DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Las Lindas and other products set in the same universe are all owned by Chalo/Chalosan and SoulKat.
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Chapter 14: Truth and Technicalities
The next morning swiftly turned into a very awkward situation. I was pulled into a conversation by Taffy and Miles, that slowly but definitely reached out to the rest of the farm.
The previous night had been mostly quiet. Mora was particularly happy because the farm had lived through the last attempt from Alejandra to have it taken by the bank, and that she now had Digit to rely on when it came to keeping the house and Las Lindas as a whole fully operational.
I had to personally check on all the data that the cheerful spirit had on herself, starting from the info that she was more than happy to dispense. A big note to remember is that Nanozell Spirits weren't exactly a simple topic to handle when it comes to details. Creatures that were conceived as a bizarre bridge between magic, organic, and technology, most of those were known to live in the Dragon Spires of the major cities in the Newer Continent.
I was no expert on the process behind the birthing of a new Spirit, but this matter wasn't important to my little digging. Digit was an Aura Class Spirit with a specialization in Residence Management. In layman's terms, she was supposedly talented in dealing with any issues that might require botany, natural biology, and farm management. It was ideal by all definitions, but the practice was… far from optimal.
Despite having some advanced knowledge and some impressive solutions to problems, Digit was… a little too excited in showing off her new skills. Nothing big just yet, but I could tell that she was bubbling with her intentions of becoming a prime part of the place. Which was good if she was capable of not going too far… but since she was in an early stage of her existence, that seemed to be unlikely.
For now she was restrained with her manners, but I doubted this was going to be a situation for long. I took preparations and made some prayers for nothing bad to happen… while at the same time I enjoyed getting to know who Digit really was. Despite my worries, I really didn't see a reason to keep away from her. She was highly-receptive of social situations and, while a little bit shy and awkward, she was still open to conversations.
She was very clever, but also infantile in her own ways. Digit was still 'young' by NZ Spirits' definition, so I wasn't exactly surprised by her peculiar behavior. In fact, I found it highly amusing, and a reason to interact even more with her. But with that it also came the problem that was… sleeping. I knew for a fact that Spirits didn't need to sleep in the proximity of their partners. It was something that was pretty easy to confuse for anyone that didn't know how spirits worked. Mora was in this group, and it took Digit herself admitting that I wasn't wrong about my explanation to get her to relent to a single night spent with the three of us. It was… kind of odd. Not sure odd but… still fairly weird in its own accord.
With the Cow Prime happily sleeping while hugging my arm, Digit took the opportunity, after much discussion about this, to settle herself on my chest. She was pretty light, and easy to forget about the moment tiredness struck me unconscious. The night proceeded smoothly… and then the next morning came.
"You are rich?!" Miles exploded the moment I had just brought the cup of warm coffee up to my lips. Breakfast was pretty much a quiet affair nowadays, yet the outburst didn't seem to severely cause an uproar. Especially not as big as the guy was trying to get out of these news.
"What?"
"Your pops is a multi-millionaire and you got hold of a big lawyer on the case."
…
"That's not what you were saying-"
"Are you rich?" The Cat Prime demanded seriously. "I'm not joking, I want some truth here."
…
"No," I flatly replied and the reaction was mostly… confused. Mora was the only one staring at me calmly, with Minos being the one after her to have the tamest expression in his face within that room.
"But your father-"
"Is no longer a concern of mine," I interrupted calmly. "It's been so for a few years now."
There was a slight chance of atmosphere in the kitchen, with Taffy being the one that picked it up quicker than those that didn't know the truth.
"Did something happen for you to leave your family?"
I actually blinked in surprise at that precise question, and my attention was completely taken by the Bunny Prime as she sat down in one of the chairs in front of me. Something within her face, her body-language, just suggested that she knew more of this kind of experience than she was letting out. To be fair, there wasn't much known about Taffy when it comes to the time before she studied at the Alsadia Culinary School.
"You can say that," I admitted with a nod. "It's been a long time now, but I still remember that day quite well."
Glancing around, I knew I wasn't going to get out until I had spilled the beans on the matter. So I decided to come out clean, knowing that at this point, there was nothing to lose for me by telling the truth.
"My family is… has been known to make most of its fortune from humble origins. My grandfather, Zachary Stone, was the man that started the family business by creating a successful farm that ended up turning in a conglomerate of numerous ones," I started to explain. "Years passed and the Stone Farm Association was first created as the main group for the business. Everything was genuine, with barely any technology being involved beyond those required for the natural processes."
