Author's Note: Zephra, Milda, and Eva are adapted from their characters of similar names in "Swallowing the Earth." I totally recommend that work. It's full of crazy stuff going on, but its central conflict is initiated by Lamp being the worst father ever. Louise also comes from a dub-only joke in the Jungle Emperor Leo movie.
The sky was a stormy mix of purple, gold, and pink. Pastel colours beamed down on the bowing ocean waves, as they gently crashed on the beach shore. In the twilight, Hamegg sat on the sand, hands shaking as he stared up at the bikini-clad female figure ankle deep in the shore. Louise – oh, fair Louise of the Estée Lauder booth, with the perfectly-coiffed brown hair and the wide hips – stood before Hamegg, her arms opened invitingly.
"Come run with me," she breathed. "My husband's out of town again!"
"H-H-How could I say no?" Hamegg sputtered, scrambling to his feet. "Take me, Louise!"
The skies above opened up, revealing the misty, purple visage of Lamp's irritated face. He boomed, "Who the hell is Louise? Wake up!"
Hamegg woke with a jolt, finding himself to still be strapped into the coupe's passenger seat. The car was parked. Lamp sat beside him, glaring; they were on the street beside an exhibition lot containing the grey dome of the robot circus. The crowds were gone and the external lights were off, but shady cars remained parked outside.
"This is the place, right?" Lamp asked, his tone a bit softer now. Hamegg stared out at the dome and nodded nervously.
"Just in time, too, uh..." Hamegg whipped open the overhead mirror and began organizing his hair into something a tad less shabby. "H-How do I look, buddy?"
"Like a greased-up used car salesman. You're perfect."
Hamegg climbed out of the car, grabbed his bags out of the back, and stood at the curb for a moment. He turned over his shoulder to apprehensively check on Lamp. The bigger man only glared back, making a shooing motion with his hand.
"Well, go on," Lamp hissed.
Hamegg smirked back at him, a fond look on his face, saying, "You're the best, Ace."
Lamp winced. "I told you not to call me that! Now go get the job."
Hamegg nodded excitedly, stepped back, and loudly shut the coupe door. Lamp watched the stringy man turn away and run up the exhibition lot. As soon as Hamegg was close enough to the dome, Lamp turned back to the steering wheel and started the aerocar. He soared up the street as the engine made a satisfying hum. But the peace didn't last, as Lamp dug yet another cigarette out of his jacket pocket and lit it with jittery hands.
Next stop, Milda's birthday party.
Zephra Holstein stood at the counter of Love Sugar Karaoke, trying to look reserved as her youngest daughter Milda's party barrelled on. The girl stood with two of her friends on the karaoke platform, hot pink holographic hearts and starts swirling around them as the girls sang. One of the restaurant employees dropped off an alcoholic ice tea at Zephra's side, and she accepted it with a nod.
Lamp had said he'd be "late". Milda was eagerly anticipating him, and so was her older sister Eva, who'd yet to arrive. Zephra had her expectations set low enough to breach the ocean floor. She took a stiff drink of her ice tea and stared with exhaustion at the door.
Milda, in the meantime, had just finished the chorus of One To One's "Hearts and Diamonds," some archaic piece of electric music; the "oldies" were becoming extremely popular with kids her age. Milda climbed off the stage as her friends continued on for a duet, and stopped, contemplative, staring out the restaurant window.
"Mother," she called out. "I see a car pulling in!"
"Is it a black sedan?" Zephra asked from the counter.
"N-No, but maybe it's a company car..." Milda squinted to try and see the car's details. A tall, dark-dressed figure climbed out of the aerocar. She caught the figure's face and felt her eyes widen in surprise and joy.
The figure caught sight of Milda from the window and speed-walked towards the doors, a shop bag in his hand. Milda flung the door open, calling out, "Daddy!"
Lamp hurried inside and pulled Milda into a hug. She burrowed her face into his chest, wailing, "Daddy, I knew you'd make it!"
"I'm not the type to miss my own daughter's sweet sixteen," Lamp said warmly, stepping back. With a soft smile, he offered the bag out to her, and Milda took it, peering inside.
"Oh my-!" Milda looked up, stunned. "Pablo Riviera heels?! But you've already given me a car-!"
"It's the least I can give you." Lamp put a hand to her face, getting a good look at her as his heart swelled. "I'm so proud of you, Milda."
Some of the teenagers had left the karaoke stage to check out the shoes in the bag, cooing and gasping. Lamp stood back, glad to see his daughter the centre of attention, but his eyes quickly wandered. They caught sight of a familiar tall blonde at the restaurant counter.
Zephra stared back at Lamp, drink in hand, with the needle-sharp glare of a lioness.
"Daddy," Milda said with a tug at Lamp's sleeve. "Can you stay for the rest of the party?"
He looked back down to her and grinned. "Even better. I'm in town until tomorrow night!"
