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[Setting] Uptown Literature Fair, p2
| >As the diagnostic program loads and begins running, Aikawa manages to turn her head towards Roy, and mumbles something barely understandable.
"Owl... wasn't the... owl..."
"Huh?"
>She finally manages to slap a hand across the upper half of her face, keeping the world dark and blank-- much more comfortable, when she's like this. She sighs heavily.
"Wasn't the owl that got you this bad... happened after..."
"...?"
>How can that be? That's the only thing he can remember...
| >>647971
>The foxy woman, Eacian, walks over to Aikawa after handing off the blanket.
>She bends down and puts a hand on Aikawa's forehead
"You should keep your calm, and avoid talking too much for now, lest you wish your augments to go haywire again."
>She turns to CN who was running his diagnostic.
"Is there anything We can do to help, the woman seems rather frazzled"
| >>648107
"Uh... I guess just keep her head elevated and on something soft in case this ends up being some weird dump shock, I'm almost done with the diagnostic."
| >>648110
>Eacian nods and then promptly sits in a seiza stance, tapping her thighs
"The We shall have her rest right here, do You have a problem with this one's proposal, Lass?"
>Her tail stands at attention as she smiles at Aikawa
| >After being given the blanket by the fox girl, Finn's wrapped herself up. Her swaddled form screams babushka or maybe match selling girl.. If she looked young enough to fit the part. She toddles over to the group and kindly implores what the heck these two lovebirds were doing before Aikawa was so rudely unplugged.
| >>648107 >>648110 >>648132 >>648135 >>648285
>Aikawa twists her neck in a way that looks... almost painful, and jams a shoulder into her ear. She quickly drags the hand she's got splayed over her face to cover the other one, getting irritated as questions and unsolicited pieces of advice are fired her way.
"ShhshhSHHSHH shutupshutupshutup--shut the FUCK UP--"
>She winces at her own raised voice, then continues, grumbling:
"All so... >>>fucking loud, jesus fucking>>>christ..."
| >>648110
>The diagnostic, it seems, has come up clean. Aikawa requests access, Roy grants it, data's transferred... it all looks neat and tidy. Nothing's hiding among the records that shouldn't be there. The only thing that could be considered remotely out of place is that, at present, there's still some increased activity in the amygdala and hypothalamus... despite the fact that the connection between the two of them (and thus exposure to noxious stimuli) has ceased.
| >>648285
>Roy seems to start at Finn's question-- he flushes a brilliant red and glances at Nano with a horrified expression on his face. He stammers uselessly for a moment before turning back to the woman and blurting:
"W-we're not--!!"
>Fortunately for Roy, Aikawa doesn't seem to be in a state where she's bothered by Finn's referral to them as "lovebirds". She interrupts:
"Sharing what he saw earlier... sensory data, 'nstuff... re-lived the experience, or whatever..."
| >>648316
"Were you unharmed?"
> Uni comes closer to the two. She wishes she held something to help, when she approaches, her expression has became hard to swallow as anything else but sour and forlorn.
"Are you… perhaps need any form of assistance I can provide?"
| >>648312
"This is weird..."
>CN ponders to himself
"The diagnostic is clean but her brain is still acting like shes experiencing things."
| >Nano, meanwhile, is wondering why Roy is flabbergasted. He was close to petering out in the murmur of the conversation.
"...?"
>He tilts his head at him, then look up at Finn, who he immediately recognizes even by the way she looks now. He goes to speak, but is interrupted by her frantic waving. /Later/, she seems to communicate.
| **looks
| >>648320
>Roy casts a cursory glance around the growing circle closing in on Aikawa, looking uneasy. Is all this really necessary? He holds a hand to the side of his face, picking a point on the ground at which to stare as he works to factor the new information CN's just provided them with into this whole situation. Where does it fit?
"... N-not harmed, no..."
>He seems to be having a slightly easier time talking, now that he's focused on something.
| >>648330 >>648336
"O-oh... I-I can't-- while s-she's--"
>Roy cuts himself off as Aikawa grunts and starts feeling around beneath her, looking for something to support herself with as she tries to sit up.
"... The hell is that...?"
>This dirt feels an awful lot like denim... She must not realize she's being held up by somebody. Her equilibrium's been thrown way, way off. She stops patting Nano's knee, and lets her arm hang limp, sighing before she finishes for Roy:
| "... Doesn't experience it while I am. Why >>>I was deaf 'n blind to the world while... he wasn't."
>Roy nods, confirming that her explanation is correct.
"Woulda been the other way around if >>>he was seeing mine."
>Roy looks up at Finn, then back at Aikawa, not wanting her to brush off the woman's query. He kind of hums something, which prompts the paramedic to speak further.
"... No. Didn't get through the whole thing. Don't think I did, anyway."
"You don't think you did?"
| >>648336
>Finn blanks. Does he mean that she would also be puking on her shoes? Either way, his reply provides the clue she needs.
| >>648344
>In fact, Aikawa's reply confirms it. She puts on a thoughtful expression.
"Oh, why. No wonder.. You can't stop that early. All that does is give you a reaction."
| >>648344
"Well what's important you and Roy are okay."
>CN says, unplugging his deck from Aikawa's port.
| >>648330 >>648327
>Roy seems troubled-- why wouldn't she be sure she had gotten through all of it? His expression is one of disappointment and humiliation when Aikawa answers him.
"... Had your eyes closed for... a lot of it. Lot of what people were saying was... really unclear. Couldn't hear much."
"Ah..."
>Roy hangs his head.
"What I said... the owl-- not what got you this bad. All the..."
>She gestures vaguely with the arm that's hanging.
"... panic. Started after."
| >>648349
"After...?"
>She'd nod, but her head's being held still by about three people right now, so instead she hums an affirmative.
"... Yeah. Some kinda argument happening-- that started it. Pulled the plug few minutes after you puked."
>She sighs heavily, and does her best to direct her voice towards Finn.
"... Sorry he ruined your jacket, Ane-san."
>Roy seems very confused by this apology. Her jacket? What about his shoes?
| >>648351
"*sigh* I told them to stop arguing..."
>CN shakes his head, somehow feeling vindicated in his actions.
| >>648351
>Finn is just as confused.
"I.. Erm.. I didn't think he was watching that. Come to think of it, I've never met anyone that could actually show how disgusted they were by me."
>She figured she would be likelier to meet someone who could cry on command.
| >Despite his earlier cluelessness, Nano has sat up straight and is behaving attentively. He bumps into Roy's shoulder, then tries to scoot as much away from him without dumping Aikawa in the process.
"...Maybe we should get going now,"
>He mumbles quickly.
| >>648358 >>648359
"... Watching >>>what? The fuck are you talking about?"
>That throbbing headache that pairs perfectly with dumpshock is starting to set in-- making Aikawa a little more coarse in her speech than usual.
"...?"
>Roy's quiet for a moment. Maybe Aikawa's right-- maybe he did end up vomiting on Finn-- when she was helping him sit down, perhaps? Based on the dots Aikawa's connected, he decides to apologize, too.
