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Post by Neotelenta on Aug 8, 2022 0:00:47 GMT
"Yo Blondie, care to explain the change of heart?" Leo asked Lancer. Lancer's eyes widen to an almost maniacal state. He smiles widely under his mask. "Very good question. I was hoping you would say something. Being incorrect is the cause for this 'change of heart'. Had you not observed this, I would have pointed it out and had proper reason to suspect you more than others. But you're actively bringing up the topic. I can feel a lot happier removing you from the list now." Lancer adjusts his listing. "If Mercy is the cop, I don't think death will grace her before incredible pain does. She knows of the consequences. Even if she dismantles the Lunetti family, she'll have to deal with the wrath of her OWN. If Leslie is the cop, it would be very saddening, but who else would have such intimate trust from Leon and the ability to misuse it? And surely the wife of Leon would wish for a more peaceful life, wouldn't she? If not a cop herself, then perhaps someone who was offered a deal and took it." "Another win-win gamble. If not Leslie, then...I suppose we'll see. But I will not be voting for you, Leo." Lancer says, giving Leo a nod.
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Post by JaytheBluPirate on Aug 8, 2022 4:12:27 GMT
"I don't believe Mom is a cop. She had no reason to lie about what she did." Kolton said as he mulls over the information. "After going over her actions, I realize that there's no way she can be a cop."
"On night 4, my mother tried to block my lovebug from carrying out her action, and her action went through... But because of Broccoli Rob swapping my mother with Mercy, she ended up blocking herself."
"On night 5, she tried to block the countess based on the suspicions of the countess having the killing power. Due to Broccoli Rob swapping the countess with her, she ended up blocking herself yet again. It seems as though Rob knew that if have my mother succeeded in blocking the countess, there would have been no deaths (due to Athena going onto Lancer), which would have made us realize that the countess couldn't be the poisoner."
"My mother didn't know she blocked herself until the third time loop, in which Rob informed us of his actions in the second time loop. This surprised her, which proves that she couldn't be a cop, in addition to the fact that she didn't block any of the investigation folks." Kolton reasoned as he cross his arms and mulls over the information. "Now that I think about it, the cop got to be either my lovebug or Leo. Leo didn't share who he watched on night 8, which I find really odd. It'd be nice if the dog can enlighten us on what he did in the third time loop. My sweetie's role could sow chaos as we have agreed on."
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Post by Planetbox on Aug 8, 2022 4:32:38 GMT
[#spoiler=Votes]Mercy: Leslie, Mona Izza, Athena Leslie: Mercy, Lancer [/spoiler] "That's good enough for me," Red said, sensing from the cosmos that the rules had changed. "Come on up here, Mercy." They waved their hand wildly, pulling Mercy into the air, and focused on her, their eyes glowing. Mercy's butterfly drones seemed to fight back against Red's magic, but they ended up blowing aside, swirling in a whirlwind of smoke above Mercy's head. She screamed at the force of the attack. "Mercy Decado was the Pickpocket. She had a talent for robbery, which even extended to stealing identities.
She swapped her ability with her targets, gaining their power and the ability to use it in future turns. She could also steal someone's nose every loop, though this didn't accomplish anything of note.
...
"She was aligned with the Cops." ...... There was no more pomp. Mercy was tossed to the ground just steps away from her beloved, who likely stood to inherit the family she had worked hard to destroy. Red floated above the city skyline, quietly clapping their hands. The Mobsters had won. [I'll give y'all time to react to this, then we'll quickly settle Leon's murder. Panda already solved pretty much all of it, so I don't anticipate that will take very long.]
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Post by Doctor Nanjo M.D. on Aug 8, 2022 4:56:15 GMT
The rats all do their vapes on their vape pens. “I fink da cops got da best of us. The amount of betrayal on dis day is irreparable.”
“I knew a kid like you couldn’t lead us, Kolton. Look at who you brought into dis family,” Deep Rat adds, still deeply unhappy.
