AlteredTundra

Digimon: The Parallel Visage

Hey sorry, kinda dropped the ball here. I had every intention of posting by now but a lot of things just kept getting in the way, but I'll try and get something of a post up for this as soon as I can.

Edenridge

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_{T I M E S T A M P — Evening (4:40-5:30ishPM) || After Useless Musings}
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Somewhere inside, Jade felt guilty for taking a leave almost as soon as their stuff was deposited into Adora’s home. She felt guilty because after so long of leaving not just Key but Poppy in the dirt, as soon as they were free to roam around, she exited stage left…somewhere. Truth of the matter, Jade needed some time alone. She needed some breathing room. She needed to gather her thoughts away from Poppy, away from Key, and away from Natalia. She was suffocating to the point where all of the compartmentalization she had made about what she was feeling versus…everything surrounding this trip: from Charlie to Charlie having a sister to the fact that, honestly, she wasn’t ready to face them.

That’s what took Jade to the backyard patio area of Adora’s house. She was still somewhat nearby the others, but far enough that she could think and breathe in peace. For the first time, Jade took in the sights. She stood at some edge but saw the surroundings for the first time. It was breathtaking. At face value, it wasn’t much to look at, but there was something about it - something that Jade couldn’t explain - that made her feel relaxed. It wasn’t just relaxing for her stress levels (which had been abnormally high since this morning), but she would even say spiritually, she felt something.

And Jade wasn’t a spiritual person. Or if she was, she’d much prefer the Prince of Darkness to the big person up top. But this was different.

She pulled out a cigarette from a pack of Marlboro 100s Red that she had in her back pocket and popped one in her mouth. Lighting it, she stood almost solemnly. These moments alone gave her some time to think. As she huffed out a big puff of smoke and she glanced at the sky. It made her mind drift to the storm. She wondered if Pancake was safe. Somewhere inside, Jade also felt guilty for not telling her she was leaving. She just hoped Anya was okay, safe, and out of harm’s way of the storm.

Frowning slightly, she heard some noise from behind her. Jade was always on her guard - except for those Sunday morning dates with Anya where she didn’t have to be - so when she heard what sounded like footsteps, Jade jumped in place defensively only to notice the artist formerly known as Queen Bee of Edenridge High, Class of 2020 was behind her. “So what? You needed some time alone too?”

You could say that,” Natalia said with a small smile, settling on one of the royal blue lawn chairs in front of the fire pit with her trusty blue makeup bag in her arms. After a brief catch-up with Adora in which the two women lamented the end of Tal's relationship with their hostess' nephews but were happy it had been an amicable split, the young woman had been quick to barricade herself in the bedroom she had shared with Creed and Jokes during their Blue Hill visits. Spending over an hour in close proximity to Charlie's friends had left her muscles tense and her nerves shot with anxiety, leaving her with no other choice than to pop a few Valiums and lay down in an attempt to self-soothe. She kept an ear out for the voices of the rest of the Southies, waiting for the moment in which they faded away. And once she determined the other guests were gone, Tal embraced the opportunity to find comfort in solitude and the cool, fresh mountain air.

“Poppy and Boa gone?” Tal asked Jade, occupying herself by loading a dose of freshly-grinded weed onto her trusty galaxy purple glass pipe. She hadn’t expected to find any of the Southies still at the house, but a part of her was grateful that it was Jade and not Poppy.

She watched Natalia claim one of the chairs and with a slight shrug more for herself, a sort of ‘might as well’, non-verbal reaction, Jade took the one opposite of her. There was something awkward in the air. Jade didn’t know if it was how she was feeling, how Queen Belmonte was feeling, or just the fact that she didn’t really know Natalia enough to feel comfortable around her, yet in her current state, she preferred her company to anyone else’s right now. The guilt for ditching her friends and family was still eating away at her, so maybe that’s why she felt this way.

“Yeah, it seems like it. I don’t know where to, though. I just came this way to get some air.” Jade absentmindedly said. She wasn’t even looking at Natalia - not really, anyways. She casually took a couple puffs of the cigarette, blowing the smoke into the air as she found herself leaning back into the chair.

The Belmonte girl snorted. "Honestly? There's not enough air or oxygen on this Earth that'll make me feel any less stressed about all of this," Natalia told Jade, pulling out her zippo lighter from the makeup bag and flicking it open.

Jade brought her gaze to Natalia. There was something eating away at her and now was as good of a time as any to say it. “You know, this might be rude, but honestly I always thought you were kind of a bitch. Not a bitch like Lanie Lancaster. That one was insufferable. More bitch like ‘oh she might ruin my day if I get in her way but probably be friends with me too’ kind of bitch.” As she rambled on, Jade inhaled another puff of smoke. “Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. Feel free to ignore me and get high if you want.”

Natalia's face lit up in a smile at Jade's comment. In a town full of secrets and lies, the blonde's honesty was quite refreshing. "You're not that far off in your assumption," Tal admitted, placing the pipe to her lips, flicking the lighter on under the pipe and allowing the flame to light up the weed. She took a long, deep drag from the pipe and released it in a steady stream of smoke before continuing. "I'm not proud of some of the things I've said and done throughout my life, or the way I've acted in certain situations. I've felt hurt, I’ve felt lonely, and I’ve been scared to show any signs of being weak or vulnerable-- which I'm not saying to justify anything, by the way-- so I've lashed out in ways that hurt people I care about," she explained, her mind immediately jumping to Danny, Niles, and even Kylee during the last time she saw her-- people who hadn’t deserved her harsh treatment even if they had knowingly or unknowingly hurt her with their actions.

Jade just had to chuckle and smile at the response she got. She was smiling because, as much as she hated to admit it, she was the same way (more or less). Jade was horrible to a few people. Some not so memorable, but one in particular, one Roddy Callahan, had always stood out. Some days she wished she had made amends with him, and apologized for being a grade-a bitch to him. He developed feelings for her and, instead of trying to see if she did too (she might’ve), Jade split like it was nobody’s business.

“Seems we’re cut from the same cloth.” Jade laughed again, leaning forward, flicking her cigarette that was no larger than her fingernail into the unlit fire pit at the center. “Well, at least you have the balls to be a bitch to people to their faces.” Jade stayed leaning forward, her arms positioned over her thigh (just an inch or two shy of her knee). Her gaze was down closer to the ground than it was level or at Natalia. “Me? I’m a coward. I run away, hide, and keep even those closest to me at arm’s length at a time.”

The dark-haired girl immediately scoffed and raised her eyebrows. "Did you not see the state of my room when you guys came over earlier? What do you think I've been doing the past two weeks?" Tal confessed, taking another pull from her pipe. "All I remember about the last fourteen days is getting high, getting food and falling asleep. I made sure to only leave my room when everyone else wasn’t around because I didn't want to explain myself to anyone. Fuck, I even deactivated my socials and everything so people wouldn't be able to message me ask me about things. Which, from what you're telling me, looks like you can relate to as well."

Jade laughed again, slightly nodding. “That obvious huh? Guess you weren’t queen bee for nothing.” Another small chuckle escaped through her lips as Jade’s gaze remained on the firepit. The thoughts of the past immediately flooded her mind as though the fires from hell themselves consumed her, burning away whatever peace the Angel Princess had achieved in the journey here. “So as you so aptly guessed, you aren’t the only one who said--” Jade leaned back and flipped the bird in no general direction “--to the world. I was never that active on any socials. Think all I have is a Reddit account but even that’s not used very often. But the whole not answering messages and calls? Yeah, I fucked off for a whole month. Didn’t matter who it was: my Aunt Zippo’s family, Pops, Key, even Mikhail Zima reached out once or twice.” She laughed, thinking about HB and how even though they didn’t talk that much, he still cared enough to reach out. “I didn’t care -- I couldn’t care. That whole night at the Carlisle House…”

As Jade had finally looked up at Natalia, as she saw the Italian girl smoke her pipe, her emotions swirled inside. Swirled to the point where she felt that familiar vice grip of that night take a hold of her. Unlike that night, however, Jade had made some peace with it. “Instead of leaning on my friends - my family - I couldn’t face them. Every one of them who knew said I wasn’t at fault. And part of me understands that. Too many things were at play and it’s not like I could do anything to stop ReyRey from what he did to Charlie, but I never said anything until that night.” Saying it out loud was difficult for her. She thought she might talk this way with Poppy, but guilt prevented Jade from feeling strong enough to talk about this with her or even Key. Somehow doing that with Natalia, someone she had barely any connection with, was easier. “Despite that, you had a connection with Charlie too. I can’t imagine how it was for you, having to hear everything.”

Natalia was quiet for a while, listening to Jade elaborate on the way she’d coped with things and feeling a strange sense of consolation. She wouldn’t have guessed that she and Jade dealt with their problems in similar ways: pushing her loved ones aside. Not just that, but she wouldn’t have thought that they shared a similar feeling regarding their failure to help Charlie during his time of need. However, when the conversation shifted to her potential connection to Charlie, the Italian girl’s demeanor reverted back to its usual high guard.

"He was my dealer. That's all it was," Tal answered curtly, shifting her slightly tearful eyes away from Jade and to the pine trees surrounding them as her body tensed up. Flashbacks of the moments shared with Charlie throughout the years jumped to the forefront of her mind, each one more meaningful than the last, all culminating in that fateful day in which she witnessed his premature demise swiftly delivered by the hand of Sly James and his bullet to the Native boy's head. Before their excursion to Carlisle and the old high school, Natalia had compartmentalized and suppressed the memory for nearly two years. But after that night, the visions of her former lover meeting his end haunted her dreams, and only the pills and the weed knocked her out enough to avoid the nightmares that followed.

The blonde found herself narrowing her blue-green eyes at Natalia the moment that she saw her gaze drift away from her own. Jade knew it all too well that, on the southside, if you had a dealer, they were more than that. But at the same time, as much as she wanted to assume, if she were in Natalia’s position, she’d hate for anyone to assume something that might not even be true. What Charlie became after a certain point, as much as it kills her to assume it, he became like a stranger to her.

“Sorry, I didn’t…” Fuck, Jade was terrible at this: the awkward apology for her own damn assumptions. She kept her eyes on the former queen even if she didn’t want to look at her. “It’s just, in the Southside, we don’t really view dealers as just that. I get you’re a Northsider, but you strike me as someone who is more Southie than Northie. Hell, my own dealer, Sunshine, he’s someone I’ve known for the longest time. Ever since I met Key since I was thirteen, I’ve always been close to his crew. Sonny is the one who gave me some pills. Still got 'em with me just in case I needed a pick-me-up.” And at this rate, Jade would probably need them sooner than later.

The Belmonte girl remained silent once more, pondering her options. Here was an opportunity to come clean about her involvement with Charlie Decker with someone who seemed to carry the same guilt she did. Jade had been open with her so far-- more so than Tal would have ever imagined considering they’d been strangers just mere minutes before. And she had also shown vulnerability in the things she’d disclosed and the way she had disclosed them. But was Tal ready to do the same?

"I guess you could say we were friends," she lied, taking another puff from the pipe but still avoiding the blonde's eyes. She was afraid they would contradict the words being spoken-- that they would reveal she and Charlie had been drawn to one another, and that they'd been more than friends at one point in time. "I started buying from him after Niles Sinclair and I stopped being friends. One of those times, he noticed I wasn't being myself. He offered me a joint, asked me what was wrong, and we got to talking about it. It was nice." Tal admitted, the ghost of a smile on her lips as she remembered her first real conversation with Charlie Decker: the one that started it all. "We had smoking sessions and deep talks about this and that a few more times after that. He was honestly the best person to talk to if you wanted to dig deep into the meaning of things. It was one of the things I enjoyed most about him."

Jade didn’t expect this to happen. Honest to every damn God and spirit around, Jade didn’t see herself having a conversation about Charlie with someone she not only didn’t have a close connection with, but someone who had the same experiences that she did. She was experiencing a lost feeling that she hadn’t felt in years. Any time that she thought about Charlie Decker, it was always met with profound sadness, mixed with regret and pain. All of that from the last two years of Charlie’s life and how very little she talked to him. She was going through her own shit, as he was, but...

But Jade wished she had reached out. God, she wished more than anything that she would have just said hello. Have another go at it, but it never happened. And while he was gone, he wasn’t forgotten. This very moment was proof of that.

“I bet you were the one to start it off, right?” Jade smiled and laughed, remembering how Charlie was at that game before the party. “He had a way about him. For someone so wise beyond his years and a love for literature, he sure sucked at getting his thoughts out.” Somewhere deep down, Jade wished things had been different that day. At the game.

Natalia turned to look at Jade for the first time since their common friend had been brought up in conversation. “I mean, you’re half-right. Charlie wasn’t really one to talk about himself in detail much-- at least with me. He’d drop breadcrumbs about things he was going through here and there, making it sound almost like a riddle you needed to decipher to find out what he really meant. But starting the conversations? That was all him.”

Now that she took the time to really think about it, Charlie definitely knew more about her than she ever did about him. It wasn’t for lack of trying, because God knew Tal certainly tried her best to offer him the same shoulder to cry on he gave her. But Charlie always found a way to circle topics back to her or shift them in a different direction. Maybe if she’d tried harder, pushed further, dug deeper… Maybe he would have finally bared his soul enough to protect them all from what came after.

“That sounds about right.” Jade said absentmindedly, switching from half-smiles and neutral expressions in the course of a few moments. She remembered conversations she had with Charlie. Conversations that, even before that horrific night where everything changed, what Natalia said… “Charlie never did like to talk about what was on his mind. Or what was happening with him. I was one of his best friends at one point and even I knew very little about what was really happening in his life.” Saying that out loud felt like she was stabbing herself in the gut repeatedly. To actually say that she may not have known Charlie at all, that…

That was a reality check Jade never thought she’d face, least of all with somebody that she didn’t know had such a profound connection with him.

Hearing Jade admit that Charlie wasn’t very open with her did ease some of Natalia’s conscience. While she still wished she would have tried harder to earn his trust, it was a little comforting to know that it hadn’t been just her. Unfortunately, knowing what she did now and how it all ended, hoping that he’d had someone to confide in even if it hadn’t been them, was futile.

Jade felt the curious cat poke its head and there was something she needed to ask. “When was it that you had started having these talks with him?”

“March of Sophomore year,” Natalia responded without hesitation, taking yet another pull from the pipe. “I started buying from him almost as soon as we got back to school from winter break, but we actually started talking in March. Why?"

“I'm just thinking about him. About everything.” Pain surfaced in her voice, forcing her to fall silent, but Jade was still smiling. “I guess when things around me and, I suppose everyone else too, were happening all at once and I started to lose touch with him, that was around the same time you…and he started talking. I think I’m happy he found someone to talk to, even if he didn’t admit much to you about what he was going through, it seemed like he felt safe around you.” In truth, that’s the best way Jade could look at it. Her biggest regret was not doing more, but at least he had somebody. She had made her peace with most of it, but unintentionally so, this had opened up some old wounds for her.

The green-eyed girl swallowed the lump forming on her throat, getting misty-eyed once more as even more memories of her time spent with Charlie bubbled up to the surface. “Not as safe as I felt around him,” she heard herself confessing. “I cared about him so much-- more than words can ever say. In high school, I was surrounded by a ton of people. I had one or two friends that I trusted, but Charlie was the only one who really saw me from the beginning. He gave me one look, and that’s all it took for him to know what kind of mood I was in. He made me feel heard. He knew what to say to make me feel like I was worth a damn when I thought I couldn’t see it myself. He did so much for me-- hell, he did so much for so many people--, and none of us could do anything to save him--” Out of nowhere and before she could stop herself, Natalia dropped her pipe in her lap, hid her face between her hands and started to sob.

Without even thinking about it, Jade left the chair she was in, going close to Natalia. She was on one knee. Her hand was gently resting on Natalia’s shoulder. The Angel Princess was at a loss of what to say because she didn’t think there was anyone else other than herself and Poppy who felt this way about Charlie. Who held such a deep regret for not being able to help him. Jade held her own shortcomings with Charlie so harshly against her that even before the shooting, it crippled her. And after, in addition to so many other bad events happening in succession, Jade couldn’t deal.

That’s when she started to turn to drugs to help her cope with all the internal pain she kept clinging onto. Pain reminded her that she was still alive but the drugs and alcohol helped numb her worst thoughts, yet made her feel worse about herself. “Natalia…” Jade spoke softly, though she felt her voice crack with the mix of emotions that she thought were buried in her voice. These emotions stemmed from thoughts that she thought were resolved. “I’m…” Again, she got choked up. The roles were reversed right now. Natalia was where Jade was last month. “You’re not alone, Natalia.” Jade squeezed her shoulder.

As tears started to slowly flow down Jade’s face, smearing her racoon eyeshadow, Jade gently pulled the Italian girl into an embrace as she wrapped her arm around the girl’s lanky shoulders. “I hope you know that. Me, Poppy, Key, and you -- we all feel the same hurt. What we couldn’t do right by him, we can by his sister.” Maybe for the first time, Jade could understand the true importance of this trip. She spent so long from the moment she found out to the car ride to the Reservation stuck in her head, but Jade saw it now. What this was about was not to just protect Charlie’s sister, but redemption for the four of them.

Natalia nodded in acknowledgement, still sobbing but gratefully leaning into Jade’s compassionate embrace. This was the first time that she had ever disclosed part of the depth of hers and Charlie’s relationship to anyone. Be it out of fear of being judged, concern of their bond being misconstrued or guilt at the potential part she had played in the grand scheme of things, nobody else had known the very real feelings she’d had for the deceased boy. From the moment she’d witnessed his tragic death, the Italian girl had compartmentalized their memories together and locked them away in the depths of her mind, unwilling to deal with her emotions even during therapy. The Carlisle incident had served to chip away at the defenses she’d put in place since that fateful day in late August of 2019, but today was the first time she’d been forced to confront her feelings about those high school experiences she’d suppressed as a coping mechanism to her trauma. And, as much as Tal didn’t want to admit it, sharing a part of her story with someone who could relate did ease some of the heavy load on her shoulders.

Maybe that’s what Rhonda Decker had wanted for them all along.

𝘿𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 ⌜ᴀ ɢᴏᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ⌟

curiouser & curiouser

_{location: The Olympic Club
interactions: Athena | Heimdall | Xipe Totec
mentions: The Death Family | Artemis | Hati}

---

Heimdall could barely believe his eyes as he looked down at that graphic scene before him. Two divine children laid dead in a broken bloody pile as if they were mortals. He felt a chill go down his spine as his mind began to race through the possibilities that this could lead to. Not only was it bad enough that the victims in this scenario were Greeks, but they were the children of Hades and Persephone. Though Heimdall had never met them personally, the few stories he had been told by Athena cleared all doubt of how they would respond.

Heimdall crouched down, his eyes shining just a bit as he observed the bodies as best he could. Though the large amount of blood covered the finer details he was still able to make out some obvious facts. One was that Zagreus had put up a fight before being killed, the other detail was that the two children had been dead long before they ever touched the ground. Heimdall's eyes grew wide however as he noticed a small detail hidden on their body, there was a small clean cut like one left by a knife or blade of some kind. Heimdall looked up to the shattered skylight for a brief moment before standing and walking away from the scene. ‘I need to find Athena and fast’

His walk around the event was a long and purposeful one. One filled with scanning everyone who entered and exited, of the mortals and divine alike. It was easy to fall into a sense of… boredom when attending the Festivals Hera hosted yearly. Nothing exciting going on, enough to hold his attention at least. But it wasn't necessarily entertainment Xipe sought while stalking through the throng of bodies, rather someone. Xōchi had announced she would attend and yet he wasn't able to spot her. And when the bodies fell from the sky like the first heavy raindrops of a summer storm, he felt fear for the first time, believing one to be her.

