'Scrapyard' eh? Well, this place was certainly more colorful than he was expecting.
Maximus had been here at Sanctuary for about a couple weeks now, and was making a ritual of walking the large, walled-in city in order to keep his mind occupied. He'd been avoiding the markets for a very specific reason, but today was the day he decided to take that chance.... And was getting serious deja-vu.
Well, it'd be weird to be zapped to another dimension from touching something in a market TWICE, right? ....Either way, he needed no convincing to keep his hands to himself this time.
He'd gotten used to the slight buzz deep in his systems from the constant crackle storms, but it was nice to know when they were coming and going at least. Right now he felt fine, so, must mean there wasn't one going on outside right now. Or at the very least, it wasn't a strong one.
Walking through the market proved less eventful than he hoped it'd be. Most of the tables were above his head, and when he DID chance a peek, it was just fabric or trinkets. That is until he reached a booth with.... strange things in gilded cages.
He had no idea what they could possibly be. They had little hands, were covered in fur, long tails, and made cheep-cheep noises at him. They were easily the length of his arm-- not that his arm was particularly long- but it was enough to be somewhat intimidating. ...At least they were in cages. He stood and watched them for a long while, mustering up the courage to ask what they were. ...He'd ask eventually. Not right now.
Seemed.... wrong keeping them as pets. If they were untrustworthy enough to not be able to roam free like a cat or a dog, then why would you possibly keep it as a pet? Also the way they moved. Very... intelligent. It made him feel uncertain about the whole thing. But he wasn't going to start a ruckus-- he kind of liked people not paying him much mind.
Elphaba wasn't sure what exactly she was doing here. She was mostly content to stay in the Omphalos. It had everything she could reasonably need; plenty of space and activities for leisure, even a nice verdant forest for her to walk around and clear her head. She really didn't have any reason to come to Sanctuary, but that's what, she supposed, drew her here.
She wanted to get out and see more of this strange world she was now a part of, and that included all the less pleasant places, like the Scrapyard. She had been warned about it, of course. It wasn't a black market per se, they wouldn't tolerate anything that elicit, but not all of its products and wares were above board. Despite its shady dealings, it was still a very vibrant, very bustling place where people of all sorts wandered aimlessly between tents. And Elphaba found herself gliding along, her eyes glossing over the numerous stalls.
Until one in particular caught her attention. She froze on the spot, her green skin going sickly pale in a flash.
One booth had well over a dozen cages stacked up on the table, and each cage contained a small primate of some sort. There were tamarins and marmosets and other species of small monkeys Elphaba didn't know off the top of her head, but that hardly mattered to her. All she saw were poor, helpless animals trapped in cages, and she felt her heart burst into raging fury.
She was reminded all too cruelly of the horrors she witnessed herself, of Animals trapped in cages, left to rot in their own filth, with barely any room to breathe, the light of life in their eyes snuffed out by their cruel captors. And inside these cages right in front of her, she saw that same misery, that same look of utter helplessness in each of the tiny monkeys' faces as they were doomed to spend the rest of their lives in this prison.
She thought of her dear friend Chistery--
"See anything you like, miss?"
Elphaba's hawkish eyes snapped to the speaker, the supposed owner of the stall, who was a fat greasy slimy pig of a man who leered at her. He gave her a smile full of rotting, putrid teeth.
"Aren't they just the cutest lil' critters you've ever seen! Got 'em from all over the multi-verse to sell to enterprising young ladies like yourself! These lil' varmints here make fine pets--!"
Elphaba's entire body went rigid, and the cages began to tremble as her magic began to thrum like a building storm.
"Pets?" she spat, her eyes fiery and fierce.
The man stuttered, taking a half-step back as he eyed the rattling cages nervously. "Well, yes--"
"How DARE you!"
With her outburst, the cages flew open, and the monkeys wasted not a second and scampered out, fleeing every which way fast as a bolt of lightning. One monkey, a golden tamarin, raced right up to Elphaba, scampering up her leg like a squirrel and huddling on her shoulder, shivering violently. Elphaba wasted no time scooping the poor thing up in her hands, cradling it with such gentle motherly care.
"Now wait just a second!" the vendor spat furiously. "Those little beasts are MINE! What gives you the right--!"
"No, what gives you the right!" Elphaba roared. She reached out her hand, and the man froze on the spot, gasping and clutching at his throat as an invisible hand choked him. "What gives you the right to rip these poor things from their families and homes so you can hock them off to drooling troglodytes like yourself to be imprisoned for the rest of their lives?! How dare you! I should flay you where you stand!"
She dropped him, and the man collapsed to his knees, coughing loudly.
"Frankly, you're not worth the effort," she hissed, and spun on her heel and stalked away.
