#WHY DOES PRISON AND JAIL SHOW UP WHEN I TYPE ESCAPE ROOM

[keltherealone]

i just won an escape room with some friends but only because we were singing and dancing

[hamphobicbasil]

different anon, as someone who technically is still a dsmp fan (although at this point i consider myself more a fan of some specific streamers who happen to be on the smp, and haven't watched a dsmp storyline stream since january), everything you said makes complete and total sense. i don't fully agree with every point made, but i agree with most of them, and honestly that -- combined with. y'know. actual person dream being revealed to be... Like That -- are probably main reasons behind my growing disinterest in the server itself. i still really like some of the creators, but. the story's degradation combined with some of the creators i don't like getting steadily worse... i really don't care about the server anymore.

but as someone who has kept up with the more current stuff, i can just say that. basically everyone is cheating off of wilbur's storyline homework in some way or another. quackity's current thing with las nevadas is being regarded as him "drawing parallels" between him and wilbur's character arc, and with wilbur being revived it's being seen as him being a character foil -- i do not think these people know what a narrative foil is, because it's not just a carbon copy -- but in all honesty he's just doing pogtopia wilbur v2. the egg arc has been "resolved" technically, but it less got resolved and more just petered out and died pathetically after a genuinely really good stream (red banquet) where they set up interesting things. it's just. done now.

techno seems to be incapable of allowing his character to develop whatsoever. he never lets his character suffer, never lets him hurt, and even outside of the monotone acting his character never loses anything. he's invincible and that doesn't seem set to change. even now, when he got tricked into being trapped in the prison, he made it clear that his character isn't even remotely bothered by this. does he have a plan to escape? maybe, although if he does it's gonna read as a shoddy deus ex machina because he didn't set anything up aside from "press this button and i teleport out." did he know he was being trapped? it's not clear, he might've known or he might've been just incredibly stupid. it's boring. he's less a character and more a brick wall with a rocket launcher.

and i feel bad for tommy The Person, because he's clearly gotten stuck in a bit of a content mentality. he got a big reaction from his character suffering in pogtopia, so he did the exile arc. the exile arc got a big reaction, so he did more similar things. it feels like he's gotten stuck in the mindset of "the fans like angst, so i need to continue to just endlessly torment my character with no purpose or goal." his "death" had even LESS permanence than wilbur's, because he got full on revived two days later just so his character could be traumatized some more.

the server is somehow simultaneously too ironclad in its story (not leaving room for others to jump in with ideas like a rp should, such as eret wanting to return in the pogtopia arc, or the egg plot being just ignored) and way too open ended (no clear rules or laws, lack of communication between people -- the "villain" team on the january doomsday showed up a whole 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time without telling anyone, seemingly because "war isn't fair." those streams are an absolute disaster.) it's a little disappointing because some of the people involved are clearly talented; wilbur is a decent writer, although clearly more suited to a dungeons and dragons DM type of medium, many of the streamers are pretty good actors and not horrible writers / could be better with practice, and some of the newcomers, like ranboo, clearly have experience with roleplay character-driven storytelling and are very good when they're actually given the chance to do things. the whole thing is really disappointing, all in all.

sorry for rambling so much. tl;dr, you're absolutely right, it's disappointing as hell.

sORRY for not replying to this sooner- i read it earlier and completely forgot to respond

added a read more just in case this was a bit too long!

BUT UR ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON ALL OF THIS- and speaking of "drawing parallels" with characters, i feel like its become a MAJOR crutch for the writers lately. its not only in universe with c!tubbo being compared to c!schlatt or c!quackity being compared to c!wilbur, it extends to myths too. i find the whole c!tommy = Theseus thing and whenever techno starts writing to be sorta a "get out of jail free card" yknow? they don't actually have to write their own plots or characters, just mimic that from myths and legends and i dont think it gels well with wilbur's somewhat original plot [i understand it was just minecraft hamilton, but it had some charming stuff in there yknow?]

and god yes you put my problems with c!techno into words beyond his voice acting, i don't want to imply that he's written his character to be invincible [or the olden term, a "gary sue"] but god it certainly comes off that way. i get so confused when i see people say "oh c!techno has been hurt over and over again!! why are things so terrible for him?" when he got "betrayed" once and that's it, its just so stupid and i cant understand the love for his character

and speaking of tommy, i totally agree. i dont mean to speculate on the kid's mental health since that's mega weirdchamp but combined with the constant angst his character is in plus his recent bad run ins with twitter, i hope he's doing okay. and on a side note, i hope his character gets to have the happy ending he deserves because man. Man.

BUT I HAD NO IDEA ABT THE EGG ARC KINDA BEING WRAPPED UP?? thats so disappointing oh my god. i'll read into it more since im curious about how it ended but god the fact that it sounds like it didnt have a bigger ending is just. wow. the annoying green man villain with no real motives and less of a stage presence gets all this hype and a bigger "ending" [yknow, him being sent to jail] than the eldritch creature that was growing throughout the smp?? wack.

i think one of the bigger problems of the dsmp story is just that. wilbur introduced some basic ideas and basic world stuff and instead of expanding on it gradually in a satisfying way, the new writers just went ham and didn't know what made the original so enjoyable, even tho it was, again, minecraft hamilton. i've seen some people claim that the new writers are better at precise intense moments but i heavily disagree with that, but thats probably because a lot of them involve dream yelling for his acting and i cant take that man seriously even in character.

but yeah, youre absolutely right on everything you've said here. they basically went "hey can i copy your homework?" with wilbur and somehow made things worse

[misskittysmagicportal]

The Dog Days Are Over

Nathan Young kinda fluff.  Safe for work other than a word or two.  Takes place a few years after the events of “Vegas Baby”

Nathan leaned with one elbow against the makeshift bar to the side of the dancefloor.  A look of minor drunken denial on his face and a self-filling champagne flute in his left hand. He watched as Louise and her new husband, the one and only Jeremy, saw only each other as they swayed to “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac. Had to admit his mum had never been as happy as she was at this moment.

You made your way through the guests to stand beside Nathan. The last time you saw each other was somewhere between the end of his ASBO and when he met Marnie. A twinge of jealousy ran through your body as you ordered a whiskey sour loud enough for him to hear.

“Nathan?” you feigned shock.

He raised his glass, “Fucking brilliant!  Was trying to figure out who I was gonna give the toss about tonight.”

You rolled your eyes but blushed at the same time, “Remains to be seen. I see you wore high tops to Lou’s wedding.”

Nathan tossed back the golden liquid and manifested more,“Figured tops and tails was a bit much.  Didn’t want to outshine the man Mum lives with. I know you fancy what I threw together right?” he slowly ran his hand over the length of a lithe body outfitted in a white dress shirt, a blue and green tartan vest and black skinny jeans.

The fire reached your ears as you followed his movement downwards, but then you remembered yourself.  “I honestly didn’t even know you could grow facial hair,” you retorted with a soft shrug. 

Without a second thought, Nathan snapped his fingers and it was gone.  Goatee, mustache, poof!  Clean shaven.  Your eyes wide with shock and disbelief.  “Better?” his eyebrow cocked. 

“How.. I thought you were immortal,” you mocked his accent playfully.

“C’mon why have just ONE A list power when you can have two?” he snapped his fingers again to regrow the mustache and beard.  “Magics aside, how’ve you been, love?”  His green eyes never left the couple on the dance floor.

“Well I finished my degree and I work for a book publisher now.  Shocking, I know.  People actually still read books despite Kindles and Nooks.  How about you?”  you matched his laissez faire position.  Your legs crossed at the ankles as you leaned back against the bar, the hem of your dress rode up in the process.  

This time Nathan turned to look directly in your eyes.  “Meat group in a prison cell.”

You glanced heavewards with slight confusion, “Oh bullshit!  You were there what? Two weeks tops before they deported you.”

“FINE!  Just a bit of a dessert,” he winked and swiveled his hips a bit. “Honing my magic tricks though.  Quite good at it now if you haven’t noticed.  Ten quid I can make that dress disappear,” he leaned in to whisper in your ear.

Your heart started to pound in your ear, but you faced him.  Your nose and his just a breadth away from one another.  “Like Marnie did?” 

Nathan grabbed his chest dramatically, “Low blow sweetheart.  Was thinking more like my cock inside you.”  He took one last swig of the champagne and slammed the glass down. He turned to you, grabbed your face and pulled you into an awkward and sloppy kiss.  His tongue pushing inside your mouth briefly before he broke away and staggered backwards.  Then Nathan hooked his thumbs through the sides of his vest, eyes ablaze with mischief  “Pardon me, but I have a speech to make.”

You were dizzy with excitement, the blood had rushed to areas that you were convinced others would notice.  Yet not one set of eyes were on you, only Nathan who now stood directly in the center of the room between Louise and Jeremy. They had somewhere between worry and terror in their eyes.  

Nathan’s hands were raised with palms outwards towards the guests. He swayed slightly before another snap of his fingers.  The room, the guests, even the music all halted.  The room became eerily quiet except the sounds of breathing.  Louise and Jeremy seemed rooted to their very spots.  You watched as a slow smirk spread across Nathan’s lips as he waved his hands a bit as if he was dismissing servants.  The crowd gasped as full glasses appeared suddenly in their hands out of nowhere.  Not just of liquor, but all together.  Where people weren’t holding them before.

“Dearly beloved!” Nathan slurred.  “You have all gathered here today to celebrate the union of my Mum and the guy she lives with.”  A pregnant pause.  “Now as you all may or may not know, Louise here.  My darling Mummy.  I do love you, you know.  You did put aside so much of your life to raise me.  I was, to put it so bluntly, a right little cunt.” 

You narrowed your eyes from the sidelines.  The blood pumped deafeningly in your ears as you held your face in your hands.  All eyes were transfixed on your ex lover as he continued whether they had a choice or not.

Nathan’s index finger swung around precariously in a circle.  “I mean you have told your mates here about Jezza’s little secret right?  All of your friends that showed up at my funeral.  The friends you told I was on Holidays in America when you heard I went to jail, right Louise?  You love me, in your own way I suppose.  Your little embarrassment.  Your grown adult embarrassment now.”

You gawked as Louise went to speak, to stop her son, but nothing could escape her lips.  You rushed forward and into the center of everything to take Nathan’s free hand in your own.  “There’s no reason to do this?  Not today.  Please?”  You plead with him as you pressed your hand to his cheek.  

Nathan leaned into it for just a moment, eyes closed and body relaxed.  Time stopped, everything stopped.  A spotlight on just you and he in the midst of hundreds of eyes.  You wrap your arms around each other in a hug, his hands with a mind of their own move over the curves of your backside in front of everyone.  His chin comes to rest on your head as you bury your face in his chest. 

 “Let’s go,’ you looked up at him as you clutched the lapel of his shirt.  “C’mon.  Fancy a shag?  For old time’s sake.  I’ll do that thing you like.”

Nathan cocked an eyebrow; his eyes bored into you.  “All fours?”

You nodded, finally realizing there was an actual bubble around the two of you out on the floor.  A legit cone of silence that blocked you and here from the now lively wedding all around.  As if a spell had been broken as long as the two of you were together.   

Nathan smiled wickedly and covered your mouth with his in a passionate kiss.  Tongue forcing inside of your mouth again as he squeezed your backside.  He started to grind his hips into yours, a slight erection inside of his pants.  

“I just have to do one more thing.”  

You sighed, smiling and pulled at your lip where he had just been.  “Ok” you were drunk with desire.  Ignorant of what was about to happen and the illusion he had constructed while you were in the bubble.

The silence was deafening once more as you gasped.  Now the world froze except for you and Nathan.  His arm tight around your waist.  The guests unmoving like mannequins, glossed eyes.

“It does make some part of me happy to know that dog is truly a woman's best friend,” his speech picked up where he had left off.  As if not one second had skipped between his admonishment of Louise and this very moment.  “And Louise darling, you certainly did pick a dog!”

Just like that, Nathan’s large hand grabbed yours and he snapped his fingers one more time.  To your utter disbelief Jeremy morphed into a Jack Russell terrier right in front of your eyes.  In pops across the crowd men turned one by one into various types of dogs.  Louise and the women all screamed in shock.

But you couldn’t even wrap your brain around what was happening as Nathan broke into a run as you trailed behind struggling to keep up in your heels.  His laughter maniacal but also catching and you couldn’t help but join in.

“I always hated fucking weddings”

[leverage-ot3]

notable moments from The Jailhouse Job

leverage 3.01

I love how they opened up s3 with all of their “codenames”/job titles

- - - - -

Hardison: Cameras are watching yesterday's footage. Locking down... which elevator?

[Elevator Shaft]

Parker: Huh? What? Oh, um, um, yes, I-I'm a go for elevator one.

[Courthouse Hallway]

Hardison: Were you asleep?

[Elevator Shaft]

Parker: It's very peaceful up here. Besides, I sleep better upside down.

(Parker is wearing her rigs, hanging upside down, elevator rises)

I adore her, okay + SHE SLEEPS BETTER UPSIDE DOWN ??? !!!

- - - - -

(Nate walks into the elevator with two men, one armed, the other the one whose gun Sophie stole. Parker jumps on the top of the elevator, opens it, and tasers both men before picking the lock on Nate’s cuffs)

Nate: You know, you could have just taken the keys off the guy's belt.

Parker: Eh, this is faster.

parker LOVES tasering people + it’s faster for her to pick a lock than to look for keys

- - - - -

(Hardison is walking along the sidewalk checking his phone, setting off car alarms)

Guard: What the hell?

(the guards at the door go to check, and Eliot disarms them, knocking one into traffic. Sophie pulls up in a car and just as Nate and Parker exit the building)

eliot’s F A C E when he accidentally makes the guy get hit by a car LMFAO

- - - - -

when it goes from “nate’s apartment” to “leverage hq”

- - - - -

Eliot: Spanish soap opera.

Hardison: Oh, yeah. Check it out, man. Look, it turns out Pepe's twin brother Peppi is actually Guadalupe's baby's daddy.

Eliot: Seriously?

headcanon: hardison and eliot were watching it earlier and eliot says “really” because god spanish soap operas are so dramatic

- - - - -

(Parker comes in with a bag over her shoulder)

Eliot: He doesn’t want to do it.

Parker: Oh, but I love jumping on elevators.

Hardison: I know.

Parker: This is my special elevator rig he got me for Christmas

we LOVE to see that nate (and sophie ?) get their children presents for christmas

- - - - -

Eliot: All right, look, Nate, you took the fall for us, so...

Hardison: After you lied to us. He's a liar.

Eliot: You took the fall for us. You went to jail so we wouldn't have to. We get that, so we're square. But now you got to let us get you out of prison.

Parker: But if we're gonna do that...

Hardison: And not all of us are convinced that we should.

Parker: Then we have to hit you at your next hearing. That prison's escape-proof.

Nate: Guys, no.

hardison is salty but eliot forgives him for the most part

+

I love it when the ot3 sits together

(also I take note when they’re in the same frame in these posts in case I (or anyone else) wants to reference when they are together for gif and or fanvid purposes)

- - - - -

Nate: I committed a crime, I got caught, and now I am gonna serve my time.

Sophie: Nate, what kind of world would it be if everybody that committed a silly little crime went to prison, huh? Complete madness. (Parker scoffs, Hardison makes an incredulous gesture with his hands)

- - - - -

Hardison: Okay, you know... You know what? Fine, Nate.

[Leverage HQ]

Hardison: We're still out here. We're doing the job. We help people nobody else helps. That's important. You want to stay around and miss out just because you got to figure out your guilty conscience, that's your loss.

Nate: Yeah, Hardison, I wa...

(Hardison severs the connection)

- - - - -

Worth: I am not a warden. I am CEO of National Prison Properties. I built this company, five prisons, from the ground up.

(The Italian laughs and lights a lighter)

Italian: Impressive. (lights a cigarette) You know what they say... That Rome was not built in a single day. But it burned in one. (blows out the lighter)

BADASS

- - - - -

(Billy pushes a cart of books through the room)

Billy (to Nate): Hey.

Nate: Hey.

Billy: Seamus Heaney. That Irish guy you asked for. (hands him a book)

Nate: Oh, excellent. Wow, thanks... Billy, right?

Billy: Uh, yeah.

Nate: Well, thank you. This could not have been easy to find.

Billy: Well, you seemed pretty down. And we got to stand up for each other, right?

Nate: Yeah. You're all right, Billy.

Billy: Yeah. Wish the judge thought so. (pushes cart away)

Nate: Yeah, I appreciate it

- - - - -

(Nate watches as Billy leaves the room, followed by some tough looking inmates)

Nate: I think something's happening.

Bellows: Thanks for your input. You can move on now.

(Nate follows them out of the common area)

prisons are the fucking worst but PRIVATE PRISONS are double that and john rogers agrees and that’s yet another reason why I love him

- - - - -

hardison tried taking up making a model helicopter in his spare time. cute

+ hardison likes to use the word hinky

- - - - -

Nate (puts hand on Billy’s shoulder): I'm sorry.

Billy: For what?

(Nate stabs Billy in the side)

Billy: Oh, sh...

(Billy falls to the floor, holding his side)

Nate: Oh. Uh, Hardison, why don't you gather the team and get me background checks on the... on the warden?

Billy: You stabbed me!

Nate: Oh, come on, just... just a little. It's... it's fine

this is the same as the “lightly stabbed” meme

- - - - -

Worth: The US has the fastest growing prison population in the world. Well, it's like the real-estate boom.

(Hardison plugs a flash drive into Worth’s computer)

Worth: Except, of course, the problem with real estate... You eventually run out of land. You never run out of people to put in prison.

Hardison: Hmm. We haven't had much success with private prisons concept in England. Our investment firm has large real-estate holdings for construction of facilities.

Worth: You see, any yahoo can lay some concrete and throw up some razor wire. The profit comes in proper management.

(Hardison looks at his phone, which is accessing Worth’s computer)

Worth: For example, the big money for us is in prison labor.

Hardison: Sorry?

Worth: Goods and services made by prisoners in America. $2 billion a year. One out of every five office chairs and desks "Made in America", made by convicts. And those jobs are not going to the Chinese. Bottom's up

john rogers was calling this bullshit out in like 2010 and still NOBODY LISTENS

- - - - -

(two guards are standing outside the room Billy and Nate are in)

Billy: Man, is this really the best plan?

Nate: Listen, the infirmary's under lockdown. There's cameras on both sides of the door, extra guards because of the pharmaceuticals. It's the safest place in the prison, really

- - - - -

Eliot (to guard): Abernathy, MD.

eliot still uses this alias that he picked up for The Rashomon Job

- - - - -

Eliot: We can just... well, you know what? It's fine. Just right in here, sir. And please have a seat.

(Nate sits in the chair and Eliot lays it back)

Eliot: It's just in case the guards come in. (buckles restraints on Nate’s wrists) Restraints. Here's an infirmary manual. (turns the light on Nate’s face and picks up a drill)

Nate: That's, uh, for the... for the guards, right?

Eliot: You know what I usually do, Nate, to people that run a con on their own team? Almost get people killed 'cause they're out of control?

Nate: Are we okay, Eliot?

(Eliot puts down the drill and plugs in a flash drive, typing on the keyboard. Images come up on the monitor)

eliot is mostly over it but would he ever give up a chance to fuck with him? nope.

- - - - -

[Judge’s Office]

Sophie: Key card and checkbook.

Parker: Keys and appointment book. Ooh, and this? (holds up keys) Safe deposit box key.

Sophie: Ooh, I love a secret.

(Sophie sits down at desk while Parker gets started on the safe)

COMPETENT WOMEN

- - - - -

Hardison: Yeah. See, Rockford can't drop below 70% occupancy. If they do, they lose their state funding. No state money, they close. And they came very close two years ago.

[Nate’s Cell]

Nate: Hmm. So, private prisons are like the hotel business. They live and die on occupancy, head count. Now, Worth wasn't gonna lose $100 million in profit just 'cause he didn't have enough hard-cases to fill the prison, so he puts a few judges on the arm to send him non-violent offenders, easy prisoners to supervise.

[Leverage HQ]

Parker: Yeah, but why these people?

Eliot: Because they're citizens. 'Cause they're honest, middle-class citizens. These are the people, they don't want to cause any trouble. They can't afford a lawyer, so if some judge sends them away, well, yes, sir. They were taught to trust the courts. They believe in the system

- - - - -

[Leverage HQ]

(Parker wearing a robe standing in front of a green screen, trying to pose. At one point she does a duck face.)

Sophie: You remember what I showed you. Just try some different-different shapes and-and-and that pout that we talked about. Ohh, no, not that one. (to Hardison) I didn't show her that.

Sophie: Kind of... just, you know, just relax. Try one up, one down. Maybe... So...

(Parker continues to pose)

Sophie: Ooh, yeah. Shoot that.

(Hardison snaps photos)

Sophie: Ooh, I like that. That's gonna work.

(Sophie uses the remote to place Parker into a photo of Worth)

Sophie: Okay. Yes.

Hardison: Looks good.

Sophie: I can work with that.

(Parker drops her clothes to the floor)

Hardison: Whoa. Oh! Whoa.

Sophie: Parker!

Hardison: Why am I looking away

this scene is iconic lmfao

also hardison you’re not looking because you’re a goddamn GENTLEMAN and we love you for it

+ she takes off all her clothes and puts on a baret LMFAO

- - - - -

parker and hardison smiling at each other as they map out the prison

+

THEY CLASP HANDS HAPPILY

- - - - -

Parker: Who's Sophie?

Hardison: You remember, we're not supposed to use her real name with, uh...

Parker: Right, Nate hasn't earned it yet. Forgot. Sophie. Sophie. So-phie. So-o-o-phie. Sophie. S-s-s-sophie. Sophie

we love parker trying to act cool and normal and fumble about it. she’s baby

- - - - -

Eliot: All right, we cut that wire.

Hardison: No. No, look, once a lockdown is called, all these sensors go hot and those door bolts drop into place.

Parker: I got it! The furnace room. There's no sensors because it's too hot. They crawl straight down along the heating pipes until they reach the sewage system. Ha ha!

[Prison Common Area]

Nate: Now, Parker, it's a 150 degrees in there.

[Leverage HQ]

Parker: The average human can withstand that for 27 seconds.

(Hardison and Eliot look away)

Parker: What? Come on

the ot3 is trying your honor

also parker is adorable playing with the model helicopter remote while laying down on the table

- - - - -

Worth: Then fire them. What's the use of being non-union if I can't fire people?

GROSS

- - - - -

Nate: Parker, please tell me you're at Hardison's new van.

[Exterior Prison]

Parker: Yeah, it's really nice.

[Prison Common Area]

Nate: Did you bring it?

[Exterior Prison]

Parker: Wait, are we doing that now?

[Prison Common Area]

Nate: Yeah, we're gonna breaking out right now.

[Exterior Prison]

Parker: Yes! (gets into van)

SHES SO EXCITED + she likes the new van!!!

- - - - -

Nate: A little sloppy.

Eliot: New glasses. (takes them off and looks at them)

OKAY SO DOES HE NEED GLASSES OR NOT ???

also he did the lil flip thing with the security guard nightstick

- - - - -

Computer: Lockdown.

Nate: Okay. (pushes door open and holds up a folded piece of paper) Newspaper folded eight times can support a ton of weight. Come on.

(they head down the hall)

- - - - -

Sophie: Motion sensor. Nate.

Nate: Steam's filling up now.

[Prison Kitchen]

(Nate walks slowly toward exit)

Nate: Motion sensor beat.

[Freezer]

(Nate enters and grabs a plastic bag, draping it around him)

[Leverage HQ]

Sophie: Breathe.

[Prison Mechanical Room]

(Nate pushes out a grate and enters the room, the bag covered in ice)

Nate: And heat sensor cleared. Last stop.

(throws off bag and exits the room)

- - - - -

parker was having so much fun with the model helicopter I love it

- - - - -

Hardison: You, yeah. Ha. See, I like this. I like when we pretend to kiss.

Parker: "Pretend"?

Hardison: Heeeey

- - - - -

Nate: What about my team?

Italian: They lead dangerous lives. Thieves die all the time.

Nate (steps close to her): Now that you should not have said.

Italian: I don't know. You seem highly motivated. (walks away)

- - - - -

Sophie: Damien Moreau? Are you out of your mind? Nobody touches Moreau!

Hardison: Nate, Moreau finances the Sicilians, the Russian mafia, the Colombian cartels.

Eliot: Yeah, he moves money for the North Koreans, stolen artifacts for Iraq, nuclear materials for Iran.

Hardison: Moreau is The Big Bad. He is the central bank for international crime.

Parker: N-nate, these files are CIA, FBI, Mossad, Japanese Security

poor eliot this season is gonna be Rough™ for him :(

- - - - -

Sophie: She's blackmailing us?

Nate: She's... she's... she's sort of... Yeah. Yeah.

Parker: Sucks to be on the wrong side of that, finally.

- - - - -

Eliot: We can't go straight at a guy like Moreau. They'll vaporize us.

ELIOT was the one that finally gave in and gave up some information on how to go at this. eliot. because he knows moreau. he knows how that man works. so he knows he has to be the one to start the conversation, even though he hates it with every fiber of his being.

[stonerbughead]

Maria watches friday night lights (#26)

5x03 here we are, Julie’s bad decisions are piling up! (I watched 5x04+5x05 too, just gotta edit all my ramblings into coherency.)

under the cut:

Wow the level of Lions pride there now is is truly amazing. It’s wild that Buddy now owns this East Dillon watering hole! Weirdly like...growth? Given how many different types of people are gathered to celebrate this team that was revitalized only a year ago? Wild.

Uh oh, why does Vince’s father getting out of prison seem like a bad thing. God things were finally going well for him!

Also love how I was equally as disturbed as Vince was by his mom cleaning, knew something was up!

Omg the video with Maura went viral! 2,000 hits. That’s like everyone their age right? 😬

“We didn’t do any of this crap when we were kids.” Tami’s look of “yeah right” made me lol

“You think maybe people change? You changed.” I was about to say it but then Vince did: “I don’t know. I ain’t gone to jail.” Bc the problem is — the prison system ensures that people remain in a permanent underclass once paroled, making it nearly impossible to escape the cycle. so unfortunately it seems very unlikely Vince’s dad changed for the better while in a prison, which is an inherently violent and traumatizing place to be, let alone for five years when he already had a track record for treating your mom like trash...oh babe.

Oh nooo Buddy Jr. is smoking weed. West coast, brother! Lol

Yikes this is really sad, Tami is like trying to subtly be like to Maura, ‘sooo did seeing a bunch of guys passing you around while drunk on video like...maybe traumatize you a bit?’ And Maura’s like ‘WE WERE HAVING FUN HAVE YOU EVER PARTIED.’ Hello, internalized misogyny and a need for therapy, plz honey. Seems like her parents are a lot angrier than she is!

“daddy issues.com, I feel you” is literally what I nervously sang out loud at Vince and his father reuniting.

Omg they’re forcing the girls alone to listen to a really boring lecture on alcohol? This just doesn’t seem effective.

Holy shit two of the football players were making fun of the video.....? Disgusting. Rape culture is the fact that people are making fun of a girl being passed around like a rag doll!

The TA giving Julie a C- bc he’s “spent time with her” and “knows she can do better” is super manipulative and creepy and oh boy I hate this harmful dynamic. He’s literally GRADING HER PAPERS. Nope nope nope.

oh god not the ol “weekly salon for promising students the professor just so happens to host” trope! OH GOD

Ooooh making Jess equipment manager??? Tami is the best. Aw Jess is so excited! I’m so glad that within five seasons they included a character like her who is a girl who also grew up with football and loves it more than some of the guys on this show do!

Ooooh they’re doing shirts and ties instead of jerseys on game days and community outreach. Mmhmm ok revive your image

Vince is losing his confidence and motivation as a captain now his dad’s home noooooo

Lol I knew Buddy was gonna blame the weed on “that hippie Kevin.” So predictable.

“You know maybe it’s not about you and it’s not about Pam, it’s about your son, who happens to need you.” YES ERIC TELL HIM

“Nobody said being a dad’s gonna be easy.” OOH OOH Eric give my dad one of these talks next

“Girls in locker rooms are bad ideas.” I can’t. Lol Tami got lil toddler Grace to say “think about it, daddy!!” She doesn’t play nice.

LMAO I have never related to Vince more than in this moment: “did you talk to your dad?” “Yep.” “how did it go?” *sprints away without answering*

Okay here we are, douchey assholes at the ~salon~ and Julie with a glass of champagne and a devious smile looks like she’s on a mission.

“You must be so proud to have such a distinguished wife.” Oh Jesus TA’s wife’s away on a “sabbatical in Boston.” I see where this illicit romance is going and THANKS I HATE IT

Oh geez Vince doesn’t like Jess being equipment manager? She looks so cute and excited!

Oh boy, Maura is clearly going through some shit, she is relishing in being caught. I know that Tami is judging making out in a supply closet as a concept, but it can be hot—however, in this particular case, i have to agree on not romantic.

“Everyone thinks that I’m married but I don’t feel like I am.” Lines men say before they cheat on their wife with an underage student under their tutelage they shouldn’t be pursuing even if they’re single.

