This thread is permanently archived
(Setting) Midnight Drifter 2
| >>576046
"Take it as a token of my honesty."
>She sighs, her lifeless eyes still locked unto you
"And as stated, I'm a runner, of course the Police will haul my ass off. And even if I was a serial killer, which I'm not, a Vigilante of all people shouldn't by chastising anyone."
| >>576050
"Fair enough."
>she backs up
"Guess I can't prove it, sorry for the inconvenience."
>she looks around
"Thankfully enough capable people here that if you were you couldn't do anything to them. Probably."
>she walks to the door
"Well I need to talk to a source about misidenfication of people. Though can't really fault them since you match the description in entirety, but it's a big city."
>opens and walks out
>a bassy thump is heard a few seconds later
| >Emily breathes a sigh
"Thank god this was resolved peacefully"
| >>576051
>The girl shrugs and then finishes her drink before dropping a cred stick down on the counter
"Thanks Ms.Derringer, I'll come by again, when my evil clone is done killing people, hehe."
>She leaves with a wave
| > Uni had to take a moment to swallow what had happened in her stead. There too, she stays mostly unfazed — but for a different reason.
>>576052
"That was… a commotion, was it not?"
> She turns to Emily; having seen both Roy and Aikawa leave, sending her without a conversation partner.
| >somewhere along the way soleil and gem disappeared
| >>576055
"It really was..."
>She sighs
"But its over, all is good now! Keep drinking and lets have a nice night!"
>She saya cheerfully, glad the commotion was over with
| >>576057
"I'll take a Ragnarok for that, Emily."
> Uni said after walking over to an empty seat. She had readied something to say, but seems to have forgotten it through the passing time.
"The advertisement worked wonders, hm?"
| >>576058
"Ah going back to the usual? Coming right up"
>The drink makes it way to you as Emily gives you a wink
"Yeah, seems like the ad wasn't a bad idea after-all, I even got to see Aikawa again and meet some nice new people... It did get a little hectic though"
| >>576062
"There is a reason why it is my usual, after all."
> Uni takes the drink and she lifts it up as a salute.
"—Even through what happened, it is still a birthday party. Cheers to the bar and to you, Emily. May we stay prosperous in this hellish land."
> After taking her then-usual sip of the drink, she scans the bar to search for her employer — and she found her at a state better left alone.
| >>576063
"Thanks Uni, it means a lot to me to see people come back again and again, makes it hit home that I was right in choosing this path"
>She smiles, talking more like her usual self now
"I feel like I did the right thing"
| >>576065
"I'm thankful I can be part of your journey, no matter how small."
> Uni replied, returning the smile. Her fingers trace the edges of the glass as she spots the muddy reflection of herself on the water.
"Cherishing these moments have been very important lately. Knowing the city, harm might come our way unnoticed. Perhaps what occurred earlier is an example, see?"
| >Two visitors arrive! The first, a towering... person ...in pure white armor, with a sword as big as they are slung across their back. The second is a Lilim girl, with short green hair, eyes to match, and a glowing '110' on her cheek. She seems... at least a little dangerous, especially considering that rifle and her military commander-looking garb.
"...hi!" >This impression is immediately given the lie once Oenone speaks, and the armored figure lets out a muffled sigh.
| >Meanwhile Impulse has drunk all his vodka in the background and is currently wasted
>His red face reveals a scar on his cheek, this was probably not noticed before due to how much it blends in with his sober face
| >>576067
"I'm glad Uni"
>Emily smiles and giggles, embarrassed to be taken so seriously
>>576069
"Ah hello Oenone! Not orange today?"
| >>576160
"Yeah, going with a different look today." >She steps up to the counter, contemplating her order... then decides to go for the usual.
"I'll take one Sugar Rush please!"
>The armored figure follows along, but doesn't take a seat. They watch the area, evidently guarding Oenone- Strange, she doesn't usually have a bodyguard.
| >>576261
"Coming right up! I hope it suits your taste today as well"
>Emily serves Oenone with a flourish and a smile
| >>576262
"Thank you!" >The Lilim smiles, her eyes changing to a violet hue as she takes the Sugar Rush. The armored figure- Masgard -steps outside, deciding he's got nothing to do here.
