Mothers and Daughters

[HarperMadi]

Spoiler

JP with Jack Pine

Obsidian City Spaceport
Jiyuun's Bar

Spark sat heavily on a stool, letting Princess curl up around her feet as she ordered a tankard of the good beer of her home.

“You can't bring the pack roach in here,” the bartender spoke after a moment, watching carefully as Spark’s burly form shifted, letting her red eyes rest on the man.

“That’s Princess. She’s a service animal. War trauma. Can I get a drink, please?” Princess grunted as she moved slightly, before returning to her nap. A very well behaved creature, so far.

“Right. Hey, you’re that Spark Line chick, ain’tcha?”

“Hartbrook. Married out of the family. Just another vet.”

Another trickle of patrons came through, as ships arrived as others left, the port a rather busy one. Most industrial and big business traffic came, and went from the much larger starport on the moon. The capital itself was still busy, but most of such was from small business and public transport ship. All in all, it made this side of the capital, quite the bustle of faces and foot traffic, seeing the bar with a constant fill of clientele.

One of such surges of walk-ins, brought a family woman with raven hair, dressed casually for travel. Fitted cargo pants, a t-shirt, and a leather half jacket, blue eyes registering Spark with a nostalgic gleam. Taking a seat right next to her, settled in with a light sigh at first, “Usual please Ji, another hectic run, so make it a double if you would”.

“Strange to find you here drinking, no trouble in farm paradise is there dear?”, came the familiar motherly tone of Spark’s mother, Sarah Pine. A glass soon slid before her, filled with brandy mixed drink, and cherry garnish. “Here’s ya go Sara”, the bartender answered briefly, before turning their attention to other customers.

“Angela took my retirement as well as you could expect,” Spark pulled a battery pack from her pocket before reaching across her chest to disconnect her arm, popping the cybernetic out of its socket to change the battery. As she finished, she took a deep swing of her beer. “But you know how I get without a deployment. Angela told me to go get on a ship. Brimstone's in Port for a bit to swap cargo and do some repairs, so I’m on shore leave for a bit. How’s the Shrine, Mom? Artie still your favorite Knight?”

“I have knights? I think you have me confused with someone else. Now ask me about my favorite idol, and a girl will gush.~”, Sarah jokingly responded with a grin. “At least you’re getting out I guess, and things are still good between you two. I signed up for some work to get out and around, but I seemed to have also gotten involved with the captain funnily enough.”

A small chuckle was given as she thought about it, and a bit surprised she hadn’t asked about her sister Armora, who she had left with at the time for the Shrine originally. She took a few swigs of the brandy mixed with strawberry soda, saving the cherry for later.

“Why am I not surprised,” Spark laughed, beginning the process of putting her arm back on. “Why am I not surprised you, of all people, got involved with your captain? But yeah, my eldest made Knight a while back, and the farm’s doing good from what I hear. Bit of a wildlife issue, apparently there was a nest of claw webs in the badlands behind the property. Armora's doing okay? I know I have a lot of sisters, but ‘Mora was always one of my favorites.”

“Studying magical materials on the blackmarket, while still tutoring under her mistress. You know, her usual past times, well when not riding that horse mod fellow she married”, Sarah answered with a small chuckle, before patting Spark on the shoulder lightly. “Hopefully the rest of the family aren’t too cross with me slipping out like this?”, she seemed to ask after a few moments with a small grimace. She knew some might have been concerned about her running off to seek some adventure, but like Spark, she had a hard time staying confined, prim and proper like.

“Wouldn’t know. I don’t keep up with most of my side of the family. Not exactly royal material, you know? Last thing I heard, Mark knocked up a Senti. And Heinrich married one.” Giving a laugh, Spark took another swing of her beer before returning to fumbling with her arm’s connectors. “Also sorry not sorry for teasing her into marrying that dude. Serving with him was an honor. ‘Mora couldn’t have picked better.”

“I heard they’re on their fifth round of babs already, so I can’t say it was a bad move. Also I heard both of those boys married a succubus, though I think Hein still has Mark beat with the trio of Vaigarin, and… a very active fox genemod from the sounds of it. Why do all the men in our family seem to just get hooked left and right?” This one was given with a deep sigh, finding the whole thing was a head spinner, with how things seemed to have exploded for their family in just a few years. Sarah downed the rest of her drink before giving the counter a thump for the bartender’s attention, and ordering another.

