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[boobwindow]

[ ID reads Karen Starr.

As for Karen, she's seated on her bed in her shared housing complex. Next to her bedside, on the small dresser, is a tall iced cappuccino that's already a quarter finished. Most of her hair is tied up and she's dressed in a camisole and three quarter pants, but interesting there's a light sweater laying near the edge of the bed.

It's much too warm for long sleeves. ]

Probably a bit weird to ask, but how many of you are going to the jobs they set up for us? I can't exactly complain about doing work I know how to do and being able to earn money ASAP, but it still feels a bit like a demotion. I liked the view from my office window.

[ She sighs and scratches above the digital tattoo on her wrist. ]

Ugh... and I don't suppose someone's found a way to get rid of this?

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[liverletdie]

You and me both, honestly.

[ A beat. ]

But as for the tattoo, it's...as stuck as I can figure out.

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[boobwindow]

[ Looks like he's in one piece, which she's relieved about.

Secret identities can be complicated at times. ]

Hey, Stark. Where are you working?

[ She lifts her wrist, screwing up her face at the tattoo. ]

Too bad we can't ask doctors to remove it. I don't like the idea of being tagged like some farm animal.

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[liverletdie]

Me neither, and it's worse for people like me. I'm something of a techie, but, having foreign technology in my body doesn't settle well. The temptation to remove the tattoo is pretty high.

[ And it doesn't help that he already has nanites in his blood. It's not really settling well. ]

Anyway, they have me doing R&D for electronic entertainment. Not too different to what I was doing before, just not putting as much money in my pockets. Where did they send you?

[boobwindow]

[ She winces at the imagery. ]

You doing okay?

Huh, seriously? And software engineering. I admit I'm curious about this world's software and tech capabilities and how far it's come.

[liverletdie]

Oh you know, as good as can be expected.

[ A pause. ]

Honestly? I'm surprised by the technology here. It doesn't feel right, it's like we're in the past, thematically, but technology wise, we're at the same point, if not better than before.

I'm honestly not sure how to feel about it. I've seen vintage looking devices before, but this is almost a point when they're too devoted to the aesthetic.

[boobwindow]

I know what you mean. Striving for twenty-first century innovations, but keeping a foot in the past? I don't know how to feel about it all, but it's impressive so far.

And it's so clean here, but fake New York's gotta be a bad comparison. It's too bad smoking indoors is allowed here.

[liverletdie]

Oh, I don't know. It's a little... romantic? Or it makes me feel like we're back in the past.

Maybe I should make a smoke filter for them. It's so common it couldn't go wrong.

[boobwindow]

Why not? You could found a whole new business on it, I bet.

They've got pills for cosmetic corrections. Maybe they've got a cure for cancer?

[liverletdie]

I'd honestly like to establish one on more than just an air filter, although it might be a good way to start.

But who knows, maybe they can cure cancer? Maybe I need to look into that too, see how far they've come, unless you want to do a little recon with me.

[boobwindow]

[ A thoughtful pause. ]

Guess there's no harm in it. Whether or not this is longterm, there's a benefit to scoping out the place.

I also need to find a local vet while I'm at it.

[liverletdie]

A vet? [ A note. ]

I didn't know you had a pet, I'm sure we can find something. I can even do a search for you if you'd like.

[boobwindow]

Just a cat who came with me from home. Not sure what Lachesis had in mind for him.

[ She pauses again. ]

That's awfully kind of you. This isn't some kind of ploy, is it?

[liverletdie]

A ploy? Really?

[ He laughs. ]

No, I promise, it's not a ploy. You're a lovely woman, don't get me wrong, but I don't need to rely on ploys.

[boobwindow]

Hahaha, sweet.

I'd say no anyway.

[liverletdie]

You'd wound me, if you did.

So why don't we not approach that, and go exploring instead? It seems like a much more valuable investment of our time.

please ignore these keywords lmfao

[boobwindow]

I'm fine with that.

I'm free all day tomorrow. How about meeting up at noon somewhere?

LMAOOOO GOD

[liverletdie]

Noon sounds good. We'll see the sights, find a vet, go the whole nine yards.

keywords always backfiring on me

[boobwindow]

You staying at one of the housing complexes?

[liverletdie]

Yes, actually.

It's an interesting experience, living with roommates.

[ An awful one. ] You as well?

[boobwindow]

Two of 'em. One of them's sweet, but the other...

[ She rolls her eyes as she takes a sip of her drink. Her cat comes into the picture and she scratches his neck briefly. ]

It's not a bad set up for now, but honestly, I like my privacy.

[liverletdie]

I feel you. One of my roommates is three years old. Also my good friend's daughter, but...

[ He winced. ]

It's been an adjustment.

[boobwindow]

[ Oh, but the look on her face. ]

Babysitting?

[liverletdie]

[ The wince on his face said enough. ]

If babysitting a tiny child who can correct your math is still considered the same thing.

But it's better than unleashing her on the world with no supervision.

[boobwindow]

[ And she thought she had a rough time with the All-Stars sometimes. ]

I would hope you wouldn't leave a three year old unsupervised ever.

She that much of a handful?

[liverletdie]

She's three, and she's smarter than I am.

[ As if that's enough of an answer. ]

Actually, I'm pretty sure she's more intelligent than her father too, and he often blows me out of the water.

Besides, I'm not exactly -- [ A very obvious wince ] -- I'm not the person you want watching your children, but when there's almost nobody else...