367: Tea With The Dragons
Kazue's core had loved listening in on Amrydor's story, but when the pair reached the balcony, Mordecai's and Moriko's cores tugged her attention away, to her confusion and mild annoyance. "What? Why don't you want me watching over her now?" Up to this point, she'd simply wanted to hear the story, but now she felt that she should be paying attention to Fuyuko and Amrydor.
"Because showing trust is important too," Mordecai replied. "Both of them were aware of your focus being on them, and now know that they are not being watched. Fuyuko won't feel that she is being treated as a child, and Amrydor will be pleased that he is trusted by us; he already has her trust."
"Besides," Moriko said, "even if something has changed with Fuyuko's feelings about intimacy, we've given her the tools to make her own decisions and be safe, and she's old enough to make that decision with someone like Amrydor."
"I guess," Kazue said with a mental sigh. "I just worry about her; Fuyuko's reactions against even the idea have been rather strong."
Mordecai sounded amused when he said, "I have noticed that her reaction is stronger the less well she knows someone, and she's rather comfortable with the boy. Maybe it will be something more, maybe not, but I am satisfied with whatever she chooses."
"You did seem to enjoy encouraging things during our training trip down south," Moriko mused, "when you weren't busy analyzing Amry's motives at least."
"They are both aspects of being protective," Mordecai admitted, "but I also think this is as far as we should go unless she approaches us with a question or such."
Kazue mentally fretted for a moment, but she made herself drop that line of thinking. In many ways, Fuyuko was much more capable of taking care of herself than Kazue had been at the same age, and Kazue needed to trust that her adoptive daughter would ask for help, if for any reason she needed it.
It did help that there was the distraction of what their avatars were up to, given that Mordecai's avatar was still being 'punished' by Kazue's and Moriko's avatars for daring to go visit the triplets without them. Well, mostly Moriko's avatar at the moment, which brought up a different set of concerns that synchronized between her core and avatar. "Um, getting tired quickly, is that normal? I mean, I'm only a couple of weeks along."
Mordecai's core answer with a thoughtful tone, "Well, 'normal' is not a very useful word when talking about pregnancy. While it is a bit unusual to be feeling tired this early, it is not abnormal in a way that has me concerned, especially as your body probably needs to use more spiritual energy than usual to support the baby, given how they were conceived."
That had been a rather delightful experience, having three virile 'men' at her command, though Kazue was also embarrassed and felt a touch guilty about how she'd acted that night. She had no idea what had gotten into her that she'd needed to be so demanding. But it was also something that she couldn't undo; agreements had been made with a fairy queen, and they needed to be kept.
Kazue felt very mixed about everything with Satsuki, though maybe that was why she had been more demanding as well. There was a part of her that would rather have had only Mordecai and Moriko as the fathers of her child, but it also felt wrong to exclude Satsuki from that role, now that she was part of their relationship.
That brought up another thought. "Mordecai, how good of a mother was Satsuki? I mean, Norumi is very nice, and I like her, but that only tells me so much." Kazue wanted to know if she should include Satsuki in the possible rotation of people who might look after her future child.
"For the most part, she was a very good mother," Mordecai said, "though it depends on what aspect you are speaking about. Satsuki has always loved and doted on Norumi, and from the standpoint of duty, she cannot be faulted. She took her role in raising Norumi seriously and made sure she knew how to do everything well. But some people would have issue with one aspect of that; she never found any joy or even amusement in taking care of the messier, less pleasant aspects of taking care of a baby. Some people can laugh at the situation even when dealing with a particularly messy diaper, and make jokes about it, but that was not something Satsuki ever did. It was simply a chore to be done. I think it's a fairly reasonable reaction, but there are people who think parents should find joy in even the unpleasant parts of taking care of a young child."
"I sort of get it," Moriko said, "that was always my least favorite part about helping out with my siblings when I was home. But it does seem that Satsuki likes babies just fine, so long as she doesn't have to deal with diapers."
That stirred Kazue's curiosity, and she turned her focus to find Satsuki and discover what Moriko was referring to.
Satsuki smiled at the giggling baby usagisune in front of her. Betty's baby boy Boril was adorable and cheerful. "It's hard to imagine that Gil is the father of such a charming child," she said to Betty. They were currently in Betty's home in the warrens; Satsuki had offered to be the one to look after Boril today while Betty went to take up her role as floor boss.
Betty smiled and shook her head. "Gil may not have elegant charm, but I find his straightforward approach and sincerity to be rather refreshing and charming in their own way."
"We will have to disagree on that matter then. I find the man irritating, and he makes the worst jokes. One time, he tried to be funny by saying that I should be happy that I at least did not have to groom Norumi with my tongue." Satsuki wrinkled her nose in mild disgust at the memory. "I was changing her diaper at the time."
"That is in rather poor taste," Betty admitted while trying to hide a laugh that Satsuki pretended to not notice, "but I find that sometimes crass jokes are just what are needed."
Satsuki couldn't entirely disagree with that assessment, but she did not feel like admitting that she could enjoy the occasional bit of crass humor, especially as she never appreciated it when it came from Gil. "Well, you do not have to worry Boril, I will not hold your father's bad taste in jokes against you, it is not your fault after all. We can blame your mother's interesting taste in men for that."
Betty arched an eyebrow in response to the jibe, and Satsuki smiled teasingly. "First Gil, then Hajime... you do seem to like men who play rough with you."
The usagisune inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Perhaps, though both also showed great restraint. I find that just as important."
The thought of Gil showing restraint seemed laughable to Satsuki, despite being well aware that the buffoon was actually restraining his power constantly.
