The Ganoltir Project Forum

Hikaru laughs, grabbing the clothes in his size. "I don't get paid enough to model," he says with a wink, disappearing into the changing room once more. He reemerges not a minute later, dressed in the first outfit he'd suggested. He walks down an aisle in a sophisticated manor and strikes a pose for Tess. "But I could be one."

The pop star looks between Tess and a mirror and hms. "It might be a little too skin-tight for the likes of Creed." Dude's not really working with much. He shrugs. "But the style's good enough. Let's see if there's something similar but looser." He starts filing through the rack again.

"Or just a bigger size," Tess responds with a shrug. "His mom picked his clothes out for him, I doubt he cares much for fashion. We just need him to look like his mom didn't dress him and we've done our job," she says with a brief chuckle. Does this make us his mom now? I hope he is mentally there enough to not make that leap.

Happy with her purchase, and making no plans to remove her new outfit, she says, "you buy theirs, I'm going to pay for mine." With that she steps over to the counter and greets the cashier. "Hello!" she says in a very friendly, customer-specific tone of voice. "I'd like to buy these," she continues, motioning towards the ensemble she has assembled upon herself, with the only visible pieces from when she arrived being her boots. "If I read the price tags correctly it should come out to 40 credits?" she asks, giving them a friendly smile.

"True, and this definitely looks better than anything a mom would choose," Hikaru says, quickly changing back into his own clothes before finding the outfits in Cass and Creed's sizes. He glances at the hair dye he set down on a shelf and grins. Can't forget that. He stands behind Tess at the counter, mentally noting the costs of everything in his head. Two outfits, twenty-five each. That's fifty, then the dye at five. Got it.

Creed stays quiet for a bit as he mulls the question over in his head, seeming to give it his full attention; "I'm not sure. It's hard to say, really, but it's not like we have much choice, right? I mean... We stay here, we're as good as dead, I think." He paused for another moment before continuing with: "Whether or not I want to go, I have to."

Tess and Hikaru

[SHOW]

The disinterested teenage cashier processes your transactions without saying anything more than they're required to by store policy. Even stopping mid way through serving you to answer a text on their compad.

Mechanics

[SHOW]

Gain clothes and hair dye.

Tess: -40 credits

Hikaru: -55 credits

Hikaru glares at the teenaged cashier as they exit the store, whispering to Tess, "And people wonder half this industry is becoming automated." He shrugs and sighs. "Let's find those other two then. Don't wanna keep them waiting any longer. Hopefully they like their new duds."

"To be honest, I'm ready to get off this rock. Never came here by choice, only by convenience." He grimaces, looking up at Creed. "I mean, I don't mean nothing by it. You're from here, right? Didn't your ma raise you here? It's not too bad, Idarete. But I don't belong anywhere these days." Cass sighs. "What's it like for you, leaving home?"

Tess is unfazed by the unhelpfulness of the teenager, but her smile fades as she realized her charms are unneeded in the situation. Once she pays she steps back out onto the street, her new clothes proving much more suitable to the Idarete weather. She looks up the street towards the pharmacy, hoping Cass and Creed are outside as well.

"W-Well..." Creed began to respond. "It's s-sort of like you, really, now that I'm thinking about it. I-I've g-got no friends, I have a job, but... nothing to really chain me here. Other than my m-m-mother." He bit his lip hard to try and calm himself. "And not being around her anymore will ... be a blessing on its own."

Tess and Hikaru

[SHOW]

Looking around the vicinity, you spot Cass and Eridas standing outside the pharmacy talking.

Cass and Eridas

[SHOW]

While talking you spot Hikaru and Tess, now sporting a thick jacket instead of her bodysuit, exiting one of the clothing stores and walking towards you.

Pausing from his talking, Eridas would awkwardly and almost comically wave at Tess and Hikaru as he saw them.

"Sounds like it'll be good to put this city behind you then," Cass says to Creed. "Hard vacuum's a nice way of getting some time away to think everything out. It always was for me, at least."

He turns at Creed's wave. "Hey. Nice jacket. Any good finds?"

Hikaru tosses the bags of clothes to Creed and Cass. "You two owe me 25 credits each," the pop star says matter-of-factly, crossing his arms. The corner of his lip begins to curl up into a smirk. "We picked those out for you. Thought they'd be your style. Try them on asap, yeah?"

Creed takes his bag and rolls his eyes. "Y-yeah s-sure, fancy p-pants," Eridas said snarkily and sent over the credits. "Where do we go now? B-back to the w-warehouse?"

