Grandkittens: Languished: Part I/IV
(sequel to Grandkittens: Lapping)
Kali: *huffs as she tries to keep up*
Kali: I'm not as spry as I used to be.
Jaune: *loaded up like a packmules, looks back at her*
Kali: *nervously looks down*
Jaune: Seriously, not by any reckoning.
Blake: She is considered old on Menagerie.
Jaune: Well, I'm sorry, but they are wrong.
Kali: *nervously looks at him*
Jaune: I don't want to hear more about it.
Kali: Perhaps... I should say... I'm not trained like a huntress... it's been years since I've had to walk this much.
Jaune: *cranes his neck to look passed his backpack*
Kali: You've got enough to carry as it is.
Blake: You'd be surprised... just how much he can carry. He once carried my whole team.
Blake: That look implies there was a good reason for it. There was a reason for it, but not really a good one...
Kali: Could we... stop... for a minute?..
Jaune: *finds a good place to sit down, letting the rucksack rest on the ground as he slumped a bit*
Kali: Not going to take it off?
Jaune: It's balanced right now. I'm not going to mess with it.
Kali: *cuddles up to him*
Jaune: Okay, actually kind of hot...
Kali: Is there anything we can?..
Jaune: *drinks from his canteen*
Blake: The only thing we can really do is appreciate him.
Kali: *leans forward and kisses Jaune on the forehead*
Kali: I feel like I should be doing something...
Blake: That is kind of a problem with Jaune around...
Kali: I don't want to make it seem like I'm complaining, because I'm not, but do we need to go... wherever we're going?
Blake: Small towns need huntresses as much as the kingdoms do.
Kali: I'm just so proud of you. You are still fighting for those who need you.
Jaune: It is... kind of... what we do...
Kali: I knew you were a huntress... and I was proud of you... we've always been proud of you... but... you're still fighting for those that need it...
Kali: You are sure there is nothing we can do for you right now?
Blake: There will be time to help him later.
Kali: And just how will you be helping him?
Blake: Oh, don't worry, you'll be helping him, too. Even after a long march, he can still have plenty of energy for... you know...
Kali: I'm afraid I do. It's been years since I've had to worry about keeping up with anyone. I feel a decade younger.
Jaune: *slightly shifts in his rucksack*
Jaune: You do seem to glow more.
Kali: I do. I do. Now, why don't you tell me more stories about Beacon?
Kali: I forgot how vast Remnant is.
Jaune: Have you... left Menagerie?
Blake (admonishingly): Jaune!
Kali: No-no. Well, no to Blake. Blake, it's a fair question, and I'm guessing you didn't tell him about your childhood.
Blake: *nervously looks about*
Jaune: *looks back over his shoulder and let's out an annoyed Hm.
Blake and Kali: *look at Jaune and hustle to catch up*
Kali: Ghira hasn't been the Headman of Kuo Kuana for all that long. Before that we were activists.
Blake: That's what I meant when I said I founded the White Fang. I was there, with my parents.
Kali: She was quite the energetic girl. Once she decided to join the protests... she... lead them...
Jaune: So, you were in the kingdoms?
Kali: No. We came in to set up the White Fang.
Blake: Each kingdom has their own chapters.
Kali: We didn't actually live in the kingdoms.
Blake: As far as they were concerned, we were vagrants.
Kali: They weren't exactly welcoming to Faunus... nevermind for vagrants...
Blake: Despite winning the war, the kingdoms never accepted us.
Jaune: Some Humans are assholes to Faunus, some don't care.
Blake: I guess I never told you... how... he reacted when he found out I was a Faunus...
Jaune (looking back): I was stuck between "how could she get any cuter?", and trying to keep it secret.
Jaune: *looks forward before looking back again*
Jaune: It turns out cat ears make her SO MUCH more adorable.
Jaune: *looks forward before looking back again*
Jaune: Cute mother also adds like 100% more cuteness.
Jaune: *looks forward before looking back again*
Jaune: Make that 150% more cuteness.
Jaune: *looks forward again*
Jaune: And acting like a cat adds like another 100%. What are we up to, 500% cuteness?
Kali: *looks inquisitively at Blake*
Blake: *nervously looks away*
Kali: *walks up next to her daughter, rubbing shoulder-to-shoulder*
Jaune: *looks back at them*
Jaune: I seriously don't know what you are so embarassed about.
Jaune: *looks forward again*
Blake: Okay, so, for Faunus, giving in to our animal instincts is one of our biggest taboos.
Jaune: Cat head-pats are taboo? Okay, I know you shouldn't do them in public...
Kali: One of the last things Faunus want is to be is known as animals.
Blake: It's... the worst insult you can make against a Faunus.
Jaune: I don't know, Humans have instincts, too. Like that feeling you get when someone is watching you. Or that feeling like you REALLY shouldn't be doing something.
Blake: So, you... just don't listen to it?
Jaune: I don't know, maybe?
Kali (admonishingly): Blake...
Blake: Do you have to call her that?
Jaune: She did ask me to.
Blake: It's just... is that really the most appropriate thing to?..
Jaune: That just makes it even better.
Blake: Mom, say something.
Kali: *blushes and looks down*
Kali: I'll be whatever he wants me to be.