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 Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:26 pm
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It rained the day of the funeral. The entire town lined the street, sobbing dramatically, lacy handkerchiefs pressed to hollow eyesockets. Margarita had died. Terra still remembered the numb sensation that encompassed her that day--she had known her mother would pass soon, she had been warned gently, told that her mother was far older than she looked, and that one day her FEAR would become one with the rest of the world--
It was only fitting, her mother had told her. She had been given so much from this world, a joyful life, a happy family, a wonderful town, and most importantly, she had been given Terra--her little nina. The beautiful Catrina would smile, tilting her head at the reaper child and reaching up with bony fingers to push a strand of wayward blond locks back behind a delicate ear. She would be proud to give back to the world that had so blessed her, her mother whispered with that gentle, loving smile.
What Terra wouldn’t give to see that smile again, the ghoul thought. What she wouldn’t say or do just to feel the gentle touch of bone against skin, hear the beautiful voice of her mother--
She took a deep, shuddering breath, and stepped into the night to wander. All around her were those mourning for her mother. But she couldn’t. She refused to let her go.
----
“He was in town just two weeks ago, Padre!”
The voice made Terra jerk, looking down from her hiding spot in the trees. She knew who that voice belonged to--Senora Mordrid was one of the sweetest Catrinas in all of Los Muertes--but she’d never heard it raised like that, and the last person she had expected to see it raised at was El Padre. El Padre, as far as Terra was concerned, could do no wrong. He absolutely couldn’t do anything that merited being yelled at for!
“This is none of his business, Senora,” El Padre said in that calm tone of his. He was a tall, almost delicate looking skeleton--much more given to thinking than action. Sometimes she wondered what he would have looked like with skin like hers--“Senor Vegas is not to be spoken of--“
“He is her FATHER,” Senora snapped. “She is alone in this world now, with nothing to cling to--we offer to take her into our homes but she knows as well, if not better than we how much we cannot afford it! She is a good child, Padre! She deserves another chance--“
“And that reaper is the way to give it to her? No, Senora, we will simply find another family to take her in. And that is the end of this discussion.”
“She has not sang, Padre.”
“It is FINISHED--“
“She has not MOURNED, Padre, she has not even played her violin. Her eyes, her beautiful, shining eyes, they are DEAD. We love her, she knows that as well as we do, but we cannot provide what she needs most. Not now. Let me at least send him a letter--“
“No letters! Do you know who you’re speaking of, Senora? Senor Vegas is a--a drunkard and a gambler! He takes nothing seriously, he has no qualms about leaving behind a family, he is NOT who we will give our precious chiquita to! I know you worry about her, Senora, I worry as well,” he went on in a quieter tone. “But that is not our solution.”
“Then what is?” Senora Mordrid demanded. “What do we do about our chiquita--before it is too late?”
“We hope,” he said quietly, “and we search for a better way.”
Silently Terra curled closer to the tree as the two skeletons walked away. Her mind was full of confusion. Who... was Senor Vegas? Was he...
Her father?
--------------
“Have you ever heard of a Senor Vegas?” Terra asked the next day, dropping down next to the town drunk. Senor Feliz was a broadboned, stout looking skeleton, one that had bones far thicker than arms. He had a bottle of rotgut in one bony hand, and was in the middle of watching the women walking by as they shopped.
“Vegas... Vegas...” he said, turning to look at her with pitch black eyeholes. “Why would a nina need to know about Senor Vegas?”
“I got a silver seed,” she said, holding it up to him. His hand shot out, taking it from her even as he took another gulp of his alcohol. “Now tell me about Senor Vegas.”
“He’s a gringo from that bigwig Halloween Town, likes to come and play with the pu--the senoritas around here once in a while, but don’t get any ideas, chiquita, he’s out of your league--and way too old. He has to be sixty, at least!”
“Too old for what?” Terra asked absently, her mind focused on the two words that meant the most. “Where’s Halloween Town?”
“Too old for--“ he looked at her and let out a dry laugh. “Never mind, chiquita. Halloween Town is the biggest of the big, the place where all the famous people are. They got the best things, the best schools--even had one of their schools on le television. One hoity toity bunch of gringos... what was it called... Samity? Amity? Yeah, Amity! All the things, that school--“
A school? She jumped to her feet, her eyes huge with excitement, and she raced away before he finished what he was saying--
“Always in trouble some way or another.” He stopped, looking around. “Chiquita?”
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:33 pm
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There was a computer in the library--the only computer in town. She had no clue how to use it, Terra thought as she stared blankly at the box in the middle of the room. She barely noticed that the librarian was looking at her feet with a very pointed expression. When she did, she was quick to reassure her. “Don’t worry, senora, they’re clean,” she said, looking down at the bare feet in question. “I washed them just last night.”
Then she headed for the computer, walking around the small table that it was on with a curious expression. Hesitantly she stared at the strange piece of plastic in front of it, wondering if those letters were some sort of spell--
“Can I help you,” the librarian said, her tone saying that it was more of a command than an offer.
“I want to learn about schools in Halloween Town,” Terra said, poking the keyboard curiously. Would it bite her or something if she did it wrong?
“Schools?” the librarian repeated, her stern atmosphere seeming to lighten. “Oh, si! This is the perfect place to look into schools! Halloween Town, you say? That’s rather far away--“
“I have family there,” Terra told her, not even lying. “Mi madre, she passed away recently. I am all alone--“
“Oh, pobrecita,” the librarian said, her tone saying that she had softened entirely with that statement. “Let us find you a school! You say your familia, they live in Halloween Town?”
