Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Bolt in the Big City
October 10, 2031
Earth-013. Close to midday just outside of Anchorage, Alaska.
Hidden in the snowcapped mountains that border the city was a fortified complex. It was a P.D.F. holding facility, containing a number of inmates, isolated from the general populace and stripped of their magical power. Very few members of the public were even aware of the prison's existence.
Today, hundreds of miles away from home, Anna Rosario was visiting. A black bomber jacket covered her, so necessary in these frigid temperatures. She sat inside of a pale room, divided by a see-through panel.
A door opened on the other side of the panel. An armored guard stepped in, and stood by the door. Following him was an inmate, with a mechanical armband wrapped around her left ankle, built to neutralize her blinding speed.
Far from the madness that had recently reclaimed her, Sonia Rosario looked subdued. Her expression lit up when she caught sight of Anna. She sat down directly across from her daughter.
"Hey, pumpkin." Sonia greeted.
"Hey, Ma." Anna responded.
"How was the run here?"
"Alright. Had a bite at Voodoo Doughnuts on the way."
"The OG one in Portland, yeah?"
"Course."
"Boston Creme, right? With a little orange spiderweb design on the top?"
"You know it."
"Your appetite's the same as it always was."
"Part of the game when we spend so much time runnin'. So, Ma...how ya feeling?"
"Good as you'd expect. My mind's not racing like how it used to. I, uh...I did something really shitty, didn't I?"
"Yeah. Yeah ya did. You weren't in your right mind."
"Tell that to all those moms and pops and babies I swiped from their beds." Sonia put her hands over her face. "Once those meds ran their course, I couldn't think of anything but you. I wish more than anything that I could've kept you and raised you. I just...wanted that chance, y'know?"
"I know, Ma. I don't blame ya one bit. All this...it's because of--"
Sonia put a hand on the screen. The guard moved to grab her. "Don't." Sonia uttered.
"It's alright, Ma. Hey, leave her be." Anna told the guard.
"Don't...don't say his name. Please, don't say his name." Sonia looked as though she was about to start weeping.
"Okay, Ma, okay. I won't say it. Do you still..."
"See him? Yeah. I see him. Every. Night. Every night I shut my eyes and I just see...fire. Everything burning. And that...monster...standing there and *laughing*. I wouldn't be this way if it weren't for him. He should be the one in a cage. If I could just get my hands on him, I'd...I'd..."
"Breathe. Sit down and breathe. It's alright. He's not here."
Sonia slumped back into her chair, and slowly regained her composure.
"You good?"
"...yeah. Yeah, I'm good. Sorry."
"Got nothin' to be sorry for."
The two chatted for a bit longer. "So...got anything exciting planned for today?" Sonia asked.
"Well since Uncle Maxie gave me the day off, I'm gonna be hangin' with Cind. Her and the other Maxie. Sucker'd be lost without us holdin' his hand and showin' him everything."
"Doesn't sound all that different from our Maxie."
"From what he says, he ain't a total disaster in the kitchen, but I'll believe it when I see it."
"Anything'd be an improvement on the guy that needs a hazmat suit just to make up some popcorn."
"Right?!"
The two laughed. Anna checked the time. "A'ight. I've gotta run. They're probably gonna be up soon. I'll be back soon."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"I'll be counting the seconds. One...two...three..."
"You'd better still be counting when I get back."
"I wouldn't lie to ya. Yo te amo, calabaza."
"Yo te amo, tambien, Mami. I'll see you soon." Anna departed. Sonia, somber, got up and returned to her cell.
Anna walked out into the snowy wilderness. "Catch ya later, Alaska. Time for some whiplash." She put her goggles over her eyes, as energy crackled around her legs. She sprinted away faster than eyes could perceive.
---
New York City. Morning.
"Okay. Started to forget what I looked like out of uniform." Max commented, garbed in his usual blue and black jacket and jeans. "And now for a day out with my...hunh. Not even sure how to describe it. It's not like I'm this girl's dad. She's older than me. Still..."
He got an alert on his phone. "Well, she's here."
He opened the door. "Good morning!" Cindy chimed. She wore a white t-shirt with black and pink markings, including a pink spiderweb pattern on the arms, along with black pants, black sneakers with teal laces, and a white snowcap with a pink button attached to it, bearing a spider emblem on it.
"Well good morning, Spider-Gwen." Max replied.
"The canonically correct name is 'Spider-Woman'." Hugo flew over.
"I know that, birdbrain. But there's a million of those. Everyone knows who I'm talking about when I use 'Spider-Gwen'."
"Aw, don't start getting chippy this early. I just got this shirt in the mail. I've been wanting to do an actual cosplay for-e-ver, but this'll have to do. And on that note, you're gonna need this." Cindy handed Max a lanyard with a card attached to it.
"What's this? A day pass for...New York Comic Con. Wait a minute, that's *today*?"
"Yep! It's my semi-late birthday gift! I have a pass good for the whole weekend, and I figured we'd make a day of it, before it gets too crazy on Saturday."