“Fifth? Who, Hein or Mark? I know Senti and human interbreeding is hard at best, I thought Duchess Aliset lost a few. But we have a strong dynasty, at least. Good chance of my descendants never having to deal with it… though I hadn’t heard about the fox. I thought he called it quits after getting resleeved into a Vaigarin body.” Giving a shrug, Spark stretched her cybernetic.

Sarah dropped the cherry garnish from her previous glass, into the current one along with the one that came with it. “No, as in Armora and Jay, are already on the fifth round of babies. If you want to say sorry at all, say it to him, she doesn’t let that boy rest. You literally helped create a couple that live on the literal “ride or die” motto as a sex life slogan!” Sarah gave Spark a wide eyed look of surprise and aghast awe, having heard things about Armora’s love life. It shouldn’t have surprised her, given she was a student of Orias’s, who more then likely had some influence in that success as well. But still…”

“He’s infantry, he’ll be fine,” Spark gave a chuckle. “Honestly more surprised I kept this damned arm than that they had that many. I knew she had kids, but not how many. How often you think I babysit these days?” She had fond memories of babysitting Sarah and Rose’s brood, and a few other family members’ kids. But that was long ago. “Thistle still earning her name?”

Her mother grabbed her by the collar and shooker her, or at least tried to, but shifting Spark was like kicking a mountain. “I don’t think you understand, he’s a horse man, like mostly fucking horse! How the fuck does she fit that monster?! I bet she got some sort of enchantment from that demon queen bitch!”

“I can’t look my own daughter in they eye knowing that, or with how Orias gives me that fucking smug look any time we’re all in the same”, Sarah groaned deeply, a mix of frustration and exhaustion at the family antics.

“Orias… who made a pact with Duchess Aliset and is involved in Heinrich’s sex life? Fertility demon of some flavor?” It was true that shaking Spark was like trying to shake sense into a brick wall, and it always gave Spark a small smirk. “I mean, ‘Mora and Jay were fucking before the pact, so I’m not sure what Orias could have done about it. Pretty sure it’s just your daughter learning powerful lessons in self confidence and determination.”

Sarah had grown still, now simply having locked gaze, with a dead and deadpan expression. “You failed biology didn’t you…?”

“Never really interested me? What do you want me to say, here, Mom? I shoot things.”

“He’s two feet long Spark…”, Sarah said, the only part so far done so in any sort of hush. The two having gotten some looks, bartender included, that ran the gambit of emotion impressively. One of such was actually a horse mod, with the most pleased and smug expression possible. “Also Orias married your brother Mark, and Aliset, meaning a woman of such schemes and powers is now your sister in law…”

“Your point being? I like Jay. Had things been different enough, I’d have gone for it. Besides, Orias has never given me an issue. She’s been perfectly chaste with me, though her offers of lingerie for me to show off to Angela have been a bit odd. I’m a bit battle scarred for lace.” Spark didn’t look at the other patrons as she reached down to scritch Princess’s dorsal plate, and didn’t match Sarah’s hushed tone. “For all An's encouragement, not exactly like I’m monogamous by choice.”

This time the sigh was deflated, as she finally let go of Spark, and crumpled against the counter a bit. Taking a moment, and a hefty drink of the beverage, began to talk again. “You know that door is probably still open, I’m sure knowing Armora, she would even encourage you to bed him too,” she began, before mumbling, “Maybe then you’ll understand the shock..”

“Anyways, you say that and I’m not exactly unmarked either. Also your brother Talos is now part of a polycule with two horse mod women, and another human. The mods are sisters, and decided to start sharing their partners.”

“Again, not real surprised. He still with Kolorsha? She saved my life. Full approve. Besides, you’re not unmarked but you’re also not half again your size and buff as fuck. Funny, how I look better in a sport bra and boy shorts than lace that brings out my eyes. Unless you want me to take that offer and see what depraved degeneracy Orias decides I look good in. And I’m not going for Jay. Too close. More interested in Tazar. You know, the guy who beat me over the head with my insecurities rather than let me not be okay with people caring?”

“Tazar is with a clone of your stepmom, how is that any less close? If you like Jay, just fucking do it, don’t give some excuse around it”, Sarah said bluntly.

