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COMMENTS:
Taquitofanfics[archiveofourown]:Solamente fui 3 veces a una convención, dos fueron de la Comic-Con acá en México y uno fue de Anime... El de anime me llamo mucho la atención, mucho cosplay, mangas, algunas figuras (otras para uso cuestionable), stickers, algunos artistas, me encontré tambien a algunos que hacen las traducciones al español o los que hacen el doblaje al español en animes (ese si estuvo bueno, me encontré al que hacía la voz de Sasuke :'3) Pero la verdad fue bueno. Por otra parte, veo que más ANTHRO están interesadas en el.. me preguntó quienes formarán una familia con el :3
Avip: Oh yeah, Marcus is an attractive male to female Anthros, but his beauty isn't 100% conventional for this world. The conventional standard of male beauty in this world would be something more like a femboy or twinky. Comment Actions
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[Gorete]
"Fuck! It's hot as hell in here," I mutter, lugging a pair of heavy batteries.
I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand, already smeared with grease. This uniform's a nightmare, and this workshop feels more like a sauna than a workplace. I glance at Edith, completely locked in on that engine like it's some kind of damn puzzle.
'She's different.'I think marveled, 'more focused, more... I don't know, like she popped all kinds of stimulants.'
"Damn, Edith, you're a beast today, huh?" I say, tossing the wrench back into the toolbox. "Starting to think you're on something, bunny boss."
Edith doesn't even blink, eyes fixed on the engine.
"It's not drugs, Gorete. It's just… focus comes easily," she replies, calm but firm.
I roll my eyes and huff.
"Yeah, right," I mumble under my breath. "If that's the result of Marcus's voodoo ritual, then it's more placebo than anything else."
Edith keeps working, fingers moving with practiced ease.
Seriously, how the hell does she do it? She's been at that engine for hours like it's the easiest thing in the world. Meanwhile, I'm sweating like a pig and barely managing half of what she is.
"Shit," I murmur to myself.
The worst part is… I'm just pissed off and frustrated because I'm jealous. Jealous of that damn blessing Marcus gave us. It clearly worked on her, but not on me. You can see it all over her on how she moves, how she works. She's like a machine: no fatigue, no doubt, just... just focus.
And me? I'm sitting here feeling like dead weight.
'Was I the one holding the project and everything else back this whole time?' I question mentally.
I let out a long sigh and plop down on a stool by the workbench. I stare at my grease-covered hands, feeling a lump in my throat.
'Am I really this useless? Was I just dragging her down?'
"Damn it, Gorete, don't get soft on me now," I mutter to myself, shaking my head. "Pull it together, girl. That's not you."
But the truth is... I feel like crap. And just when I'm about to drown in this pit of self-pity, someone sneaks up and nearly scares me out of my skin.
"Good morning."
I jump, nearly falling off the stool.
"Jesus Christ, Marcus! Don't sneak up on a girl like that!"
Marcus grins, those green eyes sparkling with that annoying kind of amusement that makes me wanna punch him square in the face.
"Sorry, Gorete. Didn't mean to scare you," he says, stepping closer. "I came by to offer some help, but Edith waved me off, saying everything is fine. Then I saw you here sulking in the corner."
"Hmph." I grunt, turning my face away, not able to look that dumb himbo in the eyes. "I wasn't sulking…" I lie through my teeth. "I wasn't even sad."
"Riiiiiight," he says, clearly not buying it. "So I guess you don't want to talk about how the blessing's been affecting you, or ask questions, or-."
"YES!" I blurt out, cutting him off, grabbing him by the shoulders.
Marcus blinks, surprised by my outburst, but doesn't comment. He just asks:
"Sooo... how are you feeling?" His eyes are gentle as they meet mine.
Caught off guard by his soft tone, right after I basically yelled in his face. I sigh, running a hand down my face.
"I know I've got more focus now, and I don't tire out as quickly, but..." I glance at Edith, still locked in on that engine. "It's nowhere near what she got from your magic. Not only is she doing her own work better than ever, she's taken over mine too."
"What do you mean?" Marcus asks.
"She's so good now, there's nothing left for me to test. She doesn't even need my feedback anymore."
Marcus nods slowly, his eyes locked on mine.
"And that makes you feel frustrated. Like you're useless."
I feel a sharp stab in my ego. Admitting that out loud hurts... but it's the truth.
"Yeah, it does. I was never as smart as Edith when it came to the technical side, but I always felt like I was helping her move forward, you know? Now…" I swallow hard. "Now I'm more useless than a busted condom."
Marcus watches me for a beat, thoughtful, then asks:
"What are you good at, Gorete?"
Caught off guard by the question, I eye him suspiciously before answering:
"Well, I don't have a formal education like Edith in engineering, but…" I pause, thinking. "There's not a single commercial vehicle, and even a few military ones, that I can't do maintenance on. I can build or fix just about anything with my hands. Don't need much theory for that."
Marcus nods again.
