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Zani thought it would be just another day of work as she was getting ready in her home. The bank employee looked in the mirror as she tried to wipe the traces of lingering exhaustion off her face, which seemed like it had never truly left no matter how long she slept for, and adjusted her tie. Working for the Montelli family wasn't something she felt particularly driven to do, but she had no other life left for her. She could only do as she was told, no questions asked, get paid and save up enough Shell Credits for a comfortable retirement in a few decades. Such was life when being affiliated with the mafia, and she was respected for her efficiency at her work and her necessary sternness when dealing with trespassers and robbers.
However, as she checked her mailbox on her way out, together with the usual slew of flyers and advertisements, there was a letter doused in a familiar perfume, and she knew its wearer well. The need to discuss matters in an old-fashioned way meant it was either an important or confidential matter from the young Executor that she was too busy to address in person. Knowing her, it could also be both. The anticipation was killing her as she headed back into the living room and opened the letter.
Dear Zani,
I apologise for having to write to you so formally for such news, but I am unfortunately too busy today to reach out to you in any other way. As you know, my plan of securing the protection of the Montellis' interests is currently still underway. I will be quite busy with strengthening the alliance with Rover and the Black Shores for the time being, and I'm arranging quite spirited negotiations with Madam Cantarella Fisalia, which you need not know about for now. However, I ask for some help from you in this endeavour as well. Not as a staff member of Averardo Bank, but as a valuable associate of the Montellis and me.
I am, of course, already aware of what went on in the Averardo Vault on your mission the other day. The Order of the Deep attempting to deliver a bomb straight into our prized vaults… It seems the Carnevale has raised their boldness in opposing us. As much as I'd wish to simply find and execute the conspirator and be done with it, that simply won't stand without some PR to save face. That's precisely where you come in.
You've collaborated closely with an Acolyte of the Order, Phoebe, a couple of times now. I will trouble you to do so again, but this time not for official work. In fact, you may take the day off. Yes, you read right, but don't think you're free from this matter. I will ask you to get even closer to Acolyte Phoebe. While I haven't met her personally yet, she seems to have already taken a liking to you, so you're the only one I can trust to do this. You may spend the day together as you wish, but don't forget to ask her the big question: Will she support you if the Order's actions put you in danger? She need not know my true question is referring to the Montelli family as a whole, of course.
Enjoy your day off, Zani. I hope you make beneficial use of it.
Yours,
Carlotta
A day off? Zani could hardly believe it. She got so used to overworking that the idea of taking a day off for a date was unfathomable. And… Get closer to Phoebe, huh? She definitely wouldn't refuse a chance to get closer to that little golden-haired bundle of sunshine, which made her bleak days brighter. Before deciding what to do next, though, she wanted to call her and agree on what they'd do on their little date. The Terminal call was connecting for a few long moments before it was answered.
"Hello, Acolyte Phoebe here. How can I help make your day brighter?"
"My my, is that how you usually greet people over the Terminal? It's me, Zani, of Averardo Bank. How are you doing today? Are you busy?"
"Miss Zani, I'm glad to hear from you! No, not really. I'm free today. Why do you ask?"
"Please, no need for formalities, Phoebe. I believe we know each other well enough to be on a first-name basis by now. Anyway, I have the day off as well, so I wanted to spend part of it with you."
"Oh, that's very thoughtful of you. There's really nice weather out today too, from what I can tell. Okay, that's it, I'm having Pizza Day with you today! We'll go out to Burrata Bakery for lunch, then I can properly introduce you to my Echo friends, and all of us can go cloud gazing together in Whisperwind Haven's grassy plains. It'll be the perfect… Wait, are you inviting me on a date, Zani? I've never been in a romantic relationship, so… I'm still rather new to this kind of thing."
The Acolyte's suggestion on how to spend their time seemed foreign to the Montella, but based on her excited tone when she discussed her plans, she was clearly enthusiastic about them.
