Mother of Darkness

shewhoisshadow​:

Onyx followed her lead and also shifted to sit cross legged and face her more. While he was in no rush to recount all these memories, he would have been fine going first. But before he had a chance she had already begun, so instead he sat quietly and listened intently as she gave a brief recount of her life. "A green thumb? Hah, I can certainly believe that already. Just from what little I've known of you so far. But I very much agree with you. I think it is in out best interest to be as familiar with one another as we can be."

"So," He paused for a moment to take a breath. "I was born in Kuroyuri, one of two villages that broke away from the Kingdom of Mistral in the wake of the Great War. Mostly Wealthy nobles unhappy the deposition of the Emperor and introduction of a council that would likely take away many of the privileges they held over others. My father belonged to one of Old Mistrals noble Samurai families. By some miracle he didn't perish in the desert of Vacuo along with all the other families during the Great war. And my mother... I actually don't know anything about her heritage. But she did have quite the green thumb as well..." A forlorn smile crosses his lips as he does his best to look anywhere but at Kali right now.

"Ahem, given that Kuroyuri and its sister village Oniyuri were created as somewhere the nobles could continue to live as they pleased. It was only natural that people over indulged. Greed in particular was widespread, and the negative feelings surrounding it brought the grimm. I was still just a kid then, but they both gave their lives to try and save me and by some weird twist of fate, or perhaps by the grace of the Kami I managed to escape..."

She listened to the boy speak, her eyes blinking slowly and hands reaching for the coffee that had just been served with dessert. His tale was...a common one. Unfortunately, many in her employ had come from rough or tragic backgrounds, and were looking to find a home somewhere new. Kali had a reputation for ‘taking in strays’, but she had the feeling that this one didn’t meet the standard definition of that word. 

He was strong and kind and quiet. There were secrets hidden behind his eyes -- some of which were spilling into the space between them as he spoke, others she was sure would emerge in time. She had her own, after all. No one was without some skeletons in their proverbial closets. 

“Well, I’m glad that you made it to where you are today. I’m sorry you had to endure those hurts, but they shaped you into the young man who sits here now. For that, I am grateful, no matter how bitter those truths may be.” 

Kali had heard of Kuroyuri and Oniyuri. Old legends now, but at one point in time they were thriving and growing. The Grimm and bandit tribes had seen to their demise, though. Two things Kali was grateful were not present in great numbers on Menagerie. 

shewhoisshadow​:

Adrastia rolled her eyes but she found it difficult to spew her usual venom. Kali Belladonna was annoyingly patient and empathetic. Not to mention, ugh, motherly. It was something that Adrastia had no experience in dealing with. Disappointing father figures were a dime a dozen, but Adrastia could genuinely say that she had never had anyone that even remotely acted motherly towards her.

So this was new. She wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

“Blake’s perspective of what’s fucked up is skewed.” Adrastia shot back. “I’m a fucking trainwreck and even I can recognize that. And yeah it benefits me because for some asinine reason Blake decided to take me back. Again. But c’mon!”

She wildly gestured in the general direction of Blake’s quarters. Nowhere near where they currently were, thank the gods. Not that Adrastia thought Blake would be holed up in her room. No, she was probably out and about with the brat somewhere. Being a… parent. Gods, that was still so fucking weird.

“Her history speaks for itself.” Adrastia continued. “Adam, the creepy obsessive bastard… Me, who, oh you know, tried to murder her a few times… Whoever the fuck knocked her up. Don’t know anything about the bastard, but I know Blake’s type - psychopaths - and the fact that he’s not here helping to take care of the kid speaks volumes. I’m not good for her. I’ll fuck her up further. And the kid. And… and my kids.”

“Oh, I never said she was a completely healthy, balanced individual.” Kali released a sad chuckle around the rim of her coffee cup, taking a moment to imbibe a few lingering swallows of the bitter drink, before turning her attention back to the frantic woman. “But she’s healthier and more balanced than she has been in a long time. I think you’ll realize that if you spend a little more time around her. Also, don’t be afraid of Giada. The child is a sassy, little doll. You’ll learn to love her soon enough.” 

This girl was so angry. But beneath that anger, Kali could sense a level of hurt that had never really been realized nor appreciated by her. Until that happened, there was little anyone could do to help her heal. But now wasn’t the time to start poking at old wounds and digging up buried skeletons. No, there would be time for that later. She needed to earn Adrastia’s trust and confidence, first. And that would take time. Which was the one thing that Kali had plenty of.