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Post by JaytheBluPirate on Aug 8, 2022 5:58:55 GMT
"... Shut up, Izza!" Kolton shouted, looking really pissed off. "I loved her from the bottom of my heart! We were destined to be together!" Just then, Leon's words resonated within the heir's head, reminding him of the task he was given. "So, my son, your task is to identify all of the undercover cops and promptly dispose of them.""No! I refuse to dispose of my fiancée! I'm not like my old man! If I killed her, the Decado family will have my fucking head!" He shouted as he is shaking his head. He looks to Mercy. "Mercy, this didn't have to happen! Not like this! I love you and I wouldn't dare trade you for some other woman! You possess something special that I see inside you; Something that no other woman would ever possess." Tears were coming out from behind his sunglasses as the man held both of Mercy's hands.
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Post by Pierre on Aug 8, 2022 7:28:44 GMT
In spite of Kolton and Izza's morose reactions, Bones let out a howl of laughter "HA! I knew me instincts were right. Knew something were wrong with the lady, could feel it in me bones." He slapped his knee and produced a fine bottle of vintage Red from like...the 19th Century of something. "Been saving this for a special occasion, and can't think of much more special than dis."
With a moment of more sensitivity. He looked over to Kolton "Ey, Kolt, I get dis is a hard one but this was yer pa's last wish. Mercy's been workin how to destroy everything the Lunetti's have built 'ere. No one's asking you to be here for dis if it's hard. I'm sure Les or Izza could deal with any disposal we gotta do."
Bones tossed the bottle of red to his other hand, glad that they'd kept the Lunetti family (and peace in the city) alive for a bit longer. He paused a moment though, with a betrayal of this caliber, there's a fear that Kolton might become a darker and more vicious leader than Leon ever was.
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Post by JaytheBluPirate on Aug 8, 2022 8:03:59 GMT
"Really, Bones? That was my old man's final wish? Final wish my ass!" Kolton snapped at the bartender. "Fuck you, Bones. Even if someone were to dare dispose of my lovebug, I'd rather commit suicide so I can be by her side. I love her very much! She's the love of my life! There won't be another woman like Mercy ever again!"
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Post by Pierre on Aug 8, 2022 9:05:35 GMT
Bones hung his head "Ey, Kolt, suicide ain't the answer for that. If Mercy DOES truly love ya I don't thinks she'd want you to suffer neither," He twirled the bottle in his hand and looked towards Leslie, trying to compel her to talk to her son.
"But if you's head of the Lunetti family you can do what you like. You can term 'dispose' however you want. Keep her locked in a dungeon for all it's worth but just remember, this is a woman who was an accomplice to your murder. Whatever you wanna do with dis relationship, things can't stay the same."
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Post by Panda on Aug 8, 2022 9:12:13 GMT
"Hush now, Kolton, this was never about you," Mercy snapped, upset that despite all her efforts, she'd been caught in the end. "You Lunettis are a scourge upon this city, just as much as the Decados are.
"Celebrate while you can, Demarro; where I fall, another will step up and do what's right."
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Rosa
Full Member
Newton. But where is Oldton?
Posts: 232
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Post by Rosa on Aug 8, 2022 9:50:31 GMT
"Kolty", Leslie put her hand on her son from behind, looking quite regretful. "Let go of her. It's not worth it. I'm sorry... Sorry I was unable to be a better mother for you and do something about... all of this. But you mustn't let this cloud your senses. And you!" She snapped, looking at Mercy with a furious look. "You were always in it for the pigs, weren't you? I had a feeling from the beginning, yet started to let go of it as you seemed to start proving your allegiance to the Lunettis... Yet that too, was but a convincing front. I suppose you Decados never were meant to be trusted from the start..." She spat.
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Post by Panda on Aug 8, 2022 10:08:37 GMT
Mercy sighed. There was little point hiding anything anymore. "I've been a cop for years now, yes. In case you hadn't realised, assassination - the specialty of my own damn family - is a terrible crime. Killing people, often innocent people, purely for money. It disgusted me. I joined the force to put an end to that sort of thing, making use of the very talents the Decados had drilled into me to clean up the corruption in this city. I had to keep it a secret, of course, my family would kill me if they ever found out. I suppose that made me a particularly good liar."
She glanced over scornfully at Kolton. "My talents meant I was well-suited to infiltrating the Lunettis. I spun a tale of assassination thwarted by true love, and your son bought it. My family name was useful here, for once: it meant I could frame this as a union between two powerful, evil families. It was peaceful, for a time, but then you fired the first shot. Your husband, patriarch of this cursed family, tortured and killed one of our own. You brought this upon yourselves."
