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(Setting) New Years Party
| >You get a message. "I will be there in an hour. Business getting in the way. -AM"
| > sighs
Guess I better sit down and wait.. hopefully someone shows up
| >The doors burst in as a tall, blonde haired woman saunters in, wearing a white trenchcoat with pink rims and a high collar! She has blue highlights on the tips of of her hair and it's cut short, chin length.
"QUEEN BITCH IS HERE.... BITCHES!"
| >A tall, young man soon walks in after her, wearing a similar trenchcoat but in blue
"Merc please, at least wait for more to arrive before saying something like that."
| >A man enters in with a rather fluffy coat... He looks like an Eskimo!
"This is the new years party right? I didn't bring anything i-if thats fine..."
>He studders and looks around.
"Looks like I'm back here again..."
| Don't worry its fine.. I bet most people brought nothing
| > looks around
Never been to this place, heck I thought it luck I would even get this place booked
| >A Man in a parka and shemagh walk in, Smoking their usual cigarillo.
"Hello! I brought drinks!"
| >stares towards the door
You dident need to bring drinks.. its a bar
| (need to sleep, its 7am here... Just assume my charechter is a bit of a closed person. and an asshole to some.) -AM
| >>93271
"I've been here like... 5 times... Bartender is a real sweetheart and the other is bit of a bro... Real cool guy..."
>The guy takes of his hat and shoves it in his pocket.
"How many people supposed to come?"
| >An asian woman with short black hair and purple eyes pops her head in the doorway, wearing a purple hoodie within a thick darker purple parka.
"Is-is this the place?"
>She sniffs.
"It... smells like... dog piss."
| >A flying drone carrying a package of premium Chinese fireworks and a crate of expensive champagne flies to the establishment. It has the WhiteLightning insignia as well as a note. 'Sorry! Can't come. Please enjoy!' -Aethia
| >The blonde has made it to the bar and is already giving the tender a hard time- if only because she has successfully pounded through three drinks already.
"Hey, yer pretty good at this," >She says, gulping her latest Sugar Rush,
"If ah didn't know better ah'd say yer treating this like some kind of new game plus!"
| >>93300
"Er... I don't actually drink much, if you remember from the previous parties... maybe something soft?"
>Engy says, making her way inside.
| "Don't worry I know just what to get."
>CN heads over to the bar and orders a Sugar Rush and Fluffy Dream. He comes back and hands over the latter
"This should be pretty soft and light."
| >Another man enters, comparatively shorter than the tall one at the bar. His hands are nice and snug in the pockets of his green bomber..
| >>93313
>Engy carefully takes the drink in her mittens!
"Thank you hun..." >She says, raising it up.
"Cheers!"
| >CN smiles in return and raises his own Sugar Rush
"Cheers!"
>He clinks the glass before taking a sip
"Man I can't believe it's almost been a year."
| >>93350
"Has it really? It feels... so much shorter, somehow." >Engy says, sipping the Fluffy Dream. Her face reddens even more.
| "What do you think is going to happen next year?"
| >>93360
"It really does. We've been through so much. Not just us two, but the whole team as well. Although I guess not everything had been bad."
>He tries to sneaking hold on to your free hand
| >>93363
"Hmm... It's hard to say, things are probably only going to get harder. But I think as long as the team stays together we can get through it together, it's how we've made it this far."
| "wHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO FRAGGING IDIOTS!?" >A loud voice erupts in the bar as the blonde stomps over to the couple!
"IF YER GONNA SLOT HER STICK, YOU PUSH YOUR SMOL ASS HAND HERE, IN HER LOADING DOCK HERE!" >The blonde violently shoves your sneaky hand i to the palm of yours, and mashes them together. She then pulls you both together face to face, pushing hers in between.
"Make sure you use protection, kids." >She kisses you both on the forehead and flits away!
| "WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP!"
| >Engy blushes heavily, her face bright red as she holds your clumped fist in her hands.
| >Nano avoid the conversing couple, as well as the scene that just occurred due to the blonde's intervention. He doesn't seem sure where to go, though, just like before.
| >CN visibly chuckles, whether it's from nervousness or genuine amusement it's hard to say. Maybe a little bit of both.
"Merc is not the most subtle of wingmen it seems. Your 'sister' is something else."
| >The man who is now chugging a beer begins to laugh.
"Hoho! Holy shit CN!"
>He laughs hysterically. Probably already drunk...
| "I don't think I'd have it any other way," >Engy says, leaning in for a kiss.
| >In the end he takes a seat at the far end of the bar. His hands don't leave their spot, arms instead shrugging with discomfort.
| >>93380
"I guess I can't complain with the results..."
>CN leans down to meet his girlfriend hallway for the kiss, ignoring the noise from the other patrons
| "Umm... CN? Don't you have a girlfriend?"