"I see. So the day off was your idea."
"Mmhmm. I pulled some last minute strings and got my pass upgraded to include you and Anna. If it's not too much."
"No, this is great. I've actually never been to a real convention before. Nothing as big as this one, at least."
"Awesome!" Cindy giggled. "This'll be a learning experience for you. These are so much more fun with friends to geek out with. Ah..." 
"What's wrong?"
Cindy turned away, blushing. "I mean I guess 'friends' is the right word for it. I hope me being this friendly hasn't been weird or anything. I just feel really comfortable talking to you. Is all. Y'know."
"No, I totally get it. I don't know how to classify this, either. So why don't we just leave it at 'someone I'm comfortable being around'. Doesn't have to be so complicated."
"Yeah, sounds good to me. C'mon, let's go pick up Anna. Then it's off to the land of nerds!"
"Is the lump of feathers gonna need a ticket?"
"I'm not a biological organism, sentient though I may be. I go where Lady Cynthia goes." Hugo replied.
"Awesome, so you admit you're not real AND you lack the capacity to choose. What a smart little bird you are."
"The nerve! I am very much a real consciousness! Right, my lady--?"
Cindy was already gone.
"M-my lady?!"
"She already bounded off, Geoffrey. Don't want to keep her ladyship waiting, now do we? Better move those metal sticks you call feathers." Max followed after.
"Cheek...utter cheek!"
---
The Javits Center, located in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, was one of the country's busiest convention centers, housing many of the Big Apple's premier events. This weekend's comic convention certainly qualified.
Max and Cindy had met up with Anna, who had since shed her burly coat in favor of a red shirt with the phrase "My other ride is the Tornado" written, along with an image of two bushy, yellow tails. The three walked through the entrance hall, which was already filled with a contingent of people wearing clothes honoring their fandom of choice, as well as many a dedicated cosplayer.
They entered the main convention area, filled to the brim with vendors and guests, as far as the eye could see. Max looked on in awe.
"Ya look like your eyes are gonna drop like ping-pong balls. Ya never been around other geeks before?" Anna asked.
"Not this many in one place. I've been to Akihabara, sure, but this is way different." Max replied.
"Any fandom you can think of is under this roof. Chances are good you'll find someone here that loves the same things that you do." Cindy said.
"Omigosh, it's Cindy-O!" A pair of costumed girls appeared. "We literally just watched your stream from last night! Can we get a pic?"
"Awww, you're too sweet! Of course!" Cindy obliged.
"I think our day just peaked early." the other girl said.
After a quick photo op, the girls walked away. "And as you can probably tell, there's a few P.D.F. fans around here, too." Cindy giggled.
"Guess that makes sense. Cons must have a completely different flavor to them when superheroes are more than science fiction." Max replied.
"It's pretty surreal to see people runnin' around dressed like you and askin' for autographs. We've done a couple of gigs here and there, but this year we're keepin' it low-key. Just a couple more geeks in a sea of 'em." Anna said.
"Obviously that doesn't mean we won't get recognized, but I figured a less busy day would mean we'd get more time to ourselves. I don't mind getting some selfies here and there, but we're mainly here to hang out and have fun." Cindy explained.
"Course you got the crowd that doesn't take 'cosplay doesn't equal consent' as gospel, so it's on yours truly to keep the creeps away."
"Right. I'll be more than happy to play bodyguard if it comes to it." Max said.
"Aw, you guys don't gotta worry about little old me." Cindy chimed.
"Quite correct, Lady Cynthia. I will be more than happy to dispense punishment to any rapscallion who dares to cross the wrong boundaries." Hugo affirmed.
"What are you gonna do, poop on their windshield?" Max questioned.
The mechanical bird tried to peck at his face, Max responding by swatting at him. 
"Okay boys, back to your corners! We're here for funsies, not fightsies!" Cindy dissuaded. "There's actually one place I wanna see before we do anything else. If you don't mind."
"I've never done one of these before, so anything would be new ground for me. I'm at your mercy." Max replied.
"Dramatic much?" Anna quipped.
The trio maneuvered through the crowd of people, eventually reaching Artist's Alley. "Okay...section 403A. Should be right...over..." Cindy peered around.
Max spotted something. "Wait...isn't that...?"
One table had a black lace cloth draped over it, with the logo for "Muno's Call Books" hanging on the front. Emily, wearing a casual red dress, a black belt around her waist with a crescent moon buckle and dark boots, sat behind it, with her avian companion perched behind her. "Well that didn't take very long."
"Hi, Emmy!" Cindy bounded over to greet her sister.
"'Sup, Luna." Anna greeted.
"I was just so enticing that you skipped all those anime figures to get to me? I'm flattered." Emily replied. "And a good day to you, Mr. Jadefang."
"Um, hey. What are you doing here?" Max asked.
