Biomance 2: Slice of Life Urban Fantasy by Kirk Mason & Morgan Ranger

Author:Kirk Mason & Morgan Ranger [Mason, Kirk & Ranger, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

There hadn't been anyone at the door but another interviewee. If they were a Steelheart agent in disguise they did a poor job of it, but Amy did an excellent job being a moody goth.

It was now a day later, and we were at work, like usual.

"The video cases need to be arranged with half an inch between each case," Emiko said, closing one eye to focus. "I don't need a ruler anymore, but we keep it under the counter. It should take you a few months before you get it right."

"I think I can just eyeball it," Amy—Ebony Nightshade—said.

Emiko gasped. "It must be exact!"

I was about to suggest that Amy should just humor her when Amy said, "I got it," and tousled Emiko's hair.

A vein popped in Emiko's temple, but Amy, the goth, just smiled and hummed. "What's next?" she asked me.

"Let's check out the computer," I said, nodding for her to follow me.

"I...I..." Emiko began. She was blue-screening, so I walked over and kissed her forehead. Her shoulders untensed, and she stopped shivering. "Reset successful?" I asked.

She nodded. "To be continued," she said and squinted at Amy.

"There's a customer over there who's having trouble choosing between some movies."

At that, Emiko jumped into action, running over way too fast and knocking down a pack of candy from the candy stand.

I shook my head and walked to the counter with Amy. "It's a little complicated," I said. "It will probably take multiple lessons to⁠—"

Amy typed away with all the precision of someone who had worked in this store for centuries, accessing menus like she'd known them all her life. She even changed some settings to her liking, which influrated me.

"Got it!" she said, bouncing on her boots. "What's next?"

I cleared my throat. "Actually, this is custom firmware. There's a complex set of mechanisms, dials, and wheels to spin and⁠—"

Amy typed away on the keyboard. The clacking noise her fingers made, well, it felt like she'd been clacking for aeons, since the invention of the very first keyboard, all those years ago.

The machine dinged, and digital 16-bit fireworks blasted across the screen. 'Rental complete!' erupted from the low-quality speakers.

"Like that?"

"Yeah, like that." I laughed. "Well, seeing as you're super good with computers, I guess that leaves time for us to talk about what you've been up to since I last saw you."

"Ahem!" Amy cleared her throat. "Maybe you can show me how all this works, actually."

I laughed. "Emiko, look after the store."

"Sure that's a good idea?" Amy said. "Won't she get...overwhelmed?"

"She's much better now," I said, feeling guilty about talking about Emiko as if she weren't there. I grabbed Amy's hand, and we both looked at it, freezing for a moment. "Come on, I've been dying to know everything that happened to you."

"You mean when you abandoned me?"

I raised my eyebrows at her. "Hey. You know full well it wasn't like that."

"I know," she said. "I was just teasing." There was no humor in her voice, nor in the wayward gaze.

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