Chapter 1: The First Night
Summary:
Prompt 1 - Lonely
Peppermint copes with her first night trying to find herself. Unfortunately, Kale isn't helping.
Chapter Text
There was one thing that Peppermint wishes she was told before leaving Vandelay Solutions- The silence.
The first night she left, she stayed at a hotel at the edge of the city, ready to get out and away. It was cheap, dingy, and half-abandoned, but the main thing was that it was away from everything. From the pressure from Mom, from Kale's meddling, and everything. It was her first step into finding herself, but it was a shock. She was so used to hearing the tinkering of her mother in the garage, working on new robot models or devices. In the next room over, Kale would be testing around with his guitar, practicing random jingles and rock covers on the bass. If either of the two were asleep, it was simply the hum of the generator or the whistling of the wind. In their home, there was always noise, always some constant chatter or muttering that served as a comforting white noise. Here, there was none of it. Not even a cricket.
Which is why she was struggling to fall asleep.
"Cmon..." Peppermint mumbled, burying her face into the coarse pillow, tugging the thin blanket over her head. She wasn't even cold, she just couldn't sleep. It was just too quiet. Usually, she would be complaining at Kale about his music tastes and volume, or muttering at her mom for working so late into the night. The point is, there was always noise, always something around. And now, that was all gone. All that was left was the sickening quiet in a shoddy hotel on the city outskirts. "... Am I seriously debating on going back over noise?!"
It was then her phone buzzed, a noise that she hated made her a bit woozier. She could only grumble, however, when she saw the text app icon, and Kale's moronic username popping up as the header. He'd been worried about her ever since she left, and at this point, she was ready to block him. There was a fine line between worry and suffocation, and Kale was starting to cross the line.
Private Chat Between Kale (RockDawg101) and You.
7:34 PM
RockDawg101: Hey Minty
RockDawg101: Mom is losing her shit, to put it mildly
Peppermint couldn't help but roll her eyes at the nickname. He always called her that, no matter how old she was. Hell, Mom had a video of Kale holding a newborn Peppermint once they returned from the hospital, with the teen dubbing his new baby sister "Minty". It was cute as a kid, but now it was getting old. Most of what her family did was getting old. It's why she left.
Private Chat Between Kale (RockDawg101) and You.
7:35 PM
MintyCat808: Sounds about right
MintyCat808: I'm still not coming back
MintyCat808: She can cry a river for all I care
RockDawg101: Minty
RockDawg101: Please
RockDawg101: I get your upset, but this is a bit ridiculous
RockDawg101: Seriously I've never seen Mom this worried
She scowled, her fingers acting faster than her brain, shooting off a text before she truly thought it through. She was just done with it. Done with dealing with their Mom, done with being under her constant gaze. However, she couldn't help but gulp as soon as the text registered, with Kale instantly shooting off a reply.
Private Chat Between Kale (RockDawg101) and You.
7:37 PM
MintyCat808: Easy for you to say
MintyCat808: You're the favorite so of course you take her side
RockDawg101: I
RockDawg101: WHAT???
RockDawg101: WTF Peppermint-?!
RockDawg101: Favorite???
MintyCat808: You're the one she actually trusts
MintyCat808: You're the independent and mature one
MintyCat808: You're, to quote her
MintyCat808: Your own fucking person
RockDawg101: Is
RockDawg101: Is that what this is all about?!
RockDawg101: Because I question Mom's judgment and you don't?!
MintyCat808: It is SO much more than that
MintyCat808: I wanted to make her happy and what do I get?
MintyCat808: "WhY aReNt YoU mOrE lIkE KaLe"???
MintyCat808: Be more yourself my ass
MintyCat808: This is me being myself
RockDawg101: So you just up and leave with NO warning?!
RockDawg101: omfg
RockDawg101: Mom wants to put out a missing persons warning
RockDawg101: Can you at least shoot her a text or something so she knows your alive?
MintyCat808: Tell her to buzz off
MintyCat808: If mom wants me to "be my own self" I'm doing it away from everyone
RockDawg101: Well that's fucking selfish
MintyCat808: Says the golden child
MintyCat808: Im sorry for wanting to be my own person?
RockDawg101: NO
RockDawg101: IM NOT
RockDawg101: UGH
RockDawg101: NOT THAT YOU DENSE IDIOT
MintyCat808: Well screw you too
RockDawg101: omfg you petulant TODDLER
MintyCat808: FUCK YOU
RockDawg101: THE WHOLE DROPPING OFF THE GRID
RockDawg101: THATS A DICK MOVE
MintyCat808: WELL IM NOT SORRY
MintyCat808: Being with mom caused the whole damn mess
MintyCat808: If she wants me to be my own self she ain't hearing about it
RockDawg101: So you're literally disowning Mom over one argument
RockDawg101: Wooow
MintyCat808: Screw you
MintyCat808: Golden Child
MintyCat808: You wouldn't get it
RockDawg101: Im the golden child-?!
