Listeners (LISTENERS)

Empty alleyways.

Peeling asphalt.

Leaden skies as far as the eye can see.

This is where I belong.

There was a time when this place was the center of the world...

Or so the old geezers once told me.

But there's no sign of that anywhere now.

No Future.

There is no future for us.

Crap! Crap! Crap!

Ritchie?

--What's wro-- --Lyde, run!

Damn it! Go away!

I said, go away!

What the heck?

Am I gonna die without having done anything?

No! No! I don't want that!

I don't want to end here!

-We're... saved?

--Holy cow... --We're... saved?

Drawing at a time like this?

Yeah.

So that I'll never forget this moment.

"Day of Rage"

Whew! It's freezing!

The boss is gonna yell at you again for slacking off.

I know.

Huh? Were you reminiscing about that day again?

Yeah.

It's been ten years, man.

You've become an old, old man.

And yet, you're still a virgin.

Hey, shut up, moron.

--Boss! --You stinking little brat!

--Did you do something again? --You stinking little brat!

Did you think you could steal from the till and not get caught?!

The hell you say?!

Kn-Knock it off!

I could easily find a replacement for a dirty little brat like you!

So, will you pay back what you stole this instant?

Or will you quit your job here? Pick one!

I ain't paying you back! And I ain't quitting!

So you did take it?

You damn brat...

I hate to interrupt when you're busy, but...

Would you mind not quitting until you've fixed this for me?

Whoa! Awesome! I haven't seen a vintage amp in ages!

L-L-L-Lyde, my dear boy...

I wonder if it'll really be okay...

It'll be totally okay.

He might not look it, but Lyde's good with his hands.

He's been the best at tinkering with gadgets ever since he was little.

Also, he's crazy good at drawing.

So, you two have known each other for a long time.

Yup, we've been together since we were five.

What're you chitchatting about?

Hey, you're done already?

There were loose connections in the power circuit.

Also, the amplifier was on its last leg, so I replaced some parts.

But I'm sure you'll want to see for yourself.

--Oh... --Ritchie, watch the shop for me.

Sure thing.

Wait, where are we going?

Well, just come with me.

This is the Londinium Patrol Squad.

This zone has been designated

as the theater of implementation for Operation Godfather.

--All unauthorized persons are asked to leave immediately.

--Ooh! It's so responsive! --All unauthorized persons are asked to leave immediately.

Wow...

How is it?

It's better than perfect!

I'm not sure I remember the last time it moved so well.

Oh, yeah. Do you wanna go for a ride?

A ride? Me?

Yup. You fixed it for me. You've got a right to ride it, too.

No one's ever said that to me before.

Hup.

It's not meant for two, so it might be a bit cramped, but...

Well? Doesn't it feel great?

This is awesome!

You are encroaching on restricted airspace.

Turn back immediately.

Huh?!

You have been warned. Turn back immediately!

-Aw, that's no fun.

--This seriously ticks me off. --Aw, that's no fun.

Isn't that...

That's... Ritchie, right?

That ass. I told him to watch the shop.

Where is he going?

What's he doing?

What's he doing? Well, that's...

Professing his love, I'm sure.

Professing his love?!

Wow...

Now, then...

Whoops. It should be ending soon.

Well, shall we get back to the shop?

O-Oh, sure.

But, man, he sure never gets tired of it.

He tries over and over again, and he gets rejected every single time.

I'll have to be there to comfort him again.

Ritchie!

What happened to you?!

That hurt!

You stinking old geezer!

Where the hell were you wandering about, leaving your post at the shop?!

I wasn't wandering about anywhere!

Uh-oh, this is looking a bit déjà vu here...

I only went with a customer to test the amp I'd fixed.

Don't give me that back talk!

There you go again, doing these stupid drawings.

Fancy yourself a full-fledged artist, do you?

Give that back!

You planning on becoming an artist and leaving this town or something?

Hah! What nonsense!

You're going to work here for the rest of your life until you die.

Handling something important in that way...

It's not something a proper adult does.

Th-Th-That's...

Here.

And here's your payment.

Big Bro!

Huh?

Cheers!

Haven't laughed like that in ages.

The look on the boss's face when that bundle of cash was thrown at him!

What's wrong, Big Bro? What's with the long face?

I got carried away and did all that,

but now I'm having second thoughts.

Of course, it was fine, Big Bro.

An old asshole like him

can keep counting coins in the trash heap for the rest of his life!

Right, Big Bro?

Would you knock it off with that "Big Bro" thing?

No matter how you look at it, I'm younger than you guys.

Come to think of it, we still don't know what your name is, do we?

My name?

Now that you mention it... I'm Lyde.

And this guy is Ritchie.

Yo.

I'm Nir.

What're you here in Londinium for?

What for?

It's not like I especially had some goal.

I stirred up a bit of trouble in the last place I was at...

And you hightailed it out of there?!

That sounds kinda cool!

Not at all. It wasn't like that.

I see, so you don't have anywhere to stay.

Then, come stay with us tonight.

There's something I want you to see.

-Come on, this way.

--Lyde! --Come on, this way.

-First thing you say is "I'm home"!

--Oh, shut up. --First thing you say is "I'm home"!

Long time no see, ma'am.

Pardon my intrusion.

-Did you all eat already?

--Damn it. --Did you all eat already?

If it's soup, there's still a little left.

All right, already.

Who's she?

She's our mum. I mean, not like our real one, but...

Our parents and relatives all got offed in the Earless air raids, so...

Sorry, I didn't know.

Vivienne is the upstanding old bat who took us in.

Ready, set...

This is the thing we saw today during the day.

Yup. It's one of the Londinium Patrol Squad's Equipment.

We found it, broken and abandoned!

Amazing, right, Big Bro?

I want you...

...to pilot this thing.

Me?

I say pilot it, but it's under repairs right now.

How do you like my special soup?

It's so good! I couldn't get anything this good, even in Chelsea!

Oh, Ritchie, you are such a flatterer.