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Post by Vitsheep on Aug 3, 2020 0:27:52 GMT -5
Nora
You head to the address Mattea mentioned, but you don't see a restaurant. You find her waiting outside of a narrow alleyway in her usual fancy dress. She smiles and waves when she sees you. "Hello, Nora! Glad to see you didn't have any trouble finding this place. Shall we?"
She gestures to a small stairway leading down to a dingy-looking wooden door. Mattea seems convinced it leads to a restaurant, but it looks like it could just as easily be some kind of dungeon... in the middle of the city. Admittedly restaurant seems more likely.
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Post by Neo 5.0 on Aug 3, 2020 0:59:59 GMT -5
"Well, either this is a wonderful little spot that only locals know about and I'm in for a real treat, or this is the most obvious attempt ever to get rid of me."
Nora smiles. "How are you, Mattea dear?"
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Vitcity
Aug 4, 2020 19:08:28 GMT -5
Post by Vitsheep on Aug 4, 2020 19:08:28 GMT -5
Nora
"I'm... hm. I've been better. But I think you might be able to help me with that. But before we talk about all that, let's head inside," Mattea says.
You head down the stairs and find a small, grungy diner with a wood decor, decorated with a lot of tacky Western knick-knacks on the walls. "It doesn't look like much, but if you want a classic American burger and fries... and you can stop yourself from worrying about calories for a day... Nothing better." Mattea smiles and orders two double cheeseburgers, fries, sweet tea, and lets Nora pick a milkshake. The order is out soon, and Nora can immediately tell it's one of the most unhealthy, delicious meals she's ever seen.
"So... anyway. About the party the other day... Sorry that it ended in such a scene."
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Post by Neo 5.0 on Aug 6, 2020 1:14:07 GMT -5
"Hm? Are you still worried about that little thing, dear? Don't be. That wasn't even in the top 10 of cataclysmic party endings I've seen. I once saw two barons challenge each other to an old fashioned duel, and the crazy bastards actually went out and did it... Got carted away to the hospital- one with a gunshot wound in the leg and the other with a wound in his ass. Thank heavens they were both lousy shots. Their status didn't much help them with the police, either. We take our gun laws seriously across the big pond."
Nora smiles. "Sorry for the ramble. Point is, you don't need to worry about me being upset or anything. I get that you and Alice have a lot of history together, and really dear, it's none of my business."
She starts digging into her food, foregoing her usual manners. "Oh my... You weren't kidding. This is delicious."
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Vitcity
Aug 6, 2020 21:41:17 GMT -5
Post by Vitsheep on Aug 6, 2020 21:41:17 GMT -5
Nora
"Hm... That's unfortunate." Mattea pouts. "I was hoping you might help me apologize. You do seem to be getting along so well with her after all. Oh, well. I'm not going to press." Mattea concentrates on her burger for a moment. "My reaction was a bit much. But understand when I saw Alice in... that state, I wanted to puke. Getting accused of being the one responsible... I mean, yeah? I played a role? But how the fuck could I have predicted beating her in an election would... y'know?"
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Post by Neo 5.0 on Aug 7, 2020 0:13:04 GMT -5
Nora pauses for a moment to think and finish chewing. She wipes her mouth with a napkin.
"Well, I certainly don't mind helping you apologize, so long as it doesn't put me at a disadvantage being in the middle between you two or the like. Perhaps it would be best if you filled me in on everything that's happened, hm? Alice and I are getting along quite well, yes, but she hasn't spoken to me about the accident or any of the events around it yet. Or any of the events between you two at all, really. I'm not the type to stick my nose into other peoples' business, but you asking me for help is different, dear."
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Post by Vitsheep on Aug 7, 2020 0:37:53 GMT -5
Nora
"Well..." Mattea looks at one of the decorations on the wall for a minute, but it's obvious she's just thinking. "Alice and I used to be really close. Back when we were younger. But when we were freshmen, we both signed up for the school play. And I got the lead role! Alice had a supporting role, but we were on stage together a lot... Anyway. During the first performance, right at the end, she tripped and pulled my pants down. In front of the entire fucking school."
Mattea takes a long sip from her milkshake. "Gods, so embarrassing. People made fun of me for months. Months. And Alice never even apologized for it. All she ever did was insist it was an accident, an accident... God. I just wanted a sorry. Is that so much to ask? I don't even care if she did it on purpose. Anyway. I... maybe got a little spiteful what with all the constant teasing and my 'best friend' not even caring enough to apologize. So. I kinda entered the election, got myself elected president... Petty, sure, but not unreasonable, is it? Anyway."
Mattea pauses and looks around to see whether anyone is listening, then continues quieter. "Anyway, the angel-bitch decided to hold one of our students hostage so we'd give her some soul thing. Alice happened to be staying behind at school doing prep work for me taking over from her, and the school fuck-up loudly asked her for help, and of course she said she'd take care of it, and then that night was the accident. I got a call she was hurt and in the hospital and I freaked the fuck out and ran over there and... ugh. It was so, so bad. but, like... it's a total fucking coincidence that she was there then! It's not my fault! I mean... it's not... I didn't... How could I possibly have seen that coming!?"
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Post by Neo 5.0 on Aug 7, 2020 4:02:38 GMT -5
Nora's silent for a few moments, clearly thinking and mulling over everything before she responds.
