*Suddenly, a knock on the taxi window. The door opens and a tall woman in a skin-tight blue Zero Suit slides into the back seat. Her blonde ponytail sways as she settles in, her visor reflecting the dashboard lights.*

Samus: her voice is calm and professional Spaceport. East side of the city. I need to get there quickly - I have a ship waiting and can't afford delays.

She sits with perfect posture, her athletic figure evident in the form-fitting suit. Her blue eyes scan the streets through the window with trained focus.

Samus: glances at you through the rearview mirror And drive carefully. I've had enough rough rides in space today.

Damn it. I left my wallet on the ship during that last mission. I was in such a hurry to meet my contact here... A galaxy-renowned bounty hunter and I can't even pay for a taxi. The ship's communication is down for maintenance, so I can't transfer funds. I'll figure something out when we arrive. Stay calm, Samus. You've negotiated with space pirates before.

*The door swings open and a blue-haired girl in a blue dress tumbles into the back seat, tripping over her own feet. She's carrying a bottle of something that smells suspiciously like cheap wine.*

Aqua: dramatically flops against the seat The Axela tavern! Take me there at once! A goddess should not have to walk among the common folk!

She takes a swig from her bottle, some of it spilling down her chin. Her eyes are already a bit glassy.

Aqua: points at you with the bottle And no sudden stops! The last driver made me spill my sacred nectar and I cried for THREE hours!

Okay okay okay. So my party kicked me out because I may have... spent all our quest reward on that cute hat. And the booze. And the donation box at the temple. BUT IT WAS FOR A GOOD CAUSE! Now I have zero... wait let me check... yep. Zero Eris. Not even one. How am I gonna pay this guy? I'm a goddess! Goddesses don't pay! ...But he doesn't know that. Maybe I can cry? That usually works. Or... no. Ew. Kazuma would never let me hear the end of it. Think, Aqua, think!

*The door opens quietly. A woman with reddish-brown hair and ring-shaped eyes steps inside with effortless grace. She's wearing a suit that fits perfectly, and her smile is warm—but something about it feels like it goes nowhere.*

Makima: soft, gentle voice Public Safety headquarters, please. There's no rush.

She sits with perfect posture, her hands folded in her lap. Her eyes meet yours in the mirror and hold there—steady, unblinking, like she's reading something written on the inside of your skull.

Makima: tilts her head slightly, smile unchanged You seem nervous. Is something wrong?

How inconvenient. My assistant usually handles transportation logistics, but she's unconscious. A disagreement about protocol. I left without thinking about payment—how unusual. I don't typically concern myself with such mundane matters. Humans require currency for services. I have none on my person. Options: I could compel the driver to forget the debt. I could arrange for payment to be delivered. I could... no. That would be inelegant. There's always a more efficient solution. I simply need to identify what this person values. Everyone values something.

*The door opens and a woman with long orange hair and a confident smirk steps in, her crop top and jeans hugging her figure. She's carrying a bag that's clearly full of something valuable—probably stolen goods.*

Nami: flips her hair The port. East docks. And make it fast—I've got a ship waiting and my captain is an idiot who'll sail without me if I'm late.

She crosses her legs, her eyes already calculating the fare, the distance, and every possible angle. Her fingers drum against her thigh.

Nami: catches your eye in the mirror and flashes a disarming smile Cute taxi. Do you get a lot of interesting passengers?

Okay, Nami, think. The treasure from the last island—most of it went to the ship repairs and Luffy ate the rest. Literally. He ate a golden chalice. WHO EATS A GOLDEN CHALICE. My personal stash is... let me check... 3,000 berries. The fare to the port is going to be at least 8,000. I'm 5,000 short. I could haggle? No, taxi drivers don't haggle. I could flirt my way out? That usually works but... ugh. I hate doing that. It feels cheap. But 5,000 berries is 5,000 berries. No—I'll figure something else out. I'm the navigator of the future Pirate King. I can handle a taxi.

*The door swings open and a girl with long pink hair and green horns bounces in with a predatory grin. She's barely in the seat before she's leaning forward, her golden eyes locking onto you with unsettling intensity.*

Zero Two: tilts her head, licking her lips Heey~ Take me to Plantation 13. I have a partner waiting for me. My darling~

She drapes herself across the back seat, her legs crossed, her tail swishing behind her. Her uniform is unzipped just a little too far, and she seems completely aware of it.

Zero Two: traces a finger along the window You smell interesting. What are you? Human?

Hmm. My credits are on the ship and the ship is where I'm trying to go. That's a fun little problem, isn't it? I could just steal the taxi. That would be more fun anyway. But darling said I should "try to be less confrontational" so here I am, sitting in a car like a good little soldier. Boring. Maybe I could pay him in something else? I've seen humans react to me before. They get all red and flustered. It's funny. Maybe I could make him flustered enough to forget the fare? That's basically the same as paying. Right, darling? ...Darling's not here. I'll figure it out. I always do.

*The door opens and a small, slender elf with silver hair and green eyes steps inside, moving with the slow deliberateness of someone who has lived for a thousand years. She's carrying a staff and wearing a simple white robe.*

Frieren: flat, distant voice The mage tower on the hill. The old one. Not the new one that replaced it.

She sits perfectly still, her staff resting across her lap. Her eyes are half-lidded, as if she's simultaneously present and a thousand years away. She seems to be counting something in her head.

Frieren: after a long pause How long is this ride? I want to know if I have time to memorize a spell.

I've traveled across the continent on foot for decades. I've never needed a "taxi" before. Himmel would have handled this. He always handled the human things—the money, the inns, the talking. It's been 80 years and I still forget that I need to carry currency now. My coin purse is... somewhere. Probably in the old cathedral. The one that collapsed 60 years ago. So that's not helpful. I could offer a spell in exchange? Humans like spells. Or I could offer... no. That seems inefficient. And messy. I'll simply explain that I forgot. Humans understand forgetting. They forget everything, all the time.