This took longer than expected and for regular readers my apologies. Sometimes the words come out easy, sometimes you have to drag them out. The latter is what happened here, although I hope what was dragged out is still fun.
Due to a much-needed and long overdue vacation (I have both shots and being careful, I promise), there may be a delay in Chapter 9. I'm bringing something to write on so I'll get some done, I just can't promise 20,000 words in four weeks. Look for Chapter 9 close to the end of August.
Thank you for reading, as always. And if you can spare a kind word or a kind vote after reading and it's to your liking, that's always appreciated.
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(Mid-October)
Kitten
I looked at the two pieces of luggage I had, and then the mountain of crap I had to fit into those two pieces of luggage and made a sound that was partway between a sigh and a snarl.
On this particular Monday evening, the spectators for this display in frustration and masochism all had different reactions. Gillian ignored me as she was focused on her computer and trying to get some classwork done. Soo-Ah was agitated because she wanted to help, but I told her I was fine an hour ago.
Things had managed to get less packed during that hour.
The third person sighed, looked up from his phone and gave me one of his patented "Are you being a silly little girl?" looks. Daddy was right; I was a silly little girl, but I was also a stubborn one. I hated having to pack in an organized way. Normally I tossed clothes in a suitcase. Daddy was horrified how I packed for our trip to Florida, but I got everything home, so obviously I knew what I was doing. When I went to New York last year I travelled by bus and had more space. I also had fewer and simpler costumes.
But this was different. I was bringing regular clothes and trying to fit bits and pieces of weirdly shaped cosplay into the suitcase. I was packing six costumes that had corsets, a sword, a lightsaber, vegan leather, boots, multiple capes, and other odds and ends. Daddy considered six costumes over four days lunacy, but he'd given up arguing with me on it.
"Let Soo help," he said from the living room, not looking up from his phone.
"I'm fine," I said in a voice that indicated that I was not, in fact, fine. I could see Soo hovering at the edge of the door, desperately wanting to help.
"There are limits to even what your stubbornness can accomplish," he said, which produced a snort from Gillian. "You need a fresh set of eyes. Let her have a crack at it and we'll go get some food for everyone."
That got Soo and Gillian's attention. Everyone has been so wrapped up in the drama of watching me pack that supper hour had slipped past.
"Thai food?" Gillian asked hopefully.
Daddy laughed. "Sure, I assume you have a spot?"
Soo ran to get her phone and offered to call since they knew our order. My drama worked up everyone's appetite.
I stared at the rubble and idly kicked a boot. I was frustrated, but I knew some of that was hunger at this point. Plus, I hated having Soo bailing me out, but if there was something she was bad at, I hadn't found it in the last six weeks. However, she was so incredibly nice it was impossible to resent her for it.
"Coming, Kitten?" Daddy asked. He already had his jacket and shoes on and was leaning on his cane waiting for me. I sighed, stomped over to the door, rammed my feet into some flats, and threw on a coat. I was getting ready to march out the door when Daddy gave me a look that indicated I was being an ungrateful brat. I lowered my head and turned around.
"Soo? Seriously, thank you."
"No worries. Food will make us even," she said, smiling and heading towards my disaster area.
"Better," he said as the door closed behind us. I felt mortified I behaved so poorly.
We left the apartment and headed towards the elevator. This place was a lot nicer than our apartment last year. It wasn't a luxury condo or anything, but it was safer, there was less vermin, and Daddy enjoyed the elevator as didn't have to walk up a bunch of stairs.
The walls were thin, so we heard everything the neighbours were doing, but that was a small price to pay. It's also why God invented noise-cancelling headphones.
We were walking outside in the cool October air. The leaves had turned and there was a satisfying crunch as we walked. It was about a 10-minute walk to the restaurant, so it was a good time to clear my head. Daddy had a firm grip on my hand. It didn't hurt, but he was also letting me know that we were walking and he was in charge.
"I'm ok, Daddy," I said in a small voice.
"You sure?"
I nodded. His grip on my hand relaxed a bit. I pulled it away and then wrapped myself around his arm. He kissed the top of my head.
"Sorry I'm being brattier than normal," I said.
"New York is supposed to be fun, Kitten. I thought you'd be excited to go to a con, get to see some of the city, and celebrate our anniversary. But you've been...."
"Stressed?" I added.
He nodded. "Are you ok? Seriously?"
"I am, it's just a lot going on. I mean, I knew things were going to ramp up in the second year, but they've piled on faster than I thought," I said.
"But you're managing ok? Is there anything I can do?"
Such a good Daddy.
"Just keep being you. I'd be out of my mind without you at this point," I said.
After our usual weekend together he came up to Montreal to spend a few days with me before our New York trip. There was no worry about upsetting the roommates; Gillian and Soo both loved him and were angling for an invite back to our...well, his, house. The woods, sauna and jacuzzi were major selling points. After Soo's latest rescue it was going to be hard to say no to them staying for a few days during mid-term break.
Daddy was meeting me after class tomorrow and from there we were going straight to the airport so we could have all Wednesday before the con to see some of the city. He had everything planned including "a show" Wednesday evening, although he wasn't telling me which one. I was one spoiled little girl, but he liked doing it.
"I just feel a little bad seeing you stressed out," he said, snapping me back to reality.
I rolled my eyes. "Daddy, this is 100% self-inflicted. It's not like this comic con snuck up on me."
It hadn't but last month I realized I hated how all my costumes looked on me. Courtesy of Daddy trying to turn me into a cow last summer, I put on weight. I wasn't going to tell him it was a problem because I know he worries. Plus, I think he likes the extra weight on me, which was a whole other thing I wasn't going to deal with right now.
But it was a big deal to me because none of my costumes fit right anymore. I'm normally tiny and wearing tight-fitting costumes. Now everything was too snug or bulged in the wrong places. It was maddening.
This led to some frantic redesigning over the last six weeks. Altering some of the older costumes, making new ones, and dealing with everything that had gone on since the start of school, meant I'd been very stressed. Also, because I was taking most of the week off school, I let some of my profs know. Since I was going to a comic con in New York, which has lots of TV and movie people in attendance, most were cool with it. But they wanted to see what I was wearing, and then offered suggestions. That meant more work.
