RE: [IC][WIP][Arc 1] How I Managed to Quit Worrying and Love The Grief Seed
04-03-2019, 07:38 PM (This post was last modified: 04-06-2019, 01:11 PM by Black Aeronaut.)
04-03-2019, 07:38 PM (This post was last modified: 04-06-2019, 01:11 PM by Black Aeronaut.)
Alright, now for something to get us back into the groove after the shit show in the other thread.
Keep in mind, I'm very fuzzy on the characterization of Alisa's parents, Jodie and David, and I'm basing it mostly on what I've seen of Alisa's personality and the pictures I've managed to find of them. Keep in mind, these two are complete and total sociological alpha-types who are also highly cosmopolitan and just a little bit eccentric. They are certainly "New Money", but their business and social acumen are top-notch.
Also, keep in mind that Ben has already met Alisa's parents off-screen and Ben, putting his natural charm to maximum effect, hit it off very well with the two. Don't worry, though. I'll be filling in that blank spot eventually.
Suzuka sighed as she worked alongside her friend and servant, Francesca, to prepare their lunch.
“Is something troubling you?” asked Fran, addressing her casually as it was only the two of them in the kitchen.
“Nanoha and Fate aren’t here,” replied Suzuka plainly.
Fran nodded. “Alisa still hasn’t apologized,” she noted.
“If only there was someone that could get her to see reason on this,” pined Suzuka.
“What about her parents?”
“Heh?” replied Suzuka, giving the young maid a surprised look.
“Well, Missus Lowell and Mister Bannings knows her best. They’d probably be the best ones to talk to her about this sort of thing.”
“But what if they share the same views?” said Suzuka with concern.
“Somehow I doubt that will be an issue. After all, do they not share a close friendship with your parents despite the fact they know that you’re vampires?”
“Well... yes, but this is different...”
“I’ll contact my sister then. She will know for sure.”
##
A few hours later, just as the Whirlwind crew were coming in for the night, there was the distinct sound of superbikes revving as they geared down.
The rear gates opened and they blinked in wide-eyed surprise.
“Aprilia RSV4’s!” said Keiichi in surprise.
“Two of them!?” cried out Megumi.
“And in custom paint,” added Chihiro.
“So cool!” said Sora.
And indeed, the two bikes did have custom paint jobs. The male rider’s bike bore a blue dragon of the Oriental style - long and sinuous - and wreathed in dark clouds that spat jagged bolts of lightning.
The female’s bike bore a tiger wreathed in flames, jumping out with teeth bared and claws out.
The riders themselves were both lean and athletic in build and wore track-rated full body suits and full helmets that perfectly matched their bikes.
As the two parked their bikes in a pair of available spaces under the awnings and took off their helmets, revealing a pair of beautiful anglo-American faces, they immediately locked eyes on the quartet, and in typically American style, smiled openly and greeted them.
“Hi!” said the man as they approached. “I’m David Bannings - Alisa’s father. You must be friends of Benjamin’s.”
He stuck his hand out, immediately taking Keiichi aback with his forwardness.
As Keiichi shook the man’s hand and he moved on to the others, the woman greeted them before they could say anything.
“And I’m Jodi Lowell - Alisa’s mother. I was a bit worried when we saw the neighborhood, but it’s actually very nice here. I’m impressed.” She also stuck her hand out to Keiichi.
“I’m Chihiro Fujimi,” said the tomboyish Japanese woman. “I’m the owner, founder, and lead designer over at Whirlwind.” She thumbed back in the direction of the shop on the corner. “We do custom jobs on superbikes. This wallflower here is Keiichi Morisato, my lead mechanic and assistant designer. Little Sora here is our junior mechanic, and Keiichi’s more outgoing sister here is Megumi - she’s our test rider and sometimes even helps out in the shop. I’m guessing you guys wanted to see Benjamin, though.”
“We’d like to, but mostly we came to check up on our little girl,” said David.
Jodie smiled wryly. “We heard she’s in a snit with one of her friends.”
