Post by Tate Icasa on Jan 24, 2010 22:34:05 GMT -5
Reen: *walking with Erasael*
Drevier: Hello!
Undecided: *lounges in motor chair holding a beaker of blue liquid, it has a face*
Erasael: *raises hand* 'lo!
Reen: *nods*
Undecided: *chair sprouts wings and flies into sun, loud boom, screaming*
Drevir: Uh. . .bye? . . .chair? *turns back* I would ask what's up, but obviously exploding flying chairs.
Erasael: Wouldn't know.
Reen: We just got here. We're new in town.
Undecided: *a smoking, charred figure falls from the sky. The vat sprouted angel wings and is flying overhead* Can someone get a fire extinguisher?
Reen: *sigh*
Erasael: *swings backpack off and starts rumaging*
Reen: *raises eyebrow*
Erasael: Nope. . .um, nope. . nope. . .um. . .here. *holds up fire extinguisher*
Undecided: Um. . .does he always carry that with him? *fine now*
Reen: Pretty much. Don't ask what else he carries.
Undecided: Call me Ed. And okay.
Drevir: Drevir!
Erasael: I'm Era, and that's Reen. *tips head toward Reen*
Reen: *nods*
Drevir: Pleasure. Now, where are you all off to?
Jeff: *floating beaker, flies ominously near Erasael* Worship the savior! *gets on hands and knees and bows. However, he is a beak, and has no legs or arms*
Erasael: *smug*
Reen: Don't let it go to your head.
Drevir: Interesting. Hi, beaker man.
Undecided: Oh, right, sorry. This is Jeff, the Hole E Water.
Erasael: Greeting, Jeff.
Jeff: Worship him! He is the savior! He is the savior! Worship him!
Undecided: Don't mind him. He does that to anyone with a fire extinuisher. You see fire extinguishers are the source of my power, the presence of one heals my wounds. Which is why I healed when you pulled it out. Jeff worships those who save me. He'll stop in three minutes.
Erasael: Cool.
Drevir: Yeah, well, my name is an anagram of driver!
Jeff: Worship! Worship! Wor. . .hey, who are you?
Undecided: That would be the end of his session?
Jeff: Seriously, who are you?
Reen: *sweeping bow* Reen Kesiyora.
Erasael: *rolls eyes* Show off. Erasael Zatas.
Drevir: Drevir!
Erasael: No last name?
Drevir: Gacy. . .haha, sorry.
Erasael: No problem.
Jeff: I'm Jeffrey the Hole Echolocation Isael Bosconian Donut Munckeyfeather JJ Stone Water III.
Reen: *raises eyebrow*
Drevir: Nice long name, beaker man.
Jeff: Yeah, I know. Wait till you hear Flaredragon, erm, I mean Ed's first name.
Undecided: Sigh. . .Flaredragon Undecided Fire Warden Chain Mixer of the Flying Recliner the 82nd and a half.
Erasael: I'm sorry.
Drevir: Not as fun a name as the beakers.
Undecided: Yeah, well, I'm 82nd and a half because I'm an elemental, and my second half, Oceanwave, got separated and we became separate entities. Yeah, I know, creepy.
Erasael: Not really.
Undecided: Whatever.
Erasael: *rolls eyes*
Drevir: Really, not really, yep!
Reen: *sigh*
Undecided: I gotta go. I booked a room in a hotel at the other side of the street. Talk to ya later. *explodes*
Jeff: Yeah, see ya. *also explodes*
Reen: *inclines head*
Erasael: Strange, strange people. Mad scientist?
Reen: No doubt.
Drevir: He'll be back, just watch.
Erasael: You like around here?
Drevir: Yep, thos type always come back.
Erasael: *nods* I can see this is going to be fun.
Drevir: *curious* In what way?
Reen: Ignore him. He's an idiot.
Drevir: Uh. . .? Really, maybe this will be fun.
Reen: *smirk*
Erasael: Be nice, Reen.
Drevir: . . .how are you an idiot?
Erasael: I'm not an idiot!
Drevir: So he's a liar?
Erasael: He's just mean.
Drevir: Ah, okay.
Reen: *sigh* Come along, Era. We've still got to find an apartment.
Drevir: Moving in then? Cities over here, great apartment. You a couple or brothers?
Reen: *smirk*
Erasael: Don't even. *gives Reen a look* His mom married my dad. We're supposed to be "bonding".
Reen: *snort*
Drevir: Ooh, have fun "bonding". *makes a face*
Reen: Fun is overrated.
Erasael: See what I have to work with here?
Drevir: *nods* Yep, loads of un.
Reen: Era, seriously. We've got to go[/].
Erasael: *rolls eyes* Sorry. See you around.
Drevir: Okay! *waves hand* Have fun.
Reen: *sighs and drags Erasael away*
Erasael: Thanks. Ow, ow, Reen, let go. . .*dragged away*
Drevir: *shrugs and heads to work*
~
Kasha: You're an idiot, making me move to a new city! I liked my dock and box home. Why? Why did you make me come with you?
Kyler: You needed to get away from the hunting ground. . .
Kasha: I hate you, stop trying to win me over. You were mean for far too long before this.
Erasael: Let go of me! *jerks away from Reen and runs into Kasha* Sorry, sorry. *offers hand and helps her up*
Reen: Idiot. *rolls eyes*
Cade: *poof of smoke dissipates around him and Jesse* Uh, hi.
Jesse: Oh, god.
Erasael: What, where? *looks around wildly*
Reen: *rolls eyes*
Jesse" No actual god, I meant ugh.
Cade: You think this is my fault.
Jesse: I don't doubt it's your fault.
Reen: What is?
Jesse: The fact that we're here. Where are we, even?
Erasael: In the City.
Cade: And the city is named?
Reen: It doesn't have one.
Jesse: That's special.
Reen: It's stupid.
Erasael: Is not!
Jesse: Gentlemen! Focus, please. It's Cade's fault because he likes to blow stuff up.
Erasael: Ooh, what sorta stuff?
Reen: More importantly, how does that make it his fault you're here?
Cade: I blew something up I wasn't supposed to, obviously.
Erasael: Like a teleporter? Was it fun? Did you see anything? What did it look like? Was-
Reen: *covers Erasael's mouth* Shut up.
Jesse: Erm. . .we don't know.
Reen: *raises eyebrow*
Jesse: We were in a junkyard.
Cade: The owner asked us to destroy some stuff he couldn't get rid of.
Jesse: And we saw smoke. Lots of smoke.
Kasha: *slinks away*
Kyler: *hasn't noticed, is watching others*
Erasael: *nudges Kyler* Dude, your lady just ran off.
Kyler: *starts to hiss when words sink in* What? *turns* Fuck, and she's not my lady!
Kasha: *ears twitch and turns around* I'd never be his lady if my life depended on it! *screams*
Erasael: *giggles* Sorry, lady.
Kyler: *mumbles* Not that her life depends on it, she's immortal. Kasha, come on! It's a break, a vacation, come on, please!
Reen: What are you arguing about?
Cade: I'm kind of afraid to know.
Kyler: She's mad at me for dragging her from her hun- home and taking her on vacation.
Reen: I see.
Erasael: *staring at Kasha*
Reen: Era, you idiot, I swear, if you start drrling I will beat you over the head with that fire extinuisher.
Erasael: Eep! *throws fire extinguisher*
Reen: Idiot.
Kyler: *narrows eyes at Erasael*
Kasha: *growls at Kyler* You don't own me, Kyler. Don't be possessive. *glaring at him*
Erasael: She's pretty.
Reen: *whacks Era upside the head*
Erasael: What? She said she's not his lady, that means she's available!
Kyler: You don't want her, she's not your type.
Kasha: And you are?
Erasael: How do you know what my type is, hh?
Kyler: *teeth extend and growls* Because she's mine.
Kasha: I'm NOT yours!
Reen: Era, if you get us into a fight. . .
Erasael: Sorry. She is really pretty, though.
Reen: Era. Shut up.
Kasha: *tackles Kyler, claws out* Stop claiming me. I hate you Kyler! Stay out of my life!
Kyler: *starts to fight back* You weren't there, you, you- *growls and brabs her wrists, roll on top of her and pinning her down* You crazy bitch! *spits near her head then bites her neck*
Kasha: *hisses and knees up*
Kyler: *groans and releases her to cover up*
Kasha: *slashes his face* You should have stayed dead. *pulls away* Now get out of my sight, Kyler. I'm stronger and far more dangerous than you.
Erasael: *backing away slowly* Reen, I'm scared.
Reen: *rolls eyes* She's not attacking you, idiot.
Erasael: Stop calling me an idiot! I'm just as smart as you are!
Kyler: *curses under breath* I'm not going anywhere this time, Kasha.
Kasha: *sarcastic* Oh, you poor thing, you're in love with a lost dream. Forget it, Kyler. *touches neck and feels blood, startled* Oh. *licks blood off fingers*
Kyler: It's your own blood.
Erasael: *stares in horror*
Reen: *looks bored*
Kyler: *stands back up, wincing* Told you she's not your type. Bloody vampire demon.
Kasha: Hmph. Part cat-demon and vampire, not vampire demon, Kyler. *sarcastic* Dear.
Reen: *snickers*
Cade: It's like watching Tesla and the Midget, only sexually charged.
Jesse: The day Ryan calls Tesla 'dear' is the day I gauge my ears out with a fork.
Cade: I was refering to the 'endlessly entertaining battles' aspect.
Jesse: There is nothing funnier than watching a fifty-year-old argue with a two-year-old. And lose.
Cade: Poor Tesla's got no patience.
Reen: *nudges Erasael* It's a bit like Inqie and Zail.
Erasael: Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew! That's my little sister you're talking about!
Reen: *shrugs* So?
Jesse: Ryan's my daughter.
Reen: *snicker*
Erasael: Married: You, not the girl.
Cade: Negative. Adopted daughter.
Erasael: Oh.
Cade: She's very loud at night.
Reen: Oh.
Kasha: *now looks very young cause has returned to human, eyes no longer shaped* I need to sleep. Kyler, just leave me alone.
Reen: Do either of you two know where we could find apartments?
Kasha: He might, he dragged me here on vacation.
Kyler: Not until you stop procrastinating becase it's the middle of town!
Kasha: What, more victims? *sweetly*
Reen: *waits*
Erasael: We could just go look on our own. . *inching away*
Reen: *grabs the back of Era's collar* Stay here. *irritable*
Erasael: Unhand me!
Kyler: No. *gritted teeth* Vacation, not hunting grounds.
Reen: *waiting*
Erasael: *sweatdrop*
Cade: Kyler, place to live is needed. Can you help?
Jesse: And they let you pass that English class.
Kyler: This way. *sighs*
Reen: *drags Erasael and follows Kyler*
Kyler: Come on, Kasha.
Kasha: *growls and follows*
Reen: *glances back at Jesse and Cade* You two coming too?
Cade: Uh, yes. *he and Jesse start after the group*
Erasael: *tries to get Reen to let go of his collar* I'm not a puppy, Reen!
Kasha: Your mood changes fast for a guy.
Reen: He's unbalanced.
Erasael: I am not!
Kasha: Or on a male version of a period.
Erasael: *pouts*
Cade: Heh, heh. Defcon 3.
Kasha: *sulks*
Reen: *still dragging Erasael*
Kyler: *points at a hotel*
Reen: Thanks. You live 'round here?
Kyler: No. I just booked a hotel room.
Erasael: Maybe we'll see you around, then. You? *looks at the other two*
Cade: Bed. Sleep. Good.
Jesse: *rubs temples* I know you know proper English. Why won't you use proper English?