"Yes, you could say I am. But let's not set grand expectations for this, okay? I just want to spend some one-on-one time with you and get to know you better. Don't worry about anything deeper than that. That sounds like a nice plan, though, and it'll give us ample chances to speak privately. I'll see you at Burrata Bakery at lunchtime then."
After hanging up, Zani decided to settle for setting another alarm and taking a nap. She was already practically ready, so there was more than enough time to catch up on some beauty sleep and relax a little afterwards as she thought about what exactly she wanted to learn about the Acolyte.
As the demon lady headed out of the city to Burrata Bakery at Whisperwind Haven, Phoebe was already waiting, looking as cute and charming as ever, together with a group of three Echoes, two of whom she recalled already seeing around her before. Or maybe they were just "common" varieties of those Echoes.
"Zani, over here! I saved our table for you!" The Acolyte waved excitedly, in response to which the Montella moved faster up the path leading to the town in the distance and up the stairs.
"Apologies for the wait, Phoebe. I set the alarm correctly, but the walk took me longer than I anticipated. I don't often work outside of the main part of the city."
Phoebe shook her head, her flowing golden blonde hair swaying slightly under her hat at the movement. "It's no problem at all, Zani. I had my friends here to keep me company. They couldn't wait to see you again, so they just… Came here on their own."
"Your friends? The ones we saw around here back when we were tracking Mr. Gilberto?" She looked at the two small, plushie-like Echoes and the bigger one. The former two were looking up at the two women, while the latter wasted little time nuzzling their cheek against their new friend's leg.
"Yes, those are Livia, Brenno and Beppe! Livia is an Echo commonly called a Lottie Lost," She gestured towards the Echo with buttons for eyes and flappy, crudely sown bunny ears. "Come on, say hello, Livia!" The Echo gave a shy wave and made an unintelligible sound before hiding behind the leg of the table. "She's rather shy in new situations, but she's very sweet once she trusts you. Now, this lovely little troublemaker…" She looked affectionately at a teddy bear-like Echo wearing a red bandana on their neck and with mere threads remaining where their eyes would be. "Is Brenno. His usual name is both cute and fitting, Diggy Duggy. He's the most diligent and hardworking of them, but he's also full of… Let's say, unique ideas. What's that, Brenno? No, I'm not going to say that when I'm here with a… Please don't mind Brenno's antics, Zani. Anyway, there's one little guy here who you haven't seen before, and he seems to like you the most!"
"Oh, I actually know this Echo's common name," Zani finally interjected. "It's a Cuddle Wuddle, useful for traversal because of their unexpectedly far jumps." She looked down at the Echo, still clinging onto her like their life depended on it. "They certainly do seem cuddly, though they want to cuddle me more than I do them."
"I'll… Let that slip of the tongue slide, Zani. Who's a good boy, Beppe, for greeting your new friend so warmly?" She mutters something in a quiet tone, and then she reaches her hand down to gently pet the Echo on the head. "Well, if you ever wondered what Beppe looks like, now you know. I couldn't have found him without Rover's and your help. He might look fearsome on the surface, but he actually wants someone to be close to him. And yes, the name is accurate: He's very cuddly and desires physical touch. So, now you've finally met them! They might be slightly rough around the edges, but they're near and dear to my heart. They're not my pets like most people see Echoes, but almost like my younger siblings I never had."
Looking at the endearing scene, even the jaded Montella couldn't help but have the corners of her lips stretch in a small smile. "Siblings you never had, huh? I can sense how important they are to you. How come you grew so close to these three in particular?"
"Oh, what's wrong, Livia? Hm… Oh no, I almost forgot why we're here! You must be starving by now, Zani! Let's order our food before I tell you their story. So, what are you thinking to order?"
"Oh, right… Um, you're probably not going to like hearing this, but maybe a Pizza Tropicale and some Nectarwine?"