"So, how's it been?" >Oenone queries, taking a sip of her drink.
| "Hello, Oeno...hic"
>Impulse greeted Oenone, obviously drunk
| >>576314
"Hi, um..." >She blinks, trying to figure out if she knows this person's name. Her irises change color again, turning into rainbow wheels as she searches her memory banks.
| >John has been sitting quietly sitting at the end of the bar, having regressed there once the commotion came and went.
>He smokes his pinky, exhaling smoke...
"Emily, can I get an energy drink?"
| "As long as it's not booze, mix it with anything, kiddo."
>John reattaches his finger, flexing his hand to get used to the finger again.
"Say, you have any smokeables in here, Emily?"
| >>576643
"Huh no we dont"
>Emily hands you an energy drink in a white can along with a raised eyebrow
"Not a lot of my patrons smoke so"
| >>576690
"Ah, I'll just keep smoking my own pinky."
>John takes the can, looking at it, he suspects it's "Monster Ultra" from the mythical country "Ukraine". He hands Emily the money for the drink, along with a *heavy* tip.
"Oh and kiddo, don't forget. It's your birthday, make sure to take a break from bartending."
| >>576696
"Wait, what?" >Oenone glances around, her eyes finally landing on John and returning to their previous violet color.
"Whose birthday is it?"
| >At this point Impulse is sleeping on the counter
>Red come back and saw Impulse sleeping
"Oh come on"
>Red then manage to carry Impulse out of the bar, leaving a cred stick on the table
| >>576731
"My, you are being straightforward with your question, John."
> Uni comments, and among many expression she chose, sarcasm fits best — though not on her.
"I do wonder as well, however. Why, if I had known I would be tempting a better gift for her."
| >>576745
"What, I'm just curious. I got to figure out what to get for little missus' here for next year."
>John defensively shrugs, not thinking much of the question.
| (bump)
| "Huh, well you are older than you look..."
>John is taken aback by her age. Muttering to himself.
>"Young enought to be my daughter..."
| >>577015
> Uni attempts to ignore what John might have said by the end of his comment — but there goes her composure that is surely lacking now.
"Emily certainly possesses the quality of an everlasting youth, hm. Though, I will say, twenty is the age wherein care must be put to preserve such quality."
| >>577021
"Verily. Wouldn't you say the same, John?"
> Uni replies with a chuckle, letting much of the same playfulness show from her.
| >>577032
>John lets out a sensible chuckle
"Unlike you, I've already got wrinkles all over."
>And says with a smirk
"So yeah, doubly so, and painfully so."
| >Fox crashes through the front door, steam coming out of the vents on his face plate. His moves seem fast and jittery, but still trying to be seen as calm. He sits down at the bar and tries to get someone to help him out.
"Uhh... uhhh... can I get something big and cold please. I need to cool down my processors quickly since I'm a little overheated."
| >>577041
"At our ages, the numbers rarely matter. I suppose you are a fit figure for a grandfather; more so than I would as a grandmother."
> Uni's comment tries to strike a boomerang in the conversation — but it hardly ever works seeing Uni's appearance that doesn't look any older than Emily.
>>577117
"My, are you all right? What has inflicted that to you?"
> Her turning her attention to the newcomer casts worry onto herself. With not much that she could do, she stayed still.
| >>577131
> Even as Fox spoke, some steam could be seen escaping his mouth. There was a noticeable but not uncomfortable warmth radiating off of him.
"Oh, I've had a lot of jobs today and my cooling system just can't keep up so it's been speeding me up which only makes the issue even worse. My line weren't meant to handle these internal temperatures in the slightest."
| >>577133
"I see — a working, honest man. Now, pray tell, are you tolerant to a tinge of alcohol?"
> Noticing the steam, Uni couldn't help but pay a slight attention to them. It doesn't display in her, but there were more than curiosity that she held.
| >>577134
> Fox rapidly shakes his head, looking both overly excited and like he's desperate to cool off faster
" I should be find while running this hot. It shouldn't ignite inside me either or maybe it'll just puff slightly. So long as I can slow down some with karmotine I think it'll be fine."
| >>577135
> Uni slides her drink to Fox. Giving a welcoming nod as it stops close to him, merely far by a slight inch.
"I will order you a new one shall that prove insufficient."
