Watching her grocery shopping for her family, I smile.
She should just do this...
Stay as a mother, and a wife, alas...
The alarm blares, and a Kaiju portal is sensed by the Planetary Defense system.
I look up in the skies, where a humongous head appears to be trying to squeeze in.
Then...I hear an annoyed sigh, and a purple fire burns the skies.
The portal, the head...everything is turned to ash.
I look above the store, to see her in her Magic Girl suit...then she looks at me.
A bit later, with 3 bags full of groceries, she appears next to my car.
I open the door, and help her with the bags.
"Home." she says, sitting in my car.
I nod.
"Must you watch me always?" she asks.
I nod.
"It's my job, Alicia." I say.
She sighs.
"My power is like the sun, but I am still able to control it." she says.
I look at her...and then remember the scene mere minutes ago.
"The systems are talking about the Kaiju being a B tier one...
Usually at least a team of veteran Magical Girls, superheroes, or mages are required to kill them...
You erased it, and the portal with a single wave of your hand." I say.
She shrugs.
"As I said, everything's under control." she says.
We arrive home, and her daughters come to help her with the bags.
I watch her leave, and shake my head.
Taking out a scanner hidden beneath her seat...I frown.
"It's broken..." I mutter.
Watching over her house, I am getting sleepy.
Taking a pill, sleep goes away.
I can't afford to fall asleep.
She's the oldest known magical woman.
Mid 40s...and has been a magical girl for over 32 years now.
The scanner that broke, is able to gauge the strength of even planetary threats, so this means that she is...already stronger than that.
It's all good until she can control herself, but once she loses control...
Shaking my head, I try not to think about it.
I will just report this...and see what will be decided.
"Wait, if you're recognized as Dana Sharp... why are we checking up on a magical woman?" Aurelio asked his latest question as the pair walked through downtown. It was mid-afternoon, still several hours of setup away from the thriving nightlife that usually happened. There were no shops and few restaurants, instead, various dance clubs dominated the area. A Country and Western bar sat catty-corner to a heavy metal dive and across from a parking lot with a stage and a bar. Latin clubs and hard rock cafes all had workers inside and out prepping for the night ahead, while smoke filled the blocks with the scent of cooking meat. "And we're supposed to be helping Six. Where are she and 23?"
Jenny laughed and shook her head at the question. To anyone else, it might've sounded like he was concerned for the girls. He was, but at the moment, he was trying to keep his mental balance. They were there to solve a puzzle, and that's what he was focused on. It helped keep him distracted from the multiverse being rewritten. Aurelio followed Jenny with few questions initially; he knew he'd get all the answers eventually. She held on to him as the multiverse changed, and after everything looked normal again, she took charge and led him around while answering what she could.
"We are helping," Jenny nodded. "She's not just some 'Magical Woman', she's part of the 'Legendary Uni-Court'."
"What?" Aurelio chuckled. "That's not a thing, you just made that up," he said. The multiverse was governed by six Celestial Courts, and Aurelio was a member of one of them. He was aware that other, lesser Courts existed, but that was a Court name he'd never heard of.
"It only exists in this Moment," she nodded. "Six split, and this entire timeline is designed to encourage Six to unify herself. Sharp Development exists, but the Six Courts have no power here. There is only a singular Court; the Uni-Court. Our job is going to be to reunite them, starting with our first Magical Wellness check," she said.
"Wellness check?" Aurelio shook his head. "What's the job exactly?" She said they needed to visit a Magical Woman for the job, and that was enough information at the time. "How old is she?"
"Here, Magical Girls don't retire because they lose their powers, they retire when their magic grows too intense to activate without burning up," Jenny explained. "The job is just to check in and make sure she's okay and hasn't burnt herself up. I picked up this job to bring us here," she said as she turned toward a business. They'd been walking along the sidewalk when she turned suddenly and drew his attention. It was apparently a Rock club, judging by the electric blue guitars integrated into the sign. Six guitars total were affixed to the wooden sign over the entrance, with three apiece in the shape of the letter 'N'. And, the pair of 'N's was flanked by graffiti evoking blue wings.