Cass catches the bag and peers inside briefly before cracking a smile at Hikaru. "Hey, now, Glitter. I feel like you're starting to get me."

He slips his compad out, transferring 25 credits back to the popstar. "Thanks. Both of you." With a sigh, he nods to Creed. "Yeah, I think that's where we should roll, at least to change. I still need to drop by my pad to um... cover my tracks."

OOC

[SHOW]

Paid 25 credits to Hikaru.

Tess grins and gives a pose, as Cass compliments her outfit. "Shame you won't have such a nice view anymore," she says, her grin curving more into a smirk. "But at least I won't be so cold all the time."

As the clothes are doled out, she watches with pride as the two men seem happy with the purchases. "Hey now," she says to Cass, as he compliments Hikaru on taste. "You can thank me for that one. I've a lot of friends who dress just like you, so I thought I'd give it a go."

Cass shrugs. "Comfort's key. That's all I give a shit about with clothes. Can't blame you for keeping warm."

He lets out a single, dry chuckle. "Dress like me? Friends with a lot of given-up dealers or techies?"

Cass

[SHOW]

Your apartment is about a half an hour drive from the warehouse, a few neighbourhoods over, in one of the denser and shadier residential districts.

"More or less, yeah," Tess responds to the man with a shrug of her own. "I've spent plenty of time on the streets and in drug dens," she adds, slightly nervous about revealing more of her past. I guess keeping my past to myself is not going to work forever if I am stuck with them for awhile, she thinks, aware that a lot of her recent revelations were things not even Hikaru knew about.

"Perhaps after we get back to the apartment I can drive you to your pad, Cass. Would that help?" He asked, starting to walk.

Hikaru glances around nervously as Cass speaks. "Pffft, n-no, I just couldn't stand being around someone wearing clothes from the gutter. That's all," he sighs, glancing down at his compad to avoid any eye contact.

He holds his tongue as Tess mentions having spent time in drug dens. Given the influence drugs have had on his band and relationships, it remains a touchy subject for him "I'm glad you don't have to deal with that anymore. Would hate for anything to happen to you." Addiction can really mess up lives. Not like the streets have comprehensive rehab programs. I dunno how Kaze could cope without 24/7 service.

"Yeah..." Cass murmurs in agreement with Tess and Hikaru. "Not my favorite places. Sucks that it wasn't our decision, but I think I'm gonna be glad to get out of Idarete."

He turns to Creed, nodding. "It would, beratna. It's about a half-hour from here. Don't think we could get there on foot without wearing out our shoes." He offers him a smile. "Thanks."

Creed nods. "Y-yeah, sure." He smiles softly and holds his bag of new clothes close.

With your new clothes and full bellies, you head back to the warehouse. The walk passing uneventfully as the rest of the city's residents pay you little attention as they go about their business.

"Not my favorite places either," Tess says, glad that the man at least recognizes the drawbacks of drug use, something she'd been unsure of before. "It's not a time in my life I look back on fondly, but I don't really regret it either. I wouldn't be me if I didn't go through that."

"Well," Tess says, as you enter the office of the warehouse once more. "Let's see those new outfits," she says, giving the two men a smirk. "Come on, don't be shy!" The faster they get changed, the faster we can trash Cass' drugs and move onto more important things. Like finding a ship to get us off this ice cube.

Now back in the privacy of the office, Eridas finally took his clothes out of the bag. He looked them over and nodded, liking them. He turned after hearing Tess speak up. "Wait, uh, here? L-l-like, in front of everyone?" He asked, clearly not jumping to the obvious conclusion as he looked between the other three.

"Aww, too shy to show off what you got?" Tess teases. "I don't care where you do it, but get changed so we can go. We've a lot to do if we want to get a ship soon. Like, I don't know, finding a ship."

Hikaru rolls his eyes at Creed's display of nervousness. "You forgetting there's a bathroom?" he says, pointing to the door in the corner of the room. "But yeah, make it quick. Can't afford to spend hours waiting on you to get your pants on." Which it would take if we hadn't gone a size up. Thank god for that.

He looks towards his box of hair dye and sighs. Guess I can do this later since we're in such a hurry now. God I hope I look good.

It takes a few moments after he hears this for Eridas to adjust to the idea, though he does seem incredibly hesitant. For being an obviously physically developed adult male, in most of the ways people would find 'attractive' he's incredibly lacking. He's what most people would describe as being incredibly lanky. Nothing really special in terms of muscle development, in fact, you'd probably be hard-pressed to say he has any at all, but he seems to be able to hold himself up at least. He rushes to get himself changed, turning away before taking off his pants and pulling on the new ones they got him. It takes him a few minutes to button-up the tighter-than-he's-used-to pants, but he gets there eventually.

