Post by Vapovile on Jun 2, 2022 4:45:46 GMT
Located high up on the Seattle cliffside, a large 3-story house stood at the end of a long stone-paved driveway. The house had an almost excessive amount of windows, though they were currently tinted to give the inside occupants some privacy. It was surprisingly modern, with a stone façade between the shiny metallic black siding. A large grassy backyard was located behind the house, a disused grill sitting on the patio.
The house was located within a gated community that required special clearance to enter, considering the important homeowners inside. Seto flashed his badge to the attendant and drove inside the development, parking his blue BMW outside and walking around the car, opening the passenger door. “Your castle, my queen.” He joked, giving a sarcastic smile. He wore a nice pair of black jeans and blue button-up shirt, with a black jacket over it all.
“Castle? Looks more like a McMansion to me.” The slender woman beside him smirked at the towering structure’s million windows. “Uh, sorry. Don’t mean to be mean to your sister there. Just some snobbishness that gets rubbed off when you’re raised by old money.” Alexis tried to explain. Seto took her hand and helped the woman out of his car, allowing her to step onto the ground below.
Alexis wore a black dress that stopped at her knees, and a pair of dark red leggings beneath. The dress had deliberate fraying along the bottom and shoulders, where she wore a dark blue jean jacket with short brass studs along the shoulders. On her feet were a pair of black boots that stopped at her ankle, the boots having a light golden trim along the outside.
“Hey, long as you don’t say it to her face. We all did grow up in this house though. Used to be my dad’s.” Seto explained, giving a subtle sidelong glance to the house when he mentioned his dad.
“Ah, well that explains it. Just the sort of show-off crap I would expect from how you talk about him.” Alexis sighed, slapping her face a few times to try to get into the game. “Bleh, I’m being rude… I’m just so nervous! Maybe we should call it off? Say I’m sick? Or dead?”
Seto let out an amused laugh and pulled Alexis into a hug, patting the back of her hair. “It’s ok, girl, it’s ok. Trust me, I know they seem all scary, but they really aren’t. I’ve seen Aria turn her wardrobe upside down recently, trying to find something inviting enough to not scare Erin’s new girlfriend. Plus, how could they not love a queen of darkness?” He joked, giving her a peck on the forehead.
“Yeah, the queen of darkness bit is what I’m worried about. I wasn’t just bad on stage… just promise to not leave me alone, alright? A queen needs her knight after all.” Alexis smiled, pulling on Seto’s neck to get herself upright. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Seto nodded his head. “Of course I’ll never leave you alone, someone has to protect you from that vicious Erin. You may make her shrink just by looking at her too hard.” He joked, patting her back and directing her to the door. He then stopped and pointed at a ledge on the second story dramatically.
“I believe there is a demon afoot!” He yelled, followed by a rustling sound as a figure leaped out from behind the railing and landed on the first story rail, perched upon it with her worn pair of sneakers. The girl had short curly blond hair, and wore a simple green t-shirt and brown pants that have clearly seen adventure, with how many little tears were on them. A worn hat adorned her head.
“You have found me once again, oh chess master! Haha, sorry! I was just bored and noticed you all showed up while I was climbing around!” The girl smirked, putting her hand to her chest. “Elyssa Miyata, world’s greatest adventurer. Nice to see you again, Alexis.” She grinned down at the two.
“I thought you were a gargoyle perched up there! It’s been way too long. You should take me on another ruin run some time!” Alexis called up to the blonde monkey, grinning all the time. Elyssa was a good kid. That made two people she already knew here. Not a bad start.
Elyssa beamed. “The team is always open for help! We have expanded a little since you last joined, so you’ll meet some cool new faces if you join us again. We just hired a cool half kitsune girl named Lindsey! I’ll find a fun Ruin and let you know!” She said excitedly, hopping off the railing and walking back into the house. Seto gave Alexis a sidelong glance.
“Sooooo…you met my baby sister already, eh?” He asked curiously.
“Heh, Lindsey? Well they’re gonna have their hands full…” Alexis chuckled. “Oh, she never told you? Yeah, I ran into her at Gateway before. Turns out the founders left one of those ruins she explores in the middle of town. I think she also hangs out with Ashlea sometimes, but Ashlea doesn’t tell me a lot about her personal life.” Alexis sighed and shrugged.
“Oooooooh…is that right?” Seto said, clearly impressed. “Well, I can confirm she hangs out with Ashlea sometimes, but not in Ruins. More…takes her out for coffee sometimes and shares stories with her, while she talks about her life. Guess our meeting was fate after all.” He walked over and lightly squeezed Alexis’s hand, bringing it up to his mouth and kissing the back of her palm.
“Yeah, Ashlea’s not an adventurous type. Unlike us, of course.” Alexis rolled her eyes when Seto kissed her hand, but she couldn’t hide her blush. “Oh, stop. Don’t you get all mushy on me before we’ve even had any wine. I’ll have to take you home in a bottle afterwards at this rate.”
Seto noticed the blush, and took it as a great sign. “Hey, long as you’re holding me, I don’t care if I become a bag of hot air. Though I’m sure that’s exactly how your sister describes me anyway.” Stepping forward, Seto pushed open the front door and revealed the inside of the house.
Everything was immaculately well maintained, with a nice living room to the right that had polished wooden floors and multiple chairs and couches arranged around a TV. Further into the house was the dining room, holding a long rectangular wooden table that had a white table cloth draped over it. Also on the table were several plates of food, the pleasant scent of which could immediately be detected when they walked in.
The food on the table consisted of a pan of lasagna, a platter of meat and crackers, and a bowl of rice with grilled prawns inside. The smell of cooking salmon gave away the final dish that was in the oven.
Looking to the living room, Seto perked up when he saw the red-haired woman sitting there, messing with her phone. “Hello, my dearest sister! Please, welcome to the house my girlfriend, Alexis Primrose!” He held his hands out, as if he was presenting her. Erin laughed awkwardly at the display and stood up, giving a small bow to Alexis.
“H-hi, Alexis! Uh, Seto has told us a lot about you…” Looking at Alexis in person, Erin’s nerves were already acting up. Why was she so scary?!
“Playing on your phone when you know company is coming? That’s rude, don’t ya know?” Alexis leaned close, looming over Erin… then giggled. “Great to meet you! He’s told me a lot about you too! We should all play a card game together some time!” She offered her hand for a shake.
The phone comment made Erin’s eyes widen, beginning to think she was being rude to the guest out the gate…but relaxed slightly when Alexis giggled. “Y-yeah…card games are fun…” Erin replied. Seto walked up to the two of them and patted them both on the back.
“Let me tell you, Erin can play Uno with the best of them. Reigning champ right there.” He smiled at his sister, who relaxed a little more. “I-I was just lucky, Seto! I bet you let me win again…” “Come on, would I ever do that?” Seto asked coyly, Erin puffing out her cheek in annoyance. “YES!”
The conversation was broken when they heard steps coming from the kitchen. Elegantly walking toward the group was the HWIC president herself, Aria Miyata. She wore a nice pair of black jeans, a white blouse buttoned up and tucked in, and a nice gray cardigan.
