Chapter Text
"Where is it!? I can't go into the next round with NOTHING!" Shedletsky was frantically searching for something, assumedly his sword. The Sentinel's complaints got a rather amused look from a certain cultist, but it went unnoticed.
"Shedletsky, my dear friend," Dusekkar floated into the room, taking in the messy scene "What need you find before the intermission's end?"
"My sword! I have no clue where it went! I can't go into the round without it!" Shedletsky frowned, standing up from his bent position. "Its not even between the couch cushions either. I've checked three times. That was number four."
"What's happening?" Elliot came in behind Dusekkar, leaning into the room.
"Lost my sword," Shedletsky recapped, "Can't find it."
Dusekkar hummed in thought, "Perhaps when we had gone to make our sword and staff clean, you forgot you left it where it was last seen?"
"Ohh, yeah... I forgot me and Elliot went to wash em together. Crazy how dirty they got from just a few rounds." Shedletsky chuckled.
"You dropped your sword into the dirt and I dropped my staff when I got hurt." Dusekkar gave Shedletsky a look. The retired admin gave a shrug and a silly smile.
"Yeah, I remember that. Is your arm feeling any better now, Dusekkar?" Elliot asked. Dusekkar nodded.
"Yes, your pizza works wonders, being worthy of a slice is a thousand honors." Dusekkar smiled at Elliot, turning back to Shedletsky.
"Did we leave it in the storage shed or by the docks?" Shedletsky asked, dropping the playfulness.
"Something I sadly have forgotten, though whether we have time is uncertain." Dusekkar replied, keeping a light rhythm.
"Ah, yeah, they're pretty far apart..." Elliot hummed. Suddenly, a certain, typically not-so-welcome voice chimed in.
"Uh... I could help..?"
Shedletsky, Dusekkar, and Elliot turned their eyes to the man wearing a burger hat. Shedletsky raised an eyebrow as Elliot's gaze turned scrutinizing, "You, 007n7? YOU'RE offering to help?"
007n7 nodded, more confident, "Yeah. You guys could check the docks and I could check the storage shed?"
Elliot and Dusekkar looked back at Shedletsky, it was his decision after all.
Shedletsky looked down, then thought about how he'd basically be going in defenseless without his sword... He had two choices; let 007n7, a man who used to be what was basically a terrorist, potentially get ahold of the sword that was vital to Shedletsky's survival in a round, or hope and pray he doesnt get picked for the round this time.
"Alright, alright. Go ahead, but no funny business." Shedletsky pointed to his eyes and then to 007n7, "Im watchin ya."
007n7 smiled, "Don't worry, I don't have the faintest idea of how to use a sword, I wouldn't risk getting hurt."
007n7 made his way out of the cabin and down the small path that led to the storage shed.
Elliot spoke up, skepticism still in his eyes, "I'm gonna follow him. I don't trust him not to do something."
The blonde pizza boy hurried to follow the ex-hacker, "See you guys in a bit!" Elliot waved, smiling, as he rushed out the door.
Shedletsky waved, "See ya."
After a few seconds, Shedletsky walked out alongside Dusekkar, heading to the dock, which was much closer than the shed.
"... Hey, Matt?" Shedletsky looked at his friend. Dusekkar hummed in response. "How much you wanna bet they have some frenemy shit goin' on?"
Dusekkar chuckled lightly, "I fear I understand what you see, but perhaps we ought to let them be."
007n7 was heading down the dirt path that led to the storage shed. He was glad Shedletsky trusted him enough to do the bare minimum. 007n7 hadn't been to the shed more than once or twice, but from what he could remember, it was rather spacious but incredibly messy.
Meanwhile, Elliot was already running up behind him, "Hey! 007n7!" He called out.
007n7 paused, turning around, "Elliot? What are you doing?"
Elliot slowed to a stop, "I'm keeping an eye on you to make sure you dont try anything."
007n7 sighed, "Ah, I see." Seems he was wrong, to some degree. "Alright then."
007n7 continued down the path will Elliot next to him, "So... Shedletsky sent you, I'm assuming?" He pushed open the shed door, grimacing at the thick, humid air inside slamming into his body right after. Elliot and 007n7 stepped inside.
Elliot shook his head, "No. This was all me. I just don't trust... you." He mumbled, starting to realize how dumb it sounded–how petty. He busied himself with looking for Shedletsky's sword, trying to ignore the way his ears grew hot with embarrassment.
007n7 nodded, joining the hunt on the opposite end of the shed, "I understand. I destroyed your place of work and your family's business for a solid year. I'd hate me too."
Elliot was going to say something like "No, no, I don't!", but in full honesty, he did hate 007n7. He just didn't have the guts to say it himself.
"... Sorry."
"It's fine, really. I'm just grateful you're still willing to throw me a pizza every now and then." 007n7 assured him, readjusting his glasses.
"Well, yeah. It'd just be cruel not to..." Elliot muttered a response, realizing he had subconsciously paused his search before resuming.
It was a good few seconds before both men jumped at the sound of a resounding crack.
"What's that sound!?" Elliot stumbled and nearly tripped over the messiness of the floor, now face-to-face with the door. 007n7 had a similar experience.
"I think a tree is- falling?" 007n7 rebalanced just after Elliot had understood him.
Elliot's mind noted the still-loud-but-quieter snaps and creaks that followed. A crash directly in front of Elliot made him flinch and, funnily enough, fall.
Opening his eyes, Elliot saw the door splintered and bent making it impossible to open. The tree– 007n7 had been correct on that front –had partially crushed the ceiling, but not enough for them to squeeze through the cracks and get out. Even if they could, the broken wood had too many sharp, jutting points from its breaks that would make it too difficult.
"Shit... how did you know..?"
"I uh... used to work at a Lumber Tycoon, around when I first got my son. Got laid off for using the GUI."
Elliot huffed.
"Great. Now... how do we get out?"