seen from Netherlands
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seen from Russia
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seen from China
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seen from Malaysia
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final day of Mayblade: free day! another commission of Hiromi, this time in (my best attempt at) a furisode kimono!
i now retreat into my bunker and refrain from posting Beyblade until perhaps the next Mayblade or mayhaps a KaiHil event 👀 (which'll never happen but oh well)
follow me on Twitter (@/blubberingmad) and on Youtube (TheOneAndOnlyFailWhale) for more art, some music, and whatever tf else i post on those!
The Descend and the Resurface
Damian Hart (Beyblade) x OC
Summary: OC comes from a complex background, and in the midst of trying to save it all and help her family she enters a strange arrangement, which will change her life forever.
Masterlist 🖤
Tags: Beyblade, Julian Konzern, Gingka Hagane, OC, Damian Hart, Jack, Team Starbreaker, Team Excalibur
A/N: (ambience suggestion) this chapter and the next will go along with the canon storyline, for this chapter watch Beyblade Metal Masters episode 90 if you like, it’s available on youtube!
Chapter 3
The battle took off fast, minutes were passing incredibly quickly as I noticed I was feeling less confident than before about who was going to win this match. I could tell Klaus was growing unsure of his win just the same. Gingka’s friends were also evidently taken aback, as the brown haired girl kept pulling out analysis sheets on Jack’s Bey, Evil Befall, in order to understand where these unpredictably strong attacks kept coming from. Unsure of whether it’s my own subjectivity because I know Klaus personally, or because Jack doesn’t seem like someone stronger than him, I kept my hopes up for this battle to end in Excalibur’s favour. But then my breath got caught in my throat as Capricorn took a huge blow from Befall, and Klaus was sunk to his knees:
“Is the end of the match already?!” the annoying presenter exclaimed, perhaps from surprise or to tease, as the black haired boy from Gingka’s company also got up: “Klaus isn’t going to lose that easily!”
“C’mon get up Klaus” Julian got up from his seat, immediately commanding the attention of the stadium: “This is not the full extent of your power! Victory lies at the limit’s edge!” I smiled, this is Julian’s favourite motivational quote. He used to repeat it at every hardship he or I ever faced.
“I will not allow us to be defeated a second time, you hear me?”
This final, warning sentence, seemed to trigger Klaus’ inner warrior, as he immediately got up and amassed a powerful red energy field around him: this was the strength of countless days and nights, denial of rest and leisure: this was the strenght of choice to fight even though odds were against you.
“Go Klaus! Victor Excalibur! Victor Excalibur!” I yelled at the top of my voice among the cheering crowd. Victor Excalibur was the latin phrase Excalibur’s European fans cheered them on with, and I knew if Klaus could hear it even a little bit it would remind him of the countless people cheering on for him from home.
Klaus called his special move, and Jack reciprocated with his. The stadium grew tense as strong gusts of wind picked up from both Beys and collided into a strong explosion that blew people’s hats away, and sent posters and smaller items flying. As the dust settled and the view cleared up, I saw Klaus standing tall in the distance:
“They won!” I uttered as I smiled to myself, but the crowd remained quiet until the presenter made an official announcement. “Klaus won it!” Ginka also exclaimed, accompanied by his black-haired friend. But something didn’t seem right. Something wasn’t right.
Then I saw it: Capricorn was not moving.
It was standing still as Klaus himself was paralysed, and unresponsive.
“The winner is Jack!” the presenter announced, concluding this match for history to remember, with Jack’s laugh of ridicule echoing as Klaus was taken away on the stretcher of the paramedics.
I could not believe my own eyes, I could not believe I was hearing the loud cheers of a crowd that just saw what happened. Beside myself, I considered calling Julian, but I quickly remembered their phones were not on their person during the match.
After this horrific scene, I saw Excalibur was planning their next move, and I was sure Julian was going to go in to avenge Klaus’ honour against the Americans.