“My apologies, I am currently finishing up the main course.” Her eyes fell upon Alexis, and she gave a professional smile she’s clearly given a thousand times. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Primrose. I am honestly surprised my brother managed to find a willing girl to be with him, considering his vacant past.” She winked at Seto, who rolled his eyes.
“Ahahahaha, she got you dude!” Alexis was prepared to act more like she met a mom than a sister, and even began to bend her spine in a bow, but she instantly relaxed at the casual vibes Aria was giving off. She threw an arm around Seto’s shoulders and hugged him. “You’re selling him short! Seto’s cute, and fun, and…” She blushed and couldn’t continue, but managed to peck him on the cheek.
The display made Aria nod, giving a knowing smile to Seto, who raised his eyebrows at his sister. “Well, it looks like you two clearly love each other. I’m glad to see that…Seto does tend to hide his true feelings under these…ostentatious gestures.” She placed her hands on her hips and looked into the distance, mimicking one of Seto’s.
“Hah, you tried.” Seto pecked Alexis back on her cheek too, and gave one quick hug before letting go again. Seeing the affection made Aria’s expression shift slightly, but swiftly returned to normal. “Now, Miss. Primrose. Would you like some appetizers? We have lasagna, prawns and rice, meat and cheese…we also have plenty of beverages in the fridge.” Aria pointed toward the large metallic fridge at the far end of the dining room.
“Oh, I love prawns. Thank you very much, mam.” Alexis’ instincts kicked in and made her sharply bow anyway, even after she avoided it before. She scurried away to hide her blush and piled a few on a small plate before checking out the fridge. After a moment’s hesitation, she chose a diet soda over a beer. She couldn’t risk a lapse in judgment making her look like an idiot after all. “Ostentatious gestures, huh? She’s always formal, isn’t she?” She whispered to Seto.
Seto nodded his head, filling up a plate of his own. “She always has to worry about not just her reputation, but the company’s. If anything happens, they blame her. She’ll loosen up the more she trusts you, don’t worry. Or if there’s alcohol in her.” He let out a soft snicker and led Alexis out to the backyard.
The grass was neatly cut, clearly done recently. Several lawn chairs were set up on the stone patio outside, and a few umbrellas set up for the ever-present Seattle rain. Outside sat the final Miyata; Alex. He was wearing a black pair of slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a thin black coat. He nodded when he saw Alexis.
“Good afternoon, Miss. Primrose. Alex Miyata, I’m Seto’s older brother. It's nice to finally meet you.” He said sternly, offering his hand for her to shake. His aura seemed more formal than even Aria’s.
This was the one she had been afraid of. Alexis couldn’t avoid feeling the tingly legs of a centipede running up and down her spine, and only rigid discipline prevented a full-body shiver. She hoped her hand wasn’t as cold as it felt when she offered it for the shake, and perhaps that limp feeling was just her and she wasn’t giving a garbage handshake.
“Pleased to meet you, sir. My friend Hammond works in your division, and Seto speaks very highly of you.” Alexis managed to meet his gaze. What was she so afraid of, anyway? That he’d throw her in jail? That he’d forbid her from dating Seto? That wouldn’t stop her! But it would hurt Seto. That was what scared her. Not being good enough for his family, not good enough for him. If she was only a negative influence on his life, what right did she have being in it? Dammit, her hands were even colder now!
Alex stared at Alexis with a seemingly blank expression on his face during the handshake, but gave her a friendly smile afterwards. “Ah yes, Hammond is a fantastic agent. I’m glad you speak highly of me, Seto.” Alex gave an impish smirk to his brother, and was given a light punch by Seto to his shoulder.
“Come on, don’t scare her like that! Sorry Alexis, my dumb brother here can’t help himself. He’s nice, just a bit hard to read.” Seto explained. Alex shook his head. “Breaking my pressure already, Seto? Alright alright, I’ll play nice.” His posture relaxed as he leaned back into his chair. “Sorry, but you can tell a lot from someone just by a firm introduction and a handshake. Helps me figure out what a person’s like before we begin. I must say, I am impressed that someone like my brother managed to find such a prestigious family to find a girlfriend in.” Alex explained.
“Primrose or not, I’m Alexis first. Besides, my sister works for your company too.” Alexis was a little put off by the mention of her family being prestigious. Of course, they were, but it was odd to her to see it as a selling point. More like this was some political alliance. “We just happened to hit it off at that office party and it’s been smooth sailing since.”
This response puzzled Alex. “Of course, we are all individuals first and foremost. But a family name should mean something, no?” Alex asked, nodding his head. “I am glad he managed to find you at that office party though, even if it’s a little bizarre a place to find a girlfriend. Hm?” Alex’s eyes locked on the door as Elyssa popped out.
“Hey, dinner’s ready! Come get it, or it’s all mine!” And with that, Elyssa darted back inside. Alex stood back up and dusted off his pants. “Well, shall we?” He motioned toward the door, Seto leading himself and Alexis to their seats along the side of the table. Aria placed the pan of salmon on the table, coated in a sweet sauce and garnished.
Seto took the far left seat, closest to the wall. Alexis took the middle, while Elyssa wheeled herself into the far seat. On the other side, Erin nervously took the seat opposite Seto. Alex looked like he was headed for the middle seat, opposite Alexis…but Aria swiftly pulled it out with her leg and sat down, neatly crossing her legs. With a sidelong glance, Alex sat down in the seat opposite Elyssa.
“Uh, is Haruko late?” Alexis glanced around. She knew her sister’s favorite seamstress was a member of the family, but she didn’t seem to be here.
This made the table go quiet, with the participants looking among themselves for who was bold enough to answer. Naturally, Aria spoke first. “Haruko…isn’t coming. While she is close with Elyssa and Erin…she refuses to engage with Seto, Alex or myself.” Aria stared down at the table for several seconds, then looked back at Alexis. “I’m sorry, if you were expecting her…but she has good reason to not want to deal with us.” Aria stated, the slightest hint of sadness in her tone. Seto nodded his head. “Let’s just say…we weren’t there when she needed us, and our hands were tied on the matter. Doesn’t make it justified though.” He tried to explain.
“Oh, uh… no, I shouldn’t have brought it up. I uh, have a sister who I don’t talk to much either. I hope you can patch things up one day. Family is too important to waste.” Alexis half-mumbled, unable to hide her embarrassment. First sentence at the dinner table and she had already put her foot in her mouth.
Sensing an opportunity, Elyssa perked up. “Right, Amelia! She was on that Ruin run we went on too! Super strong, and cool! Annnnnnnnd Ashlea tells me you two are now on speaking teeeeeeerms?” Elyssa asked, leaning slightly toward Alexis. Erin breathed a sigh of relief that the topic shifted.
“Yeah! And if I can turn that around after what I did, I believe in you guys.” Thank you Elyssa! The savior of the dinner table! Her hair was blonde from the light of her halo!
