Fabricant451 — Roleplayer Guild

Flashback: Two weeks ago, Monday  01/12
Collab with @TootsiePop

Min-seo would be late to school. There was a royal decree that she would eat breakfast with Henry’s mother, the raven haired one, under the garden gazebo. A location that required a hike before reaching it. Evelyn Green needed peace of mind, solitude, and privacy. Her sunroom only provided so much, since it was by the entrance of the Green Castle and was her space for songwriting and not a sanctuary for the soul. She preferred separating the areas in her home like she separated her clothes and personal belongings. If she was seeking complete isolation, the sitting area within the land’s gardens was the place to visit and stay, where the senses broke free and the presence of mother nature could be felt and heard all around her. 

Poetic, don’t you think? 

Soundlessly, the self-sacrificing, spellbinding, black angel with a sophisticated dress on — Chanel Haute couture specifically — lifted a clear glass tea cup to her full lips.  While her glass was filled to the brim with ginger tea, the perfect drink to fight nausea from someone who had a terrible alcohol habit, she closed her eyes and took a generous sip. Today was another warm one in sunny California. Even so, the subtle winds, steady and soothing, like the lyrics of nature whistling within the surrounding trees, tickled her neck and kissed her cheek. Tranquility, with no worry set in her mind yet. 

Her only objective was to prepare her son’s sweetheart for a talk with the ‘other mother’ as he would call Eve’s wife. The more intimidating one, less diplomatic, with gold on her mind and in her hair. All things he assumed about the matriarch without delving deeper. She was controlling and lost her patience quickly with him because he was a forever disappointment to her. Despite that, she wasn’t and never will be irrational. It was unfortunate Henry didn’t try to talk with Alyssa and understand her a little more. She wasn’t tyrannical and evil. She simply had ideals and like his father, he failed to obliged in any manner. He did what he wanted, never considering how it would affect the family. If Alyssa was truly a heartless, conniving bitch, she would’ve shot Evelyn down everytime her beloved requested a favor for their son’s benefit. She didn’t always.

Recently, with his relationship with this precious, foreign exchange student, Henry’s poor life choices and habits were improving for the better and everyone could see the positive change. There was no doubt that Min-seo was the medicine Henry needed to be a better boy and ultimately, a better man. Smiling to herself at the prospects of their future, Evelyn scanned the round table covered with a more down to Earth breakfast in comparison to their Sunday dinner. Waffles, with a variety of toppings for Min-Seo to pick and choose from. There were a multitude of server pots with coffee, tea, water, orange juice, and cranberry juice, since Evelyn didn’t necessarily know enough about this girl to assume her preference. These options seemed like a hefty, sweet meal, perfect for before school. Though, the toppings could potentially turn waffles into dessert and give anyone who dared a sugar coma. 

As she waited for the girl she hoped she could build a bridge with, seeing how her only son was completely focused on just Min, Evelyn thought about each of her children and how they gave her a headache, especially him. In spite of that, there was hope. Hope that the love in her family would grow and that everyone, even to a small degree, would learn to accept and be happy for one another. All a mother could do was hope. 

“Today will be a good day.”She whispered to herself.  

When Min-seo was informed that she wouldn’t be joining Henry and Parker for the usual morning routine her first reaction was, naturally, one of fear. Had she said or done something wrong at the dinner? By her recollection she hadn’t said much at all; the adults had a way of being intimidating even with something as miniscule as how they held their silverware. No one really liked meeting parents and it was made even more awkward thanks to the wrench in the works that was the attendance of every sibling’s significant other. Given everything she wasn’t surprised her grand contribution to the meal was effectively nibbling at the first course and having a third glass of water before the second course. 

Still, it wasn’t as if she could refuse the invitation even if it meant having to potentially miss first period. Somehow she figured a family like the Green’s would find a way to make it so her tardiness was excused which was certainly a point in their favor, but that didn’t stop the worry and the fear and the fact that the long trek to the appointed meeting place made her feel like she was walking the final march to her own execution. 

Was she under dressed? Who could say. She only got the message after she had already dressed for school, casual clothing, jeans, a red blouse, her hair brushed and washed to an immaculate sheen; at a glance she might look no different than any other young person on the street, which had been her procedure since arriving in the states. Blend in, don’t stand out. Had it not been for Parker she would probably still be wearing ugly sweaters to class and going by unnoticed. But now...now she was dating Henry Green and more than ever eyes were on her. Including, it turned out, the eyes of his mother. One of them. Min-seo was still confused by the exact arrangement. 

