Adventures in Parodyverse:  Falling On Hard Times, Part 3


    Dear Diary, Anna wrote in a tiny booklet she brought with her.  I’m happy, but I’m also scared.  I feel grateful, but also like I lost some friends.  I only hope the future brings them back together.  They’re the only family I have.

    She closed the book and put it away.  In her nice, carpeted room at Visionary’s lighthouse, the only light was from a metal desk lamp she brought with her.  Her room had only a bed, a small desk, a chest, an end table, and lots of empty space she hadn’t had a chance to fill yet.

    Downstairs, she could hear footsteps.  The lighthouse narrowed as it went up, so Visionary’s master bedroom and another room sometimes occupied by Kerry Shepherdson were directly downstairs, and below that, Magweed and Griffin, and another empty guest room.  Those footsteps were Magweed and Griffin wandering the lighthouse.

    There was something reassuring about the noises in the darkness of the place.  The same sounds were present in the Lair Mansion, except with less tripping and falling noises courtesy of Visionary.  She remembered that Hallie warned her if Kerry came to stay, there would also be yelling and door slamming, and probably a fire.

    All of it reminded Anna of her inability to find a place in the world.  She lived as an accessory to someone, both at the Lair Mansion and at Visionary’s home.  She loved helping Visionary and especially his kids, but she also wanted to be someone of her own.

    As Anna drifted off to sleep, she made a note to herself to ask Hallie for advice.  After all, the former body-less A.I. had even more disadvantage than she did, and still made a place for herself in the world - it seemed like a good place to start.  Hallie was, after all, her personal hero.


---


    Jay Boaz couldn’t sleep, he had a big decision to make by morning.  It wasn’t that he worried about disappointing Chiaki, she always had a backup plan.  But she was right, the neighborhood, and the building, needed him.  He felt bad at the prospect of letting everyone down at once.  He also didn’t like that he felt he fell into a trap, like the decision was already made for him.  If he said yes, there would be no turning back.

    He paced the hallway of the apartment, thinking.  He paused to stare at Lara’s closed door, and got lost in another train of thought.  He was starting to feel so comfortable around her, and he wasn’t sure why until that moment - it was because she didn’t want anything from him.  She had no agenda for him, she hadn’t tried to seduce him, manipulate him, or make him fall in love.  She gave companionship and friendship, without expecting anything in return.

    Was she making up for something?  The incident with Dream?  Maybe something in her past before she came to Paradopolis?

    The door opened suddenly, and Jay stumbled back a bit.  He saw blonde hair, a curvy female body, and bare feet step into the gap, and Lara leaned against the edge of the door.  She was wearing dark blue pajamas with Disney characters on them.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I heard footsteps and saw your shadow go past under the door.”  she explained.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh.  I didn’t know you were a light sleeper, I’m sorry.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Nah, I didn’t get to sleep yet, I was reading.”  she said with a smile.  “So what’s with the pacing?  Can’t sleep?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Thinking a lot about tomorrow.”  he said.  “And feeling a little guilty.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“About what?”  she asked.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Letting down Chiaki and Mac Fleetwood, and the neighborhood.  At the same time, feeling a bit like I wasn’t really given a choice.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“There’s always a choice, Jay.”  Lara whispered.  “Like I know you were a little nervous about me staying here tonight, but you didn’t say no.  I wouldn’t have even been that disappointed if you did say no, but I’m grateful and happy you didn’t.”

    Jay smiled a little, though he was tired.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I can help you fall asleep.”  Lara offered.  “All I need are my fingers and a heating pad.  I give a pretty good back and shoulder massage.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No thanks, I’m kind of drifting off already.”  he said, shaking his head.  “Nice pajamas, by the way.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“They’re comfy, I like them.”  Lara looked down, and laughed a little.  “I do love you, you know.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Huh?”  Jay asked, confused at the sudden change in subject.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Just not the way you worry about,”  she continued with a laugh, as she watched the momentary worry in his eyes.  “Like a close friendship.  You’re one of the closest friends I have, and I really want you to be happy.  I hope you feel the same about me.”

    He finally smiled as the confusion and worry drained away.  “I kind of do, I guess.”  he said.  “I’m still a little nervous around you though because of, well...it’s hard to explain--”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No need, I understand.”  Lara said, making him feel relieved at not having to explain it.  “I have similar distracting thoughts, you know.  I just have a lot more practice not showing them.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Because of your ex back home?”  Jay guessed.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah.”  Lara confirmed sadly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“For what it’s worth,”  Jay told her, “I think he was crazy to break up with you because you didn’t marry him right away.”

    Lara laughed and smiled, and looked a little embarrassed.  She said quietly, “If you really mean that, you’re going to make a girl really happy someday.  That really means a lot to me.”