After statements were made, divinities leaving after being dismissed he noticed Heimdall searching the scene; he would wait until they needed his expertise. They always did. Taking a glass of champagne and sipping it slowly he made his way to the bodies laying at his feet. Pools of blood stemmed from the young before his eyes, like roots of a weed it spread along the ground beneath them. His golden gaze sharp, examining the substance at a crouched level. Unlike other cases that had come across his desk, he would need to think with the mind of a killer. A simple enough task for Xipe Totec.

When his gaze turned up to look about the room, still bustling with too many bodies for his liking, he noticed that Heimdall was making his way towards the Wisdom goddess. _{'They would be spilling what they know soon enough,'} he thought to himself and snatched up a few pieces of broken glass; a makeshift slide for him to use and examine at a later time.

Athena had returned to the scene of the crime and it was definitely a slow process, but progress was being made. She had the blood from the bathroom and she spotted Xipe Totec near the bodies of her cousins who were still laying motionless on the ground. She didn’t have much of an opinion on him but she didn’t trust him enough with the vile of blood that was in her purse. This would need to be kept in-house.

“Heimdall,” she greeted him, casually glancing around the ballroom. “Any updates?”

“No way it was an accident. Beside even the setting and the falling part, the boy had scarring on his knuckles from a fight. My guess would be an altercation with the perp.” Heimdall paused for a second as he looked across the room seeing that the grieving Hades and Persephone had already been escorted out of the building. “Whoever did this, did it to send a message to your uncle and aunt.” Heimdall paused for another moment before turning back to face the goddess of wisdom. “How about on your end?”

“That’s what I deduced as well.” Athena hummed, seemingly to agree with what Heimdall had deduced on his own. Did Artemis tell him about the blade yet? Probably not. Not much time had passed and that was the sort of thing to tell when there weren’t so many ears that could hear of it. Athena wanted to divulge it now, but now wasn’t the time.

She sighed out far more dramatically than she thought she might. “Unfortunately it’s not anything good. Anteros was distraught but not for reasons pertaining to the case. Apparently Pothos is missing. I was actually on my way over here to tell you--” Athena was cut off mid-sentence as she spotted the usually-snake-like Xipe, who always had a habit of slithering behind people appear out of nowhere behind Heimdall. Her partner hadn’t noticed but she did and the wisdom goddess folded her arms over her chest, glaring at him but decided to say nothing as her eyes said enough.

Like a second shadow Xipe was there, hands in his pocket as he observed and listened to the goings on between the detectives. A type of social hierarchy going on between them, and if Xipe was any kind of mortal that wallowed in his feelings too much, he might have even been hurt by the clear and blatant exclusion he was feeling. But he wasn’t and he didn’t. He stood there, head held high, although his laidback and relaxed posture spoke volumes of someone with other thoughts on their mind.

“Seems as though this is more than just death... targeted individuals, perhaps?” His eyes danced, the muscles around his lips twitching up into a small smile, “I would think that because it was their first time back into the world of the divine, they would have been the best ones to off. And in such a fashion as they did? Tsk. The craftsmanship of the wounds and… display of their bodies could use a bit of work.” The way he spoke, like a master of their craft critiquing the works of a novice. So haughty and with distaste. Except, Xipe wasn’t upset about it, rather he saw the potential and wished to inform the killer of all the points they missed.

He didn’t know the Children of Death all that well, hell, he only really met Melinoë - an interaction he enjoyed. Having a domain over madness must be thrilling. Xipe was clearly only there for a few reasons; his affinity with blood would help - or at least they think so, and he was drawn into the commotion a pair of dead divinities offered. Truly a delightful end to what could only have been boring in comparison. “Do tell us though, Athena,” he dragged out, circling the pair of them like a vulture, “What is the significance of your niece’s disappearance? Clearly it wasn’t the killer, otherwise she'd be as dead as the others." Xipe couldn't choose between hiding his enthusiasm and looking unfazed by the whole situation, but with everything unfolding before him he was finding the latter very difficult.

Athena could never place it, but there was always something so unnerving about Xipe. His unwarranted commentary about the specific way bodies were carved up, the odd excitement he always seemed to show when talking about fatal blows, and just his energy rubbed the wisdom goddess the wrong way. That’s why she didn’t want to tell him everything she found out. She wasn’t even going to tell Heimdall everything. She was simply going to inform him of the updates that happened on her end. She wanted to take this opportunity to inform Heimdall about the norse sword, but Xipe was the last person she wanted to be privy to that knowledge.

Athena hated to admit it, but there was some merit to his questions. Pothos, to her knowledge, was not as connected to the murder of Hades’ and Persephone’s children. The crime scenes were different, as well. Zagreus and Macaria were murdered in a dramatic fashion. Intended to create a scene. Pothos was taken, presumably in the bathroom amidst the chaos. “She was taken in the bathroom - the one I just came from. Blood everywhere. There was a struggle. Not sure if it was god or mortal.” Athena knew she had to be careful with her answers and what pieces of information she wanted Xipe to be aware of (for a myriad of reasons). “Perhaps a stalker? Someone following her and used the disarray of the murders to take her?” Athena thought out loud, more for Xipe’s benefit. Indulging him in this may satisfy him enough so that he would stop digging.

Heimdall felt a small chill run down his spine at the way Xipe described the bodies and their injury almost as if he was a judge or a displeased instructor. Even being a Norseman Heimdall had standards when it came to such things. Sure he and his kinsmen had killed plenty but they usually had an honor about it rather than whatever atrocity this was. There was no sense of honor or reason to this killing, more like that of a serial killer or just a deranged madman. Of course though it could never be that simply as now a person had gone missing.

Though he could feel the tension between them, Athena and Xipe made good points about the kidnapping being unrelated to the murderers, in a direct sense anyway. “We should make sure everyone else is accounted for in some capacity. The last thing we need is more people to show up missing with everything going on. Especially on the off chance that this all is connected.”

His face contorted into that of a twisted grin. A Cheshire cat who caught a taste of the cream; as it were. "A stalker, hm?" He toyed with the words in his mouth, as if they were something new and delicious he was trying out for the first time. Weighing how it sounded before he spoke more on the thought. "Perhaps. Though, safe to say that whoever it was doesn't want her dead. Just gone. Might have even posed a threat she didn't know she possessed herself."

Xipe halted his firing of the two, nodding along with what Heimdall said, about checking on everyone's whereabouts and cross referencing them; that was more their style. The Flayed One simply sought out for himself, to gain answers for what he needed - not what others desired. It's worked out for him well so far. This time would be no different. Though this tine, he supposed, if he wanted to be kept in the loop he would need to play nice with his fellow immortals.

"Before I go, have you thought that maybe with her absence it was a ploy to pull attention away from one thing only to throw it at another?" He hummed aloud as if to prove a point. "There are many a people who have quite the scandalous history with Ares. It wouldn't be too far a stretch to believe this was done in a way to get to him," and without another word, the Aztec turned on his heel and began to make his exit, waving back towards his colleagues, a wicked grin on his face, hand in his pockets, encircled around the blood slides there.

When Xipe was gone, Athena sighed out, a mixture of relief, tension, and ire built up. She never liked him, but his talents were useful. That didn’t make her feel any better when he was close to her, but she recognized he had his uses. “As much as I hate to admit it, Xipe has a solid point. Pothos being taken could be something that may be used to target my brother.” There were too many angles to consider, but she knew that was one she could certainly handle for herself. Of course, this meant talking to Ares, which, of course, was never something she was keen on doing.

“But Heimdall, there is another matter we need to discuss. Not here, though. Let’s go somewhere… more secluded. There is a matter I need to discuss with you.” Athena started walking, looking back momentarily to make sure that Heimdal was following.

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Heimdall could a small part of the tension leave the atmosphere with the departure of Xipe as he heard his partner let out a held breath. While Athena spoke to him about her brother, Heimdall nodded along, understanding the hesitation she had about talking to him. He could understand where the wisdom goddess was coming from in that regard, from the bits that she had told him about her past in Olympus, her and Ares had a strained relationship at best. If he was being honest it wasn't too far off from his own relationship with his brothers or his own father for that matter. Heimdall quickly threw out those thoughts once he heard Athena asking him to move to a more private area for whatever she needed to explain next.

With a slightly concerned look on his face he nodded and followed behind her. As they continued to walk further and further away from the main plaza where the guests were gathered, Heimdall began getting a sinking feeling in his gut. Finally their journey came to a stop once Athena had led him up the roof far away from any possible listener and by the looks of it where the bodies came crashing from above. Heimdall could feel something bad was coming, rarely had he ever seen Athena like this before, of course she was always serious about her work, but this was something that exceeded that.

Athena didn’t like to waste any time and less so when it was about something important. As much as she had wanted to talk about why she was leading her partner away from the main plaza and to the top of the skylight on the roof where the bodies had originally fallen from, she couldn't risk it, especially if Xipe had suddenly decided he was going to follow them. And for that reason, she needed to wait until they were alone.

“I do apologize for the over dramatic silence, Heimdall. It is not who I am. I like to get to the point, so I’ll spare you any more of it.” With a deep sigh, Athena came out with it. “During the investigation, particularly when I came to the roof at the request of both Hati and Artemis, which of course they put me in charge of the investigation. I’m not complaining. They know I’m really the only one for the job, but there was a weapon found at the scene of the crime. Right over there--” She gestured to the skylight, “--A weapon of Norse origin: Dáinsleif. It was the sword that killed my cousins.” Athena stood with arms crossed, feeling both anger at that fact and some apprehension. She didn’t know much about that blade other than it was norse and a formidable blade.

Heimdall paused for a second as he thought about what Athena had just said. If this truly was the work of a Norse blade then it was no wonder she wanted this to be kept in secrecy. “I haven't seen that sword in a long time. The last time I saw it I was still the watchman and that sword was still on the hip of its original owner.” Heimdall paused for a moment as he thought back to the days of old trying to think of the best way to explain what the blade was. “Well it's no ordinary sword that is for sure. It was forged long ago by the dwarfs and placed with both a curse and a blessing. The sword was said to never to miss its target, but if the blade is ever pulled from its scabbard it must cause bloodshed.”

Heimdall took a second allowing the information to settle with Athena as he took a few steps closer to the skylight that had been broken. Paring down he could still see the broken bodies of the two children lying lifeless on the tile floor looking up at him. Nodding slightly as a sign of respect to the dead Heimdall turned around to look back at Athena. “What worries me most however is the fact that they simply left that thing here. Besides trying to start a war between our houses, I don't want to imagine what they could have that could match that in power.”

Athena stood pensively, listening to every word her partner spoke about the sword and about what it could do. He described it as a blessing and a curse. Athena could see why that was so. A weapon like that was sure to bring great victory in battle. Athena had only what Heimdall told her and the little information she had beforehand about it, which wasn’t much. She didn’t know about it having a curse - only the name, origin, and rumors. These rumors were nothing compared to this sword causing death anytime it was unsheathed.

“Heimdall, what kind of hold does this sword take over who holds it? Is there anything else you can tell me about this sword. How does the curse work?” Seldom did Athena find her without the answers, but as much knowledge as Athena has about weaponry, about strategy, and about most things war-related, she is not Ares. She hated to give her brother any props, but the fact was that this was bordering on being out of her wheelhouse. She is not so desperate to seek him out…despite having her own reasons of needing to speak with him.

“That's about as far as my knowledge goes unfortunately. I don't remember anything about controlling people or how exactly it worked. All I know is that we are dealing with a weapon on the same level as my fathers spear or my brother's hammer. It never misses and is magical like the others as well” He paused for a moment as he looked at Athena, his face still holding a serious look with the slightest bit of worry mixed in. “So what is going to be our next move then partner? Cause i agree that this needs to be kept on a need to know basis or else a war is going to break out between our houses and lines are going to be drawn.” Though he dreaded the idea and believed they could solve this before time ran out, Heimdall couldn't help but get a dark feeling looming over them that threatened to tear both their pantheons asunder

“I was afraid you would say that.” By all Gods that she knew about, she dreaded this more than any potential war that may break out. Athena was hoping there was some secret Norse knowledge that Heimdall, the Watcher, would know of, but it seems this blade was one that had a reason to be feared. Whatever secrets it held was out of reach of not one, but two intelligent deities. That part angered Athena the most. The fact that, between Heimdall and herself, the most they put together was that Dainslief was of Norse origin and when it was unsheathed, it needed to taste blood. And that it can kill what is divine. The most dangerous fact of it all.

“Our next move is simple: solve it before another life is lost.” Athena had the habit of speaking arrogantly about impossible-to-solve cases. Particularly when the clues were nowhere in sight. “I know it won’t be easy, but between us, Artemis, and even that bothersome wolf, Hati, I have a feeling the pieces to this puzzle will reveal themselves somewhere. Until then, we work it like any other case.”

Xipe stood at the entrance of the roof, listening intently to the detectives. A mysterious, god-tiered weapon used against the divine? How inconvenient. This posed some real issues to his kind and though he wasn’t opposed to death and the natural - or unnatural - cycle of life, this was anything but welcomed. Especially seeing as how there could be more out there. There was no way a person as twisted as this would halt after just two kills. No. With the reaction it’s garnering, they will want more. Xōchiquetzal flashed across his mind and in one fell swoop he was descending the stairs, two at a time, cell phone already to his ear and dial tone playing on a loop.

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

I wholeheartedly blame @Venus for this >_>

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Drea Banks || Delbrook Academy

_{"I consider myself flawed and fabulous because perfect doesn’t exist and normal is boring.”}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Andrea Jacquiline Banks ∞ Drea(common nick) ∞ Andi(less common but accepted) ∞ Jackie(reserved for special people) ∞ AJ (also accepted) ∞ Kitten (don't you fucking dare) A L I A S E S @BankonIt @AJ.banks A G E 17 || June 4th ∞ Gemini (Sun) || Capricorn (Moon) || Libra (Ascending/Rising) G E N D E R Cisgender female S E X U A L I T Y Bisexual - no lean and Drea likes it that way C U R R E N T C I T Y Lakewood, California E T H N I C I T Y German, Hungarian, English _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Height: 5’3" Weight: 105lbs/48kg Hair: Dirty blonde || Curly; typically straightens it Eyes: Green Body Type: Petite || Lean and toned due to contant physical conditioning Body Marks: Earlobes are pierced. Clothing Style: Sporty and flirty, Drea's style is a mix of crop tops, tanktops, midriffs, loose yet stylish T's for upperbody wear. She has a sense that's mixed of jeans, frilly skirts, tight skirts, and short shorts. She has shoes for most occasions and might have an obsession with them. || x x x x x _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Single Crushes . . . Flings . . . Past Relationships . . . F A M I L Y mother: ∞ Violet Jessebelle Banks-Carver || 42 || Realtor || FC: Natalie Dormer father: ∞ Jackson Torvald Drake || 40 || Co-Ownder of Asgard Fitness; member of the Fallen Angels Outlaw MC (Boston Charter) || Divorced since 2009|| FC: Jensen Ackles step-father: ∞ Dr. Franklin Carver || 47 || Cardiothoracic Surgeon|| Married since 2018|| FC: Malcolm-Jamal Warner younger step-sister: ∞ Alyssa Carver || 16 || Junior at Delbrook Academy || FC: Samantha Logan younger brother: ∞ Jackson Torvald "Sonny" Jr || 15 || Sophomore at Delbrook Academy || FC: Dylan Everett P E T S ∞ Lemonade (1 year old) - Female Persian Cat ∞ Sunshine (6 months old) - Male golden retriever _______________________________________ H O M E S W E E T H O M E House Room _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ Exercising - her body is a temple of sorts (details to come) and, honestly, Drea just loves hitting the gym, weight room, the track - really anything that gets her blood pumping. ✔ Coffee - she has a bit of a caffeine addiction. She prefers her coffee sweet over bitter (yuck!) ✔ Protesting/debating issues important to her - or rather, debating. Whether equality, getting caffeinated drinks for the cafe, or winning petty arguments with her brother, Drea just loves debating ✔ Lemonadeeee - he loveloveloves it! ✔ Pizza and wings - don't let her size fool you! Drea can put down more than her fair share of wings. Bonus points if they're spicy! D I S L I K E S ✘ Bigots, sexists, racists - pretty anyone who is discriminatory towards anyone for non-valid reasons. ✘ Being late to school. Her perfect attendance record is kind of important to her and usually whenever her brother has it in his hands, she grows increasingly annoyed with him. ✘ Sour flavors. Just ewwww! ✘ Tiff's obsession with boys - she loves her to death, but sometimes Drea worries for her bestie. ✘ Being underestimated. Let's just say that Drea loves when people try and think less of her because she's a short girl. She loves any chance she can prove them wrong. ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Strong-willed → determined → compassionate → easy-going → independent → loyal → stubborn → passionate to a fault → impatient ____________________________________________________________________________ Strong-willed, determined, and someone who is always fun to be around, Andrea Banks is that one girl who will both embrace you when she sees you in the hall (if you're close enough to accept hugs as a greeting) or put you in your place. She his fiercely independent and stands up for what she believes in. If it's unpopular, then it's unpopular, but you'll never catch her backing down from a verbal showdown unless valid counterarguments are presented. To her friends, she is the very same way but her dedication and innate stubbornness make her hell for whoever hurts those she considers close to her. Whether it's her girls, Sonny, or her stepsister who she is positively close with, she'll fight you 5'3" stature and all. Her fire burns as brightly for her friends as it does for standing up for what's right. Maybe she's a tad idealistic, but in today's world, how could you not be? On the down side, Drea has been known to let her mouth do more talking than it should. She doesn't know when to let others speak. She goes on tangents about various subjects ranging from social issues she's passionate about to her pride in her family and friends. She might even go on about some show she's obsessed with. Probably why she and Tiff mesh so well. They both can't seem to shut up, though in the latter's case it's mostly about boys (much to Drea's partial annoyance). ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y Andrea's life is, for the most part, not a simple one to explain. Whenever she tries to tell people it, they look at her like she's insane or just flat-out lying to them. It's not her fault that her father is in an outlaw biker gang in Boston while her mother and stepfather (and his daughter) live with her and her brother in Long Beach, but that's just how it is. Truth be told, Andrea Jacquiline is the oldest child of Jackson Torvald Drake and Violet Jessebelle Banks. She has a younger brother (two years younger to be exact), who is named after her father: Jackson Torvald Drake Jr, though he prefers and aggressively insists being called Sonny. For the first ten years of her life, her parents were happy together. They were high school sweethearts. Both of them grew up in Boston. He came from a family of military vetreans and her mother, Viola, came from a family of realtors and lawyers. Their union seemed to just...mesh. At least for ten years. At some point after he was honorably discharged because of an injury (nothing too physically limiting), Jackson fell into a deep depression. That depression made him fall into some illegal activity - particularly the Fallen Angels of Boston/Edenridge. Viola tried to make it work, but the knowing of her ex-husband's life and how he made his money was almost too much. She worried about the kids and what dangers they might be in, so they split amicably. He maintained a large part in their lives, but for the kid's safety and Viola's sanity, she moved Drea and Sonny to where most of her family lived (as of the time they split) in Long Beach. Drea was eleven and Sonny nine years old. It wasn't all bad. Jackson got the kids in the summer under the condition that his brother, Hunter, was around at all times and Viola got them the rest of the year (save for every other holiday). Being split between two homes on two different ends of the country was difficult for Drea, especially because she was absolutely her father's little girl. Still, she understood (some of it because her parents kept some truths away from the kids for their own safety) that this was her life. She made the most of it. And over the next couple of years, she really came into her own. As a kid growing up in Boston, she was always active and had done gymnastics for as long as she could remember and she kept with it even to this day. She used that background to find an easy fit with the cheerleading team at Delbrook Academy. She leads the team (maybe?). In her current life, Drea loves her father, but she isn't like Sonny who has made life difficult for their stepfather, Franklin Carver. Her younger brother is a brat who can't accept their life. Even in six years Franklin has been in their mother's life and has been nothing but amazing to not only them, but trying his best to be a secondary father to both of them, Sonny hasn't accepted it. Drea shrugs at it because she absolutely loves him. All she ever cared about was her mother's happiness and even though part of her has always wished Viola and Jackson could have stayed together, things had to be like this. Besides, Lissy is so cute and amazing! The literal sister she wished she had. ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th - Senior G P A & A V E R A G E 3.8 || B+ average with a few A's thrown in there. E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Gymnastics & Women's Studies E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R ∞ Cheerleading Team ∞ Debate team T R A N S P O R T A T I O N Drea drives a 2015 BMW 4 Series 428i Convertible that has a white exterior body with a red interior that was a gift to her by her step-father. P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N Drea has #goals. She wants to get accepted into an Ivy League school: Yale and Meadow are her top picks with a state university being her safety. She wants to get a degree in political science or something where she can fall back on it if cheerleading doesn't pan out (yes she plans on joining the cheer squad of whatever college she gets accepted to. From there, the world is her oyster. She just has to get through senior year first. ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Due to her extremely busy schedule with debate prep, cheerleading, and trying to balance it all with school and having friends, Drea does not work like most would. She does get a monthly allowance of $300 for keeping her grades up, but she also works part time on the weekends at the mcdonalds near her house. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ The Pike Outlets ∞ Santa Monica Pier ∞ Junipero & Hunnington Beach (for the view) ∞ Long Beach Rescue Mission ∞ Disneyland ∞ Birdcage Coffee House to feed her coffee addiction R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Drea considers herself as a mental wellness guru of the cheer team. Take that as you will. ∞ She is the oldest of the Carter-Banks family, so making sure her younger sibs aren't mistreated and/or do what they're told is one of her top priorities. ∞ Debate team and making sure she doesn't fall short ∞ Protecting Tiff at all costs ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R Favorute song of the month is Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras Growing up, in addition to her mother, Drea had always looked up to women who were icons like Rosa Parks, Joan Jett, Hayley Williams Drea has been practicing gymnastics for most of her life, which she brings to her cheerleading duties, as well as doing some fun routines on TikTok Drea volunteers as much as she can. Whether it's at a soup kitchen, the YMCA club near her house, she believes in giving back and helping those less fortunate than her. Drea and Sonny spend the summers and every other holiday in Boston with her father While Drea isn't someone with nerdy interests per se, she does enjoy watching Marvel and DC movies. Why? Because of all the hot people. Drea has a secret obsession with Pixar films. Incredibles and Toy Story are her favorites. Drea enjoys cooking and even has her own special recipe for lemonade. T H E M E S O N G Confident by Demi Lovato Face Claim: Brec Bassinger - | ##eac55d

