It all began a month ago.
It was my 16th birthday.
I would finally be considered an adult! So excited!
I walked through the metal, tube-filled hallways of my home, each one filled with boiling water and swirling smoke from the generator that was merely a hundred meters away.
It was awe-inspiring. Spiraling into the sky, filled with magma and heat, enough to provide warmth for thousands that sought refuge around it.
I made my way to Dad's office, opened the door, and saw him inside.
Blue eyes and brown hair, I got most of my traits from my mom so we don't look all that alike. People say we have the same personality, though I'm "apparently" super "stubborn" and "prideful."
I asked him, casually, about my birthday, you know, "Hey Dad, could I have something for my birthday?"
He smiled, super smug, and said "Sure, anything at all."
I then asked him to be allowed into the city. Never went beyond the crater where the generator and the Steward's utilities are, always sheltered in there.
He looked mad, or worried... Anxious maybe? I think I saw like a hundred expressions in a few seconds, never got that much of a reaction from him.
He told me, "No, it's too dangerous. The city is a bit unstable at the moment."
Seeing that the city was in so much trouble, I wanted to help, so I talked to him for a bit. Talked him down, and pointed out that I was gonna be my own woman eventually and I might as well learn about the city I might lead in the future.
He refused, so I got mad, cried a bit about feeling useless, and told him I was no doll, and that was that.
Didn't talk to him for a week, and he cracked. Told me I could go as long as I was careful.
Marry smiled wildly and waved her hands beside her cheeks, "Ta-da!"
'So that's why the city went into martial law a week ago? That's why tens of illegal organizations, large and small, were crushed? He wanted to make sure his daughter had a good trip?!'
June stumbled onto Pandora's Box here for sure.
After all, a month ago the city was going okay, but there were certainly some troubles. With the threat of nature growing smaller and smaller, humans do what humans do and start getting ideas. Bad ideas also popped up, and trouble showed up with them.
Gangs were a thing all of a sudden, teens organized into bands that caused trouble, they couldn't work, but there were only a few schools, not enough space for all of them, and thus they were left bored at home.
In a week. The Steward had a dozen schools built, a dozen laws written, and had the whole city on lockdown, hunting down any troublemakers.
He left a massive power vacuum behind, one that more legal, representative factions gladly took over.
Purists, zealous freaks, Machinists, fanatical scientists and researchers, as well as the Winterhomers, people who believed in survival of the fittest and insisted we should abandon old, "outdated traditions" as they called them.
"So... You're just exploring now?"
Marry nodded, "Yep, I was gonna head a bit to the north to visit the cathedral, super curious about how religion works! Never saw it home, Dad is a pretty cynical guy."
Marry looked away, gently pushing a lock of hair behind her ear as a faint blush formed on her face, "But if you want to come with me I wouldn't mind or anything..."
That was the most cringeworthy, cute, innocent attempt at flirting a certain experienced whore had seen!
"HAHA! ...Aahh... Gosh, you got me there."
Marry looked depressed. Openly. Not about to cry or anything, but deeply ashamed and humiliated.
"Oh dear..." June calmed down, "Honey, it's not that I'm refusing you, but you have to understand I've had sex with more people than you know- Than you'll ever know in your whole life! And that was just sooo cute!"
She then ceased her flirty tone, "Besides... I am on the job right now. In the amount of time I spent with you, I could have been sucking a guy off or scissoring a cute gall like you."
Marry blushed, "W-Whatever! It's not like it matters, I just wanted to use you as a guide and stuff."
June gasped, a faked horror on her face, "You were gonna use me?! I can't believe you!"
Marry felt her face pale, "E-Eh? No! Not at all! I just wanted to hang out with you! You're super pretty and nice and stuff!"
June smirked. Smug.
Marry blushed. Flushed.
Marry groaned and stood up, pretending to not be affected at all, grabbed her coat from the coat hanger, and with a smile and wave, walked out into the cold.