Exodus

"-are you letting your biases get the better of ya'?"

"The hell's that 'spose to mean?" David growls.

Leo shrugs, "Just askin', sounds to me like you've put all your eggs in Zombie, but can that guy be trusted? You sure he won't throw you and your gal to the flames if it helps him?"

"He would never do that." David growls.

"You sure? Not even for amnesty from Arasaka? They want Lucy right? What if he tossed you and her at them as scapegoats? What do you really know about him, 'side that he's fucking that white-shorty?"

David leans forwards and rests a hand on Leo's shoulder, gripping it tight enough for the man to wince. "Rebecca, her name's Rebecca. Use it." he releases him, "You're new to the crew so you don't know, there's one thing he values more than Eddies, cred, chrome, or any of that shit. It's loyalty. Stop being a fucking pansy and man up," he 'lightly' palms Leo across the face, causing the man to stare at him in disbelief, "You signed up for this, he pulled your ass outta jail so keep your fuckin' end of it. I vouched for you, don't make me regret it... ¿Entender?"

...

"Sí, Solo asegurándome..." (Yes, just making sure) Leo replies, allowing David to let out a breath of relief and return to Lucy.

---------------------------

Ori finally makes his way out of the canal and climbs up the ladder leading to the river-side street, toxic water pooling off of him and onto the floor prompting pedestrians to make way. He tries to wring his Sekaiheiwa jacket out before giving up and discarding it, leaving him in only a tank top.

[Resources at 22%, requesting alleviation before further combat: Flesh Administrator]

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not fighting Smasher again without a meal..." he glances around and spots a few food stalls lined up. "Oi! I'm buying all the food you got, give it here!" he demands while snatching a burrito out of a patron's hand and eating it in one go.

"The fuck!?-" the man trails off as the barrel of Ori's revolver digs into his forehead.

"Gotta problem...?"

"N-no man... We're good."

Ori nods as the man runs off, shooting a thousand eddies at each of the stall owners as he drops onto a stool. "Well? I ain't got all day. Be quick and a tip's waiting for you."

"As long as you're okay with Takoyaki..."

*Beep!*

[Bro! What the fuck!!? Did you not think it'd be a good idea to tell me you were planning to off the Emperor's son!?] - Quentin

[It wasn't planned, Smasher framed us.] - Ori

[Like it matters! Almost a quarter of my contracts are mixed up with Sekaiheiwa, all of which started dropping like flies once you started dumping stocks! Don't tell me you didn't have time to bring me in on it!] - Quentin

[Quentin, I've spent more than thirty minutes under the canal, I got thrown out of the AV Adam Fucking Smasher was holding me in. Do you really think I have time to think about contracts right now!?] - Ori

[You think I care!? I've had to pack all my shit up and wire as much cash as I can to an offshore bank. NC is a no-go for me now, because we are, or were friends, I'll tell you I'm going to Seattle to set up shop again and hope Arasaka doesn't find my ass. Good luck with whatever the fuck scheme you're in.] - Quentin

[Yeah, good luck to you too, asshole.] - Ori

*Beep!*

*Beep!*

*Beep!*

*Beep!*

*Beep!*

[So.] - Rogue

[For fuck sake! Do you have many people are pinging me right now!?] - Ori

[... So I heard you fought Smasher. How was it?] - Rogue

He sighs and continues shovelling food into his mouth. Maybe if he played along with her she'd have a way to help him out, it was a long shot but he didn't really have much to go off of right now...

[Like nailing my balls to a moving AV and jumping off.] - Ori

[I'm being serious, this intel is important.] - Rogue

[Yeah? So am I. The guy's got every implant you can name aside from a functioning Cyberdeck, he used a sandy on and off with no strain, and I wouldn't be surprised if he had a berserk module activated at all times. I-... I'll just send you the recording of the fight, make up your mind from there... If you can afford it.] - Ori

[Afford it? How about I pay by not sending Arasaka your detes?] - Rogue

[Stop playing and help me out, you hate 'Saka and Smasher more than anyone.] - Ori

...

[If you must know, the Corp's gathering to raid Sekaiheiwa HQ, NCPD is giving them free rein. Media are already stamping the 'Zombie' name on Yorinobu's assassination, so you got about a day before every man, woman, and child in NC are gunning for you, somehow more than before...] - Rogue

[The sitch on Hanako Arasaka?] - Ori

[A grieving sister who is hellbent on getting revenge for her brother and father. Since 'someone' killed off most of the board members she's already begun looking to fill it with her own people. Give it a month and her people from Japan will get here and you'll have no chance.] - Rogue

[Shit... Don't suppose you go any plans of your own...? Y'know to help bring down a corp?] - Ori

[I did, but you kicked the wasp-nest. Any plans I had are dead or redundant. You're on your own here, and I'd appreciate it if you kept the Afterlife outta this shitstorm.] - Rogue

...

He rubs his face and shoots her the recordings of his fight with Smasher, along with whatever intel he'd figured out outside of it. Her hunting Smasher only benefitted him right now, and he could use any distraction he could get.