Worship The Tortle!

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Lightly knocking a fist against the large door in front of her, Lulu nervously pulled at the hems of her coat. She looked at Karma who stood by her side with a conflicted gaze for a moment. At this moment she was the one confronting and leading their journey into meeting someone; a role usually left to Karma.

But no, Karma told Lulu that she needed to learn to tolerate the negative feelings that would drown her mind so that she doesn't choke up and panic whenever she met someone.

"It's alright, Lulu I'm right here, no need to worry."

Tapping her palm, Karma gave the girl a reassuring smile as the door in front of them opened and a man of similar stature to Norten appeared in the doorway, only that he was slightly bulkier and had slightly longer limbs.

The man was like the majority of creatures that made up the Nazare clan, large, strong, with slight reptilian features, though they had no problems living in the cold.

The man had a beard that had gone white and grey with age, hanging off his face. The elder man's gaze went to behind Lulu, gazing at the lightly dressed Karma, grumbling while doing so.

"Karma and... you're the General's grandchild, correct?"

His voice came out like a low growl, his gaze hovered around them as it pierced them like a scrutinizing hawk.

"Y-y-yes, I'm Lu-Lulia."

"Quit the stuttering and take your time, girl."

"Y-yes."

Not feeling comfortable under the man's intense gaze made Lulu feel like a deer in headlights, she couldn't move and found herself embarrassingly tripping over her words as her eyes were glued to the snow beneath them.

"What is it that the two of you want, can't you see the sign on the window? And you, blue-haired girl. Raise your head, look ahead of yourself in confidence, how are you going to survive in this world with this type of behavior."

Looking to their right on the large and clear window was a large closed sign. The two girls were standing in front of a large cafe-like building that belonged to the grizzled old man who stood before them.

They came here, on Karma's recommendation, to get the beverage the two loved most in this small village. Karma had told Lulu that it would be fine that they came here earlier since the man was still setting up shop.

It was the only way Karma could get Lulu to come into the village as most were out hunting at this time of day, it was getting dark and at such a time all the Nazare clan members would be up and awake and this shop would be so packed that it would prove claustrophobic for Lulu.

Fiddling with her fingers, Lulu did as he said and raised her head, avoiding making eye contact with the man, as her flurrying blue orbs went everywhere but his eyes.

"Calm down old man."

With a sigh, Karma rubbed the back of her neck and locked eyes with the man. She stepped up to Lulu's side.

"You talking to her like this is bad, you're scaring her, making her panic."

Bah! - "I'm just teaching this child basic respect, the hell is Norten teaching you, look your elders in the eyes and keep your head up, little girl. It's the least you could do, huh."

Letting out a loud sigh the man looked between the girls, not showing a single look of sympathy after having his eyes glaze over Lulu's weak yet trim figure.

"At least you're looking me in my eyes now, young one. Now, tell me what it is you two want."

Changing the way he addressed her, the man returned to his original question while looking at Karma.

"Isn't it obvious, we want some Tortle Cups."

"Well, the shops' closed."

"I don't give a damn."

"Hmm..."

Raising his brow at Karma's foul language he studied the astute look on her face then took in the anxious look on Lulu's before he let out a sigh; immediately understanding the issue.

"Very well then, come in."

Moving away from the doorway, the man receded into the shop; pulling down chairs at a table of two before moving to the kitchen with words of annoyance.

"Close the door after you."

Doing as he asked, Karma slammed the door shut, silently apologizing after the elder man sent a glare in her direction.

Gazing around the bright shop that gave off a homey feel, Lulu slumped in one of the chairs he pulled down with a sigh, taking in a deep breath as she took in the smell of nature leaving behind the taste of coffee on her tongue in its wake.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she felt it when Karma sat down across from her - plopping onto the chair with a loud hmph.

Flickering her eyes open, Lulu didn't bother sitting up as her eyes made contact with Karma's, they sat in silence before a small smile slid across Karma's face along with a gentle laugh.

"What did I say, Lulu? I told you that you could handle talking to someone."

Slumping deeper into the chair Lulu let out a deep sigh, covering her face with her hands, trying to clear her mind that was consumed in anxiety and stress.

"I think I almost died, let's never do this again, okay?"

"It's fine, I understand how hard it is for you to do, Lulu. Just one step at a time, I promise it will get easier for you."

"I always forget how intelligent you are because of how you act and solve your situations."

"Lulu, I always forget how intelligent you are when you always say so many stupid things."

Mmm... - The two girls hummed in agreement as they returned to a comfortable silence. Karma's placed her arm on the table, resting her head on her fist as her eyes remained on Lulu; while Lulu's gaze shifted to the window, gazing out to the sky with another sigh.

They remained like this for a while.

Clank! - Knocking a plate on the table with two clear cups of hot blue liquid on it, the gruff man pulled the two girls out of their thoughts, pulling their attention to him before they focused on the beverages he brought with him.

"Here you go, young ladies. When you finish, leave, I don't have time to babysit."

Voicing his thoughts to the two, the gruff elder placed the cups in front of the two girls. Picking the plate up and tucking it under his arms.

"Hah!? Babysit? Old man, you're obviously blind, the two of us are almost of age, the hell are you going to babysit."

Shouting at the man, Karma sent him a glare as he sent one back to her. The two had a strange relationship with one another, a relationship that Lulu had not caught sight of as her eyes were glued to the hot blue drinks from the moment she saw them.

Shrugging off her brash words and foul vocabulary the man, walked off with a small gaze of appreciation toward Lulu for not making as much of a fuss as her friend did.

Watching the man walk off, Karma returned her attention to Lulu and the drinks that sat in front of them. Lulu had yet to start drinking hers, not because she wanted to wait to drink them with Karma, but because it was too hot for her.

