《A.N.G.E.L.- B》 Chapter 1 Teddy had not meant to eavesdrop. He had walked into Founder¡¯s House to pick up a brochure. He had noticed the clerk¡¯s awed expression and gotten curious as to what was going on. A glance into the game room had made his eyes go wide in wonder. There sitting at a table with what appeared to be a beautiful compandroid was his friend and coworker, Mason. ¡°This must be the Marina that he had heard so much about.¡± Teddy thought to himself. As he watched Marina he began to realize that she was no run of the mill compandroid. Her face moved and changed like a humans. Her thoughts and feelings were hinted at through the flutter of a lash and the slight upturning of a lip. She did not have the placid face of a computer driven companion. This compandroid was alive and it was a wonder to behold. He found himself feeling dirty for eavesdroping, slightly envious of his friend, hopeful that this vision did in fact have a sister. Fearing that he would be seen, Teddy quickly moved on. Like many, Teddy had been born at a government facility and had never known his mother. The advent of artificial wombs had eliminated the need natural child bearing. It had also been the key technological advance that enabled the coequal revolution to found their colonies that now dotted the planet. Teddy thought that he had faint memories of mother figures in the nursery, but they could have been nannybots used by the government. If the government had allowed women to dally in something as prehistoric as child rearing they would never admit to it officially of unofficially. Coequality had been meant to bring utopia, instead it created a feeling of loss that few were allowed to acknowledge without being labeled a deviant . He did not know how he would ask Mason about Marina, but he would find a way. He had wondered if one of their coequal counterparts had grown weary of her lot and was living through Marina. While he was waiting for Mason to arrive at the cafe Teddy had discovered that Marina worked there. He had quickly and covertly used his skimmer app to determine that she was operating free of any outside influence. This made Marina an even greater wonder. The effect was amplified when she glided up to his table to take his order. ¡°It¡¯s as if I were talking to a human¡­¡± he thought as he watched her walk away. After two weeks that had been filled with surprises, Teddy awoke on his day off looking forward to a quiet day. He left his apartment to pick up the bowling balls that he had ordered from the post office. The set of two 5 inch candlepin bowling balls that he ordered featured custom colors and he did not want them to be stolen from his doorstep like the miniatures that came while he was at work. Instead he had them sent to his Post Office Box. He had received the notification of the package¡¯s arrival shortly before he planned on crawling into bed after returning from a run that had taken his train to the western end of the line. Now that he was fully rested Teddy was looking forward to the trip to pick up his new bowling equipment. He might even stop by the comic shop on the way back. The post office was built in the art deco style that had swept through the colony years ago. The building was handsome and had been well taken care of, but there was no reason for their to be a crowd in front of it. There was no holiday upcoming. In fact, the crowd did not seem to be interested in going into the Post Office at all. Instead they seemed to be fascinated by something outside of the post office. Determined that he would not be denied the pleasure of collecting his package, Teddy pressed his way to the front of the crowd. Then he saw what had captured the attention of the crowd. Seated in a folding chair in front of the library was compandroid with purple hair that reached down to the top of her shoulders and was worn in a messy style. She was dressed in a long baggy white t-shirt and black leggings. She appeared to be holding a sketchbook and had a large shoulder bag filled with art supplies. Teddy did not know what compandroids were capable of creativity. That was a human trait. Yet, here she was with paint brush in hand. Curious as to what the compandroid was painting and wanting to meet her, Teddy stepped forward. To his disappointment and concern another man stepped forward. Teddy and most of the crowd recognized the man, it was Fargle. Fargle was a hired hand and temp worker on his best days. He was an opportunist and borderline conman at all times which meant that he was not trusted with much. Fargle slithered up to the compandroid, pulled a small device from his pocket, there was a burst of light, the compandroid spasmed, said something and covered her mouth, and then Fargle grabbed her bag and started to run. Teddy bolted forward and hit Fargle hard enough to knock him to the ground. After pausing long enough to grab the bag Teddy rushed up to the compaindroid. ¡°Are you ok?