…
"My father was an ambitious man. A good one... at least when he first started thinking bigger because he wanted the whole family to enjoy a good life without ever fearing to face poverty or troublesome hardships," I continued with a quiet voice. "He was confident, but careful to not extend the reach of his activities too far without having a solid base to work on. Which is why he conceived Stone Advanced Farms as a company to properly grow the family fortunes and take things to a more industrial-like basis. Facilities were built, trustworthy resources were employed, and our family ended up being among the richest groups that were tied to the industry."
Miles hummed. "I don't want to bust the moment, but this feels way too fine for any problems to come out of it."
I nodded. "That's because the issue didn't exactly come from the business side of the situation. It was all from within my family. My grandfather was someone that taught my father to be respectful of some moral rules that weren't exactly cheap to uphold, but that were positive ones out of a sense of personal goodness and quality-preservation," I paused for a moment, thinking about how grandfather had explained it to me at the time when I started to inquire about his clashes with his son. "The… issue that I had to agree with back when the first fights started between the two was that, with a company as big as Stone Advanced Farms, these rules were easily leading to an eventual crash of its economy. The costs were growing faster than the income was, and with it, it was clear that the company was well on its way to collapse on itself. My father began changing a few things, it was only adjustments at the times… but it was more than enough to cause some bickering between the two."
"How big were the fights?" Rachael asked and I knew I was in for a roll this morning.
"At first those were just some disagreements, then those became more heated with the passing of time and the… intensification of some of the chances father went through with. Then I came along and things got even worse as I would spend my childhood and a little more with my grandparents since both my parents were busy with their work and… then the moment where I was brought in this feud happened," I elaborated with a serious tone. "Grandpa died a few years ago. I was already done with college and I had started taking some positions in the family business. Nothing too big but… enough to keep myself busy until I was given news I was already aware about. My grandfather decided to leave the farm to me."
"Why is that important?" Sarah inquired with a frown. "I mean, you said that they didn't like each other, so… shouldn't he have been happy that you were the one to receive it?"
…
"My father might have been angry at my grandfather, but none of their clashes ever came to a point where he was disowned. The moment I received the farm, no matter the excuses that could be brought up to explain that decision, the only one that remained was that my grandfather ceased thinking of him as his son."
"And so he took it out to you," Minos guessed and I nodded. "But how far did things go?"
"At first it was a tightening of duties I previously enjoyed in my roles, then was the fact that I was less wanted by his office and finally it was a relocation to one of the least developed facilities. 'To let me make my bones' before giving me a higher position. I knew that something was off, but I would only discover what exactly was off when I was invited to father's office to discuss my relocation," I answered with a serious tone. "I had left the farm mostly untouched. My plans early on were to give my resignation and take a full job as the owner of the farm. It was an illogical step down for many, but I wasn't really doing it for more money or a better chance of work. I just wanted to live a life away from all that unnecessary mess and… then it all went to flames just like the farm did. My father was… angry, and he didn't hold himself back from going very far on destroying his own father's legacy out of pettiness."
"He… He what?" Taffy asked in pure shock. "Declan, surely you could have called the police and-"
"And what? I had only his own unrecorded words as proof of his involvement. He had won by all definitions since it meant I didn't have anyplace where to retire to if I decided to resign," I interjected. "So I did the only thing I could think of in that state of pure anger after hearing that my childhood had been burned to the ground to satisfy a jerk's grudge."
"He decked him," Mora spoiled the crescendo, getting me to huff and frown her way at the cheeky comment. But I still nodded at that comment and added to it.
"A broken nose, a letter of resignation and then, a few hours later that day, a letter that formally pulled me away from the direct line of succession for the company."
"...How did you feel at the time?"
"Well, I was angry. Kind of aimless too since I was now with little money, without support and without a plan to rely on. Leaving wasn't exactly my plan, but I still had enough to make it out and away from town before things got too heated," I replied with a hum. "And the heat came in the most unexpected form when, a couple of members of the security team decided to leak the camera footage of what happened that day. The scandal was so much that the company got really close to collapse after just a week since that meeting, and many members of the board of directors were quick to accuse father of having messed things up for his personal ambitions, some legitimately on my side while others actually just quipping for the sake of gaining supports among other members. But I was already gone and… making the best I could out of my life."
