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

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Passeri Park

CS Link

SCENE:

The Idol Fanclub Trials

TIME:

Pre-Arc 2

LOCATION:

Highreach, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Shishido Takakazu, Passeri Park

The Idol Fanclub Trials

Compared to Tak's muted presence, the veracity with which Passeri's Potential flared in the company of his friends was almost overwhelming. Her brow furrowed. One handy thing about her Potential was that it allowed her to identify this sort of fan. The kind that harkened back to the origin of the word.

"It does look like you're in a bit of a pickle..." A four-headed hydra loomed behind Tak, who in turn loomed over her. While bereft of his sense of the spiritual pressure which poured forth from the passionate quartet, the sixth sense which allowed her to detect that very passion informed her just how dire the man's situation was. Really this was none of her business. In fact, whatever punishment they had in store for him probably would've been well deserved, given whatever ulterior motive had led him here today, but there was a spark of sympathy in her chest that she couldn't quite stifle.

Nobody knew better than her how much of a bother that proper fanatics like them could be, after all.

"Is everything okay, you guys?" She spoke past Tak, and exchanged a smile with each of the fanboys. Placating them should've been simple enough. "I'm not totally sure what's got our friend here in the deep in with you guys, but how about we cool our jets for a sec', kay?" Passeri's words were crisp. Cool, but to the point. This wasn't the time or the place to be causing a scene. If they were any real fans of hers, then they would've understood that.

"And that includes you too." Passeri said in a hushed tone, pushing Tak back over the proverbial barrier that was the cheap, plastic table the lay in front of her. "What's say we do a round of apologies? Make some amends, you know? Scruffy here can say sorry for whatever it is that's got him out of your graces, and then could you guys find it in your heart to forgive him?"

Passeri's eyes fluttered, and made contact with those of the apex predator of their merry band.

"Please? For me?"

thebigfella​

 

[Misuteeku]

Sang-Cheol Man

http://

CS Link

SCENE:

Why?

LOCATION:

North District, Lab Icarus

TIME:

Post Arc-1 | September 25th 2021

PARTICIPANTS:

Sang-Cheol, Raphael

WHY

"Ah. I'm... glad to hear that." Caio, why did you make me Raphael's personal physician? Did I do anything wrong to you? I know I stole ate your lunch, but it was only one time. Truly, Sang-Cheol's displeasure grew proportionally to the pleasure that Raphael found in his fear. It made him want to run and cry. "Prick me? Uh, I'll make sure not to do that next time." The scientist hated himself for sounding so meek, but he couldn't control what he felt at the moment. "As a d-doctor, I make sure my hands are clean 24/7, so you don't have to worry!"

Sang-Cheol could only nod to Raphael's comment about his 'delicateness.' The scientist was not thankful for the compliment. In fact, it made him a little irritated. Throughout this entire conversation, Raphael was having fun sinking his teeth into his nerves. The sarcasm, the implications, the glare. Everything made him want to combust into flames out of sheer defensiveness. The only reason he didn't was that he didn't want to let Snake down. That and he didn't want to suffer from Raphael's wrath.

"Is that so..." Sang-Cheol glanced at his hands. Were they unremarkable? He didn't put much thought into it. The hand's primary function was to grip, grasp, and perform precise movements. What were the qualifications to have remarkable hands? The ability to move things faster in rapid succession? How did Raphael know the difference between remarkable and unremarkable hands? Was he a hands-on expert? A small smile graced Sang-Cheol's face for a split moment. That was a good joke.

Not as funny as Raphael laughing at his face. His mood went skydiving back into anxiety as he quickly checked on the needle.

"Yep. Please wait a moment. It's almost done." With the blood bag filling up to its last drop, Sang-Cheol stopped the procedure. Removing the needle from Raphael's arm, he quickly sanitized the puncture and bandaged it up. A wave of relief washed over Sang-Cheol like a calm spring breeze coming from the fading winter. "Yep! We're all done! You may leave." With a nod of accomplishment, Sang-Cheol immediately went to store the blood bag.

"Thank god, it's over," Sang-Cheol whispered to himself. He needed to relieve the pressure that he had stored up from interacting with Raphael. "Why do I have to deal with that blood fiend? I have much better things to do that are less stressful." Next time he saw Snake, he'd have to openly protest against the idea of sending Raphael to Lab Icarus again. If Snake wanted Raphael to get a check-up, he could have Tri do it! He's an actual doctor!

Spoiler: Tags

Elenion Aura

 

[Misuteeku]

Raquel Filo

http://

CS Link

SCENE:

A Pleasure To (Not) Meet You

LOCATION:

Raquel's Warehouse, South District

Time:

Pre-Arc 3 |

PARTICIPANTS:

Raquel, Milo

A Pleasure To (Not) Meet You

Would Hector allow her to maim Milo's face? Just one tiny little scratch? Because this little shit was already getting on her nerves.

Milo wasn't hiding in his apparent displeasure for the Phoenixes, so why should she hide hers? It didn't help she felt her skin crawl when Milo called her, 'Sis.' It was a unique feeling that Raquel never wanted to experience again. She felt the need to slap him for even uttering that word out of that mouth but didn't because she was the one who requested it.

The gall for this brat to roll him at her, but Raquel withheld herself from doing so. "I can feel that we're getting closer by the minute. I'm so happy about this development." Raquel said in a sickly, sweet voice. If this brat was going to be sarcastic with her, then she'll be sarcastic with him as well. Her nails tapped against the table as she leaned against her hand.

If Milo was going to poke jabs at her, she was going to do the same as well.

"An artist, hmmm? It fits you." A dark smile graced her pale face. "Artists often go unrecognized, so maybe the color of scarlet can be your muse." Wanting to take it a little further, she whispered. "I bet you'd make a wonderful 'Starry Nights,' Milo." As an artist, he should know the history behind that painting more than anyone else.

She smiled when Milo tasted the tea. Judging by his facial features, he seemed to have enjoyed it. She'd give Weiyuan a raise for the recommendation. Then a sudden realization struck her. Clapping her face together, she exclaimed. "Oh, I almost forgot. How forgetful of me." Making a cute pose, she placed a hand on her chest.

"I am Raquel Filo. Veteran Phoenix and Hector's first sponsree. Though I'm sure, Hector has spoken a lot about me." When she got to the part of being Hector's first sponsor, she felt proud of being it. However, her attention was fully on Milo now. "There's a reason why I called, you know? You see, I've noticed my sponsor's lack of depth of perception, so I was slightly curious when you came along as well, but..."

"Were you the one who did it?" It was obvious what Raquel meant by this. Bloodlust filled the air as she glared at Milo with animalistic eyes. Was he the one who took Hector's eye? The timing seemed a little too convenient, and she knew Hector well enough that he'd sponsor some random that could have tried to kill him.

After all, he sponsored her.

Elenion Aura

 

[thebigfella]

Shishido Takakazu

CS Link

SCENE:

Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things

LOCATION:

North District

TIME:

Pre Arc 1 || 2021

PARTCIPANTS:

Tak, Nao ( tityanya )

Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things

“Peh, what a pain! Can’t believe I gotta work today! It’s my daughter’s piano recital, damnit!”

The scene opened with the gruff delivery of a man’s agitation, his boot slamming itself into a large metal dumpster, its metal vibrating reverberating through the dimly lit alley, only the streetlights from the nearby sidewalk providing any illumination.

The man in question wasn’t all that notable, wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top that showed the tattoos on his arms, the shadow of a recently shaved beard on his face as he leaned his head backward and sighed.

“If you care so much, then just go ahead and go. You act like they’ll kill you if you decide to take a day off,” Another man’s voice caused the tattooed grunt to turn his head, looking directly at another thug who was dressed much more nicely, the usual suit and tie combo paired with sunglasses, cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

He took his cigarette out of his mouth, tapping it with his fingers to let the ashes drip onto the ground, leaving a wispy trail of smoke, “I can easily handle this by myself,” he asserted to his colleague, a dour expression on his lips.

The tattooed grunt stuck his hands into his pockets and walked up to him with a scowl, “And let you take all the credit? Hell no!” He spat, stomping on the ground and leaning forward to get in his face.

“What a troublesome father your daughter has,” The suited man avoided direct confrontation with him, instead turning away and walking out of the alley, “C’mon, we got work to do,” he emphasized, leaving the scene behind.

The other man silently glared at his back, clicking his teeth before sliding his hands back out of his pockets and following behind.

Yet, as they left the scene, the focus did not shift away from the alley; instead, it focused on the lone dumpster sitting in the alley and the various stray litter surrounding it. There was a long pause of silence as nothing happened besides a stray gust blowing a crumpled-up paper wrapper like a tumbleweed across the ground.

Then, suddenly, the plastic covering the dumpster slowly began to rise upwards, the darkness of the interior kept what was inside from being visible, but it was only a short moment before a black tuft of hair popped up, following a pair of grayish blue eyes, which proceeded to dart left and right, looking around, visible beads of sweat dripped around their face.

