In countless cases, behind the most coveted faces in your Neighborhood, dwell charismatic gnashers screening abuse. The Aristocracy has firsThem, then you rushing to mimic elegance, or chutzpah, and if they see (through all Tradition worshipers) that you’re dancing in a differenTune arena, they’ll ofTarget your locale for suppression. Did flunkies expect to gain some kind of peace treaty? Well if they did, they only got cheated: the Mob sacrifice their own as often as they pet themselves in a mirror.

It was atrocious how AdminisTraitors repeddled zipped lips surrounding provocation of student after student, strong-armed with liquid ease, complacent to let the taunting slide. T’was a shame all around, but sticking necks near claws of Clout just seemed to drag them into more violated respects down the road. So that day, i felt the Move shift to my hands:

“So big deal guys,” I shouldered, pulling even towards the dark leader of sparkly Teeth. “Buck can’t keep his trap shut. What’s new? Sure, he’s not exactLenny his brother’s frame, but if he was timid we would’ve scheduled a man better equipped for the job, saayyy... like Gwain.” Yeah, that crony again.

Hardly an eyelash had been batted from the Flock Formation over my previous speech; six of us (minus Dudley) roughly cruising in a fluid line— until I activated the name of His Highness’ right hand, the Russian giraffe who got all the rebounds for the basketball team. The last-minute no-show.

To my left, heads snapped to the side with frightening speed as the meandering line of us shattered to halt; Concerned eyes fastened into me. MultiPile mouths twitched, entreating me to somehow take back what had already ricocheted through my vocals. Among these dim shadows, the contours of bewildered rubberneckers draped webs of doubt over my hasty inclination. As a volunteer in crime, it was sour to spurn the Overseer & potentially hinder the shady deal on Merchandise.

Only balloon-head Trent could be noticed emerging a separate emotion, an eager sneer crinkling around his rotund nose. Beady eyes swam with high anticipation in their sockets, beneath some coils of Rust. Yet he stood askance, passive, the last guy ready to resist a Regime anywhere.

Why goad the Kingpin into a committing a foolish stab between cover of foliage? With Gwain absent, I could serve Dallweed a crude Platter of inside joke; mock his Iron-tongued snarls for the rubber dentuRE@licks encasing them, without genuWince threat of undermining his Empirical Macho public image. Even if the rest of the Outfit plotted to compromise his life out here, another territorial hound would clamor to replace his position right? But I did stand fine shiftinGround to brew a Laughingstock of rumors on behalf of all the victims relentlessly harassed. And the first “shove” would pinpoint his attention my way, as if my sole grudges were the largest rebYell grievance irriTraited by his domain.

Breifly had I time to let the Rush of implicationSink in, before the Boss wheeled to oppose me. I bristled in efforts to curtail a gut-punch as his wiry figure bore down atop me. But no flying appendage came zinging around from behind his body; Dadgum if he were to initiate a first Blow, basically every witness would support testimony that he'd been the assailant down the road. Reluctantly, I permitted major muscle groups to ease inTension.

The tuft over his forehead like a chunk of Asphalt, eclipsed in darkness only by an irritated scowl. His neck craned, attempting to literally look down upon me; steamed hazel eyes pinched like lizard as they leveled with mine. While no doubt he had a couple inches on me, his torso wasn’t especially sturdy, so he chose to always pack Burly Ushers around him to avoid getting involved physically. Which meant if it got super chippy, I could pretend I was going to breach the inexperienced Bonehead before the Prowley siblings (the only nearby giants) could stop me.

What sprang out of his frigid purple lips was: “Didn’t I tell you we would NOT be further discussing Gwain’s incident! or was my message unclear?” - The first thing he’d spoken directly at me in months.

He only ever stink-eyed me anymore since his Thanksgiving prank I managed to turn on its head. Two of his loyals were sent to “Cook me a duck” by placing stinkbombs in my locker with a bloody bird carcass. I interrupted them in the act of stuffing, with a trashcan lid. I emerged from the scuffle with minor bruises & a sprained elbow - {unfortunately some of my backstage rehearsal outfits were stained beyond recovery} - to which vengeance a week later, I splashed his pre-game sneakers with acid from the chemistry cabinet. Then I warned him next time it’d be a pair of Assless chaps instead of homeless feet: (that whole stunt had cost my parents about $3,000 credits to settle out of court, but it seemed to buy people in my vicinity some breathing room).

“Well, I mean it Ain’t Guano’s fault he can’t be here today,” I quipped. “Incorrect?”

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The grinding of teeth was unmistakable. “That’s not his name,” Throat snarled. “And what the hell is all that supposed to mean to me, Asshat?!”

He was right, Guano didn’t mean Gwain; it meant poop sprayed from above in spanish.

“According to you he took a hard ‘Fowl,’ -” I mused. “Conveniently, overnight.”

“Bone-jarring,” Capone said with murdeRising to mind. “WHAT are you picking at?” he pressed. A crowbar dangled in his grip.

“SoOo, he tags along wherever you go. I think you’d agree that without his attendance you’re feeling more insecure than usual, on an assignment that could very well place your Reputation in doubt.” I paused to let that sink in.

