Chapter Text
June 27th, 2023, the air blew softly on a humid summer night, a group's venturing came to an end once they arrived at the location they seeked.
Butter Boy, Devtrix, Frost, Mason, Mintysalt, Squid Dog.
The six of them stood outside, taking in the scenery after a long trip they embarked on to arrive at their destination. The ominous crack in the wall was large enough for all of them to fit through. Each of them slowly made their way through it till they reached the other side, a closed door was there, with a sign above it that read:
"HOBO JOE'S BLACK MARKET"
Frost tilted her head, turning to the others with a faintly confused expression.
Frost: Seriously? We came all this way for some black market?
Mason: No, no, it's not "some" black market, this guy has some crazy shit. He's an old family friend also, he's reliable, trust me.
Devtrix: (scoff) You're the least trustworthy person I can think of.
Mason stepped forward, knocking an awkward eight times before stepping back. The door opened moments later, a disheveled blonde old man with a ridiculously long beard stood before them.
Hobo Joe: Mason? That you, boy? Where's your grandpa? Who's them?
Mason: They're friends, we're all friends.
Everyone furrowed their eyebrows at Mason, nobody liked Mason.
Hobo Joe: Well uh... if you say so, kid. What're y'all looking for tonight?
Mason: Actually, we were going to ask if you'd mind letting us stay around for the time being, we'll be in the area for a while so I thought maybe you'd lend us a hand?
Hobo Joe: Eh... you offerin' anything? I'm running a business here.
Mason: We'll uh... we can buy you some food from that restaurant across the street? You like fish right?
Hobo Joe: That's it?
Hobo Joe chuckled, turning his attention to the others to see if they had better ideas.
Butter Boy shrugged, Mintysalt had an unamused expression, Frost stepped forward with an idea.
Frost: We could bring some customers around here while we're out, you probably aren't able to leave a lot while open since you're running stuff by yourself, right? We'd get to attract customers, and if word gets around, you'd be profiting more money.
Hobo Joe: That's something I can get behind, I like your friends, Mason, they can think, unlike some people...
Fine, come on in and get settled, I would like something to eat though...
The six of them followed behind Hobo Joe as he stepped back and returned to his post at the front of the market. Hobo Joe snickered, turning to a lone closet door and opening it. He glanced around the inside for a moment before stepping in and rummaging around, returning to the group with a key in hand held out to them.
Hobo Joe: Honestly, did you really expect me to have room around here to just hand out a place like it's a hotel? There's a big abandoned church down the road, and luckily for you lot, I got the key inside. Go camp out there instead, unless you'd really rather sleepin' on concrete. And I'm feeling generous since you're all uh— friends of Mason's... grandpa. I'll let you all in on a little bit of a discount. Can't let that old man getting angry now could we? The guy would wipe out half the United States, which is why I'm in England. Gotta stay safe, y'know? What is it exactly you're all up to anyway?
Squid Dog: A lot, there's a lot of things, stuff I wouldn't be able to explain in a single chapter because so much changes over time and there's not necessarily a goal here anyway, it's all just for the hell of it.
Mintysalt: ... What?
Squid Dog glared at Mintysalt.
Squid Dog: You know what I'm talking about.
Mintysalt looked confused, though he did, in fact, know what they were talking about. Squid Dog had a zoned out expression on his face.