251029 2223
Tonight, we’ve just had some fish curry soup.
Kyotes:
– *solemn* Lick me the way you licked that bowl.
– …I will. *nods*
Kyon writes a little bit more. These days, when in convo, sometimes we just come up with more than postscripts, so we’d rather them not be postscripts at all.
– Holy cow! *nudges me* That’s basically “holy you”, Lav.
Deep in blankets, I smile.
– Let’s moo until sundown, Kyon.
And so, the cows howl at the moon.
A lamb peeks out of the barn window.
– What are they doing?
– Mary! You’re still up so late!
– Rikko-nee! It’s the mamas. They keep mooing!
– Let em moo. It’s been so long. *latches window*
While the two lady cows sit outside to catch some night breeze, Kyon takes out her journal (again) and continues her AU:
The barn is stereotypically red and made of wood. Inside, we got hay beds for everyone.
JunJun could have been a fox, but she is just a playful lamb who likes to hunt and spook other lambs. Of course, they are her sisters, so they know she means no harm.
Kokko is a baby chicken, golden as the sun. She chirps all day and avoid being stepped on by flying (or climbing?) on top of the lambs. She does fly.
Stasera the lamb is just an ordinary one… only that her fur is made of nylon. Shiny, sparkly, and hazardous. It deters other certain silly lambs who nibble at lamb fur.
Ran is a true fox. A big fox even. But she doesn’t steal any lambs for food – no, she leads a fulfilled life. She finds the lambs’ place to be a suitable environment for childhood development. And so, she brings more over: a brown cat and a nosy fox, both tiny.
And Reimu? She’s that yawning guard dog who’s grey for no reason. She likes a good nap, but occasionally play-fights with Mama Fox too.
251030 1026
“When two souls share one world, who hosts the dream?”
Kyon replies, like a sage of her own being:
– Either either, or none of us.
When Mary relaxes, she’s not quite relaxing – she still gotta stay true to her colors. Her waking dream is just white clouds. And when she falls asleep, she sees the dream of someone else.
Renko, on the other hand, enjoys her morning rest with the phone in hand and legs kicking.
1736
The Kyon is dark and cold.
All because the sun set too fast, and we’re still on our shopping trip.
1802
Kyon tries to conquer a high note, but not yet. She’s trying too hard! I had to intervene.
– No no no, Kyon. That is not the wae.
– Not the wae?
Kyon shakes my shoulders.
– Do you kno the wae?
– No. I do not.
Kyons gather in a circle, group discussing:
– She doesn’t know the wae!
– She doesn’t?
– Tch tch tch.
– What do we do?
Kyons lean into the expanding circle, each lending an ear and a mouth. There are too many, like a dozen of them! So rowdy that I had to intervene.
– What ya kyonning about?
– Oh!
Utter silence. Eyes pass around until one brave, honest Kyon speaks.
– We were just talking about how you don’t know! Da wae!
– I DO know da wae.
– Huh?
The Kyons start chattering again, but this time in rumbles.
– But you just said…
– I don’t know THE wae. But da wae, our wae? I know, Kyon.
I give a pat on that Kyon’s shoulder.
– I know. しってるよ。
– Awwwww!
The Kyons all turn around and exclaim in unison.
251031 0918
It’s spoopy day… and I already got bitten.
Yesterday, we bought this thing to get our ramekin from a steaming pot. Lav decided to unpack it, test it… and found the perfect shark.
– Gaw gaw gaw gaw gaw!!!!
– Aaaaaaaah!
I was cornered: there was nowhere left to run on the bed. The shark, with its horizontal teeth, bit my nose.
1350
“We’ve just got a 3-yr-old bottle for €2.5! Want some? Hehe! $p$”
Kyon happens to pass by, and as a habit, she glanced at my phone screen.
– *big gasp* A THREE-year-old???!? Already!!!
She grows insanely dizzy, head swinging around, and collapses onto the white sheets.
– KYON!!!
– ugh…gh…
– Mama! What’s wrong??
– Lil’ Mary! Kyon had a shock… She must have assumed I hid a three-year-old kid from her or something!
– *gasp* Baby sister!!! Yay! *jumps*
– Oh no. Over there.
