In my tenure as a Helluva Boss fan, I've noticed something that cannot be easily overlooked--
Stolas is probably the most divisive character in the Helluva Boss fandom.
Unlike certain other characters in certain other spaces, though, some of the ammo against Stolas is just downright unfair. Genuinely, it seems as though there's a lot of ammo against Stolas by his antis.
Saying that he was "abusive" to Blitzo in their relationship together; even though the entire thing was an even-handed conflict, with Blitzo having his own fair share of insensitivity towards Stolas.
Calling Stolas a "bad father towards Octavia"; it's true that he's not a perfect parent, but compared to a lot of the other parents in the Hellaverse, his own dad included, Stolas is practically a saint.
On a related note, the accusations of Stolas being "favored by the narrative", "never facing the consequences of his actions or taking responsibility for them"...
They make zero sense to me.
From what I've seen, he's been called out by both Blitzo and Octavia for his thoughtlessness and lack of overall consideration.
"You spring this feelings bullshit on me, are you fucking kidding?! Can I get a fucking minute to think after everything you put me through, you pompous, rich ASSHOLE?! Treat me like one of your little butler imps? You can't just dismiss me like that! I mean, you royal fucks think you can do this EVERY time. Like you can just play with our feelings because we're smaller and not as IMPORTANT! Well I'm not letting you, bitch. LET'S GO."
"You lied to me! You said you would never leave me. You promised! ...It was your choice, you chose him. ...I do understand. I understand we were never enough for you! You never loved mother and you don't love me, you love him. ...So does that mean you just stayed miserable because of me? Was I some fucking obligation? Is that why you didn't even hesitate when you got a chance to leave? ...I can't. You lied to me once, you'll do it again. Have a great fucking life with him, dad."
The latter moment is particularly impactful because it explicitly shows Stolas getting punished by having Octavia break away from him for the time being. The narrative never calls her out on this either, so that should count for something, right?
As for the whole "accountability" thing, Stolas shows that he is capable of feeling guilt for the harm he causes as soon as it becomes clear to him.
For example, when he sang All 2 U...
He sings this ballad in the midst of his furor over the fights he had with Blitzo lately. Despite everything, Stolas partially blames himself for the entire ordeal. These two lines are particularly telling:
"But maybe it's all on me
For missing every sign and every glance and every turn"
As well, look at where his mental well-being was in Sinsmas, when he was off his meds--
"WHAT A FUCKING IDIOT I AM! THIS WAS SO STUPID! I CANNOT BELIEVE I COULD BE THIS FUCKING STUPID!! I RUINED EVERYTHING! MOVE, YOU SHITTY DESK!! And I did it for what? These stupid, foolish fantasies?!"
As well as after Octavia blew up at him.
"It was all my choice. I caused all of this."
You hate Stolas for what he did and what it caused? He's not ignorant of all that, and that guilt is fueling his depression.
Thankfully, he now has Blitzo to fall back on... although it might not be enough, despite what Stolas wished for in the past.
Another misplaced criticism of Stolas is that apparently, we can't feel sorry for him because he's "privileged".
Do people not know that "money" and "status" don't equate to "happiness"???
Simply put, Stolas' life sucked. And it still does.
Some important points:
Stolas is canonically gay, yet he was arranged to be married to a woman who's a Class-A bitch. An abusive one at that.
Stolas grew up surrounded by people who weren't much better. Octavia was probably the only positive connection he had made in life. It's why we still feel bad for Stolas, even though Octavia's anger with him was justified.
Mastermind and Sinsmas shows Stolas hitting rock bottom and losing everything, part of it thanks to the manipulations of Andrealphus, his incredibly conceited ex-brother-in-law.
And even though Stolas is finally starting to build a genuinely positive relationship with Blitzo, like he wanted before, as I said, it won't be enough to get Stolas out of his slump.
...
Stolas is one of my favorite characters in the show.
He's an incredibly sad character who's easy to feel sorry for, and for all his flaws, he just wants to do some good for the people he cherishes.
It hurts to see people hate him and downplay the more sympathetic and positive sides of his character in the name of calling him out.
Dear Stolas fans,
What do you enjoy about Stolas? How do you take to the complexities of his character?
Gotta love how Stolitz is like... childhood friends to strangers to transactional fuckbuddies of the kinky kind to exes to *almost fucking die for each other* to roommates to "omg omg are we about to kiss rn đł"
"Pretty sure we're soulmates or something but we took the wrong directions on that trip, and now we're hitting all the major landmarks in the wrong order, and also I'm pretty sure we just drove off a cliff, but we're also pulling each other out of this wreckage and crawling to our destination if we have to."
