Chapter 02 - New Girl

I kept dreaming. Couldn't stop. Didn't want to stop. All day and all night for weeks on end. Occasionally, I'd get a very official looking envelope with the mail and I'd send it off to the higher-ups once I was done. It seemed that hardly anyone was concerned about my well being. So long as I finished everything that they sent my way, I was free to do whatever I wanted. This meant, of course, that I ended up spending every hour I wasn't working wandering through the museum and getting my neck sliced through over and over again.

Today's envelope came with an extra note. I'd be getting a new roommate in a few days, once she actually gets over here. Some kind of sharpshooter-stealth girl. I should probably start cleaning the other bedroom. Without anyone using it, I ended up using it as my art room and using the bed as a couch.

On second thought, maybe I'll keep that one. I sleep there more often, anyways.

...

I had some kind of unexplainable obsession with this girl. With a twist of my brush, her eyes shone blue. A few more strokes to fill her hair and skin brought her to life, and I started filling the dress a darker green. Being a magical girl, I get to add a bit extra to the works I really cared about. Make them seem like they're coming out of the painting, livelier than a photograph, I dare say. Because of it, I got to see the night sky with the curtains closed, and the sunset while I'm eating lunch.

If I had to be honest, seeing it more often makes it all seem less... special.

...

I didn't hear the knocking at all. Apparently she knocked a bunch before letting herself in and found me still asleep. Luckily for her, I had prepared some food for myself when I woke, so she helped herself to some microwaved lasagna. I was still in my pajamas while she unpacked and started arranging her new room.

The girl introduced herself as Cordelia Silver. She did not have silver hair, eyes, or skin. There wasn't anything silver about her. I told her this and she asked if it was me who brought America into World War Two.

"I'm here for training, kind of. You're supposed to take me on your missions as your new sidekick, so we'll be assigned missions together."

Well, at least that meant taking a break from paperwork. I guess that meant it would also be a break from the museum.

"Alright. I haven't done any fieldwork recently, so I apologize in advance if I'm not exceeding your expectations."

"Why'd they stick me with you, then?"

"No idea. Rumors are I'm supposed to be in the running for some leadership position, so I suppose this is some kind of test. Also, probably, so they seem me as fit to do fieldwork again."

"A test to see... if you can teach someone?"

I just shrugged. "Can I call you just Silver, by the way?"

"Yeah, why not. 'Cordelia' has been a mouthful for so many people already."

"What do you prefer, then?"

Silver laughed to herself. "Cordy."

I pursed my lips and took a sip of my juice. "Alright, Silver."

After unpacking her clothes, she started filling the room with, unsurprisingly, guns. Hanging on the wall, lying in the closet, lining the shelves. It seemed cluttered, but at the same time there was some sense of organization in it all. Like a planned mess.

"Oh, shit." Silver checked her watch and I raised an eyebrow at her. "Gotta be at the armory in a bit. Picking up a new rifle."

"Alright." I got up and stretched a bit. "I'm actually going to head out. You got your key and everything from housekeeping?"

"Yeah. How do you think I got in?"

"Right. See you later, then. Text me what you want for dinner."

With that, she was out the door. I didn't even get to give her my phone number.

...Ah, whatever. I'm sure she could find it in the directory. Or maybe I'll write in on the fridge.