"Double N?" Aurelio shrugged and started walking toward the door. He was close when it opened suddenly to reveal an older woman in her mid 50s with red and blue two-toned hair in bright neon shades, and vivid pink eyes. She had on a black leather jacket with a blue t-shirt under, blue jeans, and a white canvas apron around her waist. She had a wet rag in one hand and had been wiping a table near the door when she noticed him approaching.
"Hi, sorry. We're not open yet," she shook her head at Aurelio.
"Hi, sorry. I'm from Sharp Development," Jenny rushed forward and smiled at the older woman. She didn't seem to relax, but she nodded and stepped forward, closing the door behind her.
"Is Phoenix okay?" she asked.
"How do you know Phoenix?" Aurelio asked.
"He's fine," Jenny nodded. "I'm just covering for him today," she answered the woman first, then smiled at Aurelio. "He's the one that usually checks on her."
"Well, I'm fine too, as you can see," the woman smiled. "So... will Phoenix be back next month?" she asked. She was already moving toward the door to return to work.
"Wait!" Jenny said, and a look of concern flashed over the woman's face. "I mean, yes, he's fine, he'll be back next month. But.. I need your help. Your... Magical help."
*** Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #2897 in a row. (Story #355 in year eight). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place in my universe.
"I can't...," she paused and shook her head. "...I don't do that anymore...," she said. She'd been looking down at the sidewalk, but had a sudden thought. "Unless. Wait.. you're here from Sharp Development? Is this a direct request from them??" Magical Girls didn't retire because they lost their powers; they retire when their magic grows too intense to activate without burning up. At least, that was an unfortunate side-effect of the process Sharp Development used. A side-effect that did not manifest with the members of the Uni-Court; yet, behind the scenes, the team agreed to retire to keep future magical girls safe. The five of them had each gone on to separate lives since then.
"Not officially...," Jenny shook her head. "But we need the Uni-Court."
"What?" the woman erupted with hearty laughter. "I'm the first one you asked, aren't I?" Her giggles slowly dropped off as she looked at Jenny and Aurelio. Her gaze lingered for a moment, then she turned away with a smile and waved at them.
"Maybe if you bring the rest of the crew by for a drink, I'll consider it," she said as the door closed behind her.
"You know... I'm starting to think I should be more proactive about my questions...," Aurelio said. "Was she a unicorn?" Even taking magical girls into account, most people didn't have pink eyes like that. But most unicorns did. "The conversation's over, and I didn't even ask on the way here; who was she?'
"That was Neon Nova...," Jenny nodded as she turned and started walking in a new direction. Aurelio followed without hesitation. ".. and yeah, she's a unicorn. She was a member of the 'Legendary Uni-Court'; they're all unicorns."
After a long day Serana had just entered her apartment, to her surprise, a familiar man was already inside, leaning on a wall near the entrance waiting for her to return.
It took her only a split second to realize who it was.
"This is it, huh? She doesn't send her lapdog just to check up on someone."
"That is up to you. I think you know what this is about, Serana." he replied.
"I did not. Not when I signed up for this, Letho." Serana snapped back with a tremble in her voice.
She took a few moments to compose herself.
"I've barely had my life to myself. I haven't even had a childhood, I spent all of it fighting for her. Ten years, that's all I had to myself, you know... and now I'm supposed to just... be disposed off like some broken weapon?"
"That is what you are." Letho said coldly.
"And you think I'll just give up without a fight?"
"No. There's a possibility you would. You know that's why I'm here."
Serana grit her teeth, Letho tilted his head.
"What are you waiting for? Are you afraid to transform? When was the last time you tried, even entertained the thought? We both know, if you tried right now, it might just be the last time."
Letho didn't allow her any reprieve and continued.
