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"I will Julies." She lightly ruffled my hair. "I will." With that she was gone. I had hoped this wouldn't be our new routine. Sadly we saw very little of each other for the next month as we each got used to how things work here. I had decided to omit the doings of this time as they are, by and large, dull and rather routine matters that mostly consisted of each of us adjusting, and my briefly being woken at sunrise each morning as Billy curled around me.
 

It wasn't much, I suppose, and left much to be desired. However the two of us were doing a fair sight better than many people out in the world, so I'd no reason to complain.
 

August 12
 

Mood: Thoughtful
 

After many discussions, arguments, softer words spoken after those arguments, and sounding each-other out Billy and I had decided not to go back. We were hardly alone in wanting to stay; many others either had found what they feel were better lives here, had nothing back home to rebuild, or had gotten meshed with a local that has convinced them to stay. My family no-longer lived there, and the farm was more a hobby of mine than an attempt at putting the land to work. So I saw no problems in leaving it, title as well as whatever was still there, to the Kent family. They would make the place more productive than I ever have, or at least they'd try.
 

It had been an interesting summer; more because of how matters had gone between Billy and myself than the change in surroundings. First and foremost was on keeping the jobs we had each gotten shortly after moving. With that taken care of as best as possible our attention then focused on finding a more permanent home than where we were initially renting from. This involved searching for an apartment which would take Billy in, and sadly once most found out my domestic arrangements they, more often than not, slammed the door in my face. Pittbulls and mules had nothing on my stubbornness, and now I had sunk my teeth into what I wanted there was no stopping me from eventually getting my way.
 

After that it was on to take care of the horses and finding space for our belongings that weren't moved into our new apartment. Lastly we both had eventually found ways to get about town approached by beggars, muggers,or other folk who are interested in selling things I don't wish to buy ('No Sir, while I thank you for the offer I'm not interested in buying Clinton's Pants or Monica's dress. However if you're interested you and the man offering to sell Cheney’s Shotgun or Schwarzenegger's Sword could start a corner side exhibit of artifacts.') Street side hustlers were a trivial matter though, especially when compared to the costs of daily living, food, and transportation within city limits.
 

Even with all these issues that needed tending to I enjoyed what time I had that wasn’t taken up by juggling expenses, work by taking on several things I had always wanted if given the chance. I wouldn't complain too loudly though since the work itself has been quite entertaining thanks to Finn's lively attitude as well as the general habit of customers to play towards the little fantasy he spun for them. Despite the occasional bruising Billy received, which she insists that its just a case of unruly customers that don’t want to leave peacefully, she seemed satisfied with her work. Always she would tell me, if I asked why she liked it so, 'It lets me be aggressive while getting paid for it.' I guess job satisfaction has been enough reason to stay there. I don’t know, and wouldn't pretend to do more than respect her judgment and be happy she enjoys herself.
 

On the subject of things I like doing in my downtime
 

I had, by mid July, found a local Civilian Wireless chapter. Nice bunch of people, though they get more than a bit up in arms if anyone tries fiddling with their equipment. Couldn't really blame them I guess. Those things are expensive and hard to replace. Plus it isn't like I had land enough for a proper antenna, and local building ordinances, not to mention my landlady's general temperament, made the idea of making my own little setup at home unworkable. I had been taking lessons every Monday and Thursday for the past month; plus papers on theory and practical knowledge they allowed me to carry home between sessions. The whole thing wasn't free to join, but as I said, the equipment they keep is costly and everybody chips in however they're able.
 

Pity Billy mostly only had seen it as an expense we don't need. I guess she's right that it's something I could do without, but till the matter of my getting thrown out of the local library is settled this represented the least expensive means of branching out that I could find that wouldn't involve learning how to crack people's heads open in some form or another. She has generally kept her complaining to a low grumble, mostly because I had brought up her mooning over the airships that come and go. Yes they're lovely things, but they wouldn't hire just anybody, and the skills needed by even the lowest deckhand costs a great deal more to learn than my wireless hobby.
 

No we shouldn't bicker and blackmail each-other. I know this as well as she does, and I hope this isn't going turn into a habit. Hopefully we can sit down and talk things out in more polite terms, preferably without digging at each-other's dim spots. We have each done things that the other doesn't find appealing. Relationships are full of these things. No need to start fights on either side.
 

In happier news Finn's gotten in touch with several local craftsmen, toy-makers, and apparently somebody that had good at making joke items; drinking glasses that look like they're covered in flies and filth but were perfectly clean, radios that looked like they smashed in but worked great, hats and other clothes that made people think the wearer had something run through them. These things were the sort my father would have called crude and tasteless, but I’ll admit I got a chuckle out of them now and then. Besides, they always sold well.
 

August 15
 

Mood: Annoyed
 

I've been issued a summons over the problem of what happened at the library. Hopefully it won't be too costly if the Arbiter doesn't agree with my side of the story.
 

After
 

I had been fined the cost of repairs via bi-weekly payments. I don't like it, and Billy would either give me grief, or growl over how unfair of them this is, but the ruling is final. I had to pay, else a less unobtrusive punishment would be found. It was an inevitable ruling, but I still felt cheated. It wasn't my fault, and the only reason, as I see it, that I'm the only one punished, is that there's some sort of back-room politicking going on.
 

I know it's pointless and self defeating to continue hounding after the issue now that a ruling had been made. It's. It's just monumentally unfair feeling. I suppose at the very least they had decided to let me back in, there's a number of books I had wanted to look through. It could be worse, yes. I could have been made to pay damages and still be barred from going there.
 

I have, for the past few hours, been repeating that to myself till I believe it.
 

