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RP: YSS Kaiyō Mission 33: Usowotsuku

Chandler Park

"Nepeslia isn't overly known for its konbini," Aratani spoke on going to a convenience store. "But its bars? Now that's a different story, isn't it?"

She trotted behind William, shadowed by the huge man even in the settling twilight. He had rushed up to Aiko, and so Aratani had too. She had to push down a want to bow to the princess, regal as she was giving commands and effectual now that she was out of the poison's dark grasp. But to continue blending in, Aratani thought better of it and threw a pair of finger guns up and at the Ketsurui as she approached.
 
Funky City Skyways

It was a joke among the gangers in Molli's neighborhood that a grand on a bulletproof windshield would save you ten on smog treatment; an unspoken rule that the sedan's late owner clearly hadn't taken to heart. As soon as Molli accelerated to keep pace with the more hectic skyway traffic, polluted smoke and tiny debris carried by the wind buffeted her from all directions. Molli's metal eyes could take it just fine, but the foul smell the wind carried made the drive nearly unbearable. She couldn't focus on answering Rio for fear of expelling whatever wanted to leave her stomach. Through her wireless implant, Molli turned the car radio on, if only to give herself some white noise to focus on.

"Hey hey hey, you're listening to 92.1 -- Funky City Classics! Here to spin you records from the good ol' days, back when bullets were cheaper, the guns shot straighter, and the speed didn't crash you out so hard!" Automatic rifle sound effects, followed by an exaggerated clickclickclick noise punctuated the DJ's intro, before he settled in with a hearty chortle. "This is Jay, and I'm here to let the folks down south know that rumble was NOT a triggerhead's messy experiment blowin' up in his face. Lotta fruit falling from the gumtree tonight, so you'd best lock your doors and hug your sweethearts -- things might be heatin' up. Here's a hot single that's sure to make you feel warm and fuzzy...long as ya don't think about the lyrics, heh."

"I couldn't wait for you to come and clear the cupboards... But now you're gone and leaving nothing but a sign..."

It was some pop song, released way before Molli's time, and thus unfamiliar to her. It was catchy enough the longer she listened, however, and once the drive calmed down, she found it was nice to pretend they were all on a pleasant drive with good tunes blaring through the miraculously intact speakers. True to its name, Funky City Classics was a variety station that played hits from decades past, often from the independents, before they were inevitably sucked up into the music industry. The station cycled through songs that ranged from hard rock, country, metal, and even a little rap; the commonality between each track was a feeling of a singular artist or band's vision, which shone through and set each track apart from commercialized hits produced in the present day. Or so Jay said between tracks, anyway.

When the map brought Molli to the Fields, she gazed at the dilapidated military base that Nepleslia's finest patrolled. It was abandoned when Molli was just an infant, but she was certain it must've played a part in protecting her from the parasites the Mishhu sent all those years ago. It was a little disheartening to think about how one of the lynchpins of the planet's defense being forgotten so quickly, but that was Funky City for you. No matter how much you contribute to it, you're just a grain of sand sifting closer to a pit with the rest; person, organization, base; they were all the same.

Chandler Park District

After parking in an abandoned lot flanked by massive buildings, which seemed as inconspicuous as they could get, Molli killed the engine, pocketed the key, and stepped out of the car with the others. In the glow of the city, the bloodstains on her outfit were all the more noticeable, alongside an exposed midsection that displayed her visibly toned abs. "Ah'm fine," she said to Sif, before tapping the shoulder that her comrade saw explode on Urtullan, "Been through worse, yeh?" Molli produced a toothy grin, but she knew it was hard to ignore the stains on her chest and legs, as well as the cuts on her face. "Sumfin t'patch m'cuts wouldn't hurt..."

William's suggestion didn't sound too bad either. Molli wasn't about to admit it, but she wasn't old enough to drink when she fled Nepleslia, and now that getting drunk was one of her favorite pastimes, she could afford a little buzz before the operation resumed. "How's about me--" Molli tried to loop her arm around Sif's to draw her closer, "Th'masked wonder--" With her free hand, she jerked a thumb towards Rio, "'N Blueberry grab some goods from th'store 'n meet up wiv ya at the bar? Ah bet they got some bandages..."
 