"Even if you managed to control it, you'd take out not just your apartment, you'd take out the entire block. And then what? How long would it take for you to burn through your entire soul? A minute? Five? Maybe even ten? I would barely need to fight you, you'd be busy not going up in flames."
Letho lowered his gaze.
"Look at yourself, barely holding it together. Just as we speak it takes almost all of your might not to succumb to your own overwhelming power. You -are- nothing more than an unstable weapon, you always were practical, you know this yourself. Your condition has worsened dramatically in the past year, it's becoming critical."
Serana shed a single tear, then chuckled.
"I should've known I was being monitored. After all I did for her my destiny is be killed, alone, my only company her psychopath executioner? How pathetic. All I wanted to do, from the very start, is to protect people."
Serana clenched her fists, for a moment she contemplated transforming.
Letho sighed.
"There's a second option."
Serana scoffed; "What? Kill myself? Too good to even do your own dirty work?"
"No. She could use your service, one last time..."
I always knocked instead of using the doorbell. I don't know when that habit started but doorbells just felt so loud and intrusive, like I was demanding to be let inside instead of asking politely.
Of course you could also say that knocking was punching the door as a deamnd. That was why I'd settled on a soft musical knock. Sometimes people didn't answer the door becuase they didn't hear it. That was okay. Better to walk away empty handed than botehr the wrong girl on the wrong day.
The woman (former girl) who answered the door was a tired looking corperate thing still dressed for the office. Since she'd gotten home she'd only gotten time to tie her staw-coloured hair up in a messy bun to signal that she was done prefroming for the day.
"Heya Tanya," I said without taking a step to move inside her impressive brownstone. Always had to wait to be invited in.
"Maggie. Is it that time of year again?" She looked over my shoudler to check for a second handler. "Again?"
"Time flies. Doesn't it?"
"Sure does." Tanya leaned against the doorframe and her hand hovered over her jacket pocket before she reconisdered it. I could see the outline of a cigarette box.
"May I?" I asked.
"Do I have a choice?"
"You may always choose to have another member of the authority attend your yearly reviews. If you would prefer me to step away and request another attendant, I can do--"
"You're good," she said then sighed. I'd been checking up on Tanya for the past twenty years, and she never failed to ask if she had a choice in the matter.
The chipper and corporate way I'd answered, as always, stuck to the back of my throat. That sort of answer didn't sit well when directed at Tanya, but she was one of the easier clients. We had a script for a reason.
Tayna gave me another once over as I waited on the doormat. It said welcome. She hadn't.
"Come in."
"Thank you."
"What are you guys? Vampires?" she asked as she walked me inside. The 'entryway' had been the playroom for a time when the kids were younger. She'd replaced the furniture two years back when she'd been sure it wouldn't get ruined.
"The Magical Girl Veterans Authority simply tries to respect the privacy of our members in their own home."
Tayna snorted. "Sure."
The house was old. More complicated than it was spacious. By the time we'd reached the kitchen we'd passed three nooks. We'd promised the girls houses of a certain size as part of their service compensation package, and tangled homes like this helped meet room requirements without shattering the department's budget.
"How're the kids?"
"Judy is fine. She's always been fine." Tanya said as she went to the counter and checked how much water was left in her eletric kettle before turning it on. "Wends is..."
I sat down at the kitchen table at least used-looking seat. "Wends?"
"That about sums it up."
"And work?"
"Vapid as always," Tanya said. She didn't fully sigh this time but I could hear the boredom catch on her voice. I didn't pull out my note paper, as it always drew attention, but I made sure to remember the signs of meloncholy for later.
"After all the exciting things you did during your service I'm sure it was feel that way."
"I'm not sure how you find these jobs," she said as she went into the second cupboard to the right for tea-bags. "Feels like all the girls just do nothing all day and get paid everything they could want."
"There are a lot of people who appreciate your service, even if the connected companies aren't fully aware of our arrangements."
"Yep. Yep. You guys told me the deal when I signed up in the first place. Do all the magical stuff as a teen and you'll set me up."
