Hello, I hope you are doing well. I don't send asks often, and wanted to make sure I'm respectful. I love everyone's participation and collaboration with blending Celine, all the Au's and amazing creative works. I did want to ask though, as much as I enjoy seeing her used as a favorite chew toy, I found your Honmoon Rail Rhythm Broadcast especially hilarious, and light-hearted with Celine's Good Times being exposed (Good for her!) I do love the thought of Celine and Zoey's mother together, and @ - fakelawyerbug mentioned it in a reblog (Also, is it rude to randomly tag in asks, should I keep that separate?)
Would you consider where, because Celine and the girl's are close enough with Zoey's mother (to their knowledge, Celine and Z!Mama are professional friends, made closer by looking after the girls all these years, so she stayed close after whatever you'd headcanon Zoey's family status). Anyhow, Zoey, needing the gossip right NOW, on who Celine could POSSIBLY be with, she calls her mother on speaker phone, the closest person to Celine besides Bobby. Zoey freezes a bit in confusion as her mother sounds a bit shaky and out of breath over the phone.
Z!Mama is reassuring her nothing is wrong, but in jumping into danger mode, Rumi and Mira call Celine in case Zoey needs someone to check on her mother, or something along those lines. They all have a dawning horror as Rumi's call reaches first, and they hear clear as day Celine's distinct ringtone for Rumi.
I apologize if this is a lot, so thank you very much for your time and consideration in just reading. Also, I apologize for any bad formatting. On mobile, and was worried a paragraph break would accidentally send it in progress. Take care and be well!
Hi Anon! 👋🏽
First thing, I am doing well, thank you for asking. I hope you are doing good too.
I'm glad you're loving the smoothies everyone has been blending and I'm happy that you've reached out!
I myself have only recently start participating in the 'ask and answer' thing on here as well. I'm on mobile too. Don't worry, the way you worded and spaced everything out was perfect. I had no problem reading it.
I don't think it's rude to tag people in asks if you're mentioning something that inspired a part of the creativity that is these kinds of collaborations and stuff. Like giving credit where credit is due. (I'm new in that area too.)
After all it was @fakelawyerbug that inspired that particular thread of fun for that post. Shout out!
Now for the Zoey's Mom and Celine traumatizing the girls!
I absolutely love the idea of them actually being together in this little Au we've all concocted.
I imagine that in the early days of the girls training Celine and Zoey's Mom were, as you said, professional friends with their mutual thread being their love and care for the girls.
In my mind for this, Zoey joined Huntrix fairly young. About 16-17 years old. She not long ago moved to Korea to stay with her Mom after her parents split.
She doesn't have a bad relationship with any of her parents but their divorce was kinda messy and it effected her. As much as she loves her Dad and all her family back in America, she just wanted to leave what felt like a stifling environment with bitter memories, so she decided to go with her mother after the split rather than stay with her Dad and everyone else.
Also she did not want her mother to be alone after everything. Her mother loved her father, regardless of their issues, so the split did a bit of a number on her but they both know it was for the better.
Some time after their move, Zoey mentioned she wanted to try out some auditions in the Idol Industry, specifically the ones held by Sunlight Entertainment.
Zoey's Mom, while she didn't quite get it, understood how important this music and writing hobby of Zoey's was to her, so she agreed and encouraged her.
While she did support Zoey in her dream, she was sceptical. She's well aware of the Idol Industry and how it's run. She knows that there are some practices and stuff that makes her very nervous about Zoey's health and well-being if she was to join this industry.
Enter Celine.
A power house in the Industry.
She and her not-daughter Rumi were looking for two potentials to form a trio with her. (Hunters chosen by the Honmoon specifically)
They had previously found a second member, Mira, and were now looking for their third member.
They saw Zoey and immediately knew. The Honmoon was about as subtle as she was.
Celine had spoken to Zoey and her Mom about the girl's choice and of course Zoey was thrilled.
While Zoey's Mom was happy her daughter's dream was coming true she couldn't help but be concerned.