"... S-sorry.
| >>648364
>Finn blinks. She also furrows her eyebrows. Is something being confused here? She thinks so. There wasn't any need for apologies, if anything she would be expecting a thank you.
"The owl.. Boy?"
>She says, slowly. Given how she called Roy similar earlier, she hopes this doesn't make it even more confusing.
| >>648366
"What >>>about him?"
>Aikawa finally raises herself off of Nano's lap, able to kneel on her own with some conscious effort. Opening her eyes still doesn't seem like a great idea, though, so they remain shut.
"Saw him >>>once, right after Walker got swooped. Heard his voice, and yours-- and then,>>>he hurled on you."
>She jerks a thumb towards Roy, who grimaces, quite embarrassed.
| >>648363
>Roy flinches as Nano bumps into him in the midst of what's evolving into a seemingly complicated puzzle. He looks the man over for a minute, then nods slowly before half-parroting:
"... Maybe, yeah."
| >>648369
>What a way to misremember!
"No, /he/ did. All.. 'Walker' did was get his own shoes messy."
| >While Finn tries to work this out, Nano sounds relieved.
"Ought to tell everyone. I can't get either of you out of here if they're all in the way."
| >>648372
"I think it may be best to think of it once our heads are a bit more calm and collected. After all, you both burned a lot of energy, you're not gonna figure it all now."
>CN decides to add his hat to the table.
| >>648379
>Nano nods. He tries to see if he can still feel his arms.. The rest of his body comes after.
"Would you mind helping me, CN?"
| >>648376
"... 'He'? Kid with the blue jacket?"
>... Who is no longer present to clear up this big misunderstanding? Aikawa, unaware of this, takes a deep breath and hollers:
"Guy with the owl-- you puke on Ane-san over here?!"
>Roy hurries to quiet her-- tapping her on the back a few times, he tells her in a hushed tone:
"G-gone, he's gone, Ei."
>>648379
>Aikawa sighs heavily... but, seems to agree. Shakily, she tries to get back on her feet.
| >>648386
> Fox breathes a sigh of relief as he sees his friends recover. Although he really couldn't follow along with what everyone else was talking about, he was thankful it was now over. He stands back up fully and pats himself down, content when he pulls a crisp looking card out of his pockets. He takes a step towards Aikawa and helps her up slowly.
"君が大丈夫ね?" Maybe this might help you if you ever need assistance later."
> He hands over his business card with a smile
| >>648397
>Aikawa cracks open one eye, then the other, squinting at Fox as she tries to come to terms with the fact that after watching both her /and/ her roommate nearly black out... he's handing her his business card. The fuck is /this/? Does he want her to /call/ the next time one of them gets fucked up so he can show up with popcorn and 3D glasses handy?!
"..."
>All the insults being slung around in her head stay there, surprisingly. She groans, and reaches for the card...
| >>648397
>... and, misses. She misses several times, pinching at and then full force grabbing fistfuls of air. She's still seeing double. Roy decides to spare her further embarrassment, and takes the card from Fox, a rueful grin on his face.
"... Thank you."
| >>648403
"Always! I don't know much about medicine, but I know enough to know getting it places fast is important. I'm at least good at that. It was also nice to see you again, even if it wasn't ideal..."
> He does wish he could have done more, not realising he did more than he probably thinks
"なんでもない. I'll be off now and not hanging around ledges while I'm at it."
> He gives a bow and moves to find Roy... who never did return his credstick as far as Fox knew
| > Attentively listening, Uni sees the conversation being lobbed from one recipient to another. To others, it appears she is formulating a very well-thought sentence, or if at short time, a response that fulfills her need at the moment. She hasn't broke her silence once during this.
"..."
> If only her eyes were working; a window to her thoughts would be a great help determining the meaning of her silence.
| >>648402
>Aikawa's hair is stroked as her head fills with insults, turning around would reveal the hand belonged to Eacian who had a soft smile on her face.
>She turns to face Roy
"We shall leave her to you then, maybe Our help was superfluous this time around hm?"
>She slowly gets, her tail wagging behind her. her eyes turn to Fox.
"We hope the boy delivered what he had to."
| >>648601
"Well even so, I don't think the meeting was for nothing."
>CN grins
"After all I owe you some cookies from home still."
| >>648424
>"Not hanging around ledges"? Roy spends a moment trying to make heads or tails of Fox's comment, before finally throwing in the towel-- he's too mentally spent and emotionally taxed to even attempt digesting something like this. He simply nods, trusting that the lilim will keep his word, and gives a little wave as he leaves to find Ray.
>>648427
>His eyes wander hesitantly towards where Uni stands, and his gaze lingers at her feet. He can't raise it to meet the HMD.
| >>648601
>At first, Aikawa flinches as Eacian runs her fingers through her hair... but after a few caresses, seems to relax a little with the fox woman's petting. It's certainly more pleasant to focus on than the growing pounding in her temples.
"Ah... w-we... appreciate it, regardless."
>Roy murmurs to her, and Aikawa hums softly in agreement, leaning into him hard. They're both exhausted.
| >>649057
"Rise."
> Uni commands Roy. Her voice is quivering, her posture breaks the semblance of elegance she possesses. It is frail, given her clenched hands, holding onto the thin line of belief she owns. It is weak, she exudes nothing but vulnerabilities.
> Still, she gave way to play this persona.
"Were you not pleased, with what you see? Was my existence… not to your liking? Am I- am I different, from your… hopes?"
> She bit her lips; they weren't hers.
"Am I not Uni?"
| >>649067
>With a hint of reluctance, Roy does as he's told. He swallows hard, before turning to both Aikawa and Nano, giving them each a pleading look. "Go on without me. I have something I need to take care of, first," is what he seems to be trying to communicate. He turns back to Uni-- kneeling in front of her as he had before-- and says slowly, deliberately:
"Not... the... Uni I knew."
>That's not dishonest. Nor does it somehow invalidate her current identity... he thinks.
| >>649081
"... That's... >>>okay."
>He says it with such weight-- such a little word, so often used casually, meaninglessly... he tries desperately to make it so much more.
"I am..."
>He falters, losing his train of thought for a second before shaking his head, and continuing:
"I >>>like--"
>Roy's voice cracks. He clears his throat.
"--that you >>>continue to exist."
| >>649083
> Tears fell.
"I- I see."
> Tears that weren't hers.
"Then-"
> These tears are that of Uni's. Not hers.
"-Then…"
> With those short words, she is unable to reciprocate anything. The head mounted display that sat between her emotions; this screen, had it not been here, would she see clearly?
"What is— what-… what was the meaning to our connection? If— I have… no reason to-"
> Weak. Valueless. Undeserving of this name.
> She bit her lips once more.
| >>649089
>He couldn't say he was expecting that to go over /well/, but... this is definitely not what he'd been hoping for. He panics. Should he try again, or will that just make things worse? Could they get any worse, at this point? What's scaring Roy is... he has no idea what he's got to lose by screwing this up further.
"U-Uni..."
>He closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. He has to get this right. He has to.
| >>649094
>Their connection-- they'd shared a love of the arts-- that's not gone. That's something that can bring lives that have drifted apart together again.
