Meet the folks (a post in several parts!)

[empress_without_a_throne]

[1]

[Mizuki's going about her business recently exclusively wearing her Abyss Empress clothing... and anyone in the Sakihama Base's hangar will notice the DuskBird's got several Solaris mechanics working on it virtually around the clock.  But more importantly-]

Ow.

Ow.

Ow.

[Even if she's just walking down the hall, the Abyssian is frequently wincing or reacting to unseen sources of pain.  And then-]

[Video]



Hello, everyone!  As you may remember, when the Unity Group began combat operations, I introduced to you an unlikely ally: the Abyss Empress herself.  And now... I give you her very followers!  The Grand Vizier Zangango and General Salanshiel!

[The video screen shifts to show the two other Abyssians, who actually are wearing normal clothing and just sort of sheepishly wave at the camera before they start to speak to each other.]

I hope Mizuki doesn't get too embarassed about this.

Well it's a special occasion, hopefully she'll understand.

[What's to understand?  It's just Sara pulling another melodramatic prank... and that's reason enough to storm down the halls!]

[2]



[And after THAT's all been sorted out, Mizuki's still happy about her parents paying a visit.]

So... yeah.  These are my parents... legally "Ichi Onodera" and "Haru Onodera".



A pleasure to meet all of you.  And thank you so much for helping take care of our daughter.



We apologize for the short notice of the visit, we would've let Mizuki know in advance but Sara thought to make it more of a surprise.  That said.... we also didn't come empty handed.

[Indeed they didn't.  In fact, they're carrying several hand-bags filled with sealed containers labeled 'Safe' or 'Sol only'.]

We were hoping to have a meal together with Mizuki, like a family... but we brought along extras just in case anyone wanted to join us.

Comments

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Yuuya? Write a letter to his parents? Amazing just how easily a single letter can sink a lie, and when Yuuya speaks to her...]

Don't worry, I intend to. But I'd appreciate it if you spent at least a little time here.

I insist.

[The words were assertive, but the smile and her tone were inviting.]

We have plenty of "Western" cooking too.

[ugyuuya]

[Looking at Mizuki and her parents Yuuya tries to think of another means to bow out politely but Mizuki's words and expression leave him cornered without any real options. Hopeful that he can steer conversation away from his parents well enough to not get caught.]

"Well if you're going to insist that I won't be intruding then I guess I can take some time. I'd hate to leave everything to you if you're going to be offering a free meal, is there anything I can do to help?"

[empress_without_a_throne]

Just sit down and relax... and if there's anything special you'd like to eat, let us know.



If we have it, we'll try to cook it, and if not then we'll try to see if there's anything we have that's similar to it. Anything in particular come to mind?

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya pauses for a moment, his mind wandering to the beef stew that his mother used to make for him before she passed but that recipe was lost when she passed and explaining that would be a tell to his lie. He cuts his nostalgia short before it would be too obvious though.]

I can't think of anything in particular that I would want to eat. Don't go to too much trouble on my account though I would feel bad if you spent too much effort on food you can't eat.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Oh nonsense. So long as someone can eat it we're more than happy to cook it with the same love and effort we'd put in for anything else.

[And before long they're doing exactly that, the two of them having commandeered the kitchen and juggling cooking mushrooms, deep-sea fish, and also spaghetti and meatballs for Yuuya.]



My parents had ten years to practice cooking, and they did some of the cooking for Solaris too. They didn't want to be too much of a burden so they'd handle their own food... and it eventually spilled over into making other stuff too whenever they felt like being charitable... which was pretty often.

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya sits at the table with Mizuki and nods watching the "Older" aliens working in the kitchen.]

They really do seem rather nice Mizuki, you're lucky to have them and be able to spend time with them like this. It's something I haven't been able to do in quite a while and watching this it makes me miss it a bit more than I expected.