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(Setting) Midnight Drifter Bar
| > A suited-woman enters the bar without a second glance. She seems to be familiar with the place, and even more so obvious at the way she walked in without a single bewilderment at the place.
"Emily, one Ragnarok please."
> The woman smiles at the eyepatch-wearing bartender after taking a seat on one of the stool near the countertop. Her long azure hair is let loose and untied, rested on the countertop.
| >>329284
"Ah, Uni, its coming right up!"
>Emily recognizes the girl and swiftly prepares the drink with a smile
"How has it been going? I heard something happened in town, not too sure what, saw a lot of police around the whole place lately"
>Emily seems happy to see a familiar face
| "I thought it's quite a normality to see those around."
> Uni ponders on the statement before nodding it off to answer the question asked to her.
"—W-well, anyway. There isn't much news from me. I'm sure the one I can tell is the ones you have heard of."
| >>329361
"Well, its good to see that it wasnt the big deal I thought it was"
>Emily sighs in relief
"What brings you here tonight?"
| "I felt I needed a taste of your drinks again."
> Uni said before taking a small sip out of the served Ragnarok.
"That, and also my apartment is being cleaned. Besides, there isn't anything wrong with wanting to talk to you, right?"
> She once again gave a warm smile to the bartender.
| >>329500
"Well, that's flattering, makes me happy"
>Emily smiles
"And there's nothing wrong with you coming here, rather I enjoy it when you do"
| >A man wearing a hat and a suit walks in, stroking the curtain beard on his chin
>He looks around, his eyes hidden under the rim of his hat
"Don't see him... did he ditch me again."
| >>330293
>The man in the brown coat smiles and waves his hand at the new arrival
"Yo, You made it Jigen!"
>He says with a drawling voice
"Bet you didnt recognize the coat, I decided to change things up"
| >>330383
"... disgusing yourself again."
>The man, Jigen, sits down next to him
"I thought I'd find you around some place like this. How are things going?"
| >>330462
"Apart from loosing my car? Yeah everything's peachy, been trying to get back into buisness though, if you catch my drift!"
>He says with a wide smile
"How are you doing old friend?"
| >>330483
"Same old, really. Still, it's a shame about the car, getting another one?"
>He hails the bartender
"Bourbon please."
>Before returning to the man
"So, any plans for the next hits, Lupin?"
| >>330522
"Bourbon, coming up!"
>Emily gives the man a glass
|>>330522
"If I can even get a new one! The things go for way too high for poor old me to afford them!"
>He winks
"As for a hit, I dont know right now, I did juat get into the city, but I've been smelling money from those giant megacorp."
| >>330561
"As expected of you. Well, things seem restless right now... and I have a suspicion a certain someone must've tracked you to here."
>He takes the glass and drinks
"Mind if I smoke?"
>He takes out a carton of Pall Malls
| >>330580
"Uh"
>Emily looks at Uni
"Do you mind?"
|>>330580
"Yeah, something about a geekboy, its all over the site I've been introduced to, shadowrunners made it is what I heard"
>The man, Lupin laughs
"That means the Police is busy, and that means no problem!"
| >>330644
"Nihihihi, like the good old days huh?"
>Lupin laughs before taking another sip of his glass
| >>330624
"I don't."
> Uni said quickly, returning to her senses after dazing off. She took a sip from her drink, seeing the two new patrons before returning back to the drink she held.
| >>330917
"You heard the miss, mister"
>Emily smiles to Jigen before turning back to Uni
"So, how's it going for you Uni? You still work as a maid right?"
>She asks while picking up a glass to wash it
| >>330958
"Of course! Maid work has been rather compatible with me."
> With enthusiasm in her voice, Uni answered.
"Though I do wish to have more kitchen time. I love being a maid, but I'm a chef at heart."
> She pauses getting another sip.
"—But people have been saying my creation, apart from omelette and a few others, is distinctly awful."
> She finishes her sentence with a sheepish laughter.
|
|
| >John strolls in to the joint, and for once, not covered in in blood, or exhausted. He looks a little worn out, but that's from his shift.
"Emily! Uni! How've you been!"
| "My, hello there, John!"
> Uni waves at John, signalling him to sit next to her.
"I should have expected you here, hm?"
| >>331465
"After that shift? After you won that competition, we are only getting more and more customers."
>John sighs as he sits down next to her.
| "W-wwell, I d-didn't expect to win the competition—.. af-after all I.."
> Uni's face is flush with pink, she proceeds to drink her glass of Ragnarok until its half-empty.
"I don't know if I should say sorry or be grateful that the cuteness competition brought in more customer."
