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

[WhiskeyMarten]

HECTOR MOSES

CS Link

SCENE:

Just Sweet Enough

LOCATION:

South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hector, Yong-Yut

JUST SWEET ENOUGH

"Yeah, well, cutting your hair will change it pretty fast." Hector realised the change in tone and leaned over to her. "Hey, I know what you mean though. Sometimes it seems like yesterday since I was annoying you to let me into the gang. I didn't even know how things worked, thought I just needed to beat the shit out of everything. Sometimes I think I'd rather go back to those Rookie years."

Hector looked out of the window. The serious conversations had gotten easier since her first visit last September, but there was still so much difference between them.

"Well, you're in charge of your future. Fuck fate and destiny, it's all you. So what kinda changes are you lookin' for?"

 

[WhiskeyMarten]

HECTOR MOSES

CS Link

SCENE:

Torment Builds Character, Right?

LOCATION:

Wherever Gideon works

PARTICIPANTS:

Gideon, Hector

TORMENT BUILDS CHARACTER, RIGHT?

"Sorry 'bout that, man." The apology wasn't directed towards the man he scared the crap out of, but towards Miles with an apologetic(?) shake of his head. "But you can't catch a rat by walking towards it nicely," He leaned to Gideon while his coffee brewed, shaking him by the shoulder in a way that may have been friendly if not for the circumstances. "Not that he's a rat or anything- No, he's good. And he needs to come with me today."

He grabbed the cup with such vigour that it sloshed a bit over the sides, landing on a tasteful illustration of two cartoon characters making love on his shirt. Disregarding the spill, he immediately held the cup under his nose to take a good sniff. Good coffee! "Hm, you've got your strengths, Gideon. C'mon, go grab your things."

He leaned over towards Miles.

"He's still getting paid for the whole shift, yeah? Don't forget where you are."

 

[Roda the Red]

ERIC EVENSEN

CS Link

SCENE:

You Know The Rules, And So Do I

LOCATION:

Some Park, Central District

TIME:

Post Arc 3 || July 1st 2022

PARTICIPANTS:

Hector, Eric

YOU KNOW THE RULES, AND SO DO I

"Oh, darling..." The detective hugged his own body, his face turning to the side with his eyes closed "How could you? We've known each other for so long...I really thought we had something special" His monotone voice and stone-cold face making the authenticity of his claim quite the hard sell.

Hector on his end, steadfast and bloodthirsty, spared the detective not even another second before rushing into the offensive. A vicious ferrous blade, its mirror-polished surface reflecting sun directly into Eric's eyes, pointed forward with its razor sharp edge ready to lodge itself into his flesh. Dodging the preemptive thrust, the sharpened hunk of metal almost grazing the man's face, the detective detonated a powerful flash of light from his hand, one with no real heat or force to it, but enough luminescence to briefly blind most people.

He leaped back, regaining distance with his attacker, similar to the length before Hector rushed in. "We had a bit of a tussle in the past, four years, three months and eleven days, to be exact" He placed his index finger on his neck, right below his adam's apple, and pulled down, making the thin, usually unnoticeable horizontal scar line wider. "Almost didn't make it that day, although the scar looks cool so I'm grateful"

Light emerged from his hands once more, golden and light blue particles dancing over his palms, sizzling with incandescent energy. "But sadly i've no plans of taking a loss like that again". Larger orbs formed around his wrist, spinning around his limb as they traveled across his arm, and then back to his hand. With a forward motion, four missiles of light traveled forward, spinning and rotating playfully with each other as they made their way towards the Queen.

WhiskeyMarten

 

[Roda the Red]

ERIC EVENSEN

CS Link

SCENE:

Lady Madonna

LOCATION:

June 24th, 2022 | Post Arc 3

LOCATION:

Our ✰ Dream Soup Kitchen, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Eric, Passeri

Lady Madonna

"Well aren't you a precious little thing" Despite their extremely venomous words, Eric found himself utterly unphased by the explosive lashing out. It took him back to the days of being a regular office, before he took his exam to become a detective. He'd be selected every now and then to work as the department's receptionist, subjected to listening to the civilians coming in by the hour, if not by the minute. Complaints and reports of varying validity, what was most consistent was the occasional appearance of THESE kinds of people.

"I'd say my taste buds must be disfunctional, but judging by how you downed it so easily, I'm guessing it's actually edible enough" He pointed to his side, adding to the picture the fact there were multiple people already making in line as well. "I'd love to listen to your complaints all day, but there are other soups you can try from my buddies" He made a slow, swiping motion with his arm, giving the attention to the other large pots laid across the long table" He then fished for another ladleful of soup, his tool yet not pulled out of the container "And I have more people so serve, so if you'd be so kind to move along" His hand made a waving motion to the side "...Please?"

The One Eyed Bandit @gxxberkit

 

[miki]

Hiachi & Keith

Collab Post

SCENE:

Hide & Seek

LOCATION:

Rosie’s Cottage Gift Shop, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

collab w/ Roda the Red

Hide & Seek

Keith offered the girl a silent, prolonged stare, the carbuncle irises remained unmoving throughout its duration. "It's okay, she's just a friend, we were supposed to meet around here, but I can't find her, doesn't respond to my messages, either." He slid the photo back inside of his front pocket, following by giving the woman a gentle yet fabricated smile. All the while completely oblivious of whatever sounds or activity could be happening behind him "Well, I should probably get back to it, sorry for the troubles". There was little point in staying around, the more he waited, the farther the scum would run away.

Little did Keith know, the scum was directly behind him. Sneaking across the linoleum with her rubber soles was a dangerous play, so Hiachi was moving incredibly slow. But in her sea of unfortunate events, there was a speck of good fortune; Jang-Mi seemed to be actively distracting him.

And for good reason. What about this guy wasn’t suspicious? A candid photograph of a girl, whom he was claiming was his ‘friend’, as he held long pauses between his stilted sentences. Suspicious as the definition in the dictionary.

Jang-Mi tried her absolute hardest to keep her eyes off of Hiachi. A glance would give her away, and she knew if this man saw her, she couldn’t help her. Both of them understood the task—do NOT let him see Hiachi.

“That’s uh—a shame,” Jang-Mi said. “I mean, not showing up is one thing. But not responding to messages? That is just… plain rude. I hope you find her. Or find out what’s going on. With her.”

Jang-Mi rambled for long enough that Hiachi could slip behind a rack of jackets.

“Yeah, you tell me, her attitude is almost as bad as her sense of fashion,” He remarked, wanting to blow off some steam from the annoyance the girl had brought him, he still was angry about the stinging pain of the gunshot in his hand. His eyes then started to gravitate towards a rack of pants which was perpendicular to the jackets’ “Something like that would be a good start.”

Jang-Mi almost screamed in horror. Which was ironic, considering she wasn’t in any danger herself. But she had to compose herself.

“—Are you a fan of fashion? A lot of people come here to thrift clothes…” She hurried over, trying her best to block any view of Hiachi he could manage from where he was. “Since it's summer, we have a lot of out-of-season clothes in stock…” She made excessive noise by flipping through the racks of pants in front of her.

