Five days from today in Drasnia, that's when they'd hit the ship. After spending several hours analyzing the data, Bennie was certain it was their best option. Of course, he'd want a second pair of eyes to look over the data before he'd commit to it. Probably Whiskey's.
Leaning back in his seat, Bennie wiped some sweat off his brow and sighed heavily. He was feeling antsy. He'd planned plenty of scores on his own, but usually he was working alone or with a small group of mercenaries. This was different though. These were inexperienced kids and he was responsible for their safety.
This must have been what Cranston felt like back then...
Forcing himself onto his feet, Bennie trudged out of his room and into the hall. He could hear the rhythmic thumping of dance music as it echoed down the hollow corridors of the Maiden. Despite himself, he followed its sweet siren song.
Bennie stood at the entrance to the mess hall, the heavy bass shaking his heart, and watched his new Maidens as they danced and drank and laughed together. It was more nostalgic than he'd anticipated. At times like this, Pixie would have been the center of attention. Maybe she'd be fully clothed, maybe not, but everyone in the room would be waiting their turn to grind up against her, even when she and Bennie were an item. Pixie was just like that. A little spitfire of a woman whose mere presence electrified the atmosphere.
He missed her so much.
Bennie couldn't help but smile at Sprout's awkward helplessness. Despite acting like a badass, it was clear he still had no idea what it meant to follow in his mother's footsteps. There he was, standing with his hands around Amy's hips as she writhed and gyrated against his pelvis, completely lost as to what to do.
Then there was Brock, partying with two young women on either side of him. Upon closer inspection, Bennie recognized them as the two girls he'd found on Austin's ship. They hadn't adjusted too well to their new home, but now... they looked genuinely happy. In fact, almost everyone did.
Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all, Amy.
Pouring himself some (likely spiked) punch, Bennie made his way over to Whiskey, who had been dancing innocently with her small daughter. Grinning, the big man looked to the little girl. "Mind if I steal your mom for a minute?" he asked her. His sunglasses off for once, Bennie very obviously gave the woman the once-over.
He couldn't remember the last time he danced.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Taking a breather, Sprout forced himself away from Amy's cute, little booty and went to get a drink. She was amazing and the Sprout had absolutely no hope of keeping up with her. Not that he even knew how to keep up in the first place. This was his mother's natural habitat, but he had to admit, he was intimidated. For all his talk, Sprout really didn't have a clue about this stuff. His previously simple concept of sexuality was expanding at an accelerated rate, and he was having a hard time processing it all.
Come on Sprout, stop beenin' such a god damn pansy. Yer Ma'd know what ta' do in this situation.
Sprout immediately regretted that thought.
Too busy scolding himself to notice her, Sprout bumped into the little redhead on his way over to the punch bowl. Looking down at Allie, Sprout winced. "Oh, sorry kid," he muttered. "I didn' see ya' there."
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Asad had gone downstairs to wash up, leaving Elizabeth to watch the sun rise alone. He had drawn back the curtains just like she asked.
The shy fireball peaked its head over the horizon, basking the sterile room in its warm, orange light. Despite what had happened earlier, Elizabeth could still appreciate the simple beauty of such phenomenon. The sun was so far removed. It was infinitely powerful, and bowed to no one. It rose and fell across the sky, and would continue to do so regardless as to what happened on the surface of the Rock. It was free.
She envied it.
Though utterly drained, the wounded noble couldn't go back to sleep. In fact, she felt even more alert after the nurse administered a second dose of pain killers. Her wound was throbbing, but it didn't actually hurt that much anymore.
She'd already forgotten how it felt.
She'd survived being shot and stabbed; something few other nobles could boast about. Usually they had servants to take their injuries for them. When she thought about it, Elizabeth could hardly even call herself a noble anymore. It wasn't just because of her ideology, either.
A noble was defined by their power. Their ability to manipulate and control others. To live above them. Right now, Elizabeth was little more than a slave, whose influence only stretched as far as Asad's willpower allowed. Having the Major may have been something, but it wasn't enough. If she didn't escape this tower, she'd end up just like her sister sooner or later.
Elizabeth didn't have the strength to torture herself over such thing, however. No, her thoughts quickly found themselves somewhere else. Somewhere warmer.
