Thread 83481 on danger/cyb/ Loading...

| > It was, if one could consider it that way, a calm day in Glitch City. Especially compared to recent events, the streets were quiet, with the exception of the occasional yell that echoed across the block or bang, be it from a gunshot or something entirely else - the exact source was unable to be determined from such a distance.
> A slight drizzle of rain accompanied the drab atmosphere of a city that had seen better better days in a time long, long ago.

| > A pothole ridden street stretched across the landscape, flanked on both sides by grey blocks of buildings with walls of chrome and stone both addled by time, the changing climate and the recent events. One storefront was smashed in, the hole covered with planks that had yet again been used to sport a graffiti'd message:
AUGS NOT WELCOME
> The message again had been crossed out what appeared to be a red marker, giving the whole scene the image of a corpse desecrated over and over.

| > Quincy Boulevard was only sparsely lit up, due to several of the street lamps having been smashed - and even the ones still functioning at times flickered, seemingly resisting shorting out amidst their already dead brethren.
> The Boulevard's only decent looking and lit place was its aptly named metro station, the staircase leading down to the tracks protected from the elements at least somewhat by a simple, yet effective canopy sporting several lamps. A haven amidst darkness.

| > A cat boomer walked through the darkness with her hands shoved into the pockets of her thick brown, fuzzy collared, bomber jacket. Her long white hair swayed and danced in the casual gusts of wind known to the December cold. Half halfheartedly she drew her gloved hands from her pockets to tie it into a messy ponytail while standing in the pale light of the station. Not very far away was the black hovervan she'd exited prior.<c>

| > It was dangerous even out here...though perhaps not as bad as other areas by a long shot. She was promised protection and she'd allowed it. She didn't know the one she was supposed to be meeting and she also understood the seriousness of the situation if he wasn't who she thought he'd be...

She adjusted her jacket and her cream colored, ribbed sweater dress with mild concern toward her appearance. None of her clothes looked too expensive, but she'd done well to look fashionable.

| >Her lithe frame was adorned not to stick out...but her figure likely made that difficult.

As did the "ears" that made her identifiable as a boomer.

“Maybe I should have worn a hat...”

| >Mumbling that to herself she looked around casually. Shifting a little in her slight nervousness. She wasn't the paranoid type, but she was aware that just meeting someone offline in a place like this felt like she was asking for it. As if the thought had been telegraphed through the black tinted windows further down the street. The car eased a little closer...protectively. Just in sight and with-in range to duck down if necessary.

| ( Bump )

| > Only a few passerby were around to witness the sight of the white-haired, buxom Cat Boomer - and even the ones that stopped to take a second look at her quickly moved on, spurned by their respective duties, the fear of being caught out in the open should another fight erupt or maybe just the sight of the black van trailing her. They were not necessarily expecting it to be for her protection: Beautiful women ending up missing was not unheard of in these parts of town.

| > The relative quiet of Quincy Boulevard was however quickly interrupted by the sound of footsteps against tiles. Someone was moving up the stairs leading to and from the metro station - and quickly so. The noise bounced off of the staircase's walls, echoing up into the open and the sky, audible for people at least somewhat close to its entrance. Said sound was eventually followed by audible panting and the occasional wheezing, becoming ever louder as the source climbed the stairs.

| "A-Aethia?"
>A familiar voice mutters from the darkness as the car and her pass by slowly... It was Graham? What was he doing in a shady alleyway?

| > Finally, a single person emerged. Clinging to the staircase's railing for dear life, the young man in question took a moment to gather his breath - something he was lacking quite clearly, and immensely so. With his hand still grasping the metal bar the boy doubled over, gasping for air, apparently not caring for anyone that could see him in this state.
> The canopy's lights, illuminating the stairs and their surroundings, clearly revealed the person - and the state he was in.

| > Dirty sneakers and a pair of jeans, torn in several places. A simple shirt that once seemed to have been a pure black, already faded to a dull gray, topped by a head full of disheveled, black locks of hair. Bend over like this, one could also make out what appeared to be a backpack slung around his left shoulder, a bag that now dangled loosely off of the arm that clung to the railing. The other arm, held closely to his chest, was held in a sling and bandaged up to the shoulder.