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Post by Pierre on Aug 8, 2022 10:34:13 GMT
Bones teeth clacked irritably, he wasn't accustomed to hearing his proper name and it took him back a bit. "You people, you're the ones who are the most dangerous of all. Gettin' so self-righteous in what you think is right for the world. You think the cops are clean? How many of them you think are on the Lunetti and Decado's payroll? How many homeless vets do you think they beat in the back alleys and parks just to move em on? How many blind eyes do they got huh?"
Bones didn't have saliva but he took a swig of water and spat it over the side of the building. "No you're maybe the most blind of all. You think you were doing a good deal here, talkin' all about yer 'good' and 'evil'. You're the one who needs to wake up toots."
Bones paused a moment in his tirade to look over the city, the light from Red's magic and the neon of the city reflected in his sunglasses. His voice adopted a wistful tone "It's...it's like Leon said, we’re not making the world better. We’re making ourselves richer. At least he had the wisdom to know that." he turned the bottle over in his hands "Few things make this world better."
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Post by Neotelenta on Aug 8, 2022 15:58:03 GMT
In Lancer's mind, clockwork spun up rapidly and slowed down just as much as he replays the thoughts and observations and conversations that had kept him awake these many nights. The countless times he questioned Mercy's actions. The strange infatuation she told the family about, much to everyone’s confusion. The small but significant connection between the two families. The rebellion. The denial. And the lingering feeling that even despite all of it, Lancer couldn't be certain.
...Only to find out that the nightmare was real.
The quiet life under a dead God was not a peaceful one.
Lancer looks on the verge of doing something very reckless, and shudders as he forces himself to take a seat.
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Post by Kachu on Aug 8, 2022 16:51:03 GMT
Athena frowns and mumbles something to herself. At least it was all over.
She was in no way capable of comforting those who were hurt around her, she knew that well enough. The pain everyone felt at all of these betrayals- Some of it stung her too. So she stood there wistfully. Remaining quiet while the others let their own emotions out, daring not to get in anyone's way.
She did, however, give Mercy a sorrowful stare. Maybe she also bought into that true love thing, and was sad to see it fall apart?
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Post by Panda on Aug 8, 2022 17:10:54 GMT
Mercy glared back at Athena. "Don't give me that look. I don't need pity from a murderer like you."
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Post by Neotelenta on Aug 8, 2022 17:49:37 GMT
"Bold...words..." Lancer gets out through clenched teeth. He knew the rules. Killing another Decado family member was not allowed without a formal family trial first.
"What do you mean, murderer?" Lancer glares so hard you could swear his goggle lens were beginning to melt. (They weren't.)
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Post by Panda on Aug 8, 2022 18:30:58 GMT
"I despise the Lunettis, and any cop worth a damn shares that sentiment. Even still, murder is murder. I was happy to see that old bastard Leon die, but his killer won't get away with it. Justice must always be done, otherwise we have anarchy," Mercy growled, likely entirely unaware of the hypocrisy of her words and actions.
"You, Athena Lunetti, killed your own grandfather," she stated, pointing with her cigarette holder towards the accused woman. "Red was kind enough to fill me on on how certain devices worked, and Kolton's earlier testimony served as the final clue. I may hold no power here, but don't think for a moment that you got away with it. I've figured out the entirety of your scheme, so let me lay the truth bare:
"At some point prior to the murder, you made contact with Beanpole via a mutual acquaintance. You revealed that Leon would be 'vulnerable' when his pod fell to the earth on the day of his birthday, inciting Beanpole and his thugs to get together and murder him. They were unaware that Leon would already be dead at that point, and that all they'd really achieve is destroying any evidence you left behind.
"On the day, you prepared a number of items to support your plan. It was impossible for you to get inside Leon's pod undetected, so you instead laced his tea with nanomachines, which he then brought inside. These would allow you to activate 'something' remotely.
"After waiting to ensure he drunk the nanomachines, you killed him with an EMP gun of some kind. Such a weapon could easily fire through walls without leaving a trace, notably leaving you outside of Leon's vision once we checked his Black Box. Leon's mechanical eye, ancient as it was, didn't have any EMP-protection, and fried when the blast hit him. The resulting malfunction, so close to his brain, killed him.
