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“You aren’t allowed here.”
Only a minute ago, Silver Wolf had entered the back end of Planarcadia and observed a woman sitting at a tree.
Thirty seconds ago, the woman spotted her from the corner of her eye. A mild recognition painted on her face.
Fifteen seconds ago, she stood up.
Silver Wolf stood as the woman approached her. She knew her quite well by now. She knew Evanescia well.
Seven days prior, she’d pulled the same stunt. And for seven days after, she pulled the same stunt each day.
Silver wolf crossed her arms. “You’re getting better at realizing I’m here.”
Evanescia approached her, stopping only a few feet away. The breezes tugged at the leaves overhead and her hair blew slightly in it.
“You are not supposed to be able to get to this part,” Evanescia replied, “not on your own.” Though her tone was not angry, it was tired and something she didn’t expect to have, warmth.
“The firewall’s weak,” she said. “Backdoor through the planet’s asset loader. If I can get in so easily, then give a dog a keyboard and it’ll get it.”
Evanescia sighed. “You said that three days ago. You’re running out of things to say.”
“Still applies.”
Neither of them moved.
Seven days ago this had been different. Silver Wolf had slipped into this side of Planarcadia out of curiosity. It was just another system to prod at, another door to unlock, another lock to unlock. She thought it would be empty code or a database or something, maybe some bored Punklordian running a diagnostic.
Instead she found this girl sitting under a tree that didn’t even exist in the rest of the planet. She was an NPC, but didn’t behave like one. She looked at her and said, “A visitor!”
Silver Wolf spent the next twenty minutes trying to get back to the original dialogue option. She never got back.
Six days ago, Silver Wolf came back. Evanescia was waiting for her this time. They’d argued about Silver Wolf coming back.
Five days ago, Evanescia gave up and let Silver Wolf climb the tree. She caught her when she fell and Silver Wolf had called it a failed side quest.
Four days ago, Evanescia asked her how she even knew how to hack. Silver Wolf explained what Punklorde was like. Evanescia had smiled like it was the most lovely thing she had ever heard.
Three days ago, Evanescia showed her each competitor’s mask. Silver Wolf listened intently.
Two days ago, Evanescia had caught her before Silver Wolf had even gotten in. She told her that she’d become predictable.
Yesterday, Silver Wolf explained what it was like outside of Planarcadia.
Now it was day seven. Evanescia stood much closer than before. “You keep getting in and you know you’re not supposed to.”
“Rules are made to be broken.”
Evanescia stared at her for a moment. “Why are you here?” She asked softly.
Silver Wolf’s first intention was to say boredom, but she knew that wasn’t the answer Evanescia sought. It didn’t feel right anymore. “Because it’s where interesting things happen.” Silver Wolf stepped closer.
Evanescia’s breath caught. “You’re trouble.”
“I’m a Stellaron Hunter.”
Evanescia looked like she was about to say something else. But instead she reached out and grabbed the collar of Silver Wolf’s jacket.
Silver Wolf stared at her. This was a new interaction.
“You’ve hacked your way into my world, Silver Wolf,” Evanescia said, “Seven days straight, I’ve seen you.”
“You keep count?”
“Of course.”
Evanescia tugged her a little closer. The tree rustled above with the wind picking up. “Silver Wolf, you’re still not allowed here.”
“Then kick me out.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or you won’t?”
“Wont.”
Silver Wolf blinked. “Wow.”
Evanescia did not let go over her collar.
Silver Wolf glanced down at her hands, still clutching the jacket. “Careful,” she said, “you’re clutching a Stellaron Hunter.”
“Should I be scared of that?”
“Most people are.”
“I’m not most people,” Evanescia said.
Silver Wolf gulped. This NPC was standing there like she had every intention of keeping her.
“And you keep coming back even if you’re not allowed here.” Evanescia looked at her for a long moment, then pulled her up, kneeling down. The motion caught Silver Wolf off guard. Their faces were suddenly inches apart. “You know they arrest people for hacking?”
“6.1 billion credit bounty.”
Evanescia shook her head like she’d lost, then kissed her.
Silver Wolf froze. It wasn’t in any of her calculations. But she still leaned into it. Her hand slid up to the back of Evanescia’s neck as she kissed her. She pulled Evanescia in, melting into the kiss. It shocked her like electricity.
They broke for one breath.
Then Silver Wolf leaned back in before she could say anything, kissing her again, slower this time, but more intense. Evanescia met her halfway, one hand sliding into Silver Wolf’s hair and pulling her towards the tree. Her back slid down the tree.
“You’re not allowed to be here,” Evanescia huffed between kisses.
Silver Wolf made a sound of acknowledgement. Then her phone rang. She pulled away, breathing heavily. She grabbed her phone from her pocket. “That’s my coworker.” She stood up.
She answered. “Yeah?”
A voice rang out. It was Kafka. Of course it was. “You disappeared from the operation?”
“Busy.”
“With what?” Kafka asked.
Silver Wolf glanced down.
Evanescia was still sitting beneath the tree, hair blowing in the wind. It was a mess from Silver Wolf’s hands earlier. She looked up at her with a look that was curious.
Silver Wolf cleared her throat. “Something came up.
“Mm…” Kafka sighed. “Don’t abandon Bladie for too long.”
Then the call ended. “Duty call—”
She barely got the words out before Evanescia pulled her back down with a tug. Silver Wolf fell to her knees in the grass in front of her. The phone slipped from her hand and landed in the grass.
“You said you weren’t allowed to be here,” Evanescia said, her voice still breathless, “so finish what you started here.”
Silver Wolf smiled.
Evanescia leaned in and kissed her.
Silver Wolf leaned in instantly this time, catching her by the waist. The kiss was deeper than before. Evanescia’s fingers threaded back into Silver Wolf’s hair, pulling her closed while Silver Wolf’s hand slid to cradle Evanescia’s back.
The tree pressed into Evanescia’s shoulders as she leaned into it.
Silver Wolf tilted her head, picking up the pace. Evanescia made a soft noise at this and tugged her closer. Silver Wolf laughed at this.
“Seems like you want me here.”
Instead of answering, Evanescia pressed her lips against Silver Wolf’s. Her hands slid from Silver Wolf’s hair to her shoulders, pulling her until there was only a sliver of space between them. Silver Wolf’s fingers tightened reflexively at her waist.
Evanescia broke the kiss to breathe. “You still… aren’t allowed… here.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Then the phone went off again. Silver Wolf sighed. “I need to go.” She grabbed her phone and stood up again.
Evanescia sat there, looking up at Silver Wolf. “... Come back tomorrow.”
“Was planning on it.” Then she disappeared into the data.