THE WORLD that Hates You [MASA ZERO}

[Headful_of_Eyeballs]

Martial talent: GO FOR THE LEGS
Turns out that making somebody fall over is a lot more useful than you'd expect- And you know this very well. Whenever you hit somebody in the knees, calves, or ankles; they will be stunned and trip onto the ground- buying you extra time to run away or get a few easy hits in.

Mental talent: THE WRITE STUFF
You always loved stories when you were little- and you have a knack for making ones yourself.

Motif: TSUNAMI
A unstoppable forward march- charging ahead no matter what stands in your way.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Before the proxy could continue, you were hit by a hot flash, dropping you on your knees.
When you were younger, you were massively a wrestling and mixed martial arts on tv. You had a neighbor friend who would invite you over to watch since his older brother would often have pay per view matches and recorded tapes.

He really wanted to make it big, taught you how to do a few little takedowns and sweep folks onto the ground.
Got you in trouble, a kid who knows how to actually hurt another gets screamed at in the office even if it's self defense. They don't really care, they just want to make the problem go away first and everything else second.
 
The older brother one day finally left to try and push his career but he refused to show his face after that, not that it mattered anymore.
The rest of the family had the funds and brains to leave the region early enough. You wish you could talk to them..

You flash forward to a time you and another kid mutually broke each others' noses. You loved to write and draw, tell all sorts of stories about little guys who became adventurers. You were drawn to knights, monsters, all sorts of interesting people who you knew existed but not in your little pocket of the world.
 
You shared those writings with a friend who seemed to love it just as much, seemed to genuinely understand.
One day she shared it to her friends, you got called a freak and a pervert. People wouldn't stop harassing you over it, the kid who loved stories about the hero and the monster falling in love. Stories about becoming a demonic creature and escaping the world that never gave them a chance, growing wings and finding freedom.


You did a lot of research on your spare time, as much as the school library allowed so it left you with tons of pockets of knowledge to work off of. The staff never minded you but after punching a guy too hard the principle had it ruled that your teachers were aware of your tendencies and restricted you. Problem child, troubled student, your parents begging for them not to shove you into the local juvenile detention center. Hated it.

 
You had grandparents you used to visit before everyone became confined to the region, had to take a boat to see them. Everytime you got to see them, they always had the most lush of gardens you'd ever seen. Petals practically drowned the lawn in seasons where the flowers started to wither, you'd watch them dry and return to the earth every year and then come back vibrant and new eventually.


Every living creature danced between life and death, everyone is part of a bigger cycle that no amount of money can make you immune to. Things would end and begin once more..
You felt oddly connected to the nature of such things.. even in their golden years, your grandparents would continue to maintain the cycle localized in their backyard.

You can hear your proxy, genuinely worried for your life. 

There was a fight happening and you weren't there.

Get it together...
 
When you regained your senses, your proxy was coiled around you, held you tight.
Your hazy eyes began to shift after being still for what felt like a eternity.

Stranger Sunset: Hey, say something if you can hear me!
 
Pato: I'm.. I'm okay I think, I'll-

You gaze past their shoulder, a massive wave of flower petals fending off a massive monstrosity, Ono standing in front of the two of you ready to throw hands.

Pato: What is that??
 

The creature in front of you was abstracted, simple and yet impossible to pin down as something that could and should exist.

Ono: Dr. Godhead's proxy! Modeled after a angel, practically has one in his pocket! Do not let it hit you!

Pato: The scary kind?!

Ono: Only kind to exist! Your buddy here's been holding the thing off.

The opposite proxy sprayed the sky with violent streaks of light, clouds that were hit bursting into flame. The way it thrashed made it a danger to everything and everyone, road already
split down the center deep from a beam that missed.

Stranger Sunset: We need to keep it down long enough for Reyes to get the kill!

Ono: Yeah I-

Before he can finish a sentence, the eye of the proxy manages to lock in on you. You try to reach for your bat, Stranger Sunset tries to drag you out of the beam's way desperately.

Then a flash, one that leaves you blinded for a moment.

