HSV. Fort Lennox. Kae Yau's Mother Part 1

[dens_extra_pups]

Delores: Yau! I did it! Yau? *looks through the open patio window and wrinkles her nose* Kae Yau, are you eating magazines again?

Kae Yau: Nope! *grin* Junk mail.

Delores: *facepalms* Did Hank get to see it first?

Kae Yau: Aye. 'Tis last week's mail.

Delores: Well, I suppose that's progress. *slight grin, her eyes starting to sparkle* I put the ad in the paper.

Kae Yau: 0_0 *squeak*

Delores: *grin grows a little* And somebody understood the riddle and answered.

Kae Yau: 0_0 *and the mail she was holding just went up in flames*

Delores: *sobers, her eyes going earnest as she speaks quietly* Yau, she's like you.

Kae Yau: ... *bleep*

Delores: She's got the ears and the eyes, and she lit her stogie with her finger.

Kae Yau: ...

Delores: *waits expectantly* *then* You said not to do the ad.

Kae Yau: Aye... 'N ye did it anyway.

Delores: And it worked. I told you it'd work.

Kae Yau: *thrrpt*

Delores: *smirks briefly, but she's never been a gloater* *quiet and compassionate again* Do you want to see her?

Kae Yau: *opens her mouth to say something, then quickly closes it with a snap*

Delores: *waits again*

Tiny: *36 pounds of Maine Coon cuddles comes strolling into the room about then, only to stop and look around, the tip of that magnificent tail twitching uncertainly, as he senses the tension in the room* Mrrrrrrr?

Kae Yau: *eventually nods, reaching to pet Tiny*

Tiny: *Mom has a sad? Kissy fingers and worry silently*

Delores: *will wait till Yau has collected herself*

Kae Yau: *much scritchies for Tiny ears* *quietly* What's 'er name?

Delores: She says it's Esther. *looks down as something tugs on the leg of her uniform pants and cracks a grin at the little dog*

dog: *plush little black creature with white paws and a white splash on his chest looks back with black button eyes, his small pointed ears perked intently. Curly tail wags slightly*

Delores: *dry amusement* Let me guess, she told you to fetch me?

dog: *more slight tail wag*

Delores: *snerk*

Tiny: *looks over toward the new scent and makes an uncertain chatter. Is mean puppy?*

Kae Yau: *snort*

dog: *looks toward the snort and once more gives his slight wag* *soft and friendly wuff*

Tiny: Mrrrrrow? Mrrrt?

dog: *kitty!*

Tiny: *is nice puppy. Will bring it to Mom!*

dog: 0.o *is brought*

Delores: *choking on her attempts not to laugh out loud*

Kae Yau: Tiny, let 'im go. *so amused*

Tiny: *lets go of the little dog's ear and looks up alertly*

dog: *almost soundless little wuffs as he talks to the long-haired lady. Tail moves more* *you come see my boss now?*

Kae Yau: *soft chuckle* *will move to head for the door*

dog: *trots beside her*

Tiny: Mrow! Mrow! Mrrrow! *Mom, kitty wants to be with you!*

Kae Yau: *to Tiny* Well, c'mon, t'en.

Tiny: *scoot! Flanks Mom on the other side from the dog, that extravagant tail in the air with happiness*

Delores: *strides to join them* She's in the common courtyard.

Kae Yau: *small nod, will move to head that way, then*

dog: *trots slightly ahead to show the way. Glances curiously toward what sounds like a deep-voiced man having a mild snarkout with himself as they near the executive office*

Delores: *soft chuckle as she turns toward the office* I'm gonna to go watch the Optimus show. See you later.

Kae Yau: ... *hesitant to proceed now*

dog: *trots ahead, but then stops and looks back* *wuff? Headtilt*

Tiny: *loves on Mom's leg, trying to rub away the not-happy* *mega-purr* *pause and sniff the leg. Mom is heating up?*

Kae Yau: *so much hesitation and trying to keep from bursting into flames*

smoke: *acrid. Biting. And getting thicker*

Delores: *pauses as she sees that Kae Yau hasn't gone in* Yau? Are you alright?

Kae Yau: *quietly* Come wit' me?

Delores: *surprise shows on her face, but she steps forward* Sure.

voice: *crisp, dry, aged* I ain't a monster, kid.