This bit of prose hit my brain so hard it created a fever dream of a road-trip metaphor so here you go!
I was going to fully line and clean this, but the further I got the more I felt the sketchiness suited the vibe I was going for, so enjoy the mess!
You made it to the end so now I ramble!
I am not a comic artist. And the thing about comics is, if you aren't accustomed to the process of laying out panels in an effective way, it is extremely tough to tackle.
So for anyone wondering 'why didn't you just make it a proper comic, it'd be less space!' I hear you and you're right, but my illustrator brain simply did not have the energy đ
But overall, I loved making this! It's always so fun to have little projects to chip away at and this made me eager to sit down everyday and work on it.
my favorite Stolas:
my favorite Blitz:
my favorite thumbnail:
(and my favorite overall panel is the first one) Thanks for enjoying!
Hi, are you planning to continue your work "Follow the Crimson Footprints"?
First of all, I am very flattered that you enjoy the story and I am happy you like it.
The short answer to your question is a simple, I don't know. The long answer is this: I have fallen out of the Naruto fandom while exploring others (currently, I am trying out Helluva Boss and enjoying it) as well as doing a full-time job at a hospital which leaves me little time to write. I actually do have an outline and the direction I want to go with the story alongside several notes, but I really have no time to just sit and write anymore, unlike when I was in college.
If inspiration and time let me, I just might continue it as I still have my outline available. But honestly, fanfiction is a hobby, and unfortunately, real life and bills come first sometimes. That doesn't mean I won't try when I have time. It just depends on what the future has. I'm sorry there isn't a more concrete answer for you.
Exploring good traits gone bad in a novel can add depth and complexity to your characters. Here are a few examples of good traits that can take a negative turn:
1. Empathy turning into manipulation: A character with a strong sense of empathy may use it to manipulate others' emotions and gain an advantage.
2. Confidence becoming arrogance: Excessive confidence can lead to arrogance, where a character belittles others and dismisses their opinions.
3. Ambition turning into obsession: A character's ambition can transform into an unhealthy obsession, causing them to prioritize success at any cost, including sacrificing relationships and moral values.
4. Loyalty becoming blind devotion: Initially loyal, a character may become blindly devoted to a cause or person, disregarding their own well-being and critical thinking.
5. Courage turning into recklessness: A character's courage can morph into reckless behavior, endangering themselves and others due to an overestimation of their abilities.
6. Determination becoming stubbornness: Excessive determination can lead to stubbornness, where a character refuses to consider alternative perspectives or change their course of action, even when it's detrimental.
7. Optimism becoming naivety: Unwavering optimism can transform into naivety, causing a character to overlook dangers or be easily deceived.
8. Protectiveness turning into possessiveness: A character's protective nature can evolve into possessiveness, where they become overly controlling and jealous in relationships.
9. Altruism becoming self-neglect: A character's selflessness may lead to neglecting their own needs and well-being, to the point of self-sacrifice and burnout.
10. Honesty becoming brutal bluntness: A character's commitment to honesty can turn into brutal bluntness, hurting others with harsh and tactless remarks.
These examples demonstrate how even admirable traits can have negative consequences when taken to extremes or used improperly. By exploring the complexities of these traits, you can create compelling and multi-dimensional characters in your novel.
Made this rewrite of the end of chapter 608 bc me and my friends wanted to see gai being the one to stand up for kakashi instead of naruto and just rip obito up. We know gai wouldâve been seeing red at hearing him degrade his rival. (Plus it parallels baby gai trying to beat up those chunin for mocking his dad.) Reads Left to right bc i forgot to make it right to left whoopsies.
Will of Fire is a propaganda specific to Konohagakure, and not a long standing shinobi code of conduct. Whether one is a derivative of the other cannot be proven.
What exactly is propaganda? information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
Will of Fire being âTo put Konoha, the large family unit, above oneselfâ. No matter the tragedy or problematic instructions. This is the nindo that drives Konoha nin to put the mission ( basically Konohaâs orders / benefit / stability ) above lives of themselves or fellow friends and family.
Where did Will of Fire really start? Wiki says âIt would eventually become the life philosophy which Hashirama founded and the Senju clan lived by, which has since been passed on to many ninja from Konohagakure as a part of their spiritual heritage.â
Hashirama started this, him slaying Madara and having the audacity to frame it as something he had to endure, when the man was the most privileged person in his time and long after it ( Mokuton, god of shinobi. Shodai hokage, he was the winner in his generation, was he not? )
Itâs misleading for him to frame it as a tragedy he had to go through when it was basically a necessity to protect the village from the onslaught of Madaraâs attacks.
