Code Lyoko: Revolutions and Evolutions

Chapter 43

AN: I'm excited to present you with this chapter. Admittedly I had a bit of writer's block this week as well as encountering a few delays. However, with persistence and a few prayers, I was able to pull through. Thank you for all those who continue to read and review my work. I'll see you next chapter, and I hope you are staying safe during this uncertain time.-Pagliacci-11

It was morning, and Aelita woke and stretched, but as she opened her eyes, she saw Jacqueline resting peacefully on the cot that Jim had set up. Amelia's belongings had been moved out, and the only thing of Jacqueline's that she had was a large suitcase that, as Aelita had read about in some of her history books, was a not even a suitcase but an antique steamer trunk. She saw the initials S.B. emblazoned in brass on the top of the lid.

Aelita gently went over to the trunk, and once she was sure Jacqueline was still sleeping, Aelita gently opened the trunk after carefully opening the securing latches. The lid was hefty, heavier than Aelita had thought. On the inside of the lid was a small plaque that read, "Gifted to Simone De Balfour by her father, Jacques de Balfour, for her accomplishments in the field of medicine."-1913.

Aelita looked in the trunk. Inside were meticulously folded shirts and pants. All of them folded so perfectly that they were individual small rectangles stacked with no way of telling how many high she had. They were so perfectly layered, Aelita felt she was looking at a chest filled with what might as well have been gold bullion. On the edges of the stacks were small bottles on the top and two traditional bottles of the left and right sides. The bottles on the left were body soaps, the first of lavender, the second of cilantro oil, and powdered pumice. Looking at the bottles on the right, Aelita found bottles of shampoo and conditioner containing jasmine and honeysuckle, respectively. As Aelita inspected the shampoo and conditioner bottles, she found a small packet of Lactaid pills as well as a small prescription bottle. Aelita looked at the label, and it read Risperidone-3mg. Take once before bedtime.

Aelita put all these articles back, and she very gently put the lid back down. Her eyes went wide, however, as she saw Jacqueline's shining grey eyes staring back at her. Aelita's eyes went wide as if she were a deer trapped in the headlights.

"Did you like what you saw?" Jacqueline asked.

"I—I..."

"Were curious? Nosey? Invasive of my privacy? Yes, on all counts. But that is not the question. Did you like what you saw?"

"Uh, it's very ordered. I can say that." Aelita said with a nervous smile.

"Question, why not just ask me what was in my trunk? Why wait to get into it while I slept like a sneak-thief?"

"Curiosity." Aelita replied, "Pure and simple."

"You still could have woken me. It's a thing of common courtesy, or did your parents not teach you common social graces?"

"I didn't have any parents to teach me, so in the grand scale, no," Aelita replied as she snapped shut the clasps of the trunk and headed back to her bed.

Jacqueline looked at her, "Don't expect pity from me concerning parental abandonment. Empathy, yes. But do not expect pity. Consider that I am now teaching you this one social grace that could likely save your life in the future. In so doing, I am performing a greater kindness for you than I think most have judging by your reaction."

Aelita looked at her, roommate, "How do you distinguish the two?"

"I can very easily put myself in the emotional shoes of another; the more they tell me about themselves. I can, therefore, assess things from how they would in a given situation. As nice a gift as it is, it's troubling at times."