I'm not sure whether to kick or pat myself on the back for what I've done. That is, have just given these kids a lifetime of daddy issues--really DADDY issues--from which they'll never, ever recover. They might even have it worse than I do, because my father was around at least part of the time, and sometimes he even brushed me when I needed it. Yet Natsu never once considered that his kids might need a good detangling sometimes, and probably wouldn't have cared either way.
I can tell that Prom Queen is troubled even more deeply than Shitty Junior. She's probably the type who takes great pains to internalize everything as some kind of crappy coping mechanism, whereas her sibling is classic Sanic The Edgehog. All in all, these are already troubled children who I've just invited into a world of hurt. The better angels of my nature want to cavort with glee, but the devil inside wants me to reach over and do something horrible like squeeze their hands to comfort them and tell them it'll be okay.
In the end, though, I have to take the righteous path and enjoy their suffering. Prom Queen manages to keep a steady hand as Goro the lawyer hands her the documents and shows her where to sign and initial. She in turn does the same for Shitty.
"With that," Goro announces with some relief, "our business is concluded for the day. Lady Setsuna, Lord Masaoko, your first payment from Lord Natsu may be either a credit to your accounts, or a cash advance, minus fees, taxes, and the Raikage's tithe."
"Cash up front," I answer immediately. Having currency in hand is always better than some nebulous promissory note, no matter who's backing it. "Always go for the lump sum in liquid assets, even if it's a smaller absolute amount," I admonish the siblings. A moment later, I cringe inside. I'm just their stupid unwilling babysitter, not some auntie.
Goro brings a smaller briefcase out of his legal bag of holding, which he sets on the table and unlocks. Inside sits a nice treasure pile of silver taels--those goofy but precious chunks of sterling that look like little Chinese hats. "Now, I bid you adieu. Takaki-san, we will be expecting your report at the first of the month."
"Yeah, seeya," I say and wave him off. I quickly snarf my last slider and chew thoughtfully while looking at the twins (now google-eyed at the treasure in front of them).
"Well?" I ask them finally. "Does a shitload of silver help ease off your resentment? They say money can't buy love, but I say they're probably wrong. Hell, you might even start liking your daddy a lot after you inevitably blow that pile on gambling and find yourself up to your eyeballs in debt with creditors lining up to tongue your assholes. Anyway, it's not my problem what you do with your newfound riches. As long as Yumers gets his cut and I don't have to talk with Natsu, I'll write whatever cockamamie shit you want me to, Prom Queen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to begging. National security, you know."
I can tell that Prom Queen is troubled even more deeply than Shitty Junior. She's probably the type who takes great pains to internalize everything as some kind of crappy coping mechanism, whereas her sibling is classic Sanic The Edgehog. All in all, these are already troubled children who I've just invited into a world of hurt. The better angels of my nature want to cavort with glee, but the devil inside wants me to reach over and do something horrible like squeeze their hands to comfort them and tell them it'll be okay.
In the end, though, I have to take the righteous path and enjoy their suffering. Prom Queen manages to keep a steady hand as Goro the lawyer hands her the documents and shows her where to sign and initial. She in turn does the same for Shitty.
"With that," Goro announces with some relief, "our business is concluded for the day. Lady Setsuna, Lord Masaoko, your first payment from Lord Natsu may be either a credit to your accounts, or a cash advance, minus fees, taxes, and the Raikage's tithe."
"Cash up front," I answer immediately. Having currency in hand is always better than some nebulous promissory note, no matter who's backing it. "Always go for the lump sum in liquid assets, even if it's a smaller absolute amount," I admonish the siblings. A moment later, I cringe inside. I'm just their stupid unwilling babysitter, not some auntie.
Goro brings a smaller briefcase out of his legal bag of holding, which he sets on the table and unlocks. Inside sits a nice treasure pile of silver taels--those goofy but precious chunks of sterling that look like little Chinese hats. "Now, I bid you adieu. Takaki-san, we will be expecting your report at the first of the month."
"Yeah, seeya," I say and wave him off. I quickly snarf my last slider and chew thoughtfully while looking at the twins (now google-eyed at the treasure in front of them).
"Well?" I ask them finally. "Does a shitload of silver help ease off your resentment? They say money can't buy love, but I say they're probably wrong. Hell, you might even start liking your daddy a lot after you inevitably blow that pile on gambling and find yourself up to your eyeballs in debt with creditors lining up to tongue your assholes. Anyway, it's not my problem what you do with your newfound riches. As long as Yumers gets his cut and I don't have to talk with Natsu, I'll write whatever cockamamie shit you want me to, Prom Queen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to begging. National security, you know."
