Chapter Text
[Scythe]
Scythe was kind of the country gal that would make wives jealous and men shiver in fear.
She’d been born-and-raised from Lost Temple, and her life in the southern desert made her especially proficient in drawing blood. From low-rate crooks to high-profile demons, she’d learned how to have fun with each kill, dancing around her enemies as she tore them to shreds with her gear.
So why exactly did the acolytes send her on a capture mission?!
I should've sweet-talked Broker into doing this shit! She thought, grumbling as she rode her horse stealthily towards Crossroads from a Church outpost in Lost Temple.
Technically, she could leave her victims alive so that her ‘family’ could interrogate them and use them for later value- but Scythe tended to get snippy when having to deal with hostages.
The viper-fanged demon frowned as she remembered one particularly annoying mission. It was ONE damn slice! How was I supposed to know she had hemophilia?!
The priest had gotten very cross with her on that one since she accidentally killed the target. This time, Scythe tempered her usual urge to kill and focused on riding her horse. She couldn’t let them down again.
She stopped next to a more secluded area around the highway, and dismounted her horse. “Alright, Sugar…” She whispered, giving her horse a scratch on the head and a sugar cube as a treat. “You know what to do.”
Her trained steed neighed, and trotted off to hide amongst some dense desert foliage. Scythe strapped her gear to her back and took the walk towards Crossroads, making sure she wouldn’t get caught.
It takes a few hours, but she manages to trek all the way to the center of the plaza. At that time, it was already sunset- and most demons were already going home. She took off her hat, easily blending into the crowd as she slipped towards the location.
Now, to Thieves’ Den… if it weren’t for the damn [urgent] on her file, then she’d be passed over. Scythe wondered how a harmless-looking demon like her target was so important that the Church wanted her alive, even when she lived close to their rival faction.
Scythe found the building- a green brick apartment building with four floors. She hopped onto the railing, scaling the fire exit and dropping onto the fourth floor.
To her surprise, one of the doors were open. There was a young, enthusiastic voice coming from inside. “And really, it only works with extreme exercise routines, but that also poses a risk-“
Scythe waltzes in and has to do a double-take as she sees her own coworker sitting across from her target, Medkit’s face blanching a bit when he sees his boss.
”Well, howdy-doo!” The incredibly stocky demon jumps up from the living room couch, squeaking in shock. “Looks like you already got acquainted with Doc already, so he must have told you about us, rigt?”
[Pan]
Medkit DIDN’T warn me, actually! She give the healer a side-eye that clearly meant she was pissed. And sure, she knew Medkit was indebted to Lost Temple… but it still felt like a betrayal.
”No, actually. I was busy talking to Medkit here and he didn’t bring it up, not even once.” Medkit backed up and gave a regretful look.
”Frying Pan- you have to understand. The order just came in yesterday and…” She cuts him off with a melodramatic sigh. “Oh well.”
Pan crosses her arm, curious as to know why Scythe of all Phighters was here for her. “So- what’s Lost Temple got to do with me, ma’am?”
Scythe cackles, slapping her knee. “Oh, a respectful one! You could learn to use some manners from her, Medkit!”
The country demon flicks up a toothpick and catches it in her mouth, chewing it. “Well, our ‘family’ managed to find something very interesting about you, Miss Pan- in fact…” She steps forward and leans down. “Do you perhaps run a little account? One by the name of ‘Isekai Archive’, whatever that is?”
Ah, fuck- FUCK! Pan took in a deep breath, and calmed herself. Now is not the time for breaking down. Now is the time for bullshitting and staying alive.
Frying Pan knew she’d be caught if she lied- after all, that was what a cult did best. Lie, manipulate, scheme- they most likely had ages of experience and little old her wouldn’t make it with her bullshit roleplay and facades.
Pan had to tell the truth . But it didn’t mean she had to tell the whole truth.
”Well, you guys sure have some nice intel then.” She shrugs. “I’m betting you want my own knowledge for yourself? Make your region the best of all four regions?”
Scythe grins like a shark. “Exactly. Even the father’s heard whispers of your work- every demon’s got you in their phones, after all.”
”I’ll take that as a compliment.” Frying Pan rolls her eyes. “And I suppose I don’t have a say in this kidnapping.”
”Exactly.” Scythe taps her blade on the floor. “So what’ll it be?”
