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

SCENE:

Dealing With A Squid's Mistakes

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1— Late Summer 2015, Afternoon

LOCATION:

Kanna's Garage, East District

PARTICIPANTS:

Yong-Yut, Kanna

FabulousTrash

Dealing With a Squid's Mistakes

Yong-Yut looked between the pretty brown-haired and the black-haired women, attempting to wave back to the brown-haired one when they went past her. They turned their attention to the black-haired woman, who they recognized as Kanna. I mean, it’s gotta be Kanna. Who else would it be? Actually, who even was the brown-haired woman? …That’s really none of their business. It didn’t matter.

“Oh, okay,” they responded as Kanna approached them.

Yong-Yut almost flinched when the woman reached out, but quickly realized she was just reaching for the bike. “Oh-” They held out the bike to her for her to grab, almost dropping it when it suddenly became much lighter. “Sorry.”

Yong-Yut awkwardly stood for a moment, not noticing Kanna’s gesture for her to follow. Once they realized that she was now quite a ways away from them, they did a little speed walk to catch up. They watched with interest as she put the bike on the lift, tilting their head slightly. Startling slightly when Kanna turned around and asked them a question, they tsked, placing their own hands into their pockets. They didn’t really want to think about it, but they supposed it was necessary. Actually, they weren’t really sure if it was necessary. They weren’t familiar with Kanna’s process. But, she asked, so they should answer.

Their brows furrowed as they explained, “Fucking jerkass of an acquaintance stole it and wrecked it, because ‘he saw someone he was having beef with and needed to teach them a lesson.’ Or something stupid like that. It doesn't really matter the reason, just know it was a dumbass one. And, uh, Vulken Beckman. Vulken told me about you. And a little bit about your friendship together. Sorry if, uh, that’s weird, but I didn't ask him to. He just kept going on and...”

They paused, figuring they were talking too much, and gestured to the bike. “He… told me you could fix Duchess? I’m sorry if you have something better to do, though. I can go.” They pulled their hands to their chest, holding one in the other. Yong-Yut was already worried that they were annoying Kanna. They should've called in for permission first.

Yong-Yut’s eyes looked over to Duchess with a sense of despondence. While they didn’t like seeing Duchess damaged so badly, they were considering just leaving. Though, the bike was already secured on the lift. Maybe it’d be more inconvenient to take it back. Yeah, bad idea. Is it? Yong-Yut put their hands down and looked back towards Kanna, mumbling, “So… yeah. Whatever's best for you.”

Damafaud · May 11, 2022

DYNE ENJYRE

SCENE:

Nightlife Tryst

TIME:

Post-Arc 1/Pre-Arc 2—2021, September 19th—9:00 PM

LOCATION:

South District's Nightlife District, East-side

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Dyne

Nightlife Tryst

<< Previous Post

"See ya, love."

"Have a good time, darling~"

Dyne did not miss how his hands rested on her waist despite the farewell. He couldn't hide it, the yearning in his eyes and ember crackling faintly with hope. So, she pecked Jonathan on his cheek, with a knowing smile that reddened his face and doused his flame. She left in a whirl of pleasant lily and sandalwood as the evening shift arrived at the bar and settled.

Dear Jonathan, so dear and close to her heart, had improved since their first meeting. Nowhere could she find the stench of desperation nor the tension coiling his being like a spring. Oh, his eyes sunk when he lacked sleep, but she never minded it, no, and the thought of Jonathan determined on a full night sleep had her chuckling.

She wouldn't give him one if she could help it.

For Vacancy bar sprang alive as the sun fell and happy hour began, as did the nightlife of New Oasis. Tomorrow was a Monday, but it did not stop many from engaging in the pleasure of the after hour. The shallow yet invigorating life that filled every moment with highs higher than life.

Dyne had a goal, unlike many evenings before. Her coat fluttered as she sprung to the air, higher and higher beyond the clouds. Oh, she learnt how to propel herself to the air long ago, but learning how to do so while keeping her skirt behaving was a different matter.

She sighed inwardly. Really, it was awfully inconvenient that Shenpai had to destroy the bridge before her appointment, but she suppose it couldn't be helped.

Closer to her destination, Dyne let gravity pulled her. Already several repelling fields slowed her descend as she zeroed close to a quieter neighborhood. She headed for somewhere empty, yet a few meters from the ground, she realized that a red-haired young man was walking by.

Her lips curled upward. Really, that's even better, isn't it?

Slip. Her heels 'just' so happened to land on their side as she landed. Her face feigned surprise.

"Ah-" Dyne lost her balance. Tried, oh, she tried to not fall, waving her hands about as she staggered forward. The surprise turned to alarm as she inexplicably, helplessly crashed into the youth just minding his business about.

Ara, such an embarrassing accident~

>> Next Post

Elenion Aura · May 11, 2022

MASKED BANDIT "M"

SCENE:

Late-Night Chase

TIME:

Nighttime, post-arc 1

LOCATION:

Aksher Co. offices, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, ~~Minato~~ Masked Bandit "M"

LATE-NIGHT CHASE

The Minatos infesting the third floor of the insurance offices all perked up their heads at the sound of something heavy, something large, storming up a nearby stairwell. Though, unless their ears deceived them, the Minatos determined that whoever, or whatever, it was that made that racket, they were still one floor below.

Two Minatos who had sequestered themselves in a far corner of the third floor exchanged glances as the carpet beneath their feet rattled. An unspoken in-joke passed from one Minato's brain to the other, and they both giggled and pounded each others' knuckles before they went back to digging for the incriminating dirt they were paid to uncover.

Elsewhere, the guard named Jessica was passing by an unoccupied conference room with its door left wide open. The sound of rustling papers guided her attention down an aisle of desks to the figure of a man silhouetted by the gloom of the darkened office. As she called out to him, the figure turned, dropping the papers he'd been rifling through and lifting his hands placatingly by his sides.

”H-hey! How's it goin', aha...” The man gulped, stepping out into the light of a stray fluorescent lamp flickering overhead. He took one look at the woman's sword before his eyes found the woman's again. ”Let's just, uh... Take it easy, huh?”

While Minato kept her distracted, Minato pushed the open conference room door that he'd been hiding behind away from the wall and stepped silently toward the woman while her back was turned.

Meanwhile, the other Minato was still talking. ”Y'know, really it's a funny story, actually. Haha! Like, just this morning—”

Before Minato could finish telling her about how the breakfast burrito he'd eaten this morning correlated to the situation they all found themselves in, Minato swept both of his hands underneath the woman's armpits, interlocking his fingers behind her neck and cranking his hands forward, forcibly bending her neck and rendering her arms, and by extension her sword, useless.

Minato, on the other hand, dropped all pretense of concern. Smirking, he leaned down and picked up the crowbar, a little slick on one end from when he'd used it previously, before slugging the woman across the jaw with it to the sound of shattering bone.

”HOME RUN!” Minato exclaimed, pantomiming like he was watching the metaphorical baseball as it soared through the air.

The other Minato let the woman's limp form fall from his grip before the two Minas shared an enthusiastic high-five!

The pair of them dragged Jessica into the conference room and laid her beside Will. Then it was back to work.

FabulousTrash · May 11, 2022

Kanna Katsura - Azure Dragons - [CS LINK]
Scene - [B-SIDE] Pre-Arc 1 - 2015 | Dealing with a Squid's Mistakes
Location - Kanna's Garage
Mentions/Interactions - Yong-Yut Somsri (

gxxberkit )

Kanna nodded along to Yong's explanation. Knowing the details of her accident wasn't entirely necessary, but Kanna found it helpful to know what she was working with. Plus, she wanted to make some conversation. It was easy to notice how nervous Yong was, especially being somewhere unfamiliar.

The ends of her lips curled up into a small smile at the mention of Vulken. It had been a while since Kanna last saw him, but any friend of his was a friend of hers. And right now, Yong needed help restoring her bike.

What did she call it? Duchess?...Nice name.

"You get used to his...talking, eventually."

Kanna took her hands out of her pockets, moving to the nearby corner. Against it was a workbench, complete with drawers, cabinets and overhead storage. There were pegboards against the wall where various tools hung from. Opening up a couple of the drawers, Kanna took out some tools, laying them out on top of the workbench. She then grabbed two rolling chairs that were nearby, sliding one over to Yong.

"We might be here for a while. Feel free to sit and make yourself comfortable."