“You’re an awesome girl, Julie Taylor.” Key word ‘GIRL.’ Now he’s saying he feels “comfortable with her” and “if it were a different time and a different place.” This is what grooming sounds like.

Ewwwwwww

Oh noooo Julie you’ve been in college for like five minutes and you’ve already fucked a married TA. Oh honey NO.

Poor Vince. So much trauma between his mom and his dad.

Wowwww the transition from Vince fighting with his parents to walking in suit and tie past all the fans with signs 😭

Yes Eric reiterating he’s proud of Vince and so are his teammates after he goes off — I love how he can like tell something is off with him. He shuts the door and gets Vince to explain the home situation in like five mins.

“He never taught me how to better! How am I supposed to be better?” Omg yessss I feel you babe 😭

Oh god is Vince’s dad showing up gonna cost them this game

NOPE he just did an INSANE touchdown instead!!! Go Vince! “They call that the Tinker shuffle. They get a flag for excessive celebrating and who can blame them?”

“That was a hell of an effort. That’s character, Vince.” Awwww Eric’s so proud of him. His dad is sad. Welp, no thanks to you.

Omg their 3 and 0 East Side cheer at the bar sounds so much like the cheers our predominantly Black football team would do at our pep rallies I love it. This team has so much more heart and soul than the Panthers.

Omg Buddy Jr. is coming back to town???? Intrigue.

TA apologized and and acknowledged he knew it was wrong for teacher-student reasons! Yikes! Bc you know it’s gonna happen again!

“Only 17 years old and you’re already better than I ever was.” Damn Vince’s dad apologizing for not asking to move in after seeing him shine at the game, #growth

“Tonight for the first time in my life I knew what pride felt like. I mean, boy, that was crazy out there. You the man for real.” OMGGGG VINCE IS CRYING wow 🥺

[jsuisartistofthestars]

The way I have so much gratitude for my Ancestors and Protectors 🥺 they've protected me multiple times from someone who turned out abusive and manipulative and now that person is gonna get hit with those pending transactions of karma

Here's the wild looking warning:

[TW: abuse, manipulation, abusive relationship mention, blood magick, curses, death mention]

Imma just drop this life story here. I've been proceeding it for so long and maybe having it on a post would help me really set that it's real. It's straight crazy stuff but still. I believe in fairytales.

I have an ex who's currently in prison who was also my karmic partner. I escaped abuse and (later found out through Divination) an early death after I broke up with him and blocked him. The last time I saw him (2018), we got in a major argument when he threatened to "expose" me on IG for fucking another guy (I'm single at this point and he's just very salty). But a month before he wanted me to have this baby cuz that would "make" him change. This man was the reason I ended up needing to be Baker Acted one night over a month before the argument; he was at a party and ignored his friend's messages and calls that I was at the hospital. But when I got discharged (my parents drove up to get me without my knowledge so they released me because no one expected them to come) he came over with some sorry ass face cuz my dad promised to kill him if he ever hurts me again.

During this argument though, I told him that I'd be in going to Canada for vacation, graduating, and living a better life while he'll be going to jail. He got arrested a week later. He called me and said he turned himself in after all that happened so he can take responsibility. I didn't believe him; I knew he was trying to manipulate me again. I called his PO on my way home for vacation and mans got arrested for speeding. I told his mom since he lied to her too (who's lovely overall and that news really set to her how deep of a fuck up he was) and went on my way.

2019, I had started a much better and healthier relationship. The ex got arrested again right after getting out. He did try to contact me a few times but I knew the games by now and my then-bf texted him to back off (a lot of men over there didn't step unless a guy came up 🙄). I had really started my spiritual journey for myself now, learning tarot and starting to pray to my ancestors. I moved out of town for good two days before he was released from jail and he had no idea where I was/am. I had always prayed to my ancestors that he wouldn't ever see me again and they made sure his ass was locked up while i was walking around.

I graduated in December of 2019 and when I went back to my school for the ceremony, I found out he got arrested. A month before. For helping to hide evidence in a murder. He had been transferred across the north side of the state and most of his friend groups fell apart so not even anyone of his "friends" could find me. But I was plagued with nightmares almost every day.

This ain't even the big parts yet.

Last year around this time I had broken up with my recent ex. This is where I got catapulted into my journey further. I found out fake friends of mine had put attacks on me and caused my relationship to end and almost killed me. I since cut them out, learned about protection and Cleansing, got closer to my ancestors, and began to tap into my abilities.

The nightmares shifted from the spiritual attack to that first ex again. Somehow, in prison he got one of my IG pages taken down. I had been off social media so that was a shock, as an old homie of his told me he did something to my pictures. I was taught a binding away spell to make him stop. I don't hex—really it's my last resort. My point wasn't to cause pain but to stop him from bothering me, jumping in my dreams, etc. A month later, I had a dream where he tried to take me away, practically hunting me down for two weeks (in the dream) until my dad shot him in the head (kept his promise) and I woke up literally feeling free. I broke the cycle with him. I went months with nothing but vibes. I began working on my clairaudience as well.

So one thing is that the spirits who walk with me tend to share bad news about people I know. I get good news too but, especially when someone does me wrong, they'll lay down the real stuff. Sometimes they're messages/warnings for others that can be changed if action is taken. My dad gets this too. He was the one who knew that vakabon was gonna end up in jail/prison soon from his own dream.

After Christmas in December, I was chilling and driving and I heard "______ is going to die." I'm like 😳 Mind you, I'm listening to some hype kompa music, running errands, singing, and this comes through clear. That first ex is gonna die. When I got home, my ancestors confirmed this through my cards. I left it alone even though to me it's great news. I still don't wish death on people but hey they said it.

THIS JANUARY (goddamn this shit is long)

In the middle of the first month of the new year, this prison ex shows up in my dream but he masquerades as a completely different person trying to trick me. A protector spirit literally shows up and calls him out, telling me to leave the room but I catch the dude's face. Idk how you can go cold in a dream but I did. His face, his hair, his stupid smile, and his off-putting laughing. Like he knew he almost got me. I checked in with other readers, and it was his Spirit. Apparently, he knows he's gonna die and wanted to trap me spiritually so I'd go down with him. He wanted me to die. Mans like a demon. When I woke up, I used cards and shells to Divine coupled with constant cleansing of my spaces and myself. I made multiple sigils for protection for myself and even my loved ones. He hasn't shown up since cuz he's always blocked out now, but looking for new ways. I keep up with it every day.

I talked to my seer friend and learned that that ex had tried to do some heavy blood magick on me (no wonder why my ancestors like my recent ex like he does nothing at all) and it backfired big time; no protection, nothing. All my spirits from ancestors to protectors to even lwa and orishas have been making their presences known. He went to someone to help get the work done and the guy knew it was going to backfire but let the ex do it on purpose (grade A). Now he's sick and is still going to be paying 😌 maybe even more 😌

What did get me some is why. What type of hatred you have for me to put so much risk to kill me when you haven't even seen me in years? You're so upset at your situation that you try to drag me down. A friend suggested that he could've always been into more baneful magick but played it off well. That could very well be true. Or he escalated cuz he blames me for things that happened to him. Whatever it is, it's on him. He's facing Justice and my people. Whoever he went to really let him fuck up knowing I was protected but let it come back on him. It's the audacity. But he'll never have me. When I escaped that relationship I meant it on all levels.

I'm safe, I'm guarded, I'm flourishing, and I'll outlive him.

[mobius-prime]

233. Sonic the Hedgehog #165

Look! Look! It's that eye thing again! Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante, stop this madness!

Leak

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Tracy Yardley! Colors: Jason Jensen

This issue is honestly a fantastic one. There's so many great character interactions that as a writer myself, I live for. We begin by learning that Rouge arrived at Knothole about an hour ago, and in light of her most recent actions in the town, she's been taken into custody, with Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Vector in charge of her interrogation. Vector takes to his role with gusto, clicking on a lightbulb above her head and generally trying to play bad cop, but Rouge seems mostly amused by the proceedings, taking a particular interest in Knuckles and speaking to him directly. She arrived via warp ring, and seeing as that's technology unique to Angel Island (…dunno when that was ever established, but okay), they're very interested to know where she acquired it. When she acts flippant, Vector threatens to just throw her in jail, and when she protests that she's innocent of any wrongdoing Vector reveals that mere minutes after she arrived, the other members of the Chaotix went to Fiona for dirt on her. Fiona was shy and reluctant about sharing any information, obviously embarrassed of her shady past, but with Sonic's encouragement she opened up, explaining just how skilled Rouge is as an operative, as well as how she's not above getting her hands dirty to accomplish her objectives.

Irritated at being called out, Rouge agrees to explain what happened in between her last visit and now. She was uncertain about allying with Finitevus, but stuck with him for the first part of his plan, which involved breaking Eggman's most recent prisoners out of the Egg Grapes. Many of them were already dead, but Finitevus managed to save the Destructix, and took them to the same base where Shadow met Isaac. This is where we learn that Isaac was heavily malfunctioning all along, as the ancient, pre-Xorda Robotnik in cryostasis has apparently been dead for a long time, though Isaac still thinks he's alive and giving him orders. Finitevus planned to use the large store of nuclear missiles in the base for some unknown purpose, and when Rouge found out, her moral side kicked in and she destroyed them, which naturally pissed Finitevus off. She stole a warp ring to escape, and now here she is, looking for protection from Knothole - though she adds that she was likely followed. Sure enough, while Sonic and Fiona are walking out of their own interrogation room, they spot Tails looking incredibly nervous next to a tree. When they approach, Sleuth Dawg steps out from behind the tree, holding a gun to Tails' head.

Of course he's back! Scourge and Sonic immediately take off running, leaving Fiona behind to try to talk down Sleuth, who says he's here for the "traitor." Fiona calls him a hypocrite given his betrayal of the Freedom Fighters in the past, but Sleuth slyly insinuates that it's ironic for Fiona herself to be calling anyone else a traitor. Well that's suspicious… While they fight, Sonic asks Scourge why he's here, and of course first on his list of reasons is revenge. However, apparently that's not all.

Things are getting a little spicy, aren't they? They end up back near the others, and Fiona tells them to stop fighting as she's negotiated a deal - the crooks will give Tails back and leave if Rouge returns the stolen warp ring. Sonic immediately zips away and comes back with it, and satisfied, Sleuth and Scourge leave, with the latter giving Fiona a wink as he disappears through the ring.

You know what, Sonic? I don't think it is. Something is definitely fishy here. With the crisis averted, Rouge is free to go, but Julie-Su has one last word for her. I'm gonna let these last two pages speak for themselves, because this is exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned great character interaction.

Damn, even Kenders wasn't edgy enough for the almost-swear. I love this, though. Granted, I'm not actually much of a fan of the interpretation that Rouge is into Knuckles, but I can see her as the type to want to steal something - or in this case, someone - just to prove she can. Certainly, this version of Rouge is a little more ruthless and less morally-centered compared to her counterpart in the games, particularly with how she's characterized in Heroes and beyond. As for Julie-Su, her explanation of her relationship with Knuckles right here is why I think the Soultouch was never a necessary thing to begin with. It's such a weird thing to include - I mean, most of the time in fiction when there's some kind of deus ex machina plot device that mandates that two characters fall in love with each other, the characters really don't feel like they have any real chemistry to begin with, hence the necessity of such a plot device. It's a forced love story, if you will. But Knuckles and Julie-Su? They already had that chemistry, from the beginning. They're alike in many ways, including their rough upbringings and their hot tempers, and those things they have in common often bring them together, as they understand each other more than others can. There was simply no need for a magical soulmate-bond-thingy to explain their falling for each other - Julie-Su's little speech up there is proof enough of that.

Call of Duty

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Steven Butler Colors: Jason Jensen

Speaking of Knuckles and Echidna Matters, later that day Rotor calls Knuckles to his lab, baffled at getting a call from Locke despite the call not having any signal he can recognize. Knuckles is unfazed, knowing that his father is using the mystical energies of the Master Emerald to contact him, and steps up. Locke doesn't waste time, ordering him to come back to the island immediately. Knuckles refuses, continuing to insist as before that the only way to properly protect Angel Island is to defeat Eggman first, but Locke informs him that things haven't been going very smoothly on the island since Echidnaopolis was retaken.

Well, that's interesting. Another new villain, perhaps? Knuckles is surprised that his father hasn't figured out who the new guy is yet, but Locke says he's been too busy looking for the missing members of the Brotherhood. Knuckles asks if he's bothering to look for Charmy's family as hard as he is his own, but Locke evades the question, instead insisting that he needs Knuckles to come back to help him look. Knuckles, quite angry by now, repeats that he won't, and when Locke tries to go all "What did you just say to me, young man?" on him, Knuckles calls back to the very training Locke gave him as a child that taught him to always go for the source of a problem, and again reiterates that he plans to stay in Knothole to help fight Eggman.

SMASH! Knuckles punches the screen, instantly shattering it and ending the connection, and stands there panting furiously, unable to believe that his father would even think of threatening to let his family be hurt. He collects himself after a moment and curtly apologizes for breaking Rotor's equipment and begins to leave, though everyone is mostly just concerned for his wellbeing. Tails tries to follow him, and tells him that he thinks he's doing the right thing, that he's essentially graduated from protecting one island to protecting the whole planet. Knuckles is still upset though, and leaves to go talk to Julie-Su to clear his head, though he quietly promises to himself that he will return someday, when all this is over.

Now, I absolutely love this. Because under Ian's writership, Locke is no longer treated as this wholly sympathetic, infallible being. Locke and Knuckles got along while Knuckles was still content to merely go along with his father's various plans, but now that he's starting to assert himself and go in a different direction than Locke intends, their relationship is starting to show its cracks. As we've seen before, Locke is someone who really doesn't hesitate to go all in on his plans, even if doing so will end up hurting someone. He created his own son to be a superpowered mutant, just because of a premonition he had. I mentioned before how Locke would have been so much more interesting as the well-intentioned extremist type of antagonist, rather than as the bland "father knows best" character he was under Penders, and I think Ian has finally started to steer the character in that direction. Unfortunately by now it's a little too late to make him truly interesting and complex, but Ian still does an admirable job with what he's been handed to work with.

[pluckyredhead]

Daredevil 101: What Happened to Milla, Part 1

For the past while in Daredevil 101, Matt has been somewhat rockily married to a woman named Milla Donovan. Sharp-eyed readers may have noticed that Matt is no longer married in comics continuity. What happened?

*sigh* “To the Devil, His Due” and “Without Fear” happened, aka Daredevil v2 95-105 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. Aka an absolutely interminable parade of pointless cruelty riddled with dangling plot threads and misogyny. Yes, the team that gave us the masterful “Devil in Cell Block D” has now gone off the rails so hard that Amtrak is still working on the repairs. (Sadly, their run never improves, so strap in, I guess.)

Now, Milla is not exactly my favorite character, but very few things in DD history make me madder than the way she was written off. It’s so clear that Brubaker wanted to fridge her but realized he couldn’t get away with a fifth dead Daredevil love interest, so he figured out a different “fate worse than death” (hoo boy we’ll have to unpack that in Part 2). No price is too high for a woman to pay if it means Matt Murdock suffers, amirite?

And with that tempting introduction (?), let’s get into it!

Content Warnings: Ableism, sexual assault and implied threats of sexual violence.

We begin with Melvin, who is in jail thanks to having attacked Matt back when he was blackmailed into doing so. Specifically, we begin with Melvin in a room with a bunch of dead bodies he swears up and down he isn’t responsible for.

Matt and Foggy and most especially Becky Blake believe him and take his case, but just a few days later it happens again - Melvin is found surrounded by dead bodies and claiming to have no memory of what happened but that he didn’t do it. The psych eval doesn’t go well, in that, well, he passes:

According to the doctor, this isn’t Melvin being taken over by his Gladiator personality or an actual second person stepping in - this is just Melvin himself killing people. Which for Melvin’s legal team (and friends) is the worst possible option, of course.

Meanwhile, Milla appears to have taken up therapy:

Aside from what this story does to Milla and Melvin, part of what makes it so bad is the structure. This was partially due to a couple of company-wide crossovers that we’ll see marching through the book in a little bit, but also just lots of things being set up and then dropped without going anywhere. Here we see Milla in therapy, which is never returned to or discussed. The sinister way this is framed makes it clear that the person she’s speaking to is the villain of the piece, but the fact that he met Milla at therapy is never revealed or mentioned at all. Later in the scene he says something about how he hasn’t told his wife that he’s in therapy but he should stop underestimating her, which is clearly meant to get under Milla’s skin in regards to her relationship with Matt, but that kind of subtle manipulation is too interesting for this story and leads absolutely nowhere. And of course we don’t get to actually see Milla talking to her therapist, which would require her to have an interior life.

Which means we have an entire scene that could have been replaced with a single panel of Milla bumping into someone on the street that would have had exactly the same effect on the plot. And the pacing problems only get worse from here, folks!

Anyway. The state decides to move Melvin, but he escapes his prison transport - and attacks Matt, who’s been keeping an ear on things:

Melvin kicks the crap out of Matt and escapes, but Matt realizes that there’s something wrong with Melvin - it may not be the Gladiator taking over, but this isn’t his friend, either.

The next day, Nelson and Murdock receive a surprise guest: Lily Lucca, who you may remember as she of the Karen-smelling perfume who aided and abetted in multiple murders and lured Matt into a confrontation with Vanessa Fisk:

As you’ll recall, the perfume Vanessa gave Lily to entrap Matt with makes her smell like every man’s fondest memory [INSERT GIANT EYEROLL HERE], which is why Foggy’s falling all over himself here. But now she has a problem: even though she’s not using the perfume anymore, she still smells like it, which means men are constantly creepily following her around, getting into fights over her, etc.

This is...sigh. There’s an aspect of “female character is punished for using her sexuality” here that makes me super uncomfortable. Certainly 90% of comic book villains have some kind of monkey’s paw in their backstory (“I tried to make a cool suit of armor and now I have robot tentacles!” “I tried to cryogenically freeze my dying wife and now I am really cold all the time!” etc.), but there’s a way in which it’s weaponized against certain types of female characters that’s deeply gendered and often kinda rape-y. (I got this vibe with Debbie and Micah Synn as well.) Lily wanted to control men through their desire to her? Well, now they might desire her so much they’ll assault her! That’ll show her! I guess. Ugh, it just grosses me out.

Anyway, Matt reluctantly agrees to help her, or more specifically have Dakota help her, since she won’t be affected by Lily’s scent the way he and Foggy will. Even with this caveat, when he meets Milla for dinner she does not like this:

I think we’re meant to be reading Milla as not being entirely rational about Lily because she’s so jealous of Karen’s memory and Lily reminds Matt of Karen, but she’s not wrong. I have no idea if we’re meant to read Matt as being sort of a douche in this scene but if my husband was like “Keep your voice down” and “Don’t be so hyperbolic” I would walk out of that fucking restaurant.

Or run, as the case may be:

Matt distracts Melvin so that Milla can get away (lotta Ms in this storyline), then somehow quick-changes to Daredevil for a fight. Melvin knocks him out and Matt wakes up handcuffed in the back of a police car:

The cops are arguing because it’s the middle of Civil War, which didn’t touch the Daredevil book very much but Matt was firmly on the anti-registration Team Cap side, unsurprisingly. As an unregistered superhero, just being out in a mask made him a criminal. (They don’t do anything with the fact that his secret identity was basically an open book at this point, which would have been interesting.)

Anyway, The Mysterious Voice Speaking On A Frequency Only Matt Can Hear gleefully tells him that he left his wallet at the restaurant, which has his home address, which means Melvin knows where to find Milla. Of course, Melvin was one of Matt’s bodyguards when his identity was first exposed and definitely already knew where he lived, but whatever.

Milla is, of course, wandering around the apartment in nothing but a bra and panties when Melvin shows up, because Daredevil artists apparently love putting her in her underwear to terrorize her and this is the last chance they’ll have to do it.

Melvin takes Milla up to the roof to wait for Matt. I’m including this exchange, where Milla tries to talk him down by appealing to his better nature, because it’s basically her last moment as herself. Reminding others of their better angels has always been one of her strengths, and she deserves to have that highlighted before...everything else.

Matt shows up. Melvin throws Milla off the roof:

Matt miraculously saves her and returns to fight Melvin, but Melvin has pretty much given up at this point and it’s all over but the crying. He’s bundled off to maximum security, and that’s...well, that’s the end of Melvin. This storyline came out in 2007, and this sweet, interesting character who has been around since the Silver Age has been unusable ever since. So thanks for that, Brubaker.

Matt’s furious, and determined to figure out who did this to Melvin:

“What did your sensei say about fighting angry?” always makes me laugh. Also, why would you ever suggest Matt follow Stick’s advice, Foggy, honestly.

(Foggy is A+++++ in this storyline and it makes me mad that I can’t even enjoy it because he’s just frantically trying to salvage a steaming pile of shit the whole time. Also given the overall ableism in this story I’m a little :/ that he basically takes over being the functional adult like Matt’s incapable of it.)

Matt runs into another dropped plot thread here because he gets on the trail of a street drug that makes people angry, which, like, how would Melvin have even gotten that in prison anyway, especially nonconsensually? Also, every other depiction of this drug shows it putting the user into a senseless rage, but Melvin sure was able to find his old lair, put on his Daredevil costume, track down Matt, and kidnap his wife when the plot required him to. How very Guardian Devil.

Anyway, Matt starts tracking the drug to its source. Meanwhile, Milla shows up at N&M:

Yeah, from here on out Milla is all tears and hysteria. Sigh.

Foggy decides to take her home, and Lily tags along, even though Foggy thinks that’s a REALLY REALLY bad idea because a) she's upsetting Milla, b) she fucks with Foggy’s head, and c) every dude in the subway is going to be all over her. But Lily insists, because she’s...manipulative? Genuinely feeling guilty and choosing the absolute worst way to fix that? Flimsy plot reasons? Let’s go with flimsy plot reasons.

While waiting for the train, Milla pretty much loses her shit at Lily, and also the world in general:

“I don’t know what I’ve done to you” is pretty rich, Lily. YOU LURED HER HUSBAND ON A MURDER CHASE ACROSS EUROPE.

Meanwhile, Dakota is still trying to figure out where Vanessa got Lily’s original perfume from - and Matt has followed the drug trail back to the Enforcers, a bunch of goofy-ass Silver Age villains we haven’t seen in decades. (They are specifically named the Ox, Fancy Dan, and Montana. They are ridiculous.) They clobber him and take him to their leader:

LARRY CRANSTON. MISTER FEAR. He made the perfume. He drove Melvin insane. And he’s the reason behind what happens next:

Lily lives. The random bystander does not. And when Matt, having been literally thrown out of the window and into the garbage by Mister Fear, returns home, Foggy is waiting for him:

Next Time: Milla is taken into custody, and Matt searches for a cure.

[chaos-burst]

Various comments on my question about campaign starts a while back! I finally got around to answer them! I’ll try to see if I can get to some of the asks I’ve gotten as well. 

@bi-vexual If the characters are the typical hero type something spontaneously attacking wherever they're at is cool imo! That immediately makes them work together and then they might try to find out why that attack happened

-> They are indeed not the typical hero types :’D The most hero-type character is a grumpy cleric. So that will not be a solution for them. 

@im-your-spacedad-now One of my players tried to steal something and one by one the rest joined in a chase across the town

-> Actually something that might happen, but I feel like depending on the characters you have it might misfire and stop them from actually forming a group. But it sounds like a nice creative start of a campaign!

@canaryfeather I like the characters to start out knowing each other. That way you don't have the awkward getting to know you stuff and can go straight to having them walking into a town or getting attacked or whatever. That said, the first game I was in, we met on the road when a few were attacked by wolves, others stopped to help, and a cleric happened by to heal them.

-> Yeah, I like when characters know each other as well! Won’t work for me, but I will have two of them meet beforehand at least :) 

@weissschnee-tm  In one campaign I dmed, made an npc that I had all the pcs know, then had her gather them to ask for their help with something. Party tie, first quest, and a bit of insurance all in one! In the other, I helped the pcs build back stories that put them all in the same place at the same time in a really interesting and thematic city. I sort of figured they'd stumble across each other as they explored it, but I was ready to stage a small attack on the city to bring then together if necessary

-> That thing with the NPC everyone knows is really really awesome :D I will keep that in mind for any future campaigns I might do!

@artisticarperture One of the campaigns I was I started similarly to the force awakens where there was a riot and my character was a soldier who was supposed to silence it, but gained morals halfway through. The rest of the players were all either rioters or bystanders. It was interesting cause we started the campaign in initiative

-> I like that, because it’s customized so much for the individual characters :) And starting in initiative must be very exciting :D

@dark-as-night-sweet-as-sin One of my campaigns, all the pcs got a letter from an npc they all knew, asking them to meet and go on a quest for them Also you could have a session zero where all the players get used to rping their characters, and the group could come up with why their characters know each other organically

-> That is already out of the window, because they all have wildy differing backstories, so they won’t really know each other beforehand, bc reasons ^^ But generally that is a very nice idea!

@phirephox666 In jail

@lionsfairytale In one of our summer campaigns, my friend started us in a tournament scenario, which gave us a chance to get back into the swing of things and play with our character’s abilities before we were attacked for real. For the next one he did give us a hint he wants us all to start by being woken up from literal death by some sort of entity.

-> Waking up from death sounds very badass. The tournament was something I considered, but had to dismiss bc of one of the player’s backstories ^^ But I might get back to it later in the campaign.

@tiefling-queer I introduced my players to each other by putting them all in the hotel California and making their first encounter be the lot of them trying to escape and fighting off goons. in one campaign I'm in, we all started in prison and were broken out by rebels. in several I've been in, we were all just separate schmucks who happened to answer a job put out by a village. setting/campaign plot can play a big role in the meetup - the prison break scenario was a fun setup for us becoming rebel fighters (sort of), and in a sailing campaign I was in the party was just assigned bunkmates/on the same watch. i enjoy throwing the party right into some sort of immediate problem since it gives them a moment to think "oh these guys know what they're doing I could roll with

-> Breaking out of jail was one of my initial ideas, when one of my players said “don’t traumatize my poor boy” and I was like “fair enough” :’D But throwing the party into an immediate problem sounds very reasonable!

@wytch-lyghts Each of my players were being inducted into a thieves guild — each knew a friend of a friend type scenario who told them to be at the same place at the same time, they show up, it’s not the guild. It’s where they met a recruiter who started them off on their first task to prove themselves capable/worthy: find the guild via a long trek through the city sewers. I figure this design could work for joining any group really, but it was fun

-> Ha, that reminds me of the start of the thieves’ guild quest in TES Oblivion :D it’s pretty cool, as long as your characters all fit that kind of thing (which mine do not)

@squirrel-saloli my friends and I recently started a d&d club, and we got a lot of new players. we started out as one big group with three of us dming. because a really personal beginning was impossible with so many people, we had them start out in a guild that would pay them to complete tasks that regular citizens commission them for.

-> I have a series of oneshots i do for the same group of friends and that has them in a guild as well! it’s a pretty nice starting point and i like it, but i enjoy it mostly for the oneshots! for a whole campaign i will do it differently :)

@kneesntoess    we met in a tavern, but we met in a tavern after the three of us had been accidentally plane shifted by a death cult, so

-> Oh wow :o That surely is a beginning :’D 

@pixeljam45 My current crew met over an ad that they all saw, but we have plans that in the next campaign, they're going to all wake up after a night if drinking too hard and be on the run for a crime they can't remember committing that night because it was nickel-shot-night at the bar.

-> Something like that seems to be very popular! I wish I were better at creating mysteries, bc I would totally love for them to solve some puzzles/crimes along the way. Let’s see if my brain will let me :D

@captainclovey in one campaign I was a player of, we all met at a festival for a big event in the city we were in, cue something goes wrong and we're ones who get pulled into helping out before all being branded with something magical that meant we couldnt back out

-> Yep, I considered cursing two of my players with magical objects so they couldn’t leave the other’s vicinity without taking damage. I hope it won’t be necessary :D

@faecallie In the drow campaign my sister made for us the party had been kidnapped by drow to be slaves, but the caravan had been attacked by a drow dissenter to free us. But as part of the terror tactics the drow used to break slaves, we woke up naked in coffins. Really set the tone for a campaign where the drow were nearly done conquering the surface for Lothe.

-> I’m not a fan of the classic d&d drow concept *cough* And I don’t want to make my campaign too grimdark. But if that’s your sort of thing, I hope it was lots of fun :D

@dontdropthejam I started my players on a train, in the same car as each other. Some plot relevant NPCs joined them, and then the train had to stop for repairs, leaving them stranded in a remote mountain hotel, where train car passengers were sorted into hotel rooms with each other. Then a kid got kidnapped and the plot began!

-> Kidnappings/Jails seem to be very popular :D 

@sandssavvy Well, in one campaign I was in they all met because they were all arrested (mostly separately) and had to escape from the same cell. It wasn't done that well by the dm cause he tended to shoehorn moments. But if it was done well by a dm who knew a lot about the pcs and their weaknesses/what could get them into trouble, it could be cool.  In snother campaign, we were each sent a summons into a meeting for an investigation they wanted us to do cause of our different talents.

