《Courier》V1.16
Advertisement
“Zoe, why are you wearing a dress? We’re going to get your new bike, not a car,” Jim said.
“Why are you wearing a suit? We’re just going after my bike,” Zoe countered. “Besides, I’m not wearing a dress. This is a long skirt and a t-shirt.”
“I wear a suit because it looks good and you know what I mean,” Jimmy huffed. “You can’t wear a dress and ride a bike. Well, unless you’ve decided to change careers and want to show off your goods.”
“That’s not funny Jimmy. I’m wearing a dress because it’s clean and the dealership should have some new clothing for bike riding waiting for me too,” Zoe explained.
“Oh. Went all out huh?”
“Yeah. I decided if I’m going to do this, I might as well do it right and that included the bike and clothing,” Zoe replied.
“You’ll need sunglasses too.”
“Why? My Kaisers,” Zoe said pointing at her eyes, “can filter and dim as needed.”
“It’s part of the look,” Jim said pulling his sunglasses out of his inner jacket pocket.
“I’ll have a helmet on. Who will see my eyes?”
“Oh. Yeah, I forgot about that. Helmets are still the law for bike riders.”
“I’m surprised you know that.”
“I’m not dumb. I had to wear one when I rode a bicycle as a kid, and I looked into getting a motorcycle once.”
“Really? Motorcycle doesn’t seem like a mobster thing.”
“You’d be surprised what is a family thing,” Jimmy shrugged.
“Maybe. I doubt I’ll ever find out.”
“That’s probably true,” Jimmy agreed. “The family can be very traditional.”
“Is tradition what it’s called when they don’t want women to be part of something?” Zoe asked.
Advertisement
“I…stop busting my balls!” Jimmy exclaimed. Zoe laughed. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah. I’ll message Zane to let him know we’re going.”
“Ma, we’re leaving,” Jimmy shouted towards the kitchen. “You know, I’m surprised you’ve so readily adapted to using your frame.”
“Be careful you two!” Aunt Anne shouted.
“Bye Aunt Anne,” Zoe shouted back. Focusing on her cousin, she asked, “What makes you say that?”
“You were raised in the purity church,” Jimmy replied as if that explained everything.
“So? That doesn’t mean I had to agree with everything they espoused.”
“Are you saying you’ve secretly always wanted a frame?” Jimmy asked as they entered the elevator.
“Maybe. I can’t deny that what I was raised to believe and taught hasn’t had an impact, but I also can’t deny the thrill I get from breaking the church’s rules and using something that has quickly became a large part of me.”
“Can’t imagine not having a frame or how you lived without it already?” Jimmy asked smiling at Zoe.
“Exactly!” Zoe agreed. They exited the building and walked to the car Jimmy was using. “Are you ever going to get your own car?”
“I’m hoping to do so in a few more months,” Jimmy answered unlocking the doors. “Why? Do you ask?”
“I just find it curious that Tony and Nucky lets you use a ‘company car’ whenever you want,” Zoe replied getting in the passenger seat and shutting the door.
“That’s because I drive Tony and Tommy around a lot,” Jimmy said shutting his door.
“Why haven’t you already bought a car?”
“Because rent isn’t cheap. I spend 5K a month on ma’s place, plus 3K on utilities and food.” Jimmy answered. Zoe blanched. “Then I must have spending money, maintain my wardrobe, and put some in savings,” he continued. “Besides, cars are more expensive than your bike.”
Advertisement
“I didn’t know how expensive cars are until I looked them up, that’s one of the reasons I decided on the bike. I had no idea rent and all were so expensive though.”
“Even a rundown one room apartment in a bad neighborhood will cost you between 1500 and 2000 credits a month before utilities.”
“Ugh. I’m not looking forward to that,” Zoe admitted. “I can’t stay with you and Aunt Anne forever.”
“That’s true. I’ll help you find a place when you’re ready. I know some people,” Jimmy offered.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it,” Jimmy replied. “Speaking of help, I want to get you started on your debt to Nucky. Take this.”
