llv. Optima's House and Tokyo Streets. Answering a Letter

[dens_extra_pups]

((OOC: This is what Optima's house in Japan looks like.))



Ira: *just a bit cranky because he's jetlagged after flying out to Japan on a private jet, riding in the back of a big black car to what he's sure isn't a hotel, and having slept on a futon platform bed. Oh, and he hasn't had any coffee yet*

girl: *pale blue, with almond eyes that glow a bright orange* *looks up from where she's standing in a tidy Japanese style kitchen* Good morning, Iron-sama. *sweet smile* Are you looking for Optima-san?

Ira: *rumble, nod* Looking for coffee, too.

girl: *sweet smile blooms again as she hurries over to fill a huge mug with something that Ira will be able to smell across the room* *takes a big peach and squishes a touch of the juice into the mug, and then brings that mug over and presents it respectfully with both hands*

Ira: *surprised rumble* *nods and accepts the offered mug* Thank you.

girl: *soft murmur* It is an honour. *backs away and returns to the cooktop, though her attitude says she's ready to talk or to answer questions*

Ira: *sips from his coffee in silence for a few minutes* *then* Where is Optima?

girl: *once more comes close, and points across the atelier* She is in the garden.

Ira: *nod* Thank you.

girl: You are welcome, Iron-sama. Breakfast will be ready soon.

Ira: *nods and politely takes his leave to go sit with Optima*

garden: *surrounded by walls, shady with bamboo, maple, and cherry. One wall is made of wavy glass blocks, and the muted sound of heavy traffic can be heard just barely over the musical trickle of water from the little fountain standing in the reflecting pool*

Ira: *pleased rumble, will look around, absently noting that everything underfoot is pebbled concrete*

Optima: *on a bench to one side, watching as Monster Mash sits at her feet and carefully feeds himself something from a bowl with children's chopstick tweezers*

Ira: *will move to join his family*

Monster Mash: *looks up and rasps softly, then grunts and grins* Dada.

Optima: *smile for her husband* Did Usagi fix your coffee properly?

Ira: *rumbles* She added peach juice to it.

Optima: *hand to her mouth as her eyes sparkle with surprised laughter* I'd forgotten about her gift.

Ira: *puzzled look*

Optima: She can sense the greatest desires of those around her.

Ira: Ah. *small nod*

Optima: *lowers her hand, still chuckling* How does it taste?

Ira: I like it. *having another drink from his mug*

Optima: *soft chuckle* We'll have to do that at home. *absent glance toward a horn honk from the other side of the glass wall*

Ira: *slight frown* That sounded like it came from below us.

Optima: *nods* Yes. We're a floor and a half above street level. The garage is downstairs.

Monster Mash: *soft half-whisper* Dada. *carefully fishes another nom from his bowl*

Ira: *rumbles quietly, mind going back to the letter that lead to his family coming to Japan in the first place*

Optima: *watching his face* Are you thinking of Magnus' reaction when he saw you ride past while he was at the mailbox? *asks because that's what's caused that amused twinkle since yesterday afternoon*

Ira: *snort* That was funny, and I like riding without a saddle, but no. I was thinking about the last time I saw Kae Yau.

Optima: *offers a hug*

Ira: *quietly, as he moves to hug Optima* She, and this other gal... They'd been teammates for years.

Optima: *softly, as she gives her brawny husband a strong squeeze and feels his coffee mug against the small of her back* Were they X-gen positive?

Ira: *quietly* Never got to find out.

Optima: So they looked normal.

Ira: *snort* As normal as a woman with bright pink hair, pointed ears, pink eyes, and fangs can look. Nightwish had jet black skin, no hair, golden eyes, and huge wings. We called her the Black Angel.

Optmus: *looks up at him with surprise in her eyes* She was as visible as Lumen and Monster Mash. *softly, as she sees old sadness replace the twinkle in her husband's eyes* What happened?

Ira: *quietly, voice going a bit flat* There was an invading hive of creatures. Chris got hurt, and so did... *pauses for a moment, remembering* Yau Rin. I had to stay with Chris. Nightwish and Yau Rin went on ahead. The center of the hive became a smoking crater, and nobody ever found Nightwish or Yau Rin.

