#larusso auto family

[larussoautofamily]

Annual Company Retreat Announcement

Attention all Larusso Auto Group employees....

As most of you know, our yearly retreat is coming up soon and this year we're going all out!

Everyone and their families are invited to join us at the wonderful resort and campgrounds up in the San Bernardino mountains.

There'll be many festivities including separate volleyball and football games, contests for all ages and many more...

@everyonesfavoritegoldenboy @dr-ali-mills @robby-l-keene

[msfbgraves]

I live for your CK takes. So what do you think about how the show handled Robbie? Sexual harrassment aside (lets not even touch that because... yikesTM), I think his time wth/at Cobra Kai may have settled the miyagi philosophy (KK did confirm it's the right path) more than staying with Miyagi-do would have. He learned a lot and helped other people, too. Though I do wish the show had fixed the relationship he had with Daniel, it was very heartwarming and uplifting, and both learned a lot from each other. The way they handled Johnny-Robbie, on the other hand, makes me really uncomfortable, because it feels neither right nor organic to what the show was the 1st 2 seasons (good ol' times).

If I were Robby, I'd think I was somehow cursed, and would try to find a medium to get me out of the Matrix because something about his life, particularly after he wounded Miguel, must feel off kilter. No one is that unlucky. The fact that he doesn't have a relationship with Daniel anymore is strange. The way he feels compelled, by something outside of himself, must be, to return to Johnny, who he knows is a deadbeat who has long replaced him with Miguel. Apparently Johnny did Miguel's rehab like singlehandedly but he was too drunk to show up for one (1) visit in Juvie. His mom - where is his mom? It feels like she got written out of The Truman Show. Does he have an extended family of any kind? He... Can't recall. Why can't he leave? Why is he in his Dad's shitty apartment? He wants to be there for his girlfriend but there is only static in his brain. He must fight, and lose. Fight, and lose. For whom? He doesn't know. There's only fight and lose. Fight and lose...

In all seriousness, I might have just about bought Robby's detour in joining Kreese, because he does like to lash out by joining the enemy: he did the same to Johnny when he joined LaRusso auto. But his whole arc in S4 should have culminated in Robby rejoining Daniel and moving back in with him. Johnny is there all the time anyway. Enough potential for teen drama if the show needed that. But the show only takes sick pleasure in hurting him. They don't care about his dreams or his heart. That's the only reason I think him and Tory are still together, despite Tory's massive homicidal crush on Samantha. Tory is in a Saw trap, which is close enough to Robby's Gothic horror that they can still relate to each other.

[cowboys-only]

Cobra Kai University Majors

Miguel : Kinesiology major Business minor

- pre paralysis he wanted to go into graphic design, post paralysis he wants to go into physical therapy

Robby : Business major Spanish minor OR Social Work major Spanish Minor

-wants to continue at LaRusso auto, whole family speaks Spanish and he wants to learn

- wants to help troubles teens, whole family speaks Spanish and he wants to learn

Sam : Pre-Med

- pediatrics

Tory : Nursing

- wants to help people like her mom

Hawk : Architecture major Computer Science minor

-takes a gap year traveling before going into uni (really enjoyed designing the Miyagi-Do platform)

Demetri : Computer Science and Math double major

- nerd

[praetoravila]

INTRODUCTION POST

Clarabelle "Clara" LaRusso:

Faceclaim: Jules Leblanc

Birthdate: April 22, 2005

Age: 14 (S1-2), 15 (S2-3), 16 (3-5), 17 (S5-6)

Family: Daniel LaRusso (Father), Amanda LaRusso (Mother), Samantha "Sam" LaRusso (Older sister, younger by 2 years and 6 months), Anthony LaRusso (Younger brother, older by 3 years), Nariyoshi Miyagi (Adoptive paternal grandfather)

Affilations: Miyagi-Do Karate, LaRusso Auto Group, West Valley High School (Student), Attaway Cheer (Flyer and Tumbler)

Personality: The middle child of the LaRusso family, Clara often finds herself fielding arguments between her two siblings, or explaining to Amanda and Daniel why her older sister is acting out. A peacemaker from the start, it's no surprise that she's a pacifist, much like Mr Miyagi. While karate may be a big part of her family's life, Clara has little interest in outside of practicing her daily katas - at least until her dad decides to reopen Miyagi Do.

Relationships: Miguel Diaz (Boyfriend and Best Friend, S3-6), Samantha “Sam” LaRusso (Older sister), Aisha Robinson (Best Friend), Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz (Childhood friend then Rival then Friend again), Demetri Alexopoulos (Childhood friend), Victoria “Tory” Nichols (Rival turned friend)

Theme Song: Risk by Gracie Abrams

Favourite Colour: Bubblegum Pink

Favourite Smell: Gymnastics Chalk or her Clouds by Ariana Grande perfume that Lucille got her for her 13th birthday

Favourite Memory: Pre-Canon, Clara’s favourite memory is her, Sam and a toddler aged Anthony going on a field trip with Mr Miyagi (they were being supervised by Mr Miyagi’s careworker) to the LA Zoo. Sam was about 6, Clara was 4 and Anthony was 2. Canonwise, her favourite memory is going to the rock concert with Miguel and Johnny in s3, or when she competes in the All Valley in s4 as Miyagi Do’s female runner up. It was the first time she felt comfortable in her skills as a martial artist. Another favourite memory she has is going on the “not a date” date with Miguel. She had a lot of fun despite her frustration at being a third wheel, and Miguel gets her her own stuffed animal as well.

Aesthetic:

Playlist:

taglist: @ceruleanmusings @rose-of-oz @bibaybe @raging-violets @nolanhollogay @outerspacecarryon @naquey @shrinkthisviolet

[jaidens]

He Got That Boyish Look That I Like In A Man

pairing [s] : daniel larusso x reader

warning [s] : nothing! | this really sucks 😭 I just wanted to release something cuz I've been lacking on yall

a/n [s] : requests are open! [ALSO! should I challenge things? like flufftober??]

Whenever your job offers you a raise to become an Automotive Director of Engineering for the dealership in Reseda, California you take it without warning. In an attempt to get away from slushy winters in the small state of Connecticut, you moved swiftly to a small apartment with lovely neighbors and a new life. You had been to California on some vacations with family, but living here had never crossed your mind.

You walk into your office that smells like fresh paint and cleaner, and set your books and purse down on the dark-oak table. The company had hired some individuals to work for you, which felt weird to say, as you used to be the same person. Your assistant walks in with a tap on your glass door, and she walks in. “Hey! I’m Shannon. Anything you need, I'll be across the hall. I've already started on the connections with Toyota and Nissan!”

You smile at her and shake her hand that she was holding out for you. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Y/N L/N, but I assume you already know that!” You laugh and let go of her hand to hide any awkwardness and anxiety you had about being in such a high position.

“Okay well, I'll see you! And, someone has already set up a meeting with you!” Shannon says before walking away and shutting the door behind her.

You rub sweaty hands against your clothes and turn on your heels. The air-conditioning rumbles on and you wrap the small cardigan you had brought around you and begin staring at the paperwork that was placed in front of you. You start the work: scribbling works and many, many signatures with red pens and black pens. A knock is gentle against your door and you look up, and see Shannon and a very recognizable man standing there in a Navy suit and a smile on his face.

“This is Mr. Daniel Larusso. He owns Larusso auto parts and he said he wants to speak with you,” Shannon says, pushing her glasses up her nose and walking away.

The name sends a shiver down your spine as you hear it, and the face is suddenly very recognizable. The fateful summer vacation of 1986, fifteen-years old and young, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You're sitting on the bench near the beach in a swimsuit and a big t-shirt, peeling through the boom. you had brought to your family vacation. Your family is on the beach setting up the tent and towels all across it to mark the place on the beach. The warm sun heats your skin up as you lay against the bench and continue flipping through your book that suddenly becomes boring.

