More... boom... finally finished DA2 after nearly fifty hours. Considering what I bought the game for... I got my money back easily on that one playthrough. Onto the chapter...
Chapter 7:
"Mommy... who is my daddy?" Cerezas asked again as Neo began to cough into her hand. She couldn't believe she would ask this question out of nowhere. Not that she had any idea how she was meant to tell the girl her mother was an alcoholic that had a penchant for violence. The type of violence that only ever got dwarfed by the violence her father would dish out to her when she was growing up.
Neo had only seen one incident, one that was permanently etched into her mind's eye. And the fact Yang had a persistent limp that she claims was from the same person. And after seeing him shoot Ruby... Neo had no doubt that he would cause that. In fact some of the stories Neo just knew had to have been under played.
"Why do you ask Honey?" Neo managed to get out as the small girl shrugged her shoulders. "I want you happy like auntie Ree Ree and Auntie Pyr Pyr..." Cerezas spoke looking at her mom, wondering why the other two women let out an 'aw' sound.
Neo smiled at her daughter's concern of her happiness. It was something she not only found adorable but knew that with how persistent Cerezas is, once she puts her mind to it, she would make sure Neo is happy. Rubbing the girl's head a little knowing it would distract her enough.
"I have you. I'm more than happy enough." Neo spoke as the smaller girl smiled a bit and turned back to the food. Taking up a large forkful and quickly biting down on it. Neo was glad that she had dropped it rather fast. She knew that one day she would need to have this conversation. But she would rather not have it any time soon. Especially after running into the woman the previous night.
Reese smiled at the little girl and turned to Pyrrha, the want in her eyes was obvious to the red head. "Not having this conversation right now Reese. We can later... I swear at time you are like a magpie." Pyrrha said as the teal haired woman smiled and rested her head on Pyrrha's shoulder. Turning to face the ice cream themed girl clearly resisting the urge to grab hold of her daughter and kissing her.
"So, Neo... how was your night? Get lucky?" Reese asked as Neo frowned. She wanted to talk about running into Ruby with someone who wasn't Emerald, but didn't want to raise Cerezas' eager suspension and have her go on a quest for answers that Neo knew she would have trouble with the exception of one place.
"I ran into Crescent Rose last night at Junior's..." Neo said causing Pyrrha to cough while she took a drink from her own water glass. Spraying a fine mist out, causing the four year old to laugh and clap her hands laughing at that action, reaching over for her own juice filled glass to try and do it herself only to frown at the lack of the orange coloured liquid. Frowning the girl threw the plastic cup onto the table and crossed her arms. "No juice."
Frowning Neo up-righted the plastic cup and turned to the girl. "And you aren't going to get more. That was very bold Cerezas." Neo said sternly, trying her best to ignore the pout coming from her daughter. She needed to be strong just for the fact that she knew that the girl would constantly do that again and again if she gave in. She needed to be strong in her resolve for this.
"I'm sorry Mommy... I won't do it again..." The girl said, as her lip began to tremble a little. "You shouldn't apologise to me." Neo said as the girl turned to the teal haired woman who began to pat on the red haired woman's back as she tried to catch her breath. "I'm sorry Auntie Ree Ree and Auntie Pyr Pyr." Cerezas said as Reese looked towards her finally noticing the plastic cup's position.
"Apology accepted kiddo..." Reese spoke as Pyrrha finally regained her breath. Pyrrha took a deep breath as she turned to Neo. "Sorry... I've known her twelve years and she can still surprise me somehow. But how are you holding up after running into Crescent Rose..." Pyrrha asked as Neo smiled looking at her.
"Once we got past the awkwardness... we were able to talk like no time had past. But she probably went home and got wasted with these two random brunettes that she left with... apparently they were long time friends with her since she was Cerezas' age." Neo said causing the duo to nod in pseudo understanding. Before Neo could continue or the couple could respond Cerezas pushed her plate forward. "I'm full Mommy. Can I go watch cartoons with Sprinkles and teddy?" The girl asked as Neo smiled.
"It isn't our house Honey. You'll need to ask Pyrrha and Reese." Neo stated as the girl turned to face the duo in question. "As long as the volume isn't loud Cerezas." Pyrrha said as the little girl smiled and quickly got off the chair grabbing the stuffed panda and walked into the room next to the dining room, as the dog got up from his prone position to follow her.
Neo smiled as she quickly heard the theme song to one of the shows that Neo knew was the small girl's favourite animated show. She turned back to the duo and smiled brighter as Pyrrha spoke "Coffee?" Pyrrha asked as Neo nodded. Quickly standing up from the table she walked out of the room towards the kitchen.
Reese turned to the ice cream themed girl and whispered, "Who is Crescent Rose by the way... she sounds familiar?" Reese asked as Neo frowned. "My ex-wife, Cerezas father and a woman who single handedly turned the entire club into a family until she got shot six or so years ago and the entire club is still just recovering emotionally." Neo whispered back as the real haired woman nodded her head in understanding.
"Who shot her?" Reese asked as Pyrrha stuck her head across the island into the dining room, "It was her father. During a performance on the old main stage." Pyrrha spoke as her girlfriend let out an 'oh' sound. "None would go up on the old one... no matter how clean it got... we all could still see the blood. Even Junior. So we all agreed it would be best to just get a new one." Neo continued the explanation as Pyrrha turned around and began to pour the water into three mugs.