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Chandler Park

Sif looked back to the group just as Molli tugged on her arm, putting forth a plan of action, grabbing some things from the store. It was something Sif was going to suggest once they reached one of these dive bars, which she hoped had clean water as the state of the air itself was disheartening, though she'd have only volunteered herself to grab some medical supplies. Lower profile and all that, but if Molli felt like she can hold off on a well needed rest, then she wasn't going to stop her. As she reminded the Neko, Molli had been through worse. And if Rio were to join in, they'd be able to take on any surprises.

"Well, since we'll be swimming, picking up some medical supplies and something to eat would be a priority. Won't do to be bleeding or passing out in the middle of the dive," she said with a nod, eyes making a second scan of the buildings. "I'll cover the costs of what we'll pick up at the store. KS is accepted here, right? I brought a DA card too if not." She patted her back pocket to make sure her wallet hadn't fallen out. It was still there, along with the chain that was hooked to her belt loop. Both cards were the generic kinds as she didn't want to bring anything official on her on missions, and on this one it only seemed like the right choice with her chosen persona.

She had been planning on checking the shops once this was all over, but this was a pressing matter. Wouldn't hurt to grab a few wet wipes too, looking at the state of the crew.
 
Chandler Park

"Nothing remains of the toxin that I cannot handle; my body has isolated and neutralized the contamination," Aiko said back to William in his mind. Her eyes traced from the street over to his, making the wireless reply more personal. "Thank you for watching out for me, Wil, and ensuring that we were able to escape the gang hive."

She broke eye contact with the ID-SOL and gestured with her head toward the others, indicating with the direction of her gaze that it was time William—as well as Aratani behind him—to get moving. Their area of operations was only about 500 meters across from any side of it to the other, so finding the particular bar they needed to go to as indicated in the Gumtree Gang's intelligence (not that it could be trusted at this point) shouldn't present a huge obstacle so much as remaining obscured in their search. The mission's parameters had earlier that day promised simplicity. But Yoldeen's ambush and mention of some rogue IPG element, which assuredly supplied him with the sophisticated Nekobane poison he'd inflicted upon the princess, had cast a threatening aura over wherever the Star Army team tread from then on.

"We will stick together," Aiko said, following the designated point man, Sif, even as the costumed commando was pulled along by Molli. The bodega that Sif had spied was relatively close and didn't seem packed despite the early evening hour. "You three will ingress the konbini. Koizumi-shoi: go with them and provide guidance as required. Captain Sanders, Faelan-shoi, and I will wait just outside and see if we cannot find some more information from the locals."

The ground beneath them looked damp, but not wet enough to produce the clicking suction of water under each footfall. It was more like it'd rained a few hours ago with the street's asphalt here on the dull and splotchy precipice of being dry once again. That would not last, however. Because as the Star Army team made its way toward the convenience store, a drizzle so light it could better be called mist engulfed the world to make the shine of dim neon and fluorescent bulbs fill up the lower city atmosphere with a hazy, diffuse warmth that brightened the damp air between them. And the matte patches of porous pavement once again grew slick and reflective, too, giving the run-down Nepleslian district a sort of faux glamour to it.

Soon, the Kaiyō crew was at the mini-mart. Aratani, Sif, Molli, and Rio entered while Aiko, Morgana, and William hung back, remaining outside in the rain near a phone booth whose backlit handset pictogram flickered at random intervals with a yellowy light that flashed through the white plexiglass window it was emblazoned upon.

"Procure what we need and listen for any information on the location of a place called 'One More for the Road' or whispers of spooky local myths, but be quick," Aiko reminded the forward team as they split. With no serious injuries among them, the princess didn't expect them to take long, but it was always worth reminding soldiers to stay on-task. "We will not stray far. Find us here."
 
Mini-Mart

Aratani tried her best to not think of her rank now as she entered the mini mart the three enlisted crewmen. As a Shoi, they were suddenly her responsibility and any indiscretion was on her shoulders. But it was just one hour ago that she was thinking how seasoned these cornflower panels were since joining the Star Army and Kaiyō simultaneously. Hawkishly, her amethyst eyes scouted for anything in the mini mart the others would be going for.

To Sif and Rio, she pointed over the aisles with one hand towards what appeared to be a well-stocked medical section. It was no doubt the daily gang fights in the streets necessitated such whereas Aratani had scarcely seen a bandaid in Yamatai's own convenience stores. But the overabundance of what they needed was a testament perhaps that they were on the right track within Nepleslia. Would it have been more outlandish to have been here a few hours and not gotten into a shootout, Aratani wondered.

