Wright Anything Agency
9:00 a.m. September 7
Not too sure out of manic curiosity or impulsive urge, her feet just kicked. They kept kicking yet she struggled to keep up in her pursuit. Her quick clops were nearly defeated by long tall strides. He did not stop at the elevator to her surprise but continued to descend further away by means of the stairs. At this point she huffed in a disbelieving annoyance.
'He's really trying to get away... Oh no, you're not!'
The building where the Wright Anything Agency was located did not reside high in escalation. It was only located a few floors from the ground. Tediously, the speedy zigzag formed a nauseating feeling to the constant spin, as she heard the heavy beating on the steps of not two but four boots nearly in sync of one another. The chase, virtually as brisk as it had began, veering to its imminent end as she landed on the recognizable ground floor and entrance to the building. His two tinted long hair and back had managed to leave the archway from the entrance. Several more gallops and she was but along with him. Her hand had futility thrown forward, knowledgeable that she could not reach for him, but an attempt to call out.
"Simon! Wait!" She hollered.
Blanched skin contacted the durable metal yellow surface before pulling back on the silver handle, unheading to her words.
'He's really trying to leave!' Her thoughts soared.
She continued her pursuit, verging on colliding head on with the twisted samurai.
"Simon!" His pursuer called out. "Why are you leaving? You just got here!"
He remained quiet. Expecting him to turn around and release his resolve but he did nothing. As soon as she took a single step forward, the samurai continued to open the door.
"Don't stand me up! You came all the way here." She yelled. "The least you can do is tell me."
By time her words had fallen on deaf ears, the prosecutor had already made his homage on the publicly used cab, shutting the door behind him. Impulsively darting forward, her head penetrated the manageable opening of the window, unwilling to remove him from her sight. His glance towards the opposite end of the car. Dark grey damaged eyes unwilling to offer a sign of indication.
"At least tell me why you're here!" She grimaced angrily. "You don't just come up to someone's place, knock and leave without saying hello."
"Hey, listen…" a voice muffled through tiny holes of thick transparent bulletproof glass. "If there is any relationship problem going on… can you do it outside of the cab?"
"We're talking here!" She spat at the barrier.
"Eck!" The driver recoiled.
"Send me to Cosmos Space Station." The samurai finally muttered.
The car ignition revved to life by a twist of keys.
HOLD IT!
"Wait just one moment there!" She fiercely pointed to the driver.
Turning once more, she discover he continued to refrain from facing her direction or even batting an eye to her, despite the scream that had echoed in the enclosed space.
"You ruined yourself right there, buster." She remarked, "even if I do let you go, I'll still chase you down."
His cold demeanor stoically reinforced on his face. "And I will fly from you just as fast, if not, faster."
She huffed of vexation, "can you at least tell me why you're here?"
"It is not of importance." Solemnly close to a mutter, he replied.
Athena inched ever closer to the prosecutor, vainly attempting to obligate the monochromatic samurai to offer at least a bat of an eye. "It must be if you wouldn't come all the way here from Cosmos."
Lips quivered in aggravation, his long legs dragged his form forward, wrenching his torso forward in additional emphasis, "Drive!"
"Not without me, you're not!" She challenged.
Dust kicked off the pavement as white boots hoisted over, hauling the entirety of her body via the open window. Nearly bosom first, lapping over the warped prosecutor, alighting on her bosom and elbows first upon contact on the opposite end seat. Reluctantly, Simon now adorned his direction to the opening along the car, unwilling to perform contact. As Athena hoisted herself to a more comforting position, knuckles contacted thick transparency.
She boasted, "Now you can drive."
"Stubborn as ever." His gut grunted.
Her smile died once more when his persistence carried on, body practically hugging the door. Petal to the metal, the cab conjoined in regular traffic. Exchanging to the prosecutor, she frowned, but unrelenting to give up on him now. 'I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Simon doesn't just up and leave unless he has or had… a planned objective. I would know him better by now. If he really did not want me to come, he probably would have jumped out and called for another taxi by now!'
"A single tip for you," He explained wryly. "You're paying for your own fare."
Athena grabbed her cheeks in shock, "But I didn't bring my wallet!"
Save for revs, grumbles and honks, the ride was relatively smooth, but above all quiet. Not a syllable, not a change in direction was exchanged, completely one-sided on Athena's part. To the broad outskirts, but close to the city, the large cosmopolitan landscape stretched, unfolding the space center. Trees skated shadows across the interior of the car, but did not overshadow the large space shuttles vertically inclined, dormant from its ascent to the sky. Where once had been home many years ago, thrived and enlarged as the proximity closed in on itself. Ceasing at the entrance of the grand scientific astrological estate, the muted prosecutor paid for the fare. Inwardly and silently thankful, Athena marched along the taller samurai.
