The Reconstruction of Plaza [Crankshaft Rafflesian]

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CW: Explorations of grief, Nostalgic Depression, Gentrification, and Supernatural concepts that involve memory dissonance.

Perspective: Dorothy "Dotty" Coil
 

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[image description: First Person Perspective shot of Dotty pointing at a odd tower rising out of the ocean. A anthropomorphic rabbit woman, Lex, is on the side with her head tilting toward the viewer ]

 

You're just a touch late for your date.

Nothing too serious, she texted you where she'd be around and..

At this point 30 minutes of leeway is kind of expected. It's not too bad though, the nighttime air has always been a bit of piece for the two of you...

Though you're about a hour past this time, bleh...

You spot her leaning over the rail, maybe a little too close to the ledge for your own comfort.

The rabbit's always been just a touch devil-may-care, it's kind of her charm but...

You don't feel like taking a chance, it's not her first time beefing this.

You dive in, hugging her to discreetly secure her from taking a dunk into the ocean water.

Her ears perk up immediately.

Lex: Hey!

Dotty: Hey.

Lex: Was worried they were gonna keep you overtime with well..

Dotty: Same. Work has me a bit busy, Darkest Night's a whole thing and being a Match Monitor well..

Lex: Safety inspection stuff..

Dotty: Safety checks on the two weeks of the year where we got a uptick of prank related injuries. Know how it is. Bright side is things've gone pretty smooth so far? Policy changes done us wonders lately.. but yeah.

Lex: Happens right?

Dotty: Still..

Lex: If you feel so bad we can just stay out a little extra late, like old times?

Dotty: Hmm...

Lex: You're gonna just give me the hmm?

Dotty: I might need a little more fuel, thinking we gotta find a nice diner for a break.

Lex: I mean yeah... I could do with that..

Dotty: So whatcha been up to yourself today?

Lex: We spent the day helping Spice and Targe, they got a booth to set up every evening.  Gonna have to work some night shifts this weekend but next week I'm free.

Dotty: Witchiest time of the season.

Lex: Yep. Proud of them for going this far though with like.. everything really.

Dotty: Yeah... those two married yet?

Lex: Sorta? Like not officially and they don't really use the word but..

Dotty: But they're pretty much settled.

Lex: Yeah. Not their vibe to do it on paper like that, more old school. Pact maybe.

Dotty: That's cute..

Lex: It's a whole way of life, committed to that.

She places her hand on yours.

Lex: Think in the end they're practically as locked in as we are,  just a different way to word it.

Dotty: Don't know if you really can...

Lex: Hehe, feel it.

You give her a little look over.

Dotty: Surprised you're not dressed up, don't you usually get in on all that?

Lex: Usually? But like... bushed today. I'll get more into it after the half point. You wanna maybe get in on it too?

Dotty: Please! I've been working on a couple of things in secret so-

Lex: How secret?

Dotty: You'll have to wait and see.

Lex: A hint?

Dotty: Nope! Not yet..

Her eyes seem pretty fixated toward the horizon, you try to hone in.

Dotty: Whatcha looking at? Seem pretty intense...

Lex: Yeah? well uhhhh. I dunno, see some funny light going on. New tower maybe? Sometimes they pop up in the ocean. If you look carefully...

You zoom in just a bit.

She's right.

You point toward it.

Dotty: That?

Lex: Yeah. Always got a bit of a dreamy vibe. Have a soft spot for them..

You shake your head.

Dotty: Thing feels kinda scary honestly..

Lex: Really? Always seemed so magical...

Dotty: And that's why!

Lex: I just think it's pretty too, fan of that sort I think.

She grabs onto your shoulder.

Lex: You know?

Dotty: You're silly..

Lex: Okay but I mean it-

Dotty: Yeah.

Lex: And at this point you gotta accept it a little.

Dotty: Yeeeeah...

Lex: I wanna hear it, say you're cute.

Dotty: You say it!

Lex: No, compliment yourself.

