IC INBOX| SCHNEIDER

[unweathered]

@Doves

unweathered

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ABOUT ME

Every job has its price. Contact me if you're certain you can afford mine.

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Message @doves

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[bloodandstars]

No, that's me. Room for another player?

[ She's not actually waiting for Schneider to answer before she's on her way. She can't stand being still right now; games don't sound nearly as satisfying as feeling something break under her fist, but she'll certainly take it.

If Schneider doesn't make good her escape, Maika will be popping through the doorway of the arcade very shortly, scoping out the occupants as casually as can be. ]

[unweathered]

oddly enough a team doesn't sound bad at all

[ Maika will find Schneider in the center of a crowd, gunning down a hoard of zombies on the screen, racking up an impossibly high score already]

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika pauses to watch for a second — she can admire skill in most forms, and she knows a good markswoman when she sees one. Plus, it gives her a moment to figure out what the game is about and how it works. Something about the subject makes a corner of her mouth twitch wryly, but at a level transition when she won't distract Schneider, she steps in to pick up the gun. ]

Planning on leaving me any small fry?

[unweathered]

Despite what some people think, I'm a very generous person.

[ But if Maika has shit aim, that generosity will disappear soon. Bang bang bang!]

[bloodandstars]

If you weren't, it wouldn't've been a warning shot earlier.

[ Maika's familiar with guns, though they're far from her favorite. She's not going to try to compete with Schneider; but there's still something soothing in picking off the targets at the sides, finding which areas Schneider isn't covering and adjusting as she goes. ]

[unweathered]

Oh, you think so?

[ One of those bricks really could have hurt...except Schneider didn't need to shoot it. But she'll tackle the more tricky targets and let Maika get her hands on the rest]

[bloodandstars]

Am I wrong? You decided to use a bullet on that.

[ And unless Schneider's found a place here to replace those, it's a precious resource. It's not the kind of call Maika would have made... but then, she really isn't nice.

When she notices the pattern to the prey Schneider is leaving her, she snorts quietly. But she can't find it in her to argue. Maybe she's taking the parts she likes best for herself. ]

[unweathered]

I didn't feel like cleaning up brains or skull fragments.

[A very crude way of putting it but she has a feeling Maika wont mind. She likes pushing herself skillwise. And up and up goes the high score]

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika's definitely not offended by that. It might actually pull a tiny laugh from her, although she's not breaking her concentration from shooting. ]

You'd do the cleaning? You are sweet. I hope you usually charge extra for that.

[unweathered]

I'll take that as a compliment.

[ She didn't think she'd meet anyone as messed up in the head as she was but here they were]

Oh, normally I'd have my men do it as compensation but since they're not here...

[bloodandstars]

[ Here they were! Just two ladies with fake guns whose worlds probably haven't invented therapy yet. ]

So you have a crew, usually.

[ She's readjusting some things in her mind, but it's not exactly a surprise. ]

[unweathered]

[ Or if they have invented therapy, it's a very barbaric form that may or may not involve an icepick to the brain. So...

Yeah this is healthier]

Mmm. Something like that. I would call them 'family' but we aren't related. I look after them, they do what they're asked. Or what they're not asked.

[They're proactive like that]

[bloodandstars]

Plenty of family isn't related. There's an expression for that— ah, fuck.

[ Incoming zombie in her distraction. It's hard in a video game, where she only has the graphics and flat sounds, and not her own senses. She swings her fake gun to club it, but at least stops the reflex before she hits the screen. ]

...They sound loyal.

[unweathered]

Is there? It must be common enough.

[ She smiles when Maika reacts on instinct because that's exactly how she'd do it too in person]

...they are. Loyal to the end.

[bloodandstars]

[ She's struggling here! What is VR! But she doesn't want to be a liability. She'll break the stupid machine first. ]

That's the expression. "Trust only blood"... trust only the people who'd bleed for you.

[ "To the end" probably was literal for Schneider, wasn't it? She lets out a short, quiet sigh. ]

[unweathered]

Ah. I think a lot of people could understand that.

[At some point, even Schneider can't keep up with the swarm of incoming zombies, as per the game design and she begins to cuss under her breath. Stupid unbeatable game.]

[bloodandstars]

I thought you would, at least.

[ They're a lot alike, though she's not quite saying that. It's probably not a compliment, even coming from her.

But the tide of zombies seizes her more immediate attention. She hisses in irritation as more get through her shots, chewing through her HP in short order. ]

Fucking pieces of shit... [ Although she's listening attentively to Schneider's muttering. ] ...What was that one?

[unweathered]

Mm? Porca puttana...it is more like 'damn it' but if I want to be more literal...

[She sighs a little as a game over screen flashes amid zombie groans]

"Pig slut"? That is how we say it?

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika snorts a little at that, eyes crinkling in amusement. That takes the sting out of the rigged loss at least a little. ]

Porca puttana. That's evocative. I'm taking that.

[unweathered]

Oh, there are curses you need to add to your list?

[Putting away the gun. She's feeling a bit pouty about the rigged loss but at least they will hold the high score for quite some time]

[bloodandstars]

Always. And that'll give me one more tool to disappoint— someone back in my world.

[ The language might even be close enough to map. Even better. Maika stretches as she eyes the high score. ]

Is everything in this place this rigged?

[unweathered]

It's like a modern day casino, isn't it? Flashing lights and all.

[ Hmph. Time to find another game. She eyes Maika speculatively and points out a hammer machine]

Lets try that one.

[bloodandstars]

Sounds about right. I can't say I've been to many of those either... that was never my vice.

[ Maybe the only one she missed? But she's amenable to Schneider's suggestion and strolls over, picking up the hammer to swing it curiously. ]

Huh. So all we do is hit things?

[ FINALLY. ]

[unweathered]

Let me put a token in...but if you can make it hit the top, you get the grand prize.

[Obvious displays of strength are not her forte. She'll just let Maika handle this one]

[bloodandstars]

Now I'm wondering if they paid the goddess to turn us all human.

[ But you know what? Shows of strength should still be her forte. Once Schneider puts the coin in, Maika swings her arm one more time and brings the hammer down... with a 19 because I stupidly rolled for this but for once the dice and I agreed?? ]