The Shooting Star

14. Inhuman Machinations

The lights of the stage finally died down, and the crowd of people were excitedly trying to get signatures and photos of each person. For whatever reason Rubi was getting the most attention from the crowd. . . which even he looked flabbergasted about. A humanoid, all black silhouette is usually the type of thing people have nightmares about. . . not fawn over. What a strange world.

Averine walked backstage and off the stage, and was only semi swarmed by people wanting a memory to take with them. They were all so respectful of her time and didn't even yell at her for having to wait a few minutes. One person did but the crowd treated her like a fire: stomped out and pushed to the back of their minds. Averine snickered at it happening but still pulled her out of the crowd. . . after a bit of the damage was already done. The girl was even more upset when the Shooting Star herself didn't give her a signature, thus was the cycle of a rude person.

The crowd eventually surfed away to the stands and miniature activities that happened just off of the stage, and Averine was left by herself once again. The bright smile that was across her face for the crowd slowly faded, and she stared out to the distance. Was this still something she was committing to. . . ? Maybe she simply misread the situation. . . ? It was a high tech lab after all, finding one measly door couldn't be that big of a deal, but the staredown she felt for even touching it was nerve wracking. Maybe it was just a private room, she didn't have the right to really invade if that was the case. The same thoughts continued to circle in her head to the point of it being hard to understand.

〔 Oh Averine! 〕

The same sing song tone from hours ago rang in her head, but she couldn't figure out why it sounded familiar. She turned around to be visited by an over eccentric spark, and it bore a rather charming smile.

〔 The show was great! My compliments to the band and the organizers, it must've been incredibly difficult to get a performance like that from you. 〕

Averine snickered and rolled her eyes. The main selling point was her just not listening to herself. She doesn't regret it now, but the days leading up to it Averine did without question.

❝ Yyyeeaa. . . you can say that. It was definitely hard for me. ❞

〔 For what it's worth it was definitely. . . definitely. . . 〕

Minaro peeked down at a faint blue light with a squinted glance. His expression faded as he stared down, which made Averine tilt her head. Before she could glance down at whatever he was looking at, the light faded and his expression returned just as quickly.

〔  It was definitely profitable in the end. 〕

A small giggle came from the shooting star, with Minaro chuckling in response. She wasn't going to say out loud that she knew what he did, which perfectly tied with Minaros silent praying that she didn't.

They stared at each other in the night for a moment, the wind making the only motions made between them. They both steered their glances away, with Minaro scratching his chin as he did.

〔 So. . . are you ready to head to the laboratory? 〕

Averines eyes widened slightly at his question, and his silenced the many she was asking herself in silence. She completely forgot to include his input with her own, and at this point didn't have the will to deny him the rest of the night. Even if she didn't want to, he did. Her initial plan was happening either way.

❝ Oh right. . . the show almost made me forget. ❞ A light sigh came from her as she tapped her foot against the ground. ❝ Of course. We should head out now before the crowd dies out. It'll be easier to get to the laboratory that way. ❞