#like what if one of my prev employers for some reason decided they hate me

[clowningcrows]

y’all ever put in so many job applications and get zero response from any of them to the point where u kinda have to begin to wonder if there’s a rat in ur references

[judgmentofcorruption]

Episode 5–The Relationship Chills; Scene 4

Judgment of Corruption, pages 163-170

Their extramarital affair proceeded to continue on for about half a year.

It finally began to meet its end when Bruno took notice of their relationship.

“—How unusual, for you to call me here like this.”

Ma and Bruno had met in a back alley at midnight.

Bruno’s expression was calm, but the way his face was flushed made clear the anger he was feeling within.

“I think I know what you’re doing…Ma.”

“Oh, have we been found out already? But my, how unsophisticated of you, a servant butting into his employer’s private matters.”

“I know. I have no intention of paying any mind if Gallerian does anything with a woman who isn’t Mira from this point forward. However…You alone I cannot allow. And—you know why that is more than anyone.”

“Thanks for the warning as an old friend, Bruno. But love takes many forms.”

“…What nonsense are you trying to…” Bruno grew enraged. “You two…You and Gallerian are—parent and child!”

“…”

“—The sorceress ‘Elluka Ma Clockworker’ does not age…And because of that, the Freezis Conglomerate tried to find the secret to immortality from you.”

“…That was around the time I first met you. Back then you were still a child, with some innocence left.”

“I was. But during the ‘witch trials’ you vanished, and then reappeared before me ten years later—as the scriptwriter, Kayo Sudou. Elluka never died. She may have been executed on the surface, but she survived, given a new identity.”

“And so—I became your ally in defeating the Freezis Conglomerate. How nostalgic. It was so recent and yet it feels like such a long time ago.”

In contrast to Ma’s calm, Bruno’s face twisted with anguish. “Ma…No, Elluka. I can’t understand a being like you. How could you do such a—”

“I’m just that kind of person.”

“Part of me can see what you’re saying, but part of me can’t understand it either. Every time I meet you, you seem like a completely different person. It’s as though there are several personalities inside you…” As he spoke, Bruno pulled at his hair.

“That’s correct, Bruno. I am—‘impure’. And I don’t mean in the sense that I’m having an affair with a married man. It is exactly as the word means…I have various, extraneous things mixed into me.”

“…”

“I wish to become a ‘pure’ Ma. By removing the ‘impurities’ inside me, and only taking in the ‘power’ that I need…There is a certain ‘process’ that is necessary for that goal. The matter with Gallerian—Well, I won’t deny that it’s a result of that process.”

“…I don’t understand. I suppose it’s just too difficult for someone like me to comprehend a being like you.”

“You don’t have to, and I don’t wish for you to either. –Anyway, what is it that you want of me, ultimately?”

“…I want you to leave the country. And—I want you to never meet with Gallerian ever again, if possible. I can’t help but feel that…if you’re near him any longer, he’ll be done for.”

“Ha ha…I can do that. If that’s what you wish.” Ma gave a thin smile. “You’re so very loyal, Bruno…No, that’s not all it is, is it?”

“…”

“—You’re taken with Gallerian.”

“…He’s never shown any prejudice towards me, despite my being a ‘Black Valkyria’. When I first met him he openly held out his hand, never hesitating to shake with mine—to touch my black skin. …He has a great determination, and the will to put it in motion. It’s true that at some point I’ve found myself charmed by that.”

“Gallerian must be happy to have such a good servant—or rather, a good friend. …You take good care of the boy.”

When Bruno did not reply, Ma turned her back on him and left.

.

The next morning.

After leaving the inn, Ma appeared to consider where she would go next.

“Lucifenia, Asmodean—Beelzenia might be nice too. Jakoku…is probably too far,” she murmured to herself as she walked; but as she finally arrived at the Dark Star Bureau she stopped there, as though having remembered something.

“While I’m here—I’ll go consult with him before I leave the country, shall I?”

.

The Dark Star Bureau, the director’s office.

Hanma did not hide his surprised expression at this sudden visitor.

“…Now isn’t this something. I never thought that you’d come here to see me yourself—Ma.”

“Long time no see, Hanma.”

“Because Gallerian’s been looking after you so much...Oh, is it strange for me to put it that way?”

“—Actually, I’ve decided to leave the country. I’ve figured now is the best time, for various reasons.”

“I see…That’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. There’s nothing more to worry about with the reform of the ‘witch trials’. Gallerian should be able to handle it no problem, even without you,” Hanma replied with a grin.

“Ha ha, true. He’s been working so hard. –He’s accomplished the revolution that you failed to achieve.”

“Indeed. Though his methods greatly resemble mine…Gallerian succeeded, and I failed. There must be some deciding difference in there. Perhaps it’s time for me to retire soon.”

“That was almost twenty years ago now…You presumed to hand me a death penalty verdict at that trial. --To create a precedent for Elluka to have been executed.”

“Under the laws established by the Dark Star Bureau, the same person cannot be given the death penalty twice. …Regardless of whether or not the execution has actually taken place. It should have allowed you to escape from the World Police and the Freezis Conglomerate hounding you. But—” Hanma’s expression faintly twisted. “—The Freezises found me out. All I was able to do was give you a new identity and hide who you were. The plan that I had come up with came to nothing.”

“And Gandalf—your friend—wound up hating you for something you didn’t do. When it rains, it pours, eh?”

“Well…That was a long time ago.” Hanma stood from his chair and aimlessly gazed out the window. “Ma—When were you planning to depart from this country?”

“I’ve already moved out of the inn, so I could even go today.”

“That’s good. The sooner the better. Looks like you had some bad timing coming here today.”

When he said that to her, Ma seemed to notice something, and peered out the window with Hanma. “Is that—”

“The World Police…A Justea special task force. It seems that they’re planning to force their way into the bureau. They’re after you—and me. They’ve been sniffing around here for some time now, you see. They must have finally figured out my true identity.”

“…What will you do? Shall we take them on together?”

“No, don’t trouble yourself. I’m capable of handling them alone. And—” Hanma glanced Ma’s way. “—You look a tad peaky today.”

“…”

“Escape through the back entrance. There are a few Justea officers there, but they’re not in so great a number. You should have no trouble escaping from your pursuers, even as you are today.”

“And what will you do?”

“Right…I think I’ll let loose for once. Hopefully I haven’t gotten too rusty.”

“Understood…Though I would have liked to be able to shoot the breeze about the old days a little.”

“If we both survive this, we’ll have the chance to again.”

