This is so stupid.” Jack sighed, looking in the mirror at his skin tight green zentai suit, a pair of red shorts and a flannel shirt.
“Is the clothing too much or not enough?” Asked Nicole.
“I don’t know, I’m just supposed to silently walk around and wave and try to copy Vinn’s movements. I have no say in this. I look like GreenScreen Spiderman on vacation.”
“You look great…I mean on the screen anyway it’s super realistic.”
“Do you have a script or anything?” he asked.
“No we’re winging it yolo style. That’s kind of our thing and it works on other stuff.”
“Damnit. This is so fuhuHeeeeey!” He said turning and waving.
“Hello! Nicole, we don’t see you enough, you never visit.” Her mother said.
“Mom, I live so far away it’s stupid, and I’m super busy. We move around a lot. They can’t lose a person for weeks and the paperwork is unreal.”
“We watch your streams sometimes!” said the man in the glasses, waving to the camera.
“Sorry about the cursing, dad but thanks. Do you guys ever watch any of Dee’s streams?”
“No, just you.” Her mom noted.
“Good, keep it that way. It’s a very different kind of content.”
“Is this your boss or coworker?” asked her dad.
“Um, actually, Mom, dad, this is Vinn, and we have been dating… for a long time.”
“You have a boyfriend and you didn’t tell us for a long time?”
“Well, there are some cultural…complications. He’s actually a construction worker, who helps build homes for the natives and people who can’t afford it.” She said, looking at Jack. “See, I’m not even lying yet, this is too easy.”
“Well that’s nice. Is that what you do too? I thought you did planning?”
“Uh, I mostly just do odd stuff, cleanup, some cooking, but recently I’ve been helping in the construction too. It’s actually really fun. Vinn makes sure I don’t get hurt.” She smiled, which was genuine until she looked up at Jack in a green zentai and her look lost some of it’s love twinkle.
“So how long and you been dating our Nicole. Asked the dad.
“Uh…honey you wanna take that one?” he dodged.
“Sorry he’s kinda shy and English is not his first language, so if he says anything that sounds out of place, he’s trying his best. The complex stuff tripps him up sometimes.” She explained.
“You made a very nice daughter. Good quality work, proper nutrition.” He said as jack gave a jerky thumbs up. Nicole’s smile saddened a little.
“Stuff like that.” She said. “But kind of a long time, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s gotten pretty serious. He wanted to meet you guys.”
“Sounds pretty serious.” Her mother said looking both concerned and intrigued. “Do you have any siblings?” she asked.
“Nah, they’re both dead.” He shrugged.
“Vinn.” She nudged, as Jack stared back annoyed. “oopse.”
“It’s fine? They died in military camp, it happens a lot. Like one in 5 of us makes it to adulthood here.” He yawned.
“Oh that’s terrible, you poor thing.”
“War…kind of a bitch.” He winced as Nicole rubbed her face in embarrassment.
“Nicole I didn’t know you were volunteering in a warzone, is it safe?”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“Oh don’t worry Mister and miss parents, I take good care of her. The war wasn’t even on this…half of the continent. It was years back, and this is a pretty safe place here. They have good housing and food and uh, actually we just got Nicole some really good life insurance… it was free.” He grinned.
“Sounds safe.” Her dad sighed.
“Mom it’s just standard for the area, there’s no wars here, the scariest thing you’re likely to encounter is probably Vinn.” She joked. “or a spider I’d adopt”
“You don’t look very scary.” Her mom smiled.
“Oh I’m a real teddy bear, but you know…pretty big, kinda intimidating.”
“Mom, He’s very…close to his tribal roots. He sometimes looks a bit more…primal?” she puckered.
“Well there’s nothing wrong with embracing your culture, Vinn. Is that your nickname or short for something?
“Vendetta” he rattled as Nicole puffed her cheeks out and realized this maybe could have used a script.
“Does that mean anything in your native language?”
Nope, just like vengeance. Our names are usually intimidating too, hence the Vinn part. Old outdated culture stuff. Whatyagonna do?”
You’re not wearing your tribal clothing for this? Nicole he didn’t have to dress up like some white guy for this.”
“Oh I felt it was necessary to look a little more presentable. First impressions are awkward enough given the situation.” He grinned as the door opened and Dee walked in.
“Not now Dee.” Waved Nicole.