> The drink Uni gave occupies most of the volume of the glass — one judging look should be enough to tell that it has barely been drunk at all.
| >>577137
> Fox takes the drink and takes a sip, forgetting that his vents are still open, causing his initial taste to simply leak down his face and sizzle against his skin. He gives a smile and mouths thanks to Uni before closing his face up and drinking it down in one go. Some steam escapes from his mouth and a smell of karmotine goes with it.
"AHHHH. My internals are still close to the red, but now it's a lot more manageable. Thank you so much for that."
| >>577139
"My dearest pleasure. The bar currently runs its birthday; do order what you will to the lovely bartender here."
> Uni gestures to Emily. There is a hint of jest blended with content in her emotion, leaking through her relaxed voice.
"—Though, do you mind a query? I was wondering what profession you deliver. To be in such dangerous overheat, I can only imagine a picture of extreme jobs."
| >>577141
> Fox quickly turns to Emily to order
"Can I get a Big Moonblast please? I think that'll be best to finish the cooldown."
> He turns back to Uni to give him a thumbs up and answer him
"I'm a courier for a lot of different clients around all of GC. It's incredibly easy for me to get around the city just by climbing and free-running so that's typically how I do all jobs. I just carried too much today and pushed myself too far. Nothing exciting yet."
| >>577147
"A manual courier? My, here I thought I was grasping the very end of nostalgia."
> Uni softly laughed after hearing Fox describing his job. Her hand courteously put, covering her mouth to dampen her chuckling voice.
"Cooling issues — where do I remember that from? Strange; I have never been a Lilim but I am purposely recalled to such issue."
| >>577164
"It's a fun job and helps me serve my main purpose. And I don't have to hide here either."
>The heat around Fox has dissipated to the point it's unnoticeable.
"My body is like a human's own, so my internal systems have to be kept at in a threshold. I've modified a lot of my body but that's the one thing I've yet to fix..."
*His voice trails off slightly and his vents on his face open up once again, letting steam out*
| >>577175
"Oh, but why modify yourself in such ways then?"
> Uni attentiveness made her notice the steam immediately, about as quick as they evaportate from Fox.
"I have no knowledge of Lilim, much less one to aid you. However, my Master over there does possess a degree of expertise in them."
> She points to a lady far too drunk and tippy to even be considered awake.
"—If she is not blanketed by alcohol, that is."
| >>577180
>Fox turns over and see the person, who he assumes has to also be overheated and should just be left alone. He faces Uni once again and gives a nervous laugh
"My modifications are largely to make improve mobility and take impacts well, all while staying lightweight. It's hard to be a good courier when I can't maximize my own speed. My line, DFC-072s, aren't best with extreme temperatures however. I don't mind though.
| >>577180
"Yeah, I think your boss is a lightweight. And a snob."
>John bitterly comments to Uni, turning to Fox.
>>577181
"Fast, tough, and light? That's hard to acheve. But the cooling? Why not have have some liquid nitrogen capsules around with yourself?"
| >>577208
> Uni laughed at John's remark, leaving herself lightened by the nonchalant comment.
"She indeed is! I don't know what she drank, certainly. However, neither of us are professional drinker; neither of us compare to you."
> She sighs, seemingly acknowledging where John's bitterness is coming from solely from his sentence alone.
"—She released my limiter today for no precise reason. I assured her this bar is safe for such occassion; perhaps that was her supporting fact."
| >>577210
"Hey, I'm trying."
>John gives a playful nudge to Uni's comment on his drinking "habits", and does a double take at the word "Limiter"
"What do you mean limiter?"
| >>577214
"My Master gifted me this body with a limiter. It is akin to a… what would you call that device again? A resist… resistor?"
> Uni explained, but the clarity of explanation leaves a lot to be desired. As unclear as it is, she shakes her head, giving up at her attempt.
"Have you ever been through a heavy sedation, John? It calms the beating heart and emotion; that is the limiter activated."
| >>577234
"Oh, heavy sedation is near monthly for me, but who is your master? I thought you had a diffrent goal when we first met."
>John looks more and more worried for Uni, doing a quick look back at Uni's boss. Whatever she was called.
| >>577293
"I possess much of the same goal, indeed — but the damage was done in great number. You risked your life for my own; I'm not willing for the same sacrifice to happen again."
