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-"Dialogue"-
("Inner thinking")
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BACK IN THE RIGHT PLACE
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Aria was amazed at the technical detail of the underground corridor she was traversing on her way to the Lullaby's underground cathedral inside the main base of this territory, where the most important faction members awaited her. She smiled with satisfaction. In her absence her faction had been busy. They had begun the construction of a connecting underground network everywhere, and had been consolidating themselves as a hidden economic power in every territory.
Her shadow crawled behind her and her steps echoed on the stone floors. It was amazing what her faction had achieved in her absence. For a second light-headedness clouded her perceptions as warmth spread throughout her body. They had remembered her and had waited for the right moment to approach their founder. She felt keen pride at the Lullaby. She had helped nurture them from practically nothing and now they were a true hidden power behind the curtains.
Some days prior she had reunited with Joker, spending a couple days helping her friend heal, sharing time and catching on with each other. It had felt wonderful that he did remember her, and he did so because when he came back from Spades, the king of Hearts had offered him a drink from an old potion of hearts in order to stop the damage from the wound inflicted on his chest by the antimana attack of the Jabberwocky, and Aria suspected that potion was also the reason why the king had not forgotten about her either. If there was someone she trusted, that was Joker, and she had also told her bestest friend ever about Spades; that she had made a deal with the Jabberwock and after that … her mind became hazy and her skin got goose bumps when she thought of the nightmare realm, her only comments about it was that it wasn't pleasant. Joker knew better than to try and push for more information, instead, he showed more interest in reaffirming their friendship in their twisted ways, knowing that she'd show and tell everything to him when the time came.
After that, Aria bid farewell to Joker and promised she'd come soon again, then she wandered back in town, unsure where she should go and in no mood to go back to the Clock Tower so soon. Thus, out of nostalgia's sake she went to a bar that had been run by her faction, 'The Weary Flamingo'. The corner of her lips barely twitched upwards. She had not chosen the name of the bar, it had been chosen through vote between the employees.
As soon as she crossed the colorful exterior into the elegant and warm blueprint interior of the latin styled building, the music stopped and everyone turned to look at her in astonished silence. Aria ignored the starting murmuring or the passing of messages while she made her way towards a lonely table at the corner of the bar where she could see everything, Aegis scanning the crowd and making comparison analysis to identify the people in order to show its master the data about the faceless in the place. All were, or most likely used to be, in her faction ranks.
Weariness settled in her chest while the band began to pick up again, they started to play a very specific and unmistakable tune, more a hymn or a popular song than some catchy tune sounding more vigorous and joyous in their playing now. It was a song full of meaning from her world. Aria recognized the song and looked up to see everyone eagerly looking up to her, waiting for her reaction. They were breathless, their focus solely on their fearless ex-leader as they began singing the chorus (AN: The song is 'Avante Camarada'* more info at the bottom ).
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Avante, camarada, avante,(Forward comrade! Forward!)
Junta a tua à nossa voz!(Bring your voice to our voices! )
Avante, camarada, avante, camarada(Forward comrade! Forward comrade!)
E o sol brilhará para todos nós!(And the sun will shine for all of us!)
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Aria's gaze slid from left to right around the room, a wry smile tugging her lips up before, without warning, she stood up and she set her hand over her heart in a dutiful salute before breaking into song, the lead part coming up and she naturally taking into it.
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Ergue da noite, clandestino,(Rise up from the night, you who are clandestine,)
À luz do dia a felicidade,(And bring to the daylight your happiness,)
Que o novo sol vai nascendo(The new sunshine is born)
Em nossas vozes vai crescendo(And through our voices a new hymn)
Um novo hino à liberdade(To the freedom has arisen)
Que o novo sol vai nascendo(The new sunshine is born)
Em nossas vozes vai crescendo(And through our voices a new hymn)
Um novo hino à liberdade(To the freedom has arisen)
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The moment she began to sing everyone got to their feet, getting into the beat and saluting her before enthusiastically singing along the chorus with her. Then the lead came again in the next stanza and this time she sang a little more quietly, watching the entire bar jumping with joy and wondering what was this about. Her heart eager to know what was going on.
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Cerrem os punhos, companheiros,(Clench the fist, oh my companions,)
Já vai tombando a muralha. (The walls are already falling down.)
Libertemos sem demora (Quick! Let us liberate from the dungeon)
Os companheiros da masmorra (Our fellow companions)
Heróis supremos da batalha (Supreme heroes of this battle )
Libertemos sem demora (Quick! Let us liberate from the dungeon)
Os companheiros da masmorra (Our fellow companions)
Heróis supremos da batalha (Supreme heroes of this battle)
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Some became so happy that they even leapt onto the tables, all more than entrapped in the music while Aria took a seat and let them continue the whole song, no lead but everyone singing along into a heartwarming whole. Aria, unable to help but utter a small laugh in amusement at their excitement, felt a small tear escape her right eye. She quickly hid it and questioned her own reaction before her eyes glanced over through the crowds and towards the wall, seeing the bartender and owner of the place, a buxom girl named Ava, approaching her table with another woman and man in tow. When they reached her table, Aria smiled as they bowed.