A tan boy emerges from the water in orange trunks and black hair slicked back with salt water. An older and shorter man follows him up the coast and talks to him. You stare at him with your eyes following each of the tan’s movements. He notices your staring as he stares right back at you, eyes piercing into yours deliciously. His smile exposes his teeth and he knocks his head to the side and waves at you. The older man slaps the side of his head and scolds him.

You laugh at him before he tells the older man something then jogs over to you. His warm skin is a bronzy, and you swear there were twinkles of gold mixed in his skin shining against the light. “Hey, I’m Daniel. What are you reading?” The New Jersey accent rings out and you can't help but feel warmer.

“Oh some dumb romance. My name is Y/N, it's nice to meet you Daniel. Is that your Grandfather?” You cover your book up subconsciously to attempt to not get embarrassed, and point at the older man who seems weirdly angry next to the old car from the 40s.

Daniel shakes his head in response. “No, no. That’s Mr. Miyagi, he's my karate sensei. Is your book good?” He asks and you nod at his explanation, showing him you agreed.

“Yeah, my book is pretty good. You like karate? That's pretty awesome.” You tell Daniel and stare into his eyes. They're a soft, dark brown with a puppy-look inside of them. He looks your age, as he gets thrown a West Valley High soccer shirt that's bigger than him as he shrugs it on over his shoulders.

Daniel leaves with the older man after inviting you to the beach for a party held by the Football team and Cheer Team. You showed up in a baggy sweater and a pair of shorts. Daniel waved at you whenever he saw you, as he kicks around a soccer ball impressively on his two legs. You walk over to him and he laughs and kicks the ball over to you, and you catch it and throw it back to him with a shared laugh with him.

He sits down in the sand and you scoot closer to him. You're handed some hotdogs and sticks to cook over the fires made on the beach. You start one and hold a conversation about where you're from, why you were visiting, etc. The conversation was long, and filled with laughter and glances held longer than usual. Daniel handed you a drink and you declined, and he didn't drink as well.

You and Daniel just talk; it feels quite amazing. You haven't had a conversation like that in a long time, but everything falls out and you let your hand fall into his as you star-gaze further away from everyone else who was drunk and half-a drink away from throwing up on the beach. You almost find yourself staring at him more than the stars, admiring him underneath the full moon and stars. He looks beautiful both times: morning and night.

How are you supposed to leave Reseda and not think about Daniel when you leave back to Connecticut?

“I’m Y/N L/N, nice to see you again.”

[billhader]

My Anoush/Louie Fic Masterlist

Here You Come Again

T, four chapters, complete (14.4k)

When Louie is fired from LaRusso Auto after (indirectly) setting Johnny's car on fire, Anoush is left behind, which probably shouldn't bother him as much as it does.

Tumblr || AO3

Light Pollution

M, one-shot (10.2k) - Part 1 in a series

Anoush and Louie have to spend three days together at an auto convention in Las Vegas. On their final night, Louie takes charge and drags Anoush out for a proper Vegas night on the town. Well...that was the plan, anyway.

Tumblr || AO3

The Problem

E, one-shot (10.1k)

Anoush and Louie move in together because they're the only ones who can stand each other. Louie doesn't really like wearing clothes.

Tumblr || AO3

Homebodies

E, one-shot (12.8k)

*Co-authored with @cristobalsifuentes (wehohank)

Daniel and Amanda take the whole family on an extravagant Hawaiian getaway to celebrate Sam's high school graduation. Begrudgingly, "the whole family" includes Louie. And Anoush, for some reason. And Louie and Anoush have a big secret, which everyone already knows about.

Tumblr || AO3

Bonus: Mini-fics/prompts

Thrift shopping

Driving

Date night

[mamabearlarusso]

Weekend Night Relief

Well, Andy said he's gonna need some weekend time to himself. Looks like he's finally taking care of himself, that's great! I'm so happy for him!!!

So, I went through some resumes and gave him the ones that passed my tests.

He spent every night this week with a new possible recruit, as he called them, to find the right fit. I told him either one would do, but he said, and I quote "Sorry Ms. L, but I'm not putting over 10 years of my work here, at Larusso Auto, on the line for just any probie."

Oh well. *smiles* I knew there was a reason why I kept him.

So, Andy says he's picked the guy...

Declan Phieffer, former college football player and graduate, comes from a law enforcement family and is a great critical thinker.

Andy says he has what it takes to go far and will be a good face--I mean--good fit, in the Larusso Auto family.

Well.... At least maybe *someone* (@everyonesfavoritegoldenboy) will stop laughing over a certain bubbly blond bartender.

[merv606]

I lowkey feel like once things get better in Mercy, Terry’s gonna find himself…domesticated! Let’s be real, there is no way Daniel won’t eventually revert back to being a househusband. Amanda practically ran LaRusso Auto herself, Daniel seemed to really love being at home with family and cooking and doing cute stuff like scrapbooking and gardening and fiddling with old cars :3

I can see Daniel going about Terry’s mansion making it more homey. Look how beautiful and warm his and Amanda’s home was! That’s got Daniel written all over it. Maybe if Terry is a good boy he’ll even learn to cook his favorite things to eat. Crème brûlée, Mr. Silver? :3

(Besides, Terry would nut so hard if Daniel wore an apron. Haha.)

💯 Terry is going to be domesticated 😂 but I think he’s counting on (looking forward to) that.

Can’t wait to do all the things couple do 😉

Terry has had relationships but never any real ones.

[cobra-wives]

my local toyota dealership got hacked (???) and there’s a whole cybersecurity ransom situation going on and i think it’d be hella funny if something like that happened to larusso auto. imagine if terry got so fed up he went after the family business

[larussoautofamily]

Shop Talk

Declan Phieffer: Hey, man, what's up? *sits down at the bar* You said you wanted to talk before my next shift...?

Andy Morgan: Yeah, hang on a minute. *finishes mixing a drink and walks it down the bar*

DP: Hey, look, I just wanted to thank you again, for the job. Ms. Larusso said you had the final say.

AM: *wipes hands on bar towel and hangs it over his shoulder* Yeah, about that.

DP: *concerned* Whoa, what's wrong?

A: Look, like I told you when you first started, I've been working at Larusso Auto for more than ten years--

D: Yeah...

A: --and it's not just a job. They've been very good to me. They gave me a real chance, gave me a purpose again after I got out of the service.

D: *hesitantly nods (worried where this is going)* yeah, I've heard how hard it can be coming back...

A: It is, but that's not what this is about. To repay them--especially Ms. L--for everything, I've taken it as my duty to look out for not only the company, but her as well.

D: Well, yeah, of course! That's kinda what a security guard does...

A: I'm not just talking about during my shift.

D: Come on, Morgan, just spit it out. If I'm gonna be working there, I can't be walking on egg shells. If there's something I need to know, just tell me.

A: *sighs, crosses arms* Fine. Sheila told me that she was working on the planning for that retreat thing and that you might have been a bit...flirty. Not just with her, but with Ms L.

D: Oh, that.

A: Yeah, that.

D: Yeah, I probably was. But what's wrong with keeping the ladies you work with--or for, for that matter--happy and making them feel good?

A: Look, Sheila's a big girl and can handle her own. But if you haven't noticed yet, many of us--especially Sheila, Anoush, as well as myself--have been looking out specifically for Ms. L.

Well, she is the boss, right?

It goes deeper than that. There used to be a "Mr. Larusso".

Oh...

Yeah....there was a divorce. It was a lot cleaner and quieter than it could have been, but Ms. L really did take it hard. They were together for 20 years, have an entire franchise of car dealerships, not to mention two kids under the age of 16. She's tried to keep it close to the vest...for the employees, for the public, as well as for her kids...you can imagine the ol gossip mill is not easy on her in this town. But when it's just me and her, alone on the night shift, I've seen the signs. I've driven her home and cleared the house many times, before leaving.

D: So, is that another official duty for the night shift, or just a seniority perk?

