Catching Up With Amane
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Date: 08/25/2018 |
Old Substation - Station House, Old East Side The inside of the old police substation office is neat, clean, and orderly, but it is definitely an example of off-the-grid salvage life. The space itself is fairly large, with the office and receiving room areas shaped into a contiguous living area. The door, from inside has been reinforced with a steel plate bolted into it and stronger hinges attached to that. The bed is an old mattress that has been shoved up against the far wall with no frame or box springs, but the blankets and linens are fresh and clean. There are chests of drawers for clothing and countertop cabinets that have been built from found materials to contain dry goods and kitchen utensils with a complex rainwater and grey water recycling system set up for water. The same system feeds into a small bathroom with a shower and a grey water system for an actual working flush toilet. This has been blocked off with a traditionally constructed stud wall, faced with plywood rather than drywall. One wall is dedicated to stacks and rows of gallon jugs, most of them originally bleach or detergent jugs, stacked four deep and eight wide on array of six shelves. All four cement walls are lined with bolted metal shelves and numerous, categorized and labeled, bins of salvaged spare parts. Everything from copper wire to computer boards, simple nails to chunks of cleaned scrap metal. There is a couch compos ed of shipping crates and mismatched, but comfy cushions. An old refrigerator and deep freeze exist here, but they are not powered and their contents are non perishable. |
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Cast: | |
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After a ride on the back of Amane's custom sport bike, which considering it's speed and handling is likely BARELY street legal, Amane decelerates with precision engine whine that sounds more like a jet aircraft coming in for a landing and pulls up to the old police substation. She looks around tomake sure there's no one around the 'hood, or at least no one that will bother to notice due to a drug induced haze and dismounts to help you off the bike before unlocking... several locks on the substation and walking the bike in. "Welcome to my home. I half expected it would have squatters in it when I got back... but no one touched it." Aster had been waiting for Amane in Corktown, outside one of the whiskey bars -- perhaps just because that's where she'd been at the time, or perhaps an active attempt to keep her own place more secret. She doesn't just have to deal with her own secrecy, after all, but that of someone who likes keeping out of meatspace. She steps off the bike, slips inside the substation, and whistles as she looks around. "You've got a nice array going on here," she says, especially looking over the shelves. "And, welcome back to Detroit. It's been a while, huh?" "Ahh, thanks. Yeah, this place was a lucky find," says Amane, "Even considering Measure 4 being what it is. I'm still strugglingg with power. It isn't as though I couldn't use photovoltaics, but the problem is... this place looking like someone living here makes it a target and the photovoltaics themselves are likely to be snatched. So most of what I do for electricity I do off of home made batteries and the like. Salvage is practically my lifestyle... well, next to bounty hunting." She turns around and hugs you close, the scent of cigarette smoke and far more delicate white plum blossom faint on her after the windy ride, "And thanks, Red. It's good to be back. How have you and Jae been?" Aster mmns, nodding her head with a wrinkled nose. "Jae and I are lucky to have a good place within the proper city limits. Electricity still comes normally. The conditions out here..." She shakes her head. "Just, disgraceful. I know you can look after yourself, but if you ever want another set of hands deconstructing and reconstructing things -- you know, Fullmetal alchemy-style -- just let me know and we can work at it. I'm used to salvage myself, from how we did things back in Massachusetts. How have you been, though? You went off the grid for a fair while there." "Well," says Amane as she gestures to the couch "Ah... make yourself at home, Hon. Want a beer? It's cold, been on ice." She quirks her lips "Though that isn't the problem it would have been for me once. I can't just Pikachu a battery as easily as I did... but temperature control is... pretty damned easy once you catch on. I, well... I went on a trip through Asia. My past had caught up to me and I was dodging and striking with my old Mentor... who, I think I told you before had Fallen." She heads over to a shelf and zips down her bike armor to reveal a simple pair of bicycle shorts and a sports bra, laying the leather and kevlar suit on the shelf with a weight creak. Notably, she has scars. A few thin