Dreaming

 

Melissa

 

11 Years Ago

 

Pling

 

Okay that sounds nice, a bit heavy though. But I’m big enough to carry it, Dad said so with our guitar at home. How did that one song go again? My dad did love Monkeyz and they have easy songs for me to try. Let’s try 5/4. Another chord check…

 

Plong

 

“Magic for me, magic make no sound~” It sounds alright but the chords are wrong. Lemme just adjust it…there we go. I take a look around for my dad, he’s still there looking for old CDs. He rubs his scruffy beard, Tommy likes to imitate him sometimes. Using our mop at home to pretend he has a beard. This retro shop is really cool honestly, though my dad says it’s a 2K shop rather than a retro shop since retro means 80’s. But I mean…the things here look older than me, so that means they’re retro!

 

Ple-

 

“Can I help ya kiddo?” One of the store clerks speaks up.

 

I yelp, immediately putting the guitar back where it came from and look for my dad. There! I hid behind his leg as the woman cautiously looked at me, then onto him. She looks pretty, she’s got pink hair. They are really…bubbly, so cool.

 

“Mel?” He looks down at me before looking at the woman. “Oh hey! Sorry, she’s shy.”

 

“That’s alright, I have an older brother that acts like her. It’s all about patience and understanding, the usual.”  She shrugged, glancing at the guitar I tried out. Dad looks at it too and notices my interest at it. He picks up the guitar I held earlier, I think he heard me play one of his favorite songs.

 

“You got good taste kid.” He pats my head gently, I had to adjust my glasses because of that, bluh. “Hey, how much is this? Miss…” He looks at her name on her shirt. “Bonnie?” Dad goes back to that courteous mode so smoothly, it’s jarringly neat.

 

“300$” She drops it as delicately as a guy with spasms throwing a grenade.

 

“THREEHUNDRED- For a what?” He did a spit take, but he didn’t drink anything at the moment so he choked on his own spit. I giggled at him being in disbelief.

 

“Yep. Authentic 2K style guitar, pristine to the touch.” The clerk gave a smug grin, Dad then gave a scared look at me that I couldn’t help but laugh at. Then back at the guitar, looking more and more in disbelief than ever. I completely lose my composure and start pointing at how silly he’s being right now.

 

“Yeah uhh we’re going to go now so see ya!” Dad wheezed, I feigned disappointment over losing the cool guitar but honestly that guitar from home suits me fine enough. 

 

“Bye! You were nice to talk to!” The girl waved goodbye and I waved back.

 

Dad slouched his back once we were far away enough, I stick close to him as there’s a lot of people at the mall tonight. Some of them look at me… don’t look at me please. He notices my discomfort and leads me to a quieter place. It’s a small “park” with a fountain. We take a seat near it and just stare at the waterflow. I see him pulling out his phone and notice a text, probably mom.

 

“...alright see you …there.” He typed out a response as he stood up and hid his phone. “Want burgers Mel?” He clicked his tongue, he does look pretty tired and I don’t wanna be a troublesome kid.

 

“Yis.” I hype myself up, I really like burgers anyway. 

 

“Up ya go!” Dad you don’t have to- Ah whatever, I’m up on his shoulders now. This is nice, it feels nice. I love you dad. We walked for a while, I think we’ve been here for 3 times now. I mean they’re adults so they probably visited more, but for me it’s 3 times. He yawns but continues on, eventually finding the Kurger Bing and the rest of the family. 

 

“Mom.” I greeted, I’m still a bit apprehensive at her. I don’t know why but I just had this feeling that she’s…off, I always had this feeling around her. But she’s still my mom, so I guess it’s just a family feeling? I love my mom… right?

 

My dad puts me down, next to Tommy and I could see Claire with a big box. Claire impatiently shakes it as the cardboard lid thingy is loose.

 

“What’s that?” I pointed at it.

“We won it at the arcade! It’s a big rocketship. It can fly!” He sees Claire trying to open it but he stops her before she could. “Do it at home Claire.” She blew a raspberry at him in response.

 

I slump back into my seat, bored out of my mind after exiting the retro store. That guitar was really cool, that lady too. But dang, I wish I had a book or something. I really did like reading those action comics, too bad they’re in the car. I’m so bored to the point where I just listen to my parents, it’s better than reading the menu, it doesn’t feel the same anyway.

 

“How’s your break?”

 

“Umm…I went back to business, had to check everything. They said we’re gonna have to continue this tomorrow, it’s getting late anyway.” Mom huffed.

 

“Naomi! C’mon we both agreed to take a break for each other.” Dad chastises her, even though we know she does this anyway. Working when she should relax.

 

“I know…I just like keeping myself busy, besides, this mall doesn’t have anything interesting for me aside from the food.” She reasoned. It sounds like a lie though.

 

“Well there was this 2K store, and they had these CDs and instruments from bands I used to practice playing to. They were really nice but damn are they expensive, speaking of which, take a look at this little criminal right here.” Dad put on a grumpy face for me, I chuckled at him.

 

“What’d she do?” Mom raised an eyebrow at me, oops.

 

“Nothing too bad, just tried out one of the instruments. One of the employees liked the song she was playing.” He shrugged in a nice way. 

 

“Sounds nice, Lucy did have good taste in music. They’re a bit…off, but once you get into it? It’s quite the hit!” Mom reminisced before coming back to us. “But Melissa next time just ask your father first before trying out the instruments.” She chastised me and I gave an offended look.

 

“But I did!” My voice cracked and I covered my mouth, glaring at Tommy who laughed at me. I quickly smack his crest. 

 

Mom laughed a bit afterwards, it was a sign of her saying sorry and I gladly took it.

 

“Here’s your order ma’am.” One of the waiters arrived and put a tray full of what Mom ordered on the table. They’re wrapped and I can’t tell which one is mine, Mom never told me what was inside too since they’re all shaped the same. I am getting hungry though so I take one, unwrap and take a quick bite. Oh this is pretty tasty.

 

“Y’know you could do more music, that song you played? Pretty nicely done for your age! We gotta get you to do some more lessons.” Dad took a bite from his burger, noticing it has a weird taste on it.

 

“Really?” I take another bite, oh muffins this is so delicious.

 

“Yeah! More music!” Claire declared, hey that rhymes.

 

“Claire is right, and she’s always right, isn’t that right, honey?” Dad grinned.

 

She simply stuck her tongue in mockery, Dad does the same as I think about it. More music? I mean I was just bored, but I do like playing. Like I don’t remember who taught me how to play, I did know she was a pterosaur but… darn.

 

Maybe he has a point.

 

“Oh Arnold you silly old goober, haha!”

 

I take one more bite but hnng…oh dang my stomach. This burger is tasty but…what’s in it?

 

Oh. Bacon. Oh no.

 

“Mooooooom?”

 

I start feeling sick, I feel even more sick now. Like how cartoon characters won’t fall unless they look down, the reality sets in. Dangit, I stop eating because this is too bad for me. 

 

“Oh what is it sweetie?” I point at the offending food item at my plate. “Oh no, darnit. Your burgers got mixed up.” She facepalmed, I can feel myself turning green.

 

“Huh, no wonder why this didn’t taste meaty.” Dad sees his burger, it has broccoli on it. Aww man I wanted that.

 

“Arnold!” Mom looked angry.

“I swear! I didn’t mean to!” Dad was pretty genuine as he raised his hands. “C’mon, let’s finish our food and drive. We don’t wanna get Mel stressed out.” 

 

It was a blur for the rest of the evening, my parents hurrying dinner down to their gullets. Tommy too with Claire taking her time, eventually eating it on the way to the car.  This… this feels strange, it’s been hours when we were driving but… this felt like minutes? What’s going on? It feels like I’ve been through this before.

 

Wait a minute. This is…

 

Not real.

 

Oh no.

 

I try my best to mutter out a response, to stop it from happening. 

 

“M-mom…slow down.” Oh god…I’ve already said this one.

 

It goes unheard and yet the past repeats itself. 

 

CRASH

 

The booming echoes, the deafening silence, the flying bodies. I felt something stabbing me, I was too afraid and scared to pull whatever it was out. I was too terrified in general, I remember calling out to Dad.

 

“...Dad? Daddy please…wake up.” A lump was on my throat, it hurt to scream.

 

His neck was gelatin, his body slumping over with wide eyes. It was horrific, the dead eyes of his staring into nothing. Shock was etched on his face, a permanent fear in his final moments. My body was frozen despite the tears flowing and my wails ringing into the dead air. It was all so familiar despite it being so chaotic, I remember mom walking to Tommy. 

 

“MOM! MOMMY! PLEASE!” I screamed, wanting out of this hell as badly as I could.

 

But she didn’t listen. She just stood there and I saw her yelling in horror, out of grief, out of anything. I couldn’t hear anything yet the world only replied with nothing. I couldn’t see what happened to Claire, only a bloody pile next to mom. She cradled Tommy, and then fell over. Knocked out cold and limp like my dad…I thought she died. 

 

I was stuck there for an eternity, I was bloodshot awake and trapped. They said I was there for 10 minutes, but for me it felt like hours. With something stabbing my gut, I was afraid to do anything but scream. Sirens rang out and I was dragged into an ambulance, paramedics surrounded me and did their best to stabilize me. I know they were trying to help but at the time it made me panic, everything was surging into my head. I couldn’t hear anything even though I saw that they were talking.

 

My heart was racing, nerves on high. By the time we arrived at the hospital, dragged me onto a wheelchair and put me on a bed, I had fainted. From the sight of my own stomach slowly gushing out blood, to the gasps of horror from the sight of me, a badly injured child. I slept for a long time, it felt painful with sores surrounding me. 

 

I did wake up eventually, nurses and doctors around me in an uneasy way. Even though the nurses were nice I was still so afraid, I wanted my dad, Tommy, anybody. So many eyes on me. I asked them where she was, they were surprised that I was awake. Even though my voice was quiet, it was apparent how significant it was for them, like a loud boom.

 

They told me that my mom and Tommy were alive, to my relief that I wasn’t an orphan. Mom was too banged up to visit me though, as was I. Tommy had to be in intensive care though, I didn’t understand what it meant and they told me he was hurt very badly. In hindsight, it was far worse than their explanation. His crest was split open, his body mangled and battered, him getting brain damage and not being the same afterwards. I remember the first time I saw his stitches, I could only hug him after that.

