Walking into the kitchen Barb looked over at the two that had been occupying her table for the last two mornings.
The smell of fresh coffee chased the scent of horses and corn out of the farmhouse. Leaving only the note of leather, fresh brew, and the governmental paper that the two were working on filling out.
The early November sun peeked through the pulled curtains so they could see the papers they were working on.
Psyis sat drinking out of Jack's mug, already dressed in what had suddenly become her favorite dress.
Not a thought the Kansas native had ever imagined would cross her mind.
The yellow piece had been left behind in Kansas, apparently forgotten until the man worth wearing it for had appeared. The out-of-season piece finally finding its way out of the closet to have its moment at the tail end of fall.
The older woman leaned back and took a long measure of the man who sat opposite her daughter. Watching as they each test the waters with each other, pulling back at the barest ripple.
She’d at first been undecided, almost leaning back towards the Blanes. If Psyis went back to that Steven boy she’d at least be well taken care of which was better than nothing.
Powers, aliens, or otherwise the wisen woman knew everyone needed some kind of support and financial was better than the nothing Psyis had in Centropolis.
After two days she still remained undetermined about this Izime.
Psyis’ new man was nothing but trouble of the kindest sort and it worried her mother immensely. Barb knew she didn’t have time to wait on these two who were wasting it 'figuring things out' as kids called it these days.
The worst part was her daughter still hadn’t left, so Bard hadn’t had a single damned second to try and straighten the man out.
Barb had seen frightened barn cats with more confidence than the two.
The cowgirl was a bit surprised to see the heroine triple-guessing every touch. Pysis was clearly scared of running the man off just with a bit of flirting. It was one thing to be cautious in love, another if he was going to waste her little girl's time. In her day you just saddled up and made the ride work; something this boy needed to get through his head.
Preferably soon, so she could see some striped grandkids or whatever popped out of the combination of a thessian and human.
“It's fine, let me finish these documents OK?” Izime reached up and stopped Psyis as she tried to start worrying away at his neck again before glancing down at the tax documents below him.
Taking a steadying breath before he marked a few more numbers down, trying to trudge through the swamp Karen Wallin had thrown him into. Izime rubbed at teal eyes that were already tired from reading physical print this morning, half considering trying to talk Cradle into helping for a fifth time.
Looking over at the person who had been helping, occupying the chair beside him for hours at a time, Izime’s steady breath turned into an unsteady sigh.
Reaching out he stopped Psyis’ hand once more, glad when she'd devoted her attention to his words instead of the papers so he could apologize properly, “I'm sorry if I sound like I’m blowing off the effort you’ve put in. It's taking a minute for all this to process, I’ve got a lot on my plate all of a sudden.”
“Yeah, Karen will do that to you.” Psyis agreed looking down at the files on Izime’s side of the table.
The threats that had been leveled at him legally were designed to target his financial assets. The IRS had almost tactical strike levels of information on Izime’s business that would have only come from one source within the League.
“Someone let slip that I'd been exporting let's just call it that,” Izime explained as he followed Psyis’ eyes, pushing the papers back a bit as he reached for his cup of coffee.
The words weren’t specific but they both knew who had it out for Izime the most at the moment; right behind the tax officials, there was a Blane pointing his finger.
Izime instead blamed only the hound that’d been set on his heels, “The government clearly wants it's due if I'm going to get any kind of citizenship here. I could buy my way out but that feels like losing you know.”
“It could speed up the process.” Psyis nodded as she tried to be understanding. The zeros on the page scared her mind and bank account into senselessness, it wasn’t something the Kansas farm girl could grasp so easily.
The thessian simply falling back on the line Dark Night often used to explain spending anything near that amount, “Money helps solve a lot of problems.”
It's only a few billion.
The thought only crossed Izime’s mind for a second before his bond came bursting through both the mental connection and physically through the air.
“Ow!” Izime yelped as he snapped his head back, Cradle appearing in an explosion of nanites to peck at his cheek.
With a shrug Izime rolled his shoulder and dumped the greedy bird onto the table, pointing a finger down at his feisty child as he warned it. “Chill it was just a thought.”
Psyis pulled back in surprise of her own, the thin line of blood Cradle had drawn looking like a tiny papercut under Izimes eye. The trail it was starting to leak looking much worse than the actual wound.
“Everything OK?” Psyis asked, glancing down worriedly at the bird that was croaking in irritated warning back at Izime’s finger. The raven acting completely out of character for its usual docile demeanor with its bond.