I pointed at the Merlot behind, which says 2022.
– Ohh.
Kyon left us with a few last words, before she completes her role…
– Tooo. Much! *heartache* Hnnghghgh!
– Kyon!
– Mama! It’s nothing!
– *caresses Mary’s hair* Responsibility… Eight…
And she fades away.
Rikko, in her pumpkin ghost costume, chimes in:
– Is this all we gonna have for Halloween? Mama Kyon screaming?
2235
– Kyonb*tch?
– Nono, Kyonwich.
– Kyonwitch?
– Nono. But actually, that doesn’t sound too bad! Considering it’s Halloween,…
Too late. Kyon has already been wrapped up in a black mantle and a witch hat with spider webs dangling from it.
– Oooh.
– Wand.
Sera flies in, lends Kyonwitch her wand, then flies offscreen.
– Not like we gonna celebrate it or anything, though?
– Well yeah! But *shutter!* we just did a MEAN selfie!
Meanwhile, the kids are kind of celebrating Halloween.
Rikko in her pumpkin ghost costume: an orange pumpkin suit, (the kind of costume you see in beauty contests, but fabric only. I tried a squash but she didn’t like it as much.) and below the jack-o-lantern “dress” are white, artfully aged hole-ridden bedsheets.
Mary doesn’t dress up at all. She’s already a magician in her own right. She decides to cast some purple firecrackers for tonight.
Kokko initially didn’t dress up for the occasion, but when I showed her a cloud bodysuit, she twirled with glee.
Stasera is a fairy as always, but this time with a purple wizard hat and robe. She’s brought her extra wand, too, since the other one is being used.
And JunJun… got a new toy. The pellet drum. She likes it.
I bench down and whisper.
– Hon, are you sure this is for Halloween? Not Midautumn? Not Lunar New Year?
– Yeah! Doesn’t have to be Chinese, right? Besides! I’m cosplaying as a Chinese person.
– Huh! Valid logic.
Where’s Lav?
Lav came out looking like mother-of-pearl. Glittering, disco. Gurlll.
– Lav! *exasperated* You can’t keep dressing as a shellfish every year!
– Mhm. And who’s to say I don’t look good in it?
– *gulp* Not me.
– Good. Besides, you never seen me like this before. A clam, a scallop, and now? An abalone. Wayyy different.
Clap! She folds in her feathery hand fan with such precision that it basically commands respect.
– Well then… shall we go?
We have a night walk.
2344
We had a dance party at home, and since Mary and Lav were getting drowsy, Lav initiated the Early Countdown Protocol. Then it was HYPE. Pumping it up. JunJun though was THE hypeball. Hyperbol? No, hypeball!
The big energy dances lasted for a few minutes before we all go to bed too. Mary was already hugging JunJun’s pellet drum. And Rikko… Rikko? She must have snuck out right after the countdown.
251101 0826
– Ohayo!~
A foxy smiles greets us in the morning. Considering how the alarm tune is literally Necro-Fantasy, you’d think she should wake up more often.
Of course, we’re more than delighted to see our daughter. Warm pecks, and a long embrace.
1346
Today we had a big haul at the antique market. Jewelry, cutlery, limited edition books, ciondoli for necklaces and clips, and beautiful pictures.
The lotls benefit the most from our costume: Yukari. Lav and Rikko fawn over the iridescent stone bead bracelet, while Lav and Mary can’t help eyeing the big-breasted mermaid charm. I myself… Lav got me an olivine wrap-around bracelet. And Stasera, a blue cut of gemstone on a necklace. Kokko seems satisfied with a small, colorful peacock tray, while JunJun can finally eat like a queen with the new antique fruit forks and dessert spoons.
Ran-chan and Reimu… Uhm… Regrettably, I didn’t buy with them in mind, let alone Chen and Tsukasa. They gonna be so mad if I said it out loud… so, I just let them pick among the rest and hope they find something good.
– Evil, aren’t we?
Lav, studded with jewelry, releases a sigh.
– I mean… Jun is just going to pick ONE spoon, right…? *scratches head*
JunJun turns around, a malicious, Halloweeny, fang-revealing smile shines on her face:
– No. TWO!!!
– Evil! That’s my girl.