Cade: Je parle fracais meilleur. *winks*
Jesse: You're an idiot.
Cade: A tri-lingual idiot. Do American dollars work here?
Kasha: *smirks*
Erasael: Ooh, pretty!
Reen: *mutters* Your funeral.
Kyler: *comes back and grabs Kasha's wrist and walks into hotel*
Kasha: *growls* I ain't yours to defend when I'm called pretty.
Erasael: *staring at Kasha*
Kasha: *starts showing off*
Erasael: *stares*
Reen: *eyes Kasha, then glances at Era* Idiot.
Kasha: *laughs*
Erasael: *silly grin* Pretty sound.
Kasha: *looks at Kyler* Mommy, can I keep him? *snickers*
Reen: *snickers*
Kyler: *growls* I'm not female, and I'm only a few years older than you.
Reen: And anyway, *slings are around Era's shoulders* he's taken.
Erasael: *jumps away* Get off me, you pervert!
Reen: Aw, but honey. . .
Erasael: Reen, that's icky!
Reen: It is not. *grabs Era's hands* It's sweet, and lovely, and normal!
Erasael: *leaps to hide behind Jesse and Cade* Save me!
Reen: *snickers*
Erasael: *still hiding, points at Reen* He's gonna rape me!
Cade: *snickers*
Jesse: Rape is bad, Reen.
Cade: Consentual sex isn't.
Reen: *rolls eyes* I'm not going to rape him.
Erasael: I don't wanna have to live with him!
Cade: You could live with us.
Jesse: . . .
Cade: Threesome!
Erasael: Eep! Stay away! *hides behind a sign, crosses self*
Reen: *snickers*
Jesse: *smacks Cade* Be nice.
Cade: *in a petulant whine* But nice is boring.
Reen: *mutters at Era* Idiot. I would have taken that offer.
Erasael: *cowering behind sign*
Cade: *eyebrows* You still can.
Jesse: He'd have to settle for a twosome.
Erasael: *runs away* I hate you all!
Reen: *sweatdrop* Um. . .I should probably make sure he doesn't get lost. . .or killed. . .
Jesse: Want us to get you guys a room?
Reen: *fishes through pockets and hands over money* Thanks.
Jesse: *takes money* No problem. *to Cade* C'mon. *they go inside*
Reen: *walks off in search of Era*
~
Jesse: *to the nice lady behind the counter* We need two rooms, please.
NLBC: Single or double.
Cade: One single, one double.
NLBC: Okay, the nightly rate is $39. How long will you be staying?
Jesse: We don't know. Put us down for a week.
Inqie: *runs in, tugs Jesse's sleeve* Have you seen my brother?
Jesse: Negative.
Inqie: Oh. You sure? This is the only place in the City I haven't checked yet.
Cade: What's he look like? Name?
Jesse: *resisting smacking Cade again*
Inqie: *holds hand up above head* He's this tall and blond.
Jesse: And his name is?
Inqie: Erasael Torsas Zatas.
Cade: Oh, he ran off. Reen's trying to find him.
Inqie: What did that bastard do now?
Jesse: Him and Cade *points at Cade* were making bad jokes.
Cade: Tattletale.
Inqie: As in?
Jesse: Er. . .
Cade: Sexy talk. So, what's your name, li'l girl?
Inqie: Inqiline Tamsyn Zatas. But you can call me Inqie.
Cade: Pleasure.
Inqie: *raises eyebrow* So, what, you scared him off with gayness?
Cade: I assume.
Inqie: Reen'll never find him.
Cade: *snickers*
Jesse: Why?
Inqie: *holds up bracelet* Isomorphically-locked bio-masking personal distortion field.
Jesse: It makes you invisible?
Inqie: *nods* Simplistically.
Cade: Next time, just say that. Big words make my brain itch.
Inqie: *sniffs* Just because you're stupid doesn't mean I have to sound dumb.
Cade: Terribly sorry, not used to hearing such an advanced vocabulary from a ten year old.
Jesse: Don't start something.
Inqie: I'm eleven.
Cade: Is there that big of a difference?
Jesse: Much. Much of a difference. And I just told you not to start something!
Inqie: About 12 months, actually.
Cade: I-
Jesse: Do. Not. Start. Hn?
Cade: Fine.
NLBC: *hands keys to Jesse* Here you go. This one's the single, this one's the double.
Jesse: *gives key to Inqie* Here. That's the key to your brother's room.
Inqie: And where might that be?
Jesse: Uh, the number should be on the key.
Inqie: I can't read.
Cade: You can talk about personal distortion fields, but you can't read?
Jesse: You're eleven and you can't read? *sighs and looks at the key card* 241.
Inqie: Almost everything around here is compatable with IkziTech. Never bothered to learn. *looks around* My friend Zail is probably still outside bothering those vampires. . .if you see him, can you send him up?
Cade: I do not like vampires.
Jesse: We'll tell him if we see him.
Inqie: Thanks. *turns to go*
Jesse: You're welcome.
Cade: Can I go beat up the vampires? Please!
Inqie: Do whatever you want.
Cade: *grin*
Jesse: No.
Cade: But-
Jesse: No 'buts'. No.
Cade: Your butt. My-
Jesse: *smacks*
Inqie: *snickers* I can see how you helped Reen frighten him now.
Jesse: He has that effect on people.
Cade: Seriously. Upstairs. Now.
Jesse: You're so needy.
Cade: You love it. Ta, li'l girl. *drags Jesse toward elevators*
Inqie: *smirks* Nice neighbors, Era. Don't know how you'll deal with them, but still.
Erasael: How'd you know? *becomes visible*
Inqie: I know everything. *tosses key to Era* I'm going to go make sure Zail doesn't get himself killed.
Erasael: Luck. *heads for stairs*
~
Kasha: Get away from me, kid!
Zail: Aw, but I've never poked a real live vampire before.
Kasha: *walking backwards away* I don't like being poked, cut it out.
Zail: Don't be like that. *pout* Can I poke your guy instead? Please?
Inqie: Zail! Leave 'em alone!
Zail: But Inqie, they're so cool!
Inqie: But I wanna go spy on Era's neighbors.
Zail: *pause, opens mouth, closes mouth* This is some voyeuristic thing, isn't it?
Inqie: *grin* Might be. Come on.
Zail: Don't whine.
Inqie: Then hurry up. *drags Zail inside hotel, calls out to Kasha and Kyler* I'm sorry about him.
Kasha: He's not my guy! *storms after them to go to her room*
Inqie: Sorry. *shrug*
Kyler: Can't you calm down even a little bit?
Inqie: *watches*
Kasha: I want to go home!
Inqie: *lets go of Zail's wrist*
Zail: *looks at her curiously*
Inqie: *inclines head to point at them*
Kyler: I'm trying to make everything-
Kasha: Twenty years of making up! You sthink buying me a vacation with stolen money is going to get me to like you?
Kyler: It wasn't stolen! We were friends!
Kasha: You took me to that graveyard that night. "Ooh, you're scared." *spits* You're nothing but a liar and a cheat.
Kyler: At least you still look as good as-
Kasha: I haven't aged! Of course I do!
Inqie: *ducks behind a sign to get a better view*
Kasha: Augh! *throws up hands* I can't believe I trusted you! Walking me into the middle of a vampire land.
Kyler: Kasha, please! *almost begging*
Kasha: You just had to befriend those mutants.
Kyler: Kasha, calm down. You're making a scene.
Kasha: You, you monster! I hate you! *crying* You have no feelings at all!
Kyler: *silent*
Kasha: *claws out now* I'll kill you! *lunges at him*
Kyler: *deftly grabs her wrists and lets her kick him* Three weeks ago I realized that I needed to be nice to you instead of being the jerk I had been.
Kasha: *still kicking and scratching him, screaming that she hates him*
Kyler: *quietly* Pushing you away was only making you more bitter. I thought pushing you away when you hated me would make me stop loving you.
Kasha: *startled, pathetic swipe, starts crying again*
Kyler: *pulls her in and holds her* Please, Kasha, stop.
Kasha: *pulls away hard* No! *runs*
Kyler: *watches after her and sighs* You can come out now. *walks towards hotel*
Inqie: *steps out* Is she, um, okay?
Kyler: She's being normal, if that's what you mean. *far away look, sighs*
Inqie: That sorta sucks for you, doesn't it?
Kyler: Yeah.
Inqie: Are you and she. . .?
Kyler: We're nothing, really. But I wish.
Inqie: I know the feeling. *inconspicuous motion toward Zail, who is oblivious* What did you do to make her hate you?
Kyler: I got her bit by a vampire.
Inqie: . . .nice going.
Kyler: Yeah. I know.
Inqie: Was it an accident?
Kyler: I didn't think that they would do it. They were my friends.
Inqie: *considers* Then she's wrong to hate you. *nods*
Zail: *whining* I thought you said we couldn't bug them, Inqie.
Inqie: . . .er, I changed my mind.
Zail: Yay! *pokes Kyler* I poked a vampire!
Inqie: *sweatdrop*
Kyler: Eh. *wipes cheek and looks at the blood* Congratulations.
Inqie: Don't mind him, he's almost as much of an idiot as Erasael.
Zail: *pouts*
Inqie: Are you getting a room here too?
Kyler: I have one.
Inqie: Cool. I've got an apartment down the street, not that my brother will admit that. So maybe we'll see you around. Good luck with the girl. Come on, Zail, let's go see if there's anything "interesting" going on upstairs.
Zail: You have a disease, Inqie.
Inqie: *shrug* Call it what you will.
Kyler: *shakes head and goes into the hotel*
Zail: *sighs* Shouldn't we go find Reen and tell him Erasael's here?
Inqie: I don't want to help that bastard.
Zail: You could shove in his face how much smarter than him you are.
Ethan: Smarter than who?
Inqie: Bastard brother in law.
Ethan: Oookay. Relatives are never fun.
Inqie: My real brother is quite amusing.
Ethan: Which is?
Inqie: Erasael. He hasn't taken is Awakening Pill yet.
Ethan: What's that do? *snickers*
Inqie: What's it sound like he does? Around this place, we're given surgery at birth to inhibit our sex drive. At the age of consent, which is 8 around here, we're given a pill to reverse it. Era never took his.
Zail: Neither did I.
Inqie: *rolls eyes* Yeah, but you're only three years late. Era'll be ten years late in a few monts. And he still can't get beyond the 'oh, pretty' 'sex is icky' stage.
Cade: *coming down the stars, shirtless* So sensitive. . .
Inqie: *pouts* Darn, we missed all the good stuff.
Zail: For gods sake, Inqie!
Inqie: What?
Cade: Little perve?
Zail: *points at Inqie*
Inqie: *tilts head* Hmm?
Cade: *grin* K. I apologize. I can get you another show, Ms Voeuyer.
Inqie: Inqie. My name is Inqie. Don't think I managed to catch yours.
Cade: You said before. Name's Caden. Y'all c'n call me Cade. My buddy's name is Jesse.
Inqie: *smirks* Buddy, huh?
Zail: Inqie. . .
Inqie: *sigh* Shut up, Zail. Go talk to. . .*waves hand at Ethan* whoever he is. I'm having an important conversation here.
Zail: *rolls eyes* Whatever you say.
Cade: Buddy, partner. Same difference.
Inqie: I guess. *shrug* And why, exactly, did you come all the way oth here, Mr. Cade?
Cade: No on purpose. We were destroying some stuff for a friend -and I mean 'friend', this time- I blew something up, and here we are.
Inqie: And what, you decided to stay awhile? Won't your friend be worried?