"All..."
>Maybe with this, he can extend a hand.
"... All the world’s a stage,"
>Maybe with this...
"... and all the men and women, merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and...
>He pauses.
"... one woman, in her time, plays many parts."
>Please let that mean /something/. Please.
| >>649095
"... This is just... one more... for you--"
>He lays a hand over his chest.
"-- for me, too, in a way."
>...
"... I would... like to play them together, somehow."
| >>649098
"… I—"
> She steps back from Roy. Hearing Roy make his words, hearing him embellish his emotions into them; they would be the pride of a poet, yet, sadly — she is only a bystander, an audience, and a no one of the stage.
"I- I fret… I— I am afraid. I… I have- I have seen the curtains close; I have— I know of the limelights' dim."
> Uni couldn't keep her straight posture anymore. She crumbles and her head lowers, mourning her defeat.
"Yet, I do not know—"
| "—I do not know… if- If the story ends. If you were hurt. If this world were to vanish."
> Her voice grows stronger, but it was unable to hold her emotions any longer.
"-I am… and I fear of… never meeting, but I fear- I fear most of— the time unchanged. The time I am never allowed to see."
> Her lips form a gradient of doubts. They weren't continuing her words, and neither will she. But they continue—
"I fear mine ends. Y-yet, I fear more of yours…"
| >>649100
>Oh, no. Oh no, no, no-- that's... that's not what this was supposed to accomplish. That's not how this was supposed to go. Instead of building a bridge, he's only helped it go up in flames, and it was already so fragile-- built of matches...
"..."
>Roy holds a hand to his mouth, thoroughly vexed. What to do?
"..."
>How awful it is, having time you've lost-- time that doesn't belong to you anymore-- come back begging for your ownership. How cruel, this world...
| >>649102
>When he can take his inner turmoil no longer, Roy bows his head deeply. He doesn't always know what the answer is, what the right thing to do is... he's human. So, at a time like this...
"Uni..."
>... it seems like the only thing he can do anymore is beseech the goddess he once knew to share her wisdom.
"I-I... I don't... I-I don't know how to help you."
>A moment of his own weakness, in the middle of hers.
"Please. What... what can I do?"
| >>649113
> Those words had everything Uni yearns for. For what it is, a smile should have been drawn in place of the sickening frown; however, were she always the one to hold the bellows of melancholy longer than it needs to be?
"I-If possible-"
> Slowly, she began to recall.
"—I… I want to-"
> This bitter taste she felt for this time; the truth had the taste of a rotten apple.
"Wrought my future— as… this name I wore. I-I—…"
> She shakes her head.
"Thank… you—"
|
|
| >>649202
"... I-I understand."
>Head still lowered, Roy nods solemnly. The best thing she can do at this point, is move forward. How easy that'll be for her is... very much subject to speculation.
"If there's... anything I can do to help you forge this new path... please, let me know."
>Would she? After all of this, would Uni /really/ want to reach out to him? If he were in her place, he'd just want to retreat into himself further...
| >>651482
> Uni takes a deep breath. The decision was and still is difficult, and her body would no sooner lie if she were to try and tell truths.
"F-fiction meant to amuse... should be close to- reality."
> She walks closer to Roy. This shorter body has a shorter gait. This body had made her forgot, how pleasurable it is to live and die. To rest, if she had ever felt that way. To live, if she could be awoken from this slumber.
"I-I.. do not— want to burden you... as a friend."
| >>651513
"..."
>Roy falters. If that's what she feels is best for her, who is he to argue? To do that would be implying he knows better, and... he doesn't.
"..."
>He doesn't know anything, really.
"... I see. Alright."
>If Uni feels that her presence in his life would be to his detriment, if she wants to maintain a distance... who is he to say no? Who is /he/ to ask her to grin and bear pain that he couldn't possibly fathom?
"..."
>He can't do that to her. He won't.
| >>651552
>Roy rises out of his stoop, shakily walking his hands up his legs as he works to stand at his full height. He wobbles for just a moment, regaining his bearings much more quickly than one might expect.
"..."
>Absentmindedly, Roy brings a hand to his chest, rubbing at a sore spot that, in the back of his mind, he knows his fingers can't soothe. Wearing a melancholic grin, he says softly:
"... Be well, Uni. I wish you my best."
>With that, he reluctantly takes his leave.
| >>651556 >>651513
>CN looks at the scene, somewhat confused but getting the gist of it. He looks to Nano, then Aikawa, the retreating Roy, and finally to Uni, as he finally says in earshot to them all.
"So Uni, it's been a bit. Didnt know you knew Roy before. Want to catch up in our place later? Obviously after I get some books of course. Do you have any scientific manuals by any chance?"
| >>651556
"..."
> 'Farewell', she wanted to say. 'Good bye', was all in her mind. Racing against these thoughts were the regret of being unable to remember. What they had done before, what she can't reach, what she forgot — these weren't her goals, but it felt to her like a failure, when she was unable to obtain them.
> So, instead, she chose silence. Silence, because she herself has yet to know much.
> She let Roy be; the simplest farewell.
| >>651557
> CN flinches Uni. She was startled, but all in good conscience now, as she turns to him and faces away from Roy.
"A-ah! C… CN. What may you seek, in this timid library? Any… specifics I shall seek?"
> Her voice was still groggy, in haste. She wasn't able to say much before they crack.
| >>651748
> Uni eases, slightly. The great difference in height made the patting easier than it would be.
"I.. I do—… I perhaps know where the cat had been killed."
> She walks over to the rightmost shelves, from a row, she picks several books — some with papers jutting out from the cover, but most are of recent publications - if the pristine and well-kept condition they pose were any indication.
| > She offers the books to CN. In a stacked position, it is hard to see their titles.
"These are.. not of advancements and progressions… merely history and-- such."
> The weight of the books may have overencumbered her.
| >>651756
"That's fine."
>CN mercilessly takes the piles on the floor and takes a look through them
"You need to know what people did to advance the tech right?"
>He looks up to her and grins
"So about my offer, want to come over for dinner?"
| >>651765
> Few books regarding cyberbrains, cryptography, zero-days, social engineering, and quantum overflows. They are written either as papers, journals, and most as a reviews of past issues — all dating back years or decades ago.
"I…"
> She gazes off — assuming that her eyes would scatter if they were visible behind the head unit — and her words trail.
> Roy will be there, will he?
"I have no reason to deny nor refuse. Please welcome me then."
| >>651773
"Good. Now I wont need to pretend that I need help carrying all these books home!"
>CN winks
"How much for all of these?"
| >>651777
"Please-- I do not set a price for knowledge. That is a merchant's job, not poet's nor writer's."
> Uni smiles. She takes a good take at the books, taking one and reciting the very first opening line without opening it.
"… We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty to be done."
> She puts the book back down, giving a hefty ambivalence.
"Was he such an interesting fellow, to have broken the locks of an enigma…"
| >>651779
"Well that is the basis of the pursuit of knowledge. Finding out the mysteries of the world, even if it may not seem worth it at first."
| >>651786
"No mystery is worth its price. They do not grant a rainbow of gold."