Finn took me out for drinks after work. Nothing odd in of itself really, we're friends after all. The problem was that none of the local bars, clubs, or other normal places seemed to fit. The music was too loud, they played that horrid Fuzz Funk that sets my teeth on edge, or I was constantly set upon by what my Father called 'low women'. Seriously. It's 337, not the 'teens for Deus sake. Even if you wouldn't play current music at least have the decency to play good music instead of this tasteless disposable garbage.
 

It was there that I first heard the rumors. People whispered once they think I'm out of earshot, or before they realize I could hear them generally annoy me and I let what they were talking about go in one ear then out the other, because most if it was useless, or worse than useless. That night, though, I didn't. Unfortunately these were the sort of tall tale that was too tall to be entirely spit in the wind.
 

If, and I stress that word, even a quarter of what I heard that night was to be believed then the Gholem settlement in Belleberg had gotten wiped out. Sad, but expected. The fantastic part somehow involves the army regulars staying, shipping in archaeologists, and other assorted things that differ with each telling, to get at what the Gholem diggers had found.
 

Not sure how I felt there since that potentially validates their hopes of something having once existed there under the surface. It didn't do them much good, and if true this raised questions on what they had done with the people that tried to go back to resettle. It had to be a case of somebody stretching the truth; maybe they found a vault of gold or precious stones. That has been known to happen before; though generally the 'treasure' is bound in the memories of long dead machines, but there had been impressive finds over the years.
 

Still, the news that Billy's friends had either been killed or enslaved hurt. Billy was going to be upset, and I didn't know what could be done about any of it. Yes I was, and still am, one of those people that feel responsible for bad things happening due to not being able to stop any of it. Sure I'm just one person, but all it takes is one in a key position to get the ball rolling. Maybe we would go see what's gone on next month; now was a busy time for both of us.
 

What was the time is it? Six? Felt later than that, much later. Ended the night there with an excuse before I made a beeline for my home. The only thing that had passed for decent there had been the drinks, no matter what Finn had said. I had, and would continue to, attempt to convince Finn that there were better places for him to soak at.
 

“
Billy?" I saw her in, of all things, a dress. She never wore dresses, though this one seemed flattering to me. My breath caught when I saw her wear the thing. "Call a priest. We've got the first sign of the end of the world!" Billy turned and punched me, lightly, in the chest.
 

After I stopped laughing long enough to regain my breath I shifted to a more serious tone. "I got back from the Judge, and I owe a hundred dollars." She didn't need to speak for me to know how unhappy that made her. That wouldn't be easy money and it would be made worse due to interest over time. "Only five percent interest. They wanted twelve, but the judge would hear none of it."
 

She smoothed unseen wrinkles from her dress and was in the middle of brushing her hair when she spoke. "Praise Deus for small favors." Bitter and heavy tone, I must have forgotten something. "Well?" She turned to give me a hard look, "You aren’t going to go out in that are you?"
 

Wait. What day was it? Oh I'll spare this journal the specifics of my horrified train of thought at forgetting.
 

Some of that must have shown on my face, because she reached over to tousle my hair. "Just get dressed Julies. I'll wait till we get back to beat you senseless." She smiled that slow smile that promised I wouldn't forget the anniversary of her moving in with me again, and that I might like what she would use as a reminder.
 

No time to dig my best suit out from the trunk I'd left it in. Just hope she liked the double breasted White I
 

took from my father's things before we left. Brown jacket and pants, brown vest with dark green and orange embroidery over a beige shirt and a solid green tie. Shoes, no couldn't go with black. Brown would work, it was only a few shades off from the suit color but they would have to do. No fedora for this suit, but I had a bowler that matched nicely.
 

Could have done better, but like I said. The suit I usually wore for formal occasions was buried in a trunk and would have been too wrinkled to just throw on. Billy's approval was in the form of a shoulder squeeze and letting me hold the door for her. We went, just the two of us, to see Lincoln in London; a four act drama about the trials of living in post collapse London in the form of one Sam Lincoln stumbling on a plot to overthrow the restored monarchy. I saw Jenny as well as a few other familiar faces on stage, and overall the production value had been good enough that our formal wear didn't look out of
place in the crowd. There were just enough touches of humor that kept the whole thing from being a too-depressing-to-care-about bore; plus they had these little peanut oatmeal brownies that I'd grown quite fond of in the snack selection during intermission.
 

After we left the theater it was past midnight, and though we both had work the next day we stayed out long enough for me to buy her a suitable gift. I made (ha!) her go home and wait for me to bring it to her, and though I would have liked to see the tailor she had taken her clothes to be altered for a few wearables she would have liked, and that I would've like to see on her, I had to settle for what was open this late. I liked this woodcut I had found of two men armed with swords in mid-swing. It was stark, beautiful, and violent. She would love it.
 

When I got home and showed it to her I found out I was right and she was thoroughly enchanted by it. There was more that we did to commemorate the occasion, but some things were best left unwritten.
 

Date: August 27
 

Mood: Pleased
 

Work was good, made double our break-even for the day before lunch on account of an elderly couple that wanted to get their Christmas shopping for the grandkids out of the way and a gaggle of kids on a school outing to see how a store operates. Days like this were good because they usually meant I could take most of the afternoon off, and I wanted to get a few things done.
 

Good, allowed to leave. Checked the dress maker since they had opened, caught up on bills, and for once spent a little quiet time at home. I keep wanting that now, but what if business dries up? Shouldn't long too hard for less work, else I won't get enough to pay the bills. I'd keep that in mind next time I had to work over and come home to an upset lady.