> She regains composure after trying to frantically maintain her breathing.
| >>331790
"I'm sure you're grateful for the tips. You forgot to pick up them up."
>Jhensen slides a LOADED credsitck
| >Tall figure came in through the main door. Short, blond hair, with a small yellow rose fixed on the side; a pair of cold, blue eyes; toxic yellow classic business suit... And feminine curves.
>Newcomer had an appearance of a teenager, and a smug smile that made even the most composed people grind their teeth. She made her way to the counter.
"Big Sugar Rush, on the rocks, please."
| >>331791
> Uni stares blankly at the credstick, freezing in place — a look that says she has never seen such huge value from work tips alone.
"I—I.. I can't believe I made that much impact by winning a cuteness contest."
| >a man walks in
>he the only thing interesting about what he is wearing is a black zipper hoodie with orange outline
>along with headphones of the same motif
>he takes a seat at the bar half mumbling a tune
"i dont mind spending ev-e-ry day~
Out in the corner in the pouring rain~
Oh uh sorry a um anything with high caffeine or that can wake somebody up"
>before returning to his song
"Look for the girl with the broken smile~
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile~"
| >>331865
"I didn't know kings had twins."
>Jhensen openly comments.
>>331865
"You keep forgetting to take your tips, that stick is pretty much everything from this week. But yeah, lots of people visit the forum."
| >>332040
"I-I try to tell them to buy a dessert instead of handing the tip to me. They don't seem to listen."
> She replied after taking a finishing gulp from her drink. As with the appearance of two new people in the bar, she perks up to the humming man, >>331968, but doesn't say a word.
| >>332055
"Quite often, but I don't pay much attention to it."
> She tilts her head unnoticeably, showing interest in the topic.
| >>332056
>Jhensen looks like he is about to say something, but stops himself.
"Yeah. How's the whole suspect thing going?"
>He quickly changes the topic.
| "I—.."
> Uni pauses for a brief moment. She frowns but soon brushes it off for a less melancholic expression.
"A-apart from the death threats? Nothing too serious."
| "Is that so?"
> Uni doesn't pay much attention towards the smile, instead, she loomingly looks at the empty glass she held for some time.
"How big would the distraction be? I feel as if the news is petty, so any size is enough to counter it, no?"
> She offhandedly says, not giving much thought to her words.
| >>332093
"T-the shift might be getting to me."
> Uni dodges the question entirely with her answer, she smiles, not wanting to worry John.
"I'm okay."
| "Right—"
> Uni notices her failing attempt at not giving an answer. She sighs, looking at John straight with a stare.
"It's.. nothing. If it's not the shift then it's probably the threats. B-but I'm okay, no need to worry."
| >>332117
>Jhensen remembers something, having a chance to look at Uni's eyes.
"And it's totally not the fact your eye has been out of action."
| >>332121
> Hearing this, Uni let her left eye activate: leaving it glowing in a new white light.
"It's there, it's simply not doing anything."
| "It used to be blue. I had it repaired, but it has yet to be restored to its original ability."
> Uni kept the eye shining. The white light was dim, and the inner-plates of the eye is visible without much magnification.
"Say, this is strange, but I don't recall I ever told anyone that I was infected by a cyberzombie."
| >>332153
"I don't have the slightest clue. It works as an eye, but it doesn't do pattern-processing — which it was meant to do."
> Uni then turned to the once-singing man.
>>332152
"The eye was infected, but I think I'm fine?"
> Her tone of voice tells that she is unsure of it herself.
| >>332163
"And all I know is.. not shooting, but not this either."
> Uni muses, trying to lighten her mood.
"There is no ports that I'm aware of. The microchip is completely sealed off from any external input — and I don't know if it had a manual."
| >>332157
"...alright? For the sake of most i hope your right..."
>>332166
"...sorry to intrude again but i must know.
why do you have an aug if you dont even know how it works?"
>he says while waiting for his drink
| "I'll take another Ragnarok."
> Uni passes the request to the bartender as she goes to reply the man's question.
>>332180
"I was given—.. no; granted, the eye. I know I used to remember that I was the one who decided on installing it, but—"
> She changed her attention to the ceiling, distracting herself as she pauses her sentence.
"—But let's say that I don't actually remember ever doing it."
| >>332181
>he does that *anime adjust glasses* thing, but slightly confused
"...that just spawns more questions.
But i should respect your privacy, thank you for your time"
>and back into the music he goes
"and she wiiilll be loved~
Yeah she wiiilll be lo-oved~"
| "T-that does make for more questions."
> Uni said, slightly whispering to herself.
"So, John, apart from the shift what else do you have running in your life?"