RockDawg101: You spoiled brat
RockDawg101: DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING
MintyCat808: LEAVING YOU JACKASS
RockDawg101: PEPPERMINT YOU MORON THIS ISNT FUNNY ANYMORE
RockDawg101: Where are you
MintyCat808: No
RockDawg101: I'm coming to get you
MintyCat808: NO
RockDawg101: Your point has been made
MintyCat808: FUCK OFF
RockDawg101: PEPPERMINT QUIT BEING A CHILD AND COME HOME
MintyCat808: FUCK YOU KALE
RockDawg101: Yknow what
RockDawg101: Fine
RockDawg101: Fuck you
RockDawg101: Don't get yourself killed
RockDawg101: You spoiled little shit
MintyCat808: Fuck you
Kale (RockDawg101) has blocked you.
Peppermint felt herself snap, tossing her phone into the wall with a scream, watching as it smashed into the wallpaper with a sickening crunch. She didn't mean it. She didn't mean to get so angry. He just didn't understand. Why didn't he understand?
It wasn't silent anymore. Not with her muffled crying into the raggedy bed as she longed for the silence to end.
Chapter 2: Moving With The Beat
Summary:
Prompt 2- Synchronized
Zanzo asks Mimosa for dancing lessons in order to woo Roquefort for their date night.
Chapter Text
Private Chat Between Roquefort (BigBadWolf) and You.
6:09 PM
BigBadWolf: Hey Zanzo
ゴゴゴゴ: Ae
ゴゴゴゴ: What's good daddy
BigBadWolf: Oh lord
BigBadWolf: When was the last time you slept?
ゴゴゴゴ: Time is a construct
BigBadWolf: Two days then?
ゴゴゴゴ: Shut
ゴゴゴゴ: What is it
BigBadWolf: Are we still on for tonight?
ゴゴゴゴ: Que
ゴゴゴゴ: Fuck my autistic ass
ゴゴゴゴ: What did I forget
BigBadWolf: Which question do you want me to answer first?
ゴゴゴゴ: I
ゴゴゴゴ: ...
ゴゴゴゴ: SHUT UP
BigBadWolf: ;)
ゴゴゴゴ: WHAT AM I FORGETTING ROQ
BigBadWolf: Date night?
BigBadWolf: I promised I'd take you to the fancy Italian place that opened in the Nightwalk District.
BigBadWolf: Flamenco or something.
ゴゴゴゴ: Isn't that a dance
BigBadWolf: Maybe, not sure.
ゴゴゴゴ: Uuuuuh
ゴゴゴゴ: Do I have to wear a suit
ゴゴゴゴ: Please dont make me wear one
BigBadWolf: Of course not!
BigBadWolf: I have a nice dress shirt you can wear. It's satin, the cozy fabric you like.
BigBadWolf: There's also a decent pair of cargo pants which fit their dress code.
BigBadWolf: Shoes don't matter so you can wear whatever you'd like for that.
ゴゴゴゴ: Marry me
BigBadWolf: Working on it.
ゴゴゴゴ: You king amongst men ily so much
ゴゴゴゴ: What even is this place
BigBadWolf: Italian food, dancing, the works.
ゴゴゴゴ: D
ゴゴゴゴ: Dancing
BigBadWolf: If you're up for it, that is.
BigBadWolf: If you're too tired or unwell, I can rebook it.
ゴゴゴゴ: NO NO NO NO
ゴゴゴゴ: Im down
ゴゴゴゴ: You had me at free food whens the date
BigBadWolf: 9 pm?
ゴゴゴゴ: Perfect
ゴゴゴゴ: Ily
BigBadWolf: I love you too.
***
"Good lord, this is why I hate promotional material." Mimosa scoffed, slouching into a chair of the dance studio, her entourage of PA-D0 robots fussing around her. Kale wanted her to make a PG ad, aimed for the younger demographic, and the idea her excited mind formed was a music video. If anyone loved anything, it was music. However, now, 7 hours later, her spine, legs, and feet disagreed. Her whole body ached, especially around her cybernetics. Those always ached after a decent workout. But it'd be worth it. The amount of glamour that she was pumping into this shoot would be worth it. "Did we get it all?"
"Yes, Miss Mimosa-! All of the footage was documented, along with 4 extra takes in case of errors." The newest PA-D0, nicknamed Amaretto, chimed in, writing away on a tablet. They were loyal, determined. A perfect little working drone, especially when given a few treats.
"Good. And the editing?" The blonde smiled, leaning back in her chair as Gimlet, her oldest of the PA-D0 squadron, handed her a water bottle. They were the longest lasting PA-D0 robot, even by their standards. Hell, she was even getting attached to them.
"The production and post-editing teams should have a usable film by the end of the week." Paloma, the third and most "feminine" of the PA-D0 squad, explained, removing Mimosa's stifling heels and giving her a nice pair of slippers to wear. As soon as the cushiony material was on her feet, Mimosa almost cried. She had to make a mental note to never do music videos in heels. "I'll keep you updated on their production, Miss."
"Thank you, Paloma..." Mimosa praised, practically sinking into her chair. She was going to take the rest of the day off to rest. Maybe get a nice bath run at home, watching The Lotus Of The Fae series, and enjoy some very nice alcohol. Red wine was sounding especially appealing-
"MIMOSA-!" A certain green-haired scientist kicked the door in, sending the 4th PA-D0 robot, Sazerac, into defense mode, a charged blaster aimed right at his head. Mimosa just remained frozen, eyes wide and mouth half open as she saw the normally chaotic and upbeat R&D head frazzled and desperate. "I... I need your help."