Pan thought it out a bit. She needed to do some shit to prepare- since Lost Temple knew she owned the archive, then they’d know the (very convincing) theory that she was human. Her identity was bust.
”Fine. I’ll go with you guys- but let me go to my apartment pack my damn supplies.” She snorts. “Can’t have your new source of information without the tools she need, eh?”
Scythe raises her teal blade and presses it close to Pan’s neck. “Tryna’ pull a fast one on me, darlin’?”
Pan scoffs, and leans back, unfazed. “If I did try to bolt, you’d shoot me down. I’m not dumb.”
Scythe takes a while to mull it over, and after a tense few seconds, she smiles. “Well then? Get your stuff.” She shoves the former human off Medkit’s couch. “Don’t take long or I’ll rough you up myself.”
Pan went inside her apartment alone and immediately pulled Biograft aside. Her eyes were serious, and her softness was completely gone, replaced with a hard, quiet tone.
”Biograft.” The robot picks up on her feelings, and knows… she’s afraid. Only when she acted more scary was when she was scared or something, badly. “I’ve got myself into some deep shit- you gotta run. ”
”WHA-“ They’re cut off by Pan pressing her finger to their face place in a ‘shhh’ motion. “I’m- I’m not going to be here anymore. And being associated with me from now is dangerous - you need to get out of this building as stealthily as you can, run to Thieves’ Den , and never look back. Hide.”
Biograft looks so utterly confused, like a lost dog- it breaks her heart. Pan gently hugs her friend, and begins packing up some clothes and her fake gear. “I’m… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I was really doing.” Pan’s voice is quiet as she picks up the shoulder bag with her laptop, pan, a first-aid kit, and spare clothes.
The both of them just stand there in silence, as Pan gulps, focusing on her task and doing her best not to let loose a single crack in her facade. Because if she does…
It’s nothing. It’s nothing it’s nothing I can fake it ‘till I make it - it’s nothing-
The former human inhales shakily. For some reason, she felt like… telling the truth. At least one time, to Biograft. In a way that would be vague, but…
“Biograft. If- if you want to think about me, once I’m gone-“ She grits her teeth as she closes her mouth. “Remember the name Ollie. Okay?” There’s the sound of a small click as her robotic friend notes it down.
”Thank you.”
The Biograft stays quiet, as per her previous order. It doesn’t mean their fans went silent- they hummed, if not more quietly than normal.
Pan bites her lip, and looks back at them, glancing to her open window. “ Hide under the bed. And when you hear footsteps leaving this floor- run.”
Pan stealthily slips out of her bedroom, and proceeds to walk over with noise towards the apartment door, misdirecting Scythe. “I’m finished, ma’am. I’m ready to go.”
[Scythe]
Sneaking out of Crossroads was easier than sneaking in- even with a hostage following her and Medkit trailing behind as well. He was going to take the bus to Lost Temple- and she was going to take Sugar.
Sure, Medkit was technically more wanted than her- but the folks liked him enough because he helped around and healed people. A serial killer like her, who tussled with Ban Hammer daily and collected horns like a trophy hunter? They’d snitch as soon as they saw a whiff of her.
Scythe finally reaches the other end of the Lost Temple highway, slipping through the dark tunnel with Frying Pan panting behind her.
”Stop pantin’ like a hound, darling. You’re gonna get us caught.” Her hostage actually complies, slowing down her breathing and taking softer, longer breaths.
It’s like she WANTS to be captured- hah. Scythe whistles for her horse, waiting for the familiar gallop. Sure- the informants say she’s factionless- so does she want the safety of the Church? Cash? Power?
Sugar gallops across the sand with a whinny, the mare nuzzling Scythe’s hand. “Aww, look at you- missed me, Sugar?”
Frying Pan watched the horse with wide, fascinated eyes, as if the small demon was fresh outta the Spawn. “Can… Can I pet her?” Scythe snorts. “Darling, you’re gonna be riding on her. I’m gettin’ you to an outpost.”
Amusingly, she shrinks back at the idea. “Really? But… I’m kinda heavy. I don’t wanna make the horse tired.” The cowgirl demon was actually amused (and a bit approving) of her hostage’s concern for her horse partner.
