act15d5

(Yawn)

Fold the blankets into dougan, and that'll do.

Wallet, keys, jacket...

I'll... leave the comms gear.

Shield... leave that too. You rest easy for today, partner.

I'll kick these for shoes. Mmm. Nope, don't feel it. Maybe this limited edition pair? Ah, these feel pretty right. They match my outfit today.

Eh, let's go with the first ones after all.

(Rolls eyes)

Missy, perfect timing. Which pair do you think looks best?

Don't ask. Every part of you looks awful to me right now.

What's wrong? You're in a rotten mood. Special day today?

Ngaang gau ah, nei!

You were pounding on my door at dawn for this?! So I could watch you count SHOES? You've collected a billion pairs that all look basically the same to me!

How are they the same? They're all different editions, the materials are all different... ugh, what am I doing telling you this.

Our dorms are next to each other. We're like neighbors. We help each other out.

Like I care about you!

Let me make this clear to you, today is my day off! It's three minutes to six right now, and if I sound this alarm, I can write you up for disturbing the peace!

You want overtime? Fine! Do it yourself! You're gonna lose your hair working 24/7, but don't try to take my locks too!

Overtime nothing. Not often we get a day off, and the L.G.D. doesn't pay much more for overtime. They're pretty tight-pursed. I'm no workaholic like Ch'en either.

And Missy, are you one to talk? Didn't you just come back from the L.G.D.? I heard you opening and slamming the door. That one traveled.

Piss off! I'm so done right now!

Our plate's loaded! We've got the mess Reunion left, we've got business with that stinky old rat... and that puk gaai Lung isn't even here when it matters. What DOESN'T need doing?

You got promoted, and they want you transferred? Transferred where? Are we just going to give the Special Inspection Unit to someone else?!

I've had it up to HERE!

Calm down, calm down. It's not like Mr. Wei hasn't thought it through. He's training you.

For when the L.G.D. is your responsibility. If you ask me, it's just a matter of time.

You can do it.

You... you don't need to tell me! Of course I know that already!

B—But she was supposed to take over the L.G.D... She was groomed for it...

*Sigh*. Don't you go crying again.

Who's crying?!

Just you wait. Who cares if some smelly dragon never comes back. Sooner or later I'll seize the L.G.D. for myself. All of it, just you wait.

Ha ha, now that's something to look forward to.

Ugh. No, wait. Did you just say you heard me opening the door when I came back? So you knew I hadn't slept all night?

Then why the hell did you still call me over? You said you didn't do it on purpose!

Hey, hey, don't get worked up.

I was worried you were pushing yourself too hard. Been a lot happening lately, and we haven't really gotten the chance to meet up, right?

Here, I bet you skipped breakfast again, right? I bought some breakfast. It's your favorite chow fun. Eat a little before you go to sleep.

Hmph. Didn't ask you to.

Fine, fine, you didn't ask me to. Will you still eat it?

Of course I will! Give it!

Hey, why'd you buy two portions? How am I gonna finish this much?

Oh... that was two? Must've been habit. Bought them without thinking.

Three-mushroom shredded fowl, saa sin sauce, extra starchroot... Hmph, only that dummy would like it this way.

Their place uses pretty boring noodles. The flavor's too bland, they skimp on the ingredients. It's barely passable. Next time, remember: go downstairs from the L.G.D., turn the corner, second house down with the blue sign hung outside. They do better stuff.

Fine, I get it, I'll get you theirs next time. Just try and eat some for now. Woah, slow down! You don't have to inhale it.

(Yawn)

Oh, yeah, where are you going today? I'm up already, so you may as well count me in for some window-shopping.

I need to go buy that one Svrrovski piece. The new one from the JOKER series. It came out just last week.

Oh, the one Ch'en's had her eye on since forever ago?

Yep, that one. She's got a pretty good eye for those. She's better at picking out clothes and jewelry than I am.

Sounds like a compliment to me.

Personally, I don't even get to wear that kinda jewelry much after I buy it. Good thing she gets paid enough, and she lives in a free L.G.D. dorm. She'd be in dire straits otherwise.

Anyway, Missy, you're inviting me? That's pretty rare. Is this the first time ever?

If I had anyone else, you think I'd wanna pick you?

I guess so. Whoa, actually, if I don't head out now I'll be late. Later.

Wait, going where? Hold on, I'm gonna do my makeup!

Don't. You're plenty fine even without making up, 'Miss.'

Thanks for inviting me, but I'll have to pass today. I'm just going out for a spin, not much point in tagging along. I'll pick you up next time.

Get some sleep. Leave those bags under your eyes for too long, and it'll be rough when you finally wanna get them off.

You need more rest, Swire, you really do.

Madame, good morning!

Morning. You've all worked enough. Want some breakfast? I got recommended a place, so I picked some up along the way.

Seriously, this early on a vacation day and I still see so many people in this building.

Ever since that whole incident, it's been like this non-stop, ugh.

Same goes for you, Madame Hoshiguma. You only left a few hours ago and now you're back. You're off today, if I remember?

No comparison. Things are different for me.

Forget that, are you really still okay? I feel like you're wobbling... Eat something, and lie down in the lounge for a bit. Lay off the energy drinks. They're not good for you.

Ah, thank you, Madame. But I'm okay. Once I'm done with the work I've got on hand, I can go home and sleep.

(Yawn)

Fine. I won't say much more then. Just mind yourself.

It's been all hands on deck lately. After we're past this, I'll take you all out for a feast.

A feast? I'll pass. What I want is a raise.

Two days ago I ran into the guy from that Rhodes Island office, flaunting his promotion in front of me... pah, what's to flaunt? You just get a few more vacation days than I do...

...Rhodes Island?

The ones who worked with us? And the lot who took Madame Ch'en away?!

I thought those guys scrammed ages ago!

Ah... you mean that local branch of theirs, right?

I think they do some recruitment too. Weren't there a few youngsters making trouble in the streets who got talked into picking up some work instead?

They've got a way with words.

Don't you go stirring trouble for them. It's all Lungmen citizens working in that office. No picking bones.

Go back and tell the kiddos downstairs too. No getting mixed up.

The hell I can. Everyone's clear deep down.

Us and Rhodes Island get along fine enough. Once in a blue moon we'll have drinks together.

They've got plenty of weirdos there, and besides their local office people, you pass by them now and again on the street. Some just look wild. We can't help but stare a bit.

Last week they had some kind of Laterano monastery girl with them... and not to mention they can all hold their liquor.

Huh?! So the time you came back dead drunk, it was Rhodes who got you like that?! You threw up all over me!

Uh... did that happen?

Damn right it did!

Fine, fine, my bad. Next time you file for a day off to go on a date with your girlfriend, I'll approve it, okay?

Just hang in there until this bump's over, and every district we're rebuilding has its reconstruction schedules all sorted out. Then we'll be good.

Of course I know that... Honestly, though, once this bump's over, I'm probably not gonna have a girlfriend anymore... *sigh*.

Hey, that works out. Won't need to approve your day off.

Brutal. If you don't have anything nice to say...

He's just like that. I'm used to it.

Brat.

Anyway, Madame, same to you. It's your day off. Don't hang around here, go on back and take a break pronto.

Yeah, just leave things here to us!

Oh, looks like I'm not that popular. Or is there another reason you're trying to shoo me out here?

N-No, that's not what I mean...!