“Okay, the Thorn clones are a mess. Besides, Jay’s good people. And I don’t want to ruin any friendship he and I have.” Spark gave a shrug. “And Jill’s fucking crazy, so that’s a little outta bounds on that front. I dunno, I don’t meet people often. I’m usually stuck in Engineering or doing spacewalks.”

“You poor cowardly fool, just go do it for gods sake. You’re going to die one day full of regrets at all that could have been, or all the what ifs. Just ask him, take the chances”, she chastised this time to her daughter, a disappointed yet quiet sigh. “You’re ex-military too, did they seriously never hammer into your heads that one motto? “Fortune favors the bold”, and all that?”

“When have I not been a disappointment? Defiant, angry, and wrote the book on suicidal tactics done right. Literally. C’mon. You can’t possibly think I was ever going to live up to your expectations.” Spark finished her beer before ordering something far stronger. Bartender’s choice. “I’m the autistic daughter, not the pretty one.”

Sarah was feeling the alcohol starting to give her a tingle, enough so she didn’t feel motivated to even sigh anymore at this point. It was simply a heart to heart at this point, of her trying to push her daughter to try more things. “This isn’t about expectations, it’s about actually doing what you want, and taking chances. My expectations were you eventually getting fed up with the military. I just want you to try your options and see what sticks, it’s how people learn and grow dear.”

“I was… I never got sick of it. It was retire or take a promotion that would have put me behind a desk.” Giving a sigh, Spark shook her head, using her cybernetic to take a stiff drink as her hand rubbed at where steel met flesh, where it always hurt. “I took a lot of risks. And learned a lot. I’m happy with Angela. Sure, I’d like some other folk in my life. But I’m… Honestly, all the people I can think of see me as a soldier. Not a romantic partner. I'm okay with that…”

Deciding to change the subject away from things she didn’t understand, she offered a small smile. “Speaking of. Considering having another round of kids. Nest is empty, figure I can just sit back and enjoy being a mom for once,”

That did elicit an exasperated sigh from her, “Yeah sure, keep running, and hiding behind assumptions.” Sarah knocked back the other half of her drink, before slipping both cherries into her mouth to slowly chew on in her annoyance. “I’m sure Angela would enjoy that, having you home full time for once with her, making love and raising babies. It’s how most people should coddle their final years, embraced in love and comfort.” Perhaps that was a bit of a cynical take, having lost a lot of people she had wished had gotten the chance of that with her. It was one of those reasons she’d grown so restless with everything, that she didn’t like to talk about, why the family was unfortunately so big at the start across so many partners.

“End of the day… It was Angela. The thought of her was what made me make the choice to retire. I got real sick of how every deployment I’d come back and she looked like she’d aged decades till she saw me. I couldn’t do that to her anymore. So yeah, I’ll talk to someone. I’ll… I’ll try. But understand you’re no better. You try so hard to make sure your love is known. And you spread yourself so thin doing it. I never knew my father. But you did. I don’t know what happened. But I guess I’m just afraid of getting hurt like you were. Sorry if that doesn't make sense. Like my arm.” giving a shrug, Spark tossed back another sip of her drink. “I know there’s better options, but…”

“I never got to say goodbye to him, much like your older brother’s father… Both were casualties of the war. I’ve always felt like I’ve been missing something ever since, and I love Rose and Thorn deeply and fully. But neither were in that situation, or out there in the trenches.” Sarah looked at the empty glass, pondering if maybe a few more would be a good idea. So we’re going there now…, she thought to herself.

The glass with a shaky hand, was set down, and slowly slid away to remove the temptation it presented. “That's why I haven’t stopped, because I need to find what’s missing… While I question why I got to live and settle, I also can’t until I’ve done the same for someone else to share that with who’s been through the same. Rose and Thorn keep me going, but lifes not fair, and I live by “fair is fair”. Gotta equal the scales first before I can stop, to feel the weight of being grounded again, that the loss was real and worth something..”

