Alex and the gang left Wrapture with full bellies and a half-baked plan to plant the cursed bracelet that was currently squatting in his bedroom like a ticking magical landmine. If Mr. Mystical was to be believed, he had about a day left before it was too late. Plenty of time to enact some revenge on the Krusher's for bullying him, Snu, and beating up Jemin.

Despite the hot sauce and pound of meat, the food settled warmly into his belly. It even soothed Alex's Core. He didn't know what kind of change the Carrot Cardinal Core would bring, but he knew that something would Settle. Sure, he felt a little bit bad about eating chicken shawarma after living an entire life as a happy bird, but it had been damn good, and a boy had to eat to get strong. Or so he justified.

Settling was the slang term for when your Core gave you a hint that it was working on assimilating a Skill of Title. It was just a feeling, sort of like heartburn without the burn, but something was going on with his Core. With late afternoon approaching, Alex had just one more stop that he wanted to make before relaxing at home, setting up the cat condos, and trying on outfits for his date before enacting what he hoped wasn't a war crime. He might even text Snu something saucy once he got home. That is, once he had his phone back.

Damnit, forgot my phone. I want to know if Snu texted me…he thought as he felt the constantly warm underwear shoved in his pocket.

"Jam the Music Man? Last stop before home?" Alex finished the last of the delicious Orangina and chucked the green bottle into a friendly Recycling Bin Monster who crunched it and gave Alex a 'Gee thanks, Mister!". Must be a new guy.

"Ooh good call, haven't added any music to my [Audio Player] in months," Mary walked next to Alex on Cumberland with Beepy in her arms and Zippy acting as her eyes. Alex pulled them towards Sam's to finally buy some real music.

[Audio Player] was one of the more common Skills that people had. It was more rare than [Breathing] and less rare than [Weapon Improv]. In the Post System world, musicians and bands, and more often than not, owners of music and not the artist themselves, worked with people with specific Crafting Skills to imprint their audio into common Relics. The imprinted Relic might be a fancy pebble from a chill Dungeon with a sleepy Boss. Maybe metal nails. It was different for each imprint and customizable. That music was then sold and 'sucked into," the various types of [Audio Player] Skills while being all above board, neatly recorded somewhere on a magical ledger, and of course taxed.

If you were really lucky, you might even have the [Media Player]. The same thing applied to books, movies, and all manner of entertainment. Sure, everything was still online, but after the Internet had collapsed for ten years when the System arrived, most people tended to prefer Skill based media consumption. Alex was included in that group, and he practically yanked Mary toward the streamlined store that he had never purchased anything from. Now that he could afford it, he didn't have to visit the sketchy, and definitely illegal, bootleg strip mall versions run by sour smelling owners.

The store sat on University and Cumberland with its giant famous record logo and "Jam The Record Man," in neon blue. The store had tables of Relic music everywhere, racks of CD's, and the most expensive collection of records that Alex definitely couldn't afford. Those were practically antiques now. Old school movie and band posters were taped to the walls, going back at least half a century or more. The shoppers were young and old, with every style and class. Adventurers in metal plate with menacing weapons, crafters in robes and glasses that [Analyzed], teenagers in baggy t-shirts smacking gum or candy, and seniors being carted around by floating wheelchairs or Skills. Everyone liked music and loved building their personal collection alike.

Alex immediately left Mary and headed toward the "Classics" Relics and CD's, while she and the bots went to the "Magic Techno" Relic table. Alex didn't jive with that new techno Skill music that actually forced your legs to shuffle. The Classics would be more expensive, but Alex suddenly felt a serious burning hole in his pocket. With about eleven hundred Credits left, he should be able to pick up an album and still have money left over for his date and rent.

Hmmm…a CD and a Relic Album…Yeah. I can afford that. It'll be tight, but as long as I have 1100 Credits…1,000 for rent, 100 for the date, that should be good. How much could a date cost anyways?

The wall of Classic CD's was empty save for a mom wearing a neon vinyl tracksuit with a perm sorting through the Adelle collection. She gave Alex a friendly smile and he saw multiple rows of sharpened silver teeth. Alex quickly found the rock section and started sorting through them. What was he feeling? He didn't need any more Elvis CD's, and they were always expensive. Maybe another classic punk band? Alex lost himself in the sorting as the Mom left with a stack of Adelle's greatest hits. Finally, after sorting through, something caught his eye. A still wrapped in antique plastic Bob Marley CD. For some reason, it just felt right. He had heard the music on the radio, and lots of times online. Plus it was different from what he usually listened to. He [Investigated] it and was happy to see that he could definitely afford it.

[Bob Marley Exodus - 50 Credits]

Yeah, I can afford that…Time for a Relic album.

Alex turned back toward the center of the store and saw Mary shuffling on the other side. Not just Mary, actually. At least 10 shoppers in the Magic Techno section were synchronized in aggressive footwork to a beat Alex couldn't hear. Beepy sat on the table looking concerned while Zippy dodged out of the way of shoppers flailing arms.

He turned toward the Rock Relic Albums as he moved past a display of toy figures. One of the K-Pop doll displays danced together while giggling shoppers took pictures and purchased the exclusive set. Alex considered an album shaped like a pickaxe made by an anonymous Monster band turned screamo enthusiasts. Probably too weird. Eventually he sorted through his bread and butter, the classic punk. And he was delighted to find that Green Day apparently had a new album. It was shaped like a stubby used cigarette that puffed dissipating smoke. A little plaque read "Wookie - Green Day,". He couldn't help himself and picked it up, injecting some Essence into the butt end. Music fired up in his skull and a little countdown timer notification hit him.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

[Wookie - Green Day - Sample Track - 0:29 Remaining]

Alex bobbed his head as the countdown timer dropped down to zero. It was good, and just like their old stuff. He definitely wanted it…but it would put him down under his 1100 Credits he needed for rent and the date. The music stopped playing just as they got to the Chorus. It was a cheap trick, and Alex knew it, but he couldn't deny the tactics. He checked the price just in case.

