DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Las Lindas and other products set in the same universe are all owned by Chalo/Chalosan and SoulKat.
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Chapter 13: Jovial Wisdom
This was not a normal day.
It started as the usual situation where Shin and Naerie would be both out for some reason, leaving me to handle the store on my own as I patiently waited for some clients to finally come by and... and then she happened to come inside and indulge some questions she had on the place.
It wasn't unusual for clients to do that at times, and while some just did that to put on some extra weight on our backs, a few had actual good questions about the shop. The misfortune behind this circumstance was that the one I was dealing with at the moment was just plain odd.
The Bear Prime had red hair just like Naerie, except hers were a slightly more vibrant shade; she also had brown fur with some fairer spots around her face (specifically a small circle around her left eye). Her eyes were narrowing to the point where I couldn't see their eye colors. Kind of reminded me of those anime characters like Brock from Pokémon, Sakurai from Nichijou or even Lau from Black Butler.
The fact that she smiled with each mental comparison just threw me off the loop. I had the sneaking suspicion that she wasn't the normal client, not when she was asking questions that were unneeded to buy books.
What are the shop's sizes for height, length, and depth? Who was the previous owner of the shop? Why the current one favored Light-Green wallpaper to 'amazing blue' one?
Surprisingly enough, I had all the answers ready through my terminal and the fact I spoke with Shin a few times about some of those topics. I was surprised, but the lady was plain stunned, growing more and more curious with each answer and smiling delightedly at my responses.
"My, oh my. I actually didn't expect this kind of preparation," The redhead beamed brightly. "Quite the exhaustive explanation too and... I suppose you have been handling your life's affairs neatly, John."
That was a bit personal. I don't recall mentioning my name and yet the woman was using it without much formality.
"Struggling but working on it. Also, how do you know me?" I inquired flatly, causing the Bear Prime to burst into giggles.
"I can see it on your face. You're not pleased with me being aware of who you are while you don't know me from what I can tell... still, how has Neo-Earth been treating you?"
My eyes narrowed. "I would like to know your name."
Her lips twitched, the woman quickly perceiving the block I put in that conversation and then sighing.
"I think you have a hint or two of who I might be. Try to guess my name."
That was stupid. Why the hell was she treating this as a game and-
"Naerie's mother. She is really nice and helpful but… fair warning, don't get too comfy around her."
"Why not?"
"She is-" Brazen.
"Sorta. I would say she is a step or two above that but… I doubt you will meet her anytime soon or in a situation where you will be there for a long time."
She looked quite similar to Naerie so...
"Are you Naerie's mother, Ambar?"
...
She snorted. "Gods, I never heard someone address me like that. Not a first, but definitely refreshing compared to the usual."
"What do you mean Miss-"
"Oh sure, why not," The redhead hummed jovially. "I'm Ambar, Naerie's mother and also known to many others as the High Prime."
...The current big boss of the queendom? The supreme leader of the whole thing?
"Yep and yep~," She replied, confirming that she was reading my mind just like her daughter could.
"Oh."
The woman giggled again. "Now, John. There's no reason for you to be worried with me around. Naerie already told me of your situation and... I find yours to be the most intriguing one in years."
"...Truly?"
"Oh please, I can tell that you already have a clue on what I mean," The High Prime reasoned. "A dimensionally-displaced human, and one that doesn't ail from a parallel universe, but one where Prism, Chaos and Order aren't as relevant as they are here."
I slowly nod. "Yes, but why feel so excited about it? I'm not exactly that special beyond that?"
"And? Can't I just go and check the first conquest of my sweet baby girl~?"
My jaw dropped. "I-"
"Oh, I'm not mad. I would never be- not when Naerie looks so at ease now that she got the right buttons pressed. Poor Shin just isn't putting enough effort in that," Ambar interrupted mirthfully. "Alas, he will pick up eventually and... still, you are unique."
"How?"
"Beyond the dimensional bit?"
I nodded and she sighed.
"Truth be told, I doubt Naerie can tell this on the spot, but you have something that isn't common among other humans in Neo-Earth. And that is a fresh perspective from Old Earth."
"I don't want to make it sound too odd but... are you saying that things are different for humans and their view of the world?"
She sighed again, this time a bit louder than before. "Not something extremely wrong, but they had grown withdrawn from our old friendship because they saw it as inconclusive. They expected a share of the technology we have, but we refused to provide them that."
"I guess that's how people felt when Nukes weren't for sale," I half-joked and Ambar smiled half-heartedly. I had struck home with that one.
"In a way, yes. Nanozell isn't exactly a tool that is as limited as Nukes. It can destroy lives if it is used for bad reasons," The Bear Prime expanded on the topic. "Which is why it does leave for a tall tower of paperwork just to push them away from it."
"I bet it gets stale with all that paperwork-"
"And the lack of companionship too!" She huffed, which made me frown back at her.
"But you have companionship," I pointed out. "Naerie and Shin told me this much."
