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Chapter Text

Sometimes, Veneer just forgets how apt Floyd Junior (FJ) and Sparkles are when it comes to singing.

He can dance himself, it’s just he’s very self-conscious about his singing - which he describes as no different than a toad’s croaking.

But FJ and Sparkles? Both Ven and Gloss admit that these two children are built differently. The two dads always describe that FJ is the tenor for his sister, who’s the soprano. The boy really has a beautiful bass voice.

As for Sparkles? She actually enjoys the spotlight when she’s singing with her brother. Her harmonious vocals never fail to tantalize the Trolls whenever she’s up in the front as the soprano.

What’s more? They are twins who truly dance in synchronicity, following each other’s footsteps without a hitch!

But letting the outside world know how talented Velvet’s biological children are? Veneer always finds this idea risky. Most Rageons, who aren’t the current generation of the royal family, have given him the firm impression of being greedy and opportunistic - not too far off from how he used to follow Vel’s footsteps.

Especially when he’s yet to tell the twins that with him married to Gloss, who’s a prince, that technically means they’re prince and princess as well…

Therefore, he was really on the fence when he and Gloss, during a karaoke at the village, got asked by a random Troll, “Can we film your kids?”

“That’s a very tall order here, dude…” Gloss spoke on Ven’s behalf, “We’re not family vloggers. We’re just two dads raising two kids away from materialism.”

“Also uhhh, Rageons can access the internet…” Ven sheepishly remarked, “What if they search for our whereabouts through any reels and videos? I don’t want to be reminded of being a fallen celebrity and embroil the kids into my mess anymore…”

But the Troll rallied other Trolls and even the Bergens available in the karaoke venue to plead, not giving both Rageons any room to back down.

“Please! We can just post them onto our private account! Or a private server!”

“We love your kids’ songs!”

“Are you forbidding us from admiring your kids’ talents?!”

“It’s just karaoke!”

“Okay everyone, chill out and let Veneer and Gloss decide.” Floyd intervened to mediate the situation, “They have every right to worry about their kids and-”

But Ven is just a people-pleaser sometimes. Certainly, he’s been doing his best to overcome this embarrassing trait! Unfortunately in this tight pinch, he relented.

“Okay maybe… just a few photos won’t hurt, since we’re all neighbors?” The green-haired Rageon replied coyly.

“Venny! You said you don’t even want them to be exposed to other Rageons who are back at Rageous!” Gloss protested, almost shaking Ven rigorously. 

“Daddy G! Can we go up and sing already?” FJ was already feeling bored, evident by his crossed arms, same with Sparkles who was hiding behind him.

If it wasn’t due to FJ and Sparkles getting impatient with not being allowed to perform with nervous foot-tappings, the prince would’ve further confronted his husband.

Particularly when the two dads were more miffed by the selected song for the impressionable kids.

“ ‘Poison’ ?! I know it’s an earworm, but it’s about a person mourning about themselves being SA’ed!” Ven voiced his discontent.

“Yeah, the lyrics aren’t very kid-friendly. We don’t want our kids to be associated with bad bosses who’ll exploit them in starbiz. May we pick another one?” Gloss also vocalized the same concern.

Not that the twin Rageon kids cared when they had been excitedly picking up their microphones. Soon, the lights were switched off, and glowbugs served as voluntary special effects when they sang and took turns going between front and back harmoniously…

“I know you’re poison! You’re feeding me poison! Addicted to this feeling I can’t help but swallow~ Up your poison!”

Ven and Gloss had furrowed eyebrows while they had their legs crossed anxiously on their seats, but they had the tact to not call out anyone here. Any good dad wouldn’t disrupt their children’s enjoyable singing performance. Besides, FJ and Sparkles were slaying their performance as usual… as much as both dads didn’t want them to get posted with too many photos from the audience.

It was kinda off that Floyd was scanning the proximity on high guard. But John told Floyd that nothing was wrong, so Ven felt he could just relax himself.

He and Gloss could have a talk with their kids about those questionable lyrics later.

Chapter Text

He has found them.

The famous entertainment tycoon Lulu (Lucifer) has found out about Velvet’s children.

He clutches onto his poor right-hand robot- Owlbot Model 0105 - excitedly, being the maniac he is. His red eyes are expanding in mania, in fact. And his teeth become visibly sharpened. 

“ FINALLY !! You’ve done something right to prove that I don’t have to make a new model of you!” Lulu cackled while still shaking the poor mechanical owl.

Moments earlier, he was frantically pressing all of the control panel’s buttons to recall the robotic owl back. Because he really thought that magenta haired BroZone Troll was gonna bust this stupid owl!

Precisely, the Sensitive One was narrowing his purple eyes, about to brush the shrubs open, putting the owl and more importantly, Lulu’s spying in jeopardy! Thank goodness that John Dory dissuaded Floyd from investigating… proves that Owlbot Model 0105 has convincing camouflage capabilities…

It took him a while to trace the photos of two green haired Rageon children’s origins through the text messages of his teenage son’s phone - he is proud to be a secretly invasive father who has discreetly hacked into his son’s phone with an app of his own. But it is all worthwhile when he gets to discover that Veneer is raising two children of his own!

Or more specifically, those children seem to belong to his sister, who’s still in jail. Lulu doubts that Veneer got the luck to get a surrogate, due to the latter’s reputation as a sister seller and fallen star. And two husbands can’t automatically breed an organic baby, unless one of them is trans…

Anyway, Lulu sinisterly observes each recorded scene Owlbot Model 0105 has delivered to his screens. The little boy is the tenor, right? The little girl on the other hand is a soprano. Lulu loves sopranos, because female vocals can generate a lot of viewerships and thus guaranteed income! Who doesn’t like cute little girls, even if it means attracting PDF files? Negative attention is attention for him! 

This isn’t the first time he has exploited kids for his own bidding since Eve, who barely escaped from his grasp. And he is fearless to retry again.

“Oooh, what can I do this time? I need the girl so badly! The boy… he’s a backup…” Lulu snickers, already hatching a scheme on how to exploit the twins he just learned about. Nobody can resist the cuteness of two green haired and white skinned tykes, when they will be unknowingly making him money with their talents! 

Unable to quell his wicked elation, Lulu starts guffawing like a typical cartoon villain, “ HAHAHAHAAHA I AM A GENIUS!!! MWAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ”

His laughter is temporarily interrupted by his mother from outside of his control room.

“Luci, dear! Stop laughing and please, eat your meal. It’s getting cold.”

“Jeez Mom! I get it! I’m in my 40s already! Let me eat at my own pace!” He impertinently retorts, and the female Rageon sighs and leaves as her footsteps fade away into a distance. 

“Now, what was I laughing about…?” Lulu mutters to himself and Owlbot again, then resumes his mania, “Ah yes, scouting those kids! Yes! That’ll rub salt in Veneer’s face for being a prince-licking, hypocritical idiot!!! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAA!!”

The blonde haired male Rageon’s boisterous wickedness echoes across the cramped, screen-wired room…

Chapter Text

Veneer and Gloss only brought FJ and Sparkles along to Rageous for whatever the reason they didn’t wish they received in their faces.

They would rather leave both children under the care of Celeste and Twisty, who are their capable protégés. Griselda the Grinchilla could even keep the twins entertained for a while.

They would’ve only gone for a shorter trip, checking the prison’s community garden, and discussing policies with Marvel and Cerise. And then they would come back and play with the two kids and the two teen girls for the rest of the day.

But just as the two husbands were packing up minor baggage, a courier delivered a laced, polished letter with a red ribbon stamp. 

That stamp was evidence of how an important figure had specifically identified and requested them something the couple couldn’t turn down. Particularly when both of them are part of the Rageous royal family…

“Dear Princes!

It’s quite an honor to contact you both! I saw your children’s performance online! It would be a shame if I couldn't meet them in person! 

Your Regards,

Lucifer Magne

PS: I can be a sponsor for your business if you have one!”