”It ain’t that bad for Sugar- she’s hefted a few fatasses across the desert before.” Scythe remembers when a few rich merchants in Lost Temple’s cities refused to pay the Church their tax. Poor Sugar was working overtime, hauling the large demons across the desert just so that they could be ransomed off.
Frying Pan sighs, and nods. “If you say so.” She tried to get on Scythe’s horse, hopping up and grunting. She slips down. The serial killer looks at Pan as she struggles with her short height.
”… Ma’am. Can you please help?” Scythe chuckles and pushes Frying Pan up, tying her up with a rope and hopping on Sugar’s saddle as well. Even as Scythe is tying Pan up, she still says thank you.
What a funny little thing. Scythe commands her horse to run with a cocky ‘giddyap!’ and the two were off, racing across the bare soil.
Contrary to what non-Lost Temple demons thought, the region wasn’t all sand dunes and desert. The main capital and Church of the True Eye were centralized in the desert, yes- but there were savannas next to their small borders with Theives’ Den, and tundras a mile across their borders with Blackrock.
The route Scythe was passing went from the savanna to the border of the desert, where one of the Church’s many safe houses (and congregation areas) was.
”Enjoying the scenery, darlin’?” Her hostage was snug between her arms, trapped from attempting to jump off or run (even with being tied). Sugar galloped across the landscape, having stopped at several small settlements for water.
Pan blinked some dirt out of her eye and sighed melancholically. “Mhm. I’ve seen some places like it before.” Scythe laughed.
”Seen it before? Unless you’ve snuck into Lost Temple borders, Crossroads gal, then I doubt it.” She glanced at the small demon. “A small thing like you doesn’t have a rep sheet like that, I suppose.”
Pan gives a small giggle in response. “Geez, I was talking about before Lost Temple, silly. Before the factions, before demonkind…”
Scythe listens in rapt attention as they cross the savanna. Pan continues. “You already heard that I’ve got ancient knowledge, if the Lost Temple guys have seen my posts. And they already know that I’m human.”
”Whatever that is, pah .” Scythe spits on the ground. “Awfully funny name for a species old as dirt.”
“Hey, I didn’t name us.” Frying Pan shuffles a bit in the rope, getting into a more comfy position. “I was just livin’. A normal civilian.”
Scythe laughs. “I’ve seen the videos- odd-lookin’ critters, they are. And you’re obviously a demon now. How’d that happen?”
Frying Pan shrugs. “Same here. All I know is that I’m walkin’ home from a long day of college, then bam . I wake up in Crossroads.”
Scythe seems bored at that answer. “Ah, ptooey . So boring.” She gestures with one clawed hand as the other holds her horse’s bridle. “A boring life before and after, eh? I’d hate that for myself.”
”That why you kill, then?” Pan doesn’t seem scared, just curious. The outlaw hisses at that.
”If you’re gonna prattle on about what’s right and stuff, save it for the dumbasses. I like killin’ folks, and that’s that.” Scythe smirks. “Nothin’ more, nothin’ less.”
Pan blinks and shrugs. “Hey, morally reprehensible, but who am I to argue.”
[Pan]
The whole trip to the place was finished at a half-sandy half-dirt place, with a bustling trade town made of brick and cement. “No wooden walls on the buildings?”
Scythe snorts. “What are we, plebeians? And wood is too much of a pain to import from Playground for mere walls .”
”Fair enough.” The former human was absolutely floored about how much It kind of looked like pictures of those tan-and-brown mansions she only saw in pictures- mixed with shopping districts and outdoor markets.
”Fifteen bux for some water… figures.” She passes by, looking at the bottles on a stand while Scythe tugs the rope tying her up. “Is it that scarce?”
”Nah, we got a lot of well-water and stuff connecting Blackrock’s water to us.” Scythe grins like a snake. “But the folks up top have full control of the water.”
”Ah.” Pan gives a strained grin. “Capitalism. Nice.”
There were also a lot of tunnel entries that looked like fancy subway tunnels, connected with the concrete sidewalks. Frying Pan tilts her head. “What’s that for?”
“What’s that for? Why- you’ve only see the surface , darlin’! The best part of Lost Temple’s underground!” Scythe pats her on the back and leads her down the long flight stairs, and Pan gulps, taking slow, deliberate steps as to not trip.
Pan blinks, adjusting to the more bearable lighting of the underground. But when she did, she gaped at the sight. A massive underground city stood in front of her.
