#madcom deliberator

CONDUCTOR

He was the rhythm of life, the Conductor, spinning his baton and making melodies out of hopeless noise. He and his brothers and sister kept the world in order, or as much order as they could when up against Improbability.

The Employers lived on a split plane or reality, comparable to heaven in some aspects, except not even good souls could wander this realm, only the Employers could inhabit this place.

And yet to every rule, there was an exception, that being you. Cold marble tiles lay beneath your feet as you sat in contentment in the garden, lazily reading a book while lounging on an iron bench, which had been given plush cushions for your enjoyment.

Catching the fancy of these godly being was near impossible, and yet you'd managed to attract the maestro of life, black and blue wrapped rightly around your fingers. Flicking the page, you set the book down and took a sip of your tea, Romulus raising his furry head to look at you, before setting it back down.

Of course, the Employers had pets, Rom being the pet wolf of one you rarely saw but often heard screaming at Auditor for some unknown reason. He would often lay around in the garden when you were about, seemingly keeping an eye on you, as did his counterpart.

Remus darted down, plucking loose fluffy tufts from Rom and flapping back into the large apple tree at the centre of the garden, letting out a caw now and then.

A sweet bass melody echoed around, Conductor was drawing near. He had a habit of humming as he walked, the deep vibrations calming the environment around. Rom looked up, letting out a "urf" while getting to his feet, Remus flying over and landing on his head.

Your lover would always shoo the pair away when he came to see you, and by now, they'd learned to leave before he even arrived.

His slight heels clicked on the floor, while you continued to read. "My muse," He spoke with a low tone, his voice naturally deep. "how radiant you look today, bathed in the light."

"Hello Connie," You set your book down, laying the bookmark in and closing it, giving him your full attention. "thank you love." He took your hand, placing a kiss on the back of your palm.

To everyone, he was the Conductor. To you, he was Connie. Anyone else who'd care call him your nickname for him would be taught a valuable lesson. "Muse, my dear, my inspiration is currently lacking. Allow me if you will to share your space and soak in your glory to fuel my passions."

Under his angry, stern exterior was a hopeless old-timey romantic. To anyone else, he'd command, but to you, oh you, he'd beg at your feet for your adoration. "Of course, you know I love to spend time with you Connie."

Conductor swept you into his arms, taking your place on the bench with you resting on top of him, your head resting on his chest, you could hear the drumbeat that was his heart. Everything in him was music, even the faint blue veins in his black arms looked like sheet music, little notes formed into them as well. They made up the same melody he always hummed.

He was a busy being, it was rare the two of you spent a long amount of time together, so every second you got was precious. Absentmindedly, you traced patterns along his sternum, relaxing both of you.

"I am a little troubled." He looked at you, half lidded blue eyes. "Stygian was talking with me earlier. He brought up a decently valid point. You... Are still a mortal, at the end of the day, and I don't feel I spend enough time with you." Conductor sighed, even in melancholy, he was so beautiful.

"I don't bring it up to you frighten you. Steeg says you've still got plenty of time on your side. Yet he reminded me that.... In the grand scheme of things, your life is but a blink compared to mine. And it worries me." You looked into his sad eyes, sparkles of stars reminding you why you loved him.

"Connie... I know we're vastly different, but that's what I love about us. I know I won't live nearly as long as you, but that makes the time we spend together even more precious, doesn't it?" You continued to rub his chest, and he sighed longingly.

"Muse, you always soothe my worries." Conductor leaned down, kissing the top of your head. "My love for you grows deeper and deeper, I will devote as much life to you as I can from now on."

You shifted your position, chest to chest with Conductor now, and you peppered his face in kisses, a smile breaking across his face, before turning to gorgeous laughter. "Better my love?"

Conductor kissed your lips, rubbing your cheek with adoration. "You always make my life better, my muse." He needed reminding of it now and then, how fragile your body always was compared to his. Yet when your time came, he'd turn to Stygian again, finding your reincarnated S-3LF over and over, as he had for centuries. In many lifetimes he loved you, and he'd continue to love you for many, many more.

DELIBERATOR

Decision making was a good quality of yours, you would swiftly and continuously end up making the correct choice anytime one happened. Your friends even joked you were blessed by some sort of god because of your skill, and they weren't far off the truth.

Deliberator spent much of his free time watching over this curious mortal, he'd become a little obsessed, gifting them with the power of foresight, watching them scurry around their silly man-made city like a mouse.