-> I think many concepts for campaign starts depend on how well the DM does it. I mean, we saw Matt doing a very lovely tavern-meeting-campaign-start! And my first campaign started like that as well. But yeah, the jail idea is really great and I love it a lot :D

@genderliquid If you’re overwhelmed: make them decide, but RP it - give them enough context on their world and whatever mini arc you want to start with and make the players tell you where they’re meeting, what they’re doing there (as much as they want to say to the others) and how they got hooked in.

-> I mean, being overwhelmed is part of my nature, but I won’t do it like this for the campaign. I do want to have a plan and give them directions. But it’s something to bear in mind for potential future campaigns when the backstories are not all done yet ^^

@seventeenhealingpotions One really nice beginning is: You all wake up on the shore. There's parts of a shipwreck all around you. You see *other party members*. You don't remember them, or anything that happened before. But if these people are here, then that means they're part of your crew or other passengers. Maybe they are your group? It's only logical to stick with them for now. It's a good beginning, since you don't have that tavern trope, and you give them a reason to form a party.

-> Memory loss is pretty cool and a nice tool for a campaign start, but it’s nothing that fits my characters for the moment. I really like this idea for a oneshot or mini-adventure tho! :)

@deathdefyinglifeleaps So what if the Rogue and the Wizard stowed away on the sky pirate’s ship and the cleric is busy tending to one of the other pirates when Something happens that causes the sky ship to take off too quickly for any of them to leave? Maybe the rogue is just there to steal something?

-> Thanks for the specific suggestions, but I do have very detailed character backgrounds already and for various reasons all those solutions are not doable ^^ 

@hgr-ros Try the old voyage trick: they just arrived in the starting city and they vaguely know and like each other enougj to stuck around. I use it a lot evem though my players usually create very social characters

-> City, yes. Social characters and knowing each other will be a no :’D

@pokidragon My campaign is very homebrew so the game started with my players waking up an a prison after each of their characters died- it’s very dark souls themed :) 

-> That sounds very badass and also very ominous :D 

@asdeclaredbythedeptofawesome  One thing I will say is that my dm has written up a questions sheet. And then asked who would have done what. This allowed us to have already met and have some small back story together. They were mostly fun things like who got drunk and had to be carried home and who started the bar fight. Or who accidentally started a revolution and stuff. These all ended up having minor or major plot hooks later. It also meant that we established some of the party dynamics And relationships easily without having the first couple of sessions being awkward. Highly recommend if you want everyone to have already met. The other is tell everyone they need a reason to follow something and ask them to come up with reasons why they would follow the initial plot hook. Having built in character reasons makes things a lot simpler 

-> Oh, yeah, I have all my characters’ motivations down, that’s not the problem at all. And I will have two of them meet beforehand, but they will not be friends by any means. And questions like that I had for my series of oneshots, but for various background reasons those four would not really have known each other beforehand. 

Thanks for all the input! It’s really interesting to see how differently people start their campaigns ^-^

[everybodysacritic]

Film Review: Minority Report

By: Kyra E.

My Rating: 6/10

This is a dystopian film that combines film noir and science fiction. Taking place in Washington during the year of 2054, we follow the story of Chief John Anderton of the ‘Precrime Division’ and how he navigates in a society full of advanced technology and ‘pre-crime’.

Corporate control is immediately shown by the division through their advertising. The commercial being broadcast talks about how amazing Precrime is, and how it means there will never be another murder again. It plays into the emotions of the society by using the good word from family members of those murdered in the past. However, it ignores the moral dilemma that this type of justice system brings: should people be arrested for committing a crime that they have not committed yet?

“The fact that you prevented it from happening doesn't change the fact that it was going to happen.” - John Anderton (Tom Cruise)

Precrime technology is not yet national, but the Division is trying to convince the Justice Department to make it national. Chief John Anderton has to convince agent Danny Witwer that the program is reliable and should go national. At the same time, we are introduced to the technology of Precognitives (or Precogs). ‘Precogs’ are people who have visions of the future. In the Precrime Division’s facility three of these ‘precogs’ are kept alive in a nutrition tank, hooked up to the division's computers so that they are able to see their visions. These precognitive people are being dehumanized, creating the sense of a dysfunctional society in the film.

We soon see the technological control that the ‘Precogs’ have, and why it is an issue. When John is set up to make it look like he is going to murder a man named Leo Crow through one of the precognitive visions, agent Witwer sends the rest of the division to arrest him. John is able to narrowly escape.

"The Precogs are never wrong. But, occasionally... they do disagree." - Dr. Iris Hinman (Lois Smith)

John Anderton seeks out Dr. Iris Hineman, the woman who helped develop ‘Precrime’ technology. She tells John that there have been minority reports between the Precogs in which not all of them saw the exact same vision. To prove his innocence John decides that he has to find proof of a minority report.

“That's all, huh? Just walk right into Precrime, go in the Temple, somehow tap into these Precogs, and then download this Minority Report.” - John Anderton (Tom Cruise)

In order to not be caught in the process John has to swap out his eyes. Another type of cyber-genetic technology that the film portrays are these specialized eyes, which are attached to people’s identities and create personalized advertisements. John is able to successfully swap out his eyes in order to hide his identity.

John Anderton breaks into the ‘Precrime’ facility and kidnaps the most gifted ‘Precog’, Agatha. From there, he takes her to a hacker who can help him find the minority report. The hacker tells him that he cannot find the minority report that John is looking for. Agatha finally tells John that he does not have a minority report. John and Agatha find out that Leo Crow (the man who John is supposed to murder) is in a hotel nearby. Fueled by determination and curiosity, John goes into the hotel and finds Crow’s room despite Agatha’s protests. He does not believe that he will kill this man that he has never met. That is until he finds evidence in the room that Leo Crow kidnapped and murdered John’s late son, Sean.

“Everyday for the last six years I've thought of only two things. The first is what Sean would look like if he were alive today, if I would recognize him if I saw him on the street, the second is what I would do to the man who took him if I ever found him. You're right... I'm not being set up.”  - John Anderton (Tom Cruise)

When Leo Crow shows up in his room John makes the difficult decision not to kill the man, but arrest him instead. Crow gets upset, and says that he wants John to kill him. He explains that a man promised to give his family money if he let himself be framed and get killed. Despite there not being a minority report, somebody was in fact trying to trick John. Crow grabs Anderton’s gun and kills himself before John can stop him. 

“Listen, if you don't go through with this my family gets nothing, okay? You're supposed to kill me. Just like he said you would.” - Leo Crow (Mike Binder)

At the end of the film the plot becomes confusing. John and Agatha escape his ex-wife Lara’s house. There, Agatha shows John how her mother was murdered. We find out that the director of the ‘Precrime’ Division (Lamar Burgess) killed Agatha’s mother, Lively, when she tried to reclaim custody of Agatha. At the same time we are shown Agent Witwer, who is suspicious of the supposed murder that Anderton committed. Because of this he also studies the murder of Lively, and realizes that two different attempts of murder were made. The first attempted murder of Lively was stopped by the ‘Precrime’ Division, but the second attempt was not. This leads Witwer to tell the director of the division, Lamar Burgess, about Lively’s strange murder. Burgess causes the Precogs to go offline and kills Witwer when he discovers that the murderer was him.

“You see the dilemma, don't you? If you don't kill me, Precogs were wrong and Precrime is over. If you do kill me, you go away, but it proves the system works. Precogs were right. So, what are you gonna do now? What's it worth?” - John Anderton (Tom Cruise)

Anderton is able to escape, but Agatha is found and taken back to the ‘pre-crime’ division. The Precogs report that Burgess is going to murder Anderton, while Anderton confronts Burgess about the murder of Lively. Although the director tries to convince Anderton to take his side, telling him that he could not let Lively take Agatha from the pre-crime division, Anderton does not give in. Director Burgess feels trapped, because if he kills John he will go to jail, but if he does not then the precognitive technology he helped develop is wrong. The director ends up killing himself.

“In 2054, the six-year Precrime experiment was abandoned. All prisoners were unconditionally pardoned and released, though police departments kept watch on many of them for years to come. Agatha and the twins were transferred to an undisclosed location, a place where they could find relief from their gifts.”  - John Anderton (Tom Cruise)

Minority Report is a film that is successful in some ways, but unsuccessful in others. The film successfully portrayed the dystopian idea of (imperfect) technology taking over. It makes us fear that society will eventually rely too much on technology and may somehow turn on us or backfire one day and cause huge consequences. Not only is it entertaining, but the camerawork and film noir style are beautiful. However, this film’s plot is confusing at several points, and the dialogue can feel forced at some points.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #178

“for such a little thing, you sure are in your own way.”

What’s your favorite type of bird? Barn owls are actual deities. What was on the last sandwich you ate? Pb & j. What sort of music did you listen to when you were in high school? Same stuff I listen to now, although I had a mild screamo-ish phase. Have you ever gotten back together with an ex? No. How far away is the closest store to your house and what is it? Some cheap dollar store in the town, dunno names. What is your favorite Thai dish? Haven't tried any. When was the last time you made out with somebody? Over a month back. What month of the year was your mother born? August. Are there any candles in your bedroom, and what scent are they? No. What TV show(s) have you been watching currently? None. How many apps do you have on your phone? Six. My phone has so, so little storage ugh. Have you ever dated a smoker? If not, would you? No to both. Are there any movies you’ve seen so many times? Yeah, sure. Of course a lot as a kid, Finding Nemo and The Lion King 1 & 2 especially, then I've watched both Blair Witch Project movies a lot, Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas... How would you describe your sense of humor? Sarcastic. What’s your favorite type of bread? Pumpernickel. Do you share a middle name with any of your siblings? Yeah. Have there ever been any brushfires/wildfires in your area? Yeah. What did you have to eat for dinner last night? Nothing (Thanksgiving was lunch). Do you have separate emails for personal and business? No. Have you ever missed a flight? Yes. Do you know your significant other’s passwords? No, I have no reason to. Would you like to study abroad one day? No. Does someone have a crush on you but you don’t feel the same way? Idk. Who do you feel most beautiful around? Sara. /v\ What’s one makeup item you cannot live without? I could easily live without any. Is there one thing all of your ex’s had in common? All guys. Did you french kiss before you were 16? No. Imagine your spouse just died; would you get re-married? I don't know if I would. Like... I'd never stop loving her, so "moving on" to someone else just because she's no longer physically here would feel disloyal. What’s your favorite thing about life? New, fun experiences and creating strong bonds with people like you. Who pays for the first date? Idrc, but probably whoever proposed the date? Or split the bill? Have you ever had a friend that got a bf/gf, and then completely ignored you? Yeah. Do you play any computer games, if so, what ones? Not currently 'cuz my gaming laptop has to be fixed. :| When it is and I have my own income, I might return to WoW, but I'm not sure. I think the subscription is kinda high, and I have more important things to handle. What is the funniest movie you’ve ever seen? Idk why I find White Chicks so goddamn funny. What lyric means the most to you? Off the very top of my head, "A bloody war behind my eyes; I'll come all right on the other side" from "Free" by Mother Mother. Really makes me think of all I've been through but how I keep coming out stronger. Who is the smartest person you know? Girt. What’s the next movie you will see in theaters? Idk. Are you adopted? No. What band do you like that most people hate? You canNOT look me in the face and say you don't like at least one Nickelback song. I don't get the hate. Any new bands that you actually enjoy? Oh idk. What is your escape from reality? RPing. Do you have any self-inflicted scars on your arms? You can only just barely see them. Do you like “scene” hair? YEAH AND I ALWAYS FUCKING WANTED IT BUT I COULD NEVER POSE IT CORRECTLY 'CUZ MY HAIR WAS TOO THICK AND HEAVY. Have your parents ever been to jail? No. If your friend asked you to hold their drugs, would you? Definitely not. Does it scare you when a relationship moves too fast? Y E A H Would you ever consider hitchhiking? I don't know if I would even in a desperate situation... I don't trust people. Have you ever hitchhiked? No. Have you ever been to a music festival? No. What color car do you want to have? Burnt orange. Would you rather hike a mountain or explore a cave? Explore a cave!!! Would you rather wear a flower crown or veil? Probably a veil? Do you believe peace on earth is attainable? I honestly don't believe so. What type of tattoo do you want? s o  m a n y What is your favorite insect? Butterflies. Would you ever live in the desert? Nooooo. Fuck the heat. Is your town beautiful? I don't really live in one, but the closest town isn't. Which season do you want to get married in? Autumn. Are totem poles cool? YEAH! Favorite art forms? Conceptual photography. What kind of music do you enjoy? Plenty sorts of metal, rock, and alternative. Do you have any gay friends? Yeah. Where is your favorite place to go? The zoo, even though I have mixed feelings about them... Do you know your dad? Yeah. How often do you get on Facebook? At least once a day. Are you related to anyone who’s in prison? Don't think so?? What concerts are you attending in the near future? Y'ALL I MIGHT FUCKING SEE OZZY IN JANUARY. He and Megadeth are coming to Charlotte and the tickets aren't too bad. :') It's a loooong drive but Mom was like "hell yeah" when I told her and wants to buy tickets after she gets her tax return AH. Metallica is a possibility too, but Mom doesn't think she can afford it. If you were kicked out of your house, where would you go first? Dad's. What are you currently looking forward to? Sara's b-day, Christmas, hopefully getting my laptop fixed, aforementioned concerts, and school. What was the reason you got grounded for last? Idk, that was a long time ago. But most likely for "talking back" to Mom. The last two people you kissed, are they virgins? Yes; probably not. Is there a guy that knows everything or mostly everything about you? Yeah. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed? A bit to the left. If you could have anything delivered to your doorstep each morning, what would it be? Um,,, money?????? What is one vacation destination that many people think is just fabulous but which you personally have no desire to visit (or revisit)? New York City. Heard from my sister it's a shithole with the craziest and rudest people known to Planet Earth. I'm not big on cities, anyway. Which animated character is your all-time favorite? Uhhhhhh... Dory, maybe? If you could own a home on the shore of any body of water in the world, which waterfront would you choose? I WANT THE PINK BEACHES OF THE BAHAMAS. But I'm scared of the Bermuda Triangle so will probably never see them. :'''''') What serves as the greatest motivation for you in your daily life? MY RECOVERY. If I got through what I have, I can't ever give up and roll back down that hill. I'm focusing to always improve. If you could have any round object in the world, what spherical item would you want? t h e  g a m e s p h e r e ,  l a d s If you were left alone for one hour with nothing more than a pen and a notepad, what would you be inclined to draw or write during those 60 minutes? Practice eyes or start a poem. If you could witness anything at all in super-slow motion, what would you want to see? Hmmm... OH, maybe a big cat's tongue licking meat. See how it actually shears tiny bits off. Cats' tongues are cool. What do you forget to do more often than anything else? Take my anxiety med at the right time. If you could teach everyone in the world one skill, what would it be? Compassion. You’ve been offered the chance to paint a billboard along a highway with any message you choose, as long as it’s only 10 words long. What is your message? Oh jeez, I'd have to think too hard on this. Who’s the last guy to give you roses? Tyler. Did your parents do drugs when they were younger? Not to my knowledge, and I doubt they would've. Do you have any relatives who live on a different continent than you? I don't believe so. What are your religious beliefs? Were you raised with those beliefs, or did you develop them on your own? I'm a theist, entailing I believe in a creator, but I know nothing about him/her/it. I personally picture them as a peaceful and sage deity that allows life to go on without it intervening anywhere, letting the world evolve on its own and see how we adapt to our unique settings and handle life. In the end, I believe we are either given some form of paradise or a type of damnation depending on how you wrote your story. I like to imagine the good go to their personal vision of "Heaven," and I wonder if the paranormal activity some experience in life are the acts of the damned, apparently confined to remain on Earth or something. Anyway, I wasn't raised with such beliefs; they were developed. I was brought up Catholic, then I turned to just simple Christianity as I didn't agree with a lot of Catholic ideas, and most recently I abruptly turned away from that in favor of theism. How did you and your significant other celebrate your last anniversary? We went out for breakfast. What has been your favorite house/apartment/etc you’ve ever lived in? My last house for location, as a house itself, my childhood one. What’s something in your house that currently needs to be cleaned? I need to vacuum my room. Do you still remember any of the dreams or nightmares you had as a child? Yup. What’s the most bizarre conspiracy theory you’ve ever heard of? The world is donut-shaped. Yeah. Do you have a good sense of direction? Not. At. All. Who was your first crush? Did you ever actually date them? Dylan, and no. What’s the weirdest, rudest, or most ridiculous thing a guest has ever done in your home? Who knows. Has anyone ever told you you’re manipulative? I don't think so. Do you know anyone who owns their own business? No. When was the last time you weren’t 100% sober? Uhhh maybe that movie night with Colleen and Chelsea. Is obtaining a college degree something that is important to you? Well, for my possible career future. Have you ever eaten at a vegan restaurant? No. Do you view substance abuse as a disease or a choice? I have... mixed feelings here. Starting something, that is indisputably a choice. Becoming addicted though, I'm not sure. Some people have addictive personalities so have a bigger inclination to become addicted, but isn't that just a personal trait/weakness you can fight?? I dunno. I know it's labelled as a disease by people way more informed than me though, so. What does the last text you sent say? Don't feel like checking. Does it bother you when people call you ‘ma'am’ or ‘sir?’ No. I live in the South, that's polite. Have you ever been obsessed with a television character? Does Dory count for movies? ha ha Do you ever wish you had powers of invisibility? Not really. What was the last thing that changed your life completely? Recovery. Do you have any step siblings? One. Have you ever been questioned by the police? No. In which state/country were you born? NC, U.S.A. Have you ever been to an amusement park out of state? Disney World. What do you normally drink when eating at a fast food restaurant? Coke or Mountain Dew. Have the police ever been looking for you? Not because I did something wrong; I've told the beach story a few times. If you chew gum, which kind is your favorite? I love the watermelon Hubba Bubba one asjfawoeu Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex? Yeah. What was the last liquid that you choked on? Water, just this morning when I was taking my meds ah. How many times did you wake up today before actually getting up? Well, I woke up once in the middle of the night like usual, then I woke up at like, 6-something and went back to sleep. Who did you celebrate your last birthday with? Mom, sises, Ash's husband and kids, and Dad stopped by. Was your last kiss initiated by you or the other person? I think it was kinda a simultaneous thing. We were saying bye. Do you buy a ton of things at the store at once or just for that day? Mom does the shopping, but it depends on how much time she has and what's at the house. When getting dressed do you put your pants or shirt on first? Pants. When you kiss a person where do your hands usually go? I actually don't know if it's a consistent thing for me??? I don't kiss anyone regularly so I don't recognize a pattern. What is one song you listen to that you’re sure not many people do? "False Flags," probs. Massive Attack is so neglected of the attention they deserve. Do you use a handrail on stairs if there is one? Yes, I'm scared of tripping. What was the last thing you saw that made you smile? Teddy came right up into my face wanting attention. What is your favorite drinking game? Never played any. Do you have any tattoos that you don’t like anymore? I think I've mentioned why I don't love my "ohana" one now. I'm getting it covered at some point. My "perfectly flawed" one is probably getting covered by a much bigger piece; I picked a bad location for it to want a sleeve. I'd just maybe redesign it, put if somewhere else. Do you have a shower curtain or door? Curtain. Who was the last person from your high school graduating class you saw? Probs Colleen? Who was the last non-relative you hung out with? Sara. Are you listening to anything right now? I'm way too obsessed with "Black Wedding" by In This Moment (feat. Rob Halford). Rob makes it, and the chorus is awesome. How many keys are on your keychain? One. Who was the last person you took a photograph with? Ryder, my nephew. Are you left handed? No. What were you most scared of when you were little? Losing my mom/being separated from her. Are you biracial? No. When was the last time you painted your nails? What color(s)? I couldn't even guess. Has a stranger ever offered to buy you a drink? Thank fuck no. Have you ever overflown a bathtub? Don't think so. What’s at the top of your to-do list in life? Stay positive, never stop aiming to improve. What was the last thing you shared? Well, Thanksgiving food. Where are you most ticklish? Feet. Do not- Which cartoon character do you want to keep as a pet? Uhhhh how 'bout an Espeon. I imagine them to be calm and silently affectionate like cats and very intelligent. Have you ever considered a career in music/acting? No. When was the last time you felt seriously embarrassed? Getting food yesterday. Per usual, let things die down, but I still ended up crammed in a corner, unable to go in any direction while someone was trying to get past me. I was headed for an anxiety attack and felt like a total nuisance. I'm pretty sure it showed in how I was whipping my head around, shuffling in various directions, clearly wanting the fuck out. Have you ever liked a song, looked up the lyrics to it, then hated it? No, lyrics can't ruin a song I like the sound of. What would be the icing on the cake for you this Christmas? A PS4, omg. I have to get my laptop fixed and a new camera, so I highly doubt I'm getting that or a tablet considering cost. I want to play the Spyro Reignited trilogy beyond words, like I refuse to even watch a let's play because I want to experience it all first-hand, but. Yeah, unlikely anytime soon. If you had the opportunity to live forever, would you take it? Noooooo. Do you like quesadillas? Only chicken and/or cheese ones. Did you like the show Invader Zim? I surprisingly never saw it. What’s the greatest/most influential song you’ve ever heard? "Life Won't Wait" by Ozzy always makes me wanna get off my ass and do something. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen in a grocery store? A HUGE BOX OF ANIMAL HEADS IN THE MIDDLE OF WAL-MART, BECKONING THE FURRIES INTO ITS DEPTHS. Have you ever bought yourself a present on Christmas? No. Well, I've used money I've been given on Christmas, if that counts. Have you ever been on a mechanical bull? No. Do you need a key card to get into the building you live in? No. Have you ever stepped in chewing gum? Yes. Name all the people you know that you’ve seen today. Just Mom.

[ksj2008]

Some Hamburr prompts

Is that how you call it? Prompts?

I have two, probably going to write them out eventually before my love towards Hamilton fades (which probably won't happen for a while gg)

1st one

Lawyers modern au.

Washington & Jefferson law firm

Divorced Burr taking care of Theo, one day got phone call that Theo got into fight with another kid. The kid turned out to be Phillip. The two kids fighting over who's dad is the most amazing lawyer in the world. Burr met Hamilton for the first time, irritated by how smart ass and quick witted the person is. (why do you assume you are the smartest in the room?)

The second day, Washington brought his new hire lawyer, turned out to be Hamilton.

Burr:......

Burr and Ham working on same case, a homophobia rich client who Burr kinda need to please so ignored all the offensive comment he made.

Burr is bi, technically, but he cheated with a guy while marrying with Theodosia. Theodosia was furious and divorce right away. Because her job requires her constantly working overseas in different countries, she didn't get the custody of Theo. It's been 4 years now they are good friend ish. Mutual custody over Theo.

Anyway, Burr got frustrated with the client and decided to go to a bar and have some fun. He ran into one of his previous friend with benefit and when they were having some intimacy outside of the bar in back alley, Hamilton showed up from another bar with his friends and saw Burr with this teenage looking kid (the guy is 26 but he looks like a teenage kid) and Ham punched Burr in the face.

Second morning Ham apologize to Burr, Burr ignores him.

Then ham decided to be friend with Burr, he felt bad, and also Burr is really smart and they sometimes really click.

Then one day client being homophobia again and wanted to fire burr because he discovered burr is bi. Ham got mad over the client and almost caused them to lose the client.

Burr: dafaq, can you mind your own business.

Ham: I never understand you, how can you let that guy talk shit to you like that? Love is love is love is love, nothing is wrong with being in love with the person you truly love.

Burr: you fucking serious.

And Burr kissed Ham.

Burr: now you want to say I can love whoever I want?

Ham:.......

And Ham run away.

He then messaged Burr saying that he is recently widowed and he can't really accept anyone to his life yet and he does not have feeling for Burr that exceeds friendship.

Burr : challenge accepted.

Anyway some fluff office romance where Washington really feeling awkward that 4 of his lawyers are in office romance under his eyes (yes jeffmads) but Martha talked him out from worrying about this.

And some angst with Ham's past and Angelica is furious with Ham.

2nd

Police detective Ham and CIA undercover Burr.

They met on scene. Ham caught Burr and took him to precinct.

I want to write ties tied to Leslie's writs that's why.

Anyway, Washington told Ham that's an undercover CIA agent and ordered ham and burr working together.

Jefferson be like :LOL

Burr and Ham not really working well. Ham got caught by this drug lord or whatever crime association burr is undercover in. Burr took over the interrogation role and tortured ham. Ham is like : dafaq why are you so serious with your role!?

Burr:.....

Burr already took easy on ham he did much worse when he was in CIA but ham never got interrogated before so he didn't know.

Anyway, laurens and others rescued ham out, and Ham shot burr for a payback.

Laurens told Ham that burr planned all the escape and stuff, he also know that ham is going to shoot him so everything worked out, the boss is going to trust him even more.

Ham was a bit angry. At himself for not realizing burrs intention and for not trusting burr. Laurens suggest he apologize after burr come back.

Burr came back after the mission is over and stayed in the hospital for about 1 month. Ham went visiting and taking care of burr while he's still recover from two gun wounds (one from the criminals and one from ham)

Ham listened to jefferson and bought a tie for Burr for recovery gift and gesture of friendship.

Burr:....... (did no one tell this kid that tie means he wants me to wear it and take it off by himself... Like sex intention??)

Jefferson: heehee

Burr and Ham still argues and not really working well. But eventually they got along, and burr actually wants to ask ham out for dinner.

I want to introduce Burr's twin brother, Peter Collier form Person of Interest!

Collier : my twin brother my other half of the soul join me for vigilance!

Burr:.... Interesting

So burr asked ham for dinner, they actually had really good time. Ham sneaked a pic of burr while he was ordering wine cuz he looked so sexy.

Later they walked home and burr kissed Ham's cheek for goodbye. Ham started thinking of the next date.

The next morning he got a news that burr is committed treason and ran away with Peter collier the infamous terrorist.

Ham: dafaq

Some really dramatic gun fights.

Burr got boring with colliers work. He has no principals and he doesn't see a difference between what collier is doing and what cia is doing. And he misses hamilton.

Collier doesn't like his twin brothers thought, so he went to meet ham dressed up as burr. He wants to see how ham thinks of burr.

Didn't really get answer because ham wanted to arrest him and begs him to turn himself in.

Burr asked his brother: how bored are you. And keep the fuck away from ham.

Anyway, more dramatic gun fights, collier shot ham, ham went to hospital. Collier locked burr away (Romeo and Juliette hahaha). Burr is worried sick of how ham is so he decided to self escape. And he succeeded. He's a cia after all.

Burr went to hospital and saw ham recovering well. Then he learned that ham lost his memory.

Burr thought for a bit and betrayed his brother and turned himself in. He went to jail.

Ham still works as police detective because Washington really can't find anyone better than him with his animal instincts and logics and deductions.

Madison constantly calls burr and give him information about ham.

(since when did you guys become BFF? Jefferson is confused)

Ham started recovering his memory and he got his phone back and saw that there's a photo of a guy, really hot guy, definitely his type of guy, in the album. He wonders who that person is. Then he saw the news that Peter collier got caught, and he was like : dafaq

Jefferson being jefferson: yeah you dated a terrorist

Madison kicked jefferson to shut him up.

And Madison told Ham to go visit burr in jail.

Ham went, Burr is nervous af

They sat down across the table. Ham stared at burr. Burr doesn't talk because usually ham does the talking.

Then when time is almost up, ham asked burr: I think you still owe me a date right?

Burr almost cried.

Then he realized that he had been so scared that he will never have ham ever again.

He took a min to calm down then said : yeah I do. You pick the place.

Ham: okie

And Burr decided to get a lawyer and sign some agreement to get himself out of the prison asap.

Man I love Hamburr.

[saikostories]

Nanbaka - The Peculiar Guard pt2

“For being a guard, I never thought there would be this much junk papers…”

“Yeah, it’s kind of surprising, but it’s kind of useful reading through them.”

“Really? Guess I’ll start skimming…”

As usual, Theo was at his desk reading papers. He hadn’t taken his mask off for a while since he’s honestly gotten adjusted to it. As he threw another page into the garbage, Seitarou grabbed his attention again.

“Oh, hey, Theo!” He said, causing the newbie to turn towards him. “It’s time for your patrol. You should really be wary about the time.”

“Uh, right, sorry…” Theo apologized and stood up from his desk.

He pushed his chair in before walking out of the office. Entering into the hallway, he instantly spotted Hajime with a person behind him. Recognizing the silver tag on the person and the attire they wore, it was clear that it was a new inmate.

“New inmate, sir?” Theo asked as he continued walking by.

“Yep. He’s going to cell 13.” Hajime stated.

“Cell 13…?” Theo mumbled before beginning to walk with Hajime. “Hold on, why there? Why not… cell 11? It has fewer inmates that aren’t so… rowdy.”

“Warden’s orders.” Hajime answered.

“Oh…” Theo became quiet after that. He looked back to the inmate to see that he was dressed in a peculiar way. “…Nice mask.”