“Looks like the coast is clear….”

With relief, the man pushed the lid upward, blowing it up high as it rolled back to slam into place behind the dumpster. Then, gripping his bronze-toned hands around the rusted green metal of the dumpster, he leaped out of the dumpster and landed on the pavement with his gray sandals.

As the view panned upward, it went past his sweatpants, various splotches of wetness and stains caused by the trash he was just swimming around it, and past the black long-sleeve shirt he wore with the design that seemed to be the skull of a squirrel on its front, finally stopping to look at his face and the wavy black hair on the top of his head, nicely trimmed and maintained.

Random bits of debris covered his clothing, as visible lines of stench, came off him, a stray banana peel on the top of his head. He reached a hand up to pull it off and toss it to the ground, then began to drag his hands across his body to wipe off the trash covering him.

“I was really worried I was gonna get caught there….” He mumbled, looking down the alley where the men disappeared, a slight grimace on his expression, “I gotta be more careful….”

Walking over to the nearby wall to place his back against it, he scooted himself toward the edge of the alley in an attempt to be sneaky, sweat returning to his brow as anxious thoughts returned to the forefront of his mind, “I can’t believe I’m sneaking around enemy territory like this…but it’s worth it.”

His brow furrowed, twitching as he tried to stomach up some confidence, “If I can pull this off….”

“My life is sure to get better!”

With renewed focus, he leaned out from the corner, his face awkwardly sliding into view as his cartoonishly neutral expression looked down the empty sidewalk ahead, an eerie silence on the barely lit street. Storefront’s lights were off, leaving them pitch black, as every other streetlight flickered.

Tak nodded in affirmation before beginning his fantastic display of stealth, his form blurring as he virtually teleported to a nearby pole streetlight, attempting to hide behind it, disregarding that his body was far too large to fit behind it.

In the next second, he warped to the front door of a closed store, now holding a newspaper as he hid his face within it, flipping through pages as he tried to blend in on an utterly desolate street.

His final move was combat rolling towards the black newspaper dispenser, crouching beside it as he peeked over the top. Then, seeing the coast was clear, he hopped over it and, like nothing happened, began to walk down the sidewalk like an average person, hands in his pockets.

“Heh, at this rate, this will be a cinch, after all. I guess I’m just that good. Only one more block, and it will be all mine!” Tak boasted internally, a smirk on his face as he was proud of his sneaking ability.

 

[Saturn_moon]

Isobel Pham

SCENE:

July 2019 | Pre-Arc 1 [Coffee's On Me]

LOCATION:

Tigers' HQ, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Matsuda, Isobel

Coffee's On Me

With silent steps, Isobel drew closer to her target only for him to literally slip out of her grasp at the very last second. She stared at her hand, hanging in mid-air holding on to nothing. The mop of black hair disappeared back into the crowd, swiftly weaving its way through like a panther in the jungle.

Dropping her hand, she started to give chase. Left and right she went, dodging the oncoming human traffic while still attempting to catch up. Had he noticed her? Was he running away? Where was he going?

It didn't take long for her questions to be answered. Passing through the lift lobby, she watched Matsuda take a hard right at the end and followed suit. Except when she did, rather than finding her target she instead walked face-first into another man - this one a ginger and far more muscular. In fact, it felt very much like she had just walked into a solid brick wall. "Ladies is over there." He grunted while pointing in the direction behind her.

A faint hint of pink rose to her cheeks as she put two and two together. Awkwardly shuffling a couple of steps back, she let the man pass. With a sigh, she slumped against the cool tiled wall and folded her arms. For now, there was nothing she could do but wait. At the very least, there was only one exit.

@Caffeine_Obsessed

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

'Marianna Venti'

CS Link

SCENE:

Fell and Cruel Hounds

TIME:

Post-Arc 3, Timeskip 1

LOCATION:

Actaeon's Rest

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Dagger, Corvo, Lily, Musai, Zach, Yushui

Fell and Cruel Hounds

Nobody warned her how much burns would itch. The initial sear had been much, much more painful than she'd thought, but beyond that Passeri hadn't expected to notice much. Perhaps an occasional pain, when she moved in the wrong way or brushed up against something, but not this incessant need to scratch. Both her hair and the air itself brushed up against the wound that she'd decided would serve as her disguise, a pair of inescapable irritants, constantly urging her to pick and itch and peel away at the layer of dry, craggly skin that now covered a good half of her face. When all of this was done and dusted, her first stop was definitely going to be the Knight.

Some might have considered it an extreme, to disfigure herself as she had for something as trivial as a disguise, but considering the company that would be joining them tonight, Passeri had determined that this was the least she could do. A few days of disfigurement beat a lifetime in a jail cell, after all.

"Positive." Dampened by her hushed tone, the brightness with which Passeri usually spoke instead took on the quality of a gentle warmth. "Don't you need all the help you can get? And it's not like I can walk home like this, anyway~ You're stuck with me for the night." Briefly, she offered Dagger a small, reassuring smile, before she quickly wiped it away.

Tonight, she wasn't Passeri Park, she wasn't Iroi, she wasn't the Jack of the Tigers, and she wasn't even Brandy Baker. Tonight she was just another member of New Oasis's underbelly, here to make a quick buck.

"So, what are we expecting, boss?" Passeri's tone shifted. Gone was the warmth, and with it the usual air of decorum with which she carried herself. In its place settled a fresh, humble brashness, hungry and ready to face the night. "You got some bad dudes after you, right? Any clue on what we're up against? Or uh, what wees working with?"

Passeri quirked her head, and leaned around Dagger. Her other handy little helpers were smattered about the room, looking no more filled in than she was. She was well aware that Dagger didn't exactly fancy herself to be much of a people person, but if she was expecting these people to put their lives on the line for her, than she was going to need to do a little better than 'Do whatever you want.'

"You- uh- scary lady." Closing the distance between herself and the other mercenaries, Passeri singled out a single one of them. Her eyes, muted red by her contacts, met with a pair highlighted with a vibrant yellow. A pair she recognized.

"How about a show and tell? For me-" She snapped her finger, and a 'knife' withdrew itself from her belt. It was a clever trick, or at least she'd thought as much. With a bit of careful painting, her constructs could appear however she liked, their now iconic magenta hue hidden away beneath layers of black and chrome. "-it's telekinesis, sorta. Bit more to it than that, but I don't bother ya with the details."

She dropped the 'blade', and in returned to its place, nestled alongside nine more of its kind. A telekinetic knife thrower, laden with scars and eager to prove herself, that was who she was tonight. Hopefully, that would be enough. She was about as keen to use her Potential in front of... Most of these people as she was to reveal her face.

"You?" She looked Corvo over. It was hard for her not to greet the older woman with a smile. It had been a long time. "Betcha it's somethin' scary, yeah?"

Spoiler: Tags

Interacted: AriAriAbabwa simj26
Mentioned: Kameron Esters- ATurei QuirkyAngel Elenion Aura Seaquill

 

[thebigfella]

Shishido Takakazu

CS Link

SCENE:

The Idol Fanclub Trials (Pre-Arc 2)

LOCATION:

Highreach, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Shishido Takakazu, Passeri Park ( The One Eyed Bandit )

The Idol Fanclub Trials

“It’s a bit more than just a pickle….” Tak weakly replied to the idol’s statement, a singular bead of sweat going down the side of his face as the corner of his lip twitched in an awkward half-smirk, evidently somewhat surprised by the woman’s apt but mellow response to the problem at hand. Still, the fact that she addressed it all gave him some hope she would actually do him a solid, so when her eyes shifted away from him to focus on the fan club members behind him, his expression lit up as he turned around to watch her work.

The constant inferno that swirled around the rampant fanboys was still burning hot, embers of crimson energy wafting off their bodies. Only to be snuffed when Passeri spoke, like a giant fan blowing them out like a match, as their fury was suddenly replaced by butterflies and flowers, a charming aura of pink with glitters and sparkles of light surrounding them.

Manyard sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, eyes closed in a smile, “Haha! Guess we did get a little out of hand there, didn’t we?” Then, to follow up on his statement, Camelo and the still unnamed bald member slid right beside him, rubbing the back of their necks the exact same way with blushes on their face.

“Yeah! We weren’t acting very cool, huh?” They spoke in unison before all three of them laughed awkwardly.

“THERE IT ISSSS!” An abrupt exclamation brought the focus back to the table, Tak with his expression aghast instead of relieved as he bore witness to how quick the members of the group had changed tune. “The legendary coercion ability of a public icon!” Tak shouted about the situation like a wrestling announcer, praising Passeri’s actions as if she had just done a super move of some kind.

Still sprawled over the table, his head snapped back towards her, his eyes still wide and his pupils dilated as he blurted out his thoughts, “Damn, your good! So good it almost pisses me off!” It was hard to tell if that was a compliment or not, nevertheless before his shouting could continue to bring attention to the situation, Passeri’s push made Tak stumble back to his feet; he took this as a chance to twist around and look toward his fan club’ friends,’ folding his hands behind his back as if he was some kind of official, standing beside the table and letting Passeri continue to plead his case for him.

