Fantasy &nbsp; New Oasis: Four Heavenly Kings — The B-Sides

SCENE:

Blood Stained Girl

LOCATION:

Alleyway, South District

Time:

Pre-Arc 1 | ???

PARTICIPANTS:

Raquel, Hector

Blood Stained Girl

The girl froze. Another ~~meal~~ person had arrived. She strangely turned her head to look at the newcomer.

A rather slim man that held himself in an intimidating posture. An unassuming man, but something about him made her hunger. Deep down inside, she knew he was similar to the corpse beside her. What would he taste like? The man that she left half-eaten was a delicacy. It was similar to having caviar or lobster. What did those taste like again?

No response was given to Hector as the girl stared at him. In her unassuming posture, she shifted. What may seem like an effort to stand up and talk was her preparing to kick off the ground and lunge at him. If he had a weapon? She'd grab his arm and tear his throat out before he could kill her. If he had a power? She'd endure her flesh seared and pierced his heart with her hand.

Just as she was about to kick off and attack, she stopped herself as the man asked her a peculiar name.

"My name? It's..." A tone that pretended to be innocent. A foolish mistake. Why would he ask a question when there was a monster before him? She would use this opportunity and kill him. As she was about to kick up and lunge at him, something clicked in her. The question had finally registered in her hungry mind.

"It's..." Another pause before her stance sank. What was it? What was her name? She knew she had a name before, but why was it so hard to recall? Father said he named her after his late friend. "Father..." Who was the father? Why did that word come up? If she had a father, then did she have a mother? Did she have a family? If so, where were they? Why would they leave her alone with this hunger?

The weight of the questions caused her to fall. She caught herself but could not lift herself from the confusion. "I-I-I don't know." The girl muttered. Tears started to form before she sank to the hard pavement. Her hands clawed at her like snakes biting down into the flesh.

"Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?"

WhiskeyMarten

Misuteeku · Oct 30, 2022

Raquel Filo

SCENE:

Family Comes First

LOCATION:

Roudy Robin Restaurant, South District

Time:

Daytime, October 5th 2021, Post-Arc 2

PARTICIPANTS:

Raquel, Charlie

Family Comes First

"Having cold feet now? Don't be shy; you won't get a girl with that kind of attitude." Raquel said with a smile.

To think King Chicken would order to oversee this bluehead's punishment. Not to mention this blue head was, in fact, BB's sponsoree. This was an incredible annoyance to Raquel, who was looking forward to her chef's next creation since she didn't care about such trivial things. If acting, why couldn't BB's five thousand imaginary shadow people oversee this? Did BB grow soft or have dementia? The senior veteran had bashed Raquel's head against a wall multiple times when she was a Rookie whenever she started to get hungry. It was hard to see that this was her sponsoree.

If BB couldn't do it, Raquel would be glad to do it. All she needed to do was break this blue birdy's shell. When it came to breaking people, Raquel found herself to be an expert in that regard.

As for the restaurant? It was an eyesore. Couldn't they afford to have it look better after being destroyed and renovated? Not to mention the menu. Before meeting with the blue hair princess, she did a little research. And she found... That they didn't accommodate people such as herself. How extremely rude. The restaurant had violated her rights, and that wouldn't do. If ponytail didn't get that money, that'd be the last straw before she blew up.

"You got this!" With an unnerving smile, she followed Charlie into the restaurant. From there, the smile dropped. It was now the time to play as the judge. Will Charlie be able to extract the payment? There was a reason why this place didn't pay monthly.

Roda the Red

simj26 · Oct 30, 2022

Dagger / Alisa Vassiliev

SCENE:

Sweet Talkin' Woman

TIME:

December 22nd, 2021 | Pre Arc 3

LOCATION:

The Dollhouse, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Dagger

Sweet Talkin' Woman

Invitation? “Fuck.” She knew it was sounding too easy. Of course there would be some sort of entry fee, whether it be a password or an invitation. She could just pop them now. One, two, right between their heads. She reached behind her, and her fingers closed around the grip of her handgun. Park spoke up just in time, revealing a crumpled piece of paper. Her grip relaxed, and she drove her hand into her back pocket instead, relaxing her stance. One of the bouncers gave her a pointed look and some advice on how the whorehouse operated. He didn’t seem to have noticed her tensing up, didn’t notice her preparing to leave them to bleed dry on the street. That was good.

"Hahaha!” she managed a dry laugh. “Да, да, of course, of course! I wouldn't dream of it!" Her laugh was dry, but believable enough. She elbowed Park as she attempted to make a jape at her proclivities. "Ah, shut it, girl. I got my own cash to burn.” Her crew had been the same whenever they were running recon on the locals, always putting her up to be the butt of their barbs. She wouldn’t say it was comfortable. It was, however, almost nostalgic. She allowed herself a low chuckle as she slipped between the bouncers and into the establishment.

Once the doors closed, a dark pall fell over Dagger's face. She was sure that if Park continued to stare at her face any longer, the smile she was wearing was going to look more and more forced. Though they looked to be alone in the hallway, they could never be sure. Park was quick to drop her facade, but Dagger felt it was prudent that she maintained hers. She glanced around the hallway, still portraying the over-confident businesswoman she was playing in all but body language. “Follow, for now.” She spoke lightly, lifting the usual growl in her voice, but the order was clear. “You are quite excited to see your girl, no?” Splitting up wasn’t a bad idea, all things considered. They’d cover more ground, gather more intel. However, while the ex-soldier wasn’t worried about Park being able to handle herself, she could not say that she was confident in finding their mark herself. She had been provided a picture, but she had no idea how much time had passed since the photograph was taken, much less what events had transpired in between. “Come, come. We’ll have to see the local delights for ourselves.” She beckoned to Park to the underbelly of the casino.

She was met with a cocktail of pungent smells, none of which she would care to name. Sweet, cloying perfumes clogged her nostrils, all in order to hide the scent of cigarettes, alcohol, sweat, and sex. This was a nunnery alright. They all smelled the same. Been in one, been in all of them. The one in Phillipia had been the same, and so was the one in Hosea. She leered at one of the ladies, offering her one of her best smirks. The girls here didn’t look half bad either, but that was common. Dolled up, and presented under a flattering light, they all looked good. Once they went home, if they even had one, they looked just like anyone else on the street. “Блин,” she breathed quietly. “We break here. Look around,” she hissed towards Park. “See if anyone matches your gal. I have to…” she sighed resignedly, “I have to do whatever.”

She approached one. Barely any clothes on her. Blonde, tiger print tube top, and a neon skirt that barely hid her fishnet-wrapped legs at all, and anything further up above. Any shorter, and it would have covered her bare midriff instead. Leaning one hand on the wall beside the working lady, she offered her best impression of Hauteclere’s ladykiller smile. “I was told here was the place for quality delights, but,” she forced a chuckle, “блин, you are one spicy dish, if I do say so myself.”

@The One Eyed Bandit

Caffeine_Obsessed · Oct 30, 2022

Yuto Nishimura

SCENE:

The Giant's Web

TIME:

April 16, 2021 | Pre Arc-1 | 6:15 pm

LOCATION:

Picabo Park, North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Yuto, Celestine

THE GIANT'S WEB

Plump. Not too much fat, not too much bone...Strong. Hm~ Yes. this was a good candidate. Yuto eyed the way the man's calves tensed as he landed, the soft but firm plushness of his thighs as he jogged, the slight jiggle of his biceps. From any other perspective, anyone would assume Yuto was checking him out. He supposed he was- in a sense. Though the excitement he felt was more for the hunt than simple desire. This guy was perfect. Strong enough to where Yuto wouldn't be bored too quickly, but weak enough that he would be able to kill without all too much struggle. The three eyed man always enjoyed a challenge- sure, but when it was time, he wouldn't want to take on someone who would cause too much of a hassle for him.

