On a quick food run, Vel meets Cham. They discuss changes at the observatory until the conversation takes an unsettling turn. But there's also cake in a can!
Setting: Research District, near the Court Luxe, mid March
Setting: Research District, near the Court Luxe, mid March
Full Log
Velina
There weren’t enough hours in the day.
It wasn’t that Vel loaded up all her available hours with an impossible amount of tasks, or that she didn’t sleep enough so she ended up crashing once a week or so, or that she continually said ‘yes’ to anything asked of her. It was the orbit around the sun that caused the issues, especially during the winter when there was less light to go around.
Now she was up, and awake, and about three hours out from her shift that night, with a fridge empty of everything except one egg and a severely dehydrated and unfortunate looking head of broccoli she hadn’t had time or energy to turn into a meal for too long now. And Pluto’s dog food, but that wasn’t going to help her.
She didn’t have the hours for a good grocery haul in Orange, and she couldn’t get to the Cat Cafe for a real meal, so the only option left to her was to track down one of the few Vendies in RD and see what supplies it had. The Vendies left to Grey were vital and overworked, but they usually had the staples beyond the Bars that tasted like misery.
It took her a little too long to get clothes thrown on and Pluto emptied and returned to the safety of his familiar bed, but soon she was pounding the pavement in sneakers and checking her phone app to make sure the vending-bot was still where she’d last seen it. People should know better than to mess with them, but…it happened. Ditos weren’t known to be people with the best self-preservation.
Finally, she made it, and gave the big guy a friendly, “Hey, there, hon,” before diving right into the menu. Not exactly the spread available in Orange, but, food was food.
This was, of course, the most dangerous part of getting groceries in the Research District. Plenty of people would hang out by the Vendies, waiting to jump someone after they’d dispensed their food. So, as she scrolled and made a few selections, she tried to keep an eye out to see if anyone else was waiting for, hopefully, just their turn.
Cham
It had been a fairly cold day so far. The shorter days were beginning to hibernate for another year, letting the magnificent radiance of the sun cascade across the chilled cityscape. Cham's goal today had been simple: investigate any changes in the area. After how bold the Banditos had been recently it was no longer safe to assume who controlled what. And with the struggles of the Funk Mafia's leadership streamed to the public, it only seemed like a matter of time before more trouble raised its head. Good.
But that wasn't what was on Cham's mind. Cham was starving. The meals the prophet provided were enough to sustain oneself on of course, but good food was hard to come by when you had no creds. Maybe, they'd thought, one of the Vendies was on the fritz. It was a long shot, but it beat waiting till the night.
Cham turned the corner, eyes facing down as they grumbled and fantasised about the food they'd find just laying around. Then they stopped, noticing someone else had all ready occupied the machine. They slowed their pace, walking closer until they were about ten feet away. Their eyes looked passed the person who was using the machine, and onto the machine itself. It looked in working order. Nothing loose, no signs of glitching. Damnit.
"Hey." they said, trying to muster up as much chipperness as possible on an empty stomach. "This things... uhhh... working right?"
Velina
Vel saw them as they arrived, but she was politely trying to not pay attention as they hovered nearby. She wanted to be aware, but she didn't want to be rude.
Instead, she was just quickly making some food selections. Why did everything from this vendy come in a can? From bread to liquid eggs to green beans to chicken. All of it, canned. Was that a canned burrito?
Eugh.
Her thought process was interrupted as her company spoke up. She paused, turning to face them, clearly baffled by the question.
"Um...yes?" Were they just trying to awkwardly imply she was being slow? "Er, I'm almost done, then you can have a turn."
Cham
The response was not what Cham had intended. They’d obviously made this person uncomfortable. Shit. They put their hands in their pockets, neck receding into their body slightly and lips pursing. They looked around, checking out the rest of the alley-adjacent-street to avoid staring at the back of this person’s head.
“Oh, no rush! Just making sure, you know?” They said, tingeing their voice with apologetic desperation. After a moments pause they continued. “Was wondering if there might be any freebies was all. But looks like it’s all in order.”
Velina
Vel could point out that there were always freebies in a Vendy--water and Vendy Bars. But, as one who had to live off the bars in the past, she didn't think this stranger would really appreciate her voicing the obvious. Vendy Bars were a miserable thing to have to eat.
"...Well, like, what kind of freebies were you hoping for?"
Cham
Cham’s face lit up a little, a warm smile at the question. They stuttered a little.
“O…oh, well sometimes the Vendies are having a bad day, and they let a little something tasty drop on accident.” They explained walking around the side so they weren’t stood behind Vel anymore, but still kept a safe distance. “I’m a little broke at the minute. Can’t make any creds when all you do is scouting and volunteer work.” They joked, running the back of their head with their thumb and leaning against the wall. (edited)
Velina
"Anything you can't eat?" It was official--she was going to buy them lunch. Or dinner. It was kind of in the weird in-between when it could be either, but that didn't really matter to a hungry person.
And, honestly, being vaguely asked about food rather than mugged was a better outcome than she could hope for. She didn't mind sharing.
Cham
“Nope, I’m a bottomless pit. I can and will eat anything.” They said with a smile, before turning their head down slightly and mumbling “I burn so many calories”
They took a step forwards, kind of looking over the vendy to see what was available. More out of curiosity then actually picking something out. Then they jolted a little and took another step forward, extending their hand out and giving another warm smile.
“Where are my manners. Sorry. Names Cham. Nice to meet you…”
Velina
The request to shake hands stymied Vel a moment, hesitating. She knew it was rude, and probably made her look rather bad in front of Cham, but touching a stranger in the wild was still a bit of a mental block.
"Ah, um. Vel!" Finally, she took their hand and gave it a brief shake, releasing quickly. "I'll get you something, if you want. It's all in cans, but I think some of these have pop tops..."
She took a step back so Cham could see the screen options, but didn't give up full control. "Anything you've been, like, craving?"
Cham
Cham noticed the hesitation, and in the split second they started to retract their hand it was taken instead. They shook, but let Vel’s hand slip away the instant it wanted to. “Nice to meet you Vel.”
They looked a little shocked when Vel offered to get them something. Their lips curled into a smile and their head shook slightly. “My my! A philanthropic soul after my own. You don’t have to do that!”
As Cham was saying this they began to occupy the space next to Vel at the machine, giving the vendy side eye at the thought of something delicious.
“I doooo have a sweet tooth though. You know, in theory.”
Velina
"Well, um, sweet stuff's not super filling usually, but we can get something like that, too," she said, already looking through options. There was fruit cocktail in a can, so she added it, and then...was that a birthday cake in a can? Why not!
She had clearly just accepted she was now shopping for two.
"Do you want a sandwich or something?"
Cham
Cham kind of groaned a little and pursed their lips, seemingly feeling bad about the situation. Their eyes, for a moment, seemed to regain a modicum of definition and shape, becoming beautiful hazel orbs before they blinked and once again their eyes became an Ill defined yellow.