Then the world appears, shapes formed by thin cracked lines before filling in.

A true absence of color, of light and shadow, before you can see someone standing before you.

Ono panting, the forked weapon he kept on hand sizzling, the cracked skybox of the world above you visibly showing you something beyond your reality.

The angel crumpled, petals loosening. The illusion of there being anything beyond this town fractured beyond repair.

The world you came from was no longer here, long a memory.

The faux angel's cry before it completely shattered.

Pato: Mr. Ono?

His proxy coiled around him for comfort, he leaned into its shoulder with relief.

As it it never existed, the only proof of it being real the damage it left on the land and sky.

The wall of petals no longer latched, each one withered and dead by the time they hit the ground.

Ono: Looks like Reyes got him. Kill the operator, proxy drops with them usually.

Down the road Reyes kneeled down next to the limp mass that was once godhead, lens cracked enough to make out a feline eye underneath the dog-like mask.

Reyes: Godhead down. Sun is about to set soon, two of you need to go home.

Ono: Same for you, after a fight like that you need to rest up.

Reyes: Don't worry about me, got some business to attend to.

Ono: ..You should let me handle it, this sort of thing is my job after all-

Before he could finish, Reyes had already torched the body.

Reyes: Not taking any chances of this happening twice. Proxy like that's too dangerous to risk a creep digging it up.

Ono:.. I'm sorry.

Reyes: We can.. talk later. Lots of implications, none of them good.. For now go take the kid and his proxy home and stay near him, we're in a whole lot of hell tomorrow.

Ono: No kidding..


 

---

This is not a interactive project you should ever trust. 

However, it would be good to make connections with those around you. 

Your proxy for all its rough edges seems to be genuinely looking out for you. 

Perhaps you should try to figure out something less formal to call it. It might appreciate it.

Think about how you want to approach your mom about everything, she'll have questions on why you were out so late. What's your excuse?

You remembered a important item in your father's stuff from back in the day, do you have it in your room? Could be crank but you were told it was a scrap. Some trinkets for luck and protection are always good in times like these.

[Headful_of_Eyeballs]

We should probs come up with a nickname for our proxy first

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

You feel yourself rattled in the aftermath of everything;
Nearly taking a hit job.

Your target being one of those awful remnants all along.

The proxy that cracked the sky open, with the conversation on that tomorrow going to be unavoidable.

There's zero chance of you not being questioned about it in the morning.

This whole world no longer is connected to the rest directly, explains why everyone who left during the initial crisis has not come back even to check in.

Where were people who drove out of town going? Were there any left?

Was everything beyond that real? What was anymore?

Mr. Ono saved your life. His friend.. are they friends?

They have some sort of beef but they work together well enough.

Maybe they were exes?

Nah, that sounds ridiculous.

Anxieties and insecurities brew inside you until you're left quiet, pretending Mr. Ono isn't looking at you with concern.

You're surprised, your proxy latching onto your hand out of the blue.

Stranger Sunset: Hey, relax man.

Pato: I'm fine.

Stranger Sunset: I can feel everything, no you're not.

Pato: Yeah.

Stranger Sunset: We can cry it out when we get back.

Pato: I don't know if I wanna go back. Fucked this one good-

Mr. Ono: It was already bad, all you did is find out the truth. We're cut off, region separated. Everyone who leaves
doesn't come back.

Pato: You knew the whole time?

Mr. Ono: Mm. Not much I can do is help people survive til things roll over. Not really sure if they will anymore. Want to try, see folks live through.

Pato: And the other thing with you-

Mr. Ono: Kilroy. My proxy, you'll get to know them better. Sweet thing, have to keep them tucked away though during the day. Spend a lot of my nights hacking down remnants so folks don't stumble across them. Burn the bodies and hide the remains. Get them buried properly.

Pato: Yeah.. so you're a secret hero?

Mr. Ono: Just doing people a good service, nothing more. Only rest in breaks between gigs and night patrol these days.

Pato: You sleep at all or-

Mr. Ono: Haven't proper in almost two months, don't need to. Proxy came with a lot of quirks. Yours will too..