Yuto leaned forward on the bench he claimed, eyes tracking the man through his 3rd lap. As fun as it had been watching, he had grown tired of just sitting around- waiting. It was a bit annoying the man hadn't taken a break yet, but that's fine. Maybe it would make it more easier for him! With a smile, he leapt up from the bench, starting a jog as well to catch up behind him.

It took a while for him to notice, but after about 20 minutes of Yuto trailing behind him, just close enough for the man to be aware of him following, did he sense something might be wrong. It was a park, so other joggers were expected, but for one to be following right behind him? Maybe he was just being paranoid. Nevertheless, he sped up, his labored breaths becoming deeper and quicker. Yuto kept pace, his worn out sneakers hitting the dirt. This continued until the man was full on sprinting, going off course to try and get away. Yuto followed- of course- until the reached a set of trees. Yuto slowed down, losing sight of him. With panting breaths, Yuto laughed, arms slung behind him and a smile stuck on his face. "Now~ Where had you gone? We were just getting started..." Yuto had to admit, the man sure was fast! It was a bit difficult to get his breath back, his vision slightly woozy.

He continued through the trees, trying to hear for any... disturbance in the area. In no time at all, Yuto was feeling like his normal self again. Great. What was also great... Yuto squinted a smile, stopping in his tracks as his eyes flicked to his left. A hitch of breath... Yuto chuckled, nearing the tree which had breathed. "You know... You should really learn to take breaks... or else you'll get tired easily! Hmhm~"

Just as he caught sight of his next bite, his eyes flicked over to the clearing. Was that?... Yuto gasped in delight, a hand coming up to cover his heart. Without sparing another glance at his playmate, he bounded over, laughter resounding in his ears. Planting his feet, he leapt up onto the long haired lady's back, wrapping his arms around the tall woman's neck, his legs coming to wrap themselves around her waist. He giggled, delight filling his every pore. "Celiii!~" Yuto nuzzled his cheek against hers, nearly seeming like he would purr like a kitten.
-

angel doe

Roda the Red · Oct 30, 2022

CHARLIE HUGHES

SCENE:

[Family Comes First]

TIME:

Daytime, October 5th 2021, Post-Arc 2

LOCATION:

Roudy Robin Restaurant, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Raquel

FAMILY COMES FIRST

As insincere as Raquel's words of encouragement felt, they still helped to become the final push to finally take another step forward, and as such, Charlie opened the door to the restaurant.

The entrance's door open with a gentle push, a small bell attached to the frame causing a moderate, high-pitched ring. It was a nice-looking place, specifically it was a mixture of a restaurant and a cafe, with several wood tables arranged in an overall pattern that surrounded a large counter, which display a large array of pastries and other types of snacks free to order. The place was currently pretty well lit, and at this time of the day, only a few customers were currently seated, hopefully this would help not cause too much of a scene next.

The sound of the bell alerted the woman standing behind the large counter, receiving the pair of Phoenixes with a warm smile.

"Welcome! Table for two? Or perhaps you want to buy anything?" Her expression seemed relaxed and honest. It seems that at least she wasn't aware of the visit.

"...I need talk to Mr. Dahlmer"

"...Excuse me?"

"I need to speak with the owner, Mr. Dahlmer...It's important"

The girl looked puzzled for a moment, she didn't hear her boss speaking about visits today. Perhaps they were family members or something of the like?

"Just one moment, please"

The girl retreated into the kitchen, her muffled voiced could be heard from the other side, although the words weren't clear. A second, deeper voice responded, his words weren't clear either, but it had a bit of a confused intonation. Shortly after, a large middle-aged man walked out of the kitchen, by his expression, it was clear that he didn't recognize either of the two.

"...Yes?" His tone wasn't particularly friendly, but neither hostile.

"Mr. Dahlmer, I...I come from the Scarlet Phoenixes" Immediately as Charlie spoke the gang's name, the man's eyes widened, his face showing clear distress.

"As you already, you are behind on your payment for the protection services from the Phoenixes...By five months"

The man raised his right arm, his hand reaching for his neck, rubbing it slowly as he looked to the side.

"Well, I'm sorry...B-Business has been a bit slow as of late, not a lot of clienteles, but I promise I will have the money real soon! I just need to get in contact with a few acquaintances"

"Sir, it's unfair for the other businesses in the area, who religiously pay every month, and we waited long enough...It's time to pay" The cold, fake words coming out of his own mouth felt like poison.

"Please! I-I don't have the money right now, you need to give me a little more time! I can't just make it show up magically, I've been barely able to get by for the last year!"

Despite his desire to show empathy, Charlie remained quiet, stoically staring at the owner of the restaurant. The man, in turn, turned his expression of distress into one of anger, his face being enveloped by the faintest shade of red as he slammed his fist on the counter, a loud thud echoing through the inside of the place, which even got the attention of a few startled customers.

"You know what? You all Phoenixes think you're righteously claiming what's yours, but I know what you're doing, you're just using your numbers to take advantage of the smaller businesses, keeping those who can't fight back on a tight leash."

The woman from earlier approached Dahlmer, attempting to calm him down, but in response, the man simply extended his arm, gently pushing her aside from the situation, both figurately and literally.

"I never asked for any of this fucking protection you talk about! You just walk around, pretending to look for punks from the other districts, and suddenly you think you can drain us from our honest earnings every month, not caring whether or not we agreed to this, and this is not just me speaking, I know the others think exactly the same."

These claims...Charlie had no idea about such a thing. As far as he knew, this was all agreed by all parties, but instead it turned out to be racketeering...No, maybe he was just lying, maybe it was just a tactic to gain sympathy, it wouldn't be the first time he's heard of such a thing.

But even if was true, it didn't really matter, both of them were slaves of circumstance, and Charlie lacked any freedom of choice on the matter.

Charlie took a step forward, grabbing the defenceless NP man by the shirt and pulling him closer. With his other hand, he gave the Dahlmer a slap on the face, it was an extremely withheld hit, but still strong enough to make a loud sound, which caused the girl behind the counter scream in shock. Dahlmer groaned in pain as his cheek took on a severe reddish tone.

"You're paying now, don't make me say it again"

While it kept a firm grasp on the owner, Charlie's hand was visibly trembling.

Misuteeku

Misuteeku · Oct 30, 2022

Raquel Filo

SCENE:

Family Comes First

LOCATION:

Roudy Robin Restaurant, South District

Time:

Daytime, October 5th 2021, Post-Arc 2

PARTICIPANTS:

Raquel, Charlie

Family Comes First

The trial had begun. While Rookie was talking to the woman, Raquel made herself comfortable and sat at one of the tables. She crossed her legs and watched Charlie do his work.

Raquel's eyes darted around to check her surroundings. This place was ugly inside as it was outside. If anything, a little red would do this place a few wonders everywhere. Though unfortunately, she wasn't here to do a quick paint job. What was fledging doing anyways? It seemed the woman had left, and a man had come out from the back of the restaurant.

"Tsk, you should say that in a more confident tone." Raquel clucked her tongue, though she made sure to keep it quiet. If that were her, she would have just immediately made a show and thrown the man against the wall. Then again, that's why she wasn't sent to gather pay. It always ended up with the business paying up or bleeding out.

It was getting a little boring for Raquel. BB's sponsoree wasn't intimidating at all, and Mr. Meal wasn't paying up the money. Raquel was about to yawn until she heard that atrocious garbage coming from the man's mouth. "What?" She said darkly. The table she was sitting at started to creak as she applied pressure with one of her hands. The audacity this man had to claim they didn't want their protection. When they built their restaurant in Phoenix territory, they signed up for it. They should be happy that they were dealing with the nicer gang; if it were the Tiger's territory, this third-rate restaurant would have closed by now.

As she was about to get up and give a piece of her own mind, a loud smack resounded within the restaurant. "Oh, maybe the Rookie does have some charm after all." Raquel clapped in, applauding. Perhaps Charlie wasn't a lost cause. While she was sure he withheld his strength, Raquel knew a lot about how much force the average HP could apply; it was still a step up from his prior behavior.