“Yeah, let’s forgive Scruffy! He didn’t do anything wrong! He didn’t know any better! Blame his parents for raising him to be such a scumbag instead! Blame them for letting him stay up and play shooters at night rather than attend church!” Tak went on a total tangent in an attempt to agree with what Passeri was saying, a pleased smile on his face after he finished.

That was until he realized who Scruffy was; the sound of crunching accompanied the series of veins that popped out the side of his face, glaring at Passeri with annoyance. “Oi, who you callin’ Scruffy? I’ll kill you, damnit.” He offhandedly threatened, clearly showing no gratitude for the idol helping him.

Passeri’s plea had already bought over the members; the fluttering of her lashes was just the icing on the cake. Manyard, Camelo, and the baldy just so happened to be lined up, and with the sound of gunfire ricocheting, their hearts cartoonishly shot out of their chests, faces going slack as their jaws opened wide. “PLATONIC CHAAARRRRMM,” They clamored in tandem before falling backward into a heap as if they had been knocked unconscious.

Passeri’s charm was just as effective as she could have expected it to be, the members completely disarmed as every semblance of anger had left them--

“I refuse.”

What seemed to be a happy ending was precipitously cut off, as all attention was on the only still-standing fan club member.

The ends of his robe fluttered in the wind as the loose strands of headband waved among the breeze. His bushy red brows knitted tightly together as his eyes closed, legs splayed wide with crossed arms as he held a proud, staunch, stalwart, and ardent pose.

The other members rose back to their feet, looking at their captain with a slight twinge of worry. Manyard cautiously raised a hand towards the captain, “Oi captain? Y-You, do know who you’re talking to, right?”

Ignoring the words of his fellow fanboy, the focus closed in on the right side of the captain’s face, his eye closed.

“Iroi, your kindness knows no bounds. To assist a complete stranger is something that someone only of your vast generosity could be willing to do,” The captain began, clarifying he had no intent to disgrace his beloved idol.

“But!”

His eye shot open, revealing the devoted intent in his highlightless pupils.

“As the leader of your fan club, I cannot be so quick to let down my guard. It is my sworn duty to preserve its sanctity. I will not allow uncertainty to exist within my own ranks!”

Inspired by their captain’s leadership, the other members couldn’t help but be pulled into his mindset.

“The captain’s right! Even if it’s Iroi, we gotta stay true to our values!” Camelo acquiesced, raising a fist as his fellow club members nodded.

Along with his assertion, Hapori’s raised a finger toward Tak, the man responding defensively, stiffening up as he nervously sweated, preparing for what was next.

“Tak, if you truly are a fan of Iroi’s, you should have no problem proving it, right!?” Hapori challenged his devotion with the same fiery energy from earlier, the heat of such making it hard for Tak to match. As the view panned over to him, the intensity disappeared. “Y-Yeah, sure. I can totally do that,” He responded half-heartedly, his nervous smile jittering as he continued to dig a deeper hole for himself.

Swapping back to the captain, the vitality of the scenario returned as the captain lifted his finger upwards to the sky, promptly raising three more to accompany it.

“Then, I challenge you to pass three trials! If you can do such, I will gladly accept you in our ranks again!” Hapori thundered, the perspective rising above him as the surroundings grew dark.

“These arduous trials shall be called….”

“THE CHERRY BOY TRIALS!”

With the captain’s declaration, the colorful text popped out of the darkness, illuminating the surroundings in a powerful light.

“OOOOOOOIIIIIIII!”

Tak’s angered shout eviscerated the vision, turning it to pieces as he appeared in front of the captain, both of his hands gripped on the sides of the man’s robe, pulling him in closer to be right in his face with bloodshot eyes of anger.

“Cherry Boy Trials!? What kinda name is that!? Are you trying to say something!?” He grilled Hapori, the captain only giving an uninterested look in response, looking right into his eyes without fear.

“Hm? Is there a problem with the name? I think it’s fitting,” He responded plainly to Tak’s fury, only seeming to infuriate the brute more.

“What part of it is fitting!? Should I fit my foot up your ass!? Should I fit you into the dirt and forget to water you, huh!?” Tak started to shake the captain back and forth to increase the prominence of his words. Eventually, Hapori grew tired of him, using his arm to pry Tak off him and stepping back.

“Fine, if that name isn’t good, I guess we can call it 'The Idol Fanclub Trials',” he relented, but the way he looked to the side with a frown showed he clearly wasn’t a fan of the name change.

“Why do you look so annoyed by that, you bastard!?” Tak roared at the man’s reaction before sighing, focusing back on the situation, his gaze narrowing.

“How the hell am I supposed to pass these trials? I don’t know a single thing about this lady,” Tak internally pondered, nervous sweat pouring off him as his whole body slouched; a tiny glint appeared in his eyes as he realized something. “Looks like I have no choice….”

In the same manner as before, Tak tossed his body across the junky plastic table, his body sprawling across it as he looked up at Passeri with condensed pupils of anguish, clutching his fingers around the table tighter this time that it started to crack around the edges.

“Oi! You gotta help me out again! I’ll give you a bag of pork rinds--NO! A jumbo bag!” Tak pleaded for the idol’s assistance again, offering something he considered valuable without even the slightest concern for its worth to anyone else.

 

[joshuadim]

HITOSHI YAMAKAWA

CS Link

SCENE:

Get(ting) Help

TIME:

Post Arc-3; 2 1/2 weeks later

LOCATION:

Kiki's Eatery, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hitoshi, Charlie, Ashley, Gideon, Hector, Kaede

GET(TING) HELP

"Of course I'm sure! Like I said, my treat." Hitoshi replied to Kaede as he quickly scoured the menu in front of him. "And you're in luck, they *do* have parfait. With granola, fruits, and honey." Hitoshi quickly waved over a server to start the orders, until GIdeon arrived. Much to Hitoshi's shock, he saw just the kind of situation the young man was in and practically crashed into Charlie's seat. "Oh, Gideon! Are you alright?" Hitoshi asked, practically jumping out of his seat to check in on the guy until Ashley appeared at last to do so. This wiped the panic away from Hitoshi's face as he let out a sigh of relief.

"Glad you could make it Ashley!" Hitoshi said, before returning his attention back to everyone: "Again, like I said, my treat. Get some chow!" the elder Phoenix spoke as he waved to the nearby server again and brought their attention to the table. "I'll be having... the rustic Margharitta Pizza. My friend here will be having the granola-fruit parfait... what about the rest of you guys?" Hitoshi then asked to the rest of the Phoenixes gathered.

Roda the Red WhiskeyMarten Coyote Hart Sei Shonagon Lucem

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

Meeting 101

LOCATION:

Pre Arc 1, April 24th, 2008

LOCATION:

South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Jesper, Milo

MEETING 101

As the grass tickled Milo's bare knees, he felt his worry dissipate as a wave of relief washed over him, followed shortly behind by a fluttering excitement in his tummy. Relief because Jesper no longer appeared like he would start to cry, or worse, scream for help. And excitement because he'd just been invited to show someone his art, like exposing his heart.

In spite of that excitement, Milo hesitated. It was a scary thing, "exposing one's heart", because what if people didn't like what they saw? A flurry of emotions churned within him—vulnerability, fear, and a desperate need for validation. He wondered if it was worth the risk, if he should simply tuck the sketchpad away and avoid the possibility of disappointment, forgetting he'd offered anything at all.

But as he looked into Jesper's eyes as the small boy hoisted the comically large drone in both hands, searching for some semblance of understanding, he knew he couldn't let the opportunity pass. This was a chance for connection, for sharing a piece of himself with another person, come what may.

With a deep breath, Milo steeled himself against the uncertainty and unfurled his arms from around his sketchpad. He laid it flat on the ground between them, his fingers trembling ever so slightly as he flipped it open to the last page before pushing himself up off the ground and taking a small step back, as if to let the sketchbook breathe. There, in delicate lines and intricate detail, was Jesper's drone.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

As if responding to an unseen command, the drawn drone began to quiver on the page. The lines shimmered and shifted, and before their eyes, the two-dimensional image lifted from the paper, transforming into a three-dimensional replica of the "Prototype G Guardian XVI 0.eov 1000w Test Model". The drawn-thrusters hummed with energy, and the drone began to hover beside its real-life counterpart.

Milo's eyes widened as the two drones floated side by side, one cradled in Jesper's arms and the other suspended in midair. The similarities between them were uncanny, from the intricate patterns etched into their spherical bodies to the gleam of the sensors that scanned their surroundings.

