#or that people in this day and age are able to buy into that level of absurd propaganda

[oddwalkerduckarts]

Sylus: Desert Flight

A short and sweet drabble that I wrote as a treat for myself during a flare up.

Summary: You and Sylus take your daughter to test out her new wings in the desert near the oasis

AO3 if you prefer

Contains: maximum levels of fluff, no editing thanks to flare up, reader is referred to as mom.

Notes: i didn't give the daughter a name or age here, feel free to imagine as you like.

The stars are just beginning to peek through the haze of sunset in the oasis, twinkling in the deep navy expanse above as the last bit of light leaches away from the sky. You've never seen the stars this clearly; the light pollution in Linkon barely allows you to see all but the brightest of stars, and the deepspace tunnel occupies a large portion of the sky anyway. But here, you can easily imagine space stretching into worlds far beyond your own.

“Mom!” A small, excited voice drags your attention back down from the heavens, “Come on! You’re taking for-ev-ver!”

You assure your daughter, who is practically vibrating with excitement, that you are coming. She's been waiting (impatiently) to try this for weeks now. Sylus had promised her that, once her little wings were strong enough, he would take her to practice real flying. However, doing so in the neon-bright nights of Linkon would be begging for a troublesome amount of attention. And despite the vast improvements of the state of affairs in the N109 zone, it still wasn't safe enough to let a child test out her brand new wings.

So, the three of you had taken a family trip to the oasis. It's relatively easy to monitor her safety here; most people you have met seem to buy the explanation that your daughter has a gene-modifying evol, so she has been able to keep her wings out. In Linkon and the N109, you are always on alert for any remaining presence of EVER, and you’re careful not to allow her wings out too frequently. With your memories now intact, you know what they did to you as a child, as well as Luke and Kieran, and you will be damned if any remaining shreds of EVER try to lay a finger on your child. Sylus, with memories of his previous life also intact, is just as cautious. Now and again, when he holds your daughter, you will see him stroking the tender, delicate membranes of her wing with an inscrutable face.

But tonight is not the night for old wounds and memories. Something new and wonderful is happening under these stars.

As it stands, the desert is peaceful. You watch as Sylus walks through the dunes ahead of you, your daughter clinging to his back, little wings fluttering instinctively as the cool night breeze fills them. She's so similar in her look to Sylus, both of their heads gleaming silver in the rising moonlight, both sets of sanguine eyes scanning the surroundings (one set with alertness, the other with boundless curiosity). He would claim, though, that your daughter is all you in spirit; courageous and determined to a fault, always wanting to help even a complete stranger on the street.

Sylus turns slightly to make sure you're still following, eyes sparking with a kind of excitement and unadulterated pride you’ve only rarely seen in him before, and always related to his little princess. It appeared first on the day she was born, and had shown up now and again afterwards, when she took her first steps, when she first said ‘dada’, and when she first dug a fang into Kieran’s hand.

“Getting distracted, sweetie?” he calls.

"The stars are gorgeous here, it's hard to not get distracted!”

“Mm,” his low, amused hum glides to you on the breeze, “and here I thought you were distracted by the handsome view in front of you.”

“Da-ad, ew.” Your daughter groans. Both of you laugh, the sound joyously loud in the quiet landscape.

Eventually the three of you come to a stop at the crest of a dune.

"The sand is soft here,” Sylus explains, as he gently returns your daughter to earth, “go ahead and try, the drop will give you some time to glide.”

Your daughter's feet shuffle restlessly in the sand, “You aren't going to show me how?”

Sylus gives her a slight smile, “My wings would cause a sandstorm here, princess. If that happened, you wouldn't be able to fly tonight.”

She gives a serious nod, the stories you've told her at bedtime of her father (though they are taken from another life) ring true to her.

“No monsters here, right, mom?” She looks to you for assurance.

You check your hunter's watch, as you always have done when she asks this. Though your daughter is unafraid of the dark and many other things children are usually terrified of, she's not immune to all fears. Wanderers, especially, seem to take the place of more traditional monsters in her mind. However, when she was three, you comforted her with your tales of being a hunter, and having a watch that could detect when they are near.

“All normal,” you report, giving her a thumbs-up, “perimeter secure.”

She gives you a bright smile. Soon, she will be too old for these sorts of platitudes to work. But for now, they give her comfort as she faces a new challenge.

“Okay,” she mutters to herself, wings stretching in preparation, sinewy young muscles testing their own strength

Sylus gives her some reminders as he crouches next to her on one knee; let the drop fill your wings first, then flap to catch some air, angle them up as you come to land. She listens attentively, wings mimicking the movements to help her remember.

“What if I fall?”

“You probably will,” Sylus says somberly, and you can see the confidence in your daughter waver slightly, “are you going to let that stop you?”

You know he would accept it if she does want to stop. Sylus always gives her a choice when she faces something that intimidates her, or tests her limits. He never pushes, trusting your daughter to know herself. It’s one of the myriad things you admire about your husband.

Your daughter thinks hard for a moment, eyes narrowing, “No. I want to fly. Even if I fall a little.”

“That's my princess,” Sylus grins at her, eyes shining with pride once more as he stands.

You move to his side as your daughter stands at the crest, wings stretching once more. You take his arm as she backs up slowly, face set with determination, and then sprints to the edge. Your fingertips dig into Sylus's arm as you hold your breath, watching this insane, wonderful child you both created fling herself into the air.

She waits a moment too long to open her wings fully, and nearly crashes to the ground. But in the end, she does manage to catch a little air, and glides to a tumbling landing at the base of the dune.

Before you quite know what you are doing, you're hurtling down the slope too, losing victorious shouts as you slide down to your daughter. You help her up from the little pile she's landed in, showering her with praise for her glide.

She giggles, still young enough to be deeply pleased rather than embarrassed by all of your fussing (not that it will make you stop, regardless).

“Did you see, dad?” She calls to the top of the dune.

“Of course, Princess.” He calls back, and you feel the delighted flutters of your daughter's wings against your arms.

"I want to go again!” She exclaims, pushing against you, so that she can run back.

You set her down, “I bet I'll beat you to the top!” she crows, and immediately begins running.

She’s every inch as competitive as you are, sprinting and pumping her little legs for everything she's worth. Even her wings beat against the air as she goes, granting a little lift to her steps. Most of the time, you let your daughter win these little races. Every once in a while, though, a prize catches your eye, and you simply have to win. This is one of those times. So the two of you race across the cooling sand, little puffs of it flying up in your wake under the newly-darkened sky. You round the corner of the dune where Sylus is still standing, racing up the incline, hunter-trained muscles giving you the lead over your daughter. You make it to the crest, but do not slow; instead you push yourself just a little harder in the final stretch. You can't see your husband's face well in the dark, but you can imagine it well enough. You have seen his look of affectionate amusement so often by now that it may as well be the back of your own hand. You collide with his chest in a rush, flinging the pair of you over the edge of the dune. Sylus, though, is just as familiar with you as you are with him. As your bodies meet, the misty tendrils of his evol are already wrapping around the pair of you, slowing the fall into a weightless sensation that may as well be flight.

You feel his arms wrap around you, strong and warm, and his deep chuckle rumbles through his chest to your ear.

“I didn't know you were trying to fly today, sweetie. You could have just asked.”

“What's the fun in that?”

He chuckles again as the pair of you land in the soft sand, giving you a dazzling view of the universe in the clear sky above. Though it becomes difficult to appreciate, as most of Sylus's weight settles on top of your body.

“Sy,” you grunt, wriggling to give yourself more room to breathe, “off, please!”

“I thought you liked me on top of you, kitten.”

“Sylus! She's-”

“At the top of the dune. She can't hear me.”

He presses a quick kiss to the shell of your ear, a promise of what will come after your daughter is deep asleep in her own room, before relenting and beginning to move off of you.

A large shadow blots out the sky above, and for a heart-stopping moment, your mind screams at you to prepare for a wanderer. However, when the shadow lands (heavily) on the pair of you with a squeals and a giggle, your fears quickly subside.

“Got you!” She yells triumphantly, and you can't help but laugh.

“Well done, princess,” Sylus says, tucking back the hair that's fallen out of your daughter's braid, “You saw your opportunity and seized it.”

Your daughter beams, again delighted at the praise.

The three of you remain for a time, until the chill in the air turns to a cold bite. You carry your exhausted daughter alongside Sylus as you walk back to the oasis town, your free hand entwined in his, under the watch of the stars.

[indepthpokemonheadcanons]

10 Tips for Starting Pokémon Training as an Adult

It's never too late to become a pokémon trainer. That's what people say. But if you're anything like I was, you probably think that's a load of rubbish.

When I took up the hobby, aged 31 and working 9-to-5, I didn't see how I could ever fit in with - or catch up to - the people who'd been training pokémon since they were kids. It's not easy! But it would've been much easier with the right advice.

So whether you're trying to get back into an old hobby, or you're a total fletchling, here are the ten tips I wish I'd known before getting into pokémon training as an adult.

Look to shelters for the perfect partner pokémon. People make a big deal about growing up alongside a pokémon, but raising one from young takes time, money, and energy that you may not have. Most kid trainers can only manage it because mum and dad take care of the boring stuff (like buying feed, taking them for check-ups, and hosing them down when they run headlong into a bog). Shelters are heaving with rescue pokémon, many of which will have been previously owned by trainers, so they'll be a lot easier for a beginner to work with. On top of that, you'll be giving a pokémon a new home, which is vitally important.

Trainer cards are for you, too! This can seem like an obvious one, but I've met so many adult trainers who never even thought to get a card. Even if you're not planning to take on the League, trainer cards still get you great discounts on goods, Gym entry fees, and (weirdly) some restaurants and tourist attractions. You won't get your card for free the way that most kids can, but the cost is very reasonable.

Make use of night classes. Most Gyms, both official and unofficial offer discounted training sessions from 8pm onwards to capture the older market. They're a great pick if you work full-time and they're generally much quieter than the day sessions. The one downside is that the Gym Leader rarely attends, but the other tutors are usually pretty good - and they'll be less busy than the Leader, so more able to offer personalised advice.

You can take on the Gym Challenge without travelling. If you're busy studying, working, or raising children (or all three, god forbid!), you probably won't have the spare time to trek around the region battling Gym Leaders. However, with a bit of planning, you don't need to. Most Gyms take match bookings up to 6 months in advance, which means you can plan trips well in advance for when you have the time to travel out. Pop-up Gyms are also becoming increasingly common, where Gym Leaders will visit other cities for a few days at a time, run some workshops, and reach out to challengers in the local area. These can be busy and oversubscribed, but they're a potential option if you can't travel far.

Unless you've practiced it, don't throw your pokéballs into battle! Yes, it's what the professionals do, and they look effortlessly cool doing it. But it's not as easy as it appears. If you try it, you will end up hurling your pokéball out of the ring, and you'll have to awkwardly shuffle after it to get it back. There's nothing like that to kill your confidence before a match. Gym tutors can teach you how to throw pokéballs like a pro, but until you've mastered it, stick to just clicking the eject button.

Keep it simple, keep it Silph. If you're new to training, or you've returned to the hobby after a long time away, you'll be dumbfounded by the range of pokéballs on sale in general stores. Take deep breaths and try not to panic. Some of the differences are purely cosmetic, some only matter if you plan to be out catching pokémon, and others are just ways to get money out of you (I promise, you don't need Bluetooth-enabled pokéballs, or ones that claim to measure your pokémon's heart rate and stress levels). When in doubt, stick with Silph's classic long-life pokéballs. They cost a pretty penny, but trust me - their quality, longevity, and ease of use is unmatched.

Spend quality time with your pokémon. If you're completely new to raising pokémon, it's easy to dedicate most of your hours together to training. Remember to take breaks, for both your sakes. Spending time on fun, non-competitive activities will deepen your bond with your pokémon and bring you more in sync with each other. Brush their fur, take them for walks, let them watch you cook. It's okay to keep your pokémon in pokéballs, especially if you've got limited space at home, but experts recommend that they spend no more than 8 hours confined at a time.

If you're a returning trainer, remember that your partner pokémon might not be as keen to resume the hobby as you are. After a few years away, some pokémon lose their zeal for competition entirely. It can be tough to imagine battling alongside other pokémon, especially if you and your buddies go way back, but try to see it as a positive. It's a chance to forge new partnerships and try out new battle styles.

Learn from your fellow trainers, no matter their age. If you're an adult beginner, you'll definitely feel out of place next to all the young'uns taking on the Gym Challenge. Swallow your discomfort and ask them to battle! Kids are always up for a match, and they've got a wild, unselfconscious way of battling that you can learn a lot from. Just be prepared to lose a lot. And try not to gloat too much when you finally win against that annoying kid who wears all his Gym badges on his coat. (There's always one).

Know that you're not alone. It's definitely easier to get into pokémon training as a child, but that doesn't mean it's not worth doing later in life. Lots of successful trainers didn't start their careers until adulthood; Wulfric, from the Kalosian League, only got into battling when his young daughter did. Hassel, of the Paldean Elite Four, has written extensively about the difficulties of returning to dragon taming after spending over a decade in another career. Take inspiration from those who have come before you, and remember that you have as much right to this hobby as anyone.

[cosyvelvetorchid]

Saturday night drabble.

*****

The first time Tommy says 'I love you' he didn't mean to. He absolutely meant it, of course. And he was planning on telling Buck, but he wanted to find the perfect way to do it.

He'd dismissed the 'obvious' ways like a room full of flowers, or a candlelight dinner in an expensive restaurant, etc. For a man who liked romcoms, he wasn't about those cliché gestures in real life.

He was, however, getting rather frustrated at not being able to figure out the perfect way to do it. He was approximately 1-2 business days away from googling 'top 10 ways of telling your partner you love them'.

He had a hard shift. It was one of those rare ones where more people died than survived. The balance of life to death usually tipped in favour of the positive, but every so often, the scale tipped in the other direction.

He was supposed to be going to Bucks after his shift for dinner, but he was too emotionally exhausted to be good company. He texted Buck to apologise and told him he'd make it up to him.

He pulled into his driveway and sat in the car for a few minutes. He'd be okay, he knew that. A hot shower and some good sleep and he'll feel better in the morning.

Eventually, he summoned the energy to get out of the car, grab his bag and walk to the door. Upon opening it he immediately heard noise in his kitchen. He dumped his bag and walked through to find Buck pulling a pot roast out of the oven.

"Hey you." He greeted Tommy with a smile. "You are right on time." He added placing the dish on the table. He removed the oven mitts from his hand and walked over to Tommy, putting hands around his neck and pressing a few chaste kisses onto his lips.

"You didn't have to do this, Evan. I told you I wasn't going to be the greatest company tonight."

"I know. And you don't have to be. I know you've had a rough day, so I just wanted to give you at least one good thing to end the day with." He smiled that gorgeous smile of his that melted Tommy's heart every single time.

It was such a simple and kind gesture, yet it was everything. In the few months they had been dating, he had realised Buck loved small gestures. Bringing him a coffee in bed in the morning or buying a bottle of his favourite shampoo to keep in his bathroom for when Tommy stayed the night. Once Tommy mentioned his grandmother used to make him meatloaf every time he visited her, and the next time he went to Bucks, he'd made it for him.

With Buck it wasn't about the big gestures of love; the romantic restaurants or public displays - it was the small ways he showed his affection for Tommy that told Tommy how he felt every single time.

Buck planted an extra kiss onto Tommy's cheek and went back to finish setting up for dinner. Tommy just watched him for a few moments, happily moving around the kitchen. There was a level of domesticity in it that made him feel warm.

"God, I love you." He said. His lips uttered the words before his brain had a chance to construct the sentence. Buck stood still, turning his head toward Tommy. His eyes were wider, and his lips parted. Almost identical to the look he given when, if Buck was left to tell the story - he'd kissed the language skills out of him.

Buck was taking an age to respond. Tommy felt pulse rise. In reality it was a few seconds. But to Tommy it felt like hours.

"Good. Because I love you too. Now come, sit and eat."

The words flowed out of Buck as though they were the most obvious and natural thing in the world.

Tommy didn't argue and made his way over to the table. He stopped to lift Bucks chin with his two fingers and planted a kiss on his lips before sitting down to eat, all the time thinking how perfect this moment was in the end.

[justauthoring]

the trees told me about you.

the trees whisper to you and gojo thinks that makes you special.

a/n: i just started watching frieren and i NEEDED something fantasy okay???? also, i love him <3

pairing: prince!gojo satoru x f!elf!reader

The trees whisper to you.

Whisper words that ghost past your ears and leave your eyes sparkling with warmth, staring at the twinkling green leafs that bristle in the wind. 

No one else can hear them, except for you. 

Some think you're mad, others just don’t like you cause you’re different – either way, you’ve long ago learned not to care.

Because the trees speak to you, tell you secrets of the world and bring you the love you’ve never felt elsewhere. They don’t judge you because you look different, and they make you feel included – loved.

So even though you’re glared at and cruel words are whispered behind your back;

She’s not right. Spending her days talking to trees…

They say her parents abandoned her when she was young… you don’t have to wonder why.

What a lonely life… but no one wants to talk to a girl who thinks trees speak.

You’ve learned that there’s no point worrying and no point in trying to change their minds. 

A life of solitude is one you’ve accepted for yourself. And besides, you don’t feel all that alone in the first, shrouded by trees, protected from the small, the feeling of the dirt and grass and earth beneath your fingers as you smile and laugh and talk.

Yeah, you don’t feel alone at all.

At least, until you meet him.

-

“You know they all think you’re insane, right?”

A moment ago, you’d been positive you’d been alone. You hadn’t heard him walk up, the crunch of his footsteps along the forest floor or even the rustling of his clothing; so when you hear his voice, so much louder, harsher, sharper than the voices that whisper in your ears, it makes you jump.

You’re startled, incredibly so. You lose your footing beneath you, your bum hitting the ground harshly as you turn your head to face the voice, worrying just who it was that had snuck up on you.

It’s a boy. Roughly your age, or at least you assume so. He’s tall. Even though you’re on the ground, you know he’d tower over you. He’s got bright white hair that shifts to a purple hue when the sun hits him just right. And his eyes are a striking blue that rivals even the sky and unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

You’d lived in your small village all your life and you’re positive you’ve never seen this boy before.

“Who… who are you?” Your words come out shakier than you want but then again, you’re not all that accustomed to speaking to others. Most of your time is spent listening… and even you know there’s a difference between listening to trees and real people. You’ve never had someone speak so directly to you before – most of the time, they opt for whispering behind your back even though both you and them are aware you can hear them.

Still, you force yourself to speak; “what are you doing here?”

He’s grinning. Ear to ear. And it’s wide and it’s bright and there’s a twinkle in his eyes that seems some sort of mischievous, yet, the smile feels real and genuine and almost… kind(?).

Then, he’s crouching, moving so he’s more level to you and his head tilts to the right. “Gojo Satoru,” he introduces, saying his name with pride. “And I am going for a light stroll in the woods.”

Gojo Satoru…

Gojo…

That’s… that’s last the name of the king—

Your eyes widen, instantly shifting to meet his gaze while he continues to just smile at you, bright and happy, hands clasped in front of him without a care in the world. You take in his clothes properly then, the detailing and the quality of the fabric, hemmed with laces – clothes you’ve never even had half enough coin to buy.

Clothes you’d never be able to buy.

You’d heard the King had a son but you’d never seen him or any drawings of him either.

A boy that looks like this though? Looks like he could be the King’s son.

“I ventured through the village beforehand,” he gestures over his shoulder. “You are not well-liked.” 

You blink out of your daze, frowning at his words.

Shifting, you move so you’re sitting straighter, straightening out your blouse as you glare at him. “That’s rather rude.”

He shrugs, still grinning. “You didn’t deny it though.”

And you frown because you know he’s right.

“Okay, so, what’s the King’s son doing taking a stroll in the woods well outside of the castle grounds?”  

He pauses, raising a brow; “so you did recognize me…” He hums lightly, pointing at you. 

You nod; “yes, I did.”

You’re well aware that your lack of respect for the King’s son could get you arrested, or worse. But, you don't care all that much. You figure that Gojo would’ve done something by now if he was really bothered by it, and… well, he’s the one who snuck up on you in the first place.

Laughing lightly, Gojo shrugs; “couldn’t stand being there anymore.”

You raise a brow; “the castle?”

He nods. “It’s so… stuffy! Gods, no one knows how to have any fun in there! And I'm constantly getting reprimanded for trying to liven the place up a little.” His words are dramatic, doubled by his actions as he wildly waves his hands around, rolling his eyes as he sulks. “You’d think royalty, with all the money we have, would know how to make things at least a little exciting… but no! They’re dreadfully boring.”

He finishes his rambling with a loud huff, and a second passes before you burst out in laughter.

Gojo blinks at you, once, twice, stunned before he’s grinning once more.

“That’s funny?” He asks, watching you amusedly.

Clutching at your stomach, you shake your head; “sorry,” you gasp. “I just never expected the King’s son to be so… un-princely?”

Chuckling, Gojo’s eyes trail your figure as you continue to laugh; “no?”