Cade: She'll probably figure we went to our evening jobs. And we don't know how to leave.
Inqie: *frowns* I've never heard of anyone leaving the City.
Cade: That's a little disconcerting.
Inqie: *humms* I suppose you could just keep walking once you reach the Skirt.
Cade: Crossdressing isn't my bag, sorry.
Inqie: *giggle* I mean the outskirk. Um, suburbs, I guess. *looks at Cade* Shame, though.
Cade: I don't have the legs.
Inqie: *shrug* What about your buddy?
Zail: Inqie!
Cade: Yes, actually. He'd never go for it, tho'.
Inqie: *smirk*
Zail: *drags Ethan away so he doesn't have to put up with Inqie*
Inqie: *sticks tongue out at Zail*
Cade: *laughs*
Jesse: What's so funny?
Cade: Hey, hon.
Inaie: Zail fled.
Jesse: Hilarious.
Inqie: *shrugs* So, how long are you two staying before you try to find an exit?
Jesse: I don't like the phrasing of that.
Cade: Apparently, no one's ever left.
Jesse: That would probably be why it sounded so sinister.
Inqie: I'm sure it's possible, but no one's ever wanted to leave before. My family lived ut in the Skirt, near the Wall, and we never wanted to leave. And the Skirt is nearly IkziTech free.
Jesse: Wait. The technology has a name, but the City doesn't?
Inqie: IkziTech was developed by Ikzi Amoase nearly three hundred years ago. She was rather conceited.
Jesse: But why doesn't the City have a name?
Cade: Does it need a name?
Jesse: *glares*
Inqie: The City is the City. It doesn't need a name.
Cade: He doesn't like being away from hom. You should see him at HQ- horrible mood. 's like PMS.
Jesse: And you saying I have PMS is helping, Caden.
Inqie: *snicker* We only get visitors every ten or so years, and no one leaves. It's not like we're a tourist attraction or something. We haven't needed a name.
Jesse: I don't have PMS.
Cade: I'm sorry.
Jesse: You should be. So, do a lost of people live around here?
Inqie: The City is rather small. I'm not sure of the exact number, but there can't be more than a hundred of us.
Jesse: Lost smaller 'n Manchester.
Cade: And we're Hickville, USA.
Inqie: Where's that?
Cade: Manchester or the United States?
Inqie: Um, either.
Jesse: *pause* We're not on Earth, right?
Inqie: Um. . .I dunno.
Jesse: *sigh, deadpan* Great, aliens.
Cade: Quit being xenophobic.
Jesse: I don't dislike aliens. It's just, every time I deal with nonhumans, bad things happen.
Inqie: I'm not a nonhuman. Also, I can hear you. *considers kicking Jesse*
Jesse: *sighs* I am sorry. I'm crabby when I'm out of my element.
Cade: Which is knowing more than everyone else.
Jesse: Which is why I hate being around Tesla.
Inqie: Oh. . .*peels super-thin gloves off* Here.
Jesse: *takes gloves* Er. . .
Inqie: They're IkziTech. They feed through these. *takes out contacts* Realtime interface and everything.
Cade: How does that help exactly?
Inqie: All IkziTech is connected to all other IkziTech. And almost everything in the City runs off IkziTech. Full library. Like being omnicient.
Jesse: *puts gloves on* That's cool.
Inqie: I guess it is. *looks around* It's weird to see the City without all the interface panels. *waves contacts* Here, take these. They're a set, and the gloves won't do you any good without them.
Jesse: *pauses* Er. They're, uh. . .
Cade: He means they've been in your eyes.
Inqie: *holds them close to Jesse's face* Self-cleaning, see? *slighs electric field goes over lenses* Every fifteen seconds. Completely sterile.
Jesse: *vehemently* Awesome. *takes contacts* Thanks.
Cade: So, like, they get taken out during sex 'n stuff?
Inqie: They don't need to be, but most of us choose to. Private lives private and all that.
Jesse: *puts lenses in* Woah!
Inqie: Once they've adapted to your biosignature, they'll self-set. You'll have to mess with the filters a little bit, otherwise there's too much raw data. Most of it will go into 'sleep' mode. You won't be aware of it til you need it.
Jesse: This is immensely cool.
Cade: What time is it?
Jesse: Uh, six.
Cade: Food time.
Inqie: I take it you can find one of the Cafes on your own, now?
Jesse: Yup. Thanks.
Inqie: *nods* Welcome. I'm off to buy a new set. *head off, turns* Oh, and I'm still expecing a show!
Zail: Inqie!
Inqie: *skips off*
Zail: *turns to Ethan* See what I have to deal with?
Ethan: *nods* I thought the pill was something completely different. I never took any.
Zail: You're not from the City, then.
Cade: Who's on the pill?
Jesse: He just said it was something else, stupid. C'mon. *grabs wrist* We'll get dinner and you can repeatedly apologize for calling me a slut.
Cade: *sigh* Bye, little man. *they leave*
Zail: *snicker*
~
Saiene: *cleaning tables*
Cade: *sits* How many more times?
Jesse: At least four, maybe ten.
Cade:That's quite a jump between numbers.
Saiene: Oh, visitors! We haven't had customers, let alone visitors in a long time!
Jesse: Afternoon, m'am.
Cade: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. That enough?
Jesse: If you have to ask, the answer's no. Try not doing to minimum to pass.
Cade: *groans* You used to like it.
Jesse: It used to be true.
Saiene: *looks at them* You've connected, *looks at Jesse* Whose set did you take?
Jesse: A friend gave me hers. Can we have a table, please?
Saiene: Right this way. *leads* How long have you been in the City?
Cade: I dunno, three hours?
Jesse: Sounds right.
Saiene: You make friends fast.
Cade: We're charismatic.
Saiene: I bet. *motions to a table* I'll go get you menus.
Cade: Thank you, m'am. I'm really sorry, doll.
Jesse: *eyebrows*
Cade: Baby? Sweetheart? Honeybunches?
Jesse: Keep going, this is amusing.
Saiene: *walks to counter, hiding grin, picks up menus and brings them back*
Cade: Big sexy? Master?
Jesse: I rather like that one.
Saiene: *hands over menus* I'll come back for your orders in a couple minutes.
Jesse: Thanks.
Saiene: *wanders over to another table and starts cleaning*
Jesse: *looks through menu* Quit calling me pet names.
Saiene: *hiding smile*
Cade: Very well. I really am sorry.
Jesse: It's okay, baby.
Saiene: *under her breath* Awww.
Cade: They have burgers here.
Jesse: And shrimp.
Cade: *makes a face* Seafood, yech.
Saiene: *wanders back to table*
Jesse: Could we have two cokes, a burger, and a shrimp dinner, please?
Saiene: Yes sir. *goes into kitchen*
Cade: Am I forgiven?
Jesse: I said it was okay. Offer to let anyone watch again, tho. . .
Cade: Oh, you heard than.
Saiene: *poking buttons, food lifts from center of table*
Cade: So cool.
Jesse: Tell me about it.
Drevir: Saiene! I'm bored, the town is dead again and no one is in the b- *walks into room* -ar. . . *freezes* Well, hello there customers. *by their table in five seconds* What are you doing in the city on a lovely day like this? *turns a chair around and sits in it backwards, facing them*
Saiene: Drevir! You can't just invite yourself into their date!
Drevir: Yes, I can. I just did. *waves hand at their table*
Saiene: *shakes head* Huh-uh.
Drevir: Did so!
Saiene: I meant no you can't.
Drevir: Did though.
Saiene: Leave them alone.
Drevir: Nope. Would you fellas like something to drink?
Saiene: I said leave them alone.
Drevir: *pouts*
Saiene: I mean it, Drevir. I can get you kicked out of here.
Cade: *picks up glass* Coke. Unless you mean alcohol, in which case, point me, pal.
Saiene: No alcohol.
Cade: Man, who offered a drink?
Drevir: Point you? *blinks* Saiene, you can't kick me out, I own the bar. Maybe not the restaraunt, but the bar.
Cade: Bar? I like bars.
Jesse: Recovering alcoholics don't drink booze.
Saiene: *to Drevir* Then go sit at the bar. Otherwise, you're in my territory and I'm in charge.
Drevir: *grumbles* And here I was just seeking company. *stands up* My lonely sould can't take it. *puts back of hand on forehead and "falls" out the door*
Saiene: *mutters* Dramaqueen.
Drevir: *peeks back in and grins, then goes*
Saiene: *shakes head*
~
Ethan: No, I just never took it.
Zail: Then how'd you not know what it was?
Ethan: Because I never paid attention to it and therefore forgot all about it.
Zail: Wish Inqie'd let me do that. I don't like the thought of things messing with my brain.
Ethan: Then don't.
Zail: I'm not. But Inqie keeps nagging.
Ethan: *makes a face* I'm bored.
Zail: Have you ever gone skipping before?
Ethan: Skipping? What kind? I'm an expert at skipping rocks.
Zail: I mean fullbody, magnets in your wristbands, leaping ebtween the hanging towers skipping. . .for fun, not as a sport.
Ethan: *wide eyes* No, I haven't. Let's!
Zail: *grins* It's great fun. I'll send Inqie a ping so she knows where I've "wandered off" to, and then we an head to Clickess Tower. It's the only one that goes high enough to get to the hanging towers.
Ethan: *grins* Sweet!
Zail: *sends ping, turns* Clickess Tower. We'll have to sneak in, it's one of those 'members only' deals.
Ethan: Oh, even more fun.
Zail: I bet we can do it. I've watched Inqie enough times.
Ethan: Wait, you've never done it before?
Zail: Not without her.
Ethan: Oh, okay. Well, let's go!
Zail: *nods and starts walking*
Ethan: We there yet?
Zail: Not yet.
Ethan: . . .how aout now?
Zail: Nope.
Ethan: Now?
Zail: No.
Ethan: Ugh, how far is it?
Zail: Not far now.
Ethan: Where?
Zail: Just another block.
Ethan: Finally!
Zail: *stops in front of building* Alright.
Ethan: Whoo!
Zail: Back door time. *hesitates on the verge of yelling at Inqie* We have to confuse the system.
Ethan: Okay!
Zail: Are you wearing a gloveset?
Ethan: Yes, and me contacts, and earplugs.
Zail: Give me one of your gloves.
Ethan: Okay. *hands over a glove*
Zail: *gives Ethan one of his gloves, puts on Ethan's gloves, closes eyes* Geez. That's always weird. Gives me vertigo. *shakes head, holds palms together* Temporarily confuses the ID prompt. System thinks there's a glitch. *presses palm on scanner* Asks for a password. An incredibly easy to hack password. *types and door slides open*
Ethan: Wow. *steps through door*
Zail: Yeah. *steps inside, door slides shut*
Ethan: *holds out glove*
Zail: *gives Ethans glove back, puts his own on* THanks. Our rid to the top is this way. *motions*
Ethan: *follows while sliding glove back on*
Zail: *elevator door opens, steps inside*
Ethan: *steps in* This is exciting!
Zail: *grins* It is, isn't it. *presses buttons*
Ethan: *from foot to foot*
Zail: *elevator stops, door opens*
Ethan: Yes! *rushes out*
Zail: Careful! *steps off elevator* You need to get wrist magnets so you don't, you know, die.
Ethan: Oh, um, okay. Where?
Zail: Here. *walks over to wall, pulls bracelets off and puts one on each wrist, they shrink and disappear*
Ethan: *takes two*
Zail: *goes to window and points* That's the easy one to skip to.
Ethan: Okay.