This bit of hope lightened the mood somewhat. Aria clapped her hands to try and reset the conversation. “I must say, this is wonderful. I am not sure if you recall, but we actually had dinner with your entire family, Alexis. If I recall…you had some disagreement with Seto there.” She asked, clearly knowing the answer but wanting to stir up conversation. Seto groaned. “Yeah…back when I was in girl mode. Remember anything?” He asked Alexis, patting her thigh for comfort.
“Huh? No, I don’t remember that at all.” Alexis spoke the truth, but something was triggered in her memory. She had plenty of those dull family visits as a kid, hanging out with the children while the adults discussed boring things like business. One memory surfaced of this very house, and the girl who butted in when she bullied a little red-haired girl. But that wasn’t another redhead like Seto, she was…
“You used to be blond? Wow, when did that change?” Alexis reached up and ruffled Seto’s hair. “You were always pretty cool, huh? Protected your sister even back then.” That was so sweet! Made her heart shudder. Dammit, now who’s being mushy.
Seto sighed when his pre-transition life was mentioned, but he turned his dumb persona back on quickly. “Hehe, I changed my hair color to reflect the red fire of my soul now!” He blurted out, not wanting to reveal the true reason in front of Erin: that he wanted to dye his hair red so she wouldn’t be singled out as the only redhead in the family.
“But yes, even though I was significantly less cool back then, I wanted to protect Erin.” He winked at his sister, who looked away in embarrassment. She shouldn’t need protection in the first place. “You seem much more calm now, by the way. I admire how you turned things around, Lexi Dexi.” Seto lightly fluffed the end of her hair, knowing it’s rude to mess up the top of her hair. Elyssa looked on in confusion, having been a toddler when this all went down.
“Oh come on, I was like 7. Of course I’ve calmed down.” Alexis faked a scowl. “Sorry about that, Erin. I really only stopped being a jerk like that pretty recently.”
Erin scratched the back of her head, unsure of how to react. “Aha…well um, it’s fine. It was a long time ago anyway…” Erin replied. Seto let out a sigh of relief and gave his girlfriend a quick hug. “Good job, that really goes a long way.” He whispered in her ear.
The group ate their dinner for several minutes, chatting amongst themselves. Alex tapped his glass to get the room’s attention.
“I apologize for taking the conversation topic…but I would like to ask Alexis about a certain…detail.” He began. “You see, I care about this family quite considerably. And after looking at your file…it appears you tried to murder your twin sister.” The table went silent. Seto opened his mouth to object, but Alex cut him off.
“My question is, how am I to trust that you won’t try to hurt my brother in a moment of rage, like you did your twin sister? I’m sorry if this sounds heartless, but I must know that my family is safe.” Alex demanded.
Alexis felt her heart sink and her shoulders slump. Her worst fears had come true. She sat now on Alex’s plate, his to be dissected and devoured. She felt naked and alone, Seto gone where he couldn’t help her. There were no friends here, just a jury ready to judge her.
“You are right. It was the worst moment of my life, and I only ended up having any sort of normal life afterwards because my mother pulled all the strings she could. I can’t make any excuses. I can say I was trying to protect my sister, but I went far beyond that. I had already stopped her assailants. What Amelia tried to stop me from doing was torture. I had one of them helpless and I wouldn’t stop hurting her. If Amelia hadn’t stepped in, I really would be a murderer. Instead, I nearly killed her instead. Until then, all my fights had been in an arena where I could go as far as I wanted without really hurting anybody. Pain was dulled, and death was impossible. I was the strongest, so I did what I wanted. I was a spoiled, angry little brat. But that was years ago. Since then, I’ve been in a reform school. I have had therapy. I joined the HWBC, and I’m not even nearly top dog anymore. The ego that let me act that way, the immaturity, everything that has happened since has been a reminder that it was meaningless. I can’t promise that I’m good, but… I know I’m better.” Alexis sighed at the end, shuddering on the cold plate. Would she be devoured, or spared?
Alex stared at her as she explained her situation, analyzing her speech pattern and nonverbal cues. Once she was finished, Seto piped up. “I understand you’re worried Alex, but do you think I didn’t look up Alexis after we had that wonderful night at the office party? Of course I found this information, and I asked her about it. She’s recognized her faults, and changed for the better. I don’t think her past mistakes should affect our love for each other.” Seto explained, facing down Alex.
Nodding his head, Alex looked at the two of them. “Very good, very good indeed. I of course saw the reform school on your file too. But you didn’t try to justify your actions, pinning them on Amelia for instance. So with that said…yes, you both have my blessing, for whatever that’s worth.”
Seto smiled widely and hugged Alexis. “Oh my god, thank you! You did so well, Lexi! I’m so proud!” Seto continued to squeeze his girlfriend. She needed as much love as he could give after having to go through that. He was always the emotional support for Erin and Elyssa growing up, so he knew how hard that must have been for Alexis.
“Ah! Stop it! That wasn’t an oral exam, it was a- gaaaaah!” Alexis struggled and blushed, going down under her boyfriend’s weight. After a period of wiggling and giggling, they managed to get back upright. “I’ll pay you back for that tonight, asshooooole.” She whispered in his ear with a grin. She was tempted to nip it, but that would certainly be noticed.
“I look forward to your punishment, oh queen.” He whispered back, giving a sly smile. It was a huge weight off his chest to know Alex approved of his relationship. Aria let out a sigh and placed her hands neatly on the table.
“Well, I’m glad that all worked out. You have picked a wonderful girl, Seto. I just hope you know what you’re getting into dating this dork, Alexis. He is quite a handful.” She joked, looking at the two of them with relief in her eyes.
“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll keep him-” Alexis hesitated. She was about to say “on a tight leash”, but she changed her mind. “In check.” She giggled.
The dinner went well, with the family learning more about Alexis, and Alexis learning about the Miyata. Hours later, when Elyssa, Erin and Alex left, Seto and Alexis were the last ones to remain with Aria. She had made them all hot chocolate, and they were sitting on the patio outside, watching the sunset overhead.
“This is such a big place. It must be lonely living here alone.” Alexis realized that Aria was single, as far as she knew. That was strange.
Aria sighed, glanced at the house, then back at Alexis. “It is a big house…inherited this from my father, actually. Everyone used to live here, but now even Elyssa’s moved into her own apartment.” Aria began to explain. “As for loneliness…yes, that is accurate. That’s part of the reason I stay at work so much; there’s nothing for me here.”
“That’s just terrible for you. Trust me, my mom tells me about CEOs burning out all the time. You should come to a mixer, we’ll both wingman for you.” Alexis nudged Seto in the ribs.
Seto gave a few laughs of agreement, but seemed uneasy about saying anything. Aria clapped her hands together and leaned back in her chair. “While I appreciate the offer…I can’t. I’m far too busy for a relationship. Despite many attempts made on me…” Aria mumbled the last sentence, remembering the amount of times in her life men have asked her out, only to be declined.
