Chapter Text
With a few pastries and desserts in hand, Wise finally made it back to Random Play. With half of Belle’s shift being done, she could only wave at her with his free hand. She was about to say something, possibly along the lines of ‘How did that date go?’ or ‘Have another date ready with the blonde bombshell?’ But no. Her eyes went straight towards his hips, the bag by his hips, the faint logo being seen inside of it. He really did keep his promise after all! Jumping in her seat, she was willing to forget about teasing her big brother at the moment.
Digging in the bag, Wise pulled out a decently sized slice of cake and left it alongside a fork and napkin. Despite her messy tendencies whether that be with her room or with snack wraps littered around it, she treats desserts like these with respect. With it still being a slow day for the two of them, Belle decided to enjoy her treat at this very moment. Opening the box that held her slice, she enjoyed it to her heart's content. Wise in the meanwhile was already getting ready for his other kind of shift. The H.D.D. called for him.
Scanning through the backlog of commissions they gathered, Wise took Eous from his charging port and prepared him for an expedition of a lifetime. With determination in every step, Eous walked out of the store without much worry from the siblings, let alone any customer or neighbor wondering where the little guy was going. A few kids tried following but Eous paid no mind to them, would he have loved to play with them? Sure, but playing with kids doesn’t pay the electricity bill. Eventually with Eous nearing by a freshly made Hollow, both of them saw a party of six figures. All armed with different tools of trade. To Wise, it looked like something out of an RPG Belle would’ve sunk tens if not hundred of hours into if she was left alone to man the store with Wise being elsewhere.
Wise was already aware of what they needed. With the sudden appearance of a Hollow consuming the area they once hanged around, the leader of the group asked for anyone to help them find and recover some lost items. Sure it was trivial for someone of his status, but regaining a reputation is hard enough as is, and even if the reward isn’t the best, he didn’t mind it either way. To lose something so personal must’ve taken a blow to one’s mind. Wise knows that painfully well, Belle as well, and any orphaned resident thanks to the Hollows. One day this will all be just a bad dream. He hopes.
And so three of the six entered the Hollow, the other three waited in turn, hoping that everything went well, and if worst came to it, they would do rotations of members. Even the best needed rest, to push oneself over the edge is at best something to admire, but in a dangerous situation as such, the end result tends to be death, or worse, corruption.
Belle in the meanwhile could only greet the ever shrinking customer base in their shop. Sure she wishes she could crack open her brother like a nut but he’s busy doing their other ‘side-business’ so here she was, enjoying her slice of heaven. Taking a stand, she walked around and fixed any loose DVD’s that might be hanging on an edge since all the customers see is the box it comes in and lacks that much interest, puts it back. But sometimes, they place it in the wrong area, or worse they don’t push it far enough so it’s just one strong wind away from falling, not much of an issue unless a strong wind comes from the entrance, or if Nicole happens to slam it open in hopes of mercy from the Proxies she knows, loves, and is deeply indebted to.
The day goes on. Without much to worry, to wonder. It has been a very eventful day the siblings had yesterday so this was a much welcoming feeling as not everyday they could say they hanged around Astra Yao and saved her from someone who was so deep in their own grief that they couldn’t care if tomorrow was the end for everyone. Checking the news even more, there were the events of yesterday unfolding. People’s recording of what was happening from an outsiders perspective, phones lining themselves with the horror of what is going on behind those walls.
Wailing in fear of what could happen to themselves, what was happening to those that were sadly stuck, about Astra Yao herself. It was a common sight to see people already prepare a shrine in memory of those who have fallen. Thankfully as the news went on, more people left the building. Sure, they were wounded, grazed from the falling rubble, grazed from some machinery, scared stiff from the noises they heard further into the facility, but everyone that was innocent was alive, and in a city like this, that was very much welcomed.
N.E.P.S. soon entered and took control of the situation, any armed thug that was somehow stable enough to walk on their own legs, or in some cases crawl, were taken care of, either placed in a car to be taken away and interrogated or a bodybag for both the unwilling and the ones to far gone from the wounds that took place, even a rookie could tell a small blade was the cause of many of these goons to be brought to their knees. But finding out who caused the bigger issue was more important than the unknown figure. That was a problem for another day, keeping and enforcing the peace was a much bigger priority.
Elsewhere in the sky, Aurora finally got back home. Her caretaker being as quiet as ever made himself a small meal as he didn’t have much to do. Sure he could’ve taken a small walk, maybe played on his phone or taken up a new skill such as fishing or sewing, but the last thing he wanted to do was take so much time that he forgot how much of it he spent in the first place. And if he was being honest, small but sharp things such as hooks scared him just a bit. So here he sat, enjoying how quiet it is in the home they shared. Aurora was going to dance around her needs and wants like she always did, such as the time she wanted a fancy dress for a gathering at her school but hesitated too long so someone else got to it. She wished she wore it instead but she can do nothing but accept that it happened. Or the time she missed her chances to eat the last pudding cup left in the fridge. Another time being she missed out on a Bangboo plush. So she settled on second best, a big shark plush that was barely half her size. Worth it in her eyes either way.
Digging through her bag, she showed the flyer to him. Looking over it, he could only squint to make sure nothing was out of ordinary. With that done, he finally spoke out what came to mind. “Going alone or with someone else?” He spoke, not out of malice or intimidation, just wonder, and maybe a hint of worry. “With Kiki. My classmate. I can’t go alone even if I wanted to.” The man could only nod at her response as at least she knew what the poster was asking for her and not following any sort of flashy trend that could get her bad publicity.
