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The roads in the city were extremely complex, interwoven and tangled, with many interchanges being multiple levels to the point where it was a rare occasion to come across one that would feature only an underpass or overpass. If nests had at least some infrastructure, the backstreets roads were not only more chaotic, but also much narrower making it more difficult for Mephi to go through them. Not that it was needed, Charon would stop Mephi in a more open space.
Of course the bus always had a specific destination, yet it never had a set route, so all the turns and paths were for Charon to decide, well more for her to just go on them. It never felt like a conscious decision, more like a habit that didn't change when the goal changed. Scenes outside don't really register in her memory, all of the city looks the same. The nests always felt like tiles washed in over amounts of chlorine. The backstreets felt like concrete with claw marks left in it.
Yet it's not like Charon couldn't look at this world, it was smudged, but not blurred,even if she didn't look towards the light, and sometimes the world she looked into would be different, there were people around her.
From the day she woke up in a dark space, Vergilius was there, and it seemed like there wasn't anyone else, the warm and shiny presence was dim, and it didn't talk to her, just existed. So it was expected of Charon to stick to the first person she sees. And he did stay around, walking suttly in front but still in a reach.
Charon didn't linger on deciphering meaning of expressions on Vergilius' face that would occasionally appear for a second, they spent a lot of time together since Charon was a driver and Vergilius was a guide, two roles that were interwoven. And it's not like both of them had to leave Mephi regularly or for long periods of time, and when they had to, Verg wouldn't leave Charon's side, buying her snacks to keep her spirits up and so that she'll be calmer.
Faust was the second person who appeared in Charon's eyes, standing set along the armed group with their faces hidden. Charon wondered, did she know Verg? Whatever was said to him seemed to catch his attention, so Charon also followed.
Faust was knowledgeable. She introduces Charon to her magnum opus - Mephistopheles, it cried and wailed in hunger but it was a fascinating beast, Charon immediately liked Mephi, earning a small smirk from Faust.
Driving the bus meant that Charon's rest and work cycle was different from the sinners work time, after arriving at their destination the bus would usually stay at the same place or move to another spot, ultimately she would be busy only if there was a destination. Such a schedule meant that the timing of her breaks and sleep would be up to her, so it wasn't a rare occasion for her to wake up at night to start driving.
Equally common occasion was for Faust to be also awake during the night, and for Charon to run into her, the difference today was that alongside Faust today there was also Yi Sang. The two of them were sitting around a bunch of papers scattered around Mephi's floor. When Charon entered Faust and Yi Sang didn't stop discussing ignoring the backdoor opening.
Charon went up to the two sinners and looked down at the papers - it was mostly random doodles of stars and tree branches alongside blotches of ink, there were also some schematics of which Charon only recognized outlines of Mephi's engine.
"Passengers are literring on Mephi?" Only when she spoke with brows furrowed did Faust and Yi Sang divert their attention.
"Ah, mine apologies, it seems we got too lost in our ideathon" It was clear that the purpose of writing their ideas down quickly was lost, with the two of them getting lost in talking. The notes were picked up an sorted in two piles and Charon's look gathered on one of them which Faust picked up and straightened out.
"We were discussing addition to Mephi's engine and it's maximum Enklaphin capacity and usage since with the time passing there's more strain being put on it. Mephistopheles not only gets more significant damages that outmatch the ones previously sustained requiring it not only to spend more energy and time regenerating, but also to regenerate through breakages that it isn't familiar with, this is not yet accounting for the backdoors and it's related functions or the extractions from the engine."
Charon hummed in response and looked at the paper that Faust was holding out.
"It isn't an urgent addition but still a needed one." Yi Sang continued to add to Faust's words. " Considering that each mission we spend more and more time away from the Mephistopheles, it's better that we ameliorate the engine while we're on the road and have no immediate missions."
When he finished the thought, Yi Sang shifted his attention to Charon, finally noticing the darkness outside and that Charon was wearing her full uniform rather than her nightwear.
