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When Belle wakes up, it’s to a pounding in her head and the aggravating sensation of the couch. What looked so warm and inviting last night now just feels so…wrong.
She’s a bit surprised that she ended up lasting this long on the couch for the past few weeks though. The first time she tried sleeping there had ended up with her waking up in the middle of the night multiple times freezing,(despite the blanket that Wise had ended up laying over her).
It’s not like the sofa isn’t comfortable—after all her and Wise had argued for half and hour in order to pick the perfect one. It had taken much deliberation and consideration to pick the best one to sit on. Well, sitting on it was one thing, resting on it was another…
Belle reaches over for her phone, and checks the time blinking at. The 6 am that stares back at her isn’t much of a surprise considering her and Wise open the store around 7:30. Usually she ends up sleeping in later than this though. After all, Wise is the one that’s prompt and orderly.
Belle ends up deciding to get up and head to the restroom to relieve herself of her needs only to stumble over a worried bangboo 6. Ow. She hisses and clutches her knee only to hope that didn’t wake up Wise.
“I’m alright buddy.” Bangboo 6 chitters around her nervously. “See it’s only a scrape!” She pulls down her sock in demonstration, and it’s true that it’s only a scrape but she doesn’t doubt that some blood will shed in a bit.
As she makes her way up the stairs her head pounds. She doesn’t get it really. When her head tilts one way her headache is more noticeable. Weird. Anyways she goes and brushes her teeth, the usual routine, and takes a shower while she’s at it. It only alleviates her symptoms lightly though.
“Belle, you're up already?” Wise yawns and scratches the back of his head. As always, he slept in his signature black long-sleeve shirt. Belle had a matching one.
“Ah, yeah sorry, the restroom’s open.” Belle quickly threw her towel under her hair and let Wise pass by, to which he uttered a quiet thanks. “I’ll meet you downstairs!”
Right, downstairs. One foot in front of the other.
It’s be much easier if the world just stopped tilting sideways.
She does make it down eventually though.
“18 can you make an order for pancakes and some sausage and biscuits. Ah and some orange juice?”
“Euh nee-nah!”
She smiled petting the Bangboo. “Thanks 18, I’m just not feeling up to it today.”
When Wise finally comes down to eat his meal Belle drowsily glances at him. He’s not that worried since it’s normal for Belle to have a hard time waking up in the morning, on the other hand his sleep schedule is much more…lenient.
“Hmmm…” Belle squints at him as if trying to recall something before a flash of realization falls over her. “Oh right, here!” Belle reaches over and fiddles around on Wise’s phone much to his curiosity.
“What’s this?” Wise asks looking around to see what his sister messed with.
“Our inter-knot account. Since it’s mostly been me going out we forgot to sync the alt—well the new account to your phone with everything that’s happened. “
“Oh right, we’ve done so many commissions together. I’ll check it out right now.” Wise wondered how far their inter-knot level was considering how many commissions they’d been taking together. Belle had even been out last night taking commissions from the street—discreetly of course.
He checked the inter-knot level, it was—- “28!?!” He knew they had been ranking up fast but not this fast. “At this rate we’ll probably end up breaking our record for Phaethon.”
“Probably honestly. We should take a break from everything tomorrow.”
Wise could agree with that. Honestly he’s supposed to be the one that works so hard but lately Belle has been working hard. Even if she does joke around and complain about him making her do work.
His eyes catch on our name. “Honestly our name kind of ended up being poetic in the end. Isn’t Eridanus the river Phaethon fell in?”
Belle grimaces, “I know it was meant to just be an alt in the beginning so I hadn’t intended on putting much effort into the meaning of the name. I was going to put Helios but considering…” She pauses and Wise politely ignores where that was going. Best not to bring up their past now. “Well, I suppose your right that it’s poetic irony in the end.” She ends with a chuckle.
In the end Phaethon fell into the river Eridanus after all.
The world is against me. In all likelihood it probably isn’t but Belle always did have a flair for the dramatics. It sure did feel that way with the customers she’s received today.
“Ah, so you're the manager today! Here I was expecting to see that handsome boyfriend of yours today!” A woman, maybe in her late forties, gossips.
“What boyfriend.” Belle says frostily, and the lady freezes as if realizing she misstepped somewhere.
And yeah, Belle might have a ear-splitting headache but having her own brother confused for being her significant other (once again, and really at this point she should be used to how much it happens as annoying as it must be,) does not stop her from sending the lady the most demeaning look ever.
“That’s my brother.” Exasperated beyond belief, honestly it’s like the academy all over again. The lady looks surprised before apologizing flusteredly and leaving the store. Everyone else still in the store glances at her pityingly for a second before politely ignoring the entire thing ever happened.
While Wise would usually handle such a comment with a polite smile and explanation Belle would always face it with a frosty glare. It’s not like anyone meant harm by it; just what is it that keeps making people confuse us for a couple?
Of course, the customer that followed up afterwards had been even less welcome.
“Well cutie, how about you have a date with me?” Is this guy honestly for real right now. I’m just trying to do my job. I don’t get paid enough for this. Well technically I run this place so I pay myself. I still don’t get paid enough for this then. “No thanks.”