Min-seo, with slow, nervous, uncertain steps, finally showed herself en route to the gazebo; even before she arrived fully she could see a comparatively modest spread with a variety of what she assumed to be beverages. If one of them had coffee she would politely decline but given the sweet nature of a waffle she would happily accept a cold glass of milk and a second just for taste. Waffles were a fairly new taste for her and already she knew she preferred them a bit softer than most; if they were too crunchy they hurt her teeth and she needed to drown them in syrup just to soggy them up. But the Green family probably had chefs who could make waffles ten different ways so on that front she wasn’t worried. 

Her worry was that this was a last meal kind of scenario. 

“Mrs...Green?” Min-seo announced her presence with all the awkward mannerisms she had been known for. Soft speech, rapid blinking, not making direct eye contact, the only thing she wasn’t doing was fiddling with her fingers. “I...you...wanted...see me?” 

“Yes, please.” Evelyn gestured toward the open chair across from her. “Take a seat.” No longer holding her glass, she grabbed a fork and knife. Slowly and with dignified ease, she cut her waffles with strawberries and blueberries on it. Nothing more, nothing less. “I hope this breakfast is to your liking, Min-Seo. I’ve come to realize I know very little about you.”  Unfortunately so. 

Once she was satisfied with her small pieces, she poked one of them in contemplation, “All the drinks are labeled, by the way. OJ, milk, tea, have whatever you like.” Her eyes examined her food in mild regret, as she absentmindedly continued the conversation, “Henry wants me to eat better. I asked if waffles would be a good change from last night and he assured me it would.” Sighing to herself, she stabbed the piece she was playing with, “I don’t eat waffles often,” and placed it in her mouth. Covering her lips as she chewed, Eve watched the young girl with her motherly, yet serpent stare. 

It was still too early to tell if the meeting was for something good or bad and that only made Min-seo all the more nervous. Sure, Mrs. Green was being cordial but Min-seo had seen some movies where the villain and the hero had a discussion over a meal; in that particular movie the villain wound up smashing his hand on a glass cup while talking about white cake. Of course, Min barely understood the movie - it had so much talking - but that scene was being called to mind at the moment and she could see why. 

Still, it would’ve been incredibly rude of her to just stand there gawping so Min-seo slid into a seat and promptly poured herself a glass of milk. At lunch, Min-seo sometimes did a bad thing and took two milks instead of one; for this breakfast she wasn’t going to feel bad for having a second glass after the first. She would need it in case the conversation got awkward and she needed something to hide her mouth behind. “Waffles...are...new. In...Korea...no...no waffles...my family...is...trad...tradition...with...meals.” It was hard for Min to tell if it was fear, nerves, or her lack of fluency that was influencing her responses. She was intimidated, though, that much was obvious. 

“But I had...first...waffle...Dennis…” She meant, of course, Denny’s but Min-seo never claimed to be articulate. “It..was...sticky.”

“Denny’s.” Eve kindly corrected, having had more than enough time to understand Min’s broken English. Mentally, she could hear her son scolding her for acting modest because Eve’s modest was simply her being a cold bitch. Taking a deep breath in and out, she put her utensils down and tried to drop her guard, tried to take a more compassionate approach, “I want to thank you. For how you behaved last night but also for your kindness towards my son.” Her gaze went from Min’s soft face to her wedding band, “He and my wife rarely see eye to eye. That is until you came along.” 

Her attention back on Min, Eve gave a genuine, yet exasperated smile. “I wanted to let you know that you can stay here for as long as you want. Alyssa is already making arrangements since Cyndi decided to come back home. We don’t want you to leave.” Whenever Eve had heart to hearts, she started to realize how soft she really was. There was no pretending to be a cold bitch. In highschool it was easier to play up the act. Nowadays, she was just a mother that wanted her kids to be happy. “You’ve impressed all of us, dear. And for the first time, I think Henry’s impressed his other mother. So much so that she wants to speak to you personally. I felt the need to invite you here to prepare you. I don’t know when it’ll happen, and I don’t necessarily know everything she wants to cover with you, but I don’t want you to think it’s going to be bad. She adores you, Min. I adore you.”