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

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Kyle Vass || Delbrook Academy

_{"Nothing but good vibes!"}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Skylar Aolani Vass ∞ Kyle - common nick that is absolutely aces in his book. ∞ Sky - less common nick but it's special and by that, it was given to him by some totally awesome girl who one day may rock his world (he hopes) ∞ “Totally Kyle” - his social media name, also something people just associate him with from time to time. ∞ KyeKye - Malu used to call him this because she couldn't pronounce his full name. Now she does it to get under his skin A L I A S E S KyleDoesThings @TotallyKyle @TotallyKyle A G E 17 || February 16th G E N D E R Cisgender Male S E X U A L I T Y Pansexual - Much like the waves he rides, Kyle is very much about “going with the flow” when it comes to romance or otherwise. Gender identity has no place in this surfer’s heart. C U R R E N T C I T Y Long Beach, California E T H N I C I T Y Native Hawaiian, ScotIrish, Chinese, and Japanese _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Height: 5’10” Weight: 165lbs/75kg Hair: Dark Brown || silky to the touch, mid-back length Eyes: Dark Brown Body Type: Surfer bod Body Marks: N/A Clothing Style: Usually, you might say that Kyle is someone who prefers “comfort over style”, but to him his comfort is his style. Long sleeve shirts, baggy shorts, jeans, tanks for those hot days, and a collection of baseball caps + a handful of hair bands because of his long hair, this is his style. He doesn’t know what the hell to call it, but it’s his! He also favors Nike shoes exclusively. He might be a materialistic person, but top of the line Nike shoes is his one indulgence -- well, when it comes to apparel. Food on the other hand is another matter altogether. _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Single (for now) Crushes Davina Deveraux - The special one. Not sure if she's interested or not, but Kyle's optimistic as he always is! Flings Tanith Foley - on and off flirtation/fling in sophomore/junior years (first semester of the latter). Now they remain good friends and are workout buds. . . Past Relationships Tiffanie Taccone - Dated for a couple months in the first half of freshman year. Relationship fizzled due to a myriad of reasons, but they remain good friends to this day . . F A M I L Y father: ∞ Akoni Kahale Vass || 55 || Retired Surfer/Owner of VassWear, a successful surfing apparel and equipment brand || FC: Keanu Reeves mother: ∞ Mitsuki "Suki" Vass (nee. Watanabe) || 54 || Retired Skater; now a consultant for skating games such as Skate and Skater XL || FC: Tomita Tamlyn younger sister: ∞ Malina Leilani "Malu Vass || 16 || Junior at Delbrook Academy; ametuer skater || FC: Fivel Stewart P E T S ∞ Rocky (4 years old male) - Male Black Lab || Lola (4 and a half years old ) - Female White Lab ∞ Hawk (3 years old) - Male Saint Benard _______________________________________ H O M E S W E E T H O M E House Room _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ The beach and everything it provides: the sun to tan, the ocean to surf and swim, the beach to play volleyball and throw frisbys, also the beach to get buried in the sand by the boys and potentially have a sandbra made in the process, and having occasional picnics where SAND WILL NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE POTATO SALAD! ✔ #winning - Kyle loves to win and hates losing. There is no worse feeling in the world to him, so he'd prefer to win if at all possible. ✔ Loco Moco - yeah, he's a walking stereotype, so you bet he adores this beloved classic from the island. Meat? Good! Rice? Good! Beef gravy with MSG and soy sauce? GOOOOOOOD! ✔ Or really any food. Kyle loves his food. Especially if it';s cheesy or with a little soy sauce on top. ✔ Not doing homework - he's not his sister. Homework makes him want to die. ✔ Hanging with the boys ✔ Mixing all sorts of sodas for a special surprise flavor ✔ 90s beach vibe, or really anything about the 90s ✔ Playing video games ✔ Trying to win big with the ladies and fellas who aren't one of the boys D I S L I K E S ✘ #losing - he isn't a sore loser or winner but he really hates the feeling of failure ✘ When the vibe is ruined - all Kyle wants to do is be all about those good vibes, but when the good vibes are ruined, it's a real bummer. ✘ Drugs that isn't weed - he gets high but he doesn't do anything stronger than that. ✘ Being told to cut his hair - yes, he understands you dumb boomer - his hair is too long. You can shut up about it already. ✘ TV series/films that require too much thought to enjoy ✘ Aggressive music - he much prefers the easy listening stuff ✘ Beer - not that Kyle doesn't enjoy his alcohol, but he's more of a wine cooler and fruity drink kind of drinker. ✘ All the "Kyle" memes - okay, maybe not all of them, but it got annoying a couple of years ago when all everyone wanted was for him to punch some drywall. ✘ Spicy food - he does like the hot stuff and definitely doesn't like it when it gives him the shits from hell ✘ Wasting time - not so much because he's impatient but Kyle doesn't want to waste time beating around the bush. Rip off the bandaid! ✘ Spiders - they scare the heeby-jeebies out of him ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Adventurous → confident → energetic → hyptastic → super friendly → optimistic →motivated to win → creative → tenacious → stubborn → oblivious → foolhardy → thick-headed ____________________________________________________________________________ Being the thrill-seeker that he is, Kyle approaches every new obstacle that comes his way with the mindset of someone optimistic about success but accepting that he might stumble. He believes that if you don't try, then you won't know what'll happen. Rejection is always something that life will throw at you, but in his sometimes-humble opinion, Kyle has always tried to keep a level head if he failed. Of course, there are moments when his emotions get the better of him. He might flip out, fall into a "mood" that will take him out of commission for a while, but eventually, he'll come back swinging harder than ever. Kyle believes in never staying down. Whatever he did wrong before won't happen again because he'll tackle that obstacle from a different approach. Whether it's mastering a new trick, making friends, wooing the hot person that caught his attention, or trying to figure out the monster that is Algebra, Kyle never gives up. Even in his down periods, in the back of his mind, he knows he has to face what nearly destroyed him. Remember, what doesn't kills you truly makes you stronger. His eyes being open to adventure and trying new things also extends to befriending someone who might be his polar opposite. Sometimes he isn't met with the most positive reaction due to his ability to come off as obnoxious and simpleminded (not his words, but it's been said in the past to his face) - but he always means well. In both friendship and romance, Kyle only has the best intentions at heart. As overbearing as he might be and as annoying others might find him (ask his younger sister), Kyle will persist. He's tenacious like that. Sometimes, however, Kyle is oblivious to what others want. Or more like he'll be so lost in his own head, believe that the best thing for him is to succeed after he has failed, that he'll lose sight of something even more valuable. In his mind, losing often doesn't come into play unless all options have been explored. Sometimes Kyle doesn't acknowledge that some things weren't meant for him to succeed. And that's really the worst thing about him. A special kind of stubbornness that takes form in his dedication to win. ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y There is a love story that holds a lot of importance in the Skating and Surfing worlds. Two cultures that have often been associated with each other, yet both have significantly different vibes (as the kids say). Surfers are laid back and relaxed. They are very much “go with the flow”, as is the requirement of their sport. Meanwhile, skaters are rowdier. They live by a “live free or die trying” creed. They are rebellious and not always law-abiding. They are rough around the edges and usually come from broken homes. Their aggression takes form int he music often associated witht hem. And their tricks are flashy. Very much a “high risk and high reward” style. And yet if you really think about it, they aren’t all that different. That’s what brings us to how these two collide and why it is so relevant to Skyler and Malina Vass. IT is because their parents comes from both worlds. And much like their parents, they followed in the same footsteps. In the shadow of Akoni Vass, Skyler found a love in the freedom and the relaxed vibes that the ocean gave him, while Malina, who was very much like her mother, Mitsuki Watanabe. Aggressive, graceful, and full of attitude. And the story of how Akoni and Mitsuki met is something of a romantic tale that goes back nearly thirty years. Akoni, a native to the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, came from a long line of Big Wave Surfers. And he was a gifted one at that. At just twenty years old, he was in the surfing finals in 1985. It was him and an Australian by the name of Jason Dust (clearly not his real name but that’s what everyone called him). He got the name in how he always left everyone in his dust and won every competition he paritipated in. And this one was no different. While he lost in the competition, it was after that a nineteen year old Japanese girl came up to him. She introduced herself as Suki. They talked for ten minutes about how close he came and how hse was rooting for him. She said she had been following his career for a few months and how she admired his talents. And then at the luau, they talked some more. They’d spend the entire night off on their own, talking about anything and everything: their hobbies, interests, what kind of music they liked, what kind they hated, their favorite food, least favorite, and pretty much everything came up. It’s funny. They were two people who met by chance. She was visiting her grandfather who lived on the island and there she met the boy who would become the love of her life - only it wasn't at that moment. It wouldn’t be until twelve years later at the 1997 Summer X-Games that were being hosted in San Diego where he’d see Suki again. It didn’t matter that he received international success as a multiple award-winning surfer and had made a name for himself, or that so much time had gone by since he last saw her, Akoni knew her face almost immediately. And when she took gold in the Vert event by landing a 720 tailgrab and she was getting honored, he thought about all the time wasted and he rushed to the podium. Of course, security recognize dhim and in a rare moment, they let him go on stage. After several moments of letting the audience realize that Akoni Vass was in the crowd, he went straight to Suki, knowing full well she knew who he was (or so he hoped) and he stumbled through his words only to say “frick it” into the microphone and got down on one knee. “We haven’t seen each other in so many years, but I never forgot you. Suki, marry me babe!” And she didn’t hesitate to say yes. On the day where, until five minutes before seeing Akoni, her biggest thought was how happy she was about all of her hard work paying off. But after it all, now she was engaged to the person she’d spend the following 20+ years with and have two amazing children with. And no matter how many times the story gets told in their household, both Kyle and Malu never seem to be able to fake their smile. It is more than just a nice, romantic tale about how two people who didn’t think they’d ever see each other again end up not only finding their way back to each other, but carpe diem life. It’s about how all the success in the world never fill the void of true happiness. But one big takeaway they both have (albeit for very different reasons) is how their parents’ story, much like the old tradition, is also their legacy. For Kyle, he has always saw it as inspiration. The hope that you might not always succeed, but never giving up has stuck with Kyle all his life. Not only does he take after his father in the passion he followed, but many who have seen them together have said that they are alike in so many ways: their thrill for adventure, love for Hawaiian classics like dry seaweed and loco moco, and the completely approachable personality. But the biggest thing that they are often compared to each other for is their ability to piss off the women in their lives. Kyle is young, so he doesn’t know better, but Akoni is almost fifty, so you’d think he wouldn’t be a literal manchild, yet he constantly proves this whenever he and his boy decide to go on one of their spending spree at whatever toy store they can find. But you can’t say that they don’t make things interesting for whoever is waiting on the other end of one of their wild adventures. ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th - Senior G P A & A V E R A G E 2.3 || Mostly D-C average - Kyle does the bare minimum so he can stay on the surfing team and doesn't fail out. E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Yoga & Acrobatics E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R ∞ Surfing (for Delbrook) in the spring; otherwise, he does it as a passion. T R A N S P O R T A T I O N Kyle drives a dark blue 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N As if it wasn't obvious, Kyle wants to go pro. As in be like his father was at his age and go pro in Surfing. It's his biggest passion and, even though he might be the captain of DA's surfing team, it's not enough. At the end of the school year -- spring season, to be specific -- he won't be the captain anymore. So Kyle hopes this last year will open doors for him. He hopes that he'll make it big and really get off to the right foot. If not, then there's always being like Mr. Beast and becoming the biggest stunt Youtuber the site has ever seen. That'd be fun, right? ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Due to his surfing and acrobatic stunts and how-to videos on Youtube, Kyle makes anywhere from 1k to 7.5k dollars per month due to the consistent sponsorships he gets from companies such as Raid: Shadow Legends and SquareSpace. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ Really any beach, but he has a preference for Hunnington Beach ∞ Abalone Cove Shoreline Park (for cliff jumping) ∞ Driving along the SoCal coastline during sunset and sunrises ∞ Finding any hidden dives to chow down at after a hard day of surfing R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Captain of the Surfing Team #GoRisingTides ∞ Does being chill and awesome count? No, then probably making sure his sister doesn't get into trouble ∞ Managing his social media accounts and making sure he keeps his presence on them consistent ∞ He pays for his own phone bill and car insurance and he has been on time with them for most of the time. ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R Favorute song of the month is Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras Kyle has a solid presence on social media where he and his friends perform various stunts Kyle is technically diagnosed with ADHD, but neither of his parents got him treated for it due to neither of them believing in the label, so instead, Kyle channels his energy into his various hobbies and his parents allow him the freedom that comes with it Kyle has a severe addiction to energy drinks but with a strong affiliation towards Bang Energy! Because of his presence on not only the surfer scene, but social media, Kyle is sponsored by Vans, Bang Energy, and Raid: Shadow Legends T H E M E S O N G Gimme That Sunshine - Animal Island Face Claim: Booboo Stewart - | #7fffd4/Aquamarine

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Drea Banks || Delbrook Academy