“Come on, you’ve been president forever. Surely you have trusted lieutenants to delegate to? I’ll introduce you to some of my coworkers. The league might seem a little low brow for you, but there’s actually a lot of cool guys there. You can bond over… I dunno, guns!” Alexis had taken a beer earlier and her light body felt even lighter right now. Many attempts, all rejected? Maybe Aria just didn’t want to date. Or there was something she was missing.
The idea made Aria smile with amusement, internally she was having a hard time dancing around the issue. “Go to a mixer with professional fighters, huh? That does sound exciting.” She joked. Seto gave Aria a sidelong glance, and began to speak.
“Aria’s not had a relationship since she began her current job. However…before then…” “Seto, please refrain from going further.” Aria scowled at her brother, staring daggers directly into his soul.
“Whaaaaaat!? Who dated the president! Come on, I won’t tell anybody!” Alexis’ eyes lit up at the potential for gossip. “Was he cool? Heir to a company? An organization? Or not? Was he poor, somebody Cyrus wouldn’t approve of? A forbidden love? Or was he… a she?”
Aria’s expression shifted slightly at the end half of Alexis’s guess, but she was still able to keep her composure. Looking the fire mage up and down, Aria let out a sigh, and pulled out a piece of paper.
“I am willing to tell you, Alexis…but this information could have dire consequences. It is for this reason I must ask you to sign this contract of silence. It will mentally prevent you from saying anything about what you’re about to hear. If you’re willing to sign…I’ll tell you.” The thought seemed to exhaust Aria.
“Woah… okay.” Alexis wasn’t quite sobered up by how serious Aria became, but she certainly had to focus now. Carefully, she laid out her signature, shaking now before Aria revealed her greatest secret. Given Seto wasn’t being forced to sign anything, Alexis realized that he must already know. What was it?
Folding the piece of paper into her pocket, Aria sucked in a chestful of air, and slowly blew it out. “Right, so I’ll just come out and say it. Yes, you are correct. It was a she, she was a forbidden love…and not someone my father would approve of.”
Closing her eyes for a second, Aria began. “You see, I was basically taught that I had to marry someone to further the family name. So my dad would sometimes set me up on these dates with kids of other powerful families…but none went anywhere. So I figured I was just broken somehow. Well…”
Clapping her hands together, she continued. “Starting in middle school, there was this girl named Vanessa. Did theater, skipped class, loved to break the rules…and I hated her at first. She was everything I didn’t want to be. But she was also brilliant. And one night…she kidnapped me after a student council meeting, and made me…have fun.”
Aria smiled as she recalled the memories. “So yes, we started dating in secret…since my dad wouldn’t accept a girl, even less one like her. No noble name, not rich, rebellious…we actually planned to drive to Canada so I could escape winding up in this job.” Aria explained, taking a breather to let this sink in.
Alexis blinked in complete awe. The romance! The tragedy! Aria was more fascinating than she ever thought! But there was something Aria left unsaid, and she could see it in her eyes. “But you never did. What happened?”
“She…talked me out of it. I will admit; it was a plan of desperation. And even if we did go there…the HWIC works closely with Canada’s HW organization. So unless two teenagers with no money planned to go to some far off country…I couldn’t escape this destiny.”
There was now clear sadness in her eyes as she continued. “One day, my father unexpectedly resigned, and I was thrust into the role when I had just turned an adult. Any plans to go to college with Vanessa went out the window. She actually quit college to try and help me learn how to do this job…”
Aria pinched the area between her eyes in frustration. “...but I directed some of that overwhelming stress at her, and hurt her feelings. So…we broke up, she went off into the sunset…and I buried myself in my work.” The president finished.
Alexis sniffled. Oh no, she was definitely too drunk to remain dignified. “That’s so sad thooooooough!” She cried, jumping from her seat to hug Aria. She realized only a second after she did so that she had just hugged the president of the HWIC. “Uh, sorry. I shouldn’t have had that drink. But… you should try to find her! You can do whatever you want now, right? Cyrus is gone.”
This comment brought a strange mixed feeling to Aria. Seto gave a knowing glance to his sister, and she nodded. Aria did enjoy the hug though, and hugged back before Alexis let go.
“It’s ok, that was enjoyable. Turns out…she had several struggles after leaving me…but managed to get her marine biology degree…and joined the R&D division. She uh, ambushed me in the locker rooms. She…pecked me on the cheek when she left.” Aria tried to hide her blush.
Seto leaned back to try and take point. “But here’s the issue. If it comes out Aria’s a lesbian, several of our partners will not want to work with her. It may be bad enough for the board to want to replace her, and let’s just say she’s not a fan of the prime candidate.” Seto tried to be vague, but he was sure Alexis could figure it out.
“Thank you, Seto. So yes…I would love to accept her feelings and go out again…but I can’t in good conscience do that and let the HWIC become…what it was before I took power.”
Too many emotions! The forbidden kiss was so cute, but the possibility of political turmoil was definitely not. For a moment, Alexis felt like she wasn’t a real adult. Here she was with her normal relationship, talking to somebody whose love life could shape the Hidden World for years to come. What did she know of that kind of responsibility?
“There isn’t any advice I can give. You know a lot more than me about life. But I hope you’re able to make things better one day.” This time, her hug was more deliberate. “And of course… I’m sure Seto can help you. He’s the best friend anybody could have.” Alexis blushed.
Seto stared for a second, then leaped up and joined in on the hug. “She’s right, you know! People love you, Aria, and want to see you happy! Besides…Vanessa can’t wait forever.” He warned. Aria looked down at the ground, knowing this more than anyone. She hugged both of them back.
“Thank you, the both of you. I’m glad you found such a nice girlfriend, Seto. I don’t know how I’m going to square this love life of mine…but I’ll do my best.” Releasing the hug, Aria smirked at Seto.
“Tell me Seto, how quickly did you notice Vanessa being hired, and remembering our past together?” She asked. Seto grinned and whistled. “Second day, actually. Iris was giving her the orientation, and I looked at her employee ID. Took her to lunch that day. She’s muuuuuch cooler than you.” He joked, sticking his tongue out slightly.
Aria rolled her eyes, and got up. “Well, I should probably start getting ready for sleep. It was wonderful meeting you, Alexis. And if you need anything, please call me.” She produced a professional business card and handed it to the fire mage. With a final hug to them both, she disappeared into the house.
“Hey, that went great.” Alexis hugged Seto from the side. “Thanks for bringing me… and of course thanks for being there. Turns out your family is as cool as you.”
Seto beamed at the hug, hugging Alexis back. “Hey, there’s a reason I love them so much. Even Alex, while he is a little intense…he helped me become a man. He comes through when you need him. But uh…sorry I couldn’t do more when he brought up the…thing.” He looked down, not knowing what to say.
“There wasn’t anything you could do. It was my sin, and my battle to fight.” Alexis let the shadows under them swell as she hugged Seto. Without breaking away, she carried them back to the car on a wave of darkness, only letting go when they were right upon it. “You did everything I needed tonight. However, you still must be punished for embarrassing me.” She smiled and pinched his lip before sliding into the passenger seat.
