Things Lost and Found (a Waglington and Mianite fanfiction)

Chapter 57

The song for this chapter is "Ballad of Mona Lisa" by Panic! at the Disco. Thanks, Kaychrys , for recommending the song. :D

*Tom's POV*

We heard a tired, feminine voice yell from inside the plant-shrouded home, "I'm done seeing clients for today! Come back tomorrow." Mot's eyebrows drew together in confusion before he knocked again, a bit louder.

I heard something that I was pretty sure was a curse. Booted footfalls sounded on wood planks as someone approached the door, and two locks clicked. The door opened enough for the lady to poke her head and a small pistol outside. She was wearing a long-sleeved dress of some dark green, velvety material with brass buttons down the front and lace around the cuffs and throat, and a pair of brass and leather goggles sat atop her head. The woman's black hair was up in a bun, except for long ringlets that framed her olive face. Her dark eyes were as angry as those of any Dianitee I'd seen, and her plump lips were set in a frown. The caplock pistol she held was a tiny thing, the size of my palm, but it would definitely drop a target if the bore of the muzzle was anything to go by. The hammer was already cocked, and the lady had it aimed at Mot's face.

"Easy there, M Rose! Save those bullets for a blood moon," Mot said, taking a step back and quickly pulling his hood and scarf down to reveal his mottled face. He left his hands raised to show he meant no harm. I followed suit when Mot shot me a glare.

Marie Rose studied Mot for several tense seconds before lowering her gun and saying blandly, "Mot? I almost didn't recognize you with how much your creeper spores have spread."

Mot paled for a moment before a teasing smile snuck onto the lady's face. I suppressed laughter as Mot realized she was pulling his leg. She looked up and down the street—all seriousness once more—before motioning us indoors. Inside the home wasn't much warmer than out. So I left my coat and scarf on; I even stuffed my gloved hands inside my coat pockets in attempt to get the tingling feeling out of my fingers. Once in the small foyer, Marie surprised me by crushing Mot in a hug which he returned. When she released him, she had a wide grin on her face. "Seriously though, you have a new spot here," She said tapping a patch of green skin below his infected eye.

He swatted her hand away and mumbled, "Yeah, it's not the only one." Marie gave him a stern look. "Don't worry about me. Dia will touch up his magic once he's back."

Okay, why the heck are these two acting like long lost siblings?

Marie's gaze softened and she turned to me. "Is that Alyssa under there?" She asked with a hint of the "baby voice" all women seemed compelled to use around little kids.

"Um, no," I answered.

Her eyebrows shot up, and she looked between Mot and I in confusion. My voice did sound identical to his, aside from the thinly veiled irritation in mine. Mot sighed and introduced us. "Tom, this is Marie Rose. M Rose, Tom. I'll explain in a little bit. First, I have a message from Jeriah."

Her friendly mien vanished, and she started to raise her pistol again.

Mot's eyes widened as he tried to salvage the situation, "Look, I get that you're mad he left..."

"Mad?" She asked in sarcasm bordering on something more dangerous. Her voice rose as she continued, "No, no. I'm not mad that he left. 'Never leave your partner behind.' Malarkey. I'm mad he didn't ask me to go with him!" She lowered the pistol and uncocked the hammer as she walked away from us into the kitchen to the right of the foyer. Mot and I cautiously followed. We entered to see Marie pouring herself a glass of gin from a nearly empty bottle on the counter. She tossed back the half-filled glass before pouring more. She seated herself at the kitchen table, leaving the gin bottle and her pistol behind on the wooden counter. She took a more delicate sip and motioned to the seats across from her.