“Whatever you think, I really don’t want to impose.” They replied, their voice cracking with a breathy huff that sounded like a nervous laugh dying before it fully formed. “If you’re cool with it, ham is good. For sandwiches I should say. Im going to be quiet now.”
Velina
"You don't have to be quiet, hon," Vel reassured them, adding ham-in-a-can and then some more bread-in-a-can to the cart. Cheese in a can? Sure. Ham and cheese worked.
She selected a few more things, then let the Vendy know she was done. As it started dispensing cans, she gave it a little pat and the customary thanks before fishing them out, checking the labels.
"Do you have somewhere to stay, Cham?" It was a reflexive question, followed by mentally berating herself because she didn't have a real solution to that at the moment. She offered them one of the options she'd grabbed for them-the birthday cake in a can. It promised rainbow sprinkles, yellow cake, and vanilla frosting. She did not know how that worked with being in what was, ostensibly, a soup can.
Fuck. Soup would have been a good choice, actually.
Cham
Cham nodded in agreement when they were told they didn’t have to be quiet, being quiet. They looked around as Vel took the food out of the vendy, double checking that no one had any ideas about jumping them. Coast looked clear, but there was one guy who was looking a little shifty. Nothing to worry about though. Yet, at least.
Cham felt a chill run down their back, and they instinctively zipped their jacket up. Not that it would do much good. It had been years and they still had to remind themselves that they were the clothes. They shook their head at themselves, before their attention was snapped back to Vel as she spoke.
“Yea! I live and work out of the of observatory. Currently in the middle of putting the finishing touches on fixing it up so it’s all fully powered and stuff again. Made some nice housing in the lower floors for people between homes. We run a kitchen as well, grab as much of the… well…” They looked over to the vendy, then leans in so they could whisper the next word.
“…crappy food from the vendies, and a bunch of the folks do their best with it to feed everyone.”
As soon as the can was handed over to them, they popped the top and started shovelling it into their mouth. After a few bites, they realised they were being rude, and swallowed, wiping their hand on the can and smiling awkwardly.
“If you’ve got enough for two, it’s safe to say you have a place to stay?” They asked.
Velina
She wasn't familiar with the observatory, but her bubble in the RD was very small. People got antsy with her if she went out too far from her general area of work.
"Oh, I've never been over there, but that sounds nice." Vel watched them dig into the can with a half-smile, trying not to laugh. She didn't want to mock them, but it was kind of funny.
At the question, her smile dims a little. "I do. I'm lucky enough to have that." Vel was at least savvy enough not to explain where to a stranger, but she was this close. "I work at the Court Luxe. Have you been?"
Probably not if they didn't have cred, but...
Cham
Cham was about to grab another handful of cake when Vel said that they worked at the Luxe. They stopped in their tracks and raised their eyebrows “Oh. Ohhhhhhhhh. You’re Vel. As in Velvet. Sweet, always nice to meet a local celebrity!” Cham and unzipped one of their pockets, folded the top of the can back over, and put it in.
“A bunch of the people we’ve looked after have mentioned you. All high praise for sure! Never seen any of your stuff myself though.” Cham leaned against the wall again, seeming to find the support comforting as their body slumped slightly against it. It had clearly been a long day, but that didn’t detract from their interest or energy.
“How are you finding your job, if that’s not too bold a question? Seems like something that athletic would be a lot every night.”
Velina
It happened, but Vel was always a little surprised when someone recognized her. Calling her a local celebrity, even! That was flattering. Though, maybe they were just being nice because she'd bought them food.
"I'll have to ask my boss for, like, a raise if I'm getting all that advertising done." She laughed, offering them the other cans she'd picked out for them as they dispensed. She wasn't going to ask what they were saying as, considering her various professions, they probably weren't for 'polite' conversation.
"It's good! I don't work every night, though. I think that'd kill me." She shook her head, the thought exhausting on its own. "I take two or three nights off to do other things. I can't hog all the tips, or the other dancers would hate me.
"You're working on the observatory, so you do...construction? Electrical?"
Cham
Cham’s face softened slightly as Vel seemed surprised that they knew who she was. They smiled at the quip about getting a raise, and listened intently to Vel’s description of her work week.
“Don’t thank your boss. It’s your ex customers that give you glowing reviews. Apparently your dancing is something else! Quite a complement in a city full of steppers!”
They leaned their full back against the wall, taking each cab as it was handed and seeming to find pocket after pocket to put them in.
“Good to hear you aren’t being over worked though. Uhhhh, just out of curiosity…. Who is your boss? Some areas aren’t my expertise, and I don’t know if I know who that would be.”
When Vel asked about their work, Cham smiled again, crossing river arms and finally putting their full weight against the wall.
“More construction then Electronics. We got a guy in to sort out the electronic stuff. But more then that I guess I do a lot of community outreach? Just trying to make sure Squares are taken care of. We do group support sessions, have some beds available for those who need them, try and maximise food for everyone, started reconstruction outside the observatory… really just trying to make the world a better place.”
Velina
"Noir's my boss. He and Renard own the Court Luxe." Oh, that was fun. Maybe it was just a moment of absent-mindedness, but to be recognized over her pole-melting employer was a bit of an achievement!
As Cham detailed their day-to-day, Vel listened a little more seriously. That kind of help was sorely needed in RD, where everyone was scattered and disorganized and often just out for themselves. It was a shame she hadn't heard of them when she was scared and hiding and living off of Vendy Bars, but, then again, she probably would have avoided the group regardless. That 'fear of people' had been overpowering, then.
"Wow, that's, like, a lot! Do you work with Gianni at all? Big, older guy? Sings a lot of opera?" She knew Gianni had been trying to restore RD for quite some time. Maybe there was overlap? "Does this group have, like, a name?"
Cham
Cham smiled at the mention of Gianni. Using their hands now to begin to articulate what they are saying.
“Yea! I’ve bumped into him a bunch of times. Seems like a nice enough guy. You can see some of the larger construction projects he’s been working on from the Observatory. I’ve chipped in a bit. But my main focus so far has been the immediate area!”
Velina
Maybe the group didn't have a name? Just a bunch of Squares coming together to help each other out. Vel didn't let it bother her.
"Well, that's really cool. I'm always glad to meet people who care. It's, like, kind of wild how many people live here but there's practically nothing. We've got a strip club and a cafe and a few of these good guys," she gave the Vendy a pat, "plus a few shops? But it's all scattered and, like, rundown."
Cham
“That’s the issue we’re trying to solve. Keep track of resources, try and make sure everyone one gets their fair share.”
Cham looked around again, making sure they were still safe to talk with all this food on them. No one seemed to be paying them any attention anymore.