> She probes John for a conversation as she too, waits for her drink to be made.
| "You are saying that most of your work is largely unofficial?"
> Uni says, clearly not serious with what she is saying.
| "I still wish boss would let me handle the bar for once."
> Uni continues.
"I-I mean, I know I'm not good with drinks and I can't taste karmotrine, but I want a break from making parfaits and lava cakes."
| "Are you saying you wouldn't make a good butler and waiter? I doubt that, John."
> Uni tackles John's words.
"I'm adamant, I want to see you handling the customers, and I want to see my ability in the bar."
> She then caught something in her mind, apparent in her expression.
"... Us both and the questions boss will definitely ask us."
| "Fine.."
> Uni let loose a childlike complaint, showing off her lighter personality.
"I don't think boss will approve of the idea anyway."
> She passes of another reason to wipe the suggest off her mind.
| >>332275
"I don't think I want to see the end of that spectrum."
> Uni is visibly shaken by the idea and she too, shrugs it off.
"Oh, I thought you might have known better, but the boss' daughter is married, right?"
> She continues her workplace-related question.
| >>332290
"I'm happy for her. I heard they had a big ceremony and everything."
> Uni certainly didn't notice the pun.
"—And her wife, I feel like I know her."
| "I think I have met her before somewhere."
> Uni takes her phone out from her pocket and explores the phone UI before landing on danger/u/
"In the board she goes by the name 'OS', right?"
| >A tall women enters the building, dressed in a long suit and wearing a hat
>With short dark-green hair and yellow eyes, she seemed quite bizarre
>She approaches the people at the bar
"Hey, could I ask a question?"
| >>332350
> Uni heard the woman and proceeds to face her from her seat. A look of curiosity set in her eyes.
"You have a 'yes' from me."
| >>332357 >>332360
"My name's Hazama Ino, you could say I'm an official... now where was it."
>She pulls out a picture from her back pocket
>On it is a small girl with white and black hair, one eye red and one blue... she looks very weird
"Ever seen this girl? Even if you don't know her, any tip could help."
| >>332363
"my apologies then Fraulein but i am of no help"
>says music guy as he returns to his song
| > Uni's left eye glows from looking at the picture. She blinks a few time, maybe something is in her mind — none can be too sure about her expression.
"I—"
> She heard John's answer first, and it abruptly cut hers, sending her to silence for a moment.
"I-is she a missing person?"
| >>332373
"No, a really infamous shadowrunner from another town, the girl might not look it, but she's quite the monster..."
>Hazama pockets the picture
"If you don't know her, it's fine... still, Miss, your face looks familiar..."
>She leans in to look at you better... and then smiles
"Well, I'm off duty for the moment, guess I don't need to mind such drivel."
| >>332375
> Uni was nonetheless processing what had happened before taking an instinctual action to lean back.
"A-are you saying that—"
> She pauses briefly, her eyes darting off and not looking at the yellow-eyed lady.
"—Never mind. I shouldn't bring up the topic when you are off duty."
> And she immediately drops the topic.
| >>332378
>Hazama nods and goes to sit down
"Still, this place sure is nice."
>She looks around, finally stopping her gaze on Emily
"Ah, guess I should order... well, wine of any sort would be fine, but not too much, got duty tomorrow."
| >>332384
"Oh, Huh, what would you like?"
>Emily suddenly comes back from her daze, not at all due to the player playing her drinking all night after excruciatingly boring work
"I forgot to say Hi, John, I'm very sorry, how's it going?"
| "He is definitely better than me."
> Uni enters the conversation along, not wanting to be left in a dead silence.
| >>332449
"Don't say that! I'm sure you'd make a great tender"
>Emily smiles and cheers Uni up
"To me, the only limiter we have is saying we cant do it"
| "N-no, I have attested my own abilities. They are as bad as you think."
> With that, Uni shot down her lack of bartending skills.
"I can't even taste karmotrine without knocked out cold. It's safe to say I won't be having any bartending careers."
> She chuckles, showing the brevity of seriousness in her words.
| (*without being knocked out cold. Whoops.)
| >>332423
>Hazama tilts her head, thinking
"Well, something weak, I guess. I'm not a big fan of alcohol, but it does work for waking me up."
>She shoots a glance at John, that eerie smile still on her face
| >>332463
"Well, I'd be hardpressed to commend a Bartender who drinks on the job"
>Emily scratch her cheek
"I'm sure you could learn it, but I'm sure being a maid fits you better"
>She sighs
"I was actually looking for part time help, because I get so busy"
| >>332472
>Hazama nods and sips the drink before turning back to Emily
"Sorry for butting in, but you don't seem very busy..."