There were stores and businesses at every corner- the smaller, independent ones were pushed to the fringe while more successful merchants ran massive stalls in the middle, showing off luxury products. Those underground street vendors were nestled between actual brick buildings, which housed even more stores.
The apartments above the stores reminded Pan of the ones back in California- large, with a balcony, and probably with an overinflated rent. Some scraggly, dirty-looking demons darted discreetly between the alleyways- homeless. She knew the unfortunate problem too well.
”It’s the Church’s job to help the less fortunate, you know. Provide charity, and gain devoted followers from the bottom.” Scythe comments. “A shame they almost always end up as thugs and lackeys.”
“This is- this is a small city in Lost Temple?!” Pan exclaims, clearly amazed. “I mean- I lived in a bigger city, but this is underground. ” She gushes.
Scythe tugs the rope binding the former human. “You should see the capital, then. Come along, darlin’- we’ve got family wanting to meet you.”
Frying Pan was tugged to a fancy stone church, the walls made of heavy brick and lined with gold and teal. As she walked into the massive wooden doors, she nervously eyed the silken banners and the propaganda posters flanking the center aisle.
A few demons perked up and nodded as they saw Scythe. Pan was quiet as she approached a few tall demons in clerical robes.
”Deacon Blizzard Wand. Deacon Radar. Priest Spellbook.” Pan poked her head to see the three demons, noting how the priest was carrying his gear. Dark Spellbook of the Forgotten? Huh.
The three demons spoke to Scythe, clearly pleased at her new acquisition of Frying Pan. Radar kept on staring at Pan with some disdain, clearly not believing that she was important somehow.
“ This pathetic little thing? Are you sure you have not been mistaken and-“ Pan, sensing that if she was doubted a single second she would die, decided to step in and prove him wrong.
”Your full name is Bloxxy Radar. Your gear allows you to detect demons 300 studs around you, and because of this you were assigned here to check if Scythe was followed.”
The deacon pales a bit, and Pan continues to bullshit her way out to prove her importance. “You’re acquainted with Blizzard Wand because the both of you had family in Blackrock.”
Well, THAT was a wild guess. After all, a demon with a BLIZZARD wand for a gear would most likely be from Blackrock, and he’s been standing closer to the other deacon rather than the priest he’s serving…
Pan silently thanked whatever higher power there was, because her tomfoolery ended up being correct . Radar stumbled back, and Scythe gave an impressed look to Pan.
”Just a civilian, eh?” Pan shrugs. “Any civilian can be this good when they study, ma’am.”
[Scythe]
She’s gotta admit- the small-timer’s got sass . Frying Pan was to be contained in this specific city- she couldn’t venture out, and sure as hell couldn’t leave the Church of the True Eye’s territory.
But the slippery snake managed to strike a very good deal with the government. A hefty weekly allowance, freedom to roam the city- all in return for her exclusive knowledge.
They’d just considered taking the laptop from her hands- until they realized the screen was visible only to Frying Pan, who held onto the relic. The laptop also had a habit of disappearing and reappearing back in her quarters, even with constant surveillance.
Scythe questioned her, after she left a meeting with some very annoyed investors. “How’d ya do it, anyway?”
“How’d I do what?” The one-eyed demon inspected her blade. “Ya know. Snatch it back every time.”
Pan gave a scoff, and leaned back on the stone pillar. “That laptop’s my damn birthright. It responds to me, and only me.”
”So it’s your real gear, then.” Scythe cackles. “Chose another name because ‘Laptop’ sounds too on-the-nose, darlin’?”
Pan gives a shrug. “And because I wanted to bring less attention to it. A frying pan is more boring than a laptop, ma’am.”
”Clever girl.”
The little tyke was clever , despite the fact she was a lazy bastard that mooched off the Church. She didn’t even do the proper rites to join them- she just said she was gonna be an ‘associate’! Not family!
The excuse? “I’ve got to be subtle ! Not show any allegiances!” She’d said to the priests. “Walking around with one eye shows the other factions that I’ve taken a side, and you wouldn’t want them killing your best asset, will you?”
It was a wonder Frying Pan was as valuable as she was. But at least she was… good buddies with Broker- to Scythe’s slight amusement.