"Why do you continue to badger me?" The silence finally had broken the tranquil morning air.
"You came to the office first." Athena flashed him a peace sign. "You're practically asking for help!"
"I was not searching for any legal help from your firm." His eyes flashed white. "I can consider your shenanigan here troublesome and pointless."
'You're so dense, Simon Blackquill!'
Nonetheless, their saunter did not cease, reaching the goal on the secured entrance. Several signs exhibiting the possibilities and exploration of the establishment. None paid attention to for long, as the linear trail designated the following attorney to the main destination of the prosecutor. His pace had suddenly quickened, as if alarmed. Athena matched her's with his own, figuring if he devised an idea of running she would be prepared to create a mad dash.
"Simon!" A deep older voice boomed. "Ah…! And stargirl! Return so soon?"
Stopping at a dime, Simon mumbled irritatedly. Swiveling their heads simultaneously, the crazed cosmic captain rolled over by the wheels of his segway. Quite cheery as he as prior to Athena's visit, but had suddenly morphed in tone.
"Yes indeedy, Yuri!" Athena presented herself.
"It's by time we have some returning faces!" He exclaimed before groping his beard. "And Simon."
He cleared his throat. The samurai fully facing the senior captain. "Make sure those dangerous weapons and instruments are securely locked away." His hands folded behind him. "I do not care if they are merely used for practice. I do not wish for anything to happen in this bright place anymore. Peace has finally been restored. I do not want any other outbursts."
"Dangerous instruments?" Athena interrupted in shock. 'Something tells me he's not talking about a tuba!'
"Your mouth is large…" The prosecutor grimaced. "They are secured and tucked away safely."
"Dandy!" The director sapped. "I have some business with other colleagues."
His segway swerved, "Off I go!"
To themselves, Athena approached her silent guest. Nearly afraid to ask, but overcharged to hear of Simon possessing such seriously instruments was alarming. "These weapons I hope aren't of mass destruction are they?"
"If they were, would you believe the old man would be speaking so kindly…?" He rebuked detached. "He's paranoid even by blown leaves…"
"Simon!"
"Athena!"
Two mechanical rovers closely entwined causing the emitted sound to mingle as one loud hum. Robotic chimes pressed forward, greeting the attorneys at law. Athena recognized the same voices, giddily enjoying the mechanical people approaching them. Their heavy metal arms on standby near their sides. Illuminated happy blue faces identical from one another, save for Ponco's highlighted pixelated eyelashes.
"Clonco. Ponco. How are you guys?" Her hands braced happily to the side together in awe.
"Happier than ever. Now that you're here." Clonco responded, alloid arms waving in the air.
"We're happy you've returned so soon." Ponco followed suit. "It's been quiet."
'I can only imagine…' Athena thought.
As Simon had mentioned beforehand, they are technically missing their engineer/repairwoman/mother figure. Despite how patronizing she could be, she still tended to them for Metis's sake of research. She was to return home soon, as by what Simon said. His words true, they would not have to wait long. An appreciation she inwardly loved. These robots capable of feeling emotion, such an idea of a brilliantly formed artificial intelligence capable of not only tending to the emotions of others but to build their own was absolutely fascinating.
"Simon?" Ponco mentioned. "Do you feel better?"
"Feel better?" Athena stirred, her hands on her hips curiously. Her eyes scooped to him.
"Simon had high emotional changes when he discovered something beyond the labs." Clonco emphasized. "It was massive!"
"Infernal contraptions!" He seethed.
"We were hoping he would allow a session to help stabilize him." Clonco spoke as he oscillated his head.
"But he refused!" Ponco continued throwing her arms out maddeningly. "And left!"
Simon readied his hand, his index near jaw level to the nuisance. "I should have deconstructed them myself!"
"Simon! Don't hurt them." Mass quickly shielding them, arms wide basking a wider perimeter from reach. "They're just concerned."
She finished in thought, 'As I am!'
"Now he's showing anger, Ponco." The robot struck worriedly.
Ponco rested her arms, "Are you sure you don't want that session?"
"Don't worry, guys." Athena butter herself in. "I'll handle this!"
Her ungloved hand rose above her torso, digits at the ready to press the highlighted blue happy face wrapped around her neck. Angry and cold darts targeted her reaching grasp.
"You so much as touch that little gadget," He threatened. "I'll see to it that the only time you see this visage is in court."
"You don't have to be so rash!" She furiously irked, hands gripping tightly in front of her.
"Now Athena is mad." Ponco writhed.