She wanted to get out and see more of this strange world she was now a part of, and that included all the less pleasant places, like the Scrapyard. She had been warned about it, of course. It wasn't a black market per se, they wouldn't tolerate anything that elicit, but not all of its products and wares were above board. Despite its shady dealings, it was still a very vibrant, very bustling place where people of all sorts wandered aimlessly between tents. And Elphaba found herself gliding along, her eyes glossing over the numerous stalls.
Until one in particular caught her attention. She froze on the spot, her green skin going sickly pale in a flash.
One booth had well over a dozen cages stacked up on the table, and each cage contained a small primate of some sort. There were tamarins and marmosets and other species of small monkeys Elphaba didn't know off the top of her head, but that hardly mattered to her. All she saw were poor, helpless animals trapped in cages, and she felt her heart burst into raging fury.
She was reminded all too cruelly of the horrors she witnessed herself, of Animals trapped in cages, left to rot in their own filth, with barely any room to breathe, the light of life in their eyes snuffed out by their cruel captors. And inside these cages right in front of her, she saw that same misery, that same look of utter helplessness in each of the tiny monkeys' faces as they were doomed to spend the rest of their lives in this prison.
She thought of her dear friend Chistery--
"See anything you like, miss?"
Elphaba's hawkish eyes snapped to the speaker, the supposed owner of the stall, who was a fat greasy slimy pig of a man who leered at her. He gave her a smile full of rotting, putrid teeth.
"Aren't they just the cutest lil' critters you've ever seen! Got 'em from all over the multi-verse to sell to enterprising young ladies like yourself! These lil' varmints here make fine pets--!"
Elphaba's entire body went rigid, and the cages began to tremble as her magic began to thrum like a building storm.
"Pets?" she spat, her eyes fiery and fierce.
The man stuttered, taking a half-step back as he eyed the rattling cages nervously. "Well, yes--"
"How DARE you!"
With her outburst, the cages flew open, and the monkeys wasted not a second and scampered out, fleeing every which way fast as a bolt of lightning. One monkey, a golden tamarin, raced right up to Elphaba, scampering up her leg like a squirrel and huddling on her shoulder, shivering violently. Elphaba wasted no time scooping the poor thing up in her hands, cradling it with such gentle motherly care.
"Now wait just a second!" the vendor spat furiously. "Those little beasts are MINE! What gives you the right--!"
"No, what gives you the right!" Elphaba roared. She reached out her hand, and the man froze on the spot, gasping and clutching at his throat as an invisible hand choked him. "What gives you the right to rip these poor things from their families and homes so you can hock them off to drooling troglodytes like yourself to be imprisoned for the rest of their lives?! How dare you! I should flay you where you stand!"
She dropped him, and the man collapsed to his knees, coughing loudly.
"Frankly, you're not worth the effort," she hissed, and spun on her heel and stalked away.
Maximus felt a looming shadow glide up next to him, the side of him facing her prickled with that same energy he got whenever too close to wild magic. He glanced out of the corner of his eye up at the woman- Green skinned, and glowering.
He wasn't sure why... Maybe she didn't like the little fuzzy things stuck in cages.
...And thennnn he got his answer. Oh BOY did he get his answer.
Yeah, it was calling these little things pets. With her ensuing outburst, the cages rattled and suddenly flew open, their inhabitants immediately darting out every which way. Maximus felt something warm latch onto his leg, and looked down to find one of them latched onto his leg. Its pleading eyes stared up at him desperately- but Maximus couldn't help it. IT CREEPED HIM OUT!
He was kind of preoccupied with his little hitchhiker and didn't really pay attention to the woman force-choking the stall keeper. It miiiiight've put him off approaching her later. But as it was, he was trying to reach the little critter without possibly pinching it between his joints, but it kept shifting. Worse yet, the lady was stalking away and she seemed the most knowledgeable about these critters! Or at least, she CAUSED the problem, shouldn't she solve it!?
"Eh- Uh, Miss!" A squeaky voice called above the thrum of the crowd. Maximus limped as fast as he could toward the woman, keeping the leg the critter was latched onto stiff for- again- fear of pinching it. So there was an AWFUL sound of metal scraping stone following Elphaba as she stalked away.
Whether he caught up or, she turned to see who'd called out to her, either way he continued "Ma'am- ma'am, uh- help? It's - uh, I don't - want to hurt it but- but it won't let go!"
He gestured to the little fuzzy creature clinging to his leg and admittedly couldn't hide the look of panic in his eyes.
He wasn't sure why... Maybe she didn't like the little fuzzy things stuck in cages.
...And thennnn he got his answer. Oh BOY did he get his answer.
Yeah, it was calling these little things pets. With her ensuing outburst, the cages rattled and suddenly flew open, their inhabitants immediately darting out every which way. Maximus felt something warm latch onto his leg, and looked down to find one of them latched onto his leg. Its pleading eyes stared up at him desperately- but Maximus couldn't help it. IT CREEPED HIM OUT!
