intro!

[bolledivita]

WHO: Caesar and the network! (Also Caesar+Mercedes)
WHERE: Mercie's car for the closed prompt, also the network
WHEN: Early March
WHAT: Caesar and Mercedes just got to town!
WARNINGS: I'll update this if something comes up

shortly after arrival - closed to Mercedes
[It's been one hell of a week. Finding out just what, exactly, had been going on, getting out of there, spending so much time on the road...

... It doesn't feel real, honestly. But it is real, and now he and Mercedes are in a strange town on their own and... their younger siblings aren't here. This is what they're doing for the foreseeable future. They can focus on their goal in the upcoming days, but for now...

Mercedes had gotten out of the car to check something after they'd pulled over, and Caesar... just slumps a bit in the passenger's seat, burying his face in his hands. He'll still be like that when she gets back in.]

un: c-z; video
[There's a blond studying the camera with a faint frown before he sighs and closes his eyes.]

So. Is the app that apparently downloaded itself to my phone as soon as I got within city limits something I should be worried about or was that just complimentary?

[... That's it, that's the whole post, apparently.]

Comments

[lapislamine]

[And milkshakes. Or parfaits. Some delightfully indulgent treat that barely counts as a beverage.

But, hm.]

Caesar?

[bolledivita]

[He's going to start investigating the car for signs of potential break-in, but when he hears his name, he just. Silently points into the backseat.

One TV would be weird enough, but why are there two?]

[lapislamine]

[She peers in through the window, already wary of a break-in. What else could make Caesar act like this?

But, uh, that's. Um. ???]

Is that....a TV?

[bolledivita]

Two of them, if my sight's not failing me.

[He takes a step back, scratching his head.]

And no signs anyone's gotten into the car, either.

[lapislamine]

But....why? And how?

[Did someone just have two TVs to get rid of in a hurry??? She'll unlock the car properly, maybe they should check those out before they go back...]

[bolledivita]

[Yeah, checking those out is probably a good idea, and Caesar's gonna immediately start doing that when the doors are unlocked.

What's weirder is nothing... seems off about these things. It's almost as if they just magically appeared in the backseat.]

[lapislamine]

[Mercedes hangs back. If something is wrong, Caesar is the bigger and stronger, and...he'll feel awful if she gets hurt.]

Anything? Or did we just...get a.....housewarming gift?

[bolledivita]

I think it might just be the weirdest housewarming gift I've ever seen.

[lapislamine]

Well.... I'm not ungrateful. But do we really need two?

[bolledivita]

Maybe we can sell one?

[They do need the money.]

[lapislamine]

We could use the money. And these look brand new. [Time to check if they have all requisite cables and such!]

[bolledivita]

They do.

[Looks like they do have everything they need! Interesting.]

And both have everything with them, looks like, so...

[lapislamine]

[This still doesn't make sense...]

You mentioned a new app while we were driving into town. Do you think it's related?

[bolledivita]

It could be?

[He pulls out his phone, opening up Libra and taking a look.]

Here, see? It started downloading as soon as we got past city limits.

[lapislamine]

[She pulls out her phone....and there it is.]

Mine, too... And I couldn't have started that download.

[bolledivita]

Yeah, I wasn't even touching anything on there when it started on mine...

[lapislamine]

[.....]

Cae, you don't think....

[bolledivita]

... I don't know. I'll do some poking around and see what I can find.

[A little bit of investigation later and--]

... So far it just looks like some standard social media app?

[lapislamine]

Can you find who's sponsoring it? Where the money's coming from?

[Their stepfather is a powerful man.]

[bolledivita]

It looks like it's run by a group called Zodiac...

[... So, not their stepfather, just bog-standard capitalists.]

[lapislamine]

...Well, it's not the devil we know.

[Which is a relief. The last thing they need is paranoia that he bugged her car or something...]

[bolledivita]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad it's only capitalists.

[lapislamine]

It could certainly be worse. ...Why don't we go back to the apartment now, and get our leftovers in the fridge?

[Instead of standing here in the diner parking lot boggling over TVs.]

[bolledivita]

Sounds like a plan, yeah. Do you want me to drive the rest of the way there?

[Said as he starts putting the TVs back.]

[lapislamine]

...I think I'd like that.

[She's been doing nearly all of the driving for the last week. She's...tired.]