Jimmy sent Zoe a message.
“I can’t accept this,” Zoe protested after opening it. Jimmy had sent her 10000 credits.
“You can. Zoe, you may not be blood, but you are family,” Jimmy said. “The family isn’t. You can pay me back anytime you can. If you can’t pay Nucky back, well, he’ll collect one way or the other.”
“And you’re just telling me this now? You let me borrow money from him.”
“Yeah. I didn’t think you would borrow 50K from the family though.”
“It’s 49000 credits now.”
“What?”
“I sliced the Knight site and had it redirect visitors to Capone’s restaurant’s site as proof that I could do the things Nucky and I had talked about.”
“Ah. So, they took a grand off the debt,” Jimmy concluded. Zoe nodded. “When you start making courier runs, you’ll probably only make between 25 and 50 credits a run.”
“Yeah, that’s what I read too.”
“That’s not bad, but it’s not good either.”
“Right. Though once I have a good reputation, I could make a grand or more a run.”
“Uh huh. But it’ll take a long time to get that sort of reputation,” Jimmy pointed out. “So, take the 10K and use it to pay off some of the debt you have. Once you’re a success, you can pay me back.” He then grinned. “I won’t even charge interest.”
Zoe laughed. “Alright.” She leaned over and kissed Jimmy’s cheek. “Thanks Jimmy.”
“Cut out the mushy stuff,” Jimmy said. “You’ll ruin my image.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“You know if you’re up for some slightly illegal work, you could make a lot of credits slicing.”
“I know. I’ve already done a little of that,” Zoe admitted. “I sliced 5000 out of Nathaniel Wyatt’s accounts, which is part of why I’m not over 50000 in debt to the mob.”
Jimmy laughed. “You keep surprising me Zoe.”
“That’s a good thing,” Zoe replied. “Zane will meet us at the dealership.”
“Cool. Let’s go pick up Tommy and we’ll meet him there.”
“Do we have to?”
“Afraid so. You know Tony insists we both go with you.”
“Fine. I’m going to work on my daemons while you drive.”
“Works for me,” Jimmy replied turning on the radio and putting the car into drive.
“I can’t believe you actually listen to the radio.”
“It’s traditional,” Jimmy replied.
“You’re lucky you’re driving, or I would smack you.”
“Yep. Lucky me,” a grinning Jimmy replied while turning up the music.
Advertisement
- In Serial94 Chapters
How the Stars Turned Red
Announcement as of 05 July 2022: I've been diagnosed with some pretty severe nerve damage in my left arm, rendering me unable to write effectively, and as such this story is on hold until it is healed. I am so sorry, and I promise to get back to writing as soon as possible. In the latter half of the 3rd millennium CE, humanity has spread across the stars, inhabiting close to five-hundred worlds across the Orion Arm. Earth has become irrelevant, a historical has-been. The galactic map is dominated by two mega-factions, both controlling vast amounts of territories either through direct control or through their many allies and treaty signatories. The Kingdom of Aurora is the political and economic hegemon despite consisting of only seven inhabited worlds; their strength lies in the Royal Union, an interstellar commonwealth composing an internal market and a common defence pact. These member worlds are myriad and varied, culturally as well as politically, but they all flock to the same banner. The Independent Systems Alliance, spearheaded by the Republic of Elysium, is the ascendant challenger to Aurora and the Union. A pseudo-federal multi-system polity, the Alliance economy and military is rapidly expanding, but at the cost of effective democratic and meritocratic involvement by its people. However, with two superpowers as this, chafing along a common border, and with a constant clamour of polemics, both sides have become convinced the other is constantly preparing for war and are on the look-out for any perceived weakness in their opponent. The predictable result is a huge arms race and a cold war spreading across the stars, requiring only a spark to set the galaxy aflame. Drawn into this game of high stakes are ordinary men and women, their peaceful lives, hopes, and aspirations swallowed by the vortex of conflict and distrust. This is their story. Cover art by Rhodex Designs (FB). Hope you like long chapters and adjectives. Note: English is not my first language. Another story set in the same universe, written by a good friend
8 95 - In Serial58 Chapters
The Year Before Eternity
A retelling of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast. After 100 years, Kieran Pietre Erik, Crown Prince of Gaerin, has lost his chance to break the curse that befell his kingdom. Now, he lives for all eternity as the beast. The only people left alive in the abandoned castle to keep him at bay are a maid, her child, and the Prince's guard. Stuck in an endless cycle, they've lost all hope of freedom. Until someone resets the curse. Astrid Delacroix is beautiful and intelligent - and vain. She longs to be free of her boring life in her small hometown, where she has to put up with the small-minded. She toys with the people around her; she knows she doesn't belong in their world. The only things keeping her from running are her ill father and their crippling finances. When her father, in a desperate attempt to steal a rose made of solid gold from an abandoned castle, is held captive by a beast, Astrid switches one form of captivity for another. But her attempts to gain her freedom trap her into the curse that imprisons the castle's inhabitants. Now, with a new addition to the curse, they are given one, final year to free themselves from this neverending nightmare.
