Julia stands in an elevator, she blankly looks at the wall as she descends. The Jester  waved their hand in front of Juli’s eyes  “Hello~. Is Julia coming out to 𝓟𝓵𝓪𝔂? ” 

Julia looked to her right, the jester was covered in blood that dripped and pooled in the elevator's floor filling it with a crimson nectar. Julia sighed before responding “I was thinking, and you interrupted me”

The jester chuckled “What are you 𝔟𝔬𝔯𝔢𝔡? Haven’t I been so 🅔🅝🅣🅔🅡🅣🅐🅘🅝🅘🅝🅖!” 

Julia said “You’ve done a great job, what's your request?” 

“Request?” The Jester repeated “Request? I’d never dare to burden my devil” 

“Quit it” Julia cringed “or your blood will join the pool” 

“My, my ! What an offer! To be killed by your 𝕎𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕕𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤 would be a dream”

“You're so annoying, this is why I don't bring you along,” Julia scoffed. Here we are in an elevator covered in blood and you can be bothered to be quiet for even a moment. I swear your way too outgoing, you  could talk to a rock for hours and never get-” 

Julia paused. 

“What, What do I never get?” the jester inquired. 

“Etheral, I was thinking” Julia asked, “Would you like to go bowling with me?” 

The jester bowed “Why of course” 

“Good” Julia nodded “back to business”

The jester reaches in his sleeve and pulls out a short hand sized blade “Of course, of course. Let's return to our 𝕭𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘!.”

___________________________________________________________________________

 

Ire sat with her legs crossed in front of the television, basking in the blue light of the screen. She watched the cartoon that played, a cunning raven would try and track down the nimble Chameleon. The raven would plan, set up traps and even try to attack the chameleon but no matter what they tried the chameleon would evade him. 

Ire like the show, she has spent the last few days watching it. She had gotten fond of the 

animation and the jokes they’d play

 

Would Julia like this?

 

Ire sat on the couch, her legs freely swinging in the air. One her lap was a plate bowl filled with milk and a rainbow cereal. Ire dug her spoon into it and took bite after bite. The cereal tasted like blocks of  pure sugar. She could feel her teeth rot but she still continued, it tasted good afterall. She had seen the cereal in a commercial and asked aster to buy it. He went  on and on about it being unhealthy but he bought it for her anyway. As she scarfed down the bowl of liquid dopamine she thought to herself 

 

When will I see Julia again?

 

Ire sat in the bath, curled up like she had always been. She stared forwards blankly as th erian poured down on her. She didn’t move, she didn’t speak, she  just thought 

 

She wasn’t lying, she really did help me. Sh-she obviously went too far but… I want to thank her. Even if she went too far,she still helped me. I want to talk to her again. She laid on the couch facing the ceiling, across from her Aster who wrote in the papers of the white binder on his lap. Ire reached up towards the ceiling grasping at it. She sighed before dropping her hand onto her chest.  

 

Suddenly there was a ringing sound coming from the aster. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a smartphone with a white case, he pressed the screen before raising it to his ear. 

 

If I had a phone, would Julia call me? What would we talk about?

 

Aster listened for a moment before responding “When did I give you my number…okay!!! Shes here with me” 

Ire sat up on the couch and looked towards Aster. He continued “yeah she's doing better , thank you for asking!!! You want to talk? I’ll hand it right away”

 

“Who is it?” Ire inquired. Aster stood up and placed the phone in Ire’s open hands, he smirked as he did  “It's a surprise!!!”

Ire takes the phone and holds it to her ear. She said “Hello? This is Ire” 

A familiar voice responded , Julia's voice “Hello Ire , Its been a while hasn’t it” 

“J-julia?” Ire questioned “Why are you calling me from Aster’s phone?” 

“How else would I call you?” Julia said  “You should really look into getting one” 

Juia hesitated “um…Julia, can we talk-” 

“Do you want to go bowling with me!” Julia interjected “i book this amazing club and now that your feeling better you should join us” 

 Ire sputtered “b-bowling why– wait what do you mean us?” 

“ a couple of my friends I want to introduce you to, they’re so excited to meet you!” Julia exclaimed “its on pashire street and I can guarantee it’ll a quiet place with no-” 

“I want to talk with you Julia,” Ire said, raising her voice “about…” 

“Aster is there” Julia monotoned “We’ll take at the club” 

Ire glanced at Aster, he was standing by her patiently waiting for her to finish the call. He flashed a smile and Julia returned the gesture

Julia continued “So, will you be coming?” 