“Huh? Yeah, you could say I am… I guess.” Showing his true colors as not the brightest tool in the shed, Keith's allegedly unbreakable focus on his pursuit was momentarily shattered by a simple question which baited his biggest unspoken passion. “I always like to buy clothes when-out-of-season.” He added, grabbing onto one pair of pants. “The drop in price is nice, and it lets me plan out ahead, though sometimes I get excited and try them on my own at home.” He let a shy smile slip through.

Hiachi herself wanted to faint from pure stress. But her body wasn’t willing to give her an opt-out, so she was gonna have to keep stealthing. She ducked out from behind her hiding spot, only to realize that the racks of clothing were the only nearby hiding spots. As she held her breath, Hiachi rushed to hide behind an antique dresser on the other side of the store. She kept low to the ground, and should have been able to get over there without issue.

Unfortunately, while she wasn’t looking, she bumped into a shelf. Hiachi cringed as a handmade paperweight fell to the ground with a thud. She managed to dash behind the dresser, but she had drawn some pretty obvious attention to herself.

Like a meerkat standing on the lookout for predators and prey alike, Keith raised his head, a glimpse of his aggressive slightly coming to surface once more. “What was that, did something just drop?”

Jang-Mi and Hiachi went so pale, they could have been made out of printer paper.

Hiachi curled up in a ball. This would help her minimize her chances at being seen, but also was the most optimal position for escape. If she was spotted, she would roll out like a hedgehog in a ball before booking it for the back door.

Jang-Mi felt her breath hitch in her throat. The store had always been distastefully cluttered. Stuff like this happened all the time. Only now it was the worst possible case scenario.

“You heard something fall? I didn’t hear anything…”

“Really? It was really loud, it was right ever here.” Perhaps it was because of his recent chase, but something about the sound alerted all of his senses, similar to an overstimulated cat attacking a petting hand. He gave a couple steps towards the direction

Clearly, playing dumb wasn’t the correct way to go. “Oh! Haha. Erm, let’s see….” Jang-Mi cut in front of him so she could reach the paperweight. “Hmm. Hmmmm.” She picked it up and hummed at it, like she was inspecting it for any reason other than trying to distract him. The paperweight was a small sculpture of the New Oasis skyline cast in resin. It wasn’t anything special, but Jang-Mi had to make it the most fascinating thing on the planet if she wanted to keep her old friend safe.

“Oh…just a trinket?” His tense muscles relaxed, still, it now felt like he was forgetting something, something very obvious and clear that he should’ve been pursuing right now.

“My boss says this kind of stuff are…” —Jang-Mi sucked in air, in disbelief with what she was about to say—”...spiritual signs. Stuff falling without anyone near it is supposed to mean a ghost wants you to look at it. I don’t know if I believe in that kind of stuff… Do you?”

Keith’s gaze darkened…looking down at the floor in a crestfallen manner. “...I used to think things like that were silly, or a waste of time, but now?” His fist closed with such force that the girl could have even heard it from where she stood. “I think fate has a plan…and I know what’s my destiny.” The tone of his voice at the end, so poisonous it could have made a weak will person feel ill. But then, the rage and resentment vanished, With the dragon returning to his previous shy smile.

“Well, thank you for your time…but I really think I need to go now.” He finally remembered what he was supposed to do, but the wrath within had already been placated. The kind girl had stilled his malice and resentment, bringing logic back where it belonged. He wanted to thank her, but it would have only turned awkward, for it was a favor only he was aware of.

“Of course!”

YES! PLEASE LEAVE!

Even though Jang-Mi would never show her true feelings on the matter, her joy was synchronous with her lie. She had never been so acutely stressed in her life.

She raised her hand to give Keith a polite wave.

“Come by again soon! I can let you know if we have any new clothes, haha…”

NEVER COME BACK!

Keith happily waved back, smiling as he looked behind him, his other hand gently grabbing a hold of the doorknob, his feet welcomed by the outside once again as he was eager to resume the hunt.,

When the door closed behind him, the air in the store was still. One, two, three seconds where both women held their breaths. Once Keith had walked out of sight, Jang-Mi could finally exhale.

She turned back to look at Hiachi, who had poked her head from behind the dresser. She slowly emerged from the ground, using the large wooden furniture as a crutch. Once standing, she stared at Jang-Mi head on.

It was an uncomfortable silence. Hiachi stood still, her gaze falling on her old friend’s posture. Of all the people to find after all this time, it was her she ran into. Jang-Mi was the first to see her in three years. It was horrifying and soothing all at once.

Jang-Mi rubbed her elbows and avoided meeting her eyes. Now that she was looking at her, she knew without a doubt; Beneath whatever whirlwind had messed with her appearance, Hiachi was still Hiachi.

Damn weirdo.

Now that was mean, and Jang-Mi felt bad for thinking it, even though there was no way Hiachi could have known. She burrowed into herself, berating herself for thinking the way she did, and stretched the silence further and further.

Until a bell at the door snapped it entirely.

“We really have to check with everyone to be safe,” The cop who walked in said as he addressed a party behind him. He massaged a knot in the back of his neck before adding, “But thank you for alerting us to the problem, son.”

Keith neared his head towards the store once again, nodding at the police “You’re welcome, officer, and best of luck, that girl can be very elusi-...”

Hiachi locked eyes with the exact pair of ruby red she was hoping to never see again. Really, what kind of odds were she up against? WHY was he back in this store? The very store he had just left a mere minute ago?

Similar things were running through Jang-Mi’s head. After how hard she had tried, was she going to be found out?

From a calm sea to a raging inferno, Keith’s face slowly morphed, his pupils contracted, and his eyelids peeled off to the base, and his fangs showing as his lips moved up into a silent growl. From within his long sleeves, blades protruded from his fingertips once more. The presence of the authorities being the only thing stopping him from lunging at Hiachi right that instant.

The oblivious cop looked from Keith to Hiachi to Jang-Mi and back again. “...Do you all know each other?”

Now Hiachi was really in trouble. If she asked for help, the officer wouldn’t be able to much—Keith was a HP. And even if he managed to overpower him, she still wouldn’t stand a chance. After the storm, they would find a firearm on her and get her arrested. A net negative.

She turned to Jang-Mi: her final line of defense.

The light that had been reflecting over Jang-Mi’s glasses shifted away as her head jerked to the police. When she turned back, she had already leaned back ever so slightly. She shook wildly, her hands in front of her for defense.

They looked like strangers. But Hiachi knew the truth—she could see it in the glint of her coward’s eyes.

Well, looks like Hiachi had only one ally left: the door. She took the initiative of vaulting the cashier’s counter and booking it out the back door of the store, knocking over several papers and coins that had been strewn over it.

Like a greyhound set loose by its master’s command, Keith followed suit, sprinting behind the fugitive woman. Jumping over the counter and dodging the trip-worthy mess on her wake. Door had closed, and Keith was prepared to tackle through it to save precious seconds. However, he planted a solid foot on the ground, right in front of it. He looked behind at the shocked face of the kind store clerk. He reached for the doorknob instead, opening the door and leaving as peacefully as a man being part of a chase could be.