She missed them gravely: her family, Josephine, Eddie, Cranston, Lilith, Sprout and Maria. For those that yet lived, she wondered where they were; what they were doing. She wondered if she'd ever see them again. Something told her she would. Something told her that she'd escape this tower and that she would avenge the fallen and reunite with those that remained. After all, she had learned a valuable lesson.
She learned, finally, that she could trust others again. After all those sacrifices made in her defense, Elizabeth had become obsessed with the idea of saving herself. She didn't want anymore people to die on her behalf. That mentality hadn't gotten her very far, however. Despite her strength, she would not survive this alone.
Asad was willing to help her and he was more than capable. He would survive this and he would remain at her side long after it was all over. She had to believe that.
Her distant, emotionless frown turned into a sad smile as the sun creeped higher over the horizon.
We can beat them, Asad. Together, we can beat anyone.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************
It was beyond late now. Tsubaki wasn't sure how long they'd spent together on that rooftop, but she had savored every minute of it. In her drunken stupor, she'd apparently poured her heart out to Merry, though she honestly couldn't remember all that was said. Still, Merry's smile was genuine and sweet, which told her that whatever she had said, it had struck a cord in her friend.
The two of them walked in the dark, together now, and finally stopped near the front gate of the tower. "Well, I aught to be heading back now," Merry told her. "I got a long day tomorrow and I am digging a hole deeper, and deeper the longer I stay out."
Tsubaki pouted. "Sad day," she said. "Well, I had a great time. Thanks for... well, listening to me and everything. I'm sure it got pretty annoying. Especially when... you know, in the bathroom."
Merry laughed and pulled the girl in for a hug. "Don't mention it sweetheart," she said. "You listened to me too. I really needed that. You're a good kid, Tsubaki."
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Tsubaki concluded sadly.
Pixie kissed her on the cheek. "Goodbye for now," she corrected with a wink. "Now quit moping and get some sleep, okay? You've got work in the morning."
Tsubaki blushed and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Good bye, Merry," she whispered sheepishly.
"Goodbye, Tsubaki."
After taking a few steps towards the checkpoint, Merry called out to the retreating soldier. "Hey Tsubaki, in that dream of yours... do you ever take that dive?"
Tusbaki turned her head and shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted, "I always wake up before I decide."
And with that, the two girls went their separate ways.
Leaning back in his seat, Bennie wiped some sweat off his brow and sighed heavily. He was feeling antsy. He'd planned plenty of scores on his own, but usually he was working alone or with a small group of mercenaries. This was different though. These were inexperienced kids and he was responsible for their safety.
This must have been what Cranston felt like back then...
Forcing himself onto his feet, Bennie trudged out of his room and into the hall. He could hear the rhythmic thumping of dance music as it echoed down the hollow corridors of the Maiden. Despite himself, he followed its sweet siren song.
Bennie stood at the entrance to the mess hall, the heavy bass shaking his heart, and watched his new Maidens as they danced and drank and laughed together. It was more nostalgic than he'd anticipated. At times like this, Pixie would have been the center of attention. Maybe she'd be fully clothed, maybe not, but everyone in the room would be waiting their turn to grind up against her, even when she and Bennie were an item. Pixie was just like that. A little spitfire of a woman whose mere presence electrified the atmosphere.
He missed her so much.
Bennie couldn't help but smile at Sprout's awkward helplessness. Despite acting like a badass, it was clear he still had no idea what it meant to follow in his mother's footsteps. There he was, standing with his hands around Amy's hips as she writhed and gyrated against his pelvis, completely lost as to what to do.
Then there was Brock, partying with two young women on either side of him. Upon closer inspection, Bennie recognized them as the two girls he'd found on Austin's ship. They hadn't adjusted too well to their new home, but now... they looked genuinely happy. In fact, almost everyone did.
Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all, Amy.
Pouring himself some (likely spiked) punch, Bennie made his way over to Whiskey, who had been dancing innocently with her small daughter. Grinning, the big man looked to the little girl. "Mind if I steal your mom for a minute?" he asked her. His sunglasses off for once, Bennie very obviously gave the woman the once-over.