Lucifer Magne… that was the venerated name of one of the most influential tycoons at Mount Rageous. He was responsible for mass entertainment, from the singing business, TV broadcasting, to cinema productions. It would be imprudent if both Veneer and Gloss declined his offer…

“He referred to me as a prince when I’m just a consort…” Ven mumbled, “But with him being so nice… let’s just wing it…” 

“Fair… and we really are in need of a sponsor…” Gloss agreed, “Kinda wish he didn’t find us through the pictures that got leaked from the karaoke less than a few nights ago…”

“I can tag along to see what’s the deal with this…Lucifer person if you don’t mind.” Floyd requested, which was quickly approved by both Rageons.

As for FJ and Sparkles? They chirped nonstop, the moment they learned they would be meeting a celebrity! 

And when talking nonstop… they legitimately enthused from the motorcycle ride, the palace visit, to Lulu’s mansion.

“Bro, they’re that enthusiastic about Mr. Magne…?” Marvel was disbelieved by his nephew and niece’s energy. He could discern how Gloss was struggling to contain FJ, who was wriggling with excitement and talking about how he liked the name Lulu even without knowing the person.

“I know right… it’s just a celebrity… but whatever, gotta please the kids sometimes…” Ven sighed while picking Sparkles up, before he and Gloss were taking both kids to Lulu’s mansion.

Needless to say, Ven, Gloss and Floyd weren’t really comforted by Lulu’s presence, even though Lulu was acting hospitable.

“Welcome, Your Majesties! Welcome to my humble residence!”

The luxurious Magne mansion was gleaming with reflective lights from the high-class marbles it was constructed on. Faceted gem-like furniture decorated the abode, and chandeliers were hanging from above the ceilings to brag how rich Lulu was.

It was kinda off-putting, though, that Lulu kept scrutinizing FJ and Sparkles, who were bedazzled by the crystal decorations or any other ornaments adorned in this vast mansion. 

“I like your blonde hair!” FJ said.

“And I like your hat.” Sparkles commented.

“Ohhhh thank you!” Lulu whimsically thanked both children, then picked up and swerved the staff that had his perching Owlbot, “Gotta thank my parents for bestowing me such handsome genes! Hohoho~ Your parents really have gifted you beautiful hair and eyes too~”

“Yeah! Our mommy looks like one of our daddies-” FJ was gonna spill more beans, until Gloss hoisted him up. 

“Daddy G, put me down!” The little boy was frustrated with being interrupted. 

“S-sorry, he can be a bit… rambunctious…” Gloss apologized, which Lulu chuckled at.

“Ah yes, kids. It’s normal for them to get out of control.” Lulu replied. However, Ven could detect a veer of nonchalance in Lulu’s tone regarding kids, while he scanned the perimeter within the living room. There was a teenage boy phubbing on his phone, who briefly raised his head to greet his father - Lulu, absolutely, only for Lulu to roll eyes disdainfully when both FJ and Sparkles weren’t noticing.

“Dad, you didn’t tell us we would have guests-” The boy complained, before Lulu interrupted him.

“Charles, go play with your younger brother. Keep him occupied!” Lulu proceeded to scold his teenage son, who sighed and got off the couch reluctantly. It was obvious to Ven that Lulu had no intention of spending time with either of his own children…

As for Floyd, he glanced at the Owlbot, who was becoming dizzy with each swerve Lulu inflicted on the staff in hand. Oddly familiar to the magenta haired Troll, who remembered overhearing the noises of an owl during that karaoke. If it wasn’t John dissuading him, he would’ve kept investigating the source… Then again, Lulu was disregarding the robot, treating it like a disposable toy with each frivolous swerving.

“Mr. Magne, your owl looks uncomfortable…” Sparkles vocalized her concern for the owl. However, Lulu dismissed her concern, “Oh silly child. It’s only a robot. He'll be fine. I built him as my current most resilient model!”

“But he looks sad…” Sparkles still felt immense pity for the owl. She wanted to halt the swinging staff, only for Lulu to annoyedly block her way with his spare hand.

“Nuh uh! Be a good girl and stay in your place.” He chided Sparkles passive-aggressively, and ignored Sparkles’ upset pout.

“Sorry about Lulu, he’s always so cranky due to his work…” An older female Rageon who shared Lulu’s pale blonde hair approached Floyd and the two Rageon dads. This elderly lady, who seemed to be in her 60s, was very gentle, and was holding a tray of freshly brewed chamomile tea in the porcelain teapot.

“Whoa whoa whoa, careful…” Ven quickly helped the lady balance the tray, “I’m worried that the pot will spill…” 

“It’s okay. I always have my ways, young man.” The lady was grateful, though insisting she was fine.

“My mom is a capable woman. Let her be.” Lulu dismissively ‘acknowledged’ his mom.

Gloss wasn’t buying that the woman was alright. “Are you sure? She clearly needs help. She could’ve scalded herself!”

“She should've asked one of my servants. But if she wants to be so stubborn, then whatever.” Lulu completely ignored the point Gloss was addressing, much to Gloss’s ire. How could somebody be this rude to their mother?!

“It’s okay, boys… let’s have some snacks from Mariposa. Her tea cakes are delicacies!” Old Mrs. Magne suggested, hoping to take the Rageon dads and Floyd’s troubled minds off.

“Mariposa is my wife. But seriously, she needs to diversify her baking a little more. I am getting so dull with her earl gray chocolate muffins! Ughhhh…” Lulu still had the gall to complain about his own wife in front of his guests, causing the trio of male adults to raise their eyebrows.

Now both Rageon dads were hesitant to even let him sponsor their tailoring business… He seemed very passive-aggressive, and that wouldn’t be a good influence on their kids…

Right after tasting the delicious tea cakes - which felt tasteless for the Rageon dads and Floyd -, the three adult males decided it would be best to depart early.

“Thanks for the tour! But we don’t want to loiter in your home for too long…” Ven tried to fabricate an excuse, “Maybe we can leave-”

“What about our deal regarding your kids?” Lulu wasn’t convinced, instead going for the offer he initiated.

“Wait… the deal is mandatory?” Gloss was just as shocked as Ven. Neither husbands knew the tycoon’s offer was this restrictive.

“Yeah. I want to train your kids to become stars. They’re really talented performers, and I hope to utilize their untapped potential.” Lulu became more proactive, his grin becoming threatening with those visibly sharp teeth. 

Not giving any space for the Rageon husbands to reach the entrance, Lulu loomed over both of them, and had the malicious intent to flick Floyd off Ven’s shoulder with his two big fingers.

“You gotta make a choice here, Veneer~” Lulu mocked, his grin widening maliciously, like the slithering, sly snake crawling at the Eden. “Who’s the more vulnerable one? Your kids or your Troll?”

That threat was enough to scare Veneer into submission.

“Look! Don’t do anything to Floyd! Or my business!” Ven was frightened, despite trying to remain assertive, “Just be transparent with me and my husband about the kids!”

“Oh, sign this contract and I’ll look after them.” Lulu held up a pen and a contract. Before Ven could retort or go through the terms and regulations, Lulu had already dominantly grabbed Ven’s hand to sign it.

“OUCH! What gives?!” Shouted the green haired Rageon. But Lulu wouldn’t let him have any chance to say anything more, forcefully shoving him, Gloss and of course that included Floyd out of the doors.

“Huh? We’re not leaving with our daddies?” Sparkles was perplexed, as she thought of returning home at the Pop Village’s outskirts with some tea cakes.

“FJ! Sparkles!” Ven was yelling, but he and the other two adults’ shouts faded away right after Lulu flicked his fingers to summon two humanoid robots to shove them out of the exit.

“Oh no, kiddos. I’ll be looking after you for a while~” Lulu sweet-talked his way into the kids’ good graces. “I’ll ensure you’ll have so much fun during your stay here!”

“Oooh, and we’ll have a lot more tea cakes!” FJ piped up, already immersed in the luscious cakes’ flavors.

“Yes, more cakes my dear! You’re a clever little one!” Lulu grinned, feigning a veer of friendliness further.

Perched on his staff, however, Owlbot Model 0105 knew Lulu was just upkeeping a fad. Lulu had never thanked him. Let alone cared about him like the little girl did.

His/Its master… had orders for it/him related to these cute kids, sadly.

