The Maelstrom of Stardew
Year 1 (Summer)
Chapter 33: Sliding on Sunday
Sunday, the 7th of Summer, 2017
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Taeko woke up with a yawn realizing he was in his bed at Shara Farm, and sensing Pamela was back. He would have greeted, but he opted to use the warp room to his room at Sunshade Farm. He was relieved that one of the smaller updates let him [Fast Travel] between his rooms at his farmhouses when not on mission and only from his bedroom. He looked over to see an asleep Tera on his bed. As much as he wanted to wake her up, his phone buzzed with a text from Erelune, an urgent one. He groaned and went to get ready for the day.
He opted to wear the blue-green Hawaiian shirt under [Claude's Jacket], blue jeans, black fingerless gloves, a pair of silver aviators, a silver cuban chain, and his equipped boots. He left the house calling her up to ask what was so important.
"We need a base of operations for Yelenhelm. You have Sucio's mansion, you need to go check it out before we can make it official." Erelune mused. "Just do a run over to make sure there's no surprises."
He walked out to the road and hailed a passing cab having the driver take him near his Portland Safehouse, springing extra for [Fast Travel]. Despite not having to, he did pay full price for the ride.
"Not going to use my discount for a cab ride at the least." Taeko mused.
The cab driver thanked him before driving away to which Taeko went to the safehouse garage. He drove out in his [Banshee 900R] going straight for the mansion noticing that there was a marker for an event. He parked the car and walked into the marker to trigger. Looking around, he found a hidden door on the side of the building that touched the grass on the cliffside. Before he opened it, his phone rang which showed that Tera was calling. He walked back to the car to answer it.
"Tera?" Taeko asked.
"Mornin'...daddy~" Tera said without any shame. "Saw you left in a hurry…"
"Eager to say it, now." Taeko teased.
"Just…between you and me." Tera said with a brief hesitation.
"Nah, we may as well rip that band-aid off. Not like your friends are in any position to judge since you technically outrank them."
"Oh yeah…" Tera said awkwardly. "It's still embarrassing."
"Well I didn't make you call me that, you did. You wanted it…so I may as well make you upfront about it." Taeko said. "But I assume you called for a reason."
"What are you going to do about my mother?" Tera asked.
"Depends. I just want your thoughts on her." Taeko mused. "Because I think she's still hanging around the area. So I'll deal with that loose end, as for what I will do…I'll leave that a surprise. Later on."
She hung up and he went back to the door. He opened it to find it to be a small room, probably about half the size of his Portland apartment, basically a tea room. That's when he noticed someone was living here to which he saw. She had similar features to Tera in complexion and hair. Her eyes were hazel and she was rather small standing at five foot one with clear Asian features. She was a rather fancy kimono of pale greens and browns with her hair done up. [Observe] revealed her name as Poppy, which was fitting she looked like Poppy Beifong. If anything, Taeko could see the difference between her and June, namely that Poppy's look and vibe was more of the elven cliche. Short, petite, demure, and submissive. Abigail would joke she walked off someone's hentai.
"...Lord Maelstrom." She said with a squeak.
"Hiding in the mansion. Regardless, your ex-husband and son left Yelenhelm leaving the house, the organization, and your daughter to me." Taeko said.
"I am aware of that." Poppy said gently. "Though you must be aware that Tera is infertile…"
"That's not your concern. The question is what to do with you." Taeko said as she stiffened.
Taeko knew he had options for this. He was not going to throw her out to the streets, that was needlessly cruel. There was a cute appeal to Poppy similar in Tera, only that Poppy was far more submissive. She sputtered but then Taeko's stomach growled.
"How about I cook you some breakfast, my Lord? You can think with a full stomach." Poppy offered.
He realized he had not eaten breakfast, but he decided to let Poppy make breakfast. He was not going to deny that as she does him a hidden doorway into the mansion. In the kitchen, Taeko sat at the table watching her put together a [Complete Breakfast] for him with a [Coffee]. He wolfed it all down with gusto, seeing that it was decently made.
"I hope it's to your liking, Lord Maelstrom." Poppy said nervously.
"It is. But I do hope you didn't think I had forgotten about my inquiry." Taeko said.
"Of course, sir. I know that my daughter's condition will make intimacy difficult. But I'd like to take my daughter's place…" Poppy said with a bit of a nervous stutter as she was undoing her obi. "Please use my body instead."
Her kimono slipped off body revealing a rather pale body that white lace underwear. She was fairly petite with a chest that was bigger than her daughters but not Cleo's. It was clear she kept things down below shaven to nothing but stubble.
