First, I'm sorry this is so long. Second - please be nice. We have debt, bad habits, and are Catholic. So if any of those things are going to get you spun up, just skip this one.
Section One: Assets and Debt Use this section to explain your current financial picture at large.
Everything here is joint – “M” and I have been married 22 years and we’ve had “smashed money” that whole time (and really for about a year before that).
Retirement Balance (and how you got there): Approximately $500,000 in a variety of IRAs and current 401(k)s.
Equity if you're a homeowner (and how much you put down and how you accumulated that payment). Bought our house in 2001 for $239,000 with 20% down (some aggressive saving and a gift from each of our parents). We refinanced, took some cash out for some home repairs, and reduced it to a 15-year loan in 2009 – our current equity would be about $195,000, but similar homes in the neighborhood are listed at $475,000-$525,000, so if we ever sell, we’re probably coming out ahead.
Savings account balance: $6,000
Checking account balance: $6,500
Credit card debt (and how you accumulated it): I hope you’re sitting down. Approximately $40,000. Yes, you read that right. How we accumulated it? The house is 90 years old and constantly falling apart, so we’ve had to charge things that needed to be done (some we wanted to have done, but some – like the time our oil burner stopped working in December – were needs). We had two dogs with numerous medical issues – I don’t want to calculate what they cost me, but they each had surgeries that were about $5,000 (each), plus other chronic and acute medical issues. And yes…for a while, we were doing and buying things we probably shouldn’t have (not bad things, just vacations, clothes, and non-essential home improvements) So…when I’m 100 and greeting people at Wal-Mart, I’ll at least have some good memories. That said, I can’t tell you the last time I used credit – if we can’t afford to pay cash, we don’t do it (and I say that fully realizing most people would feel that I shouldn’t do anything).
Student loan debt (for what degree): None – my husband went to the military and then to work after high school and I went back to community college later in life and paid as I went.
Anything else that's applicable to you: If my ex-husband dies before me, I’ll have about $6,000 in a money market that he must have forgotten about. When we divorced, he was supposed to liquidate all those accounts and give me half. He was an accountant and a SOB, so I never knew exactly what we had, but what I got seemed accurate (it paid for furniture, my wedding to M and part of this house, so I was OK with it). Lo and behold, a couple years ago, I found out we still have this money market account in both names. I tried to find him so we could liquidate/split it, but he’s missing. I get the statements here now, and the good part is he’s older than me, so I’m holding out hope he predeceases me and it will be mine.
Section Two: Income Income Progression: I've been working in my field for a year and a half, my starting salary was $100,000. I did a salary story with the entire progression – long story short, I’ve made more, and I’ve made less, but this is probably about the average of the last five years.
My husband has been at his job for 14 years – he started there making around $75,000 and now makes $110,000. They usually give him a $10,000 bonus at the end of the year, but are always crying poverty if people ask for a raise. Prior to that, he worked for a company that paid very well and he had a 15-minute commute, but he got out one step ahead of their bankruptcy.
Main Job Monthly Take Home: Me: $5,152
J: $6,230
Side Gig Monthly Take Home: M is paid $1,300/month by our parish for serving as Youth Minister.
Any Other Monthly Income: $16.00 I get quarterly dividends on stock I was given when I was born (I may not have been born into money, but apparently my grandparents had friends who thought this was a good baby gift). The last few were around $50, so I divided by 3.
Section Three: Expenses Rent / Mortgage / HOA fees (please specify how you split it if living with a partner): $3,043, which includes the property taxes and homeowner's insurance
Savings contribution: $500/month without fail (my bank transfers $100 if we get over $500 in, so once each paycheck and once when we put the church check in). More if I feel the savings needs a boost.
Debt payments: - Credit card #1: $350/month (this is about twice the minimum)
- Credit card #2: $375/month (minimum payment)
- Credit card #3: $200/month (minimum payment - this is the next one getting whacked when #1 is paid off)
Donations: OK – anyone who isn’t screaming because I owe $40K is going to start now.
- $300/month to the church in the “collection basket” (it’s electronic, but same diff)
- $100/month to the church building fund (last year of a five-year pledge, thankfully – if I hadn’t promised to pay it, I wouldn’t)
- $25/month to Habitat for Humanity
- $20/month to Citymeals on Wheels
- ~$50/month to various other charities
- ~$100/month in food for the church food drive (we don’t have a food pantry, but collect food every week and anyone from the neighborhood can come take some. The rest is donated to several food pantries and soup kitchens in the Diocese).
- As far as volunteer hours, M and I both teach Religious Ed. I'm on the Parish Council and co-social media manager of the parish (basically, I schedule Facebook). M also videotapes the 5:00 Mass and the children’s worship message each week and uploads it to the parish YouTube channel.
Electric: $110
Gas (stove/hot water): $50
Oil: $250/month in the winter
Wifi/Cable: $179
Cellphone: $252 for both of us (I get mine expensed except $26 for my phone payment)
Subscriptions:
- $.99/month for iCloud Storage
- $545/month for life insurance for both of us, plus $202 quarterly for the life insurance policies we took out when we bought the house
- $17/month for NY Times online
- $10.86/month for Ring video doorbell
- $12.99/month for Netflix
- $9.99/month for Spotify (I think M gets reimbursed for this, because he has it for Youth Ministry)
- $119/year for Amazon Prime (yes, I know, I am an awful person)
Car payment / insurance: $295/month for my car (leased). My husband is driving a 10-year old car that is paid off. $128/month for auto insurance
Lawn care: $50/month
Commuting: Now that we’re in COVID times, I’ve been buying a 10-trip off peak railroad ticket every five days for $78.75. Pre-COVID, M and I each bought a monthly ticket for $270, and I took the subway most days for an additional $100/month. I fill up the car about once a month (~$36) and M fills his about every other week (~$70/month)
Saturday, September 26, 2020 7:45 am: Up and at ‘em! I get up, get coffee, check emails and social media and start the day.
8:00 am: M leaves the house for a long list of errands, the payment for which will be shown below. I put in a load of laundry and discover…a leak! There is a large pipe between our powder room sink (which I used when I woke up) and the outside world that runs through the basement and is apparently leaking. Yay whee. If you get one thing from this diary, let it be these words of wisdom – don’t buy an old house! No beautiful feature is worth the aggravation! I get the water (I
hope it’s water) cleaned up, a load of laundry in, take a shower, do some picking up around the house, get dressed in a Rangers t-shirt and cut off distressed jeans, do my makeup (Olay microsculpting serum and Miracle Blur over the bottom of my face, pink, gray, and violet eyeshadows, a swipe of foundation under my eyes, black eyeliner, black mascara, and dark brown eye pencil. This is standard everyday makeup for me and will be repeated each day. I put volumizing mousse in my hair and blow dry it (also routine).
In the meantime, M gets a haircut ($30 including tip), sets up the video equipment at church, goes to CVS for passport photos that he needs for an application ($18.87), and goes to the religious goods store for a book of the Liturgy of the Hours ($42.31). He is starting formation for the diaconate (the process of becoming a Deacon in the Catholic Church) today, and they said he’ll need that book. He also needs the photos for his application, and he stops at the bank for two money orders – one to send with the background check request and one for his high school transcript ($26). On the way home, he picks up breakfast (brunch?) for us – classic New York BEC, SPK (bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll with salt, pepper and ketchup) for him and egg whites, turkey and swiss cheese on a whole wheat wrap for me ($10.78), as well as cigs for him and vape cartridges for me ($36).
The washing machine isn’t causing any additional leakage, so I move the wash to the dryer and start moving the winter clothes from the portable closet in front of the leaking pipe upstairs (they’re not wet, but we’re going to have to move the closet when the plumber comes).