“Oh boy, don’t punish me too much. I may never leave you alone.” Seto joked, sliding into the driver’s seat. The two pulled out of the driveway and began down the road once more, Alexis now closer to the Miyata family than ever…and Seto couldn’t have been more proud.
The house was located within a gated community that required special clearance to enter, considering the important homeowners inside. Seto flashed his badge to the attendant and drove inside the development, parking his blue BMW outside and walking around the car, opening the passenger door. “Your castle, my queen.” He joked, giving a sarcastic smile. He wore a nice pair of black jeans and blue button-up shirt, with a black jacket over it all.
“Castle? Looks more like a McMansion to me.” The slender woman beside him smirked at the towering structure’s million windows. “Uh, sorry. Don’t mean to be mean to your sister there. Just some snobbishness that gets rubbed off when you’re raised by old money.” Alexis tried to explain. Seto took her hand and helped the woman out of his car, allowing her to step onto the ground below.
Alexis wore a black dress that stopped at her knees, and a pair of dark red leggings beneath. The dress had deliberate fraying along the bottom and shoulders, where she wore a dark blue jean jacket with short brass studs along the shoulders. On her feet were a pair of black boots that stopped at her ankle, the boots having a light golden trim along the outside.
“Hey, long as you don’t say it to her face. We all did grow up in this house though. Used to be my dad’s.” Seto explained, giving a subtle sidelong glance to the house when he mentioned his dad.
“Ah, well that explains it. Just the sort of show-off crap I would expect from how you talk about him.” Alexis sighed, slapping her face a few times to try to get into the game. “Bleh, I’m being rude… I’m just so nervous! Maybe we should call it off? Say I’m sick? Or dead?”
Seto let out an amused laugh and pulled Alexis into a hug, patting the back of her hair. “It’s ok, girl, it’s ok. Trust me, I know they seem all scary, but they really aren’t. I’ve seen Aria turn her wardrobe upside down recently, trying to find something inviting enough to not scare Erin’s new girlfriend. Plus, how could they not love a queen of darkness?” He joked, giving her a peck on the forehead.
“Yeah, the queen of darkness bit is what I’m worried about. I wasn’t just bad on stage… just promise to not leave me alone, alright? A queen needs her knight after all.” Alexis smiled, pulling on Seto’s neck to get herself upright. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Seto nodded his head. “Of course I’ll never leave you alone, someone has to protect you from that vicious Erin. You may make her shrink just by looking at her too hard.” He joked, patting her back and directing her to the door. He then stopped and pointed at a ledge on the second story dramatically.
“I believe there is a demon afoot!” He yelled, followed by a rustling sound as a figure leaped out from behind the railing and landed on the first story rail, perched upon it with her worn pair of sneakers. The girl had short curly blond hair, and wore a simple green t-shirt and brown pants that have clearly seen adventure, with how many little tears were on them. A worn hat adorned her head.
“You have found me once again, oh chess master! Haha, sorry! I was just bored and noticed you all showed up while I was climbing around!” The girl smirked, putting her hand to her chest. “Elyssa Miyata, world’s greatest adventurer. Nice to see you again, Alexis.” She grinned down at the two.
“I thought you were a gargoyle perched up there! It’s been way too long. You should take me on another ruin run some time!” Alexis called up to the blonde monkey, grinning all the time. Elyssa was a good kid. That made two people she already knew here. Not a bad start.
Elyssa beamed. “The team is always open for help! We have expanded a little since you last joined, so you’ll meet some cool new faces if you join us again. We just hired a cool half kitsune girl named Lindsey! I’ll find a fun Ruin and let you know!” She said excitedly, hopping off the railing and walking back into the house. Seto gave Alexis a sidelong glance.
“Sooooo…you met my baby sister already, eh?” He asked curiously.
“Heh, Lindsey? Well they’re gonna have their hands full…” Alexis chuckled. “Oh, she never told you? Yeah, I ran into her at Gateway before. Turns out the founders left one of those ruins she explores in the middle of town. I think she also hangs out with Ashlea sometimes, but Ashlea doesn’t tell me a lot about her personal life.” Alexis sighed and shrugged.
“Oooooooh…is that right?” Seto said, clearly impressed. “Well, I can confirm she hangs out with Ashlea sometimes, but not in Ruins. More…takes her out for coffee sometimes and shares stories with her, while she talks about her life. Guess our meeting was fate after all.” He walked over and lightly squeezed Alexis’s hand, bringing it up to his mouth and kissing the back of her palm.
“Yeah, Ashlea’s not an adventurous type. Unlike us, of course.” Alexis rolled her eyes when Seto kissed her hand, but she couldn’t hide her blush. “Oh, stop. Don’t you get all mushy on me before we’ve even had any wine. I’ll have to take you home in a bottle afterwards at this rate.”
Seto noticed the blush, and took it as a great sign. “Hey, long as you’re holding me, I don’t care if I become a bag of hot air. Though I’m sure that’s exactly how your sister describes me anyway.” Stepping forward, Seto pushed open the front door and revealed the inside of the house.
Everything was immaculately well maintained, with a nice living room to the right that had polished wooden floors and multiple chairs and couches arranged around a TV. Further into the house was the dining room, holding a long rectangular wooden table that had a white table cloth draped over it. Also on the table were several plates of food, the pleasant scent of which could immediately be detected when they walked in.
The food on the table consisted of a pan of lasagna, a platter of meat and crackers, and a bowl of rice with grilled prawns inside. The smell of cooking salmon gave away the final dish that was in the oven.
Looking to the living room, Seto perked up when he saw the red-haired woman sitting there, messing with her phone. “Hello, my dearest sister! Please, welcome to the house my girlfriend, Alexis Primrose!” He held his hands out, as if he was presenting her. Erin laughed awkwardly at the display and stood up, giving a small bow to Alexis.
“H-hi, Alexis! Uh, Seto has told us a lot about you…” Looking at Alexis in person, Erin’s nerves were already acting up. Why was she so scary?!
“Playing on your phone when you know company is coming? That’s rude, don’t ya know?” Alexis leaned close, looming over Erin… then giggled. “Great to meet you! He’s told me a lot about you too! We should all play a card game together some time!” She offered her hand for a shake.
The phone comment made Erin’s eyes widen, beginning to think she was being rude to the guest out the gate…but relaxed slightly when Alexis giggled. “Y-yeah…card games are fun…” Erin replied. Seto walked up to the two of them and patted them both on the back.
“Let me tell you, Erin can play Uno with the best of them. Reigning champ right there.” He smiled at his sister, who relaxed a little more. “I-I was just lucky, Seto! I bet you let me win again…” “Come on, would I ever do that?” Seto asked coyly, Erin puffing out her cheek in annoyance. “YES!”
The conversation was broken when they heard steps coming from the kitchen. Elegantly walking toward the group was the HWIC president herself, Aria Miyata. She wore a nice pair of black jeans, a white blouse buttoned up and tucked in, and a nice gray cardigan.