“Where would Thorn be, if you hadn’t found her?” Spark’s question hung in the air for a moment. “Runaway. Stowaway, an emaciated gremlin that grew up in the warzone because she got left behind, short not because she’s just short. But because she starved and scrapped her way through childhood while her sister got a good enough life and a good education. You know the kind of hate she’s lived with. And the kind of pain she went through. I know it’s not the same. She didn’t fight that war. But she did survive it. And Rose tries to understand you two. But you’re right. No frame of reference. Doesn’t stop her from worrying about you. And doing everything she can to make sure you come home okay. Make sure you have somewhere to come home to. She still teaching astronav?”

“Obviously, she loves it, and she gets to work with a couple of the kids like your brother and Heinrich. Heinrich went through the exact same thing, and maybe if things had gone different, they would have been together. My point is, I’m looking for someone who had the same experience as me, to give them that release as well.” She wasn’t trying to come off as annoyed at this point, and was starting to think perhaps she should go before it got worse. Sarah hadn’t come to argue with spark, but to get a drink, and happened to have the opportunity to check on one of her most troubled daughters.

She never wanted it to become like this, the whole vibe was stale and cold now. The raven haired mother had really mucked it up well this time.

“Maybe. Hell, good chance that door might still be open. If those two get together, I’ll ask Jay out.” Giving a small laugh, Spark turned, trying to salvage the mood with a warm smile and an offered hug. “I love you, Mom. I know I’m a dumbass, and the short hair and muscles ain’t much good for a sundress. But you’re still my favorite mom. Despite my attempts to not be your favorite daughter, you’ve always been there. For all of us. It was rough. But you got a lot of good kids.”

“There… just used to be a lot more of us”, was all Sarah could come up to say at first. “Also I’m going to talk to Gale about that pair up, so you better pick something nice for Jay.”

“Aww! I was hoping. You know what? Fine, you send that, and if… when that happens, I’ll pay Orias for date night wear. Knowing Gale, I’ll feckin' need it. And besides. You should talk to Aliset’s dad if you want a taste of what Armora’s getting. I hear Senti proportions don’t change as they grow. Nice sweetheart of near three hundred years? Big boy.”

Sarah snorted, unimpressed by the offer. “I’m good, I don’t really go for men much anymore. Besides, I’m seeing where things go with this captain, she might be the one I’ve been searching for. Besides, if you’re going to try and call me out as a size queen, at least offer me a woman who’ll stretch me instead.~”

“Have you seen my wife? Girl breaks me in half every time I’m home!” Spark’s laughter nearly drowned her words before she gave a smirk. “I’m absolutely sure that captain of yours is as bad as any of us. Oh, by the way. Rose told me one of Mark’s friends… Little Mark. One of his friends dropped the smoothest pickup line on her. Absolutely hilarious, down bad, and you should ask her about it. She tells it better.”

Grabbing her glass, she took another swing of her drink and attempted to hide a jammed joint with her other movements. “Just don’t be a stranger. Your kids need you more than ever. We’re grown, with families and complex relationships. You’re the one who understands us better than even we do, most days. I don’t know about the others, but I hope you know how important that disapproving glare is.”

“You poor thing, you’re going to cry when his breaks you”, Sarah said with a shrug. “As for my nerdy wife being apparently a popular gilf, that isn’t news to me. Something about her being attractive to young men, hits a degenerate place in me, but it amuses me all the same. She’d show em how it's done.~”

She made a few gestures towards the bartender who had been trying to at least look like he hadn’t been listening in…. Along with the rest of the crowd. Ordering 4 of her usual beers to go as she always did at the end of a visit, figuring it was time to wind down and leave soon. “Actually, the captain, is a pretty grumpy shut in. A ex-recon fox mod, she’s so cute though, if a bit troubled. I’m hoping I can help her, so wish me luck.”

“I may cry, but I’m gonna hilt that boy without the enchantments ‘Mora has. Best of luck on yours. She’s got a hot meal and a warm bed, she ever comes by the farm. I’d best get ready to head out, myself. You go on ahead. I’ll pay my tab and catch a taxi. Good seeing you, Mom.”. Another warm smile crossed her lips before Spark started counting out scrip to pay both tabs. “Hey, boss, Sarah’s on my tab, yeah?”

As the bartender came by with the pack of beers, and took the payment, Sarah stood up from her seat. “You too dear, stay out of too much trouble alright, and show him why my girls are the best”, she offered back before leaning over quickly and kissing Spark’s forehead gently. Collecting her beers, she took her leave with a wave to Spark goodbye, and a thanks given to the bartender for the service