[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Bcqf1Os.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/UL6nAXN.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/N7a8qWB.png[/img][/center][hr][center][h3]~???? | DECIBITUS | MALUCH PRAETI[/h3][/center][hr]

[indent][color=#bb3a4c]“He’s had a stick up his ass ever since those guys said they were gonna try walking the rail, so he deserves it anyways.”[/color]

Aron, finally finding this an appropriate moment to make eye-contact with a denizen of Mulch, frowned and tilted his head.

[color=#F26522]"Breaking in sounds..."[/color] Like the best way to deteriorate his relationship with the craftsman even further. Hopefully that wasn't the only option. [color=#F26522]"Oh, how did the rail walking go for those guys?"[/color]

[color=#bb3a4c]"Hmmmm..."[/color] The blonde scratched the back of his head for a moment in thought, eyes narrowing with concentration. [color=#bb3a4c]"They left like, three days ago and I don't think anyone's seen them since."[/color] A grin broke across the youth's face. [color=#bb3a4c]"Maybe they made it to the After? Hell if I know."[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"Maybe. Either way, you can't expect them back. Don't think they just have the rail for the hell of it, though I could respect that kind of decision. There are worse things than taking your life in your hands."[/color] Perhaps something to look into? Of course, the people most likely to have the relevant knowledge were the people they were looking for. She, for one, wanted to know if it'd be exciting.

With that in mind, Amelia took it upon herself to end Aron's initial sentence in the obvious manner. [color=#7AFF95]"But yes, I agree with Aron. Breaking in does sound good."[/color] Of course she knew that wasn't what he meant. That was at least half of the fun. [color=#7AFF95]"If you are willing to help us out, we are firm believers in teamwork, aren't we?"[/color]

Despite the patent and probably frantic protests taking place not ten feet away, the boy's demeanor somehow succeeded in visibly brightening at his suggestion being accepted.

[color=#bb3a4c]"Hell yeah!"[/color] Pumping one fist into the air in triumph, he dug his hands around in his pockets for a moment, drawing a thin kit from his coat before approaching the workshop door. [color=#bb3a4c]"The nag's lock sucks--if I can get it in like, a minute, can I get a bonus?"[/color]

[color=#F26522]"I-I'm not paying for this!"[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"I think I spent all of mine. Do you take IOUs?"[/color]

[color=#bb3a4c]"Lame."[/color] The boy's expression matched the flat tone of the single-word response. [color=#bb3a4c]"But I bet the old nag will pay if it's important you talk to him or whatever."[/color]

Plus, it might be fun just to see the aftermath, but the blonde kept that to himself. 

He knelt before the door, the tools in hand working like magic with a practiced dexterity, though the faint glow from actual magic certainly helped with the illusion. Clearly, this wasn't the lad's first time doing such morally dubious work. True to his word, it took just short of a full sixty seconds for him to try the handle of the door--it turned with minimal resistance. A cheeky grin was directed at the duo. 

[color=#bb3a4c]"Heh, no need for a doorbell when you got me around."[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"Impressive. I'd say that does deserve a bonus after all."[/color] Amelia glanced at Aron, pausing to clear her throat before going for the doorway as quickly as she could, [color=#7AFF95]"last one in has to pay!"[/color]

For a brief moment, Aron considered just letting her go. Taking the time to get out his wallet, paying the child for what his services were worth - heck, maybe even get his name. Then he recalled who they were visiting, what the purpose of this trip was, and which coworker he was about to leave alone with one of the scariest people in Decibitus.

[color=#F26522]"Uhhh. Later, kid!"[/color] he shouted over his shoulder, sprinting after Amelia.

To Aron's credit, he was probably right about Uchi being one of the scariest people in Decibitus. It wasn't necessarily the fact that he provided the weapons to reapers or even how it appeared that his very presence kept the usual vagrants of Mulch in line, but both factors certainly held a portion of the pink-haired man's notoriety. 

In the moment that he noticed the two reapers barelling into the door, however, the most frightening thing about him was probably the ferocity that he shouted with. 