He knew fine well he and his kin weren't really meant to mess with the life below them, but each still bent the rules and dipped their toes into mortal life now and then, one off experiments to see how the life reacted. Yet Deli found himself coming back to this one, he couldn't put a finger on why though.

Frequently he'd transform, hiding his Employer appearance to a grunt, blending in as best as he could, but some things, such as his glowing white eyes, couldn't be changed. He'd hide them with shades, even then, they'd glow slightly.

Deli sat alone at a table, pretending to read a newspaper at the booth he occupied while keeping a close eye on you at work. A small and homey diner, which prided itself on good and fast service.

"There you are hon," You smiled, setting down a fat stack of pancakes in front of the frequent customer. He was quiet, rarely ever speaking a word to you, but he tipped generously and was fairly handsome. Salt and pepper hair, sunglasses, dressed in a pressed suit and white shirt, looking like an aged businessman.

You topped off his coffee, leaving enough room for him to throw in the multiple cubes of sugar into the black liquid. "anything else I can get you?"

He set his newspaper down and gestured at the space across from him. "Perhaps a moment of your time?" That was a strange and unexpected request, yet curiosity found yourself humouring him. Deli fought off a smile, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly. Of course you would, he knew you'd always make the correct decision.

"Well it's not something on the menu, but I guess I can take a couple minutes break." It wasn't too busy right now anyway, everyone else busy in talking, drinking and eating.

"You seem to have adept judgement." He tipped the entire container of syrup onto his pancakes. "Help me with something I've been mulling over."

You looked at his pile of sugar and held back a laugh. "Is it that you've been wondering if you should ask for a second syrup cup when you eat here?"

"Ah, heh. No, something else. But perhaps I should. From all the things your kind had invented, processed sugar is no doubt the peak of your creations." Deli slipped up there, and he knew you'd picked up on it. "If by some chance, a higher power was looking down and observing you, what would you think?"

Sitting across from him, your eyes meeting the dark shades covering his own, you pondered for a moment. "Like a god? Can't say I'm too religious, but it'd be pretty neat I suppose. But I'd have to wonder why they'd take time from their busy day to humour me."

"Maybe because I see something in you." Deli shoved a mouthful of sugary goodness into his maw.

"You see something in me? What, you're telling me you're some kinda god or something? Pretty far-fetched. Did you happen to break out of Seeking?" You tilted your head, trying to decipher the clues he's dropping, but it's not making sense.

Deliberator set down his fork and took off his shades, revealing white eyes filled with intricate and beautiful abstract patterns, dark grey shapes shifting infinitely in glowing ivory. "No, I do believe I am some form of god to your kind." You stared at him, and the silence around you settled in.

Glancing around, you and your regular still seated in the booth, yet the diner and all else was gone. The pair of you in the comfortable seat lost in the inky black nothing. "Wha-what the hell is this?" Perhaps you'd gone mad too.

Looking back to the stranger, his disguise had faded, showing his Nevadian form. Pluming black fire, black geometric shapes surrounded in milk white lines floating off his body and turning to nothing. "It's uncouth for my kin to take such a deep interest in the world we watch over, and yet something draws me to you. Allow me to properly introduce myself,"

He set down a white glowing set of scales on the table, perpetually equally balanced. "Your kin calls me Deliberator, and I oversee balance and justice in your world. And you, my curious little friend, just so happen to be precisely what I'm searching for."

His hands took yours, and the vast emptiness filled with stars around you. "Another being of balance, one of keen and sound mind. It takes me centuries to find those worthy of my time, there are so few. You have no idea how long I have yearned to find you."

Fear, curiosity, wonder all filled your mind. This had to be a hallucination or something. There's no chance in hell any of what was currently occurring was real. "This... Has got to be the weirdest dream I've had yet. Until a few minutes ago it felt so real. When do I wake up from this?"

Deli spun you around, showing off the world, his world, the things he sees, feels and lives in every moment. "Perhaps when you open your mind to me, see things from a new perspective. It's a lot to ask, a leap from your familiar into the unknowns of godhood, but you'll behold such wonderful sights, experience things you could never have comprehended.

The universe exists on a knife's edge, judgement to maintain balance is needed. I trust in you to uphold that, if you'll take on the burden."

Decision making... A fine quality you upheld over and over, each time making the correct choice...