Time moves forward...⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛"Welcome to the first day of the Annual Autumn Auction!"Eremes fought the urge to yawn as he watched the event open with crossed arms as he leaned against the wooden walls of the backstage. He'd been awake since six AM for this malaka, helping the crew out on last-minute checks and fixes before day one formally opened. The repairman thought that with such a schedule, the doors would open by seven and they'd be done just before four in the afternoon. So lo and behold when one of the organizers shouted out that they were opening in three hours, he eyed the man incredulously.Were they serious?"Feel free to participate in one of the numerous stalls and stages to experience for yourself what Mollucan culture has to offer!"Yes. They were serious.Guests and participants streamed through the two double doors as the hall opened itself for the exceptionally busy day. Eremes eyed some foreigners flitting through the show floor as the rambunctious sounds of agg
"So, Mr. Patillo.." The vice-mayor of the city was anchoring herself to his arm.. "I've heard that you were the one in charge of refurbishing this very facility?" Was he sure he's not actually cursed or something?The head of maintenance struggled to keep his cool as they walked around the A3 floor, metaphorically sweating bullets at the absurdity of his situation. All the while, Miss Mendel clung onto him like an oyster on a rock as he tried to avoid the unapproving glares coming from what seemed to be everyone they ever come across. "Uhh.. Yes, I was." Eremes answered halfheartedly as his eyes wandered from the floor all the way to the wall, desperately trying to avoid eye contact with the people around them. "I uhh, did my best.""You did a marvelous job." The seemingly unashamed woman chuckled behind her fan as they passed another auction. "Do be more confident, Mr. Patillo." "Oh- Erm..." The unfocused repairman felt his throat seize up as he spotted a few men in black suits star
The crowd exploded."Raise two-fifty mil!""NUMBER 25 RAISED TO ONE TWO FIFTY! DO I HEAR ONE POINT FIVE? ONE POINT FIVE?"Across the room, the repairman saw a tall man raise his numbered sign, responding to the announcer's call. Was he not gonna say anything? Or-"33 RAISED TO ONE POINT FIVE!-"Eremes could barely think before the announcer chanted out the added value for the auction. What just-"Two bil!""TWO BIL FROM THE-""Two point five here!""TWO POINT FIVE-""Two seventy-five!""TWO SEVENTY-FIVE! FROM THE DASHING GENT AT THE FRONT!"The head of maintenance could barely contain his whiplash as he tried desperately to follow the volley of bids flying out of the people around him. What was even happening?! The last he heard was-"Two eighty!""Two point nine!""TWO POINT NINE! TWO POINT NINE! DO I HERE A THREE!-"Huh? Wasn't the price just at two seventy-five a moment ago? How fast can the price go up? At this rate they might not even be able to bid! Though Miss Mendel did plan on
Nobody can stop the flow of time, even if the world may revolve around their whims. No matter how hard they may try, time moves forward...⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛It's been two days, two days since her door to the outside world had been locked. During that time, Athena laid relatively motionless, only getting up to eat the occasional instant ramen when the hunger was too much to bear. How unhealthy.And did she care? Nope.What would Mother think when she sees you?The novelist tossed and turned between her sheets. No doubt Mother would think disapprovingly, just like she always did.What about dad?Her father was a spineless coward; turning a blind eye whenever Mother 'disciplined' her every other night. He's essentially Mother's bitch. No. He's no father to her.How cold.What else was there to think? It's not like he ever defended her at any point in her life. He's still your father.Alexander's the mayor, first and foremost, a lackey second, and a husband third. Nowhere was he near being a fat
"I'm quite surprised, you clean up nicely, Mr. Patillo." "I'm surprised myself, Miss Mendel." Eremes hooked the tight of his collar as his contractee companion for the night admired his current appearance. "And thank you for the suit.""It's the least I could do for someone that's caught my eye~." A teasing tone escaped from the older woman's lips, a tone that sent foreboding shivers through the unwilling companion's spine. "It wouldn't do for a companion of mine to not be at their best."*Ding*The elevator chimed as it opened its doors to an unlikely pairing of humble repairman and honorable vice-mayor."Shall we?"Nodding to her pseudo command, the red-suited Eremes let his equally red hanfu clad benefactor onto the waiting elevator first, the older lady's gait as regal and commanding as it could be before boarding the elevator himself. The steel metal doors closed as their vertical carriage awaited input."Whe-""Rooftop, please." Lady Mendel chirped, but from his perspective, it
"I shall now begin the first trade.""Ugghhh..."The novelist woke up to the amplified sounds of a monotone announcement, groaning at the dull pain of a rising headache. Emerald eyes slowly blinked open, showing its owner a starless night sky. Where was she? How did she get here?Took your sweet time girly."Coming from my own sources, a complete detailed report on the 2015 projected 4th Quarter earnings of the Honn Maritime Company."Droning out the loud sounds behind her, the discombobulated author tried to get into a seated position, at least to get her bearings before assessing the situation she found herself in. Shaking off the last bits of sleep-induced grogginess, she willed her hands and-"Khhh!" A brief flash of pain shot up from her wrists and ankles. Huh? That was odd. "Ten billion from Alexandria. Do I hear-."Do try to remember girly~A voice echoed in her mind to try and remember. But what? And why couldn't she move her arms and feet? A dull throb beat rhythmically in h
"I bid a lifetime of servitude!" Eremes bravely announced as he intrepidly stood up from his seat. His back already in a cold sweat as he felt the cold stares from around the offended crowd, not to mention the murderous intent coming directly from his chaperone. Boy did he really shit the bed now. But seeing her in such a sad state.."Athena!"If it wasn't for her tilting her head upward, he might not have recognized her behind her hair. What was she doing on stage? With a different name no less? "I don't know what's going on-" Did Athena lie to him? Why hide her identity? Was this what she meant about not going back? Why then? Why lie?"But I'll get you out of there!"Steeling his resolve, the intrepid repairman shouted out his bold declaration. Explanations can come later. Right now, he needed to find a way to get to her. She clearly needed help, like during the time he first saw the novelist that fateful night. What was this feeling, a sense of protectiveness? Maybe it's because
"Athena?"Peeking behind her disheveled hair, the hunched-up daughter struggled to hide her surprise as a familiar voice called out to her old name. Hopeless eyes feasted as the comforting familiarity of the repairman's visage eased the threatening abyss inside her. Eremes? What was he still doing here?Don't get your hopes up."Take us to the ground floor, Mr. Patillo." Mother stated still in front of her, anger audibly bubbling beneath the faux politeness. "I do expect that you won't fail even that.""Yes ma'am."The elevator lurched, before slowly beginning its descent back down towards the cold unforgiving ground. Aletheia merely kept to herself, hoping that if she made herself small enough, Mother wouldn't notice her presence. Useless."H-Hey-""Don't you dare talk to me, Mr. Patillo." The frightened child recoiled at her mother's tone, learned instincts taking over rationality as the older woman berated his once companion. "You had but a single order, and yet you chose to disob