PL IC Thread IX++ //Oddsbodikins & Atomic Kittens//

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

"I don't know about service, myself."

Torii's stomach sank. "I've thought about it, but it's scary. If I ever fight again, it's either going to be for my friends, or for a cause I really believe in."

She was pleased to run into Tsu's sister. It took her mind off of the war thing, and put it back on...Drova. "Well, I wanted to hang out, and talk about something. I've been feeling kind of uneasy today, and I'm confused, but I'm feeling a little better now, since I've been talking."

" Well you're always welcome to come hangout with us!" Edge said smiling before stepping back and holding the door open. "Come in, watch out for the shattered glass, Tsu really did do a number on that TV. Looks like a direct blast of energy hit it." Tau chuckled nervously, as the annihilated TV sat broken in half, the middle part of that TV that use to connect both ends of it had jagged pieces of ice sticking out. Tsu zoomed past Torii and quickly disappeared behind a wall. "So, what exactly did you need to talk about?" Tsu's elder sister asked picking up a cup of coffee she left on the table.

[Torsiedelle]

Torii was careful as she stepped in, and sat down as soon as she could; she didn't want to disturb anything. "Well, I needed boy advice. I've never really been with a boy in a romantic way, but last night I learned that a boy liked me, and we kind of kissed."

She kicked her legs back and forth a little. She only hung out with two boys, and one already had a girlfriend. She knew they'd put two plus two together and figure out who she meant.

"I'm a lesbian, I think, so I don't really know how to deal with this. He's a really nice guy, though, and I kind of feel like it wouldn't hurt to give him a chance, and really see if I am only into girls, but I don't want to feel like I'm betraying myself, or doing something that I shouldn't. I usually like to ask Giovenith about these things, since she's really mature."

........

"Damn, I feel like crap."

Katya had just exited Chaos. She got the jitters, and tried not to stumble around like an idiot while she crossed the street. Her rosy cheeks and slow steps gave it away, though. She was drunk. As soon as she was inside the lobby, she was hit with the feeling that she was about to pass out. Her room was too far of a walk, but she couldn't fall over right in the lobby.

Where to go was the question, as Katya swayed back and forth, gripping her head and trying to think.

[The BranRiech]

"Gods . . . She only thinks I'm a friend." Drova sighed, tossing his new instrument haphazardly onto his bed, shaking his head. He'd simply just returned from the music store a few moments before, and still didn't want to waste time lying around in his apartment. His shoes stayed on, as he was only present for a few moments before he stepped back out into the hallways. "Yuna, I'll be out again." He called to his sister, currently trying to concoct something in the kitchen.

"Yeah, okay!" She called happily, the smell wafting from whatever she was making started filling the apartment.

"Ugh, she really . . . Uh . . . She really needs to stop." Drova groaned, cupping a hand to his small nose as he walked off into the building.

--

As Katya stumbled around the lobby, the sound of a door sliding open might alert her, or maybe it wouldn't. Nonetheless, the bomb-shelter door opened, and a draft shot up from the stairs from the air-conditioned compartment. Footsteps clacked their way up the concrete stairs, and soon enough, a full head of black, scruffy hair was seen emerging. It was none-other-than Bran of course. The man cracked his neck, tilting his head to either side.

His eyes already looking into the lobby, they focused in on the drunken girl.

"Katya?" He asked, skipping the last few steps to rush up to Torii's sister. "Hey, you okay?"

[Torsiedelle]

"Huh? Oh, Bran!"

Katya sounded tired, or else really relaxed, though she looked stiff. She didn't move her legs much beyond a short swing forward or back, feeling as if she'd fall over at any moment. "I'm fine, maybe. I was just drinking. You know, I haven't sat down at the bar in a while."

She stretched her arms out. "Can you help? I think I'm about to fall. I'm not drunk, though."

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

Torii was careful as she stepped in, and sat down as soon as she could; she didn't want to disturb anything. "Well, I needed boy advice. I've never really been with a boy in a romantic way, but last night I learned that a boy liked me, and we kind of kissed."

She kicked her legs back and forth a little. She only hung out with two boys, and one already had a girlfriend. She knew they'd put two plus two together and figure out who she meant.

"I'm a lesbian, I think, so I don't really know how to deal with this. He's a really nice guy, though, and I kind of feel like it wouldn't hurt to give him a chance, and really see if I am only into girls, but I don't want to feel like I'm betraying myself, or doing something that I shouldn't. I usually like to ask Giovenith about these things, since she's really mature."