It had to obey the one and only Lucifer Magne… on monitoring these two kids.

It was saddening to think about, even for a robot.

It was just growing fond of them both too…

Chapter Text

- - - - - - [Flashback] - - - - - -

“Mr. Magne! Let go of me! You appalling-!”

“You can only escape for so long, when you can’t have your likeness back~”

“Eve! Get my hand!” 

“Oh my, you’ve gotten a boy toy behind my back, haven’t you my dear?”

“None of your business, MOTHERFUCKER!!”

A punch from the younger adult male Rageon landed on the older blonde male, who involuntarily let go of the lady he was harassing out of pain.

“OUCH!! You son of a bitch!!! You uncouth little fucker!!! You ruined my beautiful face!”

“I should be the one asking… What the fucking hell is wrong with you?!! You have groomed my wife since her childhood! I won’t let you get away with this, BASTARD!!”

“But I also have a wife~ Mariposa will be so devastated if she sees my pretty face damaged~”

“You… YOU ASS-!”

“Adam, let’s leave… I don’t want to make a bigger mess  than we already have… Mrs. Mariposa would be devastated if she knew this…”

“But Eve!”

“We… we should just go…”

“Hmph yeah. I can call my robots to fuck you two up! Don’t you- AHHHHH!!!”

Hasty escaping footsteps from the couple, who slammed the door shut. Apparently Lucifer received another punch from the younger male, who got Lucifer’s nose broken this time.

“Tch. I was so close to detaining her. If only her boy toy wasn’t so buff… I could’ve gotten a chance. Ouch… my cheeks… I really need to BEG Mariposa to patch me up… how humiliating…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- - - - - - [Present] - - - - - -

Lawyers Eve and Adam would never foresee a paper-folded hairball bringing forth her former boss - infamous/famous former popstar/royal consort Veneer, and his prince husband Gloss. Along with the miraculously revived BroZone member Floyd. 

Needless to say, the wife and husband could instantly discern how unanimously distraught the three males behind Crimp were. 

“Lulu Magne took our kids…” Ven was gripping onto his tousled green hair - it clearly hadn’t been brushed for days or even months. “We were originally going to return to Trolls and Bergens’ settlements, but now… it’s been half a month since he snatched our kids…”

Poor Ven was going to cry. Gloss wasn’t faring any better either - he hadn’t slept for a long time, as proven by those baggy turquoise eyes.

“We tried knocking on his door! Several times throughout this month!” The gray-skinned prince frantically remarked, lacking his usual composure, “But all in all, Lucifer Magne isn’t allowing us to visit either Floyd Junior or Sparkles! We dunno what’s behind closed doors!”  

“Yeah… I’m suspecting that Lucifer has targeted Ven and Gloss’s children specifically for his own personal gain…” Floyd verbalized his concern, attempting to be calm even with a trembling tone. 

“Nobody screws over Veneer aside from ME!” Even Crimp was desperate, her eyes glinting imploringly from behind her glasses, “And I really care about those twin children, since I don’t want them to end them like their mother! It’s stupid for Veneer to have fallen for that celeb, but he truly doesn’t deserve this!”

This was when both Eve and Adam raised their eyebrows. 

“Mother of… the kids involved?” Adam spoke on his shyer wife’s behalf.

“Yeah… I guess Crimp is right to let the cat out of the bag this time…” Ven was understanding of Crimp slipping up during a panic. To be honest, he would have to reveal this piece of uncomfortable truth sooner or later. Heck, he might’ve panicked all the same.

After a deep inhalation, Ven came forth with the truth. 

“You see… me and Gloss’s kids… are actually Velvet’s biological children.”

He then, with trembling arms, held out a photo of FJ and Sparkles smiling together hand in hand. And subsequently, another one with Velvet’s old mugshot that was presumably from a torn poster. 

Eve barely withdrew her gasp, while Adam covered his mouth in shock.

“She-she… I don’t want to judge you at all! It must’ve been really hard…” Eve gave her condolences. 

“Yep… and no worries you’re good, Mrs. Eden.” Ven reassured and explained, even though he was still distraught. “Vel, as you both can guess, is ill-fitted to raise both children when she’s still imprisoned for life… and her children are the result of… something bad.” 

“We’ve vicariously promised Velvet that we will raise her children to maturity, even if she’s probably mad at us for eternity…” Gloss added, “Except… the last thing we had expected was… how gifted both children’s vocals and dances are.”

“We, specifically both dads, really don’t want to get them into stardom at all… Even with the innately real talents they have, they’re not going to be able to exit this rabbit hole unscathed…” Floyd supplemented, “It stings that someone as famous as Lucifer has finally found out about them…”

Even began wiping her tears with a handkerchief given by Adam. “Oh, those poor children…” She mourned, “They’re going to be roped into my former footsteps…”

“Wh-what’s going on?” Crimp basically spoke on behalf of her three male friends, who were equally worried for Eve. 

“My wife… she was formerly a child star under Lucifer’s contract…” Adam dropped the bombshell.

Awkward silence painted the already tense atmosphere. 

It turned out Lulu had more than one victim.

Chapter Text

- - - - - - [Eve’s Flashback] - - - - - -

It all began when I was nine.

Probably around the time when Lucifer’s older son was born…

My mother was an acquaintance of Lucifer’s at a film studio he owned. She was bragging about having filmed me performing gymnastics with her phone - back then, smartphones were much newer and less commonplace. 

Then, he approached her. Apparently he peered at her phone from whatever he was doing. And then he said to my mom, “Ooooh Mrs. Minx, you have such a talented daughter! Will you mind me… recruiting her?”

My mother wasn’t an educated individual. So was I, after learning of the offer. Both of us thought it was merely free dancing or gymnastics lessons from Lucifer. Thus my mother and even my father signed the death contract.

It was no different from a death sentence. 

Eve Minx, property owned by Lucifer Magne.

How could such a crooked, disgusting man be related to a sweet family? Particularly when his wife, mother and father were so genuinely adoring toward me… They always gave me free snacks and were oblivious to his cruelty and trickery for me…

“Eve darling, how was your gym and singing lessons given by Lulu?” His dad would kindly ask.

“Oh, they were fun!” I would pretend that I was faring well. When in reality…

Lucifer would inappropriately touch me, from limbs to torso. He would grip me every time during his tutoring of performing arts, by being my manager, tutor and owner all in one.

“GET OFF ME, YOU INDECENT BUTTHOLE!!” I would protest, only for him to fondle me even more creepily than the first round - his fingers digging into my skin. When he finally decided that he was bored with his unsolicited caressing, I was left to process, without much time before the next round of tormenting tutoring.

And even worse… he would isolate me from my parents. I was informed by him that neither of them were going to visit me, as long as I wasn’t being successful in performing in any of his TV programmes. I wanted to convince myself that he was lying, but under the gaslight my brain was foggy with critical thinking. As much as I hoped to see my parents again, my hope was beginning to dwindle like a candle about to be extinguished each year.

That went on for almost 13 years.

During my tenure stuck with Lucifer and his arrays of endless forced performances arranged for me, I had seen many other child stars, who were also under Lucifer’s brand, plastered on billboards and screens. Always changing endlessly, as if they were replaceable products. Yet once in a while, Lucifer always used their likeness for another product, be it sportswear, theaters, or fashion. 

In hindsight, I should've known better. I was going to be used as a tired milk cow, until I was milked dry by Lucifer’s insatiable greed.

Until one day, as an adult, I met Adam.

I was randomly venting to him, when he was just a stranger eating free food laid out on the nearest table. Apparently he, as a lawyer, was visiting the studio we were in to help some clients. He listened, and when we saw each other, we fell in love.

We agreed to date behind Lucifer’s back. Despite the restrictive freedom, having to sneak out during very short breaks that didn’t last longer than 15 minutes, I had enough money to purchase expensive cafe treats or bouquets. He would wonder how the heck had I earned so much net worth when I already had so little time to rest.

Until when I decided rather than having a wedding after I gave him an engagement ring. I said we would just sign a legal document, get a marriage certificate, and pretend we were colleagues outside of my work.