 

I closed my eyes again, letting out a sigh. I was spent, from the stress and tears, to the situation and incident. It was something I hated, it was something that no other person should go through. I opened them and had a week time skip, I was lonely, it was agonizing to say the least. There were people who visited me and asked if I was okay, but I couldn't answer them though. One person among them was Miss Lucy, she was strange yet kind but my heart still ached. Another was Aunt Mia, I never saw her be this soft before, she was usually tough but to see her facade crumble? Heartbreaking. Finally, one person that visited me out of the blue, Mom.

 

I remember her having those dead eyes, the kind that shows that it’s no longer the person you knew. It was someone else now, like a demon possessing a soul. She still cried and hugged me, telling me it was all okay. But I think that was for herself rather than for me at the time, especially considering what told me of how I was made eventually.

 

I still feel… strange. The most basic definition of that word explaining my existence in life. It’s like I live with the constant guilt that I should be a defect or something, but no, I grew up healthy… Well, as healthy as someone like me can get anyway. Guilty for feeling happy despite the horrible event that happened to mom, the only thing you could do was push it down so it wouldn’t swallow you up and kill you. But you can’t stop it, only delay the inevitable until it finally catches up, and it does catch up.

 

It’s hard asking for help without people thinking you’re going through a moment of weakness or being required to give pity. Like you have to be the saddest sack around to get any help even if you’re calm about it, knowing it’s not going to be okay even though they say the exact opposite. I had to get help, even if it was the most impossible thing in the world. But it’s easier thinking about it than doing, and somehow the suicide felt easier to do than the help itself. I thought it was going to be over for me, still in my teenage years and barely doing anything with my life yet. 

 

Eventually my new dad saw what was going on, reaching out to me despite my cries being so silent. He helped me out, he helped me see that my suicide wasn’t going to solve anything. Finally, the dam broke. Not just tears but everything, how I felt overall, my thoughts on mom, my worries on Tommy and Every. Single. Thing.

 

I did get better, in all aspects of me that I could think of that felt that way. I was still in that melancholy sense before Amber came along in my life, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. But still, what happened to you mom? If I could go through something like that, get fucked up in the head thinking my life doesn’t matter considering how I was made and eventually realize that it…does matter. It really really does matter because despite it all, we’re still people. We just hurt others in our own way of trying to make sense of the bullshit that’s happened in our lives. What about you? You coped horribly through the years.

 

Or better yet…

 

Why’d you do it?

 

I know you’re hurting, but do this of all possible things? The worst one imaginable?

 

…why?

 

“Honey?”

 

I was gently shaken but I didn’t gasp in fear, or anything like that. I knew it was a nightmare but all I felt was…sadness. I really hope this thing blows over, I don’t think I can take the ticking time bomb of this affair they have anymore. I looked around and noticed that Tommy and Cynthia were staring back at me, oh jeez. The car stopped too… Oh we’re at a McDinold’s. I can see The Rexican twins and Sera waiting for us at the entrance, with Sera taking a hit of Hector’s vape. Time is around… 5 PM, traffic was pretty long so the others were stretching out their legs. I look out the window to see the sun, I think it’s a “Civil Twilight”? From what I knew from Cynthia’s mysticism anyway. Where it’s the middle point between the sun rising or setting. Then I see Amber beside me, I subconsciously lean my head near her shoulder, letting out an exhale.

 

“Babe…it’s gonna be okay, it’s gonna be alright.” I felt Amber’s hands clasp around me, forming a soft, yet tight embrace, which I immediately returned. I had been crying in my sleep? I haven’t done that in a while now…not after I dated her. I guess that’s reassuring, but still. “What happened?” She put on the sweetest and caring voice that she mustered, the worry is clear here and it touches my soul.

 

“I-I’m okay. It was a nightmare, I haven’t had one in a while. Like…5 years at least?” I feel weird, just really unsure on what I should think about right now? I feel brisk from the nap I took, but exhausted from that… nightmare. And those feelings have collided, leaving me on a point of unseen confusion. Raptor Jesus what the heck is going on. 

 

I felt Cynthia looking back at us, normally she would do something rude but this time she’s just… analyzing? What’s she up to?

 

“Uhh…” I stutter out before she realizes and looks away, muttering something about caring for someone.

 

“She’s doing her best.” Tommy assured us, giving a look at Cynthia that is… familiar. Wait are they-

 

“That’s something new.” Amber snarked, dangit! My train of thought is gone.

 

“Y’know what else is new?” Cynthia then spoke up this time, giving a shit eating grin.

 

“What?” Tommy was confused before he got kissed on the snoot… wait a fucking minute

 

HE GOT WHAT?!

 

Oh- OH! OH MY GOD!! OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!!!

 

“AMBER IS THIS TRUE?!” I had the biggest grin on my face.

 

“YEAH IT SEEMS SO!!” Amber joined in my hype, she was surprised too.

 

We held interlocked hands with each other and screamed in joy, Tommy had to cover his ears because of our “EEEEEEEEEEEE!!” Cynthia only stared in shock, not what she was expecting at all. Probably expecting me to get pissed, but no - I’m actually proud of my brother! 

 

We had gotten out of the car and dragged Tommy outside, impulsively hugging Tommy as we jumped in joy. Tommy went from confused to baffled at what was happening to him, we eventually let him go as the people around us saw the whole thing. Oh dang they saw me uhm…

 

“Hey it’s alright they’re friends.” Amber reassured me.

 

“I meant the…others.” I corrected her in a whisper.

 

“Oh.” She patted my back afterwards, noticing what I meant. Seeing that there were a few people that saw but eventually moved on. As well from the customers inside looking outside their windows, oh muffins I’m blushing now. I do notice Amber seeing my blush and gives a smile showcasing her adoration, oh you’re loving this right now aren’t you?

 

She only nods in a really cocky way, I flipped her off with a smile in response as she flipped me off in return. Amber glances at the newly made couple, both were puzzled as heck of what just occurred. She then became thoughtful before speaking to me.

 

“Hey Mel? Can I talk to Tommy?” Amber points her thumb at him, Tommy being aloof as the topic of discussion.

 

“What for darling?” She’s caught off guard by that, nice.

 

“Heh- Well it’s about Cynthia, just letting him know more about her so he knows how to deal with her. You guys moved in a few months ago right?” Her pointing thumb changed into an open palm question.

 

“Right, and that’s when we slowly started dating.” I reminisced, gosh I regret being so introvertive around her. She says it’s alright but the guilt is still there, I am working on it though and so far I’ve been doing a neat job. If she’s confident in my self improvement, then so should I.

 

“Yeah, so I’ll borrow him for a moment and meet you back inside.” I nod to give her permission as she pecks my lips as goodbye before calling him.

 

“Hey Tom! Have a minute?”

 

I let them be, with me walking to the entrance. The other 3 are still talking with eachother so I’ll wait for them, I do notice a follower though.

 

“So…your brother.” Cynthia starts off.

 

“Hm? What about him?” 

 

I’ve barely talked to her since I came to Volcaderra Bluffs, even then whenever we did talk she was usually dismissive. Weirdly enough, she’s pretty introverted around strangers. Muttering whatever horse shit she comes up with in that head of hers when she thinks nobody’s looking, she’s only open to those that’s close to her. Pushing anyone else away unless they constantly confront her and hangout, I think she’s scared now that I noticed it. 

 

Considering how I felt when going to Volcaderra Bluffs for the first time, just wanting to avoid others and be left alone. In this weird lil stego’s own words; Damn, she’s just like me fr.

 

Amber did tell me things about her though, she is pretty passionate about the stuff she works on, though she doesn’t want to show it because of how they might react. So in turn she reacts rudely to those around her, even if they’re being nice to her because of her parents being too nice, for some reason? It’s strange trying to get a read on her I swear, but Amber tells me it’s her way of trying to see if someone is genuine of what they’re saying.

 

She did call me and Tommy rude things before but I just ignored her statements and told Tommy she’s just retarded. Stuff like fag or pinkers eventually fades away when it’s said so many times that you realize it’s sludge in words. Damn Amber was right about that, it really is just provocation. 

 

“Well uhh…what things does he like?” She shrugged.

 

“Before I answer that, I should ask you something. Why do you like him?” I cross my arms casually.

 

“I mean he’s…cute right?” Cynthia looked nervous, rubbing the back of her neck.

 

“Riiiight, but do you know anything about him?” I raise an eyebrow. I’m glad he got a girlfriend and all but…sheesh this was way too fast for him.

 

Cynthia seemed to contemplate about saying something but withholds.

 

“Um…no. Barely anything actually. ” She mumbled the last part out.

 

“So you’re just dating him because he looks cute?” I deadpanned.

 

“That’s not a bad reason right? That’s why you dated Amber?”

 

“I dated Amber because she’s a sweetheart who’s kind and supportive, her being cute is just a bonus.” I dictated while giving a smirk at the end.

 

She groaned, slouching before straightening her back.

 

“Sure, you can say that. But I wanna know him more because… iwannalearnhowtocareforhim- ” She raised her head at me.

 

“What?” I didn’t catch that.

 

“Like- Try to be there for him, he had a… moment. Where he looked… scared? And I was just… I want to help him out is what I’m saying.” She looked serious, but also strained considering how she’s maintaining that face. 

 

Oh Tommy remembered something bad huh? Hope it wasn’t too rough on Cynthia. So there’s that passion Amber was talking about, damn she looks determined. It’s a genuine expression she’s giving, and if she wants to help out my brother, then I will.

 

“Alright, so one thing to note is to not mention anything family related aside from me. No dads, no younger sisters, no mom. It’s rough for me and even rougher for him, he doesn’t handle those topics well.”

 

“Don’t you have your step dad?” 

 

“If you mean Ganon, then… he’s alright, just be specific on who you’re referring to, but I think it’s okay enough. He’s smart, just slow about it.” Cynthia looked confused at the contradictory statement until she realized I meant it literally.

 

Oh right dad! That got me thinking of an idea for him, but that’s for later.