“True. Well then—See you later, Hanma.”

Ma rapidly left the room.

.

The morning was still early, so there were no trials being held in the main courtroom.

Hanma was sitting alone in the head judge seat.

“I suppose I’m parting with the Dark Star Bureau today… And the most appropriate stage for Bureau Director Hanma Baldured’s final moments--is here, of course.”

After a short while, the Justea special task force broke down the door and entered the large courtroom, wielding guns.

“He’s in here!”

There were about twenty of them in all, and they surrounded Hanma in an instant.

Hanma pounded the gavel in his hand twice.

“Silence. This is the sacred courtroom of the Dark Star Courthouse. It’s not a place where a gang like you can just tromp all over with your shoes.”

The man who appeared to be the head of the unit cried out, ignoring Hanma’s words, “Hanma Baldured! You are under arrest!”

“My my…What are the charges?”

“—Violation of the special laws on magic! You are under suspicion of being ‘Elluka’s apprentice’!”

“Ha ha ha…’Elluka’s apprentice’, huh? It’s been—quite some time since I was called that.”

Hanma stood from his chair, smiling.

“Don’t move!”

“Now now, calm yourselves down, gentlemen of Justea—It may be winter out but today is quite warm. Personally I don’t care for this sort of climate. Winter should be cold enough to freeze.”

“Put your hands up and turn around!”

In accordance with the leader’s words, Hanma obediently put his hands up and then turned his back to the unit.

“Yes yes…You’re quite a hot-tempered man, aren’t you? I don’t really like that much either. So—I’ll cool things down a little.”

.

--There was no one aside from Hanma who noticed the change occurring.

And…by the time they did, it was far too late for the Justea special task force.

.

“—Ahhh, isn’t this much more refreshing?”

.

In the span of ten minutes, the great courtroom had completely transformed into a world of ice.

All of the officers had been frozen solid, encased in that ice.

Hanma alone was standing there, with a literally cool expression on his face.

“The ice will thaw eventually…You’ll be able to move again when that happens—Assuming you survive, hah hah hah.”

While booming with laughter, he left the courtroom and departed from the Dark Star Bureau.

--He never came back.

.

Thanks to this event, the relationship between the Dark Star Bureau and the World Police grew even more deteriorated.

The deputy director was promoted to assume Hanma’s vacated position.

Gallerian was treated warmly by him, and steadily rose through the ranks of the courthouse.

<<prev------directory------next>>

[gatesofember]

Frailty and Fortune: Chapter 6

PJO Arranged Marriage/Royalty AU Part 10

Rating: T | Pairing: Solangelo

Prev | Next | AU directory | Read it on AO3 (Recommended) | Arranged Marriage AU Masterpage

Summary: A few months have passed since Prince Nico’s wedding to William of Solace. Even with his husband at his side, Will sometimes feels lonely as he settles into his new life. He misses his home, his family, his friends, and his studies in Venadica. Meanwhile, Nico is uncertain how to help him, awkward about expressing himself, and he wonders if he’ll ever be able to truly make his husband happy. As time goes by and Will continues to feel lost in his new home, Will and Nico must both learn how to make their marriage work.

Despite the fiasco with his husband, Will felt more confident than he had in a long time after visiting Phrygia.  For months after his wedding, Will had spent most of his time with Nico or Hazel, but in the rare moments when he was alone, he hadn’t known what to do with himself.  He wasn’t studying, he wasn’t helping with his father’s ranch, and he’d felt so useless that may as well have been wandering around the palace aimlessly.  The Palatium de Divitae had been his new place of residence, but it hadn’t been home.  The trip to Phrygia had reawakened Will’s usual drive and passion and reinstated a sense of self-efficacy that he’d lost sometime after his wedding.  Now that it had returned, Will had no intention of losing it again; he had too much to give Pluto.  Firstly, he had to address the problem of pit pony labor, then there was the abysmal state of Plutonian healthcare and the slow recovery of the economy.  Will had a duty to Pluto.  He couldn’t let the country down.

Will chose to start with the palace infirmary.  It may not have been a matter of state, but Will knew that having a routine and working as a healer would protect him from falling into the cycle of idleness that he’d found himself trapped in before Phryigia, so he decided to try talking to Achlys again.  Unfortunately, Achlys wasn’t any more agreeable on Will’s second attempt than she was his first.  She practically chased him out of the infirmary the moment he showed up.

He’d try again later.

“And so now I’m not quite sure what to do with myself,” Will said.

Mellie hummed sympathetically and removed the hot iron from his hair.  As Will’s personal maid, she helped him with his hair every morning and was therefore the first person to see what clothes Will had chosen for himself, so she often corrected his attire, as well.  Since the wedding, Will had grown closer to Mellie than he’d ever been at his father’s estate.  Her familiar face was soothing in an otherwise foreign home and they often reminisced about Diana and the Sun Palace together.

“Have you spoken to the Prince?” Mellie asked.  “I’m sure he could order the physician to give you something to do.”

“That would make her hate me even more,” Will replied.  “I’m not quite sure exactly what she has against me, but I’d like to get along with her if I’m going to help in the infirmary.”

“True.”  Mellie took a pin from her apron and tucked his hair into place.  “She sounds difficult to get along with, though.  If she’s so rude to the Prince’s husband, then imagine how she must talk to everyone else!  I ought to tell you that you’re better off not working in the infirmary at all.”

“You may be right, but I’m not willing to give up just yet.”

Mellie picked up the hot iron again and moved to work on Will’s other side.  “Well, if I’m ever ill, I’ll skip the infirmary and go straight to you.”

Will smiled.  “Thank you, Mellie.”

“It’s as much for me as it is for you; I’d rather not visit her if I can help it.”  Mellie took another pin from her apron.  “Just a few more pins and you’ll be done.  Is there anything else you need me to do for you before I go?  I’m leaving the palace when I finish here and I won’t be back until this afternoon.”

“Where are you going?” Will  asked.

“I ordered a dress from a seamstress in the city,” Mellie answered.  “I offered to run errands for a few other members of the staff, so there are a couple of other things I’ll need to pick up, as well.”

“Is Hedge going to accompany you?”

Another pin from Melle’s apron.  “No, he has a shift with the Prince.  Pity, though.  I would have liked to spend the day with him.”

“Perhaps I can go with you, then.”

Mellie paused with a pin stuck between her teeth.  After a second, she shook her head and took the pin from her mouth.  “I’m not certain that’s a good idea.  If we were still in Phoebus, I’d take you with me, but I’m still new here in Divitia and I’d hate to get in trouble.”

