Between Arstotzka and Equestria: Papers, Please

Life in Arstotzka

Day 1 - Part 2: Life in Arstrotza?

Hektor stared at the little Sweetie Bell for a long time; in that long moment, ha wasn't able to think about what he had to do. There was a little child from another world without the proper documents to pass the frontier. Laws were clear for that kind of situation; the conseguences of following those saw laws were, on the contrary, uncertain.

<> Hektor said, trying to smile and to keep a calm voice.

Sweetie Bell looked to her white dress for a moment; then, she raised her head <> she asked with an innocent and disarmingly expression to the Inspector, looking straight to him with her green eyes.

Suddenly, Ian came back in the booth with a annoyed face <> he exclaimed with a little grin on his face, before realizing that somebody else was in the booth <>

<> the soldiers said while looking at the rifle in his hands <> he then added coldly, staying on his position, in waiting.

Hektor gave a fast look at him before looking back at Sweetie Bell and at her little horn; then, he activated the automatic stamper, closing his eyes.

*KACHUNK*

When he opened them, he saw a big, RED stamp on the visa of the little girl.

She took back the passport, looking at the denial stamp and slowly realizing the situation <> She asked while her eyes began to wet a little <>.

While his mind led him to think that he made the correct choice, thinking about the citation he took earlier and to the fact that he had to prove to the government that they could rely on him, his heart was shattered from what he had done and from the reaction of that Equestrian child, whose only fault was to have an expired document.

<> Ian said while going near Sweetie Bell <>. She made few steps back, with a clear expression of fear painted on her face

<> Hektor yelled, stopping the soldier <>. Ian left the gun with his left hand to put her on his chin, a classic instinctive move made from who is thinking about something <>

<> the Inspector then asked to Sweetie Bell, figuring out an idea that, in his mind, could work <>.

The little elegant girl nodded <> she said while cleaning out her eyes from the tears.

<> Hektor then said to Ian, who was carefully hearing him <>.

After a long silence, Ian nodded convinced from that idea <> he said with a cold expression, before showing at the little girl the door.

Both of them reached the exit and went out from the booth; before going out, however, Sweetie Bell excanged a last look with Hektor, who was clearly sad for the whole situation.

After that episode, the last 2 hours passed with no other problems. All the people rejected, the majority of the cases, didn't cause problems and the approved ones went away with a satisfied expression; it was nice for Hektor to see the excited faces of those who were going to visit the parallel world. There were high expectation, caused expecially from the newspapers and from the radio that, for multiple times in the previous days, described the "Great Equestria Nation" as a big, prosperous place.

Finally, the clock announced that is was time to close the booth. Hektor smiled for a moment before grabbing the microphone with his right hand.

<>.

He repeated the same sentence another time, before stooding up from the chair to stratch his arms <> he said loudly, without even noticing the presence of Ian.

<> he said with a little smile.

<> Hektor replied while, without looking at the guard, he was making order on the desk <> he added, now focusing his attention on him <>.

<> Ian said while putting his rifle on his left shoulder <>.

<> Hektor said suddenly, checking his own clothes, in a try of appearing indifferent at the matter <>

Ian scratched his head for a moment with his free hand <> he quickly explained, showing no signs of worries <> he added coldly, giving his back to Hektor <>.

Hektor nodded while looking at Ian that, in the meantime, was examining his rifle with extreme cure <> he said, not really persuaded from his own words.

<> Ian then asserted <>.

The Inspector took the plastic bag with his own clothes and, after waving at Ian, who was closing the booth, he walked away from that place. The first day of work was officially gone.

With a slow paced walking speed, he began to follow the road that leads to his quartier. He couldn't not focus his attention on all the shabby structures present in that part of Orvech Vonor and, above all, on all the poor people living there, marked from the dirty and old clothes that were barely able to protect from the freezing wind of the evening.

All those eyes staring the ground ... all those sad expressions ... that was the bad sight Hektor saw in all the days he walked back and forward in the previous days. The snow and the gray weather weren't helping in this situation ... all around it was just like a surreal picture made in black and white.

While walking lost in his thoughts, he didn't even realized that his cigarette was almost over; while smoking the last bit of it, a voice caught his attention: <>

When he rose his head, he saw the little girl blocked at the checkpoint, who was talking to somebody that, for some reason, wasn't unfamiliar to him; his curl and short brown hairs and his elegant dresse were something he reminded ... but he didn't know why.

<> she replied with a big smile, pointing suddenly to an uncertain with her little finger <>.

