An Almost Family [End]

[Kari Muffin]

(( OOC: <3 Ku you can jump in whenever you like. Hope you don't mind that I extend the invitation Nako. ))

Viola wasn't sure what to do. Maybe she should go back to Avington. It might be a better place considering who she was caring for. But Karrock wouldn't like the idea. He was, after all... himself. Trying to suggest things to him was sometimes like talking to a brick wall.

And really she only had herself to blame. A frown formed on her face as she stared at the mirror. If she was ever going to have children, was this an indication that she was a horrible parent? Or was it something else entirely. It was frustrating, and she never was good at all this "grown up" stuff. As much as she had wanted a family, she didn't want this. It was frustrating. It was hard. And frankly her part time job at the book store made it more difficult for her to be home enough of the time.

And she hadn't exactly told Daddy about having a job. Or an apartment. Or much for that matter. She honestly felt bad about not telling him anything. She drooped as flopped off of the stool. Slithering across the floorboards she went to the kitchen.

"Karrock! Erroll!" she called out. "It's time for breakfast!"

[Nako]

((I don't mind at all XD))

Giving a small frown, Karrock turned this way and that as he examined himself in the mirror. With the claw end of his wing, he carefully pulled back certain wrinkles in his skin, picking up the corners of his eyes or turning one way or another to see if he indeed had a "good side". No. Still quite ugly. He sighed miserably, rubbing a bit of lotion on his featherless skin. Perhaps having an attractive sheen would help?

And then his Aunt called for him. A soft hiss under his breath was an audible sign of frustration as he glared at the door. No. He wasn't frustrated at her. He had to remind himself that. He'd just been blowing up so much lately, but her bubbly personality made her seem so.. oblivious. It pissed him off.

Sulking into the room, he actually did his best to keep his frustration to himself. But.. there were things on his mind. He'd probably have to explain why he sometimes wan't home when she came home from work. Normally he just shrugged her off, even screamed at her to leave him alone before slamming the door. It made him feel... -guilty-.

He sat down in his seat, clicking his claws absently on the table. How awkward. Why couldn't he just eat his food in his room?

[Kari Muffin]

Viola was focused on the task of making eggs and bacon. For someone with hands it was a fairly simplistic task. For someone with nothing but a tail it took a good deal of effort. She had laid out the pans earlier that morning so she could do everything fairly quickly. She had pulled the bacon and carton of... liquid egg out of the fridge. The orange was already poured into glasses for them, and the milk was left in the center of the table.

Opening packages took a bit off effort. But she managed to pour the eggs out without spilling anything. She quickly slapped a good pile of bacon into the other pan. Carefully she grabbed the spatula with her tail and used it to scramble the eggs.

She gave Karrock a grin when he walked in. Erroll was probably just taking his time. She hoped anyway. It didn't take her long to finish her task. She flipped off the stove and was left with steaming hot food. The tricky part was getting down from the stool and not spilling anything.

Putting the food on a large plate she balanced it on her head. Slowly she slipped off of the stool. The plate with flying for a few moments before she gracefully managed to catch it. Haha. years of practice paid off. It took a bit of effort to get to the dining table but she slipped the plate on and pushed it to the center. "I hope you don't mind eggs and bacon this morning. I forgot to make pancake batter last night."

[Nako]

Karrock was disappointed by the lack of pancakes, but he wouldn't admit it. He grimaced just a little "I don't need the sugar anyways." He muttered, giving a slight flinch when she caught the plate midair. It was nothing new; it wasn't often that she actually spilled something. He helped himself to the food, not bothering to wait for Erroll. Karrock wasn't keen on eating cold eggs.

"I found a job last week." He mentioned it with all the casualness in the word, though his eyes cut upward to see her reaction. "And it's not in a freak show either. It's the tailoring shop in the Bazaar. He... said I could work in the back. Doing alterations." Was she going to be pissed? Was she going to forbid him from working? Funny thing about kids; they always assume that their guardians will thwart them at every step, over analyzing and expecting the worst reaction. Sometimes they were right, but certainly not always.

[Kari Muffin]

Viola scooped some eggs and bacon on to her own plate. She gave a small wistful sigh at the idea of having appendages. At least they saved on silverware? She still had to attempt to eat civilly while at the table. It would have been easier if she just ate an entire pot roast or something and laid low for a few days while the bump dissipated. But she had to pretend... and anyway less dishes was an overall good thing. Her ears flicked back when Karrock spoke.