“Hey, if you know anyone who’s having a rough time, we can look after them. With all the Dito activity lately and the big guys coming down hard on us, people might need support now more then ever. Even if they are Ditos, everyone’s welcome as long as they don’t cause problems. Hell, if you ever need a hand with anything… as long as it’s not creds…” They chuckled to themselves a little when they hit that part of the conversation. “…I’m sure we could help out.”
Velina
"That's really sweet. I'll make sure people know." Of course, Vel could list off maybe three people who wouldn't scoff at the idea, maybe, but it was something to hold onto. Some people always needed a place to crash.
"What do you have to do to, like, volunteer? I'm not good at much, but, sometimes I might be over that way."
Cham
Cham raised an eyebrow at the offer of help. It wasn’t unusual for people to volunteer, but this was the first person with any real standing in the RD to offer help. They sprang up from their resting place, suddenly becoming much more animated.
“Oh, that’s amazing! If you want to help at all, whenever you’re free you could just come down to the Observatory and ask for either me or Mother Dunn. Either of us would be able to find something for you to help out with. Usually it’s just help in the kitchen or trying to raise some creds for materials so we can continue to rebuild. But if you have any people skills you might be able to help with any of our outreach programmes?”
They sounds as if they are going to stop, but then “Oh! And if you don’t really have a lot of time, then just keeping us aware of what’s going on around the area would be good. We are trying to keep track of everything that’s going on to stay one step ahead of threats so we can give people warnings.”
Velina
Mother Dunn was an interesting name, but she'd heard stranger. The asks weren't strange or overbearing, except...
"What's an outreach programme?" She finished putting her cans into her bag, straightening up. "I usually hear about anything crazy happening late; my friends are, like, pretty protective."
Cham
“There are a bunch of things we want to do in the community, and our outreach programmes are different ways of us interacting with the community to give some stability, you know? There’s a group on Monday that meets at the Observatory who are there to support each other through hard times. We’re going to be starting an on the street reading programme soon. Bringing a bit of knowledge to people who want to stop and listen, that might help them find opportunities they haven’t had yet. There’s a dance group that is looking to teach people who haven’t found the right step for them yet how to get in contact with their Vibe. Uhhhhh, lastly, so far, we’re trying to find employment opportunities for Jamdeaf people. Some of it has to do with helping the Observatory and we pay what we can, but we want to help Jamdeaf people have an equal opportunity to live in our community by doing jobs that need to be done and that steppers aren’t interested in.”
Cham looked pleased with the list as they spoke, seeming to only be realizing how many facets the project had as they were speaking about it.
Velina
Vel cocks her head. "Is this a school? You're making a kind of...school for RD?" It was a lot of information to take in at once, and Vel was trying to condense it as much as possible into something that she could make sense of. It was such a wide variety of tasks and initiatives for a group that didn't even have a name, working out of a broken observatory, with no backers with enough cred to give them even a proper meal.
Could they really do all of that?
Cham
Cham looked slightly confused at the question, but kept their soft, happy look as they replied.
“No, not quite a school. We don’t have dedicated teaching staff or anything like that, just volunteers trying their best to improve the situation down here. It’s something a bunch of us have been passionate about for a few years now, but we’re only just gathering the manpower to be able to exorcise any of these ideas. It’s the same kind of shared vision that’s let us work together to fix up our local area.”
Cham started fidgeting a little. Their feet had started to fall asleep slightly, so they were taking a few steps as they spoke, shifting their weight from one foot to the other.
Velina
"Oh." Vel didn't know what to make of that kind of group, but at least it all seemed positive? They were trying to accomplish a lot with very little, and that was admirable. "I'm glad there's, like, more and more people who care enough to get things done, for sure."
She saw them fidget and frowned. "Sorry, am I keeping you? I guess we kind of got carried away."
Cham
Cham stopped moving when attention was drawn to it.
“Oh, no sorry! Just moving the old legs about. We could walk and talk, if you don’t mind?” Cham suggested, taking a few steps back and stretching a bit as they kicked the back flaps of their crocks up so they sat more snugly on their feet.
Velina
"Ah, sure, I'm just heading back to the Luxe." They didn't need to know she lived above it, but they knew Vel worked there, regardless, so it wasn't a big deal. "Don't want you to have to go, like, out of your way, though? Or stop you from eating. Sounds like you're busy and hungry."
Cham
Cham shrugged, a little smile as they spoke. “I’ve done most of my work outside today. Checking out the area round the Luxe seems like a pretty good idea before I head back anyway. But, if you’d prefer to be left in peace, I get it! It was a real pleasure meeting you either way.”
Velina
"I don't mind the company." She stepped out of the alley back onto the street, blinking a little. Oh, she hadn't had any coffee. That headache was going to be fierce if she didn't get some soon. Noir probably had some bitter black monstrosity at the bar, at least.
"Does anyone give you a hard time? It's not always really easy out here," she added, though Cham probably knew that. "People coming to, like, mess with the observatory or anything?"
Cham
Cham moved fully out of the way to allow Vel to pass, turning in their heel with the distinctive sound of stone scraping stone as pebbles twisted underfoot. The began to walk together, Cham letting Vel lead by half a step as they continued their conversation.
“There are some people who see a group operating out of the Observatory and think of bad times. I wasn’t there myself, but apparently a group tried to claim the RD as their own. Didn’t get very far, but they were based in the Observatory before us. So, you know, bad history. Besides that and one or two Ditos trying to extort us, we haven’t had much issue at all to be honest.”
Cham nodded as they spoke, seemingly chipper about the subject. They sighed a little, put their hands in yet more pockets that seemed to come out of nowhere, and looked over to Vel. “How about you? Anybody giving you any trouble? Or the Luxe?”
Velina
"Well, hopefully perceptions will change? Sorry people are trying to extort you, though, do you have, like, any strong steppers in your group?" It was a necessity in RD, especially, to be able to stand up to those who would take advantage of you, or it would just get worse.
"The Luxe is a magnet for trouble, but that's kinda...well, it's, like, when you have a boss who loves trouble and is a 'Dito and antagonizes people on purpose, that kind of happens. But we've got good security, so I'm pretty okay. They usually don't attack the dancers." She shrugged. "Actually, patrons are more likely to attack each other than us. It just sucks because fights hurt tips."
Cham
“I mean, depending on who comes knocking, I can punch back just about as hard as we get. Besides me… Mags is kinda scary. She can kinda read minds? But bot really? So pretty nuts. And if you want tough, Mother Dunn is a tough cookie. She can come back from just about anything. Not super punchy though.”
Cham clicked their tongue inside their mouth a bit as they thought. “That’s about it really.
But you’ve got a Dito boss? Do they treat you well…?”
Velina
"Oh, yeah, Noir is great! Honestly, he can be scary to other people, but he's a sweetheart to us dancers, usually." The man had a temper, but it was often directed at better targetsor Dwight, but he didn't seem to mind. "He and Renard take good care of us. Renard's in charge of security, Noir's in charge of dancers. They own the Luxe together."
