Tales From a Misfit
Updates every Sunday.
Found on wallhere. made by "wallup"
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Found on wallhere. made by "wallup"
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Scythe triggered a fifth mushroom as she darted through the wood. It a mudmutt, so she must’ve turned northeast when she started zigzagging through the swamps ponds. Hopefully, at least, it was rather hard to think when some stranger had a crush on you one minute, and was trying to kill you the next. Admittingly, she was still a little impressed. He had almost managed to keep up, and most people would have lost her a while ago. Finally, she found an escape. Ducking down low, and running through a field of smokers before vanish into the nearby cave using the thick cloud of fog her movement had just produced. It took everything she had not to go down the mudslide close to the entrance. “Maybe if I hang off.” She whispered to herself trying to think before slapping a bug on her neck. She blinked and wobble a few times before finally being able to examine the bug. She didn’t think she had gone far enough, and whatever he just shot at her only confirmed her suspicion. “Wa-wait.” She struggled to even speak as Damian tackled her backwards. Shortly after he tried to back off, but she pulled him down with here. Something about a face so scared for a little mud makes people do crazy things, apparently. So both tumbled downward yet again.
“Bugger.” Damian tiredly as he struggled to get up. He despised admitting it. But with the tracker broken and clearly stomped on, the last of his advantages were gone. As was the girl, so he got up and removed the what filth he could. He began stumbling his wave through the tunnel Not long after there a rather rhythmic banging echoing throughout the cave. A very improvised song, and the clearly makeshift instruments only lowered the quality further. Damian carrying on walking in a random direction until he heard a familiar female voice. “Just! Go! A-way!” Scythe shouted throwing several rocks at the male. She was up against a dead end in the cave tunnels. This male had clearly come from the city like Damian even if he hid it rather well. “Please just-” The stranger dodged the rock as he spoke. “Wait for-” He sighed in relief a rock broke on the right arm of a giant of a man. “Argen.” He greeted Argen who did not respond as he stared at Damian. “You going to explain?” Argen questioned looking at Damian. “I’m assuming the Odonite next to you came looking for this girl and a Damian Lanchester.” Damian stated. “Luck.” Argen stated looking down at the male next to him. “Do you have memory of such a name?” “They’re a powerful family in the city.” Luck stated. “I don’t know what they’d want with an Underbell, but she was way too scared to say anything...to someone like me....” Argen placed a hand on Luck’s shoulder, and looked back at Damian. “You will ride up front. Luck will watch the girl.” Argen stated and quickly turned around. Both Luck and Damian protested before Scythe hid before Luck as Argen carried Damian to the front of some sort of digger by his shirt. “My name is Scythe.” Scythe stated loudly only after Damian was several feet away. “And in the back with you is fine, I know an Upperbell, actually.” She smiled trying to apologize without it being awkward. Luck waited until Damian was secure before helping Scythe into the trailer. Scythe waited a bit before dumping her parts out. “Well some of it needs cleaning out.” “Is that a gunner weapon?” Luck question. “There are some interesting parts.” “It’s sort of a hybrid mancer, actually.” Scythe stated. “Kind of unique, but also pretty limited honestly.” “A gun-mancer.” Luck stated with a bit of wonder. “Could I watch you make the weapon?” He opened a chest next to them. Scythe’s eyes went wide looking over all the parts. “I’ve got plenty of spare stuff since I’m becoming an Artisan.” “You’re an Artisan, really? That’s awesome.” Scythe stated as she dug through the chest. “What drove that decision?” Luck was silence for a moment. “My parents, I guess.” Scythe looked up at him for a moment before he continued. “Our family helped watched over the history of Odonopolis. And it always seemed like they could make a story