A CHALLENGER ARISES TO TAKE ON TOM. Let me introduce you to a short story by a furry friend of mine Almiraj!
Christmas. It's that time of year where people spend countless amounts of currency on corporate consumerism, but that's not what it's aim was in its origin. Christmas was a time for being together with friends and family, as well as a time to be happy, cheerful, and drink delicious eggnog. I could never understand why they on the magic box say how wretched eggnog tastes. I always found to be quite scrumptious, actually.
But like many times a year, Christmas is a time for traditions. The constructs have a particular tradition among themselves. This tradition stems far beyond the brown-laws lied down by Medulla the Jealous Construct, and wasn't effected by them, either. Benny knew nothing of these traditions, but he would soon find out a week before the faithful day.
Benny had decided to visit Conan's house for a glass of eggnog. Conan was busy in the kitchen at the time, and since Benny didn't have any thumbs, he was left to soak in the cold drench of winter, freezing his hairless fingers and tail off. "Conan, it's freezing out here!" Benny cried out after multiple failed attempts to knock at the door to get him to answer. But all of a sudden, Conan had finally answered his plea.
"Eh, the cold doesn't bother me any," Conan replied. Conan was a being made of flesh and rot, but had no feeling in the surface of his body. Benny, though a Giant Rat covered in dark grey fur, still had feeling in his skin and was more effected by it.
"Well I'm not a construct," Benny said as he entered the house.
"Eh, what difference does it make what species we are?" Conan asked.
"I think you know," Benny mentioned.
"Bah, but whatever, I'm sure you're here for something," Conan guessed.
"Eggnog!" Benny cried.
"Sorry, all out," Conan stated. "How about some hot chocolate instead?"
"Oh, well, I guess that's good too," Benny confessed.
"Be right back, just need to get some water and boil it up," Conan said before entering the kitchen.
"Hey, why don't I help you?" Benny asked.
"Do what, exactly?" Conan asked.
"Oh, well, err... I guess I just wanted a snack to go with it," Benny admitted.
"Oh, for Pete's sake, all we have are crackers and stuff," Conan replied.
"I don't care, I'm not picky," Benny said. "Is it alright if I choose items to put onto the crackers."
"I'll bring out a whole bunch of things," Conan said.
"What if you don't bring out the things I want?" Benny asked.
"Well, then it's a good thing you're not picky, now isn't it?" Conan stated.
"Are you trying to keep me out of the kitchen?" Benny asked.
"Yes, I'm working on something," Conan replied.
Benny's curiosity piqued at these words. Now he was getting anxious to know why Conan didn't want him in the kitchen.
"On what? What could you be hiding that I shouldn't..." Benny looked around the kitchen, seeing nothing on the table, nothing on the floor, nothing on the counters, yet there was something in the sink. "Uhhh, Conan? Why is there a hatchet in the kitchen sink?"
"No, that was supposed to be a surprise for Doyle!" Conan shouted.
"Doyle, you mean your little brother?" Benny asked. "How are Arthur and Doyle doing?"
Conan seemed to be really angry at Benny right now, but it was unclear why. Deep down, Benny had known he made a mistake.
"Look, you're my best, most trustworthy friend, so I might as well tell you," Conan said. "Doyle had just had his 25th birthday this year. On the 25th Christmas of a younger brother's life, the older brother one step up hands down an ancient Construct Matchet, which is a smaller version of a Clubaxe. If there are no younger brothers, it is instead passed down to the son of a construct. Since I am the second oldest brother, and Doyle is the youngest, it is my job to hand him the Matchet that Arthur passed down to me several years ago."
"Okay, but why is it in the sink?" Benny asked.
"It was dirty, and I needed to clean it," Conan said.
"But why does it need to be clean?" Benny asked. "Isn't it just a ceremonial weapon or something?"
"Let's just say it's part of the tradition," Conan said with a wink.
"You could," Benny started. "...But deep down, I know you're lying."
The creatures here have differing traditions to that of humans. These are the things that set them apart. Other things include magic, the lack of vehicles that are rendered redundant by said magic and a whole menagerie of creatures. But this is just a sample of the values contained in the world of Monstrum.
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