Dotty: It's so corny though... can I put a pin in that?

Lex: Hmm... as long as it happens tonight?

Dotty: I'll take those terms.

Lex: Holding you to it-

There's a flicker at a distance, like lightning crackling.

Lex: Oh wow...

Dotty: Those are uh... origin flashes, yeah?

Lex: Mm! Must mean the tower is new-new. Wonder where it all goes honestly..

Another flash, brighter..

Dotty: I think I wanna go somewhere else for a bit...

Lex: Right now? Like...

Dotty: Please?

Another flash, one that has people around startled.

Lex: Yeah, okay. Why don't we just-
 

[image description: The tower flickers with lightning, a flash of still images from past interactions with people close to Dotty speeding by in a abstracted way]

 

There's very little time to make of what happens next. The worst crackling of your life, taking you back to the worst of days your memories can process...

And then suddenly your best..

And your best is now and forever ago..

And still to come..

 

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The Reconstruction of Plaza: Crankshaft Rafflesian
Act 1, Rancher's Memory

Your name is Dorothy, Dotty for short.

You wake up in your practically empty apartment.

You were refurbished, a old model construct gone dormant in the aftermath of a old disaster.

Your vintage frame feels heavy.

Your empty room welcomes you with a sterile glow, only broken by the little relief of the world outside your window.

You need to get some rest for work tomorrow, but sleep refuses to come no matter how hard you try.

You wonder if you're really as functional as they swear, your body and mind never feel entirely there.

Broken even... 

A walk, some air, a little time around the people.

Maybe a bite at a burger joint, food's been a reliable comfort in your few years being conscious again.

Just a quick, easy, unremarkable run grab something is all you need to ease your mind right now..

Get up.

[image description: A monochrome room with a view of a odd looking refurbished home outside. It's evening.]

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It doesn't take you long to reach your usual spot, a burger joint linking a corner between a quiet and busy part of the area. Folks tend to crash at places like this after  along work day all the time. 

You walk up to the register, handle your business politely, and without much wait you find yourself with a wonderful burger in hand. 

You can't help but listen in to the conversations of others most days, but sometimes they're kind of outlandish even by your standards... 

Confident Rabbit: I'm just saying, TCP everything sounds like a bit of a conspiracy job. Like... that implies that other cat folks are default. 

Tired Rabbit: I mean... which came first? 

Confident Rabbit: I dunno, I wasn't there. But like.. they just show up? 

Tired Rabbit: It happens. 

Confident Rabbit: Out of the void? Nah.. your move by the way. 

Tired Rabbit: Yeah I'm working on it. Stand 3, Sentry 1. Pass. 

Confident Rabbit: No push? 

Tired Rabbit: I got advantage, I'm good. 

Confident Rabbit: Need to pull the trigger at some point.. 

Tired: Maybe. But like... what makes you think it's any different? Shit happens like that with all sorts of magic weird folks..

Confident Rabbit: Never seen a TCP squat. Never seen Bruce and a TCP in the same room togeth-

Tired Rabbit: Bruce is not a six inch tall cat!

Confident Rabbit: And why not? Give me a reason.  

You hear a tap on the table

Tired Rabbit: That's just kinda bullshit.

Confident Rabbit: My board or Bruce?

Tired Rabbit: Both. Fuck your deck dude...

You take a look over, they seem to be playing some kind of game with the food trays aside and covered with wrappers. 

They must be the type to sit here as long as the staff will let them, pretty typical.

Confident Rabbit: Like the origin of TCP, someone is making them and throwing them onto the streets to see what happens.

Tired Rabbit: But why though...?

Confident Rabbit: Social experiment, someone wants to test man's mettle and moral standing.

Tired Rabbit: I don't think tiny cat people are going to make you a better person by existing... 

Confident Rabbit: I mean it could, weirder things happen. 

Tired Rabbit: So like, at some point whoever is making them wants to get results.. ah fuck scoop. 