"C'mere kid, it's on me," Aratani said to Molli as she ushered her under the white lights towards the candy aisle. "What're some of your favorites from these?"
 
Chandler Park

Aiko's order stopped Molli in her tracks, as she was certain heeding the princess was wise. Their mission was compromised, and there was no telling if they were being watched. Suddenly, each shadow seemed much more threatening, and each passing stranger kept Molli's gaze until she was certain they wouldn't suddenly attack. That feeling of paranoia wasn't helped by the wooziness of blood loss, which was slowly and steadily taking its toll despite Molli's efforts to shore up the worst of the cuts.

"Yes'm," Molli said to Aiko, filing their assignment away mentally. Do some shopping, figure out what "One More for the Road" meant, and ask about the local legends.

Mini-Mart

When the 4-woman team strolled into the store like a dysfunctional family, Molli tried to keep from leaking blood onto what passed for a white floor. Medical supplies were obviously high on the list of stuff they'd need, but a bottle of lighter fluid caught Molli's attention, and she made sure to snag it along with a metal flip lighter. Something told her they could be important tools later. She was so focused on the supply run that Aratani's cheeky denomination took her off guard.

"Eh?" Molli asked, blinking rapidly, and she almost considering snapping back as irritably as she had in the car. It was obvious, though, that Aratani had lived long enough, done enough, to call her that. Plus, Molli really could use a snack. "...Dark chocolate," the Nepleslian muttered, eyes averted to the ground. It felt ridiculous to be treated to candy from her superior officer, as though she were an actual child. Molli's desire for chocolate, however, superseded any notion of pride at being an adult that could make her own purchases. "What 'bout you two?" Molli asked, directing her question to Sif and Rio, perhaps in an attempt to drag them down to the awkwardness she felt.
 
Sif led the way to the convenience store, keeping her eyes forward and relying on her peripheral vision to check for any likely assailant. It was important, at least to her understanding, not to make eye contact with anyone on the street as that was often seen as challenges, and she didn't want to spark anything at that point. With the light drizzle and the resulting bloom from the neon signs, her gaze was drawn slightly upward to appreciate the effect while at the back of her mind she was hoping it wasn't acid rain falling upon her face.

Mini-Mart

"We'll not take long," she said in response to Aiko, her tone taking a half-hearted sing-song cadence as they entered the store. With the medical supplies pointed out, she practically beelined for it after making sure Molli wasn't in danger of collapsing when she went off to check on a lighter. Sif immediately picked up a pack of four bandages before swapping it with a six-pack which had an additional pair of smaller bandages taped to it as part of a promo, two packs of gauze, two bottles of iodine disinfectant three packs of sterile cotton, and three nonalcohol-based wet wipes. She used her cloak as a make-shift basket, clearly having underestimated the amount of stuff she'd think of picking up when she ignored taking a free basket at the entrance

She also picked up a box of tampons, eyebrow raised. "Why is this with the medical stuff?" she asked no one in particular. "Do people still think these actually help plug bullet holes?" She looked around and found that there was a section an aisle away with hygiene products. With how close the two sections were, she was hoping it was just the overlap and that people weren't actually using it for triage. It wasn't effective as a medical tool, despite what people would have you believe. She put the box back when her attention was pulled towards Molli and her question. Looking at where she and Aratani were at, she figured she was asking about what snack she wanted.

"Any white chocolate?" she asked. Something sweet would help get rid of that weird taste in her mouth from breathing the polluted air.
 
Mini-Mart

Funky City being full of Nepleslians meant the convenience stores were littered with shopping carts left behind by apathetic shoppers. All Molli had to do was walk a few feet to find one for Sif to deposit her heavy haul in. The bevy of medical supplies didn't go unnoticed, and Molli's face reddened with embarrassment at all the trouble she was making the crew's finest go through on her behalf. The events of the parking garage kept replaying in her mind, and she imagined dozens of scenarios in which she managed to avoid getting so many lacerations. She supposed it was lucky enough that they didn't cut anything vital.

It still stung like hell.