Pato: Mmm.. mine makes uh. waves of flower petals?

Mr. Ono: You're a ferryman type, lines up.

Pato: Yeah uh, what's that all about?

Mr. Ono: Hard to explain, I'll sit down tomorrow with you.... Proxy name?

Pato: Me? Uh-

Mr. Ono: No, your friend.

Stranger Sunset: Stranger Sunset-

Mr. Ono: Need something shorter, get you situated to living around others. Stranger, Sunny, something that'll sound
good. You feel it?

Stranger Sunset: Um... I mean I don't really like either of those gonna be honest.

Mr. Ono: Just suggestions, pick something that feels good for you.

Pato: Golden Hour?

Stranger Sunset: Huh..

Mr. Ono: Something shorter, gotta be able to communicate fast and quick. Nothing where you two will mishear. So no Gato or Pedro or anything too similar.

Stranger Sunset: Hmm. Solly?

Mr. Ono: Solly?

Pato: Yeah, short form term for a character in a game we play. It's a whole thing but-

Mr. Ono: It'll work for now. Solly?

Stranger Sunset:.. You're talking to me, yeah?

Mr. Ono: Get used to that, gonna keep things simple.

Solly: Can do. Do uh... should I help introduce myself to our mom or-

Mr. Ono: Not yet. Pato needs to tell your mother to call me in the morning. You okay with that?

Solly: Yeah. I can hold off I guess..

Pato: I'll try to make good on it-

Mr. Ono: You'll make good on it, period. Life's about to get way harder..

Pato: Okay..

You both stop on the sidewalk just outside your home. You're covered in dust and grime from having a hell of a day.

Solly squeezes your palm.

Pato: I'm fine, promise-

Solly: Bullshit, we're both scared.

Pato: Yeah.

Solly: I'll be here even if you guys can't see me.

Pato: Yeah..

Mr. Ono gives you an assuring pat on the shoulder.

Mr. Ono: I'd go in with you but I gotta check in on Reyes. Sure he's freaking out by now. Take care, you'll hear from me soon.

Pato: Yeah..

He heads off, sprinting like you've never seen a man his age run ever.

He sure feels like a superhero from another time and place after today..

How much does he know if he already was keeping all this hidden...

Something to ponder later.

You unlocked the door with your keys and made your way in.

Your mom was half asleep on the sofa with the phone on the coffee table, probably waiting for you to return.

Hope she didn't make too many calls..

Pato: Hey, I'm back!

She immediately jolts awake, the rabbit turning toward you sharply.
 

Mom: H-hey, you need to call me when you're going to be out late! Where were you?!

Pato: Finished work early so I went downtown to check out the pawn shops for a bit. Thinking about getting into guitar and-

Mom: You saw what happened today, right?

Pato: Uh.. which part?

Mom: There was a explosion nearby! Housefire, sky has a crack in it? Right by the area, you didn't go straight home?

Pato: I was indoors so like-

Mom: No staying out this late without calling..

Pato: ...I'm sorry..

Mom: I'm just glad you were somewhere safe.. could you imagine being closer to all that?

Pato: Yeah.. I got something actually...

You shuffled through your pockets, whipping out the stack of pills.

Mom: Where'd you get all that?

Pato: Mr. Ono gave me a bonus, said I'd been working hard so like-

Mom: Really? He has that kind of money?

Pato: Job paid extra, rich guy apparently. Know how it is, rush funerals..

Mom: Even now they still got cash to throw around like that, think they'd just try and fix things.

Pato: He's also just a dead rich guy so...

....Where were things like ingredients and gas coming from? Where were the rich spending?

Were they also in on this? Maybe they created this whole- if someone could turn proxy into a paid service, someone with the same level of power as Dr. Godhead-

Mom: You gotta save it for a emergency, keep it in your mattress..

Pato: I was thinking rent-

Mom: You're young and gotta think about what you're going to do when this all blows over. I'll borrow for gas or
groceries but rent's my job.