Though this was probably his first mistake, he should have hit the man harder. Fear isn't so easily applied with a smack on the wrists. A smile grew on Raquel's face as she waited for the next event.

Roda the Red

angel doe · Oct 31, 2022

celestine renee cadieux

SCENE:

the giant's web

LOCATION:

picabo park, north district

TIME:

april 16, 2021 | pre arc-1 | 6:15 pm

PARTICIPANTS:

yuto, celestine

the giant's web

celestine took a deep breath, looking up at the sky as it began to change. she had been at the park for most of the day, focused on drawing and writing in hopes it would help clear her mind. she let out a sigh, looking back down at her journal as she finished the last sentence and closed it, tucking it away and rising to her feet. celeste had been here for a bit too long, in truth. she'd hardly slept due to the nightmares that haunted her and needed the day to recuperate; for her, that meant sitting in the park all day with her journal and only the occasional break.

having decided it was getting a bit too late for her liking, celeste began her walk home in silence, hand gripping the poison vial around her neck tightly. it provided some semblance of comfort, easing a bit of her anxiety, though that did not last long. no more than a couple of minutes into her walk home did celestine feel a presence approaching her from behind and immediately her anxiety began to spike. she heard laughter, and what followed had her stumbling forward out of surprise.

celeste felt arms wrap around her neck, and then legs around her torso, and for a moment she panicked, but then she felt another's cheek press against her own and heard a familiar voice, "yuto! how wonderful it is to see you." she reached up and gently held onto his arms, nuzzling him and closing her eyes for a moment, greatly relieved that it was her best friend and not someone trying to hurt her.

"i am glad it is you, for a moment i worried it was a stranger." celeste forced a soft laugh to try and hide just how much it had frightened her, but there was no hiding how much her heart was racing. with a small smile, she reached up with one hand and rested it lightly on his cheek, the other still holding tight to his arm, "i have missed you. it has been some time since we last saw one another," celeste glanced at yuto out of the corner of her eye, "what are you doing at the park this late in the afternoon?"

Caffeine_Obsessed

Lucem · Oct 31, 2022

Isaiah Spade

CS Link

SCENE:

Date???

LOCATION:

The East District, Isaiah's Apartment

TIME:

Friday, May 27th, 2022 || Post Arc 2

PARTICIPANTS:

Isaiah, Ruriko

DATE???

Isaiah chuckled a bit at Ruriko's strong reaction. "Don't worry, I'm good with secrets." All she had to do was look at his false face to know that her secret was safe with him. He hid information and told lies every day, sunrise to sunset. However, he didn't think there was any harm in this one getting out. Maybe she was worried other Dragons would think she'd gone soft if they knew she'd grown attached to Xuefeng.

He chose not to address her comment about him being considered one of Kairong's children. That was a separate issue, one that still filled him with a mix of unresolved, uncertain feelings after all these years. It was better to focus on Ruriko and her situation. The other stuff could wait for another day. Or maybe never would be better.

"For what it's worth, I think you're doing a good job." Looking after a child definitely wasn't an easy task, and it was even harder in this case. Xuefeng's origin aside, there was also the issue of maintaining balance between work and home, especially during a time as stressful as this. Despite those obstacles and a lack of experience, Ruriko had been managing well so far, and her dedication was obvious. The fact that she sought out help from others was proof that she cared about this a great deal.

"Although, my opinion might not mean much in this case." He didn't have much experience with children, so he wasn't exactly qualified to judge the situation. Even when he was a child himself, he rarely interacted with people his own age. After his mother died, he was forced to grow up and enter the world of adults, only ever surrounded by criminals and corpses.

Beann

YumenoTsukishiro · Nov 1, 2022

HIRAM ABAYAN

SCENE:

The IT Guy and The Scientist [January 2021]

LOCATION:

[Classified], Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiram, Ottilie

The IT Guy and The Scientist

Hiram could see the gears running in Ottilie's mind. Like her, he did his research. Ottilie's thesis on the genetic structure of HPs was remarkable, and the only one of its kind. It was all the more impressive considering Ottilie's youth compared to the other esteemed and tenured academics in NOCU. Sadly, a rising star threatens the established order, and where Ottilie should have been granted funding support, they tried to cast her aside and take credit for her research. For ethical reasons, they said. Unreliable science, they said. Irrational, risking the overall advancement of human knowledge for personal pride.

Thankfully, the rulers of the East District saw the potential in Ottilie and her work. Naturally, Hiram agreed with them.

"Good question, Ottilie," Hiram said, his smile deepening. "I'd like to introduce myself again. I am Hiram Abayan, Rookie of the Azure Dragons, and we'd like you to accept our invitation to join our ranks. If you accept, everything here..." Hiram made a sweeping gesture around the room, "...will be yours, and much more, all to further pursue your research."

Saturn_moon

Lucem · Nov 1, 2022

Ezra Knight

@Ari Number Two @The Regal Rper

SCENE:

Making Amends

LOCATION:

Post Arc 2: Ezra's Apartment, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Ezra, Isobel

MAKING AMENDS

Ezra prepared himself for a few things after letting Isobel into his apartment. He was watching out for knives, guns, tasers, bombs, and any other kind of hidden weapon she might decide to use on him. However, even with all the unlikely things jumping through his paranoia-filled mind, he never would've expected an apology.

It really caught him off guard. The Jack apologizing to a no-name rookie whose only major accomplishment was angering the King in record time? Nobody would've believed that. Heck, even he didn't believe it as it wasn't happening. If he wasn't holding the box, he probably would've tried pinching himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

He was barely able to hold in the words 'I've noticed' when she mentioned Markus's difficult personality. Just the thought of a comment like that getting back to the King sent a shiver up his spine, a chill as cold as the feeling of the man's icy hand on his neck. He still had to work on making sure his inside voice stayed inside if he wanted to survive in this place.

Before his thoughts could wander even further and continue with an unsettling tangent, he noticed Isobel's shift in demeanor. Her mood seemed to take a dive when she mentioned the box again, and her trailing words at the end gave off a familiar aura. Ezra knew the look of someone who was being overly self-conscious, all too familiar with that kind of vibe. It wasn't easy to fake, and he was usually good at telling when someone had an ulterior motive for acting a certain way. If this was genuine, did that mean this really was a gift? Her apology and everything else she said was true? No duel? No assassination?

When Isobel reached for the box, Ezra quickly took a step back, frantically waving his free hand back and forth. "N-No it's okay, really! Totally okay! Mistakes happen all the time, I make plenty! Probably would've made him angry eventually anyway, right? Oh, and the gifts? You didn't have to go to the trouble, but I appreciate it! They're great! I totally love...this thing?" He paused a bit as he eyed a strange wooden doll, but he did his best to maintain the same energy as he wore a nervous smile.

He usually didn't speak with so much energy, but he was fighting for his life here. He'd be signing his death warrant if he rejected Isobel's gift and kicked her out of his home while she was in a bad mood. Her friends in the Tigers? They'd kill him. His father? He'd probably kill him too for screwing up that bad. Isobel herself? She...might kill him? He still wasn't sure what to make of her, being forced to reevaluate his feelings a few seconds ago, but making her feel bad was definitely a no-no. He had to make sure that did not happen. He wanted to live.

"Uh, why don't you have a seat? It'd probably be more comfortable than standing. Of course, if you like standing, that's okay too. You can stand wherever you like." He'd calmed down a bit after his initial burst, but there were still a few energetic aftershocks lingering in his words as he led Isobel to the lounge room a few steps away.

After setting down the large box on a nearby table, he cleared a space on the couch for his guest. He always kept the place clean, so there really wasn't much that needed putting away. Just the remotes for the television, lights, and other appliances. A pair of grip trainers also sat in the usual spot, always nearby for easy access.

"Can I get you anything? Something to eat? Drink? Is water okay?" Before Isobel could even answer, Ezra was already making his way to the kitchen. "I'll be right back. Um, make yourself at home."