Though they didn’t vocalize it, a look of comprehension communicated the unvoiced “Oooooohhhhh!” quite clearly.
“In that case,” said Megumi, “Ben put them all up in unit 225. Ben is in unit 229, next to the manager’s office. He should be getting up about now.”
“We’ll let him have his chance to wake up,” said David amiably. “Alisa always comes first for us. Oh, can we get a business card from you? We’d like to see what kind of work you’ve done in the past...”
##
There was a knock at the door and Francesca went to check on who it was since Alisa and Suzuka were currently engrossed in a game of Dead or Alive 5.
Suzuka had been playing as Ayane while Alisa, of course, had been playing as Helena Douglass.
“Stupid cheap-shot ninja counters,” grumbled Alisa at the fourth consecutive defeat in a best-of-seven match.
“THERE’S MY LITTLE GIRL!” boomed David’s voice.
Alisa sprang up and charged into her father’s waiting arms. “DADDY!”
“And what am I? Chopped liver?” snarked Jodie Lowell.
“Oh mom!” said Alisa as she then went to give her mother a hug. “You’re my favoritist mom ever!”
“I’m your only mother... not unless your father’s eyes have been wandering...”
David laughed in earnest at the joke, even though he was the butt of said joke.
“Honestly, you’d think she’d learn by now,” snarked David. “She’s almost too much for me to handle.”
“Damn right!” crowed Jodie, causing Alisa to laugh at her parents antics.
“But why are you guys here?” asked Alisa.
“Well,” said Jodie, fixing her young daughter with a serious look, “a little birdie told us that you’re fighting with Nanoha. Is this true?”
“Yes, mommy,” said Alisa, turning pink.
“You care to tell us what this is about, Princess?” asked her father.
“Well... Nanoha and Fate kinda have this thing for the apartment manager.”
David nodded at that. “Nanoha’s parents told us about it.”
“You knew already!?” cried out Alisa in shock. “But why didn’t you tell me?”
Jodie shrugged. “It wasn’t for us to tell. That was for Nanoha and Fate alone, and no one else because its their business and not ours.”
“But it’s so wrong!” bemoaned the girl.
“Is it?” asked David. “You know that they were the ones that moved first - Nanoha and Fate that is. And in a lot of other places, affluent families like ours will betroth their daughters when they’re as young as you are, but that’s usually to establish blood relations with another family. Fortunately for those two, they’re the ones that actually want this, and Shiro and Momoko approve of him.”
“But he’s so old! He’s older than you, Daddy!”
“Which is true,” said Jodie. “But this Washu-person is working on a way to restore him to his youth. And they’ll be taking him back to Uminari City when it’s time to go home.”
“But... But... Both of them!?”
Jodie actually laughed. “Alisa! Sweetheart? I’ve been waiting for the day your daddy brings home another woman. I know I haven’t really told you, but it’s fun to kiss another girl. You should try it some time.”
“I would not mind,” said Suzuka impishly, causing everyone but Alisa to break out into laughter.
“That’s why your mom and I aren’t actually married,” said David. “We didn’t want any legalities to get in the way of any love we might find along the way.”
“But...”
Jodie then scooped up her daughter and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t start that now. You know we love you no matter what.”
“But... what if you split up?” quailed Alisa quietly.
“Not gonna happen,” said David. “Your mom and I have been and always will be madly, crazy in love with each other.”
Jodie nodded. “And apparently Nanoha is madly, crazy in love with Benjamin.”
“But why?” asked Alisa.
“We don’t know for sure, Princess,” said David. “The only way you’ll find out is if you ask her yourself.”
“And knowing how us girls can be?” said Jodie impishly. “She won’t be able to figure out how to tell you for a long time. But you can rest assured, sweetie, she has very good reasons.”
##
Benjamin watched with mild amusement as Nanoha and Fate had an absolute blast playing Strikers 1945 on his old Gamecube. The staying power of that old console system was amazing. As he sipped his after-breakfast tea, he happened to look out the window to see Jodie and David walking outside with Alisa firmly in place on her mother.