Optima: *slight startle* Yau Rin? But the letter said Kae Yau. *softly, to herself* Wait! Pink hair?

Ira: *quietly* Yau Rin was what she insisted on going by in public. *snorts as another memory surfaces* Used to set Nightwish's clothes on fire in public, too.

Optima: ...That sounds like Kae Yau. *can't face palm, so she face-husband-chests instead*

Ira: *another soft snort* Always knew when she was coming down the hall, because of that stupid pipe she liked to smoke.

Optima: *muffled by his chest as she looks down to watch Monster Mash cling to their legs* That's Kae Yau alright. Both the ones I've seen at the Black Dog usually have a pipe with them.

Ira: ... *quiet rumble* Figures there's more than one of her, too.

Optima: But if ours is alive, why didn't she ever let you know?

Ira: *frowning now* I don't know.

Monster Mash: *falls on butt with a grunt. Small whimper*

Ira: *crouches, setting his mug where it won't get tipped over. Offers to pick Monster mash up*

Monster Mash: *yes. Wants up, Dada. But points to his nom bowl worriedly*

Optima: *stoops to get the bowl and chopsticks, murmuring softly to her little son*

Ira: *quiet rumble, will take a look to see what's in Monster Mash's bowl* *surprised sound when he sees the freshly cooked sardines*

Optima: *soft chuckle* Usagi said that an old man stops every morning to offer her some street food, but this morning she asked for raw fish because she thought they'd be good for Monster Mash to feed himself after she'd grilled them.

Ira: *frowns surprise* Did she say what the old man looked like?

Optima: *shakes her head as she holds the bowl toward Monster Mash so that the baby can get the chopsticks* No. But she called him Grandfather Cat.

Ira: *amused snort* Found the crazy idiot already.

Optima: I... beg your pardon?

Monster Mash: *fish for the Dada mouth!* :D

Ira: *obligingly eats what's poked at his mouth. Once he finishes chewing and swallows the bite, he's got a bit of a grin going* That guy I know here. Always said he was going to retire and become a grandfather someday.

Optima: *looks up at the sky* It's not even light yet.

Ira: He always was the first one up. And the dark wouldn't stop him. Only person with better night vision was Nightwish.

Optima: *looks toward the house* I wonder if he's gone back home. *startles and looks at husband tummy then*

Ira: *sheepish expression is a go* Usagi did say breakfast would be ready soon...

Optima: *soft chuckle* Should we go see?

Ira: *nods and moves to get his mug*

Monster Mash: *uses chop tweezers to offer to put a fish into the coffee cup as he grunts quizzically*

Optima: *has her teacup and is having the last sips of the flavourful herbal mixture. Her eyes are sparkling as she watches her husband and son*

Ira: *will shake his head, and try to show Monster mash where fish noms need to go*

Monster Mash: *in Dada's mouth, right!* :D

Optima: *chuckles*

Ira: *happy rumble as he noms the fish*

Monster Mash: *looks in his bowl and then frowns* Oh oh.

Optima: Are they all gone?

Ira: *looks into the bowl* Well, let's get you some more breakfast, then.

Monster Mash: *happy again as he grunts and rasps softly while nodding*

Optima: *feels like she could burst with happiness as she watches them interacting*

Ira: *soft chuckle, cuddles Monster Mash, musing to himself about how much the fuzzy boy has grown in the past few months*

Monster Mash: *soft raspy laugh in echo of his father, and then a quiet grunt* Down?

Ira: Alright. *will carefully set Monster Mash on his feet*

Monster Mash: *reaches for his bowl, grunting and rasping earnestly. Has to take his dishes to the dish rack!*

Ira: *nods and moves to head for the kitchen*

Monster Mash: *oh. Dada has the bowl. Okay. Reaches up and takes Mama's hand, then leads her after Dada*


Later that morning


Ira: *frowning as he looks at the row of what he was told was apartments* Looks like warehouses. *so much frown*

Optima: *looks up from talking to the driver and smiles* Most of them still are. But these two are my low income housing project. *walks toward the door to the nearer of the big buildings, Monster Mash hanging contentedly under one arm*