"Ah, Yes~!" Edge said. "I know this sounds cheesy, but when it comes to love, let the heart choose, if people speak about your love, listen, it could save you from something horrid but not always. You could actually be bisexual and attracted to boys, maybe you'll have better luck with males then gals!"

Edge took a sip from her drink. "Or, you could be better off with ladies, its just you haven't found the right one yet. But in all, give him a chance, he may be your Knight in armor to free you from the pain of love. I hope I could provide some help."

[The BranRiech]

"Huh? Oh, Bran!"

Katya sounded tired, or else really relaxed, though she looked stiff. She didn't move her legs much beyond a short swing forward or back, feeling as if she'd fall over at any moment. "I'm fine, maybe. I was just drinking. You know, I haven't sat down at the bar in a while."

She stretched her arms out. "Can you help? I think I'm about to fall. I'm not drunk, though."

"That's what they always say."

Bran chuckled, his trench coat hanging loosely off his form, belt and buckle swaying jauntily around his midsection as he approached. "Yeah, here. I was just going for a walk, maybe head down and see what they're doing with my workshop now." He explained, taking a few quick steps up to the girl's side. "Here." He held his left arm and shoulder for her to latch onto for support. "You think you can make it back up to your place, or do you want to rest on our couch?" He offered, turning to look at her.

[Giovenith]

"That sounds just perfect then, I didn't expect this to go as well as it has," Willow carefully slid back his notebook, wrapping it up and slipping it back into his saddlebag. He went down a mental checklist as he did so, going over his concerns about this meeting and the things he'd talked about with Nick and Brit. "I guess my last talking point would be how to stay in contact with the greater PR group. I understand that first and foremost, we need to keep things under wrap and secret, but it's still a bit impractical to just be always fetching each other in person."

To be fair, long-distance communication in Equestria wasn't much more advanced, just better by circumstance. Normally ponies simply sent letters delivered by mailponies, though a select few unicorns possessed spells that allowed them to instantaneously poof a letter to its desired recipient. That was rare enough in pony country though, it definitely wasn't happening here. And who knew if their enemies could intercept magic?

"You should know, I'm not perfect with technology. My homeland has less technological advancement," he added in. "I've recently figured out how to operate a home phone, but I haven't even begun to touch internets. Obviously though, keeping in touch is necessary for this kind of business. Any kind of business."

[Torsiedelle]

"Uh, yeah. I think that helped."

Well, it sounded like something Gio would say, maybe. Her, or Marcus. She wouldn't lie, she really liked Drova, but he was a boy, and a Prince at that. She was just a country girl with some money from her sister. Still, they'd done a lot together, too. They were there for each other at the ball on Gliese, and then for Valentines Day, and even more....

Maybe she'd led him on. Well, if he was there for her...

"I...", She struggled to say something. "I already had two great girls. They both kind of left, though.", She mumbled. "And I don't know if one of them even thinks about me that way anymore.", She glanced at Tsu. "I'm honestly really confused. Love isn't my expertise. I think it's all cheesy and dumb, but that's because I'm not really as good at making people like me as I am at making them hate me."

............

"I, uh, well..."

Ugh, she felt woozy. She would say that she could make it up, but that would be a lie, and she didn't want to be found passed out on the floor in the halls. She leaned in and half-whimpered, "Can I take the couch, please?"

[The BranRiech]

"I, uh, well..."

Ugh, she felt woozy. She would say that she could make it up, but that would be a lie, and she didn't want to be found passed out on the floor in the halls. She leaned in and half-whimpered, "Can I take the couch, please?"

"Sure, hey. No worries." Bran said, patting Katya on the shoulder. "How much ya' drink?" He asked, his own attempt at small talk while he carefully guided the incapacitated Katya to the stairs. "Rylli's napping, so we'll need to be quiet." He murmured as they took the first step, letting himself down a few stairs at a time. His intent was for Katya to hang onto him as they went down, using him as a stepping-stone of sorts. "Alright, just be careful." He warned.

After a few more moments of playing Leapfrog, they finally reached the open-door to the bomb shelter. Its layout hadn't changed much since Katya had been around last, with two fluffy couches arranged in an L-shape, facing a TV with a coffee table separating them. Off to the side was their kitchen, and then the small-ish hallway leading off to the other rooms.

[Torsiedelle]

"I, uh, well..."