Pato: Whole reason I took this gig was to help you though-

Mom: You're already working hard way too young Pato, back then I had to do it cause my family was poor and I had to
pretend to be older. It's good to keep some of that for you, you know? You gotta have fun too, think about where you wanna be when you grow up.

Pato: A adult with a mom still around, that's all I want.

She was left quiet at that.

Pato: Sorry...

Mom: No, you got a point. Why don't you get cleaned up, I'll heat you up a plate and we can talk about today at the table. Maybe watch some TV after, sound good?

Pato: Yeah.. yeah that sounds really nice actually..

Mom: Put your stuff in the laundry too, should have some fresh PJs in the basket.

Pato: Got it.

You.. lied to her face. Doesn't really matter, she'll find out more when Ono talks to her later.
You should a least bring that up. Shower first, clear your mind and nerves.

 

---

This is not a interactive project, this is a dive into a world in its final years. 

You have a brief respite in the chance to clean yourself off. 

When you close your eyes in the shower, you'll begin to daydream. 

What is it that you picture in the other world. 

[Headful_of_Eyeballs]

I Picture what things were like before this whole mess- when dad was still here with us

[Shifter55]

If the rich have money either they've got someone collecting it from you folks or they have a way out that would burn this city to the ground if everyone got a chance to take a turn.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

As soon as you hop into the hot water, you feel your mind ease.

Nostrils clear, breathing steady, a moment to really collect yourself and your thoughts...

It's clear today won't be the end of it, you're just worried what you'll wake up to now.

Why did you have to go and do that..?

You got what you wanted, right?

You didn't even have to kill the old man to do it but..

What was the point of being mislead in that case?

What was Dr. Godhead keeping in his pockets to make him a target?

Are all proxy that fucked up? Solly seems pretty normal though..

You should talk to him after this..

How is food entering and exiting this place at all if it's fake? Are we in hell? Did we do something bad? But..

It was almost entirely the rich kids and their families who dipped early, right? Did they know something was up?

We still got the internet, phonelines sorta, TV so... it's kinda like that movie, right?

The one with uh... you watched that last with your dad..

God you wish he was here right now, he went pretty early when things headed south..

You can't picture his face clearly these days though. Anytime you do it's a impression, based off one of the remaining pictures in this house more than what he looked like at the time but..

You can still hold onto how things felt. When he picked you up from school, defended you from your teachers when you got in trouble all the time..

Why did he even have a angel radio to begin with? Did he have a proxy?

Maybe that's why he would keep going out after dark...

You remember he'd wear this device strapped to his arm going out, said it would warn him when danger was coming.

No really that useful though, it always does. Hit him as hard.

At least you had time to take care of him though. He wasn't that chatty in his final days...

You cut it pretty close getting back yourself...

You hope Ono and Reyes got back home in time, at least somewhere they could hold out through the night... though..

Suddenly it makes sense how much Mr. Ono could spend the whole night roaming and helping people out.

....The fact that one of those ghouls can just crawl into someone and use their proxy like a trained hound though..

Would that happen to you if you died in the middle of the night?

What if yours got too strong? What if you're setting yourself up to be a bigger danger now?

Something for later..

Your mom had set aside your PJs for you in the bathroom, guess she figured you'd be coming home from work dirty either way.

Probably not as scuffed as you are but... you need the reminder sometimes.

You dry yourself off, get dressed and-

There's another voice outside.

???: Mmhmm, he's been such a good helper at the library lately.

Mom: I didn't know.. he still shouldn't be out so late though.

???: One of our staff had brought it up to him, it was getting a bit dark and he had apparently been out working. He was really insistent... we offer a place to sleep and hot food to folks 
who can't get back before curfew but by the time someone had set up well..

Mom: He really ran off?

???: Mmhmm.. I guess he must have not wanted to worry you with a impromptu sleepover. We're sorry about the whole situation..

Mom: Next time call me, please.

???: We will, I just happened to be in the area to address things on their behalf and well-

You make a audible creek leaning against the corner of the hall to the living room.

???: Is that him right now?

Mom: Probably. Pato! One of Mr. Ono's friends is here, Miss Reyes? I didn't know you were working at the library??