Sif's question made Molli's metal eyes widen and light up in alarm, "Wuh- Are ya fer real...?" she said, "They're... ehm, fer bloodflow fer women. They donnae plug bullet holes exactly. Cannae believe ah'm explainin' this..." The red in Molli's cheeks flushed over her entire face by this point. "Y-Ye gotta be more careful askin' stuff like that. Periods're...they're somefin' every woman has!"
 
Chandler Park, Sijpiher Street

William breathed a sigh of relief at Aiko's explanation. He was glad that she had managed to neutralize most of the poison. He moved to follow Aiko, posting up next to the phone booth. He pulled off his mask and tucked it into one of his coat pockets. He ran a hand through his beard, combing out the knots with his fingers. As he did, he scanned their surroundings, watching to see if anyone was being too nosey.

"So, what's the plan now?" He asked Aiko, his eyes still scanning the street.
 
Chandler Park

Rio felt better after the lengthy car ride over the city. The time had given the cut on her forehead time to heal, the terrible headache it had brought with it following shortly after. She was glad that Aiko's condition had clearly improved as well. That just left treating all of Molli's cuts. Last out of the ruined car, Rio was struck by pleasant sight as it started to drizzle. The rest of the squad, backlit by the neon lights that seemed to be everywhere on Nepleslia was a beautiful, memorable sight that temporarily pushed her worries to the side.

It was a brief moment of beauty before it was back to work. Hearing Aiko as she caught up with the rest of the group she quickly gave a nod to their new orders before following the others inside the Mini-mart.

Mini-Mart

Inside the store Rio stayed close to Sif when Aratani had directed them towards the medical section. She peeled off slightly from Sif once she had gathered the medical supplies. Sweeping the aisles she spotted a small clothing section a little farther in the back next to racks of knickknacks. Browsing the clothes Rio grabbed a tank top and t-shirt that looked roughly Molli's size. Something to at least maybe cover her torn bodysuit. The two she pulled from the racks had some type of album art of the front with Aethersperm emblazoned on them in aggressive fonts. When she heard Molli's question she asked on of her own by simply holding one the two shirts even as she answered Molli while she moved to rejoin the group "Something fruity please!"
 
Chandler Park, Sijpiher Street

"We must find the public house I mentioned," Aiko replied to William, scanning the road beside them rather than making eye contact when she spoke. "Despite the Gumtrees' betrayal, their information is all we have to rely on now. The information broker who hosts their business there should guide us along."

She took a deep breath in as the rain picked up some, though it yet remained a comfortable sprinkle rather than a disruptive downpour. The petrichor here was pleasant and fresh, lacking any scent of trash or waste despite the street being on the surface rather than some higher city level where the middling classes dwelled cloistered in filtered air and polished paths. Perhaps it'd been the earlier showers before the Kaiyō's team had arrived that washed any stink away, though more likely Chandler Park was spared it at all having been left behind by the churn of industry and attention when the nearby Uesureyan Fields were abandoned upon Nepleslia's independence from Yamatai.

"Ultimately, we must find that forgotten facility," the princess added, reminding her friend about the intelligence that had been shared by Uesu's Star Army. "What they could not find prowling old bases on Yamatai we may yet find here. Our search—and some amount of good fortune—will reveal the lost horrors created by PNUgen and turn them against the new Mishhuvurthyar threat."

The quick trudging of shoes and swishing of jeans echoed out from a thin alleyway nearby, only a few feet from where Aiko, William, and Morgana stood, and momentarily heralded the collision that came soon after. Aiko turned toward it immediately, but was nonetheless powerless to stop the small blur of umber from slamming into William's legs. It bounced off of the ID-SOL's mountainous form without so much as a flinch from William, and was then obviously a boy no older than twelve laying back on the sidewalk.

His yellow eyes blinked out from under his dark brown rain poncho in a daze and then fixed on the pair of tall warriors before him. A flash of anger faded quickly into one of shocked disbelief as he gazed up from the ground. He was soon joined by another poncho-clad kid who looked about the build but had a long braid of lime green hair falling out from her navy blue hood.

"Caught 'cha!" the girl-urchin said, kneeling down beside her friend with a wickedly happy grin. She ignored the trio of undercover Star Army soldiers, uninterested in why she'd closed the distance. "You're tagged so've gotta buy it. Always catch y—"

"S-shut up Darla!" the first boy demanded, keeping his stare locked up at William and Aiko. He sounded more shocked than angry at Darla, and she finally peered up to see them.

