Chapter 60

Not much change in this one.

Warning: OOC, random craziness, Error past dark abuse, many other troubles if mention, cursing, killing, dark themes, racism mention, stuff children/teen shouldn't do, profanity, self-harm, suicidal moments, cheating, sexual moments mentioned, violence, smoking, drugs, alcohol, guns mention, animal death, cringe, bullying, yandere, possible musical/singing moments and bad flirts.

Error/Moxxie speaking

Voices/flashback/Text

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Things calm down slightly.

Moxxie still felt bad when Millie cried and had to comfort her that he was alright. Didn't want that to happen again. Any of it actually since he didn't like it. Once things calmed down a bit, they were able to leave to go to rest.

Aka going straight to Madre house to start his medical leave/vacation.

Blitz told him to keep his ass down to rest while they take care of everything back at IMP. Millie was very tempted to stay back and help. All of them really while wont admitting it. But Moxxie convince her to go. Same with Striker once he finished up what he needed to go with them. To get a startup of what IMP will be like.

All most felt sorry for poor Rattles to deal with the lot. But hey he'll be fine.

He got to admit. Staying back home with Madre was very nice and familiar.

The vegetable garden grown compared to last time. Along with the whiskey business. He was very pleased to see Crucible and Bolt again as well. Some few familiar faces came on in too.

So, during that time the mother and son duo had a great time together. The pair really needed it. Would have done other stuff if his arm wasn't 'broken'! Madre like to tease him with that a lot. Don't appreciate it very much Madre! Good thing he still has his other arm, tail and oh guess what magic. He will not admit he pout when his Madre chided him like a little tot for using magic. No, proof you got there.

While all this happened, he still kept in contact with the others. Well, really, they kept getting in contact with him. Loona doing no text besides those stupid spam email on weight loss. About to press the block button. Seems like Striker was getting along well with the group. That was good he guesses.

Blitz talked about him a lot. How great he was. Awesome killer and learning very well. How great Bombproof is. Still trying to find a way to disguise a horse to go through the portal. The sass talk that was back and forth between the pair. Then some questionable text that got very detail till his Madre took the phone and 'silence' Blitz. After that he hope he gets his ass, arm rested quickly when he gets back. Lots of paperwork with his name.

Prick.

Striker found a place to stay for now till he finds something decent. Or with better stable arrangement for Bombproof. Which was fair enough. Still suggested maybe keep them with Maria. She even talks with Striker about it when Moxxie was knockout. Striker will do that if it's a last result or get Bombproof out the area for a while Some talk of possible moving in the area he and Millie lived at. It could work out. Made a joke about having to fight Blitz for the first-floor apartment to get rid of the rats.

He didn't realize he made it into a competition for the pair to do that.

So, IMP is fine. Same with Flaw business.

Open that stuff up but keep the custom design section closed for now. It would be suspicious from Millie, Ivy how he was able to sew immediately. But wouldn't question the other materials.  Since they are used to him having a few extras on the side. Along with left a message on the Sinstagram that Flaw will be a bit slow for a while. Yes, he got a damn Sinstagram account for this his business and personal one too for IMP. Barely put anything in the personal one. It just works, surprise pictures for customers to guess what is coming up. Yes, a lot of code blocks with those too.

Too easy.

Then there was Stolas. The text messages from that phone were a frantic mess and able to speak with him in Space. After he made sure for Madre to not worry. Stolas just looked so terrified when he met him and asked him so many questions. He answered them the best he can. The same with Stolas when he answered his questions. Moxxie did notice how tense he was on certain subjects but told him not to worry. Or wouldn't answer certain things about IMP. Then a lot of apologies for not getting his call-in time and its fault one of Blitz employees got hurt. Along with not mentioning the bugs.

It was the deal between.

After that, thing settle down as he took his break. Then Ivy called to check on them. Nice chat. Then all decided to go to Pride to spend two days with Ivy. The next, day Moxxie technically can start back to work. It'll be the three of them.

The workers almost begged Maria to not leave them along with Crucible and Bolt. Not like they are terrified of them. Oh, no. They just know they are terrors.

They'll be fine.

Made it to Pride. The pair went straight to Nightshade café. Went to the back of the café to use the stairs to reach the second-floor apartment. Maria pulled the key out for the door. What? Ivy gave her and Moxxie one after a while when the relationship started to get serious.

The apartment floor was livable and spacious. One of the ways to desirable was a mix of sorts. Not counting the third floor.

The room was modern style. Like the kitchen, certain furniture, bathroom, the two bedrooms and the decent size tv. Now you can spot familiar historical aesthesis. Either it be the paintings, small Knick knacks, books and umbrellas in certain styles, bottles that were stylish, or a gramophone. There was an old-style radio one time but she threw it out.

Oh, and the plants.

