Scrapyard Angels Act 2 Chapter 1
My day started with the annoying buzz of an alarm clock. It was far enough that neither I or Vi could quite reach it while we lay down on our shared bed. It did its job well enough and we hated it for it. Sleep was a far better affair when you’re not worried by a sudden flood from the drainage pipe overhead.
“Five more minutes.” Groaned out Vi as she pulled up one of our pillows and tried to muffle out the insistent and grating buzz of the alarm.The sound of Whump soft whimpering snores could be heard even as the alarm kept on blaring. I wish I had his ability to sleep through the alarm but alas.
“Need to cook breakfast.” I yawned out as I rolled off the comfort of our bed to turn off the alarm. All it took was one tap but finally we have some peace and quiet.
With one foot down, I groggily searched for my other foot soon after. Rubbing the sleep off my eye, I looked around trying to find that prosthesis hoping that it didn’t fall over when we were sleeping. With the light of the morning sun shining from the window by our bed, I had a far easier time finding it.
“Breakfast sounds good…” Vi groaned as she pulled the cover over her head. A couple extra minutes for her wouldn’t hurt and it’s not like she’ll be able to sleep through breakfast when the kitchen’s just outside.
“I’ll think of something up.” I said back as I screwed my other foot on and grabbed my other hand. Let me tell you, sleeping with a metal arm does not make for a happy wife so best leave it on the nightstand. Getting off the bed was a challenge all on its own when the inviting figure of my wife was just there under the cover but the day already began and things need to be done
With a bit of spring in my step, I wandered off to the bathroom. Washing my face on the sink, I stared back at the figure in front of me. It’s been… four years since that particular incident. I grew an inch or so my cheeks filled up a bit but I still looked almost the same. Puberty… any day now?
Still, things are better now. We had a home to go back to every day and soon enough, we’ll have a house of our own. We have food in the pantry so we won’t have to worry about going hungry for the night and more importantly, we still have each other to enjoy this all. Our home would be a little bit emptier if either one of us went missing.
With a smile on my face, I went off to cook breakfast. We really didn’t have much time to cook up anything fancy for the morning. With a quick check in our pantry, I found that we’re running out on some of the essentials like vegetables and preserved meat. Still, there was plenty of stuff to go around and the reserve stock of freeze dried soups has been barely touched.
Grabbing a couple of potatoes, sausages, eggs and a hunk of old cheese along with the essential spices and some pre-prepared flour tortilla, I decided to make some breakfast burritos. It seems that alone was enough to summon Mr. Floofington into the kitchen.
Patting the plague rat head, having made sure to give him a bath once every week and keeping him away from the dumps, I asked him “So, Jinx snuck off again?”
Floofington looked away with a shrug as he sat down beside me. I merely raised a brow at him as I waited for an answer. In response, he extended a hand out. I rolled my eyes at that. He was quite the greedy little rat but he was a cute greedy little rat.
“Of course.” I handed him a piece of sausage. He chartered happily as he grabbed the offered food and gobbled it up.
“Why do you act as if we don’t feed you enough? Look at you, getting all soft and fat.” I poked him at his developing paunch which prompted him to give me the dirtiest look he could muster.
“What? I’ll keep poking it everyday if you don’t lift your ass up and move a bit.” He hissed back.
“So, back to Jinx, were Seraphine and Cindy involved?” I asked. Floofington nodded on both names. Spirits damn it all. I massaged my temples as I walked over to the counter to at least start breakfast now. Things just got a whole lot more complicated. Seraphine, bless her pure heart, was the one of the few persons that could tame Jinx’s wild side. Having to deal with Cindy as well however, yeah…
“Did she go explore the ruins down below?” I then asked. I had my guess on where she was but best to check on other places first. I was met with a head shake.
“Top side?” I added, hoping she didn’t have to go up there. She had been in enough trouble there and then there was that weird shooting rivalry she has with Caitlyn. My worst fears however were answered as he nodded.
“She did leave you something to eat right?” I asked with a groan as I started chopping up some onions as well as getting a pot of water heated up for morning tea. It was going to be busy today it seems.
Floofington happily shaked his head to a negative which means she did leave him some food. “Yup, seems like she did leave you some in her room. Speaking about her room, how bad is it”
Floofington faked a gag as he waved his paws in front of his nose. Well, at least that’s one thing I could always rely on Jinx for. Keeping things clean… even if she often messes up the things on my chair.
Taking a quick glance at my work table, I saw it cleaned and immaculately arranged which means I have to sort through the trash to find any of my crumpled notes again. I really should have a barrel of crumpled paper just so any ideas I throw away can be revisited next time.
