Balance

Balance: Your mind suffers a wrenching alteration, causing your alignment to change. Lawful becomes chaotic, good becomes evil. Lasts until Midnight.

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Adrian Vale woke to the gentle chirping of birds. Not real birds, but his bird-themed alarm clock. Truthfully, he’d have preferred a traditional BZZT-BZZT-BZZT alarm, but one of his foster kids had given it to him for Christmas, how could he not use it?

He leapt out of bed and changed into his running gear, then padded down the hall and knocked on Annette’s door.

“Coming!” she called. A moment later she opened it, already dressed for their morning run. She smiled. “You really don’t have to do this, you know.”

“It’s not about having to,” Adrian said. “It’s about wanting to.”

She sighed, shaking her head. “But you hate running. I’ve heard you say it before.”

“True,” Adrian admitted. “But do you know what I love? Seeing my kids happy. You want to train for this meet, but you don’t want to run alone? I’ve got nothing better to do so let me keep you company.”

Annette blushed. “Fine, but I’m not slowing down for you.”

“You’re on!” Adrian grinned and dashed down the stairs, pretending to race her. Of course, it didn’t take long for the difference in their stamina to show, and she eventually had to slow her pace so he could keep up. He worried he was holding her back and wondered if he should suggest hiring a running coach again. She’d refused last time, but maybe she’d change her mind now that she’d seen just how slow he was.

He could understand her hesitation. She’d grown up in poverty, bouncing from her mom to her grandparents, then through a string of foster homes until her early teens, when she finally came to live with him. He was different from all her previous caretakers in one key way: he was rich.

Not that he liked to flaunt it. Adrian lived modestly, in a simple 1,400-square-foot home, driving a fifteen year old Prius, buying most of his clothes at the local thrift store. He didn’t have to live that way. When he was twenty-two, he’d sold his startup for forty-seven billion dollars. Enough to live a hundred lifetimes without worry.

But unlike most billionaires, Adrian had decided long ago that he didn’t need more. He could never spend that much even if he tried, and truthfully, he didn’t want to. Instead, he put his fortune to work for others, investing in charities and community programs, keeping only what he needed to get by.

When he began fostering kids, he’d been tempted to spoil them rotten, but he resisted. He made sure they had plenty of good, healthy food, comfortable clothes, small luxuries like a PlayStation or an iPhone, but their lives stayed firmly middle class.

Most of the time.

The truth was, Adrian wanted the very best for them—running coaches, private dance lessons, graduation trips to Europe. He wanted them to have everything. But Annette always felt that accepting those offers would somehow diminish her own effort. He disagreed, but he respected her boundaries. It was important she make her own choices.

“Thanks for the run,” she said as they got back. “I’ve gotta shower before school.”

“You’re welcome. Could you wake up Martin and Amy on your way to the bathroom?” Adrian called after her. “Thanks.”

He’d need a shower too—but first, breakfast. With three kids in the house, he couldn’t afford to slack off.

A couple hours later the kids were all safety dropped off at school and he was busy running errands. First he went to his neighbours house, an elderly widow, and fixed her leaking faucet. Then he was off to the youth shelter he sponsored to do a bit of cleaning and discuss the shelter's needs with the director. Then he had a brief, but productive, meeting with the Mayor about his opposition to safe injection sites. Adrian was frustrated by the Mayor's refusal to even look at the data, but a quick mention of a donation to the a councilor planning on running against the Mayor next election changed his tune pretty quickly. Finally he made his way to the University for his most important task of the day.

Even with billions of dollars he could only do so much. He was always looking for the best outcomes. What could he do in his community that would have the most impact?

One of those things was making sure kids got a good education. The earning potential of a University graduation vs a High School graduate was stark, especially for certain in demand fields. Unfortunately there were many barriers to the University education. Barriers that began popping up as soon as that child was born. He couldn't fix them all, but his scholarship program aimed to solve at least one of them.

Every year he offered 10 full rides to the local University. His main criteria was that the chosen students wouldn't be able to go if not for his investment and that they had a passion for learning. Besides a written application, he made sure to do an in person interview to really get to know them.