> Uni seems to have returned to her regular self. Despite this, her act lacks finesse, and her words missing her own touch.
"Curiosity kills the fool. The fool, are to search for mysteries. Yet -- only the fool will become the philosopher."
| >>651792
"Well the fool who become philosophers tend to last long enough cause others help them out and remind them when they're being *too* much of a fool."
| >>651795
"That was not the case for many..."
> Uni paces to one of the bookshelf. She puts her hand in one, seemingly random book, and took an empty paper from its centre -- was she always aware of its existence?
"The fools who failed to write become no more than fools. This is the pursuit of knowledge; it is to discover and uncover, and to have it be heard. Harken, not the voice of the birds, but the ears that listen."
| >>651799
"Hmm... well that doesnt have to be the case for us at least. We just got to promise to listen to each other then right?"
| >>651807
"Listen and proceed. Listen and remember. Listen; and write."
> Uni's empty piece of paper were empty, and always empty. She has no means to write anything onto it.
"If a knowledge is gained, then a knowledge is lost; what differs an expert and a fool is proof of written construct."
> However, as she presses onto the paper, a paper cut is formed. With the blood available, she wrote quickly and atrociously,
> "LIES; WRITE"
> Blood was not the perfect ink.
| >>651830
"Then follow your advice and write then. Though uh... I recommend writing with ink next time."
>CN reaching into the medkit in his bag and offers her a bandage
| >>651830
"Who is to say I'm the philosopher here?"
> Uni smiles, and shows the wound used to write. It hasn't dried, but the blood smeared through the tiny digit hasn't yet dried from the wound.
"Thank you."
> She takes the bandage, patching herself as soon as she made the wound.
"--I do hope that was a telling worthy of attention. I.. needed to do so… my mind is— was clouded."
> She spoke in a lower, less audible voice. Her posture too, lowers from before. Timid, and frail.
| >>651833
>He smiles
"Well if it *is* still clouded, maybe a change of scenery is needed. Get your mind off things for a bit. It certainly was a hectic day."
| >>651848
"Verily."
> With herself idle, she takes a certain look at the fair. It's not too crowded, but she distrusts the only staff she has, apparent by the slightest frown forming when she spots Ray still trying to memorise the shelves.
"When shall this dinner occur, if I may so ask?"
| >>651853
"Mmm... I'm sure it can still take a bit if you need to finish up here. Given our household time it takes a bit to cook after all."
| >>651857
"I promise it will be no later than two hours, and no sooner thirty minutes. Shall it be too long, an address will not be a problem."
> Uni tears cleanly the paper she wrote. She hands it over to CN, and she gestures Ray to come through a wave.
"Ray, if you have any writing instrument, it will be of most—"
> He cuts Uni's words and offers it to CN. A simple ballpoint, to write in black.
"I do have that at all times."
"How bafflingly convenient, Ray. Surprise me more."
| >>651896
"That's fine. Either way I'll just invite you to the IRC so we can keep in touch."
>CN pulls out his phone to invite you
"Either this just gives me time to skim through my reading."
| >>651952
"... I-I have no phone."
> Uni scratches her cheeks, giving a deliberately awkward laughter. Ray goes ahead and offers his phone, though Uni quickly rejected it.
"My computer, by the desk where I write, shall be sufficient. Alas, that requires myself to be present at all time."
| >>651954
>CN thinks, then snaps his fingers.
"Well in that case we'll just have to buy you one on the way back later then! Problem solved."
| >>651956
"Such ways with money..."
> Uni is struck in awe by how fast CN calls for a purchase. She turns to Ray, with face finally saying an expression that brightens the atmosphere.
"Gee. Guess I'll see you around in /u/ then."
"It shall be my triumphant return!"
> She says with a proud voice.
| >>651961
"T-thank you! I am indebted in more ways than enough."
> Uni's voice is filled with joy, even if it was temporary. She holds no more despair in this moment, as if the day had renewed. The phone is, to her, a window for something important.
"It's just a phone— just pay him again later."
> Ray states, leaving room for Uni to glare at him.
"It is not mere monetary value, but respect and dignity, Ray."
| >>651963
"No thanks needed, just helping an old friend out. It's important to be connected is what I say right?"
| >>651965
> Her hands cover her lips, this is a surprise certainly, but it wasn't only due to the topic at hand.
"I-I wonder now—.. you were quick to recognise me, CN. My presence has been diminished as of late. Your wit never cease to indulge surprise from me."
| >>651967
>CN shrugs
"I got eyes, I can spot someone I know when I see them. I tend not to worry when someone in this city supposedly ends up dead cause most of the time it doesnt stick. I mean look at me, half the board is convinced I'm dead after our last attack in the safehouse."
| >>651970
> Uni's expression flatten at the mention of death. It doesn't stick to her, that is true, but did it do it for her past self?
"That is rather surprising. I prefer for I be remembered for my old body -- one that is nay weaker than this."
> She chuckles. Some things have definitely changed.
"Though, this one isn't dreadful, so to speak."
| >>651972
"I can do that. Though I'll be honest, I'm just glad you're still around. That's what's most important for me."
| >>651983
"I am pleased to hear that from a friend."
> The topic of friends carry her emotions elsewhere, but her smile is kept, tempered and willed to stay.
"Right, Uni-"
> Ray interrupts the two. He makes a gesture of tapping towards something in his face.. he did it twice, too.
"Boss said that thing has peanuts for battery. If you're going somewhere, you should.. charge yourself?"
> This statement made sure to surprise Uni, too. Of course, this is something out of habit—
| >>651993
"Mesmerise yourself. Seats are disclosed behind the centre shelf. Ray shall guide you to it, if it is much trouble to you."
> Uni points to a small gap near the centre of the U formation. It wasn't readily visible before, especially to those lacking perception, but it does seem like a few seats and chairs are laid out there.
| >>652087
> Ray follows CN to the area, mostly after receiving a prompt request from Uni. The girl is nowhere to be seen now, having mostly disappeared to a building nearby.
"Yo."
> He waves and takes a seat, bringing just a single book with him.
"Glad you made it here."
| >>652305
"So, my boss says to make any note about anyone connected to Uni. Are you that close with her?"
> Ray flip a single page, hiding his face behind the book. He sometimes adjust the pin tying his brunette hair, moving them about to keep his field of vision intact.
"This isn't digging privacy. Uni works my boss too... I guess. We just need to make sure she's all there."
| >>652509
"Well yes, we first met sometime... 2 years ago?"
>CN muses
"Needless to say we know each other somewhat."
| >>652598
"Huh."
> Ray reads through his book, giving a long pause for thought to come by, and be released upon, but none has come for the next five minutes for him.
"... Didn't completely expect her to be... like that."
| >>652626
"Oh you know.. having-- having the body of my boss?"
> He says slowly, in a pace to be understood, to make sure nothing misses CN.
"You're reading on this stuff right? There's gotta be repercussions for doing this."
| >>652636
"I mean I'm far from an expert, aside from my left eye this is all original. Uni wouldnt be the first to do so however given past experience."
| >>652643
"Yeah.. I'm just worried about boss now, that's all. No hard feelings for your friend though."
