The Inventor from Velothain

Hope

Percy sat down on the table. He gave Edgar a hopeful look.
“Don’t worry Perse.” Edgar smiled. “This is going to work this time, I’m sure of it.” He took every ounce of bravery in him to reach out and rubbed Percy reassuringly on the head.
Percy nodded and laid on his back. Edgar grabbed a small dull green box from beside him and a small screwdriver. The truth was that he knew that even though he’d somehow managed to create this amazing thing, he had no idea that it would work, once it was inside Percy’s throat.
He opened Percy’s neck with a trembling hand, the wires sparked and flickered. He attached the box to them, and placed them back into the hole. Percy remained completely still throughout the procedure.
Edgar placed the slab of his neck back and tightened the screw.
“I’m finished.”
Percy stood up. Edgar could feel his heart beat out of his chest; he’d never been so nervous in his life. Well apart from those times that Percy smiled at him.
“Try saying something.” He said, crossing his fingers.
Percy coughed. He took a breath, “Hello?”
Edgar gasped. “You’re…”
Percy’s eyes welled up with tears. “I can…I’m…” He curled into a ball; a great sob escaped him as he covered his face with shaking eyes.
“O-oh my god Percy, are you alright? I’m sorry if I-“
Percy cut him off with a hug. “Thank you, Edgar. You have no idea how long I have waited for this. I’m so happy,”
Percy’s voice was a little raspy; though, it was a soft and kind voice. It perfectly fit him.
Edgar took his hand and helped him off the table. “We have to go and tell Elysia and Florence.”
“Actually, I was hoping that we could talk for a bit. Is that ok?”
“Oh, yeah that’s totally fine. What did you want to talk about?” Edgar leaned against the table as casually as he could.”
“You know I’ve always valued you as one of my closest friends. Second to Elysia and, of course Florence. I just wondered what you thought of me?”
Edgar was taken aback. What could he mean by that?
“Percy?”
“Just let me finish. You and I have a pretty good relationship, right? So, I guess- God! Why is this so difficult to say?”
Edgar’s breath hitched. Was he saying what he thought he was saying?
“You wanted to know what I think of you? Well here it is: I think you’re the most gorgeous man I have ever laid my eyes on.”
Percy’s jaw dropped.
“Wait, is that not what you were asking? Oh no, I’m so sorry! Crap, oh God, um.”
Edgar panicked. Had he ruined everything he had with Percy?
“Edgar, that is exactly what I was asking. Do you actually think that?”
Edgar nodded, his face turning as red as a tomato.
“Ok. Well that’s…Uh...”
“Come on Percy, just rip the plaster off already!” Edgar cried, unable to bear the situation.
“May I kiss you?”
Edgar’s eyes widened. He tried desperately to process everything; Percy had actually asked him to kiss him!
“Yes, of course, you idiot.” Edgar Grinned from ear to ear.
Percy placed his hands firmly on Edgar’s waist, he lent down and began to kiss Edgar sweetly. Bringing his hands up, Percy gently ran them through Edgar’s now, messy brown hair, then rested them on the side of his face. Edgar’s arms snaked around Percy’s torso, doing his best to bring him closer. Edgar’s breath hitched; this was happening. This was actually happening.
Percy pulled away, looking into Edgar’s Bright blue eyes. The two stayed completely still, unaware what was to happen next.
“Not going to lie, but between one thing and another, this has been the best day of my life.”
Edgar giggled.
“So, what do we do now?”
Edgar shrugged; he hadn’t got that far yet. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Did, you like want to make it official?”
“What, like ‘Boyfriends’?”
“Well yeah. I mean, if you wanted to. I don’t want to force you, it’s just that we already kissed and maybe, it would be nice for the two of us. That is of course, if you want to.”
“Yes of course I want to!” Edgar screamed jumping into Percy’s arms.

******

“No one ever told me that I was going to be a flipping magical girl!” Florence cried, pacing Kate’s floor. “I did not sign up for this!”
“None of us did.” Kate sat, stretched out on her armchair. She was joined by Julia, Joanne and Julian.
“Florence, it’s not as bad as you think. I think you’re overreacting.” Said Joanne
“Also, it’s a teller, not a magical girl. Get your facts right, you’ve been here long enough.” Julia chimed in.
“I’m overreacting!? There’s a ninety percent chance that my uncle or my brother will never see me again. That’s the scariest thought in the world, I don’t think I could handle having to see them everyday but not being able to communicatee with them. I mean what if they thought I was dead?”
“It doesn’t happen quite like that.” Julian began, “It’s a gradual thing. They won’t notice you’re gone for a while.”
“How long does it usually take?”
“When a teller first ‘awakens’, it takes around a month until they’re completely forgotten.”
Florence’s heart plummeted. The thought of never speaking to her brother again, terrified her. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes, but it only prolongs the process.”
Florence breathed a sigh of relief.
“What do I have to do?”
“You could leave the Multi-Nation Universe. The process will stop completely, until you return.”
“Then, I’ll do it.”
“Wait.” Kate sat up to look at Florence, “Why the hell you do that?”
“Because I love my brother more than this world, and don’t want to lose him or for him to lose me.”
“Florence. You won’t be able to run from this forever.” Kate warned. “I know that you and your brother have a very important purpose her in Velothain.”
“How did you…”
“As I have said before: we may not be miracle makers, but we can solve a problem.”
“I don’t care. I’m giving up.” Florence protested.
“If you give up, then who’s going to help the City?”
“Edgar can do it. I’m going home, and I’m going to finish my exams and I’m going to college.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing we can do to change your mind?” Joanne asked sweetly.
Florence shook her head, she excused herself quietly with one last apology before rushing out.
The city was so much colder than it was when she came out an hour ago. The leaves were already falling off the few trees around the pavement. She tightened her coat around her body, trotting to the large manor house on the corner. With shaking hands, she opened the huge door, letting herself inside.
“Florence?” Came Edgar from the other room. He marched up the stairs to see his sister. “You’re back.”
“Uh huh, yep, I’m back.” Florence said, holding back tears.
“You’ll never guess what happened!” Edgar yelled.
“You got Percy’s voice back? Yeah, that’s fantastic, but listen Edgar, we need to go home, like right now.”
“But why? Elysia hasn’t…”
“We’re going home! Now!”