> Uni ambivalently spoke. To her, the topic is thinly sliding over sentimentality, as proven by her soft tone.
"Much of me hasn't changed, John. The limiter only cages me from being a deranged prophet."
| "Yeah, I gue- wait what?"
>John does a rare triple take, nearly spitting out his drink.
"Since when will you become a deranged prophet? I thought that was my thing!"
| >>577311
> Uni laughed at the response, releasing much of the tension from the air around.
"Both of us are, John! Both of us are. We reek of insanity then, and still do now."
> She helplessly giggled, even while covering her mouth to muffle her voice. After a moment, she sighed to contain her composure again — turning her laughter to a smile.
"Indeed it is. I do think everything has been better since — I have you to thank for it, of course!"
| "Ah, you are giving me too much credit, I just do a few small things here and there."
>John blushes, scratching the back of his head.
"Still, I think I beat you in reeking of insanity, I'm down an arm, after all."
>John looks back at Svetlana, making sure she's occupied.
"So how did you end up with *her*?"
| >>577208
"The temperature shock could seriously damage some of the more precise bits in my body, so I can't do it at all, but I've tried once before. It was not a fun day. At least I can adapt my body as best as I can."
| >>577323
"A great chapter of it is a mystery to me. She was never the storyteller — but I trust her having good intents."
> Uni gazes at the person in question, then back to John.
"My memory is distant, but when I was revived, she was already within my reach — she… hugged me close. Then and there, I knew what she did; and I was aware my life was there because of her hands."
| >>577330
"Yeah, keep one open near one of your intake points, but not pour it in, the air should be cool enough to help. Or you could reduce weight to reduce power draw on your systems, making for a cooler system?"
>John begins to spiral in to mechanichal thought...
| >>577331
>John looks at Uni's eyes, deep in to them as she says it, and then turns back to look at Svetlana, and back to Uni.
"What's the last thing you remember before that? Because I see no good in her."
| >>577332
> Fox ponders this as well, wondering how it could work.
"I'll have to see where I can snag some and if I can even tuck them somewhere safe. I knew a DT-01 who used an Argon-based cooling system, but he worked in furnaces so I don't know if that would even work for me."
| >>577336
"She is a brutish person, indeed. I can see your disdain and they are warranted."
> Uni replies John's eyes with that of her own, relaying her honesty to the two windows of hers.
"To answer your question, I… don't remember much — though the day was clear, what happened after Ea brought us down was not. Furthermore, if her words were to be believed, I lost an escaped parts of myself. It's silly, isn't it?"
| >>577338
"If you can convert your system to do air to water cooling, there will be a bit of wheight added, but you'll be able to puch yourself harder."
>A holo-John speaks from behind her...
>>577339
"You lost escaped parts? What does that mean?"
>John initially squints his brows in lack of understanding, as question permiate his head.
>"Escaped parts?"
>"Lost?"
>"Who is the master?"
>"How did her boss find her?!"
>They fill John's head, as his vision blurrs and tunnels...
| >>577343
"John? Are you doing all right?"
> Uni tries to snap John back to reality, worrying at his long silence afterwards.
"Let's leave the chatter for last, if you aren't. I'm never accustomed to blabbering technical terms should it not be under my knowledge."
| >>577345
>John blinks a few times, regaining his control, he tries to brush it off with an excuse.
"Yeah, sorry, I haven't had good sleep lately."
>He puts a a hand on Uni's shoulder, reasuring her, and balancing himself from falling.
"I'm just worried about you, that's all. I just can't shake the felling of something fucky."
| >>577347
"I understand — however, I am as lost as you are. I'm sure the same applies to my Master. It's a vast unknown for all of us."
> Uni holds John's hand, trying to do much of the same to John. Her hand could only be described as a cold, seemingly bloodless hand — it registers as a temperature the ambient temperature.
"It's cold, isn't it? She said there was a price to pay, but I'm sincerely certain this was not what she gave away."
| "I... why? Who is Master?"
>John looks incresingly frustrated in his confusion, edges of his sight bluring, his grip tightening.
| >>576729
"...oh. Happy birthday!" >Holographic confetti appears around Oenone's head, along with equally holographic balloons. It's a jarring sight, given the menacing outfit she's wearing.
