(no subject)
Title: Freedom
Author: Ree
Theme: Sailor Mars/Rei Hino - poor
Genre: Drama/ general
Version: Anime/Manga - AU Dream Castle story line
Rating: G
These characters of course do not belong to me. I wish that they could, but, alas, I did not invent them. Takeuchi Naoko was the one gifted with their creation, and they are still hers.
Freedom
Time to be an adult
The crud hit the fan two days later. The District Attorney had called her father to see if he would consent to her emancipation. Not that it was necessary that he do so, but it would make the proceeding easier.
Raye found herself out of her room and back before her parents' laser like gazes. Mr. Kaidou thankfully was not there this time.
"Emancipation?" The screeched word almost made Raye jump. Her mother's voice was hitting its upper register. "You are just sixteen. How do you expect to support yourself?"
Her father clenched his hand at his side. "I will not have any child of mine using services that are there for the poor. No WIC, no Medicare." He watched her face waiting for signs of dismay.
Raye nodded. "Of course not. If I can't support myself, then the courts will not approve my emancipation. I have a job."
The edges of her mother's chic haircut shifted under her chin as she jerked her head to look at Marcus. "She thinks that simple job is going to support her?" She looked back at Raye. "That job won't even pay your phone bill."
A poor excuse for a smile twisted Raye's lips. "Then it is a good thing you took mine. It might not pay my phone bill, but it will cover food and part of a rent. I will have to have a roommate, but I will work on that."
She watched as her parents' faces filled with horror. 'Lita has already agreed.' She was glad they had set up a communication system for when Serena was grounded. Lita had come by last night and let her know that she could stay with her. 'And they haven't even thought of the money that Grandma Hino and Grandpa Hino left me.' She knew exactly how much she had. Three years ago, she had become good friends with her father's fiance manager. She wasn't a financial wiz, but she knew how to manage her money. With his help, she had made it grow. She wasn't allowed to use it until she was considered an adult, so all it had to do was grow.
Marcus rested a hand on Maria's shoulder. "You think it will be easy. That shows how much of a child you still are." Maria nodded in agreement.
Raye waited for them to bring up how this would affect her father's re-election, but neither mentioned it. Since they weren't, she wouldn't. "It won't be easy. It will be hard not to have all the luxuries that I have here. I will have to change schools; I couldn't afford the private one. I would have to work longer shifts, and budget my money like mad."
"Then why? If you know that it will make you poor, why are you trying to do this?" Her father was using his politician voice.
Might as well lay it all out. Raye spread her hands as she tried to convince them. "Freedom. I would rather be dirt poor than to continue having to be perfect. At least when I'm poor I can make a mistake, friend whom I want, wear what I want and can afford."
Maria step toward her. "I will not allow it. I will fight this tooth and nail."
Raye nodded. She had known that it was going to be a fight. She threw her opening shot. "So will I. The media is going to have a field day."
--------
Raye made her bed in Lita's spare room. She hadn't expected her first salvo to be her last. A compromise had been reached. She had her emancipation, but had to keep up appearances. Her parents kept her in the private school, she had to make public appearances during the election trail. Leaning her head against the wall, she stared at the clock. 'No time for the weary... it is time to go to work.' Slipping on her uniform, she made sure the door locked behind her.
A concert and a bit of surprise
Author: Ree
Theme: Sailor Mars/Rei Hino - poor
Genre: Drama/ general
Version: Anime/Manga - AU Dream Castle story line
Rating: G
These characters of course do not belong to me. I wish that they could, but, alas, I did not invent them. Takeuchi Naoko was the one gifted with their creation, and they are still hers.
Freedom
Time to be an adult
The crud hit the fan two days later. The District Attorney had called her father to see if he would consent to her emancipation. Not that it was necessary that he do so, but it would make the proceeding easier.
Raye found herself out of her room and back before her parents' laser like gazes. Mr. Kaidou thankfully was not there this time.
"Emancipation?" The screeched word almost made Raye jump. Her mother's voice was hitting its upper register. "You are just sixteen. How do you expect to support yourself?"
Her father clenched his hand at his side. "I will not have any child of mine using services that are there for the poor. No WIC, no Medicare." He watched her face waiting for signs of dismay.
Raye nodded. "Of course not. If I can't support myself, then the courts will not approve my emancipation. I have a job."
The edges of her mother's chic haircut shifted under her chin as she jerked her head to look at Marcus. "She thinks that simple job is going to support her?" She looked back at Raye. "That job won't even pay your phone bill."
A poor excuse for a smile twisted Raye's lips. "Then it is a good thing you took mine. It might not pay my phone bill, but it will cover food and part of a rent. I will have to have a roommate, but I will work on that."
She watched as her parents' faces filled with horror. 'Lita has already agreed.' She was glad they had set up a communication system for when Serena was grounded. Lita had come by last night and let her know that she could stay with her. 'And they haven't even thought of the money that Grandma Hino and Grandpa Hino left me.' She knew exactly how much she had. Three years ago, she had become good friends with her father's fiance manager. She wasn't a financial wiz, but she knew how to manage her money. With his help, she had made it grow. She wasn't allowed to use it until she was considered an adult, so all it had to do was grow.
Marcus rested a hand on Maria's shoulder. "You think it will be easy. That shows how much of a child you still are." Maria nodded in agreement.
Raye waited for them to bring up how this would affect her father's re-election, but neither mentioned it. Since they weren't, she wouldn't. "It won't be easy. It will be hard not to have all the luxuries that I have here. I will have to change schools; I couldn't afford the private one. I would have to work longer shifts, and budget my money like mad."
"Then why? If you know that it will make you poor, why are you trying to do this?" Her father was using his politician voice.
Might as well lay it all out. Raye spread her hands as she tried to convince them. "Freedom. I would rather be dirt poor than to continue having to be perfect. At least when I'm poor I can make a mistake, friend whom I want, wear what I want and can afford."
Maria step toward her. "I will not allow it. I will fight this tooth and nail."
Raye nodded. She had known that it was going to be a fight. She threw her opening shot. "So will I. The media is going to have a field day."
--------
Raye made her bed in Lita's spare room. She hadn't expected her first salvo to be her last. A compromise had been reached. She had her emancipation, but had to keep up appearances. Her parents kept her in the private school, she had to make public appearances during the election trail. Leaning her head against the wall, she stared at the clock. 'No time for the weary... it is time to go to work.' Slipping on her uniform, she made sure the door locked behind her.
A concert and a bit of surprise