Feather to the heart | Valkyrie x Bangalore
Kairi receives a gift from her mother in the form of a pet chicken. But confused, she doesn't know what to do. Maybe Anita can help her out a little?
Characters: Bangalore, Valkyrie post LobaValk breakup (in the original I wrote in rus, this is a translation.) artwork by me
Feather to the heart
Shining in the spotlight and annoying in its hum, the Syndicate ship arrives on the planet's surface, immediately surrounding itself with a crowd of interested fans, the small crowd cheering, anticipating a face-to-face meeting with their favorite Legends. A couple minutes and the heavy metal hatch slides down languidly, illuminating the Legends arriving home. Interested fans rushed to their idols, occupying their already tired hands with autograph requests
Valkyrie didn't seem to be in the mood to actively interact with the fans this time. Slightly hunched back, lowered eyebrows, arms crossed on her chest. Stepping out of the ship, a heavy breath. Waved one away, one away
«Sorry, not now, no»
But before Kairi knew it, she was reflexively grabbing the small box with the envelope attached to it that Marvin the letter carrier had so kindly shoved into her hands and quickly disappearing into the crowd. The girl even flinched, the disheveled strands of her light hair standing up, notifying her of how abruptly she'd come out of the thoughts she'd just been so immersed in
"Nobuko Imahara"
Kairi read the signature on the envelope. Then she read it again, and then again. Her amber eyes glittered, her hands tensed as she gently held the box of unknown contents, and her ruddy lips spread into a soft smile. The girl immediately took off like a peregrine falcon, forgetting even to say goodbye to everyone, if only out of politeness
«Flying away...and without wings behind her back, wow»-Anita commented under her breath and shook her head, resting her back against the dirty street wall
«What a fool, she didn't even say goodbye, what did she get» - Ramya replied with a very feigned resentment, who was at the same wall, and so unexpectedly that Anita jerked back.
But now young Imahara wasn't worried about anything but visiting the noodle shop and studying the letter as she ate her dinner. Her stomach was eating itself, and impatience was choking her, wanting to tear open the box and the letter to find out what her mother had sent her
Here it is, a familiar market dedicated to various small street eateries, from typical Asian cuisine to more culturally specialized establishments. The nimble Kairi deftly rounds the corner of the section and stops, landing on a chair. The short cook, seeing the regular customer, nodded a greeting and began cooking, knowing what she would order. The girl nodded in return, reached out and opened the letter carefully sealed in a primitive envelope. From the very first words she read, the concentrated serious face changed to a surprised one, and so several more times throughout the letter
«WHY?!» She shrieked suddenly, attracting stares from passersby, and clutched her head with her hand. Then she glanced fearfully at the box
«Peep-peep»There was a thud from the plastic box-Peep-peep!
Kairi swallowed saliva and opened a part of the box with her finger, and a yellowish feathery head with black beady eyes popped out of it. The girl leaned toward her and said «hello to you...what's your name...» Kairi looked at the letter for a second «Oyakodon....»
Imahara carefully covered the box to prevent the chicken from accidentally climbing out onto the dining table, and finished the letter. while finishing her udon in parallel
After gathering her thoughts, she looked at her new friend again, and with the permission of the noodle shop's only employee, she let the bird set foot on the table. With a smile, the worker looked through the shelves and found some grain for the hen
-"I guess I have other plans for tonight... " Kairi thought, leaning on the table and stroking Oyakodon's head with her finger, "What do you need... a bird house... and where am I going to get one?"
After pondering, the girl adjusted the bedding inside the box, removed the top of the box, leaving only the deep bottom, made sure Oyakodon was okay, folded the letter, attaching it on a clothespin to the box part, paid for her dinner, and left on her way to the main part of town
Kairi walked back and forth down the long street, reading every sign to find a store with bird supplies. Later, she stopped briefly, deciding to look on the online maps for the right place
«Hehe, is that for dinner?» she said from her right shoulder and turned around. Anita was standing next to her, smirking a little, looking down at Kairi and the chicken «what? No!» The girl turned the box away from Bangalore a little, «It's... m... m... it's just chicken, I'm not cooking it»
Anita laughed a little «somehow you're too serious today, Kai. You're not looking forward to your new pet, are you?" Nita moved a little closer, holding out a finger to the bird.
«No, I don't know, I'm normal. My mom sent her to me, and I'm not ready for a pet, so maybe I should give her to someone... No, I'm not» Kairi was worried. I have to buy a few things for her, and then I'll think about it.