A: *glares, and softly yet sternly, clears the air* There's absolutely nothing going on between me and Ms. L, if that's what you're asking. I have the utmost respect for her, she's a good woman.

*leans back in his chair, defensively raising his hands* Hey, I was just asking. Wanted to know if there was anything *special* that I needed to know. You never know how much of the stories are true or not.

What stories?

You know, lonely divorcees in the valley. You're over here talking about "just you and her... Alone at night..."

*glare intensifies, until Declan drops it* But yes, there will be times that she will need to be driven, or the very least followed, home. Not every night, just if you notice that she's not her best, maybe a bit tired or maybe a bit scrambled. She's a ripe target for harm, especially alone at night. All we need is some jackass to hold her up for money, or worse, kidnap her and hold her for ransom.

Okay, yeah, that does sound more grounded and realistic. Sorry, about--

*brushes it off* Yeah, drop it. You're young yet, just don't let any of your fantasies get the better of you. You're there to do a job.

*Nods, with all sincerity* Yes, sir. *taps the bar and slides off his stool to leave*

*pulls towel from his shoulder and goes back to drying glasses* Oh, I do need to give you a head's up though.

*stops abruptly and hangs back, hesitantly* About...?

Ms. L has been seeing a guy.

Okay.....

Normally, I wouldn't say anything. It's none of our business. He's a good guy...mostly...and he does treat her well. But....

But what?

Well, one, there was a big long history with him and...Mr. Larusso.

Oh, okay. Is Mr. Larusso going to be around a lot?

No, not really. He hasn't been around for a while, actually. I honestly don't even know if he knows that Ms. L is with Lawrence.

Okay, then why--

Well, I said Ms. L took the divorce hard--

Yeah...

--and then ends up with Lawrence, her ex husband's arch enemy--

Wait, what?!

*sighs, and puts the dry glass up* yeah, it's a long story. Be around long enough and you'll get the details, just don't talk to @jerseysanswertogodamongidiots about it, he's still not all that cooled down about it. He and Lawrence tend to get into..."arguments", whenever they're in the same room.

Wait...Louie Laru--he's her--

Cousin-in-law, yeah. Don't try to think about it. Things have been a bit crazy the last couple years. Ever since Lawrence's car came in to get serviced, in fact. I was working that night, I should know.

Wow, okay!

Yeah.

So anything I should know about this Lawrence guy, if he turns up at night?

Like I said, he's more or less a good guy. He's not much of a talker, but I can tell, he's crazy about Ms. L and would do just about anything for her, but--

But... What?

There is a bit of an age gap, he's about *squints* 10 years her senior, and well--

Morgan, come on, well what? Is he some rich mafioso or something? Does he have a mob of goons, ready to pounce on me if I make a pass on Ms. L or something?

Nnnooooo. Just--let me put it this way....you kinda look a lot like he did when he was your age.

Ahhhh. So, probably shouldn't be trying to flirt with the Boss for brownie points, got it! *tilts head and salutes with two fingers*

Yeah, and the big drama between him and Mr. Larusso goes way back to their high school karate tournament, so--

Wait, what?! You're warning me about a guy that's still going on about his high school karate days?!

Hey, I know you're too young to remember, hell, I'm almost too young, but back in the 80s karate here in the valley, was like football in Texas.

*chuckles* Texas, huh? That's funny. So, you're saying that Ms. L has hooked up with the Valley's answer to Al Bundy?!

*rolls eyes and goes back to drying glasses* well, both made the finals and there's been an argument for the last 30 years about if the win was legal or not.

Okay, since you said Ms. L kids are under 16, I don't think I have to worry, about getting my head bashed in by a wall, railing or a door.

Very funny.

Hey, I heard you, no brownie point flirting, okay? I think I'm good now. Anything else? Gotta grab some grub before my shift.

Yeah, Lawrence won't be around every night. He's got his own business a couple hours away, so he only comes into town every couple weeks. Just wanted to let you know what you're walking into.

Copy that, boss.

[msfbgraves]

I completely agree on the take that Johnny working at LaRusso Auto feels unearned, but consider this:

Amanda needs to take care of her girlfriend somehow, OK?

I like the theory that Carmen is as much of a disaster human as Johnny, and now with her disaster lovely having gotten herself pregnant by the family pet - because make no mistake, that's what Johnny Lawrence is to Amanda - Amanda has taken care of things behind the scenes, using Daniel as a smokescreen as she always does.

[taughtdefense]

to be completely blunt, you have no idea why mr. larusso decided to make such a big deal out of this specific anniversary milestone. eighteen years, not twenty.

or maybe it’s your eldritch detachment speaking.

it isn’t that you don’t understand the significance of the moment. you recognize why they’re here, why it matters to them. eighteen years of larusso auto—a testament to years of work, to the relationships built along the way. but for you, it feels distant. abstract. the weight of it doesn’t quite settle in your bones the way it does for everyone else.

this isn’t new. you’ve always experienced the world differently. emotions don’t come to you in the same way—not unless they’re amplified into something overwhelming. sentimentality, nostalgia, human traditions like this—they register, but they don’t stick.

(the only exception you can think of is the post-engagement party you held at your apartment, but you’re definitely biased.)

so instead of focusing on the sea of unfamiliar people outside of your friends & family, instead of letting yourself get lost in the meaning of it like everyone else, you anchor yourself in something tangible.

your fingers weave through robby’s hair, absently twisting the strands around your fingertips. his hair is soft, freshly washed, & the light catches in it, bringing out hints of gold among the brown—just like the glint of your wedding rings. yours. tory’s. sam’s. miguel’s. robby’s.

pretty husband. the thought is automatic, idle, but your usually chaotic inner voice is quieter than expected. not giddy. not thrilled. just… there.

you hold your champagne glass in the other hand, its cool weight grounding—something solid to focus on. something real.

this isn’t about miyagi-do or karate. this is about larusso auto—the thing that keeps his family afloat. the thing that makes them feel safe.

(even if it has always been a known fact. the larusso family let you into their home.)

technically, you’re still getting used to it. belonging. feeling… human.

this is the first lifetime you’ve ever let yourself pretend. you liked to think you were doing okay—until your secret got out, &—

harper’s laughter cuts through the noise, snapping you back to the present.

mr. larusso has transformed larusso auto for the event. the entire lot is decorated with warm lights, balloons, & a long buffet table stretches across the back with food that is probably too fancy for a celebration that is, at its core, about selling cars. but it’s not just about the food or the speeches—it’s about the people. everywhere you look, there are familiar faces.

chase is deep in conversation with savannah & a clearly amused nova, his & savannah’s body language almost identical as they dissect some strategy-based discussion—probably something that has absolutely nothing to do with cars or parties. seth is animatedly talking with scarlett, his glass of soda perched on the table nearby, & if the wild gestures are anything to go by, they’re either arguing or passionately agreeing on something ridiculous.

nearby, rowan & alison quietly observe, the twins sharp-eyed & visibly amused, while cosima & paze float between conversations, completely at ease.

calla stands right next to chase, her presence grounding him in a way that is obvious if you know them. she doesn’t say much, but she doesn’t have to.

chase & calla don’t know that you know. you find that amusing.

henry & harper are gathering a small audience, talking excitedly about something that is probably at least sixty percent exaggeration. you catch snippets of words—"dad test-drove a ferrari," "grandpa johnny almost wrecked a car," & "grandpa daniel made the best sale of his life, but mom was the real closer."

johnny stands next to mr. larusso, a rare, relaxed grin on his face as he takes in the celebration—like, for once, he’s actually enjoying himself. your mom & dad, on the other hand, are absolutely thriving. wade has already hijacked the catering staff’s job & is walking around with a tray of appetizers like some kind of chaotic, unofficial host. vanessa is mingling effortlessly, somehow making everyone feel like they’ve known her for years.

