Mildly Judgmental Stare @lemon-sugarcoats-nothing - Tumblr Blog

After weeks of TLC, I now present to you:

All characters are 18+ but please keep asks appropriate for audiences as young as 16. I do not know who all stumbles upon my blog, my target audience is in the young adult-adult range, but I'm sure there are mid-teens on my page as well. :]

Names and Emojis for all askable characters (as of March 25th 2024) are as follows;

Lemon Sugarcoat/Darkstone - 🍋 Kodiak Darkstone - 🐺 Sadi(e) Kokoro-Darkstone - 🦋or 🧡 Kai Darkstone - 💙 Nightshade/Shade Darkstone - 💖 Lucious Vespertilio - 💜 Alistor Sky - 📕

Mod Bee - 🐝

. . .

Note: If you would like to send us fanart, the ask box is set to allow media to be sent through, and a flat color image of the group picture is available upon request for all of your color picking needs.

Fanart is more than welcomed! As are questions about how I go about drawing these characters.

Thank you for reading!

-Mod Bee

💛💛💛Sister blog is @cinnavanillamelody, all characters exist in the same MLP AU as their characters. 💛💛💛

#art #mlp art #mlpfim #mlp ask oc #mlp fim #mlp fan art #mlp ask blog #mlp oc #digital art #digital aritst #lemonverse #lemon and cinna family #cinnaverse #cinna and lemon

Oh !

Sorry, That was bad first impression isn't it.

I'm the Doctor. ✨😁

ah, hi doctor, nice to meet you i guess lol

-🍋

🍋I think they're asking if honey made from the nectar of a lemon tree give the honey a sour taste?

I was wondering how myself taste.

So Lemon, tell me if I'm wrong or right.

Lemonade in honey is sour right ?

ask-cinnavanillamelody

Mocha's screeching as I share this, but I found some of her old art of me and lemon! 🧋

DON'T YOU DARE POST IT- 🍫

...Oops~🧋

ask-cinnavanillamelody

How has Lemon been doing?

Oh I actually can't say, Lemon's probably fine but i'd like to respect their wish to stay off of things like tumblr for now, sorry I can't say more. 🧋

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

We chillin over here...that's all🍋

Boy howdy, it's been a long time.

Hey folks, this is mod Bee writing to give a final verdict on the fate of this blog instead of letting it hang in limbo for forever. As anyone who followed the blog, seen my hiatus announcement, and/or how long it's been since my last update, has probably assumed by now.... I will not be returning to this blog. I love my characters dearly, I have used them and reused them for many years now. But, as much as I love them, I have fallen out of love with this story and version of them. As mentioned in my hiatus announcement, I've wanted to explore other stories and this one just doesn't line up exactly with what i want my current writing to focus on. I've found a lot of peace in letting this blog rest while I explore other creative works, and I'll share more about that on my mod blog @may-bee-its-just-me when I'm ready to. Reflecting back on my time in this blog, I never really set up a plan for plot and story before jumping into it, so it always felt a little aimless. That spontaneity was exciting at first, because it meant we could really explore the world freely as we went and include ask interactions whenever they came up. But after a while, especially toward the end, it felt like we had strayed so far into side quests that we lost the main plot points we had talked about from the start. When I couldn't see how we were gonna get from point A to point C or what we'd do after that, on top of being exhausted by my physical condition - I lost interest and decided to quit my part of the story. That being said, I have also not kept up with what Mocha has been doing on their sister blog, so they very well may continue their side of the story solo and I'll leave that to her to decide. In the end, even with that sour taste in my mouth from the tail of this blog, i will always be thankful for those that have come along the way to support my work, and support the side stories we were able to finish (or, mostly finish). I made some wonderful friends through this community, and seen a lot of cool art. It's with that love and appreciation that i consider maybe someday returning to the world of pony ask blogs with a new story to tell.

Until then, my mod blog will be updated if and when i feel like it with whatever artwork and ramblings i want to put into the void. Thank you all for a great couple of years, hope to see you still on my mod/artist blog.