 

[tityanya]

𝑵𝒂𝒐𝒎𝒊 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒐
​

𝒜𝓈: 𝒩𝒶𝑜

I am here: Streets of the Northern District
With: Tak
Scene: Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things
Time: Pre Arc 1 || 2021​

"When everybody loves you, you can never be lonely"

╔════════════════════╗

Nao was out having a fun evening for herself, driving around the northern district to find people to street race with. The idea started after having a bump of cocaine, when everything seemed clearer and more in focus. So she had left her apartment, bringing a small stash to keep the high sustained until she grew bored. She was getting close to that now. The sun had set and less people were on the road, and less were inclined to race. Only the craziest people, like her, raced the streets themselves at night. Too many "unknown factors" that the darkness would conceal. Cowards. Maybe she should head towards a highway and see her options there? But first--Naomi parked her car on the side of the road, turning the lights off so as to not draw attention to herself. On the dash, she crushed up the cocaine, used her card to push it into a line, and snorted. She sat back in her chair, eyes closed, waiting for the newest bump to hit. Cocaine was so fantastic, but it lasted for so little. And she had to be careful with it. Tri would only be willing to help her detox very rarely, and the more she asked, the more annoyed he seemed to get. Or at least, that was how Naomi perceived it. She didn't exactly blame him for being annoyed, since they did initially meet from him saving her from an overdose.

Naomi opened her eyes, and some movement in her peripheral caused her to whip her head around towards an alleyway. She was already prepared to peel out when she noticed him. Rising from the trash, a banana peel on his head like it was some kind of cartoon. If Naomi had been high on weed, she would have been cackling. As it was, she let out a giggle as she watched him vault himself out of the dumpster, the air sparkling around him. She looked him head to toe, sizing him up. Covered in trash, (expected) wearing slides and sweatpants and a black shirt with some kind of skull on it (a fashion tragedy.) But she liked his nicely trimmed wavy hair, bronzed skin, and grey-blue eyes. She had a sneaking suspicion that if she gave him a bath, he would emerge an Adonis.

She rolled her window down slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of what he might have been doing in that trash. His voice didn't carry very far, and the only word Naomi captured was caught. Ah, so he was hiding? From who? From her perfect vantage point, Naomi placed her hands on her passenger seat, leaning over to get a closer look. One hand went to clasp her mouth shut and the other to roll up the window as she watched the man glue himself to the wall like he was in some kind of spy movie, moving closer towards the edge of the alley to peak out. If he was smart, he would make sure to look into the cars around, and make sure they were empty. Her car wasn't even off, just the lights, and the engine was letting out a low hum.

Naomi watched him confirm that he was alone (false) before he appeared at nearby streetlight. Naomi couldn't help the giggle coming out of her mouth this time, as the large man tried to hide behind the tiny little light pole. He was so bad at this! She wasn't sure if his sudden appearance at the streetlight was an affect of the drugs on her mind, or some kind of potential he had, but he would be better off just using that and running. How far could he go? Possibly around the corner where Naomi wouldn't have been able to see him anymore. Naomi's mouth dropped in a little "o" as he did it again, appearing at the front door of some closed-down business, holding a newspaper. Someone with a potential! Why was he hiding? Any other HP from the North with a potential like that wouldn't hide from assailants, he would beat their asses while they were wondering where he had went. Which left one option, in Naomi's mind: he wasn't from the North.

Someone absolutely silly not from the North! Naomi giggled again as she watched him combat roll towards the newspaper stand, his eyes peeking over the top like some kind of alligator. It was like watching a looney-toons cartoon. She had to talk to him. For security reasons, of course! Not to see if he was just as silly when you spoke to him, not at all. She thought about peeling in front of him with her car, but realized that would probably spook him. It was a good thing she had that thought, as her foot was already on the clutch, ready to move the car out of neutral. With a sigh she put her car into first and turned it off, grabbing a sharp hair-pin from her glove compartment and carefully placing it behind the bow in her hair. Most people wouldn't attack some poor girl out on her own in the streets, but it was always better safe than sorry.

What character would she play? Naomi considered this as she trailed the man, glad that she had decided to wear sneakers instead of heels before she had left the house. Her footfalls were silent as she closed the gap between her and her target. Scared girl running from an assailant? People usually fell for that one hook, line, and sinker. Naomi conjured up a sense of despair within herself, tears welling in her eyes as she glanced repeatedly over her shoulder. Her footsteps grew faster, a little louder, as she picked up the pace to a small run. With one last glance behind her, she ran straight into the man. He smelled like trash...like a little kitten that needed a bath. She screamed loudly, falling backwards as she let the welled tears fall from her eyes. "Please don't hurt me!" she sobbed, before looking up and seeing that the man wasn't her imaginary assailant. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing onto his arm. "You have to help me! Some bad men are after me! I think I lost them, but I don't know where I am!" she sobbed, glancing back over her shoulder to make sure that "no one was following."

╚════════════════════╝​

((ooc: I keep looking up how certain drugs affect you so I know how Naomi behaves under them, and I worry that google will flag it like "This girl's doing drugs!!"))
((outfit))
((Mr. Jones))

thebigfella

 

[Elenion Aura]

MARKUS WEISS

CS Link

SCENE:

Sunday Roast

TIME:

October 21st, 2021 || Pre-Arc 3

LOCATION:

Passeri's Penthouse, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri Park & Markus Weiss

SUNDAY ROAST

Markus' expression was an elevator that only went down. The higher the grievances piled, the lower his countenance sank. His brow furrowed, his' lips forming a tight, grim line, a bulwark as a flurry of hotblooded retorts plinked against the backs of his clenched teeth.

In the dim candlelight, shadows played across Markus' face. A bitter taste lingered at the back of his throat, like a sharp jab from an old, forgotten friend. In that moment, he felt the burden of his role; a crown of thorns for the Tiger King. He wanted to grin, to scoff, to unleash the fury he so meticulously kept locked away. But he knew better. He had to play this game with a deft hand and a cool head. Closed eyes, a deep breath, and Markus was back to a calm simmer.

"Y'know," he began, his voice like ice and gravel, "I've always had a deep appreciation for yer... candor." He let his eyes roam over the meal in front of him, untouched, and sighed. Markus conceded, picking up his fork and stabbing a piece of meat, an act of surrender.

He chewed slowly, tasting not only the food but the words he'd soon have to spit out. "I can see how there might be a... Plurality, of opinions on that point." He shrugged as he carved off a large morsel and hounded it down. Shit wasn't half bad. He might have to look into this "Louis" guy, find out what she was paying him. "But that's life, ain't it? Can't please 'em all."

He'd like to hear the names of these so-called somebodies getting so-called ideas. Markus had ideas too, and dollars to tigers, he was willing to bet his were better than theirs.

With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair. "As for yer help," he said, his voice dipping low, "I ain't one to turn down a friendly offer." He locked eyes with her, his gaze like winter's wind. "But it's gotta be clear. I don't play games."

He let the words hang in the air, a challenge and a plea wrapped in one. There were too many unknowns, too many threats lurking in the shadows. The Tigers needed unity, and Markus was ready to make that happen, even if it meant swallowing his pride. For now.

Spoiler: Tags

The One Eyed Bandit

 

[Misuteeku]

Sang-Cheol Man

http://

CS Link

SCENE:

I Prefer Water

LOCATION:

North District, Mysterious Black Site

TIME:

Post Arc-3 | Chapter 1

PARTICIPANTS:

Sang-Cheol, Teddie, Bash

I Prefer Water

The silence in the car was deafening. Sang-Cheol stared straight down the road and took a right turn. The thoughts in his mind were louder than any siren. Why the hell did the Serpents leave Snake behind? Wasn't Snake their Queen? Even with the core value of the Serpents was freedom, that didn't mean they should just abandon him. Though if he had anyone to blame, Sang-Cheol would have to blame himself. One for failing to be there for Snake and the other for being to give better information.

There were a lot of ifs, but he only had the now. That now was trying to find Snake. It was the least he could do. Along with taking care of Snake's family in his absence, Sang-Cheol wanted to reunite him with his brothers. While he didn't interact much with Snake's family, per request from the former Queen, he did interact with them occasionally. That being said, it was hard to break the news to Ruy. The man seemed so downtrodden that it was hard to look at.

Sang-Cheol's spotted their destination in the distance. "We're here." Unbuckling his seatbelt, he got out of the car and stared at the ruins of the former warehouse. Just like where Peyton said it would be. The earthquake had done a number on it but stood tall and looming over them. If anything, the earthquake made it a little more haunted with the cracks and all.

His eyes looked back to two colleagues. Teddie and Bash. He didn't know why Teddie was here. From what he gathered was that Teddie was somehow connected to Caio. As for Bash, it was obvious. He was Caio's Ace and second command. The closest person to Caio sans Tri. However, Sang-Cheol's feelings mixed about Bash. Considering what happened at the lab, his opinion of the new Serpent Queen was at an all-time low. "All we need to do is find any traces of Caio. Whether it be hair, cloth, or blood. I have an HP employed that'd be able to track down his whereabouts if we manage to get something that has a close connection to him."

