Samson the Slugger This cyborg is one of 8 pre-generated characters included in Muddy Mayhem, an adventure included in our free or ‘Pay What You Want’ Quickstart Rules for The Mutant Epoch TTRPG https://www.outlandarts.com/qsr.htm #mutantepoch #samson #slugger #cyborg #pregen #adventure #quickstart #rules #roleplayinggame #RPG #ttrpg #apocalyptic #postapocalyptic #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #tabletoprpg #gaming #tabletopgame #indiegame #gamer like #gammaworld or #fallout or #mutantcrawlclassics #gameart #scifi #charactersheet #playercharacter https://www.instagram.com/p/Cau68DpvQHm/?utm_medium=tumblr
Two of my pregen bards, since there’s still no local DnDgames at my free time and I’m entertaining myself with a project called A Bard For All Seasons where I make a shitton of bards. Because I. Love. Bards.
I also love sneks, giving us the Yuan-Ti halfblood Ahara (often pretends to be an unusually smart lizardfolk) and Nadja Etnos, the gold Dragonborn. Ahara is True Neutral, Nadja is Neutral Good.
Nadja’s name just kinda came to me, and I literally named Ahara after the exclamation “aha!”
What If: You were Shingen and Shintaro's older sister (masterlist)
<<read the synopsis and content warnings first>>
featuring: Gapryong Kim, Minseon Kang, Jinyeong Park, Eunha Lee
Trigger/Content Warnings: child neglect/abuse, public execution
Author's Note: If y'all haven't seen them, please check out these amazing artworks featuring simp!Gap and pre-gen!Noona, sent by reader @janmancan19: 1, 2, 3. Also, dear AO3/Quotev readers, I drew this, 'cause Gap gives me Himmel vibes.
In 1950, South Korea introduced compulsory education to its people. In other words, by the 1960s, school was mandatory for all children.
Unfortunately, because Gapryong Kim's parents were more like furniture than parents, he had a difficult time at school. His hair was shaggy and often left unwashed. If his parents had the funds for his uniform then they never gave it to him; he would walk to school wearing slippers, shorts and his father's jacket, which reached all the way to his knees. At some point, he stopped attending altogether.
When you came along, you convinced him to continue his education.
"I have my own circumstances so I can't even attend school," you had explained in broken Korean.
He didn't know how you did it, but you scrounged up enough money to buy him two sets of his elementary uniform and a pair of leather shoes. You tried trimming his hair once, but ultimately decided to spend more money on him and took him to a barber.
For the first time in his life, he was able to see you clearly.
"Well, would you look at that," you giggled, patting his head, "you were hiding such a cute forehead."
***
Academics was not Gapryong's strong suit. His classmates and even some teachers made fun of him, but instead of crying or getting angry, he laughed along. He didn't need their approval. He could accept the fact that he was never going to be valedictorian or go to college.
"Noona, I'm home."
You lived in a sub-basement that was a few blocks away from his parents' place. You didn't even have your own bed, just several carton boxes laid flat on the floor. Gapryong spent 95% of his time here instead of his parents' place. Wherever you were was home for him.
"What are you reading?" he asked, seeing you with a battered old book.
He dumped his bag by the door and joined you on the carton mat. Upon closer inspection, the book wasn't written in Korean. The cover was a little blonde boy in a light green suit; he was standing on what appeared like an asteroid.
"Noona?"
You didn't respond. You didn't even notice him.
Gapryong beamed, knelt down and then lay his head on your lap.
"Oh, hey, guppy."
"Hi noona."
"When did you come in?"
"I just arrived. Have you eaten?"
"I'm still full, but what about you? I'll get dinner started—"
"No, don't. You can finish reading." He was happy right where he was. "It looks like you're half-way done."
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh. What're you reading anyway?"
"It's an English translation of a French novel—novella, actually."
"Is it good?"
"Yup. I'll find one in Korean so you can enjoy it."
"Just read it to me right now," he yawned and bent one arm over his stomach. "I learned Japanese because of you, maybe I'll learn English from this."
"And you just want to take a nap before dinner, right?"
"You know me so well."
You chuckled and put a hand over his. "Okay. But I'm starting right where I left off."
You cleared your throat and began reading:
"My life is very monotonous," the fox said. "I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow…" [1]
Gapryong didn't understand a single word you said, but he will never forget that moment, or all the other times you read to him after school.
Gapryong often forgot even the most basic facts about world history—even South Korean history, but he could remember clearly what clothes you wore, what was on the book cover (even if he couldn't read the title) and what you two had for dinner.
You weren't just the only thing that mattered, you were his everything.
Every moment spent with you was carved into his very soul.
The Yamazakis have begun executing people.
At first you didn't believe it. It was one of those things that, no matter what anyone said or how many people said it, unless you saw it for yourself, you just couldn't wrap your head around it.
For better or worse, you were forced to accept it when one day, while walking with Minseon and Gapryong, the Yamazakis dragged a man in front of their venerated statue. The poor man had his head and hands bound by a cangue.
