But Dust & Shadow: Morgana & Tony
netrunnersinclair
“Don’t let him hear that, might just start hanging around to brag,” god he was well and truly going to get it in the neck if he ever got caught in this particular act. But it was all part of the fun, for him. Perhaps less so for other people, but no one was truly being hurt at the end of the day. So what if he wanted to maintain a divide between the ring and his personal dealings outside of it? That was his right to maintain regardless of what other people felt. “Well, what would you say to him? Hypothetically, if you got the chance?” He tipped a shoulder lazily at her comment about secret identities, “yeah, but I guess some people want to keep that separation. Probably have some dodgy shit to protect or something you get IDed and that can cost you a career especially if it ends with your head in a gutter… And if you can wreck a person like that? Come on, you’ve got to be involved in some real shady shit - no doubt.”
“In comparison to some of the places down here you’ve done a good job, but you’re never going to have a place like this be totally clean.” There was no way that would ever happen. Regardless, things would always go down whether it was in the ring or trade offs in the crowd. There would always be crime this close to the bowels of the city.
He couldn’t help the slight smile that game when Morgana spoke of wanting to be a runner, “not where I came from,” it wasn’t said in malice simply that where he’d come from that wasn’t the way things were done. You didn’t have the luxury of dreaming about things. You had a job and you did it. The disciples had their rather occultish ways, and they were excessively strict about them - the more cyberwear you had the more decorated you were in the eyes of the gang and ultimately, the higher up its ranks you rose. Though the consequence of that was so many cyberpsychos in their numbers that even the base wasn’t entirely safe. He’d seen too many psychos kill people simply for being too organic, not digital enough. “Can’t even remember the first time I jacked in, passed out for a day after… You grow accustomed eventually,” especially when your life depended on it.
He didn’t need to comment on the need for escape, of course you did in a shithole of a city like this. This kind of conversation also wasn’t why he was here, so he waited, and Morgana eventually turned the conversation on its heel. “Uhuh… How ‘bout a drink?” Alcohol always took the edge off after things got too… emotional for his liking. “Athleticism is all well and good, until it gets pummelled into a pulp.”
“Drink? Sure.” It wasn’t as if she had forgotten their entire purpose here but Morgana had been lost in the depths of the past, not a great place to lurk. She slid behind the bar and rustled up a can for him. It wasn’t exactly the best. Definitely not premium beer. It was drinkable. She emptied herself a can of soda into a cup and pushed a plastic looking cup over the bar towards Tony. The night wouldn’t end for her just yet, and there was no celebrations to be had until the last fight was won. It looked like the tanked labour synth was just taking the edge in its fight. She sighed and leant with her elbows against the bar, cup to her lips. Nothing like losing a little bit of money to keep things even. “Maybe, I guess I just like reality too much.”
Morgana winced as the athletic synth took a hard hit onto its knees. Sparks flying as its knees dragged across the concrete. Well at least it was putting on a show. She took a swig of her soda and came back around the makeshift bar as it got busy, drinks flowing and patrons making the most of their late night escapades. “What would I say to the guy? Shit if I know. I’m not going to admit to his face that I’m jealous of him, makes me sound like a fool.” She mumbled this into her fizzed grape soda. It tasted artificial, horribly faked with a bitter aftertaste that was no better than the grim beer she’d served him. “Maybe I’d ask to spar him, friendly, off the books not on a night like tonight just for the hell of it.” Maybe that would finally put her in the morgue.
“People know my name nowadays y’know, associate me with this place.” She jabbed a thumb in the general direction of the ring, the throng of the audience booing and hissing at the synths still engaged in their match. It had its benefits, obviously. There was something of a nostalgia for the days when she could go swinging her fists without it meaning too much. When people didn’t look to her for leadership. Morgana slid a hand into her jacket to produce an e-cigarette, put it straight to her lips without offering or conferring if Tony was even okay with it. He’d damn well have to be. She exhaled over her shoulder, away from him, a small courtesy. “So what’re you doing after this? If you aren’t going to try your hand at fighting and you’ve got your winnings for the night, not gonna go gambling some more?” Men, she had learned, tended to do one of three things with their money, piss it away on sex, drugs ( and ) or alcohol, maybe sometimes they would put it to good use to make some more out of it, or the real fools would save it for a rainy day. That wasn’t to say women were exempt from the rule, but Morgana tended to forgive them easier.
“Soon as this place shuts up for the night, I’m gonna get myself a big ass grilled cheese sandwich and I can practically taste it now. I know hardly the exciting saturday night routine but by the time finish up here any bars or clubs still open will be on the verge of closing too. Hardly seems worth it when you’re bone cold sober.”