There was a break in the gameplay as the two girls defeated the final boss.
“Someone told me, in an effort to make the world seem terrible, that one day your parents put you down and never picked you up again. I countered by saying, that was because they knew that you could stand on your own.”
Sure enough, Jodie set Alisa down and they walked together up the steps to the mezzanine outside. A moment later, there was a knock on the door.
Sure enough, Jodie, David, and Alisa were waiting outside.
“Hi guys,” said Ben cheerfully. “C’mon in.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Benjamin,” said Jodie with a smile as she gave him a quick hug, then made way for Ben and David to share a hand-shake-bro-hug.
“It’s nice to have you guys here. Can I get you anything? The Takamachi’s hooked me up with their supplier and I’ve been able to get a case of C.C. Lemon.”
“That’d be perfect, thank you,” said David.
“I’ll take one, too, please,” said Jodie. “Do you want anything, Alisa?”
“Do you have any of that sweet green tea?”
Nanoha made a face at that and Ben laughed. “Cold brewed green tea with honey. You got it.”
“Barley tea, please,” asked Fate.
“Me too,” added Nanoha.
“Okay, you got it. Just a moment while I do my thing. Go ahead and have some seats, and don’t mind the cats.”
“I’m surprised this place is so nice, Benjamin,” said Jodie as she st down along with everyone else on the sectional. “How did you manage it?”
“Belldandy and Skuld did the biggest part - actually restoring this place,” said Ben as he got out a tray and began pouring drinks or just setting the bottles out. “And with Washu-chan’s help, I set up the security fences and gate system. We also worked together on developing the Good Neighbor System. How’s that working out for you guys, anyhow?”
“The most unobtrusive security system I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing,” said David with honest admiration in his voice.
“No kidding,” said Jodie. “We actually had to run a few tests because we weren’t sure if it was working or not.”
Ben chuckled as he came out with the tray. “I never thought I’d ever see Washu-chan to be so glad to be handling so many false alarms.”
There was a round of polite “Thank you”s as Ben sat down and opened his own bottle of C.C. Lemon.
“You’re welcome,” said Ben, and then went into Business Mode. “So, I get the sneaking suspicion this isn’t a normal social call.”
“Alisa has something she needs to say to her friends,” said David.
“And the situation being what it is,” said Jodie, “we felt it best for everyone to be present to help moderate things. Alisa?”
Alisa nodded and then spoke meekly. “Fate? Nanoha? I’m... sorry... about what I said before. It was very mean of me to say that. And I shouldn’t be judging you or even Benjamin right away.”
Nanoha set her glass of barley tea down, went over to Alisa, looked her in the eyes...
...And suddenly wrapped her up in a bone-crushing hug.
“Please, don’t ever say something like that again. I can’t stand the idea of losing you as a friend. And it would break Fate-chan’s heart, too.”
“I promise,” said Alisa quietly as she hugged Nanoha back.
But as the two separated, Alisa had a worried look on her face. “But Nanoha? I... don’t want to sound mean or anything... But why do you like Ben like that?”
Nanoha blinked as she parsed that, and then ran it through her intensely analytical mind.
“I’m... not sure why, Alisa,” she said slowly. “For some reason, it just feels like we fit together. He kinda feels like my father and my brother, only different. He’s sad. And angry. And lonely. And he doesn’t deserve that. I don’t like him just because I feel sorry for him, though I do. It feels like... like if I fall, and Fate-chan isn’t there, then he will catch me.
“I know that’s kind of silly because I know that any of my friends would be there to help me when I need it, but I have to remind myself of that fact every time. But with Ben? I don’t even have to think about it. I somehow know he’s going to be there, no matter what happens.
“I know I’m not weak. I know I’m strong. I know I can protect people and help them. But even then, I’m scared sometimes. That what I do might not be enough. But when I am with Ben? He somehow makes that feeling go away. It’s like he’s helping me just by being there... like I’ve been carrying something heavy and then he starts helping me carry it.”