“I wouldn’t let you get in trouble,” Will promised.  “Please, Mellie?  I don’t have anything else to do and I’d hate to be locked up inside all day.  I’d love to see the city.”

Mellie sighed.  “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to say ‘no’ to you?”

Will brightened.  “Then yes?”

“You can’t go dressed like that,” Mellie said.  “You’ll stand out too much. Put on some of your consor clothes and let’s undo your hair.  And I just put in all that work, too....”

Not an hour later, Will found himself sitting across from Mellie in a horse-drawn cart bound for Divitia.  The palace was on the outskirts of the city and the distance was too far to travel on foot, especially while carrying everything on the list of errands the staff had given Mellie.  When they entered the city, Mellie’s reasoning for opting for a cart rather than a carriage became immediately apparent.  A carriage from the palace would have drawn far too much attention.

Despite having lived in Divitia for the past several months, Will hadn’t seen much of the city.  He’d ridden through in a carriage on a few occasions, but he hadn’t taken the chance to actually get out and walk around on foot.  He’d known that Divitia wasn’t like Phoebus or Venadica, but the state of the city was far worse than he’d anticipated.  The sewage system was in dire need of updating, evidenced by the putrid smell of human waste permeating through the streets, and Will saw more homeless within the span of a minute than he’d ever seen in one place before.  Many of them were children, some elderly, and some closer to Will’s age.  Despite wearing his consor clothes, Will stood out; the fabric of his clothes, though either undyed or neutral in color, was too expensive to blend in.  It didn’t help that Will had bathed in perfumed water that morning and his smell kept drawing attention.  Even Mellie, dressed in her plainest skirts and bodice, was too conspicuous to look like she belonged in the city.

“Haven’t the cattle from my dowry helped the people in the city?” Will asked as Mellie led him through the street to the seamstress’ shop.  “I thought that the new jobs would lessen the poverty.”

“Oh, they have,” Mellie answered.  “The rest of the staff talks about it and even I’ve noticed the change since we first arrived in Divitia.  Unfortunately, it hasn’t helped everyone — or at least, some people aren’t feeling the effects of it yet.  Even several hundred cattle aren’t enough to employ the entire city.  Besides, many people aren’t able to work—they’re too old or too young, or perhaps they’re just not well enough.”

Then disease was a problem, too?  Will didn’t know what kind of expression he was wearing, but when Mellie looked at him, her voice softened reassuringly.  “But your dowry did help them, really.”

“Perhaps improving sanitation should be the next step,” Will said.  “Updating the sewage would cost a great deal of money, but it would offer at least temporary employment to Divitians and it would go a long way to curb the spread of disease in the city.”

Mellie smiled kindly and told him that was a wonderful idea, but Will got the feeling that she was merely being polite.  He didn’t have the opportunity to question her before she opened the door to a dress shop and gestured for Will to enter first.  The seamstress greeted them kindly, mistaking Will for Mellie’s husband.  When Mellie corrected her and introduced Will as another member of the palace staff, the seamstress quickly ushered Will out of the shop, insisting that it wasn’t proper for him to be there while Mellie was being fitted.  Mellie protested until Will assured her that he’d be fine waiting outside.

“Please be careful,” Mellie said, and quietly added, “neither of our husbands will forgive me if I let something happen to you.  Don’t go wandering off.”

“I’ll be right outside the shop,” Will promised.

Mellie looked doubtful, but let Will go.

Outside, Will leaned against the shop’s outer wall and kept himself entertained by watching people in the noisy streets.  Peddlers pushed carts of fruits and fish along the road, shouting out prices as they passed.  Other vendors stood on street corners or in front of shops advertising their wares to pedestrians, like the butcher across the street who was chasing off a graying beggar.  Some of the meat hanging in front of his shop was so fresh that it dripped blood on the road and Will wrinkled his nose in disgust.  The butcher would leave meat out in the crowded, busy street to spoil and gather dirt and dust?  It wouldn’t decay as quickly in Angelus as it would in the heat of Diana, but Will could still smell the telltale stench of rotting entrails coming from the butcher’s shop.

Will’s eyes wandered further down the street, back to where the horse-drawn cart he’d arrived in with Mellie stood waiting for their return.  A group of children had gathered around the horse, some hesitantly reaching out to touch its hide before stopping short and jumping back in fear while their friends laughed.  It was like they’d never seen a horse so close before.  Will debated approaching the children, but before he could, the driver chased them off and they scattered away.

From the other end of the road, Will heard a loud crash and the sound of breaking pottery.  He looked over in time to see a gaggle of teenagers running from a shop with their arms full of bread, quickly followed by an angry baker shouting and waving his fist.  The teenagers proved too fast for the man, bolting down the road and knocking over a cart of fruit to slow the baker down.  Hungry children rushed forward to steal the oranges before the vendor could even start to gather them and the teenagers escaped from view.  The baker shouted a few more profane words before stomping back to his shop.

Will nearly jumped out of his stockings in surprise when the old beggar he’d noticed earlier suddenly appeared right in front of him and said something.  Between the thick Plutonian street accent, the missing teeth, and the scratchy voice, Will had a hard time interpreting exactly what the man was saying.  It was obvious why he’d approached Will, though.  Will reached for his coin purse, but discovered it missing from his coat pocket.  Frowning, he searched his other pockets and found them empty, as well.  He was certain that he’d brought it with him, but—

Ah.  He’d been pickpocketed.

Well, that wasn’t very polite.  They could have just asked.

Will supposed it didn’t matter much in the end; he’d brought the coin purse with the intention of giving coins to beggars and whoever it had ended up with would have far more need of the money than Will.  He would have preferred to distribute the coins among more people, though.

“I don’t have...” Will started, but he stopped himself.  With the way he was dressed, it seemed like a flimsy excuse.  Even in his consor clothes, he was wearing more money than this man had ever had in his life.

Will looked down and noticed the man’s bare feet, dirty and calloused.  The shoes Will wore around the palace wouldn’t be useful for someone who lived in the city—they were too stiff, designed for fashion rather than function—but Will had changed into a more comfortable pair before leaving with Mellie.  Will lifted a foot and took off one shoe, then the other, and offered them to the beggar.

“Someone took my coins, but you can have my shoes,” he said.

The man gave Will a wide, gap-toothed smile accepted the shoes gratefully and wished Will the gods’ blessings, then scurried away like he thought Will might change his mind.