>He takes a big final swig of his beer.
| > Through the noise, Thomas Shelby arrives. Quite late, but he arrives. With him are several of the men he broigut from the UK. They scatter and begin to char amung themselves as he recides to the bar to get a drink.
| >a pink haired lilim makes her way into the bar
"Oh wow nice cool air."
>she notices and her head head lifts slightly and she looks at him with the corner of her eyes
| >the lilim looks a little annoyed that CN didn't see and she sits at the bar.
| >Engy opens her eyes, her purple irises glowing bright enough to be seen past her brown contacts.
| >>93422
>CN meets her gaze with a smile once more, although this time he is visibly blushing. He leans in to her ear to whisper something.
| >the lilim lets out a laugh seemingly out of nowhere.
| >Upon hearing her reply he begins gently pulling her to the door.
"Well uh, great party everyone, real tired though so we're just going to go now, okay bye!"
>He doesn't wait for a reply
| >A black indescript car stops outside, loud music booms out as the doors open
>Sound of da police.mp3
>A pale, young woman steps outside, her white hair fashioned into a pair of tails by black ribbons. She wears a Bomber jacket over a white dress with a short ruffled skirt
>A young lilim man in a dress shirt and tie follows closely by, struggling to carry a large red box. He says
lilim:sir i really dont think we should-
Shut the hell up Lubowski.
| >>93433
Engy makes no move to resist as she's pulled along, and both of us are nearly run over by the newcomer.
>>93435
| >The lilim is very disappointed CN left.
"Man I've been working all day I met up with him again and I can't even screw with him."
| >A tall, heavily hybridized fish-man in an immaculately tailored suit—the sort that costs more than some neighborhoods in GC will make in their entire lives combined—gingerly entered the bar, flanked by a large, floating, vaguely disc-shaped drone absolutely covered in heavy armaments.
>Lennart scanned the bar for something, but didn’t seem to find what he was looking for. Looking slightly dejected, he debated with himself whether or not to stay.
| Upon the arrival of the newcomers, an asian descent finds her way to the bar next to Thomas Shelby. Ordering something sweet while taking interest into him.
| (Damn I forgot the >)
| >the white haired woman steps into the bar, her lilim partner following closely by
>She takes a long look around, examining all the faces in the room
Hmmm yeah, i dont know -anyone- here
| > An awkward-looking bipedal drone enters the bar. In lieu of a face, it has a small screen displaying a simple text emoticon. Above this is a small webcam.
"HELLO I COULD NOT MAKE IT SO I SENT THIS DRONE"
| (Didn't realize how bad that sounded until i reread it a few times lmao)
| >>93451
"So I'm assuming you're just looking for conversation."
> Tommy doesn't look from his drink, taking another sip as the women sits next to him.
| >Blondie is totally sloshed now despire her brand new kidney aug that she got for Christmas.
| >And bt slosjed i do mwan sloshed holy fuck im fucked irl
| >>93462
(I'm... confused)
>>93461
"Just maybe.. Of course, who could resist saying hello to the, Thomas Shelby?"
| (is anyone going to handle the va11 ha11a staff? Hoping an admin does it or something)
| > Tommy takes a good look around the bar before looking to her.
" You're not making a very good appearance. Do what you will and begone, please. I'm quite busy."
> He returns his focus to his glass, lightly swirling what's in it.
| >>93467
(When it comes to main game characters we usually have just left them as nameless background npcs in the past to make things simple)
| >The lilim looks bored, not really a drink she was hoping there'd be free food she gets up from her seat and makes her way out.
| >Finally working up the courage to do so, Lennart approached the bar itself.
“Ah, umm, excuse me, I don’t mean to bother, but I was wondering if you’ve seen someone I’m looking for? Guy in his 30’s-ish, a little short but quite fit with a lot of worry lines on his face? Has a habit of scratching his cheek with his right hand?”
>He asked no one in particular.
| >(I ANM THE ADMINS AND I AM SLOSHED AF)
>(ALSO FORM POLICY WE NO CANON CHARACTERS BECAUSE CANSUR)
>(so ill play a shiba butler or some shit idk)
| >The blondie starts sniffling.
"Dem kids... grow up so fast..."
"That geekboy better use protection..."
"Don't need... don't need lots o little CN's running aboot."
"Oh mah god."
| "Yes, sulking, and gettin' angry, and cuttin'. Not m'self, either."
> Tommy turns to her, getting a look before sighing.
"What is it you really want?"
| "CN didn't even stay... He let his dick do the talking..."
>The man shakes his head as he calls another beer.
| >At this point, Nano had already encountered the bartender on staff. He has nothing more than a single glass, and in it doesn't appear to be anything strong. It's hard to say whether he's still uncomfortable in this situation but at the blonde's current state he seems quite perturbed. After all, you can only look at someone so many times without it not being a coincidence.
| >the white haired woman raises her voice a bit, hesitantly trying to adrress the room
Uhh i brought Rum cake
>She motions to her lilim friend, carrying a very large red box
Set it over by that table over there
| >>93490
>The blonde wraps her arm around Nano. And shoulder. And body.
