Lee

As the three of them stepped out to in the open, Ben immediately began his role as a tourist. They started with the plaza outside of the Dragon’s Nest. The building had towered over them, casting a shadow of a gothic like building with pointy rooves. It had felt so out of place considering the insides were filled with

Ben: There, you have the Dragon’s Nest.
Monique: Why do they call it that.
Ben: Believe it or not, dragons did exist for a time or two.
Lee: Well, they still exist. According to history, they were the first to teach us the ways of teleportation. They can also sense who or what doesn’t belong.
Monique: Why is that?
Ben: They were the closest species to the Celestials. The original beings who crossed the barriers between realms.
Lee: It was said they passed down the teachings of ancient magic to them.
Monique: Do they still exist?
Ben: Most certainly. Some corps members can apply to be their disciples.
Monique: Really?
Lee: Every year applications are sent to a specific being who would make an excellent candidate, from then on you are tested by that being who will eventually give the title.
Ben: Rumor has it that some individuals are so powerful or strong that they just straight up make you a disciple.
Lee: And, there are only four specific individuals who haven’t declared any disciple in centuries.
Monique: Who are they?
Lee: They’re dragons, specifically: Solomon the Dragon God of Wisdom and Calamity, Ryuuske the Dragon God of War and Rage, Seraphine the Dragon God of Light and Life and Erembour, the Dragon God of Death.
Monique: Why is that?
Ben: No one’s seen them the first three in centuries. And Erembour –––
Lee: Erembour is an asshole.

Ben whispered to Monique.

Ben: He’s applied to be his disciple for years and hasn’t been accepted.
Monique: Oh.

Lee, who overheard shouted

Lee: Word on the street is he’s also responsible for their disappearance.
Ben: Oy! You know there’s no proof to back it up! Besides the final report that Kingdra had documented was that the Celestial Queen Farrah soon disappeared right after the three’s disappearance.

Monique had stopped in her tracks as they were talking a way about the logistics of what happened to those the people who went away. When Lee had noticed, he saw her astonished by the area all around. In all fairness, she stepped away from what seemed like a plain boring old city built on the bay to a futuristic city built upon plain. A few city structures stood as high as 50 stories. Some of these were libraries where people went to read up on the knowledge that’s taught in different worlds while others were nothing but bureaucratic buildings where people went to figure out their living situations to their passports to travel to and from galaxies. People were scattered all around the place. Signs directing people to shopping, eating, and residential areas were strung about. There were even flyers for this year’s Founder’s Festival plastered all over walls that weren’t already decorated on. Lee took a hold of her hand once more.

Lee: I know, it’s a lot to take in. Anywhere you want to go in specific?
Monique: Where do you all hang out?
Ben: H-hang out?
Monique: Yeah, like where do you go after a hard day’s at work or whatever…like what do you kids do?

Ben stared at her like she said another horrendous, or at this point illegal, thing.

Ben: How old do you think we are?
Monique: I assume Lee’s somewhere around 18? And you’re like mid-teens? Like everyone else?

Lee laughed.

Lee: Ouch, that’s gotta hurt dude.
Ben: HOW DARE YOU! I’m the same age as Lee!! I’m only four months younger than him!!

Ben pouted.

Monique: You sure don’t act like it.
Lee: Hahahaha. It’ s quite hard to point out ages here. Time flows differently, but you’re not wrong. I’m turning 21 soon, so is Ben and Danny. Ken should be 19 by now. What about you?
Monique: I think I turned 18 today.

Ben and Lee stopped in their tracks so harsh that it caused Monique to bump into Lee.

Monique: What?
Lee: It’s your birthday today?
Ben: Like today, today!?
Monique: Yeah, it should be October 19^th on the world I came from. So, I think it would be my birthday today. Why?

Lee let go of Monique’s hand to converse secretly with Ben. Or at least secretly as they thought they were conversing with each other.

Lee: Did literally no one know this!?
Ben: Lilith never produced a report. She must’ve been looking all over for her profile!
Lee: So, what the fuck do we do?? Alexis is going to kill us if we celebrate without her.
Monique: You don’t have to.

Monique chimed in.

Monique: It’s not super important anyway.
Ben: HOW DARE YOU! BIRTHDAYS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT!

He grabbed both Monique and Lee by the forearm, yanking the both of them towards, what he knew, were the best bars and restaurants in the area.

Ben: I don’t care if my head comes off cause Alexis found out. We’re going to celebrate your arrival today. Besides, if my wife found out we didn’t celebrate she would kill me. Either way I’m a dead man!
Monique: But it doesn’t matter to me. It’s just a day.
Ben: A very special day.
Monique: Why’s it so special?
Ben: Because you’re here and you’re alive to celebrate it.
Monique: But I –

Lee smiled at her.

