Keira's workshop screamed "abandoned shrine to half-finished projects and tendency to hoard." It was Keira's sanctum - or at least it had been, judging from the towers of boxes, half-dismantled gadgets, coils of wire, and a graveyard of projects that never made it past the "cool idea" phase. Void nudged a pile of metal beams off an old stool with the side of her boot, earning a sharp look from Keira.
"Careful, pinkie," Keira said, brushing her fringe out of her eyes as she stacked a bundle of cables. "That's organized chaos you're stomping on."
Void smirked and leaned against the doorway. "Organized? The only thing organized in here is the dust - it's unionized by now."
Amy, standing awkwardly with a trash bag in her hands, let out a tiny laugh, quickly smothered by the look Keira shot her. The girl ducked her head and fiddled with the plastic edge of the bag, but Void noticed the sparkle in her eyes - Amy was starting to get comfortable enough to giggle at Keira's expense.
"Right," Keira muttered, rolling up her sleeves. "Divide and conquer. Void, you're on cable duty. Amy, you've got... Uh, light stuff. Don't touch anything with scorch marks. If it smokes, just... Back away slowly."
"Solid plan," Void said, crossing over to the mess of cords and adapters tangled like cybernetic intestines. "You sure you don't want Amy on heavy lifting? Girl's got that chemist potency."
Amy blushed, clutching the trash bag tighter. "I... Uh, mix liquids, I don't bench press them."
Keira smirked. "See? She's honest. Unlike certain someone who once told me they could solder blindfolded."
Void raised a brow. "I can. Just not without third-degree burns."
Amy choked on another laugh, this one bubbling out before she could stop it. She looked startled at the sound, like she wasn't used to letting it out so freely in company. Void side-eyed her, mock-suspicious. "You're enjoying this too much. Don't encourage her."
The girl shrugged, lips twitching into a shy smile. "It's... Funny. You two sound like... I don't know. Like you've been doing this for years."
Void glanced at Keira, who was trying too hard not to grin, and let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, well, we've had practice. Sarcasm's how we keep the walls from caving in."
They worked like that for a while: Keira digging through shelves and drawers, muttering curses at tools she "meant to fix six months ago," while Void leaned lazily against the workbench, smirking like a cat watching a particularly clumsy mouse. "Wow," Void said, tapping a screwdriver against the bench, "I didn't realize this workshop doubled as a historical ruin. Should I call this the Great Excavation Decade Finale?"
Keira rolled her eyes, brushing a layer of dust off a spanner. "Ha. Laugh it up, laser princess. You've been hoarding cables and weird little gadgets in that drawer for months. Don't pretend you're innocent."
Amy carefully carried a box of scrap metal to the trash, her gloves squeaking against the cold plastic. "I have to admit," she said, "the way you two dig through this place... It's like watching scientists perform satanic rituals." Her tone was deadpan, but her eyes flicked between them with a hint of amusement.
Void snorted, resting her chin in her palm. "Rituals, huh? Yeah, we sacrifice tools, mutter cryptic warnings to the circuits, and occasionally summon the ghost of mechanical past. Want to join the cult, kid?"
Amy raised an eyebrow, balancing a particularly awkward metal bracket in her hands, shooting Void a knowing look. "I don't think my aura is strong enough for ghost-summoning. Or do I need to chant while measuring tolerances?"
Void froze mid-smirk, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes. She tilted her head slightly, letting the moment hang just long enough for Amy to feel the weight of it, but she masked it with a casual, teasing grin, as if the comment had just been another bit of workshop banter. Beneath that ease, though, a tiny spark of suspicion stirred, it made her start wondering exactly how much Amy had picked up - how much she knew - about the shadowed corners of Void and Aura's past, the unspoken history that tethered them both. But she didn't push - "Not a good time for that..." - and instead let the laughter roll on, light and warm, hiding the curiosity beneath.
