Veronica managed to get there on time, just as the person lay bleeding out... the cinematic record was checked and signed off, her usual rights done.

But still she was being penalised for it, it supposedly being the 'final straw' in the list of ridiculous offences they were using as an excuse to put her on probation, taking her off active duty, striped of her supervisor duties and put under constant surveillance and regulation by a employee of the elders' council. A particularly hard ass reaper by the name of Mildred Lockhorn, a unextraordinary looking woman with grey streaked black hair, a obvious liking for black clothing, the personality of a cactus and a glare that could melt steel.

From that point on, Veronica was treated like some kind of criminal, punished for every little misdemeanor, to the point that she was forced into fixed routine, sitting in complete silence and working by candle light. Her wardrobe stripped downed to nothing but standard issue uniforms, including boring black framed, oblique lensed glasses. All her art supplies, coloured inks and best quills where confiscated, replaced with nothing but plain black ink and quills.

For the first time since she began wishing it upon herself, she had truly felt what it was like to be completely alone... and it was suffocating... as sure as if something had a wince like grip on her throat, slowly cutting down her air supply.

The constant darkness, solitude and silence wore away at her, day after day... as her eagle eyed guard made sure Veronica didn't so much as breath without her say so...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After spending the past few days furiously working on his once more booming business, Theo decided that he had earned a well deserved visit to his new favourite reaper's office... only to find that she had guards outside her office, that point blank refused to let him pass. Something that struck him as a little strange but none the less he just dismissed it some sort of annual review rubbish and simply went back to his shop.

It wasn't until after second attempt, with the same results, that he even gave it a second thought...

As time went on, he become more and more suspicious of her sudden disappearance, especially when he no longer found guests with silver roses tucked into their clothes and burial money placed carefully over their closed lidded eyes.

So he put his ingenuity to work, sneaking passed the beefy guards, so he could inspect the true goings on in Veronica's office. It was most certainly safe to say that he wasn't too happy about what what he found... he knew immediately what was happening, for he had see this sadistic approach in action far too many times to allow even the smallest flicker of doubt enter his mind.

One of the elders councils favourite 'remedial' tricks for dealing with 'potential problem' reapers, they would build a case using silly little slip ups, like slightly late paperwork or the odd occurrence of sloppy time keeping, and use it to give them opportunity to crush the spirit of the unfortunate individual. A correctional modification was the official term, but most of the superiors have nicknamed it reaperization... a practice that most respectable reapers loathed, for it was bordering on torturous.

Theo's jaw tighten as he slipped away, he wasn't about to let that happen to Veronica... it was about time he called in a few favours from some old friends, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to do so. And he knew just the person... his old friend Nerni...

He walked into her office, upon her usual grumbled command to intrude... something that never failed to amuse him just a touch.

The woman in question took her time finishing her current sheet of paperwork before looked up, a small smile pulling at her lightly painted lips upon seeing that it was him "To what do I own this unexpected visit, Theodore?" she asked, her bright lime green eyes watching him intently.

His old friend was a slender, pale skinned individual with long and perfectly straight silky raven hair that framed her pretty face quite naturally, cascading freely down her back.

For as long as he knew her, she always dressed in a very feminine fashion, the current assemble being no exception, a billowy white, poet's shirt with a black corset over the top, black slacks and black velvet boots that come up to her upper calf.

"you are looking very well, Nerni, being the big boss lady must agree with you" he complimented, not-so-subtly attempting to butter her up.

Nerni raised an eyebrow, "starting the compliments this early? The favour you have come for must be a substantial..." she mused, a knowing quirk pulling at the corner of her lips.

"Why do you always I assume that I want something, can't a friend come to visit without you scrutinising they motives?" Theo asked, placing a hand over his heart, feinting hurt.

"You usually bring a fresh batch of whatever bizarre mixture you've been baking when it's a social visit... so what can I do for you?"

"I need you're help rescuing a woman that has been shoved in a reaperization program..." he admitted, getting to the point, for whatever front will always be a thin veil to this woman, she simply knew him too well.

"And what per say should I do with this kid, once I spend the next two weeks liberating her from the elder council's chosen lapdog? She's bound to have been broken by that point, no reaper can take that amount time under psychological torture without cracking..." Nerni inquired, putting her feet up on the desk as she reclined back, draining the last dregs of her now lukewarm tea.

Theo frowned, crossing his arms over his chest "I believe she is stronger then that... employ her, you need new members for your team, she is a very skilled individual"

"You never learn do you? Mixing business with pleasure doesn't end well..." she scolded playfully,

"Since I'm no longer in the business, it's not really a mix..."

"You're really sweet on this kid, ain't you?" she chuckled, knowingly grinning at him "takes a special kind of girl to get you hooked like this, what is she really that good in bed?"

"What do you take me for, a common dog?" he exclaimed disdainfully, sure he was a bit of player in his time but it hardly motivated his every endeavour in concerns to the fairer of the species.

"No, I take you for you..." she teased, looking him over, spotting his unease from a mile away "have you even kissed her yet?"

He shook his head "no... only met her 5 times..."

"You're kidding right?" Nerni questioned, watching him for any hint that he was, but there was none... much to her surprise "geez... I'm thinking about just doing it to meet the kid that has you smitten over so little contact"

"I just want the opportunity to get closer to her... I can't allow those sadists to break her... so please help me N," he admitted bitterly, averting his eyes...

Nerni's smile faded as she watch him, sighing she sobered up "You do understand that this puts you into my debt once more? But if you really want me too, I will help you... you know I can't resist helping a friend in need" she informed him, her eyes shimmering with compassion.

Theo nodded "I do... I'm sure we can come to some arrangement over it" he replied, as he released the breath he didn't even realise he was holding, a smile creeping back on to his face.

"All I say is she best be worth it, otherwise you will be in many moons of debt, wolfie" she reminded him pointedly,

"Trust me" he reassured in earnest, walking over and throwing his arms around her, "you what regret this I promise"

Nerni hugged back for a short moment "Very well" she muttered before letting go of him, cueing him to do the same, which he did " I will contact you once I have her out, and I suggest you bring bakery goods when the time comes"

"All your favourites, I promise"

"Now shoo, I have work to do" she stated dismissive, lowing her feet off the table as she got up, showing him out and going to visit the cafeteria for some more peppermint tea.