Chapter Sixty – Emoting

Chapter Sixty – Emoting

“Emoji, in the form that we readily recognize them as, appeared even before the advent of the internet, though they only really became popular with the standardization of communication systems. Things like Unicode made them somewhat reliable across multiple platforms, and eventually they grew to become a standard part of the modern lexicon.

🙂”

–Professor Besters, Lecture on the New English, 2025

***

The evening ended with a much more subdued tone than I was initially expecting it to.

Lucy and I had another turn on the dance floor, this time alongside a few dozen others who were willing to brave Lucy’s stumbling dance moves, and supper was served. It was all terribly fancy stuff that made even the fancy stuff back in the hotel look unfancy by comparison.

Once the dancing was over, and a few political sorts that weren’t Burringham gave some quick speeches, the evening sort of just… wrapped up.

A few of the attendees were drunk enough to need help finding the exit, but other than some raised voices, they didn’t make much of a fuss. The crowd basically just thinned out bit by bit until I glanced at my aug overlay and realized that it was so late that it was almost tomorrow.

Lucy, Gomorrah, Frannie, and I were heading for the entrance when I heard someone call out to us.

Burringham ran over, a big grin on and his cheeks a healthy rosy colour. “Stray Cat, Gomorrah,” he said as he came closer. “I just wanted a quick word, before you take off.”

“Sure,” I said.

His smile, if anything, widened. “I have to thank you both, especially you, Cat.”

“Didn’t you thank me on stage already?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yes, but there’s something impersonal about that kind of message. It’s all pageantry and show. I meant every word I said, but I feel like the method of delivery robs some of that credibility.” he shook his head. “Sorry. The hour and the day’s events are robbing me of what little eloquence I have.”

“Oh, don’t say that,” Lucy said. “You’re still perfectly charming, no matter the hour.”

Burringham laughed. “Thank you. If you’re ever on the lookout for a job, by the way, please avoid politics, for my sake. I prefer it if my competition isn’t better than I am at charming people.”

Lucy giggled and pressed herself closer to my side. “I’ll think about it. Maybe cut you some slack.”

“So, “ I said. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes! Very much so.” He rubbed at his side where I knew the gunshot had been. “There isn’t even a scratch to show for the trouble, and I genuinely feel splendid, like I’ve just woken up from a long night’s rest midway through a vacation and found myself ten years younger. I could get used to feeling this good.”

“It should last a little bit. At least until the nanites die off. But try to avoid getting shot again, I don’t know how much they could do for you then.”

“How are you mentally?” Gomorrah asked.

Burringham took a moment longer to answer that. “I’m a little worried, I’ll be honest. It’s my first assassination attempt. I thought, hoped, that New Montreal politics were a little more chivalrous and decent, but I suppose not. I think I might jump at every loud sound for a while. Also, I’ve developed something of a new appreciation for arachnophobia.”

“Huh?” Frannie asked.

“One of Miss Stray Cat’s healing tools was shaped… uncomfortably,” he explained. “I’m sure she can show you what I mean.”

“Sorry about that, I don’t have a say in that kind of thing,” I said.

You literally do. Though some things are designed to be maximally efficient. How else do you think I’m managing to sneak so many feline references into your equipment?

I chose to ignore Myalis and her weird form of bullying for the moment. “Anyway, it was good working with you, Burringham.”

“Jeff, please,” he said before we shook. “By the way, did you intend to, ah, how can I put this delicately? Dig into the matter of the gunman more than you have?”

Stolen novel; please report.

“I don’t know,” I said.

Gomorrah shook her head next to me. “It’s not one of our priorities, certainly. Of all the things we could be doing, chasing after assassins who are likely working very hard to hide themselves isn’t high on our list of priorities. We agreed to work with you because you agreed to help save the city. Keeping you safe and alive is convenient at the moment, but… ah, how can I put this delicately?” she mimicked. “You’re still just a smooth talking, charismatic politician.”

“I am all of those things,” Burringham admitted. “But I hope that I’ll be able to help the city, truly.”

“We’ll see,” Gomorrah said. “Come on, Cat.”