Cham
“Hm, yea, never heard of either of them. Sounds like they have a good set of head on their shoulders though, if they’re taking care of their employees.”
Cham mulled it over for a second before asking: “Sorry if this seems a bit rude, but are you a Stepper, or Jamdeaf?”
Velina
The sudden question made Vel pause, then try to keep walking like it didn't bother her. "Ah...stepper. But I'm not interested in throwdowns. Um, why?"
Cham
Cham nodded at the answer, face neutral as Vel asked why. “Just curious how fairly you’re bing treat was all. I know Jamdeaf people in your line of work don’t always get the nicest go of things. Just double checking.”
Cham’s mood seemed to visibly drop as they spoke, before they shook the look of their face and continued on, not wanting to linger on the heavy subject.
“Not into throwdowns? Im not a fan of the collateral that usually accompanies it myself, but I think a good dance-fight can really test you and keep you sharp. Loose some friends that way too though.”
Velina
"We take care of all of our dancers." Vel's smile had gotten tighter, but she was practiced at being friendly when she was uncomfortable.
"My vibe's not, like, really strong or anything. But what about you? You throwdown, then?" She tried to shift the conversation away from her as quickly as possible. "Oh, well, you said you 'punch back,' so, I guess that's a yes."
Cham
Cham chuckled a little bit at being asked if they were about throw downs. Shaking their head, they kicked a discarded can as they made brier way down the street.
“Generally I don’t go looking for fights. I try to talk things through first. But sometimes people, especially people in power, don’t listen because they want. That’s when you need to hit back. Otherwise people just take from you and never give you anything back in return.”
Their jaw clenched, the tips of their hair bleeding colour into blonde and their own smile tightening. A breath out, and their hair returned to raven black.
“My Vibe’s useful. The peeps I work with really focus on connecting with their Vibe. I think it’s important to really feel what your Vibe says to you, even if you don’t use it. For me, I can feel real happiness when I’m focusing on it, and it can guide me a little. I don’t know if that’s anything you’ve ever felt, but it’s a real fulfilling and sometimes soulful experience.”
Velina
Vel listened, always willing to give the other person the chance to carry the conversation (since groove knew she could certainly get carried away often), even if the topic was a little uncomfortable. She understood needing to fight, and she didn't blame Cham, but being connected…
Her eyes flickered to how their hair shifted color momentarily, distracted by the change but otherwise unbothered. Vibe aesthetics could be varied and dramatic, subtle or bright, and this was just one more of those. Actually, she was a little jealous of it.
"It's not really something I've felt," she lied, because one could argue cravings were certainly a way of being connected to your Vibe. "But I'm glad it works for you. It kinda sounds like, um, how UG was really into that kind of thing before '99."
Cham
At the mention of UG, Cham’s hair once agin flared blonde, but this time the colour almost hit the roots.
“There’s a big difference between power hungry assholes and people who just want to connect with the way things should be.”
Cham’s tone shifted throughout the sentence; going from annoyed, to slightly angry, down to sad, and then levelled back out at the end. They put their hand up in apology for the tone, and their hair died down to black again.
“The UG have always done things the wrong way, or for the wrong reasons. And it’s cost people dearly. We are trying to maintain a personal relationship with our Vibe, but accept that it’s part of something beyond us.”
Cham put their hands back in their pockets after having been a little more animated in those last few sentences.
“I’d recommend really focussing and listening to your vibe. Especially when the sun is out like today. It might help clarify more about your life, you know? Like, for me, my Vibe really likes getting a sense for people. Learning more about them, helping them out. It’s a good motivator.”
Velina
Vel, formerly of Orange, found the sudden vehemence against UG a little off-putting, but not unexpected. The Banditos and many, many Squares had similar opinions on very different subjects, so it was a natural consequence of bringing them up in the first place.
As a Square without any strong conviction other than self-preservation, Vel took that discomfort and shoved it way, way down.
"The sun?" As far as she knew, only very specific Vibes were affected by the sun, but maybe this was some other kind of health-specific thing? She knew she felt shitty if she didn't get enough Vitamin D after a while, and they were just coming out of winter into spring.
"I guess. I'm not sure my Vibe works like that, but, like, it can't hurt?" There wasn't a way for her Vibe to get worse from sitting in the sun, probably. Didn't work like that, not for her. "I appreciate the advice, anyway."
She really didn't know what to make of Cham.
Cham
“No worries. It’s what I try to do.”
She’s holding back something Cham thought, slowly putting little pieces together. Vel was careful with words, and liked to let Cham talk. Maybe it was time for a different approach.
“Big question again, feel free to tell me to buzz off if this one’s a bit much. What Vibe do you have? Mine, eh, not one that people really like. So I get it if you don’t want to say.”
As soon as Cham finished speaking, their hand came out of their pocket with a slice of ham from the can, and and quickly put it in their mouth, giving Vel the room to speak.
Velina
She wasn't so rude as to tell them to buzz off, but she definitely wasn't going to answer that.
"It's not anyone's business," Vel said, though what could have been sharp was carefully even, "and I don't care if you think I'm, like, jamdeaf because of it."
She forcibly did not change her pace or walk faster towards the Luxe. But she did not like this situation anymore.
Cham
That hit a nerve. Oops. Though, at least part of that was confusing to Cham.
“I’m sorry. Like I said, it was no pressure. If you want to keep your business to yourself then that’s cool. And I don’t have any issue with Jamdeaf people.”
Cham slowed down, scratching their head and putting a hand on their hip. “I’ve clearly upset you. So, I’m just going to… uhhh… go another way. Thank you though, for being so generous. And again, I’m really sorry to have brought up a sore spot. As someone who’s Vibe is considered taboo, I get it. Have a nice night.”
Velina
As they slowed down, Vel hesitated, then kept walking. Now was not the time to try and understand, to apologize for what had happened. Now was the time for self-preservation. Max would be proud.
Except...
"...You, too. And, like, not for nothing, but..." she paused just a moment to look back at them. "If you've got a taboo Vibe, maybe don't tell people, okay? Just. Be safe."
That was it. She hurried on her way, unsettled. Once she got to the Luxe, at least she knew there she was safe.
Cham
Cham slowed to a stop, watching the clearly perturbed or frightened Vel leave with her warning.
Just. Be safe.
Those words weren’t easy for her. There was something there; a wound, scabbed over and Cham had picked at it. And as bad as Cham felt for bringing up that pain, they couldn’t help but feel a little happy with the result. Or at least, their Vibe did. That humming energy that, moments earlier, and wanted to reach out and learn what Vel was afraid of had died down again. To Cham, it always felt like the Vibe was a flickering golden energy. When it wanted to probe into the Vibe of others, it reached outside of their body, hungry. If Cham was honest, it could be frightening at times.
