Archive of Our Own

Tomaria was very used to being at home.

Which is weird, because nowadays, she would take every opportunity possible to go out to have an adventure! Every single one of them!!!

It was the rush of adrenaline, the breeze that the wind gave, the many possibilities that the world would give her on her journeys-

Everything about it was special.

Every single detail about such a thing made her happy.

But-

“So, you don't talk to your parents anymore?”

Sometimes, home is nicer.

Because home is when you clean the dishes with the person you consider your best friend and family member.

And the one who eats your god damn Poptarts, CAMERON.

However, that was currently the last thing on her mind as she cleaned the plates with the soft side of the sponge, rinsing it in soap and warm water.

The water washed down the smell of onions quite well, as she liked to include them in her filled peppers.

Maybe next time, she could put cheese in there to melt nicely with the chicken breast-

“Toma?”

Ah yes. Conversation.

“Oh, yes- Sorry!!”

Tomaria laughed, readjusting her hands as she dipped her hands into the warm water again, just out of comfort.

A slight sadness washed over her.

“Mama, Papa and my many siblings, we…aren't on the best terms right now.”

Cameron blinked quietly, flicking his tail as he was drying off a pot that has been freshly cleaned by yours truly.

He would rather die than get his fur wet from soap, he said as she five minutes ago splashed soap water on him.

It was funny though, you've gotta admit.

She handed him another plate and he took it with the towel around his paw, rubbing off the wetness thoroughly.

She questioned somewhat why he joined her, but Arti did put them on dish duty today, so…that might be it.

Or maybe he wanted to ask questions that she usually had no intent of answering.

“How long has it been?”

Tomaria hummed, closed her eyes for a second while she was cleaning some nasty grime of a cup and opened them again.

About…Well, she left around the time that argument was, but it wasn't…

Hm.

“Several years since a proper interactions.”

“Oh-”

She squinted over at that small noise, ignoring the plate for a second as he quickly flinched away his reaction.

Returning to the duties of cleaning the plates.

“I mean- Not in like a ‘you have to interact with them’ way! Just…can't imagine you as someone who completely cuts someone off.”

Cameron constantly looked between her and the plate he was cleaning, gritting his teeth as there was still a piece of stuff on it that was hard to remove.

She decided to watch, not wanting to clean it herself at the moment.

She simply waved it off with the sponge, spraying water on the sink once more as a soft snicker came from her, rolling her eyes away into the Aether.

What else could she do, really? Not much, not much.

“No, I got you! Justttt….this is a special occasion of sorts! You get me?”

She couldn't resist flapping her hands all around, but quickly focused back on getting the dishes done.

There were a lot of dishes, but she didn't mind as much when she could talk to someone.

Even if that someone was talking about her private life-

“What kind of stuff happened for this to be a special occasion? If- If I may ask, of course.”

Tomaria quietly cocked her head to the side, averting her eyes away as she found the knob for the water again.

Turning it hotter, letting it sting her fingers without ever burning anything. Just there to linger and burn.

That's just how she liked it.

“....Just a Special occasion. Just as special as anything there was.”

Special is surely a word for it.

Among a thousand others she could use to explain such a place.

However, she knew when to keep her tongue tied. For a certain amount of time.

Cameron did too, but perhaps he wasn't in the mood today, which she didn't completely mind as she finally continued on with a dirty cup.

"Which means?”

A snort came out of her mouth, followed by a smirk she rarely showed in such a way.

“Hah-! Ask my Mom and Dad, they were the ones constantly talking about our generational shop.”

Generational is another one.

It's probably the most accurate besides everlasting and haunting.

“I guess if…you really want to, I can share the story. But we might land on the couch after we wash the dishes.”

She scratched the back of her tomato skin for a moment, not minding the warm water infused with her scratches.

Tomaria couldn't help but look over with an expression that she couldn't feel on her face.

Cameron had quickly focused on the place to scrub the plate, but glanced over to their sweet, sweet red couch that had been covered in pillows and blankets.

Right, the blanket fort last night- didn't exactly remove it. And the movie they didn't finish might be in it too-

She looked back at Cameron, who wore not a smile but still a somewhat reassuring expression, probably trying his best to steer it all along.

…Well, might as well take the wheel and steer it towards her own treasure. Just while Cameron luckily nodded.

“I don't mind that UNLESS you grab my scratchy pillow again. That is MINE.”

A sudden glare came, followed by her gigantic smirk.

Good pillow. Sadly his. But that never stopped her before.

“No promises-!”

“Yes Promises???”

Snickering for a quick minute, she slowly rolled her eyes and sighed, focusing back on the dishes rather than the story she was about to tell.

“Okay, Okay, fine. Just…be prepared.”

Truly was an easy way of putting it huh?

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She remembers it like yesterday, sadly.

A gigantic wooden house in the middle of town. Smelling of birchwood, splinters, clothing materials and cotton. On good days, perhaps even stew.

On the windows, hundreds of designs and deals, littering it only enough to not completely leave the light out and for the people to look at all these clothes.

Perhaps, if she focuses enough, she can once again point out every design and speck that went into them.

Once again, distracting her from-

“Marie, please get out of the way-’

“My family was basically gigantic. Lots of Aunts and children, cousins, parents, step parents- you name it.”

Not a single day went by where she wasn't in the way.

It's not exactly her fault or their’s, as much as she would have wanted it to be a one-sided issue.

It was a big production. It was a gigantic, constant working cog of clothes, fabric, sewing machines, mannequins of different species and so much more.

You are bound to stand in the way if you are not integrating yourself into the commotion.

“Ah, little sis, please just stand by the side?”

“S-...Sorry. I-”

Even the elders did something half the time, be it just rating outfits or feeling of the fabric for perfect comfortability.

Her Grandma was an expert, being able to look at a color of clothing and define every single other hue that was needed in seconds.

Everyone was always working.

Always fulfilling their purpose.

“In that gigantic family, we all lived in a shop. Or rather, we were the owners of said shop and made it our home.”

She wasn’t truly sure when she started to feel uncomfortable in the place everyone called home.

Standing off by the side started to feel like a nauseous experience as all the sound melted together horribly, everything belonging beside herself.

Seeing all the red shapes, fitting her own yet never being able to fit into what they're doing was

An experience. Surely.

So.

She kept a specific spot when watching everyone, designed by one of her older brothers specially that was made of old, broken fabric pieces they could never re-use.

“Mari, Mari- Just watch us up there! Wouldn't want you to miss all the developments for your future, huh?”

Tomaria gulped quietly, deciding to gulp down the sickness coming up her throat.

Slowly, she ignored the constant noise she would prefer to ignore in her room, grabbing onto a wooden support they had in the shop.

Grabbing the hinges, crawling up there, making sure her legs didn't slip off like always and moving over to the small, bag-like fabric hanging from the ceiling.

It was. Safe. In a manner.

Not really. It could rip. She saw small ripped holes.

But someone made it for her and would cry if she mentioned it, so who cared beside her?

The little tomato shook her face, simply plopping down into the fabric and grabbing the pillow that had been stored there.

Muffling the noise that was making her hearing holes bleed, laying there out of comfortability.

Now, this was supposed to be a place where you can watch the work from above without interrupting, where you could watch all the sewing machines and tables and fabrics be mended together-!

That's what her brother and siblings and whoever else knew about this wanted.

She liked using it as a ceiling cinema.

“...I couldn't really do much. Our home was a shop. If I wasn't in my room, there really wasn't anywhere to go where work wasn't present.”

“Like, that was just how life was. Was always supposed to be, y’know?”

Sometimes, she would stare at the ceiling for hours on end, just until the sun would finally settle down enough for dinner to appear.

She would occasionally check down, but it was only really to pretend that she was watching them all.

As long as they didn't mention her existence.

As long as she didn't have to do this.

A silent breath escaped her as her arms ended up behind her and one leg crossed over the other.

Sometimes, imagining the different movies she watched with her younger siblings helped. Sometimes, she felt guilty about such a thing.

Simply because it felt like her siblings were less important than the movies.

Sometimes

She forgot her siblings' names.

Another, shakier sigh.

What movies were there?

Okay, so…there were some that were related to crystal culture, but those were over ten years old and she couldn't help but see them as unrealistic.

Crystals were barely allowed to be even touched due to nature protection, so she couldn't even imagine how they were all allowed to feast upon crystallic meals and wear those precious rainbow gems around their neck.

Maybe those hero movies? They were plenty upon plenty of those!!! And she loved the hero movies!!!

Okay, not specifically the hero movies, but the characters that seemed to switch the formula on its head and make their own little classes!

Angelic demon, sword-handling Waterbender, all the ones that perhaps didn't even exist in times like these!

Giggles escaped her as she gripped onto the pillow, grasping it in her hold as she swung lightly from side to side.

Closing her eyes, imagining just a little plotting that she could perhaps sketch out later for her own amusement-

“....Sometimes. I forgot dinner for this. For the imagination and the many scenarios. I would just eat in my room later.”

“It felt so much nicer. Even if it meant not talking to my family.”

Scene one.

“Oh, please. I am nothing but a simple magician!”

The Mage said, holding their staff with its ball reflecting the inside. They are standing on firm ground with a fakery innocent expression.

Enter the Fighter. Tilting their head to the side. They look rather unconvinced.

“Oh yeah? Nothing else?”

The Mage changes to a smirk. They flick their staff in circles.

“Nothing else…perhaps beside -

“TOMARIA!!!”

“AH- Coming, Ma!”

She nearly flinched out of the hanging blanket, looking around frantically before having to squint at the light that she looked right into.

Greaattt, just what she needed- urgh.

Toma shook her head.

Doing her best not to lose her footing, she slowly stood up on the blanket, letting out a quiet yelp at the way the blanket dipped at her feet.

No worries, balancing was an art for a tomato like her!!

She adjusted herself, doing a few hops on one foot before flailing all the way down, falling off the blanket and doing some spins in the air before-

THUMP.

