Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN SLAYERS. I merely borrowed these characters because I love them so much. ^_^
- JUST ANOTHER AU FIC -
Chapter 20: The Man Who Hears Voices In His Head
They were back at Heigel's suite in Saillune Continental. Senator Phil had learned of how the negotiations turned out; was very astounded to learn the present owner had the audacity to stand up to them. Now, a day after, he was off to try to remedy things with the other party. The man seemed to find it admirable, amusing, even.
Heigel was not amused. Insolent fools! Aimlessly he paced across the hotel room, the soles of his leather shoes wearing down the carpet. "This is preposterous!" He glared fiercely at Moreau, a challenge gleaming in his eyes. "How could they do this?! You assured me--"
"I told you," the gray-haired lawyer interposed quietly, sitting by the study, "that we should anticipate they would throw a suit at us. She has friends, she has significant connections, and Dragon Crest is one of the oldest companies in Saillune."
Heigel continued to fume. "You are insolent."
"And you're worked up," Moreau shot back. "Calm down, will you, now is not the time to lose your head."
He turned away, halting, and crossed his arms. So many rings glinting all at once in the darkness. "Hmph. I do not see why I should be bothered, eitherway. They possibly cannot acquire any copy of the bond."
That is left to be seen, the older man thought, eyes averting the younger. "Perhaps. Still we can't discount that possibility."
"They cannot," Heigel repeated. "It's a losing battle for them. We'll see to that."
"Certainly," Moreau intoned. We'll see. Inwardly what pieces of his conscience were left were warring with each other. What are you thinking?! You cannot possibly betray your friend's son! What about your promise?
Well, what about it? It was, after all, the only thing keeping him from going to Dragon Crest Building immediately with the bond.
Yes, Moreau knew that at the moment, he held the single winning card that would decide the outcome of this little story.
*~*
It was nearing noontime.
Lunchbreak in half an hour, Amelia thought pleasantly as she sorted through the mail, humming a soft tune. She stopped, however, because -- guess what?
The phone was ringing.
She picked it up. "Hello, Dragon Crest Industries," she greeted cheerfully.
"Hello, Amelia--?" A man's somewhat nervous voice answered from the other end.
She lit up. "Zelgadis-san, is that you?"
"Yeah, it is," the Chimera affirmed, trying to maintain a balance between casual indifference and happy to hear her.
"Well, I'll be informing Filia--" she began.
"No, wait!" Zel cut in. "I, uh, I want to speak to you."
Amelia blushed. Don't get your hopes up... "Huh? ... I mean, I'm listening..."
Zelgadis took a deep breath. "Look, I... well, I just got off from a client meeting, and, uh... Well, it's very near your building," he stammered. "And since it's almost noon and all, I just thought... if it wouldn't be too much of a bother..."
She cradled the receiver close to her ear. "... Yes?" She prompted patiently.
"What I mean is... Er, uh, wouldyouhavelunchwithme?" he finally blurted out.
Silence.
Amelia felt like fainting. Or jumping atop her desk and declaiming. Whichever.
" ... Amelia?"
Yes! "Yeah! --, I mean, yes, I would love to have lunch with you, Mr. Zelgadis," she replied, voice trying to retain normalcy.
There was a pause again. Then a sound on the other line; Amelia wasn't too sure, it was muffled, but she thought it was a whoop.
He came back again. "That's good to hear, Amelia," he said. "Well, I'll be right over there in half an hour. See you?"
She smiled. "Yes. Take care." She heard a click, put down the receiver gently, and sat back, dazed and feeling a bit out of breath. She knew she was smiling quite impishly this very moment, but she really couldn't do anything about it. She sighed dreamily, proceeding to half-consciously sort through the mail again, picking up where she left off, humming happily all the while.
