People avoided me as I made my way back to the slums. Partly because my features are constantly changing, rearranging themselves to various patterns that I'm gonna keep for the rest of my career as a Merc, but also because I'm spinning a throwing knife by the handle on my right hand- Changing my features by the second served as good practice and I don't want to waste this rare opportunity to get a feel for how controlling Theikos works since the energy is feeling cooperative right now.
When I reached the checkpoint for the main entrance of Broker's Dam, I decided to change my features for the last time. I deliberately got near a truck and looked at myself on the vehicle's rearview mirror, nodding internally when I saw my face. My hair had gone back to purple while my makeup became dark grey.
Looking down, my clothes got the same treatment, their coloration now a variety of crimson, dark purple, darker brown, and pure black with the orange lines nowhere to be seen.
"You done, kid?" I nodded briefly to acknowledge the driver's words before rushing through the stadium-sized entrance, circling around the massive machines and the feets of giants of the same size. I ran past the guard posts and out of the sliding doors- Neon light washed over my face, replacing the white bulbs of the entrance are bright street signs with sexy sounding names like "Pound Hotel" written in red. Outside of some of them, I can spot girls wearing skimpy clothing standing around burly men.
Some of them had tattoos and the few that I can directly spot are a black smudge with shining brown eyes and teeth dripping with liquid gold. Gold Sanguines, that's the name of the gang those people belonged to. Supposedly, the one at the top is a true breed vampire and that he's pretty powerful because of it, with no direct weakness to the sun and all being a "True Breed" means. I obviously don't believe it, given how ridiculous it sounds when coming from a bunch of stragglers that can't beat the current major players of the Slums.
They let me walk past peacefully and I got out of the place where people who can't afford rooms inside Broker's Dam buy them instead. The number of clean hotels started to lessen as I walked, eventually giving way to decrepit buildings that are infinitely worse than my own room. Cheap, yes, but not as cheap as the mine. 'Only the stupid go here,' I thought, willingly ignoring the time when I'd been living in this place myself. The vicinity to The Doctor made me leave and that's when I found Ryan and his "hotel" two months later.
Now that no one's watching, finding a spot to scale the run down buildings was easy, there's plenty of holes for my hands and feet to dig themselves into after all. I claimed the top of an abandoned couch and reached out to a window, anchoring my fingers onto the edge, I started kicking up the walls while pulling myself.
I punched the window open after I checked that there's no one inside- it's empty here, with nothing of substance except for a mattress on one corner and a table right next to it. Someone's been living here. 'Or multiple someone's,' I eyed the small piles of fabric all across the floor, there was clothing on some of them, women's.
I got out of the prostitute den and out into the hallway where I walked to the end until I found a stairway that led up. A few staircases later and I'm up on the roof, standing on the edge and overlooking the slums.
There's a reason why I decided to risk an encounter with the Lioness (In retrospect, I think the slums wouldn't have been that bad in the end.) than go through here- "Wait, do you guys really think that there are people trying to take over this place?" Came a voice from far below, it was young, upbeat, and male.
I peered over the edge and saw that it came from a guy who had his hair dyed green, around him are three other guys, all of them, including Upbeat, are carrying guns. One guy, one of the two dudes with a piercing on his nose, said something but I couldn't hear it, "HA!" Replies Upbeat to Nosering happily, "I bet your' just fuckin scared."
Another one spoke, a bald guy, and again, he was too low too low for me to hear, "Yeah, yeah. But who's gonna hear us?! Some fuckwit who- UGH-" Upbeat got slammed to the wall by the one who just spoke, who wore a dusty wife beater and a tight pair of black pants. They both exchanged words and Baldy nodded and let him go, Upbeat rubbed his neck while saying something that made the other guy with the nosering laugh.
Gang politics was always something I never wanted to be a part of ever since I moved to the slums. I did my best to avoid them, even denying Ryan when he says that he can use someone with my acrobat skills. Sure, there was a lot of money that I can make from joining a gang back then (even Ryan himself says that I won't need to pay rent- which got me suspicious if the others staying also got the same offer and knowing them- they definitely accepted.) but the strings that come along with it aren't good.
And in the end, I'm feeling pretty glad that I didn't join because if people recognize me as someone who's associated with the Gangs- Jet Junior in Ryan's case - then I'm gonna have a very limited client base when I become a merc and most likely, what would happen is that I wouldn't get proper, well paying jobs and I'd be forced to go back to the Gang. And I hate that. The way they keep their hands on you is a very personal problem for me.
