𝙍𝙐𝙎𝙃 !

swagless looks & cringe fail personality

[hichai]

#CHAI : SO MUCH FOR MAKIN' A PLAN / JUST GONNA DIVE IN & DO IT LOUD!

an independent & low - activity roleplay blog for chai of hi - fi rush, written by rain ( they / she / he  ).  headcanon - based, not spoiler free.  RULES & ABOUT.

#BLOGROLL : sunhalf, pokechosen, badnikbreaker, ahlite, devolusion, sbjct0, overclouded, esperhood, ghoullest, hichai.

[fortruechaos]

Shadow's expression grows increasingly sour, although for someone as guarded as him that mostly just means his expression shifts from squinting to super-squinting, confusion writ all over his face. But it's apparent the human isn't going to REFLECT on any of this. Shadow's gone toe to toe with enough people with Chai's temperament, he has a pretty good idea what he's up against.

"Hedgehog," he says blankly when prompted. "I'm a hedgehog." Ultimate Lifeform, he almost adds, but doesn't bother--Chai is using words he doesn't recognize, and Ultimate Lifeform would probably mean nothing to him. "But if it makes you feel better about being thrown into the ground, then 'evil plushie' is fine, too." He quirks a mean smile, hands balling into fists, ready for Chai's next attack.

"What's SPECTRA?"

[hichai]

Okay, so he's not Vandelay tech. ( chai just choosing to believe him with no good reason to do so is probably a character flaw, but, like, whatever. he's got at least six character flaws that are WAY worse. maybe even seven. ) He crosses his spindly arms over his chest, a brow raising, almost mirroring the other's expression. It falls a moment later, hands settling on his hips again, because looking like that just FEELS annoying. How does the hedgehog — not sure what that is, but whatever — plushie manage it?

"SPECTRA was this evil brainwashing program created by a buncha evil bajillionaires. Luckily," oh no, "I," god's sake he's posing, robot arm pointing at his own face, 808 jumping onto his head to stand on two legs and mirror the movement, "put a stop to it. You're looking at a bonafide hero, here." And he isn't even lying! Though his smug stat is, currently, through the ROOF.

His prostheses extends, and his trash - guitar - that - sometimes - turns - into - a - real - guitar fills his palm to demonstrate. But — even as braggy as he can be — his smile turns into something softer, fonder, as he adds, "Well, it wasn't all me. I had a lotta help." 808 meows in agreement, moving back to his shoulder, nuzzling into his cheek, and Chai laughs. "Like this little lady here! Her name's 808, and she's got some very cool tech built into her. I thought you were something like her — don't see a lot of organic animals around here."

[trevaler]

two things. the first thing she notices: obviously, how cute her boyfriend looks,   at home in her arms,   practically molded to the shape of her.     the second     (and leagues more upsetting,   were she the type to quantify these things):     none of the clapping she expected!     noted!     not one to be easily deterred,   however,   she carries on.     (just bear in mind:     if chai so much as mentions the lack of congratulations?     well.)     “   missed you?     i was thiiis close to thrifting a boombox and parking my ass under your window,   movie-style.     couldn’t decide on the perfect song,   though…   ”     she grins.     does she ever plan on letting him down?     sometime soon,   maybe?     good question!    

“   big yes on missing you!     i was starting to forget what you looked like— the color of your eyes, the sound of your voice, even...     feels like it’s been years.   ”     literally not even a month. she punctuates her confession with a peck, just the press of lips above his brow, but the vibe? for sure introductory.

(ie? more to come!)    

“   and yourself,   handsome?     thought about me at all?   ”

[hichai]

"Lucky for me, I couldn't forget your eyes if I wanted to." And he, for sure, does NOT. He's a man smitten, possessed, wrapped around her finger, WHATEVER — the point is, he loves his girlfriend a whole lot, and while he is a Grown Adult and can Deal With It, he still doesn't like being far from her for long. Being back so close fucking ROCKS.

Chai practically preens at the kiss and makes no attempt to hide it, laughing brightly at the affection, as if the joy brewing in his chest is too much for a simple grin; Eros and Apollo is now playing on his chest, which is musically so hype that it ALMOST comes close to how he's feeling.