Spoiler: Tags

Nobody Special WhiskeyMarten

 

[Elenion Aura]

RAMPAGING GIANT

CS Link

SCENE:

Dissonant Ichors

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1: December 21, 2020 -- Dusk

LOCATION:

Alleyway, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Darius, Shen, Raph

DISSONANT ICHORS

Kill. Kill. KILL.

The giant's laugh boomed through the air like a deep, guttural roar, reverberating off the walls of the alleyway and echoing throughout the burgeoning night, a mix of menace and amusement, like the rumble of an approaching thunderstorm.

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP. Squashing humans was fun.

The giant, momentarily satisfied, turned his attention back to his primary task. The thrill of crushing life was fleeting; the promise of freedom was enduring.

Find. Kill. Crush.

The beast lumbered past the prone body of Darius, mistaking him for dead already. It began to appear like the danger was passing.

Until there came a flash of silver across the sky.

“RAAAAAAAGH!"

The wounded giant screamed, reeling backward into the alley, the earth trembling beneath his feet, as he clutched the bloodied stump where its massive, muscled arm and once been. The arm, now severed, fell into the alley with a tumultuous crash.

A lone figure hovered in the sky, like a spot on the darkening horizon. About and around him, metallic threads, impossibly thin and shimmering in the moonlight, began to unfurl. The intricate lattice of wires expanded, forming a vast, shimmering web that seemed to dance in the air.

“Another one? Goodness, how many of you are there?”

Recognition burned in the beastman's beedy eyes. This was target. FIND. CRUSH. KILL!

Innocently unaware of its own futility, the one-armed giant lunged as the mysterious, floating man sighed, the air crackling with an unseen energy.

With a sudden, vicious movement, the trap was sprung. The net collapsed around the giant's colossal frame, ensnaring its massive limbs and hulking torso. The beast roared in surprise and rage, struggling to free itself from the confining embrace of the mesh.

Yet the will behind the steel was relentless, and indomitable. The noose tightened around the giant's body, the once delicate-looking strands now biting deep into its flesh, drawing thick rivulets of blood that splashed onto the ground below.

For a brief moment, tension hung in the air, as if time itself had paused, waiting for the inevitable, grisly conclusion. And then, with a series of sharp, swift contractions, the net constricted mercilessly, cleaving its gargantuan victim into giblets.

The once-mighty behemoth crumbled, its dismembered remains falling to the earth with a series of sickening thuds.

As the giant's mutilated remains fell, a torrential downpour of blood and gore cascaded from the sky, painting the world in dark, crimson shades. Amid the gruesome shower, a mysterious figure descended gracefully from the heavens.

Silhouetted against the blood moon, the figure's ethereal presence seemed otherworldly, their face obscured by shadows that played upon their features. Surrounding them, globules of iridescent metal whirred in a frenetic ballet, orbiting their master like moons circling a distant planet, shielding them from the deluge of viscera that rained down upon the now-abandoned alley.

As the figure touched down on the blood-soaked earth, an eerie silence settled over the scene. The once-raging storm of blood and gore had ceased, leaving only the remnants of the fallen giant and the mysterious figure in its wake.

And Darius.

Shen's eyes found the Serpent amidst the carnage. He called a blade to his hand, leveling it at Darius and asking in a dull tone, “Who are you?”

 

[thebigfella]

Shishido Takakazu

CS Link

SCENE:

Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things

LOCATION:

North District

TIME:

Pre Arc 1 || 2021

PARTCIPANTS:

Tak, Nao ( tityanya )

Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things

The rubber soles of his sandals softly clicked against the cement as he strolled down the sidewalk. Despite how casually he moved, the tiny bit of perspiration going down his face showed that he was still on edge, his eyes scanning the surroundings for some sign of someone or something that would send him scrambling back into hiding.

He knew he was getting closer to his goal, the reason he had even decided to brave dangerous territory, and that was all the reason to remain more cautious; after all, who knew what could be lurking in the corners intending to stop him.

As Tak closed his eyes, his imagination clearly played the vision of him walking along, minding his own business, unaware of what would befall him. Only for two looming shadows to appear behind him, hovering above. He’d face his worst nightmare when he finally stopped, head creaking like an unoiled machine to look over his shoulder.

Two giant praying mantises, their heads replaced with chiseled features and blonde hair, would make them perfect for movie actors if it wasn’t for the insect bodies they had.

“Your days are numbered, bastard!’ One of the mantises shouted, their face not moving as they spoke, almost like they had a plastic prop for a head, as their scythe-like arm came down to slice Tak in two.

Outside his wild fantasies, Tak was hugging himself tightly, shivering as a visible blue hue of fear went over his fear as his teeth clicked against each other, “S-Scary…!” He remarked, brought into discomposure from his own overactive imagination.

Amid his self-inflicted terror at human-headed insects, the sounds of footsteps reached the thug’s eardrums, immediately causing him to stiffen up, his walk coming to a halt as his whole body was condensed in sweat.

“T-They’re here!” Tak’s thoughts immediately went to the worst scenario, believing his wild dreams were about to come true. He was about to be sliced into pieces by vicious insect men! In this case, how could he do anything but go into flight mode? His head darted side to side as he looked for somewhere to hide and avoid confrontation.

“Wait…” Tak’s overbearing despair faded as clarity struck through him, a light shining in his pupils while he clenched his fists, his brow knitting together in a furrowed glare. “What the hell am I getting scared of? I’m a Tiger now, damnit! I ain’t got time to be afraid of oversized insects!”

With renewed confidence, Tak proudly decided to face his nightmares, his sandals scraping against the ground and kicking up a small trail of dust as he turned on his heel, taking a wide stance as he raised his hands in preparation for the fight of his life, his heart beating in his chest as hot blood coursing through his veins.

Yet, when he turned around, he was not faced with oversized predatory insects; instead, Tak felt something run into him, the weight causing him to stumble back slightly as he barely registered what was going on, only able to make out a jumbled mess of colors that weren’t there before among the sudden motion.

When he finally had a second to process things, his head tilted downward, his pupilless eyes boring into the visage of a woman he had never seen before, tears streaming down her face as she openly sobbed.

“...Eh?” Was the only response the man could give, blinking in a deadpan manner as he realized that there was no fight, instead left with a damsel in distress.

He didn’t even get a chance to say anything word-wise before she had hopped back up to her feet and decided to latch herself onto him, screaming and wailing about some assailant and being lost, a bunch of stuff Tak ignored as his eyes turned away from her to look around at the empty street, a part of him hoping that the mantises would still pop out from the darkness.

His fears dashed along with his hopes, and he had no choice but to instead turn his attention toward the mysterious lady, her body warmth a prominent feeling on his arm. This had probably been the closest to a woman he had been in ages, and she was undoubtedly attractive and needed his help. Put in this position, it’d only be expected for a man to take this chance and try to get some brownie points, hoping it would eventually get paid forward.

Everyone loved heroes, after all.

However, such thoughts hadn’t even graced Tak’s mind; the hot-headed brute met the woman’s freight with his own agitation, craning his neck forward to mash his forehead against hers as a visible vein of anger appeared on the side of his face, the corner of lip twitching as his pupils dilated.

“Oii! Were you trying to give me a heart attack, huh!? Didn’t your mother teach you not to go bumping into strangers?! I’ve been eating a LOT of takeout lately. My poor heart is already under a lot of stress! What would you have done if I went into cardiac arrest because of you?! Think how your actions affect others, idiot!” Tak rampantly began to insult and belittle the girl he had just met, not showing care for her predicament as he placed every bit of blame on her without a single bit of hesitation.

“Why the hell are you coming to me with your problems!? Go to the police, damnit! That’s what we pay taxes for! If those guys come after you again, just crush their balls! Men were given weak spots for reasons like that!” He spat out solutions to the problem that didn’t involve him, clearly not wanting any part to do with it as he tried to pry his arm free from her grasp, using his free hand, pushing and straining his neck as if Nao was actually glued to him.

 

[tityanya]

𝑵𝒂𝒐𝒎𝒊 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒐
​

𝒜𝓈: 𝒩𝒶𝑜

I am here: Streets of the Northern District
With: Tak
Scene: Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things
Time: Pre Arc 1 || 2021​

"When everybody loves you, you can never be lonely"

╔════════════════════╗

Naomi was excellent at people-reading. It was her best, most honed-skill. She was quick to realize that her plan wasn't...going according to plan. When she had fallen to the floor, the man looked mostly confused, the only sound coming out of his mouth an "eh?" But Naomi knew better than to drop a ruse in the middle of the act. It would be more suspicious if she was suddenly fine, dry faced. And maybe he would be moved by her tears. So she kept up the act, watching him closely as he scanned the street instead of looked at her. Searching for her unknown assailants, hopefully? She looked up at him with soft, dewy eyes, the eyes that would move normal men into immediate protector mode.

