Reviews :
chuckiboo : I'd like to tell you that Callum means well... At least, how he defines 'well' in his own little universe.
Snake557 : Thank you so much for that! It's gunna be awesome :)
Firesong-Writes : Thank you SO MUCH AHH. Seriously, thank you so much! I'm very excited, it's definitely gunna be a fun ride to go on with everyone. And especially since the comic will be a tiny bit different, almost like a rediscovery :D I'm excited! Thank you!
Burgie : Yes, very true. Today's the dayyy.
Song Listened To :
Swim (Reprise) by Valley
*Chapter 147*
After about a half an hour of Gideon's art event, Kepa sweetly began to mosey about the dimly lit gallery, a bigger event hall that was a bit closer to the Thunderbird Arena in Turbotime. About twenty of Murphy's students, as well as a few other artists from the city, reserved their own spot to showcase their artwork inside of this massive hall, all decoratively lined with removable walls, the glow of lovely spotlights that beamed down onto the incredible swathe of art all about. Though Kepa had spent a solid amount of time lingering with Gideon at his wall of art, nervous for the moment she was to meet Vanellope, Gideon warned Kepa that she would be a little late to the event, and wandering around to see the other showcases would potentially calm her nerves. With Lash, Koko and Mara taking Gideon up on the humbled release, the given-okay to leave his own setup and enjoy the rest of the show how they felt, everyone went their separate ways temporarily, knowing, full well, they'd eventually circle back to Gideon's point on the map no matter what.
Twenty minutes had passed and Kepa had successfully made it down one row of artists, about seven of them. She busied herself with kind, light conversation with a few of Gideon's classmates, she inquired about their work and their processes, she did everything she could to busy her rushing thoughts. Although meeting Gideon's mother wasn't technically the hugest deal on planet earth, it held such a great deal of weight in her own heart that it might as well have been. As she came down the line, she slowly scuffed to a halt at Gideon's sectioned off wall. He stood with a few strangers who had wrangled him into conversation about his artwork, Kepa stood about twenty feet off and simply observed without interfering. She watched Gideon politely chat with these strangers, the smile on his face was broad and handsome, he was dressed in a nice button down and slacks, all dolloped with an adorable white bowtie, Kepa gingerly tucked her arms behind her back and admired not only him, but the wall of his incredibly beautiful art he proudly stood beside. Kepa's eyes cutely glossed the handful of big canvases lit up underneath the glow of the showcase lights, though her ears gently twitched as a presence loosely hovered to her right.
"What do you think the lighthouse represents?" Vanellope mused warmly, she crossed her arms and stood to Kepa's side, loose enough to allow the stranger-amount of space, though tight enough to insinuate circumstantial importance.
Kepa's ears ticked with the added voice to her right, though she made the mistake of only briefly glancing in Vanellope's direction and sourcing Gideon's beautiful painting of their lighthouse. Her heart jumped with happiness, the rush of pride she felt being able to say that she was so deeply woven into Gideon's musings that she could politely speak for Gideon in his absence. Kepa shifted on her feet, narrowed her gaze to the main focal point of Gideon's showcase wall and gestured to the lighthouse with a full swathe of assuredness.
"It's funny, I live at that lighthouse," Kepa giggled sweetly, "The artist is my boyfriend, he stumbled upon the lighthouse when I was a squatter there... We kind of fixed it up together, I think the metaphor with the painting is that it's sort of a beacon, a direct line to happiness. Not to toot my own horn, though... That's just what he's told me."
"It's beautiful," Vanellope continued, she hoped Kepa would eventually recognize Gideon in her, though she wondered if brighter cue words would speed things along. She shifted on her feet as both women peered to the lighthouse painting in contemplative warmth, "Growing up, Gideon had this huge wall, in our backyard, that he used to paint on all the time. It was a reoccurring theme, of his, to paint lighthouses. It always makes me think about his manifestation powers, how he seemingly willed all of this into being just by sheer desire. I think that's what makes you so special."
Kepa felt her pupils tighten in raw, prickled understanding as to just who was standing next to her. She sagged her shoulders, huffed a trembling exhale, glossed her shy, hazed eyes tight to Vanellope's figure and held her breath in a show of now frozen shock. Kepa tucked her hands and arms to her chest in finger-twiddling shyness as she took a polite step out of Vanellope's tight presence, though as both women met eyes, Kepa felt Gideon's words hit her head on. With the glint of Vanellope's cute, youthful smile, Kepa's heart began to thud as if she were merely in the presence of full royalty. Kepa opened her mouth to hopefully usher words to Gideon's mother, a polite greeting, an apology, an introduction, absolutely nothing but a falter of shy, silent huffs of breaths came to Kepa's now overwhelmed demeanor. Vanellope uttered a happy, easy giggle of understanding and shook her head.