tory stands with miguel, a glass of champagne in hand, her eyes sweeping the party with the careful attention of someone who never fully relaxes in large crowds. sam stands next to your husband & wife, while miguel rolls his eyes at something tory has just muttered—but there’s no real heat to it. if anything, tory looks smug, her smirk sharp as she bumps her shoulder against sam’s, then laughs lightly at miguel’s undoubtedly sarcastic response, judging by the emotions you can sense coming from him. whatever she said, it must have been worth it.

sophie stands by sam’s side, exchanging looks with her, miguel, & the rest of their in-laws every time something ridiculous happens—which is often.

amanda moves through the crowd like she’s hosting a high-class gala instead of a dealership party, greeting people with practiced ease. anthony hovers near her, looking half-engaged in a conversation with one of mr. larusso’s employees.

stef & dami linger near the buffet table, half-listening to the conversations around them. dami, your twin, catches your eye for half a second, offering the smallest nod—a silent check-in, her hand intertwined with stef’s. they’re used to your detachment, but dami always notices when it starts to creep too deep, her grip on stef’s hand tightening just slightly.

near them, logan & taip hover, locked in quiet conversation. as expected, taip looks vaguely unimpressed with the whole event, arms crossed, his expression somewhere between bored & entertained. you sharpen your hearing just in time to catch him mutter something under his breath. whatever he says earns a sharp glance from dami—but it only makes taip’s smirk widen.

a little farther off, jason & selena are caught up in their own quiet conversation, not exactly avoiding the crowd but not seeking it out either. jason watches everything carefully, scanning the party the way he always does—like he’s mapping out every possible outcome before it happens.

bobby is chatting with deanna, kevin, johnny & carmen, & you can hear him saying something about how he never thought the two of them would actually be functional adults.

& you? you are here. watching all of it unfold. & for once, instead of feeling like a bystander, you let yourself just exist in it.

the sound of glass being tapped cuts through the low hum of conversation, & you glance up to see mr. larusso standing near the center of the gathering space, a warm smile on his face. the room naturally shifts, people gravitating toward him, forming a loose but attentive crowd. you don’t move, content where you are, standing close to @taughtpain. you've barely left his side since you got to the dealership. & ever since barcelona—

your body is practically pressed against his, your fingers absently twisting the ends of his hair around your fingertips as you sip from your glass of champagne.

when robby moves to stand next to johnny & sam, you follow without thinking, slotting yourself between your wife & husband without hesitation. not wanting to be apart from him. never again.

you don’t even realize how focused you are on his hair again until tory shifts slightly, her heels clicking against the floor as she steps closer, leaning into miguel without a word.

mr. larusso taps his glass again, waiting for the last few murmurs of conversation to settle before speaking.

"everyone! i just wanna thank you all for being here with us tonight. we are so lucky to be surrounded by friends & family. & the family that we have chosen, the larusso auto family."

there’s a brief pause as he glances around the room, his smile warm, genuine.

"you know, a family means that we love & support each other no matter what, & that we can be proud of every step forward we’ve taken together. & even after eighteen incredible years, there’s still so much ahead of us."

he exhales, shaking his head slightly, a small chuckle escaping him.

"when i opened this place, i had no idea what i was doing," he admits with a laugh. "i thought, 'hey, i like cars. i know how to sell them. how hard can it be?'"

"truth is, i had no real experience running a business. i worked at a dealership & used karate wisdom to connect with customers—turns out, that made me a great salesman. after that, i started buying & selling used cars on my own, built up a business, got a loan for a lot, & just kept building. it was a risk, but i believed in it."

the gathered crowd chuckles, a few people shaking their heads knowingly.

"turns out, running a business isn’t just about selling cars. it’s about people. the relationships you build. the trust you earn. in the early days of this business, things were pretty uncertain. we knew we were taking a risk. we had no idea if we’d be well-received. but we built something of our own. we trusted each other. we trusted that it would all work out okay because we had each other."

his gaze moves across the crowd, landing on different people—amanda, anthony, sam, his employees, his friends.

"so thank you to everyone in our family, old & new. here’s to the next step forward."

you should be paying attention, should be engaged in the moment like everyone else.

you're mechanical as you raise your glass, toasting to larusso auto & to each other, clinking glasses. miguel grins widely as he taps his glass against robby’s, murmuring a soft "i love you" under his breath, like it’s second nature. tory smirks as she lifts hers with effortless confidence, her gaze flicking between you & miguel, something knowing in her expression.

"try to look like you’re actually enjoying yourself," she teases, knocking her glass lightly against yours. "you’re making the rest of us look bad."

miguel huffs a quiet laugh, nudging your side before taking a sip. "yeah, babe, this is kind of a big deal. at least pretend to be impressed."

you hum noncommittally, but their presence is enough to keep you here, tethered. tory’s sharp amusement, miguel’s quiet warmth—two different kinds of grounding, but both equally real.

but your mind starts to slip.

your fingers slow against robby’s hair as your thoughts drift, pulling you somewhere else—barcelona.

it sits like a weight in your chest, heavy & unavoidable. kwon is dead. you watched him die. you felt the blade slice into you just moments before he caused his own death fighting axel, & the pain—sharp, tearing, unforgettable—still lingers like it’s hiding beneath your skin, waiting to come back.

the doctors in barcelona said you were lucky. the blade had missed anything vital. you had been stabilized quickly. the blood loss was extreme, & by some miraculous stroke of luck—read: medical intervention mixed with eldritch healing—you were resurrected on the operating room table.

you would heal. you would walk away.

but you remember waking up in that hospital bed, the sterile lights blurring at the edges of your vision, the ache in your body drowned out by something worse—the realization that you had come that close again.

third time. third death. third chance.

(this is your last fucking chance, ethan third.)

& what the hell are you supposed to do with it?

[praetoravila]

INTRODUCTION POST

Jackson “Jack” Keene:

Faceclaim: Noah Jupe (Child!Jack), Dylan Everett (Teen!Jack)

Age: 15 (s1), 16 (s2), 17 (s3&4), 18 (s5&6)

Birthdate: February 4, 2002

Family: Johnathan “Johnny” Lawrence (Biological father), Shannon Keene (Biological mother), Robert “Robby” Keene (Twin brother)

Affilations: Miyagi-Do Karate, Eagle Fang Karate (Formerly), LaRusso Auto Group (Formerly), Cobra Kai Dojo (Formerly), West Valley High School (Student)

Personality: The brainiac to Robby’s brawn, Jack has always been a gifted child. While his brother was getting involved with the wrong crowd, Jack found himself burying himself into his schoolwork, viewing it as an opportunity for him to make a better life for himself. His loyalty and love for his brother however made it so that Jack often found himself digging Robby out of whatever scheme his twin had cooked up - something that always ended up biting him in the ass. Jack’s undiagnosed ADHD and severe anger issues didn’t help him with that either, resulting in a fight that leads to him getting kicked out of school on the same day that his brother gets kicked out as well.

Relationships: Samantha “Sam” LaRusso (Girlfriend, s2-6), Robert “Robby” Keene (Best Friend and Twin Brother), Miguel Diaz (Best Friend, former Rival), Eli “Hawk” Moskowitz (Friend), Victoria “Tory” Nichols (Friend, basically his sister in law) and the remaining cast of Cobra Kai (Friends)

Theme Song: You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid by The Offspring

Favourite Colour: Cherry Red

Favourite Smell: Wood-chips and Sea Salt

Favourite Memory: Pre Canon, Jack’s favourite memory is his and Robby’s 8th birthday. Shannon’s boyfriend at the time took the two boys to the beach for the day and let them spend the day there before buying them ice cream for dinner. Canonwise, his favourite memory is winning the All Valley in s4, as well as going to Prom with Sam in s4 before the fight begins between Sam and Tory.

Aesthetic:

Playlist:

taglist: @raging-violets @ceruleanmusings @nolanhollogay @outerspacecarryon @naquey @rose-of-oz @bibaybe @kendelias @happinessismagicc

[crimsonblackrose]

.