“Oh sorry, you’re doing the meet the parents’ thing now?” she asked starting to leave.
“Dee, don’t be shy, we never get to talk to you either. So tell me, is Vinn keeping her safe on the worksite? She is wearing proper safety gear, isn’t she?
“Oh yea, like overkill. Like cartoonishly safe, it’s kinda sweet. You have no idea the amount of safety crap they have set up. He doesn’t even wear shoes and he makes her use the safety gear. She’s safe. He’s a very good husband.” She smiled as everyone else stuck their arms up and muttered a variety of mumbled responses.
“Shit.” Dee winced.
“Husband? You’re dating a married native?” Her mother asked. “Are you having an affair with this man?”
“No, of course not mom, it’s just…the explanation is also a bit jarring. Thanks Dee, by the way, way to fuck that up.”
“SORRY. I thought that’s why you were having him meet your pa-I’mm a just leave.”
“No Dee get your ass back, anyway So mom, dad. Uh…weeeeee got married.” She said, pausing excitedly for effect, and then doing the presentation arms as if to show that they won a brand new Vinn.
“You got married!” you didn’t even tell us or invite us to the wedding.” Her mom gasped.
“It was a pretty brief ceremony.” She admitted.
“Mostly just the bead and the hug and her saying ‘Yea sure why not?’ and that was it.” Vinn said. “It was a tribal thing.”
“Nicole, why would you not tell us you were dating someone serious enough to get married, you could have at least video conference called us for a 5 minutes ring exchange for show, at least.
“Mom, there’s no rings.” She said scrunching her face and lifting up the bead. “This is it…that’s the ring. I told you…tribal.”
“Carved it myself out of bone.” Vinn smiled.
“Well at least you told us now, how long have you been married?”
“We just got married last week, there was a lot of work stuff and…things neither of us was informed about that goes with the process. We’ve been filling papers and that’s not even mentioning the construction. I mean we got water lines to dig, I’m getting very little sleep between the streaming and the project and trying to have time with Vinn, and the goat keeps waking me up. It’s been a really crazy week for us, this is the first chance we had to do this.” Nicole huffed.
“Well, it’s just very unexpected.”
“Yea, tell me about it.” Vinn laughed. When she proposed I thought I was having a hallucination or something. Shock of my life to say the least.”
“This just gets worse and worse, we should have done a script.” Nicole huffed, gritting her underbite and hating herself a little bit.
“Well Nicole, I never would have expected that from you.” Her mom smiled. “That’s very bold and you’re so shy and reserved, and you proposed to him?”
“Can barely believe it myself, mom. Still reliving that moment. Every day.” She said hugging jack and slowly leaning her head on him, feeling gross about it the whole time.
“Is that normal for your culture, Vinn?”
“God no, weird as shit. I didn’t even know women could do that. She’s a very fascinating lady. I’m just baffled by her every day.”
“So how old are you?”
“Just turned Ten.” He replied.
“Vinn, you goof. You need to emphasize your jokes more or people don’t know you’re kidding. HA. He’s 20. He’s a little younger than me.” She dodged.
“Never would have guessed. He looks at least 35.” Her father said. She looked at the screen and squinted. The easily 35 year old man in the hologram.
“Yea we didn’t really think about that, hu.” She muttered to herself.
“Tribal life… really ages you.” Vinn sighed as the internet lagged a bit and a slight shutter from the ground cut the hologram out for a few flickers. Her parents both leaned in closer to the screen.
Nicole’s eyes widened as she realized the hologram was completely off. There stood a guy in a green body suit. Jack froze for a moment and then darted out the door, leaving them in silence. Nicole groaned and shook her head.
“I told you the cultural difference was weird.”
“Nicole…is this real? What is going on?”
“Yes, it’s real, I’m married to a tribal guy, you just. You don’t understand how superstitious and shy he can be. And please don’t ask what my last name is, I literally cannot tell you. I can type it out and you can fend for yourself and you will never get it right. It’s atrocious; I’m filling papers to get it changed back. I gotta go, he’s probably panicking right now. HONEY the camera doesn’t steal your soul, it’s not going to bring bad luck to the village. He’s not coming back. I’ll call you guys later.”
“Nicole wha-” her dad said as she hung up the feed.
“Well that went great.” She snipped, to the disembodied voice of Vinn.
“Could have been worse, Could have tried that without Jack.