"I uh... I guess I'm ready." He says after a minute or two, finding the new clothes very uncomfortable at first. "It'll take a bit of adjusting, I guess."

"Suit yourself," Cass says, shaking his head. "I know we got pushed into this... squad without much choice, but I just met you guys yesterday. Privacy seems like a luxury so I'm gonna take it where I can." He grabs the bag, stepping into the bathroom. "Just be a minute," he assures them as he closes the door.

Once inside the bathroom, he stares in the mirror, taking a deep breath and sighing. So much has happened in 24 hours. From Diktat jail to scuttling my pad and leaving the city. He takes another breath, opening the bag and pulling out the clothes within. To his surprise, he finds himself smiling. These are... cool. They look perfect.

Cass takes his boots off, sliding the baggy trousers on over his thin, armored jumpsuit. He pulls on the jacket, testing the hood. Fits like a glove. Damn, they are good at this. He sinks his feet into his boots and laces them hastily before opening the door and stepping back out.

"Good to go," Cass says, a newfound, calm confidence in his voice. "Think we should bring more than a piece this time in case we run into trouble?" he asks, stepping over and inspecting his laser rifle that he pulls from under his cot.

"To your home?" Tess responds, quizzically. "Do you expect to run into much trouble at your home?" she asks, raising an eyebrow at the man.

"Not at my pad, no. I meant on the way," Cass explains. "I can't shake the feeling that these spook fucks are going to keep looking for us after what we did to them."

He bites his lip, thinking. "Course, I live in a shitty part of Idarete, so who knows. Maybe we'll find trouble there too. I haven't been around to pay the lease since I got yanked by that Diktat sting."

"So did Schaberg and they still found us there," Hikaru says with a shrug as they begin to discuss the danger of heading to Cass's place. "Granted, he had a bug planted. But you might too at this point." Can't wait to finally be somewhere where my life isn't in danger every moment. But we need to get a ship first. He sighs. So yay! More danger!

"Fair," Tess responds to Hikaru and Cass, as they mention the risk of danger. "Well, if you do plan to bring larger weapons along then I don't feel bad keeping my new baby out in the open as well," she says, producing the mag pistol from her pack once more, after twirling it casually in her hands. "It will end any spooks we meet a lot faster than the laser one."

"I've only been on their radar since yesterday afternoon," Cass reminds Hikaru. "It's possible, but they'd have to have tracked down my name and housing records, and broke entry all in that time. Sounds inevitable in the long run, though, and I want to make sure I don't have anything important there when it happens." He pauses. "I... sort of left a mess back on Alldis. Don't want it to catch up to me, or you three, either."

As Tess pulls her mag pistol, Cass takes the cue and slings the laser rifle over his shoulder. "I got shot once, and I don't plan to again."

"I'm sure there will be a mess for me back on Strocho as well," Tess says, as their pasts rear their heads once more. "But that is a problem for another day. I'm the only Harlequin on Idarete, so not much risk from them right now." And a good thing, too. We definitely don't need anymore enemies right now.

"Well unlike you two, I'll be welcomed back in Strocho and Alldis with open arms," Hikaru says with a shrug, knowing he's still at least got his status back home. "Although management will probably be pissed I've been off the radar so long. And they'll be pissed over this." He points to the hair dye before tossing it onto his cot for later.

God forbid I do anything to change their perfectly manicured image of me. They're gonna flip. God, I can't wait.

"For my m-mother's safety, I really can't go b-back there. She'll be worried sick a-and knowing her she also would n-n-never let me leave again. As soon as Cass' situation is sorted, I'm r-ready to leave. And if we're going to keep using this gravcar..." Creed trailed off. "N-Nevermind, let's go." Creed slung the rifle over his shoulder and took a deep breath. "No reason to leave anything behind, once we snag the ship it's all over, for now." He said, his voice almost taking on a different, vaguely more confident tone. "We shouldn't waste any time."

"Yeah, aren't you going to be on the news or some shit?" Cass asks Hikaru, the thought suddenly registering. "Your label or band isn't going to shit the bed as soon as you miss a dress rehearsal?"

Checking the time on his compad, he nods to Creed. "Yeah, let's get going. We can sort out how we wanna lift an entire fucking ship from the navyboys on the way over. I'm not walking into a bank and getting arrested again."