“Yeah… I'll go” Ire agreed “what time will I go and where is it?” 

“You can stay home” Julia explained “i’ll have one of my friends pick you up, got it” 

Ire said “ Alright, I'll see you then. Bye Julia” 

Julia voice returned it playful tone “Bye Ire~”

The phone rang as the call ended. Ire dropped the phone down from her ear and placed it by her side. 

Aster sat down beside her “Well? Do we get good news?”

“It's good, I think atleast” Ire stated. She invited me to go bowling with her today. Can i-”

“Of course!!!” Aster answered ecstatically “My ire, hanging out with friends!!! I’ve never been so proud!!!”

“You're actually letting me go?” Ire said “ I thought you’d tell me to take care of myself”

“We went to the shop today and you told me you're alright” Aster explained “you said you were fine and I trust you. You wouldn’t lie to me would you?”

Ire felt a shiver go from her head all the way to the bottom of her spine. She nodded “I wouldn’t”

I Would

Aster grinned “exactly!!! I’ll leave you so you can get ready”

“Get ready?” Ire questioned “i only have this uniform”

“Actually…” Aster said, reaching under the couch. He felt around before grabbing something . He pulled out a white cardboard box before placing it on ire lap “Tada!!!”

Ire brought her hands to the edges of its lid and slowly raised it up and to the side. On the inside was a  black and grey striped hoodie and a pair of black bell bottom pants. They were folded neatly into the box.

Ire looked up at Aster “You didn’t have to get me this, I'm fine in my uniform. you should refund it while you can”

Aster sighs “Ire, just take the clothes. I'm not letting you go until you do.”

“But-”

“No buts!!!” Aster interjected “while you’re living under my roof I am responsible for your necessary purchases!!! That includes getting you dressed for when you hangout with your friends!!! That is the Aster Greenridge way!!!”

Ire dropped the box to the side before hugging Aster, she tightly wrapped her arms around him and aster did the same. Aster chuckled “im here for you kid, dont forget that” 

“I won’t!” Ire mumbled, her face embedded into Aster’s shoulder. After a moment ire pushed away and quickly stood up, taking the box with her “im going to go and try them on!  Thank you, I'll make sure to rep–nevermind, just thank you!”

Aster lies back into the couch “that’s more like it”

 

How do I feel 

The clothes aren’t tight, nor are they overly loose. They perfectly fit my body. The cotton of the hoodie brought both warmth and comfort, it felt as if I was laying down on the bed. I was so excited, my body was practically racing at the thought of hanging out with Julia. But also a bit nervous , I could feel my stomach start to turn at the thought..

How do I look? 

Ire stood on a small wooded just high enough that her head in the bathroom mirror’s reflection would be cut off. Ire tried and twisted to look at all the different angles of the shirt.  Both the hoodie and the pants looked higher quality than anything ire had worn. Ire smiled before hopping off the stool. 

 

Ire excitedly steps out into the kitchen, she could see Aster in the living room, he immediately stood up and began to make a square with his finger “Whoes this diva on the catwalk!!! Its the amazing, fantastic, Ire!!!”

Ire giggled before walking to the living room , pretending to strut along the way as if she was on a catwalk. Aster circled around her. He pretended to take a picture by making a clicking sound with his tongue “Lovely Darling!!! You're Fabulous!!!”

Ire and Aster laughed as they dropped the act. 

“So kid, how are we liking the new look?” Aster inquired.

 Ire chirped “I love it, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

“Awesome!!!” Aster beamed “now if you dont mind me, im going to go gte ready for work tomorrow”

“Oh it must be late already” Ire quickly bowed “im sorry to have wasted so much of your time”

“Eh I don’t like paperwork” Aster shrugged “I think this was a better use of–” 

There was a ring on the door. Aster patted Ire on the back “well that’d be your friends, go get em tiger!!!”

“Okay, i-i will!!!” Ire said rushing towards the  door. Ire excitedly reached forwards and opened the door. 

A towering man stood in front of her.  The man was in the later stages of life, his hair and his beard starting to turn from black to gray and the wrinkles already formed on his face.  The man stared down at Ire with lapis blue eyes. The man wore an open  dark brown duffle coat with a white tank top on the inside. He had long black jeans that were tight , showing  the true  shape of his legs. 

The man looked past Ire and at Aster. He called out, his voice deep and gruffled. “Hey! I'm taking Aster, 

Aster said “Try not to stay out too late!!!”