"Long... long timeee no talk, hunny bun buncakes," >She says, as the drunk as fuck GM tries to type on her phone while shaking like a pissed rattle snake thats high on crack.
| "Is it true? Your personal carry is a Webley .455?"
> The woman looks to him with heavy interest. Her interaction purposely toying with Shelby.
| "I want to see it. Would you show me?"
> She hardly lets Thomas get a word out.
| > Thomas glares at her, forcing himself to speak.
"This isn't a place of business. It's a place of party, and fun."
| "Then why don't you do it for fun?"
| >>93496
He visibly jumps at her sudden appearance and invasion of personal space. Nano barely recovers, if at all. His feeble attempts at easing Merc away are well.. Feeble.
"C-can't remember the last time,"
>The glass in his hand makes a trip to the counter where it can be safe.
| "Who are you?"
> Thomas finally asks, having given a long thought as to whether he should do something to the woman taking his silence.
| >>93524
"A looong time ago... in a textboard, far far away..."
>The blonde starts, gazing into the stratosphere,
"Ah was tryin to break open yer shell... thinkin you were sn unknow... unknown... untrustworthy person thinger," >She says, looking into your eyes, her blue ones shining like a cats in the dark.
"But ye saved our asses more times than ah can remember," >She says, spilling her drink,
"Ah can never repay that. Unless..."
>She says...
| >Lennart took a deep breath. Having received no answer, he made for the exit, not quite angry so much as sad.
“Fuck this city.”
>He muttered to himself under his breath. His drone followed obediently behind him as he left the bar.
| >>93531
"Well.. Look at it this way. It's not who I am that you want."
> She leans in to whisper, her dark eyes connecting to Shelby, an infinite ambitious glare.
"It's what I am, that you should be interested in. Which reminds me.. What are you, Mr.Shelby?"
| >>93540
>At this point he's so limp it looks as if he might slip out of her grip.
"Hold on,"
>He starts, having listened attentively despite.
"Sure.. I'm sure everyone else started the same way to you. And they've done just as much."
| >>93578
>She's silent for a moment, then blurts out, laughing,
"FRAG, YOU REALLY ARE INCORRUPTIBLE!"
>She continues to laugh loudly.
| >>93560
"I'm a man that sulks."
> With this, Thomas finishes his drink and turns, watching the people of the bar go about their business, taking a few glances at the woman laughing.
| > wakes up
Oh uh wait wut oh uh hi guys.. mustev passed out after that moonblast.. and the 3 others
| >gets up and starts walking towards the middle
Hello guys, thanks for joining me tonight to celebrate new years.. how should we pass the time?
| "Why don't we get some music and dance?"
> Thomas raises a hand, pitching in an idea.
| Hmm good..
> thinks
Well any song recommendations?
| >the white haired girl glances at the second seeming couple
>She takes a shot and puts her glass down, complaining dejectedly
How are all these people getting action
>She continues to sulk as her lilim friend attempts to console her
Maybe you shouldn't have went to a party that had people you know
>Taking another shot, she whines
1:I couldn't even get any in the station's christmas party
2:Well erm..
| "Oh! Old rock songs!"
>Obviously drunk Graham blurts ok looking half asleep.
| > Neon District starts to play
Better than nothing..
> walks to a seat and drinks a vanilla hassy
| "Ugh..."
>He sighs and turns back asking for another drink.
| "That sounds like the spirit."
> Thomas stands and heads to one of the tables with his men drinking. He whispers a bit before making his way to the front door, deciding to smoke outside for a bit.
| > looks to the person to the left
Sorry they don't have old rock songs here.. atleast any of the good ones
| "Well played, Mr.Shelby."
The girl that sat with Thomas watches the entire ene in silence, only whispering to herself before getting another drink.
| > One of the men from Thomas's table perks up to Neon.
"Oi, what about swing? You got swing music over there? As long as you can dance to it, It's new years.. There's an exception to genre."
| > gets up from the statement and walks to who said it
I don't know any sort of swing.. but feel free to check
| > sits back down
| > gets back up
Forgot to mention, brought some hassy.. you may not know what it is though, since they don't really sell it over here
> gets back in chair
| "Jesus how long til the new year?"
>Graham mutters turning around almost half asleep.
| > gets up
OH SH*T why dident anyone even warn me!! It literly just turned new years.. why dident anybody even look at the time..
| Oh wait theres no working clock here
| "Well heres to getting fucking wasted and having a drunk conversation with the robo cab..."
>Graham holds is like what...? 6th beer up in the sky.
| Yep..
