Truth

Part Nine

I was invited to an interview on the Bӧnen and Kartofel show yet again to celebrate the three month mark after the pledge to change. They’d invited all three of us again and again, but most of the time we declined. After the first interview with all three of us, we realised we didn’t really want the constant questioning of our actions and lives. We had wanted to make a change, and it seemed as though we had. We were happy, so we didn’t need as much publicity as was placed on us.

But this time, they just kept pushing. They promised not to be harsh, they were meant to be light entertainment anyway, and I eventually ran out of excuses, thought ‘how bad could it be?’ and acquiesced. So as I answered the dull questions about what changes I had noted, and how life had been after the riot, I wondered what Two had made of it all. She’d practically disappeared after the riot, although from what I could tell she’d been working her ass off, along with her brother, to make everything work. Neither of us had attempted to make contact with the other, and I was fine with that.

I was stunned when, after we cut to an ad break, Yvetzse walked in and sat on the side of the table to my left. She apologised for being late, and the pair of men fussed about how it wasn’t a problem and that official business takes priority. Before Yvetzse could reply, the camera operators were counting us in and Kartofel was welcoming the audience back.

“Joining us is Governess Yvetzse Roi-Sun!” Carter, known as Kartofel, announced with as much grandeur as he could manage. I had forgotten the official title had been given to her for the duration of her stint alongside her brother. It had made me question what was really going on even more. I noticed Two grimace at the title, however, and this calmed me slightly.

“Hello to you too. But please, just Yvetzse.” Yvetzse said tightly, forcing a smile. She then turned to me. “And hello Tristan. I didn’t realise you were on today. It’s good to see you well.” I missed the relaxed slang I was so used to hearing from her. But I guessed that wasn’t the real her.

“Glad to see you can escape from the Government building!” I joked, trying to keep this interview as light as possible. I was still confused by the woman beside me, and didn’t want an awkward tension to make matters worse. She genuinely smiled and chuckled, relaxing slightly.

“It’s not quite a prison. Although I swear Zanzax is keeping me under lockdown. As soon as I set foot in my office, I have to ask his permission to leave! I wouldn’t be surprised if he was documenting every glass of water I have!” Yvetzse laughed in reply. I assumed her brother’s name was Zanzax. I could never remember the names of all the title holders in our world and their family. And I never had really cared to either, which had me even less inclined to do so.

“So how is it, being a co-Governor? It sounds like a lot of hard work.” Ben, or Bӧnen, asked. He folded his stick like arms on the table to lean closer to Yvetzse. She shook her head.

“You would think so, but comparatively it’s not. I’m not saying reforming a government isn’t hard, because not only is it hard, but also a pain in the ass, especially when people threaten you and don’t comply…. I’m going on a bit. Comparatively, it’s not the hardest thing in my life at the moment. As I know you’re going to ask, the hardest thing is avoiding assassination.” Carter dropped his jaw faster than gravity would pull it, causing his other chins to wobble and roll. In a humorous manner, he used his ginormous left hand to push his jaw closed. Yvetzse was unimpressed. “How is it surprising? It was to be expected. Some people feel I have betrayed them, or am plotting against them.”

“What about you, Tristan? You ever contemplated killing her?” Ben asked with a comically sinister tone. They were really trying to keep this from going too deep, while still keeping the content. I shook my head, honestly answering the question with no humour in my tone. Killing someone was not something one joked about, especially when on air. Add to that the fact one of the people in the room was a known killer, and it shouldn’t have been funny from any angle.