The man made a strange expression after those words, shaking barely his head <> he said with a sad expression, posing one of his hands on her shoulders, caressing her light purple curl hairs with his thumb <> he added, spreading his arms widely, smiling <>.

Dari Ludum .... Dari Ludum ... he knew that name ... but why?

<> the said with her melodious voice <>.

<> he replied getting near to her <> he added while looking at the horn on the child's forehead

While he was trying to persuade her, the expression of the Inspector changed completely.

"Dari Ludum ... Pink Vice ... now I remember" He thought "That place ... and expecially that story was on all the newspapers ... the case of those two girls ... the suspects ... the culprit never found and ..."

While those thoughts flowed in his head, he saw that man trying harder in persuading the little girl

"Dammit Arstrotza ... If she go with him ... and where is that Discord guy?" he realized that he couldn't wait longer, as Dari Ludum, famous for his speaking abilities, could really persuade her in following him.

With a deep breath, Hektor pur his hands in the pockets of his jacket, moving fast toward them.

<> he said with a loud voice, waving his hand to salute her <> he added, trying to appear as familiar to her as possible.

The attention of the two was immediately caught from him. <> the child said after recognizing him <> she then asked, inclining her little head to the right and looking at him from the bottom of her short height.

<> Hektor said assuming a seroius tone of voice <> he added, launching some quick glances at the man near them <> he stayed in silence for some seconds, trying to figuring out a good excuse << ... some ... problems with your documents ... so the autorities ... well ... asked me to find you>> He assumed a more secure voice <>.

<> she blabbered, without knowing what to think about her situation <>

<> suddenly Dari Ludum said, getting near to them and taking from his jacket 40 credits <> he asked to Hektor, smiling <>.

He looked at that sum of money for some moment, in silence.Then, he rose his head, looking to him directly in the eyes <> he said indicating a person with a blue uniform near them <>

With a challenging look, he observed the man with all the hate within; then, he gave a fast glance to the little girl before walking away <> he mourmored before going away, without even saluting.

Hektor followed with attention that shady man walking away, before returning to focus on the little girl, with a more calm expression on his face.

<> Sweetie bell said, lowering her head.

<> he exclaimed, smiling a little <>

<> somebody suddenly said, slowly clapping his hands <>

Both of them turned back, seeing Discord drinking something from a glass bottle without any brand.

<> Sweetie Bell exclaimed happily <>

<> he said, between the laughts <> he added, pointing his thumb at Hektor <>.

Hektor couldn't not focusing on that strange man, expecially on what he was saying and, expecially, on how he was speaking to the little girl. He was indeed scolding her, but his voice was not the kind of voice of somebody worried or serious. He couldn't really understand if he was really troubled for her or not; anyway, he could sense that Discord, in a way he couldn't understand in that moment, was aware of what was happening during his absence.

<> Discord sayd with a bizarre smile to Hektor who, hearing those words that looked like the perfect answers to his intern questions, remained astonished.

A moment of silent followed those words. The three of them could feel the wind becoming colder and colder, while the streets began to become desert <> Sweetie Bell remarked, clearly worried about their situation.

<> Discord said with a theatrical expression, spreading his little wings and his arms <>

"So this Equestria it's not a so peaceful place like the newspapers showed" Hektor thought while looking at Discord talking about all the menaces faced in the past, counting them on the fingers of his right hand. He looked at them, crossing his arms and wondering about the possible conseguences of leaving them alone. A little girl and a strange guy, both from another dimension, without a place to go in a city like Orvech Vonor. It was not a promising situation indeed and everything because he had to follow orders.

He looked back to them, who were trying to figuring out a solution. Then, he interrupt them.

<>.

Both Sweetie Bell and Discord turned their head to look at Hektor.

<> the little child asked looking to him with hope in her eyes.

<> said then Discord, touching his goat like beard <> He added with the expression of who is really convinced of his idea, before drinking another bit of the trasparent liquid in the bottle he was keeping in his left hand.

Hektor looked shocked at Discord, in silence <> he then asked to Sweetie Bell, who answered nodding her head.

Her head ... her horn ... and Discord wings, too. Those could be problems. Maybe people weren't helping them because they were different.

<> Hektor said, putting his hands on his fur hat <> he then added putting the shapka on Sweetie Bell's head, covering her horn <>.

A loud laught interrupt them; Discord was pratically bent in half <> he asked, without being able to stop <>.

Hektor calmly finished to put the fur hat on Sweetie Bell, who was not able to not smile at Discord's reaction <> Hektor said with a tranquill but firm voice.

Discord, realizing the situation, simply put the finger and the medium of his right hand on his lips, likw he was closing a zip; then, he offered the glass bottle to Hektor <>.

