#steve oc

"Well i cant completely fault the idea i suppose, i just wish we had a better plan than charging off into the woods with half the kingdoms key players and hoping for the best"

[They sigh, shaking their head]

"Whats the plan for if we get into combat? Me and you, specifically. Thorn and his troop will have all trained together, we'll be.. outsiders in that. They'll all have their own duos already, and we might get in the way. Im wondering if try stick together and stick to the outskirts of the fight. We'll be weak links, sure, but at least we wont actively be dragging down the other combatants."

"Or. Maybe we try fit in a sparring session before we go?? I feel like itd be a good idea to atleast know how eachother fights before we head out. I really doubt any of you have ever seen a violet steve in combat before, and im not familiar with red steve tactics either"

"I dont know. Its your call. Youre the smartest steve here from what ive seen; i trust your judgment"

-🦂🫟

“I wouldn’t worry about the kingdom being left unattended. We have plenty of guards to help keep this place safe while we’re gone, it’s just 6 of them plus me and you.”

“If you wish too I can ask one of Thorns troop to maybe give you a quick lesson so you’re familiar with our tactics in fights.” Abel walked up to one of the buildings bordering the farmers market. Putting a hand out to open it, but taking a second to look over their shoulder

“I would prefer to not upset the Violet king if we have to inform them about you going missing.” Well, that’s if they come back from this.

Abel opened the door, inside was a small little shop. Shelves lined the walls with all sorts of supplies for travel, from ropes to weapons, arrows and bows. This place seemed to be the local one stop shop for anything a tradesmen would need.

Or in their case, supplies for a week in the mountains.

“Hey Rosemary, just stopping in for a sec. Everything should go on Kaine’s tab”

A more pale Red Steve, older in age with graytoned red hairs lining the red. And a scruffy beard to match, watched to Abel. Abel waved back “Ah- hello Maroon, manning the front today?”

“Aye, Rosemary and their partner have gone off to find themselves a Diamond to carve.”

“Oh! That’s wonderful, congrats on the new grandkid- how is…..”

The conversation faded into the background as Chance was left to grab the supplies they needed from here.

[Chance glances around them, before lowering their volume]

“As the shifts change you say? Is there any possibility that it could be someone… I don’t want to finish that sentence here, but you’re a smart steve, I’m sure you’ve thought of this already”

[He flicks his tail, frowning at the ground]

“This… is tricky. Surely you’ve patrolled before? When the first rose vanished? Are we really expecting to find something else this time? I’m not trying to sound hopeless, just wanting to know what I’m walking into.”

-🦂🫟

Abel’s eyes fell slightly, they personally considered and had done a personal investigation late at night just to see if it was someone among their ranks. But the private investigator was able to cross ‘Murderer’ off the list long long ago. Guards all in either their cabins, eating and sleeping away. Or taking up night shift.

And the next morning another Trader’s cart would be found abandoned. Trader gone, no sign of what happened or where their stocks would go. Weather it be food, books, scrolls, dyes leather or other sorts of supplies. Gone. Just gone.

“We’ve sent out a few patrols. Every-time one farmers or tradesmen vanish, we find nothing. But the running theory now is that because there’s practically no one else bordering the kingdom now whatever is doing this might..”

And they hated to say this. “Ahem. Possibly be out earlier..? That’s Kaine’s idea…but if we can find anything..it would be something instead of the nothing we’ve had for weeks.” Abel said, tail feathers slightly sparking slightly. “We’re just hoping for something Different if we go deeper into the woods.”

Older Patches! They grow up to be just like their father (:

“Nothing. I wasn’t aware until I’d already entered your gates that I could be in danger. Hence me wondering if you needed to know about the thing first. Though currently the thing I’m considering the most likely is that... Hm. Excuse my wording. Whatever’s out there had already eaten by the time I came through. It’s to my understanding that you lost another farmer this morning, and it strikes every few days yes? If they had just been taken, it wouldn’t need another person so soon after”

“Also I’d like to add a new outfit to the shopping list. It is nippy out here, and I’m not going to have the luxury of a nice warm inn to return to at the end of the day. Apologies to add that mid interrogation. Was there anything else you wanted to know?”

-🦂🫟

Abel sighed “it’s fine..” they mumbled, it’s not like it’s their money being used on this shopping list anyhow-

“..hm…from what we know the thing strikes later in the day or around the time the kingdoms main guard is switching out for shifts. Either way homes are found empty during the day” they noted, guiding Chance into the small market area, their tone lowering. “…we have had some traders or visitors come through without harm. But from what I’ve noticed…unlike Kaine.” They mumbled the last bit with some distaste. “Most if not all who have gone missing where either fully a Red Steve or a hybrid associate with Red. Which-“ they’d eyed chance up and down “you aren’t- as far as I can tell. Luck you huh?“

"Im a wanderer, and i was wandering. I had no idea your kingdom was here until i spotted it in the distance. Thought i'd have a look around."

"I suppose i didnt really have a goal other than to enjoy myself? The tour guide was a nice surprise, and hilarious company. I asked Thorn to show off the kingdom and he took me to the town hall to show me the art there. Its a complete coincidence that this was the exact moment you wanted him for a meeting"

[They debate mentioning that it was Vander that kickstarted the events that led to them prying about the missing steves, but decide Abel would think it was a coverup for Thorn.]

-🦂🫟

“Hm..”

Abel seemed to take everything said and almost take it apart bit by bit. They wanted the be cautious of the stranger, after all Red Steve’s kept disappearing. And they weren’t sure who or what was doing this.

“And you just..walked through the valley? Between those woods and the mountain range? And you made it to our gates completely untouched..?? Did you see anything? Hear anything??”

Their name is Patchwork or Patches

-🦂🫟

“What was your original reasoning behind visiting the kingdom? What was your goal?” They raised an eyebrow at Chance, seemingly studying every part of her. The way he stood, the way they walked. Their expression, every little part of Chance was under a microscope.

Red Steve’s always had a tendency to study others..even unknowingly.