“That is very good, Nanoha,” said Jodie with a smile. “It is true. Sometimes you can feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s also pretty lonely being Atlas. So it’s very comforting to have someone like Ben. He’s good like that. He makes the load lighter by taking on some of the burden himself, even though he’s already having to bear up under so much himself.
“It might seem unhealthy, but then, Nanoha and Fate will both take on some of his burden...” She then look at Ben and smiled, saying, “Of course, not right away. They’ll need to grow up a bit first before that can happen.”
“I dunno,” said Ben. “They’re awfully mature for their age. Though I also know that doesn’t always translate to wisdom. That’s a very rare case, and only seen in the true prodigies that know how to pace themselves so they don’t burnout.”
“And that’s why Ben is good for them,” said David. “If Nanoha and Fate trust him implicitly, he’ll be able to help keep them from overexerting themselves.” David shot a knowing grin at the two girls. “And don’t you two try to tell me you haven’t pushed the envelope before. If what I’ve heard is true, then you two are lucky to still be with us today.”
Jodie snorted. “No kidding. I almost feel sorry for you, Ben. Right now, they’re just kids, so that’s one thing. But when they get older...” She let that trail off there because the adults there all knew that down that path lay topics best not discussed. Apparently, Nanoha and Fate understood as well, as they both flushed brightly.
Alisa, though, just looked confused, but then shrugged it off.
“Aaaaaannnyyyyyhooowwww,” said Ben in an attempt to change the subject so blatant that he was sending it by Western Union, “I need to start making plans for tonight. I have a feeling we’re gonna have a break-through.”
“What do you mean?” asked David, perplexed.
“You know those bodies that have been turning up around Centro Plaza? It looks like another displacee. I don’t think I need to say how bad this can be.”
“You’re not in any danger yourself, are you?” asked David
“It’s a calculated risk,” said Ben. “But whoever or whatever is doing this needs to be stopped - this could just be a small step in a larger plot. And considering the sorts of things that are out there...”
Jodie shuddered. “Say no more. I had to write a paper on Lovecraft’s writings back in college. Creepy stuff!”
David shook his head. “You go with God, Benjamin.”
Ben smiled wryly. “Way ahead of you there.”
Keep in mind, I'm very fuzzy on the characterization of Alisa's parents, Jodie and David, and I'm basing it mostly on what I've seen of Alisa's personality and the pictures I've managed to find of them. Keep in mind, these two are complete and total sociological alpha-types who are also highly cosmopolitan and just a little bit eccentric. They are certainly "New Money", but their business and social acumen are top-notch.
Also, keep in mind that Ben has already met Alisa's parents off-screen and Ben, putting his natural charm to maximum effect, hit it off very well with the two. Don't worry, though. I'll be filling in that blank spot eventually.
Suzuka sighed as she worked alongside her friend and servant, Francesca, to prepare their lunch.
“Is something troubling you?” asked Fran, addressing her casually as it was only the two of them in the kitchen.
“Nanoha and Fate aren’t here,” replied Suzuka plainly.
Fran nodded. “Alisa still hasn’t apologized,” she noted.
“If only there was someone that could get her to see reason on this,” pined Suzuka.
“What about her parents?”
“Heh?” replied Suzuka, giving the young maid a surprised look.
“Well, Missus Lowell and Mister Bannings knows her best. They’d probably be the best ones to talk to her about this sort of thing.”
“But what if they share the same views?” said Suzuka with concern.
“Somehow I doubt that will be an issue. After all, do they not share a close friendship with your parents despite the fact they know that you’re vampires?”
“Well... yes, but this is different...”
“I’ll contact my sister then. She will know for sure.”
##
A few hours later, just as the Whirlwind crew were coming in for the night, there was the distinct sound of superbikes revving as they geared down.
The rear gates opened and they blinked in wide-eyed surprise.
“Aprilia RSV4’s!” said Keiichi in surprise.
“Two of them!?” cried out Megumi.
“And in custom paint,” added Chihiro.