Another note to make, she was outwardly referring to her previous contracts with us.
"Supppose that's fair," she continnued. "Was it earl grey or-"
"Earl grey is fine."
"Are you saying that becuase you'd agree with anything I offered, Maggie?"
"I appreciate being offered tea at all."
"Something other than earl grey then."
I pulled out my notebook and laid it out in front of me, simply leaving the pen sitting on the pages. "Peppermint would be lovely if you have it."
"I have candy cane."
"Tis the season."
"Great." Tanya pulled out a bag and let it sit on the counter beside the counter. She leaned against the counter and turned to me instead of finding a mug. "Wanna go through the questions?"
I hesitated a blink too long becuase she caught it but didn't question it. "Any manifestations?" I asked back on script as I picked up the pen.
"Two or three. Nothing worth worrying about."
"Bidden or unbidden."
"W-Bidden. They were all bidden."
"I wouldn't be doing my job if I asked for some clarity with that answer."
Tayna sighed and crossed her arms. I made a note of it. Once she caught me writing she started playing with her hair instead. "Look. There was a time it happened when I shouldn't have let it happen. But it was my choice. I fucked up. Bidden."
"Okay. I will make a note of that but only because I need to hit word count on the report."
That was a classic joke, but Tanya didn't laugh. The kettle started to bubble. Wasn't that faster than usual?
"If we're allowed to ask follow-up questions," she began. "What was up with the hesitation earlier?"
"Pardon?"
"What did you want to say instead of starting the questions?"
I swallowed. "There are still some questions we need to get through if you don't mind."
Tayna took a single step toward me and I flinched. She was corporate intiminating unless, like me, you knew what she was capable of.
Luckily the flinch caught her off guard and she retreated. "Just talk, Maggie."
My mouth was suddenly so dry. Tea would have been lovely. I tried to swallow spit but there wasn't any. I was writing small cirlces on the paper as Tayna stared. She was unarmed, no daggers in her eyes, just expectation.
The implication was clear. We'd been 'working together' for twenty years. Not answering would just affirm what she throught about the MGVA, that we didn't give a shit about her.
Well the MGVA didn't, but I did.
"Okay. This might get me in trouble but..."
"Yes?"
"The MGVA is sending an invitation out to Wendy, Wends, in the next wave."
"What?"
"As a parent you will not be permitted to interact with her during the introduction and invitation periods as to not-"
"Bullshit!"
"I understand that-"
"No you fucking don't!" Tanya's voice slammed into the walls, cracking through the house.
"I don't-"
"You don't understand. Maggie that's my daugther!"
The kettle beeped to let us know it was boiling.
"I don't make those choices. I'm not even supposed to be telling you-"
"This is fucking bullshit. It's-She's not. You can't. I won't-"
I jumped up from the chair as I saw the flash in her eyes. The temptation to transform to take back her power and channel it in this moment. Maybe she knew it wouldn't help, but it would have been something...better than nothing.
Tanya watched me jump and I saw the spark fade from her eyes. She unballed her fists and took two steadying breaths. The house stopped shaking. She turned around and turned off the kettle.
"Tanya..."
"Get the fuck out of my house."
"I can't do-"
"OUT."
"I will put in a request for another-"
"No. Fail me. I don't give a shit. Get out of my house Maggie." She punched the countertop and I heard the quartz crack within. "You don't wanna be part of this."
Loving it! Very bureaucratic whilst not being overtly malicious. Would love to see more of this dynamic between the agent and those they have to monitor.
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Watching her grocery shopping for her family, I smile.
She should just do this...
Stay as a mother, and a wife, alas...
The alarm blares, and a Kaiju portal is sensed by the Planetary Defense system.
I look up in the skies, where a humongous head appears to be trying to squeeze in.
Then...I hear an annoyed sigh, and a purple fire burns the skies.
The portal, the head...everything is turned to ash.