After eating the egg sandwiches, we get changed for deacon class – I look like a good church lady in black slacks, a black and white flowered shirt with a black tank underneath, and black sandals with a chunky 2.5” heel. M goes with the classic golf shirt and dockers. While we’re getting changed, he mentions he needs new underwear, so I whip out the phone and order him some ($18.64).
6:30 pm: Home from deacon class and Mass and the groceries show up! I ordered them yesterday, but I don’t think the charge went through till today, so here goes. Asparagus, broccoli, celery, bananas, cucumber, lime, grape tomatoes, peaches, carrots, potatoes, spinach, lettuce, zucchini, frozen burgers, ground turkey, chicken breasts, whole chicken, fried chicken and a pot pie for J’s lunches, yogurt, sugar free pumpkin spice creamer (YES! I’ve been looking for it for weeks!), milk, heavy cream, OJ, k-cups, frozen green beans, cauliflower rice, stuffing mix, microwave rice, cake mix (the good ones were on sale), chicken broth, potato chips, and trash bags. Spent $154.95 including delivery, saved $14.50 (very low for me), tipped the delivery guy $10.
7:00 pm: After putting away all that food, what do we do? If you guessed order dinner, you’d be right! I don’t cook on Saturday unless we’re having company. We order from a new taco place – three each and “Mexican wings”. The wings were meh, but the tacos ranged from good to outstanding. $53.78 including tip. After dinner, M starts post-production of the Mass video and I do some laundry, watch the NASCAR race and the hockey game, and play games on my iPad. Remember, you’ll be old someday too!
11:00 pm: I go to the basement to pick up laundry and remember I wanted to order a new garden flag (this isn’t as random as it sounds – all my seasonal decorations are stored in the basement). I have had a cart set up for days with two garden flags ($6.99 each) and four magnetic mailbox covers for my parents for Christmas ($11.99 each) – they’ve talked about having a different one for each season, and I saw them when I was looking for a garden flag. Total with tax and free shipping: $61.94. I love Christmas and generally spend way too much on gifts so I’m trying to start shopping before December and at least spread out the pain. We went to a crafts fair a few weeks ago and I picked up a few things and now I’ve got this done – go me!!
12:30 pm: The hockey game is over (2 OT!) and I go to bed. M is napping waiting for his video production to finish.
Daily Total: $463.27 Sunday, September 27 7:00 am: The alarm goes off – ugh. It’s the first day of Religious Ed (virtual, but I have to do a 9:45 zoom with my 4th graders). Coffee, social media, shower, dress, makeup. Put on a black eyelet dress because we’re going back to church today so M can videotape First Communion. Do the usual makeup/hair thing.
10:30 am: My 4th graders are great and we’re ready to roll (M has on a shirt and tie in honor of the First Communion), and we’re off to Mass. Drop off the food I bought for our food pantry last week and help him video. Of course, the kids are adorable!
12:00 noon: We’re starving after church, so we stop at our favorite local pizza place on the way home. Get a variety of slices for $22.62, including a tip (we’re getting it to go, but I’m tipping everywhere, because I know restaurants have been hurt badly by the pandemic. These folks are in NYC and still haven’t opened inside dining.)
1:30 pm: Ate, ran more laundry, changed into the jeans I wore yesterday and a Yankees t-shirt and call the nail place. Of all my expenses, nails are probably the most non-negotiable – I’ve been getting my nails done for 40 years, and when I couldn’t do so during the lockdown, I was miserable. They can take me right away, which makes me happy.
3:00 pm: All 20 nails done – gel on the fingers and a regular pedicure with callus removal ($75 plus $15 tip = $90). I went with an autumn theme and got copper on the fingers and bronze toes – the nail polish looked in the jar like it would match the toes, but it doesn’t. Stop at CVS for eye cream (Olay for tired eyes) and mascara (L’Oreal Voluminous) - $27 with coupons. M asked me to pick up cigs on the way home, so I do, as well as vape cartridges, which I don’t technically need yet, but it will save a trip later in the week ($36).
3:30 pm: While at the nail place, I saw that one of our favorite local restaurants had a fire, which consumed an entire block of restaurants and small businesses. The Chamber of Commerce is doing a GoFundMe, and I donate $25 to the cause - $28.75 including the charge. I also notice that the weekly charge for my church donation went through ($75).
11:30 pm: Took a quick nap (the highlight of my week every week), put some fall decorations out, had our family Zoom call, laundry, got the end of the winter clothes moved upstairs, had dinner (roast chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus), made an apple crisp (I’m not a huge dessert person but M is and I like making desserts, so it works), watched baseball, football, the NASCAR race, and basketball, and took a quick shower. Bring a Light & Fit Toasted Coconut Vanilla yogurt (the best!) to bed, finish my book (“Next Stop, Chancey”) and find the next in the series on my iPad – I’ve read them all before, but I’m in the mood for something cozy, especially after reading about the Current Occupant’s taxes – ugh!) , and turn off the lights around midnight.
Daily Total: $279.37 Monday, September 28 6:45 am: I work from home M/W/F and so I can sleep in. Relatively speaking, anyway. Get dressed in a sleeveless top and shorts (despite the fall decorations, fall nails, and roast chicken/apple crisp, it feels rather summery out there), do makeup, have some coffee and scroll through emails/socials, move yet another load of laundry (I’m trying to get it all done before the plumber comes), find the number for the plumber and give it to M to call, get the trash out, and boil some eggs for breakfast this week. I’m sitting in front of the computer by 8:15, which is ok (technically, my hours are 8:30-5:30 – it’s usually more like 8:30-6:00, and on WFH days, starting at 7:30 is not unheard of). M drops off the car at the shop – I think I forgot to mention this, but he mentioned yesterday that when he was driving around Saturday, there was a grinding noise when he backed up. More joy to come, I’m sure.
9:45 am: I hear M on the phone with the garage – apparently, they can get a used part and do the job for $450. Not great, but it’s better than it might have been! He works from home basically every day except when he has to see customers, but thankfully we’re separated enough that we can hear each other but it’s not intrusive.
10:30 am: Between cursing at people on the phone, M calls the plumber and I grab some cheese and more coffee! I’d tell you about my job, but honestly, it’s not worth talking about. Basically, I go to meetings, take notes on meetings, and send follow-ups (I do other things, but that’s most of it). When I get off my 11:00 am meeting, I’ll find out when the plumber is coming. You guys are getting a much more exciting week than I expected!
12:30 pm: What a miserable day – it seems like everyone is annoyed! Take a break to eat a slice of leftover pizza and a Diet Coke (M finishes some rotisserie chicken from last week). He says the plumber may come today to look at the situation but can’t do the work till tomorrow.
6:00 pm: Keep my head down and get some work done in the afternoon and knock off for the day. Run downstairs and make dinner – “tacos” with strips of beef grilled with Korean barbecue sauce, shredded cabbage, cheddar cheese, pineapple salsa, cucumber slices, and lime inside warmed tortillas. Delicious, if I say so myself!
7:30 pm: I get on a Zoom faith sharing meeting and M gets on a Zoom religious ed class.
11:59 pm: Contemplated Sunday’s Gospel with my small group, watched Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup, took a shower and set clothes out for tomorrow, and off to bed. M picked up the car after Religious Ed.
Daily Total: $450.00 Tuesday, September 29 5:45 am: Ugh. Up and out – I’m wearing a green dress with a black jacket and have black slingbacks in my bag. I have to walk 30 short blocks and five long blocks once I get off the train, so I’m traveling light. I used to take the subway to my office, but since COVID, I try to limit that as much as possible.