Ugh, she felt woozy. She would say that she could make it up, but that would be a lie, and she didn't want to be found passed out on the floor in the halls. She leaned in and half-whimpered, "Can I take the couch, please?"

"Sure, hey. No worries." Bran said, patting Katya on the shoulder. "How much ya' drink?" He asked, his own attempt at small talk while he carefully guided the incapacitated Katya to the stairs. "Rylli's napping, so we'll need to be quiet." He murmured as they took the first step, letting himself down a few stairs at a time. His intent was for Katya to hang onto him as they went down, using him as a stepping-stone of sorts. "Alright, just be careful." He warned.

After a few more moments of playing Leapfrog, they finally reached the open-door to the bomb shelter. Its layout hadn't changed much since Katya had been around last, with two fluffy couches arranged in an L-shape, facing a TV with a coffee table separating them. Off to the side was their kitchen, and then the small-ish hallway leading off to the other rooms.

"A lot, I guess. I started off with a beer, because I wanted to pass the time, and I thought maybe someone would stop by like they usually do, but everyone has duties now."

She was lucky to make it downstairs. "So I drank some more, and lost track of time. I got bored and started mixing stuff, too.", She mumbled. She was relieved to see the couch. "What about the kids? Oh, and thanks. I think I just need to close my eyes and relax for now."

[The BranRiech]

"A lot, I guess. I started off with a beer, because I wanted to pass the time, and I thought maybe someone would stop by like they usually do, but everyone has duties now."

She was lucky to make it downstairs. "So I drank some more, and lost track of time. I got bored and started mixing stuff, too.", She mumbled. She was relieved to see the couch. "What about the kids? Oh, and thanks. I think I just need to close my eyes and relax for now."

"Rachelle? Well, probably working on something in her room, and Tolya's with Rylli." Bran shrugged, looking off down the hallway before gently scooping Katya off her feet. He held her for a few minutes, listening to her story. "Oh? Yeah, mixing will do that, you always think you're good, but that's when you realize you're not, eh?" Bran shook his head, gently setting her on the couch, resting her head above the rest of her up on a pillow.

[Torsiedelle]

Katya nodded."I hope I'm not disturbing you, then. I was just lonely.", She admitted. She didn't move from her new position. The couch felt good, and she didn't feel as woozy now that she was laying down.

"Thanks. Oh, and, Bran", She chuckled. "I'm sorry about our argument at that one meeting. Do you think I'm bitter?"

[The BranRiech]

Katya nodded."I hope I'm not disturbing you, then. I was just lonely.", She admitted. She didn't move from her new position. The couch felt good, and she didn't feel as woozy now that she was laying down.

"Thanks. Oh, and, Bran", She chuckled. "I'm sorry about our argument at that one meeting. Do you think I'm bitter?"

The hum of the air conditioner was the only other noise present in the still bomb shelter, with the exception of the two voices chattering. "Not at all. I have nothing to do right now anyways. Did I ever tell you that? I . . . Well, I really don't have to work much anymore. A friend who lived here, not sure if they still do, but a friend left us a lot of money as they left." Bran explained. "As much as I appreciate Socialism, I do admit, I also love the money."

He looked down, and sighed.

"The fight? Oh hell, Katya, I'm over that." Bran suddenly chuckled, waving her off. "We were in the heat of the moment, that was a scary time, in a way. No one knew what was going to happen, and hell, I think everyone got a little bitter over the indecision."

[Primordial Luxa]

Katya nodded."I hope I'm not disturbing you, then. I was just lonely.", She admitted. She didn't move from her new position. The couch felt good, and she didn't feel as woozy now that she was laying down.

"Thanks. Oh, and, Bran", She chuckled. "I'm sorry about our argument at that one meeting. Do you think I'm bitter?"

The hum of the air conditioner was the only other noise present in the still bomb shelter, with the exception of the two voices chattering. "Not at all. I have nothing to do right now anyways. Did I ever tell you that? I . . . Well, I really don't have to work much anymore. A friend who lived here, not sure if they still do, but a friend left us a lot of money as they left." Bran explained. "As much as I appreciate Socialism, I do admit, I also love the money."

He looked down, and sighed.

"The fight? Oh hell, Katya, I'm over that." Bran suddenly chuckled, waving her off. "We were in the heat of the moment, that was a scary time, in a way. No one knew what was going to happen, and hell, I think everyone got a little bitter over the indecision."