Johnny and Robby training is a delight. TORY!

I spot Chozen. So what he went back to Okinawa, went back to work at his own dojo and then as soon as the ST was back on he flew back?

We're hosting the ST in the Valley? Why? Daniel if you got to pick the location and Silver was going to foot the bill, why didn't you pick anywhere else????

Gunther I'm so sorry. "Conclude without any drama" cues the All-Valley committee instantly arguing. Though I do love that he literally fought Daryl to be master of ceremony. Aw Chozen is gardening and growing carrots. AYEEE a TKK2 reference! I love that the mail delivery folks just come out back to the garden. How much you want to bet it's from Kumiko and he's going back? Literally the same lines as TKK2. Love it. You know what, good for her for loving Chozen as a friend. Daniel don't ruin your date with Amanda to babysit Chozen. He's fine. Or like call Johnny and Carmen to babysit. Or heck, Rosa. Rosa and Chozen would be an amazing combo. Poor Amanda and her date. Lol dragging chozen on their date works too I guess.

Omg. Laura. Holy shit. That's kind of badass. Got a flat tire and then got herself to the hospital on roller skates is...just wow.

Rosa omg. Bastarda. Omg. Aww are the kids being sensei's today? How cute. Also terrifying. I mean I think when it comes to training they all lean a little Johnny-esq. I get that Tory isn't going to want to put the Cobra Kai gi back on but to just give up is very not her. Aha! See there were people from the red carpet that I was like who the heck is that and now I know. Moon's mom and Shannon's new boyfriend are two of them. This is...awkward. Moon has an older sibling named Sage. BOBBY!!! I don't know why but suddenly I'm getting intense deja vu. Bobby having a threesome after the 83 tournament is not something I expected to learn. Tonya and Lorraine.

Is that Hal?

Also I like the turquoise color for Hawk. Aw getting to be a generated version of himself had to have been fun for Axel's actor. I love that Amanda isn't focused on the awfulness of Winnie and Chozen but planning how to keep her daughter from leaving. Of course Winnie likes trash reality TV. Johnny omg

Okay I love that he took a cooking class.

They wrap the measuring tape around your neck like that? No way.

Also this shirt is reminiscent of Daniel's prom powder blue suit. Tory those were some badass moves.

How much did this cost Johnny? Also now that he had to blow up balloons for LaRusso auto he's using that skill at home lol. Kids balloons are now going to be part of his decorating and themes. Aww he even got Laura's ring from Sid. Rosa looks so happy. She does really love Johnny. I also love that Rosa recanted her pressure because she saw how much work Johnny put into everything. I do really love their little family.

Of course baby time. I appreciate that Johnny blew out all the candles before leaving but forgot to tell the musicians to go home. Miguel's channeling his inner Johnny.

[merv606]

I would say he projected onto Tory, not empathized, because if he had empathy he would have understood that was not what she needed.

If he had any self reflection he would know that fighting it out, has also never done him any favours.

Love everyone taking about Daniel’s favouritism towards his kids when Johnny literally whispered in Mike’s ear the entire time about Devon and even fought him so she could have a shot.

That’s cool though.

Larusso auto - Johnny we know is someone who can dish it out but can’t take it. Not talking about physical fights where he constantly has his ass handed to him.

But he is so obsessed with getting respect, having done nothing AT all to deserve it (like Robby forgiving him cough cough) but then doesn’t respect anyone else.

He always acts like he’s owed so much and why?! He doesn’t even do the bare minimum.

Daniel gave him a job so he could have a steady paycheque so he could get a house for his family - once again having someone else solve his problem.

Even though his family’s needs depend on this job he throws a temper tantrum because he feels slighted.

Even though he did the exact same thing to Daniel about training the day before.

I think this sums up Johnny. The part where he tells Daniel he’s handling it (referring the fight) then proceeds to stand there and do absolutely nothing except make the situation worse.

I think overall I’m just confused about Johnny’s arc this season. He had some big moments of growth, but then completely regressed. He inadvertently led Tory and Sam to talk things out, but he also inadvertently pushed Devon to poison Kenny. He bulldozed Daniel and took over training, and then got upset when Daniel took over training the next day like Johnny literally told him to. He tried to stage a coup at Larusso autos and jeopardized the steady job he only got to take care of his family. He understandably empathized with Tory over her mother’s death, but he showed zero self reflection with the fact that “fighting it out” following his own mother’s death is precisely what imploded his entire life. And this is all consistent with the character over the last 6 seasons, but man do I just wish that in the final season they would actually let him grow and escape the narrative they’ve trapped him in

[thornyrose463]

Exposed (Cobra Kai story): Chapter 9

Sarah and Robby were watching Hawk play beer pong.

Miguel walked up to Hawk.

"Hey. Have you seen Sam?" Miguel asked.

"Uh…No, I haven't." Hawk said.

"Fight, fight, fight!" A boy chanted.

Sarah, Robby, Hawk, and Miguel walked to the window and saw Sam shove Tory.

"What the hell?" Sarah murmured.

Sarah, Robby, Hawk, and Miguel ran towards the street.

Several people had gathered around Sam and Tory. They were holding up cell phones.

"You knew that Silver cheated at the All-Valley, and you did nothing?" Sam asked angrily.

Sam shoved Tory again. Tory nearly fell backward, but she stayed upright.

"You don't know what it's like, what I've had to deal with." Tory said.

Sam kicked Tory in the stomach. Tory's back hit a dumpster.

"My entire family has suffered because of you!" Sam yelled.

Sam raised her fist.

Miguel and Robby pulled Sam and Tory away from each other.

"No! Sam, that's enough!" Miguel yelled.

"She has been working with Kreese this whole time!" Sam yelled.

Miguel and Robby looked at Tory in shock.

"What?" Robby asked.

Sam glared at Tory. "Why did you only come forward now, huh? Because you're a coward."

Tory was hurt. "Screw you, LaRusso. I knew this was a mistake."

Tory walked away.

"Tory!" Robby yelled.

Sam walked away.

"Sam!" Miguel yelled.

Miguel looked at Robby and asked, "Did you know about any of this?"

Robby shook his head. "No. I had no idea."

Miguel was dazed. "What the…"

A few days later, Hawk drove himself and Sarah to Applebee's. Hawk took a photo of himself and Sarah on his cell phone. When he got home, he posted the photo on Instagram, tagged her, and added a caption. A few minutes later, he got a notification saying that Sarah had liked the photo.

The next day, Johnny and Carmen went to the hospital. They got the first glimpse of their new baby via an ultrasound. Johnny asserted that his new son was a "kicker." The doctor said that it was too early for the baby to kick. They also said that it was too early to know the gender of the baby. They assured Johnny and Carmen that the baby was healthy and gave them a photo of the ultrasound. Johnny and Carmen agreed that their baby looked perfect, then they kissed.

Johnny and Carmen stepped into the elevator.

Johnny pushed a button.

"Do you remember where we parked?" Carmen asked.

Johnny simulated punches with two of his fingers. "Punch twice. P2."

The door closed.

"So, Lawrence-Diaz?" Carmen asked.

"Lawrence-Diaz, huh? Sounds good." Johnny said.

The door opened. Terry was on the other side of it.

"Mr. Lawrence." Terry acknowledged, smirking at Johnny.

Terry stepped into the elevator and pushed a button.

The door closed.

Johnny stood in front of Carmen. He was feeling protective of her.

Terry looked at Carmen. "I don't believe we've officially met."

Carmen frowned. "I know exactly who you are."

"What do you want?" Johnny asked Terry.

"To congratulate you. What you and your partner accomplished is a joy few get to experience." Terry said.

"Who told you about the baby?" Johnny asked angrily.

"I was talking about you and LaRusso landing a coveted spot in the Sekai Taikai, but apparently, there's a lot to celebrate." Terry said.

