Heart of Steel

Chapter 16: Special Delivery

Image Credit: Official Art . . . Ingame Sprites? Either or really.

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"Should be here any second now . . . Raptillion expressed that he wanted to surprise me with couriers, and I appreciate the sentiment, but it's takin' forever." Vulca said as he took a drag of his cigarette. Today the materials he requested from Raptillion were supposed to arrive but he couldn't help but feel antsy. The sooner they arrived, the sooner he continued working on his project. He came up with a name for the machine, after a shopping trip with Maiden and Guillotine, having obliged to call it Antikythera. It was some ancient machine from thousands of years ago that got destroyed in the first invasion, but Vulca thought the name fit what he had planned. 

"Heeeeeeey! Sorry, we're late!" A blonde came, having a pink bag slung over her shoulder. If Vulca weren't any smarter, he would have instinctively called her Centi. 

"It's not every day we get jobs to deliver stuff! I'm Liveryn."

We? Vulca glanced behind and saw a shy Nikke standing not far behind, carrying another box. 

"This here is Fragile." Liveryn introduced her other squadmate to Vulca as they presented the cargo. Fragile gave a shy little wave following the intro from Liveryn. 

"Whoever shipped these too you must have wanted to make it a special occasion, huh?" Liveryn said as she attempted to make small talk with Vulca. Fragile shifted nervously as she stood off to the sidelines. 

"Yeah, guess so. Oh right, names Vulca." 

"Ooooh, nice to meet you! Vulca's a cute name." She said, nonchalantly. "Fragile thinks so too." Liveryn added, winking, causing Fragile to switch to a blushing, sputtering mess. It became rather apparent to Vulca that she was trying to hit on him. 

"Uh-huh." 

"So what's all the stuff for? If you don't mind me asking that is." Liveryn asked, standing a little too close for Vulca's liking, though he chose not to comment on it. 

"Just a personal project. Nothin' major." 

"Maybe your definition of "nothing major" is different than the norm cause all of that stuff was heavy!" Liveryn joked. 

"Ah, sorry bout that. I'd imagine lugging heavy packages and the like gets tiresome after a while. Thanks for bringin' it here, you two." Vulca thanked the two graciously. They were used to rich people using their delivery service as a sort of Novelty so the two had to deal with their fair share of stuffy and snooty people. Vulca's rather coarse and down-to-earth demeanor made the delivery and trek more than worth it in their eyes. Fragile glanced at Liveryn, and Liveryn nodded in agreement. 

"Mind if we're honest for a bit?" Liveryn asked as Vulca handed back the signing tablet. He gave a simple nod back.

"We both think you're pretty cool and we wanted to know if you're si-" 

"We wanted to . . . uh . . . get your BlaBla ID . . . In case we have to deliver more stuff in the future." Fragile interrupted. 

". . . Sure why not." Vulca agreed rather easily.

"Really?" Liveryn asked bewildered at the fact he seemed so nonchalant at the whole thing. 

"Yeah, seems legit to me."

"T-Thank you." Fragile replied as she gave Vulca her ID. 

The two couriers exchanged looks, with Vulca catching the first glimpse of a smile on Fragile's face since she arrived today.  

"Mhm. We can talk outside of professional stuff too if ya'd like. Judging by how both of you've been acting, that's not the only reason for the BlaBla request is it?" Vulca asked, having caught on to Liveryn's true intentions. 

"Oh, w-w-well would you look at the time! We have to go deliver another package! Nice to meet you and goodbye!" The two quickly left without answering. Vulca stood there a little confused as he lit another cigarette. 

"Guess I'm neodymium or something with how many gal's are comin' my way these days. Maiden's not gonna be thrilled." Vulca sighed. " . . . That Liveryn gal couldn't have been any more obvious with how she was actin' too." 

~ . . . ~

"Do you think he caught on?" 

"Well . . . It'd be hard not too." Fragile sighed, exasperated at how Liveryn practically threw herself at him.

"Hopefully not. He was just as hot as I heard he was . . . Do you think he's single? I hope he's single." Liveryn said dreamily. Vulca had gained quite a reputation in recent weeks. Fragile raised an eyebrow at Liveryn's question.

"I mean . . .  he seems popular enough in his own way. Maybe there's still a chance?" 

"C'mon Fragile, you're on the same page as me, aren't you? Plus imagine if he's loaded too! That's like . . . a triple whammy. Nice, loaded, and cute." 

"Liveryn don't . . . phrase it like that." 

"Though I have a plan to get him to like us too. It's going to sound dumb but it's sure to work."

Fragile pursed her lips. Liveryn had always been one to like money a bit more than she would like but they were at least on a similar page in regards to earning Vulca's affection. After all, Vulca didn't seem to remember it but they certainly remembered how he stood up for them after a different client was yelling at them for being late. Vulca did have a penchant for showing up at the right place and time. 

"So what's the plan then? Please don't let it be something shady." 

"Relax, Fragile, it's nothing like that, I promise. Just trust me on this, it's surefire to work." 

~. . .~

Elsewhere, Vulca sneezed. 

"I dunno why but I feel like someone's talking about me right now." 

"As if, greenhorn. Give me strength if you're sick again from overworking . . . That's enough working on your project for the day, you're going to bed." Liter said sternly.

"But . . . It's 7 pm. . . " 

"No buts. You'll be getting a full night of sleep and tomorrow you'll take the day off to your proper daily nutrition. Understood, greenhorn?" 

"Yes ma'am . . . " Vulca conceded in defeat as he was pushed to his quarters. Vulca didn't even get to install the parts Raptillion sent his way. Though it would have to wait as he would rather not get scolded by Liter for taking care of himself poorly.

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