“Si, senorita. Mi Padre, he’s a reaper. He lives there.” She looked down, playing up the pobrecita as much as she dared. “I also think it would be good to start my schooling, no?”
“Of course it would be! Let’s see what schools there are near there--“
“I have heard of one!” Terra offered, looking at the computer. “Amity? Is that what its called?”
“Amityville? It is... a very highly... known school, yes,” the librarian said, hesitating as she sat down in front of the computer. “But there are more than just that there, senorita, I can bring up a list for you to look over!” She started tapping on the various letters, her fingers moving almost too quickly for Terra to see what they were spelling out. A moment later there was a long list of words on the computer front... window, she supposed it was called?
Did tiny little demons live inside and provide all the information? For a moment she was distracted, imagining how fast it would have to paint to get that there so quickly--ah, that poor little demon, she thought, forced to write all day long.
“Senorita!” the librarian said. “Here is your list of schools. There’s many things you should take into account--such as the walking distance from your school to your father’s home--do you know his address?”
“I--no,” Terra admitted. “I don’t.”
“Then tell me his name and I will find him!”
“Oh, um, his name is Senor Vegas.”
“Is that his last name?” the librarian asked.
“I--I don’t know.”
There was a moment of silence before the librarian started typing. A few minutes later she printed out a few sheets, handing them to the ghoul. “You go look all that over and start thinking,” she said. “I have some work to do, myself,” she added, patting the blonde ghoul on the head.
“Muchas Gracias, Senora!” Terra said, racing off with the sheets. When she had left the library, the librarian headed for her desk, pulling out a piece of paper and a quill. She inked the quill and started to write.
Greetings Senor Vegas, I am writing to inform you--
------------
Vegas stared at the piece of paper in his hand. For a moment the words seemed to blur on the page, but he knew they hadn’t. The writing was beautiful, the type of writing that one took special classes to learn how to do. Each word was perfectly understandable--by itself. But when you put them together, he thought, you had an entire clusterjack of confusion.
“He hasn’t called and the school looks abandoned. Where the jack is my kid?” Austin demanded as he stormed into the casino. “Monica! Have you seen Roch?”
“No! Is something wrong with him?” the pole dancer that had set up house in his casino asked, coming out of the kitchen. She was wearing another of those ridiculous dresses that she’d bought--way too many frills and not nearly enough skin, Vegas noted absently, but he didn’t really notice it. In fact it was only the barest minimum of his brain that was taking in what was going on in the room. The rest of him was desperately trying to remember--
“Hey, you!” Austin snapped, ripping the piece of paper from his hand. “I asked a question. You always know more than you let on, so where is my--“ He stopped, finally seeing Vegas’s face. “You look like someone just shot you,” he muttered. “What is this, anyway?” he asked, looking at the piece of paper he’d just taken.
“Greetings Senor Vegas, I am writing to inform you that your teenage daughter has recently lost her mother and is planning on--“ Austin read, only to stop. “Teenage... daughter?” he repeated. “You...”
“Wh--what?” Monica said, looking as pale as a ghost. “You’ve got a--a daughter? You never told me that!”
“That’s probably because nobody told ME, either,” Vegas said finally. “Just what in the jack...” An imposter, he decided. The kid had to be an imposter--out to squeeze money out of him. Los Muertes was pretty poor, after all. But Monica was panicking and Austin was summoning his weapon, so to defuse the situation he said, “It’s probably a prank. Someone got it in their mind to blackmail me, or use this kid to get some quick cash. When I don’t reply they’ll probably find some other sucker to launch the kid at, no problem.”
“Why do I think you’re lying?” Austin asked, his silver eyes narrowed.
“I’m absolutely not lying. I think.”
“You think?” Austin demanded. “So I might or might not have some teenage little sister three days travel from here? The same age or maybe even younger than my own son?? You jackin’ useless old man! When will you learn to keep your FEAR in your pants??”
Vegas took a drag off of his cigar, trying to calm his own nerves. The most telling thing was, though, the fact that he didn’t reply to that comment.
“I wonder what she’s like...” Monica said.
“What do we tell Roch?” Austin asked.
“Nothing. For now,” Vegas said. “Maybe, if we’re lucky, not ever.”
***
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:35 pm
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This was the part that she’d been dreading. This was the big moment where she approached El Padre. “Senora Sally forgive me,” she whispered, clasping her hands at her breasts and looking up at the pumpkin sky. “And help me,” she added, feeling guilty of a great sin as she said it. You weren’t supposed to ask Senora Sally for help in deceiving people! That was--that was the complete opposite of what you were supposed to ask for!
But she was still hoping she would get it. She was the worst scareling ever, she thought as she headed for the tall skeleton dressed all in black. “El Padre,” she said.
“Terra!” El Padre replied. “Buenos Dias, Terra. How are you?”
“Bien,” she said. Her hands clenched on the papers in her hands, creasing them for a moment before she took a deep breath and shoved them forward. “Padre, I was thinking that I should go to school.”
He pulled back slightly, showing his surprised at her comment. Then he was silent, tilting his head as he thought. “Well, you are a little young--“
“Fourteen! I’m fourteen! My cumpleanos is in six months and fourteen days and ten hours!”
“Ten hours, you say,” he said with a hint of amusement.
“Si! Nine hours and fifty eight minutes now!”
“I see, I see,” El Padre said, his laughter hinted at in his voice. “Si, you are a young lady now, no?”
“Si! I am growing by the minute! I am ready to take on el mundo!”
“El mundo, you say?”
“Si! I am mucho, mucho fuerte!” she bragged.
“And where do you wish to go to escuela, Terra?” Padre asked.
