Chapter Text
Manzanito POV:
I like this corner that I found in Lumina Square, right behind the hotpot restaurant, a payphone right next to me and a trash can close enough for me to toss my bag of chips I was snacking on. The sky had just turned a gradient mix of amber, pink, blue, and a deep shade of violet as the sun was beginning to set.
It seems rather odd how often things happen during this time. Golden hour, dusk. I have to go back home soon for dinner, but I just want to enjoy this view of the river, overlooking the city beyond, and the presence of the city behind me.
I find it abnormal how a few years ago I was ready to go to sleep and never wake up, haunted by the events that I witnessed. I like to think that we all have our own stories, shared and told in the manner that we want, sometimes willingly, sometimes forced out of us. Yet for very few, we guard our stories, secrets, or just never get the chance to tell them.
Many people know who I am, but many don't know the things I witnessed or did, just a name, a face, and maybe some memory of me doing something recent, but never from back then.
I feel a buzz from my phone and see the reminder for dinner pop up, so I start walking back to the parking lot. Past the coffee shop with its 2 floor seating, past the flower shop which brought me the idea for my current project which is almost complete. Orchidea the store owner has been a great help, especially with the development of the new snapdragons. Things are set to open soon.
I finally get to the parking lot and get into my beat up yellow car, technically a sports car because it only has 2 doors, but I wouldn't call it one now. It's older than me, the windows tinted from its previous owner, the inside stuffy, air conditioning broken, the stereo system outdated leaving me only with static noise, and the only redeeming trait being that once restored it'll be worth quite a bit, but I'm glad to have it, and for it to be operational.
I pull out slowly barely missing a pedestrian, and navigate myself out of the city with the sun slowly setting behind me.
_______________________________
Wise POV:
It had been a couple of days since I was last contacted by the mayor or Yixuan, and I was beginning to be bored from the wait.
I should head out soon to get dinner I remind myself, but here I am doom scrolling on the interknot for anything. It’s hard to break the habit, my bed is so comfortable that it sucks any energy I have except for the motivation to keep scrolling.
A post about a guy trying to join mocking bird
some nerds calculating the comfiest ass for characters for a gacha game
Theories about what happened to Bringer, or Hugo's Family
Another Phaethon post that I am almost certain is Vivian or a online friend of hers
Oh a commission post, it's been some time since we last took on some minor commissions, in fact since we got wrapped up with Bringer, maybe we should get back into it.
WHAM
I'm shocked out of my doom scrolling as Belle slams my door open
“Bro, I'm soooooo hungry, bored, and would do anything for an adventure right now” Belle complains.
“Well I was gonna go get ingredients for some chicken pasta but we could make the trip to lumina square for hotpot and just walk around” I responded.
“Yes Please anything to get out of the store” Belle moans back
“yeah yeah let me put on my shoes and we can head out, make sure to lock up the store and tell the bangboos where we're going” I reply, sitting up and beginning to put on my shoes.
Soon we're driving to Lumina square, nothing interesting happens, except for a small old yellow car running a red light, which reminds me of Nicole.
The night is calm, clear skies, the small faint light blue from the recent sunset.
We park and make our way to the restaurant and sit, enjoying our hotpot and talking about recent ongoings with our friends. I then get a notification on my phone so I pull it out to check.
Shepherd: Hey, how’s my favorite proxies doing, are you guys free to meet right now? I got a commission you might be interested in.
“Hey Belle, I got a message from a shepherd, needs help with something, should we invite him over?” I notify Belle
“Yeah, I was thinking how long it's been since we did any actual proxy work, lets see what he's got for us” She responds back.
I text him back to meet at our store and that we’ll be over soon.
“I guess we should head back” I say.
_________________________________
Manzanito POV:
I arrived home after an exciting drive. I open the door that is always unlocked and enter, the first living room on my left, and the dining room already set up on my right. I walk down the hallway to the second living room on my left where I see my 2 grandparents sitting on the couch enjoying the news.
“Good Evening”
“Hello, welcome back Manzanito, now that you're here we can start dinner” My grandma responds from the couch, wine glass in hand.
I go set my things down, and make my way to the dining table, my seat in the center of the table, my name written on the card in neat cursive. To my left my Uncle sat down, the strong whiff of cigarettes wafting right next to me, then my stepfather to the right of me, his body blocking the view of my mother.
While the staff do cook many of the side dishes, my grandmother still puts in the effort to make the main dish, today a beef wellington. We pass around each dish and side, and once everything's been put back to their original plate, we begin to eat. Conversations are rarely had, the small questions here and there. I pour myself some apple cider, the sweet sparkling juice calming my nerves.
“How are things looking like for your project?” My grandpa speaks up
“Things are looking good, we are set to open next week, just some minor maintenance here and there, but the flowers have grown wonderfully in their environment.” I respond
“That is great to hear, I can't wait to see the garden filled with visitors.” He replies back in coldness.
We continue eating, and I finish my plate. When I hear gurgling sounds from the edge of the table, instinctively we all look up, to see my grandfather foaming at the mouth.
____________________________________
Wise POV:
We got back to the store rather late, shepherd waiting in the parking lot. As we enter the bangboos greet us, and hand Belle a clipboard with the sales of today's before heading to the back to go charge for the night.
“So I assume you have a commission for us?” I ask the broker
“You know it, I was contacted by some people who wanted help locating a potential illegal lab in a hollow, and needed a proxy to help locate it and also get them out.” He answers.
“That's rather interesting, how are they certain there's a lab there, and what is this hypothetical lab doing?” Belle asks
“They didn't specify, but if you're curious then maybe you should take the commission, they did offer their own agent to protect you if needed.” Shepherd responds.
As I was about to respond Belle turned on the tv for some background noise.
“Well I guess we can take it, if it's an illegal lab then it probably should be reported, but I think we should go as Eous since it’s not with people we know” I suggest
“Very well then I'll contact them that I've found a proxy and I'll send you the details on where to meet” The Broker states.
As I was about to say my goodbyes the news that was playing was interrupted
“Breaking News John Smith, age 76 has been pronounced dead by family. Head of the Smith family, and Sun Corporation, dedicating over 50 years of his life towards anti corruption medicine he will be remembered for his development of today's standard medicine used in the hollows. We are still receiving updates on his death. On a somewhat related note, the Sun Corporation has been funding the recent construction of the windchimes garden, which is still set to open next week, we shall see soon whether or not that date stays the same.”
Well that was rather shocking I think to myself, while not exactly a TOPS family, they were held in high regards, similar to Lucy's family or even Miyabi's family. It makes me wonder how things in his company will change, especially on the many medicines that were being developed.
“Well with that rather shocking revelation I must disappointingly take my leave, I'll see you guys soon.” Shepherd makes his goodbyes then leaves the store.
“Hey Belle, do you want to do the commission? I know we try to switch when we can on who controls Eous” I ask.
“Yeah I don’t mind, I'm kinda curious what this lab has” She replies excitedly, with the opportunity to go hollow diving.
“Well I’m gonna turn in for the night, please don’t stay up late, we don’t have the money for you to use all our electricity.” I tell her before walking up the stairs to the restroom.
With that we are left to continue our night as normal, after all the world won't stop for one person.