 

[miki]

Hiachi Ito

CS Link

SCENE:

Hide & Seek

LOCATION:

East District

DATE:

June 30th, 2022 | Daytime

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Keith

Hide & Seek

Hiachi slammed the door behind her. She vaulted the various boxes blocking the exit of the alley before running out into the street.

She had no idea where she was or what she was doing. She had been lulled into a false sense of security, until that guy came back and kick-started inhuman amounts of panic and adrenaline.

She wanted to be mad too. Mad that she thought her old friend would defend her for even a second. If she just took one second to—

As Hiachi almost tripped over a passing skateboarder, she was reminded of the objective: Run.

Luckily, Hiachi was and would always be a descendant of the east. In other words, if she came across something familiar enough, she could figure out where she was.

As she kept running, she kept scanning the surroundings. Buildings, signs, and landmarks that had either changed since she was there, or couldn't recognize. Distress pricked at her skin as she continued to not recognize where she was.

It was difficult to keep track. With the image of the man’s fleshless arms reaching for her forever in her mind, she couldn’t think straight. So she ran straight, until she came across a statue in the middle of a plaza’s intersection. A tall silver lady, ornate with lapis and rubies, with two dragons circling her sides. Something something, freedom and prosperity for the east, but the real important detail was that Hiachi knew what it was. It was something she visited as a kindergartener, and now finally got to put the knowledge to use.

The statue was right next to the waterfront, if Hiachi really was correct. Upon turning the corner, she could see it. She ran up to the edge of the riverside, overwhelming joy and dread overcoming her as she looked across the water.

The good news? Hiachi was on the outskirts of the East District. She had made it to where she wanted to go!

The bad news? Hiachi was nowhere near a bridge. Both bridges sat far on the horizon, and would take her ages to get to. The fastest path, running along the river, would leave her wide open for any attacks.

In other words? Hiachi was FUCKED.

Spoiler

Roda the Red

 

[thebigfella]

Shishido Takakazu

CS Link

SCENE:

The Same Kids That Blew Into Cartridges Would Laugh At You Learning Harmonica

LOCATION:

West District

TIME:

February 19th, 2022 || Pre-Arc 3

PARTCIPANTS:

Tak, Kiwi (@gxxberkit)

The Same Kids That Blew Into Cartridges Would Laugh At You Learning Harmonica

Each of Kiwi’s statements piled on in succession, the words visibly forming and stabbing Tak in the back with each utterance, causing him to visibly recoil at each knife into his skin. Finally, the annoyance boiled over, his eyebrows twitching as his fists clenched before he exploded.

“FINE! I’LL CLEAN UP YOUR DAMN MESS! I GET IT ALRIGHT!?” Tak shouted at her before quickly bending down and starting to pick up whatever stray rubbage was around, tossing it into his arms in a bundle as he dashed around the room; you would almost think he was doing it of his own volition if it wasn’t for the sour expression on his face.

When Tak finally picked up every little bit he could see, he dumped it into the trash can in the corner of the room, most of it going inside the trash except for a few bits that clinked onto the floor, which he didn’t care to clean up, they were close enough.

With that, he plopped himself back onto the ground with a huff, crossing his arms as he leaned backward slightly, turning his head towards the doorway; too impatient to wait for Kiwi to return, he shouted out through it.

“How the hell did you get a day one copy of this thing anyway!? I tried to order one last night, and every place was sold out.” He questioned, uncrossing his arms to lean back into the sofa, uncaring for the dogs resting on it as their fur tickled his neck.

He wasn’t usually one to care about RPGs, but in this case, this series was a childhood favorite, he wanted to see what it was like now; he hadn’t played a game in the series since he was a kid. But, he was entirely out of the loop on the modern-day gaming culture and how pre-orders worked, as evidenced by the fact he hadn’t even taken it upon himself to do anything like boot up the console while he waited, simply staring at a blank T.V. screen.

 

[Elenion Aura]

MARKUS WEISS

CS Link

SCENE:

Clad in Golden Dreams

TIME:

Post-Arc 3, Timeskip 1 | June 16th, 2022

LOCATION:

West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Passeri, Ezra, Viss, Mark, Jess, Hiachi, Tak, Elias, Jesper

CLAD IN GOLDEN DREAMS

"Uh-huh..." Markus nodded in the way that he did when he'd had enough of someone. It just so happened that one 'Mister Anamnesis' was adroitly adept at burning through Markus' precious reserves of decorum. The King brushed him off, uncertain, or uncaring, of whether or not any of his attempts to reach Markus on a human level were genuine. Not that it mattered at this particular juncture, Markus thought. He was leaving. That much he'd already decided when his foot brushed up against something under his table. He was leaving, when he found that the thing he'd kicked was not the leg of his table. He was leaving, right up until the point where he lifted up the hem of his tablecloth, for no reason at all, and found a pair of wide, dark eyes staring back up at him.

The next several moments passed by in a blink. Park appeared in his peripheral. She was followed shortly by a man Markus had never seen before. He could tell two things about him at a glance. The first was this: he was not a professional server hired to work this function, but he was working it anyway, in as much as a man dressed in a teenage boy's approximation of 'funny' formal wear could be, that is. The second thing Markus could tell about this man from a glance was—

He was an idiot.

In the sudden commotion, Markus' attention snapped away from the girl under the table as Anamnesis buzzed again in his ear. One of ours, he'd said. Little kitty club. In all the time he'd spent in advance of this little publicity stunt, finding a strange, crying girl hiding under his table was not something he'd expected to experience, let alone be prepared for. He felt like he was being pulled in all directions at once.

The bald enforcer clapped a meaty paw down on Tak's shoulder. The Jack was the King's. His protection extended to her. In that time, Elijah had dragged the grubby woman off the floor and parked her in a seat at the table. His table. Things were deteriorating rapidly.

From out of the woodwork that he'd sent them burrowing into, his muscle-bound entourage slowly materialized, itching for something to kick off. He'd only need to say the word...

Markus stayed quiet.

Contrary to popular belief, he was not exceptionally prone to brash, violent outbursts. No. His outbursts were measured, calculated. Crafted to make a point, to sell a point. They were a vehicle through which he extended and enacted control over both situations and people. Unfortunately, for that to work here, he'd need to have at least some semblance of an understanding of what the hell was going on, how the pieces had contorted themselves across his board in such an unnatural way to have wound up where they were, now. Was it even his board, anymore?

For a moment, he imagined himself cast in one of those classical paintings. Golden ratios spiraling endlessly, pulling all things toward some unseen magnetic center. But, he wondered as a pit formed in the bowels of his stomach... Whose center did they spiral towards?

In that moment, Markus decided something vital.

This was not his circus.

These were not his monkeys.

Feeling a little more at ease with that notion in mind, he looked to the only one whose authority he recognized over this farce. Above the chaos of his racing mind, one emotion bubbled to the surface of his expression: bewilderment. He spoke.

"... What the fuck?"