> He heaves a deep sigh, the papers on the book lightly flutters, and he swipes the page to the next number.
"If you can. Just a rude suggestion from me. Maybe move her to a shell? Like Lilims?"
| >>652757
"I don't know. I really don't know."
> Ray clearly hadn't thought of the repercussions, or ramifications, or even the fact of consent. He glossed them over, hiding this all behind his expression, well-hidden behind that book.
"Why boss is doing all this is beyond me..."
| >>652765
"Sometimes you dont need a reason, sometimes you just want to do something."
>CN states, closing one of the books, and picking up another one from the pile.
| >>652786
"Yeah, but.. this all just seem like suicide to me."
> He pauses, noticing the closed book. He scoffs; he hasn't even finished one, let alone take a second.
"What, you're going to give yourself to someone else? Someone you don't even know? Or.. someone you BARELY know."
| >>652790
"Like the hell I'd let her do that."
>Its CNs turn to scoff back
"Possessions arent the only thing she can be remembered by. Why do you think I invited her over? To get her out of her rut."
| >>652795
"I.. Yeah, you're right."
> Ray stops at a page. Taking time to parse whatever paragraph he skims through, he makes a sigh.
"I won't be coming to your house party. If she's okay with you, I have to treat it as an order from my boss too."
> He flips a page, then goes back to the previous, rescanning it again.
"Do what you need to do, and keep my boss... her body intact when I come to pick her up again."
| >>652815
> Ray reaches for the pocket of his trouser. He throws a single credstick towards CN, now with his book closed, he reveals his peaked interest.
"Your share. Keep her safe."
| >>652844
"And hey, whenever you're around—"
> Ray stood up. He stretches his hands up, making a few pops from his joints.
"—I feel like she's at better ease. She doesn't get along all of us too much. Uni, I mean. My boss is a fucking social butterfly compared to her."
| >>652863
"Huh? Uni and I? My boss and I? Uni and my boss? Different story from each."
> He looks back at the cover of the book he just read, giving the quickest smile before he opens the end pages of it. A refresher, perhaps.
| >>652895
"When I first worked here, there were two employees. First was Uni, the maid, and.. that weird brunette girl. Tall as hell. She doesn't.. really have a name? She does something, but always come back at night. Drunk with notes."
> He comes back sitting, figuring out his book as he goes along.
"Boss is really close to Uni. I wasn't. We're only there because of work after all. I don't think she remembers me that way now though."
| >>652908
"She always have these notes. You know, papers. She writes on them, but she's always.. maybe she isn't drunk. Maybe I'm misremembering. She's ALWAYS reeking of what--"
> Ray tries his best to remember, clicking his fingers, saying the mantra of "What a name.." before his eureka came in.
"Zen Star? It's that drink BTC bars serve."
| >>652911
"She must have pretty eccentric tastes if she enjoys something like the Zen Star. Balanced ingredients does not make a good taste..."
| >>652916
"I don't know why boss hired her. I guess she's just.. an old employee that never got fired because sentimentality?"
> He chuckles.
"Not that boss had any to begin with. Unlike Uni, I never saw her do squat. Uni is really just a typical maid. Cleans the house. Treats boss. Boss does get lazy with chores. I never liked her but... maybe not now?"
| >>652925
> Ray shrugs. He gave a tilted smile, but it was barely visible.
"A co-worker said they're family. But their resemblance is as close as seagulls are to crabs. They're animals of the piers, yes; doesn't make them the same thing."
> He scratches his head at the awful analogy, yet proceeds with it anyway.
"Something happened one day with boss and Uni after our base got razed with fire. She won't bicker with us now."
| >>652936
"No, I mean, as in- you know, talk much? I get no one wants to have verbal issues but verbal issues is better than constant silence..."
> He shifts about on his seat, peeking from the book to see if the fair is still running without a hitch. Though, he knew the answer even without looking.
"Relatively speaking anyway."
| >>653086
"..."
> Ray answered with a shrug. It's not obvious at first what he implied with this, as it may have been more than lack of knowledge.
"S-since that day though... Since that day she would work only in her room. Yeah, the cafe is fine but still— it took her a damn mercenary to step outside—"
| >>653100
"Boss' problem is my problem. Your problem is Uni, isn't it? Take care of that first. Don't be a glutton."
> He chuckles, trying not to wave a second credstick for CN so as to let him take the case.
"... If what I heard with her and that exo guy before is correct then- she herself has a big ball to roll."
| >>653107
"Alright, alright, fair enough."
>He chuckles back
"Not that I'm doing this for the money anyways."
| >>653109
"I thought all runners run for money."
> He says, a faint tinge of sarcasm in the air. He instinctively turned his head to check on the fair, then spotting a figure just straight behind the bookshelves guarding the entrance to the reading area.
"Uni?"
> The figure reveal themselves with a loud, "Goddamn it," entering the area -- someone familiar -- Uni?. However, there is no head unit with her.
"How much company secret are you spilling, idiot?"
> Her voice speaks ire.
| >>653124
"I think you'll fine I'm not like most runners."
>He smiles seeing Uni join the convo
"Oh nothing too scandalous dont worry Uni."
| >>653126
"W-wait.. are you— CN?!"
> 'Uni' jumps a few steps back. Her eyes didn't stop to gaze at him, but instead they were averted towards Ray.
"What the fuck happened here, Ray? Why is HE here?! Wh- why didn't Uni tell me before—"
| >>653145
"Uh... I'm sure this will be awkward to admit, but you told Ray to lead me here after we all talked with Roy and you recommended me these books."
>CN gestures towards the pile.
| >>653157
"CN, you- shh.. let me h—"
> Ray puts up a 'sh' gesture towards CN, but his attempt was superfluous at best, seeing that 'Uni' is already in the mixture of anger and confusion.
"Ray, did you TELL him everything?!"
"I didn't!"
> He threw his hand and puts a complete halt to the conversation.
"CN, I'd like it if you treat her as NOT Uni?"
> He faces CN, still keeping the girl at bay.
| >>653165
> The girl holds her hand over her collar, her face seems to be flush with red hot embarrassment. She looks away from CN.
"H-h-how a-bout my name then..."
> Ray quizzes over the behaviour, he sways his head, wondering why she is acting this way.
"She's Lucet—"
> Instead of Ray answering for her, he gets a solid punch to his solar plexus, disabling him as he hunches over and hugs his belly.
"I- SAID yoUR NaMME!"
> He says in between cough.
| >>653236
"-tta. Lucetta."
> She says, trying to still hide her face from CN. Even after throwing a straight punch, her shy and vulnerable behaviour returns, turning from him and having her hands cover her.
"W-whY the fuck did... GAHH--"
> Ray coughs again, then stand up, rubbing the impact zone. He hunches one last time.
| >>653246
"Oh, well hello Lucetta. I dont really get why you're punching Ray so much. I think it's a little much."
| >>653250
"I-it's a reflex! Please don't think bad of me—"
> In response to Lucetta's reply, Ray laughed. His laugh wasn't impeded, he immediately brought thunder with his release of emotion.