knife-blade like scars along her side and shoulderblads, all old. One round entry and exit wound on her left shoulder from what was probably a steel jacketed bullet cleanly passing through. "I awakened when she tracked us down in Bhutan. Alicia... " She turns to smile at you, tears in her eyes that don't fall, "Alicia's physical form was destroyed... I have no idea what that means for her as an entity really. But... she's resilient... she's probably out there on the web conning people out of credit card info or something, right?" Aster's eyes cross and a light blush comes to her cheeks before she yanks her gaze up and towards the ceiling. Amane is undressing rather more than she had expected. But that diverted attention only lasts for a moment, so she can steel herself and look towards her again, eyes level with her face. It actually takes her a moment to notice the scars, and she winces when she does, but that doesn't keep her focus. She shakes her head. "So that's what the trip was about. No, I don't remember you mentioning your Fallen mentor before." A grimace twists her face when she sees those tears, and she slips in close, arm around Amane's shoulders to draw her in close. "Oh my god, I'm sorry. Um. I'm sure she's fine, somewhere out there -- she's not limited to biology like you or me. As long as her data is out there in the cloud, she's still there, still herself. I'm so sorry, I know how important she was to you." There is nothing intentionally provocative about the undressing, simply a sense that Amane is comfortable with Aster despite knowing her more in cyberspace than in meatspace. Well, probably not surprising in that, really, but the tone itself is almost like Aster is flesh and blood family or more. She leans in when hugged and sighs softly, slowly, "Yeah. She was the only friend I had for a long time. I never would have escaped my mentor the first time without her assistance. And now... now Alicia gave up her seat in the physical world to protect me. Sei launched some huge program... it was like a nine headed Vjara Nagah that arose like a beast using the dead as fuel... and Alicia coded a rapid defense to stand between it and me. It all happened so fast, not even the Akashi at the Bhutanese temple I was trying to take refuge at could respond in time. She absorbed it all... there wasn't even dust left of her terminal... " Aster just needed a moment to remind herself to think unsexy thoughts, that's all! And now she's back to being comfortable, even in the squeezing of the hug. She sighs, shaking her head. "That's horrible. She was a good friend to you, even without doing something like that. Have you thought about going exploring, looking for her, trying to find her in cyberspace again? Maybe prepare a new physical form for her?" "Yeah," says Amane, "But the problem is... I have absolutely no skill in those areas. She handled everything involving the web for us... at least as far as anything that was mystical or the like. I'm a damned good hacker... but I'm a mundane hacker. And... at the moment of her destruction... I awoke. I went so far beyond righteous fury that I arrived at... this state of equilibrium, and then I... just obliterated Sei. I don't know how I did it; I think the Akashi helped. But I'm not sure. I just know for sure that I killed her once and for all, I remember the sense that she was a stain, a smudge of darkness that didn't belong in the shadow... and I wiped her out with so much light that I could see the goddess Marisi smiling at me." She shakes her head, "I'm not... exactly a technomancer. I awakened into something less... umm... defined. I don't think I can get onto the digital web, and I have no innate ability to speak to spirits." Aster chews her lip, nodding sadly. "I'm no good at that 'astral' stuff either, myself. But maybe we can talk with Jae about it? She's been doing stuff with minds since before I understand how psychomancy could be /possible/. I want to learn, but..." She sighs. "...the XP rates in this system are just so /slow/. At least it's not a class-and-level kind of system, though, right?" She takes Amane's hand and gives it a squeeze. "So, what can you do? You mentioned temperatures before, so you know your way around energies and such?" "Mmmhmm," responds Amane as she sweeps a hand through her raven hair and tucks a few locks behind one ear. She has a mental fortitude that is one in one hundred at the least, she's obviously hurting over Alicia but she is maintining her cool and calm. "Energy is my friend, a lot like it was before I awoke, only now... it's so much broader. Just... harder to get a handle on sometimes. I have a deeper understanding of it than just physical energy, though, that rightly or wrongly I call Ch'i. I can summoning energy from my being to create physical energy... that kind of thing. And... I'm able to see through the illusion of individuality to the Self that connects to the All. Or I guess you could say I'm