“Amity!” she said, flipping through the sheets and holding up the information she had had printed on the school. “Es muy famoso!” she said, her eyes bright.
“Si... well... I suppose, since you HAVE put so much thought into this...” he said slowly, taking the sheet from her. “Although... isn’t there an escuela somewhere closer?” He looked at her in an almost pleading manner, then let out a sigh. “Si, si, your corazon is set on this, I can see by the look in your eyes,” he said. “I will... see what I can do, nina.”
“Muchas gracias, Padre!” she said, wrapping her arms around his bony figure in a hug. “I will not let you down, senor.”
“Si... and I will try not to let you down, as well,” he said gently, reaching up a bony hand and patting her cheek. “You have grown up so quickly, my little senorita,” he said. She smiled slightly, tilting her head into his touch. “Now let me consult the others, we will call you when we have an answer.”
“Si,” she said, stepping back and nodding at him. He nodded back and headed away, leaving her to fall to her knees when there was no one watching. Her heart was pounding against her chest so hard, she thought, reaching up and touching her chest. She hadn’t lied...
Yes she had. She had lied by omission. She was such a bad ghoul, she thought, sitting back on her heels. She was doing all of this for revenge, and she was using El Padre to do it.
--------
Terra sat outside the meeting hall, her knees tucked tightly to her chest as she waited for the town to decide her fate. It was hard, even though she knew she should be squealing with happiness as she heard voice after voice agreeing to contribute to her trip to the school, as well as her living expenses. She was to have a monthly amount of money sent to her--one so large that her eyes widened in shock and she barely stopped herself from protesting. The town couldn’t afford something like that! She could work--get a job somewhere, she was certain--
But it was impolite to turn down a loving offer like this, her mother’s voice whispered in her mind. They did this because they loved her. And she would do her best because she loved them, as well. Guilt warred with her, even as she packed her belongings, slipped into her best clothes, and headed for the train station the next morning.
The entire town was there to wish her good luck. She was passed from person to person, hugged and kissed, nameless hands patting her on the head and back, encouraging her, showing how proud they were of their little Terra. A baffled smile pulled at her lips as she took in the well-wishes given to her. When she got to the front she grabbed a box from the corner and stepped onto it.
“I love you all--“ she started out, raising her voice to carry over the crowd. “So very--very much. I will make you all proud.”
“Play for us, chiquita!” Senora Mordrid called up to her. “One last song before you go.”
“Oh--yes, of course, Senora,” Terra said, summoning her violin. It had been so long since she last played, she thought, looking at it and chewing on her bottom lip. Would she be worth listening to? She tuned up her violin, her fingers finding the familiar strings--the feel of her violin so ingrained that it was literally a part of her. Then she started to play, slowly at first, setting up the song, then faster, bringing out the rhythm and melody. She forgot, for a while, that she was being listened to. Forgot that there would be a train coming at any moment. Her entire being was so focused on the song that she almost fell off the box as the train let out a whistle.
A faint flush was hidden by her white makeup as the town started to laugh--but they were clapping, she thought, so she grinned at them, righting herself and dragging the box to where it belonged. “I ah, am a little rusty,” she admitted. “But I will work on my playing as well!” she promised. For a moment she smiled, truly feeling like she was doing exactly what they expected of her--that she was heading off to get a good education and become a wonderful representation of their home town--the sensation was almost making her light headed. She would make them proud! She would--
She was only going for revenge. Her face fell slightly as she looked down at her feet. She was a terrible scareling--she would shame her town. But--but it was for her mother, she thought, her expression growing stubborn as she looked up again. “I will--I will write,” she promised. “Once a week! I will write all about what I am doing and learning!”
El Padre stepped forward, looking at her with fondness. “We know, chiquita. We will write as well,” he promised, pulling her into a hug. A tear escaped her, trickling down her cheek as she hugged him back.
“If--if the band comes through town again--could you tell Senor Gomez where I have gone?” she asked. “I do not want to be considered ungrateful.”
“Of course. But he has told you before, you have outshone him--“
“I have not,” she said, pulling away. “I still have much to learn. He flatters me.” She smiled though, looking up at the tall skeleton. “I enjoy it.”
El Padre started laughing--an honest, surprised laugh that had the rest of the crowd joining in. She headed for Senora Mordrid, tugging the older female into a hug as well. “Gracias,” she whispered against the beautiful skeleton’s dress. “So very much.”
A gentle hand reached up, fixing her wayward blonde hair. “You can repay me by becoming the woman I know you will become,” Senora Mordrid said with playful strictness.
“Si.”
“That means wearing shoes, chiquita.”
“Is there some sort of... compromise I could ask for?” Terra asked, making a face at the very idea.
“ALLLL ABOOOAARRRRDDD!”
“I should go,” Terra said as she pulled away from the Catrina. “I will write!” she added again, grabbing her bags and heading for the train. “¡Hasta luego!!” she called to them. She wouldn’t say adios. Not now. Because she fully planned on seeing them later.
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Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 8:43 am
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 6:00 pm
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Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:05 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:00 am
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It was the day. Two months had passed, his “grounding” was over--Roch could get his bike back. He grinned, grabbing his coat and slinging it on, then stopped as he stepped out the door, seeing his little sister’s door looming right in front of him. For a moment he pondered, torn between two different urges. Then he stepped forward, knocking on the door twice before opening it and sticking his head in.
“Do not barge in! It is rude!” Terra yelled at him, throwing a pillow at him. “I am watching my shows!”
“Really,” Roch drawled as he headed for the beanbag chairs he had gotten her. He dropped down in the red one, looking at the screevee curiously for a moment before saying, “They’re speaking Spanish.”