"It wasn't my plan to sneak up on you, like this, but Gideon's busy and your body language read as approachable," Vanellope murmured sweetly with a shrug as both women held eyes, both with a different twinkle of desired wonderment.
"I-It's so nice to finally meet you," Kepa rushed in a lightly trembling breath of smiling, nervous renewal. She gingerly held out her hand for a handshake and, although she looked to be mildly blindsided by this, she looked entirely elated to finally be in this moment. Her voice sweetly squeaked out of her, as if she had rehearsed this moment in time for weeks now, "I'm Kepa."
In the small seconds of introduction Vanellope was due to taking, she wondered if she should likely preserve her name on the off-chance that Kepa was well-versed in the names of the main characters inside Litwak's Arcade, though she figured she should be brave and escort Gideon into his venture of fully laying everything out on the line, for Kepa. Vanellope lovingly took Kepa's hand in hers and gave a polite, introductory shake.
"I'm Vanellope," She cued, though she narrowed her eyes for secretive, loving emphasis and ushered Kepa a quieter notion of warm, loving assurance, "Though, a little birdie told me that you were unfortunately without, so... You can call me mom, if you feel the need or want."
Kepa bobbed a gentle nod and eased Vanellope a small little smile of humbled gratitude as the two continued to slowly shake hands, though as the two swung to a stop and continued to hold hands, Kepa felt the whole entire wall of warmth hit her square between the eyes. Kepa glanced into Vanellope's alluring, motherly gaze and strangely felt as if her own mother was embracing her spirit, whispering to her that it was okay, that everything, from here on out, would be alright, and though she knew Vanellope could never fully fill her own mother's spot, she felt a huge sweep of relief hit her system, just like she hoped it would. With said crumple of defenses, Kepa furrowed her brow, looked off, urgently scolded herself for losing composure, though had to viciously remind herself that she gave Gideon and Vanellope very ample warning that tears likely would be a thing. With her free hand, Kepa tucked the back of her knuckles to her face and damp nose, flattened her ears, looked off in firm blinks and shook her head with a shy, trembling little giggle of full apology.
"Said little birdie also warned me that there would be tears," Vanellope cooed cutely as Kepa now blurt into shy, nasally giggling and covered her face, though with brave certainty that flood her system, Vanellope carefully pulled on Kepa's hand and was happy to feel Kepa's willingness budge into her own bubble. Although delicate arms unfolded and said initial embrace was gentle and uncertain, Vanellope warmly raveled her arms about Kepa's neck in a tug of a motherly snug, one of which Kepa securely adhered to in the form of the eventual sag of her shoulders, the eventual succumb to laying in a motherly embrace, once more, the first time in years. Vanellope heaved a gentle sigh and held Kepa tight about her neck and shoulders as she continued on, "Gideon told me about your loss... I just want to let you know, that even if you and Gideon somehow part, User forbid... I need you to know that I'll still always be here for you. You're important to Gideon, through and through, so that entitles you to a lifetime of importance to me, okay?"
"Thank you," Kepa squeaked as she furrowed a tight grimace into Vanellope's soft shoulder, her ribcage gently shook as she so silently ushered huffs of quiet little cries into Vanellope's collar.
"I obviously can't relate to your situation, and, as a User-made gamer, I often forget the harsh impact that can be left on a parentless child," Vanellope mused quietly into the side of Kepa's head, she rubbed up and down Kepa's upper back and gave Kepa a solid, snuggly squeeze before parting just barely, still tight in their warm bubble of maternal care Vanellope was beyond ready to spill all over Kepa's shivering soul. Kepa desperately tried to compose herself and not erupt in front of Gideon's mother, she gingerly pawed at her cheeks and clumsily wiped her tears within the second they fell, though Vanellope shook her head and gently stroked her thumb to Kepa's left cheek in a dainty cup of garnered attention, "I can't imagine your position, but I can sense your pain. I know I can't possibly fill shoes, but I hope mine can be a pair next to hers..."
