Duet Night Abyss story · Side stories
Clock No More Ticking
Chapter Noctoyager
1 scenes, 39 lines
1. Tap the Keg
39 lines(Before even enter The Asphodel, you already hear the echoing curse words, as if wanting the whole city to listen to his rage.)
How dare you show yourself in front of my face! I was such a fool. I should have done more than just kick you out!
You paraded around with our family name for so many years. Did you use my warning letters as kindling?
Yes, yes, you are right, but after all, that surname is what you...
(Wells, like a child who's misbehaved, stands with his head bowed in front of an old man, allowing the latter's finger to jab at him.)
Shut up! You have no talent, yet you try to be a Phoxhunter. Do you really think you deserve this money and fame? Running around like a dog for others. The inner city now sees the Wells family as a joke!
I was just thinking, if I make something of myself someday, maybe you'll reconsider things about me and Sara...
How dare you mention her name! Forget about it. You and my daughter will never get back together, never!
Don't say I didn't warn you. If you dare step foot in the inner city, I'll break your legs.
Yeah, yeah...
(The old man, glaring at the nodding Wells, grows even more infuriated, looking around and finally setting his eyes on you, who just enters The Asphodel.)
And you, a Phoxhunter? I've seen many like you, dreaming of making a name for yourself as a Phoxhunter, and becoming a laurelled Charon.
Father-in-law, Vita is a capable one, not a loser like me...
Mr. Ferdinand Wells, I had no right to interfere what happened between you two. But if you keep harassing my other guests for no reason like this, The Asphodel might have to show you the door.
(Camilla, sitting behind the counter, puffs out a ring of smoke. Her casual words echoing powerfully in the empty tavern.)
Hmph.
(The elder didn't quite catch what you said, and continued to curse Wells. Maybe it's better to wait a bit for him to calm down.)
...Hmph.
(The elder is left speechless by your words, and glares fiercely before storming out.)
Sorry for causing everyone so much trouble. Well, my father-in-law... I mean Mr. Ferdinand Wells hasn't been to the outer city for years.
It's alright. We wouldn't be here today if we gave in to every slight or insult. Anyway, I heard you were injured recently during a commission. Are you okay?
It's nothing. Luckily this thing saved me from being fatally injured.
(Wells takes out a finely crafted pocket watch from his chest. The dial is covered in cracks, and the hands are twisted upwards in an exaggerated manner, making closing the watch cover a mere wish.)
He made it himself. Over a decade ago, there wasn't a soul who hadn't heard of Todd Wells, the prodigy clockmaker. Back then, his craftsmanship almost won him the title of Laurelled Charon.
Such a beautifully crafted watch. It's a pity it cracked like that.
Haha. Actually the hands had been broken for a long time, you know. I just keep it with me as a memento.
Why don't you try to fix it then?
The tools and materials needed for repairs were cut off by my father-in-law, so even if I wanted to fix it, I just couldn't.
...It's the way it is. Not everything can be fixed just because you want to and put effort into it.
...
Anyway! Enough about that. Thanks again for stepping in, if you hadn't, I'd be half-deaf by now from all that yelling.
Come on, drinks are on me tonight! I'll crack open these kegs, you handle those ones over there!
Come on, let's drink and party all night!
...
(You pop open the last keg. Glancing back, you see Wells already raising a glass, his grin wide and familiar as ever.)
(And yet... beneath the laughter, his fingers curl around the broken pocket watch, a quiet sorrow flickering beneath the surface.) (Like the shattered timepiece, a part of him is no longer easily mended.)
Let me tell you something. Icelake hasn't had many living laurelled Charons for years. Charons only end up rotting in some dark alley!
(As if the temperature in The Asphodel rose significantly in the smoke.)
Let's just say he's more... traditional. Don't take his words to heart.