As the leader of the establishment and regional division of the faction, the bartender spoke first. - "My Lady. The lullaby has been eagerly awaiting the return of their Berceuse. We are very happy to have you back."
"You remember me." - Aria could not even imagine the expression her own face had at the moment. Her faction remembered her. Not even the holders did yet this group, HER group did, and they had been waiting for her.
Ava proceeded to explain how they had been waiting for her and watching her return from afar; as the bartender's words unfolded, Aria felt her kin thinking, a heavy feeling settling in the stomach. -"How is it that you remember where the whole Wonderland didn't?"
"My lady."- The man, a black haired bloque with some latin features spoke. He was a top assassin inside the faction and led the special operations division in Clover.- "We… we took some of your blood samples to recreate the ink that your lieutenants created in order to get a mark for ourselves, however diluted the sample was, the effect still allowed for your mana to reach us directly instead of being dispersed and gathered by the role holders. When everyone forgot, the newest cards who didn't have one of the lullaby's tattoos also forgot too" - He lowered his shirt at the neck to show a musical key shaped tattoo.
Ari nodded and took a long sip to her drink, both hands holding the beverage. She remembered deeply her lieutenants, Biggs and Wedge. Thanks to them the Lullaby had been created when, shortly after Aria arrived on this world, the foreigner had been caught in a fray at the castle during an event. She had ended up on the back of the truck of some small and nameless faction along with Biggs, the tall and talkative swordsman that would become her lieutenant in the future. Not but some hours later, another fray caught her when this faction's base was attacked and their leader had been killed. That would have been all, except that without a replacement leader, the faceless group had no goals or purpose, and existing without a purpose in this world is against the rules. So, in the midsts of desperation, Biggs came to Wedge, the black haired gunman and his best pal who had been trying to lead and that would became Aria's right hand, with the stupid yet brilliant idea to have the foreigner take the charge.
Her times with Biggs and Wedge had been fun, happy even. They had helped her a lot, like when they had taken her to see Rolf, Biggs's cousin and master tattoo artist from the underworld capable of creating tattoos like Gray's neck one; a big man in his 40´s, tall, bulky and with his skin full of tattoos. On Ariad he performed his masterpiece; using some of her components sacrificed for this, he made the one grand design inked and engraved on her entire back, on and below her skin. A tattoo that acted as a signal enhancer and increased her secondary sync mode via the lines running on her flesh. But that hadn't been all. Rolf asked her for blood to create a special ink that would be able to allow faceless to gather energy faster and better, something only holders did naturally. Aria had been confused. Why blood? But Rolf had gave her the clue she needed. 'Cus blood is the money of the soul and the life flowing from the heart through the body.' He would just extract the live essence, and Aria had then learned that her mana was contained in every single cell from a foreigner. The first test subject for this new type of tattoo was Bunsen, Aria's cat who got a little musical DO key in the inside of his ear and over his hind leg, which let to Biggs and Wedge offering themselves as test subjects too. Biggs got a SOL key on his right shoulder and Wedge a FA key on his left shoulder.
Aria finished her drink, silently remembering Biggs and Wedge. They had been fun, faithful, loyal, capable and overly great men; despite not having eyes they were actually handsome and well endowed (she wasn't gonna deny either that without their shirts they were some eye candy), and their enthusiasm was like a refreshing breeze for her. She felt actually happy about having met them. They fought side by side with her against the Jabberwocky in Diamond and had been thrown into Spades, but unlike her, they hadnt make it. She knew it but she couldn't recall it. Even her files were very vague. Truth be told, she missed them. A half smirk and half smile formed on her lips. Of all the things the duo had caused, Aria never thought the rest of the faction would have taken their example and gotten their own smaller music key tattoos from whatever blood samples she had left behind.
"We missed you, Lady Aria!"
"We're so glad you're back, Lady A"
Everyone in the bar was now surrounding the table, all greeting Aria back with joy. She felt some disorientation, dizziness, and traces of euphoria. This was in a way her family and her heart beat faster for it. Still, there was a question. Splaying the fingers out in a fan against her breastbone she asked Ava. -"Why wasn't I contacted earlier?"
Ava quickly raised her hands and blushed -"Please forgive us for not contacting you first, Berceuse. We were not sure if you remembered us at all." - Her face then made a wide smile. -"But now that we know you remember us please listen about how well your programs have worked. I am sure you will be very pleased with the results. We have grown according to your plans; our economic power is strong but still unseen, and our technological development has allowed us to expand through all the territories"
"So you don't need me. "- Aria told with a smile that was both sad and prideful. -"I prepared you for that."
"We will always need your guidance, my lady. And we hope we can always serve your purposes."- The other woman, older and with a more serious looking spoke with devotion and conviction that confused Aria.- "The foundations you have laid down for us faceless has been doing incredibly well. Some programs have failed due to holder's interferences or had been needed to set on waiting status but mostly everything's been going according to your plans and interests. And with your return, we shall thrive."
"Berceuse, it would be better if we led you to the headquarters in this sector while the voice about your return runs and preparations are made to formally welcome you back." -The man said with his hand over his chest while bowing slightly.