"Ah, are you planning on starting driving now? What is the hour?…" Yi Sang started looking around for anything to tell the time but Charon's response was faster.
"It's four"
The time made both geniuses stop for a second.
"Ah, it seems we got carried away." Faust in response only hummed and closed her eyes, opening her eyes back and addressing Yi Sang "Would you like to rest? It's better to be at least a little rested in case we need to be at alert during the day."
Her question was met with Yi Sang's weak shake of his head.
"No need, we were quite immersed, I would rather continue now, please don't worry about me."
"Oh and Miss Charon, would you like to listen?"
Charon of course would listen in even if she wasn't offered to do so, the other two were in the same space as her plus it was nice having something to listen to in the background while driving, the city's traffic could be very slow at times and so it helped to not lose any nerves while on the road, so of course she agreed. Both Yi Sang and Faust seemed to, if not enjoy, then at least don't mind going on a long talks about various topics, and sometimes would almost without a back thought make Charon to be their audience. Charon didn't have much questions, but if she was curious about something it was noticeable.
So with the discussion in the background and the morning coming unto the City, Charon drives through the streets.
The passengers are often loud, even if they don't argue or fight, having 12 people in the same space at the same time would inevitably lead to some noise being present, so the planned stop in a deserted spot among some woods was like a rescue for Charon's head. The respite however ended very soon.
Most of the sinners were already outside looking around the area leaving the bus empty and quiet, the key word however was 'most'. Charon got up and stumbled making her sigh out of the mix of alert and annoyance, and this didn't go unnoticed by the few who were still inside the bus.
Outis immediately clicked her tongue.
"Driver, do you not know how to maintain your body's functionality?"
Charon didn't talk a lot, or even at all with most of the sinners, one on one, she still could still hear everyone's dialogues, and Outis' voice usually wasn't loud by itself, but the confidence in her tone made it to be forceful, cutting through others voices.
Charon made a grumpy face, getting ready to argue, but Outis was faster, starting to explain what her inquiry meant.
" You've shown multiple times that you're perfectly aware of when to take a break, even at moments that aren't conventional…." the last part was said quieter.
"However, regular exercise is also required for the body to be in the optimal condition, at least stretching is required considering amount of time you spend at the wheel."
Another voice joined the conversation.
" Mm, taking into the account the fact that sometimes the bus runs non-stop for several days on the fast-roads and interchanges it can be assumed that you do not leave the wheel."
Charon's hope was that someone else presence would rescue her and allow Charon to retreat to backdoors, alas it did the opposite as Meursault joined the offense, by backing up Outis' point, to which she nodded with a smile.
" Passengers cornering Charon, retreat, retreat."
Charon's unhidden reluctance made Outis sigh and Meursault's expression stay as it is. Outis didn't have any intention on trying to actually get Charon to do something, or anything at all, this was meant to be a suggestion but Charon's reluctance was so pronounced that it looked like Outis would quite literally drag Charon outside to commence sudden training.
"Prolonged periods of driving may cause stiffness in muscles, especially the back and calves. Just pay attention to them."
Outis didn't sigh this time, only closed her eyes, and thought about shaking her head. Meursault was standing as if he was part of the conversation that Charon wanted to avoid and Outis didn't mean to start.
"Have a good rest" was thrown into the air by Meursault as the two sinners stepped off the bus to join the rest of the group.
And while nobody did see, Charon stretched out upwards and walked to the backdoor.
Maintaining a better performance meant that the department in turn would get more budgeting that could be spent as wished by the people, and the LCB spent most of it on the food and occasional thing or two for Mephistopheles for everyone to use - last time it was an airfrier. The company rule, well mostly rule set by Vergilius, was to save and submit receipts on time and no fighting about it anywhere nearby him.
Now they stopped at some eatery that was big enough to fit all of them and not draw any unnecessary attention. The diner was located in part of backstreets that was at least a little better off - it was a shopping area, with several stalls stretching across the street. The LCB was also slowly spreading through the area.