I backed away from the edge and let the gangsters go by. 'And it's not like you can just attack them whenever you want either.' Not when I don't want them looking for any sign of me just to get back for what I did that is. Getting their animosity is a quick way to leave the slums and if I don't join another gang for protection? Then I might as well not come back. Mercenary or not.
'No one's gonna help you in the end,' I told myself as I jumped in place, preparing for my run across the rooftops. The Theikos around me already looked excited and it seems that they couldn't wait if the way they pushed themselves against me without my prompting is to go by. 'Even mercenaries aren't going to help someone so stupid that they attack gangsters without reason.'
I smirked, 'So I guess I just have to wait until another rival gang hires me,'
My last jump pushed me forward and I turned it into a sprint. Stretching my legs as far as I could, I started breathing through my mouth while running. I kept my eyes on the edge, it crept closer with each passing second, and the Neon signs turned into streaks of light in the periphery of my vision. I absorbed all of the Theikos I'd gathered so far when I was a step away from the ledge.
I took the last step, and in the next second, my training experience flashed before my eyes, guiding me as the foot on my back stopped right next to the one on the front, I bent my legs, then jumped-
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Even knowing that it'll just get drowned out by the shockwave, I held back a scream and locked my jaw. I kept my eyes open as I flew across the sky, searching for the nearest 6-story building I can find.
There wasn't one.
As the tiny buildings became larger, I kept on manipulating Theikos while hoping that I wouldn't turn into a red paste when I reach the ground. I flew for a few more seconds until I landed with a bounce, jumping off of a roof without any fanfare other than a close-eyed prayer that quickly turned into silent insults hurled aimed at god for making me look like a fucking clown.
I bounced two more times before all of the momentum died off and I landed in the middle of an abandoned street- Groaning, I pushed myself off the ground and walked to the nearest shade, 'Fuck me.' Am I gonna still ignore it? Even after all this time? I really, really wanted to say yes but I can't just risk my life like this.
"You want me to be showy?" I said through grit teeth, "Fine."
I went back out to the streets and did a running start, I looked at my target, a 12-foot tall street light sitting still with its bent end. I got close and jumped, stretching my hand out like I'm trying to reach for it and miraculously, I did. I ignored the unnerving feeling that I got from watching my hand stretch that far and pulled- I shot out to the sky, my body feeling wobbly as I did.
Turning my head, I looked at a roof near me, tiled, slanted, and with a chimney on the back. I reached out and grabbed a tile, and when my fingers grasped onto something, I violently pulled and I was out of the sky faster than I had gotten here- I wrapped my hand around the chimney when I was a few feet away from face planting I onto the roof and quickly stabilized.
Using both my grip, I pulled myself closer to the tile and away from the chimney, when I heard the tile give in, I let go and shot out like a bullet.
"WOOHOOO!" Okay, I gotta admit, this is sort of fun.
And I guess this is what other capes mean when they say that their power comes to them naturally. If I were to describe it, an idea of what I want to do would pop up in my mind and the power would raffle a boost that can be used on that specific idea. After that, it's up to me with what I want to do, in this case, I got the buoyancy boost again and I used it to slingshot myself across the slums like Lasto. Weird, but fun!
Gunshots rang out from underneath me and I decided that it's probably better if I hurry.
Through the use of powers, I reached the bustling Market in record time. Passing through the Industrial Sector had been a breeze and dodging the nets that some of the Lunatics shot my way had been rather easy.
I walked past the gates, nodding at a pair of Giants as I did. Well, couple? I guess? I think one of them is a girl, I couldn't tell because all Giants basically look the same to me.
I stopped. Wait, did that kid give me the directions to where I can find his stuff?
'He didn't.' Oh. Fuck me.
"Grab your masks here!" I heard something that got my attention. "Grab your masks here!" The vendor for the stall was a Midget wearing overalls, and all around him were these ornate looking masks made of wood designed after animals, the various known races, and a few odd bits with uncanny looks such as an empty face devoid of any features including eyeholes.
The vendor's eyes brightened when I got closer, "Ah! Would you like to buy a mask sir?!" As expected of The Market, this vendor actually respected my personal space as I checked his stuff. "That-" I smiled wryly. Guess vendors advertising on the spot is just a commonplace. "- is a very good choice sir!" He flattered, "An owl maks would be perfect when worn alongside your clothes!"
