#So yeah Swag and Chris are part of the security team!

[4thwallbreakerdraws2]

cutely plops them here (Anyone can meet her, I don’t judge! ^^)

[4thwallbreakerdraws2]

Blackjack [RTV!AU Oneshot]

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After the April Fool’s fiasco Lucian is left to deal with his very unhappy boss and the consequences of refusing to do his job.

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-> The text in […] refers to the words that Lucian’s speech bubble displays.

They messed up big time.

Well…, Lucian mused as he slowly closed the door to the control room behind himself, Technically this was on RTV for not giving Wr3n better cyber security protocols or else they would never have gotten that account hacked.

“Oh, hello Lucian.”

Speak of the devil.

The object head’s head turned to the side looking at the countless monitors mounted onto the wall that now displayed the silhouette of Puzzlevision’s own faceless AI.

Tapping his cowboy hat, Wr3n now moved out of the digital realm, manifesting into a turquoise untextured hologram, before the avatar fully loaded.

The AI’s main appearance resembled the person he was based on.

Inkling anatomy with pointed ears, face markings and smaller statue.

Supposedly the real Oneshot Wren had worn a cowboy outfit before his death, so Wr3n apparently also copied that.

However, that was where the similarity ended as the AI’s arms were floating loosely on his sides, turquoise texture decorating parts of his black outfit and facial structures missing with only the black eye markings and tattoo on his cheek making out the face.

Lucian himself never got to meet the real deal and only ever saw Wren on TV when the Splatfest season arrived.

He also saw Wren’s fall from the top live, as he had been watching the stream with his sister.

One of the few times he felt something remotely like a domestic life.

Not bothering to answer, Lucian’s neon sign hand instead turned into a [‘Sup?], as he put his hands in the pockets of his outfit and walked over to the controls.

With Wr3n having moved out of the screens, they were displaying camera footage again.

The Control room not only served for surveillance but also door controls, lockdown protocols and much more functions that certainly did not fit with the appearance of a film studio, hence why it was locked off from the general public and employees.

Security personnel that did not have clearance like Lucian did got their own surveillance room at the other end of the studio.

One that was ironically also being watched.

Lucian’s gaze wandered to a monitor in the right upper corner where he could see GSP sitting in front of a screen, a few dozen empty coffee cups scattered all around him.

If there was something like a coffeeholic then GSP certainly earned that title.

Yet another one falling deeper into unhealthy habits thanks to a certain Puzzle named freak.  …

Alright, maybe it was also particially his fault.

He tsked, very aware that Wr3n was watching his every move and not only from behind him.

That little creep had the ability to be in several places at the same time, watching from every screen and camera he had access to.

Unbeknownst to most employees, privacy in Puzzlevision had died a long time ago.

“The access to the account has been destroyed.”, Wr3n now suddenly announced and within the blink of an eye, he suddenly sat in front of Lucian on the control panel.

“So, partner, how come you didn’t accompany the little security team? We both know you’re far more skilled at taking out the rats than a duo of idiots and a little girl.”

Lucian shrugged, crossing his arms.

Lately he felt particularly pissed off with Puzzles, after finding out that the jerk put his sister on overtime thanks to this shitty tour.

So yeah, if staying at the studio meant more troubles for RTV then he would gladly miss out on the thrill of a fight.

Besides, it wasn’t like they were complete hacks.

Chris and Swag were strong as a duo and Harley was fairly talented for her age.

Not that she should have ever been in this business.

 “They are capable. You said just now that he has his account back, right?”, he replied to Wr3n.

The AI laughed at that, it had a crazed yet unreal edge to it that Lucian never liked.

For some reason the AI unfortunately liked him.

“Oh, that wasn’t them. Suit, yourself, buddy!”

That wasn’t-

Oh.

Lucian’s shoulder slumped and he didn’t even fight, as a gloved hand suddenly reached from beyond the screen, grabbed him by the collar and pulled him through in the next second.

There was the weird familiar feeling, as if diving through water, before Lucian found himself surrounded by TV’s in a digital dimension.

One particular TV was currently wrapping his hand around his throat, digital face eerily glitching, pupils a colored scribbly mess, as she pulled Lucian up.

“Boss.”, Lucian greeted, keeping his voice dry and unimpressed. “You know this won’t stop me from breathing right?”

After all he had been through this before once.

Puzzles’ chest was rising and falling heavily, his expression and grip around Lucian’s throat telling the other that he had to tread carefully.

Despite Puzzles  being far less skilled in combat than he was, which is why he always dragged Lucian into this shitty dimension, his cybernetic hands were still very capable of breaking bones.

Lucian learned the hard way when they first met.

“Where were you.”, the TV head now spoke, words coming out in a barely restrained low voice.

“Back at the studio, doing my job.”, Lucian cooly replied.

He knew he couldn’t allow himself any sassy remarks right now, but god, it was so difficult to hold back.

But he had to.

“Your job, just required you to get rid of three little pests. Three pests which got away!”, Puzzles replied. “So, I’m asking again: Where. Where. You?”

He couldn’t help it.

“Sounds like you messed up and not me.”

[Whoops.]

The answer was a sneer and a dark chuckle that quickly turned into a hysterical cackle.

“Oh, oh you’re a RIOT! I messed up? ME?!”

Puzzles pointed at himself, grin shaping into a crazed smile.

“THIS WAS YOUR DAMN JOB! THE ONLY, AND I MEAN ONLY REASON, I KEEP YOU AROUND!”

In the next second Lucian was thrown across the dimension, his back hitting a TV on the wall with such force, it’s screen shattered.

“...that’s going to leave a mark…”, Lucian muttered to himself, using one arm to get back up, but stopped as Puzzles’ shadow began looking over him.

