Post by 0 on Jun 5, 2017 18:37:34 GMT
After the little fiasco back in the city of black rain, Monsoon was finally able to buy a ticket that would bring him where he wanted to go.
He ended up having to purchase it from the bus driver who'd so unceremoniously kicked him out when the storm was at its worse, a non-redeemable fact which irked him to no end, but what was he going to do?
Stay in that city for another week?
Why, he suspected HE'D be the one getting arrested!
For what, he didn't know, he'd simply had the sneaking suspicion that he was doing something wrong, and he hadn't a clue what it could be!
Perhaps it was just his nerves from being in an unfamiliar city.
Regardless, Bill was glad to be out of the city, and into more familiar territory.
Well, sorta.
He'd never actually been to his destination before, but at least he KNEW some things about it, knew he was heading to it -- not like...whatever that last city was.
The bus driver wouldn't give him any details -- Bill doubted he even had any -- just told him to check the map.
The map that was way back in Bill's own city.
Typical.
Bill had snoozed most of the trip there.
Smoke wafted around inside the bus, a thin wispy column drifting between the seats from the driver's own cigarette, and mixing with the smoke from Bill's own, which now sat between his fingers as he leaned back into the seat, his face against the glass, moist with sleepy saliva.
The day rolled into evening, skipped back to morning, and then shot off into the night.
A bump, the distinct sounds of a technologically advanced city, in addition to a keen warmth against his leg, were what finally awoke the large man.
He groaned and yawned as he pulled back his glasses, wiping at his eyes, and tossed away the cigarette that had been threatening to burn his leg, stamping it down into the metal flooring.
He pulled himself further upright, glancing with disgust at the drool he'd expelled upon the glass.
The sight of a thousand lights shining just so that almost no darkness could avoid it...it was quite the welcome one, indeed.
His hometown may not be so advanced and bustling as this one, but it was no country bumpkin' place like the part of the city he'd seen last.
Automobiles of all kinds had drawn in close to them, rising with them to the tall highways that weaved through the massive city of Serpentsmouth.
Weird name for such a technological city, he had to admit, but it was certainly better than "the capital city".
Bill leaned over to pick up his big black briefcase, drawing it into the seat beside him.
His time to get off was nearing, and he had to make sure he had everything he needed.
A little late?
No...he'd been checking his luggage every so often on the trip.
Had to make sure someone didn't steal stuff from it (his eyes drifted to the driver, who, aside from him, was the only other person in the bus).
There was a lock on the front; a simple number code, which he input, snapping open the luggage.
He rifled through the folders and papers within, checking page numbers mostly, then scanned the clothing within, a packet of very old cigars hidden between the folds, and, last but not last, a deck of cards at the very bottom.
With a relieved sigh, he closed the case; everything seemed in order.
His eyes turned back to the sight of the cyberpunk city, observing the east Asian aesthetic with interest.
The technology may have been familiar, but the culture itself was all very foreign to him.
The advertisements that flashed by the road weren't even written in English, although in some cases translations were provided, alerting him to the fact that, at least, English speakers were not all too uncommon here, even if it were only a second language.
He could deal with that if he had to.
"All righhhhhhhhhht...!" hummed the bus driver, as the old diesel bus ground to a halt.
With the hiss of steam, the doors slid open, and Bill walked his way up the aisle to the front.
The driver held out his hand, giving his passenger a sleazy grin.
Then he slapped a card in Bill's hands, slapped him in the back, and pushed him out.
The balding man rubbed his back and watched as, with screeching wheels, the bus burned rubber and took off into the night.
He glanced at the card, which cheekily read: "CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY!" with a number plastered below, and smiley faces printed all across the off-white background.
With a roll of his eyes, he pocketed the card, then looked around.
And cursed.
That bus driver had just dropped him off on the highway!
Bill slid onto the sidewalk before a car could run him over, pressing into the railing.
Looking over, he could see just how far down the bottom was.