 

“Secondly, he needs to go out more. Sure he’s fine being by himself and playing video games but he’s shut himself in ever since we moved, it’s also fine to keep him company.” I say with worry for my brother, because there’s a huge ass difference between peaceful solitude and absolute isolationism.

 

“Plus it’s to make him get used to the town more, you’ve been here longer than us so you know the way around, right?” I notice Amber stopped talking to Tommy and is now calling someone on her phone, probably her parents.

 

“...right.” Cynthia gave an unsure face but I waved it off.

 

“Right, and lastly to answer your question earlier. Videogames being the main thing, but also trying out new things in general. Amber did give him a guide on how to draw and it’s keeping his mind busy at the very least. So try and give him something new to take a stab at every now and then.”

 

“Gooooooooot it, thanks. ” She took these into account, that’s one good thing at the very least.

 

“No problem, just cut the weird gremlin crap you do.” I give an honest face.

 

She then grumbled, not even understanding what I meant, but before I could explain Amber arrived. The rest too with Tommy getting back to Cynthia.

 

“Right, let’s get inside, I’m fuckin’ starving.” She sure loves diner food. Although she does look a bit nervous, uh-oh I know that look.

 

“What’s wrong darling?” 

 

“Just called my parents. You know how we stopped here instead of take-out?” I nod. “Well Hector argued that we might as well eat here, right?”

 

“Is this about being nervous of visiting…” Don’t think about him. “Your grandpa?” Nailed it.

 

“Y-yeah.” She respects my apprehension about him. “This traffic sucks considering we’re gonna be stuck for a long ass time, up to night! So we can’t reach the city by then so we might as well just go home.” She looked pretty bummed out.

 

“Oof, well we have each other for company right?”

 

“I know, still worried about… you know who.”

 

“It’s okay darling, I don’t have any grudges against you for worrying about him. It’s a bit conflicting, sure, but I don’t want it to ruin what we have, so I won’t!” She looked pretty relieved from saying that and gave me a hug afterwards.

 

“Thanks.” She gave a sigh of relief.

 

“No problem, but I wanna say something before we eat.” 

 

Sera takes a look back at us, wondering what’s taking us so long before Amber waves her off.

 

“Shoot.” The others go inside already.

 

Alright, here’s the idea. 

 

“I think I want to talk to my dad, hug him at the very least. Tell him I love him and… help him out when Mom’s thing eventually blows up on everyone’s trust. It’s gonna be rough on him, andI’ll be there for him. Like he did for me.” My demeanor saddened a bit after that last statement, man this shit is rough. 

 

“Sounds nice babe.” She supported. Knowing she’s going to be there for him means a lot to me even if she doesn’t say it directly.

 

Sounds nice indeed.

 

Highways

 

Lucy

 

It’s around, uhh… what, 6:30 PM? Sun is setting at the very least and we’re still not there. Damn my back hurts. We’ve been driving for a while now, this Volskaven we got is handling pretty well for long distances. Anon’s car is fairly similar but it’s a Stanley rather than a Stanford like Dad’s new muscle car, plus it’s my turn to drive since Anon already drove. He said it was alright that he can drive since he drove a shorter distance but I insisted, not like there’s any difference either way other than courtship. 

 

Crazy to think we’re self-sustaining enough to have a car, let alone two. It’s nice that our efforts in college paid off, Volcano High has a pretty nice paycheck since its renovations and it’s considered one of the best schools in the state now. I still hate teaching the teens though, I miss being an elementary teacher but it’s worth it for the family. 

 

Anon did have ideas on what to name our car, kinda like Naser with his Nascar. He did propose a rock band or something related to music but my mind drew up blanks. He suggested the Naomobile and the Samantha Sabura for mom (Which isn’t even a fucking sabura, she shares Dad’s car.) to the other two and to which I said “Just get in the damn car.” It’s just the car and nothing more. Besides, Amber just calls it “Mom’s car” which suits me enough. “She’s the gosh darned mama and best mom evah”, damn I miss Amber being a kid with her going into random southern tangents. 

 

But aside from that, I see the city on the horizon. It’s like a rose with all the pretty petals and all the toxic thorns, wearing red tinted glasses is gonna get you killed here.

 

Basilisk City, named after a mythical creature that was based from Europe. Used to possess the land with chaos and scorch the earth with fire. Considering they literally jinxed themselves with that name, it’s no wonder why this place sucks ass.

 

If I didn’t know this was a shithole I’d be enamored, and I still am despite knowing what really goes on here. This place is really fuckin pretty, immaculate marble warps the decor around like a grip, the skyscrapers really behold to their name where clouds cover the top, giant screens and holograms that rival even Old York’s Time Circle. It’s fancy I’ll tell you that.

 

There’s a few but big red flags you do notice once you visit it a few times. For one thing, traffic control is fucking non-existent. Literally almost no traffic lights, no signals used, too many cars and not even any enforcers because of how often they get run over. The experienced drivers tend to drive slowly as a result, which causes traffic to pile up and the other newbies to paradoxically go faster to avoid said traffic. Second is how snobbish almost everyone acts, from the aging boomers complaining about the drones flying about, to the gen alphas flying said drones with no regard for others because they’re tech bros. People fucking hate eachother here, from the politicians and yuppies, to the tech heads and cumbros, to even the middle and lower class eating each other from the inside out. This place is toxic as hell. There’s more to list but I’d be here all day with my head getting sore from all this thinking of the bad shit that goes on.

 

But it’s worth going to for him, like delving into the cave of a dragon. I just wanna be there for him, I remembered what the others said before we agreed to pack our things and stay a few days for him at the very least before coming back on the 8th for work like Mom told me to. 

 

Packing Up

 

We were back at our own little red household, stuffing clothes into our suitcases with Naomi wanting to come along. It’s fair enough considering she was his old fling, coupled with him apparently helping her out in terms of handling the mental trauma that she often suffered as of lately. Mom came along after I called her, having already packed her own cases alongside Naser’s and Dad’s belongings.

 

We heard frantic knocking and panting at the door, Anon, being the gentleman that he was, did his job.

 

“Oh I came as soon as I could!” Mom said after Anon opened the door.

 

She plopped down onto the couch, carrying an enormous suitcase on one hand and a fairly average one on the other. Clearly exhausted as Anon brings her a glass to drink, Mom is flattered by how much he’s matured since they’ve met. 

 

“Glad to be of help.” Anon pretended to be a butler which made her giggle more, nice.

 

I come over to her, checking what’s inside the suitcases. Dad’s too packed and looks like it’s about to burst so I ignore that, my eyes then glaze over Naser’s. Hey wait a sec, it’s the one he brought over to college. Heh, crazy to think he’d come over and visit once in a while. Too bad he never did, to my college graduation, to my wedding, to our new house being bought…

 

I should get pissed off about that, but I just can’t. He has his reasons, mainly because of how isolated he is. Him being so tired that he can’t call us, and whenever he does call he’s pretty exhausted from his work. Like he’s pushing himself for us and everyone else, he cares too damn much. It was practically killing him when we were in senior high and even now.

 

But there was one thing he didn’t skip. Amber’s birth.

 

He arrived at one of Volcaderra’s hospitals that Ganon owned, “Stefan Legend Hospital.” When I saw him in the room, he looked worn out. Like he was just tired of it all, not in a suicidal sense but in the way that he just can’t handle everything thrown at him. He’s a very talented doctor in his department which consequently made him swarmed with work, and knowing how much of a workaholic he was, it was a bad mix.

 

Naser pushed himself though, did his best to look good so he didn’t appear as a crackhead that escaped Skin Row. He was there for me, he really did came this time. It was a big deal for me at the time, my own brother supporting me and apologizing for missing all the special times that I had. I told him that it was okay, I forgive him.

 

God, the look in his eyes when he first saw her, it was like seeing a miracle come to life. Especially considering the viability tests that he helped research on when he was in college. She really was a blessing in disguise, a bundle of joy and kindness incarnate. 

 

His eyes had a sense of longing too, that he missed out on so many things. One of those was having a family, he never really had time for one. Practically being married to his job and it’s a toxic one that’s for sure, but it was there. He’s just lonely in the end, and I wanna be there for him.

 

After checking his suitcase which was full of new clothes (surprisingly), Mom explained that his old highschool outfits didn’t fit him anymore and they were given away to Naomi’s son at some point. Tailor did his best to make the clothes fit, due to his condition and, of course, him being a Parasaur. She approached me with a question.

 

“Are you sure you want to see him?” Her eyes opened lightly, one of the few times she’s ever done that in my entire lifetime that I’ve seen her. This meant something serious, alright.

 

It wasn’t a question of me being squeamish, but rather facing something that had been itching in my mind. The fact that I wasn’t there for him when we were kids and now I get to repay the favor? 

 

“Listen…I want to be there for him. I know that I haven’t been easy to deal with ever since that day on the bluffs, but even though all is forgiven…it’s something I wanna correct. He’s been there for us, so I’m returning the favor.” I held mom’s hand tenderly and looked into her eyes, the crows feet around them, her aging scales, the small white coloring on her hair, the wrinkles showcasing her coming fragility. Damn I’m getting old, but not old enough to make amends with my family.

 

He may have had his moments, bad ones but also good ones. He really, really did mean well to care for me back in those old years of mine, and as fucked up as I was with my identity crisis and imposter syndromes and all that. Some part of me wanted us to be together again.

 

“I am too.” Mom was just as determined as me, with a smile accepting my notion.

 

“Well Naser was a bro to me, so why not.” Anon said with a disguised shit eating grin, the mask being that of a genuine sincere face that’s reminiscent of those movies. He really was a bro though, I did remember him helping out with his lunch problems in our highschool years.

 

I chuckled at Anon, acting like those cheesy ass flicks he works on where the good guys team up. He was gonna come along anyway but I appreciate his sentimentality.

 

“…I guess I can too.” Naomi stood up, looking serious and not catching onto Anon’s blunder.

 

I smiled at Naomi, showing similar levels of concern with me and Mom. She’s been through a lot and I do like her helping out the best she can, plus she’s pretty lonely as of late, so why not? Naomi even packed up her things to spend time with Ganon since he put the time to travel to St. Brachs as Dad’s personal doctor.