“Si! It is un--“
“A soap opera,” Roch finished.
“It is a story of romance and drama! It is compelling--Angella is about to confess to Rodrico--“
“Oh come on, already, we have family issues to deal with,” Roch said, getting to his feet again and picking his little sister up by the armpits. She gave him a dirty look.
“I do not have family issues to deal with,” she said. “You can deal with your own family issues. I have my shows to watch!” She tugged her arms out of his grasp and dropped down on the beanbag again, crossing her arms over her chest with a pout.
“I’ll get you eyescream,” Roch offered, crouching down in front of her.
She still pouted. “Which family are we talking about?” she finally said.
“Vegas--“
“I WILL NOT GO!” she bellowed, jumping to her feet and racing--two steps before he grabbed her by the waist.
“Oh c’mon, Terra! As much as y’hate the guy, he’s still your dad!”
“Leggo, leggo let go!” she said, squirming in his hold. “He is not mi padre! He is an ABANDONER!” She had no chance of getting free, though. Roch was far stronger than she was, and after a long moment of squirming uselessly she went limp, her bottom lip trembling. “I do not wish to see him,” she said.
“Hey... hey, lil sis,” Roch said in a croon. “It’s okay. I’m with you, y’know?” The holding was more like a hug at this point, and he rested his jaw on top of her head. “He really sucks as a family member, I admit.”
“I prefer Austin,” she said in a pout.
“Nah, Pop’s just as big a pain in the a**,” Roch said. “Does it smell like peppermint in here?” he asked abruptly, feeling a little sick.
“Oh! Peppi is in the room,” Terra said happily. “Peppi! Peppi, come out!” she called. A peppermint carrying red and white pet peeked out from under the table. “She is a gift from Austin!”
“......It figures,” Roch drawled, picking her up and heading for the door. “C’mon, let’s go yell at gramps and get my bike back,” he said.
“But Peppi--“
“Is perfectly fine,” Roch said, closing the door behind them and taking a deep breath. “Jack does it smell better out here.”
“Peppi smells very good!”
“If you like peppermint,” Roch said, starting down the hall still carrying her.
“I can walk, you know,” she pointed out.
“But y’won’t,” Roch finished, pulling her up over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes as he started up the stairs. She grunted with every shoulder bump to her stomach that that got her.
“I will! I--ooph! Will!” she said. He put her down and she started up the steps, not wanting to be picked up again. “I will just not like it!” she threatened as she reached the top. “And you did not let me grab a coat, so you will give me yours,” she demanded, holding out a hand.
He snorted and shrugged off his coat, dropping it on her head before heading for the door. This time she was the one chasing him. Soon they were walking through the campus (making those that knew about Amphi, but not about Roch having a sister start up a little rumor) and down the street to the towns.
“Your coat smells funny,” Terra said as she walked. Her hands were nowhere to be seen, the sleeves hung at least a foot past them, and she looked as if she was wearing a dress. She was too busy sniffing the coat to notice--and then digging through the pockets. “Candy... candy... more candy--what is this?” she asked, pulling out a small packet of protection charms.
Roch turned bright red, grabbed them, and shoved them into his jeans pocket.
“Oh! I remember! They are for ‘her pleasure!’” she said. “I saw a box in the store I went to for perro treats! But if you are not a ‘her’ why do you have them?”
“They’re somethin’ you’ll learn about in Cricket’s class sometime,” Roch muttered, not looking at her.
“You have una ghoulfriend, no? Are you carrying them for her?” Terra asked, curiously.
“Well... uh... yeah, pretty much,” Roch said, shrugging.
“I see!” she said, accepting that explanation easily. “Your ghoulfriend is very nice. How did she wind up with un idiota like you?”
“I have no jackin’ clue,” Roch admitted.
“How do you give a ghoul pleasure with pieces of paper?” Terra asked innocently.
Roch groaned. “Cricket’s class--Cr-ic-ket’s CLASS,” he repeated emphatically.
“I will ask her when I see her next time!” Terra declared.
***
The topic had changed to Terra’s pedal. Roch was fascinated with it, and she had it on her, so she brought it out to show him, explaining how you set it up--unfortunately, that was when they reached Casino Royale. He got her all the way down the steps before she realized what was going on--then she gave him the most betrayed expression he’d ever seen--which made no sense because he’d TOLD her this was where they were going.
He gave her a dry look and pushed her through the door. “I do not--“
“TERRA!!!” the squeal made the reaper ghoul jump a foot in the air before the blonde pole dancer named Monica threw herself at her, wrapping her arms around her tightly and pressing scantily clad boobs against her chest. Terra couldn’t help the red that rushed to her face. That was--ah--very unexpected. “Oh screechie, I was hoping you would come back!” Monica said, kissing her on the cheek.
“Um... si?” Terra said blankly.
“I’ve come t’get my bike back,” Roch said, walking right past the two females to the large reaper sitting at one of the tables. “So where’d you put it?”
“Your bike?” Vegas asked blankly. “Oh, your old man has it,” he said when he realized what this was about. “He’s been puttin’ together a bike shop over in that wreck of a building he calls home,” he added, his eyes on the ghoul Roch had brought with him. “So--why is she here?” he asked quietly.
“I dragged her,” Roch said. “Old man, you can’t keep ignorin’ the fact you got a scareling,” he told Vegas, his eyes cold. “One that’s a jackin’ good musician, an’ smart, too. In most ways--maybe not her music, YET, she’s BETTER than the Scythes I know, includin’ me. In fact, that right there might just be our family’s savin’ grace,” he said, pointing at the reaper in question.
