#topoc25

V: Something I’ve lost and found… hmm. (He’s glancing at Zinger.) Z: Don’t start, old man. V: It’s true, though. You’re the most important… most important thing I’ve lost and then found again. Z: Vipe… V: When you were… taken, I didn’t know what to do. I blamed myself. I still do. You were— you ARE my responsibility. I couldn’t rest until I’d gotten you back. And I’m sorry for how it all went down. Z: … V: What? Z: (They punch Vipe’s arm, then hug him.) You suck so much. V: Sorry. Z: I thought I’d lost you, too. You and the gang. I thought they’d… you know. Kill you. And after l-losing my brother… n’ finding a new family… V: (He hugs Zing tightly in return.) Hey, it’s okay, kid. You’re a lot stronger now than you were back then. So am I. No one can mess with us anymore. Z: Yeah… okay. V: (He pats their shoulders) Anyway, I think this party’s over. Let’s go home, yeah? Z: (They wipe their eyes.) Yeah… yeah! Let’s get outta here!

The sun sets on Team Zipe as they get back on their bikes and ride right outta Top OC 2025.

(Vipe shoots a bullet into the setting sun.) (Zing pops a wheelie.) :)

…and the lights went out.

No problem. Zing and Vipe were getting tired of the ball, anyway. They’re not used to such frivolous clothing. In the Outlands, there’s no need for it. It makes great fuel for a fire, though.

The duo changed into more comfortable outfits and got to work piling up their costumes. With the help of Vipe’s lighter, they quickly had a more-than-suitable source of light and heat to last them the rest of the evening.

Fire. Daze always has strange things to say about it. About the sun, the moon, but mostly, about fire. “It illuminates parts of you that you can’t face in the daylight.” Silly stuff, really. Things she learned growing up in a cult. But it… well, it sometimes feels true, to Vipe. Truer than he’d like to admit. “Parts of me that I can’t face in the daylight…”

His secret… something he wishes were actually confined to the tall tales that have been spun about him… the metal in his jaw. His teeth. The crutch it gives him that he wishes he never had. “The Snake Man of the Outlands…” Hah. He has to laugh, or he might cry. The truth is so much worse. But it’s fine, it’s all fine. Protecting Zinger and the gang is worth every sacrifice.

Vipe is staring at Zing’s outfit. He’s covering his mouth with his hand, thinking.

V: Why don’t you… explain your outfit, first. Z: Sure! My look is inspired by the Snake Man of the Outlands! Like the name says, he’s a myth that spans nearly the entire Outlands. They say he’s got pointy teeth and red scales, and you hear a rattling sound before he gets ya! V: Zing, that… that myth is about me. Z: No, it’s not!!! The Snake Man is a totally different guy. They say he’s a mutant who’s part snake… or that he made a pact and became unkillable. Or he’s a vampire! V: Do you see how these are all things people have made up… about me? Z: NO!!! Shut up!!! You’re Viper. I’m the Snake Man! V: Zing, you gotta understand that— Z: LET ME FINISH!!! V: …Okay. Sorry. Z: Anyway, I got these fangs to look more like him, and also have a scaly red suit and pants! Plus, the suit has a snake tail, and chains that rattle when I move! The chains have little gemstone blood drops on them, cuz he’s so fearsome and dangerous. Viper!!! Describe your outfit, now! V: …Oookay. I’m taking inspiration from the Wild Woman of the North. She’s a bit more of a regionally-specific legend, though folks have had “sightings” all along the northern border… it’s just more common in the west. She lives in the Cracked Zone among giant beasts, where no other human dares to go. Similar to the Snake Man, people say she’s a mutant. She’s covered in fur, has antlers, and arms herself with rusty scrap metal. I’ve decided to represent that with fabric that looks like rusted and twisted metal, as well as fur trim, and this back panel that looks like a warning sign you might see on the road. I imagine her as a cyborg, so I have this cybernetic arm sleeve, too. Oh, and the whole outfit is asymmetrical, since people have described her as… crooked? Not really sure what that means. Smokey eye, since the only sign of life she leaves is the smoke from her fires… I think that about covers it. Z: Is she a good guy? V: Hmm, I’m not sure. I think she’s probably good if even the monsters like her. Z: Well, I think the Snake Man’s a bad guy! V: Dang it, Zing…

The duo is standing in the manor, in front of a backdrop depicting a road in the Outlands.

Slide 1: Q: What are you most proud of? V: This kid right here. Z: Cmonnn. What are you even talking about? V: They’ve been through hell with me and the gang, and always come out the other side stronger, and with… with their spirit intact. I couldn’t be prouder. (He covers their ears.) Z: HEY!!! V: I don’t even really mind it when they call me their dad. Of course, I’m way too young, and the last thing I want to be is a father… Z: (They pull his hands off.) WHY!? V: But that they choose to call me that… it’s kind of sweet, right?