Kanna reached for the first tool, a socket wrench. She attached an adaptor to it, then sat down in the other chair and moved to the bike lift. She lowered it slightly so that the bike was level with her body. First order of business was to disassemble the front end, since thats where most of the damage was. Her eyes scanned the assembly for a moment before taking her wrench and began to work.

She worked quickly and efficiently, her hands moving like a well-oiled machine of their own. The irony, considering where they were. It was only a couple minutes before Kanna had the front wheel off and the brake discs. Her attention moved to the front suspension rods, but Kanna paused for a moment, realizing what she had done. Kanna moved away from the bike for a moment to look at Yong.

"My apologizes. I'm Kanna. And you are?"

Doctor Llamabean · May 11, 2022

ROCCHI (Nakazajo Chikage)

SCENE:

Part-Time Pandemonium

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1— May 2020, almost 11:00pm

LOCATION:

Burger Knight, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Chikage, Yong-Yut gxxberkit

PART-TIME PANDEMONIUM

<<< Remember

Chikage heard the girl but didn’t tear his eyes away from the window just yet. Then, when he did, he smiled at her, “As you wish,” and handed her the bucket.

She took it and waved—instinctively, Chikage waved back—then began wiping down the tables.

As he returned to the back, he met eyes with Detective Perez, who was taking apart the broiler for cleaning, before grabbing a large, orange bucket to fill with ice from the large ice-machine. Ice-O-Matic, read a label on its side.

Chikage set the bucket down, grabbed the scooper, and lifted the black lid to the machine, then began shoveling ice into the bucket until it was full. When he picked it up, it was like lifting a feather. Some pieces of ice dropped onto the floor, and he kicked them into the drain beneath the machine with one swift sweep of his foot. Then, he headed back to the Lobby where he dumped the ice into the top of the interactive soda fountain.

He did this several times until the soda fountain was full and ready for opening in the morning.

Once finished, he put the bucket back where it came from, grabbed two plastic gloves and a roll of trash bags, and returned to the Lobby where Yong had been cleaning tables.

“Have you finished with the tables?” he asked, scanning the area and, once again, taking a moment to examine the parking lot outside. He saw only darkness.

Any minute now.

“I will change the trash cans,” he offered while slipping the gloves onto his hands, the right of which already wore one of black leather to cover the burns from that wretched Draken so many years ago. Not just his hand, but his entire arm… The entire right side of his body and halfway up his neck, marked by the Phoenix. For this reason, he always wore long-sleeves.

“While I do, you’re free to vacuum the rugs if you’re not opposed to it. Need I show you where the vacuum is?”

Just then, the manager, carrying a cash drawer on her hip and a headset around her neck in addition to the one on her head, came up from behind the front counter and called out to Yong. “Yong, I'm putting you on Drive-Thru for the next hour. Putting you a drawer in now.” And she beckoned for YY to come up, preparing to give them a quick rundown of the Drive-Thru process.

“Take this headset. You’ll hear a beep if someone pulls up. When that happens, you just click this button on the side and say: ‘Welcome to Burger Knight, how can I help you?’” The manager began explaining the register. “Everything is pretty much spelled out for you here. If they want a Bopper,” she pointed to an image of a large burger on the screen underlined with the word ‘Bopper’. “You click Bopper, here, and it’ll ask if they want cheese, blah, blah~ It's pretty late, so you might not get a customer, but never say never.” Once finished, she gave Yong a thumbs-up and left to her office to continue filling out paperwork, but not before saying, “Any questions, ask Luke.”

As if on queue, the headset started beeping, and from beyond it, someone spoke, "Ay, uh, y'all still open?"

Chikage had watched them pull into the parking lot and drive around, but concluded that they weren't his guy.

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

— —In this specific scene, Chikage is wearing a jacket to conceal his firearm.

— —SCENE DESCRIPTION: Chikage (a Lieutenant at this time), going by the alias Luke Thorne, and one of his partners, Detective Perez, aka Thomas Sangster-Brody, are conducting an undercover investigation at a Burger Knight in order to catch a drug-dealing perpetrator named John Johnson who has been frequenting said Burger Knight suspiciously close to closing time. Yong-Yut of the Scarlet Phoenixes just so happens to be trying their hand at customer service, and this is their first day. So far, it has been business as usual, and Yong-Yut is about to take their first Drive-Thru order.

WhiskeyMarten · May 11, 2022

HECTOR MOSES

SCENE:

Lost on Bourbon

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1, 11PM, June 4th 2021

LOCATION:

"Party Bus", North District outskirts

PARTICIPANTS:

Hector, Boltius

LOST ON BOURBON

Hector's head tilted back against the window behind him, as his eyes started to flutter shut. The man's words in his ear stopped making sense and it was easier for him just to ignore them. His mind wandered away from him, towards sleep.

"Hector? You still with me?"

No response from the Ace evoked a quiet chuckle from the man. He tapped a woman on the shoulder, Boltius's interrogator. "I think we've got one of the HPs already. Easier than I thought." The man flashed a smile at Boltius but otherwise ignored him while he spoke.

"Ah, you're great~" The woman winked at him, placing a hand on her hip as she looked up, "You check if he's contacted anyone? Don't want anyone on our tail again," she whispered.

"I'll do that now. You continue entertaining our friend here."

Hector hadn't moved from where the man left him. Looking down at him, the corner of a phone protruding from his pocket instantly caught his attention. Bingo. With everyone around him distracted, the man felt at ease snatching the phone, though perhaps he was a bit too careless. Feeling a hand against his leg caused Hector to stir, opening one eye, then both.

"Wuh-"

The man looked concerned for a moment but this wasn't a problem at all. In fact, it made his task even easier.
"My phone?"
Though Hector could see the phone in the man's hand, flashing his lock screen, he still patted his pockets in the hopes that his phone was still there. "Need to call Bolt... Antares... let them know where I am."

"Of course, I'll call them for you." The man turned the screen towards Hector's face. Hector took his sunglasses off, dropping them into his lap, instantly blinded by the bright screen. He swiped the phone and it prompted him to enter his pin code.

"Enter... your..." Hector read slowly, then looked up with a puzzled expression. The man looked back, looking impatient. "What's your password?"
"Oh." Hector tapped a few numbers. "It's the date I... joined the Phoenixes." Hector said with uncertainty, taking his hand away as the phone unlocked, he rubbed his eyes before returning back to grab the phone. It was taken away before he could react.

"I'll take care of that for you. You just sleep now."
"Mmm," Hector responded, and his eyes shut. A moment, or a few, later they opened again and he searched the bus with a groggy expression. "Where's..." He didn't even know the man's name, so that sentence stopped quickly, "Um... Boltius?" With the man that was keeping him down nowhere to be seen, Hector could use his remaining energy to get up without being stopped. His shades fell to the floor as he stood.

Spotting Bolt's signature red hair not too far away, Hector hurried over until he was stood in front of his seat, behind the two women. He placed an arm over one of them without thinking, and she recoiled at his touch.

"Heyyy! I was looking for you."

"Hey-"
"Is this your friend? What's your name?"
"Hector." He spoke involuntarily, as he tried to go past them towards Boltius, "We're friends... Aren't we?" The ladies made no effort to stop Hector from walking toward him, just watching them both in silence as Hector fell beside him. He clung onto Boltius's arm for support as he fell to his knees, completely forgetting about the man that took his phone to "call his friends for him". "We're like brothers." He leaned against him, his thoughts starting to slow again, "only he's a fucking.... he's..." Hector's voice trailed away as his arm fell limp onto Boltius's leg.
"Wanna get off this stupid bus..." That was the last thing he slurred before his eyes shut again.

Roda the Red · May 12, 2022

Charlie Hughes

SCENE:

[Hair and Memories]

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1, March 9th 2021

LOCATION:

Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Mimi

Hair and Memories

It was that time once again. Ever since joining the phoenixes which allowed him to have a much more generoush cash flow than whatever jobs he had prior, Charlie now decided to at least once every couple of months to going to a hair salon in order to get his hair treated. Not like there was anything wrong with it, but his healthy, silky and shiny mane that he was so proud of was the result of his dedication to taking the utmost care of it, so as always, the day prior he had arranged to make an appointment at the hair salon in South District he would always go to.