>She looks around
"Unless tonight is just slow."
| >>332474
>Emily sighs
"Its just been slow, all of it, something happened and police is everywhere, I've had to deal with 4 officers thinking I was running an illegal bar, just tonight, one of which was a literal child and wouldnt stop until I gave her a lollipop so she would calm down"
>She looks around
"I dont know why the GCPD is so active recently, but its been killing my buisness and my good mood"
| >>332478
>Hazama errupts into laughter
"I can see that happening. After they caught that pe- man... what was his name... CN, yeah."
>She almost said seomthing there
"GCPD is freaking out since something happened, and the stress builds up, so they get really mad and pissy, thus the overflowing of officers looking for a fight."
>She sips her drink again
"I'm not part of them, so all I do is laugh at them though."
| >>332482
"C-Who? Is he some kind of big deal around town? I can't say I've ever heard that name"
>Emily thinks aloud before shaking her head
"Well, whatever, it should go back to normal soon enough"
| >>332485
"Well, that's what I hope at least. The management is driving me like some slave."
>She shakes her head dramatically, sending another glance to the people seated next to her
"But well, all that's normal in Glitch City."
| >>332489
"I'm what you guys would call either Secret Services or Counter-Terrorism, the actual name is different, but that's the gist of it."
>She sips her drink
"I'm not actually part of the GCPD, more stuck in some limbo between Corps and QUINCY. So yeah, I'm the Law, but mostly just in name, you could call me a QUINCY sanctioned Spy."
|
| >>332500
"An off duty spy. And honestly, I could always be lying through my teeth."
>She sighs
"And honestly, if you tell people you're a spy, they won't believe you, so you subvert their expectations, it can make things easier... then again, who knows."
>She smiles and laughs
| >>332501
"Yeah, not sure I like those mixed signals there"
>Emily smiles a bit clumsily
"Well, what does being a Spy entail?"
| >>332504
"It used to be a lot of work with corps, checking that they don't try and build a super robot army to take over the town, making sure the foreign agents stayed in their places and knew as little as possible."
>She lifts her head and closes her eyes
"But with the UK out, the latter's calmed down, and the Corps have been quiet, as far as know... but that's probably because my boss gets checks."
>She smiles
"So right now, it's Runner searching, much to my chagrin."
| >>332531
"Shadowrunners. But well, I might be off, but I can't tell you more than that, else I'd actually be in trouble. Although..."
>She looks around and lowers her voice
"I can tell you that my department seems to think this CN guy had dirt on em' somewhere... something about a flash drive."
>She laughs and pulls back a little
"So now I'm looking for his group, make sure they aren't up to no good."
| > Uni was about to say something, but she stops herself from interrupting. Instead, she toys around her phone for some time; browsing danger/u/ and answering messages.
| >>332708
>Emily turns to Uni and smiles
"If you want to give tending a try, you know who to talk to"
| >>332715
"O-of course!"
> Uni nods rather happily and enthusiasm shows in her voice.
"—As a return, do tell me if you need an extra hand here. I may not be able to tend, but I can do.. anything else that isn't bartending."
| >>332719
"There isnt much more we do here apart from tending, and cleaning of course"
>Emily scratches her head
| "I'm well acquainted with cleaning supplies, and I'm a general-purpose maid. I think cleaning the bar would be no problem—"
> Uni replied with a hint of determination.
"—Hmm. Actually, I remember what I was going to say a moment ago. Say, Emily, have you ever tended to a man that goes by the name 'Okabe'?"
> She abruptly segues the topic, jumping ship with a quick 'hmm'.
| >>332757
>Emily thinks back
"Ah, yes I did!"
>She snaps her finger
"He's the man I talked to you about a while ago, quite the sad story really... Why do you ask, did you meet his grand-daughter or something?"
| >>332764
"—He has a grand-daughter?"
> Uni looks rather surprised and bewildered by the statement.
"W-wait, I didn't know he was that old to begin with."
| >Hazama perks up at the mention of Okabe
"Okabe..."
>She takes out a small notebook and flips through the pages
"Do you mean Okabe Isuoe?"
| > Uni nods to the two, answering them simultaneously with an affirmative response.
"Is it strange? He seems to be a gentleman."
> She addresses Emily's question.
"H-h-he is good with w-words as well."
> Uni can be clearly seen holding out an embarassment as her face radiates a faint pink.
| >>332787
"He didnt seem to me like a gentleman, but his Reiko sure is a lady killer..."
>Emily says with a nod
"But where did you meet him, I never even heard so much his name in GC since almost three years"
| >>332791
"At a bar. I seem to recall saying that bars are the best place to meet unexpected people."