Zail: *flips the latch and pulls the kindow open, crouches on windowsill* Follow me. *leaps toward the tower*
Ethan: *follows* Awesome. *jumps*
Zail: *wrists magnetize to tower*
Ethan: *hits tower* Oww.
Zail: You'll get used to it.
Ethan: Yep.
Zail: Stable?
Ethan: Yeah. Just ow.
Zail: *nods, points to another tower* That one. You first.
Ethan: *turns* Here we go. *jumps towards it*
Zail: Good. *follows*
Ethan: Whoo, this is freakin' awesome!
Zail: Yeps. If we get to the last one, there are polysynthetic wings.
Ethan: No way!
Zail: Yes way. It's really hard to get there, though. Inqie and I nearly got there twice.
Ethan: You haven't?
Zail: I've never done this by myself.
Ethan: I know that, you keep saying it. I said you haven't gotten to the end yet?
Zail: We got there twice, nearly a year ago.
Ethan: But you said you nearly got there twice.
Zail: We made it to the tower. We never go to the wings.
Ethan: Oh, why not?
Zail: *mouth twitches* Got caught.
Ethan: Oh. Well then, let's not get caught!
Zail: Okays.
Ethan: *turns towards next jump*
Zail: It's quite a way away.
~
Cade: So, who the hell was that?
Saiene: Drevir. He owns the bar. Little bit nuts, but he's sweet.
Cade: A bar with alcohol?
Jesse: No.
Saiene: Not for you.
Cade: Aww.
Saiene: You're unmoniterable.
Cade: Is that a bad thing?
Saiene: Yes. It means I can't make sure your BAC is reasonable. So no alcohol for you.
Cade: The point of drinking is to get an unreasonable BAC.
Jesse: And that is why I don't let you drink.
Saiene: Not allowed to let our customers die of alcohol poisoning.
Cade: Oh, puh. A little lack of breathing isn't going to kill me.
Saiene: *rolls eyes* No. Alcohol.
Cade: *grumbles*
Jesse: *eyeroll*
Saiene: *grin* You could just get a gloveset. Then I could moniter you.
Cade: *turns to Jesse* Hey, gimme-
Jesse: No.
Cade: I was going to offer-
Jesse: No.
Cade: But-
Jesse: No.
Saiene: *smirk* Poor you. Shop's just up the street.
Cade: Hey, gimme-
Jesse: No.
Cade: I was going to ask for your wallet. I don't have mine on me.
Jesse: I know. *smirk*
Cade: Hey, gimme-
Jesse: Not in public.
Saiene: *raises eyebrow*
Cade: *whispers to Saiene* I was going to ask him for a b0
Jesse: Caden!
Cade: You're no fun at all.
Saiene: *big grin, points* I'll be back there. *preses button on counter and privacy screen pops up around table, wanders into back room and puts on VR glasses*
Jesse: You're absolutly insufferable.
Cade: And yet you still adore me.
Jesse: . . .fuck you.
Cade: Want to?
Jesse: *pointedly* Insufferable.
Cade: Gimme a beer.
Jesse: . . .One.
Cade: Yay!
Jesse: *pushes button on bottom of table* 'Scuse me!
Saiene: Yeah?
Jesse: One beer, please. *to Cade* Just one.
Saiene: *grin* Yes sir.
Jesse and Cade: Thank you.
Saiene: *brings drink*
Cade: Thank you, miss. *drinks*
Jesse: How do you chug that and not make yourself ill?
Saiene: *wanders behind bar*
Cade: Iron gullet.
Saiene: *disappears from sight* Ow.
Jesse: You okay?
Saiene: Yeah. I just tripped. I'd forgotten how much stuff he keeps back here.
Cade: What's he got back there? Is he a bigger packrat than Jesse?
Jesse: We both know that's impossible.
Cade: Did you just admit you're anal about keeping everything?
Jesse: Never denied it.
Saiene: We don't get many customers, so things sort of pile up.
Jesse: Why don't you get a lot of customers?
Saiene: IkziTech has been putting public restaraunts out of business for years.
Cade: Why?
Saiene: It's like the internet outdated regular mail.
Cade: . . .You can. . .eat this stuff?
Saiene: *raises eyebrow* You're not all that smart, are you?
Jesse: He can be dense.
Cade: Her metaphor was bad.
Jesse: Simile.
Cade: Whatever. Explain.
Jesse: Star Trek.
Cade: *thinks* O~oh. Okay.
Saiene: *rolls eyes*
Cade: Well, I don't have your fancy high-tech stuff!
Jesse: Moving swiftly on. *pushes Cade's plate toward him* Here, eat and don't cause trouble.
Cade: *grabs burger*
Saiene: I already told you, there's a Techshop just down the street.
Jesse: He thinks it's a load of bullshit. Technology, that is. He can hardly use a computer.
Cade: *mutters something mean about Tesla*
Saiene: Oh, you're old fashioned. I see.
Cade: I'm ninety-two years old, I'm allowed to be old fashioned.
Jesse: Cradle robber.
Cade: Gold digger.
Jesse: That would involve you having massive amounts of money.
Saiene: You're ninety-two?
Cade: Yup. I look awfully good for my age, huh?
Jesse: He was posessed by a demon when he was 27. And he never lets us forget how young he looks. Prick.
Cade: I'll start singing 'Gold Digger'.
Jesse: Don't even try it.
Saiene: I see. *to Jesse* So how did you get into the City?
Jesse: This idiot blew something up that he wasn't supposed to.
Saiene: *smirk* I see.
Cade: Tesla's fault.
Jesse: Yes, but I can't smack the old bastard from here.
Cade: I bet he did it on purpose.
Jesse: I bet you're right.
Saiene: Who's Tesla?
Jesse: Our boss.
Cade: Coordinator. Evil bastard.
Jesse: Jup.
Saiene: I. . .see.
Jesse: You'd have to- Oh, christ.
Cade: What? Are you okay?
Jesse: Ryan! What about Ryan?
Cade: Shit! Which way- How the hell d'we get outta here?
Saiene: Out?
Jesse: Yeah, we have to get home.
Saiene: I don't understand.
Cade: What's so hard to understand? We have to get home to our daughter!
Saiene: You daughter didn't come with you?
Jesse: Well, we weren't exactly going to bring her, were we? She might get hit by shrapnel.
Saiene: Usually blood-family is dragged along when we get visitors.
Cade: She's not related to either of us. We adopted her.
Saiene: That's unfortunate.
Cade: Even if we had brough her, we'd still need to get home.
Jesse: My mom would have a fit.
Cade: Tesla would probably end up dragging our sorry asses back.
Jesse: Maybe he will. But we still have to get out of here.
Saiene: No one leaves the City.
Cade: *eyes narrow* Is that a threat?
Saiene: No! But no one has ever left the City. It's not even in the ancient history books.
Cade: Fuck that!
Jesse: We really have to leave. *puts money on table* Thanks. *gets up*
Saiene: *looks at money* What's that?
Jesse: Money. Worked at the hotel.
Saiene: *distastefully* The hotel caters to outsiders. Keep. . .that.
Jesse: O. . .kay. Sorry. *takes money back*
Cade: 'S all we got.
Saiene: Only the hotel requires physical currency.
Cade: Oh.
Jesse: *sighs* C'mon, Caden. Thanks.
Cade: Bye, Ms. Waitress.
Saiene: Saiene. Good luck.
Jesse: Thanks, Saiene. *they leave*
~
Jesse: We just follow this road.
Cade: For how long?
Jesse: Til we hit the Wall.
Reen: *wandering around, looking for Era*
Cade: Reen!
Reen: Oh, it's you two. I don't suppose you've seen Era?
Jesse: No, but we saw his sister. Room 241.
Reen: I didn't think the little brat would come to see us.
Cade: Yeah. Look, we gotta go.
Jesse: *pauses* Has no one seriously ever left before?
Reen: No one that I've heard of.
Jesse: . . .
Cade: Has anyone ever tried?
Reen: Not seriously. Lots of kids say they're going to leave, but no one ever does.
Jesse: Why?
Reen: *shrug* Where would we go?
Cade: He's got a point.
Jesse: I suppose. But don't visitors ever want to leave? Go home?
Reen: No usually. Things are better in the City than they are outside.
Cade: Really?
Reen: Well, I've never been outside. I don't know how things work.
Jesse: Then how do you know things are better if you've never left?
Reen: People who come to the City say so. It's in the history books.
Jesse: Ever heard of propaganda?
Reen: No.
Jesse: Seriously?
Reen: Yeah. What is it?
Cade: It's media that preaches something and tries to brainwash you into believing it.
Reen: . . .what?
Jesse: It's. . .what didn't you understand, exactly?
Reen: 'Preaches' and 'brainwash'.
Cade: Preaches and brainwash. . .Okay, how to explain. . .or. . .
Jesse: Preaches is like. . .you tell a bunch of people something. And brainwash is forcing something on people to the point they'll do whatever you tell them and believe whatever you them. Like Hitler.
Reen: You lose. We aren't Nazis!
Cade: That wasn't what he meant.
Jesse: Just forget it. We have to go.
Reen: I'll see you back at the hotel later.
Cade: We're trying to go home.
Reen: *nods*
Jesse: We'll prob'ly not see you. Bye.
Reen: Later, then. *waves and walks off*
Cade: No one thinks we're actually leaving, do they?
Jesse: No. No, they don't.
Inqie: You can't blame them.
Cade: *jumps* Christ, little perve!
Inqie: Sorry.
Jesse: It's okay. If nobody's ever tried, then. . .
Inqie: People don't like to believe impossible things.
Jesse: It's not impossible.
Inqie: Implausable, then.
Cade: Unlikely, maybe.
Inqie: Unprecedented.
Jesse: Look, thanks for your help. You want your stuff back?
Inqie: Nah. I got new stuff.
Jesse: Alright. Thank you. Bye.
Cade: Bye.
Inqie: Good luck.
Cade: Thanks! *starts to walk away*
Inqie: *nods, skips away*
Jesse and Cade: *walks toward the Wall*
Destiny: Hey darlin's, y'all look lost.
Cade: *looks at the Wall looming before them* Nope. Know 'sactly where we're goin'.
Destiny: Ya sure, hun? Y'all are heading towards a dead end. *walks next to them* Twenty more steps and y'all gonna hit the Barrier.
Jesse: Barrier?
Destiny: Ya. The Barrier keep y'all here and everyone else out.
Cade: We're not allowed to leave. We're prisoners. Why?
Destiny: Once you get there, ya realize ya never wanted to leave. You ain't prisoners.
Jesse: Sure sounds like it.
Cade: Why aren't we allowed to leave?
Desinty: Oh, you're allowed to leave, but you can't.
Jesse: So we'd be allowed to leave if it were possible to leave, is that what you're telling us?
Destiny: That's right!
Cade: That makes no sense. At all.
Destiny: Oh, it does. The City is funny like that, doll.
Cade: J, you're keyed into this. . .mainframe. . .thing. Does this make sense t'you?
Jesse: No particularly. Could bea native thing.
Destiny: Oh, you'll learn.
Jesse: We don't want to learn. We wanna go home.
Destiny: Well, good luck, then.
Jesse: *eyeroll* Thanks.
Destiny: You're welcome, hun.
Cade: Sarcasm's a foreign language to you, isn't it?
Destiny: That's a language?
Jesse: Yes. Obviously.
Destiny: I did not know it was another language. 'Magine that!
Cade: Oh, yes.
Jesse: Few people can speak it well, though.
Destiny: I'm obviously not one of them.
Jesse: Clearly.
~
Ethan: *touches down on tower, nods at Zail* Now what?