“No,” you snort, calming yourself down. Then, a second later, you glance at him; “so you ran away?”

“For now,” he agrees. “And you?”

You blink; “what about me?”

“What are you doing here?”

Your smile fades. “Well… you heard.”

“So, you really do talk to trees?”

You pause, bewildered. “You believe me?”

“Why would you lie?”

And it’s the first time you’ve heard someone say that to you… because, yes, why would you lie? Why would you make all this up?

And yet he’s the first one who believes you.

“I’ve never seen someone like you before you, you know,” he shuffles closer and your breath halts, eyeing him as he leans in. “I thought you all died out.”

Subconsciously, your fingers move to touch the tip of your pointy ears that’s hidden by your hair. “We did,” you whisper, “it’s just me.”

Resting his head on his crossed arms, Gojo fidgets in the spot. “That’s unfortunate.”

You hum, not sure how else to respond. It was unfortunate and sad, but no one else had ever seemed to think so. At least not anyone in your village. Scorned and judged because of your smaller stature and your pointy ears… you were a freak amongst humans in your village and they constantly liked to remind you of the fact.

“You think the trees talk to you because you’re different?”

Wide eyed, you turn to Gojo. “What?”

“I don’t hear them,” he frowns, and he strains his ear, cupping it for emphasis as if that’ll help. “And I’m royalty. They should talk to me… but they don’t. I bet it’s because you’re an elf. Makes you extra special then.”

Lips parting, you glance around, taking in the trees, hearing the whispers that have softened, before turning back to his blue eyes. “More special than the prince?”

He smirks; “I guess,” he obliges, chuckling. “Just this once.”

You smile. A real, genuine smile.

“You shouldn’t hide them, either.”

“Hm?”

“Your ears,” he explains, reaching forward. You barely have time to react before he’s brushing back your hair, the tips of his fingers brushing against the skin of your ears as he tucks the hair behind, revealing your insecurity to his eyes. He doesn’t look away, and panicked, you watch him, overwhelmed by how close he suddenly is, breath stuck in the back of your throat.

But he doesn’t look disgusted or freaked out.

He looks… amazed.

“You shouldn’t hide them,” his gaze shifts back to yours, grinning again but this time it’s softer, more demure. “They’re what make you you.”

“They make me look strange. Different,” you mumble to yourself, lowering your gaze as you attempt to pull your hair back out from behind your ear.

Gojo grabs your wrist, small in his own grasp, halting your movements.

You turn to him with parted lips.

“No,” he whispers and it’s the softest he’s sounded, but yet, it’s still so confident. Like he doesn’t doubt a single word he says. “No, they make you special.”

You stare back at him, stunned. But you don’t pull away and you don’t move. You like it, having him this close. This boy who you've just met. This boy who is the King’s son. The prince. Next in line for the throne.

This boy who’s made you feel more normal than you ever have your entire life.

But then he’s pulling away, despite the disappointment that burns through you, standing up straight as you crane your head up to look at him. He’s grinning, ear to ear again, as he takes small steps back.

“I should go,” he explains, laughing. “My father is probably throwing a fit. But, come back tomorrow okay?”

You raise a brow, tilting your head in wonder.

He just laughs.

“I plan to run away again.” 

Is all he says and then he’s turning, offering you a short wave before disappearing through the thick of the trees, leaving you to yourself and the whispers.

You stare at the place he left, undeniably grinning from ear to ear yourself now.

“Yes,” you nod to the whispers. “I think I like him too.”

[mymhameme]

Some more concrete designs for hero Touya and villain/vigilante Hawks.

Check below for more details.

All I've got so far is that Endeavor sent Touya to the HPSC to train with them to become a hero since he wasn't going to stop no matter what they said. He figures this way, Touya will be safer and preoccupied so he can focus on Shouto. With the Commission's training and support equipment, Touya made leaps and bounds, but none of it seemed to matter to Endeavor who never appeared impressed of interested in his progress. Touya kept at it despite feeling as if he was completely thrown away in favor of Shouto. He began to resent Endeavor instead of idolizing him and worked hard to become an even better hero than both Shouto and their father. After his debut, he quickly rocketed up in the hero charts climbing to the top ten by 20 and settling in at number four by 23.

After Shouto's class was attacked by the LOV, he begins looking into the group in order to capture them on HPSC orders. Shouto asks to intern under him instead of Endeavor, eager to know his brother and not have to deal with their father. He declines, irritated, but the Commission demands he take him in so they can gain more information. Touya does as he is told but is an asshole the whole time, always rushing ahead and not bothering to actually talk or teach his brother anything. Shouto doesn't let it dissuade him and continues to chase after his tail. It's infuriating to Touya since Shouto is actually very good at being a hero to no one's surprise. It almost seems effortless to Touya who had to fight every day and struggle to get where is he now only for Shouto to already be this close to his level.

If it wasn't bad enough, Shouto is attacked again by the League and the HPSC demands he try infiltrate the organization. His contact ends up being Keigo. Touya struggles with trying to balance overtaking Endeavor's new place as number one, still being a hero, a spy, and training Shouto during his internships.

------------

Keigo's father was never arrested an eventually he and his mother began demanding Keigo go along to commit crimes, seeing how his quirk would be perfect for being a villain and getting them money for drugs and alcohol and anything else they wanted. Keigo refuses and his dad begins screaming at Keigo in public, about to hit him when Endeavor shows up. He asks what is going on and Takami tells the truth, that he's just trying to get his son to do what he's supposed to do. He's trying to look out for his wellbeing, but he just won't listen. Endeavor (who doesn't know there is a warrant for his arrest and frustrated with both Shouto and Touya) tells Keigo he needs to be a better son and do as his father asks; he's just doing what's best. With that, he leaves, completely shattering Keigo. Feeling defeated, he does as he's told and follows his father into a life of crime, hating every second. He's very successful and Japan begins to know of him. It leads to his father becoming more unstable and paranoid, demanding they get into more lucrative crimes that are worth the risk. Keigo does as he's told like always but gets an idea. By doing these things, he's able to get information and access to people who get off on the suffering of others.

He begins working as a vigilante, being very careful to cover his tracks so no one suspects the villain they're all working with to betray them. This leads him into the LOV after they attack the USJ, eager to see where the nomu come from and take them out from the inside. He plays along like he has for the last few years as a vigilante, getting cozy with the members. It's going well until he is found by Touya who insists on joining the league as well. He spins a sad story of his dad playing with eugenics and throwing him away and how he only became a hero to make him proud. Touya says it was all for nothing so why not just tear it all down and expose the hero filth from within? Keigo doesn't buy a second of it but once again, plays along. It would be good to have someone else on the inside trying to take these guys down besides him, especially since doing anything too drastic would fuck up his chances of continuing his vigilantism in the future once this mess is cleared up. As tests, he makes Touya dig up dirt on other heroes so he can expose them later.

---------

Fucking Christ. Okay, so that's all I've really gotten so far.

If you made it to the end of this, I applaud you. Thanks!

(side note- If Endeavor seems stupid or out of character for what he says to Hawks, it's based on a similar situation that happened to me as a kid- so it's not impossible. Especially for a guy who looks away at the own harm he causes for what he wants and thinks is best.)

[lapdogchase]

i think a lot of the confusion with low support needs vs medium/high support needs for autism is that all 3 categories are Huge spectrum- a person who's functioning near-indistinguishably from an allistic person and gets by without burning out using a bullet journal and talk therapy is low support needs of course. but an autistic person who often has verbal shutdowns, who can't manage cooking or shopping on their own and needs someone to budget for them, with severe sensory issues, and difficulty understanding tone or hidden meanings when people are talking to them, who has a family member or friend living with them to help them with their IADLs- that person could also be low support needs. because the "low/medium/high" isn't compared to neurotypicals, it's in comparison to other autistic people's needs

whereas someone with medium support needs might not be able to use full sentences, not understand most speech, might have meltdowns where they harm themselves or others nearby without being able to control themselves, cannot complete most IADLs (managing money, taking care of their health, preparing meals) on their own and struggles with some BADLs (showering, using the toilet, eating, getting dressed). and someone with high support needs might not understand speech at all, possibly isn't aware of other people or is completely uninterested in interacting with them, has severe and sometimes violent meltdowns, has needed intense support services and physical therapy etc from a young age, and isn't able to do most BADLs at all

and part of the confusion i think comes in misunderstanding the level of difficulty or inability someone with medium/high support needs might have with "basic" tasks. like, someone with low support needs might live off of pbj sandwiches and ramen because they aren't able to cook, someone with medium or high support needs might not be able to physically use a fork or knife without hand-over-hand assistance. someone with low support needs might forget to shower, have difficulty with it, need reminding, have meltdowns during or after showering, etc. someone with medium or high support needs might not be able to understand/remember/enact the steps involved in showering, the physical movements, etc. not just executive dysfunction or struggling to do things "correctly" but an inability to do these things unassisted at all.

like, someone with low support needs like me, if god himself picked me up and put me in an empty studio apartment in a city with a water bottle and a blanket and said i'd be living there alone for a week before being magically transported back to my normal day to day life. i wouldn't be happy about it, but i would be able to book an uber to go to the store, id be able to buy my ramen and peanut butter and bread and jelly, i'd be able to get home and shower and take care of myself. i would not be doing well, i could not sustain living on my own for an indeterminate amount of time, and i wouldnt be able to figure out the bus system in that short amount of time. but i would be alive. if someone with medium support needs like my brother were in that situation they might not be alive at the end of the week, or they might wander off without awareness of where they are and get hurt, or have a meltdown and not be able to explain what is happening.

i think people see "low support needs" and assume that since they have several crucial support needs, that they can't possibly have low support needs. but it's not just about having support needs at all, it's the type of activities that someone needs support with. someone can be nonverbal and have low support needs, they can have an intellectual disability and have low support needs, etc. and it doesn't mean they don't need a substantial amount of support! just that it's not the same type or amount of support as someone with medium or high support needs would need

[your-new-big-sibling]

A list of 30 reasons to stay alive:

To prove yourself to those who doubted you, to look back and realise that they were wrong, and no matter what they said you are still here

To be the person who could have saved you. If there's a chance that you could help someone else, someone who is in your position and doesn't have support, don't you want to stick around for that? To show them that it can and does get better, and that no matter what your situation is you can find happiness for yourself somewhere

Having the satisfaction of knowing that you have done so much more than ever expected of you. Knowing that you have faced more than should ever be asked of a person, and you're still here

Finding the solution to that one problem thats been nagging at you for ages, be it a plot-hole in a show or cutting out a toxic person from your life, just taking that step into a life that is better and healthier and knowing that you figured it out

Decorating your room exactly how you want it and creating that safe space that you always needed but might not always have had

Discovering a new piece of art that resonates so deeply within you it gives you goosebumps

Seeing a cat and having it chirrup and rub it's face on your leg asking for strokes and treats

Watching the sunrise and knowing you made it this far because of you and what you did

Finding a new constellation you'd never seen before

Finding someone who loves you and cares for you and keeps you safe

Standing up against those who made you feel this shitty and finally, finally, being able to say no, you can't hurt me anymore, I am more than the pain you caused me, and being able to walk away from that conversation smiling and feeling good

Telling that person how good they make you feel

Thanking the people that love you and support you

Doing what you love in your free time

Going on holiday to somewhere new

Visiting that shop you've never been in before

Buying that new book or top or film or piece of jewellery

Going on a camping trip with your friends and singing songs around the campfire, feeling safe and relaxed and realising that this was worth it, that you are fucking worth it

Finally feeling comfortable in your own skin, looking at yourself in the mirror and not even liking it but tolerating it and knowing that your body is yours and that it is doing its job because you are still here

Becoming an aunt or uncle to your friends kids and getting to buy them presents and being the cool one that they tell secrets they aren't ready to tell their parents to

Laying in bed and being excited for the next day instead of dreading it

Having hope

Having a dream

Feeling ambitious again

That victorious smile when you finally beat that one level on the game you've been stuck on since you were 13

Hugging a friend or loved one and not wanting to let go because this is what loving and being loved feels like

Feeling your heart so full to bursting with adoration for your life that you created for yourself because you deserve it

Knowing that you are worth it

Knowing that you are loved so so deeply

Learning to love your life again.

I know it's hard right now, believe me I do. There isn't much I can do from behind a screen, but if any one of these keep you going for even another week, another day, another few hours, then it was worth it.

Extra message under the cut.

You are fucking worth it, every bit of it. All of it. You deserve so much more then the cards you were dealt at the start of all of this. I am here, and I love you. You are loved, and so long as there is breath in my body you will continue to be loved because you are worth it.

You just have to hold on a little longer, and eventually it won't hurt as much as it does right now. It might hurt for a while, but you have to trust me.

It gets easier. Or, at the very least, less noticeable.

I love you <3

[paper-mario-wiki]

I don't know if you've talked about this elsewhere already but was the break from streaming intentional and/or are you planning on returning to streaming some time in the foreseeable future? no pressure, I just miss your silly antics :o)

felt very burnt out from being someone who people are always lookin at all the time mostly! (and also a lot more reasons)

got a new job that pays just as well as streaming (which is enough to pay for rent in seattle with roommates, buy food for myself, and sometimes buy yet another japanese gamecube via online auction), and have been enjoying the feeling of not relying on anonymous teenagers and young adults who are just as poor as me on the internet for my income. It's something i was extremely grateful for, but it's not only a very infirm way to generate revenue on a reliable basis, but also i always felt an ever-present sense of guilt for it. like, instilling within other people who i know are in my tax bracket (one that is below the poverty line) the idea of "hey if you dont tip me for doing this free service, the quality of which is damningly subjective, I will be homeless. but no pressure haha" is something that i was never able to shake.

also like. performing is quite draining for me! the way i portray myself in my streams is EXTREMELY extroverted while, in my personal life, i prefer to spend 8 to 14 of my waking hours every day by myself in my room with my dog. i like the quiet, and i feel at peace most when i am not being perceived by other people.

lastly, i really dislike having inordinate levels of social power. for a several reasons. like, SEVERAL reasons. this is the longest section of this post.

8 years ago, i got way more famous than any 16 year old should ever be when i got tens of thousands of followers overnight for doing undertale shit. and i think it really fucked up my ability to make friends at a time where my only experience meeting new people was at school or at church, and i lived far enough out in the woods that i couldnt just go outside and hang out with the neighbors cuz the neighbors lived a mile away. my socializing skills in general are way more stilted than i'd prefer for someone my age. in private settings ive got my foot in my mouth a lot. and sometimes in public settings too! im sure if youve seen streams ive been on, youve seen plenty of "chase you really shouldnt have said that" moments. and youre probably right, i probably shouldnt have! my moment-to-moment gauge for what i should and shouldnt say is very slow to catch up cuz ive got like. advanced mental illnesses. like, im not joking when i say ive been formally diagnosed several times over by different doctors with shit ive never heard anybody ever talk about, online or otherwise.

i dont think that's an excuse to say heinous or cruel things by any means of course, but i also think that i should not rely on a job where there's constantly a microphone in my hand and an audience listening intently to what i say. im not at all pulling the "its okay that i say mean things because im mentawy iww" card. as a matter of fact i think it's not okay that i say them! and i feel very embarrassed when i do! the filter that separates "normal healthy thoughts" and "intrusive unhealthy thoughts" is thinner and more flimsy in my brain than in others.

ive only gotten this far because i surround myself with very smart, patient, and kind people, and by trying to be understanding and patient with others too. and ive begun apologizing to people a lot more. i dont like it when people are mad at me, and i dont like that for a long time i had professionally painted myself into a corner where im typically always the "heel" in comedy settings, because the "heel" is the guy everyone shits on all the time. i got this reputation not because i actively enjoy being mean, but because i learned to adapt to the aforementioned "clinically unreliable intrusive thoughts filter" by realizing i would say things that came across as mean, and in real time exaggerating that it into a character that people could shoot back at without feeling guilty while still having fun. theres nothing that ruins a good time quite like someone who is constantly apologizing for doing something wrong, and then continuing to do that wrong thing anyway. dont misunderstand, i absolutely adore dunking on weenies when everyone can get a good laugh out of it (like tumblr anons, who i think should be classified as prokariyotic invertebrates and not people (no offense)) but even though it's a joke it still feels very bad when that's expected of me when i walk into a room. because if i walk into a room, and everyone expects me to be an asshole, everyone is on the defensive before i say anything, and sometimes they take shots at me when im not trying to "play". even worse, if im a heel in a setting where it's expected of me and someone cant really keep up with "the bit" then that just means im being an asshole to someone who cant or doesnt have the energy to fight back. and not just any asshole, an asshole who has had nearly a decade of professional experience being a paid asshole.

if im being frank, i dont know if i'll come back in a full capacity. i might! im not ruling that out! and you'll probably still see me pop up in my friends streams, because i did LOVE what i did for a very long time! but after i took my "break" in december after being more stressed than ive ever been, and i knew it was no longer financially necessary for me to livestream, i had the thought "i will go back to streaming when i find within myself a desire to do so" and ya know what? i havent yet.

and DO NOT FUCKING BOTHER MY FRIENDS ABOUT THIS. if you post a fucking "hey have u heard what chase said" message in their chat or in their DMs or anything, im not joking when i say you are actively being the kind of person i changed my career to avoid! fuck you, for real! stop trying to interface with them to get some new piece of information or opinion about me you fucking weirdo! they'll talk about me if they want to, but going to someone who is doing their own thing and asking them to instead comment on someone else it is ALWAYS fucking annoying. if you want to think about me, do it by yourself! or ask me directly! or do it in the comment section of a video im in! or write a fanfiction about me and then throw it away!

but if ur not that kind of person then ur cool dont worry.

anywho! im sorry if this is a bummer to read. but that's the full skinny.

im still posting regularly on twitter (clown_depot)! and if i DO go live, either on my twitch channel or on a friend's stream, it will be posted there!

thanks for watching :^]

im not goin radio silent, im just gonna turn off the electric window that lets people see me for a while.

[sammylkcho]

"Drowning in the Waves of Time"

Chapter one (Childhood)

Warnings/Notes: not proofread, ooc sebastian, seb shows up near the end of the chapter

Translations: Por el amor de Dios! - For heaven's sake!

Since you could remember, it had always been difficult for you to relate to others, from strangers to family members you might have seen when you started becoming aware of your actions and surroundings.

It wasn't simply because you didn’t like people at first glance and didn’t want to relate to them for no reason. No, quite the opposite, you had always wanted to connect with the people your mom introduced you to.

Sometimes, some of your mom's friends would come over to chat with her and bring along their "little ones" so they could play with you while they talked.

The children you interacted with never managed to form a close friendship with you due to their explosive personalities. They always wanted to climb on any high place in the house or touch the fragile glass things your parents had told you many times not to touch because they could break very easily.

Perhaps it was the constant "no" you were given or the fear of being scolded for doing something wrong that made it difficult for you to make friends. They had so much energy, were hyperactive, and always knew what to do, while you stayed just a few inches away from your mother, clinging to the fabric of her shirt, not wanting to take a single step away from her.

You never felt bad about not having any friends to play with because you entertained yourself at the park near your house or at home, where you spent your time drawing or playing with the various toys you always brought with you everywhere.

The ones that always seemed attached to your hand were a small blue shark and a manta ray that were bought for you when you visited an aquarium, and they agreed to buy you two stuffed animals from the gift shop. You didn’t let go of them for a single second; they were your treasures among the huge collection of stuffed animals on your bed.

And of course, you never let any other kid's hands touch your two favorite stuffed animals! No way were you going to let marine animals be touched by destructive hands! That would be unforgivable.

Once, a girl in preschool took them from you because their colors caught her attention. She snatched them from your hands, and when you tried to get them back, a thread tore as she pulled harder than you, leaving a small "wound" on your little manta ray.

That day, when your mom came to pick you up from preschool, she found you crying your eyes out, holding your blue shark in your left hand while tightly hugging your injured manta ray with your right hand.

Luckily, you were able to stop by your grandmother's house, and she sewed the place where the threads had torn. You thanked her through your tears when you saw your manta ray had survived the "operation".

In the following days, you spent your time playing in your room with your stuffed animals, going on a small underwater adventure, where your manta ray and blue shark would be the animals encountered on that journey. During your little story, your mom would come into your room to show you backpacks and lunchboxes to see if you liked them. You didn’t know why she had you choose, but you didn’t worry about it for the rest of the day.

The week ended, and the start of another meant going back to school, but this time you were entering primary school.

You were at the entrance of your new school, crying your heart out, refusing to let go of your mom’s pants. Your grip trembled from holding her so tightly, unwilling to let go.

She called your name as she knelt down to your level, giving you a smile full of love in an attempt to calm your tears.

"I know it’s hard and new for you, but look, I’m sure you’ll make new friends and find someone to play with. See, over there," she pointed at a group of girls who looked to be about your age or close to it, proudly showing off their dolls to other girls, "they seem to be in your grade. Why not give it a try, hmm?" she encouraged, taking your hand, which had been gripping her pants just moments ago.

You looked at the group of girls for a moment, taking your eyes off your mom for just a few seconds. You noticed the girls had Barbie dolls and baby dolls dressed in different outfits. None of it interested you.