Whatever the case, Cham was a few cans heavier, and one job down. What was left of the day was theirs. Perhaps Gianni needed some help today? Whatever happened, it had to be better then the way this conversation had ended.
[END]
There weren’t enough hours in the day.
It wasn’t that Vel loaded up all her available hours with an impossible amount of tasks, or that she didn’t sleep enough so she ended up crashing once a week or so, or that she continually said ‘yes’ to anything asked of her. It was the orbit around the sun that caused the issues, especially during the winter when there was less light to go around.
Now she was up, and awake, and about three hours out from her shift that night, with a fridge empty of everything except one egg and a severely dehydrated and unfortunate looking head of broccoli she hadn’t had time or energy to turn into a meal for too long now. And Pluto’s dog food, but that wasn’t going to help her.
She didn’t have the hours for a good grocery haul in Orange, and she couldn’t get to the Cat Cafe for a real meal, so the only option left to her was to track down one of the few Vendies in RD and see what supplies it had. The Vendies left to Grey were vital and overworked, but they usually had the staples beyond the Bars that tasted like misery.
It took her a little too long to get clothes thrown on and Pluto emptied and returned to the safety of his familiar bed, but soon she was pounding the pavement in sneakers and checking her phone app to make sure the vending-bot was still where she’d last seen it. People should know better than to mess with them, but…it happened. Ditos weren’t known to be people with the best self-preservation.
Finally, she made it, and gave the big guy a friendly, “Hey, there, hon,” before diving right into the menu. Not exactly the spread available in Orange, but, food was food.
This was, of course, the most dangerous part of getting groceries in the Research District. Plenty of people would hang out by the Vendies, waiting to jump someone after they’d dispensed their food. So, as she scrolled and made a few selections, she tried to keep an eye out to see if anyone else was waiting for, hopefully, just their turn.
Cham
It had been a fairly cold day so far. The shorter days were beginning to hibernate for another year, letting the magnificent radiance of the sun cascade across the chilled cityscape. Cham's goal today had been simple: investigate any changes in the area. After how bold the Banditos had been recently it was no longer safe to assume who controlled what. And with the struggles of the Funk Mafia's leadership streamed to the public, it only seemed like a matter of time before more trouble raised its head. Good.
But that wasn't what was on Cham's mind. Cham was starving. The meals the prophet provided were enough to sustain oneself on of course, but good food was hard to come by when you had no creds. Maybe, they'd thought, one of the Vendies was on the fritz. It was a long shot, but it beat waiting till the night.
Cham turned the corner, eyes facing down as they grumbled and fantasised about the food they'd find just laying around. Then they stopped, noticing someone else had all ready occupied the machine. They slowed their pace, walking closer until they were about ten feet away. Their eyes looked passed the person who was using the machine, and onto the machine itself. It looked in working order. Nothing loose, no signs of glitching. Damnit.
"Hey." they said, trying to muster up as much chipperness as possible on an empty stomach. "This things... uhhh... working right?"
Velina
Vel saw them as they arrived, but she was politely trying to not pay attention as they hovered nearby. She wanted to be aware, but she didn't want to be rude.
Instead, she was just quickly making some food selections. Why did everything from this vendy come in a can? From bread to liquid eggs to green beans to chicken. All of it, canned. Was that a canned burrito?
Eugh.
Her thought process was interrupted as her company spoke up. She paused, turning to face them, clearly baffled by the question.
"Um...yes?" Were they just trying to awkwardly imply she was being slow? "Er, I'm almost done, then you can have a turn."
Cham
The response was not what Cham had intended. They’d obviously made this person uncomfortable. Shit. They put their hands in their pockets, neck receding into their body slightly and lips pursing. They looked around, checking out the rest of the alley-adjacent-street to avoid staring at the back of this person’s head.
“Oh, no rush! Just making sure, you know?” They said, tingeing their voice with apologetic desperation. After a moments pause they continued. “Was wondering if there might be any freebies was all. But looks like it’s all in order.”
Velina
Vel could point out that there were always freebies in a Vendy--water and Vendy Bars. But, as one who had to live off the bars in the past, she didn't think this stranger would really appreciate her voicing the obvious. Vendy Bars were a miserable thing to have to eat.
"...Well, like, what kind of freebies were you hoping for?"
Cham
Cham’s face lit up a little, a warm smile at the question. They stuttered a little.
“O…oh, well sometimes the Vendies are having a bad day, and they let a little something tasty drop on accident.” They explained walking around the side so they weren’t stood behind Vel anymore, but still kept a safe distance. “I’m a little broke at the minute. Can’t make any creds when all you do is scouting and volunteer work.” They joked, running the back of their head with their thumb and leaning against the wall. (edited)
Velina
"Anything you can't eat?" It was official--she was going to buy them lunch. Or dinner. It was kind of in the weird in-between when it could be either, but that didn't really matter to a hungry person.
And, honestly, being vaguely asked about food rather than mugged was a better outcome than she could hope for. She didn't mind sharing.
Cham
“Nope, I’m a bottomless pit. I can and will eat anything.” They said with a smile, before turning their head down slightly and mumbling “I burn so many calories”
They took a step forwards, kind of looking over the vendy to see what was available. More out of curiosity then actually picking something out. Then they jolted a little and took another step forward, extending their hand out and giving another warm smile.
“Where are my manners. Sorry. Names Cham. Nice to meet you…”
Velina
The request to shake hands stymied Vel a moment, hesitating. She knew it was rude, and probably made her look rather bad in front of Cham, but touching a stranger in the wild was still a bit of a mental block.
"Ah, um. Vel!" Finally, she took their hand and gave it a brief shake, releasing quickly. "I'll get you something, if you want. It's all in cans, but I think some of these have pop tops..."
She took a step back so Cham could see the screen options, but didn't give up full control. "Anything you've been, like, craving?"
Cham
Cham noticed the hesitation, and in the split second they started to retract their hand it was taken instead. They shook, but let Vel’s hand slip away the instant it wanted to. “Nice to meet you Vel.”
They looked a little shocked when Vel offered to get them something. Their lips curled into a smile and their head shook slightly. “My my! A philanthropic soul after my own. You don’t have to do that!”
As Cham was saying this they began to occupy the space next to Vel at the machine, giving the vendy side eye at the thought of something delicious.
“I doooo have a sweet tooth though. You know, in theory.”
Velina
"Well, um, sweet stuff's not super filling usually, but we can get something like that, too," she said, already looking through options. There was fruit cocktail in a can, so she added it, and then...was that a birthday cake in a can? Why not!
She had clearly just accepted she was now shopping for two.
"Do you want a sandwich or something?"
Cham
Cham kind of groaned a little and pursed their lips, seemingly feeling bad about the situation. Their eyes, for a moment, seemed to regain a modicum of definition and shape, becoming beautiful hazel orbs before they blinked and once again their eyes became an Ill defined yellow.
