#crows cms

Draculoids

Soulless voids tragically turned and burned from their color. Left with nothing but the body of what once one was. Memories fleeting within the ashes of those given mercy in passing. I never knew how they came to be back in bat city. Though now, I could see why they were a threat. A fate worse than death. You can't do anything to stop it but, ride off and hope you're not next.

Recently, the zones have been growing, the statistics becoming a dreary buzz. Of course, many didn't pay attention to it but it was looming. Then again I was probably looking way into things. As for me, I'm still fixing and wandering around. Making my dues but didn't think I'd come across a band of dracs. And best believe I did not have the means to fight. Can't do much with a switch blade and metal scraps. Simply hiding was my current best bet.

It reminded me of before—yelling, taunting, that damned look in their eyes empty and disgusted. Didn't think I'd have to hide anymore but here I was anyway. The mask simply made it worse. There once was someone under there simply wanting to live loud. I couldn't help but wonder who or why? I'll never get the answer to either of those. Though I've heard that there is another place. None of the cross bullshit; something different. A place we go to, collected by a certain Phoenix witch. She seems important out here, no one ever mentions her unless necessary. I wonder who she is?

I've been meaning to find that mailbox everyone keeps on talking about where she allows for those ghosted to pass. Still no luck but for now I gotta keep running.

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There's a kid now. Named them Bolt.

Now I know what you're thinking, the hell I picked up a sand pup from? In truth, I didn't think any kid their age would be out here in the Zones. The pup was covered in dirt and motor oil which, well, let them blend right in. From experience, the zones are difficult to navigate without some basic knowledge. And judging by how I found them hiding in the junkyard within the shade of some pile of rusted and busted cars, panting frantically looking about like some stray dog with a singular metal pipe which wouldn't do much to either of us. The kid didn't know any better. Not sure how they got all the way out here alone, but there was this fire, a desperate flicker of help.

Valerio said I should've just left them somewhere for some runner to take them into their crew. I simply ignored him, per usual at his very much dumb suggestions. Sides he'd come and go from time to time so his input was half taken into the equation. Bolt was quiet about the whole thing and made me chuckle when they gave Valerio a side eye. Forgot how ruthless some of them are.

The little guy reminded me of myself.

In any case, I went back to Tommy's and finally started to rack some carbon. Seems like BLI loved their fuck ass vending machines. Though I'll admit they have their use. As much as I hated power pup…a human body needs protein. Gave one to Bolt and they downed it like no tomorrow. It was both concerning and kinda funny. The little pup has been of good help when doing handy work. Seems it was like their repayment for letting them say. The eagerness that borderlined trying to prove something.

The radio has become their safe heaven, just like it had for me. Funny enough it was like the Doc knew. My can of juice is raised to ‘em. Oh forgot to mention someone who seemed to have joined in on. (Or maybe they were already there but I've never noticed) Cherri Cola. He has his own section on the station. I liked his bits of wisdom, and had a pretty way of speaking. Don't see much of that out here. Always just live fast and die Bright. Then again, in a world where everyone tells you to stand still, who wouldn't want to let loose.

Theirs this Liberty in rebellion, rooted in a form of hope that you don't get to see anywhere or anyone. Killjoys seem to have it down to their core. The good kind. A flare burning brighter than the rays shone upon them. Like getting to listen to noise others understand. A message only read by those who looked in the right place. Maybe I have…at least the first few lines

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Days have been pretty much the same now, words have been getting out about my work. Rumours and whispers hanging around the buzz of static in the air. It's been good for business, and by business I mean surviving off of grub and the like. Got a couple of carbon too which I'm saving. Valerio has been wanting me to get a ray gun, 'we could both be killjoys then' he says but after everything I've seen the glamour doesn't fit my scene, still don't know what it is actually yet but not that. My admiration of their efforts, nevertheless were free to paint my imagination and it looked very badass on the boy.

