Acension city

[Aconitum]

Herman smiled in satisfaction as Ray left. Acon got on her knees and looked up at Ray, her nose nearly touching his. "So? What did he say?"

[Rayleonarde]

Ray sighed. "He rejected my request." He looked at Acon. "If I have to keep using these curses...I don't know what will happen..."

[Aconitum]

Acon narrowed her eyes at Herman's closed office door. "Then you won't use them for a while. I'll make sure of it."

[Rayleonarde]

Ray sighed. "But how? If Herman gives me a job...I'm sunk. If...If you do talk to Herman, just...try and get me small jobs, if you would. I'm gonna go to bed." He stood, and walked to his room. The last thing he remembered was flopping onto the bed.

[Aconitum]

After getting into a yelling match with Herman, Acon was able to convince him that Ray was burning away all him memories too quickly. Herman had agreed to giving him little jobs and not as frequently. She also managed to score Ray a two week vacation to an island of his choice.

[Rayleonarde]

Ray, plagued by nightmares, woke, and walked downstairs. He stopped in the kitchen, and ran some water. After a few moments, the water grew warm. He splashed it on his face, and blinked. He jumped, when he saw his reflection. After ascertaining that it was his own reflection, he sighed, and leaned against the counter. "Scared...by my own reflection."

[Aconitum]

Acon padded out of her room quietly to fetch a glass of water. She wore a black black button down shirt that was long enough on her to count as a night gown. She stopped when she saw Ray and fixed him with a worried eye. "Are you ok?"

[Rayleonarde]

Ray looked over slowly at Acon. He immediately half jumped, half fell backwards, crashing loudly to the floor, a horrified expression on his face.

[Aconitum]

Acon gasped and rushed to hoist ray to his feet. "Ok, that does it. I got you a two week vacation and you're gonna use it." She ordered.

[Rayleonarde]

Ray allowed Acon to help him up. "Y-Yes...two weeks of nothing would be...be very nice."

[Aconitum]

Acon grabbed the plane ticket she had set on the kitchen counter before she went to bed and handed it to Ray. "Here. Herman said an island of your choice."

[Rayleonarde]

Ray shook his head. "No...no islands, no planes, no people. I just want to stay here, in the estate, alone, in my room.  Isolation should do me good." He walked towards his room, and laid gently on the bed.

[Aconitum]

Acon shook her head and moved to stand in the threshold of Ray's door.

[Rayleonarde]

Ray looked over at the door, and froze for a moment. He blinked a few times, and stood. He undressed, and put on a light pair of pajama pants. He climbed back into bed, and curled up.

[Aconitum]

Acon's eyes widened and she suppressed a smile. "I, uh... I'm just going to pretend that didn't happen. Ray, why wouldn't you want to get out?"