7th of September 2047
Turner Town, what a town. This place was filthy, the police alongside any figurehead brimming with authority had unfortunately waved goodbye years ago when they found themselves both outclassed and defeated; all at the mercy of a new brand of chaos. With their absence left boots to fill; and the Freedom Firsts were more than happy to fill the dirtied boots of the country. Many of the F.F soldiers were stalking Turner Town's streets, They were easy to tell apart thanks to the White Ash along the back of their hands. These lowly men were in far better condition than the Renegades currently shining their boots. These 'Renegades'; they are without a faction, they are just people. They became mournful, dissatisfied and ultimately broken as a result of the years of tyranny they had endured all over the country.
Nowadays for the average Joe it is all about staying afloat. They are Renegades, a staggering collective of husks suffocating in the iron grip of the White Hand. Jaklo stepped down from the sun-soaked wooden stairway, the creaking beneath his boots made him feel as if it were moments from giving out. He eyed up an establishment from across the street, it was a humble wooden shack that has business as barbers there. On the front porch, an unbothered man was sat along the chair reading a newspaper; knelt before him was a quiet, scrawny Jackal, running a razor down the fur on the seated man's face as gently as he could with shaky fingers. The raccoon averted his eyes, he found it disgusting and would rather not interfere with the 'good working people' and their demoralizing methods of earning wage in this clearly corrupt system. The neon signs on the establishments from the night before led Jaklo to believe that this place might not be horrible; or maybe that thought occurred to him because he stumbled into town foolishly while high off of his medicine.
His boots carried him further downtown into the labyrinth of wooden shacks on opposite sides of the dirt road that guided him through this comically western shithole. Eventually, it would seem like he met a pivotal point in this town; a spot of beauty, therein down the road was a water fountain. Many flocked to sit by it; drink from it and were even washing themselves in it's bright blue liquidity glow.
The raccoon would watch the unusual crowd basking amongst the sun in the presence of the triumphant landmark, it also adorned a symbol amongst it's summit, a cross with a violin embedded into it's center. Jaklo shot a death glare at the idyllic landmark, approaching it to further analyze the necessities in this bustling and cramped town square. His attention led him to eyeing up service stands nearby, all of them held various items and contraband; but another stand caught his attention in particular. Tall and bright white, no symbols or advertising displayed on it's wooden frame to gawk out at everyone.
It was no food stand; in fact it was a parts and service stand from appearance, a hyena lady dressed all in denim was lulled in a daydream. A ripped, dark blue jacket draped her skinny shoulders and light turquoise jeans covered up what was out of sight, hidden behind that well-maintained service stand of hers. She was seemingly eyeing up the stationary raccoon through the flock of moving people swarming and swerving around him in haste; each face in the flock all wore the same desperate expression, on their way to adhere to their busy schedules.
For a fleeting moment, Jaklo found direct eye-contact with the hyena lady through the sea of visages, interest was immediately piqued on his end. He scooted his way through the busy colony to approach the peeping Tina, maybe she had something to tell him? He was having a rather hard time locating the establishment he was here for anyway. What's the harm in a quick pit-stop?
"Why are you eyeballing me, miss?" Approaching with caution, the raccoon then understood her gaze was one hundred yards long, staring right past him; the intensified stare from Jaklo upon his approach broke her cycle of wool-gathering, she was back to Earth now with two blinks. "No, no man- Just in my head. You thought I was looking at you? What makes you stand out?"
The hyena held back a mocking laugh behind her repulsed expression; she'd detach from the conversation momentarily, picking up a nearby bucket of red paint from the counter and clumsily climbing atop it to design the blank canvas above. It appeared she was selling spare parts from cars; according to the marked and sealed plastic bags alongside the stand. Some of the stock bags were even leaking thick, black oil.
"I guess my riveting personality, too bad I can't wear it like a million dollar suit. That would work to make me stand out, don't you think?" Rare tones of playfulness were found in Jaklo's voice, eyeing up the messily tied plastic bags of various recovered vehicle parts. He didn't need any of that, yet finding himself acting interested anyway. The hyena wasn't so interested, rolling her eyes and continuing to smear streaks of red paint along the blank surface. "I'm selling car parts, you here to buy or just act like we're old friends? Don't even know you dude"
"No." Jaklo responded quick, eyeing her up and awkwardly balling his hands into his pockets. "... Just looking for the hardware store in this lovely town, you wouldn't happen to know Ellis- would you? He's tall, polite.. overall solid guy- Meant to meet me by there anyway-.. I think- According to this letter he wrote out to me."
Upon hearing this, the hyena raised her eyebrow and stepped down from the counter. Her boots planting the gravelly floor below. "Anything hardware related is a little further up town. You new here or something green-eyes?" The raccoon looked past her and to the bustling road of people. He spotted an eerie Gallows at the end of town, four lonely nooses swaying with the breeze as natural as a dandelion dances with the wind.