"We'll see," I said as I inspected the mask; it was a quaint little thing, with feathers carved everywhere except for the two, circular eyes and the small beak. I put it back in place and checked another one- A demon's mask this time, with two, bulbous circular eyes carved to look like they were popping out of their sockets and a large, opened mouth shaped in an O that gave off the impression of surprise.
I didn't like it and put it back on the shelves. Thinking that I have plenty of time, I searched the stall for a while, going from mask to mask until I settled on something that I liked- A grinning, chubby mask that has all of its fat forms into folds at the edge of its cheek, its eyes are nothing more than slits and the circle of its nose was emphasized.
It looked pretty intimidating in a way that reminded me of Doughey.
"I'll take this," I said to the vendor, handing out 10 Digits which he took and threw in a box inside the stall. "Thanks, you have pretty cool stuff for sale here."
"Thank you sir!" He replied, as enthusiastic as ever.
I pulled on the string of the mask and threw it on, it covered my face pretty well and despite the eye holes being small, I can still see pretty well. Theikos infused, definitely. I looked back at the stall and saw the owner grinning at me. 'Huh.' you can never really know when something's good unless people say it to your face huh?
Shaking my head with a smile, I looked forward and continued with my first job.
I checked everything and every single technical store that I can think of; Rocket's, Digitals, BuyGrav, Higgo's, and all the other popular stores known for selling technology in The Market and I would've never guessed that the store that I needed to go to is actually just Bowey's of all things- The laughing chime sounded like mockery to my ears and I think the guy at the counter will agree with me, "You're late." He said bluntly.
"Pretty much." I pursed my lips, not that he could see it! "Sorry about that, the one who gave me the job didn't give me anything to go by and so I just ran around doing nothing."
He grunted, "You new then?" he asked, handing me two knapsacks worth of stuff. They're pretty heavy and they jingle when you shake them, "The kid usually just buys off of us."
"I'll keep that in mind next time," I said with a salute, "See you."
I got out of Bowey's with a smile, which persisted until I reached the slums, and continued when I went back to the scrapyard and gave all the stuff to the gigantic frog thing the Techie has.
"You look pretty happy," The little ball I took the 80 Digits from said.
"Yeah. Pretty much." I didn't need to elaborate to him because explaining about how I'm a cape now is just gonna bore him out of his mind. And it's not because I'm scared he'll call me a child.
People avoided me as I made my way back to the slums. Partly because my features are constantly changing, rearranging themselves to various patterns that I'm gonna keep for the rest of my career as a Merc, but also because I'm spinning a throwing knife by the handle on my right hand- Changing my features by the second served as good practice and I don't want to waste this rare opportunity to get a feel for how controlling Theikos works since the energy is feeling cooperative right now.
When I reached the checkpoint for the main entrance of Broker's Dam, I decided to change my features for the last time. I deliberately got near a truck and looked at myself on the vehicle's rearview mirror, nodding internally when I saw my face. My hair had gone back to purple while my makeup became dark grey.
Looking down, my clothes got the same treatment, their coloration now a variety of crimson, dark purple, darker brown, and pure black with the orange lines nowhere to be seen.
"You done, kid?" I nodded briefly to acknowledge the driver's words before rushing through the stadium-sized entrance, circling around the massive machines and the feets of giants of the same size. I ran past the guard posts and out of the sliding doors- Neon light washed over my face, replacing the white bulbs of the entrance are bright street signs with sexy sounding names like "Pound Hotel" written in red. Outside of some of them, I can spot girls wearing skimpy clothing standing around burly men.
Some of them had tattoos and the few that I can directly spot are a black smudge with shining brown eyes and teeth dripping with liquid gold. Gold Sanguines, that's the name of the gang those people belonged to. Supposedly, the one at the top is a true breed vampire and that he's pretty powerful because of it, with no direct weakness to the sun and all being a "True Breed" means. I obviously don't believe it, given how ridiculous it sounds when coming from a bunch of stragglers that can't beat the current major players of the Slums.
They let me walk past peacefully and I got out of the place where people who can't afford rooms inside Broker's Dam buy them instead. The number of clean hotels started to lessen as I walked, eventually giving way to decrepit buildings that are infinitely worse than my own room. Cheap, yes, but not as cheap as the mine. 'Only the stupid go here,' I thought, willingly ignoring the time when I'd been living in this place myself. The vicinity to The Doctor made me leave and that's when I found Ryan and his "hotel" two months later.
Now that no one's watching, finding a spot to scale the run down buildings was easy, there's plenty of holes for my hands and feet to dig themselves into after all. I claimed the top of an abandoned couch and reached out to a window, anchoring my fingers onto the edge, I started kicking up the walls while pulling myself.
