REM Aux - Thanks I hate It.
Author note: REM Auxiliary is kind of weird. They’re meant to be very short chapters because I was feeling like the full ones were getting super long and I wanted to touch on some smaller moments here and there. Now I’m feeling going in a direction that’s even further removed from the chapter format with this so I guess this is where I started to feel like it had gotten too complicated.
ANYWAY..
REM Aux0 begins with Estra and Mal seeking support from her friends in their upcoming marriage since both families are being difficult about the whole thing. Unfortunately Grace points out that not everyone, including her, are all that thrilled given how hard their original breakup ended up being on Estra. They seem to understand.
Grace: “Well okay then, guess we should get this shitshow on the road huh?”
Meeting up with them are Xoui and Galen, the latter of which is more interested in Mal being a bit of a celebrity than anything else. Last to arrive is Ollie, who is on the same page as Grace.
So Olin sits on down with everyone else and they start talking. Estra explains the situation that her parents aren’t coming to things.
Olin makes a snide comment about her dad’s disapproval.
Ollie: “Or perhaps he doesn’t want his daughter tied down by a family of fucking murderers.”
Which ticks off both Malachi and Estra.
And she demands he apologizes.
But Ollie’s not in the mood.
Estra chases after him, slowing time to get his attention.
Which he scolds her for since the wrong kind of people might notice that shit.
They talk for a few minutes, Olin catches her up on the issues between the Kasri families. Explaining that his mother was murdered by some of Malachi’s dad’s people. That also he’s been creating and selling weapons/technology based on old Kasri tech used in their civil war. He also states he doesn’t believe that when Malachi takes over anything will change. It’s just the way of things for their people and there’s too much profit in it.
Estra says she’ll think about these things but doesn’t know what she’s supposed to do about any of it. Ollie admits that the doesn’t know what she should do either. That just to think about things and do what she feels is right for her.
In turn she asks him to think about giving Mal a chance. That maybe they’d find they have more in common than they know. Having come looking for them, Malachi is annoyed to see how close they seem to be and over hears them saying they care and love each other.
And decides to bounce.
Estra tries to talk him out of it explaining they’ve just been friends since childhood and it’s not the same as what they have.
But he’s just not having it.
Once Mal is gone, Ollie offers to walk Estra back to where she is staying if she feels she needs company but Estra feels as though that’s probably not the best idea. They also talk a bit about their past sexual history and both admit that aspect of things was pretty awkward.
Olin: “.... Guess I had just gotten so used to awkward after parties I hadn’t really thought about it.”
And then wrapping up this series we head back inside to their friends who are waiting.
Galen: “Doesn’t seem like they’re coming back.” Grace: “What a shock…” Galen: “So you guys wanna go hit up the bar?” Xoui: “Sure why not?” Grace: “Might as fucking well.”