"And then you ended here," Miles concluded with a sigh. "Like seriously, how the heck did you keep to yourself this big of a story?"
"I don't know. Are you going to tell me what really happened to get you to leave college?"
That seemed to shut him up. I knew that mostly everyone in this farm had their own secrets, so I could understand why pretty much everyone was keeping calmer reactions to this. One of those that didn't proceeded to jump at me and pull me in a sudden tight hug.
I frowned, surprised at the fact that Sarah was this strong despite her petite frame.
"Sarah, I'm alright. There is no need for this."
The girl only squeezed harder, a heavy sigh leaving my mouth as I could only pat her back with the way she was literally latching onto me. I gave a look around and I felt my frown deepen as I saw everyone giving me some telling glances.
"I'm really fine."
"Not gonna lie, but I think that's not something you would ignore so easily."
"That's because I had years to think of other more important things. Right now, I have this place to focus on, the relationship I have with Mora and the friendship I have with you all."
I saw many nodding at this, and I felt relieved that I had defused a good part of the situation with that response. Sadly for me, Sarah would remain stuck in that very limiting position for a long time. Leaving me to groan at the adorable but unneeded embrace she had captured me in.
This was actually not a bad situation to be in, I guess. At least now I can exert, within certain limits, a degree of brotherly affection towards the blonde.
I hummed quietly as I sat down with Mora by her office.
I was done with my shift and I had decided to check on her since she had decided to handle the paperwork for today. And there was a lot to handle between the permits and the papers to get the farm repaired properly. Some of the radical changes that were meant to be done needed some proper documentation, and those weren't that easy to be done with.
"Tough luck?"
She huffed. "I swear, sometimes I prefer breaking my back working at the fields rather than getting through this bureaucratic mess."
"Ah, I understand the pain… but it has to be done, hun. I'm sorry to say that."
"At least I got you to keep me company," The woman muttered with a smile. "By the way, since Digit isn't going to be sleeping with us tonight-"
"I would be more than happy to have some fun," I happily replied, not even allowing her to finish that offer.
A brief blush adorned her face and she snorted. "That much into getting a piece of me?"
"Only a piece? I thought it was clear I want to cherish you to the fullest."
"Well, you might get that wish fulfilled if I get done with those without getting a headache," The woman muttered calmly and I nodded.
"I suppose you will be keen to accept help. I wouldn't mind offering some."
"Aren't you… tired?"
"Not if it means helping my girlfriend. Just tell me what you need and I will provide."
Mora accepted the proposal with a smile. The next two hours were filled with some intense paper-signing. I wouldn't give her much beyond advising her on some matters, leaving the signing up to her. I was her partner, but I was not on the same level regarding the work. This was her farm, her mother's legacy, and I wasn't going to do much until we could both trust each other on combining our strengths properly and without messing things up because of our relationship.
For now it was all suggestions, giving her options to pick up regarding a couple of those upgrades since some of those were more convenient than others and… moral support.
Mora shivered as my mouth rested on her neck, planting a soft kiss that sent shivers through her entire body. Her breath was heavy as I proceeded to pull her in a serious kiss. She wasn't shy by escalating the smooching to another level, but we still kept ourselves from degenerating into some situation that would have been awkward to explain if someone decided to pass by.
'We will continue at night.'
That's the hope we both had as we proceeded to bring to an end to that intense make-out session. It was a brief note over what was going to be a particularly fun night. Still, while we were busy with the documentation, our attention was mutually stolen by some light coming from the lone window in the room. It was placed right over the porch, which meant that the strange illumination came from there.
After taking a break from the mostly over work, we both moved to investigate this matter and we eventually arrived at the entrance door. I poked my head out of the door, staring at Digit as the spirit was now sitting by the porch.
It was a familiar sight since it reminded me of the time when I first started to visit my grandfather's farm. I was unhappy for some minor reasons and the old man would come by to cheer me up and get me to spend the day with him to understand how life there actually worked. It was a fun experience and… right now I had to do something about the gloomy look on the girl's face.
Digit tensed up just a little bit as we both approached, but didn't say or do anything as we sat down, occupying the seats on both her sides. She glanced at us, green eyes showing some degree of guilt for some reason and… then she spoke up.
"I made a mess. With the others."
"How so?" Mora asked and the spirit looked down to her hands.