It didn't cover the whole place. Can still spot them. Either it be flowers on the table in the living room. A plant on the bookshelves. Or a small vegetable garden on the window still in the kitchen. Or the few sittings on the balcony behind the apartment. In the bathroom there were some flowers as well. But could be used for the bathroom as well, like the dried flower leaves. The bedrooms are either plants or flowers. Depending on Ivy mood and what she wants to change.

"Ivy were here." Maria called out to her girlfriend. She was holding just a small bag along with Moxxie backpack. Don't usually bring much since over time you just leave stuff. Or in Maria case 'forgotten' them.

The pair of Imps hear some sounds in the back and they see Ivy come out the hallway. From the door that led to the final third floor. Still, in her café clothes were the trousers, long-sleeved top and apron. The pollen was not around at the time. Her emerald eyes spot them.

"What were you doing up there? Cooking some 'milk' for your customers." Maria snickered at the joke. Hey the 'milk' was the reason her son got a job working with her.

"Ha-ha you cheeky midget." Ivy snorted.

"I'm not a midget!"

"Fair that means I would be insulting Moxxie."

"I want no part of this."

Ivy snickered and walked over. First, to give Maria a quick hug. The pat Moxxie shoulder. Small frown seeing the cast. "How you feeling?"

"I'm okay." Moxxie shrugged.

The sinner looks over Moxxie. Especially, around the eyes with dark circles. Glance at Maria and see her mouthing to not talk about it right now. "Hey Mox why don't you go lie down."

Would have said no and all that. She decided not to. Just so, he can do a portal check on everything. "Fine."

The two-woman snickered hearing Moxxie grumble about he not a kid and technically adult. They waited till they heard the door shut.

"What the fuck Maria. He looks like a zombie." Ivy throws her arms in the air.

Maria let out a tired sigh as she went to sit down on the chair. "I did warn you he will look a bit dead from what happen."

"He always looks like that." Ivy snorted and went to the kitchen to grab two cups. Along with a bottle of red wine.

"Believe me I know it." Maria rubs her eyes and watch the taller woman sit with her.

"So, care to explain what the heck happen." She was still comprehending the stuff Maria told her over the phone. Well, not everything since technology can be fun. She picked up bugs and portals. Sounds like one of those sci-fi podcasts she would hear over the radio.

Maria told her what she knew. Besides, well certain things she can't tell her.

"I got to say it does sound ridiculous but does also sound like a good drug cover. Then again look where I am." Wave everything around along with herself.

"I don't blame you. Space is a tricky subject. It like the same as Heaven or Purgatory. Full, of surprises we can't seem to understand."

Along with Hell.

"So, Moxxie the only one that got bitten."

"Correct. He is not infected or anything like that. Dr. Medea, Puppet made sure of it." Took a sip of her drink.

"Is this Puppet like a servant of Stolas?"

Almost choked on her drink. Try not to yell. "No. No, I don't think so. From what I was told and such. You couldn't tell. Didn't see them interact long besides Puppet yelling at Stolas with the portal and such. Maybe there just co-workers."

"Hmm co-worker or not like to say thanks to Puppet too. Could have done nothing you know. Didn't have to save Moxxie." Ivy smiles slightly. "Sounds like they are better than the overlords and hierarchy"

"Look I never cared about the hierarchy. Yes, it there but it rarely affected my life. See a rich twat here and there. Along with the nobles. But they weren't favorites in Wrath. Always been like unless you respected certain families. Like lineage and such."

"So, not that different from humans."

"Correct. Expect we probably had extra drama."

"Oh, please."

"Fair, enough you humans brought a lot surprise down here. Well, at least from the new or when the word was spread around the other rings."

Ivy enjoyed listening to this kind of talk. Same with Maria when it's about Ivy life. Well, when she wants to talk about it. The two of them were so different yet have a few similarities of certain topics. Then there were the differences as well. The pair talked and drank. Till Maria asked Ivy a question.

"Hey Ivy?"

"Yes."

Maria swirled her drink around. "Do you miss Earth? Like your time period or just Earth in general.

The dark green hair sinner stops to think. She stared at her drink for a while. The leaf is like ears now and then twitch. Even the vines around her hands, neck would twitch. Some point had one of those old-style cigarette holders out. It was silver sold silver with vine like designs. A cigarette in there but not light up. She twirled it back and forth.

"Do I miss the styles, the parties, the elegance. Yes. Do I miss being alive then? No. No, not at all." She sighed, setting the cigarette down. "I was alive during a rather...Dark time. I told you I was black. During the 1920's and 1930's. Life was hard for me. I grew up poor, and ended up married too.... Well, I'm not going to get into that today." She sighed. "I'm not drunk enough to remember him."

Maria nods a little. Ivy has mentioned small parts of that relationship. Not the ones here but alive. Yet, it was one she rarely would talk about. There was no reason too. Along with the bitterness in her voice just mentioning it.