I could picture him, his mask and smile. Eyes piercing in unmistakable daring lightning. Rocking his ride and fighting off dracs out on route guano. It suited him. He'd make a fine killjoy, cut down on the ego but everything else painted towards a person who fought back for the courage to live.

He's been sticking around.

Following me, tagging along longer than I thought. Didn't think he would but it seemed he was a bit like me in a sense: trying to find a place. The only difference was he was fully ready to make a name for himself. Ironically enough seems the people of the zones have been giving me one. He's still working on his.

Crow they call me. I blame that one Motor baby I first met. I'm sure he was the one that started the bird thing. Can't exactly change it but definitely better than my own. Radios been a bit quiet which was a good sign anyways, nothing gone Costa Rica just yet. Valerios has been teaching me the slang here, kinda getting the hang of it I think. I hope so.

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Business has been booming, well in my opinion it has. Dust angels seemed to have finally spread whispers about me. A mechanics that rides solo—thats what I heard from one of them. Mechanic is a stretch to me, but to each their own. That one Motor baby came back a few days ago kept the bird think going which well he was not too far fetched on. My hands have been busy, bruised and burned. Nothing Major just the usual.

Though now I wandered once more, collecting and finding what could be rescued or reused. My jacket got a small upgrade. Small pins and thread finally added. A hood sewed into the collar from some hoodie I found from Tommy's. Everything was fine until I heard it for the first time.

Zzzzt!

A white ray gun and a drac holding it in an air of arrogance. Shit. Quickly I began to run and looked around for shelter. Legs pushed in ache upon the sand, the same adrenaline pumped. Zone four thankfully had a good amount of people, though by the time I reach any tumbleweeds or the sort, hopefully I ain't left ghosted. Nope I ain't going out like that.

I don't remember much but getting yanked down to the ground behind some abandoned left metal barrels. Shoved into an opening my head shook bamboozled and my eyes met some icy blues.

"Stay down and shut up unless you want to get us both ghosted." It was a boy. A kid may age by the looks of it. He peaked out, it came naturally from him. Almost complimented by the desert itself. Though I simply listened then and kept shut. Not that I talked much anyways. Though after a moment he finally turned to me, shoulders less tense than before. A once over was given.

"Tumbleweeds like you don't last long ya know. How you haven't been dusted out is beyond me," I blinked and titled My head then from one side to the other. Yeah I have no idea what it means. A small amused huff came from him as he stood. I followed suit, still eyeing him. "Are you going to just stand there? A thank you would be nice."

Right, normal people interactions. "Thanks." Judging by his attire, leather and jeans, small pops of blue and red made an appearance yet nothing too wild that screamed killjoy. He was one of those sand pups. If I was using that term correctly.

A beat of silence, comedic sure but God damn awkward. Then he laughed. "You're terrible at the whole yapping part. Ya never met someone like that here."

Well that certainly was an understatement. Then again I wasn't used to having people around me often. Especially someone as young as me. "Not much to say I suppose"

"Really? couldn't tell." Alrighty now who's sassy kid is this. My brow raised before I simply shook my head slightly before looking around, nothing but the golden shine of sand and whatever glitter it's been mixed with. Nothing much in the horizon besides a lighthouse (a place where most out here deemed safe.)

"...so, ya got the name tumbleweed?"

A name? A name. I glanced over to the boy.

"...no."

The sudden bewilderment and utter confusion on the boy's face was actually kinda funny. "You are weird. Not having a name here is like living without color."

Huh? Well finally something that made sense but who was I to explain my life story to someone I just met. "What's your name then?" The counter was very well made.

His arms crossed then, leaning against the mental barriers. "If we're talking killjoy names still working on it but It will be good," he sounded quite proud of something that was still in progress, a bit of light in his blues, electric even. How curious. "But for right now, Valerio, pretty bland if you ask me-"

"It's cool: Valerio." I said simply and softly, I genuinely thought it was. Haven't heard someone's actual name in a while. Watching him shift slightly before looking back out the horizon. He didn't say much after. Ironic.

