Through big name companies inherited to them by their respective families, Charmante and Espresso so happened to luck into an abundance of wealth. Their marriage wasn't in line with a politically focused narrative but both ends profited tremendously in the end from their pairing. With a large amount of funding involved, Charmante began her own personal business on the side as a fashion designer. Espresso, on the other hand, is more invested in working for his father's business in the entertainment industry as a one of the lead artists for the most popular trading card game out at the time, Campanella. Melody, more or less, grew up around these two but she knew that she wouldn't be able to win them over on lifting August's ban from just her words alone.
Melody finds herself in the foyer, free from the right wing of the building. To her left is the exit door but off to the right lies her mission objective. Espresso is there painting his and his wife's bedroom door the same color as the hall from earlier. With the door open, you can see Charmante reorganizing her standing closet.
"You're still painting?"
"Oh, look who it is." Espresso happy to see his niece, puts down his brush and puts out his elbow in front of him trying not to get paint on her. Melody lifts her elbow and bumps hers against his.
"How are you? August being too much of a little brat? Is that why he's not here?"
"I'm fine. There's no way I wouldn't be used to that by now."
"I guess you're right about that. You've been visiting pretty much every other day for how long now?"
"Since way back when I finished school I guess, so about four years now?"
"Yeah, that sounds about right. So, what brings you all the way over here? Did you want to play some cards with me?"
"Actually, I came here to ask something of you and Auntie, but I'll wait till she's done first."
"Charmante too? Of course you can live with us! You're like the daughter we never had!" Espresso looks towards his wife and calls out, "Honey, could you go pass me the adoption papers!? They're on the--"
"That's not what I was going to ask. Why do you even have those on hand? Wait... I don't think I want to know."
Charmante finishes organizing her stuff and finally notices Melody is over by her husband.
"Oh, hey you two. Is August not with you?"
"It's not like we're some sort of package deal, you know that right?"
Charmante and Espresso respond in unison, "Yes you are." spoken with such confidence shattering Melody's bubble.
"For someone who's a genius on body language, you sure are oblivious to how your actions come across." says Espresso, shaking his head feeling relieved to see a sign of imperfection.
"You tend to dote on him more than I do and I'm his mother."
"What is it that you wanted if not for a place to stay?" Espresso questions.
"I wanted to make a deal with you two. I'll bring out the best in August and make him into the prime example of the child you two actually wanted by the time he's eighteen. In exchange I'm going to need two things. I want you to unground him and then I need your help with scouting myself a suitable partner."
"That's a very tempting claim and yet so blatantly evil. I'm shocked you could come up with such a thing. I thought you loved your cousin. Does his sense of self mean nothing to you?"
"As his parents, I'd expect there's still plenty of him you want to keep the same. How evil this becomes rests solely on how much you're willing to let me change, so it's best you two come to a compromise so I can get started drafting a contract."
"The thought of us declining doesn't even cross your mind does it? The scary part is I believe you could actually do it."
Espresso is deeply disturbed by what he's hearing, however a part of him is enthralled by the idea. Piling up over the years, resentment ate its way into Espresso's mind. He'd often wonder how his only child picked up such an obnoxious attitude. August didn't seem to have any skills to speak of but that was OK for now, as long as he was able to do nice things. What pissed Espresso off more than anything else was how August abused his position to take advantage of others in need.
Both parents weren't strangers to working so they'd often hire babysitters to watch over him when they were working but no one would dare to discipline him. The only person who could keep August on his toes other than his parents, was Melody, ruling through the fear of violence. Melody would have seemed like the perfect choice to hire since she comes around so often and there isn't a thing August could do to cause her any trouble, but before now, she never had any reason to and there's no point in trying to bribe her with money. If she were going to change how he thought in general, fear wouldn't be enough.
Charmante asks, "On the off chance you aren't able to accomplish this task, what do we get in return for our cooperation?"
"What do you want?"
"How about you move in with us then? Is that okay, Ess?"
"Seems fine to me."
"Go ahead give me those adoption papers then. You won't be needing them."