"She sounds like an amazing person... how come I've never met her?" Reese asked as Neo let out a dryer laugh than she intended. "She was... but after she got shot... she changed. It wasn't even an instant one. It was a slow one. So slow no one noticed she was no longer the same person until she only showed glimpses of her old self. But it looks like she may be changing a little going back... I have no idea why though"
"Enough of this depressing topic. What is your plans for the rest of the day?" Pyrrha said placing two mugs on the table as she grabbed the remaining one on the island counter top and took her seat. "Curled up in front of a tv with Cerezas and Sprinkles. Going to be great." Neo smiled taking a drink from the mug of coffee in front of her. She knew it really was. The only way it would be better to Neo is if Ruby was there, but she wouldn't endanger Cerezas ever like that.
Ruby smiled as she took the final bite of her meal of meat, fat and coffee. Glad that Emerald had decided to stay. It was slightly alien to Ruby. But she was happy about it. She felt a little closer to Neo again. But there was this strange yearning to want more. She wanted Neo in her arms. She was at the point after running into Neo the previous night that she wouldn't accept someone like her.
Emerald smiled as she stood up from her seat picking up hers and Ruby's plate. Not questioning as to why Ruby had remained relatively quiet the entire meal. Like something was on her mind. Something Emerald just knew was something to do with Neo and their accidental meeting last night.
As she placed the plates into the sink there was a distinct sound of a blonde woman yelling Ruby's name. Ruby began to wheel away from the table, only stopping at the kitchen. "Thanks Em... she's probably just pissy because she didn't take any painkillers last night or this morning." Ruby said as the green haired woman smiled back.
Ruby smiled and just continued down the hallway quickly opening the door to her sister's room. She could see Yang with her hand clamped down on her leg, clearly trying to ease most of the pain she could. Ruby rolled her eyes, "Give me a few minutes. Could have told me sooner." Ruby said trying to back out of the room to go towards the bathroom where they kept their assortment of drugs.
Quickly entering the bathroom, remembering how it was something similar that ended her last relationship. Reaching up onto the now thankfully lower shelf and grabbed the only bottle that was for Yang and tossed it into her lap. She could just make out the sound of her front door closing.
Shaking her head to get rid of the thoughts she rolled her way out of the room and into Yang's bedroom and tossed the bottle into Yang's lap. The blonde practically ripped the cap off and swallowed one of the white pills. To quickly go back to rubbing her leg.
"I'm telling you. Keeping the bottle by your bed is a lot easier." Ruby joked as she moved slightly closer to Yang. "Can you get up by yourself? Because this will be hard otherwise." Ruby asked as Yang nodded, recapping the bottle with one hand.
Ruby just smiled and began to turn around to leave the room. Ready to just watch crap tv, and lament over how stupid she was in the past. It was nothing more than business as usual to her. She just hoped that five o'clock came sooner today. She just wanted to be numb faster. The feelings Neo had managed to cause just made her feel worse. The fact she couldn't bring herself to drink at all last night just made her feel worse deep down.
"Ugghhhh Blake... what is it you want? I was busy." Mel complained as her and Milt walked into the raven haired woman's apartment. Noticing that most of the old group were together, and in the same room for what felt like the forever. They were just short Ruby and everyone who made the club known would be there.
Blake just smiled as she gestured the remaining to woman to the free seat, already knowing that they didn't mind sharing a seat. "Yang asked me to get us to plan something that gets Ruby, Neo and Cerezas into the same area and spend time. And I think the only one who hasn't seen Ruby in a while is Pyrrha. But we all know how much longing Neo has." Blake stated as she took a seat on the floor pulling out a bottle from seemingly nowhere.
"So, we are going to get shit faced, and plan like we used to. Minus any possible orgies... I do not enjoy waking up in one of those." Blake said as the faces lit up a little to be crushed almost instantly. "Already called Junior. We all got the night off. All I had to do was mention how we are trying to get Ruby and Neo back... so he called in most of the new meat giving them a chance to shine by themselves."
As Blake said that Emerald quickly walked towards the kitchen and reappeared holding some glasses. "Same rules. One text each before, and then phone are turned off until we get an idea we can work with." Emerald stated as she placed the glasses down in front of them. Waiting for the raven haired woman to pour as Pyrrha pulled out her phone and typed a text. Once she got a response in the form of a picture she blushed and turned off her phone, hoping the rest didn't see.
As they each took a partially filled glass they held them out and quickly drank them like they were filled with water. "Okay... ideas..." Blake asked hoping the group would be able to do it answer it fast.
Author's Note:
Strange end point... but I enjoy the chapter... hope you guys did too. Onto food then planning out the next chapter. Onto the guest reviews though...
The reader formerly known as Guest 2: I'm just fucking with you... but seriously... I will kill babies the next time... partially to prove a point... partially because the rumour is true, I survive off of baby souls. Puppy souls used to cut it... but not any more.
Guest: Yes, there is more. But Ruby is her daddy... it will be explained. I get this a lot, and there is promising science behind it... but until it is a reality it is just pseudo science.
Guest 4: I felt it was clear with only two characters in the scene. But nope, I didn't sell my soul... I infact am the being that makes those trades. But don't tell the reader formerly known as guest 2 what to do... he/she should learn those mistakes themselves. You know the old fashion way.