Tales from Elysium

Synopsis - Love Live Sunshine + VA-11 Hall-A

Basically, this is a story about bartender Mari in a cyberpunk dystopia interacting with her customers. Some of the dialogue makes references to VA-11 Hall-A.


A cold autumn wind blew over the engineered cityscape of Neo Numazu, the industrious city having expanded greatly since the early days of the 21st century. Ever since the arrival of the first megacorporation to Numazu's humble neighborhoods, the metropolis had seemingly exploded overnight. Vast inflows of corporate capital had seen the city extend their borders further and further to accommodate the accompanying population boom, until the only way to build was up.

Nowadays, Neo Numazu could almost rival the glitz and glamor of Tokyo itself, the hustle and bustle of its millions of individuals churning out more and more for the purported enrichment of society and the betterment of humanity.

But below the monolithic skyscrapers of Fujiwara Fortunes and PolyTech Incorporated, below the curved arches of the Akasaka Arcology, below the neon billboards hawking the newly released SONYntendo GameNexus 7X:RE, was a humble bar parked somewhere in the maze of avenues and walkways crisscrossing the city streets, half-buried beneath the concrete of the surface.

A bar that proudly bore a lighted sign proclaiming the location's official alphanumeric designation E-71 CM, stylized to form the more colloquial name "Elysium".

And within this seedy establishment was a blonde dressed head to toe in a dark bartender's uniform, one hand idly polishing the bar as the other tapped out a rhythm to the tune playing on the beat up old jukebox sitting against the opposite wall. She looked up to the clock as it rolled over to a new hour.

Automatically, the lights turned up their brightness as the front door unlocked. The sign out front flashed from CLOSED to OPEN.

Mari's lips formed a thin smile as she halted her cleaning, and the blonde proprietor readied her bartending software.

"Time to mix drinks and change lives."


The door slammed open as a disgruntled woman practically stomped into the bar, drawing a raised eyebrow from Mari as she all but collapsed on the bar stool before her. Long ebony tresses framed a beautiful face that was crimson with rage, though Mari couldn't help but notice tears beginning to well up in the corners of her fierce emerald eyes.

"Welcome to Elysium," greeted the blonde neutrally. "How may I serve you?"

"I need something bitter, something that burns," demanded the ravenette, throwing a credit chip on the bar. "And I need a lot of it."

Mari wordlessly palmed the chip before working her tablet to select the perfect composition for her latest guest. "One big Piledriver coming up."

The moment she set the glass on the counter, her customer began chugging, heedless of the scorching sensations doubtlessly agonizing her throat. As she rang her up, Mari noticed the credit chip was issued to one Kurosawa Dia. The glass returned to the bar with a slam, and Dia began coughing heavily as she recovered from her self-inflicted ordeal. Eventually, her heaving breaths gave way to fatigued gasping.

"Would you like anything else?" asked Mari. "Perhaps something tamer?"

Dia nodded absentmindedly. "Sweet... and classy..." she muttered.

Mari hummed curiously at the reversal before prompting her software for a drink to meet Dia's specifications. When she deposited the final product, Dia gave her a nod of gratitude before her first cautious sip. Relief seemed to roll off her, evidenced by her sigh at the pleasant taste and lack of burning. "Thanks," she grunted.

"You're welcome. So tell me: what brings an elegant woman like yourself to this rundown bar of mine on such a self-destructive bender?"

The ravenette made a face and took a bigger gulp, eventually downing the entire glass. She made a hand gesture for another, and Mari wordlessly refilled her glass. Dia took one last chug before she let out a defeated huff. "I just found out the person I've been dating has been cheating on me for two months."

Mari clicked her tongue sympathetically. "Ugh, boys," she said disdainfully, wrinkling her nose. "Thank you for reminding me why I'm a lesbian."

The ravenette raised an eyebrow curiously. "Girlfriend, actually," she replied.

"Oh!" chirped Mari excitedly, "Well in that case..." She leaned in closer and gave her a noticeable one over. "Thank you for reminding me why I'm a lesbian," she purred.

The customer blinked. "...are you seriously hitting on me?"

Mari shrugged carelessly. "Why not? You aren't still with that no-good cheating womanizer, are you?"

"Of course not."