_{"I consider myself flawed and fabulous because perfect doesn’t exist and normal is boring.”}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Andrea Jacquiline Banks ∞ Drea(common nick) ∞ Andi(less common but accepted) ∞ Jackie(reserved for special people) ∞ AJ (also accepted) ∞ Kitten (don't you fucking dare) A L I A S E S @BankonIt @AJ.banks A G E 17 || June 4th ∞ Gemini (Sun) || Capricorn (Moon) || Libra (Ascending/Rising) G E N D E R Cisgender female S E X U A L I T Y Bisexual - no lean and Drea likes it that way C U R R E N T C I T Y Lakewood, California E T H N I C I T Y German, Hungarian, English _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Height: 5’3" Weight: 105lbs/48kg Hair: Dirty blonde || Curly; typically straightens it Eyes: Green Body Type: Petite || Lean and toned due to contant physical conditioning Body Marks: Earlobes are pierced. Clothing Style: Sporty and flirty, Drea's style is a mix of crop tops, tanktops, midriffs, loose yet stylish T's for upperbody wear. She has a sense that's mixed of jeans, frilly skirts, tight skirts, and short shorts. She has shoes for most occasions and might have an obsession with them. || x x x x x _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Single Crushes . . . Flings . . . Past Relationships . . . F A M I L Y mother: ∞ Violet Jessebelle Banks-Carver || 42 || Realtor || FC: Natalie Dormer father: ∞ Jackson Torvald Drake || 40 || Co-Ownder of Asgard Fitness; member of the Fallen Angels Outlaw MC (Boston Charter) || Divorced since 2009|| FC: Jensen Ackles step-father: ∞ Dr. Franklin Carver || 47 || Cardiothoracic Surgeon|| Married since 2018|| FC: Malcolm-Jamal Warner younger step-sister: ∞ Alyssa Carver || 16 || Junior at Delbrook Academy || FC: Samantha Logan younger brother: ∞ Jackson Torvald "Sonny" Jr || 15 || Sophomore at Delbrook Academy || FC: Dylan Everett P E T S ∞ Lemonade (1 year old) - Female Persian Cat ∞ Sunshine (6 months old) - Male golden retriever _______________________________________ H O M E S W E E T H O M E House Room _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ Exercising - her body is a temple of sorts (details to come) and, honestly, Drea just loves hitting the gym, weight room, the track - really anything that gets her blood pumping. ✔ Coffee - she has a bit of a caffeine addiction. She prefers her coffee sweet over bitter (yuck!) ✔ Protesting/debating issues important to her - or rather, debating. Whether equality, getting caffeinated drinks for the cafe, or winning petty arguments with her brother, Drea just loves debating ✔ Lemonadeeee - he loveloveloves it! ✔ Pizza and wings - don't let her size fool you! Drea can put down more than her fair share of wings. Bonus points if they're spicy! D I S L I K E S ✘ Bigots, sexists, racists - pretty anyone who is discriminatory towards anyone for non-valid reasons. ✘ Being late to school. Her perfect attendance record is kind of important to her and usually whenever her brother has it in his hands, she grows increasingly annoyed with him. ✘ Sour flavors. Just ewwww! ✘ Tiff's obsession with boys - she loves her to death, but sometimes Drea worries for her bestie. ✘ Being underestimated. Let's just say that Drea loves when people try and think less of her because she's a short girl. She loves any chance she can prove them wrong. ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Strong-willed → determined → compassionate → easy-going → independent → loyal → stubborn → passionate to a fault → impatient ____________________________________________________________________________ Strong-willed, determined, and someone who is always fun to be around, Andrea Banks is that one girl who will both embrace you when she sees you in the hall (if you're close enough to accept hugs as a greeting) or put you in your place. She his fiercely independent and stands up for what she believes in. If it's unpopular, then it's unpopular, but you'll never catch her backing down from a verbal showdown unless valid counterarguments are presented. To her friends, she is the very same way but her dedication and innate stubbornness make her hell for whoever hurts those she considers close to her. Whether it's her girls, Sonny, or her stepsister who she is positively close with, she'll fight you 5'3" stature and all. Her fire burns as brightly for her friends as it does for standing up for what's right. Maybe she's a tad idealistic, but in today's world, how could you not be? On the down side, Drea has been known to let her mouth do more talking than it should. She doesn't know when to let others speak. She goes on tangents about various subjects ranging from social issues she's passionate about to her pride in her family and friends. She might even go on about some show she's obsessed with. Probably why she and Tiff mesh so well. They both can't seem to shut up, though in the latter's case it's mostly about boys (much to Drea's partial annoyance). ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y Andrea's life is, for the most part, not a simple one to explain. Whenever she tries to tell people it, they look at her like she's insane or just flat-out lying to them. It's not her fault that her father is in an outlaw biker gang in Boston while her mother and stepfather (and his daughter) live with her and her brother in Long Beach, but that's just how it is. Truth be told, Andrea Jacquiline is the oldest child of Jackson Torvald Drake and Violet Jessebelle Banks. She has a younger brother (two years younger to be exact), who is named after her father: Jackson Torvald Drake Jr, though he prefers and aggressively insists being called Sonny. For the first ten years of her life, her parents were happy together. They were high school sweethearts. Both of them grew up in Boston. He came from a family of military vetreans and her mother, Viola, came from a family of realtors and lawyers. Their union seemed to just...mesh. At least for ten years. At some point after he was honorably discharged because of an injury (nothing too physically limiting), Jackson fell into a deep depression. That depression made him fall into some illegal activity - particularly the Fallen Angels of Boston/Edenridge. Viola tried to make it work, but the knowing of her ex-husband's life and how he made his money was almost too much. She worried about the kids and what dangers they might be in, so they split amicably. He maintained a large part in their lives, but for the kid's safety and Viola's sanity, she moved Drea and Sonny to where most of her family lived (as of the time they split) in Long Beach. Drea was eleven and Sonny nine years old. It wasn't all bad. Jackson got the kids in the summer under the condition that his brother, Hunter, was around at all times and Viola got them the rest of the year (save for every other holiday). Being split between two homes on two different ends of the country was difficult for Drea, especially because she was absolutely her father's little girl. Still, she understood (some of it because her parents kept some truths away from the kids for their own safety) that this was her life. She made the most of it. And over the next couple of years, she really came into her own. As a kid growing up in Boston, she was always active and had done gymnastics for as long as she could remember and she kept with it even to this day. She used that background to find an easy fit with the cheerleading team at Delbrook Academy. She leads the team (maybe?). In her current life, Drea loves her father, but she isn't like Sonny who has made life difficult for their stepfather, Franklin Carver. Her younger brother is a brat who can't accept their life. Even in six years Franklin has been in their mother's life and has been nothing but amazing to not only them, but trying his best to be a secondary father to both of them, Sonny hasn't accepted it. Drea shrugs at it because she absolutely loves him. All she ever cared about was her mother's happiness and even though part of her has always wished Viola and Jackson could have stayed together, things had to be like this. Besides, Lissy is so cute and amazing! The literal sister she wished she had. ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th - Senior G P A & A V E R A G E 3.8 || B+ average with a few A's thrown in there. E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Gymnastics & Women's Studies E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R ∞ Cheerleading Team ∞ Debate team T R A N S P O R T A T I O N Drea drives a 2015 BMW 4 Series 428i Convertible that has a white exterior body with a red interior that was a gift to her by her step-father. P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N Drea has #goals. She wants to get accepted into an Ivy League school: Yale and Meadow are her top picks with a state university being her safety. She wants to get a degree in political science or something where she can fall back on it if cheerleading doesn't pan out (yes she plans on joining the cheer squad of whatever college she gets accepted to. From there, the world is her oyster. She just has to get through senior year first. ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Due to her extremely busy schedule with debate prep, cheerleading, and trying to balance it all with school and having friends, Drea does not work like most would. She does get a monthly allowance of $300 for keeping her grades up, but she also works part time on the weekends at the mcdonalds near her house. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ The Pike Outlets ∞ Santa Monica Pier ∞ Junipero & Hunnington Beach (for the view) ∞ Long Beach Rescue Mission ∞ Disneyland ∞ Birdcage Coffee House to feed her coffee addiction R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Drea considers herself as a mental wellness guru of the cheer team. Take that as you will. ∞ She is the oldest of the Carter-Banks family, so making sure her younger sibs aren't mistreated and/or do what they're told is one of her top priorities. ∞ Debate team and making sure she doesn't fall short ∞ Protecting Tiff at all costs ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R Favorute song of the month is Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras Growing up, in addition to her mother, Drea had always looked up to women who were icons like Rosa Parks, Joan Jett, Hayley Williams Drea has been practicing gymnastics for most of her life, which she brings to her cheerleading duties, as well as doing some fun routines on TikTok Drea volunteers as much as she can. Whether it's at a soup kitchen, the YMCA club near her house, she believes in giving back and helping those less fortunate than her. Drea and Sonny spend the summers and every other holiday in Boston with her father While Drea isn't someone with nerdy interests per se, she does enjoy watching Marvel and DC movies. Why? Because of all the hot people. Drea has a secret obsession with Pixar films. Incredibles and Toy Story are her favorites. Drea enjoys cooking and even has her own special recipe for lemonade. T H E M E S O N G Confident by Demi Lovato Face Claim: Brec Bassinger - | ##eac55d

Delbrook Academy Senior Year

@Wolf Mother @Akayaofthemoon @TGM

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Kyle Vass || Delbrook Academy

_{"Nothing but good vibes!"}

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_______________________________________ N A M E Skylar Aolani Vass ∞ Kyle - common nick that is absolutely aces in his book. ∞ Sky - less common nick but it's special and by that, it was given to him by some totally awesome girl who one day may rock his world (he hopes) ∞ “Totally Kyle” - his social media name, also something people just associate him with from time to time. ∞ KyeKye - Malu used to call him this because she couldn't pronounce his full name. Now she does it to get under his skin A L I A S E S KyleDoesThings @TotallyKyle @TotallyKyle A G E 17 || February 16th G E N D E R Cisgender Male S E X U A L I T Y Pansexual - Much like the waves he rides, Kyle is very much about “going with the flow” when it comes to romance or otherwise. Gender identity has no place in this surfer’s heart. C U R R E N T C I T Y Long Beach, California E T H N I C I T Y Native Hawaiian, ScotIrish, Chinese, and Japanese _______________________________________ A P P E R A N C E Height: 5’10” Weight: 165lbs/75kg Hair: Dark Brown || silky to the touch, mid-back length Eyes: Dark Brown Body Type: Surfer bod Body Marks: N/A Clothing Style: Usually, you might say that Kyle is someone who prefers “comfort over style”, but to him his comfort is his style. Long sleeve shirts, baggy shorts, jeans, tanks for those hot days, and a collection of baseball caps + a handful of hair bands because of his long hair, this is his style. He doesn’t know what the hell to call it, but it’s his! He also favors Nike shoes exclusively. He might be a materialistic person, but top of the line Nike shoes is his one indulgence -- well, when it comes to apparel. Food on the other hand is another matter altogether. _______________________________________ R E L A T I O N S H I P S T A T U S Single (for now) F A M I L Y father: ∞ Akoni Kahale Vass || 55 || Retired Surfer/Owner of VassWear, a successful surfing apparel and equipment brand || FC: Keanu Reeves mother: ∞ Mitsuki "Suki" Vass (nee. Watanabe) || 54 || Retired Skater; now a consultant for skating games such as Skate and Skater XL || FC: Tomita Tamlyn younger sister: ∞ Malina Leilani "Malu Vass || 16 || Junior at Delbrook Academy; ametuer skater || FC: Fivel Stewart P E T S ∞ Rocky (4 years old male) - Male Black Lab || Lola (4 and a half years old ) - Female White Lab ∞ Hawk (3 years old) - Male Saint Benard _______________________________________ H O M E S W E E T H O M E House Room _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________ L I K E S ✔ The beach and everything it provides: the sun to tan, the ocean to surf and swim, the beach to play volleyball and throw frisbys, also the beach to get buried in the sand by the boys and potentially have a sandbra made in the process, and having occasional picnics where SAND WILL NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE POTATO SALAD! ✔ #winning - Kyle loves to win and hates losing. There is no worse feeling in the world to him, so he'd prefer to win if at all possible. ✔ Loco Moco - yeah, he's a walking stereotype, so you bet he adores this beloved classic from the island. Meat? Good! Rice? Good! Beef gravy with MSG and soy sauce? GOOOOOOOD! ✔ Or really any food. Kyle loves his food. Especially if it';s cheesy or with a little soy sauce on top. ✔ Not doing homework - he's not his sister. Homework makes him want to die. ✔ Hanging with the boys ✔ Mixing all sorts of sodas for a special surprise flavor ✔ 90s beach vibe, or really anything about the 90s ✔ Playing video games ✔ Trying to win big with the ladies and fellas who aren't one of the boys D I S L I K E S ✘ #losing - he isn't a sore loser or winner but he really hates the feeling of failure ✘ When the vibe is ruined - all Kyle wants to do is be all about those good vibes, but when the good vibes are ruined, it's a real bummer. ✘ Drugs that isn't weed - he gets high but he doesn't do anything stronger than that. ✘ Being told to cut his hair - yes, he understands you dumb boomer - his hair is too long. You can shut up about it already. ✘ TV series/films that require too much thought to enjoy ✘ Aggressive music - he much prefers the easy listening stuff ✘ Beer - not that Kyle doesn't enjoy his alcohol, but he's more of a wine cooler and fruity drink kind of drinker. ✘ All the "Kyle" memes - okay, maybe not all of them, but it got annoying a couple of years ago when all everyone wanted was for him to punch some drywall. ✘ Spicy food - he does like the hot stuff and definitely doesn't like it when it gives him the shits from hell ✘ Wasting time - not so much because he's impatient but Kyle doesn't want to waste time beating around the bush. Rip off the bandaid! ✘ Spiders - they scare the heeby-jeebies out of him ____________________________________________________________________________ P E R S O N A L I T Y Adventurous → confident → energetic → hyptastic → super friendly → optimistic →motivated to win → creative → tenacious → stubborn → oblivious → foolhardy → thick-headed ____________________________________________________________________________ Being the thrill-seeker that he is, Kyle approaches every new obstacle that comes his way with the mindset of someone optimistic about success but accepting that he might stumble. He believes that if you don't try, then you won't know what'll happen. Rejection is always something that life will throw at you, but in his sometimes-humble opinion, Kyle has always tried to keep a level head if he failed. Of course, there are moments when his emotions get the better of him. He might flip out, fall into a "mood" that will take him out of commission for a while, but eventually, he'll come back swinging harder than ever. Kyle believes in never staying down. Whatever he did wrong before won't happen again because he'll tackle that obstacle from a different approach. Whether it's mastering a new trick, making friends, wooing the hot person that caught his attention, or trying to figure out the monster that is Algebra, Kyle never gives up. Even in his down periods, in the back of his mind, he knows he has to face what nearly destroyed him. Remember, what doesn't kills you truly makes you stronger. His eyes being open to adventure and trying new things also extends to befriending someone who might be his polar opposite. Sometimes he isn't met with the most positive reaction due to his ability to come off as obnoxious and simpleminded (not his words, but it's been said in the past to his face) - but he always means well. In both friendship and romance, Kyle only has the best intentions at heart. As overbearing as he might be and as annoying others might find him (ask his younger sister), Kyle will persist. He's tenacious like that. Sometimes, however, Kyle is oblivious to what others want. Or more like he'll be so lost in his own head, believe that the best thing for him is to succeed after he has failed, that he'll lose sight of something even more valuable. In his mind, losing often doesn't come into play unless all options have been explored. Sometimes Kyle doesn't acknowledge that some things weren't meant for him to succeed. And that's really the worst thing about him. A special kind of stubbornness that takes form in his dedication to win. ____________________________________________________________________________ B I O G R A P H Y There is a love story that holds a lot of importance in the Skating and Surfing worlds. Two cultures that have often been associated with each other, yet both have significantly different vibes (as the kids say). Surfers are laid back and relaxed. They are very much “go with the flow”, as is the requirement of their sport. Meanwhile, skaters are rowdier. They live by a “live free or die trying” creed. They are rebellious and not always law-abiding. They are rough around the edges and usually come from broken homes. Their aggression takes form int he music often associated witht hem. And their tricks are flashy. Very much a “high risk and high reward” style. And yet if you really think about it, they aren’t all that different. That’s what brings us to how these two collide and why it is so relevant to Skyler and Malina Vass. IT is because their parents comes from both worlds. And much like their parents, they followed in the same footsteps. In the shadow of Akoni Vass, Skyler found a love in the freedom and the relaxed vibes that the ocean gave him, while Malina, who was very much like her mother, Mitsuki Watanabe. Aggressive, graceful, and full of attitude. And the story of how Akoni and Mitsuki met is something of a romantic tale that goes back nearly thirty years. Akoni, a native to the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, came from a long line of Big Wave Surfers. And he was a gifted one at that. At just twenty years old, he was in the surfing finals in 1985. It was him and an Australian by the name of Jason Dust (clearly not his real name but that’s what everyone called him). He got the name in how he always left everyone in his dust and won every competition he paritipated in. And this one was no different. While he lost in the competition, it was after that a nineteen year old Japanese girl came up to him. She introduced herself as Suki. They talked for ten minutes about how close he came and how hse was rooting for him. She said she had been following his career for a few months and how she admired his talents. And then at the luau, they talked some more. They’d spend the entire night off on their own, talking about anything and everything: their hobbies, interests, what kind of music they liked, what kind they hated, their favorite food, least favorite, and pretty much everything came up. It’s funny. They were two people who met by chance. She was visiting her grandfather who lived on the island and there she met the boy who would become the love of her life - only it wasn't at that moment. It wouldn’t be until twelve years later at the 1997 Summer X-Games that were being hosted in San Diego where he’d see Suki again. It didn’t matter that he received international success as a multiple award-winning surfer and had made a name for himself, or that so much time had gone by since he last saw her, Akoni knew her face almost immediately. And when she took gold in the Vert event by landing a 720 tailgrab and she was getting honored, he thought about all the time wasted and he rushed to the podium. Of course, security recognize dhim and in a rare moment, they let him go on stage. After several moments of letting the audience realize that Akoni Vass was in the crowd, he went straight to Suki, knowing full well she knew who he was (or so he hoped) and he stumbled through his words only to say “frick it” into the microphone and got down on one knee. “We haven’t seen each other in so many years, but I never forgot you. Suki, marry me babe!” And she didn’t hesitate to say yes. On the day where, until five minutes before seeing Akoni, her biggest thought was how happy she was about all of her hard work paying off. But after it all, now she was engaged to the person she’d spend the following 20+ years with and have two amazing children with. And no matter how many times the story gets told in their household, both Kyle and Malu never seem to be able to fake their smile. It is more than just a nice, romantic tale about how two people who didn’t think they’d ever see each other again end up not only finding their way back to each other, but carpe diem life. It’s about how all the success in the world never fill the void of true happiness. But one big takeaway they both have (albeit for very different reasons) is how their parents’ story, much like the old tradition, is also their legacy. For Kyle, he has always saw it as inspiration. The hope that you might not always succeed, but never giving up has stuck with Kyle all his life. Not only does he take after his father in the passion he followed, but many who have seen them together have said that they are alike in so many ways: their thrill for adventure, love for Hawaiian classics like dry seaweed and loco moco, and the completely approachable personality. But the biggest thing that they are often compared to each other for is their ability to piss off the women in their lives. Kyle is young, so he doesn’t know better, but Akoni is almost fifty, so you’d think he wouldn’t be a literal manchild, yet he constantly proves this whenever he and his boy decide to go on one of their spending spree at whatever toy store they can find. But you can’t say that they don’t make things interesting for whoever is waiting on the other end of one of their wild adventures. ____________________________________________________________________________ S C H O O L I N F O G R A D E Y E A R 12th - Senior G P A & A V E R A G E 2.3 || Mostly D-C average - Kyle does the bare minimum so he can stay on the surfing team and doesn't fail out. E L E C T I V E C L A S S E S Yoga & Acrobatics E X T R A C U R R I C U L A R ∞ Surfing (for Delbrook) in the spring; otherwise, he does it as a passion. T R A N S P O R T A T I O N Kyle drives a dark blue 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 P L A N S A F T E R G R A D U A T I O N As if it wasn't obvious, Kyle wants to go pro. As in be like his father was at his age and go pro in Surfing. It's his biggest passion and, even though he might be the captain of DA's surfing team, it's not enough. At the end of the school year -- spring season, to be specific -- he won't be the captain anymore. So Kyle hopes this last year will open doors for him. He hopes that he'll make it big and really get off to the right foot. If not, then there's always being like Mr. Beast and becoming the biggest stunt Youtuber the site has ever seen. That'd be fun, right? ____________________________________________________________________________ A F T E R - S C H O O L I N F O E M P L O Y M E N T Due to his surfing and acrobatic stunts and how-to videos on Youtube, Kyle makes anywhere from 1k to 7.5k dollars per month due to the consistent sponsorships he gets from companies such as Raid: Shadow Legends and SquareSpace. F A V O R I T E P L A C E S ∞ Really any beach, but he has a preference for Hunnington Beach ∞ Abalone Cove Shoreline Park (for cliff jumping) ∞ Driving along the SoCal coastline during sunset and sunrises ∞ Finding any hidden dives to chow down at after a hard day of surfing R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S ∞ Captain of the Surfing Team #GoRisingTides ∞ Does being chill and awesome count? No, then probably making sure his sister doesn't get into trouble ∞ Managing his social media accounts and making sure he keeps his presence on them consistent ∞ He pays for his own phone bill and car insurance and he has been on time with them for most of the time. ____________________________________________________________________________ O T H E R Kyle has a solid presence on social media where he and his friends perform various stunts Kyle is technically diagnosed with ADHD, but neither of his parents got him treated for it due to neither of them believing in the label, so instead, Kyle channels his energy into his various hobbies and his parents allow him the freedom that comes with it Kyle has a severe addiction to energy drinks but with a strong affiliation towards Bang Energy! Because of his presence on not only the surfer scene, but social media, Kyle is sponsored by Vans, Bang Energy, and Raid: Shadow Legends T H E M E S O N G Gimme That Sunshine - Animal Island Face Claim: Booboo Stewart - | #7fffd4/Aquamarine

Sum up your week in roleplaying in just 3 words

Tag you're it!