Aria chucked before standing up and taking naturally into her position of leadership. - "Do call the territorial leaders. I will come take charge again either as 'Berceuse' or as consultant of the Berceuse ONLY if all territories vote in favor of it.'
"Thank you, my lady."-The man said with a breathless smile as everyone in the room loudly cheered and made way for them to led Aria towards a painting over a wall. Had she not been too enthralled on the conversation she would have noticed that before the secret underground passage opened, the painting covering it was a reproduction of the Rembrandt's 'Belshazzar's Feast', except that the central figure was herself smiling knowingly to the viewer while the people around were faceless in awe looking at digital words behind her that said: 'There is no magic, only science'. That should have been a red flag that her faction regarded her perhaps a bit too high. The second flag should have come when the vote for reinstalling her was unanimous. They wanted her. They needed her, and that also gave her a new reason to keep on existing on this world, at least for a little longer.
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Since there was absolutely nothing to eat at the tower, Julius was out in town to buy groceries. Not for the first time did he notice far more stores that apparently were doing quite well in his territory, especially near the tower, where the fanciest stores had settled, making the streets far more bustling.
Groceries were not the only reason he was out. He had just come from picking up a present for Aria. She had trouble when it came to emotions of other people, so Ace had joked about pointing it out to her with a sign. That had turned into the idea of a very special gift.
He rounded a corner and then his clock seemed to accelerate when he saw Aria walking down the street in his direction. She was talking with a couple faceless girls at her sides and as soon as she saw him, she told them something and the girls disappeared among the crowds. The mercenary walked to him and as soon as she reached him, with a smile on her lips she suddenly hung from his neck and gave him a peck kiss on the lips right there in the middle of the busy street. She then pulled back but still clung to him.
"Hi Julius" - Her face retained the smile but in a way calculating something.
"Aria? "- Julius glanced around in embarrassment at the public display of affection but otherwise held still through her embrace. - "Where have you been?"
"At the castle with Ace and checking on some old job."- She gave a very slight side glance towards a building. - "What are you doing out of the tower?"
"I was out buying groceries"- Julius placed a hand against her lower back, a bit uncomfortable by the attention they were drawing.
"And I guess you haven't bought them yet?" - She side glanced again, her eyes narrowing for a second before she took a step back, her smile devilish. - "Then let's go buy them. We can have them be delivered to the tower while we go somewhere else."
Julius blinked, surprised at the offer before immediately becoming suspicious. She was much too sweet. -"Has something happened?"- He asked, placing a hand against her head. - "Are you feeling alright?"
"Oh yes, a bunch of things have happened. And I'm alive aren't I?"- She questioned, her eyes flickering the digital lights for a couple seconds and her smile seemingly getting more dangerous. -"Why you ask?"
"You are being awfully … chipper." - Convinced there was something else going on, he tilted his head slightly as though the new angle would help bring to light the cause of this strange affection she was showing so easily and plain.
"Oh."- Her smile brightened as she locked her arm with his and they started walking like a couple. -"That's because we are in public. And it's in our best political interest to make a public statement regarding our current relationship. So we should present a good front for public relationship purposes."
"I don't believe in flaunting a relationship to the public. It's too troublesome."- Julius pointed out, seeming hesitant and suspicious but went along with her regardless.
"It would be if I weren't a foreigner. But since I am and I'm also far more, it's beneficial and needed." - She smirked dryly - "First of all, you are a territory leader even if you don't take care of it, and showing this relationship to the population stabilizes speculations. Also I don't want any other holder dogs after my bones and sticking their noses in my business. Getting a boyfriend slows their advances"- She leaned on him more before separating to walk by his side. - "Another effect is that less people will try to approach me or hunt me down unless they have something specifically against you, which actually many seem to do, but many more are afraid of you or Ace, and those foolish enough to approach , well, I get rid of them and that strengthens your position too. This relationship is a mutual power increase."
"Is it really that hard for you to admit you want to spend time with me?"- Julius sighed, gently taking her hand -"Shall we, then?"- He held her hand rather firmly. His ears tinged with pink, hearing the faceless people beginning to whisper amongst themselves.
Light flickered on her eyes when Aegis transmitted her the information regarding Julius reaction, which she found funny and exploitable. She decided to entertain his question.-"One statement does not invalidate the others. This date will be fun, but at the same time it serves other purposes." - Leaning on him, she gave him another loving peck, this time in the cheek and then she began walking alongside him. Her gaze remaining in a point behind him for a second.
Julius walked along with Aria, glancing down at her from time to time, studying her. She had something up her sleeve but he couldn't figure out what it was. His grasp tightened slightly, feeling the pointed stares. Even if it was known through the Town about their relationship, everyone still seemed so surprised to see the clockmaker out with his girlfriend. It put Julius on edge to have so many troublesome eyes on him all the time.
They went to buy the groceries and Aria had them be delivered to the tower, assuring some afterimage would receive them. Obviously Julius paid, and after that, Aria 'offered' to take him to the amusement park since she had a platinum pass, which made it all free and allowed for 1 accompanist.
Very soon they were in the amusement park cutting in lines, Aria being relatively clingy on him.
"You know I despise those crowded and unnecessary theme parks." - Julius looked around at the visible roller coaster with a slightly paler face and deep frown.