"Well then, what's the problem?"

"...I suppose there isn't one," said Dia after a few moments of deliberation. "It's simply unexpected."

"Babe, I think you'll find I'm full of surprises," said Mari with a wink.

Dia frowned. "Please don't refer to me as 'babe'."

"Sorry, sorry. Still, even if you're not looking for a rebound, maybe I can help you take your mind off your troubles?" she offered. "I'm a bartender. It's kinda my thing."

"I suppose it's worth a try. I've no further plans for the evening anyway."

"Then let's start with introductions," beamed Mari with a winning smile. "I'm Mari Ohara, the owner and manager of this humble little bar and a purveyor of liquors both fine and cheap. I like horseback riding, industrial metal, and making pretty girls smile. Maybe you'll let me see that last one?"

The ravenette rolled her eyes but didn't comment. After another sip of her beverage, she replied in kind. "My name is Dia Kurosawa. I'm a senior editor and headliner for a digital news publication called The Numazu Mirror. In my spare time I enjoy reading and partaking in traditional Japanese festivities."

"Oh? Nothing about going to bars and meeting beautiful blonde bartenders?"

"Mari-san, you flatter yourself."

"Someone has to, and you're certainly not willing." A small chuckle dropped from Dia's slips, bringing a grin to Mari's face for having made her client laugh, however slight.

"That's one way to look at it."

"Hey, I'm all about the glass half-full," replied Mari, eyeing Dia's drink. Funny enough, it was half-full. Setting aside her tablet, Mari leaned over the counter toward the ravenette, a warm and inviting smile on her face. "So... why don't you tell me more about these traditions you're so fond of?"


The next time the door opened, a pony-tailed woman with indigo blue hair walked in, dressed head to toe in an old but well-kept wet-suit. A worn pair of boots and a raggedy windbreaker were the only other articles of clothing she wore.

"Kanan!" greeted Mari as the blunette walked over to the bar. "Nice of you to drop by. I take it you just came from work?"

Kanan sighed with a nod as she plopped down on the stool. "Yeah, not that I'm actually doing any work," she answered glumly. "If it's not too much trouble, can I get my usual?"

"Of course." Mari put down her tablet. She wouldn't need it for Kanan's order. Reaching for an empty glass behind the bar, she placed it under the sink and let the faucet run. When the glass was full, she turned off the water and plunked a pair of ice cubes in it before placing it before her friend. "One tap water, on the rocks," she winked.

A small smile crossed Kanan's face at the familiar banter and she took a big sip as the refreshing liquid went down her throat. "Thanks."

"Yep. So? How bad was it this time?"

Kanan sighed as she downed her water. "I haven't had a single customer all week!" she lamented. "And the other day this kid dropped his food on my work pants so I had to wear one of the female uniforms to keep waitressing..."

Mari hummed sympathetically. Kanan was a small time diving instructor, maybe the last in all of Neo Numazu. Matsuura Diving Excursions had been passed down through her family for generations, but it seemed like Kanan would be its last operator. She tried her best to keep the business running, but most of her potential clientele would rather opt for a cheaper VR diving simulator program, or go to one of the megacorp-sponsored diving companies instead.

Things were so bad on the diving front she had to get a second job as a waitress to make ends meet.

"Well if nothing else, I got more tips than usual that day so I guess it was worth it," remarked the blunette.

"It's always better to look on the shiny side of life," counseled Mari wisely. A small grin crossed Kanan's face, and she offered the bartender her empty glass in a familiar gesture asking for more.

When her drink was refilled, Kanan took another sip as Mari whisked out a bowl of complementary peanuts to set down in front of her, much to her delight. "But that's enough doom and gloom about my shop." She reached out to grab a handful. "What do you want to talk about? Sports? Idols? The weather?"

"Well, now that you mention it..." The blonde leaned in, as if about to induct the blunette into a conspiracy. "I met this really sexy brunette earlier."

"Oh?" asked Kanan with a chuckle. "Was she sexier than me?"

"It's pretty close. I might need to do a more hands-on inspection to tell," she teased, wiggling her fingers lecherously.

Kanan smirked as she let her glass hang idly off her fingers. "Give me something other than water and maybe I'll let you."


