Game-Changers & Grudge Matches

"I'm still hungry..." Mortal said, "Its just toast. Look, its already done." Mortal picked up her bread and pointed them at Roatha, "It isn't only that, Roatha. I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt for something silly like this."

--

"Well, you're young," Gabe said, "A place with your parents isn't too bad."

--

Noct giggled at some chick breaking her leg in a sky bison accident.

<I'm not that much younger than you.>

*Tirea laughs*

<I real reason I don't have a place of my own is my parents don't think I can take care of myself.>

"Do you think you can?" Gabe asked. "If we win you'll have more than enough money to get your own place."

OOC: You guys should avoid carrying on extended conversations in my absence. It affects pacing.

R"I get that, I'm just messing with you. Look, it isn't silly if you're expecting that it might get violent. What if it hurts you? What makes that different, the fact that it's your job?"

E"Yes. Because we're trained to handles situations like these."

R"No you're not. You don't have any more experience fighting that monster than I do. At this point, no one knows anything about it, except that it's creepy, takes a lot of punishment, & likes to kidnap people. For all we know, Tirea might be the one who does it in."
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*Upstairs, she hears the water draining, & a door opening.*
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<Thank you. We're investigating that incident, & you've filled in a lot of gaps. Unfortunately, we have not located any suspects yet, but we feel as though she's connected to a number of other high-publicity attacks.>

Noct waits for a few seconds, waiting for Ven to get herself situated. After a couple of minutes Noct heads up to take a bath.

--

Mortal laughs at that, then says, "Regardless of that we're the police, so we can go do dangerous things."

Astarte was still doing nothing.

"How long are we gonna' be in here for?" Hector asked. "I know very little about why we are in here, too."

Dalia set out from home with a few sandwiches in a brown paper bag and a bottle of water. She walked to her new workplace.

*In the hall, she comes across Ven, naked but for the white towel around her midsection--to differentiate from the black towel that Noctis wears. She has her hair down, so hopefully it's not dripping onto the floor.*

"Oh, hello, Noct. You were right about the bath, I do feel a lot better. Though I still have some bruises."
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*She meets [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] inside the factory's foyer, overseeing the people putting together components on assembly lines.*

<Umm...is there anything that I can help you with, Miss?>
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<Unless you can pay bail, until we arrange whether or not to take you to trial.>
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R"And I can do dangerous things because it's a free country and I shoot fire out of my hands, so pretty much every meal is dangerous, because I'm not paying to power the stove."

*He points in the direction of his apartment.*

E"Was there a point in that rant?"

R"You might as well not argue with me, because I know you're going to the park, so I can go with or without you."

Noctis couldn't hide her shock at seeing Ven in such a way but quickly let out a sigh, and smiled, "I'm glad you feel better. I'm going to take a bath myself, so lets hold off on this conversation until we are both dressed, and proper."

--

"Just... be safe," Mortal said, putting a hand on his arm, "If this really means so much to you we can go together. It'll at least be easier to keep an eye on you that way. You can take us to exactly where you saw the spirit."

"And how much is that exactly?" Hector asked. "I got a pretty hard hit on the head, I'm not remembering so well."

"I am a new employee here, this is my first day," Dalia said before extending a hand. "Dalia Lao."

<1500 Yuans. Each.>
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"Uh, alright."

*Ven squeezes past her to get to her room.*
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R"Sure, no problem. Just let me drop this off back in my apartment."

*He raises the sugar cup.*
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<Ah! I'm familiar with the Lao family. You live nearby, bought a large amount of property from you a while back. I'm honored, really, but why would you want to work at my humble little factory?>

*He looks around.*

<Okay, maybe not so humble or little. But still, you see the spirit of my question.>

Noct steps to the side to allow her easier pass, then goes to take a shower.

--

"Uh, yea, sure," Mortal said.

"Tch, I'll wait then, but how long should do you think we'll be hanging around in here?"

"I would like to raise some money of my own," Dalia replied. "Which happens to coincide with my interest in these vehicles."

<I don't know or care.>
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<Oh, you're a fan of my Satomobiles?>
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*Ven goes to wait downstairs & make toast. She uses the stove to heat it, because she is not familiar with the concept of a toaster.*
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*Roatha quickly goes & does that, then meets them out in the hall.*

R"Okay, ready when you are. Unless you think we'll need something. We can try spearing it with a sword?"

E"What?"

R"My dad left behind his officer's saber. We could try decapitating the monster, or something."

E"...Okay, now I don't want you to come because I'm concerned for the Spirit's safety."

"The less confrontation we have with it the better," Mortal said.

--

Noct dries, dresses, and heads down stairs towards the welcoming smell of toast.

"Thanks," Hector turned and resumed his seat.

"Yes," Dalia nodded.

*Tirea shrugs*

<Maybe. Anyway, what's the plan for today?>
---
<Thank you. Is there anything else I should do?>

"Uh, I don't know, I suppose we can go for a jog," Gabe said, "I don't like taking it too rough after a game because our bodies need to heal."

"Good morning, Noct. Do you want some toast? I have some fresh off of the stove."
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R"I guess that's true."

E"Alright, lead the way."

R"Sure. We were pretty close to the river."
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<I don't know if there's anything that you really can do right now, except to stay away from any place she might be, & not go out at night.>
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<...Elaborate. Well, let me show you to your station.>

*He takes her to an assembly line of about 10 Firebenders using flame daggers from their fingers on the joint of a part that keeps coming down the line.*

Mortal follows along.

--

"I would love some," Noct said, "I've always preferred stove toasted bread to bread from a toaster." She points at the toaster.

*Tirea nods*

<Sound like fun!>
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<Thank you very much.>

Dalia hid her distaste at finally coming to her menial workplace behind a smile and turned to Hiroshi, "Thank you, Mr. Sato. I shall begin working now."

*She walks over, picks up the toaster, & peers inside the slot. She then shakes it before putting it down.*

"Huh."

*She heads over to get a plate to put the toast on. Butter, jelly, etc. is already on the table.*
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*At the park, by the river.*

E"...Well, it's not here now."

R"Hey, I don't know what makes it decide to show up."

E"Maybe someone sent it after you?"
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<It's no problem, Ma'am.>

*Saikhan hangs up.*
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<See that you do, & maybe one day you'll have your own factory.>

*He heads off to somewhere.*

Dalia continued holding up a smile, then poured her irritation into her Firebending as she began work.

Noct butters her toast and takes a bite, "You just put the bread in the slot, and pull down on a tab and it'll toast the bread."

--

"Maybe we should have taken the dolls with us," Mortal said.

--

"I think so too," Gabe said, "But I'm a bit weird, I like working out and jogging."

*Eve goes back to her bed and falls asleep*
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<Working out can be fun though!>