You turned to complain to your mom, but when you didn’t see her beside you, nor any sign that she was still there with you, panic set in.

Tears threatened to return as fear gripped you at the thought of being alone, just you, your Nemo backpack, and your blue shark stuffed in your bag, in a place you didn’t know with no one you were familiar with.

"Sebastian Jax Solace Gonzales! Stop being such a brat and let go of your sister, por el amor de Dios!"

The shouts of a woman caught your attention. The tone and accent she used piqued your curiosity because it sounded strange. You wiped your tears with your sweater sleeve and grabbed the straps of your backpack as you walked toward the voice.

As you got closer, you were lucky not to encounter any rowdy kids wanting to play with you until you were overwhelmed. When you could hear the woman's voice more clearly, you noticed there were more kids, older than you, but you tried not to focus on that too much.

You observed a woman standing with her hands on her hips, her skin a dark brown, her blue eyes, and her black hair messily tied back with a clip. She had a frown on her face.

You followed her gaze and saw a boy clinging to a girl who was definitely older than you and him, maybe in a higher grade than yours. She had the same features as the woman (whom you guessed was her mother), with the slight difference that her hair was a very dark brown, easy to mistake for black.

Finally, there was him, who seemed to be "Sebastian" if you remembered correctly. He was an identical copy of the woman, with dark brown skin, wavy ash-colored hair, and he seemed taller than you.

His blue eyes turned toward you, and the grip he had on the older girl seemed to loosen for a few seconds.

Before any further interaction could happen, his mother scolded him again for his bad behavior, grabbing all his attention.

You didn’t want to keep watching the poor kid get embarrassed, so you headed off to find your classroom. You found one that said "1st grade" on a small sign next to the door, sat down at one of the desks, and waited as the classroom filled up until the teacher gave a brief introduction and welcome.

The first class consisted of small introductions, subjects they would be teaching, and first improving reading and writing.

The first bell rang, and all the kids from each classroom ran to the designated playground for each grade. Many of them quickly started playing and talking, making friends with each other.

You decided to head to a more distant spot on your playground. You started playing with the manta ray and blue shark you had brought, showing them the various things you came across.

"You can show them this."

A sudden voice made you yelp in surprise. You didn’t know someone else was there with you, and instinctively you clutched your stuffed animals against your chest.

Your eyes met a pair of blue ones, and the owner of those eyes was happily holding a small white rock.

"Maybe they like rocks" he spoke again, getting closer to you until you were face to face. He respected your personal space and didn’t bombard you with questions or things to say.

You looked at him doubtfully, unsure of what to say or do. Social interactions were definitely not your thing.

"The name's Sebastian. What's your name?" he asked with a small smile.

You told him your name with a bit of a stammer, still unsure of how to proceed after all this.

His eyes seemed to light up at this, his gaze shifting a few times between your face and your stuffed animals, but he said nothing more about them.

Your lips trembled as a small smile began to form. You didn’t know why, but you had a good feeling about Sebastian.

"This is my manta ray and my blue shark. They like white and gray rocks." You explained, pointing at each one as you introduced them.

Sebastian listened attentively and nodded excitedly when you finished your short explanation about your most precious stuffed animals.

You told him more about your treasured plushies, and he listened with full attention, not interrupting your sentences or pushing your boundaries.

The bell rang, cutting your conversation short as it was time to head back to the classrooms once again. Sebastian told you that you could meet there the next day since the school had a short schedule that day.

At the end of the day, you spent your time listening to him, making a mental note that the girl he had been with earlier was his older sister, who was about to graduate from elementary school, and that the woman yelling at him earlier was definitely his mom.

When they came to pick you up, you said goodbye to him, and with the small fin of your blue shark, you made a little wave to say goodbye.

Your mom smiled when she picked you up, holding your hand as she asked how your day had gone and if you had made a new friend.

A small smile reappeared, and you told her about your new friend named Sebastian.

Your mom’s eyes widened at the mention of a friend, but she quickly recovered, telling you how happy she was and that she could make some cookies for you to share with him tomorrow.

You liked him. He didn’t overwhelm or push you. Hmm, your first friend.

[wsknbfanaccnt]

Gurl I love your account!! Knb fandom is low-key dead so it's refreshing to see ppl who still like the show 🔥🔥

I have a request which (I think) is very diffrent from what you usually do? Basically your own headcanons about Akashi. But not NSFW or stuff like that. Just random headcanons you often think about, maybe some of his quirks, his favorite something...etc...

Anyway girl make sure you don't die cuz then who will post this delicious Akashi content ??😔

AAAAAAAAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH YALL I GOT A COMPLIMETN ON MY BLOG ASDHFKASJDHFLKJ HOOLY SHIT

YESSS i'd love to do that omfg

and you literally just gave me motivation to live HELL YEAH IMMA KEEP POSTING AKASHI CONTENT

i do have some already on this post that ive made so feel free to read that, but ive written more down below

i hope you like it AND THANK YOU FOR REQUESTING!!!

feel free to request more<3

tw! suicide and self harm at the end

(i hope this doesnt count as nsfw but i have a few strong headcanons abt this for him)

Akashi Random Headcanons

he was taught at an early age to put his pinky up when drinking or picking something up and he always gets teased by his friends for it

he plays Shogi with Bokushi in his head when he's bored (he literally plays blind chess why tf wouldnt he be able to do this?)

also argues with Bokushi a lot

he is secretly a metalhead and an ELITIST because his opinions are absolute (duh)

he talks to Shiori's grave when he's in a rough patch

he switches personality randomly throughout the day sometimes just to mess with people

he has online friends he plays chess with (NEEERRRRDDDD)

his name online is (this is more or less canon) Red Emperor

his hands are a bit calloused (from basketball, violin and stuff) and he's a lil insecure about it

when he needs to rant he takes Yukimaru out for a ride and rants to his horsey (with expletives)

his violin is a fucking Stradivarius (a brand on the same level as a Ferrari sports car)

fluent in many languages including, but not limited to, Spanish, Chinese, French, Italian, Arabic, Latin, Russian, German

he likes driving at night, it's so serene and calm for him

he HATES HATES HATES waking up in the morning and will willingly sacrifice a lecture session with Masaomi just to get 5 more minutes of sleep

sometimes he still eats popsicles from the convenience store to reminisce his time in Teiko

he is NOT a touchy person, he's gonna stay away from as much touch as possible (but he doesn't mind hugs)

he still has his first basketball that his mother gave to him as a kid and it's in his closet

he's never been to a supermarket lol and he does want to go inside one (he can and probably will buy every little flavor of everything that he sees interested)

when he does something slightly wrong he has an Internal panic attack and starts hearing Masaomi's voice yelling at him

uhhh he loves Sevonne (me) and considers her his wife <3

after everything that happened, he still keeps in touch with Midorima often and hangs out with him a lot

TW!

has thought about comitting suicide at one point in his life

not sure what point but one point

also has very faint scars on his upper thigh

[kaija-rayne-author]

Dragon Age Veilguard wrap up review and final thoughts

So… I wrote that string of reviews (section one starts here) while I was playing the game. I’d write them either before or after logging in for the day, so I wouldn’t forget anything I wanted to mention.

Spoilers for Dragon Age Veilguard. Tried to keep them to a minimum, but they’re there.

My thoughts on breaking the media blackout I stayed under while I played Veilguard to completion.

A little about me. I’m an editor by trade. I’m an author and a reviewer. I’m a pretty heavily left leaning, queer as fuck, non-binary person, so I’m not one of the awful reviewers who are causing so many problems from what I’ve heard. No one paid me for a review or to write anything. I’ve played the game to completion and watched the credits all the way through to that awful last scene. These are just my thoughts and my knowledge. And honestly? My broken heart.

I’m just someone who has absolutely loved Dragon Age from the moment I first turned on DAO. Because I’m an editor and a writer… my reviews tend to be more in depth than an average person’s? Maybe? I have a medical background (Forensic Anthropologist) and I legitimately read encyclopedias for fun.

In case you haven’t guessed yet. I’m autistic/ADHD (AuDHD). Dragon Age has been a hyperfocus/special interest of mine for years. I’m absolutely a lore fiend. I probably know more about the lore than many people actually working at BioWare. Especially if Veilguard is anything to judge by.

Also, this is all my off the cuff writing. I haven't the time, energy, or desire to edit them.

The problem with Dragon Age Veilguard… well. There’re a lot of problems with it. I think what it really comes down to is poor adhesion to the established lore, a crappy fighting and levelling system, and poor writing. And with Trick Weekes as Lead Writer? I never in a million years would’ve thought I’d have to say that about Veilguard.

I’ve enjoyed Weekes’ writing for a few years now. Two of my favourite Dragon Age books are by them. I really wish I could write a positive review for Veilguard. But I just can’t.

There were some things I liked about it. I liked some of the mechanics. Ziplines and the Elven light puzzles were pretty awesome. I liked how some of the streamlining made the game better. I liked how the logs were a lot easier to walk across than they were in any of the previous games. Some of the characters grew on me despite their poor writing. I liked the map when I was at the Lighthouse. Being able to see when and where a companion wanted to talk to me was great. I liked the wardrobe and how nice and easy it made changing how your gear looked. There were probably a few other things I liked. I tried to be scrupulous in my review series on saying both the positive and the negative. So if you’ve got the time to read that long thing, it’s probably worth it if you’re on the fence about buying and playing it.

And if you had a hand in making that travesty of a CRPG? You really should read it. For professional development, if nothing else.

If you’re Solavellan? I’ll just flat out tell you not to. It’s not worth it. There is no happy ending for Solas and Inky. There’s no intimate scene. Every single thing most Solavellan’s have been hoping for… for ten bloody years? It’s not there. And in fact, they did Solas so dirty. There were memories of him. I wanted memories! I did not want memories of every awful thing he’d ever been forced to do as a rebel leader. They hammered home how awful Solas was with a freaking jackhammer.

As a diehard DA fan and a committed Solavellan? It was an outright painful game to play. It really hurt. And then to see his horrific wolf form (he honestly looks like a Chinese crested dog on a really bad day. I really wish I were joking.) And then to not have anything resembling a happy ending? It’s not worth your time, and it definitely isn’t worth your money. Fanfic writers will have to heal our broken hearts, because Weekes certainly did not.

No. Trick Weekes. That was not even a suggestion of a happy ending. And I will honestly never trust you again after you actually tweeted that to me. You gave me hope. And there was no reason to hope.

So… yeah. I’ll never be able to cover all the bad in Veilguard in a short (ish) review. I’m trying to keep this short!

I’m not good at that. For what it’s worth. XD.

The Lore.

There is so much Lore they had to use for inspiration. Three full games, five books, six comics, at least two coffee table/art books and probably stuff I don’t know about. They had all of that to use as inspiration. What little they did use? Was so twisted it was hardly recognizable. I went into more detail in the longer review series so I won’t here. But they hardly used the amazing amount of Lore at all. They shoved it under the rug of bad writing to make a very unsightly lump to anyone with eyes to see it.

It’s almost like they were so eager to shuffle Solas off so they could move on to writing a new game in a different age that they just… I don’t even know. Treated him poorly doesn’t begin to cover it. Screwed up the story by sidelining a plot-necessary character also doesn’t cover it. Which as both an editor and an author, I really do not understand. You don’t do that with such a plot heavy character. It leaves the consumers unhappy.

After the game play reveal. I honestly didn’t have a lot of hope. I knew Varric’s fate even before that. (It’s not good. In case you’re wondering.) Becoming an editor has absolutely ruined me by making it easy to guess what’s going to happen.

The Writing.

I’ve actually heard and seen the writers saying they were pleased with how the characters came out. Professionally? And as kindly as I possibly can? May I suggest you all learn how to write better? Most of those characters and the plot were just so poorly written. The romances were ridiculous. And I’m a romance author? So I kinda know what I’m talking about? At every juncture, you all chose the most basic, most puerile options. The only surprises for me in that game were how you completely ignored the Lore and how bad the writing was.

I think Veilguard would’ve been perfectly fine as a non-Dragon Age action RPG. And for anyone who loves it for that… I’m truly happy for you.

But that’s not how it was marketed. It had all the right Dragon Age voice actors, character names, location names… but that is not Dragon Age. You’d need to actually use the lore for that. They did not. Or if they used a little? It was heavily retconned and twisted out of recognition. The only thing even remotely close to being like a Dragon Age game were the settings, environments, and scenery. Those were phenomenal and the only thing that held that travesty of a game together. Everything else? Goddess. How do you fail so horribly at something when you have every resource you could possibly need to make it good?

Because it could actually have been good. It could’ve been phenomenal. If they’d actually written that game for Dragon Age fans? You know… us middle-aged or slightly younger/older gamers who’ve lusted for another DA game for years? If they’d paid attention even a little bit to the Lore? If they hadn’t side-lined a plot-important character? If they hadn’t retconned soooo much that I often felt like I had whiplash playing it? If they hadn’t stripped it down to the very bare bones of mediocrity? If they hadn’t basically made it for children? While condescending to them? (Heads up… kids hate being condescended to.)

If they hadn’t nerfed rogues so badly that I don’t know why they bothered to call them rogues at all? You cannot pick locks, hide in shadows, sneak, set or disarm traps, brew potions or bombs… absolutely none of the fun stuff that makes a rogue a rogue is in Veilguard. If you’re a rogue player? Skip it. You’ll just be as disappointed as I am.

Nor can you garden. You can’t make potions or bombs or… anything. You can’t craft anything yourself. You go to someone called The Caretaker at the Lighthouse and use everything you’ve collected by smashing far too many barrels (why… why with the barrels?) for them to upgrade your stuff. You can’t really dress up your companions in funny clothing or armour. They’ve scraped most of the detail out of Veilguard like they were carving a pumpkin and had to get the guts out. The problem is? Those guts are needed for any story. It’s called world building.

Get this. BioWare… BIOWARE removed blood splatter from Veilguard. There’s no toggle I can find that makes it even possible. They truly made this game for kids and not for the middle-aged gamers who… y’know… usually have money to spend on games. Do NOT ask me how that made any kind of sense. Their logo for at least two games was a blood splatter Dragon ffs. And now there’s no blood splatter option in game. I just absolutely cannot understand it.

The fighting system.

Dear gods. The fighting system. So first? They tied how often your companions get skill points to how high their bond is with you. You increase your bond with them by taking them with you (and you can only take two) and doing their quests, etc. But do you know what that means in functionality? If you’re not a tank player? You’re basically cream cheese. I’m not a professional gamer. But gaming is my number one form of entertainment. I play on hard/ultra hard for most games I play. And a lot of them are live-fighting types like DAV was trying to be.

Guess whose rogue had a permanent tattoo of ‘I have aggro please come eat me now’ on their forehead? Mine. I have a very intimate understanding of the inside animations of the dragon’s mouths. If they’re going to keep that crappy leveling system, the least they could do is let us all have the ‘no death’ toggle on every level. Won’t matter to me because I can’t imagine ever playing it again.

I lost 14 hours of my life with the crashing, glitching, and reloading I had to go through to get the damned thing to even run. (And it’s not my computer. It has an ssd. The video drivers are all updated and up to snuff. It’s around a little over midway between necessary and recommended specs. It’s just a shitty game.) It’s a shame I can’t charge BioWare for those lost hours of my life. How could they have possibly thought that this game was ready for release?

If you want to know the rest of the negatives (and a few more positives) the whole review series is where you’ll find them.

But between the actual craptastic showing of Veilguard and that last scene taking all the agency away from every character who ever came before? Oh, and with the bad guys from across the sea wearing something an awful lot like a burqa? You know… the long black robes and veils many Afghani people and other Muslims wear? Nah. I’m done. Finite. I may occasionally enjoy the first three games. But Veilguard does not exist for me. And anything they make going forward doesn’t exist for me. That last scene… WTAF were they thinking? I actually can’t believe out of all the people who must have worked on that game that no one else made that connection about maybe insinuating that people wearing black robes and veils who live on the other side of the sea are evil is maybe a bad thing!?

I just can’t anymore. If you’re looking for a no-brain needed, kid oriented, action RPG (they really did simplify this soooo much for children that it’s absolutely condescending) then you’ll probably be fine with it.

If you love the Lore as much as you love the world? If you play rated M games with romanceable companions for the intimate scenes and the romance? (You’ll be disappointed.) If you have a few thoughts on whether it’s a great idea to remove the agency of all previous characters in the entire series as being bad? If you think maybe it’s a bad idea to insinuate people in burqas are evil? If you play anything other than a tank? Veilguard is not a game for you.

[canmom]

The Flower That Bloomed Nowhere, 000-012

Or, what if that mural was the heart of a web serial.

I'm reading The Flower That Bloomed Nowhere, thanks largely to the enthusiasm of @azdoine and @lukore on my dash over the last few months.

This is absolutely not gonna be a liveblog in the level of detail of the great Umineko liveblog project. Rather I'm gonna be aiming at something like the comics comints series or those occasional posts on anime. Or indeed what I wrote about Worth The Candle last year. I must create a robot whose purpose is to watch to see if I start writing detailed plot summaries and hit me with a stick labelled 'remember you have a job now'.

That outta the way, let's talk flower!

No, not that flower!

I will start with an anecdote. When I was at university, I ended up attending a talk by court alchemist senescence researcher Aubrey de Grey, who at that time did not yet have a 'sexual harassment allegations' section on his Wikipedia page. The main thing that struck me at the time was his rather spectacularly long beard. But I did listen to his talk about ending aging.

de Grey's schtick is that he, like many people in the transhumanist milieu, believes that medical technology is on the cusp of being able to prevent aging sufficiently well to prolong human lifespans more or less indefinitely. He believes that the different processes of aging can be understood in terms of various forms of accumulating cellular 'damage', and that these will begin to be addressed within present human lifespans, buying time for further advancements - so that (paraphrasing from memory) 'the first immortals have already been born'. He has some pretty graphs to demonstrate this point.

At that talk, one of the audience members asked de Grey the (in my view) very obvious question about whether access to this technology would be distributed unevenly, creating in effect an immortal ruling class. de Grey scoffed at this, saying he always gets this question, and basically he didn't think it would be a big deal. I forget his exact words, but he seemed to assume the tech would trickle down sooner or later, and this was no reason not to pursue it.

I'm sure de Grey is just as tired of being reminded of how unbalanced access to medical technology is in our current world, or the differences in average life expectancy between countries.

So, I was very strongly reminded of de Grey as The Flower That Bloomed Nowhere laid out its major thematic concerns and characters. I was also put in mind of many online arguments in the transhumanist milieu about whether it would be a good thing, in principle, to end death.

In particular, of course, comes to mind transhumanist Nick Bostrom's short story The Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant, in which death is likened to a huge dragon that demands to be fed trains full of humans every day. In the story, humanity's scientists secretly build a giant gun to kill the dragon. Naturally, despite all the doubters and naysayers who foolishly feel obliged to justify the existence of the dragon, the gun works. Bostrom's imagery is incredibly heavy-handed (particularly the trains à la Auschwitz), but just in case you didn't get it, he also spells out the moral explicit at the end: basically, every day not spent putting resources to abolishing death is adding up more and more bodies to the pile of people who don't get to be immortal.

So far, Flower seems to be shaping up to be a critical intervention into that milieu, with a much more grounded view of death and a much stronger model of society - admittedly not a high bar but it's going good so far!

At the time of writing this commentary, I have read the prologue and first two six-chapter arcs, namely Mankind's Shining Future (1-6) and Pilgrimage to the Deep (7-12).

the general shape of things

We are introduced - from the perspective of sardonic, introverted Su, who is going to be the protagonist of our time loop - to a group of brilliant young medical wizards, who have just been invited to visit the headquarters of a secret society whose mission is precisely to abolish death. Su's grandfather was some kind of controversial luminary who was expelled this organisation, and he also did something to her, which is giving her some kind of ulterior motive to find her way into this society.

We know pretty much from the outset that this is a time loop scenario: Su has been explicitly given the opportunity to replay the scenario in the hopes of find an alternative outcome, by some kind of presently mysterious parties. This first part is the 'control' loop, i.e. probably more or less how things went down 'originally'.

I believe Umineko is an explicit inspiration for this story, and the influence is pretty evident. But parallels with the Locked Tomb series, especially Gideon the Ninth, are also quite noticeable. @lukore spoke of it as the STEM to Locked Tomb's humanities, and I can already kinda see it, although we haven't got into the real meat of the scenario yet. This story began serialisation four years ago, making the two works roughly contemporary. The latest chapter was published in the last couple of weeks - no idea if I've arrived just in time for the ending!

Stylistically, it's generally pretty heavy on dialogue and long asides. The characters are a bunch of mega nerds who love to have big philosophical and political discussions, but their dynamics are well enough realised and their dynamics clear enough that it can double up as naturalistic characterisation. So far, the discussions have been interesting to read.

Below I'm going to make some notes and comments on various elements of the setting and story. In a followup post (because it got too long) I'm going to talk a lot about entropy. Perhaps you will find this interesting!

the world

The first few chapters are dedicated pretty hard to exposition. We find ourselves in a distant-future setting - one in which it seems reality has totally collapsed and then been rebuilt using magic, creating a somewhat oddball universe which lacks things like the element iron, and also electromagnetism. This seems like it would have pretty severe implications for just about everything!