“Aw come on, just give me a chance! I know you’ll enjoy a day out with me! What do you say, eh?”
“If your not here to purchase something I’m going to have to ask you to leave and if you keep insisting I’ll be making a report to Public Security.”
“Sheesh, sheesh. No need to go that far I’ll go.”
Thankfully that had been it for difficult encounters that day in any case. It was time to tackle on some more commissions after this, so she decided to go ahead with closing up the shop.
The door jingled a bit and in came Wise.
“Well how’s your day been today?”
“A few unruly customers.” From the look on Wise’s face he’d be asking Fairy or Hedey on the details for that. Did she look that miserable?
It was probably better to move the conversation along. “And yours?”
“It was good. I talked to some people on the street like you were out doing last night. You really shouldn’t stay out so late. As important as our business as a proxy is it isn’t worth your health.”
“I’ll rest when I’m dead.” She joked. “Anyways we still have some commissions for the night, and then I’ll rest.”
He gave her a stern look but agreed.
Less than a few hours later he was deeply regretting this decision just by how worse her complexion had gotten.
“Belle, you need to rest. Your going to make yourself sick.”
“No, come on Wise we only have 2 more combat commissions!”
“Belle.”
“Fine!” She hisses and immediately goes back to the couch to rest. Wise looks down at her exasperatedly.
“Sleep in your own bed.”
“The sofa is fine.” Her words are muffled by the pillow.
Well, if she didn’t want to go there on her own two feet he’d just have to carry her there. Luckily she was too exhausted to complain too much.
“Right, what's on the table for today?” At the very least Wise understood that if they didn’t end up finishing these commissions today—on their day off no less—they’d end up bugging her even more.
She was fine. Despite the pounding headache.
“Uhm. The family dispute. Wolf to the Bangboo.” Yeah he wasn’t even going to bother deciphering the backstory to that one. “Oh and find the Golden Bangboo!”
“Is it just me or are the Cunning Hares working through the combat commissions more efficiently?” Wise muttered.
“Oh yeah, I’ve been grinding the VR games at the HIA. It only took the past week or so! We need people for commissions and they get upgraded and some pay. It's a win-win if you ask me!”
Wise looked over at his sister horrified, “How-they’re practically tearing through the Ethereals.”
“Upgrades. W-Engines. The Works.” Besides the Cunning Hares did end up working with the Proxy’s more often than not. As long as Nicole made a profit she wouldn’t mind helping them with a few commissions or so.
Or dozen.
“Your taking over for the next commission.” Belle then decided to faceplant as Eous which ow. Nicole was nice enough to carry Eous though which felt nice. Wise startled at her for a second before ascenting with a nod of his head.
Well that was what Belle was assuming anyways, since she was currently synced to Eous and couldn’t see her brothers facial expressions.
But well, he was her brother.
Despite Belle’s greater affinity with synchronizing with Eous—Wise also had a such ability. It just tended to strain him out more at times—wakeupwisepleaseopenyoureye—and at times had proved disastrous.
“Nicole, Wise is taking over for the next commission alright. I’ll be helping with the pathing with the H.U.D.”
“Huh, oh alright Proxy. You two haven't switched off in quite a while.” Nicole set Eous down in the ground and Belle worked towards disconnecting from the Bangboo.
She hissed in pain for a slight second for once not from her slightly pounding headache. “Are you alright?” Wise whispered. “Mmh, fine.” She waved him off. Disconnecting from Eous always took a bit more energy then usual and it was quite a disconcerting feeling to be disconnected.
“Master, your readings suggest—“ “Later Fairy.” She sharply interjected. Wise gave her a worried look once more before taking the place where she once was.
“Hello can you hear me Nicole? You can put Eous through now.” Wise leaned over to switch on the connection signals. It was nice to have a break from manuerving Eous. She put a hand on the chair, and gave him a determined grin. “So can we start it up now?”
“Mhm.”
“Alright! We’ve finished!” Billy exclaimed.
“I don’t supposed you’d consider giving us a bit of a discount the next time we seek your services, Phaethon?”
“It’d be better if you just paid your bill Nicole.” Wise called back at her from across the room.
”You’re not getting out of your bill that easily Nicole,” she grinned cheekily. “I suppose we can consider it in the future though.”
After the Cunning Hares left Wise turned to Belle. “Well anyways we should watch a movie.” Belle startles suddenly surprised. “Ah right, it’s our day off we always watch a movie together.”
”and it’s my turn to pick so we’ll be choosing a documentary.”
Belle sighs, “I can only hope that it’ll be entertaining.” She sits down on the couch next to him without a complaint though.
Her headache has only gotten worse and she can barely focus on the movie as she closes her eyes to try and block it all out…
”Belle we did it!”
“Huh-wha?” Belle quickly shoots up from where she was leaning on Wise’s shoulder. Ah, she must’ve nodded off.
Wise then proceeded to shove his phone into her face showing a message conversation with Shepherd.
She blinks, “What’s with the emojis it doesn’t really suit either of you?”
“Never mind that now—don’t you want to go?”