Today was interview day. He parked in the spot the University had provided for him and made his way to the admissions office. He was about to enter when he spotted a rather amazing costume. He knew it was Halloween, but he hadn't expected to see costumes this early in the day. He just had to stop and go see him.

"Excuse me, hi, good morning!" Adrian said cheerfully, "I just have to say, well done. What an amazing costume!"

The skeleton's eyes blazed, but it's expression did not change. "Thank you. And you, what costume do you wear?"

Adrian was confused, "Costume? I'm not...hmm...are you being cheeky or serious? I suppose we all were masks, don't we? I, too, wear one. Truth is, I'm a fraud. I say that I'm doing everything I can but I know I could be doing more. I took a vacation to Tahiti last year, and I'm taking my foster kids to Munich in the new year. It's just...well...you have to live, don't you?"

The skeleton was silent for a moment. Then it reached into it's jacket and pulled out a card, "Good fortune to you."

Adrian was confused, but he reached for a card anyway. He looked at it closely, "It says...Balance?"

The skeleton's unchanging expression flickered for just a moment, "I'm sorry."

Adrian was confused, "Sorry..." His head suddenly felt like it was on fire. He clutched at it and closed his eyes. After a moment the pain passed and he looked up. The skeleton was gone. "Where did that asshole run off to?" He wondered.

He shrugged, time to get these interviews over with.

He made his way to the office the University had prepared for him. It belonged to some old coot who was on sabbatical. Adrian looked at the photo on the desk. He smirked. He's daughter is kind of hot. He suddenly swept everything off the desk, including the photo, into the waste bin. There, better, he thought. He sat down and put his feet on the table.

There was a knock at the door. His first appointment. "Come in." He called.

The door opened and a young man walked in, "Hi I'm-"

Adrian cut him off, "NO! Rejected."

"But-"

"Go away." Adrian said dismissively.

He let the second candidate at least sit down. She looked nervous. She should be. "Tell me..." He said slowly, "What's the worst thing you've ever done."

"Pardon me?" She asked.

"You heard me. The absolute worst thing. Something you wouldn't even tell a priest at confession."

"I...um...I stole $20 from my mom's purse once." She said timidly.

"Really? That's the WORST thing? Ever?" He asked.

"Y-yeah. I think so."

Adrian looked around the room. The he spotted small trophy on a shelf. He stood up and grabbed it. "The Duncan C. Hall merit award for outstanding teaching in the field of Physics. Barf." He slammed it down on the desk in front of the girl, "Take this and throw it through the window."

"What?" She asked, shocked.

"Do it and I'll give you the scholarship."

"N-no. I can't."

"10...9...8..." He started counting. She looked up at him with pleading eyes, but didn't move, "3...2...1...get the fuck out."

She couldn't run out fast enough.

The third interviewee was different. She had confidence, far more than the other two. She wasn't put off by his harsh first look. She came in sat down, "Mr. Vale, so nice to meet you. I'm Ayu Kartika."

He smiled back, "So nice to meet you. Are you a virgin?"

He expected her to run away immediately, but she just raised an eyebrow, "An interesting question. Do you think a woman's worth has something to do with her sexual history?"

"Not at all. I'm merely curious. I've read that kids are losing their virginities later and later so I just wondered."

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, "Well it's really none of your business, is it?"

"Fair enough. So from your application you should pretty poor...but that's a pretty nice shirt. Where did you get it?"

This time she looked flustered. Aha, so she wasn't embarrassed about sex, but her poverty was a sore spot.

"I borrowed it from a friend." She explained.

"Take it off."

"Excuse me?" She asked, shocked.

"You heard me. Take it off or get out." Adrian said firmly.

"What? I'll scream!" She warned.

"Scream what? Someone comes running in here and then...?"

"F-fine. I'll tell everyone what a creep you are!" She threatened.

"Go right ahead. What do you think will happen? Do you think ANYONE will believe you? Do you think your own mother would?"

She reflected, then shook her head, 'Fine. You're right. They probably wouldn't."

