#and both ceroba and kanako are the ones who find chujin's tapes

[king-dail]

This was literally an AU idea I came up with in the shower what the fuck???

Yknow as a joke I was thinking "man wouldn't it be funny if chujin and starlo ended up a couple instead and ceroba was just punching a pillow in her room" but then I started thinking how maybe Starlo would've ended up a bit more responsible being around Chujin, actually making the town not just something to role-play in but an actual home. They would've ended up settling in, having a child, keeping it safe. Chujin would've probably stayed the same though, and he would've ended up with the same fate. But when his messages go out to Starlo and not Ceroba, I don't think Starlo would have the guts to finish his work.

So he doesn't. He takes his time to grieve and continues to run the town. The tapes sit at the bottom of their house as he continues to raise their kid. Though of course, with the Wild East being a real town now and not just for play, it brings in real threats. And the sheriff gets called to the scene when it's too late, and his child falls down in front of his own eyes.

From there the story plays out like the rest, he sends their body to the lab in hopes it works but never hears back, meanwhile his time acting as sheriff wears you down little by little. By the time Clover comes around, Starlo doesn't have much hope left. But he knew one thing he hadn't tried yet, so he acts on Chujins plans and takes Clover in under his wing. From there he puts them through rigorous training, dangerous training. And at one point, he sets the rest of the Fiesty Five on you until you withstand their attacks, before shooting you down to 1 hp himself. Before Clover can do anything, they pass out.

They come to moments later, laying on the bed with the Fiesty Five around them asking if they're OK. They tell you then that they broke things off with Starlo for now, calling him reckless and crueler then he ever is. Before they can stop them Clover leaves and tries to find Starlo themself. From there the battle goes the same as it does before, with Ceroba rushing to stop Starlo at the last attack. He apologizes, and explains everything to Ceroba and Clover, telling them that he and Clover need to go to the Lab to find his child. He asks Ceroba to watch the town for now as he goes off to the Steamworks with Clover.

From there it's essentially the same, Starlo following Clover as they try to uncover more and more. But before they can make it to the lab, the posse come back to find you with Ceroba at the lead. They saw the tapes, and Starlo runs with Ceroba on his heels. Clover goes back and watches the tapes with Martlet and you both head out to find Starlo again.

At the cherry blossom tree Ceroba confronts Starlo, and Starlo can barely talk as he cries. He already failed Chujjn by not trying the first time, he failed his child by not being able to show up in time. He refuses to fail them again. He swears he'll bring their child back and after that he can carry out all of Chujin's plan once and for all. But when Martlet threatens to run away with Clover, he doesn't hold back. He shoots Martlet and Ceroba clean in the arm, not enough to kill but enough for them to pass out, and he confronts Clover one final time. A sense of flawed justice runs through him as he does, glowing with light as he taps into his powers and his magic strengthens. It's the Final Showdown, and Clover knows there's only so few ways it can end.

Should Clover spare, the story plays out the same. His friends come to and stay by his side, and Clover decides to give up their soul for monsterkind. However, should Clover kill Starlo, all that's left behind is his hat and badge. And as Ceroba comes to, she can only stand still as she watches his dust blow away. She slowly stands up and gathers Starlos things, silent as she heads to the exit before saying one last thing.

"You know, I don't think his plan could have worked despite everything. Someone like you was never pure in the first place."