Brona, The Cost of Fortune


Written by Septia.


Perhaps, a bit less formal language being used would assist in getting the point across… Tho' I considered as I looked over the ‘Combined acquisition & construction requisition form, in regards to Jylf Park’ contract. I reminded myself that this was not a joking matter. While there were a lot of people wishing the park to remain as it were, the benefit of an additional care center could not be underestimated. I was a lizard of the people, after all.
	With a deep breath of the crisp city air I pried my eyes off of the bureaucracy riddled tablet in my hand and drank in the view of the streets. Glorious constructions to one side, which melded seamlessly with the integrated parks and flora on the other. A shame to have to tear down something so beloved, but there would be better parks ahead. Some of the slums were looking as a peak property for further ‘inner-city gardening’. In time, the citizens of Pronsonull will see that razing the wildlife sections is for the better. Speaking of, there seemed to be some construction going on at the building by my side, ladders and supports were mounted, supporting a number of Clogg workers up above. A few taurs, a humanoid or two, though primarily, fellow lizards. 
	“Hmmmf,” I hummed at the sight, reminding me of days past where my physique had allowed me to take on my share of risk filled jobs. A trail of dust and sediment fell from on high, leaving me to dodge just in time before it would stain my suit. Deciding to keep myself on the edge of the pavement. To avoid falling debris. Although someone seemed to have the same idea, coming from the opposite side. 
	Their stance made them stand out as they battered the ground with their forefoot steps, their facsimile of clothing fluttering in the manner of a bygone pom-pom: a comet of grime and poverty heading my way… I ducked back towards the walls of the building, next to a ladder belonging to the construction team. 
	To my perplexion… The girl turned on a cent and rested herself against the wall next to me. I averted my gaze when she aimed it with dissatisfaction. Was she after this spot? By the ladder? Why, who woul…? I scoffed and brought up my tablet, there was no rush, I could review the proposal once more. Though, intermittently stealing glances of her. Were it not for her mature complexion, she would be fit to embody the word Ragamuffin: dusty; hair a floofed, unkempt mess; her… 'dress' a haphazard collection of cloth flaps and textile tatters. She…I assume… Would be a shoe in for the care center, which could get her in some shoes as well. 
	The girl tapped her fingers along her arm. What was she waiting for? Something about her was giving my scales shudder. If she wanted the spot so badly, then she coul-. 
	-Kddffhhwddddt- The force of her hands in my side shook me, the sudden, if meagre, force shoved me below the ladder and left me teetering on the other side. 
	“I beg your pardon, what was tha for?” I ask, seeing the glimmer of something, as something left her palm at a soaring speed. -Kklgngnngsk- a klang of metal on metal rung out above. And as I turned to look, the sky turned grey, as a cloak of leathery skin blotted out my vision. I stared into ta pit of scrunched flesh, moments before it slammed onto my head -Chrllrpthhggwpsp and parted with the prying of lubricated latex hinges -SHFnffllgpgtrsths- 


-Dmmppttttwhpwwwwslllp-. “Phghgaag agagrngns… agyyraaah what the taff?” The moderatley sized elephant taur cried out as her buttocks toppled onto the pavement. 
	She grunted with a chill crawling up her back, just along the rugged outline of a lizard woman that had been spread up her backside in the fall. -Fhrlgpgbrhgsgs-- -Cbghrlpgghswa- Her flails and struggles jostling in the damp confines of the pachyderm’s bowels to the tune of a frantic toad sandwiched in flypaper and stuffed in a greasy sock, her croaking muffled under humid churns of the mammal's murky digestion refuse -Ghrlpggbshgs- -Chrrrlspthtws- 
	“Waht thesafmsm ahgaha I is someone th-thered? Oh biscuits, I can't take another f-.f gghs. Aghusaauuaa?” -Ckkrprtchsts- as the businesswoman struggled, a crackle of calcium joins snapping into place rocked the taur's backside. A brand new colour of shock was plastered on her initial worry. 
	“Lissom? What happened? Are you ok?” A Clogg worker called down. 
	“Lissom peered back, and shuffled her mountainous grey hams over the ground -Shfllpfhrs- -cshprhthsts- kneading the impromptu freeloader through her bowels with a groan of mucilage and syrup incubating them within. 
	“I-… I think my back straightened itself out?” 
	“Whaat did you say?” 
	“My back, it feels great, I haven't been this limber in months,” she cheered as she headed herself up and shook her rear, swaying her hips in a satisfied dance, free of ache and worry. 
	“Mfmphg-sgmspghsgfmfpa.” -Shfllrprthts- as the businesswoman's writhing shoes were engulfed by the pale pucker, -Clflpthths- and seal swallowed by the pachyderm’s ass with a tug of the absent-minded construction worker. -Chrlrpsthsthwwwp-. 