Hiding himself with the refrigerator door, Ezra used the newfound privacy to let out a deep breath. He needed to step away from the situation for a moment, just long enough to get his bearings. His actions so far had been guided by survival instinct, but now that his brain was working again, he realized that he may have bitten off more than he could chew. He really hoped he didn't make her feel even more uncomfortable.

Sticking his head a little further inside the fridge, he tried to cool off and form a strategy as he grabbed two bottles of water. He had to make sure he didn't screw this up even more. However, that was easier said than done. Setting aside the fact that the person sitting on his couch was a veteran gangster, there were a ton of other issues. He wasn't used to having guests, so he really didn't know what to do in a situation like this.

After mulling over his options, he realized there was only one course of action available to him. It was the same plan he'd been forced to use in every mission so far, the one that always filled him with dread. He had to wing it.

Taking another deep breath, Ezra grabbed the bottles and walked back over to the couch, most of his initial jitters left back in the fridge with the icemaker. "Um, here." He set it down on the table in front of her before taking a seat.

He was never into fancy, expensive things. For the most part, he was okay with anything as long as it served its purpose. However, at that moment, he really wished he had a bigger couch. The current piece of furniture was by no means a small, raggedy thing, but it felt extra tiny right now. Maybe it was just the awkward silence making it feel like everything was closing in.

He didn't say anything after coming back with drinks. He just sat there, hands pressed together as he stared at his feet. It's not like he didn't realize he was being quiet. He knew he needed to say something and break the silence, but he was drawing blanks. Anything would be better than this, right? Just had to spit something out and bring in a better atmosphere.

"So...what's in the box?" It had pretty much become the centerpiece of the room since he brought it in, so he couldn't really think of anything else to talk about. Still, couldn't he come up with more than that? "Oh, and uh, how have you been?" That was...better?

Saturn_moon

Lucem · Nov 2, 2022

Ezra Knight

CS Link

SCENE:

Checking In

LOCATION:

Lucky Rabbit Casino; Alice's penthouse

PARTICIPANTS:

Alice, Dante, Ezra

CHECKING IN

Ezra only responded with a silent nod as he took a seat. After hearing what Alice had to say, he knew better than to open his mouth again. Her answer was about what he expected, but hearing it out loud did a lot more damage to his soul than he could've anticipated. It was like a knot had formed in his stomach as he tried to fade into the background, wanting to blend in with the pattern of the couch.

Honestly, the words alone weren't very painful, but Alice's expression really made it feel like he screwed up. Listening to her speak with a grimace reminded him of his sister in some ways, and he was well aware of how she felt about him. So, seeing the young girl with that same look on her face brought a lot of bad vibes, making him overly conscious of his words. He really should've just kept his mouth shut, but his gut feeling made him continue anyway. Well, no more of that. He couldn't afford to make any more mistakes, so he'd stick with the classic 'don't speak unless spoken to' rule for now.

Sticking to the new rule, Ezra responded with another nod when Dante said he'd try to keep him out of trouble. It was nice that the older Tiger was being considerate, and he was definitely up for anything that kept from getting pulled into crazier situations. However, Dante mentioning his habit of walking right into trouble made Ezra feel conflicted. So which was it? Would he end up getting dragged into things anyway? He was pretty confused right now, but he wouldn't voice it. It was quiet time for him right now.

Even if it weren't for the self-imposed restriction on his speech, he doubted he could've contributed to the conversation in any meaningful way. The topic had turned to Alice's Potential, something he didn't know much about. Dante was the one who warned him about the hallucinogenic tea in the first place, so he'd just be repeating whatever he heard.

As much as he wanted to try comforting Alice after seeing her shed a tear and speak of traumatic experiences, he knew better than to attempt. He was at a loss for words, and anything he did probably wouldn't go over very well. She most likely wouldn't want some stranger who just showed up in her house trying to maker feel better. It was better to leave that kind of thing to Dante.

The scaly-skinned veteran seemed to have everything handled, offering suggestions on how to deal with the penthouse guards and how Alice could use her Potential. Ezra just listened, keeping track of the conversation as he eyed the illusory rabbit. At the moment, he was just a piece of breathing furniture, a human-shaped cushion that didn't want to land itself in hotter water. He felt like an intruder from the start, so it probably wasn't the best idea for him to speak up in the first place.

Saturn_moon · Nov 2, 2022

Ottilie James

SCENE:

The IT Guy and The Scientist [January 2022]

LOCATION:

[Classified], Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiram, Ottilie

The IT Guy and The Scientist

"Hiram Abayan, rookie of the Azure Dragons." Ottilie repeated. Staring off into the distance, she watched the jigsaw pieces fall into place around Hiram and the image slowly become clearer and clearer. Ottilie had often been described as naive and innocent, easily trusting everything everyone told her. This wasn't 100% true. For most people, they lived in a world made up by them and others. Understanding human behavior and intentions becomes significantly easier due to the larger dataset available for observation. In Ottilie's case, she had crafted a world that revolved around her and science. Which is not to say she couldn't understand people, it just took her a little longer than others to figure them out. "Ah..." She finally sounded out in understanding. "You're offering me a bribe." Ottilie spoke plainly, without any hint of accusation or judgement. It was just the fact of the situation.

Settling into one of the new office chairs she was shocked by how comfortable it was. The way the mesh backing perfectly supported her lumbar or how the headrest cradled her neck like a baby. "It feels like a cloud." She muttered in amazement. Realizing she was getting distracted, Ottilie focused her attention back on the boy still standing stiffly in the middle of her - the - lab. "A bribe would suggest that there is something the briber would like in exchange for their offer. What do the Azure Dragons want from me?"

YumenoTsukishiro

QuirkyAngel · Nov 5, 2022

Meirin Azuza

SCENE:

Just Another Training Day

LOCATION:

Wuyang Temple, East District

LOCATION:

January 8th, 2022 || Pre-Arc 3

PARTICIPANTS:

Meirin, Laura, Peyton, Schroeder, Jesper, Isaiah,
Ra, Dyne, any dragons that want to join

Just Another Training Day

Meirin picked a rice grain from the boy’s cheek and gave him another glutinous treat. “This is Lil’ Xuefeng! Ruri’s taking care of him! Or Kairong. Or Hou. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure…”

What she did know was that the others took him in and he kinda, sorta, became a little gang mascot…? The only one he didn’t seem to like was Shen. Why? Mei hadn’t a clue. Besides his power and bridge stint, she didn’t think their King was particularly scary. Well, given the boy’s deprived past, it’d only make sense if she spoiled him a bit. Working in a brothel gave her some experience in interacting with children. “Accidents” happened all the time after all…and Daisy sometimes brought her kids in to work when she had no one to watch them at home.

“Supposedly he was being hunted by some bad men, but I can’t say,” Because she hadn’t been there. Too busy dealing with the Serpents that caused trouble in their brothels.

She watched ‘Monkey Boy’ fight–creme–some of the other rookies that answered his challenge. Jesper evidently did too because the sulky boy climbed out of his box and started to slowly run, much to Meirin’s amusement.

Meirin listened quietly to the rest of Laura’s words before responding. “Hmm, I think you should do what you want to do. Two guns is a great idea! Two hands for wielding and two for reloading! Wish I’d thought of that~”

Taking a kettle of tea that one of the monk apprentices left beside them, Meirin thanked the boy before pouring some for herself. Laura. Xuefeng. Mr. Wildschwein. Isaiah. Jesper. Hou. Drinks for those that worked hard training–however they decided to train.

“Winning isn’t important. But exchanging fists with him will give you an idea of where he stands, where you stand, and how your fellow gang member fights–should you ever work together–, and might even give you an idea for your own fighting style~Who knows? I don’t see the downside in a simple, clean spar.”

For the rookies that didn’t know anything about martial arts, she really was just going to give some basic pointers regarding Shaolin Kungfu–the only thing she was qualified to teach. If they already had their own style of fighting, learning might be a hindrance. Or it might improve their current skillsets. Add to it. Ruri preferred swords for example. She’d be a qualified teacher for anyone who wanted to get into swordplay.

