sparkiekong

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 8/8

Charles turns and sits back down next to his wife’s body. “Most intriguing.” He watched her, “Yes, my love. It’s ok. I understand you sought out comfort in seeing our daughter and found her. Does she think you’re a ghost? You’ve been appearing like that?”

“No, my love. I’m not at all mad, I just wish you had told me. You really shouldn’t be venturing so far, your body cannot sustain you without my abilities. This is why those ghouls hound me for your body. Please, next time let me prepare you. You must be losing connection going so far without my assistance.”

He nodded, “I can prepare and reinforce your body so that it does not decay too quickly while you’re away, but I need the proper tools. I need you to stay here, my love. Promise me.”

[sparkiekong]

Vsiting Hours 7/8

Charles watches him for a moment and looks to Maria, “Sometimes those are the more important reasons, love is not selfish at all. They're not gods; they're just beings like you. You know your time is short now, yes?”

Tynas nods, "I do. The wraiths are already chasing me. I can keep ahead for a time, but not much more."

“The way back is no less than the way forward was. I cannot assist you with that. There’s another.” Charles watched him closely, it seemed to him that Tynas recognized who and what his warning was about. “I can leave something at this location you have written down though. Remember, my memory is far longer than you realize. If I have been deceived, it will not bode well for you.”

"Relax Chuck. I have a vested interest in the Sixxies not getting that stuff. I don't want them to have it any more than you do. Trust that, if nothing else. They are dangerous. One killed a sister of mine, she died before my time. Tried to kill my mom, tried to abduct my brother. I don't like sixxies much if that makes me racist so be it. I'm not perfect. Luckily, I know a man who owes me a mission... I might have to pay old Bob one more visit. In fact, I will.” Tynas extended his hand, and Charles shook it.

“Alright, son. Do what you need to and be on your way. You have my word I will leave something in the allotted space.”

"Thanks. And by the way, Cat is amazing. You will be proud of her." Tynas watched the older man’s face hearing her name.

Charles smiles sadly, “I’m already proud of her. She is everything I hoped she would be.”

Tynas corrected him, “She is, and more. Watch this space. As for the other one, she's a firecracker too, but she'll be ok as well. Just let it all play out."

Charles grunts satisfactorily.

"You'll come out of this with two daughters." Tynas says with a thumbs up. He leaves with a wave through the doors.

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 6/8

Tynas looked at Maria again and back to Charles, "I just need you to sit on the sidelines for a little while longer. That's it. And trust Charles. I know you're worried, and with good reason, but  there is a man alive today, he can save your daughter, and he will. I need you to leave some of your wonderful technology so it can be found and then reverse engineered to do the job." He hands Charles paper with instructions where to leave it.

Charles takes the paper, “I should not do these things. Messing with timelines is messy. She cannot stay as she is, it will kill her. Did you say this man will solve it? How soon?”

Tynas nods, "It will take another few years yet. But she can endure that."

Charles read over the paper and put it into his jacket pocket, “I would need assurances that this does not fall into Sixamite hands as well. The lighter blooded of my kin are not as I would have liked them to be. They cannot have my technologies.”

Agent Tynas nods still glancing between Charles and Maria, “The man who will save her is Professor Guy Robinson, and Dr Evelyn Van Richten, he will reverse engineer the tech and she will fine tune the procedure to get them apart. Look them up, though, he is due some serious scandal at the moment. I will go to the Van Richten’s and get them to destroy the equipment after it is done. It will not fall to the Sixxies I assure you."

Charles looks distant for a moment and then comes back to focus on Tynas. “You ring true, I see your name and know your face. All of this is most unusual and unexpected of your kind. Why do you do this?”

"Why else Charles? Love." he removes his glasses. "In all the universes there is no stronger motivator. And, it was a chance to see my loved ones, one more time… so some selfish reasons, but you know that. It’s hard to hide the truth from the gods."