He was not a normal man. Naomi should have guessed by all the secret-spy shit he had been acting out earlier. She let out a genuine gasp as he mashed his forehead against hers, a vein in his face popping out. He was angry? Who got angry at something like this! But Naomi had a temper of her own. Her eyes flashed purple as he yelled at her, Omi inside trying to make her presence known. Nao forced her other form away. This outfit would get ruined if she had suddenly turned into Omi. It had happened before, and she was out of money in her clothing budget for the month! "Almost gave you a heart attack from take-out? That's your own damn fault! Eat healthier! I'm high on cocaine right now, do you know what that shit does to your heart?!" Naomi screamed back, her tears drying up as righteous anger overtook her. No man had ever treated her like this after she came to the north! How dare he! A moment after she spoke, however, she realized her admission. Her hand went to clasp her mouth. No one liked realizing that the person they were interacting with was high, no matter what the drug was.

She kept her hand clasped on her mouth as he belittled her more, telling her to go to the police with her problems. Her hair had gained a purplish sheen at this point, although her face and body were still solidly Nao. "Look who's the fucking idiot now! Police? In the North? I might as well fucking walk back to where I came from and let those assholes do whatever they want with me!" She yelled back, her vision growing tunneled. Hit them in the balls, huh? Naomi's vision tunneled in on the man's own nether regions, barely even noticing his attempts to get her off of him as her hands dug deeper into his arm. "Great idea, actually," Naomi growled, her voice fully Omi's instead of Nao's. She brought her knee up lightening quick, intending to use his own advice against him.

╚════════════════════╝​

((ooc: ))
((outfit))
((Mr. Jones))

thebigfella

 

[Roda the Red]

CHARLIE HUGHES

CS Link

SCENE:

Get(ting) Help

TIME:

Daytime, Post Arc 3

LOCATION:

Kiki's Eatery, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Hitoshi, Kaede, Ashley, Hector, Gideon

Get(ting) Help

Charlie's eyes lit up as Hitoshi invited them all to order anything they wanted. Part of him, in fact, wanted to ask if that was really okay, but he was beat on asking such a question by the others. Well, that was not the only reason he wasn't able to speak, as Gideon's appareance became the new focus of his attention, eyes growing wide at the other's injured state.

"Gideon! Oh my goodness, are you oka-" Before his could continue asking, Gideon ended up crashing against his chair. The rookie nearly lost balance, causing him to flail his arms and pivot his torso forward. Fortunately, he was able to get back into place, it wouldn't have been nice if he fell over, as not only would he look like a clumsy fool in front of his superiors...again, but with his weight, he could've possibly broken the chair by falling over, a shameful situation nobody wanted to go through.

As he recovered his original position, a new figure was into his view.

"Ash! It's great to see you!" He raised his arms, flexing his biceps, a gesture which was unfortunately completely covered by his sleeves. "Of course I'm okay! I just hope you're not hurt, Giddy"

Eventually, a server showed up to the table, the lunch's host taking the initiative when it came to his order. With a bit of doubt and worry over his Aniki's most likely shaky financial situation, he told them his order.

"I'll have the smoked hamburger with eggplant and bellpeppers, and a glass of mango juice, please"

He then got off his chair, grabbing Gideon's wheelchair and lifting it a couple inches off the ground. "Let me help you" Said Charlie, without giving Gideon much chance to object, placing him at a comfortable spot on the table, then, he gestured Ashley to sit between them bby tapping on an empty seat.

"Over here, Ash! Also, yeah, I love this jacket, never thought this type would suit me, but it seems you know me better than I do!" He gave his friend a smile, one that turned ever so slightly wider as he caught a glance at the necklace.

joshuadim WhiskeyMarten Lucem Coyote Hart Sei Shonagon

 

[miki]

Hiachi Ito

CS Link

SCENE:

Tigers B-side: Learning Your Stripes

LOCATION:

West District, The Silver Spoon

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Lorette

Learning Your Stripes

Lorette was an intimidating woman. Hiachi had known this since the day her mother grabbed her by the shoulders and shuffled her away from the stern woman many years ago, but in this scenario it was far more damning.

Hiachi flinched at the declaration that she was weak. It… it was true. Hiachi was a HP that was regularly outmatched by her NP brother for crying out loud. But out of anything, that was what Hiachi loathed the most. Not the fact that she was weak, it was the fact that other people could tell.

"You are weak, and you clearly don't like it. Fortunately for you, I happen to dislike seeing a good thing squandered. I may be able to help you shape your Potential into something worthwhile."

Hiachi stared directly at the finger pointing in her face.

Lorette was offering help. Help with what, Hiachi didn’t know, but she felt like it was a lot heavier than just helping her cultivate her potential. If Lorette expected her to walk away, then Hiachi could only imagine what that kind of job would entail.

That last sentence rang a bit more true than Lorette could have known. Hiachi’s skills weren’t good for being in a gang—hell, she would be surprised if anyone could list a practical use for her skills other than the trades they belonged to. At the moment, the best she could do for money was cling to her day job and hope that Camila would have something easy for her.

The deciding point was this: If not now, when? When would Hiachi grow out of the tigers? When would she be able to protect herself?

She felt she could trust Lorette. It was time to take a leap of faith.

“What do you have in mind?”

Spoiler

ATurei

 

[thebigfella]

Shishido Takakazu

CS Link

SCENE:

Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things

LOCATION:

North District

TIME:

Pre Arc 1 || 2021

PARTCIPANTS:

Tak, Nao ( tityanya )

Getting Bigger Means You Get Worse At Hiding Small Things

If there was anything he could have expected to come from the woman’s mouth from his sudden aggression, it definitely wasn’t the response he got.

Assuming you asked him later, he would totally lie, say that he knew the girl was lying the whole time, and simply acted that way to sniff her out, but of course, that would be nothing but a complete fib.

Instead of the intellectual specialist in lie detecting that he wished he could be, when Tak finally took a second to let the woman’s words actually go from his eardrums to his brain, all the agitation Tak put forth to this innocent lady instead turned to bewilderment, as everything about her began to throw him for a loop, not even noticing the slight change in her hair as he recounted what she said earlier.

“Wait, you’re what?” He questioned, eyes scrunching slightly as his top lip upturned in quizzical antipathy; that expression on his face was short-lived, as out of his field of vision, and his realm of focus, a weapon shot through the air to hammer directly into his gonads.

Caving in his sweatpants like an anti-artillery shell to a metal hull, Tak’s body jutted backward as his head shot forward, his eyes bulging out of his head as his cheeks puffed up, holding back the air from his lungs as thunder roared into his family jewels, sending a shock up his body like electricity as his fingers stood on end.

He stood still for a moment, body twitching in place as he stood in this awkward position, ass pointed outwards in opposition to the rest of his body, but once Tak opened his mouth, what shot out from his esophagus and flew past his lips was the wispy representation of his soul, his eyes rolling back into his head, leaving bloodshot whites as his hands reached down and grabbed onto his junk, body crumpling as he fell onto his knees, then onto his face, ass-up, as his body continued to flinch involuntarily.


“Y-You bitch…” Tak weakly spoke, barely audible as the sound had to squeeze past the dirty cement and his lips as he was left unable to move, “What man would want to have their way with you...? You’re more like a chimp than a woman..!” Despite being down and out, he continued to sling insults, following up his attempts to act tough by coughing out his lungs.

“D-Damn, I was hoping my powers would keep something like this from hurting!” Tak lamented internally; for the longest while, he felt invincible after discovering his potential, but all it took was something like this to bring him back down to earth in the worst way possible.

Still, he had no time to be stuck on the ground here. At this rate, he was bound to have his plans blow up in smoke. With a grunt, he moved a hand away from his crotch, bringing it to the ground to push himself up to his knees, the support allowing him to wobbly return to his feet, once again greeting the woman on the same level.

Despite his earlier words, the anger from before had seemed to disappear from his expression and his eyes, as if Nao had physically beat it out of him, most likely because he didn’t want to risk getting hit in the balls again.

“There, now you can’t complain that hitting them in the nuts won’t work,” Tak stated, crossing his arms, acting as if he let himself be hit on purpose to teach her a lesson about the benefits of self-protecting, promptly turning around and taking the first step to walk away, “Good luck out there! Stay safe! Stay in school! Don't do drugs! Too late for that, but whatever!” he casually waved behind him, expecting the woman to leave him be and have this be their last interaction, for both their sakes.

 

[Elenion Aura]

RAPHAEL SHAW

CS Link

SCENE:

Omnia et Vanitas

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1 || May 2021

LOCATION:

Lab Icarus, North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raphael, Kisara

OMNIA ET VANITAS

Raph, in the midst of his histrionic nail inspection, pondered the enigmatic Kisara. Her words swirled about in a chaotic dance. He watched, transfixed by the ebb and flow of her moods, as she floundered in the wake of his barbed inquiry.

"Oh yes, darling. We discussed the matter at length just the other day over tea and crumpets." A bottle of Raph's sarcasm could've chewn through steel.