"Promoting, for the most part. I told you before that I help newer authors get their names out there. The tables on either side of me are two of the writers I'm helping. I've got even more newer entries that I'm selling personally. With explicit permission, of course. And on top of all that..." Emily reached back and rubbed Muno beneath his beak with one finger. "Anyone who buys a book gets to have a picture taken with this distinguished gentleman."
"An awesome deal if I've ever heard one! He's such a photogenic birdie." Cindy chimed.
"I'd like to think I'm plenty photogenic..." Hugo said.
Muno's eyes suddenly flared red, and he opened his beak wide, which itself changed shape to more closely resemble fangs, and growled at the avian machine.
"Eep!" Hugo frantically fluttered behind Cindy. Muno returned to being an otherwise normal crow.
"Doesn't gotta be a nice picture, mind." Anna said.
"So, like...what is he, anyway?" Max questioned.
"A common raven. Like you'd find in any town." Emily replied.
"Ain't never seen a raven do what yours does. I've heard the phrase 'animal familiar' thrown around. Is he some kind of demon? Something you made using magic?"
"Nothing so arcane. He was a completely normal bird when I first came across him. I was twelve years old. He was just a hatchling, lying beneath a tree in my grandmother's yard. I assumed that he'd prematurely fallen out of the nest. Knowing how birds operate, my presence would've kept his parents from fetching him. He wouldn't have lasted very long if I'd left him there. So I took him in and took care of him. I made him my familiar once he reached maturity."
"So you gave him those scary witchcraft powers."
"I made him my eyes and ears. And I bonded his life force to mine. He's about fifteen years old now, which is on the older end for blackbirds. But so long as we're connected, he'll be on this Earth for as long as I will. Helps that he's got an excellent temperament around people."
"Not so much around robo-birds, apparently."
"He's got a bit of a jealous streak, I'll admit."
Muno turned to Emily. "Caw?"
"Don't give me that look, you know it's true."
"Hmm? Hey, Emmy. Don't you have any food?" Cindy asked.
"Not on me, no."
"I can go get you something lickity-split! Can't just go the whole day without munching on something!"
"I can go get something later. I can have one of my friends here looking after things in the meantime, plus I have Muno--"
"I'll be back before ya know it!" Cindy ran off.
"Lady Cynthia, wait!" Hugo gave a fearful glance towards Muno before flying after his creator.
Emily let out a sigh. "The least she could've done is ask me what I'd be eating. Would you two mind waiting here?"
"Thy will be done, Luna." Anna replied.
"Thank you. Be back whenever I manage to catch her." Emily pursued her sister.
"That felt abrupt." Max said.
"That's how it goes. Between you and me? Cind tries way, way too hard when it comes to her and Luna getting along. It's obvious to anyone looking that she worships the ground Luna walks on. Those black streaks in her hair aren't an accident." Anna replied.
"Yeah. That and the robot crow."
"Luna can use magic better than anyone I know. It's tough for Cind that she can't do magic at all. So she tries to connect to her in other ways, and sometimes she can go overboard."
"Probably doesn't help that Emily and Ms. Letty's relationship can best be described as 'icy'. Every time she's around her or the old man, you can tell she's biting her tongue."
"It used to be a whole lot worse. Lots of things said that she probably regrets saying. She could hardly stand lookin' at Cind for a while. But the little Energizer Bunny always just wanted to be like her cool big sis. I think she just wants to hear Luna say that she loves her. That I think would go a long way to mendin' fences between everybody."
"Hm..."
A few minutes later, Emily returned. "Thank you for your patience."
"Where's Cindy at?" Max asked.
"I told her that I can take care of my food when the time comes. She tried giving me the puppy dog eyes, but I insisted that she leave matters be. She finally heard reason, then immediately got distracted by a Hatsune Miku figure she caught sight of."
"Yep, she's fine. Let's go get her, Starbolt." Anna said.
"On it." Max replied.
"A word before you go, Mr. Jadefang?" Emily stopped him.
"Go ahead."
"Try your best to enjoy yourself. My first convention a few years ago was a rather overwhelming experience. It can be immensely enjoyable, but also a bit intimidating if you don't pace yourself. With that said...please keep an eye on Cindy. She's a brilliant girl, but she can be a bit naive and overzealous at times. I can tell that she's taken a liking to you. Today can be a healthy experience for everyone. But please keep an eye on her."
"I'll do just that."
"Thank you. She'll be happy to have this day with you. Enjoy."
Max followed after Anna. "(She'd probably be happier knowing that you're worried about her.)" he thought.
---
"How many Mikus does that make, Cind?" Anna asked.
Cindy had a figure boxed up and in a bag, depicting the iconic Vocaloid in a purple China dress. "Seventeen. From the moment I layed eyes on her, I knew it was meant to be."
"You've got a thing for digital entertainers, I'm noticing. Those girls earlier made it sound like you're one yourself." Max said.
"I stream here and there. Everyone needs a hobby."
"You're a VTuber, aren't you?"