The Inspector took the bottle, looking at its content <> he simply replied, taking a good sip of that liquid, realizing it was a bottle of Orvech Vodka <> he then asked, feeling his throat burning for the strongness of the liquour.

<> he answered, as he was saying the most obvious thing of the world.

Hektor shrugged his shoulder, without saying anything more. He then made few steps forward <> Hektor then asked, saying the last two words with an uncertain voice <>.

<> He then asked, looking at him with a strange expression.

Hektor turned his head behind, realizing that Discord already covered his wings. He smiled, realizing that probably he was not so stupid as he looked; then, he gave a last sip to the bottle, before throwing it is a basket of trash near them and walking forward, following the path to reach his home.

<> he said to the two Equestrians behind him, before focusing himself in trying to resist as best as possible to the pain caused from the cold he felt on his bald head and to the desire of asking his hat back to the child.

The strange group walked for almost 20 minutes. During the long walk, Hektor didn't pay attention at the comments of his two special guests and at the words of the people who, curious about those two strangers, commented with low voices; "Ponyville looks like Canterlot in confront" was the only sentence he was able to hear from behind, while thinking about what he was doing and, expecially, about the reaction of his Mother-in-law at his idea “in the best scenario, she'll kill me” he thought, disconsolate.

After the long walk, they finally arrived at their destination: a six floor gray building, with no decorations at all; it was just a big, regular box with a lot of windows. In that moment, there was just silence near them.

<> Sweetie Bell said, gazing at the building <>

Hektor smiled at those words <> he said to her while opening the door of the building.

After three flight of stairs, they reached the door of the house. Hektor swiftly took the key from his jacket to open the door <>.

<> the three of them heard from the inside <>

<> exclaimed Discord, waving happily his hand while entering the central room of the house <> he added, bowing like a respectful gentleman.

Katia spread her eyes wide, looking at those two persons. It was impossible for Hektor to read her feelings in that moment; it was something between the surprise and the killing instict. She focused her attention on Sweetie Bell, smiling at her for a moment; then, she stared at Hektor.

<> Katia yelled angry <>

<> Hektor said, clearly embarassed, scratching his head <> he added, lowering his tone of voice at every word.

<> She replied, suddenly standing up from her chouch <>

<> Discord murmured at Sweetie Bell, amused from the scene.

<> Hektor yelled, looking at his mother-in-law with a more determined expression, while pointing his right hand at the door as he wanted to show to her the cold and dangerous streets of Orvech Vonor.

<> Sweetie Bell suddenly said, interrupting the conversation between the two <> she added, lowering her head, without noticing the schocked and worried expression painted on Discord's face after those words.

Looking at that child, Katia calmed herself; after a deep breath, she sit down on her couch, relaxing herself <> she said, launching severe glances to his son-in-law <>.

<> Discord exclaimed, looking around the house and walking towards Hektor's room <>, he then said before closing the door of the room behind.

Hektor shooked his head <> he explained to his mother-in-law, while putting an hand on Sweetie Bell's shoulder <>

The old lady grumbled a little while standing up again, rising her big body with a big effort <> she said walking near them to give him an envelop with a stylized red eagle stamped on it <>.

Hektor took the envelop from the old, trembling hands of Katia. <> he said reading what was written on it <> he added, smiling a little <> he suddenly changed his expression, focusing his attention at Sweetie Bell <> he said to her, smiling.

A little laught came from Sweetie Bell's mouth as she took off the shapka from her head, giving it back to Hektor and showing her little and white forehead horn.

Without even realizing that Katia didn't say anything to comment that special feature of the little guest, Hektor opened the door of the apartment, going out from the room.

While descending the stairs, he opened the envelop, finding a bunch of credit inside. He counted then in his mind, throwing the envelop in the first thrash can and putting the money in a pocket of the jacket.

While walking, he thought at all the expenses he had to cover: the carbon for the heater, the rent of the apartment and, of course, the food for four persons. With sadness, he realized that to pay all those things, he had to use some of his savings; it was a risky thing to do, as there were not so much money left and they had to be used only in extreme cases.

<> he said at low voice, talking to himself while looking at the dirty street under his feet <> he added, figuring out the next course of action.

After almost an hour, he was able to find everything and to go back home. While going up the stairs, his attention was attracted by a melodious sound coming from somewhere in the building. A marvellious voice was singing a unknown song about peace, love and friendship.

Hektor could see some people outside the doors of their apartment focused on that voice that was able to war all their hearts in a so cold evening. It was a big surprise for him to discover that this so wonderful voice was coming from his house.