However, the 'ironworkers' have, after producing a series of trial and error 'lower planes' that didn't quite get it right, landed on a fairly close approximation of how things used to be on the old world. Though by 'fairly close approximation' I mean like... it's a bowl-shaped world and the sun and stars are artificial lanterns. But still, there are humans, and they seem to work more or less like we're used to humans working, apart from the whole 'magic' thing.

So, an alt-physics setting. Praise Aealacreatrananda, I love that shit.

While electromagnetism might be out, the more abstract physical principles like thermodynamics still apply, and the humans of this universe have managed to find analogues to a number of things in our world. Instead of computers, they have 'logic engines' which run on magic. Horses seem to have made it in, so we get delightful blends of historical and futuristic concepts like a self-driving computer-controlled horse-drawn carriage taxi.

The biggest difference is of course that in this setting, magic - more on that in a bit - has solved most medical problems and humans routinely live to around 500. The setting is ostensibly a semi-post-scarcity one, although a form of money exists in 'luxury debt', which can be exchanged for things like taxi rides, café food and trips on the space elevator.

Politically, we are told that the world has enjoyed a few hundred years of general peace, broken in living memory by a revolution which put an end to a regime of magical secrecy. There are lots of countries, and an alliance overseeing them.

There's a few other oddities in this world. Something called a 'prosognostic event' can happen if you see someone who has the same face as you, and whatever this is, it's bad enough news that everyone is constantly reminded to veil their faces in public and there's some kind of infant 'distinction treatment' to mitigate the risk. Given that, in the regular world, nothing particularly bad would happen if you ran into a long-lost identical twin, it suggest there is probably something a little fucky about how humans work in this world!

There's evidently a fair bit of effort put into the worldbuilding of fictional countries and historical periods. The important elements seem to be roughly along the lines of:

our world is currently in what they call the 'old kingdoms' period, which is poorly remembered;

next up comes an 'imperial' period of high transhumanist shenanigans in which society was ruled by 'gerontocrats' who got exclusive access to the longevity treatment, but this all somehow led to a huge disaster which destroyed og earth;

the survivors built the Mimikos where humanity currently lives using magic and created some kind of huge iron spike that holds the universe together; there was subsequently a 'fundamentalist' period in which a strict cutoff point was put on human lifespans and a lot of the wackier magic was banned;

now we're onto a new era of openness following a small revolution, while the major political structures remain largely intact.

Writing a far-future setting is hard, because trying to deal with the weight of history without the story getting bogged down with worldbuilding details is a fiddly line to walk. The Dying Earth series of Jack Vance might be a relevant point of comparison. Vance leaves the historical details vague - there are endless old kingdoms and strange artefacts and micro-societies for Cugel and co. to stumble on. Far more important than the specifics of history is establishing the vibe of a world that's seen an unimaginable amount of events layered on top of each other and is honestly a bit tired.

Flower makes things a bit more concrete and generally manages to make this work decently well. I do appreciate the asides where Su talks about, for example, the different architectural styles that layer up to make a place, or the way a technique has been refined. It establishes both that Su is the kind of person to notice this sort of thing, and also helps the world feel lived-in.

the names

The story doesn't do a lot with language. The story is written in English, and the narration will occasionally make reference to how things are phrased (e.g. how divination predates the suffix -mancy). We can probably make the standard assumption that this is all translated from $future_language, with the notional translator making a suitable substitution of whatever linguistic forms exist in that language.

The characters are named in a variety of languages. Our main character's full name is Utsushikome of Fusai. We're told that this is "an old name from Kutuy, and means something like 'mysterious child'" - so Kutuyan is one of the languages spoken in this world. It's blatantly got the same phonotactics as Japanese, and indeed if I search up 'Utsushikome', I find an obscure historical figure called Utsushikome-no-Mikoto, wife of the Emperor Kōgen; she has no article on English Wikipedia, but she does have a brief one on Japanese wiki. Just as Su says about Kutuyan, 'Utsushikome' is written 欝色謎 in Japanese, but it relies on archaic readings of those characters and wouldn't read that way in modern Japanese. We could perhaps assume a good old translation convention is in effect where Kutuyan is replaced with Japanese.

A lot of characters have Greek names, as do various setting elements. One exception is Kamrusepa, or Kam, who is named for an ancient goddess of medicine worshipped by the Hittites and Luwians. I know basically fuck all about Hittites and Luwians but it's a cool little nod to mythology, and it won't be the only one!

I'll run down a list of characters and my comments about them in a bit. But many are named after gods or other mythological figures.

the magic

Most of the divergences come from magic existing. Certain humans are 'arcanists', who are able to use the 'Power', which is a magic system with a highly computational flavour. Thanks to Su's expositional asides, we know that an incantation is something like a short program written in cuneiform with the ability to gather information, perform maths, and manipulate particles. An example we are given is a spell called "entropy-denying", which is the following string of cuneiform:

"…(𒌍𒌷𒀭)(𒌍𒁁𒀭)𒅥𒌈𒆜𒈣𒂠, 𒋢𒀀𒅆𒌫𒃶,𒈬𒊹."

We're told that spells always start with phrases ending in 𒀭, and end in 𒊹. Beyond that, I'm not sure how far the author has actually worked out the syntax of this magic system - probably not in too much detail! Seems like the kind of thing it's better to leave vague, but also she seems like kind of nerd who would (positive). It's conceptually a reasonable magic system for a world where more or less realistic physics applies.

The use of unusual scripts for a magic system isn't that unusual - the old European occultists who wrote the [Lesser] Key of Solomon loved to write on their magic circles in Hebrew, and in modern times we could mention Yoko Taro's signature use of the Celestial Alphabet for example - but the specific use of cuneiform here seems like it might be a little more significant, because a little later in the story the characters encounter a mural depicting The Epic of Gilgamesh, which of course was recorded on cuneiform tablets. Remains to be seen exactly what these allusions will mean!

The magic system is divided into various disciplines defined by the different ways they approach doing magic, with the disciplines breaking down broadly along the same lines as the modern scientific disciplines. For example, our protagonist is a thanatomancer ("necromancer" having become unfashionable), which is the discipline dealing with death; she's specifically an entropic thanatomancer, distinguished by their framework viewing death as the cessation of processes.

Magic relies on an energy that they refer to as 'eris' (unknown relation to the Greek goddess of strife and discord). We are told that eris must be carefully apportioned across the elements of a spell or shit blows up, that it can be stored, and it accumulates gradually enough that you don't want to be wasteful with it, but so far given little information about where it comes from.

Magic in this story generally seems to act as a kind of 'sufficiently advanced technology'. It's very rules-based, and used for a lot of mundane ends like operating computers or transport. Advancement in magic is something like a combination of basic research and software development. But the thing that makes it a magic system and not merely alt-physics is that it's at least a little bit personal: it must be invoked by an individual, and only certain people can operate the magic. We're told a little about how wizards are privileged in some societies, indoctrinated in social utility in others, and expected to be inconspicuous in the present setting. It's not clear yet if you need some kind of special innate capacity to do the magic, or if it's just a matter of skill issue.

With one exception, our main characters are a gaggle of wizards, and exceptionally skilled students at that. They're at an elite institution, carrying high expectations, even if they are themselves fairly dismissive of the pomp and ceremony. They have grandiose plans: Kamrusepa in particular is the main voice of the 'death should be abolished' current.

the cast

We're entering a cloistered environment with high political stakes hanging off of it. Even if I hadn't already heard it described as a murder mystery, it would feel like someone will probably be murdered at some point, so lets round up our future suspects.

Su (Utsushikome) is our protagonist and first-person POV. She's telling this story in the first past tense, with a style calling to mind verbal narration; she'll occasionally allude to future events so we know for sure narrator!Su knows more than present!Su. She's got a sardonic streak and she likes long depressing antijokes, especially if the punchline is suicide. She will happily tell us she's a liar - so maybe her narration isn't entirely reliable, huh.

Su is more than a little judgemental; she doesn't particularly like a lot of her classmates, or people in general, and generally the first thing she'll tell you about a character is how well she gets on with them. She introduces the theme of 'wow death sucks' in the first paragraph, but she is, at least at this point, pessimistic that anyone will manage to do anything about it for good.

Her magical specialisation is entropic thanatomancy, roughly making processes go again after they working coherently.

Her name is a reference to an obscure Japanese empress, as discussed above.

Ran is Su's bestie from the same home country. She is generally pretty on the level. She likes romance novels and she is pretty sharp at analysing them. She will cheerfully team up with Su to do a bit or bait someone else when an argument gets going.

Her magical specialisation is Divination, which is sort of a more fundamental layer of magic, about gathering information by any means. In medicine it's super advanced diagnostics.

Her name is too short to pin down to a specific allusion. Could be one of a couple of disciple of Confucius such as Ran Geng, or a Norse goddess of the sea.

Kam (Kamrusepa) is the de facto class prez and spotlight lover. She's hardcore ideological, the story's main voice of the de Grey/Bostrom death-abolishing concept so far - I think she straight up calls someone a 'deathist' at some point. She loves to tell everyone what she thinks about everything, and getting the last word.

Her magical specialisation is Chronomancy, so time magic. It's described as secretive and byzantine, but also it can do stuff like (locally?) rewind time for about five minutes. No doubt it has something to do with the time loop.

As mentioned above, she's named after a fairly obscure ancient deity of healing and magic.

Theo (Theodoros) is a fairly minor character. He's scatterbrained and easily flustered, he has a similar background to our protagonist, and he's not great with people. His name is shared with a number of ancient Greek figures, so it's hard to narrow it down to one allusion. I don't think his magic school has been mentioned.

Ptolema is a cheery outgoing one, someone who Su dismisses as an airhead. And she is at least easy to bait into saying something ill-considered. Her specialisation is applying magic to surgery. As a character, she tends to act as a bit of a foil to the others. Bit of a valley girl thing going on.

'Ptolema' is presumably a feminised version of the renowned Greek philosopher Ptolemy.

Seth is the jock to Ptolema's prep, and our goth protag Su doesn't particularly like him either. ...lol maybe that's too flippant, I may be misapplying these US high school stereotypes. To be a little more precise then, he's pretty casual in demeanour, flirty, likes to play the clown. He specialises in Assistive Biomancy, which revolves around accelerating natural healing processes.

Seth is named for either the Egyptian god (domain: deserts, violence and foreigners) or an Abrahamic figure, the third son of Adam and Eve granted by God after the whole Caim killing Abel thing.

Ophelia is someone Su describes as 'traditionally feminine' - soft-spoken, demure etc. (Gender in this world appears to be constructed along broadly similar lines to ours). Indeed we get a fairly extended description of her appearance. Her specialisation is Alienist Biomancy, which means introducing foreign elements to healing (not entirely sure how that differs from the Golemancy mentioned later).

Ophelia is of course a major character in Shakespeare's Hamlet, best known for going mad and dying in a river.

Fang is the only nonbinary member of the class, noted as the most academically successful. They're not on the expedition, but the characters discuss them a little in their absence, so maybe they'll show up later. It seems like they have a bit of a rebellious streak. Their magical specialisation is not mentioned.

Fang is a regular ol' English word, but I gave it a search all the same and found there's an ancient Chinese alchemist of that name. She is the oldest recorded woman to do an alchemy in China, said to know how to turn mercury into silver.

Lilith is the teenaged prodigy in computers logic engines, and Mehit is her mother who accompanies her on the trip. They've got a big Maria and Rosa (of Umineko) dynamic going on, with Mehit constantly scolding Lilith and trying to get her to obey social norms, though in contrast to Maria, Lilith is a lot more standoffish and condescending to the rest of the gang. Lilith specialises in 'Golemancy', which means basically medical robotics - prosthetic limbs and such. She spends most of her time fiddling with her phone logic engine, and will generally tell anyone who talks to her that they're an idiot. Sort of a zoomer stereotype.

Lilith is named for the Abrahamic figure, the disobedient first wife of Adam who was banished and, according to some Jewish traditions, subsequently became a demon who attacks women at night. There may be some connection between Lilith and the lioness-headed Mesopotamian chimeric monster Lamashtu, which I mention because Mehit is an Egyptian and Nubian lion goddess.

'Golemancy' is probably playing on the popular fantasy idea of a 'golem' as a kind of magic robot, but given the Jewish allusion in Lilith's name here, I do wonder a little bit if it's going to touch on the Jewish stories of the Golem which inspired it - a protective figure with a specific religious dimension.

There are some other characters but they're not part of the main party on their way to the function, so I won't say much about them just yet. Also it's entirely possible I went and forgot an entire classmate or something, big whoops if so.

the events

In true Umineko tradition, the beginning of the story narrates in great detail how the protagonists make their way to the place where the plot is going to happen.

To be fair, there's a lot of groundwork to be laid here, and the characters' discussions do a lot to lay out the concerns of the story and sketch out the setting, not to mention establish the major character relations. A murder mystery takes a certain amount of setup after all! There's plenty of sci-fi colour to be had in the 'aetherbridge', which is a kind of space elevator that lifts you up to a high altitude teleporter network. (It's technically not teleportation but 'transposition', since teleportation magic also exists in the story, with different restrictions! But close enough for government work.)

They go to a huge space citadel, which is kind of a transport hub; some cloak and dagger shit happens to hide the route they must take to the mysterious secret organisation. They find a strange room with a missing floor and a mural of the Epic of Gilgamesh, albeit modified to render it cyclic. What does it meeaaaan?

The idea of a secret society of rationalists is one that dates back to the dawn of ratfic, in HPMOR. It was kinda dumb then, but it works a lot better here, where we're approaching the wizard circle from outside. The phrase 'Great Work' has already been dropped. I love that kind of alchemical shit so I'm well into finding out what these wizards are plotting.

the dying

A lot of the discussions revolve around the mechanics of death. Essentially the big problem for living forever is information decay. Simple cancers can be thwarted fairly easily with the magic techniques available, but more subtle genetic slippages start to emerge after the first few hundred years; later, after roughly the 500 year mark, a form of dementia becomes inevitable. It's this dementia in particular that the characters set their sights on curing.

One thing that is interesting to me is that, contra a lot of fantasy that deals with necromancy (notably the Locked Tomb series), there appears to be no notion of a soul in this world whatsoever. The body is all that there is. Indeed, despite all the occult allusions in the character names, there is very little in the way of religion for that matter. Even the 'fundamentalism' is about an idea of human biological continuity that shouldn't be messed with too much.

Su distinguishes three schools of thought on death, namely 'traditional', 'transformative' and 'entropic'. The 'traditional' form attempts to restore limited function - classic skeleton shit. 'Transformative' sees death as a process and uses dead tissues together with living in healing. Su's 'entropic' school broadens this 'process' view to consider death as any kind of loss of order - a flame going out as much as an organism dying. At the outset of the story, Su has discovered a 'negentropic' means to restore life to an organism, which she considers promising, even if for now it only works for fifteen minutes.

This is an interesting perspective, but the devil is in the details. Because processes such as life or flames, necessarily, result in a continuous increase in the thermodynamic entropy of the universe. And yet this idea of death-as-loss-of-order does make a kind of sense, at a certain level of abstraction.

Elaborating on this got rather too long for this post, and I think it can stand alone, so I'm going to extract it to a followup post.

the comments

As is probably evident by the length of this post, I am very intrigued by The Flower That Bloomed Nowhere. The setting is compelling, and it seems like it's got the willingness to bite at the chewy questions it raises instead of acting like it has all the answers, which is I think one of the most crucial elements for this kind of scifi. I like how unabashed it is at having its characters straight-up debate shit.

Of course, this all depends where they go with it. There's so many ways it could be headed at this point. I hear where it's going is 'dark yuri' and 'Umineko-inspired murder mystery', so that should be really juicy fun, but I do end up wondering what space that will leave to address the core theme it's laid out in these first few chapters.

Overall, if this and Worth the Candle are what modern ratfic is like, the genre is honestly in pretty good shape! Of course, I am reading very selectively. But this is scratching the itch of 'the thing I want out of science fiction', so I'm excited to see where the next 133 chapters will take me.

Though all that said, I ended up writing this post all day instead of reading any other chapters or working, so I may need to rein it in a bit.

[adventuringblind]

Mend Me

Lando Norris X Reader

Genre: Magical Realism via Superpowers (kind of), A mix of fluff and angst

Summary: After a long history of being running and hiding, she finds someone who isn't afraid of her. Enough to risk it all for him. Feat Oscar and Carlos being a chaotic duo for once.

Warnings: A tad dehumanizing (if you really squint), mentions of hospitals, mentions of blood/wounds/weapons/bruises, reader literally bring someone back to life,

Notes: This is incredibly experimental. I like these kinds of AU's that incorporate racing still. It's fun to see different concepts come to life in a normal world! I'm currently working on a few A/B/O fics and a few other experimental things :)

Side Note: and another request! I had so much fun writing these two and this story in general! I'm hoping to write more like this, or for these two specifically, in the future!

Masterlist // Request Form // My Website // buy me a Ko-Fi

This is not the life she envisioned for herself. The running, hiding, forging papers to try and keep herself safe.

Stupid unnatural abilities that she never asked for. A danger rating that started at three and moved up steadily as these abilities expanded. Classified within a unique group that tends to be more isolated due to their nature.

A healer is what her new papers say, a danger rating of five. Her armband required across the globe remains the same color. Unassuming and weak, which is how she needs to be perceived.

Powers, abilities, magic, auras, whatever you want to call them, manifest in different ways. Some are element based, some a material, some deal with things like the mind and soul. Smaller groups include shapeshifters, psychics and mediums, shadow work, and her own group.

Those who deal in life and death are not to be messed with. The healers and the reapers. Which, you would think wouldn't be dangerous. She was lucky enough to not be sentenced to a life in captivity. The reapers can decide who dies when, if they are strong enough. Usually prompted by the healers if they person is out of reach. It's a peaceful passing. Yet that doesn't stop people from fearing that kind of power and control.

No, she's a healer. Lower levels are kept as doctors and nurses. Knitting wounds together, feeling the pain of others, being able to x-ray a body without a machine, are all useful.

Raising people from the dead? yeah, that tends to freak people out.

Her wound transference started small. A scraped knee on a friend became her own, but without a mere itch. Soon it progressed into deep lacerations which bled less on her and healed faster. Then it was bigger injuries like broken bones and concussions.

Training was required for anyone with abilities. In order to see where they fall in rating, where they can be utilized, and make sure they have control over the chaos.

She spent ample time in the local hospital with the other healers. The paramedics had rushed inside. The body nearing death. They flatlined, mangled in different ways, yet she still managed at the age of sixteen to bring them back.

The amount of pain she was in was nearly unbearable. She'd almost killed herself in the process.

Her rating shot up to seven after that and she was whisked away to a facility for people like her. They moved her up to nine after another year. She'd managed to bring back someone who'd been dead at least a day.

She's a necromancer.

Whatever she is, they all knew they couldn't stay in that place. Inevitably escaping with their combined powers. She'd never run so fast. She was provided new classification papers and sent off to a different country.

Which is how she found herself here. Traveling and healing despite the prior adversity. She likes this job, specifically because she's strong enough to manage drivers and personnel in the paddock who hurt themselves with their own abilities, but not enough to look conspicuous. Which is a fine line she's toeing, but she makes it work.

She has regulars. Max Verstappen frequently asks her to come around. Metal tends to slice him when he's not grounded and specifically more agitated. Lando has a tendency to hit himself in the head with things when he's excited and the telekinesis decides he needs something right that second. Carlos shapeshifts into a bear, which comes with its own set of problems (she didn't know she'd have to be a vet, also). Then there is Alex, who always seems to be summoning feral street animals.

The year she started; she was nineteen. Lando and Carlos were teammates then. The Brit a in his sophomore year of the sport. The number of bruises on both drivers was ridiculous due to Lando randomly pushing and pulling random objects was ridiculous. Carlos even joked he might have been doing it on purpose at the time.

It was 2021, and the encouragement of Daniel, that got him to ask her out. An invitation she accepted. It was nice, but there was that lingering fear in the back of her mind that he would figure her out and turn her in.

A night out in 2022 is what changed everything for her. The ability to trust and a longing for connection driving her to spend the night with him.

Now, her suppressor band is strong enough that she's only supposed to wear it for twenty-four hours maximum. She'd put it on when she woke up the morning prior and hadn't taken it off sense. Lando had asked if she wanted to take it off, let their energies meld together. A privilege only people like them have. But she'd declined and he hadn't pushed.