"Ugh, you should hear how Peppermint whines — it's like all I talked about was YOU while you were gone! Which isn't true." He grins, mischievous but without ill - intent. "Only 85% of it was."

[spirestar]

Cole gives a slightly awkward wave of greeting without meeting Chai's eyes, his own pale ones focusing intently on the source of that beat still commanding his limbs. Fingers tapping, head wobbling side to side so the large brimmed hat on his head tilts, feeling---"Feeling feelings, not inside but out--Helping. Trying to." Suddenly he blinks again and ducks his face a bit more under his hat in belated embarrassment.

"Saying sorry sometimes supports more suitably than stepping in." It's a bit of a mantra, reminding himself before offering a gentle, uncertain and guilty smile. At times, being human and spirit in one has taught him more than he can remember at a time. "But not you--Me." He motions to himself, hiding his eyes under his hat so his staring might be seen as less rude. "I'm sorry. And I'm Cole! I KNOW you're not like the others! You can feel something's wrong!--Racing, aching, beats at tempo in 6/8 then 4/3 in the valves. Wrong and you know it is, but--"

Cole frowns and hums another line of the song, "Your head will collapse if there's nothing in it. Only it won't, it helps." Both his hands bunch together a little uncertainly. It's been some time since he spoke to anyone when hoping to help, really help. His voice is still sure, though, as comforting as a person like him can be. Willowy and dreamlike. "You can--talk about it. Can hear your heart."

[hichai]

Chai is gonna faint, he's pretty sure. Or die. Or both. Again, he does not get a bad vibe off this dude — Cole — and he doesn't want to be a freak to him, and he's not mad, but it is INSANELY OVERWHELMING to be psychoanalyzed by a guy who can like...read his mind? Hear his heart? He is processing like forty percent of what is being said because, LMAO, what the hell. Chai's hands raise, and then lower as if he's pressing something down, visualizing his anxiety as a bot he can just sorta squish. "OKAY!" Way too loud. His heart switches between songs erratically, as if it's trying to find something that fits ( heart full of pain head full of stress handful of anger held in my chest / what a cyanide surprise you have left for my eyes /  to resist it is useless it is useless to resist it his cigarette is burning but he never seems to ash ) before settling back on Where is My Mind in time with Chai inhaling the most aggressive breath of his life.

"Okay — okay, Cole. I'm gonna have to ask you to take a second and give me a moment to breathe before doing any more psychoanalyzing. Or talking. Gimme a sec." Another aggressive inhale. His hands press to his face to get back in his body. Vandelay's body? UGH, still the dream talking. His foot taps to the song's beat to steady himself.

"I'm Chai. It's cool to meet you." And he means it, despite everything. "C - name buddies, hell yeah. I — hah," and he exhales / laughs as she pops a squat. "'S all good. I've seen weirder stuff since I got this arm, but, uh — how's the whole empath thing work? Like, how'd that happen?" He's half - actually - curious, half - trying - to - change - the - subject - before - his - heart - gives - out.

[fortruechaos]

@hichai said: Chai drops to a crouch, legs pointed out like the spindly - little bird legs they are. "Hey lil' dude. Are you one of Peppermint's projects?" Nevermind that 808, currently perched on Chai's shoulder, looks as confused as the rockstar does. "OOOOH, I bet — I TOTALLY bet she made you as a gift to me, as congrats for being so cool. We can probably sync up like CRAZY." He is reaching to touch Shadow's head. Good fucking god.

Shadow's always a little confused when he first arrives in some foreign land; even more so when people talk to him when he's been in-world for less than an hour. So Chai's sentiment goes right over the hedgehog's head (easy, given how Chai is built like a streetlamp with limbs, and given how short Mobians are to humans). What doesn't go right over Shadow's head, however, is Chai's hand. Shadow, moving more on instinct than anything else, grabs Chai's wrist, aiming to throw him over his head and onto the ground.

Shadow feels a little bad for overreacting and throwing this guy back-first into concrete when he was the one who had just arrived in-universe. But only a little.

"Try that again," Shadow says, "And lose your other arm."