I look above the store, to see her in her Magic Girl suit...then she looks at me.
A bit later, with 3 bags full of groceries, she appears next to my car.
I open the door, and help her with the bags.
"Home." she says, sitting in my car.
I nod.
"Must you watch me always?" she asks.
I nod.
"It's my job, Alicia." I say.
She sighs.
"My power is like the sun, but I am still able to control it." she says.
I look at her...and then remember the scene mere minutes ago.
"The systems are talking about the Kaiju being a B tier one...
Usually at least a team of veteran Magical Girls, superheroes, or mages are required to kill them...
You erased it, and the portal with a single wave of your hand." I say.
She shrugs.
"As I said, everything's under control." she says.
We arrive home, and her daughters come to help her with the bags.
I watch her leave, and shake my head.
Taking out a scanner hidden beneath her seat...I frown.
"It's broken..." I mutter.
Watching over her house, I am getting sleepy.
Taking a pill, sleep goes away.
I can't afford to fall asleep.
She's the oldest known magical woman.
Mid 40s...and has been a magical girl for over 32 years now.
The scanner that broke, is able to gauge the strength of even planetary threats, so this means that she is...already stronger than that.
It's all good until she can control herself, but once she loses control...
Shaking my head, I try not to think about it.
I will just report this...and see what will be decided.
Thank you muchly for this! Delightful writing and a swift reply :)
[ Removed by Reddit ]
This and OP's prompt were incredible. You could absolutely begin a novel with this.
[Neon No Va]
"Wait, if you're recognized as Dana Sharp... why are we checking up on a magical woman?" Aurelio asked his latest question as the pair walked through downtown. It was mid-afternoon, still several hours of setup away from the thriving nightlife that usually happened. There were no shops and few restaurants, instead, various dance clubs dominated the area. A Country and Western bar sat catty-corner to a heavy metal dive and across from a parking lot with a stage and a bar. Latin clubs and hard rock cafes all had workers inside and out prepping for the night ahead, while smoke filled the blocks with the scent of cooking meat. "And we're supposed to be helping Six. Where are she and 23?"
Jenny laughed and shook her head at the question. To anyone else, it might've sounded like he was concerned for the girls. He was, but at the moment, he was trying to keep his mental balance. They were there to solve a puzzle, and that's what he was focused on. It helped keep him distracted from the multiverse being rewritten. Aurelio followed Jenny with few questions initially; he knew he'd get all the answers eventually. She held on to him as the multiverse changed, and after everything looked normal again, she took charge and led him around while answering what she could.
"We are helping," Jenny nodded. "She's not just some 'Magical Woman', she's part of the 'Legendary Uni-Court'."
"What?" Aurelio chuckled. "That's not a thing, you just made that up," he said. The multiverse was governed by six Celestial Courts, and Aurelio was a member of one of them. He was aware that other, lesser Courts existed, but that was a Court name he'd never heard of.
"It only exists in this Moment," she nodded. "Six split, and this entire timeline is designed to encourage Six to unify herself. Sharp Development exists, but the Six Courts have no power here. There is only a singular Court; the Uni-Court. Our job is going to be to reunite them, starting with our first Magical Wellness check," she said.
"Wellness check?" Aurelio shook his head. "What's the job exactly?" She said they needed to visit a Magical Woman for the job, and that was enough information at the time. "How old is she?"
"Here, Magical Girls don't retire because they lose their powers, they retire when their magic grows too intense to activate without burning up," Jenny explained. "The job is just to check in and make sure she's okay and hasn't burnt herself up. I picked up this job to bring us here," she said as she turned toward a business. They'd been walking along the sidewalk when she turned suddenly and drew his attention. It was apparently a Rock club, judging by the electric blue guitars integrated into the sign. Six guitars total were affixed to the wooden sign over the entrance, with three apiece in the shape of the letter 'N'. And, the pair of 'N's was flanked by graffiti evoking blue wings.
