Mother and Daughter Bonding~

Gamma [January 10. 2018]
Erika was enjoying the warm day indoors, not exactly wanting to go outside today. She was still avoiding Tsubine a little bit. She didn't really want to face her after dropping a bit of information to Midori out of fear for their encounter and how it might go, it's really something that had been lingering in her mind since she did it and was wondering just what exactly this entailed for her.(edited)
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 12. 2018]
Unfortunately for Erika, she wouldn't get much of a reprieve. After talking with Midori, Tsubine was going to have to bring up some things with her daughter. God, this was going to be awkward. Tsubine had given herself some time to brace herself. It didn't help. She was going to have to wait until after Midori had left for some sort of meeting or something or other. She wanted to be alone with Erika. Tsubine had given up Midori's guest room to Erika. She was instead sleeping on the couch for now. It wasn't going to be long before they'd hopefully have their own beds. "Erika. I'm coming in." Tsubine gave her daughter a few seconds to respond after her knocking ceased. Tsubine smiled warmly, though the inside of the room seemed warmer. "How are you doing?" She asked simply, not wanting to scare her daughter off.
@Gamma

Gamma [January 12. 2018]
It was peaceful and she was calm, it's not until she heard the knock on the door she had been dreading did she bite her lip and flinch from the sound of Tsubine's voice echoing from the other side. She could've played it cool, pretended she wasn't here - unfortunately Shinigami had this thing called reiryoku sensing so that idea would never work - instead Tsubine would enter to find the teenager sitting on the bed with her knees up to her chest. She was wearing her white attire, the same one she always wore. The moment she walked in Erika's demeanour gave away her discomfort but she wasn't going to sit here and ignore the woman I'm fine.. how are you?(edited)
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 22. 2018]
Tsubine didn't believe that for a moment. "Better. I've had some time to think. I also met the strangest horned girl... She's the sister of the current Captain Commander apparently. She's nice, even if her choice of clothing is something I'd lock you away for wearing." Tsubine smiled, then came and sat on the edge of the bed. "So I want to talk to you about a few things. The first is a bit easier to discuss. We can't stay with Midori forever. I think you and I should go to the World of the Living, to Karakura. I have a couple of ideas on where you and I could get an apartment at least. If this puts you at odds with the duties of your Division, I'm sure Midori and I can work something out with your Captain. What do you think of that?"
@Gamma

Gamma [January 22. 2018]
It wasn't hard to guess that Tsubine was trying to make small talk or put her at ease to make this whole encounter easier. It really didn't help. She listened idly as Tsubine described the Suika, blushing at the mention of choice of clothing part since before she left the Gotei she'd have never worn this attire but a lot changed and now she didn't care how much it showed. Erika moved over a little when Tsu sat down to give the woman some room.* Well.. uh... about that. she spoke with an awkward tone when she realised her mother thought she was apart of this faction still. I.. uh left the Gotei... a few years ago. With the cat out of the bag she rubbed her eyes a bit, she hadn't slept very well recently I'm sorry alright.. I didn't mean to tell Midori, it was an accident and it should've just stayed buried lying was something she was terrible at, and the girl just wanted to get this off her chest now instead of delaying it. She was sure Midori told Tsubine, which was why she was here right now
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 22. 2018]
Tsubine wasn't making a dig at Erika's current clothing choices. It was, in her eyes, an attempt to replicate her mother's own style. It was cute in its own way. However, cute only gets you so far. Tsubine turned to Erika, an eyebrow raised. "You... quit the Gotei?" Tsubine sighed, then began to laugh quietly. She pulled Erika into an embrace, resting her daughter's head on her chest. "You really are my daughter, geez. Let me guess... you did it to try to find me, right?" She tussled Erika's hair slightly. "I don't fault you for that, so don't apologize. This just makes this easier." Tsubine then drew her lips into a fine line. "But I didn't hear that from Midori. But I know what you did tell her. And I'm not mad at you for it. Frankly, you and I never really had a chance to talk about... that."

Tsubine took in a deep breath. "Erika, you are my daughter, even if not by blood. And I love you as a mother loves her daughter. And I feel like I should tell you about my motives behind that kiss. Back then, I didn't have much of an actual family. Midori was just a very close friend, and you were getting close to me too. But it was different with you. I felt something different, and I had no idea what it was. Because of... well, how immature I was, I thought it might be a romantic interest. I tested it... and well, as I said then, it didn't feel right. I now know that it was a familial love that I felt. It's the biggest thing about you that I regret. I wish I could take that back because... well, I wonder if that has had anything to do with some of the problems you've had over the years. And as your mother, I do worry about you. Your pain is my pain too. And if this is something that hurts you, then I feel like... maybe you should talk to someone about it. Someone... professional."
@Gamma

Gamma [January 22. 2018]
She bit her lip a little at the question before nodding "Yes I quit the Gotei.." Tsubine had it right but the laughter wasn't appreciated, she had thrown away her entire career and all semblance of security for Tsubine. To have her find it amusing hit a nerve but the hug made up for it as she laid her head onto the woman's chest where she got a chance to listen to the next path this conversation would take. She'd wait for it all to be laid out, she flinched a little at the mention of a therepist, it wasn't hard to work out but she kept her cool for this

"I.. I thought I loved you..."

The comment could probably be taken the wrong way until she continued with a blush, she just struggled a little bit to say all these things that she told Midori.