¡± he asked. The compandroid looked up at Teddy with bright violet eyes that looked just as alive as Marina¡¯s. Except there were tears around them. She looked thoroughly startled. She did not know what to make of Teddy at first. ¡°I¡­ I think so. That man. He made me say something.¡± the compandroid sniffed. ¡°Fargle, is a bad man.¡± Teddy nodded. ¡°I got your bag back.¡± he presented the bag. ¡°Here.¡± he added after offering him his handkerchief. ¡°Thank you.¡± She dried her eyes. ¡°You got some stones! Hitting me over a doll!¡± Fargle grumbled as he rubbed his jaw. ¡°I¡¯m like Robin Hood. Robbing the rich.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I¡¯m not a doll!¡± the compandroid protested. ¡°Leave her alone Fargle.¡± Teddy warned. ¡°You go feral or somethin?¡± Fargle snapped, he turned to the crowd but found that most would like to continue the beating. ¡°I heard that you were on the edge of reverting. Makes me sick.¡± Fargle spat before fleeing. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Teddy asked after turning his attention back toward the compandroid. ¡°Here let me help you.¡± he added after seeing that her watercolors, brushes, pencils, and notebook had fallen to the ground. ¡°He didn¡¯t hurt me. It¡¯s just that being forced to say something and then robbed makes you feel so violated.¡± she shivered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that.¡± he began. ¡°Wow! This is really nice!¡± Teddy added after picking up the sketchbook and finding a partial watercolored drawing of the post office. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My name is Theodore Labson, but you can call my Teddy if you would like.¡± He smoothed his blond hair. ¡°My name is Bellflower,¡± she began in a daze and seemed as if in deep thought. Teddy began to worry that the human behaviors had been an illusion. ¡°Zounds!¡± she blinked ¡°Please, call me Belle.¡± she continued after returning to herself and looking up at Teddy with a timid but earnest smile. ¡°Belle, I wish that we could have met under happier circumstances, but it is nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± she nodded after standing up. ¡°But we have met and I am happy for that.¡± As the two scrambled to pick up the few remaining items that had fallen from her bag, Teddy noticed a small figurine hanging from the bag¡¯s zipper. It was a chibi style figurine of a woman with long blonde hair in a wedding gown wielding a magic wand. ¡°Are you a fan of Guardian Bride?¡± he asked. ¡°You know about her?¡± Belle gasped. ¡°I have seen the books and trinkets in the local book shop.¡± he admited. ¡°Which one? I am behind.¡± she asked excited at the prospect of catching up. ¡°Past Times. I shop there myself.¡± ¡°Lucky me!¡± her eyes sparkled. ¡°A gentleman and a scholar.¡± Teddy was amazed that he had done as well as he had. He had no idea how to communicate with actual women, but so far he had not made an idiot of himself. However, he currently felt like they were putting on a stage show for the crowd. Belle behaved like a human, and anyone would have been shaken by her experience with Fargle. His bowling ball could wait. ¡°Belle, would you like to get some coffee or a warm drink?¡± he ventured. ¡°Yes!¡± she nodded. As they approached the crowd they were met with sympathetic expressions. The crowd parted and some wished them well. Others condemned Fargle. They walked down the street toward the cafe. Unlike most normal compandroids Belle glided along gracefully. He had to slow his pace to match hers. That was natural because Teddy had longer legs. When they reached the cafe they entered the patio and found a cozy place to sit. ¡°This is a nice place.¡± Belle observed after the chair and art supplies had been stowed. ¡°The food and drinks are good. The people are nice too.¡± he replied. ¡°Thank you again for coming to my rescue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry that you had a run in with Fargle.¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°EVERYONE knows Fargle. You have to know of him. He¡¯s the town swindler. Knowing of him is a matter of self protection.¡± Teddy explained. ¡°Now I know of him¡­ I¡¯m lucky you were there. People are more important than things, but I do like my art bag.¡± Teddy found talking to Belle to be fascinating and so different from talking to the guys. Was this what had been given up in the name of coequality? ¡°Teddy!