Despite Lucian not being afraid of the guy, he couldn’t help but admit that his height and expression was intimidating.

He bet he never showed THAT to his fans.

“Lucian, dear, we have been over this so, so, SO many times.”, Puzzles now spoke again, tone and face having turned softer.

Something that Lucian didn’t like at all, he preferred screaming and being beaten up.

At least that way there was some damn adrenaline involved.

[Oh?]

“Yeah, and everytime I tell you to kindly go f-”

He was cut off, as a muted symbol suddenly blinked up over his head.

That son of a-

Puzzles continued to observe with mild amusement how Lucian’s neon sign hand began to shape one insult after the other.

“Oh what was that? You’re willing to hear me out?”, he meant, feigning gratefulness. “Why, Lucian, I just LOVE that new attitude of yours!”

His voice then dropped several levels.

“If we could just make it STICK…”

The answer was a rude gesture of Lucian’s finger.

Scoffing, RTV now folded his hands, crossing his legs as he floated in the air.

“You’re so CHILDISH sometimes…it’s almost like you FORGET what I’m capable of.”

Lucian’s hand lowered at that and despite having no face, the anger was practically surrounding him.

In a way it was fun to RTV to piss him off like this.

Enjoyable even after today’s fiasco.

Tapping a finger against the bottom of his TV head, RTV hummed.

“You know, maybe I’m not getting through you, but maybe your SISTER will. I mean, not like she’s not incredibly disappointed in YOU already- Don’t.”

His eyes immediately narrowed, as Lucian’s hand moved to the guns on his side holsters.

He halted, but his neon sign head had blanked out.

Lucian always did that when he didn’t want him to know his next move.

The amusement RTV had felt slowly faded away again at the threat, instead being replaced by irritation.

He hated being challenged like this when he clearly held all the cards.

It was almost like everyone didn't take him seriously.

Another chuckle escaped him, but it was missing amusement once again.

“You know what, Lucian? Go ahead. TRY to kill me like you did when we first met. I know you wouldn’t feel a thing like with aaaaall the others you killed before.”, RTV now said, shrugging, before his face switched to a lopsided grin. “Well, except when it comes to Colores, right? A killer who CARES about his family. Just that, well, in contrast to a certain OTHER employee you couldn't even give that part of yourself up for your only family member, nor were you EVER reliant on it. You simply gpt ADDICTED to the thrill.”

Lucian’s speech bubble head still kept blank, but RTV could see him balling his fists.

Bullseye, it was always the family speeches that hit.

“Only NOW you want to make up for that failure of a brother you were, but let's face the facts, Lucian.”, RTV continued, folding his hands as he gave Lucian a glance of fake pity. “She’s more happy right now than she EVER was with you- and ah-”

He raised a finger as Lucian seemed ready to protest, not that he could.

“-maybe she’s a bit attached to myself, fine, but brainwashing doesn’t change one’s character. I NEVER messed with her memory, Lucian. When she’s avoiding you on breaks and talking with ME about all those bad memories you left her with then she does that on her OWN accord.”

He watched with great satisfaction how Lucian’s shoulder started trembling with barely restrained rage.

Then, one of his hands moved to a gun holster, pulling out the weapon and removing safety.

“It’s a SHAME, you know.”, RTV continued, not making an effort to move. “You could have been so GREAT, an actual THREAT if you wouldn’t care about this ONE thing. Love is strength, HAH, oh you’re living proof of how much of a weakness it is! So glad I got over that…”

As Lucian raised the gun, the TV’s around them flickered on, showcasing the Art Department from every angle.

“So, let me REFRESH your memory as to why you’re still putting up with me despite my constant mockery, provocations and insults.”, RTV chuckled. “You shoot me, Lucian, and your sister is gonna get…”

He ran his thumb across his neck.

“And trust me, heh, you ain’t gonna be able to put a TV on THAT.”

Lucian didn’t lower the gun, but his hand had started shaking.

Not minding being held at gunpoint, RTV now clasped his hands together.

“Though, frankly, that’s such a cliché, I need something more dramatic! How about I make her target number one? Send EVERYONE after her, make everyone DESPISE her! Or maybe I will just send her on a trip a few floors below…”

RTV now tilted his head at Lucian, raising his eyebrows, challenging him to do something.

Anything.

The hitman looked like he was ready to shoot, before he slowly lowered his gun and put it away.

“Hm…”, RTV hummed, slight disappointment in his words. “And here I hoped I was WRONG about you.”

With a snap of his fingers, Lucian was unmuted.

The object head’s neon sign had started showcasing symbols again, this time staying with a [...].

“One day, you’re gonna fall.”, Lucian now spoke through what sounded like gritted teeth. “And I will be there to put a bullet into your rotten heart.”

RTV grinned at that.

“Sure, sure, but I think you wanted to say something ELSE?”

The other took a deep breath, before speaking again.

“What do you want me to do…boss?”

The TV head’s smile spread, filling the corners of his screen.

“Ah, I’m so GLAD you asked! Well, Lucian, you’re going to do what you do best.”, RTV meant. “You’re going to observe and you’re going to use your self-awareness to lure those in that think they can rebel and then you take them OUT.”

He shrugged.

“Whether you actually kill them or stuff them in the lower floors is up to you. It’s the SAME to me.”

Lucian huffed at that, but there was no smart reply this time.

“Aye, aye, boss.”

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Been a while since I wrote this much for the AU lol

Anyway, I hope you guys like it and it sheds a bit more light on Lucian’s and RTV’s relationship!

Mentioned insert characters:

GSP - @purpdrawsthing

Harley - @entityarts

Do feel free to give feedback if you would like more of these one-shots with different characters in focus.