So then, why is it that he was now standing in front of the south-west block of Upper Central? That is a wonderful question indeed! You see, unfortunately Charlie's usual place was completely booked for the current day, so instead he decided to arrange with another place he was recommended to located in central. Standing in front of the stablishment, Charlie stared at the entrance's sign, displaying its...peculiar name.

"SPLENDIFEROUS"

...

Well, if you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, so the same should be said about a shop's name, right? And either way the boy was already here, so little point in turning back now. As he entered through the front door, the receptionist's head erected away from her phone, alarmed by the ringing of the door's bell, she responded with what could be described as a classic nine-to-five fake smile.

"Good day! I scheduled an appointment for today, should be listed as Charlie Hughes"

With little reaction or emotion, both with Charlie's words and to life as a whole, the receptionist lady checked on the registered list of the day.

"Here it is, alright, Charlie, take a seat, i'll make sure they tend to you in a minute".

And soy he sat down in one of the chairs nearby, staring at some magazines laying on top of a coffee table for a second. Said magazines could be fairly accurately be described as...utterly ancient. So instead he decided to grab his and entertain himself like that in more modern way like that before it was time.

WhiskeyMarten · May 12, 2022

HECTOR MOSES / DARIUS KENNEDY

SCENE:

Two and a Half Men

LOCATION:

Karaoke Bar, South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Darius, Hector, Ten

Two and a Half Men

Darius had his eyes locked on Hector the moment they met, as they sat together divided only by their mutual friend. They couldn't look like a more out of place trio if they tried. Darius had made an effort to dress up for the event, looking more appropriately dressed for a fancy restaurant than in this particular setting. Hector, on the other hand, seemed to have made little effort, and this showed in his relaxed disposition as he spread his arms out across the back of the sofa.

Darius had made sure to sit next to Ten, and away from the stranger. Something about Hector unnerved him, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what. It was almost as though he knew him from somewhere, and the name rang a bell, but nothing was coming to mind. They're not a Serpent, are they? That wasn't the only reason he chose to sit next to Ten. He also just wanted to be close to them. Something about them sparked something he had never felt before. Between his days of gore and agony, and his nights of crying himself to a restless sleep was a glimmer of hope. Was it love? Darius couldn't tell. All he knew was that he wished this time spent with them would never end.

He waved awkwardly at Hector, hunching forward in his seat, clearly nervous. "Nice to meet you!"

"It's wonderful to meet you, Darius."
Hector matched Darius's nervous stare with a sly grin in the Serpent's direction. He knew he was making him uncomfortable and he was kind of enjoying it. Of course, he'd much rather Darius relax and enjoy his new company, but he could tell it would be difficult. He wasn't fond of the uptight types.

"I met you two at di-di-di-di-d-di-di-different clubs! Isn’t that s-s-s-so-so- so cool!!”

Reaching his hand across the sofa for Darius to shake, Hector answered Ten.
"That's very cool, isn't it? Shame we didn't meet sooner."

Darius returned the grin with a smile of his own, he didn't want to make a bad first impression after all. He was visibly surprised when Hector offered a handshake and was unsure of what to do. Most people who knew Darius's potential wouldn't dare to touch him, even through clothes, though Hector wasn't even aware of his HP status yet. Darius had hoped he wouldn't have to tell him, but based on the way they'd interacted so far, warning him seemed to be the safest thing to do. Later though.

He nodded in agreement while he reached his gloved hand out for a handshake. He wasn't fond of them, and he was reminded of why when Hector grabbed his hand. It started off as a light grab, but his grip intensified until the pain could be felt. He bailed from the shake, releasing his fingers in surrender, and Hector let go. He received a nod from the Phoenix afterwards, and the grin seemed to grow even more wicked, for some reason.

He took the handshake well. Had Darius expressed discomfort sooner, Hector would've written him off as an NP, boring, but he was glad he put his strength to the test. The near-universal similarity between every single HP was their strength and durability, and Darius suddenly appeared far more interesting in Hector's eyes.

He moved closer to Darius, filling the gap Ten created as he listened to what they had to say. He simply loved to hear his name being spoken. He looked around the room as Ten pointed out the lack of turnout. Obviously, he had already noticed that there were only 3 people in the room, but he wanted to play along.

"I think we've got a perfect little group right here. Plenty of time on the mic for our newbie."

The newbie was leaning forward, trying to avoid the arm that snaked around the back of the sofa. In his opinion, 3 was possibly the worst group size there could've been. Just him and Ten would've been perfect, he wanted the opportunity to get to know them better. A full house would've been great, too. Despite his nerves being shot almost constantly, Darius would've fit right into a crowd. 3 was just... awkward. He considered ordering a drink from the bar to calm down a little, but he didn't want to end up going too far and make a fool of himself. Instead, he focused on Ten.

"This is fine, don't worry. And go ahead! I'd love to hear you sing!"
"No objections here either."

Damafaud · May 12, 2022

Dyne Enjyre

Music

SCENE:

Chill and Relax

TIME:

Sunday, June 6th, 2021 || Pre-Arc 1

LOCATION:

For Vacancy Bar, Eastern District

PARTICIPANTS:

Dyne, Jackson, Corvo, Hector, Izumi, Peyton, others

Chill and Relax

"Really, I can do it, too."

"Faster if I do it."

Dyne pouted. With universities having exam, the days at For Vacancy Bar had been practically dead. So, she thought of playing some music. Jonathan inserted the plug and turned the keyboard on. Disharmonious melody played when he ran his fingers through it. He grinned and pointed at it with his thumb.

"See? Faster."

"Hmph." Dyne shoved the broad-shouldered manager aside to his chuckle. She had struggled with the keyboard for 10 minutes before Jonathan took over. Now, the keyboard was playing.

She hadn't played for a while. Not since she left Spainisia, yet, as she let muscle memories took over, it all came back running. The rhythm dancing on her fingertips, the crisp ring of each key after each press. The little embarrassment she felt melted into joy. She missed playing, truly.

"Do you have any song request, darling?" She turned to Jonathan, who had been watching with a fascinated look.

"Er- ah-" Caught in the act, he scrambled for words. "Anythin's fine. Only knew club musics, anyway."

Nothing sophisticated enough. She caught that undertone. Of faults of no one, really, but the gap in their upbringing was a wound that hurt Jonathan often. Fighting, that he could do, but he didn't have the time or opportunity to enjoy what she and Faris had.

That won't do. "Come on, darling. Surely you got something in mind~"

And after some hesitation, he did. Hearing his answer, Dyne was stunned before bursting out laughing.

"Really, darling, I didn't expect that from you!"

Jonathan's ears burned red and muttered something along the line of 'no need to bother'. Dyne giggled. "Let me look up the sheet and I'll play your song, darling."

Faris Dwi Arima (NPC)

SCENE:

Chill and Relax

TIME:

Sunday, June 6th, 2021 || Pre-Arc 1

LOCATION:

For Vacancy Bar, Eastern District

PARTICIPANTS:

Dyne, Jackson, Corvo, Hector, Izumi, Peyton, others

Chill and Relax

Faris heard the singing before he saw them. A song he recognized, yes, from a time awhile ago.

He entered through the front with a sack of ice from the vendor a block away. Dyne, who noticed his entrance, raised her eyebrows in recognition, but she was busy. She was playing the keyboard, reading musical notes of a phone as Jonathan prepped it standing, kneeling next to her. The man was too focused on singing right to notice him. His voice was fine, if trembling from nervousness. Faris gave them a gentle smile before going to the backroom to break the ice.

Ice dessert for the hot day. He took a small chunk and, with a knife, shaved it into four portions of ice. With syrup, everything was perfect. He carried the dessert on a tray, and he heard voices once more.

"Come on, darling, sing it to me!"

"Agh, fine- Yet I'm feeling like,
There is no better place than right by your side.
I had a little taste
And I'll only spoil the party anyway,"

Faris raised an eyebrow. Now that won't do. He hastened his pace- not so fast to be noticed, but enough that he could sing with Jonathan in a chorus,

""'Cause all the girls are looking fine, But you're the only one on my mind""

Jonathan turned and glared at him. Faris smiled in returned and started distributing the shaved ice. Meanwhile, Dyne laughed. Her melodious voice rang free as the men continued staring in their hidden competition, delightful as her mood was. He knew she was.

"La da dee
La da dee doo
La da da me
La da da you
La da dee
La da dee doo
There's only me
There's only you
La da dee
La da dee doo
La da da me
La da da you
La da dee
La da dee doo
When you were gone I think of you~"

Her laughter rang again. Faris, to that end, could only have a helpless smile.
There was no response to this, was there?