Kae Yau: *startled squawk, small 'fwoosh' of flame on her hands*

Tiny: *GONE*

dog: 0_0 *where kitty go?* *wuffs and goes to follow*

woman: *curly cap of hair is distinctly blue right to the roots. Dark eyes study the two younger women as she holds a cigarillo toward Kae Yau* Alfred, leave the cat alone 'n heel.

dog: *comes back and sits down*

Kae Yau: ... *just a bit spooked right now*

woman: *pokes the cigarillo into the pink-haired girl's hand* Here, this'll help.

Kae Yau: ... How? *and now she's confused*

Delores: Yau doesn't smoke, Esther.

Esther: *takes the cigarillo back and sticks it into her own mouth as she studies Kae Yau again* Why the heck not?

Kae Yau: I jes' don't... *trying to resist the urge to hunker in on herself*

Esther: *frowns with concern as she inhales* Do you burn stuff?

Kae Yau: Aye. Mostly junk mail.

Esther: Well that's good, anyhow. *reaches a hand and sets it gently onto Kae Yau's shoulder* *gently* I don't bite.

Kae Yau: *hesitantly* Are ye me mum?

Esther: *promptly* Yeah. Because I found you.

Kae Yau: ... *much confusion* Bhuh?

Esther: That's how it's done. The one who finds the baby is mom, or dad.

Kae Yau: ... Even if the babby's grown?

Esther: *firmly* Yup.

Delores: *brows lift slightly*

Kae Yau: ... *quiet little sound as she thinks this over*

Esther: *kind and brisk* Come sit down.

Kae Yau: *small nod*

Esther: *soft, short whistle through her teeth as she leads Kae Yau over to the human size seating area, her feet kicking briskly through the fallen bougainvillea leaves* Are these here for a reason?

Kae Yau: Aye. Some o' the 'Bots like 'em.

Esther: Alright. *looks toward the nearest table* I won't eat 'em, then.

Kae Yau: *blink* ... I t'ought ye were arter meain' the trees.

Esther: *chuckles* No. The stuff on the ground. Those leaves or whatever they are.

Alfred: *snuffling through the leaves with enjoyable snorts*

Kae Yau: *soft snerk* Aye, t'ey's leaves. Bougainvillea. The 'Bot babbies love t' toss 'em int' the air.

Esther: *looks toward a sudden fountain of leaves flying up over her dog's back and chuckles* You mean like that?

Kae Yau: *chuckles as she sees the leaves fly* Aye. 'Specially if Ceres is out 'ere playin' wit' Doc.

Esther: *settles in a plastic chair* Doc?

Kae Yau: *as she moves to sit down* Aye. Ceres' pet dinosaur.

Esther: *gives her a funny look* Say whatnow?

Kae Yau: Ceres' pet dinosaur. Doc eats fruit, 'n worries over Ceres when t'ey's out 'ere playin'.

Esther: *her expression is bewildered now, and her cigarillo is hanging forgotten at the corner of her mouth* ...Dinosaurs are extinct.

Kae Yau: *amused snerk* Tell t'at t' Doc.

Esther: *nonplussed* It's a real dinosaur? Or is it one of those robot pets?

Kae Yau: Flesh 'n blood.

Esther: How the h...eck did they get a live dinosaur?

Kae Yau: Ask Ceres' mum, Kriti. Doc was 'er pet first.

Delores: He's from another planet. A different one from where the bots're from. *sets two bottles of sriracha pop down on the table*

Kae Yau: *perks when she sees her favorite bottled drink* T'anks, Delores.

Esther: *nodded understanding to Delores' words, but now she's picking up a bottle and scowling at it quizzically as she reads the label*

Kae Yau: *has her bottle open and is drinking happily*

Esther: Is this for real? *looks up and watches Yau, then glances toward chugging sounds from Delores*

Kae Yau: *nods, setting the bottle she's drinking from down for a moment* Aye. Someone put it int' the machine as a joke... T'ey di'n't figger anyone'd like it... T'en I started buyin' it.

Delores: *burp* 'Scuse me. Mmmm.

Esther: *wrinkles her nose and pushes the bottle toward Kae Yau* I like Tabasco.

Delores: *tongue out before she thinks* Ewww.

