A Weapon’s Serenade

There were hugs all around. The girls had met Nadine at the central train station in Frankfurt.

“It’s so good to see you all again.” Nadine was smiling from ear to ear.

Melody returned the smile. “I missed you. We all did. How have you been?”

“Busy but life’s been good. Knowing you three, you have some stories to tell.”

“Oh we sure do.”

“And I want to hear it all.” Nadine gestured for the girls to follow her. The group slowly made their way out of the train station.

“So, a few weeks ago we met a younger student named Serena. She does marine biology apparently and has some health issues that forbid her from joining the rest of the students on an ocean expedition. We took pity on her and got Famine involved who took us all to meet a siren. Those are like thirty-metre-long mermaids basically.”

“Wait, really? Like massive mermaids… top half woman, bottom half fish?”

“Yup and her name is Isha, at least that’s the nickname she picked cause her name doesn’t work for humans, it’s a very beautiful melodic song thing. Isha apparently has a similar cadence to her full name.”

“It’s a really nice name too.”

“It sure is. Anyway, we met on a little island, talked all day and decided to meet up again. With humanity being stupid and all, putting all that plastic and shit in the oceans, the sirens’ home is not as liveable as it used to be. So, Famine got some things moving and got the sirens a way to explore Hell and maybe find a new home. So, while we are here, Isha and friends are swimming around the oceans of Hell. Oh, and she loves games and is basically a siren nerd.”

Nadine giggled. “You are gathering quite the group of supernatural smart people. And some boring normies like me.”

“Don’t undersell yourself, you are really clever and maybe we can get you some magical powers in the future too. So, while we have been hanging out with sirens, what have you been doing?”

“Boring human things. Got a bit over a month left at this intern thing, then it’s back to uni lectures.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, if you are in the internship program currently, how did you get two days off work?”

“So, the guy I am shadowing, who is supposed to teach me how the real world of banking works, did some work on the weekends and I tagged along in exchange of a few free days. Was nothing super big, international meetings and stuff. Anyway, he and I get two days off this week. I hang out with you and he gets to spend his three-year-old son’s birthday at home.”

“Nice. You having a good time in general?”

“Remarkably so, it’s reasonably fun once I realized that it’s all sort of pointless. It’s like a game, just with high stakes for real people. I guess that’s my one gripe with it. The stakes. All this banking stuff is super interesting, but I wish it didn’t have real effects on people who can’t truly control anything about it.”

Kuria nodded reassuringly. “There are too many of those things. Things that are enjoyable if it wasn’t for the consequences.”

“Yea, especially stuff like this where the consequences can be so dire. If this was a game, it would be fun but it’s horrid just because of the consequences. I know I shouldn’t be enjoying it as much as I do…”

“I know that feeling. It does suck, doesn’t it? For me it was the moment before pouncing on someone. You got a plan, a victim of sorts, and you are just waiting for the right moment. The right moment to annihilate someone in a debate, to play your winning move in a game, to… drive your dagger into someone’s neck. The anticipation is the best thing, the murder… not so much.”

“But you found an outlet for that that doesn’t involve killing people, right?”

“I have, yes.”

“But what should I do? There is nothing like banking that has the same feel to it. The same sense of being a game.”

“You should make a difference. It’s a game to you but what is it to the others?”

“A way to become richer? Oh, I get it. I am not in this for the same reason, I don’t need to get rich from this. I am rich. I can play this game with little risk to myself, I can nudge other players, I can nudge the outcome. With a little care, I can make a difference. Indulge in the fun I get from finances and keep the others from fucking with people.”

“Precisely. This system of banks and money must change eventually but one person can’t do that on their own. What you can do is prevent damage and create cover for the people who can and want to change the system for the better. And one day, you might be able to topple the tower. That’s easier from the top. The Asuran empire didn’t fall because of the people. The leadership made it fall. The Hand’s CEO realized that too.”

Anne nodded in agreement. “I would argue that working to destroy an unjust system is better than to work within it regardless of goal. But that doesn’t work without outside nudges, be it assistance or disaster. What you can do is put yourself in a position to make change happen when you get the chance and prevent as much damage as possible until then.”

Nadine shook her head. “That’s all deep and I suppose it’s true but… it still feels wrong. This all reminds me of the talk we had years ago about when terrorism works. One attack doesn’t do anything, but when there is someone or something to keep it going, then terrorism works. If you want to sow fear into a populous, you need to strike when you have a government that seeks control anyway. Give them a reason to do your work for you.” She stopped walking and turned to face her friends with a sparkle in her eyes. “It’s all a game. Not in the no consequences sense but in the rules and meta-gaming sense and the psychological aspect. Well, now I know what I want to try. If this fails, it fails and I don’t have a career in banking. But if I succeed…”

“If you succeed, you can make the other players achieve your goals for you.”

“What a way to make me sound like a supervillain.”

“And what’s wrong with being one? Being a villain to the banks is not the wrong thing to be.”

Nadine grinned. “Well, time to become a supervillain then.”

For today, becoming a supervillain would have to wait. The girls had been invited to a reasonably fancy lunch by Nadine.

Anne carefully placed her fork down. “This is really good.”

Nadine smiled. “Told you.” She looked at her formerly shy friend. “You know… all those popular girls I used to hang out with, none of them still talk to me. You do. Even Beatrice does, she actually sends me postcards whenever she travels somewhere new. I never spent any real time with Beatrice but she goes out of her way to keep in contact with me and honestly? I enjoy that. We sometimes talk and she has become such a good person now. If you had told me half a year before we all graduated that the people I call my friends now are the shy girl who never talks to anyone, the class loudmouth, the trans girl no one knows, the weird omni-talented super nerd and her imaginary friend, and the pathetic bully, I would have likely laughed at you.”

“And I never thought I would share grilled sea bass with the most popular girl in class, or someone with an upcoming promising banking career for that matter. I suppose next time, it’s our treat.”

“I dare not ask for spoilers.” Nadine giggled.

Anne shot Melody a playful glance. “Oh, we will keep it a proper secret. I mean, it is time we take you to Hell after all.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yea. Beatrice hasn’t seen proper Hell yet, but you are the only friend we have who hasn’t been there at all.”

“That’s not quite true.” Melody interrupted. “Atryca always declined. Julia and Maggie also only saw the Pandemonium and the plaza outside. Not sure if we can count that as visiting Hell properly.”

“Fair enough. Doesn’t change anything about needing to kidnap you though, Nadine.”

Nadine returned a warm smile. “Once I’m back from this internship, then I have some time to spend with you all.”

Anne grinned. “We are patient. Maybe we can arrange it so you can meet our new human friend Serena and Isha the siren too.”

“That would be lovely. Speaking of meeting people, well cats actually, Tiny still hangs around with you, right?”

Melody nodded. “Yea, she is there several times a week. Why do you ask?”

“Because I remember you telling me something about Tiny being able to teleport and go wherever she wanted, no matter where or how. I found Tiny on my bed in the morning every so often.”

“Aww, looks like she missed you and decided to do something about that.”

“And that is really cute, but I’m not allowed to have pets in the apartment here. Once I return home, Tiny can visit me all she wants, but here it might cause a problem.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“I can just tell her?”

“Yea, she understands you perfectly.”

“I shall try then.”

“And if any problems arise, call us. We will sort it out.”

“You are the best. I love you three…four with Tiny.”