Landing right on the table, doing a finishing pose and giving a happy smirk.

“TOMARIA!”

“EEP- Sorry, Ma-!”

Sadly, her Mother didn't like it all too much when she rammed herself into the next nearby table, making her flinch and slowly sit down on it.

Her mother's skin was already growing wrinkles in her impatient disappointment, or perhaps she always had wrinkles and she just wanted to fit them into her purple and orange pattern poncho.

She restrained a snort at that thought, but quickly restrained it out of respect. [Restraint]

Quickly, she went to compose herself, trying not to look too unkempt as she sat down on the table she landed on.

“Marie, you should know better than to sulk up there all day!”

If Mom knew any better, she would have already known that sulking rather meant locking herself off into her room.

Crossing her arms was at least more acceptable than raising her voice to a dangerous degree.

“I’m not sulking! I'm watching with a whole lot of intent.’

And Mother did nothing more than roll her eyes, tapping those crossed arms in pure impatience.

“Surely…Look, have you even practiced on your sewing machine?”

Urgh.

Uhrgrhrhr no. No. She hates it. She hates practicing with grandma and grandpa and uncle and her siblings

“Yes, i- Not today, but-”

Of course, Mama doesn't accept such.

Not at a certain age. An age she didn't like raising above a certain level.

“Then go! You have a whole lot of preparing to do, Young lady.”

Preparing. Moving on. Learning. Getting a job-

She shook her head, lowering it and silently tapping the table behind her.

“Y-...Yes, Ma. Sorry-’

“Proper words.”

Mmmpfh.

She pursued her lips.

“...I'm sorry.”

More tightly she crossed her arms.

“And in full sentences?’

She's gonna seriously puke from this whole conversation she swears to NANTES-

“....I'm sorry, Mother.”

Finally, FINALLY her Mother let her off, brushing over her shoulder before patting it instantly, nearly pushing it.

“That’s it. Now off you go! And don't show that grimace!”

She wanted to puke.

Seriously.

Seriously-

“Damn, That sounds rough.”

“HAH! Understatement of that year!”

Tomaria could only laugh as she sat on the counter, moving them around while Cameron cleaned off the last of the dishes. 

Dry and neat, just how everyone liked them.

Or how she likes them. Clean plates meant that she didn't need to be disgusted by leftover pieces later.

“I wouldn't say rough is the right word though. Maybe an endurance is better…”

She tapped below her lip, never knowing if she could call that red globe a chin or not as her legs still kicked the day away.

Her wolf friend could only sigh as he put the plates in their respective spot, slowly moving his fluffy tail back and forth in interest.

Looking over to her in interest and concern she didn't like to note.

Not at all. Who likes concerned stares actually?

“Okay, so- I'm finished. You wanna go crash on the pillow fort?”

And there is her favorite part of chores! The juicy reward that will make her happiness go beyond the bounds of reality!

A snicker left her as she leapt off the counter, giving a proud thumbs up as she rightfully approached the fridge instead.

“Uh-huh! Let me grab a snack first and then we shall cuddle upon those pillows!”

Cameron could only let out a silent sigh, but she caught the relaxed smile once he started to walk away.

“Good, Good- just don't spill anything, ya got it?”

“AM NOT.”

Just because he was walking away, doesn't mean that she wasn't able to stare holes into his back.

Alas, there were more important matters to worry about, which were-

SNACKS AND DRINKS.

Tomaria opened up the fridge, licking her lips as she looked at the contents, just needing to decide on a drink.

Arti was currently grocery shopping, so a lot of her favorite things were missing.

No strawberry milk, no chocolate delight, no sour nut yogurt- AH!

With a whole lot of excitement, the tomato reached for the godly juices known as the multi-vitamine juice linked only in red fruits.

Truly, it was the pinnacle of human creation beside tutti frutty drinks and the fat burger she once ate at that Food-made island.

She could still remember the barbecue sauce leaking from the side, making her saliva over such delicious cooking.

For now though, she grabbed the drink and jumped on the counter again, flinching as she nearly fell off but grabbed a pack of crisps from the cabinet.

Onion and cheese flavor, something that Cameron may snack on too.

Always in an XXL bag!

“COMING!!!”

Tomaria yelled over as she ran over to the couch, already sliding over the comforting dark brown wood of the floor and touching the beige, fluffy carpet.

She scratched the back of her head after setting down the items, getting comfortable in the blankets and pillows of the pillow fort.

Settling down properly and wrapping the fluffy blue blanket Cameron handed her around her, she thought silently.

“Where was i-? Ah-”

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Tomaria stared at the gigantic frame in the hall of gigantic frames with people's faces on it.

Nothing special about this one, she presumed. Just like every other picture she saw.

In a wooden hall with the most delicate red carpet, made from expensive cloth and knitted with effort never seen before-

She could only stare at the golden frame with disdain.

A tomato was there. Wearing a handmade outfit. With a proud expression.

It was just like any other Picture that stood in these halls.

A Tomato.

Wearing a handmade outfit.

With varying expressions.

The only thing that changed was the person, expression and clothing really. They looked nearly identical else. Near indistinguishable. 

And Tomaria was simply standing there in her soft, blue pajamas, holding a handmade doll in her hands that was of a little cherry.

All with a small, dumb smile.

She sadly could not share that expression, a grimace on her face from seeing all these lousy generations.

Nothing changed.

Not a single one.

….In all honesty, she didn't know why she was standing there. Maybe she wanted to talk to Mama and Papa because this was indirectly the way to their bedroom.

Maybe she couldn't sleep and wanted a distraction.

Or maybe she wanted to be miserable.

Maybe.

It was working quite well on that part, her stomach not agreeing with any of the existential questions she was asking.

And-

“My dearest Mary, I didn't expect ya to look upon your old predecessors!!!

“Grandpa-?”

Tomaria flinched slightly as she felt that boney hand on her shoulder, snapping her hand over to meet that olden gaze.

Proud, resilient, just a bit too stubborn in her opinion, but she couldn't say much with her own needs.

He was still holding that came that he probably shouldn't be using, where a wheelchair would probably help more.

But she knew Grandpa wasn't one to use these things. Said that they made him ‘pathetic’ apparently.

She shook her head, looking back up.

“Don't you see, Mary? That was your old, old, OLD Grandpa! Not even I got to meet the guy, but I heard he was a sturdy nut!”

Of course, he shook her by the shoulder, touching her without asking and making her feel more queasy than necessary.

She didn't like this. She didn't like the stupid Picture, but-

“Papa, there you are…I didn't expect to see you here though, Marie.”

Urrgrgrhrhhhhhhh.

Urrrghhhh why Mama-

“Sorry, Mother-! I just…wanted to look at the pictures! Yeah!”

There was a suspicious look in her eye with a displeased squint, but her Grandpa quickly shoved her poor body into his side, getting a small grunt of pain.

“Oh, don't look at her like that, Fruitfly! Someone of her age may look upon the greater ones before her!”

Greater ones.

Are they really-

“I guess you are right…”

Mama silently came up beside them, not as displeased anymore, but that didn't let Tomaria thank her Grandpa for anything.

He seemed nicer when she was smaller.

That may have never been a good thing.

“See, Marie? You could be another gem in the generation. If you work hard enough, that is.”

Mama gestured towards the big pictures and paintings, a mix between the two as that still didn't make them look any more miserable than they already are.

Some of those tomatoes could use a smile or three.

Her Grandpa had one, that's for sure. And a whole wrap of laughter and heavily smacking her side as well, neither of which she appreciated.

“Oh, don't doubt the little girl! I've seen how much effort she can put into her little trinkets, she can do this too!”

“Right, Mary?”

Both turned to her all of the sudden and all the annoyance went out of the window.

Instead, it was replaced by an expression they couldn't even feel.

She didn't know what she looked like.

She didn't know if she looked upset or horrified or 

Was she supposed to answer? Would they be angry if she didn't-

She could

She

She

Tomaria nodded quietly and didn't say another word.

And Grandpa laughed again while her stomach acids all bubbled up in her stomach.

“There we go! We have nothing to worry about, my little angel.”

Mother only shook her head, seeming more satisfied than before like a selfish little parasite and they

Walked away

“You may be right then. Oh, maybe she should see-”

Tomaria

Bit her lip and quietly followed

Holding the plushie close to her chest.

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Tomaria never liked her sewing lessons.

“Come on, you little- Don't cry all over my sewing machine!”

She hated them in some way.

In many, many ways that she wished she could describe better.

Almost every other day she needed to do lessons she wasn't interested in, do something she never cared to do, mess up things she didn't even like-

If the redeeming quality were her eldest Grandmother, then maybe she wouldn't mind as much.

But Grandma was strict. So very. Very. Strict during these lessons.

Like she wasn't the same person. The one who happily patted her head and rubbed her cheek as if it was made of silk.

Just while preparing sandwiches for school, not caring for the amount of little ones she had, as more Aunts could help.

Grandma felt like a horrible stitched back together dress that was rather simple before.

And now, you could feel the seams pop as if they were never made properly in the first place.

“Come on- Focus! Do you want to get your little dangle fingers forced into your clothing??”

No. No please she didn't.. why wasn't anyone listening to her

She could only try and keep the fabric steady with shaky fingers as the annoying droning of the machine made her brain scrambled beyond repair.

Repeating little stitches that went right into the fabric, preferring if they went into her unstimulated skin at this point.

The tears dripped down onto the fabric and the machine, sliding down as the cycle repeated once more.

She tries to get the clothing right. Keep it steady. Let the lines go wonky anyway. Cry more. Get scolded. Repeat.

It's never right.

It will never be right.

It's always wrong. Even when the line looks perfect to her, her Grandma finds another perfection to soothe out.

Putting her shaky hands over the fabric, mumbling curses and sometimes grabbing the fabric and ripping it's seams off as it was still in the machine.

And then she would speak. Loud and overbearing, with a finger up in the air.

