Alright, third chapter. Two more and I'll attempt to alternate between my two stories.
Read and review! I really appreciate it. Seriously. From the bottom of my heart. Review.
Memories as Fuzzy as Eyebrows
The next morning, I woke up and went through my usual morning routine: roll out of my hammock, pull on some baggy clothes, hopelessly claw at my tangled mess of hair, then walked out onto the deck for breakfast and sunbathing. Ossie always told me that I looked like tamed bearded cat when I lazed about beneath the glow of day. I usually threw something at him in response.
But today, like many days to come while in this city, was not normal. When I finished breakfast, a delightful span of fish and bread, I got up to walk to the helm, but Oswald grabbed my pant leg.
"What?" I asked, annoyed.
"Do you remember yesterday?" He asked.
I grumbled under my breath and sat back down. "Two guys with funky eyebrows. We hit one of them. There was a bus stop, you guys were there. And then I wanted to punch something."
"Remember any faces?" He inquired. "Names?"
"No names, and the only thing about faces are those eyebrows." I said, playing with one of the teacups. "One set of dolphin seals and another set of mammoth caterpillars."
"Hm." Ossie said, stroking his otter whiskers. "You're… improving, to say the least." He rose and began clearing the dishes. "Newt had you draw the boy you hit yesterday. He should be in your sketchbook."
"Thanks." I said, getting up. "I have some business to finish, though. I got a butt ton of orders to deliver and two butt tons to make."
"That's a little dramatic, don't you think? Either way, take the girls and Newt. We need provisions." He said, walking into the cabin. "I'll make a list." He called.
"Okay." I called back, turning to the cabin as well.
Inside, the galley and our living quarters were smashed together into one room with a bunch of cloth curtains and paper folding dividers. The galley was simple, one wooden sink/basin piled high with dishes yet to be taken out to wash and a counter with a multitude of drawers to pack food in.
"I really need to clean out belowdecks, don't I?" I asked, looking out over the homely chaos.
"It would give us some breathing room." Ossie agreed. "It's an absolute rooster pig sty in here."
"Speaking of rooster pigs, where are the little shits?" I asked, poking a lump of blankets where the two sisters usually slept. "I haven't seen 'em all morning."
"They went over to the dock master to ask where the pro-bending matches took place. My guess is that big golden palace down the shore a ways." He said, bored. He sighed, and looked ahead of himself wistfully. "This place is really something else."
"Yeah." I grumbled under my breath. "Something else." I cleared my throat and put my hands on my hips. "Got that list yet, Mollusk Muzzle?"
"Yes, yes." He said, snatching a scrap of paper that had been peeking out of one of the drawers. He grabbed one of the only pens on my ship and scrawled down supplies. "I'm sure you can haggle your way into most of these. The money from the deliveries should cover it."
"Got it." I nodded, taking the paper as he handed it to me.
"And don't forget to wear shoes this time. We don't want you getting a piece of glass in your heel." Ossie said.
"Alright, alright already." I said, grabbing my leather soled slippers.
I grabbed my metal delivery case and stuffed it into my thickly woven messenger bag. I also packed the girls' shoes, since I didn't want broken glass in their feet either. On the way out the door, I slung the strap over my head to rest on my right shoulder, the bag resting on my left hip.
I found Newt on top of one of the railing rungs, curled up in a little sleeping ball, and scooped her up. She trilled softly, and slithered unto my shoulder, nestling against my neck. I walked over to the dock master's building and found Ren and Naomi sitting on the bench outside his door.
"Why the long faces, badger moles?" I asked, rummaging in my pack for their shoes.
"Thinking." Ren said, playing in the dirt with her toes.
"We wanted to go see the Fire Ferrets match, but it's sold out." Naomi pouted.
"I'm sorry." I said, feeling bad for not getting tickets earlier. "But there's always next time. I promise that I'll buy tickets for their next match."
"We won't be here that long." Ren sighed, disappointed. "This is the only match for weeks."
"I'm sorry." I said again, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "But hey, I have deliveries to make and groceries to get. We can go visit your mom between. Whaddya say?"
"Please, please, please! With cinnamon and nutmeg on top!" Naomi said, instantly happy and kicking her feet in excitement.
