Hey guys. I'm taking an obvious long break from Blood+ a while to work on something I just recently saw. :D I've chewed on the idea a while now, so tell me what you think!
I own nothing from this movie [though I wish I did].
"Genetics," Shilo whimpered. Still, when Amber had dropped by unexpectedly, she was ready to slam the door in her face. The only thing that stopped her was that one word, and Amber Sweet knew exactly why it effected her still. She opened the door a little wider and allowed the girl inside the house.
Ever since her father died, she has changed nothing about the place. Even after she found his lair from his Repo days, she couldn't bring herself to change anything quite yet. Amber sniffed around. The look of distaste on her face caused Shilo to grimace and slam the door shut behind her.
"What do you want now, Amber?" she asked. It was the third time this week Amber sweet had paraded herself around and attempted small talk. Amber's look still changed, but the changes were less dramatic now. These days, she wore a cooler, collected look on her face. Today, her hair was a golden honey color and it fell just below her ears lobes. She wore a bright green mini jersey dress over white leggings that stopped halfway down her calf. She sported a pair of bright green heels that made Shilo's feet ache just looking at them to complete the outfit.
Amber turned her frosty blue eyes on Shilo with a look of concern. She hadn't spoken yet, so Shilo cleared her throat.
"Amber, what do you want?" Amber frowned and took a seat on the couch in the front room.
"Don't rush me, Shilo," Amber sighed, examining the microscopic imperfection on her dress that caused her to smooth it meticulously. "I wanted to speak of something pleasant before getting to the serious matter." Shilo huffed out a sigh and sat next to her. She flipped back a black lock of hair from the wig she still wore. She scratched her scalp lightly.
Maybe I should get a new wig. This one is old, and it's been itching like crazy! She folded her delicate, pale hands together.
"Then start," Shilo said, black eyes guarded.
"First of all, how have you... um... been?" Amber asked. It was a lame excuse to ask how Shilo was handling her father's and Blind Mag's death. "Nathan was a very good man and... um... I just wanted to..."
Shilo took a second to control her facial expressions. Amber Sweet normally never complimented someone, and she normally never felt guilty about her death. Shilo shrugged and looked up at Amber, meeting her eyes with caution.
"I've been fine. Not much has changed yet. My dad's will said I have this house and the finances he's saved for me until I'm 21." Her father had worked to save money for Shilo just in case he... passed early. Shilo held back the knot in her throat like an expert. She had avoided cameras until she could control her tears.
"I... ah, see. I see. Um..." Amber started to stutter for an another question. This was also something she'd never done before. Shilo held up a hand to stop her.
"Stop, Amber. You don't owe me anything. The things that happened are sealed away now."
Amber took a moment, a strange look on her face.
"I know," she finally said. "I had a feeling you'd say that." She shook her head. "I still need to apologize for who I am. For how I had once treated the people around me, and how I treated Blind Mag. She... she's never really hurt anyone. She wasn't even rude to me when I was such a bitch to her. When my father..." She paused a moment and covered her mouth. Amber was spoiled once, but she still loved her father. "When my father passed, he had told me how much of a disappointment I was. You were... ah... occupied." Shilo nodded for her to go one. She already knew what Amber meant.
Amber cleared her throat and started again. "I thought long and hard on that. I never understood why I was such a disappointment until I looked at myself off of Zydrate. I finally kicked the habit completely a few months ago thanks to... You know." Shilo nodded. The two girls shared a grimace.
After the incident, Graverobber had made a few changes himself. He still lived as a rogue from the submarkets that still sold street Zydrate, but he had a better sense of... Honor? Shilo winced at that thought. He probably just took his eyes off the cash for a second to see about making things better in the slums. If they were better, so was his profit.
Still, Graverobber had avoided Shilo and GeneCo. after the Final Opera. Shilo hesitated, but she then slowly reached and gave Amber's hand a light squeeze. Her hand then retreated quickly to her lap.
"Shilo, I will apologize for what has happened because of GeneCo."
Shilo finally gave. A tear slid down her cheek before she sniffed and squeezed Amber's shoulder gently. Amber herself was a little shocked at the friendly gesture. "I accept," Shilo finally said. She then stood and fixed her feathered tu-tu. She then readjusted the black blouse.
"Now, Amber, what is the other serious business." That was it. What was said would probably never leave that room. Pavi and Luigi both hated Shilo. Still, Amber had taken control in the chaos, so they probably hated her too when they weren't trying to strangle each other. GeneCo. was now safely in Amber's hands.
"I need your help," Amber said simply. "I, um, need help rebuilding a good reputation for GenCo." Shilo's brows raised a fraction before she sat down again.
"I have no idea how I can help that," Shilo said. "I barely trust GeneCo. - no offense – after what had happened." Amber frowned.
"No, I know what you mean. GeneCo. still has morale issues, and we need to find a way to reinforce the payments for organs without the fear of Repo Men. I've been working on that separately, though." Shilo nodded when she paused for her to continue. "I need you to either publicly state GeneCo. is going to give you a surgery for a fashion statement and that you trust GeneCo. has changed for the better, or you could become my partner in running GeneCo."