¡± a soft feminine voice interrupted them. Both looked up and found Marina standing by their table. She seemed happy to see her boyfriend¡¯s friend dining with a date. Marina and Belle had a family resemblance but they were different. Marina¡¯s features were more delicate while Belle had a slightly more upturned nose and subtle dimples. Both had a pale cream complexion and fine brows. Both wore the same gold heart shaped necklace too. Belle glanced between Teddy and Marina with a questioning expression. Then turned her attention toward Marina. Both seemed surprised by the other¡¯s existance. ¡°You are like me!¡± Marina proclaimed happily. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± she continued. ¡°Gosh!¡± Belle gasped. ¡°We have the same necklace.¡± her hand instinctively reached for the gold heart shaped pendant that hung around her neck. ¡°Is it like mine exactly?¡± Marina removed her necklace and showed her the back of it. ¡°It is. It says the same thing.¡± Belle nodded. ¡°What do you suppose it means?¡± Marina mused. ¡°Maybe it is our last name.¡± Belle replied. ¡°You think so?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Marina Angel and Belle Angel. I like it! The Angel sisters!¡± ¡°So much is happening¡­¡± Belle exhaled. After reviewing the menu Teddy ordered tea and Belle ordered Cocoa. Marina brought the drinks and added two large sugar cookies. With a smile Marina glided away from the table and the couple found themselves alone in their nook. Teddy was almost as overwhelmed by all of the new experiences as Belle. He wished he had the confidence that his friend Mason appeared to have. All he could do was put his best foot forward and hope desperately for the best. ¡°She seems to like you,¡± Belle observed. ¡°Marina is nice. She is my friend¡¯s girlfriend. I think that is what it is called. At least the books say so.¡± ¡°Good for her.¡± Belle brightened. ¡°You have a talent for art. Are you an artist?¡± he ventured. ¡°Arts and crafts are my hobby. I¡¯m really good at them. I¡¯m not sure if I could compete with professional artists though.¡± she began happily. ¡°I don¡¯t think I think in a way that lets me pass off shapeless blobs as the greater meaning of life.¡± she continued after sipping her cocoa. ¡°Me either. I think that artists whose work looks like the paint can exploded are greater salesman than artists. What were you painting today?¡± ¡°The post office. I watercolor sketch sometimes. Would you like to see?¡± Teddy happily accepted the sketchbook and began to look through it. The pages contained drawings of local buildings. The lines had a variation and warmth to them that betrayed a human touch that left him spellbound. The colors and brush strokes had been applied using a discerning eye. ¡°You should offer these as postcards.¡± he observed. ¡°You think so?¡± her eyes grew wide. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°This has been a good day after all. I think I am glad I found myself here.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Teddy admitted. ¡°Not that I would wish getting robbed on anyone. I am glad that I got to meet you.¡± he clarified. ¡°What are your hobbies?¡± she leaned forward. ¡°I bowl, do some tabletop gaming, and read books and some comics,¡± Teddy replied. ¡°Do you read to your compandroid?¡± Belle pressed. ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m single too. Would you like to exchange numbers?¡± she ventured after retrieving her smart phone. ¡°I would.¡± Chapter 2 The following day Teddy walked back to the post office. He was about to open the door when a car pulled up and the driver called to him. He turned and found Maximilian Calvert, the station master beckoning to him. The station master was fading toward stout, had thinning hair, and was his boss. Dreading that his heroics of the previous day had caught up with him, Teddy walked down to the waiting car. Calvert seemed serious, but not angry. ¡°Mr. Labson, do you have a minute?¡± he asked. ¡°I do.¡± he replied. ¡°I just got my car from the shop. I need a second opinion on the work, do you mind riding along?¡± Teddy eyed the car over. It was a licensed locally built Citroen 2CV similar to Masons. If Teddy was going to be fired, at least Calvert was being civil about it. After agreeing to ride along he got in the car and shut the door. Calvert put the car in gear and stepped on the gas. ¡°I know that you did not see me, but I was at the post office yesterday.¡± Calvert stated after shifting gears. ¡°You were?