Despising / Killing friends & family for the sake of the villageâs cause is not shinobi propaganda. Every clan in the era of Warring States would disagree with this. Killing enemies without question is definitely shinobi, but the Will of Fire as we know it transcends beyond that, and goes into a dark territory where the sacrifice of allies is correct, okay, and systematic, as long as it fed into Konohaâs stability, economy, whatever have you.
The Will of Fire is specifically used to push various agendas in Konoha, and it spread even to a personal level like Sakumoâs case, which then affected Kakashi - and resulted in his negligence regarding Obito, Rin.
Another example is Minato. He consciously chose the bigger picture over his team of children. As a result he failed them not once, but twice, resulting in the death of Nohara Rin, alleged death of Uchiha Obito, and Hatake Kakashiâs possession of the Mangekyo Sharingan. Namikaze Minato was rewarded for his efforts in the war, and became the Yondaime Hokage of Konohagakure. Itâs a little messed up and frightening if you stare too long at the pile of bodies Minato stepped on towards his position of power.
Jiraiya threatening to kill Tsunade, his teammate and someone he has a crush or interest in, if she ever betrayed the village. This is really vague. Would merely leaving the village also count as a betrayal, or must she do some actual damage to a Konoha citizen for it count as a betrayal? Letâs hope Jiraiya meant the latter.
The tight hold that the Will of Fire has on Konoha nin is inbred, snowballing over long years.
is Sakumoâs teammates despising him for saving their lives a generic shinobi propaganda? How did young people learn this age old shinobi propaganda? Is Kakashiâs rule following attitude and initial abandonment of his non-jounin teammates a generic shinobi rule/propaganda? Or was that a direct result of how Konoha nin treated his father & the consequences of that? Are there many governments outside of Konoha who order genocide over suspicions & shinobi just following it through without question?
Will of Fire is a propaganda specific to Konohagakure.
I really like this analysis and I'm so glad you wrote it OP. Especially since you can see how drastic the Will of Fire can be when put into a different context. On one hand, it shows that you need to protect everyone in the village because that unity and care for each other is strength... where on the other hand it has the ugly backlash of, if nobody conforms to the betterment of the village they are deemed as anomalies and must be dealt with accordingly.
I think, when Tobirama died and Hiruzen became Hokage so young while dealing with the fallout of the 2nd Shinobi War, he and his teammates took this context to the extreme and it morphed into true propaganda. And with the sudden transition of authority, the village was likely starting to flounder which helped fueled the need for this binding unification. All I'm saying is that Naruto is fascinating to analyze despite how ridiculous the world is sometimes- but that doesn't mean I still don't enjoy the show.
But also, f*ck Danzo and the rest of Konoha's council.
ok iâve had this vague idea brewing of a gravity falls and omega mart mix type au, where basically obito moves away from home to this new town thatâs super unpopulated and pretty old, because he j wants to live a quieter life bc the uchiha are a riot to live with.
the town is weird, plain and simple. like it starts off fine, a little quirky, but then immediately tumbles into
kakashi owns/is a cashier at the only store in town, a dinky little thing. heâs obitoâs guide throughout the town and itâs dangers, but heâs uhhh def got his own things going on (âshit wtf is that?? hey kakashi whereâd you goâ)
rin comes in later. itâs revealed that sheâs been working as a govt agent or whatever, trying to stop the spread of the townâs âweirdnessâ (its smth tangibleâlike source from omega mart. if u drink it or whatever, weird stuff starts happening)
which tangent to source or whatever iâm calling it here, but if crops r given it they can have some wild mutations and sometimes said mutations make their way into kakahsiâs shop. thereâs no way to tell whatâs mutated and whatâs not until somebody inspects an orange to buy, sets it down, and dies three days later.
anyway! rin is also trying to find out what happened to sakumo, because he disappeared without a trace when kakashi was like 11 and theyâve been looking for him ever since. rin suspects that itâs got something to do with the higher-ups (danzĆ, hiruzen) but as it stands she doesnât have any evidence
and thatâs ab as far as i got LMAO iâm mostly into it for the weirdcore stuff
@kirpyee I like this idea, it makes me want to write something! But I'd curb it more into a Silent Hill/Alan Wake, or even a Control style for a slight horror flair. Especially with it being a small town where it's pretty obvious kakashi has something going on and obito just barges into this weirdness thinking it's a normal town.