> Uni quickly regains her normal tone of voice after being flashed with the embarrassment only she herself knows.
"I didn't quite get his name either until he mentions the drink's name."
| >Hazama's smile is getting pretty tense
"Are... are you guys just ignoring me?"
>She closes her notebook and sighs
| >>332798
"And he didnt even come here... I need to have a talk with that reiko or with Kokoro when she comes here"
>Emily sighs
"Truly, life is a series of chance encounters huh?"
| "... Guess I didn't [ER-23]"
>Her speech is cut off by a bizarre noise near the end
"Ah right, slip of the tongue. Still, to think he would be here... guess this stuff does happen, huh?"
>She sips her drink
| >>332807
"No, but I do know about Reiko Isuoe's family a little. She is the wife of one of America's most infamous Shadowrunner after all, with that other Seattle guy and the twins."
>She pulls out her notebook
"Managment knows about the Black King hanging around here, and so I had to do my research on it, that sort of thing came up."
| "Verily."
> Uni affirms Emily's words before pausing and hearing Hazama's.
>>332811
"Black King? Everyone goes by strange names, hm."
| >>332814
"They also get called Kurogami, sometimes... I think they are on that /u/ board sometimes."
>She finishes her drink
"They are so infamous that even my boss was worried when he heard the news, but turns out that they literally haven't done anything in GC... well, for now."
>She turns to Emily
"Could I get something with coffee in it?"
| >>332818
"Sure, wait up"
>Emily mixes up and serves a drink that looks like coffee milk
"Here you are"
| >>332818
"I get the distinct feeling that I have heard of them."
> Uni says, not continuing further in her point.
"It's probably just a feeling."
| >>332828
"Well, I've never heard of any Black King either"
>Emily shrugs
"The only Reiko I know is married to Kokoro"
| >>332831
"Kokoro?"
>She lifts an eyebrow
"Huh... does she go by Koro, wear spats and a jersey all the time?"
| >>332835
>Her gaze narrows
"Well, you could say we are acquainted... but let me confirm, how tall is that Koro you know? Mine is quite tall, flat too."
>She seems serious for once, completely unlike her previous smiling figure
| >>332838
"The one I know is a big girl, err, by that I mean her... Well her chest is... Very big"
>Emily says while blushing
"She's also quite small"
| >>332842
>Hazama's smile comes back
"Haah, you had me worried for a second... Thought you were talking about an old friend of mine. But as expected, I was wrong, sorry."
>She sips her drink
"Still, the odds for us to know two very different Koros is quite slim."
>She chuckles
| >Emily nods too and starts yawning while cleaning her glasses, seems like she had a long day
| "How.. long were you in that bathroom?"
> Uni sees John taking a seat, her frown speaks of uncertainty at John's arrival.
| "Really? Time drifts easily."
> Uni powers on her phone, checking the clock before putting it down.
"—I thought you were gone for long. It really is four minutes."
| "W-what is it?"
> Uni doesn't catch up, she gazes to the watches mounted on the wall and back to John.
| > Knowing that, Uni checks her phone and was met with a disbelief.
"—It's four minutes in my phone as well."
> She reboots her phone, but no matter what she did, there wasn't a time sync happening.
"Are you sure those wall clocks aren't wrong?"
| "Names. A good number of them."
> Uni began drinking her new Ragnarok, having gulped one glass clean.
"Have you ever heard of the Kurogami? I think I know about them, but I can't put my fingers on the name."
| "R-right."
> Uni sounds like she doesn't expect the answer, or maybe she saw through John's lie. Her stuttering couldn't be more obvious.
| > Uni drops the topic after seeing John's signal. She takes a small gulp from her drink to take her attention away.
| >>333213
"Ah, Hazama, Hazama Ino. Special agent under the top brass, you could say."
>She smiles again
"And so, who might you be, sir? It's rude to ask someone's name without giving theirs."
| >At that point girl in the yellow business suit lost it completely. She has been trying to supress her laughter for quite awhile now, but this was too much for her. Teenager put her empty glass on the table, and took out her phone, typing something in.
| >mumbling dude is still waiting for his drink
| >>333238 >>333234
>Hazama sends a glance at the girl
"Oh? You're smarter than you think, kid. If I wasn't off, I'd want to see how much of a punch you pack or if you're all talk."
>She laughs
"Still, eavesdropping is a pretty gross hobby."