Pity she wasn’t here. Maybe next time.

“That said, it sounds to me like you already have an idea of what you wanna do,” Even if it was just exploring her options and taking in a little bit of everything. Meirin wasn’t going to force those who didn’t want to learn to learn…except Jesper, whom she had promised to make exercise. Maybe Peyton as well…if the boy took too long. Meirin didn’t think the run was particularly hard. Did he get lost? Surely wasn't dying in a ditch somewhere. Kidnap was unlikely either. This wasn't the North District after all, and the waiter of ENP knew his way around fights...even if the Phoenixes were picking a lot of them lately. Serpents too. “So train however you wanna train! Challenge yourself however you want to challenge yourself! As a Veteran in the gang, I’ll be there to help whenever you need it. I’ll start going over kung-fu basics in this temple real soon too...once everyone finishes eating.”

Though depending who wanted to join her in the temple, she’d cater to their level.

She passed the tray of drinks to Xuefeng. “Since Hou’s still fighting, you’re going to be my little helper for today! Please deliver this Mr. Wildschwein, Isaiah, Jesper–once he finishes his run–, Hou, and whoever else you see to be working hard~”

In the meantime, Meirin was going to set up some punching bags. She’d need to lay out the mats if she was going to do demonstrations as well. Tossing the remainder of the rice ball in her mouth, the Warden of Eternal Night Palace and graduate of Wuyang Temple’s school of martial arts jumped to her feet to do just that. Those that lost badly to Monkey Boy needed to go back to the basics.

@Ari Number Two

RedArmyShogun @Coyote Hart

Lucem @Damafaud @The Prophet
@SilverFlight (I gave u some npc fodder so feel free to show off at your leisure)

YumenoTsukishiro · Nov 8, 2022

HIRAM ABAYAN

SCENE:

The IT Guy and The Scientist [January 2021]

LOCATION:

[Classified], Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiram, Ottilie

The IT Guy and The Scientist

So she wasn’t as airheaded as he thought she would be. That made Hiram more at ease as he pulled another office chair to him and sat down (Ottilie was right– it did feel like a cloud). Hiram felt that in some ways, Ottilie was like him: practical, straightforward, and blunt. More and more, he was convinced that the decision to invite her to the Azure Dragons was the right one. He didn’t see it in the beginning, when he once caught the girl staring intently at a calico napping inside an alleyway, muttering beneath her breath and writing furiously on a notepad. It took some time, but right then he was confident that the Azure Dragons would benefit greatly from Ottilie’s talents.

“I would rather you not think of it as a bribe but as an investment. In you,” Hiram said, punctuating the last word with a pointed finger. “Genius and talent like yours come rarely, and the Azure Dragons can see the potential in your research, pun not intended. One of the higher ups came across your paper in a scientific journal and immediately made some inquiries. We discovered that you were underfunded, underequipped, and frankly underappreciated. So, we’d like to take it upon ourselves to give you everything you need to further your research into what makes us Humans with Potential.”

Hiram paused, feeling the need for caffeine rising in him. He already had three cups today, but there was never enough coffee for him. His mind demanded it, so he rolled his chair over the coffee making machine, pressed a few buttons, and in a few seconds out came a porcelain cup filled with two shots of espresso topped with steamed milk and sprinkled with cinnamon– one of his favorite drinks of all time. He rolled back to face Ottilie, took a sip of the heavenly brew, and sighed in utter contentment.

“But I haven’t exactly said what the Azure Dragons want from you, have I? I’d like to be candid with you, so listen carefully,” Hiram leaned forward, his expression serious. “Your research, and all related material, will become the property of SkyGenetica, a shell corporation run by the Azure Dragons. You will be listed as an employee of SkyGenetica under a pseudonym. You will sign a non-disclosure agreement that essentially states that you are not to discuss your research in any shape or form with anybody outside of this room, including other Dragons, except for certain higher-ups. Your research will be on a need-to-know basis. Additionally, I will be acting as your lab assistant, helping with experiments and general maintenance of the equipment, while at the same time watching you for compliance. There are other items you need to know, like security procedures, but we can discuss all that later.

“Of course, you are free to decline all of this, and if you do, we won't bother you any longer. We will respect your decision.”

Hiram leaned back on the cloud-like office chair and took another sip of his lovely coffee. His mind was buzzing with possibility. There was every chance that Ottilie would reject the invitation, but Hiram had a good feeling about all this. The cards were on the table. What would Ottilie do next?

Interactions:

Saturn_moon

Lucem · Nov 8, 2022

Ashley Hart

SCENE:

The Enduring Hurrah

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3, Evening of May 27th, 2022

LOCATION:

Red West Bar, a Phoenix hub in the South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Ashley, Boltius, Charlie, Corvo, Dimitri, Gideon, Hector, Hide, Hitoshi, Milo, Rin, Roza, Ryoma, Yukito, Zach

THE ENDURING HURRAH

Throat still burning, Ashley turned to get a better look at the person who plopped down beside him. As the red glow faded from his eyes, he gave the blond a quick appraisal, recognizing his features and the smokey stench clinging to his body. Even under the low light, he realized it was Milo pretty quickly, already plenty familiar with the Rookie. It was a hard face to forget. Well, now it was. He'd already forgotten it once before.

He didn't recognize Milo when they met in that alley eight months ago, too busy dealing with the holes in his body and the Tigers in his territory. However, after things calmed down, he remembered that he'd seen the guy before. It was a long time ago at Cassie's place, back when Bolt came by to get tatted. Almost four years had passed since then. When he stopped to think about it, it was crazy that he ended up in the Phoenixes with both of them.

Milo had been in the gang for eight months, but Ashley still didn't know him very well. They'd talked and even played some games together, but nothing really substantial. Most of those interactions were probably thanks to Bolt. Those two were good friends, so it wasn't unusual to see them together. They were even together right now. Because of that friendship, Ashley was willing to overlook Milo's thing with Hector and give him a chance. Hell, Hector even sponsored the guy, so it was water under the bridge at this point. Milo also backed them up when they were fighting against the Tigers, so as far as Ash was concerned, he'd earned his place.

"My poker face that bad?" If Milo could tell, it must've been pretty obvious that he wasn't in the best mood. He wasn't used to dealing with things like this, so it was no surprise that he was bad at hiding his emotions. Not that he ever really tried to hide how he felt. For better or worse, he wore his heart on his sleeve, always making his feelings known.

"Just thinkin' about some personal shit. Nothin' important, so you don't gotta worry about it. Just keep drinkin' and enjoy the party." Last thing he wanted was to be a buzzkill and ruin the vibe. This was supposed to be a fun, chill night. A final send-off before they went to war.

As he waved off the artist's concern, Ashley reached for the collection of glasses sitting on the table. Sliding a shot over to Milo, he urged the Rookie to drink before grabbing one for himself. Once again, he knocked it back, triggering another flash of crimson. Left with an empty glass, he put it down next to the others.

"You too, Citrus. You ain't gonna stop at one drink, are ya?" Raising another shot that found its way into his hand, he motioned for Bolt to take a seat. Their new Ace wasn't usually this subdued during a bash. Then again, neither was he.

After downing another drink, he nudged Milo with his elbow, a smirk on his face. "Still, surprised you bothered checkin' up on me. Come a long way from tryna murk our Queen over there." He joked, but there was honesty mixed in with his teasing words. He and Milo weren't particularly close, so he didn't expect it. Maybe it was just because they had a mutual friend. Not like it really mattered. He wasn't too hung up on the reason, and it wasn't really that strange. Regardless of how Milo got here, he was a Phoenix now. That's the only thing that mattered in this place.

"So, what about you?" Smirk dropping a little, his tone shifted, now sounding a bit more serious. He didn't want to bother people with his baggage, but that didn't mean everyone else felt the same way. Some people actually wanted to vent and get things off their chests, even if they didn't know it. At a time like this, folks may have wanted to do that now more than ever. That's why he threw the question back at Milo.