"As if there were many amusement parks in wonderland" - Aria rolled her eyes - "Can you try to have fun? even I can try to. This counts as a date, no?"
"Riding on mechanical machines until one gets sick is hardly an enjoyable date." - Julius sounded rather grumpy but still appeared pleased with Aria's company.
"It's incredibly enjoyable. Remember when in Diamond I called my dearest beloved mecha Zoyakaze? " - The technocrat dreamily closed her eyes -" Riding all those tons of tech machine is super exciting"- She smirked evilly at him, planning to have even more fun at his expense. - "Or do you propose I ride something else?"- She passed her hand over his hip.
Julius's ears darkened as he frowned, glancing off to the side-"That accompany pass will go invalid soon, won't it? Then let's use it."- He tugged her through the fast lane into a random entrance as he sighed. Her rather devilish nature was certainly charming when she wasn't being deadly or getting in danger, but he could not help but feel some embarrassment from the public displays. He desired to do many things to her in private, things not for the public to see. He rubbed his head, thankful for the distraction of the rides before he looked up, freezing as he realized he dragged her into the line of the fastest and loopiest roller coaster out of all the rides in the Amusement Park. Julius looked back, seeing them being corralled in by the others with passes, making going back impossible without looking VERY bad. He trapped himself. His complexion already began to turn green in unease, his stomach churning unhealthily.
Aria squished his hand hard. - "Don't worry Julius. I bet this thing can't go more than 5 G's of acceleration. Under short intervals the human body can resist far more no probs." - She kept her smile focused on him, it looked so unsettling that she might had picked it up from Ace, making Julius gulp.
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After the ride, Julius stood hunched over a large trashcan near the exit of the ride, his pale fingers tightly clung to the rim of it, feeling his stomach pinching and heaving, his face an uneasy coloration between green and white as he gagged and coughed, trying with all his might not to throw up,
"Please try not to vomit. You'd look weak and pathetic, and if you do I won't kiss you… on the lips at least. If you are going to vomit maybe it should be from alcohol instead?" - Aria pondered with her index finger on her chin.
"I never do well on roller coasters." -Julius shakily pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth off from saliva as he pulled back and looked back at her, seeing her double in person before he hunched back over and tried not to lose his head.
Aria crawled silently behind Julius and pressed her chest on his back slowly moving down, her hands drawing circles near his inner thigh, all too entertained with his situation. - "Cmón, toughen up. Maybe I can make you spin in other ways?" - Her hand moved over a very defined area.
The suddenness of the idea and her touch made his concentration lapse before he hunched over and threw up into the trashcan what little he had eaten for lunch while trembling in a near cold sweat as his head spun. He realized how awkward it was to throw up after something so enticing but at the moment, the temporary distraction was enough to make his stomach unleash its wrath.
"Gezz … you could have just say no. But If have such a revolting effect maybe you can ask Ace for that kiss that you lost by throwing up" - Aria laughed while patting his back.
"Julius?" - A female voice with a high pitch called.
Julius stiffened up, wiping his mouth off fast as he saw Alice approach. For the briefest moment he was embarrassed at being caught in such an outlandish spot before his eyes widened slightly, darting over to Aria, her expression becoming harsh cold stone for a second, her eyes flickering blue before a practiced smile returned to her lips as she turned around to address whom was approaching. Julius gaped. The last time he reacted incorrectly, Aria almost blew up Wonderland or at least led the Bandersnatch appear in this side of the mirror. In a startlingly fast move from the clock maker, Julius quickly and tightly enveloped Aria into a hug before forcing himself to concede with his earlier notion of disliking public affection, kissing her deeply french style on the lips to prove he loved her thoroughly while pleasing desperately in his mind this would not go horribly bad.
Aria's face shook in disgust and her skin turned greenish white as tried pushing Julius away, but his grip remained firm as he leaned down towards her ear.
"I love you, Aria." -Julius shyly whispered to her, kissing her jaw before looking over to Alice with a friendly smile. -"Hello, Alice. "
"Don't kiss me after you vomited!"- Aria made a disgusted face and punched him in the stomach making him bent with a groan, then she began spitting in the trashcan . - "I don't like scatological substance exchange!".
"A-Ah, hello … ? Ah, bad time?"- Alice asked, her face scrunching up in slight disgust from what Aria said before putting two and two together.
" … ,"- Julius recovered from the hit and, unable to know how to answer, remained silent, his pale face remaining prevalent as he tried to figure out how to please Aria and make her understand there was nothing between him and Alice.
"H-Hey … you have eyes?"- Alice asked, startled as her gaze locked onto Aria with Julius's stiffness all but forgotten.
Aria looked at Alice, Her voice her no inflexion in the monotonous tone. -"Hello Alice. Long time no see, huh? "- She remembered that the other foreigner had forgotten all about her. -" Since you forgot about me too then I'll re-introduce myself. I'm Aria Haron Scherzi. Second foreigner."- She had no doubt Alice didn't connect her to the figure that fell from the sky during her wedding, the same person that gave her the Winxy pistol in the sapphire ring the first foreigner was wearing in her right hand.