>She shoots the women a glance again
| >>333245
"I am quite surprised to hear that from QUINCY's lapdog"
>Girl replied, not even bothering to look over from her phone.
| > Uni was startled, but tries to keep her composure. She didn't say a word as to what happened; her glowing left eye silently whirs as if transcribing what is happening.
| >>333257
>She reels back quite dramatically
"Ouch, if I had any pride, it'd be shattered by now."
>She goes back to her usual smile before checking her watch
"Well, I'd like to keep going, but I'll be back on the clock soon."
>She turns to Uni
"And keep out of trouble, and sight. You might be low-prio, but a warrant is a warrant."
>Hazama waves as she leaves, leaving only a credstick behind
| >Blonde girl let out a deep, disappointed sigh as the remains of her phone land on the ground.
"And I just bought it..." — >She let out, before turning to the bartender,
— "Can I get a Bad Touch? Big one?"
| >>333268
"Sure thing!"
>Emily gives the girl a bad touch
"Some people come in and order that just to laugh, what a rude bunch they are"
| "Double entendre is still a thing."
> Uni gave her comments, keeping her drink close to her.
"—Low priority, hmh. Thank goodness."
> She quietly mumbles what Hazama said to her, leaving only a sigh afterwards.
|
|
| >A young man makes his way to the farthest barstool from the door, sitting down and readjudting his coat before waving discreetly to get the attention of the barker.
"Fringe Weaver, please."
| >>334826
"Coming right up mister"
>Emily says as she makes and serves the drink to the man, giving him a warm smile
"First time ever seeing you here, welcome"
| >>334943
>Fringe smiles.
"Ah, nah, I've been here before miss, just sometimes quiet. 'Got a very forgettable face."
>He places down a credstick, nodding to her as he takes a few needlessly large sips of his drink.
"Would it be too much to ask for some more Karmotrine?"
| >>335035
"No, of course not"
>Emily scratches her head
"Usually I recognize even the most forgettable people..."
| >>335506
>Fringe thanks the woman for the extra karmotrine, tasting his drink again.
"Nah, ive been here before, but it was a little while ago. There was a treasure hunter, some zombie with..adult material..and..this one girl, she was, well, she was interesting."
| "... Treasure hunter?"
> After a long time idling, Uni perks up to the conversation. Hearing about the man's description for the patrons he once saw.
| >Fringe turned and nodded.
"Yeah, some guy came in looking for a team to help him raid somethin. I forget what it was, but I never heard back from him. I signed up, but hell knows if anyone ever went."
>He docks his head to the side.
"Sorry, I don't think we've met."
| "Uni."
> The azure-haired woman said with a smile, introducing herself first.
"Nice to meet you."
| >>336186
>The dark haired young man smoles in response, lifting his glass.
"I go by Fringe."
>He turns towards her.
"Sounds like my story has you hooked, what's that about?"
| (Oof, forgot)
>Before he said that though, he responded with a kind
"Its nice to meet you, too."
| > Uni nods before responding to Fringe's question.
"I had a friend who will go by the same description. A treasure hunter. He never did return after his hunt — and I thought it was the same man as that of your story."
| >He sits back and miss, looking back at his drink.
"What was this friend's name?"
>Fringe glances at Uni, his eyes catching her hair's vibrant color.
| (Nods, not miss)
| "Ano.."
> Uni's left eye glows in a saturating white color, but it flickers before going dark again. She doesn't seem to notice this, and her expression spells out her attempt to remember the name.
"—.. I don't think I remember his name."
> She continues with a nervous laughter, clearly not knowing why she had forgotten the name.
| >Fringe looks at her, puzzled.
"You alright, Uni? Circuitry aint mucked up, right?"
>He looks somewhat concerned, setting his drink down, ignoring it.
| "I-it's fine! The day has been long, that's all."
> She dismisses the issue, returning to her drink.
"—What was his name, I wonder."
> Under her breath, she murmurs.
| >Fringe opens a panel in his arm, sifting through small chips before taking one out that just has SE on it before placing it in a port higher up on his arm. His eyes glass over for a minute.
"The guy i met before, his name was Elijah, that isnt him, is it?"
>His eyes return to normal as he places the chip back into its spot, closing his arm back up.
| "I-I don't think that's him."
> Uni stares at her half-full glass of Ragnarok. The drink's liquid content stays content until she slightly moves its container ever now and then.
"S-so, Fringe — what do you do for a living?"
> She snaps out of the grasp of her memories and gave Fringe one of the most uninspiring question.
| >>336223
>Fringe smiled, scartching his chin as he thinks of how to phrase it.
"Well right now, nothing, but when the price is good enough, ill do almost anything. I do have rules, though"
>With this super vague description of an occupation, it isnt fully clear whether he could be a sex worker, runner, or lawyer. However, the kind of upgrades he's made to himself wouldnt exactly suit someone of law or that of the red light district.
| "Whad about you, you look spiffy, just come from an office meeting?"