Bye bye now ~ Bee 🐝, Lemon and co. 🍋 Mod/artist blog to keep up with new projects and ramblings: @may-bee-its-just-me

Happy Nightmare Night folks

popping out of the ether for a moment to present our costumes this year.

....ok bye. 🐝🍋

whirlwindflux

I’ve seen this cool pony around here on Tumblr and artfight was a great excuse to draw them!

An artfight attack for @may-bee-its-just-me of Lemon Sugarcoat!

may-bee-its-just-me

<33!!

*pulls up in a delorian* its time to go back lemon! Back to the future!

Lemon's feathers fluff up and they blurt out faster than they understand what they're saying, "NO-! No time travel, Not again!"

Lemon blinks, startled at what they just said.

Lemon: sorry don't know what that was there haha ive never traveled through time, thats so weird....Anyways still on vacay, I'd rather not skip over this sick relaxation time B)

#au glitch

I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

I aim with my eye.

I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

I shoot with my mind.

I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father.

I kill with my heart.

I am very confused... I googled and understand it to be a reference but Im missing what im supposed to do with this ask ;-; Anon pls help

-🐝Bee

Here put on this maid dress, cat ears, steampunk hat, combat boots, katana, and p90. Don't ask questions the world is in danger

"These aren't going to change the state of the world, silly goose. We're also still on hiatus but...Thanks for stopping in-!"

-Mod Bee 🐝

Hey yall, Mod note.

Even if I was always the less active blog of the duo, having always received less asks and having posted less of my characters; I'm sure you've noticed the lack of posts over the last year. Every now and then, I remember I have unresolved stuff on the blog and continue whatever it is for a few days until eventually dropping off the face of the internet again. This has been increasingly so as of the last few months - I get busy, pretend the blog doesn't exist, and hope no one asks when the next update is coming.

If I'm to be honest, it isn't even that I never have any time to update (because I have plenty of time to doom-scroll and procrastinate everything else I have to do), I just don't have the energy I used to have to dedicate to these characters. These are characters Mocha and I created in late middle/early highschool, and we have rebooted and rebooted their stories a bazillion times over the course of almost 8 years. I still love these characters - in many ways I feel I hold onto them TOO much - but the fact is, these characters were made for a version of me that needed them more than I need them now. As I'm getting older, I'm looking to tell different kinds of stories, so I've been slowly losing interest in the characters I used to fixate on day and night.

This doesn't mean I'll never come back to the blog but I think it's time to call an official hiatus. More updates will be made if and when I have a better idea of the future of this blog, but as of right now:

Thank you all for sticking around and thank you for supporting the story over on @ask-cinnavanillamelody's side.

-Mod Bee 🐝

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

A [very belated] happy Hearthswarming

Feat. mentions of characters by @ask-cinnavanillamelody

Snow falls gently outside the cozy Canterlot homes, with everypony warm inside. Kodiak shares his family's traditions with Sanori and his family, James and Lillian with Lucious and Nexa have their family gathering, and Nightshade helps his parents cook an assortment of dishes for the new members of the family to try - Hoping to make their first proper Hearthswarming eve the best they'll ever have.

Just as they're setting the table, a gentle knock can be heard from their front door. The parents look between themselves for a moment before the knock sounds again. Sage takes the initiative and answers the call, concerned about their mystery guest.

He opens the door to find a familiar green stallion waiting anxiously on the other side.

"Haha- h-hello-! ...I was half expecting you to not open up..."

Sage stands and stares in tense silence. Donna, immediately feeling his energy shift, hurries to his side. However, upon seeing the stallion, she gasps lightly and she too freezes, shocked at the sight.

Shade: omMA-! what do i do next-

Shade enters the room, oblivious to the commotion until he sees his parents standing in the doorway. He steps closer, his head tilted until he can catch a glimpse of whoever's on the other side.

Shade: Hyeong-?!