Summary: Naruto informs Kakashi that he has invited his friends over for a sleepover at their ranch that night. Knowing he canât do everything himself to get ready to host a bunch of kids, Kakashi calls in some help.
Warning wasnât something that Naruto had given Kakashi a lot of that afternoon when he came running into the house after a long day of school and announced that he had invited his classmates over for a camping sleepover, tonight.
Any less warning and Kakashi might not have been able to secure any help for the night, leaving him to take care of all of the food prep, wood gathering, and other chores that needed to be done while Naruto took the trunk into town to get enough marshmallows to feed an army.
That was an understatement of course. It was more likely that they could feed all of Konoha with the number of Marshmallows he had bought. At least he had also thought ahead and gotten eggs and bacon for tomorrowâs breakfast, which Kakashi had no doubt he would be cooking.
Panicking over the amount of work that was being handed to him, and wanting someone there to help him out, Kakashi decided to call the best person to help him out for the night.
Gai had unfortunately informed him that he had to head into the city the next morning for a supply run, meaning Kakashi had to call his other best friend. An unpleasant call to make since he knew that Tenzo had planned to go to the lake tomorrow for a relaxing day by himself.
Thankfully with enough pleading and a promise to go to the lake next week with Tenzo, he finally secured some help for the night.
Which was how he ended up here. Setting up a bonfire for the kids while Tenzo and Naruto put out chairs for everyone.
âDid you buy enough non-marshmallow snacks?â He called over to Naruto, wanting to make sure that no one was left hungry tonight.
âI even made sure to pick up extra bags of everything for Choji,â Naruto beamed. âAnd I asked Choji to bring some snacks from the bakery, Sakura to grab some stuff from the general store, and Kibaâs even bringing some dog food because I told him it was the only way youâd let him pet Pakkun.â
This must be one of those âproud dadâ moments that Gai was always talking about.
Tenzo, on the other hand, didnât seem as happy about Narutoâs underhandedness, judging by the unimpressed look on his face. âSome days I wonder how you two get along, and then moments like this happen,â crossing his arms over his chest he turned to glare at Kakashi. âQuit teaching him bad habits, Senpai.â
They both knew that was never going to happen of course. Kakashi loved teaching Naruto all of his worst habits. It ensured that there would always be someone in the village to mess with other people, even long after Kakashi was gone.
âI also asked Sasuke to bring some cat food,â Naruto added. âOnce Kakashi Nii-san told me you were coming over to help. He said he could bring a bag of cat food that Itachi made himself. Something that your cats would love.â
Tenzoâs hands dropped to his side, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.
âI see,â his voice softened. âStill, you shouldnât lie to Kiba to get free food for the dogs.â
âHeâs right you know,â Kakashi added, smiling when Tenzo gave him a skeptical look. âBut really itâs Kibaâs fault for believing you. Everyone knows Pakkun wonât let anyone pet him but me.â
Ok, him and Gai, and sometimes Tenzo depending on how nice the pug was feeling.
âSenpai, what did I just say about teaching him bad habits!?â
Resting his hands behind his head, Kakashi chuckled when Tenzo started to lecture him about the importance of friendship and trust. This wasnât the first time he had gotten this exact lecture and there was no doubt in his mind that it wouldnât be the last. Tenzo gave it to him at least once a week after he used his friendsâ love of praise to get a free coffee or lunch out of him.
Meanwhile, Naruto continued to set everything up. Far too used to Kakashi and Tenzoâs arguments he had learned long ago to tune them out and keep doing whatever it was he was in the middle of.
It was simply better not to interrupt Tenzo, or one risked him dragging them into the lecture. Naruto was already lucky he wasnât getting it alongside Kakashi since it had been his actions that upset the woodcarver.
âOh!â reaching out, Kakashi placed one hand over Tenzoâs mouth to silence him and used the other to point towards the driveway. âNaruto, your friends are starting to arrive.â
Naruto immediately dropped what he was doing and turned towards the driveway, throwing his hands up into the air when he saw Itachiâs car pulling in beside Tenzoâs truck. âSasuke!â He called out, running towards the driveway and leaving Kakashi and Tenzo to finish up with the bonfire set up.
Once everything had been set up and all of Narutoâs school friends had finally arrived, it was finally time to relax and enjoy the rest of the night. At least, enjoy as much of the night as one could while Kiba was sitting beside him trying desperately to pet the pug dog sitting on his lap.
