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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 20, 2019 16:14:40 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 20, 2019 16:14:40 GMT -5
Elise had been lying down on the couch, exhausted and worn out. But she blamed the baby for it. She was almost in the second trimester, so things will get better, but it's going to be hard to hide her condition.
As soon as she heard the knock, Elise jumped, and quickly got her clothes straightened out, effectively concealing her bump. Once she answered the door, she was surprised and happy to see Julia, Wanrei's girlfriend, and one of her fellow colleagues working on this research together.
"Hello Julia. What brings you here?"
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last online May 5, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
2nd Dan
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Sept 20, 2019 16:34:29 GMT -5
Post by White Tiger on Sept 20, 2019 16:34:29 GMT -5
"Oh, I was about to go home but first I wondered if you wanted some of the cookies I made before coming to work?"
Julia took a tupperware from her bag and showed it to Elise. They seemed like chocolate chips cookies.
"Do you want some? I think I'll do some more tomorrow."
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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 20, 2019 16:41:06 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 20, 2019 16:41:06 GMT -5
"Yeah sure. I'd like some cookies." Elise said, smiling. "I don't mind coming in for cookies. I have ice cream and milk that we can have with the cookies... Tch. No wonder I'm gaining so much weight. I've been eating all the ice cream. And now we have cookies, too."
It was nice to have Julia around. She's always pleasant to be around. And she had a brilliant mind. Though, Julia reminded Elise of Katya too much. She really misses that girl and wonder how she's doing and what she's doing right now.
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last online May 5, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
2nd Dan
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Sept 20, 2019 17:21:41 GMT -5
Post by White Tiger on Sept 20, 2019 17:21:41 GMT -5
Julia smiled and said: “I guess ice cream can do that sometimes. But I do not think you gained weight.”
In fact Julia wasn’t sure, the way Elise was dressed didn’t seem to show if she did, anyway she wouldn’t tell her if she did, but the thought of a pregnancy never crossed Julia’s mind. Even though she knew Elise was with Lei since a while and even saw them with Georgio not long ago and all... She didn’t know about the wedding but she considered them a serious couple anyway. But she was still slightly oblivious to those things even if she somehow considered she formed a serious couple with Zakk. They were just not ‘there’ already.
“I always try to put the least sugar in my cookies, that’s the difference from the shop cookies and homemade cookies, they put too much things in it, sugar and artificial ingredients. Though a lot of them do taste good anyway… I just can’t put a cross on them yet, but sometimes I make my own. So that they are more natural. Thank you for the milk and ice cream invitation, it’s very kind!”
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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 20, 2019 17:37:54 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 20, 2019 17:37:54 GMT -5
"Oh you don't?" She smiled. "Good to know..."
Elise then signaled for Julia to come into the apartment. There were still some boxes that were packed, as well as a few Feng Shui charms, and a tiny bonsai tree.
Elise also had pictures of the family on her wall. There was several photos of Katya's selfies, Lei in his uniform with his chest adorned with various medals, taken before he cut his hair, Elise and her brother and sister as kids, and the family portrait.
Elise tried to make it feel like home, but having pictures and charms that ward off demons only do so much.
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last online May 5, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
2nd Dan
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Sept 20, 2019 18:21:57 GMT -5
Post by White Tiger on Sept 20, 2019 18:21:57 GMT -5
Julia entered the place and exclaimed as she gazed at the decorations.
"Wow, it looks nice! It feels so welcoming! Feels like my mom's home, except you must add some dreamcatchers. But the pictures and even the Asian charms... I really like the many pictures you put in your place. I think it's really important to bring family wherever you are."
Julia stopped before the Lei picture and said: "Lei looks nice in a uniform. Just like his son."
She then noticed one picture of Katya and said as she gazed at it in details: "And your daughter... she totally looks like you! ...Or is that you?"
Julia did wonder, Katya looked so much like her mother that she wasn't certain if it was a picture of Katya or a picture of Elise younger... She couldn't tell for all the pictures she noticed, except those were Elise was wearing clothes that distinctly somehow betrayed her generation. But she then stopped to look around, she already have been too indiscrete like this...
"So do you like it here?"
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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 20, 2019 19:15:45 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 20, 2019 19:15:45 GMT -5
"Wow, it looks nice! It feels so welcoming! Feels like my mom's home, except you must add some dreamcatchers. But the pictures and even the Asian charms... I really like the many pictures you put in your place. I think it's really important to bring family wherever you are."
