Chapter 23: Heaven Is A Gated Community

[Armin Lehrer]

"Yeah, he got his head stuck in the turtleneck. It was the funniest thing. But I haven't seen him wear a turtleneck after that!" Armin says with a laugh. He sips his soda and thinks that this girl is pretty cute. If she isn't Kasper's girlfriend, maybe he should try to go after her. It's been a long time since he's been involved with a girl.

"Hey I should get some music. I'll go get my cassette player and maybe we can have a dance party." Armin suggests.

He skips upstairs and returns with the red cassette player and some 1980s music. He puts the cassette player going and it starts playing some Falco.

[Rust aka "Chaos"]

"Actually I have no plans so sure."

Rust took the money from his chest cavity and gave it to Bonifaz. He smiled. He had no idea what to expaect from the bosses son.

((Kizu post))
Kizu chuckled at the thought of Hex dancind. He reluctantly removed the tether and she smiled. She was hoping that no one minded she was here.

"If you guys are having a pary I can leave and come another time...or anyone care to dance?"

[Samantha Leigh]

yes i am 31 weeks with a girl due in 9 more weeks about if she lasts that long ive already been in the hospital 3 times due to some complications maybe because all we have to eat here is junk and i dont have a job so i just eat whats here...sam says then she asks kizu to tell her about genetich

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

That's all Bonifaz needs to hear, without a word, he heads out the door with Rust, starting the walk to his mansion outside of Munich. Since it is a long walk to the mansion, they take a teleportation booth. After going through the teleportation booth, they arrive in the wooded area and mansion centered by a small lake. Bonifaz smiles. "Home.."

"I've never invited you here. But, I know you are a loyal employee." Bonifaz says as he leads Rust into the large home.

Once inside he notices Amelia watching television. "I have another android here. She has some problems. You don't know anything about fixing them, would you?"

[Kasper Schultz]

Kasper starts doing a dance that looks like he is Frankenstein. He bobs his head back and forth like a pigeon. "Yeah, this music is great!" Kasper says as he dances. He shakes his skinny butt and jumps onto the coffee table, spilling the Countess Cola. Kasper jumps down and frowns.

"Well, so much for having fun." He says sourly as he leaves to get a rag to clean it up.

"It's your fault Sam." Kasper says as he starts cleaning up the mess.

[Armin Lehrer]

The cassette is a mixed tape of various 1980s artists. It features Devo, Wham, Falco, and others. Armin keeps dancing, even after the soda spills. He moves over to Em and starts dancing with her. He looks over at Kasper who is fretting about the soda mess. Armin is not much of a dancer either, but he is having fun. Anyway, he is willing to do stupid things to impress the pretty girl.

[Samantha Leigh]

how is it my fault kasper ? sam asks getting annoyed your the one who started dancing like a goonba

[Émilie LaFramboise]

She knows she shouldn't, but the music is unlike anything Émilie had ever heard. All she'd ever heard really was the silly pro-Manalist music. "I do like parties..." She eyes the cassette player with interest, she'd never seen a real one. Nonetheless, she stays by Sam until the woman answers. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that... I'll try to bring some food with me the next time I visit..."

She also knew she shouldn't really be promising to visit again, but how could she not? The poor woman was pregnant and poor. Émilie felt a strange urge to help nurture the woman and her child. For now, however, Sam seemed interested in learning about Genetech. So, she makes her way over to the cassette player and examines it carefully. "I've never seen a real cassette player! Or heard this kind of music, it's charming in a strange way..."

She giggles at Kasper's dancing, frowning only when the mess is made. Before she can offer to help, Armin comes over to her. She liked the way they danced, it wasn't so stiff and formal like most of the Blessed. Lending over to her urges a bit, she starts dancing with Armin in a fairly skilled style.

[Kasper Schultz]

"Everything bad that happens in the world is always your fault." Kasper replies. He sees that Armin is dancing with Em and he feels absolutely furious. "What!! GRRRR.....Armin I hate you. You're always undermining me." Kasper nearly shouts. He throws the rag at Sam and starts dancing like a moron with her.

"See, I can dance too. Sam and I are good friends now and better dancers than you and Em. And we love 80s music."

[Armin Lehrer]

"You like cassettes? I have a whole room full of stuff from the 1980s. This thing is an antique passed down from my great great great grandma. She was into that stuff and left a whole trunk full of music and 1980s antiques." Armin explains to Em as they are dancing. Kasper's reaction is priceless. He loves to irritate his friend. "If you want, I could take you up to my room and show you my collection of stuff..." Armin says. But suddenly, he starts coughing horribly. He still has the flu and he is pushing himself. He forgot about the illness in the excitement of having a nice girl there.

[Émilie LaFramboise]

Émilie is a little surprised at Kasper's reaction, but understands he had just grown jealous. Honestly, she'd been with men who were was worse in their jealousy. "I do like the way you dance."' She compliments Kasper despite his anger, smiling nicely. So this was 80s music. "Really? How interesting, that's certainly be educational. I don't think I should now, though-" She begins, knowing it'd be bad to be in any closed space with a male.

When he starts coughing, she pats his back gently. He was sick? She noticed the coughing earlier but... "You're sick?! You should really be laying down. Probably in your room if you want to try not to pass the illness onto Kasper and Sam- especially with Sam carrying a child." She states, feeling Armin's forehead to check his temperature.

[Armin Lehrer]

"I guess...you could be right. I was feeling pretty sick earlier." Armin admits. He blushes a little when she touches his head. He coughs a little again. "I guess I could lay down in my room. Everyone can still listen to the music." Armin suggests. He feels a little better when Em touches him.
"I could show you my collection before I take a nap again..." Armin suggests. He knows he is making Kasper jealous, but he doesn't really care. Kasper said that she wasn't his girlfriend and if he was interested, he could speak up about it.

[Émilie LaFramboise]

Sure, go see his collection... and then take a nap with him! Émilie shakes her head a little as her more nymph self speaks in her mind. She smiles apolitically. "I'm very sorry, you really should just rest. I promise I'll let you show me the next time I visit, okay?" She wanted to offer to help him to his room but refrained. He seemed like a very nice guy, but she'd been tricked a few times by nice guys.

"Besides, I need to be leaving very soon. I've been away from my own home for a while."

[Rust aka "Chaos"]

"I have problms as well but basically if its electrical I can fix things. Of course my expertise is pharmecuticals."

He lowers his eyes not looking into Bonifaz's eyes. He felt a bit uncomfortable being here.

"I did nt fathom being let into your home. I thought machinery would be only allowed outside. It suprised me."

[Armin Lehrer]

"I guess...I should get some rest. But if you visit again sometime I will take you on a picnic." Armin suggests. He is feeling exhausted and heads upstairs, leaving Sam, Kasper, and Em to the dance party. When he arrives in his room he collapses onto his bed, feeling sicker than he did earlier. He should not have overdone it.

As he drifts off to sleep, he thinks about Em. Maybe he is desperate for sex or companionship. He doesn't get much time to meet women. He and Kasper are probably the loneliest guys he knows.

He eventually manages to fall asleep to the sound of "Whip It" from downstairs.