[color=#bfa6a0][b]"STAY THE FUCK AT THE DOOR, DIPSHITS!"[/b][/color]

A smoky tendril seemed to shoot toward them, only to be snapped back by a strand of light--and it was clear then what "work in progress" meant at the door. The dark energy every reaper was so familiar with writhed and twitched in a shape that only vaguely resembled an orb, much of it bound in an array of light. It seemed almost [i]alive[/i] in its attempts to break free, whatever obedience it had before now gone. 

[color=#bfa6a0]"Son of a bitch!"[/color] Uchi placed both hands on the mass, a dim light shining at his side releasing another strand of light to bind the darkness.

[color=#bb3a4c]"Wow, he's shouting a whole lo--whoa."[/color] The boy peered in, eyes wide as he started to enter the workshop himself. [color=#bb3a4c]"That looks sick as hell! Can I see?"[/color]

Whether the youth hadn't heard or didn't care about the previous warning was anyone's guess, as his steps started to take him past the entrance to the forge. They wouldn't take him very far as a frantic hand yanked him back by the collar. The boy made a strange sound at the sudden resistance and force, backpedaling a few steps before precariously regaining his balance.

[color=#F26522]"Wait, wait..."[/color] Aron gawked at whatever was happening in the workshop.

Whatever it was, it was enough to get Amelia to actually do what she'd been told, instead of the opposite, and pull back towards the entryway. [color=#7AFF95]"I suppose [i]certain[/i] death isn't too fun..."[/color] she cleared her throat, calling out, [color=#7AFF95]"is it a bad time to ask questions?"[/color]

[color=#bfa6a0]"Wh--[b]yes, now is a bad time[/b]!"[/color] Uchi snapped before narrowing his eyes and all raising the wriggling smoke he had been holding down a few inches off the table before slamming it back down with a resounding [i]thunk[/i]. [color=#bfa6a0]"Fuck it."[/color]

The radiance wound itself tight around the mass as soon as Uchi pulled his hands back, enveloping it like a cocoon before Uchi clenched both fists. It tightened on command, compressing with all due force before fading away, leaving behind only the familiar shape of an inactive weapon core where light and shadow had been struggling moments before. The weaponsmith heaved a sigh, used the bottom of his shirt to wipe sweat from his brow, and fiddled with a small charm hanging from his belt loop--an old fashioned thing made of string and glass, but it had certainly been the source of the previous light.

Then, he turned to the door, expression far too relaxed for his usual demeanor.

[color=#bfa6a0]"What. The [i]fuck[/i]? Do you dumbasses have [i]any[/i] idea what kinda shit that could have been?"[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"Bad, I assume."[/color] Amelia got the sense there was no right answer here. [color=#7AFF95]"Maybe could've thought that through more. But, you know, sometimes the body acts before the mind..."[/color]

[color=#F26522]"In emergencies..."[/color] Aron looked to the side. [color=#F26522]"We're just asking for information..."[/color]

Uchi narrowed his eyes again, the action even seeming to subdue the boy who had let Amelia and Aron in to begin with. The sudden shrinking seemed to tell the man enough, and he gave an exasperated shake of his head. 

[color=#bfa6a0]"Don't let that brat convince you to pick the lock so easily next time. Being loud and reckless might have kept you two from eating shit this time."[/color] The man tossed the stray weapon core onto a counter on the opposite side of the room. [color=#bfa6a0]"So what's Miss Death lookin' for in Mulch this time?"[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"Of course. Next time, we shall be as loud and dramatic as possible; I'll arrange something. This time, though, we aren't here for Miss Death."[/color] Amelia stopped, and frowned. [color=#7AFF95]"Well, we are. But not in the sense of... look, Eliot sent us. She, Miss Death, isn't in her office. We were hoping you could point us in the right direction."[/color]

[color=#bfa6a0]"She--she's what?"[/color]

Oh, that didn't seem good. Aron squinted. [color=#F26522]"You... don't know where she is?"[/color]

[color=#bfa6a0]"No, she didn't say anything about being out."[/color] He frowned. [color=#bfa6a0]"And she's not the type to leave unannounced."[/color]

The frown deepened, somehow.