"Yeah- I came from Morisville to meet my top guy... Actually haven't seen him in years. He must've caught wind I was settling there. Wants to discuss some old business with me, I guess I'm interested to hear what he has to sa-"
He interrupted himself once he saw it, those emerald eyes of his caught sight of a few packs of cigarettes that she was selling, he felt like a child on Christmas morning imagining the golden feeling of a long deserved cigarette, they were scarce nowadays.
"... Please tell me you are selling those."
Her eyebrows fluttered upon learning of his whereabouts, she'd slide the packet of cigarettes across the counter and plant her chin onto her palm to stare with sudden interest. "Morisville, Huh? ... Some Top Guy you have.. You gonna team up and sleep whichever rando busted that lip of yours?" She'd remark about his bruised face, an inkling of concern concealing her visage for a moment.
"Yeah; a regular charming Batman and Robin couple. We'll show him what for a little later on during happy hour."
Despite his reply being a mumbled response; it still invoked a short-lived laugh in her, like the small embers from a dying fire.
"Anything on the counter is to go, bro. A pack of those will be 30 bucks, supply and demand for those pussy sticks is crazy nowadays." Her remark ended with a smirk in the raccoon's direction; just as he was sliding two Twenty-Dollar notes discretely across the table to her. Needless to say, she was happy to tend to his order. Sliding the pack of cigs across the dull wooden counter whilst simultaneously snatching the wrinkled dollar bills from his hand, his digits trembled momentarily. All the while, she was lost in thought; going on to deposit the various dollar notes into the register to finalize their interaction.
"You must be some sort of secret V.I.P or something man, I took one look at you and thought your ass was flat broke.."
Fingers glided across the wrinkled ten dollar note in exchange; she met eye contact with the lotor in front of her once more and she decided to ask.
"I have a question- Morisville.. Is it still as safe as it used to be? Used to work there at the morgue before-- well.. everything happened."
The raccoon held eye contact as he shoved the balled up note into his coat pocket. Jaklo felt pity for the girl, he too missed how things used to be. "Safe ... No White Hands. People living off of their own farms and their own fresh produce. Brass and Guns on every possible entrance too. I don't think it's going to last for shit, there is no sanctuary from the violin that stands safe for very long--" After a stranger bumped into him on mistake, he'd exchange a hateful glance in their direction and quickly regain his composure for the hyena lady; it was almost time to get a move on but the raccoon wanted to end off with a funny remark, in hopes he can make a new contact.
"You worked as a body skinner back in the day you said? Hell- I just ran into a Morgue Officer back in those apartments. Didn't know you guys use cereal boxes to store those things nowadays, do the Cheerios keep the organs fresh for longer?"
In utter confusion, disbelief and silence- She blinked at him and could only mutter a "The fuck dude?" in reply.
He couldn't help but deliver a wink too like it was the cherry on top, it was accompanied by a dead and dull expression. It came off completely wrong but in truth he wished to come off a little more charming. "Cheerio.. Crocodile-- Adios! Alligator. Not that I'll be here for much longer. Thanks for the Pussy Sticks, lady."
She'd watch him walk off into the busy crowd of Turner Town, sliding a few strands of hair behind her ear as she stares up at the 'Spare Parts' sign that she had displayed in red. Thoughts about Morisville flooded the hyena's mind, somewhere safe and secure, home. It was a promising prospect, especially within every look she saw struggle; she saw a broken generation of people ensnared by these pompous gangsters, keeping people in their lines and belittling them or worse in order to keep them there; she felt no love nor any respect would ever grace this town.
The very last thing she wanted to see today was the bear sculking towards her stand. She side-eyed his large frame hobbling up to lean his flabby elbow against her counter, tall and bulky; his even worse breath complimented a disastrous smile shot at the hyena in greetings. The bear's claw would silently tap the wood, his back-hand soaked in the same white paint as the rest of the gangsters in town; flexing his pathetic wings.
"Your spots look great from this angle. You still selling these silly things? Pretty dog like you would make a killing at the club here. How about you leave the car part collecting and selling to the capable, you'll make a helluva 'lot more cash than this girl-scout shit.. Come on- Plastic bags of parts? I know fellas that are hauling in truck-loads of parts. Lot better condition than some of this junk too. Give it a rest, Daisy."
She couldn't do anything except swallow hard, balling her hands up on the table as far away from the bear's large paw as possible. His words were dripping with degeneracy; his mere presence made her internally recoil. "Viktor.. I told you I can make the money collecting parts. This isn't just any heap of junk I'm selling- I get it from a very valuable source. I've tendered to many customers."
He'd pick up a large nail from the counter nearby, using it to scratch obtusely at his clipped ear.
"No.. No- Your weekly interest is growing too these days, think we need to put ya on a new job.. You'll do great.. You have the curves and everything for it. Look.. Daisy- I'm not asking- I am telling. No one wants to buy this shit. Sorry to burst ya' bubble." In one swift manner, he'd push one of the plastic bags off of the counter and onto the gravel below, a large motor falling from it's clawed plastic. She blinked and eyed up the motor, pupils dilating with intensity at the singular rusted screw dangling from it's frame.
"But you promised that I wouldn't do any of those jobs when I accepted to pay for the custody of my children instead, you told me I could rake in the money from any business I preferred.. Dude please- I begged once- don't make me beg again.. Not here- not.. public."