Saturn_moon · Nov 8, 2022

Isobel Pham

SCENE:

Post Arc 2: Making Amends

LOCATION:

Ezra's Apartment, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Ezra, Isobel

Making Amends

Isobel was nervous. At Ezra's prompting, she'd reluctantly taken a seat but not without visible discomfort. Perched precariously on the edge of the sofa with her shoulders hunched, she looked like she was trying to make herself smaller despite already being quite petite. Her hands fidgeted continuously with the hem of her flannel shirt, bunching and unbunching the corner until wrinkles formed. The truth of the matter was, Ezra had caught her off guard. A hard pill to swallow for someone who had survived by constantly looking over her shoulder. She had intended to stay for no more than five minutes but was now stuck entertaining Ezra's hospitality for an indefinite amount of time.

She tried to think of the last time she'd paid someone she knew a visit at their home and came up blank. Well, technically she did visit Alex at his home although that had been for work and the outcome had been less than desirable. Perhaps she should fake a stomachache and give herself an excuse to leave. No, that's dumb. She could already see how that scene would play out. Ezra would offer her to use his bathroom and not being able to turn him down, she would end up having to hide in there just to keep up with the lie and that was arguably more humiliating.

When Ezra returned with the water, she graciously accepted it and downed half the bottle at one go. Was it always this warm in the room? Hydrated, Isobel let her eyes wander the room once more, intentionally avoiding making eye contact with her host sitting on the other end of the sofa. She wished there was more she could comment on but his apartment was... sparse to put it nicely. She might have assumed that he had spent all his money on the apartment and didn't have any money left to fill it with, but she'd read his file before. Youngest Knight child posted to the Tigers to establish business "partnerships". It wasn't a rare occurrance in the Tigers and the apartment was likely one of the perks that came with said posting.

"So...what's in the box?" Ezra finally asked, breaking the awkward silence to her immense relief.

"Oh, I can show you." She responded. Kneeling infront of the coffee table upon which the box sat, she began the process of taking everything out and arranging it neatly on the table according to types. There was a bundle of first edition books in varying titles and genres, several artist signed records, a couple of ceramic pieces (one of which looked vaguely like something from the Ming dynasty), an old wooden mantle clock, and a collection of random handmade toys.

The last thing Isobel took out from the box was a small stack of botanical paintings. Unlike the other things, these looked new. The paper still a bright white and the edges crisp. Laying it out infront of him, Ezra could see that they were all of a similar flower but in different hues and design. "They're a breed of tree peonies known as the Ezra Pound. It's been awhile since I painted but I thought they would be appropriate."

Lucem

Doctor Llamabean · Nov 11, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

Lost on Bourbon

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1—2021, June 5th (Friday)—1:00 AM

LOCATION:

Somewhere outside of the city; Chained up on a stage...

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Hector

LOST ON BOURBON

Bolt’s chains were stretched to their limit as he withdrew from the guards trying to muzzle him. The metal shackles dug into his wrists, the skin of which were, by now, red and raw from his attempts to free himself before. Disoriented as he was, he put up a damn good fight, twisting and jerking in whatever way he could.

He heard Hector call out to him but couldn’t respond by the hand over his mouth, nor could he see past the blindfold covering his eyes, but when the Jack declared he’d get them out of this, Boltius didn’t doubt him. He’d done so before, only to owe an apology.

Hector Moses had his full trust.

The sweat of the guard’s hand found its way into Bolt’s mouth amid the struggle, and Boltius let out a muffled scream of disgust before managing to yank his face free and bite down. The guard’s index finger crunched between pearly whites, but blood was not drawn. Boltius didn’t want that shit on his tongue.

Growling with anger, the guard wrenched his hand free and rammed his fist into the Phoenix’s gut. At the same time, the second guard swung a baton into the back of his legs, causing Bolt to buckle and fall, only for the first guard to knee him in the face.

For NPs, these assholes were built.

Finally, Boltius was cooperative. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I’ll kill’em. I’ll fuckin’ kill’em. The rage nearly unlocked something within him, but whatever it was, he lost it as soon as the loud racket of chains grinding stung his nerves, and something heavy settling around them shook the stage.

He was still on his knees when all the commotion of footsteps trampling about came and passed, then when his wrists were suddenly free, he waited briefly before slipping off his blindfold to look around. A cage surrounded them—him, Hector, and two others—but Boltius saw only the crowd in the auditorium.

“What the fuck?” he mumbled.

Bravadia, the hostess of the show—whatever it be—sauntered out from in front of the exhibit and raised her microphone, side-eyeing the trapped competitors with a self-assured smirk. “Surely they won’t disappoint.”

Boltius stood as she spoke.

“A fight! In case it was not clear,” the woman gave them a pointed look as if to urge them to action, and Bolt’s face coiled with uncertainty. Confused. “Wh-” He shook his head, meeting eyes with the other prisoners, lingering longer on Hector. “The fuck is the point of all this shit-”

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” One of the men, in a moment of fear and desperation, charged Boltius from behind, hoping to catch him off guard, but neglected to comprehend the effects of a battlecry.

“IT HAS STARTED!” screamed the hostess with glee.

Boltius quickly faced his opponent with a stagger, still feeling the effects of the alcohol and other mysterious intoxicants, and he slapped, with ease, the stranger’s incoming fist of fury. Acting too fast for his own good, he dropped the fucker with one punch and stumbled back as their body hit the floor, unconscious.

Shocked and short of balance, Boltius fell, rolled to his hands and knees, and weakly pushed himself up again. “YO, THESE GUYS ARE NP?!” A sheet of guilt draped his shoulders, for he took no pride in dominating someone uncontrollably weaker than him. “SHOW OF STRENGTH, MY ASS, WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT ABOUT!? WHAT IS THIS PLACE!?”

Bravadia’s head rolled back as laughter erupted from within. “Silly boy!... They are simply to draw out the proof within the pudding, can’t you see!? The real show of strength is right there!” She pointed at Hector and broke with laughter again. “A FIGHT BETWEEN FRIENDS! COMRADES TURNED ENEMIES!”

The audience exploded.

Boltius stared at his superior… “Fight between…?” Then he understood.

Slowly, and accompanied by creeping adrenaline, a wide, eager grin spread across his face. “So that’s it, huh?...” Bolt pressed his knuckles together. “I just gotta kick this guy’s ass, huh?” He teetered despite his confidence. Confident despite the teetering. Too many times, he’d found himself engaged in a bar fight or other under the influence of one too many shots, and that had yet to stop him from accepting a worthy challenge.

“Well, what d’ya say, boss-man?... Will ya have me?”

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —Boltius is currently shirtless and wearing his usual golden earrings, chains, and rings + some sweatpants and shoes

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

— —Physique Reference, since his face-claim art doesn't accurately depict it (X) (X)

— —POST RECAP: Boltius prepares to fight Hector.

WhiskeyMarten

Doctor Llamabean · Nov 11, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

Shaping Up

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3: December 3rd, 2021

LOCATION:

South District... Old basketball court in the middle of nowhere...

PARTICIPANTS:

Vulken

SHAPING UP

Boltius shut his eyes, wincing, as Vulken’s hand came down to flick him on the forehead. A flick that, by his current state of exhaustion, held the illusion of Thor’s hammer powering down against him and mercilessly sapped him of whatever spirit he’d been trying to muster to jump back into their training.

He was fully spent, something he hadn’t been in a long time… Laying there, still, he thought about how he had forgotten what it was like to train with his brother. Someone who could handle his heat at its fullest.

Truly satisfying.

Then Vulken started talking shit.

“Tch,” Boltius sat up, arms trembling. Legs, too. “Fuck you,” he grumbled, on his feet again but eager to sit back down. “I ain’t bitchin’, I ain’t bitchin’. I could go for daaaaays.”

He couldn’t.

And he proved that by falling with the next step he tried to take, leg buckling beneath his own weight. Meanwhile, Vulken was already leaving the court and getting into his car.