"Come on, there's a lighthouse ahead. Got some stuff to sell." I let out as I began walking, not sure what it was that had me asking him to accompany but maybe I wouldn't mind it. "Or don't, free will or whatever."

For a moment no movement beside my own was within the desert, and before I thought he'd leave. I felt something nudge my arm, pushing me forward. "You are weird, starshine."

I stopped and turned my head. Titled it a fraction. "Starshine?"

"Gotta call you something, ‘sides the pins are a giveaway." He spoke, his eyes roaming my pins and small bits of thread I've managed to add. Nothing else was said as we continued on. I suppose that would work for now. At least between me and this smug sand pup.

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The sun is finally high and dry, adding that glimmer marks within the horizon and sweat dripping off my forehead like no tomorrow. Still getting used to not showering often but apparently gas and some parts of the zone had electricity. Seems Bl/nd has strings they pull even all the way out here. With their damn vending machines and random dracs breaking the static. The radios were buzzing at its usual tempo. The Doc's been keeping me up to date with a lot of it here.

I've made a little home, if you can call it that, in this junkyard out in zone five. A bit far out but hey, got shade for days and all the parts I could salvage. The rusty aluminum sheets and wood from the old shack had come in handy. It's weird settling in somewhere after being constantly walking around everywhere. The rest is...odd in a nice way.

My favorite part is the roof, stars looked out for days. Which you would easily guess became my favorite part of the day. The early sunsets, slowly leaking the pretty pinks and purples. Like the Killjoys I've heard on the radio. Nevertheless the same colors that followed me everywhere were always the last. It was like it haunted me, filled with an irony which was borderline line hypocritical.

Everything was indigo.

Indigo

Never thought about it like that in a while. Hopefully the next few days get me figuring out that name thing.

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I've stumbled upon some market of sorts, well it seemed like a market. Though after seeing the stuff around I'd consider it a poor excuse for a thrift shop. Stuff old and new littered this run down motel, literally littered. Accents of aesthetic you'd only find of the bus and yet there was nothing aesthetic about this owner.

Tommy Chow Mein—let it be known he did not pass my vibe check. He reminds me of that one guy back in the system who'd tattle tale on the other kid if he didn't get shit his way. Also the greed that left his buggy eyes was insane. At first he raised a brow, I was a new track out in the zone but when he gave me a once over, his eyes rolled like I'd wasted his time. He knew I had nothing to waste in here, which I didn't. A small scoff left him as he went back to his own devices. Nevertheless he'd given me an idea.

A few days back, I ran into some motor baby's(yes I finally know what that means) their ride painted and glammed left smoking worse than an addict. Its blue shine caught my attention, glittery with its slight silver rust. Seemed to be stuck with nowhere to go and by the looks of it not a single one of them had a clue where to start tinkering.

I went over, off the sand and on the blazing black road. Safe to say I had some Ray guns pointed at me. Note to self: don't approach randomly. That's on me. One of them started rambling on about getting me dusted and never letting the Phoenix witch get to me... whatever that meant.

"I can help." It was all I remember saying before I went to let my eyes roam the engine. The hot steam has a familiar smell. Same one that once roamed the walls of a garage I once read in. I suppose even if life was shit as a kid, Michel knew what he was talking about. Quickly I got to work. Overheated engine and by the trail of water just right behind the car, a leak in the tubing. Easy fix after cooling the car. Not sure how long I was there but the group round me simply kept laidback. Question and sass thrown out towards me like no tomorrow. Their curiosity was given, though it's not much like I could give an introduction besides the whole, runaway thing.

Besides the point now. The next thing I know I'm being offered a can, dented and in that familiar white from bat city. 'Power pup' it read. I blinked, not sure what to make of it. Though now my attention was on them, they had rather cool clothes even if kissed by the dust and rust.