[hichai]

WHOA! HOLY SHIT. Chai hits the ground with little more than a groan and a cough, used to worse and also extremely sturdy ( per korsica, more than just his arm was altered — most of his body's much harder to break these days, which he guesses explains how he survived all the dumb shit he did taking down kale ) but also NOT HAPPY ABOUT GETTING EFFORTLESSLY FLIPPED BY AN ANTHRO. What the hell, man! He was just saying hi!

"Yeah, yeah," he mutters, bounding back up with typical Chai energy and spinning to face his new nemesis. Wait! Wait a SECOND! Red and black colour scheme...a bitch to Chai on sight for NO REASON...GASP! This dude isn't a gift from Peppermint at all. THIS DUDE IS ALL VANDELAY.

"Well seeing as YOU jerks gave me the cool robot prosthetic, I betcha I'd just get it replaced!" Bad comeback, barely coherent. HE ISN'T ON HIS A - GAME. He thought this was all done with! "What are you? Leftover SPECTRA code reforming into a — what, an evil plushie?"

[spirestar]

LOUD. Loud, clanging, buzzing like a thousand bees are stuck in his nose. Cole can feel his fingers begin to tap to the offbeat rhythm before he can even consciously decide—"No, don't like it...Doesn't like it either." And still his head bobs gently to the dissonant feedback emanating from just down the street. Cole is tangible but the vague grey of his clothes obscure him where he stands near abandoned machinery. In this vibrant world he's slipped into there's very little else that looks like him. If he stood anywhere else he might be a sore thumb, but in this corner he's ghostly.

"Mind," he says softly, sing-song, searching for another tune that might overtake this one if he's given the chance, "Where is it—Swimming..." Traveling to other facets of the Fade, its other mirrored sides has left his abilities less effective in some places, more effective in others. Truly he isn't sure if the—"Ah! Just a guy but. Made of tea?"—can hear him as he muses to himself. Hums another few notes of some song he doesn't really know but this person might, maybe that's why he can hear it, and with your feet on the air and your head on the ground...

"Clanging. Sounds, like scraping in a toaster over—You're going to get headaches from this stuff, Chai!" Cole can hear those words, scolding but said with an almost-smile, the sound of it warm in that voice, not quite captured in his own chirped mutterings. "Reminds you that you're you when you're afraid you're not you..."

[hichai]

He doesn't process the other — not because he's ignoring anybody on purpose but because he's distracted, music and static both roaring in his ears and his chest unable to find any consistent tempo with the song it's stuck on. Nothing he can cling to. He'd never had panic attacks before, but he wonders if this is what the others meant when they'd described them, heartbeat all wrong, too fast - too slow - too stuttering. He doesn't notice until ——

"The Pixies?" In true Chai - fashion, it's not until he hears music that he focuses, head swiveling like a dog's when the door opens to find the source. His not - heartbeat fights with the song now in his head, but its more consistent tempo is much easier to latch to. His heart finally gives up and plays the song in his ears just in time for him to process that the stranger is saying his old roommate's words — his mom's words. And —— somehow psychoanalyzing him with WEIRD ACCURACY. Chai inhales. Chai exhales. "Where is my mind..."

Then he smiles, head shaking and stepping closer for an actual conversation, being so normal. Trying to be normal? He's definitely freaked out by all this, including the weird ghost dude, but he doesn't get a bad vibe from the dude and he doesn't want to be a freak. More of one than he'd be normally. You know what we mean. "Um — hey. I guess I can't really judge when my heart is a twelve year old iPod, but I gotta say — are you just guessing and somehow saying stuff that's weirdly applicable to my life, like the monkeys writing Shakespeare or whatever —" he's losing the plot, "— Or are you...actually in my head? 'Cause, uh, if you are, then — sorry."

[hydrcloggd-a-deactivated2024083]

perhaps, these tendencies to destroy something in a fit of fury wasn't the best way to blow off steam. one could consider the thought of doing projects more productively and practically. although the fennec thought otherwise in the heat of it all. another failure: another problem arising before the goal of the previous one could even come to fruition.

all of it was truly frustrating. every blueprint laid out in mind to overcome the next obstacle only faltered and lead them back to square one. no progress just meant that things were going to become even harder. if there was no way to progress, then they would never—

whsp

— crash !

went the building only a few meters away. a symphony of screams resounded; echoing in their ears, calming the strenuous rush of words just clogging their mind. the hydrocoils that whipped the old raggedy building in half withdrew back into the pack on his back. magenta orbs watched as all the chaos surrounding the area began. eyes were kept closely on no specific target at all. in truth, kit was just looking forward to the aftermath of his own destruction. wanting to see what they would do.

crumble and fall (like..like us..) or would they rise to the occasion and start anew?

