Dislyte story · Esper Stories
Esper Story: Q
3 scenes, 197 lines
1. The Winged Necklace
69 linesEsper Union: Lounge
(Q is looking forward to a couple of hours of well earned rest after an exhausting Union training session.)
Phew, that was pretty tough. At least it's over now.
Finally, a day off to look forward to. I just hope and pray there isn't another "emergency".
(Q wants to help himself to a can of soda from the fridge, but he is startled by an unexpected, sleeping figure blocking his path.)
That new Union recruit, what's her name? Brynn, right?
Brynn, wakey, wakey! Would you mind moving your feet over a little bit so I can open the fridge?
*Heavy sigh*...
You've barely completed your training and look at you. You're going to have to up your game a lot, my dear!
(Q ultimately decides to fly himself over Brynn's sleeping body to open the fridge. He can't help but notice her necklace out of the corner of his eye.)
Hmm... I forgot to prepare a gift for Brynn's "welcome party". This cheap necklace might just be my perfect opportunity. She won't even notice it's gone!
(Q removes Brynn's necklace with his light fingers and expertly slips it into his concealed pocket.)
Eh...? Was I asleep just now?
Hey, Brynn. Had a good rest?
Oh, Q!
That's right. I'm glad to see you remembered my name.
Oh, I'm sorry, I think I'm in your way. I'll get up.
(Brynn rubs her eyes and immediately notices her necklace is missing.)
Q, you haven't seen my necklace around here by chance? I could have sworn I had it on me.
Nope, I just came in.
Do you think someone could have taken it?
I don't think there are any thieves hanging around the Union offices...
I must have dropped it somewhere. Where could it be?
I'm sure it's fine. Here, I'll help you look for it. I'm free for an hour or so.
Would you? That'd be fantastic. Thanks, Q.
(Q and Brynn search every nook and cranny of the break room without finding any trace of Brynn's necklace.)
Did you find anything, Q?
I haven't seen your necklace anywhere yet.
(Q flies up to the ceiling and pretends to be looking in the corners, concealing a devious smile on his face.)
(Now the trick is where to put it for her to find later?)
Oh no, I can't believe this is happening. I can't find it anywhere!
Maybe you put it somewhere and forgot about it?
No, that's impossible. I always check to see that I have it on me before I lie down.
Perhaps by your bedside then?
I'm serious, Q! I must find it. I have to find it now!
It was a present from my parents, and part of a set of two, and I gave the other one to Sieg!
I know it doesn't look valuable, but it's worth the world to me...
Oh, I see. I didn't realize it was so important to you.
It's alright. Let's just focus on finding it, okay?
(Q stops searching and, somewhat meekly, flies over to Brynn.)
Q?
I, uh, just remembered seeing a necklace in the cafeteria.
Seriously? Then can we go there and have a look?
I'm sorry, I just remembered I have something I needed to be doing about 10 minutes ago!
(Q quickly flies out of the break room.)
Esper Union: Employee cafeteria
Oh shoot! It was only meant to be a dumb joke. I've really put my foot in it now!
(Brynn walks into the cafeteria to the sound of firecrackers and streamers coming down from the ceiling. She sees Drew, Discboom, and Q all waiting for her.)
Surprise! Welcome to the Esper Union, Brynn!
Really?
A welcome party from the Union, Miss Brynn.
Wel... welcome Brynn!
I'm sorry, I really appreciate the gesture, but I just lost a necklace that's super important to me, and I need to find it!
Q just mentioned he thought he saw it in the cafeteria.
Indeed. Q, can we be of service?
(Q hurriedly flies over to Brynn. He's put her necklace in a giftbox he found in the cafeteria.)
I'm sorry, Brynn. You see, actually, I took your necklace.
It was just meant to be a little surprise present that I was going to give back to you at the welcome party. I had no idea how much it meant to you.
Q! WHAT! THE!
Q, I appreciate the occasional frivolity, but there are limits!
I know, I know. I'm a jerk! I'll never do it again.
(Brynn lets out a huge sigh of relief as she gets her beloved necklace back.)
That was a real fright. I forgive you, this time. Don't do it again!
Heh, I'm sure glad to have such a forgiving teammate!
Q, I believe I can speak on behalf of Esper Union management here when I say that you're going to be on cafeteria duty for the next month for this!
