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 Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 8:05 pm
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It was a pretty good night in Civisect. There were, as always, many trolls out going here or there or wherever it is that trolls go. Static walked along, just kinda blissfully enjoying the sounds, the sights, the commotion that was city life. Raijin was weaving his way through the air, several feet in front and above of the blueblood. His body seemed to swim like a serpent through the air, heedless of anyone that was unfortunate enough to get in his way. Static frowned as he saw a jolt of electricity go down the weasel’s thick coarse pelt. They were out doing errands today, but it felt more like the lusus was on a warpath. Static bowed his head in apology at the trolls Raijin was “accidentally” thwacking in the head with his tail. It was harder to be blissful when he had to constantly apologize for his guardian’s actions, but the blueblood was making due.
”So, um, Raijin, what er what-” Static tried to say.
”Don't do that stupid “um” thing.” Raijin interrupted.
”Ri-right, sorry.”
”And stop saying “sorry”! A strong troll does not apologize for anything.”
“Sor- er, I mean, okay Raijin.” Static went quiet for a minute before trying to resume his original train of thought. “So today we have to pick up groceries, um- I mean, then pick up laundry from the dryers, and, last is go drop off the utilities bill. Is, uh, is there anything else?” Static tried to rush over each of the “um”s and “uh” so Raijin wouldn't have time to point them out. Talking to his lusus about the plans for the day did distract the guardian from bothering other trolls, and Static sighed in relief as he got less dirty looks from those around.
Raijin muttered something and Static had to hop to get closer. “What was that Raijin?” Static asked, having to jog to keep up with the floating weasel.
”I said we are going to stop off somewhere and get you a spine and some guts. If there is even a store in the world that sells that kind of thing.” Raijin stopped and turned to look at his troll. Static gulped at the look of aggression on the animal's face. A jolt of lightning spiked through the creature’s fur, and he hissed angrily. ”You know most trolls your age can do all these chores and errands on their own. They don't need to drag their guardian all over the city for a few simple tasks.” The lusus snapped back around, sparks flying here and there off his fur as he angrily snaked his way through the crowd. Static stood still, one hand clasped around his arm tightly. Were all his friends able to just do everything themselves? Cynril sure seemed like he could run an entire booth without any help, and Scorpa, tho not a friend, sure seemed competent. The blueblood felt his cheeks go hot as he flushed with embarrassment.
Static grit his teeth and sprinted to catch up with his lusus, the adrenalin of this bold new idea giving him courage. ”Raijin!” Static called as caught up with the weasel. ”Ill go do all the rest of the chores. You just go back hive and, um, and ill be back with everything done.”
Raijin looked down at the blueblood from his perch in the air, a scrutinizing glare on his face. ”Really?” Raijin hissed, ”Can you get everything done in the next two hours, and be back at the hive?” Raijin’s angry eyes bore into the blueblood’s, and Static had to wet his lips to even get the words out. The boy just nodded, and tried to look as confident and determined as he could. Raijin leaned back, and would have quirked a disbelieving eyebrow if he could. ”Fine.” The lusus spat. ”Two hours tho; and dont make me come out to find you.” With that Raijin dropped the satchel of paperwork and money he had been carrying for Static, and weaved his way back the way they came. Static bent down and pulled the satchel over his head, securing it at his side. The blueblood nodded once, determinedly to himself, before continuing on.
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Static had a big grin on his face as he made his way back to his hive. He had gone all the way to the Utilities Office and turned in his bill in person, he had picked up his and Raijin’s laundry, making sure each piece was nice and clean. Then he went to the grocer and picked out some actually healthy choices for the upcoming week. He was so proud of himself, he had only grabbed one small bag of chips, and was eating them on his way back hive at the moment. It was quite a lot to carry for the small troll, the bags of clothes and then two bags of foodstuff, but he was managing. The blueblood glanced down at his robotic hand to see the time. The hand had come with a little digital clock in it, that showed the time whenever the boy lifted the hand up to his face. It was not often that Static could look at his robotic hand with pride, but he could do so now, especially when it told him he was running half an hour early.
