Nothing changes

This past weekend was most unusual and oddly centered around the same general location. The former grounds of the community center. As with all things, the good eventually came to a halt, right?

I finally got myself a membership with SWEAT, the resident spa joint in Midian. All Ashagi employees were given this benefit through means only Dr. Parkin knows, but I learned rather quickly that the spa was an active place. Midian's elite can to rest, get pampered, and soak in the place's vast tub. I suppose now I fall into that category too.

Na'aik, one of the employees

I met Ashley there, Mitka's ex-wife. We got to talking and eventually settled on the topic of relationships and the value of memories. I learned that while she doesn't hold any bitterness towards Mitka, she still preferred not to get involved with her or her extended family. She seemed pretty interested in my family though, mainly the wellness of Adagio, Arwen, and the baby. The baby by the way that seems to have an itching for weird seafood a little too often...

How much can that brat eat?!

You know?! It's like I've been converted into a disposal. I've had several forms of fillet, fried to baked; roasted alligator; questionable shrimp cocktails on the mainland, and I've lost count by now. Ashley's questions may stem from the fact that she knows how long Adagio and I have been trying to have a child. Granted the methods are not smiled upon by some, but I view it as a risk and a blessing. Worst case, my body rejects the child and possibly kills us both. Best case, I deliver a healthy baby boy.

I want this to be a good memory, and it appears many others like Ashley are wishing the same. She is like I was when I first arrived here - without proper memories of my past other than the scattered fragments my mind could hold on to. Still I wished well for those around me. At least let them be happy. I can see from experience how painful and bothersome that can be.

No you can't. The woman's not even there...

That's...another thing. I can't see Ashley properly. I know she's there by her temperature, scent, and basic outline in my eyes' scanners. Yet, seeing her actual body is...well, I'm not sure and I'm not going to ask. Strange things happen in the ruins, so there's no reason not to believe the rest of Midian may have its oddities too. My wife's one too for the record.

It was nice though to have a simple heart to heart like that. Something about being nude allows for the natural trust in people I suppose. That trust certainly showed the next day.

The UAC held another public execution, this time of a male that garnered some importance to the crowd. I didn't learn it until later but it seemed his name was Alex and he was the son of the leader of the Judges/former MPD. The UAC spared no leniency on their security, making sure to be armed to the teeth while in freetown territory.

Why pick a fight with the Judges? Why make this man an example? I have no idea, but I suspect they want to muscle out anyone who could claim themselves as Midian's protector. When the MPD walked off the job, Damian mentioned something about a charter and a portion referencing adequate security for citizens. If a freetown had none, the UAC was to sweep in and fill in that gap...with an iron fist of course. So the late Damian proclaimed himself and his family as a monarchy and the Midian City Civil Guard was established. The political strife may be settled now with Mayor Jade's return, but the forces charged with this city's defense are up in the air.

Most of the crowd seemed wary of the spectacle but still they stood around to watch him die. Even I was guilty of that. Ashley was for a time too until she took my hand and carted me to the cemetery well away. Hidden amongst the tombstones was another judge. They were going to answer the UAC's call. Not too long after was there gunfight, flash bombs, and smoke around the execution area. People charged the UAC soldiers and the sounds of screaming orders and firepower echoed.

I didn't stay to see how it ended, but I ran into Kimani. We prepared the MCMC for the injured, but not many showed. It suggested that either everyone was slaughtered or the battle was not as deadly as we feared. With a possible war on the rise, Adagio's surprise island was starting to become a more welcoming option.

You can't teach a kid to pounce and hunt on a private island...

We don't know that. The adventure into the swamps with Arwen was nice. She still needs to learn a lot, but I don't want her to forget her primal instincts and skills. She's already lost a taste for rabbits, but she's showing an interest in a boy. At six years of age. That girl's getting to be a little too advanced.

There's question of where to send her to school also. Do we home school the girl on the island or let her go to  the parish school? The latter option would need to include supplementing education because of Arwen's skill level. She despises her intelligence with a fury, wishing that she were a normal child. I'm hoping she grows out of this hatred because there's no way I ,or for that matter Adagio, will let that girl's mind rot. I know little of what's happened to Elliena's other children, but I'm seeing to it Arwen makes something of herself rather than falling into a low cycle of failed relationships and single motherhood like her mother.

Deja vu...

Yeah. Didn't I have a similar episode when Raven was still a child? Fussing over the baby, and wondering how to help a little girl that seemed to be going wild and was rewarded for it. Arwen has her moments of rebellion, but thankfully she has sense as well.

Sometimes.

Yes, sometimes...she's six. Can't expect a miracle.