[15:14] <Mach_Schneider> So Katy and Falken got delayed, a lot, partly because Falken is still jetlagged and consequently dozed off on the couch while she was waiting and partly because by the time she actually woke up and got her shit together they may as well have waited for the rest of the pilots to get back before they headed out - which is why they're now crowded onto the train out into the city, though as...
[15:15] <Mach_Schneider> ...usual it's largely deserted. Noticeably, instead of dozing off in a corner, Falken has seated herself next to Katy, arms spread over the back of the row of seats as a consequence of her long frame being relatively uncomfortable to squash into a rail chair; naturally, she's almost totally covered up, though for once she actually looks interested in what's going by the window. "Almost there..."
06[15:17] * Rusty_Hackket had taken a position near the door, hanging onto the rail with one hand, watching the scenery fly past.
[15:18] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy is sat very quietly next to Falken, curled in on herself, and anxious around the mass of people.
01[15:19] <Christine_Larsen> Christine has her head somewhere in a cloud, thinking about any number of things.
[15:20] <Rusty_Hackket> "We're a quiet bunch today."
06[15:22] * Andrew_Martin stands a short distance away from the pilots, hovering next to one of the poles.  Due to his size, there's a quite a sizeable void of people around him.
01[15:22] <Christine_Larsen> "Yeah...I'm still trying to figure out what's inside my Unit that makes it so wild..."
[15:23] <Rusty_Hackket> "Rabies?" Rusty joked.
[15:24] <Mach_Schneider> "I'm just glad mine doesn't flood back into me." Falken smiles ruefully, though it's hard to tell how far the smile goes behind her anti-flashes. "And hey, maybe it's not the Unit but the pilot inside. There a crazy party-girl hidden down there, Christine?"
[15:24] <Katherine_Sharpe> Still silent, Katy looks up at the conversation, watching
06[15:24] * Andrew_Martin does much the same.
[15:25] <Kaito_Yamada> "I don't think it's the pilot. At least, not entirely. There has to be something about the Evas themselves for us to...have a reaction to."
01[15:25] <Christine_Larsen> "...I don't think there is...I've never had any real desire to party."
[15:25] <Rusty_Hackket> "Well, can't rightly give an opinion on it. My Eva is as well behaved as a hunting dog."
[15:26] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy looks down at the floor, shuffling her feet.  She listens, but isn't comfortable with the topic
[15:28] <Mach_Schneider> Falken slips her arm off the back of the chair, resting it around Katy in a gentle hug, though she doesn't say anything.
[15:29] <Andrew_Martin> "Dr. Vespin is hard at work on a new series of synchronisation equipment that should hopefully resolve the issue."  Andrew speaks up. "Testing should begin with the next few weeks."
[15:29] <Andrew_Martin> within*
[15:30] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katherine sighs, hearing Andrew's comment, despairingly
06[15:30] * Kaito_Yamada glances at Martin, opens his mouth, then shuts it again and continues staring out the window.
[15:31] <Rusty_Hackket> "Well, we'll see." Rusty said, watching the others reactions.
01[15:33] <Christine_Larsen> "That may be nice...though she's seemed to calm down a fair bit lately...it may help that she ate that Fortean's arm..."
[15:33] <Mach_Schneider> She squeezes Katy gently and changes the subject a little. "Come on, guys, we have a day off; let's talk about things that *aren't* involving us fighting for our lives, eh?"
06[15:34] * Kaito_Yamada looks over at the two girls and nods, "Yeah, good idea."
06[15:34] * Andrew_Martin nods. "I'll give the rest of the news later."
01[15:34] <Christine_Larsen> "Alright then, where are we headed anyway?"
[15:36] <Mach_Schneider> Falken shrugs. "Hey, I'm the tourist here, you tell me."
[15:37] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy tries hard to hide her panic, keeping her breathing quiet as she can.  Still head down, it makes it rather easier to conceal
[15:37] <Rusty_Hackket> "Just wander round the city? That worked pretty well last time."
[15:38] <Kaito_Yamada> "That could work, I guess."