of almost anything, but then I started bringing stuff from outside of the walls home.” Scythe did her best to let him know she was listening while grabbing various parts of his chest. “One night dad told me I was raised better than them. And that confusing so much I went out again, and went looking for them. That was when Argen showed me the Underbelly. “Luke Nolken.” Damian stated. “To think the story of your life is more tragic than your death.” “What are gonna drag him back to?!” Scythe shouted. “Please, I have enough embarrassment to cover up.” Damian stated. “You were lost on a volunteer surveillance job.” Argen stated causing the rest of the group to turn to him. “You use the tank tracks to find your way back. Nothing happened, and you didn’t meet or see anything.” “I see.” Damian closed his eyes. “So be it then.” “Scythe, we’ll take you home after.” Argen continue on in a matter of fact tone. “Teach Luck a thing or two in the meantime “Valley side.” Scythe stated. “Just passed Triedbloom.” Scythe began the speech on how to build her revolvers to Luck who began offering various improvements. Not of which, Damian noted, were technics anyone in Odonopolis would ever be caught using. For all her effort and rebellion Scythe simply did as Argen requested. There was no further rebuttal, and no further questions. “You need to singal.” Argen stated, and Damian quietly did so. Argen rolled into the bay, and Scythe and Luck sat on the edges. Damian was surrounded by 4 tailors offering new suits, 5 chefs offering their latest dish, and a few other miscellaneous sellers. “Ladies and Gentlemen, and little champion of all ages.” Damian jerked his head up at the screen. “an expansion so great its greatness topple even the King Ultra Greatest Sr. expansion. An expansion so absurdly powerful, and great that we have run out of ways to use the word great. The ULTIMATE expansion! This expansion is actually out of our hands. Yes future champions this next expansion is so powerful the card packs have escape headquarters, and now hidden away in the crazy great deals have been emerging.” A wild mob of children appear crowding every store they could reach. “You cease your behavior at once!” Damian stated running to join them. “The only people even worthy of such power are Lanchesters.” Damian and other children were grabbing everything they could reach on the shelves, and their parents were grabbing the rest. What few guards there were existed only top repair damaged stands, for a fee of course, And charge for whatever urgent care was needed. Sales sigh wenting flying off. Scythe and Luck made a game looking over numbers. The highest deal was found by Luck, a dollar off your fourth water. Scythe fired her guns, and watch it burst into flaming confetti. Scythe explained how they worked after, and Luck shares some suggestions based off the other weapons he had seen. Not much is known about those days. Only that Scythe broke down, and cried a few days after. Considering herself “finally home” as she describes. To this day she can barely stand to see anything that came from the city, but live happy and free in the sector of the underbelly she calls home.
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“Just had to waste one of the rarest shots I’ve ever made.” Scythe grumbled digging through a random junkyard. The sounds of clanking metal as it was tossed backward drowning out the sound of a machine turning on and looking towards Scythe as she pulled something out and looked it over. “Could be a bit tricky, but I think it’ll- hmm?” She turned to look at single, red-tinted camera eye, locking on to her. “Again? Just how many of you are there? I am NEVER going back there you understand? She stated right into the camera. The machine churred in response before shooting up several tentacles at once. They were flying in and out so many directions that dodging them took everything Scythe had. She thought she could at least get away until the machine drugged her. She saw a noticeably short human with a gas mask and some kind of white suit just before she passed out. The same human seemed to be studying her belongings when she awoke hours later. “Get!” she groaned and stumbled as she managed to get into a kneel. “Get away from those.”
