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"Ya got any plans to phight me again, Banny? I'm gettin' hella bored without anythin' to play wit'..." She slumped back all fatigued on her couch after a wild goose chase with her prized cows, also called her "harvest season". For a moment, she glares near the glow of the sun hovering over the distance, bright to blinding.
"...Sorry, Scythe. I'm still busy at the moment. I can call you up if I'm free, okay?" The other side of the line was of a resounding voice, along the typing sound of a keyboard in motion. She let out a disheartened loud groan, stretching all her aching muscles from wielding her gears too long.
"Awh...tough luck, I guess. Bye then, Ban." She was greet back with his farewells before hanging up on her own, her arms fell down, succumbed to exhaustion. But she suddenly felt a pang of guilt about a decade long secret of her, only kept to herself. She should do something about it...
Her hand began move on its own, then her finger scrolled on a row of contact. She stumbled on a familiar dealer name, and decided to text them.
"Hey Brokie, did Zukes receive the gears I told you to bring?"
"yup!!! he just shrug me off n snatch the bag out my hand tho :C you kno how he is:7"
"Good! Well, I was wondering if you could do me another favor, if youre not busy."
"nopidiy nope! my hands r free this evenin!!"
"wat do u want, boss???"
"Hey, you know about the time I told you that I accidentally spawn a newspawn out of my and his gear power? Well could you tell that child of my existence and our relationship? Theyre currently residing in Playground if I can remember... Caterdust Capital, specifically. Also ask the adoption receptionist from ****** Adoption Center, ****** for a better lead. Are you up for this?"
"caterdust capital in playground huh? heard thats where banny mother rule over or sum from the bypassin birdies. what was their gear again???"
"Gravity Coil. Shorten to Coil. Let me know if you inform them, deal?"
"Okie!!! but do i get anythin for this??? :/"
"Not again."
"Pls?????? what if wind god c me lurkin n capture me out of nowhere??? then itll be big trouble for me!!!! then u n kit will have to go against her!!! banny mite get angry for disturbin his mom!:C"
"Youll live, Brokie. I can convince him for his mother to release you if things get out of hand."
"u promised:P"
She sighs as she read the last message from them, relaxing back her arms on the cushions. She thinks of every possible outcomes if this went smoothly, or badly. Now, she just have to wait for him to negotiate with her supposed offspring about everything she had hidden until now.
"Oh my frickin' Overseers...! No wonder why these youngsters are so obnoxious n' greasy!" Broker struggled to get across dozens of messy trash bags to get to the border of the region, stepping on some unusual solid objects and mushy shapes beneath the trash bags. The weird liquid stained the rear end of his pants sleeves, his newest clothing for disguise, that he's definitely crying inside.
She tried to hold in her breath to block off the horrendous stench, and almost straining herself in the process. So much for taking on a new appearance.
After a while, he finally stepped inside the border, a brief of fresh air hits her nose. Actually, it comes with the dirty air pollution of the area, but it's better than nothing, he thought. He pulled out his small cellphone to check the address she gave him again. And approached some locals for information.
"She better give me my check after I deal with all of this crap." They spoke to herself while they look around, if she was to hear this, she would give them a grilling for sure, worst - killing them.
"Hey there, kids! Ya know where ****** Adoption Center is? I have some business to do there." He came up to some children playing, choosing his words and using a different tone of voice to avoid looking suspicious. They stop to look at the weirdly dressed acolyte, in their disguise at least.
"Uhm...Are you a tourist here, weirdo? We don't know any ******. Maybe ask an adult next time!" The child step out and arrogantly asserted from the trio, likely wanted them to stay out of their place of entertainment.
"Oh...! I- uh. Ahem. I will ask an adult next time! Okay? Stupid. " She almost lost her composure at his rude comment, but quickly returns to her usual facade and walk away from the children. She curses under her breath from their vulgar attitude, mumbling to threaten them next time she meets them.
They went around the cramped city trying to ask the local for the specific route of the address, but so far they only gotten ignored, side eyed and rude remarks about them being an outsider. At this point, maybe they could give up and report back to their boss empty...Wait, no. They HAVE to report back with good new! They can't just back down like that.
A long while, they pass by a duo of sort, with spray cans in one's hand. She attempts to bring up the subject again to them, and one seems interested in her question.
"******? Ya lookin' for filing adoption papers or sum?" The one with a cardboard box over their head asked curiously, tugging the Inphernal on their side by their neck. He grunted at the harsh movement, turning his face away from them.