Adrian had a more than stellar reputation. Everyone would assume she's trying to get a payday and made it up.

"It's simple. If you want the money, you need this interview to continue. If you want it to continue, take off your shirt."

She hesitated, then started angrily unbuttoning her blouse. She pulled it off her shoulders and threw it aside, "There? Are you happy?"

Adrian shook his head, "No. What size is your bra?"

"32C. Why, you need one?" She taunted.

"Actually yes. Give it to me."

"You freak. I'm out of here." She grabbed her shirt but didn't put it back on.

"Ok. See ya." Adrian put his feet up on the desk and started to whistle.

"Fuck. Fine. Here you perv." She unhooked her bra and tossed it to him while covering her boobs with one arm.

Adrian read the label, "32C. Well you aren't a liar. That's good." He balled it up and tossed it in the trash.

"Hey! That was expensive." She stood up to go get it.

"Leave it. I'm offering you a lot of money after all. You can buy a new one if you get the scholarship."

After a moment's hesitation she moved her arm, revealing her full tits in all their glory, "There. You've seen my tits. Do I get the scholarship now?"

"Not quite..."

She glared at him then stood up, "Fine. Here." She shimmied out of her skirt and then pulled down her panties. She stood there, fully naked, with her hands on her hips, "Now you've seen everything. Are we done here?"

"Do you think you're that beautiful?" Adrian asked.

"What?" She sputtered.

"The scholarship is worth more than $100,000. Not just your tuition, but books, living expenses, school supplies. Everything. Do you think you're so hot that just looking at your body is enough?"

"I...I..."Ayu faltered. She'd made it this far on bravado alone, and now she was lost on what to do next.

"I want to give you this money, I really do, but you have to earn it." Adrian said.

"I..." She gulped, "I'll give you a blowjob."

Adrian shook his head, "You may get dressed. I'll get back to you about my decision next week."

"Wait, no...you...you can..."

"Yes?" Adrian asked.

"F-fuck me."

Adrian tapped his fingers on the desk, "Hmm...not really in the mood."

"What? You..." She groaned loudly. "Fine. Please fuck me. I meant it. Please!"

"Well if you insist." Adrian stood up and walked around the table, "Go ahead. Undress me."

He made her do the work and taking his pants off, then he had her hold onto the desk while he fucked her. He didn't try to make it feel good or enjoyable for her, it was all about his pleasure. He also did ask if she was on the pill, he didn't care. He filled her up and then slapped her ass, "Alright, you were a good fuck. Approved."

She looked down in shame for a moment, then steeled her resolve, "Good."

She bent down to pick up her clothes but he beat her too it. He took her panties and tossed them in the trash with her bra, then handed the rest to her, "You don't need those, do you?"

She said nothing and silently dressed, "I expect you to honour our deal."

He laughed, "You'll get what you get."

Adrian didn't have nearly as much fun with the rest of the candidates. None of them were close to as hot as Ayu. Eventually he was done and he went back outside. He looked at his ancient Prius and wondered why he'd ever bought that thing. He remembered seeing a luxury car dealer in town and he deided to head right there.

They didn't take him seriously at first. Most people don't trade in an old Prius for a sports car after all. But once they realized who he was and that he really could afford it they rolled out the red carpet for him. He made his decision fast. What could he drive home today. The Aston Martin? Why not? It only costs 3x what his house was worth, he could easily afford it.

He didn't go home. Not that he cared right now, but his kids all had plans for Halloween and would be fine without him. Instead he drove to a Casino and spent the evening drinking, gambling, and a little later, fucking the night away.

The next morning Adrian woke up with the biggest hangover of his life. It took him a moment to realize where he was, a hotel attached to the Casino, and who he was with, a woman he'd picked up at the bar.

As he cycled through his memory he was shocked and appalled by his behaviour. Drinking? Gambling? Picking up women? That wasn't like him at all. Oh God, and the car! He'd bought a car? What a waste!?

Oh no. The interviews. Ayu. He'd blackmailed and slept with an 18 year old girl!