Caffeine_Obsessed · May 12, 2022

Yuto Nishimura

SCENE:

Along Came the Spider

TIME: Pre Arc 1- 2021, August 12

LOCATION:

Drumlin Diner

PARTICIPANTS:

Darius, Tenebrosity

Along Came the Spider

Yuto’s head dangled off the edge of the rooftop, his arm swinging lazily through the bars encompassing it. There was absolutely nothing for him to do that seemed entertaining enough…. Though he supposed that wasn’t unusual. He really couldn’t understand how others lived day by day in their normal routine… didn’t they get sick of it? A shudder went through him just at the thought of living in a boring, 9 to 5 job, returning home to an empty apartment, eating - then sleeping and repeating the same thing over… and over… and over. Ugh.~ That sounded absolutely revolting.

With a sigh, the black haired boy sat up, a pout on his lips. He supposed he could always do a job for the serpents… a dismissive chuckle soon left his lips, shaking his head at the ridiculous thought. No. He didn’t want to. That wasn’t what he needed right now…

Yuto gasped and straightened his back. What he needed! Of course! Humans always needed sustenance! Smiling, he shot up, spinning to face the stone fence. Leaning over it, Yuto let gravity topple him the rest of the way over. Soon enough, wind was lashing out at him, his baggy jacket flopping away. With a breathless laugh, he turned himself over midway, shooting his hands out to the wall nearest to him. With a sharp painful scrape to his palms, he was sticking to it, the air abruptly laying still. He pushed himself off the wall with his shoes, the rest of his body quickly following him to crash on the ground. Getting up, Yuto brushed the dust off of his shoulders with a satisfied and smug smirk.

Now… food~

~~

Yuto hummed to himself, tapping his chin. It didn’t seem… like a bad diner per say. Then again- Yuto wasn’t one to look at reviews before eating something.

He shook his head, shaking himself out of his thoughts. Anywho~ it was time to eat. Yuto strolled into the desolate diner, humming a small tune and glancing around. Other than the workers, who were standing behind the counter- it seemed empty. Like- totally devoid of customers.. was it really that bad? Or maybe it was the competitors across the street stealing all the business. They- on the other hand- seemed really busy. Yuto pursued his lips, tilting his head to inspect the workers. Like those old movies, they were wearing a white and red striped uniform, with white aprons to match.

One of them- which Yuto read the fake steel plastic nametag pinned to his shirt as “Mark” came up to him in a rush, anticipation lacing his features. “Hello! Welcome, valued customer!” This man seemed almost… shocked- that Yuto came in. How funny~ Even more so- it seemed he was wearing rollerskates. Yuto lifted a hand to his mouth to cover his giggle, tilting his head to give mark a closed eyes smile. “I’m glad to be here!~”

~~

An hour later, Yuto had every worker with their hands tied behind their backs with his web, lined up just in front of the long bar like- counter. Crossing his arms, one of his short, clean nails tapped his chin, all three of Yuto’s eyes trailing from of face to another. “Which of you shall I eat first?~ “ Yuto would ask about their diets- but that was so boring.. a taste test will have to do~ once he killed them all first that is. But who first? His eyes landed on Mark and his orange hair, the first worker who greeted him. A creepy smile graced Yuto’s face, as he slowly stepped closer and closer to his target. “Since you were so nice to me~ I’ll spare you the pain of having to see all your friends die before you!~ sound good? Hmhmhm~“

Just as the three eyed man lifted his hand towards Mark, out of the corner of his eye- he saw two shadowed figures (thanks to the closed blinds) grow closer and closer. Yuto hummed, jogging over to lift a panel and see who dared disturb him. A gasp of delight left his lips. It was Darius! His friend who he hadn’t seen in such a long while.~ It almost seemed like dear Dari was avoiding him!~ but that was simply ridiculous! There was also.. someone else with him… how annoying…

Sudden joy and excitement filled his veins. He held his arms behind his back as he skipped back over to his victims, a wide smile on his face. “Act like everything’s normal- and I’ll think about letting you live. Got it?~” He walked over to Mark, booping his nose. “Behave now~ won’t you dear?~” Yuto giggled and tilted his head, a hair’s breath away from the ginger. He abruptly left his sight, untying all of them from his webs.

Taking his shoes off, he went behind the counter, into the kitchen to stick his palms and feet onto the wall, peering (upside down mind you) just below the the entrance to the door of the dining room.

gxxberkit

WhiskeyMarten

Doctor Llamabean · May 12, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

Nightlife Tryst

TIME:

Post-Arc 1/Pre-Arc 2—2021, September 19th—9:00 PM

LOCATION:

South District's Nightlife District, East-side...

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Dyne Damafaud

NIGHTLIFE TRYST

Boltius saw the woman just in time to stick his arms out as she lost her balance to a sudden impassioned whim~ Much to his nescience, of course. “Wuuuup!”

Careful not to catch a sexual harrassment claim, his hands took hold of her shoulders and straightened her up, and Boltius took a calculated step back. Denying him any effort not to, to witness the woman’s captivating beauty, a smile took hold of his lips. He licked them and covered his mouth before adopting a less giddy demeanor.

Then he gestured to her heels and asked, “Do your shoes usually try to get you killed?” Earbuds still playing music around his neck, he pulled them off, balled them up, and put them away in his pocket with his phone.

“What’re you doin’ in Nightlife lookin’ like you just left the bank, chick?” Boltius paused, then added, “I mean, don’t get me wrong,” he snickered, “it’s a good look... You meetin' your boss or somethin'?” His tone was jovial and joking as he spoke but his eyes studied her expression for any hint of distaste for the comments.

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —What he's wearing (X) + Black/Silver Earrings, Rings, and Chains rather than his usual golden.

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

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

— —SCENE DESCRIPTION: Boltius Beckman of the Scarlet Phoenixes and Dyne Enjyre of the Azure Dragons happen upon each other in the outskirts of the South's Nightlife District.

Doctor Llamabean · May 12, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

Lost on Bourbon

TIME:

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

LOCATION:

Somewhere outside of the city...

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Hector

LOST ON BOURBON

“You-... You good, chick?” Boltius asked the woman beside him—his words but slow slurs—ignoring his own growing disorientation. His hands felt heavy, but he managed to lift one to inspect her face, turning it to face him before he recognized her uncomfortable body language. She was hugging herself now and averting her gaze, as if she’d suddenly lost all confidence in her lack of clothes.

“Shiiiit,” Boltius groaned, “Just say somethin’, chick,” and began pulling off his shirt. When he handed it to her, she nodded in thanks and quickly put it on.

Just then, Hector appeared. “Heyyy! I was looking for you,” said the Ace to Bolt as he threw an arm around the standing girl’s shoulders. She recoiled at his touch but quickly brushed it off; she had to keep up face in order to maintain good terms with these Phoenixes.

She asked the Ace for his name and he complied, giving it to her before dropping to his knees, to which Boltius leaned forward in a failed attempt at catching him. “Shit!” Hector’s knees hit the floor and he slumped forward into Boltius’ lap, who drowsily relaxed backward with heavy eyes and a dopey grin. “Watch out, you’ll fall, brooo~” A delayed reaction, one might say.

Their drunken mumbles melted together with Hector’s consciousness fading, and Bolt’s not far behind.

“Wanna get off this stupid bus…” muttered Hector, finally succumbing to whatever hold the toxins in their drinks had over their minds.

Boltius slapped a hand on Hector’s head without much thought for what he was doing. He leaned his own head back and let his eyes shut, as well, and the girl beside him laid her head on his shoulder. Before drifting off, he played with the Ace’s hair, then finally went limp.

“Finally,” said the woman still standing. Her eyes scanned the bus, counting the number of unconscious passengers. There were eighteen. Five of them, counting the woman, stood awake, passing around triumphant grins and nods at their success.

“Wow, who would’ve thought we’d score an HP.” The woman smiled.

Someone else corrected her, “Two. We got two.”

“Whatever… The challenge now is keeping them. What do we do?”

“Keep pourin’ that shit down their throats until we get to the facility.” The facility, he said. A large factory set in the middle of seemingly nowhere, the holding location of many hosted black market events where wealthy faces from all over the world would go to marvel, mingle, or empty their wallets.