Celine noticed this and reassured her. She was kind, almost soft, in doing so. Speaking about how she will be personally training the trio and ensuring they are safe and well cared for.
Zoey's Mom had kept an analytical eye on this woman as she not only spoke about the girls, but also how she interacted with them and everyone else.
It was clear she cared more than a retired Idol, Business woman and trainer usually would.
Zoey's Mom could see it the way she fussed over Rumi and Mira who both rolled their eyes at her dotting even if they would smile right after.
She could see how Celine's softly spoken words would make Mira's shoulders lose tension while looked on at the people around her with mistrust.
She saw how Celine would shift her weight closer to Rumi when the purple haired teen would tug on her sleeve, see the young girl lean onto her. Like a shield against the scrutiny of the talent that eyed her with poorly disguised envy and bitterness.
Saw how Celine listened intently to Zoey's nervous and excited rambles, nodding along, smiling, but not interrupting. Speaking with interest when Zoey asks a question and shutting her down so softly if it wasn't something she was prepared to answer. Reassuring her she's not upset when Zoey starts apologising profusely.
She cared like a Mother.
That's all Zoey's Mom needed to know.
Over the course of their girls training, Celine had promised to keep Zoey's mom updated on her progress.
Now and again, Zoey's Mom would visit them at the studio, with approval from Celine of course who always said yes, and the two of them would exchange friendly greetings and brief conversation before Celine would excuse herself.
Zoey's Mom always wondered why she never stayed long. Though the thought would get sent to the back of her mind once she was almost knocked over by her blur of a daughter in one of her famous bear hugs.
One visit, Zoey's Mom had noticed several healing bruises on her daughters back. Not just any bruises though, she knew what impact bruises like that were from.
Rage and fear surged through her body as she lifted Zoey's shirt for a better look, seeing them painting her skin.
Before Zoey and the girls could explain, Zoey's Mom had stormed out the studio, through the halls of the company and very nearly kicked down Celine's office door in anger.
She demanded to know what the fuck was happening and what they were doing to her baby girl.
She stared down Celine's shocked form with wet eyes shining with betrayal. She trusted her and now her baby was hurting. She doesn't know why or how.
She trusted her!
The girls crashed through Celine's door, having run after Zoey's Mom, looking at their mentor with panicked eyes.
They explained that Zoey's mother had seen Zoey's bruises and probably assumed the worst.
After several moments of silence only filled with the nervous fidgeting for the girls and the rapid breathing of a frighted and angered Mother, Celine takes a deep breath and stands from her desk.
She gives the girls a brief nod, signaling that she's got this. A little hesitant, the girls slowly file out the room as Celine moves around her desk to stand in front Zoey's Mom.
She calmly explains that Zoey and the girls are learning self defense and that she herself is teaching them.
She wants them to learn these skills because the life of an Idol can be dangerous, (She does not mention that the biggest threat is demons and that both their daughters are Hunters) and that even with the best security they have to offer, knowing how to defend themselves is a good thing. Just in case.
Being a retired Idol herself she knows just how dangerous the life in the lime light can be. She is just taking extra precautions to ensure the girls safety and wellbeing.
Zoey's bruises are the result of her training. They all have a few due to their sparring.
Celine lifts her own dress shirt and shows a small bruise on her toned abdomen that Zoey herself had actually caused.
Celine speaks with pride when she recalls how she got it.
"She's fast and hits harder than you'd think."
It's enough.
And Zoey's Mom almost collapses with relief. Her knees shake and buckle as the tension leaves her body, a few tears falling from her eyes.
Celine moves fast to catch the stumbling woman and gently move her to the chair at the desk.
She holds her head in her hands as she tries to calm her racing heart and steady her breathing.
Celine is on her knees in front of her, hesitant at first, but then gently running her hands comfortingly up and down her arms.
Zoey's Mom begins to apologizes but Celine cuts her off, saying that there is nothing to apologize for. Her reaction was valid. She understands. She would have done the same thing.
She reassures her that she would never do such a thing or subject them to that kind of hurt. No one under Sunlight Entertainment will. All Idols go through some kind of self defense training with trusted partners.