> raises the gut punch high
Happy new years.. now I can finally say this was successful
| > gets up
Thanks for the fun times guys.. and I hope everything goes well for this new years.. after all the crazy stuff thats been going on in this city we barely make it out alive, and heres a toast to all that have been lost
| >AnoMeat also raises his glass. It's his 3rd drink of the night. He notices Shelby's Friends, but not Shelby himself.
| With all this chaos.. and something that happened to me.. ill unfortunatly be going today, to live with my parents back in Neo SF.. yes I will return and when I do I hope to return with confidence that we are going somewhere.. to see this become a better place, cause my friend won't be able to save this city alone.. where ever she is.. with all that said and done.. lets go up and light some fireworks
| > opens the door waiting for people to get ready
And please wake everyone up guys.. they can't stay here
| >AnoMeat goes outside, pulling his phone on to turn something on. He notices Shelby.
"Hey! how are you Shelby!"
| "Oi, how are ya', lad?"
> Thomas glances back to him before returning focus to the sky.
| > walks out closing the door
Should be everyone.. now just follow me to the open area
> starts walking
| >AnoMeat taps a bit on his phone, and looks back up
"I'm doing great! we opened shop yesterday and already had some customers."
>AnoMeat inches closer and whispers
"I just sent you the reason as to why I told you not to come to the shop."
>He backs off a little, returning to his casual mood.
"Anyway, How are you holding up?"
| "Same old, same ol'."
> Shelby checks his phone before continuing, not backing off an inch.
" I'd like to ask what the gal looks like."
| > As they talk, the girl watches from a distance, giggling softly from their interactions as everyone heads outside.
| Everyone here and ready? Lets start walking.. I think the place should be a few blocks away..
| >>93760
> Shelby's boys are the first to get excited, most men walking with you with high spirits of the new year.
| Ahh the city.. im sure going to miss this.. this city just has something unique that makes me want to come back
| >AnoMeat looks around, and notices Ada, he secretly point her out to Shelby.
"150 degrees, 5 meters."
| > A black hover van slowly comes to a stop near Va-11-Hall-A and a certain long white haired cat boomer peeks out of the window after her window rolls down.
"Aw...I knew I'd miss the party but...I was hoping people would still be around."
> Slowly she notices people leaving the building annnnd that a certain box of chinese fireworks and champagne was still sitting by the door untouched...
"...Lance could you grab those boxes and bring them into the van...?"
| > continues to walk
Ahh the place should be only a few more minutes away
| > Thomas glances, taking note of where she is before continuing to speak.
"She spoke to me earlier. Damn woman's smart, approaching in public as she does.."
> He keeps himself about, nothing about him strays anywhere away from calm.
| Or so it feels.. it always takes longer than expected
| > Ada smiles and winks at the two when they see her. She toys and irritates quickly before making a b line straight for the two.
| "Oh shit, is that who I think it is?"
>AnoMeat sees the white cat boomer, really hoping its not who he thinks it is.
| >AnoMeat goes towards the van, knowing Ada is coming for him.
| > Seeing the movement, she giggles and aims straight for Thomas Shelby again, this time full on with her plan.
"I see your friend abandoned yoh."
| (You*)
| >Anomeat sends one last message to Thomas.
>"She sent the kill order."
| > Aethia watched one of her black suited guards hoist up the boxes she'd requested in each arm. While he was toddling back to the van to have a seat she noticed someone approaching. She could already hear one of her other guards sliding his gun out of his vest and cocking it.
"June, wait."
> She tilted her head curiously and peered at the person coming over to see if she could identify them.
"Oh...I know who that is. Jim drive up so that he doesn't have to walk too far."
| "Abandons 'bout right, but you terrify him to death."
> Shelby hardly reacts to her coming, checking his phone and reading the message AM sent.
"So what bone in your body should I begin breaking first? Y'know, for John."
| > Hilariously Lance stared at the van moving and just...frowned. He was not okay with what just happened.
"Uhhhh...Boss? Caaaan I get this in the car first?"
> Aethia laughed awkwardly and replied.
"Sorry Lance!"
| "Breaking bones? I thought you blinded people. Here I had my hopes up.."
| > looks at the time
FRICK.. I don't have enough time to even stay up for the night, sorry guys but I must go
>starts running
| "Don't worry guys, my gun is on safety."
>AnoMeat flashes his VP9.
| > Thomas stops and turns to Ada, clearly unimpressed with her tactics.
"You want blinded? I'll blind you right here in front of all these fucking people, and let you scream bloody fucking murder the rest of the night, whilst they all laugh and shoot off fireworks."
| >>93791
> As he takes off, Tommy's men take over, leading to an area they control to find fireworks from there.
| "If it isn't Aethia, the white princess. I really appreciate what you have done in the gallery."
>AnoMeat tries to be casual, but he did kinda rush over to the van, trying to put as much distance between him and Ada.
| >>93795
> Ada catches herself before she bursts into a hardy laugh.
"You could.. But you won't, will you? I'm even giving you permission."
> She takes advantage of the situation, nearly pressed against Tommy showing her dominance.
| "Is that nickname something that started on /u/? I've been called that twice now."
