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After arriving in the year 1999 and still figuring things out with The Hex, the Drifter found herself trying to make peace, not only with them, but with the sly mutant fox of sorts that won't stop being extremely happy and hyper for some reason. “Void have mercy, Eiran-” She grimaced, while in her Octavia Prime, when the pitch black panzer vulpaphyla stuck its head in a trash bin. “Eiran!” She transferred out and hurried to get the mutant fox away. The thing was half her size, if not bigger, as she struggled with it. “You’re lucky I love you enough to not use Octavia against you..” She struggled a little before finally pulling him away. “Listen. I only brought you with me because you’re capable of defeating the most insufferable enemies… that and you’re practically immortal…”
Einar made a noise before the Drifter let him go. He sat there, staring at her for a few moments before running off, much to the Drifter’s horror. She ran after him, knowing damn well that she could get in trouble while still getting to know the Hex, especially with the protoframes Lettie and Arthur.. Especially Arthur. She shuddered at what would happen as she looked around. “You’re lucky you have blue hints, you kaithe size bastard… where did you go?” She asked, going silent, and listening… or tried to… It was hard when she was near the protoframe Quincy and his constant shooting at posters of Entrati… which she didn’t mind actually, she would be on the same boat. “Fucking hell, Eiran..” She muttered
Quincy noticed her, ceasing fire, and turning to her. “Wagwan? Y'say something?” The question made her flinch, much to his amusement.
“Uumm… No.. nothing?” She practically looked like she was about to be a victim of a crime.
“Doesn’t look like nothin’. What you do this time?” He asked with a smirk, already knowing the consequences the drifter was in. “Promise I wont laugh”
Drifter started bouncing from left to right on her feet. “Only because I'm getting anxious.. Um… I have this… hunting buddy… half my size… extremely social and happy and hyper, and it’s on the loose in this mall and I'll either A: Get in trouble with Lettie… B: Get in trouble with Arthur. And I am not willing to fuck around and find out with either of ‘em. Especially the former.” She said, looking around.
Quincy, despite his promise, started chuckling. “You in deep shit then”
“Uh-huh. Thanks for shoving it to my face. I’m SO dead” The Drifter rolled her eyes as she walked the other direction and into an abandoned store. She figured early in her arrival that this place used to sell furniture, considering the many couches. She also learned that this is the place where protoframe Eleanor hangs out the most. She went dead quiet as she tried to look for Eiran as silent as she could, not wanting to disturb the half-nyx.
“Your attempt to remain silent is well appreciated, Drifter. Though, I doubt your infested fox companion is hiding in here” The mind communication was still something the Drifter had a hard time getting used to still. Though, she did find her mental voice rather soothing.
“What.. exactly is a fox?”
Her chuckle was heard echoing in the Drifter’s mind. “Quite adorable, you are. I forget you are quite foreign to the many wonders and horrors of this time~” Another chuckle resonated. “A subject for some other time. You better hurry up and catch your friend before my brother catches it first~”
“Oh God-” Drifter hurried along.
As soon as she was gone, Eleanor smiled mischievously, peaking behind the couch she laid on. “Run along now. I can't help you with hide and seek for too long~” She said, the vulpaphyla gave her a nuzzle before skittering away onto his next accomplice
The drifter looked around the ground floor of the mall for the 3rd time. She ran her hands through her blue hair in frustration, color strangely similar to the venerdo alloy. She had passed by the mag protoframe, Aoi, who told her that she was making her nervous every time the drifter kept passing by like a maniac. Then there was Amir, a Volt no doubt.. Yeah, he seemed rather skittish about it so that’s no help. “Well… can’t be worse that a techrot fax machine-”
“What.. can’t be worse than a techrot fax machine?...” The sudden authoritative tone spooked the living hell out of the drifter.
“AYE FUCKING SON OF-” She held her chest, panting heavily, trying to calm her racing heart. “I’m fine with you stabbing my hand, Arthur.. but I am not fine with you giving me a heart attack” She muttered, earning her a deep grumble from the excalibur protoframe.
“I asked you a question, Marty” Arthur said, his glare threatening to pierce right through her.
“... I was.. Just thinking out loud. Comparing stuff in my head… why?” She lied, trying to keep herself calm.
“You think I was not aware of your wandering around the mall for the 3rd time in an hour?” He asked, pushing the subject.
The Drifter looked surprised. “An hour, really?” She probably got too into looking for Eiran that her brain instinctively started to re-scan for every corner, as if looking for caches. “Huh…”
“Marty, I swear-” Artur practically towered over her, demanding answers before a should was heard from the second floor.
“¡¿QUÉ CARAJO ES ESO!?” It was Lettie. Arthur looked up, then at the Drifter. She became horrified before quickly running to the second floor to find Eiran sitting before Lettie while the valkyr protoframe held her rats for dear life. “GET IT AWAY FROM MIS PANQUESITOS!”
Drifter sighed as she made a strong whistle. “Eiran!” Eiran made a noise before obediently trotting back to his owner, who did not look very happy. Both Lettie and Arthur stared at the monstrosity before them… then at her. “Sooo... I owe you guys an apology… and an explanation. Drifter ended up explaining what kind of infested creature Eiran is, and took a whole lot of convincing that it was not going to anybody.
Arthus grunted a few times when she explained, then asked. “Can it die?”
Drifter turned to him, crossed her arms, and just stared. “Practically immortal” He didn’t trust that answer.
“Pets can't be practically immortal, Marty” He said, rather annoyed.
“Take him with you on your next mission then. You’ll see what I mean” She challenged. “And don't worry.. Eiran will not eat..” Drifter gestured to Lettie’s rats and, to not anger her, said then next. “... Your lovely companions…” Eiran became rather bored of sitting still and started to wander off, not far from them.
“Eso espero” Lettie said, glaring at both her and the vulpaphyla
“... Right…” Arthur sighed. “But if it causes trouble-” He tried to say, only for Eiran to nudge his leg.
Drifter immediately pulled him away with a few grunts. “Yep. Got it. Understood.” She nervously said before dragging her companion down stairs and back to where she left her frame. One transferred back, she carried Eiran like a child back to her quarters. “You wanna get me killed?” The little bastard just wagged his tendrilled tail joyfully, having made a friend already. “I won't hear the end of it, I swear.” She did, in fact, not hear the end of it by the next day.