 

[angel doe]

celestine renee cadieux

CS Link

SCENE:

friends who slay together stay together

LOCATION:

the tucker's house, north district outskirts

TIME:

post arc 3

PARTICIPANTS:

teddie, celestine

friends who slay together stay together

The Tucker household was chaos, but it was the sort of chaos that Celestine found a strange comfort in. Or perhaps it was merely due to how much she loved being in their company and less about the chaos itself. She carefully stepped around the wood that littered the floor, heeding Eliza's warning, and stopped in the middle of the room, managing a small smile as she turned her gaze to two of her favourite people.

"I am relieved none of you were hurt in the incident," she responded once Eliza had explained, glancing over at Teddie as he kicked the TV. The following question from her friend made her smile falter, however, and Celeste could only offer a vague shrug, "Things have been... less than ideal..." She trailed off, biting the inside of her cheek before quickly moving on.

"I apologize for not visiting more, everything has been rather hectic lately," Celestine's smile became sheepish, "I will do my best to visit more often, though. It is always wonderful to see all of you- it truly makes my day."

Celeste let out a small yelp, jumping slightly when she felt tiny hands on her leg and looked down to see her favourite toddler, "Hello, sweetheart." she murmured, reaching down and carefully lifting Carlisle into her arms. Celestine began rocking back and forth with the child, bouncing slightly as she held her.

The tall serpent remained silent for a while, before taking a deep breath and looking at her friends, "I do not know if you recall the times I spoke of my dear friend, Jozef, but... he.. he was killed recently." Celestine's voice caught in her throat as tears she had been trying hard to keep at bay finally began to trickle down her cheeks, "It was a relatively simple job- We were there as backup while Tick and Flea handled the deal. It had been going well, but I guess the dragons knew we would be there... They attacked us..."

Celestine held Carlisle close, giving her a gentle hug as she swayed back and forth, "I tried my hardest to protect all of them, but I could not even do that... I failed them." She hiccuped slightly before clearing her throat, taking another deep breath in an attempt to calm herself down.

Celeste refused to break down now, not when she had worked so hard to pull herself together for this visit.


WhiskeyMarten

 

[azenva]

KAZUE KANEKO

CS Link

SCENE:

[Thawtless Dial]

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3, December 24th, 2021

LOCATION:

Kazue’s Apartment, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charmy Devlin, Kazue Kaneko

THAWTLESS DIAL

Kazue was more taken aback by her shot at Charmy than Charmy was. Whatever had compelled her to open fire was gone. Before she knew it, she was babbling, spewing apologies without really thinking about them, more like a duck quacking than a human speaking. Instinct told her she had made a mistake speaking back, instinct told her to make up for her mistake, and instinct was right. Never mind the fact that instinct had nudged her towards that mistake in the first place. It was just one angel on her shoulder, hardly responsible for her regrettable behavior. Kazue was in the one in the wrong again, as always.

First a talk with Charmy, and now this. It was just like the old days.

What wasn’t like the old days was the fact that Kazue had actually had to talk over someone else instead of having the floor to herself to bow down on. It was impolite to interrupt. That would have been another 10.

The rambler found the ability to stop after about three or four repetitions of her spiel. Charmy’s abused microphone picked up the sounds of her shifting position, and Kazue had once again fallen silent enough to hear.

Were Charmy’s business partners not receptive to early holiday greetings? Hmm. Considering how the Tigers were turning by the time Kazue left, they probably weren’t. Probably would have called a hit on Charmy for wasting their time and phone bills. Maybe she really was hitting rock bottom. What else would inspire her to call some washed up criminal-only-by-technicality in her mid-late 20s with no purpose in life beyond life itself? Or maybe there was more to it? Supposedly Charmy did care about Kazue. Interesting. In vino veritas?

Maybe Kazue should get help.

Eh.

It was Charmy’s last statement, more of a lament, that hit the closest to home. Kazue looked down at herself. Down at the half-emptied bags of realistically forever unused baking supplies. Down at the spilled milk nearby. Down at her lowered phone, which a few hours earlier had shown Kazue’s beloved Dorado Gladiators losing what should have been a free win. Maybe Charmy’s present was her future. Maybe alcohol was a better escape than basketball.

“I’m not sure what I’m doing anymore.”

“…I guess that makes two of us.”

@BluEndings

 

[joshuadim]

HITOSHI YAMAKAWA

CS Link

SCENE:

Searching for the Light

TIME:

The Day After Get(ting) Help

LOCATION:

Tommy's (Abandoned) Scrapyard, Outskirts of South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hitoshi, Charlie

SEARCHING FOR THE LIGHT

​

The statement hung over the two Phoenixes, creating a moment of dead air as Hitoshi processed what Charlie was talking about. And it seemed that Charlie hadn't exactly processed it entirely either, given the weight of such an action. To take a life... it was something that Hitoshi thought unfathomable for a kid like the one sitting next to him. Yet, here he was trying to make sense of it all. Trying to determine what to actually feel about it, rather than whatever lofty expectations were placed on him by others.

Hitoshi was no stranger to violence, but he never had crossed that threshold as many others had. Especially certain individuals in the Phoenixes, who more or less seemed to be arbitrary in the value of life in of itself. The closest he himself had gotten was back at the mall, the one that both he and Charlie had gotten punished for, and had nearly caved a man's skull in from a drug-fueled rage. The same incident that started his downward spiral as he realized that his own fabric, his very moral code, was being rent asunder.

What led him to now.

"Kiddo..." Hitoshi then said, with all seriousness, "I'm sorry that you had to go through with that. Nobody should." He then turned his weary, tired eyes - filled with decades of regret - towards the distant city lights. For a moment, he didn't know what else to say; truly, this was something that was beyond his depth. He wasn't a killer. But could he even consider Charlie to be that?

It was then that he spoke up again: "I made many mistakes in my life. Too many to count. Or recite in a single sitting. But... it was when I was pulled out of the gutters by Ryoma and Noa I realized that I shouldn't let mistakes define me. Not let these things drag me down to the abyss."

He then turned to Charlie with a soft smile: "If there's one thing I've kept as best as I can through all these years, it's myself. The Phoenixes want you to be something you're not? ...well, fuck that. You're you. Don't let anyone change that." He then tapped Charlie on the shoulder: "Don't compromise yourself for other's sake. Otherwise, you'll end up losing yourself. Taking a life is... a serious thing. I won't lie. But that doesn't define you. It's how you try to pick up the pieces afterwards and do the right thing that does."

Roda the Red

 

[joshuadim]

HITOSHI YAMAKAWA

CS Link

SCENE:

Get(ting) Help

TIME:

Post Arc-3; 2 1/2 weeks later

LOCATION:

The Old Dojo, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hitoshi, Charlie, Ashley, Gideon, Hector, Kaede

GET(TING) HELP

Hitoshi was still in the midst of catching his breath when Hector commented on tutoring some rookies, which made Hitoshi both guffaw and laugh aloud. "Oh no no, I'm nowhere near in shape to be teaching." Hitoshi said out of modesty, taking a few other deep breaths from his moderate exertion thus far. "Maybe in another ten years when I burn off this belly fat, no?" the elder Phoenix then joked, before straining to crack his back. A few pops resounded as Hitoshi got rid of some stiffness that had been bugging him since the beginning of their outing.