Pato: Reyes...?

[Image Description: A female anthropomorphic cat in a uniform, some kind of fancy clerk with a little hat and a waist apron against a dress looking at the viewer with a tired expression.]

You take a peek, a cat in uniform.. sure looked about Ono's age.

She's probably related to the other guy.. maybe you should ask about him.

Miss Reyes: Mmhmm! He's got good ties to the library, with most folks downtown really.. he asked me to check on you since I was in the area.

Pato: Ah.. yeah he walked me home most of the way but had to go off. He okay? It's pretty late and-

Miss Reyes: I'm sure he made it back safely, you know how he is. He's got a little magic in his sleeves..

Pato: Yeah...

Mom: I should really invite him over sometime..

Miss Reyes: Mm...

Mom: You two never-

Miss Reyes: No, not properly. Just at a distance, the staff speak well of him though like I said.

She looks you dead in the eye.

Miss Reyes: Unfortunately with what chaos happened in the area, we're going to have to ask you to avoid downtown for a bit. We don't really... well, there's a hole in the sky now. We 
don't want any of our young volunteers risking themselves.

Pato: ....What about work with uh-

Miss Reyes: Mr. Ono? That's up to him and your mom to figure out I think, can't imagine he'll have you out late right now.

Pato: He never really does...

Mom: Speaking of.. is it safe for you to drive back over?

Miss Reyes: Me? I'll be fine but-

Mom: It's past dark, I don't want you getting hurt... we have a guest room that hasn't gotten used in a bit and well..

Miss Reyes: I mean.. that depends on if your son is comfortable too.

Pato: You're close to Mr. Ono, right? Like he sent you...

Miss Reyes: In a way.

Pato: I think it's fine.

Mom: Mm.. right now all we can really do is offer each other what we can. If you'd like I can heat you up something too..

The cat pauses, expression looking unsure.

Pato: Yeah, you should eat something if you haven't..

Miss Reyes: If you're sure, I can just head straight over to the guest room after if you want me to not intrude on your evening.

Mom: Mm, you're welcome to talk a bit over the table but..

Miss Reyes: We'll see, I'm pretty tired admittedly..

Mom: Up to you. Pato?

Pato: Tired too..

Mom: See how it is.. I'll be up if you wanna squeeze in some tv. Still have time to figure it out.

She gets up and makes her way over toward the kitchen.

Mom: You both can settle on the couch if you'd like, or take it to your rooms. Can tell none of you are up for the table much...

Pato: Yeah..

Miss Reyes: I don't mind but I'm really trying to keep myself minimal here today..

Mom: Give me a sec to get food going then.

---

This is not a interactive project.

You have a moment alone with Miss Reyes.

Solly is online.

You have a good 3 minutes of your mom heating things up to figure out what's up.

[skinstealer]

as much as it'd be interesting to see what the hell is up with miss reyes, i think you need a group huddle with solly to figure out where tf to go from here. this is a lot of moving parts and your proxy is your biggest ally, even now.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

[Image Description: A stylized and abstracted depiction of Pato seeing through Solly's eyes, peeking into a hallway and living room setup.

You should really try to get a word in with Solly, you start looking over to your room before-

Miss Reyes: If you need to go, I can ask her to take you your plate.

You're startled, are you that obvious?

Pato: Y-yeah. I'm really tired after today..

Miss Reyes: You've had a busy one, and tomorrow you've got a few big conversations ahead of you.

Pato: Mm...

You start heading over toward your room, occasionally looking back at her with a bit of caution.

As soon as you enter your room, Solly manifests in front of you.

Pato: There you are! Where'd you go, like-

Solly: Got my own space for when I gotta keep hidden... Don't think mom could see me anyway, but I dunno about uh... who is she?

Pato: Guessing a sister? Cousin? I dunno..

Solly: That doesn't sound right to me..

Pato: What do you mean?

Solly: You and mom got a feeling you give. Like.. a sense? I can feel something in my head around both of you, connected but not the same.

Pato: Okay..

Solly: She's super similar to the other Reyes, almost exact..

