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Post By Anime Jason Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 11:26:51 am EDT |
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Untold Tales #222.1 - Epilogue Five: The Invitation | |
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Adventures In Parodyverse - The Invitation (UT #222 Extension) "So you guys just vote in secret and don't tell anyone?" Yuki Shiro provoked as she entered Sir Mumphrey Wilton's office, following him closely. She slammed the door to punctuate her question. "I know I interviewed for the job but...after I didn't hear from you I just forgot about it and went back to business as usual." Mumph smirked as he glided over to his desk and sat down in the plush chair, leaned back. He straightened his jacket before he spoke. "It was my decision alone," he said plainly. "Oh?" Yuki raised an eyebrow. She sat across from him at the desk and crossed her legs. "I assume that means the other members...who seemed to be involved in the selection process...they won't be happy." "Let me worry about that, what?" Mumphrey exclaimed. He sat up. "I've been watching you, Miss Yuki," he said. "You had quite an adventure over the last few days. You escaped the Machine Shop, accosted the mayor of GMY in her private helicopter, and broke into the Safe." "So?" Yuki replied. "It's nothing any one of your LL members could have done. Including Visionary." "Spot on." Sir Mumphrey leaned back again and smiled. "And that was at the root of my decision. You've displayed courage under fire--" "All I did was stay alive," Yuki laughed. "And that's more than many outside the LL would have done," Mumph corrected. "Hmm." Yuki stood quickly, and paced the office once before coming to a rest next to the window, looking outside. Her purple hair filtered the pale light of sunset coming into the office. "I dunno, maybe you're right." "Of course I am, m'dear," he echoed. "I mean--" Yuki turned to face him. "It was hard work staying alive. I wasn't really worried about myself but--" She sighed and leaned against the windowsill. "--If I were them, I kept thinking, and I couldn't catch someone like me...I would go after someone they care about to get them to surrender willingly. I was a little afraid they would find Al B Harper and capture him. And then it would be up to me to rescue him, even at the expense of my own life." "If you accept my invitation," Sir Mumphrey reminded her, "It will be up to us to protect him for you. Safety in numbers, y'know." He watched her for a moment before asking, "Worried about your business, are you?" "No," Yuki sighed. "Not anymore. After this whole thing with the bounty I've drawn too much attention to myself. About half my clients don't want to be the center of attention so--" She shrugged. "I guess I'm out of a job. Or I have to start over again." "Shall we call this an opportunity then?" Mumph suggested. He narrowed his eyes and added, "I must warn you though...this is the type that comes around but once." Yuki bit her lip and looked sideways out the window again. "I...don't really want to be tied down to some cookie cutter role, or to do nothing until given orders." she told him. "I have my own way of doing things. I'm very good at it." "Dictatin' terms, what?" Sir Mumphrey asked. "I don't mean disrepect," Yuki clarified. "I just...don't want to feel like I'm signing my soul over to the devil, you know?" "I suppose I could offer you an auxiliary membership," he offered. "Meaning you'd only be contacted if we need your special skills. We could maintain your anonymity." Yuki laughed. "Well that's quite useless now, don't you think? I'll be in all the papers by tomorrow morning. 'Detective Takes On Mayor', and 'Detective Breaks Into The Safe'." She shrugged. "I used to like anonymity...but if I want to remain anonymous I either need a new home or a new career." "Is that a 'yes' I hear?" Sir Mumphrey asked. The purple haired cyborg took a deep breath and looked at Sir Mumphrey as she removed her damaged jacket. "I'll tell you what," she said. "You buy me a new jacket, give me as much freedom as Al B has, and you have a deal." She held up the jacket and added, "Unfortunately for you this jacket is leather and suede." "Easily done." Sir Mumphrey rose and extended his hand. There was a slight moment of hesitation from Yuki, but she took his hand and shook it slowly. "I'm not going to regret this, am I?" Yuki asked. "Not likely," Sir Mumphrey told her. "In that, I have the same confidence I have in you." "One more thing," Yuki added. "If we're going to work together...don't speak to me diplomatically. If you don't know, just say so." "Very good." Mumph laughed. "Right then, I don't know if you'll regret it. But I certainly hope you won't." "Excellent." She smiled. "We'll get along just fine." She handed her jacket to Mumph and turned to leave the office. "Would you like a room in the mansion?" he asked. "I hear your flat has been thoroughly destroyed." "No, Al B took care of that for me already." Yuki nodded. "I guess I'll see you around." With that, she quietly left the office. Sir Mumphrey looked down at the jacket in his hands. "First day and she's got me shoppin' for her." --- "Hey Vizh," Lara Night greeted him as she entered his quarters at the Lair Mansion. She leaned her weight against a table just inside and folded her arms. "So what's up? Liu Xi told me you had some news for me." She squinted and added, "And why are you standing at the other end of the room?" "I...want to make sure you won't hurt me when I tell you," he began slowly, "Yuki Shiro has been given first pick...you know, for the LL position." "Oh." Lara replied quietly. Visionary approached slowly. "You're not angry?" She smiled. "No, not really. I guess she was more qualified. I have the power but not the experience. You should have seen how panicked and disorganized I was in a battle." "So am I," Visionary told her, "And I'm one of the core members." Lara laughed at that. "Possibly, but everyone here likes you. Me, they hardly know." "Everyone who meets you likes you, Lara," Visionary encouraged. "You just that kind of person. Maybe someday you'll get a chance at the LL too...I really hope you do. Your abilities would give us a little extra edge and...you treat me well, and I kinda...need more people who do that." "You really like having me around?" Visionary nodded slowly. "Hmm." Lara waited until he was close enough and hugged him with one arm. "I'll be around, you know," she said, "Even if I'm not an official member." "Really?" he asked. "I thought you were just hanging around to wait for the results of your interview." "Nah, I was having fun." She smiled. "To tell you the truth, I didn't really take the interview all that seriously. Sure, it'd be nice to be part of something like the LL, but...I knew before I came in that I wasn't the favorite. No sense getting my hopes up for such a long shot." "Wow, you're even sunny and good natured about rejection," Visionary gushed. "I wish I could do that." "It takes practice." She laughed. "So...I guess I'll see you around?" "I'll be waiting," Visionary said with a smile as he watched her leave. -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, and may not be -- reprinted without permission. -- Lara Night (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, all rights reserved -- All other characters property of their respective owners |
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