Annoyance coated his expression, his white-painted fist tensed on her counter with challenge. "Daisy, Daisy.. Listen- This just isn't cutting the rising interest rates. People in this town are slacking and many are dropping like flies around here, we got no choice but to get the brave ones still standing to work harder. Leave the scavenging to the ugly; You're beautiful, you'll ruin your good looks going out and scavenging around for those parts. Come flaunt your stuff at the club, you'll earn more than this for less work. Besides; the ugly need something pretty to gawk at after a day of work. You have to think about your children too- ya know. Way I see it; ya want to be a good Mother or are you going to let them be re-educated into little hit-men? Because at your current wage, that's what is going to happen I'm afraid."
The scene around the two was still busy, yet the space between the hyena and the loathsome bear was almost unbearably silent. Her heart raced and her ears twitched, fixating on the motor laying along the ground below her. A pang of anger steadily growing in her chest "... Don't fucking mention my Children and borderline prostitution in the same sentence again.. I'm sorry-- you said what by the way dude? Hitmen? What the fuck do you mean? You're putting my kids in danger? What are you doing to them you disgusting pig. They don't need to be touching any fucking guns at that age--"
She was met with a growl, the bear would rattle the stand with the force of his grip as he leans in close suddenly. "Who the fuck are you to call me a pig, whore? You pay your due and you get your kids back. You can't pay your damn due?! We kill you and repurpose your kids into killers, that's what we fucking told you Day One. It's the moral thing to do. 'Less you want me to bury the two little fuckers right alongside you? They'll make good soldiers, not everyone expects a kid with a gun. Every man or lady and boys n' girls all have their duties. Your duty is being gorgeous; you would belong perfect on my velvet fuckin' stage!"
Viktor would slap the girl on the side of the head to further assert himself, wrangling her under as much control as he possibly could. With confidence in his strut, he'd swivel and lean his weight back against Daisy's stand. It would tipple momentarily, he would purposefully attempt to bring it down but she pushed back, bringing the stand back to a stationary position with aggressive eyeballing on the motor along the ground.
"Quit bein' a drama queen, already.. Relax Daisy. Give it up- you know everybody in this town is totally cool with that kind of work, quit eating around it- I'll tell you something, once you're up there on my Leopard Pole it'll be a different story. A new start- fresh.. For yo--"
As quick as he came, Viktor was gone. While his back was turned, the hyena had officially snapped without his realization. He had received a motor to the back of the skull, falling to the gravel and immediately kicking up dust to the surrounding dismayed crowd like a toppled giant. Daisy didn't stop with one swing, she was straddling his wheezing corpse with ease.
To see a Renegade atop a White Paw, hammering a motor into the fleshy crater where his lazy eye used to be. The sight to some was equivalent to that of a sip of water from the Oasis after trekking far from lost paradise; she raised her bloodied paws to the air, cradling the heavy motor with her crimson digits. Arms teetering from the weight of which she brings down directly onto Viktor's unrecognizable fat skull once more.
At last she was pulled from the massacre, numerous guards surrounding and punching the woman into the dirt. Many watched with wide-eyes, mostly the Renegades. No one did a thing, she stepped out of their line and it couldn't be helped. She would suffer their disgusting charms no more, just barely taking the beatings with an agonized grimace on her face, they would hoist the battered mess of a hyena to her knees and hold her by her hair soaked in her own crimson pain; she coughed and whimpered quietly as they stared into her eyes. Soon enough, she was glaring.
"Fuck'd you do that for? Huh? You have any idea the shitshow you just unleashed lady? Guy owned more rackets than just this town-- You fucking listening to me you little brat?-... Hrm-"
Bruised and bloodied, she could only focus on the rusted screw neighboring the dented crimson engine to the right of her victim. She'd spit a tooth in Viktor's direction with pure hatred and with a final burst of energy; she delivered a victory cry in the form of a desperate, whimpering command;
"SCRATCH YOUR EAR WITH THAT YOU FAT FUCK!" Painfully she would wince, deflating therein after in the restraining claws hooked onto her mud and blood covered outfit.
Seems like the other mobsters weren't too keen on being ignored
"-- Nothin' No? We just don't fuckin' exist to you now-? Okay boys- Throw this loony hag into the cage lot for now, we'll have her hanged along with Banister tonight. You hear that people?! Two hangings tonight! Not just one!"
She could barely make out the image of the two Freedom First soldiers holding her bruised skull by her frail white hair, she sputtered some blood and winced as the headache from the several punches hit her all at once as the crowd of bystanders nearby began cheering, two hangings at once was like two episodes of your favorite show coming out at the same time to these people. There was a certain satisfaction knowing it wasn't them up there with a noose around their necks.
"Hey hey hey! All you working-class shitheads still know that means double the viewing price, okay?! Don't come empty handed, you try to watch from the roofs like last time- you're going right up to the gallows with this bitch. Everyone on the same page?!" Daisy felt helpless, the last time she felt this hopeless was when her kids discovered that she had prior involvement in a rebellion years back, she chose to attempt to work for her children's freedom. A single tear joined the bloodied gashes on her cheek, she would quietly sob with bitter resentment for every single person around her.