Johnny was fuming.

Terry spoke patronizingly. "Now, now."

Carmen was worried that Johnny would attack Terry. "Johnny."

Johnny resisted the urge to attack Terry.

Terry smirked. "I'm not here to fight. I understand how important the next generation is."

Terry took a step closer to Johnny.

Terry spoke ominously. "Everything I do is for the future."

Terry eyed Carmen's stomach.

Terry spoke evilly. "Theirs and mine."

Johnny glared at Terry.

Terry got in Johnny's face. Johnny and Carmen caught a whiff of his cologne.

Terry gave Johnny a condescending smile. "So savour every moment before it's gone."

The door opened. Terry walked through it.

Johnny was at LaRusso Auto.

"Then the ponytailed prick left. I can still smell his shitty cologne." Johnny said.

"I bet he has you under surveillance, which means we should counter-surveil that son of a bitch." Louie said.

"He might have been there for some board meeting or to sell black market kidneys. I don't think he's coming after us right now." Daniel said.

"Because I walk perimeter. All clear." Chozen said.

"Yes. That, and because he can't jeopardize his spot in the tournament. I think we can breathe easy. For now, at least." Daniel said.

Breathe easy was an idiom meaning to relax or feel secure about something.

"I agree with Daniel on this one. We've all earned a night off. And by that, I mean I need a night off. I'm sure Carmen would love to help me finish a bottle of tequila." Amanda said.

"In her state, not a good idea." Johnny said.

"Yes. Always good to have clear mind in case of attack." Chozen said.

Amanda shook her head. "Oh, no, Chozen."

"Johnny, are you saying what we think you're saying?" Daniel asked.

Johnny sighed. "Yeah."

Amanda smiled. "Carmen's pregnant? Oh, my God! That's wonderful!"

Louie smiled and slapped Johnny's arm. "Oh, hey, man! Nice, bro! Good for you!"

Chozen smiled. "Congratulations."

Daniel smiled. "Now we have to celebrate."

"Yeah." Amanda agreed.

"Maybe that new place on Laurel. The Portuguese place." Daniel suggested.

"No." Johnny said. "No Portuguese."

Louie spoke to Johnny. "No, no, no. Please. You've got to let me plan this. Johnny, you've got let me make it up to you for blowing up the car."

"There has to be dancing. Carmen loves dancing." Johnny said.

Louie looked excited. "Absolutely. There's going to be dancing. My boy Reggie can hook us up with a free limo. We'll get drinks, laughs. Get in trouble. Come on!"

Anoush was standing behind a counter and writing something down.

"Hey, Anoush!" Louie yelled.

Anoush looked up from his work.

"We're going out. You in? We're going to celebrate. Johnny knocked up his girl." Louie said.

Anoush appeared uninterested. "As much as I'd love to celebrate the guy who punched me, I have a date. But congrats on procreating."

Louie looked disappointed. "Dude, you're going to miss out."

Louie turned to Daniel, Amanda, Johnny, and Chozen. "Here's the deal. We're all going out like adults. So, you know, put something nice on, and I'm going to pick you guys up at 8:00. Sound good?"

The Miyagi-Do students and the Eagle Fang students were at the Miyagi-Do dojo.

Demetri referenced the TV show Game of Thrones. "W-w-wait. Okay, so Sensei Targaryen paid off the ref at the All-Valley and framed Kreese for a crime he didn't commit? Never let me miss a house party again."

Sarah spoke. "We've got to tell the senseis."

Sarah was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with the logo of the clothing brand Levi's emblazoned on the front in green letters, dark blue denim jeans, and green high-top Converse sneakers with white laces. Her naturally straight blonde hair was down. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft brown eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a pretty peach colour.

"What are they going to do? We saw what happened to my dad when he confronted Silver. I don't want him getting hurt again." Sam said.

"If this ref and Stingray are on Silver's payroll, they'll never admit anything." Demetri said.

"I'm not so sure about that. I know he's in Cobra Kai and I'm in Eagle Fang, but Stingray's still my friend. He wouldn't lie to me. At least, I hope he wouldn't." Bert said.

"Think you can you get him to talk?" Hawk asked.

Bert nodded.

Sam spoke. "Find out where he lives."

Hawk spoke. "Let's go."

The Miyagi-Do students and the Eagle Fang students, with the exception of Sam and Miguel, walked away.

"Look, Sam, a-about last night, I..." Miguel trailed off.

"Let's not get into it right now, okay?" Sam asked.

Sam walked away.

Miguel walked away.

At Cobra Kai's flagship dojo, the students were warming up.

Kim looked at Tory. "Nichols, double time."

Tory sped up.

"What reason did she give for leaving the exhibition?" Terry asked Kim.

Kim spoke scornfully. "Lies."

"LaRusso. Lawrence. Toguchi. They'll all pay for that little stunt they pulled with the Sekai Taikai," Terry growled.

"They are mosquitos. And the next time an unwanted pest lands on our arm, we will swat them." Kim responded.

Robby walked into the dojo.

The Cobra Kai students stopped what they were doing. They looked at Robby in surprise.

Terry gave Robby a fake smile. "Mr. Keene. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"I came here to apologize." Robby said.

Robby turned to the Cobra Kai students. "I let you down. Turned my back on you. I didn't understand at the time, but I realize I was wrong. I shouldn't have just left. I should have taken you all with me. Everything you're taught here is bullshit."

Robby pointed at Terry. "There is pain in this dojo, and it's built upon fear, because this man is not your sensei. He is your enemy."

Robby's eyes landed on Kenny. "But it's not too late. You're not past the point of no return. And I promise, there's still another way."

Terry clapped sarcastically. "Bold move, Mr. Keene. Bold move."

Terry took a step closer to Robby.

"We've heard you out. Now it's my turn to speak," Terry hissed.

"Joon-bee stance!" Terry yelled.

The Cobra Kai students stood with their fists by their sides.

"Right leg back. Kiai!" Terry yelled.

In Japanese martial arts, a kiai was a short shout uttered when performing an attacking move.

"Kiai!" The Cobra Kai students moved their right legs backward and raised their fists.

"Forward strike! Side kick! Kiai!" Terry yelled.

"Kiai, kiai!" The Cobra Kai students performed a forward strike and a side kick.

The Cobra Kai students stood with their fists by their sides.

Terry got in Robby's face. "There's a difference between being heard and being listened to. They heard you, but they listen to me. Now...If you don't mind, we've got some training to do."

Terry turned to the Cobra Kai students. "If Mr. Keene or any of his friends step foot in this dojo again, what will you show them?"

"No mercy, sir!" The Cobra Kai students, with the exception of Tory, yelled.

Robby and Tory made eye contact. He gave her a small smile. She returned it. Neither of them noticed that Kim had caught them. Kim smirked.

Robby and Kenny locked eyes. Kenny scowled.

Robby walked out of the dojo. Tory watched him leave.

"All right, back to it." Terry told the Cobra Kai students.

Daniel, Amanda, Louie, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen arrived at a nightclub in a Hummer Limousine provided by Louie.

Daniel looked amused. "Of course this is where Louie takes us."

"Are you surprised? You've seen the size of his pinky ring." Amanda said.

Daniel laughed.

Louie got Reggie's attention. "Yo, Reg!"

Louie shook hands with Reggie, who was sitting in the driver's seat.

"Do me a favour, okay? Make yourself comfortable. I've got a feeling this is going to be a long night." Louie said.

"All good, Lou." Reggie said. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Louie and Reggie laughed.

Daniel, Amanda, Louie, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen approached the bouncer. He used a handheld metal detector to check for weapons and drugs. Chozen had broken the no weapons policy by bringing his pair of sai. The bouncer told him he would get his weapons back when they left. Once Chozen relinquished his weapons, Daniel, Amanda, Louie, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen were allowed to enter the club.

The song Everybody Dance Now by C+C Music Factory was playing.