"Um, this is a traditional restaurant, I doubt they have either one of them here… Why not go with Pizza Classica? Besides, are you sure it's good for you to get tipsy at this hour? What if you get hungover in the evening and can't sleep?"
"Trust me, Phoebe, I know when I need a good drink. I'll only have one glass, so don't worry about me getting drunk in front of you. But all right, I'll humour you. A Pizza Classica and a glass of Troupe Strength for me. And you?"
"I'll have a Pizza Classica and a refreshing glass of water. The Order demands sobriety from its members, so I don't drink much alcohol. All right then, with our orders decided, let's call up the owner and talk a bit more while we wait for our food!"
After hearing her words, as Phoebe ordered for both of them, Zani couldn't help but think of how the Acolyte would look and behave while drunk. She noticed how cute and chubby her cheeks looked, and tried to imagine them flushed red from alcohol. The image brought an amused smirk to her lips as she turned back to face her.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that, Zani?" It seemed like she didn't need to get her drunk for her to see that.
"Can you do something a little strange for me, Phoebe? Close your eyes and lean in until your face is within arm's reach. Just trust me, okay?"
"O-okay…" Phoebe was clearly anxious and her blush deepened further, but she did as asked. Then, instead of kissing her, Zani gently grabbed one cheek between her fingers and pinched it. Phoebe's blue eyes opened wide at the touch. "W-what are you doing, Zani? I thought you were going to… This feels kinda nice though."
"I'm sorry, I just noticed how chubby your cheeks are and how cute they look when you're flustered. I couldn't resist touching them." The demon lady said as she moved her hand away.
"That's alright… I think I liked it. A-Anyway, I still have to tell you the story of how I met Livia, Brenno, and Beppe! I grew up in the Order's orphanage after my parents died in a shipwreck. When I awoke, together with a few kind Acolytes there were these three Echoes. They were always there for me in their own way, whether it was cheering me up when I was sad and lonely or providing mutual love and affection. My ability to understand what Echoes say definitely helped too. That's why I say they're like siblings to me, you see? We practically grew up together! Isn't that right, Beppe?" The Cuddle Wuddle approached the Acolyte as she petted them on the head again.
"Oh, I see. You do seem quite close." Was all Zani could say before their food and drinks arrived and her line of thought was interrupted. Phoebe prayed for the food and they both reached for a slice of their Pizza, eating in relative silence. She also left a small strip of the last slice for each of the Echoes, and Zani found the thought of Echoes eating human food both amusing and impressive. But then again, it was likely not too different than birds enjoying both breadcrumbs and worms in the Acolyte's mind.
"Oof, I'm stuffed. Praise the Sentinel for such a wonderful meal. And being here with my friends has made it all the better. But there are still some things I want to talk to you about, Zani, so let's not stop our date here. Come with me, I know just the spot!" The Acolyte motioned the demon lady to stand up and guided her further along the path to the town.
As the two women crossed the canal connecting southern Whisperwind Haven and the Nimbus Sanctum, the place of their first meeting, they were guided by the merry group of Echoes to stray off the path to Egla Town and across a hilly, grassy plain. Before long, they stopped near the edge of a cliff overlooking the canal, with the Cathedral of Mercury towering in the distance. A blanket was already set up, probably by one of the Echoes.
"Well, Zani, here we are," Phoebe said as she sat down on the blanket, meeting the demon lady's crimson eyes with a measure of intensity she hadn't seen on her before. "This spot is my hidden retreat. Whenever I have doubts about the path I follow and need to clear my head, or it simply gets too… Overwhelming, I come here to relax. Feel free to make yourself comfortable," She explained, before unzipping and removing her boots and setting her hat aside, laying down on the blanket and looking at her expectantly. With a small measure of hesitation, Zani followed suit, pulling her cape off her shoulders and removing her shoes before looking back over at the other woman.