"Fuck- Fuck you" She wheezed ".. I just want to see- my darling boys, they're so fucking beautiful- haha. I promised them so much- Ooh- fuck. all of you, I miss them so much. You think I'll die w-when I know.. they're with d-disgusting pieces of shit, like you? You're all fucking parasites- I killed many like you back years ago- You pigs--"
Before she could continue her blood-muffled rant, a backhand would quickly silence her weak blubbering with a firm strike that planted her body to the gravel beneath. A thick strand of drool desperately clung from her lip to the dusted floor, she heaved each breath hatefully. Mustering any strength she has left to stay conscious as she felt herself being dragged. She wasn't able to keep her bloodshot eyes open any longer, a certain satisfaction laid dormant in her restless body upon knowing she had quieted the cheering crowd to a theater of stoic faces watching as her body is transported to death. They did nothing to help, but at least they weren't laughing now.
On the south side of Turner Town, the shade had settled in and the sun had hid it's face in the clouds from these lonesome, bending town roads. Jaklo found himself wandering as usual, hands buried deep in his dusty pockets and meandering down the dirt path without much care other than the search for his long lost friend. Some pain struck his chest, he winced and accepted it was soon time for his medicine.
Balled up in his pocket was the crumbled note; a scribbled letter written in great haste and ported direct to Jaklo, in honesty the raccoon was far more curious of how his old accomplice became aware of his settlement in Morisville; Moreso why he chose to reside here rather than the sanctuary that Morisville graciously offered to those seeking it. Thinking about Ellis slowed the feelings of withdrawal for now, the raccoon was smiling weakly in thought of old companionship.
His spiralling thoughts were halted when he decided to skim through a tight alleyway between two damp and musty wooden buildings. Rustling sounds from the opposite side of the alley-way gap were strumming through the tight-squeeze like a warning. Jaklo proceeded as usual and found himself in the arm-pit of four neighbouring buildings, a trash-yard guarded by a clipped chain-link fence.
The source of disturbance hummed out from the rusted dumpster, trash rattled and spilled within; eventually, the raccoon's curiosity got the better of him. "Come on, things really that difficult? You'll be lucky if you find a used syringe in there. You know where I can find a hardware store around here? Searching for my top guy, he's kind, sorta soft.. Like a pussy- Tall- sorta skinny.. too nice.. yada- You know the sort?"
Almost on Que, the scuttling came to an immediate halt within. Poking their head up, they'd swivel and crane their neck awkwardly in Jaklo's direction to give him a look, his tense posture almost immediately deflated when he saw no White Paw symbol along the paw of the raccoon.
"Huh?! Sorry?! You're gonna have to say it into my good ear-" It was true this badger fella was missing an entire other chunk of his other ear, he'd narrow his eyes awkwardly as Jaklo repeats with a tired tone. "Looking around this shithole to find my cool friend, you know where the hardware store is?"
Absent-mindedly, the badger would nod and pick up an empty can of chili from the bottom of the dumpster; utilizing his long claws in attempts to scoop out any remnants that were there. "Looking for something.. In Turner Town?! Hard to get lost in Turner Town. You new? Place is smaller than my future.. Them damn Bats are 'gunna get me one way or the other. There's a whole fuckin' colony of them big fuckers out in em' woods too Mister, I hear em' galloping around in the treeline every night! They won't ever get me, I've been running from them for a while now.. Little too long."
"Just.. Stay in the light, at night. Suddenly you'll find you won't be attracting as many Bats." Jaklo blinks, looking to the side in acknowledgement of this man's dire mental state, another useless fucking servant, he thought. The man simply recoiled and dropped the can to the bottom of the dumpster, taking a moment to stare at Jaklo's eyes in silence for a few minutes before giving the raccoon a creepy smile.
"Can't afford 'em.. Can't even kill the fella that took my ear.. Liked that ear too, mister. You got green eyes though, those sockets are greener than any green I've seen in a while.. You're an Outsider, ain't ya Mister.. You're one of those fuckin' Green Eyed Wizards, like the new president and his violin. I bet you could kill the bastard that took my ear.. I'll reward you.. I know things, I do. This guy knows a lot of things-- You know I grew up here?"
Crouching under the snipped chain-link fence, the raccoon would stand face to face with the dumpster Badger. "You did? You look too old. I'm no Outsider either, Just have unfortunate eyes. I don't think you have anything that I want. I'm not bloodying myself for some Renegade with a death wish, I don't kill. I do hurt though, in case you want to get smart with me."
"Clean.. Hands? Hell Mister- Even I've killed a few in my time- you tellin' me I'm talking to a Pacifistic Outsider?!" The badger chortled as if he had heard the biggest load of horseshit in years, slamming his head back against the cold metal of the dumpster in laughter. His composure met the raccoon with more words.
