Maoclades (meant for Willis but observers are cool)

[empress_without_a_throne]

[It's the early evening at Alhambra when the one and only Abyss Empress makes her arrival via TSEN.  She's also wearing a more modern and sensible dress than the ones she ends up sporting whenever she invokes the Abyss Sanction.]

So I'm here to pick up my date for the evening... assuming he didn't forget.

[Whee for the aftermath of this thread.  Anyone who wants to tag along in seekrit, discussing stuff with each other is free to do so, as is pre-date discussions!]

Comments

[empress_without_a_throne]

Like you wouldn't believe. They had ten whole years to develop and refine machines perfect for dealing with Void beings and their creations... so perfect that the last one destroyed the Void itself on accident...

But against enemies outside of the usual pool of them, they might as well have been equipped with a bunch of really annoying flashlights. And who'd want to finance a group in that dire need of re-inventing how their robots fight?

[a_linear_mind]

Yeah, that's a pretty deep fall. At least you're picking yourselves up now. I mean you were able to get a new machine made.

[The lights from the city are getting a bit closer now. Willis seems pretty happy with the fact that the conversation has directed towards Mizuki.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

One down, one to go. Plus, no doubt the DuskBird will need some sort of refitting too. It's a facet of myself... a creation of the Great Black Void. As it is, it's a square peg of antimatter we'd try to get into a round hole.

[actuallyselfish]

"Well..." Dido says, frowning in thought. "What really blow me away is how big this...big operation is!"

She waves her hands. "Not just the literal size of the hangers or the larger budgets we've got to work with...but also the sheer diversity of things!"

She chuckles. "Just yesterday I crawled into the gaping hole of a sentient alien robot to fix his innards! I mean, Damn! If this was the sort of stuff Solaris had to deal with in their glory days, I wonder how they kept focused!"

[ugyuuya]

[As Willis and Mizuki walk towards the Restaurant after parking nearby they hear familiar voices involved in a lively conversation.]

I'm in off-duty military clothes, I can't believe that they wouldn't believe that I'm old enough to drink. It's insane!



Well it's hard to blame them with so many of the pilots actually being underage.

Yeah, that from Miss "I never have to buy my drinks here".

[The Argos flight happens to walk into sight of the pair and VG's amused grin shifts to surprise and then mischief]



Well maybe if you happened to look like her you wouldn't have that problem there Hobbit.

[The other three note Mizuki and Willis and have their own responses. Yuuya looks between VG and the pair and shakes his head in exasperation while Stella merely smiles serenely. VG's laughter is infectious until a silently fuming Tarisa finally pops.]

Oh that's it you Itallian grease-ball you're gonna get it!

[VG laughs as Tarisa comes at him, keeping just out of reach. Yuuya continues to be embarrassed while Stella turns to begin calming the fiery young Gurkha.]

[a_linear_mind]

Can they..."refit" something that's considered a part of you?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Well, horses can get horseshoes. People can get piercings. And then there's whatever you've got going for you to let you bounce back to being carried around inside of a bucket.

[a_linear_mind]

Won't the parts just...fall off when it disappears into your shadow?

[Not even acknowledging that last part.]

[a_linear_mind]

Yo, didn't think I'd run into anyone else around here.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Why would it? Piercings don't fall off when someone goes underwater.

[Gazing down the road, Mizuki tries to get a fix on where exactly they're going.]

How much longer until we get there?

[a_linear_mind]

Shouldn't be that much longer.

Also that's water not...your shadow.

[Conveniently, they reached the city just as Mizuki asked that.]

[ugyuuya]

There's a real nice bar down that way about a block and a half called "Sheryl's". They've got good music and a nice atmosphere but some people [VG glances at Yuuya and Tarisa] don't keep a good supply of civies with them so we were at a bit rougher place about another two blocks past that called "Phoenix Hill" which is a bit rougher but more our speed for the evening. We were actually just heading back now since someone decided to make a fuss since they wouldn't believe her ID for drinks.

[VG has to stifle a bark of pain as Tarisa stomps on his foot but gives Willis a quick wink while Mizuki is distracted by the shorter woman. After dinner destination GET!]

[empress_without_a_throne]

They kept focused by knowing what they were the first line of defense against... that and remembering those among them who'd died during those battles.

[Yeah. Awwwwwkwaaaaaard!]