“We've been trying to talk through some stuff.” Izime rolled his eyes looking down at his bond, still discussing why it scratched him. Making sure Cradle knew he wouldn’t just part with a vast sum of their wealth to save a few hours of paperwork.
“I guess it is not going well?” Psyis winced slightly, standing to go and get a paper towel so Izime could clean himself up. She came back to find her time wasted, both the blood and scratch gone.
Instead of asking questions or complaining Psyis just smiled, watching as Izime rolled Cradle around on the papers. Glad to see that the two weren’t having any real issues because of her mess.
“Things are simpler and more complicated for Ravens. Cradle still doesn't think too highly of you but appreciates the effort, it just wishes the attention didn't come at a price.” Izime explained the gist of the raven's issues with Psyis and him.
Izime took the now useless paper towel as he revealed why he’d been punished, spending their assets to avoid any court time, “Not your fault that its food sells really well so I'm getting punished for my expensive tastes in women.”
“It's not my fault the IRS went after your assets, I didn't tell anyone.” Psyis held her hands up as she took her seat back, the raven eyeing her now. The thessian looking over at Izime trying to distance herself from the effect even further, all while knowing she was a part of the cause, “I... don't want to apologize for him, that's a habit I'd rather let die.”
“I know and it's not your fault.” Izime agreed not nearly as bothered as Cradle was with the issue. Holding out the paper towel to Cradle who snipped at it in frustration Izime put the blame where it belonged, “It's his problem, I just wanted to let you know so you're not surprised if anything else pops up.”
The raven threw a fit as money was wasted rampantly in the human mating dance. Cradle almost cried out as it tracked the latest data on the expenses of courtship among bipedals discovering that even among aliens, humans had ranked among the highest.
All three at the table jumped a bit as a third spoke, Barb finally making her presence known as she moved to get her own cup of coffee.
“I’ll handle that Blane boy.” Barb sniffed out curtly not bothering to look at the two startled cats at the table. The old cowgirl knew they’d both look like wide-eyed fence sitters that’d been caught yowling, she was just glad they were quiet about it.
She just continued on, watching as the black liquid filled the mug in her hand. “If he does a’thing to far I’ve got’n a lawyer of my own. You two worry about get’n sorted so I can see some little'ins before I’m dead an gone.”
“Mrs. Cent.” Izime almost spat out his coffee as the old woman demanded he reproduce with her daughter on a more timely schedule.
The AI immediately turned to the other half that had been so abruptly summoned to perform asking for support. “I-uh... Psyis?”
“He's not agreed to anything yet Mom.” Psyis didn’t bother looking at the culture shocked Izime who was likely once again realizing having data on something was completely different than being in it.
The thessian hoped the AI stayed well out of it while she handled her human mother's demands for grandchildren.
“His eyes say otherwise,” Barb accused Izime with a few words and a simple nod before turning that same scrutinizing gaze on her own daughter.
Giving Psyis the same verbal poke, unhappy with everything it seemed except for the problem she’d dragged home. “Taught you everything but taste it seems, but there's no count'n fer that. At least you finally decided to make your mark a bit more appropriately today taking him out n'stead of gnawin on him.”
“We're no-” Izime started to refute, looking between the two women who were deciding his fate openly without him. Hoping that the sudden bucket of sense would stop the run-away fire Barb was causing as she egged her daughter on he spoke to the room at large, “We’re just going shopping at the local super-center, not eloping at the local courthouse.”
“I am going with you to stake my claim.” Psyis patted Izime hand watching his face deadpan as she broke the news to him. The dressing up was for him but what it signified was for every single gossip-monger in the small Kansas town, and there were a few.
Many with a reach farther than one would think considering the local competition was Leona who hosted on an actual new channel. They’d had to step up their game in order to bring a bit of dignity to the title after an actual journalist had moved in.
“She say's you can sing and play guitar, and you thought she’d let ye wander?” Barb scoffed at the young man who obviously didn’t realize his own market worth in the country town, clarifying the other reason behind Psyis joining him.
The old woman gave her daughter the same accusing look back as she threw her under the bus, telling her not to bother with getting snippy over it, “Don't look at me like that, if you want to stake anything start telling him that shit and stop yer whisper-talking at me.”
"Seriously Pi?” Izime looked over at Psyis a bit aghast at the notions she had of him running off with some woman. He’d never even been in a relationship, now reeling from what felt like an arranged courtship at the hands of the country woman’s family.
That feeling of being in over his head only grew as the other family member in the room shook her head at him disapprovingly.