"Well this is juicy~!" Mimosa chuckled, waving her PA-D0 entourage away, taking a chug of her water as the robots sculked off. Zanzo, asking for a favor. The only time that would ever happen was if hell froze over. And it seems it had, judging from his desperation. "What happened?"
"You know how to dance, right?" He muttered, scratching his neck sheepishly, while Mimosa's feet throbbed at the mere idea of dancing again. But Zanzo and dancing was a concept like oil and water. He hated anything fancy like that. It's why he dipped during the Gala, to avoid mingling and all of that mushy stuff. What brought this on?
"... Yes? Why are you asking?" The Marketing Head muttered, sitting up in her seat as Zanzo stumbled in, pacing around as he fidgeted with the cybernetic wires infused into his head.
"Roquefort's taking me out tonight. That Flamenco place? And he brought up dancing, and I kinda-" Zanzo groaned, walking around with his head in his hands, muttering curses and regrets as he tried to recount his tale of woe. "I can't dance-! I couldn't before my cybernetics-! A-And after, I just never bothered!"
"... Oh my sweet gay child-" Mimosa snorted, breaking into a fit of laughter as Zanzo turned bright red, sputtering excuses and swears as he stormed up to her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her around with a squeak. "Okay-! Okay-! I can give you a dancing crash course-! Pfthaha-!"
"Thank you-! I'll do whatever bribe you want, THANK YOU-" Zanzo huffed, continuing to babble as Mimosa stood up, her spine and feet aching in protest. She'd have Zanzo pay for some good wine and food later. Plus, the tea she and Alfie would be enjoying later with this? Worth it.
"Easy there, rat man-!" Mimosa snorted, watching as the scientist whipped around, only to trip on his cybernetic heels and crash onto the floor, dragging a cackle out of her mouth. "PFT-! Hahahah-! And THAT is one of the reasons you don't dance in heels-!"
"Shut up-" The green-haired male huffed, pinching his nose as he stood, snapping the heels off his cybernetic feet and tossing them across the room. "Benefits of custom-made cybernetics. You can just clip on whatever shit you need, and tear it off when you don't."
"Oh, the power of staff benefits." The blonde smirked, grabbing her phone to scroll through the playlist. Cheesy teen pop was not going to fly at Flamenco. He needed suave, slow and elegant. Roquefort liked jazz, so maybe something with a Saxaphone would probably impress the boyfriend. But then again, slow dancing didn't use any songs with lyrics. Eventually she just opted to google "slow jazz soundtrack" into YouTube and smacked that into the Bluetooth system. "Alright, you probably just need to know a quick waltz, or a slow dance, and you'll be fine. Let him take the reigns and all that."
"If it were that easy, I wouldn't be here." Zanzo scoffed, rolling his eyes as the sounds of jazz echoed into the dance studio, scratching at his neck. "I want to make sure I don't embarrass myself and face-plant or take him down with me-!"
"Oh honey, I had the same worries when I learned." Mimosa chuckled, gently grabbing Zanzo's hands. "I was a stumbling mess. Not to mention it was my first time in heels, so that was a double whammy."
"Shit, people do these in HEELS-?!" Her coworker gawked as the Marketing Head placed his hands on her shoulders, helping support him. "Forget Roquefort, I think women terrify me the most now."
"Sounds about right. We're going To run the world one day-" Mimosa rolled her eyes, snorting into another fit of laugh as she dipped Zanzo and watched the R&D head squeal from shock, clutching onto her shoulders. "PFTHAHA-! I'm not going to drop you-!"
"I'm too gay for this-!" Zanzo snapped, stumbling back upright as Mimosa cackled, helping the scientist support himself. "How does this even work-?!"
"Well, you usually have to be in sync. Trust your partner to support you." The blonde explained, stifling a lap as she and Zanzo began a very awkward and slow dance, waltzing around the dance studio with as much grace as a porcelain doll and humanized silly putty. "Work together and be united-! Despite how cheesy it is..."
"Eh, isn't the weirdest thing." The scientist chuckled, slowly managing to get the groove, his cybernetic feet no longer tripping over each other. "I had an old robot I made back when I first joined Vandelay, and he ran on vinegar and a potato."
"I have several questions as to how that happened." Mimosa smiled, snickering as Zanzo dramatically spun the two around. "See? You're getting the hang of this!"
"It's called speed runner instincts." The green-haired male snorted, spinning Mimosa around with a flourish. "And also the crippling anxiety to not embarrass myself in front of my boyfriend."
"Oh, woe is you." Mimosa laughed, before getting dropped by Zanzo onto the floor with a thud. "Oh, you little shit-!"
***
Private Chat Between Mimosa (DeathByGlamour) and You.
11:43 AM
DeathByGlamour: OI GAY BOY
DeathByGlamour: THE DATE
DeathByGlamour: I spent 3 hours giving you a crash course on waltzing and you don't tell me how it goes???