Zail: *holds up hand, catching breath* Didn't think we'd make it this far. Give me a second.
Drevier: Hello!
Undecided: *lounges in motor chair holding a beaker of blue liquid, it has a face*
Erasael: *raises hand* 'lo!
Reen: *nods*
Undecided: *chair sprouts wings and flies into sun, loud boom, screaming*
Drevir: Uh. . .bye? . . .chair? *turns back* I would ask what's up, but obviously exploding flying chairs.
Erasael: Wouldn't know.
Reen: We just got here. We're new in town.
Undecided: *a smoking, charred figure falls from the sky. The vat sprouted angel wings and is flying overhead* Can someone get a fire extinguisher?
Reen: *sigh*
Erasael: *swings backpack off and starts rumaging*
Reen: *raises eyebrow*
Erasael: Nope. . .um, nope. . nope. . .um. . .here. *holds up fire extinguisher*
Undecided: Um. . .does he always carry that with him? *fine now*
Reen: Pretty much. Don't ask what else he carries.
Undecided: Call me Ed. And okay.
Drevir: Drevir!
Erasael: I'm Era, and that's Reen. *tips head toward Reen*
Reen: *nods*
Drevir: Pleasure. Now, where are you all off to?
Jeff: *floating beaker, flies ominously near Erasael* Worship the savior! *gets on hands and knees and bows. However, he is a beak, and has no legs or arms*
Erasael: *smug*
Reen: Don't let it go to your head.
Drevir: Interesting. Hi, beaker man.
Undecided: Oh, right, sorry. This is Jeff, the Hole E Water.
Erasael: Greeting, Jeff.
Jeff: Worship him! He is the savior! He is the savior! Worship him!
Undecided: Don't mind him. He does that to anyone with a fire extinuisher. You see fire extinguishers are the source of my power, the presence of one heals my wounds. Which is why I healed when you pulled it out. Jeff worships those who save me. He'll stop in three minutes.
Erasael: Cool.
Drevir: Yeah, well, my name is an anagram of driver!
Jeff: Worship! Worship! Wor. . .hey, who are you?
Undecided: That would be the end of his session?
Jeff: Seriously, who are you?
Reen: *sweeping bow* Reen Kesiyora.
Erasael: *rolls eyes* Show off. Erasael Zatas.
Drevir: Drevir!
Erasael: No last name?
Drevir: Gacy. . .haha, sorry.
Erasael: No problem.
Jeff: I'm Jeffrey the Hole Echolocation Isael Bosconian Donut Munckeyfeather JJ Stone Water III.
Reen: *raises eyebrow*
Drevir: Nice long name, beaker man.
Jeff: Yeah, I know. Wait till you hear Flaredragon, erm, I mean Ed's first name.
Undecided: Sigh. . .Flaredragon Undecided Fire Warden Chain Mixer of the Flying Recliner the 82nd and a half.
Erasael: I'm sorry.
Drevir: Not as fun a name as the beakers.
Undecided: Yeah, well, I'm 82nd and a half because I'm an elemental, and my second half, Oceanwave, got separated and we became separate entities. Yeah, I know, creepy.
Erasael: Not really.
Undecided: Whatever.
Erasael: *rolls eyes*
Drevir: Really, not really, yep!
Reen: *sigh*
Undecided: I gotta go. I booked a room in a hotel at the other side of the street. Talk to ya later. *explodes*
Jeff: Yeah, see ya. *also explodes*
Reen: *inclines head*
Erasael: Strange, strange people. Mad scientist?
Reen: No doubt.
Drevir: He'll be back, just watch.
Erasael: You like around here?
Drevir: Yep, thos type always come back.
Erasael: *nods* I can see this is going to be fun.
Drevir: *curious* In what way?
Reen: Ignore him. He's an idiot.
Drevir: Uh. . .? Really, maybe this will be fun.
Reen: *smirk*
Erasael: Be nice, Reen.
Drevir: . . .how are you an idiot?
Erasael: I'm not an idiot!
Drevir: So he's a liar?
Erasael: He's just mean.
Drevir: Ah, okay.
Reen: *sigh* Come along, Era. We've still got to find an apartment.
Drevir: Moving in then? Cities over here, great apartment. You a couple or brothers?
Reen: *smirk*
Erasael: Don't even. *gives Reen a look* His mom married my dad. We're supposed to be "bonding".
Reen: *snort*
Drevir: Ooh, have fun "bonding". *makes a face*
Reen: Fun is overrated.
Erasael: See what I have to work with here?
Drevir: *nods* Yep, loads of un.
Reen: Era, seriously. We've got to go[/].
Erasael: *rolls eyes* Sorry. See you around.
Drevir: Okay! *waves hand* Have fun.
Reen: *sighs and drags Erasael away*
Erasael: Thanks. Ow, ow, Reen, let go. . .*dragged away*
Drevir: *shrugs and heads to work*
~
Kasha: You're an idiot, making me move to a new city! I liked my dock and box home. Why? Why did you make me come with you?
Kyler: You needed to get away from the hunting ground. . .
Kasha: I hate you, stop trying to win me over. You were mean for far too long before this.
Erasael: Let go of me! *jerks away from Reen and runs into Kasha* Sorry, sorry. *offers hand and helps her up*
Reen: Idiot. *rolls eyes*
Cade: *poof of smoke dissipates around him and Jesse* Uh, hi.
Jesse: Oh, god.
Erasael: What, where? *looks around wildly*
Reen: *rolls eyes*
Jesse" No actual god, I meant ugh.
Cade: You think this is my fault.
Jesse: I don't doubt it's your fault.
Reen: What is?
Jesse: The fact that we're here. Where are we, even?
Erasael: In the City.
Cade: And the city is named?
Reen: It doesn't have one.
Jesse: That's special.
Reen: It's stupid.
Erasael: Is not!
Jesse: Gentlemen! Focus, please. It's Cade's fault because he likes to blow stuff up.
Erasael: Ooh, what sorta stuff?
Reen: More importantly, how does that make it his fault you're here?
Cade: I blew something up I wasn't supposed to, obviously.
Erasael: Like a teleporter? Was it fun? Did you see anything? What did it look like? Was-
Reen: *covers Erasael's mouth* Shut up.
Jesse: Erm. . .we don't know.
Reen: *raises eyebrow*
Jesse: We were in a junkyard.
Cade: The owner asked us to destroy some stuff he couldn't get rid of.
Jesse: And we saw smoke. Lots of smoke.
Kasha: *slinks away*
Kyler: *hasn't noticed, is watching others*
Erasael: *nudges Kyler* Dude, your lady just ran off.
Kyler: *starts to hiss when words sink in* What? *turns* Fuck, and she's not my lady!
Kasha: *ears twitch and turns around* I'd never be his lady if my life depended on it! *screams*
Erasael: *giggles* Sorry, lady.
Kyler: *mumbles* Not that her life depends on it, she's immortal. Kasha, come on! It's a break, a vacation, come on, please!
Reen: What are you arguing about?
Cade: I'm kind of afraid to know.
Kyler: She's mad at me for dragging her from her hun- home and taking her on vacation.
Reen: I see.
Erasael: *staring at Kasha*
Reen: Era, you idiot, I swear, if you start drrling I will beat you over the head with that fire extinuisher.
Erasael: Eep! *throws fire extinguisher*
Reen: Idiot.
Kyler: *narrows eyes at Erasael*
Kasha: *growls at Kyler* You don't own me, Kyler. Don't be possessive. *glaring at him*
Erasael: She's pretty.
Reen: *whacks Era upside the head*
Erasael: What? She said she's not his lady, that means she's available!
Kyler: You don't want her, she's not your type.
Kasha: And you are?
Erasael: How do you know what my type is, hh?
Kyler: *teeth extend and growls* Because she's mine.
Kasha: I'm NOT yours!
Reen: Era, if you get us into a fight. . .
Erasael: Sorry. She is really pretty, though.
Reen: Era. Shut up.
Kasha: *tackles Kyler, claws out* Stop claiming me. I hate you Kyler! Stay out of my life!
Kyler: *starts to fight back* You weren't there, you, you- *growls and brabs her wrists, roll on top of her and pinning her down* You crazy bitch! *spits near her head then bites her neck*
Kasha: *hisses and knees up*
Kyler: *groans and releases her to cover up*
Kasha: *slashes his face* You should have stayed dead. *pulls away* Now get out of my sight, Kyler. I'm stronger and far more dangerous than you.
Erasael: *backing away slowly* Reen, I'm scared.
Reen: *rolls eyes* She's not attacking you, idiot.
Erasael: Stop calling me an idiot! I'm just as smart as you are!
Kyler: *curses under breath* I'm not going anywhere this time, Kasha.
Kasha: *sarcastic* Oh, you poor thing, you're in love with a lost dream. Forget it, Kyler. *touches neck and feels blood, startled* Oh. *licks blood off fingers*
Kyler: It's your own blood.
Erasael: *stares in horror*
Reen: *looks bored*
Kyler: *stands back up, wincing* Told you she's not your type. Bloody vampire demon.
Kasha: Hmph. Part cat-demon and vampire, not vampire demon, Kyler. *sarcastic* Dear.
Reen: *snickers*
Cade: It's like watching Tesla and the Midget, only sexually charged.
Jesse: The day Ryan calls Tesla 'dear' is the day I gauge my ears out with a fork.
Cade: I was refering to the 'endlessly entertaining battles' aspect.
Jesse: There is nothing funnier than watching a fifty-year-old argue with a two-year-old. And lose.
Cade: Poor Tesla's got no patience.
Reen: *nudges Erasael* It's a bit like Inqie and Zail.
Erasael: Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew! That's my little sister you're talking about!
Reen: *shrugs* So?
Jesse: Ryan's my daughter.
Reen: *snicker*
Erasael: Married: You, not the girl.
Cade: Negative. Adopted daughter.
Erasael: Oh.
Cade: She's very loud at night.
Reen: Oh.
Kasha: *now looks very young cause has returned to human, eyes no longer shaped* I need to sleep. Kyler, just leave me alone.
Reen: Do either of you two know where we could find apartments?
Kasha: He might, he dragged me here on vacation.
Kyler: Not until you stop procrastinating becase it's the middle of town!
Kasha: What, more victims? *sweetly*
Reen: *waits*
Erasael: We could just go look on our own. . *inching away*
Reen: *grabs the back of Era's collar* Stay here. *irritable*
Erasael: Unhand me!
Kyler: No. *gritted teeth* Vacation, not hunting grounds.
Reen: *waiting*
Erasael: *sweatdrop*
Cade: Kyler, place to live is needed. Can you help?
Jesse: And they let you pass that English class.
Kyler: This way. *sighs*
Reen: *drags Erasael and follows Kyler*
Kyler: Come on, Kasha.
Kasha: *growls and follows*
Reen: *glances back at Jesse and Cade* You two coming too?
Cade: Uh, yes. *he and Jesse start after the group*
Erasael: *tries to get Reen to let go of his collar* I'm not a puppy, Reen!
Kasha: Your mood changes fast for a guy.
Reen: He's unbalanced.
Erasael: I am not!
Kasha: Or on a male version of a period.
Erasael: *pouts*
Cade: Heh, heh. Defcon 3.
Kasha: *sulks*
Reen: *still dragging Erasael*
Kyler: *points at a hotel*
Reen: Thanks. You live 'round here?
Kyler: No. I just booked a hotel room.
Erasael: Maybe we'll see you around, then. You? *looks at the other two*
Cade: Bed. Sleep. Good.
Jesse: *rubs temples* I know you know proper English. Why won't you use proper English?