7:45 am: Off the railroad and walk uptown. I actually don’t mind the walk, because when I WFH, I walk very little – at the beginning of the lockdown, I had a nice walking routine, but lately the work seems to start the minute I wake up, so walking to work takes care of getting in those STEPS! I forgot my boiled eggs and I’m starving, so I end up buying an egg sandwich. $5.43
12:30 pm: Because I only go to the city twice a week and I have to walk uptown with all my work stuff, I don’t bring lunch often (pre-pandemic, I used to bring breakfast and lunch every day, but I also took the subway). Decide to run to Pret and my boss and co-worker both ask me to pick something up. Of course, no one (including me) has anything but a $20, so they both say they’ll get me next time. I get my favorite chicken parm wrap and a Diet Coke. $32
12:45 pm: I look at my personal email and discover that J’s car registration needs to be renewed. Hop on the DMV website and take care of that. $158.50. I also realize I never took out the sausages for tonight’s dinner and call M to ask him to do so. He mentions the plumber has still not shown up.
5:45 pm: Leave a little early to get to the Fed Ex office and make my train home. I’m a little later than I’d like to be and it’s raining, so I get the subway, which is thankfully empty, reasonably clean, and quick. $2.75
7:15 pm: M picks me up at the train station and mentions that he was so busy working that he didn’t take the sausages out. He asks me what I want to eat and we end up at Wendy’s. Cheeseburger, fries, and (surprise, surprise) a Diet Coke. He gets the same thing, but bigger. $19.75
11:30 pm: Avoid the debate by watching the Yankees pound the Indians. Usual routine (plus ironing a shirt for J, because he has to go to a customer tomorrow) and off to sleep. I’m up to Book 3 in the Chancey series, for those keeping score.
Daily Total: $218.43 Wednesday, September 29 5:30 am: Double ugh. Woke up to use the bathroom and couldn’t get back to sleep, so here we are. Get dressed (long-sleeved Yankees t-shirt, straight leg jeans), do the face, have some coffee, and try to avoid the fact that my boss sent me an email at 11:00 pm last night looking for changes to a document, which I said I would do today. Get the trash out, pick up a little around the house, and get to work by 7:00. OH, and despite the lack of plumber and his lack of general motivation, M moved the plastic closet…in front of the washing machine! Glad I bought him underwear, because I won’t be doing laundry any time soon. Now I’m wondering if he looked at the menu (I am an obsessive meal planner and post it on the fridge weekly) and that’s why he didn’t take the sausages out – he’s avoiding zoodles! He can run but he can’t hide – I have zucchini and I’m going to spiralize it sooner or later!
8:00 am: The document my boss needed is out, the agenda for our 9:00 am meeting is done, the morning emails are sorted (for now), and I got a link to our parish survey up on the Facebook page, so I make an egg and cheese on a tortilla and eat at my desk.
12:50 pm: Wednesday is conference call hell – I have recurring calls every Wednesday at 9:00, 10:30, and 11:30, and the added fun today of a 10:00. There’s also a webinar every Wednesday that I try to tune into. Grab some chips and a Diet Coke and go check it out.
2:15 pm: Still no damn plumber, but I’ll let M worry about that when he’s home tomorrow. My garden flags arrived, so that’s good. Hoping to get out and put the pumpkin one out before it gets dark, but the way today is going, that might not actually happen. However, I realize I never put dinner in the crockpot. Luckily, it only takes 3-4 hours on high, so I take care of that. It’s Tuscan Chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. By 2:30, I’m back at my desk with another Diet Coke and hard at it. Nightmares of rescheduling meetings, missing documents, etc.
6:45 pm: Still at my desk! OK, I took some time to send an email to the parish webmaster about the survey, update this, and read the R29 money diary of the day. But overall, I’ve been working with no apparent end in sight – I could easily be here all night, but I won’t be because (a) I’m falling asleep at my desk and (b) I have a 7:30 Religious Ed teachers meeting. Hopefully I won’t fall asleep during that. Make a list of things for my boss and I to review tomorrow and finish prepping dinner.
7:15 pm: Dinner was delicious – we had the chicken with rice for M and cauliflower rice for me, sautéed broccoli, and a basic salad (bagged spring mix, cherry tomatoes, cucumber). Now off to Zoom!
11:45 pm: The Yankees game is still on, but I’m showered, my clothes are set out for tomorrow, and I’m fading. Turn off the light and hope for a win.
Daily Total: $0.00 (bet you didn’t see that coming!)
Thursday, October 1 5:45 am: You know it…ugh. Get up, coffee, very quick scroll through the Yankees score/e-mail/social media. Get dressed in a black v-neck sweater, black and gray plaid skirt, and black jacket (not the same one I wore the other day). Am grateful the skirt fits – I gained some weight and am trying to resist buying clothes. Make sure I have the right shoes in my bag – I’m wearing high-heeled gray suede Mary Janes today.
8:15 am: At my desk and ready to go – I remembered to bring 2 hard-boiled eggs today, which I eat with coffee while looking through emails.
12:30 pm: Call after call after call, but I have a half-hour to eat. Run to the fancy buffet place that just re-opened for 2 meatballs, brussels sprouts, broccoli, salad, and the inevitable Diet Coke ($15.75). Manage to eat before my 1:00 pm call – go me!
3:30 pm: Leave to go to a job site and pick something up that has to be shipped to Italy. Something that's almost as tall as me, but thankfully not heavy. Taxi down there because I’m in a hurry and I can get reimbursed ($14.04, including tip), expensed.
4:00 pm: I get a cab to the Fed Ex office – thankfully the first one I see is a minivan, so I fit in just fine ($12.74, including tip), expensed.
5:30 pm: Well, that was harder than it needed to be – the Fed Ex office I went to didn’t have a box that would fit the item, so they suggested another Fed Ex office about 6 blocks away, so I had to walk through midtown Manhattan carrying an object almost as tall as me (it's 5' long and I'm 5'3" tall) while dodging oblivious people. Thankfully, the other office had my box, and they were super-sweet and helpful, but it took them forever to get it done. Bought the box and bubble wrap, which will be expensed (I brought the Fed Ex label, but I don’t remember the account number) ($43.54). Get a nice early train home, though!
6:45 pm: Wow, we’re eating when I’m usually getting the train! Cheeseburgers, tots (tater for J, cauliflower for me), green beans, and vinegar coleslaw with the end of the shredded cabbage. Get the kitchen cleaned and the dishwasher run and settle in to watch the Jets – I’m not holding out much hope, but you never know!
11:30 pm: I’ve showered, set out clothes for me and M (he’s seeing customers tomorrow), I prepped for Youth Group, which I’m leading because he’ll be working, and the Jets are winning, so I decide it’s time to sleep. Up to Book 5 of the Chancey series. I find series usually go downhill after about the third or fourth book, but I’m not sure what I feel like reading, so here we are. OH, at some point M must have gone to the convenience store, because there are vape cartridges on the table ($36).
Daily Total: $122.07; $70.32 expensed
Friday, October 02, 2020 6:00 am: Wake up, grab coffee, find out the Jets lost after all, do the morning e-mail/social media scroll. Leaving early to deal with that work errand has left me with a ton of stuff to do, so I get dressed (long-sleeved v-neck gray t-shirt, white tank because the v-neck is halfway to my belly button, dark wash skinny jeans), put out the trash, peel two hard-boiled eggs, and head to my desk.
12:30 pm: As always, call after call after call. Plus a bit of aggravation when my boss asks me at 10:30 for an agenda for the 11:00 call, which I sent him at about 7:30, and which he returns at 10:59 with the formatting looking like nothing on earth. Yay whee! And a project was mentioned that he forgot to tell me I’d do. So in case I thought I’d have nothing to do (that never happens on Fridays), that’s not happening. Anyway, between calls, I run downstairs for the lunch of champions – a Hot Pocket and a Diet Coke. Just that kind of day.
6:15 pm: Realize I have to run Youth Group at 7 and I haven’t even done my haimakeup. Get that done, heat up some frozen cauliflower rice/broccoli/cheese combination and add some leftover chicken. With a green salad on the side, surprisingly yummy.
8:15 pm: I am not a good youth leader…couldn’t get anyone talking about the subject of the day, which I thought would be a good one. I did make them laugh a few times, so that’s something.