What?! No, I don't agree to that at all! You heard her, Brynn forgave me!
(Discboom gives Q's forehead a light tap.)
Me thinkest thou doth protest too much. You can start today!
No! I had tomorrow off!
2. Confessions of a Livestreamer
62 linesEsper Union: Office
Hello and welcome to the Union! This is my daily livestream.
First of all, I'd like to deal with probably the most popular fan question that I get, which is: what's it really like working for the Union?
Ta da!
So today's live stream is going to be quite special and give everyone some first-hand experience.
(The chat in Q's livestream quickly fills up with questions. The viewers are super excited to find out which aspect of the Union Q is going to be revealing to them.)
So... this is an office at the Union building, hold on a moment, let me give this outstanding Union Ops Chief the introduction he deserves.
(Q looks around his surroundings and scratches his head nervously.)
I don't think he's here at the moment, but that's all right. He'll be back any moment.
This Ops Chief is one of the Union's truest defenders, a true gentleman, and an elegant, learned scholar...
Sorry to keep you all waiting!
...?
What are you doing here? I wasn't talking about you!
Sorry to keep you all waiting. I'm just so pumped to see my excited fans.
???
Music...
(David clicks his fingers and, in an instant, the room fills with music from a mysterious source.)
How did you do that? Did you do something to the room's speakers?
(David starts dancing to the music. Q searches for the source of the music only to find... an unabashed Lucas strumming his guitar.)
Welcome to the show!
......
(David grabs Q's phone like a pro, wrapping up his passionate solo dance and giving Q's viewers a flash of his "trademark" winning smile.)
Like what you see? Don't forget to hit the subscribe button below this video...
Hey, this is my livestream, this is my account!
(Q snatches his phone back. He's so annoyed that he can feel the veins on his head bulging.)
But I do have to admit that was pretty fun...
Alright. Now I'd like to take you out to our main foyer.
(Ignoring David and Lucas's pleas, Q promptly exits the office. He walks quickly to get as much distance from the other two as possible.)
Esper Union: Main Foyer
Q?
Drew!
(Q's anxieties disappear with wondrous ease as he happily sights a familiar face down the hallway.)
There you are! I didn't see you in your office.
I'm sorry, I had some business to attend to. How can I be of assistance?
Look, I'm livestreaming right now. Drew, can I get a hello for my fans?
(Drew straightens his towering posture, his large ears sway momentarily. He clears his throat quietly and then speaks in a measured tone.)
My name is Drew. I am an Ops Chief with the Union. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you need any assistance as we would be only too happy to help you.
(Q nods with satisfaction at the rapidly increasing number of comments in the live chat.)
(Wow, so Drew is pretty popular. Maybe it's time to leverage his popularity to expand my fanbase...)
So then, Drew, would you mind sharing a bit about what life is like in the Union for you?
Of course.
I tend to rise at 8. Shortly after I pour myself a cup of black Debia tea. I eat my breakfast while familiarizing myself with the city's latest occurrences via the Gyrate Daily.
Thereupon I'll usually make an inspection of the day's itinerary in my office.
After my lunch break, if time permits, I will allow myself the luxury of cooking a light snack for my afternoon tea.
Indeed, I have in my notebook a number of popular recipes here at the Union, notably chocolate mousse and cream cupcakes.
Of course, the selection of cakes or teas will invariably change with the season and available ingredients.
One would expect more Tianmen Flower Tea in spring, Raine Pu'er Tea in the summer, but in autumn one may instead consider...
(Q notes a sharp drop in the number of livestream viewers alongside Drew's interminably logical elucidation of the different teas and cakes at his disposal.)
Oh no, stop! Why are you leaving?
I tend to avail myself of a cup of warm milk before bed when I will be sure to press any formal attire needed for the morrow...
(Q desperately tries to pivot to a new topic on seeing the viewer's lack of interest in Drew's exceptionally ordered life.)
Uh, thanks a lot, Mr. Drew, for your interesting account! Now, why don't we...
(No sooner does Q say this when his ears are serenaded by a familiar tune.)
Don't tell me...
We haven't finished performing yet!
We were looking for you for ages, Q! We don't want to disappoint our viewers!
David, you're blocking the shot!
Perhaps, viewers, you're a little unclear at this stage about who exactly your actual host is.
