Alcohol & Economics - Lucifer's Delusion - Part 1

“‘Ciet!”

“No,” Deceit snapped. Maxwell stayed silent, allowing his partner’s temper to settle. He watched as she angrily shuffled the paperwork scattered across her desk to the side and began pouring over yet another brittle volume.

“What’s on your mind?” Maxwell had only been a little more than a business partner with Deceit for maybe four months, and already they had fallen into a semi-regular routine.

“There was this boy today,” She began, pushing away the aged volume carefully. “He reminded me of Exodos from Project ERA but she was the only one to survive that experiment.”

“Could it be a coincidence?” Maxwell wasn’t sure if it could be or not, but it was always nice to put that excuse out there.

“No, the air tasted like oreos. It only does that when Exodos is near. Coincidence is too unlikely.” She stated simply before being struck by a coughing fit that made her entire body shake.

“Well, were there any other ER projects run by... Watson and Ruby?” He asked after Deceit had regained breathing abilities.

“No- wait. Ruby?”

“Yeah. All thieves know that Ruby helped fund the ER projects, many of which were fruitless. He disappeared shortly after Rome’s empire divided in two.”

“Let me get this straight, Giovanni Ruby funded Xavier Watson’s ER projects?”

“Mmmhm,” He mumbled. “You didn’t know?”

“No. But he didn’t vanish.”

“What?” It was Maxwell’s turn to be surprised.

“You heard me.”

“Are you-”

“He’s got a thing for my sister, and owns that no name bar up the road. I’m pretty sure, yeah.”

“I doubt it. That would make him...”

“A couple centuries too old to be pursuing my sixteen year old sister. Come on, I’ll prove it.” She made a grab for the keys but Maxwell beat her to them.

“You aren’t driving anywhere until the coughing fits and weakening stops.” Much to his surprise, Deceit didn’t argue with him.