Mellie emerged from the seamstress’ shop a moment later with the news that her dress would be finished in an hour.  She took out the list of errands the staff had asked her to run and gestured for Will to follow her further down the street.  Will trailed behind her and stopped a few shops down to stand on his toes and peer over a crowd gathered around a store front to see what had them so interested.  He managed to catch sight of a satirical cartoon, but couldn’t figure out what it depicted before Mellie noticed he wasn’t beside her anymore and called for him to hurry up.

It wasn’t until Mellie accidentally stepped on Will’s toes when she took a sudden turn that she noticed his shoes were missing.

Mellie blinked at his feet, like she wasn’t sure she was seeing things correctly.  “What happened to your shoes?”

“They got muddy,” Will lied.

Mellie raised an eyebrow.  “So you took them off to get your stockings muddy, too?”

Will wiggled his stocking-clad toes on the warm, dirt covered stone road.  “Yes.  Well.  Um.  I figured, why stop there?  May as well dirty the rest of my clothes.”

Mellie sighed.  “You gave them away, didn’t you?”

“My coin purse was missing!  And there was a poor old man with bare feet and I couldn’t just give him nothing—”

“You were pick-pocketed, too?  Really, you need to learn to be more aware of your surroundings.  You’re lucky you weren’t mugged!  What was I thinking, bringing you into the city?  I have half a mind to make you wait in the cart until I finish.”

Will didn’t mean to pout, but he did it anyway.

Mellie pursed her lips.  “Oh, stop it.  You know I can’t be upset with you when you look at me like that.  I won’t make you wait in the cart, but don’t complain to me when your feet start to hurt.  You’ll have to do without shoes until we get back to the palace.  Come on, follow me.”

Mellie led Will towards the next street.  She nearly had to pull him along when Will stopped to watch a group of hungry children and skinny dogs picking through the discarded viscera in the alley behind the butcher’s shop, searching for something salvageable to eat.  Will stopped again a few shops down when a fight broke out across the street.

“Shouldn’t we stop it?” Will asked.

“Absolutely not,” Mellie said.  “This is exactly the kind of trouble you shouldn’t be getting into.”

“But—”

“You’d just end up making the situation worse.  Now, hurry up—we won’t get back to the palace before dark at the pace you’re moving!”

Mellie ushered Will along.  She dropped off a watch for repairs at a clockmaker’s store, then picked up a pair of shoes from the cobbler.  (Regrettably, they were women’s shoes and far too small for Will to borrow.)  Mellie was purchasing some fabrics when Will was approached by a small, skinny, dirty child who said nothing, but held out his hand to ask for money.

Will looked at Mellie.  “Can you spare a few coins?”

“You shouldn’t have gotten pick-pocketed,” Mellie said.  “Be more cautious next time.”

“But he’s just a child,” Will insisted.  “Please, Mellie, I’ll pay you back when we get home.  I’ll pay you double, even.”

Mellie sighed.  “Oh, alright.  Just this once.”

So she said, but by the time they returned to the dress shop, Will had convinced Mellie to hand coins out to three more children and he’d lost his coat to an expecting mother.  He had to pawn off four of his waistcoat’s buttons to the seamstress help Mellie pay for her dress.

“I’m sorry I took all your coins,” Will mumbled on the way back to the cart, his arms filled with the bundles of fabric that he was helping Mellie carry.

“I’m sorry I took your buttons,” Mellie answered.  “Let’s consider it even.  Next time, watch your pockets.”

They arrived back at their cart and the driver helped them in, and for a while, Will was quiet.  It was one thing for him to lose his coin purse—Will could handle that.  But what about the poor baker who the teenagers stole bread from, or the vendor whose cart of oranges had toppled over?  They’d lost a full day’s income.  The Divitians who’d stolen were hardly to blame, either; Will had little doubt that if they could have paid, they would have.

“Is something bothering you?” Mellie asked.

Will sighed.  “It’s just that the city is so poor.  Maybe the cattle from my dowry have helped, but there’s still such a long way to go.  I thought that sanitation work could help more, but you didn’t seem to agree with the idea earlier.”

“It’s not that it’s a bad plan,” Mellie quickly assured him.  “It’s a wonderful plan, really.  Only, it won’t fix everything.  The city’s problems are far too deep and complicated.”

“Because not everyone can work?” Will asked.

“Yes, that’s part of it,” Mellie answered.  “But there are other problems, too, like...well, let’s take one example.  Something the staff talks about is the issue with people around your age who were orphaned as children during the Scarlet Delirium.  Those who would have been apprenticed to their parents never learned trades, and without parents, they have no dowries, so many of them are struggling to gather enough money marry now that they’re old enough.  And if they have children without getting married, their children will face all sorts of problems—you know how Plutons are about that sort of thing.”

“Surely employment can help, then,” Will said.  “Then they’ll be able to raise enough money to marry.”

“But usually their parents take care of dowry payments,” Mellie said.  “Parents start dowry funds as soon as a child is born.  They save money for years.  For people who are trying to get married right now, it’s too late to start saving—they spend most of what they earn just trying to survive.  Even children who didn’t lose their parents are struggling.  For years, families hardly have had any leftover money to save and some parents even had to use the dowry funds of their children to keep their families alive.”

Will frowned.  Venadica had programs to care for orphans, so Will wasn’t familiar with the problems parentless children usually faced.  Leo had been fortunate enough to be born in Venadica.  He’d lived in the children’s ward until he was old enough to move to the consor dormitories, and had never lived on the streets or gone hungry.  The Sorority even had dowry funds for Venadican orphans—Will recalled Leo mentioning it once.  But Venadica couldn’t finance the dowries of every orphan in Pluto, nor could Will send every orphan to Venadica.

Will wondered if Reyna knew about the problem with the orphans.  He’d have to discuss this with her.

“Mellie,” Will said.  “I’d like to come back to the city with you some time.  Perhaps we can do this again?”

“Perhaps,” Mellie answered.  “Just make sure to keep your hand on your coin purse next time.  You’re too easily distracted.”

Will sighed.  Mellie knew very well that the incident earlier that day hadn’t been the first time Will had gotten pick pocketed.  She’d told him many times that he was far too sheltered to survive outside of a palace.  Living in Venadica didn’t count, she’d told him; the Matestra would never let anything happen to her nephew while he was in the Sororal City.

When they reached the palace, several members of the staff rushed forward wearing terrified expressions, demanding to know where they had been all day.  One ran inside to notify everyone that the Prince’s consort had been found while the others wasted no time berating Mellie for bringing Will into the city.

“No one knew where you were!” one maid said.  “The Prince has been out of his mind with worry.  What were you thinking, bringing His Highness into the city with you?”