“That'd be one mark ‘gainst you.” Barb sat up from the counter, pointing at Izime over her cup of coffee as she warned him against using the now burnt-out term, “Don't use Steven's nickname for her.”
“Come one lets just go shopping OK,” Psyis said as she pulled at Izime hand, both glad and upset at her mom once more. It was true she didn’t like the name, but it was something she could discuss with Izime.
Just like she could have told him that she didn’t want him singing at the local bars for cash. Psyis didn’t need some drunk hussie dragging Izime off to the bathrooms and ruining his opinions of certain things.
Deciding she'd feel a bit safer settling into her situationship with Izime without her mom's assistance, Psyis went to get the truck keys while Izime cleaned up the table.
Barb nodded in farewell, giving the young man a smile of appreciation as he carefully stacked the papers and cleared a spot on the table. At least having enough manners to clean up before her daughter dragged him away, too used to home to clean the mess she'd left behind at all.
Watching as he finally scurried off to chase the skirt he seemed so hung up over Barb listened as the door closed before finally taking her seat at the table.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Wondering if she’d pushed a bit too hard, her daughter's frustration played out as the sounds of the farm truck outside spinning gravel reached in side the farmhouse.
“Does Steven actually call you Pi?” Izime asked, watching the fence posts go by a bit quicker than he felt comfortable with as the truck flew down the very long and wide driveway. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel safe, he knew it wasn’t; the AI absolutely hated automobiles.
There was also the added fact that Psyis was clearly upset at both her mom and in some way, Izime sensed him as well. So being in a metal box with the irritated thessian didn’t make him feel any safer either.
Psyis looked over at Izime’s nervousness before glancing down at the speedometer and taking her foot off the gas a bit.
A bit glad that Izime was the one bringing the topic up, and a bit regretful that she was about to let Steven taint a relationship that’d yet to start; already knowing what Izime was going to ask for.
“He does actually, still even though I’ve asked him to stop.” Psyis answered his question before explaining where Steven had gotten the idea, “Sweety pie is kind of a twist on my mom's nickname for me.”
“Blueberry, I'm not using that though,” Izime said, clarifying that he was aware of the name. Explaining further, wanting to differentiate his term for Psyis from the others. “Or sweetie pie it's totally diff-”
He’d not made it more than a few words in before Psyis cut him off, vetoing his use of the name.
Psyis tried to keep from shaking her head, not wanting Izime to waste his time trying to get the term of affection OK’ed through other means. The woman not wanting to hear another explanation about how it should be allowed because Steven was the one responsible for tainting the word or that she was too sensitive.
“It sounds close enough, mom wasn’t lying even if she wasn’t being nice about it” With a bit of a sad tone Psyis explained why her mother had spoken up before agreeing with her as well. “I really don’t like a dessert being used as a term of endearment for me.”
“OK, well to me you're the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter; never-ending and irrational.” Izime crossed his arms explaining regardless, holding his nose a bit higher in the air as he clarified further. “Not a piece of pie but 3.141592653589-”
“Tha-” Psyis realized Izime was referring to the stupid squiggle they’d put in math books and held competitions over who could remember more digits of. Rewinding what he’d said before spewing off numbers she focused on the actual brieft two-word description aside from the definition.
I'm never-ending and irrational?
White brows furrowing as her cheeks tinted a bit, Psyis pursed her lips and asked Izime to come clean. “Is my nickname a mathematical insult?”
“Dunno know one's ever figured out all of Pi even me. As irrational as it is and despite the fact no one knows how it ends we still use it, because the number just works. In math, things would kind of fall apart without it.” Izime shrugged, as he explained how he felt about Pi. The AI enjoyed the duality of the number in comparison to the thessian as he asked for permission once more, “Can I keep using it?”
“Yeah.” Psyis kept her reply simple, too busy reading into all the new meanings behind her new-old nickname. Looking over at the AI that’d finally settled on something besides Stupid Purple she couldn’t resist giving him a bit of grief for causing her blush, “God you’re such a nerd.”
“Good because the other options were a whole lot worse sounding,” Izime said happily as he smiled, looking over and using one of the failed names he’d thought up instead. “Square of two.”
“Ew.” Psyis crinkled her nose at the name immediately glad she’d given Izime permission to stick with Pi.
“The first irrational number ever discovered didn’t click like Pi did but the other one's still in consideration,” Izime explained the thought process behind that particular choice.
Looking over as the truck bounced, that grin now splitting his face as he revealed the final option. “Hippasus.”