Ire stuttered “Wh-what-who are you”

The man suddenly picked Ire up with one hand by the head before closing the door. The man walks out into the hallway , still holding Ire above the ground.  Ire was frozen in fear , she dangled aimlessly as the man walked..

I'm going to Die  

The man glanced at ire for a moment “hey kid. You smoke?” 

Ire brought up her hands into an x.  The man chuckled "good answer kid,  stay away from that stuff.  It's always a shame to see young ones go down that path.”

Ire looked at the man, on a closer look that the imitating face was just in her imagination. He he a faint smile underneath all the gruff 

Maybe I overreacted, he seems nice

Ire spoke “How do you know Julia?” 

The man tilted his head “Whose Julia” 

Nevermind , I'm going to die!

The man paused before letting go of Ire. “oh! Are you talking about the devil?” 

“yes  th-” Ire paused. “you know she’s the devil?” 

The man continued walking, gesturing for Ire to follow “That's all I know her as.” 

Ire asked “How did someone-”  

“How does someone my age get affiliated with someone like her?” The man  finished “We all make mistakes”

Ire inquired “um, you never said you name” 

“Walton,” the man answered. 

 “And your surname?” Ire continued. 

The man chuckled “that is my surname, I'd rather die than be called by my first.” 

“Oh , okay then…” Ire noted “thank you for taking your time to collect me Mr Walton” 

“Nah, Nah, Nah. no Mr or sir , just Walton. I'm your elder not your boss” Walton corrected “and don't thank me, I like getting out. It's a…a good habit. You get out kid? “

“Not often Mr Wal–Walton.” Ire answered “Im recently got dismissed from the hospital” 

“Hospital?” Walton repeated “what for?” 

Ire shifted, she wrapped her hands around herself “I…I was sick”

Your lying

“Heh! Must have been something serious” Walted laughed “You catch something” 

Ire thought for a moment before speaking “it was a common cold, I just have a weak immune system”

Why do you lie now? So what if he knows, Julia probably will tell him anyway. Then you’ll look like a liar in front of everyone

The two reached the stairwell and started to descend. The man reached into his pant’s back pocket and brought out a white crumpled paper bag “Hey kids your age still like sweets right?”

Ire nodded “No i-i dont really like sweets” 

“Shame” Walton took an orange gummy and tossed it into his mouth. Ire looked at him as he did “hey Walton? What do you think of Ju-The Devil”

Walton swallowed “huh? Whats this” 

“I–i just–like how she—her whole deal” Ire frantically “i–” 

“Shes a weird one” Walton answered “i dont agree with her methods but I see her reasoning”

“Then,” Ire said, “why do you still associate with her…Are you in a deal?” 

“You can bet!” Walton chuckled “but thats not my reason, I could do nothing for a whole month without breaking it”

“That doesn’t really…awnser my question” Ire responded “if not your deal then why, why go to a disco or do other things for her?” 

Walton smiles “because she's young and I'm old. Kids are stupid, they’re monsters, they’re idiots. I  have enough experience to know kids are little demons but they grow up and get wiser so i’ll guide them along the way and help them”

Ire dropped her arms “help the what?” 

“ Live, thrive, Get laid, Hell if I know” Walton shrugged "I don't think about that moral stuff,its fuck–flipping stupid. if it helps a young one make it i’ll do it” 

Walton turns his head to ire “what are you smiling at?” 

Ire brought a hand to her mouth, she was smiling "i don't know” 

Ire and Walton reached the bottom of the stairs. Walton popped another gummy into his mouth, he spoke while chewing “Devil made you sound way more introverted” 

“She did–I'm not?” Ire gasped 

“Nah” Walton denied “here you are making me talk all sappy , you got my guard down so you can hear my weakness. I knew kids were demons”

Ire blurted “Im sorry, I–i didn’t mean to–”

“Hahaha!” Walton guffawed “I'm joking kid , I'm joking!”

The two exited the building into the neon light covered city. Ire could see a  car parked outside the building , it was a grey truck with an advertisement for some time of soda company on its side . Walton took out a set of car keys and pressed the button. A clicking sound came from the car as its headlights flashed orange. Walton stepped out onto the road beside it and ire followed behind him. Walton reached forward and opened the door.  “She told me you don’t like loud noises” 

Ire nodded. Walton stepped into the driver's seat and opened the passenger door . ire walked around the truck and sat inside, closing the door behind herself.  Walton continued “then until we get there,”

 Lets Enjoy the-