âHeâs going to bite you,â he warned, chuckling when Kiba continued to ignore him and narrowly avoided getting his hand chomped by Pakkun. âI told you.â
âHeâs supposed to love me,â Kiba huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring down at Pakkun. âAll dogs love me.â
âPakkunâs a picky dog,â scratching the pug behind the ears, Kakashi chuckled when he instantly relaxed into his hand. Forgetting all about the mean teenager who had been interrupting his relaxing nap just seconds ago. âYou have seven other dogs to play with on this ranch. I donât see why youâre so determined about getting Pakkun to like you.â
âAll dogs should like me,â planting his hands on the chair, Kiba glared back at Pakkun from the corner of his eyes. âIâm a dog person. All dogs love me.â
Giving his head a shake Kakashi turned his attention back to the rest of the group and continued to scratch Pakkunâs ear. It was amusing to see Kiba continuously trying to win his favourite dog over, but at some point, the kid had to give up.
When feeding Pakkun treats didnât work, it was a lost cause. He had chosen his favourite human and he simply wasnât interested in anyone to who Kakashi wasnât incredibly close.
âWe should do something interesting,â Glancing towards Tenzo, Kakashi raised an eyebrow when he saw him staring at Naruto and all of his friends huddled around the fire roasting marshmallows. âItâs too quiet. Something interesting has to happen.â
And Tenzo accused him of being a bad influence.
âMmm, and what âinterestingâ thing would you like to happen?â Watching as Tenzo leaned in close, Kakashi listened to his plan carefully. A small smile pulling at his lips.
Catching the attention of the kids hadnât been as hard as Kakashi thought it would be. With the simple mention of a ghost story, he suddenly found himself surrounded by excited, bright-eyed kids waiting patiently for him to tell them the story.
Now he just had to hope that Tenzo was ready to put his plan into action.
âThe tale of old man Tobirama, hmmm. Well, I guess youâre all old enough to hear it now. But donât come crying to me if you end up having nightmares for years about it.â
âKakashi, stop teasing us and tell us the story already.â Naruto insisted, puffing out his cheeks and glaring at his guardian.
âI bet itâs not even that scary,â Sakura commented, acting like she wasnât leaning in to hear better. ââOld man Tobiramaâ. There probably wasnât even anyone named âTobiramaâ in our village.â
Oh, boy were they in for a surprise.
âWell, in the case,â leaning forward, Kakashi planted his hands on his knees and smiled down at the group. âLet me tell you the story of old man Tobirama. The grumpy old guy who lived in the old Senju ranch and would cook up children for dinner.â
At the mention of the Senju ranch, he could see the kids already starting to shake.
âLong ago, before I was even born, the Senju ranch was full of life. With a large family, parties every weekend, and a garden that could make anyone jealous. They were known for having the best fruits and vegetables in all of Konoha, though back then the village was a lot smaller so who knows how good they were.â
Heâd probably get smacked by Tsunade for saying it, but it was worth it for the giggles he got from his audience.
âFor the longest time, the Senjuâs lived in the village peacefully. Mingling with the other villages, trading their fruits and veggies for other goods that they could use. But then one day the Senjuâs just stopped coming into town. It was like they disappeared. No one knew what had happened to them, but there were rumors. Little whispers that floated around the village about the middle child, Tobirama.â
Naruto shivered in front of him, Sakura slinked behind Ino just a little, and Kiba used Bull as a shield from Kakashi. So far, none of the other kids were showing much of a reaction except for prompting Kakashi to continue with the story.
âFor years the house lay empty. No one going in or out. It slowly started to decay and rot from the inside, and the garden became overgrown. Surrounding the house with vines, vegetables, and fruits. There wasnât an inch of the place that was accessible. After fifty years the villagers finally got together and made a decision. The house had to come down.â
âThis is boring,â Sasuke interrupted him. The same unimpressed look on his face that he always had when someone other than his big brother was talking. âNothing is even happening.â
Giving his head a shake, Kakashi reached out and flicked Sasuke in the nose.
âHasnât Itachi taught you anything about patience, brat?â he teased. âIâm just getting to the good part. Now shush.â
Settling back into his seat, Kakashi returned his hand to Pakkunâs head and took a deep breath. âAnyways, the villagers had made their decision. They found a group of hard workers to tear down the old building and started to gather all of the equipment that they would need. A week later the workers were ready to head onto the property and start with the demolition. They hoped that it would only take a few days, but as the hours passed by, they slowly started to disappear one by one.â
Sakura was now completely hidden behind Ino, and it looked like Ino wasnât doing much better. Her face had lost all colour, and her eyes were wide with fear.
Naruto had slowly begun to inch away from Kakashi, using any of his friends that were readily available as a shield between himself and his guardian. Hinata was cowering behind her favourite hoodie, only her eyes visible.