He couldn't remember the last time he danced.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Taking a breather, Sprout forced himself away from Amy's cute, little booty and went to get a drink. She was amazing and the Sprout had absolutely no hope of keeping up with her. Not that he even knew how to keep up in the first place. This was his mother's natural habitat, but he had to admit, he was intimidated. For all his talk, Sprout really didn't have a clue about this stuff. His previously simple concept of sexuality was expanding at an accelerated rate, and he was having a hard time processing it all.
Come on Sprout, stop beenin' such a god damn pansy. Yer Ma'd know what ta' do in this situation.
Sprout immediately regretted that thought.
Too busy scolding himself to notice her, Sprout bumped into the little redhead on his way over to the punch bowl. Looking down at Allie, Sprout winced. "Oh, sorry kid," he muttered. "I didn' see ya' there."
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Asad had gone downstairs to wash up, leaving Elizabeth to watch the sun rise alone. He had drawn back the curtains just like she asked.
The shy fireball peaked its head over the horizon, basking the sterile room in its warm, orange light. Despite what had happened earlier, Elizabeth could still appreciate the simple beauty of such phenomenon. The sun was so far removed. It was infinitely powerful, and bowed to no one. It rose and fell across the sky, and would continue to do so regardless as to what happened on the surface of the Rock. It was free.
She envied it.
Though utterly drained, the wounded noble couldn't go back to sleep. In fact, she felt even more alert after the nurse administered a second dose of pain killers. Her wound was throbbing, but it didn't actually hurt that much anymore.
She'd already forgotten how it felt.
She'd survived being shot and stabbed; something few other nobles could boast about. Usually they had servants to take their injuries for them. When she thought about it, Elizabeth could hardly even call herself a noble anymore. It wasn't just because of her ideology, either.
A noble was defined by their power. Their ability to manipulate and control others. To live above them. Right now, Elizabeth was little more than a slave, whose influence only stretched as far as Asad's willpower allowed. Having the Major may have been something, but it wasn't enough. If she didn't escape this tower, she'd end up just like her sister sooner or later.
Elizabeth didn't have the strength to torture herself over such thing, however. No, her thoughts quickly found themselves somewhere else. Somewhere warmer.
She missed them gravely: her family, Josephine, Eddie, Cranston, Lilith, Sprout and Maria. For those that yet lived, she wondered where they were; what they were doing. She wondered if she'd ever see them again. Something told her she would. Something told her that she'd escape this tower and that she would avenge the fallen and reunite with those that remained. After all, she had learned a valuable lesson.
She learned, finally, that she could trust others again. After all those sacrifices made in her defense, Elizabeth had become obsessed with the idea of saving herself. She didn't want anymore people to die on her behalf. That mentality hadn't gotten her very far, however. Despite her strength, she would not survive this alone.
Asad was willing to help her and he was more than capable. He would survive this and he would remain at her side long after it was all over. She had to believe that.
Her distant, emotionless frown turned into a sad smile as the sun creeped higher over the horizon.
We can beat them, Asad. Together, we can beat anyone.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************
It was beyond late now. Tsubaki wasn't sure how long they'd spent together on that rooftop, but she had savored every minute of it. In her drunken stupor, she'd apparently poured her heart out to Merry, though she honestly couldn't remember all that was said. Still, Merry's smile was genuine and sweet, which told her that whatever she had said, it had struck a cord in her friend.
The two of them walked in the dark, together now, and finally stopped near the front gate of the tower. "Well, I aught to be heading back now," Merry told her. "I got a long day tomorrow and I am digging a hole deeper, and deeper the longer I stay out."
Tsubaki pouted. "Sad day," she said. "Well, I had a great time. Thanks for... well, listening to me and everything. I'm sure it got pretty annoying. Especially when... you know, in the bathroom."
Merry laughed and pulled the girl in for a hug. "Don't mention it sweetheart," she said. "You listened to me too. I really needed that. You're a good kid, Tsubaki."
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Tsubaki concluded sadly.
Pixie kissed her on the cheek. "Goodbye for now," she corrected with a wink. "Now quit moping and get some sleep, okay? You've got work in the morning."
Tsubaki blushed and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Good bye, Merry," she whispered sheepishly.
"Goodbye, Tsubaki."
After taking a few steps towards the checkpoint, Merry called out to the retreating soldier. "Hey Tsubaki, in that dream of yours... do you ever take that dive?"
Tusbaki turned her head and shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted, "I always wake up before I decide."
And with that, the two girls went their separate ways.
