“you know, having an indentured workforce is perfect. You give them food and shelter and make that cost more than the interest on their debt. An easy cheap workforce that can’t quite.”
“isn’t giving them expensive food and shelter still costing us money?”
“Who said anything about it being expensive? We can throw whatever price tag we want on it. They don’t have any money, so they have no choice in the matter.”
-- Secret recordings of Zamano shared by the purple truth raise up citizens.
“How long have you known I was awake?” Claire says, in an unsure tone.
“Since Magenta started talking weirdly,” I say while poking her cheek. “so, what is your opinion on the matter?”
“Uhm, well, I was the one that suggested that Magenta bring it up,” she says in an embarrassed tone.
“Why would you do that?” I ask in surprise.
“I thought it would sound more convincing to co from soone other than .”
“That makes it sound like you are not entirely convinced yourself.” I point out.
“I an, it would be different seeing your lover with soone else, right?”
“It is definitely interesting, I would say.”
“Wait. Did Cierra ever cheat on you?” She says in a dark tone
“Ooh no, she would never. But we did have a threeso before.” I say while pitching her cheek.
“And how was that?” she asks in a curious tone.
“It was kind of a ss, but that was more because of politics involved and such. The sex was fun.”
“Politics? Like they voted for a different mayor or sothing?” she says while scrunching up her face in confusion.
“That would be funny, but no, she was paid by her mom to seduce Cierra and take her away from . Let's just say things did not end well once she found out.”
“Really, my impression of Cierra is that she is rather weak-willed.”
“I an, you would be correct, I guess, but she is not always that bad. Sotis she will bite back”, I say with a giggle. “Also, it would be good to realise that her being timid does not an she is weak.”
“What do you an?”
“Where do you think I get my roundabout revenge plans from? She might not like direct confrontation but will completely ruin your business in an instant, if you piss her off. She is a scary businesswoman.”
“I will keep that in mind for when we are officially introduced to each other,” she says with a smile.
A cold shiver went down my spine at the thought. I guess they have to et eventually. “Yeah, that is fair.”
“You don’t want us to et?” Claire says with concern in her voice.
“It is nothing like that. It is just, you know, it is going to be a weird fucking eting, right? So you know, kind of dreading it, but it is important to do it, so not much choice, right?“ I say, trying to reassure her.
“I thought she was a huge samurai fan?” Claire says
“Yeah, she is. She has an entire display case with figures, and I am pretty sure if she was not required to wear suits or dresses all the ti, she would be rocking samurai rch instead; the worst part is I think she is actually a fan of Glowstick.”
“Don’t tell her that; she might get a big head about it?” she says, with mirth. “But I am a samurai. Would it not stand to reason that she would sowhat like as well, then.”
“I an, it sounds logical, but I think it simplifies the issue a bit. Like there is a difference between eting and interacting with people you idolise, and it is a whole other to make them part of your life.“
“Yeah, well, I guess we can only bludgeon through it, I guess.” Claire says. “Speaking of, have you told her that you are Maniac yet.”
“No, I don’t even know how to broach the subject. Like, hey, I am a samurai now, but not any samurai. I am the one that everybody keeps calling insane, and I plan to kill most of your family, so from so angles, that is an accurate statent.”
“I an, I would not bring it like that for sure, but there must be a right way to say it. Maybe her bodyguard can help. You two are close, right?”
“I would not say we are that close; we just have so mutual respect for each other. But our relationship has been steadily improving. That reminds , I need to talk with her about sothing.”
“Anything I should know about?”
“Maybe, apparently, Cierra OD’d at one point, kind of want to know why or how that even happened.”
“She has drug problems?”
“As far as I know, she does not. I have never seen her take any, at least. She is weak to alcohol. But that does not seem as bad.”
“Do you have any similar issues?”
“I don’t think so. The first encounter with drugs is my samurai stimulants, and I take those to do a job, not have fun.”
“You could have fooled with the way you laugh while fighting. What about alcohol? How well do you hold up? Actually, what are you like when drunk? I like the idea of a drunk Maniac.”
“I can assure you that a lot of people don’t like that idea. Then again, I have never had alcohol, so I would not know.”
“Really, you were not allowed or sothing?”
“No, it was more that I felt under threat all the ti, so I wanted to have all of my cognitive functions; that ans no alcohol for .”
“Well, maybe when you feel safer, we can do so drinking or sothing else. I guess it does not matter if you drink or not”, she lets out a yawn. “Okay, I am tired. Ti to go to bed.” With that, she gets up, stops halfway, and gives a kiss. It is a quick thing, just a slight grazing of our lips, and then it is over. She almost seems to sprint into the tent afterwards.
I just sit there for a bit, trying to process it all. I put a finger to my lips and just smiled.
Lyssa would like to schedule another appointnt for a therapy eting to discuss your relationships with others.
‘Really? now?’
Not now; Lyssa will put it on your calendar for a later day.
‘Right, well you do that. Have your fun, I am going to sleep.’