"Adding to my to-do list, cardio..." Hitoshi then muttered before looking over briefly to where both Charlie and Ashley were having their own bout. Such youthful energy made Hitoshi feel a pang of jealousy that was quickly replaced with approval. He wouldn't make himself into a pity party again, just like his therapy group had taught him. Instead, he turned over to Gideon and nodded.

"When you're back in health, hope you'll take up whatever it is I'm doing right now." Hitoshi said with a grin, "Maybe an old dog can teach others some tricks."

It was then that he had caught his breath again and let out a sharp exhale before twirling his bō staff again with an improvised flourish again. It was then that he rested it under his armpit and positioned it across his back before motioning a hand towards Hector. "Ready when you are." Hitoshi said with a grin, inviting the Queen to another round.

WhiskeyMarten Coyote Hart

 

[joshuadim]

RYUTARO HASHIMOTO

CS Link

SCENE:

The Art of the Deal

LOCATION:

West District, Czar Restaurant

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Ryutaro

The Art of the Deal

"Mmm, yes. You gambled for money. Using that ability of yours - giving you the easiest advantage one could ever ask for. If I understand correctly, you can see well. Very well. Observe things that would be imperceptible to most eyes, even. Such as reflections in the eyes: giving you all the read in the world to an opponent's hand." Ryu then said, laying out his understanding of Hiachi's ability with an approving nod. "Commendable, I must say. Those people came to the casino to lose their money anyway. Might as well put it to a more productive cause in your eyes."

Ryu then leaned back in his chair again: "Yet, you were callous enough to believe you could get away with it so flagrantly. Hence, why you are here." The Tiger Queen stayed silent for a moment, observing Hiachi's face to study her, before speaking once more. "And I believe there is something more to it." Ryu said, waving a finger. "More than simply just wanting cash to make ends meet. That wouldn't explain why you were so brazen in our face-off."

The Tiger Queen then tilted his head slightly in curiosity: "So, what then, drives Hiachi?"

miki

 

[joshuadim]

RYUTARO HASHIMOTO

CS Link

SCENE:

Backroom Dealings

LOCATION:

West District, Sarizara Restaurant

PARTICIPANTS:

Ryutaro, Samira, Jack, Passeri, Camila, Elias, Welsha, Dagger, Alice

Backroom Dealings

"I'll give him the dignity of exile, should he take it. I'm not a bloodthirsty tyrant." Ryu replied to Camila on mentioning Markus' fate. "Though, if he refuses to vacate New Oasis in defeat and transfer his assets, then... well." The final word hung for a moment as Ryu made it clear without saying the consequence out loud. "I suppose we know where that road would lead for him." He then turned towards Elias and listened to what the young man spoke. He was outwardly impressed by the rookie's candor and thoroughness in his speech, as the Queen remained attentive to all his points that he had brought up.

When all was said and done, the Queen offered a smile to Elias before speaking: "Insightful input." Ryu said, crossing one leg over the other where he sat. Cal looked less than impressed, and in fact a little annoyed, by the indecisiveness on display by some of the people in the room. How could they not jump at the chance for a better path? For something of such great importance when laid out before them? He had been given that chance all those years back when he first met Hashimoto and never regretted it. However, he remained silent as his boss continued the conversation at hand.

"I detect a few things from your words. First, being a disconnect between us. I may as well appear to be a stranger coming out of thin air, offering snake oil to unsuspecting buyers. Given how I have previously operated, away from the limelight, I don't blame you. If anything, it is something for me to actively build rapprochement - as I am here and elsewhere." Ryu stated, "Second is the issue of trust, as you mention my own potentiality. Consider that to be another card in my hand, then. Where Markus wields his strength like a child, with the precision of a blunt club, I wield mine with care and precision."

"And besides," the Tiger Queen the stated the slightest edge of a smirk emerging on his lips, "He is too reliant on his abilities. I do not share that same limitation."

The Queen then straightened himself in his seat and moved on in his rhetoric: "And thirdly, what I discern from your words is risk aversion. Fair. Business acumen always tend to lean towards avoiding risk. But, as I posited before, would you prefer the risk of tangible, necessary change? Or a slow decline as the Tigers continue to fall behind as we have been already?" Briefly, Ryu turned his gaze towards Alice - who seemed now to be ruminating in thought - and grimaced: "Which will only invite bolder, more brazen attacks from our most hated adversaries. Even worse than when they tried to take Miss Morel. They smell blood in the water, and circle like sharks. Chomping away at every piece exposed."

He then turned his gaze back to Elias, his eyes locking straight into the rookie's with an intense gaze. "I don't expect you to be fully on board immediately. Just that when the time comes, when the chips are down, you remember what exactly it is that I offer."

Ryu's eyes shifted then towards Dagger, who remained with feet perched upright: "Money, yes. Power, indeed and intertwined. But more than that too. Both wielded with purpose."

QuirkyAngel The One Eyed Bandit Beann Roda the Red AriAriAbabwa Chaos Gallant simj26 Peckinou

 

[Beann]

SAMIRA CALRISSIAN

CS Link

SCENE:

I am (not) your Grandpa!

LOCATION:

Calrissian HQ, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Babarutthoth, Samira

I am (not) your Grandpa!

This man was…eccentric. She had hoped her accusation would have set the stage for 'Baba' to explain himself but he immediately went off topic. Samira quirked an eyebrow at his excitement towards her office space, and then shifted the conversation to the security guard that was more than likely posted outside and eavesdropping. She considered defending the security guard, wanting to state that he was merely doing his job and nowhere in his job description stated that he had to be amicable towards…suspicious guests. However, she decided against it, not wanting to entertain this pointless conversation. She was waiting for him to get to the point of his actual appearance. Why was he so insistent on seeing her using a name that only a select few would know?

Samira watched him take a seat, satisfied with his compliance. She was about to take her seat as well, hoping to resolve this in a mature manner but the next words he uttered forced her face to contort into disgust. "What?" She wanted to make sure she heard that right but there was no mistaking his ridiculous words. "Okay — I think our little meeting here is done." Her tone shifted, slightly higher and friendlier, a voice she would use talking to a child — or a delusional man. "I'll have Liam drop you off at a soup kitchen or a shelter and you can go on about your day."

Vorifengrous

 

[miki]

Hiachi Ito

CS Link

SCENE:

Art of the Deal

LOCATION:

West District, Czar Restaurant

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Ryutaro

Art of the Deal

He was disinterested—dissatisfied. He repeated the information she gave back to her like it was common knowledge. Deduced from the words that came out of her mouth, yet she had never said.

Still; The degree at which he was correct was eerie, to say the least.

Hiachi’s frown was stitched into her face. She couldn’t bring herself to try and save face this time. Her raw shame was being prodded at. Tested, even. Where there was a compliment, there was a painfully accurate insult trailing behind it. She couldn’t even begin to predict his intentions.

And so the silence stretched on.

She tried to look confident. Not even that—she needed to not appear meek. She couldn’t curl up under his gaze. And yet, as she tried to keep her posture straight and face neutral, she couldn’t meet his analytical gaze.

And then there was the million-amestriyen question: what drives Hiachi?