He groaned and turned his eyes away, feeling a bit sick.
Best get walkin'.
He ended up having to purchase it from the bus driver who'd so unceremoniously kicked him out when the storm was at its worse, a non-redeemable fact which irked him to no end, but what was he going to do?
Stay in that city for another week?
Why, he suspected HE'D be the one getting arrested!
For what, he didn't know, he'd simply had the sneaking suspicion that he was doing something wrong, and he hadn't a clue what it could be!
Perhaps it was just his nerves from being in an unfamiliar city.
Regardless, Bill was glad to be out of the city, and into more familiar territory.
Well, sorta.
He'd never actually been to his destination before, but at least he KNEW some things about it, knew he was heading to it -- not like...whatever that last city was.
The bus driver wouldn't give him any details -- Bill doubted he even had any -- just told him to check the map.
The map that was way back in Bill's own city.
Typical.
Bill had snoozed most of the trip there.
Smoke wafted around inside the bus, a thin wispy column drifting between the seats from the driver's own cigarette, and mixing with the smoke from Bill's own, which now sat between his fingers as he leaned back into the seat, his face against the glass, moist with sleepy saliva.
The day rolled into evening, skipped back to morning, and then shot off into the night.
A bump, the distinct sounds of a technologically advanced city, in addition to a keen warmth against his leg, were what finally awoke the large man.
He groaned and yawned as he pulled back his glasses, wiping at his eyes, and tossed away the cigarette that had been threatening to burn his leg, stamping it down into the metal flooring.
He pulled himself further upright, glancing with disgust at the drool he'd expelled upon the glass.
The sight of a thousand lights shining just so that almost no darkness could avoid it...it was quite the welcome one, indeed.
His hometown may not be so advanced and bustling as this one, but it was no country bumpkin' place like the part of the city he'd seen last.
Automobiles of all kinds had drawn in close to them, rising with them to the tall highways that weaved through the massive city of Serpentsmouth.
Weird name for such a technological city, he had to admit, but it was certainly better than "the capital city".
Bill leaned over to pick up his big black briefcase, drawing it into the seat beside him.
His time to get off was nearing, and he had to make sure he had everything he needed.
A little late?
No...he'd been checking his luggage every so often on the trip.
Had to make sure someone didn't steal stuff from it (his eyes drifted to the driver, who, aside from him, was the only other person in the bus).
There was a lock on the front; a simple number code, which he input, snapping open the luggage.
He rifled through the folders and papers within, checking page numbers mostly, then scanned the clothing within, a packet of very old cigars hidden between the folds, and, last but not last, a deck of cards at the very bottom.
With a relieved sigh, he closed the case; everything seemed in order.
His eyes turned back to the sight of the cyberpunk city, observing the east Asian aesthetic with interest.
The technology may have been familiar, but the culture itself was all very foreign to him.
The advertisements that flashed by the road weren't even written in English, although in some cases translations were provided, alerting him to the fact that, at least, English speakers were not all too uncommon here, even if it were only a second language.
He could deal with that if he had to.
"All righhhhhhhhhht...!" hummed the bus driver, as the old diesel bus ground to a halt.
With the hiss of steam, the doors slid open, and Bill walked his way up the aisle to the front.
The driver held out his hand, giving his passenger a sleazy grin.
Then he slapped a card in Bill's hands, slapped him in the back, and pushed him out.
The balding man rubbed his back and watched as, with screeching wheels, the bus burned rubber and took off into the night.
He glanced at the card, which cheekily read: "CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY!" with a number plastered below, and smiley faces printed all across the off-white background.
With a roll of his eyes, he pocketed the card, then looked around.
And cursed.
That bus driver had just dropped him off on the highway!
Bill slid onto the sidewalk before a car could run him over, pressing into the railing.
Looking over, he could see just how far down the bottom was.
He groaned and turned his eyes away, feeling a bit sick.
Best get walkin'.