His face beams with joy, and he lets out a childish excited laugh. He runs toward his brother, pushing past his parents and tackling him in a long overdue hug.

Shade: You came-!! you actually came-!!

Shade buries his face in his brother's chest, as an ignored and forgotten hole in their hearts slowly begins to fill itself.

Shade: Oh Ginseng, you have no idea how happy i am to see you-!!

Ginseng chuckles a reply while he reciprocates Shade's hug: Yeah-? I missed you too buddy-

.

Sage and Donna still stare, apprehensive and dumbfounded.

ask-cinnavanillamelody

Zayden, noticing the two uncharacteristically still, nudges them away from the door so Ginseng can enter. He is uneasy as well, due to Ginseng being a stranger.

Zora greets him warmly with a parroted Japanese phrase she heard Zayden attempt to say during his language practice.

"いらっしゃいませ!" (Welcome)

As Shade leads his brother inside, a bright pink colored batpony hurriedly rushes in behind him muttering something in japanese.

"Ginseng！あなたは私を置き去りにしました！不安なのはわかるけど、私のこと忘れないでね？" (Ginseng! You left me! I know you're anxious but try not to forget me please?)

She takes a moment to look around. "Oh- you must be Gin's parents! Hi, i'm Suki, his fiance! It's nice to meet you"

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

[Mod note: wowsa! sorry for an even more belated heartswarming reply! I have been procrastinating this wall of text for months now...I'm mostly sorry.]

Sage and Donna gather themselves and mumble replies back. Shade looks back at her and smiles warmly.

Nightshade: Come on in! Food's almost all ready, tea is piping hot!

He turns to ginseng and whispers teasingly, in korean, "Was bringing me a sister your heartswarming gift?" and snickers. Ginseng's face flushes and he stumbles over a reply.

Sage adjusts his glasses. Making a displeased expression, he grunts and shuts the door a little harder than expected.

Sage: How dare you-!

The group (Ginseng, Shade, Suki) startles and they look back at Sage. Donna, still by his side, looks at him surprised as well. He grits his teeth.

Sage: よくもそんなことができたものだ！私たちの家族を軽蔑した上で、ここに来るなんて！留まらせませんよ. [How dare you! You show up here, even after disrespecting our family?! I will not allow for you to stay."]

Ginseng looks at the ground, ashamed. Shade steps toward Sage defensively.

Shade: -! Otosan! I invited him-! I wanted to see him- Please, if you just give him a chance to-

Sage: SILENCE.

Shade quiets immediately, Ginseng winces at Sage's outburst. Sage pauses before continuing.

Sage: 彼は私たちの家族を引き裂いた。彼は自分が何にも値しないことを知っている。[He tore our family apart. He knows that he deserves nothing.]

Ginseng scoffs under his breath, saddened that his father holds a grudge, and offended at his accusations.

Ginseng: Really...? 내가 우리 가족을 찢어 놓았어..? 진심인가요..?[I tore our family apart..? Are you serious..?]

Ginseng looks up from the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. He wipes them away and adjusts his glasses.

Sage huffs: あなたは一度も手紙を書いてくれない、一度も訪問してこない。まるで私たちが存在しないかのように振舞う。私たちがあなたのためにあれだけしてあげたのに、あなたは私たちがあなたを台無しにしたかのように振舞う。[You never write, you never visit. You act like we don't even exist. After all we did for you, you act like we ruined you.]

Ginseng, laughs in disbelief: 당신은 학교에서 완벽해야 한다고 나를 압박했어. 당신은 나에게 약초를 배우게 했어. 당신은 나를 의대에 가게 했어. 당신은 나의 학습과 치유에 대한 사랑을 죽였어. 당신은 나를 모든 것을 앗아간 직업으로 밀어붙였어.[You pressured me to be perfect in school. You made me learn herbalism. You made me go to med school. You killed my love for learning and healing. You pushed me into a career that cost me EVERYTHING.] You DID ruin me-!