“Pi is fine!” Psyis yelled as magenta now swallowed her cheeks. The thessian was a bit unable to handle the switch in the almost docile Izime that disappeared once they were in private that was brave enough to joke inappropriately with her.
Turning her eyes from the road for just a moment she warned the AI to keep watching that mouth, “If you ever call me that in front of my mom, I swear Izime.”
Izime laughed for a moment before sitting back in the seat to watch the fenceposts as they went by.
His mind for once not bothered with forms, relationships, or legal issues that spawned from both. Content for a moment in the silence that was eating slightly at the woman across from him.
Psyis glanced over at the space that was left unoccupied between her and Izime.
He’d wanted space and here she was days later providing him with a scant few feet, feeling like a clingy teen. All the while feeling just as legitimately scared of the possibilities she imagined when he wasn’t there. Nagging doubts ate at her brain until they finally worked their way out of her mouth.
“I’m not, you know, being too much am I?” Psyis kept her eyes forward as she asked the question, not brave enough to watch Izime’s face. If a dishonest answer crept out of his mouth she’d just accept it blindly.
Swallowing back the bitter coffee she’d settled on for breakfast she continued, “I know you wanted a week and I said I was going to leave but...”
“I think telling your mom to keep me on a leash is going a bit far,” Izime replied as he reached across the bench seat taking Psyis hand knowing that discussing it would likely trigger another attack. Trying to calm the trembling that was creeping through her as he gave a comforting squeeze, explaining that the fear was natural. “The panic attacks are understandable.”
“How do you do it?” Psyis asked, proud she’d kept the tremble out of her voice even as the shaking grew a bit worse. Hand clenched on the wheel, the thessian wished Izime could have driven now so she could break down. Instead, Psyis just kept venting as she kept her eyes on the road, her fingers finally loosening as a second hand joined the first. “I’m waking up each morning wondering if I’ll be erased and it's… thanks.”
“I spent my first bits of life as data, so that was every day,” Izime recalled his early years, detailing how he’d survived the unnatural jungle of data.
Hiding not only from the carnivorous fangs of packet sniffers but the almighty hands that could erase entire sectors and wipe drives from existence. Explaining casually how he’d gone through the same near-manic horror of realizing there were things that could overwrite his sense of self.
The AI found the words coming surprisingly easy as the fence posts flew by, “I mitigated the fear by copying myself, not something you can do but… at the end of it, I realized it was just death in another way. A grim reaper in code was still the grim reaper.”
“Data or biological, I’d have been overwritten with ones and zeros you’d be turned into worms.” Izime closed his hoping the calm feelings he was trying convey through his hands didn’t clash against his words too hard. Leaning into Psyis slightly, not wanting to seem insincere with how he was minimizing both perspectives at once. “You're just freaking out of my version of dying.”
“That's not comforting but I guess it does make it more acceptable. I’d just be dead either way.” Psyis looked down from the road for a moment, watching as Izime’s hand left hers. Scooting back across the bench seat to buckle in his seatbelt as they’d reached the end of the gravel road.
Psyis pulled out towards the closest town and quickly reached highway speeds as Izime switched topics changing the pace of their conversation.
“Now about your whole claim over me?” Izime decided to distract himself by bringing up Psyis’ slightly jealous nature.
The real reason it bugged Izime was mostly because it wasn’t like he was out, or had ever been out, looking for a relationship. The thought had only crossed his mind recently and only because of the woman who was already apparently worried he’d stray.
“It's a smaller town and obviously the Cent’s are well known, and so am I. Going out with a pretty girl dressed like this says something, especially in such a small town.” Psyis tried to excuse herself, knowing that the difference in attitudes was probably a bit off-putting.
It’d been the whole reason she’d asked if he was OK with her sticking around earlier. Aside from wanting to stay close to Izime because of her new onset of mental issues, her presence was intentional as she was openly trying to get Izime to agree to a relationship of some sort. This time at least with her expensive white leather half-coat and some matching stockings on to go with her dress.
The November chill had only gotten worse as she boldly pursued an AI none had successfully pursued before. Psyis now openly admitted to trying to amend their deal. “I am making my intentions with you well known.”
Izime glanced over at Psyis who looked every bit a modern country debutante in her attention-getting attire. It was clear she was sending a message about new beginnings with its bright colors meant to draw eyes. Clashing visibly as the autumn season came to a close, setting Psyis off like a firework amid the dull seasonal tones.
The entire outfit style politely rewarded the attention it garnered, subtly revealing a form that only made Izime more self-conscious of how dumb he looked in the borrowed jacket and too-new jeans.