“What for?” The, apparently male, stranger stated. “Inferior junk the lot of it.” “Everything there is priceless!” Scythe shouted offend, and rocking her giant birdcage forward. “If it is priceless, it is worthless. And worthless things are of no benefit.” He stated handing them off. “May we leave this filth faster, mother?” “What is she doing? Scythe questioned as the woman nodded and open a furnace. Scythe eyes widen and she pushed the cage forward again. “No!” The child turn back towards as her head made contact with one of the bar. Her slightly overgrown red hair shadowing her eyes as she cried. The cage rocking slightly still. She stood up and started swinging the cage wildly her face going from sadness to pure rage. “What are you doing?” The child stated watching her. “Cease your behavior at once! Stop!” He ran towards the cage and grabbed the bars as Scythe jumped up and bumped the cage into its own hangings. She gripped the pole above, and undid them in an instant before kicking the floor forward barely grabbing her cloak and flare as their transport swerved in a shocked response. Both children brace themselves as cage was thrown out of the trailer, and began its fog covered, down-hill, descend into swamp territory. Damian threw off his mask in rage. His hazmat suit already ruined. “Get back here!” He shouted. “That’s a togbog mushroom.” Scythe stated matter of factly. “Which means home is that way.” She turned around to point and froze for several seconds. “You?!” “Your accommodations are that cage until you are cured of your inherit illness.” Damian stated brushing off his suit. “A mere few weeks within the city would demonstrate to you why your rejection of our invitation was completely irrat- Hey!” He ran best as he could after her, which only caused her to throw up her hood and ran faster. Still Damain managed to keep incredibly well despite every evasive maneuver Scythe could think of. Eventually curiosity got the better of her, so she stopped on a stump with crouching down with her arms between her legs staring at Damian. “How the cog are you keeping up?” Scythe staring at Damian he nearly slid to a stop almost face to face. “What?” Damian questioned. “What are you talking about?” “We’ve like 12 leagues into the swamp” Scythe stated. “No one has kept track of me passed 9, vehicle or otherwise, so how did you?” “Seeing as I’ve managed to impress you.” Damian stated. “Though I have no idea why. May I assume you while accept the offer to return and become my mate.” Scythe blinked and blushed rather wildly. “I...you were...usually nicer to me… I suppose we could camp here and getting to know each other at least but umm…” “Camp? That is for amusement parks not swamps.” Damian turned towards where they came from, and then back to Scythe. “I suppose we could rest before heading back to our transport, but I do fear the amount of worry that may cause.” Damian stared at her disappointed face with a brief smile before returning the look of disappointment. Scythe silently pointed in direct off center from where Damian had turned. “Your home is that way.” Scythe stated. “I am going to my home.” She pointed in the near opposite direction “That way, and kidnapping me will not convince me otherwise. Understood?” “I have already stated I desire you.” Damian stated. “As is the custom of Odonoplis, you will be coming home with me and trained in-” “I’m not a pet!” Scythe rebutted. “And I will never, under any circumstances, return to whatever you want to call your city of cruel, vindictive, money hoarders! Now leave!” Both perked up a looking around the chatter and shaking of shells echoing through the trees around them. Scythe darted off towards home. Leaving Damian standing there and looking around. “Yaaa maaa CHA” one mushroom looking crab stated before launching an incredible amount of fumes into the air. One by one a mass of similar creatures came out and did the same. Based on how much of fumes still manage to spread passed her Scythe guessed there was a couple dozen. She grabbed the mushroom she had put in her pouch, and clung to it with her teeth trying very hard not to taste any part of it. See had no idea how long she had run or which direction she had gone by the time she felt safe. She let go of the mushroom, and almost collapsed to the ground. “Whatever pathetic moral qualms you have Odonoplis.” Damian stated walking towards her wearing a small breathing filter. “We did what had to to ensure we could have whatever we require a moments notice. A poisonous bite mark was on an arm of his suit but he seemed completely unaffected as he removed his filter. “There is not a thing we need.” He produced a fully cooked burger from somewhere. “Which is not attainable, and as such we are protected from mistakes such as anger.” He went