Looking down from the canopy towards Parasite’s hollow in the tree, Corbeau watched him start to make use of the gift he gave him. It was a bit terrifying seeing him toddle around with a sharp object at his size, but he knew Parasite was more than capable with his mature mental capabilities. It was still curious though to see him swell up to full size for him then he plopped down in the middle of some tall grass.
*****
Parasite brushed his hand through the stalks of grass looking for some good uniform lengths. They were all towering over him, but he happened to find about a dozen that were all about 1 meter tall and 2 centimeters wide all in the same bundle. Reaching for the base of these, he trimmed them down to about 5 centimeters from the ground. After he laid the bundle to the side, he gripped the base of the grass still in the ground and began to Infuse the stems to regrow them back to their original height before cutting them down again. He repeated this a few more times before leaving them fully grown. With a good starting base of tall grass, he gathered up the bundle and extended his tendrils into the individual blades. Focusing on the water inside of the cut plants, he began to Absorb the liquid from them to dry them out and lighten his load. He kept the tendrils extended as he dragged them back to the hollow.
He dropped the bundle and sat next to them leaning up against the tree. Grabbing a couple blades of the grass, he began to fold and weave them together. He saw Corbeau fly down from the tree and come a bit closer hopping in the path between the venomous brambles. The silly bird kept tilting his head back and forth to watch what Parasite was doing with the grass. As the hours passed, the weave began to take form. He created a small satchel then to finish it off, braided a strap with some of the extra grass. Using one last piece, he wrapped up the arrowhead to prevent it from cutting through satchel before placing it inside. To finish his creation, he Absorbed the last of the water from it to dry it out and set the form.
This should help me explore out a little further and bring things back. I’ll weave a cover for the entrance to the hollow next. Maybe reinforce it with some sticks. Then I can work on some creature comforts maybe a pillow or cushion. Still need to figure out a gift for Manasa and Corbeau though. Parasite began to tackle the rest of his current projects as he thought deeper on what he could do for his friends.
*****
Corbeau tilted his head and gave Parasite one last look before he flew up into his nest and roosted. Nuzzling his head under his wing, he released Commandeer from the raven near Parasite and swapped over to the raven in the common room. Taking a look around, he noticed Schema napping on the couch, a Star Chart hanging loosely from one of her hands. If at raven could grin, he would be. Quietly Corbeau hopped over to arm of the couch and proudly fluffed out his feathers while puffing out his chest. Rearing his head back, he let out a piercing croak.
Schema woke with a jerk as the Star Chart tumbled across the floor. Beside her, the raven stood triumphantly with its wings fully spread and let out tiny croaks like laughter while tilting his head to look at her. “Very funny Corbeau, you may as well look at the Star Chart you caused me to drop. It’ll fill you in on my meeting with the big boss.”
Corbeau tilted his head the opposite direction still eyeing her but also the tablet on the floor. Slowly he closed his wings and hopped down to look at the Star Chart. Almost standing on top of it, Corbeau look deep into the tablet with his beak centimeters from the surface. A small point of light could be seen reflecting off of his pitch black eyes. The light faded from the tablet and Corbeau flew back up to the couch’s arm next to Schema. “Watch, Shiny!” Corbeau crowed “Smart!”
Schema reached out to touch Corbeau and Synced the last 24 hours of his memories with her. She saw him watching Parasite use the “shiny” and begin constructing a satchel and some other items. Corbeau kept his distance from him though in these memories and she could feel a sense of hesitance but also fondness in his thoughts. He was fascinated with the boy but at the same time afraid to form too close of a bond with him because of their organization.
“You really are starting to like him aren’t you?” Schema said with a compassionate tone as she softly petted Corbeau’s head before letting her hand fall back to her side. “It is hard to reconcile The Collective sometimes. I mean, we aren’t spies, but we kind of are spying. It makes you feel like you are being intrusive when you start to care about the one you are watching. Trust me, I’ve seen it all. It’s such a messy web of thoughts, but there can be some clarity and reason to it when you see the big picture.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“We collect all this information both to serve as an archive, but also to stop the world from going to hell, or at least a worse hell than it can be sometimes. I think that is why she let you keep interacting with Parasite, make his life a little less like hell for him. So long as you don’t blow your cover.”