“Dontcha wanna see YY? Hurry the hell up.”

Boltius fought to his feet again and rested his head back, closing his eyes. “Yeah, yeah,” he mumbled weakly. “I’m comin’... Just-... Just gimme a minute.” For a moment, he stood there, preparing himself for the arduous ten-foot journey to the car. Then, gathering his strength, he trudged forth and took the front passenger seat where he immediately got comfortable with intent to nap.

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —What he's wearing: Shirtless with a pair of basketball shorts and regular tennis shoes

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

— —Physique Reference, since his face-claim art doesn't always accurately depict it (X) (X)

— —POST RECAP: Boltius and Vulken are on their way to YY's.

Nobody Special

Doctor Llamabean · Nov 11, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

Ballin'

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3: March 29th, 2022 -- Evening

LOCATION:

South District... Old basketball court in the middle of nowhere...

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Milo, Roza, Rin, Yong-Yut, Hector, Ashley, Libla

BALLIN'

As he chased after the ball in a low sprint, Boltius couldn’t help laughing at Hitoshi’s light jesting from the side-line. Maintaining crisp focus on the ball, he quipped back in good nature, “Hit the court an’ show me how it’s done, then, old man!”

Then to Rin, “Hah! You ain’t gonna disappoint them.”

However, he had no idea what he was saying, and, as a result, adopted a confused expression as the realization of that sank in. Wait, disappoint how? His pursuit of the ball slacked, as if his sudden ignorance had taken the form of a pair of brakes at his heels. Disappoint what now?

It didn’t take a genius to understand what Rin had meant, but this was Bolt.

Still trying to grasp some ounce of comprehension, Boltius picked up speed again—from a distance, appearing to have only faltered for a split second as the gears of his brain went round—and reached out to stop the ball from bouncing off the court, airborne for a blink.

When, next, his feet returned to the ground, the ball was soaring through the air toward the goal, and Boltius stood on the opposite end of its direction of travel, fingers crossed. He tossed it without aiming, but it was well on course to sink through the net.

That’s when his tunnel-vision faded, and he finally noticed Milo’s work when the sight of a doughy, featureless fat man entered his peripheral and startled his temperature neutral. He let out an alarmed grunt of sorts, then fell into immediate laughter at his own reaction.

“Milo, what in the muffin-man is this!?”

Temporarily forgetting about the game—whether the ball made it or not, or if its path was intercepted—he took a moment to poke fun at the silly doodles. Pointing, he said in a deeper voice, “I don’t like the way this one’s lookin’ at me.” Then made a fist and shook it, “C’mere, ya fucker- Wait a minute, where’s the other chi-” Before he could finish his own sentence, he spotted her. There, off to the side, Roza.

Curious as to what had made her decide to sit out, up went his hands, and he asked, “YO, YOU GET BORED OR SOMETHIN’?”

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —CURRENT TEMPERATURE: Neutral

— —What he's wearing: (Click: X) White long-sleeve shirt + Red hoodie overtop; Black basketball shorts + Black leggings underneath that are tucked into his socks; White shoes + Headband [His chains and jewelry are in the back seat of his Denali, along with his three duffel bags)

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

— —Physique Reference, since his face-claim art doesn't always accurately depict it (X) (X)

— —POST RECAP: Boltius chases down the ball before it bounces off the court, and he throws it from one end to the other, hoping to make a goal. Ignoring whether or not someone intercepts it, he pokes fun at Milo's dough-boys, then asks Roza what's up.

— —COURT DIMENSIONS: 50ft x 50ft

Doctor Llamabean · Nov 11, 2022

ROCCHI (Nakazajo Chikage)

SCENE:

Gangs' Grocery Games

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3 — January 5th, 2022

LOCATION:

Central District, (level not established)

PARTICIPANTS:

Chikage, Pascal

GANGS' GROCERY GAMES

Pascal spoke and Chikage listened. He had a thought to share—that their schedules lining up was irrelevant, and that the two of them should not be spending any sort of leisure together due to their clashing affiliations—but when Pascal was interrupted by a middle-aged man flinging wild accusations, he realized his thought would have to wait.

The man and Pascal went back and forth, then the wife stepped in, until, finally, their attention shifted onto Chikage, who remained silent as they chastised him. Even when Pascal was thrown back and into the shopping cart, the Captain was calm—his concern took the form of a wrinkle between his brows—and only once they were finished did he open his mouth to speak.

Over his shoulder, he asked Pascal, “Are you alright?” And he waited for an answer before shifting his focus back on the family.

Promptly, he told the man, “You ran your mouth for so long that I am unable to formulate a sound argument, as I have already forgotten the majority of your incessant babbling.” A short pause to inhale and think, he felt an abrupt heat spread throughout his chest. Something stifling. Radiating.

Persistent, he pushed it down without showing any hint of disturbance.

“Seeing as you’ve already fabricated your own idea of who I am and why I do things- Who my company is- I can only imagine you will do the same with my words and their meaning. My intentions. So, I refuse to argue with you, as you are not of rational mind. At least, not now. However, I will be removing you from the premises, lest I place you under arrest for assault.”

Reaching into his back pocket, Chikage withdrew his badge and showed it to the family. Their faces twisted in offense—all but the teenager’s, who simply recoiled with embarrassment.

Putting the badge away, he added, “The woman and boy shall stay if they wish…” He cleared his throat, “The choice is yours to make… Leave, be escorted out, or be removed by force and taken into custody where you will be judged by the system you have expressed a clear distaste for.”

He waited a moment. “What will it be?”

CHIKAGE NOTES: — —The majority of the front, right half of Chikage's body is badly scarred from burns, stopping halfway up his neck. The skin is distorted, discolored, and unpleasant to look at. For this reason, he wears a black, leather glove always covering his right hand, and usually wears long-sleeved, concealing clothes. Reference (X)

— —What he's wearing: (Click: X) Long-sleeved, milky-brown turtleneck sweater; Black trousers (no belt); Simple black boots; Wrist-watch; Glove on his right hand

— —POST RECAP: Chikage threatens to arrest a civilian.

Anne Boolean

Doctor Llamabean · Nov 12, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

The Enduring Hurrah

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3 — May 27th, 2022 — Evening

LOCATION:

South District... Red West Bar...

PARTICIPANTS:

A lot of Phoenixes...

THE ENDURING HURRAH

Whatever Milo was feeling—whatever he was going through—Boltius didn’t notice. He’d always been that way, hard to recognize others’ feelings. Hard to predict how his own words and actions might affect someone else.

Always oblivious until otherwise informed, but always quick to try to make amends where his ignorance left its mark.

Oftentimes, as a child, when his iron-willed mother would point it out to Boltius, his foolishness, he would tread carefully for a few days after, calculate his words and closely observe people’s expressions, their responses. And there were times he was successful, but more than that he wasn’t… Never long enough to make it a habit, this practice would die out before he could even realize. Next thing he knew, his mother was giving him that same lecture after one of his sisters would scream ‘offended’ by something he did or said, only for Boltius to be utterly lost as to what he did wrong.

That’s why he’d clung to Vulken.

Just then, Boltius felt something poke him, and he remembered where he was. “Hm?” Orange eyes trailed ahead from Milo to Ashley—Milo, who was walking away—and, Ashley, who was sitting alone at a table. And Boltius watched for a moment as Milo took a seat beside the other, then he downed his drink to empty and joined them just in time for Ashley to address him, asking if he’d be settling on one drink for the night.

Chuckling, he asked, “Doesn’t sound like me, does it?” and took a seat across from them, accepting the shot that Ashley offered and draining it as if to prove he was the real Boltius Beckman and not some impostor. More bitter than usual, he covered his mouth with the back of his hand and endured the burn only briefly, at the same time listening to Ashley speak to Milo.

“So, what about you?” Ashley asked him.

Boltius, curious, glanced between them, licking his lips to clean them of liquor. “What’s goin’ on?”