“Are you ready? Because the second match is about to begin!” The presenter announced: “For the second battle, the competitors are: with his team Starbreaker up one, we have the amazing Damian! Facing him with no more second chances and bettin’ it all on this one battle, from Excalibur: Julian Konzern takes the stage!” I clapped as hard as I could, until my hands became pink, as Julian and his opponent approached the stage.
“Go Juliaaan!” I heard Gingka and his friends cheer. They must either really dislike the Americans, or love Excalibur, I thought to myself, until Gingka said:
“So that’s Damian.”
“So he’s the goon who ambushed Tsubasa and Yu, huh?” The black-haired boy said, with a strong hint of anger lingering between his words.
And then came the moment of brief silence, as the Bladers faced each other across the dome battlefield. The American was saying something to Julian, but it was not loud enough for the audience to pick up.
“Are you talking to me, sonny?!” Julian exclaimed with outright offence in his voice.
“Yeah, Gan-Gan Galaxy kicked it’s Bey butt, didn’t they?” I could not even believe this guy said something like this! Does he know who he’s talking to?
The conversation now became louder, so the audience followed every word. The American purred in a teasing, vicious way. His voice was clear, with a sort of calculated, malicious tone to it, ridiculing and condescending. He suggested a best out of three match, which Julian accepted, although he was undeniably surprised by the proposal considering only one win is enough for Starbreaker to go into the finals. Honestly, I admire the balls that guy has to say what he said against Julian Konzern. People don’t dare gossip about him in cafés where we come from. But regardless, his disrespectful tone visibly triggered Julian, who was used to nothing but respect.
When Destroyer hit the ground, it was faster than I’d ever seen it before. Strong, quick moves and an energy unmatched by Julian’s previous launches - this guy doesn’t stand a fucking chance. The battle commenced dramatically, with hits from both sides coming one after the other. My breath was caught in my lungs, every time Destroyer got hit I came closer and closer to the edge of my seat. But all of my muscles relaxed when Julian activated The Eyes of Medusa: this fight will soon be over.
“So this is The Eyes of Medusa? It’s not a big deal is it?” Damian gleamed, while I tried to process what the fuck have I just heard? Just as I was going to stand up cheer for Julian, Damian’s gold Bey moved.
It fucking moved? Against The Eyes of Medusa?! Julian then activated his special move, he wanted to finish this guy off quickly and painfully, but to no avail. Damian ended the battle with a move called Hades Drive.
“Unbelievable” I sighed, I just could not wrap my head around what was going on today. Like it was all a bad dream, a weird dream, and I was really hoping to wake up from it.
“What is going on!” Gingka commented, and looked over his shoulder at me: “are you seeing this?”
“I can’t believe it either, Gingka…” I shook my head.
“Wait, is your name Camila by any chance?” He turned around: “and are you, like, Italian or something?”
“Yes I’m mixed” I smiled at him: “so you do remember me!”
“I remembered because you pronounce my name with a slight accent over it! It just came back to me!” He smiled genuinely, a generous and sweet grin.
“I’ll take that as a compliment then!” I smiled back at him as the bladers got back to their places for the final match.
Hello! I mainly use twitter but since arti posts here i decided to create tumblr! (didn't know people use tumblr tbh 0 -0)
I draw mostly beyblade characters, sometimes genshin and i'll post my mayblade journey that im super late ;D
Hope you like it and i'll follow everyone who likes beyblade >:0
every adventuring party needs to take a Day 21: Rest (see what i did there) a KaiHil FFXIV/Beyblade crossover comm! this was honestly super fun to try and figure out, and i hope you enjoy it c: one more for the month and then i re-enter my non-posting bunker
i have had enough my secret brainworms emerge for the month the beyblade brainworms that i have been holding back expect like three more of these idk we’ll see how things go
The Descend and the Resurface
Damian Hart (Beyblade) x OC
Summary: OC comes from a complex background, and in the midst of trying to save it all and help her family she enters a strange arrangement, which will change her life forever.
Masterlist 🖤
Tags: Beyblade, Beyblade Metal Masters, Julian Konzern, Jack, Damian, OC, Gingka Hagane, team Starbreaker, team Excalibur
A/N: (ambience suggestion) this chapter and the next will go along with the canon storyline, for this chapter watch Beyblade Metal Masters episode 90 if you like, it’s available on youtube!