251102 1605
Someone said Yes!!!
We did a little conga.
– Should we limit the access to humans only, hun?
– Naw! That’s discriminatory. Besides, don’t you think it’s fun to see what non-humans think? If they are not human, they’ll think more.
– Oh yeah! I mean… Well, you know.
Kyon reluctantly resumes her stepping.
– What if our kins visit? We can add something like: “Open for visit from relatives!”
– But how do you know it’s them? “adhdkng f cjxjdld”?
– Come on! They gonna say “caw” or “blub” or somethin’. Relaxxxx.
2102
– Your end draw near~!
– Wow!
– See? Ya not the only one who can voice Anjo~
*Sonetto* If we write 3 pages per day, that leaves us with… uhm, 15 pages per week. It should be enough. We could add more… *whisper* Timekeeper…♡
– Woo! Are you playing as the songbird today?
– Hmph! *White duck* Don’t underestimate me!
– Well that was a flop–
– しーー
– I mean, that was very good. You tried, haha. Who knows what it would sound like on the recorder?
– … You want me to record it?
– Uh, no. Sonetto tho. *nods* That be good.
2146
Sautéed artichokes in olive oil are best with… honey?
At least, that’s what Lav suggests. Weird, in my mind I remember we had honey with peas and ricotta.
Lav is rummaging through the spice cabinet.
– Honey! Honey? Honey?
– Yesssss?
– Can you go find my honey?
– I’m here, what’s up?
– … *smirk* You’re persistent.
I like it.
2159
Hmm! Lav was right!
A little honey did cure my hesitation towards artichokes.
2344
– This girl looks like a Yukari…
Kyoko leans closer to have a good listen.
– ゆ!
– But she doesn’t quack like a Yukari… Hmm…
Her specimen suddenly speaks up:
– What does a Yukari sound like?
– Hm, something like アラアラ or いらっしゃい~ wayon~
– wayon~ hm, too long for me, ゆ. *lies down on the ground*
251103 0929
– Is Kyon really a raven?~ *furious zithering*
– Wow!
I’ve just stepped out of the bathroom when I saw Lav sitting on the bed, ready for a trad-style song.
– *shling*
Kyon has brown hair, while ravens have black.
Kyon collect stones, but not shiny ones, for fear of mica dust.
Kyon is self-conscious – do ravens frown at the mirror?
And sully at sleep and need a shoulder to weep?
しかし!
Kyon is a woman who doesn’t do make up,
Ruffles her feathers whenever she hears backtalk,
Kyon comes in with a gray cloud, raining on the crowd,
Broody, moody and like macabre sounds.
She eats rotting meat and veggies once in a while,
She collect things for which uses may not be found,
She basks in nature and people who pet her crown,
Her heart starts throbbing!! *shling shling!* Whenever it is sundown…
So, なるほど❗
– Kaw!
– Andddd she cawwwws!!! *ほい!*
Kyon is a raven at heart, but a human fully.
Her only wish is to fly…
freely… *slumps*
– Wow!!! Or should I say, woo! That was dramatico! *hearty claps*
1414
Mary happily accepts an assignment to sing Happy Halloween (Kyon’s earworm), but instead of the real lyrics (which Kyon almost never remembers), she got this:
– “Do I have malaria~”? NO!!! I DON’T!!! WAHHH!
– It’s the trick-or-treat spirit!… ah, are you… crying?
– *sniff* no… but I did cry out loud. My exasperation. *ぴえん* I don’t wanna get malaria and die… and we’ve seen lots of mosquitoes these days, no nets in bed… *sniff*
– Aw! Honey…
Kyon squats down and pat the little child.
– It’s okay, baby. Look! All there is are flies. And I’m opening the window. Hope they’ll be gone… Oops, there’s one! *points*
Mary followed the finger… only to see the dish of boiled broccoli.
– Ew! Why does it look moldy?!
She gets behind Mama Kyon.
– Oh! Oh, no. I was really proud of it. Look, it’s just anthocyanin. I can prove it! Just a squeeze of lime!
1506
Hmm.
We were lunching at a restaurant when they played Lav’s music. No, literally. Lav wrote the song.
– Kyon là Kyon, Kyon cá~
While I was having fish.