“My apologies, I am currently finishing up the main course.” Her eyes fell upon Alexis, and she gave a professional smile she’s clearly given a thousand times. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Primrose. I am honestly surprised my brother managed to find a willing girl to be with him, considering his vacant past.” She winked at Seto, who rolled his eyes.
“Ahahahaha, she got you dude!” Alexis was prepared to act more like she met a mom than a sister, and even began to bend her spine in a bow, but she instantly relaxed at the casual vibes Aria was giving off. She threw an arm around Seto’s shoulders and hugged him. “You’re selling him short! Seto’s cute, and fun, and…” She blushed and couldn’t continue, but managed to peck him on the cheek.
The display made Aria nod, giving a knowing smile to Seto, who raised his eyebrows at his sister. “Well, it looks like you two clearly love each other. I’m glad to see that…Seto does tend to hide his true feelings under these…ostentatious gestures.” She placed her hands on her hips and looked into the distance, mimicking one of Seto’s.
“Hah, you tried.” Seto pecked Alexis back on her cheek too, and gave one quick hug before letting go again. Seeing the affection made Aria’s expression shift slightly, but swiftly returned to normal. “Now, Miss. Primrose. Would you like some appetizers? We have lasagna, prawns and rice, meat and cheese…we also have plenty of beverages in the fridge.” Aria pointed toward the large metallic fridge at the far end of the dining room.
“Oh, I love prawns. Thank you very much, mam.” Alexis’ instincts kicked in and made her sharply bow anyway, even after she avoided it before. She scurried away to hide her blush and piled a few on a small plate before checking out the fridge. After a moment’s hesitation, she chose a diet soda over a beer. She couldn’t risk a lapse in judgment making her look like an idiot after all. “Ostentatious gestures, huh? She’s always formal, isn’t she?” She whispered to Seto.
Seto nodded his head, filling up a plate of his own. “She always has to worry about not just her reputation, but the company’s. If anything happens, they blame her. She’ll loosen up the more she trusts you, don’t worry. Or if there’s alcohol in her.” He let out a soft snicker and led Alexis out to the backyard.
The grass was neatly cut, clearly done recently. Several lawn chairs were set up on the stone patio outside, and a few umbrellas set up for the ever-present Seattle rain. Outside sat the final Miyata; Alex. He was wearing a black pair of slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a thin black coat. He nodded when he saw Alexis.
“Good afternoon, Miss. Primrose. Alex Miyata, I’m Seto’s older brother. It's nice to finally meet you.” He said sternly, offering his hand for her to shake. His aura seemed more formal than even Aria’s.
This was the one she had been afraid of. Alexis couldn’t avoid feeling the tingly legs of a centipede running up and down her spine, and only rigid discipline prevented a full-body shiver. She hoped her hand wasn’t as cold as it felt when she offered it for the shake, and perhaps that limp feeling was just her and she wasn’t giving a garbage handshake.
“Pleased to meet you, sir. My friend Hammond works in your division, and Seto speaks very highly of you.” Alexis managed to meet his gaze. What was she so afraid of, anyway? That he’d throw her in jail? That he’d forbid her from dating Seto? That wouldn’t stop her! But it would hurt Seto. That was what scared her. Not being good enough for his family, not good enough for him. If she was only a negative influence on his life, what right did she have being in it? Dammit, her hands were even colder now!
Alex stared at Alexis with a seemingly blank expression on his face during the handshake, but gave her a friendly smile afterwards. “Ah yes, Hammond is a fantastic agent. I’m glad you speak highly of me, Seto.” Alex gave an impish smirk to his brother, and was given a light punch by Seto to his shoulder.
“Come on, don’t scare her like that! Sorry Alexis, my dumb brother here can’t help himself. He’s nice, just a bit hard to read.” Seto explained. Alex shook his head. “Breaking my pressure already, Seto? Alright alright, I’ll play nice.” His posture relaxed as he leaned back into his chair. “Sorry, but you can tell a lot from someone just by a firm introduction and a handshake. Helps me figure out what a person’s like before we begin. I must say, I am impressed that someone like my brother managed to find such a prestigious family to find a girlfriend in.” Alex explained.
“Primrose or not, I’m Alexis first. Besides, my sister works for your company too.” Alexis was a little put off by the mention of her family being prestigious. Of course, they were, but it was odd to her to see it as a selling point. More like this was some political alliance. “We just happened to hit it off at that office party and it’s been smooth sailing since.”
This response puzzled Alex. “Of course, we are all individuals first and foremost. But a family name should mean something, no?” Alex asked, nodding his head. “I am glad he managed to find you at that office party though, even if it’s a little bizarre a place to find a girlfriend. Hm?” Alex’s eyes locked on the door as Elyssa popped out.
“Hey, dinner’s ready! Come get it, or it’s all mine!” And with that, Elyssa darted back inside. Alex stood back up and dusted off his pants. “Well, shall we?” He motioned toward the door, Seto leading himself and Alexis to their seats along the side of the table. Aria placed the pan of salmon on the table, coated in a sweet sauce and garnished.
Seto took the far left seat, closest to the wall. Alexis took the middle, while Elyssa wheeled herself into the far seat. On the other side, Erin nervously took the seat opposite Seto. Alex looked like he was headed for the middle seat, opposite Alexis…but Aria swiftly pulled it out with her leg and sat down, neatly crossing her legs. With a sidelong glance, Alex sat down in the seat opposite Elyssa.
“Uh, is Haruko late?” Alexis glanced around. She knew her sister’s favorite seamstress was a member of the family, but she didn’t seem to be here.
This made the table go quiet, with the participants looking among themselves for who was bold enough to answer. Naturally, Aria spoke first. “Haruko…isn’t coming. While she is close with Elyssa and Erin…she refuses to engage with Seto, Alex or myself.” Aria stared down at the table for several seconds, then looked back at Alexis. “I’m sorry, if you were expecting her…but she has good reason to not want to deal with us.” Aria stated, the slightest hint of sadness in her tone. Seto nodded his head. “Let’s just say…we weren’t there when she needed us, and our hands were tied on the matter. Doesn’t make it justified though.” He tried to explain.
“Oh, uh… no, I shouldn’t have brought it up. I uh, have a sister who I don’t talk to much either. I hope you can patch things up one day. Family is too important to waste.” Alexis half-mumbled, unable to hide her embarrassment. First sentence at the dinner table and she had already put her foot in her mouth.
Sensing an opportunity, Elyssa perked up. “Right, Amelia! She was on that Ruin run we went on too! Super strong, and cool! Annnnnnnnd Ashlea tells me you two are now on speaking teeeeeeerms?” Elyssa asked, leaning slightly toward Alexis. Erin breathed a sigh of relief that the topic shifted.
“Yeah! And if I can turn that around after what I did, I believe in you guys.” Thank you Elyssa! The savior of the dinner table! Her hair was blonde from the light of her halo!
This bit of hope lightened the mood somewhat. Aria clapped her hands to try and reset the conversation. “I must say, this is wonderful. I am not sure if you recall, but we actually had dinner with your entire family, Alexis. If I recall…you had some disagreement with Seto there.” She asked, clearly knowing the answer but wanting to stir up conversation. Seto groaned. “Yeah…back when I was in girl mode. Remember anything?” He asked Alexis, patting her thigh for comfort.