Esther: *amused snort at her*

Kae Yau: *slight shrug* Never tried t'at stuff.

Delores: It's not hot enough for anything. Hold on. I'll go mix up some of the really good stuff. *turns and runs out*

Esther: ...Do I wanna know?

Kae Yau: Organic cola 'n Firey Wrat' sauce.

Esther: *interested perk* I haven't heard of that one.

Kae Yau: Delores came up wit' it.

Esther: And what's it made of?

Tiny: *soft sound. Is asking if he can sit on Mom's lap*

Kae Yau: *names off the peppers that go into the sauce, will pat her lap to encourage Tiny to jump up*

Esther: *interested* Chipotles?

Tiny: *up he goes, and then snuggles*

Kae Yau: Aye. *loving ear scritchies for Tiny*

Esther: *offers the cigarillo again* Now that sounds like a drink.

Kae Yau: ... *still not sure about the cigarillo*

Esther: *quietly* All kinds of fire are good for us, but fire and smoke we eat is best. Especially when it's got hot things in it. There's chipotle pepper and magnesium in this one, and the paper's got vitamins 'n minerals.

Kae Yau: ... *slowly* I di'n't know t'at...

Esther: *slight shake of the cigarillo* Take it and suck on it like a straw.

Kae Yau: *will accept the cigarillo and follow Esther's instructions. And then she's coughing*

Esther: *frowns at her* Think of how you eat paper.

Kae Yau: ... Tiny, off. *will gently nudge the big Maine Coon*

Tiny: *hops down and moves out of fire range, then turns his back so he doesn't see the scary*

Kae Yau: *closes her eyes and concentrates. Moments later, there's a person-shaped flame engulfing the cigarillo and absorbing it*

Esther: *those dots are nearly visible*

Kae Yau: *as she absorbs the cigarillo her flame begins to glow a bit more intensely, though the chair she's sitting in and the clothes she's wearing are unharmed*

Esther: ... *takes out another cigarillo* Okay, now try that, just on the inside of your mouth. *lights it and offers it*

Kae Yau: *solidifies and reaches for the cigarillo* *much concentration as she tries to do it the way Esther suggested*

Esther: Or try your lungs.

Kae Yau: *snerk* *knows all too well where her lungs are, due to years of soggy England weather*

Esther: *snort* What's that for?

Kae Yau: I knows where me lungs's to. *beep* English weat'er had me hackin' 'nough times.

Esther: *winces* Using 'em to eat'll probably be good for them, then.

Kae Yau: The docs 'ere've been arter keepin' tabs on me 'ealt'...

Esther: Just smoke the darn thing.

Kae Yau: *cheeky grin* Nag nag nag. *will smoke the cigarillo though* *smaller cough than the first time she tried to smoke*

Delores: *sniff sniff sniff as she comes in and spots Tiny in fire pose. Checks the bougainvillea leaves, and then gives Kae Yau a quizzical look*

Kae Yau: *holds up the cigarillo as explanation*

Delores: *expression clearly asks what the heck her friend is doing*

Kae Yau: *slight shrug and a smile*

Delores: Seriously, what are you doing? *glances down at Alfred as he walks over and pokes her with his nose* You. Are you teaching my friend bad habits?

Alfred: *perky ears. Whaat?*

Kae Yau: *SNERK*

Esther: *mouth twitching as she watches her little sidekick try and understand what the young cop is saying to him*

Kae Yau: *another small cough, pulls a face to go with it* I likes eatin' t'ings the ot'er way better.

Esther: *turns back to her with surprise* Do you?

Kae Yau: *nod* Aye.

Esther: Well huh. *looks slightly nonplussed, but then shrugs and takes the drink that Delores just mixed up and handed her* *taste. Approving snort* Thanks. *attention back to Kae Yau* Do you have any more questions? Alfred, leave him alone.

Alfred: *thinks the kitty needs washed, but comes to sit by his boss*

Tiny: o.0? *doggies are weird*

Kae Yau: *tips her head back and hums softly as she thinks*

Delores: *offers Kae Yau a glass of cola and hot sauce* Oh yeah, your fuzzy wuzzy love monster says to tell you he's thinking of you.

Esther: *gaze snaps up from Alfred, and Delores is frowned at* What?