"However, you aimed to cover up the true cause of death. You wanted to create a closed room murder. This is when the nanomachines kicked in: they activated a hologram projector that had been incorporated into his pacemaker, displaying an image of a knife sticking out from a wound in his chest. This is what we all saw when the fateful moment came, tricking us into believing he had been stabbed to death.
"Leslie, as predicted, immediately moved to drop the pod to the ground so that she could get inside. This leads to the next part of your plan. There was a transmitter hidden in the lobby, with an unusually short broadcast range. Only once Leon's pod fell far enough did it move into range. At that moment, the transmitter activated a bomb that was also incorporated into his pacemaker, blowing a real hole in his chest that could be mistaken for a stab wound. This blast destroyed the pacemaker as well, ejecting the lens component of the hologram projector: this is what we found nearby at the scene, ashy on only one side.
"It was an ingenious plan, one that could be pulled off remotely, and even automatically in places. However, there is one part of it that required direct contact, one part that couldn't be performed from a safe distance. The pacemaker had to be modified with these abnormal functions. This is where you slipped up, Athena. You are the only person who had an opportunity to modify it, as evidenced by Kolton's testimony. I'm sure Leslie would be able to corroborate that. You are the only person who could have pulled off this insane plan! Admit your sins!"
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Post by pancakes on Aug 8, 2022 18:38:54 GMT
"...Woah. You all suck."
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Post by JaytheBluPirate on Aug 8, 2022 18:41:11 GMT
"W-What?!" Kolton shouted when Mercy revealed the identity of his father's killer; it was his niece who committed the murder.
He turns to his niece, Athena before grabbing her by the arms.
"What the hell were you thinking when you killed my old man?! What did he do to deserves this?!" Kolton shouted, demanding answers as he stared daggers at the punk girl.
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Post by Neotelenta on Aug 8, 2022 19:43:48 GMT
As Lancer listens, he seems to grip the chair tighter and tighter, but then his grip goes strangely loose.
"...Athena." Lancer begins, his voice calm and curious. "Why the complexity? Were you trying to frame someone?" Lancer asks, not even looking at Athena or anyone else for that matter.
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Post by Kachu on Aug 8, 2022 21:13:21 GMT
“Frame someone? No.” Athena frowned, ignoring Mercy’s ridiculous holier than thou comments.
“Sure as hell wouldn’t call that a mess up either. You got any brighter ideas, hot shot?” She let out a dry laugh. “It worked in the end, didn’t it?”
“What did he do? What did that old fuck NOT do?! You have any idea who you’re talking about? The kind of future he’s bringing? You can all hide under a rock as long as you like, blissfully unaware of what’s going on to the people ‘beneath’ you. I don’t expect anyone to understand, anyways.”
“You all can talk about structure, bettering the world, and how good we all really are. But the truth is ugly. You all remember what Red was like to us. Do people like that go away? Does that kind of resentment vanish with Leon’s new junk?”
“Things needed to change.” She spat. “And I was willing to create that change.”
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Post by Pierre on Aug 8, 2022 21:41:08 GMT
Bones was silent, Leon was a lifelong friend, seems even his own family were sick of the hypocrisy.
"Ey you got a point Athena, but I don't think the change you want will be good." he looked down over the city "There's all kinda of other Sharks out there in the sea, and other big players like the Decados, the Cops and the other Corpo monsters out there. All waiting for one of t'others to blink so they can absorb them up, just like Disney Pharmaceuticals."
"We all try and better the world in our own ways. Leon had his ways with the order he provided, the tech he developed. I serve my drinks and people dance and that's how they forget their problems for a little while. That's how I better the world." he turned back to Athena and leaned on the railing to the rooftop "In a way, I think Leon would prob'ly respect ya for trying to do this your own way." he sighed "I just hope the change you bring pans out in the end."
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Post by Panda on Aug 8, 2022 21:45:57 GMT
"Oh, so Athena kills her own grandfather and she's just 'trying to make things right her own way', but I kill a few dozen corrupt criminals and I'm the bad guy?" Mercy huffed quietly.