"No way," Darla deadpanned. "Zaf. There is no way."

Aiko looked over to William, too, and then noticed an electronic billboard affixed to the block a few dozen meters down the street. When they walked up it'd shown an advertisement of some beaked mutant squishing purple slime through a handheld push pattern so it became a hundred little strings; the product purported to be some sort of alcoholic stimulant paste. Now it was an advertisement to join the NSMC to kill Mishhu in battles alongside the Yamatai Star Army. And it featured Captain Sanders back to back with Ketsurui Aiko.

"It's the flippin' Kuvexian Killer," Zaf said, his shock now clearly shown as awe rather than fear. "Conqueror of a hundred planets. The most savage slayer in the sector."

"No, you are mistaken," Aiko corrected them. She was used to such flattery and had never once been recognized without her bellflower. "Run along to buy your treats. Our business does not concern children."

"Yeah!" Darla said excitedly, totally ignoring Aiko's attempt. "Captain Sanders of the Berserkers and his sidekick! So cool!" the girl added with stars in her eyes.

Aiko's head shot back to William, and she leered at her longtime comrade in clear disbelief.

"Handle it, Captain Sanders," the princess commanded telepathically. Her teeth set on edge, Aiko was not about to speak again after being caught very ill-prepared for the sensibilities of Nepleslian culture. "This is not the time to impress admirers. Make them leave. You have not forgotten how to act as yojimbo, correct?"

Mini-Mart

The sterile commercial light inside the bodega was far less welcoming than the street's illumination outside, but it made all the products look so sharp and clean. Even here in grungy Funky City, great care was taken to sell things to people, and despite the age shown on the worn taupe shelves this was a well maintained establishment.

"No! No blood on the merchandise!" the shopkeeper called out from the checkout booth when Rio held up the shirts to Molli. The old woman's voice was gravelly and hazardous, and she didn't even look up from her game show on a small volumetric television projecting out before her in the opposite direction from where the Star Army squad was gathered. She took a drag from her e-cigarette and made the red LED at its tip pulse, which was attached to a worn metal implant on the side of her neck through a thin blue tube and held in her left hand rested on the counter beside her. All she had to do was inhale through her nose, and then a few moments later release the spent vapors back out through her nostrils.

How she was keeping tabs on them was anyone's guess. Probably some mindware connected to CCTV or just the simple intuition of a woman who'd survived these mean streets for longer than Yamatai had even existed. Someone else in the shop was paying more attention to the Kaiyō girls, though, especially after the old smoking clerk had singled them out.

At first, the onlooker only tilted his head like a pet trying to understand some new phrase they'd never heard before. He examined Aratani, Sif, Molli, and Rio from down the aisle for some time and then pocketed the Composite Jerky Meat Product he'd been investigating and walked toward them, making no attempts at being inconspicuous. With each footstep the approaching man jingled a little thanks to the chainmail bands affixed to his boots and a few spiky metal trinkets hanging off of his leather Brando-style biker jacket. He wore tight red leather pants with extra ribbed layers sewn into the knees and in a cool stripe down each side, and a red bandana that roughly matched them and held his puffy shock of platinum blonde hair out of his eyes.

"Yo, Molli," the curious guy yapped on his way in. "That's you, Molli? S'gotta be. Been good other'n lookin' like shi'n'all?"
 
Mini-Mart

A cutesy chuckle escaped Sif when Molli explained what the tampons were for. "Oh I know," she said, putting the pack back on its shelves. "I mean I hadn't experienced them myself, never had a reason to run the ovulation process and all that, but I've... read some stuff." Sif averted her gaze when she paused, realizing the awful phrasing of that sentence.

"B-But these," she pointed to the pack she returned in an attempt to cut to a separate topic. "These come up a lot on the forums for helping with bullet wounds. Worryingly frequent even! The arguments over it are fun to read through though." She laughed as she checked the medical supplies now sitting in the cart, then looking up to the cashier when she shouted about blood on the merchandise. Guess they needed to be careful about that, the old woman didn't seem like a force to mess with. Just the way she spoke carried the air of confidence one would expect from a person who'd seen their fair share of violence and likely wouldn't hesitate disciplining troublemakers as if they were her grandkids.

Yes, best not to trouble her.

