Bits of Normality

Didn't want to get involved with the Solomons so I made an effort to take a break until the heat died down. Strauss wanted to persuade, but I wanted to be careful. And I made it clear to him that I was only a driver. I've done them a great favor and driving around the car wasn't going to be happening. Maybe Strauss felt like he needed my 'ability' so he didn't pursue this matter. Told me that he'll come to me when there is truly a need for me.

So without work I spent most of my time sleeping or browsing the net. What did you expect when it still existed? Even this new body and life does not stop me from watching those awful clips and having a giggle.

Of course, I also didn't spend time just in my new apartment. I made use of the time to roam around the city, trying to identify places that should have any of those odd items. One thing that I wanted to search for was that hook-bracer that should exist somewhere. It was a bracer that allowed one to shake this thin metal thread that could be used to pull yourself up. I spent two days searching for the damn thing and found it in the hands of a druggie that doesn't know how to use it all. Let's just say that he got knocked out by a strong blow to the jaw and while asleep handed me the hook-bracer.

I kept the bracer most of the time in my inventory slots, replacing the switchblade with it. Other than I get to watch this city tear itself apart. Syndicates and crime families fighting it out.

I heard from folks, well, it was mostly me eavesdropping on them that there were fights happening all over the area. Most of the time the ones that get their shit kicked in was the lowly and unprepared gangsters while the mobs who are well-equipped get the drop on these low level folks.

In a way my choice to leave Eastbrooks was the right choice. My place was in Cole's Street sitting between Brooks and Coleman. There are gunshots and loud vehicles that are chasing after another.

I ain't a psychopath and no way I would ever do something like get involved. I ran drugs. I delivered folks to their destinations and even flew a helicopter carrying tons of gold. I'm not going to kill folk if I could. That is my bottom line. If there is a time where I have to, then I'd make the choice.

Shoot or punch.

And if my life was in danger. I ain't going to be moral about it. Nevertheless, I'm not planning to put myself into a place where I could get shot. It feels awful to me and I rather not put myself into that kind of scenario.

I also received a message from the girls working in the hotel. They said that Jon Locke had been shot in the shoulder. I asked how he was and so far he only said that he was good and that the Solomons would treat him fairly.

Timotei, who was subordinate to Boss Shawn, was in the middle of some gang war as well. I like Timotei. Despite what he does. I like him as a person. However, I do not like how he is thoroughly involved with this multi-district war that they are having and has cut off any contact with him for now. Thankfully, Nance, who worked in their bar had quitted before everything went to shit so she got spared from the crossfire. From what I heard she's going to start working at the precinct where her friend Audrey was working. I didn't get to talk much with her. Milana, her other friend, has been quite talkative and has been hiring me to drive her around the city in her conventions and meet-ups.

She likes to play dress-up and her outfit as I drive her to her destination was quite attractive. She has a choker on as usual. Black princess cut hair and red lips that suited her.

There was a convention and I was being used as her bodyshield. This city is dangerous, no doubt, but there are still parts of it that these folks don't come to. It's a huge city and districts in-between High Garden and Coleman are quite attractive to the young folks.

It was this covered hall that she was going to. When we arrived I parked my car just outside and followed her to the covered hall with her luggage. She carried a lot, but honestly it was nothing to me.

We entered the hall. Asked the receptionist where her place was in the hall and went there. Inside this room there was a screen where the ones attending this event could change their dress. I placed her luggage behind the screen.

"Is this a monthly or yearly thing?" I had to ask.

She brought her manicured finger on her lips.

"It's yearly. Umm, so you have interest in this? I can dress you up as a butler! I have the clothes."

I squinted at her, "Got a feeling that one of your motives for spending a thousand on hiring is this."

She raised her brows as if she was wronged, then smiled. "Yes? You fit what I have in mind and please do this for me?"

"Another thousand and you have a deal."

She scrutinized me before giggling. "Deal! I'll send it to your bank account. So dress up mister!"

She clearly has the money to spare and I feel like a fool for doing it. Nonetheless I dressed myself up, taking my clothes, and wearing this strangely well-fitting butler suit that was just my size. I looked at her suspiciously to which she just smiled and tried to keep her eyes on the wall.

Compared to what others had hired me for in the past few days. Her request was far more reasonable and did not involve doing crime.