"However," Betty said, "we shall have to continue this conversation later; I have my duties to attend to."
Satsuki smiled at Betty. "I imagine that it is more enjoyable now that you can easily fall back when a group has demonstrated its strength sufficiently."
"It is, though I do sometimes miss the thrill of being more at risk." Betty kissed Boril on the forehead. "Be good for Lady Satsuki while I am gone," she said before heading out the door.
Once she was gone, Satsuki focused her attention on the baby. "Now what shall we do with you, hmm? I know, why don't I take you for a walk through the Other Side — I think you'll like all the flowers and pretty colors." She hummed to herself as she bundled Boril into a back sling, hitching him up so that he could see over her shoulder. This not only kept her hands free, but it also enabled her to keep the boy occupied by bringing one of her tails forward for him to play with.
Of course, her tails would need extra grooming later, but if Deidre wasn't available, Satsuki was certain that she could talk Mordecai, Kazue, or Moriko into it, and if all else failed, she could always 'borrow' one of Carmilla's men. The faerie princess was always entertainingly annoyed when someone filched from her collection.
With that thought to keep her happily entertained, Satsuki stepped through to the Other Side to show Boril all the wonders that awaited in Faerie.
Mavialeko had been a little annoyed that she hadn't gotten to play tag with the baby dragons with Auntie Yuyu and Uncle Amry, but watching the game through Krystraeliv's awareness had made her realize that the group might have been playing a bit too rough for her.
She had really liked watching the end of that game, though; Uncle Amry looked rather dashing as he swept the sleeping princess into his arms and carried her off. If he looked so heroic when bearing away Auntie Yuyu, and she hadn't minded being carried off by him when she woke up, then clearly he had to secretly be a prince, though his story made her wonder which part his princeliness had come from.
But the story was over, and the pair had started to move on to topics that Mavialeko didn't want to be aware of. She was determined to enjoy being a child for as long as possible, and being too aware of too many grown-up things would make her grow up. Just like every one else, that was not something that could be undone, even if the way she could get older was different.
Being a child was much more fun, like the game she was playing right now.
The dryad didn't currently have a distinct body; instead, her mind and power were flowing along Krystraeliv's roots, leaving Fuyuko and Amrydor behind as she sought out her 'victims'. The three dragon hatchlings were still asleep deep in the mushroom forest's warrens, and she needed to be careful to not wake them too soon.
Her form manifested soundlessly on the fungal mat covering the ground, and she slowly crept forward on bare feet toward her primary target. At the last moment, Hai-Ying-Riyo sensed something was amiss, but it was too late as Mavialeko launched herself forward to wrap herself around his neck.
"You're so cute!" she said with a giggle as she hugged the squirming baby dragon. "C'mon, let's go play!" With a simple act of will, Krystraeliv's power wrapped around Mavialeko and all three of the hatchlings, even though the other two had started to scatter when their brother had been ambushed.
A moment later, all of them were in a pocket of expanded space inside of Krystraeliv's trunk, where a patient dragon made of multi-hued clay was already waiting for them, though the raid boss had made sure to shrink himself down to fit at the table of crystal-wood growing out of the floor. The source of his many hues also formed the delicate scent wafting off of him; a blend of rich teas, floral herbs, a hint of yeasty beer, and the sweetness of honey-mead.
"Cimbu," Mavialeko said as she released Hai-Ying-Riyo, "If you would please begin serving?"
"Of course, Your Highness," he said.
Carnelian settled at the table in a manner resembling a cat, complete with her tail lashing around to her front and covering her paws. "It seems it is time for a tea party with the princess, again," she said with a resigned tone in her voice.
"I don't mind," said Thunder, "but we do have an advantage."
Lightning nodded. "We can each taste what the other drinks, so we get to enjoy twice as much honey-tea!"
"I prefer mine unsweetened," said a new voice as Udup appeared nearby, thanks once more to Krystraeliv's help. "I apologize for taking this long — Mistress Carmilla needed my assistance, and I couldn't leave immediately."
Hai-Ying-Riyo looked uncertain as he twisted in the air, and Mavialeko realized that she needed to change the seating a little. "Krystraeliv, could you make a sort of indent in the floor right there, so Riyo can settle into it and still fit at the table properly.
"Riyo?" The dragon asked, then nodded slowly. "Um, I guess that's fine for a short name, but just remember that I am a long dragon!" He hesitated for a moment more before settling into the space that the world tree had modified for him. "Er, Mordecai says that this is a pretty normal occurrence?"
Mavialeko beamed at him. "Of course it is! I'm a fairy princess and the dryad of the best world tree ever, so I get to have tea with dragons, naturally. And Cimbu makes the best tea, and we have lots of honey, and Krystraeliv got some snacks for us from the kitchen. We have some meat, cheese, rolls, plus some fruit over here, and if there is anything else in particular you want, just ask."
The mention of food made Hai-Ying-Riyo look happier, and even Carnelian Flame looked less grumpy as she selected a spit-roasted chicken, which she quickly devoured whole without waiting for anyone else to begin. It was amazing how neatly the flame-colored dragon could eat while practically gorging herself.
The sight made Mavialeko giggle as she settled onto the small chair at the table that was her 'throne'. Dragon tea parties were the best!
PATREON:
patreon .com /c/zagaroth (remove the spaces if you need to use this instead of the link) r/NoNeedForACore
Early chapters, some excerpts and short stories, and more art!
Discord - Merch: - - Blue Sky -
Top Web Fiction - Romance.io - TVTropes - ProgressionFantasy.co.uk -
NEW! — Dedicated Subreddit r/NoNeedForACore