DWS [SHELVED UNTIL BETTER TIME]

Himura Ryusuke || Crimson Arc

🗲 Shinkuko/Crimson Arc

Hard work is pointless for those who don't believe in themselves.

– Naruto Uzumaki

╟ April 1st (21) || Japanese || Cismale || Politics and religion are stupid|| Femalesexual || Single and always looking╢

⋙: Ａ Ｃ Ａ Ｄ Ｅ Ｍ Ｉ Ｃ Ｓ

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A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E S S

|| Written test || ”I will be completely honest with you, bro. I suck at these things. Studying and me is like not washing your rice when Uncle Roger reacts to your video. You know what I mean? You’re gonna be hella disappointed and you’ll make Uncle Roger lower his knee. You never make Uncle Roger lower his knee. But This is my dream man! Like obviously I wanna be here. I wanna be a hero and save people! I’m just not so good at showing that on exams, ya know?”

Despite Mr. Himura’s less-than-stellar performance on the written test and even less impressive academic feats, his knowledge about certain aspects of the gifted was surprising and, in all honesty, refreshing for someone’s whose academic scores were subpar. He displayed an earnest desire to become a symbol of sorts, a hero that someone could look up to and tested high on the leadership portion -- though side comments and tangents did leave some clarity on his full potential as a leader.

|| Practical test || ”Fuck yes! This is my jammy jam! The bread to my butter! The peanut butter to my pad thai! I will totally ace this! Academics are the bane of my existence and I’m still not even sure if I passed _{I hope I did}, but what I do know are my powers. Not fully developed yet, but fuck me sideways, they will be so goddamn shocking to these proctors! They won’t know what hit them!”

Despite Mr. Himura’s…colorful language, which set an impression that no examiner were appreciative of, his display of his powers and general control of his powers was most impressive. In addition, his ability to balance multiple facets of his powerset with admirable agility and moves that fell no lower than perfect, Ryusuke Himura impressed beyond any expectation. His weapons prociency also impressed the examiners, though not part of the required assessment, Ryusuke insisted on showcasing that end of his skillset.

All in all, they were very pleased with what he showed and Ryu passed with flying colors (no pun intended to the…Crimson Arc).
|| Video supplement ||
Just a little something to show what I can do!" - but imagine all moves with electric-based strikes and with several waves of fighters

Panting, obvious signs of hours spent on perfecting every move sequence, reshooting, redoing every round of beating up men almost twice his size, Ryu walks up to the camera. He has scrapes and bruises on his face. He is wearing the first version of his superhero costume. "You know me. Everything about my life is in my file. I know you know what I went through, what I had to endure, but I'm not going to focus on that and, fo all that is holy in this world, don't fucking fixate on that either. I am more than my past - I proved that I am. My moves, my ability to endure, and if I do say so myself, my electrifying presence - I mean did you see my kicks? They were fucking amazing--"

"Ryu!" Said Hiroshi, who was operating the camera.

"Okay okay, yeah back to what I was saying. I know I'm not what you thought I'd be and my test scores aren't the best, but I need this chance. I need to prove to myself that the Himura name isn't tarnished. My uncle has done this in his way, but I have to make my own way! The choice is yours but you'd totally like it if I were at Crystal Peak! I'm totally badass!"

S C H O O L

Crystal Peak Academy

Y E A R

Senior

C L A S S I F I C A T I O N

Elemental Manipulation - Electrokinesis, Red Lightning Aura
Mental Manipulation - Elemental Telekinesis

O C C U P A T I O N

Odd jobs here and there

L I V I N G A R R A N G E M E N T

Bro Manor? Idk the shitty party pad that the boys all collectively live at

I N T E R N S H I P S

This past summer, thanks to Ryu's test scores in his junior year (not academics but everything else), Ryu scored an internship with famed Japanese hero, Inazuma, otherwise marketed as Blue Streak in western markets. He is an electrical-based hero. Little is known about him, but he is sponsored by Himura Enterprises. Despite this, under him, all those who intern were said to be driven to insanity due to how...unorthodox his methods were. These unorthodox methods were hardcore physical training (both in costume and not), soloing in heroics, and intense sparring sessions (spoiler alert, Ryu had a recorded 75 losses against Inazuma).

⋙: Ｒ Ｅ Ｐ Ｕ Ｔ Ａ Ｔ Ｉ Ｏ Ｎ

____________________________________________________________________

"My mother always used to tell me that even the wildest flower could find humility in the face of adversary. I didn't know what she meant, but I was literally five-years-old. I knew she meant about my father, but I'm applying it to how many times I strike out! Never give up, right mom?"

And this truly is what makes Ryusuke truly himself. He never apologizes for what he is - for who he is. He, of course, owns up to anything he may do wrong (thanks in large part to the teachings of Kaito-Ojisan instilled in him when he came to live with him). Always one to be there for anyone that needs him and an automatic hype man, Ryu is the guy who literally electrifies any room he's in with his pure spirits, undoubtable energy, and the most loyal guy you'll ever find.

He also happens to be very much about the "never give up" approach when it comes to the women of CHA. You will never catch him getting down after the first, second, twentieth rejection. Fall seven times, you stand up eight! As classic of a proverb as that is, it's always been his life motto for as long as he could remember. Ryu never lets the disappointment last long. He'll cry about it (or vent to the boys), play some games, and hop right back on the horse. Somewhere out there is his soulmate who doesn't mind his stupid humor and overtly positive attitude. Also he curses a lot, so that would be cool if they did too!

⋙: Ｐ Ｏ Ｗ Ｅ Ｒ Ｓ ^{＆ Ｆ Ｉ Ｇ Ｈ Ｔ Ｉ Ｎ Ｇ Ｓ Ｔ Ｙ Ｌ Ｅ}

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A B I L I T I E S

Electrokinesis

As a result of experiments his father ran on him when he was younger, Ryusuke came to develop strange powers in which he could freely manipulate electricity in its purest, rawest, and most powerful form of pure energy. Whether it was from absorbing electricity from a computer or any random street lamp, an incoming thunderstorm, or even activating his own internal electricity via the electrons in his body, Ryu came to understand and further develop his natural control over lightning. As an additional bonus, his ability to produce electricity came with the startling realization that, unlike other electro-users, Ryu's was a color deep in red hue. Like blood.

In the beginning, Ryu's control was limited to exsiting sources of electricity and when he ran out, like any electronics, all he needed to do was recharge. This is still an issue, but because he learned how to harness the electrons in his body, it's not as much of an issue for him now as it was when he first started at CHA.

Electrical Telekinesis - Another byproduct of his experimentation but specifically the Cashmore blood in his veins, Ryu is able to physically manipulate electricity through means of sending his red lightning to grab onto physical matter (steel anything is the most common) and manipulate to fit his needs. Whether that's pulling an object to it, wrapping electricity around it and flinging it at a target or towards him, Ryu can do it in a way that seems to fit a myriad of purposes (most of them offensive).
Red Lightning Aura - By far one of his most advanced achievements with his power, Ryu can produce a crimson-colored aura of pure lightning that hugs, clings, and surrounds his body in a way that it crackles and flashes like real lightning. Some even say it might be alive - but that's all just rumors at this point. Charge time to produce it takes almost a minute but when it is active, it's both a protective barrier from most physical attacks (unless they're really strong like Danny's metal form) and the perfect source for offense as it empowers all his physical feats while enhancing his mental faculties (with him that's a big plus!)

Electricity-enhanced condition - in this state, Ryu's body moves faster, he responds quicker when defending, and his punches and kicks are more deadly and stronger than when it's inactive. As mostly a melee fighter, Ryu possesses a skillset that makes this ideal for the kind of fighter he is. Close, personal, and quick to strike, with enhanced senses, as well as enhanced capabilities with his power, this is like super saiyan Ryu.

L I M I T A T I O N S

As impressive as Ryu’s powers are and they are indeed shocking, there are some fundamental weaknesses that even Ryu has not been able to make invisible to the untrained eye. First and foremost, while not necessarily a limitation per se, if wet by any means, Ryu’s powers become unstable and beyond even his control (despite the level of control he’s at currently). This is due to water being a natural conductor of lightning and there would be no telling who or what his lightning would hit when he’s too close to a source of water or if he’s not dry.

It’s been established many times when he uses his powers that, because his powers are often reflective of his own emotional state, the state of his control may also depend on Ryu’s emotional state. If he’s calm, happy, or neutral, he has near-perfect control. Literally no problems will arise. But if Ryu is agitated, angry, or feleing overtly negative, his powers reflect this. While more destructive and powerful, the same could be said for how erratic his usage of said powers would be. In Ryu’s case, he does have a habit of losing control. Much like a mindless beast, the lightning inside him blinds his sense’s link to common sense and self-awareness, resulting in a rage, destruction, and quite frankly, one could even spin this as the spirit of his ancestors from the Ketsuryu emerging.

The Blood Dragon lives on in Ryu, the Crimson Arc.

C O M B A T

Ryu has trained in various martial arts all his life. His father had a bad habit of overworking his children. Hours and hours spent physically conditioning the body, training in marital arts: karate, jiu jitsu, taekwondo, boxing - you name it. A myriad of martial arts, even those not native to Japan, were grilled into Ryu’s mind and he retained the muscle memory. As he grew up and his powers manifested and he began training and developing that, eventually, Ryu’s fighting style became one-third marital arts and weapons training, one-third powers and one-third pure athleticism.

Like a true ninja (minus the stealth), Ryu’s fighting style is fast. With a power that enhances his overall physical abilities, he uses it to his advantage. Gymnastics and free-running factor in too because, despite everything, Ryu is a naturally gifted athlete. It’s just something he’s always been. When he fights, he does so close and personal, seldomly does he ever cower. He faces his opponent with honor - something Kenji never taught him. Kaito taught him that and fast. When he fights, he might be quick but he’s never deceitful (another aspect of a “ninja” that he lacks). Ryu likes to strike fast and hard, often being a wrecking ball who likes to think he’s a needle being shot from a distance.

When using his powers, though many offensive capabilities exist, Ryu honestly prefers to use them to enhance his physical capabilities and optimizing his ability to fight. If outnumbered, he will use his powers to thin the herd but his preferance will always be close, personal, and with honor.

⋙: Ａ Ｐ Ｐ Ｅ Ａ Ｒ Ａ Ｎ Ｃ Ｅ ^{＆ Ｐ Ｅ Ｒ Ｓ Ｏ Ｎ Ａ Ｌ Ｉ Ｔ Ｙ}

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D A I L Y L O O K S & S T Y L E
🗲 Hair: Black || Neck-length, typically stylized with minimal gel and hair spray to appear spiked - occasionally dyed green or red depending on his mood.
🗲 Eyes: Brown
🗲 Height & Weight: 5’6” || 72kg/158lbs
🗲 Body Type:Athletic || Minimal body fat, lean muscles, strong core
🗲 Clothing Style: Ryu has always been very fashionable. When he lived in Japan, he wore a lot of tunics and kimonos and, while he has upgraded it to t-shirts and whatnot, Ryu hasn’t strayed too far from his Japanese roots. He fashions himself with elaborate, sometimes flamboyant shirts that are ripe with patterns and other similar designs. Some floral and some like an early 2000s kid with the flames. He wears a lot of jeans, but typically wears loose-fitting pants for comfort and a familiarity that he grew up with. Additionally, he has a number of hoodies and jackets that go with almost every outfit. Yeah, one might say that Ryu likes to dress himself. He also has a bunch of shoes and spends a great deal of time with the aphrodite kids to get opinions.
🗲 Scars, Tattoos and/or Piercings: Due to his upbringing and the intense physical labor he underwent, Jackson has several, permanent scars along his torso, back, and upper arms. Jackson also has the tattoo of a Japanese lily over his heart in honor of his mother, whose name means “small lily”.

S U P E L O O K S & S T Y L E

The Supe Fit

Being half an original design and half based on the armor that the infamous Ketsuryu warriors that Ryu descends from. It's crafted from a special material that is durable and comfortable, but equally so, it's the ideal design because it allows for nearly limitless freedom for movement. It's lightning proof, which was something that Ryu specifically requested due to his powers. He needed something that wouldn't be damaged form his own powers and that allowed him to move as he has trained to for so many years.

The costume itself is an all-black, sleeveless body-suit. The helm is crafted from a special metal that acts as a lightning conductor and a face mask that covers Ryu's entire face but his eyes. The helm has a protective covering, modeled and fashioned after a part of a japanese dragon's face (specifically molded after Seiryu, the Azure Dragon). Protective coverings for his feet and shins, as well as on his forearms were added at some point during his sophomore year. Made from the same lightning conductor materials that his helm is crafted from, they both act as protection and natural conductors for his powers, which makes it ideal for his style of fighting. As a last note and likely more cosmetic than anything else, Ryu wears a red scarf. It was given to him by his Uncle Kaito, a gift for passing the practical and entry exams. It never left his side.

Ryu fights not only with powers, but has had extensive weapons training, as a result, it is part of his supe costume. All weapons were made from the same material as his helm, shin, and armguards were made from.

Straight-Bladed Katana - This katana has a shorter blade than most and resembles the historically-inaccurate ninjato. It has a red hue to the blade, black handguard, and red and black hilt. When not straight up melee, this is Ryu's primary weapon that never fails him. It also happens to be the type of sword he is most proficient with and bases most of his fighting style (even with powers) around.
Kunai Knives - SImilar in design and color as his Katana is, these kunai knives are ideal for mid-range assaults. When charged with lightning, they can cause mild shock damage when hit. Ryu was trained in accuracy by his father and has honed these skills. They have a deep red wrapping.
Six-Pointed Shuriken - Best for long-ranged assaults, these shiraken are fashioned after traditional throwing stars. Ryu uses these for diversions and always with his charged lightning into them. They are black with silver tips and a red insignia of the Himura family crest, not to be confused with a similar design the Ketsuryu used back in the feudal eras.

P E R S O N A L I T Y T R A I T S

Couragous → charismatic → energetic → loyal → fearless → confident → foolhardy → passionate (to a fault) → reckless → rebellious → temperamental → dense → prone to fits of anger

It's hard to describe Ryusuke because, at times, it seems like there are two people living simultaneously within him, though never seeming like an alter personality or anything of the sort. More like two sides of the same unique coin. There is the gifted warrior whose valor and guts have carried him far at Crystal Peak Academy and through life, really. The warrior whose anger and temper knows only a few equals, all of whom are tied back to his shinobi ancestors. The warrior who proves time and time again that he isn't afraid to rise to the occasion when push comes to shove. Ryu shows very little fear and if he does show fear, he also displays a willingness to conquer said fear. He likes to push himself past his limits so that he might be able to figure out if they truly are his limits.

The other person that lives within him is dim-witted and doesn't always think with his brain (implying he has one, right?). He is foolish, reckless, and above all else, tends to say things without really thinking what they actually mean. Or if he does know, he doesn't have the self-awareness to realize that what is coming out of his mouth is absolute garbage. Ryu doesn't know when to give up. Actually, he doesn't know the meaning of the word. He might have a silver-tongue, but he often uses it to get him and others into trouble, which might just be the reason why he has made frequent visits to the dean’s office and had private beratings meetings with the dean about his actions and how it's almost always him getting others into trouble.

Yeah, not his fault he likes to have fun in the name of fuck the rules.

But all of that aside, Ryu has a gentle soul and one that might be a bit of a romantic. He has an unique way of going about romance and might strike out more than he doesn't, but you can't say that he isn't earnest about what shots he shoots. As idiotic as he might be and as dumb he might appear to most (if not all) people he interacts with, Ryu is probably the most authentic person you'd meet at CPA. He says what he means and means what he says. He's also one hell of a loyal friend. If you truly do something that might get you in trouble, Ryu is the one person you’d not only expect but count on to not rat you out.

He is a true ride or die..

F E A R S

Ryu has two primary fears. One is superficial and probably would make him seem even more of an idiot than most perceive him to be. The other is more of a meaningful fear, one that only his boys know about.

Always striking out - as superficial as it might be to admit, Ryu fears that because of who he is, regardless how much the boys build him up, he does always seem to strike out. He tries and he tries, but no matter what, there doesn’t seem to be any hope in his love life. Ryu knows he’s not that unbearable. Perhaps senior year will be the year? He hopes so.

Becoming like his father - Ryu knows he's not like his father, Kenji. He's not a cold-hearted bastard who uses others for his gain. He doesn't have the malice that Kenji did, yet the blood of Kenji Himura runs through his veins. The blood of the Ketsuryu runs through his veins. The Blood Dragon exists within him. Ryu suffers from controlling his emotions sometimes. It's why he practices Tai Chi and other destressing activities, but somewhere in the back of his mind, there's Kenji's voice, taunting him. Whispering in his ear to give into his worst impulses. And sometimes, they win. Sometimes, regardless how much Ryusuke doesn't want to admit it, at least a part of him embodies everything that it means to be a son of Kenji Himura.

⋙: Ｆ Ａ Ｍ Ｉ Ｌ Ｙ ^{＆ Ｒ Ｅ Ｌ Ａ Ｔ Ｉ Ｏ Ｎ Ｓ Ｈ Ｉ Ｐ Ｓ}

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L O V E D O N E S
D I R E C T F A M I L Y

Direct Family

Himura Kenji || Forever 47 || Father || Deceased || Hero (public) and Villain (secretly) || Ex-Head of the Himura Family || FC: Hiroyuki Sanada
Powers: Superhuman Condition, Blood Property Manipulation
Himura Sayuri || Forever 38|| Mother || Deceased || Former Hero turned Lady of the Himura family(also a botanist in her spare time) || FC: Tao Okamato
Powers: Plantspeak, Photosynthesis
Himura Ichiro & Himura Genji || Forever 22 || Older Brothers (twins) || Deceased || Previously ran the Kyoto Yakuza || FC: Kazuma Kamakura
Powers: Enhanced condition and senses - trained fighters and several degree of black belts in at least 4 martial arts before they were 18 (both brothers)
Himura Ayame || Forever 18 || Older Sister || No previous occupation (had a dream to go to Crystal Peak Academy) || FC: Anna Akana
Powers: A wide range of psionic abilities including aura manipulation, psychokinesis, and minor ergo kinesis

Extended Family

Extended Family - California

Himura Kaito || 59 || Uncle || Alive || Current head of the HImura Family and CEO of Himura Enterprises || || Electrolytic Blood || FC: Ken Watanabe
(nee. Takahashi)Himura Hikari || 55 || Aunt || Alive || Senior VP of Technological Development of Himura Enterprises’ California Branch and Creator of SuperGram || FC: Tamlyn Tomita
Himura Hiroshi AKA Ross || 32 || Older Cousin || Alive || DJ, Producer, Social Media Superstar || Powerless || FC: Ryan Higa

R E L A T I O N S H I P S

TBD

⋙: Ｈ Ｉ Ｓ Ｔ Ｏ Ｒ Ｙ

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Y O U R L I F E S O F A R

About the Ketsuryū Ichizoku - AKA the Blood Dragon Clan - tw: mentions of murder, violence, sexual assault allusions

The origins of the Himura family is tied to a dark past that everyone who doesn’t have a blood tie to them doesn’t know about. The truth is, the Himura family, who in Japan are known to be quite reputable and philanthropic in every sense of the word, have a tie to one of the most notorious “clans” of feudal japan.

The Ketsuryu, otherwise infamously known by the Blood Dragons of Japan.