Pato: Yeah, but, like, he was a dog or something..

Solly: His helmet had a muzzle, but his tail was tucked under the coat.

Pato:.. Huh.

Solly: Maybe a civilian disguise or something, like a double life.

Pato: Like a superhero..

Solly: Yeah, something like that.

Pato: ..Did Reyes have a proxy? Ono did..

Solly: Nah, not that I could tell. Couldn't get a good look at him during the fight with Godhead's proxy and all..

Pato: Ah.. I feel weird after that, still. I didn't even get a chance to swing, but I'm so... tired.

Solly: Yeah, you think maybe our energy is tied together? I'm pretty bushed too..  we-

You can hear a knocking at the front door.

Pato: Hey, uh-

Solly: Yeah I know, you want me to take a peek.

Pato: Yeah.. how'd you uh-

Solly: Same brain. I can poke around out there.

The proxy slinks out of the room through the cracks under the door.

Solly's voice can be heard in the back of your skull, slightly fuzzy and muddy- like an intrusive thought at 2 AM.

Solly: Gonna plug you in.. borrow my eyes.


You make a startled squeak, your senses begin to swim a little.

Pato: Borrow wha- you can't just say- you don't even have those-?!

Solly: Just.. feel it, you know what I mean?

There's pressure on your forehead, like a pair of goggles with the strap a little too tight against your skin.

It's hard to get a full sense of where you're at, your consciousness not quite fully wired to your body.

Pato: How?!

Solly: Just focus up there, check it out. I'll keep you safe, pinky promise.

Pato: Okay...

Your sense of conscious grounds itself around the mental lens. Your mother runs over toward the door from the kitchen, Miss Reyes stepping aside.

Mom: Just one sec!

Ono's voice responds from the other side.

Mr. Ono: Take your time! Area is clear right now! A straggler was roaming, but I handled it!

A straggler...? Was that your fault?

Your mom lets him in- he's still caked in dirt and debris from earlier.

Mom: Hi!  You look like you've been working late...

Mr. Ono: Yeah, sure you've heard the news and all.. has me a bit busy..

Mom: Oh my god, yeah! Do you know anything about what happened or-

Mr. Ono: Little bit. I'll make a official statement, but for now I'm here to pick up-

Miss Reyes: He's here for me. You doing alright there?

Her tail lifts up, curling on sight.

Mr. Ono: About as much as you'd expect..

Miss Reyes: Here I was worried I'd have to impose on these good people and stay the night..

Mom: I mean it's really no issue.. are you both okay to go back out there?

Mr. Ono: Me? Do it all the time, all those ghouls are just a little occupational hazard for me..

Mom: And your friend?

The cat immediately coils arms with the ruffneck.

Miss Reyes: Ed's kept me safe everytime, I'm not worried..

Mr. Ono: I'd do that for anyone really.. I do wanna talk to Pato about work, but he's probably bushed- so I'll hold it off til morning.

Mom: Is something wrong?

Mr. Ono: Truth be told, after today the nature of the job's going to be a lot more intense. If he wants to keep working, it's gotta be more than just a little side gig. Gonna have to upgrade him to a full apprenticeship.

Miss Reyes: Obviously with your approval, I imagine.

Mr. Ono: Yeah, upfront is he'd be my successor and well.. I'm not gonna press if both of you-

Mom: You'd be.. teaching him to fight those things out there, yeah?

Mr. Ono: Yeah... like I said, won't push but.. can't keep a kid around on this job without serious prep anymore. Too much risk. I understand if what happened with his father-

Mom: What happened to him was too much courage and thinking a few tapes and a pile of books were enough to be some kind of superman.

Mr. Ono: ...He got one of those mail-in radios? The, uh..

Mom: Nine Virtues.

Mr. Ono: Ah... yeah that'd do it. Complete crank, any sort of self help book with a religiously compliant magic system's going to put you in a bad spot.

Mom: Mmhmm! He thought if he listened to that every night, it'd be enough to give him some kind of magic to "exorcise" all that shit out there. Really should've forced him to throw it all out before he made it a whole lifestyle deal...

