Making A Comeback

<My research materials. Unless they were all destroyed.>

"Um, yes please, I'll pay for mine when we meet up," Astarte said.

"Okay, well, I won't take up any more of your time," Hector said, smiling. "Later."
The two of them left the grocery store and went to the park.

"Oh? I hadn't heard about that," Dalia said.

"You really are a sadist... getting a girl's hopes up," Mortal said with a pout, "Do I at least get [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for breakfast, you tease?"

--

"Uh, maybe you should call Keter, just to make sure... I would hate if this caused some kind of problem for her."

--

"Noctis Talea," said Noctis Talea.

Tarrlok<Oh, no, I'm sure it will be fine. After all, we'll have to serve on the same Council together if she wins, anyway.>
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<Oh! One moment, please!>

*There's some shuffling, then Keter answers.*

Keter<Noctis, hel~lo. How are you this fine morning?>
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"Teasing is one of the greatest weapons in my arsenal. But I suppose I could make that for you."
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"Oh, you don't have to worry about that, I'd love to get us some! I mean...well, you've got...bills & stuff to worry about. So. I'll handle paying for the match."
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"We did recover a bag, but most of the stuff in it was damaged. You'd have to check with the front desk."
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*People are starting to return to the park, now that there's no longer an angry Spirit stalking it. This mostly consists of couples on walks along the river. However, there are also a few Metalbending Police walking around.*
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<It's a rumor that's going around, anyway.>

"Oh... well, thanks, a lot," Astarte said. "I'll see you then."

They sat down on a bench and started eating some of the stuff they bought.

"I see."

"Such a lovely sound I hear, hello, Keter. I'm doing well today," Noct shifted her weight to her back foot, "I hear that you're going to be holding a press conference today, I was wondering if you would mind terribly if I came along to lend you support."

--

Mortal smiled, "Thank you, babe."

--

"I... suppose so," Gabe said, "Perhaps I should call her just to let her know, so she isn't surprised. She doesn't strike me as someone who enjoys being surprised."

Keter<That should be fine.>
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Tarrlok<Oh, I don't know, I trust she's pretty busy with preparations.>
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*So she makes steak & eggs, with extra eggs for herself. She serves the food up, then sits down for her usual ritual.*
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<Hey, what do you suppose ever happened to the police chief? Do you think she actually bit it?>
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"No problem. Okay, bye."

"Perfect, I look forward to seeing you then," Noct said, "If you'll excuse me, I'm off to have breakfast."

--

"She has assistants, I'll leave a message with one of them if need be," Gabe said. She walked over to her phone, and produced Keter's card, then began to dial the number.

--

Mortal comes back dressed for the day, and sits down to eat some animals.

"Bye," Astarte said before putting the phone down. She began calling relatives to tell them about the funeral arrangements.

"It is entirely possible," Dalia said. "If she were alive I would have expected her to resurface, unless she intends on fleeing the city or something."

Hector and Eduj chilled at the park.

*You know the drill, they ask who is calling.*
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Keter<Of course. Take care, Noctis.>
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<Yeah, that is strange...though they say she fell into the sewers, maybe she got swept up into the ocean, & wound up in a town far away from Republic City.>
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*Euryale looks at what Mortal is wearing, making a note to shower & change out of her pajamas after a quick breakfast.*

"Oh, man, do you think she wants me to wear a formal dress, or my police uniform?"

"Yes, this is Gabriel," Gabe said.

--

"You as well," Noct said, and then she hung up, liek a bawz.

--

"I don't know, I'm just wearing this..." By this Mortal meant a pair of slacks, and a button up shirt with her sleeves rolled up, "Am I under dressed?"

<Thank you.>

*Eve goes over to the front desk*

"That is possible. It is also possible that she just drowned and hasn't been discovered yet," Dalia said. "I'm afraid I'm not much of an optimist. It would seem too miraculous for her to survive."

Hector and Eduj eventually got up and started walking back to Stefan's place.

<Ah, hello again. Did you forget to tell Ms. Aurora something?>
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"Probably. You've seen what she usually wears in her public appearances."
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*Aroma produces the bag, ripped up from the rubble, & burned from catching fire from the explosions. Inside, most of the papers are charred. The lens in the telescope, & replacement lens are broken, & it is slightly bent.*

<We didn't throw anything away, but to be honest, I kind of doubt that you'll be able to salvage much of anything. I'm so sorry.>
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*Noct can smell pancakes.*
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<I don't want to think about that...hey, did you notice the parts we're working on today are different? Some kind of new model of motorcycle.>

*Eve slowly takes the bag, her face clouding*

<Thank you. For everything.>

"No, I didn't forget, I just wanted to let her know that Tarrlok was going to be joining," Gabe said, "Ke-- Ms. Aurora seems like a busy person, and I didn't want to worry her with unnecessary surprise."

--

Noct loves pancakes. Noct wanders into the kitchen and says, "Hello. Breakfast smells great."

--

"Yeah, but... I'm not her," Mortal said, "Or you. You both look pretty in dresses. I look, I don't know, I always feel out of my element."

"Thank you."

*Ven serves up pancakes.*
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"You look great in dresses."
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<I think this is one situation where it's okay to tell you not to come again soon.>
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<I'll be sure to tell her. Is there anything else?>

And so pancakes are eaten.

--

Mortal smiled sheepishly, "If you think so. I'll go put one on after breakfast."

--

"No, that is all, have an wonderful day," Gabe hung up and looked at Tarrlok, "See, no big deal. Just courtesy."

*Eve nods*

<I will hopefully not have to come again.>

*She exits, carrying the ruins of her bag in her arms*

*Tarrlok is grinning again.*

Tarrlok<So, are you going to call your teammates now?>
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*The wall she broke has been boarded up, with brickwork partly laid over the boards.*
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*Euryale finishes eating.*

"Well, I'll just wait for you, then we can head over to Gabe's."
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"So, how did your talk go?"

*Eve looks away then heads to her apartment using the busiest and most central roads possible*

"Now that you mention it, yeah, it seems that way," Dalia nodded again.

Hector and Eduj arrived at Stefan's apartment and turned on the radio. They told Stefan to be ready to go out for a walk at lunch.

"Indeed I am, but... first I wanted to get dressed," Gabe ran a hand through her hair, "I, uh, suppose you could wait in the living room."

--

Mortal finishes her food, and takes the plates to the sink, "Sure. It'll only take me a second." She makes her way back to her room, and emerges a few minutes later wearing a sleeveless bodycon white dress with red pinstripes. It has a sweetheart neckline, and a single shoulder strap, with a hem at just above her knees. Mortal is also wearing red heels, and a thin red bracelet. "Do you like it?" She asked, smiling.

--

"Fantastic, I'll be going with you to meet her," Noct said.

*Euryale's wide open gaze & forward lean suggest that she does.*

"It looks great, Mortal!"
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<I'll do just that, then.>

*He heads over to the couch.*
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*Eve eventually arrives at her apartment.*
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<Yeah, I guess it's supposed to be some sort of stunt cycle. Tighter turns, higher speed, more resilient..and this thing I'm soldering together is a device to expel streams of smoke out of the back.>
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"That's good."
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{Keter Aurora has announced a press conference later today, where she will discuss how she can help Republic City. Special guests include the policewoman who captured Senthose, and the Dancing Dragons.}

"Interesting."

"Huh, I wonder what the Dancing Dragons really have to do with 'helping' the city," Hector said. "Glorified brawlers."