"As if you ain't running around blowing people up with your mind.. Those eyes do not lie, not one bit. I am OLD.. Old enough to catch BULLSHIT- Hrm.. I remember when those White Fists came rolling into this quiet little joint, just rounded up all those nice folk and sent em' to work all over town! I ain't too fond of shoe-shinin' or going down into those caves to mine either- Especially not for some violinist who decided to take up priority of this damn country."
Jaklo looked over towards one of the back of the buildings, spotting a watcher from one of the windows and averting his gaze back to the man as a result. "... Yeah- You would think the Chinese or some shitty world leader would have raided the country already, never a bad idea taking up new territory." His attention was now fully on the man at the window, casually side-eyeing him while the Badger rambled back, he was enjoying the raccoon's company evidently.
"Beats the fuck 'outta me.. Maybe they're afraid they'll lose their cities and people to the violin too.. Best to leave things well enough alone sometimes, ey?" Badger boy gave the raccoon a huge grin, he sarcastically responded while continuously side-eyeing the stalker in the window. "You might be right about leaving things be. Shit, out of all the assholes in this town I didn't expect the only decent guy to be digging for trash."
"Thanks Buddy! You're the first man in a long long while to give ol' Jeddy a compliment--.." The raccoon's clearly sarcastic remark sent the badger bristling with joy regardless; with a joyful chortle, he leaned forward against the metal frame of the inner dumpster and flailed his hands awkwardly at the raccoon currently crouching under the chain fence to retreat; the Outsider was keeping close watch of his stalker at the window. Paranoia heightened all over, kicking in like a cheap prescription that sent his head spinning. His eyes dancing around the clearing between the buildings, analysing every possible window in fear of being jumped.
Climbing out from the dumpster, Jed was skinny and dirtied to his ankles. The badger would suddenly crawl like a child underneath the chain-link fence to get close to the nervous raccoon once more.
"Don't HEAD OUT YET- MISTER NOT YET!--"
With increasing dread, the raccoon delivers an agitated response to the sudden yelling. Tightening his posture and keeping his back to the damp brick wall of a bank "Why the fuck not?! Place is giving me the damn creeps everywhere I go, you're out here digging for shit- there's loan sharks on every corner- If these people knew where I came from I would be dangling from a fucking rope like those sad fuckers wallowing themselves to death in those tenements trying to meet those impossible payments."
Slowly but surely he'd reach a claw out to rest on Jaklo's shoulder with minimal reassurance, Jed's tone switched from manic to serious and calm in seconds. "Chill, Dog.. Like this Chili- You're in Jeddy's Turf, the White Paws eat around old banana peels like me. They ain't gunna come hasslin' ya back here, this here's the trash yard you stumbled into.. Not their ideal social club, they prefer the indoors. We're alone. Fuck be your name buddy?"
With hesitant ease, the raccoon rests his weary back against the wall behind him and closes his eyes while the badger relaxes his own posture; dropping his arms away from the tired man and formally by his sides. Giving him a bright smile, never dropping eye-contact. "They honestly might just stay away from you and this backyard because you and this place fucking reeks of shit.. Whatever- Just call me Jak- Forgive me, I haven't had any shut-eye for a few days. My temper's been through the shit-pit. Look man, I came here to find Ellis- You know him?"
"Way over? You travelled all the way here to see that mopey snake? Ellis?! Coulda just said- Every vagabond like me hates his guts. Anytime we try to sleep on the porch behind the store, he comes on out with that boom-stick of his and shoos us on away. He thinks he's a big man with that gun, in truth I know it belongs to that damn store."
Jaklo chuckled, taking a deep breath of both relief and surprise to hear about the current whereabouts of his friend.
"Guy has never shot a gun in his life, course it belongs to the damn store." Out popped a cigarette from the packet he received earlier, the raccoon twirled his fingers around the cancer stick and lit it up with his vintage zippo. The badger was immediately fixated to the lung-candy, he said nothing but his eyes told tale of undying passion and need for a quick smoke.
"... Truthfully, that damn scale-head is a suck up to those White Paw boys. Seen his attitude change the moment he spots the ash on someone's backhand, he ratted out some poor avian fella the other week- all the bird took was a box of pop-tarts. He's just like the rest of the sad suck-ups in this town."
To hear about this was gruelling, Jaklo always thought he knew Ellis to abstain and deny any kind of law or authority figure. "That's bullshit, not the Ellis I knew. He has every reason to hate their guts, I don't understand. With the line of work he did in the past, there's absolutely no fucking way this is true. Look- Look.. Maybe he had to rat that bird out, it's a rough town. I don't fucking understand."
A little element of his hope died in him, he had hoped to find a positive change in his old friend after all these years other than complete compliance. "Came all the way from Morisville and you're telling me my top guy is kicking his feet up in the Musician's living room? Suck Up? What the fuck does that mean? That mean he lured me here? That he's with them? How fucking close is Ellis to the F.F, I need to fucking know."
