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

2

[star_of_sad]

Hello. Don't worry, you are not interrupting anything important. It's a pleasure to meet Mizuki's parents in person, really.

[Setsuko smiles politely. What to talk about... ah yes.]

I see the familial resemblance.

[Which means all three have an aura of an evil demon lord's minions about them.]

Re: 2

[empress_without_a_throne]

We're actually not related by blood, but we somehow managed to pull off a functioning family unit after some practice.

Mom? Dad? This is Setsuko. She's one of the members who's only recently gotten into piloting.



Always nice to meet one of Mizuki's new friends. We were both worried so much when she first left with Sara and-

[He seems to pause, sheepishly looking left and right before leaning in a little closer.]

I'm sorry, but my eye's not bothering you, is it? I thought wearing an eyepatch would be too menacing but now I'm not so-



Dad, nobody cares about that... Sorry Setsuko, they're just a little self-conscious.

1

[majestic_keiki]

[Kei had randomly been walking around nearby when the video popped up. Seeing Mizuki right there as it happened, she gave the woman an awkward smile. This just had embarrassing written all over it.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

... The stuff we let friends do, huh?

[She gives Kei back a smile of her own.]

1)

[break_the_nine]

Oh.. Oh WOW! They really do look like a Grand Vizier and a General!

[Leos is amazed at this, looking all the part of a joyful teenager.]

So awesome!

I know you're good guys and Mizuki said you don't have a Skull Fortress...

But... is it Mister Onodera or Mister Vangango..... you totally you totally would have had a skull shaped eyepatch! With a laser built into it that shoots whenever you glare at someone!

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah. The rest of the team has dragged me into some stuff already...Must be awkward to have your parents introduced to everyone like that.

[star_of_sad]

No, no! Of course it doesn't bother me. Please don't worry about it.

[Quick, change the topic!]

Mizuki is doing very well in Unity Group. Why were you worried about her?

[empress_without_a_throne]

We know, but seeing her, knowing she'd be around so many other people...

[Haru's already starting to tear up even as she tries to keep up her smiling.]


There was so much anxiety in wondering if we'd raised her right!



They really tried to take their parenting duties as seriously as they could. And it was a really long road for all of us, considering the roles we were meant to fill.

[empress_without_a_throne]

And today's not exactly the best of times eithe-ow... either.

The DuskBird's getting a refit, so to speak.

1

[actuallyselfish]

Not long after Mizuki gets pranked by Sara, she feels a sharp stinging sensation in the small of her back, almost as if someone shoved an acupuncture needle into the exact wrong pressure point.

From the hanger, you hear a sharp clattering noise. Dido rushes out of the hanger doors wiping her fingers with a rag.

"Hey, Mizuki! Did you hear? Your parents are coming to visit! Also–!"

She holds up something that looks like a black pearl mixed with a screw. "Do you know what this is?"

2

[tiger_ken]

[...A certain teammate of Mizuki's appears to be a bit shy, only leaning his head around a corner whilst anyone else actually, you know, introduces themselves.

May or may not help that he's trying to 'act natural' as he sweeps the halls.]

[majestic_keiki]

So you have to deal with introducing them to people at the same time as handling the refit?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Ken. You've been cleaning that spot for five minutes now.

Come on and get over here.

[star_of_sad]

I did not even know Mizuki was something else than a normal human, until I saw her abilities during a mission.

So I'd say you did a very good job.

[tiger_ken]

Ah... well... Fine.

[A bit timid for whatever reason, Ken steps out and steps up to... what could have been villains at one point.]

...Hello.

2

[cloningblues]

Err...

What is it that your parents do for a living, Mizuki?

[empress_without_a_throne]

They watched and read so many guides on parenting. And they had to hammer into me that I wasn't going to be leading any conquests to take over the world either.



But it's all been worth it in the end, to see Mizuki fit in with people so many people.

... My only regret is no baby pictures.



At any rate, would you like to join us for dinner? I'm sure there's something we can cook to your liking.

[empress_without_a_throne]

More like "enduring" the refit.

The DuskBird's part of my body... so feeling a bunch of mechanics installing new clamps and motors inside of it is like... the feeling of having a part of you get a whole bunch of piercings.

[empress_without_a_throne]

A... skull-shaped patch? With a laser?! THat's just to...-



Mom, Dad, this is Leos. He... really tries to hammer the idea of me and skulls.

[empress_without_a_throne]

No, but with all the poking and prodding you've been doing inside of my other half, I'd rather we keep things to the bare minimum. If it's important it'll grow back.

Also...

[She winces again, glaring at another mechanic who drilled in a docking clamp a little too forcefully.]

... Since my parents are visiting, can you please be careful with this? The last thing I need is them freaking out over part of me getting open-cavity surgery.

[break_the_nine]

I still say you should get a Skull Fortress. You could call it Onodera Acropolis ... or some other fancy name.

...

Skull fortresses are awesome!

Re: 2

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Oh dear. The two of them exchange nervous glances before-]

They're considered "professional subjects of study"... and occasionally emergency power sources at Solaris's HQ whenever we couldn't afford the electric bill.

[There, that's a reasonable way of explaining it without outright saying anything that could be interpreted as "lab rat".]



Right. Yes. We needed a home, and they needed some new direction to proceed in. And thanks to staying together, we managed to have some semblance of stability.

[empress_without_a_throne]

[And there's a short bit of discomfort with Ichi and Haru, before Mizuki's mother reaches over to offer Ken her hand.]



It's a pleasure to meet you, Ken. We know the circumstances with you joining were not ideal but...

Thank you for staying and helping support Solaris and Mizuki. We're in your debt.

[empress_without_a_throne]

We're not doing a Skull Fortress!



I don't know... if Solaris was able to set one up the novelty of it could draw in tourists. There are war museums too, and I've heard something about a 'Jaegar Memorial' so-



NO MATTER THE POTENTIAL GAINS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO TRY MAKING A SKULL FORTRESS!

[break_the_nine]

Party Pooper. I mean what's wrong with a Skull Fortress? I mean could you imagine standing at the battlements of one, wind whipping against your hair as your banners flap in the breeze and you point dramatically at something in the distance?

It'd make for an awesome picture. The kind of one you'd hang in your house for everyone to see.