“Whatever you think, I really don’t want to impose.” They replied, their voice cracking with a breathy huff that sounded like a nervous laugh dying before it fully formed. “If you’re cool with it, ham is good. For sandwiches I should say. Im going to be quiet now.”
Velina
"You don't have to be quiet, hon," Vel reassured them, adding ham-in-a-can and then some more bread-in-a-can to the cart. Cheese in a can? Sure. Ham and cheese worked.
She selected a few more things, then let the Vendy know she was done. As it started dispensing cans, she gave it a little pat and the customary thanks before fishing them out, checking the labels.
"Do you have somewhere to stay, Cham?" It was a reflexive question, followed by mentally berating herself because she didn't have a real solution to that at the moment. She offered them one of the options she'd grabbed for them-the birthday cake in a can. It promised rainbow sprinkles, yellow cake, and vanilla frosting. She did not know how that worked with being in what was, ostensibly, a soup can.
Fuck. Soup would have been a good choice, actually.
Cham
Cham nodded in agreement when they were told they didn’t have to be quiet, being quiet. They looked around as Vel took the food out of the vendy, double checking that no one had any ideas about jumping them. Coast looked clear, but there was one guy who was looking a little shifty. Nothing to worry about though. Yet, at least.
Cham felt a chill run down their back, and they instinctively zipped their jacket up. Not that it would do much good. It had been years and they still had to remind themselves that they were the clothes. They shook their head at themselves, before their attention was snapped back to Vel as she spoke.
“Yea! I live and work out of the of observatory. Currently in the middle of putting the finishing touches on fixing it up so it’s all fully powered and stuff again. Made some nice housing in the lower floors for people between homes. We run a kitchen as well, grab as much of the… well…” They looked over to the vendy, then leans in so they could whisper the next word.
“…crappy food from the vendies, and a bunch of the folks do their best with it to feed everyone.”
As soon as the can was handed over to them, they popped the top and started shovelling it into their mouth. After a few bites, they realised they were being rude, and swallowed, wiping their hand on the can and smiling awkwardly.
“If you’ve got enough for two, it’s safe to say you have a place to stay?” They asked.
Velina
She wasn't familiar with the observatory, but her bubble in the RD was very small. People got antsy with her if she went out too far from her general area of work.
"Oh, I've never been over there, but that sounds nice." Vel watched them dig into the can with a half-smile, trying not to laugh. She didn't want to mock them, but it was kind of funny.
At the question, her smile dims a little. "I do. I'm lucky enough to have that." Vel was at least savvy enough not to explain where to a stranger, but she was this close. "I work at the Court Luxe. Have you been?"
Probably not if they didn't have cred, but...
Cham
Cham was about to grab another handful of cake when Vel said that they worked at the Luxe. They stopped in their tracks and raised their eyebrows “Oh. Ohhhhhhhhh. You’re Vel. As in Velvet. Sweet, always nice to meet a local celebrity!” Cham and unzipped one of their pockets, folded the top of the can back over, and put it in.
“A bunch of the people we’ve looked after have mentioned you. All high praise for sure! Never seen any of your stuff myself though.” Cham leaned against the wall again, seeming to find the support comforting as their body slumped slightly against it. It had clearly been a long day, but that didn’t detract from their interest or energy.
“How are you finding your job, if that’s not too bold a question? Seems like something that athletic would be a lot every night.”
Velina
It happened, but Vel was always a little surprised when someone recognized her. Calling her a local celebrity, even! That was flattering. Though, maybe they were just being nice because she'd bought them food.
"I'll have to ask my boss for, like, a raise if I'm getting all that advertising done." She laughed, offering them the other cans she'd picked out for them as they dispensed. She wasn't going to ask what they were saying as, considering her various professions, they probably weren't for 'polite' conversation.
"It's good! I don't work every night, though. I think that'd kill me." She shook her head, the thought exhausting on its own. "I take two or three nights off to do other things. I can't hog all the tips, or the other dancers would hate me.
"You're working on the observatory, so you do...construction? Electrical?"
Cham
Cham’s face softened slightly as Vel seemed surprised that they knew who she was. They smiled at the quip about getting a raise, and listened intently to Vel’s description of her work week.
“Don’t thank your boss. It’s your ex customers that give you glowing reviews. Apparently your dancing is something else! Quite a complement in a city full of steppers!”
They leaned their full back against the wall, taking each cab as it was handed and seeming to find pocket after pocket to put them in.
“Good to hear you aren’t being over worked though. Uhhhh, just out of curiosity…. Who is your boss? Some areas aren’t my expertise, and I don’t know if I know who that would be.”
When Vel asked about their work, Cham smiled again, crossing river arms and finally putting their full weight against the wall.
“More construction then Electronics. We got a guy in to sort out the electronic stuff. But more then that I guess I do a lot of community outreach? Just trying to make sure Squares are taken care of. We do group support sessions, have some beds available for those who need them, try and maximise food for everyone, started reconstruction outside the observatory… really just trying to make the world a better place.”
Velina
"Noir's my boss. He and Renard own the Court Luxe." Oh, that was fun. Maybe it was just a moment of absent-mindedness, but to be recognized over her pole-melting employer was a bit of an achievement!
As Cham detailed their day-to-day, Vel listened a little more seriously. That kind of help was sorely needed in RD, where everyone was scattered and disorganized and often just out for themselves. It was a shame she hadn't heard of them when she was scared and hiding and living off of Vendy Bars, but, then again, she probably would have avoided the group regardless. That 'fear of people' had been overpowering, then.
"Wow, that's, like, a lot! Do you work with Gianni at all? Big, older guy? Sings a lot of opera?" She knew Gianni had been trying to restore RD for quite some time. Maybe there was overlap? "Does this group have, like, a name?"
Cham
Cham smiled at the mention of Gianni. Using their hands now to begin to articulate what they are saying.
“Yea! I’ve bumped into him a bunch of times. Seems like a nice enough guy. You can see some of the larger construction projects he’s been working on from the Observatory. I’ve chipped in a bit. But my main focus so far has been the immediate area!”
Velina
Maybe the group didn't have a name? Just a bunch of Squares coming together to help each other out. Vel didn't let it bother her.
"Well, that's really cool. I'm always glad to meet people who care. It's, like, kind of wild how many people live here but there's practically nothing. We've got a strip club and a cafe and a few of these good guys," she gave the Vendy a pat, "plus a few shops? But it's all scattered and, like, rundown."
Cham
“That’s the issue we’re trying to solve. Keep track of resources, try and make sure everyone one gets their fair share.”
Cham looked around again, making sure they were still safe to talk with all this food on them. No one seemed to be paying them any attention anymore.
“Hey, if you know anyone who’s having a rough time, we can look after them. With all the Dito activity lately and the big guys coming down hard on us, people might need support now more then ever. Even if they are Ditos, everyone’s welcome as long as they don’t cause problems. Hell, if you ever need a hand with anything… as long as it’s not creds…” They chuckled to themselves a little when they hit that part of the conversation. “…I’m sure we could help out.”