“Thank you.” Replied inmate No.99. “It was especially made in my village for shinobis…”

‘Yeah, okay, keep tellin’ yourself that bud…’ Theo thought as he didn’t believe him at all. 'But, he does look familiar… I wonder where I’ve seen him before…’

“Here’s your cell,” Hajime instructed the inmate.

“I’ll keep patrolling…” Muttered Theo as he walked on by.

Just as he made it to the end of the hall he could hear the boys from cell 13 gushing in excitement. He questioned what got them so riled up, but shrugged it off since he had a job to do. After nothing suspicious was going on he went back to the office. He sat back at his desk and continued a few papers before he heard a sobbing Seitarou run into the room.

“It’s the inmates again! Waaaahh!” Sobbed Seitarou.

“Inmates…?” Theo questioned softly.

“You mean cell 13?” Hajimed asked. “I thought you said you were buddy-buddy with them since I’ve told you what to do.”

“I thought so too, but now we’re through!” Exclaimed Seitarou. “I just went to see if I could get them anything. They ignored me! I offered them snacks, surveys, menus, and everything, but they just hissed at me! Those inmates are as cold as ice!”

’…Seitarou sound like an overly emotional girlfriend, yeesh…’ Theo immediately thought.

“Wait, they all love that crap. What could this mean…?” Hajime muttered as he became suspicious of what Seitarou said.

“Cheer up, Seitarou…” Theo spoke up calmly to him and began rubbing his back in comfort. “No need to get upset over something so trivial. Don’t take everything they say or do to heart. Plus they’re inmates. Take a deep breath and show them that you’re not someone they can push around. You’re not just a pretty face, you’re a guard.”

“Y-you really think so…?” Sniffled Seitarou as he gazed up at her.

Theo nodded before diving into his lunchbox he brought with him. “Here, I had bought myself a muffin earlier. You can have it though. Cheer up, okay?”

“You’re such a girl…” Hajime practically threw at Theo.

Without Seitarou seeing, Theo shot Hajime a very harsh and cold glare. Hajime stiffened as that glare reminded him of the Warden, which also gave him the realization of his mistake. 'Crap, that’s right… Theo is a girl… I accidentally forgot…’

“A-are you sure…?” Seitarou asked Theo.

“Sure. I had a big breakfast anyway so I’m not hungry.” Theo said to him, while patting his head. “Remember, strong. Like Hajime just less scary.”

“O-okay…” Mumble Seitarou as he wiped his tears.

“Hey, Theo, let’s see what those brats are up to together.” Hajime spoke up and stood from his desk as soon as Theo got to the door. “Those things Seitarou asked them about are basically their weaknesses. If they deny that, then something’s going on.”

“…Okay.” Theo nodded.

The two exited the room and went to Cell 13. When they got to the door, both officers instantly realized the door was opened and checked the lock. It was picked through like a pro. Theo figured that 'pro’ was Jyugo.

“Did they seriously escape…?” Theo questioned as he gazed around the cell. “Why thought…?”

“Who knows…” Growled Hajime before turning around. “C'mon! They couldn’t have gotten that far…”

“Right.” Theo murmured and followed.

The two began walking down the hallway carefully, trying to keep an eye out of the escapees. But the further they went, the more they could hear voices. The louder the voice got, the quieter the two guards became so they could sneak up on the inmates. Once they spotted them they remained behind a wall and listened in carefully.

“So I win yet, 'cause all he’s done is follow me.” Ask the voice of Jyugo. “I might as well be breaking out of here all by myself!”

“So should we call it a match?” Rock asked.

“Yeah, you should do that.” Hajime spoke up and stepped out from the corner.

Theo followed behind Hajime, just staying behind him, as he watched the inmates become startled by his presence. Hajime began to crack his knuckles as he glared down at them while itty bitty veins popped from his face.

“Crap! He found us!” Hissed Jyugo.

“W-wait up, Hajime! Just listen!” Uno exclaimed holding his hands up in surrender. “The three of us aren’t really escaping!”

“Yeah, we’re just here to judge these two’s jail breaking skills.” Said Rock.

“Yeah, that they said—we just came to watch!” Nico said as he flinched back.

“You damn traitors!” Jyugo shouted at the three.

Hajime cracked another finger, causing chills to go up all the inmate’s spines. “If you’re out of your cells, and you didn’t ask for my permission, then it still counts as breaking out…”

The three inmates were all shaking together. Theo could only huff at Hajime as he felt deja vu. 'Hajime’s still the same Hajime from back then, that’s for sure…’

“Ha ha ha ha!” Laughed the newest inmate, No.99, which grabbed their attention. “The time has come to reveal my ninjutsu! Ninja Technique: Cloak of Invisibility!”

Suddenly, the inmate took out a long flag and was holding it above his head. It was of the Japanese national flag with some writing on it. Theo could only sweat drop, watching as both Hajime and Jyugo punched the guy, also simultaneously ripping the flag.

“Doesn’t really work if I’ve already seen ya, now does it?!” Shouted Hajime.

“And what’s with that design?! Don’t disrespect the Japanese!” Shouted Jyugo.

“Aaaand down he goes…” Theo mumbled, standing next to the other inmates, watching as No.99 was now laying on the ground. “To be honest he had that coming to him…”

“Hey, why didn’t you join in the punch, Theo?” Asked Nico.

“Well, I’m not Japanese in the slightest, and I’m kind of not needed here…” Theo muttered and looked at Hajime, just in time to see him grab Jyugo by the collar of his clothes.

“No.15 you punk… Making friends with the newbie so you can escape together, huh?” Hajime interrogated him.

“It’s not my fault, it was his idea!” Jyugo said, only to gasp very deeply afterwards. “Tsukumo and… Hajime… Hajime Tsuku—”

Hajime slammed his hand over Jyugo’s mouth. “Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it! No one in our targeted demographic will get it!”

*Ahem, Ahem.* PAUSE! (A chibi Theodora pops up as a pause symbol appears over the screen.) Excuse me while I explain to you, dear reader/viewer. Hajime Tsukumo is a famous Japanese actor and has been in many movies. He was born around 1992 and is still around to this date! Well, assuming you’re reading this around the date he’s still alive. Anyways, back to our regular programing! (Chibi Theodora jumps down and disappears off screen) RESUME!

“Ahahahaha! Just as expected of a Nanba Prison officer!” Exclaimed No.99, or Tsukumo, who was back onto his feet. He then pointed at Jyugo. “It looks like I’ll be taking your title after all! It’s clear that you are no match for this guard. If I escape from here, victory is mine!”

“So you guys weren’t lying about the competition, huh…” Theo muttered to the three.

“Of course not!” Uno exclaimed at him. “If it gets us out from getting hit by Hajime then we’ll squeal like pigs!”

'Duly noted…’ Theo thought to himself.

“Ninja Technique! Hidden Leaf! Makibishi!” Exclaimed Tsukumo.

Suddenly, not only did leafs fly through the air, but small tiny weapons flew to the ground as well. Theo was surprised by this and became on guard, only to quickly calm down when he realized the position Tsukumo got himself in.

“Whoa! He really must be a ninja if he got those past security!” Exclaimed Rock, Nico, and Uno in unison.

“Yeah, okay…” Theo shook his head at the three. “What type of ninja traps himself with his own weapons…?”

Realization hit Tsukumo as soon as Theo pointed it out. The supposed 'ninja’ exclaimed in horror at the realization of what happened.

“This is terrible! I spread them all out around myself!” Tsukumo exclaimed.

“You’re cleaning that up!” Hajime called to him before turning to the four. “Alright, time to get back to your cells.”

“What about him, sir…?” Theo asked Hajime, pointing at No.99.

“He ain’t leaving until he cleans up his mess.” Hajime stated. He then placed a sign up in front of Tsukumo before facing the other inmates. “Alright, start moving.”

Theo helped Hajime bring the original four back to their cells and left Tsukumo behind. Beginning tomorrow he’ll be moved to Cell 11, just like Theo had suggested, so no more trouble could be caused with Cell 13.

***

“Good morning, Theo!”

“…G-good morning…”

“Huh?”

Seitarou had walked in this morning to find Theo sitting on the couch looking rather gloomy. His head was down as he projected a small gloomy aura. Concerned for his coworker, Seitarou walked up to Theo and asked him what was wrong.

“Is everything okay?” He had asked.

“My landlord called me…” Softly muttered Theo. “…He just kicked me out of the place because of my rent being unpaid for again…”

“I am so sorry!” Seitarou said, patting his shoulder in comfort.

“It’s fine…” Theo muttered and gestured that it was nothing. “It was bound to happen… I was planning on moving out anyways…”

“Well, do you have any other place to stay?” Seitarou asked.

“Yeah…” Theo replied softly. “I talked to the Warden about it, hoping an early paycheck could help me get somewhere. Instead she told me I could just sleep in the nightroom here… I ended up taking her offer…”

“Why?” Seitarou asked, bewildered by his words.

“I mean, it’s right here at work, right?” Mumbled Theo as he tried being logical about this. “Why not? You have me being around 24/7 now, and it allows me to save up some money while I try to search for a legitimate place to stay at…”

“Still, though…” Seitarou tried to reason with him. “Won’t it be a bit scary, living here with other inmates around and all…?”

“Not really, considering I did live here for years…” Theo said, his tone now sounding less gloomy and more casual.

“Oh, right… I keep forgetting that you had been an inmate here yourself…” Seitarou muttered softly.

“I’ll be fine, promise…” Theo said and stood up from his spot on the couch.

“Well, at least you’re not gloomy anymore.” Seitarou smiled and walked towards one of the metal closets. “Today’s pretty important you know. We should get to work?”

“…Important…?” Theo questioned.

“Well, yeah. It’s New Years Eve, you know.” Seitarou said, looking at him incredulously. “How could you not know something as important as that?” The blue haired male turned to him with cleaning equipment in hand. “It’s Japanese tradition to clean up the place at the end of the year. Us guards will clean up the office while the inmates will clean up their cells. That’s how it works.”

“Oh, I had no idea…” Theo said softly. “I should call my family when I get the chance…”

“You get a headstart here in the office. Yamoto and I will supply the inmates, okay?” Seitarou said smiling.

“Alright…” Theo nodded to him.

As Seitarou exited the room, Theo went into the metal closet and began to look for cleaning supplies. Once he found a bit he began to start with the desk. Of course, he had to clean off a bit of the papers before he did that. As he cleaned, Seitarou came back along with Yamoto. The three cleaned the entire room as carefully as they could. As Theo cleaned on top of a cabinet, he spotted something black and furry. Blinking a few times, he grabbed the strange thing and turned to Seitarou.

“Hey, Seitarou…?” He questioned softly.

“Yeah?” Seitarou straightened up and looked at him.

“…Why’re there a cat here?” Theo asked. “I thought I saw something furry from time to time, but I’ve always shrugged it off as my imagination… Why’s it got a police hat too?”

“Oh, uh… I honestly have no clue.” Admitted Seitarou.

“That’s officer Coo!” Exclaimed Yamoto, pointing to the cat. “Hajime is responsible for the cat. He is Guard Cat Coo! He usually resides around the office, but it’s been a long time since I’ve saw him! Nice find, Nicci!”

“Hajime’s cat…?” Theo held the cat up, now noticing a scar over one of his eyes. “Why do I see the resemblance…? I’m kinda not surprised…”

“Mreow!” Spoke the cat.

Theo stared at it for a moment before holding him in his arms carefully and began petting him. 'Aw, he’s so cute…! Animals are so sweet…!’

“We should get back to work.” Seitarou’s voice snapped Theo back to reality.

“R-right…!” Theo nodded, shaking his thoughts away.

Placing the cat down, Theo got back to work. The three of them continued on cleaning until the place was spotless. Once it was done they all sat down on the couch for a well deserved break. Well, Seitarou and Theo sat down. Yamoto strongly believed that he deserved an End of the Year Training and bolted out the door. The two guards just talked quietly until going back to work. When they were at their desk Theo decided to call his family, trying to be cautions of the time difference in America compared to Japan.

“Good morning!” Replied a female voice with a bit of an accent. “Is that you, Theodora?”

“Hi mom,” Theo greeted as he could feel a smile curl onto his lips. “How’s everything going at home? Everybody behaving?”

“Oh, you know how it is.” Spoke Theo’s mom. From the sounds he could hear, it sounds like she’s cooking. “Your father has been himself, you know. Sadly he left early to go hunting so I’m sorry you can’t talk to him, you know? Your brothers, Marco and Mario, have been mischievous little devils. Hiding my phone, hiding my purse—I almost slapped them for hiding my lipstick. But little Eva has been good, though. She got first place in her school art contest!”

“Oh, that’s good.” Theo said, glad to hear their okay. “I just called to say happy New Years since it’s New Years Eve over here.”

“Really?” Softly gasped her mom. “You guys are a day ahead of us, huh. I will never get used to those timezones…”

“Tell me about it…” Theo laughed softly.

“Anyways, how have you been? Everything going well?” Asked her mom.

“Yeah, it’s been fun.” Theo said. “I saw a few familiar faces and made some new friends. Give a little more time and I’m sure my name will be circling around the place again, hehe…”

“I’m glad to know you’re okay. Honestly I was a little skeptical about you going back but if everything is fine and you’re happy and looking after yourself than that’s good.” Happily said her mom. “I wish you could come over one of these days. See the family again, have some pasta fazool, oooh! Or Chicken parmesan! Ugh, it’s only 10 o'clock here and you’re already making me hungry.”

“Mom, aren’t you making something?” Theo asked. “I’m positive I heard pans on the stove.”

“Yes, but there is no such thing as too much food!” Said her mother. Theo could only imagine her waving her finger at him. “Because New Years is coming up everyone from my side of the family is coming over. Even Uncle Benvolio will be there this time. I’m making my famous lemon cake and bring it over, along with some meatballs. Mmm~ I can’t wait for it!”

“I wish I could be there…” Theo said, but he was still smiling. “Tell everyone I said hi. And give dad a big hug for me, okay?”

“Of course I will!” Laughed her mom. Silence rang on the phone for a bit “are you sure you’re okay honey? You sound different… sort of off… are you managing stress all right?”

Theo let out a long breath and closed his eyes for a second. Hajime looked up and eyed Theo. He could hear most of the conversation anyway.

“Yeah mama. I’m fine, a little tired but fine. I just miss you that’s all.”

“I miss you too Theodora. Listen,I hate to let you go, mia cara, but I must. I’m in the middle of cooking, and I don’t want to burn the pancakes.“

"Alright. I love you, mom.” Theo said.

“I love you to, Theodora.” Said her mother in a very loving manner. “I’ll tell everyone you called. Goodbye!”

“Bye bye, mama.” Theodora said just as lovingly in return.

The phone beeped as the call was disconnected. Theo sighed softly and gazed at his phone in a lonely manner. Going through it he went to his pictures and found a picture of his entire family together. He smiled softly at the memory. Seeing each of their faces made him feel homesick. But, with this job, it was worth the heartache. He closed his phone and placed it on his desk and began to continue his regular paper work.

“Happy New Years…”

***

Poke. Poke. Poke. Poke.

“Mmnn… Eva, stop…”

“Who the hell’s Eva?”

“…!…”

Theo shot up from his bed to see No.15 sitting in a wheely chair right next to him. His body instinctively had chills go up his spine as a cold sweat formed on the back of his neck. 'Son of bitch…! Thank god I didn’t take off any of my compressions otherwise I’d be fucking screwed!’

“The hell’re you doing here?” Theo demanded to know, his tone being rather hostile.

“Did I scare you? Ooh, what an angry tone you’re using!” Jyugo teased, trying to aggravate him. It was slightly working.

“Don’t dodge the question!” Theo yelled, holding a fist up at him.

“I got bored.” Jyugo replied innocently with a shrug. “Plus, Rock snores, Uno grinds his teeth, and I can’t hear either of them thanks to Nico’s sleep laughter—how do you expect me to fall asleep? This is the quietest place in the building, but I had no idea you were residing in here.”

“So your brilliant idea was to poke me…?” Theo questioned as his eye twitched.

“Hajime’s not here, Seitarou went home, and Yamoto is doing his training.” Jyugo said holding up three fingers. “So, yeah, you’re basically my only entertainment right now.”

'This guy…!’ Theo could feel his anger slowly rising. But, he countered it by sighing out, trying to calm down. 'No, no… Leave him. He’s not worth the trouble of beating. Plus, I’m sure Hajime wouldn’t take his office being in shambles so lightly…’

“…If you’re so bored then why don’t you do something else?” Theo questioned him. “Read, watch TV, draw—do something other than break out of your cell. If you keep escaping like that then eventually Hajime will have to take high measures and place you in a place that you can’t escape from.”

“Oh really? What’s that?” Jyugo asked, clearly not believing Theo’s words.

“They have a place in these buildings that they usually put mentally ill prisoners in.” Theo stated, trying to show that this wasn’t a joke. “Basically it’s like a hatchet—kinda like a garbage shoot. They slide you into this room with no doors, no windows, and no locks. Climbing back up the shoot is impossible since they have this slick coating on it that makes you slide down. One wall is made of bulletproof glass while the other walls, including ceiling and floor, are made of white cushions. It’s like a mental institution. The glass wall allows people like doctors to watch you and examine your behavior. No matter what you do towards those people on the other side of the glass, they’ll do nothing but act as if you weren’t even there. It’s a living hell…”

“Wait, they seriously have that…?” Jyugo muttered, clearly surprised by the information.

“Remember that story I talked about a few days ago?” Theo asked and watched Jyugo nod. “…How else do you think that guy went mental and killed himself?”

“S-seriously…?” Jyugo’s eyes went wide in shock.

“Yep. It’s pretty fucked up…” Theo muttered as a dark expression came onto his face. “I know personally how much of a hell it is because I got put in there… They said that if I can’t cooperate, they’ll keep me in that room for the rest of my sentence. I just scoffed and laughed… They threw me down and I could only last a week… I eventually agreed to their terms and got placed officially into Building 5…”

“Sounds harsh.” Jyugo muttered.

“Yeah, well…” Theo shrugged and sighed again, trying to stop any dark thoughts in his head. “…I was a little shit back then, so I deserved it. But I’m not telling you that to pity me. I’m telling you this because I don’t want anybody else going through the shit I’ve been through. I’m warning you; behave or Hajime might just take that risk in throwing you in there if you continue to misbehave!”

“Yeah… I’m not gonna do that.” Jyugo said smiling, looking rather smug. “Hajime’s a brute, but he isn’t that heartless. Plus, he’s dealt with me so far. The only person who would do that would probably be the Warden, right? If I get thrown in, then I get thrown it. It’s my fault for breaking out anyways so it would make sense if I get punished for it.”

Theo stared at him for a moment before sighing again. He ran a hand through his hair, realizing just how much Jyugo doesn’t understand these things. “You really don’t know anything, huh?…”

“You sound like Hajime.” Jyugo commented and began spinning in the chair.

“That’s because Hajime understands what this job means more than you do.” Theo stated, causing Jyugo to stop and listen to him. “Do you understand what our job is? What we do and why we have to do it…?”

“You’re guards, right? So you guard the inmates and make sure we don’t escape.” Jyugo said as if it was obvious.

“It’s more than that, you know…” Theo said and rested his chin in his palm. “Yes, we do guard the cells and make sure inmates behave themselves. But it’s more complicated than that… The reason anybody is put into jail is because they broke society’s law. But breaking the law you are punished by being placed into jails and living in it until your sentence has ended. Through that time of being in jail, it’s up to us guards to sort of… rehabilitate you guys…”

“Rehabilitate…?” Jyugo questioned, clearly not understanding.

“You might have broken the law, but you’re still a human being.” Theo continued, hopefully trying to get him to understand. “From what I experienced for myself, a lot of jails in America would sometimes have these type of groups. They would gather the inmates and hold this type of event. Sometimes they have past inmates who had rehabilitated properly back into society to talk. Sometimes it’s a comedian. Heck, they even bring in animals sometimes.”

“Why would they do that?” Jyugo asked.

“To make us care…” Theo said softly, causing Jyugo to stare. “There’s a lot of things in life. But, sometimes people will act out through severe circumstances and break society’s laws. Jyugo… you’re only 16 and in the world’s highest security prison. You shouldn’t be in a place like this. You should be in a nice home, with a nice family, goofing off with friends, and playing games. That goes for you and your fellow inmates in cell 13. There’s only so much time we have in life, but you’re here, wasting it in a pathetic jail cell…”

“Where are you going with this?” Jyugo spoke up, looking almost defensive.

“I’m saying you should go through your sentence and get the hell out of here.” Theo stated bluntly. “Behave, find your way into society. As a guard, it is my job to not only make sure you inmates behave and get ready to be released back into society, but it’s also my job to care for you guys.”

“Care for us…?” Jyugo’s eyebrows furrowed together and upwards, clearly confused.

“Prison guards make sure the inmates behave, but that they are also protected…” Theo continued to hopefully clarify for him. “You and your friends in cell 13 all have misdemeanors, but because you continue to escape jails your sentences have been lengthen. Either way, you guys didn’t do something extreme, unlike some of these other inmates. Nanba Prison has all types of fuckers around. Rapist, murders, the mentally illed—this place might as well have them all. Even if those guys are placed into special confinement away from other inmates, they’ll try attacking anybody they can get their hands on. That means it’s up to the guards to stop that from happening and try and protect people like you.”

“But… why?” Jyugo asked. “We’ve all done bad shit. All prisoners might as well be scum, right? So why would you risk yourselves for something like that?”

“Just because you misbehaved in our society doesn’t mean you’re not a living being…” Theo answered. He smiled at Jyugo, seeing that he caught him off guard. “You’re a human being. You have feelings, you have a high intelligence, you have your own likes and talents. You might have lost some rights from doing the shit you’ve done to get into prison, but you still have the right to be a human being. The reason I came back here—the very reason for why I willingly talk to everyone I can talk to and know them—is because I care. I want to protect. I want to help you guys get through this harsh rehabilitation and I want to keep you all safe… That’s why I became a prison guard at Nanba Prison.”

Jyugo stared at Theo with his mouth agap. Theo just held his gaze, a smirk tugging his own lips, as he knew what he said had resonated with him somehow. Or, at least impressed him in some way. Jyugo recollected himself and pointed at Theo.

“Dude, it’s like, 3 in the morning and you were able to give a lecture like that?” Jyugo said in a very blunt tone. “Man you’re weird…”

Hajime would’ve punched Jyugo if he had said that to him. But Theo wasn’t Hajime. Instead Theo huffed in amusement, only to end up laughing softly. Jyugo expected to get hit, not a chuckle.

“Haha, yeah, I guess I am weird.” Theo smiled at him. “I just know a lot more than others is all… I weird as I am, I always enjoy deep conversations. It’s just how I am…”

“You… You aren’t mad?” Jyugo asked, ready for a punch to the head.

“Why should I be mad when what you said is true?” Theo countered, effectively silencing him. Theo’s smile faded as he looked at his crossed legs. “I’m just a freak of nature. But it’s how I was bored—I’m not responsible for it. I’m only responsible for the actions that I take and for what I do with myself. But, a lot of people tend to forget that…”

“…What do you mean by that?” Jyugo asked.

“…You honestly don’t know my situation, huh?” Theo asked him, watching as he shook his head. “Ever heard of the disease, HSAN?”

“Nope.” Jyugo shook his head.

“HSAN stands for Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy.” Theo stated, trying to explain it as carefully as possible. “It’s a condition that inhibits sensory. In other words, HSAN stops me from physically feeling anything. Whether I am kept in the cold or even in flaming fire, I can’t feel anything. I won’t be able to tell you whether I’m hot or cold because I can’t feel it. Basically the only way I can feel something through my hands or anywhere is probably if I was harmed severely.”

“So you really can’t feel anything?” Jyugo asked, looking intrigued, as his eyes landed on Theo’s arms. “Is… is that why you have so many scars…?”

Theo followed his gaze to his arms. When Theo went to bed he just took a few of his uniform off. He didn’t take his pants or shirt off because he had collapsed right on the bed and fell asleep. In other words, he ran out of batteries again. His sleeves were rolled up, showing the intense sight of his hands and arms. His hands were covered in scars. The same went for his arms, but the scars were more or less spaced out the more higher they went.

“Oh, these…” Theo muttered as his face was stoic again. “Growing up with HSAN was… hard, to say the least. Kids didn’t enjoy being around me because I couldn’t quite control my own strength. My family did whatever they could to teach me how to control my own body so that society might be able to accept me. But, it was hard… The more I grew, the more I wanted to feel something. Why was touch so special? What was so comforting from it? I didn’t know… I couldn’t know… Eventually, I got into such a dark place when I was a child that I began harming myself. Harshly…”

Theo lifted his hands up, turning them and show Jyugo how bad they actually were. “Almost all of these scars have stories. Most I inflicted on myself, others were gained by accident, while some I gained from trying to protect others.”

“You were that desperate…?” Jyugo asked, his eyes widen in shock.

“Yeah, I was… And maybe I still am…” Theo nodded before putting his hands down. “HSAN isn’t widely known, but it’s heavily severe… I can’t feel anything, so I got injured often. To this day I still get strange injuries without realizing it. Growing up without the sensation to feel is a living hell…”

Theo’s hands tightened into fist as he stared at the ground with a hollow stare. “…Feelings were… impossible for me to recognize. You know how when you’re sad, your throat feels all tight and clogged, and your eyes burn and feel itchy? For me, it’s numbed down heavily. The most I could probably sense are the itchy eyes, and maybe my throat tighten partially. I just… can’t feel anything… My behavior came off as disturbing and harsh to others. So, to make life easier for myself and family, I began to observe people. That’s when I began to act as a 'normal’ human being.”

“That’s so fucked up…” Theo heard Jyugo whisper softly.

“Well, that’s just how it is for me…” Theo said and shrugged nonchalantly. “But, now that I’m an adult and making a living for myself, life’s been better for me. I understand my hints of emotions I get, and I know how to feel without feeling. Yeah, sometimes there’ll be moments where my HSAN is in the way, but I’m making it by fairly well. I’m just grateful for the fact that not my entire body is unable to sense touch.”

“What do you mean?” Jyugo asked and tilted his head slightly.

“Not all of my senses are gone thankfully.” Theo said and began counting the sensations on his fingers. “I can see, hear, and taste fairly well compared to an average human—maybe even more. But I can’t smell to well and touch is a nogo. Basically, my I can only feel with my tongue. It’s the most sensations that I have.”

“That’s gotta be frustrating.” Jyugo commented, causing Theo to nod.

“Sometimes.” Theo said. “I got into a lot of trouble because I tried to feel with my tongue when I was a child. Since I could only feel with my tongue, I tended to lick or kiss a lot of things. My family understood that it was the only thing I had to feel with, so they didn’t necessarily stopped me unless it was in public or to something dangerous. Now that I think about it, the whole kissing thing I did was more of a greeting if anything. To put it simply… Licking and kissing for me was like a head pat or handshake if that makes any sense…”

Jyugo felt his eye twitched when he learned that information. 'So that day when he kissed me meant nothing. He only did it as a sense of touch…’

“But, like usual, society found my behavior to be… inappropriate.” Theo sighed softly as he recalled multiple events. “I was three when I met another kid on the local playground. I ended up kissing the kid, and it just so happened to be a girl. The parents go so mad, yelling and cursing at my parents to 'control me,’ or to 'teach some manners.’ I got real mad, angry that someone was insulting my family. But, my dad just apologized, taking every hit they threw, and took me away from the place and we went home. That’s when he began to try and teach me to stop doing that since he knew that it could get me into some serious trouble… But, as you know, habits die hard.”

“Yeah, I know…” Jyugo grumbled in a slightly irritated tone.

“Yeah… Sorry about that.” Theo smirked at him. “Like I said, I don’t mean anything behind it. Plus, you were being quite stubborn that day. I had to kick you out somehow.”

“Kissing someone isn’t a way to kick them out of a place!” Jyugo yelled.

“Now you sound like Hajime!” Theo laughed in amusement, causing Jyugo to stiffen.

“Don’t compare me to him!” Jyugo said looking almost insulted.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, Hajime pounded me a good number of times.” Theo said and subconsciously rubbed his head. “He made sure to be extra hard, too. He actually managed to made me dizzy to say the least.”

“Yeah, well, I’m still pissed about that…” Jyugo grumbled, looking off to the side.

“Would another kiss make you feel better?” Theo teased and made kissy noises at him as a joke.

“HELL NO!” Jyugo screeched, causing Theo to laugh in response.

“I kid, I kid.” Theo said and waved his hand at him. “I know the errors of my ways. Plus, with Hajime being my superior, I’m positive he’s gonna be the guy to knock me the fuck out without help of medication.”

“…Now that I think about it,” Jyugo began thinking aloud, “that HSAN thing actually explains a lot… How you could get up onto your feet so quickly after getting punched by Rock. How you could attack us and not seeming fazed at all by it. You literally couldn’t feel any of that…”

“Now you’re getting it.” Theo crossed his arms cover his chest. “When I said I couldn’t feel that punch, I literally couldn’t feel it. Not only can I not feel anything, but I’m abnormally strong… It’s a blessing, yet a curse. I can last through a fight longer than a normal human being, but the after affect of it might be devastating to my body. It’s pretty bad, to be honest. I almost died plenty of times…”

“You’re dieseled as fuck, dude.” Jyugo said bluntly.