Aggression escalated the priorly calm interaction; Jaklo hooked his grip on the Badger's collar ruthlessly, meeting his eyes with a ferocious glare, demanding answers at once. The badger was confused, stuttering on his words and shivering from the obvious failing composure. "Spit it out, you see my green eyes right? You know my fucking type." The badger squeaked in retaliation as he squirms against Jaklo's grip along his shirt, the raccoon claws were already tearing into the fabric. A rush shot through the Outsider's veins with the badger sealed tight in his iron grip.
"I'm not your fucking enemy, guy! I'm the messenger! Look- He's a shopkeep, he's not exactly muscle for those guys. I fuckin' doubt he's sniffin' around any business they've been laying down. I will kick you in the fucking face if you don't let me go. Wizard or not- I mean it,"
For a moment, there was a knowing look of doubt on Jaklo's face. His green eyes were burrowing into the Badger's soul, he knew fine well what this raccoon could be capable of, fear resonated throughout his entire being. "... I knew a fella years ago, he was homeless. He played instruments on the side of the street and made a homeless living. One day he got called in for questioning, few days later the entire country fell in the toilet. I don't think I'd be crazy to assume you're the enemy after that."
"But be rational, man! I'm telling you I just dig in the trash all I day I have no flush up my sleeve." Grunts and dismissive growling followed the badger's incoherent, grumbling response. Jed would have to stare off to the side in order to avoid the powerful eye-contact. The raccoon felt confident, something about the way Jed squirmed and flinched at every sudden movement; like he felt an attack oncoming from the motionless raccoon. It tickled the wrong places in the lotor; Needless to say, he thought he might as well get the answers he needed while he had Jed's full attention was received.
"Where's the hardware store? I'm done asking around, I want a straight answer already."
Calm as a cucumber, he shook the man a little to get his attention. Briefly checking on the window and acknowledging that the person was still motionlessly staring at the two, they weren't approaching or engaging. Simply both admiring and digesting the scene unfolding from past the breath-fogged window.
"Two buildings.. left of here.. IT LITERALLY IS! That's the fuckin' store man I swear on my babies- I swear on the god-damn violin! I swear on Jesus! I swear o-- Please- Why are you even doing this?! What did I fuckin' say this time buddy?! W-What did .. Jed-- Agh-"
Yet, his grip tightened on his shirt again. The sound of ripping fabric screeched across the disgusting smelling yard. Jaklo yanked him close, bearing his teeth for a moment as adrenaline surges in his blood. Despite holding all the cards, Jaklo rightfully folded at that.
"Shut. Up. Just-.. Get out of here, I overreacted and I'm sorry." The ash fell from the cigarette tensed between the raccoon's teeth, he'd take it out and sigh as disbelief washes over him with the smoke racing out from between his lips. He'd pass the half-dried cigarette to the Badger as a token of respect, he would weakly smile upon being let go and take it as a good gesture regardless of what happened.
"I tell ya.. You wizard fellas? Strangest son of a bitches around, thanks for the cigarette mister- really.. I uh should put it out and save it for later- That's mighty generous of ya." It was clear that the Badger didn't want to lurk around any longer, strutting towards one of the alleys and disappearing between the buildings.
Two magpies would swoop in from the clear skies above, casting a shadow over Jaklo for the moment they obstructed the warming glow of the bright Autumn sun raking through the clouds. Their small talons found stillness along a power-line connecting the wooden roof-tops towering the raccoon below. Just two regular birds, the kind that didn't speak; They weren't any bit anthropomorphic like Jaklo however. The raccoon had a fondness for the quieter walks of life. Staring back at the two avian creatures while they chirp amongst each other in a language he couldn't grasp.
Just as Jaklo was about to make his own way out of the between; a vivid footstep crunched the gravel from across the yard. A regular sized man was stalking towards him, he was a border collie with a white paw. The raccoon stopped dead in his tracks and balled his hands up in his pockets, turning to face the silent man and deciding he should be the one to break the tense quiet.
"You shy? Do you people normally eavesdrop from windows? Can feel that you're strangely calm too, didn't you just watch me rough that maggot up?"
The gangster appeared insulted, halting himself mere feet apart from the raccoon and pushing his two thumbs restfully down under his belt. He was dressed in a fedora and tank-top with overalls, it was quite difficult to discern expression from the Collie's eyes this way, yet it was obvious the comment hit a nerve.
"Hell did you say to me? You know what I operate in? Yeah?" The collie held up his painted white back-hand with one slow movement, the paint was beginning to peel off his skinny fingers. Jaklo also made quick note of the old bullet-hole scars on his shoulder, two of them to be exact. The metallic taste of blood soaked his tongue, the busted lip from earlier was still acting up and it only served to remind the Lotor of when he once got cocky in front of these loan-sters. He relaxed himself, sighing with some visible hesitation to comply; he wasn't in the mood for another beating that's all.
Maybe he could end the conversation with him quickly?
"I'm aware of the field you work in. Forgive me, my mother always said I was the snarky sort. Can't help it- like Tourettes sometimes, you know?"
This collie smelt fresh fish, he smirked at the raccoon's comment and his capacity for humour was something most didn't retain nowadays. "Yeah? It's fine, you're new. I'm Rudolf, you need any work then you come to me. Watch that tone, too- I oughta' break your arms."