"Yes, it's always good to be reminded of your roots. And your family. Back when I was around your age, I was a young, naive, and enthusiastic student who had the honor of working in the Mishima Zaibatsu. And I was very far away from home, so... I basically had photos of my siblings and my parents and grandparents, just to be reminded of home. Even though, I really was rebellious and wanted to be a scientist instead of sitting around playing housewife like my mother and sister."
Elise sighed to herself as she closed her eyes, reminiscing her 20's.
"Lei looks nice in a uniform. Just like his son."
"He does. They both do. In fact, it runs in the family. All the men look great in uniforms. I guess I suppose if all the men in your family became soldiers, naturally, uniforms are an acquired trait. Especially when you look at photos of Wulong's grandfather in his army uniform, and Wulong's father in his police uniform."
Elise really missed Lei. She honestly did. She hasn't seen him in well over a month now. While they were no stranger to not seeing each other for awhile, it still made her miss him even more. Last time Elise saw him, though... Lei didn't look like himself and was a lot more paranoid and comical than usual. And Elise noticed that his vibrant, bronze skin, took on a greyish hue. She hoped he would take some time to relax and take care of himself. Maybe she'll tell him the big news, and he'll move to Japan to stay with her. Maybe he'll finally get some sleep and get better. That's honestly what he really needs.
"And your daughter... she totally looks like you! ...Or is that you?"
That interrupted Elise in her thoughts. She had almost forgotten that Katya was really her clone. "Well, Katya and I, strangely both look alike for some odd reason. She looks nothing like her father." Elise giggled a little. "It was a one-night stand. I barely knew the man. But here we are now... but as you can see, in this photo, it's me, Nikolaj, and Natalia. Nikolaj just finished college, and Natalia had gotten married. Me... I was a Sophomore in high school... with these huge ugly glasses. Katya is lucky she did not inherit myopia."
"So do you like it here?"
Elise shrugged. "I honestly miss Hong-Kong. I can't convince Wulong to move to Japan. He needs to stay in Hong-Kong with his daughter. I want to end the war... but... I'm sure after we end the war, Wulong and I can pick up the pieces and finally settle down and do things that married couples do..."
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last online May 5, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
2nd Dan
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Sept 24, 2019 17:53:36 GMT -5
Post by White Tiger on Sept 24, 2019 17:53:36 GMT -5
Julia listened to Elise speaking, it was really interesting to hear about her story. Some bits did remind Julia of her own story when she began working for professor T and then for G-Corp… before Lee asked her to spy on them when she learned who they really were… Yet she didn’t see how being a scientist was being rebellious but indeed, it may be in some very conservative families… Women were forbidden to do so many things in those families… Women who choose to be outside the house or to work in non-conventional jobs, were looked at and judged… and indeed, being rebellious. Luckily despite her family being much attached to traditions, Julia could say she grew up in a very liberal home. Michelle always encouraged her on everything.
Julia said: “My family is not very uniform-oriented. Zakk is the first one wearing a uniform to enter the family. And you’re the first to wear a smock in your family. Even if it is rebellious, you must be proud.”
A one-night stand, that was probably more rebellious… Julia wondered if Elise had time to tell the man about the baby or if he had already left and Elise didn’t know his whereabouts anymore or maybe Elise didn’t judge she needed someone and didn’t even tell that man… She was a little shy to ask about Elise’s personal life but she said:
“Well, she certainly looks like you! 100%!”
But here we are now... but as you can see, in this photo, it's me, Nikolaj, and Natalia. Nikolaj just finished college, and Natalia had gotten married. Me... I was a Sophomore in high school... with these huge ugly glasses. Katya is lucky she did not inherit myopia."