Sif waved Rio over, motioning to the cart. In the corner of her eye, she noticed the customer at the counter looking at them, but it wasn't a casual look. It was like he was scrutinizing them. It could be possible trouble, so she placed herself a bit more forward, picking up a roll of medical tape on the way. When he addressed Molli by name, Sif just went on high alert, unsure if that was a good or bad thing. "You know this guy?" Sif said in a sweet voice to Molli, her eyes glancing over him to gauge how much of a danger he was.
 
Mini-Mart

Without turning to look too intently at this Nepper that knew Molli, Aratani slid her purple irises to the corners of her eyes to get a good look at the guy. Satisfied with her second-long sidelong glance, she looked back to the selection and grabbed a few dark chocolate goodies. Coconut and almonds coated in it, caramel and nougat enrobed in it, and a plain brick of it, too. She pulled some lovefruit flavored gummies for herself (though she wouldn't be against sharing) and a rainbowy selection of small chews from a shelf, too, for Rio. She shook the bag to Rio with a wide grin before nodding at the shirts and taking both. The Shoi did the same with Sif's bandages, piling them into her hands and then the counter without comment on her lack of white chocolate which Sif had requested. Rummaging in her lavender cargo pocket, she pulled out some white, black, and red bills and readied to hand some of the DA to the shopkeeper depending on the total.

"Nice rig," Aratani said to the shopkeep, eyeing her vape abilities as if she were slightly envious. Though it was far from the truth, she liked complimenting other women.
 
Mini-Mart

Molli had reached out to snatch up the articles Rio offered before the cantankerous owner barked out a warning, to which the Nepleslian wisely withdrew her hands. Though the blood had dried, mostly, Molli didn't want to get into an unnecessary argument that could delay them further. This diversion was already indulgent, and wasteful, given it was mostly for her sake. "Keep yer dentures in..." Molli muttered defiantly, huffing in annoyance. They were just about ready to leave, it seemed.

A familiar voice called out, and Molli froze on the spot as uncomfortable recognition washed over her. Turning around, she considered playing dumb, but Molli figured that having her name dropped precluded that possibility. "Jack," she said in a flat tone that complimented a deadpan expression. Memories of youth came flooding back, of a boy and a girl skipping school to explore the decaying ruins of old skyscrapers and sewer systems, of ties cut once he'd decided to cast his lot in with the type of gangers she despised. "Ent reconsidered, if that's what yer askin'," Molli said, crossing her arms, one hand discretely slipping into her jacket, where the pistol was holstered. Given how dramatically she departed Nepleslia, Molli couldn't rule out that people were still hunting her, even old friends.

"Still foolin' with those morons'n Becker Street?" Molli asked, frowning.
 
Mini-Mart

There was a hesitance to Jack's immediate answer as he pushed up on his platinum hair and looked behind him and to his side. He even eyed Rio and Sif skeptically, but a lack of recognition quickly turned his nervous expression into one of confidence as he realized none of the Becker boys were within earshot.

"Not s'much as some'n like you'd think," Jack dodged the full truth with a casual half grin as he took some languid steps toward Molli. The bands of chainmail on his boots continued to clink in time with his swaggering until he was close enough to truly look Molli up and down. His face dropped and he doubled back on his earlier denial as he took in the state of the girl who had gone ghost not two years ago.

"Need their help or some shi? I thought you'd gone'n'gotten yourself killed when you took out that airbike guy everyone went berserk over dyin'. Now look at you, you're scraped up worse'n I ever did see you. What kind of trouble you in, anyway?" He said earnestly.

His thumbs had fixed around the red leather of his belt loops as he leaned back on his wiry frame after briefly leaning a foot from Molli, inspecting the olive-skinned woman as he reconciled her present appearance with those fond memories of the past. There was something in his mouth he resumed toying with, flipping it over on his tongue and between his cheek like a farmer might play with a young stalk of wheat. Whether he had noticed her hand on her hidden pistol or not was hard to tell, but he didn't look concerned about it if he had.
 