❛ ..! ❜ with chai's appearance in view, it was clear kitsunami was startled. his ears were both erect, standing tall, his nails also drawn too. but he wasn't going to attack , it was all precautionary. once he realized just who the newcomer was he put all his defenses at rest.

❛...wha..? no.. that's not my powers are for... ❜ they started, easily trailing off letting their mind wander off in another position. what if he did use his abilities to water things, instead of causing destruction and ruining cities..? that was certainly a thought to have, but it was one that his mind could browse on later. ❛ w-what are you doing here..?❜

[hichai]

He reacts like he's scared and scared means violent, but the little dude doesn't act on it — and neither does Chai, despite the instinctual urge to summon his weapon. His hand barely twitches. He doesn't get the vibe that this is some kind of evil person, just...maybe a confused one? And while Chai has no problem doing harm to evil billionaires, he's not so keen on hurting little plushie dudes who seem to be kids. Once he calms, so does Chai, worried expression fading into something easier — his trademark smile, some of the arrogance rubbed off by time with Pep and the others, replaced by earnestness, a little snark, and easy confidence. He crouches to lessen the height difference but doesn't come closer just yet.

"I waaaaas takin' a walk, and there's not usually a lot of folks out this way since so much of the area's abandoned. It's quiet." Sometimes the quiet is bad — makes it easier to feel / remember / hear the memory of Kale's voice in his head, or outside his head, the world around his separated from his hands through thick, fogged glass. But sometimes it's bangin', so he can focus on the beat and the music that's replaced his heartbeat. "So imagine my surprise when I run into somebody! Somebody...into an old building."

Again, though, his attention shifts, caught by something earlier — WHAT MY POWERS ARE FOR. His lips roll and thin as he thinks about that. Chai's powers weren't given to him for protecting his friends or saving the world or being the most badass rockstar ever, but he gets to use them that way, anyway. He gets to decide what his life's for, and nobody else. "And those are reaaally sick powers! Who told you what they're for, though? If you'd like watering flowers, then I'd say you get to decide that's what they're for."

[hichai]

"I've been told I look like every trans guy and every lesbian ever. Highest compliment."

[hichai]

@kittymouthed from ——— THE LEAP OF LOVE !

His eyes : huge! His mouth : agape! His heart - slash - iPod : absolutely fucking BLARING Halestorm's Here's To Us in his ears. Chai holds on and finds the strength of self to grin and laugh and, through said laughter, crow, "Wooow! MUSCLES!!"

Peppermint still doesn't get how this even happened. CHAI DOESN'T REALLY GET HOW IT HAPPENED, EITHER, BUT THAT'S NEVER STOPPED HIM. ( he doesn't understand the cause of MOST effects. affects? whatever. ) This being Known - Cringeguy - Chai - Dating - Super - Hot - And - Awesome - Badass - Secret - Agent. Still laughing, he presses a kiss and then a raspberry into her cheek. LOVE IS REAL AND IT IS STORED IN THE CORPORATION - KILLERS.

"Heeeeey, Maestro." Of his heart, specifically. But that'd be cheesy, even by Chai's standards. "Miss me?"

[spirestar]

"Yoooo, gotta say? You are dripping with transmasc swag, my guy." Ethan, you can hit him. It's legal. No jury will convict you.

Oh to be 25 again. Eh, no, Ethan would hate that. He also hates the idea of dripping. But he can't hit this guy—Who is he to deny his own swag???

"You're looking. Plenty of that yourself." Does that even make sense? "Transmasc."

[raysources]

𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃  𝐋𝐘𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐒  𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄  𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒     —     a collection of one - liners taken from various songs on one of my ships’ playlists.   slightly edited for clarity.   change pronouns as necessary.