"I can see why. The view is wonderful, and the place is quite secluded. Oh, there is something I've been meaning to ask you. Why Pizza Day? I feel like there's more significance to it being your favourite food."
"An astute observation, Zani, but it's simpler than you might think. Pizza Day was the only day a month we were allowed junk food at the Order's orphanage. Everyone laughed and cheered… So, it's not just about me liking Pizza Classica so much. It reminds me of the smiles and good times I had with those I see as friends and family."
The Acolyte then went silent for a few moments, seemingly deep in thought. Then she asked, "Um, can I ask you something personal, Zani? Why don't you go to church much? Not that I judge you by your faith, of course! It's just… You're one of the people least devout to the Sentinel I ever met. I want to understand. Did the Order wrong you in some way, perhaps?"
Zani let out a long sigh at the Acolyte's words, imitating a drag from a cigarette. "Phoebe, don't take what I say personally, okay? I'm sharing my feelings with you because I like you. Look at me. Curly horns, a pointed tail, strange-coloured eyes… Do I truly look like I'd be a welcome sight at a church?"
Phoebe surprisingly nodded her head, "Why not? Some Echoes have horns, a tail, or strange eyes. Just look at your new friends! They each fit that description perfectly, no? Echoes are gifts from the Sentinel, after all. We should treat them with respect."
"You missed the point, Phoebe. Indeed, to some, I look less than human. More like an Echo… Or even a Tacet Discord."
To that, Phoebe looked away, her gaze troubled and apologetic. "Do they really say that about you? I'm sorry. I wish I could help them see the good in you somehow." She took a deep breath and looked back into the Montella's eyes intensely again. "You're brave, resilient and dependable… I really admire you, you know. I look up to you in a way. Besides, in my opinion, things like your horns and your unusual accent add to your exotic beauty."
"Exotic beauty, you say? Are you sure you're not the one that drank alcohol today?" The Acolyte didn't shy away from the demon lady's teasing this time. "Anyway, I'm glad you think so. I admire you as well. You know, when we discussed that controversial painting in the Vault the other day, what you said stuck with me. That you believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, as long as they genuinely believe it and it doesn't cause harm to others. If more people thought so in Ragunna, my job would be a lot easier."
"Oh, right! I've been meaning to ask you another thing. Why do you always look so tired? Do you have trouble sleeping? I could help you relax with my corrective reverberation ritual. Oh, but I didn't bring my staff with me…"
The demon lady laughed at the response, despite being told before that wasn't a joke. "You're still on about that, aren't you? Perhaps another time. But that's not quite the reason. If I started to complain about my workload to you, it could make the discussion for a whole another date, and I suspect so would your doubts about your faith. Speaking of… That's clearly something you want, isn't it? When I have some time to spare, I'll plan the outing next time."
"Another date with you, Zani? I'd greatly appreciate it. Just say the word. I had a wonderful time with you today. But… Does that mean you're heading back now? I'll stay here a little longer."
"Yes, I should be going. I have one more question to ask you, however. If the Order were putting me in danger, would you stand against them to defend me?"
"That's a tough question to throw on me like that. But… I'd have to say yes to that. As much as I value the Order for giving me a home, I've been having doubts about my path lately. Their recent actions leave me quite conflicted. Meanwhile… I already told you how I feel about you. If I had to choose… I'd side with you even if I had to go against the Order, Zani. Even against the Primus himself."
"Is that so? Your words are quite reassuring. Thank you. I should get going then." Zani put on her shoes and cape again, dusting off her trousers. As the Echoes waved her goodbye, she decided to pet the Echo called Beppe. Their fabric was softer than she anticipated, and they seemed to melt under her touch, bringing a genuine smile to her face. The young Acolyte was making Zani feel things she never experienced before. While she might have been there at the Montellis' behest, that was a better use of her time than she first thought. Who knows what their future could bring in the now-changing Ragunna the Montellis wish to make a reality? Only time will tell.