Zone C -- Megacity One

[Dust]

There was a defined pause to Erika's step when she stomped through the fog of the city and found in her way none other than Hokori Hoshi, the man who she had made arrangments to ally within the game prior to their teleportation onto the godforsaken island! He had been but a shadow in the fog, just as he'd been just a shadow in his memory until this moment. She had all but forgotten him, and yet he smiled at her with that same grin that reminded her of a dog whose master has returned home from work. "Fuck off Pecs, I'm busy." She growled as she started to pass him, barely registering the ghost-like girl behind him.

Dust groaned loudly to cut her walking away short, getting a glare from it as she whipped around fast enough for her gorgeous blonde hair flew up like a cape, giving him a glance at the back of her neck. He remembered at that point the gruesome twisting of the burned flesh on her back that he'd glimpsed only by chance. Instead, he smiled brightly and knowingly at her. "Going to blow up another mountain?" He teased. There was a deep hatred in her eyes that wasn't yet directed towards him, but even if it bled into his frame it would not dampen his mood at all. Surely there was no explanation as to why she continued to put up with this man.

A glance at him would show her he has also been busy. There were bloody bandages around his arm, expertly placed by a practiced hand. She could hardly see this incompetent fool being able to sit still long enough to painstakingly unravel the rolls of gauze it took to cover the muscular mutt. "What if I am?" She spat, deciding it would be easier to confront him, or else he might follow her like a lost puppy. Not that she might unopposed to help. They did agree to stay grounded while they weren't pitted up against each other. He had plenty of time to swing, and instead, he stood. Her eyes move down to the ugly bruise on his cheek, where she'd hit him. A smirk crossed her face as she realized how true her earlier thoughts were, everything looked better after a knuckle sandwich.

"Could you use a hand?" He asked, almost eager to offer his services. At his side, he felt tender hands grab his forearm. Tamsin looked up at him as if to ask what he was doing, and he felt dazed all over again. His bruise got a fifth color to sport as his cheeks warmed. He restrained himself, as hard as it was not to just kiss her. Already the impulse has passed urge, and soon it would be a reaction that had a 50-50 chance at being countered by his will. He looked away from them both to compose himself, then turned back to Erika. "I could use a favor. I got into a fight and didn't pay the cost upfront of afterward. I'd like to save face if I could." He said, trying to convince her to come make out with him, so he didn't end up doing the same thing to Tamsin. "In return, I mean I'd help you even if you didn't. I'll just be more useful to you if you did."

Funny how he can't hit on a girl, but can easily ask someone that knew his situation if he could kiss her. To be sure, though, it was the same as asking a co-worker if he could use her pen for a moment. Instead of a pointless office supply, he was borrowing her lips.

...This was his life...

Idle chat with Erika, still in C21.