Grabbing the bits and ends of the things I prepared, Floofington opened up his mouth as I gave him any vaguely digestible. Nothing woody or anything though, well… he could practically eat everything but I just made sure its bite size for him.
Cooking things was relaxing. Toss in the onions to caramelize it then add the potatoes and wait to brown before the garlic comes in. Adding the sausages and the spices made my mouth water as the heavenly scent of the sausage fat cooking all the ingredients filled the air.
I could honestly lose myself in the motions as I scooped up the mixed ingredients and set them aside for the eggs. Just scramble them before tossing them in the pan to soak in all those flavors. Adding a few spinach just to have something green in it, all that’s left now was to heat up the tortilla.
“Breakfast Burritos?” Asked Vi with a yawn as I heard her walk out of our room.
“Yup. Had to make them cause I think I have to get Jinx some lunch.” I could hear her sigh out in exasperation as she wrapped her arms around me. I leaned in against her touch, feeling her strong arms around my slight frame.
She practically dwarfed me and if it wasn’t for Jinx shooting up like a beanstalk, she would have towered over her as well. Still, it was nice to lean against her, especially on cold nights.
“Morning Vi.” I greeted her just as she gave me a kiss on top of my head. “Had a good sleep?”
“Was nice. Wish Jinx didn’t have to start trouble so early this month. We just bailed her out like last month?” She replied as she rested her chin against my head.
“I do have to say that her mural was amazing, though I really wonder why she had to do it on the walls of the University of Piltover.” I smiled fondly at that memory. It wasn’t even anything vaguely anarchistic or destructive. It was just a mural of animals and plants along with some representation of evolution. I’d have to check it out if they already power washed it away.
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“Yeah, it was nice to look at but damn it that girls going to get in trouble for something we can’t bail her out on one of these days.” Vi complained.
“She’s in good hands and she needs to learn.” Ark replied. I’d rather have Jinx express her boundless energy into something constructive rather than have it be pent up only for it to blow up in a more destructive manner. Rather a can of spray paint rather than a bottle of Molotov.”
“Yeah… it’s just hard not to worry, you know?” Vi acquiesced to my point.
Scooping up the eggs, I then wrapped them up and made three burritos with one extra hefty one for VI. Breakfast is served.
Sitting on her lap while we ate our breakfast in peace, we sat together in silence as we enjoyed each other's presence.
“So, have something to do later?” She asked, breaking the silence while I took a bite of my Burrito.
“Going to drop by the Progress Day parade. Check on some stuff. Who knows maybe I’ll get something of worth.” I replied.
Vi snorted as she said “You’re running circles around those clowns. Why would you need to visit them anyways?”
I chuckled at that. It would be hard for Piltovan Inventors to catch up when I had some ideas on which inventions probably worked and a whole circle of friends to inspire with some of my ‘repurposed’ ideas. “Hey, just scouting out the competition. Who knows, maybe I’ll get some laughs. Joking aside though, I'm going to check out Professor Hiemerdingers exhibit.”
I’ll never be as smart as the guy. He was the Renaissance man of Runeterra. The man was light years ahead of his peers. I swear he’s just limited with the tools he has in his arsenal but that will not stop me from trying to catch up to him. I might not be a Da Vinci but I’ll be the next best thing, an Edison.
Now, if only we could entice the Professor to go teach in Zaun instead. Zaun is still a shit hole though but it’s getting better especially around the Vereza side. It was the right choice siding with them.
“You actually got some tickets to one of his lectures?” Vi asked with an amused tone. I wasn’t kidding when I said the man was like Da Vinci. He was a superstar in the field of science and magic. His lectures can actually sell out like a concert, which was why he was selling tickets. Man needs to fund his research and I can respect that.
“You forget the people I know.” I replied rather smugly but laughed as I said “Nah, it’s more of the dear Doctor and my Professor having some extra tickets. I might have begged them for an extra two to get you and Jinx a seat.”
Had I some shame? Well, I had some but not enough to stop me from doing that. Besides, it’s something the three of us can all enjoy together.
“I wonder if he got new designs I could use for my Gauntlet. Now if only his assistant wasn’t such a jackass.” I snorted at that. Jayce Talos was something else. He was as talented as he was prideful and he deserved every bit of his pride as I had to begrudgingly admit.
“Why would you keep on working on those massive over-compensators when you have these puppies?” I asked in turn as I leaned back and snuggled against her. I had the best wife. I received a boop over my head for my trouble but I could feel how she blushed at my compliment.