"Did someone say my name?" The raw languid voice of Insidious said carrying through the air and a few moments after she posed the question she appeared in the doorway her skin its normal grey and silver hue moving around like a projection of a microscopic world. She had obviously misheard Brans last word but she was also in a narcotic stupor so their were any number of reasons she could think it was appropriate to barrage in on the two of them. "Bran, Katya its been too long. Me and Aegis just got back in town and ive been meaning to see you all."

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

"Uh, yeah. I think that helped."

Well, it sounded like something Gio would say, maybe. Her, or Marcus. She wouldn't lie, she really liked Drova, but he was a boy, and a Prince at that. She was just a country girl with some money from her sister. Still, they'd done a lot together, too. They were there for each other at the ball on Gliese, and then for Valentines Day, and even more....

Maybe she'd led him on. Well, if he was there for her...

"I...", She struggled to say something. "I already had two great girls. They both kind of left, though.", She mumbled. "And I don't know if one of them even thinks about me that way anymore.", She glanced at Tsu. "I'm honestly really confused. Love isn't my expertise. I think it's all cheesy and dumb, but that's because I'm not really as good at making people like me as I am at making them hate me."

Tsu disappeared behind a door and closed it once Torii glanced at her. Edge sighed. " She likely does, she likely thinks about her actions of the past. Also, don't let that fool you, Love can overcome everything! Just go to this wonderful man and admit your love to him!"

Edge giggled as she sat back with a smile. "I wish you luck with your love life~!"

[Torsiedelle]

"I was upset, too.", Katya slurred. "I'm sorry, too. Money is great.", She hiccuped. "I'm glad you're doing well. You should check on my sister sometime."

She looked over at the door, at Insidious, and grunted. "I remember you."

...........

"Wait, what?"

Well, that freaked her out. "Good luck? But, like, you just said that Tsu was...and then, Drova still likes me, and that's too confusing. Did I say something wrong?", She pointed at the door. "Can I maybe talk with Tsu again? I didn't mean anything bad, I'm just really confused, and now I feel more confused."

[The BranRiech]

"Insidious?" Bran's eyes shifted over to the door. His suspicions were confirmed the moment his eyes fell upon the nude form of the woman in the door. Her skin shifting in various abstract patterns that had always made Bran's eyes confused. The splotches of color dancing dizzyingly. "When did you guys get back in town?" He asked, looking up at her head, averting his eyes from the rest of the scantily-clad Luxan.

[Primordial Luxa]

"Insidious?" Bran's eyes shifted over to the door. His suspicions were confirmed the moment his eyes fell upon the nude form of the woman in the door. Her skin shifting in various abstract patterns that had always made Bran's eyes confused. The splotches of color dancing dizzyingly. "When did you guys get back in town?" He asked, looking up at her head, averting his eyes from the rest of the scantily-clad Luxan.

"Just the other day actually." She said entering the room and taking a very relaxed seat with them "Primordial came ahead because he had time to spare, I was busy working however, now where here working with the raptors on some very fun arts and crafts projects" Her skin danced into a web of grey threads against a black back round and she opened a compartment in one of his bracelets revealing several funny colored and shaped pills. She took one and shivered as it hit her throat before extending the jar to the others. "Valium? Anyway I can tell your still angry about...whatever it was we did last time we here Katya. So I apologize for that."

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

"Wait, what?"

Well, that freaked her out. "Good luck? But, like, you just said that Tsu was...and then, Drova still likes me, and that's too confusing. Did I say something wrong?", She pointed at the door. "Can I maybe talk with Tsu again? I didn't mean anything bad, I'm just really confused, and now I feel more confused."

Edge sighed, she took other sip from her drink. " Look, on the subject of Tsu, my little sister is likely still thinking about you, it took me, Teki and Scarlet least a year to convince her to come back and try to make things up, I only really came here to keep a eye on her. Scarlet is to busy with headmistress of our family duties while Teki is to caught up in work, so I came here to see if she is alright."

Edge wanted to ensure the best for her little sister, she was willing to break bone and skin to do so. "I gave up a chance to become a world famous scientist to take care of my sister, she changed alot ever sense a horrid event, a explosion, sent her and some of her friends to the hospital and..well, some are dead. It changed her mind, and a few other things. She lets more things get to her now, she blames it all on her, which is somewhat true. She's no longer a obsessive, crazed and unpredictable Demon. She's a broken angel that can't fly anymore. She wants to fix all of her evil deeds. You can talk to her, but, I doubt she'll change, she's a horse, you can lead her to water but she won't drink..she's more inclined to freezing it and trying to make a giant I'm sorry statue out of it..oh and for Drova, I wish you luck if you plan to ask him out or date him. Tsu will support you the whole way, she's extremely grateful that you even forgave her."