M is going to have some expenses because he went to see customers today, but I don’t know what they are and his company will reimburse him, so I’m just leaving them out.
Daily Total: $0.00 This is the Week That Was: Food + Drink: $326.06
Fun / Entertainment: $108 (if people can put drugs in as entertainment, I’m putting our nicotine in)
Home + Health: $61.94
Clothes + Beauty: $165.64
Transport: $638.03 (some of it will be expensed)
Other: $234.47
Lastly, reflect on your diary! How do you feel about your spending? Was this a normal week for you? Has this inspired you to make changes or has it given you a “wow I’m doing pretty good” confidence boost? Is there anything you’re actively working on? No need to answer any or all these questions but just use this space to write any thoughts you have!
This was a fairly normal week except for the car breaking and needing to be registered – we're saving some now that we WFH more because M will
not bring food from home, but I used to bring breakfast and lunch at least four days a week. I know we should make changes, but I also know we don’t want to – honestly, if you looked at the way I lived 15 years ago, I’ve made a lot of changes already. We’re working on the credit cards – I’ve gotten rid of several already (paid off, not just moved balances around) and we don’t use them at all anymore (I can honestly say I don’t remember the last thing I charged). The bad news is that M’s car is on its last legs, and so I see car payments in our future. Hopefully, he’ll get something used – we have my car when we want to look good going somewhere (mine isn’t super-fancy, it just wasn’t hit by a bus and full of stuff for his job).
OH, and the plumber still hasn’t shown up! But that will be for next week’s expenses.
Nite Yuki laid in bed with Serren, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. She turned to Serren and quietly rolled out of bed, slowly moving so as not to wake him.
Silently, Yuki padded out of the bedroom and stopped dead once she reached the kitchen, finding Rezzolina out near the railings of the balcony.
Rezzolina was wearing a simple shirt and a pair of loose-fitting and worn shorts. A light robe fluttered in the breeze which wafted in through the open balcony doors. Rezzolina had her back to Yuki, facing the night sky.
Yuki hoped she hadn’t been discovered. She turned just as Rezzolina called to her.
“Even if I couldn’t feel you, Yuki,” Rezzolina turned to Yuki as she inhaled the end of a small cigarette, blowing out a cloud of blue luminescent smoke from her nostrils, “I’d hear your clumsy footsteps in
my home.”
Yuki sighed, “hi, Rezzolina.”
Rezzolina turned back to look out over the balcony, “sneaking out, are you?”
Yuki walked towards the balcony, stepping out into the warm humid air and moving to the railing, “Just wanted to look around.”
Rezzolina gave a nod, inhaling another drag from her cigarette and exhaling more plumes of colorful light blue luminescent smoke. “Do you smoke?” Rezzolina offered a pack of blue cigarettes.
Yuki smiled, shaking her head, “no. Bad habit to have on a spaceship.”
Rezzolina nodded, inhaling again, “disgusting habit, to be honest,” she exhaled once more through her nostrils.
“Then why do it?” Yuki asked.
“Stress,” Rezzolina said, taking another inhale and looking upwards towards the sky.
Yuki looked up towards the Niten sky as well, smiling at the familiar sight of an evening sky framed by skyscrapers. “I like to come out to
my balcony and look at the stars back on Dei.”
“It’s relaxing,” Rezzolina turned to Yuki, “So, what do you love about my brother?”
Yuki smiled, looking up, “he’s got a very compassionate heart,” her smile weakened, “and yet it’s so wounded.”
Rezzolina nodded, “Allia really did a number on him.”
Yuki turned to Rezzolina once more, “oh?”
Rezzolina nodded, “refused to have children for the first few years. Not really something most couples do,” she took another inhale. “I thought she was a little selfish, at least towards Serren.”
“I didn’t think an empathetic race could be selfish,” Yuki chuckled, “are you all connected?”
“Yes, in chains,” Rezzolina inhaled again, now blowing the smoke out between her lips through the end of her snout in a single stream of pulsing blue smoke. “Allia’s chain was attached strongly to her purpose, her job,” Rezzolina leaned against the railings a little more as lights twinkled in the air and across the glass of the large buildings.
“So she was focused on her hunting?” Yuki asked.
“She was,” Rezzolina extinguished her cigarette, “it consumed her. It was all she cared about. Not that it’s bad to care about your profession but…” Rezzolina trailed off.
Yuki laughed, “you shared that trait with her?”
“I did,” Rezzolina nodded, turning to Yuki, “But I also don’t do anything so selfish as taking a mate when I know I do not have the time to give them.”
“The time?” Yuki asked.
Rezzolina smiled, “I barely have time to see my brother when he stops by for the first time in years. Do you really think I have the time to dedicate to a mate?”
“I guess not,” Yuki sighed.
“It’s lonely, at times,” Rezzolina stood up, stretching, “but I get respect at work, luxurious accommodations for the stressful work environment, and the knowledge that thanks to
my efforts, the people of Nite don’t go hungry and can sleep soundly,” as Rezzolina spoke, her smile widened, looking up towards a large building across the street from her own.
Yuki smiled, “To me, I’m just looking for minerals to sell to feed my own family, I can’t imagine working hard to feed others.”
Rezzolina’s smile faded, “and that, Yuki, is why Dei is a primitive wasteland,” she turned to her, “and why
you’re staying here.”
“But, can’t you reconsider?” Yuki pleaded.
Rezzolina shook her head, “No,” she stated as she walked back inside, “I cannot.”
Yuki sighed, “Rezzolina-”
“Good night, Yuki,” Rezzolina said as she passed her kitchen. “There’s some evening tea bags in the cupboard if you need some help sleeping.”
Yuki heaved a sigh and took a seat on a large chair on the balcony. She looked out over the city and could hear traffic down below and the occasional shouts and noises of the large city. She closed her eyes as the white noise relaxed her.
Yuki got up and returned to bed, shutting the balcony doors before she crawled back into bed with Serren.
“I guess that’s that. I can’t see Geoffrey,” she frowned, cuddling up against Serren, her eyes watering.
“That can’t be it, can it?” she sighed, closing her eyes. Falling into a heavy sleep.
… A fog-filled field greeted Yuki and she seemed to be all alone. Out in the distance, there was a scratching noise. Almost like metal scraping against metal.
As Yuki moved towards it, she felt as if she were floating.
A red Nite sat clad in white robes, gently tinkering with a small object. He seemed very young.
“Serren?” Yuki asked softly.
The young Nite turned his head to Yuki and gave her a warm smile, “He's at work.”
Yuki frowned, the boy looked familiar. “Oh. Who are you?”
The young Nite laughed and went back to his tinkering, “You must not have gotten much sleep last night again, mother.”
Yuki just frowned and sat next to him, “My dreams are getting troubled it seems.”
The boy looked at her and frowned, “It’s probably due to your acclimation. From when you used to be a normal Dei Angel. The Doctor told you not to worry about those weird
visions.”
“Used to be?” Yuki asked, looking to the young Nite. “What do you mean, used to be?” she reached out to touch him, but when her hand crossed her vision, she noticed it had bluish claws at the end. She examined her hand curiously, confused as to why her fingers were tipped with claws.
She then looked to her wings. Blue Niten wings! She turned and found a short and slender tail behind her. “Oh, my Guardian...”
The young boy looked very concerned. “IS there something wrong, mom? Are you all right?”
Yuki went pale, “Wh-What did you call me?” She said, her mouth agape.
No! It can't be possible, can it...? The young boy frowned, “I said 'mom'... is something wrong? Should I call the doctor?”
“N-No!” she gasped, “No, no... I'm... I'm fine.” she closed her eyes. “Mommy's fine.”
The young Nite placed his hand on hers. “I know what you saw in your dreams is troubling you mother... but I promise nothing like that can happen – The Guardians would not allow it.”