| >His lungs felt like they were on fire, his legs begged him to find a seat and he could have sworn his heart was about to burst from his chest. Overall, he felt incredibly shitty - though he wasn't going to let his lack of physical exercise or his anxiety get in the way of this. Squeezing his eyes closed, he took one last deep breath - and raised himself up in one fell swoop, finally allowing himself to take a look at his surroundings, backpack slung around his shoulder again.

| "What if I'm too late, oh gods, oh gods..."
>He muttered to himself, running his unoccupied hand down his face, partially to wipe away the sweat, partially to calm his nerves that were going haywire as his eyes tried to adjust to the darkness. He hadn't specified a set time, at least not in public, but even so the journey to Quincy Boulevard had been anything but relaxing and quick - as such, he was afraid he had missed the person he was supposed to meet.

| >>85420 >>85466
> Aethia turned immediately to the familiar voice. She'd immediately recalled Graham when she heard it and when her gaze slipped down the dark ally way to spot him...She froze in place for a moment.

"...Mister Graham?" >She replied curiously.

| >She was just about to slowly approtch the allyway when the familiar sound of desperation and the quick strides of a person late to an appointment caught her attention. She'd turned just in time to see a poor man practically crumple against one of the railings of the metro entrance.

| >The boomer stunned by the sight watched the man carefully to make sure he was okay. He'd practically spilled out in front of her. The appearance was so sudden that the suit clad men whom had been carefully watching her the entire time dared to crack open their doors and stand outside of the car out of curiousity. Mostly just in-case something was about to happen.

| "Check on that boy." > Aethia ordered one of them...and surely enough one of the large black suitcoated men wandered over to check on the boy's health. 'Y'aright, Kid?' He'd ask. His accent unmistakably Brooklyn.

| > Her gaze then slipped to Graham again.

"What are you doing out here? Is everything okay?"

| >Without a word ge wuickly slipped back into the shadows... Was there another guy in the shadows with him? Its to dark to see...Only a small blob and Grahams figure can be seen...

| >The aftermath of his exertion still tugging at him, the boy did not immediately notice a person stepping up to him. No doubt the man's attire, coupled with the dark of the night that blanketed Glitch City by now unintentionally masked the bodyguard's approach up until he was close to stepping into the canopy's cone of light. Finally realizing what had happened, that he had been asked a question, jolted him awake, causing him to step back even, closer to the steps behind him again.

| >Instinctively, his hand found the railing once more - this time to catch him instead of a means of pulling him upward, though. For a brief moment he gawked at the sleek clothed adult, eyes wide and lips parted in what he personally thought could be a gasp or a scream. Then realization set in, eyes darted down to his sling before meeting the man's gaze again, shaking his head.
"O-oh, no, I'm fine, I..."
>Another deep breath, to calm himself more than regain it due to his walk.

| "I-i just ran up these stairs, I'm s-supposed to meet someone. I was afraid I was running late, a-and..."
>Finally, his eyes glance down at his sling once more, giving the whole thing a short tug, correcting its position.
"G-got injured during the riots, so I have to wear it, if you were wondering about that-"
>He abruptly stopped, scared he had already said too much. For what it was worth, men in black suits were rarely a good sign for people like him, people of the lower class.

| ((Bump to extend the deadline!))

| >>86095 Aethia watched her single guard move over to help the man for a moment and waved the other two over. She moved toward the darkness of the alley way and they quickly moved to step ahead of her intending to shield her. The three walked deeper and she spoke up again, while they prepared their handguns. High powered, concussive CA-99s ready they walked the shades while sticking closer to their boss.

"Graham? What's going on...? What are you doing?"

| >>86649 "Oh I see..."> The large man replied while watching Aethia for a moment and then moving to help the kid to his feet. The he adjusted his tie afterward and gently lead the boy to the car so he could sit and catch his breath. Aethia did glance back and spoke out.

"Are you Merc? If so...I am Aethia. Pleasure to meet you."

| ( Boop. )

| ( Beep. )

|

| >>88253
>All the while he was being led by the much larger man, he couldn't help but suppress a shiver running down his spine. Deep breaths only helped slightly in calming him down, though he realized that running was not an option he had left - chances were that if the man wanted him to stay, he'd have options. So instead he obeyed, leaning against the car's door in order to... well, what?

| (Final Bump. Been getting distracted these last few days, but hopefully that will change tomorrow.)