"Taffy is currently feeling sick because I gave her flowers she was allergic to, and Rachael is a little hurt since I think- I know sprained her leg in trying to fix some soreness."
That was some damage, but not the worst that I had expected. In fact, this was one of the best scenarios realistically speaking since nobody got hurt too much by this experience.
"But you didn't do it on purpose now, did you?"
She shook her head. "I was trying to help them."
"Well, it's… it's alright to mess things up while trying to help others. You weren't meaning to hurt them to begin with," The Cow Prime commented with a kind look.
"Still..."
"Do you want to still help them, regardless of what happened before?" I asked, getting a quick nod from the spirit.
"Yeah, but-"
"Do you understand what mistakes you made?" I kept on the pressure with these questions, which made Digit frown and nod at my words.
"Yes."
"Then I believe you are not a bad person. You know you made mistakes, you know which mistakes you made, and you are unwilling to allow those to happen again, at least willingly that is," I explained with a nod. "I know you can do it, that you have the ways to help those properly and without screwing things up again."
"But what if-"
"If we were to stop at any hesitation, Digit, then I wouldn't be here at the farm," Mora commented. "I still have my doubts that I have the abilities to get through with the task of managing this place and making sure it doesn't come crashing down. That… I can be a good person to someone that has given me trust, affection, love, and closeness."
"But?" I asked quietly and she regaled me with a smile.
"But despite the doubts I have, I still will give my best to make sure that I don't fail. I don't know if it will work or not, but I have to still try and… do my best. People depend on my decisions, and each step is one that has to be taken with attention, care and… trust in myself."
…
"I… I see. I'm sorry that… I sounded like a dummy."
"None of that, sweetie," I muttered kindly. "You were just a tad bit excited and you ended up making a few messes around. We both know you can fix those and that you will do just fine."
"...You mean it?"
"Of course I mean it," I replied with a snort, gracing Digit with a nod. "How about we take a promise to the three of us that we will all work on making sure the others don't fail?"
"I'm up to it," Mora agreed and the NZ Spirit smiled and giggled.
"Me too!"
Just as we went for a triple pinky promise, a suave golden light materialized around Digit's wrists and two gold-like bracelets appeared. Her eyes widened and she started to vibrate at the sight.
"Those are… interphase terminals! Those are going to be what I need to help the others!"
"Did you just gain a new ability by-"
"Our bond. It improved, Mora," Digit answered happily. "That means I've developed some more power to actually fix these problems- I think I will go on and do it. Thanks, both of you."
The girl swiftly left, flying away, before we even had the chance to say something about it. For a moment there was a pleasant quietness as we enjoyed our time there together.
"So… you seem to know a little bit about what Digit was going through."
"I tried to do something like Digit when I was a little kid. My parents had left me plenty of money to spend while I was at the farm and I thought that I would have been able to befriend all the workers here and… he chided me for doing that. I thought it was the easy way to gain their respect, but the truth is that when one wants to help someone, they need to do it through direct and… careful approaches. Never through the easiest way possible."
"Money doesn't buy friends," Mora agreed with a nod. "How many pearls of wisdom do you have at your disposal?"
I sighed at her teasing. "Plenty. Most of which serves to make for quite the intimacy between two lovers by the bed."
She hummed, leaning herself to the side and letting our shoulder bumps as she rested a little bit.
"I guess now I'm more interested in that. I assume you are ready since I'm quite pent up."
"And I'm not?"
Mora finally giggled. "Fair, but still… I love you."
I smiled and nodded at her. "I love you too."
…
"But we still need to get back to the paperwork."
She groaned. "How about I just delegate half of it to you?"
"A flattering offer, but you are not escaping the paperwork monster, hun."
Mora could only groan as she was now stuck with that kind of burden. Meanwhile, I continued to think about Digit and her recent upgrade… while also pondering about the Harvest Festival just around the corner. Preparations were surely going to be tough to handle, but, as Mora said, I was going to get through with it despite my own doubts.
AN
The truth comes out for good, Digit managed to get through the first hurdle of being a Resident Spirit and… two individuals are going to join the farm next time. These two are canonically known to be part of Las Lindas, but are known only to have had cameos through side-stories.
One in particular will cause a couple of issues between Mora and Declan.
Ah! The horror! Who is this harlot? Who do I need to talk to?
Ambar-
That's my crush she is trying to steal. I will not accept this without a fight.
*Picks up phone* Naerie? Yes, I need you to come and pick up your mother…