He stamps his prosthetic hind leg down, mustering all the strength and assertiveness from every fiber of his being to face his father like this. Sage opens his mouth to respond but Donna quickly stuffs a hoof in it.

Donna: Stop-! stop-! Kids are afraid...

She gestures over to Zora and Zay, and everyone settles a little upon seeing the two frightened. Sage softens, remembering the kids and their history. Ginseng looks between his parents, the kids, and Shade confused.

Ginseng: New siblings?...when did this happen-?

Sage:...Long story.

Nightshade: less siblings, more just.. omma and otosan fostering them until they can stand on their own hooves...their dad used to be a total prick but he's learning heh.

...Reminds me of someone actually... *said quietly despite his parents' limited understanding. He nods his head toward Sage.*

Ginseng sighs, putting his pride aside: ...Dad- ごめんなさい。姿を消して問題を解決しようとしなかったことをお詫びします。[I'm sorry. I apologize for disappearing and not trying to solve the problem.]

He looks away, still hurt but accepting defeat if it means keeping the peace. Starting to see Ginseng more for the hurt young man he is, and less of a malicious actor, Sage too sighs and sets his pride aside.

Sage:...죄송합니다. ...내가 너에게 너무 많은 압력을 가했고, 그것이 너를 멀어지게 만들었어. [...I'm sorry...I put too much pressure on you and it pushed you away.]

Sage falls quiet again, as per his usual stance. Donna, knowing both what she and Sage wants to say, fills in the rest.

Donna: 우리는 당신을 다치게 하려고 한 적이 없습니다… 우리는 그저 당신이 잘하는 것을 보고 싶었을 뿐입니다. 당신이 학교에 가서 돌아오지 않았을 때… 우리는 우리가 무슨 짓을 했는지 깨달았습니다. 너는 착한 사람이야, 우리가 그걸 지지했어야지. [We never meant to hurt you… we just wanted to see you do well. When you went to school and didn’t come back… we realized what we had done. You’re a good boy, and we should have supported you...]

Ginseng: Omma...

His voice quivers, tearing up again at the words he's so desperately needed to hear for years. He pulls his parents into a hug, and they hug back warmly.

ask-cinnavanillamelody

Suki passes a mild glance of anger at Sage for his outburst, but quickly moves closer to Zayden and Zora to help them relax.

"Are you two okay?" She asks in a gentle tone.

"I-I've never heard him yell before..." Zay responds, "I didn't catch most of what he said...but is...everything okay now?"

Suki nods. "Yes. Its...more or less okay. I'm sorry we dropped in like this, Gin was worried about coming back like this. I...encouraged him to. I didn't expect his father to be..." she cuts herself off and turns her attention to Zora. "How about you? You look shaken."

"You...you speak like us...?" She asks with a tone of awe.

Suki: Oh- sorry, yes, do you understand me? I've been practicing this dialect of ponish, but I sometimes get sounds confused.

Zora: You sound great-! And you're really pretty, Zora likes your hair.

Suki: Oh. Well thank you sweetie, I could do yours if you like.

Zora: Really? Z-Zora wants pink hair too!

Suki giggles. "We'll see."

As Ginseng's hug ends, she does a quick check in on him.

Suki: Hey Gin, you good? You're crying... Should I yell at your Dad for you? And how's your leg? Is it damaged? Does it hurt? I made it durable, but you stamped it pretty hard, I don't want it suddenly falling off.

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

Ginseng chuckles softly, sniffling and wiping tears from his face.

Ginseng: I'm fine, dear... My prosthetic is okay I think- I already yelled at my dad too much heh... I don't want him to think badly of you too. We still have to tell them we're engaged after all-

Donna: Ehhhh??? Why you no tell me you have girlfriend? =3=

Ginseng: -! Omma! Your English has gotten so goood-! Ahaha ha ha-

Donna gets a little flustered for a moment.

Donna: aahh~ I practice English for kids heheh! ^ ^; ...이제, 내 질문에 대답하세요. [Now, answer my question.]

