The Vincence EmpireBoard

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Maxim would sit at a bus stop as a downpour swept across Yi City.

As he waited for a bus, someone would sit by him on the bench holding an umbrella. She was around the same age as him, and looked indigenous, most likely from the Far East or Alaska. As they continue to wait in silence, she would get a notification from her phone and grumble something in Russian. She would quickly get up from out of her seat but before walking away, would say to Maxim.

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???: “The bus that was supposed to be here just went out of order. There's another stop a couple blocks away with buses that'll still go to it.”

Maxim: Oh, okay. Thank you.

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Maxim would get up from the bench.

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???: You don't look like you have an umbrella. We can walk together if you'd want?

Maxim: That would be great, thank you

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As they walked, Maxim would attempt to start a conversation.

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Maxim: So.. what's your name?

Kara: My name is Kara. My family are indigenous Buryats, they told me my name meant snow.

Maxim: That's a beautiful name. My name is Maxim.

Kara: Like the Novikov?

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Kara would take a good look at Maxim before her eyes sparkled

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Kara: You're a Novikov! What are you doing in Yi City of all places?

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Maxim would cracked a smile.

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Maxim: It's a pretty long story… You saw the resignation video right?

Kara: Who hasn't…? The majority of the country is in a state of grief, they thought you would attempt a counter-coup against Federov, but you decided to resign instead after.. Y'know.. the Spasskaya Tower incident..

Maxim: Yeah.. Anyway I'm basically in exile for the meantime. If I may ask.. How did you end up in Yi City?

Kara: I used to run my own private military company, we operated mostly in Africa and the Americas, but we also operated in Russia during the Frozen War. Dimitri kicked us out though since he's heavily anti-PMC so i've just been touring around places, like Yi City.

Maxim: Wow.. We've got pretty similar stories..

Kara: Yeah!

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They talked for the entire time it took for the bus to get there and for the entire ride to their destination. Before parting ways, Maxim would ask for her phone number so they could talk together later. Kara was thrilled to finally find someone with the same interests as her and was happy to exchange numbers with him.

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