4 Chapter Four: Sibling Rivalry (2/2)
Vivi's eyes quickly glance over at Siran to show a lack of amusement and then goes back to tinkering with a project that she's working on at her desk. Siran stands up and walks towards the kitchen. ”I need to grab some water” Siran says. As he walks by, he puts his hand gently on Vivi's left shoulder and says ”thanks”
”For what?” Vivi says, her eyes not leaving sight of her project.
”For taking care of me” he says, ”there aren't many people in this world I can call my friend. So every good person means a lot to me”. Siran walks away to the kitchen.
”You're starting to creep me out” Vivi says. ”Was your dream that scary or something?”
”It was nothing special” Siran shouts from the kitchen. ”Just thought I'd show some appreciation from time to time, ya'know?”
”Well” Vivi shouts back, ”while you're feeling generous, why don't you help me out with a project or two? I'm trying to create more compact models of personal defense weapons. Magic weapons are a little tough to deal with and you're a magic expert and all”.
Siran comes back from the kitchen with a glass of water. ”Sure” he says, ”it'll give me something to do I guess”.
The two tinker around with separate components, compare their progress, and occasionally get into arguments about which one is better until eventually a new patron shows up at the door. A knock is heard at the door, and Vivi goes to answer the door as Siran continues to tinker. The man looks around the front room, both surprised and disappointed that the first room of the house is both the front desk for business and a living room. The man was wearing a military uniform. A Ly'Lum military uniform. His eyes eventually met Siran, as he tinkered. He lets out a short laugh that sounded like a mixture of amusement and disgust as Vivi sits back down in her chair.
”What's this man doing here?” The man asks. ”I heard this shop was run by some gear-head girl, not a gear-head and some pipsqueak”.
Siran continued tinkering but raises one eyebrow to his remark. Vivi elbows Siran in the side to gesture him to not start any trouble. ”Are you here for business?” Vivi asks, ”because if not, I'm going to have to ask you to leave”.
”No, no” the man says, ”I'm here for business”. He shows a piece of paper with a precise set of customizations that he wanted for a magic casting gun. ”I want something like this, and I heard this was the place to get it” he says.
Siran glances over the list and lets out a confident laugh. ”Sure!” Siran says, ”I can do something like that. It's pretty easy”.
Vivi looks over at Siran and scoffs, ”I'll do it, I'm the better developer, AND it's MY shop!”.
”But I can do something like this, no sweat” Siran replies.
”Maybe he doesn't want you to do it” Vivi argues, ”after all, you're the pipsqueak!”
”But I'm taller than you are!” Siran argues. ”So who are you callin' a pipsqueak?”
Vivi picks up another tool and waves it around. ”You, you little twerp! Wanna fight about it!?”
”If it's a fight you want!” Siran shouts as he picks up a tool as well. ”Then it's a fight you'll get!”
”I'm just going to, umm” the man says as he opens the door. ”Leave you to it then. I'll be back same time next week to see if you have the custom weapon finished. I'll have your money for you when it's done”. The man glances at both Siran and Vivi in total confusion then walks out the door.
”Oh” Vivi says.
”He left” Siran replies.
The two sit back down and let out a sigh. ”That guy didn't seem to like you at all” Vivi says. ”Friend of yours, or perhaps someone Alex knows?”
”Not a clue” Siran replies. ”But I'm sure he knows at least a little bit about who I am”
”Then one thing's for sure” Vivi says with her arms crossed. ”It's not safe for you here anymore. We have to get you out of here by next week”
”You're right” Siran says. ”I knew something like this was going to happen eventually, I left so you wouldn't get involved but that seems unavoidable now. My bad”
”I already know, you told me before you left the first time” Vivi says. ”But don't worry about me, I'll be fine. They can't attack me or my business here in Seeira”
”I certainly hope not” Siran says.
The man from The Ly'Lum military makes it back to his car and a few other men in the same uniform are waiting next to the car on the outskirts of town. ”It's confirmed” the man says. ”Siran has been located. For now, we're returning to base to await orders”.