silence is what's needed when I walk down back to the main lobby at 8am, the soft scuffle of my shoes is all that is heard or that can give me away, before Shyla even noticed me I slipped out the front glass doors. I went to the closest artillery store, walking in I smile at the clerk and begin searching for my supplies. 'plyers, hefty rope, what else...' I muse to myself as I pick up a hand held cart and place it on my arm. "need help looking for anything?" the clerk asks from the front of the store, I smile politely "oh no just looking to bulk up the safety of my home" I smile as I get back to browsing "oh really? what part of town do you live in?" the clerk asks 'bingo' "oh um silver district" I say with a bashful smile.
"ah I see, well if you need any help dont hesitate to ask" the clerk says before going back to what he was doing. I nod and go back to looking at the different types of plyers, I need a more heavy set just for looks, but the thinner set is for gripping onto nails and ripping them out of nail beds.
I grab my things that I wish to purchase and set them on the counter, "this all?" the clerk asks with a smile, I nod back, expression blank as I pull out my wallet "oh no need ma'am, I know when I see a shinobi that works for the emperor" the Clerk says with a wink, 'what. the. fuck.' I think as I look at the clerk in surprise "its on the house for any of you, but also on my account it says you specifically that you get supplies stores off for free" the clerk says, I'm floored "o-oh ok thanks" I say giving him a weird look before grabbing my things and briskly walking back to my apartment.
'get past Shyla' is my only thought as I quickly slip past her desk and into the elevator, the soft hum of the electricity cables on the outside are calming as I get to my floor, as soon as I get off of the elevator and step onto the carpeted floor I'm met with the emperor, I blink, but internally im freaking out. 'FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK HE KNOWS' "hello emperor what can I do for you" I say, trying to sound calm and poised.
"hmm you've done well" he gruffs out as he takes a drag from his pipe 'prick' I think as I click my tongue, knowing the bit was up "look I just needed a little more informat-" he holds his hand up "I sent him to you for a reason, I didn't need him or want him, you do as you wish with him" he says before coughing a few times then passing me, the thin trails of smoke following after him into the elevator.
I blink, once, twice, three times before I grit my teeth. "how." I say, keeping my back to him, the silent question hanging in the pregnant silence. "because, Lauren. I've known you for a long time." he says with a smirk, his large hat tipping over his eyes and the smoke around him wisps around him in a fog before the doors shut.
as soon as the elevator moves down I punch the wall with gritted teeth. "damn old bastard" I say before I grin and shake my head. "he knew the whole time, I didn't fool him one bit" I say to myself before I pull my fist out of the wall and walk to my door, bag of supplies still in hand, opening the door my ears are heard with muffled sobs and pleads, I chuckle as I step in and shut the door behind me, instantly quieting the noise.
"tsk...tsk..tsk. so noisy, you are gonna make me file a noise complaint"