Alto stares at the microscope image projection in awe, admiring the structure of her own piece of hair she just pulled. She's spent the past several minutes furiously observing anything and everything under the scope that she can, several glass slides with her skin, blood, and even urine already set to the side. It's as if a whole new world has opened up to her, one she thought she might be hidden from her forever.
Of course, her enjoyment is somewhat attenuated by a second, silent presence in her new lab. She glances out of the corner of her eye, seeing a beautiful brunette-haired woman watching her with a smirk, green eyes dancing with amusement.
Alto purses her lips, then goes back to dutifully ignoring Nina. The mischievous dragon's chuckle sounds in the room, causing her jaw to tighten.
"Fufufu...you can't ignore me or your situation forever, little Alto." (Nina)
Alto casts her an annoyed glance.
"So, you have reverted to threatening me?" (Alto)
Nina pushes off from the table she's leaning against, walking towards her with a dismissive wave.
"No, no...a dragon keeps her word. You train me in this science of Mizuki's, and I will not divulge your recent, deceitful behavior to Mizuki...for now." (Nina)
Alto winces...there's that caveat again, 'for now', like an axe hanging silently over her head. Days ago, she found Nina waiting for her in her bedroom. The dragon had apparently sensed repeated evasiveness in her interactions with Mizuki over the days prior, and come to confront her about it. Ultimately, she ended up admitting to the persistent, lie-detecting dragon about her connection to the Silver Medallion Trading Company, her runaway history with her parents, and how she originally suspected them of being the Author. Then, she had to bargain with the indignant Nina to convince her to not tell Mizuki immediately.
Now, remembering the frustration of Nina sticking her nose in something she has minimal firsthand knowledge of, she's tempted to quip at Nina. To tell her that simply not telling Mizuki something he didn't ask about is not deceit. But she already knows Nina's dragon senses will flag that as deceit, too. Because on some level, even she doesn't like that there are secrets between her and Mizuki.
Seeing her silence, Nina smiles, continuing.
"Before, I could understand, but why do you continue to delay this conversation with him? Will he not be meeting your parents tomorrow? Do you really think he won't find out anyway at that point? Are you not concerned about how he'll feel if he doesn't hear your history from you, but them instead?" (Nina)
Alto feels her pulse quicken at the reminder...one she doesn't need. She's asked herself these exact same questions, over and over in previous days. She's answered them, again and again, without fail or deviation. And yet, despite every rational part of her recognizing that there's little reason to not tell Mizuki at this point, despite knowing deep down that him finding out about her past and her parents is unlikely to detriment their friendship, she can't quite bring herself to have such a conversation with him.
The worst part is that she isn't even sure herself why she has such an aversion to doing so. Is she afraid that her parents will somehow repeat their history of destroying her friendships? Does she feel shame over what she went through and how she's simply run from it for nearly a century, and worry that Mizuki will treat her like even more of a fragile vase than he already does? Is it just some childish, stubborn refusal to make a big deal out of her past and treat it like a confession, because then that would feel like acknowledging that her parents have influence over her even now? Perhaps it's all of these factors to some degree.
Even in this moment, even with the meeting in question less than a day away, even knowing that every rational evaluation says she should just warn him...she's still not sure what she's going to do.
She lets out a rare, heavy sigh, responding to Nina with a deflated tone.
"The answers to those questions don't really matter now, do they, Nina? One way or another, I will have no secrets from him tomorrow. Your source of dissatisfaction will be resolved." (Alto)
Nina's steps slow, her demeanor exuding a rare air of thoughtfulness.
"Hmm...I suppose that you are right. That is, of course, unless there's something else you aren't saying to him..." (Nina)
For the first time, her hands halt their work with the microscope. She turns to Nina, brow furrowed slightly.
"Meaning...?" (Alto)
Nina shrugs, resuming her lazy pacing around the lab, eyes wandering like the conversation is an afterthought.
"I just can't help but notice that you've been a bit less...settled, lately. Perhaps especially so, when Mizuki is close..." (Nina)
Alto feels a familiar discomfort return in her stomach, an inexplicable mix of annoyance, anxiety, and something else she can't identify. A sensation that she's been experiencing more and more in recent days, ever since she had that lucid dream where she spoke to Mizuki/herself. The way it ended...