But Celine wanted to personally teach Huntrix seeing as Rumi is her charge (she won't say daughter but everyone knows what she means and feels) and she cares about all of them a little more than just a mentor. She doesn't trust anyone else to do it. Not with her girls. (True but also...Demon Hunters)
They don't say it...but something changes between them after that.
The texts are no longer just updates on the girls. It's checking in with the other. Short. Brief. Sincere.
Once the girls debut, the messages continue. They speak about mundane stuff. Share recipes, talk about the girls shows and interviews.
Then a chance meeting at a Coffee shop happens.
It's different. Casual. Short but it's a pivotal moment.
One that happens again.
And again.
Suddenly it's a thing.
Both pretending that they're not there hoping to bump into the other.
They go from exchanging smiles and brief greeting and polite words in passing to sitting together and talking about the girls over a cup of tea or coffee.
Their little bubble outside Huntrix and Sunlight Entertainment.
They talk little longer. Share a little deeper.
Professional acquaintances become New friends.
Bumping into each other becomes meet ups. A new restaurant here, a cafe there.
"Wanna try this thing Zoey keeps talking about."
"Rumi likes this one spot."
"Mira says their food is alright which is high praise coming from her."
New friends become unspoken Best friends. Texts become Calls. Calls become Face Times.
Smiles are big and genuine, laughter is loud and unrestrained.
Small touches, lingering hugs, eyes scanning over forms and heavy lidded stares when the other thinks they don't notice.
The charge is felt.
The anticipation like a drawn bow string.
A battle of wills to see who will release their arrow first.
Then the Idol Awards happen.
The flame is doused, smothered to smoke.
The girls are fighting. And then they're not.
Zoey's Mom reaches out but Celine is unresponsive.
She worries.
She reaches out to the girls and they give her a run down. (Diluted and missing key details.) They assure her they're fine. Better than ever actually and when she asks about her friend...their reaction turns worry into fear.
She reaches out again. Celine is M.I.A.
A few months pass. Huntrix's comeback. The announcement of their relationship. Sunlight's backing and support, along with the fans.
Still, Celine is nowhere to be found.
Strategic in her avoidance. When Zoey's Mom goes to their coffee shop? "Oh you just missed her. Sorry."
When going to Sunlight? "She's in a meeting, will be for a while." "She's not in today." "Business trip." "Leave of absence for some time."
Her last attempt is the girls. Surely Rumi at least knows something.
"We haven't spoken. Not really. Not since our...fight."
The defeated retreat of Zoey's Mom sits wrong on the girls. Their last few visits with her were...muted.
It was obvious she was hurting. Not unlike when Zoey first auditioned and her Mother was carrying a certain sadness in her eyes. Mourning.
Back then it was the hurt of healing from letting go of something you once loved dearly. Still did, but not like you used to, and missed what had been.
This time...this time it was like having suddenly lost something irreplaceably precious that no one knew just how precious until it was gone. The pain of knowing it was out there, but unreachable all the same.
The girls were at a loss.
They hated seeing Zoey's Mom pretending to be okay with them. The sadness under the small smiles. The distance in her eyes as they talk about their next project.
But they also stood by Rumi who was still a little reluctant to cross the distance that separated her and Celine.
That is until Celine turned up at their door one night. Looking more frazzled and vulnerable than any of them have ever seen.
Tears running down her face, a box in her hands as she stares Rumi in her eyes and brokenly croaks out the words:
"I'm sorry."
She reaches out, offering the box with shaky hands. Rumi hesitates but after a silent moment she slowly takes it.
Celine nods, more tears falling, before she turns on her heels, walking back to the elevator to leave.
Rumi's heart seizes in her chest and before she can stop herself she calls out for Celine to wait.
Celine pauses but doesn't turn.
Rumi invites her back, asking what's in the box. Celine answers that it's the whole story.
That night she comes clean to all the girls about what really went down with her, the Sunlight Sisters and Rumi's Father.
