#Life in 2050 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jolienjoyswriting · 1 year

Text

Let Me Count the Ways

"Let Me Count the Ways," a short Essence of Ragnarok story.

On a snowy Day of Lovers, a grumpy Jessica finds herself shadowed by her ever-persistent suitor.

Word count: 2,979 – Character count: 16,685 Drafted: September 16th, 2022 Revised: September 24th, 2022 –

Boy, it's been a while since I wrote an Essence of Ragnarok story, huh? Months, maybe? Regardless, I was in the mood to write something different and I ended up with this random story about Jessie encountering her friendly stalker late in 2050. It was something to do. Plus, I was writing on a stream for the first time. I dunno…

Jessica U. Ingmann created by herself and © Jo Li Arturo Moretti, "Essence of Ragnarok" series, and related characters and concepts created by and © Jo Li

[ ↶ Prev. Story | Next Story ↷ ]

Morganite the 12th. A warm holiday in a cold part of the year. The "Day of Lovers", as it was known, was exactly what it sounded like: a day where lovers could focus their affections like a laser beam and truly show one another how much they cared!

It was a particularly brisk Day of Lovers in the town of Muramasa. That didn't exactly stop people from going out as couples – or even as "lonely friends". Still, the snow was heavy and the wind was strong.

"Freakin' Morganite weather…"

In the Central Mall of Muramasa, a person in cold-weather clothes shuffled through the snow. Their dark red and black clothes really stood out from the white landscape and snowy weather, though they weren't exactly trying to stand out. They were out in that weather for a purpose. "'Go pick up some boxing gloves, Jess,'" they muttered. "Get it yerself, Mindy! Gods…" As they, themselves, mentioned… they were at the mall to purchase some new equipment for their boss. "Maybe if ya didn't buy yer gloves 'n shit from some no-name bulk retailer…" The figure shook its head and continued onward. There was no sense dawdling.

"Hey. I'm here t' pick up an order fer my boss, Mindy Janus." "Okay, one second."

As the cashier headed into the back of the sporting equipment store, the figure adjusted its collar and toque hat. They also removed their glasses, shaking some snow off the lenses. "Freakin' snow…" "Cold enough for ya? Haw!" The cashier returned to a glare, his joke largely unappreciated by his audience.

"Alright, so," he sniffed, "I need you to sign here if yuh would." Mindy's delivery person reached a gloved hand out and grabbed a nearby pen with their left hand. They quickly signed a delivery confirmation and put the pen back. "You're all set!" The cashier smiled. "Hey, tell Mindy I said 'Hi', would ya?" The other person grunted in response. A few seconds later, the cashier handed over a large cardboard box… "Happy Day of Lovers!" And he offered a polite goodbye. The bundled-up person ignored it, took the package, and simply walked out.

It was an unusually long walk back to where they'd parked their vehicle. They were quick to load the box into the back of their car and climb into the driver's seat. Once there, they started the car and turned on the heat, quickly unraveling their layers of clothes to reveal a more feminine form.

"Freakin' Morganite weather!" the young woman groused. "We ought'a move th' planet closer to Solaris… get rid of cold weather…" She shook her head, sighing to herself. "I need a cig…" She was about to reach for one in the center console… when she found herself being handed one, out of nowhere. It was lit and ready to smoke, too. Almost immediately, she narrowed her mismatched eyes and turned her head to the passenger seat. "Count," she said, accepting the cigarette with a scowl. "My Lady," replied a shadowy figure draped in a dark cloak. "Th' fuck ya doin' here?" she asked, taking a drag of her cigarette. The other figure didn't answer. At least, not with words. The woman watched as a limb stretched out from the shadow-covered cloak and handed her… "Candy?" She stared at a heart-shaped box that advertised itself as a "delicious treat for the one you love". After a few seconds, she leveled her gaze at the person handing it to her. It was, of course, someone she knew well… someone who could no longer surprise her, no matter what he did. It was someone… that she had been desperately trying to dissuade from making advances toward her for what felt like years.