❛  to  tell  you  is  too  scary ,   so  i’ll  just  say  something  else .  ❜ ❛  what  the  hell  do  i  have  to  lose ?  ❜ ❛  i  wanna  get  stuck  in  your  head .  ❜ ❛  i  think  that  i  should  probably  tell  you  this  in  case  there  is  an  accident  and  i  never  see  you  again .  ❜ ❛  maybe  i  won’t  ever  say  what’s  in  my  head .  ❜ ❛  am  i  pretty  now ?  ❜ ❛  am  i  pretty  enough  to  lie  to ?  ❜ ❛  say  my  name  like  a  slur ,   but  i’ve  been  called  worse .  ❜ ❛  am  i  pretty  enough  to  love  back ?  ❜ ❛  maybe  i’m  in  love .  ❜ ❛  oh  my  god ,  if  i  tell  him ,   he’ll  tell  her ,   and  then  she  will  know  i  like  her .  ❜ ❛  i  don’t  think  that  i  can  take  this  heartbreak  any  longer .   ❜ ❛  i  will  not  hold  it  in .  ❜ ❛  you  never  even  knew  about  the  heartache  i  was  going  through .  ❜ ❛  we  could  be  happy ,   can’t  you  see ?  ❜ ❛   you’re  not  a  monster ,   just  a  human .  ❜ ❛   you’re  not  gruesome ,  just  human ,  and  you  made  a  few  mistakes .   ❜ ❛  i  am  broken  down  in  shame .  ❜ ❛  i  believe  that  you  will  see  a  better  day .  ❜ ❛  i  don’t  wanna  know  i’m  not  capable  of  coming  out  alive .  ❜ ❛  i  mean  every  word  i  say .  ❜ ❛  you  love  me ,   but  you  don’t  know  it  yet .  ❜ ❛  everything  is  just  an  accident .  ❜ ❛  if  i  never  laid  eyes  on  you ,   would  i  feel  something  missing ?   ❜ ❛  if  you  never  laid  eyes  on  me ,   would  you  know  something’s  gone ?  ❜ ❛  let’s  just  live  in  the  afterglow .  ❜ ❛  ever  think ,   what  if  we  never  met ?  ❜ ❛  i  was  always  alone  until  you  came  along .  ❜ ❛  i  think  i  like  you  maybe  more  than  i  should .  ❜ ❛  with  you ,   i  just  can’t  shut  up .  ❜ ❛  you  are  my  favorite  drug .  ❜ ❛  you’re  perfect  in  the  way  that  you  are .  ❜ ❛  compassion  always  set  you  apart .  ❜ ❛  you  are  worth  the  trouble  to  keep .  ❜ ❛  you  and  i  will  always  belong .  ❜ ❛  she  doesn’t  get  your  humor  like  i  do .   ❜ ❛  she’ll  never  know  your  story  like  i  do .  ❜ ❛  what  you’re  looking  for  has  been  here  the  whole  time .  ❜ ❛  you  belong  with  me .  ❜ ❛  i  can’t  help  thinking  this  is  how  it  ought  to  be .  ❜ ❛  you’ve  got  a  smile  that  can  light  up  this  whole  town .  ❜ ❛  have  you  ever  thought  just  maybe ,   you  belong  with  me ?  ❜ ❛  do  you  feel  like  me ?  ❜ ❛  how  are  your  lungs ?     are  they  in  pain ?  ❜ ❛  would  you  be  so  kind  as  to  fall  in  love  with  me ?  ❜ ❛  i  know  you  know  that  i  like  you .  ❜ ❛  i  like  you ,   but  that’s  not  enough .  ❜ ❛  let’s  swap  chests  today .   ❜ ❛  please  fall  in  love  with  me .  ❜ ❛  will  i  ever  learn ?  ❜ ❛  how  can  i  resist  ya ?  ❜ ❛  why  did  i  ever  let  you  go ?  ❜ ❛  you  know  that  i’m  not  that  strong .  ❜ ❛  goodbye  doesn’t  mean  forever .  ❜ ❛  i  like  you  but  not  that  way .  ❜ ❛  i  just  think  that  you’re  cute .  ❜ ❛  on  you ,   i  have  been  sold .  ❜ ❛  you  made  my  life  happy  once  again .  ❜ ❛  it’s  you  i  wanna  be  around .  ❜ ❛  i’ve  been  waiting  for  a pretty  face  to  walk  right  through  the  door ,   but  now  i’ve  found :   you  came  in  through  the  window .   ❜ ❛  you’re  the  person  that  i  love  to  see .  ❜ ❛  it’s  always  sunny  with  you .  ❜ ❛  i’ve  been  waiting  for  a  girl  like  you  for  a  while .  ❜ ❛  you’re  the  only  thing  that’s  making  me  smile .  ❜ ❛  i  know  that  he  loves  me .  ❜ ❛  he’s  no  romeo .  ❜ ❛  pull  yourself  together .  ❜ ❛  after  you  leave ,   i’ll  be  so  alright  it’s  true .   ❜ ❛  how  could  i  ever  be  so  dumb  to  believe  i’d  be  the  one  you  would  adore ?  ❜ ❛  i  wanna  be  with  you .  ❜ ❛  i  wanna  be  with  you  all  the  time .  ❜ ❛  i  wanna  be  loved  by  you  every  night .  ❜ ❛  i  guess  god  wants  us  apart  for  heaven’s  sake .  ❜ ❛   show  me  all  the  dark  parts  of  your  mind .  ❜