(The room erupts into chaos as David and Lucas flail around wildly trying to get in the shot. Q attempts to block them with his own body.)
Well, anyway, that concludes today's livestream everyone. See you next time.
(Q puts the phone down. The room is still noisy and chaotic, but at least he can breathe a sigh of relief now.)
(It suddenly strikes Q that he hasn't felt this tired in a very long time.)
3. An Angel In Gyrate
66 linesGyrate: Somewhere on Amuse Street
Ah!
(A small figure dashes past Q, bumping him awkwardly off the sidewalk.)
Watch where you're going...
(The young girl yells "sorry" even before Q can react.)
I'm sorry, I didn't see you!
...Huh. That hurts. Weird.
(The girl cries out with surprise as she sees Q's wings fluttering.)
Wow! An angel!
(Q lifts his chin proudly in the face of the young girl's beaming, expectant eyes.)
Mm, that's right. I am an angel!
That's amazing. Good heavens! Mom wasn't lying to me!
What? What did your mom say?
Mom told me that if I help enough people then eventually an angel will come and grant me a wish!
(Seriously...?)
And now I finally get to meet you, oh mighty angel!
(Q feels deep discomfort rising in his throat at the direction the conversation is heading in.)
Eh. How about you just call me "Q" for now?
Mr. Q, did you come to grant my wish?
Of course, you have!
(Q's subconscious tells him to reject this strange question.)
(Yet the girl's hopeful tone prevents him from uttering a word.)
Uh...... I......
Yes...
(The girl hops up and down on the ground, full of certainty that Q is about to grant her a wish.)
Wait up, wait up. Can you, look, just tell me what your wish is first?
A doll? A pet dog? New clothes? A cool pen? A children's book?
(Q mentally calculates the cost of each gift as he rolls through a list of possible wishes.)
Oh, wow. Those all sound great!
But I don't want any of them.
(The girl hands Q a bottle of milk and, when she sees his bewilderment, explains further.)
I live on a farm with Dad and Mom, they're dairy farmers.
But we're having trouble selling our milk. I think we're making too much now or something...
Mom and Dad went to the city to try to find new buyers, but they couldn't find anyone.
They've been really stressed since they came back. I don't want to see my parents like that. I want them to be happy.
So, you want me to buy this bottle of milk?
Mm. I want you to help my family!
It's just so sad when milk expires! We've got to sell it on time!
......
(Something about the poor girl's plight moves Q to compassion. It would be easy enough for Q to just buy a bottle of milk from the girl, but something tells him that he can do more.)
Of course, I'll buy your milk, and I'll help your parents find more buyers.
(Q takes out his phone and starts another livestream. He quickly picks up a fair number of viewers because of his already considerable fanbase.)
(Q stumbles over his initial greeting. Something about this just feels weird.)
(This is Q's first time live streaming for promotional purposes. He regrets making this promise, but since he did, he has to do it.)
(Cough) Uh, hey everyone.
So, here I am today, and I've just been acquainted with a certain milk brand, and I think it's really tasty...
(As he'd feared, Q's awkward phrasing and obvious lack of conviction come under immediate criticism in the live chat.)
......
(Q pauses for a moment, crestfallen. He's no idea of how to continue. Then he feels someone tugging at his sleeve.)
(The girl is standing next to him with her eyes wide, hopeful and expectant.)
......
I'm sorry everyone, I know that this live stream is a bit unusual, but I really want you to hear what I have to say anyway.
Honestly, I'm trying to promote this milk from a farm near Gyrate. With all the recent troubles, business has been struggling...
(Q drops the smooth-talking masquerade and just simply pleads with his audience about the plight of the poor girl and her family.)
(Q ends the broadcast and puts his phone away. He feels a bit strange and sort of disappointed.)
I'm sorry, I've never really promoted someone's product before. I wasn't really sure how to introduce it...
Thank you. Thank you, Q!
Eh?
Thanks for that link you posted. Everyone will see my parents' milk now!
We won't have to throw away the batch.
(She bids Q farewell excitedly, walking a few steps before she turns around to call out his name.)
Q!
When I get back home I'm going to tell Mom that I met a real angel today!
(Q lowers his head in embarrassment and mumbles something.)
I'm, I'm not an angel.
(Q doesn't realize it, but his small wings are flapping happily of their own accord because of this good deed.)