Delores: *jerks her head at Kae Yau while mixing a drink for herself* Her boyfriend's a mush brain.

Esther: *looks at Kae Yau* You have a boyfriend?

Kae Yau: *blushing now, will nod* Aye.

Esther: *eyes sharpen further* Tell me about him.

Kae Yau: *more blush* Hank's arter bein' an honorable gent.

Esther: Did you meet him at school?

Kae Yau: *headshake* We met at the oriental market near the cafe. He was gonna be tutorin' me in some o' me classes...

Esther: *eyes flash slightly* How old is he?

Delores: *silent mouthing of "ohoh"*

Kae Yau: 'E's at least forty-two.

Esther: *thunder on her brow* Ain't that a bit old?

Kae Yau: *sticking her chin out a bit* I's of age. Been of age fer a few years now.

Esther: How often do you two see each other?

Kae Yau: Every day.

Esther: *slight scowl* How long have you known him?

Kae Yau: Nearly four mont's.

Esther: *again the flash of the eyes* Don't you think it's a little early to be seein' him every day?

Kae Yau: Hard not t' see 'im every day. We bot' live on the base. *will turn her attention to having a drink of soda*

Esther: *absently reaches for the cigarillo without taking her eyes off the younger ifiri woman* Why do you live on an Airforce base, anyway? Delores said you don't work here.

Delores: *hides face in her drink, frowning*

Kae Yau: Because o' bein' one'a the people NEST can help. 'N 'cause o' bein' in one o' Sam Witwicky's classes.

Esther: *frown deepens* What do you mean? *cigarillo in mouth*

Kae Yau: T'ey's arter helpin' non-human people.

Esther: Who is?

Kae Yau: NEST.

Esther: *frowns more deeply* Who's Sam Witwicky?

Kae Yau: *can't help the smirk* A high-strung kid. He 'n Bumblebee're best friends.

Esther: So what's he got to do with you livin' here? *puff. Have a drink*

Kae Yau: *will begin telling the whole story about how she came to be living on base*

Esther: *snorts her drink and sputters toward the end of the telling, then looks up with wrathful concern* You've been living with that Hank guy since a week after you met him?

Kae Yau: *seriously* Aye. 'N Hank ain't the sort t' be dishonorable.

Esther: Yau, you're living with the guy. And he's over twice your age. How is that...

Delores: Mine's older.

Esther: o.0

Kae Yau: Aye. Sherlock's 'n old fart.

Esther: What has that got to do...

Delores: He married me so I could live in his apartment and get away from my mother.

Esther: What's that got to...

Delores: And then I totally put the moves on him.

Esther: *face palm*

Kae Yau: Hank 'n I don't do not'in' but snuggle.

Delores: She's got this thing for fur.

Esther: What has fur got to do with that old guy?

Kae Yau: Most'a the time, Hank's arter bein' fuzzy. *grin*

Esther: *face crinkles up* What?

Kae Yau: *cell phone out, flips to a picture of Hank. Shows it to Esther*

Esther: *boggles* What the...?!

Kae Yau: See? *much grin*

Esther: *shoots her a look* I may be old, but I know my Marvel. That's Hank McCoy from the X-men.

Kae Yau: Aye. T'is 'un's a Traveler.

Esther: *deep scowl* What? *hand over Delores' face to stifle a burp*

Delores: *murrph*

Kae Yau: *calmly begins explaining about Travelers*

Esther: *sits there and scowls, but the scowl slowly changes to uncertainty* You're pulling my leg.

Delores: No. That's Alfie.

Alfred: *did not!*

Kae Yau: Nay, I's tellin' the trut'.

Esther: *slowly shakes her head and reaches down with her free hand to scoop her little dog into her lap*

Tiny: *itty bitty mew*

Kae Yau: *softly clucks her tongue* C'mere, Tiny.

Tiny: *Mama lap! Snuggle*

Delores: So just how many ifiri are on Earth?

Esther: *looks up, and then uses the hand holding her drink to take the cigarillo from her mouth* Old bloods? Three that I know of. Most people don't know they're anything but human.

Delores: *frown* How does that happen when you start out as a little fire flash?

Esther: They don't.

Kae Yau: *small frown, will gently scritch Tiny's ears* I di'n't know 'til Hank 'n Optimus told me...



Continued here