Disclaimer: Chapter one. This chapter is pretty druggy, so... be careful
guys. Turn your rated 'R's on in the future, just in case. The warning is
set. Locked, loaded, and off we go
Some of the chapter titles (Chapter 8: Peridot Margaritaville; Chapter 16: Emerald Cosmopolitan) were brought to you by my good friend Catherine. Nice suggestions, eh? Anyway, like I have promised, this is the climax. By no means does that mean its the last chapter! Don't confuse those things! Just because you're an American doesn't mean the pivital point is always just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the last line. Falling action does occur!
Is this really a Humor? Maybe it's been something like "Angst" or "Drama" all along... Damn you, story! Don't do things like that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It entered into February. The weather was still cold. Snow would still fall from time to time. Immediately I noticed that most of the girls (including Uwaki) were becoming more affectionate, and in reaction, the men had changed from slobs over a steak, into almost civilized suitors. I, at first, payed little mind to it, but it started getting hard to ignore when I found more and more odd cards and notes along with the money passed to me by the women. Apparently, Jin was getting similar letters."
"Valentines?" Chi-Chi said, "I suppose you were jealous of how many Jin was getting, right?"
I shook my head. "What? Am I supposed to be?
"To continue: one day, I was going to the pub, which proved to be a bit difficult as there were police everywhere outside the building. According to what the uniform that questioned me said, a corpse was found in a dumpster in a nearby ally. A quick, clean death, he said. Not as if there was anything interesting to witness, I proceeded to my destination.
"Uwaki practically pounced onto me. Not much to avoid, really, but it annoyed me all the same. I looked for Jin, she was supposed to be there an hour before me, but she wasn't behind the bar. I listened carefully, and heard her voice in the office. Coming closer, I realised that the conversation seemed to be over the phone.
"'Did you really get that message? Are you certain that it isn't mistaken?' Her voice didn't sound as stoic as usual. It sounded more bitter. 'Very well, but is it fixed yet? After all, I can't quite go back with a busted vehicle.' A pause. 'I see... Well, I'll get to you as soon as I can about that. I have some things to finish; loose ends to tie. Yes. Yes, all right. OK, goodbye.' She hung up and heaved a sigh: a heavy, terminal sounding sigh. I heard a chair move, footsteps, and the door opened. When she saw me, she became startled. 'D-Dorai? Is there something that you need?'
"'I was going to ask you something like that, Jin. Were you on the phone?'
"'Yes. I was. Why?'
"'With who? Someone from your home?'
"This seemed to strike her. She only muttered and walked past me. I kept myself from pressing the subject any further, but it was nerve-racking to see Jin's mood. I found myself wishing for her shift to end so that she could leave. I even considered not going back to the apartment that night, the thought being carried as far as abandoning this Ningen project and going back to my training. However, against my intentions and my deductions, I grabbed her and pulled her aside when she was about to leave.
"'Jin. Please tell me what that call was about.'
"It was a while before her eyes would even meet mine. 'Did you hear any of the conversation?'
"'The end, I believe.'
"'I did that call here so that I you wouldn't over hear it at the apartment.'
"'Just me?'
"She stayed silent for a bit. 'It's just not something that I feel I can discuss with you right now.'
"'You're making it sound quite grievous. Could it really impact me that much?'
"'If you're restraining me like this, it has to.'
"Upon hearing this, I released her (the reaction was more out of surprise than guilt). Even though she was free, she didn't go far; she stayed within the inconspicuous shadow that I gathered her into. I exhaled and let my shoulders slump a bit, trying to brush off the tensity.
"'I'm being rather moronic, aren't I?' I continued, 'I'm sure that it's about your home, though. Are you being called to return?'
"Her stare wasn't broken or wounded. It wasn't as much angry as it seemed annoyed. No, not even annoyed. It's hard to place. It was hard, but not sharp. Rather gray, but more negative than neutral. I suppose...displeasure? Well, whatever it was, it reigned our space for a while. I recall the background moving, the voices of customers and staff, the outside conversations and shifts, but it seemed behind a glass pane.