Yuki looked at him, “The Guardians?”
The boy nodded, “And you can trust me, I’m the Scribe Lord, Mother.” he said with a bit of pride. “I’ll make sure to protect us all, in the name of The Guardians!”
He must have gotten that pride from me... unless he's a hunter... what's a Scribe Lord? The world began to fade to darkness as the fog thickened, the only thing that remained was the boy’s shimmering blue eyes,
her eyes. The world was plunged into complete darkness.
...
Yuki sat up, gasping, confused, and in Serren’s arms.
“Shhh, just a dream my love,” Serren whispered.
“Oh, Serren!” Yuki grabbed hold of him, burying her face in his chest, “I keep having dreams of my son! I have to bring him here!”
“But how?” Serren whispered, “Rezzolina won’t allow it.”
Yuki grinned, “there’s more than one way onto a ship.”
…
Dei A heavy base beat thumps in a dark room as a number of imps and angel men alike cheer and shout at a stage with a number of chrome poles running from the stage to the ceiling.
An angel woman in nothing but a thong gyrates and thrusts along the pole, her dark wings catch the light from time to time, sending fractals of light bouncing through the humid club air as she twists, spins, and flips around the pole.
In the VIP room, towards the back of the club, surrounded by a pair of strippers and several off-duty cops, Palma finished inhaling a line of powder off the table.
He shouts excitedly and thumps his chest, “Yeah! That’s the
shit!” he cries as he pulls one of the girls tight against him.
She winces at his tight grip.
“You wanna come home with me babe?” Palma grins at the girl getting especially close.
She beams to him, “Sure daddy, as long as you can keep up,” she winked at him.
Palma pulled several large bills marked ‘100 Lumens’ each out of his pocket and placed them in his mouth, as he leaned over the girl.
She bit the bills out of his mouth and grinned up to him, stuffing them in her ample cleavage.
Palma got up and let loose another scream, his heart hammering in his ears as the drugs in his system fueled his evening activities.
The night continues with more lines of his new preferred drug, even sharing with his newly met lady friend.
Before he knew what was happening, he was in a hotel room. Palma and his new acquaintance both cried out in ecstasy, sweat drenched the pair as the drug surged through their veins, fueling frantic lovemaking.
After that, Palma blacked out and awoke staring up at the ceiling of the hotel room, his head pounding and his mouth and throat dry and his ears ringing.
He rolled off the bed, stumbling to the bathroom where he finally managed to pull himself up to the sink and get a drink directly from the tap.
His phone was buzzing, loudly. Far too loud.
He took another swallow of water, leaving the tap open, as he staggered his way to his jacket, which had landed somewhere on the floor of the hotel room.
Palma picked up the phone and found he missed the call.
He had missed 35 calls, to be exact.
The phone rang once more and Palma winced as he saw the number.
He cleared his throat, and answered as best he could, his voice cracking slightly as answered, “Y-Yes, So-orjoy?” He managed to sputter.
“By the Guardian wherein Oblivion have you been?” Sorjoy barked over the phone.
Palma looked around the room,
“That’s a great question, I’m wondering that myself,” Palma thought. He didn’t recognize the hotel. It wasn’t cheap, sure, but he wasn’t familiar with it. “Uh… busy?” he stammered.
“Busy?!” Sorjoy growled, “You work for
me, Palma! Don’t forget that fact!”
Palma took a deep breath and rubbed his head with his free hand, “yeah, yeah.”
“Where the fuck are you? I need you here
yesterday!” Sorjoy screamed into the phone.
“Yeah, yeah,” Palma grumbled, getting to his feet and staggering to the bathroom to get another few gulps of water.
“Don’t you ‘yeah yeah’ me, Palma! I will hang you out to dry!” Sorjoy threatened.
Palma grumbled to himself, finally sneering to the phone, “Sorry,
sir.”
“Daddy…” the young buxom woman cried softly from the bed, her head in her hands, “oh… Guardian… I-I don’t…” she fell to her knees and vomited.
“Fuck…” Palma grumbled as the girl unloaded her stomach contents on the floor. Palma spotted the remains of pills in the mix of her excess.
“I-I don’t… feel… too good… I-I…” she whimpered, tears streaming down her face as she wiped the vomit from her lips.
“Palma, where the fuck are you?!” Sorjoy screamed on the phone.
Palma splashed some water on his face from the sink, and cleared his throat, “What do you need, Mr. Sorjoy?”
“Finally,” Sorjoy relented, “I need you to get an escort for the delivery of the Heart of Lucifer to Mr. Trueman’s estate.”
“A private company can’t do that?” Palma protested.
“If I
wanted a private security company to do it,” Sorjoy fumed, “then I wouldn’t have a need for
you in my back pocket, now would I?!”
Palma flinched at the volume coming from the phone.
“Now be a good pet,” Sorjoy growled, “and
heel!” the line went dead.
Palma closed his eyes tightly and gave a powerful exhale through his nostrils, trying to clear his head, “fuck that shit hit me hard.”
“I-I gotta go to a doctor…” the feeble angel kneeling before him sobbed, “I feel like my head is going to explode…”
Palma walked to his clothing strewn about all over the floor and collected it, dressing as swiftly as he could. He reached into his wallet and pulled out a few bills, “go to the hospital and if you talk about this? I’ll find you and gut you myself,” he tossed the girl several large bills, “go get fixed up.”
The young woman whimpered as the bills fell to the ground, a few landing in her own sick, “b-but I… I think I’m dying…”
“Then do me a favor and do it somewhere away from me,” Palma stated, turning on his heel and rushing out of the hotel.
…
Cleo sat at her desk while Sorjoy paced back and forth in front of his office door.
“Sir,” Cleo began, “would you like me to have someone install hardwood in front of your office?”
Sorjoy glared at her, “Why would I want that, Cleo?”
“Because you’re going to wear out the carpet with that pacing,” Cleo said, jokingly.
“This is no joking matter,” Sorjoy hissed as he continued to pace, “Trueman is expecting the gem today and I’m not going to risk something so valuable being transported by anyone other than the police.”
“Because they
can’t be corrupt,” Cleo sighed, tapping away on her keyboard.
Sorjoy chuckled, “when they are
my corrupt cops, it doesn’t matter. They know not to bite the hand that feeds them.”
Cleo gave a nod. Sorjoy had been opening up to her lately regarding how much power he had. She was unsure why he was doing this. Posturing? To instill fear in her?
Whatever his reasons, Cleo had not felt that they were affecting her in the ways that Sorjoy desired.
Cleo’s phone rang and she answered quickly, “Erik Sorjoy’s office.”
“Chief Palma told us to help escort the Diamond. Said he would be waiting at Trueman’s office. We have several officers at your HQ,” the officer stated.
“Thank you so much,” Cleo turned to Sorjoy, “we’ll join you. Please come around back to the loading bay, we’ll be leaving from there.”
Sorjoy turned to Cleo, “Good news?”
“Our police escorts are here,” Cleo informed Sorjoy.
“Good,” Sorjoy heaved a sigh, he made his way towards the elevator, “let's hope no one tries anything stupid.”
…
Several officers flew around the back of the large Fondsworth building, all surrounding a pair of black limousines.
Naberious cleared his throat as a few of the officers landed near him. He tipped his hat to a few of them as they approached.
The second limo was in front of Naberious’s, the other driver looked far more nervous than Naberious.
One officer approached the second driver, “you got clearance for this?” his badge read “Officer Grant”
“What?” The driver squeaked.
“ID, asshole,” Officer Grant said, pushing the driver’s shoulder.
The driver flinched and pulled out an ID card, handing it over, “I’m a professional transporter! Shit man.”
Officer Grant looked over his ID, “Bade Trenner?”
Bade nodded.
Officer Grant swiped the ID through a small card reader, looking it over.
Bade hemmed and hawed.
