Memories of a Girl I Haven't Met (Chord/INV)

Chord had been tip-toeing around in that construction site for a little while, now. Being homeless now had made it a bit of a struggle for them to find a place to sleep where they wouldn't be bothered or chased away by city authorities, after all! And sleeping in the wilderness wasn't an option, unless they wanted to wake up with their hair and mechanical insides having been made a nest for all sorts of critters and vermin. And so, in the night prior, they'd decided the very tippy-top of the building under construction would be their resting place for that night. Maybe they'd miscalculated somewhere in the throes of their midnight meandering, thinking that the site would've been abandoned for whatever reason, since their systems went into a lower output mode late into the day... to simulate the feeling of an organic lifeform's circadian rhythm. It was annoying, and they could probably bypass those inhibitors later down the line if they really set their mind to figuring out just how that body of theirs worked... but for now, they were focused on this little predicament of theirs.

They'd awoken a while ago, once construction had gotten underway. The sounds of power tools and the whirring of saws, and the creaking of the crane was enough to get them on high alert, and now they had to do their best to sneak away from the premises without alerting the workers. After all, finding another place to rest during their low power would be quite annoying. They'd rather get comfortable on the hard concrete and rebar again- it felt familiar, cold metal resting against cold concrete.

The guitarist wasn't known for their subtlety though. Or for being delicate. Their footsteps were easy to hear, the thick heels of their boots meeting with the foundation of the floors and the hard stairs that they used to walk down a story or two. Whenever they'd spot a worker, they'd duck behind a pile of cement bags and hope that their hair wouldn't stick out the top of their hiding place, or that their guitar wouldn't buzz with sound if it accidentally smacked against whatever wall they'd swerve behind.

They were barely two floors down from their sleeping spot before they'd hear yelling. Some worker calling for their boss, sounding quite angry as they'd say something or other about a squatter. That was Chord's signal to unfortunately skedaddle from this failed stealth mission. Groggy as they were, their systems still taking their sweet time initializing, they'd sprint as quickly as they could around the floor that they were on, and grin as they saw the perfect opportunity for a dramatic exit! A man or two chased them now, and they wouldn't lose the opportunity to show off for anything! A spot where a window should go, currently an open hole in the wall, was to be their exit!

With a dramatic dive, the Android would fling their whole body through the hole, but what they didn't expect was for the darn construction crane to be right before them! Hauling a whole bunch of steel beams, no less, probably just before the workers took their break. It was too late to stomp themselves at that point, even with their flight, and Chord would crash right into the supplies, the sound of metal on metal ringing out almost comically as workers yelled in awe and panic of Chord's little stunt. The Android was fine, but the impact was enough to rock the crane's steel wire rope and what it had in its grasp, knocking it off balance.

The Android flipped through the air, gripping their head tightly. "Owww..!" And meanwhile, there were currently a dangerous amount of girders suddenly falling through the air, down onto the streets of South City... and towards a certain woman with fiery hair! Chord regained their bearings late, way too late, for them to be able to catch up with all of the supplies before they made impact, though they'd blast off at full flight speed down to the ground, hoping some miracle would happen that would make them able to stop her from becoming a smear on the sidewalk.

"Oh crap oh crapohcrapohcrapmove MOVE MOVE!" They yelled out, trying to warn Jackie. Maybe if they weren't still taking so long to fully boot up their systems, their energy readings of the woman would make it exceedingly clear for them she likely needed no help at all~!

---

Whether hurt or not, Chord didn't look very well. The Android laid on the ground after that little failed stunt of theirs, their eyes like hazy swirls as they were stunned from the sheer idiocy they had just gone through. Their systems told them that the immediate danger had passed, and someone had handled the current crisis. At least, that's what they could tell from the screams of passersbys turning into cheers for Jackie. Obviously, they wouldn't suffer any serious injuries from such a tumble, giving their nature, but they still gripped their head tightly once Jackie would help them to their feet. "Ooowww..."

They took a while to really look around and figure out what happened while they were busy with their head stuck in the dirt. A bit of damage to city property, but miraculously, nobody had gotten hurt. Beams were laid neatly on the floor, and they blinked a few times in awe. Then, they'd turn to the fiery-haired woman who they had tried to warn earlier, though... it was clearly a bit unnecessary. Energy readings indicated she wasn't a regular Earthling, for one, but even so, her skill to effortlessly avoid disaster like that must've been incredible! Plus, they weren't about to really complain about getting attention from a pretty lady.

Chord chuckled, though they still wouldn't want to stick around in case those workers who were chasing them made their way down here and found them. They'd probably catch an earful, and worse, too. "--Come here." Chord suddenly spoke out, grabbing at Jackie's wrist as they'd flee the scene without any further words! They pulled her along, around a street corner away from their previous position... though they couldn't help but to peek out the corner regardless, glancing over at the mess that they had made and watching as workers would begrudgingly continue to work despite their break. "Oops." They didn't feel that bad, honestly, judging by that big grin on their lips.