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Post by Neotelenta on Aug 8, 2022 22:49:15 GMT
“Things needed to change.” She spat. “And I was willing to create that change.” "Oh, so Athena kills her own grandfather and she's just 'trying to make things right her own way', but I kill a few dozen corrupt criminals and I'm the bad guy?" Mercy huffed quietly. Lancer...takes out his Tamagotchi and looks it over. The pet hadn't been taken care of yet this loop. In fact, Lancer had stopped taking care of it for the most part sometime around the 2nd or 3rd loop. And much like this loop, it was upset for all the same reasons. Lancer keeps the volume at a minimal level and puts it back in his pocket. He looks to Kolton. "...For the record, the Decado family has a policy for this sort of thing. Protection is rescinded from a member when they are found guilty of consented non-allied affiliation. Which means...You are all free to take care of Mercy as you see fit without any interference from the Decado family. I, however, do not wish to get my hands dirty with my own sister's blood." Lancer says, as he stands up and gives Mercy one last look. The slightest bit mournful, but acceptant. She had taken responsibility for her actions and knew why she did them. Lancer looks to Bones. "Hey, Bones...Thanks for the moscato, by the way. I saw it from heaven. The stuff up there isn't as good as yours. Your bar wouldn't happen to have an opening for a cleaning crew person, would it?" Lancer briefly turns back to Kolton. "It's been nice serving the Lunetti family, but I think my quiet life is probably found somewhere outside of this tower, and this is the noisiest it's been in...a few years." Lancer nods, affirming his own memory. "And for what little worth it is, I'm sorry I couldn't discern the true nature of my sister sooner. If you ever need a hit done, well...Wait until I can print my own business cards. I don't think the Decado family is going to help. But I can." Lancer smiles under his mask. "Wouldn't mind being a freeLancer." The distant sound of a drumset getting absolutely obliterated permeates the tower for all of .7 seconds.
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Post by Pierre on Aug 8, 2022 23:05:08 GMT
"Oh, so Athena kills her own grandfather and she's just 'trying to make things right her own way', but I kill a few dozen corrupt criminals and I'm the bad guy?" Mercy huffed quietly. "We're ALL bad guys lady. You're just worse for not realising it." Bones cracks a smile at this "Yeah, city is probably gonna be in turmoil for a bit now. Leon always afforded the Spine a bit of protection. Could definitely use a level-headed handy fellah like yourself on staff."
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Post by JaytheBluPirate on Aug 9, 2022 0:08:09 GMT
"You're right about one thing, Bones." Kolton replied to the red skeleton. "That we're willing to make changes to better the world. In fact... I have some changes in mind that I'm willing to make." He lets go of Athena before he walks to the center of the area.
"For one instance, remember how my old man said that the cybernetics haven't reached their full potential yet? I'd like to continue that vision that my old man had in mind. Except, I don't really know anything about cybernetics, sadly... I might need some help on that, though. I wanted to give back to the people of Vista Del Luna the same way my old man helped me when I needed it most." One of Kolton's hands reach up to touch his sunglasses, almost as to remind him of the time his father helped him.
"Regarding the temporal technology research that he was doing with his secret team from Diantech... I think I'll discontinue the research, as from experience, it could be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. Just imagine what they can do with this research..." He grimaced as he recalled the events of the time loops he has to go through.
Then Lancer told him that he'll take care of Mercy. "Thank you. You're a good man, Lancer. Perhaps we'll have some drinks one day and talk about how things are going."
Speaking of drinks, the heir looks to Bones. "I'll make sure the Spine get the protection you need."
The heir then glances back at the cops. "I'll deal with Countess Elizabeth Whatever, Rob and Aust. I'll make sure they'll get what they deserved for making us suffer."
He finally looks to his fiancée. He had mixed feelings towards her, but deep down, he knew that there must be a good person inside Mercy somewhere.
"I'll take good care of you, sweetie." He said, much to his mother's dismay. "Mom, I know you don't want me and Mercy together, especially after what she did... But you have to understand that this is my life; my future. I get to make the decisions, even if some of these decisions may not make me happy."
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Post by Kachu on Aug 9, 2022 1:33:39 GMT
"I don't know if this change will be for the better." Athena chimed back in.
"But I know what Leon was doing. Those plans he was talking all excited about? Well I'll spill the beans for that old fart."