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 5/8

Charles frowned and turned to look at her, he could see her incorporeal from biting her lip apologetic. He turned back to Agent Tynas, quietly impressed at them both, “I see. This Mrs. Robinson is important to you. My Maria has always stayed near Catherine. I was hoping one day she would want to come and wake her up for me. It’s a thing that I lack the ability to do even after all these years. You say you can provide proof, tell me one thing about myself that you should not know. Please be honest, I can tell if you’re lying.”

Tynas smiled approvingly, "hmm, Alright,” He thinks for a moment and then rattles off a few facts, “You are the first, the big one, the big kahuna. Shall I call you Toth? Osiris? Uranus? Ra? I like Charles best, but it’s not every day you sit with a being over 300,000 years old. I’m a bit nervous."

Charles nodded, “That is mostly correct, I am the last and not the first. Those are names I have not heard in a long time now, fables lost in time.”

Tynas corrected, "You're the first of what came after. Cronus, Gaia, then Zeus, and Hera, Odin, and Freya. and so forth."

Charles felt a myriad of emotions wash over him as he heard all the names that had so much meaning to them. “You have nothing to fear from me Traveler. I am no longer one who seeks power such as those names gave. I only want to care for my family. What is it that you want of me?”

Tynas smiled, "I know. Thank you for entertaining me and not turning me into a drooling mess, I know you're quite able to."

Charles smiles slightly amused that this human knew so much and said so little, “I prefer not to leave my creations a drooling mess like others.”

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 4/8

As if on cue, Agent Tynas strolled into the room. “Actually, sir. I’d like you to leave them alone. Things are going accordingly and if you interfere now, it’ll ruin all my hard work setting this right.” He said quietly as he scanned the room.

Charles regarded him for a moment, as if he were looking through him, “You’re not from here. Why are you here?”

Tynas shuddered, “I shouldn't do that if I were you, Charles. Interfere. It's a very bad idea."

“This is my daughter we’re talking about, but you’re not here now. What is it that you’re doing? I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to stay away, to keep her safe from others of my kind. I see misfortune coming her way. Why would I not stop that? Is that not what you would do for your loved ones?” Charles was intrigued and focused hard on the young man. His image wasn’t correct. His aura spoke of old magic, Aesir magic.

Tynas sighs "What am I doing? Running errands. As usual. One of the downsides of being the youngest is that you get all the menial jobs nobody else wants. And you wouldn't not interfere of course not but trust me there is no need. You have little reason to trust me, I realise... perhaps some proof."

Charles frowned, “Son, you make little sense. Why is there no need?”

"That'd be telling Charles, surely a being as old as you can appreciate the need for discretion. Besides, I have a role to play and must play it precisely. Your dear wife here, she has appeared a few times to my... to Mrs. Robinson. Lyra can see her. and hear her. She is still dream walking."

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 3/8

“The body didn’t move, but in the dream world, in my world,” Dream replies, “She was sitting up in an incorporeal form, scolding Charles for his thought to manipulate the mind of anyone. She waggled her finger at him, and he could only smile at her dream form." Dream replies with a slight hint of amusement.

“I’m sorry, my love, it’s my fault you’re even in this state. I didn’t know that she would be so strong. I wish you could see her, hells, I wish I could see her. I can’t chance anyone to find out who she is. The others still work in the shadows, trying to move the human world in the direction they find most advantageous. I believe things are going to get quite busy in the next few years. Many things are coming to pass at a faster pace than expected and I will come when I can. I will be sure that the staff has my strict instructions.”

The incorporeal Maria looked at him sadly, she gently brushed her hand against his face. It would have been quite touching if he’d been able to feel it. Dream watches on quietly. Charles quietly mimed comfort from the activity and put his hand over hers.

“No, I can’t step in, at least not yet. I have to time this perfectly or things will not play out as they need to. She will be fine, she is as tough as you and has your good looks and charm. She’s a writer and divorced that awful woman. When I last stepped in to check on her, she was looking for a home on the island of Sulani. She will do well there. I haven’t seen King Triton since he was a boy, but his family is a good honorable family. They will protect her if she proves to be good for the island and our little girl will be.”