It was a cosplay and role playing convention. I didn't recognize most of the characters. She took me around the place. I wore a wig and she applied makeup on me so I could be comfortable without caring for how I looked. In a way I also made sure to act like her butler. Better just go along with whatever character she wanted to be. In this case she was acting like a gothified mistress. Her risque outfit coupled with her curvy body made the eyes of the people go to her.

Took a while. Had my picture taken alongside Milana. After three hours of posing and being goddamn polite to the folks in the convention. We took a break and she got me a drink while we watched the rest of the convention go on.

"Are you sure that you haven't done this?"

"Nope. Did I do well?"

"Did too well. Makes me suspicious. Hmm, though I feel somewhat disappointed that you haven't taken a bit of your time to stare, Mister."

"Hah, well, you probably didn't see me then."

"Hehe, you're a gentleman. No wonder Nance likes you and hasn't tried to make a move on you."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Course' it is. It means that you're good enough to make her be careful. Not that you have that much interest in us, Nikky. You have a girl?"

"Not really."

"Hmm, guess you ain't looking for one at the moment. I got the message."

No idea what she meant by that. Milana shook her drink and placed her hand on the round glass table. Her eyes trailed back to the convention.

"I once took Audrey with me. She almost put people here in jail for indecency, you know?"

"That why you don't take her with you in this kind of events"

"That's right.. Nance is always busy with her bartending and personal business. Audrey… She's busy. Busy enough that it makes me wonder if she even has time to take a rest once in a while."

Audrey being a police officer in a city like this. It's a surprise that she could spend time with her friends despite how awful Pacifica City is lately.

"She's admirable."

"I'm proud of her. Nonetheless, I do wish she'd at least get herself a boy or something."

"You three have quite a friendship."

"That we do," she went on. "We've been friends since highschool so the friendship stuck through a lot of tough times."

It was quite a strange friendship now that I think about it. One was a police officer who clearly had an interest in her duties. The other was a bartender that worked in a fight club, serving drinks to the tough motherfuckers who got their faces beaten. Then here is Milana, a woman who enjoys playing dress-up and attending conventions like this. It was a strange trio.

How these three maintained their friendship was something that truly interested me.

After the convention I took my clothes off and put my regular outfit back on. I've been wearing them regularly even though I'm not working. I find the clothes rather comfortable and they fit me better.

Milana went back to her 'regular' clothes, but she kept the choken and the red lips. When she saw me staring she gave a grin and then started to walk back to the car. As we enter the parking complex one guy stood in front of Milana and pointed his finger, demanding loud

"Slut! I paid 8000 thousand dollars and this is how you pay your fans back!??"

His face was crumpled. His eyes constricted and his chest heaving as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Is this how you do your fans! Is this it?"

"I don't know what you're saying!"

"Stop lying! Stop lying! I caught you slut red handed!" he stomped his foot on the pavement as if he was frustrated. He had that deranged look. Milana tried to step forward. I blocked her with my left arm while staring down at her fan.

"Get fucking lost."

I said sternly. It probably was his delusional mind producing some sort of conclusion that he started to rush in while screaming as if he'd tear his throat out. I pulled my right hand back and slapped the guy to sleep. He landed back-first on the pavement and my hand made a large palm print on his face.

Milana had already taken her stun gun out. It doesn't look like a tazer. It didn't have those 'wires' that would come out. If anything it looked dangerous and expensive.

"This happens a lot?"

"It does. Some folks like this guy are quite out of their minds."

I dialed a number and reported the incident. Since this was a high-profile convention. There were cops nearby who immediately responded. When they saw the guy in a red shirt and satchel sprawled on the floor. They arrested him and took him in while the partner of the cop took a statement from us.

After ten minutes of talking, the police officer left the scene. I took Milana back to my car and I drove off.

"This must be annoying."

"Eh, I got used to it. Working on this scene means that you expect things like this to happen. It isn't as unusual as you'd think it is. If anything I'm more worried about how my fans are going to react to this. If anything I think you can guess why that person got mad."

I pointed at myself. "Because of me, I know."

"Yup. Probably thought that you're my boyfriend. They are strange like that. Easily jealous that it makes me wonder if they are even thinking. I hope I didn't bother you because of this."

"Believe me, Miss. This is probably the less troublesome thing that I have been doing lately.

Compared to the foolishness that I have been doing. Mixing in with folks who are doing things to this city. Taking a girl out and letting herself enjoy her hobby was one of the kinder things that I did lately.