Ginseng: heh-엄마, 이 사람이 제 여자친구 스키예요... 저는 군의관으로 복무할 때 그녀를 만났습니다. [Mom, this is my girlfriend Suki...I met her when I was serving as a military medic.]

Donna: oohh, i see-

Ginseng: 그녀는 내 인생의 사랑이며, 나는 곧 그녀와 결혼할 것입니다. [She is the love of my life, and I will be marrying her soon.]

Donna: ^ ^ Nani?

Ginseng: 우리 약혼했어요 [We're engaged]

Donna: ahahahaaahh- …우리에게 말도 없이..? [Without speaking to us about it..?]

Ginseng: Omma- 우리는 방금 이것에 대해 이야기했습니다…내가 스스로 선택할 수 있는 공간이 필요해요. [Mom- we talked about this... I need space to make my own choices.]

Donna: mmm... 하지만 이건 큰 일이야, 그녀는 우리 가족의 일원이 될 거야. 우리는 그녀가 누구인지 알아야 해! [But this is a big deal, she's going to be part of our family. We need to know who she is!]

Ginseng sighs softly and nods.

Ginseng: 그래서 내가 그녀를 여기 데려온 거야… 널 만날 기회도 없이 결혼은 하지 않을 거야. 하지만 그녀는 내 아내가 될 거야. [Which is why I brought her here...I wouldn't marry her without giving you the chance to meet her. But she is going to be my wife.]

Donna looks unsure of Suki. She begins to circle her, inspecting from ear to hoof and all places in between.

ask-cinnavanillamelody

Suki, makes a little bat screech to get Donna to back off for a moment, she doesn't like it when strangers get too close to her.

Suki: すみませんが、私を異国の肉のように上から下まで見下ろす前に、私の性格を調べていただければ幸いです。(Excuse me ma'am, but if you'd like to inspect my character, before you eye me up and down like an exotic piece of meat, I'd appreciate the courtesy.)

with a sigh, she continues:

Suki: 私はあなたのようなポニーではないので、あなたが私を警戒するかもしれないことは理解していますが、私はあなたの息子を心から愛しており、彼を傷つけるようなことは決してしないと保証します。(I understand that you may be wary of me, since I am not a pony like you, but I can assure you I love your son with all of my heart, and I would never do anything to harm him.)

Suki: unlike some ponies…*she mutters under her breath at a volume no one can hear but herself*

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

Donna: ehhh-? 子供よ、これは君の外見とは何の関係もない! あなたがコウモリであろうとなかろうと、私には関係ありません。私はあなたが何よりもまず自分自身を大切にしているかどうかを見たいと思っていました。それはとても重要なことです。あなたが自分自身を大事にできないのに、どうやって私の息子を大事にしてくれるのですか？[Child, this has nothing to do with your appearance! Bat or not, I don't care. I was looking to see if you care for yourself first and foremost - its very important. How will you care for my son if you cannot care for yourself?]

Donna, under her breath: Tch... Kids these days, offended so fast...

Ginseng, whispering to Suki: It's okay, she isn't like that...She will insist on the interrogation though, just...go along with it okay-?

ask-cinnavanillamelody

Suki with a mild huff, nods.

Suki: 私は、自分とジンの両方に対して、非常に綿密なケアをしています。ジンは足がないため、また義足の世話を主に私が担当しているため、ジンの健康維持には特に気を配っています。ジンの食事はすべて新鮮な食材のみを使って調理し、ジンは私に理学療法を手伝わせてくれます。(I have a very in depth care routine, both for me and Gin. Because of his missing leg, and the fact that I am the primary caretaker of his prosthetics, I take extra care in maintaining his health. I cook all his meals with only the freshest ingredients, and he lets me help him with physical therapy.)

