"Hina, why are there blue dust here on my threadmill again?"
"I didn't use it."
"No one else sweats colored dust and glitters here you know. Stop lying with the evidence in front of you."
The older of the three sighed before getting the mop to clean up the traces of another being visiting her gym. It's her sanctuary as much as it's her own workplace. She can't keep count of the times she trimmed her own hair and skipped meals just to save enough to open a business of her own strengthened by her passion in the field. As much as she's good friends with the two regulars and accepts the unmasked existence of the quite eccentric one, though she admits she's got frozen and almost lost consciousness seeing her naked form, without all the cover-ups and pretentions, it's still a taboo to be seen together and talk casually with them. Far from the glamorized advertisements and light news shown every single day since the peace talks ended on a good note.
"Clerie, don't ask her next time. Just tell her to clean it off immediately. You know how her mind works."
They both took another mop and vacuum cleaner handed by the owner, hiding her smile from their reactions she had always expected to see - scrunched up face and blank stare. Despite the whines like before, they just started helping without much words to say.
"Right, she's got a little loose screw after all. Right, Hinami? You're a little messed up in the mind, right?"
"Yes! Aren't you just as messed up? That's why we click together!"
They might be bickering while using such words but Clerie could see the closeness between the two. She then proceeds with her tasks for the day and while removing her hoodie, sees her reflection and it made her sigh louder. She had worked hard enough to earn what she has, but it always strikes her with the feeling that she has lost just as much, not remembering the last time she actually went out for an actual rest, visiting salon and whatnot, without her brain flying back to the thoughts of money lost every minute. Jokingly, she joins their talk.
"If you keep on being like that you should have just given me your height and looks."
"No, I don't need to have two glowsticks in my life."
"I just need her looks, everything else, I'll just throw away."
"Don't even try. Just find someone from her clan to marry so you can look at your future glowing kids all you want."
Imagining the words from Jia made her shudder on the spot, having miniature Hinami running around and following her around like little ducks, would take more of her life's wick than make it brighter.
"No thanks. I'd rather not. But why are the two of you too early today? Your schedule's in two hours and Hina's got no membership card here. What do you need me for?"
"Why are you so sharp today of all days?"
"I love your sarcasm but cut it off. How many times I told you to not hack the system here and just wait for me to arrive to work?"
"You're welcome. I won't ask for any fee on strengthening the firewall after seeing the security's lapses."
"As I said, cut if off and get straight to the point."
"He's a member here, right?"
Her expression hardened, face showing recognition and arms now stiff and unmoving, but she didn't reply. She's willing to accept each and every being who wants to work and play in her own microcosm, but meddling with their business is a big no-no. She already wasted her youth reaching her place now, and losing her present because of having a big mouth is not part of her bucket list.
"That butcher works-out here, right? If you can't speak a word, a nod will suffice."
"If you can hack the security system, I don't think you need to ask the owner anymore. You never ask for permissions anyways."
"We need to hear it from you, directly."
"Yes, but if you got some problem with the big guy, you don't need to involve me, why bother going here?"
"Of course you're an honest person. Thanks for admitting, then, we can have this whole room to talk, can't we?"
"Stop putting me in a tight situation, I'll get drained if you involve me in your affairs. I'm just trying to earn here."
Pulling the cleaning tools from the two harshly did not do anything in directing her anxiousness outside than bottling it in.
"That's why we're telling you now. Only a chosen few knows where the butcher goes and to whom he talks to. If he happens to know that we traced him, knowing that this is the only place among others that we're acquainted to, with or without admitting it to us, you'll still be on his list."
"That's why I'm asking you now, stop involving my business in your plans. I'm just trying to live here, as much as you two do. Hey Hina, stop using the bench press, it's hard to clean your glitters!"
She knows, more than anyone that the two are part of the good ones, but knowing that they may get tangled in an issue involving the strong and spiteful ones, fearing for her life is out of the question. The image of peace was just there to make the people think it exists now but those who know the story well will never be able to keep sitting still. They are even younger than her, she thinks so but not really sure on what's the concept of being young among their kinds, and as much as she gets the idea of siding with justice, she'd rather keep quiet in times like this.
"Hina you're spraying too much glitter now, make it stop."
"It's not like a computer that just can be turned off you idiot."
"You are too… nevermind."
Her scared wits just got fueled by the next request she hears.
"Anyways, where were we? Right, all I need is to have a proper conversation with him, after that, we're good. This is the best place to do that."
"And why is that? The walls here are plain bricks and cement, not titanium. Are you really serious right now?"
"Don't worry, we won't destroy your property...too much."
"If it's not that fight that would kill me it'll be the stress from you lots."