He was scum. Absolute and utter scum! What was he going to do?

By the time his hangover had subsided he'd decided. He'd turn himself in.

He drove his ostentatious new car to the police station and reported himself for his crimes.

They didn't believe him.

They seriously didn't believe him.

He found Ayu's phone number on her application and called her. He apologized, while weeping, and told her to press charges and that he would cooperate fully.

Ayu didn't understand.

She declined to press charges.

He went home and apologized to his kids for not being there. They weren't upset. They thought it was great that he went out and did something for himself. They thought the new car was cool. They thought he deserved it.

The guilt was eating at him. How could everyone be ok with this?

He supposed he'd really done nothing wrong in buying the car, or drinking or gambling or even picking up that woman.

The only people he'd really wronged were the scholarship students. The easy solution for the two he'd rejected out of hand was just to offer them a scholarship anyway.

But Ayu...how the hell could he make that right?

She hadn't seemed keen on pressing charges, or on talking to him at all. He decided to write her a letter. A letter that could be used as evidence if she ever wanted to go ahead with it, but also detailing his sincere and profound regret. It was like he'd been possessed. He'd never acted that way before and had no excuse.

Days and then weeks then months ticked by. The next semester started and Ayu started attending University on his dime. He thought about her all the time. He felt so guilty but also...

Adrian didn't spend much time pursuing matters of the flesh. He'd had a few girlfriends over the years but nothing long term. They were either all after his money or else couldn't stand that he wouldn't spend it. He wasn't a virgin, but he didn't think he'd ever had truly amazing sex.

Until Ayu.

Something about her. That memory. He wanted to do it again. He knew how wrong it was. How wrong it was for him to even think about her. But he couldn't stop himself.

Still he never reached out. It wouldn't be right.

There there was a knock on his door one Saturday morning. He answered it causally, only to drop and spill his coffee when he saw Ayu standing there.

"Can I come in?" She asked.

He nodded dumbly and showed her inside. She sat down in his living room while he ran to clean up his spill. When he was done he sat down nervously across from her.

"So I got your letter...a long time ago of course..." She began, "I've looked into you. A lot. I can't come to any other explanation other than you were possessed by the devil, it was Halloween after all," She smirked, "So I've decided to forgive you."

"You have?" Adrian was shocked, "Thank you. I really don't understand what came over me."

"I believe you...." She hesitated then smiled, "But that's not the only reason I'm here."

"It's not? Was there a problem with the scholarship? The University handles the funds but if there's any issue I'll talk to them."

She shook her head, "No that's fine. It's just...you owe me some new underwear."

Adrian was confused, "Yes...well...that funding should..."

"I want you to come with me." She said firmly.

"To come with you..." He repeated.

"Whatever maybe I have some kind of daddy fetish or just like older men. I want you to come pick out some sexy underwear for me to wear." Ayu said, her eyes full of confidence.

"Ayu...I'm twice your age. I...I...**** you..."

"I see it more like I whored myself out to you. Still wrong, but I wouldn't use the R word," She stood up and gave a little twirl, "You might've been possessed, but come on, you want this."

"I..."

"Then it's settled. I saw your new car. Go get dressed and you can drive me."

Somehow he found herself going along with it.

That was just their first 'date', if you could call it that. Ayu wouldn't leave him alone after that, and he didn't want her to.

When they official started dating he assumed people would hate him. What 44 year old dates a 19 year old. But they didn't. The people around him were just happy that he was happy.

When they got married all the kids he'd fostered show up and they had a huge party. It didn't even matter that some of his foster kids were older than his wife, they all loved her.

Adrian never again lost his mind like he'd had on Halloween, but it had thought him to take better care of himself. He still lived frugally, for the most part. He kept the Aston Martin, but continued to live in the same old house he always had. He stopped shopping at thrift stores, but only upgraded to buying his clothes at the mall. He took lots of wonderful vacations with his family, and he spoiled them rotten when he could. He continued his charity work, but he took up his own hobbies too. He knew he'd done a horribly thing that Halloween, but somehow it changed his life for good.