Ira: *quiet rumble*

Optima: *glances back, still smiling* Are you coming? *quick bow to an older man in worker's garb who is going out as she goes in*

old man: *smiles and bows back, but then pauses and looks up at the tall warrior behind her. So serious as he gives a deeper bow*

Ira: *bows politely, recognizing a fellow soldier*

Optima: *voice can be heard inside faintly, talking*

Ira: *will move to follow Optima once the old man has gone on his way*

Optima: *talking to a broad-shouldered man whose golden fur is going grey, and whose ring-striped tail has a little Utari girl clinging to it*

Monster Mash: *standing by Mama and holding a bitty who is petting his fur and smiling at him*

Ira: *snort* Figures you've got kids hangin' off'a ya, Steel.

Steeljaw: *startled jerk, and he turns toward the voice* *gruffly* That's the stink I thought I recognized.

Ira: At least I don't smell like I rolled in something that died. *eyes twinkling a bit*

Steeljaw: *his turn to snort as he plucks at one worn but clean sleeve* That's fabric softener, you *mild deleted*.

Ira: Like heck it is. *amused*

Steeljaw: *looks down at his tail hugger* [Katkemat, he says Neko-sama stinks.]

Katkemat: *eyes go enormous, and her head shakes vehemently*

Optima: *watching all this with silent amusement*

Ira: *laughs* Usin' yer grandbaby t' argue's cheatin', 'n you know it!

Steeljaw: *with dignity* Are you jealous?

Optima: *soft chuckle* Are you two finished saying that you love each other yet?

Ira: *snorts* *to Steeljaw* Nope. Got a good kid fer a son. *to Optima* It'd be worse if Yau Rin was here.

Steeljaw: *long stare at his old friend* What makes you mention Yau? And who gave you a kid?

Ira: *letter out of pocket* This. And the kid adopted Optima and me. *nods to Monster Mash*

Steeljaw: *distracted and startled as he puts a hand on his chest* You're married?

Optima: *quietly* Yes.

Ira: *nods* *then offers the letter* Yau's alive.

Steeljaw: *takes a moment to make his fur stop making his shirt sleeves look big. But he looks at Ira instead of at the letter. Looks Ira right in the eye*

Ira: *seriously, as he realizes what his friend is saying with that look* Where is she, Steeljaw?

Steeljaw: I can't show you yet. And she doesn't know it's you. She doesn't remember you. *looks down and then bends to take the baby girl from Monster Mash, murmuring gently as he does*

Monster Mash: *grins and talks back in his way*

Ira: *looks like he just got suckerpunched* *quieter* What about Nightwish?

Steeljaw: *straightens with a snort* She can't kill herself. Do you think anyone else could?

Ira: *sourly* Where the *beep* is she?

Steeljaw: *simply, as though it was a stupid question* With Yau.

Ira: *scowl*

Steeljaw: That's all I can tell you right now. *to the tiny in his arms* [Hey, Unkatuye. I know it's time to go.] *carefully ties the little baby girl onto his back, and then looks from Ira to Optima* You coming with?

Optima: Where are you going?

Steeljaw: To *street name* to sell the workers their breakfasts. *walks over to where a tiny white box of a house stands on what looks like the bottom level of warehouse shelving and stoops to look into a hatch at the base of it*

Ira: *quiet, displeased rumble at not getting information*

Optima: *surprised small sound* Ira... he sleeps in that storage compartment.

Ira: ... *more displeased rumbling*

Steeljaw: *shuts the hatch and then grabs his things* Of course I do. I'm the lodger of Shiratekka and Hotene. There's no room for me in the rest of the house. *stops and scowls at Ira, his ears perked*

Ira: Why live where there's no room for you? *worried about you, Steeljaw*

Steeljaw: *blinks, and then snerks* It's a box. *turns toward the door* I'm a cat.

Optima: *pauses in offering to pick up her son, and then starts to laugh quietly*

Ira: ... *snort*

Optima: *denied baby pickage, she grabs Steeljaw's box and handles it as though it were a shopping bag from a lingerie shop*

Steeljaw: *stops short and stares as she walks out of the building* *surprised mutter of Japanese*

Ira: *chuckles* Optima's a lot stronger than she looks, Steeljaw. And Nightbird's still just as bonkers as she was the last time we met.

