Avicular was a reporter who surfaced on the internet a couple of years ago. From the beginning, Avicular took an interest in writing about the political and economical landscape of Logstedshire. They were the only reporter who ever wrote completely unbiased reports on the district. This resonated with the people. They were so used to people singing their praises to the kingdom come or people faulting them for everything that was wrong with the world. Avicular was the balance. They never let the people of Logstedshire get a big head, but they also didn't leave the people stuck in the dirty mud. Avicular believed that the people of Logstedshire could overcome their struggles if only they were made aware of what exactly was wrong. This garnered them popularity that Avicular used to spread the news about Logstedshire even further.

One day, Avicular posted a particular interview on their website. It was one they had done with the mysterious Red Angel, Vermillion. It attracted attention because Vermillion had never done an interview before. Vermillion was the people's hero, but he never engaged in useless conversations. He would always say that there were people that needed to be saved, that he couldn't waste time. The people understood, of course, but they were over the moon when they were finally given a glimpse into the ideals and personality of their personal angel. In the interview, Vermillion mainly stayed focused on reminding the people to stay safe and abide by the laws.

Avicular continued their usual content, but it became more often that Vermillion would make a guest appearance for an interview. If someone wanted firsthand knowledge about the angel, Avicular was the reporter they needed to follow. After a few interviews, Vermillion began to grow out of his shell. He became a little more personal. He revealed how hurt he was by the state of the district. He told the people about some of his favorite places to visit and places to get something to eat. Vermillion never revealed personal information, but there were moments when the audience could really tell that he was upset about the topics he was discussing with Avicular. There were moments when he would laugh at something Avicular said or make a joke that Avicular would laugh at him for. They were quite the pair, and it was clear that they were becoming friends, if they weren't already.

When Vermillion disappeared, Avicular was the one to tell everyone about it. They swore that Vermillion wasn't dead, just missing, and the people believed the reporter's words. Even though the media should never be trusted, Logstedshire's people believed in the reporter who their Red Angel had trusted and who believed in them. Avicular was the one to keep up with the anniversary. They did a fundraiser the two years Vermillion was missing, donating all the money to the college and other organizations meant to help Logstedshire thrive once more. If Vermillion was their Red Angel, Avicular was their prophet who spread the words of the angel to those who needed that kind of hope. Even to those who weren't religious, Avicular was nearly on the same playing field as Vermillion in terms of importance.

People continued to read Avicular's stuff, so they were the first ones to know that the sightings of Vermillion were being confirmed. Avicular posted an interview earlier that morning with Vermillion. The vigilante had not discussed his disappearance. He had not told anyone what his plans moving forward would be. He just talked about Origins, a new place being run by Nemesis and Prescient. He told everyone he'd taken a personal tour of the new district, and that he believed it would be good for the people of Logstedshire. Avicular backed him up, telling everyone about the statistics they had found to prove Origins was alleviating a lot of the crises that existed within Logstedshire.

People were eating that up, and Tommy was trying his absolute best not to think about it. He avoided the conversation topic when Sam brought it up. He ignored the way Mamacita was practically dancing as she checked in for work that morning. He didn't look at the newspaper left on the counter by MD. He didn't listen to any of the people checking out as they discussed what they believed to be a confirmation that Vermillion was coming back. Tommy didn't get himself involved with any of it. He knew that if he did, he would be tempted to return to his old position. He knew that he couldn't, but these people were making him think breaking the rules would be worth it. At least more people were going to Origins. That was the whole point, after all.

Tommy's thoughts are interrupted when a group of three enter the hotel to check in. He assumes they're a family since one of them is a child that couldn't be more than five or six. The child was flaunting the fact that he was a zombie Piglin hybrid. Tommy wondered if the family knew that hybrids in this area were usually hurt if they didn't at least try to hide their traits. He did look cute in his overalls, so maybe he wouldn't get beat up for being a hybrid. The tallest one out of the group seemed to be human, but he had a serious case of heterochromia. Half his hair was white, half of it was black- split down the middle. One of his eyes was a ruby red while the other seemed to replicate a green emerald. He was wearing a suit. The one with medium height was wearing a green button-up shirt tucked into brown pants that seemed to be semi-formal clothing. Tommy wondered where they were going.

The child and the tallest one go to sit on the couches in the corner. The one with average height walks up towards Tommy. He smiles at Tommy as he leans on the counter. "Hello! My name is Tubbo. That's my platonic husband, Ranboo, and our son, Michael. We're here to check into our room under the name Tubbo Underscore."

Tommy didn't need all of their names, but this wouldn't be the first time he had met a cheerful social person. Tommy turned to the computer to type in the name. As he did that, Tubbo kept talking. "Just making sure, but there isn't a rule against hybrids, right?"

"Nope," Tommy replies simply. They don't get hybrids often since hybrids usually can't afford this hotel. If they could, however, they would be welcomed in the hotel. Hybrids would be welcomed for as long as Sam was in charge.