He was kind of preoccupied with his little hitchhiker and didn't really pay attention to the woman force-choking the stall keeper. It miiiiight've put him off approaching her later. But as it was, he was trying to reach the little critter without possibly pinching it between his joints, but it kept shifting. Worse yet, the lady was stalking away and she seemed the most knowledgeable about these critters! Or at least, she CAUSED the problem, shouldn't she solve it!?
"Eh- Uh, Miss!" A squeaky voice called above the thrum of the crowd. Maximus limped as fast as he could toward the woman, keeping the leg the critter was latched onto stiff for- again- fear of pinching it. So there was an AWFUL sound of metal scraping stone following Elphaba as she stalked away.
Whether he caught up or, she turned to see who'd called out to her, either way he continued "Ma'am- ma'am, uh- help? It's - uh, I don't - want to hurt it but- but it won't let go!"
He gestured to the little fuzzy creature clinging to his leg and admittedly couldn't hide the look of panic in his eyes.
Elphaba was stalking away at a brisk pace, head up and shoulders square, daring anyone to stop her. But inwardly, her mind was spinning.
Stupid. So stupid. Just had to fly off the handle yet again, didn't you? Oh, if Krepta ever found out, she'd have a fit. But it's not like she was here on any sort of official Agent business, and Elphaba was damn sure selling exotic pets wasn't exactly legal, and how could anyone fault her for freeing these poor innocent monkeys--?!
A fast-approaching sound of crashing metal caught her ear and every nerve in her body stood on end. No, it couldn't be--!
"Eh-Uh, Miss!"
She whipped around. Blinked. Then looked down.
Trailing after her, clumsily limping away and making quite a ruckus as it did so, was a small humanoid metal contraption. And distinctly, not who she thought it was.
Of course it wasn't, he was gone--
In front of her was a metallic being. It was human in shape, in that it had two arms and two legs and a distinct head and torso, but it was short, maybe only three feet tall. Steam puffed out of the pipes out of the side of its head, and it just bore a very uncomfortable resemblance to someone she had known a long time ago--
But it was talking now, gesturing awkwardly and nervously to its leg. "Ma'am- ma'am, uh- help? It's - uh, I don't - want to hurt it but- but it won't let go!"
She looked down further. Indeed, right there on its leg clung another tiny little monkey. Elphaba recognized it as a squirrel monkey with its tannish fur and white face and yellow hands and feet. Elphaba lowered to her knee, her eyes softening as she looked at the tiny thing.
"Oh, there, there," she said gently, holding her hand out to it. "I didn't mean to frighten you. It's alright, you're safe now."
She moved very slowly and carefully, every movement measured and slow so not to scare the poor thing. And then the squirrel monkey clambered up Max's body, sitting on his shoulder and clinging at his head. Elphaba let out a soft laugh.
"Hm. She likes you," Elphaba said, giving Max a careful look up and down. But there was something softer in her eyes, something teetering on the edge of approval. "Well, we can keep these little ones safe until we can find them a proper home. Somewhere far away from this awful place, preferably."
Stupid. So stupid. Just had to fly off the handle yet again, didn't you? Oh, if Krepta ever found out, she'd have a fit. But it's not like she was here on any sort of official Agent business, and Elphaba was damn sure selling exotic pets wasn't exactly legal, and how could anyone fault her for freeing these poor innocent monkeys--?!
A fast-approaching sound of crashing metal caught her ear and every nerve in her body stood on end. No, it couldn't be--!
"Eh-Uh, Miss!"
She whipped around. Blinked. Then looked down.
Trailing after her, clumsily limping away and making quite a ruckus as it did so, was a small humanoid metal contraption. And distinctly, not who she thought it was.
Of course it wasn't, he was gone--
In front of her was a metallic being. It was human in shape, in that it had two arms and two legs and a distinct head and torso, but it was short, maybe only three feet tall. Steam puffed out of the pipes out of the side of its head, and it just bore a very uncomfortable resemblance to someone she had known a long time ago--
But it was talking now, gesturing awkwardly and nervously to its leg. "Ma'am- ma'am, uh- help? It's - uh, I don't - want to hurt it but- but it won't let go!"
She looked down further. Indeed, right there on its leg clung another tiny little monkey. Elphaba recognized it as a squirrel monkey with its tannish fur and white face and yellow hands and feet. Elphaba lowered to her knee, her eyes softening as she looked at the tiny thing.
"Oh, there, there," she said gently, holding her hand out to it. "I didn't mean to frighten you. It's alright, you're safe now."
She moved very slowly and carefully, every movement measured and slow so not to scare the poor thing. And then the squirrel monkey clambered up Max's body, sitting on his shoulder and clinging at his head. Elphaba let out a soft laugh.
"Hm. She likes you," Elphaba said, giving Max a careful look up and down. But there was something softer in her eyes, something teetering on the edge of approval. "Well, we can keep these little ones safe until we can find them a proper home. Somewhere far away from this awful place, preferably."