It was none other than the Vampire Lord of Talwar, himself: Count Arturo Moretti.

"Sweets for the sweet," he calmly said, offering a somewhat toothy smile. She rolled her eyes and kept quiet. He continued. "A fascinating woman, such as you, shouldn't be alone on the Day of Lovers, Miss Ingmann. I come to offer my company and nothing more." "'Cept that box of candy," she smartly interjected. "It is little more than a trinket for a woman who deserves so much more…" "Dammit, Artie…" The woman laughed a little. "Yer technique's as old as you are!" He patiently smiled. "I am not hearing a 'no' from you, My Lady…" "Void's bells…" She sighed before taking another long drag of her cigarette. "When are ya gonna get it through yer head, Artie?" she asked with a scowl. "I ain' interested!" "Miss Ingmann," he said, setting the candy aside. "I can offer you everything your heart desires. I can give you a beautiful manor and a thousand servants, all at your beck and call. I can give you life eternal. I can give you riches beyond your wildest dreams. And, I can give you my heart, my soul, and my companionship for all time. You do not have to be alone. You do not deserve to be alone. Please… allow me the honor of your company. Become my lady and I will be your lord for so long as we may live." She blanched a little. "Are you… are you proposin' to me?" The Count smiled, neither nodding nor shaking his head.

"You are the one I have waited 300 years for, Jessica," he said, continuing his rhetoric. "You are the one that I wish to spend the rest of forever with. You… you are very interesting and highly spirited – qualities I admire greatly. Please, seriously consider a life where I am at your side. I can promise you happiness like none other." "No one can promise that," she scoffed. "I can. And I do. And I will do everything within my power to–" The Count blinked, his speech cut short. Jessica had pressed a finger against his lips. He was about to hold her hand and kiss that finger, but she withdrew it just as quickly.

"Artie," she began with a stern expression. "Arturo… I've told'ja time after time… I ain't lookin' fer anything long-term right now, much less somethin' forever. I'm flattered – and annoyed – by everything ya do 'n everything ya say when it comes t' you 'n me! Like… oh my gods, I'm sure a girl lookin' fer commitment would just fuckin' melt!" She paused, composing herself. Honestly, she meant what she'd said. Every attempt he made to win her over made her feel, well… wanted. It was nice to be wanted. "I just ain't in th' market fer a beau, babe," she said with a smile. "Ain't sure when I'll be, either." She continued to smile, sitting awkwardly as she watched the other bat. He seemed stone-faced, but she knew that he didn't like rejection. He was probably really upset… "If I can't have you…" he began… only to flinch as Jessica poked his nose. "Don't go all 'death-pact' on me, Arts," she said, smiling brighter. "You know you'd be kickin' yerself from dusk 'til dawn if ya killed me." Count Moretti turned away, his bat ears folding back. "I would never…" he quietly told her. "I would simply… enchant you." Jessica froze on hearing that, her smile becoming a frown. "That ain't love, hun," she bravely pointed out. "It would be a step up from the emptiness I feel…"

The bat woman leaned toward the door, suddenly less sure of herself… and far less sure of the Count. Honestly, she was starting to get a little worried. She knew, from experience, that she was highly susceptible to hypnosis. One good stare from him would have her doing his bidding lickety-split… She didn't think he would have her do anything degrading or perverse, of course. Even if he came across as this big, scary vampire lord… he was a gentleman and just a really nice guy. However, the idea of being completely under his control really didn't suit her. If he was seriously considering locking her mind away… she would have to fight him.

"Fair warnin', Count," she said as she balled up her left fist. "I got a wicked hook that's laid bigger big 'uns than you out!" Jessica glared at the count, watching him stare at her. Nothing seemed to be happening… which was pretty unusual. Whenever he used his hypnotic stare, the world would usually go dark and his illusionary form would become far more "real". But, from what she could gather… he wasn't even bothering with his visage, anymore. He was calm and relaxed, and she could see his true form – a handsome, gray-black bat with nice hair and a squared face.