“When I was-”

Yeah. You're old. When you were 12 you probably got spanked.

…

Okay maybe that's too harsh. Maybe she shouldn't think that. It wasn't fair to think that. It was horribly intrusive. Not like Grandma wanted to do those lessons in the past either.

Did she? Did she like them? Did she sob and weep? Did she not?

Maybe she didn't.

Still-

Tomaria let out the quietest whine, that's rolling down her face as she wept and sobbed, tears painfully red and hurting from it all.

Rolling down her cheeks and onto her ripped purple Poncho she still wore.

One of her family members wanted to fix her beautiful purple poncho.

Nobody ever did.

‘Too busy’, they said. “Toma, can't you fix it yourself?’, said her older brother with an annoying laugh as she ruffled her hair and ignored her little look.

…Not like it was her favorite poncho.

But it had been made by Mama-

“...Alright, those tears aren't gonna help your lessons. Take a minute to calm down.”

Tomaria could barely look up at the tone, too busy wiping the snot and tears with the broken clothing piece.

Her Grandma sighed in mere disappointment, but it was tinged with that soft tone the old tomato had perhaps not been given herself.

Shedidntknowshedidntknowshecouldntknowshedidntwanttoknow

Simply patting the shoulder and letting Tomaria cry it out like always.

Like every lesson.

Like with every single rotting piece of discarded clothing.

…

It didn't make the situation much better in her opinion.

She wasn't happier by the end. It would simply repeat.

It would just start again tomorrow. Or the other tomorrow.

But what did she know?

She was not a very ripe Tomato after all.

“Toma, stand still! We won't get these pretty dresses on you else!”

I-Im- Trying-

“Shhh, be kind to our dear Sister. She is trying her very best, my dearest Brother.”

She hates this she hated this she hated it all-

Sometimes.

Her siblings and cousins needed a mannequin that wasn't currently available to use.

Why, you may ask, do they not just get a Mannequin?

Just because they were a big shop, that simply didn't mean that every single Mannequin would be free all the time. They were in constant use.

Dressed anew, made into stunning beauties.

Which left some of her Family members with nothing to work with, made worse by her parents refusing to use the money to buy more.

So.

Sometimes.

They asked her to stand on a pedestal and be used to measure clothing, to get jewelry on, to see if everything fits together like a puzzle piece.

Tomaria

Hated this

With every single inch of her life.

Standing there felt nauseating. Existing in such a cramped space felt disgusting. She could vomit with the amount of time she needed to keep her arms steady and up.

Sometimes, the needles pierced in the clothing would rip into her skin.

…Maybe not rip, but it sure felt like that when you couldn't move your body for several hours on end due to them.

“Sour Grape, Sweetie, move your arm a bit?

Tomaria was about to smack the shit out of her sweetest oldest Sister who was speaking in that sugarsweet, honey-coated shit tone as she was in a novel.

She probably thought she was so great, following her generational ways-

Don't assume. She finds her brother just as strange.

Somehow, that made her sweet Sister more tolerable.

“I would if it wasn't digging into my skin-”

Tomaria hissed harshly, glaring down at the pin currently grazing her shoulder and making its whole task about pissing her off.

Not helping was the dried out hand suddenly forcing her head back into position, making her let put the quietest grunt ar the voice behind her.

Her shitty big brother in that stupid brown t-shirt that was probably soaked in soy sauce.

Really professional.

“Oy, don't tilt your head so much, Toma!”

Yes sure, BECAUSE THAT'S EASY FOR YOU TO SAY-

“Alright, alright. Take it slow now. Steady your head and arm so we can work here.”

Tomaria could only silently grumble as she stood as still as possible, not feeling her legs all that much anymore.

TV static at this point. Maybe she'll lean into one of her siblings later and collapse onto them as a joke.

She mentally restrained another snort.

All she could do was stand there currently, staring at her Sister silently who wasn't wearing all that much either.

A white shirt that wasn't all that good anymore, matching with her darker, more softer Marks. Her hair was also as short cut as always.

For being such a fashion person, she did keep her greens short.

….The dress was something.

The little Tomato could barely see it by herself, but there was a mirror nearby assisting that sight disadvantage.

It was half finished. Maybe. An unfinished product in her eyes could be the beauty of the market to her parents, especially if it has jewelry that could sell better without a dress.

Painfully green in her opinion. Like if you looked at grass in the sun green or like, acidic green. Hurts to look at.

They really wanted to add white, frilly stuff at the sleeves and end of the dress, swirling around.

Though, her brother was murmuring about adding fluff to the neck, which she is currently not thinking about because she doesn't find that idea too bad.

He doesn't deserve that satisfaction of having a good idea.

Maybe too mean. Whatever.

The jewels made of green emeralds were being attached specifically to the waist area, which she had been complaining about ages ago.

It kept digging into her waist, but her Sister said that a sour grape like her fits into such a dress.

Wow. Truly helps. Thanks.

….Tomaria didn't like the dress.

Not one bit.

It was like being stuck in one, pre-determined place. Stuck in a position that everyone puts you in and nobody is willing to pull you out of.

Because it's correct, isn't it? This is what everyone wanted, isn't it? It's needed, isn't it?

Generations by Generations pass by and nothing has changed and it never planned to change in the first place.

She can feel it. See the painting of her face on the wall of a hundred others, telling of another Dress Maker among the hundreds of these families.

Children and elderly people will Look. In. Some way. She didn't know. She couldn't fathom how they would look. What they would think.

Bile stung in her throat.

What will she be? Nothing more than a memory? A single scrap of painted history?

She will stay as nothing. Her family expects her to be a cog and she hates being a goddamn cog.

She can't bear being a cog.

She doesn't want to die like this.

Forgotten. Repeated. Unoriginal.

Nothing special.

Rotting in a juice that was never changed, meat turning into nothing more than uneatable flesh.

Left in a jar till they need to throw the excess out for something greater.

Something beyond her.

And the her that she build will be forgotten and buried alive for the grandchildren to hear stories about.

Of her defiance.

Of how terrible she was.

How her death was needed.

How she was a sign.

And the vomit build into her thr

“Sis? Tilt your head a little, please?”

“Uh-huh. Can't exactly make a dress if you don't follow.”

….

She tilted her head.

And didn't change her expression again, ignoring the horrible taste in her mouth.

Bile wasn't a flavor she loved.

Unfortunately.

It wasn't unfamiliar.

Tomaria hugged the fluffy orange Pillow to her chest.

Where she picked that out? You don't get to know that as the idea of not getting you any closure is comforting to her right now.

The pillow fortress was nice, comforting and warm, leaving her to use it to its fullest alongside Cameron.

“Dear Nantes, That's….”

She cuddled up in the blanket, wrapping it around her like a pretty ball, considering quietly if she should start shutting up.

These reactions weren't…new. Or unusual when she tells these types of stories.

She told Arti some once.

They had similar, but calmer reactions. 

Or surprised. She couldn't tell. She wished she could really.

Pressing her cheek against a pillow, she didn't care for the crumbs for today as she stuffed her hand into the onion crisps and chomped on them.

Just carefully picking up the crumbs from the blanket itself.

“I don't think that's normal, Toma.’

“Mmmpffh.”

Tomaria’s words were tainted by the chips filling her mouth, being crunched up separately before finally going down her throat.

She choked slightly as one of the harsher pieces of said chip scratched along her throat, hissing to herself.

Owowwoowww-

With a huff, she leaned back against the pillow, averting her eyes once more 

“Yeah. Possibly. They didn't think the same though.”

She didn't consider a time where anyone mentioned it being abnormal. It was just a thing that needed to be noticed.

Noted down like a clue in a mystery game.

….Guess that's why she kept a diary once.

At the same time as her thoughts hit her head, Cameron seemed to start scooting over, seeking closeness he only sees with his family.

Probably trying to comfort her without the best comfort devices.

“Hey, Look- it's…you…”

He hesitated, slowly hesitating with his paw before patting the head, silently flicking his tail in acknowledgement of any reactions.

She simply tilted towards them, slowly adjusting both of their positions.

“You wanna…keep talking? If…if you want. Your choice, really.”

Tomaira was not extracted from her blanket prison, instead simply getting pulled in Cameron's lap with the most care he could muster.

Which was a whole lot.

Pressing her under his chin and putting his snout on her head, probably having such things from his pack.

….

Might as well.

“....Mhm.”

A bit more.

Just a bit.

. … .

. . . ….. .. ..

 . . . 

.

. . . …..

. .

… .

… . …

. ….

.

“Ah- shit-”

There was one place Tomaria enjoyed beside her own room and the little blanket puddle.

One that in all honesty, was built like ass, but who really cares if the place brought comfort?

In the middle of the night, the little tomato of 19 years old looked around the house, trying her best not to hit anything.

Which proved difficult, as she stubbed her toe against a wooden support for the stairs and bit her lip so hard it might have bled.

But alas, she shut up.

As she usually did.

Walking, walking, walking until-

“...Oh, there we go-”

She has found what she was searching for, only with one hurt toe.

Quietly looking up at the hatchet that grazed the end of the ceiling, she unlocked the little door that they had kept right before it.

With a little grunt, she unlocked the ladder inside, pulling it forward as the mechanism complied, locking it in place with a lever.

Slowly, climbing up, she took a deep breath-

Haaahhh….

The roof was beautiful at night.

“Urrgh, finally….”

Tomaria huffed, climbing up onto the unsteady light purple wood, already having broken and split in many places.

It should truly be ripped off, but somehow, neither the weather or the forest can hurt this one piece of true freedom.

Plants, mushrooms and all kinds of flora were already growing on the hot pink purple supports, the wood decaying and darkening every little piece of paint.

Tomaria didn't mind.

She never would.

Her arms rested against the wood, leaning forward as she looked at the sky, enjoying the many, many stats that seemed to light it up.

….

She could still feel her body's restlessness.

Urgh.

Puncturing her lip and quietly biting it, her eyes looked around for a moment before resulting in only a huff as she stuffed a hand in her pocket.