With that weird notion out of the way, I head into the tent as well. On the right side, Magenta is completely passed out, taking up most of that side of the tent. And to my great relief, the lights in her hair have been turned off. Claire has already bundled herself up in a sleeping bag, facing the left wall of the tent. Well, I guess I am sleeping in the middle, then.
I take off most of my clothes and throw them to the side; then, I get in the sleeping bag. I have little butterflies in my stomach. This is sohow really exciting; I am doing sothing new. I lay down on my back for a bit, observing the tent canvas above , then realise there is no reason for to be lonely while sharing a tent, so I scoot over and wrap an arm around Claire. I feel her heartbeat accelerate for a second and then relax. She leans in to and that is how we fall asleep.
I wake up in my warm and cosy sleeping bag, which is aweso, like a warm hug, and that is on top of the warm hug I am already receiving. Cuddling is nice. I open my eyes to see a ssy mop of purple-pink hair. And I am wide awake. I will bet anyone three sandwiches and a hyena pup that this was not the sa girl I was hugging last night while trying to sleep. I slowly, very carefully, get out of the vice grip's grasp. I head out of the tent there; I find Bubbles trying to brew sothing over the campfire.
“Good morning.” I say, while I stretch out.
“Good mo……” she turns around and stops talking as soon as she sees .
Well, that is flattering. I don’t think I ever made a girl speechless with my bed hair before. Improvents.
“Evelin, why are you only wearing underwear?” she says with a cute red flush on her face.
“Because I thought sleeping in the clothes I wore all day would be gross, so I took them off,” I say. Well, looking at the pot of whatever. Okay, whatever is wrong. It slls like chocolate, and I want so.
“But why did you not put any clothes on before walking out? What if soone saw you?” she said. Girl, my eyes are up here.
“Who is out here? There is only us and so plants, and those want a different kind of piece out of . But I guess you are right; I should put sothing on. It is still kind of chilly, Lyssa. You got sothing?”
New Purchase:Comfy Clothes
Points reduced to... 9821
A white shirt appears with pink text: ‘I need therapy’ on it and a pair of jogging pants. Well, you know what, I quite like white T-shirts so you won’t hear complain. I put the clothes on under the watchful eyes of Bubbles. At least, I like to say watchful; there was definitely an ulterior motive in those eyes. After getting dressed, I sit down beside her, and she gives a cup of what, to my taste buds, is primarily sugar, but at least it is hot.
“So how was it to cuddle with Magenta?” she says with a smirk.
“It was nice, she was really soft, but you better have taken a picture.” I say.
“Why do you want a picture?” she asked, while removing so of the remnants of the liquid from her face.
“Well, I want to lord it over her head that she was hugging in her sleep.”
Claire laughs, and sends a file with a total of 26 pictures. ”Uhm, why do you have so many?”
“Well, you two were cute together, so I wanted to capture the mont. I am also using it as my ho screen now.”
Well, I am not quite sure how to react to that one. But I guess it is fine. I lean into her so more and say: “We should probably finish our chat from last night.”
She looks at , confused. “Did we not already finish that one?”
“Then what was the conclusion?” I ask her, while taking another sip
She blinks at , then starts thinking, getting a little frown on her face. “That we like each other?” she says questioningly.
“Really, I don’t rember saying any such thing,” I say, while poking her brow.
“Wait, you don’t like ?” she says, concern in her voice.
“I did not say that. I do like you. What I was trying to say was that it is dangerous to make assumptions in a relationship. So asking things is important, proper dialogue and all that. And I do like you.”
She turns to with a smile. “I like you too. And I guess you are right, so what should we still talk about?” she says, looking at curiously. “I guess we should discuss what we want our relationship to be like.”
“That be a good start, yes. Setting boundaries is also a thing.” I say. “I think that I would prefer if we took it slow, go on a few dates first, and whatnot.”
“Okay, that is reasonable. Do you have any hang-ups?”
“Hmm, let think. I don’t like n; sorry, my brain just rejects having any attraction for them. Other than that, I am not sure. Don’t be too possessive, but a little bit is fine. Fuck, that sounds vague, doesn’t it.”
“It kind of is. Guess you just have to tell if I go too far. As for you not liking n, does that extend to trans girls?”
“I don’t see how trans girls are related to n.”
“Well, they used to be n. You might have a hangup about it.”
“I also don’t like children, but that does not an I hate everyone because they used to be them. Who even cares what they used to be? If there's a girl, now is all that matters.” I say.
“Well, a surprising amount of people seem to care about it,” Claire says, with a surprising amount of spite.
“Well, in all honesty, I have not given it much thought, but as long as I like the person, I don’t think I care. What about you? What would you like our relationship to be like?” I ask.
“I want to call you my girlfriend.” She says, and then stops, “Is that not okay?”
I must have made the wrong face. “Uhm, no, I an, when I am Maniac, I have no problem with it. When I am Evelin, I would like to limit the contact between and other samurai so I don’t stand out even more.”
“Is that a forever thing or until you reveal your identity kind of thing?”
“Just until New Hope is gone or my identity gets revealed, whatever happens first.”
“Well, I don’t like it. I do have another request?”
“Right. What kind of request is that?” I say with so trepidation.
“Can I go out with Magenta as well?”
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