[StarRail PSL]

[themightybosstone]

[The world was one of a constant, strange, cyclical war.

When the night fell on the highest moon of the furthest month, a Howling Storm took the planet, cut its cities off from each other and the visitors from their homes, When the Storm's first whining, hot wind struck, the imposing gates of the iridescent metal of this world would close, folding up and over, in a wall only Qlipoth could love.

The thud of bodies, the scrape of claws, mandibles and fangs added to the cacophony that the setting of the red sun provoked. It ebbed in the morning, but never enough to be safe. Never enough for the walls to come down.

In defiance, however, in these little hubs of survival, the nightlife was something quite impressive. Loud music played, lights blared, the night market was a roar of throats - the call of sellers and the flirtation of buyers.

All to carry on like a shield wasn't holding back the certain death of nearly everyone in the spaceport.

But you're here, waiting for the tired relief of morning. For the spaceport to open back up in a week.

It should have already ended. It SHOULD have been open yesterday.

But the Storm is longer than it's ever been here...]

Comments

[vitainmorte]

I would recommend asking a native for directions, sir.

[eggshell]

But I want you.

[I WANT TO FIT YOU INSIDE THIS BRIEFCASE. Dan Feng doesn't mean to think that very hard but he does, because he's excited.]

[vitainmorte]

[ ??????? ]

I'm sorry? Why? No; you have the wrong person, my apologies.

[eggshell]

Have you never been wanted before?

[vitainmorte]

[ this gets her to turn and give him a deeply confused look, brow furrowed. ]

-- I'm not interested! Especially not in the likes of you.

[eggshell]

[He mirrors the confused look.]

What are you talking about? I just want you to come with me.

1/2

[vitainmorte]

I don't take propositions from strange men and especially not wanted criminals.

[vitainmorte]

[ That said-- now that they're essentially alone, having turned down another alley into a more open space less traveled--

She draws her gun, leveling it at him. ]

[eggshell]

If you know who I am, then you know how useless that is, yes? How cruel, I have not drawn any weapon against you.

[vitainmorte]

... It's a matter of public safety, in my eyes. The likelihood of my failure does not outweigh my duty to make the attempt, especially when you seem to have targeted me regardless.

I cannot suffer an abomination to live while I roam these stars.

[eggshell]

I have not done anything to you nor to this wretched little planet. [The very loud unspoken yet rings in the air.]

Would you not hear me out? Or is this justice you mete one-sided?

[vitainmorte]

Monstrosities don't have a side.

[ But she isn't trying to shoot him, yet. Though she doesn't relax, either, and she gives him space to talk. ]

[eggshell]

I see you know your monsters well.

[He tilts his head to the side. It would be cute if he wasn't who he was.]

But yes. You know of me. A Stellaron Hunter; on a backwater little planet. What can you infer?

[vitainmorte]

You seek a mark, or senseless destruction. Or one in pursuit of the other.

[eggshell]

[He takes a step forward, still clutching the briefcase to his chest like a cherished toy. Another step-]

Ah-ah. Half right, for the near future.

[He looks up. Gives her a straight shot to his jugular as he smiles up at the barrier between this planet and the swarm beyond it.]

I have a mark, and it can save this planet. You know where that mark is.

[vitainmorte]

[ For every step he takes forward she takes back two, eyes trained unblinking on his form-- and heavily considers the neck, bare to her. It won't kill him, she knows. But perhaps-- if it can stun him long enough, if she can get him into small enough pieces--



But his claim startles her, and her expression shifts, brow furrowed with confusion. ]

I don't know anything of the sort.

[eggshell]

[Ma'am don't play dumb. The script just had:

1) A picture of her, 'Valencia - affil: Oak, last seen: xx'
2) Trying candied fruit at xx:xx
3) DAN FENG READ THIS: WE WANT HER ALIVE AND INTACT ENOUGH TO CONTAIN THE STELLARON. THE BRIEFCASE CAN ONLY HOLD THE STELLARON FOR 2 STANDARD HOURS. SHE CAN HOLD THE STELLARON INDEFINITELY.
4) Host must imbibe 250 ml of SoulGlad at xx to avoid IPC chase with chance of dismemberment
5) DAN FENG REMOVE ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU PUT INSIDE THE BRIEFCASE BEFORE PUTTING THE STELLARON INSIDE IT IF NEEDED. YES EVEN THE FINGERS YOU STOLE FROM PENACONY
5) Host and you and [redacted] must be on ship out planetside within 72 system hours. Swarm will be attracted to STELLARON and blockade will be lifted

and generally speaking Stellaron containers knew what they were, on account of being the equivalent of a walking nuclear bomb.

So.]

Really? Not one whit? I am asking the easy way.

[vitainmorte]

[ I regret to inform you that nobody told Valencia that the gift bestowed upon her by God was, in fact, a nuclear warhead.

She maintains that confusion, though. ]

... I truly don't know. I came here to refuel my ship, not to hunt.

[eggshell]

[Dan Feng, vaunted interstellar criminal, looks down, back at her - and puts his hands on his hips, petulant like a preschooler who has not gotten his favorite snack.]

So you're useless, is that it.

[vitainmorte]

If you have nothing of worth to say, I suggest you leave before I kill you.

[eggshell]

[He actually pulls his phone out, squints at it, before sliding it back into a pocket.]

No, if I died here, we will not be able to get off this planet in time. Escort me instead; if you were not hunting, then there is nothing else for you to do here.

[vitainmorte]

[ She gives him a deeply offended look because of course she does, and just starts backing away from him. ]

Absolutely not. I don't know what exactly you want from me, but the moment the curtain opens I'm leaving. I have places to be and it's not with a wanted criminal.

[eggshell]

That is what I am saying. If you do not help me, that curtain will not lift. Ever.

[He looks at her contemplatively.]

If I thought otherwise, you would be dead, so it is in your best interest to cooperate.

[vitainmorte]

You could bother explaining anything at all.

[eggshell]

Why would I need to explain anything? You know what you are?