    Jay shrugged, and turned to go back to his room.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No, really, it does.”  Lara added.  “Because since he broke up with me...I wondered for so long what I did wrong, and whether I could make someone happy or if my own goals get in the way.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“For me that’s not it.”  Jay told her.  “You’re not my type because...it’s something abstract, I guess.  I want someone who excites me, makes me feel like I can’t breathe or speak when I meet her.  Like Zdenka did.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hah, we’re two friends with broken hearts.”  Lara laughed.  “That’s cool with me.  I already knew from our first meeting that we didn’t have that kind of ‘wow’ chemistry together.  I was scared as hell meeting you, but it was more because I was worried about impressing you then.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“No need to worry about that anymore.”  He winked and smiled.  “Good night, Lara.  I got a lot out of this little talk.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Me too,”  she said.  “Good night.”


---


    Chiaki was incredibly patient, especially where friends were concerned.  She had no intention of rushing Jay Boaz’ decision on whether or not to keep the apartment building she offered him.

    Jay was quite the opposite - he expected punctuality instead.  He was a little confused when he woke up at his usual time, and receive no phone call from Chiaki.  He wondered if she forgot, but he knew she never would.

    He expected that the knock at his apartment door would be the Asian Samurai, but instead it was an Asian of a different kind.  A smiling Liu Xi Xian was there when he opened the door.  A large paper bag hung from one arm.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hi.”  she said.  “Chiaki told me you might be here.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hi Liu Xi.”  Lara Night greeted her.  The blonde had just come from the shower, and her hair was still damp.  “How are you and Vinnie doing?”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Great,”  the Chinese girl replied.  “Vinnie had to go to the bookstore, and I didn’t have classes, so I came here.  And I brought breakfast.”  She held up the paper bag.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Cool, thanks.”  Lara took the bag and went to the kitchen to pull out the contents.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What is going on with you and Vinnie?”  Jay asked.  “If you don’t mind me asking, I mean.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You can ask.”  Liu Xi replied.  “We’re just having fun together so far.  I guess we’re both a little afraid of a real relationship.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Are those rumors true about him?”  Lara asked from the kitchen.

    Liu Xi giggled, and looked a little embarrassed.  “I...probably shouldn’t answer that.  It might destroy Jay’s fragile impression of me.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I know what you mean.”  Lara laughed.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hey, I’m not that fragile.”  Jay protested.  “And why didn’t you ask me why Lara is staying here?”

    Liu Xi shrugged.  “If you were up to something with Lara I would be genuinely surprised and shocked.”

    Jay folded his arms and sighed.  “I can’t believe it, I’m outnumbered.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“By the way,”  Liu Xi added as she moved to the open kitchen to help Lara out, “Vinnie really likes blondes.  He said you were sexy.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Oh?”  Lara raised an eyebrow.  “Good thing I stayed here last night, then.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Maybe I think you’re sexy too.”  Jay said as he followed the two girls.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I know you do.”  Lara smiled.  “But you’re too good a guy to make me nervous when you say it.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“And Vinnie does?”  he asked.

    Lara shrugged and poured Jay some of the coffee.  “You remember him and Kerry, don’t you?  He has a bit of a tendency to get himself in trouble.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Yeah, it’s hard work keeping him out of it, and keeping his attention.”  Liu Xi pointed out.  “That’s another reason we’re just having fun right now.  I want to see if he’ll break my heart first.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I guess that’s smart.”  Jay noted.  “A little pessimistic maybe, but smart.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“You’re so encouraging.”  Lara teased him, nudging him so he nearly spilled his coffee.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“So are you keeping this place?”  Liu Xi asked.  “It’s really nice.  Even if you eventually work at the Lair Mansion again, you always did want a quiet place of your own.”

    Jay nodded slowly.  “Chiaki knows me so well.  Sometimes too well.  Yeah, I think I might, if only so Lara can stay here and avoid Vinnie.”

    Lara punched him in the shoulder gently.  “I’m not afraid of him, I’m just not totally comfortable.  Congratulations on the new place, though.”

    Almost as if on cue, Chiaki Bushido knocked gingerly on the apartment door, and then opened it slowly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Wow, she really is psychic.”  Liu Xi commented.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Hi, everyone.”  Chiaki said.  She looked happy, as if she already knew Jay’s decision.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“I’ll take it, Chiaki.”  Jay confirmed.  “On one condition.  I’d like you to volunteer at the Zero Street mission once a month.  In person, not just offering money.”

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Done.”  Chiaki shook Jay’s hand, and then she hugged him tightly.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“What’s that for?”  he asked.

    She let go, and whispered, “I didn’t tell you just how much money I would have lost if I tried to re-sell this building.  I didn’t want guilt to weigh too heavily on your decision.”

    A loud crash outside interrupted the conversation.  Being closest, Lara looked out the window first, followed by Liu Xi.

    Outside, a group of young men had just hit a homeless pedestrian with a trash can, and were cheering.

    Ã¢â‚¬Å“Boy, do they ever have bad timing.”  Lara pointed out.


TO BE CONTINUED?
    

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2009 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
--    reprinted without permission.  
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
--  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
--  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin