Time Earned

Alice knew she had earned her time in the Box, and it wasn’t like she regretted it, but Shark God, she was bored! She had counted how many steps across the box she was placed in twenty times already, ten steps by eight skips. Eleven hops by three rolls. Four leaps by fourteen crab steps. The cool grey rock under her feet had thirty six veins of shimmering silver running through it, but made boring, muted tap-tap sounds when she bounced across it. The cold glass walls of the Box had a much more engaging ring to them when she rapped her nails against it. When even that grew old she turned to the only person she could really see outside her box, the Box’s warden, David See Jones. She’d tried talking with him earlier, but he hadn’t said much. This time, she found herself in a staring contest with him. It wasn’t a particularly fair match. Davy’s pale grey shark eyes didn’t seem to have eyelids.

Finally, movement caught her eye and ended her silent war with Davy as three Investigation Committee members led a figure into the Box next to her. The figure had long pink curls covering their face, but Alice would recognize those bioluminescent tattoos anywhere; it was her favorite murderer!

“Cutlass! Fancy seeing you here!” Alice called out brightly. The figure turned her way, and their eight fuschia eyes lit up. “How’s work with the Murder Committee?”

“Alice! Good to see you! Work is going well, can’t complain. Got to kill a serial killer last Tuesday. How’s Tabitha? It’s been a while since we’ve had dinner together.” She greeted as the octopus armed Investigation Committee member locked her into the box to Alice’s left. A timer was tapped into the door for when it would automatically release her, before the committee members left.

“Oh, she’s doing great! We just recently adopted a Soft Plated Eel, actually. The thing is dumb as rocks, but Tabby adores it. She’s named it noodle." Alice replied, happily bouncing closer to the wall separating them.

“I’ll have to visit! It sounds adorable!” Cutlass smiled, their tattoos glowing a bright teal with their enthusiasm.

“Of course, you know you’re welcome anytime!” Alice returned, before curiosity took her over. “So… You know I gotta ask, whatcha in for?”

“You know how the Committee Committee has been pushing everyone lately?” Ah, yes. Alice was very familiar. Octus had been trying to exert more and more control over Gyllis lately, and they’d had the Committee Committee checking in on groups all over the dome. She knew from friends in the Fungus Committee that Gyllis was being forced to give up more of its crop yield, and the Energy Committee was being pushed even harder. The number of inspection teams coming over from Octus had increased too. Which, while she and Tabitha got great joy in bothering them with Gyllis’ Inspection Committee, was growing concerning.

“What about ‘em?”

“Couple of new ofishal types came over from Octus recently, and they have been making their displeasure known with the Khymera Center. You know what Octus thinks about questioning your gender, much less actually doing something about it. They were talking about cutting funding. Not that that would do much, but it was making some of the younger Mad Science Committee members uncomfortable, and that couldn’t stand. So I may or may not have snuck into their homes and stolen the left side of all their possessions. Took some sawing, but it was worth it.”

Alice couldn’t help but laugh. “Whaddya do with all of it?”

“It’s swimming with the fishies of course! Dumped it all just outside the dome, figured Shark God would get a kick out of it.” They said proudly, puffing out their chest as a broad, toothy grin stretched across their face. Alice laughed even harder, slapping her knee with webbed fingers. “What about you? How’d you earn your time?”

“Oh, the Octus’ Inspection Committee dropped in for a surprise visit today. I’ve been told I might’ve gone a little overboard when we welcomed them.” Alice rolled her eyes. “ So a few jackets might’ve caught fire when I surprised them with fireworks. I’d say I was just being friendly.” She sniffed theatrically.

“Oh man, someday we’re going to have to join up. It sounds like we’d make a great team!” Cutlass laughed, and Alice couldn’t help but sneak a look at their warden. It was almost like she was looking at a statue, he was so eerily still. Alice didn’t think Davy had moved a single muscle since she’d entered her cell, not even to blink. She definitely would’ve lost that staring contest. Alice was honestly starting to wonder how much he was actually taking in though. She couldn’t imagine standing that still for that long and still being mentally present. Was he paying enough attention that he would put a stop to this discussion?

…Did she really care? Whatever they did, it would earn them more time in the Box, might as well earn it well!

“I’m in! Where do you want to start? The Committee Committee? They could always use some more trouble thrown their way. Plus, the Inspection Committee is probably back in their Angler on their way back to Octus by now.” Alice pouted at the thought. The Inspection Committee was not the easiest target to hit, they didn’t tend to stick around very long when they visited Gyllis, but it did make all the more satisfying when they were able to pull it off.

“No one has messed with the Committee Committee building in a while. That sad grey cube could use a makeover, don’t you think?” Cutlass suggested, her smile stretching wider across her dagger-like teeth.

“I’ll get my paints! Think you could cook up some goop we could hang above their doors? I’m sure it’ll be a wonderful surprise for them!” Alice cheered, before a loud Click interrupted her train of thought as the door to her box swung open.

“Times up,” Davy said, moving for the first time since she’d arrived to wave her out. “Do take your time before returning, I would be disappointed to see any shenanigans go half assed.” He said with a wink.