Chapter Text
A creature emerges from a wall, falling gracelessly onto the grimey cobblestone streets of Victorian London. This creature, in the future, would come to be known as the Announcer. The enigmatic leader of the Gothic Whores, the beloved narrator of the Novel Lyric Hunt, a close friend to many, and a damn good party host.
At the moment, though? He’s face down on the ground.
“I’ve got to work on the landing…” He muttered, peeling himself off the street and dusting himself off. While the creature had theorized he could travel through the space between realities, he had never actually attempted to before. Not until now. Judging from the chill in the air, the fog on the streets, and the distinct lack of the dilapidated Usher residence, his little experiment was a glowing success!
Unfortunately for him, however, he didn't exactly plan for what to do after managing to make his way to 19th century England. He severely doubted that the general public, outside of the one person he came here to meet, would react well to a shadowy monster lurking the streets at night.
“Maybe I should learn how to shapeshift next.” The creature said to the cold London air. “It can’t be that difficult, can it?” He idly asked himself, flexing his clawed hand and trying to will the slimy void substance that makes up his form to be a bit less menacing and a bit more human. He decided he’ll start small, focusing on his claws and straining his mind to try to make them into flat human fingernails. Midway through his attempts, however, he’s interrupted by a splitting pain in the back of his head.
The creature yelped, clutching his throbbing head as he nearly collapsed onto the floor. He whirled around to confront his attacker, fangs and claws at the ready, but stopped abruptly upon coming face to face with the young man. He couldn’t be older than his 20s, with a wide brimmed top hat, tattered cloak, and a very obvious penchant for the color purple. Even the walking stick he clutched so tightly had purple wood finish. Had the circumstances been different the creature would have loved to compliment his color coordination.
While the void creature admired his outfit, the young man reared the stick back for another attack. Unfortunately, the creature had had quite enough head trauma for the day, thank you very much. Avoiding the young man’s second attack wasn’t difficult, and it was clear he had no formal training, so the creature simply grabbed the improvised weapon mid-swing.
“Mr. Hyde! It’s absolutely wonderful to meet you, I’m a big fan of your work!” The creature beamed. He hoped it would come off as endearing, but he’s been told that he has too many teeth for his face. “HJ7 is a truly amazing substance, is it not? I have been absolutely dying to meet you-“
The young man, Hyde, abandoned the stick and swung at the creature with his fists instead. The creature dodged it just as easily.
“Can you please relax for a moment? I promise I’m not going to eat you.” The creature joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. “I can explain!”
Hyde snarled like some kind of animal. Rude. He did have a nice set of teeth on him, though. For a human, at least.
“Bullshit.” He spat. “I won’t let you take me, not now and not ever.” Hyde was obviously trying to be intimidating, but the creature could hear a slight tremble in his voice. Fear. Was he really that scary? That won’t do.
“I don’t know what you think I wish to do with you, but I swear on my best friend’s life that it is nothing nefarious! I simply need you to come back with me, and we’ll have a chat over some tea about yourself, myself, and my plans. You see, I want to create a-“
Another punch from Hyde. Really, he thought a person made entirely to act on seedy desires and fleeting whims would be more interested in his offer. He supposed, despite their own attempts to deny it, Hyde and Jekyll were more alike than they thought. Instead of simply dodging, the creature elected to grab both of Hyde’s arms and pin him to the nearest wall. Finally, they could have their conversation.
“I want to create a show! You and that alter ego of yours have caught my eye, and well, I can’t exactly have a traveling show with no performers, can I?”
“Who are you? How do you know about that?” Hyde spat. Honestly, it’s in one ear and out the other with this guy.
“My name is unimportant. What matters is you! What do you say about joining me? I have plenty of ideas for songs you could sing if you have trouble writing your own. Themes of bargaining, compromise, virtue, vice, it’s all there!” The creature excitedly leans closer to Hyde’s face as he prattles on. “I have a place you could stay, as well! It’s a bit, well, spooky is the word most would use to describe it, but I believe you’ll make yourself at home. Plenty of room, too.”
The creature’s sharp teeth curl into a grin, confident that the man he has pinned to the wall is just as excited about his ideas as he is.
“So, what do you say?”
Hyde squints. “You would feed and house me for free?”
The creature beamed even wider. “Free of charge, yes!”
Hyde chuckled, before rearing back and headbutting the beast with all his might. The creature, caught off guard and with twice the amount of migraines in his future, wailed and released his grip on Hyde in favor of clutching his head in pain. Hyde, meanwhile, snatched his discarded walking stick and ran off to rejoin the rest of the scoundrels lurking on London’s streets at night.
The creature sighed, head still throbbing. He should have expected that.
Ah, well. No use dwelling in the past. There’s always next time.