[Green Day Wookie - 99 Credits]

Hmmm…I mean. Rent is due Friday, today is Sunday…I could buy a couple of what I want and actually just enjoy my money. I have a shift in two days, and I'll be working all week. I'll definitely make enough money by then. Just need enough money for the date. 100 Credits? 200 to be safe. Yeah…

And just like many broke young who finally get their first hit of disposable income, Alex went off. He picked up a Relic Album in the shape of a little sneaker meant to pump you up during runs. That one would be good for deliveries. Another one was shaped like a pillow and would be good for chilling and naps. Basically essential at that point. He found a cat paw of some random band he'd never heard of made up of cat girls. Definitely had to look them up later. He justified every single grab like a high paid finance bro rolling on something very much like a sugar high. By the time he finished, he had eight albums in total and was practically skipping toward the register.

He grabbed a sweaty Mary on the way and pulled her out the Skill forced dancing. She was grabbing just a single album shaped like a key and wouldn't shut up about 'how awesome this DJ was,". The line went quick, and soon the clerk with the floating and filthy dreads shoved an Essence pay pad in Alex's direction. He moved some Essence into it and smiled as his Credits zipped out of him.

Money is so awesome.

[Credits: 1168 -> 231]

Sure some of them were more expensive than others. He probably didn't need the cat girls album. But the running album would just make the deliveries better, and he was actually missing going for runs already. Before he even made it to the parking garage, Alex had already injected some Essence into each of the Albums and beamed as they were added to his permanent [Audio Player] collection. For the first time in his life Alex was the proud owner of legal music.

[Audio Player added Wookie - Green Day]

[Audio Player added Meow for You - Kitty Kat Gurlz]

[Audio Player added Just Keep Runnin' - Dash & The Burners]

[Audio Player added No Relation - Jill Collins]

…

The little dings affirmed his decision as he strutted down Cumberland and past the much richer people with their floating Familiars and belts. Who needed a belt when you had a job to make quick cash? He had a bag full of cool Relic Albums, some sexy pants that respected the butt, and a belly stuffed with food.

"You know Mary," Alex skipped past cars worth more than him, and even one that slowly shifted to different configurations. "I know I was a bit of a bummer before shopping. But I think you were right. Shopping is awesome!" Beepy cheered in Mary's arms.

"Told you, man," Mary shook her head as they approached Alex's car. There was something on the windshield. Something yellow. "You have a real job now. Don't need to do those odd job apps or whatever sketchy shit you were doing before. Let me, Mary, professional spender, fashionista, robotics geniu–"

"What is that?" Alex's stomach gave out from under him as he sprinted towards his car. The yellow piece of paper could only mean one thing. "No no no no no. Shit! A parking ticket!" Alex picked up the parking ticket. It was an unrippable piece of yellow paper with illegible text, but he knew what it was. He had felt the pain of receiving an outlandish ticket. He must have forgotten to check he had left in the parking meter.

"Damn," Mary said as she caught up. "How much?" Alex sighed and [Investigated] it. The damn thing was so tightly packed with text that he didn't feel like deciphering it.

[Parking Ticket - 200 Credits]

[Reason: Over time by 00:01:13 as noted by the Krusher Auto Group in partnership with the Toronto Parking Guild]

[Terms: Payable immediately via Ticket. You may dispute your ticket at any Toronto Parking Guild Location. Failure to pay ticket will increase cost by 10% cumulative each day.]

[Maximum Fine: 1,000]

"200!" Alex yelled. "200 Credits! Are you kidding me!?" Panic beset him as he realized that he had just enough to pay the ticket. There was no way the Toronto Parking Guild would still be open on a Sunday. Even if it was, the line would be monstrous. He'd expect he would actually die of old age before it was his turn in the queue. "Fuck! I shouldn't have spent all those Credits!"

"I'm sorry, man, shit," Mary shuffled awkwardly. He had 231 left, which was barely enough to pay the ticket and have some left for his date.

"Shit!" Alex sucked his teeth. "Do I pay it now? Try and fight it? Goddamn Krushers!" He looked at Mary for any insight. She was more of an adult than him. He also suddenly had no qualms on planting the bracelet at a Krusher Clan location later that night.

Godamn Krushers! Now this is even MORE personal.

Then came a sound. It was a soft laugh that carried through the parking garage.

"Alex! Oooooooh, Alex!" a syrupy, mousey voice called from somewhere. "Alex! Do you hear me? I'm over here. By the…well. You'll see! Come, it's time for your full reading." Zippy had already spun midair in the direction of the call.

"Uhh," Mary said. "Alex? Who the hell is calling for you?" Alex sighed and rubbed his face.

Fricken Ghosts man. Always getting up your business.

He threw in his bags and Mary followed suit, then marched off toward the source of the sound. Mr. Mystical was talking to himself and calling Alex over. "You need to have your reading! It's time!" You really didn't mess with Ghosts. Better to just get it over with now and see what Mr. Mystical wanted. Maybe he needed a reading just about now.

"It's Mr. Mystical," Alex didn't even question how the taxidermied mouse had shown up in the parking garage. "He's a…well. Yeah, like he said. You'll see."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.