“So… I’m wearing this ring… as my wedding ring? I’m okay with that! I’m just wondering why.” He was curious, but considerate.

“I traded my freedom for money.” That was my melancholic answer.

That was when he connected the dots and realized his suspicions were verified.

The rest of the legal procedures he took for me in secret was history. Long story short, we filed a contract termination through a loophole of having the parents’ consent on retrieving the child, which was the key to terminating the contract. 

Lucifer tried to violently withhold me with his mighty grip when I finally decided to run away after I declared my independence.

“I molded you, Miss Minx! Don’t you weasel your way out!” He yelled, throwing a tantrum as the manchild he is.

“Mr. Magne! Let go of me! You appalling-!” I screamed defiantly, still wriggling out of his strong grip.

“You can only escape for so long, when you can’t have your likeness back~” He mocked. I thought he was lying back then.

Particularly when he finally got knocked off balance, thanks to Adam’s delivery of a heavy-hitting punch.

Adam and I ran out of the door as if there was no tomorrow for us.

Except we didn’t know that Lucifer would still own my likeness of my child self. Even that hefty punch from Adam wasn’t enough to dissuade Lucifer from not using my child self’s appearance on his merchandise.

And when I had finally escaped, my parents were old and decrepit - Adam’s friends found them on their hospice beds. They didn’t have much time left…

Veneer. Gloss. We’re so sorry for what happened to your kids. Let’s work together to get them back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- - - - - - [FJ and Sparkles’ Present] - - - - - -

Owlbot had been observing the two green-haired children per Lulu’s absolute order. He wasn’t supposed to take sides, for he was Lulu’s creation. 

However, for once, the owl robot developed a more complex sentience. 

He was frustrated of being referred to as an insignificant ‘it’ by Lulu all the time, when he had always been loyal to his master whenever Lulu demanded him to film videos to record progress and/or upload onto the internet automatically. Yet, Lulu had never thanked him for being his social media representative… How ungrateful. 

Unlike those two innocent kids, who were often curiously scrutinizing him during their very short break, that wouldn’t even qualify as qualified playtime for average kids such as them.

“Can we play with the owl, Mister Lulu?” Either the boy or girl would politely request. Only for Master Lulu to scornfully turn them down with perfunctory excuses such as, “Nope, nope! My owl is costly to produce! You’re not breaking it with your meddlesome hands! Get back to practice your moves!”

Another time, the little girl entreated, “Mister Lulu, may I share some of the scones and muffins with your little boy? I kinda wanna be his friend…” What Owlbot saw was Lulu once again scorning the little girl, “Sheesh, lassie! No! My younger son is my property, not your plaything! If you make another weird request of making new playmates, go back to work your butts off!”

One more example, the little girl’s brother begged Lulu to hang out with her. “Mister Lulu, can I spend some time with Sparkles? I miss hanging out with her…” Once again, Lulu intimidated him, “Your sister has more potential which I have to tap into her for. Be a good tenor and sit at the backseats. If you want more playtime, mind your own business first!”

Technically speaking, this wasn’t the first offense of Lulu being so cold, cruel and distant. 

Owlbot had been overseeing how Lulu would NEVER entertain either of his sons. Ever since the owl itself was created, tinkered, troubleshot, and revamped… Lulu had always found child-rearing or babysitting to be a tedium, not entertainment. 

“Owlbot, children are designated to be exploited, not to be raised.” Lulu once spouted such a ridiculous tangent about children in Owlbot’s face, not giving a crap that he actually comprehended the context. “Sucks that my wife didn’t produce two sons who could prance or carol. And my best shot Eve had scooted off with a smart alec…”

The blonde Rageon in a pale white apple-adorned top hat never gave a fuck to anybody. 

“Owl…” The little girl in green coily hair edged closer to Owlbot, who was confused by her sudden presence. Only after she started explaining the context, “Mister Lulu is mad at me… he said I shouldn’t plead to him for playing with Floyd Junior… I should be singing more on my own instead… But I miss my brother…”

Poor child. That was what Lulu had always done as what Rageons referred to as grounding. Lulu did this to Charles all the time, telling Charles angrily to go to a room and be alone. 

Honestly, Lulu had committed the same sin to other children he had received from shady places. One time, he even took Owlbot to somewhere dim and damp full of rowdy sellers called a black market to scout, or more precisely, purchase some talented children to train. Lulu had always venerated himself as the ringmaster of a circus. 

These two green haired children were just deemed as lucky spares by Lulu, who didn’t feel like spending his excessive income this time. 

The little girl then drew the owl robot closer to her, basically dragging him back to reality. A few tear drops dripped onto its metallic surface, while he felt her yanked him off the perching staff of Lulu’s. 

Lulu would kill her in case noticing him being detached by her, which wasn’t part of the allowed actions he had told her… 

Lulu always preferred Owlbot being a gold and white pretty bird on the staff. Not its original blue feathered color. The blue was only for camouflage, according to the cold-hearted tycoon.

But for once, the robotic owl wanted to entertain somebody else, anyone that wasn’t Lulu. 

“Can we stick together for a little bit?” The girl politely asked. 

And Owlbot answered through his flashing red eyes. 

It was an affirmative yes.

That was enough to make the little girl beam more radiantly than the sun. 

Chapter Text

Owlbot wished he had more autonomy.

Lulu claimed that he was invented to have innate free will, but that didn’t change how Owlbot knew he was only harnessed as a ‘dumb, obedient camera’ anyway. 

Particularly when Lulu really had the arrogance to believe Owlbot wouldn’t remember another one of the routinely black market inspections… 

The black market in Rageous was literally a dark forest full of illegal goods and sketchy, rowdy visitors, and few lights illuminated it compared to the wild, dazzling disco party vibes of Mount Rageous’ city center. The kids - Floyd Junior & Sparkles, which were the names Owlbot had learned through conversations - were quivering fearfully, but they couldn’t run away in a big, unknown marketplace… 

A familiarly shady seller of pale aquamarine hair and dull lavender complexion turned his head, the moment Lulu dragged both Floyd Junior and Sparkles to a run-down stall Owlbot recognized. The owl might have been stuck to Lulu’s armpit to be carried and forbidden to be moved around, but he sure had the long-term memory Lulu couldn’t steal from… for now.

Right now, Owlbot reluctantly activated his autofilming system, so that Lulu could keep track of this business deal like all the other ones Lulu himself always prioritized. 

“Lulu, my man!” Cackled the seller, which startled the more sensitive Sparkles. Owlbot noticed how Floyd Junior wanted to give her a head pat, but Lulu glared at him as a warning. 

The seller continued, “These are very fine and excellent kids that you got Lulu. I must say I am impressed.”

“I’m too flattered, Cloche, my dude!” Lulu replied jocularly. Owlbot knew this was the same seller Lulu had always been visiting all those years. Once, Lulu even took his own sons to this Cloche guy, but they couldn’t strike a deal for reasons related to Mariposa…  

Cloche then inspected the twins with sharp, inquisitive glances, “Lulu, why do these children resemble… Veneer so much?”

Lulu then reduced his response into a whisper, “They’re probably Velvet’s children. Obviously Veneer didn’t get a surrogate when no surrogate wanted to accept any batch of sperm from him and his pathetic husband. These two kids are gonna sell well, either of them. Though I prefer selling the boy and keeping the girl.”

The kids heard the whispers, but couldn’t make out any words. Lulu then temporarily turned around, and assured them that everything would be okay. The blonde older adult even adjusted his head and claimed he would ask his wife to buy them ice cream if they would stay put. 

One enticing ice cream offer was enough to satisfy both children into ignoring him and Cloche’s conversation. 

While Owlbot, despite dutifully filming the process, was upset at how effective this ‘tasty treat trick’ always worked. 

“Okay, gimme their merits on why you want to keep the girl.” Cloche needed reasons.

Lulu remarked slyly, “These two tykes are to be young royalty, so their prices are insane. However, I need the girl for further marketing, ever since Eve ran away with her toy.”

