Part 3 in the Clockwork Jester story.
Clock and Heart go on a date.... And Mareci is mean

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As the days grew longer, Not much had changed within the confines of Clock's unfortunate existence. Work was still a struggle to get done. He didn't have free access to wings, and the persistent nagging of the crystalline creature about "not fulfilling his duties as a judge" continued to weight heavy on his mind. But tonight would be different. "Heart, Why do you keep insisting i judge people? What do you stand to gain?"

Heart seemed to infatuated with the concept of a computer screen wallpaper to bother listening to the ramblings of the creature it had inhabited. "What do i stand to gain..." Uncertain of it's own existence, or purpose outside of enabling others to do it's bidding, it never had a reason to question it's self, nor did it understand why judgement was so highly help in it's mind. It responded solemnly, "I think i have forgotten my reasons. It has been a while."

A blank stare fell upon Clock's face. Was Heart serious? Did it not even know why it saw judging others as the right thing for it to pursue? Or was it a clever cover up. "Why would i do something when you are not even sure of your own reasons for doing it?" Tossing on his cyan hoodie and heading to the door, heart remained mesmerized by the monitor. "We're leaving. I'm suppose to go on a date."

"we?" Swiveling around to face clock, it was abundantly clear Clock indeed meant to include him in the night of festivities. "What purpose would i serve you on your date? I have nothing to offer you in terms of advice in relationship matters."

The door was swiftly shut, and the sound of foot steps began growing softer. With or without Heart's companionship, Clock intended to go through with what ever he had planed. Heart quickly reunited within Clock's chest, Simmering down to a mild boil. "I think you could benefit from some life experiences."

"Says the "Suicidal Jester"."

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Arriving at the Midnight Dinner, A familiar face sits at a booth, eagerly waiting for his arrival. He would call out to her, but his new status would make him an easy target for anything any of the other dinners might take issue with. As silent as possible, he made his way to the booth with his good friend. "Hello, Mareci."

"Sit," She commanded aggressively. Complying with her request, Clock took a seat across from her, and opened his mouth to speak, "Stay quite." Another command. This aggression was unlike her, and much less appropriate to use towards a friend.

"Are you okay?" Clock asked, ignoring her prior request, unsure if he had done something to deserve being treated so volatile. "Why are you acting-," She had slammed her hand down against the table, and glared at Clock.

"Obey, or else, Disgraced!" Those words cut straight to the point. This wasn't a "date", she just needed something to get leverage over him. A crowded dinner in the middle of the night would do that. Who wouldn't pass on an opportunity to get away with murder.

"Why are you acting like this Mareci!" Clock shouted back at her, angered by this treatment. He had seen the way others had treated her in the past and chose defend her from those whom thought she was an easy target. He would always advocate for her, even when it was questionable in she was in the right. "I treated you like a proper person, and now you do this!?" Standing from his side of the booth, he knocked the table out of it's set position, drawing the attention of most of the serving staff.

"Sit, Or else." She muttered under her breathe, knowing she had him right where she needed him. A smug shit-eating grin held on her face as she crossed her arms, sliding a letter across the table, along with the tab for the meal she had eaten prior to him ariving, she knew what she was doing. "So, what is it going to be?"

Begrudgingly, he plopped himself back down in the booth, and tore open the letter, throwing a handful of angerly crumpled bills into the tab book before swiping it off the table in a fit of rage only expected from a disgraced. reading the letter, he grew more enraged with every passing sentence of vile phrases he had to read. She wanted him to steal an expensive document that she had requested a merchant acquire for her, and bring it back to a certain location in 1 hour, or else she would find someone to deal him in.

How valid the threat was would be irrelevant, as she knew exactly where he lived, all his information, and his status would make him easy prey for anyone if they got wind of something he had supposedly committed. "So, 'Ayan', What will it be?" She chuckled to herself, knowing she'd get her way regardless.

Ever as angry, Clock once again rose from his seat, purposefully shoving the table into her chest, before walking out with a crumpled note in his claws. "fine, Bitch." As he walked towards the door, two large 'Absolved' blocked his way, pointing at the 'poor helpless Horned' he just shoved the table into. "get out of my way. I don't have time for you."

"YOU ARE GOING TO WALK BACK TO THAT GIRL AND-," he got interrupted by an unexpected fist landing square in his snout, dropping him to the floor. Looking up from the floor, he could barely see under the smiling mask. A unbridled flame was simmering in the eyes of the unholy subject they just tried 'setting straight'. Words could not escape his mouth to warn the other of the monster they just awoken, and challenged.

The second man lowered himself to inspect his friend's face, "Get up Max, we gotta set this fool right!" Turning back to face their assailant, an unnatural pressure emitted from the mere sight of the unholy abomination that stain their sights. Lifeless, just staring blankly into nothing, as if contemplating what its' next move should be provided it ever chose to make one. "DO SOMETHING YOU FREAK!" The man called out, as ready for a fight as he was prepared to run at a moments notice. As if it took voice commands, it made the next move.

They weren't in his way anymore, so it left the dinner, fully aware he might be banned from ever retuning there in the future. Clock began his march to the market place she specified. "Why did you hit that man Clock?" heart questioned, unsure of what he accomplished in violence, "And why did you not Judge that rude child?"

Clock marched onward, grinding his teeth profusely with every waking thought of the person he had the displeasure of meeting for a "date". "Did i need a reason?" Clock had already explained the implications of his new Lowered status in society. Anything and everything was almost certainly fair game, more so against him than the other way around. "And i couldn't do anything there; To many witnesses."

"Prior Judges would not have cared who witnessed their judgements." Heart grew cold from within, "As my previous would say, 'A public execution sets an example for the masses'. He was a... cheery one." The cold faded and returned to a slight warmth within as the words Clock stated finally clicked, "So, you do intend to judge her later?"

"Depends."

"On what?" The complex innerworkings of Clock's mind would ever elude the more simplistic nature of Heart, Despite having years of prior experience with similar creature, The current one had more grey areas, where as others had plain black and whites, with little overlap. "Theft is a crime. You know that as well as i..."

Clock smiled, "Depends if she survives long enough to be judged properly." Ayan was always seen as pushover, who could be easily used, and abused as others saw fit. Fortunately, Ayan died a long time ago, and their was nothing left to save. "Heart, would you like to hear a story?"

Heart remained silent as Clock spoke. Heart began to understand why Clock was so hesitant to judge others, where as others would gladly wield it as a weapon of war to smite those who opposed them. Once Clock finished his tales, Heart finally spoke up, "I am touched by your story, but i am still unsure how your friend died."

"She died to me the moment she thought i would be her pawn." The marketplace would be just around the corner, and Clock hadn't thought anything through as far as how he would execute his plan to steal a document, much less, how to get away with it. "So Heart, You won't be helping me i assume?"

"I will not aid you in your criminal activities, But i will neither condemn your actions." Heart's warmth returned to an icy chill. "Don't die, kid."

"Die? Me? Ha! Please, i've got at least 2 more days ahead of me."