Back in the era of samurai, there existed some who were not cut from the same cloth. Samurai, who were honorable and bound by that honor, were the mightiest warriors of the Sengoku and Edo periods, hired for protection and respected among the citizens as great protectors to the people. They served the shogun but they fought for the little people. They fought for them and, should honor demand it, they’d die for them. A wariror’s death was the highest honor.

Yet there existed some who did not abide by this code. It remains unclear how many exactly started, but somewhere in the height of that time, a handful of samurai went rogue, even more so than your typical ronin, became greedy, violent savages. There were seven of them, in fact. Like the tales of the Samurai 7, who were known for being hired by villagers to take on an army of bandits.

Well what we told you that tale was inspired by these seven samurai who were corrupted by the most vile yokai spirits? There’s no way of knowing whether any of this is true. Honestly, there’s no way of knowing for a fact that these seven were even samurai. History long forgot about the Ketsuryu, but the Himura family hasn’t. They know the truth. For generations, those that descended from the Seven Oni of the Blood Demon, a name given to them years later by one of the recent heads of the Himura family, each oni represented a carnal desire that the bible referred to as “The Seven Deadly SIns”.

Each one may have represented one of these sins, but they were vile and violent in every sense. The rumors of the Ketsuryu is tied into their brutality. Whether ex samurai or just mindless savages, what remains to be a common theory among historians is that these seven killed as many people, pillaged as many villages, and assaulted as many women that they could. In truth, they had more in common with vikings than anything else.

This is the dark truth that the Himura family hides still to this day and it is the dark truth that follows the current members around and why they continue to deny any association.

The Ketsuryū ichizoku today - AKA the Himura Family - tw: mentions of murder, child abuse, traumatic situations

Several dozen generations later and so far removed from the stain that the Ketsuryu left on Feudal Japan, the Himura family, a great dynasty of aristocrats, super family (emphasis on super) who led and almost pioneered the effectiveness of Japanese superheroes via their impressive technology and contributions to the advancement of biological studies within the gifted gene. Truly a far cry from the origins that so many allege the Himura Family come from. These origins are simply tales that conspiracy theorists and rival families back to discredit over a hundred years of achievements.

Kenji Himura, the oldest of two brothers, refused to stand by and let everything his father and grandfather worked so hard to establish so that his family of five: a wife, three sons, and a daughter, may find success within Himura Enterprises. These slanderous stories that they descended from savages, no matter how true, was not something to be celebrated in the modern age,b ut no matter how much he tried, Kenji could never quiet those who dared to discredit his family’s credibility and his company’s.

So he had them murdered.

This was Kenji Himura. A proud businessman. He is as tenacious as he is effective. The old ways of his ancestors may leave a bad taste in his mouth, but even he could admit that there was a reason the Ketsuryu were so infamous. EVen now, many stories inspired by their acts: stories that have been adapted into manga, into anime, into plays and even Americanized (though whitewashed to a disrespectful level), the story of the Ketsuryu Ichizoku is now essentially mythology.

And if that isn’t something Kenji Himura takes great pride in.

This ruthlessness just didn’t extend into business, however. Unfortunately, Kenji Himura was as ruthless with his children as he was with his rivals in the business world. As mentioned before, Kenji and his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all made incredible strides for Japanese superheroes. Technological breakthroughs and breakthroughs in power development and assessment. Like those before him, they were obsessed into analyzing the science of what made a gifted so powerful. This obsession took many forms but, for Kenji, it meant using live human test subjects. Those who had the gene. Many in Japan went missing because of his efforts. Using every single one as lab rats for what became the success stories. These success stories were made possible through a cashe of blood samples that were not just from any source, but the Cashmores. Once proud and loyal business partners with the Himura family were now just another stepping stone for Kenji and at some point he...acquired samples of Cashmore blood to use in his experiments and to make his success stories undoubtedly legendary.

And those success stories? His four children.

His two oldest - twin boys, Ichiro and Genji - were the first. They showed excellent promise in not just their potential for powers but natural-born killers. They excelled at everything from swordfighting, martial arts, killing tactics, and just so much more. Both had the powers of heightened condition and senses, which only added to their fierceness.

In the case of the third born, Kenji’s daughter, Ayame, they considered her a too-gentle-for-this-world kind of girl. Powerful as she was and she was indeed terrifying in her potential, the tests that Kenji and his team of scientists ran on her broke her mind. Ayame possessed a gentle and powerful, yet splintered mind. She tested low on most combat tests, but she was insanely intelligent and that manifested in the form of pure psionics. Raw psychic power fuelled by emotions. It was at the point that she caused widespread destruction: sent chairs and tables and heavy machinery to the walls, almost completely destroyed the underground facility underneath the Himura mansion with a shear force of will. If it hadn’t been for the microchip that Kenji had implanted in all of his children that would send a minor, yet effective, electric pulse that would knock out her own, death would have been the immediate future for everyone in the area.

But the pulse wasn’t enough. Ayame, who was incredibly close to her younger brother (only younger by 3 years) resisted until Ryusuke was brought in personally. He didn’t have to say much. Just his voice alone calmed her. Ryu, for all of his disappointments in Kenji’s eyes, had this ability to make Ayame feel safe.

If only Ayame could have been that for Ryu.

The Story of Ryusuke

You would think that Ryusuke Himura wouldn’t have anything to complain about, right? He was the baby of four children that were born to Kenji and Sayuri Himura. Two older brothers and one older sister. The baby always has it easiest, right? Not as much pressure put on him. Not as much light was shown on him because his older siblings would be in the spotlight whereas he would be able to do whatever he wanted (within reason).

But none of them had to deal with the fact that, in Kenji Himura’s eyes, Ryu being the youngest didn’t mean he would be ignored. The truth of the matter was, Ryusuke faced the worst that Kenji had to offer. His dreams were made reality with his two oldest sons. They inherited their father’s brutality and Kenji wanted to repeat that success in his youngest son. But Ryusuke wasn’t built like Ichiro or Genji. He wasn’t a murderous monster like them. He didn’t want to kill nor did he want to indulge in overtly-violent acts. He was more like his mother, who was sweet and tender-hearted but also had a love and a thrill for adventure.

And that was something that lit a fire under Kenji’s ass to the point where the frustrations he had about it all only made the training and punishment that Ryu endured for fifteen years like an endless loop of hell.

From an early age, it was evident that Ryu didn’t have the same ferocity that Kenji had nor did he have what Kenji wanted. He wanted all of his sons to be ruthless killers int heir own right. Publicly the family was not related nor embodied by the Ketsuryu, but privately[, the murderous spirit reigned supreme in Kenji Himura and it was that same vile hatred of human life that fuelled the rigorous training that Ryu had to endure. Whether it was physical conditioning, power development, and so many times spent with a needle injected into it -- a needle, mind you, that was pumping weird substances into his body -- that Ryu spent more and more time with his father watching from behind a one-way window-mirror than with anyone else. The more time being spent as a lab rat by his own father, the more Ryu came to resent him. But he couldn’t do anything about it. Both he and Ayame were in the same boat.

Both had incredible powers and potential (Kenji’s own words), but they needed each other. Brother and sister needed each other because as much as Ryu hated Kenji, he had been the only person who could calm Ayame down.

The training and abuse continued for several years until there was one night where every thing changed. Nothing about this night seemed like it was necessarily bad. It was one of those regular days -- rare days, at that -- where Kenji did not torture his children. Ryu and Ayame spent time with their mother, who had fallen ill in recent weeks. She was bed-ridden but all the two could do was sty by their mother’s side. Time spent with Sayuri was some of the most cherished moments they both had.

But then everything went to shit when Sayuri passed away a week before her birthday in May.

And it wasn’t just because the Himura family lost their light, but Ayame specifically lost all sense of control of her emotions, of her powers, and most importantly of herself. It happened on May 15th, 2014, just a day after Sayuri’s memorial service. Eight years ago. Eight years ago when Ayame’s psionics became the death of the Himura family. The foundation of the mansion crumbled on itself. Kenji, Genji, Ichiro, Ayame, and (alleged) Ryu were buried in the wreckage.

It was said that during those final moments before widespread destruction came to the Himura compound, that Ayame’s screams could be heard in the distance and all throughout the entirety of Japan. It is also said that the spirits of those that were killed by Kenji Himura’s hired hands, Genji and Ichiro’s victims, and the thousands of victims slain by the Ketsuryu over 800 years ago were embodied in those final moments, their ire and desire for vengeance manifesting in Ayame’s grief.

But what hadn’t been expected and even more importantly, thought to be nigh impossible, was Ryusuke’s survival. Whether it was just dumb luck or truly a representation of his connection with Ayame and how out of everyone in the compound, which included his father and brothers, and the scientists who experimented on all children on Kenji’s orders, Ryu was the only one to survive. Ryu never made sense of that day even now. Over time, he believed that maybe Ayame’s powers only responded to whoever she wanted to kill and because he was so instrumental to her sanity and making her feel safe, that maybe that was what brought Ryu some sense of peace.

Truth be told, he may never understand how or why he survived, but when he did, at just fifteen, Ryu fled the compound, used whatever yen he had to his name, and bought a one-way ticket to California. He knew of one surviving family member - his uncle Kaito. Kaito was the older brother of Kenji. He was not like his father. He was a good man, unaffiliated with the company until his brother’s death, and the only person that Ryu had in this world when it came to family. Kaito always told Ryu that if he ever needed anything, that all he needed to do was call him.

Ryu had a different idea and showed up on his doorstep the day after his family literally was wiped off the face of the earth. He had nobody and Kaito took him in. Kaito had a family, too. A wife and two daughters, so Ryu would have a family. In the three years he lived with them, Ryu’s mannerisms were like of old and eventually he found his way into applying and being accepted into Crystal Peak Academy.

Despite his beginnings and the terrible thing that happened to him, Ryu went forward. Positivitiy and a never-quit attitude carried him as far as his senior year, a far cry of who he could have been. That was something he would never forget.

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Ryan Potter || #dc143c/Crimson
🗲 Save for the occasional muffin or cupcake from whatever bakery he's nearby (Daylight Delicacies as of late) and a twelve pack of Dr. Pepper almost weekly, Ryu takes great pride in his body through regular visits to the gym, training his body (father might be gone but his teachings aren't)

🗲Speaking of training, Ryu holds black belt degrees in karate, jijutsu, and taekwondo, as well as a practitioner of boxing. Additionally, he practices Tai Chi in the park for fun (helps him relax on a stressful day).

🗲 Ryu is always looking to spar. Whether with the boys (especially with Danny Metal Man himself) or whoever the fuck will take him on. He wants to prove his strength and what better way than to attempt to win.
🗲 Ryu has a pair of Japanese Sparrowhawks for pets: Hayate and Yuri. They are generally harmless but require a special diet of rodents and spam. Apparently they really love spam.
🗲 Ryu loves aggressive, powerful, in-your-face music. As it just so happens, all of that could be found in the glorious decade of the 2000s - Ryu's preferred decade of music. We're talking Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Foo Fighters

Ryu would be lying if he didn't vibe to Backstreet Boys too. It's 2022, so it's not lame to be into them, right? Oh and Babymetal. He loves him some Babymetal.

🗲 Ryu lives and breathes anime. Well, as long as it's shounen anime. Yeah...
🗲 Ryu drives a Dodge Ram to get around town, otherwise he's riding his board. Did I forget to mention that he has a collection of skateboards (he breaks them often).
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet || Last Resort (Reloaded) - Papa Roach and Jeris Johnson || Midnight Onsen - Azuku || Hero - Chad Kroeger (feat. Josey Scott)

Edenridge

_{@LovelyComplex@BrutalBx@metanoia
Timestamp: After Happy Reunion
FT: Sal Montero, Aves Kaine, Rosie Drake
Bron Milligan, Stacy Čapek, Marco Brady
Mentions of: Katie Čapek}

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With her dad leaving to help her mom with a flat, Avery Kaine and Rosalie Hawthorne-Drake had the store to themselves (which honestly was an often occurrence, since Arthur trusted his daughter and that’s that). Zella Kaine was part of the summer school program so that’s where she’s been spending most of her days at. Unfortunately, the Kaine matriarch was awful at keeping up with her car. Aves could’ve sworn a week ago that she told her mom about how shitty her tires looked. She was lucky it was only one tire that blew because lord knows, those tires were so old, they were begging for death at this point.

Avery had told Rosie that she could’ve left early to beat the storm, which was not what happened since Rosie was knee deep in her Basilisk fanfic. Hey, that was okay with Avery, having company was always nice since she was here from opening to closing most days. Ever since she graduated highschool and chose not to go to college, this was Aves life. Swerve Arcana. She wasn’t complaining. Her deal could’ve been worse. Plus! This helped free her dad’s schedule so he could reach out to some of his contacts to throw epic events here.

Pretty sure he was in the process of setting up a comic book signing with Spike Langley so that was cool. Spike was hella’ popular in Edenridge. He probably wouldn’t expect the most haunted place in America had his biggest fan base. In the backroom, which was mostly storage, Avery signed into her spotify on the computer that piped in the audio throughout the building. Going to her early 2000s playlist, she pressed shuffle and the first song to blast was Stacy’s Mom.

Bitchin’.

After turning up the volume, because why the hell not, there wasn’t anyone else around, Avery flew the door open and started shimmying, singing, and dancing down the manga aisle. She slid down from one aisle into the next, where RoRo was and she gave her friend a big, shit eating grin. Strumming her air guitar, she loudly sang, “You know, I’m not the little boy that I used to be. I’m all grown up now. BABY, CAN’T YOU SEE?”

What a day to come back to town. Bronagh Milligan, for as much time as she spent on the Internet posting pictures for OnlyFans, shooting her vlog and chatting with her adoring fans, she never checked the damn weather app. How was she supposed to know it was gonna turn into the Day After Tomorrow out there? She had spent most of her day interviewing and getting the job at the Animal Hospital. It wasn’t a permanent gig by any means, just something to help her pay a little rent whilst she was home for a few months.

College was, well quite frankly it was a bit of a mess for Bron. She’d changed her major multiple times now and she’s only gotten away with it for so long because she fucked the right teacher or teachers. Yet that was just sex, a trade of services. She had her boy chilling in Pinehurst, waiting for whenever she was around. He was an angry boy, so the sex was always amazing but he was also really sweet beneath the bravado. She’d have to let him know that they didn’t have to be long distance anymore while she was back in her hometown. Her big sister was back too! But JJ was out for the night, likely overnight if she had her way. All she said to Bron was that she was meeting a dreamboat. Knowing Eden, that boat was likely the titanic or a Russian submarine but Jessie was a big girl, she could handle it.

The self proclaimed influencer knew she had to find shelter fast or she was going to get soaked to the bone and although she would look hot as hell wet no one would be there to see it if she was swept away in a flash flood. Seeing the light on at the end of the street, Bronagh charged through the door of Swerve Arcana; a place she didn’t even know existed even when she lived in Eden the first time round. She tossed off the jacket she had stolen from the cute guy at the Vet’s to the floor to reveal her body in all its glory. Her crisp white shirt was slightly damp and see through whilst her long legs were drenched and glistening in the Arcana light. Bron flicked her hair back before sliding both of her hands into her back pockets, cocking an eyebrow as she did to look at the dancing girl in one of the aisles.

“Nice vibe.”

As if the music wasn’t bad enough (it really wasn’t bad but it was loud), but just for a moment, Rosie came out of the daze of her dreams, writing up a storm for one of her off-shoots of her Basilisk series and wrote a self-indulgant fic (let’s just say she’s taking some vague liberties about the clarity of her heroine’s love interest), she popped her head up to see Aves lost in her own groove, singing Stacy’s Mom at the top of her lungs, her dance moves nearly matching her pitch. But she loved seeing Aves being herself. Still…

“Did she have to be so loud?” The blonde artist sighed, looking up only long enough to see the hot blonde bombshell who just walked into Swerve. Her blue eyes homed in and admired from afar for the majestic hair flip, to which Rosie muttered “nice!” as she suddenly made herself available. “It is a nice vibe, isn’t it?” Rosie said, moving a little bit closer. “You look a little wet…from the storm, I mean. It’s coming down pretty hard, huh?”

“I’m a little moist,” Bronagh playfully responded to the pretty girl that was addressing her with a crescent smile across her face. “Nothing wrong with that though.” Her tongue gently caressed her bottom lip for a second, just a little tease before she stepped further into Swerve and looked around to get her bearings. Bron had to wonder where she had wound up. Lots of those comic book things, someone cut outs of Chris Evans, total Daddy and board games. Either she was at the comic book store she had heard her cousin Clay mention before or she had been struck by lightning and sent to the wrong heaven because this was obviously a nerd's biggest fantasy. “Nice place. You got anything hot to drink? Or gin? Either is fine.”

Damn. No one wanted to party. How lame. Where was Clay when she needed him? “No to the booze. But yeah to the hot drink. We got hot drinks in the backroom. And if you want soda, we also have vending machines. My mom likes every tea under the sun and my dad has a caffeine problem, so what would you like?” Avery asked, frowning that no one wanted to sing and dance with her. Then again, that was immediately left behind when her eyes couldn’t help themselves. They had a mind of their own. Before she knew it she was checking the newcomer out from head to toe.

Once she had taken in the sight, realizing man this girl did not belong here, Avery turned to Rosie and grumbled, “I GUESS I’ll turn down the music. But you’re lame. I wanted a dance party but you’re over here drawing disproportionate boobs that defy gravity.”

“I’m lame!?” Rosie huffed, offended by what Aves just implied. “Excuse me. These are works of art! They represent the level of power and general badassery. Just look at Power Girl. Her hooters are out of this world!” Rosie shouted, getting somewhat emotional. “New girl!” Rosie’s voice and eyes pinpointed on the blonde bombshell that just walked in who Rosie felt could bring a solid expertise into this debate. “You agree, right? Bigger is better!”

Bron really had no idea what she had stumbled into and she was missing valuable vlog filming time. She glanced at the two women staring at her and tilted her head. This entire conversation gave her an idea and this was going to be quite the unique opportunity. Sliding her phone from her pocket, Bronagh turned on the camera and placed it on one of the nearby bookshelves. “Is bigger better? Well…” Without warning, the Milligan girl peeled off her white t-shirt slowly to reveal her toned body, now only covered by a simple lacy black bra. “…is this the answer you were looking for or does it just open up more questions?”

Hold up. Hold up. Hold up.

Avery found herself staring right at Bron’s chest, stunned. Who was this girl? She looked familiar but she couldn’t put a name to her face. That bra was sexy though. Lace was kind of a vibe. She always imagined Jamie in a mesh lace dress. Lingerie. God she wanted to see Jamie in lingerie so bad. Closing her mouth from being ajar for a little too long, Avery snapped back to reality and met the other girl’s gaze, “Well you’re fucking hot, I’m just going to… get you cocoa. You seem like a hot chocolate kind of girl,” Begrudgingly, and almost like a robot, the older girl turned on her heel and marched to the back room, her face beaming bright red at the boldness of this stranger. Today was a day. A day that really made her stupidly hot and bothered. Fucking hell.

All sense of anything and everything around here just…stopped working. Rosie was a proud pervert. A respectful one. She liked to look but she did it with class. And sure, she drew outrageously large hooters on her characters and even liked to read comics with the same bra sizes, but when it was happening in real time and totally unprovoked, she froze. The fact that the blonde bombshell just pulled up her shirt without even so much as a warning not only sent Aves into her version of waving the white flag, but Rosie was frozen and her cheeks felt hot.