She blinked.

He wanted to know why, really why, she had siphoned the White Tiger’s money. He wanted to know why her eyes narrowed and why she had been so adamant to beat him—so adamant that she had forgotten herself. That she kept going even though her win streak was enough to support her for forever. Why she had accepted his deal even though his hand extended from a mouse trap.

She soured at her memories for bringing up the event, though it was necessary to answer the question. Oftentimes, she found herself asking the same thing. Thinking back on it, she really thought she would have stopped while she was ahead.

Instead of answering him, Hiachi was getting mad. Mad at herself. For being such an idiot at the most inopportune time. Everything she had ever wanted was in her grasp, and yet she refused to let go of the wrong ladder’s rungs.

She had to tell the truth. And yet, despite everything she knew was swirling around in her head, she could only verbalize it with childish vocabulary.

“I… I wanted to beat you. At poker and… mentally, I guess.” She avoided his eyes. “You were calm. I didn’t—I hated it.”

Her words tumbled out like a weak confessional. Then the dread set in. Because she knew it this time—she knew she didn’t have to say that much. She shouldn’t have said that much. She needed a tighter leash on her words.

Spoiler

joshuadim

 

[Slav]

Takahiro Sugita

CS Link

SCENE:

Post Arc-3|| Confidential Motivations

LOCATION:

North District, Taka's Apartment

DATE:

July 1st, 2022

PARTICIPANTS:

Takahiro, Peyton ( Coyote Hart )

Confidential Motivations

Taka didn't want to admit it but Peyton was right. Even though Raph was somebody that he was immensely interested in, that interest wasn't reciprocated. Maybe he expected too much from the brash serpent. It was hard not to think positively of everyone around him, being negative wasn't fun... that's why he kept it in the darkest corner of his mind. He didn't want the negativity to creep in, constantly at war with it. Luckily, he had somebody next to him that made being joyful all the easier. Today wasn't Raph's day, it was Peyton's. "I suppose you're right. Raph is always going to do what Raph wants and that's okay. Today, I am going to do what I want. We're not here to talk about Raph... even though I want to." He couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Raph was like a drug and he couldn't get enough of it... but he found another drug today.

He intertwined both of his hands with Peyton's, giving him a bright smile. "I'm here to spend my day with you and you only. Let's stop with this Raph talk and play some games!" Taka gave Peyton another gentle kiss, placing it on his soft cheek. He wanted to make Peyton feel appreciated, it's not often somebody wanted to spend time with him. Taka plopped onto his feet, grabbing two controllers for the pair. He placed the new controller into Peyton's hand, taking a seat once more next to him. "You get the new controller. Guests always get priority... especially ones that I adore." He pressed his body against Peyton's, his jovial aura reaching its peak. He hasn't had many good days this month but today was simply one of the best in a while.

With a press of a button, the TV was on and it didn't take Taka long to get to the menu screen for his console. "I hope your okay with fighting games, I don't dabble in other genres... unless the game art looks cute." After giving off a soft chuckle, he continued through the menu screen until he finally had the game up and running. While he tried to keep his attention towards the TV, he couldn't help but let his gaze rest on Peyton ever so often. There wasn't many people that he was attracted to and Peyton had everything he liked.

Taka fiddled with the thumb sticks as a thought plopped itself in his mind. "I have a question for you and it's nothing serious, it's just been swirling in my mind. Earlier you said that nice people are boring. Does that mean I'm boring? I hope that I'm not the only person enjoying themselves right now." There was a look of concern painted on his face. He didn't want Peyton to see his face, so he elected to just stare down at his controller. The last thing he wanted was to seem boring. His insecurities were on full display for Peyton to see, Taka lacking the ability to hide his feelings properly. That's why he was too easy to read despite everything he tried. His face was an agent of constant betrayal.

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

Rain on the Mountaintop

LOCATION:

Post-Arc 3, Timeskip 1 | June 28th

LOCATION:

Borgo Orecchiette, Fusilli

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Passeri, Jackson, Jesper, Pascal, Milo, Gav

RAIN ON THE MOUNTAINTOP

Milo watched and waited patiently as Boltius performed for no one at all. When he smiled, Milo smiled too. It was a wonder how easily one slipped back into old, familiar roles, almost as if no time had passed, as if nothing had changed. Almost.

"I know, I know, ha-ha."

He knew. Oh, he knew. Boltius and subtle didn't belong together in the same dictionary, let alone the same sentence. Still, if nothing else, Milo could not fault Boltius for his enthusiasm. Milo wasn't sure he could fault him for anything.

“Not cheese, bro, it’s proteeeein~”

It was a stupid joke, but he Milo found a long time ago that he liked stupid jokes. He laughed a small, secret laugh, turning his face to one side to smile a small, secret smile. These were not fit for public consumption. In an instant, the expression was gone, tucked away. Stashed, for a rainy day.

As Boltius chewed, Milo pondered. "That's a good question. Let's think..." Milo thought. He propped his chin atop his wrist, gazing intently at the untouched plate before him. "It's a lot of ground to cover. Might be easier if we split up for at least part of it. Divide and conquer, then regroup and compare notes." Milo realized as he'd said the words how much of a gamble this might be, not only leaving Boltius to his own devices, but potentially setting him loose on the unsuspecting population of Fusili. He'd need to craft very specific instruction. Speaking of...

He looked up from the slowly cooling foodstuffs over at Boltius, his eyebrows relaxing. "You don't need an alias. Although—" His gaze trailed up and away as he considered whether or not it'd be beneficial to maintain some degree of anonymity. Passeri Park surely knew who Boltius was, but others might not. It was a soft call either way. It wouldn't do to second guess himself, here. There was much work to do, and precious little time to do it. "No aliases. But you're not here in your capacity as Ace, but rather a private citizen enjoying an all-expenses paid vacation as my plus one."

Milo figured that to non-gangsters, the name Boltius Beckman was meaningless, so an alter ego wouldn't serve any purpose. And to members of the other three gangs—who were sure to be crawling around here and there, if Milo's suspicions were anything to go by—they would probably know the Ace of the Scarlet Phoenixes by sight. After all, as had already been well established, Boltius was far from inconspicuous.

"But... It couldn't hurt to relax a little, too." He had to remember to rein himself in every now and again. "Let's see, how about this: after we eat, we get the lay of the land and we can figure out our plan of attack."

He felt the need to clarify, not an actual attack, but he didn't. Milo had a tendency to over-explain. Or was it that others had a tendency to under-comprehend...

 

[Vorifengrous]

Babarutthoth

CS Link

SCENE:

Scene: I am (not) your Grandpa!

LOCATION:

Calrissian HQ, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Babarutthoth, Samira

I am (not) your Grandpa!

A soup kitchen or a shelter. Her attempt to dismiss him as some deluded, desperate pauper indicated to him that his behavior had certainly lowered her expectations.

Babar manufactured a stung expression and stood up from the chair with a dejected sigh. Moving unrushed he stared at the ground as though crestfallen and disappointed. When he spoke he did so listlessly. “Oh bother. I do apologize if I’ve wasted your time.” With slouched shoulders and a meek posture he turned and stepped towards the door with an exaggerated sluggishness, a wry and cheeky smile breaking out across his face the moment he was sure his back was to her.

