The Bitter Few 4 - or 'The Plight of Human-Kivouackian Circumstances' (The August Few: Amygdala, Human!SI)

EDIT: This chapter was commissioned/requested on Pxtreon.

Hum and hum, the dark tunes hums.

The Other Voices have gone wilder compared to usual, yet, the owner of such maddening thought was hardly complaining with the sudden lucidity of mind she had been blessed with. There were times she had dreamed of a moment like this, and while the lone kiv wondered why her troubled thoughts were now more malleable to be dispersed, she didn't try to revert to her previous bout of rabid instincts. She just enjoyed the sickly air, ignoring the other fools wandering the streets, weak and strong- none mattering to her as she strolled the streets to reach her destination- Roland's Chopshop.

The place wasn't the best, but it was close and she had an alleged deal with them through her allegiance. She was famished, her belly rumbling for some warm meals, and while the Other Voices were oddly duller than usual, her irritation was not as mellow as those.

Not when she was clearly getting scammed due to a 'technicality' as the bold idiots waiting at the Chopshop put it as. Raising her ribcaged chest upward, puffing it through her tattered black jacket to show her many golden chains and her nebolous blue fur, the Blackhall bared her fangs at the Chopper and his Bookeeper as they discussed their recent end of the deal by the alley beside the business.

"What's the problem? I did the job-"

"Yet you did not read the fine lines of the deal," The Chopper interrupted abruptly. A flimsy moment of bravery within that cowardly husk of his. "W-We only extend our deals with Dail's Bookburrow. Not Highclay's Bookburrow."

A snarl emerged from her ugly scowl, her irritation far more focused than usual, displaying a more subtle but even more threatening aspect of her logical wrath at the effective lie.

"Yet you saw no reason to lament about this when I did the job!" Her claws were now on the wall beside the duo, the two morons backing away slightly out of fear as shivers ran through their bodies. "Pray tell then, why shouldn't I make quick work with ya both?!"

"B-Because-"

"In fact, how do you think you can push me back? Calling the Yolsh? Admitting that you conduct scandalous deals?!" The female Kiv was now standing on her hinderlegs, her height fully manifested as it further towered upon the two clerks. "I will have the deal restored, I will not be whined about and I will not hear more trouble from any of you."

They both nodded, with the Chopper gulping nervously before replying with a "Y-Yes, good Blackhall!"

"Five chimes of lodging- warm meals!"

"Y-yes! As agreed upon, g-good Blackhall." Dail whimpered and it made the Blackhall grin.

"Ooh laa." The female kiv slowly softened, yet stood guarded over the weaklings. She knew a moment of weakness would just be mistaken for 'an opportunity' so she just growled away. "Wa la wa, I am with Highclay, so if you need any other job- do find someone else to trick, you welps."

A final nod, and the Blackhall strutted away with an aimless look. Tired and in need of a moment to enjoy this brief chance for lucidity when-

"Celia! There you are!" Someone cried from the southern end of the alley, and the Blackhall turned with a hint of surprise at the source of that call.

Here he was, the source of many unrequited troubles from within her. Her heart throbbed so slightly, but she silenced its joy as she focused a calculated smile at the one that always made her so weak by the claws' tips.

"Dalton. Long time no see, you old jerk."

The quadruped offered a devilish grin, horns round around his ears as his red eyes added a sense of danger to his overall dreadful appearance made by a dark coat of fur with a red mane and four golden stripe each for his shoulders. Which was, truth be told, quite ironic on him considering how much of a softie Dalton truly was around others.

"What fresh mess did you cause just now?"

"Faced a few scummy scammers. Nothing worrisome- the deal will be honored."

Despite her friendliness and affection, Celia was keen to refrain her tongue. Dalton may be one of the most trustworthy fellows she knew, but he was also a Yolsh and a stickler by the rules due to his integrity.

"Scammers? How so?"

She rolled her eyes, perceiving a hint of worry and a genuine sense of care. It was odd to not have the voices blaming her for daring to hurt him this way as Celia could see it as natural behavior among friends.

"Nothin' to be worried about," Celia grumbled with a hint of unnatural softness. "So, what do you need from me?"