“I get that a lot, too.” Theo said and chuckled.

“You really are easy to chat with… It’s freaky…” Jyugo said as he realized how long they’ve been talking.

“Maybe… But the same can be said to you.” Theo said, catching him off guard. “When you’re comfortable, or at least not on guard, you listen fairly well to the person who is talking. You listen, which makes it easy to bond with you. Plus, you also woke me up at 3 in the goddamn morning, so I blame you.”

“Gee, thanks, way to make a guy feel special.” Jyugo replied sarcastically.

Theo snickered in response, clearly enjoying this talk. Even though Jyugo had a grudge against him, he had to admit, he was now starting to actually enjoy this guy’s presence. But of course he would never admit that out loud… Jyugo stared at him for a moment and stared at his face. He has seen some feminine men before, and he felt like Theo was taking a new place on his list.

Theos’s hair was uncovered since he had been sleeping. His hair was a silver white and cut just below his ears like a thick pixie cut. To describe it, Theo’s hair was messy and had straight short strands of hair that framed his face just below his eyebrows. Without his uniform and in the dim light, he really did look like a woman.

“So, anything else you want to pry in?” Theo asked Jyugo, now resting his chin back in his palm.

“Nah,” Jyugo put his hands behind his head and looked away from him. “It would be boring to learn more about you because you’re so openingly honest.”

“Touché” Theo replied and began to stare at Jyugo.

The teen just spun in the chair, but the silence that quickly filled the room was beginning to become insufferable. Plus, with Theo staring holes into his side, it just made it even more uncomfortable. Jyugo stopped spinning and slightly glared at him.

"Okay, your stare is really distracting.” Jyugo stated bluntly. “What, something on my face? You’re staring as if I’m a circus animal.”

“Your eyes…” Theo mumbled softly as he kept eye contact. “They’re so weird… No matter what they keep changing. I know that happens with different people, especially with hazel eyes, but I’ve never seen something as strange as yours… It’s distracting…”

“You’re distracting.” Jyugo said and spun in the chair one more time.

Oh, how you wound me.“ Theo jokingly said, still watching Jyugo’s eyes. ”…As weird as this sounds, your eyes are really pretty…"

“What are you, a woman?” Jyugo said and stopped spinning. “Seriously, some of the stuff you say is weird, dude.”

'For your information, yes I am.’ Theo stated in his head. “Why do I have the feeling that you have no right to say that…?”

“…Eh.” Jyugo turned the chair so his back was towards him. “…Touché.”

Theo tilted his head to the side in curiosity. What he said clearly struck some sort of cord with Jyugo. Theo wondered what it was. What made him turn his back towards Theo? Did what he said hurt him? What’s in his past that made his demeanor change so quickly? Was there a way for Theo to help him…? Just as Theo began questioning this, rapid footsteps could be heard. Soon enough the door busted open to reveal a very angry Hajime, who immediately spotted Jyugo.

"THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OUT OF YOUR CELL?!” Hajime shouted at him.

“Talking to your newbie.” Jyugo replied flatly.

“WHY THE HELL DIDN’T YOU PUT HIM BACK?!” Hajime yelled at Theo.

“Because I didn’t see a mean to because he wasn’t causing trouble…” Theo replied softly.

WIthin seconds Hajime punched both of them in the head. Both of them held their heads as bumps popped up. Hajime, still seething in anger, grabbed Jyugo by the back of his collar and began dragged him out of the room.

“STAY IN YOUR GODDAMN CELL!” Hajime yelled at him.

As Jyugo was being dragged away, he waved at Theo before being whisked off.

Theo just sat there, trying to understand what just happened in a matter of seconds. 'That was… Unexpected… Especially at 3 in the morning…’

***

“So he didn’t find out the truth?”

“No…”

“And all you two did was talk?”

“Yes…”

“You’re lucky that he didn’t find that out, otherwise—”

“—I’d be fired, yeah, yeah, I know…”

Hajime had just gotten done giving Theo a lecture for talking with the inmate and not bring No.15 back to his cell. Eventually the older man calmed down and allowed Theo to finally get himself ready for work. Overhearing Hajime talk about a tournament, Theo felt his eye twitched as he became annoyed.

Compression clothing is usually a good thing to wear, especially if you’re doing an extraneous amount of activity. But, wearing them for so long was beginning to become annoying for Theo. He just wanted them off for one day, but he knew that he couldn’t do that. Not unless he wanted to get fired, that is… And he did NOT want to be fired. So he took the compressions wrapped around his chest off for an hour before placing them back on. He did this shit for three years and he can do it again.

After putting on his uniform, he stepped out into the office and heard orders about gathering the prisoners. Each one of the guards got the inmates out of their cells and carefully began to transfer them to a large arena-like area for the morning assembly.

Once everyone was gathered there, along with many other inmates from buildings all over, the morning assembly begun. Theo recalled this event that happened each year. One of those years he had been able to get Building 5 to the top and they won. Samon had bragged about it for so long that even Theo had gotten sick of hearing him. He wondered, 'Has it changed at all since my time in jail…?’

“Good evening, and a happy New Years to each of you.” Loudly Spoke the Warden to everyone in the area. “Here in Nanba Prison we hold a long standing tradition. A unique way of spending this holiday. Our New Year’s Tournament will now begin!”

As if on queue, a large banner was tossed down right under the high platform the Warden stood from.

“What’s a New Year’s Tournament?” Theo heard Jyugo asked, since cell 13’s inmates stood right next to him.

“I heard of a New Year’s Party but…” Rock’s voice trailed off.

“Wow, it hasn’t changed at all…” Theo mumbled to himself as he watched the Warden.

“I will now announce the participants from each building for this year’s tournament.” Loudly spoke the Supervisor of Building 4, Kenshirou Yozakura.

“What does he mean by 'participants’?” Jyugo asked, looking towards the guards.

“This is a special event that each officer and inmates cooperate and form into teams.” Explained Hajime. “In other words, this is 'Nanba’s New Year’s United As One Tournament.’”

“Cooperate?!” Exclaimed the four inmates.

“Each member from each team who manage to win this year will be awarded with a nifty little prize.” Seitarou added.

“We guards are awarded with a pay bonus,” Yamoto added, “whereas each victorious inmate will be able to select any single item of their choosing!”

This immediately grabbed their attention and the four began yelling at Hajime. They yelled, “HAJIME! YOU GOTTA LET US COMPETE, BRO!”

“Damnit, Yamoto, why did you have to go and tell them…” Grumbled the Supervisor.

“So the rules haven’t changed, huh?” Theo asked, looking towards the other guards. “I figured something would’ve changed at least, but it doesn’t seem like it has…”

“You’ve done this before?” Uno asked Theo.

“Yeah, of course…” Theo nodded to him. “Being an inmate of Building 5, I was one of the cellmates who were able to participate that year. Eventually, we ended up winning in the end. Usually the inmates tend to request stuff like clothes, furniture—sometimes asking for a request to see their family for a day or something like that. But, weapons and money are obviously not an option of the requests. I ended up requesting for a laptop since they wouldn’t provide me one back then… I actually still have that thing… But the cells are nominated randomly by the Warden, so even if you volunteer, there’s a slim chance that it won’t happen…”

“Representing Building 13,” loudly spoke Kenshirou which caused everyone to become silent. “…We have Cell 13.”

“HOW IS THAT ANY FAIR!” Shouted Seitarou and Hajime in slight despair.

“…And I stand corrected…” Theo mumbled softly.

They all sat down in the many seats that the arena, or stadium, had. Luckily they all got front row seats so they could hear and see all the action that is destine to be taken place. Theo was actually excited for this…

“Yo, Hajime!” A familiar voice called, causing everyone’s head to turn towards the source. “I hear your building is gettin’ represented by Cell 13. My condolences in advance for the loss.”

“Say what?” Hajime growled as rivalry sparked flew between them.

“I’m not sure if you’re familiar with my Cell 8 yet, but you will be when we destroy you in this tournament.” Declared Samon as fire raged behind the two.

“I don’t care if I win this year, but I damn well sure that I won’t lose to the likes of you.” Hajime growled in return.

“My goodness,” spoke another familiar voice, causing everyone’s heads to turn again. “You boys are always so aggressive towards one another. Behave yourselves at least. My custom Cell 6 is a custom class.”

“Sorry, say that again.” Theo spoke up, putting his hand to his ear. “I couldn’t catch that. Your perfume is so terribly strong that even I couldn’t tell what the hell is going on.”

“Ha!” Samon pointed at Theo. “I see my inmate still has his wit.”

“Of course I do, I was under your roof for three years.” Theo replied and shared a high five with Samon. “I’m so glad I wasn’t put in Building 3’s care. My god, I would’ve died the moment Kiji dared to put any form of makeup on me.”

“What was that you brat?” Growled Supervisor 3. “For your information I would’ve made you look beautiful! But you barbarians must stick together, after all…”

“I rather be barbaric than be one of your pathetic drag queens.” Theo stated bluntly. “Hell, I rather have my ears pierced by the Warden’s mask than be in your building!”

“Ha! Take that, you heavily makeup peasant!” Samon taunted.

“YOU INSOLENT LITTLE—!” Screeched the bird themed supervisor.

“Come at me, bird brain!” Theo dared, a wide grin on his face, now standing with his fist up and ready.

“You won’t even last ten seconds against us!” Samon said, standing right next to him.

“That’s quite enough out of all of you.” Ordered a voice, causing everyone’s heads to turn. “Stop your pathetic banter. It’s disgraceful.”

Now coming into view was Kenshirou, looking as stoic as ever. He then sharply looked at Theo and glared at him.

“You.” He spoke. “Stop helping rile the others, otherwise I will personally be the one to activate that mask of yours. I suggest you behave. We wouldn’t want another incident like the one your cause five years ago.”

“Wait what happened with Theo and Kenshirou’s inmate?” Uno asked Yamato quietly.

“Theo got angry. That’s all you need to know.” Hajime growled. Uno looked at Theo’s tensed face. Something must have happened. He looked like he wanted to fight Kenshirou at full force.

“Your damn inmate started it in the first place.” Theo growled at him crossing his arms over his chest. “Or do I have to remind you that the Warden herself asked me to take him down since you had no idea what was really going on? That jackass got what he deserved and you know it.”

“Yes, because bashing his head in until his face was unrecognizable was exactly what he deserved!” Growled the Superior. “Sit down before I make you obey.”

“You little—”

“No.7, that’s enough.” Samon ordered loudly.

Theo stiffened at the name, his eyes widening in shock. He looked towards Samon and saw his serious expression. Slowly, Theo obeyed and sat back down in his seat. Crossing his arms again along with his legs, he acted like nothing happened. Samon placed his hand on Theo’s shoulder and locked eyes with Kenshirou.

“Layoff the new guy. He isn’t an inmate anymore and you know it.” Samon said sternly. “He’s a civilian, and now a fellow officer. I get everyone has grudges against him but it’s time to buzz off and let it go. The past is the past, right? Leave him alone.”

“…Protective as usual.” Kenshirou said, his voice becoming calm again. “Like you said, he’s a civilian now. Maybe you should listen to your own words and not order him around.”

“That’s enough out of all of you!” Hajime growled, clearly becoming agitated. “The kid’s my responsibility, got it? I don’t care what they hell you all say to him, but if you keep poking at him like you are, I’ll be the one to go ahead and teach you all a lesson. This entire conversation is pathetic and pointless. Layoff and prepare for the competition.”

The group became silent for a moment. Kenshirou huffed out before turning and walking away. Kiji then stepped towards Theo and pressed against the side of each mask, unlocking the hooks. Theo gazed up at him in confusion and watched him lock the mask and place it on the seat.

“This is a tournament, after all.” Kiji said and winked at him. “There’ll be fighting involved, and it would be bad if you got a new piercing in the middle of the match.” He stood up and smiled calmly at his fellow Supervisors. “Let’s see who will win this year, hm? Good luck to us all.”

He then turned and walked off. Samon released a sigh and put his hand on the side of Theo’s head and rubbed up and down, kind of like a father would do to his son.

“Cheer up, kid.” Samon said to him. “Like I said, the past is the past. You know that better than anybody, so don’t let them get to you.”

Theo nodded and attempted a smile at his old supervisor. “Thanks Samon…” Samon’s smile fell a little. He could tell that parts of Theo had stayed the same. His temper was one of them. But he was also different. Both physically and mentally. Was something wrong?

“Hey, just letting you know I’m not gonna go easy on you because you used to be my inmate. Prepare for you ass to get beaten.”

Theo slowly smirked up at him. “I’d like to see that happen…”

“Heh,” Samon smirked and flicked Theo’s nose. “You’re not the one I’m after, though. But you better be prepared to lose.”

With that said, Samon turned and walked off. Theo watched him go before looking towards the ground, his mind still on about what Kenshirou said. Hajime noticed this and groaned softly. He patted Theo’s head, almost in a clumsy type of manner, but caused Theo to look up at him either way.

“For once, the monkey has a point.” Hajime said, his eyes never leaving the center of the arena. “Calm down, take a deep breath, and get your head out of there. You’re my responsibility, so try not to cause anymore paperwork for me, got it? It’ll be hard to write on paper for why you smashed a Supervisor’s face in.”

Theo huffed through his nose, an amused smile forming on his lips. “…Thank you, Hajime…”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Hajime basically shooed him off.

Instead of being offended, it caused Theo to grin a little more. Theo put his elbow on his leg and his chin in his palm as he gazed out to the arena. “Let’s play some games…”

Little did the guard notice the intense and shocked stared of the inmates next to him. The expression on Theo’s face made it look like the event never even happened. It was amazing with how crazy it got, but calmed down in a matter of seconds. Either way, it still left them pretty uneasy…

“Happy Fu*bleep*g New Years you filthy *bleep**Bleeeep*!” Exclaimed the broadcaster, catching everyone’s attention. “Get ready because this party is about to kick off! My name is Mitsuuuuru, and I will be takin’ care of the play-by-play commentary!”

'Loud as always…’ Theo thought as he was already covering his ears.

“To win this tournament, one building will have to advance through five different competitions!” Shouted Mitsuru as he was explaining the rules. “Inmates, Guards—we do recommend that you get along together. That is, if you wish to become the chAMPIOOOOOON! WHOOOO!”

“Ha ha ha! Mitsuru appears to be as spirited as ever, doesn’t he!” Exclaimed Yamoto.

“Gah!” Theo hissed and stomped his foot on the ground, tightly covering his ears. “He’s going to make me go deaf even faster if he keeps screaming like that…!”

“Yeah,” grumbled Hajime as he was rubbing his own ears. “One more scream like that and I’ll need to visit the doctor for hearing aids…”

“And now, for our first event!” Shouted Mitsuru, “Calligraphy! Or, Kakizome. However you freaky *Bleep* wants ta hear it! Your prompt is 'Happy New Years!’ Whoever displays the most beautiful kakizome penmanship will win this round!”

“Damn it…” Theo whispered and hanged his head in a sulking manner.

“T-there’s no way we can write that…!” Exclaimed Nico, Rock, and Uno.

They all began walking towards the center, getting ready for the competition. Theo was honestly hoping that they would at least change that one round for one year. 'Hell, not even half of these prisoners are Japanese despite the geography…’ As they got to the center with their tools now in hand, Theo could overhear the conversation with the inmates as he tried to do kakizome. It sounded like Uno, Nico, and Rock had ruined theirs and were trying not to despair.

“Look, we’re fine as long as we have Jyugo with us.” Uno said in a hopeful manner.

“He’ll pull us through!” Exclaimed Nico.

“A Japanese native can do this easy!” Rock said with confidence.

Theo stopped for a moment and glanced over. He watched Jyugo flinched when they called his name, asking if he was down. The black haired boy eventually dropped his brush, sulking on both hands and knees at the horror of his work.

“YOU SUCK!” The three inmates shouted at him.

“I can’t believe we forgot that the only thing Jyugo’s good for is breaking out of prisons…” Muttered Uno.

“Yeah, it’s our fault for thinking he was better…” Agreed Rock.

“We’re sorry for believing in you, Jyugo.” Said Nico.

'Daaaamn they’re harsh…’ Theo thought at their words.

“You guys sure know how to hammer in a failure…” Murmured Jyugo as he sounded ready to cry. “I tried my best, you know…”

Theo sighed through his nose and gazed at his own work. Comparing it to the inmates, it definitely was more neater than theirs, but it’s still considered sloppy. Gazing at Jyugo’s work compared to the others, his honestly looked slightly better, ignoring all the ink strokes he got all over the carpet.

“OH NO! WE WON’T EVEN GET PAST THE FIRST EVENT AT THIS RATE!” Shouted Uno in a panicked tone.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about that.” Seitarou said towards the group. “In this event it doesn’t matter if you’re an inmate or guards as long as you get a high score.”

The four looked at him puzzled before Seitarou pointed somewhere. Theo followed his hand to see Hajime and Yamoto holding up their banners with perfect Kakizomes. Theo clapped his hands softly as he was impressed.

“OH YEAH! BUILDING 13 SHOWS US HOW IT’S DONE YET AGAIN!” Exclaimed Mitsuru, showing that they got the top score.

“So good…” Muttered Uno in shock.

“What the hell? Damn are they good…” Grumbled Jyugo.

“Oh, yeah, they always win that round every year…” Theo said as he recalled from his own experience. “Every year they’re always able to beat everyone because they’re 100% natives in Japan…”

“You know, they’re actually both licensed calligraphy teachers.” Seitarou said factly.

“For real?!” Rock exclaimed as they all looked shocked.

“Oh yeah, I remember now…!” Theo said softly as he hit his palm with his fist gently. “One time they got all the inmates together and those two were one of the teachers to show us how to write in Japanese��� I had utterly forgotten about that…”

“You forget a lot of things, huh?” Uno asked him and Theo nodded to him honestly.

“THE HIGHEST SCORE GOES TO BUILDING 13!” Declared Mitsuru.

“Are you really Japanese?!” Sobbed Uno towards Jyugo.

“S-s-s-s-s-shut up!” Jyugo stuttered back at him, clearly flustered for failing this round.

“Kakizome is hard, even for someone who’s native.” Theo stated so they would hopefully get off of Jyugo’s back. “I’ve seen inmates who have been born and raised in Japan, yet they’ve done as horribly as all of us. It’s not fair for foreigners, or people who haven’t been educated in the slightest. But, this Prison is located on Japanese seas after all…”

“See? He gets it!” Jyugo yelled, gesturing to Theo.

“Hold up, what’s that part about people being educated?” Uno asked while holding his hand up.

“You don’t know?” Theo looked at him, seeming slightly surprised. “There’s a lot of prisoners here who haven’t been commonly educated, even if they’re one of the worst of the worst. Look, I’ve only been away from this prison for two years from serving my sentence, but I know that there’s still people here who still don’t know any sort of common knowledge.

"I guess that explains a lot.” Uno said before pointing at Jyugo. “This guy can’t even count higher than his ten fingers.”

“Why do you always have to turn the conversation into an insult towards me?!” Jyugo yelled at him.

“Anyways, the event’s over.” Seitarou said and began shooing the inmates to the sidelines. “Let’s move out of the way so that they can clean up and start the next event, alright?”

Theo followed Seitarou’s example and lead the others to the sidelines. Once they were away from the area, other guards quickly acted in cleaning the place up. As the area cleared for the next event to take place, Theo began to think to himself.

'From what Uno said before, it’s clear Jyugo hasn’t had a proper education…’ Theo thought silently to himself. 'Both Nico and Jyugo are 16 while Uno is 18 and Rock is 19. Uno appears to be the most knowledgeable out of the bunch, so he might not need any help in learning. Rock seems okay, but I should check and made sure. Nico is very childish, so I should see the extent of his knowledge before helping him. But out of all of them Jyugo will need the most desperate help. I should start with him, actually… Always target the most difficult one, as mom always says. But I wonder if they would even want help… I’ll think about it before I do anything…’

***

“Any guesses what the next event will be?”

“I don’t know… Kite flying maybe?”

“Just ask Theo, he’s basically a veteran at this.”

“Hm…?”

Theo lifted his head up towards the four since he heard his name. He was stuck in thought before they had grabbed his attention. Seeing his slightly confused expression Jyugo spoke up.

“Do you know what the next event is?” He asked.

“Oh, the event?” Theo looked towards the center. “Well…”

“AND FOR OUR SECOND EVENT!” Shouted Mitsuru, cutting Theo off. “AS ALWAYS, THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR EVENTS! THIS IS WHERE THE TOURNAMENT TRULY BEGINS!”

Suddenly large pillars fell from the sky and hit the ground, shaking the entire area. In multiple spread out parts of the area was a gigantic wooden bowl full of rice while stacked on top of three gigantic rumadrops. This was the second tournament event. Theo didn’t mind it, but it wasn’t his favorite.

“THE HECK IS THAT?!” Exclaimed both Rock and Nico as they pointed at the pillars.

“It’s huge!” Jyugo exclaimed in shock and possible horror.

“I’m super lost…” Muttered Nico.

“I think you knock the pegs out from underneath the bowls.” Uno answered for him.

“Which are way too big for mochi pounding…” Jyugo murmured.

“THIS IS AN EVENT OF POWER AND STAMINA!” Mitsuru continued. “YOU MUST COMPLETE YOUR MOCHI WITHOUT LETTING YOUR DYNAMA HIT THE DIRT! THAT MEANS EVERY TEAM HAS TWO OPTIONS: EITHER FINISH YOUR MOCHI FIRST, OR AGGRESSIVELY DROP YOUR OPPONENTS DYNAMA TO WIN!”

“…Yeah, that’s the event…” Theo said nodding.

'You’re no help at all!’ Jyugo and Uno shouted in their thoughts.

“Our first matchup will be Building 5, Cell 8 VS Building 13, Cell 13!” Declared Mitsuru. “NOW GET OUT THERE AND POUND IT, BOYS!”

“So it’ll be cell-on-cell from here on out?” Uno said and looked towards the guards.

“Yeah, that’s probably accurate.” Seitarou answered with Theo nodding.

“Greetings!” Yamato said and walked towards the group, carrying two gigantic dynamas. “Now, which of you would like to do battle at my side?”

“Did you volunteer for this one?” Nico asked him.

“Makes sense to me.” Jyugo said. “Looks to me that raw power is pretty key here.”

“Prepared, tent, and unafraid, 15.” Yamato spoke to him and held out of the hammers out to him. “Care to try?”

Jyugo reached out and grabbed it. Yamoto released the handle and they all watched as Jyugo bent back and the Dynama hit the ground. Uno and Seitarou yelped in horror of how he went down while Yamato seemed utterly fine with holding it.

“How the heck is this thing so freaking heavy…?!” Jyugo grunted as he tried lifting it up.

“Aha ha ha ha! Looks like someone needs more training!” Laughed Yamato as he back balancing the hammer on his own head with ease.

Jyugo released the hammer and lept to his feet and yelled at the man. “WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU!?”

“A very, VERY, brutal one…” Theo murmured as he looked pale, recalling his past events with the man.

“These things aren’t that heavy.” Rock said as he lifted it with ease.

Rock began to copy Yamato and began balancing it on his head. Watching him do that and smiling reminded Theo of a dog with a treat on his nose, being told not to eat it yet. Jyugo turned to Theo in an almost pointed manner.

“I bet you can hold those things just fine…” He muttered.

“Yeah, I can.” Theo nodded, ignoring the possible insult of him referring to Theo being a monster too. “I tended to win the Mochi pounding event because I always knocked the other’s team’s pegs down real fast. But only one inmate and one guard has to do this event, so I’m not allowed to join since Yamato already volunteered…”

“Oh. Okay. I was actually wondering why you weren’t stepping up.” Jyugo said in a lighter tone as Hajime walked passed them.

“Alright, No.69, you can go with Yamato.” Hajime instructed him.

Rock got the hammer off of his head before yelling at the group. “Did you just volunteer me?!”

“Actually, you volunteered yourself…” Theo mumbled softly.

Eventually the groups were decided from each team. All the inmates were back at their seats to watch the event from a safer distance. But Theo knew that he had to be on the defensive himself, knowing quite well that even this distance wasn’t even enough to be safe. He was honestly glad that his mask was off for the tournament, otherwise he’d be done for…

“Pretty awesome view, huh?” Nico said since they were sitting front row.

“Yes, but this place can be kind of dangerous so please stay by.” Seitarou told him in concern.

“Let’s introduce this rounds contestants!” Exclaimed Mitsuru. “With Building 13, we have Deputy Supervisor Yamato Gudai! From Building 5, we have officer Inori Hakkai! From Building 13, Cell 13, is Inmate No.69! And from Building 5, Cell 8, please welcome Inmate No.2! Is everybody readyyy?! GOOOOO!”

Immediately Yamato began pounding the rice in the bowl at a surprising strength and speed. Theo could only sigh to calm his jumpiness. Yamato has always been one to surprise, and actually scare, with his brutal strength and speed. It totally didn’t help that the older man was laughing as he went along.

“Yamato’s amazing!” Nico said in awe.

'Yeah, amazingly horrifying…’ Theo thought but didn’t dare to say.

“He’s certainly muscular…” Jyugo muttered.

“It’s almost scary.” Uno added.

Just as Yamato started pounding the mochi, inmate No.2 came in and attacked one of the pegs, knocking it right off. The gigantic peg slammed into the side of the arena before hitting the ground, luckily hurting no one. Theo was becoming uneasy as he could tell this guy will cause unnecessary damage.

“Uh-oh! Looks like Building 13 already lost a block from their Dynamaaaa!” Exclaimed Mitsuru.

“This looks bad…” Theo whispered to himself as he saw the two inmates exchange words.

“Tell me, do those guys know each other?” Jyugo asked.

“Yeah.” Uno said before explaining. “Rock was at Building 5 at first, so they probably know each other since then.”

“Why did he switch?” Nico asked.

Before that could be answered, the two inmates began fighting. No.2, who apparent was named Liang, was able to break Rock’s hammer with a powerful kick. While those two began fighting, the guard from Building 5 jumped onto the bowl Yamato was in. Soon enough, the guy named Inori began attacking Yamato violently.

“So uh, this event’s taking a turn, huh?” Jyugo spoke up.

“Not really…” Theo answered him as his eyes never left the ring. “Building 5 is full of combative types of guards and inmates. Guess you can say the building’s classified by strength. It the whole reason for why I was put in there myself…”

“Wait, how is this legal?” Uno asked, referring to the fighting.

“They never said it wasn't…” Theo said casually.

“Why’re you always so casual like that?!” Uno exclaimed at him.

Theo ignored that comment from him and continued watching. No.2, or Liang, continued to attack Rock aggressively. Rock, on the other hand, continued to use his arm to block his multiple attacks. The same could be said for the guard fighting above them. This looked like it was a pretty even match.

“I intend to win this tournament, and for my prize I’ll build a new training ground so I can become even stronger.” Liang declared and pointed at Rock. “Rock! What do you hope to gain from these games?!”

Rock straightened his back and was silent for a moment. Theo subconsciously was leaning forwards in his seat, wondering what he would say.

“A stone oven!” Rock boomed.

Theo almost stumbled out of his seat as soon as he heard those words.

“If I win I’m going to have them instal a nice stone oven in our building’s kitchen.” Rock declared.

“Of all the things you can get why that?” Asked Liang in bewilderment.

“BECAUSE SHIRO SAID HE CAN USE ONE!” Rock exclaimed as tears began running down his face. “HE WAS SO DISTRESSED! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW DELICIOUS PIZZA, MEAT, AND BREAD CAN BE WHEN BAKED IN A REAL STONE OVEN?!”

“Sticks and stones and break the bones but words are what they’re usin’!” Exclaimed Mitsuru over the mic.

“He's… He’s serious…” Theo murmured, unaware of his eye twitching.

“He’s fighting for the kitchen, huh?” Hajime said, not appearing surprised.

“Can’t honestly say I’m surprised.” Jyugo said. “Old Man Chef and Shiro did say they wanted it. How typical of him…”

“I knew he was a food junkie but I didn’t imagine he was that intent on getting one…” Murmured Theo.

“There’s nothing quite like an Italian stone oven pizza…” Said Uno in a dreamy manner.

“How absurd.” Spoke Liang towards Rock. “To think my rival could devolve into a gluttonous coward…!”

“Rival?” Rock muttered, clearly not feeling the same on those terms with Liang.

“If you think you can defeat me in pursuit of such a ridiculous goal…” Liang sprung forwards to attack. “…then you’re a fool!”

Inmate No.2 jumped up into the air and extended his leg out, suddenly being consumed into a type of dragon flame. Theo watched as he slammed right into Rock. He could hear Rock’s inmates next to them show concern for their friend, but Theo wasn’t as concerned. He watched as the fire disappeared to show that Rock had blocked Liang’s attack completely with his lower arm. The attack didn’t even push him back. Theo was impressed to say the least.

