REFURBISHED [Morbitia Renovarse]

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

File 1-5: The Successor

There’s no way you’re going to make it onto public transport with something this big, so maintain the old tried and true method: Hopping freight.  
 
If you knew your routes and you were brave enough, jumping onto a moving train is a completely unregulated means of getting around as far as you’ve been told. It’s a bit of an old tradition in this city as far you can remember, one the old family who owns the company doesn’t seem to mind to maintain. As long as they can deny ever witnessing you, nobody can stop them.  
 
  You take the beaten path to where the station goes, finding yourself lucked out to see a train in the middle of a checkpoint stop. It was pretty common as a means of allowing staff to switch as shift required, you don't want tired conductors trying to maintain a tight clock. You look down from a bridge, it's a pretty easy jump to make once you'd gotten used to your legs.
 
There's a guy? Looks like another train hopper like you, he waves at you a little.

Savvy: You want something?
 
???: Nah bruv! Just saying hi, you know? Unless you're a fed-
 
Savvy: Do I look like a fed to you?

???: Depends if you can make the jump! I'd say it's 70/30?

Savvy: Being a fed or sticking it?

???: Both maybe? You a custom?

Savvy: Sorta!

???: Then don't bother! I'm not messing with any data collectors like that!

Guy's either a clown or a fool, is he seriously having this conversation right now?

You make the jump regardless, he won't attack first.

With a quick sprint off the ledge you land on the platform with zero issue.

???: Yooo, you really manage that in heels like that?

You give him a quick scan before a tired smirk.

Savvy: You got down here, yeah?

???: Cheated a bit to be fair.

You can smell something off on him, a trace of something that doesn't belong.

Savvy: You work with a guy?

???: Not somebody you'd know.

Savvy: Entity? Two of them maybe?

???: There's a guy I work with and a guy I'm dealing with, we'll leave it at that.

Savvy: Who?

???: I'll give you one, gotta trade for the other.

You ponder it for a moment. If his employer isn't on your radar it's pretty useless, but if his enemy is your enemy you're more than fine.. right?

Savvy: The guy you're dealing with.

???: Santana.

Savvy: The brand?

???: The rabbit, she's a bit of a mess not gonna lie. We do this sort of cat and mouse every week-

Savvy: You know her?

???: Yeah, let me finish. She's always up to some shit, I gotta burst through her window, we do this routine and then I jump out through another window. Not honestly that bad for a literal corporate entity and all but.. yeah.

Savvy: You've thrown hands with her like that?

???: I mean... kinda? Sometimes we fight, sometimes we talk it out while she cries, sometimes I gotta wingman for her on a date-

Savvy: Sounds fake as hell.

???: Scout's honor! Night was a disaster by the way, totally flubbed it.

This is ridiculous but you'll humor him. Least he doesn't seem like a threat.

Savvy: Yeah?

???: Yeah.

Savvy: So what happened?

???: Her date started hitting on me, we had a fight-

Savvy: Which spot?

???: Uh, you know Freddy Flats? Shit was crazy, it was Flat Fuck Friday and they brought a live gator-

You.. are pretty sure you heard someone talk about this recently actually.

???: They were so pissed, promised I'd pay the damages after all that but-

Savvy: You wanna side quest a bit?

???: I mean I gotta head up north, stopping at a archive house-

Savvy: Same, it's on the way.

He pauses for a moment, getting a good look at your eyes.

Savvy: You wanna back off a little?

???: Sorry just... checking something. You uh... got a proxy?

Savvy: No.

???: But you're with the archive too?

His eyes turn toward your case.

???: And you're in the middle of a run, yeah?

Savvy: ...If you pull something I'm jumping off.

???: No just.. You uh.. got a mark on that?

He flickers a finger, diamonds matching those of your case.

Savvy: Pick your next words wisely.

???: You got my sword, you're the courier dropping it off at the big locale. Shit got lost on a job. Usually can call it back but....

Savvy: Something went wrong with the soulbinding.

???: Aye. So?

Savvy: You're coming with me, we gotta verify things up front before I can transfer it over.

???: You could just give it to me.

Savvy: Not taking chances with a job from the top.

???: 'Spina?

Savvy:... Yeah.

???: Figures.

Savvy: So, gonna play ball?

You flash him the side of the case with the emblem facing outward, his eyes widening.

???: Yeah. Thing's pretty old and important. My guy would kill me if I lost it for real...

Savvy: Name?

???: Romero.

Savvy: Savvy.

Romero: Alright... we should get situated, train's gonna be going in the next five minutes likely. Lets scoot somewhere a bit safer, conductors won't mind.

Savvy: You lead.