The cheeky moron went slightly stiff at the question, then tried to play it off with a forced relaxation of his muscles. "Who says I needed you for somethin'?"

"So, it is somethin' bad." She asked, pressing on the teasing as she pranced closer to Dalton, her steps akin to a loving cheshire feline.

"Not so bad." His voice trembled for just a tiny moment, and her smile cheekily grew at the brief hints of amusing unease that she loved to ravish him for with her words. "What was that deal with Roland?"

Celia held back from snorting at the clever deflection, but she too was up for a game of chase within their verbal play as she took some steps around Dalton and, easily so, 'convinced him' to follow her to Lovart Square- just outside the Alley. It was more public, it was more exposed, but Dalton was aware of the game that Celia tended to play with him, and he was keen to abide by it because he really needed her help.

"A place where to sleep."

"Dollhouse?" Dalton argued curtly, but Celia shrugged.

"I prefer to also have food on the side when I wake up," The female Kiv added smoothly. "Still, the job was quite frustrating."

"Hm? Do tell?"

"What's up with Methusa and her tax hike?" Celia asked back, knowing the Yolsh should have some information over this worrisome new development that had almost screwed with her most recent job. "I know that erillion is now a resource difficult to give in exchange, but many are now distrustful of 'expensive deals'."

"Why do you care for it?"

"I was tasked to care for a Smith that thought he was being played," The starry-eyed kiv judged around, seeing people still whispering of similar topics - Methusa had indeed caused a big mess for all. "The letter he sent for permission move to the Kasino got lost in transit."

"And you fixed the misunderstanding?" Was there a misunderstanding?

"I hardly used any loudness. Paper exists that confirm this is just some dumb stuff pushed through by that Voice. Again, why is she doin' this, Dalton?"

"I can't say... because I don't know either."

Now, that was actually a surprise as Celia frowned at this admission. The Yolsh, the primary source of law enforcement in Locket's Law, was unaware of what pushed for such irregular circumstance? One would have thought that the Trade Revolution would have made them less cowardly towards anyone trying to cause a new economic mess.

"Ah, whatever. What do you need?"

"You had a relatively easy job just now, yes?"

She nodded. "That I did but-"

"I want to give you a challenge."

Celia was tempted to just say no. As much as her instinct ached for something riskier, she was also aware that sleep deprivation was not fun! Still, Dalton was a big friend to her and she sighed.

"What about, old horns?"

He grinned. "I need you to cheek Poll's."

Her eyes narrowed. "Polly's Tab? The Toyshop?"

"You know it?"

"I hate her toys. Damn puppets are creepy," She grumbled. "Still, what does she want from the Yolsh?"

"Not her. Thallius, the Architect of her place, says that there's some anomalies."

She raised a perplexed brow at that. "And you want me to investigate? I am not a Yolsh-"

"You're a Blackhall, thus you don't require mandate for this job. We do and-"

"You have issues with getting one?"

Dalton sighed. "Too little proof, but I have a feeling tha' we will find something tied to what happened in Vileborne. You heard it?"

Celia scrunched her face, thinking back at hearing something about an explosion happening there. And a fire. Many died there.

"Somethin' about a burning dollhouse. What about it?"

"We have reason to believe those cases are connected. We need you on the task. I need you."

At this point, the Other Voices would have called Dalton someone trying to backstab her so badly. After all, it meant exposing herself to trouble- to publicity! That's not something that Celia looked forward to. In fact, she was tempted to say no when she realized that...

Ooh? Dalton needs for someone to do an illegal thin' for him? How weird.

Dalton wouldn't have asked unless something big was cooking. And as much as Celia wouldn't do this with others, Dalton was a big softie she cared for.

"Fine. Wa la wa, you better not get me killed with this, Dally."

He snorted and then paused. "Dally? Never taken you much for a namer."

"Feelin' in a good mood. Don't ruin it, Dally."

Despite the unusual circumstance, Celia was still in a positive mindset. Less voices in her head, less hurting, less... Oh, less reasons to be a bitch with others.

Plus, she desperately craved to get a job done with this lucid mind to test out how things were before 'the accident'.

AN

Where did Celia's 'crazy voices' go?