V3 Incline 32: Nin

"So... Nin, anything, in particular, you would like? If Dad was fine in letting you stay here for a little while longer then I best make you the greatest meal ever!" Motrtha cheers as she goes about the kitchen with a bounce in her step. A child-shaped Aahtha giggles from her place on the kitchen island as she pesters her sleeping, plant brother.

Placing a hand to my chin, I get to thinking, "Best meal ever?"

Bit of a hard question to answer, really, it's the same as it was back when I first got here. I simply do not know what I want, what the best ever is. Maybe I should let her make me something by letting her choose. I am sure I will like it anyway.

Looking into her eyes as she comes close, I shuffle away a bit, making her smile, "Well?"

"Uh... I guess I can't die from the food being so good!" I joke shakily as she bends down to place her head near my heart. Stiffening up, her presence feels so strange. I feel like I am in danger, but I do not want her to go.

"Maybe something that ends with a fresh tart or something similar?" she asks as I force a cough as she swings away.

"Y-Yeah- T-That can work. I'll have some more tart, if you don't mind." I tell her, wiping my eyes clear of the water rimming them.

"Pluuit, wakie wakie, I need some blackberries, please?" Motrha whispers to her irate brother as she takes him away from Aahtha's antics.

"Hooo..." Pluuit lets out as a limp, fuzzy green hand hands over the asked-for fruit.

"Thank you, Dear." Motrtha tells him with a kiss before sending him up some chute that makes a popping noise.

"Aw..." Aahtha groans as she crosses her arms. I glance her way and shake my head when she grins at me.

"Aahtha, stop being such a you and go and get me a tub of vanilla ice cream please." Motrtha sternly tells her little sister.

"Of course." the little goddess mocks with a squeaky attitude.

The Goddess of Mothers claps her hands and she turns to face me, "A scoop or two of that melting on the warm, right-out-the-oven berries is just wonderful!"

"I want some too, please!" Aahtha begs as she brings over a modestly big, white box that is already shining with a thin coat of ice.

"Of course, but, only after Nin has had his, Aahtha. For until he leaves us, my little hero is the one getting all the attention!" Motrtha teases before she comes over and pulls me into a tight hug against her assertive motherliness. Turning my head just barely out of her grip, I frown at Aahtha as she makes her jealousy clear and upfront. Her small form vanishes.

Finally being released, I stumble back into the soft and dark-skinned whose mouth opens initially with a delighted giggle, "She's right, you know?"

I nearly jump forward with a tightly clutched heart, her body lingering on mine through shadow-feeling heat.

"Aahtha!" Motrtha snaps firmly, making the Goddess of Pleasure revert to her child form.

"Yes, Big Sis?" the little girl asks as I find a stool away from her, not that it matters as she quickly takes up the one next to me. Rocking back and forth on it until she nearly falls over.

"Careful." Motrtha states as her divine powers plant the stool back on its four wooden stubs.

Glancing at my wrist having seen that, I spin her bracelet around it and carefully rub one of the balls. Shiny little things they are, cold to the touch and with a metallic tint to it. I glance at the one who gave it to me and start to remove it slightly. She said it's for my protection, but, the danger has passed now, so, do I still need it?

I doubt it can keep me safe from Undwote anyway, once my grain-thin amount of remaining time is gone.

"Hey, Motrtha," the beautiful goddess stops and turns to me, her eyes coming to my wrist as I continue to roll it off, "Are you going to want this back?"

She panics.

Rushing towards me with frantic energy, she forces it back down my wrist. I lean away from her as she tightly blocks off my wrist from my hand. She blinks and steps back with a slight daze in her eyes. I frown as she nervously laughs it off, wiping her hands on her apron before tugging her hair's tail a little.

"No, no, no! You keep it, please, make sure you do." she requests with a slight shake to her words. I nod slowly as I nurse the lingering sensation of the pressure she was able to apply. Certainly the strength of the divine behind that innocent smile.