She slept in. The best sleep she'd had in a while, mind you. Yet the pain firing through every nerve of her body had her crying. She hadn't cried in pain in so long. This was entirely new to her, and if she's honest with herself, terrifying to experience.

~~~~~

Lando stirs beside her. His hands cup her face and eyes scan her body as he attempts to understand what's wrong. She's unresponsive and he panics. Enough to call Carlos and ask if it's something to do with her classification of power. She could've overdone it, or it's the residue of a different injury she took on herself. Whatever the case, he needs help.

"Lando, mate, she's a five right?"

"Yeah? why?"

"Suppressor bands for five and up tend to be stronger than four and below."

Lando pauses for a second. "Aren't you a seven?"

"And I take mine off in intervals." Carlos' explanation makes sense. Enough for Lando to calm himself and locate the chain on her wrist. "Just take it off and see if it helps. It might not be immediate though so give it about ten minutes and then call me back."

"Thank you, Carlos."

"Not sure what we'd do without her. Maybe kill ourselves? So, you better keep her alive, mate!"

Lando ends the call. Her body seizing in his arms in a scary kind of way that makes him want to vomit.

The chain doesn't come off easily. The second he manages to unclasp it; she becomes deadweight in his arms. But he doesn't get the kind of relief he is hoping for from it.

The aura she has around her is strong and intense. The kind he's never felt before. It's not nauseating like when Carlos or Max is high on emotion, this is serene. Like he's never felt better in his entire life. Which is strange, considering how strong it is...

He calls Carlos back. This cannot be normal for a five. The fact he has it off, but she's sweating and gripping his hand like she's in turmoil makes him wonder.

"Did it work?"

"Uh - possibly?"

There is a brief pause. "What does that even mean?"

"Okay, so, energy of a five healer, is it supposed to be this intense? Cause I feel like I'm on cloud nine and she's still in pain." He wishes he could reverse it, just get her to settle and not look like she might die until he can help her.

"I'm coming over."

It takes Carlos too long to get to his room. His anxiety is getting worse by the second. She's finally exhausted herself enough to fall asleep, but her energy is still permeating the room in a way he can't describe.

Carlos nearly falls over when he steps inside the door. "You like this?!"

"I feel fantastic!"

"Well good, we know you have a soulbond now. We'll talk more about that later. I'm going to pass out if she doesn't have a suppressor on."

Lando whines, but he knows Carlos won't last like this. He just hopes something reset and bought them time to figure it out. He puts the chain back on her wrist and Carlos immediately looks better.

"Verdict?"

"She's not a five, that's for sure." He inspects the chain and her arm band. Carlos' own brown band is still around his bicep. The shapeshifter colors. Lando's is yellow for the energy category, Max's is red for the secondary elements, and Alex's is brown with a green stripe in the middle for the animal handlers. Her band is white with a black ring in the middle, the reapers are the opposite. The number attached to her band is a five. It's the same as a legal document.

Lando snatches the band off of where it lays next to his own. Sure enough, when he flips is around, A different number is crudely patched over enough that nobody could make it out unless staring for an obscene amount of time.

Lando hands the flipped band to Carlos. "She's a fucking ten."

Carlos hums and examines the elastic in his hands. He then fishes a suppressor ring out of his pocket and switches hers for the one he brought. The energy is still there, but the Spainard doesn't look like he's going to be sick anymore. Lando claims this as a win.

On the other hand, he can't fathom why she didn't trust him enough to tell him. "I don't understand-" The crack in his voice is embarrassing.

Carlos gets him to sit down next to him on the edge of the bed. He places Lando's hand on her shin and they watch the tension she was holding in her body disappear.

"Have you ever seen how the treat anyone six and above?"

"No... you never talk about it."

Carlos sighs. It's a pained one; eyes distant as he recalls memories. "Fives toe the line of being stronger than the people deem safe. These universal numbers used to classify us aren't just for the amount of energy we exert, it's what we can do as well. I shapeshift into a bear, which can be destructive, but I can also do it with fewer breaks and for longer stints."

"What does that have to do with any of this?" Frustration now evident.

"Relax, I'm getting there." Carlos gives him a pointed look and quiets himself. "Six and above tend to have more restrictions. They want to make sure we can't cause any chaos or start wars or something. Reapers are immediately labeled as tens. Healers start small but increase depending. I met a good few back in school that ended up being taken away for some unknown reason."

"So, she's a ten, meaning she can do what?"

"I'm not sure... but she is definitely at risk if anyone were to find out."

Carlos stays with him. Explains to him what is probably happening due to the extreme suppression of this kind of energy. He explains this soulbond thing. How their energies mesh well together which is what was giving him that euphoric feeling earlier. It's not rare, Lando is only a three himself, but for her it is because of the intensity.

It's around midnight when she wakes up, panting and drenched in sweat. Whatever these higher energies are, the seem to communicate for them. Carlos gets next to her and switches the suppressors again. He's giving her the familiarity in a stressful situation with no words.

"Fuck - Lan, I'm so sorry!" Her voice is hoarse and cracked. He wants to tell her that he's fine, that he understands, but words aren't there. Not when she looks this sick.

He opts for the physical contact route instead. The gentle kind, so he doesn't scare her. This hug feels different than any he's had before, but he assumes it's because his aura is actively seeking hers. "We have a soulbond. Our energies mesh together quite nicely."

"So, you know now? You're not going to turn me in?"

"Absolutely not! Carlos has been giving me a crash course and everything. I'm sorry that you are treated so horribly..."

She grips onto his shirt and sobs harder than she has in her entire life. It's broken, and Lando can't help but wonder when the last time somebody cared for her and her abilities alike is. "I'm not leaving you, okay? I might be a three, but I'll do my best to keep you safe." And he means it. He has every intention of keeping her out of the clutches of those who would see her locked away.

~~~~~

Lando convinces her to quite working under the FIA and let him take care of her instead. She still attends to the drivers since she can, because she wants to.

It's never a surpise when she receives a phone call from across the paddock asking for her assistance. It's more fun this way, not having the constant pressure of people watching her for any semblance of too much power.

Carlos keeps a close eye on her when she looks on the verge of overexerting her power or suppressing for too long. He had her and Lando set alarms for when to take it off and put it on again.

2023 comes around, and both her and Lando are more relaxed this year. Car wide, the Brit would rather die, but otherwise, he's fine.

Oscar is a rating six water manipulater. Carlos makes sure he knows where to find him if he ever needs anything. The FIA tends to get on the case of higher ratings.

It's because of that rating that Oscar manages to figure out she's not what she says she is. Lando gets wildly defensive when the Aussie brings it up. She just laughs when he threatens to throw his teammates dinner into his face.

They all get along nicely. Lando manages to not send random objects at Oscar despite various threats, and she still finds herself in every garage.

Then Vegas happens, and everything changes.

The crash replays on the screen, but she can't hear it over the sound of her heart. Their soulbond had only gotten stronger, she can feel his pain and discomfort now because of it.

As an established healer, Jon lets her tail him to where Lando is. The medical team only lets her go so far.

But it's worse than anyone is letting on. She can feel his heart slowing, the internal bleeding more than they originally thought.

He's still alive when the race ends, but he won't be for much longer. They won't let her inside. Oscar and Carlos can barely get past the front desk to where her and Jon are sitting outside the door. Doctors are still working away at a problem they haven't found yet.

"They won't let you in?" Carlos gives a look of utter confusion. "Wouldn't it be helpful to them?"

"Yes, but I'm too emotional to be in an operating room as a five."

Oscar's face lights up. "How far does your energy reach?"

"Decently, why?"

"If me and Carlos take our suppressors off, then we can blame the energy on that."

The three of them take off their suppressor in unison with Jon watching the end of the hall in case someone comes around the corner.

The wall makes it hard to navigate. But she knows Lando's aura like it's her own. She's mapped his entire body, healed him more times than she cares to remember.

The flatline of the moniter rings through her ears.

She finds his heart. Where he's bleeding out, where his ribs are cracked and splitting him open.

And she fixes it.

Lando sits up on the table, heat beating erratically, but he's alive. The doctors don't know what to do with themselves.

