Dead Gorgeous (Mori Calliope x OC) A Hololive Fanfic *Completed*

[SEASON 2] Chapter 26

Around 12:30 in the afternoon, Calli and Zed had already finished marking down the routes essential for Zed's stay on Earth. The both of them were in Calli's room, seriously discussing how Zed will have to acclimate to his new environment. Yagoo had called upon Clay's presence for an update regarding his performance recently so he wasn't present today alongside her, much to her chagrin.

"I haven't been informed with the inner workings of the reaper business nowadays. How many did you say quit?" Calli and Zed were sitting opposite each other. Though, Zed had more inclination to sit on the floor against the wall. 

"50% ran and decided to find new ways to reap. Much like what you're doing right now," Zed said with a bored look on his face. "There's good reason why there's high demand of reapers when a lot went rogue and do reaping on their own. Capturing the hearts of your fans through this job isn't so much in-line with the reaping I'm accustomed to. No wonder your uncle's pissed at your newfound vocation, teach."

"It's not newfound. It's acceptable. Violating the rules isn't that dangerous for vets who have tons of experience. Still, Death's really putting you in a ton of pressure." 

Zed was given the opportunity to build an entirely new and operative reaping business with him acting as the head leader. Considering the health care of today being too advanced, Death was furious many lives were being saved instead of going through the normal process like the olden days where cures weren't so potent. And so, with the Underworld's prodigies fostered in the school of reapers, Zed was naturally chosen to be part of the process to strengthen the reputation of reapers and come up with a new way of doing things to spare Death the trouble and frustration of today's standards.

"The old man's just mad he can't reap like he used to. When someone fell ill five hundred years ago, they were already a liability in things like agriculture and business. They'd die in weeks or months." He twirled his finger around. "Although, I don't really see a possibility of reaping dying even if the business dies down. Death just wants our powers coordinated and given order. As long as we exist, humans will fill the gap of our usefulness."

"Do you want to run one? A business." Calli asked.

"If you can't tell, I'm just living how I want for now. Getting to see someone legendary like you was the first on my bucket list, and that's fulfilled now." He sighed out of freedom, sliding against the wall as he stood. "Are we done here? If so, I'll come back tomorrow and report what I have in mind for the routes you gave. I'll list them down carefully and tell you how I wanna proceed if that's okay."

"Sure. I'm glad you're testing out the waters. If there's something wrong, tell me right away."

"Also, I know it's late but," He scratched his head. "Truthfully, I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I can't control it sometimes. It just comes out."

"You mean when you act arrogant and all-knowing?"

"Well, I wouldn't go far with all-knowing but I suppose arrogance is closer. It's a-" He stopped and cleared his throat before saying what he wanted. "It's complicated. It comes out when I feel excited or nervous." 

"Luckily, they don't place a big grade on attitude in reaping school, yeah?" Calli laughed, arising from her chair to pat him on the head. "It's a way for you to show another side of yourself. But maybe you could also tell Kiara and Clay about it. They're probably the only ones you talked to during your stay."

"Yeah... Of course. I'm going to try."

"Nope, you will." She patted him on the back. "I'm glad you opened up to me about it, Zed. I didn't really know if you acted that way on purpose or not but thanks for sharing it with me. Now go! And test the waters! I actually want to find out if you can handle the reaping routes I gave you."

"I don't see any waters. I'm not a rookie. Tch." he went straight for the door but paused at the last second. 

"Hey," he called out.

"Hm?" 

"You're not going to ask why I'm like this? Why I'm talking like this now instead of how I usually talk?"

"Didn't you already tell me?"

"I mean, how it started and all."

"We're not close enough to be talking about that right now."

"Huh." He stared at space for a second before saying something. "That's new."

"We have to eat with the others first then you can spend more time with us if you want." Calli said. "For now, I'll tell the girls we can eat dinner outside if they're available. Gura, Amelia, and Ina are curious about you too."

"You're a good teacher but you're strange."

"Yeah. It's strange." Calli could visibly see his shoulders slightly dropping. It wasn't clear to the human eye but she wasn't one in the first place. "A good strange. You're acting more like a student now. What happened? Our fast travels today made you reflect or something?"

"Nah. I'm just bored."

Calli recollected a funny memory of the ancient past where she'd been stuck in Florence for a year in the Renaissance era.

"What made you decide to stay in Florence? Was exploring the world not your dream?"

"I have all the time in the world, Richard. I'm just bored."

"Pandering to our way of life now, aren't we, Moriana?" 

" Close your pipe. Carry on with your leisure before I change my mind and leave for Venice. Grace awaits you by the lake. Don't make me grab your notes to make you memorize your heartfelt speech again."

"Haha! Sorry, sorry! Just needed a speck of courage before trudging forward! I will go now and make my love known! I'll get you a man soon too!"

Richard lived until the age of 93. 

"That was a good day," she reminisced. 

"You're distracted again."

"Anyway, feel free to join us if you're okay with it."

Zed muttered but even Calli could hear it. "Is the Phoenix going...?"

"You mean Kiara? She's one of the girls so yeah. Why."

"Forget what I asked. I'll see you all later." 

"Wait. One more question."

Zed peeked out of the doorway as he was about to close it.

"Was school difficult?"

"It was."

Then the door closed.

"Funny kid," she whispered before turning on her stream.