“But I am not hungry,” Terra said as Monica tugged her towards the kitchen. “Are you not cold in that outfit, señora Monica?” she asked, trying not to stare at the over-exposed chest on the undead woman.
“Oh, we keep it nice and warm in here, screechie! All for the ghouls!” Monica said. Then she stopped, her expression changing. “Unless--it must be embarrassing for you,” she said, looking downcast. I’m sure you aren’t used to ghouls running around in--um--this.”
“It is not that!” Terra said a bit too quickly--because it WAS that. That and Monica had twice as much boob in ONE of her boobs than Terra had in both, but she couldn’t say that! “It is--I am more used to skeletons,” she finished a bit lamely. Truth--and some of those skeleton ladies had worn very little clothing indeed--but they wore it on a lot less flesh. “You are very much not a skeleton.”
“Oh, well thank you!” Monica said, hugging her again. “I work very hard maintaining my fleshy parts! Decaying can be difficult when you’re undead,” she added conspiratorially.
“Oh very!” Terra agreed, now on a subject she was comfortable with. “Mi madre had several different bone beautifying treatments that she swore were wonderful!”
“See what I mean?” Roch said pointedly. “But if you’re just gonna ignore her--not deal with the s**t y’put her through, well, you’ll have t’deal with some very pissed off family members,” he said coldly.
Vegas stared back at him, then blew a smoke ring, clearly not impressed with the threat. “Isn’t the first time, boil.”
“Don’t screw with me, old man,” Roch said. He jerked as someone grabbed his wrist.
“This is not your fight!” Terra told him, tugging hard on the wrist--and getting nowhere. “He is my target! I will get revenge on my own!”
“I wasn’t tryin’ to get revenge,” Roch said blankly. “But if that’s what y’want,” he added with a shrug. “We’re goin’ to Pop’s,” he said to Vegas. “I gave you a chance, old man. You just blew it.”
“This--“ Vegas started out. “This isn’t the end of it,” he growled.
“Of course it ain’t,” Roch said, letting Terra tug him out the door. He tugged her closer as he noticed how her shoulders fell and his coat almost slid off of her. “Hey,” he said. “Hey--look, I’m not gonna let it end like this.”
“I do not like him.”
“He don’t know how t’deal with this, I think,” Roch admitted. “It’s a bit of a shocker t’all of us, honestly.”
“You are shocked by me?”
“Well... for a second,” Roch said. “Not really, though.”
“Then why does he--It does not matter!” she said abruptly. “He abandoned mi madre and me and--he is not worthy of being called padre!”
He laughed and draped an arm over her shoulders, reaching up to mess up her hair. “That’s fine, sis, most of the time the rest of us can’t stand him, either,” he told her. She laughed.
***
“What exactly were you thinking?” Monica demanded as soon as the door had closed behind the scarelings. “You should have at least SPOKEN to her!” she snapped, her hands on her hips as she glowered down at the huge man sitting at the table.
“I look at her...” Vegas said slowly, “and I think of Tex.”
“Oh, screechheart,” Monica said, her heart breaking as she sat down on his lap. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t tell the others,” Vegas said. “I just... see it ending before it... begins.”
“She isn’t going to die,” Monica said. “She’s got Rochy taking care of her.”
“There’s always the other option,” Vegas said.
“What’s that?”
“She’ll wind up like Austin.”
***
“Why,” Terra said as they headed for Austin’s broke down warehouse. “Why is it that they were right?” she demanded, looking irritated.
“What about?” Roch asked, strolling along as if he owned the neighborhood. He waved to a couple people, calling out greetings in a boisterous manner.
“They say, ‘we give her to Roch, Roch will take care of this!’” she said, her accent growing stronger with her irritation. “I say, ‘who is this Roch? They make him out to be some grand hero--they are wrong! I will not be taken care of by someone that is my sobrino! I am angry! They will not fix me by hoisting me off onto some stranger!’”
“And?”
“......” she gave him a dirty look. Then punched him in the arm when he started to laugh. “It is not funny!” she snapped. “You are annoying! How are you so--you?” she complained. He dropped a huge hand on her head, messing up her hair with affection.
“I’m me,” Roch said. “I ain’t anyone special. I just do better keepin’ the family together than they do--“ He stopped abruptly, pulling her to the side before they reached Austin’s place. “Look. There’s somethin’ real serious I have t’tell you, lil sister,” he said quietly. “Somethin’ that might have an impact on all of this--but this isn’t the time or place,” he admitted. “But soon, okay? You an’ me are gonna sit down and talk about family. ALL of the family.”
She nodded, feeling a bit shaken by how serious he seemed. But he was tugging her towards the warehouse before she managed to come up with a question for him. Roch pulled her into the warehouse, looking around curiously. “Huuuuh, looks like Pop’s been busy,” he said, examining the new set up.
There were tools on various tables set around the bottom floor of the building. Next to the tables were bikes set up on special holders, keeping them standing upright even though they weren’t complete. He had four of them. Well, at first it looked that way--but there was something strange about the second one.
“Is that a scooter?” Roch said in surprise, heading for the strange bike like item. Terra followed him, wondering what was different. “It is! What in the hell is he making a scooter for?”
“Is there something wrong with a ‘scooter’?” Terra asked.
“It’s--“
“For Terra,” Austin said from behind them. “I figured it’d be more her style, considering she likes skirts. Hey, Princess,” he said as Terra turned to look at him. “Been a while.” When he held out his arms she didn’t think twice before running over for a hug.
“Hola, tio!” she said happily. “Roch has dragged me here.”
“We can get her in pants!” Roch said, still looking at the scooter as if it were an evil contraption. “Scooters are so... lame,” he finished.