Steeljaw: She's one of us. I hadn't realized. *quizzical look as a hand pulls on his pant leg* *automatically* [You want up?]

Monster Mash: *nods, not even blinking at the language*

Ira: *moves to pick his son up. Knows Steeljaw's strong, but the old fart's already got a bitty on his back*

Monster Mash: *surprised and questioning look for his Dada. He's not supposed to make friends with the furry guy?*

Ira: I don't think Steeljaw's back has enough room for two kids.

Monster Mash: *understands! Sometimes Mama Rae has too many bitties already too* *nod nod. Wave to Steeljaw*

Steeljaw: *grins and heads for the door* How old?

Ira: He's almost two.

Steeljaw: *surprised ear flick as he takes the hand of the little girl* [Big kid.] *looks toward Optima and then laughs and calls to the brawny young Korean man who has accosted her after spotting her with the familiar box* [It's alright, Seung. She's my friend's wife.]

Seung: *brightens* [Alright, Papa Cat. See you at lunch!] *and he's off through the morning crowd*

Optima: *laughing look of question toward the two old men*

Ira: Kid thought you were taking Steeljaw's box.

Optima: Oh dear. *more laughter*

Steeljaw: *slight chuckle as he watches other people slip away in the crowd*

Optima: *automatically speaks in the language that she hears around her* [You're famous?]

Steeljaw: *humorously* [They'll hate me as much as they love me now if I don't get their breakfasts out there.] *jogs off through the crowd toward the bigger street up ahead*

Optima: *glances at her husband as she follows. He's as set in his ways as you are*

Ira: *snort* *follows*


moment later


Steeljaw: *stoking up his little stove to warm up the broth and soft cook some eggs*

Katkemat: *intent on skewers of little fish cooking over another tiny stove*

Steeljaw: *also giving out scoops of rice and stuff to top it such as natto and the eggs, is taking payment into a box sitting by the counter stove*

Monster Mash: *working the tea spout, to the vast appreciation of the customers*

several tourists: *trying to figure out the costs*

Steeljaw: *kinda ignoring those guys. Wants to make sure his regular customers have their breakfasts. Later he'll feed the tourists*

Optima: *soft throat clearing sound, and then hands a piece of cardboard that she just wrote on to her husband. On the board are all of Steeljaw's prices, in English, Japanese, Yokanawan, and Korean*

Ira: *brows up, slight headtilt. Thinks Steeljaw knows what he's doing*

Optima: *points out that she also wrote a note about breakfast rush people being top priority between the hours of five and six* *now go set the sign where it'll be seen!*

Monster Mash: *watches a tourist run away from the natto he just offered* Uh?

Katkemat: *quietly* [That's only for the people who look like those ones.]

Monster Mash: *wow. Amazing. Offers natto to an older Japanese man and is thanked gratefully and handed a coin*

Ira: *will stay by the stall and watch the crowds* *will indicate the sign when tourists ask about prices*

Steeljaw: *absently hands him a hotdog bun full of noodles and softcooked egg* [Move. They can read.]

Ira: *snorts and accepts the hot dog bun* *dryly* [Yeah, but they'll still ask.]

Steeljaw: [And I'll ignore 'em. Go stand by the lady.]

Ira: *more snort, moves to stand by Optima*

Optima: *surprised curiosity* [What is that?]

Ira: [A snack.] *offers the first bite*

Optima: *taste* [Oh, his broth and spicing's good.]

Ira: *will reach to have a bite for himself*

Optima: *grins and gives him the bun, and then turns to watch her little son* *softly* [He's changed so much.]

Monster Mash: *server of tea! So good at pressing the button!* *shy grins for the people who thank him*

Ira: *looks, soft, muffled rumble as he nods*

Optima: I've read that hot dogs didn't used to be served on buns either. It started like it is here with the noodles. A fast and inexpensive way to serve them.

Ira: *small nod* Makes sense.

