[ Hm. Lots of people coming through at the Dome, many of them only once or twice for various reasons. Vi hasn't seen her. Never been matched up, obviously. Is it the metal arm? She's sick of being stuck in the lowest tiers of the ring based on lack of augmentations or other powers. Weapons are one thing, but the gauntlets were more than that. She misses them, and feels kind of shitty for it. But she hasn't asked Jayce again. ]
Rayne's. I've been subbing in as security there but tonight's my off night.
[ Beep boop Furiosa sends Vi the address. Pretty standard dive bar with all the typical offerings. The customers keep their hands to themselves (mostly). ]
[ Vi isn't very used to texting, still, though Jinx has picked up on it fast. The majority of her messages are from her sister, her comings and goings. The phone is useful, certainly.
But seeing Furiosa in person is a relief.
Vi waves from the door, making her way over to slide onto the stool next to her. There is no hesitation, despite the violence last time they saw each other face to face. She wasn't lying about not blaming her. ]
[ There's a sort of cool relief that unfurls in Furiosa when Vi walks in and isn't posturing for a fight. Not that she didn't believe her, but there was maybe some lingering animal instinct gearing up for the just in case.
She falls back on those just in case contingencies so often, that maybe she deserves something going as expected for once in her life and not ending in violence. ]
Hey. [ A warm nod. Relaxed almost. ] And not sure I'm the best judge... It's all new to me. [ Furiosa was very surprised when the item called "rattlesnake bites," in fact, contained no snake. None at all! ] I like the buffalo wings, but they're spicier than I expected.
[ Almost everything is when you come from a place that does not have any seasonings. Also, not made of buffalo. Who knew. ]
[ At first, Vi thinks that she means this particular bar is new to her. But she recalls Furiosa mentioning the place she came from didn't have much in the way of food (the spider comes to mind). Ah. ]
I have seen those before, but I didn't know what they were. I'll try some.
It's like a cow, I think. But the wings are from a bird. Chickens. [ And before she asks, Furiosa shakes her head. ] Got no fuckin' clue why they're named that.
[ Bullet Farm. Green Place. Gas Town. These are good, descriptive names of things. Buffalo should be buffalo, rattlesnake should be snake. None of this strange obfuscation about what animal you're actually eating is necessary.
Anyway, Furiosa flags a server with a seeming amount of familiarity for them to order. Once she's gone, she turns back to Vi. ]
[ Vi spends some time trying to imagine this creature with wings of a chicken, and she still definitely doesn't have the right image in mind. The only thing that matters is they taste okay, though.
The question is a bit tough to answer. Vi lets out a noise that might be a laugh or a scoff or just a stifled sneeze. ]
Yeah, Furi. All of us've been just dandy the last couple weeks.
[ It's not said with any sort of barb to it. More of a self-deprecating type of joke.
Vi leans her elbows on the table, letting out a long breath as she stares out at the variety of bottles behind the bar. ]
But we haven't starved yet. Got a roof over our heads. I'd say that's doing okay, for now.
[ Okay yeah, stupid question. Furiosa accepts it in the same manner, not defensive, just waving her hand in the sort of okay, okay you got me there with an exaggerated sigh. ]
'Bout as good as any of us can hope for.
[ Furiosa is glad to have all those same things. Aside from the roof. Unless you count the Valiant's roof, which she does but recognizes that most people do not consider a car a sufficient place to live.
Sometimes the service at Rayne's leaves a little bit to be desired, as the bartender is nowhere in site. Probably taking one of his ten thousand smoke breaks for the night. Please hold while Furiosa slides out of the stool and crosses over behind the bar. She points at a couple different bottles, a silent question to see what Vi's interested in to help themselves to. She outright asks a different question. It's genuine curiosity. ]
[ Vi shrugs, indicating she doesn't much mind either way, but points to the bottle in Furiosa's left hand. Apparently, she's used to serving herself here. Vi's not about to complain.
She does look a little surprised by the follow-up question. It's not a secret, though she doesn't constantly go around advertising it either. Must've not come up before. ]
[ Furiosa picks a brown one she hasn't tried before off the shelf, giving it a curious sniff before deciding good enough. Too short glasses are retrieved from behind the bar and Furiosa gives both of them a generous pour. She leaves the bottle on the bar for easy refills. As she finishes, the bartender returns shooing her back around to the customer side with only mild annoyance. ]
If you're gonna have anyone from home, family's about as good as you can ask for. [ She means it genuinely, soft over the rim of her glass as she lifts it to her lips to try it. Okay, it is strong. Maybe should've been less generous with the pour. ] It's good that you have each other.