"Here's Cindy-O! My adorable mini-me!" Cindy excitedly held up her phone, showing a 3D model resembling herself, with a big pink bow in her hair and wearing a white and pink outfit that was a cross between the Spider-Gwen costume and the Vocaloid garb Cindy admired so much.
"That's about what I expected. Have you ever thought about cosplaying as that model? Would be perfect for a con like this."
"Great minds think alike, smarty. That's tomorrow's plan! I'm gonna be hosting a VTuber panel around noon, so I commissioned one of my favorite looks for it. It's why I wanted today to be just a normal con experience, I'm not gonna have a quiet minute alone tomorrow!"
"That's our Cind, always the guest of honor no matter where she goes." Anna commented.
"Talking in front of a big crowd doesn't faze you at all, does it? You're a lot like my sister in that way. She can take control of a room like no one else." Max added.
"I just love putting myself out there. If I can make one person's day that much better, then that's the best feeling ever! And there's something really special about looking out at a big crowd and knowing that they're all there to see you. What can be better than that?"
"(This might be the most bubbly girl I've ever met. I mean, why wouldn't she be? Loving parents, adoring fans, an unrivaled mind. Still...what Anna said about her relationship with Emily...something isn't sitting right with me.)" Max thought.
"Is that Pepsiman?!" Cindy pointed at someone dressed in a shiny, blue and silver costume. "Hey, Pepsiman! Can I get a pic?!" She hopped over.
"Aaaand there she goes. You're in for a workout today, Starbolt." Anna said.
"Better jumpy than miserable. And who can say no to obscure Japanese soda mascots?" Max responded. "So...how was your run to Alaska?"
"Well...I had to go all the way across the continent to see my ma all doped up and locked in an ice box. But other than that, peachy."
"Sorry. Probably shouldn't have asked now."
"Nah, it's fine. She, uh...said to tell ya sorry. For taking your niece and all those girls."
"Oh. I, uh..."
"You don't gotta say anythin' else. I get it. Messed up, y'know?"
"If she's as sick as you say she is, it's not entirely her fault."
"She kidnapped a bunch of little girls outta their beds. Even if she was off her meds, it doesn't make it right. I meant what I said before, though. Your niece is lucky to have an Uncle Maxie that cares about her so much."
"I haven't been her 'Uncle Maxie' for long, but I've tried. My own uncle taught me a lot about how to take care of your family. If I'm half the man he is, I'll be in good shape."
"I tell ya, if Uncle Maxie didn't take me in, I'd be so much worse off. I wish I coulda been with my ma, but him and Auntie Letty gave me everything I ever coulda needed. And they kept me safe from..."
"From...your da--"
Anna put a finger over his mouth. "Don't. Not here."
Max nodded. "Okay. Not here. I get it. Mine was a piece of garbage, too. If you ever want to talk about it--"
She patted him on the back. "You're a standup guy, Starbolt. But...I don't talk about El Diablo. No. No no no no no. I feel like I gotta get an exorcism just thinkin' about him."
"Alright. Don't worry about it. I won't press it any more than that." "('El Diablo'...'The Devil'. What kind of monster are we talking about here?)"
"Thanks, Pepsiman! You're an American icon!" Cindy returned. "Hey, what's with the gloomy looks? Aren't you guys having fun?"
"Oh yeah, totally. Starbolt's just gotta take a mad leak." Anna lied.
"Wait, really?"
"Um, yeah...guess I had too much Pepsi for...breakfast." Max fibbed.
"Soda this early isn't healthy! And neither's holding in your pee! Go take care of yourself, mister!"
"Y-yes, ma'am."
"What a burden a urinary system proves to be." Hugo chimed.
"Keep disproving your existence, you fluttering piece of plastic."
"P-plastic?! Lady Cynthia, please educate this buffoon about the ingenious fibers you utilized to--"
"Oh my gosh, you both look so cute! Can I get a pic?" Cindy was off with two costumed boys.
"C-Cindy-O wants a pic with us?! Absolutely!" one of the boys exclaimed.
Hugo was dejected. "Once again, Lady Cynthia, my central core is shattered by your actions."
"Don't sweat it, birdbrain." Anna said.
"Pretty sure he can't sweat, anyway. Unless it's gasoline." Max jabbed.
"I am a sentient aid! Not a motorcycle!" Hugo complained.
Cindy spent the next several minutes bouncing from vendor to vendor, from cosplayer to ecstatic fan, excited to talk to every single one. "Omigosh, your ears are so cute!"
"Hey, is that a Rotom backpack? It's so cool! Where'd you get it?"
"Your staff looks amazing! Did you make it yourself?"
"She's a buzzy little bee, isn't she?" Max asked.
"Always has been. She's a gal that loves living. Hard to believe she almost didn't get to." Anna replied.
"That's right. She mentioned that she was sick as a baby."
"'Sick' is one way to put it. She would've died if Auntie Letty hadn't given her that implant. It let her live and it made her smarter than anybody. But..."
"But?"
"It took away her magic. You try growing up like that in a world where everyone has it. I dunno how that girl's kept her head on so long."
