Chapter Text
A cacophony of footsteps floods over the hallways, lockers pushed open or slammed down as suits are neatly tucked in before all the locks engage at once.
"So, Miranda, are late shifts like this one the usual ooooor?" Luke asks looking up and down at her, mostly trying to get a reaction "No, not really.It depends on The Screenwriter's Last Notes, if it melts down" She looks down as she moves towards the exit,Luke quickly following after.
After a wait they board the first bus to arrive, the loud engine roaring as it fills up with, mostly this branch's employees.
"How come you still live in the backstreets?? You've been working for longer yet you also live near me" "Have you even seen the rent inside Nest apartments??" Miranda quickly shuts that down "Even if i had to pay a protection fee it would be cheaper" She hands him some biscuits,having seen him walk around aimlessly on one of the few lunch breaks they got, as she continues on and on rambling "at least one of the neighbors down floor has joined the Middle, so no Rats scurry in" "Say, wouldn't we be too late?"
The bus suddenly grinds down to a halt, stopping as it meets the large presence of a security checkpoint. Travelling into a Nest from the Backstreets is no easy task, although the same cannot be said for coming out.Guards scurry around skimming through paperwork, the chaotic lighting dimming and flickering at intervals as they are finally quickly let out on foot to continue.
It's getting late
"Just follow me Luke" Miranda drags him around the Backstreets with an annoyed expression until she halts in front of a fortified gate,some fixers standing around and keeping watch.You could even mistake this for a parking lot from it's look, if not for the awful stench, the place is littered with all kinds of waste,even more keeps coming out via a small 'OUTTAKE" chute.
"And this is?"
"It's a hotel, atleast legally, it's simply a shelter"
She approaches one of the small stands and inserts some ahn, looks back at Luke and inserts another small wad as the gate slightly opens to allow them in.
The hall is plain looking but filled with lines of seats, simply adorned with wall posters, advertising, job offers and fixer contract listings.Seats filled with all sorts of people,the same fixers outside now get in, slowly closing the gates
"Very calm for how curious you look.Never been in one of these places?" Miranda pokes at Luke, not even having batted an eye as Night in the Backstreets was approaching
"I knew you would do something about it anyways"
"Would i? You're just lucky they hire rookies like you for an AGENT TOO?"
"Excuse me my all knowing capable senior! Forgive me for this sin!" Miranda throws the box at an 'INTAKE' chute mounted on a wall as she finishes the remaining biscuits
"I am letting you die to the next abnormality that breaches"
"Yeah sure sure"
Besides the chatter the only other noise that can be heard is the rushing of Sweepers,coming in waves like an unstoppable force, maybe even hundreds of thousands passing by just this road.Until it's all quiet.The gates opening up to a fresh clean air washing over the enclosed hall.No stench left hanging around and none of the previous signs of littering are left on the ground.
"See you tomorrow "
"See you tomorrow"
As they part ways for today