15 - Council’s Work

Posted on Thu May 16th, 2024 @ 5:50am by Dungeon Master Sue Donym
Edited on on Thu May 16th, 2024 @ 5:56am

974 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Chapter 5 - Travel
Location: New New York
Timeline: 2090

The next morning, Aurelia, Becca, Lucious, and a rather beautiful yet unnamed android escort with long platinum blond hair were standing in front of the vault door under the building Aurelia lived in. The door itself looked like it belonged in an old western - it literally had at least a dozen locking bars as thick as their arms and a giant spinning wheel for turning the tumblers inside. The strange thing though, was that the wheel had no numbers on it.

Lucious nodded to his android assistant who stepped up to the wheel and started turning it. “When I got word that you woke up, I was relieved. I didn’t expect you to be completely healed. I assume that was magic as well?”

“Yeah, it has a couple drawbacks, but nothing to really worry about.” Aurelia shifted between her feet a bit uncomfortably.

For a moment there was silence between them with only the sound of the tumblers turning, clicking open one by one as the platinum haired android kept spinning the dial without hesitation.

The Crimson King turned to her and tried to make his position a bit more clear. “I feared the worst when I heard about the attack. You know...”

Aurelia held up a hand to silence him and moved in closer, pressing her body against his. Since he didn’t move away, but instead responded and wrapped his arms around her, she continued. “I know. You want to watch over me. For one reason or another. And honestly, I’d love nothing more than to let you. You remind me in so many ways of someone I knew and loved in my old world and I want to try and share what I had with him with you, but I also know you’re not the same person and I’m scared of that.” With a heavy sigh, she rested her head against him. “So please, not today. I’m not ready. But maybe someday soon, ok?”

In response, he pulled her tighter to him. “Ok, but I’ll be waiting. Until then, I’ll always be here for you. Anything you ever need, you have but to ask.”

Anything further he was going to promise was interrupted by the final tumbler clicking open and all the locking bars sliding free. “Master, the door is open. You may enter at your leisure. I will remain outside for your safety.”

“Thank you LM,” Lucious said with a smile as he motioned towards the now opening vault door. “Shall we go in?”

As the three entered, they got a good look at the relatively large vault room. It was nearly the same size as one floor of the building they were in and only one room, but filled with wall to wall shelving units. Each one was filled with boxes and boxes of seemingly useless junk and documents. Towards the front was what they were here for - the artifacts and accessories for the council.

Aurelia flexed and stretched for a moment before stepping up to the first of them. “Ok, if I remember right, this one wanted to inspire a certain emotion in onlookers, right? I think I can do that with a modified glamor. I’ll just need to make a six layer one instead of the dual layer one I made for Ember. Do you think wings and halos of golden light would be overkill?”

Lucious scoffed and shook his head. “Oh no, I think that would fit most of the council perfectly. Maybe a variation of that for a base and a secondary effect on each one?”

She grinned as she began weaving. “I have just the spells.”

Several hours later, Aurelia wiped sweat from her forehead and sighed heavily. “Finally done. And you’re the first to see the abilities of each before anyone else.”

“You know, having worked with each of them, I think you got them spot on. I think Councilor Andrea Petrov’s necklace is particularly in tune with her particular idiom. Storm clouds for wings and all that lightning imagery? Inspired.” Lucious handed her a bottle of water, which she took and immediately drained.

“I couldn’t have done nearly so well if you weren’t here,” Aurelia leaned against Lucious without thinking as she wiped her forehead off once more. “I can do all sorts of things, but if I don’t know the person, what am I even making?”

“Then I feel honored to be part of the team,” Lucious spoke softly as he wrapped an arm around her. “We should do this more often.

“If anything like this comes up again, happily.” Aurelia smiled softly as she rested against the Crimson King.

She could have stayed there like that for a while, but Becca cleared her throat, interrupting them. “Lady Luna, your afternoon appointment is in thirteen minutes. Should I reschedule it?”

“Ah, no. I’ll be right up momentarily. Lucious, dear? Will you be able to handle it from here? Is there anything else I need to do?”

As they separated, Lucious caught her hand and leaned down to lightly press his lips to hers. “I will take care of everything. Just leave everything to me. Now go and do your very best.”

Blushing crimson, Aurelia stepped back a bit speechless. With a curtsey, she escaped from the vault and headed back to the lift.

“That was a most unusual reaction,” Becca muttered as she followed after.

“A most fun reaction,” Lucious whispered to himself. He had his own plans and goals and one of them happened to be making a certain redheaded sorceress his. Whether it was from greed, lust, or love made no difference to him. He had found an impossible fruit and his desires had decided that she would be his at any cost.

 

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