 

My phone rings, I grab it out of my pocket and answer. I take a seat with mom and put it on speaker so the voice can be clear. After a few moments, my daughter speaks up.

 

“Hey mom? Yeah we, uhh… got stuck in traffic. We’re currently at McDinold’s right now for some dinner and… yeah, that’s why we couldn’t make it there in time with you.” She sounds tired, I would be if I got stuck in a musty car for hours on end.

 

“Oh sweetie, it's fine. Besides, you're probably exhausted from sitting around all day in that car, just go directly home at this point.”

 

“Yeah, but I wanna come with you! Like… you know how you didn’t want me to see Aunt Naomi because of the accident? Well I can handle it now, I’m old enough for it and I wanna be there for them.” She sounded determined but I gotta temper this girl. 

 

“Listen, it’s fine that you worry for Uncle Naser but at the same time you have to take care of yourself. Self care is just as important as caring for others, and I know how you tend to get when you can’t help out.” I did that well enough, right Anon? Okay, thanks for the reassurance, babe.

 

“...I know. I’ll… I’ll go home, we’re gonna go eat dinner now so see ya.” 

 

“Love you sweetie, we have to go too. We gotta drive.”

 

“Heh, literally us.” He’s still committing to the bit? Raptor Jesus save me.

 

“Shut up Anon.” I nudge him with my elbow.

 

“Okay mom, love you and bye too.” She sighed.

 

He fakes a whimper as I chuckle at his antics. I hang up and mentally ready myself, looking at the group who are now ready to join in the drive.

 

God I hope they’re gonna be okay. Both Naser and Amber.

 

Back in the Seat

 

Mom is going to stay with Dad while we leave for school on Monday, as much as I want to stick by Naser. Mom wants me to be responsible for my job because she can take care of both of them from here on out. Well at least I can be with the younger kids, they’re better than the teens. 

 

Last time I saw him like this was when we were kids, when he went home in a cast and I couldn’t bear myself to see him. He must’ve looked worse back at the hospital and I felt so bad for not visiting him back then, not this time though. His body’s fucked up all over, just like that time on the bluffs. Same with Dad, it’s a miracle both of them are alive. And I have to be there for him, it’s the one thing I can do right this time around.

 

“Man this place is the worst, it looks pretty on the outside but once you’re stuck inside… They’ll have you in their grip and won’t let go until you suffocate on it.” Anon narrated, like he’s in an old crime movie or some shit. Okay, maybe he should work on something else other than the movies because the Galliwood brain rot is settling in.

 

“I-it’s not that bad, the hotels are quite nice.” Naomi squeaked, we got her some pills to level her anxiety. I’m glad she’s feeling better now, it was rough hearing that she wasn’t taking her pills because of how they keep her awake.

 

“Oh yeah, you went on a business trip around here for…” I tried to recall the reason for why she was in this shithole.

 

“For… meeting up with an old friend from St. Hammond. The college, not the town.” Man, why'd they name almost every place “St. Hammond something”? St. Hammond Art College, St. Hammond Hospital, St. Hammond… fucking whatever. Saint Hammond, I swear this shit gets confusing the moment you start using the St. version.

 

“Hmm, right. Who?” I looked back in the mirror, she’s looking better at least.

 

“Liz, the Brachiosaurus.” I’m sensing some tension.

 

“Oh nice, how is she?” I look at her again.

 

Damn she looks nervous, maybe that’s why she didn’t take them? Should let Ganon know about that. Before she could continue, Mom spoke up in a slight panic.

 

“Oh I hope Ripley is alright! That man always gets himself into trouble!” Mom jeez calm down, we’re halfway there. She always gets worried even on the smallest of things but in this case it makes sense.

“Mom you do know he’s the commissioner right? He kinda has to?” Alright slow down here… there we go.

 

“Oh like you can’t avoid getting hurt in the process! But this is different, oh I can’t stop worrying!” Mom continues the discussion but is just as aware as me.

 

“Mom, how do you think I feel?” I gotta focus on the road here, Anon acts like my second in command and is pretty attentive. “I’m worried too, we’re in a place where it’s just sucking the life out of you the moment you step in. How do you think he feels, being stuck here for a pseudo amount of years? Like he’s so… completely different now and in a bad way, it’s making him…  irrational, to say the least.” 

 

“He’s a good bro, he just needs help, y'know. Being so isolated isn’t exactly making his mental state any easier.” Anon looked back at Mom, Naomi agreeing with him.

 

I stop in the nick of time before a car speeds in front of us, phew. Naser really wasn’t kidding about the idiot drivers, I swear someone has to do something about this. At least fucking anything. 

 

A few more minutes we eventually start to see some familiar ground, that being the way to the hospital. The cars here are more careful thankfully, with the ambulances having some semblance of traffic control with their sirens. Though knowing from my talks with Naser, they usually do that regardless of an emergency because of perks. Can’t say I blame ‘em. I see Mom look at Naomi’s phone, I guess she saw Melissa in her younger years in the wallpaper. 

 

“You have a lovely daughter Naomi, she’s quite beautiful for her age.” She gave a gentle smile to my Para friend.

 

“Oh! Thank you, Samantha, it means a lot to me.” She was somber, looking at her screen with a sense of melancholy. She hides it well enough with a smile I recognize, the one you wear as a mask.

 

“Oh you’re quite welcome dear.” Mom pats Naomi’s shoulder gently, they both feel calmer now as a result. Knowing what I told Mom, it really did mean a lot to her. “It's still quite a surprise finding about my own granddaughter’s… orientation, how’d you find about yours?”

 

“Mom!” Oh god not this kind of discussion, already had it with Mrs Roberts.

 

“Oh relax! I’m not bad mouthing Amber, I’m still curious about it, that’s all.” Mom shrugged.

 

“She’s right, hun.” We stopped another time, this time Anon showed me a photo that Melissa took of Amber back on the road and stuck in traffic. She’s in a pose where she pretends she’s dying while Melissa uses her fingers to give Amber rabbit ears while she sticks her tongue out. Heh, oh you poor thing.

 

“Yeah alright, sorry.” Damn the nerves from the school are still there in my head. We continue once more, alright we’re getting near now…

 

“It’s okay, Lucy. As for the question… Ganon told me. Melissa was scared of revealing it to me personally so she asked him instead, then I found out she first told Tommy. I admittedly… did not handle it well. How do you handle news like that ? She’s still my daughter… it’s just strange to see that I never saw her that way.” She said with disbelief still in her voice. 

 

Samantha looked surprised at that, it was understandable to be shocked when your kid says something like that. Hell, I didn’t believe my ears when those words passed through me when Anon and Amber confronted me about it.

 

I was so scared of what might happen, I didn’t stop to consider that my experiences were any different from hers, it wasn’t a label like mine, it was a part of her that she knew was true. It was a slow acceptance for me, Anon being similar but it was sooner for him once he realized that it wasn’t a phase thing. And when he did, he was all the way for her. I know Anon had a history of being a weird shitposting bigot or something, but to see him do his best for her? It then made me push and support her as well, tell her that we love her even if who she loves isn’t the societal norm.

 

Wanting to ease up the tension from driving in this clusterfuck of cars and retardation, I joined in. What’s the harm? It’s better than worrying too much about being run over by a 12-wheeled semi.

 

“Well for one thing, you just gotta be there for ‘em. Like you’ve always been, they try something new and if it sticks, and isn’t morally evil or something, then you do your best to love ‘em like a parent. So in other words, just don’t act weird about it.” I suppose the benefit from my non-binary fiasco is that I can treat Amber better than the way they reacted around me. They're still good parents though, they just did the wrong things. It doesn’t mean you’re evil, it means you fucked up and fucking up is normal. But fucking up in your kids’ eyes means a big deal to them, so you gotta be careful in that department and own up to the faults you have and made.

 

This… feels strangely better than the car paranoia, a nice distraction. It’s introspective as shit for sure though, haven’t really had time to think for myself since my duties at Volcano High.

 

“Hmm, I still feel bad for how I reacted to Amber. She’s constantly nervous around us even if we mean well, we’re accepting of her now so what’s the issue?” Mom speaks up, there’s genuine guilt there.

 

“If I could put my two cents Samantha,” Anon spoke up, ”she still loves you. She’s just… trying her best to be what you want her to be? Which in this case, her own perception of your perception.”

 

“...what?” I spoke up, Mom being equally confused.

 

“It means that she tries to be someone she’s not for your sake, your sake being some fake expectations she thinks you have for her. It’s a problem she has, not yours.” Anon clarified.

 

“Oh, that makes sense, I think? Oh, I don’t want my little Amber pressuring herself, she’s 18 now and I don’t want her to stress so much that she can’t handle being an adult. Speaking of which, why wasn’t I invited?” Mom feigned annoyance.

 

“Amber asked us not to? She likes small parties, Samantha, go ask her about it.”

 

“Oh yeah the party… sorry about what happened.” Naomi apologized.

 

“It’s alright dear. Despite the hell you’ve been through, you’ve been a good mother, Naomi.” Mom stated like it was a fact. “I’ve seen the best of your ability and you tried your best, that’s all that mattered.” She then encouraged.

 

She just sighs, looking away, unable to give the same look for Mom but they both respect each other's opinions, Mom of Naomi’s apprehension and Naomi of Mom’s nature. I look at her with a face that knows she can tell me anything at the window. 

 

Naomi’s face expresses “I know” with no words needed to say, but it’s a pained expression that she can’t. Not now at least.

 

What the heck is going on? If there was anything that was on Naomi’s face today, it was regret, unease and depressive mania.

 

We finally arrive at St. Brachs Hospital, parking at the front as we observe the building in front of us. A marble statue of a brachiosaurus dressed like a shepherd, holding the Rod of Asclepius and carrying a pterosaur child. Arrows stab behind his back and yet he looks content, pretty jarring imagery for a fuckin’ hospital. I hear Naomi’s phone ring, presumably Ganon as they discuss. But my mind goes elsewhere, Naser…

 

Right, hope he’s okay here. Time to right some wrongs, even if they’re decades old.

