Masa con Papas: Proxy's Memory

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

A Rabbit's Sun 1/3
[Brand New Rabbit]
CW: Discussions of Parental Abuse
Perspective: Manzana Santana

 

After a long night of tinkering, you crawl out of your bunker of a makeshift workshop and stretch your bones.

There wasn't really as much partying as you'd liked after last night's duel. You and the others returned home to manage some errands at base and share sweets that Opera managed to pick up along the way.

Fenton, the other main tinkering witch of the group came to you with a proposition. Not something you usually do without prep or commission in advance but under the circumstances, you feel like you owe a debt after you were treated so kindly.

It was really good pumpkin pie..

It's a little disappointing, you were hoping for a little more time to breath..

But under the circumstances you and Needle worked through the night.

She dozed off in a chair near your station. She made the decision to stick with you despite the fact that she'd been working a all-nighter the day before.

You decide against waking her up, she genuinely needs the rest after that..

After this, you hope to dedicate most of the day to getting some time with her properly..

You approach the kitchen setup and serve yourself a tall glass of orange juice.

You've earned it.

Bucket: Good morning.

You're interrupted by the old dog, your mother's other apprentice.

The one who filled that role before you, and hopefully none more than that.

Manzana: Morning…

Bucket: You look tired.

Mazana: Been working all night.

Bucket: I can tell. Every time I stepped out of my room you seemed to be awake.

Bucket: Don’t think you should be operating blowtorches and wires with such drowsing eyes.

Manzana: Don’t worry about me, used to it. More worried about you.

Bucket: Me?

Manzana: Yeah. Could hear you stepping out of your room every hour or so.

Bucket: Mm, well.. it's a habit of my own.

Manzana: You’re usually on the run, should probably get some shut eye.

You give the dog a good look, there's a magical glamour active but it doesn't seem to be hiding anything.

Manzana: Not even sure why you were in disguise in the first place, everyone here knows who you are now.

Bucket: The illusion is flexible. You see what I want all of you to see. And it gives me options.

Bucket: Anyone outside of our group would just see and hear one of many possible facades, but this task requires a level of trust.

Manzana: You’re still hiding yourself right now though, even if just a little..

Manzana: Downplaying something.

Bucket: Good eye…

The dog tilts their head for a moment.

Bucket: Can I look at your face properly? Something’s caught my attention.

You turn your face directly toward them.

Bucket: Glowing little hearts in your eyes..

Manzana: Contract poisoning. Charon and Opera got it too.

Bucket: Is it severe?

Manzana: Used to be, it's... manageable.

Bucket: And the others?

Manzana: Haven’t asked.

Bucket: A witch like yourself has to have some gauge of it.

Manzana: Opera looks like she’s doing good, whatever happened seems pretty minor.

Manzana: Her proxy’s completely natural too. Must've asked for something simple

Bucket: See, I would’ve never known.

Manzana: She’s smart and maybe she got lucky, all I can say about it.

Bucket: Charon?

Manzana: Rough, not taking care of it as well as he should.

Manzana: Worked with his type before, don't think he's got the best self-preservation skills.

Bucket: Also had that sense…

Manzana: So… why are you talking to me?

Manzana: No offense but doubt you're here to just say hi.

The dog pauses for a moment, visibly planning out their next sentence in their head.

Bucket: You remind me of him, and you very much seem to known him better than I do.

Manzana: Low bar from what I can tell. I really don’t,

Manzana: Platino my uh… other self I guess. Remembers a lot of things from back then that I don’t.

Mazana: We were friends online when we were kids, almost all of it is blank. Does feel weirdly nice talking to him though so maybe something stuck for me...

Manzana: Feels weird walking up to someone you can't remember a single conversation with and feeling weird and fuzzy about the whole thing.

Manzana: Platino's been catching me up though, he's got a lot of those memories and kinda wish I had that everytime we talk about it.

Manzana: If Plat says he's a good dude, I'll trust his word.

Manzana: So..

Manzana: Are you just here to fish around? Should just be asking him yourself about some of these things, no offense.

Bucket: You’re an unplanned addition to the team, getting to understand who you are and what you can do is somewhat a part of this job..

Bucket: And outside of professional pleasantries, I do think it’s quite important to get to know family. I think we're cousins?

Manzana:.. I guess. Feels weird to call you that..

Manzana: Think uh… Uncle? Aunt? What’s the term? Something like that feels better.

Bucket: If I had to pick, Uncle is acceptable… but you are my aunt’s daughter so I don't think that'd be accurate in any scenario.

Manzana: One of them, yeah. Traveled with Ali a ton but never really got to do family things with her like the others.

Manzana: But.. she's the closest thing to a mom I have, even if it's pretty selective.

Bucket: Her favorite rabbit as she’s said a few times.

