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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 25, 2018 5:07:42 GMT
Molly nervously chuckled. "Well, the situation around it is rather strange. I went there, and saw that the previous owner, nice older guy with... strange interests, could no longer run the cafe and was putting the building up for sale. I had a lot of money on me from part time jobs in high school and college, so I bought it out and decided to become the owner. It hasn't been a perfect time running the cafe, especially with hostilities and rivalries between certain workers..." Here she elbowed Demmy in the ribs, causing the taller woman to give a sharp "Yeep!" and bring her arms back down. "but it's been a lot of fun, and a learning experience for me."
"I'm sure it has been." A new voice came from the steam. Molly turned, and saw a woman walk over to her through the water. Somehow, she was taller than Demmy, and with long black hair that contrasted with Demmy's pure white hair. Her eyes were a dull crimson, but what stuck out most to Molly was a long jagged scar that ran across her face, from below her right eye to the leftmost tip of her mouth. "Experience and hardship are good teachers. The name's Chalodna, before you ask. I'm something of a regular here, but I haven't seen any of you before... except you, once I think, from afar." She shifted her gaze to Sam.
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Post by Stage on Mar 25, 2018 5:35:46 GMT
Sam nodded in confirmation. She too vaguely remembered once seeing the woman in town. She had a figure and face that were hard to forget.
"I stay in Mival adjacent. With someone you might know if you come here often. Has hair like yours. Not as tall, but she keeps the weight... elsewhere."
Beyond her height and luxurious, raven hair, the fact that the woman was brazen or boasting enough to stand so tall in a communal bath also reminded her of Vee.
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 25, 2018 5:50:20 GMT
Chalodna smiled. "Yes, I know the woman you're speaking of. She frequents here as well, but we rarely talk." She sat down in the hot water. "Playful nature but... rather moody." She turned her attention to Molly and Demmy. "And what of you two?"
"The name's Molly. Molly Chance." The shorter of the two woman answered. "And my friend here is Demmy. We both only came to this world just a day ago, in the middle of work."
"Really?" Chalodna raised an eyebrow. "That's harsh. Well, enjoy the baths while you can. I came here in a bad mood because of some glasses wearing bitch tripping me over. I tried chasing her down, but she slipped away, so I stormed here to cool off. Just a minute in the baths, and my bad mood's all but gone."
"Is that why you have that scar on your face? From the trip?" Molly asked. She noticed that Demmy hadn't said anything, and seemed to be eyeing the woman carefully..
"Oh, not from that. That just left me with a bruised hand. Just a scar I got from my past job in the world I'm from. I was a circus owner after my father and mother passed the business over to me. The animals weren't the biggest fans of me when I started and got this lovely slash from the biggest of them. Hurt like a bitch, but good medical care took care of it within a few days."
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Post by Stage on Mar 25, 2018 6:00:01 GMT
On a hunch, Sam asked, "The glasses the person who tripped you wore... were they a monocle?"
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 25, 2018 6:06:54 GMT
Chalodna shook her head. "No. This girl was wearing an actual pair of glasses. I did see one with a monocle as I stormed in here, but she was leaving the baths when I came in, and that was... gods, I think half an hour ago or so."
"What was she like?" Demmy suddenly asked. "The girl with the monocle."
"Charcoal hair in two big pigtails, militaristic uniform... Her name's Unish, and I've chatted with her before. She's a real nutcase, but far more bark than bite. Tried stabbing me once when I outdrank her at the bar. It was a sloppy stab, so I just grabbed the knife in my hand, and landed a fist in her stomach. She limped out swearing up a storm after that. Why do you ask?"
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Post by Stage on Mar 25, 2018 6:16:34 GMT
"Because, whether she's more bark or bite, she's dangerous," Sam explained simply. "I want to remove that danger if I meet her again."
She sunk lower into the bath, titling back her head to stop water from rising over her mouth. Her red-blonde hair spread out like a halo.
"Though, if we're lucky, a despot will eat her for us."
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 25, 2018 6:28:15 GMT
Chalodna shifted her gaze down to Sam. "Wait... you mean she's in deep shit with a Despot? Jeez, that woman's a fucking roller coaster, I swear. The hell did she do, kill its mate?"
She noticed a quiet nod from Molly, and Chalodna's eyes widened. "My gods.. That's a fucking nightmare right there. If she wasn't so deranged, I'd feel sorry for her. But, I'll go tell the city council and make sure Unish's rashness is dealt with."
"Wait, you have some kind of authority here?" Demmy asked, also sinking down till only her face was exposed out of the water. "Some bureaucrat or politician? Wouldn't be that much of a stretch from a circus owner."
Chalodna snorted. "No, heavens no. I'd rather strangle a politician than work with them. I'm just one of the defenders of the city, going out on patrol every so often. This is my down time right now, but as I said, I'll let everyone else know of our wild child trouble maker's latest incident."