ゴゴゴゴ: I'm snoozin that's why
ゴゴゴゴ: Was enjoying the best cuddles of my life before Roq went to make us breakfast
DeathByGlamour: Holy shit chivalry isn't dead
ゴゴゴゴ: Can I just send screenshots or something
DeathByGlamour: Well obviously I wanna see how this started
DeathByGlamour: But a brief recap and I'll be feed for now
ゴゴゴゴ: [dancepanic.jpeg]
ゴゴゴゴ: Date went great, food was actually good for the fancy place shit
ゴゴゴゴ: FUNNY THING
ゴゴゴゴ: Roq also cannot dance well
DeathByGlamour: PFTAHHAHAHA
ゴゴゴゴ: Yeah so we just goofed off lmao
ゴゴゴゴ: Very gay very happy
DeathByGlamour: Lmao and ur panicking so bad earlier
DeathByGlamour: Wait a sec
DeathByGlamour: HOLY FUCK ZANZO YOU DENSE SHIT
ゴゴゴゴ: OH CMON WHAT NOW
DeathByGlamour: "Marry Me"
ゴゴゴゴ: Yeah I said that as a joke
DeathByGlamour: BITCH THE FUCKER SAID WORKING ON IT
ゴゴゴゴ: Yeah
DeathByGlamour: HES PLANNING TO PROPOSE YOU MORON
ゴゴゴゴ: w
ゴゴゴゴ: FUCKING WHAT
Chapter 3: Out With The Old, In With The New
Summary:
Prompt 3 - Replacement
Rekka recalls the day she got her arms replaced with cybernetics, along with her life before.
Chapter Text
The hiss of steam and the whir of gas was a constant companion to Rekka, especially on busier days. The whir of machinery pumping in her arms, the faint warmth of mist that emanated from her joints as she worked, it was all a symbol of production, of strength! But it wasn't always like that, though. Whiffs of steam were once stings of pain, with cold metal instead being mutilated burns and cuts. Back before she joined Vandelay. Before she met Kale.
It all started because she trusted her ex. An idiot of a man, named Bishop. He was sweet, but an idiot. A low jockey in the cogs of human society. But he asked Rekka out, and she'd figured "why not"? Everyone was supposed to date and fall in love and all of that gross and icky shit. It didn't matter is Bishop didn't want to advance, or really improve. He was interested, so? It was that mentality which is what made Rekka stay. Even as she questioned if she even loved the man. Hell, near the end, she questioned if she even liked him. Bishop was a drunk, a slacker. A true and utter loser. And Rekka put up with it under the guise of "love"?
"Bishop, you've had enough." Rekka grumbled that night, yanking Bishop out of the bar and back to their car. He was supposed to drive her to a boxing match that night, one of her bigger ones. Scouts and producers were there, looking for raw talent. A fresh and violent new face, like Rekka. Hell, it didn't matter if she had to walk there, she still won, knocking out the ringleader Slyvester within 4 rounds. What mattered was that Bishop, once again, ignored the one damn request she had. "Get in the fucking car, you-"
"Shut up-!" Bishop slurred, pushing Rekka away as he climbed into the driver's seat, an action that instantly had Rekka recoiling into her gut. "Get... Get in. Bitch at me later..."
"Bishop, you're too damn drunk for this-!" Rekka snapped again, trying to open the door, only for the man to snap the locks shut, woozily smirking from his spot. "BISHOP-! Get the fuck out, this isn't funny-!"
"Hey... You get in... Or walk home." He quipped back, causing Rekka to growl. The Lion's Mane pub was nowhere near the good parts of town, let alone where they lived. Walking alone at night was asking to get mugged. Even if she was a goliath of a woman and a hell of a fighter, there were others in the shadows with guns and cybernetics that violated any sort of law made. "Your... Your choice."
She just spat on the window, storming into the passenger's seat, sealing her fate.
The crash was bad. He overcorrected and veered right off the street, jumping over the sidewalk and tore the car into a open-spaced restaurant. She still remembered the crunch as metal and fire pierced through the front of the car, her hands grasped by tendrils of pure pain. It was adrenaline that made her able to kick the car door clean off, rolling out with a wheeze as her hands melted with fire and gore. She couldn't feel her fingers; she couldn't move her hands. Her career, her whole life, was melting off her arms and into the soot-stained grass beneath her. She could hear Bishop flailing behind her, glancing over to see him getting dragged out of the car, unharmed. The bastard was fine, albeit even more woozy from the whiplash. She barely even registered her melted fist smashing into his face, months of built-up anger exploding alongside the wreckage as nearby passerby's tried to drag her off and treat her own wounds.
It was two years later when a skinny orange-haired doctor approached her. Two years later when an overworked blonde twink and a cybernetic junkie for an R&D head hired her. Two years later when the pain vaporized into the comforting warmth of steam and pistons.
"So, what happened this time?" Zanzo snorted, screwdrivers and tools fixing Rekka's wrist, replacing the ball joint with a perfected sphere, with plans to tie the cybernetics back into place. "A reckless robot drone? An annoying reporter?"
"Nah. It was just wear and tear." Rekka sighed, watching as the R&D head worked. "Production has never been better! We're under-budget, ahead of schedule, and producing three times more than projected! Unfortunately, it seems by body can't keep up!"
"Yeah, these things are kinda old. One of my first big projects when I joined Vandelay." The scientist remarked, placing the parts from Rekka's arm that he removed onto the table beside him. "I could always remodel them. Switch out the pistons for some of that newer stuff, like I did for Mimosa and Kale."