Upon entry, the facility truly embodied that of a typical factory, arousing no suspicions. However, upon delving further into its depths, it adopted a more gothic atmosphere. Red walls, black carpet, no windows through which the sun could penetrate, leaving the only light source to be the many candles placed throughout.

Two large men carried Boltius and Hector respectively and dropped them off in an empty room reinforced with steel walls and a steel door, leaving them with their wrists and ankles cuffed to metal slabs that were bolted to the floor. Shortly after they left, a lone man arrived wearing a mask, and he pressed his hand against their foreheads before snapping a stick of ammonia under their noses to wake them.

Boltius, at first, didn’t react… But when he did, he jolted with alarm and tried to rub his nose. “FFUUCKAAAGH WHAT!? WHAT, WHAT?! What the fuck?”

“Goot morning,” said the man, glancing between them, hands clasped behind his back.

Boltus stared shortly. “Wha-...” He inspected his binds temporarily, then stood hunched, as the chains would only let his hands go so far. “What the fuck is going on!?”

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

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

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

— —SCENE DESCRIPTION: Boltius and Hector, after loading up onto a generous party bus outside of the A-Club in Central, drunk out of their wits, have found themselves in a sticky situation... They've essentially been kidnapped and robbed of their potentials.

Elenion Aura · May 12, 2022

RAPHAEL SHAW

SCENE:

Unlikely Encounter

TIME:

Post Arc 1/Pre Arc 2 — Sometime After September 17th, 2021

LOCATION:

Geronimos, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raphael, August (

Doctor Llamabean )

UNLIKELY ENCOUNTER

Raph was used to this by now. He was used to patching himself up after a fight, alone. He balanced his butchered and bloody forearm atop his knee. The blood flowed with every beat of his heart, pumping fresh red ichor, sending it bubbling to the surface. Until it stopped. Raph guided his hand along the length of the gash, willing the blood that pooled there to congeal, clotting the wound shut with a net of bloody, fibrous particulates. He switched his position and performed the same, well-worn ritual on the other arm, the one he'd opened up with the bottle himself. When that was done, he'd at least stopped bleeding all over himself. What remained he dried and resorbed into his flesh, flexing his hands one finger at a time to check the feeling. He grimaced as he felt his newly-formed scabs start to stretch from the movement, but they did not tear. That was good. That was a start. But the work wasn't done, yet.

A fresh wound requires several things to heal. One of them is the easiest to accomplish: stop the bleeding. That much Raph had done. But beyond that, a wound needed oxygen. Raph took a deep breath in. He was struck by the realization that he felt all right... All things considered. He almost felt, in a strange kind of way... No. Never mind. There it is. The feeling. The one he'd expected to find here. The one he'd been waiting for. It had only been a matter of time.

In the cold quiet of that abandoned alleyway, Raph felt suddenly very alone.

Alone. Alone. Alone...

Raph was used to that by now, too. He'd always been this way. People came, people went. That was just the way of things. He had heard stories of people who stuck around for more than one drink, one night, one dance... But they belonged in other people's stories, not his. But maybe, just maybe, that was his fault, after all. Hell, Raph thought with a hoarse laugh that bubbled up out of him from out of nowhere. I didn't even tell him my name.

That was so like him. Ever a master of the art of self-sabotage. Probably, that's why he always ended up like this, in some empty alleyway licking his wounds alone. But was it so much to ask? If maybe... Possibly... Just this once, he didn't have to be alone..?

“Jeez." Raph buried his head in his hand, suddenly overcome with a wave of self-loathing. “How pathetic." Part of him wondered if he'd make it home tonight from here. Another part wondered if he cared. He wondered if the police found him here, in this state, would he be able to fend them off and make it out? Would he even try?

Idly Raph picked at the freshly scabbed skin of his arms as he waited for whatever may come. He was ready, or if he wasn't, he just didn't care anymore. It didn't matter, anyway. Nothing mattered. That was a cold comfort, at least. He could hear the sirens, now. It wouldn't be long before they found him, here. Raph closed his eyes.

Only to force them open as the sound of something falling into the alley beside him spurred Raph from his melancholy stupor. Scrambling to his feet, Raph prepared for a fight. His brain in its state couldn't fathom any other end to this. So when August's voice cut through the quiet of the alley, Raph's train of thought tripped over itself in an effort to derail its first instinct to lash out at this figure, whose features were slowly coming into focus under the light of the distant street-lamps.

Raph's mouth fell open, but no words came out. Luckily, August was apparently keen to do more than enough talking for the both of them. Dully, Raph stared at August as if he weren't real, or not really there. Part of his mind was busy processing what August was saying to him, while another, larger part was expectantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the joke to land... Only it never did.

After an awkward pause, with Raph neither following August nor retreating, he thought aloud at last, in a breathy, baffled kind of voice, “You came back..?"

Though, after that, a more logical part of his brain kicked into gear, spurred to action by the encroaching sounds of sirens in the distance

“Hm. Well... Oh, all right." He acqueisced at last, pretending to give the offer some serious thought. “Though, I don't think I'm good to drive. Besides, it'll be nice to have a chauffeur."

As August turned to lead him out of the alley to his parked and waiting car, Raph found himself struggling not to smile.

How pathetic. ~

Damafaud · May 13, 2022

DYNE ENJYRE

SCENE:

Nightlife Tryst

TIME:

Post-Arc 1/Pre-Arc 2—2021, September 19th—9:00 PM

LOCATION:

South District's Nightlife District, East-side

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Dyne

Nightlife Tryst

<< Previous Post
Oh my.

An imperceptible light glinted at the corner of her eyes as she let help came her way.

Despite the streetwise attire and tattoos, the young man treated her like a righteous man would. No advantage taken, though the twitching of his lips didn't evade her eyes. Of course, she couldn't blame a man for having good taste~

Really, she came here for that darling Hector, but it would be a waste to miss this opportunity. Let's play, shall we?

Dyne grasped awkwardly at her shoulder as the young man helped her stood. Their hands, warm against the chill of September, inevitably touched. The two separated and Dyne took care to remove strands of hair off her forehead with a flustered look.

"Oh, it's such an unlucky landing." She pursed her lips, all the more embarrassed she looks. And as he commented her clothes, Dyne furrowed her brows and let some steel showed. Just a hint of annoyance; say nothing if you have nothing good to say to someone's clothes, darling.

She crossed her arms across her chest. "A meeting, though I suppose it matters not anymore." Dyne shot a resenting look to the distance, unwilling, so unwilling. "Really, some men care for nothing but wealth and dare to call others materialistic and shallow. Oh, so frustrating!"

Of course, there was no meeting, as Dyne stomped in indignation. But who could resist such opening? Dyne huffed and pulled at her cardigan to loosen some air, yet another move to appeal, to let her hair flow under the moonlight and her facial beauty expressed. Then, she to the young man with a killer smile carrying the killer question, "Can you point me to the closest bar, darling? I couldn't care less for quality or ambiance at this point."

>> Next Post

Caffeine_Obsessed · May 13, 2022

HIDE ISHIDA

SCENE:

Hazardous Chance

TIME:

Pre Arc 1- 2019, September 18

LOCATION:

South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raphael, Hide

Hazardous Chance

A rush of excitement filled Hide’s bloodstream, and this time- it wasn’t because of all the cans of caffeine he’d drank prior. This was the day where he finally got his new home! Thanks to the hurricane, his previous home had been caught in the commotion, destroyed to all hell. Of course, Hide went to visit it a long while ago, and despite not being told so- he could tell it was in no way salvageable. It was a bit disappointing, considering it was originally his family’s home, but he wasn’t too upset…. Ok that was a lie. He was fucking enraged at the scene, nearly ripping the throats of anyone who came near him at the time. But he’s calmed down now, and that’s all that mattered. There was no use in mourning what was already gone anymore.

Unlike before, he’d be getting an apartment with what funds he had saved and not already spent off… which wasn’t a lot. He’d make do. Along with his excitement came a slight twinge of nervousness. This was his first time doing something like this after all. Hide just hoped the whole… process wasn’t too complicated. He just wanted his home and be done with it. Fuck all the contracts and shit.

Hide adjusted his glasses, swiping a small amount of cocoa butter leave in conditioner (Yes he uses that instead of gel… it isn’t very effective.) into his white hair, making himself somewhat presentable. If he was gonna get this, he had to look as trustworthy as he could be. Though he supposed it didn’t really matter-

Hide was getting it either way.