The only people who didnât look fazed by his story were Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Shino. None of which were a surprise given their personalities.
He just had to hope that Tenzo pulled through and managed to fix that.
âBy the end of the day the only person left was a young woman. Desperate to find the rest of her group she searched the entire house. Looking in every bedroom, searching the yard and even the attic. But no matter how often she called out to them, or where she looked, she couldnât find them anywhere. Finally, she was left with only one place to look. The old cellar under the kitchen.â
There were a few mummers in the crowd, and at least one ânot the cellarâ spoken in a whisper somewhere behind Shikamaru.
âPulling up all of her courage, she headed for her new destination. The door to the cellar creaked as she pulled it open, but when she peered down there was nothing but darkness. She called out to the others, but no one answered.â
Naruto shifted a bit closer to Sasuke, nudging his shoulder until the Uchiha finally gave in and threw an arm around him.
âTaking the first step down the stairs, she held her breath. The stories villagers had told her growing up swimming in her mind. Images of Senju Tobirama, a teenager with bright silver hair and angry red eyes, wielding a bloody ax in his hands. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnât get rid of those thoughts, and every step she took down into the cellar felt like it would be her last. But finally, she made it to the bottom of the stairs and reached out for the cellar lights pull cord, hoping to add some light to the room. Finding it in the pitch black, she tugged at it andâŠâ
âShe was met with the face of Senju Tobirama!â Jumping up behind the kids, Tenzo flashed the light under his chin and warped his face into the most haunting face he could manage. With wide creepy eyes, and his mouth hanging open with what Kakashi could only assume was ketchup smeared all over his chin, Tenzo sent every single one of the kids scattering. Screams filled the air, only slightly drowned out by Kakashi and Tenzoâs laughter.
If Kakashi had been smart he would have brought a camera. There was no way Itachi was going to believe him the next morning when he told him about the look of absolute terror on Sasukeâs face.
An Akatsuki Kakashi AU where he more or less decides that the world is too far gone to allow the mercy of an "infinite dream" then proceeds to make everyone suffer.
Or, a finished sketch started during a Physics lecture when trying to experiment with lighting. It's been an age since I've drawn anything, lol
Hi Ram. I like your art of Baron and Haru. We rarely get a lot of fanart of these two. Do you still accept art requests? If you do, could you please draw more fanart of flirty Baron with Haru? I think Baron being flirty to her is so funny.
Of course! Here you go
naaahhh lmao just kidding, here's the stuff
I still don't know how flirting works but I tried my best, enjoy!
Do Androids Bleed Silver? (Ch.1) -- The Cat Returns fanfic
Hey everyone, I wrote another story and this time it isnât a one-shot but a chaptered one. Yay! This is my first time doing a sci-fi story, so if it seems a little strange or odd, I apologize but I wanted to get something out before I go on vacation. Anyway, hope you all enjoy it! Also tagging @catsafarithewriter because they have been a wonderful support and inspiration.
Ao3 story link
Summary: Cyberpunk/Android AU
=============================================
âNext stop; Shibuya Station. I repeat, next stop Shibuya Station.â The automated voice sounded over the train intercom, âplease wait until the train comes to a complete stop and stand away from the opening doors before disembarking.â
Looking down at the half-crumbled note in her hand, Haru took hold of her frayed but well-loved duffle bag and stood from her seat. âI guess this is my stop,â she muttered aloud before the exiting the train and out of the station.
In the year of 2207, the use of androids and cybernetics had advance to a level where their use was a common practice and the backbone of modern society; even in her much smaller hometown. But after entering Shibuya Crossing- Haru felt her backwater home was definitely not on the same level as Tokyo. The famed metropolis was well regarded as the forefront of robotics and cybernetics throughout the entire world but the invention of CREATIONS was the achievement that truly put the city into a category all of its own. Though technically possessing a robotics classification, many whoâve had the chance to see a CREATION regarded them as so life-like, it was almost as if their creator had conjured life itselfâŠ.
And it was part of the reason why Haru wanted to study robotics in Tokyo; as the only robots that her hometown possessed were generic models of the Alpha and Beta-Classes. She wanted to see the daily technological wonders always taking place in Tokyo. But in truth, the real reason Haru wanted to go was because she loved to help others and repair problems. It was why she decided to study robotics and cybernetics in the first place- with the exception of her apparent talent in the field.