I punched the window open after I checked that there's no one inside- it's empty here, with nothing of substance except for a mattress on one corner and a table right next to it. Someone's been living here. 'Or multiple someone's,' I eyed the small piles of fabric all across the floor, there was clothing on some of them, women's.
I got out of the prostitute den and out into the hallway where I walked to the end until I found a stairway that led up. A few staircases later and I'm up on the roof, standing on the edge and overlooking the slums.
There's a reason why I decided to risk an encounter with the Lioness (In retrospect, I think the slums wouldn't have been that bad in the end.) than go through here- "Wait, do you guys really think that there are people trying to take over this place?" Came a voice from far below, it was young, upbeat, and male.
I peered over the edge and saw that it came from a guy who had his hair dyed green, around him are three other guys, all of them, including Upbeat, are carrying guns. One guy, one of the two dudes with a piercing on his nose, said something but I couldn't hear it, "HA!" Replies Upbeat to Nosering happily, "I bet your' just fuckin scared."
Another one spoke, a bald guy, and again, he was too low too low for me to hear, "Yeah, yeah. But who's gonna hear us?! Some fuckwit who- UGH-" Upbeat got slammed to the wall by the one who just spoke, who wore a dusty wife beater and a tight pair of black pants. They both exchanged words and Baldy nodded and let him go, Upbeat rubbed his neck while saying something that made the other guy with the nosering laugh.
Gang politics was always something I never wanted to be a part of ever since I moved to the slums. I did my best to avoid them, even denying Ryan when he says that he can use someone with my acrobat skills. Sure, there was a lot of money that I can make from joining a gang back then (even Ryan himself says that I won't need to pay rent- which got me suspicious if the others staying also got the same offer and knowing them- they definitely accepted.) but the strings that come along with it aren't good.
And in the end, I'm feeling pretty glad that I didn't join because if people recognize me as someone who's associated with the Gangs- Jet Junior in Ryan's case - then I'm gonna have a very limited client base when I become a merc and most likely, what would happen is that I wouldn't get proper, well paying jobs and I'd be forced to go back to the Gang. And I hate that. The way they keep their hands on you is a very personal problem for me.
I backed away from the edge and let the gangsters go by. 'And it's not like you can just attack them whenever you want either.' Not when I don't want them looking for any sign of me just to get back for what I did that is. Getting their animosity is a quick way to leave the slums and if I don't join another gang for protection? Then I might as well not come back. Mercenary or not.
'No one's gonna help you in the end,' I told myself as I jumped in place, preparing for my run across the rooftops. The Theikos around me already looked excited and it seems that they couldn't wait if the way they pushed themselves against me without my prompting is to go by. 'Even mercenaries aren't going to help someone so stupid that they attack gangsters without reason.'
I smirked, 'So I guess I just have to wait until another rival gang hires me,'
My last jump pushed me forward and I turned it into a sprint. Stretching my legs as far as I could, I started breathing through my mouth while running. I kept my eyes on the edge, it crept closer with each passing second, and the Neon signs turned into streaks of light in the periphery of my vision. I absorbed all of the Theikos I'd gathered so far when I was a step away from the ledge.
I took the last step, and in the next second, my training experience flashed before my eyes, guiding me as the foot on my back stopped right next to the one on the front, I bent my legs, then jumped-
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Even knowing that it'll just get drowned out by the shockwave, I held back a scream and locked my jaw. I kept my eyes open as I flew across the sky, searching for the nearest 6-story building I can find.
There wasn't one.
As the tiny buildings became larger, I kept on manipulating Theikos while hoping that I wouldn't turn into a red paste when I reach the ground. I flew for a few more seconds until I landed with a bounce, jumping off of a roof without any fanfare other than a close-eyed prayer that quickly turned into silent insults hurled aimed at god for making me look like a fucking clown.
I bounced two more times before all of the momentum died off and I landed in the middle of an abandoned street- Groaning, I pushed myself off the ground and walked to the nearest shade, 'Fuck me.' Am I gonna still ignore it? Even after all this time? I really, really wanted to say yes but I can't just risk my life like this.
"You want me to be showy?" I said through grit teeth, "Fine."
I went back out to the streets and did a running start, I looked at my target, a 12-foot tall street light sitting still with its bent end. I got close and jumped, stretching my hand out like I'm trying to reach for it and miraculously, I did. I ignored the unnerving feeling that I got from watching my hand stretch that far and pulled- I shot out to the sky, my body feeling wobbly as I did.
