Chapter 7. Meeting

Today is the meeting between Trab's and my family.

Nothing important actually, just wanting to meet and greet each other.

At Least you need to know who the other person is.

Even if the pairing of myself and him is not that of emotion such as love.

Knowing his family is respectful.

Especially since our status is not the same.

Another matter to keep in mind is that I am currently a 'human'.

So I need to keep up playing as a human.

Doing as humans do.

Silver has these thoughts early in the morning.

With nothing to do to pass time of course she will think more.

She is also very fond of this trait she kept from her once humanity.

This is also a great opportunity to observe openly the family who could nurture such a rare contradicting person.

"How could he grow like that? Full of malice hidden in a soft outer shell. Trab is such a curious human being. More monster than a real monster. Hahaha" As Silver laughs while commenting on what type of person her husband is.

Trab's contradictory interior and superficial impression.

Such a complicated person.

Who wouldn't be curious of what type of family gave birth to him.

Or about how he grew up that way?

In tribal society it is rare to have someone like that.

Where everyone is very expressive and straightforward on their behavior and demands.

Trab's existence can be considered to be more of a monster than she is.

"At the very least I am a literal monster in every sense. While he is a human being but a monster himself." As Silver commented on Trab's peculiarity.

"How about converting him into one? Although I don't necessarily need weird dependents. But such a rare specimen is hard to come by." Silver entertains such a dangerous idea.

"What are you thinking? Exuding such malice and fun? Care to involve your dear mother?" Silver heard her mothers grieving voice.

Silver replied and recounted her prior thoughts and ideas about Trab's existence. While answering in a melodramatic way "Oh. Don't be like that mom. Silver is not neglecting you."

Which made both of them laugh.

"Well if you decide to do it. Since then it'll be fun and chaotic for the world. Adding a monster among monsters." Her mother suggested with whimsical glee.

Implying her impression that converting Trab will really give birth to a monster.

But not against the idea.

Unlike most of the existing Weirdness in the world.

Which consist of Platinum Serpent and Her derivatives, strange objects, places and creatures.

Among were the Weird Mothers with intact humanity and wisdom besides Silver.

While strange objects include her scepter, space bag and molts.

The strange place includes the former Demon's Maw and now replaced by The icy ground of her metamorphosis.

"Anyway mom. Let's go to their home. It's near noon and I believe they are ready to meet us." Silver told her mother.

"Right. Here goes to your husband. I don't want my daughter to be wistful." Her mother agreed while mocking her for her impatience.

"I think you're more interested in his family and how he grew to be like that than himself. Am I right?" Her mother also asked.

"I actually have no impression and there is no gossip in the tribe to make sense of how he came to be like that." Added her mother now with slight confusion and curiosity.

"Then isn't it more fun that way? I have plenty of time to slowly discover more. It's more resourceful that way not to immediately resolve such an interesting matter." Said Silver with extreme patience. As they walk towards the opposite site of the tribe where the home of Trab is located.

Walking by the center of the tribe.

Silver got to observe the shelter of many tribesmen.

Not much is different from most of the houses in the tribe.

But the more wealthy in terms of resources the house is larger and their plot of land is wider.

What this means is either the owner is strong by himself or he belongs to a strong lineage.

By strong, it meant in practical things such as hunting or as a warrior.

And lineage is of the descendants of the founding families of the tribe.

Although the houses are built scattered.

But there is actually an order since the closest to the center means the older the family.

So most elders and their descendants live there.

After some time of observing the various houses and its occupants.

Silver can now see their destination.

Since the people they will meet stand by the land awaiting their arrival.

The land occupied by Trab's family is actually closer to the edge of this part of the tribe.

Meaning that their family is relatively late to exist on the tribe.

Or they branched outward from the central family.

However, by the look of the land and the size of their home.

They can be said to be middle class in terms of resources.

Which is what most of the tribal population belongs to.

As Silver arrived at the place she heard the greetings of the family.

"Hello. Welcome to our place." Silver heard the word of the middle aged women.

She is Trab's mother by the look of it.

And although she said welcoming words.

It can't hide the implied tone of a higher status person.

Of Course that is compared to the slave status mother and I have.

Silver is quite aware and has expected of this happening.

Her mother also showed no signs of being offended by the words.

Both of them do not mind power plays like this.

It doesn't make much sense.

But of course they still cater to human association so they just ignore the matter.

At the same time as Trabs mothers welcome..

His father, the middle aged man, only nodded to us as his welcome.

And then ignored us completely.

Proceeding to do whatever his daily activities were.

"Hello. Welcome to both of you. Don't mind my parents. They meant no harm." Said Trabs downplaying his parents actions. As he welcomed them with a smile on his face.

"No no. Thank you. We don't mind. We're sorry to make you wait for us. You shouldn't have to." Silver's mother replied with a worried tone and was sorry.

Showing a frown on her face and a sad emotion to her voice.

"Yes thank you. We appreciate the gesture." Silver added in a calm manner.

Not mentioning which is it that she appreciates.

The demeaning tone or the pretense of waiting? Maybe it's both.

While also mentally rolling her eyes for her mothers fake thankful expression.

"That's great. Let's come and sit so we can get to know our family better." Trab invited them and guided them towards the tables and chairs by their land.

"There's no need for this. I already met them and that's enough." Trab's mother immediately said.

And then she went towards and entered their hut.

Evident of her not wanting to linger and have a conversation with my mother and I.

"Well that's it. I'm sorry. By the way, my name is Trab. And thank you for approving of me and Silver's partnership." Trab said to my mother as he apologized and presented himself to my mother.

Still showing his harmless behavior.