Does it open up more questions? Yeah probably…

She had to get a handle on things. Shaking her head lightly, Rosie had to force herself to not stare too obviously and just…focus. Focus on her face, not boobs. “Y-yeah that…”

Be it divine intervention or right place, right time, the boob-obsessed girl’s attention went from blonde bombshell to the door as the bell dinged and two new customers graced Swerve with their presence at the best time. Rosie let out a rather obvious sigh of relief when she saw it was Marco. Thank god and he was with somebody that seemed…familiar, but she couldn’t place. “Marco!” She exclaimed.

Marco was with Stacy. They were just coming from the park and he had intended to come here only so she could meet back up with her sister, but with one scan of the immediate area, Marco…well, he didn’t know what he just walked into. Looking at Rosie Drake, he just waved and awkwardly at that. “Hey…Rosie. And…friend.”

Following Marco’s lead, Stacy had followed his eyes, but at the same time she met the blonde who was exposed quite indecently, sending her face red with secondhand awkwardness, it was the song she heard in the background that really made her flush red. What kind of place did Katie like to frequent? Was this why Katie couldn’t wait to come here? Not like she wouldn’t fit in. Katie was certainly different than Stacy. “Hi…I’m Stacy…” She just waved too, mirroring Marco in a very awkward and tense interaction (not to mention uncomfortable for the Zima girl).

Sal had fallen asleep in the bathroom. After leaving Swerve on the recruiting mission he had accepted from the good lady Butterscotch and the Dungeon Master, he spoke to the Quill for directions wound up in a place called Westwood looking for the member of the Midnight Society they called the Sword, Dallas Drake-Davies. Arriving at quite a nice house, Salvador was greeted at the front door by a grungy girl who legit looked like she belonged either on the runway or at a Nirvana concert. She said her name was Adelaide and she reeked of awesomeness and weed.

Sal enquired after Dallas and was led into a small room to see a pretty girl looking after three kids. He introduced himself and mentioned who had sent him which piqued the girl’s interest. He informed her about his current predicament of trying to reunite the Midnight society so that he could enter their campaign and at first Dallas thought it was a joke. When Sal told her how serious he was, she had to mull it over for a second. Eventually Dal offered Salvador a deal. Beat her in blackjack and she’d help him on his quest. Sitting down at her kitchen table, the pair played one hand and luckily, Sal won. Now having recruited the parties Knight, a happy Sal headed back into the street but realised very quickly that this was still his first day in town and he was lost as fuck. He somehow managed to find his way back to Swerve and the bathroom he now found himself asleep in.

Emerging from the bathroom with a yawn, Sal moved down the aisle towards the entrance, hoping the rain had subsided so that he could find his way back to his new home on….fuck what street did he live on now? The young Mexicano stopped in his tracks when he saw the amassed group at the entranceway, specifically the topless beauty in the centre of it all. “Ay dios mío!”

Rosie forgot what she was going to say, but she was grateful for the distraction that Marco and…Stacy - yeah, that was the cute redhead’s name - provided. And even better, Salvadore (that’s his name, right?) showed up. Though, when Rosie glanced over at the latino boy, she couldn’t help but notice he was feeling some type of way. Welcome to my world… “Sal! Hey!” Rosie switched gears. As much as it was tearing her up inside to turn away from the free preview of some model’s Fansly or whatever it was called, Rosie made Sal the focus of her undivided attention. “Thought you left a long time ago. Where were ya?” Rosie definitely was trying to not get too beet red over the fact that the blonde bombshell still had them out. Yeah, for someone so boob-obsessed, she still had to work on how she handled the real thing in the moment.

“Erm erm I err…” Sal averted his gaze from the girl in the eye of the storm and over to Rosie. “I spoke to Dallas, she’s erm, yeah she’s in with helping us with the campaign.” The young boy was really at a loss. What was this place? Was it magic? Maybe they were all Bruja’s and this was some sort of curse? It was the most haunted town in America after all. “I got turned around in the storm, I didn’t know how to get home so I came back here.” He swiftly turned his head to look at the other newcomers, especially the girl, Stacy? He smiled awkwardly and offered a barely there wave.

“Well this is adorable,” Bronagh stood with her hands on her hips, her breasts still on full display. Her light green eyes fell upon her camera and a bright smile crossed her face. “As you can see guys, a big pair of tits can stop a room dead.” Bron brushed away her long blonde hair and flicked it behind her shoulder. “Does that make bigger, better? Why don’t you tell me? I’ll post a voting link in the comments. Don’t forget to like, share, subscribe. Love me, love you.” Blowing a kiss to her audience, Bronagh moved forward and turned off her camera. “I like this place, you nerds are fun.”

“Glad you think so!” Rosie acknowledged the bombshell’s comment with a small smile, once again trying not to lose herself in what remained out in the open.

Turning her focus on Salvadore, she noticed him and the pretty brunette (redhead?) exchanging a…something. Odd yet adorable. “Yeah it’s pretty crazy out there, isn’t it? Won’t get any better, I’d imagine.” Rosie had to take control of the group somehow, so she made a small clap with her hands. “So we got a bunch of familiars, but also a new girl--sorry, your name was what again?”

“Stacy!” She repeated.

“Right, Stacy. Stacy, this is Salvadore. Sal, this is new girl Stacy. Came inside with Marco here. Where were you two even coming from?” She asked both Marco and Stacy, the latter of which looked a bit too simp-esque to speak.

Marco coughed, finding himself increasingly uncomfortable. Boobs didn’t bother him but it felt just so awkward with them just…out like that. He shook his head. “Came from the park just down the street. Stacy said her sister was here. I just came to make sure she got here okay, but given the storm outside, guess I have nowhere to go.”

“Oh really? What’s your sister’s name? Maybe we can find her or something.”

She broke her boy-crazy eyes away from Sal to answer Rosie. “Oh! Her name is Katie!”

“Oh that loud mouth? Yeah, she’s around. Not sure where, but last I saw her, she was somewhere in the back. Aves was heading there, so I’m sure she can find your sister for us. And if not, at least you know she’s here, right?”

After Avery turned down the music and changed the playlist to something more relaxed, like lo-fi relaxed, she strolled into the employee break room to make some hot chocolate. There were quite a few people here so it was only fair to make a cup for each person, assuming they even liked hot chocolate. How many were even here? Unceremoniously, Avery poked her head out the door and called out, her voice booming throughout the entire Swerve building, “AM I MAKING ONE CUP OF COCOA OR DO YOU ALL WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK? IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY - THERE'S LIKE…” Six? Seven people? There was Katie on the beanie and if she remembered correctly Sal came back and went straight to the bathroom. Perks of being at the front all the time. You remembered who came and went. “…fuck it. WHY DON’T YOU GUYS JUST COME HERE? DON’T TELL MY DAD! THERE’S BROWNIES AND OTHER SHIT MY MOM MADE!”

“Oooh brownies!” Bron exclaimed. Despite the fact if one looked at her impossibly perfect figure it appeared as if the OnlyFans model had never eaten a brownie in her life, that would be an incorrect assumption. Bronagh had a huge sweet tooth and when chocolate was in the cards, she was ready to play a full deck. Not bothering to pick up her shirt to cover her modesty, the green eyed temptress simply slipped her hands into the back of her short shorts and made her way towards the voice that had called them. The freckled girl, whatever her name was.

Avery’s yell snapped Sal out of his staring contest with the new arrival: Stacy. As the fantasy of having two kids and a dog with her gave way to the true visage of Swerve Arcana, the Latino boy watched the growing crowd head towards the back of the store. Not wanting to tempt fate, Salvador made his way to the entrance and made sure to lock the door. Sure, heaven had opened up above them but he had seen way too many times the lengths people would go to if they had a vendetta. For a brief second, his mind wandered to the bottom of those damned hotel stairs before he took a step backwards into reality.

Spinning on his heel, Sal hurried to follow the eclectic group that had been selected and gathered by unknown forces to protect the world from devastation. They weren’t exactly teenagers with attrition but they weren’t far off. He wondered as he entered the break room behind Stacy what great new adventure was about to take place.

The saga begins…

DWS [SHELVED UNTIL BETTER TIME]

Himura Ryusuke || Crimson Arc

🗲 Shinkuko/Crimson Arc

Hard work is pointless for those who don't believe in themselves.

– Naruto Uzumaki

╟ April 1st (21) || Japanese || Cismale || Politics and religion are stupid|| Femalesexual || Single and always looking╢

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A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E S S

|| Written test || ”I will be completely honest with you, bro. I suck at these things. Studying and me is like not washing your rice when Uncle Roger reacts to your video. You know what I mean? You’re gonna be hella disappointed and you’ll make Uncle Roger lower his knee. You never make Uncle Roger lower his knee. But This is my dream man! Like obviously I wanna be here. I wanna be a hero and save people! I’m just not so good at showing that on exams, ya know?”

Despite Mr. Himura’s less-than-stellar performance on the written test and even less impressive academic feats, his knowledge about certain aspects of the gifted was surprising and, in all honesty, refreshing for someone’s whose academic scores were subpar. He displayed an earnest desire to become a symbol of sorts, a hero that someone could look up to and tested high on the leadership portion -- though side comments and tangents did leave some clarity on his full potential as a leader.

|| Practical test || ”Fuck yes! This is my jammy jam! The bread to my butter! The peanut butter to my pad thai! I will totally ace this! Academics are the bane of my existence and I’m still not even sure if I passed _{I hope I did}, but what I do know are my powers. Not fully developed yet, but fuck me sideways, they will be so goddamn shocking to these proctors! They won’t know what hit them!”

Despite Mr. Himura’s…colorful language, which set an impression that no examiner were appreciative of, his display of his powers and general control of his powers was most impressive. In addition, his ability to balance multiple facets of his powerset with admirable agility and moves that fell no lower than perfect, Ryusuke Himura impressed beyond any expectation. His weapons prociency also impressed the examiners, though not part of the required assessment, Ryusuke insisted on showcasing that end of his skillset.

All in all, they were very pleased with what he showed and Ryu passed with flying colors (no pun intended to the…Crimson Arc).
|| Video supplement ||
Just a little something to show what I can do!" - but imagine all moves with electric-based strikes and with several waves of fighters

Panting, obvious signs of hours spent on perfecting every move sequence, reshooting, redoing every round of beating up men almost twice his size, Ryu walks up to the camera. He has scrapes and bruises on his face. He is wearing the first version of his superhero costume. "You know me. Everything about my life is in my file. I know you know what I went through, what I had to endure, but I'm not going to focus on that and, fo all that is holy in this world, don't fucking fixate on that either. I am more than my past - I proved that I am. My moves, my ability to endure, and if I do say so myself, my electrifying presence - I mean did you see my kicks? They were fucking amazing--"

"Ryu!" Said Hiroshi, who was operating the camera.

"Okay okay, yeah back to what I was saying. I know I'm not what you thought I'd be and my test scores aren't the best, but I need this chance. I need to prove to myself that the Himura name isn't tarnished. My uncle has done this in his way, but I have to make my own way! The choice is yours but you'd totally like it if I were at Crystal Peak! I'm totally badass!"

S C H O O L

Crystal Peak Academy

Y E A R

Senior

C L A S S I F I C A T I O N

Elemental Manipulation - Electrokinesis, Red Lightning Aura
Mental Manipulation - Elemental Telekinesis

O C C U P A T I O N

Odd jobs here and there

L I V I N G A R R A N G E M E N T

Bro Manor? Idk the shitty party pad that the boys all collectively live at

I N T E R N S H I P S

This past summer, thanks to Ryu's test scores in his junior year (not academics but everything else), Ryu scored an internship with famed Japanese hero, Inazuma, otherwise marketed as Blue Streak in western markets. He is an electrical-based hero. Little is known about him, but he is sponsored by Himura Enterprises. Despite this, under him, all those who intern were said to be driven to insanity due to how...unorthodox his methods were. These unorthodox methods were hardcore physical training (both in costume and not), soloing in heroics, and intense sparring sessions (spoiler alert, Ryu had a recorded 75 losses against Inazuma).

⋙: Ｒ Ｅ Ｐ Ｕ Ｔ Ａ Ｔ Ｉ Ｏ Ｎ

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"My mother always used to tell me that even the wildest flower could find humility in the face of adversary. I didn't know what she meant, but I was literally five-years-old. I knew she meant about my father, but I'm applying it to how many times I strike out! Never give up, right mom?"

And this truly is what makes Ryusuke truly himself. He never apologizes for what he is - for who he is. He, of course, owns up to anything he may do wrong (thanks in large part to the teachings of Kaito-Ojisan instilled in him when he came to live with him). Always one to be there for anyone that needs him and an automatic hype man, Ryu is the guy who literally electrifies any room he's in with his pure spirits, undoubtable energy, and the most loyal guy you'll ever find.

He also happens to be very much about the "never give up" approach when it comes to the women of CHA. You will never catch him getting down after the first, second, twentieth rejection. Fall seven times, you stand up eight! As classic of a proverb as that is, it's always been his life motto for as long as he could remember. Ryu never lets the disappointment last long. He'll cry about it (or vent to the boys), play some games, and hop right back on the horse. Somewhere out there is his soulmate who doesn't mind his stupid humor and overtly positive attitude. Also he curses a lot, so that would be cool if they did too!

⋙: Ｐ Ｏ Ｗ Ｅ Ｒ Ｓ ^{＆ Ｆ Ｉ Ｇ Ｈ Ｔ Ｉ Ｎ Ｇ Ｓ Ｔ Ｙ Ｌ Ｅ}

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A B I L I T I E S

Electrokinesis

As a result of experiments his father ran on him when he was younger, Ryusuke came to develop strange powers in which he could freely manipulate electricity in its purest, rawest, and most powerful form of pure energy. Whether it was from absorbing electricity from a computer or any random street lamp, an incoming thunderstorm, or even activating his own internal electricity via the electrons in his body, Ryu came to understand and further develop his natural control over lightning. As an additional bonus, his ability to produce electricity came with the startling realization that, unlike other electro-users, Ryu's was a color deep in red hue. Like blood.

In the beginning, Ryu's control was limited to exsiting sources of electricity and when he ran out, like any electronics, all he needed to do was recharge. This is still an issue, but because he learned how to harness the electrons in his body, it's not as much of an issue for him now as it was when he first started at CHA.

Electrical Telekinesis - Another byproduct of his experimentation but specifically the Cashmore blood in his veins, Ryu is able to physically manipulate electricity through means of sending his red lightning to grab onto physical matter (steel anything is the most common) and manipulate to fit his needs. Whether that's pulling an object to it, wrapping electricity around it and flinging it at a target or towards him, Ryu can do it in a way that seems to fit a myriad of purposes (most of them offensive).
Red Lightning Aura - By far one of his most advanced achievements with his power, Ryu can produce a crimson-colored aura of pure lightning that hugs, clings, and surrounds his body in a way that it crackles and flashes like real lightning. Some even say it might be alive - but that's all just rumors at this point. Charge time to produce it takes almost a minute but when it is active, it's both a protective barrier from most physical attacks (unless they're really strong like Danny's metal form) and the perfect source for offense as it empowers all his physical feats while enhancing his mental faculties (with him that's a big plus!)

Electricity-enhanced condition - in this state, Ryu's body moves faster, he responds quicker when defending, and his punches and kicks are more deadly and stronger than when it's inactive. As mostly a melee fighter, Ryu possesses a skillset that makes this ideal for the kind of fighter he is. Close, personal, and quick to strike, with enhanced senses, as well as enhanced capabilities with his power, this is like super saiyan Ryu.

L I M I T A T I O N S

As impressive as Ryu’s powers are and they are indeed shocking, there are some fundamental weaknesses that even Ryu has not been able to make invisible to the untrained eye. First and foremost, while not necessarily a limitation per se, if wet by any means, Ryu’s powers become unstable and beyond even his control (despite the level of control he’s at currently). This is due to water being a natural conductor of lightning and there would be no telling who or what his lightning would hit when he’s too close to a source of water or if he’s not dry.

It’s been established many times when he uses his powers that, because his powers are often reflective of his own emotional state, the state of his control may also depend on Ryu’s emotional state. If he’s calm, happy, or neutral, he has near-perfect control. Literally no problems will arise. But if Ryu is agitated, angry, or feleing overtly negative, his powers reflect this. While more destructive and powerful, the same could be said for how erratic his usage of said powers would be. In Ryu’s case, he does have a habit of losing control. Much like a mindless beast, the lightning inside him blinds his sense’s link to common sense and self-awareness, resulting in a rage, destruction, and quite frankly, one could even spin this as the spirit of his ancestors from the Ketsuryu emerging.

The Blood Dragon lives on in Ryu, the Crimson Arc.

C O M B A T

Ryu has trained in various martial arts all his life. His father had a bad habit of overworking his children. Hours and hours spent physically conditioning the body, training in marital arts: karate, jiu jitsu, taekwondo, boxing - you name it. A myriad of martial arts, even those not native to Japan, were grilled into Ryu’s mind and he retained the muscle memory. As he grew up and his powers manifested and he began training and developing that, eventually, Ryu’s fighting style became one-third marital arts and weapons training, one-third powers and one-third pure athleticism.

Like a true ninja (minus the stealth), Ryu’s fighting style is fast. With a power that enhances his overall physical abilities, he uses it to his advantage. Gymnastics and free-running factor in too because, despite everything, Ryu is a naturally gifted athlete. It’s just something he’s always been. When he fights, he does so close and personal, seldomly does he ever cower. He faces his opponent with honor - something Kenji never taught him. Kaito taught him that and fast. When he fights, he might be quick but he’s never deceitful (another aspect of a “ninja” that he lacks). Ryu likes to strike fast and hard, often being a wrecking ball who likes to think he’s a needle being shot from a distance.

When using his powers, though many offensive capabilities exist, Ryu honestly prefers to use them to enhance his physical capabilities and optimizing his ability to fight. If outnumbered, he will use his powers to thin the herd but his preferance will always be close, personal, and with honor.

⋙: Ａ Ｐ Ｐ Ｅ Ａ Ｒ Ａ Ｎ Ｃ Ｅ ^{＆ Ｐ Ｅ Ｒ Ｓ Ｏ Ｎ Ａ Ｌ Ｉ Ｔ Ｙ}

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D A I L Y L O O K S & S T Y L E
🗲 Hair: Black || Neck-length, typically stylized with minimal gel and hair spray to appear spiked - occasionally dyed green or red depending on his mood.
🗲 Eyes: Brown
🗲 Height & Weight: 5’6” || 72kg/158lbs
🗲 Body Type:Athletic || Minimal body fat, lean muscles, strong core
🗲 Clothing Style: Ryu has always been very fashionable. When he lived in Japan, he wore a lot of tunics and kimonos and, while he has upgraded it to t-shirts and whatnot, Ryu hasn’t strayed too far from his Japanese roots. He fashions himself with elaborate, sometimes flamboyant shirts that are ripe with patterns and other similar designs. Some floral and some like an early 2000s kid with the flames. He wears a lot of jeans, but typically wears loose-fitting pants for comfort and a familiarity that he grew up with. Additionally, he has a number of hoodies and jackets that go with almost every outfit. Yeah, one might say that Ryu likes to dress himself. He also has a bunch of shoes and spends a great deal of time with the aphrodite kids to get opinions.
🗲 Scars, Tattoos and/or Piercings: Due to his upbringing and the intense physical labor he underwent, Jackson has several, permanent scars along his torso, back, and upper arms. Jackson also has the tattoo of a Japanese lily over his heart in honor of his mother, whose name means “small lily”.

