"Is your name Azrael?"
"Yeah" I reply quickly, "And you are?"
"Bison, I'm working with Penguin Logistics as a sort of intermediary between them and Mountindash Logistics." He says.
"Ah" I exhale in understanding.
The Code of Brawl story must be playing out.
...
That probably means that my life in Terra will consist of the event storylines alongside the main Reunion arc.
I yawn thinking about it. There isn't a concrete timeline for all the event stories in Arknights as far as I can remember, so I'll most likely be caught off guard whenever an event story starts playing out.
That shouldn't be a problem for the main story with Reunion, but with the events i'll-
"You okay?" Bison says tapping me lightly, "They said that you had a habit of spacing out, kinda surreal seeing how perfectly they described it."
"I'm fine, just a bit tired." I say. His use of a 'they', and that 'they' had said that I had a habit of spacing out gives me enough information, I think I confidentially say my backstory is related to Penguin Logistics.
"Spacing out is an easy thing to do when you're stationed with such an eccentric group."
Bison gives me a sigh of agreement, "Really, they're a handful."
I nod and step aside, allowing Bison to open the door.
"Awright. Here's the guest of honor himself." Says Croissant as the door opens.
"Hey, Welcome to the End of the Earth" Says Emperor as I follow Bison into the bar. "See, it wasn't that hard getting here, you even brought Az along with ya."
...
"Wait-"
"AZ!" Sora screams to the best of her abilities, really showing off her high note.
Good thing I got those headphones.
I just wave to the rest of the gang while Sora runs up and hugs me.
"Hey Sora." I casually say hugging her back.
"Where were you!" She yells looking up to me, "Everyday I practiced so much just so I could show you when you came back to us!" Sora says backing off from the hug, "I have so much to show you!" She says practically jumping.
Hearing her words, I silently distinguish which backstory took up my adult life.
Sora had joined Penguin Logistics after she was saved by Texas, but in my dream, I had joined Penguin Logistics very early on and was the one who had saved Sora.
So all the admiration Sora shows towards Texas was diverted to me.
"She's been waiting for this day ever since you left," Says Exusiai from the corner, "Good to see you Az."
I smile.
"Good to see you too Exia"
From the corner of my eye I could see Texas slightly smiling, I turn my head towards her.
I give a wave and no more, she reciprocates. We can seemingly understand each other through each other's expressions. Despite not being able to know what my own backstory was, Texas and Exusiai feel like lifelong friends I could trust with my life.
All of the experiences I made in my dreams, the good, the bad, the sad, the happy, it all feels as if I had really lived it.
It doesn't feel like meeting a fictional character, it feels like a reunion between long-lost friends. A homecoming.
...
"Was he one who implemented this crazy company culture?" I hear Bison muttering to himself, "He seemed to agree with the notion that they were crazy, but is he crazy himself?"
As I listen to his ramblings, I take a step back as a presence to my left makes itself known.
Croissant simply adjusts her angle of attack and continues to tackle me with a hug.
"Member' me!" She says trying to throw me around, almost pulling off my headphones. "You seem to have got yerself a pretty good haul without us, those ar' some premium headphones."
"Guess so" I say pulling her off me and pausing for a bit, "How bad did your shopping addiction get while I was gone?"
"Terrible." Says Emperor, "You're the only moderator she'll listen to, I had to resort to lessening her paycheck in order to stop her."
I chuckle and walk over to the penguin.
He raises a hand, I raise a hand, and we both commit to a big high-five-into-hug motion.
"Long time to see man." He says happily.
"Same to you." I reply backing out of the hug, "Anything important going on?"
"A gang war and a collaboration with Moutiandash logistics to bring along this Bison kid." He pauses, "Speaking of, Bison."
"Yes?" Bison replies.
"This is a welcoming party, you're the guest of honor, so you drink 3 shots, but you can't drink, so you get 9 sodas instead."
"And a slice of my Apple Pie!" Exusiai butts in, "I know Az won't eat any, so you'll have to pick up his slack!" She says.
"I'll pass." He says swiftly.
...
I walk behind the counter and pour myself a shot while Emperor goes on about his vinyl collection and his plan to 'find their boss and huck him into the river'.
Exusiai gives Bison some gum as I down the shot.
As Bison eats the gum, he quickly spits it back out into the wrapper, asking what flavor it is.
"White Horse Kohl flavor" Replies Exusiai, getting a disgusted look from Bison in the process.
"Someone please add this brand of gum to our list of hazardous materials" Texas says witnessing the scene.
"Done" I say, spinning a pen between my fingers and walking over to the record player.
I select the closest record and play.
"Thanks man, you always need tunes for a good party." Say Emperor.
