@MercuryNH
Yoshimi? The Xiao girl from the Machine? Frankly, he wasn't fond of people from the Machine. A bunch of tinkerers and mechanics, working for the industrialism of Kokotha sure. But because they were so closely died to the government, he couldn't trust them, being the criminal that he was. As she dismissed his offer of bacon, he took the place away, taking a bite of it himself.

Well... Anyways, he said, chewing on the bite of bacon. I've kinda had to... Go into hiding for a bit. Back at that manor, we kinda pissed off not just the Children, but a few other people in the black market, ya see. I'm sure a few Drekka members aren't too fond of us crashing the party. You're not known in the market as I am and let's just say there are a few people there that would use anything as an excuse to kill me or fuck me up. He shrugged, acceptant of the state he's gotten himself into, not quite happy about it, And you?

@Patches

Oh, good. Well, at least, like he said, she isn't well known in the black market groups. Her scene is the underground fighting circuit. She hadn't realized she was working with a known criminal, but she supposes that wasn't exactly important at the time. As for what she'd been doing since then...

"Oh, y'know... Making some money in underground fight tournaments, using the prize money to pay for a room at some little inn nearby. Use some for the room, use some for food, save the rest for travel."

Truth be told, she's a long way from where she felt was home. Despite being born in this very city, the temple of the Covenant in Xiao was much more a home than New Wickborough had ever felt like, and she even still has family here. Not that she and her family get along well.

"That job was a nice little bonus, too. Too bad the adrenaline kept me awake for a few nights. Not really used to things like that."

Now that she mentions it, she does look a bit tired, dark bags just starting to form under her eyes. She's a tough girl, though. She's already getting back to normal. Those bags beneath her eyes looked far worse a few days ago than they do now.

@MercuryNH

Fighting rings? Those nasty things? Gregor would sometimes go to them and bet on fighters, but would never in his life attend one as a combatant. Most of the time they'd take away your weapons and do it hand to hand, Gregor was nothing without his gun. I'm saving up most of my payment. Ya know, save for a rainy day? Maybe if I ever go on a vacation, I'll spend it all. I've been told that Gishka is fine this time of year. As tempting as it was to spend it all on gambling, booze, and women... Gregor did want to watch his spending habits.

Taking a sip of his coffee, he added, You say you travel though? You're not from around here are you? That attire doesn't look into fashion around these parts.

@Patches

"Hm? Oh, well, I was born here, but home life wasn't treating me well... Lucky me, I met the master of the Covenant's body branch."

In the middle of her explanation, her order arrives. Before continuing, she tears into a piece of bacon, taking a short moment to enjoy the fatty meat strip before continuing.

"The Covenant...is an old order of monks, based in Xiao... I studied there for eight years. Academics, martial arts, magic control, stuff like that. Don't really know much about the history of the place, never was the best history student. This is just the body branch's uniform. I could wear the full-sized gi if I wanted to, but...nah."

Her explanation complete, she falls silent and settles into her meal, probably eating a little bit faster than she should. It's been a while since she'd had a meal like this, and clearly she's finding it hard to resist for long enough to savor a bite.

@MercuryNH
The Covenant? He had only heard of them in passing. He was ready to point out that she was eating bacon despite refusing his offer earlier, but she continued with her explanation on what the Covenant was.

Interesting... Y'know, I was born and raised in Kokotha as well. Rad a bit of a rough upbringing, but I made by with what I could get. Didn't get picked up by any jaded martial artists or anything though. he said, briefly pondering just what that would've been like, how things would be if they swapped lives. He did engage in a round of fisticuffs if the moment called for them, but no martial arts.

@Patches

"Pff, jaded my ass. That old man's as lively and passionate as I've seen anyone. Takes real good care of his students and dojo."

She seems to think rather highly of the master, whoever he may be. Gregor may notice that she's already halfway done with her meal, and it hadn't been in front of her more than a minute or two. Seems the girl has a rather extensive appetite despite what she'd said about maintaining her figure. Though, if he could see her workout regiment, he may not be quite as surprised that she can eat like she does.

"I can't help but wonder if he ever plans on coming back here... Kinda miss the old bugger, but I'm not ready to go back just yet."

@MercuryNH

Girl ate a lot. He just hoped that she was the paying for her own meal. A person is nothing without a good upbringing is what I say. The childhood and teenage years are the most important part. Makes you who ya are. Gregor said, crossing his arms. But, if I ever see an old Xiao man who lives passionately but takes car of his students, I'll flag him towards you.

@Patches

"Well, if we wanna go by that, guess I'm doomed to not amount to much."

After a few short minutes, she has finished off her meal, and pulls a neatly folded stack of bills from her pack, counting out the cash to pay for her food.

"A lot of my time was spent learning to pickpocket or steal food from vendors since mom liked to spend her money at speakeasies... There was one vendor I was on good terms with, so I could get free stuff from time to time, but it wasn't much..."

Her mood seems to dip slightly at the mention of her old life. Sounds like mom wasn't exactly the best at, well, being a mom.

