Cupid Duties

“I’m sorry, I think you’re going to have to dive a little deeper into that for me; I certainly do not understand.”

Not even close; I didn’t think I could even begin to configure an explanation from that even though I felt like I should have been able to.

I could understand the individual words but it still didn’t paint a picture in my mind; like when you asked for someone to say what they’d said again but still failed to understand so you were left confused and slightly self conscious about asking them to repeat themselves again.

“Of course, there is always a curve to learning a new system of operations. Shall I progress with an explanation and wait for you to interject or would you prefer to ask and I answer?”

I wiped my hands on a napkin and crumpled it between my fingers, nodding to the first option but clarifying since there were two presented.

“You can keep explaining, I’ll think I’ll say when I have a question or… maybe I’ll save it until the end; I guess I’ll just have to see how it goes if that’s alright with you.”

“Very well.”

They rested their head atop their hands, pushing a stray bit of hair behind their ear before they seemed to settle in for a longer conversation. I did the same to mirror them and deposited the now completely crumpled napkin atop my plate so I didn’t further annihilate the soft paper with my fidgeting. I didn’t need to feel self conscious about little pills of napkin trailing off of me later.

“Firstly, a Cupid is a harbinger of love; we have established this. This fact will be more simply explained when you are guided by your Instructor, but what that essentially encapsulates in practice is that you will research, study, and extensively consider the compatibility between your Subjects and their day to day situations in the present and potential future. The end goal being a Match -or Matches, some situations call for multiple- concisely drawn out and presented to the subjects -humans in your case- it concerns.”

I gestured quickly for a pause, desperately needing some clarification before we moved on; I was in danger of only becoming more confused than I had been previously.

“Okay– wow, alright so… when you say ‘research and study' you're talking about people’s… lives, right? We’re observing and studying people’s lives?”

“Correct.”

“R-Right, and when you say ‘compatibility’ you mean relationship wise– romantic relationships, right?”

“In most cases, that is also correct. However, we are also of the understanding that all creatures with cognitive abilities are made with their own set of preferences and, as such, Cupids cater to all who require by presenting a range of Matches at varying levels of intimacy. We factor in personal preference heavily which is why a Herald’s job is not one to be taken lightly.”

Yeah, all people were different, I guess it was nice to know that this ‘system’ accounted for that.

“So, what do you mean by presenting? Like, ‘go up in front of the class and explain your findings’ sort of presenting?”

“Precisely. We are Heralds, we bring about the time when a happening may occur; we are not the end all, be all, nor are we supreme beings equipped with the power to bend the wills of the Subjects we aim to assist. We are guides, not dictators.”

I had somehow gotten this job very confused somewhere along the way.

“But don’t Cupids– like, the ones with the arrows and the wings flapping around shooting people in the as-behind, don’t they make people fall in love?”

“That is simply hearsay in its highest form.”

If I was in a better mood I would have laughed at their dull expression, my words clearly striking a chord within them as an irritating misconception clearly widespread despite its misinformation; I was the product of such with my regurgitated parroting of what I thought Cupids were. It was funny when I looked back on it now, but not so much when I was just nervous that I had offended my Guide.

“Therefore, after much deliberation the Cupid will compile the information and potential futures together and deliver them with swift impact.”

“Swift impact? As in hitting-”

“This is where the signature Cupid’s bow and arrow comes from; naturally, we are far more advanced now. In fact, I believe Earth has something similar in the aid of firing projectiles; of course, our accouterment have no chance of such abhorrently… drastic consequences as the Human devices do.”

My head was spinning; maybe this was all just a dream and any moment now I’d wake up but okay, I’d bite.

“Hold on, so you’re saying that we shoot people?!”

“In essence, I suppose; the process is called Tranferrence.”

“What do you mean ‘in essence’?!”

“You forget to factor in the context of circumstances in which Oeuvre operates.”

Jun continued calmly like I wasn’t on the verge of a mental fracture, simply reaching over and placing a few fingers on my wrist to easily settle me back into a sitting position as if I wasn’t visibly three seconds away from darting. I sat obediently, slowly accepted the fruit tart they had somehow produced from somewhere -I had to figure out how they kept doing that- and shoveled a forkful of sweetness into my mouth.