"I've- I have never seen you act like this, boss!"
> His sentence stutters and continues whenever his breath have ways to fit words between the laughing fit. Lucetta seems to be in conflict between letting him and.. landing another smite.
| >>653251
"It's fine, don't worry. You can trust me with your secrets."
>CN chuckles, what a contrast from Uni he feels
| >>653254
"I-I trust you."
> Lucetta still hasn't faced CN. She didn't dare to, even with Ray now ready to spring back again.
"S-so-- what are— what are you doing in this place?"
> She says, not even giving an eye, not batting a single gaze. It almost feels like she is saying it to the air.
"Well, it's a book fair, boss, so—"
"N-not your opinion!"
| >>653260
"Well I did come here originally for books yeah."
>CN pats the book pile next to him
"Though running into you I suppose is a welcome surprise."
| >>653262
> Lucetta ducks and holds her head with her two hands -- the augmented over her original -- if she can't face CN before, now she can't hear him over the reddening of her face.
"Uugh..."
> She shakes her head repeatedly. In this moment, Ray walks closer to CN, still with a hand over his stomach.
"Hey man, I think you should stop before my boss melts…"
> He gestures at the girl, frozen and murmuring something intangible.
| >>653274
Well I'm just being honest. She doesnt have to be shy."
>He knowingly smirks
"Plus it's fun to tease her."
| >>653278
> Lucetta finally stand up and turn. Her eyes are still groundward, planted there even after closing in on CN.
"It-it's Lucetta. I hope we— can know.. each other better."
> She offers a handshake with a stiff motion. In front of CN and Ray, who hasn't stopped silently chuckling.
"I'm sure he's the type to be married, boss—"
"NOT YOUR OPINION!!"
| >>653284
"Well... I *am* engaged, but I'm always happy to get to know someone better."
>CN offers his hand and returns the shake, giving her a grin.
| >>653295
> Her hands are warm, an effect of being held together for some time, and they were petite -- making CN's hand almost too big for the handshake.
"T-than-thank you!!"
> Lucetta's smile widens, turning into a grin too. Ray watches on the side, still bearing the pain of the strike from earlier.
"I- I can't believe I meet CN today..., I-I'll—I'll give Uni a raise--"
> Her stutters and murmurs are audible from this close distance.
| >>653309
"I'm not *that* special, but if it gives Uni a raise I guess I'll take the compliment."
>He chuckles
"Just happy I can make you happy I guess? If you ever need help with anything feel free to ask."
| >>653313
> Lucetta giggles. She retracts her hand back, back to covering part of her face. She tries to put another of her hand -- the augmented one -- but realises its malfunction as it stops moving to her will.
"T-this damned hand—.. s-sorry— excuse me-"
> She steps back from CN and to a seat, pushing past Ray in the process as she walks in a slight haste.
| >>653355
"... She got the hand new, so maybe? Don't think that's the aug doing issues, though."
> Ray says, but makes note of something as he creeps closer to make a quieter voicr.
"She does fall a lot ever since installing the head unit port though."
> A worried look on his face, and it was wiped away when goes to see his boss again.
| >>653360
"I mean-- maybe?"
> Ray looks as clueless as he can get. His oblivious nature states things without much respect to what the question poses, in perspective.
"Maybe that's just boss... She's far from dextrous- hell, if I had a character sheet for her, she will have 6 or 7—"
| >>653362
>CN chuckles loudly
"Careful there, knowing your luck shes already listening in and you got another hit in your stomach coming up."
| >>653363
"What are you boys up to now?"
> Lucetta says while she attempts to move her arm again. She readjusts and recalibrates it, showing no luck as it stays frozen despite her mental exertion.
"Ray, if you're idling like that, fetch Uni. The unit should be done charging."
> Her command made him step out from the reading area, almost too instantly. He leaves CN with Lucetta, and Lucetta was far too late to realise the implication of the scene.
| >>653365
"Do you want me to take a look at your arm? I'm not an expert on augs but I at least know a few things here and there with limb augs."
| >>653367
> Lucetta's face brighten with emotion once again. She hid it with the purple strands dripping, and a steady gaze down. Her lips quiver and she nervously shakes her head.
"N-no need to--I-Icandoitmyself."
> She unearths a few switches, hiding beneath the sleeve of her suit. They were unlabelled, a simple indicator of a modded augmentation, and they indicate nothing whatsoever.
| >>653450
> Lucetta began moving the switches to a combination of positions. Each combination incites a movement from the fingers, to which she would try to move the digits manually; only a number made her palm swivel and move, but none progressed towards her recovery.
"I-.. it may be broken--"
> She keeps her keen eyes locked onto the switch, trying previous combinations with differing effort, all resulting in the same outcome.
| >>653466
"Hold on, hold on, let me take a look."
>CN reaches into his bag and pulls out a simple repair kit, standing in front of Lucetta to examine the switches.
"Maybe something just got disconnected underneath.
| >>653479
"Fwaa--?!"
> CN approaching took enough off of Lucetta's guard, still, despite her attention trained elsewhere, there wasn't enough to make her ignore CN's presence.
"I-I said I can do--"
> However, seeing the progress (or lack thereof) made, she chose to stay quiet for now. She kept silence and let CN have his opinion on her.. arm.
"... Here-"
> She offers the arm, lifting it with her only working one.
| >>653576
"Thank you."
>He grins
"Now I'm going to pop a little under the hood so to speak so dont be alarmed. Just want to make sure everything is connected okay."
>CN gets some tools and opens the panel under the switches to observe the augmentation.
| >>653621
> Lucetta reluctantly nods. She keeps her eyes from CN, and away from the arm.
> The switches wire directly to control boards of the arm. In here, they are better labelled; a cursory glance tells that the wiring to and from F_PALM_CTRL_1 and F_UP_VCC8 are.. fried - desoldering their connections.
| >>653718
"Ah- heres the issue, the connections got disconnected. I just has to resolder them. Thankfully I have just enough to fix this. Can you hold the panel up for me? I'll need both my hands for this."
| >>653762
> Again she nodded. The weight of the arm isn't too much to bear, but it was new to her. It's different from having it supported by her shoulders. Her other arm did as told, albeit shaking.
"D-do you.."
> Lucetta tries to make some communication, but fails to continue. It doesn't appear as though she bit her tongue.
"---A-are the- the stories they tell.. about you-- are they true?"
| >>653764
"That depends, which stories?"
>CN chuckles, preparing some soldering tools to start on the repairs.
"I get more bad than good ones so... take it all with a grain if salt please."
| >>653811
"N-no.. it's okay. It's not-- it's not… about anything bad! I'll..."
> Radiating from her is the beet red expression that replaces her composure -- even though she has displayed none of said composure. She takes a deep breath, as if preparing for a big leap.
"Y-you are.. a hero--.. to me."
> In each fragments of her sentence, the words become slightly quieter than before, and they slow as her pronunciation balances clarity and her own emotion.
| >>653842
"Oh, well thank you. Please, you don't need to be that nervous though."
>He grins, but he doesnt look up as he begins soldering the connections.