Corbeau hopped up to the back of the couch and moved closer to Schema. Perching close to her head, he let out a small coo and gently nuzzled up to her. He softly squawked “Strong Boy. Resilient.”
****
“Well aren’t you a lovey couple!” Schema and Corbeau heard as a door to one of the bedrooms opened and Duplicity stepped out. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit Corbeau, I mean other than Schema’s that is?”
Schema scoffed as she glared at Duplicity watching him as he glided across the room and took a seat in an armchair across from them. He had that sort of smile where you couldn’t quite be sure if he was being charming or looking down on you. Somehow, he seemed trustworthy though. He tended to wear a classic black suit as he was today as well and kept a clean shave and classic haircut. Somehow handsome but also able to blend into a crowd. A seeming duality in one being, but that was not why he got his name, just a character trait or flaw depending how you looked at it.
Schema got up for a second and pulled a Star Chart out of her room. “Corbeau made contact with someone accidentally. Unexpected touch telepathy from the one he was observing.” She said as she tossed him the tablet. “You can take a look if you want. Interesting character who got dealt a shitty hand in life.”
Duplicity gave the Star Chart Schema used to report to their boss a quick look. “I’ve moved in the same circles as that woman before. Glamour always did seem to resonate more with the darker side of my personality, but I didn’t think she would go this low. Perhaps I should make my rounds among the elites of Eminent again. See what happens with her daughter and watch for if her boy makes it out of the woods so to speak.”
“You’ll surely know where to find me Corbeau.” Duplicity said as both stood up and remained seated. A copy of him had come out of the one who remained seated and gracefully strode back across the common room and back into his room. “I’ll leave you two to share a little more alone time.” The seated Duplicity said as he gave a sly wink and started to dissolve into a mist before disappearing.
Before Duplicity fully disappeared, Corbeau gave a suggestive head wobble and seductive whistle to Schema. She began to blush slightly as she playfully pushed Corbeau off the back of the couch. They heard a muffled chuckle come from Duplicty’s room followed by a “Keep it down lovebirds.” Schema blushed even more but held out her arm for Corbeau to perch on. He flew up and gently rested on forearm. Together they went into Corbeau’s room and spent some more time together since all the business talk was now over.
****
Duplicity had a sudden rush of memories to all his other bodies as his body in the common room dissolved. “Looks like I’m about to have fun times again in Eminent.” He said as pulled over to the turn lane heading back into the downtown commercial district. “Heart of the city, heart of the action.” He grinned and made his first stop at the real estate agency to find an apartment nearby. A nice penthouse made to order. It will be built and furnished in the same day guaranteed to be ready for him by six in the evening. Anything can be bought in Eminent with enough money and he needed to stand out so he could hold his own among the city’s elites.
Next step, he went to the city’s premier barber, Coiffeur, partially to get his hair cut but also to hear the news and goings on in the city. Glamour and Guru’s expected child was definitely one of the hot topics. He heard passing mentions of his new penthouse, but they all saw him as a mystery buyer. He would have to make a show of his entrance tonight. Go big to go home.
“Looks like it is time to do get myself a new wardrobe as well.”
Bespoke was his next stop for a head to toe makeover. “I know I make this black suit look good, but from what I hear, your work can make me look good.”
“I like your confidence, let’s find you some pieces that can match that.” Bespoke said with a smile as he began to pull out colors and patterns that were anything but a black suit and tie. “We can start with some new suits that are vogue with Eminent’s current trends.”
Over the next few hours, a flurry of outfits passed in front of Duplicity. From an outrageous suit that made him feel like he was a strutting peacock to an all-white one with gilded golden accents. He had a variety of street clothes prepared, gym clothes, casual, formal, evening wear, any occasion you could think of he had something even a pair of board shorts and swimming briefs for when he needed to make a big splash.
“Bespoke, your choices are impeccable, but I have one more piece I need from you today. What can make for me that will turn heads faster tonight than I turn the key to my new penthouse?”
All Bespoke did was smile and say “Come with me.”