EVERYTHING THE ICE BITES
three
Karin isn't afraid of Werner and Maria Vorarlberna.
There's just something unsettling about her in-laws, and Karin has never been able to figure out what it is.
At first, Karin assumed that her hyperconsciousness around them was because she wanted to make a first good impression as their future daughter-in-law, and was disappointed that they didn't seem to like her, despite Yukio's assurances that it was fine. His parents preferred to keep to themselves and hold everyone else at arm's length.
Karin tried to be polite, and was met with silence. She tried to be less formal, and was met with disdain.
Any time she tried to bond with them, it usually ended in catastrophe, but Karin is nothing if not stubborn. Once she's set her mind to something, however long it takes, she's willing to wait.
Maybe that's the problem: Karin still wants them to like her, and they still want nothing to do with her.
And yet, having said that…
The fact that her husband's parents chose to accept the dinner invitation is proof of progress.
But Karin won't deny that the silence that currently exists is pretty damn suffocating.
Normally, grandparents would fawn over their grandchild. They'd act silly and playful and dote on them. Maybe they might lift them high into the air and tell them how pretty they look, dressed up in pink, and act a little ridiculous all for the sake of a smile.
Yet Hina hides behind Yukio, shyly gazing at them.
Karin wishes she could say something — do anything — to break through the uncomfortable atmosphere, but words fail her, her mind completely at a blank.
Maria Vorarlberna observes her grandchild, almost clinically, no trace of warmth in her grey eyes.
Karin's heart hammers in her chest.
Eventually, her mother-in-law sighs, and directs her gaze to her son, evidently disappointed.
"Have you not taught your child how to greet people?" Unimpressed, Maria asks, her attention solely on Yukio.
"Hina still remembers being kicked out by you earlier this year," Yukio says, matching his mother's iciness, and then smiles serenely at her.
"I told you not to come," Maria states, indifferent. "You should have listened."
It would be very easy to mistake her apathy for contempt.
Karin fills her lungs with air, pointedly focused on remaining calm instead of regretting not having taken the out that she clearly should have when Yukio offered.
"How was your journey?" Karin asks, steamrolling ahead and trying for a different tactic. There was a chance that her father-in-law might be more receptive and sociable, and Karin will take that chance, even if it's a shot in the dark. "The directions weren't too confusing, I hope?"
When she called them up and mentioned The Balance, Werner was the one to accept the dinner invitation. He'd heard about the famous chef Jugram Haschwalth, and was curious to try the food.
"It was fine."
"Good," Karin says, after it became apparent he had nothing else to say. "Great."
It really wasn't much of a conversation starter, Karin knows, but still, at least it gave her some confidence to speak.
"Hina-chan," Karin says, with renewed vigour, because like hell was she going to let the rest of the night be this awkward. "Do you want to show your grandparents that thing?"
If anyone could melt hearts, Karin was certain Hina could.
Unfortunately, Hina shakes her head.
"Try."
"… Jiji… Baba," Hina begins, reluctantly stepping away from her father so she can be seen by everyone. Her pink bow looks pretty on top of her head. "I… love you…"
Slowly, Hina raises her hands to her chest, curving her fingers and thumbs as they touch, so she forms a heart with her hands, and directs it at her grandparents.
Silence.
Neither Werner nor Maria reacts.
Hina stands frozen, waiting for them to say something.
"Let's go in," Maria remarks, stiffly, turning away and walking towards the receptionist. Werner follows.
When her grandparents are out of sight, only then does Hina lower her arms.
"Hina-chan…" Karin starts to speak, softly. She really didn't think that they would ignore their only granddaughter in such a devastating way.
"Obaasan doesn't like me," Hina says, in a small voice.
"That's not true," Karin reassures her, quick to respond. Crouching down to meet her daughter's eyes, Karin sets aside her anger to comfort Hina. "You did really well, Hina-chan! You were very cute!"
Things would be better after everyone ate, Karin hopes. Just because the evening started off less than stellar, it didn't mean that there wasn't time for the mood to improve.
Still, any chance of spending New Years together feels pretty non-existent right now.