Chapter Text
Metal footsteps clanking against the pathways.
The storm had only gotten worse, thought it seemed to be small and concentrated throughout a small area.
A small area, with her at the center of it.
The dock was Misty’s favorite place to stay. Mostly because Cogs left her alone, and most Toons did too.
She had wrapped herself in a cloak, just so she would hopefully be left alone on the way there.
And finally, the gravel under her feet turned into wood.
~
Sitting alone gave Mary a lot of time to think. As much as she liked to talk to others, she liked to hang out at the dock and watch the ocean waves. Not many of the others seemed to like the docks though. Something about it being too creepy.
Suddenly, a drop on her shoulder. She looked up as the sky started to sprinkle, then pour. Ah. She should have brought an umbrella. No matter, she didn’t quite mind the rain, even if it would leave her soaked.
Eventually, she heard footsteps. She turned around to see a small cloaked figure rushing towards the end of the dock, with their head down, seemingly not noticing her.
“Hello?”
~
She froze, looking up to spot… a Cog.
Oh, Gods, no.
She didn’t expect to see anyone else here. Much less a complete stranger.
“..hi.”
“Hey! Didn’t expect someone else to stop by. Usually nobody comes around.”
Misty mentally cursed herself for going along with it, but… if she didn’t know who this was, there was a possibility…
“..that’s why I like to come here.”
She slowly stepped up to the edge, clutching her sleeves under her cloak. Even just getting close to this cog was making her nervous.
“Really? I just come here ‘cause I like watching the ocean.”
Misty fell silent, lost in her thoughts, which didn’t seem to go unnoticed by the other. “Hey, if you want, I won’t say anything. You can just pretend I’m not here.”
..She hated being such a pushover.
“No, no, it’s okay… I think I would like a conversation anyway..”
She carefully sat down at the edge of the dock, unhooking her cloak and letting it fall behind her.
She almost flinched as she looked up and saw the stranger’s glowing eyes boring into her from underneath their shadowy helmet.
Her stare was interrupted by the stranger holding a hand out. “Don’t think I’ve met ‘cha before. What’s your name?”
Ah… a handshake. She hesitantly held her hand up. “Rainmaker.”
“No, like, your real name. Not your business name.”
Oh. “Ah, uhm.. Misty. Misty Monsoon.”
The stranger took her hand and shook it. Their grip was sure and strong, and the shake was… almost violent. Any stronger and Misty likely would have been flying through the air when she let go.
“My name’s Mary Anna. Or, ‘guess just call me Mary. Or Deep Diver, if we’re going by business names here.” One of Mary’s glowing eyes winked at Misty.
Misty felt a laugh bubble from her throat. She couldn’t help it. This cog just seemed so charismatic. “Real names are fine..”
“Cool, cool!”
She felt like Mary was still staring, however. She had to be. Misty was… rather unique. Mainly because of her color-changing cloud hair, to put it bluntly.
“What’s up with the mask? If y’dont mind me asking, of course.”
Out of all the things she could have noticed first.
“Uhm… t-toons. Toon attacks…”
“Toon attacks?”
She doesn’t believe me. She knew it. She shouldn’t have hesitated. She should have-
“Ohh… I get it! It was a zapper, wasn’t it? Those always leave marks.”
…oh.
At least she bought it.
She didn’t want to have to… to tell the truth to a stranger so quickly.
She lied, of course. The scars under her mask were not caused by Toons.
“Y-yes. It was. My skin is, uh… my skin is very fragile.”
“Ahh, makes sense.”
Misty looked up at Mary’s helmet. “Well.. if we’re asking questions.. Why do you have that helmet?”
Mary immediately looked down, turning to look at Misty face-on, making her flinch.
“If I told you that, I would have to kill you.”
Misty froze in fear, staring up at those wide, piercing eyes…
..and then Mary turned away, bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha- ha- oh, I’m sorry- hehee.. I love getting people with that one! Heheha..”
Misty barely moved, only exhaling when she realized she was holding her breath.
Mary turned back around. “Hey, I’m only kidding! Don’t look at me like that! It’s just a personal thing.”
Misty found herself smiling slightly. The stunt terrified her, but.. it felt like an actual joke. It was made to get a reaction, but not at her expense… if that made sense.
She quietly looked back out at the ocean, relaxing her shoulders.
~
Mary looked down at the small, shaken Cog. She immediately felt a twinge of guilt, seeing how she had reacted so intensely.
She carefully put a hand down on Misty’s shoulder. “Hey.. I didn’t mean to scare you. It was just a joke. Honest. I do it to everyone.”
Misty looked up at her, then back at the ocean. “It’s okay.. I just- i-it happens a lot.. I think I should be used to it by now.”
Something about that sounded strange to Mary. But she barely knew Misty… She shrugged it off. “Hey, no shame in bein’ a quick fright. Happens to the best of us.”
She couldn’t tell, but something about the way the rain was lessening seemed to Mary that she had done something right.