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

[a_linear_mind]

It's just outside, Alhambra is kind of isolated so we'll have to drive into the city.

[Where he got the car was anyone's guess.]

It was pretty hard to find a restaurant that would serve someone allergic to everything other than things that live around hydrothermal vents though.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Not everything... but thanks for actually going through the trouble of checking that.

[Congratulations Willis, you now have two legit brownie points with Mizuki.]

You're on quite the roll now... keep it up and I might not think this evening'll be a complete waste if you just keep playing dumb.

[a_linear_mind]

[Don't worry, he'll be wasting those soon enough.]

Maybe it's all part of my plan to charm you into forgetting about your original goal.

[Once the rented sports-car parked outside comes into view it definitely seems like he's trying to do that.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

I'm not that easy to fool.

[She looks at the car, trying to recall if she'd ever seen it in Alhambra's garages. But then again, she never paid much attention to there since she had her own machine at the ready whenever she wanted.]

... And I suppose this just goes to show what people can afford when they don't have to worry about medical expenses.

[a_linear_mind]

I know, that's why I'm putting in this much work. Besides, this is just a rental.

[Willis steps ahead of the Abyss Empress to open the door for her.]

I hope knowing that doesn't ruin the illusion for you.

[empress_without_a_throne]

This isn't a dealbreaker. In fact, you giving straight answers is the biggest reason I agreed to this little joke of yours.

[Settling into the car, she takes a moment to get situated and find the seatbelts. Which... actually take her long enough that it becomes clear she's unfamiliar with these sorts of things.]

... you know...

This is the most expensive car I've ever sat in...

[Her voice just sort of trails off. Solaris had only recently started to get support so it could revitalize itself, so the fact that someone could afford to just go and get a car like this -even if only temporarily- just to have it for driving around in... it's only just sinking in.]

[a_linear_mind]

Well, I expect that you'll be a bit disappointed on that front. Don't know why, I just have a feeling.

[Once Willis steps into the driver's side, a small laugh escapes him when he hears the second part.]

Solaris must have really fallen down hard if it is.

[A few seconds later the vehicle speeds off from Alhambra.]

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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.