According to the hushed murmuring of the crowd, the kneeling captive was guilty of "disrespecting his Yamazaki guests."
A tattooed thug with a sword walked towards the so-called criminal.
Minseon squeezed your arm—
Gapryong grabbed your shoulder—
A disgusting, heavy, wet sound—something sharp meeting flesh and bone—
and then screams everywhere.
Minseon buried her face in your chest as Gapryong's hand flew over your eyes, but it was too late. You can't unsee it, how that man's head fell with a thud, how it rolled over so his wide eyes, full of despair, met yours.
Minseon's tears were hot. Her sobs melted with the others. The yakuza yelled but you couldn't understand what they were saying. The air vibrated. Your ears hummed.
"…na…"
The disembodied head on the concrete looked like it was begging you. What is it? What did he want?
Should you be crying as well?
Your fingers twitched. Your feet hurt as if wanting to stepped forward and help.
"Noona—" a deep, clear voice cut through the noise.
Something black and red stood im front of you. Cold, calloused hands held your face.
"Noona, look at me."
Gapryong?
"Gapryong…"
He gave you a small smile. "Yeah."
"You should wear your gloves."
He chuckled. "Okay."
"He's dead, isn't he?"
"…Yeah."
You turned your head but Gapryong took a side step, blocking your view.
"Sun's setting," he whispered, "we should go."
The walk back to the Kangs was a quiet one. Minseon held onto your hand the entire way. Gapryong, usually one to crack a joke to try and lift everybody's spirit, kept his mouth shut.
When Mr. Kang found out what happened, he closed up early and served gukbap.
Minseon could only stare at her bowl. Gapryong forced himself to eat. But you? Once you got over the surprise execution, you were back to normal, and so was your appetite.
Your boss and friends were quiet for five whole minutes.
Mr. Kang was the one to break the silence, "…so how are you all feeling?"
"Dad," Minseon started shakingly, "I think we should lay low for a while. Let's go back to the countryside, until… until this blows over. We can take unnie with us."
"Wow, I appreciate the invite," Gapryong scoffed as he scooped his remaining rice and poured it into your bowl.
Minseon's father shook his head. "We can't do that, love. This shop is our life, we can't just leave it behind."
"We're not leaving it behind. We just… stay away for a while, until… until those thugs forget about us."
"Why, so they can destroy our place while we're gone? You're worrying too much, Minseon. I doubt that they even remember our faces."
Minseon slammed her palms on the table, her chair fell to the floor. "I just saw them kill a man today!"
You stopped eating.
Minseon continued, "That man was your age and then—and then he was just gone." She stared at her trembling hands. "He was just gone."
Gapryong didn't say anything and neither did you.
Mr. Kang sighed and turned to both of you. "I'm sorry. It seems my daughter and I have lots to discuss."
You nodded and reached for you purse, but Gapryong already put crumpled bills on the table.
"Thank you for the gukbap, boss. See you tomorrow."
"You two stay safe."
Gapryong shouldered your purse. "We will. Good night."
You thanked your boss and gave Minseon a final hug before leaving with Gapryong.
"Finally, we can breathe!" he exclaimed, stretching upward as you treaded down the street.
"Mm."
"That sure got intense, huh?"
"…mm"
"But seriously, that Minseon, I swear—we've been friends for so long, you'd think she'd invite me to live in the countryside too." He folded his arms behind his head. "Not that I need the invite—or anyone's permission. I'll follow you wherever you go, noona. Even with Minseon's best efforts, you are never getting rid of me. You can go back to Japan and I'll swim there just to find you, haha."
"…"
"What, not even a smile?"
You were fixated on your feet, on walking that you didn't even noticed that he stopped.
He tugged on the hem of your cardigan, which snapped you out of your trance.
"Huh?"
"Are you still thinking about what happened?"
You rubbed your arms.
"It was terrifying, right? I don't blame you—"
"I think there's something wrong with me, Gap," you confessed, unable to look him in the eye, "a man just died—no, he was killed in front of me, and it's a tragic thing. I was shocked just like all of you, but then… then I felt nothing. It was like, yes, it's sad that he's dead, but there's nothing else that we can do. Is that normal? I should've been crying like Minseon and everyone else—I-I'm a monster—"
"Hey." The firmness in his tone had you lifting your chin up.
Gapryong's lighthearted expression was gone as he spoke, "You are not a monster."
"You don't understand—" you grabbed your head "—I don't feel anything now, aside from guilt that I don't feel anything. A man was executed right before my very eyes—his head rolled towards my feet and I—"
"Breathe." He put his hands on your shoulders. "Breathe," he repeated and you finally followed.
Once you've calmed down, he continued, "You're right, a man was killed unfairly and brutally, and that is a very sad thing. It should have never happened."
You bit your lip.
"But think of it this way, you didn't know him. He was a stranger. It's okay to feel a little upset and then move on."
Your face twisted into horror. "That's not a good thing!"
