Chapter Forty-Three – Nothing But Cuddles
byChapter Forty-Three – Nothing But Cuddles
“Ain’t no one getting between me and my cuddle time! Uwu.”
–Quote attributed to Neon Girl Happy-Chan, 2029
***
I woke up feeling both warm and content. It didn’t take long to realize why.
Lucy was turned on her side, wedged between me and the edge of the couch. She had a hand pressed under her chin, which squished her cheek up, and her other hand was balled into a fist over my chest.
I shifted my leg just a little, and Lucy shifted in turn, her own leg moving up and down, soft skin against mine. She was snoring, and it wasn’t the cute kind of snore that the girls in the movies had.
I smiled and leaned my head over to peck her on the forehead. She didn’t react at all, entirely oblivious to the world at large.
That was fine. I tugged the blanket she’d covered us in higher so that it was tucked up near her neck and settled in to wait. I was trapped, of course,and there was no escaping this one–not that I wanted to.
I didn’t want to speak aloud; that might wake Lucy up, and that would be a sin. So I took some pictures of her face, line of drool and squished cheeks and all, and saved them for later. Blackmail was always handy to have.
Opening a messenger app with my augs, I sent a message to Myalis. “Hey. Any news on the stuff?”
How very eloquently put. Yes, there has been some news about the conditions and changes with regards to the stuff.
I let out a huff of laughter before replying. “Cute. Did Longbow and Deus Ex reply? Any news from Gomorrah?”
You received replies from both. Neither were visual or audible though. Do you wish to see the replies?
“Sure,” I sent.
A new box appeared before me, my augs printing it on the air.
“The situation with the sewers is a problem, but it’s not as critical as other issues we have. I’ll send what you sent me to the Family. They’ll put some pressure on the city to fix things. I’m too busy to interfere myself. Take care of it.
-Deus Ex”
“Fucking callous little pipsqueak, isn’t she?” I asked.
She has proven her worth as a vanguard. I trust that her claims of currently working on more pressing concerns are truthful.
“Hmm,” I hummed. Lucy moved her head up and tucked it in the nook of my neck, so I tilted my head down and rested my cheek on the poofy mess that was her hair. “Alright, so that’s one avenue that’s basically gone. The Family thing might help, but the mayor’s a cunt so I doubt it. What did Longbow say?”
Displaying now.
Deus Ex’s reply minimized and was replaced by a longer one.
“Stray Cat
Hey little sister, heard you had fun playing in the mud. Digging the Two Girls One Flamer memes, by the way. Not too sure if I can help much. I’m spread a bit thin as is, and I don’t know if I want to concentrate that many resources in one city. Still, I think I can help in another way.
There’s a politician who’s not that much of a twat (I know, they’re all twats to one degree or another) who could probably use the kind of boost that comes from having a friendly samurai breathing down his neck. He’s not an idiot, and I think he might actually mean well.
His name’s Jeff Burringham. Bit of a narcissist upper-crust type. Ivy league, rich parents, you know the sort. Still, my psych profiles suggest that he does want to help, if only to make himself look better.
I’ll send him a small intro. He’s going to be running against the mayor in a bit. He might have the clout to fix your problem.
Also, I gave a call to Peter Silverbloom. He runs a non-profit. He might be able to help with your ex-Sewer Dragons.
XOXO
The best big bro,
-Longbow”
“Huh,” I said. “Can you add those two to my contacts? Once I’m, ah, free, I’ll give them a call… actually, before that, do you have anything on either of them?”
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