“Mellie was only doing as I ordered,” Will said.  “She tried to refuse, but I insisted.”

Mellie cast Will a grateful glance when the staff stopped chiding her in favor of fussing over Will.  They took the rolls of fabric he was carrying and urged him to go inside and find the Prince to give him some peace of mind.  One manservant hurried ahead of him to draw a bath even after Will insisted that he would be fine using the washbasin.

At their persistence, Will entered the palace to find his husband, flinching at the first touch of the cold marble floors against his stocking-clad feet.  He didn’t have to look long; Nico appeared almost immediately on the landing above him and called his name while he ran down the stairs. 

“There you are!” Nico said.  “I’ve been looking for you all day!  Where have you been?”  He halted when he reached the bottom step, looking Will over with a confused frown.  “What are you wearing?”

“I went into town with Mellie,” Will said.  He pecked Nico’s lips in greeting before starting up the stairs.  “I was just about to wash up and change my clothes.  I had a wonderful day, but I feel so filthy after spending all that time roaming the streets.”

Nico’s frown only deepened.  “You went...to town?”

“Mm,” Will replied.  “Mellie had some errands to run and I asked to accompany her.  She picked up a new dress and did a few favors for the rest of the staff.”

After standing at the base of the stairs for a moment, Nico hurried after him.  “Didn’t you bring a guard with you?”

“I didn’t see a need to,” Will answered.  “Please don’t scold Mellie for it, though—she’s gotten in enough trouble already.  Besides, no one in Divitia knows me well enough to recognize me yet and I wore the plainest clothes I own.  I was perfectly safe and inconspicuous.  Well, I tried to be inconspicuous, anyway.  But it was nice to explore the city on foot.  I hadn’t had the chance to do that yet.”

Nico followed Will as he turned to the corridor leading to their apartments.  “Didn’t you at least inform anyone you’d be leaving?”

Will shook his head.  “That didn’t occur to me.  I suppose I should’ve.  Apologies for worrying you.”

“Well, make sure to tell me next time,” Nico said in an uncertain tone, like he didn’t quite trust Will’s assurances about the lack of danger.  “And take a guard with you.  Anyway, where are your shoes?  And your coat?  And what happened to your buttons?”

“Oh, right,” Will said with a glance at his clothes.  “Well, there was a poor old man with bare feet and I lost my coin purse, so I gave him my shoes.  After that, I met a charming young lady who was expecting and the least I could do was give her my coat—it’s not like I don’t have plenty more.  Then I convinced Mellie to give some of her coins away to hungry children and she didn’t have enough left for her dress, so I offered the seamstress my buttons to pay for what she couldn’t.”

Nico was quiet for a moment, so Will turned and prepared himself to be scolded again.  To his surprise, Nico clapped his hands on either side of Will’s face and tugged him into a kiss.

“You are far, far too kind for your own good, Will,” Nico said.  “And by the gods, I love you for it.”

Nico kissed him a second time, then a third, then he took Will by the hand and pulled him the rest of the way to their apartments, insisting that Will deserved a warm bath and a nice meal.

[doe-praeludiumofred]

Chapter 2, Section 2-The Signal Fire of a Counterattack; Scene 5

Praeludium of Red, page 133-139

♣ Yukina ~In the Former Lucifenia Territory, “Town of Retasan"~

.

Two months later, in the town of Retasan.

When I'd been there before, it was under the jurisdiction of the country of Marlon. It had been occupied by the resistance several years before, when the princess was alive it had been a territory of the Lucifenian Kingdom, and going several decades before even that it had originally been one of the major cities of the Beelzenian Empire.

Now this town had once more returned to Beelzenia. Perhaps in a way I was witness to a great historical moment. It was for sure at least that a day like today would be taken note of on a page in the empire's history books.

Contrary to my uplifted mood at all of it, there didn't seem to be as much bustle inside the town as I had thought. They were frequently changing rulers lately, in particular--maybe it wasn't that big a deal to them because the residents of Retasan had gotten used to it.

Well…anyway.

I couldn't just laze around. There was someone I had to find immediately.

According to Bruno's information, she was witnessed staying at an inn here in town, the "De Buono Pavilion", yesterday. Even so, I didn't have any proof that she would still be there today.

At a fast pace, I headed for my destination.

.

The De Buono Pavilion was an old, historic-feeling inn set in Retasan's northern side.

She's here!

Looks like I only just got there in time. The one I was looking for had just left the inn, and was just about to board a carriage.

"Miss Gumilliaaaa!"

The green haired sorceress turned at my cry with her usual unruffled expression.

"Oh, if it isn't Yukina. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Nothing! You just suddenly stopped counselling with me and then disappeared!"

Once I was finally able to enter the imperial castle again after the battle of Retasan had hit a stopping point, I went to go visit Gumillia--but she had apparently already left.

I still had a mountain of things I wanted to ask her.

I can't let her slip through my fingers here!

"Wh-where are you going to go now?"

Gumillia made a thinking gesture, as though in hesitation over whether or not she should answer for a moment, before telling me, "I was considering, looking for Ney. If what she had with her really was the 'Glass of Conchita', I can't let her get away."

After Retasan had surrendered, Ney Phatipe disappeared. It was thought that she'd fled somewhere, but I had no idea where it would be to.

"But don’t you know you're one of the people targeted on the 'Witch Hunt Order'!? It's much too dangerous for you to go walking around in Lucifenia or Marlon with people chasing after you!"

"Don't worry. I hired a bodyguard."

"A bodyguard?"

At that point I heard someone ask, "What's up, Master Gumillia?", and then a woman poked her head out of the carriage.

"Ah~! Miss Germaine!"

"Gah! It's Keel's daughter!"

She openly made a face like she'd just seen something disagreeable.

"Miss Germaine, are you leaving the army?"  

"Ah…Actually, I've decided to take a break from duty for a little while. I thought I might leave the unit to Chartette and the others, and try to do some investigation with Master Gumillia here."

"Investigation…Do you have an interest in the 'Vessels of Deadly Sin' as well?"

"Huh? What's that? What I want to learn about concerns King Kyle. His political measures these past few years have clearly been strange. No matter how I look at it, the way he is now doesn't at all feel like the Kyle that I knew back then. Even leaving aside his mistaking me for a 'witch'."

"I'm of the same opinion myself."

"I hate feeling like I'm conceding to that lady general's arguments, but... It's the country where I was raised. I'm going to do whatever I can."