She forces the thoughts from her head, resuming her work on the scope like it's a lifeline.
"I have had a lot on my mind lately." (Alto)
Nina doesn't lose her casual demeanor, but her eyes flick towards Alto surreptitiously, seeming to linger briefly. She hums thoughtfully.
"Hmm...if there was anything you wanted to discuss in confidence, I'm available. I didn't approve of you keeping Mizuki in the dark about your past if it's affecting his present, but that does not mean that I am not on your side otherwise. You are part of Mizuki's family, after all." (Nina)
Alto's eyes glint in amusement, a touch of sarcasm evident in her tone.
"Of course, you'd be my first choice in confidants." (Alto)
Nina smirks, her voice adopting a teasing edge.
"Oh, do you think it'd be a more comfortable discussion with Mizuki? Fufufu...or perhaps Ilina would lend the most helpful, sympathetic ear?" (Nina)
Alto remains silent, her jaw tightening slightly. Some may accuse her of being occasionally dense about social cues, but even she can't remain ignorant about Nina's implication at this point. Regardless, unlike in the past, she has no intention of entertaining this conversation. Not tonight, not with Nina, and maybe not ever.
"I have nothing I want to discuss." (Alto)
Nina eyes her with a thoughtful look for a moment more before shrugging nonchalantly.
"Suit yourself..." (Nina)
She immediately walks to stand behind Alto, peering over her shoulder. Her eyes narrow in concentration.
"So, tell me about these atoms again. Can we see them with this me crow soap?" (Nina)
Alto closes her eyes for a minute, sighing deeply.
'This is going to be a long afternoon...'
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
After wrapping up the wedding planning meeting, I teleport myself, Alara, and Alyse back to the mansion, leaving Ilina behind for now since her work day is apparently not finished. Alara expresses an awkward thanks again before her and Alyse part ways with me, and I make my way to the new lab.
When I walk through the door, I'm confronted with a sight that makes me freeze, stunned silent. The lab has already become a frenzied mess, glassware with various liquids strewn about. Near the microscopes, Alto stands with a maniacal grin and disheveled appearance, numerous glass slides of questionable identity scattered on the table nearby.
I shake my head at the sight, letting out a deep sigh. There's nothing worse than an untidy lab mate.
"Alto, do you remember when we discussed the importance of a clean, orderly lab environment?" (Mizuki)
She blinks, looking away from the scope as if she's just realized I'm here.
"Yes?" (Alto)
Noting her confused demeanor, I gesture generally at the state of the lab, and she seems to study it closely for the first time. To my surprise, though, she doesn't react with shame or embarrassment. She just looks back at me, still confused, and shrugs.
"I'm going to get to it. The acid is in the fume hood, and nothing else out is dangerous." (Alto)
My eye twitches. If I had a nickel...
Nevertheless, I begin walking around the lab, cleaning up the various messes she's left. Instead of using the sink and its enchantments to discard the liquid waste and clean the glassware, I just alchemize everything in and on the glassware into diatomic nitrogen and place the clean items back into storage. After a few minutes, I finish, and return to the area of the labs housing our microscopes, right behind the still distracted Alto.
I glance at the area around her, scattered with glass slides, and notice several more-than-suspect biohazards.
"Those, I expect you to clean those yourself...with acetone." (Mizuki)
Alto blinks, looking away from the projected image again to meet my gaze. She takes in the now clean lab, then glances towards her collection of slides, then looks back to me, a slight redness infiltrating her otherwise stoic face.
"I...uhm, these are not what you think they are..." (Alto)
I just raise my eyebrows at her, letting the silence speak for me. She clears her throat nervously, averting her gaze.
"Ehem...why are you here? Do you need something from me?" (Alto)
Fighting the twitch in my lips, I nod.
"Just wanted to remind you that this meeting of Alara's with the Silver Medallion Trading Company is tomorrow morning. As the one transporting everyone to Avalon for the Royal Announcement, I know you don't have any official plans during that time. You sure you don't care to join me?" (Mizuki)
Her expression shows a rare flicker of strong emotion – apprehension, uncertainty, and a trace of something that seems almost...defiant. She remains silent for a moment, then turns away from me, her voice sounding softly across the room.
