her that. When Lasumi joined our family, I still called you that, until he learned to talk, and called you Momomama." She dipped a fry in ketchup, thinking. "Did she tell you what I told her yesterday? About how I left Vietnam?"

Wow, Momoko loved Sin's smile.

"I know a little? That we went and got you." Actually, between this Sin and the other one who'd visited, Momoko now knew the 'got' was more 'rescue', but she didn't have specifics. "And that there was some trouble. This Dinah and I are still going to do that, by the way. Even if it all doesn't end up the same way, we still want to find you. Lots of people have asked to help, too."

SOMEone was well-loved.

"Sister wanted to know if there were other children there who needed rescue." Sin's face was more grave now. "And why I was there. I explained that I was the only one, at least then. And after what she did, there may not be another for a long time." She blinked, watching Momoko very closely. "I was being trained to be the next Shiva."

"Shiva." Momoko bristled at that name. Sorry Sin.

"That's a person I totally didn't expect to hear about." Smile, Momoko. SMILE. "She was training you? The Shiva I met... wasn't nice." Please say she isn't your natural mom, Sin. Not that Momoko would love you any less, but wow, the custody battle...

"No. Shiva had left the Hand. To no longer work for their people. So Mother was training me to replace her." Sin's voice was colorless, her expression far too controlled. "My first parents gave me to the Hand. Or so she said. I do not remember them. I trained as soon as I could stand."

She took a sip of her drink, eyes distant. "Dinah came to train with Mother. To be a better fighter. I was to practice my English with her. And look after her, when she was wounded in practice." Which, the first few weeks? Was a lot.

"I'm sure your first parents had no choice, sweetheart." Momoko scooted next to Sin and reached for her. "She trained... Ah. So the Hand is like a clan?"

Wait. "Mother?"

That... was an idea that had already occurred to Sin. And that they might be dead. But with her customary calm, she accepted she might never know.

"Yes. The Hand of the Demon's Head. His private army." Sin looked down, finally, pushing her food around on her plate, but still hanging onto Momomama's hand. "Mother was... Sister says she was too old to be my real mother. But that is what I called her. She was the leader. She trained me."

Trained her to be in an army, to be Shiva. Momoko tried not to let her anger become too obvious to her daughter.

"One of the ways bad groups make sure people stay loyal to them is to make them refer to each other as family," Momoko explained, tugging slightly at Sin to place a kiss on her head. "Which just proves that family is important. Is that why you don't call either of us 'mother'? That's okay, you know; we don't mind as long as you're okay with it."

"Yes." Sin sighed, her eyes fluttering shut at the kiss, and then she opened them again. "I want to. But. It is not how I think of you. Or Sister."

The thing was, Sin would never outgrow thinking she had to watch their backs too. As much as they took care of her-- more than anyone else had-- Sin believed in partnership. They did not dictate to her, order her around, or punish her harshly. They were not Mother.

It was good, though.

Laurie had finished talking to Jane now, and she glimpsed Sin and Dinah's friend across the diner. She bit her lip, then wandered over with a slice of cake in hand. "Can I join you guys?"

~~So ordering her to keep going to piano lessons didn't count? Good.~~

"Ne," Momoko melted at Sin's words. She hoped Sin told her Dinah and Momoko that sometimes. "You're beautiful and we love you, Sin. No matter what you call us. Just like no matter what we call Lasumi, we love him. And it doesn't matter what happened before we got you, or how we got you - you're in our hearts. Okay?"

Momoko looked up at Laurie's approach, and smiled. "Hi. You're Laurie, right?" She looked over at Sin for approval; they'd been doing some pretty serious talking and she wanted Sin to know she had a choice in the decision. "Sin, have you met Laurie? Her mom is another Dinah."

"Yes." Sin scooted over a little, making room for her. "At breakfast. I like your new piercing, Laurie." She looked very amused. "We were speaking of how I came to live with Sister and Momomama."

Laurie set her cake down so if they wanted a bite, they could share. "You know, Mom's never told me the details about that. Just that she was in Vietnam when you guys met, and she decided to bring you back."

Momoko squeezed Sin's hand, grinning. "See? Every Dinah I have heard about goes to get you."

To Laurie: "So in your world Dinah went alone? Did she even tell me she was going? I'm sure I must have been totally upset when I found out."

...

"Did you have that nose ring Saturday?" Momoko was fairly sure she hadn't seen it, but she and Laurie hadn't spent much time together.

Laurie blushed, looking over at Jane. "Jane took me to get one. And a tattoo, yesterday." Then they'd stayed out half the night having fun, and bought the furry adorable thing currently sitting on Priestly's head. "And Stevesie over there."