Every time the department would eat out, no one would leave the group for long periods of time or go out of sight, so instead the formation was spread out, not crowded and not separated.
Ryōshū and Sinclair were standing near a booth, and since it was a candy booth Charon naturally went up to them to investigate, walking in in the middle of the dialogue.
"… ah what about-" Sinclair didn't get to finish his thought getting interrupted by Charon's appearance, "oh hi Charon" even in a space with other people in them, Charon still managed to startle some sinners.
Charon looked at what Ryōshū and Sinclair were looking at. It was a row of differently flavored hard candies, the type that would from time to time leave scratches on the cheeks inner walls of the mouth, but it also was the most popular kind of candy on the bus: for Charon the benefit was that they would last for a while in her mouth, and the sinners would take one or two and slowly go through them while doing something else, some also just liked biting through them with all the might of a human jaw.
" B.G." Ryōshū's greeting was met with a displeased 'hmph' from Charon but she didn't walk away.
"Passengers buying snacks?"
"Ryōshū saw some and immediately went up to buy some for everyone," there was a trace of initial surprise and confusion on Sinclair's face but he didn't question it for too long, going along with Ryōshū sudden urge to feed everyone watermelon-flavored candy. Charon was of course, not against it, so she hummed in approval.
"C.A.P.P" Charon's imitation of Ryōshū's SANGRIA made the latter let out an intrigued 'oho?~' and Sinclair freeze for a second, deciphering Charon's acronym. Before he could finish it, Charon left the two and returned back with a happy hum.
No matter where they went LCB and Mephistopheles would always draw attention, mostly the attention was drawn by the sinners being loud, but the bus itself would also sometimes draw attention, if the intention wasn't getting some scrap metal and copper to sell, it would be interest in the Mephistopheles itself.
Unfortunately the interest could transfer to Charon, it's not like she was alone for extensive periods of time so Charon would be in danger, nor did she really leave Mephi a lot for potential danger to resurface from the streets. Yet there were still eyes on Charon, eyes that bear ill intent, Charon however was oblivious to them and two sinners weren't.
Charon's was taken out of her weak fog by a light hand on her shoulder and a voice.
" Young Charon, be on guard." Don Quixote didn't keep her hand too long on Charon's shoulder since it was meant only to warn her, the sinner now looking somewhere ahead into a far away that Charon didn't see anything in.
" Hha… We know that you're not really familiar with combat, but some caution would be appreciated you know?"
Gregor's grumble was a little mumbled since the cigarettes never left his mouth, his voice sounded annoyed, though he was one of those who would complain or be openly dissatisfied the most, it still carried a trace of alert. Don Quixote lowered her spear into a horizontal, ready position. Gregor also focused on the same direction as Don Quixote. Charon tilted her head to the side still trying to understand what exactly caught the sinners' attention. Sure it wasn't an open field but Charon didn't think there was many places to hide.
"Small girl, bug guy, what are you doing?" Charon's confusion spread unto Gregor and Don Quixote who for a second changed out of their stances before immediately going back to them.
" Dost thou not feel an aura most pressing coming from that direction? Hark for there's surely an enemy ahead."
Time passed but nothing has happened and Don Quixote returned her spear into a vertical positions.
"There was no one there dummy" Charon wasn't displeased, but she still felt a need to grouch about it.
Gregor sighed as response and Don Quixote made an unreadable expression. Charon never really focused on the surroundings or people, sometimes it felt like she didn't notice someone around her, Charon would comment on something happening in a brief manner, barely leaving a room for conversation with her.
" Let's uh, just go back already yeah? I think it's better not to linger around for so long, not sure what that was but haa…" Gregor sighed with a puff of smoke coming from his cigarette. Charon threw one last glance and turned around to walk away, did she really miss something in the distance? It seemed like her situational awareness greatly lowered when she wasn't driving, well, there would be someone to use as an anchor, so Charon didn't linger on the thoughts.
