#|| guest muse: esperanza

[mxthbladed]

Vaggie smiled as she stood at the edge of the cloud, glancing back at her daughter. "You ready, bebé?"

Esperanza stood beside her, peeking over the edge. Her wings were folded against her back and she felt a small shiver run down her spine as she asked, "You're flying with me, right?"

"Your mother and I will be flying with you, yes," Vaggie confirmed. "We'll be right beside you in case anything happens. But we won't hold your hand. Right, Lute?" she prompted, glancing at her partner.

@holyfurnace

[redxriiot]

@s1lver-bullet​​​​​​​​​ said :  Mom+ “Your son is a very caring and wonderful boyfriend!” (from Karla)       『 Meme || Accepting 』

         He was her fucking WHAT now?

         “Ah–I’m glad to hear it.” Well, that marked one more damn thing she had to get a damn surprise in finding out, wasn’t it- "When did you two get together, if you don’t mind me asking?”

[mxthbladed]

Esper's eyes shut as she sleepily mumbled, "Ok..."

Vaggie had finished up what she was doing and moved to stand in the hall, listening to the exchange between her partner and daughter. When Lute left their daughter's room, she offered a smile and chuckled, "She's been talking nonstop about telling you that she almost knocked me over."

Smile widening a bit, Lute nodded in response with a soft chuckle. "Soon, Esper. Now get some sleep, okay?" She brushed her daughter's hair back once more before standing up from the bed. "You'll need lots of rest if you want to beat me."

[redxriiot]

Anon​​​​​​​​ said :  Mom + "it must have been hard for his sister, to give up so much for him, was he ever good with that?"          『 Meme || Accepting 』

        “While it was admirable of her to do so, I admit, and appreciate her help, honestly, I find it a detriment to him in particular. It’s only going to serve to teach him that there will always be someone who can prioritize him, and frankly, with his little habit of clinging onto things or people, make him feel hopelessly dependent on her or anyone who gives him that impression once he realizes that is not such the case. Aside that, I would have much rather have had her focus on her studies, even if I do not approve of either choosing such a career path for themselves.”

[redxriiot]

Anon​​​​​​​​ said :  Mom + Do you like the colour Eijiro dyes his hair?         『 Meme || Accepting 』

         “It’s ridiculous, plain and simple.” The words were not minced as she let out a sigh, shaking her head. “What else am I supposed to feel about it, hm? As with everything he does, he neglected to consult me about it. I left for work with him looking like himself, the next I saw him, I almost have a heartattack from thinking he is some stranger in my house. He still won’t tell me the why he did it. What’s more, he has the nerve to act as though he’s embarrassed about the one he was born with. It is mine as much as it is his father’s. What, did he feel some fucking relief when he made himself look so much different? He sure as hell acts like it.” 

          “I was worried enough that he’d been poisoned by those little friends of his, but after he changed it, his attitude to do everything he wants, whenever he damn wants no matter how it affects anyone else only worsened as well. Really, you can’t blame me for having a less than positive view on it.”

[mxthbladed]

Her back straightened at that and she flashed a grin. "I can't wait to wear it. You'll see me on graduation day and you'll know I worked my ass off for it. I'm going to aim for top graduate," she announced. She got to her feet when she was done and cleared her plate for the dishwasher.

She said, "I should probably pack..."

Chuckling faintly, Lute nodded slightly at her daughter's words. "I already know that you'll be an incredible warrior, Esper. You'll definitely be worthy of the uniform." She said, her smile widening as she gazed at the younger angel proudly. "I can't wait to see you wear it."

[mxthbladed]

Esper nodded, looking a bit put out by the news but she didn't argue, knowing that her mother wouldn't tolerate it. And besides, it kind of made sense, really. If someone wasn't cut out for the exorcists, they'd surely let sinners go loose...

"I know. I wouldn't expect it anyway. And I wouldn't want it. I'm too competitive for that," she added, a small smirk coming to her features.

"No." Lute responded, shaking her head curtly. "Recruit training goes for eighteen months, so we can make sure that you're really cut out for it." Her expression shifted slightly, a strange, cold anger simmering behind her eyes for an instant before she shoved it away again. "Some of our sisters can be... soft. During the year, that's not an issue, but I need to make sure that they can be proper warriors for the Extermination."