Naberious kept his eyes forward as the officers paid him no mind.
Officer Grant grinned, looking to Bade, “Hey, asshole, wanna take a guess as to what I just found?”
Bade gasped, “I can explain-”
Officer Grant punched Bade across the face, then pulled him out of the limo as another officer pounced on him, forcing him to the ground. “Take him in for questioning!”
Bade shouted in protest as he was carted off by a pair of officers. Officer Grant chuckled, “who can drive one of these?” he asked his fellow officers.
A young eager to please officer volunteered and climbed into the limo.
Officer Grant now moved towards Naberious, approaching him menacingly.
Naberious pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a drag and blowing the smoke away from Officer Grant.
“Hey, you!” Officer Grant said as he approached Naberious.
“Yeah?” Naberious asked calmly.
“Mind if I bum one of those off of you?” Officer Grant asked.
“Knock yourself out,” Naberious offered the pack of cigarettes to the officer, who took one gladly.
“Have you ever worked with that guy before?” Officer Grant asked.
Naberious shook his head, lighting the officer’s cigarette for him, “Can’t say I have. He’s new. He was supposed to be the lead car. The armored truck is getting loaded in the loading dock. Once you boys give the okay, the big boss comes down and we make our way to wherever it is we’re going.”
“They haven’t told you yet?” Officer Grant asked, taking a drag.
“Man, they don’t tell me
shit,” he grinned to Officer Grant.
The pair laughed.
Officer Grant’s radio soon squawked to life, “Address enroute, heading to 1000 Prestige Lane,” Palma’s voice called out.
Officer Grant nodded.
“Never heard of that address,” Naberious noted.
“It’s a code,” Officer Grant smiled, “VIP estate. We gotta verify now with dispatch on a secure line.”
“VIP, coming in hot,” an officer shouted as Cleo and Sorjoy walked out of a small door to the left of the loading dock.
Cleo grimaced at the uneven concrete in front of her, taking mincing steps in her heels as she moved gingerly towards the limo. She steadied herself on the back of the limo, looking to the lead car, her brow furrowing as she saw an officer sitting in the opened driver side door.
“Where’s Bade?” Cleo asked.
“Who is Bade?” Sorjoy countered.
“He’s the other transporter I commissioned for the lead car,” Cleo explained as Naberious assisted her towards the limousine door.
“Why did you commission a transporter? We have Naberious,” Sorjoy questioned, “granted we are not tight on funds.”
“Because,” Cleo explained, “the lead car is a dummy car.”
Sorjoy gave a slight nod of approval as he slid inside the limo, “well thought out, Ms.Walters.”
Naberious leaned into the back of the limousine, “Bade acted nervous around the officers and they arrested him.”
“For acting nervous?” Sorjoy frowned.
“He was a fully vetted transporter!” Cleo complained, “I hired him myself!”
Naberious shrugged, “you act suspicious around some cops, they’ll take you in until they find something,
anything, to hold you.”
Sorjoy chuckled, “I’m sure your transporter will be fine, assuming he’s done nothing wrong.”
Naberious grinned, “I saw the scan, his ID checked out and he had no priors. Cop baited him and he fell for it. The only thing that kid is guilty of is being green.”
Sorjoy nodded, “well then I am glad he’s no longer working on this project.”
Cleo sighed, “he was just the dummy car, sir.”
“Noted, but do fire him, Cleo,” Sorjoy smiled, leaning back in the limo.
“Yessir,” Cleo said, tapping on her tablet.
Naberious closed the door and got into the driver's seat.
Soon a pair of large armored trucks rolled out of the loading bay.
The first truck passed the limousines, while the second stopped long enough to allow both limousines to travel in between.
“Well, I must say,” Sorjoy smiled, “I do feel rather safe.”
Cleo nodded.
Outside of the limousine, three police officers per armored vehicle stood on top of the large trucks.
As the caravan made its way down the street, the officers held on to the roof with handles and quick release straps. The officers each carried with them heavy assault rifles.
After a few minutes, a voice shouted from a side street: “Cerberus comes for you!” a large bottle filled with gasoline crashed against the first armored car.
Naberious spotted the flames on the first car and shouted “Shit!” He quickly took a right while the front limousine took a left, each of them heading down the wrong road. Eggs pelted the windows and sides of Sorjoy’s limousine.
“Problem?” Sorjoy asked as Naberious turned the limo.
“Someone just tossed an incendiary device at the lead armored car,” Naberious shifted the limousine into gear, and Cleo and Sorjoy were soon shoved into one another as the limousine picked up speed. “Hang on back there, getting us out of the hot zone!”
Cleo yelped as Sorjoy caught her.
Sorjoy looked down, realizing he was gripping Cleo’s hips tightly.
“Mr. Sorjoy!” Cleo narrowed her eyes on him.
Sorjoy released her, “you’re welcome,” he cleared his throat as he attempted to brush off the awkward grip.
Outside three of the police angels leaped off the top of the lead armored car and flew towards where the bottle was thrown from.
“Hands up!” an officer shouted to one angel wearing a dog mask.
The dog masked man held up his hands, “holy shit - I’m unarmed!”
“Good,” a second officer snickered, gunning the man down without any further warning.
Other angels in dog masks jumped out of side streets and alleyways.
The three officers soon opened fire, taking out another pair of angels and tagging another before they ceased fire.
“Three down, one tagged, flag the nearby hospitals, anyone comes in with gunshot wounds, make sure it’s reported,” Officer Grant shouted, “come on, let's collect the dogs,” he laughed.
A radio buzzed in Naberious’s car, “Disturbance has been quelled, follow the alternate route. Sending it to you now.”
Naberious took the radio up and slowed the limousine down, “got it.”
Cleo sighed, “well, thank the Guardian that’s over.”
Sorjoy nodded, “This is why you make sure you have cops you can trust.”
…
Palma sipped a coffee as he sat across from Bade. He was looking over a file, then glanced up to Bade as if it was the first time he had noticed him there, “oh, you need something to drink?”
“What am I being held for?” Bade swallowed hard.
Palma looked back to his file and took another calm sip, “you know what you’re here for.”
Bade went pale and began to sweat, “okay list-”
“Who put you up to it?” Palma said, looking at the paper still, “you’ve got no priors, so either you’re very good,” Palma looked up to Bade, “which is doubtful…”
Bade frowned, “Listen, I want a lawyer.”
“Oh, me too man,” Palma said, laying the paperwork down on the table, “me too. I bet I could get all kinds of compensation from the department from this fucking jobs. You know how many times I’ve been shot in the line of duty?” Palma shook his head.
Bade looked down at the table.
“A cop died today,” Palma lied.
“What?!” Bade looked up, shocked.
“Yep. Some fucking bastard in a dog mask threw a bottle filled with gas at an armored vehicle,” Palma shook his head, “poor bastard was burned alive in his gear.”
“I-I,” Bade stammered, sweating even more now.
“What a shitty way to go,” Palma shook his head, “I’d prefer some drug dealer just pop me in the back of the head, myself. One second I’m busting some imp prick for selling drugs to kids, the next second I’m shaking hands with the Guardian Lucifer.”
Bade looked away.
“So, Bade,” Palma said, finally looking at Bade, “who’s your contact?”
Bade was silent, “I was called onto the initial job with a legit contract. Low balled, sure, but it was just to drive the dummy car and I’ve got no experience so I figured: bite the bullet and take the shitty contract.”
“Mmhmm,” Palma nodded.
Bade heaved a sigh, “then some guy contacts me and says he can double my pay if I just make a right down a particular road instead of a left.”
“I’m listening and you’re doing well here, you are,” Palma grinned.
“That’s it,” Bade admitted.
“That’s it?” Palma said, standing up. “You sure?”
Bade nodded.
“Listen, if you’re scared of these guys,” Palma smiled, drinking the rest of his coffee, “I have to tell you, that’s the wrong way of looking at things.”