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Post by Stage on Mar 25, 2018 6:30:14 GMT
This caught Sam's interest. She perked up, breasts bobbing briefly to the water's top. "Patrol with what?"
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 25, 2018 6:43:40 GMT
"My... mecha, you can say." Chalodna answered. "It's not much, just an eight legged tank of sorts. It gets the job done, but it's hardly anything unique."
"A giant robot?" Molly's eyes were gleaming, and she stood up, almost forgetting to secure her towel so it didn't fall off her. " You pilot a giant robot down here?! That's amazing! Demmy, this world has everything! EVERYTHING!"
"Don't shout, please." Demmy mumbled. "And of course it does. Did you forget how everything gets here?"
"Of course I didn't but piloting a giant robot, there's nothing like it! You know how many people were into Gundam when I was in school? A lot, and I was fascinated by it and shows like it. Please let me pilot it, please let me pilot it-"
"Sorry, cannot do." Chalodna's voice grew stern, and the glare from her eyes silenced Molly. " Only special people can pilot a machine like mine, and you lack a strong enough body, let alone the training. The stress from piloting even my hunk of metal is too much for anyone to manage."
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Post by Stage on Mar 25, 2018 6:50:09 GMT
"They have more up north," Sam told Molly. Decidedly less interested than before, she leaned back, letting all her thick, powerful limbs stretch out. "Near London. Though those are shaped like humans."
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 26, 2018 1:03:11 GMT
"Humanoid mechas?!" Now Molly was looking at Sam, her eyes sparkling. If we get time, I really want to try and go over there! Try them out!"
"I don't know too much about what they have at London, or how they operate, so be careful." Chalodna said. " Maybe they have something fit for trainees or newcomers, I dunno."
"A machine just for a newbie. That's sorta funny." Demmy smirked. "Maybe give Alex something like that. At least then he'll be able to do research without being so easy a target to chase and kill. Like, there's jobs I understand, and then there's suicidal occupations." She rose up, and stretched again. "And monster research is the type of job either an insane man wants, or someone with a death with desires."
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Post by Stage on Mar 26, 2018 1:44:22 GMT
Amber eyes glared at the alabaster-haired woman. The corner of Sam's mouth curled as if she were going to spew venom at Demmy, but then, perhaps because she was relaxed from the bath, or maybe even because she realized it would not be what the person in question would want, she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She focused on the warmth of the water, the softness of the steamy air. Then she exhaled. When her eyes opened, they were far calmer than before.
"Alex can be reckless," she began. Her voice was quiet, but intense. "I know that better than anyone, and it drives me insane. But he does it to help people."
Her eyebrows knitted despite her tranquility. "No... not just people. Monsters too. He wants us to get along, or at least to tolerate each other. It's not realistic. Eventually, I think it will come down to a decision: us or them. But it's worked. He's saved lives, human and monster. He wants happy endings for both, and, even if I don't agree, I think that makes him better than most people. All people maybe. So maybe he is insane, but he isn't looking to die. He's looking for a way for everyone to live."
"He doesn't need a machine to protect him," she continued, eyes shining like gold with determination. "That's what I'm for. I'm going to keep him- and Bahn- safe."
She looked at Demmy meaningfully.
"From anything and anyone."
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 26, 2018 2:02:35 GMT
Silence filled the baths. Molly seemed uncertain and anxious, realizing the edge in Sam's tone. Chalodna stayed silent as well, merely interested in seeing where this was going.
Demmy met Sam's look with her own. The silence seemed to last hours, even if it wasn't that. Then, she blinked, and cracked a half smile.
"I was half joking when I said that. Thought you'd catch that by my tone... but apologies if you didn't." Demmy shifted her position, so now she was floating on her back. " The kind of work Alex does for them... I can't imagine anyone else daring to try such a thing, let alone succeeding on the level you're saying it does. Doing your best to keep humans and monsters seperate while ensuring minimal casualties and proper understanding of each other... What a strange world it is. Not like the one I know..."
Chalodna rose. "And not like the one I'm from either, I'm afraid to admit. There... it IS us or them, and my people... well, they want it to be that way. They thrive off of it, and the constant conflict it brings, even if it's not a healthy or sustainable way of life." She rose up, and left the bath, and headed for the changing room. "Hopefully, I'll see you all later, if I'm not angry about something."
"Bye..." Molly waved. Chalodna definitely seemed to be a reasonable woman, but... there was something off about her, something Molly couldn't place her finger on. Then again, the same could be said for Demmy as well. Maybe it was just the height? She turned to Sam. "Alex really is lucky to have someone like you with him. And sorry for what Demmy said there. Sometimes her mouth gets ahead of her brain."