"Oh no." Clonco staggered.
Cornered, Athena can see it, if she was going to get him, it had to be now. She was aware he would not hurt her, he would refrain from that. Sure he may throw a few air strikes and slices, but none would actually contact her. This case however, was different. I know Simon doesn't like opening up… and I can't use Widget! Why is he being so stubborn? It must've been something wrong. Very wrong. Or at least something very important to come by the office.
"What's bothering you, Simon! Seriously! I want to know." She started in plea.
"It has nothing to concern you." He answered coldly.
Recognizable to her, the buzz and unsyncable lapping of words and vibes registered sturdy and troublesome in her brain. The electrical impulses and waves did not match one another, unwilling to pattern themselves on accord.
'There's that discord…'
She confidently shot a sassy smile, her arms lapping over one another, "that's not what your heart is saying!"
"… I have things to attend to. Do not bother me." He turned away.
"Then tell me! Why did you come to the office?!" She bombarded once more. "If it had nothing to do with me, why bother coming over?!"
"I believe it had to do with the weapons he had found in Mama's significant other's room." Clonco introduced.
"Ah!" Ponco cowardly covered her large football dome with her mechanical limbs.
Athena never knew Simon's face could become more infuriating than it already was. "I'm going to have forge an off switch on these tin cans..."
"The weapons?" Athena turned back to the audible robots, "Are these the same weapons Yuri spoke of?"
Clonco was well aware and informative, but Ponco had managed to shrink over in fear. "Why are you so afraid?" Are they really that dangerous?"
"Pick up your curiosity and go back to that little office you call a firm..." His tongue stinging the air.
"Why are you acting so hostile?" His march forward did not cease or deprive in speed. "Simon! Let me help you!"
"Balderdash!" He edged onto a scream. "Do not follow me."
Lips pursing angrily, she could only watch as his form shrank, disappearing into a room along the narrow elongated gray hemisphere tunnels of the center. Left alone with the Aura's inventions, Athena fumed. Well informed that Simon tended to be extremely distant, especially of his emotions, he left her in the dust to ponder. It has been seven years I studied long and hard to become a lawyer and use analytical psychology. That many years I pursued to become an official attorney. If you think I am going to let you get away Simon, you need to reevaluate your life choices!
She puffed up her chest before beginning her miniature investigation. She knew she wasn't going to blindly throw herself besides bothering the twisted samurai directly. Over her shoulder, the robots had not left her side. I guess I can ask them a little more.
"Can you guys tell me what happened?" She properly addressed the robots.
"Simon came in this morning to finish tidying up things in here." Clonco started. "When he went into a certain room."
"It is not on our map layout." Ponco began, swiveling her head, "It does not have a name in our memory, but we saw Simon enter it."
"A room…?" Athena repeated. "Can you guys lead me to it? It would help out a lot"
"Sure! We get to work again!" The robots happily swerved in place. "It is-"
The machines suddenly cut off. Their faces devoid of color and screens faded to black immediately. Their limbs flailing aimlessly as their bodies seized.
"What just happened?!" Athena flinched horrified. "Did their batteries die?"
A low conniving cackle ruptured from the hallways. Her culprit gladly presenting himself behind her.
"I discovered Aura's little Universal remote for these inventions." He snarked, scratching the hawk residing his broad vest tenderly. "Turns out to have been more useful than I thought as a kill switch."
"That's just mean!" Her protest not bothering to be digested.
"Leave here…" He hissed near grumble, "and do not come back."
"You're asking for it!" She unrelented once more. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on."
How badly do you want to hide this that you'd even use Aura's tech to stop me from discovering?!
"Very well." He conceded.
Fierce and keen, the black talons marched forward, clawing the air as vast brown wings and pinions blew air to her face, incising numerous times.
"AH!"
Her lids instinctively contracted, avoiding possible contact. Just when she was far enough to be away from his boundaries, the hawk retreated, perching itself on Simon's rightful shoulder. The claws were well adept of causing severe injury, she knew this as she arose from her stupor, striving to regain her view to the reluctant prosecutor. Though, that was not had been cut deeply.
"Simon… why are you pushing this away?" Her eyes burned lightly. "Whatever this thing is, it's bothering you. And you know for sure that I know this."
She clenched her fingers irely. "You forget what I can do! What I can hear!"
"And you forget your place." His response icy.
"Yuri mentioned about certain weapons." Athena stepped closer. "Clonco and Ponco said as soon as you found them, you became very emotional. Why?"
Dawning harshly on realization, her gasp lurched, "Was this the same weapon for the case?!"
'Is that why he's shutting me out?!'