 

Stuck in Traffic

 

Sera

 

“...The Cretaceous University of Machinery or C.U.M. was established back in 1910 by Latin Lizard immigrants and have been supporting the industrial revolution in its rise in Dino America. They have gained a massive boost in 2020 through revolutionary inventions made by our students, diverse yet the same, distant yet connected. We are brothers in tech! Our drones and holographic technologies in the southern states have been a keystone in paving the way for a better Dino Ameri- ”

 

*Click*

 

“-Everybody likes to get taken for turns, To see how bright the fire inside of us burns! And everybody wants to get evil tonight, But all good devils masquerade under the light~”

 

*Click*

 

“-A pileup from Basilisk City occurred between 11:00am to 11:30am with heavily injured persons, clean up is expected to be handled around 7:00pm. Victims from the crash include renowned neurosurgeon Nas-”

 

Okay that’s enough, ugh. I look at the clock, 7:30pm.

 

I've been fucking around with the radio out of boredom, for god knows how long at this point. We’ve been slowly inching as we’re still stuck, good news at the very least that we’re almost out of it for GOD KNOWS HOW LONG- okay calm down, eugh. Hector doesn’t mind me messing around the radio because he’s just as stuck and bored as me.

 

We’ve been here to the point where we’ve burnt out our music playlists, Hector’s Rexican rap and my own personal playlist which are both full of cute human boys. Alongside some of Amber’s songs, because they sound neat, we would’ve asked from Tommy’s and the others' playlists, but we got tired from listening to tunes. I sit beside Hector as Amelia sleeps in the back, with headphones to drown out the cars outside.

 

I look at Hector, he blushes as I remember what we talked about when we were at McDinolds. It was a fun chat but… Man, there’s one thing on my mind despite all the shitty noise outside.

 

Earlier

 

“And then I said, “You better kiss me on my hot mouth, I’m feeling romantical ~”” Hector looked at me with wide eyes as he was impressed by my vocal range. I continue with accepted flattery and regardlessness of my voice. “And he just shrugged it off! He literally didn’t hear what the heck I said! He’s comically deaf to what I say to him.” I looked at him with an exaggerated face of disbelief.

 

Not exactly what I said but it should give him an idea. I roll my shoulders while he responds. Amelia gave us some space to talk while she stretches, damn is she doing yoga? For someone so buff she’s surprisingly flexible.

 

“Damn that sucks chica, your skinnie fetish is weird yeah but I ain't gonna judge.” Bruh what did he just say?

 

“You literally did judge it.” I gave a smug face to let him know I’m not serious.

 

“Not the same thing!” He catches on, nice.

 

“Nuh uh!” I jab his shoulder.

 

“Well fine, I judged.” He sagged his shoulders. “Happy?”

 

“Very.” I gave him a sly look.

 

It’s not really a fetish is it? I just had a childhood crush on him? Or when my body goes crazy when I think about him , but lately I've just been… I dunno, losing my taste in him? I do like skinnies and a few other dinos but when it's him… eh? 

 

I do know that it's more out of lust, I don’t wanna fuck around with Amber’s mom and find out. At this point I just don't wanna bother with that sort of thing, taking selfies with my Dad did make me feel better. So I try to do anything to take my mind off of it, aside from being productive anyway.

 

I see Hector using his vape and he notices me looking at his cloud puffs.

 

“Thought you didn’t smoke?”

 

“I do but I don’t when I need to work. A bit of carfe here and there but honestly I don’t feel anything when I take it? Me being high and sober doesn’t make any difference teebee aech .” I spell out TBH to him.

 

“Aren’t injections stronger? Didn’t your dad used to take them?” He looked up as if to recall something.

 

“Woah hey! I’m not that crazy and neither is he, it’s just an old rumor but he always either drank or smoked it. I have no idea how the hell my dad is successful but at least there’s the benefits of being a rich girl.” I am a rich girl but damnit my tech is my own hard work. 

 

He then passes his vape onto me and I take a hit. Damn this tastes different. Not what I… expected. Shit, what is this?

 

“This sure isn't carfe, the hell is it?” I looked at what’s inside but can’t seem to recognize it.

 

“Holy water.” He dropped.

 

“You’re kidding.” It was his turn to slyly smile. “No fucking way!” Ha!

 

“Yep! Of course there’s the other stuff but they’re mild, Mom would be fuckin’ pissed if she ever found out I took stronger shit, let alone this mild ass electrodoobie.” That’s not a fucking word and he knows it. “But I put in a bit of holy water so my mom doesn't suspect a thing. So every time I talk, I literally spit out bible verses.” He waves his hands around like a gangsta rapper.

 

“Well your mouth smells religious that’s for sure, like Raptor Jesus pissed in it or something.” I chuckle.

 

“Eww, that’s fuckin’ disgusting.” He laughs too, considerably more so.

 

“Heh, yeah.”

 

We stand around in silence, our bones popping from the stiffness of the ride. The sky is a pretty orange today, with clouds waving above us. Hector and I stare at each other in silence, as he starts blushing for some reason. Raptor Jesus he’s so bad around girls it’s hilarious, what if I…

 

“Y’know if you’re gonna hit on me, you’re as subtle as a train wreck.” See if it works.

 

“Aww man,” Bingo! “Well can I at least hit you with one of my lines? Was thinking of one.” He rubbed the back of his head and spikes.

 

“Shoot.” This oughta be interesting.

 

“Alright alright uhm…” He shakes his hands in preparation, thinking about it before committing to the bit. “Hey baby, are you a plant? Cuz we could be best buds together?” His hands then turn into finger guns and he gives his best smile, that’s pretty cute.

 

“Wow, that's cheesy.” He looks comically distraught. “Not even romantic, that’s more of a friendship pun than anything else resembling flirting.” He then looks genuinely distraught.

 

“Ah shit.” He was about to explain himself but I cut him off.

 

“BUT…I didn't say it was a shitty job. I liked what you had.” It’s fun teasing him, heh.

 

“Whatchu guys talkin’ about?” Amelia wrapped her arms around our shoulders and pulled us closer to her face, jeez talk about personal space.

 

“Nothing!” Hector squeaked. 

 

“Yeah, right, it’s nothing.” Amelia rolled her eyes.

 

She lets go of us and then punches his shoulder in a surprisingly hard way, he caresses his shoulder in mock and probably actual pain.

 

“Just life shit, nothing much.” I butt in to save his ass.

 

“I hear ya right there. Me and Hector are trying to compete so we can see who gets a girl first.” It was Hector’s turn to punch her back, oh chivalry.

 

“Girl? You’re trying Amber’s thing now?” I shrug my shoulders.

 

“Eh I’ll admit, I’m just desperate to find someone at this point. Guy or gal, might date in college when I get the time for it. Been saving up for it along with Isabella and Maria.” She looked pretty hesitant about the bisexual idea actually.

 

“You know you don’t have to be a lesbian or something to get with someone, you just gotta see if they respect who you are and what you can be. But before you get in a relationship, you gotta love and respect yourself.” Hector stepped in.

 

“Huh, surprisingly wise words, little bro.” Amelia looked surprised.

 

“Hey, we’re the same age, and don’t pull the “I was born 10 minutes earlier” crap, you estupida!” Hector argued. “And secondly Amber told me about that, who knew she had pretty good relationship advice.” I’m pretty sure her parents told her about that stuff.

 

“Yeah, and gave it to someone who hasn’t been in one yet.” Amelia snarked but she looks pretty attentive to what Hector is saying.

 

“Hey c’mon, I’m trying, it’s still good advice for looking for someone.” He crossed his arms.  “Besides, I wanna get the perfect woman.” He glanced at me for a second, oh damn that’s smooth.

 

“Alright, alright, I respect that.” She raised her arms with a smirk at what he’s implying, trigga-buttery smooth.

 

They look at eachother with a smile as I raise a question that’s been on my mind since she mentioned it. 

 

“Isn’t Isabella and Maria only 18 yet?”

 

“Never know when to prepare for the future.” She looked away for a moment.

 

“Take it easy for yourself, Patty wouldn’t want that now would she?” Amelia scoffed.

 

“Patricia-” She scrunched her nose before sighing. “Okay, maybe you’re right, I have been working my ass off too hard.”

 

“Hey it’s alright, habits are hard to break and your workaholic thing doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. You could turn it into something productive when we work together at school, if you don’t mind me being your boss.” I offered.

 

“Noted.” Amelia nodded. “So where are you gonna go?” 

 

“Upstate, S.N.E.E.D. College, where Patty is at. You?” I clarify and redirect.

 

“Staying here, community college. Like I said, I’ll work on it once I save enough for my sisters. What about you Hector?” She bounced the topic around, he looked hesitant though.

 

“I, uhh… kinda wanna go to a different college? The Vet thing does help for sure, but I wanna set my horizons more, specialize in Animal Caretaking where I can get professional with my job.” Hector was right about being hesitant because Amelia looks pretty upset, not in an angry way but more in a sad way.

 

“Es eso cierto?… Who’s gonna take care of the familia?” 

 

“Oh, c’mon, not like you’re lonely with Isabella or Maria.” He reasoned. 

 

“You’re different.” Hector was surprised by that sincerity. “It’s gonna be lonely without you.” 

 

“Besides, I’ll come home. I’m not gonna be like Amber’s uncle and be stuck there for eternity, I’ll do my best to visit.” It was his turn to be sincere.

 

They hug each other before I decide I didn’t wanna ruin the moment, I leave the two of them before they part and follow me into the McDinold’s. I notice Amber taking their time though as I look at her before she waves me off, going back inside.

 

Damn, that’s all I’m saying to this place because Raptor Jesus this is the pinnacle of fast food. Average ass lighting, server drones that are barely taken care of, overworked workers and the smell of that really good slop they call food. God I wish Hector just cooked in the parking lot, but can’t win 'em all I suppose.

 

We take our seats while a Brachiosaurus woman in her 20s yells at the server, at least I think that’s a Brachiosaurus? Maybe a Plesiosaur?

 

“Whaddaya buyin’ Stranger?” The purple hooded Raptor spoke up.