"I need the precise direction of the center, for a friend's favor." She tugged at her disguised glove nervously, hoping they don't turn her down like the other.
"Oh yeah! Hey Spray Paint, ya remember the direction of that place?" The cardboard Inphernal turns to the Inphernal next to them, smiling under their mask. "...What?! I thought they were askin' you...?" The Inphernal panicked suddenly, shoving their arm away from his shoulders.
"Oh y'know...I don't exactly remember HOW to get there, soo...ahaha." "You gotta be shittin' me, Mx. Bot." He gave them a cold pricing glare, then turning his attention to the strange outsider.
"Listen up, gramps. The way to ****** is along this side, among the construction works, then ya turn a right to the Friday Weeks Markets, keep goin' straight until you get out of those crowds, finally turn a right, it should be on your left side. If ya didn't catch all of that then it's your fault." He states a detailed guide of the place from what he can recall, before getting an affirmation from the outsider with a nod. The duo dismissed her and go their way. Perfect. She thought.
She follows the young Inphernal's instructions to the center, crossing the not-too-crowded Market and going straight forward until she sees a path she could make a turn.
The Adoption Center wasn't really busy, but its still had a lot of newspawns playing together in a play room, waiting for a caretaker. He payed no minds to them and went straight to the reception desk for details.
"Hm? Oh, greeting uh..." The attendance stared at them up and down, confused on how to specify them by. "Ma'am or sir is fine to me!" They lean on the counter with glee, tapping their fingers intently.
"...Ma'am. Are you here to adopt a newspawn?" He asked with a stern expression, holding a clipboard on his gloved hand while flipping over some documents. "Oh no no no! Do I look like the caregiver type? I need for you to look through a record of an adopted newspawn 20 years ago, named Gravity Coil. Filed under the name: "Laser Scythe"." He stood upright, composed his posture make himself look more professional.
"...Gravity Coil? Hold on...Mrs. Teddy! Do you remember where you put the files of the past newspawns who are adopted? Under the name "Gravity Coil"." The attendant called out to the person near the play room doorframe. "...I'll go get it, Mister." The caregiver sighs and lift herself off the door to the desk.
She lean down under the desk, sorting out large stacks of paperwork inside the from drawers to drawers, having difficulties in luck because the file is probably discarded and tarnished after many years. But fortunately, she stumbled on a stack of brownish yellow blemished stacks of reports on the lowest section. She tried to flip through them and gladly came across a match.
She takes it out carefully to not ended up ripping it apart. She handed over the files to the outsider, they flipped over the files, seeing all the informations written in neat details. They look over the "Adoptive caretaker(s)" row, nothing but confusion cast over his face when they saw the name "Wolf".
"Wolf...? That's a strange gear to have." They pointed at the name on the sentence, scratching the ink on old paper. "Oh, that's what the creature called herself. If I can recall, she didn't present her gear at that time, appeared to be a giant white fur canine with red atrocious tusks, but no horns to be seen. And came to our Center out of nowhere, nearly scared most of the newspawns at present 20 years ago." The caregiver explained, seem to not believe in the word she said herself.
"Canine? How would she even negotiate if she's an animal?" They were perked with curiosity with the special phenomenon, they leaned foward as they forge a wide smirk at the two employees. "Uh. About that. She...talked. All normally. A creature which talked. Although, she didn't know how to write so I have to write it instead. But she tried to write her signature with her jaw, it came out wonky, but that's all what we need." She explained with uncertainty in her tone. After that, she saw another Inphernal walked through the main door of the center and turned her attention to the client.
"Well then ma'am, is that all you wanted to know?" The masculine attendant clasped his hand together, waiting for an answer. They looked at the address written on the file one last time before handing back the file to the attendant. "Uh-huh. Gotta get goin'. Buh-bye!" They waved cheerfully at the employees as they make their way through the door. They already got a lead in only a day, what relieves!
"...I know the adoptive caretaker of your little one! It was really simple, too! Also the receptionist didn't give a single thought why I ask for them. What stupidity, am I righttttt?" He skips on in joy, loosely grasping on his cell as he memorized the address. (He actually doesn't know where he's going, but he's walking anyways.) "...I sent ya out to inform them of us. Not havin' bad intentions to harm them." The voice one the other line was stern, leaving no room for jokes on his side. He bid her goodbye and hanged up the call.