"Ehh!"
Maximus complained when the creature darted up his body and wrapped its fuzzy little arms around his face, clinging to the side of his head. His hands raised initially as if he were going to grab it, but paused while the kind? Scary? ...Green, woman talked.
Eventually he just let out a clustered puff of smoke-- irritation, and set his hands on what would be his hips if he had them. "She can like me all she wants but that doesn't mean I reciprocate!"
The complaint was more idle than anything else, it was just something to say to cover up the fact he was pretty uncomfortable right now. "Um-- well, I guess I can.... help you find someplace to put them..? ......Not like I've got much going on anyways. And.... I dunno. I'd prefer not having a little fuzzy humanoid thing clinging to my face for the rest of the day. Do you speak their language or somethin?"
The creature's grip shifted and ended up putting one of its paws in his eye socket, which got a very tense posture out of him. He sloooowly reached up to maybe COAX it off his face, and... well it sort of worked. It latched onto his arm now. He looked down at it and sighed. Well, replicated a sigh sound, then looked back up at the woman. "....Whaddo I call you? ....I'm Maximus."
Maximus complained when the creature darted up his body and wrapped its fuzzy little arms around his face, clinging to the side of his head. His hands raised initially as if he were going to grab it, but paused while the kind? Scary? ...Green, woman talked.
Eventually he just let out a clustered puff of smoke-- irritation, and set his hands on what would be his hips if he had them. "She can like me all she wants but that doesn't mean I reciprocate!"
The complaint was more idle than anything else, it was just something to say to cover up the fact he was pretty uncomfortable right now. "Um-- well, I guess I can.... help you find someplace to put them..? ......Not like I've got much going on anyways. And.... I dunno. I'd prefer not having a little fuzzy humanoid thing clinging to my face for the rest of the day. Do you speak their language or somethin?"
The creature's grip shifted and ended up putting one of its paws in his eye socket, which got a very tense posture out of him. He sloooowly reached up to maybe COAX it off his face, and... well it sort of worked. It latched onto his arm now. He looked down at it and sighed. Well, replicated a sigh sound, then looked back up at the woman. "....Whaddo I call you? ....I'm Maximus."
Despite Maximu's protests at the monkey's affections, Elphaba continued to smile, even letting out a very quiet chuckle at the monkey's antics. But at Maximus's question, the smile dropped, and she stood back up, the golden tamarin still perched on her shoulder as she looked at it.
"No, I cannot speak to animals. The animals here don't talk," she said. "I just . . . have an affinity for them. It's shocking what a small bit of patience and empathy will do to win an animal's trust, not like many people bother with that to begin with."
She looked down at Maximus, giving him a courteous dip of her head. "Maximus. Good to meet you. You may call me Elphaba. Now, let's see if we can find a suitable home for these monkeys. I can always head back to the Omphalos and ask the ones working at the stables--" She paused, and glanced at Maximus's arm, noting the lack of a Key Gauntlet. So just a civilian, and not another Agent. Probably for the best. "But let us see if we can find out where these poor things came from, first of all."
Elphaba began walking in no direction in particular, but it was clear she was searching for . . . something. Maybe some other vendor might know a thing or two about exotic animals, and she was looking for anyone who might fit the part.
"Are you familiar with this market?" She asked Maximus. "If we find other vendors dealing with the exotic pet trade, we might be able to find out where this vendor stole these monkeys from."
"No, I cannot speak to animals. The animals here don't talk," she said. "I just . . . have an affinity for them. It's shocking what a small bit of patience and empathy will do to win an animal's trust, not like many people bother with that to begin with."
She looked down at Maximus, giving him a courteous dip of her head. "Maximus. Good to meet you. You may call me Elphaba. Now, let's see if we can find a suitable home for these monkeys. I can always head back to the Omphalos and ask the ones working at the stables--" She paused, and glanced at Maximus's arm, noting the lack of a Key Gauntlet. So just a civilian, and not another Agent. Probably for the best. "But let us see if we can find out where these poor things came from, first of all."
Elphaba began walking in no direction in particular, but it was clear she was searching for . . . something. Maybe some other vendor might know a thing or two about exotic animals, and she was looking for anyone who might fit the part.
"Are you familiar with this market?" She asked Maximus. "If we find other vendors dealing with the exotic pet trade, we might be able to find out where this vendor stole these monkeys from."
Maximus hurried to keep up, always finding it annoying keeping up with the longer strides of taller folks. He kept his eyes trained on the... monkey, apparently, clinging to his arm. It seemed INTENT on staying put. Well... maybe that was for the better.....
At Elphaba's question, he replied "Not really, no. First day visiting. I uh, kinda got into this mess visiting a market like this one, so uh...... Was a little hesitant in case of a repeat."
He realized that was a little vague, so explained "--I-I've only been here a week. Or two? Time's hard to keep track of... Um, how many nights has it been..." he began counting on his fingers.