"Double N?" Aurelio shrugged and started walking toward the door. He was close when it opened suddenly to reveal an older woman in her mid 50s with red and blue two-toned hair in bright neon shades, and vivid pink eyes. She had on a black leather jacket with a blue t-shirt under, blue jeans, and a white canvas apron around her waist. She had a wet rag in one hand and had been wiping a table near the door when she noticed him approaching.
"Hi, sorry. We're not open yet," she shook her head at Aurelio.
"Hi, sorry. I'm from Sharp Development," Jenny rushed forward and smiled at the older woman. She didn't seem to relax, but she nodded and stepped forward, closing the door behind her.
"Is Phoenix okay?" she asked.
"How do you know Phoenix?" Aurelio asked.
"He's fine," Jenny nodded. "I'm just covering for him today," she answered the woman first, then smiled at Aurelio. "He's the one that usually checks on her."
"Well, I'm fine too, as you can see," the woman smiled. "So... will Phoenix be back next month?" she asked. She was already moving toward the door to return to work.
"Wait!" Jenny said, and a look of concern flashed over the woman's face. "I mean, yes, he's fine, he'll be back next month. But.. I need your help. Your... Magical help."
*** Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #2897 in a row. (Story #355 in year eight). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place in my universe.
[part.b]
"I can't...," she paused and shook her head. "...I don't do that anymore...," she said. She'd been looking down at the sidewalk, but had a sudden thought. "Unless. Wait.. you're here from Sharp Development? Is this a direct request from them??" Magical Girls didn't retire because they lost their powers; they retire when their magic grows too intense to activate without burning up. At least, that was an unfortunate side-effect of the process Sharp Development used. A side-effect that did not manifest with the members of the Uni-Court; yet, behind the scenes, the team agreed to retire to keep future magical girls safe. The five of them had each gone on to separate lives since then.
"Not officially...," Jenny shook her head. "But we need the Uni-Court."
"What?" the woman erupted with hearty laughter. "I'm the first one you asked, aren't I?" Her giggles slowly dropped off as she looked at Jenny and Aurelio. Her gaze lingered for a moment, then she turned away with a smile and waved at them.
"Maybe if you bring the rest of the crew by for a drink, I'll consider it," she said as the door closed behind her.
"You know... I'm starting to think I should be more proactive about my questions...," Aurelio said. "Was she a unicorn?" Even taking magical girls into account, most people didn't have pink eyes like that. But most unicorns did. "The conversation's over, and I didn't even ask on the way here; who was she?'
"That was Neon Nova...," Jenny nodded as she turned and started walking in a new direction. Aurelio followed without hesitation. ".. and yeah, she's a unicorn. She was a member of the 'Legendary Uni-Court'; they're all unicorns."
Thank you so much for your reply! This has been lovely to read, wonderful world building atop the prompt. ..^
After a long day Serana had just entered her apartment, to her surprise, a familiar man was already inside, leaning on a wall near the entrance waiting for her to return.
It took her only a split second to realize who it was.
"This is it, huh? She doesn't send her lapdog just to check up on someone."
"That is up to you. I think you know what this is about, Serana." he replied.
"I did not. Not when I signed up for this, Letho." Serana snapped back with a tremble in her voice.
She took a few moments to compose herself.
"I've barely had my life to myself. I haven't even had a childhood, I spent all of it fighting for her. Ten years, that's all I had to myself, you know... and now I'm supposed to just... be disposed off like some broken weapon?"
"That is what you are." Letho said coldly.
"And you think I'll just give up without a fight?"
"No. There's a possibility you would. You know that's why I'm here."
Serana grit her teeth, Letho tilted his head.
"What are you waiting for? Are you afraid to transform? When was the last time you tried, even entertained the thought? We both know, if you tried right now, it might just be the last time."
Letho didn't allow her any reprieve and continued.
"Even if you managed to control it, you'd take out not just your apartment, you'd take out the entire block. And then what? How long would it take for you to burn through your entire soul? A minute? Five? Maybe even ten? I would barely need to fight you, you'd be busy not going up in flames."