Hikaru sighs as Cass brings up how his band might react to his absence. "It would, if we weren't on permanent hiatus right now," the pop star says, looking towards the ground somewhat dejectedly. "Kaze has been in and out of rehab like half a year at this point. I'm starting to think we'll never start up again." He shrugs and shakes his head. "As far as they and the press know, I'm on a 'songwriting venture' so I can 'find inspiration' or some BS."

"Well you certainly have lots of inspiration so far," Tess says with a light chuckle. "If the past day isn't worthy of a song, then I'm not sure what is," she continues, as they continue towards the exit.

Hikaru chuckles at Tess. "I guess you're right! Doubt any of it would fit the usual style though." He places his hand under his chin and stares upwards. "But I guess it's the perfect opportunity to reinvent that too. Fuck being who management says I should be!"

"I can just be your solo manager," Tess responds with a laugh. "Already told that woman at the nicer house I was. Or did I say I was the producer? I can't really remember."

You all climb into the grav car after stowing your weapons, with Creed behind the wheel. The drive to Cass' apartment passes fairly uneventfully, the only notable things you see being a couple of Diktat patrols both of which pay you no attention.

You pull up outside the large building Cass calls home. The buildings here tower over the street, most reaching the ice above. With it now being around mid morning, the area is fairly busy with people coming and going from the building almost constantly. A group of youths are loitering by the building's entrance, blaring music out of a compad. You also can see what looks to be a homeless person rummaging through some of the buildings dumpsters.

Cass

[SHOW]

You recognise the group by the door as members of a small local gang based out of the building. You've sold your product to a couple of them before.

"Those kids are customers," Cass says, eyeing the group outside as they pull up. "Were, at least. Local gang, nothing exciting there."

He turns back to the others. "Let's stay in pairs from now on, alright? Creed, you should chill here in case we need to jet. Tess, no offense, but you draw a lot of eyes — even with that big coat." The junkie finally turns to Hikaru. "I know walking around with a piece isn't your thing, but between the two of us I think we can talk or shoot our way any problems. Not saying there will be any, but I don't wanna bet against that."

"Damn right," Hikaru says, bumping a fist against his chest. "Press, fans, execs, entitled parents. I can talk circles around all of them." He smirks and adds, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were starting to rely on my talents." He lets out a quiet laugh.

"Anything I should watch out for? Nosy neighbors? Lingering smells? Hall lighting that makes even me look bad?" As if such a thing even exists.

Tess shrugs at Cass as he mentions her appearance, not able to disagree with the man's assessment. "Yeah, that's fair. Just don't go getting shot in there, kay? I know it's your home, but if stuff seems to be going sideways, you guys let me know." With their groupings decided on, she sits back in the car, placing her hands behind her head to lean against. I can't say I'm sad to not go inside. Besides, he probably just doesn't want me to see how much of a mess it is.

Creed gives a mild shrug at Cass' comment. "Makes sense. I wouldn't be much help in there anyways. I'll keep the car warm." Eridas would calmly pull out his pistol and keep it below steering-wheel level and he just stared at it with the safety on, feeling the weight of it in his hands. Mom would kill me if she knew I had this... I went from not knowing how to point these to needing to shoot one in just a few days. Who am I even? He thinks to himself, and sighs.

"I'd rely on them more if you'd at least pretend to be armed," Cass says to Hikaru, watching his chest-beating coolly. "Just keep your eyes down and follow me. The building's no chem-den, but it's not an Alldis exec suite, either. Lemme do any talking with the neighborlies unless it's clear I need bailing out, yeah?"

He nods to Tess, patting the laser rifle slung behind behind his shoulder. "We'll be okay. Keep your compads on though, just in case."

Opening the door of the gravcar, he steps out, waiting for Hikaru to do the same. Then, he approaches the building calmly. If there's another goddamn spook behind any of these doors, I am going to slag them so thoroughly that the League will have to use dental records to ID the fucker.

Cass and Hikaru

[SHOW]

You make your way from the car to the entrance. AS you approach the group loitering by the doorway, one of them looks up and clearly recognises Cass. "Ay Beratna, long time no see. Your Bossman was looking for you," he says.

"We didn't say nothin' but maybe a freebie in case he ask again ay?" Another chimes in, clearly seeing an opportunity to score some of your product for free.

Tess and Creed

[SHOW]

As the other two leave the gravcar and approach the entrance, they are almost immediately engaged in conversation by the gang although while you can't tell what is being said from the car, it doesn't appear to be a hostile confrontation.