Ren beamed and jumped off the bench. "What're we waiting for!"
"Hold up, shoes first." I said, pulling out the footwear. "Ossie doesn't want us getting messed up feet."
Naomi grabbed her tiny pair or woven reed flip flops and Ren took her deep yellow sandals. Once Ren tied the loose strings together around her ankles, we headed out for the shopping district.
As we walked down the street, my two little crew mates kept running around, ogling shop windows and weaving through crowds in a game of tag. I kept them in sight, and pulled them away from curbs when the streets were congested with traffic. We made our way slowly but surely, until we finally arrived at the block or so of shops and open stalls in the business district.
"Okay. I've got to handle business. You can look through the shops, but don't break anything and don't annoy the owners." I ordered. "Best behavior, got it?"
"Yes, ma'am." They both said, running over to the toy store.
"Meet up at the police station if we get separated!" I called.
"Okay!" Ren yelled, waving a hand over her head.
I let out an exhausted sigh. Newt chirped into consciousness and licked my cheek. "Yeah. I worry about them, too."
I walked down the street and stopped at the shops that had ordered my wares. I was paid on the spot and the female customers all gushed about my craftsmanship. Pfft, please. I'm nothing special, I would think, but I always gave them a polite smile and bow. Once the deliveries were done, I sold whatever I had to left to whoever wanted to buy them. Their were more couples in the crowd, so I sold a lot of rings and earrings to gentlemen buying gifts for their girlfriends.
"Aw, spring. Season of love." I said to myself, leaning against the wall of an antiques shop. Newt trilled and rubbed her chin against my cheek. "Yeah, yeah. Let's round up the girls and grab something to eat."
I walked back over to the toy store, which was in it's busy time of the day: late afternoon when all the rich kids got out of school. Inside, it was bustling with boys with detailed wooden swords and wind up tops, girls with dolls and anything even remotely cute to show off to their friends.
"Ink, over here!" Ren cried, jumping up and waving both of her arms over her head.
I smiled and wove my way through the crowds of children. Ren was holding Naomi's hand tightly, afraid she'd lose her sister to the masses, and Naomi was clutching a tiny metal wind-up badgermole.
"Can I buy this?" Naomi asked, holding it out in front of her.
"How much is it?" I asked, checking the price tag. "Uh, maybe next time, sweetie. We don't have enough money for this and supplies."
Naomi pouted, but nodded in understanding. She placed the toy on one of the shelves, where it was immediately snatched up by a boy, who ran to tell his friends about his find. Naomi looked pained, like she just lost a friend. I felt miserable and inadequate.
"Hey, cheer up." Ren smiled ay her sister, wrapping an arm around her neck. "We'll go see Mom and eat lunch with her. Maybe even play in the park."
I smiled and held out my hands. "What're we waiting for?"
Naomi beamed and dragged me out the door, Ren being dragged out by me. But even when we were on the street and moving, I couldn't shake the feeling of not having done enough. I scooped Naomi up in my arms and hugged her.
"I'm sorry about the toy, honey." I mumbled into her hair.
"It's okay. I've got Newt to play with!" She exclaimed as the astral newt floated in front of her. They both made funny face at each other, which made me chuckle under my breath as I watched from over my shoulder.
"Come on." Ren said, yanking on my arm. "We're gonna miss the tram if you two keep dragging your feet."
"I'm not dragging anything!" Naomi said, pointing an angry finger at her sister.
"You still slow us down. You have short legs." Ren retorted, sticking out her tongue.
"Say that again, you lily-livered coward!" Naomi shrieked.
"SHORTIE!" Ren yelled.
"GIRLS!" I exclaimed, ending the squabble. "Let's just catch the tram without giving each other black eyes."
They both huffed in forced agreement, but they were smiling after a few minutes and silly expressions from Newt.
"There it is! There it is!" Ren exclaimed, jumping from one foot to the other and tugging gently on my arm.
Naomi rode on my shoulders, her hands covering the top of my head in awe of the magnificence of the station. This was their first time visiting their mother at work.
"Wow!" Naomi breathed as we walked up the steps of the police station. "Cap'n Ink, who's that lady up there?" She pointed to the huge statue of Toph watching over the streets.
