Chapter 37: Maturity Check

The walk over to the Circle and Stick wasn’t long, but a few minutes was enough for a quick talk with Friday and an uncomfortable moment or 2 for Bluebird.

Friday confirmed that being called ‘she’ in my own head was fine, as it matched the voice we had selected for her to use. I let Friday know that if those feelings were to change when she had… feelings, to please let me know.

“So why do you want a higher pin anyhow? Copper is fine for most things, and most people never bother with higher than silver in any case, why consider gold or more?” Bluebird asked as we exited the Guild doors.

I pondered for a second as I stepped onto the street. “Do you not know, or do you want to see how I’ll answer?”

“Maybe both. Every moment I talk with you, Monday March, you are both older and newer.”

“That doesn’t seem like a ‘maybe both’ type of situation. Firstly, you are footing the bill to keep me happy; secondly, it won’t hurt me to be tested and have a better assessment about how my mental state is viewed maturity wise in relation to the other people around here; thirdly, we talked about how the System might be messing with my head, driving petty behaviors and the like because I am in ‘puberty’ so I want to see if I am forced lower somehow.” I looked down into Bluebird's eyes as they were glancing at me while I was talking. “Additionally, someone has a bit of interest in me, and while I’m not sure if I want something to happen, I want to be able to help them feel they are not targeting the immature.”

“Oh… That all makes sense.”

“I don’t have many memories, that doesn’t mean…” I took a deep breath, realizing that my snark wave was riding very high. “Lacking memories doesn’t mean that I lack judgment and consideration.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…”

“No worries. The System seems to be pushing my reactions. Makes sense if you test me, especially on the way to a maturity testing situation.” I glanced at the blue hair. “So, you interested in Ann at all? Romantically or physically?”

Bluebird stopped and glared up at me, but I cut them off. “She didn’t say anything. You stayed outside rather than bring me into the Pillow and Pie, then you made a pathetic excuse about it. Also, you looked uncomfortable when Buckle mentioned bringing me over there. I mean, unless Billie or Bernie are hitting on you? Which I seriously doubt…” I really wanted to boop their nose, but it felt more inappropriate than harassing them in public.

I sighed and continued. “Look, if you aren’t interested you really should be honest with her. She’s wearing that silver thumb ring and never looks at other people’s hands. People show interest beyond casual teasing and she locks up. She has her eye on someone. If it’s you, and you aren’t interested… Be clear.”

Bluebird’s eyes widened. “Why say that?”

A half second passed before I responded, leaning closer to their narrow face. “She is nice, I like her, and it isn’t fair to her or yourself otherwise.” I said quietly.

Noticing we had paused 2 doors down from a tall building with a colorful sign ‘Circle and Stick’ I walked towards it. Each ‘C’ had a horizontal line starting in the middle of the ‘C’ and extending outside it to the right. The appearance tugged at my brain with familiarity, but I ignored it and walked inside.

It was a small room, a bit larger than 2 meters by 3 meters with the door I entered, another door and 2 people at a table. Not 2 people sitting at a table, because there was a tall fur covered person sitting at a chair at the table, and a smaller person with butterfly like wings seated in a chair on the table. They were playing chess, and the person with the wings was maybe 40 centimeters tall if I was being generous.

The fur was a plush orangish red and was sprouting from the inside of a red jumper with a black badge on her chest showing the symbol I’d noted in the sign out front, a ‘C’ with a line from the center of the circle part of the ‘C’ extending out of the opening. Under the symbol on the badge was a name and pronoun: Elenore - She. 'Wish I’d visited here before the uncomfortable conversations with Bluebird and Granny G.'

A ready smile shot towards us as she seemed to take us in. “Any floor for you, Blue. Your friend is restricted to the main and 2nd level however. What’s your name, Rocky?”

I was about to bristle when Bluebird spoke up. “Elenore, I thought you knew better than to throw about nicknames that might grate? Or shall I go back to calling you Fluffy for another few months?”