Most specialized institutions don't survive long after their purpose is fulfilled... Solaris did because of their dedication.

And I can't help but want to repay them for everything they've done.

[empress_without_a_throne]

And my shadow's not a human's shadow either.

[Pulling into the city, Mizuki starts to look and take a guess as they pass by cafes, drive-throughs, fancier dining establishments, and clubs, wondering just what Willis has in mind for her and if he'd just resort to a really low-end place that sells fish.]

... You know, just in case things don't pan out at our place I'll settle for some portabellos. Saw an Italian place a block back.

[a_linear_mind]

It'll be fine.

[After finally finding parking/meeting up with other people/whatever, Willis escorts Mizuki to a pretty high-end place that sells fish. However when they arrive they are promptly told that they will have to leave. The reason given by the maitre'D?]

"I'm sorry Miss but we cannot have you sitting in here in that costume. If you would like to have dinner in that may I suggest one of the lower end restaurants down the block."

[Willis' response to this is this face.]

[actuallyselfish]

Dido...actually looks thoughtful at your words, Mizuki. And a bit troubled.

"You're a good person, Mizuki." She says quietly. "Really good. Just...don't pull anything too reckless, okay? All those dents cost money to fix, you know."

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Awwww... Mizuki beams at the compliments. And regarding the warning...]

Not for the DuskBird!

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Oh that wasn't the end of it.]

"You're kidding. You just have to be. This is a NORMAL dress! I bought it SPECIFICALLY for toni-"
"Even if that's the case, those prosthetics you have on your ears-"
"THESE ARE MY REAL EARS!"

[So needless to say, the portabellos fallback plan was indeed invoked. Cut to them cooking the mushrooms over an open fire.]

... You know, I am going to savage that restaurant on my blog as soon as we get back.

[a_linear_mind]

For discriminating against cosplayers?

[Despite his big promises, the night somehow turned to something resembling what he was doing before he joined the Unity Group.]

This kind of reminds of my vagrant years...although I didn't have a sports car parked nearby. Just Strahlend.

[Woah wait, is Willis actually opening up?]

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Best to tread cautiously then. Wouldn't want Willis to suddenly realize he's letting his guard down.]

Sorry to hear that. Even when Solaris was having tough times we all at least had each other. And roofs over our heads too.

And at least you got through all of that in one piece.

[a_linear_mind]

It wasn't so bad, you get used to that kind of lifestyle. Especially if you are at it for over a decade.

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Yes, yes. Very useful information...]

Honestly that's a little hard to believe. I'd figure a soldier and machine like you to not have to worry about being unemployed for long. Any number of groups would be clamoring for someone as low-maintenance as you.

I guess in that regard the Unity Group's luckier than I thought. Especially on account of what you've done for Seta.

[She takes a moment to pull one of her mushrooms from the flame and blow on it a little to cool it. One thoughtful bit of chewing later she picks up where she left off.]

Thanks for what you did out there. What you said to her.

[a_linear_mind]

I'm not entirely sure if you should be thanking me for tricking someone into believing I was dead.

[Willis (not being a terrible void being that's allergic to the sun) adds a bit more topping to his mushroom before returning it to the fire.]

Besides, you're giving me too much credit. I have no discipline, I'm a mediocre pilot, and I have no respect for proper chains of command.

[empress_without_a_throne]

If you were as bad as you said we wouldn't be having you on the Unity Group's payroll. Granted, Ken, Sara, and myself aren't on it either but we're getting payment in other ways. You're being too hard on yourself.

Besides, a little well-intentioned deception can go a long way in giving people the confidence to go and do things.

[She can't help but chuckle a little bit.]

It's like that trick they always say about parents helping support a kid while they're learning to ride a bike, and then discreetly letting go so the kid keeps going on their own.

... people today still do that, right? When my parents were starting to get into the whole "this is how you parent" schtick they were all like "Mizuki, did you ever want to learn how to ride a bike?" and I'm pretty sure that's what they were hoping to indulge in.

[a_linear_mind]

You say that but the only payroll I'm getting right now is access to the cafeteria. At my age it's good to know what your limits are.

Besides, if I was any better I should have been able to do much more than I have able to.

[He finally retrieves his portabello from the flames and munches on it.]

I wouldn't about that, I have been living out of a robot for the last decade. It does sound like they really got into the whole parenting though.