Mini-Mart

There was a strong urge to clamp a hand over Jack's mouth once he started talking about a past Molli hoped nobody in the Star Army would ever discover; the only solace was that Hoshi and Aiko were nowhere to be seen. The Nepleslian's eyes widened, her nostrils flared, and her metal fist creaked from how tightly she clenched it. "Gab ah bit louder 'bout it, y'louse," she hissed, sighing loudly, Two years, and Jack was still the same carefree gossip she begrudgingly liked. "Ent in no trouble -- y'got me mixed up wiv another girl." There were plenty of airbike racers in the city, but few managed to earn the kind of notoriety Molli had -- she hoped the lie would hold up regardless.

"Ah jus' left t'join ah propah gannyzation," she said, jutting her chin up with pompous pride, "Y'should try followin' mah amblin' fer once."
 
Chandler Park, Sijpiher Street

William listened to Aiko as she explained their objective again, then heard the shuffling of tiny feet just before something crashed into his leg. He didn't move as the boy bounced off his leg and was sent sprawling to the ground. He turned to Aiko and noticed the billboard. "I don't remember taking that picture," he remarked innocently. Turning back to the children as they began speaking, he had to force himself not to start laughing. He couldn't hide the smirk on his face though. "Can't say I have ever been called that before." He said, crouching down to be closer to their eye level. He helped the boy to his feet and wiped the dirt off his poncho. "Listen, I'd love to stay and chat, but we are a little busy now. Here." He reached into his pocket, pulled out two 20 DA notes, and handed one to each of them. "Food's on me, my treat since I can't stay and chat. Do me a favor and stay out of trouble, okay?" William asked as he stood back to his full height.

In his mind, he responded to Aiko with his mindware. "You heard that? Apparently, I am the conqueror of 100 worlds and the Kuvexian killer. Who knew you yojimbo was so skilled?" He teased playfully, his gaze still fixed on the children.
 
Mini-Mart

Jack let out a little guffaw and hissed in shock, "None the all girl gangs would never have me, stupid." He looked down after the last word slipped past his lips before looking back up sheepishly from behind his blonde lock, ashamed.

"Sorry'n'all 'bout it. Bout that but also joinin' up with Beckers and not having your back at all when shid gone an' went. Come outside with me, yeah? Catch up on it all." He patted where the Composite Jerky was burning a hole in his pocket and noisily made his way towards the door.

Aratani had leaned on a magazine rack with her thin plastic bag of merchandise after checking out and stood, looking to Molli for some guidance on whether to trust this guy or shake him.
 
Mini-Mart

Rio was startled when the shopkeeper called her out, green eyes wide as her head snapped around to look towards the older woman behind the counter. Wrapped around her waist her tail had also noticeably puffed up. For just a moment she looked like a child that had been scolded by it's mother instead of the trained warrior she actually was.

Rio gave Aratani a sheepish grin as she spotted the bag of fruity chews before the Shoi swooped in to take both of the shirts from her along with Sif's small bevy of first-aid supplies. Otherwise occupied, Rio's attention only turned towards the approaching man when he called Molli by name. Silently she watched and listened to the conversation, her fuzzy neko ears tilt to hear it better.

But it seemed that no sooner than he had arrived the man named Jack was leaving. Slowly Rio looked between Aratani, Sif and Molli before asking "Could he know something about One More for the Road?" over wireless. Under the circumstances, she wasn't too sure if saying the name of their objective out loud would help or hinder their search and so opted for wireless.
 
Mini-Mart

Sif visibly relaxed a bit in her stance, putting most of her weight on one leg. With Aratani taking the merchandise away, Sif stayed to mingle with Molli and her old friend. But despite her face becoming less scrutinizing and her body language shifting to a casual meetup mode, she was still on alert. She stayed quiet and listened to the two talking. They seemed fine enough with each other's company, maybe a hint of animosity, but friendly enough in the presence of the crew. Of course that may well change if the two of them were alone.

"Now hold on," Sif said as Jack walked off, "we can't have 'er galavanting around like this. You can wait 'til we get her and her wounds dressed proper like."

'Proper like'? It would seem listening to Molli and Jack talk was starting to get Sif to mimic parts of the local accent. Or a bastardization of it along with certain other media based in Nepleslian space.

"He could. Might be worth asking." Sif responded to Rio in the same wireless network before turning to Molli to speak to her verbally as to not just be standing there like a group of mannequins. "Well we got what we came for, let's get those cuts looked at." She started walking towards Aratani to get some of the stuff they bought, though they'd definitely need to head out before doing anything else. She doubted the cashier would appreciate them doing triage in her shop.
 
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