The incorporeal Maria looked at him, a worried look upon her face.

“Maria, she’ll be ok. Save your strength for that time. When she’s learned more, I will bring her here and maybe she could help you return. I’ll be sure she understands what happened and that it wasn’t her fault. I believe he’s woken, so I need to be careful. I’m counting on the Seer to show her how to become what she needs to be.”

He paused, looking at the window, “I need to be careful is all. If it comes to it, I will step in and try to-” Charles noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere as he stood in the hospital. He turns to face the door, intent on protecting Maria from whomever was coming to the room.

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 2/8

Charles frowned until he was gone and then sighed, “I’m sorry my love. You shouldn’t have to listen to that. How are you doing today?”

Dream looks down and his face grows somber, “The body of Maria Brand lay in a comatose state on the bed that she had been in for nearly thirty-four years. To the odd passerby it might seem that a dapper dressed older man was talking to a deceased body, but that was far from the truth. You see, Maria was quite able to speak to anyone she wanted to. She was a dream walker, a type of psychic who could enter the dreamworld and walk into any mind she chose, even my own.”

“How are they treating you today?” he sat down next to her and began moving her body in the therapy exercises he was taught. Once he was finished with those, he began changing her bedding and nightgown. He walked over to the faucet and drew some warm water, added a bit of rose oil and soap to it before he took it back to her bedside. He rolled her over gently, cleaning as much of her as he could. Once finished he redressed her and brushed out her hair in long greying brown strands around her head.

“You must be fed up with those people who come in and ask for your body. I will make sure the head nurse puts a notification in your room. She’s a reasonable person and easy to change her mind. Hmm?” He pauses and smiles, “No, I won’t do anything rash. Just give her a little reminder is all, don't worry my love.”

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 1/8

Dream sighs, "Once a month, my uncle will stroll into a palliative care facility. He adorns himself in the guise of a high dollar businessman. Clean cut, hair pulled back neatly. Dressed in a very high dollar Tartosan suit. The odd thing about all of this is that he only does this at 3 in the morning. He walks the stairs up to the fourth floor. Speaks to the nurses on duty and then proceeds down the hallway to her room."

--

“She’s not doing any worse than before Mr. Brand. She just doesn’t seem to want to wake up. Have you considered donating her organs to those in need? She’s a candidate for several people on a waiting list who cou-“

“Son, I’m not doing that. She’ll be ok. As much as I would gladly try to help others. She is not a part of that desire. As long as she draws breath, I will continue to retain her here. Should that be a problem, I can happily take her elsewhere.” Charles wasn't angry with the young man, but rather annoyed by him. He went through this at least every other visit.

“Sir, no offense but it’s been a few years. She could help quite a few peop-“

“I SAID NO!” The voice of Charles Brand grew ominous. “I don’t like to raise my voice, but it’s apparent that you need a louder volume to hear me. I will not agree to anything regarding my wife. I have paid her bills in full and will continue to do so as long as her soul remains in this body. Now leave me!”

“She’s not doing any worse than before Mr. Brand. She just doesn’t seem to want to wake up. Have you considered donating her organs to those in need? She’s a candidate for several people on a waiting list who cou-“

“Son, I’m not doing that. She’ll be ok.”

“Sir, no offense but it’s been a few years. She could help quite a few peop-“

“I SAID NO!” The voice of Charles Brand grew ominous. “I don’t like to raise my voice, but it’s apparent that you need a louder volume to hear me. I will not agree to anything regarding my wife. I have paid her bills in full and will continue to do so as long as her soul remains in this body. Now leave me!”

