Chapter Text
Kyoko was… sheltered. She’s had the privilege of having a relatively good childhood, living the dream career she’s wanted since she was a kid, having enough money to blow on Christmas shopping. And while she’s seen the blood and bile in the world, Kyoko’s efforts to help have kinda changed things… so, she guesses that’s not too bad.
And she also has not been messing with any weird ass swords that talk to her. Unlike her two best friends, who really, she loves them, so much, but also… why.
C’mon. Even Griefer thinks this is weird.
“You…” Kyoko blinks. She’s— look, she wants to be understanding. “You buy stuff from… this…”
“WACK ALLEY WE1RD0 WH0 H4S B33N 0N THE NEWS F0R…” Griefer snaps out his phone. “0H. YE4H. MURD3R, R0BBERY, ASSAULT, 1DENT1TY THEFT, LARCENY…”
Player slowly turns to the Sketchy Figure, eyes narrowing. The figure shrugs.
“…GRAVE R0BBERY? TH4T’S CRAZY. FA1LURE T0 RESTRA1N A RH1N0, FA1R EN0UGH… UNLICENSED DENT1STRY?” Griefer rubs his glasses, then holds his phone close to his face, as though that’ll fix anything. “WH0 THE FUCK ARE Y0U, TH3 J0KER?”
Again, the Sketchy Figure shrugs.
Kyoko gently rests a hand on Player’s shoulder, before looking them in the eyes. “Player,” she asks tensely, “…How do you know this guy?”
Player awkwardly averts their gaze. The Sketchy Figure raspily coughs, eyes glowing ominously. “They’re a paying customer, nobody asks questions… It’s all in good business.”
Player nods, but Kyoko and Griefer look deeply unimpressed. Player’s face tightens slightly, before they exhale. “I… They’re helpful, when you get to know them. So… Do you have any Christmas trees?”
“Oh yes,” the Sketchy Figure cackles, voice hoarse. In what’s probably the most ridiculous thing Kyoko’s seen all year, the figure pulls a tree out of his pockets. The verdant needles come first, slow and scratching, catching on his fabric, and then fifteen feet of trunk thunders to the ground.
The figure brushes off a pine cone.
Griefer’s jaw hits the floor.
Kyoko makes a strange noise.
Player smiles. “Thanks. How much?”
“Hmm…” the figure hacks out, “The tree has been a nuisance to grow… and my Bux empire doesn’t require more… for now. Maybe some Swiss Miss?”
Player offers a thumbs up, before Griefer abruptly pulls them and Kyoko into a team huddle… thing. The figure files their nails.
“DUDE,” Griefer hisses in a hushed voice, “1 KN0W 1 A1N’T EXACTLY A BEAC0N 0F M0RAL1TY. BUT W3 SH0ULD PR0BABLY… L1KE—”
“Not buy from unlicensed dentists,” Kyoko says faintly.
“WH4T SHE SA1D.”
“…What does dentistry have to do with Christmas trees?”
Kyoko and Griefer blink.
“Uh…”
“1T’S, L1KE…”
There’s an awkward silence for a moment, before Player cuts through. “Look,” they huff. “It’s fine, really. They’ve been there for me, they keep their word… it’s cool.”
Kyoko opens her mouth, because this guy is… they’re just…
Kyoko won’t let another sibling get hurt.
Her jaw snaps shut as Player, eyes hopeful, says, “Just trust me.”
There’s nothing to say to that.