"That would be impossible." He noted dryly. "That was evidence, currently locked away in a safe place at Criminal Affair's evidence storage."
'Then it could not be the same one from UR-1… So what is it?!'
"How are these weapons different?"
He did not back away, boots cemented to the ground. Taka was not threatened to move on accordance either. As on queue, confidently brought herself closer.
"Then you said it had nothing to do with me, but the heart never lies!"
The whirling tempest he continued to hide was bound to erupt if he kept talking, verified by his silence. The desire to crack his forte on fueled with his non verbal reproach. If the robots are off and he has the switch, then I can't ask them where they are.
"I can go around and ask Mr. Cosmos about about this." She crossed her arms. "I'm pretty sure he will tell me what and where they are."
"The old man is busy. Nor would be free in the slightest." He seized immediately. "Your search will end in vain."
"I'm not going to give up on you. I've been through all this before. Somehow I will get to the bottom of this! You can count on that, Simon Blackquill."
"..."
Before he would allow her to give another contemptible offer in service, he swiftly removed himself from the premises. Skipping all the corridors, leaving Athena to deactivated robot bodies. She had given him enough room to run away, but she smirked. Not for long.
Leaving the poor dead bots in the middle of the hallway, she scampered against the wall.
Mission Impossible! No wait… no… That's bad!
Creeping over the intersection, she saw his heavy black and white overcoat. The large bushy tail swiveled at the corner. She heaved herself backward, praying that he did not see her. Pacing her breath carefully, despite the small hums coming from nearby wall technology and holographic screen capable of muting her every move. His descent had her ducking around corners and encased specimens runabout the place from the center to the near back of the Space Center. Besides the occasional guest, no curious roving eyes had her easily spotted.
As the rooms became less occupant, Athena did not remember seeing this part of the Space Center before. This area was much milder, lacking an astrological findings or any indication of space related entities. Faint, but familiar, she could not point it, but she can tell this was some form of living quarters. It was unique in comparison to where the other astronomers had held themselves. No wonder the Clonco and Ponco didn't have this one their maps. It's not on the Cosmos Space Center map either!
The public domain came to a halt to a door. A symbol, a feather, similar to the one adorning Simon's back outstretched inkinesss occupying the body of the door. On the side, held a jutting metallic slit to the right. The samurai pulled from his coat, a thin small card, quickly swiping the plastic between the crack. A beep rung in her ear, almost causing a shiver to hit her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she's heard this sound before, many years ago to an age almost forgotten. The slide doors folded adagio into their metal holdings, allowing the samurai to enter. His dark mane disappearing along with his stride. The lawyer felt a cold sweat hit when the door began to seal themselves.
Athena inwardly flinched, 'if I'm not quick, I'll lose him!'
In a mad dash, she whooshed right past the door, hopping right in this secret place. Clasping ring and gust shot past her ear. Her mouth muffled in her hand, hoping that the twisted samurai did not spot her yet. Her eyes fluttered in a pseudo sigh as he turned the corner at an odd fork. She gave him a few moments to allow a path for her inaudible stealth mode to continue.
When the coast was more than clear, she tip toed on. Her head snagged backward causing her bum to plop back against the slide doors. Attempting once more had revealed her long orange side ponytail had caught right at the edge of the door.
'ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!'
The very tip of the elongated hair menacingly stared right back at her with no intentions of slipping out manually. 'That's it! When I get the chance, I'm cutting a few inches!'
Grabbing the hair length closest to the door, she heaved. It barely budged. Taking in a large breath, her foot contacted the door softly, interlaced her digits against the ponytail once more before heaving. Her back hit the floor hard, troublemaking hair landing right on her face.
'Split ends…'
With a quick lift and dust off, she mourned the tiny strands wedged mercilessly between the clamped metal. Examining the door once more divulged the inconceivable open button on the side. She punched the air in quiet fervor several times, hushed cursing buzzing through her ears.
'Dang door!'
Before her anger could completely dissipate, her body glided across the wall, turning an eye to the corner. Closer examination gave way to a single door at the end. Traveling via this place, it was unsettlingly nostalgic as if she had been in this very place before. The styled sides, hanging scrolls and masks for some reason were turned over facing the wall.
'This is my mom's old rooms!' Her fingers folding over lips, the inward scream immensely intense to the point it close to spilling over.
The pounding in her heart practically drumming in her ears frantically from the quiet environment. It hurt to walk by missed years, her hands gliding against the walls of memories. Blindly walking to the only possible way for Simon to have escaped reached her feet. Finding the zebra colored prosecutor knocked her from her stupor, recoiling to the side into hiding. A blue iris stirred near the corner finding Simon sitting in the middle of this japanese styled room.