Perhaps because she had no more doubts, the dark expression I'd seen when I met her in the garrison had vanished from her face without a trace.

While I was talking with Germaine, Gumillia climbed into the carriage.

"Such being the case, we're off, Yukina. See you."

"No no. Don't you 'Such being the case' me. Miss Germaine's another person targeted by the 'Witch Hunt Order' too."

"But we can't exactly do anything about that."

"Heh heh heh. I've got a clever plan." Upon saying that I climbed into the carriage too, sitting in the space between the two of them. "Driver, you may go."

After hearing that, the coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage began to move.

"Hold up just a second! What do you think you're doing!?"

"Please calm down, Miss Germaine. This is good, isn't it? You two are being chased. Your movements will be restricted even if you put on disguises, not to mention how much of a hard time you'll have getting into the Lucifenian palace where Mister Kyle is. I don't know where Ney is, but I'd have to think she's either in the palace, or else some important point in a nearby country."

"…And the reason why you have to come along is?"

"--I'd been gabbing about all this without thinking before, but if the coachman overheard…"

"That's no problem. He is one of Elluka's 'devotees'. He won't tell anyone anything that would put us at a disadvantage," Gumillia replied to my sudden doubt.

I didn't know well, but the "devotees" were apparently people hidden in large numbers over various places in Lucifenia who swore absolute allegiance to Elluka of the Three Heroes.

"I see--I don't know why but I suppose I can relax about it at any rate, hm? Then I'll continue. You two are to become my servants."

Germaine sputtered loudly in bewilderment.

"My father and Mister Kyle are good friends. If he were to be visited by Keel Freezis' cherished daughter, he would gladly welcome her into the palace…along with any servants she had with her."

"But you met Ney, didn't you? If she were to tell him that you were staying with the Beelzenian army…"

"It's true, she did see my face. But she doesn't know my name. I'm certain the fact that Yukina Freezis was staying in Beelzenia is still under wraps."

If by chance Ney was staying in the palace, then the moment we saw each other face to face it'd be all over--but I didn't say that.

"Well? Don't you think it's a good idea?"

"I'm amazed at how thoroughly you use your family connections to your advantage." Germaine let out a big sigh. "…I'm here under Master Gumillia's employment. If she says it's okay I'll go along with it."

"How about it, Miss Gumillia?"

I made a serious look and gazed fixedly into Gumillia's eyes.

"I think it's alright. The more the merrier."

"Yay! Then I look forward to working with the two of you."

"Indeed."

"-Sigh-…This won't go well."

 .

We were headed for the Lucifenian Palace.

My dramatic journey was about to begin again.

<<prev------directory------next>>

[jolienjoyswriting]

Curtain Call, Ch. III

Chapter 3 of "Curtain Call," an Essence of Ragnarok story.

It's been a while since I've written a "courtroom" scenario.  Of course, this one is a wee bit different from the one in the previous story…

Word count: 3,060 – Character count: 17,167 Originally written: February 13rd, 2019

Joseph faces the consequences for his actions… both legally, and on a personal level.

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

    “Mr. Joseph Lithius, you have been found guilty of trespassing on private property and of assaulting a private citizen.”

    In the morning one week after his incidents with Marie and Dr. Lewis, Joseph softly sighed and gave a nod as he stood in front of the judge.  He had no reason to try and defend himself – he actually did attack the latter, as well as walk where he wasn’t wanted.  He knew he was going to have to pay… and, he was prepared to face whatever consequences the Masamune City legal system had in store for him.

    “Since you have come forward and admitted your wrong-doings,” the judge continued, “and, as this is your first recorded offense, the court has decided to be lenient with you.  Your sentence is 25,000 Rai for trespassing, 500,000 Rai for assault, and 299 days of community service in which you will be required to find employment to pay off your debt.  If you cannot find employment or fail to repay the combined 525,000 Rai total, you may face prison time equal to the unpaid portion of your debt.  Do you agree to this?”     “Yes, your honor,” was the fox’s response.     “Okay.  Now, there is one other thing…”     Joseph tilted his head as the judge shuffled some papers he was looking at.     “According to our records,” the older man started, “this is not the first incident you’ve had with these particular individuals.  Three years ago, you were reported as – though, not charged with – disrupting proceedings regarding ownership of an android housing an illegal artificial intelligence.  That being said, effective immediately… you are not to willingly go within 50 meters of Dr. Xander Lewis, the AI known as ‘Marie,’ or any of their property.  Violation of this order may result in further fines and/or possible time in prison.  Do you understand?”     Joseph scowled.  It didn’t sound like the judge was giving him a choice, on that one…     “I… understand,” he hesitantly said with a nod.  “But…”     “Yes?”     He fidgeted… then, he sighed and shook his head.     “I-it’s nothing, your honor.  Thank you, your honor.”

    Once the judge dismissed him, Joseph was quick to walk out of the courtroom, papers in-hand and a lot on his mind.  It never occurred to him that he might legally be disallowed from seeing “Hope.”  However… he thought that it was for the best.  Between the advice he had been given and the fact that he was starting not to care, it didn’t seem like staying 50 meters away from either anything “Lewis-related” would be that difficult.     “Joseph.”     At least… that’s what he thought.

    “What?” he called to the owner of a familiar voice.  As he looked up, he saw a pair of angry, green eyes looking at him.     “I hope you learned your lesson,” the blue-haired girl in a dress-suit told him.     “Why are you here?” Joseph asked as he crossed his arms and leaned against a column, outside of the courthouse.  “You being here could get me in more trouble.”     “I have a few words I’d like to say to you before we part ways for good,” was her sharp reply.  “It’s in your best interest to listen.”     He shrugged before telling her, “Whatever.”

    “The doctor told me about you,” Marie began.  “And, he told me about the previous AI who was purged from this shell.”     Joseph shuddered, but he didn’t respond, otherwise.     “He told me about the illicit and deranged ‘relationship’ you had with her…” she said with a look of disgust.  “I… usually don’t judge people, but I think that what you and this AI had going on was unsettling… immoral, at best.  AI programs aren’t made for the complexities of relationships.  They’re designed to help with everyday tasks, to keep a user or owner company, or to tend to their wants or needs – wants or needs which do not include romantic or sexual desires!

