Silhouette

"And these two fine gentlemen dressed in black and white are Larry and Barry. They're the boss' first employees and some of the most loyal members of the crew. If Silhouette and Techlord aren't around, they're the next ones in charge."

Truth be told, the two men had changed a lot since their time in the slums. Yes, Larry was still a tall and lanky man, and Barry a short, stout one, but anyone who had met them in the past would see it. Larry's long, greasy hair was now clean, tied into a tail at the nape of his neck that reached down to his shoulders, and his goatee was now properly cut and cared for rather than a bush growing from his chin. Better hair care was less noticeable on Barry, bald as he was, but his bushy eyebrows and mutton chops were also in better health these days. Still, both clearly weren't as malnourished as they used to be, Larry's lanky build was now more a result of a naturally lean build rather than the bony thing it once was.

Their shift in attire was drastic, too, but that had been ever since they came to the city. Their black and white suits, with opposite patterns, were quite dapper. Barry had to give up on the aviator glasses he used to wear on his forehead, at least in a professional setting. James knew he still wore the thing and a newer version of his red and beige ensemble when off work, much like Larry did. He knew since he saw them coming to work in their casual clothes before changing into their professional in the barracks' changing room. That particular building of the facility couldn't be just put to use as the Infused's living space, after all.

Maggie smiled as she approached the pair at the counter and reached to shake their hands, each one offered to one of the brothers, who took them with a varying degree of enthusiasm.

"It's a pleasure meeting you, sirs."

"Oh, we're not sirs. Just call me Larry and him Barry! Everyone does!"

"We're senior employees, Larry. We need to act the part."

"Sure! If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We'll be like big bros!"

"That's... That's not what I meant..."

The shortest man present sighed and shook his head while Maggie giggled. It turned out that living in a pleasant area with proper income and a guaranteed level of safety had done wonders to help curb the man's anger issues, who knew? Not that he didn't still occasionally have bursts, but that was why James and the brothers had agreed to have him go see a professional, expanses covered by Penumbra naturally.

"Alright, guys, this is Maggie. She's the newest member of the team. Not that latest, though!"

"Right. A new pal each day, was it? Hmph. I suppose we should give the little missy a few toys to protect herself."

"Little? She's taller than you, Barry."

The short man closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again, ignoring his taller counterpart's remark.

"Anyway, what are the directives?"

James stepped in at that point.

"Silhouette didn't have strict orders, but he does want her to be protected. Shielding is a must, maybe some reinforced clothing?"

"And a weapon?"

James turned to Maggie, clearly waiting for her to respond. This would be for her protection, after all, she'd be the one actually using those things.

"Uh... Shield sounds good, I'd rock a bulletproof cloak, and uh... Well, Silhouette mentioned Villain attacks."

"Yeah, those happened. No one got hurt, but the security measures did get updated."

"I won't say no to a weapon. Just in case."

Barry nodded.

"Alright. So, little missy, what are you looking for? We could go with a simple baton, our classic electrogun, or our more advanced electrorifle."

"Electrorifle? I haven't heard of those."

Barry chuckled as he pulled his own weapon from under the counter. The black firearm looked rather similar to a carabine rather than the more militarized weapon she expected, with the usual crystalline tip in place of a muzzle.

"This little baby is not available for public purchase. It's exclusive to our staff and people who need higher caliber weapons for their job. Bodyguards, retailers of precious or dangerous products like we are, animal handlers dealing with particularly nasty beasts, and cops. Those guys have yet to agree to our offer, though."

James cleared his non-existent throat.

"What Barry failed to mention is that this caliber of weapon, while designed to be non-lethal, is still a grade above our basic electrogun and requires a permit. Given your love of all things magical, I doubt you have experience using guns."

"Hey, who says a girl can't like guns and magic?"

"Right, the magitech bazooka that had you appreciating that one god of tech Techno worships. Sorry for assuming. But the point remains, do you have a permit for such a tool?"

Maggie sighed.

"No. I'll need to work on that, that thing is just too cool to pass up."

"Maggie, that thing was made to defend locations. It's just way more practical and logical to carry a regular electrogun, even if you had a permit."

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"Yeah, I know, but... Could you imagine if I had a staff with a shotgun in it?"

"That's allowed? Wait, no, more importantly, you use a staff?"

"Well, I'd like to, but they're way too much trouble carrying around daily. Also, proper staves are expensive as hell. But yeah, otherwise, I do everything manually. I mean, I have a wand, but it's more of a precision tool when enchanting. I'm mostly self-taught, and basic magic books don't really teach how to use a focus, you need to go to proper schools for that, and there isn't one in Zalcien."

"We don't have a magic school in Zalcien?"

"Not a big one. There are a few folks who teach small groups or even just one person, but that's pretty much it. Magic was never big in the city, and Wicked Witchcraft took over that slice of the industry for the most part."

"Uh. Well, it makes you even more impressive, if anything. Maybe the boss will look into that? I know he's got some sort of thing going on with Mesker. I'll bring it up. After all, it would only be one more tool to help you work, no?"

"Thanks, James. By the way, are you... Related to Silhouette?"

"What, because we both have shadow themes going on? Honestly, do I look like I could burst into a cloud of eldritch darkness and tentacles?"

Maggie rubbed her chin as she stared at his pitch-black face.

"Maybe."

"Nah. I never heard of Silhouette until I arrived in Zalcien. No Cored back home, remember? But you're not the first to think that. Some people went after me because they thought we were connected. He saved my life, it's only fair I work to further his plans, whatever they are. That, and the cash is good. It's why I work here now, having the big boss around helps deter people, and the pay is better than in most other places. And with all the shadow aesthetic going on, I don't stick out as much."

