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(Setting)The broken lampshade
| >the counter is made out of solid oak-wood and got bright stickers all over it.
>Behind the counter, a rather young looking girl is sound asleep, a glass with unknown content infront of her on the counter
>She has blond hair and is wearing a white dress made out of what looks like rugged leather a d a green shirt. Her blond hair peaks out from under a white capade out of the same material
| >otherwise, the bar is empty
>A nostalgic feeling beat is playing in the background
| >A woman with a metallic arm pushes in. She scans the area spots the girl and smirks.
"Ufufu~"
| >the girl abruptly raises her head
"What? Who? Oh."
>She puts her head gently on the counter again and mumbles in a monotone voice
"Welcome to the broken lampshade, what can I get you"
>She shuts her eyes again while she puts her head down on the counter
| "A beer to start off"
>She takes a seat near her, ocasionally taking photos of the sleeping girl
"Had a long day?"
| "beer is coming right up"
>ahe mumbles while reaching under the counter and putting a bottle of bier on the counter. With the other hand, she takes a glass and a bottle opener and puts it next to the beer. Next, she grabs a hold of the beer and firmly plucks the bottlecap off with the bottle opener
>She didn't raise her head once through all that. Upon closer inspection, you can see a cable going from the nape of her neck, down her body and behind the counter
| (great it just erased my text, great)
| "please refrain from taking photos of sleeping girls, probably for the purpose of personal pleasure or monetary gain. Its rude, lewd and probably illegal."
>She smiles
"Its not that I'm tired, its just easier to focus this way. I can see everything here anyways..."
>She slowly raises her head and opens her eyes
"...but I guess its kinda rude. Sorry about that."
>she sweeps a lock of hair out of her face
| "I don't like tending the bar much, but I always ALWAYS get sucker'd into it. Something something cute girls something something marketable something something customers like me"
>She sighs
"What brings you to the lampshade anyways?"
| >she blushes, being found out
"Ah you got me, they weren't lying about cutegirls, i mean i only dropped by cause i heard there was this super cute girl.."
>She sighs deleting the photos
"How do you see like that anyway?
| "eh, part clever placement of sensors, part just installing cameras in the right places, part having drones that see for me... Basically, just surveillance.
I'm usually alone here and when shady people show up, I gotta keep tabs on what is going on. Today is a really slow day though."
| >she looks up
>Then looks down
"Say, who told you about me?
Was it some guy with bushy hair, shades, cyberears and a shirt that is way to small for him?"
| >She leans back
"Yeah, sounds like the guy, bumped into him a few days ago while going scoutin for cuties, said he knew one or something like that"
| "i will kick him in the shin so hard when he gets back..."
>She wispers to herself
"Well, I guess you found me then. What are you planning to do now? You said you were hunting for cute girls?"
She says, hopping up on the counter to sit on it.
>She grabs her glass and takes a sip
| "I dunno, i found a cutie, doesn'y look like anything else is going on so..."
>She looks up from her phone
"Wanna fuck?"
| >she almost drops her glass
"..."
>The bartenser stares at the woman for solid 5 seconds with a shocked expression
>Then she looks away
"Jeez, you are straight to the point..."
>She takes another sip, avoiding eyecontact
"I have to disappoint you. While I AM into girls (lucky you I guess), I do have a girlfriend already and quite frankly, she wins out in the looks factor alone if you ask me."
>After another sip and an awkward pause, she turns her head towards the guest again
| "besides, I kinda want to have a reason to sleep with someone other than 'I am bored'. Get to know each other, go on dates and so on. You could call me old fashioned but I don't like hopping into the bed with strangers in any way."
>The girl finally sets her glass down, after taking her last sip
| >At this point a guy guy in a parka walks in tired as hell.
"Hello..."
>He takes a seat at the bar.
| >The woman seems shocked by the outburst
"Tis just a joke, and besides, i have a girlfriend too..."
>She sips her drink
"...Hm, if your gf wins out in looks then maybe i'll have tonpay her a visit too~"
| >the bartender doesn't look surprised as the guy walks in. She just hops down from the counter and starts pouring herself a drink
"Welcome to the broken lampshade, what can I get you"
>She says mumblingly, turning her attention back to her first guest
"If you have a girlfriend, why are you hunting for chicks then?
...also, do you want another drink perhaps?"
| "I'll take some Scotch. And caffeine, in any form."