Searching silently, taking her time to look up more before finally reaching the objects of her desire.

The lighter was already in her hand and so was the cigarette with its carved spirals that would burn away anyway.

At least they glowed nicely in whatever color you buy.

….A silent hint of shame grew through her.

Come on. You don't smoke. That's why you threw every cigarette but like three away.

You don't buy them. Mama and Papa would Kill you.

She rolled her eyes and the shame away, nodding to herself as she put the line side in her mouth and lit the cigarette with the blue fire the lighter produced.

Taking the smoke in and letting the cigarette light up with the spirals, she puffed it right out again with a sigh.

Leaning forward more, moving the cigar.

Just

Relaxing.

Taking it in.

Letting the wind was over her-

“Toma-”

“WHATTHEFU-”

WHATFUCKWHYISHEHEREFUCKSHEDIDNTDOANYTHINGGODDAMIT-

“Shh, quiet- do you want the elderly to wake up?”

Her stupid brother snickered, ruffling her hair as if he didn't just scare the straight shit out of her.

Is no secret place sacred in this lot?

She could only grumble, moving the cigarette away and brushing off her now half dirtied pajamas.

Mainly by the dirt so it was her fault but who cared-

“Don't grumble at me, you know I'm right.”

That stare was already pissing her off, getting a very well deserved glare in her opinion.

“Uh-huh, why don't you-”

As if that wasn't enough, he just casually flicked her cheek, completely ignoring all her complaints and pointing towards the cigarette with interest.

Already growing a smirk and an interested look that deserved judgment.

“Oy, gimme one of those. I did not smoke for a while, let me tell you!”

Tomaria blinked.

Looking back between the sweet cigarette she owned and at her brother, who was not looking all that ‘cigarette-allowance’ currently.

His face was really not making her feel like sharing.

“Didn't know you did smoke, actually. Since-”

“I don't smoke. This is just- just an off one.”

She sputtered out quickly, wanting to make that very clear.

She didn't! She didn't smoke! She literally smoked like 3 to 2 times in all her lifetime.

All the cigarettes taste like the back of a study anyway.

Only reason she likes them is for the calming effect. Most definitely not for the daily chalk dust that goes on her tongue.

But of course, her stupid brother didn't believe that.

“Please, that's what everyone says!”

“I'm being serious, DmmmpfPf–”

Okay, so her brother was just being disrespectful and she needed to steal his favorite matcha milk from the fridge even though she hates matcha just to spite him.

For he has just PUT HIS HAND ON HER MOUTH. ON HER MOUTH??? TO SHUT HER UP???

MEAN TO HER. MEAN AND CRUEL.

“Yeah, Yeah. Give me one and I won't tell.”

With the most heaviest roll of her eyes, she pushed the hand away and begrudgingly pulled out another, more poorly designed cigarette which wouldn't glow in a cool way.

Simply pushing it into his mouth, only muffling his chuckling as he readjusted it while she pulled out her blue lighter again.

“C'mon, hurry up, sis.”

She shot him a quick glare before turning on the little potion-shaped lighter, clicking open the metallic Cork and letting the blue flame come out.

Lighting the cigarette and getting a satisfied intake from her brother.

Silently, she did so too while he leaned back, puffing one round together and creating circles in the air.

Gray and blue mixing together in a dirty loom, leaving the stars to fill their silent in-betweens.

The silence would never last long though.

“Why the blue lighter? Not feeling artificially red or what?”

Tomaria quietly flicked the cigarette in her grasp, just staring down at the ground while considering it.

Staring at the lighter finally, stirring the fluid inside while closing the metallic Cork again.

Making sure no skin got between it.

“...Just like the color.”

Another dump chuckle. She gripped the wood.

“Uh-huh. Tomaria ‘dresses like a bitter grape’ likes blue, hm?”

This time, the glare felt deserved.

Very deserved.

“Okay, Okay, I won't pry! Hah…”

Only the Puffs saved her from his laughter, even if she found comfort in it in some manner.

Just letting her big brother lean back, enjoying the little moments like this.

They do see each other often enough.

But

It feels different

Somehow.

….

Her brother still held the cigarette in his hands, clearly not noticing the lack of quality.

“Do say though. Why are you up here, of all places?”

He looked around, flicking the cigarette around as if this wasn't a highly flammable area.

But who was she to judge?

“I wouldn't say that the rooftop is the most well-built structure in this house. Feels like it's filled with rotten wood…”

She herself flicked her cigarette, averting her gaze and really considering the question again.

She didn't like questions.

She didn't like

Thinking sometimes.

“...Helps.”

“With what?”

“Thinking. Free will.”

And again and again and again

Her brother laughed.

She wished at times that she wasn't sick of hearing it. That she didn't feel ill at times.

It just

Didn't feel like before. It couldn't.

That look in his eyes told nothing but ridicule and disbelief as he leaned over, putting those hands more on the wood too.

She only looked away.

“Free will? Don't you already have that? Don't tell me our little cousins got into your head-”

But her gaze found him again as she snapped her head over, eyes widening purely from her own disbelief.

Didn’t he see? COULDN’T he see-?

“I’m- I'm serious-! Don't you ever think about all this?”

Her brother

Simply blinked, smiling still.

“About what? Tripping those little tomatoes?”

She still felt sick in her stomach as her lip quivered lightly, not perhaps not out of sadness.

“What- No! Continuing a generation even if you don't want to!”

The cigarette crunched beneath her fingers, uncaring for its own charred wooden surface as she extinguished it on her own.

“Why would I wanna be a dressmaker? Why do I need to be one? Why doesn't anyone in this family want to be ANYTHING ELSE-?!”

Tomaria couldn't help but sputter it out rapidly, her arms rapidly moving around as she looked at them like they knew the answers.

Like they would listen.

Averting her gaze from her brother once more.

“It’s ridiculous- it's-”

“Please, it's really not, Toma.”

And

She stared.

At the Person who used to comfort her while combing through her hair, scratching the top of her head 

And

Making her feel safe.

So, she stared. Whipping her head around and gesturing at him.

“What-...You- You were the guy who wanted to be a hairdresser someday! You told me-”

He only shook his head, snickering not with kindness, but with avoidance to her words.

“Yes, yes…I told you that. And that was a long time ago, Toma.”

He flicked the chars of his own cigarette towards her and she flinched away, his smile and constant shrugging beginning to get on her nerves.

“Things change, Tori! Sometimes you just end up abandoning your previous dreams for new ones.”

With that same casual tone, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, not caring to even ask her anymore.

He used to

She

“Ah, but what am I saying- you were always the stubborn one. Talking about heroes and such-”

She liked heroes.

What's his problem?

“Yes, and I stay by my opinion, Brother.”

“Mhm, look. I know.”

Easily again, he brushed her off as if she was dust on the counter, letting the cigarette come closer as her face arranged up in disgust.

Moving away and tensing up.

“I get why you're confused, little sis! Gramps and Ma always talk about these big responsibilities the wrong way!”

Yet, those words intended them again, only letting her tilt in confusion.

“The Wrong Way-? And what would be the right way, my dearest Brother?”

She couldn't help but be sarcastic at all these words.

Those words that are supposed to coax her over, to comfort her in a manner like it did before.

But he only pulled her closer, clearly believing his own words.

“Simple.”

Without any clear remorse, he tapped the ashes of the cigarette right against her pajamas, ruining them till the next wash.

“It is simply something that shouldn't be prevented.”

W

What

What?

Tomaria physically couldn't help but recoil, forcefully pushing her brother off and looking at him like he was-

Was-...

Dangerous.

Dangerous.

She gulped, stuttering out her words again in a desperate manner.

“No- Of course it can be prevented-!”

It needs to be.

It should be.

It needs to be possible.

“It can be, but what's the point? Being another generation isn't so bad! You'll get used to doing the same thing over and over.”

There was a rock starting to grow in her stomach at all these words that should have been left unsaid.

The cigarette was completely broken now.

Crunched up beneath her fingers.

“Making dresses, making suits, thinking about designs, not having to worry about being anything else but this thing we all do-”

She wanted to vomit

She felt physically ill. She needed a toilet. She didn't want to think about this. She didn't want to hear this.

She hated this

She hates this so much

“I feel like it would be relaxing! Don't you think so?”

Tomaria gritted her teeth so much that they might break, and the soft fabric barely prevented her fists from digging into her palm.

Maybe the blood spewing from her fingers would have comforted her.

“NO-!! No, of course i- Why would you even THINK i-”

She gripped her head, wanting him to finally shut it to be silent to be kind again to not be some disgusting pawn to her mother andHRRUGH-

She coughed and coughed due to the ashes and nicotine in her lungs, reminding herself once again

Why she hated smoking

Why she never did so

“Hey, cool it-! Your gonna inhale all the smoke-”

“Do NOT touch me-”

Why did he

Expect her to not hiss

To let herself be touched by someone like him.

“Don't you realise that that's what- what our parents want you to think-? You used to be-”

She shook her head, biting her lip again and the inside of her cheek and everything that her flesh was currently capable of.

She wants to rip off her skin at this point its

“Dear Nantes, I can't believe you-”

So she

Pulled her hair

And got back down

Until she couldn't hear his voice any longer

“...Geez, dramatic-”

She went down, already having those tears fill her eyes, just wanting it all to quiet down

For it to be silent

So it all stops

Please

She wants it to stop

Tomaria has a sewing machine in her room

Tomaria has many fabrics in her room.

Tomaria has everything in her wooden room to make an outfit.

She doesn't like making outfits.

Or well, that is not specifically the right choice of words-

She doesn't like making outfits when it is forced upon her, when she has no choice in the design and has to pick the most blatant options.

Pretty crystals, pretty colors, everything that should be making it perfect-

It didn't quite put her off as much as the lack of choice.

To make what she wanted, to pick her little piece with care, no matter how simple or complicated the piece may be…

It is truly what she wanted.

And today.

