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Wed 10th Jan 2024 06:50

68. Needed Vacation

by Lady Leticia Scarlet-Bloesembhel Voetdhel-Montaneus

Looking over the ciphered message Scarlet sighed, moving to the fireplace she burned the letter, intently watching it catch fire.
 
Her mentor behind her was gearing up and cheerily called out from behind the divider, "Don't worry Cherry-Berry, I expected as much. You hold down the fort here. I'll go see what your aunt needs."
 
Looking at the pile of ashes she asked, "Will..."
 
And she heard a sigh behind the divider, "Yes child. I don't mean to sound dismissive but they are going to be okay."
 
"Your.... you're so much better than this than us. I feel like..."
 
Rounding the corner, familiar armor gleaming in the candle light Sniffles came around to turn Scarlet to face her, "What's this about?"
 
She shuffled on her feet, unwilling to look her second mother in the eye. After some back-and-forth she admitted, "I just... It's the looming dead line that gets to me."
 
Nodding Sniffles continued to gear up, now decent, "That makes sense. You've been working towards this goal since you were small."
 
"Does this bother you?"
 
"Yes, but not the way you think," Sniffled admitted.
 
"How so?" Scarlet asked.
 
"I wanted you to have a childhood. You remind me of myself, I wish my mother had given me the opportunity to be a child. This upcoming trip to the Far East, take it."
 
"But I have so much work here!"
 
"Berry, you need a vacation," Sniffles came over to her and cupped her cheek, "You are not a machine. You'll run yourself ragged and-" she cut off Scarlet as she talked, "No, listen to me. And you've already given yourself an ulcer. Get. On. The. Boat."
 
Sighing Scarlet sat down huffily and pouted, "I don't need a vacation. I'm fine."
 
To her credit Sniffles face remained neutral as she continued tucking throwing knives god knows where on her person, "Take the vacation. Things here are running smoothly and you need to let go. You need to learn how to relinquish control. Besides, this is also a test."
 
Scarlet's ears perked up and internally Sniffles was sad. She had hoped one day her child wouldn't be so hell bent on working herself to death, "Oh! Oh? Okay." After a second she asked, "How so?"
 
"You need to leave it to run by itself to tell where the issues are."
 
"But that seems counterintuitive," Scarlet admitted.
 
"You won't always be able to be here when things happen. So you need to be able to trust in the people and the systems you enabled to make sure things run without a hitch. Sometimes the weak or stress points won't show until you've allowed something to run by itself long enough."
 
Nodding Scarlet agreed, "Okay.. I see what you're getting at. I'll sign up."
 
Having tucked away the last knife and attached the last bag of holding to herself Sniffles hugged her child, "That's my good girl. Remember what I always said?"
 
"Any room can be a panic room if you give me a second?"
 
Sniffles playfully swatted at her adoptee, "Yes and no. You've got to trust in your people and in the process. It's always messy at the beginning but this is a needed step."
 
Scarlet leaned into the hug and laid her head on her mother's shoulder, "You'll come and visit?"
 
"After I address whatever the hell went wrong, yes."
 
"The armies?"
 
"They've been created and are doing their job."
 
"Why are they scattered this way?"
 
"Between the houses?"
 
"Yeah, what's the point in making all those new houses and tying them to mine?"
 
"Control. A percentage needs to be 'on call', this way should something happen we'd be able to keep more people staffed and protecting the lands."
 
"I don't want to be the new head."
 
"I know."
 
"If my sibling wasn't in danger-" she trailed off....
 
Sniffles rubbed her back as she held her, "I know. You're such a good sister. I'm so proud of you."
 
"But I feel terrible for saying this out loud."
 
"You have a right to feel the way you do. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
 
"But mom-" Scarlet protested.
 
Pulling back Sniffles firmly gripped her shoulders and forced Scarlet to look at her face, "Child. No. I am your mother now. And you have a right to feel your feelings. Never push them down. This situation sucks."
 
Hearing that Scarlet burst into tears. The validation she had always needed and continue to need broke her, "I just... I feel so bad."
 
