Chapter 574: Juice (1/2)
Dawn of the 10th of March. Last night had been the coldest year-round. The once distance rainfall stood at Rotherham's doorstep. The simple quiet night didn't last long. Between Alicia's growing libido and the crashing rain, Igna's want of whiskey turned to one full of youth and passion. Sleep broke at the early 06:30, '-yesterday feels like a dream,' he thought. A distant peep at the slightly reflective vase showed the symbol of death, '-it's true then.' Pins and needles pained the arms, oily hair bundled as if a nest had used him as a pillow. 'Weirdly enough,' the mind lost in thought, '-why did I agree to start such a relationship. Am I so craved for human affection,' a hardened smack broke the ill-mannered thoughts, '-that's not it.' Her hands leisurely stayed atop his head, '-she's random, very random. The manager with beauty rivaling the models of Alphia. A spy or whatever. Her past might have a few things of interest. I best not ask her so.' On his feet and at the bath, '-there's a rough day ahead.' A simple prediction that would be pivotal later on.
The fatigued seagull-hair specter crawled out the bed into the living room. '-What's her deal?' thought he sneaking few glances. The heavy dark circle snapped to his hand and stuffed mouth. ”Food,” she mumbled. Arms stretched seekingly for the meal, head slightly tilted of which the darkened locks ran down the shoulders forth.
”Stay away,” said he with fingers joined in a cross, ”-don't come any closer,” the right leg lifted to stop the advances.
”Give me food,” she said.
”No, get away,” he gulped the remaining breakfast to smirk. ”-Sea-weed zombie, you need be cleansed by the holy water of a steaming shower.”
”I get it,” she pulled back her hair around the ears, ”-no need to say I'm dirty, I know.”
”Good,” he pinched his nose, ”-go take a shower already. Smells like a wet dog, if latter had rolled around in a dump of dung, took a stroll to a fish-drying stack, leaped into the infamous sewer of bubbling excrement, and then proceeded to soil itself.”
”Really?” said she in a straight-face, ”-do I smell that bad?”
”Yeah you do,” returned he without much care.
”You saying you don't l-like m-me?” her tone sunk, ”-I-Igna w-was our n-night that hopeless?”
”Stop playing around,” refuted he whilst checking the news, ”-I've ordered breakfast, take a shower and forgo the grim.”
”Yeah, whatever,” she skipped around the foot barrier to latched onto his person, ”-if I smell, so shall you, dearest partner,” just like that, an attacker snuck into the castle walls to steal the treasure of which was a kiss. ”Later.”
'What a mess.' Lenses materialized, ”-good morning Éclair,” the interface booted, a white-line scanned the room and left wireframes in its wake.
”Good morning,” returned the spirit, ”-Igna, there's a lot of things on the agenda today.”
”I'm all ears.”
”Alright. The restraining of Princess Eira has been canceled. Queen Gallienne's opted for another course of action. The incident concerning Reforge and the sudden invasion have been handled after much debate. A subsidiary of a parent company has undertaken the rebuilding of the outpost. To fill the lack of personnel, the military has deployed a few soldiers to serve the front line. Codd's agency has horned on a massive lead in Nao's case. As for us, the drug's been fully synthesized by Clarise.”
'-Things are moving along.'
”About today's schedule. We're to meet the Alchemist, then head for the adventuring academy per lady Haru's request, and lastly, meet an interested party for dinner at Loron's.”
”About Loron,” he paused, ”-will bringing a few guests of mine be strenuous?”
”No, the party's bringing their own entourage.”
”Alright, I'll ask Celina if she wishes to join us for dinner. Have a car be readied to take her home and back, I want the best.”
”Understood,” the display dimmed to allow a moment of rest.
'My prediction's coming true. Please don't tell me…' another realization hit, '-if party-crashers show up…'
*Bang, bang, bang,*
”Silence you oaf,” the lock clicked, ”-don't bring the door down,” it opened to an unsightly scene.
”Good morning, Cousin…” said Julius slumped by the weight of Dei and Emi. Suga, meanwhile, dragged his feet along the red carpet of the hallway – consciousness spiraled in the rollercoaster world of his making. ”-Sorry for the trouble,” the ajar entrance flung, Dei stumbled to faceplant into the couch. Emi kept her posture, strong and beautiful, and passed his shadow. He watched pleasantly, confident about her ironclad stomach. Few steps in, the arrow of a posture buckled to fall over the other couch.
”More drinks,” said Suga in only underpants, ”-more drinks!” he knelt at the door in motion to hurl.
'These party animals,' dash to the kitchen and back, a plastic bag mercilessly wrapped around his ears. The weightlessness soon gained to hang. A beard made of vomit, quite the amusing display. Skipped an hour later, the drunks leaned on one another.
”Cousin Julius, what was it about keeping an eye on them?”
”Egh,” he gulped, ”-they snuck and went bar-hopping.”
”Should have expected as much,” he sighed. Alicia carefully moved to tend to the stars. Embarrassment made it hard to look, '-was I the same as them?' she wondered.
”Cousin,” called Julius, ”-is the rumor true?”
”What rumor?”
”About you and Alicia…”
”Yeah, we're a couple.”
”She's pretty,” said he, ”-pretty random.”
”Say that again,” they chuckled, ”-listen, cousin, I have to leave to the adventuring academy. Use the room as long as is needed.”
”Sure, what about Alicia?”
”Why not ask her?”
*Clop, clop, clop,* ”-anything the matter?”
”Don't look so bashful,” remarked Igna, ”-it gives another emote.”