When he reached the door, he remained for few minutes outside, hearing claps of hands, laughts and that, above all, that splendid voice that, for a moment, reminded him some good moment spent years ago with somebody that, now, is no more with him.

The sound of the key turning in the door lock suddenly stopped that magic moment, bringing silence in all the building <> Hektor said while entering the apartment.

The sight of Sweetie Bell on the table and of both Discord and Katia sit on two chair with an happy expression left him completely floored, expecially for the expression of his mother-in-law; he had not seen such expression on her face for a long time.

<> Hektor simply said, trying to not laught at them while putting thw two bags he was carring on the table where the little child was standing on <>.

<> Katia said to him a bit disappointed <>.

<> Hektor said looking at that strange group there, smiling sincerely amused <>

<> Discord said spreading his arms and his wings <> he added solemny, standing up from his chair with a royal demeanor.

<> he replied calmly while, after putting down the bags, he reached again the entry door.

<> Katia asked raising an eyebrow and looking that his son-in-law was going out again <>

<> Hektor replied <>.

While opening the door, he saw the worried expression of his mother-in-law who had clearly understood what was going on. Before going out, he saw the pale face of the little Sweetie Bell, still on the table, who was looking at time with her bright green eyes <> he said before leaving the room again.

Without speaking again, Hektor left the building, challenging the freezing wind of the late evening by walking around the town without a destination. Seeing that there were not so many credits, he decided to buy the coal, to put the money of the rent in the proper box at the entrance of the building and to buy the necessary to cook food for three persons.

He decided to not eat for that evening and, of course, to not be present during the dinner to not disturb Katia, Discord and Sweetie Bell; after all, his presence there could just disturb them.

With a lightned cigarette as only companion for that long walk, Hektor stayed for a couple of hours alone, thinking about the past, about what happened in just a day and about the wonderful voice he hearded just some time ago … a voice that brang him back to an evening with Sarah and Yara at home, some years ago … too many years ago.

Lost in all this thoughts, he didn't even realize how much time passed and how many cigarettes were lightened and smoked. The moon was full and bright and a deep silence reigned on Orvech Vonor … all signs that, probably, enough time was passed. With calm, Hektor reached the gray, plain building where his apartment was and, with his head lowed, he walked I, taking the keys from his right pocket.

Trembling a little for the very cold temperature of the night, he opened the door as slow as possible, to not disturb; the apartment was dark, sign that everybody were already sleeping “I hope Katia will not be mad at me tomorrow”, he thought while closing the door behind you.

<> suddenly he heard from a point of the room that he couldn't recognize <>.

Some steps and the sound of a heavy jacked throwed on a couch could be hearded in the darkness of the apartment. Suddenly Hektor turned on the light, revealing that Discord was standing near a shelf, pointing his strange red eyes on a particular photo <> he asked with a quiet tone of voice.

<> Hektor answered while going near the window, opening it a little before taking another cigarette, the last of the package, turning it on with a match.

<> Discord began to say, turming himself toward Hektor, smiling as something was amusing him <> he stopped for a moment, snapping the finger of his right hand << … you reach us, saving the little girl from a sly bad fella, to offer us a place to stay and, the cherry on the cake, you invent a pathetic excuse to go out to let us eat the few things you were able to buy>>. He God of Chaos spreaded his arms, smiling again <>.

<> Hektor asked, trying to emulate an indifferent expression.

<> Discord stopped, shrugging his shouders << … I think she knows you enough to realize what were your intentions … she had fun with us, by the way. She liked to talk with Sweetie Bell a lot>> he then added with a satisfied expression.

After those last words, the two looked each other in silence for some minutes, moments that Hektor was using to smoke in peace.

Those moments didn't last too long, as Discord began again to speak with a low tone of voice <>.

Hektor rose his head to spread the smoke from his mouth on top of his head; then, a sad smile began to appear on his face <> he said, looking at the picture on the shelf with a nostalgic expression.

For the first time in the whole day, the face of Discord turned grim, as those words reopened some kind of old wound in his soul … a kind of change that couldn't escape the eyes of Hektor who, at this sight, smiled in a bitter way.

<> Hektor said suddenly, throwing away what remained of his cigarette <> he added, pointing at the couch near the heater … <>.

<> Discord replied, heading to Hektor's room <> he then added, streching his wings before opening the door <> he finally said, waving an hand in direction of Hektor.

<> he replied, smilinga little at his own words.

When Discord closed the door, Hektor stayed in silence, alone with his thoughts … and his memories.
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