“Well on the bright side I’m sure the soup maidens would love to be regaled by Samira Calrissian’s adventures within the Albino Tigers.” His voice piped up now, expressing excitement at the prospect of telling the stories. ”The bank heist was quite riveting, a good many jokes to be made about the twin betrayals of comradery and footwear.”

Without giving pause to process he swiveled back to her, grabbing the back of the chair he had just been sitting in and snapping his gaze to hers, leaning forward over the chair with an imposing and intense stare. He raised an eyebrow and taunted Samira further, articulately barraging her through his devilish smile.

“Actually, have Liam bring me to V and V!* I’m sure those voracious vintners would vivaciously veer verily to vindicate varied claims of how ventilated vitalized corkwood barrels convert ventilation and viciously vanquish vile venoms, vivifying Vintner and Vine into vinification virtuosos.” Every time he said a word starting with V he cocked his head slightly to the side. This went further and further until he was very nearly looking at her upside down, maintaining intense eye contact the entire time.

He was, of course, rapidly prattling on about a prototype process she had detailed to her presumably information-disabsorbent comatose grandfather less than a month prior. ‘By using corkwood and aerating the wood of the barrels with blah blah blah blah’ Point was it cut the fermentation process down to a fraction of the time and created an impeccably superior finished product AND nobody knew about it except Samira, whoever she was working on it with, and Babaruttoth.

He wondered how her tone might shift once she began connecting the dots.



*V&V, short for Vintner and Vine, was one of the winemaking companies that had popped up in Babar's internet search on Samira’s company.

 

[Beann]

SAMIRA CALRISSIAN

CS Link

SCENE:

I am (not) your Grandpa!

LOCATION:

Calrissian HQ, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Babarutthoth, Samira

I am (not) your Grandpa!

There was a brief moment of relief as Samira watched the delusional man get up and turn for the door in a cartoonish manner. It reminded her of an old television show she had watched when she was a child, featuring a sad tiger walking away before looking over his shoulder. In this case, she didn't want him to look over his shoulder but anything was better than the words he uttered after. She didn't show it but her blood ran cold, her entire back tensing up in both shock and fear. Immediately her mind ran over the various possibilities on how this man could know about such sensitive information. Then her mind wandered to the consequences and the state her reputation would be in should the information get out.

Then 'Baba' decided to go completely left field and threaten to leak company intellectual property to one of their competitors. This angered her. She would not stand to be threatened by an ill-mannered man in ragged clothes. Especially one who acted on intrusive thoughts and stared at her from a near upside down position. Samira considered asking how he acquired all of this information about her. However that would require putting herself at the mercy of her assumed stalker.

Samira considered her actions as she looked him up and down before deciding to take a seat in her own chair. "Apologies. I think we got off on the wrong foot." She said as she leaned to her right, pulling open a drawer to rummage through. "Surely you understand that being in my position warrants caution against unsavory folks and unfortunately a lot of the homeless and deranged let greed control them." She explained. Nonchalantly, Samira pulled out what she was searching for in her drawer and rested it on the table. A golden Colt-500, the barrel pointed in his general direction with her palm resting on the handle — courtesy of her cowboy, Jack. "So, you've talked your way into earning an audience with me and you've convinced me to not throw you out on the streets…" Pressing a well manicured thumb down on the hammer, a single click indicated that the revolver was cocked.

"Now convince me to not silence you."

Vorifengrous

 

[joshuadim]

RYUTARO HASHIMOTO

CS Link

SCENE:

The Art of the Deal

LOCATION:

West District, Czar Restaurant

PARTICIPANTS:

Hiachi, Ryutaro

The Art of the Deal

The Tiger Queen kept his gaze affixed on Hiachi as she meekly made her driving forces known. It seemed almost... disappointing, for a moment. But it was tempered by his knowledge of the girl's situation. She wasn't living a particularly good life. Scrapping by to make ends meet. But there was also something deeper within that: malcontent. To Ryu, Hiachi hated her circumstances and her position. And so sought to claw what she could using what she had on hand. It wasn't flashy, or standout, but it had helped her get by. In this respect, they were nothing alike - as his own power was, by all means, terrifying in its strength and implications.

And yet, there was also that thread of perseverance. The demand made to the world to be given what was owed. The girl in front of him had nothing, and yet she had sought to change that. Even against someone like himself. For the first time in their conversation thus far, the Tiger Queen's disposition visibly changed. No longer was it haughty, arrogant, and charming like the businessman he was on the surface. Instead, he crossed his hands together in front of him and paid respect where it was due.

"I think we understand one another now." Ryu spoke, as their food was delivered to the table along with their teas. Delectable aromas wafted into Hiachi's senses, indicative of their expert cuisinnaire.

The waiter briskly left after wishing the two of them to enjoy their meal. "You hate the hand you were dealt." Ryu then said, "Even with your own advantage, it's nothing compared to what others wield in terms of sheer strength. But you recognized that, and instead turned what most would call... useless, into something tangible." The Queen then pushed a fork into the cake and carved out a small piece, quickly eating it to enjoy its flavors before continuing with his train of thought. "You clawed your way into having something. Despite the risks, as well as the odds, you managed to capture the attention of others. My attention."

He took a sip of his black tea and cleared his throat: "What do you see the man is reading on his phone, two tables behind me?" Ryu then asked. "He's an Amestrian Senator from Boustan. Politically powerful company, in this part of town. Must be rather important, whatever it is he's reading."

miki

 

[Peckinou]

Helva Linxal

CS Link

SCENE:

To live in the shadows

LOCATION:

Warehouse, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Helva, Zulin, Charlie Roda the Red

To live in the shadows

Helva wasn't holding her punches, her trials weren't meant to be easy and she was sure the kid could take it, besides the trials were also a sorta of training opportunity for her as well. It allowed her to fight opponents with different potentials, and skill sets, which made it so that they had to learn how to adapt to different situations. Though the boy was a special case cause she got an idea of his potential from last nights little incident, she would have to be sure to take that into consideration when grading his trial performance later. Still though, she wasn't all that surprised with how quickly the boy had was able to tank their punch, what did surprise her was the fact that he had opted to seize her arm in response. Definitely not a position she wanted to be in, his grip was tight and she was sure he was going to go in for a counterattack, a punch from him was something she honestly wasn't fond of taking herself. But she still had her other hand at least, so without much thinking she had opted to block his punch using the metal pipe hoping that it would redirect his attack off to her side, along with pushing herself off to the side in order to avoid it make his hit not a clean and direct one. She wasn't sure if that would work or not, but if it did she would be able to follow it up by hitting him in the head with the pipe, but if not she was sure she was going to be able to clip her side at the very least, and knowing that he had some pretty decent strength she was for sure going to feel it.

A telepathic thought then went to her head, as Zulin has began to enter the area, ordering him to wait for now and giving him permission to strike at will when he sees a perfect opening.