“Don’t even mock my goals. Especially not when you can’t even reach your own.” Rock growled at Liang, whose foot was still connected to his arm. Rock then grabbed Liang’s ankle, restricting the combat fighter. “Fighting’s not gonna keep my stomach full!”

With his grip tight on Liang’s ankle, he began spinning the other inmate over his head like some sort of toy.

“I love the food in this place, so that’s wHY I GOTTA WIN!” Bellowed Rock before punching No.2.

The punch was enough to basically rocket the guy across the stadium. Liang basically hit the ground, bounced off of the ground like a rickashay bullet, and collided right into Building 5’s pegs and mochi bowels. It was as if he was imbedded into it like a stamp. Theo was honestly impressed with Rock’s skill, even if his reasonings were rather ridiculous to him.

'It’s kinda like a deja vu moment, except with Rock instead of Shiro…’ He thought to himself.

“T-this can’t be!” Exclaimed the guard from Building 5. “No.2 was defeated with a single blow?! And my mortar is destroyed!”

“You know Inori, I believe that my peaceful living has made me a bit complacent.” Yamato said to his opponent.

“Is that so…?” Inori muttered and gazed back at Yamato.

“To combat this complacencies I’ve decided to follow No.69’s example!” Stated Yamato as he walked along the border of the mochi bowl towards Inori.

“H-hey, wait a second!” Inori backed up as Yamato got closer. “Why’re you gettin’ so serious all of a sudden?!”

“Whatever do you mean? I’ve always been serious since the day I was born!” Stated Yamato with a big smile. He sung his fist at Inori, colliding right into his jaw, and rocketing him into the air. “IRON FISTED JAPANESE JUSTICE!”

A small scream could be heard from Inori as he began flying down to the ground, slamming into his own mochi bowel, and breaking it along with it’s pegs. Theo’s eye was now not the only one whose eye was twitching at the sight before them.

“I’m starting to feel like No.69 is a bad influence on Yamato.” Hajime said.

“I…” Jyugo couldn’t even begin to know where to start. “…Holy crap are those two stupidly strong.”

“Nah…” Theo muttered and leaned back properly in his seat. “…They’re just stupid.”

“That too.” Jyugo nodded in agreement.

“HELL YEAH! WE SHOWED THOSE GUYS WHAT FOR!” Exclaimed Rock as he was high fiving with Yamato.

“YOU PERFORMED ADMIRABLY, NO.69!” Complimented Yamato.

Theo could only sigh at the sight. The last thing he wanted was for Rock to become heavily influenced by Yamato, and vice versa. The win caused Building 13 to stay at the top. The other Buildings competed against each other until the event was finished. Once that was finished, the third event began…

***

“Hyakunin what-su?”

“It’s like a card game, but with poems.”

“100 of them. One on each card.”

“You’ve done this before, right, Theo?”

When the four turned their heads towards the guard they were stocked by the state he was in. He looked pale and he was glaring so harshly at the sign that they were positive he could light it on fire. Theo didn’t look at them and tilted his head, allowing his hat visor to conceal his hateful gaze.

“I hate this game with a passion…” ln stated, a growl emanating softly from his lips.

“Yeah, he knows this game.” Rock cautiously turned away from him and looked towards Hajime instead. “Do we have anybody who can play this game besides Theo? Because I have a feeling he might kill somebody…”

“Well, I know one at least…” Hajime said before turning to his right. “You’re up, Seitarou.”

“Yes, sir!” Saluted the guard.

“HIM?! ARE YOU SURE?!” Uno and Jyugo exclaimed in shock.

“Wait, does this mean you’re actually useful for something?!”

“You don’t have much presence and I kinda forgotten you were here…”

“I didn’t know you could read!”

“Why won’t they stop being mean to me…?!” Sobbed Seitarou, who clung to Theo’s arm.

Theo could only sigh and pat his head to comfort the male. It was beyond him for why people always clung to him as a means of comfort or protection. Plus, Seitarou was technically Theo’s superior in both job, status, and age… Already knowing the rules of the game Theo just covered his ears until Mitsuru could shut his mouth.

“Okay, so who else is participating?” Rock asked.

“You already went in the last one, so I suggest you sit out…” Theo spoke to him. “This game is honestly dangerous for the mind. It consumes a lot of concentration and is allowed three players to switch and substitute. One guard’s permitted, just like the last game, and then two inmates. So, we have to have someone who’s fast and observate… Someone to think on their feet…”

“I’ll do it!” Uno volunteered, causing Jyugo to stumble.

“This isn’t like flap jack, you moron!” Jyugo yelled at him.

“I realize that.” Uno replied calmly to him. “But card games are all the same.”

“Yeah, that statement is pretty much false.” Rock said behind him.

“So, who should our third person be?” Seitarou asked as he counted on his fingers of the participants.

“No, no, no! We don’t want a third!” Uno said confidently and shook his head. “With all due respect to my cellmates there’s no way they can do this. I mean, Nico isn’t quite brain dead but the rest are hopeless.”

“SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!” Shouted Rock and Jyugo as veins began popping on their heads.

“You’re quite the bucket of sunshine, now aren’t chya…?” Theo sarcastically said towards Uno before sighing. “Fine. Uno and Seitarou will participate in the third event. Be careful, alright? You’re going up against Building 3, so stay on your guard…”

“What, you worried for us? Awe, how sweet!” Uno said in a mocking manner.

“Of course I am…” Theo said bluntly, ignoring his taunt. “Building 3 has classified their inmates by intelligence. Building 3 is in charge of the highly intelligent inmates, Building 4 is more or less 'culture,’ while Building 5 is discipline and strength. Don’t underestimate any of the buildings, alright?”

“Got it.” Seitarou nodded to him. “We’ll do our best.”

“You’re really serious when it comes to the buildings…” Murmured Uno.

“Well, yeah, I got sent to each freaking one…” Grumbled Theo as he rubbed his head. “Building 3 was suffocating, Building 4 was down right annoying, I got kicked out of Building 13 because of the chaos I created, and I was firmly placed into Building 5 after the Superiors figured out my classification.”

“You sound pretty irritated.” Uno commented.

“Just… get down there and kick their asses…” Theo muttered and began pushing Uno and Seitarou towards the door to the ring.

Once those two gone through the door Alan could only sigh heavily and sit back down. Down in the center going against Building 13 was Building 3. Kiji, the Supervisor, was against Seitarou, while Uno was against the two inmate from Building 3, No. 3 and No.82. No.3 was apparently named Trois while No.82 introduced himself as Honey. A strong aura came from both of the guys, even seeping into the audience.

“That pretty boy aura of theirs is intense…” Muttered Rock.

“Uno’s barely hanging in there…” Pointed out Nico.

Jyugo was just scowling at the aura. He glanced at Theo, who sat right next to him, and was surprised by the murderous expression on his face. Just as Jyugo was about to ask if he was okay, Theo loudly hissed like a cat at the inmates from Building 3. But as soon as he did it he stopped and went back to being stoic-faced.

“You have a lot of mood swings, huh?” Jyugo murmured at him.

“Don’t even get me started…” Grumbled Theo. ‘I have an explicit hate for cheeky 'pretty boys’… I bet Kiji smothers them’ Theo thought to himself.

Theo silently fumed in his seat and watched the match play before him. Everyone got into their places, sitting across their opponent, with rows of kanji written cards before them. Since Mitsuru was in charge of broadcasting, he was also the one to read the poems. Before Mitsuru could even finish the first word of the poem, Seitarou slapped away the card in a flash. Kiji sat there in shock as Seitarou was able to collect every single one in the blink of an eye.

“Heheh, sorry.” Apologized Seitarou to Kiji. “I’ve been told that I have a really good memory.”

Kiji could even speak a word, much less make a sound.

“I expected this much of Seitarou! Splendid work!” Exclaimed Yamato merrily.

“He was great.” Hajime said rather emotionless. “But, we still have a problem.” They all gazed towards Uno. “…He hasn’t even gotten a single card.”

Looking towards Uno, his opponents kept swiping cards away in almost a perfect manner. They were swiping cards right from under Uno’s hand, not even allowing him a chance to gain one. Seitarou eventually came back and joined the group as the match went on. Theo was actually becoming concerned for Uno, even though he knew he himself shouldn’t doubt him.

“It seems I’ll be winning the inmate side of the match.” Spoke the voice of Kiji as he walked past the group in a smirkish manner.

“You were crushed so completely that you couldn’t even get a single card.” Hajime stated without mercy. “Not exactly the time for you to talk smack.”

“Whoo-ho! Yay, I really did good!” Exclaimed Seitarou cheerfully to Yamato.

“Hm! Couldn’t even call it a contest!” Yamato said, stabbing right into Kiji’s ego.

“Shut your stupid traps!” Snapped the bird as he was clearly agitated “That inmate of yours has no chance, so it’ll be a tie!”

“Always so quick to judge…” Theo murmured, not even looking at Kiji. “This is why I can’t stand your Building…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kiji asked, a vein clearly popping up on his face. “He doesn’t stand a chance against my inmates! As long as they can prevent No.11 from cheating, then it’s check-and-mate.”

“Ahahaha!” Jyugo busted out laughing at Kiji’s words.

“What’s so funny?!” Kiji snapped at him.

“You don’t know anything about him, do you?” Smirked Jyugo.

“I think I know enough…!” Kiji said and began to grind his teeth.

“Not if you think cheating’s all Uno is good for you don’t.” Jyugo stated, clearly having confidence in his companion. “That isn’t even half of it. He’s a genius… If you think cheating’s all Uno can do then you’re in for a surprise~”

“By the way, Kiji, you should stop grinding your teeth.” Theo spoke up in a bored tone. “If you keep that up you’ll have to stick to dentures.”

“YOU INSOLENT LITTLE—”

“Hey, Uno got a card.” Theo stated since Kiji was distracted by him.

“W-what?!” Growled Kiji as he looked to the match.

What Theo said was true. Uno had swiped away five cards that went with the poem. The inmate, Trois, could only gape in shock at Uno’s sudden fast movements. The inmate Honey swapped with Trois and tried going after it himself. But, Uno proved that he wasn’t one to be underestimated. Card by card, Uno was practically matching Seitarou’s level of striking for the cards. It was almost entertaining to watch the inmates from Building 3 get so riled up and explode that Theo felt like laughing.

“…Now there’s a gambler as his finest.” Theo said smirking.

“Impossible…!” Kiji said.

“No, not impossible.” Jyugo spoke up and chuckled, getting a good kick out of this. “You shouldn’t underestimate Uno just because he doesn’t raise a red flag at you.”

“Uno’s talent is his reliability in his luck.” Theo stated as he watched the inmate Honey burst out in a cursing rage. “But it’s not his only talent. He’s amazing at cheating in a game of poker, and his luck in hard to match. He could probably beat anybody as long as he puts his mind to it. But you know what’s great about this entire thing…?” Theo smirked widely at Kiji. “Uno can’t read Kanji. He’s from Britain.”

“A-are you serious…?!” Stuttered Kiji in shock.

“Uno observation skills are terrifyingly accurate.” Theo continued talking as Trois took Honey’s place once more. “He’s always observing. Through small conversations with myself and others, I can tell he’s always watching carefully. The gears in his head are always turning, waiting for a key sign that allows him to strike before hand. He doesn’t even need to cheat to beat your 'precious inmates’ in this game of cards…”

Uno took away another five cards in one strike before Trois could even act.

“…because his cards are all up his sleeves…” Theo finished and recrossed his legs, looking content. “Checkmate.” He smirked evilly at Kiji. “Pay up, bitch!”

“Remember this, you damned amatuer,” Uno said loudly as he took the last cards. “Winning is never easy…”

“Amazing!” Said Rock, only to look to the empty seat next to him. “Huh? Where’d Nico run off to? The bathroom?”

“H-how…!” Kiji fumed in place, not knowing what to say.

“You shouldn’t underestimate anybody, Kiji.” Theo said, the smirk never leaving his face. “You can never tell who a real person is by just the way they look… Never judge a book by it’s cover, am I right?”

“Of course you of all people would know that…!” Growled the Superior before stomping on the ground. “You little brat…! You’re lucky you’re pretty…!”

“Who the hell you callin’ pretty, drag queen?” Theo barked at him.

“HAJIME!” Screeched Kiji like a banshee. “CONTROL THAT GUARD OF YOURS OR I’LL MUZZLE IT MYSELF!”

“Come at me, bird brain!” Theo challenged, now on his feet and having his fists up.

Hajime yanked Theo back into his seat and punched him in the head twice, making sure to cause him pain. Theo became silent quickly, holding his head down, as a lump grew on it. Hajime clicked his tongue and looked at Kiji.

“Mind getting out of here? You’re screeching isn’t going to win you the match.” Hajime said harshly.

Kiji fumed, stomping in place before whirling around and marching away from the area. Once he was gone Hajime glared down at Theo, seeing how he still had a smug look on his face.

“You’re more trouble than you’re worth, kid.” Hajime said to him. “For someone who’s considered to have dull emotions, you get riled up way too easily…”

“I act, it’s what I do.” Theo said and shrugged innocently, now having his usual stoic face.

“That was acting?!” Jyugo exclaimed in shock.

“Of course it was.” Theo said calmly and looked to him. “Kiji and I have this weird relationship of hating each other and riling up the other, but we never really attack each other… It’s more or less teasing…”

“So like Hajime and that Building 5 guy?” Rock asked.

“No, not even close.” Theo huffed a laugh and shook his head. “Samon, my old guard, hates Hajime with a passion. He likes to think of Hajime as his rival that he has to pummel into submission. Buuut, Samon can never match Hajime’s brutal strength…”

“You really like this Samon guy, huh?” Jyugo questioned.

“Well, yeah, of course I do.” Theo said honestly. “If it wasn’t thanks to him and many others, I don’t think I ever would’ve changed. Like I’ve said before, I was in a really dark place back when I was a teenager. Nobody really understood what HSAN was, so they could never understand what was going on with me. But, Samon tried helping me when everyone thought of me as unfixable. He actually found a group of people who actually does counseling for HSAN. As stupid as it may sound, it really helped me straighten out my act and start being a stable human being.”

He turned his head to him and smiled warmly. “…As weird as it sounds, I’m glad I got through into Nanba Prison.”

The two inmates could only stare at him in shock. Jyugo immediately turned his head away from him, feeling almost embarrassed to even look him in the eye. Rock, on the other hand, stared at him a bit longer as his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. To them, Theo looked like a woman…

“Hey, there!” Uno greeted as he finally came back from the arena. “How was my performance? Did I blow your minds?”

“Well, not ours, but you wrecked Building 3.” Theo replied and held a small smirk on his face. “Nice job…”

“Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week!” Uno bragged merrily and slapped Theo’s hand that he held out. “I overheard you shout. Never in a million years did I ever imagine I’d hear 'Pay up, bitch!’ from your mouth.”

“Let’s just say I enjoyed putting a certain bird in his place…” Theo said as a mischievous look crossed his eyes.

“From what I saw from both here and there, you’re both maniacal and psychotic.” Jyugo stated and placed both hands down on his lap.

“Thank you, I try real hard.” Theo replied jokingly.

“Hey, you should be grateful I won us the round.” Uno said to Jyugo and took his seat. “We’ve won three rounds in a row. If we win this competition, I can get my game room.”

Uno and Rock shared excited expressions, think about their prizes they’ll gain once the tournament’s over. Just as Theo opened his mouth to comment on it, he heard his name being rapidly called by a familiar voice. He turned his head just in time for Nico to come into view and jump at him, latching right onto his back like glue. Theo yelped and almost fell forwards, but he had firmly put his feet in front of him to stop from falling. Once his balance was gained he stood up and got Nico off of his back, ignoring his rapid talking.

“NICO!” Theo shouted, causing the younger boy to stop talking. Theo lowered his voice before talking again. “Calm. Down. What’s the problem here? Where’d you go?”

“I went to go get my medicine, and and and,” Nico began talking a mile a minute, “there was this guy! He was floating abovetheairlikeaballoonandhewasjustfloatingand—”

“Calm down!” Theo said and gestured his hands up and down as Nico was flailing his arms around. “You’re practically panicking. Take a breather and start from the beginning.”

“Okay, okay…” Nico mumbled and began taking big breaths of air in and out repeatedly.

“OUR NEW YEAR’S TOURNAMENT HAS FINALLY COME DOWN TO IT’S FINAL TWO EVENTS!” Shouted Mitsuru, gaining everyone’s attention. “And the next one will beeeEEEEEE EHEHEHEHEHE!”

Suddenly the ground began shaking. The ground in the arena began to split and divide thanks to metal plates under the ground. Once it was divided it revealed multiple sets of gigantic metal domes in the ground. Theo knew this event quite well and was honestly hoping to try in this one.

“W-what the?!” Jyugo gaped at the hole. “A gigantic hole?! Why is there a gigantic hole in the ground?!”

“OUR FOURTH EVENT WILL BE TOP SPINNING!” Announced Mitsuru.

“If the top spinning stage is that big then does that mean…” Uno could finish as Mitsuru revealed the top spinners.

“These are the tops your teams will be usin’!” He announced, showing the gigantic top.

“JUST AS WE THOUGHT! IT’S HUGE!” Screeched both Jyugo and Uno.

“This event will require good teamwork! Probably!” Mitsuru exclaimed.

“ 'PROBABLY’?!” Uno quoted in shock.

“Set your tops spinning in the center of the stage! Then figure out a way to knock the other team’s top out of bounds, or destroy it!” Mitsurur continued.

“ 'Destroy it’!?” Quoted Rock.

“UP TO THREE TEAMMATES CAN PARTICIPATE!” Shouted Mitsuru. “HOWEVER, JUST LIKE IN THE LAST EVENT, ONLY ONE OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS CAN BE A GUARD! BUT FIRST, LET’S REINTRODUCE OUR TEAMS!”

'I want to play, I want to play, I want to play, I wanttoplayIwannaplayIwannaplay,’ Theo began chanting in his head as he stared at the arena.

“Lead by Hajime Sugoroku, a hulking super-human gorilla!” Announced Mitsuru.

“WHO YOU CALLIN’ A GORILLA?!” Hajime growled, only to prove Mitsuru’s point.

“Building 13 has yet to lose a match!” Mitsuru continued.

“Hahaha!” Laughed Samon as he suddenly appeared, pointing at Hajime. “Seems like a good description to me!”

“Opposing 13, lead by a moronic monkey, all squeal no bite, and is Nanba’s No.1 loudmouth, with the lowest IQ is Samon Gokuu!” Mitsuru yelled.

“SAY THAT AGAIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, MITSURU!” Samon yelled at him.

Hajime then proceeded to taunt Mitsuru by imitating monkey sounds.

“He talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk!” Mitsuru proceeded to the other fight. “He too made a comeback via consolation match! He’s the one you can smell miles away with those poisonous fumes of his, the heavily makeup drag queen, Kiji Mitsuba!”

“I WILL SUE YOU FOR YOUR SLANDER YOU PRICK!” Squawked Kiji.

Theo couldn’t help it anymore. He began laughing loudly, one arm holding his stomach, while the other was flailing up and down.

“It’s too accurate…!” He said through laughing. “They’re all so true…!”

“SHUT IT, YOU DAMN BRAT!” All three Supervisors yelled at him.

Theo was laughing so hard he couldn’t hear Mitsuru introduce Kenshirou, not like he would care, though. Once he got that out of his system he looked at the arena to see Samon and his Cell 8 already down there in their positions, ready for the match. He could slightly feel himself starting to become riled up.

“What should we do they have three participants.” Seitarou said and looked at everyone. “Should we send three down there as well.”

“I’ll pass.” Jyugo immediately said.

“Me too.” Uno went next.

“I’LL GO!” Theo immediately exclaimed, startling poor Seitarou.

“What’s wrong, Nico?” Rock as his companion, seeing him shaking.

“THERE HE IS! THAT’S HIM!” Nico shouted, pointing at one of the two inmates.

“Whoa! You scared me!” Rock jumped away from his overly excited friend.

“THEO, THEO, THEO!” Nico exclaimed and grabbed Theo by the arm. “THAT’S THE GUY I WAS TALKING ABOUT! THE GUY WHO WAS FLOATING IN THE AIR!”

“Whoa, Nico, wai—AHH!”

“WE HAVE TO GET A BETTER LOOK!”

BOOM!

***

Nico, who apparently got way too over excited, grabbed onto Theo’s arm and jumped over the bleachers they sat on and fell right down into the stadium. But, Theo being Theo, felt his body go into action. He yanked Nico closer to him, basically hugging him tightly against his body. He spun his body around so he collided into the ground first.

Theo slammed right into the ground, breaking part of the metal dome, and was still holding onto Nico. Nico was perfectly unscathed and unharmed, practically sitting in his lap. Everyone could only gape at what they saw before them.

“Wow, Theo, you sure know how to react fast!” Nico complimented.

“…Ow…” Mumbled Theo as he sat up from the debris surrounding him. “…That actually kinda hurt…”

Nico suddenly gasped loudly and got off of Theo and began pointing at one of the opposing inmate. As he began to rant and rave, excitedly talking about the guy who can float. Theo just groaned softly and climbed onto his feet, stepping out of the indent he made, and began to dust himself off.

“Whoa! Now that’s an entrance!” Commented Mitsuru.

“Are you okay, Theo?!” Shouted Seitarou from their seats.

Theo just responded by lifting his hand up, giving him a thumbs up to tell him he was fine. Theo walked over to Nico and hit him on the head, causing Nico to crouch down and hold his head.

“Ow…!” Whined Nico.

“That’s for idiotically jumped from a high platform and dragging me with you.” Theo stated and began to lecture him. “Do you have any idea—”

Theo continued on, beginning to rant and rave to Nico like an angry mother. He was so loud and angry about it that the inmates that were in the audience began to lean back away from him from his harshness. He eventually ended his rant with Nico apologizing.

“Good to know you’re as indestructible as ever…” Grumbled Samon as he rubbed his own head. “You even went on an angry rant for thirty minutes. You’re such a mom.”

“I have three younger siblings. Shut your mouth.” Theo stated as his face was completely deadpan.

“How is he still alive…?” Jyugo questioned.

“He’s like a miniature Hajime…” Uno said and shivered.

“Are you really participating in this?” Samon asked Theo.

“Yes, yes I am.” Theo stated and got whatever dust that remained off of his clothes. “Don’t back down just because I’m not Hajime, Samon…”

“I don’t have a bone to pick with you so it would be pointless if I fought you.” Samon said and looked away from him.

Theo’s eye twitched as he glared at Samon. “FIGHT ME, YOU WHIMPY APE!”

“WHO YOU CALLIN’ WHIMPY, YOU DISEASED FUCK?!” Samon yelled at him.

“AT LEAST I KNOW WHAT MAKES ME PSYCHOTIC! HOW 'BOUT YOU!?”

“I WILL STICK MY STAFF SO FAR UP YOUR *BLEEEEEEEP*”

“C'MON, SAMON! IT’LL BE LIKE OLD TIMES WHERE I *BLEEEEEP BLEEP*”

“YOU ARE WAY TOO HONEST WITH OTHER PEOPLE, WHAT THE FUCK! SOMETIMES I WONDER IF THERE’LL EVEN BE A FILTER ON THAT DAMN MOUTH OF YOURS!”

“IF YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED, YOU CAN’T FUCKING TALK!”

“Geez, and I thought you two liked each other!” Mitsuru exclaimed on the mic. “Do you have any idea how much work it takes to bleep all those out? It’s annoying, ya know?! You’re already down here anyways and wasted everybody’s times! GET ON WITH THE MATCH, WILL YA?!”

“I’LL SHOW YOU YOUR GODDAMN PLACE!” Declared Samon as he grabbed onto the cloth that covered the spinning tops. “I’LL TEACH YOU WHO’S A WIMPY APE!”

“I HOPE YOU DO!” Shouted Theo as he did the same as Samon. The two yanked on the cloth, causing the tops to spin out and clash against each other, beginning the match. “BUT YOU REALLY ARE AN IDIOT FOR BEING SO GULLIBLE!”

“What?!” Growled Samon as he glared at him.

“I just got you into fighting me, so ha!” Theo exclaimed, jabbing a finger at him.

“Grr…!” Samon growled at the realization of what he did. “No.58, No.71! Go after the guard!”

Theo noticed two shadows cover him. He looked up to see the two inmates in the air and flying right at him. As Theo got his hands up to block, he noticed something from the corner of his eye. Quickly changing actions, he kicked at the ground, effectively pushing himself out of the way. Slamming into the ground was a familiar weight, causing the two inmates to jump back themselves so they wouldn’t get harmed by it. They stepped back as Nico stood in the way, being responsible for the attack.

“Attacking someone 2 v. 1 is fighting dirty…” Nico said, his face utterly serious.

'What’s with that expression…?’ Theo wondered but quickly put his attention on Samon. 'No matter. Samon’s my opponent… If Nico could cause that much damage with that little restraint of his, he is more than capable of fighting…’

“I have zero tolerance for bad guys who commit such cowardly villainous acts!” Nico declared and began posing. “Say your prays, evildoers! You’re gonna get what’s coming to ya!”

“…He did not…” Theo stood there and felt his eye twitched. “YOU KNOW WHAT?!” He threw the cloth he had been holding onto the ground. “FUCK IT!”

“Wait, what’s Theo doing?” Rock asked.

“I don’t know, but he might just go into psycho mode…” Hajime sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Psycho mode?!” Exclaimed the three inmates in concern.

“A lot of times when Theo got pissed in the jail cells, he would go ahead and start using his acting skills and would put them to the test.” Hajime explained. “He calls it 'Psycho Mode’ because he acts like a mentally ill patient. It’s his go-to act he does all the time because it freaks people out so much that he gets them to be silent. It’s how he stopped fights in the cells because it made guys piss themselves. He used it on you guys when I ordered him to go capture you and knock you out.”

“THAT WAS AN ACT?!” They exclaimed.

“Are you sure he isn’t actually psychotic…?” Uno asked as he paled.

“Yeah, we had him tested.” Hajime said. “He’s as sane as can be.”

Theo ran at Samon at a very quick speed. Samon began to swing his staff at him, trying to keep him back. But, Theo got passed his weapon and jumped up into the air at Samon. He got his legs around, Samon’s neck and was able to slam him onto the ground, almost like a wrestler’s move. Samon was clawing at his pant legs, trying to escape.

“Or he could just do that…” Hajime muttered.

“Was that a wrestling move?” Rock questioned with a raised brow.

“Just like old times, right Samon?!” Theo growled, his mouth in a gigantic smirk.

“Yep…” Grunted Samon as he tried to pry his legs off. “You just looove having people in between yours legs, eh?”

“You did not just pull that joke!” Theo said, but didn’t look mad.

“Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it…” Samon growled.

Samon got his head out from Theo’s legs and scrambled to his feet to gain some distance between them. Theo got to his feet as well and put his hands up, looking rather happy. While Theo was taking care of Samon, Nico was attacking the other two inmates. Well, one of the two. No.71 escaped to the top of the bowl and began to rest there lazily to avoid conflict.

“Good to know you’re still a combat junkie.” Samon muttered towards Theo.

“Hey, I haven’t fought you in two years, man.” Theo said grinning. “I wanna see if you either softened or if you’re able to beat me into the wall.”

“You’re really annoying, you know that.” Samon said and got his staff back into his hands. “Think of this as a lesson from your higher up, got it?”

“STOP FOOLING AROUND AND TARGET THE TOP!” Hajime yelled at Theo, startling the male.

“Aw, come on…” Theo groaned softly.

“Never look away from your enemy!” Samon yelled and swung his staff.

Theo lifted his hand up and grabbed his end of the staff. Restricting Samon’s control of the staff, Theo stepped closer to him and brought his foot up. He kicked Samon right in the chest, kicking him right across the stadium. Theo kept hold of his staff, about to toss it to the side until he heard Yamato’s voice.

“THEO, BEHIND YOU!” Yamato warned.

Theo’s eyes widened at his warning.

Not even looking behind him, Theo slammed the staff onto the ground and used it to throw himself into the air. Once in the air he watched a bright blue column of energy shot under him, destroying Samon’s staff. Theo’s eyes widened in shock.

Once the column of energy was gone Theo landed on the ground and rolled back, trying to get a distance from where he was almost harmed. He looked towards the inmate that attacked him, No.58, and felt something hit him in realization. He remembers these guys now. No.58 is called Upa, No.71 was named Qi, and No.2 was Liang. They’re all associated with one another from what they had been through.

“Right… I remember now…” Theo mumbled. “His name is Upa. That sign on his head is to suppress his powers. He uses Qigong… right?”

“You’re really forgetful!” Samon shouted and appeared behind him, kicking Theo right in the head.

Theo’s body flew to the ground. Theo grunted upon collision and waited for his body to stop moving. Once the momentum stopped he got to his feet and touched his head.

“Okay, I’m dizzy now…” Theo mumbled as he felt like the place was spinning under his feet.

“What’s up with you?” Samon asked and ran at him. “You’re not acting like yourself!”

Theo brought his arms up and blocked Samon’s kicks. Eventually the two had grabbed each other’s hands, trying to push against each other. Theo was pushing against Samon, trying to hopefully throw him or get him off balance.