Confident Rabbit: Really? Not gonna try to play out the rest of the match? 

Tired Rabbit: Nah dude, like what am I supposed to do? 

Confident Rabbit: Uhh draw the out.

Tired Rabbit: You sniped the out!

Alright, you kind of have to ask. You look around just to be sure things are clear before stepping up from your spot and making your way over. 

The two look over at you briefly before whispering amongst themselves. 

Dotty: You playing something? 



Confident Rabbit: Yeah, that a issue or-

Dotty: No! Just wondering a bit. Scoop, snipe, what's all that mean?

Confident Rabbit: Shorthand stuff, quick words people use to uh... like. 

Tired Rabbit: It's a game with cards so you gotta like, communicate it.

Confident Rabbit: Yeah, what she said. 

Dotty: And this is just something you guys play regularly? 

Confident Rabbit: Yep, got some local shops that host events on weekends. 

Tired Rabbit: Been missing out a lot cause dueling seasons been active as hell. 

Confident Rabbit: You've been grinding pretty hard. 

Tired Rabbit: Yeah...

Dotty: Are you sponsored or-

Tired Rabbit: Nah.. it'd be nice though. You work with the federation? 

Dotty: Sorta, government veteran's program. It's uh.. 

Tired Rabbit: Rabbit: Veteran? You don't look that old...

Confident Rabbit: Yeah, those folks are seniors.

Dotty: It's a long story...

The scruffy rabbit adjusts his glasses while looking over at your outfit. 

Confident Rabbit:  So like, you just wrap up work for the day or are you heading to your shift?

Dotty: Uh... I mean I'm off right now. 

Confident Rabbit: Should change out then. Gonna make folks think you're on duty. 

Dotty: It's all I've really got to wear-

Tired Rabbit: You do any competition or just ref?

Dotty: Latter. Don't like fighting all that much honestly.. scared to hurt people. 

Confident Rabbit: Good answer. 

Is it really? Is someone who hates being around fighting the best for a job that asks you to be around it?

I guess when your whole point is to break things up when they go too far...

Dotty: So like, you two here often?

Confident Rabbit: Usually a bit closer to the Mallcade.

Tired Rabbit: I was feeling this place today so I forced him to meet me here. 

Confident Rabbit: Yeah. We got another guy coming in later but he's in the middle of closing shop. Weekend swap meet type deal, best ask him directly.. 

Tired Rabbit: Is Spice coming too? 

Confident Rabbit: No clue, should text him.. Anyway.

Confident Rabbit: Kurt. 

Dotty: Uh..

Confident Rabbit: My name. 

Tired Rabbit: Lex, guessing you go there often too? Kind of a high profile sports center there so like.. 

Dotty: Dotty, there to monitor events but like.. not really there to play myself. Never been my thing I guess... 

Kurt: Think we got room for one more? 

Lex: Depends, whatcha think?

The rabbit's little smile gets a response at of you, hairs standing as you're put on the spot. 

Dotty: I mean.. sure? Can't say I'll be all that fun but-

Kurt: You'll catch up quick. 

He turns his head behind you, 

Kurt: Your shit's gonna get cold though-

Dotty: I'll just ask for a bag..

Lex: No rush. You can scoot over with us if you'd like.. 

Dotty: You sure? 

Lex: Yeah!

She scooted in toward the wall, making a spot for you. 

Lex: Give us time to wrap up our game, still got round 3 but we can explain. 

Kurt: Then you better put on a better show for her, played like ass. 

Lex: Yeah well... 

You give them both a little nod. 

You go ahead and bring over your tray of food.

Lex pats down the booth seat before you slide your way in. 

The foil on the cards catch your eyes as the two clear up their table and shuffle things together. 

Dotty: Shiny.. 

Kurt: Better be, shit costs a pretty penny.

Dotty: So like... is it expensive to get into then-

Kurt: Yes!
Lex: Yeah...

Dotty: Ah... 

Don't buy into anything you'll regret later, just let them lead and back out if you need.