Chapter 34: Adornment and Luxury
"I managed to compromise a deal with them, they are still on our side," says Daki, wearing the mask again.
"Nice. Well, what now?" asks Adora.
"For the next while, I'll be building resources, planning, and scouting. Then I'll be the only one expanding to capture properties and attacking when necessary. You guys go on your group date or outing or whatever and then get ready to defend this property and the other one you captured. I'll be the only one focusing on attacking, and One is gonna protect the other four properties," he says.
"Got it. By the way, why did you attack them when you saw Haco showing no response of conflict happening?"
". . . You saw what they are capable of. We didn't even know they were behind us till she spoke. Not even Haco reacted. Plus, they were gonna find out I am not Kayn sooner or later. So, it was the perfect chance to test out how far I will have to go. Let's just say that,"
"Oh, and the results?" asks Adora.
"Splattered," says Daki and she bursts out laughing.
"You laugh but that shit really hurts every time," he complains, laughing as well.
"One more thing," he snaps his fingers, and the wheelchair transforms into a motorized wheelchair that is comfortable, makes no noise and can be controlled from the right side.
Adora notices that she can move her right hand from the wrist to the fingertips.
"There," says Daki, "Now you can move around by yourself,"
"Oh! Thanks! What did this cost?′
"Don't worry about it. Anyway, I'll go do the preparations, also I'll update you on everything including the things about Sheehan later. Stay safe," says Daki as walks away, waving his hand in goodbye.
"You too! Don't get caught or I'll have to come to save you and be not safe," jokes Adora, smiling as she turns around with the new chair to look at Daki leaving.
Daki pretends to eat the first two and the last two fingers, leaving the middle one up, and keeps waving goodbye.
Adora laughs at his behavior.
"I like this one the most," says Neo, opening the door and emerging shortly after.
Adora looks at Neo and some sort of nostalgia hits her hard. As if she misses someone a lot and had to keep it in for so long. But she slips up now and breaks character for a second, letting a tear out.
"Is something wrong, Adora?" asks Neo.
"No . . . it's just, I got overwhelmed for a second remembering someone,"
"Anyway, check this out!" she says, spinning her chair and grinning.
"Wow! Cool!"
. . .
"A whole day with no action," sighs Orbit.
"Calm down, Orbit. You need half a circle to make a full circle. Maybe something will happen today," he mumbles, rubbing his face.
His back at the bottom of his seat and his legs are on its back support, as he looks at Daki's screen upside down.
"Come on! I was so hyped when I found out who you actually were. I can't wait to see Zahtan's reaction the instant he knows," he says, smiling crazily.
"DO SOMETHING ALREADY!" shouts Orbit, spinning the chair around.
. . .
A new mask on, Daki is checking things to buy while looking at the menu.
"Hi," he hears and looks to the side to find Neo standing there.
"Oh, Neo. How have you been? Where is Adora? Were you not with her?" he asks.
"Well, she went to check in on Charlotte. So, in the meantime, I wanted to come and apologize for the trouble I caused back at the gate when I disappeared, so I am sorry A- um" says Neo.
". . . You can still call me Arcat. Also, you have me confused with my younger twin brother. I am not him,"
"Oh, really? Um, okay. "Well, if I don't get to meet him again, can you please deliver my apology?"
"For sure," nods Arcat.
"Thanks a lot!" says Neo, turning around and ready to leave.
". . . Neo?"
He stops and turns around, "Yes?"
"Do you still want to head for the Rope?"
"Um . . . I honestly don't know at this point. All I know is that I want to be with Charlotte right now," says Neo shyly.
"And then what?" asks Arcat.
"Huh?"
"Let's say you and Charlotte get married. Then what?"
"Um, pursue more, I guess?"
"More you say? Interesting," says Arcat, walking towards a table and pouring two drinks of his favorite juice.
"And at what point do you think you will have enough from the more? If it exists," he asks.
Unable to answer, Neo stands quietly in contemplation.
"Here buddy," Arcat hands over a glass to Neo, "You don't have to answer right now. I am not trying to put you on the spot. You can take your time thinking about them and answering them for yourself. I am just here pointing them out, it's good to peer into the possible future sometimes,"
"Thanks! Well, the first thing I wish I was more is to be smarter like you, I guess," chuckles Neo, making Arcat laugh.
"Thanks for the compliment, but I think there is something you should wish for as much if not more than being smart,"
"And that being?" asks Neo.
"Wisdom. To quote my twin, who taught me this 'Smart and wise are not the same thing', you can be the smartest person there is, having lots of knowledge and a lot of analysis skills and etcetera. But if you choose to use all of said skills and intellect to make people suffer, is that a wise thing to do? Of course, that is just an example. You can see how the idea applies elsewhere as well and figure that out by yourself, either by thinking or other experience," replies Arcat.
Neo responds with nothing but silence, holding the glass.
"Hey, it is something for you to ponder over from time to time, there is no problem in taking your time. Anyway, I have to get going to do some work, don't mess up your outing with Charlotte," says Arcat.
"Wait. About Charlotte, Adora told me about pacing, what pace do you think I should have things progress at?" asks Neo.
"Everyone has their own pace. But my general advice is that it takes some time. And I mean you two have been at it for days now, and that's a long enough time I suppose. Also, you are just going out together while you two recognize that you are interested in that way with one another. To be honest, your pace is fine and normal,"
"Actually, here. I'll teach you some things when it comes to dating and to act under stress, cause if an attack happens, you will need to know how to act," says Arcat.
"Thanks a lot! " says Neo, gratitude shining on his face.
. . .
"Half a day more and still nothing, he is just scouting," says Orbit, crunching on some popcorn.
He frowns down at the popcorn, "I should have asked for more food variety when I made the deal,"
"Oh! Are they going out on a date or something?" he says, looking at Neo's screen to see him all dressed up nicely with Adora next to him.
He watches as Neo knocks on Charlotte's door, and she opens it, also wearing beautiful clothing that both Orbit and Neo admire because of its such unique beauty.
. . .
They all go to the first property they got, through the portal. where Adora had a special theme park built where they can spend the next half day.
"What is all this?" asks Charlotte, surprised.
"When did you even?" she says with a smile on her face. She looks around in excitement, seeing all her favorite rides.
"It was Adora's idea, I just told her all the rides you enjoyed the most. We were preparing for it for a while and the building took little time due to the good preparations," says Neo.
They go on all the rides more than once. Adora feels enough joy just by watching them experience the rides since she can't go on them herself due to her situation.
. . .
"Well, I'll visit you guys in a day, I need to take care of a few things here about the theme park and defend the place," says Adora.
"Behave yourselves and defend the property," she finishes.
Neo and Charlotte go back to the second property through the portal.
. . .
A few days pass and Arcat has not returned.
Neo is doing his routine tour around the property to check if everything is fine, his face glowing with happiness.
"Maybe, this is enough?" he murmurs taking a deep breath in. He takes something out of his pocket and looks at it. It seems to be a compass-like device.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! go the explosions suddenly in all of the second property the moment he says that.
"What the?!" he shouts.
"CHAR─"
Boom!