"I, uh. Don't know." Laurie frowned. "I mean, my Sin is older than me, about seven years older. She's just always been there. I think she said Dad helped her with the visas and paperwork, but..." Wait, that sounded different than the way her mom always glossed it over. "You were six, right, Sin? What happened to get you out?"

"Momomama flew us to the airport, after Sister and I left the camp," Sin said calmly, one finger reaching toward the frosting on the cake. "After Sister defeated Mother. I should not say too much more, or this Dinah here may become confused."

Laurie put her fork down, staring at Sin. "She did what?"

Momoko filed that away to use as an argument in her favour when Dinah argued against her helping. "Well, Vietnam to New Gotham is a bit further than I would try flying with two passengers. Especially since it would have been your first time."

She looked back to Laurie. "You don't know I have powers? Surely I've told you that by now?"

"Ma'am... Miss. Momoko." This girl was only four or five years older than her, Laurie couldn't quite manage the same respect she'd have for a 'real' adult. "I've never met you before. My mom didn't go to school here. Dinah says that happens, sometimes. Mine graduated from high school in New Gotham and you have superpowers?" She inhaled, finally getting her breath back. "You can fly?"

Sin was licking icing off her finger, looking innocent. "Just like Sister can move things with her mind."

Laurie stared. "No she can't."

Sin stared back. "Yes she can."

"Well, maybe yours can, but mine can't."

"Are you sure?"

"She's my mom! She'd tell me!" ... wouldn't she?

"If she's the same as Sister, then she has some superpowers." Sin was utterly certain of this. "Just like Aunt Helena."

Momoko blinked and then pulled out her inner mom, spreading her hands between the two girls.

"Ladies!" Because that's how they should be acting, her tone and look totally said.

"Sin, that's not always how it works. Different worlds have different rules. Sometimes people are just as different as their worlds. In Boaz's world, I keep my hair short and don't like Fandom Island." Which to Laurie probably didn't sound like a big thing, but Sin would get that it was.

"And Laurie. There are lots of different worlds and different ways that people turn out. All because of the decisions that get made. That's something you can learn here, and maybe no one back home will believe you, but it's true. This island connects to a lot of them, and in some, Dinah has powers. Or other kids. Or she's..." been killed and turned into an evil vampire. Yeah, not gonna bring that one up.

"In the world I am moving to soon, Dinah is much older and a superhero instead of a private investigator like she is here. In that world, I don't exist, let alone become friends with your mom. It's okay. I'm friends with her here."

"And yes, I have powers. In some worlds, they call it being a 'meta'? Or a 'mutant'? But I can fly, have superstrength... some other things." She looked back to Sin. "Am I still a hero in your world?"

Laurie looked a little sulky, taking a bite of the cake, but listening all the same. "Aunt Helena's a meta," she said, her voice quiet. "That's the same." Sin was her sister, even if she was older. That was the same. What else was?

Sin patted Laurie's arm, sorry for the teasing now. "Yes, you're still a superhero in my world. You help Sister and Helena and Aunt Barbara keep New Gotham safe. And you work with the Search and Rescue people in the city."

Okay, Momoko couldn't stay un-smiley for long, and she had to giggle. "Sorry, Laurie? But you totally look like your mom right now. Like when she's been told she can't jump off a building or something. Right, Sin?"

She leaned forward, her chuckle drifting away into a concerned smile. "So, Dinah said your parents are fighting? Are you okay?"

Ah!

"And yes, my name's Momoko. Momoko Akatsutsumi. You can call me Momoko. Or Aunt Momo. Or Aunty Momo... Uhm. what else have they called me?"

Edited 2013-04-11 03:12 (UTC)

Sin had to giggle and nod, and Laurie smiled at her, then looked away at Momoko's question. "I'm fine," she said evasively. "It'll work out. You know. Probably." Her eyes when she met Momoko's were hard. "Lots of people get divorced. It's no big thing."

"Momomama," Sin reminded her. She leaned against Laurie, and broke off a piece of cake to offer her. "I'm sorry your mom and daddy don't get along."

Laurie's face softened when she looked at Sin, and she took the bite of cake. "So am I."

"Well I didn't think she wanted to call me that," another chuckle. "But you're totally welcome to, Laurie."

"And it's totally a big thing. It's a huge thing. Especially if you have children. It's not easy, either. Have your parents been married your whole life?"

Momoko made a motion, asking for a round of cake for the whole table. Desserts were definitely necessary.

"Yeah. They got married the year after Mom adopted Sin." Laurie swallowed, and said, "I need to call her. When I get back. And tell her all about this."