~~

Glancing at his phone, he mumbled a curse under his breath. Why was this address so hard to find for fucks sake?! He’d already looked twice to where this fucking GPS Guugle maps bullshit said the place was. He should be standing right on it! Hide groaned loudly, making a sharp left turn. Surely it had to be here some- aha! Finally! He’d found it. That fucking corner was the thing that fooled him- it wasn’t his fault!

Hide climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, where the man who intended to sell it to him- “Martin Briggs” or whatever- was supposed waiting. His bony knuckle rapped on the door, Hide straightening his back preparing for a greeting… only no one answered. A frown formed on the white haired man’s face, but he waited some more. And more. And more. After about 5 minutes of waiting, Hide grew severely impatient, as did his temper. Letting out a huff, he stepped back, and kicked the door open, the wood slamming into the wall. “WHY THE FUCK DIDN’T YOU-“ Hide paused. No one was in here… the fuck?

After searching through the whole damn place, Hide found no sign of life… though there were signs of a fight. Did some bastard try and take Hide’s new apartment before him? He’ll be sure to kill ‘em… Hide didn’t have to do much. Thanks to his .. insistence, Martin agreed to let Hide GPS track his phone. No matter how shit Hide was at following the directions on the tiny phone, he was on his way.

~~

After an hour, Hide assumed he had found the place. It was a rickety old warehouse, with old ramshackled buildings surrounding the area. What those buildings used to be- he couldn’t quite tell. The street was quiet, a few cars parked along the road. Some seemed old- abandoned. Others seemed like they just got here. This had to be the place. Hide would cut off his own hand if it wasn’t!

Hide stiffened, eyes blowing wide in panic. Someone was coming out! Hide ducked behind an old car across the street from the warehouse, skidding his elbow in the process. He bit his lip to avoid letting out a hiss of pain. The scarred man held his breath, slowly and cautiously picking up his glasses that fell in the process of him hiding. Once in hand, he quickly tucked it into his shirt, pressing his back to the car’s door.

He heard the footsteps come closer, closer, until it stopped just before the car. He wasn’t stupid enough to take a peek to see if the man spotted Hide just yet. Hide did his best to stay still, his palms sweating against the metal of the car. Finally, he heard the footsteps fading away, reckoning the man went back into the warehouse. Hide let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t get caught.

Elenion Aura

Doctor Llamabean · May 13, 2022

TAZZ (August August)

SCENE:

Unlikely Encounter

TIME:

Post-Arc 1/Pre-Arc 2 — September 19th, 2021: 11:40 PM

LOCATION:

Geronimos, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Raphael ( Elenion Aura )

UNLIKELY ENCOUNTER

“You came back..?” blurted the Serpent, earning from August a blinking-eyed pause.

“Uh…” A witty retort rose in his throat, but he thought better of it, as this wasn’t the time for joking around, and so he simply nodded—a swift, hurrying gesture to accentuate the gravity of the situation.

“Yeh. ‘S no biggie, mate.” As he said this, he turned his body to leave the alley, listening to the Serpent speak and turn down the offer of driving, which was fine. They had time. Not much. But enough.

Assuming the position of a jogger, he moved as if running—kicking his knees high and swinging his arms—but his pace remained the same. “Gotta go fast, mate. Not a lotta toime.” But the behavior was short lived, for he lost the mental energy to keep it up.

Once they reached the car, August’s door was already open and the engine was running. He threw himself into the seat with calm haste and buckled up, then when the Serpent was in, he shut his door, gripped the wheel, and reversed out of the parking lot at a speed that truly downplayed the urgency he’d been trying to stress.

The car straightened up on the street and August shifted into Drive just as two police cruisers, lights flashing, cut the corner behind them. But by then he was already moving, playing the part of a regular civilian happening by. And when the cruisers turned into Geronimo’s lot, he knew they were in the clear, and visibly relaxed, sighing away the tension that had been gripping his nerves since he made the decision to come back.

“Aaaaa~ Ha.” August looked at Raphael with a subtle, victorious smile. “They call me Mario.” A reference to a famous racer, then a quick change of subject, “Alroight, so wheh to?” Eyes on the road, he patted his hands in a rhythmic beat against the steering wheel and bobbed his head. “Y’know yoh tha fuh’st person t’ occupy that seat. Ah ‘aven’t had this beauty foh long… ‘Ts gotta bum warmah if ya int’rested. If ya use it ah’ll pretend not t’ notice.”

AUGUST NOTES: — —What he's wearing (X) + Covered in red, wine stains

— —His car (2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (X))

— —SCENE DESCRIPTION: After an unlikely encounter at a bar called Geronimo's which consisted of August and Raphael clashing with some Albino Tigers, August has offered to give the drunk Raphael a ride to a place of his choosing.

Doctor Llamabean · May 13, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)

SCENE:

Nightlife Tryst

TIME:

Post-Arc 1/Pre-Arc 2—2021, September 19th—9:00 PM

LOCATION:

South District's Nightlife District, East-side...

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Dyne Damafaud

NIGHTLIFE TRYST

Boltius noted the woman’s reaction to his comment on her clothes and told himself to be more careful with his words. Many a friend or comrade had warned him or scolded him for his poor manners and way of approaching and talking to women. He came off, oftentimes, as rude or hostile.

Then at the vague mention of a meeting, he tilted his head, listening. She expressed her woes—something of men and their ill intentions—which caused the orange-haired Phoenix to scoff. “Ha, you ain’t wrong, chick. But that road goes both ways, if I’m bein’ honest.” He paused and added, rubbing the nape of his neck. “But- uh- This… This is about you… My bad.”

The woman huffed and pulled at the collar of her shirt, inquiring about a bar. Boltius’ fiery-orange eyes instinctively moved to glimpse her neck and collarbone, but didn’t linger long before focusing elsewhere. Her beauty was intimidating and on a different level than that of the women he was used to courting.

They matched in height, but Boltius didn’t mind. He’d be a fool to let a treasure like her slip through his fingers without so much as an attempt at getting to know her. At the very least, her name.

A chuckle parted his lips as he spoke, “Haha! Alright. Yeah, yeah. You’re askin’ the right guy.” And he placed himself beside her—in the same motion, pulled out his phone and disconnected the earphones that were attached to it. The music played aloud shortly, blaring curse words, but he casually turned it off before opening his browser. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

With their shoulders so near to touching, he made sure that she could see his screen as a selection of the nearest clubs, bars, and lounges loaded up. Pointing to the first one, he told her, “This one’s got five stars, but it’s a party-hard atmosphere. I know you said you’re not picky about ambiance~,” Boltius said the word almost mockingly, but meant no ill-intention, “but this place gets fuckin’ wild, bro… Gotta know your audience with these ratings.”

“Moving on, this one’s five-star, this one’s four, then we drop straight to two and two… two- Here’s another four, but this one,” he scrolled back up and pointed to one of the options, “This four-star, while it ain’t my favorite, might suit a lady of your…” Boltius leaned away, rotating his hand in a pointed gesture, and looked the woman up and down.

He met her eyes for a brief eternity. She was beyond beautiful, he could not deny.

“Wow.” Boltius pulled his eyes away and shook his head. “Sorry…” He gave a small smile and stepped back a tad. “I ain’t really got the kind of vocabulary it might take to flatter someone as gorgeous as you… But, uh… I-” He nodded. “Yeah, I think I can point you in the right direction… Um… Are you… Do you maybe want some company? Because I- You know, I’m free, if you’re interested. I was just on my way home, is all…”

Boltius would be lying if he said he wasn’t still tired, but some things were worth it.

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —What he's wearing (X) + Black/Silver Earrings, Rings, and Chains rather than his usual golden. The pink shirt is tied around his waist by the sleeves, leaving him in a grey tank top.

— —Tattoo Reference (X)

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

— —SCENE DESCRIPTION: Boltius Beckman of the Scarlet Phoenixes and Dyne Enjyre of the Azure Dragons happen upon each other in the outskirts of the South's Nightlife District. A woman like Dyne is of a higher standard than what Boltius is used to, but he hopes he can charm her.

