Featured in this post: Tanner/Roland, Estelle, Nyarth, Lupe, Krory, and mention of Mist, Xio, Lux, Shupple, Chandacy, Delin, and Patrick
Time: The day Estelle returns, which is also the same day as the outing of the guys shopping.
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Tanner
It was fun hanging out with the guys for once. I hadn’t done it in some time and it had gotten me to calm down about what Xio had said to me and it had gotten me to focus on what items to get for people for Christmas. Eventually, I got something for Shupple as well, since it seemed that the only time I could possibly even give something to her was after the fight between the Water Gods. I got her a charm, go figure, of a heart that seemed partly broken, yet together. I knew at some point, she would like it at least.
As we got back to the mansion after finding Ewan when he ran off, something felt… different about the mansion when we entered the barrier. It was clearer, a lot stronger than it had been in months, and it was shining more of a… purple. My heart dropped into my stomach and I started to get a headache. I started to hold my head as we entered the mansion and everybody said goodbye to each other. Please don’t tell me… Of all times, this… she… comes back?
Something in me wanted this to not be true and part of it did. Either way, it would be different. I quickly took in a big breath to try to calm myself down. She couldn’t possibly be back. She left to go find Lupe. She couldn’t possibly be back…
As I went up the stairs to my room to take a hot shower and to put my presents away, I could hear Roland muttering in the back of my head. It actually quite annoyed me, surprisingly.
“What is it, Roland?” I muttered as I got to my room and closed the door swiftly behind me and I put the shopping bags down on my desk beside my brown bag that had my shots inside it.
You act like a woman, what with those gifts. I could tell he was hiding something behind his voice but I decided not to prod.
“You’re the woman,” I muttered back as I took the gifts from the bags and hid them in my closet and closed the door to it, not wanting to see my old outfit again. I’ve seen that old thing too much lately.
Does it look like I have boobs? No, I have a dick so you’re the woman with the boobs. I rolled my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him as I plopped down on my bed.
None of your fucking business. Leave me alone.
“Fine,” I muttered as I got up, my stomach growling, and headed out of my room to the Commons Kitchen. Thankfully, no one was in there as I went to go make ramen. As I grabbed a bowl and a packet of noodles, I heard talking coming down the hallway. It was… a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time. It was hers…
I turned my head to see her and there she stood, talking with a bunny I hadn’t see in a while either. From what I was overhearing, I could hear that Estelle was talking about a man who just entered the mansion who was new, a Metagross, and Lupe was talking about Chandacy. They must’ve already been here for a while…
I couldn’t move as Estelle said that they should get something to eat and they were heading towards the kitchen behind me. Okay Tanner, just calm down… Calm down… Dammit, this isn’t going to work. And I had to go to Krory soon for training, since it was Saturday. My nights with Krory were normally Saturdays, maybe Wednesdays at most for an extra night.
“I’M HUNGRY!” Lupe shouted, as if expecting someone to appear magically out of thin air to give food to her.
“There’s no need to shout, Lupe. Aren’t we both heading for the kitchen?” Estelle asked her, her voice strong and polite like usual. It sounds like she hasn’t changed at all. I heard Lupe sniff and cough.
“Woo! Nah… YOU get me something to eat. Imma take a quick shower,” Lupe said, her voice even stronger and meaner. I wonder… would we have to train together again about her attitude?
“Of course…” Estelle sighed as Lupe started to hop away to her room.
“MAKE ME SOME RAMEN!!” Lupe called to Estelle and she sighed once again.
“Ramen?” I heard Estelle starting to walk over to the door and I didn’t move. I wish I could be invisible like Chandacy or Shupple… “I believe I smell someone making ramen as we speak… T-Tanner…” I turned around quickly while slipping the rest of the ramen in the pot and looked at her. She had a karate outfit on and had a coat on as well. Has she been training as well? I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not…
“E-Estelle… Welcome back…” I said, stumbling over my words. I wasn’t completely sure what to say… I stuffed my hands in my pockets in nervousness. She was still shocked for a little bit before she ran up to me with a warm smile and gave me a hug.
“Tanner!! Oh, how I’ve missed you! I’m back!” She said as I wrapped my hands around her and hugged her back. I swallowed nervously. I felt so awkward… She doesn’t know that I’m not…
“Yes, you are back… I see you found Lupe…” I chuckled slightly.