"Heh, not enough to satisfy this Bear," The redhead replied giddily. "I have my needs for friendship and beyond."
I offered a small smile, and the woman grinned. "Now. I think this was a pleasant conversation. I hope we can have more of those in the future, it's rare to have someone that doesn't stare too much at my breasts and actually speaks to me as 'Ambar'."
"I'm glad that... helped?"
She giggled again. "Not that great at taking compliments?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, to make up for this distracting talk, I would like to put in an order for a gift for the end of the month."
I blinked at the request, but I decided to go through the process as I usually would. She wanted to send three books, but there was a catch behind that entire situation.
"We don't exactly deliver by person," I pointed out, surprised by the unusual request. "We've special couriers and-"
"I wish for you to check this place," Ambar interjected. "See, this friend of mine had been feeling particularly lonely since her husband left and... no, young man, I'm not asking for you to give her a booty call."
I blushed at that, and the Bear Prime giggled.
"No, I want you to see how she is faring emotionally. I know that's incredibly stressful."
I frowned. "I suppose I can give it a look. But no surprises."
"No surprises," She repeated, raising her open palms up in a surrendering manner. "Now, I suppose that's doable, right?"
"Just don't expect this to become a thing, Lady Ambar."
She groaned at the formality, but the rest of the visit was quite pleasant. I wasn't sure what the woman had in mind with this friend of hers, but I just couldn't shrug off the feeling that things were going to be a bit more different than I thought them to be.
It just wasn't going to be a simple visit and then trip back home, that much I could say.
"So, you could have told me that Ambar is quite the mastermind."
Hope's jaw dropped at that comment. We were back to my house and... well, she was looking forward to lunch for some reason.
"What?"
"You know, Naerie's mother."
"She visited?" The Gazelle Prime asked with a hint of intrigue. "What did you two talk about?"
I blinked at the questions, perceiving some worries. "Well, she wanted to tell me she knew, she found me an interesting conversation partner, and that then she gave us a task to give some books to an old friend of hers."
"Anyone I know?" She inquired again.
"Do you know anyone in Gossamer?"
The girl paused by the stove and then frowned. "No."
"Well, then you don't know this friend."
A huff left her lips as she resumed her cooking in silence. I thought it would have been it, but it wasn't. Sorta. The conversation would restart only after she was done with getting the food out. I offered to help, but Hope just allowed me to inspect her as she was doing it. If she wasn't plotting to burn my kitchen down. She was good-ish. Not a Master Chef, but definitely good enough to know how to handle the kitchen while following a recipe's instructions. The girl mentioned it was one from her mother's personal recipe book, and she was a bit accustomed to preparing it.
Truth be told, she was extremely precise with it and the result was a delicious Roast-Beef with BBQ sauce. All the right spices and ingredients were applied correctly in all forms. It was a delicious treat alright, but I could tell it was just the 'sugarcube to push the pill down'. Just a few bites in, and Hope spoke up again.
"So, there's something I wanted to talk about."
"And that is?"
She hummed. "Us."
...
"What about?" I inquired, confusion appearing on my face. "Did something happen or-"
"I was just thinking that we never thought about... you know, doing it," The young woman interjected nervously.
"Well, I thought you didn't want to do that due to our relationship," I replied readily, which left Hope in a strange mood.
"Yeah... I guess that's a thing too."
"It's not-"
"I am just a bit off the loop at times," Hope reasoned, cutting me off. "I know this sounds odd, to just drop it so suddenly... but I've been feeling a bit down as of recent times. And... I guess sex is the first time to cheer me up."
A very unhealthy way, especially when that could really hurt her. We didn't speak for a while, but I couldn't help but continue to feel like something was off with Hope. The girl just looked so down and she needed some cheering up. But how? Talking wasn't going to get much, but actions I knew would give her a bit of a boost to her current mood. But what could get her really happy without going overboard?
I thought about it for a while, staring at my food in the process and going through the rest of the meal before ultimately picking up a good idea out of the lengthy thinking process.
"Wanna cuddle after we're done?"
Hesitation flashed through her green eyes, but while she looked ready to refuse, Hope just nodded and we were soon hugging together by the couch. I wasn't sure what had happened during lunch, but I could tell she was conflicted on something about us. Was she having second thoughts on our semi-platonic friendship? It was an odd friendship though and I could tell it was leaving her unsure on how to handle it.
I wasn't any better. I was calmer about it because I was more careful in handling bizarre matters such as this one, but I really didn't know if this could progress into something more or actually keep the same as usual until she eventually finds someone to settle with. Or rather, I do that first since Hope didn't seem the kind of girl that wanted to settle with anyone.
There was a lot to think about, and I just had this growing feeling that the reason why Hope was being incredibly cuddly through that session and decided to repeat that after dinner up to the next morning may have something to do with what she wanted to talk about at lunch.
I just didn't know what she precisely wanted out of this with how quickly she tended to backtrack on most topics...
AN
'These two really need to bang each other...'