"She finally spoke. 'I am. I have nothing burdening my abilities to return now.'
"'What about the loose ends?'
"'What?'
"'You said you had some matters to take care of on the phone.'
"She suspired, and her gaze turned to her naturally resigned look. 'You're right. And I already addressed what they are. Dorai, does this bother you that greatly?'
"'So, I am what's left over? I am the remaining problem?'
"'I suppose that is what I stated.'
I've grown easily to hate Chi-Chi's visionary mien. "She loved you, then?"
I gnarred at her, but didn't indulge in flinging curses this time. "In a different situation, I'd say so. But here, I felt almost insulted, as if she accused that I forced her to hold any admiration towards me. Her whole message seemed to scream, 'This is you're doing! My feelings are a paradox to you. I loathe you because I love you.'
"'Shouldn't you get to packing then?' I said this quietly, but it was as stern as a shout. 'Far be it for I to hold you from returning to where you belong.' I practically spat these words.
"Her expression didn't change. 'Do you want me to pay the rest of my half for the month?' I didn't answer. 'I'll leave it on the table then.'
"The animosity in me fell into qualm. My voice, though I kept it steady, betrayed it in the undertones. 'Don't expect me to come home tonight. I--' I tried to pull something off topic out of my mind. 'I'm going to a Valentine's Party at that club in the Beryl off-ally. You remember it. Loam Bistro?'
"She nodded. 'Yeah, nice place, considering its location.'
"Before my anger could rise again, I left, causing Nama to call after me. I learned later that Jin took my remaining hour and I was not to be cuffed for my actions, though she obtained a small bonus."
"Loam Bistro really did have an impressive set-up. Unlike most nightclubs with the sharp strobes and the thundering and sometimes questionable music, this one was a bit more old-fashioned. In fact, I might associate it more as a pub. But it was in a back-ally for a reason: it was one of the hotspots of drug trafficking in North Capital.
"Almost as soon as I walked in, I started hitting heavy. I kept asking for strong drinks, often double shots. Today, the party was supposed to be like one long happy hour, so I indulged in it. I reached for my pipe and started puffing off the blend that I kept with me, but I ran out quickly.
"I didn't have to wait long before another source came my way. Someone was, professedly, generous enough to pass out some tablets, which I assumed to be Ecstasy. This I declined.
"'You sure?' He seemed somewhat disappointed, then he snapped his fingers. 'That's right, you smoke mostly opium.' With this, he pulled out an intermixture and set it up for me, even going so far as lighting it. I nodded my thanks and he scurried off.
"I found myself muttering some of my troubles to the club's own bartender, not allowing (or remembering) details to pass. After half an hour of this, I conjecture, things seemed to get out of focus. Many of the others, the ones who took the tablet, started acting violently. My unsteady vision made it hard to discern that whatever I saw was real, and even if I was sober, I may have a difficulty believing it. They were all fighting, using anything they could grab as a weapon. Blood was starting to splatter and pool, and flesh was sliced and torn. I heard limbs crack and break. This didn't concern me, though. Really, the only reason I think I noticed was because they attacked me as well.
"Suffocation seemed to have seized me; I only wanted to get to the door. I wanted to be able to breathe. But the bodies flung themselves at me, trying their best to do something, anything to me. Though I shook them off with little problem, I accidentally killed at least one of them. I'm not sure how, but I distinctly remember his head flopping over from a broken neck.
"When I reached the outside, I remember the door shutting behind me and the air coming to me. I know that I walked to the apartment, and I'm sure I got there myself safely, but I don't have any clear images from after the moment that I exited the establishment."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hope you guys are liking this one, because my other fanfics may be abandoned for a while. Why? For one, I've got writer's block with many of them. Second, my favorite game is back on. Chances are that the only stories that may update is this one and Troak (since he's one of my characters in that game), though you might see the last chapter of the Interpretations of Voltaire soon.