"While I will take use of your body, I will use Tera's if I see fit." Taeko said as she nodded. "But I will let you remain serving the family. You can get dressed…and get your things to be placed in your new home."
He had her moved to the Portland hideout, it was much bigger than the tea room. It was out of sight, out of mind…suitable for her. He did humor her request to give her Tera's new number. Tera was at least willing to spend time with her mother, and was fully willing to take advantage of the fact that she could do it at her own pace. With the mansion clear, he confirmed it with Erelune and the mansion was officially Shadowrun's base on Beatitudo.
"Ok, I got an event back at Sunshade Farm…and I do need to get to that meeting before noon." Taeko said getting to his [Shotaro].
He used the tunnel to cut travel time down before soon returning to the farm to trigger that event. He noticed that Tera was already out of the house only to hear his phone ring with Yui calling as he went inside to answer his phone.
"Yui."
"Taeko. I just have some news for you which is a big deal. You are being granted a handmaiden. To make it simple, only Dukes and above get those." Yui said.
"A servant? A bit of an honor, but can I get some details on how it works?" Taeko asked.
"Handmaidens are servants to the royal family and the higher ups being the dukes and duchesses. The dukes and duchesses are considered royal adjacent. The handmaidens are either descendants of servants to the royal families of old, those working to settle debts via their own hand, or former criminals sentenced to servitude. Third one is far and few as most rather jail. This handmaiden you're getting is the third one. A petty thief that was a hired goon of a small fraud ring...they had her wanting to steal a document with a noble's signature. And she tried me." Yui mused.
"On the one hand, I'd understand because your signature would mean a lot more than the other nobles. On the other hand, it's clear you can and will hold hands. Plus you live in what's basically monster country ..." Taeko said.
"Yeah, she thought I was distracted with my headphones on, but I could sense her. Just let her incriminate herself before giving her the scare of her life. Got her to spill her guts. Sadly, the organization was smart enough not to tell her what she didn't need to know."
"So how long is her sentence?" Taeko mused.
"Two years for attempted theft and given our stipulations on fraud…that'd be about 10 years. I cut her a deal, to serve as your handmaiden until the earliest you could be made duke which is close to the two years punishment. Of course, she had to give any information she did have." Yui said with a snicker. "I get you a handmaiden, Lorelaan doesn't have to worry about getting you one, and we got a fraud group on 'fraudwatch'."
"Ha! Yui, you really are a real one. Thanks for the help." Taeko said. "Though at this rate, I'm kinda swimming in elf cooch."
"But have you had drow pussy?" Yui asked.
"No, I have not." Taeko said.
"Have fun then." Yui said before hanging up.
There was a knock on the door and he went to answer to see a young drow. She had long, fluffy waist length hair that was a shade of dark red with olive eyes. She wore a plain olive tank top, tight black spandex compression tights, white socks, and scuffed dirt-stained white tennis shoes. She only stood at the same height as Haley. She only had a duffel bag with her as she entered.
"I'm Thyme…your handmaiden. It is an honor to serve you and your clan." Thyme said nervously before giving him a paper.
He showed her to Cassidee's former room before giving her a house key.
"You can have the morning off." Taeko said, noticing the faded bruises. "While I do have stuff I could have you do, I think you need to cool off after getting beat up by Yui."
"Thank you, Lord Maelstrom. I could use some res-"
"I'm back...want a [Coffee]?" Tera said coming inside. "Who this?"
"Thyme. My new handmaiden." Taeko remarked as Tera had her jaw drop.
"But those are only given to Duchesses and Grand Duchesses…" Tera said. "I think it's clear the queen wants you promoted as soon as she can. But given the circumstances, the handmaiden is at the bottom of the totem pole as they serve the whole house."
"I give her the morning off." Taeko said as Thyme went into her new room.
"What happened to her?" Tera asked.
"Tried to rob Yui." Taeko said as Tera facepalmed.
"Yeah, either way…there's work to be done on the farms. I have a meeting to go to later too." Taeko said. "So no orders on the handmaiden yet, just keep an eye on her."
Tera nodded as Taeko left to get to it only for a text box to tell him that having a handmaiden would invoke a small benefit. One he'd get by spinning a wheel that had only three choices and in the end got the one that reduced growth time for Sunshade by one day, making Sunshade crops grow two days faster without need for Speed-Gro. However, there was a notice that if a crop was reduced down to just one day to grow, the crop result would simply be doubled.