Scythe remembered the moment Broker met the short demon. Pan was chowing down on some sandwiches she’d bought from a vendor, and then-
“Why hello there, young lady!” Pan perks up, and finishes her sandwich so fast meatballs fly out of the plate and she snaps them up. “Oh damn! It’s you!” She laughed. “I saw your mug aaaall over Crossroads’ wanted posters!”
Broker snickers, and makes a ‘so-so’ gesture with his hand. “Oh, you know me- they can’t get enough of my handsome face.”
Pan snorts, and leans back on her folding chair. “Ooh- lemme guess what you’re up to- trying to make a new currency, Broker?” She smirks. “Calling it Brokercoin… too on the nose. Won’t Banhammer catch on?”
”Of course he will.” The scammer gives a sly smile at that. “It’s meant to drive him crazy.”
Pan cackles at that, lowering her horns. “ Fuck the police . But yes- that’s cool.” She yawns. “I ain’t an economics girlie, Broker. But good luck anyways.”
Broker huffs, and makes a teasing remark. “You know, you’re so damn normal for a weirdo! I’d expect an ancient being to be much more intimidating , ya know!”
Scythe… can’t really describe what’s next. Because the closest thing she’s ever seen was possession, and even that was less fluid that the personality change Frying Pan underwent.
”Oh? Is that so?” Pan looks at them with a calm smile, yawning. “Fake people. Fake Places. Fake gods.”
Scythe hisses a bit- was that supposed to be an insult to father?! But she turns to Broker, and he’s… frozen. With his usual smile, yes, but it’s clear he’s in shock. “How…?”
”How did I know what you said, years ago?” Pan shrugs. “I even remember the time you said it. Day four, on the ‘Possessed vs. Bitten’ festival. In that alleyway in Crossroads.”
Broker starts to visibly sweat . “You weren’t there. You only appeared this year, so-“
”So what ?” Pan gives a smile- and her fangs look uncannily dull . “It doesn’t really matter, when you said it. I remember.”
Scythe leans back when Pan finally pulls back, her expression bored but still with that wrong wrong wrong vibe to her. “Honestly, Broker- you were so close. So very, very close to something.”
“What’s that supposed to mean.” Broker asks, his voice fake-cheery and clipped. Pan gives that same insufferable shrug again. “You figure it out yourself, dumbass. You’ve outsmarted Ban Hammer and lived this long.”
The rest of the time with Pan in that room consisted of the small demon pulling out a bottle of soda and sipping it. Scythe sighed. Threatening us, then going back to being a slob… what ARE you?
[Pan]
Holy FUCK is this stressful. The problem wasn’t hiding that she was human- it was making herself seem more important than she actually was.
Ollie Frying Pan Ollie had major impostor syndrome when she was alive. After making up two different identities, committing identity fraud, and managing to scam a literal cult into a fair arrangement, it was mostly gone.
I cannot mess up. Not even for a SECOND for the rest of my time here.
Because messing up meant death- or worse, torture and brainwashing. Ollie knew to steer clear of cults after watching countless Youtube documentaries about them- and here she was.
Gotta act important. Gotta act comfortable and fearless. She shudders, but her eyes discreetly flick to the doors of her assigned room. You can do this. You’ve done this before, you can do it again.
Pan did what she did best: compartmentalization. Number one: nobody in Lost Temple knew about her crimes in Blackrock yet. So that meant Blackrock probably didn’t, either. So the whole plan depended on Subspace not getting over his trauma and saying nothing.
Hyperlaser’s gonna be AFTER my ass though… The former human thinks hard. Not a problem. They already hide Medkit from Subspace- so Hyperlaser won’t be coming here, either.
The next order of business was how to get out of the Church’s territory and Lost Temple. And that was the most difficult part.
I’ll have to… Pan looks down at her hand. The biggest, most stupid plan she had depended on her basically broadcasting that she was a former human to everyone. That she owned the ‘Isekai Archive’ accounts.
What was the line of reasoning behind that, you might ask? Well, it was simple: get anyone interested in her to fight each other. Lost Temple knew about her- and from the way she made Hyperlaser feel, Blackrock would be very interested in getting hold of the only person with knowledge of ‘old-world’ weapons. And if she got the attention of any deities… they would be a very big roadblock to any factions.