>He asks coyly, motioning to her attire.
| "That's not very descriptive of you."
> She chuckles at the way Fringe phrased the sentence, but she does seem to understand what Fringe said.
>>336233
"—The suit? Oh, suits are the only apparel I have at my disposal."
> Uni flinches as she then remember her other set of clothing she has.
"W-well, there is also the maid outfit I use for work."
| >Fringe sputters his drink from flowing into his lungs.
"I, im sorry?"
>He says between breaths.
"What do you do for work?"
>After regaining his composure, he laughs a bit at his clumsy moment, embarrassed.
| "M-m-maid."
> Uni blushes slightly, trying to readjust herself to a more professional composure but was met with failure due to Fringe's laughter.
| >Fringe smiles. He really had become too used to the underworld of the city.
"Excuse my...corrupt mind. I didnt know people still wore outfits to be maids, i thought that was only a...well, you know."
>He cuts himself off, not wanting to make her upset or uncomfortable with his assumption. The purpose he imagined is just all too common where he is from.
| "Trust me, you look very professional, dont worry, im sorry for my outburst."
| > Uni's reddening face couldn't be more obvious as she futilely attempts to hide it.
"I-I-I don't o-ffer s-sexual ser—.."
> She cuts herself, awkwardly gulping her drink to try and calm herself.
| >A shortish girl enters the bar, with blond hair streaked with white and purple eyes
>She looks around, cringes and heads for the bar, or Emily in particular
"Hey, sorry for the abrupt question, but how do I get to the station from here?"
| >>336258
"Yeah, i gathered, im sorry, please do forgive me."
>Fringe stares at the wall, cursing himself for looking like a fool and a pervert.
"What brings you here to the Drifter?"
>He asks, desperately trying to shift the conversation.
| > Uni, after a prolonged period of trying to hide her embarrassment, looks at the questioning lady.
"S-station? Which station? T-there is two nearby."
> She answers the question but imparts more questions to the lady. Of course, she herself is also trying to divert from the topic that sent her to social paralysis.
| >>336618 >>336691
"T-Two?"
>She growls a little
"Damnit, this ain't my lucky day... do any of you two have a map of the city, I might be more lost than I thought."
| >>336695
"Sure, let me get it for you Miss"
>Emily smiles and pulls out a map from behind her counter
"There, this is where we are"
>She points to a part in Uptown, there are two station close by
| >Fringe returns to his drink, falling silent in embarrassment, hoping to hide in intoxication. He curses himself under his breath.
| >>336747
>He looks up at her with a shy smile, adjusting his jacket.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm alright. Could I get a refill?"
| >>336703
"..."
>The girl examines the map closely, frowning as she does
"Yep, still lost."
>She pulls out a black flip phone, it looks ancient
"Mind if I take a picture of it?"
| >>336814
> Uni notices the flip phone, and the phone earns her attention.
"What year is the phone from?"
> She asks, curious but also wary of how old the phones are.
| >Fringe huddles into his corner now that attention is diverted to someone else, downing his drink quickly and shaking off the burn.
| >>337214
>Emily turns to Fringe
"So, Fringe is it?"
>She seems to want let the girl with the map talk with Uni
"What brings you here tonight?"
| "That is newer than I expected—"
> Uni cuts herself, she scans the lady — trying to confirm her suspicion.
"—So tell me, miss. What brings you to use a T9 in 207X?"
| >>337245
>She lifts an eyebrow in confusion, but remains silent for a few seconds
"Not much, I guess, I'm the old school kind of girl... guess I need to introduce myself..."
>She sighs
"Reina Isuoe."
>She expands a hand
| > Uni's hand meet that of Reina's, shaking it in a formal introduction.
"Uni."
> She brings her hand back, resting it on her hip.
"A fascination for vintage hardware, I see—.. give me a moment."
> Uni gave her phone a quick scroll and tap, opening her gallery. She puts it out for Reina to see.
"I amass those hardware as a hobby myself."
> The photo depicts a cabinet full of ancient phones, typewriters, and thick laptops.
| "W-well, hobby isn't precisely what I do. But it's hard to explain otherwise."
> She beams a smile to Reina afterwards.
| >>337251 >>337252
"... I see. A friend of mine is into that stuff too."
>She looks around
"This place's a bar right? Are you sure I can stay here? I'm a minor."
| >>337224
>He lifts his head with a red face, frowning slightly.
"Looking for work, socoalising. Clearly i flubbed the latter up."
>He drops his head again, muttering.