"I mean.. romantically love you. Before you kissed me I- I fantasied about you and... it doesn't matter.. The kiss felt wrong and I didn't like you in that way. You were a bad kisser as well anyway... I don't want to talk to someone professional I don't need to."(edited)
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 22. 2018]
Tsubine almost was offended. Her? A bad kisser? Impossible. Improbable. ...Okay maybe she was a litle drunk. More than a little. But no matter what, Tsubine was taken aback by all of that. Although Erika didn't explicitly state any of what she meant, it was clear. Tsubine's cheeks flushed before she regained composure. "Midori did not tell me about any of that. I'm glad she didn't because I wouldn't have believed it... but now I can see why that... would have happened. And I am sorry for all of that. I know it must have been confusing for you, worse than it was for me." Tsubine sighed again. This was not a fun conversation. "Erika, I really think you should talk to someone though. Someone that isn't me... or Midori... or someone close to either of us about this. At the very least, for me, will you at least try it? Please? If it doesn't work out, I won't make you go again. But I want you to try it. Midori was my therapist before she was my best friend. The fact she was, and is, that to me has made me realize how important talking to someone who knows how people... people," Tsubine hesitantly used the noun as a verb, "is."
@Gamma

Gamma [January 22. 2018]
The girl's face went bright red after saying her speech, she was thankful that their embrace kept her face hidden from Tsubine's view "It's fine... It stopped those things, I'm glad you left me feeling that way. In hindsight it... It would've been worse if I still felt that way." she tried to compose herself, tried to calm herself down and take away this blush of her's but it wouldn't leave her face from all the things she was spilling that she never even considered telling her or anyone.

"I don't want a therepist and I don't want to talk to a stranger about things... was it Midori's idea? It was, wasn't it? You've known me for all this time and Midori's talked to me three times yet she says I need a therepist and you ask me to get one. Why do I need a therepist anyway?"

She felt hurt that after meeting her only three times Midori would suggest a therepist, all of which were emotional times caused by Tsubine leaving, reappearing and then trying to figure some stuff out and yet Tsubine agreed. She tightened her hold on the woman's torso and waited for the a response.
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 22. 2018]
"Because the only reason I'm even half-functioning is because I do have a therapist." Tsubine spoke flatly, stating the fact as bluntly as she could. "Midori has helped me out through some of the toughest times. She was the second person I told about Osamu, but even when I told Shadin about Osamu, it wasn't the same. But with Midori? Being there as someone close to me? As someone who knew what she was talking about? I felt comfortable letting it all spill out. Midori is the only reason I had the confidence to talk to you again. Midori, my therapist, is the only reason I didn't go 'well, I hurt you so much that I shouldn't be part of your life' after you ran off. She has helped me out just by me knowing that I have someone who knows how to fix the types of problems that I can't fix on my own. Maybe it won't be right for you. Maybe you will only need one session... But keeping it bottled up is going to end up hurting you."
@Gamma

Gamma [January 22. 2018]
she listened carefully to her mother talk, she felt a bad taste in her mouth when Tsubine mentioned his name. She didn't like her deceased husband, hated him almost. Nonetheless she didn't dare interupt this conversation, it was important to her that she listen to every single word that came from Tsubine's mouth although the mention of her saying that she considered not coming back into her life caused her to flinch a little in the embrace. When she was finally done Erika let one of her hand let go and she trailed her thumb up the scarred tissue of her palm. Of course Tsubine knew about why her palms were scarred

"I'm fine... Alright, you don't have to worry. I don't need a therepist. I... I'll just..."

At this point it was more pride for her than actually resistance and the basic fact she was terrible at opening up to people. She let go of Tsubine, as much as she didn't want to but she had not slept last night and the comfortable position was putting her to sleep. She didn't want to fall asleep on her as that might make her inquire as to why she's falling asleep
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 22. 2018]
Tsubine pursed her lips. "Erika, you're not fine. But I get that you don't want to go to a therapist. I'm not going to push you on that. But please, for me and yourself, talk to someone. It can be a close friend or something. I know it might be hard, but I believe you can do it. I believe you'll be better for it. Can you try that for me at least?"
@Gamma

Gamma [January 22. 2018]
Erika sighed which lead into a yawn before she gave a tired look at Tsubine pleadingly Please don't make me go... please don't ask me. You know I can't say no to you and I don't want to. I don't even know how it'd be, why can't I just talk to you or Midori instead? Isn't that good enough? Why can't it be that?
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 22. 2018]
Tsubine gave her daughter a pat on the shoulder. "Midori was my first choice. She said no. Getting someone who... isn't part of the drama that surrounds us two will just be better. Otherwise they might have an opinion of whatever happened already. Say you talk to someone you know already about what happened between us all those years ago. Well, say that person thinks you're... 'fast and loose' is the term I think is still in use. Well, they're not going to be able to give you good advice because that might just reinforce that opinion of you. It's a false opinion and I'll punch whoever says that about you BUT it's still something that could happen. That's why I think a therapist is the best option. They're someone who has no opinion of you, the people you'd talk about, or anything of that nature before you mention them. They're going to be impartial and give you the best advice they can."
@Gamma

Gamma [January 22. 2018]
She listened carefully to Tsubine's response. The words "fast and loose" were lost on her but she assumed it meant something bad given that her mother basically threatened to beat them up for it. She sighed and looked away for a moment, going back to hug her like she was before. I... I'll do it on one condition. she buried her face into Tsubine's chest as she sought to try and hide it for a moment while she debated mentally whether she really should try and negotiate this subject I'll do it if... I can call you Mum.... it came up when I spoke to Midori. She said I was shy about it and that's because I feel like I need your permission.
@Tsubine

Tsubine [January 22. 2018]
Tsubine blinked multiple times. She then patted Erika's head, closing her eyes and smiling. "You have yourself a deal." This was perhaps the most proud Tsubine had felt about her daughter.