Cloche had a twisted smirk, “Oh well that makes it even better. I am aware of King Zircon and they are a fool. Reforming this, reforming that… Too innovative for my taste. And their successors are following his footsteps too, pfffft dummies.”

Lulu replied, “Right??? The fact that Veneer has married a prince and adopted these kids… He is clueless on how he has unlocked the gateway for both of us to earn big bucks!”

Cloche cackled evilly, having settled on a deal. “Since you did your part well on the deal, then you get the girl and I’ll take good care of the boy once you feel ready to deliver him to me.” 

Lulu nodded, “Got it, I’ll put more effort into coaching the girl. In a few months the boy can be sold.”

“You then can sell your worthless sons once you retire one day.” Cloche believed.

“Yup, that’s the plan!” Lulu responded staunchly with a sharp smirk. 

The owl showed uneasiness with its creaking joints, but wasn't caught by Cloche and Lulu. Thank goodness these two old men weren’t too attentive to a measly camera robot like him… 

That was the perfect chance for Owlbot to discreetly distribute the footage onto the internet… 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, the two Rageon dads and Floyd had managed to call Twisty and Celeste to arrive and assist them at Rageous. Thankfully, the two girls had Marvel’s number, and the king’s chauffeur gladly drove them to Mr. and Mrs. Eden’s barrister office. 

To say the two girls were worried about their trusted adults freaking out inside that office would be an understatement.

“Hey Veneer, I’ve been keeping tabs on EVERY SINGLE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT I HAVE ON EACH OF MY PHONES…” Crimp was shredding her hair panickedly in Eve and Adam’s office’s desk, “And all of my SNS mutuals have no clue about where your kids are!”

“Apart from them being on… billboards?” Gloss pensively asked, even though it was guaranteed for Crimp to nod frantically as a yes. 

“Why… Why did I even visit that miscreant’s mansion…?!” Ven was trembling, feeling that doomsday had arrived. 

“We could’ve garnered my brothers for this search, if it wasn’t owing to them being so preoccupied…” Floyd sighed, then went back to patting Ven’s neck. Right now, comforting Veneer was his priority. 

“Uncle Ven, Uncle Gloss… Hi…” Celeste politely greeted the exasperated group inside the office. “Is there anything we can help you with?”

“Ah, those ladies must be your mentees, Mr. Veneer.” If it wasn’t for Eve’s kind reminder, Veneer wouldn’t have realized the girls’ presence.

“Just… girls… just…” Ven struggled to articulate his words, “Search the internet for more clues… Eve and Adam have been going through each of Lulu’s social media accounts… but all of his webpages are about promoting his entertainment empire, posters, merch, blah blah blah…”

“I think my phone just buzzed.” Twisty felt some vibrations in her satchel. Due to her impaired hearing, she had to depend on her hands to rummage, though luckily she was a practiced expert in detecting vibrating objects through her hands alone.

The gray skinned freckled teenage girl then checked a blue colored social media app - which she stated, “I haven’t used it in a long time since the last time I checked on this Rageon virtual celebrity”. And then her eyes expanded.

“Wait… Lucifer Magne’s old account? I thought he no longer used it.”

“What…?!” The adults in the room gasped.

“Uh yeah, I follow… his old account…. He only quit using it often… during the past few years, after making an announcement that he wanted to focus more on advertising his current fanpages.” Twisty replied matter-of-factly. “It’s quite surprising that he has uploaded this video… onto this deserted account… after so long…”

“Not just that, Twisty…” Celeste pointed at her friend’s screen, “The video oddly has no title… and is telling us to click onto it.”

Adam deduced, “It’s shady, but we gotta take the risk if we wanna find what is going on with Floyd Junior and Sparkles.”

And everyone was further having their jaws dislodged, when they watched the full clip without batting a blink.

Until Eve remembered something after the clip concluded.

“I remember this location… it’s the black market… Lulu used to take me to pick out kids for purchases, and I really thought it was just a game…”

Adam quickly hugged his distraught wife. While Ven and Gloss, and even Floyd were rightfully incensed at Lulu’s atrocity. 

“He took our kids to WHAT?!” Ven was almost going to explode in disgust and parental rage. His fist was shaking and would’ve punched Lulu, if Lulu was ever in front of him.

“You gotta be kidding me… Gosh darn it, we should have remembered our kids’ status…” Gloss was filled with anger and regret.

Floyd took a few deep breaths. Even someone as calm as Floyd almost burst upon learning what Lulu had taken those two vulnerable children to.

Crimp? She was just too flabbergasted to even utter a single word.

“Looks like everything is on a timer right now. We need to hatch a plan to retrieve the kids…” Ven finally was able to convey his perturbation. He was well aware of the agony that a pair of twins would share when separated… 

“Since this account has long been abandoned by Lulu himself, we can track it for a little while… Maybe the poster will give us more information about where Lulu is going each day?” Celeste suggested. 

The adults pondered for a bit, believing that there would be a risk. What if the poster was just luring them to a trap? But not having many options left, they nodded with sighs in agreement to Celeste’s plan.

Oh, they would be surprised if they would come to learn that it was Lulu’s closest confidant who chose to betray Lulu behind his back… 

Chapter Text

Owlbot had enough of Lulu’s maltreatment toward FJ & Sparkles.

Precisely after Lulu finally dropped the biggest bombshell in the world, and laid his filthy claws onto those poor children. 

It was only an hour ago, prior to Lulu storming off, being the manchild he had always been.

The accost earlier reminded Owlbot how he had always been tossed around, as if he was a piece of trash to be loved and then loathed by his master on a whim.

“From now on, you two will have to perform separately.” It all began when Lulu announced. Conspicuously, the two kids were upset, seeing that they were extremely close-knit twins.

“What?! No! I’m not leaving my sister behind!” FJ brazenly protested, defensively shielding Sparkles in front of Lulu.

“Be a good boy and let me take your sister. Please.” Lulu towered closer in the perimeter of the twins, ready to snatch Sparkles. 

“ NO! I’m sick of you separating us and not letting us play together!” FJ continued shouting, refusing to back down for Sparkles’ sake. “You said we were gonna get ice cream, but in the end you bought us nothing after Sparkles had to endure the scarily dark place!”

“ DON’T YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE BLACK MARKET! ” Instantaneously, Lulu lashed out at the twins, who were hurrying towards the door, until Lulu tripped them over with one of his legs. 

“If you say ANYTHING associated with the black market, which is bound to my livelihood, I WILL FUCK YOU BOTH UP! ” The wealthy tycoon scowled, harnessing his power as a tall, intimidating adult to faze both children. He then reached his hand for the already shivering Sparkles, who had no match against him.

“Why… Why are you separating us?” Sobbed Sparkles, her tender voice vibrating in sorrows. 

“Because you perform far better than your brother, whom I’m going to send off.” Lulu had no qualms on bursting the kids’ bubbles, “After some observations, YOU , little lady, sing so much better. He’s gonna drag you down from rising to the top! So I’m keeping you by sending your bad influence away!”

“But I love my brother-” Sparkles’ entreat was intercepted by Lulu hoisting her up by the dress collar. She and her brother both smelt pretty stinky, being forced to wear the same clothes for such a long tenure when outside of being overworked… They must’ve been incredibly worn out by excessive practicing… 

“ I DON’T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT LOVE , you spoiled princess!” The 40ish male Rageon yelled in the terrified little girl’s face. 

“She’s not a spoiled princess! She’s my best sister!” FJ defended Sparkles, only for Lulu to violently grab him as well.

“I’m talking facts! You have no idea how privileged you both are!”

“We don’t get it! You’re just spitting weird things!” FJ wriggled in Lulu’s grasp, but to no avail. 

“Oh, you know one of your fathers is married to your other father, who’s a prince, right? No idea?” Lulu cracked up tauntingly, his grip on the exhausted children tightening, “The moment you’re adopted from your failure of a mother, you have access to all sorts of privileges of being a prince and princess, little tykes.”

Both twins froze, when being lambasted by the unprecedented fact that they were considered to be prince and princess. Had they always been kept in the dark by their fathers? 

“Your daddies are liars.” Lulu proceeded to snort, believing he had succeeded in traumatizing two children at once.