"I see." He mutters in thought. "And how's the presentation going?"
"Presentation?" I repeat, confused.
"I imagine once the battery's done, you two will have to do a demo," he says, glancing at Edith. "Show it off to the top brass and board members."
"Yeah." I nod, still not getting where he's going with this.
"So…" Marcus starts, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "Why not focus on making something big?"
[Edith]
I take a deep breath, the cold air of the hangar filling my lungs. Beside me, Gorete shifts restlessly. The pressure is thick, almost like the air itself is buzzing with electricity. Kamuela stares at us, her cheetah eyes sharp, tail swaying slowly behind her. On either side of her stand two wolf supervisors, one with dark fur, the other white, both sizing us up with critical gazes.
The cameras around us hum softly, broadcasting everything live to the 'Edsla' board of shareholders and the CEO herself. Knowing that so many invisible eyes are watching makes my stomach churn. But I can't crack now. Not after everything Gorete and I put into this.
The white-furred wolf steps forward, her eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"If what you presented in your slides is true, we may be looking at a true revolution in electric battery tech."
The black-furred wolf nods, her deep voice echoing through the hangar.
"No doubt. If mass-produced, these batteries would be cheaper, more sustainable, safer, and charge faster."
Kamuela, eyes gleaming with excitement, adds:
"This could give Edsla a market monopoly. The impact would be massive."
The black wolf raises her hand, halting the rising excitement.
"But before we sign anything, I'd like to see the battery in action. We need concrete proof."
Silence falls, heavy and expectant. All eyes turn to me. A chill crawls up my spine, but I hold my posture. Gorete exhales beside me.
"Well, looks like it's showtime, bunny boss."
I nod, doing my best to ignore the tremble in my hands.
I slowly make my way to the compact car parked on the test track built specifically for this demo.
My fingers tremble slightly as I turn the key in the ignition. The engine hums to life.
I've done this test countless times over the past days, but today is different. Today, everyone is watching. I inhale deeply, trying to calm the storm of nerves inside me.
"Come on, Edith. You got this," I whisper to myself, barely audible.
I press lightly on the accelerator, and the car rolls forward. The track ahead is a simple loop, nothing fancy.
The black wolf watches my every move, eyes sharp as blades. Kamuela stands beside her, expression unreadable, but I can feel her tension. Gorete, despite her relaxed stance, has her ears perked up, fully alert.
The car glides across the track smoothly, the sodium-ion battery working flawlessly. Every spin of the wheels is a testament to our hard work. But the knot in my stomach doesn't loosen. It feels like an invisible hand is squeezing my insides tighter and tighter.
'Relax, Edith. You've done this a thousand times,' I hear Gorete's voice in my head like a reminder. But the anxiety clings to me like a shadow.
The track stretches out ahead, and I guide the car through each turn and straightaway, every section getting me closer to success. Still, the fear of failure, the fear of disappointing everyone who believed in me, weighs heavily on my shoulders.
Finally, the finish line comes into view. I ease onto the brakes, bringing the car to a perfect, smooth stop. The engine cuts off, and silence blankets the hangar. I close my eyes for a moment, steadying my breath.
When I open them again, everyone is looking at me. The black wolf, the white one, Kamuela and Gorete. All waiting for my reaction. I force a smile, trying to mask the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
"Well? What did you think?" Gorete asks, breaking the silence.
The black wolf steps forward, her eyes now glowing with a mix of admiration and surprise.
"It's impressive," she says formally, swiping through data on her tablet. "According to the sensors we installed in the vehicle, the performance is on par with a lithium-powered car."
"In other words," adds the white wolf, looking at me, "we're ready to move forward with full-scale production."
Relief floods me as Gorete pulls me into a tight hug, celebrating our success. The weight I'd been carrying lifts, replaced by a lightness that makes my heart race with joy.
Kamuela claps politely, joining the wolves, though her expression stays stoic. I can tell she's probably disappointed, as our deal took her bonus for completing the project.
Once things settle, Gorete pulls away, eyes gleaming with that mischievous glint I know all too well.
"I'd like to say something, if I may," the raccoon says aloud with a cheeky grin. "I have a little bonus demo, if everyone's interested."
I blink, confused, turning to whisper:
"We didn't plan anything else."
Gorete grins wider, flashing her sharp little teeth, then speaks up loud enough for everyone to hear.
"The battery Edith developed is even better than we expected. So I thought... why not show off what it can really do?"
The fur on my neck stands up, a chill runs down my spine. I know Gorete. When she smiles like that, something wild is about to happen. The wolves exchange glances, their curiosity piqued.
"You've got twenty minutes," the black wolf says, checking her watch. "But it better be good."
Gorete nods, smile stretching even wider.
"Oh, it will be. Trust me, you won't regret it." Says the racoon anthro bringing a walkie talkie to her mouth. "Roll out."
The ground trembles beneath us, a low, steady rumble that makes my heart leap.