[15:40] <Mach_Schneider> With Falken that close, she can't miss Katy's body language, and gives her a little squeeze and a quick smile.
[15:42] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy looks up at Falken briefly, grateful for the comforting gestures.
01[15:42] <Christine_Larsen> "I haven't really done that much exploring either...mood never struck me."
[15:43] <Mach_Schneider> "We really should, actually... amongst other things, that kind of knowledge will be useful if we have to flee."
[15:43] <Mach_Schneider> Falken does her best to not make the words sound ominous, but falls pretty short.
[15:44] <Kaito_Yamada> "...and besides, exploring is fun." Kaito says, trying to put a lighter spin on things.
01[15:45] <Christine_Larsen> "...Suppose you're right, though, to be honest...we'll probably be stuck in the Units fighting so everyone else can run. If it comes to it...yeah."
[15:45] <Rusty_Hackket> "Eesh, Miss reckoning, didn't you just say you wanted to avoid that kind a talk?"
[15:45] <Mach_Schneider> "I don't mean that kind of flee."
[15:45] <Rusty_Hackket> "Come on guys." Rusty let go of the rail. "Lighten up a bit."
01[15:45] <Christine_Larsen> "What, terrorists or a pissed off Russia?"
[15:46] <Mach_Schneider> Falken bites her lip. "Sorry, I'm doing it again."
[15:46] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katherine sighs, looking up at Rusty in agreement that she doesn't feel she can voice.
[15:47] <Kaito_Yamada> "Um, so where should we start, you think?"
[15:47] <Mach_Schneider> Falken's stomach growls, and she blushes. "Uh... food?"
[15:47] <Rusty_Hackket> "I can support that."
01[15:47] <Christine_Larsen> "...Not a bad idea. We've had too much fish lately."
[15:48] <Rusty_Hackket> "hey, that is good fish."
[15:48] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy nods quietly
[15:48] <Mach_Schneider> She grins. "Been having fun out there, Rusty?"
[15:48] <Kaito_Yamada> "What's wrong with fish?" Kaito frowns in bemusement.
01[15:49] <Christine_Larsen> "Falken, all that fish in the freezer was a single catch."
[15:50] <Rusty_Hackket> "Sucker put up a fight, but in the end no fish is ever gonna beat out a Hackket." Rusty gave a lopsided smirk.
06[15:50] * Andrew_Martin watches the city's buildings pass by in an ever-slowing motion.  "It seems there is a World Food festival going on in town."  He informs them...despite not holding any kind of newspaper or phone.
[15:50] <Andrew_Martin> "Perhaps you would be interested."
[15:51] <Mach_Schneider> "..." Falken's sunglasses mostly conceal her reaction, but... "You catch a friggin' *whale* or some - ooh."
01[15:52] <Christine_Larsen> "That sounds great...and yeah, we caught a giant out of that damn lake."
06[15:52] * Kaito_Yamada looks up, eyebrows raised, but otherwise laconic, "Well, ain't that conveinient."
[15:53] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy raises her gaze, looking to the others for their direction
[15:53] <Rusty_Hackket> "Ah, just what the stomach ordered." Rusty perked at this news.
[15:57] <Andrew_Martin> "Very convenient but also likely.  The city's AI likes to be kept busy."
01[15:57] <Christine_Larsen> "...The city's...AI?"
[15:58] <Kaito_Yamada> "Great, a city run by a bored computer. Don't you people watch movies?"
[15:58] <Mach_Schneider> Falken starts laughing. "It's Skynet!"
[15:59] <Katherine_Sharpe> "A city run by a computer, and we're looking for a hacker..." Katy mumbles
[15:59] <Rusty_Hackket> "Skynet apparently likes thai." Rusty said, starting to chuckle.
[15:59] <Kaito_Yamada> "...oh. Oh, great."
[15:59] <Mach_Schneider> *That* brings her back down. "Ooh... good point..."
[16:00] <Rusty_Hackket> "City ordinance AI are a *bit* harder to crack then your average laptop, Katy."
06[16:00] * Andrew_Martin turns his head to look at her.  "It isn't a very widespread technology so it isn't surprising that you don't know of it.  A city AI manages all the cities logistics and keeps everything running as smoothly as possible, including managing disaster response equipment and teams."