>Speaking of menacing, Masgard is back! He... doesn't exactly sit, but rather kind of crouches next to Oenone and, in a very deep voice adorned with an extremely thick Russian accent, makes his order.
"One beer please. As big as you can make 'em."
| >>577351
"It's… the lady over there, has that not been clear to you?"
> Uni takes another glimpse at her 'Master', but she didn't release John's tightening hand. She too, was feeling the confusion.
| >>577354
>John takes deep breaths, as his hologram deactivates, and manouvers around Uni's "Master"
"I don't think so Uni."
>He lets go of Uni, and relaxes, every breath he takes makes the mudded thoughts in to clear ideas.
"I have something to do."
| >>577347
>Fox gives a thankful wave
"Thanks for the tips. I am really going to have to see what I'm going to do next, but I am doing okay now at least. I think. My internals aren't nearing critical now."
| >>577358
> The 'Master' — Lucetta — is personifying the word 'intoxicated'. Her face is planted on the counter, and the glass on her hand is empty, save for a few drops.
> Uni on the other hand, watches as John's hologram takes a closer position to her Master. Worry strikes her, but she chose to stay put.
| >>577360
"Uni, don't take anything at face value anymore. Something is very wrong."
>John remains cryptic. Could he be going insane again? Or is his hunch right?
"Emily, can you check in the back for some more energy drinks? I'll take it on the go with me."
>He atempts to not ruin the birhtday party, as he makes his way, while his hologram drone goes back in to the slot on his arm.
"Lucetta? A moment of your time?"
| >>577363
> Uni only froze, hearing John's words were enough to convince her there is something wrong, even if her intuition has warned her beforehand.
> Lucetta didn't respond. Partly because she doesn't seem to even be conscious. John's question falls into deaf ears.
| >>577366
"Miss Lucetta. Are you awake?"
>John nudges her, restraining himself from pushing her over.
| >>577367
> Lucetta jerks up. Her face is flush with red, a colour contrasting her pale white skin. She scans her environment, finding John by her side. However, she only stared at him; either trying to recognise him or is trying her best to ignore him.
| >>577368
"A moment of your time?"
>He sits down next to her.
>"Punch her."
>"Just Kick her already."
>"What are you waiting for?"
| >>577369
"I'm not in the greatest mood. What do you need?"
> Her reply is kept as brisk as possible as she manages to spot Uni on her seat with terror on her face.
| >John grabs Lucetta by the back of her neck, bringing her closer, tight enough to hurt, but not tight enought to bruse.
"I strongly *fucking* recommend you have some fucking respect, for starters. And to continue, if you hurt Uni again, I will won't harm you, no, no no. I will flail your mind in to little *fucking* strands of conciousness. I warn you once. Don't. Fuck. About, 'Master'."
>He lets her go in discust, and stands up, dusting himself off.
| >>577372
> Lucetta only let herself react with a scoff. Hearing John and seeing Uni scsred, topping with a glass of her alcohol was not enough to impress her this night.
"How much do you know to say all of that? What made you be her white-knight? No, does she even need one? Did you ask?"
> She squints at John.
"People like you disgust me. Do you want to assume whatever from your side alone?"
| >John lets out a scoff.
"What did I tell you, have some respect. Maybe not for me, but for your slave, as I'm sure you treat her as such."
>He looks back at her, her drunken face.
"If I disgust you, then maybe you should look in the mirror now, maybe you'll see my refection."
>He laughs at her smugness, her false superiority.
"I hate assuming. I just do things as I want to, and deal with them later. Like I will with you."
>He leaves through the entrance.
| "Meanie."
> Lucetta muttered under her breath. After the confrontation, she is as unchanged as she was before — though, now she has a handful to say to Uni, whom worry was haphazardly trying to salvage the conversation.
"Stuff it, Uni. Let him leave."
"It's a misunderstanding on my end. I will explain it to him and—…"
> One sharp leer from her now-glowing red eyes was enough to make Uni sit, forcing her to stop pacing about.
"You've got good friends, Uni. That one's good-er."
| >Masgard grips his sword, adjusting its position on his back. (bump)
This thread is permanently archived
| (Continuationnn!!)
-Emily