Fireberd Requiem Season 6: Episode 7

Fireberd Requiem: Season 6
Episode 7

“Let’s move it, Lydia!”
The Arrow Droids handed her some slips of papers with orders on them. She took them and immediately began cooking the orders. Afterwards, she handed the plates to Cameron, who took them out to the tables.
Lydia sighed. “Sorry, I’ll work faster.”
“Well, good.” The Arrow Droids spoke. They turned to Cameron. “That goes for you too. Work harder.”
“What’s the pressure for?” asked Cameron.
“We need to make up for Master Eric’s tarnished reputation.” Black Arrow Droid spoke. “He’s also ruined our chances for us to make the profits we desired. People will associate him with our store, and they won’t wanna come here.”
“Well, he owns the food chain.” Lydia commented. “Isn’t that pretty obvious?”
“Please don’t lecture us on marketing strategies and business procedures.” Silver Arrow Droid growled.
A few moments later, Angelina walked through the front door. She spotted Lydia and them in the kitchen and walked inside.
“Hey, Angi.” Lydia smiled. “What’s up?”
“I came to talk to you and Eric.” Angelina spoke. “Is he here?”
“Excuse us!” Brown Arrow Droid confronted her, along with the other two Arrow Droids. “Are you an employee of us?”
Angelina shook her head. “No.”
“Then get out of the kitchen!” They shouted. “This is a restricted area.”
“Then let me talk to Eric and my sister.”
The Arrow Droids looked ready to strike at her, but Lydia stopped them. “I’ll take you to his office.”
She led Angelina over to the main office, where Eric and Torture Droid were listening to jazz music.
“There you are.” Angelina glared at him. “We need to talk.”
Eric stared blankly at her. “Sure thing. Is something wrong?”
“Did you happen to interfere with Amanda and James’ bully after school a couple of weeks ago?”
“I may have.” Eric shrugged. “Why do you ask?”
“Because the mother of the kid filed a complaint against the school, and now Amanda and James are suspended for three days.”
“Why are they suspended?” asked Torture Droid. “They didn’t do anything.”
“That’s not what they told the principal.” Angelina replied. “They refused to rat out their “Uncle Eric”. So, they took the blame, and now they’re suspended.”
“Really?” asked Eric. “That’s cool!”
Angelina glared at him. “No, it’s not! I don’t want you interfering with my parenting.”
“Why not?” Eric asked. “They were scared, and losing money to some douche who was threatening to beat them up.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?” she asked.
“They told me they were too scared to tell you.” Eric answered.
“That is true.” Torture Droid. “I can validate that, and if you still don’t believe me, I can show you a recording of the conversation prior.”
Angelina shook her head. “Can you fix this?”
“Yes, I can.” Eric spoke. “I’ll go down there tomorrow, and have the whole thing straightened out.” He gazed at Lydia, and then back at her, “Look…I tried helping, and while it did work, I got them in some unnecessary trouble. I’m sorry.”
“So am I.” Torture Droid added in. “Although, if I may point out, I was only acting under orders.”
Angelina laughed and hugged them. “Thank you.”
The Arrow Droids stormed in. “Alright, back to work! Lydia, get back to work!” They turned to Angelina. “Apologies, lady, but you need to leave.”
They escorted Angelina out. Lydia remained inside the office. “Eric, if I may ask, can I go talk to the principal?”
“Why you?” asked Eric.
“I feel like this is my fault.” Lydia lowered her head. “They told me beforehand, but I didn’t do anything, so they were forced to tell you about it. And I wanna be a good aunt, so…let me do it.”
Eric smiled. “Lydia, it’s not your fault. It was mine for thinking of such a rash decision when you warned me about making rash decisions and for my reputation as it is already.”
“Let me go anyway.” Lydia begged. She held his hand. “It’s not that far from my house, and I can stop there after my morning run. Plus, I don’t have work tomorrow.”
“Someone should accompany you.” Eric looked uneasy. “I don’t like the idea of you running around alone.”
Lydia frowned. “Well, I’m a grown up. I can take care of myself. And I won’t get assaulted. I know I’m pretty, but you don’t have to worry about it.”
Eric grumbled. “I didn’t say you were pretty…” I don’t think I’ve ever said that, come to think of it.
“You were thinking it.” She kissed him on the lips. “And your body language suggested otherwise.”
“That is also true.” Torture Droid added. “I can validate that claim, and if you still don’t believe me, I can show you a diagram of Master Eric’s change in pheromone levels.”
Eric turned to Torture Droid. “Don’t you have some updates to install for the other robots?”
Torture Droid nodded. “Right away, Master.” He left the room.
Lydia sat on the desk and wrapped her legs around Eric. “So, can you show me just how pretty you think I am?”
Eric hesitated. “You should probably wait until after work.”
“What? Why?”
“The Arrow Droids warned me not to let our…whatever this is, interfere with the Flame Café and their work methods.”
“You own them!” Lydia cried. “Why do you let them boss you around?”
“I don’t.” Eric spoke. “But as long as they continue to generate revenue for me, I will do as they say in the workplace.”
Lydia grumbled, but nodded. “Alright, I understand. You don’t want there to be an unprofessional relationship between me and an executive.”
Eric nodded. “Yeah…that’s it.” That wasn’t even close, just an FYI.
Lydia smiled. “So, I’ll be going back to work then, but I could sure use a ride home.”
“How did you get here?” Eric growled.
“You drove me, dummy.”
Eric looked away. “Oh, yeah. Well, I guess Torture Droid and I can pick you up. And then maybe we can go get some ice cream.”
“Oh, ice cream!” She cried in happiness. “What flavor are you gonna get?”
“Does it matter?”
She nodded. “Let’s get strawberry.”
“I’ll buy you your own.” Eric sighed, “We don’t have to share one.”
“You don’t like strawberry?”
“No I love it!” he answered. “I just…don’t want you eating my portion…”
She punched him in the shoulder. “You’re dumb.”
“Thanks…” Eric grumbled. “Appreciate it,”