> Aethia laughed sheepishly. Hearing AM's words it seemed her guards did relax a little. But they seemed clearly ready to jump into protect her at a second's notice. Except Lance...Lance was grumbling obscenities while loading the trunk with those heavy boxes.
"Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the Louvre~. A new exhibit will be up soon around January 22nd. You're the first to know so do visit!"
| > Thomas doesn't answer, instead contemplating how to exit the situation.
| > Before he knows it, Ada begins backing up. From the main crowd, she's already separated and reversing into a secluded area between to buildings... She's also got Thomas's Webley in her hands, and unloading it.
| "That's great, I'll make sure to set a mee- ah hem. I'll make sure to come by and check it out. Shame about what happened at the Rockford."
>AnoMeat slipped a little there, Was he talking about making meetings? he takes a look at a bodyguard. He sees Ada.
"do you mind doing a favour for me?"
| > Thomas immediately freaks out, checking his holster, then making sure no one was looking before chasing after her.
"Ada! Give me, me fuckin' gun!"
| > June in particular raised a brow.
"Eh? Madam you cool with this ca--Uhhh..individual?"
> Aethia turned to give him suuuuch a look. He cleared his throat and smiled pleasantly before looking to AM.
"Whaddya want?"
>His eyes did trace where AM's were went.
| > Emptying all but one chamber, Ada puts the gun to her jaw, locking eyes with Thomas.
"You've done this before, haven't you, Tommy? You've played this game, what's it called?"
| >AnoMeat unholsters his gun, holding it by the barrel. he also takes out his magazines.
"Hand this over to that man, Please. A particular character has disarmed him. An unsavory one."
>He keeps talking to Aethia.
"So how is the organization of the Safezone operating going?
>AnoMeat makes small talk happen.
| > Immediately frozen, Thomas shakes his head and raises his arms.
"No, no I'm not fucking doing this, give me the gun Ada."
| > Ada pulls the trigger quickly, and the gun clicks with luck.. Would be luck, if Ada hadn't planned this situation.
"What is that I smell, Thomas... Is that fear?"
| > Aethia nodded to June and the gangster-chic dressed man slipped out of the car before moving to take the peice. Finally when he walked out it was clear that he was a...very large Lilim of grey color. His clothes nearly hid the fact. When he took the peice he held it with his free hand while brushing aside his long coat to reveal a rather beefy looking revolver.
"Gotcha. If th'lady's fine with it m'fine with it."
> He sauntered over to Thomas and aimed the gun handle at him.
| > He tenses at the click, already seeing everything that can go wrong for him if she dies with his gun.
"Ada, quit fuckin' about and give me the damn gun!"
> He tries his best not to shout, already lightly shaking.
| (Oof I was slow)
> Thomas looks to the man and takes the gun, not pointing to Ada just yet.
| "Huh. You really don't skim on security."
>AnoMeat takes note.
| > Ada laughs like an entertained child and clicks the gun again, a mold satisfaction watching Thomas.
"You don't like this at all, do you? Thank you for bringing him another gun, sir, maybe we'll have a duel later."
> Ada gestures the Guard.
| (Mold? Bold*)
| "Well logistically we'll be ready to start operations on Tuesday. I just have to finish tying up the loose ends...That's what I was doing that made me late to the party.
> Aethia admitted sheepishly.
"...Also...Yeah what happened at Rockford was terrible! It's terrifying what people do these days...I wonder how many families were affected."
| >AnoMeat starts taping at his phone. Is that a targeting app? Seconds later, large, loud fireworks begin exploding in quick succession. He then texts Thomas.
>"Shot her."
| > Thomas gets nearly startled, and on this click he runs over to strip the gun from her.
"Are you fucking mad, woman? Gunshots in dead of night like this attract police left and fucking right."
| "OH they are loud! It's good to see someone so young take care of the people around her. A man like me has no place in philanthropy."
>AnoMeat keeps distracting Aethia from the horror that is about to go down.
| (Damn I am the slowest MF..)
> As soon as the fireworks start, Thomas begins to raise his newly received gun and aims.. But doesn't do anything from there.
| "We should head to the square where the fireworks are, no?"
| "Nah. I don' do kiddie shite 'ike tha'. If y'point a gun at me I'mma shoot you 'n you'll 'er die or find yerself bein' downloaded to a'nother body."
> June drew his revolver and prepped it. He didn't know what he'd gotten into...so he didn't bother hesitating. If it looked like he needed to shoot...he was just going to do it and worry about the consequences later. That's how survival usually worked in this city.
"Y'need th'help, Sir? Yer buddeh sent me."
| >you hear AnoMeat click his tongue. What is annoying him so much?
| > Ada waits patiently, shaking her head to Thomas.
"You really do hold to your word, do you?"
> She looks to the body guard and giggles.