“Yes, I have,” Estelle said, still brightly smiling and overjoyed as she let go of me. “I have been training with her at a very far away private doujo for the past 4 months. It was quite the experience! Only Gijinka, such as us, studied at this doujo! The scenery there was marvelous, for it was located in the mountains. Oh! And the masters there were very kind but stern as well! Once I was finished with my training, It was about that time to return here, at the mansion! I left her there, thinking I was never going to see Lupe again, and here she is! And...” Estelle grew quieter, realizing how much she was talking. “Well…being back warms my heart and seeing you... has put me in a joyous mood...” Estelle said as she blushed even more and tilted her head slightly down. I blushed brightly. I wasn’t expecting that compliment, nor was I expecting her to show any affection towards me… I thought she was still in love with Lux.
Oh, lookey here. The pretty little cat is back. Shall I tell her that you don’t love her anymore or shall I?
“Shut up, Roland,” I muttered and he scoffed in my head. I noticed Estelle blinked as I muttered and I had a feeling that she had heard me. Dammit. I didn’t want to hear me talk to Roland.
Oh well. Too bad, so sad.
“Thank you, Estelle... I've been training hard with Krory and the rest of my teammates... Yes, people have been coming and going here at the mansion. It's quite a change,” I told her and she beamed.
“Ah. I have not seen Krory-san yet... I wonder if it is too late to train with a team,” Estelle said a little sadly as she sniffed the air. “Did I interrupt your meal time?” She asked and I shook my head.
“No, you didn't, I just got home from hanging out with the guys, getting Christmas presents, and I just got hungry... Krory's probably outside training Mist. It's her afternoon... If you would like, you can watch me train tonight with Krory. Every other night is mine and then the other nights are Patrick's and Delin's...” I turned back to the ramen and noticed that it was done. I stopped the oven and poured the ramen into my bowl.
“Would you like some of my ramen?” I asked her.
“Well Lupe is the one with the craving for Ramen. I think I would rather chew on something a bit sweeter,” Estelle said with a smile as she went over to the cabinets and started to search for something. “...Hmm, this is odd. I cannot find any sugary sweets in here,” Estelle said and that’s when I sighed. Time to tell her the bad news about the sweets… I started to eat my ramen with my chopsticks so that I wouldn’t have to look her in the eye.
“Oh, all of the sweets are gone. Krory locked them away because we are all eating healthy and there is only one person in this whole mansion who actually knows where it is, besides Krory,” I told her as I swallowed my bite of ramen and put my chopsticks down for a moment. “By the way, the sweetest thing you are going to get from these cabinets is ramen...” I told her and I jumped at her next reaction. She started laughing.
“Hahahhaaa! That's hysterical!! Hehehee hahaa! Oh, Tanner. It's quite mean of you to pull horrible jokes on me like that! Now, where can I find the marshmallows? I'm craving a marshmallow banana split Sunday with extra fudge and sugar coated strawberries!”
I blinked. “Estelle, I'm being serious. We all have to eat healthy for training and to stay in shape. All of the sweets are locked away somewhere in the mansion. We all already went crazy looking for it all and got punished by the four trainers. Krory's practically in charge of the mansion. The sweetest thing you are going to find in those cabinets are ramen. I barely got away with getting it approved by Krory,” I sighed as I finished my ramen and thought about making more when I realized that I was only allowed to have one per day.
“Only one per day... right,” I sighed once more as I headed over to the refrigerator and grabbed a celery stick. If Krory smelt the ramen on me, she would get mad that I had something that salty before practice. I looked over at Estelle and almost jumped as I saw a dark aura form over her.
“What kind of sick joke is this? ...No sugar? ...No ice cream? Not even an ounce of it here? How horrible ... This shameful act... it is something I... I MUST DETEST!!” She was mad and it was odd to see. It was something new about her… and I was afraid of this new rage. I continued to chew on the celery stick as if my life depended on it… which part of it did.
“Everybody detests it,” I said with a shrug. “If you want to pick a bone about it, go talk to Krory. In fact, I'm about to head down to train with her. If you want to head down there with me, you can,” I suggested to her and she shook her head furiously.
“No! That won't do, at all! I want sugar NOW!” She suddenly rushed up to me and I jumped. She didn’t used to move this fast either. “Will you accompany me on this mission?” I chuckled nervously as I looked at my watch again and my eyes widened. Damn it.
“I have to go down to Krory or I will be slaughtered like a pig. Literally. If you want candy or sweets, go find your brother. He's the pimp for it all. He stocks up. Only he knows where it all is!” I surrendered with my hands up and Estelle looked at me curiously. I really needed to get downstairs…
Hello, death by Krory’s tail just hitting us in the face...
“Bro..? OH NO! I did not get the chance to say hello to Nyarth yet! My little brother! Thank you for reminding me!” Estelle said somewhat excitedly with worry entwined in the midst. I looked at my watch again and sweat started to run down my face.