Some of the chapter titles (Chapter 8: Peridot Margaritaville; Chapter 16: Emerald Cosmopolitan) were brought to you by my good friend Catherine. Nice suggestions, eh? Anyway, like I have promised, this is the climax. By no means does that mean its the last chapter! Don't confuse those things! Just because you're an American doesn't mean the pivital point is always just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the last line. Falling action does occur!
Is this really a Humor? Maybe it's been something like "Angst" or "Drama" all along... Damn you, story! Don't do things like that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It entered into February. The weather was still cold. Snow would still fall from time to time. Immediately I noticed that most of the girls (including Uwaki) were becoming more affectionate, and in reaction, the men had changed from slobs over a steak, into almost civilized suitors. I, at first, payed little mind to it, but it started getting hard to ignore when I found more and more odd cards and notes along with the money passed to me by the women. Apparently, Jin was getting similar letters."
"Valentines?" Chi-Chi said, "I suppose you were jealous of how many Jin was getting, right?"
I shook my head. "What? Am I supposed to be?
"To continue: one day, I was going to the pub, which proved to be a bit difficult as there were police everywhere outside the building. According to what the uniform that questioned me said, a corpse was found in a dumpster in a nearby ally. A quick, clean death, he said. Not as if there was anything interesting to witness, I proceeded to my destination.
"Uwaki practically pounced onto me. Not much to avoid, really, but it annoyed me all the same. I looked for Jin, she was supposed to be there an hour before me, but she wasn't behind the bar. I listened carefully, and heard her voice in the office. Coming closer, I realised that the conversation seemed to be over the phone.
"'Did you really get that message? Are you certain that it isn't mistaken?' Her voice didn't sound as stoic as usual. It sounded more bitter. 'Very well, but is it fixed yet? After all, I can't quite go back with a busted vehicle.' A pause. 'I see... Well, I'll get to you as soon as I can about that. I have some things to finish; loose ends to tie. Yes. Yes, all right. OK, goodbye.' She hung up and heaved a sigh: a heavy, terminal sounding sigh. I heard a chair move, footsteps, and the door opened. When she saw me, she became startled. 'D-Dorai? Is there something that you need?'
"'I was going to ask you something like that, Jin. Were you on the phone?'
"'Yes. I was. Why?'
"'With who? Someone from your home?'
"This seemed to strike her. She only muttered and walked past me. I kept myself from pressing the subject any further, but it was nerve-racking to see Jin's mood. I found myself wishing for her shift to end so that she could leave. I even considered not going back to the apartment that night, the thought being carried as far as abandoning this Ningen project and going back to my training. However, against my intentions and my deductions, I grabbed her and pulled her aside when she was about to leave.
"'Jin. Please tell me what that call was about.'
"It was a while before her eyes would even meet mine. 'Did you hear any of the conversation?'
"'The end, I believe.'
"'I did that call here so that I you wouldn't over hear it at the apartment.'
"'Just me?'
"She stayed silent for a bit. 'It's just not something that I feel I can discuss with you right now.'
"'You're making it sound quite grievous. Could it really impact me that much?'
"'If you're restraining me like this, it has to.'
"Upon hearing this, I released her (the reaction was more out of surprise than guilt). Even though she was free, she didn't go far; she stayed within the inconspicuous shadow that I gathered her into. I exhaled and let my shoulders slump a bit, trying to brush off the tensity.
"'I'm being rather moronic, aren't I?' I continued, 'I'm sure that it's about your home, though. Are you being called to return?'
"Her stare wasn't broken or wounded. It wasn't as much angry as it seemed annoyed. No, not even annoyed. It's hard to place. It was hard, but not sharp. Rather gray, but more negative than neutral. I suppose...displeasure? Well, whatever it was, it reigned our space for a while. I recall the background moving, the voices of customers and staff, the outside conversations and shifts, but it seemed behind a glass pane.