Optima: *grins and settles down to people watch*


noon


Steeljaw: *has moved to a more touristy street after feeding lunch to those of his regulars who wanted it. Is now catering to bored business people, school shirking teens, and tourists*

Monster Mash: *sound asleep on Dada*

Katkemat: *sitting and eating a bun full of little fish*

Steeljaw: *is giving little Unkatuye a bottle*

Ira: *still people watching, and occasionally exchanging snark with Steeljaw. Has also been talking with the furry man about the goings on since the last time they were around each other*

Steeljaw: [Hotene drives trucks in the city, but she gets off at the same time every night. Shiratekka's got shift work at the factory. Hotene's so proud of that tiny house.] *glances toward Optima, who is talking to a Japanese schoolgirl with the same colour hair as she has* [Your girl uses her money right. There are a lot of people I know who wouldn't have as good a place as they do if she didn't run those buildings.]

Ira: *quietly* [Optima has a big heart, and the means to do more than most who want to make a difference for the better.]

Steeljaw: *nose wrinkles slightly as he tests the heavy, hot, noisy air* [She's not as human as she looks right now. She's more like me.]

Ira: *quietly* [She has another form. She only uses it when she has to.]

Steeljaw: *ears up* [A skin changer. Haven't seen one of those since Argus. Remember that idiot?]

Ira: *snort* [He ran the first time Yau told him to knock his crap off.]

Steeljaw: [With his tail between his legs. Werewolf my ear.] *snort* *and then laughs as a tiny snort echoes it from where two big dark eyes are watching him over the baby bottle*

Ira: *snerk* [More like a lapdog. I know a few people who could kick his butt. And one would do it on accident.]

Steeljaw: [Accident? You trying to sucker me into letting you tell a story?]

Ira: *chuckles* [And it's one that doesn't require drinking to get me to spill.]

Steeljaw: *puts the baby onto his shoulder to pat her back* [Reminds me of the old lady that lives on the top floor of my stack.]

Ira: *snort* [You'd like the kids I'm thinking of. All five of 'em are X positive.]

Steeljaw: *ears perk* [So spill.]

Ira: [Four of the kids're siblings. WakeJumper, his twin sister, Calypso, and Caly's two altered clones, Downrush and Deluge. Fifth kid is WakeJumper's wife. She's the one who'd kick Argus' *butt* on accident.]

Steeljaw: [She that big?] *thinks* [Feral?]

Ira: *laughs and shakes his head* [No. Eclipse is tiny - barely five foot. And spazzy. She'd get herself worked up and accidentally zap Argus, and knock him flat on his *butt* and then panic. The Quads'd be the ones to get physical and clobber him.]

Steeljaw: *snerk* [Haven't seen a generator in awhile, either. What've the Quads got?]

Ira: [Water-based abilities. Wake 'n Caly have gills, 'Rush can make water torrents, Del spits water. And according to one of the nerds back home, they're also mentally linked.]

Steeljaw: [Makes sense, if they're clones.] *sets Unkatuye up on his knees and watches her study Ira*

Ira: [All four of 'em are mentally linked.]

Steeljaw: [Still makes sense to me.] :p

Ira: *snort* [Well, you're no fun.]

Steeljaw: *twinkling eyes* [Did I ever react to your *deleted*?]

Ira: [You did when Yau and I teamed up against you and Chris. 'Wish didn't take any of our *crap*.] *pause* [Except when Yau would set her clothes on fire for a laugh. That was always funny.]

Steeljaw: *remembering expression* [How's Rae?]

Ira: [Married to Chris, and mentoring a young woman who has a good shot at being a doctor.] *snort* [And spoiling her pet pig.]

Steeljaw: *slight wistfulness* [They ever have any kids?]

Ira: [They adopted a couple of the kids from a place called Hell.] *will quietly explain about the nightclub-slash-safe haven*

Steeljaw: *grinning now* [Estella, huh? What's she like?]

Ira: *chuckles* [She's quiet and feral, but she's warming up to everyone. I'm just glad she's not as temperamental as our other feral child.]

Steeljaw: [What's that one like? And what's Estella look like?]

Ira: [Our other feral is Sora. She's... a handful. And protective of Chris.] *headshake, will relate some of Sora's antics* [She likes Estella, though. Estella's blonde and she's on the smaller side, but she's young.]