"I'm no hero, I just try to do good you know. It's not just me, the team I'm with also does good as well."
| >>653844
"I-- I c-CAN'T—"
> As her arm rattles, so did the augmented arm she held. Upon noticing this, she forcibly ends her sentence, giving an audible "Shit-" as she did.
"It's.. unfair. H-h-how are you? How are you-- doing good,, when I can't. Your stories are- the one helping-- me.. here—"
> It doesn't seem like she heard the "don't be nervous" advice properly.
| >>653851
"Hey, hey now..."
>He states in what he tries to make a soothing voice
"You dont got to be doing what I do to do good. Just doing what you can is more than enough. We all have our way of helping the city and others right?"
| >>653855
> She nodded, agreeing to his words.
"Do you think so--?"
> She let an eye gaze at CN's figure, even though she knew she would throw it all away again.
"I-.. have been-- helping a friend."
> There was doubt naught in her voice. The wavering heard isn't something coming from her shyness now.
"... For.. quite awhile."
| >>653870
"Hmm? And who is this friend of yours?"
>CN has an idea, but he rather her say, so he pretend to be oblivious for the moment as he focuses on the soldering.
| >>653883
"Uni.. b-but—"
> Lucetta made a pause. There is hesitation in her voice. She bit her lip, and sigs.
"... I-I'm... not doing this for her."
> She finally puts a courage to meet with CN. As she thought, even looking at him still puts her in a frail position.
"--is this noble? Is this.. 'good'?"
| >>653898
"Hmm... is it noble? Probably not if it's for selfish reasons. Is it good? I think it is. Intentions matter to an extent, but I think the actions themselves matter a lot more."
>He pauses, finishing the soldering as he puts the tools down to let the connections sit for a moment, before closing her arms.
"To give you a secret, I dont do what I do solely for selfless reasons myself, so for me to say otherwise would be hypocritical of me."
| >>653911
"I see. That.. clears my doubt."
> She smiles, at the work done and the answer CN gave. Immediately accepting his ideal, and his belief was no hard task — even in this troubled state, she is ready to take in what her hero had said.
"T-thank you... You may-- not know what you have done, b-but, thank you... I-I'm indebted."
| >>653923
"Don't worry about, we were just passing the time while I was doing some soldering."
>He headpats Lucetta
"Now, why don't you give that arm a try?"
| >>653986
> Without trying, she can already feel trust in this repair. No, it's more as though a strengthened placebo was put into her as she lifts the arm and freely controls it back.
"Ahh--!"
> Her eyes lit up with a strange fascination. Is this her first time repairing the arm this way?
"--Thank you!"
| >>654010
"Y-yes--I-"
> Lucetta meets CN's smile, had she not conditionally train herself to this, she would have pulled herself back towards her shell — however, what had stopped her wasn't this, or that. Ray had came back with the head unit in his hand.
"Did I interrupt anything?"
> His question was answered with an unnoticeable head shake from Lucetta.
"No, come in-"
> Her expression turns a bitter one, as quickly as the joy came, it went as fast too.
| "Sora is going to hate the repair, by the--"
"Not your opinion."
> Lucetta just as harshly responded to the jest Ray made. She extends a hand, telling Ray to get on with the head unit, or have her do it herself.
"I hope she wasn't a big nuisance, CN."
> He chuckles towards CN, not batting an eye towards Lucetta, knowing the killing aura blasted is enough to put him to his knees.
| >>654125
"Huh? Of course not. Lucetta is fun to be around after all."
>He grins, his shounen personality apparent now more than ever.
| >>654132
"See you weren't so--GUUUH!"
> The metallic arm must have hurt more when used as a weapon. Her attack was direct, as soon as she received the head unit from Ray.
> Thankfully, it struck him only by the barest graze near his stomach.
"---Damn it!!"
> He didn't retaliate much this time. She didn't put a heavy force to the strike.
"Please don't mind him.. h-he's just—"
"That goddamn cutesy act, I swear!!"
> The growl came from his pained self, holding two bruises now.
| >>654145
"It's fine, *it's fine*."
>CN pats Ray on the shoulder
"Sorry though, my repairs may have inexplicably added to that punch"
| >>654191
"'s-not.. your fault."
> Ray gave a solid thumbs up. A shaking, pained thumbs up.
"T-then.. I'll—"
> Lucetta held the head unit, gripping it tightly to activate a mechanism, creating a screech and a beep.
"Enough charge for six hours."
> She notes. Her sight return to CN, and she gave a hearty smile.
"It's-- nice meeting.. you, CN. I- I hope we can meet again someday—"
> Despite not at all parting, her voice falters.
"-- Please take care of Uni."
| >>654301
"Let's hope you're right!"
> He is always right, in her mind. There isn't any doubt in her, merely an unshakable feeling of distrust for herself, and her own words.
"Ray, behind me."
> Hearing the signal, Ray alerts himself and did as said, again, as fast as he can. He walked behind her, putting two hands on her shoulders.
"We really-- should do this laying down."
> She shook his suggestion away. A deep breath, and out; she inserts the head unit slowly.
| > Once the head unit latches onto her, a lock firmly shuts it from being easily disconnected. Lucetta kept a sound breathing, before she loses the strength in her muscles. Her limbs ever so suddenly lost their wills to stay in place.
"Crap.. here we go—"
> Her augmented arm, froze.
> Her breathing is calmer, but they were different from before. Ray held much of her now, even though the task came with little difficulty.
| (*Ray said the line above, I accidentally pressed submit too early—)
| >>654319
"Most of the time. I'm not that literate to know what she did--"
> Ray easily picks the girl up, taking her to a nearby bench to put her to rest, still not understanding why she didn't do this first.
"I'll admit, it's getting longer for her to switch. Before it's-- you know, like that."
> He makes a snapping noise with his finger.
"Now it's like.. this. Gotta wait five mins. Give or take a few."
| >>654337
"To whom? Uni?"
> Ray finds himself another seat. He takes and opens the book he had before. A content that doesn't intrigue, but keeps him well-read nonetheless.
"I really... really don't know boss' endgame here. I can guess, but it's her we're talking about."
> He let his back relaxes, only then can he feel the sharp pain where Lucetta had threw her punches. Two, at a different spot.
"Ugh... goddamn it."
| >>654351
"You're going to ask Lucetta, my boss, who has an entire room for you alone, 'Hey, what about it you're doing with your brain?' Good luck, heh."
> Ray says, in a slight tone of sarcasm. He doesn't imply any of what he said was false, though.
"Just tape a mask over your head. Don't let her see you."
| >>654354
"S-She has a room for me?"
>He asks, thinking it's some weird guest room and totally not a weird shrine of some kind.
| >>654367
"It's a really weird shrine."
> He says, almost too casually.
"Okay, maybe not AS weird as your other fans. She has this picture of you and, like-- a print of the news about you??"
> Ray tries his best to make his boss sound less exorbitantly awful, or stalky. Whichever it is, he tried and failed.
"Also. Singular. One picture of you. Nothing lewd, I swear. I've been there. Cleaned your 'room'. It got burnt though."
| >>654371
"Someone razed our home."