"She finally spoke. 'I am. I have nothing burdening my abilities to return now.'
"'What about the loose ends?'
"'What?'
"'You said you had some matters to take care of on the phone.'
"She suspired, and her gaze turned to her naturally resigned look. 'You're right. And I already addressed what they are. Dorai, does this bother you that greatly?'
"'So, I am what's left over? I am the remaining problem?'
"'I suppose that is what I stated.'
I've grown easily to hate Chi-Chi's visionary mien. "She loved you, then?"
I gnarred at her, but didn't indulge in flinging curses this time. "In a different situation, I'd say so. But here, I felt almost insulted, as if she accused that I forced her to hold any admiration towards me. Her whole message seemed to scream, 'This is you're doing! My feelings are a paradox to you. I loathe you because I love you.'
"'Shouldn't you get to packing then?' I said this quietly, but it was as stern as a shout. 'Far be it for I to hold you from returning to where you belong.' I practically spat these words.
"Her expression didn't change. 'Do you want me to pay the rest of my half for the month?' I didn't answer. 'I'll leave it on the table then.'
"The animosity in me fell into qualm. My voice, though I kept it steady, betrayed it in the undertones. 'Don't expect me to come home tonight. I--' I tried to pull something off topic out of my mind. 'I'm going to a Valentine's Party at that club in the Beryl off-ally. You remember it. Loam Bistro?'
"She nodded. 'Yeah, nice place, considering its location.'
"Before my anger could rise again, I left, causing Nama to call after me. I learned later that Jin took my remaining hour and I was not to be cuffed for my actions, though she obtained a small bonus."
"Loam Bistro really did have an impressive set-up. Unlike most nightclubs with the sharp strobes and the thundering and sometimes questionable music, this one was a bit more old-fashioned. In fact, I might associate it more as a pub. But it was in a back-ally for a reason: it was one of the hotspots of drug trafficking in North Capital.
"Almost as soon as I walked in, I started hitting heavy. I kept asking for strong drinks, often double shots. Today, the party was supposed to be like one long happy hour, so I indulged in it. I reached for my pipe and started puffing off the blend that I kept with me, but I ran out quickly.
"I didn't have to wait long before another source came my way. Someone was, professedly, generous enough to pass out some tablets, which I assumed to be Ecstasy. This I declined.
"'You sure?' He seemed somewhat disappointed, then he snapped his fingers. 'That's right, you smoke mostly opium.' With this, he pulled out an intermixture and set it up for me, even going so far as lighting it. I nodded my thanks and he scurried off.
"I found myself muttering some of my troubles to the club's own bartender, not allowing (or remembering) details to pass. After half an hour of this, I conjecture, things seemed to get out of focus. Many of the others, the ones who took the tablet, started acting violently. My unsteady vision made it hard to discern that whatever I saw was real, and even if I was sober, I may have a difficulty believing it. They were all fighting, using anything they could grab as a weapon. Blood was starting to splatter and pool, and flesh was sliced and torn. I heard limbs crack and break. This didn't concern me, though. Really, the only reason I think I noticed was because they attacked me as well.
"Suffocation seemed to have seized me; I only wanted to get to the door. I wanted to be able to breathe. But the bodies flung themselves at me, trying their best to do something, anything to me. Though I shook them off with little problem, I accidentally killed at least one of them. I'm not sure how, but I distinctly remember his head flopping over from a broken neck.
"When I reached the outside, I remember the door shutting behind me and the air coming to me. I know that I walked to the apartment, and I'm sure I got there myself safely, but I don't have any clear images from after the moment that I exited the establishment."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hope you guys are liking this one, because my other fanfics may be abandoned for a while. Why? For one, I've got writer's block with many of them. Second, my favorite game is back on. Chances are that the only stories that may update is this one and Troak (since he's one of my characters in that game), though you might see the last chapter of the Interpretations of Voltaire soon.