Also, please let me know what you think so far! It means a lot to me!
Chapter 4
“Alright then, come at me with your left rotation!” Damian purred for the audience to hear, while Julian went to pick up Destroyer. His return to the Blader’s position seemed to last an eternity: no matter if he won or not, Excalibur lost. All he can do now is win for his pride, for his audience, for Klaus, Sophie and Wales. No doubt his confidence was shaken, but this battle is a sure thing. There is no way anyone, no matter how strong, can defeat Destroyer’s left rotation. I mean, they’d have to be stronger than Gingka then and that’s just impossible.
But then, Julian snapped: “To take back the pride I’ve lost, I will show my skills in this next battle!”
“Good for you” Damian sighed to that, cooly brushing him off “because that right rotation round wasn’t worthy of my time!”
“Go ahead and talk tough while you still can!” Julian replied with strength in his voice, and fire in his eyes. Oh yeah, I’ve seen this before: Damian is done. Upon launch, Damian’s Bey was sent flying into the air, followed by cheers from Gingka’s friendgroup and the crowd. Destroyer was definitely in charge now, with impacts of sheer force hitting Damian’s Bey left and right. A calm, warm feeling of familiarity, comfort and pride came over me, I knew that the series of strange events was now truly over because only two Beys in the world can spin in the opposite dorection, and there is no way some random Blader has the power to defeat it. I began thinking about Excalibur’s imminent win, and planning my way into their backstage corridor to talk to Julian before the crowds start getting up from their seats. All the stressful events and constant shocks from earlier caused a lot of stress on my body as well, I could feel my stomach feeling heavy and a sting of fresh air against my bleeding cuticles that I bit without realising. Julian called his special move, which when in left rotation meant certain win against any enemy as there was no escaping the blasts of gravity that came upon a Bey from every direction. The stadium filled with Destroyer’s purple energy and gusts of wind swirling in all directions, but Damian didn’t wince at all. In fact, his demeanour was that of curiosity.
“Special move: Black Excalibur!” Julian suddenly sung out among all of the noise.
“Yeees!!” I got up from my seat: “Victor Excalibur! Victor Excalibur! Go Julian!” I wanted him to win, I wanted to se my closest friend, the keeper of my secrets, the one I grew up with and spent all those challenging moments with to win. I wanted to see him happy, I wanted to see him achieve his dream and defend his honour.
Destroyer swung his dark purple sword buzzing with energy and power into the air, dozens of meters above the highest row of the stadium, as dark lightening and gusts of electricity ran accross the stadium. Just as he was about to strike, I darted a look at Damian, craving to see a coward shitting his pants after all the disrespect he’s shown to Julian. But just before the gust of smoke took over, I saw an inviting grin.
With low visibility, the presenter jumped in to describe what just happened on the field: “NO! No way! Kerbecs stopped Julian’s all out special move right in its tracks!” I could see Sophie and Wales gripping the handrail that separated them from the battle, eager to see Julian emerge from the smoke, but just as tense as I am.
Damian chuckled: “So that thing was your special move, was it? I see against a normal Bey that probably would have won… However, it won’t work against Kerbecks when it’s in Boost Mode!”
“Julian’s special move didn’t work at all! What is going on out there?!” Gingka was literally on the edge of his seat, and even though the girl sitting next to him was saying something important I couldn’t hear her at all over the spinning that was happening in my head. For a moment I was sure I was going to pass out, but I fought the pain because this was too important.
When I got a grip of myself and tuned back into the conversation, Gingka was saying: “Do you think he would’ve cooked up this best out of three battle thing just so… he could test Hades Kerbecks Boost Mode?!?” I was speechless, utterly speechless if this was true. Lost for any words if Julian lost not to a Blader who was fighting for his team, but to a Blader who merely invited him to suffer so he could test out a design innovation.
“Hang in there Destroyer, counter attack!” Julian was trying to salvage the situation.