People were talking, drinking alcohol, and dancing.

Daniel, Amanda, Louie, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen weaved through the crowd.

"Hey! Excuse me! Pregnant lady coming through!" Louie yelled.

Daniel, Amanda, Louie, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen made it to the bar.

The bartender smiled. "Louie! My man. What's good?"

"What's good" was a common slang phrase in casual conversations between friends or acquaintances. It was a way of asking "what's up" or "what's happening" and was usually intended as a friendly greeting or way of starting a conversation.

Louie smiled. "Good to see you!"

The bartender and Louie hugged and shook hands.

Louie gestured to Johnny and Carmen, who were standing next to him, then he gestured to Daniel, Amanda, and Chozen, who were standing behind him. "Hey, take care of them, all right?"

Carmen looked at Johnny. "What are you getting?"

Johnny's eyes landed on a can of White Claw Hard Seltzer. "White Claw sounds badass. I'll have one of those, and water for the lady."

The bartender handed Johnny a can of White Claw Hard Seltzer, then he handed Carmen a glass of water.

Johnny took a sip of his drink. He immediately spat it out.

Johnny grimaced. "Tastes like a watermelon took a piss."

Carmen took a sip of her drink.

Johnny took another sip of his drink. He didn't spit it out.

"We'll have a Ketel martini straight up, Macallan 18 neat, and…" Daniel trailed off.

Daniel turned to Chozen. "What are you having?"

"Uh, no drink." Chozen said. "Must keep mind sharp if Silver attacks."

"Chozen, I appreciate how committed you are to protecting us, but as your friend, I am giving you permission to take a break tonight. Seriously. What's your poison?" Daniel asked.

Chozen looked at the bartender. "Long Island iced tea."

The bartender handed Daniel, Amanda, and Chozen their drinks.

Louie walked over to the counter Daniel, Amanda, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen had gathered around. He was carrying a tray of shot glasses.

Louie set the tray down on the counter. "Oh, I got shots, kids."

Louie passed shot glasses to Daniel, Amanda, Chozen, and Johnny.

Louie looked at Carmen. "None for you."

"Let's do this!" Louie yelled. "This stuff's really strong, almost like a kick to the face."

Amanda looked at Carmen and Johnny. "Carmen, Johnny, we are so thrilled for you!"

"Thank you." Carmen and Johnny said.

Daniel raised his glass. "To the future! Karii!"

Amanda raised her glass. "Karii!"

Louie raised his glass. "Karii!"

Chozen raised his glass. "Karii!"

Johnny raised his glass. "Karii!"

Carmen raised her glass. "Karii!"

Daniel, Amanda, Louie, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen clinked their glasses together.

Daniel, Amanda, Louie, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen tipped their heads back and downed their drinks.

Stingray and his friends were playing Dungeons & Dragons. Stingray called the game Dungeons & Dojos instead of Dungeons & Dragons and referred to himself as a dojo master instead of a dungeon master. After Stingray's friends left, there was a knock on the door. He opened the door and saw Bert. He was delighted to see Bert. He was taken aback when Sam, Miguel, Hawk, Sarah, and Demetri appeared behind Bert. Hawk called Stingray out for lying. Stingray dismissed Hawk's accusation. Refusing to take no for an answer, Sam told Stingray that he may have lied to the court and Daniel, but he would not lie to her, Miguel, Hawk, Sarah, Demetri, and Bert. Sam, Miguel, Hawk, Sarah, Demetri, and Bert entered Stingray's apartment.

At the nightclub, Daniel finished telling a story. "Then the weight just snapped in half. I never would have uncovered your sinister plot if it wasn't for that basket of carrots."

"Wait. If the weight was fake, wouldn't that mean you were scamming yourself out of money and not the villagers?" Carmen asked.

Chozen shrugged. "Eh, not one of my smarter plans."

Daniel, Amanda, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen laughed.

"Oh, strange to think of those days. We were so different." Chozen said.

"It's crazy, but looking back on it, how we all ended up..." Daniel paused. "I think it all worked out."

Amanda, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen nodded in agreement.

Daniel picked up an empty glass. "We're almost ready for a refill. I'll get the next round."

"I can get the..." Chozen trailed off.

"Uh, no. I will get." Daniel slapped Chozen's chest.

Chozen laughed.

Daniel headed to the bar.

"Okay, that dance floor? It's calling my name." Amanda said.

"Mine too." Carmen said.

Amanda stood up.

Amanda gestured to Carmen. "Come and get it, girl!"

Amanda walked towards the dance floor.

Carmen looked at Johnny. "You coming?"

Johnny glanced at Chozen, who was drinking a Long Island iced tea.

Johnny looked at Carmen. "I'll catch the next one."

Carmen joined Amanda on the dance floor.

Chozen moved closer to Johnny.

"I'm happy for you and wife." Chozen said.

"Oh, Carmen and I aren't married." Johnny said.

Chozen smiled. "She is quite special."

Johnny smiled. "Yes, she is."

"How you doing?" Chozen asked.

"Honestly? I'm not sure. My whole life was haunted by one stupid kick. I thought that if I could go back in time, do things differently, dodge it, block it, my life would be fixed. But the kick wasn't the problem. I had to stop focusing on what was behind me and start looking at what was in front of me." Johnny said.

"We are same. Both make mistakes. Both feel guilt for pain we caused. Now you have…Uh, friends. Family. Children. I always wanted same thing." Chozen said.

"You don't have some special lady waiting for you in Okinawa?" Johnny asked.

"No girl waiting. Still bachelor." Chozen said.

Chozen smiled as he thought about Kumiko. "But…Uh, there is one woman. Very special."

At Cobra Kai's flagship dojo, Terry dismissed his students for the evening, with the exception of Tory. He told her to stay behind and work on a new practice dummy.

Tory looked at the dummy and asked, "What is this?"

"This is your enemy. Destroy it." Kim ordered.

Tory was horrified. "It's solid stone. I'll break my hand."

"It will heal in time for the tournament." Kim said.

Tory scoffed. "This is crazy. I'm going home."

Tory attempted to leave the dojo, but the other senseis blocked her path.

"You will go home when the lesson is over." Kim told Tory.

Tory nervously walked towards the dummy. She punched the dummy. She cried out, clutching her hand.

"Not hard enough. To break it, you must use all your power." Kim told Tory.

Tory punched the dummy. She cried out, clutching her hand.

Kim taunted Tory. "Are you even trying?"

Tory punched the dummy.

Tory was on her knees, clutching her hand. Her knuckles were bloody.

Kim glared at Tory. "Something is holding you back."

Tory shook her head. "I-I can't do it."

Kim smiled evilly. "It's the boy, isn't it?"

Tory gasped.

Kim scoffed. "You act strong, but inside, you're soft."

"That's not true!" Tory yelled.

"Your feelings have made you weak," Kim hissed.

"No!" Tory yelled.

"You care more about this boy than your own dojo!" Kim yelled.

Tory stood up.

"I broke up with him because of this dojo, you bitch!" Tory yelled.

Tory punched the dummy, shattering it.

Tory was on her knees, clutching her hand.

Terry spoke calmly. "That must have been a hard decision. But you made the right choice."

Tory started crying.

Terry spoke ominously. "Let's hope you keep making them."

Terry left.

Kim spoke callously. "Lesson over."

Kim left.

The other senseis left.

Sam, Miguel, Hawk, Sarah, Demetri, and Bert failed to get Stingray to cooperate. Sam told Stingray that Daniel got hurt because of him and a lot of other people would too if he just sat back and did nothing. Stingray was afraid that Terry would retaliate if he told Sam, Hawk, Sarah, Miguel, Demetri, and Bert what happened. However, drawing upon his experience with Dungeons & Dragons, he was able to tell the story in an analogy disguised as a new campaign, depicting himself as a dwarven monk trying to gain favour with a silver-haired king. Although the story brought Sam, Miguel, Hawk, Sarah, Demetri, and Bert more clarity, Stingray's fear of Terry prevented him from recanting his testimony.