“I don’t know…” Theo grunted as he fought Samon. “Agitated, I guess. Excited… It’s been awhile since I’ve felt like I’m having fun. All I want to do is fight…”

“Your sense of logic for your actions is honestly terrible.” Samon grunted as he tried pushing against him harder. “You keep forgetting so much. What happened once you got out of jail?”

“A lot of shit!” Theo yelled and used his strength against Samon, eventually throwing him over his head.

Samon yelped as he was thrown into the air. Theo backed up and watched Samon try to land on his feet. As Theo got away from Samon, Nico dashed at Theo and grabbed his arm again, now bouncing up and down in excitement.

“That was so cool!” Nico exclaimed. “How you dodged and throw that guy like it’s nothing! You’re really strong!”

“Uh… Yeah…” Theo muttered, unsure of what to say at Nico’s excitement. He put his hand on Nico’s head, stopping him from jumping, and calmed him down. “Look Nico, we’ve got to work together, alright? You go after No.58. I’ll go after the top.”

“Okay!” Nico nodded and ran back to face Upa.

“Your reflexes are still as sharp as ever I see.” Upa called out to Theo. “But you’re restraining yourself. We all can tell. Why don’t you go all out?”

“If I went all out then the Warden would have my head.” Theo said bluntly. “Your fight is with Nico, so I suggest you keep your eyes on that kid, Upa.”

Just as Theo finished talking, he ducked his head down and missed an attack. Samon had tried to sneak up behind him and swung his fist. But, Samon had forgotten that Theo’s hearing is still pretty sharp. Samon began throwing multiple punches at him, but Theo continued to block or push his fist away from him.

Eventually they kept throwing attacks at each other that Theo was actually becoming bored. He decided to copy Samon, trying to mimic his moves. So far, he’s been like a mirror, doing everything Samon was doing. The Supervisor was becoming frustrated with Theo for copying him.

“I can’t believe you’re doing that cheap move!” Samon yelled at him as their hands kept colliding. “I thought you dropped the mirroring tactic years ago!”

“Yeah, well, you’re starting to bore me.” Theo replied.

They brought their a foot up and kicked against each other, causing the two to separate and create a distance between them. Theo took a glance at Nico just in time to see Nico dodge and attack from Upa, punching him right in the chest. Theo’s eyes widened, watching Upa stumbled back, but he didn’t fall down.

“Aw, I’d thought that would work!” Whined Nico. “Alan had done that when we first met him. Did I do it wrong?”

“He… copied me…” Theo mumbled before looking towards Samon to see him come running at him. “…Smart kid…”

Samon jumped up with his leg out to kick Theo. But the guard simply caught his ankle, stopping his movements. Samon’s eyes widened as he felt himself pale. 'That’s right…! I utterly forgot to never come at Theo from above!’

“Did you seriously just do that?” Theo glared at him, clearly unimpressed. “C'mon, Samon, start getTING SERIOUS!”

Theo threw Samon away from him, watching him hit the ground.

“What about you? Something’s off with you… And it’s not because you look different.”

“I said I’m fine. Just drop it monkey.”

Quickly Theo turned and went for Samon’s top. He got around it and made sure to eye where Samon was, watching him begin to get back onto his feet. As soon as he saw Samon on his feet, a blue light came from behind him and went towards Nico.

Quickly he acted. Theo ran at the top and jumped up. He swung his leg and smacked it right into the green top. The gigantic spinning top went into the air and towards Samon. Theo’s feet hit the ground when he heard the shouts of shock and possible fear. He watched as the top, and a bright yellow beam hit both of the people from Building 5. Theo began walking towards Nico, seeing that now the competition of this event was won. Nico was jumping up and down again in excitement.

“WHOO-HOOO! I TOTALLY NAILED THAT SPECIAL MOVE!” Shouted Nico.

The green haired male suddenly swayed and fell back. But Theo jumped forwards and caught him in time. He chuckled lightly at him, seeing him become unconscious.

“That you did, Nico…” Theo said and carefully picked him up. “But stop being so reckless…”

Theo held Nico up in front of him, his legs wrapped around Theo’s waist, and his arms were on Theo’s shoulders. Theo walked towards the exit and was met with paramedics. He patted Nico’s head before handing him over to the medics. Seitarou actually came down and said he would go ahead and watch over Nico. Theo thanked him before going back to their seats. When he got there Hajime gave him a harsh look.

“Why’d you hold back?” Hajime asked.

“Because unlike you, I actually care about Samon.” Theo stated and walked to his seat. He sat down with a big sigh. “That felt more tedious than I would’ve asked for, but we won, so… Yeah…”

“For someone who held back, your strength is something to fear.” Jyugo stated bluntly.

“So I’ve been told…” Theo muttered and sighed. “To be honest I wanted to go full out but that would’ve been a terrible idea…”

“Yeah, we’re glad you didn’t.” Uno said.

“Now, time for the last event…” Theo muttered and stared at the stadium, watching as the plates came back and sealed up the open areas. “This is going to be the big one. But I wonder who’s gonna do it…”

“Why, what’s next?” Rock asked.

“You’ll see…” Theo replied before he began to rotate his neck. “God, my back feels weird. How the hell can Nico have that much strength? Geez… I’m not even all that light either…”

“Guess you can say he’s a special case.” Jyugo said. “By the why, what was with all that shouting you and Samon had earlier. We were positive you were going to kill him or Nico.”

“I wanted Samon to fight me.” Theo explained. “But, Samon wanted nothing to do with me, really. So I gave him a reason to want and fight me. By riling him up, he fell for my plan and started the fighting with me. I wanted to fight Samon again because I haven’t fought with him for two years. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have fun…”

“Right, because there’s nothing funner than trash talking your old prisoner guard to beat him to death.” Uno said sarcastically.

“Exactly~” Theo replied in a joking manner. “Give him a gold star.”

Theo clapped his hands and watched Uno roll his eyes. Jyugo snickered in between them at the exchange. Theo smiled lightly before gazing out at the arena. 'Let the last of the games begin, I guess…’

***

“Thanks for waitin’ everyone! The final event for this New Year’s tournament is about to begin!”

“Why does he look like he’s been shot in the head?”

“Who knows? Maybe Mitsuru is now one of the walking deeeaad…”

“DON’T SAY THAT! YOU’LL GET ME PARANOID!”

Theo had wiggled his fingers in front of Uno, being the one to say walking dead, and got Uno leaning as far away from him as he could get. Theo snickered at his response. He sat back and listened to Mitsuru talk about the last event. It was now Building 13 against Building 4. Theo usually enjoyed the Sake Barrel Opening because you could beat the living crap out of your opponents or just get to the barrel as fast as possible.

“A sake barrel ban, eh? That does fit in with the New Year theme.” Jyugo said and looked to his cellmates. “So? Which one of you is going?”

“Shut up and get your butt out there!” Uno shouted as he and Rock both kicked Jyugo in the jaw.

“Yeah, you’re the main character after all!” Rock shouted as Jyugo hit the ground.

“Sheesh, you guys are seriously lazy.” Jyugo growled at them as his face began to bleed.

“Actually you’re the lazy one.” Theo stated factly. “Rock was apart of the Mochi Pounding, Uno participated in the card game, and Nico had helped me in the last event. So, you’re technically up, Jyugo…”

“Uuugggh, whyyy?” Jyugo groaned, clearly not wanting to do it.

“He just gave you the reason!” Uno yelled at him and began pushing him towards the door that goes to the arena. “Go down there and participate! Do it for the prize, man! I need my game room!”

'How selfish of you, Uno…’ Theo thought.

“You’re lucky there’s a prize we can gain.” Jyugo muttered and began going down.

Once Jyugo disappeared from sight Uno said back down. Apparently Hajime went down as well and will be working along with Jyugo. When Kenshirou and his inmate got to the center, Theo could help but glare. There was something off about that inmate… He had this band around his eyes, making him incapable in seeing. Being in the front row as they were, they could hear the faint conversation between the four. Hearing the tone Jyugo was using, it was clear he knew the guy, and he didn’t like him.

“What’s got Jyugo’s panties in a bunch?” Uno asked, trying to keep the mood light.

“I couldn’t tell ya.” Rock shook his head.

“Jyugo knows that guy…” Theo said as he cupped his ears to possibly hear better. “That guy… Jyugo called him Musashi. Apparently they were old cellmates from another prison. And from what and how Jyugo spoke… It appears they both have some pretty bad blood against each other…”

“You got that all from a conversation you weren’t even apart of?” Uno asked, looking surprised. “That’s impressive.”

“I’ve trained myself to pick up on emotions in people’s voices and I use sociology a lot of times,” admitted Theo. “It’s a life skill I picked up on and use when I’m talking to people. From hearing them talk… Jyugo wants to rip that guy’s throat out.”

“Alright boys, let the final event… BEGIIIIIN!” Shouted Mitsuru.

The four began running. But not even a minute after starting did the inmate Musashi went straight after Jyugo. Musashi striked down at Jyugo with the heel of his foot, but Jyugo lifted his arms up and blocked it from harming him severely. It pushed Jyugo back, and Musashi lashed forwards with a punch. Again, Jyugo blocked. Not even a minute in this match and Theo is already on the edge of his seat.

“Surprise flying axe kick! That’s gonna leave a mark!” Exclaimed Mitsuru.

“Damn he’s strong…” Theo hissed under his breath.

Jyugo got back onto his feet, but seemed to be in pain. Theo was starting to become concern for him. That attack looked harsh and probably could break some bones if it was used just right.

“This Musashi guy,” Uno began to speak up, “he’s got his eyes completely covered up. Do you think he’s fighting blind for real?”

“His other senses must be strong—way stronger than normal.” Rock said.

“I can vouch for a fact that it’s probably true.” Theo added as he eyed Musashi carefully. “Something’s up with his eyes, that’s for certain. It just seems weird to me… He doesn’t have shoes on, and his hair is out of his ears. From that, I can probably bet that he can hear very well, and he possibly feels the vibrations in the earth to get around. I’ll bet his sense of smell is strong, too…”

Theo looked away from the two and looked at the Supervisors. Kenshirou had used his weapon, a type of whip, to stop Hajime from moving forwards. It was clear that Kenshirou was after something from Hajime, and stopping him from winning was one of them. He wants to humiliate Hajime, but why…?

Kenshirou used his whip to throw Hajime into the air. As soon as he got to the highest point, Kenshirou yanked down on his whip. He was planning on smacking Hajime to the ground. But Hajime was not one to be taken down so easily. He got out of the weapon and landed on his feet instead, clearly uninjured. Hajime rushed forwards and punched at Kenshirou, who quickly blocked the attack by using his whip.

Both battles were becoming intense. Jyugo tried to get to the stairs, but Musashi got in the way. Just because he wasn’t running up or trying to get to the Sake Barrel told Theo he wants something. Something from Jyugo. He only wished he knew what it was. There was just something not right about this. Trying to take his mind off of them he looked towards Hajime. Gazing back at his Superior, Theo saw that he was holding up two guns. Looking past him was a box filled with weapons. But, weapons aren’t permitted, so Theo could only assume they were all fake weapons. Mitsuru’s announcement about the boxes only confirmed his suspicions.

The two kept diving into the box and grabbing weapons to use on each other. As they fought, Theo noticed something that caught his attention. Kenshirou kept looking up at the Warden, as if he was waiting for some sort of approval or compliment.

'So that’s what you’re after…’ Theo thought to himself. 'The Warden’s attention? But, why would he want that? A promotion? A nice little pat for being her lap dog? Or… maybe…’

“It’s kind of weird to think that Hajime is stronger when he fights barehanded.” Rock said, snapping Theo out of thought.

“His match isn’t going to be a problem. It’s Jyugo I’m worried about…” Uno said.

“You too…?” Theo asked, now looking back on Jyugo.

“Jyugo isn’t great at a lot of things.” Uno stated as they watched the fight. “Honestly the only sort of talent he has is jailbreaking. If anything he just knows enough about fighting to get by, but… That Musashi guy isn’t somebody to underestimate.”

Just as he said that, Musashi shoved Jyugo into the wall with one hand. Theo felt his body tense up, having to force himself to remain seated. He strained his ears to hopefully hear what they were saying. To be honest, he kind of wish he hadn’t.

“I can’t even tell if you’re trying… Hmph…” Musashi had a smug look on his face. “What happened to that savage nature? That fierceness you had when you gouged out my eyes… Ha!”

“What…?” Theo muttered, clearly surprised.

“Huh, what’s up?” Uno asked him, seeing his reaction.

“I just heard what that guy said…” Theo muttered. “He just said… Jyugo gouged out Musashi’s eyes…”

“What?” Uno sat up right, along with Rock, who looked in disbelief.

“That’s impossible.” Rock said. “Jyugo would never do that, right?”

“I would like to believe so…” Theo muttered and kept his gaze on them. “…He’s never shown any signs of actually brutally harming someone like that, right? Never talked about it, or has given any signs…?”

“No! Of course not!” Uno exclaimed, looking very defensive. “That guy’s lying, he’s gotta be!”

'If he’s lying then why isn’t Jyugo denying?!’ Theo wanted to say, but kept his mouth sealed. He shouldn’t have asked, especially Uno…

Theo kept his eyes on the inmates, not caring for the Supervisors. He was more worried about Jyugo. Theo didn’t know why he felt so anxious. He only ever felt this much emotion since the time he thought his younger sister, Eva, was going to fall out of a tree. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was just something that was telling him that something that wasn’t right. Seeing Musashi bash Jyugo’s head into the wall again and again wasn’t helping the case either.

“The bastard…!” Theo was on his feet and began growling under his breath. “He’s going to kill Jyugo at this rate…!”

“Should we do something?” Uno asked, sensing his anxiety.

“…No.” Theo shook his head. “Not yet. We have to wait… Musashi is after something. Something that Jyugo has. I can tell by his actions. He’s taunting him, riling him up—getting him to act up and react the way he wants. If only I knew what he wants…”

“Hey, I think you should calm down.” Rock said towards Theo. “You won’t be able to help anybody if you’re acting up like this.”

Theo’s lips pressed together into a flat line. He took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose while sitting back down. Rock was right. If he was just creating this anxiety for the others instead of comfort. He had to calm down and watch. If he interrupted this tournament in the slightest, he’d be risking more than just his own hide. He would be risking the safety of others. And in this case, it would be Jyugo.

“WHERE IS HE?!” Screamed Jyugo, clearly filled with nothing but rage. “DON’T YOU IGNORE ME MUSASHIII!”

Everyone got chills down their spines at Jyugo’s yell. He screamed in pure rage and began attacking Musashi, striking at him in nothing but raw rage.

“I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING IF YOU CAN BEAT ME!” Musashi yelled and thrusted his hand towards Jyugo.

“JYUGO!” Theo found himself screaming in concern.

Suddenly a ball of fire came from Musashi’s hand, a column of fire flying right at No.15. It hit Jyugo straight on, causing him to fly back and collide straight into the wall. Theo was on his feet already, Uno and Rock now standing next to him.

“First we get a guy who can use chi and now a pyromancer?” Uno said in alarm.

“Do you think Jyugo’s okay?” Rock asked.

“Something’s not right…” Theo said softly as he was staring at the spot Jyugo was thrown in. “Something’s just not right…!”

“What do you mean, 'not right’?!” Uno asked. “Mind explaining what’s happening?”

“…If I knew what, I would be kicking that guy’s ass…” Theo growled as his eyes were as wide as ever. “Look, you two stay here wh—”

Theo couldn’t even finish his sentence as something was happening before their eyes. From the area that Jyugo had been under, strange blade appeared from out of the debris. Suddenly the pieces of rock flew off and a strange, deadly aura took place in the area. Theo could only gape in shock, ignoring the flying questions of Seitarou and Nico who have finally returned from the infirmary. For someone who doesn’t have a sense of touch, he was damn well positive that all hairs were standing up on end.

Standing in the place of the debris was Jyugo. But it wasn’t the same Jyugo they saw moments ago—oh no. The shackles, or cuffs, that were on his wrist, ankles and neck were suddenly gone. His clothes seemed more torn, and it was understandable why. Where his arms should be, right at the base of his elbows, were long, sharp blades.

'Jyugo… His eyes…’ Theo felt himself begin to panic. 'Why’re his eyes the same color… and his arms are turned into blades…?!’

Watching Jyugo intensely, the teen shouted something in pure rage and swung his arm at Musashi, causing a type of an unnatural slice. Musashi dodged, of course, but the slice was coming right where the group stood.

Something snapped instead of Theo’s head when he saw the slice coming for them. His concern instantly went to the inmates next to him as his body began to react. At that slice of a moment, Theo wasn’t playing a role as a male guard anymore. Instead, Theodora became herself again as she rushed at the three in an attempt to save them.

Theodora grabbed each of them in her arms and jumped away from the attack. She could sense the attack hitting the stands, hearing the solid material breaking, and feeling the gust of wind hitting her back. Her feet hit the ground and she skidded to a stop. She then saw Yamato hold Seitarou come into view and land right next to her. Screams could be heard as prisoners and guards rushed out of the stadium. To state it simply, it was turning into chaos. Staying as calm as ever, she placed everyone down, seeing them all in a sort of state of shock. She honestly couldn’t blame them.

“Is everyone alright?” Yamato asked after placing Seitarou down.

“We’re fine thanks to Theo.” Nico said.

“I can’t believe we lived…” Muttered Uno.

“This is bad.” Theodora spoke and stood up straight. “Seitarou, contact whatever guards you can and make sure the evacuation is going alright. We need all of the inmates out of here before any of them can get hurt. Yamato, keep these three with you. They’ll be safer in your hands than mine.”

“What’ll you do?” Seitarou asked.

Theodora turned and looked at where Jyugo and Musashi stood. “I’m going to stop Jyugo from harming anybody else. As a guard, it’s my job to make sure the inmates stay in line, and are protected. This case is no different…”

“Theo, wait!” Rock exclaimed, but she paid little to no attention.

She jumped onto the wall and began running along it, trying to get to Jyugo as fast as she could. Jyugo was striking at Musashi as much as possible, clearly having the intent to possibly kill. 'I have to stop him. I can’t allow him to do anymore damage than he’s already done!’

Without a second thought she jumped right on towards the two. They were running at each other, Musashi with his fire in hand while Jyugo held up his arm-blades. But before either of them could collide though, Theodora appeared in the way. She grabbed Jyugo’s arms while simultaneously wrapping her legs around Musashi’s flaming arms. She pushed the both, changing the course of their attacks.

Jyugo’s blades hit the dirt while Musashi shot fire into the air. Even though she was able to stop their attacks from hitting, she idiotically got herself right into the middle of it. Literally. Theodora retrained both of their movements, basically being the connecter in between them.

“Who the hell’re you?” Musashi asked, surprised to have his arm being restrained.

“I’m the person who’s going to beat your ass.” Theodora stated as her tone was ice cold.

Releasing her hold on Jyugo’s arms, she used the strength in her legs to get herself upright and facing Musashi. She released her leg’s hold on his arm while punching him right in the jaw. She put so much strength behind the attack that Musashi flew to the other side of the stadium. But, of course, his feet stayed connected to the ground and was able to dig them into the dirt, preventing himself from hitting the wall. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she whirled around with her leg up, only for her foot to collide with the side of Jyugo’s blade.

She just couldn’t believe that this was the real Jyugo. His sharp, blood red eyes glaring at her in rage. His sharp teeth being bared like a wild animal. This was someone who has been tormented, and broken, for the longest of time. This was Jyugo showing his pent up rage and emotions, turning him into a wild animal.

'I have to stop him.’ She told herself, her expression cold and stoic as her eyes revealed her fierce desire to protect. 'I have to stop them both before they get themselves killed…!’

“Get out of my way…” Jyugo growled at her. “I WON’T LET ANYBODY STAND IN MY WAY!”

The boy swung his other blade at her. Theodora acted fast, fucking her head and jumping back to dodge. Jyugo went after her, swinging his arms like a madman. She quickly grabbed the base of his arms, trying to prevent them from swinging down and creating more of those powerful cuts.

“That’s enough, Jyugo!” Theodora shouted at him. “If you don’t stop now, I won’t stop restraining myself anymore. I’ll make sure you won’t be waking up from this any time soon, do you hear me?”

“You don’t know anything…” Jyugo growled at her. “You know nothing. If you don’t get out of my way, I slice those legs of yours off without a moment’s hesitation.”

Before she could respond, she heard something coming fast at them from behind. Seeing the light from the corner of her eyes, she lifted her foot up and kicked Jyugo back, watching him fly out of the way. Theodora jumped back, just in time to dodge a gigantic fireball that came her way. It instead went straight for the Supervisors, preventing them from coming closer. The woman turned towards Musashi, seeing as he was the one responsible.

“Do you mind? I was have a real nice talk with Jyugo.” He spoke to her, taking one step at a time. “I’ll answer all the pretty little questions you want after I finish talking with him. But for now, I’lL HAVE YOU BURNING IN MY FLAMES!”

Once again, Musashi threw a powerful attack. But Theodora was faster than him. She kicked herself off of the ground and into the air, the attack completely missing her, and flew over his head. Her feet landed on the ground and she skidded across the ground, still having a pretty large distance away from Musashi.

The guy didn’t hesitate to do another move, lighting the ground on fire. He created this type of ring, only having him and Jyugo inside. Theodora knew she had to get in there and attack. Even she’s not as invincible as everyone makes her out to be.

But before she could so anything, multiple slices came from the flames. Theodora got out of the way, watching the harsh attack bring the fire with it. Once it collided into the walls and died down, she turned to the two prisoners. As her mind tried to figure out a plan of action, seeing as those two won’t stand down by words alone. As she thought, she saw Musashi planning to another fireball at Jyugo, who was currently running at him to attack himself.

“TRY DODGING THIS!” He shouted and threw the attack at him.

“NO!” Theodora shouted and found herself moving.

“YOU IDIOT!” Hajime shouted at her from afar.

Theodora jumped right into the line of fire, directly in front of Jyugo. She got her arms in front of her face just as the fireball hit. She, along with Jyugo, flew back and collided right into the ground.

Jyugo quickly recovered and got himself moving again. Once he sat up, he saw Theodora’s body still lying right under him, not moving a single inch. Each one of his blades had gotten embedded into the ground, one under her right arm while the other was right next to her head. When he got a good look at her, his eyes practically bulged out of his head while his fiery rage was momentarily forgotten. He could only stare as he tried to fathom what he was seeing.

“Theo… is a woman…?”

***

Jyugo could only stare at Theo in shock. The person he thought was a 'he’ for so long is actually a 'she’. Theo just laid under Jyugo, her eyes shut as she looked like she was in pain. Theo’s head was turned towards the right, her hat gone somewhere, and her silver hair uncovering her inmate number. Her guard jacket she wore over her white button up was burnt in the front, and had revealed her torso. Her white shirt appeared to be fine except for a few plastic buttons. The tie she would wear was on the ground where her neck was, probably from being burned. The top of her shirt appeared to be partially burnt, revealing the white bind she had to make her chest look completely flat. That was enough to show that she was a woman.

As the woman under Jyugo began to open her eyes, her eyebrows furrowed in what appeared to be pain. She grunted softly and looked up at Jyugo who hovered over her. Just as she was about to open her mouth, a fist suddenly came into view and hit Jyugo right in the gut. Jyugo flew back and off of her. She sat up with her arm out as if to grab him as she was shocked by the fast movement.

“Jyugo!” She exclaimed in concern.

“Worry about yourself for once.” A familiar voice of Hajime spoke to her. She gazed to her right to see that of course Hajime was the one to punch him. “Stop concerning yourself with the inmates. Both of them won’t hesitate to kill you the moment your guard is down.”

“Your emotions always have gotten the best of you…” Kenshirou added, now standing on her left.

“For your information…” Theodora grunted and forced herself to stand up. “…my emotions are the thing keeping me human. I care about these inmates far more than anybody would. It’s why they trust me…”

“Not those two.” Kenshirou stated. “No.634 will burn you to a crisp while No.15 will be slicing you in half while you burn. They will hurt you if you get in the way again.”

“Didn’t the Warden order for their recapture?!” Theodora growled as she was standing up now. “All I need is a chance with No.15. Leave him to me. We need as many people going after No.634 before he burns the entire place down.”

“You do realize you’re going to get fired after this, right?” Hajime asked her.

“My job at the moment isn’t as crucial as stopping those two.” Theodora stated, knowing quite well that her disguise was ruined. She took her tie and jacket off leaving just her white shirt and her black uniform trousers. “Just trust me in this and—”

“Hey, you all just gonna stand around lookin’ pretty?” Spoke the voice of Musashi, grabbing everyone’s attention. “Nice job standing all in one spot for me!”

Musashi shot fire at the three. Theodora got ready to run, but two familiar figures stopped her from running. They stood before them and thanks to their weapons began to protect them. The fire didn’t even touch them. Theodora watched as the fire died down, revealing Kiji and Samon to be their saviors.

“Think you can beat the Nanba Guards?!” Growled Samon at Musashi.

“Just try!” Kiji dared him.

“As for you two,” both Samon and Kiji turned and pointed at Hajime and Kenshirou. “Use your heads for once, you damn fools!”

“We’re getting scolded…?” Hajime grumbled.

“By these losers…?” Kenshirou questioned.

“Those losers just saved our asses.” Theodora said and stepped forwards. “We were all given the order by the Warden herself to capture the rogue inmates. We need to work together and stop them at once.”

“Let me guess, you already have a plan?” Samon asked, causing Theodora to smile.

“You know me too well…” She smirked before looking serious again. “Samon, Kiji, you guys can nullify Musashi’s attacks. Go after him. Kenshirou, he’s your inmate. Show him precisely what happens when hell’s raised against the Nanba guards. Hajime, I need you to keep Jyugo distracted long enough for me to restrain him. I’m confident that I can talk to him, but I can’t get through if Musashi keeps provoking him.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Kiji smiled.

“Try not to go berserk.” Samon said while smirking.

“I can’t believe we’re taking orders from her…” Grumbled Kenshirou.

“Just know that I won’t hesitate to act if this goes south.” Hajime told Theodora, looking down her rather coldly.

“It won’t go that way as long as we act.” Theodora said and found herself running at the inmates. “But HELL I’LL GIVE 'EM!”

Theodora went towards Musashi first. As soon as she got close she jump up and swung the back of her leg at him. Musashi blocked it with his forearm, of course. With her other leg she kicked off of him and onto the ground. She lashed at him and began throwing punches with her bare hands, her gloves being burned off moments ago. Musashi just kept blocking, his smirk wide as it was clear he didn’t think much of her.

“What’s with those punches? What are you, a woman?” He mocked.

“For your information,” Theodora swung her fist up, colliding her knuckled right into his jaw. “YOU BET YOUR ASS I’M A WOMAN!”

Musashi stumbled back, trying to recoil from that hit. But Theodora didn’t let him. She grabbed him by the shoulders and swung her leg up as hard as she could. Musashi let out a loud howl of pain, almost causing everyone to actually stop at the sight. Even Uno, Rock and Nico were cringing at the very sight. Theodora retracted her leg and watched him go down.

“I’ll have you know that I can kick harder than that…” She spat at him before looking towards Samon. “I leave him to you guys!”

“Well, that definitely is a type of hell for any man…” Samon muttered at the sight of Musashi.

“You… bitch…” Musashi groaned as he tried getting up again.

“I don’t think so.” Kenshirou was quick to act.

He saw Musashi raising his hands up again as Theodora was running away from him. Kenshirou used his whip to wrap around his wrist and yanked it back and away from her. Samon began to use his technique as quick as he could while Kiji tried to block any sort of fire the guy had left in him. While they began to take care of him, Hajime was going after his own inmate.

Theodora watched carefully as Hajime was firing rubber bullets at Jyugo. The teen of course kept slicing everyone that came at him. Only when Hajime ran out of another round did she went ahead and intervene. Hajime changed the casing just as Theodora jumped right into Jyugo’s view. Jyugo actually stepped back, trying to register the fact that a woman was standing in front of him.

“Jyugo, that’s enough!” She shouted at her, holding her arms out as if to shield Hajime. “Do you even realize how much damage you caused?!”

“Stay out of my way…” Jyugo growled at her, lifting his blades up to show he wasn’t messing around. “I will find that man… Where is he…!?”

“Man…?” Theodora muttered before raising her voice at him. “What man?!”

“The one with the scar…” Jyugo growled as he looked to be getting riled up again. “The guard with the scar on his neck…! Where is he?! TELL ME WHERE HE IS!”

Jyugo screamed out and lashed at Theodora. She quickly dodged his blades, trying hard to avoid each direction he swung in. Taking a risky move, Theodora ran towards Jyugo and got close to him. She grabbed his arms, just like she had down before, and began fighting against him so he doesn’t slice down.

“Look at me, Jyugo, look at me!” Theodora shouted at him, locking her eyes with his wild ones. “Listen to me! You need to calm down right now! You’ll never meet this guard with the scar if you keep this up, understand? Did this man with the scar do something to you? Is that why you’re being so crazy right now?!”