Cade: Je parle fracais meilleur. *winks*
Jesse: You're an idiot.
Cade: A tri-lingual idiot. Do American dollars work here?
Kasha: *smirks*
Erasael: Ooh, pretty!
Reen: *mutters* Your funeral.
Kyler: *comes back and grabs Kasha's wrist and walks into hotel*
Kasha: *growls* I ain't yours to defend when I'm called pretty.
Erasael: *staring at Kasha*
Kasha: *starts showing off*
Erasael: *stares*
Reen: *eyes Kasha, then glances at Era* Idiot.
Kasha: *laughs*
Erasael: *silly grin* Pretty sound.
Kasha: *looks at Kyler* Mommy, can I keep him? *snickers*
Reen: *snickers*
Kyler: *growls* I'm not female, and I'm only a few years older than you.
Reen: And anyway, *slings are around Era's shoulders* he's taken.
Erasael: *jumps away* Get off me, you pervert!
Reen: Aw, but honey. . .
Erasael: Reen, that's icky!
Reen: It is not. *grabs Era's hands* It's sweet, and lovely, and normal!
Erasael: *leaps to hide behind Jesse and Cade* Save me!
Reen: *snickers*
Erasael: *still hiding, points at Reen* He's gonna rape me!
Cade: *snickers*
Jesse: Rape is bad, Reen.
Cade: Consentual sex isn't.
Reen: *rolls eyes* I'm not going to rape him.
Erasael: I don't wanna have to live with him!
Cade: You could live with us.
Jesse: . . .
Cade: Threesome!
Erasael: Eep! Stay away! *hides behind a sign, crosses self*
Reen: *snickers*
Jesse: *smacks Cade* Be nice.
Cade: *in a petulant whine* But nice is boring.
Reen: *mutters at Era* Idiot. I would have taken that offer.
Erasael: *cowering behind sign*
Cade: *eyebrows* You still can.
Jesse: He'd have to settle for a twosome.
Erasael: *runs away* I hate you all!
Reen: *sweatdrop* Um. . .I should probably make sure he doesn't get lost. . .or killed. . .
Jesse: Want us to get you guys a room?
Reen: *fishes through pockets and hands over money* Thanks.
Jesse: *takes money* No problem. *to Cade* C'mon. *they go inside*
Reen: *walks off in search of Era*
~
Jesse: *to the nice lady behind the counter* We need two rooms, please.
NLBC: Single or double.
Cade: One single, one double.
NLBC: Okay, the nightly rate is $39. How long will you be staying?
Jesse: We don't know. Put us down for a week.
Inqie: *runs in, tugs Jesse's sleeve* Have you seen my brother?
Jesse: Negative.
Inqie: Oh. You sure? This is the only place in the City I haven't checked yet.
Cade: What's he look like? Name?
Jesse: *resisting smacking Cade again*
Inqie: *holds hand up above head* He's this tall and blond.
Jesse: And his name is?
Inqie: Erasael Torsas Zatas.
Cade: Oh, he ran off. Reen's trying to find him.
Inqie: What did that bastard do now?
Jesse: Him and Cade *points at Cade* were making bad jokes.
Cade: Tattletale.
Inqie: As in?
Jesse: Er. . .
Cade: Sexy talk. So, what's your name, li'l girl?
Inqie: Inqiline Tamsyn Zatas. But you can call me Inqie.
Cade: Pleasure.
Inqie: *raises eyebrow* So, what, you scared him off with gayness?
Cade: I assume.
Inqie: Reen'll never find him.
Cade: *snickers*
Jesse: Why?
Inqie: *holds up bracelet* Isomorphically-locked bio-masking personal distortion field.
Jesse: It makes you invisible?
Inqie: *nods* Simplistically.
Cade: Next time, just say that. Big words make my brain itch.
Inqie: *sniffs* Just because you're stupid doesn't mean I have to sound dumb.
Cade: Terribly sorry, not used to hearing such an advanced vocabulary from a ten year old.
Jesse: Don't start something.
Inqie: I'm eleven.
Cade: Is there that big of a difference?
Jesse: Much. Much of a difference. And I just told you not to start something!
Inqie: About 12 months, actually.
Cade: I-
Jesse: Do. Not. Start. Hn?
Cade: Fine.
NLBC: *hands keys to Jesse* Here you go. This one's the single, this one's the double.
Jesse: *gives key to Inqie* Here. That's the key to your brother's room.
Inqie: And where might that be?
Jesse: Uh, the number should be on the key.
Inqie: I can't read.
Cade: You can talk about personal distortion fields, but you can't read?
Jesse: You're eleven and you can't read? *sighs and looks at the key card* 241.
Inqie: Almost everything around here is compatable with IkziTech. Never bothered to learn. *looks around* My friend Zail is probably still outside bothering those vampires. . .if you see him, can you send him up?
Cade: I do not like vampires.
Jesse: We'll tell him if we see him.
Inqie: Thanks. *turns to go*
Jesse: You're welcome.
Cade: Can I go beat up the vampires? Please!
Inqie: Do whatever you want.
Cade: *grin*
Jesse: No.
Cade: But-
Jesse: No 'buts'. No.
Cade: Your butt. My-
Jesse: *smacks*
Inqie: *snickers* I can see how you helped Reen frighten him now.
Jesse: He has that effect on people.
Cade: Seriously. Upstairs. Now.
Jesse: You're so needy.
Cade: You love it. Ta, li'l girl. *drags Jesse toward elevators*
Inqie: *smirks* Nice neighbors, Era. Don't know how you'll deal with them, but still.
Erasael: How'd you know? *becomes visible*
Inqie: I know everything. *tosses key to Era* I'm going to go make sure Zail doesn't get himself killed.
Erasael: Luck. *heads for stairs*
~
Kasha: Get away from me, kid!
Zail: Aw, but I've never poked a real live vampire before.
Kasha: *walking backwards away* I don't like being poked, cut it out.
Zail: Don't be like that. *pout* Can I poke your guy instead? Please?
Inqie: Zail! Leave 'em alone!
Zail: But Inqie, they're so cool!
Inqie: But I wanna go spy on Era's neighbors.
Zail: *pause, opens mouth, closes mouth* This is some voyeuristic thing, isn't it?
Inqie: *grin* Might be. Come on.
Zail: Don't whine.
Inqie: Then hurry up. *drags Zail inside hotel, calls out to Kasha and Kyler* I'm sorry about him.
Kasha: He's not my guy! *storms after them to go to her room*
Inqie: Sorry. *shrug*
Kyler: Can't you calm down even a little bit?
Inqie: *watches*
Kasha: I want to go home!
Inqie: *lets go of Zail's wrist*
Zail: *looks at her curiously*
Inqie: *inclines head to point at them*
Kyler: I'm trying to make everything-
Kasha: Twenty years of making up! You sthink buying me a vacation with stolen money is going to get me to like you?
Kyler: It wasn't stolen! We were friends!
Kasha: You took me to that graveyard that night. "Ooh, you're scared." *spits* You're nothing but a liar and a cheat.
Kyler: At least you still look as good as-
Kasha: I haven't aged! Of course I do!
Inqie: *ducks behind a sign to get a better view*
Kasha: Augh! *throws up hands* I can't believe I trusted you! Walking me into the middle of a vampire land.
Kyler: Kasha, please! *almost begging*
Kasha: You just had to befriend those mutants.
Kyler: Kasha, calm down. You're making a scene.
Kasha: You, you monster! I hate you! *crying* You have no feelings at all!
Kyler: *silent*
Kasha: *claws out now* I'll kill you! *lunges at him*
Kyler: *deftly grabs her wrists and lets her kick him* Three weeks ago I realized that I needed to be nice to you instead of being the jerk I had been.
Kasha: *still kicking and scratching him, screaming that she hates him*
Kyler: *quietly* Pushing you away was only making you more bitter. I thought pushing you away when you hated me would make me stop loving you.
Kasha: *startled, pathetic swipe, starts crying again*
Kyler: *pulls her in and holds her* Please, Kasha, stop.
Kasha: *pulls away hard* No! *runs*
Kyler: *watches after her and sighs* You can come out now. *walks towards hotel*
Inqie: *steps out* Is she, um, okay?
Kyler: She's being normal, if that's what you mean. *far away look, sighs*
Inqie: That sorta sucks for you, doesn't it?
Kyler: Yeah.
Inqie: Are you and she. . .?
Kyler: We're nothing, really. But I wish.
Inqie: I know the feeling. *inconspicuous motion toward Zail, who is oblivious* What did you do to make her hate you?
Kyler: I got her bit by a vampire.
Inqie: . . .nice going.
Kyler: Yeah. I know.
Inqie: Was it an accident?
Kyler: I didn't think that they would do it. They were my friends.
Inqie: *considers* Then she's wrong to hate you. *nods*
Zail: *whining* I thought you said we couldn't bug them, Inqie.
Inqie: . . .er, I changed my mind.
Zail: Yay! *pokes Kyler* I poked a vampire!
Inqie: *sweatdrop*
Kyler: Eh. *wipes cheek and looks at the blood* Congratulations.
Inqie: Don't mind him, he's almost as much of an idiot as Erasael.
Zail: *pouts*
Inqie: Are you getting a room here too?
Kyler: I have one.
Inqie: Cool. I've got an apartment down the street, not that my brother will admit that. So maybe we'll see you around. Good luck with the girl. Come on, Zail, let's go see if there's anything "interesting" going on upstairs.
Zail: You have a disease, Inqie.
Inqie: *shrug* Call it what you will.
Kyler: *shakes head and goes into the hotel*
Zail: *sighs* Shouldn't we go find Reen and tell him Erasael's here?
Inqie: I don't want to help that bastard.
Zail: You could shove in his face how much smarter than him you are.
Ethan: Smarter than who?
Inqie: Bastard brother in law.
Ethan: Oookay. Relatives are never fun.
Inqie: My real brother is quite amusing.
Ethan: Which is?
Inqie: Erasael. He hasn't taken is Awakening Pill yet.
Ethan: What's that do? *snickers*
Inqie: What's it sound like he does? Around this place, we're given surgery at birth to inhibit our sex drive. At the age of consent, which is 8 around here, we're given a pill to reverse it. Era never took his.
Zail: Neither did I.
Inqie: *rolls eyes* Yeah, but you're only three years late. Era'll be ten years late in a few monts. And he still can't get beyond the 'oh, pretty' 'sex is icky' stage.
Cade: *coming down the stars, shirtless* So sensitive. . .
Inqie: *pouts* Darn, we missed all the good stuff.
Zail: For gods sake, Inqie!
Inqie: What?
Cade: Little perve?
Zail: *points at Inqie*
Inqie: *tilts head* Hmm?
Cade: *grin* K. I apologize. I can get you another show, Ms Voeuyer.
Inqie: Inqie. My name is Inqie. Don't think I managed to catch yours.
Cade: You said before. Name's Caden. Y'all c'n call me Cade. My buddy's name is Jesse.
Inqie: *smirks* Buddy, huh?
Zail: Inqie. . .
Inqie: *sigh* Shut up, Zail. Go talk to. . .*waves hand at Ethan* whoever he is. I'm having an important conversation here.
Zail: *rolls eyes* Whatever you say.
Cade: Buddy, partner. Same difference.
Inqie: I guess. *shrug* And why, exactly, did you come all the way oth here, Mr. Cade?
Cade: No on purpose. We were destroying some stuff for a friend -and I mean 'friend', this time- I blew something up, and here we are.
Inqie: And what, you decided to stay awhile? Won't your friend be worried?
Cade: She'll probably figure we went to our evening jobs. And we don't know how to leave.