"That's great! This is the closest hotel to Logstedshire. I have business there," Tubbo admitted. Tommy looked up over the screen of the computer. He didn't question the people who came in and out. They were entitled to their own business. The hotel liked having plausible deniability. Tommy, however, was someone who couldn't stand it when someone let the name of his district rest on their tongue without him knowing their motivations and alignment.

"Vermillion only does interviews with Avicular, and they aren't going to talk to you," Tommy said. This wouldn't be the first person who tried to get some exclusive with Vermillion. Usually, it was Vermillion himself that had to tell these reporters to get lost. He didn't want to be some inspirational story for people in other districts. He didn't want them to make a mockery of him in their perfect little districts where people came home more often than not.

"I'm not here for either of them, actually," Tubbo said with a smile on his face. Tommy's nose twitched as he tried to remain calm. This was taking an unexpected turn, and he didn't like it. There were a lot of things those words could mean. People didn't just go to Logstedshire, especially not for 'business'. There were always ulterior motives. There were always darker intentions hidden beneath the surface.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're here to hurt the people of Logstedshire," Tommy replied, keeping all his anger and swear words inside of himself. He didn't like how this conversation was going. He knew that he shouldn't get involved, but he was going to get answers one way or another.

"So, the fact that I have a hybrid son means nothing to you?" Tubbo asks lightly, looking back at Ranboo and Michael with a soft smile. Tommy rolls his eyes. He looks down at his hands. They're visibly shaking, hitting random keys to mess up his search for Tubbo's reservation at the hotel. Tommy tries to take a calming breath, but the shaking doesn't let up. Tommy pulls his hands away, trying to wait for the shakiness to pass.

"I have no proof of birth. For all I know, you've kidnapped that poor boy. You could be nothing more than a better at the Pit taking in your newest score. I hear Piglins of any kind are usually winners. I could call the police right now," Tommy spat out in a harsh whisper. He almost shudders at the thought. A kid as young as Michael shouldn't be anywhere near the Pit, but Tommy knows betters have taken younger children to fight in their twisted games.

"I have nothing to do with the Pit," Tubbo said with wide eyes, the smile slipping off his face in an instant. The Pit was nothing to joke about, after all. "I swear I don't."

Tommy didn't say anything further. He merely clicked the final key on the computer. He checked the three into their room. Tommy handed Tubbo the keycard. Tubbo nodded once at him, muttering a thank-you. Tubbo turned around to leave. Tubbo and his family regrouped as they got onto the elevator, going to the upper floors.

Tommy's thoughts don't stray from the Pit. It was an underground organization that had started in L'Manberg before the powers centralized there. Back then, L'Manberg was controlled in the shadows by several gangs. One of the gangs, Pogtopia, had decided that they were going to increase their power through fear. They kidnapped a good amount of hybrids, forcing them into a fighting ring they called the Pit. People were allowed to come and watch. They would even broadcast some of the fights beneath unassuming titles to trick civilians into accidently clicking on the link. Later, one of the gang members started taking bets. All the money went to the gang, getting him a promotion. With greater funds, they were able to expand the Pit and gain more power for themselves. The gang was eventually dissolved by the original heroes of L'Manberg: Nemesis, Blaze, Kitsune, Royal, and the number one hero of L'Manberg himself, Banshee.

The heroes did not, however, dissolve the Pit. The fighting ring merely relocated to the place where hybrids were overflowing: Logstedshire. The Pit thrived in its new home. Not only was there a surplus of easily attained fighters, but there were also a lot of people who were willing to sell their own family for a little bit of cash. There were no heroes or law enforcement to shut the Pit down or threaten it. The person who took control of the Pit became one of the richest men in all of Essempei, and no one cared to stop him. The Pit was able to grow larger than anyone ever suspected.

It became Vermillion's biggest challenge. He did what he could to stop the Pit. He was able to free a lot of people from their lives as gladiators. He got to see so many families reunited. Parents, children, siblings, and close friends started to rally around Vermillion once he had brought home a significant amount of people. He never gave up, though. He didn't settle for saving a couple of people. He did his best to save them all. He arrested anybody who worked with the Pit or betted with it. After he had saved her from the Pit, Beau began helping him shut down as many websites as they could find. It was Vermillion's archnemesis. It was everything he hated and stood against as the Red Angel of Logstedshire.

It was the only mission he had never finished. He retired before he had freed everyone from the Pit. It was his biggest regret. He wished he could have found the head of that stupid snake before he had disappeared from Logstedshire. Thinking about Beau and Michael, Tommy wondered if it was too late to finish this mission. He could help keep Logstedshire safe from the group that wanted to cause bloodshed between hybrids and the extremists. He could also finish what he started with the Pit. Once he had dealt with both of those things, he could...

Tommy stopped thinking. A memory struck his very core. It was the reason he had disappeared and retired in the first place. He couldn't help himself, much less everyone else. He needed to finish his business as Vermillion as soon as possible. He didn't have time to solve the crisis of the Pit.

Tommy was starting to really hate himself.