"Oh we understand. And it's alright. Like your parents said, there really is no need to complicate the meeting. There's only me and Silver in the family." My mother replied to him in a way showing acceptance and not bothered by his parents behavior.

As they converse with one another.

Silver has taken time to observe the place.

Trab's father can be seen arranging his hunting tools and some drying meat.

While his mother can be heard to be moving by their kitchen storage.

Maybe counting and preparing food for their lunch.

Silver doesn't expect to be invited for lunch.

As she believes her mother also thinks so.

Looking at Trabs family superficially Silver can't find reason for his personality development.

Maybe it's just Trab's own character.

If it is then there is a little less fun searching the reason.

Although she didn't really expect something unnatural.

But hoping and knowing is a different matter.

And how she knows makes it less interesting.

Now the only fun thing is Trab himself.

But Silver has plenty of time to slowly discover his secret.

As Silver returned to listening to her mothers conversation.

She heard them talking about the location of their home.

Silver heard them selecting several places. Some within the tribe while most are at the edge of the settlement.

"I choose to be by the bamboo grove if possible." Silver interjects her opinion.

"I like the place and it's near Elders Eti's home. So it's fine if the place is not within the tribe." Silver shared her thoughts and reason.

"I see. You have a point. It is really possible to build it there." Commented her mother.

"I understand. If you like it there. I have no requirements on where to build. Might as well follow your wishes." Trab replied with a smile and agreeing with Silver's idea.

"Then you should quickly look for a suitable place. Someone else might be eyeing the location. Your generation now is keen on building homes further out of the tribe settlement." Silver's mother commented on the idea.

"There is this case. We can go now if you don't have anything else to do. It's better to finish the task early to prevent any accident." Silver added not wanting to stay anymore.

"Well c'mon then. I'll just inform my parents and we can go." Trab said as he left to talk to his parents. I can see them glancing at our direction as they talk.

Catching their eyes, I nod with a smile in greeting and they just nod back in return.

Seems like they don't like me although it doesn't seem unwelcome.

And Silver doesn't care what they think.

For her this is just a partnership and the like or dislike of other people is not in her consideration.

That is as long as they leave her alone and don't bother her.

As Trab walked back to their place.

Silver and Her mother stood up from their seats and waited.

"Can we go?" Asked her mother.

""Yes we can go. Where would we start to look?" Asked Trab.

"Just near our home. So it's relatively close to the tribe and not that close to the elders." Silver proposed the idea. Not wanting to go further than needed. And the place near their home just beside the bamboo is actually flatland.

The land is easier to clean by removing the grasses.

And only cutting some overgrown bushes, trees and bamboo.

The location is also the best since it is closer to her mothers home.

Which by the way will be hers after the planned death of her mother in afew days.

"Well I think this is OK. That place seems to be easier to build a hut." Her mother said. Approving the idea and knowing that the place is really good for building a house.

"Alright then let's see it first. Although I'm not from there, my impression is that it is really a good location. Hopefully no one else is there to check the place." Trab said without much impression but with enough to judge it a good place.

As we walk together having a little chat about some daily topics. We are near the place of our destination. And as we previously said, it is a good place to build a house with little to no effort in preparing the land.

The flat land is enough for a house and the rest of the space is good enough plot for an occasional garden. And as there is bamboo nearby the climate is cooler than other places which is best at summertime.

"What do you think?" Ask Silver. Although she likes the place, at least she needs to ask for trabs opinion.

"I think this place is good. The land is easy to process and there are materials around for building. Visually there is enough to build a sturdy hut." Replied trab as he finished inspection and noted the availability of building materials.

In our tribe materials do come from collection and gathering which is cost free.

But if you ask for other processed material then it needs to be exchanged with resources.

So having materials and knowing how to process them is called self sufficiency.

"So this is the place? Agreed?" Asked Silver to finalize the decision.

"I approve. This place is a good location for your house. And it is nearby so I can visit easily." Said Silver's mother. Acting like a parent who can't bear to have her child far from her.

"I don't have any other place to choose from. So I think yes. This place can be chosen." Answered Trab. While he shows a smile but deepening his eyes there is really not much interest. He is just going with the flow.

Silver doesn't care about this superficial affection. It's best her likes were followed.

So there won't be much conflict indecision making.

Hopefully, although it doesn't look like it will happen in the future especially with Trabs hidden personality.

But that makes it interesting.

She won't back down in front of challenges.

Especially from a human.

Although the said human is abnormal in himself.

She doesn't think she can be hurt by him.

Although Silver will deny it if asked.

But oftentimes she really does have a dominating nature.

What else could it be but her character?

Don't forget she's a queen of snakes.

Her essence and personality will be expressed in her gestures.

It doesn't need power.

Because it is the charisma and presence of an individual.

And powerful individuals can indeed affect their surroundings.

This is true for high ranking humans.

And even more so for a weird existence beyond mortal.

"Let's go back. Should we meet here tomorrow?" Asked Silver's mother.

"Yes. And I will bring some tools for building the house. Maybe invite some of my friends to help. It will at least hasten the progress." Replied Trab.

"Well then.mother and I will wait in front of our house. Then we'll go there together. Should we prepare food for you and whoever you'll be able to invite?" Asked Silver. Thinking of preparing enough food to repay the workers.

"That won't be needed. Just prepare some snacks and enough water for the day. As for the meals I will ask my parents to prepare in my home and bring it here for lunch. For dinner we'll just eat at my house since my friends live nearby." Answered Trab and organized tomorrow's activity.

"Very well. Then see you tomorrow. And I wait to meet your friends." Silver replied with a smile.

Of Course Silver's interest is if the so-called friends are the same as Trab? Will birds of the same feather flock together? It is a puzzle that presents itself as a clue. She's interested in observing these people.