“Huh? No, I don’t remember that at all.” Alexis spoke the truth, but something was triggered in her memory. She had plenty of those dull family visits as a kid, hanging out with the children while the adults discussed boring things like business. One memory surfaced of this very house, and the girl who butted in when she bullied a little red-haired girl. But that wasn’t another redhead like Seto, she was…
“You used to be blond? Wow, when did that change?” Alexis reached up and ruffled Seto’s hair. “You were always pretty cool, huh? Protected your sister even back then.” That was so sweet! Made her heart shudder. Dammit, now who’s being mushy.
Seto sighed when his pre-transition life was mentioned, but he turned his dumb persona back on quickly. “Hehe, I changed my hair color to reflect the red fire of my soul now!” He blurted out, not wanting to reveal the true reason in front of Erin: that he wanted to dye his hair red so she wouldn’t be singled out as the only redhead in the family.
“But yes, even though I was significantly less cool back then, I wanted to protect Erin.” He winked at his sister, who looked away in embarrassment. She shouldn’t need protection in the first place. “You seem much more calm now, by the way. I admire how you turned things around, Lexi Dexi.” Seto lightly fluffed the end of her hair, knowing it’s rude to mess up the top of her hair. Elyssa looked on in confusion, having been a toddler when this all went down.
“Oh come on, I was like 7. Of course I’ve calmed down.” Alexis faked a scowl. “Sorry about that, Erin. I really only stopped being a jerk like that pretty recently.”
Erin scratched the back of her head, unsure of how to react. “Aha…well um, it’s fine. It was a long time ago anyway…” Erin replied. Seto let out a sigh of relief and gave his girlfriend a quick hug. “Good job, that really goes a long way.” He whispered in her ear.
The group ate their dinner for several minutes, chatting amongst themselves. Alex tapped his glass to get the room’s attention.
“I apologize for taking the conversation topic…but I would like to ask Alexis about a certain…detail.” He began. “You see, I care about this family quite considerably. And after looking at your file…it appears you tried to murder your twin sister.” The table went silent. Seto opened his mouth to object, but Alex cut him off.
“My question is, how am I to trust that you won’t try to hurt my brother in a moment of rage, like you did your twin sister? I’m sorry if this sounds heartless, but I must know that my family is safe.” Alex demanded.
Alexis felt her heart sink and her shoulders slump. Her worst fears had come true. She sat now on Alex’s plate, his to be dissected and devoured. She felt naked and alone, Seto gone where he couldn’t help her. There were no friends here, just a jury ready to judge her.
“You are right. It was the worst moment of my life, and I only ended up having any sort of normal life afterwards because my mother pulled all the strings she could. I can’t make any excuses. I can say I was trying to protect my sister, but I went far beyond that. I had already stopped her assailants. What Amelia tried to stop me from doing was torture. I had one of them helpless and I wouldn’t stop hurting her. If Amelia hadn’t stepped in, I really would be a murderer. Instead, I nearly killed her instead. Until then, all my fights had been in an arena where I could go as far as I wanted without really hurting anybody. Pain was dulled, and death was impossible. I was the strongest, so I did what I wanted. I was a spoiled, angry little brat. But that was years ago. Since then, I’ve been in a reform school. I have had therapy. I joined the HWBC, and I’m not even nearly top dog anymore. The ego that let me act that way, the immaturity, everything that has happened since has been a reminder that it was meaningless. I can’t promise that I’m good, but… I know I’m better.” Alexis sighed at the end, shuddering on the cold plate. Would she be devoured, or spared?
Alex stared at her as she explained her situation, analyzing her speech pattern and nonverbal cues. Once she was finished, Seto piped up. “I understand you’re worried Alex, but do you think I didn’t look up Alexis after we had that wonderful night at the office party? Of course I found this information, and I asked her about it. She’s recognized her faults, and changed for the better. I don’t think her past mistakes should affect our love for each other.” Seto explained, facing down Alex.
Nodding his head, Alex looked at the two of them. “Very good, very good indeed. I of course saw the reform school on your file too. But you didn’t try to justify your actions, pinning them on Amelia for instance. So with that said…yes, you both have my blessing, for whatever that’s worth.”
Seto smiled widely and hugged Alexis. “Oh my god, thank you! You did so well, Lexi! I’m so proud!” Seto continued to squeeze his girlfriend. She needed as much love as he could give after having to go through that. He was always the emotional support for Erin and Elyssa growing up, so he knew how hard that must have been for Alexis.
“Ah! Stop it! That wasn’t an oral exam, it was a- gaaaaah!” Alexis struggled and blushed, going down under her boyfriend’s weight. After a period of wiggling and giggling, they managed to get back upright. “I’ll pay you back for that tonight, asshooooole.” She whispered in his ear with a grin. She was tempted to nip it, but that would certainly be noticed.
“I look forward to your punishment, oh queen.” He whispered back, giving a sly smile. It was a huge weight off his chest to know Alex approved of his relationship. Aria let out a sigh and placed her hands neatly on the table.
“Well, I’m glad that all worked out. You have picked a wonderful girl, Seto. I just hope you know what you’re getting into dating this dork, Alexis. He is quite a handful.” She joked, looking at the two of them with relief in her eyes.
“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll keep him-” Alexis hesitated. She was about to say “on a tight leash”, but she changed her mind. “In check.” She giggled.
The dinner went well, with the family learning more about Alexis, and Alexis learning about the Miyata. Hours later, when Elyssa, Erin and Alex left, Seto and Alexis were the last ones to remain with Aria. She had made them all hot chocolate, and they were sitting on the patio outside, watching the sunset overhead.
“This is such a big place. It must be lonely living here alone.” Alexis realized that Aria was single, as far as she knew. That was strange.
Aria sighed, glanced at the house, then back at Alexis. “It is a big house…inherited this from my father, actually. Everyone used to live here, but now even Elyssa’s moved into her own apartment.” Aria began to explain. “As for loneliness…yes, that is accurate. That’s part of the reason I stay at work so much; there’s nothing for me here.”
“That’s just terrible for you. Trust me, my mom tells me about CEOs burning out all the time. You should come to a mixer, we’ll both wingman for you.” Alexis nudged Seto in the ribs.
Seto gave a few laughs of agreement, but seemed uneasy about saying anything. Aria clapped her hands together and leaned back in her chair. “While I appreciate the offer…I can’t. I’m far too busy for a relationship. Despite many attempts made on me…” Aria mumbled the last sentence, remembering the amount of times in her life men have asked her out, only to be declined.
“Come on, you’ve been president forever. Surely you have trusted lieutenants to delegate to? I’ll introduce you to some of my coworkers. The league might seem a little low brow for you, but there’s actually a lot of cool guys there. You can bond over… I dunno, guns!” Alexis had taken a beer earlier and her light body felt even lighter right now. Many attempts, all rejected? Maybe Aria just didn’t want to date. Or there was something she was missing.
