Blowing Off Steam (Literally Just A Snippet I Wrote - Unconnect To Anything)

[phormthevixdjinn]

"Delta Zero, all posts, check in."

"This is Delta four. Nothing out on the east entrance."

"Delta two. All quiet."

"Delta three reporting. All clear out he- Wait."

"What is it Delta three?"

"We've got two unknowns. West entrance. Ah, shit. Look like civvies just wandering through."

"Copy. Omega three, move to intercept. They're probably just trying to cut through the site. Get `em to go around."

"Omega three here, fit copy Delta zero. I'm on the move. `Least I get to stretch my legs."


-----

The dusty, isolated construction site overflowed with cinder blocks, plywood stacks, and bags of cement. A careful eye might've considered that the materials were stacked too neatly, too regularly to belie an active site. A even more keen observer might've noted the lack of any nails, screws, or debris in the dirt.

The one who wasn't likely to notice any of this was the mink in the patch-and-pin laden jacket, with the spiked choker and wrist bands. The punk styled mink easily hopped over the unassuming barrier of striped PVC pipe and road cones to enter the area, spinning on her heels to walk backward after she did. She was followed by another mink, a white one adorned in purple casual attire - A crop top and shorts, with a jacket to match. Her raven hair was tied in a high ponytail, which swayed behind her as she slipped over the barrier and entered close behind the other mink.

"This is positively ridiculous, Vect," the white mink uttered.

"I mean, come onnnn," the punk retorted. She continued talking to the white mink as she walked backward. She stuffed her hands in her pockets as she leaned forward, "It's gotta be a part of the playbook, right?"

"Frankly I find it insulting that you'd presume that."

"Insul-! Look, you know I don't mean anything malicious by that. It's only natural! It makes sense!"

"The mere idea that you would dare to lecture me on this topic is beyond absurd."

"Who's lecturing?! I'm just curious! That's it! The--"

"HEY! You two!" A new voice cut through the conversation. The guard, a hulking canine in grey-and-pink armor, watching them through a wrap-around HUD visor, pushed herself closer to the two minks than most would find comfortable. "This is a private area. You can't be here. Turn aro-"

"Oh thank GOD, okay," Vect slipped her arm around the guard's shoulder, an act so brazen and uncalled for that it surprised the armed solider to the point of being practically disarmed. The mink didn't seem to mind the submachine gun the canine brandished across her chest in both hands. "Look, we're having this tiny disagreement, and maybe you can help us..."

The other mink narrowed her eyes, "DON'T."

"Let's say you find a magic lamp. You know what I mean. A full on, obvious, magic lamp. And you rub it and a genie comes out."

"A genie?"

"Yeah, actual genie, the wish granting kind."

"Uuuuunnnnnngggggghhhhhhh!" The mink in purple tilted her head back with an audible expression of exasperation.

Vect didn't stop, "You you rub the lamp and... What would you say happens next? Just 'poof!' and there's the genie waiting for your wishes? You get right into it?"

The guard, stunned silent for a lingering moment, nevertheless answered more quickly than even Vect expected. "Well... Like, not right away? Probably there would be introductions first."

"Right, introductions! But after that..."

"I mean, the genie would probably explain the rules, right? There have to be rules. Genies are always about the rules."

"THANK YOU!" Vect gestured grandly, a wide smile on her face. "That's what I've been SAYING!"

The other mink, visibly irritated, crossed her arms across her ample chest. "This proves nothing."

"People expect some context, Teff! And they expect rules, too!"

"We owe you neither, in any circumstance."

"I'm just saying it's what people are going to be looking for, when they uncork a bottle, right? Obligations be damned, I'm talking about expectations. And people know genies are tricksters with the rules-"

"A baseless accusation, thank you."

"-so they want to know what the rules are before they start!"

"Uh, well, and," both minks turned toward the guard, who had released one hand from her submachine gun to raise a finger, as if to interject. "I mean, beyond stuff like the rules, I would kinda also expect a big entrance, right? Like, lots of smoke and pyro... And like, dancing and a musical number?"

"OH MY FUCKING GOD!" Teff put her hands to her face, leaning back as if she had been punched square in the gut.

"YES!" Vect pointed to the guard excited with both hands as she jumped back, laughing amid a wild grin upon her face. "Exactly! EXACTLY! People expect the musical number! People WANT the musical number!"

"I cannot BELIEVE this bullshit. Honestly. The Disney corporation has SO much to answer for."

"I dunno what to tell you babe. Maybe start practicing your choreography."

"This is insufferable, you know that? Just because the lot of you imprinted on A-"

"Hey, uh, I'm glad we could clear this up," the guard returned to a more formal stance, "but the two of you need to turn around and leave, okay? This is an active site, and we don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Oh, shit. Well, I'm afraid we can't do that," Vect gave a half-hearted shrug as she looked directly into the canine's eyes.

"Yeah? Why's that?"

"Because we're robbing you."

"You're R-Mmmmppphhh!!"

In a slick instant, an extended tendril of glistening white polymer snapped upward from the ground, whipping out from a wide, shimmering puddle of ooze the guard hadn't seen seeping across the dirt beneath her feet. A fraction of a second later, the canine was yanked into the puddle below her, submerged armor and all as she was dragged into the depths of a quarter-inch of polytetrafluoroethylene.

A moment later, a thick BLOOORRRP bubbled up from the puddle as Teff retracted the material back into her body, adsorbing it like a wilting shadow running toward noon.

"These gals ain't too observant, are they?"

"They certainly never watch where they're stepping."

"Guessin' we've got eyes on us."

"You'd be right about that."

"Well, time to earn our keep."

"Mmm... I swear to fucking god you always go to the musical number. Do I look like someone who enjoys musicals to you?"

"Girl, you act like you grew up a theater kid in denial."

"Fuck you."

"Love you too, sweetie."

Comments

[phormthevixdjinn]

I have been so stuck in the mud writing lately that when this interaction entered my head I was desperate to write it down, just so that I could write anything.

This isn't connected to any story, ongoing or otherwise. It is merely an isolated, fleeting snippet of what could be.

Mostly I just wanted to write Vect and Teff banter.

Hopefully the next installment of Lightning In A Bottle will be finished soon.

[lab_reports]

That was a lot of fun. n.n Thank you for sharing it!