She did so.

Entering her room after another day of watching from above, she locked it up with a simple metallic key.

She traced over it, watching the little marks of the tomato, the red Ribbon wrapped around the circle at the end.

The tomato needed the silence, for it isn't easy to get in a house like this.

But at the same time, she preferred not to have absolute silence, even if the sewing machine would fill most of its absence.

It'll have to do.

There is not much to fill it out anyway.

Looking over her pastel cream room again, she finally sat down on her wooden table, adjusting the ripped brown cushion that had seen better years.

She moved a box full of fabric closer to her, as well as a sketching pad she kept for special occasions, just when she doodled around.

And of course, scissors. For every occasion one needs.

All a set up for the clothing piece she wanted to make.

And soon, the progress began, letting her go surprisingly easily into a flow state when she actually focused on the work.

Cutting the soft blue fabric she chose, deciding what goes together, picking the different blue tones, sewing the parts together and taking her time….

She knew how to do this.

She always did.

She didn't want to know how to do this.

But she did.

And Tomaria used this knowledge with a clothing piece she had sketched out so many hundred times on a piece of paper alongside the hero things she kept.

Rotten posters nobody wanted, spin-offs that people found questionable, designs thrown away for being unreasonable-

There were shelves among shelves that kept fabrics that nobody wanted due to their color, rocks and little trinkets that were unique yet too weird for everyone to grasp…

But she kept them.

For they were special.

Never the same.

Never a repeating pattern that she would have to see again and again and again and again and again.

Her family called her a hoarder for it, since it filled every inch of her walls.

Even beneath the bed were old boardgames that had unique concepts nobody wanted to play with her with.

There were plushies that were repaired a billion times over right there, lying on her bed.

There was a boy filled with toys that frantically could cause someone to get hurt, but isn't everything capable of such?

And

Soon

There was a clothing piece in her hands.

Made up of soft fabric, not failed like the many other prototypes she had kept, but had just not made the cut.

She didn't blame the clothing.

Sometimes, it just didn't fit in with her vision.

…This one, however, covered in light blue waves and bubble patterns all around, simply tinged with a dark blue background?

It was so ridiculously simple. Painstakingly simple.

But it was hers.

Truly hers.

….

Tomaria still wanted to make a helmet more out of plush fabric and metal for safety but

She needed to do something else first.

For now though

She could smile at something she made.

Tomaria kept dusty old healing supplies beneath the floorboards.

She checked the dates when no one was in her room, in the depth of the night, just in case they may walk in because parents sucked at times.

When she checked the dates, she specifically checked If the medicine dates didn't expire.

So she would have

Something to take with her if she wanted to finally leave.

…..

She didn't know if Mother and Father would accept her leaving if she simply asked them.

After all, she was a generation that continued on the legacy, wasn't she? She needed to be there, didn't she?

And she needed to do this forever on without ever smiling or enjoying it 

Cr ying and sobbing foreve r and ever and ever till there w as nothing and

She didn't want to die being forgotten.

So

The healing items started to melt in with her little hero obsession.

Stealing cardboard. Stealing glue. Stealing little lines. Not Stealing a lighter cause she owned one.

Cutting up confetti for an idea that might not work but it might and nobody had done it before and she wanted to do it.

Because it's unique.

Because people only care for the explosions to hurt when you're in the bomber class.

But not to…not do said hurt.

Yeah she could describe that better probably.

Tomaria made a little experiment outside in the woods, grabbing her makeshift bomb ball and also having grabbed a little clean up brush.

Because she wasn't about to dirty the forest just for an experiment, no-one.

She has to respect to clean up after herself!

“Hmm, yeah, it's properly on- should work fine….”

The little tomato mumbled to herself as she set the bomb down on the floor, grabbing her blue lighter and looking at the fluid itself.

Not much in there anymore, but it would have to do.

Probably gonna throw it away anyway, she's not gonna buy this stuff anymore-

But getting to the point-!

She approached it, kneeled down, slowly let the currently activated lighter come near the fuse…

Shhhhfffffff-

“ShitshitSHITCOMEON-”

Of course, she took a few large steps away from the bomb, because she is absolutely not gonna be near it when the bomb suddenly goes off.

Who do you take her for, an idiot?

shhhhhfffffffff…….

KABOOM!

….

Tomaria blinked quietly, having had her hands right on her face.

Her hands now grabbed onto the bark of the wood, turning towards the source of the sound but also staying behind the tree for safety.

Just in case anything was alerted towards the bomb.

….It….

It worked.

It had worked properly

That meant that one could put medicine and healing equipment inside bombs, which meant that one could have more than just negative effects in there.

That meant

She could do something

That nobody has ever done before

So

Tomaria had finished everything at the age of 21.

Somehow, she had gotten someone to help with her metallic head, even if she felt like something was missing at the top.

The crooked bowl shape of blue color with golden lines around it was just about enough. Maybe she can tweak it later.

She can always do everything later, even if she doesn't want to.

The belt that is supposed to hold her bombs took much longer than anticipated. She didn't expect it to take so long, she has so many prototypes left-

Not the easiest build, especially since the bombs are supposed to be indirectly detachable and able to be thrown in the very second they're grabbed.

For now, the little fabric cloth holding them close should be alright.

She even painted the many effects the bombs held, like poison, healing, attack boosters, general energy and Mana bombs-

All with patterns of colors and paint.

And finally - for now - she made a small pouch underneath her poncho, to keep medical supplies, to keep small trinkets she adored like her painting supplies and…

Fabric. Yarn. Sewing needle.

For safety.

So it'll not rip again.

While this was just her main outfit, she had been sitting on the round, fluffy purple carpet on the floor packing her backpack in the middle of the night.

She had so much.

So, so much that she didn't want to lose.

So, she had bought a backpack that would probably be hard to carry, but would keep most of her stuff inside.

[She knew what not to keep. Everything her family wanted her to have.]

Tomaria counted the things out of comfort. Perhaps as she always did when she wanted to make sure she was correct about something.

Books. Check.

Posters. Check.

Plushies. Check.

One or two pieces of clothing. Check.

Snacks. Check.

Diary and pictures of family?

No.

Tomaria slowly stuffed smaller things like trinkets in there, all she held close to her heart and wanted to keep for a while.

She brushed over the fabric of the dark green backpack, which had probably seen better days beside being recently bought.

Thrift shop sell all that's not finished, and she would like to help finish this backpack later on.

But for now…

zzzziippp.

She zipped it up, closed its mouth and made sure it was left unopened for now.

She knew it wouldn't be opened for a good while.

Quietly picking it up with a heavy grunt because holy shit she overfilled it to the brim but she had worse, she slung it quickly over her shoulders, huffing once more.

Adjusting herself, tightening the lines around her shoulder, making sure it was properly on.

Once she was a 100% sure that she did it correctly, she turned towards the clock she kept, in its bleak white color.

1 AM.

Simple.

A time where nobody would be up.

Which was good, because she didn't want anyone to be awake during this.

And then she could-

….

……

……….

God damnit.

Scritchscritchscritch. Scritch. Scritchhhhhh.

Click.

Tomaria grumbled as she put a note on her bed, staring at the clock now showing 1:24 AM with an unamused pout in her face.

Okay, now she can leave without any regrets. Or perhaps many. Better not to overthink.

With quiet steps, she proceeded onward.

Slowly creaking her door open, she looked around for a moment to check for any sort of movement.

When there didn't seem to be any in the darkness, she proceeded on, closing the door behind her and not shutting it completely.

The click of the door closing might just be enough noise to wake someone up.

She didn't like risking anything right now.

So, she slowly walked along, taking in her home one last time and taking in each detail at a time.

The doors from her siblings, the hall where all the pictures stood, the room full of sewing machines-

All little things.

The balcony was due to the noise risk left unchecked.

She decided that the backdoor they had considered their real house door was gonna be her exit, stationed in an almost secluded part of the house.

In the very back right, as if it wasn't supposed to be found.

The only thing really close to it was the backroom where all the trash and cleaning tools were kept, as well as rotten and dirty yarn.

And at the exit…

Were flowers.

Flower pots, flowers above the door, a flower ring sitting right at the door covered in every type of color and type they could find.

A mess. An uncoordinated mess that isn't even sorted by color, but stuck in ways nobody would ever imagine.

Tomaria smiled at it.

She went over to the weirdly coordinated carpet, adjusting her backpack once again as she stared at the golden knob.

….

…….

It was the exit.

Yes.

But

“....My memory struggles with this specific moment.”

“What do you mean-?”

“....”

“Three exact things happen. I have different interpretations and different words that are said.”

“First-”

“Marie?”

Tomaria flinched heavily at the words spoken, at the footsteps that approached her.

She had memorised the footsteps from her door, always when she needed to hide something.

Did she flinch? Maybe she just shivered. Snapped her head over immediately.

She yelped, didn't she?

She stared and complained immediately.

No.

No that's wrong.

“First. Mother and Father found me trying to leave.”

Mama stared at her in confusion. Anger. Disbelief. Shock.

She stepped forward and reached out. She stepped back and morphed into disgust. She stayed right there and quietly observed.

Words came out of her mouth accordingly while Papa arrived.

“What are you doing?”

“Why do you have a Backpack?”

“Why are you leaving?”

“Were we not good enough for you?”

She contemplates if that last one was true.

“Second. They tried getting me not to leave.”

Mama yelled at her to stay. Mama sobbed that she couldn't do this to her. Mama looked unreadable and silently tilted her head while she spoke.

Papa didn't Speak. Papa stared and never said anything again. Or did he? Did he say something important?

Mama grabbed her arm with force. Mama slowly grabbed her hand and intertwined her hand with hers.

Mama's face contorted and was left to be forgotten while her words stayed. Or maybe they didn't.

“Don’t you want to continue our generation-?!”

“Did we do something wrong? Please, just- just tell me.”

“Your brother will miss you.”

“Dear Nantes, what will- WHAT do you think your siblings will think, huh-?!”