"... Nah." Rekka chuckled, watching as puffs of steam leaked out of her arm, fading into the air. "Rekka doesn't need any fancy replacements. I've got these bad boys, and I ain't getting rid of 'em any time soon!"
"Spoken like a true hero." Zanzo rolled his eyes, popping the ball joint out of Rekka's wrist, flinching as her disconnected hand clattered onto the floor. "Oops-"
"Watch it, you grandstander-!" Rekka snapped, grabbing her fallen hand and waving it in front of Zanzo. "Folks don't make Rekka's mods anymore! You break it, you remake it-!"
"Yes, Madam Skull Drawer." The R&D head nodded, gulping as he began to close up Rekka's cybernetics, dragging a laugh from his coworker.
Sure, they weren't her original arms. Not by a long shot. But Rekka wouldn't replace them for anything.
Chapter 4: Puppy Dog
Summary:
Prompt 4 - Malfunction
Roquefort's neurocable connecting his werewolf form gets removed again. Only this time, the wolf is domesticated.
Chapter Text
Kale flinched as he heard the robotic howl echo from downstairs, Roquefort's anger looming over the break room like a bad smell.
It wasn't uncommon to hear Roquefort losing his temper every once in a while, the sounds of a feral wolf running amok in Finance becoming a somewhat common occurrence. However, after Rekka, Zanzo, and Mimosa's rescue attempt after Project CANINE's first awakening, everyone had created an unspoken rule. When the wolf is out, leave him alone.
"I have ten bucks that says Zanzo blew through his budget again." Mimosa snorted from her spot by the mirror, retouching her makeup with grace. Her favorite PA-D0 bot floundered around her, a tablet in hand while muttering about interviews and upcoming shows like she was some sort of superstar. Which, considering Vandelay's popularity, wasn't that far off. Even without the reputation, Mimosa always acted like a drama queen.
"Well fuck you too, barbie. Mine's a 20 on someone stealing from the company!" The green-haired scientist snapped, curled up on the couch and devouring a cup of (Kale couldn't believe this existed) Hatsune Miku ramen. The damn thing looked like cybernetic wires, the things used for the literal robots they mass produced, and Kale genuinely wondered if the cup was just a farce so Zanzo could actually eat wires. It wouldn't be the dumbest thing he did.
"50 on him wanting to fight someone!" Rekka cackled from her own corner, beating the crap out of a punching bag Kale had installed a few weeks ago. However, from the looks of it, he'd end up having to buy a new one in the next few days. But then again, it was either that or Rekka smashing keyboards due to her aggression. "You haven't seen the guy at the gym! He absolutely has a few people on a hit list!"
"Who doesn't?" The R&D head scoffed, slurping down his noodle-wire things like a toddler. Kale just grumbled under his breath about manners, while Mimosa began to bitch about him staining the upholstery. Which, she wasn't wrong. The furniture in the Vandelay Head Break Room was top tier, at the request of basically everyone. No one wanted crappy furniture, let alone furniture that was stained neon blue from ramen based on a Japanese robotic idol.
"Rekka did! But I've already taken care of it!" The Production Head laughed, punching through the punching bad and smashing into the wall, freezing as the wall visibly cracked and splintered outward. "Oops."
"For fucks sake-" The blonde groaned, pinching his nose as Zanzo broke into a fit of hysterics, almost dropping his ramen onto the floor. "SERIOUSLY-?!"
"Well, nothing a touch-up and a bit of plaster can't fix?" Mimosa snorted, chuckling a bit as Rekka yanked the now-impaled punching bag free from the roof, stumbling onto her ass as gravity and momentum dragged her down. "... Or a full interior rework."
"Welp. I'm leaving before I get crushed to death." The green-haired male shook his head, tossing his ramen cup into the trash. "Anyone else want to come before Kale gets hit with an OSHA lawsuit?"
"Yes, everyone. Everyone out." The CEO ordered, grabbing Zanzo and dragging him up off the couch, much to his chagrin, judging from his audible protesting and flailing. Mimosa just rolled her eyes, packing up her makeup kit, while Rekka worked on untangling herself from the guts of the punching bag. "I'll call a repair team and get this all fixed later today. Let's just get out before the roof collapses."
"I may end up as a beautiful corpse, but I'd rather not be like that for another handful of years." The marketing head smirked, her cybernetic wing unfurling from her dress and ripping the punching bag open, freeing Rekka from the mess of foam and plastic. "You alright, dear?"
"Rekka is OK-!" Rekka growled out, fist raised in the air as she stood. Kale just rolled his eyes, feeling a migraine already starting to form in the back of his skull. Today was a lot. If one more thing happened, he was genuinely going to have a stroke-
"AUGH WHAT THE FUCK-?!" Zanzo screamed, devolving into panicked gibberish as a rush of fur and metal practically tackled him as soon as he stepped out of the doorway.
"Oh hell no." Kale muttered, his stomach dropping as he recalled Roquefort's first transformation.
"GAY BOY RESCUE-!" Mimosa, of all people, was the first to snap into action, sprinting out of the break room (in fucking heels no less) and into action, with Rekka following suit, shoving Kale into the countertop as she rushed past him. "ZANZO-!"