Steeljaw: *quiet snerk* [Sounds like Chris's kid alright. And the other one...] *ears flat* [A kid raised around people wouldn't be that edgy. What happened?]

Ira: [Estella was abandoned by her birth parents, and raised by Hell rats.]

Steeljaw: *snort* [I got that. I meant what happened to Sora.]

Ira: [Oh. She 'n her parents were on a safari in Africa. Her parents were killed, and she was alone for a long time.]

Steeljaw: *ears flat to his head* *quietly* [How old when she lost 'em?]

Ira: [About two. She's six now.]

Steeljaw: [She wound up in an orphanage?]

Ira: *headshake* [Nope. Totally on her own.]

Steeljaw: *concerned and disbelieving* [How did she survive?]

Ira: [She heals even better than Chris 'n I do. 'N she's got claws.]

Steeljaw: [Claws?] *frown on ears and face, and the tip of his tail*

Ira: *nods* [Bone claws. They come out between her knuckles. She's a fighter.]

Steeljaw: *soft whistle, and then a sharp look* [Does the Agency know about her?]

Ira: *scowl* [I hope not.] *protective of the little girl*

Steeljaw: *rumble of a growl in his voice* [She's what they've been looking for.]

Ira: *quietly, tone going cold* [They won't get their hands on her.]

Steeljaw: *sudden startle and his fur stands out slightly as he looks around*

Ira: *startles as well, hand going to his hidden holster*

Steeljaw: *cautiously* [You know a little girl with a slight Arabic accent?]

Ira: *relaxes* [Yes. My daughter, Faridot.]

Steeljaw: *surprised ear flick* [Two of 'em. Well she just said she was protecting Sora.]

Ira: *chuckle* [Then we don't have to worry.]

Steeljaw: *curious look as he straps the now sleeping Unkatuye back into her carrier* [Where is she?]

Ira: [At home with the rest of the kids at the school. She's insistent on sticking to schedules.]

Steeljaw: *looks at his face, and then snerks* [I meant your daughter.]

Ira: [In her holding. The school, and the grounds around it are her holding.]

Steeljaw: [So she's the one that's got everyone so excited. And it's not just land that's a Holder's Holding, stupidhead.]

Ira: [...Got everyone excited?] *eyebrow*

Steeljaw: *gets to his feet and goes to stoke up his little stoves* [You'll see.]

Ira: *frown*

Optima: *returns then and offers him a wrapped green tea candy from the school girl she'd been talking to*


That evening


Optima: *hit by sleeping baby magic, she's sitting limply in the white plastic chair beside the main cooking area of the building where Steeljaw and his family live. Is leaning against Ira as the old soldier sits in a second chair and talks with Steeljaw, who still hasn't told them anything about the mysterious letter writer*

Ira: *starting to get a bit cross with his old friend* [When are we going to find out more about Yau and 'Wish?]

Steeljaw: *snorts at him again, but then sits up and looks toward the big main door as it slides open slightly despite being locked by the security guard after all the residents were inside* [Here he is.]

quiet baritone: *singing softly about fishing and catching giant fish*

Steeljaw: [That letter she sent got an answer.]

baritone voice: *stops singing* [...May I come in, Steeljaw?] *so polite*

Steeljaw: [You know you've always got access here, Senaiji.]

Senaiji: *bows politely as he enters* [Yes, but you have company, and I did not want to be rude.] *attention going to Ira, Optima, and Monster Mash*

Ira: ... *soft snort, gently nudges Optima's shoulder*

Optima: *sits up and looks at his face, asking in their wordless way for a report*

Ira: *field sign* [Visitor.] *nods toward Senaiji*

Steeljaw: [They're going to be your visitors too.] *stands up and walks over to meet the newcomer* [Here, you take my seat while I put the fish away and get your egg and rice.]

Senaiji: *as he's clearly said regularly* [Thank you, Steeljaw. I appreciate the meal.] *will bow politely in greeting to Ira and Optima*

Steeljaw: *waves a hand at him* *then nods to the two visitors as Optima rises to her feet* [This is Ira Irons, his wife Optima Prima, and their son Monster Mash. They've come in reply to Yau's letter.]