Jaklo smiled back after making note that he had no red nose, the sight of his joy was enough to wipe the smirk from the collie's face. Giving him the dead-eyes as Jaklo responds with "No, I got all the money I could want. Thank you."
This shark smelt blood in the water, he took another step closer as his nose wiggles with interest, sniffing the air and taking a few quick glances over his shoulder. "You do? Wouldn't doubt. I was watching you because you do a piss poor job at covering up those expensive eyes of yours. We'll need a visitation fee from you, and it's not cheap. You've been in this town for longer than an hour, I've been timing it from the moment I saw you skulking around earlier."
Jaklo would let out a quick laugh but immediately bit his tongue, he was amused at the blatantly obvious bullshit. "Visitation fee? What is this North Korea? How come the homeless guy I was just speaking to doesn't have to pay?"
The collie clenched his fists, still maintaining a cool attitude regardless. It was a level of patience that Jaklo was also pleasantly surprised to see in a F.F Enforcer. "This town is Freedom First owned, you step one toe on that gravel and you owe Dime money for the protection and the well-lit environment we're offering. That gentleman has never been anything but a Mouth, he loves to talk. The truth about old Jed is he makes up his visitation fee in due time like everyone else.. Shit scared of those bats, he is. Knows if he doesn't pay he'll be thrown out of town into the night with them. He's struggling lately, don't reckon we'll be seeing him much longer."
At this point the raccoon couldn't hide his smile, fiddling his fingers around the plastic along the cigarette carton in his pocket while kicking some rocks around, he honestly wanted to see how far he could go before he gets put on timeout for being bad, he felt like being a little bit more snarky.
"No, I got a lantern and a foldable hook and stick in my bag. I think the Bats fear me"
The collie furrowed his brow at the raccoon, crossing his arms and tipping his hat upwards to further analyze him. "Either way. You pay, you get protection. Enough said. I'm due a fee by at least the end of the day from you. 30 bucks per nightly stay, your money keeps the lights on for all of us."
The price was somewhat reasonable, however the raccoon still didn't like it. "Protection for 30 bucks? Hah- Protection, right. I was down by Rowan Outlook on my way over here and I saw a whole group of your boys stomping a guy's head into the dirt. You protect? Yeah- You protect your own with the money you squeeze outta the ones that are terrified into playing nice." He took two steps back from the mobster, fully expecting an aggressive consequence but his heart rate settled when he noticed the Collie was idly standing there, his hat lightly fluttering against his head with the wind, as still as a statue.
"... You think those green eyes makes you smart? We bring people into OUR towns as a favor. We only ask you do what we say, you work for us and we'll keep a roof over your damn heads. It's either that or we throw you out into the darkness, no lights whatsoever. Let them bats get ya'- That money you mentioned? Not gonna last a week here, no matter what you have. You know my name, come find me whenever you need work."
Upon hearing about the bats and how they technically bunch people up in controlled towns to soak money out of them, he contacted an old theory in his mind and his tongue spoke before his brain could process if it was even appropriate to say.
"Those bats that you people probably created? Yeah. Get this- a man with a violin takes over America- right? Then skip the years of rioting and civil wars.. all of a sudden, Amidst the wars. A huge amount of.. fuckin' eldritch horror.. huge claws- beasts- things- Look, I can't even describe them. Fact is; they're here. Where'd they even come from? And how perfect is it that they've migrated out all across America, it's forests, everything. Like, c'mon. Their number ONE flaw is the Fucking city lights.. and the shitty Neon Bar signs you snobs keep hung up everywhere. So what, we're all expected to just play monopoly with you, live in towns you took. Earn an unfair pay for.. extensive work.. Otherwise it's go out alone and get ripped to pieces? I think I'll go live in Morisville man."
The mutt would stop in his tracks to listen, the more he did the more his tense attitude from before slipped away. Elements of the normal man he used to be were creeping back into play.
"Who knows? Either way- the cards are setting up right in my corner. As for you, All I can say is get with the times, or kill yourself; Cuz' if you let those Bats get you they'll make sure it's painful. Lookie- work the rest of your time alive here and you never know- you play nice, you might end up joining the F.F, Like me. America isn't the same as it was, the Musician changed everything. I didn't want it either but a man's got to eat, I make my money where I can. You should too." Some humanity fell from his lips, finally.
"And it's any kind of light they hate, by the way. Even the sunlight, obviously. Something about the sweat on their skin."
It was a feeling like Deja vu for the raccoon, he was stunned silent into deep thoughts. It gave the collie a window to walk off, he was satisfied, he knew if the raccoon persisted around that town, his wallet would be emptied in no time. Work often comes the collie's direction naturally.
Jaklo saw elements of himself in Rudolf; he lived through the insurrection like he did and rather than fight it he succumbed to it. No anger, no happiness. Just a well oiled cog in a colossal machine ready to carry out whatever needs to be done to put food in his stomach. His voice called out from the alleyway, giving Jaklo one last nugget of wisdom.
"One more thing- You said Morisville?" The dog let out a short and sweet laugh, it was barely audible from the alleyway. The raccoon's fixated ears picked it up anyway, watching as Rudolf pokes his head from around the corner to comment further.
