On the outermost right area of the circle, as the Sun was smiling down, a Mother and her child were walking across a few hills, a red and white checkered blanket settled amidst a tall tree. The child was no less than eleven, as he'd giggle away in his big, blue overalls, taking stuff out of her mother's basket: Jam, bread, cheese, and cooked pork. On the sides were of some small crumpets, a salad to help balance his diet, from tomatoes and lettuce, to small spinach leaves that clung to the side of the dish, and bowls of different berries. The boy would clap merrily as the mother pets his head, letting him snack on one of the bowls, being careful not to make a mess on his own face. Alas, as his mind was just as innocent, such a mess was inevitable, making the mom wipe his face with a delicate napkin, adorned with the initials of 'B.L'. As the two were enjoying themselves, a third walked up to them. His footprints visible in the bright green grass, staining the flora into a matte black. The Rorschach's pattern fluidly moved into a constant shape, a blotted deer that stared before them, as the man loomed over the boy. "Mommy! Mommy! It's the nice man! Hello Mr. Nice Man! Mommy made us some food! Do you want some?" The boy asked in such a cheerful tone.
The man merely raised his finger, a signal for the boy.
"My dear, is something the matter?" The mother spoke, her tone calm, if not calculated. She was anticipating such a visit for a while.
The boy merely shook his head and hugged her, still keeping his wide grin. "Nope! I'm okay, Mommy! Can you check to see if there's any water out there? I'm a bit thirsty..." His request was met diligently, the woman making her way down the hill. Once she's gone, that cheery face would finally break. He'd snap his fingers as the King of Nihil took out a box of cigars, passing it to him. He'd watch as the child light it, taking a deep inhale as he smoked his tobacco, breathing down a gust of smoke as he'd let loose his real colors. "You Really should've picked a better date than now, Sozo. I scheduled this to be my break..." A cold, older voice spoke, bags visible under his eyes, a darker gaze felt across both parties. He dirtied his rainbow-like undershirt and big, black shoes with the ashes of the cigar, as Sozo spoke.
"Well better me than the others that are coming soon."
"Others..?" Sozo would demonstrate to the smaller elder with his ink, illustrating the children and the descendants closing in towards the shop. An ire was struck on the man's face, smoking once again, laying his back against the blanket as he gazed up on the big, blue sky. "...People just don't like it when staff wants some time off from work, huh?" The elder replied, a soft groan out of him as he'd bask in the light, his annoyance prevalent through the small wrinkles made when his true face was out and about.
"If there is any consolation, they ARE delivering what you've been requesting for a while. Should expect them in the coming days, based on what I've seen and how far the distance has been made. Maybe even earlier, should there be no delays."
"About. Damn. Time.... I've been waiting for the package the entire MONTH! The hell was holding it up??"
"War."
The man raised an eyebrow at Sozo, yet the King of Nihil merely stared back, no emotion, no response. The man grew surprised once he reads his intentions. "Oh you're serious..."
"Been hung up on a few factors for this specific reason, too. Even have a few outsiders involved." As Sozo spoke, the small elder would get up, grabbing a knife and a few ingredients to make himself a sandwich, jelly on top, cooked pork on the middle, jelly on the bottom. He pulls his cigar away, tapping its side to let the ash sprinkle on the grass, as he'd carefully bites into his sandwich, not leaving a mess behind his face again like before.
"Any whereabouts regarding the two hunters?"
"Straum and Felks? Can't say that I have." Sozo watched as a scoff came from the Elder, watching him pace down and take another bite of his sandwich, smoking his cigar as he'd look out the vast forest.
"Of course they'd go A.W.O.L. Remind me then to bill Straum if he ever shows his face again. Press has been saying that the man's been deceased, but I'd rather not trust the papers if I have full view here."
"It's up to you, Brunono. Take care." With such words, Sozo sprouted his ink into wings, his legs into stilts, walking and reaching higher to the sky before taking off, as he'd look down upon the man. He can't help but feel partially bad at his situation, knowing of his denial. "He'll be fine. He can grieve his own way." He'd mumble to himself, as he'd soar back to his own Kingdom.
Down below, Brunono clears his throat and returns his cheery tune, a message being written, watching his 'mother' come back. "Mommy? Can you deliver this to the nice man in the spooky place?" He'd ask, his facade almost as fluid as her movements, watching her nod and take hold of the letter, immediately darting her way into the forest. Brunono stamped his foot on the cigar once he dropped it, as he went back onto the checkered blanket, and finished his sandwich, his eyes never leaving the vast sight before him.
It has been far too long since he's heard of the two hunters, and his gaze has already been set in stone, his actions set. Whoever has taken out of his warriors shall meet a gruesome end, such should act as his will.