“Waste of time!” Damian proclaimed to the entirety of the stadium: “After your so-called special move has been stopped, what more could you possibly do?”
Julian gasped: “I can-“
“Parading around like an emperor when this is the hight of your power, how sad! Just make it easy on yourself, you don’t have any extraordinairy power so there’s no need to keep up that tough guy act!”
I was convinced I was going to faint, I could not feel my face anymore, yet my mouth was gaping open at what I was witnessing. Who is this cruel… this… monster?
“I’m going to take all of it away from you: your pride, confidence, everything sweet!!”
Kerbecks lashed strikes again, and again, with every hit grasping the air out of my lungs. My best friend was out there, and I was powerless to stop someone who was hurting him. What I would have done, or given, to just run out there and slap Damian’s face so hard he’d never speak to anyone like this ever again! Julian begged for mercy, but Damian didn’t listen. He was enjoying himself, and it didn’t matter that even the crowd fell silent, he was going to get what he wanted.
“Stop it! The battle’s already been decided!” Gingka rose a single cry from the audience, accompanied by his friend. Damian’s grin was wide and vicious, not diminishing even when he answered: “No it isn’t! Kerbecks has not revealed it’s true power yet, not even close!”
“JULIAN!”
To my absolute surprise, Sophie and Wales jumped in with their Beys: “Scarring Julian any further will simply not be allowed!”
“YES!” I gasped: finally an end to this atrocious torture. I wonder why the presenter, or the judges or fucking anyone didn’t step in until now? Torturing an opponent cannot possibly be according to the tournamet rules?
The presenter then jumped in, saying Excalibur forfeits as a consequence of breaching the rule of interrupting a game:
“We won’t allow Julian to be humiliated any further!”
“YES!” This time, I was yelling, and some encouraging claps and whistles came from the crowd in the rows behind.
“Heey!” Damian gleamed: “You two are gonna help me test Kerbecks as well? In that case, I won’t hold back at all as I invite all of you straight into Hades!”
Sophie, Julian and Wales called their special moves together - a combination I heard they were practicing in the week before our breakup. Two huge waves rose up, with Destroyer rising above like a dark Poseidon armed with his sword.
“So” I smiled to myself: “they succeeded. They made it work.”
Damian was quick to interrupt their scenic moment of glory: “Nice stuff! Now check this out!” Before he said anything else, I felt a sudden change in the air. It became ice cold even though the sun was shining and it was hot until a second ago, and a slow, swirling wind began to pick up.
Then, a blinding surge of fire-like energy erupted from Kerbecs, similar in appearance but different in magnitude to when Damian called Hades Drive; the stadium grew from ice cold to excruciatingly and suffocatingly hot in a milisecond. When I opened my eyes, I gasped at the sight of a giant dark door levitating in the middle of the stadium:
Damian roared: “Open right now, Hades Gate!”
The gate swung wide to display an empty and endless shadow realm of agony, from which red eyes awoke. Ice cold sweat ran down my feverish body, conflicting sensations caused by something paranormal: something unnatural.
Gold chains whipped out of the abyss, capturing Excalibur’s Beys - a scene of legend, of myth - good versus evil.
Then, the three headed Cerberous, Hades’s faithful servant, emerged from the darkness adorned in gold chain and collars, ready to inflict absolute pain and suffering.
Swirls of fire, absolutely real fire swam across the stadium before retracting to the inferno beyond the gate, and with a swift motion the door sunk into the depths of the Earth, beyond the sight of mortal eyes. The three Beys, and their Bladers, were motionless in their defeat.
Kerbecks faithfully jumped into Damian’s hand, but my bewildered, tearing eyes were locked on Julian’s frail standing frame.
“You’re weak.” Damian spoke among the deathly silence of the stadium, against the faint whimpers of Julian’s cry: “Now you understand that? Admit it.”
“Admit it?”
“Please Julian… please don’t let him win…” I begged under my breath, with boiling tears streaming down my face as I gazed at this broken man on one side of the stadium, and his tormentor’s eyes watching him from across: “please…”
“Yes that’s right, say it lound and clear: you are weak!” Damian ordered sadistically
“I… I am…” Julian whimpered
Damian smiled: “I am… what?”