Turning my head, I looked at a roof near me, tiled, slanted, and with a chimney on the back. I reached out and grabbed a tile, and when my fingers grasped onto something, I violently pulled and I was out of the sky faster than I had gotten here- I wrapped my hand around the chimney when I was a few feet away from face planting I onto the roof and quickly stabilized.
Using both my grip, I pulled myself closer to the tile and away from the chimney, when I heard the tile give in, I let go and shot out like a bullet.
"WOOHOOO!" Okay, I gotta admit, this is sort of fun.
And I guess this is what other capes mean when they say that their power comes to them naturally. If I were to describe it, an idea of what I want to do would pop up in my mind and the power would raffle a boost that can be used on that specific idea. After that, it's up to me with what I want to do, in this case, I got the buoyancy boost again and I used it to slingshot myself across the slums like Lasto. Weird, but fun!
Gunshots rang out from underneath me and I decided that it's probably better if I hurry.
Through the use of powers, I reached the bustling Market in record time. Passing through the Industrial Sector had been a breeze and dodging the nets that some of the Lunatics shot my way had been rather easy.
I walked past the gates, nodding at a pair of Giants as I did. Well, couple? I guess? I think one of them is a girl, I couldn't tell because all Giants basically look the same to me.
I stopped. Wait, did that kid give me the directions to where I can find his stuff?
'He didn't.' Oh. Fuck me.
"Grab your masks here!" I heard something that got my attention. "Grab your masks here!" The vendor for the stall was a Midget wearing overalls, and all around him were these ornate looking masks made of wood designed after animals, the various known races, and a few odd bits with uncanny looks such as an empty face devoid of any features including eyeholes.
The vendor's eyes brightened when I got closer, "Ah! Would you like to buy a mask sir?!" As expected of The Market, this vendor actually respected my personal space as I checked his stuff. "That-" I smiled wryly. Guess vendors advertising on the spot is just a commonplace. "- is a very good choice sir!" He flattered, "An owl maks would be perfect when worn alongside your clothes!"
"We'll see," I said as I inspected the mask; it was a quaint little thing, with feathers carved everywhere except for the two, circular eyes and the small beak. I put it back in place and checked another one- A demon's mask this time, with two, bulbous circular eyes carved to look like they were popping out of their sockets and a large, opened mouth shaped in an O that gave off the impression of surprise.
I didn't like it and put it back on the shelves. Thinking that I have plenty of time, I searched the stall for a while, going from mask to mask until I settled on something that I liked- A grinning, chubby mask that has all of its fat forms into folds at the edge of its cheek, its eyes are nothing more than slits and the circle of its nose was emphasized.
It looked pretty intimidating in a way that reminded me of Doughey.
"I'll take this," I said to the vendor, handing out 10 Digits which he took and threw in a box inside the stall. "Thanks, you have pretty cool stuff for sale here."
"Thank you sir!" He replied, as enthusiastic as ever.
I pulled on the string of the mask and threw it on, it covered my face pretty well and despite the eye holes being small, I can still see pretty well. Theikos infused, definitely. I looked back at the stall and saw the owner grinning at me. 'Huh.' you can never really know when something's good unless people say it to your face huh?
Shaking my head with a smile, I looked forward and continued with my first job.
I checked everything and every single technical store that I can think of; Rocket's, Digitals, BuyGrav, Higgo's, and all the other popular stores known for selling technology in The Market and I would've never guessed that the store that I needed to go to is actually just Bowey's of all things- The laughing chime sounded like mockery to my ears and I think the guy at the counter will agree with me, "You're late." He said bluntly.
"Pretty much." I pursed my lips, not that he could see it! "Sorry about that, the one who gave me the job didn't give me anything to go by and so I just ran around doing nothing."
He grunted, "You new then?" he asked, handing me two knapsacks worth of stuff. They're pretty heavy and they jingle when you shake them, "The kid usually just buys off of us."
"I'll keep that in mind next time," I said with a salute, "See you."
I got out of Bowey's with a smile, which persisted until I reached the slums, and continued when I went back to the scrapyard and gave all the stuff to the gigantic frog thing the Techie has.
"You look pretty happy," The little ball I took the 80 Digits from said.
"Yeah. Pretty much." I didn't need to elaborate to him because explaining about how I'm a cape now is just gonna bore him out of his mind. And it's not because I'm scared he'll call me a child.