At first, many had viewed the cheery but ultimately clumsy brunette to be a bit of a hazard; and it wasnât exactly a secret to Haru herself either. She could remember constantly stumbling on her impromptu runs to high school after having slept in- or when she once tripped cleaning the trash disposal unit in the classroom and ended up spilling the contents everywhere. But the moment she sat behind the small desk in her bedroom among the clutter of spare parts and tools, her once graceless movements sharpened and Haru would smile as sheâd begin to skillfully repair whatever tech the residents of her hometown brought her. So, with the encouragement of Hiromi and Tsuge, she applied for various internships everywhere in Tokyo in the attempt to join someoneâs Workshop team.
And it seemed that only one person was willing to give her a chanceâŠ
Walking further into the depths of Shibuya Haru gazed in amazement at the 3D holographic displays and looming skyscrapers that was a far cry from her small hometown. The streets were littered with people possessing a variety of enhancements the young woman had only seen before in adverts that managed to be broadcasted back home. Quickly shaking off her awe and hurryingly pulling out her note of directions once more, Haru began the walk away from the train station and towering skyscrapers while weaving her way through the small alleyways, the brunette teenager came to a halt once more on a rather isolated street. Glancing down once more at the paper in her hand, Haru glanced up at the sight before her with a bit of surprise.
âThis⊠is the Bureau?â Haru spoke, looking at the old, neon green sign that flickered slightly with a smaller neon sign saying the Workshop was open beside an open doorway that was partially blocked by a dark noren curtain. Next to what was meant to be the entryway into the shop was a pair of roll-up garage doors- one of which was already lifted up to reveal the illuminated Workshop within. Tools ranging from chisels and wrenches of all sizes to a designated soldering station, making her maple-colored eyes glow with delight.
âIf you donât have any business Chicky, keep walking. This isnât a museum.â A gruff voice sounded, causing her to jump slightly.
Standing up from beside what, to Haruâs surprise, was an AeroCycle on a hydraulic lift was probably the largest man the young woman had ever seen. He was tall and rather stout with ivory crew-cut hair and a dark stubble about his mouth and chin while dark brown eyes gave her an unimpressed stare as he crossed his arms; with the left being a robotic prosthesis baring a shade reminiscent of a dark coffee. As the man took in her short height, petite frame, and slightly disheveled ponytail; Haru only hoped he didnât immediately send her back home based on looks alone- after all, she knew her appearance didnât exactly scream âmechanicâ.
âWell? Do you have business here or not Chicky?â He asked again, a hint of impatience coloring his tone.
âSorry sir, my name is Haru Yoshioka⊠Iâm the intern assistant you made the offer to.â
It was here a skeptical eyebrow lifted as his hands soon went to his hips. Haru mentally scrambled for a way to defend her skills should this man end up turning her away, but he only asked one question. âCan you cook?â
ââŠYes?â Haru answered, still a little confused.
âShow me; head up there and make something then bring it over. Weâll talk after.â And with that said, the man returned to his work on the AeroCycle without another word.
Haru could only stare with a slightly dumbfounded expression before letting loose a soft sigh and followed his brief and general directions. Up a set of steel stairs lay a large viewing window, which oversaw the garage, and another door that lead into the living quarters that was surprisingly clean; if a bit cluttered. To the left lay a small kitchenette while the right had a simple living room and a corridor that led further into the flat. Turning to the kitchen and figuring not to keep the man whoâd likely become her boss waiting, Haru was quick to fix a lunch from a hamburger steak with a fried egg on top and rice (it was either that or one of the instant ramen containers nestled in the pantry) and returned to see the stout man now talking to a customer while gesturing to the AeroCycle. âNext time learn to drive properly bird-brain.â
âAnd I told you before, lard-ball, it crashed during a chase!â The customer, who was dressed in a police officersâ uniform, snapped in response all the while glaring at the mechanic.
