part 22

(continuing from A’s explanation of who she is.)

A: “hungarian” (“He worked fast on me too. And he told me so so so much about you, really he loved you like you were his daughter… I had time between his work on me to call in a few favors, favors that let me get a place out here, favors that let me set up relays around the city. I’m not gonna lie, I’m in a lot of debt. But I don’t worry about it, not since I’ve got you under me. You make a lot of money, I’m gonna be all paid up in a couple months as long as you keep doing a good job.“)

A: “hungarian” (“But, back to me being fixed… Once he got the shards out of me I told him that I plan to visit you, so he took me to the airport… I was the last one to board the plane, right before chaos erupted, see people back home realized that there’s no government anymore, that they could do anything they want, so most of them became tribalized and started looting places and killing people as they saw, it’s a free for all. I saw him getting shot down by a security officer. He died there.“)

Veronika’s eyes start tearing up, although she keeps a dead expression.

A: “hungarian” (“Deep down you knew he died. I’m sorry.“)

A stands up from her desk and gets infront of Veronika.

A: “hungarian” (“Even in his last days he was wishing for a better future for you.“)

Veronika can’t hold her emotions anymore, she starts crying. She changes her posture, moving her body forward and leaning on her knees with her elbows, as she’s trying to wipe the tears off of her face.

A moves in and hugs Veronika as she’s crying.

A: “hungarian” (“Shh… It’s okay… It’s okay…“)

Veronika: “hungarian” (sobbing “He was… He… He was like my dad… I really wanted to bring him out here. To let him live the rest of his life in peace you know… And it’s… And it’s—”)

A: “hungarian” (“Shh… He would be really proud of you, the person that you became in such a short time. What’s done is done. We can’t really change that. What we can do is make sure that the people who hurt us get their proper deal of justice.“)

Veronika: “hungarian” (“What are you talking about?“)

A: “hungarian” (“Well first we pay off the debt I’m in. And then we fuck up the two idiots who got your parents, and find out what happened to my stuff right before the bombs hit.“)

A: “hungarian” (“We’ll make it right.“)

Veronika stays silent looking at A.

A: “hungarian” (“Right, it’s time you call me by my actual name, I’m Anna.“)

Anna reaches her hand towards Veronika.

Veronika grabs Anna’s hand and drags her into a hug.

Anna: “hungarian” (“Ow, ow ow ow ow. You’re really strong you know.“)

Veronika holds onto her for a bit longer and then lets her go.

Anna: “hungarian” (“Right, you know we should keep our mother tongue as private as possible, we don’t need extra attention by speaking a dead language.“)

Veronika nods.

Anna: “hungarian” (“You wanna go do something, eat something, just anything to take your mind off?“)

Veronika wipes the tears off of her face.

iku: (“Let’s go eat.”)

iku’s expression becomes a soft smile.

Anna: (“You scare me how easily you can change your mood.”)

iku: (“Bleeeehh.”)

iku closes her eyes and sticks her tongue out as she does that.

iku: (“Come on, we can’t be moping here all day, our stomachs calling us for some food.“)

Anna gets a soft smile on her face too.

Anna: (“Yeah, duty calls.“)