06[16:00] * Andrew_Martin nods.
[16:00] <Andrew_Martin> "The city AI is protected by not only its own intelligent programming but several groups of humans."
[16:01] <Mach_Schneider> "Bleh." Falken taps her temple. "Don't trust anything if you can't see where it keeps its brain."
01[16:01] <Christine_Larsen> "So, what sorts of things will this festival have?"
[16:01] <Rusty_Hackket> "You nerd." Rusty said. "And we know where it's brain is kept."
[16:03] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy silently looks between Rusty and Falken, puzzled
[16:03] <Andrew_Martin> To Christine: "Food sellers from around the local area and beyond selling their goods.  I would expect a wide variety to be available to sample from several different region's ways of cooking."
[16:04] <Kaito_Yamada> "Great. All the better to pull the plug if it does go HAL on us."
[16:04] <Rusty_Hackket> "You guys have seen too many late night movies." Rusty shook his head, still chuckling mirthfully.
[16:08] <Kaito_Yamada> "Hey, we fight giant monsters, like out of the Godzilla movies." Kaito shrugs, "To my mind, anything is possible these days."
[16:08] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katherine nods sadly
[16:11] <Kaito_Yamada> "Buuuut we're not thinking about that today!" Kaito says with an awkward grin, trying to move the conversation away from gloomyville again.
01[16:11] <Christine_Larsen> "Yeah, let's please think of our stomachs for now."
[16:12] <Mach_Schneider> "Right..." Falken rocks a little as the train slows to a halt and the inevitably bored-sounding voice-over informs them of their stop. "That's us."
06[16:12] * Rusty_Hackket being closest to the door, stepped off the train as the doors whooshed open.
06[16:14] * Kaito_Yamada steps off behind him.
[16:14] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy gets off the train as quickly as she can, relieved to be out of the busy carriage
01[16:14] <Christine_Larsen> Christine leaps up and makes her exit from the train.
[16:16] <Mach_Schneider> Falken sticks close to Katy - close enough to be in easy reach, but not enough to be smothering.
06[16:16] * Andrew_Martin follows after, stepping from the train with exaggerated care.  Having to stoop to even fit through the door is a bit degrading.
06[16:18] * Rusty_Hackket slowed down so he could walk next to Falkin. "You're broodin' over Katy like a hen with an egg." He muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. "What's happened?"
[16:20] <Mach_Schneider> "Girl stuff." she mutters back, tucking her gloved hands into the pockets of her overcoat.
[16:20] <Katherine_Sharpe> Once off the train, Katy stays next to Falken, more comfortable in her company.
[16:21] <Rusty_Hackket> "Riight." Rusty said, looking like he believed that about as much as big foot. "Well, you seem to know what's up. I'll leave it to you."
06[16:21] * Kaito_Yamada wanders along, hands in pockets. After a moment he stops and tilts his head back to look at the others, "Ice cream anyone?
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06[16:22] * Kaito_Yamada nods towards a nearby ice cream vendor.
01[16:23] <Christine_Larsen> "Chocolate please."
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06[16:25] * Rusty_Hackket started fishing in his pocket. "I'll take a mint chocolate chip."
03[16:25] * Axel_Wildfire is now known as Mach_Schneider
[16:27] <Mach_Schneider> "Oh, yes. I'll have what he's having." Falken grins. "Katy?"
[16:28] <Katherine_Sharpe> "I'm not that hungry, thanks," Katy mutters quietly
[16:29] <Rusty_Hackket> "You don't have to be hungry for ice cream, come on Katy, get a cone or we'll start worrying over you."
[16:29] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy sighs, not wanting to draw attention to herself.  "Strawberry, please, but just a small one, ok?"
[16:30] <Kaito_Yamada> "Okay then."
06[16:30] * Kaito_Yamada gets the ice creams for the other three, plus a rum and raisin one for himself.
[16:31] <Andrew_Martin> "After the ice cream," Andrew says, despite not getting any, "shall we go to the food festival?"
