Leucetius Fulmen stepped out of his Zeliatt and into the downpour of precipitation.
He had never liked the rain much. It had become somewhat of a monochromatic (and mildly acidic) drab since the Noniarchy’s fuck-up of the year six-hundred-and-three, not to mention the way it got all over his ceremonial robes, staining them to hell. It turned the dark fluorescent maroon of the most valuable article of clothing in his strangely measly wardrobe to a sickly orange twang. That was just the effect the rain had, though. He had learned from multiple previous experiences that he had to at least bring some form of a parasol, for when the weather decided to take a complete god-shit on his head. Granted, he liked the way the light reflected off of the great towers. It made him think that maybe such technological advancements weren’t a form of some menevolent being, that the towers really were necessary for the survival of the human race. It made him think of a time before, when slipping off of the skyways and coming into contact with the Dujye was not a constant threat.
The second of his boots went out of the Zeliatt and onto the skyway, contacting the dampened pave with a diminished thump. His robes pathetically flapped and flipped behind as he briskly strutted towards one of the thousands of skyscrapers connected to the various intertwining skyways. The Zeliatt that he had to briskly exited zoomed off into the sky, soon to be summoned again by its owner after the meeting of the Noniarchy had concluded. He tended to dislike these meetings. Leucetius, to his coworkers, seemed to dislike a lot of things, as you could call them if his coworkers were average, everyday people. Political bullshit was his strong point, but just because you happen to be extremely good at something doesn’t mean you have to be elated with the concept. He would much rather be at home, relaxing, drinking, just being himself, not having to do his job. But he was important. He wasn’t permitted by law to have sick days.
Realizing just how negative he was being, he diminished the output of his fuck-all attitude and decided to be what he was required to be, puffing out his chest and attempting to look like he was having the time of his life in that skyscraper. He tried not to look too many people in the eye. He didn’t feel like having to explain his coworker’s decisions, or when he would schedule some interview, or any other publicity shenanigans that his coworkers viewed as “healthy” and “good for the populace”. He just wasn’t in the mood.
That was when Leucetius encountered the one coworker he actually enjoyed spending time with.
“Leucetius!” shouted the portly man from across the hall. “Where have you been off to? The meeting is due to commence in a few minutes! You had me perturbed, I was honestly afraid that you-“ He looked around for a moment, and hushed his voice to a minute volume. “I was scared that you may have actually taken a Personal Holiday.”
Leucetius actually guffawed for the first time that day. “Ahura, friend, do you honestly take me to be that idiotic?”
Ahura Mazda chuckled. He was short and rather stoutly, with a shaved head and the dark fluorescent maroon ceremonial robes on. His were tattered with orange flecks from the rainstorm as well. Ahura was a good man, and could be downright hilarious at points, but he was also one of the wisest men Leucetius had ever laid eyes upon. Then again, their mutual occupation required a large amount of wisdom and authority. “Come, let the meeting commence,” he said.
The two men stepped into the room. There were nine large, embroidered white seats equidistantly spaced apart, surrounding a brobdingagian table of a dark green hue. Seven of the seats were filled with men and women of various shapes and sizes, all donning the dark fluorescent maroon ceremonial robes that they all had to wear as a part of tradition. The room had an extremely high ceiling, with a white chandelier suspended above the table on a single broad chain. Leucetius and Ahura sat down in their respective seats, preparing to determine the rights and wrongs of their society and how to repair various detrimental issues in a city plagued by stone.