“So cool!” said Sora.
And indeed, the two bikes did have custom paint jobs. The male rider’s bike bore a blue dragon of the Oriental style - long and sinuous - and wreathed in dark clouds that spat jagged bolts of lightning.
The female’s bike bore a tiger wreathed in flames, jumping out with teeth bared and claws out.
The riders themselves were both lean and athletic in build and wore track-rated full body suits and full helmets that perfectly matched their bikes.
As the two parked their bikes in a pair of available spaces under the awnings and took off their helmets, revealing a pair of beautiful anglo-American faces, they immediately locked eyes on the quartet, and in typically American style, smiled openly and greeted them.
“Hi!” said the man as they approached. “I’m David Bannings - Alisa’s father. You must be friends of Benjamin’s.”
He stuck his hand out, immediately taking Keiichi aback with his forwardness.
As Keiichi shook the man’s hand and he moved on to the others, the woman greeted them before they could say anything.
“And I’m Jodi Lowell - Alisa’s mother. I was a bit worried when we saw the neighborhood, but it’s actually very nice here. I’m impressed.” She also stuck her hand out to Keiichi.
“I’m Chihiro Fujimi,” said the tomboyish Japanese woman. “I’m the owner, founder, and lead designer over at Whirlwind.” She thumbed back in the direction of the shop on the corner. “We do custom jobs on superbikes. This wallflower here is Keiichi Morisato, my lead mechanic and assistant designer. Little Sora here is our junior mechanic, and Keiichi’s more outgoing sister here is Megumi - she’s our test rider and sometimes even helps out in the shop. I’m guessing you guys wanted to see Benjamin, though.”
“We’d like to, but mostly we came to check up on our little girl,” said David.
Jodie smiled wryly. “We heard she’s in a snit with one of her friends.”
Though they didn’t vocalize it, a look of comprehension communicated the unvoiced “Oooooohhhhh!” quite clearly.
“In that case,” said Megumi, “Ben put them all up in unit 225. Ben is in unit 229, next to the manager’s office. He should be getting up about now.”
“We’ll let him have his chance to wake up,” said David amiably. “Alisa always comes first for us. Oh, can we get a business card from you? We’d like to see what kind of work you’ve done in the past...”
##
There was a knock at the door and Francesca went to check on who it was since Alisa and Suzuka were currently engrossed in a game of Dead or Alive 5.
Suzuka had been playing as Ayane while Alisa, of course, had been playing as Helena Douglass.
“Stupid cheap-shot ninja counters,” grumbled Alisa at the fourth consecutive defeat in a best-of-seven match.
“THERE’S MY LITTLE GIRL!” boomed David’s voice.
Alisa sprang up and charged into her father’s waiting arms. “DADDY!”
“And what am I? Chopped liver?” snarked Jodie Lowell.
“Oh mom!” said Alisa as she then went to give her mother a hug. “You’re my favoritist mom ever!”
“I’m your only mother... not unless your father’s eyes have been wandering...”
David laughed in earnest at the joke, even though he was the butt of said joke.
“Honestly, you’d think she’d learn by now,” snarked David. “She’s almost too much for me to handle.”
“Damn right!” crowed Jodie, causing Alisa to laugh at her parents antics.
“But why are you guys here?” asked Alisa.
“Well,” said Jodie, fixing her young daughter with a serious look, “a little birdie told us that you’re fighting with Nanoha. Is this true?”
“Yes, mommy,” said Alisa, turning pink.
“You care to tell us what this is about, Princess?” asked her father.
“Well... Nanoha and Fate kinda have this thing for the apartment manager.”
David nodded at that. “Nanoha’s parents told us about it.”
“You knew already!?” cried out Alisa in shock. “But why didn’t you tell me?”
Jodie shrugged. “It wasn’t for us to tell. That was for Nanoha and Fate alone, and no one else because its their business and not ours.”
“But it’s so wrong!” bemoaned the girl.
