Bright Interval

[Kauket]

"I probably should wait to see if he remembered to show up or not. What do you think?"

Brrrrrt. Zip-zip!

"Oh, well... I didn't bring any sun cream. I'm certain I will be fine. I have you afterall, my funny little metallic friend."

Blip. Blip.


"Yes... But you'll have to stay here. I don't think you would survive out in this heat for a prolonged amount of time. Besides, you need to be my little cavalry incase things go south. If the House authorities decide to show up, ping my neural implant, understood?"

Zooop. Blip blip. Zip. Brrr?

"Good. Plug yourself into the ship in the meanwhile. What? Security? It's highly probable to be a no arms zone. I doubt I'll need my blaster for this one. Let's just wait and see if he appears on the sensor first...

...

Actually on second thought. I'll head in and see if I can snoop out some brochures to scout out the stores. Just ping me if you see him on the sensors."

Errk. Brrrr. Zzrrt.

"I really doubt they'll be doing that here. If they do, then... well. We'll see. Maybe they'll think I'm a bomb threat. Oh well. Off I go then."

[Caliban]

A Marauder descended from the sky as it aimed for one of the landing pads. Once it had landed, Vincent slid out of the cockpit after it opened properly. A dark blue Jacket, black jeans and sneakers seemed to be his outfit of choice for every situation, be it a casual meeting or dealing with dangerous substances in a lab. He scratched his left cheek - at a mildly deep, "X" shaped scar.

This should be the place...

He looked around, covering the top of his eyes with his right hand to shield them from the blinding sun. Eventually he spots a familiar Hawfinch, but is stopped by the sound of an incoming transmission. The message played out in the speaker: Good luck out there, V. Remember, a woman likes - uh. Well this website says they like interesting men with a unique personality. And money. And something it calls "dedication" in a relationship. I think you've got the idea. Anyway, good luck!"

You had to say it over the speakers, didn't you? Jesus...you're the best and worst friend I could have at the same time.

The Marauder's cockpit closed. Vincent walked with one hand halfway into his pocket, and the other still covering his eyes from where the sun shined.

Christ this sun...

He approached the Hawfinch with a bright smile, ending up next to the feminine silhouette.

R-Raven?

[Kauket]

Raven was lingering by her Hawfinch indeed. She was leaned back against the Hawfinch in casual attire consisting of a short brown linen jacket, a white blouse with a tiny bow on the collar, and a simple pair of black trousers. She was eyeballing the main entry attentively through her inconspicuous sunglasses, noticing something rather off with the entry. Gently tapping the right side of the shades, she attempted to tweak her concealed implant, monologuing to herself quietly in irritation as she reclined her hand into her jacket pocket, pulling out a ravelled up green cigar.


"...How am I going-..."

She planted it in her mouth, rolling it to the side of her mouth, retaining a very tense expression of hawking the door way as she analyzed the building and the people entering. A scowl remained chiseled onto her face as she instinctively pulled out a lighter, flaring up the narcotic stick in a small but brief flame. Slipping the small silver flip lighter away into her pocket, she continued to glower at the entry, exhaling out in stress.

Suddenly, her worried thoughts were interjected by the sound of footsteps abruptly appearing beside her. Within a snap of a startle of paranoia, she immediately swivelled around, slamming him against the Hawfinch with her left fist balled, holding it high in anticipation of throwing a blow. The raw eminance of wrath was prevalent across her face as she stared into him through the lifeless gaze of the black lenses, clenching the cigar between her gritted teeth. Realizing it was her familiar scuffy orange friend, she let go - letting her arms drop down, her expression immediately drooping down like a waterfall of guilt, turning into a frown.

"...For f-!"

Patting his shoulders in vain effort to remedy that she almost smashed his face in, she let a sigh of relief, twiddling the stick in her mouth, as she let out a stern warning.

"Don't- ... Don't scare me like that ever again. Please. "

She stepped back to face away from him, taking a shakey minute to puff the stick, staring out to the coast line filled with people out on their holidays, the coast was littered with cheers of joy echoing as a party ensued along the seashore, grunting out an exhale.

"Look I'm ... -- ... My sincerest apologies. I'm a little on edge right now, I don't take surprises too well. Most of them tend to be people wanting to slide a dagger into my back. "

Letting loose a small chuckle of unease as she took in the scenary of people simply enjoying their time, she turned to face him once more.

"Well... This is going off to a good start, hmm? I need a moment to cool my head and to figure out an excuse. I'm... not usually this anxious. Only reason I am drawing on this vile narcotic is to level my head. I plead you. I'm not usually like this. Forgive me. "

Slowly returning her glare over to the doorway in a groggy manner, she returned to calculating in silence, seemingly worrying about something, twirling the 'cigar' in her mouth.

"Hmm... There might be a problem. Well...

We'll see. Let's just go buy you a drink."