"I think I'm starting to--"
"Maxiiiiiie!" Cindy called.
"Gah!" He jumped.
She ran over. "I found a vendor with all this cool toku merch for sale! You're super into that stuff, right? Come have a look!" 
"Alright, bu--gah!" She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him along.
"Shoulda warned homeboy before, never let her know what you're into. Ah well." Anna said.
---
"Wasn't expecting to find Ultraman seinen figures today." Max said, now holding a bag.
"That's part of the fun of cons, always expect the unexpected!" Cindy chimed.
"Like that weirdo running the shop with the shark fin on his head. Goin' on about maintainin' his peaceful, hyphen, volition." Anna added.
"He was an oddball, for sure." Max concurred.
"That was Dr. Hai Phin. He was a villain-of-the-week from 'Kinben Sentai Bunpōranger'. The grand overlord of correct syntax. He was in only one episode, but darn it was it memorable." Cindy explained.
"You'll have to show me sometime. It sounds completely ridiculous."
"It is GLORIOUS! Oooh, that settles it, we're marathoning it tonight after we leave! I don't wanna spoil it for you, but it is just amazing!"
"Well if the rogue's gallery includes the lord of hyphens, it has to be complete insanity. I'm in."
"Yay! I finally have a toku buddy! It's gonna be so much fun, I promise!" Cindy shook Max.
"I'll...take your...word for it..."
"Lady Cynthia, think about what you're doing! Would inviting this ruffian into your private quarters not cause a scandal? Not to mention how crude his manners surely must be?" Hugo questioned.
"I'm just inviting a friend over, it's no big deal. I come home covered in oil and grease all the time! Plus, Maxie's got great table manners!" Cindy retorted.
"Mama'd give me an earful if I didn't. She didn't raise a slob." Max stated.
"No but she clearly raised a self-righteous brute who can't differentiate between a crow and a pigeon, one wonders what the woman's qualifications are--" Hugo began.
He couldn't finish his thought before Max grabbed him out of the air. "You shut your beak up and never talk about my mother again, you pompous pile of nuts and bolts. Or would you like to see if Ultraman can crash through the roof of this building?"
"Eep!"
"Grr...!" Max let go.
"Hugo, that was so rude! Say you're sorry right now!" Cindy ordered.
"M-my apologies, Lady Cynthia...that was unbecoming of a good familiar..." Hugo uttered.
"Not to me, dummy!"
"Don't worry about it, I shouldn't have gotten that angry. Sorry." Max uttered.
"Don't apologize for the birdbrain sayin' somethin' about your ma! I'd have knocked his beak off, too!" Anna replied.
"Honestly, Hugo, what's gotten into you? You didn't used to be this rude!" Cindy asked.
"Forgive me, my lady. But it's my duty to ensure your safety. He may be your father's counterpart, but he nearly crushed Lady Anna in a fit of rage. I could not bear to see you put in harm's way." Hugo apologized.
"I did kinda egg him on..." Anna scratched her head.
"It wasn't right of me, regardless. That remark about my mother aside, I can't blame him for being suspicious. I wouldn't trust me, either." Max said.
"Well I *do*. You've been nothing but a good guy around me since you got here. The only other guy besides my dad that's ever been so nice to me is my Dai. I might not have any magic, but I can still feel good vibes outta you. So just relax and try not to kick yourself so much, OK?" Cindy asked.
"Ah...y-yes, ma'am."
"And you!"
"Eek! M-me, my lady?" Hugo uttered.
"You need to be nicer to my friends! I made you to be my little helper, and I can't have you being rude to people I like! That's not cool."
"As you wish, my lady. I will make a concerted effort to be more respectful to you, ruffi--ahem. Lord Maxwell. The Second."
"I'm not in any place to be called a lord, but...fine. I'll try to be nicer. So long as you never mention my mother ever again." Max replied.
"And then they kissssss." Anna quipped.
"I've heard of worse ships." 
"And now that that's settled..." Cindy grabbed Max again. "We're gonna go try out that climbing wall!" She pointed towards the wall in question.
"Wait, what?"
"New experiences, Maxie! You're not afraid of heights, are you?"
"Of course I'm not, but--"
"Then there's nothing to worry about! Let's go do our best Spider-Man!"
"Well you're definitely dressed for it--ah!" Cindy pulled Max along.
"Make sure the equipment complies with regulations, my lady!" Hugo followed after.
"Never ends. Soon she'll be gettin' him to have matchin' tattoos. Guess someone's gotta catch 'em if they fall." Anna began walking.
---
A couple of hours passed, and the trio had sat down for lunch--though with how busy the convention was, they settled for sharing a table. The three were now carrying several bags.
"I seriously can't believe you bought that thing." Max said.
Anna was holding a realistic print of what looked to be a blue hedgehog, sitting on the toilet. "Someone doesn't appreciate true art."
"You're not seriously putting that up on your wall, are you?"
"It's hangin' right over my toilet. Really bring the room together."