Keira leaned over the bench, breaking the silence. "Please, the only thing you need to chant is 'don't cut yourself on anything rusty,' and even then - safety not guaranteed." She grabbed a coil of wire and tossed it to Amy. "Here, show us your chemistry precision on something that isn't potentially explosive, yeah?"
Amy caught the wire with exaggerated care and smirked. "Fine, but if this turns into some sort of sacrifice to the Tech Goddess, I'm holding both of you accountable."
Void laughed, walking over to snag a stray wrench from Amy's arms. "Oh, don't worry. We only sacrifice Keira's dignity. Everything else is fair game."
Keira waved a hand in protest but couldn't really hide a grin. "Hey! I'll have you know my dignity is the only thing holding this place together."
Amy, carefully stacking old filament spools into a bin, shook her head with a small laugh. "I should've known better than deciding to move in with you two. This is dangerous for my mental stability."
Void tapped her finger to her temple mockingly. "Mental stability? You're moving in exactly because there's none."
Amy laughed, the sound light, breaking a little of the tension that had clung to her shoulders since she arrived. For a moment, the chaos of the workshop, the dust, the old tools, and the mess became a sort of safe haven. Surrounded by the snark, banter, and low-stakes chaos, it almost felt like... Normal.
Void winked at her from across the bench. "See? This is what life could be like if you hang around humans who aren't complete nightmares. And trust me, we're... Mostly harmless."
Keira nudged Amy with an elbow. "Mostly is the operative word. Don't get too comfortable. Entropy is mandatory here."
Void collapsed onto the cleared workbench, wiping sweat from her brow. "Alright, I admit it. It looks better. Still needs furniture though. And maybe some shelves that don't look like they're plotting to collapse on someone in my sleep."
"Furniture trip then?" Amy asked, brushing dust from her sleeves.
Keira nodded, then gave Void a sidelong look. "You'll be fine holding the fort alone?"
Void raised an eyebrow. "I'll try not to drown in your junk while you're gone. Besides, I want to dig through the Net a bit - see if anything's buzzing about."
Amy perked up, shy tone slithering its way back into her words again. "Can I ask- Like... Maybe a phone too? I, uh... Left mine at home. Not that I miss it...
Keira grinned. "Perfect excuse. We'll get you something slick. Maybe one of those fancy CrystalSight foldables. Girl in the store is going to love hearing me haggle again." She poked Amy's rib without warning, making the girl swat at her with mock indignation.
Void watched them, amused, then waved them off. "Go. Have your little shopping date. I'll keep the cat alive."
Vector, lounging on the top shelf like a smug deity, flicked his tail at that.
Keira slung her jacket over her shoulder, giving Void a quick peck on the cheek before she turned to Amy. "C'mon, kid, let's get you kitted out. Can't have you living in your new room with nothing but a mattress and Void's old junk."
Amy hesitated at the door, glancing back at Void as though silently asking permission. Void gave her a little wave with two fingers, leaning back in the doorway like a queen watching her subjects march off. "Don't let her drag you into buying something red. You'll regret it."
Amy gave a tiny smile, half-nervous, half-pleased at the joke, and then followed Keira down the stairwell.
The streets outside were buzzing in that way Newpomeranian cities always did mid-afternoon - too many people, junkies barely holding on to their consciousness in side alleys, too many cars with their half-legal modded exhausts whining, and definitely way too many ads fluttering in the air like confetti. Keira walked on the sidewalk, each step a statement, hands stuffed in her pockets, head tilted back just enough to show she wasn't afraid of anyone. Amy, on the other hand, kept close, her bag close to her chest, eyes darting between signs and passers-by, trying to map out this new part of her life.
"So," Keira said, breaking the silence with a tone that suggested she wasn't going to let Amy escape conversation. "You always this quiet, or is it just me you don't like?"
Amy blinked, caught off guard. "I... Uh- I like... No. I mean, I'm not good with people."