Your ears pull back in distress

Manzana: Nicer than usual I guess. I mean I’m the only rabbit she has around but probably meant to be nice.

A tiny expression of discomfort sneaks on Bucket's face just briefly enough to catch.

Manzana:... Right? This isn't a thing?

The dog avoids the question completely.

Bucket: She speaks highly of you on the occasions we get to sit down and talk. Ali and I have a difficult relationship but a relationship none the less.

Bucket: Something in common.

Manzana: Honestly don’t think she’s ever said anything nice without a tinge of “But you can do better” attached. You know how she is.

Bucket: Expected.

Manzana: Your mom ever like that? Like is this just what its like?

Bucket: Complicated. I wish we spoke more often these days but... things aren't easy for anyone right now.

Bucket: Very loving, but the moment I glanced at the blade I discovered a side of her I wish I hadn’t. At least at the time.

Bucket: The woman who raised me is kind in many ways, but at the same time very much a devil trying to make up with god.

Bucket: The knight on the other hand? A tough mentor at best and on her bad days well.. She did what she did. She wanted to prep me for the hardships of the job.

Bucket: Fighting on your own, facing people who care nothing of you, the cruelties you cannot avoid in this field of work.

Bucket: And ultimately... now that I've committed so much to this, I worry it was never enough.

Bucket: She was hurt and passed on her pain more than I think she should’ve. In hindsight it feels like a mercy compared to what I've had to do since then.

Bucket: She did more than plenty to toughen me up, but in the end I left with your mother the moment she gave me an out.

Bucket: Ali she was straight to the point. Discard my ignorance, prepare for the worst, and in the end you’d never be caught sleeping.

Bucket: I have my bones to pick with both of them. Two paths toward great suffering of a clashing nature.

Manzana: Really tell yourself that?

Bucket: Maybe..

Manzana: Should your kid really go through the same?

Bucket: I don’t really know anymore.

Bucket: Part of me wants him to drop all this, realize he has no reason to repeat this suffering. He's seen time in hell, he should celebrate never having to experience it again. There is no nobility to self destruction.

Bucket: But at the same time to see him truly rise to the occasion.... I hope he's able to do that.

Bucket: Become the best of us all in his own way.

Bucket: You, Geezer... the path you take I hope is different from what I've experienced. But I truly wish to see you do the same. You three are a generation capable of so much..

Manzana: Really did learn a lot from my mom.

Bucket: Pardon?

Manzana: You're not as blunt or rough, better intentioned for sure but... you sure talk like her.

Manzana: Don’t know if you’re much better though.

Bucket: I just don’t want a repeat of what happened, he's clearly still hurt-

Manzana: Nobody else here does. Your kid doesn’t want to be relive trauma.

Manzana: Meeting most people here for the first time so I don't have the whole story yet but…

Manzana: If they’re softies like Geezer, they got better reasons for this than you.

Manzana: It’s not about closure, not about glory, not about any bullheaded shit you and my mom think about when you swing around those stupid metal lumps.

Manzana: When you go through something like that, you don’t want other people to have to live that same shit.

Manzana: Our moms put is through a lot, why does anyone else have to again?

Manzana: And like… you’re strong. I can tell, I’ve seen enough people like you to know you’re the real deal. Your kid thins the same thing. He looks at you and he’s scared. You're the biggest hurdle in his head but the way people talk about things here? He could probably smoke you on a good day. Most of the people here could.

Manzana: Doesn't matter if you're the best knight on this planet, nobody cares. Nobody else is impressed except for him. Everyone just sees you hurting their friend. Fact that you got such a hold over him feels stupid.

Manzana: And it makes me think… why am I like that with my mom?

Manzana: Geezer and Charon know what she can do, Erica’s told them plenty of horror stories for sure.

Manzana: And they’re… not scared either. I sure am though, I know you are too.

Manzana: Really makes me feel dumb. I’m sure he'd be the same if you just weren't in his head so much.

Manzana: I want him to kick your teeth in.

Manzana: If he can do that, I’m sure I can do the same thing.

There’s an awkward pause between the two of you. You can’t make out their feelings from their face, covered in a mop of hair.

It feels like waiting for confirmation of your own execution…

Finally they speak.

Bucket: You’re right on a lot of that.

Bucket: I’m going to have a proper dialogue with him.

Manzana: ..Really?

Bucket: But… I want you to be there too if you do not mind.

Bucket: I’d like a voice of guidance on this.

Manzana: Don’t know what more you want me to say.

Bucket: Whatever comes to mind.

Bucket:  Because I think when it’s broken down for all to witness….

Bucket: You have an understanding that I’ve needed for a long time.

Manzana: Of?

Bucket: Myself…

Bucket: I’m going to set up a meeting. Would you do me such a favor?

Manzana: Give me a sec, got to talk to some folks first, get a last lookover on something.

Bucket: On what exactly?

Manzana: The Answer.