 

“Fur th' lest facken' time! A'm waantin' a herbivore cheesebearrger wi' a side o' apple nugge’s, is that sae pumpin' solid tae ken ye eejit!” Wow, that Scottish is thicker than a bowl of oatmeal…is it Scottish? I can’t tell…

 

A woman in her 40s stepped in, similar to the younger long necked woman. 

 

“Let me handle this me dearie, mind tae speak sassenach a'richt?” She spoke in a reassuring tone.

 

“Aye.” She sagged.

 

For a second I thought she was gonna be calm about it, as she took a deep breath before letting out a monstrous roar before being up in the poor wagie’s face.

 

“GIVE US SOME FACKEN FOOD YA DAFT FAT FOCKIN POOFTER! A'm fahkin' starving 'n' a'm aff tae tear ye a freish yin lik' yer grandmother's wooden onesie!!”

 

Argh. Yep, off to a great start of fine dining.

 

Still… Hmm… respect myself huh.

 

I mean… Anon’s dad respects me?

 

Oh who am I kidding- Stop thinking about him, you’re 18 now! You’ve got a reputation to uphold and it’s time to throw that shit out of the window.

 

It’s time to try someone else at this point.

 

I could give Hector a chance, I need to distract myself from Anon anyway.

 

Hmm.

 

I'll think about it, he’s nice but I'm not sure about this. There’s more fish in the sea after all.

 

Maybe I'll ask Patty about it…

 

*[You Have One New Message.]*

 

I feel my phone vibrate, I pull it out and see someone I didn’t expect. Mom… Man it’s been a while since I saw her. I know she’s busy helping expand the business with her financial knowledge and all that, her salon and dad’s Carfe franchise. Not to mention my production of robotics that unintentionally put a target on my back by the Southern Uni of Tech, she is helping me out with my college stuff which I suppose is nice.

 

I haven’t seen her in uhh… since Christmas- wait no, besides that. Since Summer actually, I feel bad for having some sort of lost parent angst even though she’s there for me. Whenever I show some new invention of mine she doesn’t seem impressed by it, she’s always asking shit like “Why’s it roomba shaped again?” I mean she probably likes what I make…but it’s hard. 

 

Just answer the damn message already, see what she wants.

 

[MOM]

 

(Hey sweetie? How are ya?)

 

Damn she’s asking that now? Jee how the fuck do you think I feel?… Okay dial it down, no need to be like that.

 

(Im fine

what about you)

 

Wait fuck- darnit it sent, i didnt wanna ask about that

 

(Oh you know, handling business here and there. Your father and I are making progress on Skin Row and we just bought a pizza business. Ain’t that interesting?)

 

Hooray… eugh.

 

(But enough about that, I’ve got a question for you. How good are you at making limbs? Artificial ones interlocking with neural interfaces?)

 

…what. Since when did she learn what the heck those are?! I stand up straight as I look at it in closer inspection, these are for prosthetics?

 

(Mom I make drones and household robots, I don’t make those kinds of things.)

 

Besides I don’t have that much anatomical knowledge to even start, only referential ones for my drones. Dino Anatomy is different from developing wings and insect legs.

 

(Well, can you try?) 

 

(Whyyyyyyy)

 

Oh shit, I shouldn’t have done that.

 

(Because your father needs it for something, he’s with a client at the moment so he’s super busy.)

 

Yeah getting high off his own supply, maybe he’s just talking with his business partners or whatever the hell.

 

(Just do the job, not like you’re doing much else anyway.)

 

Well, my drone is basically finished. I just have to send it to Dad so he could see it and have us travel upstate to showcase it on the weekends. But that’s gonna be…for a while considering he’s also busy as Mom but he works locally rather than outside of the state.

 

…Ugh fine.

 

(And don’t make it roomba shaped.)

 

WHY WOULD I MAKE AN ARM ROOMBA SHAPED?! I- Okay- don’t think too hard about it, just do it.

 

(okay.)

 

(And hun? …I’m sorry for not visiting often, you know I'm busy.)

 

…what?

 

(I know.)

 

(I’ll treat you for some pizza when I come home, how’s that?)

 

I try to think of anything for this, anything at all. Be pissed? Be glad? Be… I dunno- Indifferent? I’m just… we didn’t even talk much even through text and this is still not that different from talking with each other face to face. And I feel so tired of this, whatever this is. It’s confusing and I’d… rather just have this be over with.

 

(Sounds good.)

 

I switched it off. I huff as I close my eyes, man… where were you.

 

I look at Hector and he’s just as bored as me, though there was an earlier conversation that made it the reason why we’re just sitting in silence.

 

“Man, I love me some hot bitches!” He said after he showed me a pic of our classmate, Erin. Someone he tried to ask out before he got smacked.

 

“But do the hot bitches love you?” I snarked.

 

Just like Kiryu chan, he cried. Or at least internally, I think I hit it too close to home so now he’s just quiet.

 

We turned on Tommy’s radio mainly to listen to whatever they’re saying, you know you’re this bored when you resort to this sort of shit. At this point I’ll take anything, including talking to Cynthia. I don’t hate her, she already hates herself and that’s just depressing to think about. 

 

“-only language on Earth is English. Anything else are groups of people having a collective stroke and calling it a language.” I could imagine Amber and Mel rolling their eyes.

 

“You do realize English is just three languages in a trenchcoat.” I spoke into the receiver.

 

I heard someone jump, I noticed Hector giggle which is a better pace than earlier.

 

“Fuck off Sera!” 

 

“Yeah and French is your tongue having a mental and groovy breakdown.” I continue to press on.

 

“SACREBLEU! RETARD!” She unironically yelled.

 

The car bursts into laughter, yeah I’m imagining her facepalming. It’s so worth it.

 

“Guess she has… the Rizztism ?” Melissa tried to do a joke but ended up laughing out loud, it’s nice hearing that gal talk more.

 

“Ew- HAHA!” Amber joined her too with me wheezing out my sides at how fucking corny that was.

 

I manage to recover as I speak up. “Lemme guess, Cynthia said that.”

 

“Well if it worked for Dad, then why wouldn’t it work for me!” Cynthia you’re digging into a bottomless pit and somehow your disabled mental skills break the physics to dig deeper.

 

I shake my head in disbelief, I can’t tell if Cynthia is a good or bad influence for Tommy ever since they revealed that in the McDinold’s. But I can be sure that she would be teaching that guy some new words that my dad would either be proud of or disown out of fear if Cynthia ever became my sister.

 

The car slowly moves, I then hear a voice. Two of them in unison, it was very familiar despite me being in the restaurant for a short bit.

 

“MOVE! FACKEN MOVE YA WEE EEDJIT!!”

 

“YA SUCKEN ON YER MAW’S BAWBAG ERR WHAT YA FAT JOBBY SHITE BAMPOT!!”

 

They keep honking as they yell at the poor driver who I’m pretty sure is crying in panic.

 

Well this fucking sucks, I am… so bored. It’s nice talking but… damn I should do something. I don’t think I wanna work on my drone so…

 

Heck, wonder what the actual hell my dad is doing right now?

 

St. Brachs Parking Lot

 

Reed

 

Near 9 PM now, we exit the car. One of those really fancy muscle cars for the big business types, I really miss my “Mystereed Masheen” though. Nice Hippie Van, used to carry all my drums with it. At least one of Rosa’s kids is putting that old thing to good use. I’m focused on my phone though, thinking about the girls in my life… 

 

It’s been a while since I sent that text to Trish, I would’ve sent it myself but I know about Sera missing her and I want them to talk at the very least. Was hoping it was a video call, if it was a text I guess it’s fine. Knowing how stressed out Trish is lately, it was understandable that you don’t wanna be seen at your worst.

 

“Mr. Freeman. Something bothering you sir?” My driver speaks up as I groan.

 

“No, just call me Reed, I would call you “Mr. Freeman” Huey.”

 

He had stepped out, Riley in tow. Crazy to see how much he’s grown since he moved away to live with his Granddad out of state, due to Trish’s mom being so overworked to the point where she got sick from stress. Heck, it’s one of the reasons why me and Trish got together in the first place, her missing him despite him being an alleged “stupid ass-” wait can I even think about the T word? Ah whatever I think it’s fine. “trigga who’s a public menace.”. She cares, it’s just hard for her to show she does. 

 

Riley now has longer dreadlocks to where he wears metal cuff things on the ends, wearing the most stereotypical gangster clothes yet somehow pretty fashionable. Huey looks similar to Riley facial structure wise, his skin tone is bluer though, must be a Maryland state thing. He has a large afro, anchor goatee and wears a slick business suit. The Gangster and The Professional, what a duo that I can rely on. Despite some others (including Trish) doubting their skills, they’ve been pretty good at what they’re doing.

 

I did tell them to wear something decent, the guy I’m meeting with is a professional after all. Though one’s overcompensating and the other… undercompensating? Eh, he’s probably knocked out from the pileup anyway, wouldn’t be awake to see what we’re wearing.

 

“Right, sorry Mr. Reed.” That’s not- Ah whatever I’ll take it.

 

“Ayy Trigga, this ain’t no business meetin’, we’re just meetin’ up with the Mayor's friends.” Riley intervened.

 

“That’s future mayor to you, even then I'm not sure I'm gonna get elected. So far I’m a mayoral candidate.”

 

I’m only being mayor so my customers at Skin Row get better care, they’re my highest clientele in Volcaderra Bluffs. I want them to not get shanked everytime they go outside… or even inside their homes, it gets pretty annoying. So at first I was just funding better security like more patrols, then more factors came into place. Homeless epidemic, rampant pollution, corruption within parts of the bureaucracy that’s in the place. Shit like that, I’ve been helping repurposing the abandoned buildings into homes, cleaning up the trash and replacing some guys with help of Ripley’s investigations and Moe’s persuasion .

 

Plus they have the best pizza aside from Moe’s, love that place.

 

I do have to compete for mayorship if I’m to achieve my goals though. I swear every politician I meet is a schizo, like this woman named Wendy. Though I think she was just lost and somehow ended up on the panel, she was a pretty good politician though. Lots of strong points such as “I advocate for guillotines exclusive for the IRS’s necks!”, pretty based, ngl. There was another one though, an ex-soldier that does automations for a living now. He was honestly awesome.