"Lucky for you, I don't count as people." Keira smirked, tossing her fringe out of her face. "I'm a goddamn phenomenon. And you're stuck with me until we find you a bedframe that doesn't collapse under your weight," she glanced at Amy, "though looking at you I think even cardboard would be strong enough."
Amy laughed despite herself, and Keira caught it out of the corner of her eye. She didn't comment, but she walked a little slower after that, letting Amy set the pace.
They passed a food stall, the scent of grilled sausage and fried onions filling the air. Amy's stomach betrayed her with a growl, and she quickly pressed a hand against it, embarrassed. Keira barked a laugh. "Oh, thank fuck. I thought you were one of those types who 'forgets' to eat." She stopped, dug into her pocket, and handed Amy a cred-chip. "Go grab something. My treat, lil' choom."
Amy hesitated. "I- I don't want to waste-"
"It's a fucking sausage in a bun, not a yacht," Keira cut in, pushing her toward the stall. "Go on. I'll even steal a bite when you're not looking."
Amy returned a minute later, clutching the paper-wrapped food like some precious contraband. Keira, true to her word, leaned over and took a bite without asking. Amy gasped, indignant. "Hey!"
"See? You do have a voice after all," Keira said with a grin, chewing. "And it's absolutely adorable when you're mad."
Amy rolled her eyes but the pink on her cheeks gave her away.
By the time they reached GALAXY's Shelfie Megastore, the two of them were walking in step. The store itself was one of those sprawling discount places, rows of flatpack furniture stacked like a cardboard forest under buzzing strip lights. Keira groaned dramatically. "Ah, the land of allen keys and broken dreams."
Amy couldn't help it - she laughed again, the sound slipping out before she could catch it. Keira shot her a look of triumph. "Hah! Knew I'd get more than two laughs out of you before the hour was up."
They started browsing the aisles, Amy trailing her fingers over surfaces while Keira leaned against carts and cracked commentary. Amy paused in front of a simple wooden desk. "This one... It's not bad."
Keira eyed it. "Not bad, yeah, but not particulary good either. Feels like something an accountant buys when he's given up on life."
Amy smirked. "So, what, you think I need something flashy?"
"You're moving in with us. You need something with personality. Something that says 'I belong here and also maybe I'll stab your eye with a pipette if you touch my stuff.'"
Amy covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "Specific."
"Aren't you?" Keira shot back, grabbing the desk box anyway. "But fine, we'll compromise. Boring desk, fun chair. You're getting something with ridiculous upholstery, end of story."
The chair aisle proved dangerous. Amy lingered over a plain black one, and Keira immediately vetoed it. "Nope. Too depressing. You'll be writing manifestos in that thing within a week."
Amy tried another, this time a neon green monstrosity with metal spikes poking out of the sides. Keira tilted her head. "Closer. That one screams, 'I do science all day and then go clubbing till sunrise.'"
Amy giggled. "That's... Not me."
"Yeah, I know," Keira said, pulling her toward another. "This. Orange cushion, black frame. Ties in with your hair. A perfect balance of chaos and taste."
Amy sat down experimentally, and to her own surprise, she liked it. "It's... Comfortable."
"Told ya." Keira leaned on the back of the chair, grinning down at her. "And now it looks like we coordinated your furniture with my hair too. Very gay of us."
Amy flushed. "You're unbearable."
"Thank you, I try."
Once they wrangled a cart with the desk and chair, Keira steered them towards the already-familiar electronics shop. "Next on the list - your phone. Can't have you cut off from the world like some medieval nun."
Amy looked at the floor before mumbling, "I don't feel like I've done anything to deserve this... I-"
Keira cut her off. "Deserve this, deserve that. Stop with that persecution talk already, and treat yourself to something nice at least once in a lifetime, yeah?"
Amy hesitated, then nodded, almost relieved. "Y-yeah. Sorry about that. T-thanks."