When your workplace also takes on a role of your home - a permanent residence, and that same residence is shared by 15 people, it's imperative that a portion of space is dedicated to a common place, the break rooms in the Mephi's backdoors were a cradle of chaos and respite, now it birthed the former.
Charon wondered how she got caught up in the bicker between Heathcliff and Ishmael. They were arguing about a decision made by Ishmael, even though the session was done hours ago and anyone else who was a part of it went on with their own things to do.
"…that would only stop our progression speed and help no one!"
"Arghh c'mon you know that this is a standardized decision! It's even written down in the rule sheet that came with it!"
As soon as Charon has entered the room, the debate stopped as Heathcliff and Ishmael turned around to see who has entered and in unison said 'great'
"Charon lass, help us settle a dispute."
"Yeah, I feel like it's not gonna end in any kind of good way if we continue like this…" Ishmael sighed with a defeated expression, this however didn't clarify anything for Charon, who was still standing in the doorway.
Charon made a pondering expression and hummed.
" Alright so the situation is-"
"Charon votes redhead."
Charon spoke without even waiting for the specifics of the conflict to be explained to her, she was trying to get back to her own thing, she was actually there with a purpose that wasn't being a judge. Ishmael who started explaining the details but didn't get to finish was no less startled than Heathcliff. It took them both a minute to react.
" Huh wait we didn't even explain what we were talking about!"
" Hah I mean thanks but yeah I just started talking… So the rule sheet says that when a character who's stat-"
" Charon already voted redhead. But redhead is glued to the rules, no fun" Charon furrowed her brows a little from the annoyance at having to repeat and explain herself, there was a sign of confusion on both Heathcliff's and Ishamel's faces at Charon's vote, Charon seemingly taking both sides also didn't add clarity.
" Oi did you vote for her because of the times she drifted at the Great Lake?" Heathcliff seemed to let go of their actual arguing and calmed down as did Ishmael, instead he was now focusing on figuring out why Charon made the choice without even listening to anything that happened. both caught off-guard by Charon's reluctance to actually engage in their debate that wasn't enough for her to just walk away. Charon's response was a huff with a weak grin.
" In retrospect I don't know what kind of answer I expected, let's just ask someone else when there's a chance."
Charon walked away with a satisfied expression on her face and Heathcliff and Ishmael went on to settle the game rules with other sinners who were playing with them.
Charon's work wasn't that of a combatant, nor did she move any significant amount, because of that her uniform had the most layers out of all. The uniform would both keep her warmer when she couldn't move to warm up and also would get in the way would she try to replicate any fighting stance that she saw sinners take on. Charon not being involved in combat also meant that her hair that already was dragging on the floor behind her didn't need to be kept shorter or in a hairstyle that would keep the hair off the floor. Simple double ponytails were enough for her, but others didn't seem to share that view.
" Charon, girlie, your hair is dragging on the floor, we do clean and all, but eurghh this floor has seen some truly disgusting things."
Rodya moved Charon's hair slightly to the side so it at least wouldn't be accidentally stepped on.
" Oh yeah, Charon your hair is really long." Hong Lu joined the conversation looking at the hair ends scandalously staying on the floor. " Hmm, but your bangs are well kept, and I'm sure others have some ways to keep their hair short."
Charon didn't understand the interest in her hair, but it wasn't annoying per se, everyone would be careful not to step on it and if they did they immediately apologized, the weight felt too familiar for her to change it now.
"Say…." Rodya started and looked at Hong Lu, with whom she seemed to telepathically communicate something. Hong Lu continued the question for Rodya " Would you let us braid your hair?"
Charon got caught off guard, letting out a half of a breath instead of a proper 'huh?'
" I mean it'll at least lift your hair of the ground, please? It's not gonna be much different from your usual twin-tails."