“Nikolaj, and Natalia… They are your brother and sister?” asked Julia who wished she had siblings. Maybe she did, with her real parents… maybe not. Again, when she was getting too much into this, she always felt sad thinking of this… Why was she left in an abandoned settlement? Was she abandoned? Was she forgotten? Was she abducted and put there to die or something? Who were her parents? But she really was lucky that Michelle discovered her, Michelle was such a great mother… She may not be biologically tied (Yet maybe… since they looked so alike… Like Michelle said, they probably are in the family somehow, a cousin or something, and her parents knew Michelle would take good care of her…) but Michelle had all the qualities a good mother needed. She truly was lucky to have such a mother… And in her own family, it was her who had myopia and not her mother while it was the contrary for Elise and Katya… Yet she suddenly asked herself if Katya often wondered who was her father… Did she know? Maybe Elise told her but just didn’t go further. Maybe she only knew his name, nothing more of his life… One thing certain, he probably didn’t wear glasses…
“Well, that is one thing Katya got from her father, it seems… I inherited myopia while mom doesn’t have it. But then she’s not my real mom so, I guess it doesn't count…”
Elise shrugged. "I honestly miss Hong-Kong. I can't convince Wulong to move to Japan. He needs to stay in Hong-Kong with his daughter. I want to end the war... but... I'm sure after we end the war, Wulong and I can pick up the pieces and finally settle down and do things that married couples do..."
Julia worried about the Hong Kong protests, she was somehow relieved that Zakk wasn’t over there… It really must be hard for Elise…
“But… Why do you not seem certain? You say but like if there was a problem… You will be together and Lei will have vacations, forced vacations if he needs to since we all know how he is… But I'll help you on that if you need to.”
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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 24, 2019 22:41:20 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 24, 2019 22:41:20 GMT -5
“My family is not very uniform-oriented. Zakk is the first one wearing a uniform to enter the family. And you’re the first to wear a smock in your family. Even if it is rebellious, you must be proud.”
"Why yes, I am a very proud woman! You two already thinking of marriage? Already?" Elise exclaimed. "Well, I proposed to Wulong right after he asked me to move in with him after seeing each other for four months. He said yes. Then he tries to propose in public and gets stage fright."
Elise then opens the fridge to get the milk and the ice cream. However, Elise then found herself craving chocolate and immediately grabbed the chocolate syrup.
“Nikolaj, and Natalia… They are your brother and sister?”
"Why yes. They have wonderful families with awesome grandkids." Elise said, scooping a lot of ice cream in a large bowl. "I've always envied them."
“Well, that is one thing Katya got from her father, it seems… I inherited myopia while mom doesn’t have it. But then she’s not my real mom so, I guess it doesn't count…”
"Adopted, huh? At least you have a loving family. That's something you should be happy for."
Elise drowned the ice cream in chocolate syrup.
“But… Why do you not seem certain? You say but like if there was a problem… You will be together and Lei will have vacations, forced vacations if he needs to since we all know how he is… But I'll help you on that if you need to.”
"I'm just scared. I don't know what is going to happen, but I'm afraid for the future."
Without thinking, Elise rubbed her abdomen as she thought about the life growing inside her.
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last online May 5, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
2nd Dan
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Sept 25, 2019 9:21:42 GMT -5
Post by White Tiger on Sept 25, 2019 9:21:42 GMT -5
"You two already thinking of marriage? Already?" Elise exclaimed. "Well, I proposed to Wulong right after he asked me to move in with him after seeing each other for four months. He said yes. Then he tries to propose in public and gets stage fright."
Julia’s eyes widened and she deeply blushed.
“Huh, No! It’s just that it could be… One day. But I mean he's also a friend since long, he's somehow already in the family and mom and grandma seem to accept him even if they never met him in person. Particularly grandma since he makes her think of my grandfather... Even if Zakk is not fully Chinese. But she kept saying how handsome he was when I showed her my stream and some pictures. He’ll have to meet my family soon."
She then added: “I know everyone saw Wulong on the boat… Maybe he shouldn’t do it in public…?”
"Why yes. They have wonderful families with awesome grandkids." Elise said, scooping a lot of ice cream in a large bowl. "I've always envied them."
Grandkids? Weren’t Elise or her brother and sister a bit too young to be grandparents? But then Julia realized that indeed Katya was old enough to have children, so probably does her cousins…
"Adopted, huh? At least you have a loving family. That's something you should be happy for."
"Oh yes, totally, I thank the spirits each day for guiding Michelle to me. It’s just that… sometimes I’m curious… I wish I knew who were my real parents… or mostly, why they left me… but somehow they never could be as good as Michelle, or maybe they could but mom is on the top parents list. And grandma. Grandma is the one who taught me all the Native American knowledge, traditions and stories I now know… She helped my grandfather a lot when he came to the United States, he was originally from Hong Kong, like Wulong, she helped him a lot to learn about Navajo history and archaeology, until she found out he worked for the Mishima Zaibatsu. Then he had a choice to make, either them or my grandma since she hated them and he choose my grandma."