tele-empathic." Aster oohs. "Ch'i, you mean like life force? So you can work magic on living things? Or is that more, you know, in the broader sense of the /world's/ ch'i and the energy of magic itself? Or both?" She smirks a little. "And that makes three good friends who can do stuff with the mind, while I'm left totally in the dust. Heh." She scratches the back of her neck. "Though, there's something more serious that I should bring up with you, too. Something about the security of this city. Just a paranoia-level precaution, I'm sure you understand." "Mmm. Life force yes... but it's not like... biology, or even biokinesis. It's... more like breath and will as a confluence, the essential food for a psychic to create their fundamental image. Does that make sense? Really... I'm still a psychic, I've just been opened to a much broader understanding than my tiny little slice of psychic phenomena from before. Thinking so scientifically was holding me back because the physical world and our separations from each other really is... well... just a lie, you know? So. It's hard to put into words, but there are... links between physical force, mental being, and conceptual energy... and in that confluence is where I work. Right now, frustratingly, it is all I can see, even though I know... well... in a word instinctually there is more beyond it, beyond my fingertips' grasp, than I can reach right now." She tilts her head, "Go on, Hon?" Aster grins. "I think it makes about as much sense as any person's magic makes to any other. I get some of what you mean, though, about all... /this/..." She gestures as if to encompass the entire world. "...being a lie. A really convincing lie, a lie which puts so many people to sleep, but still, in the end, a lie. I'm similar with space. Space isn't really a matter of literal distance, any more than the 'physical addresses' across a stick of RAM matter for how close together things are in the programs. And I definitely get the frustration." She takes a breath, slowly nodding her head. "Well... we've had an /encounter/ with the Union. The Technocrats. And that was /right/ before you came back to the city. And I know you pretty much disappeared right around February. I figure that was when you and Alicia were on the run from your mentor, now. But I still have to look you in the eye, and ask... are you on the level?" She lifts her hands, framing Amane's face and drawing her to face Aster, eye to eye. There is a smile, sad but real, that drifts over Amane's face "Am I?" she asks Aster before her lips quirk just a little more "Careful. Jae might get jealous." She takes hold of your cheeks with her palms and gently settles her forehead against your own. You can taste her breath, warm and soft with a scent more of tea even than the cigarettes she's far too fond of for her health. Her eyelashes flutter from the proximity, which you feel against yours like the wingbeats of a butterfly. "I am. You would know if I wasn't, you know me at least that well. I'm the real one... you know that now, but I'll prove it by saying when we first met we talked about Robin's lines on Young Justice in regards to your name as a reference 'Feeling the Aster' because everything is dis instead of just Aster. And I am not compromised either; or you would know because I wouldn't be so much myself. So much MORE myself than I ever have been." She grins, "I didn't even think about them sending YOU. But it makes sense. We were Tradition-mates." Aster's cheeks flush, though a soft pink rather than anything to match her red hair. Pressed so closely, her glasses lightly bite into Amane's forehead and the bridge of her nose. That gives her own eyes a slight shield against the butterfly-wings of Amane's eyelashes. She takes a few slower breaths, forcing herself to calm and clear, and smiles back at her once she's done. "Good. Glad to hear it straight from you." She releases Amane's cheeks. "And it hadn't, initially, been planned like that. Someone told me we needed a background check on this new mage in the city, and asked me to do it because they know how good I am at that kind of check. It just so happens, oh hey, we already knew each other. So when that trail came up dry, I decided to take matters into my own hands." She gives a light smirk. "And Jae being jealous is not a thing you have to worry about." "Mmm," responds Amane, "I wasn't sure how posessive she was. I dunno if I'd be able to NOT be super-posessive of you. I'm in an open relationship with someone too, but I've honestly never done anything more racy than kiss." She blushes now, "Gah. I feel embarassed just ADMITTING that! Hahah... first and foremost, though, you are my friend. And I'm not keen on the possibility of loosing another one so soon." She shakes her head, "hey, you were up front with me about it anyway. It's not like I have a problem with it. I knew someone would check... I just more expected it to be Kai." Aster's cheeks gain more