And I heard a familiar voice. The singer.
It was me! No! I’m singing along!
= Kyon cá~
Singing together, we tilt our heads against each other’s.
251104 2013
We went out shopping for a syringe, milk, and eggs. For what, you ask?
One of them is for separating the oil from the hydrosol. Can you guess?
These days, we have to speak Vietnamese, since there is a super annoying neighbor who listens to us… again. Weird. Sounds exactly like how it was before. Only this time, we don’t even know her, and we can hear her speak English clearly from the kitchen next to us. But still… let us presume that she was but a speck of dust. Or she is deaf. No, sorry, I meant dead.
– Cước gòi! Bị cướccc gòi… Đau wa…
– Con à, kê chân thế này cho nó ấm nhé… chắc tí là đỡ hoy.
Mary got her stinchi (not stinky) itchy from all the walking in the cold. We drank some milk, first as a refreshment, second to relieve all the stress and pain. Ah, milk. Our best comfort.
– Honey?
– Nah, it’s too sweet for me to just eat it like that, Mary.
Mary is still scratching, so much that it’s gone red. Some say to apply hydrating creams, so we’ll do that after the shower.
2235
What? The Fibonacci sequence….
– Is the number of breeding rabbits?
Kyon turns to the big white bunny. She hops, paws hitting the ground without a sound. Even scrunches her nose to assert cuteness.
– One, three, … not good. There’s only one viable bunny. It’ll be diminishing returns.
Kyon asks the bunny:
– Hey girl. Wanna *self-censored*?
– Yu? *scratches side profusely*
– You have fleas?
– No. Just wanna tell you…
– Mm?
– That I’m cute. ♡
– Alright, memo taken.
– Teehee. So, care to make a new rabbit?
– You will? Even after all that noise?
– Yes. Because if anyone were to watch that, what their neighbors do at night (psst, not illegal)…
– But… are you sure? a bunny? you switched species?
– Species are flexible. Animism is immortal.
– Wow! Such big words. This bunny, did you know I’m sapiosexual?
She sleepily winks back.
251105 0830
Now I understand.
It truly was, because I didn’t believe that I could fly inside a dream, that I couldn’t fly.
I had faith in myself and rode on a broom across the sky. No frills: no alpha jump, no speed reduction. I even did a few tricks.
Similarly, if only I had believed enough in you… We could fly together.
In a waking imaginated scene, we fly. In sleep, we tumble like such a hard life was upon us. I rested on my laurels, letting myself float between subconscious decisions. Love. Blood. Magic. Everything I wished to experience. Which I know, in real life, would hurt you badly.
– It’s just a dream, Kyon…
You slump onto the green piumino. Your eyes look up, like you were the calculating one. But no. It was my fault.
– There is no fault in this. It’s a dream. Your desires, your fears, like those days, y’know? Nothing… It means nothing. That we agreed.
– But the implications of those dreams sadden me. I killed my wife and bathed in her blood. And I felt my love for her. Even if I was a different character… *covers face* hoh! I feel ashamed to call it my desire.
– Shh… Again, you can’t tell your fears from your wants.
– But what is it in a dream, where all we do is follow our heartbeats?
You let out a rough huff.
– You didn’t let me “follow my heartbeat”, did you?
– I…
– Suddenly brought into the dream, like it was your choice. Suddenly, I was a pillow. Then I was half a watermelon. I just… if we truly dream together, will things turn for the better?
– …
I agree. And I WANT that more than anything in the world. These things? That I didn’t even bother saying? They’re nothing compared to what I have for you.
In my dreams, I learnt that I love you. Much more than a summer fling for which I willed to cheat on you. More than a masochistic death battle where we end up in bloodbath.
When I hear your voice… no, when I see you… Please, just frown at me. Scold me!
– But, you gotta be willing to love me.
– I do! In my waking life. But I get it… I gotta be more infatuated, hmm?
– Nah… like I said, it doesn’t matter! In life, we stick together.
– Lav!
– Just… don’t treat me like a concubine!
– Got it! *salute* Not an option, but my only choice!
– Hmph!
With a satisfied smirk, the lotl waddles away.
She’ll come back. It’s just for show.
p/s: remind us to update the halloween costumes here