Lute's face was still hard, even as she offered her daughter a faint smile. "I trust that won't be a problem for you, Esper, but it's like I said; no special treatment."

[mxthbladed]

She did as instructed, sitting down and eating with gusto. Esperanza knew that her life was going to change. What had once been mundane and slow would surely become difficult at times but likely full of excitement. Her thoughts were racing and there was so much she wanted to ask, wanted to say, but she couldn't bring the words forward.

After a moment, she asked, "Will I graduate in enough time for this year's extermination?"

She chuckled faintly, tightening her wing around her daughter and moving to press a quick kiss to the top of her head. "I know you will. And honestly, out of your whole group of recruits, you're already one of the most impressive." Lute said with a grin before pulling away. "Now sit down, eat; you've got a big day tomorrow. You're going to need your strength."

[mxthbladed]

She was almost embarrassed by the speed with which she got closer to accept the embrace, curling into the warmth and softness of her mother's wing. After all, with her training beginning tomorrow, this might be one of the last times in a while that she'd get this kind of affection.

"I am," she replied. "I've worked hard to get recruited. And I'm gonna keep working hard the whole time." She knew it would mean seeing her mami's side of the family even less than she already did but by the time her training would be done, it would be worth it. She was sure.

"Good." Lute said, nodding slightly. She paused, watching her daughter for a moment before letting a slight smile creep onto her face. "And I am so, so proud of you, little bird." She said after a minute, spreading one wing out in an offer for an embrace. "You've come so far in just a few years; you should be proud of yourself, Esper."

[mxthbladed]

Esperanza nodded. "I didn't expect special treatment. I have every intention to earn my rank. I'm going to make you proud!" It was all she'd ever wanted in life, even from a young age, after all.

At the mention of Adam, Esperanza admittedly felt herself fight back a grimace. She didn't particularly like him on the best of days, so the very idea that he'd give her one of his "famous" nicknames irked her a bit. However, she answered, "Yes, ma'am."

"Of course you will; I wouldn't expect anything less." The elder angel responded as she stepped into the kitchen. "You'll be working for your position, of course, same as every other recruit. Any privileges that you get will be earned as you rise up in the ranks, not just given because you're my daughter. I know I've said it before, but I won't be your mother while you're in training, I'll be your Lieutenant Commander, and I hope you understand that."

Lute paused for a moment as she sat down at the table, pressing her lips into a thin line as she thought about something. "... I need you to tell me if Adam ever tries to give you one of his nicknames, though."

[mxthbladed]

Esperanza lit up at that and she grinned, jumping to her feet. It was incredible news. She'd been on a waiting list since the previous year to join the exorcists. "Awesome! I can't wait. I'm going to be the top recruit in my class- I promise!"

She started towards the kitchen right after her mother. Esperanza had chosen to make a meal that she knew her mother would like while avoiding anything that she knew Vaggie used to make. It was just too painful for either of them still, honestly.

A faint sound of impressed acknowledgement had left Lute for a moment when she saw what her daughter had just been doing, and she nodded slightly in thanks at Esperanza's words. She'd just moved to step past the younger angel towards the small kitchen when she heard the question, and the ghost of a smile spread across her face for an instant as she turned back towards her daughter.

"Yes, you did. You'll be moving into the barracks tomorrow morning, so after dinner you should pack some essentials to bring with."

[mxthbladed]

Esperanza was in the middle of their living room, doing one-handed push-ups to train herself. She was nearing the end of her workout routine when her mother returned home. Finishing her set, she sat up and greeted, "Welcome home. I have dinner ready."

She asked, "Did I get accepted for this round of recruits?"

Meeting Maria's gaze, Lute nodded slightly in gratitude and offered her a weak smile. "Thank you." She replied faintly, shifting her hold on her daughter a bit and lifting her as she stood up. "We- I'll definitely still be taking you up on that."

---

A few years had passed since then. Lute had slowly stopped interacting any more than she needed to with others, becoming sharper, colder, more closed off. Getting back one days from one of the very early (rather than just regular early) training sessions she'd begun doing, the Exorcist unlocked the door of the small on-base apartment that she and her daughter now shared and pushed through to enter with a by now normal for her hard expression.