 

“That’s a nice argument Mr. Reed, why don’t you back it up with a source?!” For some reason he had a sword too.

 

“My source is that I made it the fuck up.”

 

And somehow I’m getting the majority of votes, this is pretty neat. Plus two pretty cool dudes to hangout with, I could get used to this. Though there’s the annoying research I have to do to get caught up with the news, even if they’re outside Volcaderra Bluffs.

 

Breaking News!

 

The mayor of Rock Bottom who is known for marrying his tulpa is welcoming his child to the world! The child's name is Skibidirizzlet Amogus Ohioussy.

 

How this came to be has left scientists baffled.

 

Being a soon to be mayor sounds pretty cool besides that one downside.

 

We walked closer to the entrance, the two bros by my side walking with the exaggerated swagger of gangsta Trikes. People say they’re my bodyguards but honestly I think I can defend myself fine. We were surprised to see someone when the door opened.

 

“Reed? Riley and…” I spot a familiar ptero friend smoking a cig before stomping on it as I walk closer to her.

 

“Huey.” He answers.

 

“You two? Wow you’ve gotten old. The heck are you doing here?” Surprise is written all over her face though it’s replaced with exhaustion.

 

I see Lucy worried to bits, tears apparent from the subtle smears on her face. Trying to maintain composure for me but I know what to do, c’mere Luce.

 

I hug her, she reciprocates as fresh sobs trickle down my shoulder. This feels like old times whenever she came over to my place, bad memories for both of us but one we endured together. There was this one time when she still had dyed her hair red, having been yelled at by her dad with a suicide attempt. Her neck had stitches and even now I could notice the subtle details that no other person could see. But this feels better than those old times, in the way that she’s not miserable anymore. I could feel the twins in my back smiling behind my back.

 

“Came to see an old friend.” I smile, wiping her tears away. 

 

“All the way here? For me or…” She looks pretty confused.

 

“Someone else, your dad actually.” I clarify.

 

“Really? It’s about your Skin Row politics stuff right?” Lucy recalled.

 

“Yeah, offering my condolences to him.” Can’t tell her about my plan right now, she’s got too much on her plate right now.

 

“Ah, that’s nice of you Reed.” She smiles, there’s my Lucy.

 

“It’s not a problem, you guys going home now or…”

 

“No, no…I wanna stay a bit longer, Naser’s fucked up badly and I don’t wanna leave him like last time. Still though…pretty fucked up.” Her voice was pretty dry, damn I feel bad for her.

 

“Hey listen, rent’s on me.” I pulled out 50 bucks.

 

“O-oh Reed, you don’t have to.” She raises her hand but I raise mine faster.

 

“C’mon, it’s the least I can do.” I put on an insistent yet sincere face and she sighs, taking my money with a thank you for me.

 

“Hold on, I gotta talk to her.” Huey speaks up.

 

“What for?”

 

He raised a finger to his lips, oh shit is this about the case? While I was pretty pissed about that, I am pretty curious about it so I’ll let him be.

 

Me and Riley enter, waiting on the seats as a line was there. Pileup was pretty bad huh. While we’re there though, Riley raises a question.

 

“Isn’t that the sister of the guy you asked us to spy on?” 

 

“Okay- One, I didn’t tell you guys to spy , I told you to check on them!That was a total invasion of their privacy! And secondly, yes that was her. His name is Naser Aaron.

 

Oh yeah Naser… damn I hope he’s not gonna end up in CafePharma with the shit he pulled on Amber’s birthday. I’m worried about him since he is a big deal to Lucy and her daughter, but shit…

 

I remembered Naser yelling “OW!” and I ran over to check if they hurt themselves, only to discover Naomi coming onto Naser when they were drunk. On the one hand, drunk people do dumb stuff, I do sell drugs which makes people feel dumb after all. On the other hand… There's some psychological stuff or whatever that explains why people do dumb stuff while drunk. Some subconscious wanting or… something? It’s a gut feeling from mine anyway, and I had to make sure if it was just Naomi being horny or something worse.

 

So I asked these two to check on them, just knock on the door and ask what’s up. Though that’s not what happened…

 

“So…tell me what happened when you were at their house again.” I see Huey come back inside, writing on his notepad. Pretty witty detective, he’s now talking to one of the doctors here. Saying it’s official police business from Volcaderra Bluffs, which isn’t a thing? He better not get us in trouble with this.

 

“Yeah so we was at the store you see? Getting bitches and jiggy with the homies right there, I may have moved out but I was still gettin’ the game! Though Chondra had to be a bitch and ruin what I was going for.”

 

“That’s… not related to the house.” I deadpan.

 

“It’s getting juicy! C’mon man, lemme finish this shit.”

 

“Ugh, fine.” Well it is interesting, even though I just want the important details.

 

Riley was about to continue but Huey thankfully stepped in.

 

“Enough about that. Alright, here’s…”

 

“What I’ve heard”

 

We had parked a few blocks away, in a 11/7 because Riley had the munchies after smoking a fat doobie of Carfe. I swear that shit will rot his brain someday. But we walked regardless, looking for the address that Mr. Freeman had mentioned. I was notified that they had drunk heavily last night and engaged in adultery, though I was there to confirm whether or not it was the result of their drinking or if it began before that. Since hours have passed, they shouldn’t be drunk anymore to at least act on natural impulses of their minds rather than inebriation.

 

I’m to use my “charismatic skills” to see further when I suspect something, it’s a strange duty but I’ve been hired and the paycheck keeps me from going hungry, so I accepted. Riley’s here in case he catches fraudulent bullshit, he’s pretty good at that even when high. I’m surprised he isn’t a lawyer yet or an oracle considering how bullshit his claims are and somehow being correct… and I’m surprised I haven’t been hired for a case since graduation.

 

“And… here.” We stop, overlooking the fancy mansion. 

 

“Shiiiiiiit. This guy’s tight.” Riley awed.

 

It was fairly tall, two stories, and had a sense of Belarusian architecture. Hedges adorned the sides of the house with a swing set outside, it was… frilly to say the least. We were about to knock on the door when we saw them at the window, my instincts tell me to hide to gather more evidence rather than ruin it. 

 

We hide in the bushes and spot the two of them, the ptero and the parasaur. Naser and Naomi if I remembered correctly, she’s limping, having a nasty scab on the knee. I had my camera ready, Riley too, glad he’s taking this shit seriously now. He gave her a kiss, she kissed him back… CLICK. Shit he was right. He then pulled out a small box of a first aid kit, getting ready to treat her leg as he kneeled.

 

“Shit he was right…” Damnit Riley! I already said that!

 

“Shush!” No you shush!

 

“Did you hear that?” The woman looked in our direction but we ducked in time.

 

“...hear what?” The ptero cheater asked.

 

We hear a sigh, we quietly sigh too as we listen while under the window. Getting glances while writing down the dialogue and photographing their mannerisms, maybe private investigation is a better prospect? Do I have to take another degree for it? Ah whatever, I already have a job, as long as Mr. Freeman supports Reef City the same as Skin Row then I’m doing anything with him.

 

“Get down!”   Riley pulled my afro down painfully, he didn’t need to fuckin’ do that!

 

We move out of the window in time, hiding behind the other side of the mansion as we continue to listen. I know we’re supposed to check on them but… damn this intel is too hot to be ruined by exposure! I’ll take the heat for this, it’s my fault for not following the mission but the information was gathered nonetheless.

 

Soon enough we have a small system going on, Riley checking for security while I analyze their situation on my notepad. Could’ve gotten my recording system if it went this deep. After a while Naser left, pausing for a moment to look back at Naomi before eventually departing. She’s not going to be fine from what I’ve heard.

 

We were about to leave until we heard her speak to herself, anything useful to record though it was a pretty heavy subject to hear. She sat on the couch and hugged one of the pillows, trying her best to sink herself into the cushions as if she would disappear into it.

 

“You have to cook eventually, just be a good wife for Ganon.”

 

She stood up and walked around, cradling her pillow like a child.

 

“And eventually… Naser will come back. Just be happy for him, for both of them. And you’ll be okay.”

 

Her eyes look lost and broken, holding onto the pillow a little too hard. Eventually letting go as she dragged herself into the kitchen, and we left soon after. 

 

Contemplation

 

“From my data, Naomi, suffering from her mental illness that stemmed from trauma, is using this affair as a coping mechanism for her isolation. Naser meanwhile has no obvious mental illness as of yet, however from what I’ve asked about him from the other doctors. He’s using the affair to fill in his loneliness out of some selfish fulfillment, he’s changed over the years from what Lucy told me.” Huey finished his psychoanalysis.

 

“Well I wouldn’t say it like that, but…” Huey raised his eyebrow before I realized I didn’t know much about him. “See what’s up with him while you’re here.” They saluted, they don’t need to do that but it’s nice to see.

 

Shit… do I tell Lucy about this? Been wanting to approach this with her in one way or another, already have a plan for how I want to do it. Both of us sober, calm, face to face, - no bullshit. That’s what I wanna do, what Naser should do is come clean but that’s not gonna happen any time soon, is it? Ganon’s gonna have a fuckin’ ghost haunting him and he won’t know about it until it all blows up on him.

 

I’ll set this aside for now, we conclude Huey’s debrief and check up on the receptionist to where Ripley is before walking down the hallway for the stairs, going to the second floor with wide glass walls to show the outside world. Right where’s the room… I’m trying to focus but there’s this weird thing happening in front of me. 

 

It’s a chain of those arm extender toys for T-rexes, connected to each other with the heads biting the handles in a bizarre physics abusing way. The person holding them is trying to access the vending machine from their bed, they almost get it with the dollar deposited, buttons pressed and the chips dropping. They were about to grab it before the entire chain fell apart, I heard them yell afterwards.

 

“Dangit! Eugh, this sucks.” Wait, I recognize that voice.

 

My curiosity gets the best of me, picking up the sticks with the two trikes behind my back. 

 

“Hey, these your-” I raise my head and realize who it is. Surprise is on her face as much as mine was.

 

“REEVE!?” I was awed.

 

“REDMOND?!” She gleed.

