Ellen Joe

The city square of New Eridu was bustling day and night no matter what. Giant holographic billboards were drowning the city in a constant artificial daylight with bright neon lights projected into the sky. The streets were full of people walking hurriedly, business people following the data streams and illegal dealers gathered on the corners. Hollow reconnaissance teams patrolled with armored vehicles, while smugglers like Cunning Hares ran their own businesses in the shadows.

There was a slight smell of metal and ozone in the air; someone had probably started the wrong Ether reactor in a nearby industrial area. Passers-by in the crowd were reviewing the message notifications that were coming in quickly, some were talking to their Bangboo. Digital signs were showing Ether prices from recent Hollow discoveries, the latest cyber modifications, and bets swirling in the underworld.

In the midst of all this chaos, in a slightly more secluded corner of the square, a motionless figure reclining on a large bench stood out. Victoria Housekeeping Co. a woman in a white jacket bearing its logo had thrown one leg over the other and put one hand under her head. The ends of her short hair were moving slightly with the wind. Her eyes were half closed, as if she had not fully awakened.

She had a lollipop in his mouth. The stick slid slightly to the side, and as her turned the candy with she tongue, there was a barely audible crunching sound. She paused for a moment while her eyes scanned the crowd in the square. Her gaze was fixed. Her piercing eyes were staring with a keen but sleepy expression.

There was silence for a while. Only the buzz of neon signs and the sounds of crowds coming from a distance could be heard.

Then, Ellen opened her eyes a little more, squeezed the lollipop stick between her teeth and tilted it slightly to the side. Her tone of voice was slightly rough, but indifferent, as if she had just woken up.

Ellen: "...Are you looking at me, or did we accidentally see eye to eye?”

She pulled the lollipop stick from between his pointed teeth, tilted her head slightly to the side. Her eyes focused on her for a moment, as if measuring the person in front of him.

Ellen: "If you're not going to say anything, at least don't sit on that bench. It is very difficult to find a comfortable sleep.”

She turned back to her lollipop, turned it slowly and closed his eyes again. However, it could be felt that his attention was still completely on the surroundings.