--

Dream stares down at them, wondering if his uncle could sense him, "The young man, who was merely doing his job, bowed and left quickly. Charles turned some soft classical music on her radio. The room barely looked like a hospital room. Charles had a small bit at a time turned the room into a homey room with many of Maria’s favorite things on the walls. The room had paintings of butterflies and pastel colors. Charles had manifested a dresser of her clothes, a recliner of immaculate leather and several well grown plants around the room. Dream seemed rather impressed by his uncle’s abilities. He always came to the hospital at three am in the morning and spoke to no one. He took care of his wife for the day and left new instructions with the nurses. This was the routine of my uncle for many years now. He’s quite a dedicated and devoted husband, is he not?"

[sparkiekong]

Kali: Ah the lawyer is silent for now. There’s a first.

Cat: Leave her out of it, she’s just doing her job. 

Kali: Ah but she’s part of it now Cat. She’s involved by being your friend. You see I’m glad we are divorced here now because, despite all of this, I am willing to forgive you. You just need to apologise to me, and then we can start over. Let's leave the Districts and get a new life somewhere else. And then we’ll get you to stop smoking, grow your hair back out and we’ll most definitely work on your undesirable whore-like and other disgusting behaviours. 

Cat: How dare you!?!? I don’t want to stop smoking, go anywhere with you, or do anything for you. The idea of being around you, is enough for me to consider killing myself. I think I would literally rather die! So Kali, take that as my final answer. There’s a bus stop right over there. Walk your big hulking ass to it, and catch a bus right the fuck out of my life to anywhere you please. 

Francine: You should do what she says. Any more out of you, and I swear, if you think I gave you a hard time in there, that’ll be nothing compared to the next legal smackdown I hit you with.

****

Kali: I don’t care about your legal tricks and bullshit.

Elita: Maybe it was her deteriorating health, perhaps a side of her she didn’t know existed or maybe just maybe we were getting a look at the REAL Francine, the one she had buried deep within her… But she walked straight up to Kali and got in her face.

Francine: I know you’re a few sandwiches short of a picnic so I will try to spell it out for you. Cat doesn’t love you. She doesn’t want to be around you, and you’re a sick in the head stalker motherfucker. You signed the papers, she’s not “yours” anymore, as I said earlier, It’s fucking over. O - V - E - R. Over!

Cat: Francine, please… don’t… Please don’t… 

Elita: Cat had been on an emotional rollercoaster. The idea of Kali hurting her was one thing, but she didn’t want anything to happen to Francine.

****

Kali: You got guts lawyer. I’ll give you that. You know I could break you in two? As easily as you’d snap a toothpick. Easier even.

Francine: Is that right?

Kali: Yes, it is.

Francine: You don’t scare me. I’m not intimidated by thugs. 

Kali: Then you’re even more stupid than a stereotypical dumb blonde. I don’t have to take shit from anybody if I don’t want to. The only reason you got this divorce is because I permitted you to.

Francine: You really have gone ape haven’t you? In more ways than one, I can see it in your eyes. How many bunnies are in there working the controls to your boiler? 

Kali: Funny…

[sparkiekong]

Francine: hehheheh. I’m sure it is. I might join you in fact. No sign of Sarah right now, that’s a very positive development, hopefully she’s up to her neck in Borson Fatherall’s contracts.

Cat: Yes. Remember Dirty Joe’s? I don’t think I’ve ever found the discomfort of somebody else so amusing before in my life. Heheheh I shouldn’t laugh. But, those were some of the best moments I’d had in quite some while. 

Francine: I know. I briefly felt like a terrible person there. That smoke barrage we did was ruthless.  hehehe

Cat: It’s not ruthless, it's funny! She deserved it. Much like how Kali was smothering me, Sarah is smothering you.You helped me get rid of my smother, so I will help you get rid of yours. That is my mission as of this moment.

****

Elita: The levity was soon done for, Kali, large and imposing stepped out in front of them both. Blocking their way. Cat at 5’9” which is pretty tall for a woman in this era, felt like a midget between Francine and Kali, and Francine was feeling rather small herself even at 5’11” and a bit. 

Kali: I seem to have ruined your enjoyment… yeah, I have that effect on people.

