INACTIVE

Nemo just had to get out to the city - staying away from people for a while did make her feel restless and miss the party. Besides, what bad could one drink do? Any danger she might have been in... surely passed already. It had been months since she moved anyway.

Sitting at the bar, Nemo did catch a stare from a man across the room, but she just kept mixing the drink she ordered with a straw lazily. Okay, maybe she smiled at the man a time or two, but it didn't mean she really wanted anything else - just an evening at the bar, a drink and then home. Walking at night didn't make her feel all that well still, so Nemo wanted to be out before the streets deserted.

Still, she was in no hurry to finish her drink. Nemo shifted on the stool to put one leg over the other, the cut in the dress parting at the tight, totally by accident. And completely by accident, she turned the stool a little to the side to see the man better. | @twoquartsofelbowgrease​

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It was always nice to take a break from all the danger - and from wearing armour nearly all day every day. Unfortunately it was a necessity, as annoying as it was, but days like these, where he was caught up on all the work he had to do and had everything planned out nicely, Scout was eager to take the opportunity and take a night out for himself. Technically, he could do that whenever, because he decided when he wanted to organise all of his work, but sometimes opportunity came when you least expected.

You always had to be ready for anything.

His thoughts were distracted by one of the people at the bar, who he flashed a wink at when she caught his gaze. Huh. Maybe he might have company, for a little while, at least. And if she didn’t mind it, of course. Scout gave a little laugh to himself when she just so happened to angle herself on the stool so she could observe him better.

May as well play his cards now, hm? He pushed himself up, approaching, settling on the barstool beside her. “What’re you doin’ in a place like this? You look way better than everyone else loungin’ around here.” And he’d never seen her here before, though he wasn’t exactly a regular. Scout was here enough to know some of the people who were regulars though, and on occasion he’d drink with them too - sometimes they’d be kind enough to pay for his drinks, other times they’d catch on to what he did when he clued them in, and end up hiring him for some work.

[ bloom ]   -   for flowers to bloom on my muse where your muse was injured. | Core and Sam | @awoken-lights​

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Coreopsis was...interesting. The way they so easily navigated the dangerous waters of getting to know bounty hunters, and somehow had come out unscathed, instead managing to get on the good side of most of them. Perhaps it was the weapons, or the repairs that were offered regardless of what they were going to be used for, or perhaps it was just their friendly demeanour, and the fact that Sam knew most others didn’t see them as any sort of threat. Sam had witnessed Core’s fury before, presuming that if they wanted to do some damage, they certainly would.

Now it was quite the opposite, Core had been injured in a firefight. But that hadn’t been the first thing on Sam’s mind, instead it had been the awful feeling on their shoulder. Not quite pain, but certainly something near it, but underneath their armour they didn’t have the time to check what it was. It could be dealt with once they were out of fire, and once they had brought Coreopsis to safety too.

And so they picked Core up, tending to their wounds swiftly, doing all the routine things they had to. Aside from lingering longer on the injury site, a worry setting in that Sam wasn’t accustomed to. Whenever they did this, they fixed someone up, and then went on their way. Or they left them behind. Core was different, Sam cared a lot about Core, even if they’d probably never admit that. 

People were always dangerous in bounty hunting, and regardless of all the friends Coreopsis had made, there were some who would quite easily turn on them just because they didn’t like Sam. 

Sam was certain any feelings would pass,

Fate had a different sense of what was to happen though, since when Sam returned to somewhere more safe, less open so they could remove their helmet without fear of anyone seeing their face, the odd feeling in their shoulder was still there. So they checked what it was.

[TXT -> Maine]

Carolina watched the screen with anticipation, almost worried when nothing aside from the little emoticon popped up. But...admittedly, the next message made her laugh, just a little. Okay, that was kind of a dick move.

[msg]: Look, I got thrown off a cliff. I’d say we’re equal.

Even if the thought dredged up mixed feelings to say the least, it was what came to mind. Silence for a few more moments.

[msg]: Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Aside from letting you kick me out a building to get properly equal.

Texas pulled Church into her lap as he was passing by. She held him firmly with one arm, so he could complain only with words, not with wiggling himself away. "Hot chocolate?" With the other hand, Tex was stirring the warm, sweet liquid in a cup in front of them. "Though, I'm afraid we have to share, I only made one." She smiled, picking one of the marshmallows off of the top and putting it between her teeth. Turning her face to him, Tex raised an eyebrow playfully, offering the marshmallow to Church this way. | @twoquartsofelbowgrease​

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As he was walking past, Church certainly didn’t expect to be pulled to the side, even if he had noticed Tex sitting there. He gave a noise akin to a squawk of disbelief, frowning at her as he was pulled into her lap. “You can’t keep doing that.” Of course she could, and probably would, there was nothing Church would do to stop her, but he’d still complain about it.