"ASSHOLE-?!" Kale snapped, slamming into the wood and granite with a grumble, before running after the two women. "What the fuck, I thought he was downstairs-?!"
"Same here, Vandelay-!" Rekka snapped, her tone serious as she grabbed Kale and practically tossed him over her shoulder, sprinting down the hallway after Mimosa, who had begun to fly down the hallway, tracing the claw marks and scrapes from a giant metallic wolf kidnapping his coworker for god knows what purpose. "I thought Finance was on lockdown when he got this pissy!"
"Usually, but you try containing a giant wolf-!" The blonde male snapped, not even bothering to complain about the fact he was getting dragged around like a sack of potatoes before Rekka skidded to a halt inside of one of the team meeting rooms. "What-?! What happened-"
Kale froze, his jaw dropping and eyes wide as he saw the scene in front of him. Mimosa was just a stunned as both him and Rekka, with a dopey grin on her face as she stifled her laughter. Rekka also looked 5 seconds away from breaking into a fit of hysterics as well. And honestly, Kale was half-ready to start cracking up as well. With how violent Zanzo was yanked away, he expected to see him getting mauled or ripped to shreds like a fleshy-cybernetic chew-toy. Yet, there Roquefort was, curled up in a mess of couch cushions and pillows, with Zanzo tucked between his paws like an angry cat.
"Oh my god-" Kale snorted, clasping a hand over his mouth as he tried to stop himself from laughing. "Oh my god-!"
"Help. Me." Zanzo growled, his attempts to crawl out from under the cybernetic wolf only resulting in the giant puppy yanking it's chosen human closer. "FUCK-! This is so embarrassing-! Roq's neurocable must've snapped again-!"
"So, the big oaf's in feral wolf mode?" Rekka gawked, eyeing the cybernetic wolf with a mixture of confusion and laughter. "That's... Actually kinda cute. He's just a big puppy now!"
"Not the term I would use. Starts with a g. Ends with a y." Mimosa snickered, softly laughing as her hands covered her mouth. "This is... So damn cute-! Oh, please tell me I have my phone on me!"
"Take any photos and I will burn you." Zanzo hissed, eyes wide and face red as Roquefort's cybernetic maw nuzzled up against his face. "Help me-!"
"Rekka's on it-!" The production head laughed, bravely stomping towards the robotic wolf, her hands grasping one of it's paws to yank it up, only for it to slide behind and drag Rekka back into the cuddle pile as well. "ACK-!"
"Oh my god!" Kale snorted like a pig, breaking into a fit of wheezes and ugly laughter, hands on his knees as he struggled to breathe. This was getting too good! First Zanzo and now Rekka. Two victims to the mass pile of cuddles. "Oooh god, my lungs-"
"Alfie is gonna loose his shit." Mimosa snickered snapping a photo of both Rekka and Zanzo curled up in the paws of Roquefort. "Say cheese, you two~!"
"I will gut you." The R&D head hissed out between gritted teeth, giving Mimosa a death glare as he squirmed. "Fucking-! Move over, Rekka, your big as shit-!"
"More production, more muscle!" Rekka snapped, smiling as Mimosa stepped closer to get more photos, only for Roquefort's tail to knock her into the cybernetic werewolf's paws, squeezing her in next to Rekka. That's what caused Kale to finally snape, cackling as he collapsed onto the floor in hysterics. "HA! That's 3!"
"Oh, this actually isn't that bad-!" Mimosa muttered, snuggling into Roquefort's fur with a content sigh. "Kale, you have to tell me what this is made from. I need this for a blanket or a boa!"
"It- It's- I can't- PFTHA- Ha-!" The CEO cackled, rolling on the floor. Forget a stroke, he was going to die from laughter. Because Roquefort, the big scary "Big Bad Wolf" of Vandelay Technologies, and the Finance Head for the damn company, was acting like a puppy.
"Run, Kale-! Run while you still can!" The R&D head hissed, his cybernetic arms flailing around in the puppy's grip. "Before the cuddles claim you too- Eh. This actually ain't that bad..."
"Rekka could nap like this." Said Vandelay Head snickered, yawning as she slouched in Roquefort's paws.
"... Eh. Fuck it." The blonde man snorted, wiping the tears from his eyes as he simply collapsed into the pile of cuddles. Honestly, there could've been plenty of worse malfunctions.
Chapter 5: Electric Boogaloo
Summary:
Prompt 5 - Electrifying
Boron and Arsenic attempt to test beta versions of the Eclipse Initiative. The results are shocking.
Chapter Text
"Eclipse Initiative Alpha- Version 0.1.A. Testing."
"There's no way this thing is gonna work." Arsenic muttered, eyeing the obviously robotic model that Boron danced around, poking with his spear to see if it could resist damage. Which, considering it was Boron of all people doing this, probably wasn't going to work.
"Chin up, Ary! Have some faith in your tech!" The soldier gawked, whipping around, with his spear slicing the robot's head clean in half, it's eyes and forehead sliding off and clattering onto the floor into a pile of scrap and debris. "... Oops."
"I told you." The Medical Overseer muttered, shaking their head and dropping their tablet onto the floor. It was amazing it even lasted a few seconds. This was the first ever model, the first ever test. The fact that it managed to take a few hits from Boron was more than Arsenic ever expected from the damn things, especially considering what junk they were scrapped from. "It's the first model. They never work."