“Weak.” Julian sunk to his knees as Damian burst into a laugh of victory. But unlike the manic laughter we heard from Jack earlier, this one was an echo of something unfamiliar and cruel.
The crowd remained completely silent. No one, not even the presenters moved or said a word as Damian strolled back and dissapeared into the tunnel leading into the backstage. After Excalibur members were also escorted backstage by paramedics, I ran out into the hallway to get to their quarters, but the newspapers and reporters beat me to it. The entire hall all the way to the enterance was full of ambitious and aggressive reporters trying to get a good picture of what misery and defeat looks like. For them, this was the scoop of the entire year.
I ran out and got into the first taxi that came by. I needed to get to my hotel as soon as possible and wrap my head around what had just happened. I saw I had dozens of missed calls and texts from mine and Julian’s friends who had watched the live stream, but I just couldn’t bring myself to read them. Somehow, I found the way to my room and into my bed, where all of my emotions poured out, leaving a stream of mascara and tears on the crisp white pillowcase. An hour, or even more, passed all the same. Eventually, the emotions calmed down a little bit; I tried calling all the Excalibur members, even their manager and Julian’s parents, but nobody picked up the phone.
I got up to order some tea and medicine to my room, when an envelope I hadn’t noticed before appeared slipping in from under the door. I slowly picked it up, turning it around to see who it was from:
Hades Inc.
The Descend and the Resurface
Damian Hart (Beyblade) x OC
Summary: OC comes from a complex background, and in the midst of trying to save it all and help her family she enters a strange arrangement, which will change her life forever.
Tags: beyblade, beyblade metal masters, OC, mention of sex, Julian Konzern, Team Excalibur, Team Starbreaker
A/N: this is my first fanfic ever! I finally got brave enough to start writing, heh. I hope you enjoy the first chapter, and if anything is unclear stay tuned! Please let me know what you think so far! :D
Masterlist 🖤
Chapter 1
Before we begin, I believe I owe you an explanation. My name is Camila Casilarghi, and before you think I am a posh, rich European socialite, I would kindly ask you to remove this image from your mind. My family name actually is associated to an amassed wealth eastablished long ago by my grandparents, but my family and I are quite broke: we have our house, our helpful surname, and some change in our pocket to keep up the illusion. My father is a businessman, but no one dares to actually ask if he’d done one day of actual work. In fact, his love of gambling is what got us into this financial distress in the first place. My mother is a socialite, who at the moment cannot get a divorce from my troublesome father, and has only hope to offer for an employment should she ever receieve it. The biggest investment of our money was made to provide me with a good education, whether to get a well-paid job or secure a rich husband. Naturally, my parents would prefer the latter.
This story begins in junior year at boarding school, where I met the impeccable Julian Konzern. Handsome, competent, intelligent and well-bred to perfection, he was the perfect match for my family’s prayers. More importantly, our relationship began over a mutual love of art and culture, as his Italian family owned many artworks and attended countless events with every season. Even though this relationship was exclusive and quite well established, it was clear to both of us that it was one of convenience rather than of excessive emotion; we were fond of each other, but not to an extent a relationship intended for marriage should be. Julian’s first love was always Beyblade, and he was incredibly talented and dedicated to perfecting himself and strenghtening his connection to Gravity Destroyer. I personally never took up Beyblade, because after seeing the heart and soul Julian and his friends put into training, I thought it would be distasteful to enter it without real passion and dedication. After graduating, Julian increasingly dedicated the majority of his time to Beyblade, forming a team of amazing bladers to join him in future tournaments, later named Team Excalibur. I remained a faithful partner and a formally-recognised companion to any and every event he had. As much as I recognised myself as a side character, I understood that this is the best decision for me and my family, and that I should just remain in the comfort zone and secure our prosperity, regardless of how unhappy I actually felt. Although we never had that passionate spark, let alone fall madly in love, Julian and I used to have a very healthy sex life that I thoroughly enjoyed and craved most about him. Our relationship resembled an informally engaged friends with benefits, and Julian definitely enjoyed being my first; but as you’ve noticed by now, this too faded away as he began to focus more on Beyblade.