"Eh? Have we met before?"- Alice stared hard and long at Aria, her hands together over her chest, trying to put a place the other woman's face before she looked between Julius and the female.
"But I ain't the only thing you have forgotten, have you Alice?"- Aria teased with a smile Joker would applaud, knowing well how Alice's memories have been played.
"I … should properly introduce her. Alice, Aria is my girlfriend. We are on a date." - Julius said rather firmly, lightly squeezing Aria's shoulder. With that announcement in the air he was sure (or at least very dearly hoped) Aria would not take it the wrong way at all this time.
"Oh! How good! I was afraid you would never get into a relationship." -Alice teased with a grin and clapped as Julius faintly blushed.
"He already had Ace. Still does." - Aria shrugged.
"Huh?" - A lice tilted her head.
"Currently Ace is also our boyfriend. We are in a trio." - The mercenary clarified with natural ease.
Alice held completely still, her expression freezing as she analyzed that statement.
"Well. Nice to see you Alice, but we must be going. Let's go Aria." -Julius grabbed Aria's hand with a firm grasp and made a quick escape. If they stayed with Alice for long who knows what Aria might think about or say aloud! Anything could lead to his unstable girlfriend suddenly taking the wrong assumption between him and Alice once again, and he was not about to let that happen. Perhaps he was overthinking things, but then again, a simple misunderstanding with Aria almost led to the destruction of Wonderland…. a few times already. In the background he managed to hear Alice's loud exclamation surely from her picturing the meaning of the 'trio'.
Without intending it, Julius pulled the still surprisingly complaint Aria into the mirror house, taking her pass and flashing it to the attendant before going inside, keeping a firm grasp on her hand. Alone in the mirror house, Julius finally let out a stiff, relieved breath. It didn't seem like Aria had gone suicidal or murderous at all from meeting Alice. Neither of those was good. She could go omnicidal either way and was actually able to cause total destruction.
"Julius … you can let go now"- Aria deadpanned and gave a couple pulls to her hand.
"Ah, sorry."- He said, letting her go before intently studying her face.-"Are you alright?" -He watched her walk ahead of him and quickly kept after her, following closely to not lose her.
"Are you really sorry, Julius?" - Aria glanced at him from above her shoulder. -"What are you sorry about? "
"Mmmhhh.."- He decided not to mention the gross kiss and did not want her to get angry. He tried to grab her shoulder to hug her close; that seemed to certainly be a good tactic. However, she slipped his grasp and walked further into the mirrors labyrinth, making sure he was on a different corridor.
She touched him briefly, and with a giggle disappeared from his proximity before he could know for real where she was. - "Are you sorry about those troublesome public displays? Or perhaps you'd like want to get closer?"- She chuckled and snapped her fingers. Her attire changing to a more light and revealing one.- "I think I wanna try something." - She clapped her hands once and the mirror's surface seemed to become liquid. While Julius looked around left and right, she moved right into a mirror and then appeared behind him. She slapped his ass and then jumped into the next mirror, disappearing from that corridor.
"Aria?!" -Reflected in the mirrors Julius saw her cheeky smile, in her forehead some sweat. Walking forward and reaching for her, his hand ran into a mirrored surface. He bulked, surprised as he felt the mirror's glass and watched her deviously smirk before walking away through the dozens of reflections.
Aria's eye lit again with a green spot over her irises that was actually an augmented reality projection of the maze's map that her sensors had created. The merc would have to navigate the map's layout and get some fun at Julius's expense without mirror crossing. She had used the power of the key of the way to open a wormhole-like path between mirrors, but it took a LOT of energy to do so even once and at a short distance, and she knew she would not be doing it again unless strictly necessary.
" … Aria, what are you doing?" - Julius heard her hard breathing as he turned in circles trying to figure out where she was. He knew the lay out of the mirror house relatively well but she was moving like a ghost between mirrors, it seemed. Something he had no idea how she did it.
"C'mon Julius. Try and catch me. I wanna see some of your skills."- Various mirrors showed her turning around and slapping her own ass while she blew him a kiss and her image ran between mirror frames. -"This may not be a public display, but might as well be fun since it's part of this date"
When a hand brushed by his groin, Julius jumped startled. He quickly looked down finding nothing there, then, a chill went up his spine as he felt her hot breath on the back his neck, causing him to whipped around to catch nothing again. -"Th-This is ridiculous. What are you trying to achieve here?" - He blushed, feeling his clock begin to race from her playful and seductive play.- "Why not continue at home?" - He suggested, glancing away in embarrassment as his eyes ran along the dark edges of the mirrors. The true Aria will not have a black edge by her feet.
"If you catch me I might tell you. That is, if you manage that in less than 2 minutes before I decide to get out." - She hugged her arms and her chest showed more. - "We are alone in this place Julius. It's up to you to take advantage of that, 'boyfriend'. Didn't you want some private display?"
"Troublesome woman" - Julius sighed, but he was already quite enthralled into this game. Turning around as his cool and careful gaze studied the room he was in, he recalled that Gowland babbled once about there being only 23 mirrors in this room, leaving one of them to be Aria herself. But as to which one specifically that was, he was not entirely sure. - "You can only make one move any time you approach"- He touched the mirrors at his sides to make sure he was in a corridor and nor a corner, then got his back towards one mirror and faced the other.- "And there are only 2 directions where you can come from next."