"Eh. It lasted a hot minute." Boron muttered, keening off into a hiss as a burst of static connected from the crackling electronics of the robots head to his gloved finger, shuddering as he shook his hand out. "Son of an ice walker-! This thing has teeth, even after death-!"
"E-Eh-! Are you okay-?!" The green-haired doctor gulped, the idea of injuring Boron making their stomach go into knots. The boss would kill them, and maybe even the Wastelands leader, if the jokes were actually true. "I-I swear I didn't know it would do that-! I didn't-"
"Easy, string bean-! Just a bit nippy." The soldier grinned a big toothy smile, flicking the robot off the table and onto the floor with a sadistic smirk. "It's a damn good thing. Sharks, the whole lot of 'em. They gotta smell the blood and hunt, even near death!"
"O-Oh. I-I just... The paperwork would be so annoying..." The doctor muttered, chewing on their lip as Boron laughed. "Plus... Boss would be pissed."
"Yeah. Fuck the boss, honestly. But it's for the betterment of the world, so? I can deal until then." Boron spat, rolling his eyes. "Let's get to work on the next model!"
"Eclipse Initiative Alpha- Version 0.3.X.2 Testing."
"Hit me, you dense fuck-!" Boron snapped as the robot started blankly at him, and the baton that it had been given, for what felt like the umpteenth time. "Ary, how stupid did you make these things-?!"
"T-They're not inputted with the correct emotional matrix, they don't understand anger or rage-!" The doctor snapped back, their foot bouncing against the floor as they sorted through the various papers on their desk and screens. "That's for the boss to finish, and it's the alpha version-"
"UGH-! Can this thing just fucking fight already-?!" Boron snapped, smacking the robot over the head with the dull end of his spear, sending it careening into the floor. "CMON! You're in the trenches now, bucko-! Enemies from all sides, hurry up and FIGHT-!"
"That hurt-!" The robot drawled, monotone and confused, which perked Arsenic's interest. At least the pain modules were working. That meant they could start worrying about battle tactics and quick-time events. Arsenic froze as the cheesy game topics, followed by their cousin's childish laughter, shaking their head. Part of them wondered if they were still into games like that, but then again, it had been years since they'd seen them. Once everything was better, then they'd return and reunite. With a better world.
"I know, it's supposed to! Now C'MON and hit me!" The Intake Overseer snapped, slashing the robot's face with the sharp end of his spear, causing Arsenic to wince as the robot let out an electric squeal collapsing onto the floor. "... Seriously, Ary. Can you give them at least SOME spine?"
"That's Gold's job-!" Arsenic finally snapped, grabbing their cup of coffee and taking a much-needed swig. They could feel their nerves fraying, the wires connecting to their arms crackling with the building rage. They seriously needed a break. Or a rage day. Maybe today, once Boron quit bullying their latest failure and just destroyed the damn thing. Or maybe they could just do it themselves. "Boron, if you don't destroy this damn thing in the next five seconds-"
"Easy, spikey-! One robot head coming up-" The veteran scoffed, raising his spear, only for the robotic test to finally register anger, grabbing their baton and activating the taze function, stabbing him right in the family jewels. "HNGH-"
"OH FUCK-!" Arsenic gawked, groaning as they could only imagine the pain of 200 volts to the junk, legs growing weak at the mere idea of it. Their hands quickly smacked the keyboard on the laptop, rapid clicking the shutdown function and watching as the robot crumpled to the floor, the powered lights that made its eyes fade away into dull bulbs. "Ooooh... B-Boron-? A-Are you... Are you okay-?"
Boron just let out a pained squeaked, curled up and protecting his modesty, grumbling swears and complaints.
"You... Do you- I mean... Do you want an ice pack..?" Arsenic asked, whimpering as Boron gave a shaky thumbs up. "Yeah... I-I'll get that..."
"Eclipse Initiative Alpha- Version 1.5.C7 Testing."
"Okay, boss managed to get some working emotional stimuli code into this one..." Arsenic muttered, watching as Boron opted to bare-fist this test, shrugging off his jacket and chuckling as his cybernetics pumped Aminotox into his veins. "Chrome also threw some beta cybernetics in here... So, yeah... I dunno what this thing is meant to be."
"At least this one actually looks human." Boron shrugged, growling a bit as he eyed the robot-in-disguise. It was a basic nobody, just replicated to make a sort of "background character". Brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin. Bismuth wanted a female robot for a plaything, so the model was relegated to around the late 20's in terms of physical age. "It's better than fighting Vandelay lookalikes."
"Don't tell Chrome- You know, never mind..." Arsenic muttered, shaking their head as the robot powered up, eyeing Boron's stance and looking confused. "Let's see... Cautious personality type... Reactive, determined..."
"All I heard was I get the first shot-!" Boron cackled, charging ahead to land a few quick blows to the robot's gut, catching the thing off-guard as it stumbled back. "Easy peasy, lemon- WHOA-!"
"Get the hell away from me-!" The robot's voice, slightly femme but mostly androgynous, grabbing Boron and throwing him over her shoulder, sending him rolling across the floor. "What's wrong with you-?!"