“Get dressed” Julian sighed, rolling out of bed and putting on his training clothes, his cheeks still read from the climax he just had.
Unfortunately, with his focus now only on Beyblade, Julian became a very selfish lover who did as he pleased with me, and did not even stop to consider the absence of my pleasure.
“Hurry up please” he said calmly while putting on his trainers. I don’t know why I was so slow, this is not the first time I was a late night booty call followed up by a midnight training session. In the past he at least let me sleep over, but ever since I got my drivers licence he’s been asking me to leave because I’m “a distraction”.
“Do you think..” I sighed while buttoning up my shirt: “after the World Championship we could go somewhere together? Like we used to?” Julian was looking out of the window, evidently lost in his own thoughts.
“It’s just that… I have felt neglected for a long time, and I understand that Beyblade-“
“Camila, this is what matters to me right now. I have trained relentlessly to harness Destroyer’s full potential. My family invested so much in Excalibur; Klaus, Sophie and Wales have not stopped training since our last battle. I will not lose again.” He growled the last part with a clenched fist: “This is my goal right now, my ambition and my purpose. If I have mistreated or neglected you, this is why.”
“What does this mean?” I asked, genuinely concerned about the direction of our conversation.
“I cannot focus on us anymore. Until the World Championship, I want to dedicate myself to Destroyer, and to Excalibur.”
The Descend and the Resurface
Damian Hart (Beyblade) x OC
Summary: OC comes from a complex background, and in the midst of trying to save it all and help her family she enters a strange arrangement, which will change her life forever.
Masterlist 🖤
Tags: Beyblade, Beyblade Metal Masters, Julian Konzern, Jack, Damian, OC, Gingka Hagane, team Starbreaker, team Excalibur, dr. Ziggurat, Hades Inc.
A/N: Hope you enjoy!
Also, please let me know what you think so far! It means a lot to me!
Chapter 5
Bewildered, I ripped the entire envelope apart and opened the letter:
Dear Miss Casilarghi,
You are hereby personally invited to come to Hades Inc. headquarters tomorrow at noon for a meeting with dr. Ziggurat.
This invitation also extends to a pick up at 11:30AM and return to your hotel with our chauffeur, a guided tour of the entire Hades complex and a complimentary lunch. We are looking forward to your arrival.
Best regards,
Dr. Ziggurat
CEO of Hades Inc. and Hades Academy
“Oh like fuck I will” I threw the letter into the trash: “I wasn’t even asked, they just let me know I am supposed to come! Hah, ridiculous” slowly sitting down on the bed again and running my hands through my hair, my thoughts continued: “Hades…” could it have anything to do with Kerbecs? With Starbreaker? A quick Google search later, I learned that Starbreaker is managed by this dr. Ziggurat, and that this academy is where they train their bladers. I also came across many articles about how Starbreaker members are the only three members of the Academy that were ever publicly acknowledged as graduates of the program. Apparently, many people apply and get accepted, but the majority get sent home eventually. One article even said all accepted candidates of the program need to sign iron-clad NDAs, but this was from a blog so I took it with a grain of salt. I was in a conflicted position: on one hand, I didn’t want to waste my time, which was meant to be dedicated to reconciling with Julian, on the guy who managed those lunatics from Starbreaker, but I also couldn’t help but wonder what he wants to talk about with me? This was all very suspicious, yet thought provoking. Drawing myself a warm bath to rest in, I decided to indulge dr. Ziggurat and see what he wants. After all, if I will want to leave I can. After this, I will get in contact with Julian and see if he recovered enough to speak with me.