>The guy leans on the counter, almost ready to sleep.
| "I'm not hunting, i'm birdwatching! I love going around and admiring all the cuties in this city! Oh and yes please, another beer"
| "Wait. Do I know you? You uh..."
>The guy clicks his fingers...
"Dank? No... Ah..."
| "Irish coffee then?"
>She says as she turns around to pour in the whisky with one hand and putting a coffee cup on the coffee machine with the other while the coffee machine starts working on its own.
>While the coffee is brewing, she grabs under the counter and pulls out another beer
> With a swift motion she opens the beer and puts it infront of her guest.
"Birdwatching hey? I guess I can appreciate that."
| "Sure, cream and sugar please."
>The guy practically is laying in the counter.
| >>237419
"It's Dahk" >She says, adding emphesis on the 'K'
"...Do i know you?
>She sips the beer,
"So what's your name sweet cheeks?"
| >after the coffe machine did its part, She turns around and pours the whiskey into the cup of coffee together with sugar and cream. Picking it up and setting it infront of the guy, she leans on the counter again.
| >The guy wakes up to the smell, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Good stuff."
| "My name? Most people call me Bubbles. Or Gum. Or Bubblegum"
| (did everyone go to sleep suddenly or whats going on?)
| (I thought Dahk was going to say a thing...)
>The guy finishes his coffee, feeling much better.
"Gum... Different, but just like most of this city."
| (Sorry i was busy)
>Dahk smiles, drinking her beer
"Cute name for a cute girl~... I wish I cute..."
>she mopes a little, the alchohol starting to get to her
| >The man's smile widens to a friendly smile.
"You might not be as cute as your girlfriend, but you are beautiful."
| "eh?"
>Gum exclaims in mild surprise as Dahk compliments her
"Eh??"
>Gum exclaims again in surprise as the other patron compliments her as well
"I.... Uhm..."
>She tries to collect herself again
"Thank you I guess?"
>She says flustered, taking a big gulp of her own drink
| >>237664
>Dahk playfully Jabs the man
"Ey, what's your name fella? might as well all share if we're getting this friendly"
| >>237675
>The guy rubs his jabed, and maybe bruised rib, why the hell does everyone go for the ribs?
"Oh, Eh hehe, It's... John... son, yeah, Johnson. I uh... Changed my ID recently, loan-sharks and all."
| "dont wanna share your real name huh? Not even a nickname? I mean... Everyone is Mister or Miss Johnson. You can't believe how many I serve on a regular basis. It always kinda annoys me. Like, this one time, there where 3 Mister Johnsons and a Miss Johnson. They all listend to that name as well. It was ridiculous as hell"
>Gum says, laughing about the ridiculousness of that situation
| "I guess I'll be John Doe then, seeing as Dahk didn't go for her gun, and neither did you. Speaking of you..."
>John leans in on the counter.
"How about another one of your drinks?"
| >a handsome man walks in and takes a seat on a bar stool
>it looks like he is half Canadian half Russian.
>he is very grizzled and battle hardened yet without scars, still in armour.
>his armor is nothing like any in the bar has ever seen, incredibly advanced even for GC standards.
>clearly not someone to mess with.
Hey bartender.a Finland breakfast yeah?(off-duty calm grizzled)
| "dont worry john. We only start the shooting, when you try to steal, attack me, try to damage the property or try to get out of paying"
>Gum smiles
"What will it be for your second drink. Another Irish coffee?"
>>>237707
>As the new patron walked in
"Woah there cowboy. I hope you aren't looking for trouble in that getup."
>She says as she put another cup on the coffee maker with one hand and pours in a glass of vodka with the other
>The coffeemaker starts working again
| >Dahk giggles
"I knew a John doe once, glad to see you don't drink nearly as much as he did"
>She finishes her 2nd beer, and sighs,
"Man this takes me back... but i shouldn't drink this much, do you have any tea?
| >>237747
"That's good. Because I'm all out of ammo. and pain meds. I'll have another coffee, hold the alcho."
>>237751
"John Doe is not that common of an actual name these days... I might not drink as much as you, but I probably swallow more pills than half of midnight district does in a night."
