my assessment! I don’t even pay for public transit or buy expensive drinks at bars or anything! Am I supposed to cut my student loan payments, or stop paying for insurance?”

“Those reductions would be illegal.”

“Well, then there’s nothing left to cut!”

“Then you remain at a loss.”

I shook my head lightly. “Well, why cut back on the luxuries, then, if we’re supposed to be in debt to our ears anyway?”

“Such a system doesn’t seem proper to me.”

I looked back out at the crowd, seeing all their debt, seeing how they didn’t care at all and wondering why I could feel it like a thorn in my side. Aether began walking through them again, toward one of the market links.

“I believe I have refined my question enough to take action.”

- - -- - -- -- - -- - -- --- -- - - --- --

The perfume-store was modest in size and simple in layout. Soft colors decorated the walls, gentle music played, and the construct was set up so the customer would sample different scents as they walked through particular zones of the room. We were alone in the shop; not because we were the only customers, but because the server was set up to create a new copy of the store, where each customer could feel like he or she was getting all the attention.

“Welcome to Good Scent-Sations, Brandon Dauphin, my name is Lisa and boy do I have a deal for you today!”

The amai was tall with long, blonde hair and a conservative, soft-toned, dress. Interestingly, because her software couldn’t tell the difference between us, Aether was the one whom the amai addressed with my name. Aether held up the wrist with my descender on it and gave an amused smile.

“We’re having a special this week on a brand-new Cambodian rose blend proven to improve your mood and extend your life!”

“Then the focus of your product is to improve the mood of the user?”

“Yes, a good fragrance is very purifying for the soul!”

“And do you have a soul?”

I thought of all the encounters I’d had with amai in my life, when I’d wished that I was dealing