"On second thought, I will join you after all." (Alto)
I give her a puzzled look, confused by both the sudden change in her wishes, as well as the odd seriousness of her attitude over a relatively meaningless business meeting. But, who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?
I smile, genuinely pleased to not be the only one dragged to a boring meeting and paraded around like a token curiosity for rich assholes.
"Well...great! I'll leave you to your...err, research, then. Just keep it sanitary, please..." (Mizuki)
Perhaps on another night, I'd be a bit more inclined to press her for an answer about the seemingly strange behavior. But now that the Author has made another move, raising my sense of their danger level, I'm sure my necessary actions in protecting everyone have made them feel restricted enough. Alto especially. So, I've been making more of an effort not to micromanage everyone around me recently, when it can be helped. To not sweat the small stuff.
Plus, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't distracted right now. Tomorrow, I'll be outed as a Nephilim to the whole kingdom, taking my first step into a larger role within elven society. After tonight, my privacy and freedom will only decrease, while my responsibilities increase, until I'm officially engaged to Ilina and fully assimilated as their Prince. I'd like to enjoy what's left of my relatively unencumbered life before then.
However, I'm no more than a few steps away from Alto when I hear her voice again, softer but no less resolved than before.
"Mizuki..." (Alto)
I turn, noting her determined eyes boring into mine.
"Yeah?" (Mizuki)
She studies me in silence for a moment, her expression conflicted.
"I...wanted to talk to you...about, something." (Alto)
My eyebrows raise inquisitively, and I turn to face her fully, giving this my full attention. I may be trying a more hands-off approach lately, but that doesn't mean I'll ignore something so direct.
"Talk to me about what?" (Mizuki)
Her brow furrows, as though she's struggling to find the right words to express something to me. Eventually, she purses her lips, and a light of realization flashes in her eyes. When her gaze focuses on me again, her earlier hesitation has evaporated.
"I want you to know that I...I am, happy. Now, as I am. As a part of this...family. As Alto, the person you do research with. As your...companion. I don't want to do anything else...be anyone else. What happened in the past, whatever happens in the future, I...need you to know that." (Alto)
Despite the warm feeling radiating through my chest at those heartfelt, uncharacteristically emotional words, I also feel like there's a kind of knowing fear within them. A weight to her mentions of the past and future that seems darkly prophetic.
My eyes narrow, full of concern.
"I'm glad to hear that, really, but...is something wrong? That's not the kind of thing you say on a whim..." (Mizuki)
Her demeanor grows contemplative again for a moment, then she nods hesitantly.
"There is...something, but it's a problem for me to resolve, not you. I just...wanted to tell you where I stood. So you don't misunderstand, or let anything...separate us." (Alto)
Rather than reassure me, her words only heighten my sense of alarm. She openly admitted something is wrong, and while she says it doesn't warrant my involvement, her behavior is far from confident. Plus, this talk of us being separated...how could I be calm right now?
All my levity and restraint evaporates, and I close the distance between us, leaning over slightly so we're eye to eye. My voice drops to a low, severe hum.
"Then, let me be clear where I stand, so you don't misunderstand. If anything happens to you, or someone other than you tries to separate us...there will be bodies. Tens, thousands, a whole city...I'll do whatever I think is needed if it comes to that. So, let me ask you again, right now...are you sure you don't have something you need my help with?" (Mizuki)
She blinks, clearly taken aback by the severity of my tone. Then, contrary to my expectations, she smiles. Genuine, unrestrained, and full of something distinctly warm, accompanied by a subtle straightening in her posture and a confidence in her gaze. She nods.
"Yes, I'll be just fine. This is something I want to do for myself, and I've put it off for far too long. Besides...you've already helped me, even if you didn't mean to." (Alto)
Confusion flickers across my face, but before I can ask her anything, she leans in and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. Her soft whisper hits my ear.
"Thank you." (Alto)
Her grip around my neck loosens slightly, but she hesitates before fully releasing the hug, as if she's contemplating something. Then, I feel a soft, warm pressure against my cheek.
As soon as I register what it is, Alto's already broken the hug, walking away with steady – if slightly hurried – steps.
"Goodnight, Mizuki." (Alto)
I turn, staring at her with a bewildered expression as she walks out the lab door, the faint moisture of her kiss still lingering on my cheek.