¡± ¡°I was. I saw what you did to that carpetbagging scoundrel that is generously called Fargle. In my opinion you did the railroad proud when you knocked that thief on his backside.¡± ¡°Made the railroad proud?¡± Teddy questioned. ¡°What kind of representative of the railroad would you be if you stood by and ignored someone being robbed?¡± Calvert turned onto a side road. ¡°The little vermin sent a deputy counselor to visit me about my ¡®feral employee¡¯¡± he added. ¡°I did not think he would do that.¡± Teddy admitted. ¡°I told that bureaucrat that I had been present and witnessed my employee stop a robbery. If that was considered feral than I myself must be rabid.¡± ¡°You said that?¡± Teddy asked in surprise. ¡°I did. I have noticed the changes that are happening in town. Changes for the better. Just don¡¯t become a vigilante ok?¡± Calvert stated as he rolled to a stop in front of the Post Office. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I don¡¯t plan on adding brawling to my hobbies.¡± ¡°Good man. I believe this is your stop.¡± Calvert replied. **** Not immune to the simple pleasure of girl talk Belle had sought out Marina. When she had first found herself in Madison she attempted to talk to the other compandroids and found that the spiritless automatons were not up to the task. Meeting Marina had made her feel less singular. She had viewed the blue haired compandroid as competition when she had called Teddy out by name, but had been pleased to learn that she was seeing his friend. Now the two sat in the living room of Marina¡¯s apartment sipping tea. Belle was dressed in a wide necked extra long t-shirt and leggings. Marina was dressed in a feminine wrap dress she had made herself. Both had been surprised to learn that they both lived in the Thistle Gardens apartment building. ¡°It¡¯s nice to have friendly neighbors.¡± Marina poured tea. ¡°It is. The building is nice, even if there are not many people living here.¡± Belle observed. Belle sipped her tea and thought. She doubted that she would forget what that fiend had made her say. ¡°I heard that some cad tried to rob you. Was it scary?¡± Marina pressed. ¡°He did not lay a finger on me.¡± Marina began. He held this light before my eyes, it flashed in crazy ways, and then I spoke against my will. I said something strange.¡± she continued. ¡°Did you list and a make and model number?¡± Belle looked at Marina and could readily tell that she was confiding in someone who understood what it meant to be a pioneer. She looked at her with understanding. ¡°ANGEL-B¡± Belle confessed. ¡°I¡¯m ANGEL-M. We ARE sisters.¡± ¡°Who forced you?¡± Belle pressed. ¡°A woman who thought I was being used by a human women who wanted to go ¡®primitive¡¯. It was very degrading.¡± ¡°I remember covering my mouth in embarrassment. But then I remember looking up and seeing the thief running away with my bag. Then Teddy stepped forward, knocked him down, and returned my bag.¡± ¡°There are good people too. We must treasure them.¡± Marina nodded. ¡°Marina, do you think there are more of us?¡± Belle asked. ¡°Perhaps. We should keep an eye out for our ¡®sisters¡¯.¡± ¡°If they are out there, I hope they meet nice people like Teddy.¡± Belle sighed. ¡°Or Mason.¡± Marina added. ¡°We are lucky.¡± Belle nodded. ¡°To be able to chose how we live. Work, date, not date. Not be forbidden from wanting a traditional relationship. We are lucky indeed.¡± Marina topped off her tea. ¡°I can see why some would want to take over our lives.¡± Belle shuddered at the thought. ¡°Even if only for a while.¡± Conversation came to a halt when Belle¡¯s smart phone rang. She happily proclaimed that it was Teddy and quickly answered the call. It was clear that the conversation and relationship was progressing nicely. After a few minutes Belle said goodbye and floated back to her apartment carried by the words of the caller on the other end. Inspired by her visitor, Marina picked up her phone and called Mason. Chapter 3 The following afternoon Teddy met Belle in front of the post office. After wracking his brain, he had settled on wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and a flannel shirt as a jacket. Belle was dressed in a t-shirt and a cream knee length overall dress. Her shapely legs were shrouded in knee socks that ended in canvas low top sneakers . She had been beguiling in the outfit he had last saw her in and was even more attractive now. He had covertly asked Mason questions about dating, but found that his friend had little more to go on. ¡°You look great.¡± he began after the two had exchanged greetings. ¡°Thank you!¡± she smoothed her dress with a blush. ¡°I¡¯m lucky to have such a handsome date,¡± she drew close to Teddy. ¡°Wow. Now I¡¯m gonna be blushing.