Suki: そして、あなたの「検査」から分からなかったとしても、私は自分自身のために皮膚、羽、牙の手入れをきちんとしています。ジンも時々私に手入れをさせてくれます。それで満足ですか? (And if you couldn't tell from your..."inspection" I maintain a nice skin, wing, and fang care regimen for myself. Gin lets me do it for him sometimes too. Is that satisfactory?)

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

Donna for a moment seems convinced but the mom-guard comes back up and she maintains her stern attitude.

Donna: Mm... good... 生意気ですね…平和な結婚生活を送る妻としては不適切ですが、今は許してあげましょう。 [but sassy...Unbecoming for a future wife in a peaceful marriage... I'll ignore that for now. ]

Ginseng, getting increasingly anxious.

Ginseng: すみません、緊張するとこうなるんです。 [Sorry, she gets like this when she's nervous-] heh-

Donna narrows her eyes at Suki and rapid fires questions at her, pausing only briefly for suki to respond to each before being hit with the next.

"[Do you smoke - Tobacco or otherwise?]" "[Do you consume alcohol? How much?]" "[Have you ever tried other substances? Do you plan to]?" "[What is your job history? Anything...suspicious]" "[You're a doctor of some kind now?? Where did you study?]" "[Who are your parents? When are we meeting? ]" "[How many men have you swooned before my boy?]" "[Are you planning kids?]"

Shade, having begun to cover his ears with his hooves, snaps before she can get another word out.

Nightshade: oMMAAA- Please-! Too much-!

Donna: eh-? *she blinks* どうして？[How so?/Why?]

Nightshade: T ^ T my braaiiin-

Donna blushes slightly, awkwardly scratching her head. She takes this moment to let herself and Suki calm down.

Donna: ah...ちょっと夢中になりすぎたかもしれません… [Maybe I got a little too carried away...]

Nightshade: 私の夫をこんなに強く押し付けた覚えはないわ… [I don't remember you pressing my husbands this hard..]

Donna: pshhh, あなたの話は違います。私たちはあなたの夫をあなたが子供の頃から知っています！ [Your story is different. We knew your husbands since you were kids!]

Ginseng: *processing what's being said* eh- Husband..?

Nightshade: -s

Ginseng: I don't understand...

Nightshade: Husbands - its prulal

Ginseng: you're married-??

Nightshade: twice B)

Ginseng: and I missed it over a dumb standoff...

Nighsthade: -! its okay, most did. we maybe told no one and eloped after we all turned 18...omma and otosan kicked me out for 2 months over it heh-

Ginseng: Oh! but...where are they?

Nightshade: we're working on the "living together" part. kai's a sparkling student, cherry's a model, and im bumming around between mr. kodi's couch and omma's basement-

Ginseng: Gotcha, heh-

Shade fluffs his wings a bit excitedly.

Nightshade: But! kai said that mr. kodi, thats his dad btw, might have an apartment close enough to the school and to cherrys work stuff that we might be able to use once the guys living there now move out!

Ginseng chuckles: Uh-huh...

ask-cinnavanillamelody

Suki's eye twitches at Donna's comment about her. She bites her tongue and just answers her questions at the same pace they were asked, for Ginseng's sake.

Suki: "[No, I don't smoke. It could compromise my ability to fly if my lungs are damaged]"

"[I drink Sake with Gin on special occasions, and I collect fruit wines for guests, also only for special holidays us bat-folk have]"

"[No, and i'm offended by the question when I just told you how in depth I care for Gin's and my own Health.]"

"[I don't know what you think a suspicious job is, or why you would even ask me such an insulting question. But despite my looks, no. I have always been a nurse of some kind.]"

"[My official job title was Head Army Nurse Practitioner, I became and engineer of prosthetics shortly before Gin lost his hind leg. Where I studied does not matter, I have several degrees in medical science and engineering.]"

"[You won't be meeting my parents as my Mother is deceased and my Father is estranged from me. ]"

"[Another insulting question, as I did not swoon your son, he charmed me. Before Gin I was not interested in Romancing anyone, because colts of your kind are usually after only one thing when it comes to my species.]"