The tall woman cringed, the winged one cackled in an oddly deep tone, but quiet, like a hand lightly rubbing over a very large drum skin, I just glanced over at the Guild Master and caught their smirk as it was fading. “Forgive Elenore if you can, Monday March. She lives in a small village and lacks the etiquette to work at a Circle and Stick in a more refined location.”

‘Oh, the snark. I wonder if I can get a skill for cutting words?’

“Speaking of Monday March, she will be taking a Maturity check. The copper pin was temporary for ease of entry into the Guildhall. Full test, 10 dollars, correct?”

“Of… of course Bluebird, do you want to sit beside for confirmation?” The Guild Rep nodded and Elenore addressed the winged person. “Duncan, watch the door for me, ring the bell if anyone wants to come inside. Monday March, Bluebird, follow me.” She held her hand to a panel similar to the one at the Pillow and Pie, which turned blue then green and the inside door opened.

Flickering lights of various colors played about. A moving image on one wall with cartoonish figures dancing as faint music played. Various tables and games, comfortable chairs and shelves with assorted books were placed about the area which was at least as large as the dining and relaxing area at the PnP.

Elenore led us over to a small booth and looked up at me. “First Maturity check, correct?” I nodded, decided I should have shrugged and just let the nod stand. “Ever used a dream console before?”

“Not that I remember.” I admitted.

“Pretty simple, you sit in there, I adjust the Mana readers so they rest against 2 points on your noggin. After that I queue up the Maturity check and it starts. Most people remember nothing about it, but it spits out a result that you and Bluebird can review under my supervision. Once the results come out you can buy any pin you qualify for, it doesn’t have to be the best. Silver is 20 dollars, gold is 100 dollars, platinum and gold is 500 dollars, diamond is 2500 dollars, but we don’t have any diamond pins here in God’s Bath, though. MU are acceptable and C&S rates. If you were to qualify for a higher rank than you might buy today, it will be claimable with your Mana signature in the future. Well, a retest may be required depending on how much time has passed.” I could sense a combination of rote memorization and repetition that was a little amusing. “Should you choose to purchase a pin that you qualify for, the initial 10 dollar fee will be subtracted from your purchase.”

Sub vocalizing to Friday, I sent a request. “Let me know if I pass out, and be sure to make fun of me if I drool.”

Seated and reclined I felt a pair of smooth and malleable things press into my temples. Elenore’s face appeared in front of me. “Relax, and I’ll start counting back from 10.”

“Why?”

“To distract you before the check starts.”

“Oh.”

“10… 9… 8… 7…”

An increasing tingle was playing around my head, intensifying with each number.

“6… 5… 4…”

Flashes that seemed to bypass my eyeballs, landing directly in my brain started to occur in waves.

“3… 2…”

Sounds bypassing my ears joined the flashes.

And then.

“All done.” Elenore’s voice no longer had the rote memorization quality I’d heard before. I felt the Mana readers being removed from my head. “Any discomfort? Nausea?” I shook my head in response to each question. “It’s rare, but occasionally people have a reaction. We usually just let them rest for a few minutes while it passes.”

“Does a dream console never leave memories? I expected… something, to be honest.” I said as I climbed out of the small booth.

Elenore nodded, I guessed indicating an understanding of my question as the body of her reply didn’t match the nod. “It depends on the program. Most of them leave memories, some that are intended to treat trauma or such might clean up after themselves as well. Some people believe that tests like this are not remembered so as to not allow people to manipulate results. Now, let’s see about your results.” Elenore began to make touches at a panel on the side of the booth after pulling a bit of a privacy curtain around the 3 of us. “Now Monday March, do you agree to allow both Bluebird and I to witness your results? I’m bound to secrecy as a part of my job here, and Bluebird is paying.”

I nodded, as I wasn’t really bothered. Worst that would happen would be that they might know I wasn’t very mature. A few more presses and text appeared on the strange panel.

Results: Maturity Check

Location: God’s Bath, Cecal

Subject: Monday March

M1: Pass

M2: Pass

M3: Pass

M4: Pass

M5: Pass

M5+: Inconclusive