*~*
The large, impeccably dressed man mounted the stairs. The fox man named Jiras finally let him through, quite an agreeable fellow, once you got down to it. Truly, the traffic... Well, suffice it to say he was delayed for more than one hour. He knew it was unjust to try and talk to Miss Ul Copt and her associates with less than an hour left before lunchtime, but this was a matter of grave importance. Would they really sue? It was nigh unbelievable.
Finally the senator reached the third floor. Well, at least who appeared to be the secretary was still here, sorting through the mail. And what a lovely tune she hummed while at work. Such dedication! Such cheerfulness in industry! Such--
Wait a minute. (Blinkety blink. ^_^)
... Could it be?
For almost a decade now...
Could it be?
He started, took a step towards her, stopped, not wanting this to be an apparition or some other illusion he'd made up in his mind. Philionel could not believe his eyes. "... Amelia?"
The dark-haired young woman looked up, startled. "Oh, good morning, sir, can I-- ..." Her words caught up in her throat as she recognized just who it was. She blinked. Then blinked again. "D-daddy?"
"... Amelia!"
"Daddy!"
"Amelia!"
"Daddy!"
"Amelia!"
*~*
It was a gray, cloudy afternoon. A cold breeze blew aimlessly along the near-deserted sidewalk. Lightning flashed a brief moment, followed close by the crackling sound in the sky, overcast and heavy with the promise of rain. The part of his mind that wasn't being bothered to oblivion by that annoying little voice that was himself told him he better get his ass off the streets and into a place with a roof very very soon.
But the irritating voice was louder, and so Xellos Metallium kept walking. To where, you might ask? Frankly, folks, he doesn't know either. Go ask those feet of his in those nice penny loafers.
In the meantime, the Mazoku was busy thinking things through again. The stage was set. He'd helped himself by helping Filia-san. Partly, at least. What they needed was the true copy of the bond to really seal the deal, so to speak. Of course, he hadn't the slightest idea right now how he would proceed to obtain it, if it still exists. Ah, but he'll come up with something.
He should be concentrating on trying to acquire a copy of the bond. He really should.
Instead, however, his thoughts kept returning to a certain short-tempered blonde with a penchant for name-calling, insults, and tea. Most importantly, whether he should tell her what had been really going on these past few months, and what was now going on with him these past few days. Not because he *wanted* to blow his own modus operandi, NO. But that really annoying voice in his head wasn't shutting up any, and he was starting to become just a bit crazier than he usually was.
Perhaps he really went over the edge, this time.
Xellos shook his head stubbornly. No, no, no. He was just fine. Am just out here for a little walk, collect my thoughts and take a break and all that. He was not bothered in the least by this new development with Filia. His pace quickened as he reached an intersection. Yes, not affected at all. His thoughts were clear. He was perfectly capable of making sound deci--
Car horn. "Hey, get off the road!!!" Another beep.
Xellos blinked, snapping back to reality, and realized he had wandered to the middle of the road. Grinning sheepishly, he did a by-your-leave and quickly crossed to the other street, vaguely hearing the driver yell some obscenity at him before going on its way.
Should have brought the car, he mused, smirking drily to himself.
Then it rained.
A rain drop here, another there, pitter, patter, pitter, plop. Another batch joined the first, and another, and still another, steadily increasing in number, until the streets of Saillune was soaked from the downpour. And now we have us a very wet Mazoku. Ahh, summer rain.
Should have really brought the car.
Where was he, anyway? He belatedly surveyed his surroundings, squinted as more icy droplets fell, further soaking his skin and clothes. Evening lights already lit the houses and the lamp posts. Just a block away, a two-story house with a very familiar porch.
He shrugged inwardly, approached the house. It's not like he had a choice. Hesitating only a moment, he knocked at Filia's door.
*~*
Author's Rants: Why can't the author make up her mind about the mood of this fic? ^_^; To Mynuet-sama: (holds up hands) I stand corrected. Can't incorporate my newly acquired knowledge in accounting, sadly though. ;_; To Kaerra: .... 'scary laugh'... (*nods* hint, hint) ^^ Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, minna-san!