“I think it is fine!” Terra said, giving him a dirty look. She honestly had no idea what it was, but Austin had made it for her--that made it fine!
“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with giving a little ghoul a scooter,” Austin said, kissing Terra’s forehead before heading over to his son. “It’s safer, doesn’t go too fast--“
Roch looked at him, examined the scooter closely, and shot his father a ‘I see what u did thar,’ look. Then he sighed. “Fine,” he said. “What color is it going to be painted?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Austin said. “What color is it going to be, Princess?” he asked Terra.
“Red?” she asked.
“Red it is,” Austin said. “It’ll be another week--until then, I need you to teach her to ride,” he said to Roch.
“I don’t have a scooter!” Roch said.
“Teach her to ride your bike--the scooter will be a lot easier after that,” Austin said, tossing Roch his keys. Roch grabbed them and headed for the bike standing in the back. “But now, anyone hungry?”
“Si!” Terra said excitedly. “Let us go to lunch!”
“Sounds good t’me,” Roch said, pocketing his keys. “I’ll get my bike back after that.”
Terra looked at them both, wondering what it was they weren’t telling her. It would have to wait, she thought as they headed out. She almost didn’t want to know.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:19 pm
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Music was blasting from the warehouse. It was the strangest thing Terra had ever heard, but it made her grin widely in anticipation and speed up. She had made a picnic for Austin, thinking (rightly so) that the man hardly ever remembered to eat and smoked far too much. Besides, it was the weekend, and she had missed him!
The ghoul stopped at the open door, her eyes adjusting to the darkened room for a second before she stepped inside. Austin was in the middle of the room, with a strange instrument in his hands, surrounded by three skeletons with similar instruments. They were playing, blowing on their horns--it was amazing, she thought happily. She looked around, grabbing the one rolling chair in the building and pulling it over to sit on as she watched them play.
When it was finished she stood up, clapping wildly before racing into the arms that Austin held open for a hug. The silver eyed ghoul grinned up brilliantly at her brother/uncle, hugging him tightly even as the skeletons said their goodbyes and left. She let out a laugh as he leaned down, kissing the tattoo on her forehead and pulled her over to the scooter he’d been building.
The color red was bright and shiny, and Terra nodded as he showed her all the parts, a proud expression on his face. She hopped onto the scooter, pretending to rev it up and Austin started laughing. He shook his head as she hopped off again, amused as she grabbed his hand, trying to make him ride. His hand came up, patting her on the head, much like the energetic puppy she was acting like.
She gave him a dirty look as his other hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a pack of cighoulettes. She reached up, tapping his hand and pushing the pack back into the pocket before heading to the basket she had put down on the table. She held it up to him, opening it so he could see.
He nodded, letting go of the smokes and heading for the door, motioning her outside. She looked at him curiously for a second before strolling out the building, her skirts sashaying behind her. Austin followed with a grin, dropping a hand on the small of her back as he led her along to a nicer part of town. They stopped at the park, heading through the large metal fence and down one of the twisting paths. The vines were overgrown with thick patches of sharp plants waiting for the unwary, while minipets scurried and a ghost dog floated past them, chasing a tiny pumpkin ball.
Terra looked around for a table, but the ones they had there were already claimed, so she frowned, pouting up at Austin as she hugged the basket to her chest. The reaper looked around quickly, not looking very happy at the sight of her pouting at all--then led her to a clear part of land, tugged his big leather trench coat off, and laid it, silk side up, on the ground.
Terra smiled up at him--then promptly sat down on the ground next to his coat. Austin rolled his eyes, reaching down to pick her up by the armpits and drop her on top of the coat. Terra frowned up at him, then stood, dusting off her skirt and the coat before sitting down on it again. She placed the basket next to her and started digging out the food.
Austin dropped on the ground next to the coat, pulling out his pack of cighoulettes. He blinked as a wrapped cookie hit him in the face before he could pull a smoke out. The little reaper ghoul was giving him a dirty look, and holding a wrapped plate of food out to him.
He slipped the smokes back into his pocket and took the plate, thanking her with a sheepish grin before he unwrapped it. His face lit up as he saw what she had made, and he complimented her even as he grabbed a fork and started digging in. Terra gave him a brilliant smile before pulling out a bottle of juice and cups. She poured them both a drink before starting to eat as well.
They talked about all the little things, Roch, school, his classes on motorcycles, her music, Los Muertos, a conversation that kept going with only a few awkward pauses--such as why a guapo reaper was single, that one had Austin searching for an answer so long that Terra started laughing. The pumpkin moon had risen by the time they noticed the time. The empty plates and cups were put back into the basket, the coat was picked up and wiped off.
Austin’s hand went to the small of her back again, and she looked at him curiously before starting out of the park. He paused at the exit, then turned towards the school instead of his place, leading her back home.
He stopped at the entrance of the school, looking down at her with a gentle expression as he fingered his cighoulette. She grinned back up at him, then leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his waist almost too tightly.
“Te quiero, Austin.”
“I love you, too, princess.”
Terra pulled back, grinning in pure happiness at her older brother, then let go and raced off into the school, leaving the reaper staring after her. After a moment he smiled, pulling the smoke from his lips and tossing it to the ground. He stepped on it, grinding it into the rocks, and left.
((WC: 935))
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Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:58 pm
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Terra was a bit frustrated with her brother. He’d been avoiding her, and even when she made him food he still hardly talked when he was taking it. Something was wrong. She wasn’t used to Roch not talking to her--and even if it was a lot more peaceful now, she felt lonely. Abandoned, a little whisper said in her mind. Her jaw tightened and she stood abruptly, her stubbornness kicking in. She would confront him! She would force him to pay attention to her--and even tell her what was going on!
