Arcana (Hermes)/Side Tale 3

(Gyrate: A gallery in Gyrate)

 Arcana: What special surprise do you have for me this time?
(ARCANA: Union Ops Chief, Good at Painting & Forgery)
Arcana muses to himself as he strolls the art gallery, entirely oblivious to Mona who is watching stealthily from the entrance.

 Mona: What is Arcana keep doing in the gallery?
(MONA: Union Ops Chief, Arcana’s Squad Member)

 Mona: He keeps visiting on his days off. I want to find out why…
**Store Owner**: \*Heavy sigh\*…

 Arcana: (I’d rather not bother her.)
Arcana slips past the snoring gallery manager and continues strolling down the hallway.

 Arcana: This painting is tilted at a most unfortunate angle. Let me help with that.

 Arcana: Ah, got it! Perhaps I’d better just leave my paintings behind the front desk.
Mona’s brow furrows as she watches Arcana strolling through the gallery, adjusting the angle of various artworks.

 Mona: What on earth is he doing with these paintings?

 Mona: I remember now! Didn’t he used to be a famous art thief? No way…
Mona enters the gallery without a moments hesitation.

 Mona: Arcana, what do you think you’re doing?

 Arcana: !
**Store Owner**: Ah?! Who’s that?

 Arcana: My apologies. Sorry for bothering you. This is my friend, Mona.

 Arcana: She can be rather abrupt at times. Please forgive her.

 Mona: I…
Mona is about to explain herself when Arcana cuts her off with a subtle gesture.
**Store Owner**: Oh, carry on, carry on! I thought a thief had broken in or something.
The manager sighs. She then notices a large number of items inexplicably accumulated behind her counter.
**Store Owner**: Eh? What’s all this then?

 Arcana: Oh, my new paintings. I was planning to present them as a surprise after lunch.

 Arcana: But I can do it now, since you’ve noticed them already
**Store Owner**: ???
Arcana produces a bouquet of brilliant roses from somewhere within his hat and presents it to the manager of the gallery.
**Store Owner**: Oh, you shouldn’t have!
The manager takes the bouquet like an excited little girl.
**Store Owner**: Thank you!

 Arcana: My pleasure.
(Gyrate: Street)
After bidding farewell to the gallery manager, Arcana and Mona head back to the Union.

 Arcana: You gave me quite a fright then. I’m rather sad to see that you hold me in such low regard.

 Arcana: If you want to do something together on our days off, you can just tell me.

 Mona: Don’t flatter yourself. I was just.

 Arcana: Heh, that’s alright! I know what you wanted to ask.

 Arcana: I’m in the habit of selling my art works to this particular gallery, and I’m on very good terms with the manager.

 Arcana: She’s had a rather rough time in the last few years, you know, ever since the Miracles arrived… She lost her husband, and her children are currently studying abroad.

 Mona: …

 Arcana: Of course, she hasn’t said anything, but I can tell that she really appreciates my company whenever I drop by.

 Arcana: And so these days I always make sure to bring a gift to… brighten up her day.

 Mona: I see.

 Arcana: That reminds me, what did you think of my gift?

 Mona: Honestly, she seemed totally thrilled with the roses. It was cute.

 Arcana: Indeed, what lady could refuse such a beautiful bouquet?

 Mona: I guess I just never took you for such a kind… philanthropist, like that, if you know what I mean?

 Arcana: “If you know what I mean”? One needs only a shred of basic decency.

 Arcana: I would hope that others smile at my presence just as I smile at theirs.