There was one that she thinks was

“Don't do this. Don't act like you know what you're doing.”

Was actually said. Just one. With a face that spoke of disbelief and something else she couldn't remember.

It disgusted her how much she contemplated staying in that moment.

And of course

She remembers arguing back.

Her brain loved to think that she was logical. Perhaps above. Using the right words and syllables.

“Of course, Mother. I wouldn't want to stay in here with-”

“-Do you really think I wanted to be-”

“Maybe if you were a better parent I-”

“I wished we could have been-”

No.

No, she didn't speak like that.

“WHY CAN'T YOU JUST UNDERSTAND-”

She remembered her own tears blurring her vision as it became a screaming match at some point with near no physical movement.

Mama didn't physically do anything to her.

That was the one thing she will defend with her life.

Mama and Papa never hurt people physically.

Her back had started to hurt from carrying the backpack, her throat was sore from screaming, her eyes hurt from the dryness and her puffy cheeks didn't help.

It was messy. It was so incredibly messy.

She hated the mess.

And

“And lastly.”

She turned around and grabbed the knob not with certainty, but with blurred anger at every single edge.

“I left.”

“MOTH-”

SLAM!!!!!

Tomaria remembers

Mama's voice cutting out as she slammed the door and ran for what could have been hours

Minutes

Seconds?

She remembered

Seeing behind her mother in the last minute and seeing her cousins and siblings looking

In quite different ways.

She couldn't remember the details.

Who made what face.

Who expected this and who didn't.

She didn't care anymore.

She thinks she might have hit a tree on the way, but that didn't matter anymore.

Wouldn't

Couldn't

Tomaria was free

And it felt like acid bubbling up in her throat.

. … .

. . . ….. .. ..

 . . . 

.

. . . …..

. .

… .

… . …

. ….

.

Tomaria had her face in Cameron's fluffy chest while a paw absently patted across her head.

She had abandoned the crisps for now.

They weren’t exactly cheering her up or stopping her very annoying tears, she is gonna tell you that much.

Neither of them said anything for a while really.

All that was done was tucking the blanket closer and letting her rest her cheek against the chest, staring into particularly nowhere.

She felt sick to her stomach at times and really, really hated the fact that their Clock was currently broken.

Not giving anything to the silence, not even ticks-

“I'm sorry i-”

“Don't apologize. You're just doing it to fill the silence, Toma.”

She grumbled quietly, poking at Cameron's arm with an insistence impatience of her own slow emotions.

It's not like he was completely wrong either.

She wasn't sorry for what she did. She wasn't at all.

But

It just felt 

Weird

Sometimes.

“...Honestly, sounded like your family sucked.”

Tomaria let out a choked laugh, huffing right after.

“Hhhhah- YEAH! It did! Or well, it's- it's not that easy.”

She made biscuits in Cameron's chest, simply playing with the fluff while the wolf kept his snout on top of her head.

Not seeming to mind the touch all that much when it was someone else.

A small, involuntary pout came onto her face as she thought about it more.

One that didn't go unnoticed.

“Do you miss ‘em?”

She averted her eyes.

“No. Sometimes? I…am not sure, honestly. I wish I was, believe me!”

A smile came onto her face again, but it wasn't one of the truest, simply plopping down more than necessary as she leaned against Cameron more.

Every time she thought about it, it brought these…conflicting feelings.

Of her brother who lost his own personality.

Of her little siblings who might have not escaped.

Of her Grandparents and Parents and-

She let out a louder grumble, pressing her face into her hands.

….Quietly, Cameron’s other paw tapped along her side, making quite humming noises as he seemed to be thinking about something.

He always did this when he was deep in thought. A whole lot of tapping and flicking and touchy touch.

And he-

“I think I get what you mean.”

Huh

What

Okay she knew this halfly but huh

Tomaria blinked but didn't move her head, only staring up quietly, even if she didn't see her friend's face.

Didn't need to most of the time, really.

“You do?”

“I think I do.”

Now it was his turn to avert his eyes away, which was easier due to his snout being in the way as a special emotion protection.

His tail would have been a godsend right now had it not been left squished behind him.

For a moment, he lifted the paw on her side to scratch his chin thoughtfully, going right through the soft, subtle fur.

“My Family is a bit…how do you say? Stereotypical?”

“A bunch of softies?”

Tomaria smiled very nicely and kind which Cameron clearly didn't understand, she was so sweet actually-

Okay, maybe she did have a shit-eating grin.

She liked having it though.

“Okay, now you're just searching for anything to annoy me.”

He didn't even look mildly impressed, simply raising his eyebrows and staring right at her as if she dropped a paint canister.

…Actually no, he would have cried if she did that and it got on his fur.

“Is it wooorrrkkinnnggg…?”

Getting right into his face was nice, even booping his nose as his expression barely changed for about a second.

Which didn't last that long, but it still amused her.

“Yes. Yes it is and I hate it, thanks.”

He huffed, despite his smile.

Cameron seated back once more, waving her off and actually taking the time to think.

“No, but- what I mean is- Look, just give me a second.”

“Uh-huh.”

Another smirk crossed her cheek, but she could be patient if needed.

She had been nothing but patient for years.

…

Finally.

He started.

“My…Family is a pack. Wolves, Foxes. I have a cousin at Wizzro's even.”

Tomaria thinks she knows that one. A fox, was it? With more orange tones, or was it cream-

She didn't remember. Forgive her.

“We Wolves often aren't seen as threats. Not as seriously as we should be, at least.”

Cameron gestured around with his hand while still holding her on the couch, readjusting her blanket again.

Hopefully finding comfort in the blanket fort as well.

“We are related to dogs, who are often seen as cutesy and you know what people think about dogs.”

She tilted her body and raised a brow.

“They bite?”

Cameron huffed out an exasperated grumble, throwing his arms up more as if he was explaining a tragedy.

It might actually be to him, now that she thinks about it.

“Please, I wish they bloody think that more!”

His tone had changed from relatively calm and composed to straight annoyance, showing his teeth more and letting her look at it.

She squinted, noting that he needed to brush his yellowed teeth more.

She’s not any better honestly. She really needs to get more into her brushing routine.

But to focus back on the actually important staff-

“They all want to constantly assume that you're okay with patting, with being touched and- and- just being cutesy!”

The wolf complained harshly, falling back on the pillows and looking more annoyed than he had ever done on an annoying mission.

Not more than when they needed to grab some jam from a local jam farm.

His poor fur truly suffered enough from sticky stuff.

“The amount of times people wanted to dress me is ridiculous."

Tomaria blinked at that comment in confusion.

“I mean, don't you like dresses?”

Cameron blinked back, rolling his eyes yet nodding anyway.

“I don't mind dressing in anything, I just don't like it when people assume, and my pack, they…”

Something crossed his expression.

Something between sadness, disappointment and a few other things she couldn't point out yet.

Maybe never would until she asked.

“They just accept it. They accept that they need to be touched and patted and they like it and I don't.”

Slowly, Cameron wrapped both of his arms around his body, rubbing his white sleeves while tightly shutting his eyes.

Tomaria adjusted her position slightly so he could move more properly. So he could hug himself without issue.

She saw the way he snarled, the way his teeth shut tightly at the mere mention of such a thing.

To be touched without permission.

It was a horror to some.

“I don't want to be touched without permission. And I don't want to be looked down upon just for my species.”

…

“Oh.”

Tomaria honestly

Knew this already.

But that didn't stop her from quietly stopping her hand above the shoulder, just putting it there as an offering.

It took a moment, but Cameron slowly leaned in, allowing Tomaria to get the special privilege of patting her friend.

“Yeah, it's- it's why I picked the hammer. My dearest, beautiful Rosa-”

“Yes, yes, you love your hammer. Go on.”

Tomaria restrained an eye roll as Cameron squinted heavily, definitely judging her for her choice of words.

But not in a mean way. In the fun ‘you can't be serious’ way.

Helps lighten the mood in her opinion, especially when she couldn't restrain a smile.

“It's…better. People see me as more. And I think it's the same with you.”

Once he looked up, there was a certain softness in his eyes that made her flinch quietly.

Recognition was really scary, you can't tell her otherwise!

“You picked something no one else would do. You inspire others but were once expected to be someone else.”

With great hesitance, he lowered his paw onto her shoulder, always making sure he was in sight as the considered person he was.

And in return, she gave more pats in return, watching the ears flop down.

But soon enough, he properly looked up again, carefully extracting her considerate hand from his fluffy fluff.

“So, what I'm…trying to say is…”

He sighed.

“Don't let other people degrade you into being what they want you to be. After all, I wouldn't have met you otherwise.”

Tomaria finally perked up at those words, taking a moment to register them-

But yes! She remembers! She remembers very clearly!

She laid properly onto the lap, blanket wrapping over her legs as she looked up with her face facing right below Caneron.

Getting a whole lot of nose and eyes to see.

“Oh yeah-! I did go straight to that Tavern where I found you and Arti!”

Another unimpressed look, but it was much less serious and actually somewhat relieved.

Of what, she wasn't exactly sure.

“You meant we found Arti together. They were…practically unmissable.”

Tomaria lifted a finger, rolling over again and staying on her belly with an assured smile.

Because, oh, SHE REMEMBERS THIS.

“PERFECTLY unmissable.”

. … .

. . . ….. .. ..

 . . . 

.

. . . …..

. .

… .

… . …

. ….

.

Creaaaaak.

Tomaria

Didn't quite remember how long it took to get to this specific Tavern.

She had been in about three before. All a bit too full, yet was too empty of the people she actually wanted to be there.

It was noise without purpose. It was all just drunken laughter and stupid stories till she finally got her key and room.

This one…

Was different.

As she adjusted her heavy backpack and opened the door, what she was greeted with was….

Something that felt comforting to her.

Laughter. Joy. Heavy discussions. The scent of old maps, beverages, potions and so many pieces of fabric that she could unfortunately discern from one another.