~ 1 ~


“Phaa, buncha losers.” Brona guffawed to herself, catching the horseshoe as it fell from the disturbed construction scaffolding, and spinning around in her palm, holding it like a hook in triumph as she vacated the scene before the gathering crowd took notice. “From a stick up her ass to a stick n the mud.” The causer of misfortune snickered under her breath, waltzing across the road to observe from afar, as the taur was both elated at the serendipity befalling her back and worried in embarrassment of diffusing the hubbub her fall had caused. Brona raised the horseshoe and nuzzled it to her cheek. Then tucked it away in her tatters. “It's good... Yeah, so good to be back.” She mused and turned back to the park path. “Loser got just the bout ‘a misfortune they deserved,” she mused and thought back over the last week. Day in, day out, dispensing misfortune, her 'luck' all over in new and strange methods, didn't matter how bad it ended up for someone, there'd be someone gaining off of It. She'd misplaced trinkets and money cards, torn off toupees, stopped traffic, broken promises, and this was the fourth stuck up junkhead she'd gotten stuck in the filthy business end. She took in a deep breath. Today, was-. 
	“Aw, no please it’s mine, just, give it back, you greedy chicken.” 
	She peeked at the scream, seeing a young boy jumping towards a branch, up above an crow sat, clutching, clutching a lemon ice cream. 
	 She peeked down her horseshoe… 


The bird laid spent with a metal crescent around its neck pinning it to the ground. The boy snatching up his treat and reeling back from the site. “Y-yesha, I can't-can't believe it is m-my lucky daaay-.” 
	Though, as he ran past Brona, something metallic slid under his shoes, causing him to stumble head over heels. With Brona simply holding out her hand to catch the ice cream, like the transfer of a torch, as he tumbled into the grass. 
	“Mmggghawyro…” he growled. 
	“Yeah, 'bout that,” Brona said and took a lick of the yellow sweet, “is maaah lucky day.” she said as she unearthed the horseshoe from the ground, and sauntered off with a hearty laugh echoing through Jylf park. 


~ 2 ~


“Yuck, who eats this stuff,” Brona huffed and tossed the remained chilled treat into the pier, walking along the afternoon streets of the harbour and turning in towards the shop district. She had a plan. Sure, last time it had been a bit rough when they met, and the time before that. And the one prior. But, today, she was harbouring a good mood, and this luck was meant to be shared. Besides, she had left a little gift of 'luck' last she'd visited, just around last week, and now. So today, she'd make it up to her cast iron pal. “Hey, Tinbuns. Betta’ open up, cus you are not gonna get me out this time. Why? Cus’ it's my lucky d-.” -Ddmfmpthw- Brona faceplanted into the glass door, cheeks puffed in a grunt and bulging flat against the pen. She jiggled the door handle. Rattling it again. It wouldn't budge. Brona pried her face off of the door, ruffling up her hair. Then… she noticed a sign, plastered on the inside of the bakery door. 
	'Business Abdugated'. The lights were shut. The locale cleared, only dust and dry rusk crumbs on the ground. Cast-dough bakery laid shrouded in a dusk of green mold. Housing a vacancy, which siphoned through the silent walls, and penetrated the spirit's body. 
	Brona stepped back, inhaling… but nothing passed her lips. A slow inhale culminating in a wheeze, bereft of understanding, empty, and yet… so heavy. 
	-Crrnng- A creak of scraping metal. -Lcgkkwkldffnt-. A thud, as a horseshoe fell from the letters above the shop, clattering, by Brona's feet. 
	Another step back. A stumble. -Clfpthw- She slumped back onto the ground, staring through the empty windows. Searching, for a big, clumsy shadow, that was lurking inside. It had to. It must… 
	Her chest, stuttered a breath. A saline warmth budded under her eyes. Brona turned her gaze down, staring at the ground, encompassed by her sprawled legs: mimicking the shape, of a horseshoe.