The moment they stepped through the glass doors, Keira's eyes immediately locked onto the clerk behind the counter, and the recognition was mutual. The woman's brow shot up, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Well, if it isn't you. Again," the clerk said, voice dripping with mock-exasperation. "I was wondering when you'd pop back in to terrorize my pricing systems. And - oh - I see you've got a new girlfriend with you. The pink-hair couldn't stand your appeal?"
As Amy's face slowly turned into bright-red, Keira leaned against the counter, arms crossed, faux-innocent grin in place. "Ah, memories. You've got a good memory for grudges, I'll give you that. But don't worry, if you're nice I'm willing to promise we're just browsing this time."
Amy peeked around the edge of the counter and whispered under her breath, "Do we have to-" before the rep's sharp glare made her pause mid-sentence.
Keira's gaze drifted to the display wall, a perfect row of the new CrystalSight phones gleaming under the store lights. "We're looking for something specific," she said, turning back to the clerk, "a CrystalSight. Funky colors preferred."
The saleswoman swallowed, tension practically radiating off her. "Right... CrystalSight," she said slowly, tapping her keyboard like she was buying time to mentally prepare. "Pastel. Got it. Don't - uh - don't make me regret this, mm?"
Amy's eyes lit up as she approached the display, hands hovering over the row of VueX models. She picked up a pastel pink one, turning it over in her hands with delicate care. "I think... This one. It feels... Right," she said softly.
Keira's grin widened, amusement sparkling in her eyes as she watched Amy deliberating over the phone like she'd just found a tiny gold nugget. "Good choice. Looks and feels delicate. Like you," she teased, tapping the top of Amy's hand with her knuckle.
The salesrep took a step back, hands raised in mock surrender. "Alright, look- I'm... I'm just gonna give you the lowest price I can, okay? Please, spare me the haggling this time," she said, voice trembling with the ghosts of the last round of negotiations. "I'm begging. One more and I might have to go to therapy."
Keira chuckled, leaning closer to Amy while keeping an eye on the clerk. "Oh, don't you worry. I've probably retired my championship haggling suit. Today, we're merely... Civilized." Her smirk widened into a mischievous grin that clearly promised nothing.
Amy handed the clerk the chosen phone, still holding it like it might float away if treated too casually. "It's very cute," she murmured, just loud enough for the clerk to hear. "Always wanted to have one of those..."
The clerk let out a shaky laugh, clearly torn between fear and relief. "Okay, okay. You two are... Terrifying. And delightful, simultaneously. Definitely an upgrade since the last time." She rang up the phone, double-checking the screen, card reader, and receipt printer, as if each step needed careful calibration. "Alright... Enjoy your phone. And, err... Try not to come back looking for revenge on my pricing, okay? I've already tossed in a sharp discount. Yet another time."
Keira raised an eyebrow, leaning back casually. "No promises," she said with a wink. Amy giggled, and together they made their way towards the door, leaving the clerk shaking her head and muttering under her breath about these customers being "next-level insane."
Amy clutched the box with her new VueX a little tighter as they stepped out of the shopping mall, her cheeks still tinged red from the seller's barbed humor. "Th-thank you," she murmured, voice almost swallowed by the bustling street, her eyes flicking up at Keira with a shy, hesitant gratitude.
Keira tilted her head, looping an arm through Amy's and nudging her gently with a jokingly serious frown. "No problem, kiddo," she said, voice casual, almost bored - but the warmth behind it was unmistakable. "That's what real parents look like. You know, the ones who don't stalk your life online, scream at you for existing, or call the cops on you for not being where they want you to."
Amy's lips twitched, letting out a nervous laugh. "Yeah..." she whispered, still gripping the box, "I- I guess that's... Nice."
Keira smirked, letting a little more venom slip into her words for emphasis, though coated with jest. "Yeah. Unlike certain bitches who hide behind fake concern while poisoning every neighbor and inbox they can find."
Little did she know, with every word she spoke, she was perfectly exposing Amy's narcissistic mother's behavior...