"I-I'd be honored," Kepa whimpered with a nod as she lulled her eyes closed and so happily marinated in Vanellope's confident care, she heaved a nasally sigh and allowed her gorgeous, glossy cat-eyes to aimlessly scan Vanellope's left shoulder, cutely speckled with Kepa's tears, a maternal leaning point Kepa was now incredibly thrilled to have within her reach.
"I'm so happy to be finally meeting you," Vanellope snipped cutely with an affirmative nod, and with their quick comfortability, Vanellope wrangled Kepa into another big, snuggly hug. Kepa heaved a shaky little giggle and so easily welcomed herself into Vanellope's strong arms, once more, as Vanellope carried on, "This one has an agenda he deems as non-time sensitive, for some reason..."
"I don't have an agenda," Gideon grumbled, having moseyed up a few moments ago but kept distance so the two could privately converse, his bigger hand lovingly rested to Kepa's lower back as the two women continued to hold in their loving embrace, "Just... Wary."
"It all shakes out, I guess," Vanellope whispered as the two pulled away. Kepa shyly gave Vanellope a smile of gratitude before peering her glassy eyes up into Gideon's, Vanellope carried on as Kepa and Gideon sagged into a light little side hug, of which included the adorable shy gloss of loving eye contact, filled to the brim with blatant, bridled chemistry, "This is some event, Giddy, I'm insanely proud of you for sticking with this."
"Yeah, it's been really rewarding," Gideon mused, he nodded and looked slightly behind him in the direction of his art displays, though as he temporarily diverted his attention, he managed to snug Kepa a bit tighter into their snuggly side hug, one of which that squeezed a little giggle out of Kepa's shy demeanor, "I've picked up two potential clients, here in Vidrix, due to this, so... I'd say it's a win."
"Oh, great news!" Vanellope encouraged with a nod, she put her hands on her hips and was en-route to carrying on, though Koko's bubbly, sunny demeanor budged into their conversation.
"Mom, you're here!" Koko chimed happily as she linked arms with Vanellope, though she bugged her eyes a little, stabbed her gaze to Gideon's, back to Vanellope's and then tight to Kepa's. Just before she could erupt with the exciting notion that Kepa was finally meeting Vanellope, Koko stiffened with a surprised frown and took note of Kepa's tears, "Oh no! Why are you crying? What's wrong?"
"I-I'm okay, really," Kepa diligently assured with a nervous giggle, she already looked flustered and taken aback, though now didn't want to be reopening the whole 'motherless' conversation.
"What happened?" Koko daintily whispered as she unlinked her arm with Vanellope and took the step into Kepa's bubble, she sweetly rested her hand on Kepa's shoulder.
"The topic of 'moms' is sensitive, Keeks," Gideon gently reminded as Koko's alluring, innocent gaze peered up into Gideon's, down to Kepa's and then back to Vanellope's in full understanding.
"Ohh, I see, I see," Koko mused kindly with a nod, she sweetly began to tidy the long strands of light pink hair that framed Kepa's face, "Welp... She may not be directly home, but she's a pretty fantastic mom and be prepared to be spoiled silly."
"You treat Emery better than any of us," Gideon playfully muttered, Vanellope stiffened in equally as playful outrage as Koko covered her mouth and erupted into quiet laughter.
"It's so true, you're fueling that candle side hustle she's got going on, it's hilarious," Koko could hardly get words out, to which Gideon fell into her contagious laughter, which eventually had Kepa succumbing as politely as she possibly could inside their group's genuine giggle-fest.
"Hey, I don't care WHAT you're in to, I'll support my kids no matter what," Vanellope loudly argued as she gestured her hands and arms outward with a wide, annoyed grin, one that Kepa couldn't take her eyes away from, one that so fervently mocked Gideon's to a T that it nearly stunned her.
"What're you two doing for Valentine's Day?" Koko mused cutely as she gestured to Gideon and Kepa, after a moment of the group coming to a settle, though Kepa's ears drooped in mild confusion as she tossed her eyes up to Gideon's.
"What's that?" Kepa innocently wondered, and though Gideon felt the urge to stiffen in embarrassment, as well as Koko and Vanellope in mild dread for Gideon's sudden predicament, the group rolled on past the initial feeling and lumped right in to an equally shared amount of confusion tossed Kepa's way.
"...Valentine's Day? You've never heard of Valentine's Day?" Gideon's voice shook a small chuckle as he curiously glanced into Koko's and Vanellope's awaiting gazes, Kepa shyly shrugged and began to sag in on herself.
