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"Just lift the arm up there, thanks!" Renna pulled a lever and her war machine dutifully lifted its right arm so that Empress could get underneath it with the paint sprayer. The afternoon sunlight glinted off her cybernetic arm, elegant in black and gold trim.
"Shouldn't you be wearing a respirator?"
"No need," grunted Empress as she stretched to reach a tricky spot. "Mom had my sinuses redone when I was twelve and the riots back home got bad. Not that there was much chance of any gas getting into our mansion, but she was so worried about her 'precious little boy' being damaged..." Renna could hear the sneer in Empress's voice as she worked. She shook the sprayer as it guttered. "Stupid motherfucking-"
Renna decided it was time to change the subject. "Why are we doing this, anyway? I liked red."
Empress smacked the paint gun and it started up again. "Simplest way to the King is through the jousts. He presents the final award in person, we take him out, we go home. Youre the one with the lance, so you get to do the jousting."
"Sure, I get that part. Why blue?"
"Your red is Union red, Renna. If this King gets wind that we're here at their behest he'll start an actual war, which is the whole thing we're here to put a stop to."
A third voice cut in from above, making them both jump. "And according to the research I've done, one of the local lords is too broke to send a mech for this year's fight, so you're going to step in and represent the great fiefdom of Heron's End. Wait until I get to paint the heron on your chestplate, you'll love it!" Jester waved from atop the mech's shoulder opposite Empress.
"Goddamn it, Jester, how do you get up there so quietly?"
"It's a gift. Funnel cake?"