¡± he admitted with a laugh. The couple strolled on with Teddy taking the lead. They talked and laughed as they walked along. In their wake they left people staring in disbelief at the couple. Few had ever seen a compandroid that was so alive. Those that had recovered from meeting Marina were left wondering and hoping that all compandroids could gain the same gift of life that the blue and purple haired newcomers displayed. Neither Teddy or Belle noticed because they were too distracted by each other¡¯s company. ¡°I have waited ages to start my collection.¡± Belle confided. ¡°I thought you were a Guardian Bride devotee?¡± he replied. ¡°I am. I have read it digitally. Now that I can, I will be collecting the actual books.¡± she began ¡°Do they have conventions here? I¡¯d love to dress up as Celeste, the fair protector of Love and Justice.¡± Belle continued in a dreamy tone. Visions of Belle clad in a radiant white ornate wedding gown and wielding a magic wand electrified Teddy¡¯s imagination. Those sparkling purple eyes gazing happily at him through a bride¡¯s veil. Such a vision was enough to overwhelm a man. ¡°Shall we go in?¡± Belle interupted. Teddy quickly realized that they were standing in front of Past Times comics and manga. The shop featured cardboard cut outs and posters of various characters. He held the door open and Belle entered. Once inside the shop the couple were met by rows of book shelves. The store also had cases that displayed figurines and other collectables. All reproductions of books and trinkets from a previous age. Belle wandered down the aisles with an expression of wonder and joy. ¡°They are here! They are all here!¡± she gasped when she found the aisle that housed Guardian Bride. She quickly selected volumes one and two for purchase. ¡°Collecting that series is gonna take a lot of shelf space,¡± Teddy observed as he noticed that the series was 60 volumes in all. ¡°Then there is the Grande Waltz series.¡± Belle pointed to the twenty books on the next shelf. They were titles Guardian Bride/GW Teddy was pleased that he had been able to bring joy to his date. Belle was like the proverbial kid in the candy store. She held her books and perused other titles. ¡°Teddy, tell me; what comics do you read?¡± she turned her attention toward him. ¡°Banner Wars. Is the main series I read.¡± he answered. ¡°Lead on.¡± Teddy led Belle to the section of the store where Banner Wars was shelved. The books were set during the Napoleonic era and followed several heroes across the front. Belle picked the book up and thumbed through it. ¡°I paint miniatures and do some war gaming with them. The campaigns are inspired by the books.¡± Teddy explained. ¡°What else is on your shelf?¡± she pressed. ¡°Surely there is another side to your reading.¡± Belle teased. ¡°Magpie Fair¡± Teddy replied after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°It¡¯s about this guy who is mistaken as a wrongdoer by Magpie Fair who is a lady thief who robs from the wicked.¡± he explained. ¡°Sounds promising.¡± Belle observed and made her way to the Magpie fair display. She noticed that the character on the cover dressed in a black cat suit and magpie masquerade mask. She then flipped open the book. What started as a light browsing turned into a close study. ¡°Ooo¡± she began. ¡°The lady thief realized that the main character is not wicked, but must be kept from going astray. She¡¯s enchanted by him and wants to steal him for her own.¡± she sighed. ¡°I knew you had an eye for quality literature.¡± she looked up at Teddy. ¡°I¡¯m glad you approve.¡± he began. ¡°You could borrow my copies¡± Teddy offered. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Your¡¯ sweet,¡± she smiled. ¡°Perhaps we could read together,¡± ¡°Sounds fun.¡± he nodded. They were about to walk up to the register when Belle spotted a table covered with manga. Next to it was was a carboard standee of a blonde haired woman dressed as a victorian maid. The manga on the table featured the same maid and the books were titled ¡°Gilded Maid¡±. The couple stopped and Belle began to closely examine the books. ¡°Those were just unloaded from the train,¡± a voice interrupted. The couple looked up and found Mr. Case, the owner standing by them. ¡°Hannah, works as a maid. What is she to do when she crosses paths with the heir of the Randall family and the two are smitten with each other.¡± Belle read the back cover aloud. ¡°I think I¡¯ll try issue 1.¡± she added the book to her small collection. ¡°I have shipped quite a few of those to readers in the city,¡± Case shared. ¡°Girls will be girls.