galvarelli/kral-argues-with-parents.txt

Kral carried the paper with him on his way to the Barns on the east side, ignoring the odd stares his uniform attracted, until he reached his childhood home.
He let himself in, and stepped inside.

―Hello? he heard his mom, Rowena, call out.

―Hey mom, it's me, Kral said.

―Oh how lovely, I'm in the kitchen, come in come in.

When he came to the kitchen, he found her finely cutting broccoli and potatoes.

―Sorry I didn't come to the door, was just finishing this up.
	Going to cook some a little bit for me, leave it raw for your father, mix in some alfalfa and clover.
	Human food, but I hope it will cheer him up a bit, you know?

Kral nodded.

―Are you staying for dinner?

―No, sorry mom.
	Gotta go back soon, will have a guard shift tonight.
	Just wanted to see dad, see if he's alright.
	How's he doing?

―Well, you know your dad. He doesn't want to make any sort of fuss.
	But honestly, I think his company's going to run into trouble if they lose clients.
	He said even a couple projects downtown are getting a bit skittish.
	Not that they mind farm animals, but they're worried about getting targeted.

Kral nodded.
The Hierarchy could be vicious, even to other yaks.

―Don't let it get you down, okay hon?
	We've been here a while.
	My grandpa, Grandpa Pete's dad, told me when he came to Galvarelli they wouldn't even let farm animals work for pay.
	We've come a long way.
	This is just nasty politics.

―I know, mom.
	I'm just a bit worried.
	You know, I don't really get to see what goes on that much at work, but it always seems like there's Hierarchy people coming and going, talking to the President.

Rowena smiled.
―Kral, President Calvin is the reason we got to adopt you.
	He's been campaigning for us since he was still a kid himself.

―I know, I know.
	Still.

―Be patient.
	Change takes time.
	Government is always hard, and the fact that we won the election is a good sign for us, okay?

Rowena finished with her dicing, and washed her hands before coming over to give Kral a hug.
She wasn't particularly tall for a sow, and Kral was particularly tall for a yak, so her hugs barely reached above his waist.
But especially when Kral was worried, they felt like they enveloped him in warmth.
Her prep done, Rowena sat by the dining table, and waited for Kral to join.

―So what else is going on at work.
	Still a Sergeant?
	What happened to Lieutenant?

Kral flushed with mild embarrassment and shame.

―I told you mom, there really isn't a Lieutenant vacancy open.

―What about Hermann?
	He got promoted, right?

―Yeah, but there was an open spot then.

―Adrienne trusted him over you?
	You know her mom works at the hospital with me, right?
	Want me to talk to her?

The mild embarrassment grew a bit stronger.

―No mom, I promise.
	Hermann deserved it, and I'll be next up.
	But I'm doing good, Captain Adrienne likes me.
	And my squad does too.
	We just recruited someone else under me, so the Guard's still growing.
	It's all going great.

While he was talking, Rowena had started to pull some documents out of her work bag.
She started to look at whatever work she'd brought home.

―You tell Hermann how you feel about him yet?

Embarrassment was no longer strong enough to describe what that question made him feel.

―No mom, it's not like that.
	We work together, and anyway, he's just a good friend.

Rowena looked up from her papers long enough to give Kral an infuriatingly knowing look.

They sat in silence for a bit, while Rowena worked.

―Dad's home late, right?
	Should I go out and look for him.

―No, I think it's just this project.
	And especially now I think it's just keeping him there a bit longer.

Kral nodded, but it didn't entirely reassure him.

―What are you working on?

―Well, not totally sure yet.
	There's been a bit of a spike in costs recently in a couple departments, which is why accounting is involved, but a few of us think it could be a latent epidemic. # i think a spike in cases won't just lead to higher costs.
	Grim, I know, she said in response to Kral's wince.
	It's minor for now, hopefully.
	We're just trying to do the statistics on it to see what's going on.

―What kind of epidemic?

―It's basically a low-level insomnia, with some auditory hallucinations.
	They've been calling it malacusis so far.
	But it's been hitting the Northside so far, which is why we think Old Imperial noticed first.

―Makes sense. Not a lot of Hierarchy types going down to Grove.

―Right. 

Another short silence, until eventually Bovril finally came in.
He looked rough, with patches of dirt and a tiredness Kral hadn't seen in him much.
For the first time, Kral had a real sense of how old his father was.

He nodded at Kral once he noticed Kral there.

―Kral.

He gave Rowena a hug, holding her while she sat.