Lee: Just think of it this way: You’re being reborn. Call it a rebirthday. We’re celebrating that you’re here now. You’re home.

Monique

Home. A four-letter word used to manipulate her at every turn. A four-letter word used to keep her chained somewhere. She never had a celebration for anything. October 19^th was the same as it always was every year before it. She either celebrated by doing what she normally did, dumpster diving for survival, or she was constantly reminded how little her life meant to the people who birthed her. Constantly reminded where she belonged and where her place was. Yet today was different. Ben urged her to tell him what foods she liked, what drinks she could down in one pour. She shrugged, not really knowing what she really liked.

Ben: Well do you want sweets? Do you like chocolate? Like all girls do?
Monique: I don’t know, did all girls go dumpster diving like I did?
Ben: OH!!! I’VE GOT AN IDEA!
Lee: Please don’t let it be a bad one. And let us go, we are capable of walking.
Ben: GOOD IDEA!!

He proceeded to send him a location to his communication device.

Ben: GO THERE IN LIKE ONE HOUR. THAT’S ALL I NEED.

He then disappeared. Like a flash of a hurricane.

Monique: How do you keep up with a person like him?
Lee: In really small dosages. To be honest, I’m glad he ran away.

Lee glanced at his communicator, then at Monique giving a slight nod.

Monique: So where are we going?
Lee: Well, let’s first find you something…more appropriate than what you’re wearing.
Monique: What they have a dress code?
Lee: Kind of, but I figure you’re not good with short sleeved stuff. So, come with me.
Monique: You sure? I thought we had to be somewhere in an hour?
Lee: He’d probably like it if we showed up in three hours.

She sighed. To her, this wasn’t worth the extravagant detour. She just wanted to know how to relate to people, how to converse with them, how to acclimate to a whole new society. She didn’t ask for celebrations. But, maybe this is how they did things here. Maybe this entire place was just one big fiesta that she had to get used to. As they walked towards the clothing outlets, Lee began apologizing.

Lee: I’m sorry if this is all too much for you.
Monique: I figure this is just something I have to get used to.
Lee: Believe me, you don’t have to. I’ve lived here for years and I still haven’t gotten used to it. Besides, you’ve never gave your own birthday a proper celebration. Why would you be okay with a bunch of strangers do celebrating with you?
Monique: Have you mastered the art of reading me like a book?
Lee: Well? It’s a fair point isn’t it?
Monique: Very fair. So, why did you guys get all uppity like that?
Lee: It’s our motto on this world. When you choose to live here, you keep all the memories of your past life. So, we tell people, that when you choose to live here, you choose to leave that behind. All of it.
Monique: And what if you can’t?
Lee: And what if you can?

Monique stopped to ponder that thought.

Lee: See? Can’t go about doubting yourself now. Just give yourself time.

He took her inside of a store that sold nothing but plaid. Plaid shirts, plaid pants, plaid dresses. God some were just so tacky. But she came across a dark red and black plaid dress she grew quite fond of every time they passed it by. 

Lee: Try it on.
Monique: But the length’s so short!
Lee: Then get, I don’t know? Black leggings??? Do they even sell that here?

He pushed her to try on the dress, offering to hold all the stuff she had carried with her.

Lee: I’m assuming you’re a medium.
Monique: I-I think?

He threw over the pair of black leggings when he finally found one.  She once again, found herself in a dressing room. But this time it was different. The scars on her arms were mostly gone. Damn, that ointment did really work. She put on the dress and leggings, noticing no price tag came with them.  What you don’t even pay anything in this world?

Retailer: Thank you for your purchase!
Lee: Can I also get a bag for the clothes she had on previously?
Retailer: Of course!
GOD DAMNIT. Now I owe him.
Lee: You done in there?

He threw the bag over the dressing room door.

Lee: Put your old clothes in there as well!
Monique: Ugh! Fine. But you have to tell me a place I can get you things too…after…I get a job…
Lee: Pfft. It’s a birthday gift, dumbass. Just take it.

She walked out of the dressing room, fully face flushed.

Monique: Y-you sure?
Lee: Y-yeah.

He swiftly grabbed her clothes. As he was about to take off, trying to seem like he wasn’t blushing as well, the retailer stopped him in his tracks.

Retailer: Would you like me to send those to your home, Mr. Solari?
Lee: S-sure!

The retailer grabbed all the items he carried as he grabbed Monique by the hand.

Lee: Come on, let’s go!  

He proceeded to take her to a salon where they spent what felt like hours washing and styling her hair. Her face was riddled with annoyance and frustration. Though she thoroughly enjoyed the fact that her scalp got a massage. When the stylist was done, her hair was silky smooth with curly ends.