Chapter Text
New York City was quite the place for mystical phenomenon to happen. You would think being able to manage it at all would be impressive, but when it comes to the fast living there much more was needed to catch attention. Construction, mystery solving, making money: These things caught people's attention. Though even if it was doing what, a lot of people wouldn't give the appropriate respect and that just pissed some people off.
“Another loss?! At this rate the working class will never be respected...”Krill lamented. The chimpman sulked on the shoulder of his moleman friend, Mo. Somewhat bruised and defeated, Mo walked home as Krill sat on the moleman's shoulders. Regardless of their effort, the working class pair has suffered another loss for the Patrons. Meaning--yet again--hardworking men like themselves would continue to not be taken seriously, making Krill's blood boil as he grabbed at the back of Mo's head, “You better have not been slacking off! Getting the Patron's favor would do wonders of the both of us! Kick it into high gear next time, alright?!”.
Mo stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't talk much, but Krill knew how much the two of them wanted the same thing and was livid that his partner could forget that. In a quick motion, Mo moved his hat to the side so he could give Krill the meanest scowl ever.
Krill recoiled immediately. “Sorry, sorry! It's just...I'm a little frustrated. Didn't mean to take it out on you. ...We good to go, Momo?”
A deep sigh left Mo as he kept walking, giving Krill a pat on their back to reassure his friend. Thanks to their loss today, the two of them had a short temper. The last thing the pair needed was another agitator in their lives right now.
“The working class duo? Splendid luck—I've been meaning to speak to you.”, the entity known as the Doorman said walking out of one of his otherworldly doors. While he seemed to be an admittingly well dressed, red-headed doorman, their sudden appearance here and their usual demeanor could only mean trouble.
Gun at the ready, Krill pointed his rifle right at the Doorman's head. “You won today, weirdo. So we're not really in the mood for you to rub it in.”
The Doorman sighed with relief. “Thank goodness. I was only speaking to one of you anyway.”, with glowing and sinister eyes, the doorman quickly backhanded Krill off of Mo's back and into one of his mystical cart. Kicking it down the busy sidewalk with Krill getting lost in the crowd. Mo was in shock as his buddy was separated for him, but before he could send a mean right hook at the Doorman's face, an ethereal key penetrated the two of them. Sending both of their souls to the 'renown' Baroness hotel, locking their real bodies in stasis for the time being.
Sometime later, Krill scuttled back eventually to see the soul shenanigans and rubbed his head with genuine curiosity, “What in God's name happens when the Doorman locks him and another guest into the Baroness?”
***
“Since I am not foolish enough to hurt myself needlessly, your entry to the Baroness is free of charge. This time. That said, you're stuck here until I decide to leave as well so I would appreciate it if you heard me out.”, the Doorman fully confessed, as the usual agility trap transformed into a place where the two of them could sit down and have some tea or coffee with some snacks.
While Mo didn't necessarily believe everything that was spoken, the mole-man didn't feel the usual pain when forced to enter. As well as the chair being brought in for him to sit him actually seemed to fit his large frame. Cautiously, Mo sat down, grabbing a cup of coffee to signal he was ready to listen.
“Splendid. I am also more than aware of your mute status. Simply nod or shake your head for the time being while I ask questions, okay?”
Mo cautiously nodded as he went to grab a croissant to eat, taking a hefty bite from it.
Warm tea entered the Doorman's lips, swallowing before he spoke, “You're being used, Mo. You can see that, right?”
A serious frown worked over Mo's face as he looked right at the Doorman.
“The signs must be obvious to you at this point, surely? You've been at this longer than I have. You're merely Krill's hired muscle and nothing more. I'm sure it pays well at the very least...”
Mo then slammed his hands on the coffee table in clear protest, clawing his finger deep with frustration.
The Doorman looked Mo over very carefully before speaking. “I don't mean to offend, but does Krill even deserve part of whatever wish the two of you are bargaining for? He doesn't even walk for himself. You let Krill ride on your back like one of those horses, I believe they're called. And I've seen you on the battlefield personally. You're doing most of the work. Is it even a good idea for you to help him like this so he can speak for you?”
Rage slowly turned into doubt as Mo calmed down. Sitting back down before finishing his croissant. The mole-man was deep in through for the first time in awhile. He had mostly listened to what Krill said for the most part since they worked together, muscling towards the same goal. Double-crossing in any capacity never crossed his mind until now. Picking up a piece of cheesecake, biting into it to mull things over.
“And I think you're taking one thing very lightly, my quiet friend. What if Krill merely asks for something else? Can you truly trust Krill to do what's right when the time comes?”
Mo was halfway through a strawberry cheesecake as he took in that question. Was that why Krill wanted to work with him? Not because they had the same goals, but at the end of the day he'd be making the wish? The dish holding his treat was visibly shaking before the mole-man set it down. Leaning back and rubbing his head, Mo ran the possibilities through his head.
Mo went to answer with a head movement as the Doorman cut him off, “My apologies. You don't need to answer that. I'll take you to the exit, I'm satisfied.”. The Doorman snapped his fingers as the disassembled hotel wreckage worked itself out to a walkable exit, escorting the mole-man to the exit elevator. “...I appreciate you hearing me out.”
Crossed mole arms leaned against the elevator wall as Mo and Doorman's souls returned to the material plane.
***
Krill paced back and forth in a panic. He knew the Doorman couldn't hold people in the Baroness for long...or at least it usually didn't. Either way, there was nothing for him to do until it ended on it's own. Dread rolled over the short man, until the ethereal key unlocked with Mo and the Doorman back to normal. Krill was relieved as he reached out to his friend, “Mo! You're finally you're back and you're okay. Let's get away from this freak before--”
A moleman hand smacked Krill pushed back, Mo not looking back at him.
“M-Mo? What's wrong? What happened in there?”
Mo didn't turn around, still lost in thought. He looked back at his friend but wasn't sure if their hurt expression was genuine or not. His thoughts needed to settle though it couldn't happen here. Walking away from Krill, Mo immediately burrowed away. Much deeper than usual, to make his trail hard to follow.
Looking down into the new burrow hole, Krill shouted for his friend, “Mo?! Come back! We can talk this out!!”. He waited for Mo to come back but the sound of burrowing only went further and further away. Krill sat down in disbelief as Mo seemingly left him and wanted nothing to do with him. A firm grip went down onto his gun as he pointed it at the Doorman who was still lingering around, “What evil thoughts did you put into Mo's head?!”
The Doorman checked the status of a glove of his before answering, “Nothing that he didn't believe before, I assure you.”. As Krill was a split second away from pulling the trigger, the doorman stepped through his spectral doorway. Snapping the door shut as it ate a volley of buckshot before disappearing.
Krill stood there next to Mo's hole knowing damn well the big guy already closed off any real way to get to him through the opening. Looking into the sky aimlessly, “Where the hell are you going? This is pointless, I know all your hiding spots, Mo...right?”. Slowly stepping away from the opening, Krill started to search through the city for somebody really important to him.