Shilo's eyes widened. Neither decision was a good one for her. She had pretty much left GeneCo. because of the dark past. Amber noted her hesitation with a nod.
"I don't trust Pavi or Luigi to be partners with me, and anyone else would only exploit what was once GeneCo. All I need the world to know is that GeneCo. is starting to make some changes." Shilo sighed.
"You do know that I don't know how to run a business, and changing myself goes against my morals." Shilo grimaced as Amber left a single blue pill on the coffee table in front of them. "That better not be bribery."
Shilo still had problems with her blood. She never quite understood it. Then again, the year 2079 was filled with a bunch of "misunderstood" things. Amber finally smiled weakly.
"No. I did some research into really old medical books my dad had kept hidden away. They were supposed to go to Pavi, but he was only thinking of selling them. I blackmailed them from him." Amber grinned proudly, finally. Shilo smiled back shyly. This was the first time she'd ever felt so... friendly with Amber. "You have a very old blood disease from the early century years. It happened before the organ failures, and very few people have it now. It's called Hypoglycemia. You need to eat a certain amount of food each day. I didn't find much, but I suggest you do some research yourself and eat at least one thousand calories worth of food a day. Your blood depends on the amount of food."
Shilo stared at the little blue pill. Amber sighed. "That's only going to neutralize it temporarily until you can find a suitable amount of food. It's another change I'm making for GeneCo. We shouldn't be suggesting medications to our patients so much." Amber stood and smoothed out her skin-tight dress. Shilo envied such a form. Being incredibly skinny, she always felt a little... awkward.
"Think about it," Amber said, walking slowly toward the door. "You don't need an answer right away, dear." She left the house at that. Shilo took the pill from the counter and swallowed it down.
Her father had been poisoning her blood for years. There must have been medical records on how Shilo would sometimes feint even after she stopped taking the poisons. She'd always feel a little better after eating something, though.
It was late in the evening now, and Amber's car had disappeared an hour ago. She had a lot to consider. Shilo climbed the stairs to her bed room.
Nothing had changed there, either. Shilo scratched her scalp irritably and yanked the wig off.
"I need a new wig," she muttered to herself. She was pretty sure she still didn't have hair.
"Nope. Not anymore, kid."
Shilo yelped and threw the wig at the voice. Graverobber caught it and grinned mischievously at her. Of course, Shilo thought, glaring at him.
"Don't you know?" she asked, already accustomed to Graverobber finding anyway into her house that he wished. It was starting to creep her out a little, but fighting with him on it was a waste of time.
"Don't you greet your guests politely?" he asked, a brow raised. His grin turned from mischievous to cheeky. Shilo snatched the wig back from him with a hiss.
"Oh no you don't," he said, taking the wig back. "Let your hair grow more. That's why this thing itches." Shilo started to turn toward the mirror.
"What are you talk"- She stopped mid-sentence as she saw her reflection. She hadn't looked in a mirror since her father died. She used to always see the blood on her face. Though those visions had passed, she was still unnerved by her reflection. Now, though, she stared in delight. Light brown curles had started to sprout on top of her head. They were loose curls that held some gold highlights in them.
Hesitantly, she reached a hand up and rubbed the soft inch of hair on her head. She hadn't noticed for so long. It's been three months at least. Still...
"Wow," she muttered, eyes wide in the mirror. Her skin was still pale, but she had never grown hair before. She wanted to squeal and jump around in delight, but her shyer side held that back.
Graverobber stepped behind her and grinned cheekily again. Then he held her in a headlock while he gave her a good dutch rub.
"Couldn't do this with a wig!" he teased. He quickly released her. Shilo grabbed the pillow on the stool in front of her bed. She tossed it at him.
"You ass!" He grinned and caught the pillow.
"What did Ms. Sweet want?" Graverobber asked, eyes slightly alight. She was pretty confident that he had grown a little crush on her. The few times she was over, Graverobber had appeared right after she left. He always asked questions about how he was doing and what she needed and the usual that led Shilo to believe he had a little crush on her.
"How cute," she murmured. "She needed my help to restore GeneCo.'s reputation." Graverobber frowned and moved to sit on Shilo's window sill.
"How?" he asked. "That one stumps me, even. Unless... did she ask you to publicly make a statement about it or offer you a place in the company? Most people would see that if the former heir trusted the company again, so could they. I've heard talk in the submarkets about GeneCo. banning Repo Men now. People feel a hell of a lot relieved from hat." He flipped a page in one of Shilo's bug books. She snatched it from him and closed it.
"Watch it! That's important! Yes, she did offer me a partnership, but I don't know anything about business. It's either that, though, or get a surgery sponsored by GeneCo." Graverobber chuckled.
"She picked a big one, didn't she? Still, don't get into what you don't know, kid." Shilo growled.
"I have a name, you know," she muttered.
"I know."
There was a breeze. Shilo looked up as Graverobber plunged out the window. When she rushed to look outside, he was out of sight.
"Ass," she muttered. "What would I change about myself?" Shilo slammed the window shut next and locked it before going to bed early.