Ivy grumbled a bit, taking another drink. "I was killed because of my skin color. And possibly my sexuality, I don't know if he ever knew. Couldn't exactly ask him when he shot me." She laughed bitterly, taking another drink. She noticed her glass was empty and refilled it, wanting to at least be tipsy for this.

"He shot you?" Maria was angry. Yes, she gets it you got to die to either arrive here or the other place. It still was horrible for Ivy to go out that way. Yet, I was confused about something from the past small intel. "You mention something about poison. With you last relationship I thought he died before you?"

The Imp woman earn herself an amused chuckle.

"Ah, he did. I made his coffee the same as any other morning, but with ground up cherry seeds, peach pits and apple seeds. They could never prove what happened, because of what I used, and to be honest, they didn't care. It was just a black drunk that died after all." Ivy said, sounding oddly cheerful about that.

"Cherry seeds, peach pits and apple seeds?" Look Maria familiar with plants from Wrath and certain other rings when it was brought over. Anything from Earth can be tricky or called something else. They all did sound familiar but never heard of them being used as poison. Plus, Ivy surprises her a lot with her knowledge of Botany.

Along with Phytotoxicology and toxicology.

Ivy may have 'borrowed' a book or two at a time when she was alive. Along with her on a little research.

"Cyanide." Ivy giggled. At this point the green haired sinner was well on her way to being drunk, but that didn't stop her from refilling her glass.

Maria thinks about it for a few seconds till it clicks. "Gotcha."

Ivy sighed softly, leaning back. Her emerald eyes were misty with memories. "I poisoned people before my oh so beloved husband." She said softly, staring at her gramophone.

"On purpose or for fun?" Her tail reaches over to take the bottle.

Ivy sighed. "They were sick. Dying. I don't even remember why the first one approached me." She whispered. "They knew I was well versed in plants. They were suffering, and didn't want to prolong the inevitable."

Maria was silent as she realized that Ivy was opening up somewhat. The plant woman was a very private person normally.

"They said that I would be paid handsomely. So, I did it. I got some belladonna, and some sleeping medicine, and made them their favorite pie." Her eyes were unfocused as she remembered. "She looked so peaceful when she passed. Before, she always looked like she was in pain, but when she passed...."

Here she sighed heavily and set her drink down.

Felt, a small hand on her own hand and vines.

"You can stop if you want." Her eyes showed content and no judgement. Fully listening to her but also willing to put a stop to this talk. For, Ivy's sake and privacy.

Almost wanted to laugh how this demon was better person than even the humans. Male or female. Sure, she done some questionable stuff that made Ivy keep her guard up at the beginning. Plus, the stuff you hear about Wrath Imps but wasn't judgmental at first meet. Yet, she listens to her. Listen. No, beating. No, verbal slurs.

"No, no. It's fine. It was going to come out anyways." Ivy muttered. "Her daughter knew. So, she told others. Quietly of course. It became. A business of sorts. I would go, cook their favorite treat, and later that day they would quietly, peacefully pass."

Another silence.

"Was there a time you said no to somebody?"

Ivy had to think about that for a bit. It's been so long after a while. So, many of them. There were soldiers she remembered that came back from World War One. Lost, so much and try to keep going. The sick and the poor in those rough times. The Great Depression was starting up.

She remembered one and her face turned so sad. "Once. I never did it again. It was a young soldier. He begged me to help him. I refused. I said he wasn't suffering." Ivy sniffled, starting to cry. "I had been so, so wrong. He had seen horrors, had killed men.... He took his life a few days later. He overdosed on something; I don't remember what. I just know it was painful."

Some point Ivy was crying on Maria shoulder as the smaller Imp held her close. Even sat on her lap so Ivy could hold her. The short hair imp pets her long hair and whispered softly against her ears. Telling her it wasn't her fault. She tried her best and wanted to help out. The stress and pain that fell on her shoulders too early.

The Imp could tell Ivy was done for the day, so she didn't push, simply comforting her.

"Come on let's go take a nap in bed, the three of us can watch a new Earth movie you can show us while snacking on fat junk." Maria held Ivy face and nuzzle her. Let out soft churr like sound to comfort her.

Ivy sniffled, and her ears twitched slightly. "Y-yeah...."

"Come on little Honeysuckle." Maria giggles at the soft watery chuckles.

"I like that one." She admitted, getting up and swaying a bit. Still had enough sense to at least hold her girlfriend.

"Need help?" Being carried.

She mumbled something and nuzzled Maria. While there was still some alcohol in her brain there were still a few thoughts that passed. Really, doesn't know how lucky she was to meet the pair of them. Along with Moxxie crazy friends and co-workers.

But it was worth it.

Besides, those annoying rats that were a package deal.
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Done.

Any questions?

Until next time.

Bye , bye.