♠ 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕕𝕠𝕞 𝕆𝕗 𝕊𝕡𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕤 ♠

Cₕₐₚₜₑᵣ fᵢᵥₑ: yₒᵤ'ᵣₑ cᵣₐzy ₐₙd ᵢₙₛₐₙₑ ₐₙd dᵣᵤₙₖ, yₒᵤ'ᵥₑ ⱼᵤₛₜ gₒₜ ₜₒ bₑ

The words haunted Pigeon like a bad memory. Parents? All Pigeon ever considered a parent was Big Q. Did most people have multiple parents? Or was this man truly drunk?

"Cat got your tongue?"

"No, it's just, I don't really understand."

"Understand what?"

"Well," Pigeon tried to think of how to phrase her words in a way the stranger could understand. "I didn't know it was normal to have multiple. I thought it was normal to only have, or even know, one."

"I'm so sorry."

The stranger's words confused Pigeon. "Why are you sorry? It's not like-"

"Sorry, it's just a habit of mine. And I als-"

"It's alright. And, I mean it's not like you wou-"

"Shh, shh. You've said enough. You're young, and clearly underage. What are you doing, working in a hotel? I thought by now Big Q would have thought through his sources of labor."

"Well, it's kind of hard to explain." Pigeon said, setting her broom on the floor.

The stranger was sitting on the bed by now, his jacket laying on the couch beside him. "I'm listening."

"Well, this is the only place I've ever known. I've never been beyond the city limits. I've lived in this place my whole life. I was shown how to clean by age seven, and from then on I've been working both here in the hotel and at the casino." Pigeon sat down on a small stool not far from the television. She sighed.

"I have so many questions right now."

"Like what?"

"You said you knew one of your parents."

"Mhm."

The stranger looked a bit tense. "And you also said you have never been beyond the city's boundaries, right?"

Pigeon looked a bit scared. "Where the fuck are you going with this?"

"I- I really don't know." The stranger sighed. His train of thought was clearly gone.

"If you want, I'll answer you're questions now. Under one condition."

"Yes?" The stranger looked up, as though they were starving for information.

"You accept a warm dinner from me to you."

"No way. No fucking way."

"You're going to starve yourself and not get the answers you want? Not my fault when you get kicked out of the room, bitch."

"Fine. But you'll answer me first, okay?"

"Fine." Pigeon rolled her eyes.

"Deal?"

"Deal."

The stranger sighed. "Name?"

"Pigeon."

"And singular parent?"

"Quackity."

"Hmm."

Pigeon tilted her head. "Hmm what?"

"I think I've met you before...but where?"

"Never seen you in my life."

"Could have been when you were a baby." The stranger shrugged.

"You've got to be drunk."

"Not a drop."

"Delusional?"

"Not even close."

"Insane?"

"Now that," the stranger said, "is most likely true, after all I've done."

"Can't be that bad."

"Blew up a nation of people, betrayed people, mistreated people-"

"That sounds familiar."

"Any names come to mind?"

"Wilfred. Jared. John."

"None of which are my name. Though, Wilfred is close."

"Tell me. I'm dying to know."

"Wilbur. Wilbur Soot."

Pigeon thought long and hard for a good few seconds, which started to stir up a bit of worry in Wilbur. "Aren't you, like, banned from being anywhere near Las Nevadas?"

Wilbur stared blankly at the floor around Pigeon.

"Are you alright?"

No response.

"Wilbur?!"

Wilbur seemed to suddenly re-enter reality. He seemed so calm, whilst Pigeon was panicked so much that she was nearly sweating.

"I know who your other parent is."

"Oh? I have a second one?"

"And I can't tell you who they are."

——————

(Hey, bit of an author's note, you all got this second chapter within about an hour of the last one since I have motivation for once. Also, sorry for such speed in this, I have better scenes planned. Plus, I need a bit of whiny Pigeon for the next bit.)