I give him a nod before heading back behind the bar, pouring another shot for myself and one for Texas.
"I wasn't expecting jazz, even if it's a little..." Bison peters out.
Texas walks over to the bar as the rest of the gang begins a discussion over the previous owner, though Sora seems to be more interested in me than the conversation, sneaking glances every now and then.
"She's really excited that you're back" Texas says to me before a pause, "We all are."
I smile and yawn, "I needed to leave to establish some stable income sources. Now I've gotten all that sorted out, I want to try to return back to the fun stuff." I pause, "How long has it been?"
"Little over a year I believe"
I look back over the gang as does Texas. A longing smile present on both of our faces.
Suddenly, the sound of several cars stopping in front of the doors can be heard.
"We got some party crashers. Yo, get behind the bar if you wanna live." Emperor says as me and Texas are already leaning against the drawers.
The rest of the gang follows in less than a second, Exusiai on the far right, Croissant next to her, Sora between me and her, and Texas on the left.
Noticing someone missing, I jump over the counter, grab Bison, and return to my spot placing Bison on the far left next to Texas.
Just in time for the mafiosos to begin firing every bullet they have.
I down my shot and give Texas hers.
"Why are these punks still up in my business? Shoot back already, before they completely trash the joint!"
Damn,I didn't bring my revolver.
...
Well, I didn't get practice with my arts for nothing yesterday.
I make myself a blade out of ice as I hear Exusiai's complaint of being out of bullets.
Trying to save at least some liquor from being destroyed, I make some bullets of ice and throw them over to Exusiai.
"Awesome! I forgot you could make bullets!" Exusiai gleams, somehow being heard over all the guns firing.
"Focus on the task at hand." Texas says, getting a quick nod from Exusiai.
Seeing what I've done, Croissant looks at me in thankfulness knowing what the next option would have been if we didn't have a weapon or ammunition.
However Croissant's face quickly morphs back to one of despair as Texas grabs herself a bottle off the top shelf and leads the charge back towards mafiosos.
I follow directly next to her, Sora then follows after me as Exusiai shoots from behind the bar and Bison just sits there, not yet computing what's happening.
I put a small sheet of ice down at the mafioso's feet, removing all their balance and allowing the recoil of their guns to knock them over.
Texas and Sora proceed to bash the guy's heads open while I head outside and proceed to attack their backup.
I freeze their bodies, and slash. I freeze more bodies, and slash.
I guess it's a good thing that I've become Azrael, even now, as I kill multiple people in the span of a couple seconds, I feel the same.
It's horrifying that I can kill people without feeling anything, but it's convenient.
I allow my blade to melt, washing away the blood.
And who am I to complain about convenience?
I walk back to the sight of Emperor throwing a bottle at Gambino, followed by Texas holding a sword up to him.
"Outsides clear" I say gaining a thumbs up from Exusiai and Sora.
Gambino gives me a death stare before turning back to Texas with a smile, "You must regret not biting the bullet and finishing the job!" He says allowing what looks to be a bomb to fall out of his jacket.
I tackle Texas out of the way and make an ice wall to protect the rest of the gang.
A solemn pair of footsteps can be heard running out of the bar as I see fresh blood run down Texas's leg, luckily nothing more.
"Az!" Sora runs up to me as the smoke clears and the wall melts, "Are you hurt? I-Ill take care of you!"
"Im fine" I respond, "Get Texas a bandage though, a bit of her leg got hit."
Sora nods and quickly runs off.
...
"Sicilians... what's a Sicilian anyways? Is it a kind of Siracusan?" Bison asks, recalling the conversation that I wasn't present for.
Texas heads into an explanation as Sora arrives back to me with the bandage, I take it and start treating Texas's leg.
"They're not as strong as they used to be, for a whole bunch of reasons. But if they still call themselves that... well..." Texas says, quieting down at the end.
"Relax Texas." I say, tightening the bandage. "It's just a way for mobsters to tell people their mobsters, no need reminiscing on the past for an explanation."
"yeah... thanks" Texas responds quietly.
I take a seat on the floor next to her as Bison, angered over what just happened and the explanation, rants about how we need to fight back before we lose too much.
Emperor, however, interrupts his tirade, "Hold up. Just everybody hold the eff up. What excuse do you think I can give to my dumbass alcohol allergic bartender friend to explain what happened to his place?"
"Tell him the truth or say it was a terrorist attack." I say, "I'll let you decide what you want to go with."
Emperor slams his foot on his chair's leg as Sora sits down on the floor next to me and rests her head on my shoulder.
"At least the stool yer sittin' on's in good shape" Croissant says in an attempt to calm the raging penguin.