“What?” Bade said, shivering.
Palma smashed the coffee mug on the table and pressed the broken porcelain against Bade’s throat, “you should be way more afraid of
me!”
Bade gasped and tried to step back, but found Palma’s hand on the back of his neck. “C-Camera!” Bade said, pointing to the camera with a flashing red light in the corner.
Palma turned to it and smiled wickedly, “Make a choice, Bade, who are you more afraid of? Guys in masks who run around killing cops in the dark…”
Bade whimpered as Palma pressed the jagged porcelain against his throat.
“Or a cop like me,” Palama whispered into his ear, “who has no problems killing you right here, on camera, with my face on full display?”
Bade began to piss himself.
“Make your choice Bade… I haven’t got all day… and my hand’s starting to cramp,” Palma hissed with a devilish grin.
Bade stammered, “I-I don’t know his name! B-But I know he was a co-worker of that miner who fell! That’s all I know about
Cerberus, I swear to the Guardian!”
Palma smiled, pulling the coffee mug away from Bade’s neck, “thanks for being co-operative,” Palma slammed Bade’s face down onto the table with his other hand.
Bade’s head bounced off and he recoiled, falling back against the wall, collapsing to the floor in a heap as Palma strode out of the room.
Two officers stood there in shock.
Once the door shut, Palma burst out laughing, “Holy fuck! These Cerberus guys are a joke!” Palma grinned wickedly as he looked to the closed door, “I was literally just fuckin’ with him!”
One officer chuckled, “So were we!”
Palma grinned to them, “Just goes to show you boys,” he walked past the pair of officers, “
everyone is guilty of something.”
…
Nite “I’m sorry,” Rezzolina frowned, “you want… what?”
Yuki beamed, “I want to see the shuttle, you know before it’s decommissioned.”
“
You want to see the shuttle?” Rezzolina lifted an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Yuki smiled wide, “Is that a problem?”
“It’s an odd favor to ask, from
you, all things considered,” Rezzolina thought out loud as she drank from a cup of hot amber colored tea.
“Is it?” Yuki asked.
Serren smiled, “she is a pilot, sister. Maybe she’d like to see how the shuttles operate?”
Rezzolina leaned back in her chair, “the shuttle does leave in a week. It’s not like you’re going to stow-away in that time.”
“Awesome! So that’s a yes then?” Yuki beamed at Rezzolina.
Serren joined Yuki in smiling at Rezzolina.
Rezzolina heaved a sigh, “Fine!” she stood up, placing her mug down, “but only because I haven’t seen you in a few years, Serren.”
Serren grinned, “Oh my, spending time with my sister! This is a new experience.”
Rezzolina narrowed her eyes on Serren, “Don’t push it, Brother.”
Yuki smiled,
“Part one of the plan is coming together…” she thought to herself.
…
A few hours later Rezzolina, Serren, and Yuki landed near a large staging area. A rather large ship was taking on crates and Niten dragons of all sorts were walking along the fuselage inspecting the craft.
“Wow,” Yuki remarked, “that’s a big shuttle.”
Rezzolina nodded, “yes it is, it has to be to transport goods from Nite to Dei.”
Yuki wondered why she had never seen a ship like this on Dei. Surely she would have had to see it? Someone would have seen it, right?
“I don’t suppose I could meet the crew, could I?” Yuki asked.
Rezzolina shrugged, “Why not, they’re inspecting the ship now.”
“They are?” Yuki smiled, “you actually let the flight crew inspect the ship?”
“Who else would do it? They’re the ones whose lives are on the line,” Rezzolina pointed out in a haughty tone.
“Ugh,” Yuki lamented, “I wish they had let us do that on Dei. There is a separate crew that does the maintenance.”
“It is like that on Dei,” Rezzolina pointed out, “in order to prevent the transmission of any foreign disease to the crew members, the crew quarters is on lockdown when it’s docked.”
“Really?” Yuki frowned,
“That would explain why no one has ever seen a Niten piloted shuttle land on Dei.” she thought.
“Honestly the only intelligent thing I’ve heard a Dei Angel say over a conference call,” Rezzolina said, approaching the ship.
Yuki’s mouth hung open, “excuse me?”
“I stand by that statement,” Rezzolina said as she continued towards the ship without looking back. “Come on, if you want to meet the crew, they’re this way.”
Serren sighed, “I’m sorry Yuki.”
“Yeah,” Yuki glared at Rezzolina, “me too.”
Rezzolina stood next to the large shuttle and shouted, “Anyone see a lazy pilot and her buddies anywhere around here?” she joked.
A large female Niten dragon, with brown scales and green eyes, chuckled to Rezzolina, “Chairwoman! What on Nite are you doing here?”
Rezzolina smiled and motioned for her to come down, “inspection.”
The brown Nite jumped down from the large ship, which stood a good ten meters off the ground. About halfway through her fall, she flapped her wings and slowed herself enough to land safely, “To what do I owe this pleasure?” she said, hugging Rezzolina.
Rezzolina hugged back, chuckling, “Well Brigg, it seems we’ve got tourists.”
“Tourists?” Briggett, the large brown nite said, turning to see Yuki and Serren approaching. She smiled, “Well hey there, little lady!”
Yuki smiled, for once not feeling spoken down to. Granted Briggett was the largest female nite she had run into, “Hi!” Yuki said.
“I’ve seen you on the news,” Briggett smiled, “Yuki, right? You must be a pretty skilled little pilot to keep one of those little bubble shuttles from melting on reentry.”
Yuki beamed, “It wasn’t as difficult as roughing it for a week in the wild.”
Briggett nodded, “it’s a miracle that you’re alive!”
Yuki nodded back, “So, mind showing me around your clunker?”
Briggett beamed, “I’d be honored! Come on board. My name’s Briggett, but please, call me Brigg. I’m the ship’s captain.”
“Nice to meet you Brigg,” Yuki grinned, “you already know my name but, Yuki Karkade,” she offered her hand to shake.
Briggett smiled, shaking her hand, “Pleased to meet you, Yuki.”
Yuki headed with Briggett towards the ship.
Rezzolina turned to Serren, “You’re not interested?”
Serren looked over the massive ship, “the less contact I have with it the better.”
Rezzolina smiled, “want to have lunch while Yuki and Briggett talk trade?”
Serren smiled to Rezzolina, “Yes, I’d love to.”
Rezzolina grinned back, “Good. Then you can explain to me how on Nite you mated with this Dei Angel.”
Serren laughed, as he shouted to Yuki, “I’ll catch up with you later!”
Yuki smiled back, “okay love!”
Briggett smiled, “Love? I’ve never heard that as a colloquial on Dei.”
“You speak Dei?” Yuki grinned.
Briggett nodded, “Have to! The crew that we land with are Dei angels.”
“Explains why you’re the only one who hasn’t called me a primitive,” Yuki remarked.
Briggett sighed, “I’ll apologize on their behalf: They don’t understand. Dei is kind of…” she sighed, “further apart than Nite.”
“How so?” Yuki questioned.
“You know, when you come to a big city like this,” she motioned to the city behind them, “you get used to knowing lots and lots of people. Everyone’s right on top of each other. This entire city was the first city ever built, you know.”
“Wow, really?” Yuki smiled.
“Oh yeah, back then Metro Prime was just, well, a little city, but everyone worked to protect one another and build it into the center of our society that it is today,” Briggett laughed.
“And I guess moving the city walls out is hard?” Yuki noted.
“Rarely happens,” Briggett motioned to the large buildings, “but it’s easier to build up than out. So that’s where things went.”
Yuki laughed, “I’d imagine.”
“But it’s different on Dei,” Briggett noted, “On Dei, no one had to live on top of each other. Folks could set out on their own, do their own thing, and not have to worry about some horrible giant lizard stomping them to death in their sleep.”