The idea made Aria smile with amusement, internally she was having a hard time dancing around the issue. “Go to a mixer with professional fighters, huh? That does sound exciting.” She joked. Seto gave Aria a sidelong glance, and began to speak.
“Aria’s not had a relationship since she began her current job. However…before then…” “Seto, please refrain from going further.” Aria scowled at her brother, staring daggers directly into his soul.
“Whaaaaaat!? Who dated the president! Come on, I won’t tell anybody!” Alexis’ eyes lit up at the potential for gossip. “Was he cool? Heir to a company? An organization? Or not? Was he poor, somebody Cyrus wouldn’t approve of? A forbidden love? Or was he… a she?”
Aria’s expression shifted slightly at the end half of Alexis’s guess, but she was still able to keep her composure. Looking the fire mage up and down, Aria let out a sigh, and pulled out a piece of paper.
“I am willing to tell you, Alexis…but this information could have dire consequences. It is for this reason I must ask you to sign this contract of silence. It will mentally prevent you from saying anything about what you’re about to hear. If you’re willing to sign…I’ll tell you.” The thought seemed to exhaust Aria.
“Woah… okay.” Alexis wasn’t quite sobered up by how serious Aria became, but she certainly had to focus now. Carefully, she laid out her signature, shaking now before Aria revealed her greatest secret. Given Seto wasn’t being forced to sign anything, Alexis realized that he must already know. What was it?
Folding the piece of paper into her pocket, Aria sucked in a chestful of air, and slowly blew it out. “Right, so I’ll just come out and say it. Yes, you are correct. It was a she, she was a forbidden love…and not someone my father would approve of.”
Closing her eyes for a second, Aria began. “You see, I was basically taught that I had to marry someone to further the family name. So my dad would sometimes set me up on these dates with kids of other powerful families…but none went anywhere. So I figured I was just broken somehow. Well…”
Clapping her hands together, she continued. “Starting in middle school, there was this girl named Vanessa. Did theater, skipped class, loved to break the rules…and I hated her at first. She was everything I didn’t want to be. But she was also brilliant. And one night…she kidnapped me after a student council meeting, and made me…have fun.”
Aria smiled as she recalled the memories. “So yes, we started dating in secret…since my dad wouldn’t accept a girl, even less one like her. No noble name, not rich, rebellious…we actually planned to drive to Canada so I could escape winding up in this job.” Aria explained, taking a breather to let this sink in.
Alexis blinked in complete awe. The romance! The tragedy! Aria was more fascinating than she ever thought! But there was something Aria left unsaid, and she could see it in her eyes. “But you never did. What happened?”
“She…talked me out of it. I will admit; it was a plan of desperation. And even if we did go there…the HWIC works closely with Canada’s HW organization. So unless two teenagers with no money planned to go to some far off country…I couldn’t escape this destiny.”
There was now clear sadness in her eyes as she continued. “One day, my father unexpectedly resigned, and I was thrust into the role when I had just turned an adult. Any plans to go to college with Vanessa went out the window. She actually quit college to try and help me learn how to do this job…”
Aria pinched the area between her eyes in frustration. “...but I directed some of that overwhelming stress at her, and hurt her feelings. So…we broke up, she went off into the sunset…and I buried myself in my work.” The president finished.
Alexis sniffled. Oh no, she was definitely too drunk to remain dignified. “That’s so sad thooooooough!” She cried, jumping from her seat to hug Aria. She realized only a second after she did so that she had just hugged the president of the HWIC. “Uh, sorry. I shouldn’t have had that drink. But… you should try to find her! You can do whatever you want now, right? Cyrus is gone.”
This comment brought a strange mixed feeling to Aria. Seto gave a knowing glance to his sister, and she nodded. Aria did enjoy the hug though, and hugged back before Alexis let go.
“It’s ok, that was enjoyable. Turns out…she had several struggles after leaving me…but managed to get her marine biology degree…and joined the R&D division. She uh, ambushed me in the locker rooms. She…pecked me on the cheek when she left.” Aria tried to hide her blush.
Seto leaned back to try and take point. “But here’s the issue. If it comes out Aria’s a lesbian, several of our partners will not want to work with her. It may be bad enough for the board to want to replace her, and let’s just say she’s not a fan of the prime candidate.” Seto tried to be vague, but he was sure Alexis could figure it out.
“Thank you, Seto. So yes…I would love to accept her feelings and go out again…but I can’t in good conscience do that and let the HWIC become…what it was before I took power.”
Too many emotions! The forbidden kiss was so cute, but the possibility of political turmoil was definitely not. For a moment, Alexis felt like she wasn’t a real adult. Here she was with her normal relationship, talking to somebody whose love life could shape the Hidden World for years to come. What did she know of that kind of responsibility?
“There isn’t any advice I can give. You know a lot more than me about life. But I hope you’re able to make things better one day.” This time, her hug was more deliberate. “And of course… I’m sure Seto can help you. He’s the best friend anybody could have.” Alexis blushed.
Seto stared for a second, then leaped up and joined in on the hug. “She’s right, you know! People love you, Aria, and want to see you happy! Besides…Vanessa can’t wait forever.” He warned. Aria looked down at the ground, knowing this more than anyone. She hugged both of them back.
“Thank you, the both of you. I’m glad you found such a nice girlfriend, Seto. I don’t know how I’m going to square this love life of mine…but I’ll do my best.” Releasing the hug, Aria smirked at Seto.
“Tell me Seto, how quickly did you notice Vanessa being hired, and remembering our past together?” She asked. Seto grinned and whistled. “Second day, actually. Iris was giving her the orientation, and I looked at her employee ID. Took her to lunch that day. She’s muuuuuch cooler than you.” He joked, sticking his tongue out slightly.
Aria rolled her eyes, and got up. “Well, I should probably start getting ready for sleep. It was wonderful meeting you, Alexis. And if you need anything, please call me.” She produced a professional business card and handed it to the fire mage. With a final hug to them both, she disappeared into the house.
“Hey, that went great.” Alexis hugged Seto from the side. “Thanks for bringing me… and of course thanks for being there. Turns out your family is as cool as you.”
Seto beamed at the hug, hugging Alexis back. “Hey, there’s a reason I love them so much. Even Alex, while he is a little intense…he helped me become a man. He comes through when you need him. But uh…sorry I couldn’t do more when he brought up the…thing.” He looked down, not knowing what to say.
“There wasn’t anything you could do. It was my sin, and my battle to fight.” Alexis let the shadows under them swell as she hugged Seto. Without breaking away, she carried them back to the car on a wave of darkness, only letting go when they were right upon it. “You did everything I needed tonight. However, you still must be punished for embarrassing me.” She smiled and pinched his lip before sliding into the passenger seat.
“Oh boy, don’t punish me too much. I may never leave you alone.” Seto joked, sliding into the driver’s seat. The two pulled out of the driveway and began down the road once more, Alexis now closer to the Miyata family than ever…and Seto couldn’t have been more proud.