“We don’t have time for games, Cauldronest. Get to the point.”

I snickered inaudibly. “Oh, I don’t see that implication as any mere game, Teeth.” I bit back, deploying his surname also.

“Thanks for clearing that up Mister Riddler,” raspeDal. “Don’t sleep on my intelligence!”

“Tssk tssk, Brickhead, that’s no way to speak to your elders. You may be the loudest monkey in Town, but you ain’t the Biggest Reptile out in this district. Sorry you didn’t recognize that I was *pointing* at your unagreeable social skills; I find it pathetic you have to strain so hard to figure out what others are trying to suggest that you rip those designer britches of yours.”

Over a muscle shirt, he was wearing a denim Top right now, despite the climate.

“What I’m hearing is that you’re trying to get others to mutinize me for weakness!” he concluded. “But there’s nothing to doubt when I’m in command, cause history shows my homies stay in line.” He beamed and glanced around him, trying to stoically check how many were taking that seriously. “Now stop cracking me a concussion with animal cracker jokes that stink as bad as your Buffalo sauce breath,” he spat out, & then wretched a nauseous gesture within his mouth.

I heard Siggy's buttery voice creep along. "What's wrong wiff Spicy sauce? Well I s'pose it's wise to fear dragon$'ay?"

Together they'd forged quite a useful point. I really needed to reach back for an encore around grade school to induce a detri’Mental cut. “Oh, you wanna make this about edibles? Well I suspect you’re the type who eats muffins for breakfast - the Meadow kind. Do you chew Meadow muffins to wake up your day?”

“I don’t know that brand, or what my diet has anything to do with this, but since my breakfast is on the table I’ll let you know what’s really on my plate:” He stopped to search again for onlookers to fertilize his ego. “Stage props like you, GRINDING their teeth while suspended from the limelights. Disrespectful comments toward my ‘behind-the-$cenes’ amigos won’t be tolerated, you twinkle*fairy.”

Oh, i never mentioned I was an aspiring playwright? He was implying upon hidden rope-and-pulley tricks by saying “behind the Scenes” -- meaning sabotaging my workspace or theater assistants away from View. From my ears to Boot’tips engorged with palpitations of heat.

Murkily I struggled to reCalm what sprung my enthusiasm to join this volunteer mission in the first notion, since Buck & Capone had to be thrust in the midst of it. Lured by the prospects of Phoenix, a Sorceress, & Surgeon packages harboring Megatronics among ancient stimulants? Yeah. Some Trifecta like that.

Just then Pheo’s mouth twisted into action beneath coppery hair, as her hands found her hips: “Enough boys. Don’t make us come over there.”

“Wait, let me tell him a little secret,” I responded. “Let me dumBowl it down for ouRunway model,” I sprinkled with a squint on my brow and a nod in my chin towards her swole brunette brotheRovone. He already knew what I intended, & reluctantly waffled in place. - “Meadow muffins are delivered by the same guys who make cow pies. Now There’s a little behind-the-barn journey I invite you to take, Mr. Pickup Line. By all means, pick the sweetest berries you find!”

Rovo groaned, “Pyram, did you skip breakfast or something?” and his Trident flipped sidelong as he slogged our way. My move was far premature, but hopefully he was still willing to halt this fiasco - permanently. Or I’d be fielding metal with skIN'stead.

I saw rage flicker inside the Tyrant’s jaw like a serpent tongue, but unfortunately, he managed to collect himself. “Good. For a second there, I thought your secret was gonna be an actual secret; as in something I didn’t already know!”

“Goodness Ca-phony,” I teased in Caprice’s prominent voice, “You’re a Nation-null Treazzure.” His little star did say things like that to him. Was my Ex sincere? $shucks, she’d been pretty capricious when I’d spent time with her (tried to); I didn’t touch those types with a Sniper anymore.

The Kingpin’s smirk dissolved & his paws came to my attention - squeezing that bar. “Get your words out of her mouth! -- I mean, for one thing that borders on gendy-bendy, & for another that’s grand lip theft!” He was standing on the threshold of my trap. Just one more nudge…

I pushed, “Wanna know what else I think?”

Dal tightened. “If it’s something remotely unpleasant, keep it to yourself. - Unless you’re fond enough of this cesspool to get buried in it.”

He was a big fan of conveniently noir graveyards. Last night, I’d been conspiring with Rovo to strangle the Tyrant inno$cently against the plausible odds of a haywire Fate. Besides, this traditional trek was glaringly irresponsible - a death would certainly halter future ones.

I heard Pheo unsheathe a saber. “Well as long as we’re having bad manners, that tire iron looks very unsafe.”

I drew in a sharp breath, and before she could reach us or nerves fail me I purrrred, “You shoulddd consider getting a timely egghead to cover your ass.... Or did you miss the message about coWuh-?”

"HeYeesh!" VoiceSlammed & slid.

He leapt @ me with every wailing & flailing of a startleDeer ^<@! + I electeDiPosit shoulder toward his sternum.