She simply sat still and took in the smell of her drink, the soothing scent of nature, the strong scent of nuts, and the sweet fragrance of fruits mixed into a fine blend coalescing in a way that blessed her nostrils.

"Too hot?"

"Yes."

Chuckling at Lulu's simple reply and the stars in her eyes, she took a finger and place it on Lulu's cup.

"Here you go."

"Wow, thank you, Karma. I love you."

Immediately her straw up to her mouth, Lulu squirmed in her seat as her tastebuds took a gander at heaven, blessing her body with chills of glee all across her body.

The strong nutty flavor hit her first before she was smothered by the sweetness of a canopy of different fruits, both working together to give her a one-of-a-kind experience from a simple sip of the drink.

This drink, a Tortle Cup, had become her favorite, most necessary drink since Karma had first given it to her. Due to the experience, it, in a way, became a comfort drink for her - as she drank it whenever she felt like she would be overcome by anxiety or stress.

Chuckling as she watched Lulu stuff her cheeks like a chipmunk, Karma took a few sips of her drink, enjoying her time watching Lulu enjoy herself.

So that she didn't drink the entire cup in a single sip, Lulu had to force herself to separate her lips from the straw sitting back in her comfortable chair with a satisfied sigh. Her eyes caught a glimpse of Karma, her eyes squinting in joy.

"You enjoying your cup?"

She questioned Lulu, a teasing smile being placed on her lips.

Blushing at the realization of what she must have looked like just a mere moment ago, Lulu covered her face with her hands sinking into her seat, trying to hide in embarrassment, still somehow finding it in herself to blurt out a reply.

"... Of course."

***

The two girls had sat in the shop for a few hours, taking their time with their drinks, much to the disappointment of the elder man.

They merely made idle talk and banter as they sat in one place, enjoying themselves. Although she hadn't grown comfortable with the gruff elder, Lulu had been able to stay relatively calm in his presence, not because he was the maker of her favorite drinks or anything like that of course.

As they had finished their drinks and were preparing to leave there was a knock on the shop's door, letting out a loud humph, the elder made his annoyance visible to the two girls as he opened the door and peered out; engaging in conversation with whoever it was.

Making way for the person to enter, the man moved off to the side. Upon their entering a look of joy enveloped the entirety of Lulu's face while a smile tugged on the corners of Karma's lips as a familiar tall dark-skinned woman with a head of long raven hair.

"Lulu, dear!"

"Momma!"

Lulu's mother, Lalia, entered the shop shining with that bright personality of hers as usual, while Lulu leaped out of her seat in a hurry and spread her arms, rushing her mother into a hug.

"No matter how old you get, you're still just a little child."

Rubbing the back of her daughter's head, Lalia pulled in tighter, a wide smile stretching across her fight - she was filled with all the joy in the world from the mere presence of her lovely daughter, the person and existence that she loved most in this world.

Watching the mother and daughter pair in silence, Karma fully had a bright smile on her face while she gazed at them in remembrance, thoughts of her mother entered her head, bringing with it slight homesickness.

"I've missed you..."

Lightly humming to herself from her mother's words, Lulu dug her head into her stomach, seeking to steal more of her warmth.

"I've missed you too."

Pulling out of their embrace, Lalia placed her hands on Lulu's shoulders getting a good look at her how much her little girl has grown up, placing a hand on her cheek she gave her a loving look.

"The video calls weren't even able to show me a fraction of how beautiful my lovely daughter has become. You're truly becoming an adult."

Blushing under her mother's warmth, Lulu fiddled with her fingers, her gaze on the ground.

"I didn't know you were going to be here today momma, I thought you would be here by at least first daylight tomorrow."

"I rushed when I heard you were to have another attack later, I didn't want to come to you after you went through it - I should at least be here with you when it happens, my dear."

Nodding in understanding, Lulu's gaze stayed on her mother. Even though she had seen her mother over her cycles, they had barely met in person, only able to talk over call due to the strictness prescribed by her grandmother; this was the first time they were meeting flesh to flesh in a few cycles.

"She didn't grow that much, auntie, so I can't see where she has done any growing up to you."

"Karma."

Lulu glared back at Karma's comment on her height, well, any part of her body actually, A glare that was met with her teasing smirks and slightly squinted eyes.

Glancing at the redhead that sat in her seat watching them with a smile, Lalia smiled at the sight of the girl that had grown to be quite close to her daughter, while also growing to become as beautiful as her mother.

"Have been doing well, Karma? You haven't burnt anyone's pants off since I last saw you, have you?"

"I haven't done that in quite a while, auntie, you see, I'm practicing restraint."

Responding with a smug smile on her face, Karma took a final sip out of her Tortle cup. Keeping a smile on her face, Lalia nodded her head.

"That's great, I'm sure your mother would be pleased to hear that. So, what are you girls up to right now?"

"Oh, we were just drinking the most excellent delicacy in this world, deserving to be worshipped by all drink lovers."

"Oho, and what drink is that?"

Surprised at he daughter's enthusiasm, Lalia was made curious as she raised a brow.

"That's of course these, Tortle Cups!"

Raising her empty cup, she showed her mother her eyes that were filled with the stars accustomed to her excitement as she seemed to be filled with energy from what used to fill the cup.

"My daughter seems to really enjoy your recipe, Varen, what about you, Karma?"

"I guess they're okay."

She replied with a slight tint to her cheeks.

Chuckling at Karma's attempt to hide her enjoyment of the beverage, Lalia turned to the shop owner, Varen, engaging in a conversation with the elder before returning her attention to her daughter.

The three talked with joy as they removed their minds from the approaching event that would surely turn their flowery moods sour.