".......Yeah, yeah. Couple weeks. Got here a couple weeks ago, to Sanctuary I mean. Not native here. But I think you'd know that, yeah? Nobody in their right mind would build an automaton in the middle of this freaking nightmare...."
He muttered something in another language Elphaba wouldn't quite understand, but given the cadence it was probably a more heavy cussword than 'freaking'.
"I mean, that makes it sound BAD. It's not like the city's BAD. The storms are just what makes it not so great. You're from the Omphalos, yeah? That's where those agents live. Are you a agent? Gotta be. I mean, if they just let any YAHOO live there, I doubt there'd be much folk left here. .....Again, city's not bad. But people complain alot about the cold, yeah? I don't really mind it. I run hot. Maybe that's why this thing likes me-"
It took him a moment to realize he'd slipped into an entirely one-sided conversation, and stopped himself. It was somewhat.... disturbing? Having so much to talk about, and nothing really stopping him. So.... he locked it down, as he still was a little wary about sharing. "......Anyway. The answer's no. Not familiar with this place. At all. Nadda. Zilch."
Silence, a moment of it, anyways.
"........Sssssoo...... How old are you?" yeah he didn't really have a filter anymore, did he.
At Elphaba's question, he replied "Not really, no. First day visiting. I uh, kinda got into this mess visiting a market like this one, so uh...... Was a little hesitant in case of a repeat."
He realized that was a little vague, so explained "--I-I've only been here a week. Or two? Time's hard to keep track of... Um, how many nights has it been..." he began counting on his fingers.
".......Yeah, yeah. Couple weeks. Got here a couple weeks ago, to Sanctuary I mean. Not native here. But I think you'd know that, yeah? Nobody in their right mind would build an automaton in the middle of this freaking nightmare...."
He muttered something in another language Elphaba wouldn't quite understand, but given the cadence it was probably a more heavy cussword than 'freaking'.
"I mean, that makes it sound BAD. It's not like the city's BAD. The storms are just what makes it not so great. You're from the Omphalos, yeah? That's where those agents live. Are you a agent? Gotta be. I mean, if they just let any YAHOO live there, I doubt there'd be much folk left here. .....Again, city's not bad. But people complain alot about the cold, yeah? I don't really mind it. I run hot. Maybe that's why this thing likes me-"
It took him a moment to realize he'd slipped into an entirely one-sided conversation, and stopped himself. It was somewhat.... disturbing? Having so much to talk about, and nothing really stopping him. So.... he locked it down, as he still was a little wary about sharing. "......Anyway. The answer's no. Not familiar with this place. At all. Nadda. Zilch."
Silence, a moment of it, anyways.
"........Sssssoo...... How old are you?" yeah he didn't really have a filter anymore, did he.
Elphaba opened her mouth to reply--but then Maximus went on. And on. And on.
Goodness, he liked to talk, didn't he?
But then there was finally a brief break in conversation when he asked her if she was an Agent, and she nodded. Not much use lying or hiding that.
"I am. I've been here for a couple of months now. It's difficult to adjust here, I know, but things settle eventually."
And then--
"........Sssssoo...... How old are you?"
Elphaba stopped dead, whipping around and staring down at Maximus. The expression on her face--it wasn't necessarily anger, but it was definitely some sort of mix of complete bafflement and utter bewilderment. It actually looked like her brain had locked up as it tried to comprehend what Maximus had just asked her.
". . . are you serious?" she said. Again, her tone wasn't angry. Just . . . extremely confused. "Of all the questions you could have asked me, that's the one you go with?"
Before she could answer, another woman rushed up to them, her expression bordering on panic.
"Excuse me! Excuse me, miss!" the frantic woman said. "I--I couldn't help but see what happened at the vendor's stall, with those monkeys--and I noticed your Gauntlet--you're an Agent, aren't you? Please, I need your help!"
Instantly, Elphaba's posture changed. She had been around long enough to at least grow accustomed to people approaching her instead of running away in terror. And being an Agent, she had an obligation to help others, and she wasn't going to hesitate now. She reached out to the woman, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Alright, calm down, take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong," Elphaba said. "What happened?"
"It's my daughter! She's gone missing!" the woman wailed. "She said she was going off to feed her kitten, but it's been hours! She should be back by now! I have no idea where she is! I need your help!"
Goodness, he liked to talk, didn't he?
But then there was finally a brief break in conversation when he asked her if she was an Agent, and she nodded. Not much use lying or hiding that.
"I am. I've been here for a couple of months now. It's difficult to adjust here, I know, but things settle eventually."
And then--
"........Sssssoo...... How old are you?"
Elphaba stopped dead, whipping around and staring down at Maximus. The expression on her face--it wasn't necessarily anger, but it was definitely some sort of mix of complete bafflement and utter bewilderment. It actually looked like her brain had locked up as it tried to comprehend what Maximus had just asked her.