"Should I have?" Kepa meeped nervously, Koko flagged her hand and shook her head.
"It's just a day for couples to celebrate their love, romantic candle lit dinners, some couples go on vacation," Koko listed in a drone of nonchalance as she counted on her fingers.
"Some couples get engaged, some people plan their weddings around these days," Vanellope listed, her and Koko shared a smile, "Your father's got a surprise for us planned in Orion City."
"Ohhh, you think it's The Compass Room? The view from up there?" Koko swooned, Vanellope grinned and shrugged with a girly little bounce of her feet in full excitement.
"Don't knowww, you'll be getting texts from me tomorrow," Vanellope mused, "What're you and Nox doing?"
"I'm in the same boat as you," Koko grumbled with a shrug, though the two circled back to Kepa and Gideon. Koko cutely gripped Kepa's shoulder and gave her a small jostle, "I guess this one's in the same boat as us, has no idea what's coming."
"I mean, yeah, considering I had no clue this holiday even existed," Kepa crossed her arms, looked up into Gideon's eyes with a swell of excitement, though also a swing of confused nervousness, something that had Gideon shyly rubbing his upper arm in reserved back-tracking, "We're three months in, I think it's safe to exclude proposals or weddings, my guy?"
"You'd blindside the whole Arcade with that kind of a Valentine's Day, Gid," Vanellope blurt into giggling, as did Koko and Kepa.
"Giddy, did... You invite Tessa and them to this art show?" Koko warily danced about this topic, Gideon heaved a shaky sigh and shrugged.
"Well, I hung out with Callum a few days ago... He told me that he'd tell everyone about my art show and invite them, he offered to be a middle man to take the stress off of me. He texted me saying he unfortunately couldn't come, last minute, but... I thought for sure everyone else would show up," Gideon worried with a frown, and though his exterior showed a great deal of just plucked sorrow, he could feel his insides churning with bubbling anger towards this situation, the fact that he at least had an olive branch extended and no one bat an eye.
"... Since when have you and Callum been hanging out?" Vanellope muttered nervously, she glanced to Koko, though the look in Kepa's eye caught Vanellope's attention.
"Trust me," Kepa snipped as she flattened her ears, crossed her arms and eyed Gideon in nervous suspicion.
"It's not a big deal, I just told Callum I wasn't going to be inviting anyone but my mom and he kindly told me he'd invite everyone else for me," Gideon urged, Koko's facial expression slumped to dull annoyance.
"Gid, I don't think the words 'Callum' and 'kind' can be used in the same sentence," Koko's muttering roused into annoyed giggling, to which Vanellope sighed and crossed her arms.
"Welp... Tonight's a busy night for everyone, I'll message Tessa later and see what their decision for not coming was," Vanellope rolled her eyes and was beginning to look exhausted by all of this, "I haven't heard a thing from them, about this... Maybe they assumed only a select few people were invited and didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by openly talking about it."
"I haven't heard anything either," Koko mumbled with a slump, "Best to just... Enjoy the night, we can figure it all out in the morning."
"They missed out, anyways," Vanellope sweetly snipped in Kepa's direction and delicately nudged her lower arm in a gesture of kind camaraderie, "They didn't get the opportunity to meet this gem."
"She's not always this shy and quiet," Gideon dared cutely, Kepa perked her ears, stabbed her sharp gaze directly into his and stiffened in smiling, scheming dread as Vanellope and Koko erupted in their cute laughter.
"She's not, she bullies Nox, it's amazing," Koko cupped her stomach and tried to catch her breath from laughter as Kepa finally sagged and looked to be becoming a bit more comfortable.
"... He pretty much asks for it just by breathing," Kepa's voice grew in strength, her smile easily was paired with happy laughter as the group brightened with her continued release of shyness.
"You're gunna fit in just fine, my love," Vanellope cooed through her's and Koko's laughter, she gently gripped Gideon's arm and gave him a loving smile, "Alright, bud, I gotta get going, soon. Why don't you show me your wall before we all part ways, for the night?"
"Sure, c'mon," Gideon chirped happily, and as the four, as an official little family unit, moved to Gideon's sprawl of wall art, he felt a very strange, dark mixture of unadulterated, innocent glee and harrowing, boiling, silent anger. Floored to have this special night with Kepa, he knew it meant now turning the other cheek to Sugar Rush and understanding that the ones that didn't show up for him tonight were not worth his time, and not the other way around.