“I’ll never forgive him!” Jyugo shouted right in Theodora’s face. “I’ll find him, and I’ll kill him! That’s what I’ll do!”

“Why aren’t you listening…?!” Theodora growled and him felt him pushing against her hands. “This isn’t you, Jyugo! You’re not some savage whose instinct is to kill! You’re giving Musashi just what he wants… He wants you to think you’re some freak—a monster. But you’re not, okay! You’re a human being, understand?!”

Jyugo justed growled at her, continuing to put against her. Theodora stepped back, trying to regain her footing since he was going all at it.

“It’s time for you to stop, okay!? You need to stop and calm down!” She exclaimed, tightly holding onto him. “I’m not your enemy, Jyugo! I’m trying to help you. But I can’t do that if you won’t listen to me!”

Jyugo’s breathing was loud and fast, just like a wild animal’s breathing. Just as Theodora feared he was going to go wild again, two arms came from behind Jyugo and practically tore him away from her. To her surprise, Uno suddenly stood in front of her while Rock and Nico began restricting Jyugo from behind.

“Jyugo, we go back a long way, huh buddy?” Uno began trying to talk to him. “Trust me, you don’t want to do this.”

Jyugo stared at him for a moment before he began struggling more violently. Theodora quickly acted and got behind him, too. She grabbed Jyugo’s left arm, allowing Rock to restraint the right. She even wrapped her left leg in front of his own, trying to make it hardly for him to use his feet.

“Jyugo, please! Just listen to us already!” She yelled at him, hoping he would stop.

“You have to stop or they’ll take you to trial and make your sentence even longer!” Nico exclaimed, trying to convince Jyugo.

“C'mon, man! You have to stop!” Even Rock shouted at him.

Jyugo just kept struggling. Rock got pushed back, almost getting stabbed by Jyugo’s elbow, while Nico fell to the ground to miss the blade. Theodora felt her body get thrown over his, finding herself on the ground. She gazed up to see Jyugo raising his blade high, now facing Uno.

“NO!” She shouted and found herself moving again.

She got back onto her feet and rushed forwards just as Jyugo was slicing down. Theodora jumped in the way, both hands up, and she caught the blade in her hands, she could feel it slicing her palms, the feeling of pain beginning to throb through her hands. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore it as she kept her gaze with Jyugo.

“Please, just stop already…!” She found herself begging, trying to find a way to stop him. “You have to realize what you’re doing, Jyugo! You almost hurt your friends! I know this isn’t you! The Jyugo I know cares for his friends, especially his cellmates! Please, just stop this…! There’s no need to be so angry… You have no reason to be this way!”

Jyugo just stared at her, the strength he was putting in his arm seemed to almost relax. Theodora pushed his arm away, allowing it to hit the ground. She rushed forwards and wrapped her arms around his head, bringing him close and holding his head against her chest. Her breath was becoming shaky as she could feel herself becoming emotional.

“Just stop it, okay…?” She begged him, even her voice becoming shaky. “There’s no need to be so violent anymore. I don’t know what you’ve been through, and I know you’re angry. But, I need you to calm down. Be the Jyugo who teased and taunted me—the one who listened so well to any conversation he heard. I know you’re a good kid… I know you are… So, please. Just stop this…!”

Jyugo just stood there, his arms still as blades, with his head pressed against her chest. He could hear her rapid heartbeat, feeling and sensing the warmth in her tight embrace. The others could only watch in awe as Jyugo lowered his arms until they were just hanging at his side.

“Why… do you care…?” Jyugo asked, his voice not even above a whisper.

“Why…?” Theodora released a huff and pulled her arms away to cup each one of his cheeks. She smiled at him as he kept his eyes locked on her gaze. “I care because it’s my duty. You’re special, just like everyone else here… I care because it’s the only thing that I know how to do… And I care for you, Jyugo…”

Jyugo could only stare up at her, his face written in what appeared to be confusion or awe. Just as Jyugo moved slightly, something hard collided into his gut. Theodora could only stand in shock, watching Jyugo practically get ripped out of her grip, and saw him collide into the wall right before her eyes. Her jaw was open as she lost her breath, shock taking over.

“Jy… Jyugo!” Theodora shouted in concern.

“You’re too sentimental.” The harsh voice of Hajime rang in her ears. “He could’ve sliced you down. This is why we don’t have woman guards around here…”

Theodora turned her head and watched as he marched up to Jyugo’s slumped up figure. Hajime grabbed onto the collar of his clothes and began to interrogate him. When he wouldn’t respond, Hajime would just give him a punch to the face. With each hit Jyugo received, Theodora felt her own chest beginning to hurt, unable to do a thing.

“Hajime, stop!” Uno shouted at him. “You caught him, okay?! It’s over!”

“As a guard, it’s also my job to interrogate him.” Hajime stated. “You inmates need to learn your place…”

Hajime punched Jyugo again, and again. Theodora couldn’t take it anymore. She ran at Hajime and grabbed his raised fist, trying to stop him from harming Jyugo anymore.

“STOP IT!” She screamed, tears clearly flooding her eyes. “YOU’RE HURTING HIM!”

“Let go, Theodora. I won’t hesitate to put you under my foot…” Threatened Hajime.

“AND I WON’T HESITATE TO THROW YOUR ASS OUT OF THIS STADIUM!” She screamed at him, her face contorted into anger. “LET HIM GO RIGHT NOW!”

“Or what?” Hajime growled at her.

“JUST STOP IT!” Theodora begged him, trying to pull him back. “CAN’T YOU TELL HE’S UNCONSCIOUS NOW?! IF YOU DON’T STOP NOW YOU’LL END UP KILLING HIM!”

Hajime just stared at her, not moving a single inch. He then straightened up and the tossed Jyugo to the ground. Theodora could only feel her heart ache at the sight of him.

“Jyugo…!” She exclaimed and practically fell to the ground next to him.

Theodora hadn’t been this distressed for someone’s safety for a long time. She placed her ear against his chest, trying to hear his heartbeat. Once she could and sensed his breathing she could only cry in relief. She found herself holding his head on her lap and she was bent over crying for him. Her hand stroked his hair, but only proceeded to add blood to it and made it sticky. She just couldn’t understand why she was so emotional for this boy. She just couldn’t understand it…

“The New Year’s Tournament has reached it’s conclusion…” Spoke the words from the Warden.

“Inmate captured…” Hajime muttered and walked past Theodora.

Theodora just kept crying softly, unable to stop the waterworks. She felt a sudden weight get tossed onto her, only to open her eyes and see pink. She lifted her head up to see Kenshirou standing there, only to realized he placed his pink haori onto her. She heard the sound of wood breaking and turned her head, seeing Hajime opening the sake barrel. She could only shake her head at him in disappointment.

Medics rushed into the area faster than she had anticipated. Samon and Kiji had to pry her away from Jyugo as the medics began to care for him. She held onto Kenshirou’s haori, wrapping it around herself as she realized just how indecent she looked. Samon and Kiji decided to lead her away and get her away from everybody.

The woman had no idea how much time had passed. They both brought her to the infirmary themselves, making sure her identity was still hidden from anyone other than the doctor and nurse. Theodora’s hands were wrapped up, there was a wrapping on her right cheek, and her back had a few scrapes here and there. The doctor examined her thoroughly, knowing quite well about her HSAN.

“You got pretty lucky.” Stated the doctor. “Your body was burned rather badly, but nothing that we can’t fix. You’re lucky it was only for a moment though, you could have died if it was longer.”

“Will she need any sort of medical care?” Kiji asked the older man.

“Well, we’ve applied cream to her burns so hopefully they should fade soon. she will need to take a few ibuprofens every now and then to keep that temp of hers down.” Said the doctor. “Since she can’t feel, her body temperature tends to rise a lot. The ibuprofen will keep her temperature stable, and will subside any possible pain she may have. Her hands will be have to stay wrapped for a while and rewrapped regularly. Possibly had the wrappings on her back change once in awhile. But with her health history, she’ll be back to normal in no time.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Samon said and bowed to him in respect. “Will she be able to be on her feet and back to work any time soon?”

“I suggest she stays here for one night. See how she does in the morning…” Spoke the doctor. “Though, I have doubts she wouldn’t be fine afterwards.”

“Thank you, again.” Samon said. He frowned and glanced at Theodora. “I bet the Warden will want to talk to her the moment she’s released…”

“I’ll go see if anything has come up.” Kiji said to Samon. “I have to go check on my Building, at any rate. Are you going to stay with her?”

“Someone has to.” Samon said. “I know her better, so I’ll stay here. I trust my guards that they’ll keep everything in order in my building. If anything happens, contact me over the wakie.”

“Alright.” Kiji nodded to him before looking at Theodora. “Poor thing… She looks so hollow… Do you believe she’ll be alright? She really was concern for that inmate.”

“She’ll be fine. This happens a lot…” Samon said quietly. “It’s like she ran out of batteries. Give her some time and she’ll be back to normal in no time. She’s always has a knack for caring for the inmates since she feels sympathetic for them. She was a prisoner too, so she understands that struggle. For someone who can’t feel a damn thing, she has a pretty big heart…”

“That is true…” Kiji nodded.

The bird-themed man walked over to Theodora. He talked to her for a moment before bidding goodbye. Once he left, taking Kenshirou’s haori with him, Samon could only sigh at the events of today. He rubbed his head before walking back over to Theodora. He took a seat in the chair next to her bed and examined her for a moment.

Theodora just sat in the bed, her hands together in her lap, as she had a hollow stare. Her wavy hair was tied back behind her into a low ponytail, keeping it out of her face. She wore a blue gown since she was a patient. An IV was connected to her arm so she could gain the much needed fluids for her body. Her hands were entirely wrapped in bandages all the way to her wrist. She had a few bandages wrapped on her chest, but like the doctor said, it wasn’t severe. She just looked… so broken…

“…Are you alright?” Samon asked her in concern. “Emotionally and mentally, I mean…”

She turned her head slightly towards him, only to look back at her lap. She didn’t respond.

“…Come on, Nicci…” Samon sighed. “Don’t shut me out. Talk to me…”

“…I’m sorry.” She spoke softly. “…My emotions got the best of me out there… I could've… I could’ve gotten you guys hurt… I’m sorry…”

“It’s not your fault.” Samon said and placed his hand over hers, causing her to look at him. “Don’t apologize for having emotions. Only apologize when it’s the thing that causes you to be blind, understand?”

Theodora stared at him for a moment before nodding. Samon let go of her hand and looked to the ground in thought.

“…Am I…” Theodora muttered, causing Samon to look at her again. She was shaking. “…Did I do good…? Or did I cause more harm…?”

“What do you mean?” Samon asked for clarification.

“Did I choose the right choice…?!” She asked, looking at him like she was completely lost. “D-did I do the right thing…?”

Samon was silent for a moment. “I’m not the one to decided that. That’s your call to make.”

Theodora became quiet again. She turned her head and stared at her lap. “There’s nothing left for me out there.” She looked up at Samon, her blue eyes brimming with tears. “Why can’t I feel anything?” Samon couldn’t speak. Looking at her she looked so broken. As if all the light had vanished inside of her. “I want to feel something… Anything… I just can’t take this anymore…” The male could only sigh at her, knowing he couldn’t fix any of the events that made her like this.

“What happened after you left? There’s something you’re not telling me so… Please Nicci.” She didn’t say anything but continued to look into her hands. Samon could see all the scars on her arms that hadn’t been bandaged. He knew some of them were accidents. He also knew most of them she caused yourself. It hurt him that she was doing this to herself just to feel human.

“What… What happened… to the inmates of cell 13…?” Theodora asked him softly.

“They’re back into their cells.” Samon said. “They’re fine thanks to your fast actions.”

“And… Jyugo…?” She asked.

“…I wouldn’t be able to tell you…” Samon muttered and looked to the ground.

Theodora sighed through her nose, clearly looking like she was in pain. She leaned back, laying down in her bed. She closed her eyes as she was still so conflicted. As she thought of the inmates from Cell 13, the young woman ended up falling into a deep sleep.

Samon watched as a tear rolled down her cheek just as she fell asleep.

“Rest up Nicci. You need it.”

[swanqueeneverafter]

23. Manhattan, Pt.1

Enchanted Forest. Past. (A young woman is weaving when her husband, Rumplestiltskin, enters.) Rumplestiltskin: “Milah.” Milah: “I'm nearly finished.” Rumplestiltskin: “Oh, you learn quickly.” Milah: “I have a good teacher. (They kiss:) What is it? What brings you home so early?” Rumplestiltskin: “Milah. (Laughs:) My weaving days are behind us. I've been called to the front.” (He shows her a piece of paper reading Rumplestiltskin, you have been drafted into the king's army. Milah is shocked.) Milah: “The Ogres War.” Rumplestiltskin: “I report for training in the morning.” Milah: “No. Rumple, I've heard the stories. The front, it's a brutal place.” Rumplestiltskin: “Oh, Milah, I know, I know. And I can't say I won't be frightened. But this is the chance I've been waiting for. All my life. You know, I've lived under the shadow of my father's actions for far too long now.” Milah: “Just because you father was a coward doesn't mean you are.” Rumplestiltskin: “Oh, I know that. As do you. But to the world? Fighting in this war finally gives me the chance to prove that to everyone else.” Milah: “Go. Be brave. Fight honorably.” Rumplestiltskin: “Oh, God, I love you.” Milah: “I love you, too. (They embrace:) And when you return, we can live the life we've always dreamed of. We can have a family.” New York City In The Land Without Magic. Present. (A taxi drives up in front of an apartment building somewhere in the SoHo district, and Mr. Gold, Emma Swan, and Henry Mills step out.) Emma: “What's wrong? Is this the right place?” Mr. Gold: “Yes, it is.” Emma: “Let me guess, he isn't expecting you? (Mr. Gold remains silent:) Well, who doesn't love a surprise?” Storybrooke. Present. (Cora, Hook and Regina Mills are in Regina's room at her house. Regina appears to be attempting to hide her tears.) Cora: “What is it, sweetie?” Regina: “It's Henry. Emma had to leave town with Gold, and she took him with her.” Cora: “And you didn't stop them?” Regina: “I told Henry to stay by Emma’s side. I thought her newly found magic could protect him from...” Cora: (Finishing for her:) “From me? I understand and I'm sure he's safe. As soon as Gold's done, they’ll be back.”

Hook: “Back? From where? Where's Rumplestiltskin gone?” Regina: “I don't know.” Hook: “Well, if he's left town, then he's powerless. He can be killed.” Cora: “The moment either of us leave, we lose our magic, and our advantage.” Hook: “And your memories?” Regina: (Shakes her head:) “None of us were victims of the curse. It's not about memories, it's about magic.” Hook: “Well, I don't need magic. I'll go after him alone.” Regina: “Even if you could find him, do you really think you could just walk to him and stab him in the heart with your sword?” Hook: “Well, I'd prefer my hook, but I can't seem to find that right now.” Cora: “You're not going anywhere.” Hook: “I deserve my vengeance!” Cora: “You're right. You do, and with the Dark One gone, we can search for the one magical item that could actually kill him here—his dagger.” New York City. Present. (Henry, Emma, and Mr. Gold are trying to decipher which apartment Baelfire lives in.) Henry: “No Baelfire.” Emma: “Yeah, that wouldn't fly as an alias. (To Mr. Gold:) Your magic globe didn't give you an apartment number?” Mr. Gold: “It doesn't work that way.” Henry: “Do any of these names mean anything to you?” Mr. Gold: “Well, names are what I traffic in, but sadly, no.” (Emma points to apartment number 407, the only apartment that does not have the name of the person living there.) Emma: “Here's your boy.“ Mr. Gold: “Or it could just be vacant.” Emma: “You may traffic in names and magic, but I traffic in finding people that don't want to be found, and those sort of folks don't like to advertise their whereabouts. (She presses the button:) UPS package for 407.” (The line disconnects.) Henry: “Maybe you should have said FedEx.” (A crash and clank is heard in the distance.) Emma: “He's running.” (She, Henry and Mr. Gold go out the door, only to see a man climbing down the fire escape, then running through the streets.) Mr. Gold: “That favor you owe me. This is it. Get him to talk to me. I can't run.” Emma: “Watch Henry. I'll be back.”

(Emma chases the man all over New York until she eventually catches up to him and tackles him to the ground. His face becomes visible for the first time- she has been chasing Neal Cassidy.) Emma: “No. Neal?” Neal: “Emma?” Emma: “Neal?” (Emma and Neal stand up.) Neal: “I don't understand. What are you doing here?” Emma: “What am I doing here?” Neal: “Yeah.” Emma: “I'm not answering anything until you tell me the truth. Are you Gold's son?” Neal: “What are you talking about? Who's Gold?” Emma: “You played me. You're from there. You played me. And he played me. You both played me! You and Gold!” Neal: “Whoa, Emma, slow down! What are you talking about? Who's Gold?” Emma: “Your father! Rumplestiltskin.” Neal: (Shocked:) “He's here?” Emma: “Why else would I be in New York?” Neal: “You brought him to me! Why would you do that?!” Emma: “Hey! I am the only one allowed to be angry here! Did you know who I was, where I was from, the whole time? Was this just some sort of sick twisted plan? Did - did you even care about me at all?” Neal: “Emma, do not--” Emma: “I wanna know! I want the truth, all of it!” Neal: “Fine! We- we gotta get off the street. We can't do it out in the open. I spent a lifetime running from the man. I'm not gonna let him catch me. There's a bar down the street. We can talk there.” Emma: “I am not drinking with you! Whatever you're gonna tell me, tell me now!” Neal: “No, bar's better. Don't worry, you can keep yelling at me when we get there.” (Reluctantly, Emma follows him.)

Another Part Of NYC. (Mr. Gold is buying Henry a hot dog.) Henry: “Don't worry, Emma's really good at catching people.” Mr. Gold: “Well, my son's been running away for a very long time now. And I have a feeling he's equally adept at it.” Henry: “Well, at least we found him, right?” Mr. Gold: “Indeed.” Henry: “Oh, and, uh, thanks for the hot dog. I forgot.” Mr. Gold: “You are quite welcome. And thank you.” Henry: “For what?” (Mr. Gold starts to walk away from the hot dog cart and Henry follows.) Mr. Gold: “Well, if it wasn't for you bringing Emma to Storybrooke, none of this would have come to pass. You... are a remarkable young man.” Henry: “You know... I forgave her. Emma... for giving me up. She thought it was the best for me then. That's why she did it. I'm sure your son will get it too.” Mr. Gold: “Alas, the circumstances surrounding our separation weren't quite so noble.” Henry: “But you're here now. And you want him back, right?” Mr. Gold: “More than anything.” Henry: “Then that's all that matters.” (Emma and Neal are seated inside a quiet bar.) Neal: “Well, what do you want to know, Emma? You want the truth? Ask away.” Emma: “Did you know who I was when we met?” Neal: “If I had, I wouldn't have gone near you.” Emma: “Come on.” Neal: “ ‘Come on?’ Come on, what? I was in hiding. I came here to get... a-away from... all that crap.” Emma: “So if you didn't know, then you were just using me. You just needed someone to take the fall for all the watches that you stole.” Neal: “I wasn't using you. When we met, I didn't know. I found out.” Emma: (Takes a seat across from him:) “How?” Neal: “When I went to sell the watches... I ran into a friend of yours --August.” Land Without Magic. Past. August: “When you see what I have in here, you're gonna listen. You're gonna believe every word I say.” Neal: “Yeah, right.” (He looks into the box August has with him, revealing that inside is August’s typewriter, and he has typed ‘I know you're Baelfire.’)

New York City. Present. (Emma and Neal are at the bar.) Emma: (Very upset and angry, even moreso than before:) “You left me... and let me go to prison because Pinocchio told you to?” Neal: “Emma--” Emma: “I loved you.” Neal: “I-I was, um, I was tr... I was trying to help you.” Emma: “By letting me go to jail?” Neal: “By getting you home.” Emma: “Are you telling me... that us meeting was a coincidence? How the hell did that happen if it wasn't in your plan or your father's?” Neal: “Think about it. He wanted you to break the curse. Us meeting, that could've stopped it. Maybe it was fate.” Emma: “You believe in that?” Neal: “You know, there's not a ton I remember about my father that doesn't suck, but he used to tell me that there are no coincidences. Everything that happens happens by design, and there's nothing we can do about it. Forces greater than us conspire to make it happen. Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it, the point is, maybe we met for a reason. Maybe something good came from us being together.” Emma: (Stays silent for a long moment:) “No. Not that I can think of. I just went to jail. That's it. Doesn't matter now, I'm over it. And you.” (She stands up, getting ready to leave.) Neal: “Why do you wear the key chain I got you?” Emma: (She looks down at the key chain hanging on a cord around her neck. She pulls the cord, releasing it from her neck, then hands him the key chain:) “To remind myself what you did to me. Come on. I made a deal with your father I'd bring you to him.” Neal: “You made a deal with him?” Emma: “Yeah, and I'm upholding my end.” Neal: “Emma, you don't have to. You know that.” Emma: “I know.” Neal: “Okay. So this should be really easy for you. Tell him that you lost me. Tell him you can't find me. You do that, you never have to see me again.”

[doopcafe]

The Clone Wars: The Wrong Jedi (5x20)

Summary: The green-skinned girl is revealed to be the traitor (finally) and Ahsoka leaves the Jedi Order (spoilers). 

Comments: This is the highest-rated episode of the entire show. 

A random Jedi dude claims that Ahsoka was found in possession of explosives tied to the Jedi Temple bombing, but he must not have watched the previous episode because it would be more accurate to say, “Ahsoka was seen standing next to some boxes of explosives at an abandoned factory she had never been to before.” 

Also, can’t the Jedi just sense if someone is lying or not? I understand the OP!Jedi portrayed here aren’t real Jedi, but wouldn’t it make for much better television if they were? But instead they have a “Chamber of Judgement” which is just an intimidating room where the OP!Jedi don’t examine any evidence or listen to the accused, but instead just pass judgement. So... actually pretty in-character, really... also, an accurate name for the room. 

Ahsoka returns to her prison cell, right back where she started an episode or two ago. But this time, Anakin goes off to do an actual investigation, finally asking the first question in this entire sequence, “I thought you said Ventress had left before you got to the warehouse?”

Yes, buddy, that’s an important question. Keep going... 

Anyways, Anakin finds Ventress lickedly split like it ain’t no thang, but it’s a super frustrating scene. Ventress starts explaining exactly what happened, but instead there’s an annoying debate about how close Ahsoka is to Ventress. Hey, Anakin? Did you happen to notice that Ventress was fighting you with a pair of pipes she picked up from the ground? I know you might be confusing them with a pair of lightsabers, but trust me, I’ve seen a lot of lightsabers recently and I can tell you that a pipe is a not a lightsaber. 

Also, why does Ahsoka get this huge trial? She’s accused of what? Blowing up the Jedi Temple, escaping from prison, and killing a few guards? Also, Tarkin is a lawyer now? Remember that time Ahsoka disobeyed orders and thousands of clones died? And like, no one said anything about it? 

Ventress literally has to tell Anakin what happened and the ass monkey still doesn’t see the connection and believes this recent, very illuminating evidence leads him “to a dead end.” 

In the end, the “mystery” is resolved not through intelligent writing, or careful detective work, but in the true style of The Clone Wars. (The mystery is solved with lightsabers). 

Also, I called it: it was the green-skinned girl. 

Oh, Palpatine’s voice changed and it’s... horribly miscast. He only had a few lines and I can’t quite place it... but it’s very strange.

The green-skinned girl claims, “The only thing the Jedi Council believes in is violence.” Well, she’s not wrong. She was wrong about keeping the incriminating evidence of Ventress’ lightsabers in a jar in her room in the Jedi Temple. Imagine if she had just dropped them in the river? Anakin wouldn’t have any evidence and Ahsoka would be in jail for a very long time. 

Anyways, confessing at the tribunal, the green-skinned girl is allowed a little speech for the audience:

“I did it. I did it because I’ve come to realize what many in the Republic have come to realize. That the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war, that we’ve so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict, that we are the ones that should be put on trial, all of us! And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the Dark Side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! It’s only a matter of time.”

Which, while crappy writing, is entirely believable. I’ve been saying the same type of thing for seasons. 

Finally, Ahsoka is asked to return to the Jedi Order and she refuses. In all honesty, this was the first effective moment of this entire show. It was both an understandable surprise as well as an interesting turn for her character. It was, how do I say it, actual character development. I admit, I didn’t think the show was capable of this, and therefore much of the shock element came from the unexpectedness of feeling something while watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

That said, her stated reason doesn’t make sense. When asked why she was leaving, her response is, “The Council didn’t trust me.” Okay. She then adds, “[Therefore], how can I trust myself?” 

Uhm, what?

In hindsight, her leaving the Jedi Order makes sense because Ahsoka’s gotta be separated from Anakin before Order 66 shows up. It also makes sense because the Jedi Order are a bunch of dicks and personally I’d leave too. 

In conclusion, I finished season five! Just a few more episodes to go... 

[rjhamster]

Secret Messages Inside New Folsom Prison

Let me show you how Christ can help you find freedom, even within the walls of this prison. — Casey Diaz, The Shot Caller Secret Messages Inside New Folsom Prison Casey Diaz, The Shot Caller: A Latino Gangbanger’s Miraculous Escape from a Life of Violence to a New Life in Christ Editor’s note: Casey Diaz was a violent gangbanger whose crimes had caught up to him landing not only in jail but in solitary confinement. Then he experienced a miraculous encounter with Jesus and chose to follow him. As he grew in his faith, he began to look for ways to share the Gospel among his fellow inmates. Today, Casey is a free man but he still can’t stop sharing his story of how God saw him, knew him, and never forgot him… even in a lonely prison cell. Enjoy today’s excerpt from his new book, The Shot Caller, in which he reminds us that no one — no one — is too far gone for the saving grace of Jesus! * Notes that were exchanged among prisoners were known as “kites.” Nothing more than a small piece of yellow paper, maybe four inches wide and four inches tall, and filled top to bottom and sometimes both sides with writing in small print, kites were like the notes that junior high kids passed between classes. Kites were usually folded many times until they were the size of a penny, making them easy to pass furtively. At New Folsom, kites were exchanged among prisoners whenever a shot caller needed to pass a message that someone needed to get hit. Since gang leaders inside New Folsom were used to receiving and passing kites, why not evangelize them by handing them a small note? I knew that I couldn’t walk up to a gang leader in the middle of the exercise yard and offer to shake hands to pass along the note. I couldn’t be seen doing that, so I had to be more subtle than that. What I did was put my right arm down by my side and move my hand in such a way that the gang leader would notice that I had a kite wedged between my second and third fingers, meaning I had a message for him. If he was the curious type, he could grab my kite on the sly and keep on walking. No one would be the wiser. I found the best place to try to pass a kite was when the gang leader and myself were alone, like when we were working the same prison job and no one was paying attention. He would take the kite and slip it into a pants pocket and read it after he returned to his cell. And that’s how an important prison ministry was born. So what was written in those kites? Believe me, it was nothing profound. I usually wrote something like this: Hey, I just wanted to reach out to you. I know you can’t be seen with me, but that’s okay. I just want you to know that if you need prayer, let me know. Just give me a little sign or a nod if you want me to pray for you the next time we see each other, and I’ll do it. Remember, God loves you so much. I know you think that God couldn’t love you, but He does. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That verse means that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, will be saved. Anyone could be you. These kites worked instantly. After the exchange of the first kite or two, they would spark conversations between us. Never in the open, of course, but we talked when we could be assured that no one was looking or paying attention to us, like if we were in a chow line or working in the prison laundry room. Whatever opportunity I found to pass a kite, I took it, but it was always under cover. I never passed the kites out in the open, and neither did my brothers in my Bible study. Instead, we committed ourselves to praying and asking God to move in the hearts of the guys reading our notes. Most of the time, our kites worked hook, line, and sinker because what we wrote was honest. Here’s another kite that I penned: I’m pretty sure you know who I am. Every single one of us committed crimes out there. Here’s the deal. Christ revealed Himself to me, and I know what He’s done in my life. He’s changed it big time. I know He can do the same for you. Bottom line, there is no future in what we are doing here. Our homies aren’t writing us like they said they would. They aren’t taking care of us like they all said they would. We’re here. We’re stuck. But inside these walls, I’ve experienced freedom because of what God has done in my life. I’d like to share that with you some time. John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Let me show you how Christ can help you find freedom, even within the walls of this prison. I was amazed about the impact these kites had. Not only were we receiving head nods from gang leaders asking for prayer, but our Bible studies in the prison chapel became jam-packed. God was touching so many hearts inside that prison— hearts that were tired of living a life of lies, murder, and deceit. We had an incredible number of gang leaders and prisoners come to Christ. All because we were willing to pass kites. Excerpted with permission from The Shot Caller by Casey Diaz. Copyright Casey Diaz. Hear Casey’s incredible testimony *** Your Turn Are there people in your life who you feel are “too far gone” to meet Jesus and be saved? How does Casey’s story encourage you? And how can you, like Casey, look to encourage others with the love of Jesus in creative ways? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!