He collected from the crops netting thirteen bushels of [Wheat], twelve bunches of [Hops], and 42 bunches of [Blueberries]. The little shed set aside for making [Cloth] from the [Wool] was in use and the storage chest for the shed had several batches total in 150 rolls of [Cloth]. He didn't need the berries so he tossed them all in the [Selling Bin] before returning to Shadow Farm.
Maru had left for the lab and Abigail was outside doing some training. It was funny because with all the running around and fighting he was doing…he was getting his fair share of training. He found the basket with the daily haul from both Shadow Farm and Shara Farm.
Twenty-four [Hot Peppers], nine [Blueberries], six [Tea Leaves], ten [Pineapples], two [Mangoes], fifteen bunches of [Grapes], four [Ancient Fruits], ten helpings of [Hops], a pair of [Eggplants], twenty [Peaches], twenty [Oranges], fifteen jars of [Poppy Honey], 48 jars of [Sunflower Honey], a dozen [Large Eggs] (both brown and white), sixteen jugs of [Large Milk], and twelve jugs of [Large Goat Milk].
The peppers, blueberries, and all the honey would go into the selling bin. Everything else was either stored or put to use. He also picked up the twenty bottles of [Squid Ink].
"You know, I notice you don't really train." Abigail said.
"I get enough training running the cops, slicing crooks, and running around the Republic like a madman." Taeko said. "And mining."
"Oh yeah…I keep forgetting we're basically a gang." Abigail said, going through katas. "We still on for the meeting at noon, right?"
"Yeah, we're all gathering at the ranch by then to discuss business." Taeko remarked. "And we got…about four and a half hours before we need to get down there. I'm going to get a few things done. Later, Abs."
He jogged into town going straight for the Umbra house.
"How the fuck do you deal with getting up so early in the damn morning?" Haley said, opening the front door for him.
"Comes with the job…both as a farmer and a former corporate stooge." Taeko said. "Where's your sister?"
"She's in her room." Haley said as he came in. "Whatever you give her would be worth it."
She yelled for her sister to come out, which Emily did.
"Yo. You said you needed [Cloth]? How's 50 rolls of it sound to you?" Taeko said producing them and putting them on a table.
The look on Emily's face was nothing short of priceless.
"The quality…is so good. You made these?" Emily said, taking them up.
"I have a sheep farm in Yelenhelm. I've been producing." Taeko said with a smirk. "Keep it."
"I couldn't…this would be worth near 20k. I insist on paying." Emily remarked.
"Don't want it. It's a drop in the bucket…yeah, I'm getting used to saying that." Taeko remarked before leaving. "Later."
Haley would have said something, but decided to go back to bed wanting to sleep some more.
[Emily adores your gift! +160 Friendship Points]
Taeko would return to their home a moment later.
"I saw that you requested [Cloth] on the community board, so here's an extra one that you can pay me for." Taeko said, handing it over.
"Let me at least pay you extra." Emily said.
[Help Wanted Ad #14 Completed! +1 Friendship Heart, +2,000 Gold]
[You've hit eight hearts with Emily, unlocking her next Heart Scene. Expect a letter in the mail tomorrow. | You've hit Emily's 'max' in terms of the friendship achievement.]
Taeko left feeling really good about himself, and glad that the bulletin board was slightly reorganized. He dropped off the ink with Elliot before returning home to put the rest [Cloth] in the selling bin. He could go check on the captures, but he decided to go back to Yelenhelm to do some missions. As he arrived at Staunton, he went to his Kasen condo safehouse where the mission marker was right near it.
[Staunton Island Saga - Underwatch]
Taeko's cell phone rang to which he answered it to hear a hushed panicked voice. Odalia's.
"Odalia, what's wrong?" Taeko asked.
"I'm being followed." Odalia said, shaken. "Remember that threat I mentioned? She's seen some goons to tail me."
"Ok, where are you? And can you tell who's following you?" Taeko asked as he looked through the parking lot.
"I'm in midtown, Belleville Park." Odalia remarked. "They're following me in a black unmarked sedan with tinted windows."
Taeko thought before looking out to the sea and had an idea.
"Ok, listen to me carefully. Make a turn for the Callahan Bridge and book it across. Go straight to Harwood, the junkyard. I'll meet you there." Taeko said before going down the stairs to the docks.
"Got it. Please hurry." Odalia said before hanging up.
A timer appeared and Taeko got a [Speeder] before racing off. He was beyond grateful for the Gentleman's Club to be behind the beach as he arrived at the beach. He scaled up to it with a few leaps before noticing the three [Mafia Sentinels] in front of the house.
"I was wondering when those would spawn." Taeko said, getting in one before driving away.