"You would strike me, unprovoked?"

The question was plain and simple. No trickery. No wordplay. Nothing like that. He asked a simple question in hope of an honest answer.

"I… n-no, of course not," she answered, calming somewhat. "Do you no longer trust me…?" he pressed. "Artie, it's jus'…" Jessica deeply sighed, shaking her head. "Artie, I… I can't give ya what ya want 'n I don't know how far ya would go t' get it. Like… I don't think… I know… you'd ever hurt me, but I guess I'm scared ya might actually 'enchant' me 'n keep me a mind-slave." She paused before smiling a little. "Honestly, that could be kind'a hot under th' right circumstances…" Her smile faded, then. "But I know ya ain't after my body. Or my soul. It's my heart ya want…" She shook her head. "I said it before, I'll say it again: I'm jus' not ready fer that…"

Count Moretti watched the girl take one last drag of her cigarette, blowing the smoke upward as she rubbed the spent filter out in her car's ashtray. As usual, he wore a neutral expression and simply observed. If she hadn't been used to it, she might have been put off. Honestly, he was a little creepy, like that. Always watching… always staring… always just… appearing… from nowhere. Yeah, if she hadn't been accustomed to all of that… she probably would have tried to kick his ass months and months ago. But, she got used to it. None of his "surprises" fazed her, anymore. The Count was simply… a part of her life.

"Take a picture," she said with a smirk. "It'll last longer." She started to smile… only to blink. There was a flash of light. "What th'…?" When she looked again, she noticed that the count was holding something. "Is that… is that a smartphone?!" Count Moretti smiled a little. He was holding a flat, thin rectangle in one of his clawed hands, the back of which had a couple of lenses and what looked to be a light. "You told me to take a picture," he explained, simply. "You clever so-'n-so…" She grinned. "How many pics of me ya got on there?" Curiously, he just handed the phone over. So… Jessica started poking the screen. She was pretty impressed by what she saw, too. "Wow… You ain't as technologically lost as I thought," she said, navigating through his images. "Folders in folders… Everythin' all organized 'n neat…" She looked up, still grinning. "How long ya been keepin' this side'a ya a secret, Arts?" "There is no secrecy, My Lady," he replied with a nod. "You simply never asked." "Hah! True 'nuff, I guess! Ah, lessee…"

As Jessica browsed through the phone's images, she found several folders. The first was a folder for scenery and nature photos – which held a mix of day and night imagery. Enchanting sunsets over the forest, beautiful moonlit nights, the lights of the city against pitch black, and even a few pictures of random animals in random places. It was surprising… but in a good way. There was a folder for his constant companion, a young-looking vixen by the name of "Diana", though there were only a few pictures of her there. Most of them were of the girl reading or drawing, but there was one, in particular, that made Jessica smirk. "Couldn't help yerself, huh?" It was a picture of Diana sleeping in an oversized chair. Admittedly, it was a cute picture.