The hot chocolate certainly caught his attention. Coffee was a daily ritual for Church to handle whatever stupid bullshit the day threw at him, but he had just as much of a sweet tooth as a craving for caffeine.

It had been a while since they'd last seen each other, but Michigan smiled soft and warm nonetheless when she saw Nebraska. "Hey you," she said softly, knowing that he could be spooked easily, especially after...well...everything with his AI.

Keeping her movements slow and easily visible, she gently took his hand and led him to the couch. Having him sit down next to her, she slowly pulled him in for a cuddle and moved a blanket to be over them as a movie he liked played softly in the background. "I've missed hanging out with you Neb." She confessed softly. | @awoken-lights

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Walking out from the kitchen with a cat in his arms, a little smile crept onto the corners of Nebraska's lips. Leaf jumped onto the ground to run over to Michigan, and Nebraska was soon to follow, giving a small laugh when he was pulled towards the couch. "I was making popcorn, y'know." Any fight that was in his voice about going to get it was lost as soon as he was covered by the blanket.

Leaf was quick to snuggle up between them on top of the blanket too, kneading gently for a few moments before settling. He'd missed this too; Nebraska was good at avoiding people now, a fear that something might happen, whether to him or to them, yet every time he actually worked up the courage to go out and see people instead of just phasing through the regular routines of life, it always felt great. Or when people came to see him.

Recently he'd been in a better state, willing to talk to others about how he felt, and how it felt before - something which he'd kept locked up for a long time.

Things were always different now, though Nebraska liked to think he was getting better. Even as he froze when Shrike's hand landed on his shoulder, despite the warning, he was quick to metaphorically shrug it off, accepting the hug with a grateful sigh. It was nice to know people cared, always something Nebraska feared, that they'd just move on without him.

At least if that happened he'd finally get some rest, but...it was always nicer with other people, like right now. Seeing as Shrike's helmet was off, Nebraska removed his own, setting it gently to the side. Such a small gesture may seem miniscule to most, but to Nebraska, it was a motion of trust. His helmet felt like a protective layer, beyond just its literal function as armour, but he felt safe with Shrike. He was about to protest as the other brought them down onto a pile of blankets and pillows.

"I think rest is the first in a long list of things we deserve. Maybe some food too?" He joked quietly, though he would be happy to make something. Ari would probably do a better job than whatever he did when it came to preparing food, but he would still try.

...Maybe in a few minutes.

Admittedly, the fire had terrified him too. A lot of things terrified him now, especially with other people around. There was always the voice in the back of his mind - one that he was now unsure of the fact it wasn't real, after having that damn thing in his head. Nebraska was certainly getting better, it was mostly at night when he tried to sleep, the nightmares that plagued his thoughts of something he should be sorry for, something he should've done. That eventually turned to fear of what exactly he could've done to warrant such strong feelings.

It was nothing. Nothing Nebraska had done at least. He had known something was wrong with the Project, all the A.I. fragments, and it had only helped to burrow the fragment further into his mind when he found out it was literally a part of a fractured personality. He should've done something to put an end to its suffering.

The box did pique his curiosity though, and Nebraska tentatively reached out. Switch was never that bad, Nebrask recalled them yelling at him a fee times back in Freelancer, but he'd never viewed it as anything different than Ari when she got frustrated or annoyed. That was just their way of expressing those emotions.

Icy blue eyes seemed to melt a little at the offered gifts, shining with happiness and amusement - a stark contrast to the usual closed off and cold look they bore.

Sarge came up to Griff, finding him in the kitchen as if there was nothing else he should be doing. As custom for the man, he started to yell. "Griff! Why can I see you?! I shouldn't be able to see you! It's the camouflage day, not BE THE MOST VISIBLE IDIOT AROUND HERE DAY!" | @twoquartsofelbowgrease

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Grif had been very happily minding his own business. It wasn’t hard to tell that he’d been avoiding Sarge for practically the whole day, and when Simmons questioned what he had been doing, Grif had the perfect deflection of really considering what they were doing here, passing those thoughts off to Simmons. Perhaps those thoughts were something incredibly deep and meaningful, much more so than the purpose he was using them for: to get out of patrolling the cliffs.

Patrolling the cliffs was the worst, there was always the chance they’d meet the Blues up there, and then stupid shit would happen, and Sarge would get all riled up. Then again when wasn’t he?

Right now only emphasised that point.