LILIANA
Okayyy… Maybe I am a "little" dramatic. But when you've spent three whole months refreshing a ticket site that kept crashing every five minutes? When you've hacked through six fire walls. (shout out to kel) just to beat the dots? And when you finally score front-row passes? You scream andddd… activate the mansions security system- y'know for the plot and all…that is the law. "Dems the rules".
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Footstep thunder down the stairway as the house sirens blow. Anastasha storms into the living room first, hands half-raise like she is about to summon fire. Kelvin jogs in next, glasses slipping down his nose. Gabriel, he doesn't run, he just appears, cold and calm, because of course he does.
Anastasha: [panting, snapping] Liliana! What- what happened?!
Kelvin: [ frantically checking the security coms] I don't see any signs of break ins and the camera did not catch anything.
Gabriel: [flat, sharp] Where is the threat.
Mission accomplished. The "Isekai Avengers" have assembled. (Don't Judge me. Our group name is still in working progress) I turn I disable the security system and hold the hold the glowing confirmation like it is a sacred relic.
"WE'RE GOING TO SEE DIVA, LA VIE LIVE!"
I grin so innocently and wide, all 34 of my white pearly teeth show.
Silence. Three blank stares. Anastasha blinks at me like she misheard. Kelvin blinks slower, calculating the risk-to sanity ratio. Gabriel? His jaw Ticks Like He is already Considering exile as a solution to my madness which in my defense is artistic expressionism
Anastasha: … you set of the security system, then screamed like you have seen a dead body. For concert Tickets.
"Not just concert tickets! FRONT. ROW. Do you have any idea hoe impossible these were to get" I feigned offence. Kelvin rubs his temples as he collapses onto one of the couches. He looks like he is already going to regret asking but does anyway.
Kelvin: What is a "Dida, La bee"
I reconcile as if I had just been slapped. "Okay. Wow. First of all. The disrespect." I say, offended on a cellular level. "It is not Dida, La Bee. We are not try to summon bees. It is Di-va, La. Vie. Second of all, the way you just said that tell me all I need to know about your cultural literacy."
Anastasha: Not everyone is chronically online like yo-
"everybody knows diva, la vie" I cut in. Waving a hand. "it's everywhere. It is phenomenon. It is art. Its…" I pause. An awkward smile on my face as I blink.
Kelvin: You don't know what it is do you?
Anastasha: Of course, she doesn't.
I say defensively, "Heyyy…. I have a general Idea." I sigh. The drama collapsing in on itself. "Fine the kids these days were obsessing over it. My feed would not shut up. Everyone was talking about it like it was some religious experience, I thought- why not see what the fuss is about? Sooo… I very gently very respectfully bypassed their firewall. I took two French-way seats for myself.
Kelvin: Again…French-way?
"Front row tickets." I clarify. "But with flair"
Anastasha: So, you committed felony… for I concert you don't even understand. Gabriel has made it perfectly clear that we are not allowed to use questionable methods for personal gains.
"This! Is for culture" I point at Gabriel, who by the way has been watching everything with an unamused look on his face. Would it kill this man to smile a little? I swear he is worse than professor Snape. He finally speaks up.
Gabriel: You are not going.
I freeze. Then I gasp, clutching my chest like he had just stabbed me. "excuse me? This was not a suggestion. Do you see these?" I frantically wave the tickets at his face. "Diva La Vie is like the soundtrack of the soul- at least that is what the kids are saying. I need to go and see what this is about."
Gabriel: [Unmoved.] There is way too much exposure anything can happen. I have said this severally, No Attachments.
The air drops ten degrees. Anastasha stiffens beside me, almost as if she has been petrified. Her hands slowly starts curling into fist and before she even realizes she is speaking, her voice cuts right through the silence.
Anastasha: [annoyed] No offense Gabriel. I get the whole protecting us and whatever, but how are we supposed to survive if we do the most basic thing. Interact with the mundane. I can't isolate us in the name of survival. In any case that is just going to make us stand out even more. I know you don't need me pointing out the obvious. Yes, she was reckless but can you at least let her have this. What is the worse that could happen.
She slaps her mouth as those last words fly out. Wow, you go Girl. I personally would do not care much for the concert but I like where this is going. I want to urge this on. But before I could Gabriel's eyes flick to Anna's, sharp unreadable. For a heartbeat, the room feels like it would explode. Before any exploding could actually happen, kelvin steps I carefully, voice low and steady.
Kelvin: We could compromise. Since it is a public event and she insists on going, she could just go with one of us. There is safety in numbers.
"There is also death in numbers but oh well" … Gabriel's gaze lingers on Anastasha- not me, the one who shot the sarcastic remark, but her. When he speaks, the decision is iron.
Gabriel: Then she escorts her.
The words land like a hammer. Anastasha reels, pointing at herself.
Anastasha: Wait-me?! Oh no no no no. Absolutely not.
"C'monnnn… It will be fun."
Anastasha: I don't see being packed it a room full of testosterone, bodily fluids and noise pollution fun. Sorry.
Kelvin: You can just think of it as field training and you get to loosen up a little. It is a double-edged sword.
Anastasha: N.O.
Gabriel: It is either that or she does not get to go at all and you can say good bye to that little learning center you have been sneaking of to.
Yeahhhh… so remember when I said the air drop ten degrees. It just dropped 20 more. She is so toasted.
Gabriel: What? You thought I would not find out? ...Lorenzo there are reasons rules have to be followed. I don't have a lot of rules. There are just a few rules I have. One of which is very important.
He moves at a slow steady pace towards her until they are just inches apart, his broad body towering over her, lowering his gaze as he whispers just loud enough for me to hear him.
"Do I need to remind you what that rule is?"
I feel her trembling from within- unable to move and too afraid to meet his gaze.
In a shaky voice she manages to mutter the words,
"No"
"Good. Now look me in the eyes and tell what that rule is. Out. Loud"
She slowly meets his gaze, with a trembling voice, she says loud enough for kelvin and I to hear.
" No Attachments".
He slowly moves away from her. His face devoid of any emotions before he continues to speak.
"I am glad we are on the same page. Now I assume you will be accompanying Liliana to the concert this weekend then?"
Anastasha: [Defeated]… Yes.
Gabriel: Good.
He leaves the living room and moves up the stairs.
Just as he was out of sight, Her legs gave in and she crushes to the floor.
Kelvin crouches down to my level and tries to console me the best way he knows how to
Kelvin: You know he means well right?
Anastasha: Is it so wrong to want to have a life? We have all this time and we spend it cooped up in the house all in the name of protecting ourselves. [sniffles]
"I am sorry I did not think He would force you into going with me."
Who Am I kidding I definitely thought that. I reach my hand out and help her of the floor.
"You know what, I am going to make it up to you. You have my word I promise. And with that I mean I am going to look for the best outfit for the concert."
Kelvin: And that is my queue to leave.
He exits the hall through to the kitchen whiles I Pull Anna towards the staircase to her room. I Honestly don't get why everyone is making such a fuss about this concert. I mean what is the worst thing that could happen?