Zulin

CS Link

SCENE:

To live in the shadows

LOCATION:

Warehouse, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Helva, Zulin, Charlie Roda the Red

To live in the shadows

The darkness around them morphed to something bigger before dissipating revealing an entirely new being, Zulin. Zulin already knew of this place, the place where Helva likes to conduct her trials at, and he also knew a few secrets to the warehouse as well. Zulin didn't even need to be briefed on what was going on in order to know what Helva wanted of him. Still though her voice soon echoed through his mind giving orders to assist her. It was such a nuisance but it seemed like a bit of fun in a way, without much further prompting though, Zulin pulled out a hidden passage on the outside of the warehouse. Only to be treated by a dark room, which he promptly entered closed the secret door behind him as well before opening the door to the inner part of the warehouse.

When Zulin exited, behind him would stand an opened wooden box something that would blend in with the other boxes around them, one which Zulin promptly shut behind him in order to keep it maintain it's anonymity. Further orders from Helva were given prompting Zulin to calmly walk to the direction the noise was coming from, and as soon as they were able to get within sight, the hid behind one of the boxes. A fun little show that earned a devilish smirk from him as they now had their eyes locked onto their new playmate, whispering under his breath, "Heh, short blue berry kid, what a fun little choice."

 

[Elenion Aura]

MILO NAGISA

CS Link

SCENE:

We Who Remain

LOCATION:

Arc 3 — May 31st, 2022

LOCATION:

South district, Phoenix HQ; Shady's Clinic, first floor

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Bandy, Milo, Gideon, Jericho, Ashley, Callista, Raquel, Faelan

WE WHO REMAIN

"S-sorry," he winced, recoiling as if he were the one in pain. As if seeing Boltius in pain were enough to trigger a reaction in his own body.

It was now that he decided to dry his eyes for the second time that evening. Gangsters didn't cry, after all. That's what Hector had said. And if he hadn't, well, Milo could imagine it well enough.

"Thanks for the help back there,"

"Don't mention it," Milo whispered cordially, retreating to stand beside Boltius' bed. The gaze he leveled in Gideon's direction was inscrutable. Though, whatever their feelings might have been toward one another, there was one resounding truth that Milo could not deny: he was grateful. Grateful that Gideon had been with Boltius. If not for Gideon...

"Don't mention it," he said again, awkwardly. As if he meant it. Don't. If Milo had his way, the day's events would never be mentioned again. At least that way, maybe he could pretend that nothing had happened. When Boltius spoke up, Milo listened. He recalled the plan well enough. The raid. Boltius' blazing triumph. Look how well it had turned out?

That was an ugly thought. But sometimes Milo's thoughts were ugly. I told you so, he said to himself. I told you not to do it. I warned you, the nasty little voice inside his head chastised. Why didn't you listen? Why do you never listen?

Milo stayed quiet. He still didn't know the specifics, the 'how', or the 'why'. How did Central fall? Why did the Phoenixes fall with it? But he didn't need to know. He wasn't sure he even wanted to. He still didn't know what he wanted.

Gingerly, he reached out to lay a tender hand gently—so as not to disturb any fresh wounds—on Boltius' shoulder. It was cold comfort for all that he'd been through over the past twelve hours, but comfort nonetheless.

 

[Slav]

Vissarion Argyris

CS Link

SCENE:

Stymied

TIME:

Pre-Arc 3 | January, 2020

LOCATION:

West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Sebastian( Coyote Hart ), Vissa

Stymied

Vissa couldn't help but laugh at the current proposition. The audacity to even suggest that he would give them a yearly stipend was outrageous. There was a lot that went in to his business, having diverse revenue streams. The legality of his business was questionable at times, though that's what having friends in high places was for. "I don't think you understand how my business operates. My gold corporation is a clean business, you could audit it tomorrow and you wouldn't find anything." Vissa's gaze never wavered as he looked at the two business men across from him with immense disgust. This pair thought they were so clever, yet they just walked into a tiger's den. This was his territory and he wasn't going to allow himself to be disrespected on it. "I'm sure your aware that I deal with more than gold and gold ETFs. My business is immensely diverse and so are my friends. I even know the man that owns this building. When I tell you that I'm not giving you a single cent, that is the cold truth." He wasn't here to play games, he was here to stomp out any possible threat.

He wasn't one to usually get angry, but these two had managed to rile his feathers. He could be having fun right now, yet he was dealing with this situation. "I don't think you understand how grave your situation is. The West District is known for it's accidents. I wouldn't want you two to potentially be a victim of that. My associate is accident prone. I don't think you want to press your luck knowing full well that any potential legal trouble isn't coming. I happen to be sitting next to a prosecutor of the NOPD." Vissa usually wasn't one to flaunt his connections, but it was hard not to bring up Sebastian's position since he was sitting right next to him. He'd allow Sebastian to mention his name in the future if he needed help.

While he could have been harsher with his threats, it wasn't in his nature to be harsh. He viewed harshness to be only necessary in situations like this. Despite his determination, there was a small bit of him uncomfortable at being this confrontational. "You are ruining my night with your unpleasantries. I have a simple suggestion for you two to make this quick. If you get up and leave now, I will forget this ever happened. If you want to continue to push me then I'm afraid things will have to escalate." There was a lot of different options Vissa had in solving this situation. He could shoot them right where they sat and everything would be over in a blink of an eye, but violence wasn't his cup of tea until he was pushed far enough.

Vissa felt bad for Sebastian since he was dragged into this. He didn't have to be here, making the blonde quite thankful for his presence. It was reassuring to have a friend sitting next to you, especially when you were dealing with this circus act. He'd have to treat Sebastian to something special once this was dealt with. He didn't want to spend his whole night dealing with this matter.

 

[Vorifengrous]

Babarutthoth

CS Link

SCENE:

Scene: I am (not) your Grandpa!

LOCATION:

Calrissian HQ, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Samira, Babarutthoth

I am (not) your Grandpa!

Was she going to shoot him right here!? No, else she’d have done it already. This was just part of the game. The focus on maintaining his composure slowed his words to a reasonable tempo. The conversation finally got serious.

“I don’t think you’ll take much convincing.” The click of the gun’s hammer made his heart pound and adrenaline surged through his veins. Confidence in his own potential had not fully alleviated an instinctual fear of death and despite being an HP he felt as fragile as a toothpick. He stepped back around the chair and sat down again, this time choosing to sit back comfortably and cross one leg over the other as though he weren’t bothered by the presence of the gun. However his immediate shift in tone may have betrayed otherwise.

“I actually came to be silenced. I’d like to work for you. Consider all that I know to be my resume and how I obtained such knowledge to be the service I intend to offer.” He spoke directly and plainly, gone was the frantic tempo and the scattered contents of his previous words. He nodded to the gun on the desk. “Won’t work on me. The man whose name I wear tried it that way too. If you want to know why I know these things and your competitors don’t then I implore you to listen to my conditions and consider my offer.”

He glanced around the room again before his gaze came to linger on the golden gun. The hunger in his heart devoured the gun's luster as the fear within him became quickly dominated by greed. “I am an opportunity far too lucrative for you to squander.” Babar looked from the gold of the gun to the gold of her eyes and smiled inoffensively without showing any teeth.