"Know what, fair enough. I can't think of anywhere else I'd put it."
"Ohhh, it's all so cute!" Cindy sifted through several prints depicting her VTuber. "This is my favorite part of it, I've got so many pieces at home from so many talented people. I'm kinda running out of room to put them all..."
"Don't I know it. I might have to get a storage unit just for merch." Anna replied.
"Then one day someone stumbled across a locker filled with pictures of you, and thinks they've come across a really obsessed stalker. Or that you're just extremely vain." Max replied.
"Well if it ever went up for auction it'd be cuz I was dead, so either way don't mean nothin'."
As Cindy looked up from her perusing, she spotted someone. "Oh, hold on a sec, guys!" She sprang up and ran.
"Oh boy, wonder what it could be this time." Max responded. 
"There's your answer." Anna pointed to the other side of the food court. Cindy was talking to Emily, who was drinking a boba tea. "Yep, seen this movie before. Cind's gonna ask Luna to do some sisterlike, Luna's gonna say she's too busy, and...oh, there's Cind's shoulders dropping. She's gonna put on a brave face even though every 'no' from Luna's like getting shanked in the heart, and then--"
"I'll be right back." Max got up.
"C'mon Starbolt, leave it be, it's normal--"
"Not to me it isn't." 
"Okay, so, um...I guess I'll see you around..." Cindy spoke.
"Maybe if you have a free moment tomorrow. It's getting a little hectic right now and I don't want to be away for too long..." Emily explained.
"Yeah, I get it. I mean, I'm gonna be super swamped tomorrow, so...Sunday, maybe?"
"Is there something going on?" Max arrived.
"Oh, hello there, Mr. Jadefang. Enjoying the convention?" Emily asked.
"I've been thoroughly entertained up to this point, yes. Your sister's ensured that I've been busy." Max put an emphasis on the word 'sister'. "So why the gloomy mood?"
"Oh, it's no big deal. It's just...you know those live anime drawings they were doing over in the Artist's Alley? I thought it'd be fun for me and Emmy to have a portrait done together. But..." Cindy responded.
"It's just that I'm at the end of my break, and I want my clients to have a moment to get something to eat, so I can't stay away long. It would probably take a good amount of time just waiting, much less getting the drawings done, so there's not much that I can do." Emily replied.
"It's no big deal, really. I've got the whole weekend to find time."
"Except that you'll be occupied all day tomorrow with that panel and meet-ups. So I've got an easy enough solution. I'll man your table." Max replied.
"Oh, I couldn't impose that on you." Emily responded.
"I can handle myself for a while. I manned my class' food booth during parents weekend at the Academy a couple years back. Compared to that, it shouldn't be as hectic. You guys can go have fun together, your clients can get a breather. Seems simple enough."
"You're here as a paid visitor, Mr. Jadefang. I couldn't make you look after my work for me."
"You're not making me. I'm volunteering so you two can have some time together. How I choose to spend my time is on me."
Emily sighed. "I'm utterly defeated. Very well. My only request is that Muno's due to have his birdseed refilled. The container's underneath the table. You'll know it when you see it."
"YAY! This is gonna be so much fun!" Cindy jumped. "I'm gonna let your friends know what's up, I'll meet you over there!"
Before bounding off, she tightly hugged Max. "Thanks, Maxie. I was about to cry on the inside. I won't forget this." she whispered, before skipping away.
"Guess I should follow her--" Max said.
"Very shrewd of you, Mr. Jadefang. That's something my father would've done." Emily said.
"Yeah well, the last thing we need is her deflating. Ugh, I'm sorry, but I have to say my piece. I know you've got your family drama going on. But you shouldn't take it out on her. I don't need an all-seeing bird to realize that she wants the two of you to be close. If my sister asked me to do something fun together, I'd make time for it to happen. She just wants her big sister to love her as much as she loves you. Surely you're smart enough to realize that?"
"Ah...!" Emily was taken aback. "You...really are just like my father. He told me much the same growing up. I fought back against him back then, and I like to believe I've made progress since, but...clearly I haven't. Too many old ghosts remain unburied. And I don't know how to quit falling into old behaviors."
"Having yourselves drawn together is a good place to start. Knowing her boundless energy, she's probably in line already. I wouldn't keep her waiting."
"And I won't be. Thank you for volunteering, and...other matters. I'll be back to relieve you soon."
Max began walking to the table. 
"Family drama, hm? Heh. If only it was that simple." Emily mused.
---
As the group walked back towards the apartments, Cindy looked upon the completed sketch with glee. "This was totally worth it. This is going right over my bed."
A clearly taxed Hugo was carrying a bag in his beak. An equally taxed Max was carrying Cindy on his back. "Glad you had...fun today. Before things get...crazy tomorrow." he uttered.
"C'mon, put some muscle into it!" Anna joked.
"I *am* putting muscle into it. I've carried my girlfriend around like this, and she's an actual wrestler. I've just been...running around all day."