It's rough, it's heartbreaking, it's betrayal and anger and understanding and sadness and comfort and healing.
It's a start.
A few more of these visits and they're almost back to normal. A better normal.
Except Zoey's Mom still goes silent at the mention of Celine and Celine flinches slightly at the mention of Zoey's Mom.
"I don't think I can lie to her anymore. I value our friendship too much. I can't keep seeing her and pretending to be a normal person living a normal life without feeling like I'm betraying her trust. I don't want her to look at me like she did that day she thought I let you get hurt."
Zoey gets it.
But she's tired of seeing her Mom hurting.
She tells Celine to figure it out. She doesn't have to tell the whole truth, but can't stay silent anymore.
A few weeks later and Zoey seems to think Celine chickened out and has made herself scarce.
Then they discover that the reason for that is because the new Honmoon has a cool party trick that it does when they're...having fun adult times...that Celine does not particularly appreciate.
Whoops.
They try to ignore it and play it off. Then Zoey may of may not use it to mess with Celine because they use it after Celine once again avoids the topic of Zoey's Mom.
Eventually they think Celine got her head out of her ass because not too long after discovering that neat little Honmoon tid bit, Zoey's Mom accepts the next invite for a visit.
During said visit Zoey's Mom speaks about Celine showing up at her door looking like a sad pathetic wet cat to apologise for basically ghosting her.
Spoke about what happened between her and Rumi (the not Demon Hunter and Half Demon version).
Said that she gave Celine a verbal thrashing and a big bear hug that Zoey inherited from her. They were repairing their friendship.
Everything was all fine and Dandy.
Well except for the Honmoon still broadcasting their sexy fun times to their mentor.
They thought it was only one way.
Then one random night while they were chilling the Honmoon started jumping.
No demons. No breach.
Just a familiar pulse reminiscent of a certain...activity.
They were shocked. Disbelief, Elated and Appalled.
"No way..."
"I knew it!"
"Please no..."
"Celine fucks-"
Now the turns have tabled and this time Rumi is the one who has to hide when the Honmoon starts jumping.
Of course despite that they try to prod Celine who denies everything. They don't say they literally have evidence she's lying.
They know she won't tell.
So they have to get their answers elsewhere.
The next time the Honmoon starts jumping and they're not the ones activating it, Zoey dives for her phone to call her Mother, unable to wait any longer.
It rings once, twice-
The Honmoon pauses
-three times.
She knows her mother sometimes doesn't hear her phone or doesn't have it with her. Maybe she's in a different room.
The Honmoon starts jumping again.
Zoey calls again, bouncing her leg in anticipation, Mira and Rumi right there on either side of her as they wait.
The Honmoon stops.
"Thank god." Rumi whispers, rubbing her eyes, making Mira laugh.
This time Zoey's Mom picks up after the second ring.
She sounds breathless, like she was running. Her voice a little high and shaky. The girls exchange a look, having never heard the woman in such a state.
Zoey expresses their concern, their reason for calling now on the back burner.
Zoey's Mom brushes off their concern with nervous laughter and a hurried, obviously a lie, explanation.
This causes a slightly panic in Zoey that the other girls pick up.
Zoey expresses her concern again, Zoey's Mom stays her course. Before she's even finished trying to calm Zoey down, knowing her daughter is a little overprotective with a bit of a over thinking mind(she gets it from her), Rumi has dialed Celine, hoping to get her or someone they trust to check in on Zoey's Mom.
The familiar ring on the other side of the call cuts through everything.
Silence as the tone flits brokenly through the phone speaker
Then the tone stops mid melody and the ringing from Rumi's phone stops too.
"Hello? Rumi?"
The familiar voice is breathless too, concerned and coming through two different phone speakers.
Without another word two clicks sound as both calls drop.
Silence.
Then both Rumi and Zoey curl into fetal positions on the couch with distant looks in their eyes, staring at the paused TV screen.
Mira is trying with every fibre of her being to not burst out laughing.
There are actual tears in her eyes that she has to physically will away.
Two phones ring with familiar names and ring tones.