[Caliban]

Stunned by Raven's quick, albeit unexpected reflexes, Vincent quickly raises his hands as she held the fist dangerously close to his face. His eyes widened and the bright smile quickly turned into the face of someone who has just seen death before their eyes.

Friendly! Friendly for god's sake!-

He said outloud, cut off by Raven's reaction to her nearly killing the one she meant to buy a drink for. As she let him go from the grasp that felt like the raw muscle of an ancient gorilla, he breathed in and out rapidly. Once Raven turned away, Vincent straightened up and took a look at Raven - with the party going on in the distance falling in his field of view. His panicked breathing slowed down and eventually built up into a goofy laugh.

...well! We're off to a great start indeed! But I don't think we've met here so that you give me apologies. R-Right?

He walked to Raven's side, both hands in the pockets of his jeans, being only slightly under the jacket. He started playing around with whatever he finds in the jeans. Some old tickets, a few memory sticks and his phone among other junk. Eventually, after taking in the view, he looked at Raven from the side as she mentioned something about problems.

"I'm sure everything will be fine. Anyway...uh. You look- well. Nice. Uh..."

He said as he tried to remember the one word Tick has told him to tell every woman at the start of a so called "date". After pausing for a second or two, he built up enough courage to say it.

"Ravishing."

Vincent expected nothing less than either that promised punch or some other kind of reply, as Tick's tips regarding women were mostly taken off sketchy sites. He took his right hand out of his pocket and made it up into a fish, mildly tapping on his chest as he left out a silent cough. Before the date he spent a tiny bit in the bar aboard Abrams Research Station, having a hookah with Tick as they both discussed the "attack plan" regarding this meeting. Obviously, it was only him taking in that vapor with a tint of watermelon, though he hasn't changed his clothes since, and the smell may or may not have embedded itself in the fabric.

[Kauket]

Raven was peering to the side, briefly glancing at him idling besides her.

"...Ravishing? Really." She says with a cold tone, judging his choice of word.


Suddenly, she burst out a chuckle at the ridiculousness of his choice of words, puckering a smirk at the side of her mouth as she twirled the twig in her mouth, seemingly missing the intention of the comment,

"Ohohoh... I must have really traumatised you, huh? Either that or you're starving. "

Peering back over to the view, she took it in once more, processing her thoughts. Though, despite him coughing, she didn't react too much to it, only offering a peer of concern, furrowing her right for that brief moment. Adjusting her sunglasses for a brief moment as she took a puff of the cigar, distinguishing. With a sigh, she rubbed her cheek, letting out her concern on mind,

"You see that forcefield at the entry? It's not quite one. Actually, you can't even see it, can you? The way the colours and shapes ever so slightly warp? The way people simply walk through it? Right, right... I forget that not everyone shares our modified perception. There is... A minor chance that I may get into trouble, but I have devised a cunning strategy in the event of that. "

Taking the deceased cigar, she held onto it, placing it into a little plastic wrapper from her pocket, stashing it away for later disposal. She looked over towards him, raising a brow,

"Are you wearing the same clothes? ... Actually -- Nevermind. Let's just go in, perhaps you will get the chance to obtain something a bit more ... uhm ... " She slightly flicked her hand, trying to think of a suitable non-offensive word. " Less repetitive. "


Smirking, she walked along, pondering as she went up to the entrance, yet remained cautious. Upon walking through the front door, a cold shiver went down her spine, shuddering for a brief moment, wrinkling up her face as if she just bit something sour. An exhale was let loose - blinking rapidly for a few moments. Afterwards, she briefly eyed around for security as she released her shoulders, attempting to remain stoic in effort to appear normal.

"...Hm. "


Another suspiciously aimless glance around the lobby, eyeing the multiple people walking by - refusing to let her guard down for the moment, before briefly interlocking her concealed eyes towards Vincent, folding her arms.

"You decide where to go first. Check out the information center? Bar? Shop? Stare at some ... aquatic animals of sorts?"

She peered to the side once more, appearing mildly tense as she neutralized her smug expression.

[Caliban]

"Well...uh-"

Vincent measured the choices given to him by Raven. He didn't want to appear ungrateful, or bothered by the thought of entering a room where others would watch him trying to act normal. The Information Center seemed like a no brainer move, though asking for directions was not his type. His poor social skills would've gotten the best of him every time he wanted to speak to a stranger.

The bar...-

Vincent shook his head, stopping midsentence. He eventually turned his head at the entrance which led to where the aquatic animals were held. As he scratched the top of his head with his left hand trying to look as calm as possble.

W-Well. I always wanted to see proper fish and not the poorly built imitations you see in the museums. Or zoo.

He turned away for a brief second to take out his phone, leaving a sigh afterwards as he replied to the message, before hiding his phone in his right pocket.

The sight of so many tourists made Vincent inevitably nervous. He glanced at Raven, whom he saw all tensed up. He left out a shrug.

"You up for it?"

The sight of two socially challenged individuals would've been almost comedic from another's perspective. For the young man, though. It was nothing more than the sensation of awkwardness building up in the air.