―Hey, darling, he said.

―Hi, she said back, giving him a huge smile, along with a quick kiss.

―How are you doing, dad? Kral asked.

―You heard all the protests?

―Yeah, we had a security briefing about it.
	And it was in the papers, he said, pointing at the newspaper he'd brought with him.

―Well, I'm doing alright, kid.
	These protestors have a problem, their right to express it.

―Dad you look like hell, what actually happened.

―Kid, we're building buildings.
	It's tough, dirty work.
	I'm going to come home a bit worse for wear sometimes.

Kral stared at him, trying his best to copy his mom's knowing look.

―Okay, okay.
	Some of the protestors tried to break the line and rough our crew up a bit.
	But seriously, it's nothing.
	Most of this is just dirt they tried to throw.
	Which doesn't really make sense.
	Again, we just get dirty while working anyway.
	I think it was just what they had.
	But the Garrison had some guys there, trust me, it's all okay.
	Now let's talk about dinner.
	Broccoli?

―Yep, and potato, Rowena replied.
	Let me know when you're ready, I'll cook my part in about five minutes.

―Dad, I wanted to talk a bit more, Kral said.
	I was talking to some of the guys in my squad.
	You know Kari, right?
	Met her once, I think.
	She said she knows a few Guards looking to do private security stuff on their free days.
	We could get them to work security for your crew―

―Absolutely not, Bovril interrupted.

―Let me finish at least.

―No, Kralvin, I told you before.
	Drop it, I'm not interested.

―Seriously, just hear me out.
	I'm not talking about any kind of force.
	We could just join counter-protests as they happened.
	Those already happen, and you're fine with it.
	Kari and I, a couple other Guards in my squad, we'd be able to cover the full week.
	And she has some other friends outside the Guards.
	Even Hermann said he was supportive.

Bovril shook his head.
―Anything else?

―No, that's it.
	Seriously, it'd be easy.
	And everyone will volunteer, won't cost anyone anything.

―Still a no, son.

―Dad, c'mon! Kral found himself yelling.
	I just want to make sure you stay safe.

―Kralvin, I'm telling you, I don't need it.
	Even those hateful Hierarchy bastards have the right to protest without armed guards trying to come down to stop them.
	And I don't want to you to risk your job or anything, got it?

―It's fine, we checked that it'd be okay with the Captain.
	And besides, dad, it's our job to protect people.

―No, your job is to protect the President.
	Not to show up at protests at construction sites.

―Why are you fighting this?
	People have security, it's fine.
	And I asked around if anyone was there to hear what they were chanting.
	They're talking about driving everyone out of the Barns.
	It's scary.

―Kralvin, I told you, drop it.
	I didn't come here because I wanted to have to hide behind people with weapons, got it?

―Is that what it's about?
	What, you're ashamed of me?
	Ashamed of my job?

―Kralvin! Rowena barked.

She was glaring at him from her seat.
Kral felt how angry he was, and how close to tears he'd found himself.
And then he felt ashamed of letting his emotions come out so strongly.

―Son, I love you.
	But I'm disappointed that you think that people can't protest without bringing weapons and violence into it.

―Bov, Rowena interjected.

Kral's chest buzzed with anger.
He stormed out of the house, and walked down the street a ways, then headed back and sat on his old chair on the porch.

After stewing a few moments, when he'd started to calm himself down, his mom walked out with some water for him.
He drank it gratefully.

―Are you okay, Krally?

Kral nodded.

―Don't mind what he said, okay?
	There's been a lot of stress recently.

―Am I wrong, mom?
	I'm just trying to help him out.
	I want to make sure he stays safe.

―Kral, your father's lived a tough life.
	He's about as brave and strong as they come, but he's got pride too.
	I think he just wants to get through these protests his own way.

―That's what I'm worried about though.
	What if they don't ease up anytime soon, or if they get worse?

―Then we'll deal with it as it happens.
	But don't forget to let people surprise you, okay?
	As I said, we've been here a while, even your dad.
	Sometimes, people don't understand us.
	Or they're angry at us.
	But overall, we've been accepted more and more.
	And by the way Kral, I'm scared too, okay?
	I worry about him every day, every time I hear about anything going on, every time someone at the hospital mentions a cow.
	And same with you.
	But I have to trust you, and you have to trust your dad.
	Now gone on home, you have to work, right?

Kral nodded.
Rowena gestured for a hug, and Kral nuzzled against her back.

―Bye Kral, have a good day at work.
	Love you.

―Bye Mom, love you too.