The sugar calmed me a little, enough so that I nodded and eventually gestured for them to continue after a few more moments to myself. There was no way I was dreaming, there was absolutely no way my mind could have ever come up with something this bizarre.

“Our presence in any other world is… non corporal, barely tangible, and most definitely hazy to the eyes of the inhabitants on the planet. Furthering that logic, the devices we carry also transcend through the physical plane of existence and operate on a more fluid contingency.”

They gestured for me to drink from the bottle of water I had taken with my meal, I obeyed again and felt the worrying sense of panic gradually bleed from my chest as the color returned to my cheeks.

I was partially better now, it was easier to listen with the aid of sugar and hydration. I now just felt slightly -maybe patronizingly- mothered, but fine overall.

Jun must have considered my condition close enough to standard because they continued, although a little slower than before to more gently ease me into it; whether it was because they didn’t want to risk dealing with me passing out or because they were genuinely worried I didn’t know, I was grateful regardless.

“For example, if you were to try and inflict bodily harm, the object of your aggression would feel nothing but a chill or a very slight amount of pressure provided you expended the highest amount of force you were able; even then, it is highly unlikely the sensation would reach. Our projectiles are distributed with devices that have enough compressed power to deliver information to the contemplative part of any creature’s thinking system. It bypasses organs, bone, scales, skin; things only a physical object would be able to harm and simply deploys what we wish to convey into the cognitive thought process.”

They left a small amount of room for questions but continued on easily. I was on the fence of edging back towards faint but managed to keep it together with more mouthfuls of tart.

“The compilation of information and deliverance is a Cupid’s job, you convey your educated opinion on potential Matches and, as a Herald, transport that information to the appropriate parties. Does that aid you in more closely comprehending what the main priorities of a Cupid are?”

I had to think about that for a couple of seconds.

So I’d be studying and comparing people against each other, weighing out pros and cons and building potential lives for them. I’d be creating a snapshot of what their future might be and then power point presenting my ideas to the people themselves. Me?

“I think I understand… generally. But I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully say that I do until I can see for myself… I think.”

I wasn’t sure -even if I saw an example- that I’d ever really understand, I didn’t voice that additional thought and they smiled approvingly, nodding in firm agreement.

“Ideally, it is best for your Instructor to present your tasks on job. It is far easier to learn with the addition of a visual aid and a hands on approach; it’s also far safer to learn alongside a professional who is expertly versed in the area of expertise you are questioning which I, although I am knowledgeable, am not.”

I was quiet, not sure how to respond to that which prompted further -slightly flustered- explanation on their part.

“What I mean is… I agree with your assessment, it would do you well to learn from a professional and it would only stand to reason that an opinion should not be formed until you fully understand the topic.”

“Oh.”

That made more sense.

“If… you are feeling adequately settled, I would be more than willing to escort you to the nearest Instructor. They will be providing the hands-on answers that you require to fully grasp the entirety of your duties. Provided you feel comfortable, of course.”

Well, no time like the present.

But…

“So… I guess I’ll be asking all my questions to this ‘Instructor’ now?”

I didn’t want to admit out loud that I liked knowing Jun was the one I counted on to introduce me to all the new things here; they were the first one who greeted me when I arrived and they just kept being the ‘first’ in a lot of things. I didn’t want to say that I liked it that way at the risk of sounding too easily attached. (Even if that’s exactly what I was doing; clinging to Jun’s familiarity, that is.)

“Well…”

They looked off to the side, something far in the distance seeming to catch their gaze and keep it.

“I suppose it would be alright for us to remain in contact past our initial correspondence. We are -after all- friends, are we not?”

They seemed hesitant, cerulean eyes finding mine on a quest for consensus which I hastily gave.

“Of course! And as friends, it’s only natural that we’d keep in touch; besides, you’re still my Guide.”

Naturally, of course.

“Yes, quite so.”

They seemed satisfied with the outcome of our conversation, bordering on pleased although they hastily returned any trace of a smile back to one of a neutral expression that was polite but impersonal.

I didn’t mind so long as I knew I could still contact them.

“Then I’d like to meet my instructor, I don’t think I’ll be able to rest until I have this Cupid thing figured out.”

“Very well, follow me if you please.”

And the matter was settled just like that.