 

I signal the guys to leave as we get some time alone. She’s wearing a different jacket now, she’s still pretty tomboyish after all these years. I noticed she has a cast on her leg, “Get well soon” cards and flowers adorn the side of her table. 

 

“Who were those dudes?” It’s a surprise to see her again.

 

“Oh just business- business dudes. But yeah it’s, uhh… Reed now, what happened to you?”

 

“Eh. car crash from the pileup.” She shrugged as if her leg was just a minor inconvenience. “And it’s Reverie! Not Reeve.” My eyebrows shot upward.

 

“Wait, what? That’s why I legally changed my name because it sounded cooler than Redmond!” If there was anything Reeve knew about me, it’s that I’m not chicken shit about anything.

 

“Haha! You what?” Man, it's amazing to see her again.

 

“Yeah, I mean I'm still technically Redmond but people still call me Reed anyway.” God this is pretty silly to say out loud now that it’s mentioned.

 

“Is he there?” Another voice I’m familiar with is in the background, peeking his bald head in once Riley lets him in.

 

“Yo Anon!”

 

“Hey, who’s this?” He greeted with confusion, he held a chips bag in his hands. Similar to the one at the vending machine, in which Reeve grabbed and put to the side with the flowers.

 

“Oh Reeve, my ex-girlfriend from Volcano High.” Reeve then waved him a peace sign.

 

“You dated somebody?” Anon was astonished.

 

“Yeah? I get bitches Anon.” I expertly “rizzed” my face as a sign of superiority, Anon remains unrizzed and contemplates how my autistic IQ managed to create a legal drug empire.

 

“Yeah, but we broke up during summer break before seniors. I was pretty sad but not heartbroken or anything, it was a mutually agreed upon thing.”  

 

“You broke up with me first though.” I recalled and she did, we broke up on my bed while we were cuddling. I was high as a kite.

 

“Exactly. I may be into carfe but not as much as you were, dude. You were basically a walking vegetable, it’s hard to date someone like that. No offense by the way.” I shrug to say that it’s okay, it’s my fault anyway. She then had a melancholic nostalgic face on, I had one too considering how hard it was for both of us. 

 

“Sorry to hear that.” Anon interjected, we briefly forgot he was there for a moment.

 

“It’s cool, at least it was a healthy one. They may be depressing but they’re not bad, we did alright.” Reeve smiled at me, proud of what we had.

 

“So who are you with now?” Anon takes a seat, pretty fascinated with this woman. 

 

“Skinnie named Rando, he’s nice. Got a daughter with him, that’s why I got all these toys in the first place.”

 

“Why didn’t you just ask them to just get you snacks?”

 

“Eh, they already left before I got hungry. So I kinda had to make do with what I’ve got, plus it’s fun.” She started to rebuild her chain again as they were speaking. “What about you… Reed~” She teases my new name with an overly feminine voice as I laugh, I simply drop the bomb on her as retaliation.

 

“Trish.” It was her turn for her eyebrows to shoot upward.

 

“Daaaaaaaaaaamn, thought she wasn't your type. Thought you would’ve been with Fang, she was a hot dynamite… pal? Pal is non-binary right?” She looked up at both of us.

 

“She detransitioned.” Anon said. “Plus you screwed up with the pronoun there earlier.” There’s that familiar smirk that I was waiting for.

 

“Heh, you caught me, still not used to it considering my daughter’s friend has feelings for my little girl. She came out and I didn’t really know what to say… uhm… proud? God, I have no idea what I’m doing.” She stifled a chuckle. 

 

“Eh, things change. I married Fang, who’s named Lucy now by the way, and we ended up having a lesbo daughter. You just gotta do your best for ‘em, crazy to think how it comes full circle, huh?” 

 

“Damn that is crazy! So what do you guys do for a living?” She decides to continue.

 

“Oh, I work on sound design, been hired for movies lately.” Anon had a sense of pride for what he was doing. Good, it’s something good to be proud of.

 

“Oh, I run a Carfe Business across America, so far it’s slowly expanding into Mexico and Canada. Also trying to run for Mayor in Volcaderra Bluffs.” I casually say, Anon is still confused about how the hell I’m doing this let alone breathe with hypothetical carfe running in my blood.

 

Reeve was completely amazed by that, it’s surprising that she remembered my Carfe Business dream. She didn’t get it but I was glad that she supported my ideas, she then pretended to be a snobby rich valley girl.

 

“Doing mechanics stuff, I have my own car shop between the borders of Volcaderra Bluffs and Basilisk City. It’s going pretty well if ah do say so muhself. Not as successful as your sound and political career but it’s, y'know…pretty slick.” She gave a smug smile, god I can’t stop smiling.

 

“Well, I’ll give it a visit then.” I pretended I was one of those fat monopoly dudes, puffing out my chest and belly and walked like a big boss. Reeve and Anon chuckled.

 

“I’m glad to see you again.” She opens up her arms for a hug.

 

“I’m glad too.” I joined in, this is really nice.

 

Reeve’s stomach grumbles as she looks longingly for her chips. C’mon, you gotta eat something better than that.

 

“Oh, uhh, here, I already gave Lucy 50$ by the way. But go buy Reeve some hot pockets.” I give Anon some cash, Reeve looks shocked that I still remembered her favorite food.

 

“Hey, thanks, man! The food fuckin’ sucks, dude, don’t eat the salad…” She winced. 

 

“Yeah,” I check my watch, damn 30 minutes? He should be available by now. “I gotta go now, can you give her my Faceboop Anon?”

 

“Reed, I’m not your fuckin butler.” 

 

“Dude, who bought you all those nugs?”

 

“You did, which by the way is waaaaaaaaaay too many.” Anon grumbled while Reeve chuckled.

 

“You could’ve said no.” I state.

 

“How do you say no to a surprise gift?!”

 

“...You just do?” I was confused by what he said.

 

Anon facepalmed while Reeve smirked.

 

“Oh waitah! More food for my fat fucken gullet wouldja!” Reeve continued with the act.

 

“Oi ya fucken cunt just wait.” Anon reluctantly joined, he couldn’t help himself to smile though.

 

I was about to leave but she called me.

 

“And Reed?”

 

“Yeah?” I turned around.

 

“Voting for you as Mayor, bro!” She gave a rockstar hand gesture at me, I replied back with a similar one.

 

I chuckle, shaking my head at seeing an old ex. She’s pretty amazing, kinda wish I didn’t smoke so much Carfe but I wouldn’t trade it for the world for Trish. I see Riley chewing on something, I fake a frown as I see him.

 

“Relax, it’s gum.” He blew a bubble, I do notice a missing brother.

 

“Where’s Huey?”

 

“Went to investigate more, snooping around Naser’s office.”

 

“Alright, go with him since I wanna be alone with Mr. Aaron anyway.” 

 

Riley swallowed the gum, getting up and going to find him. I sigh, alright now to get to the point. Now for the real reason I came here, it’s surprising how Mr. Aaron works for me now and in turn Dr. Legend is also working for me in association. Speaking of which, there’s the ward. I see Mrs. Aaron sitting on a chair with tears running down her face.

 

“Reed, what are you doing here, dear?”

 

“Offering my condolences, especially after the work he’s done for Skin Row. Place is better now because of him.”

 

“Oh, that Ripley of mine just tries his best after all, I feel absolutely terrible for him.”

 

“Hey, we’ll try to save him. Don’t worry.”

 

Samantha looked confused at what I said before noticing someone behind me, it’s Naomi. The Parasaur had exited what I assume to be Naser’s ward as she comes over to Mrs. Aaron and hugs the ptero mom, god this is gonna be… awkward. I knock on the door so I can get inside.

 

I hear German dialogue behind the room, seeing Dr. Ganon with another doctor beside him. A Liliensternus, with a messy doctor’s coat. That bad huh? 

 

“Excuse me Mr. Ludwig- Yes Mr. Reed?” His imposing form blocks the entire doorway, can’t see how he is.

 

“How is he?”

 

“Stable but bad, his body as a whole was hit in the impact. Legs, pelvis and lower spine were bruised but they were recovered thanks to Mr. Ludwig here. His ribs, shoulder and upper spine were hit the hardest. They’re still able to mended though, Mr. Ludwig was hard at work the entire night he was here and will continue after he takes a short break.” 

 

Oh shit!

 

“Yes and worst of all… his arm is gone. He will live but his life will never be the same, modern medicine has done its best and he will be awake sooner than you think. At least a month or so for Mr. Aaron while 3 months with Naser.”

 

He moves aside to let him through, they both sigh as they stretch their backs. 

 

“Auf Wiedersehen Genosse, I shall tend to Archimedes in the meantime.”

 

“Sich verschnaufen.” Ganon waves him goodbye as the doctor takes a sip of water.

 

“Thought you were Russian?” I questioned.

 

“I am, spent my time in Germany for my doctorate.” He rubbed his mammoth snout like a beard.

 

“Oh! So… he’s not gonna be able to work again huh?”

 

“Yes. Quite so.” He looks uneasy at what I’m about to say next, we already talked about it but still.

 

“Unless… we do the surgery? I thought about it and it’s a slim chance but anything to save Lucy’s dad, it’s the least I can do after all.”

 

“About the procedure, we’re going to need consent from him if he’s willing to go through that.”

 

“Yeah of course, duh. Can I see him first though?”

 

He steps his big body aside as I enter. Sheesh it’s worse than bad… Considering how bulky and muscular Rip was, it’s jarring to see one of his big anchor arms cut off. Now just a shoulder left, I sit beside him and see that his snout is covered by a respirator.

 

“Hey, hey, Mr. Rip, how are you?”

 

I use one of my other hands and pretend that it’s him speaking.

 

“Oh jeewiz Reed, I sure am in a pickle. I lost an arm and probably a lung from that pretty fatal accident.”

 

“Yeah, people sure are idiots when driving huh.”

 

“They sure are! But now I can’t do my job and get the bastards.” Hope I’m accurate at talking like him.

 

“Well say no more Mr. Rip! I’ve got a solution for you.”

 

“What is it?” He didn’t sound passionate, but he was intrigued at least.

 

I lean closer, as if he really was awake and listening.

 

“ Wanna become a cyborg? ”

 

[NOTES]
Took me half a month to write so I hope u guys enjoy this