Enter Dr. Lebenstochter… S.E.O. Office of Lothrin-Tower in the Olympios District of New Alexandria on Earth #8193, in the year 1982 A.D. [warm and inviting tone]...
Anya sits in her office, lost in thought as she goes over the Full-DNA Report she requested Tenjin make for her concerning the unknown 4th individual from the youth center last night.
Anya Lothrin:
curiouser and curiouser… What are you?
The Narrator:
A sudden knock on his door snaps her back to the present.
Anya Lothrin:
Doors open.
The Narrator:
The door to Anya's office opens, revealing her personal paidiské; Sophia Argyris.
Sophia Argyris:
Sir? Your 3 o'clock is here, sir… one Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter.
Anya Lothrin:
Yes, thank you, Sophia, and please drop the sir crap… You can call me Anya. I think I'll be going home early after this interview, so you can take the evening off. Go party with your girlfriends or something… whatever kids do these days for fun.
Oh, and I heard about what happened last night, and I'm truly sorry. If Jacobs in accounting ever tries anything like that again, please let me know, and I'll deal with it immediately. I want you to feel safe here. You deserve to feel safe here. In this place, you're not a second-class citizen, no matter what some chip in your hand says. You can also expect a 25% bonus on your next paycheck to make up for Jacob's actions.
Sophia Argyris:
Oh my gods, thank you so much, sir… I mean, Anya. Thank you, Anya. [truly grateful and relieved tone]
The Narrator:
With that said, Sophia gestures for Anya's three o'clock to enter. Emilia enters the room in awe at the sheer beauty of the space. Sophia nods goodbye to Anya before stepping out of the room and shutting the door, leaving Anya and Emilia alone.
Anya Lothrin:
You must be Dr. Lebenstochter… It's truly wonderful to finally meet you.
The Narrator:
Starts Anya warmly as she shakes hands with the good doctor.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
Um.. yeah. Yeah, that's me… It's umm. It's such a true pleasure to meet you, sir.
Anya Lothrin:
Please, I assure you the pleasure is all mine. Please have a seat. May I offer you some tea?
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
Oh, okay and no thank you to the tea.
The Narrator:
Emilia sits opposite Anya, blushing slightly at the unexpectedly warm welcome.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
Umm. Not to seem ungrateful, Sir, but I'm more than a little shocked you would want to offer me a job. Especially right now.
Anya Lothrin:
Look, I'll cut to the chase. I read your thesis on Multi-Dimensional Breaching as well as your two other papers on Theoretical Multiversal Matter Transmission and Energy Transference, and I must say I am more than impressed.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
Yes, thank you, I am truly pleased to hear that, but…
Anya Lothrin:
However, I'm fully aware that you were brought up on disciplinary charges and given a last-minute expulsion for engaging in a sapphic-sexual relationship with a Narrows Born student by the name of Gwendolyn L. Valentine. I know you've been stripped of both your Alexandrian Citizenship and all your financial assets as a result.
I also know you've been forced to move into the Narrows with Dr. Valentine and that your parents have stricken your name from the family registry. I know all the job offers you had coming in have withered away as a result of you choosing your love and life with Dr. Valentine above all other things.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
What? How do you know so much about me and Gwen?
Anya Lothrin:
See, I guess, what I'm wondering is… Why would a truly gifted prodigy with a bright future ahead of her and all the benefits of a wealthy family like you choose to throw it all away for some disgusting sub-human Narrows Born bitch like Gwen?...
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
Wait… What are you sa…
Narrator:
Terror begins to writhe in Emilia's heart. She is confused and shocked by the sudden, malicious tone of Anya's voice and the bigoted, hateful nature of his words.
Anya Lothrin:
What I'm saying is I want an answer… I mean, seriously, was her pussy so good it was worth becoming a disgraceful class traitor? Was it worth being disowned and stripped of all basic human dignity?
Narrator:
The terror writhing in Emilia's heart grows, and her mind races to process what is happening. Anya removes a loaded and ready gun from her desk and aims it at Emilia's head menacingly.
Anya Lothrin:
Answer me, you fucking degenerate waste… was your little whore's bitch-hole worth signing your death warrant? [deeply hateful, bigoted tone]
Narrator:
Emilia's fear suddenly turns to boiling rage at the disgusting, dehumanising way that Anya is talking about Gwen. Her blood simmers with fury at the besmirching of her beloved's honor, but she refuses to let herself lash out.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
GWEN IS WORTH EVERYTHING TO ME! SHE'S MY EVERYTHING, AND THERE IS NOTHING THIS WORLD OR THAT GUN CAN DO TO MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND!
Anya Lothrin:
That's just what I wanted to hear… Welcome aboard.
Narrator:
Anya offers a satisfied smirk as she slides the gun back into her desk and sits down.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
What… what the fuck…
Anya Lothrin:
I'm saying you're hired.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
Seriously, just like that. Oh my gods, I'm so grateful. Thank you. I'm so honored.
Anya Lothrin:
No… no… please, the honor is mine. Sorry about the aggressive and hateful nature of that little test, but I assure you it was necessary and you passed with flying colors. Please understand that by hiring you I'm not just putting my self at risk but I'm also putting you and and Gwen in very real danger and while I will ofcourse do my best to shield you both from that danger while you're under my employ my ability to protect you both would be greatly damaged if you were ever to lash out at a True-Born co-worker, department-superior or even just some True-Born nobody on the street.
It is true I do my best to fight bigotry and hate towards Narrows-Borns within the ranks of Lothrin-Industries, but I cannot guarantee you will never face some asshole who may choose to harass you as I just did. So I needed to know that you could keep your cool and not become violent in such a situation. Standing up for Gwen like you did just now is fine, but if you ever did more than that and things became physical between you and a True-Born, there would be little I could do to protect you and Gwen. Do you understand?
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
Yes… of course… I understand. I know that hiring me is risky, and I promise I won't let me or Gwen do anything to hinder your ability to keep us safe.
Anya Lothrin:
Glad to hear it. Now… I can't get you and Gwen out of the Narrows; however, I've already arranged for you and Gwen to be moved into a more secure Lothrin-Owned and Protected special tenement building on the southwest edge of the Narrows. I have also gifted you and Gwen a fully-armored A.C.E. with a full-security load-out. The A.C.E. is already waiting for you at the new apartment. The movers will be arriving at your current residence tomorrow around 6:00…
Now, since since your family stripped your name from their registry and you've been legally designated as a Narrows-Borns, various Honor-Killing focused bounty hunting firms will be after you and killing or trafficking Gwen will just be bonus for them. Therefore, I've drawn up Voluntary Ownership Agreements for you and Gwen to sign. As much as I hate the idea of owning other human beings, it is currently the only real way I can keep the Honor-Killing Bounty Hunters off your back.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
I understand, and I will convince Gwen to sign it as well. You're right, it's the only to keep them from coming after us. [shaky and emotional / about to cry tone]
Narrator:
Emilia hides her face in her hands as tears stream from her eyes.
Dr. Emilia Lebenstochter:
I'm so sorry, I'm crying like this… I'm just… so grateful. Everyone has been so awful to me and Gwen since this all started… We've lost so much… everything we spent our lives working for… just so we can be together. We take comfort in each other. But… It's all still so hard. [tearful, shaky tone]
Narrator:
Anya walks around her desk and pulls Emilia into a soothing, supportive embrace. She places a soft kiss on her head and just holds her as she cries into her chest.
Anya Lothrin:
Shh… Shh… It's okay. You both worked so hard and endured so much, but you're not alone anymore, and so long as I have Ownership over you both, I will do my best to protect and help you and Gwen as much as I can.