"So? I spend all my time runnin'. Ya don't hear me huffin' and puffin'."
"You can run across the Pacific in the blink of an eye, I'm pretty sure you *can't* get tired."
The trio arrived at the complex. "Imma take the stairs. Y'all good to go from here?" Anna asked.
"Pretty sure, yeah. It's what elevators were made for." Max replied. "(Now I'm starting to appreciate Kenneth's way of thinking.)"
"Alrighty. It was a barrel of laughs today. Now we get to do it all over again in the mornin'. And hey." She bumped Max on the shoulder. "Nice one tellin' Luna how it oughta be. Most peeps don't got the cojones to tell her when she's ignorin' Cind. Hopefully it sticks."
"I think she's smart enough to know. And if she doesn't, I'll keep telling her until she does. Easy as that."
"I know Cind appreciates it. She's beaming like...like she knows she's got a real friend in her corner. Have fun with the hyphen show. See ya in the AM." Anna walked towards the stairs.
"Oh, right. The hyphen show. That's gonna be a thing."
Traveling up a few floors, they arrived at Cindy's apartment. She opened the door. "Sorry if it's a little messy. Don't get a lot of time to clean when I'm always so busy, hehe..."
"I've seen worse. I could help you tidy up if you really need it." Max replied.
"Oh come on, you're too sweet! I didn't invite you to my place for a marathon just to have you clean up my mess."
"I feel like I've had this conversation already today. It's not like you're forcing me. There's plenty of time. Shouldn't take more than an hour if we work together."
"I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, my lady." Hugo suggested from his perch.
"Awww, I can't turn you down after today! OK, Operation Less Icky is a-go!" Cindy exclaimed.
The pair proceeded to pick up discarded clothes from around the apartment. Max, for his part, handled the vacuuming and dusting. "You're awfully handy at cleaning. I bet that makes your mommy real happy." Cindy chimed.
"I was always her little helper around the house. In the kitchen and with the cleaning. My old man would always get upset that she was making me do 'sissy' work. Never realizing that him littering the place with beer cans didn't help." Max replied.
"No girl's ever gonna like a total slob. Everyone loves someone that takes care of their things. Guess I'm one to talk with the state everything's in..." Cindy sheepishly giggled.
"Like I said, it's far from the worst I've seen. Okay, want me to take care of the dishes, or...oh."
"'Oh' what?"
"I know better than to go inside of a girl's room. My sister would always get upset with me if I tried to clean her room without her permission. There's some things I shouldn't lay eyes on."
"So cute! A perfect gentleman! It's alright with me. I'll just let you know where you're not meant to look."
Cindy's room was filled with Vocaloid figures and posters, along with a couple of Spider-Woman figures. "See what I mean? I've barely got any room for fan prints. Which stinks, cuz I've got so many awesome ones."
"My room's not much better in that regard. Back home, I mean. Figures are a weakness for any nerd."
"A super-effective weakness, even!"
Max opened the closet, and numerous shoes came tumbling out. "You've, uh...got a lot of shoes."
"Girl's gotta keep up with her fashion, right?"
"Ibuki loves her footwear, too. I helped her organize it between work, formal and casual. It's good you've got shelves already, that ought to help."
"OK! We'll put the work ones up top. Casual goes after...eh, flip flops can go on the bottom. Not gonna need them in this weather. Uh..."
"Yeah, we should take them out and pair them up, first. It'll make it much easier."
The two began piling the shoes onto the bed. "Hm. You've got plenty of photos, I see." Max said. "This guy with the silver hair and intense look...is this your boyfriend?"
"Yep. That's my Dai. He's a real tough cookie. But he treats me like a princess, and that's all I really ask for. Just a lot of love with no strings attached. ....." Cindy murmured.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. Just...can I be real with you for a second?" 
"Sure. What's on your mind?"
She sat on her bed. Max sat next to her. "I...wanted to thank you again for today. This was the most fun I've had in a long time. Having someone to be nerdy with is seriously awesome. I know I can be a bit scatterbrained, maybe even a little pushy. But when you grow up like how I did, you learn to appreciate every little thing."
"You mean how you almost died as a baby."
"Mmhmm. I'm lucky my mommy's a robotics genius, or else I wouldn't have made it. Even if it meant I couldn't do even simple magic. When other kids found out, they'd always make fun of me. I just wanted to be friends with everyone, but how do you get on as the only person on Earth with zero magical potential? Especially when your big sister is a magical prodigy."
Cindy took her glasses off, and rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry...why am I crying? It's really not a big deal...I'm over it, really!"
"It's alright. Holding your emotions in never helps."
"I...I was seriously about to cry in front of everyone today. I know Emmy doesn't do it on purpose, but every time she says she's too busy to hang out with me...it hurts. She's strong, she's smart, she's so pretty and cool...I wanted to be just like her. But she would always look right through me. I didn't know why. Or why she was always arguing with Daddy, or why she'd say all these mean things to Mommy. I found out why later, and she told me she was sorry for it, and I know she seriously is busy, but it still hurts. I don't think I've ever heard her say 'I love you'. Not just to me, but to anybody."