This one Tavern seemed to be the one travelers and heroes usually go to.

What were the other things that linked to such a thing, you may ask?

As the personal expert currently walking around the Tavern, looking for a table and peaking around everywhere, she could tell you easily.

First, everywhere she looked was armor and potions and literally everything a hero team would wear and need. The scents also told her enough.

You have no idea how many times people reeked of bad potions.

Urgrhrh. Disgusting.

The next thing was the board roughly nailed to the wall, holding a whole lot of quests and requests, everything a team needed to get started.

And she couldn't forget the many weapons, the stories she overheard, the clear classes….

There was even an entire team of knights, which may prove to be dangerous if none of them can heal.

For now though, she just…really needed something to drink.

Teams can wait.

She needs her fluids.

The tomato strolled around with a yawn due to the late hour, slowly sitting down near a plush corner seat as she put her arms on the table.

Allowing herself a groan of exhaustion.

The chattering was a nice white noise for her tired mind and it

“Uh, hi-”

“WHA-”

O

Okay so

She might have nearly yelped so loud that she fell out of her seat

SHE DIDN’T??? EXPECT SOMEONE TO BE BESIDE HER??? WAAA??

Tomaria very hardly grabbed onto the table, pulled herself up again and blinked. A whole lot.

“I. Uhm. Well.”

Wooho, isolation made her unable to communicate like a normal person, HOORAY.

The staring contest between the probably cream-colored Wolf and the speechless Tomato went for about ten more seconds with awkward staring before one of them broke it.

“Sorry.”

“No problem, Mate.”

That went

Easier than expected.

Tomaria very silently noticed that she may not be getting a drink if she's sitting with someone who already had a drink, which was…uhh…

Something with chocolate. Or maybe coffee? It sure didn't smell like it but it was as make as the night.

In a moment of true genius, she looked up more properly at the wolf.

“Can I take a. A sip. Please.”

People, naturally, didn't usually consent to their drinks being sipped on by a stranger and this Wolf Was no exception.

Giving a silent eye brow raise to the Tomato currently setting down her gigantic backpack with way too much storage.

Simple flicking an ear.

“...You some kind of traveler as well?”

Tomaria's turn to raise her eyebrows, giving a quick Nod and properly adjusting herself to not look like a flat pancake.

“Yeah! Tomaria, Healer bomber! You?”

She reached out her hand as her Mother - urgrhrhrruh - taught her, giving the best customer smile she had with some more yellow teeth.

No idea how her parents never noticed.

The wolf blinked multiple times, where she could finally note the weapon that seemed to be laying from his right and surprisingly-

He shook the hand back with his paw.

“...Cameron. Rogue Hammer user.”

A smile for once in quite a while crossed her face, shaking the hand as long as it wasn't awkward before retracting it.

“A hammer user-! I haven't seen one of those in a long time!”

Tomaria really did want to be optimistic and kind, as being mean would probably get her nowhere with people despite her inner mood.

But the next sentence made her audibly stare.

“You're saying that as if a Bomber healer exists.”

Like very much stare with a frown growing on her face like a heavy tumor, the creases of her precious stress returning as well.

Luckily, Cameron did not seem the oblivious type, immediately widening his eyes and frantically waving his arms.

His tail poofed up more too, which she did kinda wanna touch.

But she would ask first. What kind of person wouldn't?

“I mean, like- Not in a negative manner. Just I genuinely haven't like- uhm...heard of it before.”

Oh

That

Actually made her happier holy shit that's amazing HELL YEAH SHE DID!!!! IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HEARD OF!!!

Ahememememm be professional.

A big smile crossed her face near immediately, pointing right to herself with a rather assured expression, as if she was the smartest person in the world.

The proudest too as of two seconds ago.

“My invention, actually-!”

But Cami only tilted his head in confusion, staring silently as if her whole amazing appeal didn't get to him.

Tragic, truly.

“Oh? I didn't know you could ‘invent’ classes.”

Her smile faltered and forced itself up for a moment, nearly becoming crooked from the physical blow of reality.

No! No, she couldn't give up yet! SHE SHALL NEVER!

Not after

Everything.

Tomaria once more propped herself up properly, nudging Cameron as if they were best buds, even though they literally just met.

“I sure can, Cream!”

“Cream-?’

She didn't care to elaborate on her colorful nicknames, simply staring over and getting right in his face.

Sadly, this meant putting her feet right on the pillowed seats, which she feels somewhat sorry for.

This is simply how she communicates.

Easier too.

“Anyway, why are you here? Quests, teammates, bad drinks-”

Every time she brought up a point, she lifted a finger and pointed at it with her other finger, eyes facing right up with a smile.

This actually did bring Cameron to think of such questions, propping himself up on his seat and swaying his tail.

Pettable. But. Respect. She won't do it.

Nuh-uh. SELF CONTROL.

“Oh, uh…Teams mostly. Searching for proper teammates, as most do in their place.”

Tomaria stared blankly for a good moment, blinking a bit as a thought formed in her head.

“Haven't found one yet?”

“Nope.”

Cameron popped the ‘P’, settling back against the cushion and giving a rough sigh, looking around the place with mild discontent.

Like he had looked at the place a hundred times before, with its laughter and heroic pursues.”

“You think it would be easy, but sometimes even heroes seem to be extra picky on these things.”

Despite herself, she forced a hesitant nod, averting her eyes again, which Cameron copied.

“Yeah, true to that…”

Finding teams has been hard for the last few days.

One would think that with the chaos in the lands, people would be more hesitant at becoming heroes, needing more members, perhaps even accepting strange types!

But weirdly, they seem so filled. Yet so empty.

Chemistry isn't forming where it would have been, Communication is lost in the fiercest battles, as if it didn't matter if they needed to work together.

Just who reached up high enough to be remembered.

If a team can't even imagine forming a bond with the other, how could they even be a team?

And if nobody accepts either of them, then-

…..

“Wait.”

Tomaria

GOT AN IDEA-!

SLAM.

“WE could be a team!”

Out of nowhere, Tomaria slammed her hands on the table, now standing right on the seats as if she was about to perform the greatest karaoke act in history.

Looking at Cameron with the purest excitement she could muster, one that hadn't been there for years.

SHE DESERVED IT!!!!

“what”

The dumbfounded expression of the cream-colored Wolf didn't stop her crazy ramblings, only growing a bigger smile at her need to explain.

To prove herself to her potential first ever awesome amazing team member!

“Imagine, A hammer-wielding Wolf and a Tomato with healing bombs!”

She SLOWLY PROBABLY grabbed him by the shoulder so he could see, pulling him close and moving her arm right across the room.

Already seeing the many adventures they could go on with her very eyes.

“I would call that a hit sensation!”

Cameron squinted like a squinting doubter.

“More like Disaster, besides-”

“H e y.”

She would call herself the most glaring example, but maybe that joke is overdone now.

She does think he deserves the glare, just for her own pettiness.

“Look- There's two of us. Usually bigger, more popular teams have about 3 or 4. Sometimes even 5.”

With his own carefulness, he put his two hands on her shoulders and started to sit her back down, which did not make her any more calm.

She did stop glaring, simply not finding the energy to do so anymore.

Perhaps Cameron noticed. Maybe. He simply sighed for now.

“And I don't mean to be rude, but I feel like neither of us are…Leader Material.”

Tomaria couldn't help but squint and repeat the sigh after him.

She knew what he meant.

Having a leader in a two member party was already a rough patch that she had seen before, with one constantly above the other.

You see it while watching above others in the clothing shop, watching them order and let the ego of being a leader get to their head.

It happens.

So often.

And she did literally just meet this Wolf, but it could be a good idea!!!! If they had another member! Someone bigger than them both!

Someone who could take the role of the Leader so it would be balanced.

“I guess…But- But we both want a team! There must be one that accepts us in! One with a proper Leader!”

Cameron huffed out in an exhausted manner and she didn't know if he was tired of her or if she was annoying or-

“What, do you expect someone to just come through the door and let us-”

Creaaaaaak.

Oh

Oh my Nantes HER PRAYERS HAVE BEEN CALLED!!!!

With a smug smile, she turned right to the Wolf.

“Yes. Like right noHURRHFZFU-”

OKAY MEAN TO HERDONT'T KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT AAAAAAAAA-

“Keep Quiet for a sec.’

Okay, fine. Sure, yeah.

Just because she is curious about the person entering and causing silence across the whole Tavern.

A whole lot of people started to get weird and more terrified stares, as if the Parent of all horrors was standing right there in the door frame.

Tomaria had to do a whole lot of leaning and climbing on Cameron's head with lots of complains to get a view, but-

….

Huh.

That's a big person.

The first thing she really recognized was probably the thing terrifying most people.

The sheer SIZE of said person, nearly reaching the ceiling as their yellow hat scraped the top of it with no issues as all.

They were cloaked in a whole lot of different colors like purple and white, looking almost like spikes leading down.

And their face-

Well

There wasn't one.

Okay, there was, she's kidding. Kinda. Maybe.

If they did have a proper face was Debatable though, for Vines covered the entirety of it.

With such sheer size and those weird, sharp cloth lines coming out of their back, that person sure knew how to make an entrance!

If they, uhm. Even wanted to. make an entrance like that.

For a moment, the gigantic… Fruit? Vegetable? Thing???? Stood there for a good few seconds, simply being engulfed in shadows.

It was like all the joy was sucked right out of people, replaced with whispers and averted eyes and horrified stares and so many more things she could count.

Even Cameron seemed to lower his ears, quietly scooting away from Toma and grabbing for his hammer.

Well, this is quite the rude reception.

Nobody even knows if the person is mean yet! Or maybe they met before. Maybe they didn't.

WHO KNOWS, CHANCE IS A CHANCE BABY-

“HEY, A seat is free here!!!!”

Tomaria’s smile could not be any wider as she repeatedly patted the desk, hoisting her round body up to stretch above the table.

