Disclaimer: This is set before the Mantis Surgery, don't crucify me for getting the personality wrong. It's been years since I've last wrote. Enjoy.
Within a local workshop, machinery and tools were scattered in every area. In the center, a messy brownish blond-haired woman was tinkering on a metal workbench. Said person is also the very same woman who's done countless performances for her audience in her life.
Vill-V went by many names but many knew her as a renowned magician, an expert machinist, an insane experimentalist, local con artist, but to one, a special someone's beloved.
The casual attire she adorned consisted of a simple brown coat, black crop top, jeans, and a pair of goggles stationed above her eyes.
As of the moment, she's having quite a lot of trouble with her current project on the workbench, involving a heavy-looking cannon of sorts. Performances involving machinery were her specialty and pride.
Its steampunk-themed exterior consists of pipes, gears, clocks, triggers, and more alike.
The contraption might not seem as magical or advanced as current technology. However, to her, this meant something deep, something valuable, all of which dates back to her early childhood back in Sundown Alley.
Yet right now, despite knowing how it works, she still struggles to make the perfect weapon. Especially with the amount of debris and tools littered around as evidence of her failures and upbringing.
"No no no, this doesn't go here… not that either… what if… this doesn't seem right… ughhhh" Vill-V muttered with frustration, almost clutching onto her head.
Sparks flew about while tampering with the cannon's systems, causing audible explosion-like noise to echo throughout the workshop.
Just then, a door to the workshop opened, revealing a man in a similar attire to hers. Key differences are the vest he donned, short black hair, and a tan scarf wrapped around his neck.
"Heya V, are things alright down here? Came to check up on you after that uh explosion?" He asked with concern while viewing the spectacle.
The magician snapped her view onto the new figure, showing off a saddened look. Small faint black bags were visible underneath her eyes.
"No… I keep messing up like always…"
He tilts his head before looking around and then into the contraption she's having some difficulty on.
Getting closer to her work area, he inspects it with a slight nod of acknowledgment.
"Do you need any help with this? I got some spare time to help you out. Before you ask, the kids at the orphanage will rip my head off if you keep me for too long."
"Hm? Oh yeah sure but be careful with the wiring, it zapped me a couple of times" She warned.
He chuckled in response, picking up a nearby wrench and twirling it around nonchalantly with his right hand.
"I've gone through worse, how bad could it be-"
As he tempted Murphy's law, a large cloud of smoke blasted onto his face. Black dust covered a rather large majority, causing him to wipe himself.
"Phttt hehe"
Upon witnessing the horrible temptation, Vill-V laughs and her mood brightens up, enlightening the room with a radiant smile.
The helper, on the other hand, coughs up the dirty air and deadpanned at her reaction.
"Okay then, never gonna say that again, I deserved that," He said while still wiping his eyes from the dust particles.
She giggled at his remark.
Real smooth.
"There isn't a lot to help with exactly, I just need some of the wiring to be organized and connected, probably some lifting too, this cannon isn't just a prop y'know?"
"Ah right got it… after we fix this, I'd want to show you something once we're done with this of course"
"Oh?~ What might that be?" She asked with raised brows.
"It's a surprise, nothing too crazy but not too small either" He replied lightly, ending it off with a finger bang.
"Alright then, keep your secrets, ill find out one way or another!"
"You'll find out soon, I won't take long."
He inspects the wiring from every angle. Connect a few pieces here and there. To the normal eye, this would seem complicated beyond comprehension however the assistant does the task with ease. He almost connected the wrong wire to the exhaust source but in the end, he managed it.
At the cost of his fingers being extremely sore…
The girl double-checks the cannon from the inside out before nodding off with a smug and prideful flare.
"Not bad my apprentice! You've done pretty well!" She expressed, patting his back.
He groaned but shrugged it off with his chuckle.
"Was that all? I expected there to be mor-"
"Something is missing… I can't put my finger on it…"
She snaps her head back and forth from her so-called apprentice to the machine. The repetitive motion happens for about three minutes before her silver eyes turn into stars. One could've sworn a light bulb lit above her given the excitement.
This could mean one of two things, the idea being a good thing or a bad thing. In this case, the apprentice seems to be sweating profusely. As if someone threw a water balloon at his face point blank.
"Oh no-"
Then, a mischievous giggle erupted from the crazed magician, cutting his realization off like a metallic knife.
"Relax it'll be fine, I just need someone to test this baby out so… why not have my fellow henchman have the honors?" She asked with a playful mischievous smile.
"I don't know, last time that happened, I ended up flying to the other side of the room" He replied, shivering at the memory.
