[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/909715047918497815/1037211200871731300/Umbri_banner6.png[/img]

Nine-inch heels cast a dull reflection on the dingy club floor. Umbri was swallowed in darkness as she stepped inside, then ever so slowly began to glow. The threads of synthetic hair, the jacket, her metallic bikini, it all bounced the light in the room. It took a moment to adjust, but the club was washed in neon colour, like a coral garden in an underwater cave. The jacket slid down her arms as she strode into her element, unsheathing a metal spine.

[b]"Is that it? That the fit?"[/b] A grouchy judgement was flung at her from the bar, regarding her gold but admittedly plain lingerie. Umbri cast her eyes back at [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b5/ef/09/b5ef09b6a75549782dbeda41e5f3817c.jpg]Patricia[/url], the bartender and only other person in the club with her. She [i]looked [/i]young, but her voice was crunchy with age or some kind of substance. Right now the glasses she was cleaning were forgotten and she was hunched over massaging her temples. [b]"Any night in here could be the most important night of your life, you know. Just takes the right pair of shiny shoes to walk through that door."[/b]

Umbri rolled her eyes with her neck and threw her jacket across a seat with a heavy [i]whomp.[/i] She jumped up onto the main stage and approached the pole. A cool blue light spread from under her palm where she gripped it, lazily swinging herself around. A few more drowsy warm-up swings, and suddenly every muscle in her body flexed. Pupils dilated with a sharp inhale. Her abdomen hardened and skin drew tight as she flung her legs above her head. She climbed the pole, hugging it with a knee, then an ankle, before dropping her legs in an upside down split as she spun. The pole flashed like lightning.

Atop HYSTERIA, sparks flew and tech sputtered as it was brought back to life. A hologram of Umbri was projected dancing on the rooftop, two stories high. Then it flickered out a mere moment later when she strayed off the pole.

[b]"A bit early to start advertising yourself,"[/b] Patricia grumbled as Umbri approached the bar. She poured the dancer a glass of water and Umbri leaned her back on the bar, elbows tucked up on it. [b]"I don't wanna deal with the crazies knocking before security gets here... ahhhhhh, [i]fuuuuuck[/i]. My head."[/b] Umbri took a sip of water, side-eyeing the woman as she rubbed her temples and cursed. She passed the glass her way and Patricia almost smacked it out of her hand in response. Umbri considered backing off and leaving her alone.

[color=#A4303F][b]"... What's with you?"[/b][/color] She spoke up instead. She offered the glass again. [color=#A4303F][b]"You're hungover."[/b][/color]

[b]"Oh, she speaks? Piss off," [/b]Patricia grimaced. [b]"No, I'm not hungover. It's some stupid... it just started like two hours ago and won't stop. I don't know what's up. Some stupid bug or whatever. I'm not the only one who's got it. Cherry called in sick, now Juno's asking for a cover... you're not gonna be able to catch your breath tonight."[/b] Despite the killer headache, Patricia declined Umbri's water offer again and instead reached down her shirt for a little contraption she brought to her lips and blew a cloud of fruity smelling smoke with it. [b]"Not like that'll be any different for you. You usually clear house,"[/b] she grunted.

Umbri's gaze was vacant as she looked out at the empty club, recalling the state of Northbridge on her walk over here. The headache the world seemed to share. [color=#A4303F][b]"A bug,"[/b][/color] she repeated softly. Her skepticism was obvious and held in the silence that followed. Just two words acted as a hook to drag the truth out. Patricia glanced over at her, troubled.

[b]"Did... [i]did you hear it?"[/i] [/b]She whispered.

[color=#A4303F][b]"I was working."[/b][/color] Umbri drank her water. [color=#A4303F][b]"Heard what?"[/b][/color]

Patricia bristled. [b]"Alright, it wasn't, just two hours ago out of nowhere. It's weird,"[/b] she blurted, coughing on her own fumes. [b]"There was like, a breeze. Then a sound. It sounds crazy, but my head hasn't been right since."[/b]

Umbri tilted her head back. The scowl on Patricia's face went soft for just a moment, distracted.

[b]"The sound was like... you know, a train? When you hear one coming. Not just that horrible scream of the wheels, the tremble of the air around you. You [i]know[/i] there's no stopping it. No matter how far away you are, when you hear it coming, everything stops for just a second, and you are on those tracks. It was that kind of sound."[/b] She buried her head in her hands. [b]"It's like a train ran through my head."[/b]

Umbri played with this information. Rolled it around in her head like she swirled the ice cubes in her glass. She hadn't ever seen hard-knock Patricia look unnerved like this. She knew exactly what she was talking about, that feeling when you hear a train. [i]That kind of sound.[/i] It was dread-inducing, but numbing, as there was nothing she could do about it. Always something odd happening in the UnderCity. She forced it down with the rest of her water. [color=#A4303F][b]"Hm."[/b][/color]

[b]Knock. Knock.[/b]

A thudding at the door. Patricia pulled her head from her hands and shot a premature accusatory look Umbri's way. [b]"You locked that, right?" [/b] Umbri nodded. Patricia sighed in relief then reared up to shout, [b]"We're closed!"[/b]

[b]Knock. Knock...[/b]

[b]... BOOM.[/b]

Patricia shrieked and jumped back as a hole was blasted through the locks. Umbri's glass slipped from her hand and shattered by her feet. Her clear heels mirrored the shards of glass and multiplied them into the thousands. She couldn't move an inch from the swinging, broken door, even as her breath grew sharp and quick and [i]told [/i]her [color=#A4303F][i]"run."[/i][/color] There was a tremble in the air like a train coming.

A pair of shiny shoes walked through the door.