"Right, you did mention that. I still can't grasp what it's like to live somewhere without the Union and Villains and magic."

From the concentrated look on her face, it appears she was still actively trying to understand that. That concentration vanished when she fully digested the rest of his words.

"Wait, Silhouette saved your life?"

"Like I said, you weren't the first to think that. Zalcien... Wasn't very kind at first. I'd probably be dead if he hadn't been there."

"Nine, James... You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm doing fine now. In large part thanks to Silhouette. I don't think I would have gotten involved with someone like him back home, but here? Here he's a chance at a better life."

Larry chose that moment to lean forward, almost shoving himself between the two.

"Yup! The bossman's a good guy. Without him, me and Barry would still be looking for scraps in the slums. He doesn't look like it, but he's a big softie. Do you know how we met him? We were scavenging in the sewers when two big monsters came out of nowhere. He saved us, offered us a job, and everything's been going great since! He even managed to have us make friends with our bullies!"

At that, the small rat man and the tall lizard man on each side of the counter that Maggie had failed to notice until now, their black armor disappearing in the black of the wall's lower half, groaned. The reptile shook his head as he spoke.

"We were not bulliesss. You kept getting in our way."

The rodent followed his taller scaled companion's example.

"Yeah! Like Mark said!"

"Oh, come on, you two! We're all pals now, and that's what matters."

Barry rolled his eyes and grumbled as he added his take to his brother's exclamation.

"We never went out of our way to be a pain, unlike you."

The rat hissed.

"Oh, and the time you got a horde of Sicklers to raid our hideout?"

"An accident!"

"And when Napolitan Bonappétit had sssome sssugar sssoldiers run after usss?"

"A misunderstanding!"

"Well, we did take a bag of sugar then, we just happened to pass you by."

"Larry! Don't confess to guilt! For the record, it was for Pete."

"Couldn't Pete have ssstolen it himssself? Hisss powersss perfectly counter Napolitan'sss."

Maggie barely held back her laugh as she looked at the bickering Quatuor before turning toward James.

"Are they always like this?"

"Not always, but very often. It's their way of bonding. Look, let's leave them to it for now and continue our tour, alright? We can always drop back later to pick up your stuff when they're done. Technically, they're on break, and the shop is closed, so let's let them have their fun."

"Sure."

The two walked away, this time heading for the factory building. Sure, she wouldn't spend a lot of time there, but it would be good for her to see what the machines that would build her creation would look like. Besides, seeing an automated factory in action was cool, even if she preferred magic.

The four former slum dwellers kept on bickering for some time after the duo left them, but once they were confident they were out of earshot... Well, they kept arguing and screaming at each other for a bit, they had to finish what they started after all. Once they were done, however... Well, Jeffrey was the first to bring it up.

"So... We all agree this was the boss, right?"

The lizardman rolled his eyes at his ratkin friend's words.

"Thisss wasssn't obviousss?"

Barry grumbled.

"Hey, don't ask questions. Besides, I know we have a James Valdest on the payroll, and this ain't the first time he drops by. Techlord hangs out with him sometimes."

"Techlord? Our Techlord? The guys who ssspendsss more time in hisss workshop than hisss houssse? Sssilhouette'sss sssecond in command? That Techlord?"

"Pretty sure he sleeps there..."

Larry was the one to wave off their suspicions this time.

"James is a nice guy, we hang out during breaks sometimes. A little nervous, but he likes it here. I think Sam and him have that in common. They're good kids. James would hate to do any of the messier stuff the boss gets up to. Did he look like someone who would turn Soluble into Solvent?"

The rat and the lizard winced before exchanging a look. Barry nodded, content, as he picked up where his brother left off.

"Didn't think so. Besides, you guys met Polisson. This must be something like it. That rat wasn't born like that. His shadowy hand thing is Silhouette's gift."

"Even if James was the boss... What does it change?"

"Larry, we just told them it wasn't possible."

"Sure, Barry, but even then, consider what it would be like: Silhouette is still Silhouette. It doesn't change anything. He's still our boss, he still does whatever he wants when we're not looking. Whether that's hanging out with other employees or going to the movies."

"I jussst... Never thought about him having a sssecret identity. He'sss alwaysss been Sssilhouette."

"Yeah, like Mark said. He's this living disaster, darkness given life and drive. It's weird to think of him doing anything but whatever freaky thing got his attention."

Larry shrugged.

"Then don't, simple as that. Like Barry said, it'd be dumb for the boss to also be James. The guy is way too nice to kill people."

At this point, one of many tentacle drawings on the wall, crawling from its black lower half to the white upper one, began to wiggle. The appendage curled left and right as it stripped off the wall, descending before the collective gaze of the four.

"I would appreciate my employees cease theorizing on my or any of their colleagues' possible other lives and identities. You four have been around for quite some time now and are each privy to knowledge most do not have, particularly you two, Larry and Barry. But you won't always be surrounded by other senior employees, nor can we always guarantee no one is listening."

The tentacle's tip inflated and dropped, quickly gaining a vaguely humanoid head shape.

"To simplify. Don't. Ask. Questions. Are we clear?"

The four formerly bickering former slum dwellers nodded along.

"Good. Then get back to work."

And just like that, the tentacle returned to its normal shape and snapped back on the wall, a mere drawing once more. Or was it?

There were no more discussions on Silhouette's possible identity that day.