[Kauket]

Raven, although moderately acclimated to social outings, remained cautious. Hawking around once more, she drew her attention back to Vincent, reluctantly accepting that they were powerless in the event of the worst case scenario, relaxing her arms down with a sigh as she stuffed her hands away into the pockets of the jacket. Briefly glaring down at the floor in thought for that very brief time, she glared back up at him, perking a brow as he stuttered over himself.


"Of course. The bar or the aquarium? Are you sure you don't want me to simply grab a brochure? "

There was a moment of uncertainty as he rose his personal device, she had only assumed he was too out of his comfort zone. There was a certain level of protectiveness about him being so fidgety, seeing him akin to a lost child. Fleetingly glaring to the corner of her vision once more to check for any guards, she gazed back at him.

"Vincent.

I have confidence that you will be fine. If you so desire, I can do the talking for you. If you feel like there is too many people here, I won't be offended if you wish to leave. "

---

[Caliban]

Vincent took a quick glance at the entrance of the aquarium again. He could almost see the light piercing the water in the enclosures, then shine on the floor giving it a beautiful shade of blue which was in constant motion from the tiny waves. He took out his phone, then checked the battery - 60%. It was more than enough to do a few recordings here and there.

"Let's check the aquarium. I'll catch a few photos, maybe a video or two in progress as well! Heh...yeah..."

He turned towards the entrance, and slowly made his way towards it, albeit smaller steps than usual, though the curiosity hasn't left him. As Vincent got closer to the entrance, he turned to Raven, waving for her to come. With his phone at hand already turned on to record anything from that point onward, he pointed it towards her jokingly, then gestured a confident "thumbs up" before it.

One aquarium, two tourists, one camera. How long will the two endure before the beasts within fill this phone with unnecessary pictures? Now live on VinnyTV.

Vincent said to himself, trying to level up the mood. He lowered his head, trying to catch Raven in as many angles as possible, to the point of lowering himself on one knee, then the other, then to the side.

[Kauket]

"Very well then. Let us go look at the fish in captivity."

Raven let loose a sigh, connecting her hands behind her back. Noticing Vincent darting ahead in excitement, she couldn't help but play along with him, walking along calmly in comparison to his efforts to joke around.

Commenting as she walked by him recording her, "Hah. You know. I'm fairly certain I'm not a fish... Although if I were you, I wouldn't draw so much attention to yourself, as well as myself. " She gestured to him, confused at him kneeling down for a picture.

Before them was the varying glass cages of a colourful selection of aquatic creatures imported from varying worlds, upon display within a dimmed lobby. Raven gazed up, eyeing the varying tanks within the room. To her, there was a sensation of disappointment, seeing the primitive creatures trapped within the enclosure, to exist for pure vanity. In the end, she did not care that much, it was not an uncommon sight to behold within the colonies.


"Beautiful, aren't they? Life produces such interesting creatures of all size, shape and colours. I wonder if they like the view too within that confined space, hm?" She briefly glanced at him sideways.

Remaining neutral, she hummed to herself for a moment, analysing the creatures within.

"I would take imagery of them if I were you. A nice reminder to appreciate what life has to offer."

A warm smile grew onto her face as she glared at the fish, notably her vision was caught by a type of enlarged neon tetra, admiring the varying tones through her augment, swapping from her organic to the synthetic view, squinting one eye and 'opening' the other. She stopped, staring over to him through the glasses.

"Do you enjoy seeing animals?"

---

[Caliban]

Vincent walked alongside Raven, taking about three or four pictures with every enclosure he passed by. The creatures which were held in captivity had caught his attention the second they entered the area. One which had caught his attention was a small fish with sharp teeth and spotted blue scales - similar to an Anglerfish. It hid under a rock, almost as if it was resting. The way it took in water to filter through its gills was borderline terrifying, as the secondary jaw extended forward and backward with each gulp. Vincent took a good ten pictures and a recording out of that creature. As Raven hinted towards the idea of trapping creatures on a display, he decided to get closer, tapping on the glass. The fish came closer and closer, to the point where Vincent could see its eyes - empty, bleached out in the middle. It was blind, yet it sensed the vibrations in the water. As it got closer, it quickly lashed at the glass Vincent was tapping into.

"You know...it would've been nicer if they had a session of actually interacting with-

He was cut off by the creature's lighting fast speed. He recoiled back, nearly tripping. He quickly straightened up afterwards - heart pounding. The fish showed off its sharp teeth, almost as if it mocked Vincent's cowardly nature before returning to the rock it was residing under.

- GOD FORSAKEN- ...man- uh. Y-Yeah t-that answered my o-own question...

He had eventually relaxed his muscles after being tensed up for one minute straight. At the question of whether he enjoyed seeing animals or not, he simply replied with a nod, followed by him scratching the back of his head.

Well...definitely better than drinking alcohol with Tick back home, by far, even.