«Well, well, let's not make a fuss, it's just a chicken, it's nothing hard» Nita clapped her hand on the girl's shoulder-Know... I'm just wandering around the city now, let me help you out or what? Tell me what's on your mind. You know, I'm not even comfortable with your tense aura.
Valkyrie nodded, she could use some help right now. She showed the list of necessities that her mother had written «That's all I need to buy somewhere. I don't quite know where, we've always had plenty of that on the farm, my dad could build a poultry house when he needed it, I don't think I could do that in the city»
Anita looked at the list with a puzzled look and smiled awkwardly «Um... Kairi, I don't understand Japanese. Please dictate what it says here with the translation» Nita pulled her friend to the side so she wouldn't have to stand in the middle of the street and sat her down on a bench
«Ghm. A bird house, with a lamp and a reflector for heat. Rice husk bedding, I think... you have to buy some, it says to change it periodically. So, I'm thinking food and water bowls. Feed or growth feed... that's about it» Kairi explained while Anita listened attentively, taking notes on her phone.
«We don't have much time, it's evening already, let's go, we'll find a pet store» Nita deftly took Kairi under her arm, forcing her to stand up and keep up with her. The girls wiggled between the peaceful townspeople, trying not to shake everyone, Kai only had time to hold on to her sunglasses, fixed on her jacket, so as not to drop them «Hold the box tightly, carefully» Bangalore did not turn around, confidently walked forward «Hey, I know»
The front door of the store rang and the bells jingled, waking the slightly bored cashier. Two red-cheeked, panting girls walked in «I can I help you?» The old man adjusted his glasses.
«Yes...Here» Kyree showed the cashier the chicken, listing what she was looking for while Anita walked around the store examining the merchandise
«Oh...» The old man puzzled «Usually no one has birds so, in the conditions of the apartment, such is not in demand. Although...» The old man came out from behind the counter «Now, I've thought of something» he came to a small dog box, the girls came up to him «You can build a bird house at home using such a box, a few partitions, just need a little work....»
«And how did I not realize it myself» ...Kairi thought to herself as Anita took the box from her hands to make it more comfortable «I see, then I'll take this box and the enclosure parts»
«Great, we have the lamp in principle. But I advise you to buy bedding and fodder from farmers, now I can only offer ordinary grain and...I think sawdust, for filler» the cashier suggested, and Kairi agreed. The old man kindly packed everything he needed, wrote on a piece of paper the contacts of farmers he knew « It's a lot to take in, do you have a car?
Anita handed the chicken to Valkyrie, and herself deftly loaded herself with all the goods she had bought «We're on foot, it's okay, we'll carry it» Anita replied with a note of pride in her voice. Kairi's gaze lingered on the girl for a moment. Is it really possible? Just to let someone help you and relax a little. Strange, she usually tried to act in such a role, to be strong and responsible. Nita turned and smiled softly, making Kairi look away awkwardly-good evening, thank you-nodded and left the store, Anita following her.
Walking out, Valkyrie sighed heavil «Nita, let's stop for a bit, do you mind?» The girl tried to take at least a couple of bags from Anita's hands, but she wouldn't let her. Kairi stood at the wall of the neighboring building, put the box at her feet, squatted down tiredly, pulled a cigarette out of the pack with her sluggish mouth
«Hey, why are you smoking in front of the baby?» Anita grinned, slapping Valk weakly on the shoulder-«Now you have everything for...what's the baby's name?»
«Oyakodon»
«For Oyakodon, there's nothing to worry about...Well, you tell me what else happened» Nita's voice sounded a little quieter and softer as she tried to cheer Kairi up
«Thank you, Anita, really. It's strange that you know what's on my mind» the girl looked for a second at Nita, who kept her gaze fixed on her own.
«Don't. You know, you don't have to think too much, you always read everything on your face quickly, and also on your behavior. And you've been sour all day, " bitch face", a bit like a normal Crypto face» Bangalore giggled and tried to portray a hypertrophied version of Kairi's serious face on her face «You know, you should have shared that…» Anita pointed at the chicken with her hand «with Ramya, I don't think she was very pleased when you skipped away silently»
«Yeah, I'll call that dork before I go to bed. And so, I have nothing special happened, just thoughts of all sorts, you know, "wounds" have not yet healed, and then there's my mom's letter....»
«What is it?»
- "I'm afraid my daughter will go back to that irresponsible woman." She takes care of me, still does. I feel good, but I'm bitter at the same time. I'm ashamed of her a little bit. I'm 31 years old, I'm not a teenager anymore, I can handle my personal life myself. My mom knows me more than I think, although we have never been as close as with my dad. I myself have not yet fully sorted out my thoughts, and she as if yes, already sorted them out with difficulty, the girl gave out her thoughts.