"You sound smart. Maybe this will get more fun." - Aria winked and made a kiss motion. Behind, Julius felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and then received a new smack on his butt before Aria ran away through another corridor.
Julius watched her retreating figure mold with the other images of her, unable to tell which was her after losing track. His frown deepened as he slowly walked around the tight corridors of the room keeping his eyes towards the ground and at her feet rather than the images themselves, his initial strategy of staying in one place proved void, but not his tactics for the mirrors edges.
"I might have an advantage here, Julius. Can you tell what it is or are?" - She murmured at his back.
Julius whipped around, thinking he had her but his hand touched a mirror instead. Then her giggling made him turn to where he had been heading. He frowned, seeing the dark edge in the floor melt into darkness and he understood, she had been in front of him, manipulating her shadow to fake a border in the floor. He blinked at her cleverness, then moved forward and almost grabbed her when her shadow shot forward and he grabbed that instead.
"Ah-!"- The blackened substance in his hand began to shift. He let go and jumped back, startled as it became a sinuous tendril that coiled around his arm while forming the body of a snake that crawled over his waist then went inside his pants. - "Aria!" -Julius groaned, startled as the creature crawled through the foliage around its target. The wriggling and tightening made him bulk, startled as the shifting object tightened around in a hug while continuing to squirm around his rising pole.
Aria laughed. -"Well, since you don't seem to like getting me and play, then I'm letting you get played with by something else. "- She half pouted in a completely mocking way. -"Well, you have 30 secs Julius. Bye-bye" -She opened and closed the fingers over her palm. Then she turned, and hardly making it three steps away, she felt a distortion of the mana in the time space nearby, all becoming a blur as time slowed down. Before she could do anything, Julius's arm locked around we waist and he pulled her over and kissed her neck, spinning her around before kissing her deeply on the mouth.
"Do not tease me so if you do not wanted this to happen."- He said with a blush, grasping a breast and leaning towards her, her pelvis being pressed against his.
"Do you think I mind at all?" - Her hands went to grab his butt and squeezed the firmness.- "It's fun teasing you, Julius. What do you plan to do about it?"
"Do you think I won't do anything?" - He just kissed her, the shadow snake that had been teasing him coming out from one pant lent and getting lost in the shadows of the place.
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Some time later, they were finally getting towards the exit. Julius carefully righted his tie, still coming down from his high as Aria hugged him tightly around the waist with a satisfied smile.
"Do not do such things in the public again." -Julius said, leaning down and kissing her cheek. -"I'd prefer to love you in private."
"No, Julius. 'Love' fake, contracted or real, is displayed. Lust is implied and then implemented in private" - She bit his earlobe and then pulled lightly on his clock shaped earring.
"Not to me" - He assured her, kissing her neck.- "I would prefer to love and lust over you in private."
"Yet you didn't mind displaying our contract in front of Alice." - Aria opened the exit and walked out of the mirror maze to find it was already the next time period. Night.
" … "- Julius remained silent, defeated but pleased as he sighed and kissed her cheek.- "Troublesome woman." - He said with a smile and hugged her from behind.
"Woohoo, Julius!"- Gowland shouted, startling the couple.
"Gowland?"- Julius saw Gowland standing there with a bottle of opened Champagne.
Gowland walked over to him and slapped him on the back. Julius hobbled forward a bit, still sore as Gowland grinned. A little black flying squirrel perched onto the marquis's shoulder.- "I didn't think you had it in ya! Hope you didn't make too much of a mess." - He cheekily grinned as Julius's cheeks darkened ten shades of red rather easily and quickly.
The flying squirrel jumped towards Aria's shoulder and nuzzled its head against her cheek. - "Hello master. I politely prevented any interruptions."
"Not all!" - Gowland laughed, handing Julius the opened bottle while patting Aria on the shoulder.-" That little guy stood on the entrance preventing anyone from getting it by saying 'Appreciable customer of the amusement park. This attraction is temporarily under use for means different of what it's intended original proposed design was designed. So please choose another attraction to visit. Thank you for your cooperation' . It was really funny" -Gowland snickered - "Although a couple clients did got a glimpse before the squirrel came out."
Julius's cheeks flush with embarrassment as he glanced away, finding himself rather bothered with himself. Ever since meeting Aria he had to admit he's found himself doing many things he never once thought he would ever do in his life; especially having 'those' sorts of relations in a public building.
"I'm just proud you are experimenting and trying new things, Julius" - Gowland then turned to Aria -"Are you too sore, sweetheart? I heard a recording of the last event. You were the one who redesigned the underground control corridors and the auditorium's layout, where you not?"- He asked with a grin.
"No, I'm not sore and yes, It was me. Why?" - She mechanically answered.
"Because I'd like to re-inaugurate it" - Gowland beamed, thinking on all that wonderful infrastructure being put to use.
"I'll have to consider it. But for now we should head back." - Aria grabbed Julius's arm and began pulling him away while Gowland bid them farewell. Some after she confiscated the bottle of champagne and it wasn't that late when they were passing through some park.