[ And a sister too. She knows other people use it differently here. Use it more like before when families looked different, but that didn't make any of the Vuvalini any less of her sisters. ]
[ Vi smiles slightly over the top of the glass at her, lifting it a little in a sort of 'cheers' gesture. ]
I'm grateful we're together.
[ Even if it is complicated. She doesn't want to get into that right now. Or the fact she didn't think she'd ever see her sister again. Just acknowledging it fuels that fear, so Vi pushes it away, tries to focus on what they have right now. ]
[ Ahβ a shockingly complicated question when you've made friends with a bartender who sees ghosts and the spirit of your dead partner has latched himself onto you. That is too complicated to explain, so instead she just says: ]
No. [ A shake of her head. ] It's not too bad. I've... met people here. Good people. [ A small private smile, behind her glass. ] And there's not too many familiar faces I'd want to see here.
If you ever see anyone with this markβ [ She turns her head away, tugging down the collar of her leather jacket so Vi can get a good look at the brand on the back of her neck. Scarred skin raised into a distinct pattern of a skull in a flaming circle. ] Gimme a heads up because they might want to kill me.
[ Furiosa decided this was a less complicated then saying she has a boyfriend. ]
[ Are they friends? The realization is suddenly striking to Furiosa, who has never had the luxury of something casual and easy like this. Friendship. It's a nice thought.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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on 2025-09-27 01:47 am (UTC)She has to rip this bandaid off sooner or later. ]
Wanted to apologize.
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on 2025-09-29 07:39 am (UTC)I'm the one who should apologize.
[ And was too much of a coward to do it until Furiosa reached out first. ]
I know something weird was going on with both of us. But still. and you were at work.
They didn't fire you, did they?
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on 2025-10-01 12:00 am (UTC)[ The owner likes her too much. The girls like her too much. She's reliable. That's a big ask in a place like this. ]
I was going through some shit.
Not your fault.
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on 2025-10-01 03:08 am (UTC)I don't think it was your fault either, if it was whatever's going on
I'm not mad at you, if that's what you think.
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on 2025-10-01 03:17 am (UTC)You can really throw a punch, huh.
[ Meant more affectionately than anything. ]
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on 2025-10-01 03:23 am (UTC)yep. my special talent. good punching.
[ Just about the only thing she's good at, at this point. ]
you're no slouch yourself
You ever fight at the dome?
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on 2025-10-01 03:34 am (UTC)Call sign Warhead after I headbutted my way out of a few desperate corners.
Not my favorite.
They had one of those where I was from though.
Rather not be the entertainment.
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on 2025-10-01 03:40 am (UTC)You do have a hard head. as I found out.
[ Hm. Lots of people coming through at the Dome, many of them only once or twice for various reasons. Vi hasn't seen her. Never been matched up, obviously. Is it the metal arm? She's sick of being stuck in the lowest tiers of the ring based on lack of augmentations or other powers. Weapons are one thing, but the gauntlets were more than that. She misses them, and feels kind of shitty for it. But she hasn't asked Jayce again. ]
I bet they have one of those everywhere
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on 2025-10-01 03:52 am (UTC)Probably related.
Yeah it seems pretty universal.
Just every place recycling the same ideas.
You fight for a living back home?
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on 2025-10-01 03:56 am (UTC)more like to stay alive, I guess
But I did that for a bit too. fight for money.
[ For a distraction, more like. She drank most of the money.
Despite what some people might think, what she's been doing in Panorama is actually a lot better. (It's just that the bar is very low.) ]
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on 2025-10-01 03:59 am (UTC)But you can if you want.
[ She's not one to pry, but she can be a decent listener. ]
You wanna go for a beer?
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on 2025-10-01 04:03 am (UTC)Where should I meet you?
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on 2025-10-01 04:06 am (UTC)[ Beep boop Furiosa sends Vi the address. Pretty standard dive bar with all the typical offerings. The customers keep their hands to themselves (mostly). ]
text β action.
on 2025-10-01 04:15 am (UTC)[ Vi isn't very used to texting, still, though Jinx has picked up on it fast. The majority of her messages are from her sister, her comings and goings. The phone is useful, certainly.
But seeing Furiosa in person is a relief.
Vi waves from the door, making her way over to slide onto the stool next to her. There is no hesitation, despite the violence last time they saw each other face to face. She wasn't lying about not blaming her. ]
Hey.