For the meeting, I decided not to dress too formally. Even though I decided to indulge dr. Ziggurat with this meeting, I don’t plan on honouring him or his organisation by wearing my nice clothes. Therefore, I settled on a pair of ankle-length straight white jeans, and a black viscose tank top with a square neckline and thick straps, accessorised with a regular black shoulder bag and white sneakers. At 11:30 sharp, the chauffeur was in front of the hotel, holding the rear door of a big, black jeep open for me. The driver himself was dressed all in black, and was wearing black leather gloves and sunglasses. He greeted me with a polite, noticably trained smile as I settled into the vehicle. The seats were comfortable and soft, but the tainted side windows made me feel uneasy. The drive itself was not long, but it occurred to me that the reason why they sent a driver in the first place was because they want absolute control over who comes in, and who goes out. The Hades complex was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but dust and empty land. A circle of tall buildings built of sun-reflecting glass surfaces, which gave the city a kind of glow from a distance, surrounded a single skyscraper. Upon entering the city, I noticed that there was no one in the streets, maybe an odd man here and there. The driver pulled up in front of the tallest skyscraper, and another suited man opened the door for me.
“Welcome to Hades Inc.” A short, blonde woman greeted me with a neutral but pleasant voice. She accompanied me to the elevator, where she placed one of the highest floors.
“How come there is no one in the streets?”
She smiled mildly at me: “people are working! This is a company more than anything. Besides, this time of the day it gets too warm, and the solar panels work better if there are no disturbances.”
“But where are the employees’ cars then?”
“There are several levels of underground facilities in this complex, the first one featuring a garage” she spoke just a bit more lively than Siri or Alexa, but in a very similar manner. When the door opened, there was another frosted glass wall in front of us, the door of which required a finger print for enterance. Apparently, the glass wall was sound-proof, because when she let me in I could hear two men discussing something:
“Sir, your 12PM appointment is here.” the woman let me in and closed the door softly behind me.
Dr. Ziggurat sat straight across from me, seated behind a minimalistic black desk, with two chairs in front of it, and surrounded by light gray walls and carpet. There was a lot of natural light coming into the room through floor-to-ceiling windows, yet the room was at a comfortamble temperature.
Dr. Ziggurat got up from his seat, and walked over with a grin. When he stood up, I noticed he was much taller and skinnier than I expected. He extended his hand: “Camila, so nice of you to come!” He showed me to one of the seats in front of him. On the left side of the room was a two-seat black leather sofa supported by a silver metal rod, and a man with a short beard and thin glasses sat there.
“I am dr. Ziggurat, the owner of Hades Inc., and this is my colleague, dr. Carlisle. If it is not a problem, he would like to stay for this meeting.”
“You have a lovely complex, dr. Ziggurat” I employed a bit of charm my mother taught me: “I am really impressed by the design and upkeep of the entire facility.”
“We do try our best” Ziggurat smiled, before leaning back and looking at his tablet: “So Camila, I see here you speak 4 languages?”
I was just about to engage in this small talk, when I decided my time was more valuable: “Why am I here, dr. Ziggurat?”
He smiled again: “Straight to the point. Very well. Are you aware that I am the managing figure of the US representative team in this Beyblade championship?”
“Until now, I wasn’t” I lied, but I was not going to give him the satisfaction of admitting I Googled Hades Inc. last night.
“How did you like the battle yesterday, especially as a supporter of the European team?” He grinned and looked at me directly over his orange-tinted glasses.
“Doctor, am I really here to talk about that? Besides, I didn’t even watch it.” I blurted out, I don’t even know why.
“Now now, lying is not very ladylike. I’m sure you know that” He fixed his glasses: “Besides, we are well aware of your affiliation with Julian Konzern, and your recent… how shall I put it… change in this affiliation?” I stared at him, I did not know what to say. Yes, I was frequently photographed with him and his family, so I wasn’t unfamiliar to the occasional photo in the newspaper, or a mention in a gossip column, but this guy seemed to have more information on me than I would be comfortable giving if he directly asked me.
“We think you were not treated fairly by Julian, or Excalibur.” He lowered his tone a bit: “and after seeing your passionate support for the team regardless of the severed relationship, we could not help but want this extraordinairy woman for ourselves.”
“Excuse me for being so direct, but why are you interested in my personal life and disrespecting my privacy?”