"I WASN'T BORN TO WALK OUT IN THE RAIN..."
- JUST ANOTHER AU FIC -
Chapter 20: The Man Who Hears Voices In His Head
They were back at Heigel's suite in Saillune Continental. Senator Phil had learned of how the negotiations turned out; was very astounded to learn the present owner had the audacity to stand up to them. Now, a day after, he was off to try to remedy things with the other party. The man seemed to find it admirable, amusing, even.
Heigel was not amused. Insolent fools! Aimlessly he paced across the hotel room, the soles of his leather shoes wearing down the carpet. "This is preposterous!" He glared fiercely at Moreau, a challenge gleaming in his eyes. "How could they do this?! You assured me--"
"I told you," the gray-haired lawyer interposed quietly, sitting by the study, "that we should anticipate they would throw a suit at us. She has friends, she has significant connections, and Dragon Crest is one of the oldest companies in Saillune."
Heigel continued to fume. "You are insolent."
"And you're worked up," Moreau shot back. "Calm down, will you, now is not the time to lose your head."
He turned away, halting, and crossed his arms. So many rings glinting all at once in the darkness. "Hmph. I do not see why I should be bothered, eitherway. They possibly cannot acquire any copy of the bond."
That is left to be seen, the older man thought, eyes averting the younger. "Perhaps. Still we can't discount that possibility."
"They cannot," Heigel repeated. "It's a losing battle for them. We'll see to that."
"Certainly," Moreau intoned. We'll see. Inwardly what pieces of his conscience were left were warring with each other. What are you thinking?! You cannot possibly betray your friend's son! What about your promise?
Well, what about it? It was, after all, the only thing keeping him from going to Dragon Crest Building immediately with the bond.
Yes, Moreau knew that at the moment, he held the single winning card that would decide the outcome of this little story.
*~*
It was nearing noontime.
Lunchbreak in half an hour, Amelia thought pleasantly as she sorted through the mail, humming a soft tune. She stopped, however, because -- guess what?
The phone was ringing.
She picked it up. "Hello, Dragon Crest Industries," she greeted cheerfully.
"Hello, Amelia--?" A man's somewhat nervous voice answered from the other end.
She lit up. "Zelgadis-san, is that you?"
"Yeah, it is," the Chimera affirmed, trying to maintain a balance between casual indifference and happy to hear her.
"Well, I'll be informing Filia--" she began.
"No, wait!" Zel cut in. "I, uh, I want to speak to you."
Amelia blushed. Don't get your hopes up... "Huh? ... I mean, I'm listening..."
Zelgadis took a deep breath. "Look, I... well, I just got off from a client meeting, and, uh... Well, it's very near your building," he stammered. "And since it's almost noon and all, I just thought... if it wouldn't be too much of a bother..."
She cradled the receiver close to her ear. "... Yes?" She prompted patiently.
"What I mean is... Er, uh, wouldyouhavelunchwithme?" he finally blurted out.
Silence.
Amelia felt like fainting. Or jumping atop her desk and declaiming. Whichever.
" ... Amelia?"
Yes! "Yeah! --, I mean, yes, I would love to have lunch with you, Mr. Zelgadis," she replied, voice trying to retain normalcy.
There was a pause again. Then a sound on the other line; Amelia wasn't too sure, it was muffled, but she thought it was a whoop.
He came back again. "That's good to hear, Amelia," he said. "Well, I'll be right over there in half an hour. See you?"
She smiled. "Yes. Take care." She heard a click, put down the receiver gently, and sat back, dazed and feeling a bit out of breath. She knew she was smiling quite impishly this very moment, but she really couldn't do anything about it. She sighed dreamily, proceeding to half-consciously sort through the mail again, picking up where she left off, humming happily all the while.
*~*
The large, impeccably dressed man mounted the stairs. The fox man named Jiras finally let him through, quite an agreeable fellow, once you got down to it. Truly, the traffic... Well, suffice it to say he was delayed for more than one hour. He knew it was unjust to try and talk to Miss Ul Copt and her associates with less than an hour left before lunchtime, but this was a matter of grave importance. Would they really sue? It was nigh unbelievable.