"Look, even a friend."
| > Thomas takes his time before shaking his head, taking off his cap.
"Yeah, actually I do. Don't shoot, hold her down."
> He speaks to June. He grips his cap so the blade in the edge is fully usable.
| > The white boomer smiled awkwardly and shrugged.
"It...It seems like a lot of people don't care anymore. I've come to decide that I don't want to be one of them. A lot of suffering happens in this city so...If I can ease at least some of it, I kind of feel like I ought to. You know?"
> Speaking honestly she gazed downward in thought and brushed away a lock of snow why from her eyes.
"I'd like Glitch City to be less of a hellhole. I don't know how to make that happen but..."
| > Ada looks to the bodyguard as she begins to back away.
"This is more like it, Thomas.."
| > Without hesitation, Shelby charges and tackles her, first beginning to pound his fists into whatever area she's not attempting to block.
| > The large Lilim took a breath and suddenly bolted forward, he attempted to immediately act before Ada could try to do anything. After all he could guess what Thomas was going to say...and he didn't want the man's intentions telegraphed.June hoped to make it to Ada before Ada could adjust her gun or make any move to dodge. If possible he'd attempt to pull the smaller woman into a hold that would disable both of her arms.
| "We will figure out one thing, or another. Anyway, Enough of the serious talk. Lets go have some champagne, and celebrate a new year."
>AnoMeat is trying to keep his cool, he looks looks away from Ada and Thomas, trying to distract himself.
| "S-Shit...!"
> Ada sprawls on the ground, easily overpowered by both guys.
| > Thomas uses this advantage of June to hold Ada steady, he nearly shouts at her with his anger.
"You're going to tell me where the fuck my boy is! Or I'm gonna take your fuckin' eyes, then your tongue.. Then I'm going to break ya' fuckin' legs and make ya' walk! Do you hear me?!"
| >The fireworks cover the sound of both conversations.
| > Ada doesn't reply, instead smiling cockeyed at Shelby.
| And just like that, Tommy keeps his promise. He slashes the blade across Ada's face before starting with her left eye. Holding her head back in one arm while cutting with the other.
| (Forgot the > again holy micraw)
| > Aethia is conveniently out of earshot and the fireworks are completely covering the noise for her to hear any of the shouting. So she simply smiled and nodded once before opening the van door and scooting over to June's side of the car.
"Certainly. Bryan is Lance back in? Let's drive closer to the fireworks...! I wanna see them in their fullest splender!"
"Eh? What about June?"
"Oh...right June. We should go get him...where'd he go?"
| (Shush damnit)
| > June holds the woman tight the second he saw Thomas' wrist flick. His expression was enough to show his thoughts. 'Jesus christ. Only in GC.'
| > Ada nearly screams, grinding her teeth, whining and squeaking to the pain of this. She tenses at the slightest movement and cries lightly.
| "June I think is talking to Thomas about uhhh... Guns."
>AnoMeat does not sound convincing in the slightest.
| "We should really get going before the fireworks stop."
>AnoMeat tries to get Aethia in the car.
| > Done with the first eye, Thomas begins on the second, but only makes a single cut before retracting.
"No.. No, I still want you to see this fucking face and cry every single damn time. That eye was for John. I'm gonna take your tongue for my boy, Charlie."
| "...Guns?"
>Aethia didn't sound convinced at all. She slowly knit her bro--Bryan hit the gas and rolled toward the fireworks "HAPPY NEW YEAR, BITCHES!"
"B-Bryan, whatareyoudoing?!"
"Celebrating! Let's get closer to them fireworks!"
| > Thomas does not allow Ada words, or even a final thought as he gets on a knees to begin cutting at her mouth. He digs in the best he can with the blade on his hat, stopping after failing to get through her teeth and instead slashing her to hell.
| >AnoMeat makes a reminder to set up the protection team with an upgrade.
"Yeah, Thomas is a partner in my business. I am a gun runner."
>AnoMeat looks in Aethia's direction. He knew that she as going to find out soon enough.
| > The torn girl keeps her mouth as shut as she possibly can to keep Thomas from her, relaxing only little as he gives up, still shaking in pain and nearly shock.
| >The Fireworks stop. The GMG has run out of ammo.
| "Pick her up, stand her on her fucking legs."
> Thomas tells June as he puts his cap back on straight, ignoring the blood as he stands.
| > June now wondering what the fuck he just got himself into just kind of...glances around carefully to make sure there weren't any street cameras about. He kept careful tabs of what angles there might be and sighed to himself.
" Happy fuckin' new year.">He grumbled.
| >The large Lilim heaves a sigh and pulls himself up, basically indirectly forcing Ada to stand up as well due to their mismatched heights. Either she was going to stand or be dragged upward, hanging from his hulking arms.
| > She groans to the pain, already dazed and nearly at a limit.
"Y-Youeerr nawt... Nawt gounnah kill meee.."