He found a job? Her expression flashed a bit of worry. What if he was doing something shady to get money? And how would people react if they found out what his true identity was? The thought made her heart frantically flutter. Goodness what would she do if something happened to the boy? She had promised herself to take care of both of them. Her worries were settled when he continued to speak.

He had found a respectable job. Her face light up as she dropped the piece of bacon that had been in her mouth. "That's fantastic!" she said nearly bouncing. "I'm so happy for you Karrock!"

She wanted to give him a hug, but there was (thankfully) a table in the way.

[Nako]

He'd been so ready for some other reaction. He'd steeled himself for it, head half raised in indignation...

But it never came. Instead... she was glad for him. He looked a little lost for a moment. "Y-yeah.. it is great, isn't it?" And slowly, his beak turned up into a hideous little smile. "I'm -really- excited about this job. He's even agreed to teach me some things! I'm hoping I'll eventually know enough to open a place of my own." With a happy little whistling noise, he ate some more of his food, serpentine tail slithering about with how pleased he was with himself.

"This is gonna be really great." Karrock continued on. "It'd be great to be able to make my own clothes.. and if any of us get our bipeds, we won't have to spend all that money on expensive biped clothes, because I can make them! I'd love nothing more than to make you a stunning dress, Auntie." And then... he paused a bit, looking up to see her reaction to that comment. Hopefully she wouldn't feel put on the spot...

[Kari Muffin]

Her face brightened as the boy spoke. He actually had a job that he wanted and that he could use for the future. It filled her with utter joy. He was growing up to be such a good boy, and she had been so very worried that she had failed bringing him up decently.

And then he brought up the subject of clothing. Her ears perked as she listened. If they ever managed to get bipedal forms he would make things for them. She blushed slightly at the idea of a dress. Clothing really was so pretty, and she was sure that Karrock could make something amazing. She gave him a grin, "You're such a sweet boy! I think I'll just have to practice every day to try to get my bipedal form just so I can wear something you made."

Oh she just wanted to hug the boy. Of course she wasn't about to jump off her seat now that she had gotten comfortable. Instead she nibbled on the bacon she had to fight the urge.

[Nako]

His awkward beak curled into something of a smile again, his eyes softening if only for a moment. It was really sweet of her to say that; even if Karrock himself felt.. unsure as to whether the woman would ever achieve it. She seemed so... set in her ways, content with how she did things now. Admittedly, she was good at what she did and how she went about doing things... But Karrock really couldn't see how she -could- be content. Having to slither on ones belly all the time seemed... depressing.

"I was also hoping that... now that things have calmed down a bit back at the palace... that maybe we could visit? I'd met some kids there that I'd kind of wanted to keep in touch with. It's safe now, isn't it?"

Immediately unsure whether he'd said the wrong thing, his head dipped down to the table again, fiddling with his fork to the point that he'd nearly dropped it. "I.. I mean... I enjoyed living in the Highlands. I wouldn't mind visiting again if we could."

[Kari Muffin]

Viola was not content with slithering on the ground. She just couldn't seem to get past the mental block around the idea of having a bipedal form. Perhaps it was because she didn't think highly of herself? Or perhaps it was something else entirely. She didn't know, and she probably wouldn't figure it out for a long while.

Such was life.

Her ears flicked upwards at the boy's question. He wanted to go to the palace. She hesitated for a moment. What if someone saw him and caused a commotion? What if.... well. He was growing up. And ultimately he had to learn who to take care of himself, wangsty teenager or not he had a right to visit his friends. A hesitant smile crossed Viola's face.

"Well, since it's not dangerous anymore, I don't see why not. But you should probably be careful." Her tail twitched with anxiety.

[Nako]

That annoyed him. It bothered him beyond anything that she was still -protecting- him! He obviously bristled, his fork scraping across his plate with a high pitched squeal that caused even himself to grimace. Damnit.

Karrock let out a heavy sigh, which translated into a light, weak sound with his high voice. His once hopeful eyes dropped back down to the ground, as if finding the right words to say. He was trying not to explode as often as he used to. He needed to -deal- with this shit.

"Y-yeah... I know. But I'm not going to know -if- people can accept me till I try, right? I can take care of myself. I have before." He paused; he knew he'd just told on himself a bit, confirming the occasional accusation that he'd been sneaking out.. but they both knew it. He'd never outright denied it. "I mean.. If I were a -number- I'd understand. But I'm a -born- King. That's gotta count for something, right?"

And he paused, looking at his Aunt directly. "Who all even knows about me?"