The clock was ticking down as he got in Harwood, drifting into the junk yard as he hid the car and himself. He laid in wait with his AR-50 out as the timer ticked down to zero as Odalia's [Esperanto '03] came down followed by the sedan. He opened fire at the sedan managing to hit the driver as three others tried to get out.
"I don't think so…" Taeko said before using the grenade launcher feature.
*BOOM!* The car exploded with the burning wreck pinning two of them. One tried to flee only to get shot twice in their legs. Odalia got out of the car before having a worried look on her face.
"Remember that threat I was talking about?" Odalia said. "Looks like she made a move."
He noticed they were dressed in professional but cliche assassin wear even with balaclavas. Taeko executed all three of them after Odalia noted they were not likely to talk.
"We need to get rid of the bodies…" Odalia remarked as Taeko took their wallets and cell phones.
"We can use the crusher and your car. Get your things out of it…" Taeko said.
In the end, both the wrecked sedan and Odalia's car were crushed along with the bodies. Taeko let Odalia keep the money gained from that. They were driving back to Staunton.
"Do they know where you live?" Taeko asked.
"Thankfully no, I noticed them so I didn't drive home. My place is in Newport, off the alley from the multistory car park." Odalia said.
"Hm, small world. I got a hidden apartment of my own in the area." Taeko said, pulling into the place. "And keep the car, the windows are tinted."
He parked it in the garage, getting out as Odalia let him inside. The inside of the place was rather spacious. They sat on the couch.
"Ok, first off, thank you for saving my life. If we're going to work together, I want to make it clear and be upfront with you on it. No bullshit." Odalia said. "We're not exactly going to be the good guys in this situation, and I'm not exactly doing this for altruistic reasons. I'm doing it for revenge."
Taeko got a bottle of liquor out, one of his iridium quality Azorium bottles, citing it was needed. She poured them both drinks.
"Who we're dealing with is…Tamako Kaneko. She's a baronet, rich enough to become a baroness, but she doesn't exactly have a good standing given her views. She believes in breeding without sex, only via artificial insemination by taking the sperm from the men. She's that kind of prude with a dash of elitism. Only reasons she thinks like that is probably because no one would want to fuck her anyway." Odalia said as Taeko took a sip.
"And what does this have to do with you?" Taeko asked.
"In the past, I had a company. Delite Media, owning several radio stations, a TV network, and a lot of assets. All because of my and my ex-husband's work…me and him didn't exactly see eye to eye on a lot of things. In a way, our relationship was less a romantic one, and more of a business one. Hell, it extended to our kids…which is my biggest mistake." Odalia said after downing a glass. "Our family appeared good to the cameras, but it had its dysfunction. In the end, my husband disappeared with the ends…and my reputation went down the toilet. I don't even care about the reputation…it's the fact that for years I was called an abuser, a husband-beater, a murder…"
"I assume Kaneko worked for your company." Taeko remarked.
"She did. She was on the board and took advantage of the fall apart to oust me. Now Delite Media was fractured, and she branched off taking some assets to make her organization. Purity Preservers. Ugh…I was basically able to hang on to my company until the other half of my board ousted that hope too. Now Delite Media is Lite Media…and in alliance with PP not out of beliefs, but for money. All I had left to my end are a few possessions and this place. So help me, and I'll see that you're rewarded." Odalia said.
"I don't see why I can't help. You have a deal." Taeko said, pouring another drink.
"I just have one request. I want to find my children. My ex-husband, I could care less about…we weren't good for each other." Odalia said, showing him a family photo.
Taeko snapped a photo and texted Velma to look for the kids in the photo along with giving details about their names.
"I'll have my people look into it. But I will say to you in confidence that I know the people who helped smuggle your husband out, but they don't know where he went." Taeko said. "But I'll do what I can. As for those goons, DM's guys or PP's?"
"Honestly, it could be either. Didn't you take their phones?" Odalia said.
"I'm looking through them and don't worry I disabled any location services on the way here. And it's all duds…vague texts but no smoking gun aside from one saying that PP wants tabs on you 'in case'." Taeko said. "So it's like DM's handiwork."
"Give me some time to come up with a plan." Odalia said.
Taeko left as Odalia put the photo back. With him gone, she looked to the bottle before taking a swig from it.
[Mission Complete! +$5,000]
Taeko got to sprinting to get to his own hidden apartment before going up the elevator.
"Welcome home, darling." Chi-Chi said sweetly. "I dealt with your laundry and cleaned up your weapons."
"Thanks, Chi-Chi." Taeko said as he took a seat on the couch. "Another load off…"
"That's not the only load off…I'll take." Chi-Chi said. "But I want to ask if you could slide my age down to be a fresh-faced eighteen year old."