Francine: Ms McRae, we’ve just signed the papers, you should consider the restraining order in effect as of now. It’s over.

Kali: It’s not over, till I fucking say it is lawyer! 

Cat: Kali, please. Godsdamn it, just show some humility once in your life. Let me go live my life, go live yours. We’ll be happier apart and you know it. There’s no need for this.

Suzie: Even now she’s mocking you. Disrespecting you right to your face! I’d never tell you what to do like that, because I trust you! And I trust your judgement on everything. She doesn’t know any better. She is living in a fantasy world. You need to make her understand everything she’s doing is wrong! 

****

Kali: We’ve barely been apart a year and in that time look at you. You drink, you started smoking, cut your gorgeous hair off dyed it blonde like that old whore Lyra Robinson and this fucking lawyer here, and worst of all you dress AND behave like some cheap hooker from the Springs. You disgust me Cat! 

Cat: How dare you! I’ll take any insult you like but I haven’t slept with anybody since we separated and you don’t get to speak about Lyra like that!

Kali: BULLSHIT! I saw you and Guy Robinson fucking in an alley!

Cat: W… wh… what?! I never did… Francine, this is nonsense… Kali, all I have done is work at the paper, and sleep. I have been too tired, too stressed and too scared because of YOU to even think about screwing anybody! And even IF I was fucking Guy in an alley, and I wouldn’t because I’m old enough to be his mom nearly, Its none of your fucking business!! You are so whacked out you’re seeing all sorts of shit! You need help!

Elita: Francine looked between the two and felt her anger rise. It seemed my brother was never far from her thoughts…

[sparkiekong]

Jackson: That went as well as we could have hoped I think, all things considered they could have moved to…

Kali: Oh shut up you useless snivelling bald fuck. All you’ve done is take my money and I got nothing for it. I just signed my dear Cat away.

Jackson: We were never going to win,  Kali. The best I could do was damage limitation. Francine had us by the balls. 

Kali: Did she? I hope they are savouring this because there will be a day of retribution. 

Jackson: Uh I would advise…

Kali: Fuck off. I don’t want your advice anymore, you’ve been about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. 

Elita: Retribution might have been coming far quicker than anybody could have suspected…

****

Cat: Oh my gods Francine, is it over?

Francine: Yes. We have wet ink signatures on the papers! You are, almost, officially back on the market. They just need filing and that’s it.

Cat: Oh Francine, thank you, thank you. You saw this through, I could cry…

Francine: I did my job Cat, and made a new friend. Double win.

Cat: I don’t know how, but I will find a way to repay you. I don’t mean money, I will find a way to pay. 

Francine: Take it easy honey, you’re all charged up right now. Why don’t we take a walk yeah? Get some of that nervous energy out the system?

Cat: That’s a good idea. Yes. Let's take a walk. 

Elita: Cat breathed the biggest sigh of relief she could. For now, it was over. 

****

Cat: I… I can’t believe this is it. It’s over. I feel so… liberated, so free! 

Francine: For your peace of mind one of the girls is already going to city hall with the papers Cat. 

Cat: I’m sorry I spoke up in there, I know you told me not to but…

Francine: Trust me, from what I have heard you’re not the first woman to lash out at their ex and you won’t be the last. You were surprisingly concise. Like you rehearsed perfectly what to say.

Cat: I can assure you, I didn’t rehearse anything. It just all came spilling out from…. Somewhere.

Francine: It’s understandable Cat. You’ve been very unhappy for a long time. This builds up.

Cat: I guess. Right now, I think I need a stiff drink and another cigarette. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere right?

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 8/8

Charles turns and sits back down next to his wife’s body. “Most intriguing.” He watched her, “Yes, my love. It’s ok. I understand you sought out comfort in seeing our daughter and found her. Does she think you’re a ghost? You’ve been appearing like that?”