“Is it?” asked David. “You know that they were the ones that moved first - Nanoha and Fate that is. And in a lot of other places, affluent families like ours will betroth their daughters when they’re as young as you are, but that’s usually to establish blood relations with another family. Fortunately for those two, they’re the ones that actually want this, and Shiro and Momoko approve of him.”
“But he’s so old! He’s older than you, Daddy!”
“Which is true,” said Jodie. “But this Washu-person is working on a way to restore him to his youth. And they’ll be taking him back to Uminari City when it’s time to go home.”
“But... But... Both of them!?”
Jodie actually laughed. “Alisa! Sweetheart? I’ve been waiting for the day your daddy brings home another woman. I know I haven’t really told you, but it’s fun to kiss another girl. You should try it some time.”
“I would not mind,” said Suzuka impishly, causing everyone but Alisa to break out into laughter.
“That’s why your mom and I aren’t actually married,” said David. “We didn’t want any legalities to get in the way of any love we might find along the way.”
“But...”
Jodie then scooped up her daughter and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t start that now. You know we love you no matter what.”
“But... what if you split up?” quailed Alisa quietly.
“Not gonna happen,” said David. “Your mom and I have been and always will be madly, crazy in love with each other.”
Jodie nodded. “And apparently Nanoha is madly, crazy in love with Benjamin.”
“But why?” asked Alisa.
“We don’t know for sure, Princess,” said David. “The only way you’ll find out is if you ask her yourself.”
“And knowing how us girls can be?” said Jodie impishly. “She won’t be able to figure out how to tell you for a long time. But you can rest assured, sweetie, she has very good reasons.”
##
Benjamin watched with mild amusement as Nanoha and Fate had an absolute blast playing Strikers 1945 on his old Gamecube. The staying power of that old console system was amazing. As he sipped his after-breakfast tea, he happened to look out the window to see Jodie and David walking outside with Alisa firmly in place on her mother.
There was a break in the gameplay as the two girls defeated the final boss.
“Someone told me, in an effort to make the world seem terrible, that one day your parents put you down and never picked you up again. I countered by saying, that was because they knew that you could stand on your own.”
Sure enough, Jodie set Alisa down and they walked together up the steps to the mezzanine outside. A moment later, there was a knock on the door.
Sure enough, Jodie, David, and Alisa were waiting outside.
“Hi guys,” said Ben cheerfully. “C’mon in.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Benjamin,” said Jodie with a smile as she gave him a quick hug, then made way for Ben and David to share a hand-shake-bro-hug.
“It’s nice to have you guys here. Can I get you anything? The Takamachi’s hooked me up with their supplier and I’ve been able to get a case of C.C. Lemon.”
“That’d be perfect, thank you,” said David.
“I’ll take one, too, please,” said Jodie. “Do you want anything, Alisa?”
“Do you have any of that sweet green tea?”
Nanoha made a face at that and Ben laughed. “Cold brewed green tea with honey. You got it.”
“Barley tea, please,” asked Fate.
“Me too,” added Nanoha.
“Okay, you got it. Just a moment while I do my thing. Go ahead and have some seats, and don’t mind the cats.”
“I’m surprised this place is so nice, Benjamin,” said Jodie as she st down along with everyone else on the sectional. “How did you manage it?”
“Belldandy and Skuld did the biggest part - actually restoring this place,” said Ben as he got out a tray and began pouring drinks or just setting the bottles out. “And with Washu-chan’s help, I set up the security fences and gate system. We also worked together on developing the Good Neighbor System. How’s that working out for you guys, anyhow?”
“The most unobtrusive security system I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing,” said David with honest admiration in his voice.
“No kidding,” said Jodie. “We actually had to run a few tests because we weren’t sure if it was working or not.”
Ben chuckled as he came out with the tray. “I never thought I’d ever see Washu-chan to be so glad to be handling so many false alarms.”
There was a round of polite “Thank you”s as Ben sat down and opened his own bottle of C.C. Lemon.
“You’re welcome,” said Ben, and then went into Business Mode. “So, I get the sneaking suspicion this isn’t a normal social call.”
