"Hi sis, hi Wes," I greeted them both with a smile. "Yuki says to say hello for her too."
Shirley's eyebrows crept up as she looked me up and down, "Wow Aster, look at you!"
"Looking good!" Wes agreed. "Hi Aster and Yuki. And hello to Cara as well."
My tails wagged as my smile got a little wider from the compliments. I was wearing some brand new designer sneakers, new black jeans, a new top, and of course my favourite denim jacket with all the fox and kitsune pins and patches. I also had a cute new little black purse hanging off my shoulder, and I was carrying a new backpack along with my bike helmet. Finally, I'd done my make-up up nice, and even got my hair styled earlier in the day.
While they were both still admiring my new look I asked, "Can we come in for a bit? We've got some time before we need to be at the restaurant."
My sister nodded as she and Wes stepped back from the door, "Of course, come on in!"
"I wanted to ask you about that anyways," she continued as we all moved through to the living-room.
I sat on the recliner again, and Cara hopped down off my head to perch on the arm of the chair. At the same time Shirley and Wes sat across from us on the sofa.
Once we were all comfortable my sister finally asked, "So what's the big occasion?"
Wes spoke up before I could respond, "I'm guessing they got a new job. Based on the new outfit, and the fact that they offered to take us out for dinner tonight."
"Thanks for spoiling the surprise Wes," I pouted at him while my ears drooped and my tails all twitched next to me on my chair.
Shirley rolled her eyes and smiled, "C'mon Aster it's not that big a surprise. When you texted me on Monday you said you'd quit your job at the factory and were going to look for something new. And you told me how you were worried about budgeting. Now it's Saturday and you're dressed up in some cute new clothes and taking us out for dinner? It's a bit of a give-away."
I managed to hold the pout for another second or two, before my smile returned and my ears perked up again.
"Yeah ok good point," I agreed, while my tails all tried to wag, but being wrapped around next to me on the chair meant there really wasn't enough room for that.
"Anyways we still don't know where you're working or what you're doing," my sister pointed out. "I'd love to hear all about your new job. So do you want to talk here? Or save it until we're at the restaurant?"
Cara finally spoke up, "Our reservations aren't until eight, so there's plenty of time to talk right now."
I responded, "Yeah but we need to leave time to get there remember? Actually we should arrange the ride-share now, so we don't forget."
"Reservations? Ride share?" Shirley asked as her eyebrows shot up. "Just where is it you're taking us? I assumed we'd be going to one of our local spots."
"It's some posh restaurant in the Brighton Lanes," I replied. "Cara picked it, but I have no idea how she found the place."
Our raven elaborated, "By air of course. I flew around until I found somewhere that the food smelled acceptable. Don't worry, I double-checked their reviews online. The fare is apparently well liked by the humans who've eaten there."
My sister continued to look surprised, "A posh place in the Lanes, that requires reservations? This is sounding more and more expensive."
Meanwhile Wes got to his feet, "Since we've got more than an hour before we eat how about I grab us all some drinks? Shirl, Aster, what can I get you two? Oh and Cara, what's your poison?"
"That's another thing," my sister frowned as she looked at our bird friend. "How are you going to smuggle a raven into a fancy restaurant? Or are you planning on leaving her here while the rest of us go out?"
I had trouble suppressing my smile as I looked to Cara. I offered her our backpack and suggested, "How about you get changed now? You're not going to be able to do it at the restaurant."
"Very well," she sniffed.
A moment later both my sister's and her boyfriend's jaws dropped and their eyes bulged as they stared at the tall statuesque woman who was suddenly sitting naked on the arm of the chair next to me. Cara calmly stood up and took the backpack from me, then opened it up and extracted her own brand-new outfit. And without a hint of shame or embarrassment she proceeded to calmly dress herself right there in the living-room in front of everyone.
It took another second or two before Shirley finally snapped out of it and turned to avert her eyes. And two or three more seconds before she gave Wes a little smack on the arm to get him to turn away as well.
"Ok she's decent now," I let them both know a couple minutes later. I put my phone back in my little purse as I added, "And I've made arrangements for the ride-share, they should be here by quarter-to."
Cara was dressed in black leather ankle boots, black leggings, a short black skirt, and a tight black blouse. Overtop of all that she had a little designer black leather jacket. Her jet-black feathered hair hadn't been styled, but it was arranged nicely. She didn't bother with any make-up, but then her flawless dark skin didn't really need it.
It took our hosts several more seconds to get over their shock, then Wes finally went and got us all some drinks. He had a can of ale for himself, while the rest of us split a bottle of wine. Then we got back to the conversation and our announcements.
"So yes, we have a new job!" I announced happily. "And by we, I mean all three of us! Myself, Yuki, and Cara were all hired by the same boss. And all three of us get to work together, which is perfect."
Shirley's eyebrows crept upwards as she glanced at Cara then looked at me again. She frowned, "Ok I can almost understand how your er, bird friend got a job. But how can you and Yuki both have a job?"
"Or are you working different shifts?" she added as her frown got a little deeper. "That doesn't sound healthy Aster. Even though there's two of you, you're only sharing the one body and it needs rest."
I grinned as I shook my head, "We're not pulling double shifts or anything like that. And the work we do is something we can all do together, all three of us. Even better, so far it's been fun and easy, plus the pay is amazing!"
My sister looked confused for another second or two, then her cheeks flushed and she had a gulp of her wine. Her eyes flicked to Cara then back to myself again and she asked quietly, "It's not sex work is it?"
My cheeks were instantly on fire while I nearly choked on my wine. Meanwhile Yuki rolled over giggling like mad in our head, while her tails all swished around in amusement. And Cara seemed completely impassive, she didn't even raise an eyebrow.