[Torsiedelle]

Katya stuck her hand out part-way. "Please, no, no more drugs. I feel like shit right now, and last night at Zalgo it was cocaine. I messed up.", She moaned.

She rested her head again, so she could see Bran and appreciate Insidious.

.......

"Hmm..."

Torii frowned, and stood up. "I wanna talk to her, then. I learned from my dad that a Man's gotta make things right. I mean, I'm not a man, far from it, but the sentiment is the same. So, you won't mind if I try talking with your sister?"

[Tsuyoi Tekikoku]

"Hmm..."

Torii frowned, and stood up. "I wanna talk to her, then. I learned from my dad that a Man's gotta make things right. I mean, I'm not a man, far from it, but the sentiment is the same. So, you won't mind if I try talking with your sister?"

" Go ahead, I'd like to see her smile, hopefully you can least make her giggle. Her room is the second door on the left, its freezing in their and we don't own coats and while you do that, I gotta get shopping for a new TV. Preferably one that doesn't get nature networks."

Edge took her phone out from her pocket and started surfing the internet. "Wish you luck with Tsu."

[The BranRiech]

"Uh, no thanks." Bran held out his hand, shaking it somewhat in polite refusal. "Well anyways, what kinds of things are you doing with the Raptors?" Bran asked as Insidious sat down next to him, letting Katya have the smaller couch all to herself. The young man scooted a few feet over from the Luxan, however. He'd never ruled out area-effects of being around them. The Luxans, while counted among Bran's circle of friends and trustworthy people, were some of the most decadent people he'd ever met. To Bran, decadence was something to be avoided, but not to the Luxans. They were the ultimate form of bourgeoisie, the enemy of the common worker. It was all just old ideology to Bran though. The apartment was a great equalizer.

[Primordial Luxa]

"Uh, no thanks." Bran held out his hand, shaking it somewhat in polite refusal. "Well anyways, what kinds of things are you doing with the Raptors?" Bran asked as Insidious sat down next to him, letting Katya have the smaller couch all to herself. The young man scooted a few feet over from the Luxan, however. He'd never ruled out area-effects of being around them. The Luxans, while counted among Bran's circle of friends and trustworthy people, were some of the most decadent people he'd ever met. To Bran, decadence was something to be avoided, but not to the Luxans. They were the ultimate form of bourgeoisie, the enemy of the common worker. It was all just old ideology to Bran though. The apartment was a great equalizer.

"Its all Primordial and Neils doing really so I cant say but I think, the illustrious Baron hopes to mass produce a form of ReAnima resuscitation kit. Something to bring the incredibly recently deceased back again." She said "I like to think of it as a Frankenstein Defibrillator. What a marvelous little idea he has to fix death." Insidious seemed quite humorous towards the idea of Primordial's goals it seemed like she didn't fully believe it was possible but at same time entertain it as a grand notion. Truthfully she thought that it was just handing old Luxan tech down to a primitive race and she would love to see all the unintended side effects that such a device could create.

Insidious gave Katya a sympathetic look "My dear you must be careful about those sorts of things, people like me can afford to mindlessly put strange stuff in our body. Have you ever thought about getting a second liver?"

[Torsiedelle]

"Eh, no way.", The woman waved her hand. "I like my body the way it is, sorry."

Through her fuzzy mind, Katya squinted at the two. "Whadya mean raptors? My sister works for them. They're icky.", She giggled. "One of'em licked me once, it was gross."

.........

Torii nodded. "Thanks."

She turned and made her way down the hall, swallowing her anxiety. She looked at Tsu's door, inhaled, and knocked firmly. "Tsu? Can I come in?"

[The BranRiech]

"Mmm."

Bran coughed somewhat.

It wasn't the kind of cough that signaled an illness, or discomfort, but as if requesting attention. "What'd you need to talk to me for?" Bran asked, turning to look at the Luxan woman seated next to him. He had no opinion on whether or not Katya needed a second liver, and wasn't about to weigh in on the idea of popping random pills either. "Uh, I mean, I assume it's important, yes?"