Slide 2: Q: What fills you with happiness? Z: Biking! Going fast! Doing jumps! When I feel like I’m flying— that’s the best!!! I’ve even done some fancy flips! You feel your heart drop sometimes, but then sticking the landing— it’s so worth it! V: They love to scare me senseless. Z: I’ve always ended up fine! V: So far. Z: A few bruises won’t kill me. You like riding too— you can’t tell me you don’t understand the rush!!!

Additional Qs: Q: How would you describe your childhood? V: (His smile drops) Cutting deep, huh? Z: I… I can answer this one instead. V: Nah, kid, you don’t gotta do that. (He sighs.) I’ll just say… run-of-the-mill bad. Running away is the best thing I ever did. I can’t stand to see a kid lose their childhood to things they can’t control, ya know? The nomadic life with the gang has gotta be tough on Zing, but I do my best to make sure they get to be a kid, still. Z: …I’m fine, you know that. V: Hah! Let me worry. I can’t help it, anyway.

Q: What’s something you love in others? Z: Daze is good with motorcycles— Shay likes trucks! Rhea’s good at tattooing, and Vipe can navigate by the stars! V: I think she was asking for ONE thing. Z: I was getting there! Everyone in the gang shares their interests with me. Daze got me my own motorcycle. Shay has been teaching me about engines. Rhea and I draw together sometimes. Vipe tells me about the stars. Everyone has their own passions, and I love that. I really do. V: That’s… really sweet, kid.

(Originally posted with Weapon of Choice by BRMC)

Isolated BG for cool people who got this far:

Mao drifts towards the photographer and fixes his hat. It’s clear he’s been wandering around quite a bit, but hasn’t found whatever he’s been looking for. “Uhh… howdy. I’m pretty lost, I think.” He holds his map out in front of him. Then he looks up and around at the crowd of contestants inside Lord Ascan’s Manor. “I… don’t think this map’s gonna help me out much, here.” His voice is low and monotone. Casual, but not comfortable. He shifts his weight from foot to foot in agitation as he tucks away the map of his homeland, the Outlands of Etra. “Listen, uhh… I heard there’s some… competition? I’ve been makin’ my way home, but if I’m stuck here anyway, and I don’t know how long that’ll be, well… I reckon I should play along, right? Just until I can find my way outta here.”

With some help from the other contestants and a moment of deliberation, Mao decides to join the Hide and Seek guild. His map serves as a convenient representation of “guild pride,” whatever that means. “Hiding from one thing, seeking out some other thing… sure, I can work with that. Don’t… don’t ask, though, alright?”

“An introduction…? Let’s see. I’m a hunter by trade. I’m from Lonestar, northern Lonestar. I’m headed back that way, back west… or, I suppose, I was, until I ended up here. I’m a sharpshooter-turned-sniper, but right now, I’m just tryin’a get away from all that. Now, if there’s a saloon anywhere around here…” he looks around doubtfully. “…well, I guess I’ll just be off somewhere lookin’ for it.” He surveys his surroundings one more time, trying and failing to make sense of this strange place before wandering off again.

*note: Mao eventually uses they/them pronouns, but this is before they figure that out :)

Zinger // 18 // (they/them) Viper // 29 // (he/him)

The crowd of contestants parts to make way for a duo that is… no more out of place than anyone else is, but they sure are making a scene. The spiky-purple-haired teen marches ahead with a performative grin, shooting finger guns and launching “how ya doin’s?” at unprepared onlookers. Some of them respond. Win. Behind them, an older, taller, very thin man is rushing to keep up, inexplicably bumping into just about everyone possible and ignoring all apologies and complaints. He’s barely maintaining a facade that matches his threatening appearance as he chases down the kid in a near-panic.

“Zing, please! Could you slow down? I don’t even know where we are—” “—Top OC! Didn’t you read the sign?” Zinger responds with authority and heaps of unfounded confidence. Vipe grits his teeth. “I don’t know what that is!” He narrowly avoids tripping for the tenth time as he hurries to follow Zing into a clearing in the room. “We just gotta get our photo taken and introduce ourselves! Easy, right?” They comb their fingers through their spiked-up hair and approach the photographer. “Hiya! We’re Team Zipe!!! Repping the Outlands’ very own Snake Pit Gang, the fiercest bikers around! I can show ya some tricks later.” They twirl a sun-shaped pendant around their fingers and push up their sunglasses. “We’re here joining the Sun and Moon Guild. Obviously, I’m the sun. Vipe, tell em who you are!” Viper holds up a moon-shaped pendant. “I think… Zing stole these. I’m not sure, but I don’t want any trouble, if I can help it. It’s, uh… a waning crescent.” He glances at Zinger. “That probably doesn’t mean anything, right? Anyway…” his look hardens. “I don’t know where we are, but if anyone so much as lays a finger on the kid, I’ll—” “—Vipe, we gotta take a photo! Get over here!” Viper grumbles something under his breath as he joins Zinger in front of the camera. Zing begins to gesture wildly, directing exactly how they want to pose.

A legendary bounty hunter and the overly-energetic teen he raised busting down the doors to Lord Ascan’s Manor…? Surely nothing could go wrong.