Min might not have been a native speaker but she knew enough to know that words like ‘thank’ and ‘impressed’ and ‘adore’ were good things, and even if she didn’t, the fact that Eve wasn’t raising her voice or speaking with Min as if she broke a lamp or something precious had to mean that this meeting wasn’t one whose purpose was to scold or criticize. Min could breathe a sigh of relief but settled on relaxing considerably. If she was thanked and adored...then she was in the good graces of Henry’s parents. Whether or not that was a rare thing was irrelevant simply because she had done something right without even knowing. Min took a sip from her glass of milk not to hide but to cool her throat and chill her nerves with the refreshingly sweet beverage. 

“Thank...you..?” It wasn’t a question of uncertainty but of Min not knowing the proper response to a sudden and unexpected heap of praise. Her expectations were, understandably, out of whack so what else could she say other than a word of thanks? It was like expecting to be fired only to be told you were getting a promotion and an employee of the month trophy, Min was a little out of her element in any case. “If...I...impress...why does...Henry’s mother...other...mother...want to...talk? I mean...why...prepare? Why...if...she...like me?” Min’s English wasn’t any better but her broken manner of speaking wasn’t because of her nerves anymore and instead just a side effect of not yet fully speaking the language. Considering a mere few months ago she didn’t know any at all, that she was having a conversation was nothing short of spectacular.

“My wife.” Evelyn paused, as her eyes fell on her black manicured nails. Examining them, she stood silent for a moment too long. “Likes things her way. That trait of hers can make her a bit... intimidating. Simply put.” The raven haired mother’s devoted stare went from her cuticles to the teenager’s beautiful yet pale face. “Henry’s worried she will scare you away and you’ll leave him because of that.” 

Sure, Eve was embellishing her son’s reasonings, but she could believe that he loved this girl to the point that he didn’t want to lose her so it wasn’t too far from the truth. At least, from what she’s observed. “If Alyssa doesn’t like you, she will send you back to Seoul. If that happens, I worry for my son. So, I’m here to tell you, you caught her eye and she wants to personally tell you why. She doesn’t normally do that.” Especially with Henry, who has brought a lot of girls to his bedroom. “You need to be prepared for her eyes. She will size you up and try to find your flaws. She may like you, but it still… confuses her.” Eve needed to remember to use simpler words for Min. She was talking slow enough for the young girl to catch onto key words. Hopefully her message was getting through to her. “That you are with Henry. She believes you’re too good for him, you understand?”

There were words in the explanation that Min didn’t understand, not because she didn’t know the meaning or intent behind them but because they just didn’t make sense; it was specifically the part where the other mother - which was a concept Min was still trying to wrap her head around - believed that Min was ‘too good’ for Henry. What did that mean? How could someone be too good for someone else and who got to make that determination? Wasn’t it Min’s decision? But it wasn’t Eve that Min was annoyed with, not really. If what she was saying is true then this whole waffle breakfast meeting was Henry’s idea. 

“Henry...did...this? Henry...worry?” Min had to ask, the uncertainty and disbelief written on her face as clear as day. Did he think she wasn’t able to speak with his parents? Did he think her opinions and affections were contingent on the approval or lack thereof from his mothers? It was the first thing that made her feel upset, if indeed it was true. “I might...not...be...best at...words...and I...quiet...but...I am...not...afraid. Your...wife...if she...no like...then...who care? It is...not...her choice...it is...mine...it is...Henry’s.” Even when Min was defending herself, she was still rather soft spoken; but her softness had a certain edge about it. She would find herself, and her voice, yet. 

“Correct.” Evelyn calmly responded. “Your choice.” If Min spoke with that conviction, then she would surely win Alyssa over. Henry did what Henry wanted. He always did. Most of the time, it was against Alyssa’s will. This, this would be the first time Eve believed her wife would wholeheartedly approve. Min spoke with confidence and she knew what she wanted. Nothing would stop her from keeping Henry and that’s what made a Green. Nothing stopped them from getting what they wanted and Alyssa had her unbreakable record of getting what she wanted, time and time again. 

“Let’s finish our breakfast, sweetheart. Then, I’ll take you to school.”
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