“ I DON’T CARE! ” FJ was adamant on protecting his sister, “I’m not leaving Sparkles behind!”

The little boy then resorted to biting the tycoon’s hand, prompting a yelp and an enraged toss onto the couch from the callous man. 

“ YOU ARROGANT BRATS!!! ” Lulu roared like a demonic lion from biblical mythology at both frightened children, “Well, I don’t care if you are gonna be oh-so-distraught of being separated! Grow a spine! Your sister will live a luxurious life after you get sold, stinky little asshole! Consider being sold as an admirable sacrifice for her!”

“Ugh, I need to blow off some steam…” The man’s creamy white tuxedo blew in the wind, while he was throwing a fit and storming out of the room, not forgetting to lock the kids up. 

While Lulu was still leaving, Owlbot could overhear mumbles of him wishing “Ugh if only my sons weren’t so subpar in singing and dancing… Gosh I really want to retire soon enough by selling them and coaching that green-haired girl further…”

For the rest of the hour after Lulu had departed in a hurry, FJ finally burst into deluges of tears. 

“Sparkles, I’m sorrrrrrry!!!!” He allowed his younger twin sister to embrace him.

“Mister Lucifer is so cruel!” Sparkles was equally larmoyant, shaken from the manchild's outburst.

“I should’ve protected you better!” FJ blamed himself. 

“No no! I should have been braver! I could’ve bitten him too!” Sparkles blamed herself in return.

Owlbot watched in uncomfortable silence, his eyes flickering at the image of two wailing, horrified children on the couch, while he was still stiffened on the staff Lulu left behind. 

Unwilling to be an apathetic bystander, the robotic owl flew onto the couch, changing its colors from gold to blue, then hooted to signal the children.

“You… you’ll be nice to us, Mr. Owl?” Sparkles tentatively spoke, while still hugging her brother. 

Owlbot nodded, allowing the weeping kids to cuddle him.

No child deserves to be called spoiled or expendable.  

Owlbot understood, because the moment he was made…

“Remember, Owlbot Model 0105. If you break down or misbehave, I can always remake you.” That was what Lulu said remorselessly after Owlbot was created. 

That had been how Lulu regarded all of the other robots. If a robot kept getting a screw loose? Lulu would ask for a mechanical claw to dismantle and remake it.

The same logic applied to the child stars Lulu had groomed. 

There was this Eve girl. She was gorgeous when she was as young as 9. She used to sing happily onstage, before she realized that Lulu was a liar. She was the only victim who had run away from him so far… 

There was a boy who got sold to the Cloche guy when he was thirteen. Because Lulu said the boy had passed his prime of marketing baby products due to acne. 

There was another girl who got left to be enslaved by another seller, as Cloche claimed to Lulu that she wasn’t pretty enough to have her hair being advertised as doll merchandise. Lulu concurred, and sold her to Cloche while she wailed for her mother.

A pair of kids, who were also twins like FJ & Sparkles, got torn apart as Cloche got the younger one. The older one also got sold to Cloche a few years later by Lulu. It was unknown if they had ever reunited, but according to Owlbot’s calculations, the chances were slim.

The list could go on. But Owlbot didn’t want to dwell in the depressing past for too long.

Out of the victims Owlbot could recall, FJ & Sparkles reminded him of Eve. They always talked with him to make him feel less lonely. Eve used to do that to him.

He couldn’t make a smile like an organic being, but his mechanical gear was warmed by the sheer kindness. And by all means, Owlbot yearned to repay their unconditional kindness.

He then recognized the tappings from outside the shut room. 

“I’ll try my lockpick.” A male voice said. That must be Gloss, the male Rageon with a natural tenor. Owlbot knew his attempt of unlocking the door wouldn’t suffice though, judging how quickly Gloss redacted the knob from continuing to clank against presumably a hairclip. 

“Gosh dammit… we’re locked out from both kids. If we can’t get in soon enough, they’ll be sold…” That must be Veneer. He had this deep falsetto voice. And his tone was indicative of fretfulness. 

Something had to be done… 

This was when Owlbot squirmed out of the kids’ wrapping, and flew towards the door. He remembered that he had a system that taught it automatically on how to unscrew a screw from the knob. Lulu was dumb enough to have forgotten this implementation he had given to the owl.

“Mr. Owl, what’s going on?” FJ questioned.

The twins’ answer came, when they were surprised that the door was creaking inward and their fathers’ figures were coming into view… 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lulu had always hated kids. 

That included teenagers who were obstructing his way to sell cookies, when he was impatient marching to seize the green-haired boy for sale. 

He only went to buy some ointment and lotion from the pharmacy to remedy his pained hand that was bitten by the little boy, not to be heckled by girl scouts!

‘I want to sell my sons for retirement, not having my icon being blocked off by these pesky teen bitches.’ The tycoon sexistly and rudely thought to himself, although still contriving a bravado of courtesy to both girls. 

“Hiii, missies. This is private property here!” He mustered a pretentious friendly tone at the ‘girl scouts in badges and sashes holding cookie boxes’ in front of him. 

“But will you want to… donate your riches… to needy children… from the slums?” Twisty knew Lulu wouldn’t even be generous, but as long as she and Celeste were being irritatingly persistent, they both could stall him as long as they could.

“No! I need my money to keep up my status! I have an empire to operate!” Lulu bluntly told them how he could care less about the poor this time.

“What about sharing cookies with your family?” Celeste tried the ‘family man persuasion’ approach.

“Nope nope! My wife is always bragging how she bakes better than any store-bought baked goods. I don’t want to be nagged by her by buying these tacky charity products!” Lulu made another excuse, now angrily shoving the girls out of his way. 

“Pleasseeeeeeee!!!” The two teenagers grabbed onto his legs persistently, having zero intention on enabling him to enter the building. Of course, the more Lulu was obstructed, the increasingly furious he became with his low minor-tolerance. 

If only he remembered to bring his staff to bonk these girls’ heads… 

“ FUCK OFF! ” He flung both girls off with one roundhouse swerve of his entire body - even if it hurt his back to do so, and rushed into the building.

He would be assaulting them once he got his staff back!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dads and Floyd had finally arrived at the locked room within the building, provided by the secret whistleblower. 

The trio almost thought they were done for, when they noticed security guards supervising the area of isles. Fortunately, years of using sticky hands had proven beneficial in sneaking around walls and ceilings for both male Rageons to evade from the guards’ prying eyes. 

“Misters, arrived there safe and sound?” Eve communicated via Veneer’s earpiece.

“Yes, make sure the girls are doing okay too!” Ven replied, before Eve made a sounding “mhm” to affirm the notion that her husband was helping well. 

However, Floyd soon found out another issue, as he tested the lock with one single but firm hair yank.

“Shit… Lucifer has latched it shut. Even my hair can’t unlock it…” Grumbled Floyd. 

“I’ll try my lockpick.” Gloss used a hair clip to screw the lock loose, but still to no avail. He had to retract the clip before it nearly snapped. 

“Gosh dammit… we’re locked out from both kids. If we can’t get in soon enough, they’ll be sold…” Ven started scratching his head, so Gloss had to draw him close and give him a hug.

It wasn’t until the lock began to abruptly squeak on its own accord, prompting the trio to instinctively lurch backward. It appeared that the lock was being tampered from the room inside, not outside… 

The trio proceeded gluing their sights at the self-squeaking knob. ‘Was it haunted?!’ All three males asked themselves.

Up until a flapping blue avian figure showed itself, and momentarily, both FJ & Sparkles darted tearfully to both Ven and Gloss’s arms. 

“ DADDIES! ” They wailed, after having been isolated from both fathers for so long. Half a month was already too long for children to be segregated from their parents. 

While the dads were busy comforting the two kids, Floyd caught sight of the owl robot flapping back to perch onto Lulu’s staff. Its blueness was replaced by golden white hues momentarily it returned to its resting spot. 

Immediately, he connected the dots. 