"The thing a business wants most is to be in your face. In your mind. Constantly nagging at you about its products. About what you should buy. About how you should live."
"We see it all around us already. Practically breathing down our necks. Some schmuck trying to sell you shit on the radio. During a television commercial. Through some annoying popup on your phone while you scroll endlessly. Billboards and signs on the world around you."
"Fuck, even Lancer is going to print cards." She adds in, nodding a little towards him. Though she didn't seem frustrated or upset.
"You think all that's bad enough? Leon wanted to go a step further. Instead of jamming it down your throat, causing you to see this shit everywhere you look... He was gonna get you where you can't look, too."
"His genius idea was to show you flashy videos right in the backs of your eyes. Blink once and watch some schmuck and his family live the good life you can't because he's got the sexiest pair of jeans in the city. Or some bitch cackling with her friends because she's at a prettied up version of the local dump that we call a restaurant. Or that old fuck Leon himself smiling, shoveling his products down your throat, insisting how much better he's making your life with his new inventions."
"So, who's to say the world won't be worse off with him gone? I guess it's impossible to know. But I sure as hell know things wouldn't get better. At least this way, there's a chance for change." Athena let out a deep breath and turned her back on her family, not expecting them to want anything to do with her anymore.
"Leon was at the top. Maybe the next guy won't be better. Maybe he will. But you can be sure as shit that there'll be someone else like me to knock the one on top down. There always should be a chance for change."
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Post by Planetbox on Aug 9, 2022 2:09:01 GMT
“I had caught wind of this as well,” Red said. “Wasn’t anything I could do about it though. The one thing my magic is not much good for is killing people.”
“The only good side is he lacked the technology to advertise on actual human eyeballs, like the organic kind. But so many people have cybernetic eyes now, even me. Just one quick update and you’ve got ads playing when you blink, while you’re sleeping. Every fucking moment.”
“I guess that’s what Leon was talking to that dude on the phone about. Not sure why he needed the money all of a sudden…but that perfect test subject. I wonder who that could be?”
They glanced pointedly at one of the Mobsters as if they already knew.
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Post by JaytheBluPirate on Aug 9, 2022 2:40:06 GMT
The mobster that Red was glancing pointedly at was... Kolton.
"Oh my God... So, that's what my old man was talking about on the telelink with that guy... I was the perfect test subject." Kolton said in a shocked tone, aware that everyone was staring at him. "Yeah, it's true. Don't act so fucking surprised."
It was like a scene out of a sci-fi movie as the heir's hand reach up to remove the sunglasses from his face and grasps onto the frame of the sunglasses. As the sunglasses were pulled away, his eyes were closed. Then, his eyes slowly opens to reveals that... his eyes were neon cyan, an unusual eye color. Indeed, Kolton got cybernetic eyes.
"I have my cybernetic eyes for 7 years now. My family knew why I got these cybernetic eyes. Are you familiar with the term congenital blindness?" He asked the others and waited a few minutes for someone to answer his question.
When no one answered his question, Kolton shrugs his shoulders before he continues to speak.
"Basically, I was born permanently blind in both eyes. My world was full of... nothing (no color, no shapes, no forms). I remained blind up until I turned 21 when my old man sat me down for an important discussion. The discussion was that I was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; that I'll have to undergo a surgery so I can get my vision back. However, he warned that there's a risk that something could go wrong, and I might not make it out alive from the surgery. Seeing as I really wanted to see the world as my parents saw it, I reluctantly accepted the opportunity and undergoes the surgery. And well... you can tell that the surgery was a success, but it would take me a few weeks before I can take the bandages off and see the world with my new cybernetic eyes... Yeah, my cybernetic eyes were developed by my old man, if that's what you're wondering." The heir concluded his explanation as he slips his sunglasses back onto his face. His eyes were once again covered up by the sunglasses.
He then looks to Red.
"I thought only my family knew of my cybernetic eyes... How'd you know that I have cybernetic eyes, Red?" He asked them, curious as to how they knew.
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Post by Bad Player on Aug 9, 2022 3:02:26 GMT
"No wonder you had such a difficult time seeing the truth!" Countess Elizabeth Arette Pistachio Charlemagne Natalie Maria Clementine Montague du Bois croaked out a laugh.
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