"Hmm hmm hmm...Gravity Coil...Coil...Gravity, Gravity, Gravity. Where could you be? Hmm hmm hmm..." She hums a thought up melody while she walked around the busy and clobbered up architecture of the city corner. She saw an Inphernal vandalizing a wall with spray paint on the way, with a...Biograft's head? Well whatever the hell Playgrounders got going on with their fashion sense. But it would be troubling if she was to rat out a local like that, who knows if there's a gang waiting for her?!
She hums the melody again, kind of hoping to find them easier or something. But an unexpected tap wavered on her shoulder, rather roughly, more so metallic feeling. Her inner self panicked a little inside, but she tries to calm it down and swallow it dry.
"...What was that 'bout "Gravity Coil", huh? Punk?" A bitter voice came from behind them, they could feel the piercing glares bore deep on their back. The Inphernal's grip tightens, digging the cold metal on their skin further.
"Gulp. I. Uh." They're at a loss for words, they are seriously in deep trouble. They are going to get killed. They will get killed. Oh pray the Father they make out alive. This is bad.
"If ya got a problem with him, then come take a fistful from him." The Inphernal hurled over them in a hitch, curling their bicep around his neck, and carrying them easily. His panic went up to the limit, now on the edge of passing out due to difficulties breathing. He trembled under their grasp, holding on the big muscles of the arm trying to get air.
He tried to kick the opponent from behind, but it was futile because they apparently have legs made of steel or something. The Inphernal stayed quiet while he try to squirm his way out. It was nerve racking since he was barely on the ground the whole way to...wherever they're taken to.
What it feels like a decade, he finally get to land on the ground on all fours, almost deprived of air, breathing heavily, desperately getting the air back to his lungs. His sight began to get clearer, his senses getting back to him. He could see multiple shadows looming over his breathless body. He tries to lift his head up to take a good look at the people surrounding him.
"Holy freaks, Steam. What if this old gal has asthma issues or sum? You coulda killed them!" A soft but shrilling voice called out to opposite person that grabbed them from behind, looked like worrying for them. All they could think was how to evade this awful situation. No. They must get out of this mess!
"Ol' geezer, hm? What do ya want from me, huh?!" An Inphernal grabs their shirt collar from behind and snatch them up, making them stand upright while continuing their struggle for breath. "Urgh...ack...! I- hrgh!...need to... t-talk!" They desperately gasped for air and gripped on the arm from behind, attempting to let loose of the grip.
"Talk? Hah! Were ya stalkin' my bros just ta get my autograph?!" They shook her harshly as their taunting words point directly to the odd outsider. Curiously, their accent is quite...sharp. Very clear and sharp. She suddenly didn't feel the needs to struggle and focus on their similar feature to...both of them, instead.
"..."Hah"? Ya sound like The Warden, ki- ACK!" They shoved her before she could finish her comment, leaving her coughing for air for the second time, but managed to stay on her feet.
""The Warden"? Oh ya mean THAT Warden? From the scrum of the lava filled Banland? The Wind goddess's child?" A red colored horns Inphernal spoke out of hypothesis, shifting the lollipop to the other side of their cheek. The green horned Inphernals also looked skeptical at the odd clothing of the stranger, inspecting up and down.
"Hey, punk. Choose your words carefully or I'll-"
"Oh come on, you don't hafta be so rough on the stranger, Steam! They're probs just some outsider from other region that doesn't know the rules of us Playgrounder!"
"Fuckin' Overse- Hey I might look like some abnormal lookin' tourist, but seriously, I really need to talk to this "Gravity Coil" about their caretakers."
She twirled around the strand of her wig, standing in a different stance to mask her disguise.
"...Who starts a convo like that?"
The duo colored horn Inphernal crossed their arm, their...tail? Wiggles it's claw-like fur, imitating their curiosity.
"Your...accent. Is similar to "The Most Wanted" in Lost Temple. She's also the one who spawn you in the holy shrine, due to unforeseen circumstances between her partner."
"Waitwaitwait- What do ya mean she "spawn" me? I was born clean n' pure from the Playground shrine itself??? Wolf took me in as a mentor?"
They leaned in - interested upon hearing shocking revelation, tugged both of their hands in their pockets.
"...It was 20 years ago, I can't blame ya for not rememberin' your past."
"Hold up, how can we know we trust sum shady informants like ya? Steam just picked you up outta nowhere n' ya started spoutin' nonsense! Caretakers? Coil was spawned unnaturally? How in SFOTHs did ya even know those things???"
The red horned took out their lollipop, flicking on their confusion.
"You four don't believe me?"