Mr. Ono: ...I can quietly tell him the job's on pause for now and-

Mom: I'm not making that call, everyone around here knows what you can do. If you're willing to do him right and teach him how to protect himself, I'll sign whatever forms you need.

Miss Reyes: Mm...

The cat looks over, making eye contact with you through Solly.

Miss Reyes: Are you sure you don't want to at least try and bring this all up while we're here? Give him time to sleep on it-

No point in pretending.

You make your move, scooting out of the room.

Mom: Oh! Speak of the devil and-

Pato: Overheard the whole thing... no idea if school will ever come back, so I was wondering about it..

Mr. Ono: It'd be a big responsibility, scary work too-

Pato: I know, at this point all I want is to help people. I'm tired of having to just watch, having to bury people that could've been saved and-

Mr. Ono: We'll get to that for sure.. I.. Mrs. Feliz? I'm going to take Lily here home, she's not too far away... you think it'd be good to have Pato come with me? See what the night's out around this time? Figure while it's quiet it's a good chance to let him see for himself, decide if he's serious about this and-

Mom: Go ahead, just don't be out too long.

Mr. Ono: Pato?

Pato: Mmm.

Mr. Ono: Then we'll make the trip quick..

Miss Reyes: Sounds good to me, grab anything you might need.

Pato: Yeah...

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

[Image Description: First Person view from Pato's perspective, watching Ono and Miss Reyes walk side by side together under the night time street lamp. The sky still is cracked from the fight earlier.

You step on out with your bat on hand and Solly following you closely behind.
The proxy seems to be invisible to your mom, which to your relief.. already going to have plenty to explain one day as is.
 
Ono and Reyes take lead, they seem comfortable with each other.
 
Happy.
 
You let them have their time, the two exchanging tiny glances for awhile before they began to ramble together.
 
Ono: Quiet, everything ghoulish went and retreat after today. Fight might've spooked them all.
Miss Reyes: Mm, think they could've mistaken my dad's proxy for a real angel. It.. sure was close enough.
Ono:... Gonna be okay after that?
Miss Reyes: As much as I can.. not that he ever actually was but..
Ono: Still worried...
Miss Reyes: I'll be fine, Vic managed to cover it all. As far as the people know, old "Godhead" Reyes had a fumble with the oven. His daughter who was coming for a visit saw his home smoking, went and tried to drag him out.
Ono: ..He probably died prior, if a grift took over his body and.. yeah. At least this means he got to go peacefully though..
Miss Reyes: Mm...
Ono: I'm sorry.
Miss Reyes: He.. had plenty of chances you know. Offered him to live with us but he already knew. I'll likely have to attend his funeral soon. Doubt anyone's showing up.
Ono: You mean besides us.
Miss Reyes: Mm..
Ono: Bastard promised me we'd have a rematch.. Pato?
Pato: Y-yeah, what's up?
Ono:.. He gave you that proxy of yours, yeah?
Pato: Mm...
Solly: Yeah, he put out a bunch of cards on the table and uh.. I came from that.
Ono:.. That's.. huh.
Solly: Is that bad...?
Miss Reyes: His power is passed onto you..
Ono: Old Godhead used to be the guy who watched over this town when the whole Grift thing was more of a forest boogeyman. People who got lost.. folks in town were usually safe if they had basic street sense to not trust random strangers out late. Passed it on to me.
Pato: I...
Ono: He never handed over the kind of power he had though, folks in our circles suspected he was turning entity for awhile.. guess that confirms it.
Miss Reyes:... Do you think he's out there?
Ono: If he is, no clue if we'll see him anytime soon. It's.. a process. Could take weeks, years, lifetimes really. But...
Ono points to you.
Pato: What?
Ono: You're my successor, you've got the guts and your buddy held their own incredibly well all things considered. You got his power, we gotta make sure you can handle that.
Pato: ...Heard you talking to my mom about that, yeah. Does she like, know-
Ono: Her and her husband actively used to follow a lot of our shit, your dad went out so much cause he decided to try and do this whole neighborhood watch shit with a shitty little witch radio. I'm more surprised she's okay with it than anything when-
Pato: No that.. sounds right. She used to tell me to hit people back if they messed with me at school. Ended up getting suspended even though I was just protecting myself.. she probably thinks you make me strong I'll be safe from all this and well-
Ono: I mean you will, the problem is keeping other people safe. Reyes and me don't gotta worry all that much, we can roam the night no problem but... people like you normally can't. Anytime someone gets hurt, it's on us.
Miss Reyes:... Mm, you'll be taking a lot of responsibility.
Solly: Okay I gotta ask-
Miss Reyes: The answer is no and.. complicated.
Solly: You didn't even let me finish-
Miss Reyes: What were you going to ask?
Solly: Are you like Reyes sister and are you and Mr. Ono dating...
Miss Reyes: There you go.
Solly: Then like what are you like-
Miss Reyes: He's... the other me put simply.
 