The next significant customer to walk through the front door was a competent, slightly out of her depth woman with long burgundy hair, dressed elegantly in an amateurish yet charming way. Her demeanor was professional but there was clearly an air of agitation about her.

"Nice to see you, Rikocchi," greeted Mari.

The redhead flopped herself down at the bar with an annoyed sigh before pulling out a work tablet of her own to mirror the bartender. "Mari-san, there are several abnormalities in your records we need to discuss," she said, straight to business. "Quite frankly, your income statements are unbelievable. As in, I literally don't believe them."

An amused giggle fell from the blonde's lips as she set down her tablet. Her elbows rested atop the counter and she leaned in to give Riko her full attention. "Now, now," she said chidingly, "What could possibly make you say that?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Riko's golden eyes quickly checked over the area to see if anyone was listening in. Given that they were the only ones there, no one else was. "Judging by your figures, there is no way you could possibly maintain this establishment's bottom line above the red, yet you've been doing so consistently for the past five years! With the amount of supplies you order every week, the number of transactions you make per day, and the profit margin of each drink, this is literally impossible. As small a business as this is, there's no way it could possibly exercise tax exemptions, and if you knew about loopholes you wouldn't have hired me in the first place! And just how is it that your 'other income' is magnitudes greater than your net sales?!"

"Hmm... what do you think it means?" replied Mari, unconcerned.

"What do I-?!" The redhead was momentarily stunned as she struggled to process such a lackadaisical attitude. She eventually settled on a sigh. "I think I've gotten myself involved in something I have no business being a part of. These numbers shouldn't add up as well as they do."

"Why Rikocchi, that's precisely why I hired you in the first place! Just work your accountant magic and make everything look nice and legitimate."

The redhead froze as she pondered the many implications of that statement. "...what did I get myself into?"

"Nothing! ...yet."

Riko slumped in her seat as she looked at her tablet forlornly. After a while, she made a small noise of resignation. "I guess I'll just... find a corner seat somewhere and... do this..."

Before she could leave, Mari placed a tall glass of brightly-colored liquid before her. "Have a Rainbow Driver," she said with a smile, "On the house. You seem like you could use the pick-me-up."

Riko's eyes peered blankly into the philter of fluid. Eventually she took the drink in hand and walked away listlessly to the farthest booth from the door to work in silence. Mari's eyes followed her the entire way, a spark of mischief dancing in those golden orbs. Even for a humble bartender, there was nothing quite as uniquely satisfying as pushing off paperwork onto another unfortunate soul.

And in the redhead's mind at least, there was no soul more unfortunate than Riko Sakurauchi.


"Mari-chan!" cheered a woman as she entered the bar.

A catty smile appeared on the bartender's face as she looked up from polishing a mug. "Well, well, well... If it isn't Chikacchi!" She set the mug aside and propped herself up on the bar with her elbows. "How's my favorite radio star doing today?"

Chika's expression brightened at the acknowledgement of her station, and she sat down with a sigh of relief. "I'm doing fine, thanks for asking. Can I get a Mikan Mixup with one of those little drinking umbrellas?"

"Of course." Mari tapped several times on her tablet to prepare a base for the drink, reaching beneath her counter for a fresh mikan and slicing it open. Most of it was sent to a blender for a quick mix before the blonde poured the mikan juice into the base liquid, swirling them together with a crazy straw. She popped in a quaint little toy umbrella and finished it off with a slice of mikan around the rim. "Here you go. Just the way you like it."

It might have been a little extra work to prepare Chika's go-to beverage, but Mari liked her. She could be a bit of a handful sometimes, but her heart was in the right place and she was fun to be around. A small beep sounded out from the register indicating a successful transaction, drawing Mari's eye to the amount she'd received as payment. Chika was also a generous tipper.

The ginger took a sip of her drink, then let out a sigh of contentment. "It's so nice coming here after a long day at work... I get no respect at the station! Just earlier today they ran out of tea so I had to drink coffee! Yuck!" Chika made a face of disgust. "Like, really? I'm a star, people! Get me my tea!"

"I'm sure they're just jealous," remarked Mari, knowingly inflating the girl's ego. "Not everyone can be as talented as you."