'What the hell is she planning?' I think, feeling dread.
The metal doors creak open slowly, revealing a sunset-stained sky of pink and orange. The glare blinds us momentarily, an almost divine glow.
Then a colossal shadow eclipses the light, casting a massive silhouette across the hangar. The tremor grows louder, thunderous footsteps echo closer.
Whatever's coming... It's enormous.
"Gorete, what did you do?" My voice trembles, barely a whisper.
Gorete grins like a madwoman, eyes sparkling.
"Just wait, bunny boss, you're gonna love this."
The rumbling intensifies, and then, it appears. A towering machine. A metallic giant that looms above us like a steel god. Each step shakes the ground. Every movement exudes raw power. It's brutal and beautiful, an engineering marvel.
"My goddess..." the white wolf breathes, eyes wide in awe.
Even Kamuela, usually ice-cold, is speechless. Her mouth hangs open, eyes fixed on the towering mech.
The robot stops in front of us, casting the entire hangar in its shadow. Its glowing eyes blink once, twice, then lock onto us. It slowly raises one arm, and speaks.
"I am Optimus Prime," it bellows in a booming, dramatic voice. "And I send this message: the sodium-ion battery is powerful enough to move the mightiest of machines."
Everyone stares, jaws practically hitting the floor. The 12 meters (40-foot) giant gleams in the fading sunlight, a perfect blend of muscle and metal. The ground's rumble settles into a constant hum that reverberates in my chest.
Gorete bursts into laughter, the sound echoing off the walls.
"Gorete,how...?" My voice cracks. "How did you even build this in under a month?"
She shrugs, that smug grin still on her face.
"I know the best junkyards in town, bunny boss," she says like it's no big deal. "And unlike you, I got better at getting my hands dirty than doing theory. But I only got off my fat butt to build it after hearing a certain magic beefcake's advice."
Kamuela, scowling, glares at the robot with disdain.
"This is an abomination. A waste of resources."
The mech emits a deep, mechanical growl. Its voice echoes through the hangar again:
"As usual… Kamuela is wrong."
The mech's chest opens to reveal Marcus sitting in the cockpit. His eyes are locked on Kamuela, a confident grin on his face.
"Edith's battery is so damn good, it made giant robots viable. The military would kill to get their hands on what's basically a bipedal electric tank that can go anywhere."
The wolves glance at each other, stunned. Greed flickers in their eyes. Even the black-furred one seems at a loss for words. The white wolf can't contain her excitement.
"He's right," she murmurs, eyes gleaming. "And I know people in the government who would love to drop a military contract at this project."
Gorete beams, pride glowing in every line of her face.
"Told you it'd be worth it," the raccoon says with a triumphant laugh.
"I already know where we're going to celebrate," Marcus calls as he climbs down from the mech. "And Kamuela's not invited!"
[Marcus Carvalho]
After a quick shower and change of clothes, we picked up Carlie and headed to the place we're celebrating Edith's project success, Clarabella's restaurant.
The place is a peculiar mix between a Goth Maid Café and a family-style diner. The waitresses, all anthros, wear classic maid uniforms complete with frilly aprons. The atmosphere is cozy, with dark wooden tables and cushioned chairs, but there's an undeniably sensual vibe in the air. The walls are covered with cosplay photos, each one more provocative than the last.
"This is… different," Edith murmurs, eyes wide as she scans the place. "How did you even find this place, Marcus?"
"I met the owner at Fan Expo Santa Francisca," I reply, trying to sound casual. "She has the best pair of… well, never mind."
Edith shoots me a glare cold enough to freeze hell over.
"You went to a Fan Expo without telling me?" Her voice shakes with a mix of anger and hurt. "How could you, Marcus?"
I open my mouth, but the words tangle in my throat.
"I-I didn't think you'd be into it. I mean, you were so busy with work and..."
Before I can finish, an anthro waitress walks up with a professional smile on her face.
"Good evening! What can I get you all?"
I turn in my seat, grateful for the interruption.
"I'll have…" My voice trails off as my eyes lock onto hers.
Edith notices my reaction and turns to look at the waitress too. Her expression shifts from furious to stunned. She also goes silent, staring at the waitress.
Carlie, noticing the weird vibe, looks at the waitress, then back at us.
"What's going on?" she asks, confusion thick in her voice. She glances at the name tag and reads it aloud. "Your name is Drika, right?"
Standing before us is the criminal hyena Edith and I know very well, dressed in full goth maid gear, her face beet red with embarrassment.
"Oh no…" the hyena mutters, clearly mortified.
[Image]
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E ai gurizada…
[#] I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you are interested, my Ko-Fi[avipbr] subscriber has access up to 5 chapters ahead:
Chapter 22 - Challenge Accepted
Chapter 23 - To drunk for magic
Chapter 24 - First!
Chapter 25 - I'm a gentleman
Chapter 26 - We broke the bed
[#] You can reach me on X/twitter, @AvipBr