of that blush, her skin darkening nearer that crimson. "Well, now I'm glad I didn't prove the point /by/ kissing you. It would've been awkward to toe that line when you've just, uh, dipped your toes in the water, you might say." She nods. "Right! Friendship first, no need to go full-steam-ahead into benefits. It /is/ good to see you again." She grins. "Especially with Young Justice getting a third season 'soon', so we can totally watch that one together." She hms. "Been a while since I saw Kai. I should check in with her." Rolling her eyes just a little, Amane leans against you and murmurs "You are one of my closest friends. If you had kissed me you would have just ended up dealing with a bunch of tsundere noises." She sticks her tongue out at you. "Oh wow... I hadn't been keeping up with media up til now, there's a NEW Young Justice season?!?" Aster rolls her eyes too. "Letting the kiss linger for longer than gives you plausible deniability, and then calling me several flavours of baka and hentai, you mean? I may not know Japanese like I know Mandarin, but I've picked up bits and pieces." She sighs. "I should learn more languages. Japanese and Korean especially. It's not like Mandarin itself is magical -- it just helps put me in mind of the kind of tonality you need to resonate." She grins and taps Amane's nose. "There's /going/ to be. Not actually out yet, last time I heard." "Well, I'm not Tohsaka Rin, but yes," says Amane as she sticks her tongue out at you. "We should watch some of the Fate series together too. I can teach you some Japanese as we go if we watch it subtitled. Maybe I can learn Mandarin from you? I only know Colombian Spanish, Japanese, and English." She grins, "It's hard to keep my snotty side at bay, though. I ALMOST shoved a cold beer between us," she points to your chest "When we were face to face. Baaaaaka. Heehee... " Aster hms, long and exaggerated. She puts a hand on her chin and very overtly drops her gaze to Amane's legs. "I dunno, you might have nice enough thighs to be Rin. I'd have to see them in the 'absolute territory' to be sure, though." She grins. "I already know a bit of Fate, but mostly from that mobile game. Ah, they have no idea I'm not on the level. I keep it sneaky -- a little extra free quartz here and there -- but what's the point of being a hacker if you can't beat the gacha?" "Moh! What are you saying," says Amane as she pouts and crosses her arms, looking away from you and then opening one eye as she looks just a liiiittle bit back towards you. She gathers her long hair into pigtails and holds them up that way with her hands for a moment, "Hmmm. Maybe I should go as a Rin-face for Halloween this year. Except I wonder how many people around here would recognize it. Ah, I just free to play... well. Did. I haven't played in months and months obviously. But we should start off classically and watch it from the 'beginning'." Speaking of game systems with Archers in them, you might notice... there are no longer any guns or firearms paraphenalia here. However, you do see a traditional short bow, arrows, replacement bowstrings and numerous arrows in the process of being fletched from scratch. Aster folds her arms atop her chest, hand still on her chin. "That could work. And hey, even if people don't recognise it, the real fun is in dressing up, right? If it's warm enough, I might go for a Yoko Littner kind of look, myself." Because red hair and busty. At least she's not going for Rias Gremory. "Let's... not start from the /very/ beginning. I've heard bad things about the original visual novel's writing, even aside from the first anime's 'people die when they are killed'. Let's go with /Zero, yeah?" She glances about, eyes ending up on the bow. "Huh. I don't remember you being into archery when I knew you before? Something you picked up from the Akashics?" "Ohmigawd," says Amane "You dressed as Yoko Littner... " She fans herself, "I will have to invoke the Buddha just to control myself!" She tips her head and nods "Yeah. I've actually always known the basics. Though I shoot Shomen style, not Shamen style like you usually see in Anime. For reference in Anime... I shoot more like the prince does from Elk-back in Mononoke-Hime. But I improved while I was on my journey." She hums and smiles, "The original visual novel isn't so bad. Though I wasn't suggesting starting there. I was thinking, maybe, the original Fate/Stay Night television series. Most of the problems with the original series and Unlimited Blade Works is mis-translation and a bit of lack of context for some character actions because even visual novels can't be put wholesale into an Anime any more than a novel can be so you aren't privvy to a character's thoughts in most cases, so you don't know that... say.... Shirou suffers from deep PTSD. I've heard the stuff... like Shirou being good for the sake of being good, and the infamous mistranslations of 'people die when they are killed', but they