This was the same owl who emitted suspicious movements during the karaoke from half a month ago. No wonder Floyd felt someone was spying on the crowd and particularly FJ & Sparkles. He wouldn’t have left this owl unattended, had JD not approached him and that he didn’t want to ruin the mood by halting the party… 

But then, Floyd wondered why would this owl robot have chosen to clandestinely assist him and his friends. Wasn’t this owl created to be abided by the decrees of its master Lucifer Magne?

The dads and children’s embrace was interrupted, when the window next to them was skewed open. 

“Guys, climb down from the ladder now!” Adam called out from the same nearest and unlatched window of the floor, having called a fire brigade to timely assist him and Eve. “The girls have distracted Lulu long enough, but I think he’s barged into this building right now!”

“Wait, is that why the aisle is so oddly quiet?!” Ven finally realized how quiet the aisles had been apart from the security’s pacing. 

What the trio failed to react immediately was Lulu’s hastening footsteps amplified in volume behind them…

Chapter Text

“What do you think you burglars are doing?!” Lulu raised his voice to a high, harsh octave. 

Right in front of the incensed tycoon was the sight of Veneer, Gloss and Floyd having barely slammed the window shut, and obviously from the unlocked room the two kids were already out of sight.

“We should be the one questioning… WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU EXPLOITING OUR KIDS?! ” Veneer morphed his question into a rasp, his blue eyes exuding heated embers of a father’s rage. 

Gloss and Floyd weren’t too different from being infuriated by Lulu’s unscrupulous deeds either. 

“The fact that you blatantly stole our kids… and find it acceptable to sell them!” Gloss was rousing to anger. 

“I can’t imagine how countless lives have been ruined by your desire to expand your empire, YOU GROOMER !” Even Floyd had lost his usual calmness, his teeth clattering cacophonously. 

“Like I give a fuck about how kids are their unique beings!” Lulu tried to assert control in the confrontation. Of course, being a lazy, wealthy villain, he wouldn't want to get his hands dirty - physically. Instead, he rushed into the open room, retrieved his staff, and pressed a hidden button.

Turned out the staff served as his remote control… to summon hordes of humanoid Rageon-looking robots that were swarming out of other sealed rooms… 

“Are you kidding me?!” Ven only had the moment to be gobsmacked, when he was forced to block an incoming robot’s assault with his two unarmed arms. 

“Shit! He’s gonna get away with the assistance of this robot army!” Floyd bemoaned. Right after he exclaimed his frustration, his magenta hair’s tip was snipped as he narrowly dodged a subduing robot. “ OH FOR TROLL’S SAKE! He is respectless to Trolls, I should’ve remembered that!”

Not for long, Ven was already rammed onto one of the walls by another one of the robots, yelping in agony. While Floyd was barely able to proscribe one robot’s charging at him with his damaged but still extendable hair to latch and pin it down, Gloss realized him parrying against two to three more robots was already getting overwhelmed by how outnumbered he was. 

“At this rate, Lulu’s gonna get away scot free!” Gloss verbalized the mutual concern everyone shared.

“Shit! That means he’s gonna snatch the kids from us again, and might harm the girls as well as Adam and Eve in an act of revenge!” Floyd then realized the repercussions if the three of them couldn’t flee from the robots in time. 

“How come I didn’t consider that possibility?!” Ven blamed himself for overlooking this possibility, when he was tackled by one of the stronger robots, him now being a prey shot by a hunter. “ GAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! GODDAMMIT!!!! ” The green-haired male Rageon was incapacitated, unable to rise up under the pressure applied by the burly robot. 

“ VENEER! ” His husband and his Troll friend could only call out his name in perturbation. Not that they both had any luck against those incoming robot hordes either! 

Within matters of milliseconds, another swarm was enough to fully overwhelm the trio, pinning them completely like helpless rabbits about to be nipped by a pack of wolves. They wriggled as if they were worms attempting to get off a hook, but obviously to no avail…

Ven began to feel bleak. His blue eyes welled in tears squirting uncontrollably from his eyelids that were desperately blinking to quell the flow. He had one job as a father to ensure that Vel’s kids grow up safely, and yet… now he had failed… 

The green-haired male was too overwhelmed by his own sorrows, he didn’t realize the robot that was about to decapitate him had suddenly shut itself down midway during the execution. 

Then there came Lulu’s tantrum from not too far, chasing frantically and furiously after the flying owl robot, “ I SHOULDN’T HAVE ALLOWED YOU TO HAVE A REMOTE DISABLING FUNCTION!!! GET BACK HERE, YOU TRAITOR!!! ”

However, Lulu had no clue that he had just revealed his own secret.

Now everything suddenly made sense for the almost fallen trio. 

Nobody other than a highly advanced bot could hack into Lulu’s old SNS account.

Lulu had no clue that he had been secretly backstabbed by his closest minion the ENTIRE time.

Without a second thought, Veneer pounced up, and whipped out the sticky hands he had been hiding inside his pocket the whole time. Thank goodness they didn’t get lost during the tussle against the robot army.

“ YOU WILL PAY FOR DISOBEYING- ” Just as Lulu was going to capture Owlbot with one determined leap, he instead was knocked off balance by one whiplash from Veneer’s pair of sticky hands, crashing right onto a wall!

“More like you’re the one paying for your due crimes!” Ven then proceeded to launch one satisfying knuckle into Lulu’s dainty face, breaking the criminal tycoon’s nose on the spot!

“ YOU- YOU FRAUD! HOW THE HELL DO YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO- OW! ” Lulu was again pummeled for another time in his bruised face.

“You’re the one who's a bigger fraud that never admits that you’re amoral, cruel, and cold-blooded! For all those years you’ve been a mastermind that buys children for your own gain and disregards their well-being!” Ven didn’t hold back any of his thrusting knuckles aimed at battering Lulu to the floor, “I wouldn’t have visited your mansion sooner, had we all known how awful you are to your family!”

“ YOU ARE JUST A PRINCE-LICKER WHO- OWWWWW!!! ” Lulu then got rammed by Floyd’s stronghold of hair - despite being snipped, it still had the endurance to bundle the tycoon’s legs into a knot! 

“Ven isn’t a prince-licker! He found his own lover fair and square! Whereas you’re just dissing your parents, wife and children all the time! How ungrateful can you be?!” Floyd yelled right in Lulu’s proximity.

“Hey! I made my Owlbot fair and square too! Stop accusing me!” Lulu attempted to snatch Floyd, who was fortunately much more nimble and evaded the grubby palms in time! 

“You didn’t! You sent your owl to spy on us, while also expecting it to operate all of your systems, when all you do is to laze around and expect it and your family, such as your mom to serve you! In other words, you’ve been overworking your robot, which is also unethical!” Gloss promptly seized the chance to unlock the window, enabling Owlbot to flee from Lulu and to outside! 

By this rate, police cars had gathered at the building’s exterior, having been contacted by Adam and Eve. Even Lulu’s parents, wife and children had convened to the spot out of concern for him.

“Look! An owl!” Celeste directed the police officers to above the sky.

Eve recognized the owl. “The owl robot of Lulu’s?! What’s it doing here?”

Instantly, Owlbot knew what he had to do to atone for Eve. Precisely when he noticed FJ and Sparkles, who were protected by Twisty and Celeste, gazing at him with wonder and happiness that he was back to see them.

The mechanical owl briefly slowed down his flapping, shut his eyes, and after a minor restarting of his system…

Breaking free from Floyd’s hair’s clutch and Veneer’s unrelenting fists, Lulu could care less how Gloss had deliberately slid away from the window to let him scream out loud without any self-awareness…

“ GOD FUCKING DAMMIT, OWLBOT MODEL 0105!!! Don’t you ruin my retirement plan for selling my useless sons and molding the Troll-torturing lady’s presumably daughter into my next big thing!!!”

Right after Lulu’s wife Mariposa gasped in horror at Lulu wanting to sell their sons, Owlbot revealed more truths…

Which were compiled into an aerial display of how Lulu mistreated all of the child stars under his ‘tutelage’, complaining about his parents bothering his work, dissing his wife’s cooking… and how he had taken Eve and other child stars to the black market over the years.

Oh, and also how he had tossed FJ and Sparkles so violently an hour ago.