"She's obviously going through her own troubles. Losing her mom at such a young age clearly cut her deep. Same with seeing your dad move on when the man that killed her mom is still out there. I can understand her being bitter. But she shouldn't take it out on you. Unintentionally or not, you should always make time for the people closest to you."
"You really do get it..." Cindy put her feet up on the bed. "I know it's not what you wanted, but...I'm really glad you came here. I've never really vented to anybody like that. You make me really comfortable, just being around."
"Honestly, even with how hectic it was, today was really fun. *You're* really fun. That unrelenting enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air. You've been so welcoming to me from the minute I walked in. After being under a cloud of suspicion for so long, that was refreshing."
"Now you're really gonna make me cry, Maxie...hey. If and when you get to go home, would you ever come back? In a way where you wouldn't get in trouble, I mean."
"I don't see why not. And I know you've already been, but you're welcome to stop by my world for a visit. I've got plenty of friends I think you'd get along with swimmingly."
"It's a promise then! We're gonna keep being friends for a long time! No take backsies!" Cindy giggled. "OK, let's get my shoes organized. And then, ohoho boy...grammar-filled action awaits! Muahahaha..."
"It could do without the sinister laugh, but alright. Let's hop to it."
---
October 11, 2031
"Urrgh...get back, you parenthetical menace..." Max grogged, before stirring awake. "Huh...? Where am I?" He looked around. He was on the couch, still in Cindy's apartment.
"Good morning, Lord Maxwell. You look like you had a healthy slumber." Hugo greeted, perched above him.
"Hn? Oh, it's you. Guess I dozed off, huh? Can barely remember last night..."
"After tidying up the place, you and Lady Cynthia marathoned the entirety of 'Kinben Sentai Bunpōranger'. You were in a great deal of disbelief, from what I witnessed."
"That's right...she wasn't kidding about how insane it was. And then she fell asleep, and then *I* fell asleep."
"It speaks to the level of comfort you and Lady Cynthia have with one another."
"Guess so. Where is she, anyway?"
"Getting changed. Day 2 of the convention is today."
"Oh, right. Her panel is later. I hope she's prepared for it. She's definitely a people person, so I don't expect much trouble."
"My lady is a savant when it comes to judging character. Which is to say, I have deeply misjudged you, Lord Maxwell. Without anything to gain, you stepped in and stood up for Lady Cynthia when she was nearly turned down by Lady Emilia. And you then helped her tidy up her home and spend more time with her than she ever could have hoped for. My lady's eyes...had a particular glow to them. She is always optimistic, but there was something different in her happiness yesterday. A purity."
"You're really dramatic for a robo-bird, you know that?"
"What I'm trying to say is...thank you for giving my lady something she'd been lacking for quite a long time. Companionship not forged through blood or romance, or through parasocial interactions. True, genuine friendship."
"You're...you're kidding. A girl like her, as bubbly and outgoing as I've ever seen?"
"It is true that she is a gregarious type. But all those people asking for her picture only know her through her online persona, or her P.D.F. work. A friend completely uninfluenced by all of that is difficult to come by. Despite my rude behavior, I am grateful that you have filled that void for her."
"Know what, Jeeves...I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'll be happy to be around her for as long as I'm here. And after that, if it's allowed." He put his fist up. "Put her there."
"I...beg your pardon?"
"Fistbump, bro. Oh...guess you don't have hands."
"Ah, the traditional friendly greeting. I...can make an effort..." Hugo lifted up one of his legs, and balled up his talon. 
Max bumped it. "There we go."
"I daresay Muno would struggle to perform that."
The door to Cindy's room opened up. "Good morniiiiing~!" She bounced out, now dressed as her VTuber counterpart. "How's it look? Am I sufficiently adorable?"
"Oh, wow. That looks great! You're all ready to go, it looks like." Max replied.
"We've still got a bit to go before it opens. Which means you've got plenty of time to shower and get changed, Mister."
"Ah...right. Wouldn't look good if Cindy-O's bodyguard walked in smelling ripe. I'll be right back."
"And I'll take the time to find us a nice breakfast spot! Hurry hurry, before everything closes!"
"I doubt every dining place is gonna close before 10. But fine. See you in a few."
Max returned a short while later, wearing an Ultraman-styled jacket he'd bought the day before. "Better?"
"All nice and clean! And now that you're all proper..."
Cindy embraced him. "Thanks for being there, Maxie. Let's keep on being friends for a while, OK?"
"You've got it. Thanks for being so good to me from Day 1. I hope you can keep showing me new things while I'm here."
"We can start with my big panel debut today! Day 2 of the Epic Cindy-O Experience starts right now! Let's get a move on!"
Cindy led Max out the door, pulling him along as she so often did the day prior. Hugo fluttered close behind.
What had begun as a simple day out, enjoying shared interests, had blossomed into the beginning of a beautiful friendship.