"Can i get another refill? Lots more karmotrine this time please.."
| "Don't worry. I don't drink karmotrine or alcohol myself."
> Uni gestures Reina to sit right next to her.
"—Besides, I don't think anyone would check."
| >>337260
>She sits down
"If you say so... I do need a break."
>She rests her chin on the counter
"Been looking for someone... but now I guess I got bigger problems, getting lost and all."
>She pockets her phone
| "I can be your guide. Where do you need to go?"
> Uni turns her right, facing Reina.
"I-I'm not the best at remembering paths, but I know this area very well."
| >>337267
"..."
>She looks back at you, scanning you
"Frankly, I think even the most knowledgeable people in the city wouldn't be able to help me."
>She looks around
"Frankly, if you want to avoid trouble, I can't recommend trying to help me."
| "I do want to avoid trouble, but the 'Isoue' in your name gave me a second thought."
> Uni hints as though she already knew the conversation will happen.
"So, what is it that you are doing now?"
| >Fringe pulls his jacket up around his head, resting quietly on the table, his face warm, his mind fuzzy.
"Im sorry about all that shit."
>He mutters to nobody in particular before falling asleep silently at the bar.
| > Uni heard Fringe's apology, but thought nothing of it. She glances at him, seeing him already well asleep.
"At least you tried."
> She quietly whispers, attempting to not wake up the sleeping patron.
| (Tried what-)
| (Cause like, whats been bugging,me is im worried you thought I was trying to get in your pants lmao)
| (Amending the situation after the awkward talk.)
| (Oh ok)
| (But i didnt succeeeeed °^°)
| (But you tried and Uni sees the attempt!)
| (True, but I get the sense that thats the end of it. Just dropping everything, i dunno, im tired af and had a bit to drink so im not sire what im thinking lol)
| (Idk i was just having fun with our talk until it got weird)
| (In gonna go to bed, nihght)
| >The lilim girl, Adelaide- or syhK, slipped into the bar, softly shutting the door behind her. There was a soft glance around, before she took a lone seat at the bar.
| >After a few minutes a second lilim entered slowly, her eyes fixated on Adelaide. Seeing that it was safe she took a seat next to her.
"...syhK, right?"
| >The girl smiles softly, pastel red hair framing pale skin and green eyes.
"That's right- but call me Adelaide, for now. You're Evie?"
| >She brushes her dark hair from her eyes, examining Adelaide closely for a moment before nodding.
"You can just call me Vi."
| >She has to resist the urge to call her adorable, and hug her.
"So- can I ask where you're from? If you don't want to answer that's fine- but I need to know if someone will come for you."
| >Evie twiddles her thumbs nervously
"I don't remember much before I-- Yknow. The anon who found me ran my serial code, apparently I belong to some company.. I imagine if I was running they weren't up to anything good."
| > Uni who was idle before began noticing the two new patrons.
"My, my. Aren't you two an adorable pair."
> She comments, seeing the dark haired Lilim.
"I presume you two — or if not, one of you — are from /u/ as well?"
| >Evie switches her attention to Uni and nods
"It's quite the story."
| >She smiles softly.
"Quite the story- but I'm from /u/."
| "Enjoy the bar and the drinks. I won't intervene with your date — don't mind me too much."
> Uni presumptuously muses, knowing the two is better left to talk. She raises her glass in a gesture to welcome the new patrons.
| >Evie looks back Adelaide
"I am curious though... Why bother helping me?"
| >Adelaide softly reaches over, holding the other girl's shoulder.
"Lilim need to stick together- and if one of us-" >Referring to the collective 'us' of Lilim
"Is in trouble, and I can help- damn me if I don't."
| >Evie glances at the hand on her shoulder
"That's very kind of you"
>She looks down at her legs
"So what now?"
| >Adelaide smiles, pulling her arm back-
"Also, cute girls in need- who could say no."
>Before a response can be drawn, she's talking again.
"But now, I guess I take you home. If you're okay sleeping with me, or on the couch, that is.. Small apartment."
| >Evie let's a small smile creep onto her lips.
"Alright, whenever you're ready, then."
| "Anything you want to know about me first, Vi?" >It's a soft question, but there's a weight to it.
"Do you trust yourself to run off with a stranger?"
This thread is permanently archived
| >Once again the midnight drifter opened its doors on this regular night amongst many others, cozy in between two large buildings, with its main door set in an alleyway, the bar looked just as good as always. The same could be said about the Eyepatched bartender in a shape fitting suit, washing glasses with a smile
>A man in front of her wearing some kind of Brown coat was sipping on a drink, his large sideburns a notable feature.