8 215 - In Serial62 Chapters
The World Close to Entropy
At year 3021, Akino Kylei, a detective, and Alexa, her adopted daughter, got caught in a huge explosion of unknown origin. The next thing they knew was they woke up in a huge room full of empty ‘seed pods’ looking structures. Much to their surprise, their bodies have turned into something else and the world they knew became deserted ruins covered in alien flora and fauna, with no single human shadow to be found. Investigating further, the detective and her daughter discovered that one million years have passed since the explosion they got caught with, the whole world has turned into a highly radioactive environment, and a strange stationary ‘void’ appeared below the north star Polaris. The two accidentally went into the void, finding themselves in a strange world, and as they begin surveying that world, they saved a demi-wolf named Lyka from some attacking 'knights'. Lyka thanked the two otherworldy humans by going in a pact between them, and so the three embarks on their journey. Lyka guides Akino and Alexa in her world called 'Elyn', becoming adventurers, and resolving many conflicts. They travelled in that world and experiences many things, all the while slowly discovering some vague information about the so-called Institution, a secretive organization from Akino and Alexa's world, and has left considerable amount of evidences of their existence in Elyn, leading to more questions as to what really happened on that day the Earth was wiped-out.
8 194 - In Serial37 Chapters
Particles of Paradise
Tachibana Yuki (橘幸), sixteen, student, single, a young man who enjoyed playing basketball but reduced to Online FPS games, has his life upturned when a transfer student named Sasaki Naomi (佐々木直美), offers to take him to another dimension named Avalon, where he could learn magic in the Avalon Academy of Magic. How did he end up there? What paths lay ahead of him? And just what is Avalon? Find out answers to all of these with the Protagonist himself in Particles of Paradise. New chapters will come out on every Monday before 2:00 PM IST/10:30 CEST
8 215 - In Serial21 Chapters
19 | minsung
[COMPLETE] jisung writes up to 19 poems about his crush, lee minho. he never reaches 20.
8 104 - In Serial39 Chapters
ဗီလိန်က ပက်ပက်စက်စက်ကို လှလွန်းတယ်! [Mmtranslation]
Zawgyi: ဗီလိန္က ပက္ပက္စက္စက္ကို လွလြန္းတယ္!ရွစ္သိေလးေတြ ေမြးစားတတ္တဲ့ holy fatherႀကီး ရွစ္ရႈန္း X အၿမဲJဝင္ေနေသာ obsessiveရွစ္သိ!!ရှစ်သိလေးတွေ မွေးစားတတ်တဲ့ holy fatherကြီး ရှစ်ရှုန်း X အမြဲJဝင်နေသော obsessiveရှစ်သိ!!name: The Villain is Outrageously Beautiful(反派他過分美麗)Author: 騎鯨南去Total Chapters: 145#All credit to author and eng translator.#
8 235