"Morisville ain't as safe as you think, Musician has been all over that place recently. the Rebellion there must've pissed that fucker off or something. I've been alive long enough to know it only means more chaos and more musical crusades. I've heard that damn song he plays, it's bad business."
The raccoon took off his gambler hat, the bright sun above caught the glimmer in his eye as he looked up. It was incredibly warm for September, he would adjust his ponytail and place the hat back once he wiped the sweat from his brow with it.
"Yeah- Doesn't make me feel like migrating to here though, what's your point? Musician is dead to me, always will be. Don't want to discuss that with some Freedom head like you."
"Fine. End of the day I'll be expecting my money from you, I'll find you." Rudolf's weirdly friendly attitude dropped whenever he was shut down. Disappearing back around the corner and leaving things be. Jaklo tip-toed up to the side of the building aside the alleyway; peeking around would reveal the enforcer was in fact gone. The raccoon would slide the back-pack from his shoulders as he winced, letting the relief of loneliness wash over him after enduring those two gruelling interactions.
His head was ringing, he was coming down from the Good Stuff evidently; and it did not feel pleasant in the slightest. Moments felt loopy, the cawing of the magpies sounded oddly statical. He felt like puking all over the garbage littered floor, that level of discomfort cracked him like a bad egg. He decided another hit was necessary before he spoke with Ellis, he needed relief from reality.
In went his shaky hand to reach for the Goods, pulling out several capsules of Zopiclone, many of them empty and some of them just barely containing some pills. He'd drop the bag to the floor with little care the moment he eyed up the precious material entrapped within, it was like a little token of heaven sealed and ready to digest at his notice.
Defined by powder, self-controlled peace. It was strong enough to quell his insomnia but not enough to completely knock him out, it grants him sleep whenever he needs it and happiness and energy when it is socially required. It buffers his abilities and senses at this cost. He felt truthfully pathetic, sliding down the wall while clutching the bottles that had him bound.
"I'm fucking over this. What the fuck is sleep anyway?"
Tears ran down his face, having to focus himself as his heart rate rises into an oncoming panic attack. Dumping two of the pills onto his tongue with shaky hands and swallowing them with great satisfaction, closing his eyes and attempting to regulate himself during the rising stress. He felt as if cement was filling his lungs, air seemingly refusing to enter.
Until it stopped, the mellow realization that he's medicated would suppress the tremors and his panicked mind. Giving him a moment to relax along the dirt floor, resting his paws along nearby garbage bags and catching sight of the two Magpies once more. They were both staring dead into Jaklo's soul like they had a beef. A vivid gunshot nearby would be the antidote to their presence, flapping their small feathery wings and taking to the sunny skies smiling down on Jaklo's weary face. He had to get up, he knew this.
Fingers reached down into his pockets, running along the film plastic of the cigarette carton yet again and thinking back to the moment he received the letter while his medicine worked it's magic. He wondered what Ellis was even going to do, he remembered him as the passive sort with a good mind for logic and reason. Residing and working in a town like this is the exact opposite of logical, he brought himself to his feet with a wobble in his stance.
Honestly the smell around that whole back-portion was the deterrent, he found himself shimmying out and away through the narrow alleys. Making his way back onto the quiet street, thankfully it was still rather quiet in this part of town.
Clouds were starting to dim out the sunlight once more, casting a cloak of black over the wooden settlement. His boots carried him to the front porch of a hardware store boxed between two other service buildings. In contrast to the neighboring wooden structures, the hardware store looked to be the only one that was being looked after.
Many baskets of flowers riddled the porch and removing the empty feeling that the other two had, this one still had a soul left in it's business. Even the sign had a fresh coat of white paint with a thick blue rectangular outline, it simply put 'Charles Hardware and Electronic Etc. Trades Available, Bulk Accepted'
A low vibration rattled the wooden banister of the patio stairway. Jaklo signalled his ears to the right, responding to the low hum barrelling it's way down the road, getting closer and closer. It took a glance to spot a convoy of various heavy-duty vehicles shielded by the dust-storm, each truck was kicking up a fuss of dust all throughout town.
Their engines dominated this quiet end of Turner Town with noise; a train of at least Nineteen trucks and other various vehicles would pass down the dirt road and directly past the raccoon. Jaklo would lift the breast-pocket of his trench coat to shield his face from the dust-storm, catching a glance of the large wheels generating the cacophony of the ash swarm through the wind. He'd cough and turn away the moment it caught his throat and eyes through the fabric, it was much too hard to face the vehicles head-on.
As soon as the final one had passed, it was like the sun had come back out again. The lotor descended the patio to carry himself with haste to the middle of the dirt-road; his shadow was casted along what remained of the dust in the freshening air. He peered directly down that long narrow road into leading into the ash-valley forest. The trucks could be seen passing over the horizon with their painted violin symbols gleaming in the dim sunlight; a road sign further down indicated the distance to their location.
'Stardown 98km N'
'Turn'Up to Our Town Again Soon!'