Inqie: *frowns* I've never heard of anyone leaving the City.
Cade: That's a little disconcerting.
Inqie: *humms* I suppose you could just keep walking once you reach the Skirt.
Cade: Crossdressing isn't my bag, sorry.
Inqie: *giggle* I mean the outskirk. Um, suburbs, I guess. *looks at Cade* Shame, though.
Cade: I don't have the legs.
Inqie: *shrug* What about your buddy?
Zail: Inqie!
Cade: Yes, actually. He'd never go for it, tho'.
Inqie: *smirk*
Zail: *drags Ethan away so he doesn't have to put up with Inqie*
Inqie: *sticks tongue out at Zail*
Cade: *laughs*
Jesse: What's so funny?
Cade: Hey, hon.
Inaie: Zail fled.
Jesse: Hilarious.
Inqie: *shrugs* So, how long are you two staying before you try to find an exit?
Jesse: I don't like the phrasing of that.
Cade: Apparently, no one's ever left.
Jesse: That would probably be why it sounded so sinister.
Inqie: I'm sure it's possible, but no one's ever wanted to leave before. My family lived ut in the Skirt, near the Wall, and we never wanted to leave. And the Skirt is nearly IkziTech free.
Jesse: Wait. The technology has a name, but the City doesn't?
Inqie: IkziTech was developed by Ikzi Amoase nearly three hundred years ago. She was rather conceited.
Jesse: But why doesn't the City have a name?
Cade: Does it need a name?
Jesse: *glares*
Inqie: The City is the City. It doesn't need a name.
Cade: He doesn't like being away from hom. You should see him at HQ- horrible mood. 's like PMS.
Jesse: And you saying I have PMS is helping, Caden.
Inqie: *snicker* We only get visitors every ten or so years, and no one leaves. It's not like we're a tourist attraction or something. We haven't needed a name.
Jesse: I don't have PMS.
Cade: I'm sorry.
Jesse: You should be. So, do a lost of people live around here?
Inqie: The City is rather small. I'm not sure of the exact number, but there can't be more than a hundred of us.
Jesse: Lost smaller 'n Manchester.
Cade: And we're Hickville, USA.
Inqie: Where's that?
Cade: Manchester or the United States?
Inqie: Um, either.
Jesse: *pause* We're not on Earth, right?
Inqie: Um. . .I dunno.
Jesse: *sigh, deadpan* Great, aliens.
Cade: Quit being xenophobic.
Jesse: I don't dislike aliens. It's just, every time I deal with nonhumans, bad things happen.
Inqie: I'm not a nonhuman. Also, I can hear you. *considers kicking Jesse*
Jesse: *sighs* I am sorry. I'm crabby when I'm out of my element.
Cade: Which is knowing more than everyone else.
Jesse: Which is why I hate being around Tesla.
Inqie: Oh. . .*peels super-thin gloves off* Here.
Jesse: *takes gloves* Er. . .
Inqie: They're IkziTech. They feed through these. *takes out contacts* Realtime interface and everything.
Cade: How does that help exactly?
Inqie: All IkziTech is connected to all other IkziTech. And almost everything in the City runs off IkziTech. Full library. Like being omnicient.
Jesse: *puts gloves on* That's cool.
Inqie: I guess it is. *looks around* It's weird to see the City without all the interface panels. *waves contacts* Here, take these. They're a set, and the gloves won't do you any good without them.
Jesse: *pauses* Er. They're, uh. . .
Cade: He means they've been in your eyes.
Inqie: *holds them close to Jesse's face* Self-cleaning, see? *slighs electric field goes over lenses* Every fifteen seconds. Completely sterile.
Jesse: *vehemently* Awesome. *takes contacts* Thanks.
Cade: So, like, they get taken out during sex 'n stuff?
Inqie: They don't need to be, but most of us choose to. Private lives private and all that.
Jesse: *puts lenses in* Woah!
Inqie: Once they've adapted to your biosignature, they'll self-set. You'll have to mess with the filters a little bit, otherwise there's too much raw data. Most of it will go into 'sleep' mode. You won't be aware of it til you need it.
Jesse: This is immensely cool.
Cade: What time is it?
Jesse: Uh, six.
Cade: Food time.
Inqie: I take it you can find one of the Cafes on your own, now?
Jesse: Yup. Thanks.
Inqie: *nods* Welcome. I'm off to buy a new set. *head off, turns* Oh, and I'm still expecing a show!
Zail: Inqie!
Inqie: *skips off*
Zail: *turns to Ethan* See what I have to deal with?
Ethan: *nods* I thought the pill was something completely different. I never took any.
Zail: You're not from the City, then.
Cade: Who's on the pill?
Jesse: He just said it was something else, stupid. C'mon. *grabs wrist* We'll get dinner and you can repeatedly apologize for calling me a slut.
Cade: *sigh* Bye, little man. *they leave*
Zail: *snicker*
~
Saiene: *cleaning tables*
Cade: *sits* How many more times?
Jesse: At least four, maybe ten.
Cade:That's quite a jump between numbers.
Saiene: Oh, visitors! We haven't had customers, let alone visitors in a long time!
Jesse: Afternoon, m'am.
Cade: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. That enough?
Jesse: If you have to ask, the answer's no. Try not doing to minimum to pass.
Cade: *groans* You used to like it.
Jesse: It used to be true.
Saiene: *looks at them* You've connected, *looks at Jesse* Whose set did you take?
Jesse: A friend gave me hers. Can we have a table, please?
Saiene: Right this way. *leads* How long have you been in the City?
Cade: I dunno, three hours?
Jesse: Sounds right.
Saiene: You make friends fast.
Cade: We're charismatic.
Saiene: I bet. *motions to a table* I'll go get you menus.
Cade: Thank you, m'am. I'm really sorry, doll.
Jesse: *eyebrows*
Cade: Baby? Sweetheart? Honeybunches?
Jesse: Keep going, this is amusing.
Saiene: *walks to counter, hiding grin, picks up menus and brings them back*
Cade: Big sexy? Master?
Jesse: I rather like that one.
Saiene: *hands over menus* I'll come back for your orders in a couple minutes.
Jesse: Thanks.
Saiene: *wanders over to another table and starts cleaning*
Jesse: *looks through menu* Quit calling me pet names.
Saiene: *hiding smile*
Cade: Very well. I really am sorry.
Jesse: It's okay, baby.
Saiene: *under her breath* Awww.
Cade: They have burgers here.
Jesse: And shrimp.
Cade: *makes a face* Seafood, yech.
Saiene: *wanders back to table*
Jesse: Could we have two cokes, a burger, and a shrimp dinner, please?
Saiene: Yes sir. *goes into kitchen*
Cade: Am I forgiven?
Jesse: I said it was okay. Offer to let anyone watch again, tho. . .
Cade: Oh, you heard than.
Saiene: *poking buttons, food lifts from center of table*
Cade: So cool.
Jesse: Tell me about it.
Drevir: Saiene! I'm bored, the town is dead again and no one is in the b- *walks into room* -ar. . . *freezes* Well, hello there customers. *by their table in five seconds* What are you doing in the city on a lovely day like this? *turns a chair around and sits in it backwards, facing them*
Saiene: Drevir! You can't just invite yourself into their date!
Drevir: Yes, I can. I just did. *waves hand at their table*
Saiene: *shakes head* Huh-uh.
Drevir: Did so!
Saiene: I meant no you can't.
Drevir: Did though.
Saiene: Leave them alone.
Drevir: Nope. Would you fellas like something to drink?
Saiene: I said leave them alone.
Drevir: *pouts*
Saiene: I mean it, Drevir. I can get you kicked out of here.
Cade: *picks up glass* Coke. Unless you mean alcohol, in which case, point me, pal.
Saiene: No alcohol.
Cade: Man, who offered a drink?
Drevir: Point you? *blinks* Saiene, you can't kick me out, I own the bar. Maybe not the restaraunt, but the bar.
Cade: Bar? I like bars.
Jesse: Recovering alcoholics don't drink booze.
Saiene: *to Drevir* Then go sit at the bar. Otherwise, you're in my territory and I'm in charge.
Drevir: *grumbles* And here I was just seeking company. *stands up* My lonely sould can't take it. *puts back of hand on forehead and "falls" out the door*
Saiene: *mutters* Dramaqueen.
Drevir: *peeks back in and grins, then goes*
Saiene: *shakes head*
~
Ethan: No, I just never took it.
Zail: Then how'd you not know what it was?
Ethan: Because I never paid attention to it and therefore forgot all about it.
Zail: Wish Inqie'd let me do that. I don't like the thought of things messing with my brain.
Ethan: Then don't.
Zail: I'm not. But Inqie keeps nagging.
Ethan: *makes a face* I'm bored.
Zail: Have you ever gone skipping before?
Ethan: Skipping? What kind? I'm an expert at skipping rocks.
Zail: I mean fullbody, magnets in your wristbands, leaping ebtween the hanging towers skipping. . .for fun, not as a sport.
Ethan: *wide eyes* No, I haven't. Let's!
Zail: *grins* It's great fun. I'll send Inqie a ping so she knows where I've "wandered off" to, and then we an head to Clickess Tower. It's the only one that goes high enough to get to the hanging towers.
Ethan: *grins* Sweet!
Zail: *sends ping, turns* Clickess Tower. We'll have to sneak in, it's one of those 'members only' deals.
Ethan: Oh, even more fun.
Zail: I bet we can do it. I've watched Inqie enough times.
Ethan: Wait, you've never done it before?
Zail: Not without her.
Ethan: Oh, okay. Well, let's go!
Zail: *nods and starts walking*
Ethan: We there yet?
Zail: Not yet.
Ethan: . . .how aout now?
Zail: Nope.
Ethan: Now?
Zail: No.
Ethan: Ugh, how far is it?
Zail: Not far now.
Ethan: Where?
Zail: Just another block.
Ethan: Finally!
Zail: *stops in front of building* Alright.
Ethan: Whoo!
Zail: Back door time. *hesitates on the verge of yelling at Inqie* We have to confuse the system.
Ethan: Okay!
Zail: Are you wearing a gloveset?
Ethan: Yes, and me contacts, and earplugs.
Zail: Give me one of your gloves.
Ethan: Okay. *hands over a glove*
Zail: *gives Ethan one of his gloves, puts on Ethan's gloves, closes eyes* Geez. That's always weird. Gives me vertigo. *shakes head, holds palms together* Temporarily confuses the ID prompt. System thinks there's a glitch. *presses palm on scanner* Asks for a password. An incredibly easy to hack password. *types and door slides open*
Ethan: Wow. *steps through door*
Zail: Yeah. *steps inside, door slides shut*
Ethan: *holds out glove*
Zail: *gives Ethans glove back, puts his own on* THanks. Our rid to the top is this way. *motions*
Ethan: *follows while sliding glove back on*
Zail: *elevator door opens, steps inside*
Ethan: *steps in* This is exciting!
Zail: *grins* It is, isn't it. *presses buttons*
Ethan: *from foot to foot*
Zail: *elevator stops, door opens*
Ethan: Yes! *rushes out*
Zail: Careful! *steps off elevator* You need to get wrist magnets so you don't, you know, die.
Ethan: Oh, um, okay. Where?
Zail: Here. *walks over to wall, pulls bracelets off and puts one on each wrist, they shrink and disappear*
Ethan: *takes two*
Zail: *goes to window and points* That's the easy one to skip to.
Ethan: Okay.
Zail: *flips the latch and pulls the kindow open, crouches on windowsill* Follow me. *leaps toward the tower*
Ethan: *follows* Awesome. *jumps*
Zail: *wrists magnetize to tower*
Ethan: *hits tower* Oww.