". . . are you serious?" she said. Again, her tone wasn't angry. Just . . . extremely confused. "Of all the questions you could have asked me, that's the one you go with?"
Before she could answer, another woman rushed up to them, her expression bordering on panic.
"Excuse me! Excuse me, miss!" the frantic woman said. "I--I couldn't help but see what happened at the vendor's stall, with those monkeys--and I noticed your Gauntlet--you're an Agent, aren't you? Please, I need your help!"
Instantly, Elphaba's posture changed. She had been around long enough to at least grow accustomed to people approaching her instead of running away in terror. And being an Agent, she had an obligation to help others, and she wasn't going to hesitate now. She reached out to the woman, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Alright, calm down, take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong," Elphaba said. "What happened?"
"It's my daughter! She's gone missing!" the woman wailed. "She said she was going off to feed her kitten, but it's been hours! She should be back by now! I have no idea where she is! I need your help!"
Maximus stopped walking as Elphaba suddenly whipped around to face him. Her expression was a twist of... something. Oh, yeah, definitely broke her. Whoops.
Her incredulous tone mixed with the question itself only earned a half-shrug from Maximus as he got a little defensive. "I dunno! I don't know how long your species lives for! Last thing I wanna do is make friends with somebody I'm only gonna get a good 10 years out of before they go and croak-"
Maybe it was a good thing this conversation got interrupted, as a frantic woman ran up to Elphaba desperately pleading for help. Maximus peered up at them as the two talked, perhaps not aware it was rude to eavesdrop.
"Wha? You just let your kid wander off on her own? Do you know where she went?" he butt-in with a question.
Her incredulous tone mixed with the question itself only earned a half-shrug from Maximus as he got a little defensive. "I dunno! I don't know how long your species lives for! Last thing I wanna do is make friends with somebody I'm only gonna get a good 10 years out of before they go and croak-"
Maybe it was a good thing this conversation got interrupted, as a frantic woman ran up to Elphaba desperately pleading for help. Maximus peered up at them as the two talked, perhaps not aware it was rude to eavesdrop.
"Wha? You just let your kid wander off on her own? Do you know where she went?" he butt-in with a question.
Elphaba gave a rather scathing glare to Maximus. Really? Did this sentient can of soup not have any manners?
Actually, she just answered her own question.
The woman stared at Maximus, blinking. "I--she's old enough to be left on her own! She can run errands, she can walk back and forth to school on her own, she isn't--she isn't that young--!" she protested meekly.
"Never mind him," Elphaba said, waving her hand in front of Maximus. "Just tell us where she went, and what she looks like, and I will see what I can do to help."
"Well . . . her name is Dotty, and she's nine years old. She's a little taller than your metal friend there," the woman went on, gesturing to Maximus. "And--and she has dark brown hair that I tied into twin braids and she's wearing a blue checkered dress."
Elphaba visibly stiffened. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me . . ."
The woman blinked. "What?"
"Nothing," Elphaba said quickly. "Just . . . where does she usually disappear to when she runs off like this?"
"Well, she usually skirts to the edge of the market, heading to the cemetery, but I've seen her sneak off into the woods just beyond the borders," the woman said.
Oh, this wasn't good. If that little girl got lost in the woods, she could be in very big trouble. With a bit more questioning, the woman gave them a rough location to start their search, and Elphaba raced off at a brisk pace, only sparing a backwards glance at Maximus.
"Well? Are you coming?" she asked sharply. "And for your information, I am human, not an elf, or whatever else you thought I was."
She hadn't forgotten Maximus's little rebuttal, saying he didn't know how long your species lived for. Because of course the little metal contraption took one look at her green skin and decided she couldn't possibly be human.
Actually, she just answered her own question.
The woman stared at Maximus, blinking. "I--she's old enough to be left on her own! She can run errands, she can walk back and forth to school on her own, she isn't--she isn't that young--!" she protested meekly.
"Never mind him," Elphaba said, waving her hand in front of Maximus. "Just tell us where she went, and what she looks like, and I will see what I can do to help."
"Well . . . her name is Dotty, and she's nine years old. She's a little taller than your metal friend there," the woman went on, gesturing to Maximus. "And--and she has dark brown hair that I tied into twin braids and she's wearing a blue checkered dress."
Elphaba visibly stiffened. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me . . ."
The woman blinked. "What?"
"Nothing," Elphaba said quickly. "Just . . . where does she usually disappear to when she runs off like this?"
"Well, she usually skirts to the edge of the market, heading to the cemetery, but I've seen her sneak off into the woods just beyond the borders," the woman said.
Oh, this wasn't good. If that little girl got lost in the woods, she could be in very big trouble. With a bit more questioning, the woman gave them a rough location to start their search, and Elphaba raced off at a brisk pace, only sparing a backwards glance at Maximus.