Static was about to turn down the street that led to his apartment block hive when instead a noise caught his attention. It was the sound of a door being slammed, and a yell of "Get out!" that attracted the blueblood's attention. He turned into a small alleyway to see a low-blooded troll in rags and looking quite sad, sitting in a cardboard box. Static looked at his watch, then at the sad homeless looking troll, then back to his watch. He couldn't just stand there and continue on while someone was in pain. With a sigh, the blueblood approached the other troll. He could tell right away that the boy was thrown out of the back of a restaurant of sorts, by the pile of empty food-stuff boxes strewn about. The homeless boy was digging through trash bags, desperately looking for something. Static looked down at his bag of groceries, then back to the pile of garbage bags. The kid would not find anything in the trash, Static was pretty sure. Squeak-beasts were big in the city, and they generally devoured any scrap that made it to the trash. The blueblood put down the bag of groceries and cleared his throat awkwardly, getting the homeless troll's attention. When he finally did, Static blushed and ran from the alleyway, leaving his groceries behind. It wasn't that he was scared, Static was a brave troll, it was more that he didn't want to do any more damage to the homeless kid's pride than what had already happened.
Static kept walking, his head hanging low. Raijin would be upset when he returned hive with no food, but it was better than being late. The blueblood looked down at his feet, but could not help but smile a bit. It felt good to help others, to make a difference. The blueblood smiled to himself at that. He was proud to help others. With renewed pride in himself, the blueblood set off again, still his bag of laundry, his recite from utilities, and a fair amount of time on his hands.
It wasn't long before Static came upon another conundrum. An older troll, one who looked like they had not been taking care of themselves for quite a few sweeps sat huddled under a blanket filled with holes, and Static felt his heart throb. The blueblood looked down at his bag of laundry as he walked past the other unfortunate troll. Going back hive without groceries or laundry would really send Raijin into a temper. The blueblood looked back at the unfortunate troll again, and then down to his bag and sighed. He knew he could not just pass it all by without helping. The blueblood turned around, back towards the troll with their threadbare blanket, and stopped in front of them. With a nervous cough, Static cleared his throat again, put down the bag where the other could obviously see it, and turned around to leave. Accepting charity was not a troll way, he didn't want to be thanked, or make the other troll feel like he owed Static anything. Static just wanted to help.
The blueblood sighed as he approached his hive apartment block empty handed. The blueblood had a faint hope that if he could explain it to his lusus, maybe Raijin would agree that those were better things for his belongings to go towards. He was growing pretty fast, those clothes would become too small soon. He also had enough food in the fridge for dinner tonight, he could live with having to go to the grocery store again tomorrow. With a glimmer of hope, Static opened the door to his flat with a faint smile.
The smile immediately disappeared as his lusus turned aggressively towards the open door. A spark of electricity jolted down the creature's body as he turned displeased eyes towards Static's empty hands. ”Uh-um-" Static tried to say, attempting to explain what had happened.
"Um?! AGAIN WITH THE MEANINGLESS WORDS?!" Raijin screeched. Static visibly shrank back. Another jolt of electricity coursed through the weasel's thick hide and Static could feel something drain out of himself. "AND WHERE ARE YOUR CHORES?!" The lusus yelled, the air crackling with the animal's rage and stored electricity.
”Ah, I- I-" Static tried to get out. He just felt so drained all of a sudden, as if all his energy was suddenly gone. The blueblood could barely keep upright.
The white animal seemed to swell with more electricity, and a growing sense of superiority. "You WHAT?! Wasted your time?! Wasted MY time?!?" The animal got closer to the troll, and Static could feel his heart beating with fear. "You were given a simple job, and you failed. FAILED."
Static tried to get up, tried to gather his courage. The blueblood had never felt as close to death as he did then. Him, the one that would seek out the most daring of activities, the life threatening and death defying stunts, was suddenly more scared than he had ever been before. ”But but Raij-" The boy tried to say, fighting to keep the fear out of his voice, and the tremble out of his posture.
"NO The animal roared back, sending Static back onto the floor and against the door. "But nothing! You are a FAILURE! You were given a SIMPLE TASK and came back with NOTHING!" Static was shaking, the adrenaline this time working against him, freezing him to the floor. The animal let the moment drag for a second, his lightning yellow eyes boring into the troll's. Then he backed up, just an inch, his gaze oozing disappointment and disgust. "You are never going to get anywhere. Your lucky I still bother with you at all. Any other intelligent lusus would have thrown you out. Given up." The animal's fur calmed down a bit, a slightly less bit on edge. "Well?" Raijin growled, the anger coming back.
”Thank you Raijin." Static managed to utter. The lusus glared one more time, then left the apartment block, through the window. Static was left, alone in his hive, his body still frozen to the floor, attempting to push its way through the front door and away. Finally, after several long minutes, the boy started to shake, the adrenaline leaving him empty and exhausted.
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