> Ray held a hand by his temples. This seems to bring a certain memory.
"Not just the room, but everything. We lost the mansion we lived in. I have never seen boss so lifeless before."
| >>654459
> He shook his head.
"They overrode the security system in the mansion and erased everything too."
> Standing up, his height goes full as he stretches his hands. The popping noise was met with a groan from him. The spots still hurt.
"'Sides, it's probably for the best. It's not like we're paying the taxes that much."
> He laughed, stopping at the sight of a twitching movement from Lucetta.
"Huh- took her some time."
| >>654508
> Lucetta's body rose. It was stiff at first, moving about in a rigid manner. One noticeable fact is the lack of control in the augmented arm. It stays where it should be, unmoving, unlike the other arm.
"I-I..."
> The muttering done by that voice could be Lucetta's or Uni's — and it doesn't seem as though either are wrong.
"... What happened?"
> Still in a daze, scanning the area.
"Ray? Has the charge reached completion? This.. aching -- I am to never indulge in it."
| >>654604
"C-CN?! I-- I.. it's— I am well..."
> The girl looks down, a fuzzy warmth radiates from her cheeks. Is Lucetta still holding a semblance of control? Certainly, the behaviour is not unseen of from her — but not from Uni.
"... Excuse this impure, impious thoughts I have produced in my mind. I am not one to think of you as such, but— I.. it seems— it may seems something in me reside to reject that fact."
| >>654607
"Well... I suppose as long as you don't build a shrine for me as well I suppose it's fine."
| >>654614
"S-shrine? What silly ideas you conjure, CN… I-I expect you to know my character better."
> This is Uni. Yet, she fidgets on her seat, much like what Lucetta would. Her hands shake from an uncontrollable desire, one she didn't know would exist.
"N-now! I shall… continue my ingress towards the dinner. Ray, if time allows, you may continue the fair—"
"How about I don't."
"Then please, let others know of its closure."
| >>654626
"Um... are you sure you're okay for the dinner? You seem sort of... flush?"
>He puts his hand on her forehead, shaking for a fever.
| >>654627
"G-guh—!"
> Uni parried the hand before it can reach her. The brief warmth felt as she puts away his hand is telling of her state. Feverish, perhaps, not ultimately an indication of sickness, however.
"P-please, do not… be in contact— I am strangled by a wicked sense--"
"You okay, Uni?"
> Ray goes to put his hand on her cheeks, in CN's stead, and Uni reacted with little disagreement. He nodded a few times.
"That's fever."
"Foolish! How can a.. body be this frail—"
| >>654629
"Well there are those with weak constitutions, but I didn't think that would be the case for either of you."
>CN shrugs
"Maybe we should postpone the dinner for another day... hmm..."
| >>654630
"I refuse your suggestion! I am someone standing in their last, one until rejuvenated; I am not one to be defeated by mere weak wishes such as--"
> Uni's voice lowers, so did her vision and her head that now faces the ground.
"--lust."
> Ray chuckles at this sight. He truly loves it, not being gut-punched when he makes his honest reaction, and he deserves every of this moment.
| >>654631
"I-I see..."
>CN was not expecting *that* answer
"If that's the problem then do you uh.... I dont know need some time alone inside I guess? I can wait, I got these books here I guess."
| >>654667
"What may you be referring to, CN? I do not falter to humanly senses."
> Uni stood up, her knees rapidly rejecting the new posture, forcing her to rose at a slower pace.
"This body.. recalls what I don't; omit what I should."
> She stabilises herself after teetering her weak legs. Weakened, rather, as they had worked better before. She regains her motor control not long after.
"Now, shall we make haste? Is time an essence of shortsighted value?"
| >>654671
"I meant more if you need to, you could... relieve your business before we go."
>CN clears his throat.
"Unless you're fine. Either way we don't necessarily need to rush."
| >>654676
> Uni's cheeks reddens, perhaps more than it was before. Depending on the angle, the blush may even have reached the tips of her ears.
"I-it's fine… there is no need for such a thing..."
> Her two hands rest crossed on her stomach and her shoulder lowers, she finds the steps to the entrance of the reading area.
"--U-unless.. unless you find the need to persist here. I-in which case, I... I am fine too, with waiting for you."
| >>654693
>CN gives a side glance towards his book, in some way Uni is less honest than Lucetta
"Well it would help if I can finish glancing through the books I got before I go. I like coming up with an efficient order with what I need."
| >>654749
"Please mesmerise yourself then. I will be, here.."
> Uni steps outside, quickly taking a book to pass time — and returning with more than one. Her small hands couldn't withstand the weight of the two books, she drops the heaviest instantly.
> She seems to pick up the heavier book, reading through its content while standing still — in a distance from CN.
> Her breaths are in rhythm. The warmth they release were naught of reason, if the redness of her face isn't telling.
| >>654794
>Drek he wasn't expecting her to be sightline. Oh well, CN decides to feign ignorance for a time. Glancing through his books for about 30 minutes, or until Uni seemed to have calmed down, whichever came first.
| >>654856
"CN..."
> After several chapters have been traversed, Uni breaks the silence. It has been, perhaps, fifteen minutes. The pace at which Uni reads exponentially rose in the last minutes. She may only been reading the book as a refresher.
"... What have you say on the matters of mortality? Of death; of those attaining them; of those.. rejecting them?"
> People die when they are killed. This is a fact refutable, but not for her.
| >>654861
"Hmm..."
>CN puts the book he was skimming through down
"Well, I suppose that is a complex thing. It's only natural to want to cling to life, though I do believe one way or another it comes to us all in the end. I figure if you can prolong it though, I figure it is alright, as long as you dont hurt others in that process."
| >>654868
"..."
> She gave the answer a long thought. Through the papers she shift, moving past the earlier pages, she didn't say more words. Herself, she appears calmed and less erratic; maybe melancholy is indeed stronger than the carnal desires for her.
> The yawning Ray is heard in the same place. He reads the same book as before, not at all paying attention to the conversation.
"Let us be then, CN. Take our rosebuds and forsake no more seconds."
> She closes her book.
| >>654889
"Alright."
>He puts the closed book he was reading with his pile and stuffs what he can in his bag, carrying the rest in his hands.
"Then let's go then."
| >>654891
"Ray, if it is not an issue, then—"
> Uni glanced from her shoulder, but Ray already understood what she meant. He gave a slow head shake, not even a thought was spared.
"No, I'll really close this for today. I don't know MOST of these books and I'm reading Latin because I heard that makes you smarter—"
> He puts down his book.
"—I'll keep this open but don't expect me to do any favourable service, gotcha?"
> The girl nodded and gave him a smile, leading the way out.
This thread is permanently archived
| > Once marred, the literature fair stands. Despite its unjust visits, it yields a never-ending glimpse of attention. Purposeful or not, the books enclosing the fair silently waits for a reply -- in their silent rain of words.
> The weather has turned into a kind of sour, bland grey. Rain will soon come, but its clouds are sweeping faster than the waters could fall.
> Even invisible, the sun's rays are broken still by the nearby tall skyscrapers.