Bash. The word stung like a curse. Raph was well pleased when she suggested they speak of him no more.

Raph's dark eyes swept across the lab-coated throng with a scornful flicker as Kisara bade him to lead their departure. In that moment, he was a monarch among vermin, a liege lord surveying his realm with thinly veiled contempt. He swept his imaginary cloak behind him, before delivering a swift kick to the lab's push doors. The sound of the crack of the far side of the wall sent lab grunts scurrying for cover like rats. Raph threw his head back and laughed.

With one final flourish for his "audience", Raph allowed himself to be swept away on a tide of adventure. He was, as always, a restless spirit seeking solace in the chaos of the unknown.

Kisara, an endless whirlwind of enthusiasm, flitted from one possibility to the next.

The world unfolded before them, a tableau of possibilities that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Raph, sliding his hands easily into his pockets, had decided from the start that he didn't much care for where they ended up, or what they did.

"So many choices. Are you dry running possible date locales?" He silently cursed himself. Even without meaning to, he'd dragged the conversation back around to him again. Even if implicitly. Raph tried to smother the notion in its sleep with a pillow.

"Food sounds like a good start. Food, and fights." He nodded along as another piece of low-hanging fruit fell into place. "We're doing all the F's today. Except for the third. That one you can save for the real thing." That one made him wince for how pathetic it made him seem.

Oh, how he loathed himself. Perhaps he'd get lucky and someone in that ring would actually just kill him.

 

[miki]

Hiachi Ito

CS Link

SCENE:

Drunk Walk Home

LOCATION:

Central, Alleyway

DATE:

Post Arc 3 | 1:02 AM

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Teddie

DRUNK WALK HOME

She left her night classes feeling something. It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad, not in the traditional sense anyway. Perhaps the fact that the feeling brought lack was exactly the problem.

Problems were fickle like that. That feeling, she couldn’t make out what it was coming from. From dejection did it come, or was it boredom? Boredom was a disease, one that made people make bad decisions. Decisions like going to happy hour in a bar in Central on a Monday when you have to do anything the next morning, when you live in the West District.

But Hiachi wasn’t bored, because she hadn’t been stagnant since she set foot in the blinding landscape of the West District. She had plenty to do, like praying the debt she carried on her back wouldn’t crush her alive.

…No, how did I get here?

The bar in central was on a little flier on the bulletin board outside of Hiachi’s class. It was for a fundraiser or something, and Hiachi decided it was time to do something other than worry about the future or worry about the past. Instead, she wanted to worry about the present, like where she was.

Where am I?

The dark part of central. Where the digital ads and towering skyscrapers faded, and only street lights illuminated the pavement like spotlights. All directed at our star, who’s stumbling across the sidewalk.

How did I get here?

Hiachi didn’t have any friends in her classes. There was no one to take her home, and yet she kept ordering cosmopolitans like she was going to die the next day. She always wanted to try a cosmopolitan, because she used to see grown-ups drinking them in the soaps her mom would watch while ironing clothes.

But right, she had no one to bring her home. Instead of being reasonable and calling someone, or hiring someone to drive her home, she instead figured that the building wasn’t that far from the train she normally took home. Except she wasn’t on the train, she had missed the underground station a while ago.

Maybe that wasn’t smart, but imagine! The feedback of her own slurred speech through a scratchy speaker haunted her. Who would want to hear her like this? Rendered useless? She would rather die. Hiachi didn’t have an account on that one app where she could hire a ride, and after thirty seconds of trying to get past the login screen she told herself to suck it up and just get home.

Her steps aren’t straight anymore, and they haven’t been since she started walking home. She looked at the ground and the sky exclusively, silently cursing herself—because drunk walking sucks, and because she couldn’t remember the amount of money she spent at the bar, and even with a discount that money could have gone anywhere else.

Hiachi was gonna throw up. She felt like she had been thrown on one of those zero-gravity carnival rides, the ones that the Ito siblings had to go on discreetly because their mom would scold them, saying, are you out of your minds? You’ll go flying out that thing, and break your legs. Do you think I want two Mareris?

That was mean of her, wasn’t it?

WHERE THE HELL AM I?

Hiachi had to sit down. There are no chairs on the sidewalk, and being out in the open made her feel vulnerable, and everyone knows how much she hates that. She reached for the brick wall, and she was far away from it. She stumbled a bit before finding her way to the wall, grasping onto the texture. The alleyway in front of her felt safe, like a little safe house conveniently placed just for her. Hidden from the eyes of the world. She followed her way into the alley, tracing her fingers through the lines of the cement between the bricks. She used to do that as a kid, too.

She felt wobbly, but funnily enough, she didn’t fall. She felt more stable, somehow.

​

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

Ballin'

LOCATION:

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'

Milo beamed at Rin's reaction, feeling more at ease with his decision to use his Potential on the court. "Yeah, I can draw all sorts of things, but these are just some simple ones for now. They're not super detailed, but they'll do their best!"

As Boltius poked fun at the homunculi, Milo couldn't help but join in the laughter. It was a relief to be able to relax like this once and a while. No missions. No danger. Sometimes it was enough to just be.

"Well, I'm glad they're getting a warm welcome!" He chuckled, watching as Boltius interacted with the round, doughy figure.

He then turned to sidelines, and the Phoenixes gathering there. Maybe it was time for a quick time-out?

Milo decided to help himself to one of Hitoshi's hotdogs. After all, why not? The game seemed to have taken a brief pause, anyway. At least for some. He turned, with a bit of surprise, to find that a new game had broken out on the court.

The five shapes had started their own, primitive game. One of the shorter, rounder ones scooped up the ball and clambered toward the net, only to be stopped by a taller, thinner one outside of the box. Up and down the court, they loped, at some points combining and splitting off from one another to become three, or twelve, or seven distinct entities in an ever-shifting, incomprehensible state of ballin'.

He subtly looked around to see if anyone else was seeing what he was seeing.

Spoiler: Tags

@gxxberkit
@Peckinou
Lucem
WhiskeyMarten
@Doctor Llamabean
@RedArmyShogun
@EmperorsChosen

 

[Elenion Aura]

RAPHAEL SHAW

CS Link

SCENE:

Carmine Consort

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1 || 2017

LOCATION:

Outside of Chaturunga Taphouse, North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raphael, Peyton

CARMINE CONSORT

Raph glanced at Peyton, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to decipher the meaning behind the other boy's near slip-up. Luckily for Peyton, Raph decided not to dwell on it, instead focusing on the present moment and the offer of food, importantly, "free" food. The memory of the massacre they had just committed together receded far from Raph's mind, becoming as distant as a long-forgotten dream.

"Starving, are you?" Raph said with a hint of amusement in his voice, cocking a conspiratorial brow in Peyton's direction. "I suppose I could eat. Lead the way."

A trek anywhere in the North quickly became little more than a slog through row upon row of rundown and ramshackle buildings, each with its own story of decay and neglect. A story that nobody cared to hear.

Along both sides of the street, the tenements loomed overhead, their windows like hollow eyes staring down at the sidewalks below. Some of the windows glowed faintly with the warm light of a flickering bulb, giving a hint of the lives that were being lived inside those crumbling walls.

They walked by an old, abandoned factory, its rusted metal gates groaning as they swayed in the breeze. The once-thriving structure was now a ghostly monument to the district's industrial past. Raph could almost hear the echoes of the machines and workers that had once filled the space.

The streets of the North District at night were far from deserted. As they continued their journey, Raphael and Peyton passed people huddled together under awnings or walking with their heads down, trying to avoid the persistent drizzle. They passed by homeless individuals huddled in makeshift shelters, their eyes empty and distant, as they sought to escape the chill of the night air.

Every so often they'd come upon a strip, standing in stark contrast to the rest of the avenues. Their neon lights pierced the darkness, beckoning to those who were in search of something less than wholesome. Raph could hear the low murmur of conversation and laughter spilling out from a nearby, low-level gambling den, and the distinct sound of a pawnshop bell ringing as another customer entered, desperate to exchange their belongings for some quick cash.

In the North, the line between survival and despair was a blurry one. If it existed at all.

As Raph walked, staring down the wet street reflecting the hazy glow of the streetlamps, he felt like the weight in his chest seemed a little light, swallowed up by the shadows of this bleak, unforgiving playground.

 

[Saturn_moon]

Roland Dreyer

SCENE:

16 January 2010: [The concrete that breaks our fall]

LOCATION:

Paragon's Hall, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Markus, Roland, Isobel

The concrete that breaks our fall

Roland let out a tired sigh. It would seem that Markus had chosen to make him the enemy and his mind was set. What a pity. As the boy took off, preparing his next attack, Roland stayed where he was. There'd be no more running. Another whispered command and he felt the mass in his body change, weighing him down like an anchor. Markus' wave of ice and frost came crashing down upon him but he remained steadfast and grounded. The cold bit painfully at his body's extremities causing them to go numb but it also invigorated his senses. He felt his heart pump blood faster and harder through his veins be it due to adrenaline or an attempt to fight off the chill.