>John retorts, and begins to feel tired again, leaning on to the bar.
| "sure. What kind of tea do you want? Blueberry, Raspberry, Gongseng, sleepy time, green tea, &reen tea with lemon, green tea with lemon and honey, liver disaster, ginger with honey, ginger without honey, vanilla almond, white truffle coconut, chamomile, blue berry chamomile, decaf vanilla walnut, constant comment or earl grey?
>She said while browsing under the bar
| "...I was going to ask about sleepy time and Liver disaster, but i'll just settle for chamomile"
| "Really? I was curious about Constant Comment. Will you talk my ear off while you make it?"
>John teases, a warm, but weak smile on his face.
| "its just tea, it can't talk. I don't know what it tastes like though."
>Gum says as she picks up a chamomile teabag
>She puts the constant comment box on the counter
"Take a look yourself"
>While gum is making tea, you can have a look at the box
| "ay bartender. If you don't mind me asking.why is the place so secluded?"(curious off-duty)
>the armoured man asks
| >>237807
"I don't know if I should answer that.
I don't know who you work for and I don't even know your name"
>>237809
>The box has the usual advertising stuff on it that would make it look delicious. The atrange thing is that there is nothig on it that would clue you in on the taste.
Looking at the ingredients and the description on the box you find alot of stuff that wouldn't make it taste like anything. The description beats around the bush, not telling anything about the taste
| "Ah well. Bartender, I'll have some Constant Comment. I just need to use the bathroom, and any gauze you might have."
>John hands the box back, finishing his coffee, gets up from his chair weakly.
| >>237846
>Dahk grabs something from her coat and tosses it at John, upon furthur inspection, it appears to be a roll of cloth
"Technically used for making lingerie but... should be good enough for medical gauze"
| "100% cotton. Are you sure? I'd rather make this in to my pants than use it as gauze."
>John sheepishly takes the roll.
| "Two teas, coming right up"
>Gum says as she puts the teabags in cups and puts them on the coffee machine.
>It starts working, but instead of coffee, hot water comes out.
>She puts sugar and spoons on the counter, along with the tea that just finished brewing
"There you go, Dahk. Enjoy your tea."
| "oh right, the bathroom. Just follow the neon signs. You can't miss it. The mans room is the door with the scary looking black guy painted on the door."
>Gum says as she points down the hall
| "Thanks."
>John goes to the bathroom, and you can notice that he is limping slightly, trying to discreetly hold his side.
| "if you need painkillers, I got some too"
>Gum shouts after him
| "I got some morphine to numb the pain!"
>You can hear John shout from the bathroom.
| >John comes back from the bathroom, now without a limp, taking a seat next to Dahk.
"All better. Next time, please don't jab me in the ribs."
| "wow, you alright? People usually don't start bleeding and hurting from getting a soft jab in the sides"
>Gum says worried about her patron
"Should I call a doc? I know a good one right here in the neighborhood"
| "No. Doctors."
>John says, before relaxing again.
"It's just a recent wound. or more like 4. I need to change the plates on my body armour."
| "Pardon my morbid Curiocity, but how'd you get injured? Chapel-3 strike or...?"
>Dahk sips her tea, gripping her metal arm. never could get used to it
| "Gangers."
>John says bluntly, quickly changing the subject, showing his own metal arm, which was previously hidden by a blue, latex glove.
"How's the arm? I heard what happened at Chapel-3."
| "i didn't, whats up with that?"
>Gum interjected
| >Dahk stares at her arm with a look of disgust.
"It's cold, hard, and completely..."
>Noticing her bitterness, she returns to a smile and laugjs awkwardly
"Well, i should be thankful that i had a wonderful girlfriend and she made me a new arm an leg"
| >>238821
"nothing much, Lost a leg to a rocket from some gang warfare or something. Lost an arm from the kinetic bombardment afterwards"
| >>238821
"Tungsten rod bombardment. Leveled the whole district. Gal called Cain has more or less evacuated everyone by now, and has begun building it up again."
>Johnson smiles for a second, and returns to his neutral expression.
>>238824
"Dahk, it gets worse before it gets better."
>John gives her a pat on the back.
| >>238859
>Dahk laughs
"Well atleast it gets better"
>Noticing the brief smile, dahk gets a smirk, a little drunk
"I saw that smile... You got some feelings or something for 'er?"
| "kinetic bombardment, huh? Thats some serious stuff. Something like that usually is only warrented when something goes really really wrong.
Glad you made it out of there..."