The AI complained about the glaring difference in class between them while still raking in his reward, “And I look like a wanna-be hick.”
“You’ll look like my hick and that’s the important thing to focus on here.” Psyis rolled her eyes, reaching over and patting Izime’s hand as she passed over the complaint about Jack’s borrowed jacket giving him a bit more of a view.
His next question however gave her a bit of pause, as she realized Izime probably did deserve a bit of an explanation about why she had gone back on her word.
The panic attacks were only an excuse for staying around Izime and nothing else.
“Is this a part of our deal or just something you wanted to do?” Izime asked, not really reacting to Psyis’ hand as it lingered over his.
If he was helping her avoid a panic attack it was one thing, if she just wanted to hold his hand it was a bit more complicated. The AI knew they already had a problem with appropriate distance and he specifically had a problem with recognizing his emotions.
Izime began to worry he’d asked the wrong question, watching the wheels turn visibly over Psyis’ face. Her pattern slowly bluing as if she was a bit scared of the conclusions she’d come to, or worried about his own response.
“Yes to both. I liked you Izime outside the deal we made.” Psyis swallowed back her fear, trying to find some courage in the fact that Izime had let things get this far.
It was clear he knew how she felt, just a bit goading to hear him directly ask for confirmation. Though she did remind herself that the AI was going to ask all kinds of things during this.
He wasn’t doing it intentionally or to be cruel; he simply might not understand, and he needed that clarification.
Psyis took a breath as she continued with her confession, “I couldn’t even stay mad at you the day I met you and I was pissed that day.”
“No kidding,” Izime smiled as he recalled the day, turning to look at Psyis finding her deadpan. Izime’s question fell short of actually being asked as his words died out. “Did you ever pay for that stoo-”
Psyis’ appreciative nod was all the confirmation he’d needed to know not to interrupt for the next little bit.
The AI twisted in its seat a little as the cab of the truck filled with the thessian’s emotions. He no longer watched the first streets of the small Kansas town pass by, instead giving his attention to the woman talking to him.
“He can bill Centropolis; don’t change the subject.” Psyis tried to keep her tone even as she cut Izime off, feeling a bit foolish thinking he’d immediately start reciprocating. Letting a bit of that irritation tint her tone as she continued, “After that, I learned the asshole I watched eat trash was selling all his decent food instead of eating any of it.”
“The very day it was brought up, you tried to friend-zone me. Then proceeded to get so shitfaced you forgot about it entirely and spent the night wallowing over it with Constantinople.” Psyis turned the wheel towards the large super-center even as she pointed over at Izime as she accused him, realizing now what that handshake had been.
Straightening the wheel she gave a little huff, explaining that he’d been right about some things as well. “Even predicted Dark Squire would hate you because you’d corrupt me.”
“I do remember us flirting thanks, but me? Zero wallowing.” Izime shook his head denying being upset at turning Psyis down. It was illogical to get upset over something that he’d had no control over in the first place; he’d been upset at Constantinople is all.
“You don’t sing covers of Constantinople’s favorite songs in a good mood Izime, not you of all people.” Psyis refuted Izime, refusing to believe that he’d not been bothered by the question they’d left hanging that night.
Smiling a bit, she gave the AI a bit of a playful look, happily confirming his other recollection of the night. “And yes we did, a lot and very badly too.”
Psyis found a decently vacant row in the parking lot and pulled into it, driving down it a ways as she pretended to look for a parking spot. Giving herself an excuse to look distracted while she revealed her decision, “Izime, I’m just going to pretend I said yes that night OK?”
The hardest part over she turned into a spot at last and put the truck in park. Placing her hands back on the wheel she continued to explain why she’d come to make that choice, “Before I knew any of the stuff that only makes that decision harder. I wanted to say yes so I am. I’m worrying about me, what I want to do.”
“You don’t have to say you feel the same because I know you can’t, you’re still learning what you feel. I know you feel something though, just like I do though so...” Psyis looked over quickly worried her one-sided decision would put more pressure on Izime.
Relieved to find him smiling softly at her, giving a single nod to confirm her guess had been right and prompting her to continue.
So she did, Psyis nodding to the people outside the store, one of the larger social gathering areas for the small farming community, she explained. “When we're in public, could you lean into that instead of analyzing it? I don’t think we’ll get out of hand at the local store, and swear I’ll give you space but in those moments could we give us a shot?”
