[gilga]

Marco would like to answer Yelena, there are many things he could argue but the lusty lady quickly begins to 'handle' him and a witty response becomes the last thing in his mind. Marco happily embraces Yelena, he whispers "I love you too, Yelena" as he looks into her eyes. As the moments pass everything seems distant - for a short while nothing else matters, perhaps this is what being happy feels like.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena curls up next to Marco after the very pleasant sexual interlude.  She can tell that Marco has things on his mind and supposes that they are related to his training.  "Marco much good this morning.  Marco go more training with PI man today?  Yelena go Arc garage.  Help fix van for team."  She nuzzles up against him and almost purrs in satisfaction as she holds him in her arms.

[ismilealot]

The day dawns bright and chilly. And the different members of the party are each busy with preparations. But, at least now it's not a desperate race to get everything accomplished. They can't relax to much, after all the need to leave could come at any time. But, it's not likely to come to soon after the original date and that allows everyone a moments breather to really think and plan and truly relax after all the stressors of the past few weeks. And when evening comes it brings with it a blast of frigid air from the north and cold fog rolls in. The chill and dark of the weather outside starkly contrasts the warm scene inside the garage where Arc is laughing at Yelena's attempt to master the controls of the latest trid game. Yelena's hair trigger instincts are no good against a puzzle game and Firefly is making mincemeat of her and Arc. They don't even notice Marco and Jed come in. At least not until Marco opens a large container of pasta Bolognaise and fresh garlic bread. Tuskaloosa is there only a few minutes after Marco having spent the day hunting parts.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena has actually been doubting her hair trigger instincts for the past forty minutes or so.  The smell of the food is enough to get her to look around.  Smiling, she puts the controller down and stands.  "Pfffft.  Game for young.  Yelena too old.  Not grow up with controller in hand.  Hey mage man.  PI man.  Marco bring food?  Firefly kick Yelena ass in game."  Yelena looks over at the beat up couch and talks a bit louder than needed.  "Maybe decker mage not realize last person kick Yelena ass in trid game now only one hand.  And one leg.  Teach him not kick Yelena ass."  She goes off to the kitchen and returns with some mismatched plates and silverware. 

Yelena moves to one of the work benches and clears some space for the food and tableware.  She looks over at the two still gaming.  "Hey.  Ass kicking decker mage show mercy Arc and come eat.  Get food now or Tuskaloosa might eat all." 

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc thought she was getting the hang of trid games.  After days of repeated training on Starfighter 20XX, she honestly thought she had a chance.  She did not expect that she could be taken by someone who considers the Trix her second home.  But if she could just land this one play...

"Ah, frag all! Ahahaha, I totally letcha do that drek!"

With the trid projector in the garage showing their exploits, space heaters keeping it habitable, Arc lounged with controller on her lap, a soda and a bag of chili-lime fried grasshoppers next to her for snacking.  By now, much of the urgent repair work was done...BloodMoney was placated by the rerouting of the exhaust, and the fender bender was put back in line without a sweat.  Even the failure of their butane welder couldn't hold them back enough, and now it was just Jed's bike restoration and their own projects to fill the time.  Yawning, the short tusked girl idly munched on a grasshopper as Yelena figuratively threw her hands in the air in frustration, just to spot the rest of their intrepid team returning.

Grinning widely, she pat Firefly on the shoulder before hopping up, arms akimbo as she saluted the men.  "Well butter me up and throw me to the devil ratsh, ya brought real food.  Make yeshelf at home, omaes."  She took a whiff of the garlic bread and crinkled her nose at the rich and hearty aroma.  "Hmm...and ya shaid you wouldn't make it ash a cook, Marco? Dayum"  Helping Yelena grab a few plates, she set them on the table as Tuska arrived with the van, prompting the human to help unload the parts with an affirming nod from the troll.

"Gang'sh all here.  Got food too, get shome while we can, eh?"  The weekend felt like a good one, and Arc seemed to be in high spirits, at least....

[gilga]

Industrial food has no music, no life. Thought Marco as he experimented a bit with astral cooking. Fresh supplies actually had music of their own, and mixing them together altered that music. After several tries Marco had the perfect batch. Uncharacteristically quiet, he enters Arc's garage. Almost shyly and spends as much as 10 minutes watching the video game, before he decides to share his creation. 