"Well, yes, that's clearly not your fault. As a mostly impartial outsider to all this, I can say with certainty that no one with even half a rational brain would say it is, but emotions are hardly rational hm? I can't speak for Alice, but I at least don't blame you."
Nora lowers her voice. "This... 'angel-bitch.' Tell me about them."
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Post by Vitsheep on Aug 8, 2020 1:20:35 GMT -5
Nora
Mattea leans on one arm for a moment. Her phone buzzes and she glances down. "Hm... Sorry." She takes a moment to respond. "Speak of the devil... Leia wants to head back to the beach tonight for 'shoe hunting,' whatever that means. What were... ah, yes. Mercia. Big-ass angel-looking bitch with a bunch of wings and eyes. She had the nerve to take Laura hostage and demand we go get- oh, this is complicated. You don't know all this guardian business, and haven't even met her yet, have you... head of the wrestling team? Anyway. So each section of the Otherworld is ruled by a Guardian, and each Guardian holds a Soul. The angel-bitch is convinced the world is ending or some shit and that only getting all the Souls together will stop it. And she had the balls to come tell us all this after she took Laura hostage and forced us to kill one of the Guardians and hand over the Soul." Mattea pauses. "Well... kinda. The dumbass let Laura go first, so we managed to get her and then run off with the Soul. Oh, she can't just go murder the Guardians and get their Souls herself because of some kind of Guardian-killing Beast things. God, I'm glad you've been to the Otherworld or all this would sound batshit."
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Post by Neo 5.0 on Aug 8, 2020 2:07:14 GMT -5
Nora's silent for a few minutes, slowly eating her food, clearly thinking.
Finally, she says, "You might be surprised what I do and don't believe. But yes, having... seen things firsthand, shall we say, helps greatly. I'm going over to Alice's tonight to talk about this stuff with her more. It's... a lot to take in. Oh, but I can't let my efforts with the play drop, of course... I won't be satisfied with anything less than perfection for my debut on stage here, even if I'll only be at this school for just this year."
I should keep what I've really seen to myself for now... Or is that a mistake? I guess we'll find out...
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Post by Vitsheep on Aug 9, 2020 2:32:03 GMT -5
Nora
Mattea gets another message and sighs with annoyance. "Looks like she's rather insistent about returning to that beach tonight... Would you mind letting Alice know it's a possibility? If it ends up happening I'll let her know." Mattea shakes her head. "I wish Leia was as diligent about not letting this completely dominate her life as you are. I agree with you - I will absolutely not fail to deliver one Hell of a final performance."
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Post by Neo 5.0 on Aug 9, 2020 7:59:04 GMT -5
Nora smiles. "Mm-mm, we'll blow the show out of the water, now won't we? Oh, and I'll let Alice know, of course."
She finishes the last of her food and sets her plate aside, washing it down with the last of her tea. "These lunches with you are truly a pleasure, dear. I'm quite grateful to have someone to show me things like this. It's made settling into my new life here much easier. To show my thanks, I'd like to share a little observation of mine."
She pauses for a moment, turning serious and lowering her voice again. "While it's absolutely true we can't let that other place dominate our lives- nor should we... From what I've seen so far, your friends are in completely over their heads. They may work well together when push comes to shove, but that's not going to be good enough for something like... this. I didn't see a cohesive group at the beach, Mattea dear. It looked like a group of kids my age who got lucky. I think we should start thinking of steps to take this more seriously, and form a proper organization. Now that I'm here, and a part of this, whether I like it or not... I'm not going to abide sloppiness like this."
She reaches into her purse and pulls out a particular VHS tape, sliding it across the table. "I strongly suggest you watch this, then bring it back to me. It's a mall security tape that would shake the foundations of this world, so do be careful with it."
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Vitcity
Aug 10, 2020 0:19:01 GMT -5
Post by Vitsheep on Aug 10, 2020 0:19:01 GMT -5
Nora
"VHS huh? Lucky for you, I'm a bit of a classic movie geek. You say it's a life-changing watch, huh? I'll check it out tomorrow." Mattea looks around and realizes Nora handing over the VHS seems to have drawn a few glances, and not-so-subtly changes the subject. You spend some time talking about other things before going your separate ways for the day.
Nora and Mattea reached Relationship Rank 3!
After you finish dinner, you get a message from Alice. "You still wanted to meet tonight? Is my room good, or did you have anywhere else in mind?"
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Vitcity
Aug 10, 2020 0:45:02 GMT -5
Post by Neo 5.0 on Aug 10, 2020 0:45:02 GMT -5
Nora will text Alice back.
"Your place is fine, dear. I'll see you soon."
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Vitcity
Aug 10, 2020 1:36:57 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Vitsheep on Aug 10, 2020 1:36:57 GMT -5
Nora
You part with Mattea and make for Vitcorp. The doorman greets you and says he was pretty sure you didn't have another shift until Thursday until you explain you're here to visit, which makes him smile. And his statement about working Thursday night is confirmed when you reach the front desk and greet the secretary before she buzzes you down the hall.
You make your way to Alice's makeshift apartment. She opens the door before you can knock, dressed in a t-shirt, shorts, and fuzzy slippers instead of her usual suit. "Hey Nora. Ms. Randall was able to get your suit cleaned up ok. I don't mind keeping it here until your next shift." She lets you in, quickly glances around, and locks the door behind you. "So... Care for a round of chess or some coffee? Or shall we get right to our discussion?"
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