 ​

[hichai]

chai can only fuck to music btw. like the cbat guy

[ruumuf]

Silly

[poohsources]

🐝  *  ―  𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑺𝑻𝒀 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺.

❛  are we actually doing the right thing?  ❜ ❛  are you bleeding?  ❜ ❛  are you even sorry?  ❜ ❛  are you still mad at me?  ❜ ❛  are you sure you’re gonna be okay on your own?  ❜ ❛  can’t we just be friends again?  ❜ ❛  can we pretend this never happened?  ❜ ❛  can you help me with this?  ❜ ❛  didn’t you listen to what i just said?  ❜ ❛  did you ever even love me?  ❜ ❛  don’t you believe me?  ❜ ❛  do you trust me?  ❜ ❛  do you understand what that means?  ❜ ❛  do you want to talk about it?  ❜ ❛  haven’t you heard the news?  ❜ ❛  have you ever cared about anyone other than yourself?  ❜ ❛  how did you do that?  ❜ ❛  how will i ever be able to repay you?  ❜ ❛  is it my fault?  ❜ ❛  is there anything i can do for you?  ❜ ❛  was all of this just a lie?  ❜ ❛  we’re gonna survive this, right?  ❜ ❛  what are you doing here?  ❜ ❛  what do you want from me?  ❜ ❛  what have you done to them?  ❜ ❛  what makes you think i’m going to help you?  ❜ ❛  when was the last time you ate something?  ❜ ❛  when will it stop?  ❜ ❛  when will you ever grow up?  ❜ ❛  where were you last night?  ❜ ❛  who did this to you?  ❜ ❛  who the hell are you?  ❜ ❛  why can’t you just let it go?  ❜ ❛  why didn’t you tell me sooner?  ❜ ❛  why did you leave me?  ❜ ❛  why don’t you come home with me?  ❜ ❛  why would you do something like that?  ❜ ❛  will you call me when you got there safely?  ❜ ❛  will you please tell me what happened?  ❜ ❛  will you stop doing that?  ❜

[poohsources]

🐝  *  ―  𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒.   (  random assortment of sentences that can but don’t have to be used for muses meeting each other for the first time. feel free to adjust to better fit your muses.  )