She pouts at him with a cute angry face.
"It's either that or… I'll do it myself with you as a test dummy" with her everlasting grin of torment.
"Oh, you wouldn't dare you villain!"
"I dare alright! As you should remember, a fellow magician never goes back on her promise!" She proclaimed with absolute pride.
"I'd love to see you try!"
She claps her hands twice, triggering a whooshing sound. Just then, a blue dart of energy strikes from above and hits the man on his right shoulder.
The jolt-like feeling spreads throughout his body, making him obtain a reactionary shiver. Although he was struck, he didn't mind it and just giggled like something tickled him. Looking towards the source, he looks at the ceiling above, revealing a small turret. Exterior fashioned a similar steampunk design compared to the cannon they were working on.
Even though there's a literal gun that might kill him in an instant, he jokingly shrugs it off showing a fake pained expression.
"Ow Owwwww, you're just playing dirty now aren't ya?"
"Dirty? I'd like to call this… a show of drama fufufu~"
"A show you say?… oh great magician, please spare this mere commoner, what have I ever done to deserve such treatment?!"
He says with enthusiasm and false defeat. Even performing some dramatic posing for the eyes.
On her end, she still donned the roguish expression. It's barely noticeable but she could tell he doesn't hate it as a small crooked smile plastered onto her henchman's face. It was in his nature to support and mess around with people. She knew how he functioned, especially when she was around.
They both laughed their small act off like it was nothing.
"Rightttt, so V, what'd you want me to do?" He asked with uncertainty.
Vill-V puts her fingers under her chin, inspecting the weapon one last time before rubbing her left hand onto the large barrel. There were a million things she could add, remove, or change, all with endless amounts of possibilities. She thought to herself deeply, spacing out while staring at her beloved creation.
Her expressed face turns into a variety of emotions in order. Playfulness, Curiosity, Confusion, then Conflict. Latter of which bothered her as her thought process went on.
She sighs.
"On second thought… maybe we'll test it out later, feeling a bit too curious about what you have for me," The magician said, rubbing her head as if she had adopted a small migraine.
"The surprise? Well it isn't much given the budget but let me grab it for you, hold on"
He then rummaged through his small black bag, its interior storage filled with a large number of oddities of the like. They took a while to sort out but alas, he pulled out a tiny box wrapped in brown and gold wrapping paper. Its shiny exterior gives reflection from the light above.
The assistant, getting closer face-first into her vicinity, passed the present towards the mechanic with a faint genuine smile.
The woman was in awe, excitement filling in her eyes. She swiftly grabbed ahold of it, hastily unwrapping the gift before her.
In return, she's rewarded with the sight of a gold pendant. The jewelry is engraved with a gear-like feature with a clear diamond crystal in its center. Some faint scratches could be seen on its exterior but it added to the charm.
"What's… this?" The hard-working magician asked, becoming speechless at her prize.
"It's something I wanted you to remember the both of us by, look, I got a similar one too!"
He showed off a near-identical replica though instead of a blue diamond, it glowed a soft warm orange.
"OH! Almost forgot, you can barely notice the line but the pendant could also open. Though do it slowly and savor the moment. Trust me"
She nodded and opened the gear, revealing a picture of both her and the assistant. The image reveals the both of them doing a peace sign together with the moon looming over them at the beach. By the moon's side, an array of colorful fireworks covered the dark skies. With the stars looming above as a sign of hope.
Vill-V slowly looked up at him with pure softness. He looked back similarly.
They both shared a moment of silence.
"I…"
Speechless as she is, she couldn't figure out what to say, stuttering with every word one after another. To add the cherry on top, he cut her off to say something unforgettable.
"Happy Birthday V"
As he said that, her silver and pink eyes began to swell up with natural water. She began to audibly sniff after hearing the words of her partner. A visible faint blush adorned her features.
All of a sudden, the machinist then thrust herself onto her assistant, bursting with wholehearted tears of joy. Wrapping her arms and hugging him tightly as if she'll never have a memory like this again.
"T-Thank y-you," She said while sobbing in between her words.
Being slightly caught off guard by her actions, he returned the gesture and hugged back in response. His right arm patted her back gently.
"Hey, It's the least I could do for a birthday girl like you, hope you like it," He said soothingly.
"L-like it? I love it! Hehehe"
Vill-V's flushed face closes onto her test dummy's cheek, kissing it before nuzzling his neck.
A long moment of passion is shared between the two birds.
Breaking the silence, she muttered softly.
"Thank you… for sticking with me"