@MercuryNH

Didn't have a good mom, huh? Gregor's expression saddened a bit as Mercury's did. Poor girl, having to spend her dies stealing because of someone else. Well... Gregor said, trying to find a subject to segway into. How did one talk to sad people? Especially on such personal matters, he wondered. Guess you and I are in the same boat. I didn't exactly pick pocket, but... He looked over his shoulder, looking to see if any one would be listening. He didn't want to talk about his criminal status so blatantly, even in this quiet part of Town ...I was kinda always into this sorta thing... Didn't get into the market until I was an adult though.

@Patches

"Heh... Just kinda born bad, huh?"

Once upon a time she may have imagined being the same way, fated to maintain a life of crime. Obviously, that changed after she joined the Covenant. She lowers her voice for her next statement, staying sensitive to her environment and to Gregor's potentially precarious situation if the wrong person overheard.

"Black market... Bet you've seen all kinds of interesting things in your dealings."

Not all bad. Some generally nasty people. If you ever get into the business, it's a rule of thumb to avoid the Drekka unless you know what you're doin', but I think you're already aware of that fact. he chuckled, pulling the color of his shirt down a bit til his collar bone was visible. Just below his collarbone was a small, circular scar. Got this from a Drekka "tax collector", due to a argument turned sour; just a hair off from being a lethal blow. Left me for dead at the side of the road in West Kokotha. Pulling the collar of his shirt back up, he nodded, What about you? Any nasty stories? This old man has plenty of his own to share.

@Patches

Stories? Specifically nasty ones? She takes a moment, scratching her chin as she tries to recall the most intense fight she could, given those are really the only stories she has.

"As far as actual rough stories go, I don't have much... The most intense thing I've done recently was our job. I remember I once hit a guy so hard I gave myself stress fractures all the way up an arm... Couldn't fight for a while."

Really, compared to intensive black market dealings, underground fighting was pretty tame. Sure she'd had some intense matches, but nothing where she'd nearly lost her life, or nearly taken someone else's.

"I fought Yoshimi in a legal match, once. Ended in a double KO."

@MercuryNH
Broke her arm by punching a guy too hard. He hated to be on the receiving and giving end of that. That was exactly why he didn't like to fight with his fists unless necessary. At the mentioned of the previous job being her most difficult, he nodded, acknowledging it. It's been years since a job that difficult

Yoshimi sounds like a tough girl. Those Universal Machine types... Love what they're doing for the country. Love the progress they're making from around the world. I just don't think I can see eye to eye with a lot of them.

@Patches

"Yeah, she's tough, for sure. Although, I wasn't going all-out...not that I'll ever tell her that~"

Her mood has definitely lifted now that she's off the topic of home life, and onto the topic of Yoshimi. Seems the monk has taken a liking to the Machine girl.

"Technical progress is good, for sure, but old principles are important to keep from falling behind oneself."

@MercuryNH

Yeah... Gregor said, nodding, ...And while the Universal Machine's technology looks fancy and sleek, even with their fancy servos, they can't beat the style and finesse of a rune-based flintlock~ He said with a chuckle. Flintlocks weren't used at all in Kokotha except by the occasional collector. The gun itself didn't always matter if you wanted the barebones of magic capabilities after all.

Tell you what, kid, meet up with me again? I might have a job for you if you need money. No dirty work. No law breaking. I'll be the only one getting my hands dirty. Hate to have you break laws for money as an adult.

@Patches

Well that was unexpected... She had figured when they first met that Gregor was more one to keep to himself outside of a job. While she's not about to complain, she finds it a bit odd that he's being as open and friendly as he is.

"Hmm... I may have to take you up on that. Not much going on in terms of fighting competitions lately, but I still need the cash."

@MercuryNH

Have someway to contact me? Does your house have a phone? Did she have a house? She mentioned living on the lamb, didn't she? Maybe a meet up place. I usually hang out at the speakeasies or the Grapevine.

@Patches

"The inn I'm staying at has phones, yeah."

She had only been in New Wickborough for a short while, she isn't planning on leaving for another week or two, if she even decides to leave.

"Or we could meet at the Grapevine or something."

@MercuryNH
Grapevine works! He said, getting up, putting money down on the table. You can find me there, just ask for me and I'll likely be there. If not, then hopefully we'll run into each other somewhere else. Maybe he'd run into the others in the meantime. He saw them as being helpful in the future as well. Until then, see you when I see you.

Far in the western desert of Kokotha, there lied a large industrial complex. Towering metal buildings, shining in the desert, away from society; allowing them to test any inventions freely before they are released to the general public or for testing dangerous ones away from anyone who could be hurt.

This was the Kokothan Branch of the Universal Machine's base of operations, Ammonia Avenue. Both the residence of some of their best and brightest and their CEO. From things to weapon development to better serve the Kokothan Military, Amalgamate Research to better understand what the creatures were, how they acted, and how they could benefit the world, and even things like general inventing on things that could be used by people around the world. It was no surprise that a common saying there was that no one could stop the progress that the Universal Machine was making.

It was here a meeting was called to a number of the members there. A letter would arrive to them, requesting to come to the Amalgamate Research Branch. What it could be was undisclosed, being labeled only as "matters to be discussed in person."