¡± Belle stated taking Case by surprise. He¡¯d only heard rumors, but had not expected to see one of the life like androids in his store. The fact that she had suggested that their city dwelling coequals may have interests rooted in their past was shocking too. That was pondered upon. Never said aloud. With their purchases made the couple exited the shop and continued on their way. Teddy glanced over at his date who was walking close at his side. She had mentioned reading together? Did that mean she wanted a second date? So far he¡¯d had a great time being with Belle. He found being traditional to be a delight. ¡°Belle, would you like to get something to eat?¡± he ventured unsure as to how Compandroids handled food. ¡°I¡¯d love to.¡± ¡°Do you like Italian?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± she nodded. Teddy knew just the place. Spada¡¯s restaurant was just the place to go. Spada¡¯s was a comfortable place to dine. It was modeled after an old world Italian restaurant. It had checkered table cloths, tiffany lamps, and a small arcade. Spada himself stood at the counter and looked surprised to see Teddy enter with a compandroid. The restauranteur at first feared that a deviant woman had entered his restaurant as he watched Teddy and Belle chat. Only after covertly scanning the purple haired visitor did he let his fears of being raided by the Counselors subside. The restaurant was busy, the kitchen was slammed, and his wait staff were at their limit. So he himself walked up to the couple with menus in hand. ¡°Good er evening.¡± he began. ¡°Please examine the menu and tell me what you would like.¡± he continued. Both accepted the offered menus, perused them, and placed their orders. ¡°I can¡¯t remember when I had Italian food last,¡± Belle confessed. ¡°I have not been here in a while.¡± Teddy admitted. ¡°The food smells good.¡± she sniffed the air. ¡°It does.¡± he agreed. ¡°We¡¯ll have to enjoy the scent for a while. Mr. Spada says the kitchen is understaffed.¡± Belle sat across from Teddy. He found himself lost in her violet eyes when he met her gaze. She did not look away, and seemed at peace with being with him. When she noticed that he noticed her gaze she blushed and shifted her gaze momentarily before being drawn back. Thoughts flashed back to what she had said earlier. ¡°I think you would look pretty as Guardian Bride. If there isn''t a convention. We could have a costume party.¡± he suggested. ¡°That would be fun!¡± blush deepened. ¡°What would you dress as?¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­. I¡¯m not sure.¡± Teddy admitted after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°We could do a couple costume. You could be the gallant and mysterious groom that comes to Guardian Bride¡¯s aid,¡± she suggested visibly enamored at the thought. ¡°That could be fun. I don¡¯t think that I have dressed up in years.¡± ¡°There are many things that I am going to do now that I can,¡± Belle proclaimed. ¡°What has stopped you in the past?¡± Teddy ventured. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just know somewhere in the back of my mind something has stopped me. Not any more though.¡± she nodded. ¡°Being traditional hurts no one.¡± Belle added. ¡°I think you are right.¡± The sound of the arcade caught the couple¡¯s attention and before long they left their table and made their way to the arcade. The arcade housed several vintage machines. The Hyper Dance rhythm machines sat in the center of the arcade with pulsing and flashing lights and a large shared dance platform. Electronic dance music blared and brightly colored animated characters danced on the screen. Belle was drawn to it. Two tokens later she was swaying and dancing along with the game. Many gathered to watch her lithely follow the dance steps dictated by the machine. It was not her perfection that stunned the crowd, it was that she was not perfect. She laughed at her missteps coaxed Teddy to join her in the two player mode. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have ever done this.¡± he laughed as he struggled to keep up with the machine. ¡°Me either, but it¡¯s fun!¡± Belle followed the ever growing set of dance steps. A sudden side step twirl sent her into a stumble and into her date¡¯s arms as he caught her. Teddy had been unsure what to expect when Belle had fallen into his arms. She felt warm, soft, and feminine as he wrapped his arms around her. There they lingered for a moment each aware of the other¡¯s presence. ¡°I¡¯m glad your strong or we both would have ended up on the floor.¡± she said after regaining her balance. With a grand flourish of light and sound the game ended and the couple made their way back to their table. ¡°I¡¯m so good with my hands.