aren't really fair criticisms. Still, we'll watch what you think you will have fun with." Aster laughs, rolling her eyes. "You're just saying that because of the bikini top," she says with a light swat across Amane's shoulder. "Mmn. I've seen UBW, and I didn't have such a problem with Shirou. I mean, once you know what happened to him, I think the PTSD and his compensation for it become pretty clear. He's not 'good for the sake of being good', he's good for the sake of survivor's guilt. And, uh, doesn't really think through things like losing his arm. But if you want to start from the first show, then we'll start from the first show." She grins. "One fun thing about binge-watching something together? It's a kind of 'together' that doesn't even need to be in the same physical location. We can just sync up from wherever we are, as long as we both have internet. Just another proof that the 'separation' of space is all a lie, and all that matters is synchronicity of information." "True," says Amane as she grins, then leans forward and whispers "But just between you and me? When I have such a pretty friend, it's fun to oggle her." She's going to get swatted again, isn't she? Though something to note, she's not quite as physically ephemeral as she once was. Still far too slim, perhaps, but rather than limbs you have to wonder might be moved by psychokinesis she now has defined (if only lightly) musculature and a little meat to it. A swat? Oh, no, Aster doesn't give her a swat. Instead, Aster gives her a smirk and leans in close, though not as close as when she'd been asking The Important Question. "It'd be a waste if you /didn't/ ogle." She plants a kiss, just on Amane's cheek, and then dips back again. "You know, travelling was good for you. That, ahem, outfit looks good on you now; you're not quite the stick like you had been before." Beet. Red. Yes, for how coy she acted with you on the proving point with the local Chantry, just that little cheek kiss makes her turn beet red. "Eep," she squeaks softly and watches you with wide eyes. She lightly clears her throat and says "You're so bad. Oh, hah... yeah, I suppose I look a little less like a war victim now." She flexes her fingers lightly, turning her forarm over. "It's taken me a long time to get here from where I was when I first escaped from Sei. I'm glad you approve." Aster nods firmly. "And it's not just because fitness looks good. It's because of what it /means/. It shows that yes, you're taking care of yourself, you're getting healthy. And that, in itself, is good to see." She settles back, sitting on the floor with a low hum. "I'll admit, I've been pretty quiet until recently myself, so I don't know if I'd be good for helping you get up to date on things, but... anything you want to ask about, now you're back in the city?" Smiling warmly Amane reaches out and takes your hand, pulling it to her cheek and pressing it close. "The fact that you care is... it makes me feel... there aren't even words, really. I'm just very glad to know you." When you ask your latter question however, she does settle her gaze upon you with a sense of burning curiosity. "Mmm. Actually... what do you know about the disappearance of the CBC building? Seems kindof... a big thing that a whole building just up and vanished." Aster awws, hand curving in against Amane's cheek. "Careful, or I /will/ kiss you." She frowns at the question, and sighs, shaking her head. "I... know it /did/ happen, but I don't know why or how. And it was a long while ago now; I don't know how I'd go investigating a lead that cold. 'Time' is one of those /really damn convincing/ illusions." "Really, so bad," says Amane with just a touch of endearingly raspy vocal fry to her contralto as she smiles at you from where she has your hand in both of her own. Then more seriously she nods, responding "I might be able to pick up some psychic residue, but that depends on a lot. The illusion of locations and objects tend to be receptive to the emotive output of individual selves dependent on the levels of emotion that happen... But it would be easier to check for energy at the location. Surely someone has already DONE that though, right?" Aster's lips twist in a grimace. "I don't know jack about psychic residue, not beyond the ownership references for when someone's owned a thing for a significant period -- and that's 'significant' in the length /or/ quality sense. And I'd ask Kai or Maya about whether it's already been done, I think. Maya was the one who told me about the disappearance to begin with. Oh, and has anyone told you about the Chantry yet?" "Un," responds Amane as she continues "I had caught wind of it when I reentered the city and proceeded straight on to the meeting for it. That's where some of the suspicion about me came up since I announced myself as a newly minted Orphan. Well, I wasn't going to lie; I'm a bit too esoteric for the VA anymore, even the Reality Hackers that used to claim