Deus Ex: Cosplay Revolution

One hour.

That's how long it took for Duvet to finally get up. I'd quieted the second I heard him stirring, and grinned when his eyes fluttered open.

"Welcome to the world of the living, friend."

Startled, he spun his head around to face me and I swear he nearly jumped out of his skin. A spike in the heartbeat monitor, a terrible wince, and a bit of heavy breathing later, he was looking at me with caution. Almost wanted to grab him and give him a big ole' hug, because damn I hated seeing anyone with a sad face.

"W-who are you?" he murmurs, gripping the sheets.

I get onto my elbow, looking him right in the eye. "The guy who saved your life."

Duvet, what's his name, looked me over once more. "Th-thanks. She... she was going to... to..."

I held up my hand. "Let's not talk about that. What I want to know, is what was the deal with the 'snitches get stitches' act? What exactly were you leaking?"

He about-faced. Fuck, probably shouldn't have asked that, so soon after his waking up.

Needed a solution, and quick. One came into my head, a bullshit-but-likely one. "Look, I was hired by a pony to try and weed out dissidents. What was that mare talking about?"

"...A con-conspiracy."

I grinned. This was turning out wonderful. "What's this conspiracy about, anyhow?"

"To... I don't know. I just saw her, one night, t-talking to h-herself like the-there was somepony else... somepony else there. They were t-takin' about... a war."

Could see the blood draining from his face. "War. Of what kind?"

"I... I shouldn't be talking. Oh she's g-gonna find me! She's gonna hurt me!" He started panting, looking around the room. Fuck, I needed more information! "She's gonna find me and she's gonna kill me!"

Almost heard him yell, but I slammed my hand on the bedside table. Winced, but it stopped him from screaming. "She ain't gonna get you, she ain't gonna hurt you, and she ain't gonna find you, not on my or the Captain's watch. You got that?"

He nodded. I smiled. "Now, let's get off that topic. What's your name?"

"D-Duvet, sir..."

I already knew that from the sheet on the clipboard, but it was nice to hear it from the man himself. "Nice to meet you-" I held out my hand, he clasped it and shook "-I'm Darrell Mays, Private Investigator. I'm going to enlist the help of some friends of mine, and we're going to oust this conspiracy. You don't worry."

That was an empty promise and I knew it, but the weak smile on his face made my day. "T-thanks. Find th-that mare and... and bring her to justice."

"I will, buddy, I will. You just go back to sleep."

A nod. He turned, moaning in pain, but got into a comfortable position after a bit. I leaned back against the bed, waited for a nurse to come in.

By my internal clock, I'd say I'd been waiting some thirty minutes. Duvet had fallen back asleep, leaving me to my own devices.

Then I heard footsteps. I prepared to meet a nurse, but the woman that came into view definitely wasn't. Nine out of ten, that's all I'll say. Nice tits, great hips, tall, and almost human. Purple robes, embroidered with designs like the sun, that's what she wore. Swear her hair was a pastel rainbow that actually flowed, but that had to be a trick of the light.

Had to be.

"Excuse me, but are you Darrell Mays?" she asked.

I went ahead and said "yes."

She looked me up and down, eyes landing on the bandage on my arm. "As I've been made aware, you prevented an act of rape last night. Would you care to share the details?"

Duvet stirred. "You want the majority of the details, you ask my friend over here. All I can say is that I was at the right place, right time."

Something might have flashed on her face but I ignored it. She looked over to Duvet, and I swear I saw anger behind those big purple eyes, but the second I blinked it was gone. "And just who are you, Darrell Mays? You most certainly aren't a pony."

I chuckled. "No, I am. I just have a condition. But if you want a serious answer, then no, I ain't."

"Then what are you? I've not seen your kind before, not in all my years."

Put on a cheeky grin, that's what I did, but inside I was grasping at straws for an answer. "Me. That's what. One-of-a-kind, that's what I am."

"Funny."

"I know."

Silence fell. She seemed really out of it, somehow.

"You got a cigarette I could bum?"

There was a flash. A carton of little white cancer sticks popped onto the table next to me. I grinned, snagged them, and frowned when I didn't have a lighter.

"You also mind lighting this?" And another flash. The end of the cigarette glowed, a little bit of smoke came out, and I grinned. Took a deep draw on it, felt the cancer smoke inter my lungs, and I blew out a little puff. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. I'll leave you alone for the time being, at least until my sister arrives."

"Aight. Thanks for the smokes."

And then she left. I finished the cigarette, but cursed because I didn't have a fucking lighter. Goddammit, should've asked for that.

I was waiting, once more. Was doing a lot of waiting, really.

There were two things I could do. Wait, or find a lighter. If only I had a coin to decide what to do..