"...one stool" He slowly mumbles, "Broken bottles, shot up walls, and tattered velvet." He pauses.
"We prob'ly just gotta pay him back for the damages, right?" Croissant says before sighing, "Even with Az back we'll still gotta tighten our belts for this."
"The entire place stinks of alcohol as well" Texas mentions, "At least it's disinfecting my wounds."
Me and Sora give a shared look of disgust.
"Exia, find some medical alcohol or something." I say getting a nod from Exusiai who prances off into a backroom.
I turn towards Texas, who's already looking at me.
We stare for a couple seconds, silence permeating the room.
She leans into a hug that I quickly reciprocate.
"I forgot to say that it was nice to see you again." She says quietly.
"You didn't have to." I respond.
Sora, who finally processes what's happening slams herself into me forming a group hug.
"You guys always leave me out of stuff!" She complains hugging us harder, gaining nothing but a small smile from Texas.
Croissant jaunts over and jumps into the hug, Emperor following suit.
"A group hug to commemorate Az's return" He says, jumping onto my shoulders and leaning on my head, "Bison! Get over here, you're a member of Penguin Logistics, so you're obligated to get in the hug as well."
"I thought this was my welcoming party." He murmurs walking over.
I mouth him a sorry as he gets in the hug as well. Exusiai finally gets back into view with the bottle of disinfectant in hand.
"C'mon, we're missing one" I say as Emperor waves her over.
Not wasting a single second, she drops the bottle and runs into the hug, almost knocking Emperor off my head in the process.
I chuckle and ruffle her hair, "Feels good to be back."
She ruffles mine back as the rest of the gang just smiles watching it unfold, "Feels good to have you back."
We all hug each other tighter once more before dispersing.
Texas grabs the disinfectant bottle, Croissant pulls Bison with her to discuss money, Emperor takes Exusiai and starts plotting against the mafiosos all while Sora pulls me outside.
"Like I said earlier, we have a lot to catch up on!" Sora exclaims, turning on a car and motioning me to sit shotgun, "We'll start by heading to whatever base is closest, and we'll play eachother songs like old times! You've listened to my recent albums, right? I can promise you my live versions are even better!"
...
"I haven't listened to them actually" I answer her.
It wasn't the answer she was expecting.
She just stares at me, mouth agape. After a couple seconds she snaps herself out of it.
"W-Well that's fine! It j-just gives me an opportunity to show you how much I've improved from when we first played together!" She manages to say, seeming even more resolute.
When I saved Sora in the dream, I had it so that I was already deep into music and I helped Sora improve her craft, gaining even more admiration from her after saving her. One of my most memorable dreams would be when I had played a small little setlist in front of the Penguin Logistics gang with Sora, nothing but a single acoustic guitar, a single singer, and a single backup singer.
Remembering events through my dreams seems to be the same as remembering it as if I had actually lived through it. My only thought while remembering it was a simple notion of 'Good times' of playing the guitar rather than a memory of laying in my bed dreaming it.
...
"Just like old times." I say before a long yawn.
Sora looks over to me with a warm smile, "And just like old times, you still have the same long yawns every night. Good to see that hasn't changed."
Oh yeah. Another characteristic of mine that seems to have transferred over to Azrael, same situation as the ear sensitivity case.
With that now on my mind, I put on some music through my headphones.
Sora starts driving, "You wouldn't mind putting what you're listening to through the car speakers, would you?"
"I don't mind, let me just find a song that you would probably like-"
"No!" She exclaims, someone staying perfectly straight on the road despite almost jumping out of her seat, "If I listen to the music you listen to, maybe it can help me get as good as you! See my logic here?" She says proudly displaying her plan.
"No" I say, shattering that display, "The music I listen to changes nothing other than what I cover on my guitar when we play together."
She pauses a bit, flustered.
"W-Well maybe the songs you play are more complex than whatever I do, so y-you get more practice in!" She says trying to pick up the broken display pieces.
At the sight I just sigh, smile, and put on some Frank Ocean through the speakers, not even bothering that the music isn't from this world.
We sit in silence as the music envelopes us. The neon skyline gleaming in front of us, the stars still somehow visible. The music, becoming a soundtrack of the night, somehow perfectly captures the feeling the skyline evokes, enhancing the experience further.
Sora feels it as well, lightly tapping her fingers across the steering wheel to the percussion.
...
"Shouldn't we have told the gang where we were going before we left?" I say, recalling how sudden we left.
She thinks for a couple seconds.
"Us getting caught up is more important, as long as we tell them where we are it'll be fine. They'll understand given how much we used to do this." She answers.
I yawn again, gaining a smile from Sora.
"If you say so." I say, turning up the music.
(Originally) Uploaded on March 27, 2022.
