#inkfics

WARNING! SHIPPING!

-aviscott

-bloodletting

-firelocke

-cryptidclues

-moonrot

Needed context: 

After being put to sleep by the humans he forced to build his dungeon (decked out/ the castle) Tango comes back with a goal to recruit workers willingly so they don’t revolt again. Mumbo, a former mayor of Oakhurst, was similarly put to sleep after abusing his mayor position to eat and experiment on people, now wanting to continue his research. Though both are inventors, their clashing methods make them petty rivals. Scott, a manor lord from the capital, arrives intending to buy and renovate Oakhurst but is pretty pissed at being suddenly trapped in Oakhurst because it's worse than he thought. Owen comes in search of a cure for his illness, drawn in by rumors of Oakhurst’s magic, while struggling with grief over Louis, who was drafted to war and never returned. (I ship bloodletting. Do you see my vision?) Owen is having a hard time accepting affection from anyone else.  

Now that that's out of the way, Chapter 1:

When Scott had set out to scout the property of Oakhurst, he had expected at least an inn, maybe a run down tavern. The rotting remains of a tiny town, was not what he was hoping for. 

“This looks like a town but with like, quotation marks around it.” He remarked, stepping through the gates into town. There he ran into a young blonde man, a man in what seemed to be surgical robes and a redhead, standing near a crumbling tower. 

“Let me guess, you're new too?” the redhead said, turning to look at him. Was she asking if he had lived here? Scott almost recoiled at the thought. 

“Oh no, I came here to buy and renovate this place.” He responded.

“Oh great so NO ONE is from here.” the doctor exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. 

“To be fair, if anyone did live here I'd be concerned.” the blonde muttered. 

“It needs an IMENSE need of DIY help.” the doctor commented, and Scott added to the statement.

“And maybe some spiritual guidance, because the choice to stay here if THIS is what you lived in? My god.” 

“Hey what's this over here?” the redhead called from behind them, as the other two moved to meet her behind one of the tower’s crumbling walls. A glowing white object placed within a glass case laid inside, covered in dust. The woman blew on it, clearing dust from its surface, continuing to inspect as the blonde and the doctor continued a conversation they seemed to have been having earlier. The doctor asked for the young man’s name of which he responded was martyn and proceeded to explain that he had been left by his father out of falling off a horse carriage and had come to Oakhurst to wait for his fathers arrival. 

“Not the favorite child eh?” the redhead commented barely attempting to suppress a teasing grin, which the doctor was doing a much better job of, covering a slight laugh as he consoled the man. 

“I am, so sorry.” he said, putting a hand on Martyn's shoulder. Scott hid his face as a grin spread, attempting to not be disrespectful about the young man’s situation, albeit the comments from his companions. 

“Do you happen to know about the group over there?” he asked, spotting more people farther into town in the corner of his eye. Martyn began to say he had no idea before the redhead jutted in again. 

“They are lunatics, they are absolute lunatics” she said, rolling her eyes. “One of them is looking for bigfoot-” 

“One of them has a big foot?” Scott interrupted, confused. A man in a fancy suit and white gloves walked towards them and Scott turned to him.

“Are you the one with the big foot?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. He seemed to have normal feet…

“Uh no thats someone else over there, looking for bigfoot.” he said, gesturing to the crowd on the other side of town. 

“This is the butler.” the redhead informed.

“Yeah, I was thinking so. Could you like, get us a drink or something? or some food..” he asked the butler, looking around the decrepit town. Why hadn't HE thought to bring a butler to help. Maybe he should talk to the rich person who brought this guy, he mused as the butler explained how he had been taken in by a manor lord. His thoughts were interrupted by martyn saying "you're a double but that's what you are.”  and then chanting double butt, like a child, followed by giggles from the other two and a very annoyed look from the butler. 

“When you said your dad left you on the side of the road I was thinking ‘aren't you a bit old for that’ but maybe not mentally” Scott said, earning more laughter from the group and a slight smile from the butler. “Im starting to see why he may have left you” Scott continued, giggling at the offended look the man gave him. 

“Yep, starting to see why.” the doctor said, to which martyn responded by saying he “wanted to chop him up first thing.” the doctor frantically explained he had said no such thing.

“You were going to offer me surgery for a twisted ankle!” Martyn exploded, and Scott suppressed another laugh. 

“You look like you're wearing a wedding dress that's a bit too short.” he noted pointing at the doctor. 

“Wh-theyre surgical robes! In case I need to help, or provide care!” he huffed.

“Surgery? Here? It seems a bit…unsanitary.” Scott responded, the doctor quickly nodding in agreement. 

“Oh no, yeah this place is far too dirty.” 

They were interrupted by a short man in a green vest followed by a woman in a brown trenchcoat and monocle. 

“Is this the guy with the big foot?” he murmured, still confused. 

“Oh don't listen to the bigfoot girl, she's downplaying the whole situation.” he said, waving his hand. “But look! I got this!” He handed out full cloves of garlic. Although still a bit confused, Scott accepted the garlic graciously, offering the man a potato he had found. His excitement at the gift was somewhat…cute. Scott decided to ignore that. 

“Well I'm a farmer, so if you give me seeds I can plant them.” The redhead said, to which everyone in the area comically paused and turned towards her before eagerly dumping handfuls of seeds and vegetables into her hands. 

“Hey what's this over here?” the green vested man called out, crouching by the object the redhead had pointed out earlier. “Hey! I'm consecrating!” he called out excitedly and Scott backed up instantly. 

“You’re WHAT?” he yelped “is that…conatgious?” The last thing he wanted was to get sick in this run down town. After some suspicions they all gathered around the object, before the redhead stood up and the sudden warm air around them dissipated. 

“It got interrupted! It's because Scott walked in!” The man in the vest accused, pointing a finger at the manorlord.