Milda squealed in excitement, hugging him. Even without looking up, Lamp just knew Zephra was glaring at him intensely, but he refused to leave because of it. Milda was worth far more than his ego.
Hamegg honestly didn't like working under other people. It put him under too much stress. However, as Don Ghiacchi and eight of his goons showed Hamegg around the circus dome, he realized he could bear a boss in exchange for a job like this.
"This place is fantastic!" Hamegg sighed, staring out at the stadium seating. "And the whole place just folds up in transport, you said?"
Don Ghiacchi chuckled. He was a small, weathered olive-skinned man who looked not unlike a melting candle, peering out from under a panama hat. Hamegg deeply appreciated being on his good side.
Ghiacchi slapped a hand against the wall of the centre ring. He drawled, "It helps when ya gotta get town ta town on a strict schedule...robot circuses are the hottest thing right now, lemme tell you."
"I'm glad it's the robots doing all the heavy work around here," Hamegg said with a smirk. He could tell he was winning his potential sponsor over, but his nerves screamed for a drink or two. Or seven.
"An' I'm glad we found a guy who could take over dis." Ghiacchi nodded firmly at Hamegg. "My guys were more willin' to give it over to a fratello, you know what I'm sayin'?"
"Sure do!" Hamegg was applying with the Italian alias. A lie like that wouldn't hurt anyone, he'd figured.
"We got some paperwork ta drag ya through in a moment, but lemme lay somethin' out." Ghiacchi took on a scowl, counting off points on his fingers. "One. No takin' more cash than yer contract allows. You git a percentage based on the income. Rest goes ta maintenance or sponsors. Pocket anythin' that ain't tips or otherwise allotted, an' we castrate ya. Sound good?"
"I understand," Hamegg said, trying not to sweat his body weight at the threat.
"Two. Ya get it on wit' any of the robots and yer outta work. No exceptions."
"Ew!" Hamegg involuntarily winced at the idea of fooling around with a robot. He adjusted his collar, continuing, "Y-You can count on me on that, sir!"
Ghiacchi nodded approvingly. He shouted over his shoulder at a few of his younger-looking goons, "Take notes, ya three! I ain't takin' jokes 'bout robots lightly after I had ta fire that friggin' kinkster!"
Hamegg remained stoic, knowing better than to ask.
"And t'ree," Ghiacchi continued, back to speaking. "Keep this place profitable. If sales are sinkin', you bring 'em up. Find a robot, make it, buy one wit' the expense fund, I don't care."
"I-I understand."
Don Ghiacchi took a step back, sizing Hamegg up. He nodded approvingly, with a face like that of a man who'd just chosen a sports car off the lot. He purred, "I think I can trust ya, Hammy. Lemme get one a' the circus investors on the phone."
A tall, wiry goon gestured for Hamegg to remain where he stood; Ghiacchi turned away and led two of his goons to the circus back office. Hamegg stood rigid, waiting for Ghiacchi to be out of sight, and when he was, Hamegg let out a pained sigh of relief.
"Need a cigarette, sir?" the tall goon whispered.
"Please."
By 9 PM, Love Sugar Karaoke was now packed with teenagers, who Lamp assumed to be most of Milda's classmates and the kids from her ballet or art classes. Even Eva, his oldest, had turned up to the party. Lamp loved his daughters, but that evening he was thankful Zephra and her fiance were footing the party's bill.
Lamp sat near the karaoke stage in a booth, alone, picking at a dish of peanut satay noodles he'd ordered. The kitchen had only given him chopsticks, and he fumbled with them frustratedly; it had been years since he'd needed to use anything but western utensils. Lamp kept himself perched right over the bowl, shoving noodles into his mouth. He carried on like that until he sensed movement out of the corner of his eye.
Zephra had stepped over to the side of the booth. She eyed him tensely; Lamp only stared back into her eyes, chewing his mouthful at his own pace, and then swallowing. He cleared his throat.
"So," Lamp said. "Nice to see you're well."
"So you came after all," she replied. The snide was palpable.
"It's my daughter's birthday, Zephra."
She turned away, arms crossed. "Dare I say I'm impressed. You lose points for coming in stinking of cigarettes."
"Dare I say your blood alcohol content is showing," Lamp shot back. "What do you want out of me, Zeph? Do you really want a scene here?"
Zephra turned away. Lamp waited a moment, and then resumed eating. He was hungrier than he'd been willing to admit. Someone across the room finished a song, and Zephra clapped along with the sea of teenagers in the room.
She soon stopped and let her arms hang at her sides. She opened her mouth, trying to put her thoughts in order as she planned to speak, but froze; she felt like she was choking on the retorts she wanted to throw at her ex-husband. But, not wanting a fight, Zephra sighed, and turned back to Lamp in the booth.
"I'm glad you came," she admitted. "You know full well how much I can't stand you, but you've made the girls so happy."
"Ah." Lamp glanced away, ashamed.