"I'm just scared. I don't know what is going to happen, but I'm afraid for the future."
Without thinking, Elise rubbed her abdomen as she thought about the life growing inside her.
This time Julia noticed the gesture and despite not knowing the truth, she asked: "Do you fear for your future children?"
After all Elise did lose a baby last time… and maybe she was pregnant again…
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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 25, 2019 9:57:30 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 25, 2019 9:57:30 GMT -5
"I see. I am glad your family is very open-minded and accepts him. You know I accept you. We do. Just feel welcome."
She eats the I've cream after putting the cookie in the bowl.
“I know everyone saw Wulong on the boat… Maybe he shouldn’t do it in public…?”
"He was just trying to make a scene. And got too anxious. He's very paranoid... But understandable. He just didn't check the crowd before he did it."
Oh yes, totally, I thank the spirits each day for guiding Michelle to me. It’s just that… sometimes I’m curious… I wish I knew who were my real parents… or mostly, why they left me… but somehow they never could be as good as Michelle, or maybe they could but mom is on the top parents list. And grandma. Grandma is the one who taught me all the Native American knowledge, traditions and stories I now know… She helped my grandfather a lot when he came to the United States, he was originally from Hong Kong, like Wulong, she helped him a lot to learn about Navajo history and archaeology, until she found out he worked for the Mishima Zaibatsu. Then he had a choice to make, either them or my grandma since she hated them and he choose my grandma."
"Interesting. The curiosity is natural. Wanrei very curious about his paternal lineage. I am, too. I love hearing about people's ancestry. In fact, when I was young, I was always curious about my red hair. I find out that my grandmother, Katya, was a redhead in her youth. So I named my daughter after her. And she's Irish."
"Do you fear for your future children?"
"I fear Kazuya more than anything. And what will happen after it all."
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last online May 5, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
2nd Dan
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Sept 25, 2019 10:22:55 GMT -5
Post by White Tiger on Sept 25, 2019 10:22:55 GMT -5
"I see. I am glad your family is very open-minded and accepts him. You know I accept you. We do. Just feel welcome."
"Thank you", said Julia as she smiled back at Elise and listened to what she was saying.
"I fear Kazuya more than anything. And what will happen after it all."
"You fear revenge from Kazuya? But he'll probably be stopped soon..."
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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 25, 2019 10:35:36 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 25, 2019 10:35:36 GMT -5
"Yeah. I know, but he is a very ruthless man. I heard about what he did to one of my friends."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Elise quickly got up and answered it. She was surprised to see Zakk, who in turn was surprised to see Julia. He quickly ran and embraced and kissed her.
"Sorry if I interrupted anything..."
"You're fine."
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last online May 5, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
2nd Dan
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Sept 25, 2019 10:50:18 GMT -5
Post by White Tiger on Sept 25, 2019 10:50:18 GMT -5
Julia knew that Elise had many reasons to personally fear Kazuya, she worked for him when he was CEO of the Zaibatsu and she worked on the Devil gene now while her boyfriend also made much trouble to Kazuya. Julia herself feared Kazuya since she did betray him by spying and coming here and her grandmother had also been abducted by him years ago. It had been a while that he was the family's enemy, like his now dead father... Kazuya was still a threat to so many people... Yet she did wonder which friend was Elise talking about and what Kazuya did to that person exactly...
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Elise quickly got up and answered it. She was surprised to see Zakk, who in turn was surprised to see Julia. He quickly ran and embraced and kissed her.
Julia smiled when she saw Zakk and began to giggle when he embraced and kissed her.
"Sorry if I interrupted anything..."
"You're fine."
Julia nodded to tell Zakk it was okay indeed, the look in her eyes showed that it was more than okay since she was really happy to see him, then asked:
"And how are you? Did all went well at work?"
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last online Apr 23, 2023 23:59:16 GMT -5
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Sept 25, 2019 11:00:32 GMT -5
Post by Lei Wulong on Sept 25, 2019 11:00:32 GMT -5
When Julia asked about his day, Zakk simply rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, you see, just had some crazy guy on a motorcycle shoot us. Then I got him, but he managed to jump out of my car. I tried chasing him, but he vanished. It was another one of those vigilantes..."
He sighed quietly. "Nobody was seriously injured, thankfully... But we're still on the hunt."
"I'm sure you'll find him."
"Also... Pops wants me to check on you."
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