«Well, maybe I don't understand you completely, but I think you should listen to your mom right now, and you probably miss her, right?»
«Yeah, I should go visit her sometime. I'm still embarrassed to look her in the eye, she's probably not proud of me, even though she doesn't know much about my life, I guess»
«I don't think so Kai, if she wasn't proud of you, she might not care about your condition, you're an adult. She knows how hard it is for you, she feels it. And about the irresponsible woman do not worry, you will have another woman, only responsible. You will let go of the past, you just need time and support» Anita patted Kairi's shoulder and she sighed, lowering her head.
«Oh!» Shouted Valkyrie «where is Oyakodon????» The box was empty, and the girls looked around anxiously to see the cheeky little hen glistening with feathers as it walked along the street with the passersby, moving farther and farther away. Kairi, dropping her almost finished cigarette, rushed after her friend. Anita, putting out Valk's cigarette with her foot, hanging the bags a little more comfortably, and grabbing a box, leisurely followed.
Like an adder with a deep red color and white head, Kai wades through the people walking among the river stones, sometimes hitting someone with his hip or shoulder. No "excuse me-excuse me," just excitement for the feathered part of mom. A rumble could be heard up ahead, characteristic of a highway - scary. Miraculously the silly bird did not fall under the feet of people, and there are still cars ahead, but there is time - while the red light was on, but another half a second and it will start blinking
Green
The crowd moved forward, and the hen followed them. It may have looked silly from the outside, but Kairi leaped like a cheetah, stretching out her arms to grab Oyakodon
-PEE! PEE!"-Clearly unhappy with this confinement among the two red sleeves, the hen broke into a squeak, drawing attention to a comical scene as Kairi, slipping lightly on the street sidewalk, lay on her stomach, restraining her new pet. A surprised Anita jumped up next to her
“Hey, are you alive in there?” Standing nearby the girl clarified “Get up, come on” And held out her hand. Kairi grabbed on, holding Oyakodon in one hand, and with a groan rose to her feet, being covered in dust “Are you hurt?”
«Ay, a little, it's okay» With a flushed face, the girl shook off some of the dust «This should have been cooler» Kairi took the box resentfully and sat the hen down
Anita broke into a ringing laughter, causing Valkyrie to blush more
«Come on, let's go! Ahem, I owe you dinner." The girl pouted, removing Anita's hand from her face as she gently shook the dust off her cheeks.
«А? Yes? And you're sure that " Chicken Jr." still has the energy to cook» Anita continued laughing.
« Ugh, shut up.»
«Don't teach a child words like that!»
The girls walked leisurely towards the building where Kairi's apartment was located. They chatted the whole way about various things, not forgetting to talk to Oyakodon, who signed in reply
«I'm so tired," Kairi sighed, opening the door to the apartment and gallantly letting Anita in. After that, she took the chicken out of the box and put it on the floor. «Now do what you want, now mom will build you a luxury villa»
«Only let me be a second "mom" tonight, I'll take care of that, and you go make the promised dinner» Anita took off her shoes, setting the bags out in the hallway
«Oh, well, fine, do as you please, "second mom"»-Kai laughed, locking the front door-you can set up in the living room, there's plenty of room. «You want some water?»
Bangalore nodded and went to the bathroom to wash her face and hands. In the meantime, Kairi washed one of the pink bowls and filled it with fresh water, setting it on the floor «Hah, I won't be bored around you, Oyakodon» warmly she said to her bird, while she poured water for Anita.
The next hour passed in Kairi's house rather noisily, the cooking process and the gathering of the bird house, and not to be bored-talking, loud talking because you couldn't hear each other very well from different rooms
«Done»-Anita clapped her hands, satisfied with her work, and walked into the kitchen, where the smell of fresh noodles was already wafting from her hands
«Yeah? Already? You're just in time, I'm almost done too, move the table to the couch for now, okay? I'll be right back,» Kairi said, rubbing her forehead and gesturing for her to leave.
"Pshhhh!", the girls seated on the couch each opened a can of cold beer, and plates of rich noodles flaunted on the sliding table in front of them
«To tonight!»
Meanwhile, Oyakodon is mastering her territory, strutting around the competently assembled aviary like a mistress of the house
«it's hard to be a normal, caring daughter when you're usually wearing metal wings and engaging in violent games» said Kairi with the slightest note of disappointment in her voice, and took a sip of her drink.
«Kai, you're already caring, normal, just a little bit in your own way»