[16:31] <Mach_Schneider> Falken quietly bites down on the tips of her gloves, quickly removing them and stuffing them into her pockets.
06[16:34] * Andrew_Martin clasps his hands behind his back, watching the pilots receive their ice cream and start their consumption.
06[16:34] * Kaito_Yamada hands out the others' ice cream.
01[16:35] <Christine_Larsen> Christine takes hers, waiting for everyone else before she digs in.
[16:35] <Rusty_Hackket> "Thanks." Rusty accepted the cone, taking a bite.
[16:35] <Katherine_Sharpe> "Thanks," Katy says softly as she takes her ice cream, licking it delicately
01[16:36] <Christine_Larsen> "Thank you."
[16:36] <Mach_Schneider> "... gah." Falken manages to be a butterfingers and gets hers on her nose. "Damnit."
[16:36] <Rusty_Hackket> "Heh, butterfingers."
[16:36] <Mach_Schneider> "Shut up!"
[16:37] <Katherine_Sharpe> Without saying a word, Katy dips her hand into her handbag, and pulls out a tissue, offering it to Falken
01[16:37] <Christine_Larsen> Christine starts giggling, but quickly shuts up and returns to licking her ice cream.
06[16:37] * Rusty_Hackket chuckles, going back to his ice cream.
[16:38] <Mach_Schneider> "Thank you." Falken wipes off her nose, going a little cross-eyed behind her shades as she eyes the offending blob of green stuff.
06[16:38] * Kaito_Yamada starts licking his ice cream slowly.
[16:42] <Rusty_Hackket> "Mmh, not bad. Not too bad."
[16:42] <Mach_Schneider> "... mm, this is good." she glances at Katy.
[16:43] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy nods, enjoying the ice cream, focusing on it
01[16:43] <Christine_Larsen> "Great ice cream."
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[16:44] <Rusty_Hackket> "I know a place that serves better."
[16:44] <Mach_Schneider> Falken starts grinning. "Do you now?"
06[16:46] * Andrew_Martin gives the assembled the gift of a small smile. "Back in the south?"
[16:46] <Rusty_Hackket> "Back in the south, Relli's. Served home made ice cream *and* gelato, if that was more your pickin'."
[16:47] <Rusty_Hackket> "Near ambrosia good, I tell ya."
[16:47] <Mach_Schneider> "Well, aren't you fancy." she teases, hewing into her chocmint before it melts.
[16:49] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy is listening, licking down her ice cream, looking from person to person as they speak
[16:49] <Rusty_Hackket> "Got a new word of the day calender." Rusty parried her jibe with ease.
[16:52] <Mach_Schneider> "Is that in or outside your head, hanzer?"
[16:53] <Rusty_Hackket> "Hanging off the bathroom all." Rusty tapped his skull. "All natural here."
[16:55] <Mach_Schneider> Falken just smiles. "Good."
01[16:57] <Christine_Larsen> "So, what does everyone want to try at the festival?"
[16:57] <Rusty_Hackket> "I'm hoping for Latin American."
[16:58] <Andrew_Martin> "I am more interested in how they cook than the food itself."
[17:03] <Mach_Schneider> "Hey, I'm good for whatever." she shrugs. "As long as it's food."
06[17:03] * Andrew_Martin looks over the group, inspecting all the passers-by.  Some of whom were pointing over and whispering to each other as they went.
06[17:05] * Kaito_Yamada stops in the middle of enjoying his ice cream, glancing at the people as they point and whisper, and sighs tiredly.
06[17:05] * Rusty_Hackket doesn't appear to notice in the slightest.
[17:06] <Mach_Schneider> "... you guys become famous while I was gone?"
[17:07] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy sticks nervously closer to Falken, the nearer the people get, uncomfortable at the staring.  She quickly finishes the last of her ice cream.
[17:07] <Rusty_Hackket> "I'm business famous, if that means anything. But no, I don't think we did."
[17:07] <Andrew_Martin> "It is more likely that they are commenting on me." Andrew says with a trace of embarassment.  "And my size."
[17:08] <Kaito_Yamada> "Yeah, that's probably it."