me. Aside from which... with the VA's loose structure I'm not sure I was ever officially one or not, since I don't even know when Sei 'Fell'." She scrubs a hand through her hair, "Of course, if you mean the location... I haven't heard one was chosen yet." Aster blows a raspberry, grinning at Amane. "I guess you were more aware of it than I was, then, huh. I heard that it was happening, but I was a major shut-in at the time, so I just pieced things together afterwards. So you know all about our AWE-some three leaders then. Did their idea about a digital forum come up during that meeting too, or was that after? I've been coding it -- the idea is to give us a secure way to communicate, but also an easy way to get new people in and informed." She shakes her head. "I don't know about any locations, either; I just meant the organisation." Giggling, Amane says "I'm going to catch that tongue." Nodding once, Amane says "Yeah. I know who our leaders are, though one I haven't met. Emma? But... Hmm. I think it came up at the meeting. I didn't volunteer for it because I knew I was under suspicion. I believe they mentioned they would be going to you about it; I can't think of anyone better. Though if you need mundane coding help... I mean, I know you don't NEED it but if you'd like someone to share the nuts and bolts, let me know. I'm actually considering offering this place for a meeting site at need," says Amane "Though, coming directly here in vehicles en force could be a bad idea." Aster swirls said tongue in front of her, showing dexterity on par with her hands -- and those are gamer's hands, remember. "You're welcome to chase it. Thanks for the offer, and I'll come grab you when it's time to get started. I have some mock-ups already, but what I most need is clear direction from the big bosses about exactly what they need." She grins. "Aah, but Emma's the best one! I'll have to introduce you. She's not Virtual like us-- er, like me-- but she's still nerdy. Likes her Portal t-shirts." She nods. "Too many cars all at once would kind of lose this place's anonymity. That's the bigger security measure, really." "Haha! I have a feeling it's MINE that would be caught if I tried," says Amane "Wow. Oh? Is she now, that sounds interesting. It looks to me like we have The Nerd, The Prude, and The Norseman. It's.... quite the triumvrate then. I LIKE Wednesday. I'm glad he got it. I'm... not sure what I think of Mizz Sourpuss." She tilts her head, "Sounds like Emma's someone I will like too though. Not that I have to like who leads me... but it will keep my rebellious tendancies in check better if I do." Aster grins. "I've only met Wednesday the once, but he seems good. I mean, he got some of my jokes, which is always an indicator of a good, modern-minded mystic. And honestly... I think Emma would /prefer/ if you had some rebellious tendencies. She didn't actually want the job. I'm not sure how she got it." She tilts her head. "...not sure how Alexandra got it either. I haven't met her yet, and everyone I've talked to about her has been negative about how much of a privileged sourpuss she is." "Well, I wouldn't vote against Alexandra," says Amane "Because she's definitely got the chops to get things organized and done. That, in itself, is something this city needs. So I can see how she won. I just also know I don't think I'll be inviting her to lunch any time soon. Leadership, though, shouldn't be a popularity contest. That coming even from me, and I'm pretty anti-authority." Aster nods. "That's a fair point. I'll try to keep my eyes and mind open when I do meet her. No sense judging someone before their actions have a chance to speak for themselves, right?" She grins. "I think most traditions are anti-authority. Some even when they /are/ the authority, which is the boat Emma's in. But hey, you've read Hitchhiker's Guide, right? The only people we can trust with power are those who don't want it." She hmms. "So, you mentioned you're in a relationship. What's he/she/it/they/thon like?" "And the ultimate words left by the creator, 'Sorry for the inconvenience'," responds Amane as she chuckles. Nodding she continues, "Hes... really hard to pin down do describe him. Do you KNOW the infamous Mr. Zachary Penn at all? I... I think I love him. He's very, umm... cool about... everything. Kindof meta? But he also has more than a bit of a reputation." Aster shakes her head. "No, can't say I've met him. But then, there's a lot of people I haven't met, and some people are pretty strict with secrecy. So, sooner we get this forum together, the better for being able to get people actually meeting without all the cloak-and-dagger of, 'oh does this person know magic is real, do they know I know, do they know I know they know...'" She shakes her head. "Much simpler to just be open, but also more dangerous." "Well," says Amane, "I can tell you this. He and the local Chantry will likely stare at each other across a chasm of disdain