Aria held Julius's arm like the lady she was appearing to be, when she suddenly stopped, her eyes flickering a fraction of a second before she dropped the bottle of wine and pushed back, pulling Julius with unnatural force in order to avoid a sizzling bullet.
Julius took out his gun and pointed it towards where he sensed the attacker, but instead of more bullets, what came out was a scream, and then Aria put her hand over his gun to lower it while setting her hand over her ear, listening to something.
"The stalker has been taken care off" - She grinned and then let out a breath - "You alright, Julius?"
"I'm fine. And you?" - Julius asked, worried about possibility of someone tracking her very present due to her association with him. -"Stalker?"
Aria crossed her arms and nodded.-"Yeah, I thought I was being followed when you showed up in town and thought the best option was to do some normal stuff, but it seems that you were the one being stalked all the time."- She looked down at the broken bottle with a sad face at the loss. -" I've been followed more recently too now that I think about it."
"So the real reason you wanted a date was that?" - Julius crossed his own arms, the comment about her getting followed more in the front of his mind as much as her date tactic.
"Yes, but that doesn't invalidate the other reasons I mentioned when we started the date."- She shrugged and began walking. -" We made a public statement, Alice included and even Gowland. Which translates into an statement for the whole amusements park territory"
Julius got in toe with her pace. -"You didnt seem to mind the private part in the mirror house" - He grabbed her hand and she didn't oppose. He also had wanted to add that she didn't mind when he told her that he loved her but at the same time he didn't want to press it knowing he'd hardly get anything positive.
"I don't really care and you know it."- She looked at him and grinned as if this was nothing.- "But I also reckon that physical exchanges are part of a formal relationship, and this contract requires some interaction, so it's fine."
Julius half heartedly facepalmed. -"You see this… us, as only a contract, don't you? Can't you accept you've been enjoying this more than a convenience deal?"
"So what if I do or don't? It IS a convenience deal for both of you and me."- She shrugged while keeping her gaze up front and away from him. -"Enjoying things doesn't change the fact that they are what they are. And until this deal ends things are fine I guess. So you should enjoy too the deal and it's benefits." -At least that was what she wanted to believe from her words. From the corner of her eyes she turned towards him and saw he was smiling at her with an amused expression. - "What?"
"You are lying even if you're honest." - He maintained his smile, knowing that Aria was insane enough to be both and feeling both a bit depressed and happy at the same time. Slightly depressed because he knew she was honest, but happy that she was enjoying this. If he didn't love her he'd probably wonder why he'd entered this contract at all, instead, he felt just slightly hopeful that she would come to understand that she was feeling too.
"What makes you think I'd lie?" - Aria blinked with confusion. - "So far I have not lied. Kept information or not added enough details, surely; but I haven't lied." - She poked his cheek. -"If that includes the entire deal, do you think Ace lied too? I remind you he is in this as much as you and the contract is reciprocal in three-ways."
Julius stared at her before heavily sighing-"Troublesome woman." -He said, glancing away from her with a frown.
"You are the person he cares most about. Which is completely natural unlike me and the Game of Heart"- Aria's clothes shifted to a more elegant shoulderless black dress.
"That is because I look like someone he met before. I'm not his original Julius" - Julius replied, glancing at her bare shoulders and finding himself rather allured by her curves.
"So? You Are his Julius nonetheless."- Aria separated from him and walked in a circle around him, seizing him up with her gaze . - " I know that when you're given a role it not only comes with the face and looks, it also has some very specific yet fragmented memories, tailored for it. "- Aria eyed him carefully. -" Those don't matter. Some may be from the other 'you's ' in different timelines or countries , but many are recycled and reformed memories from foreigners. That's why all holders seem to have so faint memories. Or am I wrong?"
" … who knows." -Julius said, glancing away now. He did have to wonder, however, about the memories he had ever since receiving the role of the Clockmaker. Some of them he suspected were not entirely his and pointed at clues as to what happened to the original Julius.
"Whatever. You're making your own memories and It's you whom he cares for. "- She stretched and cracked her joints. -" Just kiss him or something and then you can decide if we continue with this deal or not. Gender is sort of irrelevant. I couldn't give a damn if you were female"- Aria yawned.
"I am a man, Aria."- Julius reminded her with a firm frown.
"So is Ace. I don't see your point. Should I have some fun moments with Vivaldi and/or Alice again to prove the fallacy of your statement?"
"That would be considered cheating. That's not what girlfriends do to their respected partners, and vice versa." -Julius pointed out, not even sure what to think of that image or Aria's disregard of gender ideas.
"I guess our contract does involve mutual exclusivity in that way"- Aria nodded, surprisingly not that bothered by that fact. - "Not that I'd like to have any kind of involved with anyone at all after all that's happened, but given our contract you are an exception."
He kept his smile and searched in his pocket to get out a palm sized box. - "Regardless, I have a present for you, Aria. And I think you'll like it." - He gave her the box.