Like a statue, unmoving to the world, his knees bent attached to the floor. Sitting on the long calf of his legs, transfixed greys on the strange china plating. Light basked through the windows, casting light on the tiny mat adorned in front of his black knees were several dishes, laid upon the traditional American kotatsu. A black roundish ceramic pot, resembling something of a kettle, closest to his right knee. The spout was not curved or fancy, simply jutting diagonally upward in a twenty five degree angle, with a handle ninety degrees away from it. To the left of this strange small kettle was a white ceramic, a beak jutting from the lip of the seam, and a small bowl beside it. Heat scorched underneath the dark mini water boiler, the dial just below that of boiling. Gaining better leverage made her realize it was much below boiling, less than seventy if specific. No bubbles boiled, only steam relatively releasing ghostly clouds. A tiny square plate rested a silver metal strainer. Within the multi holed confined cage held a sort of dried herbal vegetation reminiscent of tea leaves. Small and fragmented pieces that could not be held by the metal cage, untamed made their escape. Next to the strainer, held not one, but two smaller cups. The smallest of all the pottery and ceramic. Athena speculated just with three fingers, she could hold the little cute cup in her hand.
His hands remained flat on his lap, waiting. On a whim, his hands moved delicately and meticulously. His index and thumb naped the button top of the tiny black kettle. Without even looking at the heated water to his side, he lifted the container by the neck, the smooth hot water draining into the ceramic.
'Shouldn't he put the tea leaves first? Why not just pour them directly into the little cups?'
Bringing down the top piece of this pot, he grappled with precision. A thumb holding down the jutted round top, the rest of his fingers upon the handle, firmly grasping. Like water, his hand waved instead of bent, pouring carefully into the round beaker shaped ceramic.
'He's not putting it into the cups yet? I thought that would hold sugar or something…'
Emptying the tiny kettle completely, making sure not one drop fell on the mat, he placed it down. The mini pitcher now warm and occupied of water. His pale fingers clutched the edges of this white ceramic, gliding over the smaller tea cups on the side. The water transferred evenly and precise, equal measures to each other where the designs came up less of the lip. Extra liquid that failed to fill the cups, was disposed of in the bowl by his left knee.
'That looks like a waste of time instead of pouring it directly!'
The pitches rested back to its rightful place where she had seen it before, not a millimeter difference in placement.
'Now does he put in the tea leaves? I think he's working backwards…'
His attention returned back to the dark small kettle where he had began. The strainer now targeted, the earthy leaves were lifted along the path. Scants pieces were left in the tiny square plate where rebellious droppings remained. With the top gone, the strainer now paid homage to the confines of the dark kettle. Lifted like a spoon with the tea kettle, he wafted the scent that now warm leaves emitted into his nostrils, amplified by the warming walls this ceramic pot bestowed. The wondrous aroma even managing to reach its way to the hiding attorney, managing to make her mouth water.
'It smells so good!'
Placing the pot down respectfully in angle, he reached for the warm pot, still below boiling, but gentle to the liquid. Tea leaves had now greeted the hot water. Not too much and not too little, enough for the kettle to welcome comfortably and heat the tea leaves. Removing his eyes for a split moment to return the hot container, he returned to his duty, replacing the lid of the dark kettle. The heat simmered in the container for a while, but he waited patiently. Athena quickly suggested it was definitely less than a minute.
'It's tea time!'
Athena awaited for the samurai to pour the warm liquid into the tiny little cups with intricate designs. She stopped, confused that he had poured the colorized water back into the tiny pitched once more.
'What's with all these extra steps!? I don't think they'll even make a difference in flavor!'
As the greenish brown liquid introduced itself in the white pitcher, he then placed the kettle back to where it belonged before reaching the white lipped beaker again. Athena found it strange how he did not pour the extra water that had been poured previously.
'Wouldn't it dilute the drink?'
What had also caught her attention was the angle he pour the beverage. Instead of away from him, he emptied the pitched towards him. The pitcher had served its purpose, restored back to its place. The darkened liquid still with the only sole movement of evaporating steam. Several grain sized leaves managed to resist the solvent, remaining undissolved to the water. Afloat, but unoffending, his hand reached for the tiny tea cup closest to his heart and brought it forward, away from him as if offering to a ghost. The steam evaporated into his hand, the most resilient gliding past his digits.
He continued to stare at lonely cup as he reached for the closest one . Both hands fulfilling with that what one hand can complete facilely. As his lips met the cup, he concentrated and analyzed. Silently descending the china near his midriff, he cursed.
"Still can't get it right…!"
"Simon." Athena called over.