They open the door. The only one there is Jon, teary-eyed, but not from sadness despire what he says.

~~~~~

Lando is high on painkillers. Though he wishes his human healer were here to make it better. He just wants to meld with her, thank her without words.

Jon had filled him in on the details. It's not safe for her at the moment, but his teammate has her, and Carlos is on his way back to Lando after helping get her settled.

The Spainard drives him back. Even stopping for food on the way since none of them have eaten and Carlos has this perpetual need to store food for the winter. Lando always gets him honey as a joke.

"When you see her, don't panic. There's blood we have yet to clean up from the incisions they made. But it's mostly just pain and exhaustion."

Lando nods and opens the door. The sight is odd, more so than scary. She's on the bed, pale, and covered in different fluids. Her mouth is open, and Oscar is dripping tiny water droplets inside. Her supressor bracelet has been ditched, but her ring is on so the other two can be around her.

Her eyes drift towards him the closer he gets. "Lan!" She tries to sit up but fails after two seconds and yelps in pain.

"If you'd just take the water and stay put, then you might not be in as much pain." Oscar scolds her, but she just rolls her eyes.

Lando crawls onto the bed next to her. His hand drifts over where he heart is, and he places her hand over his. "I'm alive because of you. I can't - I just - I don't understand why they didn't let you in. You're not dangerous. You saved me."

"Lan, it's okay... I'm happy being considered dangerous as long as I have you around."

"Ay! What are me and Oscar then?!"

"Rivals, according to the media." Oscar muses and drops another bead of water into her mouth.

"That was planned and executed well, okay, we make great rivals." Carlos nearly jams some kind of pastry into Oscar's face, but he opens his mouth just in time. "What am I going to do with you three?"

Lando doesn't have the energy to ponder the question. Him and his lover end up falling asleep at some point. Both of them are still in pain and in desperate need of rest.

He wakes up to a call the next morning from Jon. His trainer is adamant about speaking to all four of them.

Yeah, they all get lectured about how he had to go get tested and was humiliated by the hospital staff when they laughed at Jon's own ability. "Aparently, making people sneeze isn't an ability. But I'm happy you're okay, Lando. I would've missed you, buddy."

"I second that!"

"And a third."

Everyone looks at her expectantly. Some kind of response swirls around in her head. Maybe witty or sarcastic with the way she's smiling to herself.

"If you died, Lan, I would've never forgiven myself." Her energy taps on his. It envelopes them, warm and comforting. Their bond still growing stronger as their souls dance together around them.

"Gross, you two should get a room."

"This is our room!"

"Your point?"

Carlos and Oscar can't stop their laughing fit. Delerious from the long night they had previously and little sleep then managed to get. Still, Lando goes back to being in his own world.

He's wrapped up in her, and she's wrapped up in him. Exactly as it was intended to be.

"Reckon you could make an undead army?"

"Osc - I swear to god-!"

[enhashoutout]

How Junie Met S.W.O.R.D.

Genre: mostly crack if I'm being honest

Warnings: typical H&L violence, mentions of kidn@pping, Junie jokes about getting sold, cuss words here and there (let me know if I'm missing anything so I can update this)

These are written in the order Junie met each leader/group. Since Junie is Cobra's little sister, I am writing with female pronouns, attributes, etc.

There's incorrect depiction about Junie going to a performing arts school, I don't actually know how those schools work lol I went to public school my whole life.

How Junie met each S.W.O.R.D. leader, Amamiya Kyodai, and Mighty Warriors

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Mugen dominated the Chikuni City area. No one challenged them except for the Amamiya Brothers. For what exactly? Junie didn't know. At age 11, Junie didn't fully understand the concept of Mugen or the gang world. She just knew that her brother was friends with a bunch of other guys who also liked riding motorcycles. Junie didn't quite understand the impact of Mugen within the area, only that other kids would stop playing with her once their parents found out who her older brother was. Sure her brothers rode motorcycles and got into fights but they weren't bad people... This often left Junie lonely during recess, this is where this story begins.

It was recess time, and Junie had two options. 1) be lonely and sad that the other kids didn't want to play with her or 2) go exploring to keep herself busy and remember to come back before the next class started. Around this time, Junie had gone from arguing with Cobra a lot to finally putting in more effort in school. She could've chosen to follow the rules... but she was too bored today and didn't want to tell Cobra that she hated school because no one wanted to play with her. She didn't need to add more to his plate. Besides, she would only be gone for a little bit anyway; she'll come right back before the bell rings. No one will even know she was gone.

Junie made her way to the back of the school, piling a few boxes and old desks on top of each other so she could jump over the back gate. Junie slowly made her way down to the other side and checked her watch. 20 minutes left of recess. I should be able to walk around and come back in no time; she thought to herself.

Junie began walking away from the school, finding herself in front of a random drink vending machine. Junie pulled out her coin pouch from her uniform pocket and began counting the correct amount of change she needed to buy herself a bottle of juice. As Junie continued counting her change, she felt a much taller presence behind her. She turned around and looked up, meeting the eyes of a tall stranger with black spikey hair and a leather jacket.

"Hello," she said nonchalantly as she went back to buying herself a drink.

"Can you hurry up kid?"

"Can you be patient and wait your turn Mr. adult?"

"What the hell are you doing here instead of being at school kid?"

"None of your business sir."

"I-"

Just then, another tall guy in a leather jacket appeared. "Hiroto! That's no way to talk to a little kid." He knelt down so he could be at a closer eye level to Junie. "Hi. My name is Masaki, and that is my little brother Hiroto. What are you doing here? Don't you have school?"

Junie looked over at him. He was friendlier looking than the other one. He sounded nicer too. "Hello, I'm Hino. I do have school, but it's recess time."

"So shouldn't you be playing with your friends inside the school?"

"I don't have friends, but I didn't want to be bored, so I snuck out. Bye bye. Have a good day," she said as she took her drink and began walking away.

Masaki looked at Hiroto who closed his eyes in frustration. "No, Masaki, Absolutely not."

"But she's all alone. And she's so cute."

"I don't care! I didn't sign up to babysit!"

"Let's go!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"YES! I'M OLDER! YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME!"

"OH MY GOD! FINE!"

"Hey! Hino! Wait up!"

Junie turned around to look at the two guys she just met, the nicer one had ran to catch up to her. He again bent down to be closer to her eye level. "We'll hang out with you during recess so you aren't lonely."

"That's okay, I don't want to bother you guys."

"We insist."

"He insists."

"NO! We insist."

"Well, recess is about to be over anyways so I am just walking back. Bye."

"We can drop you off on our motorcycles. It'll be faster than walking."

"Sorry, I don't trust anyone on a motorcycle besides my brother. Even then, I don't really trust him either."

"Who is your brother?"

"He says I can't say his name for safety purposes but to tell people who ask that he is a part of Mugen and can fight."

Masaki and Hiroto both froze and looked at each other like 😧

"Masaki dude no. She's a Mugen kid! We can not be seen in this region with a Mugen kid!"

"But she's all alone and so cuuute."

"I'm gonna punch you."

"You guys act like a puppy and a kitten, always arguing." Now the two turned and looked at Junie like 🤨and😑 (guess which brother is which expression lol). "Now that I've stood here instead of walking back to the school I won't make it in time for class before they call my brother. Can I still get that ride?"

"Of course!" said Masaki. So Junie hopped onto the back of his motorcycle and the two brothers drove her to the back side of the school and helped her over the gate.

"Bye Hino. Do us a favor and don't tell anyone you were with us okay?"

"Okay! Bye bye Masaki. Bye Hiroto!"

"Bye kid. Stay behind those gates next time."

"No."

Masaki laughed at how Junie said no to Hiroto. The two waved back to her and drove off. As Junie was going to walk back to the playground, one of the staff came running to her.

"JUNIE! It's class time! You're 10 minutes late!"

"Sorry, I was playing with a puppy and a kitten."

"A puppy and a kitten? Where?"

"On the other side of the gate."

"That's nice but remember to listen next time when we say it's time to go inside okay?"

"Okay." Junie walked with the teacher back to class.

Later that day...

Cobra and Yamato were at the gates of Junie's school to pick her up. As usual, the other children's guardians who were also there to pick them up were talking about them. The two boys rolled their eyes. Neither boy was doing anything besides standing next to their bike and waiting for their sister, so they didn't understand why these other adults couldn't just mind their business.

Right as Yamato was getting ready to lose his cool, Junie came running out to give them both a hug. "Hi guys!"

"Hi Junie," they said back.

"Happy to see us?" (Yamato)

"Of course! Going home is the best part of the day."

The two teens laughed as Junie hopped onto the back of Cobra's bike, the three making their way over to the Mugen garage. The other Mugen members greeted them.

Junie sat on top of Cobra's bike, playing a game on his phone as he worked on his bike's wheels. "How was school Baby?"

"It was the same."

"What about lunch and recess?"

"The same also."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhmm."

"So then why did one of the teachers call me to tell me that you were late to class after lunch?"

"Oh... that..."

"Yeah, that. Where were you?"

"At the back of the school."

"Doing what?"

"Playing with a puppy and a kitten I found..."

"Why weren't you playing with the other kids like you should've been?"

"I thought you knew by now but clearly not... I don't have friends at school."

"Why?"

"Because everyone says their parents tell them to stay away from me. But that's okay! I get to walk around in peace and quiet. And the puppy and kitten I found were funny."

Cobra didn't know what to say to her, it always seemed like whenever his sister was having problems they directly tied back to him and his lifestyle.

"It's not your fault you know. I like my life outside of school. School is just a few hours out of my day, being with you and Yamato and all of Mugen is way more fun than having friends at school."

"You always know exactly what to say huh Baby?"

"I try."

Kohaku listened in on the siblings' conversation, he was always worried for the two because they were each other's only support system considering their parents weren't around often. Watching Junie's change from being super stubborn and constantly fighting with Cobra to her always reassuring him that she was fine, was reassuring to Kohaku. He knew that as time went on the two would figure things out.

The two siblings went back to what they were doing. As everyone continued doing their own thing, the sound of two more motorcycles entered the garage.

"Here they are."

"They've herded together quite nicely."

Junie turned at the sound of their voices, she knew those voices! Junie hopped off her brothers bike to get a closer look at the newcomers, to be met with the two men she just met earlier that day.

"Hino! What are you doing here?!" (Masaki)

"What the fuck do you mean what am I doing here? I'm a part of Mugen." (Cobra)

"Not you, the kid." (Hiroto)

"Junie? You know them?" (Cobra)

"Maybe?" she said as she looked at her brother. "I told you guys my brother is in Mugen earlier!" she shouted back at Masaki and Hiroto.

"And lied about your name!" (Masaki)

"Hey! No I didn't! Hino is my last name bro. You asked for my name you weren't specific about which one you wanted."

"Earlier?! Junie," said Cobra in a stern voice.

"They're the puppy and the kitten I met during lunch..."

"HUH?!" shouted quite literally everyone in the garage.

"Oh my- Yamato take her to the back." (Cobra)

"Yes sir!" So Yamato threw you over his shoulder, taking you to the back tool room and setting you down in there. "We'll come back for you when we're done okay?"

"Yeah yeah whatever you say. Just hurry, it gets stuffy back here."

Yamato ruffled your hair and locked the door. You sat in the tool room for what felt like forever while Mugen and the Amamiya brothers fought.

Before Daruma Ikka, Hyuga wasn’t involved in the gang world. Even though his brothers were a sector within Kuryu, they kept him far away from it. His older brothers made money to send him to school, to chase a better life away from danger. Things took a turn though when Hyuga Kai rumbled with Mugen.

Wanting to impress the higher ups, the leaders of Hyuga Kai gathered around and talked about what their next steps were. As the 3 older brothers were talking, Hyuga had just gotten home from school.

“Hi guys!”

“Welcome home Norihisa. How was school?”

“It was fine. What are you guys talking about?”

"Just a new task. Go wash up and do your homework. We'll call you when dinner is ready."

Hyuga took a quick glance at all the documents his brothers had scattered across the dining table, catching a glimpse of a picture of a little girl entering a school. He looked around and realized that there were multiple shots of this little girl doing various things in various places.

"Why do you guys have a bunch of pictures of this little girl?"

"She's the younger sister of a prominent Mugen member. Our plan is to kidnap her and use her as a bargaining chip against Mugen. Once they give up their claim to the area to us, we'll use that to appeal to Kuryu."

Hyuga's brothers saw the way his facial expression changed, his eyebrows furrowing in a disapproving manner.

"You do what you have to do sometimes Norihisa."

"I know... but... she's just a kid. She doesn't need to be involved in any of this. Kuryu and Mugen's business is its own matter. You guys don't need to drag a literal child into it do you?"

"It's a foolproof plan."

"But-"

"Go wash up Norihisa, we'll call you down when dinner is ready," said his eldest brother.

Hyuga walked away, slightly disappointed in his brothers for stooping low to get something done.

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Hyuga laid in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. The thought of a bunch of adults putting a child in harms way to get what they want not sitting right with him. Don't get him wrong, Hyuga loved his brothers and respected that they worked their tails off to give him everything, but even the people we love can have faults and be criticized.

Hyuga slowly sat up from his bed, tip toeing around the house to his eldest brother's office. His eldest brother was usually the one to keep all their plans in his office. Hyuga quietly flipped through all the pictures and papers, looking for what exactly his brothers were planning. After what felt like forever, he found what he was looking for. Junie's name, her relation to Mugen, where she went to school, her school schedule, and what day and time they would be taking her from her school. Hyuga made a mental note of all this information, then returning to his room.

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Hyuga didn't usually ditch his classes unless it was a day he knew nothing important was happening so he could just to the library to study or maybe take a nap; and yet here he was, standing behind this elementary school at the back gates waiting for the little girl that was supposed to show up and pray he could get to her before his brothers' workers do.

Just as Hyuga was contemplating switching up his plans at the last second, Junie showed up. "Hey, hey kid. Junie."

Junie looked around and saw a guy who looked to be around her brother's age standing at the school's back gate. She walked to the gate, standing a good amount away so that she could run if need be. "Um... who are you? How do you know me?"

"My name is Norihisa, but you can just call me Hyuga. You need to come with me for your safety, I'll return you before you have to go back to class."

"I don't even know you. I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Some people want to kidnap you to make a deal with your brother and his friends. I'll hide you for a bit and return you later. I promise."

"Why would I trust you?"

"I'll take you to whatever food stall you want and buy you lunch?"

"Okay I guess," she said as she began stacking old chairs, desks, and boxes in a formation to jump over the gate.

"Wait really?!"

"Yeah. Who doesn't like free food? Plus, if you're working with the bad guys then my brother will just find you and them later," she said nonchalantly.

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Junie was nagging Hyuga on the way to the ramen shop, asking him about who was coming for her and why. He eventually caved and told her what was supposed to happen had he not ditched class to come find her.

The two sat together at a table, eating their food. Junie put down her utensils and looked at Hyuga, him doing the same.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Can I ask why are you doing this? Why are you helping me? Wouldn't you want to help your brothers?"

"Because I don't agree with what they're doing. I agree with them on a lot of things but not this. I don't think there's any good reason to get you involved between them. After all, you're not a part of Mugen, your brother is, and you're just a kid."

"Oh. That makes sense. Sometimes I don't agree with my brother on stuff too. Thanks for helping me then Hyuga."

"You're welcome Junie."

After lunch, Hyuga had returned Junie back to her school, his brothers' workers should be back to tell them she wasn't there, stopping their plans of kidnapping her.

Hyuga Kai's downfall from Kuryu after unsuccessfully trying to gain power over Mugen took a toll on all the Hyuga Brothers. The three eldest were removed from Kuryu, Hyuga Kai having to disband. The youngest Hyuga swore revenge on Mugen and Kuryu, hellbent on making them pay for what happened to his brothers.

Hyuga sat in his jail cell, knowing that this was all a consequence of his own actions. As angry as he was, a small part of him knew that he did the right thing. Junie had no business being used as Kuryu or his brothers' pawn in a game she didn't willingly choose to play.

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Bonus

This is after Road to High&Low but before High&Low the Movie

Junie madę her way through Daruma Ikka territory. There was a festival happening, a usual in this part of Chikuni City. She came upon the Daruma house, knocking on the wood of the front door. After a few moments, the door opened, Junie being met by Shu Kato. He was confused seeing Junie at the door. "Uhhh what are you doing here kid?"

"I wanted to talk to Hyuga."

"Why?"

"Why do I have to explain myself to you?"

"Oh I don't know. Maybe because we just got done with a brawl against Sannoh like 2 days ago so it's weird that a Sannoh kid would show up in this part of town afterwards."

"Who's at the door?" said someone from behind Shu Kato, Junie had a guess it was one of the Daruma babies because it didn't sound like Hyuga.

"Cobra's sister. She wants to talk to Hyuga," shouted Shu Kato over his shoulder.

"I'll go tell him!" said the Daruma baby.

Shu Kato looked back at Junie, "What do you want to talk to him about?"

"Personal stuff?"

"Personal stuff?"

"Yeah. It happened before you guys met anyways."

Before Shu Kato could respond to Junie, the Daruma baby was back. "Hyuga says to send her back." The two moved out of the way, letting Junie into the Daruma house. Junie followed as the Daruma baby led the way to Hyuga. He opened the door, closing it after Junie stepped in.

Hyuga, in all his maniacal glory sat on his bamboo mat. Candles lit up the room, smoke from incense and whatever Hyuga was smoking filled the room. A sense of attempted comfort and an unsettling eeriness filling the space. "You can sit down," said Hyuga as he motioned to the mat that sat directly in front of him. June sat down on the mat, criss crossing her legs and studying Hyuga.

"What do you want to talk about Junie. I know you didn't come all the way to Daruma to stare at me," he slurred as he looked at her.

"I haven't seen you since the day you took me out to get lunch all that time ago."

"No one has seen much of me since that day. I did go to jail after that remember?"

"I know. I just can't help feeling like that was partially my fault," Junie said quietly as she looked down at her hands that were in her lap.

"I made the decisions that landed me there kid. You had nothing to do with that, don't give yourself too much credit," he said in a joking manner. He waited for her to respond, but she didn't, so he continued. "I'm being serious Junie. I made the decisions that landed me in jail, not you."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you just come for me if you really wanted to fight against Cobra?"

"Because I still stand by my statement from all those years ago. You're a child. You aren't apart of whatever fight I have against Sannoh and Mugen. I don't put innocents in harms way, especially children."

"And I still think you're a very noble man for that mindset like I did then."

Although Junie wasn't allowed to participate in the fights of S.W.O.R.D, she had a tendency to meddle with everything and everyone anyways. When her brothers were busy and she had no one to bother, she snuck out and entered the other S.W.O.R.D districts.

The first time Junie ended up in Rascals territory Rocky was STRESSED because wtf was a kid (the girl was 12) doing in a place popular for night-life?!

Junie was small so Rocky threw her over his shoulder and took her back to club heaven, locking her in his office. Koo was stuck babysitting Junie while Rocky took care of some work before he came back. Koo's head was getting ready to explode because 12 year old Junie asked so many questions.

"Why call yourselves White Rascals? Why wear white if you're gonna fight other people? Doesn't blood get on the clothes? Is your cleaning fee expensive? How did you join? How do you fight? I like your outfit. Are you guys gonna drive me home?"

Thank god Rocky came back to his office so Koo could leave. He thought she was cute, but his head hurt because Junie spoke at the speed of light.

Rocky sat down on the other side of the couch in his office, putting space in between himself and the kid as to not scare her. "Kid. What are you doing in an area full of clubs? Don't you have a bed-time? Are you even from here?"

"Nope. Not from around here. Definitely snuck out because I was bored."

"Where is home?"

"Sannoh."

"Sannoh?!"

"Yeahhhh."

"What's your name again?"

"Junie. My brothers call me Baby because I'm the baby of the family."

"How old are you?"

"12."

"And you're by yourself?! Where are your parents?"

"This is sounding awfully a lot like an interrogation. Are you making sure I don't have a family before you sell me on the black market?"

"No kid. I protect women, I don't harm them. People aren't allowed to do that in my district."

"Oh. Sounds nice. The rest of the world should do what you're doing."

"Thanks kid. Where are your parents?"

"Never met my dad, don't know who he is. My mom is never around either. It's just my brothers."

"Who are your brothers? You got a lot of them?"

"Only one of them is my brother, you know him. Everyone else are my honorary brothers."

"I know him?"

"Mm-hmm. Hino Junpei. Cobra."

Rocky was even more stressed now. Of all kids to stumble into their turf it had to be another S.W.O.R.D leader's sister. "Where are they?"

"Out fighting. I didn't want to bother Naomi either so I went for a walk but clearly, I walked a little too far cause here I am!" said Junie with little jazz hands.

"You got a phone?"

"Yeah. Here," Junie pulled out the old phone she was given to keep in contact with everyone. Before Rocky could say anything more the phone lit up with a call from Cobra. "Ohhh I'm screwed. Hello?"

"HINO JUNIE! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Junie looked up at Rocky and then back at her phone. "Um... At Club Heaven in White Rascal district?"

"WHAT?!"

"Yo Cobra. Come get your kid and don't let her walk around by herself at night." Junie heard Cobra let out a big ass sigh before hanging up.

"Well... that went well. What's it like running a club?"

Rocky was happy to answer all of Junie's questions. He led her outside so that Sannoh wouldn't come into the club and cause a ruckus. Rocky thought Junie looked cute with his big white coat wrapped around her. The poor girl being much shorter than Rocky is, was struggling to hold the coat in her arms while talking to him, trying not to let the bottom touch the ground.

Cobra, Yamato, and Naomi arrived to take Junie home. Naomi hopped off the back of Yamato's bike, definitely not happy. "HINO JUNIE! I SWEAR I'M GONNA DIE EARLY BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR BROTHER! Why didn't you just come to Itokan?!"

"The diner was packed and I didn't want to bother you, so I went on a walk.... and then walked too far..."

Naomi put a hand on her head, calming herself down. "Next time just come to Itokan okay? Don't scare us like that."

"Yeah Baby! You had all of Sannoh running around looking for you!" said Yamato.

Junie looked at Cobra who was just staring at everyone. "You're mad at me... aren't you?"

"Not mad Baby. Just stressed. You scared us you know?" One thing about Cobra is that he never raised his voice unless needed, so hearing him say these words in such a calm voice always felt worse. Junie would've preferred if he would just yell at her so that it didn't sound like he was disappointed.

"I'll remember to tell someone next time I go on a walk."

"Thank you for watching her Rocky. Let's go home Baby."

Junie returned the coat to Rocky. "Thanks for the coat and hanging out with me Rocky!" He smiled at her (which left the other 3 young adults completely bamboozled because Rocky doesn't just smile genuinely at people).

"If you ever need somewhere to go when you're bored, you're welcome at Club Heaven Junie."

"I'll remember that! Bye!"

After that, Junie would occasionally turn up at club Heaven to bother Rocky and White Rascals. Rocky enjoyed having the little girl around even if he didn't say it. Having her around felt nice, like he got a second chance at protecting his sister. (cries)

At first the others had no idea why a random ass Sannoh kid was always found sitting in Rocky's office but they grew to like her company. Junie became the honorary little White Rascal.

Guess who loves Junie the most? Kizzy.

Kizzy thought Junie was cute and even bought her a white leather jacket to match with White Rascals. She would always replace the ones Junie grew out of as time went on also. Junie and Kizzy's first actual time meeting was what made her like Junie a lot.

It was about a month after Junie's first initial stop at Club Heaven. Junie was back from school for the weekend so she decided it was a good night to go bother Rocky because she hadn't been there in a while and Sannoh were gone for a fight again.

Junie remembered to text the Sannoh group-chat (that was made after her first time going on a walk because now Junie was obligated to tell them where she was going) to tell them she was running off to Club Heaven for a while. Junie ignored the chat after that when a few of the Sannoh members told her to just stay still at Itokan lol.

Junie showed up right before Club Heaven was opening for the night. "Hiiiii," she exclaimed as she walked into the building. Koo was the first to see Junie come in. Rocky had told him to just take the girl to his office if she ever showed up again so that's what he did.

So, Junie was locked in Rocky's office again. Koo accompanied her, and just like the first time, Junie talked his ears off. Koo thought Junie's sense of humor was actually great once she stopped asking questions and just held a conversation with him. As much as he thought this was fun, he had to go check on something happening downstairs so he pulled Kizzy into the room and told her to sit with Junie until Rocky got back.

Kizzy just sat on the couch and watched Junie as she drew on a notepad that was on Rocky's desk. Kizzy wasn't sure if she should talk to Junie so the two just kind of just sat in awkward silence. Junie continued to draw, and when she looked up to stretch her neck, saw Kizzy fixing her lip gloss.

"That's a really pretty shade of lip gloss. It matches your skin tone," Junie said to Kizzy and then went back to drawing.