Velina
"That's really sweet. I'll make sure people know." Of course, Vel could list off maybe three people who wouldn't scoff at the idea, maybe, but it was something to hold onto. Some people always needed a place to crash.
"What do you have to do to, like, volunteer? I'm not good at much, but, sometimes I might be over that way."
Cham
Cham raised an eyebrow at the offer of help. It wasn’t unusual for people to volunteer, but this was the first person with any real standing in the RD to offer help. They sprang up from their resting place, suddenly becoming much more animated.
“Oh, that’s amazing! If you want to help at all, whenever you’re free you could just come down to the Observatory and ask for either me or Mother Dunn. Either of us would be able to find something for you to help out with. Usually it’s just help in the kitchen or trying to raise some creds for materials so we can continue to rebuild. But if you have any people skills you might be able to help with any of our outreach programmes?”
They sounds as if they are going to stop, but then “Oh! And if you don’t really have a lot of time, then just keeping us aware of what’s going on around the area would be good. We are trying to keep track of everything that’s going on to stay one step ahead of threats so we can give people warnings.”
Velina
Mother Dunn was an interesting name, but she'd heard stranger. The asks weren't strange or overbearing, except...
"What's an outreach programme?" She finished putting her cans into her bag, straightening up. "I usually hear about anything crazy happening late; my friends are, like, pretty protective."
Cham
“There are a bunch of things we want to do in the community, and our outreach programmes are different ways of us interacting with the community to give some stability, you know? There’s a group on Monday that meets at the Observatory who are there to support each other through hard times. We’re going to be starting an on the street reading programme soon. Bringing a bit of knowledge to people who want to stop and listen, that might help them find opportunities they haven’t had yet. There’s a dance group that is looking to teach people who haven’t found the right step for them yet how to get in contact with their Vibe. Uhhhhh, lastly, so far, we’re trying to find employment opportunities for Jamdeaf people. Some of it has to do with helping the Observatory and we pay what we can, but we want to help Jamdeaf people have an equal opportunity to live in our community by doing jobs that need to be done and that steppers aren’t interested in.”
Cham looked pleased with the list as they spoke, seeming to only be realizing how many facets the project had as they were speaking about it.
Velina
Vel cocks her head. "Is this a school? You're making a kind of...school for RD?" It was a lot of information to take in at once, and Vel was trying to condense it as much as possible into something that she could make sense of. It was such a wide variety of tasks and initiatives for a group that didn't even have a name, working out of a broken observatory, with no backers with enough cred to give them even a proper meal.
Could they really do all of that?
Cham
Cham looked slightly confused at the question, but kept their soft, happy look as they replied.
“No, not quite a school. We don’t have dedicated teaching staff or anything like that, just volunteers trying their best to improve the situation down here. It’s something a bunch of us have been passionate about for a few years now, but we’re only just gathering the manpower to be able to exorcise any of these ideas. It’s the same kind of shared vision that’s let us work together to fix up our local area.”
Cham started fidgeting a little. Their feet had started to fall asleep slightly, so they were taking a few steps as they spoke, shifting their weight from one foot to the other.
Velina
"Oh." Vel didn't know what to make of that kind of group, but at least it all seemed positive? They were trying to accomplish a lot with very little, and that was admirable. "I'm glad there's, like, more and more people who care enough to get things done, for sure."
She saw them fidget and frowned. "Sorry, am I keeping you? I guess we kind of got carried away."
Cham
Cham stopped moving when attention was drawn to it.
“Oh, no sorry! Just moving the old legs about. We could walk and talk, if you don’t mind?” Cham suggested, taking a few steps back and stretching a bit as they kicked the back flaps of their crocks up so they sat more snugly on their feet.
Velina
"Ah, sure, I'm just heading back to the Luxe." They didn't need to know she lived above it, but they knew Vel worked there, regardless, so it wasn't a big deal. "Don't want you to have to go, like, out of your way, though? Or stop you from eating. Sounds like you're busy and hungry."
Cham
Cham shrugged, a little smile as they spoke. “I’ve done most of my work outside today. Checking out the area round the Luxe seems like a pretty good idea before I head back anyway. But, if you’d prefer to be left in peace, I get it! It was a real pleasure meeting you either way.”
Velina
"I don't mind the company." She stepped out of the alley back onto the street, blinking a little. Oh, she hadn't had any coffee. That headache was going to be fierce if she didn't get some soon. Noir probably had some bitter black monstrosity at the bar, at least.
"Does anyone give you a hard time? It's not always really easy out here," she added, though Cham probably knew that. "People coming to, like, mess with the observatory or anything?"
Cham
Cham moved fully out of the way to allow Vel to pass, turning in their heel with the distinctive sound of stone scraping stone as pebbles twisted underfoot. The began to walk together, Cham letting Vel lead by half a step as they continued their conversation.
“There are some people who see a group operating out of the Observatory and think of bad times. I wasn’t there myself, but apparently a group tried to claim the RD as their own. Didn’t get very far, but they were based in the Observatory before us. So, you know, bad history. Besides that and one or two Ditos trying to extort us, we haven’t had much issue at all to be honest.”
Cham nodded as they spoke, seemingly chipper about the subject. They sighed a little, put their hands in yet more pockets that seemed to come out of nowhere, and looked over to Vel. “How about you? Anybody giving you any trouble? Or the Luxe?”
Velina
"Well, hopefully perceptions will change? Sorry people are trying to extort you, though, do you have, like, any strong steppers in your group?" It was a necessity in RD, especially, to be able to stand up to those who would take advantage of you, or it would just get worse.
"The Luxe is a magnet for trouble, but that's kinda...well, it's, like, when you have a boss who loves trouble and is a 'Dito and antagonizes people on purpose, that kind of happens. But we've got good security, so I'm pretty okay. They usually don't attack the dancers." She shrugged. "Actually, patrons are more likely to attack each other than us. It just sucks because fights hurt tips."
Cham
“I mean, depending on who comes knocking, I can punch back just about as hard as we get. Besides me… Mags is kinda scary. She can kinda read minds? But bot really? So pretty nuts. And if you want tough, Mother Dunn is a tough cookie. She can come back from just about anything. Not super punchy though.”
Cham clicked their tongue inside their mouth a bit as they thought. “That’s about it really.
But you’ve got a Dito boss? Do they treat you well…?”
Velina
"Oh, yeah, Noir is great! Honestly, he can be scary to other people, but he's a sweetheart to us dancers, usually." The man had a temper, but it was often directed at better targets
Cham
“Hm, yea, never heard of either of them. Sounds like they have a good set of head on their shoulders though, if they’re taking care of their employees.”
Cham mulled it over for a second before asking: “Sorry if this seems a bit rude, but are you a Stepper, or Jamdeaf?”
