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It was a relatively normal day for Akiko with one task she had that she wasn't looking forward too. She had to stop by Sloth’s place to ask her some questions Embrace was wanting to know about her experience with Embracing. She doesn't hate Sloth she just finds her irritating, her lax personality and demeanor being everything Akiko isn’t.
Knock, knock
No answer of course the lazy bum was probably asleep, sometimes it felt to Akiko that Sloth spent more time sleeping than awake. Akiko just dug around in her bag for a spare key Sloth had given her a while ago. Sloth wasn't exactly close with many people so it would be better if someone could reach her in an emergency. Sliding her key in Sloth’s door she turned the knob and opened the door. Sloth knew she was coming so Akiko figured it would be fine to let herself in.
Her apartment was somewhat clean for once. Only a couple of articles of clothing were on the floor, the kitchen was surprisingly clean too. Sloth could be seen asleep on the couch, obscured under a blanket.
“Hello…. Sloth?” Akiko said breaking the calm quiet of the room. She did however get a response. Rising up from couch was someone who definitely wasn't Sloth. She had to be a good foot or more shorter than Sloth and had bright red hair too. She was familiar but Akiko couldn't place a name right away.
“Her names Rio, and since your wondering I’m Marcella, other wise known as Oracle but you probably know that given your hobbies” responded the red hair girl who had now made her self known.
Wait Oracle as in Project Oracle, the mind-reader from Sirentech? Was the first question on Akiko’s mind. Oracle is famous for her ability, there no one close to as strong at her when it comes to mental stuff, and she's in Sloth Rio’s apartment? Is Sirentech working with Sloth Rio? Before Akiko could get another question out she heard a familiar voice, and saw a familiar face rise above from behind the couch.
“Oh, hey sup Kiki, what are you doing here?” asked Rio without a care in the world that she had just been found asleep on the same couch as Project Oracle.
“You guys were supposed to have a meeting about ten minutes ago, but it seems one of you happened to forget about that very meeting.” said Marcella as she gave Rio a light punch to her shoulder.
“Did I? Oops sorry. Don’t worry Kiki is chill she wont out ya” responded Rio.
“Hmm” responded Oracle who then turned towards a stunned Akiko. “Yeah she wont snitch.”
What should we do about her? She seems kind of broken? Thought Rio to her partner.
“Hmm give her a minute I’m sure she’ll be fine in a bit. Any ideas for breakfast? I think there's some leftover pancakes which would be easy”
That sounds good, think you could take care of getting me a plate while I check on Kiki? Rio asked in her head.
“Sure thing but you might wanna make sure you actually talk aloud so she can hear the conversation.” Said Marcella.
“Oh crude yea, thanks for the reminder” replied Rio as she turned back to face Akiko.
With that Marcella hopped off the couch and headed over to the fridge and pulled out a tubberware with some pancakes inside as if she already knew where they were before she opened the fridge. Akiko on the other hand was losing it. They were cuddling on the couch?! They have conversations through mind-reading like its a normal thing to do? Oracle is familiar with Rio’s apartment and knows where everything is? Is she why Rio’s place is so clean? Are they dating?!?!
“Hey Rio, I think your project is losing it” said Marcella after sparing a glance into Akiko’s mind.
“Yea I think so, she's got a little bit of drool falling out of her her mouth and her eye’s doing this weird twitching thing. Hmmm… I’m gonna slap her around a little and see if that gets her back to normal” said Rio as she got off the couch and started approaching Akiko who was still standing in the doorway. Before Rio could get close enough to Akiko, she shook herself awake.
“Ho- How… long have you been dating…?” stuttered Akiko while she wiped her mouth on her sleeve.
“We prefer the term partners, and there wasn’t a specific date we became a thing on, it kind of just happened.” responded Marcella.
“How the hell do you two of all people become a thing” asked Akiko in a exasperated voice.
“Did you know about my stint monitoring Embrace and all that?” replied Marcella.
“Yea I heard about it from Yuriko of course, Why?” said Akiko.
“Well that job sucked ass, every single one of them are the most useless lesbians I’ve ever met, watching them all have the collective emotional intelligence of a rock was killing me. Luckily one day I happened to run into Rio while stalking all of Embrace. Turns out she makes great company and also is fed up with useless lesbians… you included” Marcella said while she was grabbing various things from around the kitchen. Rio however had crawled back into the couch and was watching Akiko with a silly grin plastered across her face.
“What I’m not a usel-…” was all Akiko managed to get out before she quickly realized arguing with a mind reader was hardly a battle she could win.
“Need I remind you how long it took for you and Yuriko to admit your feelings to each other. Compared to you two we have a far more normal relationship.”
At that Akiko slowly made her way to a couch and slumped down with a blank stare, clearly still processing everything. Marcella however had finished making two plates of leftover pancakes with fruit and syrup and had brought them over to Rio. Rio however was too distracted with teasing her project by poking her till she responded which didn't seem to be working.
“She’s still broken Riri, come on I got you your pancakes.” Said Marcella as she sat down besides Rio on the couch and set Rio’s portion on the coffee table in front of her. Rio, easily distracted, turned to the food and dove into with a vigor she rarely had.
They have nicknames for each other? Riri? Just how close are they, does Rio have a nickname for Oracle? Wondered Akiko still stuck in a daze.
“Please call me Marcella, its not like were on duty or anything. And Riri’s nickname for me is for my ears only.”
Me and Yuriko don’t even have nicknames for each other. Just how close have they gotten? It cant have been that long since they initially met right?
“To be completely honest we practically started living together within weeks of meeting each other. The siren tech dorms are nice but a place like this is more my style.”
Their Uhaul lesbians?!?!? Crap, they actually are a normal functioning couple. She thought.
“That's what I’ve been trying to tell you this entire time. Regardless I don’t think your in a state capable of discussing your whole Embrace and that stuff with Rio so how about you come back in a day once you’ve had some time to process stuff, okay?”
“Sounds good to me, she’s still kind of broken. Wanna continue the game from last night?” said Rio.
“I got an assignment later tonight but that sounds like a wonderful way to spend the rest of my day till then.” With that Marcella grabbed a controller from the coffee table and proceeded to turn on the TV and navigate some menu.
“You wanna guide your broken Project to the door. I kind of just want time alone with you not that Akiko isn't a nice person to be around but she doesn't compare to you” said Marcella.
Sure thing, the game was “Embric of Wulfhammer’s Castle” in case you don’t remember. Thought Rio as she got up and pulled Akiko with her ushering her to the door. Akiko still silent, caught in as mental spiral of confusion. Before she knew it a door was shut behind her and she was alone with her thoughts once again. She had bad expectations for the day but this far exceeded her expectations but also somehow wasn't too infuriating. She got quick concise answers to her questions very unlike Rio but of course this time it wasn't Rio doing the talking. Marcella had seen fit to answer most questions for her. She appreciated the blunt honest answers she got but it was also somehow just as infuriating as if she was dealing with Sloth. With her head hung low Akiko started walking home deciding to take her time for once and walk and think through all she had just experienced.