FORSAKEN KID: David (unfinalized)

you can skip the parentheses if u dont feel like reading allat sht

(2 and a half years have passed. Marina doesn't feel accomplished at all, but that doesn't mean she wasn't doing just nothing and anything. During those years, she started a “trend” among young people of the South. To get cheaper and maybe free rides, she started riding on top of the vehicles’ roofs 2 years ago.

Many of these young people wanted free rides too and saw her on the bright side, asking her to teach them how to do it without getting caught. Basically, she just hop from one vehicle to another right before she gets hurt by the driver, passengers, or traffic enforcers. But she still taught the teens to still leave a few coins for the ride. It is always way cheaper to do it, which they later called “top-hopping(?)”.

This became so much of a deal that small vehicles removed their roofs and replaced them with fabric roofs or thick cellophane, while big vehicles added spikes and dangerous parts to hop on to prevent teens from hopping in. That doesn't stop Marina tho, because she's a master at it. Since the beginning of time, she offers lectures to those who want to learn and charges them a low price per hour. They made their own solutions like balancing on thin metal roofs or evading spikes and removing them. They were so persistent that the police and traffic enforcers gave up in exterminating them. There are still those who resist. And it's not like everyone can just have “free rides” because only those specifically taught by Marina survive. This of course costed a few lives, which helps discourage these actions. But all that said, this is the side hustle that Marina has the longest and earned the most. Not many people ask to learn how to top-hop anymore these days. And half a year has passed since she last taught someone.)

Marina was just chilling on the roof of a bus, playing with the metal thorns the owners placed there, debating herself whether to remove them or not. Her mind wanders to her conversation with Fuego just a few days ago. She keeps thinking of the “David” boy she mentioned, a son of a Lantass. Marina herself is a Lantass, and she knows her family used to hold the Diamerald stone, it is the truth. but it’s unclear when it slipped off their hands.

The bus approaches a bus stop and Marina spots a familiar face there. A teen with dark blond hair, slightly orange. He’s holding bags of groceries. He's looking at the coins on his hands, troubled. Marina assumes he’s not sure if he has enough money to commute. Just as the bus stops, he sat back down on the bench, giving up on the bus, but still troubled and irritated.

Marina called, “Need help? we can ‘top-hop’ you on your way home.”

Without a single word, the boy jumped into the roof of the bus, just in time before the bus started moving again. He must be in a great hurry. Marina saw his movement, thinking no ordinary human could do that. Because he’s not a human. His eyes had patterns.

“Where to, mister?” her tone is slightly higher than usual.

But the lad didn’t carelessly let words slip. “...Have we met before?” he asks.

“I don’t think so. The people around here call me ‘Princess’, have you heard about it?” It’s her alias, because Marina doesn’t give her name to a bunch of strangers.

“Not a clue.” he stares into her eyes, his mind telling him the girl is familiar. But he sees the gray in her eyes and dismisses the thought. “Nevermind. Her eyes weren’t gray. But you two are awfully similar.”

“With who?”

“Nah, It was no one.”

The boy watches the road. “You know how to top-hop?”

Marina: I invented it.

Boy’s suspicion turned to admiration: No way?! Can you teach me?

Marina: Of course! Minimum of 21 rands. (rands=city’s currency)

Boy: That’s surprisingly cheap. He hands the coins. They jumped from one roof to another, practicing the boy well. after a while…

Marina: You’re quite agile, so this will be easy for you. But balance should be your focus. A van parallels the vehicle they are on. Jump!

They successfully hopped. “You haven’t told me where you’re heading.”

Boy: We’re close. Just down that street, and turn to the right, and if no vehicle is active there, I can go run it.

Marina: Oh believe me, a vehicle will come. But what’s with the hurry?

Boy: My boss is strict. I’m supposed to be back before 12:30. (it’s 12:20, noon). He’s kinda the perfectionist kind. But this time it’s his fault. He was venting and angry. He gave me enough money for groceries, but not enough to commute back home–! and he got the right to ground me and cut my pay!

Marina: Sounds like an asshole. she pretends not to know who this boss is.

Boy: HE IS! ugh, if i could find another job, I would!

They hopped into a cab that turned to the direction the boy pointed.

Boy: huh? weird, that one went the way I just hoped.

Marina, proud: Call it my luck.

Marina is so familiar with that street she couldn’t help but laugh. Soon, the boy sees the mansion of his stop.

Marina: You know the vehicle won’t stop for you, so you have to jump off.

Boy: I know that much. He is ready to jump while protecting his groceries.

Marina: You still have lots to learn before I can confidently leave you alone to top-hop. So I expect to see you again.

Boy: Sure-sure, Ms. Princess. They approach the mansion and he jumps off. It was the mansion Marina visited a few days ago to talk to a certain somebody about a certain stone and a certain person.

Marina: Well then, see you around! David-!

Then the vehicle went away without a halt. David was frozen speechless for a second. “I never told her my name… How’d she know..?”

He rushed into the mansion and into the kitchen, leaving the groceries there. “What on earth…?” Her eyes were partially covered with her hair and a bandana around her head so he couldn't quite see if she was a necroman or human.

He comes to Fuego and asks about the ‘Founder of Top-hopping’ who calls herself ‘Princess’. Fuego just said, “It’s Marina Lantass” and David’s face fell to terror. “She found me!!” he cursed at himself for not realizing sooner. “I knew I had the feeling!”

Fuego’s face is solemn, “About that matter, David, I have questions for you. Kindly enter my office after lunch.” David gulped. A cold sweat ran down his cheek.

After lunch, David reluctantly peeks into Fuego’s office. “Chief, am I in trouble? Did I arrive late after all?”

Fuego: No… you were 2 minutes early from the time I’d call late. Do sit down.

David sits down in worry: wh…may i ask why I was called?

Fuego: We did mention ‘Marina Lantass’ earlier. She says you’re a son of a Lantass yourself. So, …you two are acquaintances, huh?

David’s face twists just by the mention of Marina: Don’t you know she’s a MASSIVE liar? don’t believe everything she says, sir.

Fuego: Well, that doesn’t quite answer the question… ah damn, I was so worked up then that I forgot we were talking about the Diamerald. She suggests that you, someone connected to the Lantass, might have it or have an idea of where it is. Do you?

David: The Diamerald got nothing to do with me, sir! If I did, I wouldn’t be here! And why would she say that I am connected to the stone?

Fuego: She says she’s looking for it to sell for a hefty price. And I can’t let her - it is a treasure for our kind. It’s priceless. I have to find it before she does. If you really don’t have any connections with the stone, do you have at least an idea?

David: uh… I’ve only heard, but my mother’s maternal side used to hold the stone. Other than that, I have NO idea.

Fuego sighs: Already knew that… picks his notebook and looks at his recorded conversation with Marina. If she’s a liar, she’s good at it. All she said was convincing.

David awkwardly drinks the prepared tea: yeah, yeah, she’s a pro at it.

Fuego: Now that I’m aware she’s also a Lantass, it makes sense how she easily got all that information about you. Must’ve asked a family member. She even said she asked from your mother directly.

David chokes: cough-... ah! I see, I see. makes absolute sense! turns around and whispers, that damn bitchhhh!!!

Fuego: …Are you also lying to me, David?

David: C’moooon, chief, why would I~? I’m your most trustworthy assistant! I could NEVER lie to you~ masking a smile

Fuego has lots of suspicion.