She unexpectedly dialed a certain number on the phone she was holding before she was temporarily taken hostage here. She switched the call to the external audio.
"Ugh, I am tryin' to rest my fuckin' ass after work, Broker...Stop callin' me separately n' just report to me after yer done wit' anythin'!!" An agitated voice came on over the line, loud and vivid to the ears. All four of the young adults all perked up at the unfamiliar voice, noticing the caller's heavy accent first hand.
"...Who is this?" The duo horned stepped up to the phone on her hand and took it from her. "Huh? Wait, that accent..." The caller's annoyance immediately disappears with only their voice.
"Coil?"
Her voice switches to a softer, concerning tone.
"What do ya know 'bout me, Lost Templer?"
Their grips tightened on cellular device, brows scrunched up on the tension.
"Ahem. Ya probably don't know 'bout the part ya were set up fer adoption, did ya?"
She shifted to seriousness when the adoption topic came up.
"Adoption?"
"...I'm in debt fer not takin' care of ya while ya needed the most in yer youth, I'm sincerely apologize for my absence, Coil."
"Wait...YA abandoned me at the center?!"
"Let me take over, Bae."
"What kinda business you have with my partner, huh punk?"
"Oh? Partner? Hmm... seems like they have grown over the past years, how is this "Wolf" with them doin'?"
"That's not the question I asked you. I asked what business you have with them."
"Hahaha. A sharp one, ain't ya? See Coil's partner, I'm the biological guardian of them, along with the Banland Warden. Also please shut up 'bout any questions on why I 'ave a relationship with him. Regardless, even we're not close by heart, I still want ta inform them of us to clear up any doubts around them."
""Clear up doubts"? You just made us even more doubtful of your existence n' knowledge about your neglectful ass when raisin' your kid, shithead."
"Woah woah woah hey! Ya shouldn't be sayin' things like that or she'll get a record of you to chase ya down!"
Broker shook their hands hurriedly, a warning for the group of four.
"Punk. We should prob not mess with this "Most Wanted", y'know how she has a deadly criminal record in Banland, right?"
The duo horned tugged on their metal glove and gave a light shook.
"Then tell me how in the fucks did she even HAVE a relationship with the Warden in the first place?! Blackmail? Ransom? Gaslight? Some typa weird forces?"
She got all riled up and saying anything that comes to mind about this strange mystery.
"Wide of the mark, hun. He's naive enough to still stick with me after all these years. But I love him, even he'd left me behind."
"Wow, looks like ya got a relationship kin- issue there, bumpkin gal."
The red horned makes a defeated smug face at the ridiculous remark.
"...Anyhow, I wish ya be good on yer own, aight? Don't go causin' trouble fer us, yeah?"
"...So that's why I got these antennas n' a third eye."
They moved their hand on the wrinkles of their third eyelid.
"Yeah yeah, whatever. They got relationships n' money to think 'bout, punk. Also stop bein' so formal, they can go by "he", too, y'know."
"Hm. Noted."
"One last thing, may I acquire yer names? I can go by Riffle. But don't tell anyone 'bout "Scythe"."
"Snrk...! "Acquire"! So ancient...! Pff..."
The green horned held back their mouth from laughing.
"Your child you already know, his friends are Skateboard n' Boombox, your child's partner is Steampunk."
"..."
"Please read a goddamn book."
Then the line runs cold. All four take turns exchanging dumbfounded looks and stared back to the cellphone.
"Take this thing back, old geezer" Steampunk handed the phone back to the outsider and shooed them away with a crass gestures. They gladly retreat from their position and swarm off to Lost Temple, calling Medkit on the way for transport.
"Ough...! My back hurts..." Broker stretched at the doorway of Scythe's house while Medkit pushes them in forcefully. "Hurry it up." He grumbled from behind, clearly enough of their bullshits.
"Oh! 'Kit! Brokie, yer back! It seem like it went smoothly, hm?" The tired lizard turned over to the familiar presence, painting a faint smile of her face. "You reek of a terrible smell of trash, Broker. What was that about? And these strange choices of clothing, too?" He clenched his teeth in disgust, looking at the disguise.
"Apparently, I didn't need to disguise! They didn't even question anything about my appearance!" They laughs cheerfully while they skip off to her washroom. "...Ya still need to disguise to avoid suspicion, dumbass." She sighed as she follows her glaze on them. The table had a small stack of cash laying bare.
"Don't mess anything with the temperature, Brokie."
"Okie okie I won't! Also let me borrow your clothes, mhm?"
"...I'm leaving."