for a bit of his burger, but with Scythe shoved the mushroom in his mouth. He split it out as fast he could before attempting to voice his protest directly to Scythe’s rather smug looking face. It was at this point he noticed. He could open his mouth all he wanted, but words were not coming out. “If it’s so great and has everything, then just call a ride home.” Scythe stated. Damian pointed at her in response, and she twirled some hair in return. “I’m flattered and all, but-” She paused and patted around her belt. Damian tilted his head as patted again looking shocked, but then glared at him. She turned around in a huff, and stomped away. Her walk seemed a little off balance suddenly, and it was then Damian notice the empty revolver holsters. Scythe was setting up some strange looking “Nevermind.” She stated grumply turning a few knobs. A shot fired from behind her as her device exploded. Damian held up a shiny new revolver as she recovered. “What the cog is wrong with you?! It’s only goes off once, toggit!” She flipped the device over, and examined it. Damian mouth out several muted words, which slowly became voice gibberish. Finally, he could speak coherently again. “I mean, what kind of a tool only works once?” Damian questioned. “What could possibly be the use?” “It’s a standard issue flare” Scythe stated. “It’s points out location and then short circuit or explodes depending on how you set it. All was ever told was it had something to do with the city, so my guess is were hiding from insane people who FIRE WITHOUT WARNING.” “Seeing as our people have better equipment, and no shame to hide.” Damian rebutted. “If I replace your revolvers with our clearly superiors one would you return with me? To proper living conditions?” “You’re such a lug nut!” Scythe reached down, and throw some part of the pile next to her with such speed that it plowed Damian right in the forehead before he could respond. He wobbled slightly before passing out. He awoke to her facing away from him, and searching through some junk. He snuck up with the intend to grab the new flare dangling from her waist. “I set it off already.” Scythe stated. “And manage to find an extra part for it, while I was collecting for a new set.” She held up, and pocketed a new revolving chamber. “Forgot just how untouched this place is, but at least I’ll have plenty of time to look.” “Ridiculous.” Damian stated digging around in his jacket. “It is well past time to leave.” fumbling through his jacket “I’ll build you another one before I leave.” Scythe stated in an almost dark, regretful, tone. It was at this Damian stepped into a puddle of puke, and noticed his own flare was mixed into it. Scythe was silence as he looked at her. Scythe tacitly walked through the many opened cans, skewed about tires, and reluctantly passed the restocked junk pile. Minding the swing of her custom revolvers and flare. She tiredly and cautiously walked past the traditional game of poker Old John’s double time pairs with two kings of hearts, and two 6s of diamonds seemed pretty good right up until Echo placed both 2 of spades next to his 3 fives. She was trying not to look, but she could tell from their playing blanter about bluffing with the tore cards that he had a clogged up house. 5s over 2s, all spades. She tensed up, and look to Old John as he grabbed her arm. “You tried to go into the city?” she could only manage a timid nod. “You see much?” She shook her head. “Well, next you wanna go Echo here is gonna take ya.” Her eyes widen, and she turned to Echo.
“Old Johnny don’t wanna go, and it’s about time we take you. So we played a hand. If I won I take ya, if Johnny wins he doesn’t take ya.” Echo summarized. “‘Bout as fair as this deck anyways.” “Could…” Scythe paused. “Could we go now?” She followed Echo grabbed his retracted hammer as he got up, and lead over a rather usually unused vent. Breaking it open again took some doing, but soon after the shuffling of people could be heard through the tunnels. “That’s not the city?” She asked noticing they were going around the noise. “That’s for afterwards” Echo stated kicking a vent open. “This.” As they stepped outside. “This is the city.” Scythe’s eyes went wide again as she took in the view her foxed ear cape swaying a little in the clean air. It almost burned her nose. She had managed to clean herself a little today, but there was still that lingering sense of filth on herself and Echo. A startling contrast to white and spotless city in full view as the stood atop part of its walls. The peaceful view lasted for a few minutes before a mechanical arm swung at the pillar and fired barely misses as Echo tugged Scythe back. “Wha?!” She carefully looked down at the cyclops like robot fully armed and ready to fire again. “But....” “Fire again!” Shouted a