--
They are both assistant to Amery. That's a fact. They are both researchers for her company as well. That, is again, true. However, the real content of their work is not dedicated for the use of finishing their monthly magazine, their boss got enough staff already to have that covered.
Her businesses are just facades to her real identity, and being an owner of several at a young age is just the tip of the iceberg.
For a good cause? For the betterment of others? Not really. It depends on your own view as well, so it's either you admire them or is cussing right on their face. No in-between.
"Oh, the butcher is here."
Hearing those words despite of the cheerful tone used by Hinami simply made Clerie frozen in place, not trying to bother looking at the approaching figure of a tall guy, with a huge built and too much muscles, a little more obvious now with bulging veins on his temples after hearing the nickname. It doesn't help that he's wearing a tight white shirt, enveloping his body like a snakeskin waiting to be shed off. What's with big guys and small clothes?
"What are you up to? Knowing my title means you know my reputation, what have you got that makes you so confident that I won't snap your neck right now?"
"Oh, don't worry, we didn't see you a for neck massage."
Walking towards him with her head held high, literally, as she need to crane her neck just to see him eye-to-eye, Jia didn't break the gaze and just strides casually.
"Provide us a pass to the underground ring, bet for me, and I'll win all matches served, and get you more money than your current picks."
A boisterous laughter.
"I don't think you should sound so confident. You smell nothing like us. Or of anyone else at all. Why am I even bothering talking to you?"
"If I say I can clear a portion of your debt tonight, Keno Alles, would you let me in to your playground?"
With a few steps he's in front of her, leaning forward and pointing on her forehead, pressing until his nail starts digging on her skin.
"Be careful of your choices of words. I don't like your tone of talking to someone like me. And you don't have the right to call me by my name."
But she moved her head closer instead.
"Come on, you won't listen to a respectful tone either way, you won't bother talking to me if I act passive. So... want to make a bet?"
As he started laughing after hearing the question from such a small girl, he expected to see her cower in fear like the other two moving away to avoid getting hurt, he presumes. However, what came next before he could mock her in return was a high kick directly to his neck.
If he wasn't the 'butcher', he knows his cervical spine would have already been crushed from the impact.
"Who said you could laugh now that I'm talking seriously?"
His label was not given to him for nothing, but he can't brush off the sensation of being cornered after seeing her looking at him straight in his eyes with a blank stare. As if he's about to fight a marionette controlled by some maniac who doesn't care if she got destroyed in the process.
"Would you talk to me properly now?"
In an instant, he knew he needed to be serious in front of this strange lady.
But before he could even counterattack he gets pushed as she slams into him as if she doesn't mind getting injured as long as she could land a hit.
"Who the heck are you? Little demon. From what clan? Are you trying to deceive me by covering your scent?"
He's seated across them, lungs gasping for air as he received continuous blows without too much breaks. Her form in fighting was ragged, but she's flexible enough in changing course of direction with every punch he gives in return of hers. Even her moves were unpredictable, and that's saying something with the 'butcher' she's facing.
Like a jester, playing along with the crowd.
As much as he hated to admit it, he felt inferior to her, and only a handful of people could par up to him when it comes to brute strength. Even among the clans he had known of, their own kind is on top when it comes to physical prowess, that even without any training or practice of the martial arts they can compete with those on top of the 'food chain' without breaking a sweat.
It is a fact that he's got a lot of debt and he can solve his problem faster if he steps in the underground ring, but as he's bound by some kind of agreement with one of the elders in his clan, he can only recruit someone else to fight in his place and earn him money by having a winning streak. He has always been out of luck in picking someone strong with mind balanced enough to convey strategies in an actual fight though. And there's also a limit from which he can get someone from his own kind, as they are actually small in number, and has the natural habit of being on their own and not depending nor working for others.
And that very same man proud of his brute strength, though still standing up, is clutching his side feeling it hurt every time he breathes deeply.
"Why would I pretend to be a human? Even if I'm not, what's the point in hiding it? I won't even be able to pass by that snotty gate guard no matter how much I can deceive everyone else."
"Then how the hell did you beat me if you're not one of us? That's nonsense."
"Let's just say… I'm a special case."
It's not everyday someone comes to him and becomes a pawn willingly. Might as well take advantage of it. As much as her guts irritates him, he could never deny respecting her strength, just how his clan do so.
"I'll admit defeat. Be ready for tonight's event, I'll-"
"We can go there later. You won't need to bother with formalities and finding a way to get us there. I just need three passes."
"Are you taking Clerie with you as well?"
"No, no, she's have had enough of us today."
They both looked for a moment towards the said girl, hands on her hair as if about to pull it off from her scalp out of frustration with the destroyed windows and a hole in place of the bench press machine. Hundreds of thousands, blown away like it's nothing.
"I hope you'll still welcome us here the next time we return for a visit."