Quickly the gang was all set up to eat, fresh food had that effect on people and with so much money laying around, Marco felt no need to save on supplies. He smiles shyly at Arc when she complements him and continues eating. Funny thing is, Marco has yet to say a word, he was fascinated by a new sense that he was not sure how to turn off.
 

[SmilinIrish]

As Jed enters with Marco, he hangs back upon seeing the new members of the group.  As they are engrossed in their game, he takes the opportunity to observe them and also makes note of their auras for future reference. 

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena comes over to nudge Marco.  "Hey, Marco much quiet.  Marco alright?  Is good food.  Yelena thank for bring.  Marco good at trid games?  Firefly much good.  Yelena feel sad cannot win.  Marco should try and see if win."  She pauses before adding, "Marco come home Yelena tonight or stay out with PI man for mojo training?"

[gilga]

The room was so noisy and Marco felt as if he was trying to listen to many radio stations at once. It was nothing at all like his kitchen that was relatively quiet.

"Hey, Marco much quiet.  Marco alright?  Is good food.  Yelena thank for bring.  Marco good at trid games?  Firefly much good.  Yelena feel sad cannot win.  Marco should try and see if win."

Primal fear, grabbed Marco as Yelena spoke and the usually tanned elf looked as if he had seen a ghost and the chilling sensation made him uncomfortable and almost paralyzed.  Only a thin hint of that sensation pierced his beautiful and perfectly pitched voice as he said: "My path lies with the spirit world and the way free, but I cannot take Jed with me, his way is different. I will help him enchant an item - it is a good experience for me."  Marco looked at Yelena frustrated and confused. His state was similar to that of someone that attempted to listen to multiple radio channels at the same time. It made little sense, but gave him a headache.
Animal forms often held similar confusion as his brain struggled to make sense of what ever strange senses his animal body had. It took some time before a new form grew on him. For that reason Marco enjoyed sticking to few forms over and over again.  Although not entirely there, Marco made an attempt to appear somewhat normal by saying: "Technology is difficult, I probably can do no better than you."

[Duck N. Cover]

     Tuskaloosa watched as the the van leisurely pulled into Arc's garage.  Now that the bumper job was cleared out, the van could return to its bay.  It meant a shorter time for the door to be up—the van could be unloaded inside—and meant the garage stayed warm.
     She slipped from her seat—the shotgun position—as the mechanic strode up. “Hoi, Arc!  Sorry it took so long, but I think what we found will cover your specs nicely...”  Her voice trailed off as she caught sight of Marco and the new human with him. “A client or a co-worker?”
     “Both.  It'sh null sheen—Jed ish sholid.”
     “Okay.  Then...Hrock says 'Hi'.  Now, about your order...”
     Mechanic and Driver poured over the the fresh finds before offloading.  Arc was clearly pleased.  Finally, she clapped her hands together.  “Gang'sh all here. Got food too, get shome while we can, eh?”
     “I'm in no hurry”, the troll protested as she picked her way over to the workbench closest to her Better Half.

     “Hey.  Ass kicking decker mage show mercy Arc and come eat.  Get food now or Tuskaloosa might eat all.”

    “You wound me, Yelena,” she moaned, then winked. “Just because I can doesn't mean I would.”

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena smile convivially at the Troll but inside she is concerned about Marco.  She places her plate on the workbench near her and takes the man's arm, leading him off to the relative privacy of the kitchen.  She turns to him and stands close.  "Yelena not understand Marco words.  Sense confusion.  Sense difference.  Marco different.  So Yelena ask Marco still want Yelena?  Marco has new life, new mojo.  Maybe no room Yelena?  No lies.  Just truth.  Marco tell Yelena what bothers you."

[gilga]

Marco took a deep breath and tried to sort his thoughts, to overcome the chaos in his mind.
"I hear voices that are not voices and it gives me an headache. I was under the influence of drugs the last few days and this is likely a nasty side effect, and there is always the chance that I am losing my sanity, it is not uncommon with my kind.