After a minute of thought, and a quick run to get her hair comb Charon nodded and removed her hat, and placed it with her oar on the nearby seats and turned around with her back facing Hong Lu and Rodya. Charon felt her hair become loose and the ribbons be undone. Her hair was already parted in the middle, so the feeling of a comb moving little portions of hair strands didn't stay for long. Charon didn't hear what Rodya and Hong Lu told each other, but they both were actually braiding her hair, Charon didn't feel her hair being tugged ore moved around too much, they were going for looser braids to keep the transition from the bangs to the main mass of hair. After a while that it took to braid all of Charon's hair, the ribbons were back to their positions at the end of the braid.
Rodya let out a satisfied "Done!"
Charon carefully ran her hand across the braids, they were indeed on the looser side and the attempt at making them fuller was seen, still it was nice.
"Charon approves." Rodya and Hong Lu both smiled at having their effort be appreciated.
Besides Charon's late-night driving and one person or two who would get up in the middle of the night to do something, the person who frequented the communal kitchen and break-rooms would be manager Dante. Charon couldn't understand them, to her it was just a serials of ticking and random sounds that one would hear from other objects. If they were to address something out of this world and the stars, Charon could hear an echo, but those occasions were rare and the echo barely contained anything for Charon to listen to. The language barrier never stopped the manager from talking to her.
It wasn't deep nighttime, rather the transition between the night and the morning, the coldest and darkest hour of the day with the promise of a sunrise somewhere on the horizon. Charon got up and not changing into her uniform, still wrapped into a blanket, went into the the common space with a clear goal of putting on a kettle and getting something warm to drink and to wake up. When Charon walked into the kitchen, her eyes were immediately drawn to Dante who was sitting on a couch tucked into a further corner of the space.
The kitchen and break-rooms weren't entirely separated, the border was indicated by the design change: the kitchen was the only part of Mephi where the floor's were tiled instead of being wooden, and when the break-rooms started the interior went back to matching the rest of the bus. The kitchen was mostly used for food storage and heating, it was furnished only with a large fridge, microwave, oven without a stove, an airfrier, and a kettle. No one cooked but heating the prepared rations in microwave quickly tired everyone out so the oven and airfrier were later acquired, while the electric kettle was there from the start.
Dante was sitting with their legs on the couch, leaning sideways against the back and holding out a clipboard with some papers. They were playing with the pen in their hands, likely dealing with whatever content was in front of them. The manager wasn't wearing their coat and instead were sitting in just their pants and a shirt with rolled up sleeves, their gloves were gone too.
"Tick-tock doesn't get cold?"
Dante didn't notice Charon's presence so they got startled, not letting out a train horn but just jumping enough for it to be noticeable. They ticked something as an answer but Charon couldn't understand them. Charon went up to them and gently poked the exposed skin on Dante's hand making them flinch a second time and start rapidly ticking. This time Charon could guess what the ticking was about - she did have pretty cold hands not long after she would wake up, and Dante's skin felt almost burning hot under her fingers. The manager in turn put down the pen and took Charon's hand in their, weakly rubbing the back of her hand, they still were saying something.
Charon freed her hand and went back to her goal of putting a kettle on. The first step was done and as the water boiler she got her mug and some instant 3-1 coffee that everyone else deemed too sweet, so more went to Charon. Now that she had achieved her goal pf getting a warm drink, she looked in Dante's direction again, who upon noticing the look, patted space on the couch next to them as in inviting her to sit with them. Charon was already planning on sitting on the couch, so she had no reason to walk somewhere else.
Charon went up to the couch and plopped down with her back pressed against Dante's back, Charon could immediately feel the heat coming from the other body and the steady moving that reminded her of breathing and a heartbeat. The mug quickly warmed up her hands, and the coffe helped her get warmer quicker, maybe she got too warm as she put down the mug, the coffee didn't help her stay awake even if Charon started to slowly wake up. Charon couldn't understand Dante's words, nor did they truly understand her sometimes, but a warm weight on the back and the presence of someone who at the least could be deemed an ally worked it's magic.She curled up under her blanket and turned to face the couch back, eventually falling back asleep as Dante continued with whatever they were writing.
Charon was woken up after some time by a careful moving and a nudge on her shoulder, ticking slowly pouring in her ears, well, it was time to drive.