“Please forgive me. I am a scientist, I’m not so good with words.” He explained, but I highly doubted that statement: “What I meant to say is; we think Julian and Excaibur treated you unfairly on a personal matter just as much as a professional one. You abandoned further studies and pursuits after graduation in order to support Julian, and were not compensated for the years of devoted service in any way. How is that fair?”
“I loved- I love him.”
“Yes, but do you see in what kind of a position he put you in? And left you in?” Ziggurat continued: “not to mention your family.”
In order to not come across as outraged, which I was, I took a moment of silence before I asked once more in a soft tone: “Doctor, why am I here?”
He smiled, this time a genuine one I think: “We would like to help you and your family by offering you a position at Hades Inc. with a generous salary. You would be working closely with the members of Starbreaker at a salary of your choice.”
I was absolutely baffled: “What?”
“We know you’re a supporter of the European team, but we hoped you might give our generous offer a thought.”
I thought about it, but how does any of this make sense? Who am I benefitting here? I could literally be ripping them off for vast sums of money? For what?
“And what would be the nature of my employment?”
“What an eloquent young lady” Ziggurat purred: “This is exactly what the boys need. We would like to hire you as… an assistant, shall we say. You would be living and working in the Starbreaker wing in order to bring a softer touch, and more team building among the members.”
Then the other doctor spoke up: “Their schedules are very densely organised, so we considered adding a feminine touch might help the boys feel more calm by bringing a more realistic environment to them. More balanced.”
“Balanced?” I asked, and I still wasn’t sure what my job would be exactly.
Ziggurat picked up this time: “We’ve seen your demeanour by Julian’s side, and we believe you would enhance our boys’ performance by providing them with a friendly, emotional support. Plus, the program of the Academy does not yet feature girls, so having a female presence might remind them of previous education, or of home.”
“And you would pay me whatever I asked to be a friend to the boys from Starbreaker?”
Carlisle cleared his throat: “by no means are we suggesting a particular kind of relationship, we would financially support your natural development of a relationship with the members of Starbreaker as a means of helping them reach their maximum potential.”
I accidentally snorted: “wait, you think I’d like to hang out with Jack and Damian after what they did to my friends yesterday?”
Both doctors chuckled: “Ah yes, Damian loves to take things too far to entertain the audience. And Jack is… simply extravagant.” Ziggurat explained, but I was not convinced at all. Enteratining the audience or being dramatic is completely different from torture and ridicule.
“I am sorry gentlemen but as of this moment I am not sure about this offer.”
There was a brief pause, before Ziggurat spoke up again: “Camila, you are a smart girl. You went to a prestigious school, and while all of your peers followed their dreams and potential, you were halted by your family’s lack of funds, yes, but primarily by a boy who asked you to drop everything to be by his side, only to leave you to fight your battle alone once things got too difficult for him to manage.”
“He never asked me.” I defended myself
“Not directly, no” Ziggurat left a moment of silence pass: “Consider our offer until this time tomorrow, and if you decide to join us, send a message to this contact.” He passed a card across the table, and leaned back in his chair: “Would you like a tour of the complex? Something to eat?”
Darting s look at the clock on the desk, I’ve noticed somehow an hour and a half passed, and I did not want to be here any longer: “Actually, I am still quite tired from yesterday. I would like to go home.”
After saying goodbye to both doctors, and promising to Ziggurat I would carefully consider his offer upon leaving the room, the door closed behind me cutting me off from the conversation the two doctors were about to have:
“She is very interesting” Carlisle massaged his temples: “not even typically pretty, she really has that subtle beauty.”
“Yes, she is very European” Ziggurat said, perhaps even sarcastically: “but she is exactly who we need in order to get what we want on all sides, and from what the investigators found her family is… quite desperate” He chuckled at this last part.
Carlisle looked at his colleague: “Do you think your plan is going to work?”
“You’re the psychiatrist, dear friend.” Ziggurat poured a glass of whiskey, and handed it to Carlisle: “Besides, it’s all women are good for isn’t it?”