    “It sickens me to think that someone like you has done… things… to this body of mine,” Marie continued, hugging herself with a shiver.  “All because some malfunctioning AI was bent to your will…”     “What Hope did,” Joseph interjected, “was her business and her choice.  I never forced her to do anything that she didn’t want to.  I never forced her to be with me.  Can you honestly say the same about your relationship with Dr. Lewis?”     “Our relationship…” the blue-haired girl growled, her face returning to anger, “is strictly professional, I’ll have you know!  I am the doctor’s assistant!  I carry and move things he cannot, I help him create wonderful things to benefit all Beings – filthy perverts like yourself, included – and, I make sure that he doesn’t overwork himself, when I can!  I am the perfect assistant!”     Joseph rolled his eyes.  “You mean, ‘the perfect puppet…’”     “You–!”     Marie trembled.  It seemed like she was ready to slap him…     “The doctor…” she countered through gritted teeth, “is not my ‘puppetmaster,’ you ignorant fox…  The doctor is my creator and my boss!  Sometimes, he is even my friend – though, I advise him not to become too attached.  I am just an AI of his design, after all.”     Joseph blinked… then, he gave a slight chuckle, causing Marie to tilt her head.     “What’s so funny?” she asked with genuine curiosity, despite her irritation.     “‘I’m just an AI,’” he repeated with a smile.  “You know… that’s what Hope used to say, all the time.  Well… no, she used to say things like, ‘I’m just a robot’ or ‘android,’ and stuff like that.  The more things change… the more they stay the same… eh, Marie?”     “Well…”  The girl gestured with one hand, “It’s good that this ‘Hope’ AI knew what she was.  I’d hate to think that the former owner of this body thought themselves equal to Beings.”     “That–!  I…”  Joseph gave another blink.  “H… huh.”     “What?”     “You just…  I…  Wow.”  The fox rubbed the back of his head, giving Marie an awkward look.  “I hate to say it, but… you’re not wrong.”     “About?”     “She… did have an inferiority complex.  She never thought she was good enough… never thought she could be good enough.  Not for me… not for anyone else…  I mean, I guess she was satisfied with being a nurse, then a mechanic?  But, as far as being a ‘person?’  She… never really saw herself as one…”     “Good!  I’m glad she knew her place!”

    Joseph blankly stared at the android in front of him, for a moment.  She was smiling… but, it wasn’t anything like the smile he was familiar with.  Sure, it was the same face he knew…  Same blue hair, same bright-green eyes, same features…  But, something about that smile seemed… wrong.  Marie… was taking genuine joy in tearing down Hope.     “Marie?”     “Yes?” she attentively replied with a neutral look.     “Since this is the last time we’ll interact, can I ask you something?”     “I… guess.”  She seemed suspicious…     “Do you have any plans… for the future?”     “I plan to stay with my creator for as long as he lives,” she immediately said, “doing all I can to help him in any way.  That’s my purpose.  That’s why I was created.”     “Okay, but…”  Joseph gestured her way with a hand as he asked, “What about after he’s gone?  Then, what?”     “Once my purpose is fulfilled,” she happily replied, “the doctor will likely retire me; my core memories and programming will be wiped, and my body will likely be recycled in some way or other.  Why… do you ask?”     She was getting suspicious, again…     “Don’t you have any hopes and dreams, Ho– ah… Marie?”     “I don’t,” was her flat answer.  “Unlike your ‘Hope…’ I was made with one purpose – to assist the doctor – and, that is all I plan to do, for as long as my services are required.”     “That’s… so sad…”     “What’s so ‘sad’ about having a defined purpose?”  She gestured his way.  “Explain.”     Joseph gave another blink.  Marie was giving him an odd look…  She seemed genuinely interested in his response.     “I just… I…”     But, he didn’t really have one.

    “Look,” Marie started, again, “I’m sure being a Being is fine-and-dandy for, uh, Beings… but, Joseph?  I’m an artificial intelligence program designed for a reason.  I know that there are a few AIs who go on to lead productive – if meaningless – lives as legal citizens… but, I am not, nor Ash-willing, will I ever be a ‘free’ AI.  I’m happy being the doctor’s assistant, just as I’m sure that ‘Hope’ was happy being your… ‘l-lover…’”     Joseph, noticing her sudden revulsion, decided to ask… “You… really don’t like the idea of an AI falling in love, do you?”     “It’s… unnatural…” she said with another shudder.  “Organic beings should be with other organic beings.  The only case in which an organic being would-or-should… lay… w-with an artificial construct would be for… gross things.”     “Huh.  You really aren’t like Hope, Marie.”     “I should hope not!” she scoffed.  A moment later, curiosity prompted her to ask, “In what way…?”     “Well… Hope was pretty honest and open about certain topics.  Like… sex.”     Joseph had to blink, yet again.  Almost as soon as he said that last word, Marie put her fingers into her ears and began saying “la-la-la” over-and-over.  It was surprising… but, kind of amusing, in a way.

    “Marie, it’s okay,” he told the android as he gently tugged one hand away from her ear.  “I get it.  You don’t like thinking about it.”     “I was made for one purpose…” she said, calming down.  “That… was not it.”     “Can I ask you something, though?”     “No.”     The fox tilted his head.  “You don’t even know what I was going to ask!”     She gave a scowl.  “No, but I can tell that it was related to… that!”     His head tilted the other way… then, he sighed and shook it.  “Yeah…  It was.”

    Marie rubbed her arm and looked away, seeming largely uncomfortable.  Meanwhile, Joseph found his place against the column, again, and looked out into the courtyard of the courthouse.     “Everyone’s different in a lot of different ways, Marie…” he randomly said, getting her attention.  “You and Hope…  You’re two completely different individuals in almost every way.  And, I mean that in a good way.”     She stared at him before asking, “Y… you do?”     “Yeah…”  He paused before telling her, “‘Hope…’ was great.  She was great because she was her own person.  You are, too…  Even if you’re exactly what Dr. Lewis wants in an assistant, you still react to things in your own way.  You may not want to admit it, but you have your own thoughts and opinions.  You may be an AI, but…”     He looked her way, offering a friendly smile.     “There’s nothing ‘artificial’ about the way you are.”     “D-don’t read into it!” she sharply rebutted.  “My programming tells me how to react…!”     Joseph flashed a grin… which only widened as the android hid her visibly-flustered face.