"Right, sure, I'll make sure I do." I tell her with a nod and an uncertain tone. I don't quite get it, but, maybe this will actually keep Undwote away? I can't see why she'd want me to keep on wearing a protective piece like this otherwise. The stories don't paint Undwote as a cruel figure, but, no one can really check the accuracy of the portrayal. Motrtha is certainly not living up to expectations but how can I predict a goddess having a thing for me?

That should be the gist of it, anyway...

I frown and wrack my mind to change the topic so I can enjoy what time I have left. Enjoy it all with a smile on my face and get through it without thinking about what comes next. Ignore the end, focus on the now. No death, only life!

My simple life with gods and goddesses... Eugh, what an oxymoron

"Bah!" I go with a huff, earning a look from Aahtha as she leans on my at-side arm.

"What was it like meeting the god who wanted to wipe out humanity?" Aahtha asks idly, shrugging up against me.

"Aahtha!" Motrtha goes.

"I'm just asking him a question!" she whines back.

"So, what does he like to eat, anyway? I've seen everyone else's dinners and puds, but, not his. This is going to be my first evening seeing him at the table." I ask Motrtha, ignoring her sister completely, much to Aahtha's tugging annoyance.

"Iderim-Ovi is eating on his own for a little bit." Aahtha mutters under her breath as she crosses her arms with a huff.

"Yes, unfortunately, he wants some quiet before getting back into things. I guess I understand... He's spent so long from his family that he needs time to get used to someone being there for him. I can't imagine Dad will be very letting of it, though." Motrtha sighs before smiling at the end. I give my own and nod.

"I hope you lot get to enjoy each other's company again." I tell the goddesses as I point my smile towards Motrtha's.

"Thank you, Nin. Well, to answer your question, anyway, lamb. He loves it." Motrtha explains before she seems to remember something. A rack of meat comes inexplicitly sliding out of one of the fridges. A length that really should not be able to slide in and out of that thing.

"He likes anything meaty, really, a bit slightly charred, too." Aahtha adds as she walks up to her sister in her adult form. Patting my chest, I glance away from the imitation of Iishar Ho as its lingerie-covered grace angles itself under the light. Didn't see no flawless skin catching it or curves, no!

"Oh, that's right, you used to do all the cooking for him. Do it so often myself I nearly thought I did it!" Motrtha goes and giggles as Aahtha picks out the cut of meat for the other goddess to cook with. Keeping my eyes to myself as the click of narrow heels comes closer, a hand strokes my skin. I clutch Motrtha's bracelet and mentally beg for its protection as I quickly pick up on what can only be divine power.

"He liked to watch, too." Aahtha whispers as I shut my eyes, only to end up with a string or something in my hand. Overwhelmed with what I wish was only curiosity for the cloth, I shoot back as the bare, bountiful, bronze-skinned buttocks meets my gaze. This is a strap for an apron!

"Uh..." I go as I look towards Motrtha, she merely watches with a finger near her pursed lips. A slight crease in them as she gently chews the bottom one. Legs shifting and knees meeting.

"All as I cook in an apron that only needs one, simple, little... Tug!" Aahtha whispers further as I feel the sweat bead from my skin. Her touch makes me jump and the strap meets resistance. Falling to the ground with a resounding thud, I groan through grit teeth at the teasing goddess. It's not fair!

Rose was one thing, but divine powers are just... Ahhhhh!

I glare up at the teasing smile as Aahtha struts away while she ties the apron back up. Keeping my eyes mostly down as she walks away, I stand back up, only to be blinded by a flash of light. I hear my heart in my ears. My lips straighten and more than just my back feels stiffer.

"Is this a little too much?" Motrtha asks as she curtsies with her similar, frillier get-up.

"I don't know... I think we need a real man's opinion here..." Aahtha tuts as she looks my way with Motrtha gently beckoning me closer with a rubber-headed spatula. I gulp at the knowing smirks that are burning me up more than anything else in all of the world and more. Motrtha brings her ponytail around and slowly tugs at the band keeping it together, undoing it with a final strong flick.

"Well... Shit."