She reached out for Ono's hand, the dog grabbing on and giving her paw a squeeze.
 
Mr. Ono: Bit of a long story but.. the Reyes you met earlier used to be one of my closest friends. Now we just.. fight a lot.
Miss Reyes: You know he doesn't mean it-
Ono: If he wanted to prove that he'd stop pointing his gun at me..
Miss Reyes presses snouts with Ono.
Miss Reyes: I'd never let him pull the trigger...
Ono: Not in front of the kid...

 
She pulled away with a smirk on her face.
 
Solly: So like i the other Reyes your Ex-
Ono: No.
Miss Reyes: Yes? It was never outright stated but-
Ono: This isn't about us right now anyway-
Miss Reyes: True but after we wrap things up here-
Ono: No, he's already pissed tonight.
Miss Reyes: If you want to train this kid right, you'll both need to get over things and-
Ono: You know he doesn't want to work with me-
Miss Reyes: If he doesn't then I'll just have to teach him myself.. I can set us all up with private study rooms for sessions. Perks of working the library and all.
Ono:... Yeah. I can settle for that. That's a good rule actually.. public libraries in this region? Lots of folks like us either gather or work there. Easy to blend into plain sight, you know?
Pato: I guess... it can't be that easy though, right? Like do people just not notice or-
Ono: The folks who bring out the pitchforks and torches aren't reading books like that.
Miss Reyes: Mm... it depends. Sometimes a celebrity is doing a book signing but.. doubt that's happening here.
Ono: Either way we got a plan. We can finish up talking to your mom later this week but...
Pato:... You're going to make sure she knows what's up if we end up doing more dangerous stuff like today. No keeping secrets if someone might get hurt.
Miss Reyes: That'd include today...
Pato:...Maybe not that yet. Miss Reyes?
Miss Reyes: Mm?
Pato: Can you teach me how to shoot a gun?
Miss Reyes:... I don't see why not? You're old enough- H-Hey!

 
She yeowled as the dog yanked her tail. 

 
Ono: Don't promise him that.
Pato: That's not a no though, right? There's a chance?
Ono: We'll see..
 
The dog released the cat's tail just to hear a sudden shift to a harsh growl..
 
Ono: ..Ah shit-
 
The cat immediately grabbed him by the snout.
 
Reyes: Don't you fucking touch me!
Ono: H-Hey, glad you could pop in. Language-
Reyes: Back off with your bullshit! Why-
 
Ono point over to you and Solly, the other Reyes immediately stepped away from Ono and unwrinkled his dress.
 
Reyes: Sorry.. I'll be a part of your training too, we'll work out days and proper compensation for your time and effort.
Solly:... I kinda was hoping you'd also be a dog.
Reyes: Yeah.
Solly: Your costume is really cool.
Reyes:... Yeah?
Solly: Yeah.
 
He immediately buried his face in Ono's shoulder.
 
Ono: Thought you said no touching-
Reyes: Just need a rest, long day. I'll uh.. I'll do my part too. Have to make sure you don't ruin this kid and all.
Ono: Course. Tomorrow I'll finish up talking to your mom, Pato. Lock in details, get you on a schedule. Consider it the of start of a new life.