[mxthbladed]

When Lute pulled her in for a hug, Esperanza leaned into it and clung to her desperately. She needed to be strong...but her body trembled as she fought back the urge to cry more. Her fingers curled, grabbing hold of the fabric of her mother's uniform.

"We know you did your best, Lute," Maria replied with a sniffle. She wiped at her eyes as she glanced at her niece. "You can still rely on us to help with Esperanza..."

Though she was trying to ignore the knot of guilt and grief twisting in her throat, Lute couldn't do anything about the burning that was returning to her eyes as the thought she'd been having ever since returning from Hell crossed her mind again. The thought that, ever so slowly, was sounding more and more real. It's what needed to be done for the betterment of Heaven.

She flinched slightly at Esperanza's touch, not having noticed her move. Pushing the thought aside as she mechanically kneeled down, Lute pulled her daughter forward into a hug and frowned faintly at her words. "I'm sorry." She said after a few long moments, glancing back up at everyone else. "I should have-" Finished the job. Seen the traitorous act coming. "Stuck by her side."

[mxthbladed]

Leandro went back to what he was doing, seemingly unmoved by the news despite the despaired cry that left his wife as she dropped to her knees. Maria held Esperanza tighter as she whispered, "No...not Agata!"

It felt like a massive weight was pressing on Esperanza's chest; the very world around her was shattering. One of her mothers was gone. She started up at her other mother, tears welling in her eyes and starting to spill silently over her cheeks while her aunt trembled and sobbed.

Cesar screamed, "NO! YOU'RE LYING!" He started to fly at Lute when Xavier grabbed him, holding him back from the exorcist. "SHE CAN'T BE GONE!"

Xavier tried to soothe, "Cesar, Lute wouldn't lie to us! She's just telling us what happened-"

"NO!" He struggled harder against his older brother, sobbing as he kept trying to pull free.

Marcelo focused on his mother, trying to comfort her as she bawled, begging for her daughter back.

Esperanza reached out for her mother's hand, fingers brushing her glove as she whispered, "I'm sorry, mom..."

She snapped her gaze over to level a glare at Leandro as she stepped inside, her expression hardening even more. Even with what happened, and even with that being what she was going to tell them anyway, Lute hated the way that he said that.

"... Yes." She said after a few long moments, turning her gaze back to first meet Maria's eyes before lowering to look at Esperanza. The look on her face softened a fraction as she gazed at her daughter, swallowing thickly before continuing. "She's... gone."

[mxthbladed]

Maria came up and gently pulled Esperanza back to allow Lute inside. "Yes, please, come in." Her brow was furrowed with concern as she kept her arms around Esperanza.

The brothers were frozen in place and Leandro just glanced at Lute with a passive look. "She's dead, isn't she."

Esperanza's heart started to thunder in her chest and she looked back over to her mom and asked, "Where's mami? She's not dead, right?" She could already feel her aunt starting to shake as she held Esperanza, only making the young angel worry more.

Lute had a hard expression on her face when the door was pulled open, though she couldn't hide the mix of pain and anger in her eyes. "May I come in?" She asked in a low, unwavering voice, crossing her arms as she tried yet again to not think of the feeling of pulling, twisting, tearing flesh and bone-

A faint shudder passed through her body before she could stop it, her mouth pressing into a tight, thin line and a low breath escaping her.

[mxthbladed]

Vaggie giggled, her nose scrunching up. "I'd like to see you try." She leaned in and softly kissed the bridge of Lute's nose before she settled back down and grinned. "I'll see you in the morning~"

---

Esperanza sat on the couch, leaning against her aunt while her grandfather was busy messing with the television that her uncles had kicked a ball into. It was kind of funny, honestly, until she heard the knock and she lit up with excitement. "Mom! Mami!" She rushed to the door and opened it but stopped short when she only saw her mom. "Mom? Where...where's mami?"

Maria got to her feet and whispered, "Lute...what happened to Agata?"

She nodded again in agreement, her grin widening a bit as she shifted to lay down as well. "I hope you know, Vaggie, that if we get matched at sparring practice, you're going down." Lute said with a cool smirk and a light chuckle, pulling her wing free before Vaggie could be laying on it for too long.