And about kissing Janie, and how that had been awesome but confusing, and ask her what she should do next.

"My mom is thinking of moving back to New Gotham. But I have two years of high school left..." And moving that late would be the furthest thing from awesome ever.

Sin gave her a solemn look, and said, "New Gotham is amazing. You might like it there. Especially if you turn out to be a meta too someday."

Ask about his jaunty new ~~coon-skin~~ red panda cap.

Laurie wasn't here to talk to Priestly. Although she's say hi. She wasn't rude.

"Hi Jane!"

Priestly -- and Stevesie -- wisely cleared out of the way. "Laurie!" Jane grinned, bouncing out of the kitchen, then stopping short to pull her hair back out of the bun. "Hi!"

"Are you cooking? Cooooool." Laurie leaned on the counter and tried to look relaxed, but the beaming smile kind of deep-sixed that. "What's good for lunch?"

"Yep! Dad's letting me run the kitchen." At the end of the counter, Priestly let out a light huff at that. Jane waved to him without looking. "What do you want?" she asked. "I can make anything."

That wasn't actually true, but if it was too hard, she'd guilt her dad into doing it, instead.

"Uhh..." Laurie's brain tried to short-circuit, but she finally said, "Mac'n'cheese? It's my favorite." She waved at Priestly and said, keeping her voice low, "Your dad seems pretty cool, you know?"

"Yeah, he's okay," Jane said, looking over to where Priestly was idly scratching Stevesie's stomach. "You know, for a dad."

She acted cool, but she knew she'd pretty well won the dad lottery.

"His hair's kinda dumb," she said with a snicker. "Back home it's just all blonde and shaggy."

"Really?" Laurie giggled, trying to imagine that. "My dad's got a goatee too. I think it's a thing, with guy's that age. But he'd never dye his hair, he's all uptight about it." She cocked her head. "Dinah just introduced me to a guy with wings. And he was kind of doing the chin scruff thing too."

"I think it's supposed to demonstrate their manliness," Jane said with a roll of the eyes. "Though there's another dude who looks just like Dad with no facial hair and he looks really weird." She tilted her head. "More wings? Did he tell you how he got 'em?"

She would love a pair of real wings.

"Nooo, and I wasn't sure how to ask. His girlfriend doesn't have any. Their future kids do, though, I guess?" Laurie rested her chin on her hands, thinking about metas and superheroes and guys who could fly.

"That is such a trip. I mean, other dimensions, yeah, sure, portals, totally, but wings? Actual wings?" Jane shook her head. "And I thought Miss Zo was spooky sometimes."

"That's what makes you blink?" Laurie grinned. "What, don't they have a Hawkgirl in your world?... Who's Miss Zo?"

"One of Dad's friends. She's psychic. Probably. I dunno, she's just kinda . . . spooky. And really nice and a sweet old lady, but . . . spooky." Miss Zo wasn't the easiest to explain. Mr. Trucker was easier, but that was because he wasn't psychic. "What's a Hawkgirl? Sounds hot."

"That'd be neat. I'd like to be able to do that. And she is!" Laurie giggled and leaned forward, rummaging for her phone in her pocket. "I have a background of her here, somewhere... yeah!"

"The beak's a mask. The wings aren't, though."

"Holy shit," Jane breathes. "I wanna live in your world!"

"You could!" Laurie blurted. "I mean. You know. Sometime? Visit? Or, or for college--" She bit her lip. "Except, I guess you have a pretty cool family back home, hunh."

"If there's one portal," Jane decided, "there have to be more. 'Cause you totally have to come to Santa Cruz and meet the crew. Julia's getting married! You could be my date!"

Laurie hadn't even thought that far ahead and now there were portals that they'd be finding. "Yes! I mean. Sure. I'd -- really like that." Her chin went up. "And if the parents don't let me, I'll just show up anyway." HA!

"That's the spirit!" Jane cheered. "Oo, what should we do with Stevesie? He's both of ours. I dunno if he'd like getting passed around portals." She looked over to where Priestly was feeding him bits of kale. "Maybe leave him in a middle ground?"

"Awwww... maybe you have a point, though." Laurie was watching Priestly too, and said, "We can always come back and visit him, right? Your dad would be cool with that?"

"Totally," Jane said, though she wasn't 100% certain. She knew she had her dad back home wrapped around her finger, but this one had only actually known her for a couple days. She figured if she went for the whole "ask forgiveness not permission" thing and just sprung it on him last minute, he couldn't say no. "That sounds like a plan."

This was why you didn't let teenagers impulse buy pets.

Why isn't it the weekend, any more?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Luke's, Monday

Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Re: Mod your service

Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

Re: Talk to Priestly

OOC