Senaiji: *orange eyes widen in surprise as the blue-skinned man lets out a shocked sound*

Steeljaw: *to Ira and Optima* [This is Senaiji Ecray-Yasu, Magistrate of the Ecray Clan of the Den-Ya.]

Optima: *eyes widen* [Senaiji! And Den-Ya here? Ohhh.]

Ira: *snorts softly, has been comparing this guy to the shopkeeper he knows in the Nexus*

Senaiji: *puzzled look for Optima* [Yes... What else would I be?]

Optima: *softly, after a glance and an exchanged slight nod with her husband* [Do you know there are other realities?]

Senaiji: *blinks* *nods* [Yes. The Matriarch and her husband have spoken of them before.]

Optima: *quietly* [We know one of your alternates, and we've met members of his family.]

Senaiji: *small nod* [That matches what Hardy has said.] *pause* *quietly* [When is the last time you saw my counterpart?]

Optima: [Just the day before yesterday. I went to buy blankets for new children who'd arrived.]

Senaiji: *small nod* [How is baby Thomas?]

Optima: *face brightens* [I heard him sing his name.]

Senaiji: *smiles, eyes shining with delight* [He's such a good baby.]

Optima: *and there's her smile* [His mama was trying to feed him the dried noodles that your brother was going to use for supper, and he was poofing at her.]

Senaiji: *amused chuckle* [It seems the Matriarch is the same no matter what reality.]

Optima: *softly* [Actually, Senaiji is Patriarch of their family.]

Senaiji: ... *small frown as he nods*

Optima: *smiles again* [But it seems that Yau is Yau. Even the tiny one that visits with her parents.]

Senaiji: *blinks* [Tiny one?]

Ira: [She's a child. Probably only three years old, if that. Her parents are soldiers.]

Senaiji: *surprised* [She has her parents there?]

Ira: *snort* [Adopted, but yeah.]

Optima: [They're alternates of a couple that Ira and I work with.]

Senaiji: [I see.] *small nod*

Optima: *quietly* [And the woman in that couple is one of the people that Matriarch Yau wrote to us about.]

Senaiji: [...] *surprise clear on his face*

Optima: *studies the blue man's face, and then lifts her eyebrows* [I have a feeling that your surprise isn't related to what I just told you.]

Ira: *frowns and glances at his wife's face*

Senaiji: ... *small nod* [I could smell another Drach's scent on you.]

Optima: *eyes widen, and she looks up at Ira* *softly, nearly whispering* [They're not X positives or mutants, they're mixed blood!]

Ira: *both brows up* [That explains a lot.]

Senaiji: [There's at least two where you live. One scent is fainter than the other... Siblings?]

Optima: *turns back to him, her hand moving gently on Monster Mash's back* [Two sets of siblings who are cousins.]

Senaiji: *considering look* *then, quietly* [We should get going. The moon is not out tonight, which will make it more difficult to be spotted.]

Optima: *quiet and suddenly dead serious* [Will it be safe for the baby?]

Senaiji: [It's safe for him to walk through doors, isn't it?]

Optima: *lifts her chin and gives him that mild, firm look that quells brawling Quads with one glance and stands Jazz to attention* [That depends on the door.]

Senaiji: [It's safer than flying.] *slight frown at Ira for the snort he heard the old soldier do in response to Optima's reply*

Optima: *softly, as Monster Mash lifts his head* [We're finished waiting now. Are you ready to go and visit?]

Monster Mash: Hai. *grins sleepily at Daddy and holds out his arms. Time to sleep on that parent for awhile*

Ira: *will reach for Monster Mash, rumbling softly*

Monster Mash: *gets his Dada, and then puts his head down on Dada's shoulder and goes back to sleep. Fur is slightly damp from baby sleep sweat*

Senaiji: *quietly* [Aww.]

Ira: *quietly* [We're ready.]

Optima: *nods*

Senaiji: *nods and holds out his hands in front of him. Suddenly, there's a faintly glowing line in the air, which expands into an orange-rimmed portal. On the other side, there seems to be a dark, winding path leading up toward the peak of a distant mountain* Please walk this way.

((Written with random_xtras))