Through the blustering wave, he extended his hand. Feeling the brush of fur, he closed his fist around all the fabric he could without a second thought and flung it with all his might. Whether there had been a person attached to whatever he had just thrown across the arena he wasn't entirely sure.

As the frost started to settle, Roland pressed his palms into the ground and channeled his potentiality again. Immediately the dirt around him started to shift from solid to liquid. It rippled out from under his hands and spread all the way out to the plexiglass fence, save for the space he stood on. If the boy was going to keep running about, he might as well make it a little more challenging for him.

Elenion Aura

 

[Elenion Aura]

JAVI ONEIRO SILVA

CS Link

SCENE:

Walkies ("Dog" Walkers Needed)

TIME:

Post-Arc 3

LOCATION:

Silva Residence, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Nero, Hiachi, Silva, Nicole, Renjiro, Ottilie

WALKIES ("DOG" WALKERS NEEDED)

Earlier that month...
Mila Silva was tending her garden. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the heady perfume of blossoms. Her fingers traced the delicate veins of a marigold's petals, the rough bark of a young avocado tree, the soft fuzz of a tomato leaf. Each plant had been chosen and placed with care, nurtured from saplings to healthy, vivacious greenery; it was a labor of love that had transformed a once-barren patch of soil in the Silva's backyard into a thriving, green oasis. But, wait... Was that?

A weed. Poking up between a row of bell peppers. She knelt down for a closer look at the offending invader that had dared to encroach upon her domain.

"Ay, cariño, you thought you could sneak in and make a home here, didn't you? But this garden, it's not your place to grow."

She grabbed hold of the offending plant and dispatched it with a swift and decisive tug. With a satisfied nod, she turned her attention to the next task, her brow furrowed in concentration as she gently pruned a wayward branch.

However, unbeknownst to Mila, a monster lurked nearby... Just out of sight. Its alien and predatory gaze fixed on its target.

As the sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow across her garden, Mila paused to survey her handiwork. Her eyes swept over the neat rows of vegetables, the riot of color that erupted from her flowerbeds, the dappled shade beneath the fruit trees. It was a sight that filled her heart with pride, a living reminder of the rewards of hard, honest work.

Though, as she was admiring her neatly tended rows of vegetables, a sudden tremor rippled through the earth beneath her feet. Startled, she braced herself against a nearby trellis, her heart pounding in her chest. Before she could make sense of the unexpected shaking, a deafening roar filled the air.

With shocking force, a great red beast erupted from the ground, its armored, insectoid body bursting through the soil and sending clods of earth and uprooted plants flying in all directions. The once-pristine garden was instantly demolished in spectacular fashion, the carefully cultivated rows now a tangled mess of broken stems and crushed leaves. The creature, surveying its work and declaring victory over the garden, turned tail and submerged itself once more.

Mila's face paled, her shock quickly bubbling over into white hot fury as she surveyed the damage. And yet, as she glared upon the smoldering trail left behihnd by the creature, a single word blared in her mind like a battle cry.

"NEROOOOOOOO!"
Today.
"Aaaand, so that's how it happened. It was, basically, just, like, one time, and it's really only the one th—"

"Ahem." Mila cleared her throat from the kitchen. "Are you forgetting the time the little green one melted the mural on River View Boulevard?"

Nero sighed. "His name's Grio, and—" Nero froze. Though he couldn't see her, he could feel his mother's eyes boring holes in the back of his head. "Yeah. That happened."

"Or the time that the Blue one—" "—Luvi—" "—The blue one stole and ate poor uncle Manny's menudo?"

Nero rolled his eyes. "Alright, alri—"

"OR the time Rocquito—lo siento, mijo—" Mila paused to gaze down at the diminutive, yellow owl-like, penguin-like creature that was staring up at her as it gently hugged her leg. "The time he vandalized the side of the muncipal building?"

Nero threw up his hands, exclaiming "It was art!" It had, in fact, been a crude caricature of Nero, Rocco, and his other buddies that Rocco had etched into the side of the stone edifice with his claws.

Mila, satisfied that she'd made her point, took her leave without further comment to continue preparing lunch. But not before she shooed Rocco out into the living space. The little guy wandered over to where Nero sat on the couch and was promptly scooped up and deposited on the young man's shoulder. He nuzzled into Nero's neck and trilled affectionately.

Nero made a waving gesture at his mother in the kitchen

"Ha-ha, she exaggerates. Besides, y'all're professionals anyway, so..." Nero trailed off. He slapped his knees and sprung up off the couch, stretching out. "Anyways! When can y'all start? I gotta introduce you to the rest of the crew."

 

[QuirkyAngel]

Zachariah C. Locke

CS Link

SCENE:

Fell and Cruel Hounds

LOCATION:

Actaeon's Rest, Central District

TIME:

Post-Arc 3, Timeskip 1

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Dagger, Corvo, Lily, Musai, Zach, Yushui

Fell and Cruel Hounds

Zach was here, in this ritzy hotel, because the client interested him. And a dare. But mostly because the client interested him. Contrary to how he portrayed himself whenever their gangs ended up meeting, Zach didn’t actually dislike the Albino Tiger gang. None of the 4 major gangs in New Oasis’s 4 districts, in fact. Perhaps because the word hate wasn’t in his dictionary, but Zachariah Locke couldn’t think of a single person he hated among those he fought or killed–not even a guy that altered his memories and pretended to be his friend for a whopping 8 years; Zach thought it was kinda funny in fact.

Mayhaps, if they harmed his family, he’d be more inclined to hate…but given his is a ‘family’ of killers/gangsters, who’ve dished out as hard as they received, it was hard to point fingers. War is war and business is business. The gang conflict had gone on too long for him to hate Weiss over the injuries Reika sustained for being a martyr. Should he hate the “earthquake” (or the people that caused the earthquake) that killed Lyric when Lyric killed just as many of his “brothers” and “sisters” with her orders and ambitions? When she chose to stay behind and leave herself in a vulnerable position? Who did he blame for Merkola’s death?

He could hate the world for his lot in life, or he could hate no one, and Zach–for his health and sanity–opted to do the latter.

That said, should any present Tigers discover he was responsible for the explosions in one of their casinos, or any present Phoenixes discover that he took hit jobs outside of “family-given” ones, he’d face more difficulties then he cared to deal with, hence the disguise. Sort of. Dyed hair, sunglasses, fake tattoos, a bit of foundation to lighten his skin and voila! No one–that wasn’t close enough to him to discern his facial features–would recognize him as Hawk of the Scarlet Phoenixes. Probably. And, even if they did, it was a fellow Phoenix that dared him to take the outside job in the first place, so he could always point fingers should any rule-stickler get on his case about it later. A job was a job. Money was money. Overcomplicating things, like asking where the money came from, wasn’t his style.

It took a rich client to rent out an entire penthouse in Actaeon’s Rest all to commit a crime.

Whistling at the sheer variety of firearms that lined the penthouse, Zach–being the gun enthusiast that he is–didn’t hesitate to check out the shiny new equipment provided by the client to do their job. Helva’s armory was arguably better, but Zach wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Call me Crow~” The currently black-haired, black dressed hitman said in response to the order as he browsed through the guns, testing the weight of each one.

A disfigured female approached them.

Perhaps, if Zach didn’t have the potential he did, Passeri Park’s disguise might have fooled him. Alas, there was only a 1/100000 chance that two people had the exact same potential down to the T. He’d seen Iori enough times on TV to know what the aura of her potential looked like under his gaze. He’d been a veteran long enough to recognize the veteran of an opposing gang as well. Affiliations were easy enough to connect, especially after seeing the brusque client treat the idol so kindly, but it did no one any favors to reveal his knowledge, so Zach simply smiled obliviously.

Vulken’s sponsoree was obviously here to make a quick buck as well.

Head bobbing to the music that sounded through his earphones–which served to muffle gunfire in addition to providing music and communication as needed–, ‘Crow’ settled on the MK-Weber rifle and started to load it with the appropriate ammo. Rest, to a Merkola-trained pro like him, sounded like a time for preparation. A time to both psyche himself up and calm himself down before the killing started. With his Gods’ Eye already scanning his surroundings behind the shades, he didn’t need a ‘show n’ tell’ to know their potentials, but he was curious how Corvo would respond all the same.

“Sounds fun. Ain't got much ta show, but I'm game,” Zach snickered, knowing Corvo’s potential, like his, wasn’t one to be easily ‘shown’. Not unless she wanted to die. As for his, they were just eyes. Useful eyes to be sure, but required a bit of creativity to 'showoff'.

Then again, killing oneself and coming back to life in front of a crowd was pretty darn showy. He joined the idol in putting the mercenary in the spotlight. “Fo sho! Please show us something scary, Sis~”

simj26 The One Eyed Bandit Kameron Esters- Elenion Aura AriAriAbabwa ATurei Seaquill