Chapter Forty-Eight - A Date

    Chapter Forty-Eight - A Date

    Pick your Battles.

    --Bloodsuck 2027

    ***

    I wanted to do something nice for Lucy. Not for any reason in particular, it was always...

    Id had a dream once, while scrolling through my media feeds and looking at videos of some celebrities living the high life. People with a lot of money and a lot of fame, just doing things and probably not realizing that there were people like me, so, so far below them wishing they were in their shoes.

    It was a stupid sort of day-dream at the time. A what if I could go to that kind of place? or what if I pulled up somewhere in that kind of supercar? Idle fantasies to forget that life was shit, if just for a moment.

    Life wasnt so shit anymore though.

    Ready to go home? I asked Lucy.

    She turned, coat swirling around her, and for a moment clinging to her sides and hips in a way that made my heart skip. Arent we home here? she asked with the kind of dimply smile she always had when she was being cheesy.

    I looked past her and to the museum, our home. Yeah, but not yet, I said. I wouldnt say something like wherever you are is home. Shed poke me and call me sappy.

    Alright. Do you know if the kittens are alright?

    I blinked a few times, navigating through the menus in my augs until I found the status screens for my new cat-mecha. They were all green, and the preview windows that showed me what the robots were seeing revealed glimpses of the kittens in the penthouse, playing games and being lazy little shits. Theyre fine, I said. Cmon, food!

    Food! Lucy agreed with a cheer. She brought her arms up and made a familiar grabby gesture. With a roll of my eyes I turned around and didnt protest when she jumped onto my back.

    Youre not twelve anymore, you know, I said as I grabbed her under the knees and pulled her up.

    I refuse to believe that, Lucy said. I am eternally youthful and adorable.

    I laughed as I carried her out the front of the museum.

    Our ride, the Charon Limo-Taxi, was still waiting for us on the roof. It was a bit of a pain getting up there with Lucy weighing me down, especially since she kept complaining about my back-mounted guns digging into her stomach. Not that that was enough to get her to let go, of course.

    Alright, now get off, I said as I stopped next to the taxi.

    Not gonna tuck me in? she asked as she leaned her chin onto my head.

    Nope, but I might drop your skinny ass.

    She mock-gasped. My ass isnt skinny, its perfect and plump and all that is right in the world.

    Um? Lucy asked.

    I grinned. I thought we could grab a bite, you know, before grabbing burgers for the kittens.

    Lucy looked out the windows. Some men in nice suits and women that had to be models were waiting in a line to enter, a serious looking man at the door checking them off on a floating tablet. This place looks a bit extra.

    My grin wavered a little. Youd rather go somewhere else? I asked.

    Lucy hesitated, eyed me, then smiled back. Nah, this is fine. Wish Id come dressed for the occasion.

    You look fine, I said.

    Youre biased.

    I jumped out of the car and ran around the back to open the door for Lucy and to give her a hand out. She giggled at the gesture and stretched. Our little taxi was fancy, but it was out-fancied by all the rides parked around the multi-level parking machines on the other side of the driveway. It was one of those with glass sides so that people could gawk at everyones hundred-million credit supercars.

    I entwined my fingers with Lucys, and we skipped up the steps to the front. Do we have a reservation, Myalis? I asked.

    Of course.

    Cool! I said as I walked past all the fancy sorts and up to the waiter-guy at the front. Yo! I said. Reservation for Stray Cat and Lucy, I said.

    The man paused in the act of talking to someone important looking. Um, the line is right there, maam, he said.

    The dude in front of him, some chubby guy in a suit with a New Montreal pin on his lapel glared at me. Rather rude, he said.

    Ive been called worse, I said. So, we got seats?

    Maam, youre supposed to wait in line, the waiter said.

    I dont do great with lines, I explained.

    The man nodded. I understand. La Maison des Roi can be a very exciting place. Nonetheless, regardless of status, we ask that all of our guests have the common courtesy to wait their turn. Please.

    I pouted and Lucy giggled, but the guy was right. So I went to the back of the line and pretended not to notice some folk smiling at the bit of drama.

    Youre an idiot, Lucy said.

    I thought we could cut in, I said.

    This isnt some cinema, she said. Its a proper fancy place.

    Yeah yeah, laugh it up. Well see if you think its all that when you cant read the menu on account of its fanciness.