A frustrated Sam walked out of Stingray's apartment. Miguel followed her.

"Look, Sam, I know it sucks not getting the answers we want." Miguel said.

"A lot sucks right now, Miguel." Sam said.

"I'm sorry about last night. I...I just met that girl, and..." Miguel trailed off.

"You don't have to apologize. We broke up. You're allowed to do whatever you want." Sam said.

"You just seemed upset, so..." Miguel paused. "Um, I guess I'm just trying to understand, Sam. You know, first you said that you wanted to quit karate and be friends, and that's fine, but now you're joining a world karate tournament, and apparently, you're not happy seeing me with someone else."

"This summer, I just wanted everything to go back to normal. But everything was based on a lie. If I knew the tournament was rigged, then maybe my dad wouldn't have had to shut down Miyagi-Do, maybe I wouldn't have thought about quitting, and maybe I would have...We wouldn't have..." Sam trailed off.

Miguel looked at the ground. "Yeah."

"This is all Tory's fault," Sam grumbled.

Miguel looked at Sam. "Look, Sam, I know that you hate Tory. You have plenty of reasons to. But you have no idea what it's like to be in Cobra Kai. I do. And it must have been so hard for her to admit what she knew. Should she have said it sooner? Yeah, prob...Definitely. But the fact of the matter is that she did admit it. And now...Now it's up to you to decide what to do about it."

At the nightclub, people were either dancing or drinking alcohol. The song You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive was playing. Johnny approached Daniel, who was at the bar.

"Hey. You two getting more acquainted?" Daniel asked.

Daniel glanced at Chozen, who was drinking a Long Island iced tea.

Johnny smiled. "Yeah. Chozen's a good dude, man."

Daniel turned to Johnny. "Ah, that's putting it mildly. I just feel bad he doesn't have a date."

"Yeah. Too bad that Kokomo chick lives a million miles away." Johnny said.

"Wait. You mean Kumiko?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, that's it. You know her?" Johnny asked.

"She's an old friend." Daniel said.

"Oh, yeah? The way Chozen talks about her…" Johnny paused. "He has it bad."

The phrase "has it bad" meant that someone was in love.

Carmen walked up to Johnny and grabbed his arm. "No more talk. You're mine."

Johnny slapped Daniel's arm. "Got to go."

Carmen led Johnny to the dance floor.

Daniel walked towards Chozen. He was holding two glasses.

Chozen stood up, stumbling slightly. "Ah, Daniel-san!"

An employee grabbed empty glasses and put them on a tray.

Chozen put his hand on Daniel's shoulder. "This man break six blocks of ice. One strike!"

Chozen patted Daniel's chest. "You show."

Chozen sat down.

Daniel looked amused.

Daniel put the glasses on the table.

Daniel sat next to Chozen. "I'm sure they don't keep giant slabs of ice on hand, Chozen."

"What kind of bar is this?" Chozen asked.

Chozen chuckled.

The employee walked away.

Chozen grabbed a glass and took a sip.

"Johnny may have let something slip." Daniel said.

Chozen looked at Daniel. "Hm?"

"About Kumiko," Daniel said.

Chozen looked embarrassed. "I was hoping he did not say anything. I know what she means to you. Did not want to make you uncomfortable."

"Chozen, I had no idea you had feelings for her." Daniel said.

Chozen let out an embarrassed chuckle.

Chozen sighed. "When…Uh, Kumiko and I were children, we would play in the ruins of King Shō Hashi Castle. I would hide, and she would always find me. After my disgrace in village, I tried to hide from everything. But Kumiko find me again. And her kindness brought me back."

Daniel smiled.

"She's something special, all right." Daniel said.

Chozen nodded in agreement. "Hai."

"Does she know how you feel?" Daniel asked.

"No, no, no! How I treated her, what I did to her...Unforgivable." Chozen shook his head in remorse.

"You can't keep punishing yourself. You've done all you can to make up for what you did back then, and Kumiko knows that. Look, she's the reason you're here. She went after you. Maybe now it's your turn to go after her." Daniel said.

Chozen smiled. "Thank you, Daniel-san."

Daniel smiled. "You're welcome, my friend. Come on. Let's hit that dance floor. From what I remember, you were once the life of the party in Okinawa."

Chozen laughed. "Okay."

Louie, Daniel, Amanda, Chozen, Johnny, and Carmen were dancing. They saw Anoush and Vanessa. Louie was angry when he discovered that Anoush and Vanessa were dating. Louie and Anoush got into a fight, much to the amusement of Daniel and Johnny.

Chozen was standing in front of the nightclub. He called Kumiko on his cell phone and left a voicemail asking to see her when he returned to Okinawa. Johnny and Daniel walked towards the limo. Johnny told Chozen that he and Daniel were going to another bar. Johnny asked Chozen if he wanted to join them. Chozen said yes. Amanda and Carmen were tired and decided to take an Uber home.

At her apartment, Tory was icing her swollen knuckles.

Sam paid Tory a visit.

"What are you doing here?" Tory asked.

"I...Oh, my God! What happened?" Sam asked.

Tory glared at Sam. "Don't pretend like you care."

"Look, I don't want to be here. But if you're having problems with Cobra Kai, I'd be willing to listen." Sam said.

Tory walked into the living room. She left the door open.

Tory sat down.

Sam walked through the door, then she closed it.

Sam looked around the kitchen. She saw empty Chinese takeout containers, an open box of Frosted Flakes, and dirty dishes. The garbage can was overflowing.

Sam caught a glimpse of a bedroom. The door was open. Tory's mother was sleeping in a hospital bed.

Sam walked into the living room and sat across from Tory.

"I wanted to win the All-Valley more than anything. When they handed me that trophy, that was the best moment of my life. But then I saw Silver and that ref, and it just killed me. I felt like a fraud. I wanted to get back at Silver so badly. That's why I listened to Kreese. But then I got caught up in more lies. And now my life is a living hell." Tory said.

"I didn't know what you were going through. But now that I do, maybe we can help each other. I tried to talk to Stingray. He basically admitted it was Silver who assaulted him in the old dojo. He's afraid to go to the police." Sam said.

"I knew Silver was involved, but I had no idea he did it with his own hands." Tory said.

"The problem is that we can't prove it." Sam said.

"If it happened at the old dojo, maybe we can." Tory said.

At Terry's mansion, Terry and Kim were monitoring Cobra Kai's flagship dojo via security cameras.

Terry handed Kim a martini. "There you are."

"You know how to treat a guest." Kim said.

"Of course. You and your team exceeded my expectations. You're welcome to stay as long as you want." Terry said.

Terry poured himself a glass of whiskey.

Kim took a sip of her drink.

"You really broke down Nichols today." Terry said.

"Your younger students show more potential. Less to unlearn. Lee, for example." Kim said.

"You really think Devon Lee has a shot at winning the Sekai Taikai? She's pretty green." Terry said.

"Youth is not a liability. It is the greatest power." Kim said.

Terry chuckled. "Youth. The one thing money can't buy."

Terry sighed.

"But it doesn't matter. Because if we're successful, Cobra Kai will go on forever." Terry said.

Terry took a sip of his drink.

"And what if your enemies manage to crush this dream?" Kim asked.

"I'm not going to let that happen." Terry responded.

In the limo, Daniel, Johnny, and Chozen drank alcohol and rocked out to Survivor's song Eye of the Tiger. At the nightclub, Louie apologized for starting the fight. Anoush apologized for not telling Louie that he was dating Vanessa. Louie and Anoush declared their brotherly love for one another. Louie and Anoush discovered that despite the limo's departure, Reggie was still at the club. Daniel, Johnny, and Chozen noticed that they were off course. When they realized that they were trapped in the limo, they panicked. The unknown driver, who had now become their abductor, drove recklessly down the road.