"I could say the same thing..." Arsenic muttered, taking a swig of coffee while looking at the readings. Cybernetics were sturdy, despite Boron's attacks, but the system was struggling to keep up. "Careful of the reactor and processors when attacking, Gold's stimuli code isn't compatible with this model-"
"Wait, what-?!" The robot snapped, glancing at Arsenic with a confused and almost panicked look on her face. Still within the realm of uncanny valley, but looking human-ish.
"Less talking, more punching-!" Boron groaned, shaking his head as he lunged forward, cybernetic arms hissing with pink steam as the Overseer went into overdrive, smacking around the robot like a ragdoll.
"Boron-! I told you-" Arsenic groaned, already bracing for the worst as a massive error sign popped up on their laptop. This wasn't going to end well, especially with the reactor reaching meltdown levels. The Medical Overseer opted to just cower behind their workbench, coffee in hand as Boron kept at it.
"Cmon-! Show me what you GOT-!" He cackled, devolving into a robotic yelp as a punch right over where the robot's heart would be sent a flurry of electricity and lightning around the room, electrocuting Boron and sending him flying across the room and into the wall, groaning weakly as he looked like an overcooked chicken. "... Ow."
"I warned you." Arsenic deadpanned, swallowing the rest of their coffee as they stared at their toasty-fried co-worker. "... I'm calling Chrome. He'll scrape you off the walls, because I'm not doing it."
"Fair..." Boron coughed, a plume of black smoke leaving his lips.
Chapter 6: My Spotlight
Summary:
Prompt 6 - Steal The Show
Mimosa recounts the accident that made her lose her limelight.
Chapter Text
"This tastes like ass." Zanzo muttered before taking another swig of the Pinot she was 90% sure Alfie had stolen from his charity gala or whatever with Tay Sterling, slouching against the couch as the copious amounts of alcohol coursed through his flesh and cybernetics.
"Then don't drink it." Mimosa hiccupped, giggling as he finished the bottle, letting it clatter and roll across the floor, bumping into the coffee table and nearly rattling the long-forgotten bowl of popcorn off onto her carpet. The two had been drinking and binging shitty movies for a few hours now, both eager to blow off the stress from the day. With Project Armstrong, the Roquefort incident, and just in general everything going on, she was more than eager to wash her woes away with a good glass of wine, even if it was with Zanzo. Despite everything, he was actually somewhat of a loveable dork. Part of that was likely due to the trauma bonding.
"You have to drink this shit on the red carpet?" The green-haired scientist muttered, rolling off onto the floor, curling up in the blanket he had kicked off a few hours ago, lazily looking up at the blonde. "I'd actually jump off a bridge."
"Yeah... It's an a c quired taste." The former model smiled, swirling her glass around. She remembered the red carpet- glitzy dresses, flashing cameras, and enough scheming bitches to rival most politicians as they faked a smile and tried to knock down everyone else in favor of grabbing the limelight. Her mind flashed back to that night, the Glacial Palace Theater, the stairs, the pain. Ironically, she remembered the last drink she had before getting shoved exactly. A 1984 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine she had snuck from the champagne when the chauffer had told her, "If anyone asks, I haven't seen a thing." The good fucking old days, where her biggest worries were getting the time for a fitting. It was in her hand when it happened. The dumb thing was that she didn't even know the girl, but she remembered what she looked like.
She was getting ready to leave, glass in hand when she called out to her. Mimosa, of course, turned around and saw her. She was pretty, kinky black hair with a streak of blue, chocolate skin and a curvy figure, accentuated by a snow - white diamond dress, infused with satin and jewels. Hell, if Mimosa was at a normal party, she'd have hit on her. But then she saw her eyes. Gray, a beautiful shade of it, too. Hazy like storm clouds , dark and foreboding. A piercing gaze that found your soul and saw you. A piercing gaze fueled with rage and envy. Then she found herself hurtling down the stairs, smashing against the concrete and blacking out . A little blonde actress crushed by her rival. Of course, when she woke up, everything was gone.
" Honestly...? It's not too bad when you get used to it." She chuckled , re turning to the modern day- her luxury flat in the high city, overlooking Vandelay Island. She returned to her cybernetic spine, curving over her hips and back like a gentle hug, the first gift she had ever gotten in her life where someone didn't want something in return. She grinned softly, downing her glass and sighing in bliss, she never thought she'd see a day like this.
"If you say so," He replied, wrapping the blanket even tighter around his flesh, his cybernetic legs like a cocoon in his blanket and warmth.
Mimosa just smiled. If that woman didn't steal her limelight, she wouldn't have this. She wouldn't have a job she loved, friends who were basically her family , a luxury house. Any of it.
"Thanks." She muttered, an unheard gesture of appreciation for a woman she never knew, and would probably never meet again.
HoldyHope on Chapter 4 Thu 30 Jan 2025 12:03AM UTC
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Noko_Fukugami on Chapter 4 Thu 20 Feb 2025 06:21PM UTC
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HoldyHope on Chapter 5 Fri 14 Feb 2025 02:33AM UTC
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Mister_Rat on Chapter 5 Fri 14 Feb 2025 05:05AM UTC
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HoldyHope on Chapter 6 Sat 07 Jun 2025 04:28PM UTC
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