Finally, Jessica opened up the folder with her name on it. To her surprise… there was only one photograph within. It was the one he'd just taken. "Er… Artie?" she asked, looking up. "There's nothin' in my folder. What gives?" "I have only taken one photograph of you," he told her, "and that was with your implied permission. I have no desire to make a 'scrapbook' of you being completely unaware of my presence or intent. The same goes for my companion. She was fully aware of every photograph taken and gave her consent to keep them. And on that note…" He smiled at the woman. "May I keep that picture of your personage? It would mean a lot to me." He's so damn old-school… Jessica thought with a chuckle. "A'right…" she said, handing the phone back. "But I wanna say somethin' else." She cleared her throat, then she smirked at the Count. He was all ears. "I, Jessica U. Ingmann, give you, Count Arturo Moretti, my full consent and permission to photograph me, whether I'm aware of you or not, at any time, anywhere, with th' understandin' that those photos not be shared online!" She waved her hand dismissively. "You can show that fox girl or anyone local. I don't care 'bout that, I guess. Jus' don't be creepy 'bout it. Like, don't say shit like 'This is my girlfriend'. A'ight?" The Count stared at her for several seconds, taking every word she said. When she was finished, he paused to think… then he looked at her a little more intensely. "Wh-what?" She scowled. "I thought that'd make ya happy?" "My apologies, Miss Ingmann," he said as he pulled the phone back into his cloak, "but I feel as though this may be a 'mixed message' of sorts." "Eh?" She cocked her head to the left. "What'cha mean?" "You have made it very clear that you are not interested in pursuing a 'long-term relationship' with me. However, you have given your permission for me to photograph you, completely unaware?" He paused before asking, "Does this not imply that I may photograph you at your most vulnerable? Or, perhaps even… when would be 'inappropriate'?" Jessica shook her head, not missing a beat. "You ain't like that, Count." "No… I suppose not," he agreed, softly smiling. "Yer such an old-school gent…" The bat girl sighed, sharing in his smile. "If it didn't encourage ya… I'd totes give ya a kiss." The vampire lord's smile warmed, then he nodded in understanding. And even though a kiss from her would make him ecstatic… he respected her choice not to "encourage" him.

"So, hey," Jessica said as she leaned back in her seat. "Wanna come wid me t' Mindy's?" "Alas…" the Count replied, "my mission to steal you away to my manor has, once more, ended in failure. I should return to the shadows and begin my next plan to win your heart." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Yer so dramatic, Count…" "The drama is all a part of a good stage presentation, My Lady," he countered, still softly smiling. "It serves as a mere distraction from a harsh reality." "Yeah?" She tilted her head before asking, "What reality?" "That I have yet to win your heart and must continue to exist… alone." "Trinity Above…" Jessica rolled her eyes before punching Lord Moretti's shoulder. "Go hang out wi'cher fluffy fox, Count." She smiled again. The Count looked down, his big ears twitching. "It'll keep yer mind off'a me," she added. "Nothing will ever keep you from my mind, My Lady." "Geez…" She sighed. "Is th' new plan t' try and guilt me inta datin' you? Moody boy." "I… do apologize for my sudden…" Count Moretti adjusted his cloak and sat up straight. He then took a cleansing breath before draping himself in illusionary shadows, quickly trying to save face. "Thank you for your time, Miss Ingmann," he said as he reached for the passenger door. "I wish you a very happy Day of Lovers, this day." "Mm." Jessica watched as the Count tried to open the door. When he failed, she waited for him to turn around and question her. Instead… he popped the manual lock, then left the vehicle. She almost stopped him, too, kind of hoping to keep him around for a while longer. She knew, however, that she had hurt his feelings without trying. It's pro'ly best if I let 'im go home… She frowned. Dammit, Artie… Why d'ya always make me feel like th' bad-guy?

The drive from the mall to the gym was a relatively short one devoid of events. Jessica didn't even turn on the radio. She was still thinking about her sulky friend and how he would spend the rest of the day in his big, empty manor. Gods damn it… she thought as she hopped out of her car. No. No, I ain't gonna let 'im do this t' me. I got no reason t' feel bad. Not my fault 'e's crushin'… 'e can just deal! –

A small, cold storm of sleet pounded down upon a large manor in the forests of Talwar. Inside, a figure was brooding… He was just about to make himself some food when he heard a knock on the entry door. He slinked out of the dining hall and made his way there, grumbling and grunting. When he opened the door, however… his disposition changed. "Alright, sad boy. I'm here. Ya gonna let me in or what? Frickin' cold out…" Jessica had come to him, greeting the count with a smirk. He smiled in return, letting the wet woman inside.

And just like that… the sleet became a pleasant snowfall.

#fiction #Essence of Ragnarok #Year 2050 #original characters #jolikmc #Jessica Ingmann #Arturo Moretti #slice of life #drama

0 notes