With that thought she--
Headed for the kitchen to put together a meal. What? She had gotten to know her hermano over the past few months, and the easiest way to get attention was through his stomach. He was very simple like that, she thought as she piled up a platter of food and covered it with aluminum foil. She cleaned up the kitchen and headed out the door, stopping in front of Roch’s and almost knocking. She stopped herself just before her knuckles touched the door and grabbed the handle instead, letting herself in.
The music was overwhelming. Hurl Jam poured through speakers placed all around the room, and she barely restrained from putting her fingers in her ears as she crossed over to where his eyephone was connected to them so she could turn down the music. When she did, Roch looked over at her darkly from where he was still lying in bed.
“What?” he said.
“I have brought your dinner,” she said, holding up the plate.
“You can put it in the fridge,” he said, looking away again.
She didn’t fight it, she just headed into his kitchen and put the food away. His fridge was empty again, she noticed. “When was the last time you stocked up, hermano?” she asked him.
“Don’t remember,” he said listlessly.
She closed the fridge door and headed into the main room, shoving his legs off of the couch so she could sit on it. “Hola,” she said almost blandly.
“You can leave.”
“Si, I can,” she agreed. “I do not wish to.” She pulled her legs up to her chest, hugging her knees and looking at him sadly. “You do not look happy, hermano.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Roch said, giving up on throwing her out, apparently. He fell back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
“What happened?” she asked.
“She dumped me.”
The three words seemed to mean a lot to the punk boil, but Terra looked at him blankly. “Into what?” she finally asked.
“It’s a--it means Amphi broke up with me,” he said irritably. “She left me a stupid note and left. She didn’t even do it t’my face,” he complained. “She just up an’ left, just like my Ma did. Didn’t even look back--“ He ran a hand over his face, grunting. “I’m stupid.”
“For what?” she asked.
“Trusting a female,” he said, not looking at her. “At least, trusting one t’stick around with me. That’s retarded. Out of our entire family the only guy with a long term relationship is Gramps--and I still don’t get that one,” he said. “I shoulda known she would leave sooner or later,” he said quietly.
“You love her?” Terra asked.
“......” he was staring at her now, as if trying to think of the right words. “I did,” he said finally. “I might still, but--I figure I’ll get over it,” he decided.
“You are swearing off love, now, no?” she said. “It is very romantic, si--but stupid,” she told him bluntly. “There are not always blacks and whites, hermano,” she told him. “Why did she leave you?”
“To go home,” he said. “But don’t get big ideas--even if she comes back, it’s still over.” There was a steady matter-of-fact-ness to that statement as he stared her straight in the eyes. “I learned a long time ago that if they left, let them leave.”
She looked down, staring at her toenails. She’d painted them red and black, alternating colors. She’d been very happy with them, she thought. Right now she didn’t feel very happy about anything. “And if I leave to go home?” she asked him finally.
“That’s different,” Roch said. “You’re my sister. You can’t leave me a stupid a** letter sayin’ t’go on with my life.”
“True,” she admitted. “But what if I do go home?” she asked. “For a little while. Not now, of course, but sometime. Will you just let me go alone?”
He stared at her blankly. “What, you want me to come with you?” he asked finally.
“You will be graduating soon, no?” she said, looking at her toes again. “I thought--it would be nice to go home and show everyone that--that I am not lonely. That I have familia,” she said, wondering how long she’d been thinking this subconsciously. She didn’t want to go home and have nothing to show for it--but if she brought Roch, and maybe Austin, she could show them that she had made a home! That she was no longer the poor orphan daughter of the town! She looked up at him, hopefully.
“How did we get from me bein’ dumped t’me takin’ y’back to Los Muertos?” Roch asked her blankly.
“You are broken up,” she said. “But you are not broken down. I will not see my hermano grande broken down because his ghoulfriend no longer wants him--it is too pathetic,” she said, shaking her head. “You are not so bad looking, strange, si, but not bad looking. You will find another ghoulfriend as soon as you go looking.”
He gave her a dirty look. “Really? That’s how you’re going to comfort me?”
She gave him a shameless grin. “But you have only the one sister!” she told him. “That we know of,” she added honestly, making a face. “I will not swear to it, considering mi padre.”
Roch choked, looking away from her, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. “That--that was horrible,” he said, still shaking. “Can’t you at least pretend to be sympathetic?” he complained, his laughter disappearing too soon. “I’m heartbroken here!”
“Si, I know,” she said, patting him on the knee. “Now get over it and eat your dinner,” she told him bossily. She stood before he could protest and headed into the kitchen to warm up his meal for him.
“I’ll go,” Roch said from behind her. “Whenever y’wanna go, lil sister. Just grab me an’ we’ll go.”
“Si, I know,” she said with an arrogant nod. “But not yet. I am not quite ready yet.”
((WC: 1.113)
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Posted: Sat May 04, 2013 5:48 pm
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:48 am
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There was a new underground craze of some sorts going on--word of it had even reached the Casino Royale, since people had started betting on the fights. Which was where it had found Vegas, lounging at his usual shady table, smoking a cigar and drinking his finest whiskey. "So you say its a scareling's game," he said to the man sitting across from him.
"That's right. They collect these pins that turn into minipets and battle them like a card game," the man said, looking at his cards. "I heard for a decent price you can buy the progenitor--but I doubt you'd want minipet battling here, they might mess up the place."
"Well, no," Vegas said, "but a progenitor wouldn't be a bad thing to get." He sounded as if he was thinking business, and the others at the table nodded in agreement, figuring that Vegas was going to dip his finger into yet another shady deal--but that wasn't what was on his mind at all. But he had work to do, so he merely blew out a skull shaped cloud of smoke and dealt the cards for the next round.