Finally the senator reached the third floor. Well, at least who appeared to be the secretary was still here, sorting through the mail. And what a lovely tune she hummed while at work. Such dedication! Such cheerfulness in industry! Such--
Wait a minute. (Blinkety blink. ^_^)
... Could it be?
For almost a decade now...
Could it be?
He started, took a step towards her, stopped, not wanting this to be an apparition or some other illusion he'd made up in his mind. Philionel could not believe his eyes. "... Amelia?"
The dark-haired young woman looked up, startled. "Oh, good morning, sir, can I-- ..." Her words caught up in her throat as she recognized just who it was. She blinked. Then blinked again. "D-daddy?"
"... Amelia!"
"Daddy!"
"Amelia!"
"Daddy!"
"Amelia!"
*~*
It was a gray, cloudy afternoon. A cold breeze blew aimlessly along the near-deserted sidewalk. Lightning flashed a brief moment, followed close by the crackling sound in the sky, overcast and heavy with the promise of rain. The part of his mind that wasn't being bothered to oblivion by that annoying little voice that was himself told him he better get his ass off the streets and into a place with a roof very very soon.
But the irritating voice was louder, and so Xellos Metallium kept walking. To where, you might ask? Frankly, folks, he doesn't know either. Go ask those feet of his in those nice penny loafers.
In the meantime, the Mazoku was busy thinking things through again. The stage was set. He'd helped himself by helping Filia-san. Partly, at least. What they needed was the true copy of the bond to really seal the deal, so to speak. Of course, he hadn't the slightest idea right now how he would proceed to obtain it, if it still exists. Ah, but he'll come up with something.
He should be concentrating on trying to acquire a copy of the bond. He really should.
Instead, however, his thoughts kept returning to a certain short-tempered blonde with a penchant for name-calling, insults, and tea. Most importantly, whether he should tell her what had been really going on these past few months, and what was now going on with him these past few days. Not because he *wanted* to blow his own modus operandi, NO. But that really annoying voice in his head wasn't shutting up any, and he was starting to become just a bit crazier than he usually was.
Perhaps he really went over the edge, this time.
Xellos shook his head stubbornly. No, no, no. He was just fine. Am just out here for a little walk, collect my thoughts and take a break and all that. He was not bothered in the least by this new development with Filia. His pace quickened as he reached an intersection. Yes, not affected at all. His thoughts were clear. He was perfectly capable of making sound deci--
Car horn. "Hey, get off the road!!!" Another beep.
Xellos blinked, snapping back to reality, and realized he had wandered to the middle of the road. Grinning sheepishly, he did a by-your-leave and quickly crossed to the other street, vaguely hearing the driver yell some obscenity at him before going on its way.
Should have brought the car, he mused, smirking drily to himself.
Then it rained.
A rain drop here, another there, pitter, patter, pitter, plop. Another batch joined the first, and another, and still another, steadily increasing in number, until the streets of Saillune was soaked from the downpour. And now we have us a very wet Mazoku. Ahh, summer rain.
Should have really brought the car.
Where was he, anyway? He belatedly surveyed his surroundings, squinted as more icy droplets fell, further soaking his skin and clothes. Evening lights already lit the houses and the lamp posts. Just a block away, a two-story house with a very familiar porch.
He shrugged inwardly, approached the house. It's not like he had a choice. Hesitating only a moment, he knocked at Filia's door.
*~*
Author's Rants: Why can't the author make up her mind about the mood of this fic? ^_^; To Mynuet-sama: (holds up hands) I stand corrected. Can't incorporate my newly acquired knowledge in accounting, sadly though. ;_; To Kaerra: .... 'scary laugh'... (*nods* hint, hint) ^^ Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, minna-san!
"I WASN'T BORN TO WALK OUT IN THE RAIN..."