Thinking about what to say, he wanted to tag along but such a loud place was such a nerveracking experience he rather avoided. And she was with good company, if anything he had to thank Aurora’s friend's parents for being helpful whenever he was stuck doing something else. Thinking of nothing else to protest her sudden need to go out later than usual, he accepted this. “You can go.” He said, returning back to his own meal. Aurora was jumping in joy in the back of her head, happy that not only was this the first few times she got to go outside on her terms, that she didn’t even need to hide the fact. Just as she was going to store the flyer away back in her bag, her caretaker stood back up and raised a finger. Swallowing what remained of his meal, he finally added on a few conditions.
“If they offer drinks of any kind, pour for yourself or your friend. If anyone offers you anything, decline it.” She nodded along. Seemed reasonable as to not get her in a situation that he rather avoided, let alone for her health and well-being. “Never let go of your friend's sight for more than they say.” Again, she nodded along. Despite how friendly Roscaelifer is, one can never be too cautious with how some people treat or look at others whether they be a stranger to talk to or a new opportunity to take advantage of. Neither of them want to deal with that. “And last, when you're finished with the concert, come back home. Not the coffee shop, not the small movie shop near the upperclassman dorms, not the chess board statue; home, and nowhere else.”
Aurora couldn’t help but feel just a bit shaken. It was just a bit shocking how blunt he is, even if he was blunt as a smith’s hammer on a regular basis, it touched her heart knowing that despite his cold exterior, he wanted her to live a little, to make mistakes, but most of all, to see tomorrow.
And so, she nodded again, happy as a clam. Happy as she could only await for the day the stage opens up for everyone one of her classmates. For her friend, and for herself.
It didn’t take long for a recording of Astra Yao shaking hands with them surfaced. Or at least part of it, even the video was distorted enough to hide their faces, the only thing that was visible was of Astra, Evelyn, and barely her leg being shown, Wise wasn’t even in the picture at all, nor their own company van. Belle was shaking in her seat, not out of excitement but out of shock. This was as close as they were ever seen. And the last the two needed was this kind of attention, even if it brought a lot of sales from curious to devoted Astra fan club. Still, it was a nice feeling of doing this much good, even if behind closed doors.
As for the Queen and her guard herself, the two were already being swarmed by all sorts of press. The media, the law, and any other person that was running their own underground talkshow. Astra could only slightly push away the microphones that were way too close for her or any reasonable person's comfort zone. Evelyn on the other hand did most of the work. Staring down anyone who got a bit too close for Astra’s liking. Answering any question to the best of her ability. Keeping an eye open for anyone trying to finish off what they were paid to do just a mere half a day ago. It was exhausting if both were being honest, and yet, what else could they do other than bunkering down in Astra’s suite and ordering more food till the end of time? It would’ve been more acceptable to die there than of boredom.
With everyone still trying their damndest to open the door just to get Astra’s thoughts one last time, Evelyn took the wheel and drove off, hoping that the horde finally got the message. Astra felt finally at peace, happy to finally hear her own thoughts. She was already used to this sort of attention, but being shaken that much by him? It was exhausting. But she doesn’t blame him, not one bit. She just wished she knew how to comfort someone like him other than writing a very nice c. At least she could only imagine the look he gave at his screen in realizing she added a few extra 0’s. If it wasn’t for the siblings' fast thinking, at best she would’ve been in a hospital bed for who knows how many more days, and at worst? She rather not think of that sort of possibility in the slightest. Still, she smiles as the few more reasonable memories come back to surface.
How their first meet-up was a fan meet and greet. Despite his timid nature, he was rather smooth with his phrasing, even if accidental. How despite his lack of understanding, he was there before any fan or guard could come to her aid for whatever issue. And then there was the day she got her first contract. Wasn’t as appealing, let alone as much as how much she makes on a daily basis, but it was her road to stardom. And she was over the moon.
Then came the talking. The drinks. The playful nature of hers going over usual. Getting lost under the influence. The hangover. And everything else on that special day. Playing with her thumbs, she wonders how he’s doing, how she’s doing.
With the limo coming to a halt, Evelyn left it and waited by one of the passengers' doors to get Astra out. It was only a matter of time till the residents of New Eridu wonder why such a magnificent vehicle was left to the side. Astra, taking her hand, left the safety of the limo and entered a much smaller and discrete one instead. Vehicles such as these were all over the city, such it cost a fortune but to the wealthy and elite, this was merely pocket change. With Evelyn driving again, the two set off to another location they could bunker down at. And despite Astra thinking back on the good old times with a certain Proxy, she wondered what can be done. Besides, they still have one thing that keeps them together, or at least one for a regular family, not a superstar and a Proxy doing at the very least questionable activities behind closed doors.
It didn’t take long before she felt the car stopping again. Looking out the window, she could only sigh as this place was to open for her liking. Alas, one can’t be too picky when it comes from running and driving away from the media. Opening the door herself, Astra took the lead this time and walked forward. Evelyn tried to grab her hand to guide her elsewhere but if there’s one thing Astra is, she’s determined to have her way. And so the two walked quickly, to take cover in a quiet place of the city. In a business that while is slowly fading to irrelevance, it was still a niche and enjoyable topic. To Random Play the two went.