The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension
Page 15
Chapter 14 - Marina’s Make-Up Job
"Hold still, Massy," Marina said as she worked on the youngest Mullinix, "I don’t want to stab you with this eye pencil."
"I don’t know how you got this good at it," Massimaferro grumbled, "But I guess I did ask for it, didn’t I."
"Of course you did," Marina grinned, "But I’ll try to make it easy on you anyway."
"So what do you think about the way things are going, kiddo?" Massimaferro asked her, "I know you’re waiting for the new Mullinix. Do you have anything to say about it?"
"Not my place, Massy," Marina shrugged as she styled the wig properly, "I don’t know about the larger picture, I just know about what I do here. The rest of the world is your problem, not mine."
"Bullshit," Massimaferro observed lightly, "You know more about the goings on than anyone else here, save for Edwina. You’re probably going to be a candidate for the head of the house staff in a few years, especially if Julia doesn’t outlast Tali by very long."
"If it comes, it comes," Marina shrugged, "I don’t care. I like where I am and I like my position here."
"I hope you’re ready for a little more responsibility," Massy said, "I don’t care if the new apprentice is male or female, you’re the youngest of the house staff. You will probably have to become their friend before we can."
"I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it, Massy," Marina said, finishing up the makeover job that turned him into Mr. Irons, "Besides, if the new one is as nice as you and Iggy I think it’ll be easy."
"So how do I look?" Massy asked as he stood up and pulled on the cloak he wore as Irons, "Good?"
"Odd," Marina giggled, "But I’ll take it. So we’ll be seeing you in that getup today, huh?"
"Yes," Massy nodded, "I’m bringing them into chamber. Hopefully Iggy won’t bust out laughing when he sees me."
"He’ll be too busy being official," Marina said, "I checked into the load this morning. The local officials sent up a surprise case. A wife beater."
"Why didn’t they take care of it themselves?" Massy asked, "That sort of thing is usually handled locally."
"They’ve punished him several times," Marina said, "He keeps doing it. This time he’s put her in the hospice. The chief medico there was pissed enough this time that he requested that Iggy take the case rather than the local head."
"Translated," Massy groaned, "The local head is one of the culprit’s friends and the medico wants real justice done."
"Probably," Marina shrugged, "They are your problem, not mine. I just hear news and pass it on."
"Iggy will tell me about it later, I’m sure," Massy nodded, "I think it’s just about time to go."
"Your students will love you," Marina smiled, "Especially since you can’t be as boring as their other teachers."
"How did you make it through?" Massimaferro asked, "I never did go through the whole course. They pulled me out two months in."
"Sleep," Marina chuckled, "That and I think the prof was hot for me. The more he stared, the less he bugged me."
"Just be sure to tell the new one what they are missing when they come in," Massy said, standing up and getting ready to go, "You’re definitely going to handle the basic orientation when Iggy and I can’t. You know what’s going on and you’re close enough to his age that he won’t be scared of you."
"I hope you’re right," Marina told him, "I’ll think about what to talk to him or her about."
"You’ll do fine," Massy said on his way out, "Just be yourself…"
Marina watched as he left and didn’t know what to think. She just hoped it would go all right, because anything could happen. That was the way of life in the palace, a life that she liked and really didn’t want to do anything to mess up.