The Untold Story of Texas and Lappland (Arknights)

Trading Post Meltdown

Texas woke up to the feeling of a ceiling fan whirling overhead in a continuous cycle. Blinking the drowsiness our of her eyes, she begrudgingly pulled herself out of bed and walked over to the bathroom. As a liaison from Penguin Logistics, she was given a slightly better dormitory compared to some of the other members of Rhodes Island. So her living space was apartment styled, suiting her needs just fine.

"Another day, another job."

A slight headache pounded in the back of her brain from the drinks last night. At least the work in the trading post today wouldn't require much thought. She could use a distraction from the memories that refused to stop pestering her. The dreamless sleep she'd hoped for last night were instead replaced with the recollection of her first kiss. Like so many other moments in her life, Lappland had been apart of it. Even in dreams the other Lupo couldn't seem to leave her alone.

But what was worse was the unease she felt during the kiss the night before. After five years of being apart from Lappland, why did it still feel wrong to even kiss someone else? There was something wrong with her. There was no other plausible explanation.

Texas was so lost in thought that she almost didn't look at herself in the mirror that morning. But then there was the hint of red catching her eyes, making her freeze in place. The dark blue-black of her hair was commonplace, but the red growing at the bottom and on her tail was frustrating to no end. The colorful strands were making themselves known once more. Sighing, she opened a cabinet underneath the sink. The gel bottle was the perfect temporary solution for hiding such an annoying problem. It was a part of her heritage that would never leave her. Like Lappland was as of late, it would always be there to jog her memory.

She was weary of what might result if this trip to the past was allowed to continue. Furiously, Texas scrubbed the gel in with more force than was strictly necessary. The red disappeared but the guilt did not. The guilt, which reared it's head when she stared at her vanity ten minutes later. Clothes were yanked on, shoes tied, but her gaze could not leave the mirror. Texas could imagine the red there still, could see it even when it was no longer visible. The pictures she kept hidden were calling her name just as another, closer object was doing now. Fingers ran over the precious silver object, spending extra time to trace the letters carved in the small tag. After all these years . . . After all these years . . .

She remembered standing over a bridge, pain tearing up her insides as she sobbed. The necklace dangled over the edge like a leaf about to flutter away in the wind. A constant reminder meant to be tossed before the beginnings of a new life. But no matter how hard she tried, Texas could not get rid of it.

She was still compelled.

Heart conflicted and emotionally charged, she took one last look at herself and the mask she'd carefully constructed before marching out the door. The silver object no longer laid on the counter. It was back where it belonged.

****

This wasn't Lappland's first time in the Trading Post, not by a long shot.

However, this certainly was the first time she got here before her coworker, whoever they were supposed to be.

The blue walls were the same as ever, the lights flickering overhead as the energy workers got to business for the day. The conveyor belt was already churning though the lane was empty of boxes currently. Lappland leaned back against the control panel, letting out a sleepy yawn. Wolves were known for being night animals. Being up this early just didn't suit her. Hopefully whoever was working with her would be more awake. But once those metal paneled doors slid open and she caught the eyes of the person walking in, Lappland felt all the tiredness from the night before evaporate, replaced by other emotions she could barely contain.