“Yeah,” Yuki shivered, recalling the terrible sight of poor Fammel, “that’s… not a pleasant image.”
Briggett shook her head, “It’s not. But,” Briggett smiled, changing the subject as they neared the rear of the ship, “because of that, I’m well aware that Dei society is just different. Not primitive.”
“It’s great to hear that,” Yuki smiled.
“Besides, my co-pilot Tarabetha?” Briggett leaned down to Yuki, whispering, “she’s got a crush on an air traffic controller named Thomas on Dei.”
“You don’t say,” Yuki said, wondering if Thomas knew she was a dragon and not just another pilot.
…
Dei Cleo and Sorjoy’s limo soon came up to a large gate with a monogram on the front of a large and ornate “RT”.
The gate opened slowly and the limousine rolled down a long road leading towards a massive palatial manor.
At the center of the driveway was a large fountain, where the drive circled around, leaving a stretch of road between the fountain and the staircase leading to the massive mansion.
Cleo looked up at the huge manner from the limousine and lifted her eyebrows in surprise.
Sorjoy was less impressed, clearly having seen the sight before.
Once the limousine came to a stop, Naberious moved to the door and opened it, assisting Sorjoy and Cleo out of the limo.
As Cleo stepped out she craned her neck upwards to see the whole sight of the massive manner. “Wow.”
“It helps to publish books on The Guardian’s works,” Sorjoy said, approaching the armored vehicle.
A few imps and angels alike came from inside the estate and helped to unload the large crate in the back of the armored truck.
“Be careful with that,” Sorjoy barked, “it’s worth more than any of your lives.”
Cleo stood there, clicking at her tablet, her brow furrowed, “seems three are dead after that attack.”
“Good,” Sorjoy sneered, “then they’ll know not to fuck with us again.”
“Or they’ll be out for blood,” Cleo sighed, “either way I think we’d better keep security beefed up.”
Sorjoy nodded, “I think we’ll need to hire a security advisor then.”
“Have you considered Naberious?” Cleo suggested.
Sorjoy turned to her, his eyebrow raised, “Naberious is our driver.”
“He’s a veteran, transporter, and bodyguard,” Cleo pointed out.
“Let’s seek someone with some more leadership experience,” Sorjoy ordered.
Cleo nodded, “I’ll have a shortlist for you at the end of the day.”
“Very good, Cleo,” Sorjoy praised as the Heart of Lucifer was loaded onto a pallet.
The wheezing voice of Trueman came from the steps, the click of his cane announcing his presence before his voice had reached any of them. “Very good indeed,” Trueman announced with a smile, “I must say, Erik, I’m very surprised to see you here in person.”
Sorjoy smiled and approached Trueman, “well, I figured it was only right for me to be here to deliver the diamond to you personally.”
Angels and Imps grunted behind Sorjoy as they hoisted the heavy diamond onto a wheeled jack and began to carefully move the item around a side door of the manor.
“Of course,” Mr. Trueman smiled warmly to Cleo and Sorjoy, “Please, come in. I would be a terrible host if I were not to invite you in for tea.”
“Thank you, Mr. Trueman, but that isn’t necessary for the least,” Cleo smiled pleasantly.
Sorjoy frowned, “Cleo it’s not polite to refus-”
Trueman cut Sorjoy off, “on the contrary, it’s often impolite to impose, and as such,” he smiled to Cleo, “I find it no bother at all, please do come in.”
Sorjoy narrowed his eyes on Cleo’s back as she made her way up the steps.
“This is a truly phenomenal home, Mr. Trueman. I’m astounded by the size and grandeur,” Cleo gushed.
“You flatter me,” Mr. Trueman laughed, “inheritances, some minor intelligent business moves and all of it for what?” he laughed, “so my porters and butlers can live in luxury alongside me.”
Cleo laughed, “Some lucky butlers!”
At the top of the steps was a dark blue-skinned imp with orange eyes and red hair who bowed low to Mr. Trueman and his guests, “Welcome to Trueman Manor,” he looked up as he ended his bow, glancing between Sorjoy and Cleo, “may I take your jackets?”
Trueman shook his head, “no, that’s fine.”
Cleo grinned at him warmly, “afraid I don’t have a jacket.”
The imp nodded, his smile fading a bit when he saw Cleo.
“Oh, this is my head butler and personal assistant, Malik,” Mr. Trueman smiled to Cleo and Sorjoy, “a most capable man.”
“A capable
Imp,” Sorjoy clarified.
“Indeed,” Mr. Trueman said, smiling, “Malik, if I may introduce the CEO of Fondsworth Inc, Erik Sorjoy, and his lovely assistant Ms. Cleopatra Cassandra Walters.”
Malik bowed again, “lovely to meet you both.”
Mr. Trueman grinned at Malik as he came up from his bow, looking Cleo over as Trueman walked by. “Mr. Sorjoy, would you come with me so we can discuss things in private? I believe Ms. Cleopatra and Malik can ready our tea and handle any additional logistics in the transportation of my new diamond.”
“Of course, sir,” Sorjoy said as he walked off.
When Trueman and Sorjoy were out of earshot, Malik turned to Cleo.
“It’s fairly insulting, so you know,” Malik said curtly.
Cleo smiled at him, “Yes, invite us in for tea and then order me to help you prepare it.” She grinned, “Don’t worry, I don’t mind.”
Malik seemed off-balance from the odd comment, but continued, “I meant the hair. Dying it white? And the wings?”
“Why would that be insulting?” Cleo asked.
“It mocks our savior,” Malik answered, leading Cleo towards the kitchen.
“Ipswella said something about that,” Cleo said in thought, “But I suppose I should let you know, it’s natural.”
Malik stopped, allowing Cleo to walk past him, “
What?”
Cleo turned and smiled, “It’s not dye, it’s natural. I was just born with a form of albinism. No pigment in my wings,” she motioned to her purple eyes, “and a lack of pigment here too.”
Malik seemed stunned, but soon caught up to her, “well… my apologies then.”
“You’re forgiven,” Cleo chuckled as they made their way to a kitchen, “now where are the tea bags?”
While Cleo and Malik prepared tea, Trueman and Sorjoy walked towards Trueman’s study.
“It has come to my attention, Mr. Sorjoy, that the title you so desperately wish to claim has a requirement I had almost forgotten about,” Mr. Trueman explained.
Sorjoy narrowed his eyes, “Sir, I feel I’ve done everything that was asked of me.”
“Of course,” Mr. Trueman nodded, “but a Great Patriarch must be… well… a patriarch! And you are lacking in family.”
“So is Hoffman,” Sorjoy confirmed.
“It’s that very change that has given me pause,” Mr. Trueman said as they entered the study, “you see, young Sorjoy, Mr. Hoffman is getting married at a small private affair as we speak.”
“
What?!” Sorjoy shouted.
“Indeed,” Mr. Trueman said, “so I would encourage you to find a proper woman.”
“Like Cleopatra? Is that what you’re saying?” Sorjoy asked.
“Heavens, no,” Mr. Trueman laughed, “no-no, a good match. You’re not her speed, my boy.”
“Not,” Sorjoy said, confused, “
her speed, sir?”
Trueman nodded, “You’re too similar, too driven. A man needs a wife who would support him, not try to outdo him.”
“I see,” Sorjoy frowned.
“As such I feel it important for you, Sorjoy, to establish some form of the relationship prior to you taking your seat,” Mr. Trueman announced.
“I’m rather busy, Mr. Trueman, as you well know,” Sorjoy explained.
“Exactly,” Mr. Trueman smiled, “so I would suggest you take some time off and spend it in the company of a woman.”
“What, do I crawl the bars?” Sorjoy mocked.
“On the contrary,” Mr. Trueman smiled, “you call a matchmaker,” he handed Sorjoy a card.
Sorjoy looked at the card. On it was a simple number, with one name underneath: “
Mimi.”
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