Heart Strings

Every Three Days

"I think we have to throw in the towel, Lovely," Goldie sighed as she pat Beso on his soft head. "It's not what I'd necessarily want but I think we're gonna have to pay Pinwheel a visit and pass over the ships."

Lovely Grace's eyebrows raised with surprise. "You're positive?"

"I should've taken the deal in the first place! But...I wanted that damn shield back and now it's probably..." Goldie trailed off.

"It's probably a part of Polite now..." Lovely Grace pressed her lips as she almost got lost in a memory. "She's turned herself into—"

"Don't talk about that right now, Love. Don't even think about it right now," Goldie planted her feet on the cold floor of the trailer. "I'm guessing you have no clue where Pinwheel went now, right? And where's my other clothes?"

"I hand washed your hunting clothes. You should really find something to wear that isn't so revealing," Lovely Grace's voice echoed from the hallway as she walked away. "You're running around out there in a leather bathing suit."

"It's how Mom dressed." Goldie said as she stood up completely.

"I wouldn't know." Lovely Grace had little to no recollection of what Heart Grandeur looked like or sounded like, an effect of mental trauma. She rejoined her sister, her cleaned hunter clothes in her arms.

"Well, where's Pinwheel?"

"He didn't tell me where he would be, of course. We talked but not that much. I do know where to find one young man that works for Crescendo, though. He buys modified technology from time to time. He missed a payment on one modified Oilslick Piercer Gun and he owes me. I'll go to him myself."

"Let me get dressed, I'll go with you."

"I don't want to be around you right now, Goldie."

"What?!" Goldie almost laughed. "What do you mean?! We're supposed to do that kind of stuff together, Lovely!"

"Yeah, well, when's the last time you even checked on us out here with these ships?"

"I gave you the instructions on what to do out here a long time ago, Lovely! Why would I check on you? Plus, I know that your tech is good enough to shroud you, Beso, and the ships under here for weeks!"

"Weeks? Goldie, I can't achieve the kind of sustainability that Codendra Oilslick can. In fact, without Melody Grace's help, I couldn't sustain the cover for longer than three days! I kept having to modify and reboot, leaving me and the ships vulnerable for at least twenty minutes every time!"

"Wha—? Why didn't you tell me anything about this?!"

"How am I supposed to be able to locate you?! I can't find you, I can't find Melody Grace, the only one that has any real interest in keeping contact with me is Diamond and I can't be there for her running around after you!" Lovely Grace could feel her chest tightening and her throat straining. "You have got to communicate with me a little better if you want me to continue assisting you, Goldie."

"I don't understand why you're so worked up over it, Lovely," Goldie sighed, resting her hands on her hips. "You choose to follow me around like this..."

"Where would you be if I decided not to?"

"You should be back in the United Emblems with Moria and Holo where they can take care of you, ya know."