"[I'll let Gin answer that.]"

After she's done, she thinks to herself something she'd like to say, but won't as it's not the time and she doesn't want to upset the situation further,

( And for the record, I am not "Sassy", I just don't like being interrogated for no reason, especially by someone who has not been the kindest to my future husband, yet has the audacity to chastise him for not reaching out sooner after you effectively ruined his spirit. That I HAD TO REBUILD. )

Ginseng can tell from Suki's general tense stance and less than happy expression that there's only so much more of this interrogation she can take before she snaps.

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

Donna now seems mildly uncomfortable herself, having let the overbearing mom guard down some, she isn't sure what to say now. She watches Suki for a moment, no longer looking at her so intensely but she still seems to be analyzing Suki's expression.

Donna, confused: 당신은 화가 난 것 같아요. 내 잘못인가요? [You seem upset - Is it my fault?]

Ginseng: ah- omma- 당신은 아마 그런 뜻이 아니었을 겁니다만, 스키는 자신의 실제 성격보다는 종족에 따라 판단받는 것을 걱정하고 있습니다. [I know you probably didn't mean it, but Suki is concerned about being judged based on her species rather than her character.] Its common back home...

Donna: oh Suki, hunny...네가 내 아들과 잘 맞는다면, 네가 어떤 종류의 포니인지는 내게 전혀 관심 없어. 지금까지는 친절하신 것 같아요. 우리는 첫인상이 좋지 않았을 수도 있지만 (그리고 소금만한 가치가 있는 사람이라면 아마도 과거에 우리 아들과 함께 있었던 일에 대해 강한 감정을 가지고 있을 것입니다), 저는 물지 않는다는 걸 약속합니다! [I don't care what kind of pony you are, as long as you're a good fit for my son. So far, you seem nice. Although we (Donna and Sage) might not have made great first impressions (and if you're worth your salt, you probably have strong feelings about how things went with Ginseng in the past), I promise I don't bite!]

Donna smiles gently, desperately trying to remedy the awkwardness of the situation. She looks around, looking for a way to switch gears, impatient for Suki's response.

Donna: ...ah-! Tea-?

She uses her magic to bring a kettle to boil, and pour Suki a cup of tea faster than she's seen anyone do before. It seems nervousness runs in the family.

ask-cinnavanillamelody

Suki, calms down a little after hearing Donna apologize, she sighs and lets out a breath.

Suki: Now I know where you get it Gin. Tea would be nice, thank you.

*she takes the cup gracefully in her hoof and sips it*

Suki: In all honesty ma'am, 私は少し緊張しています。言いたいことがたくさんあります。私がジンに会ったときの彼の様子には本当に腹が立っています。あなたが彼にかけたプレッシャーのせいです。彼にもう一度薬を試してもらうまでに、しばらく時間がかかりました。彼はとても迷っていました。私は彼が再び自分を取り戻せるように一生懸命に働きました。(I am a little tense, there's so many things I want to say, i'm really angry about how Gin was when I met him because of all the pressure you put on him. It took me a while to even get him to try medicine again. He was so lost, and I worked hard to help him find himself again.)

Suki passes another glance to sage.

Suki: そしてあなたは、そもそもあなたが台無しにした関係について、ほとんど彼に怒鳴り散らしている- *彼女は首を振る* 私はあなたたち二人にチャンスを与えようと一生懸命努力している。ジンの弟が彼を誘ったとき、私はジンに来るように勧めた。彼がようやく何が起こったのかに向き合うのはいいことかもしれないと思った。あなたが長い間会っていなかった彼に、あんなに厳しい態度を取るとは思っていなかった。そしてあなたが怒鳴ったとき、私はとても腹が立った。彼を守りたかった、彼はここまで来たのだから...そしてあなたは彼が当時どれほど惨めだったかを本当に知らないだろう...でもそれはまだ私の立場ではない。結局のところ、私はまだ彼の婚約者に過ぎない。 (and you, practically screaming at him for a relationship you ruined to begin with- *she shakes her head* I'm trying, very hard, to give you both a chance. I encouraged Gin to come when his little brother invited him. I thought it might be good for him to finally confront what happened. I wasn't expecting you to be as harsh upon seeing him after so long as you were. And when you yelled I got, so angry. I wanted to protect him, he's come so far...and you really don't know how miserable he was back then...but it's not my place yet. I'm still just his fiancé after all.)