Letho lowered his gaze.
"Look at yourself, barely holding it together. Just as we speak it takes almost all of your might not to succumb to your own overwhelming power. You -are- nothing more than an unstable weapon, you always were practical, you know this yourself. Your condition has worsened dramatically in the past year, it's becoming critical."
Serana shed a single tear, then chuckled.
"I should've known I was being monitored. After all I did for her my destiny is be killed, alone, my only company her psychopath executioner? How pathetic. All I wanted to do, from the very start, is to protect people."
Serana clenched her fists, for a moment she contemplated transforming.
Letho sighed.
"There's a second option."
Serana scoffed; "What? Kill myself? Too good to even do your own dirty work?"
"No. She could use your service, one last time..."
Oh my, dark dark, and interestingly hopeful.
I hope you liked it!
I delight in it yes, very much.
One last service? Ya destroying the counsel in this framing they are far more evil than anything they fought
Your Letho's personality made me think of the same-named character from "The Witcher." Very nice story.
I always knocked instead of using the doorbell. I don't know when that habit started but doorbells just felt so loud and intrusive, like I was demanding to be let inside instead of asking politely.
Of course you could also say that knocking was punching the door as a deamnd. That was why I'd settled on a soft musical knock. Sometimes people didn't answer the door becuase they didn't hear it. That was okay. Better to walk away empty handed than botehr the wrong girl on the wrong day.
The woman (former girl) who answered the door was a tired looking corperate thing still dressed for the office. Since she'd gotten home she'd only gotten time to tie her staw-coloured hair up in a messy bun to signal that she was done prefroming for the day.
"Heya Tanya," I said without taking a step to move inside her impressive brownstone. Always had to wait to be invited in.
"Maggie. Is it that time of year again?" She looked over my shoudler to check for a second handler. "Again?"
"Time flies. Doesn't it?"
"Sure does." Tanya leaned against the doorframe and her hand hovered over her jacket pocket before she reconisdered it. I could see the outline of a cigarette box.
"May I?" I asked.
"Do I have a choice?"
"You may always choose to have another member of the authority attend your yearly reviews. If you would prefer me to step away and request another attendant, I can do--"
"You're good," she said then sighed. I'd been checking up on Tanya for the past twenty years, and she never failed to ask if she had a choice in the matter.
The chipper and corporate way I'd answered, as always, stuck to the back of my throat. That sort of answer didn't sit well when directed at Tanya, but she was one of the easier clients. We had a script for a reason.
Tayna gave me another once over as I waited on the doormat. It said welcome. She hadn't.
"Come in."
"Thank you."
"What are you guys? Vampires?" she asked as she walked me inside. The 'entryway' had been the playroom for a time when the kids were younger. She'd replaced the furniture two years back when she'd been sure it wouldn't get ruined.
"The Magical Girl Veterans Authority simply tries to respect the privacy of our members in their own home."
Tayna snorted. "Sure."
The house was old. More complicated than it was spacious. By the time we'd reached the kitchen we'd passed three nooks. We'd promised the girls houses of a certain size as part of their service compensation package, and tangled homes like this helped meet room requirements without shattering the department's budget.
"How're the kids?"
"Judy is fine. She's always been fine." Tanya said as she went to the counter and checked how much water was left in her eletric kettle before turning it on. "Wends is..."
I sat down at the kitchen table at least used-looking seat. "Wends?"
"That about sums it up."
"And work?"
"Vapid as always," Tanya said. She didn't fully sigh this time but I could hear the boredom catch on her voice. I didn't pull out my note paper, as it always drew attention, but I made sure to remember the signs of meloncholy for later.
"After all the exciting things you did during your service I'm sure it was feel that way."
"I'm not sure how you find these jobs," she said as she went into the second cupboard to the right for tea-bags. "Feels like all the girls just do nothing all day and get paid everything they could want."