[17:08] <Rusty_Hackket> "Huh...man people are dumb, like they ain't never see a big a feller before."
[17:08] <Mach_Schneider> Falken pets Katy's hair gently. "Relax."
06[17:13] * Kaito_Yamada shrugs.
[17:14] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy sighs, looking slightly sympathetically towards Andrew.  "Are you ok, captain?"
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06[17:16] * Andrew_Martin nods slowly.  "I was simply reminded of how much I stick out in the city along with how much I have to be careful in it, and how bothersome the sizing of entrances tend to be."
[17:18] <Mach_Schneider> "At least nobody is gonna fuck with you on the street." Falken notes.
[17:20] <Andrew_Martin> "My size does have that advantage."  He agrees.  "A strange contrast to being a soldier."
01[17:20] <Christine_Larsen> "Unless they're a fuckin' giant or a crazy man."
[17:20] <Andrew_Martin> to my time as a soldier.*
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[17:24] <Mach_Schneider> "Hey, I had it worse." she teases gently. "I'm pretty frail, you know."
[17:25] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy looks up to Falken, puzzled
[17:28] <Mach_Schneider> "Long story... I'll tell you sometime, if you like, but not now."
02[17:29] * Kaito_Yamada (~EL-Zeppo@Rizon-34DCE5C5.zone14.bethere.co.uk) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
[17:30] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy nods respectfully, keeping quiet
01[17:34] <Christine_Larsen> "I told you about how training was for me, right Katy?"
[17:36] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy nods again, sympathetically
01[17:41] <Christine_Larsen> "I cannot tell you how glad I am we'll never have to work with the Norway branch."
[17:42] <Mach_Schneider> "The guys up top at Russia ain't too great either, but yours sound worse." Beat. "No offense."
01[17:42] <Christine_Larsen> "None taken. I don't remember telling you about it though...did I?"
[17:43] <Mach_Schneider> "You didn't, but the way you're talking about them right now?"
[17:43] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy watches the conversation, counting herself lucky she didn't go through anything like that herself.
[17:44] <Andrew_Martin> "The Norway branch have an interesting take on how to train a pilot, and what a pilot should be capable of."
01[17:44] <Christine_Larsen> "I'll give you the condensed version. I got tough real quick so I didn't get a train run on me by stressed out, battle frenzied teenage guys."
[17:46] <Andrew_Martin> "Perhaps it is about time for me to pay them a formal visit."  Andrew muses to himself.
01[17:48] <Christine_Larsen> "Good luck. They're understaffed on instructors too."
[17:49] <Andrew_Martin> "I could handle all of their pilots."
01[17:50] <Christine_Larsen> "...I'm sure you've seen my record on why I got transferred, but it was for putting too many fuckers out of commission for good, barring extensive surgery."
[17:50] <Katherine_Sharpe> Quietly, Katy squirms, thinking about the story
[17:51] <Mach_Schneider> Falken puts her arm around Katy again, giving her another gentle squeeze. "Relax."
01[17:52] <Christine_Larsen> "...Anyway, I think you get the gist of it."
06[17:53] * Andrew_Martin nods. "I am glad that you did what you did, Christine.  No one should be put under the threat of having their ability to choose taken away."
[17:53] <Katherine_Sharpe> "Maybe we should get some food?" Katy suggests, far too quietly
[17:54] <Mach_Schneider> Falken echoes the sentiment, loud and firm enough to overrun the discussion.
01[17:54] <Christine_Larsen> "...Yes please."
[17:54] <Andrew_Martin> "Yes." Andrew turns to go. "That would seem best."
[18:00] <Mach_Schneider> She falls in, tugging Katy with her a little, though her expression seems pretty flat. /We are so fucked up./
[18:02] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy obediently follows Falken, as pulled.  She glances up, whispering just loud enough for the older girl to hear, "Is everything ok?"
[18:03] <Mach_Schneider> "Yeah, just having a sad thought. It's all good, though." Falken smiles a little, more for Katy's benefit than anything else.
06[18:03] * Andrew_Martin doesn't need smiles to live, just electricity.