Suki takes another sip of the cup Donna gave her, then places it on the table and walks over to Ginseng to give him a kiss on the cheek, and whispers in his ear,

Suki: I think it's best if you spend some time alone with your parents, i'll be around if you need me Gin. I love you.

She then turns to Zora and Zayden,

Suki: Hey you, I can try something with your hair now if you like.

Zora nods excitedly and leads Suki to the bathroom. Zay awkwardly follows them.

lemon-sugarcoats-nothing

Donna looks down, disappointed and ashamed. Sage goes over to comfort her, while Ginseng goes to the kitchen with Shade to chat and finish making dinner.

Shade: well that was a wreck-

Ginseng: ha- yeah- Sorry...I feel like I've ruined your heartswarming.

Shade: are you kidding-? heartswarming hasnt felt right since you left- Besides, theres still time! We can fix this-!...maybe. Maybe not all tonight, but something is better than nothing. I mean, if nothing else, at least by tonight we'd have already started making things better by reconnecting right-? It's going to be okay, it has to-

Ginseng: ...I want to believe you bud, but- some things just...never heal.

There's a moment of silence between the brothers. The tension in the room is only broken up by occasional whiffs of the warm comfort foods being made, and the fresh herbs Sage keeps all around the kitchen. Ginseng stirs a simmering pot of soup, taking liberty to add a few extra ingredients aside from his parents' cookbook recipe. Shade helps by staying out of the way, staying quiet while rattling his brain to fix things.

As the scent of home cooking fills the air, Gin begins to fall away from the happenings in the present and into the wonderful world of damn good food. He sings softly while losing himself in his craft, and dances ever so slightly to the rhythm of his knife on veggies. Shade looks up admiring his brother's skills and feels relief in seeing him smile for the first time today. He finally gets to see the stallion his brother's grown into all this time without any darkness from the past clouding the image.

He wishes they could stand in this moment forever.

Shade: what song is that?

Ginseng startles and drops the knife on his cutting board. Just like that, the moment's gone.

Ginseng: Oh- J-just a little something Suki and I like to listen to. I forget the name of it though...heh-

He tosses the rest of the veggies into the pot, turning the heat down just enough to keep everything warm.

Ginseng: Suki could probably tell you though.

Shade: Heh, right- Hey that smells really good-

Shade peers into the pot and takes a biiiig sniff. His face lights up and before Ginseng can tell him otherwise, he lifts the spoon and takes a taste.

Shade: aH- ah hah- hah- hot-! (insert suffering sounds of one who shoved food right off the stove into his mouth and is desparately trying to cool it down without spitting it out) oh thish ish goOod-! TvT painful but good-!!

Ginseng: Shade, be careful-!

Shade swallows and fluffs his wings a few times excitedly.

Shade: That's actually better than Omma's-! Where did you learn to cook like that?!

Ginseng: sHHHh- She'll hear you-!

Ginseng chuckles, flattered and slightly embarrassed. Shade chuckles too, but their laughter is broken when they open their eyes to see Donna suddenly standing in the doorway.

Shade: oh- heeeyy Ommmaaa-

Donna: You cook?

Ginseng: hahaha- maybe?

Donna: 내가 요리한 거 손도 대봤어? [Did you touch what I had cooking?]

Ginseng: ...maybe-

Donna: ^^ 시도해 봅시다! [Lets try it!]

Shade smiles and runs to go fetch Zay and Zora. He busts into the bathroom excitedly.

Shade: Dinner time!!