"I'm inclined to ask why." Taeko asked.
"I want to feel young and you can literally do that. And…maybe I'm a little embarrassed over a bit of a chub I have on my stomach. I've been working on it, but still. Unless you prefer me younger…" Chi-Chi said as Taeko simply used the slider.
Chi-Chi could feel the body shift as she aged backwards right to how she appeared at the end of early Dragon Ball.
"Perfect. Now you just relax." Chi-Chi said, shedding her clothes.
He got his phone out to call Erelune while watching Chi-Chi get on her knees in front of him to get his pants off.
"Hey sis…" Taeko remarked. "We need to talk."
"About?" Erelune said.
"Odalia Delite. Seems she needs help…and…I think we should aid her." Taeko said before groaning out as Chi-Chi got to 'work' on his pole.
Taeko would give a summary of what he learned as Erelune sighed.
"Shit. This Kaneko bitch is a problem and a potential coup waiting to happen. But we can't just go to the queen without proof…not that you want to do that." Erelune said as Chi-Chi was sucking at an even pace.
"Yeah…no, Odalia wants her assets back. And frankly, I don't blame her. I'll give it to you, she admits she is not a saint…and that she wants revenge. Hell, she doesn't blame the kids for leaving, but blames her ex. Considering what I looked up, they've been gone for nearly five years…" Taeko said before biting his lip.
"Ok, here's what I'm going to do. Odalia's going to need help, and a bit of protection. So I'm sending Rosaria and Minish to help. You'd want them to stay with her or…"
"Have them go to the Kansen condo. If anything, Odalia needs her space and that place has a port. How soon are they going to be there?" Taeko asked.
"A port. Well then, about a half hour to forty five minutes." Erelune said as Chi-Chi stopped. "I'll get on their way now."
"You do that." Taeko said as Chi-Chi climbed up on him to position the shaft to go inside her snatch. "I'll be waiting."
He ended the call as Chi-Chi slammed down on him, breaking her restored hymen, getting Taeko by surprise.
"Just relax, dear. Let me do the work." Chi-Chi said as she furiously rode him.
Taeko enjoyed himself watching her bounce on him and he slapped her behind getting her to mewl. He need not worry about getting her pregnant, but so he held her when he eventually came around to his climax. She got off on him to which he got her back on her knees to blow a bit of his load on her face.
"Thank you, hubby." Chi-Chi said with a pleased smile.
He would have returned her to her original age, but curiously used the slider to age her slightly to how old she would have been in the beginning at Z. He noticed a bit of bush between her legs rapidly, but she didn't look too different aside from being a bit less lean. He zipped up and bid her farewell. He raced off in his [Sanchez] , reminding himself to get it checked at a mod shop, calling Odalia on the way to let her know what was going on.
He arrived back at his condo and went down the steps to the dock to greet Rosaria and Minish, who arrived via a modified [Marquis].
"Rosaria, Minish…pleasure to be working with you." Taeko said bowing respectfully.
"All the same, boss. We've been seeing your progress in Portland and now we're here to help. So I think I'll stay with Odalia at her place, Minish can stay at yours." Rosaria said.
"I'll make an order for some rides for you." Taeko remarked.
"Not needed. We loaded our rides in the boat…just help us carry them up." Minish said.
Taeko would help carry Minish's [Sanchez] and Rosaria's [Freeway '92] up the stairs. He'd give Minish a house key for the condo.
"I'll get to setting up, and looking into things. I'll call when I get something." Minish said going in with his bags.
Taeko would lead Rosaria over to Odalia's to which he had to explain to her why Rosaria was here. She was appreciative.
"Boss filled us in, we can start making plans." Rosaria said as Taeko left.
He would use the tunnel to get back to Sunshade Farm. He'd [Fast Travel] right back to Shadow Farm to collect the products. He did drink one of the beers as he looked upon the haul.
The dozen [Dagger Beers], half of the [Pale Ale], all the [Jelly] made that morning, and the [Goat Cheese] would all be put in the selling bin. The wines and the rest of the [Pale Ales] went down to the casks in the cellar. He came upstairs and back outside as his loyal pets came up. He sat on the steps petting them both.
"I could use a break…" Taeko said gently.
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(A/N: Odalia's fun to write, at least from the angle that while sympathetic, she's not a good person. If anything, she's self aware and Taeko is willing to work with her because she's the lesser evil. That self-awareness of hers will come to play later on this arc of ours. Side note, Chapters 24 and 30 were fixed for errors.)