“Shit! I'm going to be late!” I said worriedly as I started to put my hair up with the hairband I normally kept in my pocket. “Yeah, just go find your brother. He has all of the candy you need. Just make sure to go in a safe spot where nobody is watching... Well, your brother will know those spots anyways. I'll see you later, Estelle!” I rushed out of the kitchen and hurried downstairs and out of the back door to Krory, where I ran straight into her back and fell on the ground behind me.
“Oh, Tanner, yoos finally got here,” Krory said as she turned around and helped me up.
“Sorry, I got caught up in a conversation…” I told her and she just nodded. “What are we doing today?” I asked as I cleared my throat and focused on training.
“I actually have to talk ta yoos about something… privately,” She told me and I narrowed my eyes.
“How privately?” I asked her and she looked at me, knowing that I knew the answer. I sighed and closed my eyes, letting Roland see what I was seeing so that he could have decisions as well. I moved my bangs and we started to walk into the woods until we were outside the barrier of the mansion.
She took something out of her pockets and I noticed that they were blueprints when she rolled it out on the ground in front of her when she bent down to show me.
“These blueprints are top secret. I am the only one is supposed to have them but yoos need them. I need yoos to make them for me for the war. They should take the next few months. I’ll be giving yoos a few more projects within the next few months as well. This is your main one though, Tanner.” I sighed as I sat on the ground with her, looking at these blueprints. It was so simply designed and yet, so complicated.
“All of these… items I need Krory… They’re very costly. I also have no way to make this without people noticing it,” I said simply and Krory smirked.
“Yoos don’t think I don’t have a separate room for yoos to work in? It’s in the basement and yoos will have the only key.” Krory held up a gold key and I eyed her as I snatched it from her.
“What makes you think I’ll do this for free?” I spat and Krory narrowed her eyes.
“For the fact that yoos is in hiding and have a high bounty on yoos head, I’m sure not telling the people above me would be yoos reward,” Krory said bluntly and I just sighed and closed my eyes. It wasn’t ideal.
“What about the items?” I asked her and she took a second to think.
“Yoos will get them when yoos need them,” Krory said as she handed the blueprint to me and I folded it and stuffed it in my pocket. “Tanner… yoos know I have to tell everyone eventually who yoos are, right?” I closed my eyes. “Either yoos tell them, or I will at a meeting sometime before the big fight.” And with that, Krory walked off and I was left in the cold with thoughts buzzing through my brain. I couldn’t tell everyone. I just couldn’t. I would rather have Krory do it… What a coward I am.
Wow. You finally realized it. That’s pathetic.
I slowly headed back to the mansion, feeling those hot blueprints in my back pocket, wanting to move them immediately. I didn’t like them being there. It was weird. I hadn’t held blueprints in almost a year, especially for what she wants me to do. It was weird. I hid the key and the blueprints in my hair, figuring that that was going to be the best spot for them since I could practically fit a dead body in it.
We’re finally back in business… but in military business… Well, this is going to go downhill for us no matter what…
There was that. Having Krory turn us in at the end of the war and be put behind bars possibly killed. Yeah, killed. That sounds like the real consequence if she turns us in. Death.
Try to stay optimistic. Or go kill yourself. Which one to choose…?
“TANNER!” I jumped at the sound of Lupe’s voice. I didn’t even notice that I was opening up the door to the mansion until she yelled at me. “I NEED YOUR HELP.”
“Obviously,” I muttered as I walked up to her and she just stared at me.
“We should have training again, just you and me for my attitude! What do you say?” I rolled my eyes.
“Sure, Lupe. Just don’t hit me, okay? I’ll hit back,” I said bluntly and she pouted slightly.
“Fine,” and she hopped away. Okay then… That went quicker than I expected. I wasn’t even able to catch my breath before somebody else called out to me.
“Tanner!” I turned around now to see Estelle heading over to me with Nyarth having his pimp jacket on and Estelle beaming with a bit of a chocolate mustache on her face. I pointed to it and she quickly wiped it away.
“Yes?” I sighed, tired of being called upon by so many people. I swear, the next person who calls on me is going to get a pounding from Roland.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” I tilted my head in curiosity, wondering why she was asking this. I saw no problem though in doing so. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be either way. I smiled.
“Sure, Estelle.”
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Well, well, well, what is up with Tanner? What can he make? Why is it so top secret? Just who is he? Hmmmmm.... Stay tuned~~ >:D
Sorry if some of the words sound out of place, I'm tired and I'm submitting this pretty late so yeah...
~Anime