"Thanks Mari-chan. Oh! Did you catch my latest pun?" When she was reading out news segments or ad trailers, Chika often inserted wordplay into the commentary, little touches of individuality that likely would have gotten her into trouble had it not been so charming. Or more likely, if her management was actively listening to her instead of focusing their attention on their more popular DJ's and radio personalities.

"I did!" enthused Mari. "I got a good laugh out of that one." In actuality, the joke had garnered but a brief smile, but Mari saw no need to dampen the ginger's mood with the truth.

A smug grin blossomed over Chika's face. "Truly the latest addition to my collection of masterpieces." She took another sip, audibly savoring the taste of mikan with a smack of her lips. She opened her mouth to make another self-aggrandizing remark when a flash of burgundy caught her attention from the corner of her eye. She turned, curiosity twinkling in her crimson eyes.

Mari raised an eyebrow. "See something you like?" she asked teasingly.

Chika hummed thoughtfully, but said nothing further, opting instead to finish off her Mixup with one long sip. "Can I get another?" she asked distractedly.

"Another Mikan Mixup for the pretty lady, coming right up." She turned away, leaving Chika to her staring.

When the blonde bartender turned back, she found another of her regulars had entered and plopped herself down next to the radio personality.

"Well hello there sailor," greeted Mari teasingly as she set the ginger's drink down.

Dressed in sturdy clothing and a high visibility jacket was You, a few loose strands of brunette hair falling from a hard hat as she chatted with her roommate and best friend. She turned to the bartender with a friendly salute. "Yousoro, Mari-chan!" greeted You cheerfully. "Can I get the usual?"

Mari nodded. "One White Water Wish for the pretty lady, coming right up!"

(AN - This would be where Chika leaves to go hit on Riko so You and Mari can have their conversation.)

You donned a thoughtful expression as she took a sip from her drink. "A lot of freight just got shipped in from Hong Kong in unmarked containers. The manifest says it's just synthetic timber, but unless their packaging has suddenly quadrupled in density..." She trailed off, letting Mari draw her own conclusions.

"Really? Hmm... It seems that Ba Sing Se is moving up their timetable," mused Mari quietly. "Perhaps the Yellow Lotus Blossoms are making their move..."

You took another sip and looked away, doing her best to distract herself from the blonde's murmuring. She knew better than to pry into things that didn't concern her. 'This is definitely some good alcohol,' she thought to distract herself.

"Well!" said Mari with a clap, drawing the brunette's attention back to her. "It's nothing to be worried about," she said confidently.

(AN - Yes, Mari is involved with foreign mafia, and You is one of her informants. Specifically, a dockworker who supervises the drones that load and unload cargo onto the various ships and freighters that come into port. Eventually You wanders off to rejoin Chika and meet Riko, because I'm OT3 trash.)


The Other Girls:

Yoshiko - Basically the Gil of this story, she's Mari's other bartender who lives above the bar and hides many secrets. Maybe she's also trying to be an indie idol as Yohane but she's only released one song like three years ago.

Yoshiko burst out of the back and onto the main floor of the bar, laden down with three messenger bags of various sizes and an umbrella she struggled to open. "I need to run! It's for a thing! Be back tomorrow!" she said. She paused and grabbed a customer's beverage before downing half of it in a single gulp. "Thanks for breakfast!" she called as she rushed out the door.

Hanamaru - A priestess at a nearby temple.

Hanamaru shook her head. "Oh no. Priestesses are forbidden from consuming alcohol zura. But if you have any red bean smoothies..."

Ruby - Hanamaru's best friend who administers the temple's VR matrix node and AR overlay suite

"Huh? Oh!" The redhead gasped in realization and she hurriedly removed her goggles, sliding them higher on her head and magnetically locking them into place. "Sorry about that. It's been a long day..."


Extra:

The blonde suddenly frowned as an urgent notification popped up on her screen. A ponderous hum fell from her lips as she took in the words that appeared.

"Is something wrong?"

"Not at all," chirped Mari, reverting to her usual cheerfulness. "Just an old acquaintance asking if I could help out some of her friends. It seems there's been a bit of an incident in Tokyo..."

AN - I threw around the idea of connecting this to my other cyberpunk story. I don't think I actually would've, but hey, maybe it would've been fun if Mari became a fixer for NicoRinMakiPana.