She was

somewhat nervous due to all the shocked stares she was getting, especially from her fellow seater beside her-

But what is life without any risks, hm?

….

Slowly

The gigantic person stepped forward, floorboards creaking in the earth-shattering silence that was occurring.

Creaaaak. Creak. Creak.

She suspected it was an overreaction, but she couldn't deny the slight creepiness in the lack of a face and arms. Again, from what she could see.

And as they finally came in front of the table, she could see them too.

Showing her more and more details that revealed which fruit they were…seemingly an Artichoke of all things!

Huh

She thought Artichokes were wild animals. Oh well!

“Hello!!!! Just sit right here!!!”

“Tomaria-”

“S H U S H.”

Tomaria stared just a little at the squeezed together wolf in the corner, before looking right back at the Artichoke and patting the seat repeatedly. 

Offering a seat very nicely.

….Surprisingly, a hand came out in green, slowly resting once with their flat hand on the chin before moving it simply forward.

For some reason.

Buttttt in good news, THEY FINALLY CAME OVER AND SAT DOWN!!!! YAY!!! HOORAY!!!

Now to try conversation, hooo boy.

“So, uh. Hi! I'm Tomaria. You?”

Immediately, she stretched out her hand to the giant, cause what else was she supposed to do?

Oh wait yeah probably gotta get used to the new rules too-

“And uh. What are. Your. P. Pronouns?”

Wow that was easy

Cameron was still in the corner, only looking slightly less deflated as she was talking to the one nobody else talked to.

At least the noise was picking up again with casual conversation and little murmurs, which made it a bit less awkward.

Somewhat.

The somehow standing Artichoke was still staring at them- or were they staring? The Vines really showed no leaks in that face, which made her kind of nervous not gonna lie-

But she didn't want to let that stop her anymore.

Even as she felt the sweat going down her face from nervousness the gigantic Poncho and the tucked away tail on the suit seemed to shift slightly.

The tail with its hard leaves and green/purple mix slightly moved from side to side, yet was neatly tucked away.

That was not the same for the hands and arm, as one came out again with black gloves and black sleeve.

Slowly moving in…weird shapes? At least the hand did.

First, they showed a closed hand with the thumb sticking out, with the hand upright.

Second, they put down two fingers and their thumb and pointed their middle and pointer finger up, putting them over one another.

Third, they closed their hand again but stuck their thumb slightly in between their shut pointer and middle finger.

And finally fourth, they kept their hands close with the thumb on the side, sticking their pinky out.

Tomaria and Cameron stared for a moment, exchanged glances and then quickly realised they did not get what they said.

“Uhm. Uh. Well, uhm.”

She couldn't keep the whole lot of hesitations under wraps anymore and gulped quietly.

She was trying to be polite, she swore on her heart.

“Excuse me?”

….Unfortunately, the Tomato heard the quietest sigh of the from the gigantic Artichoke, which probably meant annoyance.

Right?

They lifted both arms all of the sudden, suddenly starting to form…Actual letters!

A

R

T

I

.

What did they spell?

_ _ _ _

It clicked for Tomaria at that moment.

“Wait, were you trying to spell-”

A r t i.

Toma nearly heard ‘Arti’ sigh in relief as they gave a rather quick thumbs up to the question, which brought an excited smile to her face.

They got a name! Arti! Arti, the…Artichoke.

Huh.

“Well, that's a great name, Miss- uh. Uhm…?”

Arti raised their hands but stopped, realising whatever they were doing with their hands might not work.

Instead, they quietly formed the letters again with both of their hands.

‘T h e y. T h e m.’

“Ah, I…don’t know the professional thing for that, so I'll just go with Arti!”

Not gonna lie, she was a bit nervous about disrespecting such a silent yet respectful person, but couldn't do much else.

Especially if she didn't understand the hand movements they were making.

Nonetheless, she quickly pointed to Cameron, which only received a hard flinch from the Wolf.

“And that is Cami!”

“Cameron- Don't just say my name without me saying it first-!”

Finally, he started to sit up, brushing his blue jacket off and staring up at the Artichoke with sweat dripping down his fur.

He leaned over very slowly, whispering right with his snout against her ear.

“Bloke, are you sure about this-”

“Absolutely.”

“We don't know this- them-?”

“Did not stop you and me from meeting!”

Cami gave her a stare that could only be described as a ‘Why are you like this’ face, which she somehow could perfectly understand.

She didn't take the moment to consider the implications of that.

She only noted how Cameron looked like a lost puppy looking up at Arti, who was silently tilting their head downwards, which probably meant they were looking at the two.

Tomaria took the time to sit up on the cushions, looking right back up and putting her pointer figure in the air, right on that vine-filled face.

“Well, Arti, we are in dire need of a leader and you look like someone who can pack a whole lot of mysterious Authority in our team!”

The little tomato was using all her customer-made gestures and faces that she had learned about, moving her fingers around and doing a whole lot of finger action.

You couldn't even fathom how she was moving, let me tell you.

The Artichoke merely tilted their head to the side, yellow wizard hat simply flopping along.

That's enough interest for her!!!

“Yes, that's right! Would you want to be our leader, my…companion?”

It was hard to get the perfect smirk, but she thinks she did it quite well, offering her hand and looking right over to their expressionless face.

Cameron didn't dare say a word, simply seating back with his feet- paws-? Still on the seats as well, curled up in the corner.

She didn't care if she looked insane to get such a large creature as a leader, they all seem to be outcasts!

Ooohhh, could be the slogan-

And somehow, perhaps that could come true.

As the many Artichoke leaves moved with the nod the fruit gave, taking Tomaria’s small hand right into theirs to shake it.

She

Honestly

Couldn't restrain the full on squeal she did at the action.

“YesyesyesitoldyouhellYEAH-”

HAhahahahahaHAHAHA SUCK ON THAT MOTHER-

Cameron could only stare at her shaking, stepping and stimming self as she did a little dance on the cushions, blinking and taking a heavy huff.

Slumping together at this mere decision.

“Still do not know if this is a good idea, but I guess I'm not the mutt to judge…”

That's what she wanted to hear and what made her sit back down, settling her arms on her hips in a triumphant pose and with the biggest smile she didn't have for ages.

This felt….good!

This felt extremely good!

This could be something AMAZING.

“Well, then it's settled! We shall be the greatest hero team of them all, starting with us ordering our celebratory drinks!”

Who wouldn't start with the Cliché drinks that everyone would get drunk at at a bar after a hefty quest!

But well 

She was out of money so

“Cami, you're paying!”

“what”

No matter the dumbfounded face and the pointing she had to do towards it, that did not stop her heavy flailing for her arms and throwing them up in the air.

For it was time for a new Era for her!

FOR THIS ENTIRE TEAM!!

“THIS WILL BE AWESOME!!!!”

. … .

. . . ….. .. ..

 . . . 

.

. . . …..

. .

… .

… . …

. ….

.

“I still cannot believe you made me pay for the damn drinks.”

That's the first thing you mention? Mean to me honestly I had such amazing storytelling quirks how dare you

Tomaria made a heavy huff as she plopped herself belly first in Cameron's lap again, rolling around with a pout on her face.

Poking insistently on his snout with the most stubborn face she could muster.

“Hey, I paid ya back SEVERAAAALLL times!”

The dumb smile nearly crossed his face but he quickly hid it away, turning his head away and grabbing the discarded crisp bag.

“Uh-huh.”

The squint may as well be so harsh that her forehead would rip off.

Poking was truly the act of a rebel.

“I  D I D. Stop looking at me like that-!!!!”

This banter went on for a bit longer as she kept poking and rolling around, getting lots of pushes in her face by Cameron’s paw.

How DARE one disrespected her amazing and not at all dramatically overdone scripts, they were AWESOME actually how could Cameron do such a thing like honestly-

Click.

Creaaaak….

Knock knock right on the door even if it was open.

Tomaria and Cameron immediately stopped what they were doing, the big tomato shooting up so hard she hit the bottom of the wolf's snout.

She was mildly sorry at the groan that was received.

“TEAL!!!!!”

“Oh, finally- Let me help you.”

Whenever Arti went out for groceries, they always went out like they had to do a heroic quest.

Don't know why you would need a gigantic cloak on your way to the grocery store, but who was she to complain?

Cameron wasn't the first to arrive, yet was the first to help gather the groceries from Arti, stored in paper bags and hopes and dreams.

Dreams that Tomaria could carry as well and set on the counter to look through.

Arti once they set their bag down, made a small motion with their flat hand touching their mouth and moving it away from it.

A simple ‘Thank you’ was always nice.

“No problem, my dearest and most favorite Leader!”

She smiled as bright as the sun's towards her most definitely favorite leader as she frantically looked through the bags…

Just to give a blank yet very pointed state at Arti.

“You brought Tutti frutti right”

A nod.

“YAYYYYY!!!!”

The amount of sighs and eyeballs that Cameron could do were truly immaculate, let her tell you.

At least he had the-

“Come on, Toma. Else I'm drinking the delight first.”

OH FUCK NOOOOOOOOOOO

“GASP!!! You wouldn't DARE!”

And he was smirking too, what an asshole.

“Maybe I would!”

Arti decided to sigh too, but seemed to do it mainly as they got to take off their head and retract their Vines from their face.

What was shown was a ripped open face on both sides of the smile and the left, shut eye still showing calm happiness with the other working on.

A calm expression of their leader and family member.

One Tomaria could only smile back at.

She quickly put away the rest of the groceries, going up behind Arti afterwards and gently tapping their left arm.

“From your left, careful!”

A chuckle, as silent and broken as could be came from them, as they just booped her forehead and moved on with their life.

Casual, as always.

That's usually how unpacking groceries in a warm kitchen usually filled with her food went.

She can cook for them not because she had to, but because she genuinely loved to do it.

And because the others usually suck but that's okay.

It's

Okay.

She's okay.

Because she's safe and sound now.

And even if she was before…

This feels better.

It'll always feel better with her family.