“Quite you or I’ll get the horny bat!” I raised my hand in surrender at that.
“Ok ok,~ easy there.” I chuckled as I kept leaning against her. I was going to repeat what I said, I had the best wife.
“You horny little minx.” She growled out light heartedly as she shook her head.
“I’m not just a horny little minx, I’m you’re horny little minx.~” I replied as I looked up to her and waggled my eyebrows.
That broke her composure as she threw up her hands before she brought it down and grabbed me by side. I jumped slightly at the feeling and I started sweating. “Gah! I give up. Fine, if that’s how you wanna play then let’s go with this then!”
“V-vi, s-sthap! I-let’s talk about this! hAH!” I tried reasoning with her but it was for naught as she started tickling me non stop. I squirmed under her grasp but she was far stronger than I was.
“V-vi p-please! I’m g-gonna p-pee!” I laughed out, begging for her to end this before it’s too late. Thankfully, she relented. I breathed out a wheeze as I tried to catch my breath while she laughed.
“I’ll get you for this.” I panted out as I gave her a light hearted glare.
“You can try.” Vi replied with a smug smile on her face.
I shook my head as we finished our breakfast in peace. It didn’t take long before we ate our burritos and drank our morning tea before we were ready for the day. It was the weekend but we still had things to do like trying to find where Jinx went.
“Going to be looking for Jinx. Meet you at the Fair at topside later?” I asked as I opened up the drawer where I hid my wings. While I didn’t change much in four years, I did grow. I needed bigger wings as bigger wings meant I could add more stuff on to it as well as provide myself with more cover.
“Yeah, going to save you two some seats.” Vi answered as she tied her shoes on. If there’s one person that could intimidate anyone, it’s Vi.
Putting on my wings, I felt complete. The moment it attached to my crystal, it felt like I was free once more. I tapped the crystal in its new place, a socket on my chest. I was ripping off Iron Man but with how it was tied to me to a spiritual level if I was being honest, I say it fits.
“Welp, wish me luck!” Giving her a kiss, I went off to go find our wayward sibling.
Walking over to the door leading to the balcony, I stared down at the yawning chasm that Zaun was located in. The wind was howling while the wisp of the Grey floated about at a certain layed. The Grey was particularly thin during this time of the year so I could almost see the bottom of the Sump. Bridges and pipes crisscrossed between each cliff wall while airships of various sizes made their way across Zaun.
To some, the sight of the Chasm below would be enough to make their knees weak but for me, it called out. I could feel the pull of the void below and I answered it. Stepping up to the railings separating me from a hundred feet drop and relative safety, I stood there as I spread my wings wide. Strapping my mask on, I breathed in fresh air as the filters worked their magic with the polluted air of Zaun.
With the grace afforded me by my wings, I turned around and gave Vi a salute before throwing myself off the edge. The winds rushed against me as I dove down without a care in the world. In these few precious seconds of weightlessness, the world seemed to slow down to a crawl. Every little detail seemed to pop out and the world became more vibrant. My hands traced the cloth of a passing airship as I passed by it. The looks of shock and horror of someone seemingly falling to their death never does get old.
With a single wing beat, I corrected my path as I looped under a bridge and flew straight through the valley of Zuan. My wings guided me to my destination as I flew up higher, passing by the haze of the Grey on my way up. Bursting through the putrid air, I found myself flying once more in the sky of Piltover.
The light of the morning sun was almost blinding but I managed to right myself and avoid hitting any passing ships in the air.
The sharp contrast between Zaun and Piltover was always quite the sight. One one hand, a city of sharp gothic architecture made of glass and steel and on the other hand was an Art Deco city of Marble, bricks and brass.
Admittedly, Zaun was still shitty but it was getting better. The new industries spouting around Zaun were feeding its citizens. Championing against exploitative industries was hard work but it was going especially when these same industries came crashing with new innovation coming out of the laboratories of the College of Techmaturgy.
My mind was pulled aside as I saw the fanfare in the streets of Piltover as they celebrated Progress day. It was one of the things I liked about Piltover. Their celebration was happier while Progress Day in Zuan was Remembrance Day. We still mourn about being pulled into the earth but I wasn’t one to question the holiday.
Still, while going down and celebrating with them sounded fun, I still needed to find Jinx. The first stop I was going to make was over the Wardens Headquarters, the Piltover Police Department. The building was unmistakable despite how it blended with the surrounding. Close to the Sun Gates, the glare of its glass dome was unmistakable.
I slowed down as I slowly circled down. My entrance however was not missed as two officers were there to meet me, lovely. Well, time to see what Jinx was up to last night.