"Well? Are you coming?" she asked sharply. "And for your information, I am human, not an elf, or whatever else you thought I was."
She hadn't forgotten Maximus's little rebuttal, saying he didn't know how long your species lived for. Because of course the little metal contraption took one look at her green skin and decided she couldn't possibly be human.
Maximus crossed his arms- well, began to, then remembered the monkey and sort of just.... awkwardly shrugged off the arm-crossing attempt and instead put his hands on his not-hips. Anyways- he wasn't exactly staring kindly up at the woman-- ESPECIALLY after she mentioned the kid's age. Took all his effort not to blurt about all the DANGERS a kid that young could get into! He's seen kids before. They're stupid.
Anyways, thankfully he kept his proverbial mouth shut. Instead he just listened as the two exchanged information before Elphaba began stalking off. He did tag along, only because he had nothing better to do and...... admittedly.... he'd been a little lonely.
He wasn't sure why she was so mad at him, though. Had he really said anything THAT bad??
"I was gonna guess Genasi. Those are green sometimes. Never met a green elf before. Or a human for that matter." he remarked... then put in a little extra effort to catch up to walk side-by-side with her. ....Not that it really mattered. He was still below eye level.
"Not like genasi aren't sorta...... half-human? So, y'know...." that meager attempt at quelling whatever species-confusion rage she had trailed off. He decided to switch topics. Maybe it was not offering his own age first that was the faux pas?
".......I don't know how old I am..."
"....Well, I know how long it's been since I last remember, but I existed before then so... I dunno. Weird to think I might've had a whole other life I don't remember. It's beeen.... ah, what is it now? 70 years? I think, anyways. So, y'know. I'm PROBABLY older than you are. Especially if you're human."
Anyways, thankfully he kept his proverbial mouth shut. Instead he just listened as the two exchanged information before Elphaba began stalking off. He did tag along, only because he had nothing better to do and...... admittedly.... he'd been a little lonely.
He wasn't sure why she was so mad at him, though. Had he really said anything THAT bad??
"I was gonna guess Genasi. Those are green sometimes. Never met a green elf before. Or a human for that matter." he remarked... then put in a little extra effort to catch up to walk side-by-side with her. ....Not that it really mattered. He was still below eye level.
"Not like genasi aren't sorta...... half-human? So, y'know...." that meager attempt at quelling whatever species-confusion rage she had trailed off. He decided to switch topics. Maybe it was not offering his own age first that was the faux pas?
".......I don't know how old I am..."
"....Well, I know how long it's been since I last remember, but I existed before then so... I dunno. Weird to think I might've had a whole other life I don't remember. It's beeen.... ah, what is it now? 70 years? I think, anyways. So, y'know. I'm PROBABLY older than you are. Especially if you're human."
Elphaba let out a slow breath as the metal man continued to ramble senselessly on and on about nothing in particular. What was his obsession on harping on the topic of their respective ages? Was it really that important to him?
"It's beeen.... ah, what is it now? 70 years? So, y'know. I'm PROBABLY older than you are. Especially if you're human."
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, silently taking him in. Part of her was fairly alarmed this automaton was that old and didn't know how to carry on a halfway civil conversation. Either that or whoever made him didn't do a very good job on giving him some manners.
"If it makes any difference to you, I am thirty-two years old," she finally relented. "And I doubt you'll ever see another green-skinned human like myself. We're not supposed to be this color."
She reached up, stroking the golden marmoset still perched on her shoulder as it still clung to her. Poor thing was still so frightened and lost, but she was determined to take care of the monkey until she could find it a suitable home.
After a bit of walking, they reached the edge of the Scrapyard, where civilization ended and where the wilds began, the frosty evergreen forests looming off in the near distance. They were near the cemetery, too, and Elphaba hoped the girl would be somewhere there, but something else caught her eye.
"Look there. Footprints," she said, pointing to small impressions in the snow. "Looks to be the right size for a young child. Come on, let's follow them. And if the footprints are a dead end, there's a trick I can try. But let's see where these lead."
"It's beeen.... ah, what is it now? 70 years? So, y'know. I'm PROBABLY older than you are. Especially if you're human."
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, silently taking him in. Part of her was fairly alarmed this automaton was that old and didn't know how to carry on a halfway civil conversation. Either that or whoever made him didn't do a very good job on giving him some manners.
"If it makes any difference to you, I am thirty-two years old," she finally relented. "And I doubt you'll ever see another green-skinned human like myself. We're not supposed to be this color."
She reached up, stroking the golden marmoset still perched on her shoulder as it still clung to her. Poor thing was still so frightened and lost, but she was determined to take care of the monkey until she could find it a suitable home.
After a bit of walking, they reached the edge of the Scrapyard, where civilization ended and where the wilds began, the frosty evergreen forests looming off in the near distance. They were near the cemetery, too, and Elphaba hoped the girl would be somewhere there, but something else caught her eye.