And if I announce my crimes… She narrows her eyes. Ban Hammer will come get me. And Ban Hammer was on Scythe’s case…
The whole idea was crazier than a crack-addled monkey given a typewriter and set loose in a printing press. But it made sense to the terrified, desperate girl holding it all in.
Because deep down… Pan was still that young woman. One that made promises to her parents, who was only in her first year of college, who died in a hospital bed with her loved ones surrounding her.
She was human. And hiding that fact, making herself appear as a completely different species with a completely different culture… hyping herself up to be this terrifying genius and ancient being… it was-
Breaking her apart.
[Scythe] - Aftermath
As embarrassing as it was, Scythe wasn’t just murder and bloodshed. When she was a young demon, she eagerly looked into stories of adventures, of outlaws and cowboys and the great Wild West era of Lost Temple.
So it came natural that she also loved learning about new places. Scythe had already traveled to all the other regions for missions (albeit illegally).
Frying Pan’s comment… intrigued her. It began as a thought: what was the world like back then?
The one-eyed demon approached the slacker, who was currently uploading some information into a console and working on translating it into the Lost Temple dialects.
”Hey.” Scythe tipped her hat, and Pan tilted her head in curiosity. “What is it, ma’am?”
”About what you said earlier. When you were on Sugar, ridin’ to the city.” She chewed on her toothpick. “What was Inphinity like in the past?”
Pan stopped typing, and went quiet. “… Back then, we just called the planet ‘Earth’.” She got an oddly… old look. “Before the Great Burning- whatever it was.”
”You don’t know what caused the Great Burning?” Scythe asked. Pan gave an unamused stare. “I’m hundreds of centuries older than that. I died way before it happened- and most likely, my successors did as well.”
Wow, she’s OLD old. Scythe tapped on the metal desk with her claws. “And so what was it like? When you lived?”
”Boring, but somehow still chaotic.” Pan answered. “I was a civilian through and through- so I didn’t see shit. I did live to see the rise of the digital age, though.”
The cowgirl demon hissed. “Then tell me something interesting , then. For an old relic, you sure are boring.”
Pan rolled her eyes. “Well- the continents were completely different from today.” Scythe perked up in shock. “Instead of one large landmass with the four regions… we had seven major continents. And all of them often had different climates and biomes in one continent, too.”
Scythe leaned over on the desk, folding her arms and listening to Pan ramble on about her home, a long forgotten civilization of an era that preceded demonkind.
”I lived in North America- in a specific country called the United States.” She squinted at her laptop, trying to find an analogy. “… Think of them as a blend of Playground’s culture, Lost Temple’s wealth and Blackrock’s military power.”
Such a thing was inconceivable to Scythe- but she tried to picture it anyway. “And they were the top? Uncontested?”
Pan shrugs. “Not exactly- depends who you asked. But it was certainly one of the top countries- the others had their own culture and strengths.”
That technical talk bored Scythe- even if it was technically important to Lost Temple. Her thirst for adventure had to be sated first. “Tell me about the monuments. About the landscape.”
Pan gave a chuckle at that. “Oh, you’d be pressed to remember all those- America had everything. Snowy mountains, warm beaches, dense jungles, even plains and deserts.”
Scythe listened to Pan ramble on about the Sequoia Trees in Redwood National Park, the rolling cliffs of the Grand Canyon, the mountains of Rocky National Park. She ate it up, letting her imagination run wild.
For a moment… Scythe didn’t seem bloodthirsty. Her hunger was sated, and she put aside the violence she used to fill the disappointment of having seen everything.
“And you might find this interesting…” Pan gives a small laugh. “But the humans had cowboys too.”
Scythe practically snapped up and grabbed the small demon by her shoulder, trying to hide her eagerness.”Well, why didn’t ya start with that, darlin’?!”
Pan gave a disappointed grin. “Because I’m not very knowledgeable in that- I’m a ‘city slicker’ as you would say.” The former human shrugs. “But I can check it up in my archive. Download some American history videos on cowboys and the Wild West era.”
And that was how Pan managed to mooch some cash off of Scythe, costing the serial killer seventy bux off her own wallet. But Scythe got three USBs filled with stuff the Church would deem ‘unnecessary’, and she gleefully trotted off to watch it in her own quarters.
Pan sighed, and snickered once Scythe was out of earshot. “Man, I am such a good scammer.”