Finally, they'd turn to Jackie, giving a nervous little chuckle to her. "Ehehe. Sorry for pullin' you like that, babe. Just didn't wanna get in hot water with those guys. Y'see how mean they look? Sheesh..." They'd giggle, rubbing the back of their head somewhat awkwardly. They weren't too sure why they pulled her along, now that they thought about it... they could've just left the scene. Maybe the polite side of them wanted to just say- "Thanks. You, uh, really saved the day there. I could've tooootally caught those beams too, but, uhm. Uh. Y'know how it is! Takes a bit to get the hang of it right after y'wake up. Ehehe..."

They were a little embarrassed, a first for them. Messing up like that wasn't usual for them, and they couldn't help but to flush a little in front of the hero of the day. Now that they thought about it, it probably didn't make them very inconspicuous to be hanging around the lady with fiery hair whom everyone in the city seemed to be looking at, some even taking pictures. Chord didn't think much of it, considering her exploits just now, and simply went back to peeking over the corner. Feeling a little guilty.

"I'm... Chord, by the by. You famous or somethin', lady? Local hero?" They ask, before peeking back to her, giving her a side-eye and a smirk. "You're not turnin' me over to the cops for squattin' and then knockin' over those beams, riiight~? I'm too pretty to do hard time~!" They'd giggle. It was a somewhat serious question, but they couldn't let her know they were worried. So they mask it with teasing humour, as was usual for them.

---

Chord raises their hands as Jackie mentions not letting them off easy- as if in surrender. Their eyes wide and smile even wider! Though they slowly lower them with a giggle as she explains herself. A little nervously, still, the Android would peek around the corner to make sure nobody had seen them make their quick escape. Maybe a bit out of embarrasment for how sloppy that whole dramatic escape had been, but they breathe a small sigh of relief once the coast is indeed, completely clear. Their gaze turns back to the fiery-haired lady as they match her own movements, hand on their hip as they look like a mirror to Jackie.

"Well, nosy, aren't we, local heroine~? I won't open up that easy juuuust 'cuz you're smokin' either~!" They'd tease her with a small giggle, before beginning to muss up their hair. Hitting their head on a bunch of girders, followed by the ground, had made it just a bit too flat for their liking. Punk is spiky! "I was snoozin', what else?" They say it right matter-of-factly. "Walk 'n' talk? I don't wanna hang around, I might get juuumped~!"

The Android chuckled, hands shoved into their pockets as they began to walk down the sidewalk, beside Jackie, if she follows after them. "Let's just say the guy who made me... I guess Earthlings would call that their 'dad'..? Let's say my pops kicked me out of home. And, ah..." They'd point to the guitar strapped on their back with their thumb, grinning. "Two-bit musicians who make most of their Zeni from playin' on the street corner don't really make enough to have a roof over their head. Not that I mind, though! Gosh, those cement bags are so comfy if you position 'em just right, you should totes try it sometime, babe!" 

Even as they describe their crappy situation, they're chipper and bright as sunshine. "Speakin' of... you live 'round here? Y'don't seem exactly local. Er... not that I mean anythin' by that." Manners weren't their forte!

---

Chord walked alongside the woman with both hands in their pocket. They nonchalantly walked backwards, not even looking where they were headed as to keep all of their attention on the fiery-haired lady. If there were people in their collision path, the Android seemed to effortlessly swerved out of the way as to not inconvenience them. Maybe they wanted to show off a little, but... they also seemed to keep glancing behind Jackie, to make sure nobody had followed them. Chord REALLY didn't want to get chewed out today!

They'd grin as they listened to her speak, and as she'd extend her helping hand to them, regarding that 'rough patch'. Chord simply shook their head, adjusting the strap of their guitar as they continued on their way to... nowhere in particular. "Naaah... I'd hate to get charity from a lady I almost hit with some steel girders, eheh. Don't worry 'bout it, I'll find myself a lil' hole in the ground to snooze in soon 'nough."

They chuckled it off, but they clearly still felt a little guilty about the whole situation. "And... what would be the fun in actin' like just another lab-made machine? Y'want me to start makin' whirrin' noises when I move around and go 'beep boop, destroy all Earthlings'~?" They teased her, giving her a big grin as they spoke, only to shake their head amusedly. "Nah, technology's come a long way~! We figured out how to make our robots hit on ladies, now~!"

They'd finally turn around, spinning on their heel as they walked properly alongside Jackie now, facing forward instead. Their gaze turned to the opposite side, however, looking over the city, the streets, the people walking by without a care in the world... much like the two of them were doing, they supposed, but Chord seemed to concentrate a bit as they peered over to Jackie once again. Their sensors tried to pick up her energy signature, finding it a little strange how it had fluctuated earlier... 

"Northern Mountains or South City, this little planet ain't the most quiet, huh?" They'd smirk. "Y'don't get that kind've energy readings by just bein' a good neighbourhood samaritan, do ya? You're a fighter." Chord was making assumptions, but even if they were wrong, they'd probably pry a few more interesting tidbits out of the lady before them. "Do you gotta use that strength on other people often~? I'll bet this city gets all sorts of crooks and weirdos tryin' to mess with the vibes, and our lovely lil' Earth government can barely do anythin' to stop it, right? That's when badasses like you step up. And me, sometimes! But I think I still have a loooong way to go, unfortunately."

Mixing in compliments with questions is how you get people to open up, they thought. If that didn't work, they could always serenade her next. The thought made them grin a little, in amusement.

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