Velina
The sudden question made Vel pause, then try to keep walking like it didn't bother her. "Ah...stepper. But I'm not interested in throwdowns. Um, why?"
Cham
Cham nodded at the answer, face neutral as Vel asked why. “Just curious how fairly you’re bing treat was all. I know Jamdeaf people in your line of work don’t always get the nicest go of things. Just double checking.”
Cham’s mood seemed to visibly drop as they spoke, before they shook the look of their face and continued on, not wanting to linger on the heavy subject.
“Not into throwdowns? Im not a fan of the collateral that usually accompanies it myself, but I think a good dance-fight can really test you and keep you sharp. Loose some friends that way too though.”
Velina
"We take care of all of our dancers." Vel's smile had gotten tighter, but she was practiced at being friendly when she was uncomfortable.
"My vibe's not, like, really strong or anything. But what about you? You throwdown, then?" She tried to shift the conversation away from her as quickly as possible. "Oh, well, you said you 'punch back,' so, I guess that's a yes."
Cham
Cham chuckled a little bit at being asked if they were about throw downs. Shaking their head, they kicked a discarded can as they made brier way down the street.
“Generally I don’t go looking for fights. I try to talk things through first. But sometimes people, especially people in power, don’t listen because they want. That’s when you need to hit back. Otherwise people just take from you and never give you anything back in return.”
Their jaw clenched, the tips of their hair bleeding colour into blonde and their own smile tightening. A breath out, and their hair returned to raven black.
“My Vibe’s useful. The peeps I work with really focus on connecting with their Vibe. I think it’s important to really feel what your Vibe says to you, even if you don’t use it. For me, I can feel real happiness when I’m focusing on it, and it can guide me a little. I don’t know if that’s anything you’ve ever felt, but it’s a real fulfilling and sometimes soulful experience.”
Velina
Vel listened, always willing to give the other person the chance to carry the conversation (since groove knew she could certainly get carried away often), even if the topic was a little uncomfortable. She understood needing to fight, and she didn't blame Cham, but being connected…
Her eyes flickered to how their hair shifted color momentarily, distracted by the change but otherwise unbothered. Vibe aesthetics could be varied and dramatic, subtle or bright, and this was just one more of those. Actually, she was a little jealous of it.
"It's not really something I've felt," she lied, because one could argue cravings were certainly a way of being connected to your Vibe. "But I'm glad it works for you. It kinda sounds like, um, how UG was really into that kind of thing before '99."
Cham
At the mention of UG, Cham’s hair once agin flared blonde, but this time the colour almost hit the roots.
“There’s a big difference between power hungry assholes and people who just want to connect with the way things should be.”
Cham’s tone shifted throughout the sentence; going from annoyed, to slightly angry, down to sad, and then levelled back out at the end. They put their hand up in apology for the tone, and their hair died down to black again.
“The UG have always done things the wrong way, or for the wrong reasons. And it’s cost people dearly. We are trying to maintain a personal relationship with our Vibe, but accept that it’s part of something beyond us.”
Cham put their hands back in their pockets after having been a little more animated in those last few sentences.
“I’d recommend really focussing and listening to your vibe. Especially when the sun is out like today. It might help clarify more about your life, you know? Like, for me, my Vibe really likes getting a sense for people. Learning more about them, helping them out. It’s a good motivator.”
Velina
Vel, formerly of Orange, found the sudden vehemence against UG a little off-putting, but not unexpected. The Banditos and many, many Squares had similar opinions on very different subjects, so it was a natural consequence of bringing them up in the first place.
As a Square without any strong conviction other than self-preservation, Vel took that discomfort and shoved it way, way down.
"The sun?" As far as she knew, only very specific Vibes were affected by the sun, but maybe this was some other kind of health-specific thing? She knew she felt shitty if she didn't get enough Vitamin D after a while, and they were just coming out of winter into spring.
"I guess. I'm not sure my Vibe works like that, but, like, it can't hurt?" There wasn't a way for her Vibe to get worse from sitting in the sun, probably. Didn't work like that, not for her. "I appreciate the advice, anyway."
She really didn't know what to make of Cham.
Cham
“No worries. It’s what I try to do.”
She’s holding back something Cham thought, slowly putting little pieces together. Vel was careful with words, and liked to let Cham talk. Maybe it was time for a different approach.
“Big question again, feel free to tell me to buzz off if this one’s a bit much. What Vibe do you have? Mine, eh, not one that people really like. So I get it if you don’t want to say.”
As soon as Cham finished speaking, their hand came out of their pocket with a slice of ham from the can, and and quickly put it in their mouth, giving Vel the room to speak.
Velina
She wasn't so rude as to tell them to buzz off, but she definitely wasn't going to answer that.
"It's not anyone's business," Vel said, though what could have been sharp was carefully even, "and I don't care if you think I'm, like, jamdeaf because of it."
She forcibly did not change her pace or walk faster towards the Luxe. But she did not like this situation anymore.
Cham
That hit a nerve. Oops. Though, at least part of that was confusing to Cham.
“I’m sorry. Like I said, it was no pressure. If you want to keep your business to yourself then that’s cool. And I don’t have any issue with Jamdeaf people.”
Cham slowed down, scratching their head and putting a hand on their hip. “I’ve clearly upset you. So, I’m just going to… uhhh… go another way. Thank you though, for being so generous. And again, I’m really sorry to have brought up a sore spot. As someone who’s Vibe is considered taboo, I get it. Have a nice night.”
Velina
As they slowed down, Vel hesitated, then kept walking. Now was not the time to try and understand, to apologize for what had happened. Now was the time for self-preservation. Max would be proud.
Except...
"...You, too. And, like, not for nothing, but..." she paused just a moment to look back at them. "If you've got a taboo Vibe, maybe don't tell people, okay? Just. Be safe."
That was it. She hurried on her way, unsettled. Once she got to the Luxe, at least she knew there she was safe.
Cham
Cham slowed to a stop, watching the clearly perturbed or frightened Vel leave with her warning.
Just. Be safe.
Those words weren’t easy for her. There was something there; a wound, scabbed over and Cham had picked at it. And as bad as Cham felt for bringing up that pain, they couldn’t help but feel a little happy with the result. Or at least, their Vibe did. That humming energy that, moments earlier, and wanted to reach out and learn what Vel was afraid of had died down again. To Cham, it always felt like the Vibe was a flickering golden energy. When it wanted to probe into the Vibe of others, it reached outside of their body, hungry. If Cham was honest, it could be frightening at times.
Whatever the case, Cham was a few cans heavier, and one job down. What was left of the day was theirs. Perhaps Gianni needed some help today? Whatever happened, it had to be better then the way this conversation had ended.
[END]
Moderators: AJ_89 Steven (played by Robo-Craig) QnQ Hide Miyagawa (played by Monoclejack) Chroma (played by lewsey)