"I know.," Sniffles said soothingly.
 
"I'm just so overwhelmed!" Scarlet cried.
 
After many words of affirmation and terrible jokes/puns aside Sniffles soothed her child, "You going to be okay?"
 
"No. Can you stay?"
 
"No Berry. I need to go. Do you feel okay?"
 
After several seconds Scarlet deflated and said, "No... And yes. I'll get on the boat. I think you're right. A change in scenery will do me good."
 
Cupping her child Sniffles smiled gently at Scarlet, "That's my girl. Have fun and remember, always be courteous." She booped her nose.
 
Scarlet scoffed, "Mom!" and turned away.
 
Chuckling Sniffles opened the window and told her, "I love you Berry. Stay safe," and within a heartbeat she had launched herself out of the window, turning into a bird climbing the sky.
 
Scarlet stared after her second mother and after a second, "I love you to... And thanks mom." Before closing the window.
 
Later that evening Scarlet wrote in her journal:
 
[I'm going on that trip with Nita. It will be a much needed vacation.]

Continue reading...

  1. 01. Settling in
  2. 02. Fist Fight at a fancy Ball
  3. 03. It's a Lion not a 'Cat'
  4. 04. Patron's tea and dance
  5. 05. The escort job
  6. 06. Update: Today's purchase list
  7. 07. Escort for Bella and the Loot King
  8. 08. Sirens and a chase in town
  9. 09. Got abducted again
  10. 10. Jams and Jellies
  11. 11. New Dog
  12. 12. Guards in the Trees
  13. 13. Temple Visit
  14. 14. New Pup & Outing
  15. 15. Training exercises
  16. 16. Fighting over an idol
  17. 17. Jobs galore
  18. 18. New stationary
  19. 19. A small visit
  20. 20. Slaps and shows
  21. 21. Today's meal
  22. 22. Homesick
  23. 23. Lanterns in the sky
  24. 24. Baby in the park
  25. 25. The Heist
  26. 26. Update: Guild
  27. 27. Mines and Traps
  28. 28. New clothes
  29. 29. I made Journeyer!
  30. 30. Investment shopping
  31. 31. The Pit (fights)
  32. 32. Ghosts of the past
  33. 33. Unexpected ending in a Play
  34. 34. Today's meal
    https://www.worldanvil.com/hero/journal/1aa083c5-ae1f-4624-a724-197a3f8704e3/view
  35. 35. Spies and secrets
  36. 36. Wanted: Three Hand Gang (WED)
  37. 37. Well it's official
  38. 38. Hags and stones
  39. 39. Death and visitations
  40. 40. the shell game
  41. 41. Anger and plots
  42. 42. The jobs so far
  43. 43. (Doodles)
  44. 44. Meetings and Partings
  45. 45. Double checking
  46. 46. An office Scene
    8/01/2023
  47. 47. An(other) office Scene
  48. 48. Paperwork
  49. 49. Behind the curve
  50. 50. Notes and notation
  51. 51. Cake and notes
  52. 52. Paperwork on the high seas
  53. 53. Pics and notes
  54. 54. A small talk
  55. 55. Small notes
  56. 56. The Dressmaker
  57. 57. (food)
  58. 58. Notes
  59. 59. Putting the clues together
  60. 60. Notes
  61. 61. Tea cakes (& slights)
  62. 62. Updates
  63. 63. Board Meetings during battles
  64. 64. Updates
  65. 65. Field command
  66. 66. I am okay
  67. 67. Mountains of paperwork
  68. 68. Needed Vacation
  69. 70. A note
  70. 71. An update
  71. 72. Dissapointment
  72. 73. Notes
  73. 74. Journal entry
  74. 75. Ledgers
  75. 76. Food
  76. 77. An update
  77. 78. A thought
  78. 79. Basking in Dusk's light
  79. 80. A note
  80. 81. A letter home
  81. 82. A dream/a journal entry
  82. 83. An update
  83. 84. Working long hours
  84. 85. A dream, a memory
  85. 86. A meeting
  86. 87. The ride home

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 01:42, Nov 15 2024