> She just.. Just manages to breathe out.
| "You're right, I'm not."
> Thomas keeps a cool voice, and rounds to the left side of Ada and June. From there, with Ada standing just, he kicks out her leg from the back of the knee, letting a crack rip out at it's fullest.
| > She cries, breaking nearly already and tryinf to dangle fully from June. She hangs her head, just waiting as that's all she can do now.
| > Thomas, already beginning to think about what he's doing, slows down to breathe himself. He heads to the other side and steps on her ankle, leaning fully with his weight until the familiar breaking sounds occur.
"Alright, then... So from here out, you're going to fucking walk all the way back to the hole you climbed out of. Right? Right, that sounds good? You can let her go."
> Tommy signals the guard,
| > Aethia heard the term 'gun runner' and gazed ahead quietly for a moment. She was perfectly quiet only for that moment...Then she smiled and spoke again. Deciding to allow those words to disappear into the mist for tonight.
" How was the party?" > A blunt topic change. Probably the best signal she could give. She smiled and waited expectantly.
"Was there a large turn out?"
| >June very plainly dropped her very much like he wanted to drop his involvement in the whole thing. How surprising it was...He didn't look phased by it. He looked surprisingly used to it and disappointed. Clearly he wasn't expecting this tonight, nore to find himself in a situation like this *again*. That was the kind of aura he had.
"...Gladleh. S'that gonna be all? Cause clearleh m'gonna be drinkin' t'night."
| >AnoMeat regrets saying that. but follows the plot.
"It was a pretty good turn out, it as very fun. Nearly missed it because of the shop."
| > Tommy nods and reaches into his coat pockets. He pulls up a big wad of Zenny, and instead of counting and reducing he just hands over the entire thing.
"Yeah, that's it. You get yourself something nice, will ya'?"
> Thomas seems to be catching his breath, keeping the same straight face.
| > Ada lays on the ground, nearly curling up into a ball and weeping. Instead, she keeps herself flat and arms ready as if to stand. Obviously unable to, however..
| > The sounds of the remaining fireworks still played out and lit the sky. After AM's distraction played out it seemed another group of fireworks clearly followed after. Bryan parked the van near where the group had been firing them out prior and pulled out the Chinese fireworks Aethia'd bought. Despite Aethia warning Bryan and trying to talk him out of it...He went on and set them up himself---surprising everyone with the fact that he knew HOW and was pretty good at it.
| "Start fucking walking, if I see you here in five minutes, I'm a' piss on ya'."
> Thomas watches Ada a bit more before turning and heading out to see what he can of the rest of the group. He doesn't bother to wipe off any of the blood, instead placing his hands in his pockets.
"Forgot to take off the fucking jacket again..."
> He whispers to himself, referring to the small blood stains on it.
| > The large Lilim accepted the money. He gazed down at it and casually counted---surprising even himself. He couldn't keep the numbers right in his head. He was...exhausted.
"Yeah..'ll do tha'..." > He paused...watching Ada for a long second. He'd been around Aethia too long. He was tempted to sit that lady right so that she'd at least be able to lean against the wall.
>But he knew better. He smacked his wrist with the wad of Zeni and turned toward the alley exit to walk.
| "June is okay where he is, right?"
> Aethia questioned cautiously.
"Is he involved in something I didn't know about?"
| "Guess I should leave now. I can tell my presence in undesired."
>AnoMeat states bluntly. For the first time in a while, he feels guilty for his profession. How many people have died to his weapons...
| "June is fine, I think I see him coming back"
>Anomeat states. He begins feeling worse and worse mentally. Why does he do this?
| "Oi, I haven't missed all the fireworks, have I?"
> Shelby returns, having taken the jacket and thrown it somewhere off. He now looks decently clean, yet cold.
| >AnoMeat leaves the van, and sees Shelby.
"Hey Shelby."
>AnoMeat looks a little different.
"How did the meet go?"
| "No...Stay with us."
> The boomer looked back at AM, her gaze warm instead of cold. She understood that 'term' Gun Runner...She truly did. However...
" This is Glitch City. I'm not that naive. I get it. Enough to know that everyone survives differently. Hopefully one day you'll go out of business, though. Then I'll help your paintball gun startup be a success."
> The boomer gazed up at the fireworks Bryan shot up form afar---because he didn't want to make everyone deaf.
| ( Oh. Should I retcon that? Because I can. xD )
| (No We can just assume she says it from the van, door still open.)
| (I think it'd work lol, my opinion)
| (Oof and here I am being slow still)
| "Pretty smooth, actually."
> Thomas nods.
"Yeah.. Just, leavin' it at that."
| "Do you mind handing me my gun?"
>AnoMeat holds out his hand.
| "Mister Thomas...June is on his way back to join us, right? It's a long walk back to the estate."
> Aethia called out while leaning from the open Van door.
" AM said that he was talking to you about...weapons."
| "Yes, that is what we were talking about. He was interested in my personal carry."