"A kid like you sure knows their stuff. You can make lots of noise with skills like that." One of them spoke, hair up and spiked, a gradient of blue and red popped out as if yelling all on their own. I grabbed the can they offered, head titled quickly back and forth. "Call it payback, I might need you again."

Those around simply nodded, not sure if in gratitude or simply tipping hat from one trying to survive to another. Nevertheless, I simply followed suit. They got back to their car one by one

"Keep running, Time waits for no one and the statistics need some buzz." My head tilted again at that, not sure what to make of it. Still though their laugh caught my attention.

"What are ya' a damn bird? Keep your head screwed correctly." Well wasn't that a call out. ",but seriously kid, stay sharp as switchblades and don't get ghosted."

With that they simply left and I with a can of dog food and a way to make it round these parts.

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Battery city lived in routine, everyone knew that. The blinding white, the eerie shapes of the building that looked alike and the people as artificial as the pills they eat. This was home, according to everyone around, it was crazy to think but everyone is made to ignore. I've grown sick and tired of it. The stupid lifeless cycle. The damn dumb TV every kid seemed to be in trance by MouseKat, though I'll admit I preferred the news. It was the only bit of color I could see beautifully brandished by those outside of here. They were... Interesting to say the least.

Of course I'd never say that out loud, who knows what they'd do to me if they found me thinking. After all, being returned to the shelter wasn't helping my case right now. Nevertheless it was time. Everything was packed and ready to go. The city was busy trying to move past the war I've been hearing about. A small faint distraction that would be my way out of this hell hole and I'll take it. The night within the city was still bright in its lights. The sky a terrible faded blue as I looked out the window climbing out and down the fire escape. This was it. No turning back.

There was this adrenaline as my eyes saw the horizon of the city limits. A breath leaving me as I quickly went staying in the shadows, which I believe was much harder to do but if there's a will there's a way. I carried on, Bl/ind employees shifting their spots in just on schedule. It took a while to learn it but I got it down. My headphones on, hijacked and rewired, to think this was a way to cause that ignorant bliss. Disgusting, but it helped with blending in. Amongst the night life droids and dracaloids alike roamed the streets; Few day to day people heading home or to work. A breath left me as I continued to walk. Eyeing the escalators out the city, I've never been happier to see a set of stairs.

Though I should've probably paid attention. Footsteps from behind seemed to quicken, my head turned and wouldn't you know it draculoids. Dressed in white. God I hated that color.

"regulation says it's past your curfew kid." The voices of the lot echoed in a not so pleasant monotone. And well like any normal teen, I booked it. Not letting them finish their dumb spill of laws and shit, just ran up the damn escalators, pushing people out the way. Startled gasps and remarks made but I ain't trying to die. My eyes stayed forward, looking for any ways to leave this damn city. Heartbeat thumping in my ear, eyes not straying to the freedom of the dark. A place where lights weren't blinding and life wasn't a cycle forevermore.

I didn't know how long I ran for, through the outskirts buildings and few people simply watching the scene I'd been a part of. The cold air is much more liberating than it's ever been through my lungs. The horizon of sand and the famous route Guano. The ache in my legs seemed non-existent as the adrenaline simply sparked, until I was surrounded by the blue. The night was dark and for the first time ever I saw them...stars.

With batted breath, I stood looking around gazing upon the desert. Rusty junk laid upon the area like it belonged, aged buildings and billboards that told the story of memories past. The night moonless and yet little flame lit up the sky. Never thought I'd see the day. Falling to my knees upon the sand, never did I stray from the sky. The content in me tugging a smile on my face.

I've done it. I left. No more rules and labels nor molds to fit. People leaving and going as they please.

For the first time in my life, I felt free.

I could be me

I might need a new name.

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MOD😋

HEYO!

I hope you guys enjoyed this little memory of Crow's. Much more where these came from. But yes for bit of context this is all before the comic but after the analog wars. I've tried hard to keep as close to comic canon as possible but also explore the zones a bit and the characters.

Feel free to ask questions! I'll prob update a tagging system on the intro soon.