"No it doesn-" Demmy's voice was cut short with Molly kneeing Demmy in the side, causing her to flail in the water before righting herself. She spat out the bath water. "As I was saying earlier, meant no real offense to Alex. Just... me trying to make a joke, which fell flat I guess."
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Post by Stage on Mar 26, 2018 2:17:04 GMT
"Work on your material," Sam told Demmy flatly, eyes hooded, before her head twisted towards Molly.
"I think I'm the lucky one. I know I can be... difficult to get along with. But he puts up with me anyway."
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 26, 2018 2:43:16 GMT
All Molly could give to that was a gentle smile and a nod. Now that she thought of it, those two really did compliment each other well. Two peas in a pod, two halves of a whole..
Two wings of a bird, maybe?
"Sorry to break your fun, ladies." The voice of the old woman sounded through the baths. " But it's closing time now. Please grab your belongings and leave in a modest manner. And please do not touch the angel statues. They were just cleaned and polished a week ago."
"Just when I was starting to enjoy it... far too soon." Demmy rose up, and hauled herself out of the pool. "Still, feels good to get that grime off of me, and be refreshed and rejuvenated."
"And ready for tomorrow's work." Molly reminded her. She also climbed out, and made her way to the changing rooms. "Looks to be quite the day tomorrow, even if all goes well."
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Post by Stage on Mar 26, 2018 3:04:43 GMT
Sam exited the water behind them, wrapping herself quickly in her towel to keep pace. As she followed the other two women to the changing room, she kept her eyes trained on the tall outline of Demmy. Whatever excuses about bad jokes the woman had, keeping Alex save was anything but a joke to her. She spared a glance or two for Molly however. She was not sure about the fellow blonde. She seemed to bear no ill will. In fact, her excitable personality reminded her of Alex, or perhaps Vee on a good day. She kept bad company though. Perhaps she was being taken advantage of by Demmy. Or perhaps she was more talented at hiding her malice.
Either way, it would be wise to not neglect her in her surveillance, Sam decided.
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 26, 2018 3:19:07 GMT
The two were quick to change out of their towels, shower off the water from the bath, and get into their new clothes. It had been relaxing, even reinvigorating, but as it was, it was time to head back to the bar. They, with Sam, walked out of the changing room and by the old woman, who gave them a soft smile. "Come again some time. If you're lucky, you may find love in there."
"Love, in the hot baths?" Demmy snickered. "I doubt that, old lady. What would you know about love, anyways?"
"Demmy, don't." Molly asked. "Please don't annoy people like that."
"More than you know, children. Much more than you know." The old woman cracked a small smile. "I once loved the greatest man who ever lived, a handsome, smart, and passionate fellow who didn't care what the world thought of him, but just wanted to help those around him. He was the sun and moon to me, the entire world... but fate wouldn't allow that, and he was robbed from me by the world, a world which despised and feared him. You youngsters wouldn't understand. No one in this city, or this entire planet would understand..."
"I'm sorry for my co-worker's rashness." Molly was quick to apologise, bowing her head. "Seriously, I'm so sorry. I had no idea, and neither did she."
"Your words may ring true, but is that what your heart says? Or is your heart clanging the same horrid noise every living being does to those they fear and do not understand?" The woman glared at her, one eye opened wider than the other, both swiftly turning to glare at Demmy, who glared back. The woman then turned. "Now please, leave... I'm closing shop, and these old bones need rejuvenation of their own..."
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Post by Stage on Mar 26, 2018 4:52:35 GMT
"Wow," Sam droned in deadpan admiration. "You might be even less of a people person than I am."
The red-blonde woman shot the elderly owner a look that seemed to say, 'I think she's an ass too.'
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Post by Executus Gira on Mar 26, 2018 5:04:48 GMT
"She really isn't." Molly begrudgingly admitted. "Sometimes, she acts like she's everyone's elder."
"Just how I was raised." Demmy shrugged, and she was the first to walk out of the baths building into the streets. It was dark now, and the streets were even emptier than they had been before. Oil lit lamps lit some of the streets, while bioluminescent lights flashing along the side of the more futuristic buildings shone the way for others, and for the between, there were the normal street lights. "Not my fault."
Molly stopped, and grabbed Demmy by the hand. "Sam, you can head on to the bar. I need to give Demmy a little talk real quick. I can tell she's been stressing you all day, so have some time to yourself. We'll catch up later."
"What? I'm just being my usual self."
"Which is all over the place, and usually hostile and creepy to other people!"
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Post by Stage on Mar 26, 2018 5:16:59 GMT
Sam did not answer right away. She did not like the idea of taking eyes off Demmy, but it would seem suspicious to refuse. It had been some time too. Alex had probably found his way to the inn by now.
"Okay," she agreed at last. "I need to find Salman anyway. Good luck with your... chat."
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