Damafaud · May 14, 2022

DYNE ENJYRE

SCENE:

Nightlife Tryst

TIME:

Post-Arc 1/Pre-Arc 2—2021, September 19th—9:00 PM

LOCATION:

South District's Nightlife District, East-side

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Dyne

Nightlife Tryst

<< Previous Post

A hint of craving glinted on her smile as the young man guided her through the establishments around. He was unrefined, yes, but a tame fire wouldn't be appealing, would it? He acted like a young lion trying to catch a stallion. She found his clumsiness cute; dazzling in that awkwardness inexperience had.

A giggle escaped Dyne for the instant their eyes met. She had decided. "Let me see them again, would you, darling?"

She closed the gap he created and, without warning, scrolled on his phone. Their lower arms crossed. Her hair brushed against his naked shoulder as she bent to look closer. Oh, she knew what she was doing. Dyne tapped on the five-star venue the young man recommended.

"I wouldn't mind some adventure with the company of an attractive man," She smiled playfully. "What do you think, darling? Care to be a guide into the night?"

As she spoke, Dyne unbuttoned her blazer. Her blazer, slowly shed from her frame, revealed a white sleeveless dress that fit right on her body.

Dressing so tidily was just awfully unsuitable to where she planned to go. Really, it couldn't be helped~

>>Next Post

Doctor Llamabean · May 14, 2022

BOLTIUS BECKMAN

SCENE:

Park-Time Recreation

TIME:

Pre-Arc 1—2015, June 20th (Saturday)—1:00 PM

LOCATION:

Upper Central, Central Park...

PARTICIPANTS:

Boltius, Milo, Matsuda, Nanami (NPC)

PARK-TIME RECREATION

Sweet, sweet Summer… The season of memories.

A time shortly before Boltius spared even a thought toward joining a gang, no tattoos sleeving his arm and leg, and his choice of attire terribly unsuited to the warm weather. You’d have thought he was expecting a snowstorm.

Standing there in his scarves, beanie, and thick coat, he bounced on his toes in waiting, glancing around for any defining characteristics belonging to his three friends.

They’d all agreed to meet up today for some typical fun, and Bolt was the first to show up. Or was he…? Was he lost? Were the others already together and waiting for him?

On that thought, Boltius pinched his eyebrows together and withdrew his phone. He found their group chat and texted: “ay bros yall meetin up yet? ive been standing at gate for like 15”

Once it was sent, he stared at the screen, tapping a foot against the brick pathway that stretched deeper into the park in a winding course, leading visitors to the ground’s main attractions and historical markers.

Elenion Aura

Caffeine_Obsessed

BOLTIUS NOTES: — —What he's wearing (X) + His usual Earrings, Rings, and Chains

— —Boltius doesn't have any tattoos at this point in time. He is only sixteen years old.

— —This is almost two years after Boltius started working out and calculating his nutrition. Also, at this point in time, he knew nothing of Vulken's affiliation with the Scarlet Phoenixes.

— —Random Note: This scene takes place two weeks after Boltius broke up with his girlfriend, Haven Tembergarten, after she called his mother a bitch during one of the Beckman Dinners. Boltius has, since then, been calling her "Haven Tempergarten".

— —SCENE DESCRIPTION: It's a warm Summer day and the boys, Matsuda, Milo, Boltius, and Nanami have decided to meet up at Central Park in the Central District. A very casual, slice-of-life event.

Elenion Aura · May 14, 2022

MILO NAGISA

SCENE:

Meeting 101

LOCATION:

Pre Arc 1, April 24th, 2008

LOCATION:

South District

PARTICIPANTS:

Jesper, Milo

MEETING 101

Springtime in New Oasis was Milo's favorite, even if the fresh flung pollen did tickle his nose. Everything felt more awake, more alive. The colors felt saturated and vibrant, as if the whole world had successfully shaken out the chill of the passing winter. Spring reminded Milo of a happy kind of feeling. The feeling, which his young mind struggled to name, was hopefulness. Eventually, the advent of spring would lose this effect on him, but not yet. Not today.

Milo was sitting in a shaded park on a low stone ledge across from a copse of young budding trees. His box of colored pencils rested beside him as he balanced his coloring book in his lap. He was glad he'd remembered to bring it with him, unlike the last time he'd been taken here. That day had been the worst. At least he could color while he waited for them to be finished.

He didn't remember when these trips had started. When his mom and dad had started handing him over to caretakers and chauffeurs. When they'd decided that sometimes they just couldn't be bothered with him.

He didn't remember how many trips there'd been. Or how many times they'd told him to be good, to not make trouble for his babysitter. How many times he'd nodded, acquiesced.

Some movement up ahead caught his eye. Between the trees, Milo spied a boy—about his age—flying some kind of machine. Milo didn't know who the boy was, or what he was doing, but even from afar he could see the joy in the boy's eyes. Immediately he began to draw him, filling his once-blank white page with various doodles of the Boy and his Drone...

"What'cha doin'!"

"AH!" The voice gave him a start. Nanami...

"When did you get here..?" Milo asked, giving his friend a half-hearted smile as his heart continued to race from the surprise. Instead of answer, Nanami pressed a finger to the sketch of Jesper. It was likely that Nanami had arrived shortly after he had, with a chauffeur of his own. They often met like this.

"Is this that boy over there? Do ya' know him?" When Milo shook his head, 'No', Nanami—his close childhood friend—smiled impishly.

Before Milo could tell him not to, the orange-haired boy shouted loud enough to get Jesper's attention, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"Heeeey, kid!" Milo thought that calling the boy 'kid' seemed unfair. From the look of him, he was only probably a year or two their junior...

AriAriAbabwa

Roda the Red · May 15, 2022

CHARLIE HUGHES

SCENE:

[Late-Night Chase]

TIME:

Nighttime, Post Arc 1

LOCATION:

Aksher Co. Offices, Sound District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Minato

Late-Night Chase

As the mysterious man raised his crowbar, Jess could feel a rush of several emotions and thoughts: Hopelesness, fear, confusion, doubt if she left the stove on or not, and most importantly...
She definitely wasn't finishing paying her car this month. After the tool connected with her face, it was nothing but darkness.

The door connecting the staircase and the third floor was then suddenly opened with a kick causing an startlingly loud noise, one could only wonder how was that door still in one piece.

"JESS! WILL! CAN YOU HEAR ME!?" shouted Charlie, naively putting his worry for his allies over making an attempt to try a more cautious approach.

With not a single precious second left to spare, Charlie charged through the office like a maddened boar, aimlessly looking for either his allies or whatever intruder lied hidden within this floor. Fortunately, his search was not long-lived as he came across a strange individual who naturally he had never seen before, and unfortunately, the fact neither Jessica or Will showed any signs of being around, indicated that this man was dangerous, he gripped his weapon tightly and stared at him with a glare so intense that not even his shades could hide as his nose scrunched up.

"...Tell me where are my partners before I crack your skull open".

Elenion Aura

Damafaud · May 15, 2022

TRI

SCENE:

Anime Convention!!

LOCATION:

Anime Convention, Central District

TIME:

August 22nd, 2021 | Pre-Arc 1

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Jesper, Tenebrosity, Kasumi, Tri

WEAPON:

Savior of 2D Humanity, Savior of 2D Humanity Extra Story

Anime Convention!!

"The world is in danger."

Tri stood on Savior of 2D Humanity Extra Story, a 2-meter tall metallic contraption. Some people stopped to watch. Many were curious what the huge prop was for. Tri's monkey costume also garnered attention, being an oddity amidst colored hair and elaborate costumes. Enough that they overlooked his monotonous delivery.

A brief pause was enough for more audience to gather. Tri felt proud of theatrical skill. Look at everyone interested in his plan today. He spoke again with a loud voice, "Mankind are lost in despair, but never fear. I, Cool Monkey, shall bring peace back to humanity."

Blank stares enveloped the audience. If he had cosplayed as Leffy, Tri was sure everyone would have cheer at this point. Well, it didn't matter. Everyone would hear of Cool Monkey after today. He raised his gun with a straight arm, posing valiantly against the wind.

"Come forth, the Savior of Anime..." With his other arm, he used a remote to turn on Savior of 2D Humanity Extra Story. The machine glowed red as it buzzed alive. Some who started to realize this was not a normal show started to panic, but it was too late.

"Extra Story, FRAGRANCE NEMESIS BEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!"