[color=#bfa6a0]"Unless she's trying to avoid people that know her."[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"Huh."[/color] Amelia was thankful she left worrying to other people. [color=#7AFF95]"Is there a reason she'd be doing that? Special day? Haven't checked my calendar in a while, but she usually has reasons for the things she does."[/color] Admittedly, sometimes they were very strange reasons, but still. 

Aron was just glad to be able to leave the workshop on short notice. [color=#F26522]"Well, where would she even go?"[/color]

[color=#bfa6a0]"If it were a special day, I'd probably know it by now,"[/color] Uchi started. Then, as if Aron's question sparked a flash of realization, the man sighed, pressing his fingers against his temples lightly as he drew a sharp breath. [color=#bfa6a0]"Oh, fuck. Yeah, if she didn't tell anyone shit, Miss Death's probably gone off somewhere she knows others aren't going to like her being at."[/color]

Which, given the position Miss Death held in the court of Decibitus's public opinion, narrowed things down quite a bit.

[color=#bfa6a0]"So she's probably doing exactly what Eliot and I have told her not to do and run off to the Arch to see Earth directly or to the Depths. And it doesn't sound like anyone at your office heard anything about her wandering around the Arch."[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"No, they didn't."[/color] Amelia whistled, seeming oddly excited by the prospect. [color=#7AFF95]"Well, it would only be responsible for us to follow this lead together. Always have been curious about the inside of these places. Never managed to see in life, so..."[/color] she grinned towards Aron, as if expecting him to share in her enthusiasm, [color=#7AFF95]"happy days."[/color]

He regarded her with extreme suspicion. [color=#F26522]"You've never been to prison? Really?"[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"I haven't! Not for lack of action, admittedly."[/color] Amelia conceded, finding an equal level of scepticism in Uchi's expression as she looked away. [color=#7AFF95]"But, you know, money talks. Louder than most rules do."[/color]

[color=#F26522]"And yet we both have so little of it now,"[/color] Aron sighed.

[color=#7AFF95]"A tragedy."[/color]

The expression on Uchi's face as he watched the exchange, for just a moment, could only be read as pity. It disappeared with a shrug, though largely because the man turned back to the weapon core he'd tossed onto the counter earlier and not through any control on his own part.

[color=#bfa6a0]"That woman's gonna clam up if I show up with you to the Depths, so you two are on your own there."[/color] A pause. A furtive glance shot at the two reapers earned only a pesky pang of conscience. [color=#bfa6a0]"I'm not gonna have time to eat now, so go ahead and take the food behind that counter before you head out. Won't last 'til after I'm done with this shit anyways."[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"Oh, fuck yes. I mean, ahem, thank you Uchi."[/color] Amelia was quick to move to take him up on the offer, before remembering Aron was there. She paused, considered how the rest of the day had gone, and decided to wave him ahead. [color=#7AFF95]"Uh. You can pick first. I'll eat most things anyway."[/color]

The thought of being offered food right after breaking into a colleague's place made things feel even more awkward for Aron, so he decided to handball it to the kid. [color=#F26522]"Sure, uhhh, I dunno, do you want anything?"[/color]

[color=#bb3a4c]"Nah, I gotta eat with the gang later anyways,"[/color] the boy claimed with a grin. [color=#bb3a4c]"You guys sound like you need it more."[/color]

[color=#F26522]"If you say so... Uhh, thanks Uchi."[/color] It was probably even poorer manners to turn down someone's hospitality after being offered it. Aron moved to pick up some cutlery and looked to the boy once more. [color=#F26522]"Sorry, did you ever give your name?"[/color]

[color=#bb3a4c]"Aw, man, you forgot already? Laaaame."[/color] Of course, he hadn't, but that was beside the point. [color=#bb3a4c]"Guess you'll have to find out next time."[/color]

[color=#7AFF95]"I'm just going to call you Hugo."[/color] Amelia shrugged, attention mostly on the food by now. [color=#7AFF95]"We should eat quickly. Perhaps the Depths will be more fun with a full stomach."[/color]

[color=#F26522]"I don't think that's his-- never mind."[/color] Aron mumbled and simply dug into his food as he was told.[/indent]