“Alisa has something she needs to say to her friends,” said David.
“And the situation being what it is,” said Jodie, “we felt it best for everyone to be present to help moderate things. Alisa?”
Alisa nodded and then spoke meekly. “Fate? Nanoha? I’m... sorry... about what I said before. It was very mean of me to say that. And I shouldn’t be judging you or even Benjamin right away.”
Nanoha set her glass of barley tea down, went over to Alisa, looked her in the eyes...
...And suddenly wrapped her up in a bone-crushing hug.
“Please, don’t ever say something like that again. I can’t stand the idea of losing you as a friend. And it would break Fate-chan’s heart, too.”
“I promise,” said Alisa quietly as she hugged Nanoha back.
But as the two separated, Alisa had a worried look on her face. “But Nanoha? I... don’t want to sound mean or anything... But why do you like Ben like that?”
Nanoha blinked as she parsed that, and then ran it through her intensely analytical mind.
“I’m... not sure why, Alisa,” she said slowly. “For some reason, it just feels like we fit together. He kinda feels like my father and my brother, only different. He’s sad. And angry. And lonely. And he doesn’t deserve that. I don’t like him just because I feel sorry for him, though I do. It feels like... like if I fall, and Fate-chan isn’t there, then he will catch me.
“I know that’s kind of silly because I know that any of my friends would be there to help me when I need it, but I have to remind myself of that fact every time. But with Ben? I don’t even have to think about it. I somehow know he’s going to be there, no matter what happens.
“I know I’m not weak. I know I’m strong. I know I can protect people and help them. But even then, I’m scared sometimes. That what I do might not be enough. But when I am with Ben? He somehow makes that feeling go away. It’s like he’s helping me just by being there... like I’ve been carrying something heavy and then he starts helping me carry it.”
“That is very good, Nanoha,” said Jodie with a smile. “It is true. Sometimes you can feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s also pretty lonely being Atlas. So it’s very comforting to have someone like Ben. He’s good like that. He makes the load lighter by taking on some of the burden himself, even though he’s already having to bear up under so much himself.
“It might seem unhealthy, but then, Nanoha and Fate will both take on some of his burden...” She then look at Ben and smiled, saying, “Of course, not right away. They’ll need to grow up a bit first before that can happen.”
“I dunno,” said Ben. “They’re awfully mature for their age. Though I also know that doesn’t always translate to wisdom. That’s a very rare case, and only seen in the true prodigies that know how to pace themselves so they don’t burnout.”
“And that’s why Ben is good for them,” said David. “If Nanoha and Fate trust him implicitly, he’ll be able to help keep them from overexerting themselves.” David shot a knowing grin at the two girls. “And don’t you two try to tell me you haven’t pushed the envelope before. If what I’ve heard is true, then you two are lucky to still be with us today.”
Jodie snorted. “No kidding. I almost feel sorry for you, Ben. Right now, they’re just kids, so that’s one thing. But when they get older...” She let that trail off there because the adults there all knew that down that path lay topics best not discussed. Apparently, Nanoha and Fate understood as well, as they both flushed brightly.
Alisa, though, just looked confused, but then shrugged it off.
“Aaaaaannnyyyyyhooowwww,” said Ben in an attempt to change the subject so blatant that he was sending it by Western Union, “I need to start making plans for tonight. I have a feeling we’re gonna have a break-through.”
“What do you mean?” asked David, perplexed.
“You know those bodies that have been turning up around Centro Plaza? It looks like another displacee. I don’t think I need to say how bad this can be.”
“You’re not in any danger yourself, are you?” asked David
“It’s a calculated risk,” said Ben. “But whoever or whatever is doing this needs to be stopped - this could just be a small step in a larger plot. And considering the sorts of things that are out there...”
Jodie shuddered. “Say no more. I had to write a paper on Lovecraft’s writings back in college. Creepy stuff!”
David shook his head. “You go with God, Benjamin.”
Ben smiled wryly. “Way ahead of you there.”