S U P E L O O K S & S T Y L E

The Supe Fit

Being half an original design and half based on the armor that the infamous Ketsuryu warriors that Ryu descends from. It's crafted from a special material that is durable and comfortable, but equally so, it's the ideal design because it allows for nearly limitless freedom for movement. It's lightning proof, which was something that Ryu specifically requested due to his powers. He needed something that wouldn't be damaged form his own powers and that allowed him to move as he has trained to for so many years.

The costume itself is an all-black, sleeveless body-suit. The helm is crafted from a special metal that acts as a lightning conductor and a face mask that covers Ryu's entire face but his eyes. The helm has a protective covering, modeled and fashioned after a part of a japanese dragon's face (specifically molded after Seiryu, the Azure Dragon). Protective coverings for his feet and shins, as well as on his forearms were added at some point during his sophomore year. Made from the same lightning conductor materials that his helm is crafted from, they both act as protection and natural conductors for his powers, which makes it ideal for his style of fighting. As a last note and likely more cosmetic than anything else, Ryu wears a red scarf. It was given to him by his Uncle Kaito, a gift for passing the practical and entry exams. It never left his side.

Ryu fights not only with powers, but has had extensive weapons training, as a result, it is part of his supe costume. All weapons were made from the same material as his helm, shin, and armguards were made from.

Straight-Bladed Katana - This katana has a shorter blade than most and resembles the historically-inaccurate ninjato. It has a red hue to the blade, black handguard, and red and black hilt. When not straight up melee, this is Ryu's primary weapon that never fails him. It also happens to be the type of sword he is most proficient with and bases most of his fighting style (even with powers) around.
Kunai Knives - SImilar in design and color as his Katana is, these kunai knives are ideal for mid-range assaults. When charged with lightning, they can cause mild shock damage when hit. Ryu was trained in accuracy by his father and has honed these skills. They have a deep red wrapping.
Six-Pointed Shuriken - Best for long-ranged assaults, these shiraken are fashioned after traditional throwing stars. Ryu uses these for diversions and always with his charged lightning into them. They are black with silver tips and a red insignia of the Himura family crest, not to be confused with a similar design the Ketsuryu used back in the feudal eras.

P E R S O N A L I T Y T R A I T S

Couragous → charismatic → energetic → loyal → fearless → confident → foolhardy → passionate (to a fault) → reckless → rebellious → temperamental → dense → prone to fits of anger

It's hard to describe Ryusuke because, at times, it seems like there are two people living simultaneously within him, though never seeming like an alter personality or anything of the sort. More like two sides of the same unique coin. There is the gifted warrior whose valor and guts have carried him far at Crystal Peak Academy and through life, really. The warrior whose anger and temper knows only a few equals, all of whom are tied back to his shinobi ancestors. The warrior who proves time and time again that he isn't afraid to rise to the occasion when push comes to shove. Ryu shows very little fear and if he does show fear, he also displays a willingness to conquer said fear. He likes to push himself past his limits so that he might be able to figure out if they truly are his limits.

The other person that lives within him is dim-witted and doesn't always think with his brain (implying he has one, right?). He is foolish, reckless, and above all else, tends to say things without really thinking what they actually mean. Or if he does know, he doesn't have the self-awareness to realize that what is coming out of his mouth is absolute garbage. Ryu doesn't know when to give up. Actually, he doesn't know the meaning of the word. He might have a silver-tongue, but he often uses it to get him and others into trouble, which might just be the reason why he has made frequent visits to the dean’s office and had private beratings meetings with the dean about his actions and how it's almost always him getting others into trouble.

Yeah, not his fault he likes to have fun in the name of fuck the rules.

But all of that aside, Ryu has a gentle soul and one that might be a bit of a romantic. He has an unique way of going about romance and might strike out more than he doesn't, but you can't say that he isn't earnest about what shots he shoots. As idiotic as he might be and as dumb he might appear to most (if not all) people he interacts with, Ryu is probably the most authentic person you'd meet at CPA. He says what he means and means what he says. He's also one hell of a loyal friend. If you truly do something that might get you in trouble, Ryu is the one person you’d not only expect but count on to not rat you out.

He is a true ride or die..

F E A R S

Ryu has two primary fears. One is superficial and probably would make him seem even more of an idiot than most perceive him to be. The other is more of a meaningful fear, one that only his boys know about.

Always striking out - as superficial as it might be to admit, Ryu fears that because of who he is, regardless how much the boys build him up, he does always seem to strike out. He tries and he tries, but no matter what, there doesn’t seem to be any hope in his love life. Ryu knows he’s not that unbearable. Perhaps senior year will be the year? He hopes so.

Becoming like his father - Ryu knows he's not like his father, Kenji. He's not a cold-hearted bastard who uses others for his gain. He doesn't have the malice that Kenji did, yet the blood of Kenji Himura runs through his veins. The blood of the Ketsuryu runs through his veins. The Blood Dragon exists within him. Ryu suffers from controlling his emotions sometimes. It's why he practices Tai Chi and other destressing activities, but somewhere in the back of his mind, there's Kenji's voice, taunting him. Whispering in his ear to give into his worst impulses. And sometimes, they win. Sometimes, regardless how much Ryusuke doesn't want to admit it, at least a part of him embodies everything that it means to be a son of Kenji Himura.

⋙: Ｆ Ａ Ｍ Ｉ Ｌ Ｙ ^{＆ Ｒ Ｅ Ｌ Ａ Ｔ Ｉ Ｏ Ｎ Ｓ Ｈ Ｉ Ｐ Ｓ}

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L O V E D O N E S
D I R E C T F A M I L Y

Direct Family

Himura Kenji || Forever 47 || Father || Deceased || Hero (public) and Villain (secretly) || Ex-Head of the Himura Family || FC: Hiroyuki Sanada
Powers: Superhuman Condition, Blood Property Manipulation
Himura Sayuri || Forever 38|| Mother || Deceased || Former Hero turned Lady of the Himura family(also a botanist in her spare time) || FC: Tao Okamato
Powers: Plantspeak, Photosynthesis
Himura Ichiro & Himura Genji || Forever 22 || Older Brothers (twins) || Deceased || Previously ran the Kyoto Yakuza || FC: Kazuma Kamakura
Powers: Enhanced condition and senses - trained fighters and several degree of black belts in at least 4 martial arts before they were 18 (both brothers)
Himura Ayame || Forever 18 || Older Sister || No previous occupation (had a dream to go to Crystal Peak Academy) || FC: Anna Akana
Powers: A wide range of psionic abilities including aura manipulation, psychokinesis, and minor ergo kinesis

Extended Family

Extended Family - California

Himura Kaito || 59 || Uncle || Alive || Current head of the HImura Family and CEO of Himura Enterprises || || Electrolytic Blood || FC: Ken Watanabe
(nee. Takahashi)Himura Hikari || 55 || Aunt || Alive || Senior VP of Technological Development of Himura Enterprises’ California Branch and Creator of SuperGram || FC: Tamlyn Tomita
Himura Hiroshi AKA Ross || 32 || Older Cousin || Alive || DJ, Producer, Social Media Superstar || Powerless || FC: Ryan Higa

R E L A T I O N S H I P S

TBD

⋙: Ｈ Ｉ Ｓ Ｔ Ｏ Ｒ Ｙ

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Y O U R L I F E S O F A R

About the Ketsuryū Ichizoku - AKA the Blood Dragon Clan - tw: mentions of murder, violence, sexual assault allusions

The origins of the Himura family is tied to a dark past that everyone who doesn’t have a blood tie to them doesn’t know about. The truth is, the Himura family, who in Japan are known to be quite reputable and philanthropic in every sense of the word, have a tie to one of the most notorious “clans” of feudal japan.

The Ketsuryu, otherwise infamously known by the Blood Dragons of Japan.

Back in the era of samurai, there existed some who were not cut from the same cloth. Samurai, who were honorable and bound by that honor, were the mightiest warriors of the Sengoku and Edo periods, hired for protection and respected among the citizens as great protectors to the people. They served the shogun but they fought for the little people. They fought for them and, should honor demand it, they’d die for them. A wariror’s death was the highest honor.

Yet there existed some who did not abide by this code. It remains unclear how many exactly started, but somewhere in the height of that time, a handful of samurai went rogue, even more so than your typical ronin, became greedy, violent savages. There were seven of them, in fact. Like the tales of the Samurai 7, who were known for being hired by villagers to take on an army of bandits.

Well what we told you that tale was inspired by these seven samurai who were corrupted by the most vile yokai spirits? There’s no way of knowing whether any of this is true. Honestly, there’s no way of knowing for a fact that these seven were even samurai. History long forgot about the Ketsuryu, but the Himura family hasn’t. They know the truth. For generations, those that descended from the Seven Oni of the Blood Demon, a name given to them years later by one of the recent heads of the Himura family, each oni represented a carnal desire that the bible referred to as “The Seven Deadly SIns”.

Each one may have represented one of these sins, but they were vile and violent in every sense. The rumors of the Ketsuryu is tied into their brutality. Whether ex samurai or just mindless savages, what remains to be a common theory among historians is that these seven killed as many people, pillaged as many villages, and assaulted as many women that they could. In truth, they had more in common with vikings than anything else.

This is the dark truth that the Himura family hides still to this day and it is the dark truth that follows the current members around and why they continue to deny any association.

The Ketsuryū ichizoku today - AKA the Himura Family - tw: mentions of murder, child abuse, traumatic situations

Several dozen generations later and so far removed from the stain that the Ketsuryu left on Feudal Japan, the Himura family, a great dynasty of aristocrats, super family (emphasis on super) who led and almost pioneered the effectiveness of Japanese superheroes via their impressive technology and contributions to the advancement of biological studies within the gifted gene. Truly a far cry from the origins that so many allege the Himura Family come from. These origins are simply tales that conspiracy theorists and rival families back to discredit over a hundred years of achievements.

Kenji Himura, the oldest of two brothers, refused to stand by and let everything his father and grandfather worked so hard to establish so that his family of five: a wife, three sons, and a daughter, may find success within Himura Enterprises. These slanderous stories that they descended from savages, no matter how true, was not something to be celebrated in the modern age,b ut no matter how much he tried, Kenji could never quiet those who dared to discredit his family’s credibility and his company’s.

So he had them murdered.

This was Kenji Himura. A proud businessman. He is as tenacious as he is effective. The old ways of his ancestors may leave a bad taste in his mouth, but even he could admit that there was a reason the Ketsuryu were so infamous. EVen now, many stories inspired by their acts: stories that have been adapted into manga, into anime, into plays and even Americanized (though whitewashed to a disrespectful level), the story of the Ketsuryu Ichizoku is now essentially mythology.

And if that isn’t something Kenji Himura takes great pride in.

This ruthlessness just didn’t extend into business, however. Unfortunately, Kenji Himura was as ruthless with his children as he was with his rivals in the business world. As mentioned before, Kenji and his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all made incredible strides for Japanese superheroes. Technological breakthroughs and breakthroughs in power development and assessment. Like those before him, they were obsessed into analyzing the science of what made a gifted so powerful. This obsession took many forms but, for Kenji, it meant using live human test subjects. Those who had the gene. Many in Japan went missing because of his efforts. Using every single one as lab rats for what became the success stories. These success stories were made possible through a cashe of blood samples that were not just from any source, but the Cashmores. Once proud and loyal business partners with the Himura family were now just another stepping stone for Kenji and at some point he...acquired samples of Cashmore blood to use in his experiments and to make his success stories undoubtedly legendary.

And those success stories? His four children.

His two oldest - twin boys, Ichiro and Genji - were the first. They showed excellent promise in not just their potential for powers but natural-born killers. They excelled at everything from swordfighting, martial arts, killing tactics, and just so much more. Both had the powers of heightened condition and senses, which only added to their fierceness.

In the case of the third born, Kenji’s daughter, Ayame, they considered her a too-gentle-for-this-world kind of girl. Powerful as she was and she was indeed terrifying in her potential, the tests that Kenji and his team of scientists ran on her broke her mind. Ayame possessed a gentle and powerful, yet splintered mind. She tested low on most combat tests, but she was insanely intelligent and that manifested in the form of pure psionics. Raw psychic power fuelled by emotions. It was at the point that she caused widespread destruction: sent chairs and tables and heavy machinery to the walls, almost completely destroyed the underground facility underneath the Himura mansion with a shear force of will. If it hadn’t been for the microchip that Kenji had implanted in all of his children that would send a minor, yet effective, electric pulse that would knock out her own, death would have been the immediate future for everyone in the area.

But the pulse wasn’t enough. Ayame, who was incredibly close to her younger brother (only younger by 3 years) resisted until Ryusuke was brought in personally. He didn’t have to say much. Just his voice alone calmed her. Ryu, for all of his disappointments in Kenji’s eyes, had this ability to make Ayame feel safe.

If only Ayame could have been that for Ryu.

The Story of Ryusuke

You would think that Ryusuke Himura wouldn’t have anything to complain about, right? He was the baby of four children that were born to Kenji and Sayuri Himura. Two older brothers and one older sister. The baby always has it easiest, right? Not as much pressure put on him. Not as much light was shown on him because his older siblings would be in the spotlight whereas he would be able to do whatever he wanted (within reason).

But none of them had to deal with the fact that, in Kenji Himura’s eyes, Ryu being the youngest didn’t mean he would be ignored. The truth of the matter was, Ryusuke faced the worst that Kenji had to offer. His dreams were made reality with his two oldest sons. They inherited their father’s brutality and Kenji wanted to repeat that success in his youngest son. But Ryusuke wasn’t built like Ichiro or Genji. He wasn’t a murderous monster like them. He didn’t want to kill nor did he want to indulge in overtly-violent acts. He was more like his mother, who was sweet and tender-hearted but also had a love and a thrill for adventure.

And that was something that lit a fire under Kenji’s ass to the point where the frustrations he had about it all only made the training and punishment that Ryu endured for fifteen years like an endless loop of hell.

From an early age, it was evident that Ryu didn’t have the same ferocity that Kenji had nor did he have what Kenji wanted. He wanted all of his sons to be ruthless killers int heir own right. Publicly the family was not related nor embodied by the Ketsuryu, but privately[, the murderous spirit reigned supreme in Kenji Himura and it was that same vile hatred of human life that fuelled the rigorous training that Ryu had to endure. Whether it was physical conditioning, power development, and so many times spent with a needle injected into it -- a needle, mind you, that was pumping weird substances into his body -- that Ryu spent more and more time with his father watching from behind a one-way window-mirror than with anyone else. The more time being spent as a lab rat by his own father, the more Ryu came to resent him. But he couldn’t do anything about it. Both he and Ayame were in the same boat.

Both had incredible powers and potential (Kenji’s own words), but they needed each other. Brother and sister needed each other because as much as Ryu hated Kenji, he had been the only person who could calm Ayame down.

The training and abuse continued for several years until there was one night where every thing changed. Nothing about this night seemed like it was necessarily bad. It was one of those regular days -- rare days, at that -- where Kenji did not torture his children. Ryu and Ayame spent time with their mother, who had fallen ill in recent weeks. She was bed-ridden but all the two could do was sty by their mother’s side. Time spent with Sayuri was some of the most cherished moments they both had.

But then everything went to shit when Sayuri passed away a week before her birthday in May.

And it wasn’t just because the Himura family lost their light, but Ayame specifically lost all sense of control of her emotions, of her powers, and most importantly of herself. It happened on May 15th, 2014, just a day after Sayuri’s memorial service. Eight years ago. Eight years ago when Ayame’s psionics became the death of the Himura family. The foundation of the mansion crumbled on itself. Kenji, Genji, Ichiro, Ayame, and (alleged) Ryu were buried in the wreckage.

It was said that during those final moments before widespread destruction came to the Himura compound, that Ayame’s screams could be heard in the distance and all throughout the entirety of Japan. It is also said that the spirits of those that were killed by Kenji Himura’s hired hands, Genji and Ichiro’s victims, and the thousands of victims slain by the Ketsuryu over 800 years ago were embodied in those final moments, their ire and desire for vengeance manifesting in Ayame’s grief.

But what hadn’t been expected and even more importantly, thought to be nigh impossible, was Ryusuke’s survival. Whether it was just dumb luck or truly a representation of his connection with Ayame and how out of everyone in the compound, which included his father and brothers, and the scientists who experimented on all children on Kenji’s orders, Ryu was the only one to survive. Ryu never made sense of that day even now. Over time, he believed that maybe Ayame’s powers only responded to whoever she wanted to kill and because he was so instrumental to her sanity and making her feel safe, that maybe that was what brought Ryu some sense of peace.

Truth be told, he may never understand how or why he survived, but when he did, at just fifteen, Ryu fled the compound, used whatever yen he had to his name, and bought a one-way ticket to California. He knew of one surviving family member - his uncle Kaito. Kaito was the older brother of Kenji. He was not like his father. He was a good man, unaffiliated with the company until his brother’s death, and the only person that Ryu had in this world when it came to family. Kaito always told Ryu that if he ever needed anything, that all he needed to do was call him.

Ryu had a different idea and showed up on his doorstep the day after his family literally was wiped off the face of the earth. He had nobody and Kaito took him in. Kaito had a family, too. A wife and two daughters, so Ryu would have a family. In the three years he lived with them, Ryu’s mannerisms were like of old and eventually he found his way into applying and being accepted into Crystal Peak Academy.

Despite his beginnings and the terrible thing that happened to him, Ryu went forward. Positivitiy and a never-quit attitude carried him as far as his senior year, a far cry of who he could have been. That was something he would never forget.

⋙:Ａ Ｎ Ｙ Ｔ Ｈ Ｉ Ｎ Ｇ Ｅ Ｌ Ｓ Ｅ

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Ryan Potter || #dc143c/Crimson
🗲 Save for the occasional muffin or cupcake from whatever bakery he's nearby (Daylight Delicacies as of late) and a twelve pack of Dr. Pepper almost weekly, Ryu takes great pride in his body through regular visits to the gym, training his body (father might be gone but his teachings aren't)

🗲Speaking of training, Ryu holds black belt degrees in karate, jijutsu, and taekwondo, as well as a practitioner of boxing. Additionally, he practices Tai Chi in the park for fun (helps him relax on a stressful day).

🗲 Ryu is always looking to spar. Whether with the boys (especially with Danny Metal Man himself) or whoever the fuck will take him on. He wants to prove his strength and what better way than to attempt to win.
🗲 Ryu has a pair of Japanese Sparrowhawks for pets: Hayate and Yuri. They are generally harmless but require a special diet of rodents and spam. Apparently they really love spam.
🗲 Ryu loves aggressive, powerful, in-your-face music. As it just so happens, all of that could be found in the glorious decade of the 2000s - Ryu's preferred decade of music. We're talking Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Foo Fighters

Ryu would be lying if he didn't vibe to Backstreet Boys too. It's 2022, so it's not lame to be into them, right? Oh and Babymetal. He loves him some Babymetal.

🗲 Ryu lives and breathes anime. Well, as long as it's shounen anime. Yeah...
🗲 Ryu drives a Dodge Ram to get around town, otherwise he's riding his board. Did I forget to mention that he has a collection of skateboards (he breaks them often).
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet || Last Resort (Reloaded) - Papa Roach and Jeris Johnson || Midnight Onsen - Azuku || Hero - Chad Kroeger (feat. Josey Scott)