Service Hours

Old Scars Burn 1.2

As blood scuffs my vision and adrenaline runs low, I look for a place to hide. I run through the battlefield as explosions nearly send me under as I grit through the pain. My head hurts, my vision fails me, and my throat is coarse. I feel the weight of my body multiplying as I move through the field. I found a place of cover that I thought was safe just to find Falco's dismembered head.

Sunny wakes up on a bed without sheets, as she expected. She grabs her pistol and holster and heads out of the room to be greeted by two guards, one of them Joel. "Madam Daria is waiting for you at the helicopter." Sunny nods as she walks past the guards. One of them has the gull to whistle as she walks away, but she ignores it. Once she arrives at the helicopter, she is greeted by a delighted Daria. "Good Morning, Sunshine," she says with a huge smile. Sunny looks Daria up and down, walks past her, and gets on the helicopter. "So much for a warm welcome," Daria says flatly. Daria gets in the helicopter, and they head off. "Where are we going, Daria?" Sunny asks, looking out the window. "We are going to get you a dress," Daria responds gleefully. 

They arrive at a mansion with a helipad. "Is this a joke?" Sunny says, looking at Daria. "No, it's not. I planned on getting you something to wear for the specific occasion, so I brought you to our gear center." Daria says plainly. "You know damn well I only use my gear, Daria," Sunny says, glaring at her. "Calm down, missy. I need you to get some custom headphones for communication; that's all." Daria says calmly. Sunny looks at Daria with a face of doubt. She doesn't trust a word she says, but she decides to let it happen as she cannot do much for now. When they land, Daira hops off the helicopter as if she just arrived at an amusement park. "You seem very happy," Sunny says with a blank expression. "Why wouldn't I be? I get to see the great Sunny in a dress?" she replies with a smirk. Sunny had a puzzling look, but before she could get a word in, a woman burst the doors on the roof open, walking through with a rack full of expensive-looking dresses.

"What is all this?" Sunny says with her arms crossed. "It's your disguise," Daria says, grabbing a familiar red dress from the rack. "Disguise for what exactly?" Sunny says while glaring at Daria. "Well, Luciel is hosting a masquerade party as he was able to pass his new law, so the best time to get to would be now with all the commotion," Daria says while placing the dress on Sunny's body. "Isn't that party for Variants only; last time I checked, I am not a Variant Daria," Sunny says blankly. "Well, that's where the gear comes in; all the dresses are made out of variant energy from this kind lady," Daria says while pointing at the woman who brought the rack. The lady had a messy brown bob cut with red accents and bowed before returning to the mansion.

"So you mean to tell me I must wear a dress and mask to converse with an old friend?" Sunny says with a hint of doubt. "Old friend, new enemy, Sunny, don't forget that," Daria says while pressing the dress on Sunny's body. Daria starts feeling all over Sunny's body, rubbing every curve and grabbing every muscle. "Aren't you getting a little touchy-feely," Sunny says annoyed. "Well, I wouldn't mind swinging that way once," Daria says jokingly. Sunny pushes Daria away, and Daria lets out an obnoxious laugh. Daria passes Sunny the red dress with what seems to be a plague doctor's mask. "How welcoming," Sunny says sarcastically. A few hours goes by before night hits.

Sunny walks outside of the mansion, wearing the red dress. Drawing the look of some guards, she, in turn, glares at them to stop any sexual comments. That stops all the guards from looking except for Joel, who visibly seems a little 'too' happy. "Joel, you shouldn't be ogling at Sunny like that, especially when she can see you," Daria states, giving him a nudge. Sunny walks to Daria with a very annoyed look on her face. "No need to be angry, Sunshine. This will be a walk in the park. Daria says while handing Sunny a binder. "What is this binder for?" Sunny questions. "It is an etiquette binder for Variants; it details how ranks are described and what they are referred to by other variants. Sunny opens the binder to find basic information on variant information that reads:

Spark: Color only affects the iris (3rd Rate)
Mostly Referred to as the weakest and most common rate of Variants.

Glow: Color affects the pupil and the iris (2nd Rate)
Stronger variants of elements more respected in the world of Variants but not the top.

Engulf: Color affects whole eye (1st Rate)
The Honored ones in the society of Variants.

Elements have respective Clans that are prominent in their section:

Blue Glow: Control over water and ice, symbolizing fluidity and adaptability. 
(Kara Clan: Leader, Mikhail Kara)

Red Glow: Fire and combustion, representing rage and raw power.
(Seeril Clan: Leader, La Fonte De Seer)

Green Glow: Earth and nature, associated with growth and resilience.
(Masha Clan: Leader, Juliette Masha)

White Glow: Light manipulation, healing, and purification.
(Akanji Clan: Leader, Лиливайз Димселл)

Black Glow: Shadows, illusion, and stealth.
(Desuwaizu Clan: Leader, Leon Desuwaizu)

Golden Glow: Time manipulation, gravity or foresight, representing a rare power.
(Faust Clan: Leader, Micheal Faust)

"So, with knowledge of these clans and ranks, I can act accordingly, but which echelon will I fall under?" Sunny asks, concerned. "You will be considered a first-rate flame user," Daria says jokingly. "You expect me to pull off an all-powerful?" Sunny asks, confused. Daria rubs on the nose of the mask, and in turn, the eyes glow a beautiful hue of red. "This is all you will need, Sunny; I promise you it'll be enough to trick the guards," Daria says, looking Sunny up and down. 

"What's with that look," Sunny says concerned. "The guards will probably be too distracted to ask about your abilities," Daria says softly, grabbing Sunny's hand. Sunny moves away, looking in disgust. "Just so you know, the only thing you can bring with you is your pistol, just so the guards don't take you as a threat to the party," Daria says, shifting to a serious tone. "Ready to go?" Daria asks. "Let's get this over with already," Sunny says, dawning the mask.