So what's good here?
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on 2025-10-04 09:41 pm (UTC)She falls back on those just in case contingencies so often, that maybe she deserves something going as expected for once in her life and not ending in violence. ]
Hey. [ A warm nod. Relaxed almost. ] And not sure I'm the best judge... It's all new to me. [ Furiosa was very surprised when the item called "rattlesnake bites," in fact, contained no snake. None at all! ] I like the buffalo wings, but they're spicier than I expected.
[ Almost everything is when you come from a place that does not have any seasonings. Also, not made of buffalo. Who knew. ]
no subject
on 2025-10-04 11:44 pm (UTC)I have seen those before, but I didn't know what they were. I'll try some.
...what is a buffalo, anyway?
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on 2025-10-05 03:01 am (UTC)[ Bullet Farm. Green Place. Gas Town. These are good, descriptive names of things. Buffalo should be buffalo, rattlesnake should be snake. None of this strange obfuscation about what animal you're actually eating is necessary.
Anyway, Furiosa flags a server with a seeming amount of familiarity for them to order. Once she's gone, she turns back to Vi. ]
You been okay?
no subject
on 2025-10-05 10:47 pm (UTC)The question is a bit tough to answer. Vi lets out a noise that might be a laugh or a scoff or just a stifled sneeze. ]
Yeah, Furi. All of us've been just dandy the last couple weeks.
[ It's not said with any sort of barb to it. More of a self-deprecating type of joke.
Vi leans her elbows on the table, letting out a long breath as she stares out at the variety of bottles behind the bar. ]
But we haven't starved yet. Got a roof over our heads. I'd say that's doing okay, for now.
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on 2025-10-09 01:55 am (UTC)'Bout as good as any of us can hope for.
[ Furiosa is glad to have all those same things. Aside from the roof. Unless you count the Valiant's roof, which she does but recognizes that most people do not consider a car a sufficient place to live.
Sometimes the service at Rayne's leaves a little bit to be desired, as the bartender is nowhere in site. Probably taking one of his ten thousand smoke breaks for the night. Please hold while Furiosa slides out of the stool and crosses over behind the bar. She points at a couple different bottles, a silent question to see what Vi's interested in to help themselves to. She outright asks a different question. It's genuine curiosity. ]
Who's 'we?'
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on 2025-10-12 07:01 am (UTC)She does look a little surprised by the follow-up question. It's not a secret, though she doesn't constantly go around advertising it either. Must've not come up before. ]
Me and my sister. We're sharing a place.
no subject
on 2025-10-15 01:56 am (UTC)If you're gonna have anyone from home, family's about as good as you can ask for. [ She means it genuinely, soft over the rim of her glass as she lifts it to her lips to try it. Okay, it is strong. Maybe should've been less generous with the pour. ] It's good that you have each other.
[ And a sister too. She knows other people use it differently here. Use it more like before when families looked different, but that didn't make any of the Vuvalini any less of her sisters. ]
no subject
on 2025-10-25 11:59 pm (UTC)[ Vi smiles slightly over the top of the glass at her, lifting it a little in a sort of 'cheers' gesture. ]
I'm grateful we're together.
[ Even if it is complicated. She doesn't want to get into that right now. Or the fact she didn't think she'd ever see her sister again. Just acknowledging it fuels that fear, so Vi pushes it away, tries to focus on what they have right now. ]
...you? Anyone you know show up here too?
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on 2025-10-27 03:24 am (UTC)No. [ A shake of her head. ] It's not too bad. I've... met people here. Good people. [ A small private smile, behind her glass. ] And there's not too many familiar faces I'd want to see here.
If you ever see anyone with this markβ [ She turns her head away, tugging down the collar of her leather jacket so Vi can get a good look at the brand on the back of her neck. Scarred skin raised into a distinct pattern of a skull in a flaming circle. ] Gimme a heads up because they might want to kill me.
[ Furiosa decided this was a less complicated then saying she has a boyfriend. ]
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on 2025-10-29 05:47 am (UTC)She leans back again and nods. ]
Okay. I'll warn you, if I see it anywhere else.
[ And then she takes a drink and smiles again, a flash of teeth. ]
I'm glad you've met good people here, then.
[ Another brief raise of her glass. ]
To making new friends.
i think this is a nice wrap point!
on 2025-10-31 01:38 am (UTC)She mirrors Vi's raise of her glass. ]
To new friends.