man in the crowd, and robot complied Scythe ducking back with much more preparation this time. “My children should not have experience such displeasure.” The robot knocks on the walls again. “All citizens are required to…” Scythe began to tuning the mechanical voice out as Echo put a hand on her shoulders. “Not the best timing, I guess. With this much attention I think they’d follow us back through. Think you can foxtrack your way to that checkpoint there?” There was a grin on Scythe’s face. “Don’t go doing too much sight-seeing now.” “What?” Scythe mockingly stated throwing up her hood. “I would never even dream of such things.” Scythe slid down and jump off the wall taking a running start on to the streets, and Echo did a running jump to the other side of the rather large gap. “You wouldn’t bother to dream of it. I’ll give ya that.” He fired back as the head of his hammer fired out and hookshot the rest of the way across the wall. Breaking down a rat sized robot before vanishing into the building vent system. Guards stormed into building and watched every possible exit heavily armed, but somehow they lost him. By the time they got they found the three knocked out guards and one dropped vent cover they knew he was well into the sewers. Any attempts to capture Scythe was a far more public humiliation. Her happy go lucky attitude combined with her exaggerated acrobatic maneuvers made it seem like she considered this more a dance than a manhunt. She went through alleyways before most of the robot guards even got there. Practically flew on top of several other, and use their head to scale whatever wall. Finally she lost all but one, and leaped onto its head before wall jumping up onto a ridge. The building seemed rather large considering this couldn’t be anywhere close to the heart of the city, but she decided that wasn’t really important right now. “There’s that checkpoint” She stated finally able to look around and get her bearings. “Hope I didn’t make him stay too- ” She gave a muffled sound startled a bit, and turn around. A boy about her age had come out on his balcony. He didn’t say anything, but was smiling as he looked at her. So she gave a wink and mock statue before darting off to her destination. “Wait!” Damian Lanchester reached out and shouted to the girl perched on the roof, but she was gone far too fast. He watched heading out of the city, and marched down the stairs into his father's office. “Father!” He stated opening door without hesitation. “Father, I have seen something desire. A mother and her children were naked on the screen attempting to cross the checkpoint. 12 flashing button indicated their nearly completed examination. The look of joy on the mother’s face turned into fear and confusion. Her children began crying as both doors sealed shut locking them in the dark,windowless hall. Damian’s father turned to him. Releasing his hand from the level he just pulled without so much as a word. Old John perked up from his spot in the trunk as Aurora prepped the huller from it’s only actual seat. She watched Echo and Scythe make their out. Echo shoving a crowd of people before finally taking a wide swing with retractable hammer. Old John make some room despite the roofless trunk being big enough for 8 people. “The drones are off doing who knows what.” She stated. “So we’ll go anywhere you-” “I’d like to go home.” Scythe stated slumping down into haller. Echo getting in after her. “Only way you going home.” Old John in a serious tone so unlike him that it manage to catch Scythe’s interest again. “Is if you play a game Taroooo Cog!” He howled holding up the incomplete, makeshift Tarot deck, and Scythe closed her eyes and sighed. “Leo-Capricorn, and a Junk Basalt.” She smiled slightly. “With some ginger.” Old John let out a loud yeehaw in response as the huller headed home. That night Scythe adhered to the two rules of her rite of passage with the same ease as the others before her. 1. Find out what your favorite hard drink is, and 2. Don’t talk about the things within the city’s walls. She started to stumble home, but spotted a junkpile. “Ah, why not. Only turn 14 once.” she stated digging through the pile. She perked up as some strange slot machine whirled to life. She tilted her head at the camera eye as the slot machine attached to it produced a paper slip with a symbol on it. The machine produced the sounds of a decide struggling to stay alive one more time before a gunshot drew everyone in the bar outside. No one said a word as Scythe returned one of her dual revolvers to its place under her fox cloak. Kelf the bartender collected the slot machine, and broke it apart before burning the ticket. And just like that the Underbelly returned to normal, And Scythe went to sleep with the hope that it would stay that way. |