"There are a lot of people who appreciate your service, even if the connected companies aren't fully aware of our arrangements."
"Yep. Yep. You guys told me the deal when I signed up in the first place. Do all the magical stuff as a teen and you'll set me up."
Another note to make, she was outwardly referring to her previous contracts with us.
"Supppose that's fair," she continnued. "Was it earl grey or-"
"Earl grey is fine."
"Are you saying that becuase you'd agree with anything I offered, Maggie?"
"I appreciate being offered tea at all."
"Something other than earl grey then."
I pulled out my notebook and laid it out in front of me, simply leaving the pen sitting on the pages. "Peppermint would be lovely if you have it."
"I have candy cane."
"Tis the season."
"Great." Tanya pulled out a bag and let it sit on the counter beside the counter. She leaned against the counter and turned to me instead of finding a mug. "Wanna go through the questions?"
I hesitated a blink too long becuase she caught it but didn't question it. "Any manifestations?" I asked back on script as I picked up the pen.
"Two or three. Nothing worth worrying about."
"Bidden or unbidden."
"W-Bidden. They were all bidden."
"I wouldn't be doing my job if I asked for some clarity with that answer."
Tayna sighed and crossed her arms. I made a note of it. Once she caught me writing she started playing with her hair instead. "Look. There was a time it happened when I shouldn't have let it happen. But it was my choice. I fucked up. Bidden."
"Okay. I will make a note of that but only because I need to hit word count on the report."
That was a classic joke, but Tanya didn't laugh. The kettle started to bubble. Wasn't that faster than usual?
"If we're allowed to ask follow-up questions," she began. "What was up with the hesitation earlier?"
"Pardon?"
"What did you want to say instead of starting the questions?"
I swallowed. "There are still some questions we need to get through if you don't mind."
"That's not an answer."
Tayna took a single step toward me and I flinched. She was corporate intiminating unless, like me, you knew what she was capable of.
Luckily the flinch caught her off guard and she retreated. "Just talk, Maggie."
My mouth was suddenly so dry. Tea would have been lovely. I tried to swallow spit but there wasn't any. I was writing small cirlces on the paper as Tayna stared. She was unarmed, no daggers in her eyes, just expectation.
The implication was clear. We'd been 'working together' for twenty years. Not answering would just affirm what she throught about the MGVA, that we didn't give a shit about her.
Well the MGVA didn't, but I did.
"Okay. This might get me in trouble but..."
"Yes?"
"The MGVA is sending an invitation out to Wendy, Wends, in the next wave."
"What?"
"As a parent you will not be permitted to interact with her during the introduction and invitation periods as to not-"
"Bullshit!"
"I understand that-"
"No you fucking don't!" Tanya's voice slammed into the walls, cracking through the house.
"I don't-"
"You don't understand. Maggie that's my daugther!"
The kettle beeped to let us know it was boiling.
"I don't make those choices. I'm not even supposed to be telling you-"
"This is fucking bullshit. It's-She's not. You can't. I won't-"
I jumped up from the chair as I saw the flash in her eyes. The temptation to transform to take back her power and channel it in this moment. Maybe she knew it wouldn't help, but it would have been something...better than nothing.
Tanya watched me jump and I saw the spark fade from her eyes. She unballed her fists and took two steadying breaths. The house stopped shaking. She turned around and turned off the kettle.
"Tanya..."
"Get the fuck out of my house."
"I can't do-"
"OUT."
"I will put in a request for another-"
"No. Fail me. I don't give a shit. Get out of my house Maggie." She punched the countertop and I heard the quartz crack within. "You don't wanna be part of this."
Loving it! Very bureaucratic whilst not being overtly malicious. Would love to see more of this dynamic between the agent and those they have to monitor.
lol this is part 1 of three of my original response. Reddit didn’t appreciate the length of my comment
Oh I've just seen the other two now. Read it often. Staples those were genius, delighted in the story arc presented. Thank you very much.