This caught Kizzy off-guard. Kizzy wasn't exactly fem-presenting so when she would pull out makeup, people looked at her and judged her, but Junie didn't do that.

"Awww. Thank you, why are you at Club Heaven kid?" Kizzy took this opportunity to strike up a conversation with Junie, she seemed like a nice kid after all.

"Last time I was here Rocky said I could come back here whenever I wanted because I would always be welcomed at Club Heaven. It's been a month since then and my brothers weren't home so I thought I would come bother Rocky but he's not here today."

"Ohhh. You're Junie, the little girl from Sannoh right?"

"Yes si- wait! How do I address you?" Kizzy laughed, thankful that Juunie had the thought to ask. Kizzy thought that whoever was raising Junie was definitely doing good.

"Ma'am. I'm a woman."

"Ohhh. Are you like Naomi where you just patch up the guys or do you fight with them?"

"Both."

"Woooow that's cool."

Junie continued asking questions and Kizzy was happy to answer. It eventually lead to Junie asking Kizzy to tell her more about herself. Kizzy talked about how Rocky found her and Kaito, how she found out she identified as a woman, how her and Kaito went to the US to get married, etc.

Junie was so understanding and accepting of Kizzy that she decided from this day onwards Junie was her adoptive child😂🤍

Kizzy and Kaito were basically Junie's parents away from home and Rocky was her bougie, rich uncle. Whenever Junie popped in to see them at the club they always made time for her.

Even when she got older and had to go farther away for school, they kept in contact via text and were always excited to see Junie when she came back from school to visit.

If anyone touches Junie or harms her White Rascals will definitely be after their asses.

Junie's first run in with Oya was chaotic to say the least.

Junie's performing arts academy gave students a few days off as a reward for hard work. Some students took this time to go on vacation, and some took the time to stay at school and to continue practicing their craft. Junie however took the day to go back home. She hadn't been home in about three weeks at this point, preparing for a big performance so she was excited to be home.

Junie went out to run an errand for Naomi while she took care of Itokan, only to run into Oya while they were looking for Chiharu.

Junie had met Chiharu the night before when she arrived home, he was nice, so she couldn't understand why anyone was after him. This prompted Junie to think that the Oya high guys were kind of weird.

Junie was carrying the groceries Naomi needed when the Oya High hoard of students came storming into Sannoh looking for Chiharu. They stopped in the middle of the road, debating on which way to go to get to Yamato's shop. In turn, they were also blocking Junie's way to get back to Itokan.

She really needed to run this errand so that she could catch up with everyone then run to White Rascals territory, so it was not helping that these dudes were blocking her way.

"Hey! Can you guys like move out of the way, please?! At least stand to the side if you have to think about where you're going!"

"HUH?! STAY OUT OF OUR WAY KID!" (Seki)

"YOU ARE LITERALLY STANDING IN MY WAY BRO! MOVE! I GOT SOMEWHERE TO BE!"

Seki moved closer to intimidate her but Murayama stopped him, coming forward instead to look at her. Around this time Junie reached maybe around his chest so he bent down to her eye-level to talk to you.

"Hey kid, do you know where we can find Yamato?" (Murayama)

"Why are you looking for Yamato?"

"We need to.... talk." (Murayama)

"Head to his car repair shop."

"DO YOU THINK WE WOULD BE TALKING TO YOU IF WE KNEW WHERE IT WAS?" (Furuya)

"It's not my fault you guys stumbled onto Sannoh territory without knowing your directions."

"WHY YOU-" (Furuya)

"OI! Let the kid talk. Go ahead kid, which way do we go?" (Murayama)

"Walk straight down, turn to the left, go straight again, turn right and you'll see it. Who are you guys anyway? You guys aren't from around here."

"Murayama. Leader of Oya High. Nice to meet you, kid."

"Junie. Have fun dealing with Yamato."

"You know him?"

"Well yeah, he's friends with my older brother Cobra so he's basically my older brother. Bye! I gotta go." Junie calmly walked past the hoard of stunned Oya students like she didn't just tell them she's Sannoh's little sister. Junie continued walking in the direction of Itokan until she heard Murayama shout for her again.

"HEY KID! KID WAIT! YOU'RE RELATED TO COBRA?!"

"YEP! HAVE FUN DEALING WITH SANNOH!" she shouted back as she kept walking towards Itokan.

Junie dropped off Naomi's stuff and told her about making a quick trip to Club Heaven and that se would be back before dinner, to which Naomi said okay.

Junie ran off to see Kizzy and Kaito who made her try a new cake they added to the menu. Junie also remembered to bother Rocky and Koo. Koo drove Junie back to Sannoh and dropped her off at the entrance of Sannoh, needing to head back to tend to something going on at the club.

As Junie walked back to Itokan since Naomi said she would make Junie dinner while she was home. Before making it to Itokan, Junie ran into Murayama who was still lurking around Sannoh.

"Hey kid!"

"Hi? What are you still doing in Sannoh?"

"Tell me where Chiharu is."

"Yeahhhh no."

"No?!"

"No. It's getting late you should probably go back to Oya. I have to go home."

"Tell me where Chiharu is."

"Nooooo."

"Whyyyyyy?"

"Cobra and Yamato and Dan and Tettsu and Ken and Hikaru and Naomi said I'm not allowed to get involved with Sannoh business. That's between Sannoh and Oya. You figure it out."

Murayama moved to grab Junie's arm and her reflexes kicked in so she ended up putting him in a headlock.

"WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE STRONG FOR A KID! LET GO!" he shouted at her.

"You gonna leave me alone?"

"Okay, okay. I'll leave you alone."

Junie laughed and let go of him. He was stretching out his neck and then looked back at her.

"You know what? I think kids are annoying, but you're cool. See you around kid."

"Bye Murayama!"

"Murayama - san."

"Huh?"

"Murayama - san. I'm older than you."

"You act like we're the same age though."

"HEY!"

"Go home bro it's late."

Junie walked away afterwards leaving Murayama a little baffled but he let out a small laugh at what she had said and started walking back to Oya.

He thought she was funny, not being scared of him or the other Oya guys; and how nonchalant she was. Murayama also respected your loyalty for not giving up Chiharu.

Afterwards he just casually popped in to check on her because he saw her like a little sister. As time passed by, Murayama just grew to be protective over Junie as well.

Junie popped into Oya whenever she felt like visiting him to check up on him. The other Oya guys knew not to mess with Junie when she came around or Murayama would kill them, then Cobra would kill them, and then Murayama again.

Murayama ranted to Junie about his problems as well. How he didn't know what he wanted to do in life, how he wasn't sure who he was without the title of Oya High's leader, etc.

Junie's first encounter with Rude Boys was..... very random to say the least. (This happens during the show/RTH&L right after Yamato, Dan, and Tettsu find Chiharu working at the Red Rum factory and shut it down.)

Junie was on the way back to the gas station from Dan's store. She went to buy some snacks and a cupcake for Cobra because she was gonna stay with him at the gas station tonight. She walked past an alley while walking back home but saw movement from behind a large dumpster.

Being a curious cat, Junie walked into the alley way (not safe don't do this kids) to see what or who was there. Junie found two little girls and a boy all around the same age maybe 5 or 6 years old huddled together. Her sudden appearance had scared them, causing them to huddle closer together and farther into the corner.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you guys. What are you guys doing here?"

"We need to go home." (Boy)

"But we don't know where home is." (Girl 1)

"You don't know where you live?"

"No, no. We know where we live, but we don't know how to get home." (Girl 1)

"Where do you live?"

"Nameless City." (Boy)

"Nameless City?! Then why are you all the way in Sannoh?!"

"We need to go home. Can you help us?" (Boy)

"I, well, I think so? Do you want to come with me to drop off some stuff and then I can have someone help take you home?"

The one girl who hadn't spoken the whole time grabbed onto the other two kids and shook her head. She signed something to the other two with her hands and they looked back at Junie.

"Our sister says she doesn't know if she can trust the other people." (Boy)

"The other people would be my older brothers. They have motorcycles so they can drive you guys back to Nameless City."

They looked at their sister who again shook her head and signed to them.

"She says that she doesn't trust the adults, but you seem nice. Can you help us?" (Girl 1)

Junie thought about it for a few seconds. Does she know her way to Nameless City? Not exactly.... but she knew the general direction. She could get them there... right?

"Please? We need to go home." (Girl 1)

Cobra is gonna kill me. Then Yamato and Naomi and Dan and Tettsu and Chiharu... oh well.

"Here's what I'll do. I'm gonna go home and drop off some stuff for my older brother, make sure my directions are correct, and then I'll come back and take you guys home okay?"

The second girl signed to Junie. Junie looked at the other two kids for help.

"She says you have to promise not to tell any of the adults and promise to come back."

Junie crouched down and smiled at the three, "I promise I'll come back. It might take me a little long but I will come back."

With that, she quickly ran back to the gas station and dropped off the snacks and cupcake for Cobra.

"Baby! Where are you going? I thought you were hanging out with me for the rest of the day?"

"I just remembered I have to ask Naomi for something real quick and I'll be right back!" she shouted to him as she ran off towards Itokan. Outside of Itokan, DTC were sitting on their bikes. It looked like the trio were getting ready to go somewhere. Junie ran up to them, stopping them.

"Chiharu! I have a question."

"Oh. Are you finally gonna admit that I am older and wiser than you and you do absolutely need my help with stuff like how you ask Cobra and Yamato?"

"Absolutely not. You act like we're the same age bro. Anyways, how far is Nameless City from here? Walking wise and motorcycle wise."

"Why are you asking how far Nameless City is?" (Dan)

"Because I want to know how far you idiots went the other day to get there. Yamato texted me to tell me what happened but didn't tell me all the details."

"Oh. Well, Dan and I didn't ride our motorcycles in case we would get spotted by Rude Boys. Nameless City shares a border with Sannoh, it's to our left. We walked through Sannoh, and once you get to the border, just walk straight following the dirt road path and you eventually make it to Nameless City. That thing is huge you won't miss it." (Tettsu)

"Ohhh. Did you guys like go through the structures or anything to stay hidden?"

"Yeah we were tucking and rolling as if we were the Rude Boys." (Dan)

"What about you Chiharu?"

"I didn't have a motorcycle at the time, but I did the same walk through Sannoh. But I had to hide and enter Nameless City from the far side to get into the Red Rum factory. It usually took me around a 30-45 minute walk depending on how much I had to hide from Rude Boys that day getting to the factory."

"Oh.... you three are always doing something dumb.... sounds about right."

"HEY!" all three of them shouted.

"I'M JUST SAYING! Still love you guys though," she said as she made a heart with her hands. "Thanks for telling me the details. Where are you guys off to?"

"Just a quick night drive to patrol the area and relieve stress from everything going on. Noboru joining Iemura is really stressing everyone out."

"I bet. Well, see you guys later! I have to talk to Naomi."

"Bye Baby!" they all shouted as they drove away.

Junie walked into Itokan to find Naomi. She was tending to a few customers when she heard the bell above the door ring, turning to see who came in.

"Hi Baby."

"Hi Naomi!"

"What do you need love?"

"Do you by any chance have extra ingredients for onigiri? I'm hanging out with Cobra tonight at the gas station since it's Friday and figured we might need extra snacks. AKA I need more snacks."

"Of course, in the back where they always are."

"Also, Naomi?"

"Yes?"

"The other day I dropped off some stuff here because you said you were throwing your old clothes out and asked if I had anything to throw out also, did you take those to the donation yet?"

"Not yet, I'm going tomorrow morning before I open up the diner. Why?"

"I realized I accidentally threw a sweater I still want in the pile and was just looking for it."

"Yeah the clothes are in my car you can open the trunk and grab what you need."

"Okay thank you!"

Junie felt bad for lying to everyone today, but she needed to take those kids home. They can be mad at her later, none of them give her harsh punishments anyways.

Baby went to the back, washing her hands and started making onigiri. She ended up making 12 of them and separately wrapping each one. She put 6 in a bag, taking it with her and leaving the other 6 on a plate tucked into the corner with the other onigiri making materials and a note that read "I know you're gonna be mad at me once you find out but I made these for you guys :)"

"Naomi! I'm headed out the back!"

"Okay Baby! See you tomorrow!" she shouted back.

Junie went out to the trunk and grabbed 3 of the sweaters she was going to throw out from Naomi's trunk and went back to the alleyway.

About 3 hours had passed since she met the three kids. It was now 5 o'clock, the sun was beginning to set. Junie walked into the alleyway, looking for the kids and find them still in the same position she had found them earlier.

"Kids? I'm back."

"We thought you wouldn't come back." (Boy)

"I wouldn't break my promise like that," she said as she sat down next to them, hidden from the view if anyone walked past. "Here, I made you guys these in case you were hungry. You guys have been sitting here for a while I assume."

"We've been sitting here since last night when we jumped out of the van." (Girl 1)

"Why were you guys put in a van?" she asked as she handed them each an onigiri.

"There are bad people who always come into Nameless City. They kidnap the kids and the girls there. Our brothers usually stop them, but sometimes if they are successful we never see them again." (Girl 1)

"Oh, I'm sorry that happens. Will you guys tell me your names?"

The three of them looked at each other and then back at Junie. The second girl signed and the boy told her what she was saying. "Our sister says you've been really nice but we can't tell you. Our older brothers tell us not to tell anyone for safety reasons."

"That makes sense. My older brother doesn't like it when I tell strangers stuff also. I'll be quiet now so you guys can finish eating and then I'll take you guys home. Here is a second one if you guys want to eat it," Junie said, handing them each a second onigiri.

"We get two?" (Girl 1)

"Of course. I would've made more for all of your brothers and sisters but I didn't want it to take all night and you guys think I didn't come back. If we see each other again I promise to make you guys more."

"Okay!" they said.

The kids finished eating and got up. Junie handed them each a sweater. "Here, put these on. The walk might be a little long and it will get cold."

"Oh no, we can't take those. They'll get dirty." (Girl 1)

"Yeah, we don't want to give it back to you dirty." (Boy)

"You see the fun thing about this is that I'm giving them to you, like a present, so you get to keep them."

"You'll really do that?" (girl 1)

"Yes, you guys can keep them. A small gift from me to you guys." The three kids gave her a tight hug, grateful that she was helping them. "Okay, let's walk this way. Let's make it a game. We have to stay close together, stay quiet, and stay hidden so I can get you guys home. Okay?"

They all nodded as they held hands and followed her. Junie was walking towards the entrance of Sannoh on the left side, having to duck and hide a few times to hide from the shop owners who were closing up and residents who were out and about before retiring to their homes; scared they would contact Cobra if they saw her lurking around late at night by herself. Eventually, the group reached the border between Nameless City and Sannoh, where the paved road became dirt. Junie turned to look at the kids, "This is the end of Sannoh and start of Nameless City. Do you see how the dirt road is different from the pavement?" The kids nodded. "Remember that the bad people will always drive this way towards Sannoh to go back to their house. So if you ever find yourself stuck in a van again, when you feel the road change from dirt to pavement, try to get out and you will be in Sannoh. Then you can walk this way, and when you see this dirt road, you keep walking straight and you'll reach Nameless City. Okay?" The kids nodded at her.

"Will you be leaving us here?" (Boy)

"No. I'll walk with you home so that you guys aren't alone in the dark. Let's keep going." They all continued to walk on the dirt road.

"Our sister asked what about you? Won't you be alone in the dark when you come back?" (Girl 1)

"Yes but I have a light I can use when I walk back. I know my way home. I want to make sure you guys arrive home safely before I go back."

"Oh thank you. People usually aren't very nice to people from Nameless City. Thank you for helping us." (Girl 1)

"You're welcome. Thank you for trusting me to get you home."

The four kids continued to walk as the sun was almost completely gone. Junie saw Nameless City come into sight. Just as she was about to turn and ask the kids if they knew where to go from here, she heard a sound; like clothes brushing against each other above her head. Junie heard that same sound around them.

Well shit, Rude Boys found us faster than I expected. This is the part where I'm gonna have to plead my case about them letting me live and leave in peace.

The Rude Boys landed around them, circling around Junie and the kids.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" (Smoky)

"Smoky!" The kids shouted and ran up to him, giving him a hug.

"Are you guys alright?" (Smoky)

"Where were you guys? How did you escape?!" (Takeshi)

"We jumped out of the car when they stopped and started running. We hid behind a big dumpster for the night to sleep yesterday." (Boy)

"She found us today. She helped us come home." (Girl 1)

The Rude Boys members looked away from the kids to look at Junie, studying her. "P, take the kids back, get them to bed."

"Yes sir!"

"Wait!" the little girl ran back to Junie, giving her a hug, then looking up at hey. "My name is Eri. What's yours?"

"My name is Junie. It was nice to meet you today Eri. Remember to tell everyone what I said about the road and how to get back home okay? If you ever find yourself at Sannoh again, know that you have a friend there."

"I will. Thank you," she said as she let go of Junie to follow P.

"What the hell is someone from Sannoh doing here?" (Yu)

"Back to fight us?" (Takeshi)

"Okay woaaaahhhh hold up! Pump your breaks! I am quite literally risking my life to bring your kids back and you're accusing me of coming here to fight you guys? Do I look dumb to you? Why would I come alone?"

"Yamato came alone. Dan and Tettsu as well." (Takeshi)

"Okay, well yeah, because they're dumb that's why. I just came to return your kids. Now I'm gonna leave because I don't want any trouble with you guys."

"Junie? I've heard that name somewhere before. Who are you?" (Smoky)

"Hino Junie. My older brother is Cobra. Now I'm gonna leave, bye."

"You're not going anywhere!" Shouted Yu as he and a few other Rude Boys charged at her.

"ARE YOU FUCKIN KIDDING ME?!" she shouted as she dodged the members. Junie fought defense, not wanting to actually swing or hurt anybody because an actual fight meant that she would be in more trouble and could potentially cause a turf war when she didn't mean to. Junie continued holding them off but eventually lost energy going against 4 other people by herself. Takeshi knocked Junie off her feet and Yu threw her over his shoulder.

"HEY! LET ME GO! PUT ME DOWN! AAAAHHHH!"

"You're so loud can you shut up?" (Yu)

"PUT ME DOWN!"

Rude Boys carried Junie deeper into Nameless City as she continued hitting Yu (lightly) on the back and telling him to release her. Everyone eventually came to an area in the center of Nameless City where there were fires to keep the residents warm. Many were gone, already asleep but others were still awake and watching the commotion.

"Smoky, where do I put her?" (Yu)

"Just set her down, she can't run anywhere anyways. I know she's smarter than that." (Smoky)

Yu put Junie down, as her feet touched the floor she shoved him away. "You guys are lucky I don't feel like starting a turf war with all of you. I'm being serious! I need to go home."

"Who are you? Why are you here?" (Smoky)

"I already answered these questions! My name is Hino Junie. My older brother is Cobra. I found some of your kids hiding in Sannoh and am risking my life bringing them all the way back here. I need to get home, kindly tell your members to scoot out of my way and I'll leave."

"Why did Sannoh send you?" (Smoky)

"Smoky. I get it, you found five of my older brothers in your territory without permission and a drug farm being run out of one of your buildings without your knowledge, but I had nothing to do with that. I was at school outside of SWORD. Cobra doesn't let me get involved in Sannoh business anyways so I don't know why you think I was sent here. I was seriously just bringing the kids home, they can't hide in a Sannoh alley for the rest of their lives."

"You didn't fight us, why? If you're Cobra's sister you're just as strong as he is I'm sure." (Smoky)

"There is so much happening outside that could harm all of S.W.O.R.D, I don't need to add a turf war to it. Sannoh doesn't need that right now. My brother doesn't need that right now."

"What do you know about what's happening outside?" (Takeshi)

"That Iemura and Kuryu plan on making S.W.O.R.D crumble to take over so fighting amongst ourselves is something stupid to be doing right now."

Smoky walked closer to Junie, bending down so he was eye-level with her. "You don't look much older than some of the kids here. You're well spoken for a kid."

"Sometimes I don't have any other choice than to be well spoken." Before either of them could continue Junie's phone began ringing. She pulled it out of her pocket, Cobra's name with a picture they took together on her screen.

This is the part where I hope the ground opens up and swallows me whole.

"Shit he's gonna kill me," Junie whispered to herself as she picked it up and put it on speaker. "Hello?"

"HINO JUNIE! I SWEAR TO GOD I'M GONNA GROUND YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAMN LIFE! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" (Cobra)

"Um... I may or may not be held hostage by Rude Boys in Nameless City?"

"HEY!" shouted P as he regrouped with the Rude Boys members.

"CAN Y'ALL TAKE A JOKE?! GOOD LORD WHY ARE ALL OF YOU SO DAMN UPTIGHT?!" she shouted back at him. "I'm in Nameless City Cobra."

"WHAT?!" Yamato shouted from behind Cobra.

"FOR WHAT?! HINO JUNIE WHY DO YOU KEEP RUNNING OFF TO DIFFERENT TERRITORIES?!" shouted Naomi right after him.

"I-"

"DON'T TELL ME YOU WERE BORED AND WENT FOR A WALK MISSY!" (Naomi)

"Okay, funny story. While I went out for snacks to buy a cupcake for Cobra and a cheesecake for myself right? Then I found three kids who are from Nameless City hiding behind a dumpster in the alleyway by the store. They asked if I could help them get home but I had to promise not to tell any of the adults because they don't trust the adults. So I dropped off the cupcake and snacks with Cobra-"

"AND LIED TO HIM AND ME?!" (Naomi)

"Technically I lied to Cobra, then Chiharu, Tettsu, and Dan, and then you..."

"YOU THINK THAT HELPS YOUR CASE?!" (Naomi)

"No.... BUT AT LEAST I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH! So I left the cupcake and snacks with Cobra, lied to him about coming to talk to you, ran into Dan, Tettsu, and Chiharu, lied to them and got them to tell me the directions to Nameless City, then lied to them again and came inside to talk to you. Then I went to the back, made onigiri for the kids and made you guys some also so that you wouldn't be as mad at me, and then grabbed three of my sweaters from your trunk and lied to you again saying I was going home but I went back to the alleyway to pick up the kids and bring them to Nameless City. We arrived, the kids went home, but then Rude Boys wouldn't let me leave because they thought I was sent here to fight with them, thank you so much Yamato, Dan, Tettsu, Chiharu, and fuckin Noboru for making Rude Boys not trust anyone. Then, I got manhandled and brought to the center of Nameless City and now here we are with me on the phone with you guys. Please don't be mad at me. I'll even report my misbehavior to Rocky, Kizzy and Kaito so they don't buy me anything or allow me to eat cheesecake."

The phone was silent for a few seconds before anyone talked again.

"Baby. Where are you right now?" (Cobra)

"I told you, being held hostage by Rude Boys at the center of Nameless City."

"WE'RE NOT HOLDING YOU HOSTAGE!" (Yu)

"YOU LITERALLY ARE!"

"BABY!" (Cobra)

"WHAT?!"

"Stay there, don't move, we're coming. Is your phone on speaker?" (Cobra)

"Yes."

"Smoky if something bad happens to my sister I will rain hell on you guys," said Cobra before he hung up.

"Well... that went well. Dan, Tettsu, and Chiharu said it takes about 30 minutes on foot so it should take less on bikes. Can I go back to the edge of Nameless City so my brothers can pick me up?"

The Rude Boys members just stared at Junie because what the hell did they just witness? Smoky dismissed the others but kept P and Takeshi with him because he believed she wouldn't be much work considering she wanted to go home and wasn't trying to actively harm anyone.

The three walked behind Junie as they all walked back out to the edge of Nameless City.

"You're so weird." (Takeshi)

"Excuse me? I should be judging you guys, not the other way around."

"You're not scared of us." (Takeshi)

"Why would I be scared of you guys?"

"Because we're mysterious and have cool fighting skills." (P)

"You guys are literally just the same as Sannoh so if I'm not scared of them, I'm definitely not scared of you guys."

"That's insulting." (P)

"That I'm not scared of you?"

"That you didn't acknowledge our cool fighting skills and said we're the same as Sannoh," said P with a sad pout.

Junie turned around and started walking backwards as she talked to him. "I'm not saying it in a bad way. I acknowledge the cool fighting skills, I'm sorry. You guys do have cool techniques I know that the other S.W.O.R.D gangs don't fight that way. And I'm saying you guys are like Sannoh because you're just trying to protect your own, I respect that. It's what my brothers are always doing even if it gets them roped into trouble. I'm really sorry my brothers barged in like that, they have a tendency to make rash, in-the-moment decisions before thinking about it. And I'm sorry for barging in like I did, I would've had the Sannoh members just bring the kids back on their bikes so it would be faster but the kids were extra persistent on me not telling anyone else they were there."

"Thank you for doing that." (Takeshi)

"Yay. You acknowledged that we're cool."(P)

"Dude seriously?"(Takeshi)

"You guys even act like certain Sannoh members it's so funny. I think you guys are really cool. And you guys are very welcome, glad I could help."

"Will you always bring the kids back if you find them?" (Takeshi)

"If I'm there I definitely will but I'm not always in Sannoh. I'm usually in a neighboring city for school, but I'll force the Sannoh members to keep an eye out for any sketchy vans carrying Nameless City residents while I'm gone."

Smoky had been silently observing Junie and his brothers up until now. "You would do that?" (Smoky)

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"Most people don't care much about Nameless City residents and what happens to us." (Smoky)

"Cobra taught me better than to ignore people in need."

"Cobra did?" (Smoky)

"Yeah, it's been just us, Yamato, and Naomi for as long as I could remember. They raised me, not my parents."

"Sounds like all of us." (P)

"You said five brothers earlier, we only saw four Sannoh members the other day." (Smoky)

"One of my brothers... isn't hanging out with the right people at the moment."

"Iemura?" (Smoky)

"Yeah.... Sannoh is still trying to take care of it. I guess some people just lose their way sometimes."

"I can understand that." (Smoky)

"Hopefully we get him back on track."

The four made it to the edge of Nameless City, waiting for the Sannoh members to arrive.

"Why is your brother working with Iemura?" (P)

"I guess he wants a better life than the one he had, I don't really know."

"We had someone like that." (Takeshi)

"You did?"

"Yeah. Our brother left to work for Iemura also. We couldn't get him back... I guess you could say he lost his way and we couldn't get him back on track." (Smoky)