BLAM! Copious red liquid shot out of Extra Story at a terrifying speed, aiming at a particularly unlucky group of people; specifically, Tenebrosity, Kasumi, Jesper, Charlie, and Kentaro. Not that Tri noticed them. He already jumped down from Savior of 2D Humanity Extra Story, shooting the screaming crowd with his gun Savior of 2D Humanity that shot out the same liquid.

He shall save anime from body odor!

---

"It's... deodorant?"

"Odor remover. That concoction will erase the smell of anything." Paris rubbed his head. The climax of the event was here. "Tell everyone to prepare for retreat once Dad is satisfied."

"So it's not dangerous, sir?"

"You don't want that getting on your skin or eyes. Or nose. Or mouth." His mouth twitched. "At least it's not Blackie 2 Electric Boogaloo."

"No it's not, sir." The assistant agreed. Some deodorant was certainly not the bubonic plague.

Elenion Aura · May 15, 2022

MARKUS WEISS

SCENE:

The concrete that breaks our fall

TIME:

January 16, 2010 | Pre-Arc 1

LOCATION:

Paragon Hall, West District

PARTICIPANTS:

Isobel (@Saturn_moon ), Markus

The concrete that breaks our fall

When the lights went out, Markus scoffed from his position beside the stage, gazing up at the VIP box where the King sat. This was all more than he'd been looking for. When the previous Jack left the picture, Markus knew it would be him who took his place. He also knew he'd have to fight for it. But all of this? Too much. He thought he caught a glimpse of Magnus' wide silhouette through the shadows of the VIP box. Markus couldn't see it, but he could imagine well enough that crocodile grin plastered over the Kingpin's face, smoking cigar in hand. The old man sure loved to put on a show...

A spotlight illuminated the center of the ring, as a familiar voice rang out an electrified the crowd, whipping them up into a frenzy. Pascal... Markus' eyes narrowed at the blond. Every Tiger was here. He leered at the faceless masses that filled the seats of Paragon Hall, a pit of disgust knotting his stomach. They were all sharks, sniffing for blood His blood.

"Hmph." He looked forward to disappointing them.

All of these theatrics aside, Markus couldn't lie. He too had been waiting a long time for this moment. He had trained for this. Bled for this. Counted the days since the last time he'd fought with his enemy. Since then he'd dedicated everything to this, studied every detail of the man who stood against him, learned every application of his Potential. He could beat him. He could win.

The crowd erupted into cheers once more as Markus shouldered his way across the plexi-glass threshold and stepped into the spotlight. He winced as the brightness blinded him briefly, scowling ahead so he didn't have to look any of the crowd that had gathered here today in the eye. They all irritated him, anyway. When he was Jack—no, when he was King, he'd be making a lot of changes.

Just as the crowd had begun to settle, a disturbance from the other side of the square drew cacophonous cheers that drowned out everything, including Markus' thoughts. Eyes wide with rage, he watched as Roland Dreyer sauntered into the light, looking bored.

Markus' enemy barely acknowledged him, or the crowd, before he promptly sat on the floor of the arena, locking eyes with Markus as he did.

The crowd went wild with renewed intensity, not that Markus could hear it anymore but for the rage ringing in his ears. Was he looking down on him? What was he thinking, sitting down in a place like this? At a time like this?

"..."

"..."

Before either boy had a chance to speak, Pascal perked up again after apparently receiving a message into his ear-piece.

"THIS JUST IN, LADIES AND GENTS! LISTEN UP! I'VE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT THE MAN HIMSELF, KINGPIN, WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD. IF YOU COULD ALL DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE VIP BOX!.. TAKE IT AWAY, BOSS!"

Markus turned his gaze once again to the VIP Box, blinking and shielding his eyes from the strobe of the spotlight as it swung to bathe the Tiger King in a halo of light. Magnus was in full view, now, in all his splendour. And there was the cigar, Markus thought with a mirthless smirk as he watched the trails of smoke wisp around his liege lord's crownless head.

The stadium drew deathly quiet. Magnus, ever the dramatic, relished in the silence, the wrapt attention of thousands of eyes on him. Somehow, this was all about him, Markus thought with a mixture of awe and contempt. The Kingpin took a long drag from his cigar, the cost of which alone would've fed the hungry of New Oasis for weeks, before resting his other appendage on the back of a gilded chair in the VIP box beside his. It sat empty.

"My boys..." The old King rumbled. "Only one a' ya' is worthy a' this seat. Wonder which one a' ya it's gonna be?"

Magnus stepped back and the crowd erupted with cheers and cries for blood once more as all eyes returned to the stage.

simj26 · May 16, 2022

Dagger

SCENE:

0: Zero

LOCATION:

Knight Residence

PARTICIPANTS:

Dagger, Ezra Knight

0: Zero

Tattered coat, unkempt clothes, lazily laced up combat boots, messy and clumsily braided hair, an eye that seemed to just stare past anyone it glanced at, it was almost as much as a surprise to her as it was to anyone else heading in that she was allowed inside. This was no cheap crib, not a place for what looks like a homeless woman to be leaving her tracks around. Dagger, as she now called herself, only paid attention to the security guards' armaments. They were packing heat- a sidearm, and a telescopic baton. Just inside the air-conditioned security booth, she could just barely make out a steel lockbox underneath the desk. The same kind that stored firearms and ammunition, and likely the contents of said box. Despite their lax attitudes, and the lazy way the guard told her to sign on the visitor's logbook, these were trained security personnel. The one staring at the CCTV screens and an open...Wakoku comic book? cast a few glances her way as she penned the name 'Eleanore Zubaz', followed by a fake signature and phone number. Hiding in plain sight, huh? Throw would-be attackers off-guard, then face the underprepared with a security force that could rival a small company. Thankfully, for both of their sakes today, she wasn't staging an attack on this compound. After being issued a lanyard, a key, and a dismissive wave, she gathered her duffel bag and started towards the forest of buildings.

Navigating through snowy terrain of Ruthenia, with no landmarks to speak of, and the swampy jungles of Bolkiah, where there were too many landmarks to take note of, had been a chore to her, but they had not taxed her too much. Finding the multi-purpose hall would not be a difficult task for her. Indeed, she found her way towards the currently-empty building located in the center of the complex. The curtains were drawn, the lights were switched off. On the door, there was a note pasted upon it. 'Multipurpose room booked for use on 14/3 between 6pm and 12 am', it read. She peered into the narrow glass window of the door. It was dark, with only slivers of light illuminating the room from the gaps between the curtains. She inserted the key, unlocked the door, and, out of habit, drew her gun from behind her. Tucking the key back into her pocket, she pressed down on the handle with her elbow, and pushed into the room, her gun held out. She held her breath, stilled her heart's beat, and waited.

Nothing. The room was clear. She exhaled, then switched on the lights in the room. The floor had a varnished, wooden finish, and the place was exquisitely clean, thoroughly cleared up. Chairs were stacked neatly in the corners of the room. She dropped her duffel bag on the ground, with a heavy thump. She moved around the room, shifting tables and chairs about, until the place resembled a basic restaurant's set up. Seperated tables, chairs slid up under each of them, the like. She dug into her bag and laid a few of the plastic decanters and cutleries on some of the tables. Anyone who knew she was supposed to be here as a tutor would have thought this strange.

She didn't. She had looked up her student's past teachers. Stealth, survival, business acumen, fighting, swordsmanship, so on and so forth. These were taught to her student today. All of them had been masters of their own craft. Combat in an urban environment was much different though. There were no one on ones, no fair fights, and every plan had a propensity to fall through, no matter how stealthy you were. The Knight patriarch had bought her services to teach his son how to survive, not in the wilderness, but in the world itself. Knife combat was the secondary lesson. She picked up a few rubber knives from her duffle bag and dumped them on one of the stray tables, set aside from the others. She sighed, and rubbed her forehead. She wasn't cut out from teaching cloth. She supposed she should just try to put some ideas in the kid's head, and if that didn't work out, she could just take the money and say she failed, and suggest the Knight patriarch hire her for something that involved her killing someone or blowing up something. Everything now set, she moved towards one of the curtains, and peeked out into the setting sun and the people milling about. She pulled out her phone, and typed in a message.

'I'm here. Multipurpose room.'

She unfolded a paper, and typed in the number that Silas Knight had provided her with in the TO: section, then hit send. She set the phone aside, and waited, gazing into the blood-red sun as it started to sink beneath the towering buildings.

Lucem

Doctor Llamabean · May 16, 2022

BLITZ (Boltius Beckman)