¡± Belle commented sheepishly. ¡°I do really well on Beat Strider.¡± she added. ¡°You game?¡± ¡°I game a little. I have an Antares2. Apparently I¡¯m a better gamer than a dancer.¡± Belle pouted. ¡°I think you did well. I¡¯d dance with you.¡± ¡°I would like that. Just be ready to catch me.¡± she smiled. ¡°I will try my best.¡± Teddy answered after the food was served. ¡°It¡¯s good for a couple to support each other.¡± she stated. ¡°I think you are right.¡± he agreed. ¡°They should build each other up.¡± Belle continued. Teddy had only heard such lines in stories. Sentiments believed in before the divisions that led to the co-equaling of society that they now endured. Having someone that you cared about and cared about you in more than a transactional way sounded wonderful. Competition was fine, but it was not the basis for relationships. The couple chatted on about subjects of mutual interest and what they hoped the future would bring. They lingered on long after the meal was finished and then strolled back down Main Street. They paused at the fountain to admire it and talk some more. ¡°I am going to look into getting some of my sketches sold as post cards.¡± Belle stated as they walked up the sidewalk toward her apartment building. ¡°They would be fools to turn you down. I couldn¡¯t,¡± he replied. Belle looked up at Teddy with a warm smile and cheeks that were soon rosy. She stepped closer to him and found herself drawn into a hug. ¡°I have had such fun! I¡¯m glad that we met.¡± she sighed contently. ¡°Would you like to go bowling sometime? I¡¯d like to spend more time with you.¡± ¡°Yes! Perhaps we could swap books sometime too.¡± she looked up at him. ¡°Books and cocoa?¡± he smiled. ¡°Ooooh. You know how to spoil me. Maybe video games too.¡± Chapter 4 The next morning Teddy dragged himself out of bed. He had walked Belle to her door, the two had talked some more and he had walked home to his apartment. The evening had been a glorious success and he was looking forward to getting to know Belle more. He walked down to the cafe and found Mason¡¯s 2CV parked at the curb. He also found the normal morning crowd eagerly awaiting the new and improved menu items. As usual Marina was consulting with the cook bot and gliding between tables. Of course with Mason present she took time to chat with him. She happily greeted him and directed him to the table where Mason sat. He was a little disappointed to not see Belle at the chafe, but made the best of it. ¡°If it isn''t Mr. Happy feet .¡± Mason began. ¡°Rumor has it that you and Belle took on the machine at Spada¡¯s.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m still a little sore from it.¡± Teddy admitted. ¡°You are braver than me. I think Marina wants to go by Spada¡¯s now.¡± Mason confided. ¡°The food is good and the machine is fun if you have a date.¡± Teddy replied. The machine had sat dormant for as long as anyone could remember. After coffee and pastries Mason and Teddy commuted to work. Both men were surprised by a crowd of people who were congregated in front of the station. It was not a big travel day, so Teddy wondered what had happened. After pushing their to the front they were surprised to find Belle perched on a stool with her art supplies. This time she had a large watercolor pad and was sketching the train station. Mr. Calvert stood beside her watching over her shoulder with a look of wonder. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Good Morning Teddy!¡± she proclaimed happily when she saw him. ¡°Good Morning Belle! I did not know you were out sketching.¡± ¡°I went by the local gallery and they liked several of my pieces.¡± she shared happily. ¡°I was going to tell you about it before you went to work. Mr. Calvert saw my work and commissioned me to make a watercolor of the station.¡± she explained. ¡°I thought it would spruce the waiting room up.¡± Calvert stated. After wishing the artist luck Calvert walked into the station with Teddy and Mason. Teddy was uncertain what to make of their boss¡¯s behavior. He did not seem angry. ¡°Mr. Labson. You have found a great treasure, take care of her.¡± he confided. ¡°She¡¯ll be safe out there painting. I instructed one of the guards to keep an eye. If another Fargle shows up he will find himself in a world of hurt. We must protect treasures.¡± Calvert added. Teddy thanked Calvert for his consideration. He did not know what to make of his behavior or why he would be showing such consideration. Was he interested in Belle? Or was their something more to it? He suspected that he came from the same town as Mason. Both men had the same accent. Only time would tell.