“No, my love. I’m not at all mad, I just wish you had told me. You really shouldn’t be venturing so far, your body cannot sustain you without my abilities. This is why those ghouls hound me for your body. Please, next time let me prepare you. You must be losing connection going so far without my assistance.”

He nodded, “I can prepare and reinforce your body so that it does not decay too quickly while you’re away, but I need the proper tools. I need you to stay here, my love. Promise me.”

[sparkiekong]

Vsiting Hours 7/8

Charles watches him for a moment and looks to Maria, “Sometimes those are the more important reasons, love is not selfish at all. They're not gods; they're just beings like you. You know your time is short now, yes?”

Tynas nods, "I do. The wraiths are already chasing me. I can keep ahead for a time, but not much more."

“The way back is no less than the way forward was. I cannot assist you with that. There’s another.” Charles watched him closely, it seemed to him that Tynas recognized who and what his warning was about. “I can leave something at this location you have written down though. Remember, my memory is far longer than you realize. If I have been deceived, it will not bode well for you.”

"Relax Chuck. I have a vested interest in the Sixxies not getting that stuff. I don't want them to have it any more than you do. Trust that, if nothing else. They are dangerous. One killed a sister of mine, she died before my time. Tried to kill my mom, tried to abduct my brother. I don't like sixxies much if that makes me racist so be it. I'm not perfect. Luckily, I know a man who owes me a mission... I might have to pay old Bob one more visit. In fact, I will.” Tynas extended his hand, and Charles shook it.

“Alright, son. Do what you need to and be on your way. You have my word I will leave something in the allotted space.”

"Thanks. And by the way, Cat is amazing. You will be proud of her." Tynas watched the older man’s face hearing her name.

Charles smiles sadly, “I’m already proud of her. She is everything I hoped she would be.”

Tynas corrected him, “She is, and more. Watch this space. As for the other one, she's a firecracker too, but she'll be ok as well. Just let it all play out."

Charles grunts satisfactorily.

"You'll come out of this with two daughters." Tynas says with a thumbs up. He leaves with a wave through the doors.

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 6/8

Tynas looked at Maria again and back to Charles, "I just need you to sit on the sidelines for a little while longer. That's it. And trust Charles. I know you're worried, and with good reason, but  there is a man alive today, he can save your daughter, and he will. I need you to leave some of your wonderful technology so it can be found and then reverse engineered to do the job." He hands Charles paper with instructions where to leave it.

Charles takes the paper, “I should not do these things. Messing with timelines is messy. She cannot stay as she is, it will kill her. Did you say this man will solve it? How soon?”

Tynas nods, "It will take another few years yet. But she can endure that."

Charles read over the paper and put it into his jacket pocket, “I would need assurances that this does not fall into Sixamite hands as well. The lighter blooded of my kin are not as I would have liked them to be. They cannot have my technologies.”

Agent Tynas nods still glancing between Charles and Maria, “The man who will save her is Professor Guy Robinson, and Dr Evelyn Van Richten, he will reverse engineer the tech and she will fine tune the procedure to get them apart. Look them up, though, he is due some serious scandal at the moment. I will go to the Van Richten’s and get them to destroy the equipment after it is done. It will not fall to the Sixxies I assure you."

Charles looks distant for a moment and then comes back to focus on Tynas. “You ring true, I see your name and know your face. All of this is most unusual and unexpected of your kind. Why do you do this?”

"Why else Charles? Love." he removes his glasses. "In all the universes there is no stronger motivator. And, it was a chance to see my loved ones, one more time… so some selfish reasons, but you know that. It’s hard to hide the truth from the gods."

[sparkiekong]

Visiting Hours 5/8

Charles frowned and turned to look at her, he could see her incorporeal from biting her lip apologetic. He turned back to Agent Tynas, quietly impressed at them both, “I see. This Mrs. Robinson is important to you. My Maria has always stayed near Catherine. I was hoping one day she would want to come and wake her up for me. It’s a thing that I lack the ability to do even after all these years. You say you can provide proof, tell me one thing about myself that you should not know. Please be honest, I can tell if you’re lying.”

