Mission 6b - Let's get ready to rumble!!!

"Oh..." Megumi replies, a bit of anxiety in her voice. How can she be so trusting? "Well when i say self defense training, i don't mean jump into the fray and be a hero." she tries to clarify while trying to remove that image from her head, "Its more for in case the runner is after you, or someone personal to you. Unfortunately Cowboy Sheriff usually gets dispatched during mid threat, or afterwards. Not to mention i usually don't get much in the way of helping the common citizens the majority of the time."

"Your right," Megumi replies, "the last thing we need is to lose you."

She blushes mumbling the last words, hastily getting up from her seat, "It has been nice talking to you, but i have to talk to Jacques in the morning about balancing my schedule." She starts to walk away, embarrassed for taking advantage of an inebriated woman.

Pretti gently takes MK’s hand, unless her body language indicates she shouldn’t. “Of course I won’t die for the mission. That’s how Emiko’s girl died. For nothing.

“But I do care… and caring isn’t weakness. When people care, they help each other survive. Like the medic. She cared, at least enough to tell me what she told Emiko’s girl. I thought of you when the medic spoke, and I listened.” Pretti lowers her head. “I just wish I’d said something to Emiko’s girl. I was afraid I’d offend her… she spent a week training me, so who was I to give her advice? And five minutes later… she’s dead.”

If Pretti is still confused about her cyber-eyes, the blurry vision confirms what Marie was saying about tear ducts.

“I promise you, Marie… I won’t make her mistake.” Saying the word ‘mistake’ hurts to the point that Pretti can’t say anything more. She ‘knows’ Setsuko was targeted—it’s obvious to her! But she also knows that Setsu’s critics are... well, they’re wrong, but they have a point. She could’ve gone to the healing tent. Then she’d be alive... and the Tiger’s outrider would be alive too. And Emiko and a wife and a daughter wouldn’t have to hurt so much.

If I just spoke up... her death is MY mistake.

Megumi pauses before she goes, looking embarrassed as she replies, "Well maybe i can stay a little longer." nervousness wracks her, "I am actually not used to people being comfortable around me."

"That is, if you want me to stay." Socializing is not one of her best suits, especially after years of fear from others, and her work.

At this point, Pretti’s too much of a teary mess to say much. “I promise,” she manages.

Megumi laughs, both out of embarrassment and humor as she reseats herself, "Your right," she replies, trying to hold back laugher and the pain from her wounds, holding her sides, "I think you would have more fun listening to me bitch about my relationship problems," she says partially jokingly. Regaining her composure, she continues, "Trying to find a partner, yet alone a lover is difficult for me. I have practically given up on me, as the majority of them tend to find reasons for me to arrest them, followed by thinking a few crocodile tears, and the night we had, and love, will make me rethink my responsibilities. As for women...I tend to be more shy and have that looming fear consume me. It makes me wonder if anyone is trustable anymore, or do they love me for my power?"

She smiles sweetly, "Where do you suggest i look?"

Pretti gives Marie a goodnight kiss, and she isn’t sure at what point her face is on the pillow, or whether the kiss was a minute ago, or did she sleep for several minutes and wake up again? She doesn’t even look up to see if MK is still awake or still by her side as she says, “You’re not an asshole. That’s why I love you: for not being an asshole.”

That will have to pass for both sweetness and humor, until Pretti has the energy to do either properly.

Pretti’s alarm wakes her. She forgot to turn it off, but it’s just as well. She sends messages to people, asking them to meet.

• Emiko: Pretti simply writes, “hope all is well; let me know when we can meet.”
• Green Machine: Pretti expresses an interest in meeting “sometime this week to talk about training.”
• Three-Pie-Oh: Pretti expresses an interest in meeting him to make sure her cyber’s in order.

((Answers can wait until official downtime.))

Satisfied she started the day looking out for herself, Pretti considers MK. I can make waffles, she thinks. Then she actually thinks. The hell I can!

[2] bars & clubs

What’s a place she knows that makes really great waffles? A breakfast date! That sounds like a better start to the day than the waffle iron triggering the smoke alarm. She lays out some clothes, and if MK’s still in bed, Pretti might get some more rest. She lies down near MK, perpendicular to her so her head is close to her girl, and her talons are six feet away from her.

And if we oversleep, lunch dates are good too.

Megumi giggles with her "Your right. Work has consumed my life for far too long, and i need to find a healthier balance." She mentions the last few words slightly more seductively before outstretching her hand, "Where are my manners? I'm Megumi."

Megumi laughs heartily at that, "Nah, if anything, i am hoping my ancestors see my means to better myself, compared to clumping me with my family's dishonor."

After an hour (or... hours), Pretti wakes up MK. “Either we eat out, or you lay here and I’ll do the eating out.”

[1] Charisma

Pretti’s words may have passed for a weird joke at best. She doesn’t have the energy to be seductive. Hopefully, MK sees this is at least an improvement over last night’s joyless homecoming.

"Your right," Megumi blushes and laughs, "I have been a shut in for the majority of my life, so i haven't really known what small talk looks like." She replies in a bit of a flirty style, "I could always do with some lessons."

Pretti replies, “I am sad, but I don’t wanna drag you into my private hell. I made some calls this morning. One was to Three-Pie-Oh, to make sure my cyber’s fully functional.

“As for what you can do for me... just come with me. I shouldn’t be alone right now. It’s hard to unsee that woman being murdered.” Especially when your cybereyes can replay the video.

What she can replay is the coach’s showing of it, along with his dismissal that it was intended, despite that scout’s insane stunt. If alone on a train, Pretti would likely watch the killing over and over, hating the killer more and more every viewing. That can’t be healthy.

Tears start to flow. This is no act. “Or we can have food brought to us if you don’t think I should go to Three-Pie-Oh today. Whatever we do, I shouldn’t be alone today. I really should not be alone today.”

She wipes her cheek.

“Oh fuck. Are you working today?”

Pretti showers and dresses, clad in an outfit that is sort of business-casual with a miniskirt. Even that will need to be removed for the check-up.

And possibly her top. MK might see what the magical healing couldn’t hide after the fact.

For now, she doesn’t concern herself with that. MK can be with her and the Doc, or hang back in the waiting room. Either way, Pretti’s happy to have the company.

Megumi blushes, realizing her probing could have caused her more embarrassment than she anticipated. She really has been a shut in for too long. So she decides to go the safe route and asks, "So what do you like doing for fun?"

After breakfast (the disappointing waffles in plastic wrap—a convenient choice so MK won’t be late for work), Pretti says to MK, “Let me know if you want to go out tonight. Or we can try a new series. There’s one called Wanna Be the Strongest in the World. It’s about girls’ wrestling.

“I’m guessing it’ll be like that boys’-swimming one we finished, as far as both rivalry and overfriendliness goes. But I’m interested in the topic. I left a message with Sun’s girlfriend, hoping to get a little more training. I mean, yeah, the wrestling is choreographed, but ya gotta have the real skill to look good onstage.”

Pretti’s eyes fall to her own metal legs.

“I looked good onstage the night I lost my legs. I wonder if the accident never happened, if we still would’ve somehow met anyway. Maybe I could’ve danced for a show at Brightworld.”

By now, MK knows Pretti doesn’t bemoan the incident. It’s what brought Pretti and MK together.

Pretti never brought up a what-if before.