Zail: You'll get used to it.
Ethan: Yep.
Zail: Stable?
Ethan: Yeah. Just ow.
Zail: *nods, points to another tower* That one. You first.
Ethan: *turns* Here we go. *jumps towards it*
Zail: Good. *follows*
Ethan: Whoo, this is freakin' awesome!
Zail: Yeps. If we get to the last one, there are polysynthetic wings.
Ethan: No way!
Zail: Yes way. It's really hard to get there, though. Inqie and I nearly got there twice.
Ethan: You haven't?
Zail: I've never done this by myself.
Ethan: I know that, you keep saying it. I said you haven't gotten to the end yet?
Zail: We got there twice, nearly a year ago.
Ethan: But you said you nearly got there twice.
Zail: We made it to the tower. We never go to the wings.
Ethan: Oh, why not?
Zail: *mouth twitches* Got caught.
Ethan: Oh. Well then, let's not get caught!
Zail: Okays.
Ethan: *turns towards next jump*
Zail: It's quite a way away.
~
Cade: So, who the hell was that?
Saiene: Drevir. He owns the bar. Little bit nuts, but he's sweet.
Cade: A bar with alcohol?
Jesse: No.
Saiene: Not for you.
Cade: Aww.
Saiene: You're unmoniterable.
Cade: Is that a bad thing?
Saiene: Yes. It means I can't make sure your BAC is reasonable. So no alcohol for you.
Cade: The point of drinking is to get an unreasonable BAC.
Jesse: And that is why I don't let you drink.
Saiene: Not allowed to let our customers die of alcohol poisoning.
Cade: Oh, puh. A little lack of breathing isn't going to kill me.
Saiene: *rolls eyes* No. Alcohol.
Cade: *grumbles*
Jesse: *eyeroll*
Saiene: *grin* You could just get a gloveset. Then I could moniter you.
Cade: *turns to Jesse* Hey, gimme-
Jesse: No.
Cade: I was going to offer-
Jesse: No.
Cade: But-
Jesse: No.
Saiene: *smirk* Poor you. Shop's just up the street.
Cade: Hey, gimme-
Jesse: No.
Cade: I was going to ask for your wallet. I don't have mine on me.
Jesse: I know. *smirk*
Cade: Hey, gimme-
Jesse: Not in public.
Saiene: *raises eyebrow*
Cade: *whispers to Saiene* I was going to ask him for a b0
Jesse: Caden!
Cade: You're no fun at all.
Saiene: *big grin, points* I'll be back there. *preses button on counter and privacy screen pops up around table, wanders into back room and puts on VR glasses*
Jesse: You're absolutly insufferable.
Cade: And yet you still adore me.
Jesse: . . .fuck you.
Cade: Want to?
Jesse: *pointedly* Insufferable.
Cade: Gimme a beer.
Jesse: . . .One.
Cade: Yay!
Jesse: *pushes button on bottom of table* 'Scuse me!
Saiene: Yeah?
Jesse: One beer, please. *to Cade* Just one.
Saiene: *grin* Yes sir.
Jesse and Cade: Thank you.
Saiene: *brings drink*
Cade: Thank you, miss. *drinks*
Jesse: How do you chug that and not make yourself ill?
Saiene: *wanders behind bar*
Cade: Iron gullet.
Saiene: *disappears from sight* Ow.
Jesse: You okay?
Saiene: Yeah. I just tripped. I'd forgotten how much stuff he keeps back here.
Cade: What's he got back there? Is he a bigger packrat than Jesse?
Jesse: We both know that's impossible.
Cade: Did you just admit you're anal about keeping everything?
Jesse: Never denied it.
Saiene: We don't get many customers, so things sort of pile up.
Jesse: Why don't you get a lot of customers?
Saiene: IkziTech has been putting public restaraunts out of business for years.
Cade: Why?
Saiene: It's like the internet outdated regular mail.
Cade: . . .You can. . .eat this stuff?
Saiene: *raises eyebrow* You're not all that smart, are you?
Jesse: He can be dense.
Cade: Her metaphor was bad.
Jesse: Simile.
Cade: Whatever. Explain.
Jesse: Star Trek.
Cade: *thinks* O~oh. Okay.
Saiene: *rolls eyes*
Cade: Well, I don't have your fancy high-tech stuff!
Jesse: Moving swiftly on. *pushes Cade's plate toward him* Here, eat and don't cause trouble.
Cade: *grabs burger*
Saiene: I already told you, there's a Techshop just down the street.
Jesse: He thinks it's a load of bullshit. Technology, that is. He can hardly use a computer.
Cade: *mutters something mean about Tesla*
Saiene: Oh, you're old fashioned. I see.
Cade: I'm ninety-two years old, I'm allowed to be old fashioned.
Jesse: Cradle robber.
Cade: Gold digger.
Jesse: That would involve you having massive amounts of money.
Saiene: You're ninety-two?
Cade: Yup. I look awfully good for my age, huh?
Jesse: He was posessed by a demon when he was 27. And he never lets us forget how young he looks. Prick.
Cade: I'll start singing 'Gold Digger'.
Jesse: Don't even try it.
Saiene: I see. *to Jesse* So how did you get into the City?
Jesse: This idiot blew something up that he wasn't supposed to.
Saiene: *smirk* I see.
Cade: Tesla's fault.
Jesse: Yes, but I can't smack the old bastard from here.
Cade: I bet he did it on purpose.
Jesse: I bet you're right.
Saiene: Who's Tesla?
Jesse: Our boss.
Cade: Coordinator. Evil bastard.
Jesse: Jup.
Saiene: I. . .see.
Jesse: You'd have to- Oh, christ.
Cade: What? Are you okay?
Jesse: Ryan! What about Ryan?
Cade: Shit! Which way- How the hell d'we get outta here?
Saiene: Out?
Jesse: Yeah, we have to get home.
Saiene: I don't understand.
Cade: What's so hard to understand? We have to get home to our daughter!
Saiene: You daughter didn't come with you?
Jesse: Well, we weren't exactly going to bring her, were we? She might get hit by shrapnel.
Saiene: Usually blood-family is dragged along when we get visitors.
Cade: She's not related to either of us. We adopted her.
Saiene: That's unfortunate.
Cade: Even if we had brough her, we'd still need to get home.
Jesse: My mom would have a fit.
Cade: Tesla would probably end up dragging our sorry asses back.
Jesse: Maybe he will. But we still have to get out of here.
Saiene: No one leaves the City.
Cade: *eyes narrow* Is that a threat?
Saiene: No! But no one has ever left the City. It's not even in the ancient history books.
Cade: Fuck that!
Jesse: We really have to leave. *puts money on table* Thanks. *gets up*
Saiene: *looks at money* What's that?
Jesse: Money. Worked at the hotel.
Saiene: *distastefully* The hotel caters to outsiders. Keep. . .that.
Jesse: O. . .kay. Sorry. *takes money back*
Cade: 'S all we got.
Saiene: Only the hotel requires physical currency.
Cade: Oh.
Jesse: *sighs* C'mon, Caden. Thanks.
Cade: Bye, Ms. Waitress.
Saiene: Saiene. Good luck.
Jesse: Thanks, Saiene. *they leave*
~
Jesse: We just follow this road.
Cade: For how long?
Jesse: Til we hit the Wall.
Reen: *wandering around, looking for Era*
Cade: Reen!
Reen: Oh, it's you two. I don't suppose you've seen Era?
Jesse: No, but we saw his sister. Room 241.
Reen: I didn't think the little brat would come to see us.
Cade: Yeah. Look, we gotta go.
Jesse: *pauses* Has no one seriously ever left before?
Reen: No one that I've heard of.
Jesse: . . .
Cade: Has anyone ever tried?
Reen: Not seriously. Lots of kids say they're going to leave, but no one ever does.
Jesse: Why?
Reen: *shrug* Where would we go?
Cade: He's got a point.
Jesse: I suppose. But don't visitors ever want to leave? Go home?
Reen: No usually. Things are better in the City than they are outside.
Cade: Really?
Reen: Well, I've never been outside. I don't know how things work.
Jesse: Then how do you know things are better if you've never left?
Reen: People who come to the City say so. It's in the history books.
Jesse: Ever heard of propaganda?
Reen: No.
Jesse: Seriously?
Reen: Yeah. What is it?
Cade: It's media that preaches something and tries to brainwash you into believing it.
Reen: . . .what?
Jesse: It's. . .what didn't you understand, exactly?
Reen: 'Preaches' and 'brainwash'.
Cade: Preaches and brainwash. . .Okay, how to explain. . .or. . .
Jesse: Preaches is like. . .you tell a bunch of people something. And brainwash is forcing something on people to the point they'll do whatever you tell them and believe whatever you them. Like Hitler.
Reen: You lose. We aren't Nazis!
Cade: That wasn't what he meant.
Jesse: Just forget it. We have to go.
Reen: I'll see you back at the hotel later.
Cade: We're trying to go home.
Reen: *nods*
Jesse: We'll prob'ly not see you. Bye.
Reen: Later, then. *waves and walks off*
Cade: No one thinks we're actually leaving, do they?
Jesse: No. No, they don't.
Inqie: You can't blame them.
Cade: *jumps* Christ, little perve!
Inqie: Sorry.
Jesse: It's okay. If nobody's ever tried, then. . .
Inqie: People don't like to believe impossible things.
Jesse: It's not impossible.
Inqie: Implausable, then.
Cade: Unlikely, maybe.
Inqie: Unprecedented.
Jesse: Look, thanks for your help. You want your stuff back?
Inqie: Nah. I got new stuff.
Jesse: Alright. Thank you. Bye.
Cade: Bye.
Inqie: Good luck.
Cade: Thanks! *starts to walk away*
Inqie: *nods, skips away*
Jesse and Cade: *walks toward the Wall*
Destiny: Hey darlin's, y'all look lost.
Cade: *looks at the Wall looming before them* Nope. Know 'sactly where we're goin'.
Destiny: Ya sure, hun? Y'all are heading towards a dead end. *walks next to them* Twenty more steps and y'all gonna hit the Barrier.
Jesse: Barrier?
Destiny: Ya. The Barrier keep y'all here and everyone else out.
Cade: We're not allowed to leave. We're prisoners. Why?
Destiny: Once you get there, ya realize ya never wanted to leave. You ain't prisoners.
Jesse: Sure sounds like it.
Cade: Why aren't we allowed to leave?
Desinty: Oh, you're allowed to leave, but you can't.
Jesse: So we'd be allowed to leave if it were possible to leave, is that what you're telling us?
Destiny: That's right!
Cade: That makes no sense. At all.
Destiny: Oh, it does. The City is funny like that, doll.
Cade: J, you're keyed into this. . .mainframe. . .thing. Does this make sense t'you?
Jesse: No particularly. Could bea native thing.
Destiny: Oh, you'll learn.
Jesse: We don't want to learn. We wanna go home.
Destiny: Well, good luck, then.
Jesse: *eyeroll* Thanks.
Destiny: You're welcome, hun.
Cade: Sarcasm's a foreign language to you, isn't it?
Destiny: That's a language?
Jesse: Yes. Obviously.
Destiny: I did not know it was another language. 'Magine that!
Cade: Oh, yes.
Jesse: Few people can speak it well, though.
Destiny: I'm obviously not one of them.
Jesse: Clearly.
~
Ethan: *touches down on tower, nods at Zail* Now what?
Zail: *holds up hand, catching breath* Didn't think we'd make it this far. Give me a second.