"That's your grandmother." I said. "She was the greatest earthbender in history."
"Wasn't she blind?" Ren asked.
"Yeah, but that doesn't make her any less great. She invented metalbending. When she was twelve!" I told them.
"Wow!" Naomi said, her voice filled with wonder. "I wanna be just like her when I grow up."
I lifted her up and off my head, placing her next to me so that she could run around the lobby with her sister. I walked over to the front desk, where a familiar face was looking over some paperwork.
"What up, Saikhan?" I asked, placing both elbows on the counter and resting my chin on my knuckles.
"Ma'am, please refrain from-" He turned away from his work to lecture me, but instead stared, trying to remember where he'd met me before.
"Come on, Metal Head." I sighed. "Oh! Maybe this'll help!"
I grinned impishly, sticking up both of my middle fingers at him.
His face turned red with anger and his eyes gleamed with recognition. "INKARA!" He roared.
"Good to see you again, Saik-y." I blurted quickly, hurriedly scooping up Ren and Naomi and jogging toward the hall. "I'mma just go see if Ma's in. Okay, later, bye!"
"Wha-Wait!"
I ran down the hall before he could catch me.
"YOU CAN'T JUST GO WHERE YOU PLEASE!" He yelled after us.
"Watch me!" I yelled back, running around a corner.
Once we were out of sight, I put the girls down and we hurriedly jogged down the hall, looking for one specific office. Ren was the first to find it.
"MOM!" She shouted running through a doorway.
Naomi ran ahead of me and followed her sister, shouting the same thing. As I got closer, I could hear my old mentor's voice.
"Ren? Naomi?" She asked, bewildered. "What are you doing here?"
"Aren't you happy to see us?" Ren asked, worried.
"Overjoyed." Their mother chuckled. "But I thought you were staying with-"
"Me?" I finished, peeking in from the doorjamb and smiling, pointing at my face.
"Ink!" Chief of Police Lin Bei Fong smiled, rising from her chair with Naomi in her arms. "I didn't know you were coming to the city."
"Pfft, duh." I chuckled. "That would ruin the surprise."
"Have you eaten lunch yet, Mom?" Ren asked, holding her mother's hand.
"No, I've been swamped with work." She sighed, but smiled at her daughters. "But I suppose I can spare an hour or two."
"Yay!" Naomi cheered.
"Why don't the two of you go ask Captain Saikhan for a map and we'll look for a place to eat." Lin smiled, putting her youngest daughter down.
"Sure!" Ren said, grabbing Naomi's hand and running out the door.
Once they were gone, Lin turned to me with a steely gaze. It was very menacing with the two scars on her right cheek and the full metal suit. "Why did you bring them here? You know why I left them with their father on Ember Island."
"Hey, give me a break." I said, plopping down in one of the chairs. "Their dad just died and they wanted to see their mother. I had a boat, you told them to find me, the rest is history."
Lin sighed. "I'm glad to see them, but work is so hectic right now."
"Yeah, heard about the whole Equalist uprising and downfall on the radio. But don't worry about it. As long as they get to see you, whether it's for an hour or less, they'll be happy." I said, patting her arm. "I've been keeping them distracted with all the work I've been giving them."
"So they're doing alright?" Lin against, sitting on the edge of her desk. "Eating healthy everyday, studying, haven't broken any bones."
"Look at you, all Mama Platypus Bear." I smiled. "The great Iron Lady, Lin Bei Fong, worrying about her kids eating right."
She punched my shoulder lightly. "I had you to practice with." Her smile slowly faded. "How are you? I know Zane was like a father to you."
"More of a close uncle, really." I sighed. "I miss him, but I know he would've wanted me to keep smiling. Same for Ren and Naomi." I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. "How are you handling the news?"
"I got the telegram last week." Lin sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her fingers. I could tell she was trying not to break down, that she hadn't yet. But the toll of losing one of the only men she loved and cared for was beginning to show. "I've been engrossing myself in work."
"Yeah…" I said halfheartedly. "Hey, let's go make sure those hog monkeys haven't gotten arrested."
Lin smiled at me and got to her feet. I followed her out the door.