Before Junie could answer, the sound of multiple motorcycles filled the air. Cobra, Yamato, DTC, and Naomi were here to pick her up.

"HINO JUNIE! I GOT A FEW WRODS FOR YOU YOUNG LADY!" shouted Naomi.

"Oh I am so dead," she whispered to the 3 Rude Boys.

"HOW. DARE. YOU. LIE. TO. ME?!" (Naomi)

"Well-"

"AND COBRA?!" (Naomi)

"But Naomi-"

"AND DAN, AND TETTSU, AND CHIHARU?!" (Naomi)

"Okay but like-"

"Naomi! Let the girl explain herself first." (Yamato)

"YOU'RE ON HER SIDE?!" (Naomi)

"NO! I'M JUST SAYING LET HER EXPLAIN HERSELF! She's trying to talk to you." (Yamato)

"Start talking Junie." (Naomi)

"I didn't mean to lie... but the kids said they didn't trust the adults! So I had to promise not to say anything and then I brought them home."

"What kids?" (Naomi)

"The Nameless City kids! They got kidnapped by Doubt but then they escaped and hid behind the Dan store dumpster so after I bought a cheesecake for myself and a cupcake for Cobra I found them. They didn't want me to tell any adults so I went on a little expedition to bring them food and sweaters and then take them home. I knew you would be mad so I made extra rice balls for you guys once you found out. This is like 100th time saying this at this point! So technically you can get mad at me if you want but I wasn't out being bad or intentionally causing trouble. That should lower my punishment level in my opinion."

Naomi smacked the side of Junie's head. "You're in trouble and you're still cracking jokes."

"I'm just trying to lower the tension!"

"WHAT ABOUT US?!" DTC all shouted together.

"What about you guys?"

"DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TROUBLE WE GOT IN WHEN THEY FOUND OUT?!" (Tettsu)

"It's not my fault you guys are daft so I tricked you guys into giving me directions!"

"WHAT?!" (Dan)

"OH YOU DID NOT!" (Tettsu)

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING DAFT?!" (Chiharu)

"OI!" shouted Cobra, the 4 quieting down. Cobra walked past Junie to stand in front of Smoky. "I'm sorry if my sister caused you guys any trouble. Thanks for taking care of her while she was here."

"Don't mention it, she brought our siblings back after all." Smoky looked past Cobra and at Junie. "Like you told Eri, if you're ever in the area, know that you have friends here. Be safe Junie," said Smoky as he and the Rude Boys members retreated back into Nameless City.

Cobra turned around and looked Junie, "Let's go home Baby. We can talk when we get home."

"Okay," she said quietly as she mounted his bike behind him. The Sannoh members drove back to Sannoh. DTC going home, Yamato dropping off Naomi at her home and then heading towards his. Cobra and Junie went to the gas station, continuing their all-nighter plan. The two silently entered the office, sitting in their designated seats.

Junie awkwardly sat there, the silence killing her before she looked over at Cobra and started the conversation. "You have got to stop letting me sit in silence to contemplate what I did wrong before you start talking to me Cobra. I would rather get yelled at than drown in the tension of disappointment in the air."

"At least you know what you did was wrong I guess."

"I'm sorry! I really am. But the kids didn't want me to say anything to anyone."

"I'm not upset at you Junie."

"You're not?"

"I don't really know how to feel about it. I'm glad you took initiative to help those kids out, I really am, but the running off needs to stop kid. You know that it's not safe for you to be doing that so you need to quit running off to different territories like that. I'm trying to keep you safe and out of SWORD business, so you need to quit running into it head first."

"Okay... can I use one of your ice packs?"

"For what?"

"I may or may not have fought a little with the Rude Boys and feel a few bruises forming?"

"YOU WHAT?!"

"I fought defense I swear! They were surrounding me and not letting me leave! And then one boy charged at me and then it just kinda happened," Junie said with a shrug. "Them bitches be strong though. I held my ground for a while but then got tired out because I was fighting four of them. Then one of them threw me over his shoulder and he carried me away before you called."

Cora just looked at her, closed his eyes, looked away, and let out the biggest sigh known to man. "I'm not even gonna say anything. Eat your cheesecake and don't run off anymore," he said as he took a bite out of his cupcake.

✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧

Bonus

It's been a few hours since Junie left Cobra to go talk to Naomi. They must've gotten carried away talking, he thought to himself. That tends to happen when they're together, but Cobra got a little sulky because tonight was supposed to be for him and Junie before she had to leave for school again. I'm sure she'll be back in a bit, he thought as he went back to scrolling on his phone. Just then, Naomi and Yamato hurriedly threw open the door to his office.

"WELL DAMN! AT LEAST BE GENTLE WITH MY DOOR! THAT SHIT IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR!" shouted Cobra at the other two. They were a bit stunned because his voice volume is never high. (Truth is they startled him so he started shouting.)

Naomi snapped out of it first. "Cobra, where is Junie?!"

"She said she was going to Itokan to talk to you."

"She did. And then she said she was coming back to hang out with you."

"Well, she's not here obviously."

"Okay, so what the hell is this?" asked Naomi as she handed the little sticky note Junie wrote on to Cobra.

"I know you're gonna be mad at me once you find out but I made these for you guys, with a smiley face at the end."

Before Cobra could answer, DTC showed up at the gas station to fill up their bikes' gas tanks. The 3 popped in to say hi to the other trio.

"Hey guys!" (Tettsu)

"Just stopping by to grab some gas for our bikes." (Dan)

"What are you guys doing?" (Chiharu)

"Have you guys seen Junie?" (Naomi)

"Yeah. We saw her earlier." (Tettsu)

"Earlier when?" (Naomi)

"Right before she went into Itokan to talk to you." (Chiharu)

"What did she say to you guys?" (Yamato)

"She asked us what happened when Yamato and us went to Nameless City because you guys wouldn't tell her anything. Why?" (Dan)

"Junie is missing. She was supposed to be with me but then she said she was gonna go to Itokan and now Naomi can't find her either. Did she say anything else to you guys?" (Cobra)

"She asked us how to get to Nameless City then how long it took us to get there. Then she asked Chiharu how long it took him to get to Nameless City... without... a bike..." Tettsu's words started to slow down as he realized what he, Dan, and Chiharu had done.

"You are all gonna be the death of me." (Naomi)

Cobra pulled out his phone to call his sister, having a good idea on where she is now.

The Mighty Warriors pulled up in the Kuryu provided van to Junie’s performing arts academy. “Yo Bernie, this the place?” asked Ice through the back window.

“Yep. Just gotta wait for the girl to come out now.”

“Preferably, can we just take the girl and not have anything pop off around here? There are other kids here,” said Pearl.

“I didn’t take you for someone that cared about kids bro.” (9)

“I don’t, but these kids are a bunch of rich people’s kids and I personally don’t want to get involved with any other people in power. Dealing with Kuryu is enough for me, I don’t know about the rest of you.” (Pearl)

“He’s right. We don’t want to get involved with anyone we don’t need to. Get the Sannoh Girl and we’re out of here.” (Ice)

The group went back to their own things as they waited for Junie.

Class had ended for the day for Junie and her friends. The group of girls were walking out of the building and still talking about the dance routine they had just learned, and the homework they had left to finish.

“Junie are you crashing at one of our dorms tonight or are you going home?”

“I’m gonna-”

“Junie!” Junie turned at the call of her name and looked at the group of people standing by the van they were driving.

“What are the Mighty Warriors doing in front of my school?”

“Cobra sent us to pick you up.” (Bernie)

“Did he now?”

Junie’s friend Kaya grabbed her arm and whispered, “Junie, do you know them?”

Junie turned around to look at her friends and said loudly, “Sorry guys! I guess I can’t crash at the dorms tonight, my brother probably wants me home for something. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“Oh, that was easier than I thought,” said Bernie to the other Mighty Warriors.

“A little too easy.” (Sarah)

Junie gave all her friends a hug, as Junie went in to give Kaya a hug she whispered, “Call Cobra and tell him what happened when you’re safe back at your dorm okay?”

“What about you?” Kaya whispered back.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m a big girl, I’ll keep myself safe,” Junie whispered back.

Junie let go and watched the other girls walk away, waving to them. She waited for them to be a safe distance away before descending down the stairs to stand in front of the Mighty Warriors. “Let me make one thing clear. My friends have nothing to do with S.W.O.R.D. business, so whoever you just saw erase them out of your memory right now unless you want me to rain hell on your crew. I can assure you that I don’t need my brother or his gang to cause problems for you.”

“And here I thought that you were going to be easy to deal with.” (Bernie)

“Your braincells must suck ass then, why would anyone in our world be easy to deal with?”

"Girl-" (Bernie)

“We won’t touch your friends, you have my word. We’re criminals but we’re not evil, those girls are kids who aren’t tied to our business, we’ll leave them be.” (Ice)

"Thanks I guess."

“Get in the van kid, you’re gonna be our bargaining chip.” (9)

“One, you're already failing as kidnappers. You're not giving me any good bribes or threats to get into the van. You didn’t even offer to give me candy as a starter. Two, Cobra won’t be worried, he knows you’ll return me because you’re gonna get sick of my shit real quick. Three, whatever money you’re getting from this job of kidnapping me, do everyone a favor and take some of that money and fix those fuck ass braids. And I thought Tettsu’s dreads were ugly… how the fuck did you out-ugly Tettsu?” Junie pulled herself up into the back of the sketchy white van 9 told her to get into and sat down on the floor, taking off her backpack to hold at her front and setting her duffle bag down at her side. She looked out at the Mighty Warriors who all had a look of disbelief on their faces. (Something like this lol😧)

“Well? Are you guys getting in or should I run and you guys chase me?”

Ice and Sarah went to the front of the van to drive while Pearl, 9, and Bernie got in the back with Junie.

"Give me your phone kid." (9)

"No."

"Give me your phone." (9)

"No. Who are you? My dad?"

9 and Junie wrestled for her phone. 9 was able to get it from her and turn off her location tracking before giving it back.

"Now your brother can't track you." (9)

"Obviously. I wasn't born yesterday."

"Don't call or text anyone for help either." (9)

"Puh-lease it's you guys that are gonna need help being stuck with me, not the other way around, the fuck."

"We're literally kidnapping you, that doesn't scare you?" (Pearl)

"Now that I think about it, I guess I can't use the 'who are you my dad?' approach because my real dad doesn't even tell me what to do huh? And no I'm not scared."

"Why?" (Pearl)

"Dude, I got kidnapped by Noboru a few months ago and gangs are running around my home town left and right. This? This is nothing. Usually the other gangs don't touch me though because it's Cobra's rules that I'm off limits but clearly y'all didn't get the memo."

"That's cause we're not other gangs kid, we're Mighty Warriors!" (Bernie)

"You keep telling yourself that you're special. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Are you ever nice?" (9)

"BITCH! I am literally sitting in the back of a sketchy white van with some dudes who just kidnapped me from my performing arts academy! WHY THE FUCK WOULD I BE NICE TO YOU GUYS?!"

"She's got a point. How do you know who we are? You knew us right when you saw us back there." (Pearl)

"I run a tight circle with the other S.W.O.R.D gangs, they let me know what's happening and who is new in the area. Anyways.... what are your names? Don't give me stupid code names or fake names, I have a feeling we're gonna be seeing each other a lot from here on out so it would be nice to put names to faces."

"Bernie. I'm the designated Mighty Warriors' DJ."

"Pearl."

"9."

"You said you're at a performing arts academy. What do you study at school?" (Pearl)

"Piano, contemporary dance, and I dabble in ballet because it's a requirement to graduate."

"Sounds boring to me. You should check out Mighty's stuff." (Bernie)

"Does Ice also pay you to be Mighty Warriors' marketing manager? Just because my art is different from yours doesn't make it boring."

"But everything you're doing is so slooow. That's boring." (Bernie)

"And obnoxiously loud beats with strobe lights give me a headache. Your point is?"

"We can agree to disagree. Music is music and art is art right?" (Pearl)

“Yeah.”

“You not scared we gonna kill you or something kid?” (9)

“Why do I get the feeling you’re really itching to get a punch in at me or something braids?”

“BRAIDS?! I LITERALLY TOLD YOU MY NAME AND YOU’RE GONNA CALL ME BRAIDS?!” (9)

"DID I NOT TELL YOU TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM THIS JOB AND FIX YOUR FUCK ASS HAIR EARLIER?!"

“Don’t let 9’s questions bother you,” said Bernie. “He’s a lil softy at heart,” he whispered to you. 9 reached over and smacked Bernie on the arm. “Ow bro what the hell!”

“Don’t tell the kid that shit! I’m supposed to look scary! Be intimidating!” (9)

“If you want my opinion you’re all doing a shit job at being scary. The only remotely intimidating Mighty Warrior member is the lady up front.”

“That’s Sarah.” (Bernie)

“The guy driving is Ice, he’s our leader.” (Pearl)

“Ohhh. She's very intimidating but seems like a cool person actually. And to answer your question, no, I’m not worried you’re gonna kill me. Something tells me you guys don’t do that kinda shit.”

“What if we do?” (9)

“Then I’ll fuckin haunt your asses forever until you all go clinically insane and can’t even think properly to make music. You’ll spend the rest of your life locked up in a 4 by 4 white room whispering to yourself while I creep around your mind and materialize out of thin air. Try me bitch. If you go low I will go lower.”

9 just looked at you, speechless and kinda terrified. Bernie and Pearl both laughed hysterically at the way you responded to 9 on top of his reaction.

“I like this kid!” (Pearl)

“Yo, can we just keep her? She's funny!" (Bernie)

"No, sorry. You're gonna have to return me to my brother eventually."

"Damn. We got you for now though so that's fine." (Bernie)

The van continued on driving as Junie bickered with the 3 Mighty Warriors she was stuck with in the back. As funny as these guys were, she knew that the people they answered to for this job probably weren't as chill as they are, and could only hope that Kaya called her brother and that Sannoh would be on their way to help her soon.

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Kaya quickly made her way back to her dorm. After checking her surroundings to make sure no one followed her or if anyone was hiding nearby, she pulled out her phone and clicked on Cobra's contact.

When Junie first came to the academy, Kaya was the first girl to become friends with her, not minding what Junie's older brother and his friends did for a living. Kaya was interested in how Junie lived her life outside of school, eventually convincing her parents to allow her to go visit Junie in Sannoh. Once she learned the nature of Junie's life outside of the academy, she was given Cobra, Yamato, and Naomi's contact information in case situations like these occurred outside of Sannoh where they couldn't get to her immediately.

The phone rang twice before Cobra picked up the phone.

"Cobra?"

"Hey Kaya, Junie staying with you tonight right?"

"Um, no. She was, but then some people were parked at the front of our school and said that you sent them to pick Junie up. Junie played along and made sure we all safely left the area first before going with them. She told me to call you when I got to my dorm. I asked her what about her and she said she would manage. Cobra I'm so sorry I didn't know what to do and-" Kaya began to cry and panic.

"Hey, hey it's okay. You did good, you did what Junie told you to do. I don't want you getting roped into our business neither does Junie. You did good it's okay."

"Okay..."

"Kaya do you know who was there? What did they look like?"

"Um, there were 5 people. 4 men and 1 woman. They were wearing street clothes. They were, um, standing in front of a white van. They knew Junie because when we got outside they called out to her and were super casual when they said that you told them to pick her up. I, um, I don't think I can remember anything else."

"Okay, that's okay. Thank you-"

"WAIT! Cobra I remember something else!"

"What do you remember Kaya?"

"When they called out to Junie, her back was turned because she was talking to us, but when she turned around she asked what Mighty Warriors were doing here."

Cobra let out a big sigh, screwing his eyes shut in annoyance. "Okay, thank you Kaya. Stay safe okay?"

"Okay... can you bring Junie back safe?"

"Bring her back I can do, I always will, but safe? Safe isn't a common word in our world Kaya."

"I know but... just bring my best friend home please?"

"I will Kaya. Go to sleep."

"Okay."

The line went dead after that. Kaya was worried but knew that Junie was tough, she could hold her own until Cobra came for her. Kaya went to bed trying not to worry too much about her best friend.

Cobra on the other hand was getting ready to blow up all of Chikuni City. It's been a long time thing that Junie is off limits when attacking Sannoh especially because all of S.W.O.R.D protects her, but clearly not everyone honors unspoken rules. Cobra got up from the couch and started to pace Yamato's garage.

"Who was that?" (Yamato)

"That was Kaya." (Cobra)

"Kaya? As in Junie's friend from school?" (Yamato)

"Yeah." (Cobra)

"What did she call for?" asked Naomi as she entered the garage.

Cobra let out an exasperated sigh and looked at the two of them. "Mighty Warriors just took Junie."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" (Yamato)

"What happened?!" (Naomi)

"Junie already told me this morning she was gonna crash at the dorms, but Kaya says that after class when they left the academy, Mighty Warriors were waiting for Junie outside. She was calm and played along until her friends were safe and out of the area before following them. Now she's with them. I just checked her location and her tracking is turned off." (Cobra)

"Idiots. Always getting a kid involved when she's got nothing to do with them." (Naomi)

"How do we find her now? We need to tell the others." (Yamato)

"We will, I think-" Cobra's phone started to buzz. He lifted the phone to check who was calling and was met with a picture of him and Junie. He hurriedly answered the call and put it on speaker. "JUNIE! ARE YOU OKAY?!"

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" (Yamato)

"JUNIE ARE YOU HURT?!" (Naomi)

"So caring. Junie must be so thankful to have so many people taking care of her."

"Kohaku?! WHERE THE HELL IS MY SISTER?!" (Cobra)

"No need to worry, she's safe, right Junie?" (Kohaku)

"I'm fine guys! Just gonna die because Kohaku and Lee's egos are so fucking inflated that it takes up all the oxygen in the room!"

"HEY!" (Lee)

"COME NEAR ME AND I SWEAR I'LL BEAT YOUR ASS! YOU CAN'T EVEN FIGHT DIP SHIT!"

"You can see her after." (Kohaku)

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN AF-" the phone line went dead. "HELLO?! KOHAKU?! KOHAKU! DAMN IT!" shouted Cobra as he threw his phone onto the couch.

"What does he mean by after?" (Naomi)

"The fight," said Tsukumo as he got off of his bike and walked towards the trio, stopping in front of them in the garage.

"Tsukumo." (Cobra)

"I can't believe this." (Yamato)

"Yo." (Tsukumo)

"Where have you been?" (Cobra)

"What are you doing here?" (Naomi)

"Why didn't you contact us after getting out of the hospital?" (Yamato)

"You guys look rough... Kohaku right?" (Tsukumo)

"What fight are you talking about?" (Cobra)

"Two days from now, Kohaku and 500 members of Mighty and Doubt will come here to crush S.W.O.R.D. Kuryu had Mighty kidnap Junie to use as a bargaining chip against you. All of you. They know that all of S.W.O.R.D loves Junie, and that you'll all show up for not only the fight but for her." (Tsukumo)

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WOOHOO WE ARE AT THE END! Sorry if there are any spelling or grammatical errors, I did read through and edit this multiple times but I'm quite prone to making little mistakes here and there that I don't catch.

Did you enjoy the backstory on how Junie met everyone in S.W.O.R.D? These are all just some small blurbs and context to how Junie met everyone and why she has a certain relationship with certain groups and their members. For example, she's very close to Kizzy and Kaito from White Rascals because they act like her parents and she's close with Murayama like he's another brother to her. Whereas with Rude Boys and Daruma they are more of respectful acquaintances.

I will be writing more about Junie and Murayama's sibling like bond in future stories. This story doesn't make it seem like Hyuga and Junie are close because they definitely aren't like how she's close with Kizzy+Kaito or Murayama, but I plan to have Hyuga be like a mentor in a way to Junie in further stories because I wanted to add some depth to Hyuga's character and not just write him as a crazy fighter.

The story for how Junie met Mighty will also be included and continued in the "Junie in High&Low the Movie" post! I didn't want to post all of it here since this is just a how Junie met everyone post so please look forward to that!

© This work is copyrighted by enhashoutout. I only post my work on this Tumblr account. I do not allow people to repost or translate my work. If you do see anyone doing so, please let me know. Writers work hard on their stories, please don't be a crappy human and take our work. ♡

[csuitebitches]

What do you think about consumerism in relation to the "hypergamous" lifestyle?

Great question. I'm going to be honest with you. There’s no point in sharing my opinion, I’d rather share my observation.

there is this perception that you have to spend crazy $$, wear designer, go on expensive holidays, be a part of exclusive member-only clubs in order to bag a wealthy guy. The thinking is, “if I look the part, I will fit right in.”

let me break it to you. If you’re Asian, Middle Eastern - you come from a culture that basically defines marriage as something between two families and not individuals - you could live the above lifestyle, live way beyond your means but your chances of bagging a wealthy guy are low. If you do not have the family background or education level to support your lifestyle to be with a rich guy, it’s going to be very difficult, not impossible. You could bag someone who is upper middle class, but definitely not the 0.01%.

While it’s true that the rich do spend like crazy - you have to understand that (especially in Asians) the level of spending is completely different. They can book a first class emirates flight without caring about rates, they have access to concierge services, the circles are small but tight. It is extremely difficult to break into these if you don’t have the money or are extremely good friends with someone who is in this circle. To keep up with this circle is another financial headache.

The consumerism is crazy, it is high yes, but often it’s for things you might not expect. “Silent luxury”, investing in jewellery, properties, experiences, hobbies, drivers, PAs, 24/7 staff to take care of your home, having personal managers at the banks that have your accounts, seeing the top CEOs, politicians, actors etc as regular people - keeping up is not easy. Even if we look at normal stuff, like shopping for clothes - they’re able to blow this thousands of $ on a simple Hermes tea cup set, break it, and buy another one very nonchalantly. Not to mention the constant social gatherings, the clothes (god forbid you repeat), your life’s experiences etc etc. Women here don’t work to maintain their lifestyle, they work to enjoy what they are doing. Even if they stop working tomorrow, they will be financially taken care of by their families or husbands.

hypergamy here is completely different and obstructed. Let’s take my own example. I date boys that my family picks out for me - boys whose families own massive conglomerates, who are cultured and sophisticated, etc etc. I ended things with my last boyfriend because of multiple things, but what mattered most was that my father felt that he wouldn’t be able to provide for me the way I was used to all my life. (Even tho my ex came from a wealthy background too). At every social gathering that my parents organise or take me to, I’ve got my parents friends asking my parents if I’m single, if I’m interested in meetings their sons, etc etc. Dating and marrying hypergamously in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures is very much a family affair. There is a lot of talk that happens in these circles - who married who, whose kids are dating who, did you hear that A’s son fell in love with some middle class girl he met in college - not to your face, but behind your back.

What I’m trying to say is - you could look the part but still not bag the guy. You could dress nice, you could wear expensive perfume and make up but in the end, backgrounds are vetted extremely carefully. Especially in today’s day and age where looking the part has become easier than ever. So now when you tie this to consumerism, you can see why it can be difficult to keep up with this level of consumerism and spending. And even if you can - that may not guarantee anything. Unfortunately life isn’t like kdramas and some rich guy isn’t going to take pity on you and transform your life when he could just be with someone who has a similar upbringing which is more comfortable.

I’m not sure if I answered your question correctly, but I assumed that you were basically asking me if looking the part can get you any points in the hypergamy scene.

[what-even-is-thiss]

Someday when I have a more consistent schedule I really do wanna have a YouTube channel. And I’ve wondered about sponsorships. I’ve gotten offers on this very blog before to participate in one of those stupid ads for drop shipping crystals that project your birth sign or whatever that I’ve turned down.

I’ve wondered though. Because on one hand sponsors pay good money and money is a thing that is required to live in this day and age. But also I feel like if I ever took a sponsor nobody could ever fully and completely trust my opinion on anything again.

There’s this YouTuber I love whose channel is called Swell Entertainment. And she comes across as being very honest but also she takes sponsorships. And a big part of her channel is review content. So sometimes I wonder if she’s pulling her punches slightly because she still wants to be marketable. But I don’t hold that against her because she’s living in LA for god’s sake and sponsorships provide much more reliable income than other methods.

It’s kinda sad that advertisement is almost required to make a living creating internet content.

I pay for YouTube premium not just because I wanted to get rid of ads on my smart tv, but because creators get more money per view from YouTube premium subscribers. I can’t afford to subscribe to a dozen patreons but I can afford one cheap subscription.

I hope if I ever have a channel big enough to have sponsorships I either take them extremely rarely for stuff I actually care about or don’t take them at all. Because I want to be able to just have opinions about stuff openly. But the sad truth is that money can be an issue. So. Who knows? I certainly don’t hold it against people who take sponsorships. That’s just how the industry works nowadays. They need money to live. And if you have adhd which many creative types do contractual deadlines can really help you get stuff done. And sponsors can get you experiences like vacations and luxury hotel stays and free reviewer copies of books and video games. Who can blame them? There’s so much stuff available to you from sponsors that can improve your quality of life and help you make your business better. Money to hire editors and voice actors and writers and animators, buy better equipment, rent out a sound stage.

But. Idk. A lot of those sponsored products aren’t that good. And a lot of people are susceptible to advertising. It works on a lot of people. Especially when it comes from a face they trust.

The tradeoff to take sponsors or not is a difficult one. Honestly and truly. And it’s very probable that I’ll never be popular enough to actually have to make a decision on these things. But I still think about it every time I see a sponsored segment. What levels of calculation have gone into that? None? A lot? I’ll never be allowed to know because that would be bad for business.