Aria raised an eyebrow and opened the box to find a pocket watch inside. On its face, instead of numbers emotions were named;the hands, all colored differently, were different too. Instead of normal hands for hours, minutes and seconds, the needles had her, Julius and Ace's faces, even so, the hands were not normal either. The needle with Ace's face was a bent and crooked, The needle for Julius was straight but had a clockwork style, and the last one wasn't a hand or needle at all; it was merely Aria's face with a little pointer, mounted too short on the center and currently signaling only 1 second towards the 'curious' sign. -"Cute. But Ace's hand is broken and jumping around madly, and mine seems stuck." - She agitated the watch in the air to prove her point.
"Ace is like that, naturally lost. And you are stuck between indifference and curiosity." -He looked at the pointer in the clock with her face and sighted at the reality that she truly wasn't feeling much at all.- "Yours it's not stuck. It doesn't move because you aren't feeling anything at the moment"- He began explaining, the sad reality of her stoicism clear. - "This clock is synchronized with our clocks and with your time or rather to this worlds responses to you. Basically, to the shifts in your mana. It points out the strongest feeling we are having at the moment. That way you can always know what we are truly feeling or understand what we are feeling and that you ARE truly feeling something no matter how minimal that is."- Judging by her reaction, she didn't seem disappointed with the gift, but rather curious.
"This is Interesting."-The hand for Julius moved to 'expectant' and Aria's remained the same.-"Expectant?" - Her head cutely tilted sideways in understanding of proper gifts protocol.-"Then I guess I should say thank you."-With that she put the watch in a compartment inside her armor and then kissed Julius.
"And I will accept your thanks"- After separating, Julius's smile turned cheerful, then he kissed her again. - "It can also change the time of the day once every move of country of when enough energy is stored by your pointer moving enough. The you feel the more it'll charge."
A sudden beeping sound of a digital tone interrupted them.
"Excuse me master, but it's getting late and you should go check on your accommodations and their dispositions."- Aegis's voice interrupted.
Aria tapped her forehead.-"Right, I forgot"- She sighted and turned to Julius- "Sorry Julius, but I need to go and check on… my new apartment"
"Apartment?" He asked, sounding surprised.
"I need a place to stay, no?"- She crossed her arms behind her head and took a couple steps away. -"There is a place for me to check, out of any country, but it ain't the time for that yet; so meanwhile I should set a place to reside while in this country"
Julius sighted and pulled her into a hug from behind. -"… it is your choice as to where you want to live. I will not stop you..."- What he had wanted to say was 'Please don't go', his embrace tightening around her. -"But you can continue living in the tower if you chose to, like you've been doing so far. "
"Yeah, foreigners can live whenever they want, rules and all except I haven't been living there…"- Aria started, closing her eyes. -"But given that you can't come to my territory, then I guess it would be expected from this deal that I sleep at the tower"- She suddenly opened her eyes to look at his sly smile. - "Not that kind of sleep, which is implied, but merely staying for the nights to rest, most night anyways. Stop smirking. Ace's pèrvetiness is trademarked "
"It is nice when you do stay over."- Julius admitted with a warm smile.
"I won't deny you make a good pillow and Ace makes a warm blanket"- She looked away and separated from the hug. She looked at him and then began walking once more, but after just 2 steps she stopped and grabbed Julius's hand.- "Lets head back and tomorrow I'll check on my apartment thing."
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Yay, more fluff, this time with Julius ;D Do you like more fluff with him or with Ace?
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I bet some of you are wondering about 'Why this Julius isn't Ace's original Julius?' Tell me if this makes sense to you. To me it does :
*SPOILER AHEAD FOR THE GAMES*
Because the original Julius is already dead and this one is a replacement (killed by the executioner in a different timeline in Diamond).
*MORE SPOILERS*
When Ace was a kid he was rescued and taken care by the original Julius (who apparently had no role) until one day young Ace saw Julius get killed by the executioner, so Ace made a deal with Joker to avoid Julius from disappearing by means of making him the clock master. In exchange for that, Ace became the executioner… and Joker had him kill a Julius in front of his own younger self. (Of all the asshat things Joker had done this is a prime -_-*) Then the role of the clock master was given to someone in Hearts (And thus Ace had to take a role in hearts to stay there). In one of the first games Julius even mentions that he used to have friends (and be sort of popular) before he was given a role.
Ever wondered why the holders have fragmented memories? (Like Gray half remembered taking care of a boy that may have been or not his brother? Or Nightmare remembering laying in a hospital all sick but nothing else?) that's because those are recycled memories from foreigners but vague and modified; possibly in order to give the replacement persons more form on their roles and because that way they are way easier to replicate in other timelines or countries. Example of this is Vivaldi, who… * EVEN MORE SPOILERS* is not Blood's real sister. Her appearance was recreated from the ideas and memories of the original Blood. Or rather she was a young girl given the role of queen of hearts and along with the role she was given some memories that allowed her to know her appearance belonged to Blood's sister.
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Was that even shocking info?
Oh well, The Lullaby finally got their leader back and they seem to be a bit obsessed over her and meanwhile Julius is definitely not accepting a 3-way XD
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The song 'Avante Camarada' was written by the composer and interpreter Luis Cilia in 1967 during his exile in Paris, earmarked for their transmission on Radio Portugal Libre. It became one of the most popular songs of the anti-fascist resistance and a kind of second hymn of the Portuguese Communist Party.