    “So, where is Dr. Lewis, anyway?” the fox suddenly asked, snapping Marie back to reality.  “I’d think he’d want to throw my verdict in my face, or something…”     “He’s… he’s… not here,” she quietly replied before wringing her hands together.     “He’s not?”     “He… didn’t want to come, so I came.”  Shyly, she looked up before adding, “Myself.”     “Really, now?”  The fox smirked.  “I didn’t think the doctor would let you off his leash.”     “You–!”     Joseph chuckled, then he waved a hand at Marie.  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding…”     “That’s not funny!”  She huffed, crossing her arms and looking away.  “The doctor frequently allows me to come to town for groceries or parts!  There is no ‘leash,’ you pervert!”     “So… which is it, this time?”     She looked his way, her face slipping into a cautious curiosity as she saw his grin.     “Which… is what?” she asked.     “Are you here for groceries?  Or, are you here for parts?” he clarified.     “N… neither.  I-I’m here for…”  Marie looked down.  “You.”     “You’re here for me?” Joseph repeated.     “N-not like that!” his companion half-shouted.  “I-I just meant… since the doctor didn’t want to come to your hearing… I thought I would, in his place.  Plus, I had some things to say…”     “I see…”     Marie turned to the side, looking away from Joseph and fidgeting with her hands.  It wasn’t a look he’d seen on Hope, before… but, on Marie?  It was kind of cute.

    “I’m sorry.”     The android-girl perked, then she spun back around.     “W-what?” she asked.     “I’m sorry,” Joseph repeated as he leaned away from his column.  “I’m sorry for all the trouble.  And, I’m sorry that I upset both you and the doctor.  I don’t mean that just because I have a large sum of Rai I need to pay to the city, now, either.  I mean, I’m genuinely sorry for making you feel awkward and uncomfortable.  I’m… less sorry for upsetting the doctor – the few times we’ve interacted, he’s been kind of a jerk.  But, I understand.”     The fox smiled at Marie.     “He wanted you back… as much as I wanted Hope back.”

    “You’re… not a bad guy, Joseph,” Marie said with a smile of his own.  “I understand that, now.  You were just confused.  Lonely.  Desperate.  I didn’t know that, last week…  I thought you were just some shaggy weirdo who wanted to kidnap me!”     “Well, a week ago…”  Joseph sighed, but continued smiling.  “You would’ve been right.”     There was a long delay before Marie asked, “That’s… another joke.  R… right?”     “I didn’t want to kidnap you-you.  I wanted to kidnap Hope,” he explained.  “I genuinely thought Hope was still in there, somewhere… and, that I could bring her out.  But, nope.  Nope…  It took me three-plus-years to figure it out, but I finally did: Hope’s gone.”     “Well, hopefully, you’ll bear that in mind, in the future!”     Joseph gave a blink.  Marie was crossing her arms, again.     “I am XLN-001, Marie.  Well… XLN-001 version 3.0.2, actually,” she corrected.  “The original ‘Marie’ was destroyed, and– actually, never mind.  My point is… as you’d said… I’m not Hope.  It’s good that you understand that, now.”     She paused to look down.  When she looked back up, she offered another smile.     “I’m sorry for your loss, Joseph.  AI or not… she clearly meant a lot to you.”     “Well… I just hope you mean as much to Dr. Lewis,” he countered with a grin.  “He certainly went through enough trouble to get you back!”     The fox chuckled… and, to his surprise, he heard Marie give a giggle.     “Oh, so you do know how to laugh!”     “W-what?”  She hid her face before giggling more.  “No!  Nothing you said was funny!”     “Then, why are you giggling?”     “I don’t knooow…!” she exclaimed before she started laughing out loud.  After a few moments, though, she calmed down and sighed, looking his way.  “I guess… I’m just happy.”     “You’re happy?”     She gave a nod.  “I’m happy that this whole situation is taken care of.  It could have ended better… but, it’s sorted, at least!  I’m happy that I don’t have to worry about you popping up and stalking me, or bothering the doctor, too.  And, well…”     The girl rubbed her arm, biting her lower lip before admitting…     “I guess I’m happy… that you… seem to care that I’m not Hope?”     “Why wouldn’t I?” he asked with another tilt of his head.  “You seem nice.”     She offered a smirk before asking, “Do you tell that to everyone who shoots you?”     “See, now… that sounds like something Hope would say.”     “Well… she was a variant of the original Marie, I’m told…”     Joseph chuckled… as did Marie.  Then, they both sighed in contentment.

    “I wish things had turned out differently,” Marie admitted.  “I don’t really have time for ‘friends,’ per se, but… I wouldn’t’ve minded bumping into you while I did errands.”     “You could always ask the court to reverse the restraining order,” Joseph suggested.  When Marie shook her head, though, he gave a nod, understanding why that wouldn’t work.     “I’ll try not to get within 50 meters of you, in the future.”     The fox blinked.  “I… was gonna say that.”     “I figured as much.”  She offered a sad sort of smile.  “Well, I should get going.”     “Yeah… me, too.  I need to find a job that isn’t ‘contract work,’ now.”     “It was… really nice, finally seeing the real you, Joseph.”     “I was gonna say that, too!”  He gave a smirk as he asked, “What, did Dr. Lewis install mind-reading tech?”     “Maybe…”     “Wha–  Heeey…”     The android-girl covered her mouth and giggled before putting her hands over her lap.     “Be well, Joseph.”     “You and Dr. Lewis, too.”     With that, Joseph nodded, Marie bowed, then she left, presumably to go home.

    “Man…”     The fox softly sighed, leaning back against the column yet again.     “Marie is actually really nice.  She has a cute accent, too.  Too bad Dr. Lewis wouldn’t let me anywhere near her…  We could probably be friends.  Probably not… lovers, but, it’s for the best.”  He grinned to himself as he admitted, “She reminds me of her ‘older sister,’ too much.”     He paused… then, he sighed.     “I should go visit her…  After I look for a job.  Ugh…” –––––

    Peridot 01… the first day of the fourth month on Ragnarok.  On that day, people enjoy laughter celebrate the actions of fools-of-old by pulling pranks and silly tricks on one another.  Peridot 01 also marked another day… though, not one that was widely-celebrated.  That day in history was the chosen “birth date” of someone who was special only to a handful of people.

    On the morning of Peridot 01, the clouds were dark and heavy – a feeling which was shared by someone who happened to be outside, visiting a memorial grave…     “Hey, Hope…  Long-time-no-see, huh?”     Joseph wore his best outfit, that day, which was covered by his long coat and a fedora.  It was raining fairly hard, but he didn’t care…  He’d made a promise to himself… and, to her.  “Her” who?  The person directly in front of him, of course.  Or, rather… the one under him.     Not two steps away from the fox lay a small, stone plaque lay embedded in a patch of green grass.  Engraved in the stone were the following words:

    In loving memory of Hope Dumouchel     Nurse –  Mechanic – Friend to All     2041 – 2053     “She was an AI whose love was truly genuine.”