"Bloody Hell!" He jerked wide eyed.
The hot liquid jumping with him, suspended momentarily before dropping onto the pottery below. Wasted tea seeped into the mat, desecrating all the pottery and utensils at his knees. Hostility plagued immediately into the atmosphere as the fringed death glare landed right on her. One grey eye eerily close to a infuriating twitch. The cup still glued to his expert hands.
"You almost caused a second degree burn on my hand..." He grumbled irritatedly.
"I'm sorry!" She yelled impulsively.
"Following me around..." The antagonizing gaze accompanied a galled nasal whisp. "Why Athena? Why do you persist? It's pointless to keep arguing..." He continued, displeased settlement stationary.
"I'm sorry," she crept over meekly before waddling. "I want to know. Please. At least let me know and I will leave you alone! Give me that and I will go. For good."
"Even if I did collaborate," he spoke detestably. "You would continue to harass me."
Grazing sight fixated on her, sliding in their sockets, they followed as she knelt right in front of him where the tea did not stain. A simple smile sutured to her face. Her skirt hid her legs in the veil of yellow, hands reaching forward for the tiny ceramic china between the two. Blue orbs grew even wider as she awed by its miniscule size and petitness. Feeling the warm outer rim and surface, mimicking his gesture on handling the dish, she brought it up. As the first green beads had touched her buds, her eyes grew wider.
"This is great tea!" He yelped.
His scowl did not surrender as his hands propped his cup. "It's not. Not enough…"
"How did you make it so well?!" She stopped her sipping to question.
Ignoring her, the samurai quickly grabbed the towel to his side, beginning to rinse off the excess sinfully regretful beverage from the reflective surfaces. Placing them on the side as they were left to finish air drying, Athena continued to sip the tea. It was earthy, fresh and had a interesting umami flavoring to it that she had never thought could work expertly as this brew did in the cup.
"It is not my recipe." The words nearly made her choke her drink as he suddenly spoke. "It belonged to my Master."
"Mom…" Her swallowing ceased to meet him properly. To make sure she was not hearing things, she asked. "Made tea this good?!"
"No…" He answered, not daring to look at her. He lathered the china carefully, save for the dark tea kettle. "This is but a failed attempt of the authentic recipe…"
'So you're telling me, Mom made tea much better than this?!'
"My Master was very intelligent and skilled." He spoke rinsing the mat of the excess.
She sipped once more. The first taste can never be as tranquil and enjoyable as the first ever could be. With her newfound information, she was able to appreciate this sip more than what she had began.
"I have not had a taste tester in ages." He commented.
'Being in prison doesn't exactly allow that, I guess…'
"Only myself." He digressed after Athena managed to finish her cup. With the cup void, he reached a hand over, silently asking to taking away the cup from her hand. "I cannot critique my own concoctions. Bias creates harsh judgement."
"Why do you take all those unnecessary steps?" Surrendering the cup to his large grasp, she couldn't help but ask, "why don't you just put the leaves in the kettle and pour the water? It's better than constantly shuffling water back and forth."
"That is not the proper technique." He divulged. "One does not simply pour the water into the kyusu…"
Placing each glass to the side, making sure none contacted or utter a noise of clash before rolling the miniature mat like a rug. "It requires proper preparation and discipline."
"That's what the little teapot is called?" She pointed to the dark kettle he fiddled with earlier.
"If you believe that was difficult…" He conceitedly smirked, "imagine brewing the real matcha."
Rising to the air, the prosecutor placed the towelette and soaked rolled mat along a wall hang to dry. "There are numerous more steps to perform."
By the side near him was a low counter. On it, a dark auburn near burgundy wooden box like chest. Nimble hands carefully parallel lifted the flat rectangular casing, bequeathing it where he had engraved on the floor the duration of his time. No lock was located in the wood, easily accessible on a whim of lifting the top.
"I only know a tea bag and some hot water…" Athena mentioned as he placed the china away, each fitting righteously in their dented sections.
Shutting the case softly, he appropriately faced her. "Then you are ignorant of the true flavour."
"Maybe you can show me more another time around." She hinted. "And talk about certain things off your shoulders…"
His frown grew larger above his chin. 'We're trying to get rid of the wrinkles, Simon… Not trying to add more…'
"I must wash these later thanks to your interruption." He basked the box on the counter.
She winced. Further inspection caused Athena to see Simon had set up shop in the rooms that who knew how long had been vacant of life. She flinched, knowing now that Taka had been creeping opposite in the beige room, yellow scaly feet tightened around a mantle.