> Thomas flashes his Webley whilst handing AnoMeat his gun. Surprisingly, neither are missing bullets, or have been fires, as Thomas has made sure to pick up his dropped shells and re-enter them into his gun.
| (Have been fired*)
| "Thanks. I will see you guys around."
>AnoMeat leaves for the same alleyway Thomas came out of.
| > Thomas glances over and watches AM carefully, sighing as he continues unto next to Aethia's van.
| > Aethia hummed at that and nodded slowly.
"...Well I suppose some things never change. Haha. June always liked his guns. He has a huge collection of models at his house. But he knows way too much about them. If he wasn't such a giant teddy bear I'd be a little intimidated by him."
> She laughed and gazed happily up at the fireworks.
"Oh. I'm Aethia, by the way! Aethia Weiss of White Lightning...I...don't remember if we were introduced. I just knew your name from AM.."
| > The white boomer watched AM disappear into the darkness of the night also. For a moment she frowned and turned her attention back up toward the lit sky in thought.
| "No, we weren't, actually.. I am a friend, however, if you know.. Of Kazuki Nakamura."
> He nods her understanding of June, impressed just by the size of the man.
| > With the help of one of her men, she told to stay in the background... Ada has made her way a good distance out from the area, the vehicle to pick the two up not but a few more blocks away.
| "And with a formal introduction, I am Thomas Shelby."
> Nearly forgetting to add, his mind wandering over the past few minutes he's had.
| "Pleased to meet you."
| >AnoMeat gets to the alleyway, and shoots the man carrying her.
| > He collapses immediately, Ada falling with him. A heavy grunt, and she attempts to pull herself to a wall. Her damages done by Shelby are more than enough worsened by the weather outside.
| >He cycle the action on his gun. He helps Ada by putting his coat over her, and props her against the wall. He waits for the second man to come round the corner.
| > Ada watches with her only eye with some confusion, but more curiosity as the other guard comes around, gun raised to the sound of the previous shot.
| > Thomas checks his pocket watch, seemingly a bit uncomfortable with the situation he's put Ada in, but June as well. He's a nice guy.. Inn' he?
| > Aethia's eyes lit up.
"Oh! Kazuki! He's my bonsai friend!"
> Immediately Aethia's business-like and relax persona melted away into a kind of childish excitement.
"Earlier today he taught me a lot about trees and things. I even got to see a live one, apparently a special sort that's maintained to be very small. It was so cool! So you're friends with him? Do you garden too?"
| >AnoMeat splats him too. He wonders how the guard heard his silent shots. It doesn't matter.
He cycles the gun again, but keeps it down.
”Ada… Why are we still here… Just to suffer?"
| "Every night, I see Elliott, and him muttering… even in his sleep… and the comrades I’ve lost… It won’t stop hurting, like they’re all still there…"
>AnoMeat smirks to himself. Look at him. Sympathising with the enemy. This isn't him.
| > Thomas shrugs, nodding.
"You can say something like that. I don't know near as much as he does, but every so often I go out with him to a field and we do farm work. It's a shareable profit thing, he's helping me bring my company into Glitch, and I assist him on basis with his.. I believe it's a farm, I don't know what he holds down there, sometimes."
| > She cocks her head in interest, grasping for a question.
"What.. What do you mean?"
| (Oof I was very slow retcon)
| > She tilts her head slowly.
"Oh? You have a company? What do you do?"
| > She looks to him in plain interest, not speaking a word on this situation.
| "It's a bit of everything, actually."
> Thomas clears his throat, not turning his attention away from the fireworks.
"We've bought race tracks and stadiums, held events for event brands, manufactured parts for brands.. We ship goods, all that stuff. We make our own Gin n' Whiskey and ship that stuff around. Like I say, little bit of everything going on. It's Shelby company Limited, used to be family run."
| "Oh, yes.. I can't forget, we started off offering protection services. Our second biggest profit so far."
> He clears his throat, other than his normal, low key atmosphere, Shelby seems.. Different? Off?
| > Aethia gazed at him curiously...but smiled as if to deflect a stray thought.
"Oh I see! Perhaps you could assist me in something later then with your group's talents? Surely you've heard of my Safe Zone initiative? I'm...still looking for as much help as I can possibly get."
| "I really...*really* want these first few phases of creating a safe place for the riot victims to seek free or at least low cost treatment and help. Honestly with all the things going on in GC...I hope to have a lasting effect."
| "I used to be part of a PMC... Danger Close PMC. All of them are dead now... Bahrain... I see their bodies... killed with my guns... our guns that I sold to the enemy."
>AnoMeat's head hangs in shame, face staying the same. Why? Why now?
| (Had to grab a quick bite, lost my train of thought, oof.)
This thread is permanently archived
| > a sign saying "Va-11 Hall-a"
Should be it
> walks into the bar
Anyone here? Booked up this place for the day