There had been so many times in the past when he missed family events. It was to a point where it had been one of the big factors in Lamp and Zephra's divorce. It stung to remember, but he knew that Zephra was feeling the same sting too. Lamp could come to more recent family events all he wanted, but it didn't fill the holes in the past. He sat quietly in the booth as Zephra stared out.
"Look how long her hair's getting," she said idly, watching Milda talk to some of her friends. "She's always had such nice hair."
It was true; Milda had long gold locks, a combination of Zephra's blonde and Lamp's waves. His heart swelled with pride when he looked up at her.
He turned to Zephra. "Yeah. Yeah, it must...must be easy to comb."
"It's almost silk," Zephra said. "I'm proud of her."
"Me too."
The conversation was mediocre in substance, but for the two of them, it was a landmark. The sound of the party and the kids talking and singing washed over the pair; Zephra looked back at Lamp with tired blue eyes. She smirked, shrugging.
"And you're here tomorrow, too? It's gotta be like Christmas for the girls."
"Mm-hmm," Lamp mumbled, setting down his chopsticks. He stood up and pulled his cigarette case out of his jacket.
"Stepping out?" Zephra asked, watching him shuffle out of the booth.
"Yeah." He didn't make eye contact. "Just...ah...nerves."
"Mm-hmm."
Lamp shoved himself out the front door into the night street, the air crisp with the faintest chill. It felt like such a relief to breathe in, after being in a restaurant swamped with the staleness of re-breathed air. He took a minute to inhale, and exhale, and went about lighting a cigarette while well aware of the irony.
Lamp let himself walk along the restaurant outside. The little joint was at the centre of a strip mall, which was all but abandoned at that time of the evening. The only lights around came from the neon shop signs and the passing cars on the adjacent street. It was this sort of semi-suburban tranquillity that Lamp found so much comfort in. He leaned back against the restaurant exterior, taking it all in.
A long white car with tinted windows suddenly pulled into the strip mall parking lot, and Lamp's eyes trailed it as it drew closer. The car parked in front of him – across almost three parking spaces, no less – and he disgustedly blew smoke in the car's direction.
One of the back doors opened, and slim, black-clothed legs emerged. The figure got to his feet and Lamp could feel his eyes widen in awe. The now-smirking Hamegg shut the car door behind him, not taking his eyes off Lamp.
Hamegg stood neatly before him, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, with a high collar and a silk white vest. His head was adorned with a top hat, the curls that peeked out had been neatly combed. Hamegg's smirk only grew as Lamp's eyes studied him more and more. Hamegg almost looked like he'd stepped out of a P.T. Barnum poster.
"Damn," Lamp purred.
"I see you like the new dress code," Hamegg said, removing his hat and putting it to his chest as he gave a showy bow.
"You look amazing, Ham." Lamp flicked away the cigarette and stepped closer. "You look the role...and the slim slacks don't hurt."
Hamegg smiled back, a bit tender now. He breathed, "I just wanted to say goodbye tonight."
"Goodbye...?"
"Not forever, but you know..." Hamegg shook his head. "We're moving north for the tour in the morning. I'm getting back to my Roma roots."
Lamp cocked an eyebrow. "Last time, you told me you were Italian."
"And before that, I told you I was Jewish. There's a lot in my blood," Hamegg said with a smug tug at his crimson red bow tie. Lamp sighed.
"Well..." Lamp looked into his eyes. "I'm gonna miss you, Ham."
"Take your kids to our next showing!" Hamegg pulled a small flyer from his tuxedo's inner pocket and held it out to Lamp. However, he froze, catching the look that Lamp was giving him. It was one with a tantalizing mix of pride and lust.
"Oh...?" Hamegg asked coyly. "How much will you miss me?"
"This much," Lamp whispered, drawing nearer. He set a hand on Hamegg's shoulder, and the smaller man leaned forward, getting the hint.
Their lips met, locking together. Hamegg would have been content with that alone, but Lamp's hands slid their way to his back, pulling his scrawny body tight against Lamp's broad chest. Their tongues briefly tangled together before Lamp pulled back, staring into Hamegg's eyes. Hamegg struggled to catch his breath, eyes fluttering.
"O-Oh," he sputtered softly. "That's a lot."
"Uh-huh," Lamp hummed, stepping back. He took the flyer from Hamegg's shaky gloved hand and pocketed it.
"I suppose I should get going, Ace," Hamegg sighed, set his top hat back on. "I'll see you when I see you."
"Don't get into any trouble that I wouldn't like."
Hamegg opened the car door, and looked over his shoulder at Lamp, giving him an almost coquettish wink. "I'll try!"
Without another word, Hamegg slid into the back seat, slamming the door behind him. The long white car started again, and left the parking lot as silently and smoothly as it had come. Lamp fondly watched it leave. He was proud of Hamegg, so strongly in a way that he hadn't felt in a while.
Lamp sighed contentedly, turning away to walk back to the restaurant doors. He didn't need to worry about Hamegg for a while, and Hamegg didn't need to worry about him.