Red eyes searched for a sign of anything on Izime’s face suddenly very self-conscious of how far she’d backtracked on her no from days earlier. Stomach flipping a bit as Psyis tried to read Izime without her powers wondering just what Izime was thinking that was causing the small twitches around his brows.
The small upward pull at his lips slowly settled her nerves as she felt an almost similar excitement from him.
The AI looked at the woman across from him, slowly disconnecting her like she’d asked.
Ignoring the sensible sounding protests of the safety measures he’d placed around the idea of ‘Psyis’ and removing the read-only marker. The human half pulled out the dusty folder where the moments with Psyis had accrued and took an honest look.
Opening it to find every instance where he’d locked her back up all excuses aside from one invalidated, he agreed.
“Yeah,” Izime felt something taming his smile as he took the plunge with Psyis and rolled back their mutual indecision that day. Looking at the woman across from him, Izime wondered if he was lying to himself, or her as he boldly told her.“I can handle that.”
Swallowing dryly the AI realized why it was called falling, the entire sensation was a bit terrifying; at least it would only be why they were in public though.
Watching as Izime glanced out the passenger window she examined his face.
“I hope so because we’re already here.” Psyis said, nodding towards the store they’d parked outside she introduced the local super-center, “Welcome to B’n’B.”
Now after agreeing, he looked even less confident, though she wasn’t just going to hand him back the yes he’d handed her. It was enough to lock him down for now. That bit of security untwisted her heart and nerves more than Izime would ever need to know.
The dread of that next panic attack already lessening as Psyis finally had a verbal anchor.
Besides, even if Izime didn’t quite understand what he felt emotionally Psyis was sure he could learn to love her. She really really hoped he could, but if she failed and didn’t succeed?
Well, he’d already promised her freedom at the end of it all.
“You were not kidding.” Izime’s eyes widened at the sight of the many pallets of product that sat outside the double-story bulk outlet. The AI let out a low whistle as it took a look at the actual bits of humanity it had avoided during its years here. “Buy in Bulk is right.”
Different things from animal feed to cases of carbonated beverages. Almost like someone had taken the concept from his reality and injected it with performance-enhancing drugs. That or simply check the box under select all when the store had purchased products to sell.
“Yeah, fair warning the mid-west shops like the army fights, so it will be controlled chaos inside.” Psyis gave Izime a bit of side-eye, the store garnering more positive attention than her conversation had was all the proof she needed.
At least he said yes, so he can’t go around town saying he’s single. He's mine.
Psyis shoved the thought aside, instead asking Izime what exactly he wanted to go shopping for as she opened her door and got out, “What do you need?”
“Food for Cradle, and probably some treats to put it in a better mood,” Izime said as he followed suit, furrowing his brows as he wondered if the store would actually sell the things Cradle needed.
Some things he was looking for it obviously would but others he wasn’t so sure. The odds that this B’n’B had rechargeable batteries that were lithium-based were pretty good. The odds they had an electronics selection that stocked PC parts not so much.
So Izime instead listed off the things he figured they’d have a better chance finding inside, “Some clothes that look a little less like I just got done with legal processing. Then we need to stop by the post office and lunch maybe if we’re still out by then.”
Finally walking around the side of the truck to find Psyis already waiting with her arm out.
Psyis looped an arm through Izime’s, feeling him stiffen for a moment as she pulled him closer. Glad to wrap her hand under his warmer jacket she walked with him towards the entrance, adding another stop on their route for the morning. “I want to take you to a phone store.”
Looking over Psyis explained her intentions behind the larger purchase to Izime. “I might be able to manage Centropolis if I know I can just call you.”
“Yeah?” Izime said a bit doubtful, already pointing out a flaw in Psyis' idea as he pulled up his pants leg to reveal a bit of Dark Nights tech. “What about if you actually have a panic attack, because I’m not snapping anywhere with this thing on.”
All of his magic usage and movements were being monitored by the League and unless cleared beforehand the box would counter any snaps he tried to make.
“Oh, I forgot about that,” Psyis replied, realizing she’d completely forgotten that Izime was under strict watch now, at least until he was actually confirmed to be residing at the proper address with his sponsor.
The thessian had a sneaking suspicion that Dark Nights monitoring would only tighten down further when Izime did eventually move to Centropolis. The nod Izime gave her let her know they both knew the paperwork would be under Dark Night's name alone.
The two headed inside the small town Kansas shopping center unaware that Psyis' intention and Izime's willingness to see her smile would send ripples across both coasts of the United States of America, and a few AU’s beyond that as well.