❛  i know we only just met but i already feel like i’ve known you my whole life.  ❜ ❛  umm, is this seat taken ?  ❜ ❛  don’t be alarmed now but there’s someone following you. pretend you know me and come with me. i’ll get you somewhere safe.  ❜ ❛  my friends ditched me here and now i could really use a ride home.  ❜ ❛  i don’t think we’ve met yet but you looked like you needed someone to talk to.  ❜ ❛  can you please pretend to be my boyfriend / girlfriend for a moment so my ex will leave me alone ?   ❜ ❛  are you always this straightforward with strangers ?  ❜ ❛  here, i noticed you lost this earlier.  ❜ ❛  i’m sorry, i must’ve mistaken you for somebody else.  ❜ ❛  so, what brings you here today ?  ❜ ❛  hi, my name is [name]. it’s nice meeting you.  ❜ ❛  you’re cute. how about i buy you a drink ?  ❜ ❛  can’t you watch where you are going ?!  ❜ ❛  i just moved into the apartment next to you, so i guess we’re gonna be neighbors now.  ❜ ❛  oh god, you’re [name], aren’t you ?  ❜ ❛  here, let me help you.  ❜ ❛  is there a reasons you’re here on your own ?  ❜ ❛  apparently we’re going to be working on this together now.  ❜ ❛  you look like you could use a hand with that.  ❜ ❛  what do people around here do to have some fun ?  ❜ ❛  looks like this will take a while, huh ?  ❜ ❛  oh god. please tell me you haven’t just heard me talk to myself.  ❜ ❛  excuse me, i think i’m lost.  ❜ ❛  i just wanted to say that i really like your outfit.  ❜ ❛  do you come here often ?  ❜ ❛  do you mind if i join you for a bit ?  ❜ ❛  you looked lonely so i got you a drink.  ❜ ❛  i don’t think we’ve met, i’m [name].  ❜ ❛  what the hell just happened there ?  ❜ ❛  have you seen this anywhere ? i must’ve lost it.  ❜ ❛  can i please use your phone ? i have to call someone to get me out of here.  ❜ ❛  seems like we’re gonna be spending a lot of time together.  ❜ ❛  come with me, and don’t ask any questions. it’s urgent.  ❜ ❛  i heard strange noises coming from your apartment and just wanted to make sure everything is alright.  ❜ ❛  i have a spare ticket, you wanna come in with me ?  ❜ ❛  you don’t know me but will you be my date for tonight ?  ❜ ❛  we’ve got some time to kill so why don’t you tell me a little about yourself ?  ❜ ❛  i don’t usually just walk up to strangers but my friends set me up to it.  ❜ ❛  i think our orders may have gotten mixed up.  ❜ ❛  do i have something on my face or why do you keep looking at me like that ?  ❜

[hichai]

@spirestar liked! / cole & chai!

Chai is not a guy with enough of an INNER LIFE for mental illnesses. This is obviously not true in the literal sense, but the point, despite all he's been through, is that Chai is — for the most part! — remarkably fine and chill. He's not — tragic. He's just a guy.

Unfortunately, just - guys can also be Really Fucking Miserable, especially when they're walking around the mostly-empty city at night after waking from a nightmare about the ten - or - so - minutes they were Actively Being Possessed.

Okay, maybe he's not just a guy.

Unfortunately for the local empaths, this horrible mood translates to a shitty experimental noise pop album from a few years ago playing on repeat in his chest. Normally, only Chai can hear what his music player is playing, but — again, local empaths.

[hichai]

prostheses seem extremely normalized in this universe; pretty much the whole cast has some form of prosthetic, and many have full - body agmentations. even if we did assume that they're only common among very - rich supervillains, chai isn't surprised at all by pep's prosthetic, and he doesn't comment or ask about it. he's not a tactful or polite dude, so i imagine that if they were considered 'weird' at all in - universe he'd have reacted accordingly. even korsica, the only character to not have any augmentations at the beginning of the story doesn't seem to care at all that macaron, peppermint and CNMN have replaced significant chunks of her body with robotics to save her life.

it's also interesting that they seem so normalized that at least some people get them for reasons that aren't related to disability. we know that roquefort's body was badly damage, but we've got no indication that any of the other villains or macaron were in any way disabled; they may very well have just gotten the augmentations because they were better for their work or, in mimosa's case, was ways to chase vanity.

that being said, i don't think normalized inherently equals accessible; the setting is still very much one of corrupt dystopic hyper - capitalism. project armstrong was the first time such prostheses were made readily available, and from what we can tell they seem to be outright free. chai was never in poverty, but he certainly couldn't afford an outright arm amputation and replacement with a top - of - the - line prosthesis replacement ( and, it's suggested, plenty of internal prostheses as well ) prior to the project. which just adds some extra grossness to the whole evil plan in the background thing. sure, there were probably plenty of folks who joined up with project armstrong just because, like, sick new robot body parts! but there were also certainly plenty who were disabled in major ways looking for supports they'd never be able to access otherwise. to then use those people for CAPITALISM is extra gross.