"Taka doesn't normally ingest fish…" His spoken words caught her by surprise. A twining sound further shattering the silence. "He was spoiled as so once…"
The samurai turned, unveiling the square can currently in his palm, aluminum coiled to the side. The hawk immediately perked upward, his head basking the side, allowing the large yellow socket to widen. Upon the flexing of pinions, the large span of feathers streaked the air, landing upon the same counter he rested the can. In chunks, his feathered friend devoured the wonderful meal.
"You're not talking about the case during the incident ShipShape Aquarium?" Her question flying before hoisting herself.
"No." He watched his faithful companion eat. "Though, he was chipper after it. I am speaking of before those events."
Arms grasping heavily in a fold, Simon observed the hawk. The beak easily squashed the boneless fish to a pulps, enough to greedily hork down as if it will never have the same meal again and prevent any other pickers from scavenging his fine dining. Athena exchanged to the samurai, his lids were now closed. The muscles near his ears flexed, grinding his own teeth.
"You continue to squander here... Don't believe I have forgotten your little scheme." He pacified.
Her hands stamped on her hands in a pout. Before she can open her mouth, he seized her words.
"If you so much as you are tempted, do not try to alleviate me." His command harsh, eyes finally opening, steely. "Just listen."
"Quiet. Got it!" She zipped.
Though stoic, on the inside she was rolling. 'Yes!'
Her heart leaping several times before the revelation of him leaving the room. Her feet began before her torso could catch up, nearly causing her to limbo walk. His pace slow, she followed suit. The burning sensation erupted and sizzled within her lungs, ignorantly and unwittingly holding in a breath. With the rooms were closely huddled, the travel died quickly. Several masks, and scrolls hung upon the spacious walls, a wall window beaming in light, larger in comparison to the other room. The floor was not that of marble or tile, but smooth resistant wood. Vacant of significant furniture of rest, only yielding empty racks and holsters. Besides being a room, less modernized and more traditional, especially dipped in Japanese culture, nothing popped out too much to Athena.
'This room is very familiar…'
"This was my Master's chamber of where she practiced combat." The breath hitched, as if he too held his breath. "Swift, but scarce, she utilized this place."
The samurai approached a wall, strangely empty and devoid of any decorations. Uninhabited, greeting the wall, knees bent towards the floor, his weight gave out. Again, his statue faced the wall, he quietly awaited.
"Simon…" Athena muttered, "What are you-"
"Silence!"
He yelled out, pointing to the spot next to him. "Pay your respect…!"
"Right!" She fumbled quickly over, her legs bending just as he did towards the wall.
There they sat, basking this oddly vacant wall. Her closest tempted lid fluttered slightly open, peering. He remained frozen. Shutting quickly, she scrunched to see him arise. His hands basked the wall, hands planted horizontally, pushing the wall apart. Athena glazed over the hidden rack behind this false door. Ecstatic how such a thing stood behind it. There, upon the two red stands with one singular stand in the middle, untouched. Approaching the middle, he removed the elongated slightly bent dark shiny reflective wood. Turning on his heel, both hands angular to one another, he presented the weapon.
"A sword…" Athena let out.
"It's a katana…" He corrected lowly.
She grimaced. "Same thing!"
"There is a significant difference!" He rebuked offended. "Do not be an uncultured swine!"
She pouted reluctantly, though did not extinguish her attention.
"This was my Master's katana." His sleeve hovered over the long encapsulated blade. He couldn't help, but twitch a smirk on his lip by her uncontrolled amusement. "One of her many treasures. She never wielded it, yielding to the word of another to have mercy."
Simon spoke with pride "this one… I hide. If the old man knew its existence, he would have it removed like the other ones."
'That explains the empty racks in the room.'
His hand tucked under appropriately, returning the instrument to its rightful place. Besides the mantle stood a rack. This holster did not hold its armory as metal or steel. The bushy ponytail turned as his body swayed back to the awaiting attorney. Wielding this weapon, it was much longer than the hidden sword. The body consisted primarily of thin wood, tip and a third of the length was tightened in a sort of white ribbon or cloth. White of its handle, the majority of the sword appeared made of individual equal lengths of thing light wood.
"This…" His pause stretched, voiced hidden behind his throat, "...is another treasure…"
"A Kendo stick," she boasted like a skippy student.
"A shinai…" He corrected solemnly.
Waves that distressed over, collided to Athena's ear, 'What's with the discord?'
"This did belong to my Master," He informed, "but was gifted to another… My Master was one of little words."
'I know that…' She thought sadly, "she rarely spoke to me as a child…'
"This instrument was used for practice not to cause any serious damage."
"Did she give it to you?" Athena rallied up.
"No…" The prosecutor faltered once more. "This practicing utensil was used by…"
'By who?!' She stammered. 'Stop the dramatic pauses already!'