and possibly outright hostility, even though both Maya and I will vouch for him. He's the type who, even if they WERE to allow him in... he would scoff at their arrogance for setting themselves above 'normal' humans etc." Aster ahs, nodding her head. "Well, we'll see what happens if I ever end up meeting him, then. Though, this is the first I've heard about the chantry setting us 'above' mundane humans. I'd thought it was more information-sharing that most normal people just /can't/ understand yet, plus organisation and self-protection given how some groups treat us 'reality deviants'." "It's more his view of the Traditions in general," says Amane, "And... I have trouble saying he is wrong about it, though I don't take what I percieve to be as hard a line about it as he does. A lot of it, though, I think is just as much how badly he was treated by the Hermetics when he was just learning as it is any legitimate beefs on viewpoint. I'm not going to pretend I understand all of where he comes from or that I can absolutely say he will act a certain way towards a certain group of people every time. It's just a combination of what I've heard, what he's told me, and what I've noted in knowing him." Aster nods. "Right. You're just giving it to me second-hand, so -- just like with Alexandra -- I'll leave it up to him to talk for himself if and when we meet. Though if he has history with Hermetics, well... I can't help but think Alexandra and him would be like oil and /fire/. Really flammable oil at that." She slips her phone from her pocket, checking the time. "It's getting late. I should start heading home, to get there at a decent time. But--" She takes and squeezes Amane's hand. "It's been great to see you again, and we should do this again soon." "Absolutely," says Amane as she squeezes your hand in return, "Anywhere you need me to drop you off in particular to get you closer to where you're going?" She doesn't ask to drive you directly home; she knows. She doesn't even seem to question whether there will be a some-day for that to happen. She just seems worried about getting you some place safe. Aster pushes herself back up to her feet with a low groan. "Just back where you picked me up is fine, and I can take it from there. Thanks for the lift." She smiles. "But before we do that..." She swoops in low, bowing at the hips to meet Amane's sitting height. She gets a split-second of pressure tight within her personal space, and then... softness. Cherry flavour. Aster's lips pressed to her own. There is a soft gasp and squeak simultaneously, a very VERY vulnerable moment as Amane's eyes open wide but she doesn't in any way try to retreat. And then her eyes close and hands that were raised and slightly flailing relax slowly against your waist. Her lips are very soft, despite slight windburn. She bears scents more of the outdoors than the city even as cigarette smoke still clings lightly... it still does not overpower the white plum essence she wears, exotic and sweet. "Mmm... " she manages as you feel the heat from her flushed cheeks. Aster smiles into the kiss before she relaxes again, sinking forwards. That's fullness and softness unlike what Amane might be used to from kissing a man, and a much sweeter flavour. Aster's arm slips about her shoulders, holding her close into it. But she still keeps it shallow -- just her lips -- and keeps it relatively brief, slipping back before even a full minute's passed. She gives Amane a flushed grin while she fixes her glasses. "We'd both been wanting to do that. I'm a flirt, not a tease." She inhales and exhales slowly, lips still parted as she watches you with wondering wide eyes. Quietly, softly, Amane responds "Oh gods... " She smiles then, slowly rising to her feet and laying her head against your shoulder where you stand, for once a bit less tomboyish in her postures and outward actions. "You are so bad that it's good, Dear." Aster awws at how Amane leans against her. Her arm stays around the other woman's neck, holding her steady as they lean into each other. And for a little while, they just... rest there. She's not in that much of a hurry to get home. "Hey. You're cute, sweet, and fun. All good ingredients to get me wanting to kiss you. The rest... no need to hurry." "Baka," whispers Amane with such gentleness that she might as well have expressed the warmest of compliments. "Thank you for being you, Aster," she continues before reaching up to lightly trail her fingers through your red hair. Aster sighs, her head tilted to accept those fingers in her hair, a grin on her face. "Same to you, Amane." She squeezes the other woman. "Now, we should get going. If you don't think it'd be too awkward to share a bike with a girl you've just kissed." "Un," responds Amane, as she heads on over to re-suit herself in her bike armor, the kevlar and leather giving her an almost Dark Superhero quality as she pulls it into place. "Just be sure you hang on tight, Hon." | |