>Gum says, leaning forward
| >a truck pulls into the drive way and a young woman exits, almost tripping over herself.
>She looks tense and holds her stomach as she enters the lampshade
"Gum, you got something against stomach ache? This rigging business is hell on my stomach. Feels like getting punhed in the gut every time I jack out..."
>She sits next to dahk at the counter, zipping her hoodie open, removing it and laying it on the counter.
>She wipes a lock of her red hair out of her face and greets everyone
| "tomato. Nice to meet you all"
| "Hey you shouldn't li-
>Dahk was about to reprimand John for lying, it isn't nice afterall, but she was distracted by the cutie sitting next to her
"Oh hey there sweetums~"
| "why the change in name? And haircolor?"
>Gum asks as she looks for the meds
| "haha, tomatos are Sweet, yes"
>Tomato jokes, laughs and turns her attention to gum
"Uhm... Long story. Lets just say I decided to basically throw my life away... For multiple reasons"
| >>239099
>"Saved by a gal."
>John sighs in relief, as he hears what she says.
"Well I guess welcome to the club. Name's John."
| "Hey tomato, have you seen the post by N3? He says he needs a rigger."
>John slides his phone over to her.
| "what? Seriously?"
>She excitedly tries to reach the phone, basically throwing herself onto dahk
"Gimme gimme!"
>She says as she struggles to get the phone in her hands and frantically look at the screen
(Which thread?)
| >Dahk looks surprised, finally putting 2 and 2 together
"Ah, you're that newbie making the rounds right? How's gear gathering going?"
| >noticing how she hans onto dahk right now, tomato stops for a second
"Oh"
>Then gets back to her seat, phone in hand
"Uhm. Yeah. Thats me, the tomato girl. I met with cain today. Got some nice shit. Say, is that scary guy in armor police or something?"
| (i ment hang, damnit phone keyboard)
| >>239345
"heh im no cop girly.
But i do work for the UN.
Still if your gonna do something illegal i aint doing anything to stop you."
| >>239337
"It's a guy, very interesting character. Check your databases when you're on shift."
>>239345
"Huh. Cain? Sounds like she's got her fingers in all the pies."
>John waits for his phone, now Tomato has seen the thread.
| "well I guess I can show off then?
You guys wanna see what I bought?"
>Tomato asks while reading the thread
(Found it myself)
"Gum? Can you call Jet? I need him, like, asap. I got fukken work for him and I need it done fast"
| >she hands over john his phone
"Am I a lucky girl or what?"
>She chuckles
| "Very. I'll make sure the escape car has got a good connection to the matrix."
>He takes it back, putting it in his jacket.
"So what did you get from Cain?"
| "oh, let me get it from my car real quick"
>Tomato jumps up and storms out
>Shortly after she returns with a briefcase
>She puts it on the counter, and opens it
"Tadaa~~"
>Inside are two vector smgs and a walther pistol
| (its a walther PPS)
"Well, as long as you don't try anything stupid. Its my gun and gum has a nick for punishing funny business hard"
>Tomato says and hands him the gun, magazine empty and all
| >John takes the gun, and instantly lets the magazine drop in to his other hand, putting it on the counter. He then pulls back the slide a couple times, making sure it's empty. Only after that, he studies the gun.
"It's nice. Where do you hide it on you?"
| "welll... Since I bought it just a few hozrs ago, I don't yet but I will probably use my shoulder holster i still have from my old gun."
>Tomato points at her hoodie. I usually hide it under that
| "My favorite position too, because carrying mags on the hip is bulky."
>John hands the handgun back, with the magazine inside now.
| "I've got to head out soon to a job. I'll be seeing you people around."
>John stands up and gets out, leaving behind a cred stick for Gum.
| "guess I gotta bounce too. See you later. Work work and Jets shop"
>Tomato gets up and leaves too
| >gum sighs
"I guess everyone has either vanished or fallen asleep..."
This thread is permanently archived
| >Tugged away in a little alley, behind a butcher shop at bagala junction is a staircase that leads down to a steel door. There is no sign infront, just a strange statue of an old-fashioned lamp with a torn-up lampshade
>A neon-sign lights up the entrance with a welcomig "open" message.
>Inside, you find a very industrial looking bar, much akin to a garage. Graffiti is decoratig the ceiling and walls. The graffiti emit a faint glow of neon and are very colorful