"Look there. Footprints," she said, pointing to small impressions in the snow. "Looks to be the right size for a young child. Come on, let's follow them. And if the footprints are a dead end, there's a trick I can try. But let's see where these lead."
Maximus silently took note of Elphaba's answer. Yeah she probably had a good 20 years left in her. Ugh, maybe best not to get too attached....
Her comment about her skin color did pique his curiosity. He was tempted to ask what happened, but uh..... She seemed a little prickly right now. Maybe best not. Save it for later.
As they neared the graveyard he hesitated, hands clasped, staring over at the field of headstones.
He'd managed to be silent for the rest of the walk here, but this was a different kind of silence. His gaze was fixed on the cemetery.
Elphaba's voice shook him from this trance, and he looked back over to see her a few feet away kneeled by some tracks in the snow. "O-oh.... Yeah, yeah."
On the opposite side of the footprints as Elphaba, they walked in silence for a moment or two before he started back up again. This time, though, it was a bit more somber.
"I uh.... Sorry I asked. 'Bout the age thing. Didn't mean to upset you."
"......"
"....Do they know? If you visit their graves?"
The question was asked quietly, though he evidently thought it needed clarification and more curtly tacked on "Y'know. Dead people."
Her comment about her skin color did pique his curiosity. He was tempted to ask what happened, but uh..... She seemed a little prickly right now. Maybe best not. Save it for later.
As they neared the graveyard he hesitated, hands clasped, staring over at the field of headstones.
He'd managed to be silent for the rest of the walk here, but this was a different kind of silence. His gaze was fixed on the cemetery.
Elphaba's voice shook him from this trance, and he looked back over to see her a few feet away kneeled by some tracks in the snow. "O-oh.... Yeah, yeah."
On the opposite side of the footprints as Elphaba, they walked in silence for a moment or two before he started back up again. This time, though, it was a bit more somber.
"I uh.... Sorry I asked. 'Bout the age thing. Didn't mean to upset you."
"......"
"....Do they know? If you visit their graves?"
The question was asked quietly, though he evidently thought it needed clarification and more curtly tacked on "Y'know. Dead people."
Despite everything, the metal contraption still clung to Elphaba's side, seemingly unwilling to leave. Elphaba didn't know whether she appreciated its company or found it annoying. Part of her did appreciate having another set of eyes to help look for a lost child, but it didn't seem this machine had any interest in helping her in that regard. And Elphaba couldn't help but feel her frustration rise in response.
Still, she promised Fiyero she'd try to be more civil around strangers, so she took a deep breath and smashed down those feelings of frustration.
"You asking my age didn't upset me," she clarified. "It just . . . caught me off guard. There were a hundred and one things you could have asked me, and you asking my age . . . I just didn't expect it, that's all. That's not typically something you start a conversation with. Many others would think that question rude."
"....Do they know? If you visit their graves?"
Elphaba stood, staring once more back down at the metal man with a cocked head. Again, her expression was just . . . deeply confused.
"You ask the most unexpected questions," she noted. But she looked over the cemetery and the many stone markers arranged in neat rows. "I suppose it depends on what you believe in. Those that believe in an afterlife, they say the spirit of the departed lives on and observes the world passing before them. Others think there's nothing beyond death and it's just a state of nonexistence. And others still believe you go somewhere else entirely and move on to some other world."
"But none of that matters," she said, her voice sharpening as she stared down at Maximus. "Forgive my bluntness, but I have little patience for manners at the moment. There is a lost little girl out somewhere in the woods and I need to find her before something bad happens to her. And as much as I despise small children, I'm not having that on my conscience. So. Are you going to help me or are you just going to keep following me around asking strange questions?"
Still, she promised Fiyero she'd try to be more civil around strangers, so she took a deep breath and smashed down those feelings of frustration.
"You asking my age didn't upset me," she clarified. "It just . . . caught me off guard. There were a hundred and one things you could have asked me, and you asking my age . . . I just didn't expect it, that's all. That's not typically something you start a conversation with. Many others would think that question rude."
"....Do they know? If you visit their graves?"
Elphaba stood, staring once more back down at the metal man with a cocked head. Again, her expression was just . . . deeply confused.
"You ask the most unexpected questions," she noted. But she looked over the cemetery and the many stone markers arranged in neat rows. "I suppose it depends on what you believe in. Those that believe in an afterlife, they say the spirit of the departed lives on and observes the world passing before them. Others think there's nothing beyond death and it's just a state of nonexistence. And others still believe you go somewhere else entirely and move on to some other world."
"But none of that matters," she said, her voice sharpening as she stared down at Maximus. "Forgive my bluntness, but I have little patience for manners at the moment. There is a lost little girl out somewhere in the woods and I need to find her before something bad happens to her. And as much as I despise small children, I'm not having that on my conscience. So. Are you going to help me or are you just going to keep following me around asking strange questions?"
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