Violet Snake

Dian takes off his coat, locking the door behind him. He is exhausted. Why must the party continue for so damn long? He wasn't paid enough for spending the whole night dancing in those tight trousers with that old hag! The least she could do was to tip him more or maybe pay for his meal for a day. But no, she apparently has enough money to spend after designer clothes but not to pay him! He is never accepting her deal ever again. Once is enough. 

His stomach growls. Maybe he should eat something before going to sleep? He isn't in mood of making even quick recipes, but he doesn't want to spend his savings ordering food either. Not only they always charge extra whenever someone from the upper-second level of the city orders something, the high valued entertainers like him are getting less customers nowadays. The cheap ones getting customers though. Or more specifically getting the customers who migrated from up to down. He wonders if it was because of the Father...

No, he shouldn't even think about that. He already made one mistake in his youth and repeating it would mean permanent residence in the Slums. He shouldn't try his luck.

"Every resident of Block-B-002 are requested to come out of their residence and wait in the community hall for routine check. Repeat. Every resident of Block-B-002 are requested to come out of their residence and wait in the community hall for routine check. 

For further information regarding the check enquire your home assistant- Daisy.

Any confusion in finding the community hall should be brought to the Rex team. Thank you for co-operating."

Dian curses under his breath hearing the declaration through his speaker. They had a monthly check today? No, it can't be. They just had one two weeks ago. Then...Oh! It must be those troublemaking kids again. What did they do this time? They are getting real annoying. All he wants was to rest and now he has to spends who knows how long in the community hall without any privacy. Atleast they give good food to the awaiting, law-abiding citizens like them there during these checks. And if he is lucky he will even manage to get a cot to sleep there.

Sighing, he picked up his coat again.

.

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"Mama, mama. Where is papa?"

"Sssssh, Lily. Don't talk about him."

"Where is my son? Answer me, NOW!!"

"Sir, if you don't calm down we will have to apprehend you as well."

"Please don't take mama, good robot sir. *sniffing* She is Jakes's only family."

It was far worse than Dian ever imagined. Even when those troublemaking, self-righteous kids blew up some factory, the authority hasn't apprehend so many people during checks. They had frequent checks back then, almost every week but not many people were taken into custody, not even those super shady ones. But it seems that this time, the Father has ordered to apprehend anyone who is the slightest suspect. What has happened actually to guarantee this treatment? He never heard of something of large-scale rebellion happening near them. Usually this type of things, this type of treatments happens in the lower regions like B-079 or lower, never in places so close to the high members of the city.

Dian resists his wish to go to the Rex supporting team placed in the community hall and ask them about it. He doesn't want to get into their suspicion list and be apprehended.

"Mistuh, have youh seen papah?" Dian looks down at the little hands tugging his trousers and the small voice hoarse from crying. He knows the kid, the toddler of his neighbor. The Stephenson family has always been quiet, though he sometimes wonders where is the kid's mother. He never saw her and knows she doesn't live with them. It's only the kid and his father. 

He bends down to pick the kid up, "No, kiddo. how long have you been alone?" 

"Evew since the big mistuh robot said papah is busy and has to go to...to..." He hiccups again. 

"Hay, hay. It's okay. Don't cry. Now that your papa is away let's eat some ice-cream. I am sure he won't scold you for eating ice-cream now." Dian heads towards the stall. Seems like Mr. Stephenson is apprehended too. Who knows how long it will take to release them? Better keep the kid busy.

.

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Dian wakes up feeling warmer than normal and having a weight over his chest. At first he was disoriented. Why would there be a weight over him? He lives alone and he didn't take any job last night, right? It took him a while to properly wake up and see the child- Adrian, lying on him, curled up and drooling on him. "Right" he grumbled. He took the kid home with him after the check was done and it became to clear that Mr. Stephenson isn't going to return soon. The kid had no one to look after him. Dian probably should've handed him over to the social security as it was always done to the children of those who are thrown to the Slums. The life at those Social security Homes isn't good.

Yes, Dian knows it is probably too early to decide that Mr. Stephenson is sent over to the Slums, maybe he would return later. But not been able to gain any information about his whereabouts, Dian is quite sure that that was Mr. Stephenson's fate. he had seen it happen before. Infact it happened to himself. 

He let out a sigh. Why does he do this to himself? Taking care of a toddler in this economy? But well, now he has a toddler on him. He should wake the kid up. It's almost noon and Dian has an early appointment today on 6 pm. "Adrian, wake up. It's almost lunchtime."

"Umm, papah?" the kid yawns.

"No dear, it's Uncle." he sits up with Adrian, "Do you know where your papa takes you when he goes for work?" He needs to drop the kid off to his daycare (or he should say nightcare. He hopes the daycare stays open even in night).

The poor child was confused. "No...? Papah does no goh to wowk?" 

"Oh! Okay?" then Dian needs to find a temporary one. How did Mr. Stephenson manage to live here and feed themselves without a job? even those high-class corporate people can't manage to live without a stable job. Anyway, not his problem. "Let's get you something to eat."

The child nodded enthusiastically.