"Not that there's anything wrong with sex work," Shirley added quickly. "I'm just surprised, that's all. I guess I never really pictured that being something you'd do..."
"It's not sex work!" I finally insisted, with my ears folded back and my tails all twitching around.
"Oh." My sister looked confused again, "So where are you working? What are you doing, that all three of you can work together?"
This time I grimaced, "So that's actually the one thing we can't really talk about? It's kind of..."
My voice trailed off as I tried to come up with a way to explain that it was a secret, without being too obvious. Unfortunately it turned out that ship had already sailed, as Wes once again spoiled the whole thing.
My sister's boyfriend had a gulp of his ale then stated, "They're working for Gaia. It couldn't be any more obvious, could it? I mean you heard what she said in that big announcement the other day, right? Eighty ambassadors and forty representatives? Aster and Yuki got hired as ambassadors, Cara's a representative."
Shirley rolled her eyes, "Come on Wes thats..."
Her voice trailed off as she looked at me again. And as soon as she saw the way I was cringing she facepalmed, "That's it isn't it?"
"Aster!" she added when I didn't respond. "How can you be working for the most wanted woman on the entire planet?! Do you even know the first thing about diplomacy?"
I shook my head and folded my ears back as I insisted, "That's not it! We're not diplomats, she said she already had a team in Scotland doing that job. So she hired us for something else instead!"
Shirley asked in a pointed tone, "So you are working for Gaia, just not as ambassadors?"
That left me cringing again as I mumbled, "Oops."
Then Cara commented calmly, "Yuki, perhaps next time we're speaking with our boss the two of us should pretend we've never met Aster before? Or at least indicate that she's not with us."
Fortunately the little arctic kitsune was on my side. She shook her head and flicked her tails as she replied, "Sorry Cara, I could never do that. And don't worry Aster, I'm sure Gaia will understand. Anyways Shirley and Wes are good people, I bet they're on Gaia's side. They definitely won't be cheering for the oil companies and corrupt politicians at least."
"I suppose," our avian companion replied with another sniff.
Of course neither Shirley or Wes heard what Yuki said. My sister didn't seem curious though, instead she asked me "So if you're not a diplomat then what are you doing for Gaia? I'm guessing it's not Public Relations, considering you're apparently supposed to keep the relationship a secret."
"And how much is she paying you?" Wes added. "I hope you're getting a decent wage at least?"
I continued to both blush and cringe as I nodded, "The pay is uh, amazing. She gave us a two thousand pound signing bonus when we met on Tuesday? Then the other day she dropped by to give us our first regular pay. Which was uh, five thousand pounds."
Shirley and Wes were both silent for a second or two, as they exchanged a look. Then my sister asked, "You're earning five thousand pounds a month? With a two thousand pound signing bonus? That's a pretty big step up from what you were making at the factory. What do you have to do for that money though? And how many hours does she have you putting in?"
"Not a month," I replied quietly as I shook my head. "She's paying us five thousand a week. In advance. In cash."
At that point Wes nearly dropped his beer can.
Then Cara spoke up again, "Gaia lets us set our own hours and choose our own workload. So far we've been toiling some six hours a day, but I make sure we take plenty of breaks."
"Our current assignment is to learn and practise magic," she added before having a sip of her wine.
Wes looked and sounded incredulous as he asked, "You mean to tell me she gave you lot seven thousand quid this week, in cash, and you get to learn magic too?!"
"No of course not," Cara shook her head. Then she calmly corrected him, "We were given seven thousand pounds each. Yuki and Aster and myself are three separate individuals, so of course we are being compensated separately."
At that point Wes really did drop his drink, while Shirley just stared at us wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Meanwhile our part-time human companion apparently decided to rub it in a little more, as she shared a few more details of our compensation package.
"Gaia also promised to relocate us to a nicer home," she commented in a casual tone. "Someplace out in the country, with plenty of land and lots of trees. And she promised us her protection, so we needn't worry about human aggression."
It was another couple seconds before either of our hosts managed to respond to all that. Then Wes asked, "So um, is she still hiring? Can you put in a good word for your old buddy Wes?"
"We've still got a litre of that magic Cairngorms water in the fridge at home," Yuki reminded me, while her tails twitched mischievously. "Maybe Shirley and Wes could split it, and see what happens?"
Luckily nobody but me and Cara heard that. Before I could respond though my sister finally found her voice. And instead of shocked or envious she almost sounded a bit impatient.
"So I know you well enough Aster that you're not here just to brag about your good fortunes -" she started.
Cara interrupted, "I am."
My sister ignored the bird girl and kept her attention on me as she continued, "So why are you telling us all this? Why were you so eager to meet with Wes and I tonight?"
"Sorry sis," I sighed. My ears were drooping again as I told her, "I'm not here to brag, I promise. I guess part of it is because we wanted to celebrate with you and Wes? Yuki and I wanted to share the news that we're employed again, that money isn't a concern for us anymore."
My ears and shoulders both slumped even lower as I continued, "The other reason is, I wanted to ask your help. I got an email from mom yesterday, asking if I wanted to drop in for dinner with her and dad this week? So I figured it's time to let our parents know how I've changed. And maybe introduce them to Yuki as well..."
"And me," Cara added.
That thought left me cringing again, but I couldn't keep our new friend roommate and colleague secret forever.
"And Cara," I nodded. Then I gave Shirley a hopeful look and asked, "So what do you think, sis? Do you have any ideas or suggestions, about how to go about telling our parents about all this stuff?"
My sister took a deep breath, then let out a quiet sigh. She drained the last her her wine before frowning, "Ok Aster. I'll think about it, and we'll see what we can come up with."