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —What he's wearing: (Click: X) Orange hoodie over a white undershirt; Black sweatpants; White shoes + All of his usual jewelry and bling and a headband

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

— —Physique Reference, since his face-claim art doesn't always accurately depict it (X) (X)

— —POST RECAP: Boltius joins Ashley and Milo.

Lucem

Elenion Aura

Doctor Llamabean · Nov 12, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

Passing the Torch

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3 — September 28th, 2021 — 5:00 PM

LOCATION:

(Shady's Motel) Phoenix HQ, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Hector, Reika, Doctor Slim (NPC)

PASSING THE TORCH

The hoarseness of his friend’s voice caught Boltius off-guard, a sorry wince taking hold, and he nodded once asked if he was okay—slow and hesitant—but said nothing.

“...It ain’t good, y’know. I don’t know when she’ll recover.”

It was clear to Boltius that Hector was hurting the most between the two of them—Bolt’s being mostly condolence—and knowing that only fueled the inexplicable guilt that had a hold of his mind upon seeing the Ace’s bandaged face.

As if a rope of silence had knotted itself around his neck, he could not muster the courage to speak… Courage, yes, because he was afraid. Afraid that he might say something to piss Hector off, who would then hold him accountable for the injury he’d sustained… Yet he was already doing so to himself—clinging to self-blame like a beggar to their only coin.

All he could do was stare, a look of pure contrition, unfiltered by any attempts to hide it.

And he stared for some time. Searching… Trying to find a mending word. But alas… even after a minute passed, he had none to give, and that angered him, sent fury into his hands which formed tight fists at the urge to hurt someone. All of them. Anyone. And it rose… bubbling like boiling water. Like a kettle finding its whistle.

Then… throwing his hand forward, Boltius grabbed the back of Hector’s neck and pulled him in, bringing the Ace’s head to rest upon his shoulder. Without his words, it was the only other way he could think to express himself, and only once he felt the gesture had gotten through did he push Hector away and finally meet his eyes.

“It ain’t when she’ll recover, man. It’s what’ll you do while she does… You know why she’s in the state she is. What Reika did was damn fuckin’ respectable. A fuckin’ leader, that’s was she is, and she chose you.” He took a step back, wiped his face, and added, “And I’m with’er on it… She made a damn good choice, you fuckin’... crazy lunatic bastard... Don't mourn, 'cause she ain't dead yet. We all gotta time, but, shit, she's still fightin' right now.”

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —What he's wearing: Something casual, no jewelry or accessories

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

— —Physique Reference, since his face-claim art doesn't always accurately depict it (X) (X)

— —POST RECAP: Boltius tries to comfort Hector.

WhiskeyMarten

Doctor Llamabean · Nov 12, 2022

ROCCHI (Nakazajo Chikage)

SCENE:

Chasedown

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3 — April 4th, 2022

LOCATION:

North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Chikage, Sang-Cheol

CHASEDOWN

“I don't recall having caused any trouble; do you need something?”

Chikage grunted, gave the Detective a telling look accompanied by a nodding gesture toward their vehicle, then met Sang-Cheol’s eyes again as the Detective returned to the Nissan to do what he suspected were his orders.

“Like I said, just a few questions, if you wouldn’t mind.” Red eyes drifted onto the young girl for a moment, returning to the man after, then the Captain spoke again.

“I am Nakazajo Chikage, Captain of the Central District Police Department. Currently, I’ve partnered with North District Police personnel to conduct evaluations on civilian wellbeing since the arrest of the Sable Serpents’ King, Yuudai Fuse.”

Back at the Nissan, Detective Warren was running a search for arrest warrants and other files based on the man of interest’s current appearance. Meanwhile, Chikage was sure he was the one… Matchsticks of the Sable Serpents.

“Would you care to comment on the events?... Tell us how we can do better.”

It was the man’s turn to speak. Whether or not he chose to, Detective Warren stood beside Chikage again and handed him a freshly printed sheet of paper detailing a particular criminal file. As Chikage looked it over, a sly smirk found its way across his face before he handed it back to Warren, who’d come with a pair of HP-effective cuffs on his belt, which had not been there before.

Chikage held out his hand and Detective Warren placed the cuffs within it.

“Sang-Cheol Man, you’re under arrest for criminal affiliations with the Sable Serpents under the suspected alias, Matchsticks… I’d list the rest of your crimes, but that would be a waste of time.”

CHIKAGE NOTES: — —The majority of the front, right half of Chikage's body is badly scarred from burns, stopping halfway up his neck. The skin is distorted, discolored, and unpleasant to look at. For this reason, he wears a black, leather glove always covering his right hand, and usually wears long-sleeved, concealing clothes. Reference (X)

— —What he's wearing: (Click: X) Long-sleeved, white sweater; Grey trousers w/ belt; White shoes; Wrist-watch and Glove on his right hand

— —POST RECAP: Chikage questions Sang-Cheol and tries to make an arrest.

Misuteeku

Anne Boolean · Nov 12, 2022

Pascal Corbin

CS Link

SCENE:

Gangs' Grocery Games

LOCATION:

Upper Central

PARTICIPANTS:

Pascal, Laurent, Chikage, Tenebrosity, Silva

Gangs' Grocery Games

It took Pascal a moment to recover from the effects of the man's Potential. As he sat, he twitched slightly as the electric current continued flowing through him. His skin and clothes were slightly singed and his hair was sticking up wildly. His Potential only gave him two major weaknesses, and of course this random male Karen happened to have one of them. Still, he mustered up a smile and responded when his friend inquired about his well-being.

"Y-yeah... I'm okay..." he said, raising a shaky hand to give a thumbs up. After hearing Chikage's response, the couple had expressions of horror upon hearing their actions had consequences.

"Y-you can't kick him out!" the woman ended up responding. "His... his actions were in self-defense!"

The man quickly nodded. "Yeah! Self-defense! Not only did he steal from my wife, he took a swing at me! That's why I retaliated!"

"Oh, yes! I saw it with my own eyes!" the woman added, nodding along. "He had a look of rage in his eyes that will leave me traumatized!" She sniffled dramatically. "Oh, Billy... you saw it too, right...? Oh, my poor sweet child... how I wish I could wipe your memories of such a horrid sight." The woman gently ran her hands down her son's shoulder, who immediately threw the hood of his jacket up and gave Pascal an apologetic look. The blond, who had now gotten back to his feet, returned an expression of confusion, amusement, and apologetic empathy to the boy with the face of someone who couldn't (or rather, would prefer not to) hurt a fly.

"This is an abuse of power!" the woman insisted. "I'm not surprised, after seeing who your friends are, but I won't stand for it! I demand to see the manager! The store's, and yours!"

Meanwhile, although most customers around them just went about their business, some, after getting over the shock of the situation and having had their fill of watching the scene unfold, also decided to choose violence.

"Officer! Officer!" a middle-aged woman called as she approached from own the ailse. "She stole from me too!" She pointed to another middle-aged woman who she had been in an argument with moments ago who just stood with a dumbfounded look.

"Yeah! And he stole my packs of toilet paper!" A young woman called and pointed to an older man.

Among the false accusations, actual crimes were taking place as well. A man did indeed lift a whole toaster oven from the cart of a mother and daughter who were distracted by the scene. While his theft may have been successful, another young man trying to do the same from the cart of a middle-aged man was caught. A shouting match ensued and fists were thrown. The chaos just continued spreading outwards from there, with more and more people joining in the yelling and throwing, seeming to expand outward from Pascal and Chikage.

"Jeez... this is worse than Black Friday..." the blond said to his friend after glancing around at the carnage. "Who knew slashed prices would cause people to devolve into animals...?" He turned to face the other. "What do we do?" He assumed walking away, at least for Chikage, due to his affiliation, wouldn't be an option. He had been the one to bring the other into this mess, though, so he felt partially responsible. He couldn't just leave his friend to clean up after him.

Interactions: Chikage (

Doctor Llamabean )

Misuteeku · Nov 12, 2022

Sang-Cheol Man