[18:04] <Katherine_Sharpe> "Ok, if you're sure"
01[18:04] <Christine_Larsen> "Falken...thanks."
[18:06] <Mach_Schneider> "Mm?" she looks at Christine.
01[18:09] <Christine_Larsen> "You've been a big help to a lot of us...just wanted to thank you."
06[18:10] * Rusty_Hackket finally rejoined the group, having been absent or distracted in some manner. He again simply listened to Christine.
[18:10] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy nods in agreement, gratefully
06[18:10] * Andrew_Martin agrees with a nod as well.
[18:11] <Rusty_Hackket> "We'll, just one big family here."
01[18:13] <Christine_Larsen> "Heh, I actually said something similar in Russia...don't suppose it's any huge secret that I had...not so internationally friendly ideas for bringing her home with us."
[18:14] <Rusty_Hackket> "Oh please don't tell me you were planning somethin' as foolish as a shanghai." Rusty groaned.
06[18:14] * Andrew_Martin lifts an eyebrow at Christine.
[18:14] <Mach_Schneider> Falken smiles, blushing just a little pink. "Give it a rest, you guys. And yeah, she was."
[18:15] <Andrew_Martin> "That is enlightening."
01[18:15] <Christine_Larsen> "...More like completely wrecking the Russian base and bring both her and Mai."
06[18:15] * Andrew_Martin doesn't comment further.
[18:15] <Andrew_Martin> (reverse those "" lines)
[18:15] <Rusty_Hackket> "...Huuurgh." Rusty makes a strangling sound.
[18:16] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy looks thoughtful, remembering.  "I don't see why you shouldn't be in which branch you want to be in," Katy adds softly.  "Shouldn't it be your choice?"
01[18:16] <Christine_Larsen> "Maybe...but i's all fucking politics."
[18:16] <Andrew_Martin> "The decisions are made at a higher level than even I stand at."
[18:16] <Rusty_Hackket> "Five parts politics, one part planning, I'm sure some thought goes in sorting where we go."
01[18:17] <Christine_Larsen> "A lot of it is probably a big dick waving contest though, like that new Unit Russia was talking about."
[18:18] <Rusty_Hackket> "How many units does that make?"
01[18:18] <Christine_Larsen> "They called it Unit 20, didn't they?"
[18:18] <Mach_Schneider> Falken makes a 'wanker' gesture with her left hand. "Sure seemed pretty happy about it."
[18:18] <Andrew_Martin> "Russia itself will still only have two.  America's 'dick' is unthreatened."
[18:19] <Katherine_Sharpe> "I don't see why it's a competition," muses Katy
01[18:19] <Christine_Larsen> "Rusty, you have any male insight on this?"
[18:19] <Rusty_Hackket> "It's always a competition."
[18:19] <Rusty_Hackket> "ESPECIALLY between big boys like Russia and America."
[18:21] <Mach_Schneider> "For some people the Cold War never ended..." Falken muses quietly.
[18:22] <Andrew_Martin> "The prevelance of cold war-set fiction or fiction depicting wars between America and Russia does not help in that respect."
01[18:22] <Christine_Larsen> "I always thought it was just idiot teenage boys who did that, in the most literal possible manner...but then I got transferred to the States."
[18:23] <Rusty_Hackket> "Nope, we all do it. Hell, back home, day didn't start for me and my gang untill somebody started a pissing contest."
[18:26] <Katherine_Sharpe> Katy merely sighs and vaguely shakes her head, not understanding
[18:27] <Mach_Schneider> "Of course, from where you come from, that's a literal term." Falken smirks.
01[18:28] <Christine_Larsen> "...I won't lie, I knew a few Polish guys who were around while I was in school in Norway...they told me something to the effect of Russia's leaders are always plotting some form of shadowy deals."
[18:28] <Mach_Schneider> She shrugs. "Russia is always going to be a shithole. The place doesn't *work* if it's not in disarray. But when it works, it works."
[18:30] <Andrew_Martin> "It is a shame that those times are so few."
[18:32] <Rusty_Hackket> "Russians are a crazy people."
[18:32] <Mach_Schneider> "That's not how it used to