Do not be so quick to dismiss our bound, we are going to a place of darkness, death and despair and I am following you on your dark path. The only reason I come is love, I never wanted any of that. Our connection is also my motivation to study new mojo - I was doing fine as a party boy before we met and I knew enough mojo to entertain people. I needed to grow to increase our chances of survival - with so much violence around me I must learn how to better control my emotions. My skills are certainly good enough to entertain people under normal circumstances, without people shooting at us.


Marco observed the pasta without apatite speaking about it all just reminded him how terrified he was going to Poland and nobody else seemed to share that primal fear of death.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena leans closer and places her forehead against Marco's.  "Marco brave man go Yelena.  Yelena not afraid death because Yelena IS death.  Yelena want Marco there.  Yelena need Marco.  Marco say love.  Yelena say love.  Bond much strong.  Yelena has no doubt about love with Marco.  Marco learn about self.  About path.   Path dark and may lead only oblivion, but share path together.  Explore darkness and live darkness.  Together."

[ismilealot]

Arc gets a surprise as Jaime shows up at the garage door in her security cam. He comes in looking flushed from the cold and nods smiling to the people he recognizes. Then he sweeps her up in a hug, "Hey babe. Henri & Bettina are having a party at their place tomorrow night. It's at seven and it's a good time for us to give the girls their presents. I've got my hands on a bottle of 2022 Locust Bug Juice for Henri so we're all set on that front. Do you want to ride together or are you going to come straight from the garage?" He looks down at her happily and then kisses her before she has a chance to answer.

Jed get a comm from Mike, >>Joe from the station is having a party this weekend. I told him I'd invite you. He says not to worry about bringing anything, that they've got all that covered.<<

Earlier that day Marco had received a call from Dr Kawagashi, >>Marco sweetie, I've got to attend a very boring party this Friday evening and I was hoping that your company would make it far more enjoyable for me. You'd need to be in formal wear and make sure you're looking your best. You know how much I like showing you off.<<

[gilga]

Yelena’s words burn, so cold so practical yet how can they be true. He shrugs “If she is not afraid then she feels like she has nothing to lose. How can I make her understand, she said that she loves me yet she is searching for a way out. Then she gives me this crap about being death... Are all shadowrunners so dead inside?"
...
Marco would like to say something like:

I am afraid of losing you silly, either you get yourself killed or the experience changes you to the worse... I love you, you love me and yet  - why must you destroy it all for revenge. You can be happy here and now - why must you sacrifice the present for the past? “

But alas he cannot bring himself to say these things. As a man that always has something perfect to say- this inability is frustrating and lacking conversation skills is as difficult as lacking a hand or a leg.

“You are not afraid of death, because in a way, you are already dead. You are afraid of life, of commitment, responsibility and emotional attachments. I wish I could change that, but you are all about revenge. Even if it kills you, even if it kills me, even if it kills all of us.”

 He stands up and say “I am a bit frustrated, dizzy and I feel sick. I need some fresh air and piece of mind, I am having one of the worst days of my life and I feel like my head is about to explode, so if you'll excuse me I am going to breath some fresh air. ”
 
Marco leaves the room in the appropriate etiquette, his behavior only leaves the slightest hint about his true emotional state. As he leaves he greets Jamie and then embraces the cold. He is hurt, confused and lost and all he want is that the darn voices will finally shut up. The snowy weather seems appropriate to his mental state.

When will the spring come?  He looks at his comlink and responds.

Earlier that day Marco had received a call from Dr Kawagashi, >>Marco sweetie, I've got to attend a very boring party this Friday evening and I was hoping that your company would make it far more enjoyable for me. You'd need to be in formal wear and make sure you're looking your best. You know how much I like showing you off.<<

>> Anything for you hot stuff.

The message is effortless, and just typing it makes Marco hate his life even more. His life are filled with so much pretending that nobody is allowed to know what lies within, not even Marco. Frustrated he thought “I just made enough money to not do that shit for over a year... and I simply handed it over to make Yelena indestructible. I could have given it to charity if I felt generous, she killed hundreds of people without titanium bones, state-of-the-art orthskin and enhanced reactions - god knows how many she is going to kill now. How come I am so weak around her?”