"By my Senior."
"Senior…?" Athena took aback.
"I had a Senior once." His glare stuttered several times at the practice weapon. "Whenever my Master was not there, my Senior would speak for me. To understand."
"I thought you were an only student…" Athena gobsmacked. "Mom had more students?!"
"No… She only had two… Including me. That was the most she could take in…"
He retreated the shinai to the rack. "In class of study, my Senior was technically more educated in certain arts than my Master, your mother. Though, my Senior wished to pursue techniques and studies in psychology and mastered them."
"When I was taken in under my Master's teaching, my Senior had already been under her wing for some time. In here, we would train. I would watch as my Master and Senior would battle. They did not hone blades. Wielding shinais or bokkens," He pointed to the secondary rack.
Wood held wood, light with dark. These instruments were unlike the shinai and sword. It was not as long as the shinai, but appear to wield more weight and much denser.
"I would watch as they constantly clashed. For my youth, it was quite the experience." He couldn't help, but smirk.
"It must've been cool to watch!" Athena revitalized. 'I can't imagine Mom with a sword! Or any sort of weapon! She was always so calm.'
"That word doesn't even begin to cover it." He snarked. "One of the greatest ironies of my Master… she did not want to take me in, the very beginning."
"No way!" Athena flinched. "Why?"
"You of all people should know… your mother, my Master, was a person who spoke very little. Save for the members of this Space Center along with a few other colleagues, she remained secluded amongst her experiments. Such an ideal was also shared by my Senior. If not with assistance, I would have never mongered long."
SImon interrupted himself, reaching for each of the obscuring doors, concealing the instruments. "My sister is to return here. It's the first out of many years where I will be able to see her without hesitation of your guilt."
"That should be all gone now…" The yellow attorney concluded, "the hatred at least."
"Such an emotion is a harbinger. Your presence, not entirely."
"The world can't get along, can it?" She conceitedly smarmily. "But Simon! It's like you get to really interact with your family all over again? This is great!"
His head turned to his shoulder, but she can tell. The heart never lies!
'The man has been in prison for seven years. He could still have that PTSD on him? I mean the man was in prison for years and now has to adapt to outside life again! This is a great chance! We can have the old crew come back! Sure it won't be like erasing seven years of unimaginable torture and wrongful accusations, but it will mend him on the inside. And I'll help him all the way through!'
"Athena…" He began. "You mentioned this hypothetical idea of being capable of seeing your mother again. Where has this notion originated?"
"Oh… well… you see..!" She fluttered several times bashfully. "Before I began working with Mr. Wright and Apollo, the agency was much smaller. About nine years ago, Mr. Wright took cases along with an assistant. Before his disbarment, they took cases together. Pretty cool I have to admit! And his assistant was a spirit medium in particular, part of the occult."
The samurai's face scrunched. Not of displeasure, but something else. "I did not know Wright-dono associated with the occult. That man is certainly full of surprises. Even outside the walls of the court." He smirked.
"From what I've heard, he was heavily involved with them and her family. Family issues. Worse than ours, I'd wager from what I was told." She stroked her elbow sadly.
"Apparently, she could channel spirits back from the dead." Athena stoked. "And I'm not talking about a simple speak through the voice or in tongues or something like that. I mean she can actually change shape to represent the spirit. Isn't that insanely cool!"
His silence stung her slightly. "I bet you don't even believe it, do you, Simon?"
"I do."
"You do?!"
"I am aware of this cult." His answer swift. "Before I make quick and dire assumptions like that of your boss. Tell me, are they not called by the name of Fey?"
"Yes!" Her hands reached her mouth. "… how did you know?!"
"Someone of high stature told me." He smirked again. "This cult was highly politically involved. Dictating even major decisions in government and great leaders. Though I do not favor such behavior as viewing those who have passed."
"I can tell…" She reacted. "By how you reacted yesterday… Why?"
"Have you been listening?" He criticized his guest, "Once one has passed, they should never return."
"So you really don't like spirit channeling?" She frowned.
"I do not favor it. I once knew... someone who associated with that of the occult."
By his sudden change in his heart he seems very interested by this person.
"Who is this person?" Athena asked giddily.
"When you grew older, you few to watch you. You did not see them for my Master did not want to barrage you by prodding hands and deafening hearts. One of them, being my Senior."
The way he spoke of his senior, his heart was turmoiled, but fluttery. "Who is your Senior?"
"I told you to just listen…"
"Seriously Simon!?'
This is a bit of an elaboration of a small head canon:
Simon, doesn't agree with spirit channeling, but respects the technique.