Morning came. Vegas woke up so early that Monica stared at him blankly. She didn't sleep, being undead, but she was used to lounging around during the early morning hours and this was a bit of a shock for her. "Where are you going?" she asked. "It's only eleven."
"Shopping," Vegas said, getting dressed and grabbing his wallet. "I'll be back."
"Oh. Okay," she said, laying down again. She enjoyed her lazy mornings.
Vegas lit his cigar on the way down the stairs and headed out into the early--mid morning sun, his eyes narrowing as they took in the light of day. There was a small black market that he knew of, he thought as he turned down a darker alley corner. And there was a particularly slimy b*****d running a certain booth that might have what he wanted. The guy usually got ahold of even the most popular toys long before the rest of the world even heard about them.
Sure enough, the ghost was lounging at his booth in the basement of the warehouse, his feet kicked up on his table, a newspaper covering his face. Most people didn't visit the market this early, but he was always open to work. Sometimes Vegas swore he lived there. He probably did.
"Wake up," Vegas said, kicking the desk.
"Ghosts don't sleep," the ghost said, picking the newspaper off of his face. "Vegas."
"Handle," Vegas said in return. "I'm looking for a progenitor."
"What type?"
"That new pin game everyone's playing," Vegas said. "And a classy carrying case. Somethin' a teenage ghoul would like."
"A teenager? Vegas, I didn't know you were into those things."
"She's my daughter. Somethin... skeleton based, I'd say," Vegas decided as the ghost started rummaging through his things. Soon Vegas was looking at a little bag with skeletons forming a heart on the front. He looked at Handle, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"What can I say?" Handle said. "These new progenitors seem to be aimed at scarelings. And as for the pin..." He pulled out a box of pins, holding it out. "Pick one."
Vegas reached down, sifting through the pins and picking one at random. He held it up, looking at it curiously for a moment. "No idea what it'll turn into?"
"It's a kitpin," Handle said, taking the pin from Vegas. "Called..." he looked at the back, "La Calavera."
"The skull? Yeah, that'll work," Vegas said, pulling out his wallet and paying for both. He left a few moments later, his gift in hand. He had a daughter to visit.
----
Half an hour later, after finding someone to wrap his present for him, Vegas pulled his bike up to the front gate of the school, kicking down the kickstand and getting off his bike. He stretched for a bit, yawning widely. He really wasn't used to getting up this early, he thought as he headed onto the campus. The large white dressed reaper got several strange looks as he headed through the campus with a present in his hands, but he ignored them. He had an idea of where the ghoul's room was, but he wasn't certain, so he stopped a random reaper along the way to find out which room was hers.
He found it easily enough and stared at the door for a moment before knocking. When no one answered he tested the door--then swung it open when he found it unlocked. Music blasted out the door, almost knocking him over. Instead he merely raised an eyebrow and sauntered in, watching the ghoul that hadn't even noticed his entry dance in the kitchen. It looked as if she was cooking, he thought with amusement. Her mother had cooked that way, too, he thought as he headed for the counter and leaned against it, waiting for her to notice.
When she did she let out a yelp of shock, almost dropping the pot she was holding. "Padre!" she said, reaching over to her MPScree player to stop the music. "Do you not know how to knock?" she demanded, putting the pot down so she could cross her arms and tap her foot at him.
"You couldn't have heard it even if I had," said the large man. He held out the gift. "I got you something."
She looked at the box as if it would attempt to bite her. "I do not need it," she said, turning her nose up. "You can take it back. And do not smoke in my casa!" she added, glaring at the cigar he was chewing on.
"I can't take it back," he said, placing it on the counter. "Handle's got a no return policy." Then he walked over, ignoring her attempt to snub him. "Now be a good ghoul and accept your gift properly."
She gave him a dark look. "Gracias for the unwanted present," she said, coldly. How she pulled herself up to try and look taller made him laugh slightly as he patted her on the head.
"You're welcome. Monica says you should come for dinner this weekend," he added. "She'll make sure its something spicy. Bring your idiot brother."
"Si, si," Terra said, waving a hand in front of her nose. "That cigar is terrible," she complained. "It is very stinky."
"Open your present," he said, ignoring her complaint. She gave him a dirty look, turned down the heat on the stove and headed to open the present.
"It is a... bag?" she said, her expression turning curious.
"It's a pin bag," Vegas said, feeling quite proud of himself. "Open it up," he said. She unzipped the bag, looking at the single pin pinned to one of the mesh pages inside. "That's a progenitor--least that's what they call it in my parts," he told her. "Sort of like that guitar pick of Roch's," he explained--and failed to explain.
"What?"
"Certain things attract minipets, or turn into minipets--it's all FEAR issues," Vegas said. "And a progenitor is something that will keep attracting the same minipet--you'll never run out of pins, no matter how many you give away. That's why Roch has a bulldog--"
"A million bulldogs, and several rocks," Terra corrected. "So this is like that?"
"Rocks? Well, yeah, pretty much what it is," Vegas said. "You're welcome."
"I can give them away?"
"Close the book," Vegas said.
Terra closed the book, then opened it again, blinking as she saw a second pin. "I see," she said, amazed. "Wonderful! I can give one to Angeline!" She took the second pin out.
"You can get one for yourself, you know."
"Oh, si, of course," she said, opening the book and grabbing another pin. "Gracias Padre!" she said--and then ran out, leaving him staring at the still cooking food. After a second he shrugged and headed to the stove to finish what she'd started.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:36 am
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