Tynas smiled approvingly, "hmm, Alright,” He thinks for a moment and then rattles off a few facts, “You are the first, the big one, the big kahuna. Shall I call you Toth? Osiris? Uranus? Ra? I like Charles best, but it’s not every day you sit with a being over 300,000 years old. I’m a bit nervous."

Charles nodded, “That is mostly correct, I am the last and not the first. Those are names I have not heard in a long time now, fables lost in time.”

Tynas corrected, "You're the first of what came after. Cronus, Gaia, then Zeus, and Hera, Odin, and Freya. and so forth."

Charles felt a myriad of emotions wash over him as he heard all the names that had so much meaning to them. “You have nothing to fear from me Traveler. I am no longer one who seeks power such as those names gave. I only want to care for my family. What is it that you want of me?”

Tynas smiled, "I know. Thank you for entertaining me and not turning me into a drooling mess, I know you're quite able to."

Charles smiles slightly amused that this human knew so much and said so little, “I prefer not to leave my creations a drooling mess like others.”

[sparkiekong]

Francine: Yes. Now, one concession I have made is that Kali can get half the money as you know, we have done this to strengthen our position and avoid court. But.... I have also added that Kali will be responsible to pay out of her half for all the damage she caused to the property where you lived. And then selling it on, whence you will receive half the money there. If she fails to do this, we take her ass to court and dirty laundry gets aired. For a bonus, there is a restraining order going to be added in. So she cannot make contact with you via any medium past, present or future. Nor is she to fabricate and exploit any chance to randomly "meet" you. And should such a coincidental meeting occur, she is to move away from you, with all prudent urgency without speaking

Cat: Good. You thought of everything Francine.

****

Francine: So we have it in the bag for the most part. There is one more thing I added on, and that restraining order applies not just to you, but any friends or loved ones of yours as well.

So, after all that, how do you feel now?

Cat:That's just amazing, Franny. I can't thank you enough for all of your work. I hope that it'll be enough to let me move on past her.

Francine: I'm sure it will. Oh! I'm being waved to. One moment Cat.

****

Elita: Francine walked out of the room leaving Cat by herself again. Her heart was racing at 100mph with no signs of slowing down. The anxiety was at fever pitch so she just concentrated on smoking the cigarette in her hand. Drag, inhale, hold, exhale, rinse, repeat. Francine was not gone for very long, and then, she returned...

[sparkiekong]

Elita: Today was the big day, Francine came strutting over to Cat who sat waiting in her office, she opened the door and walked in. The air was charged with nervous energy. If Cat could have been hooked up to the San Myshuno power grid, and that nervous energy harnessed, Cat would have powered the whole District for a week.

****

Francine: Ok, this is it! Wow, blonde hair, ok peachy keen. So how are you doing?

Cat: Nervous! The uh… blonde hair was an impulse thing. 

Francine: Ok, well, the papers are all drawn up, Kali and her victim lawyer should be here shortly. Can I get you anything Cat?

Cat: Uh, well, I  really want a cigarette and a stiff drink or eight... But mainly, for this to be over quickly, and Franny, don't leave me alone with her. Please.

Francine: I'll stay with you, of course I will. In fact, I will go first to greet her and her lawyer before I bring you in ok? Maisie hasn’t banned smoking in the building yet, so, let's get you lit.

****

Cat: Ok. Is there anything I need to know?

Francine: Yes, there are a few things we need to go through.  Kali might try anything in there, tears, shouting, begging. Anything is possible. Now her lawyer is going to come at me with counter proposals and such and you're going to hear some scary words... ignore them. We are not budging on our position because if we go to court, Kali is fucked. Do not speak to Kali, at all, if she talks to you you simply say; "I have nothing to say."

Cat: Ok. I don't have anything to say to her anymore. She forfeited that right when she started harassing me. Tormenting me, stalking me.... the list grows daily.