She does honestly. She’s been working on all of this in under two weeks and it’s all been moving so quickly.
“Mm yeah just gimme a sec before we meet out over there.”
“Take your time. I know you’ve had a hard time resting lately.” Wise pats her on the head as he leaves to go get ready.
“Hey you two! Honestly I envy you both for living on a street with coffee this good.”
“Your more then welcome to move here.” Wise quipped.
“Yeah, yeah what’s up?” Belle asked.
“You’re so direct Belle.” Shepherd sighs.
“Isn’t it a sign of our closeness that we can be so direct with you?”
Shepherd chuckled. “Then let me ask you this—you’ve been so fast at increasing your Inter-Knot level and collecting Hollow observation data as of late.” He paused for a second almost hesitant, “Especially when it comes to collecting Hollow Observation Data. I know you’ve always been good at this, But ever since you started this new account..”
“Please, it’s always easier to beat the early stages in a New Game + if anything it’s going to be a harder climb from here on out.” Belle mourned.
Shepherd gave her an odd look to which Wise attested. “There’s a difference between that and whatever..nevermind at least claim it’s “divine intervention next time…”
Belle blinked owlishly at him. Wise took over, “Right so what is this about?”
“So quick to the point the both of you…that’s fine I suppose. I’m here to tell you that you can take the second Reputation Rank-Up Trial now.”
“Really that’s great! Are you sure though?”
It felt like a blood was rushing through Belle’s ears they had done it? Before she knew it the entire conversation was over and her and Wise were heading back to the video store.
They had done it.
“Belle?”
She had a reprieve for some time now.
“Belle are you alright?”
She was fine.
“Belle—hey shit-“
She was not fine.
“Hey—come on what’s wrong?” Wise asked she had fell forward after all. Belle didn’t feel well, the blood that was rushing past her ears left her ears ringing. She felt weak, her breathing shallow and whereas her headache had started off lightly it now felt like an insect trying to eat her way out of her brain.
Wise looked worried, afraid—
“Belle…you're scaring me, wake up.”
”Belle—“
“-ease-“
She drifted out of consciousness.
“Your finally awake.”
Her throat felt parched, her headache a dull thud pandering in the back of her mind. She felt hunger throughout her being.
Yet when she opened her eyes, there was Wise by her side. His hair was messy and ruffled—as well as his clothes. As if he hasn’t gotten a wink of sleep.
“Water..” He easily passed the bottle toward her lips and ripped it backward so she could drink almost desperately before pulling it back.
”You’ll choke.” He said flatly.
“Right sorry—I.” Belle stares at the ceiling. “What happened?”
”Your sick—you.” Wise sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You overworked yourself too much.” He tells her softly. “I get that you wanted to level up quickly but I can help too.”
“You—“ Belle thinks about it; the constant better me than him that’s been echoing constantly in her thoughts. The absolute ruckus that has been happening these past two weeks—from the Cunning Hares to Belobog company.
“I don’t want you to get hurt again.” Her eyes sting as she things about that day. Blood covering his clothes. Pleading for him to open his eyes. Desperation. Wise. Wake up. Eous. Helios. Memories flitter back and forth.
“Ah.” Realization hit him. “You’ve been having nightmares again…that’s why it’s so hard for you to rest these days.”
She glares hatefully at the bedsheets she’s covered in. She doesn’t want to remember..she just needs to get their account back up so they’re a bit closer to completing their goal.
”Do you know, just how worried I was when you collapsed on me?”
She pauses guiltily, afraid to look up.
”You looked so off yesterday. I thought, surely if she was sick she would tell me? Because we swore whatever happened we’d make sure we’d take care of each other. To lean on each other.
”I was so afraid you wouldn’t wake up.”
“What if you hadn’t woke back up again Wise!?”
“I’m sorry Wise.” She tell him looking at his tearful eyes. “I—I’ll be more careful in the future. I’m sorry I put you through this.”
“Just—in the future. Share more of your burdens with me. You don’t have to do everything alone Belle. I can go and scout for people on the streets. I can take over a commission once in a while and you can help support me.”
”Alright..” Belle mutters.
Wise plays with her hair for a bit before laying down a cool rag back on her forehead. “You have a fever, a headache, and I’m sure you’re hungry.”
“I’ll bring you some food and medicine later, just make sure to rest.”
”You too.” She whispers softly. “Don’t forget to take care while I’m out of commission.” She jokes.
Wise offers her a smile, and she drifts back to sleep.
It takes a few days for her to recover, but she’s back on her feet relatively fast with Wise’s help. She thinks their talk helped a lot, and now they usually have a set of tasks split up between them Eridanus-wise. They’re both ready to finally tackle a task they’ve been looking forward together though.
“A Reputation Rank-Up Trial…This is gonna be a piece of cake, Belle. Let’s go. I’ll lend you a hand as always.” He smiles.
She grins up at him from the computer, rapidly typing and setting things up. This is her older brother—who has always been by her side and is as much as a piece of her as her own limbs are. She’ll take care of him, and he’ll take care of her.
In the end, that how it’ll be, alongside one another.
She smiled, “Time for Phaethon to take on another commission together then.”