The mechanic merely grinned savagely, as if he was used to the explosive behavior from the officer. âWhile you were chasing what? A nearby bird.â
âAs if youâre one to talk, you over-sized marshmallow. Iâm surprised you can even climb the stairs to your flat without them snapping from the strain.â
âYou say that again, you big chicken!â
âUmm⊠excuse me,â Haru spoke up, causing both men to swerve their heads to her immediately. âIs everything alright? Iâve got the lunch ready.â
âThanks, Chicky, Iâll just take that off your hands.â The larger of the two men spoke, retrieving the succulent smelling meal with a gleam in his eyes, âand congratulations- you pass my test; welcome to The Bureau. The nameâs Muta and this idiot here is Bird-Brain, a regular.â
âThe name is Officer Toto Tsubame, nice to meet you and please, ignore this fatso.â Toto replied instead, bowing in greeting with a kind smile. âAre you new to the district? You are a bit young to be on your ownâŠâ
While Muta was large and hefty, Toto was his complete opposite with a slim frame and long, layered black locks tied into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck; reminding the brunette of a birdâs feathers. His skin was a tad darker than the larger mechanic and his clothes the standard dark navy-blue police uniform with the exception of knee-high shock absorption boots and a black carbon-fiber and titanium woven shirt that rested under the uniform with the cuffs rolled to his elbows. But what truly caught Haruâs attention was the unique dark-grey coloration of his eyes that she had only seen a few times before in holo-books or advertisements. âOh wow, you have an optical upgrade on your eyes, Iâve never seen that before. Thatâs really coolâŠâ
Here Toto gave a good-natured laugh, âyouâre definitely new to Tokyo if this is your first time seeing something like that, but well spotted. My eyes have been altered with increased monocular vision and can see with UV and Infrared, alongside night vision. Plus, the color is a rather nice aesthetic as well- but thatâs enough about me; what brings you here to the city MissâŠâ
âHaru. Haru Yoshioka, and itâs nice to meet you too.â She smiled, giving a bow of greeting in return. âI am here for an intern job at the Bureau. But, Iâm not sure what cooking really has to do with robotics and engineering.â
Muta bit into the hamburger steak and sighed happily as he devoured the plate of food while Toto groaned at the mechanicâs table manners; or lack thereof. âI didnât want some assistant who couldnât take care of themselves, Iâm not a babysitter. Besides, if you werenât skilled enough to be here, I wouldnât have offered you the job in the first place.â
âO-Oh, thank you.â Haru beamed, more than relieved that though he seemed to be rather rough and intimidating, Muta wasnât that bad- arguing with Toto aside. âI promise Iâll do my best, and thank you for your help Moo-ta.â Haru quickly gasped, raising her hands to her mouth in horror as if attempting to prevent the words from being heard, but it was too late.
âWhat?! Did you just say Moo? Like Iâm some kind of fat cow!â
âNo, no, youâre just fat! Oh- umâŠâ
Toto, meanwhile, had lost all pretense of professionalism and started laughing with tears of amusement threatening to spill from his eyes. âBahahaha! Oh, youâre going to fit in here quite well with nicknames like that Haru. Iâm definitely going to be using that one.â
âYeah, yeah, laugh it up bird-brain.â Muta grumbled, glaring at the still chuckling policeman, âand you Chicky- you got anything to say for yourself or to me, your boss?â
Haru gave a nervous smile, âIâm sorry Muta, it really did slip out. Would you accept an Insta-Pudding with my apology?â
The ivory-haired man stared down at her with an irritated look before sighing, âmake it an Angel Cake from Osonoâs bakery down the street, and weâre even.â
âComing right up!â The young woman chimed before quickly making her way toward the aforementioned bakery.
Toto and Muta both watched her leave with the former giving a thoughtful hum, âYoshioka huh? I donât suppose she wouldnât happen to be related to Hayata Yoshioka, would she?â
âHis daughter apparently, if youâre that curious. And sheâs only a few good years younger than you and me, idiot.â Muta answered, releasing the AeroCycle from the hydraulic lift while wiping the oil and grease from his hands. âI didnât know he had a kid, and thought the name was just a coincidence till I saw the resume file Haru and her friends sent me. She was apparently fixing Alpha-class mechs at 11 years old.â
Toto gave an impressed whistle, âwell, sheâs certainly her fatherâs daughter if thatâs the case.â
"I thought that too, but it was the fact that she has no personal cyber-enhancements that really sealed the deal." Muta added, that information causing the slim police officer to splutter in shock. "So I thought âwhy not?â and decided to give her a shot; and it wasnât like I was going to turn down the help- so here we are. But the fact that she can cook is a definite bonus.â
âDo you ever not think from your stomach?â
âShut up, bird-brain!â
Toto sighed, âwell, just try to keep an eye on her, alright? Not everything is exactly safe here, so if you ever need anything give me a call.â
âThanks⊠you big chicken,â Muta answered before giving a devious grin and holding out his hand. âNow for the repairs, thatâll be 3,500 credits.â
âWhat?! Thatâs daylight robbery!â
âIs that so? And here I was giving you the âFriends and Familyâ discount. But if you would rather pay full-price, who am I to deny you that.â
By the time Haru returned to the Workshop, she could hear Toto and Muta starting to argue once more and was glad she decided to buy two cakes in order to pacify both parties. Though slightly nervous about her new job, Haru couldn't help the feeling of joy at the upcoming work ahead of her.