Lulu was rendered speechless, while one of the police helicopters launched a claw to yoink him out of the building he was in.

“Lucifer, we’re so disappointed in you!” His mother was crying in his father’s arms. While his wife shielded both of the boys from ever looking at him - no doubt she was getting a divorce soon.

Even when being arrested humiliatingly, Lulu still could care less about the people he had harmed, “NOOOO!!! My enterprises! My empire!! My child toys!!!”

“Tell that to the judge, groomer!” One offscreen police officer scolded the defaced Lulu. “We’re counting your crimes from grooming, tax evasion to whatever violence you had committed!"

Clay had also finally arrived, adding, “Man, another tax-evader Rageon? Gosh damn, what’s with most Rageons across all ages to be so averse in contributing to the economy?”

As the police headed upstairs to confiscate all of Lulu’s belongings as evidence, Veneer, Gloss, and Floyd were escorted by the fire brigade down the ladder to safety at last. Momentarily, the dads were greeted by FJ & Sparkles’ emotional wraps.

“Daddies!!!” They teared up, grateful for their fathers’ brave return. Both dads had no words other than reciprocating the tears and cuddling both children, simply relieved that they were both safe. The family of four was soon joined by Celeste and Twisty, who were touched by their reunion.

“Can’t believe this chronic tax evader is also behind the case of plenty of missing children…” Clay hugged Floyd while speaking and glimpsing at Adam and Eve, who were watching the dads, their two kids and their two protégés smilingly.

“You feel bad for Mrs. Eden too?” Floyd asked his brother.

“Yeah, her entire childhood was destroyed… And her likeness was owned by this avaricious dingus for so long…” Clay sighed, before mustering a wistful smile, “Thank goodness with Lucifer being arrested, that contract is completely null now.”

“The fact the same person who busted Lucifer is his closest minion, though…” Floyd remarked, “Just shows how much of a rotten asshole he is.”

“Reminds me of Velvet being busted. Man, I can’t believe Veneer has come a long way since then.” Clay expressed.

“Yeah, you will be applauding your hands till they hurt when he tells you he punched the shit out of that middle-aged creep.” Floyd chuckled, especially when Clay wheezed at the sheer mention of Ven having unleashed some hefty punches.

“Whoa hoho! I wanna listen to the full story!” The CPA Putt Putt Troll enthused, when he and Floyd were approached by FJ and Sparkles who had Owlbot perched on their shared arms.

“Can we keep him?” Sparkles begged.

“Yeah, he saved us, Grandpa Uncle Floyd!” FJ reinforced for his sister.

Seeing how Ven and Gloss were sheepishly grinning, Floyd predicted that the two kids were told to ask him for permission… 

He was going to counter with the point of Griselda being the family pet already, but… judging by how this owl had saved the kids and would have nowhere to go…

“Okay okay. We can keep the owl.” 

And the two children burst into vociferous cheers.

“We’re gonna call him Oswald!!” They chanted in unison.

“What have I signed myself to…” Floyd self-deprecated lightheartedly.

It seemed he would be hearing more noises from another neighbor once he and his group of Rageon friends would return to the village…

At least Oswald could keep Crimp company whenever she would be bored with browsing on her ample smartphones.

Chapter Text

“Do you have remorse for what you’ve done?”

Velvet, who is still imprisoned in her lone cell - she’s stuck in this compartment whenever she’s not being transferred to the asylum, sometimes interrogates herself.

It has been so long since she was jailed for life. 

Veneer has long left her behind, the moment she scratched him as if she was a provoked tiger intended to murder him in their formerly shared cell. 

The nearest radio’s reporting an interview, which the nearby guards are lazily listening to, soon catches the troubled Vel’s drifting attention. 

“Ms. Mariposa, about the matter of your ex-husband Mr. Magne…”

“Lucifer is someone I’ll never forgive for being a terrible, two-faced person to me and my children. You can consult Veneer Highness, and he’ll reply the same.”

“Ms, you can just call me casually… but regardless, I agree with you. As father of two children, children are pillars of society - whether they are raised inside or outside of Rageous.”

“Yeah, we’re so sorry for your children, sir… So about Lucifer’s assets, Ms. Mariposa and Veneer Highness. What are you and your lawyers planning to do with them?”

“Ms. Mariposa, you’ll be setting up an education foundation with part of the assets, right?”

“Thank you, Mr. Veneer. Yes, yes indeed. It’s Mrs. and Mr. Eden’s idea. Backed by the royal family too. We should be supporting more children’s education, rather than pushing them to perform without letting them have other career choices through education.”

“Due to your connection with the royal family, Veneer Highness. What policies will be made in response to this scandalous incident in showbiz, since you’ve experienced a similar case yourself?”

“Well, yeah. I’m not that afraid to admit after taking accountability. But I’m not here to brag either, as children’s safety is always a top concern from fathers and mothers, and non-binary parents. Policies that will be enforced to regulate the recruitment of child stars, all contracts from employers will be examined by our finest inspectors, and we’ll be sending out our top informats by tracking down information given by our newly appointed robot assistant, Oswald. Undercovers will be deployed to do their best to track down any survivors from Lucifer’s actions.”

“What makes you so dedicated to children’s protection?”

“It all began when… My husband and I adopted our children-”

One of the guards abruptly switches off the radio, bored by the interview. But Velvet knows where Veneer’s recount goes.

It’s all her fault of being a mom who didn’t want to be a mom. Who didn’t protect herself from someone who stripped away her body’s cleanness. 

“Hey, guess we’re jail roommates now.” Utters a rough 40ish year old male’s voice emitted from her cell’s wall. Instantly she recognizes the tone - that’s Lucifer Magne mentioned on the radio just now.

“Holy crap, Lucifer Magne?! When the fuck have you been sent here?!” She exclaims, taking advantage of how the wall isn’t soundproof.

“Ah, so you really are the whore who got laid in prison to hopefully get a sentence reduction?” Lulu nonchalantly replies, not giving a fuck about how respectless he is to the same woman who has her biological children groomed by him.

“ NO! I didn’t ‘get laid’ to run away! I… I got… tricked, okay!” She stammers slightly, uncertain how to relay the truth to someone she can’t trust. For once, she is angered that someone has touched her children with their indecency, as much as she tries to no longer give a damn about her so-called family… “What’s your deal?!”

“Oh, I got exposed for having committed excessive child labor, tax evasion, human trafficking… so my ex, my parents and my sons dumped me here.” Lulu remains remorseless about his atrocities, “Your kids could’ve been sold at a high price, now that they’re living the high life as prince and princess.”

Velvet is pissed and also at a loss. On one hand, she is still appalled by how a middle-aged man had the spunk to have unsolicited maltreatment on small children. On the other hand… she wishes she could be good enough.

Good enough to admit she’s done wrong to Veneer and many other people. Good enough to confess her criminal charges sooner. Good enough to be accepted into the royal family… 

Good enough to be a mom.

As much as she didn’t ask to be ascribed to her children’s mother… 

She begins to weep, her throat vibrating the echoes of sorrows. 

“ YOU… YOU DISGUSTING GROOMER! ” She crumbles down to a woeful, crying wreck. Her posture curled up into one of a cooked shrimp.

“Jeez, chill. Your children weren’t the ones I had trifled with anyway.” The older adult is still indifferent to his crimes. 

She wishes she could be spared if she battered him from across the asphalte wall. But then again, even when her actions are justified, the prison staff will keep dehumanizing her if she has ever done that as a revenge.

As much as she hates to face the truth… 

Veneer has been the authentic parent, rather than someone as devastatingly wrecked as her. 

If only she could do something drastic to win her kids back… 

She doesn’t have a choice. At bare minimum, not a moral choice is made available for her.

She has to resort to being ruthless…

If Veneer is the selfless parent, maybe she can be a reasonable offset, with her being his twin sister who’s much more different than him with the moral compass’s directions. Sometimes, accomplishing one’s desire of being a parent equates to being a little selfish, right?

Even if it means trusting the groomer next door… 

Her son and daughter will understand her well-intended desperation, will they?

“Lucifer. Is there any connection you had… that I can retrieve my kids…?”