"I didn't say it was. Noona, you're the most selfless person I know. You're distant but you can't turn away from someone who needs help. Remember when we were kids, remember that man whose heart you restarted when everybody else just watched him breathe for air?"
"I can't believe you're bringing that up. It was so long ago, I thought you'd forget about it—I almost forgot."
"I remember every day I spend with you like it was yesterday."
"Here you go again with that nonsense. How is this supposed to make me feel better?"
"My point is that—" he flicked your forehead "—you're so kind and always so eager to help that your brain needs to do something. It probably rewired itself so that you don't get attached or else you go crazy."
"Huh. I didn't think of it that way."
"See? You just needed to breathe and listen to me more. You were stressing out and blind to your own way of coping that you just caused more trouble for your brain."
"Fair point—wait, where did you learn that?"
"Last Friday, you were raving about this psychosomething paper or something by two Westerners." [2]
"It's psychology, and wow, I didn't expect that."
"I listen. I don't always get what you're saying, but I do listen."
"I'm glad." You laughed. "I guess my ramblings aren't totally useless."
"Never."
"I feel better now. Thanks, guppy."
You frowned.
Seeing your dissatisfaction, he said, "I know that face. What else are you thinking?"
"I'm worried about Minseon and Mr. Kang."
"They'll be fine."
"I really hope so." You sighed. "I don't know what I'm going to do if they actually leave."
"You still have your call center job."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you; they fired me."
His smile froze. "What?"
"With everything's that happened, there's been a serious case of… nevermind. The point is that the company thought it would be best to let me go."
"Why did they fire you?"
"It's not important—"
"The hell it's not—!" he cleared his throat and reiterated, "Of course, it's important. Please tell me, noona."
"Don't get upset."
"…"
"Gapryong."
"Yes, I promise, I won't get upset."
You took a deep breath and then told him that, for security reasons, the company needed a background check on every employee. You couldn't provide them the necessary papers and at some point, someone spread the news of you being an immigrant. There were bigots regarding your alien status, but most of your colleagues were understanding. But then, another rumor started: you were Japanese. They said that your accent was like a Japanese native who learned Korean later in life.
"She sounds just like those Yamazaki scum."
You decided not to mention the last part to Gapryong. It embarassed you to be compared to the Yamazakis who would chop someone's head off for the pettiest reasons.
"Anyway, it's probably for the best," you reassured him. "When one door closes, right? …Gap?"
You could see the veins in his head and neck.
"I promise I'm okay. In fact, we should be celebrating. I can finally catch up on some sleep and we can spend more time together."
"They had no right to do that," he muttered.
"They do and they did."
"You were so excited when you found out you were accepted… you never missed a day. How can they throw you away like this?"
You glanced at Gapryong. Darkness ghosted over his features. You haven't seen him like this in years, not even when he protected you from the Yamazaki morons who violated the restaurant.
You wrapped your arms around his waist and leaned against his chest. "I know I made you promise not to get upset, but truthfully, I'm thankful that you always get angry on my behalf."
"…"
"Don't worry. I've been wanting to quit, anyway, they just beat me to it." You raised your chin and grinned. "I have some money left, let's go buy some beer!"
Slowly, the shadow on his face disappeared. "Absolutely not. Once we're home, you're gonna shower and rest."
"Ugh. What a nag."
"This nag is worried for your liver. You're the one who used to tell me horror stories about cirrhosis[3] and cancer so I wouldn't grow up a drunk."
"Yes, yes, you're right. I need to take better care of myself. Oh, one more thing, Gap."
"Hm?"
"Bend down."
"Like thi—hey!"
You flicked his forehead. "Payback, you little brat. Did you forget which one of us is older?"
He pouted and pretended like you just smacked him with a hammer. "My noona is so petty and mean. It's a good thing she's cute or I would have run away years ago~"
Seeing him goof off now, you can't help but think of the past. He used to be much more difficult to placate.
When he was a teenager, he was arrested for nearly beating his teacher to death. When you picked him up from the police station, he refused to speak up so you filled the silence with random trivia—
"So anyway, Marie Antoinette didn't actually say 'let them eat cake.' It was just something her detractors made up to further anger the people and turn them against the monarchy."
"…"
"Okay, I'm running out of interesting facts and frankly, my throat's starting to hurt from all this talking. How much longer are we going to circle around the airport? You wanna land this plane for me, kid?"
"I'm not a kid," he grumbled.
"Really? Getting into fights, cutting classes and now, assaulting your teacher? All of it sounds pretty dumb—the kind of thing only kids who don't know any better would do."
"Tsk."
"What's wrong with you, Gap? I know you're going through puberty, but—" You reached out to touch his shoulder but he slapped you away.
"!!!"
His dark eyes widened. "I-I didn't mean to—"
"It's okay—"
"I'm sorry, noona!" He fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around your legs. "D-don't be mad—no, actually, go ahead and hit me back, but please don't leave—don't leave me, noona!"
You petted his head to calm him down. "I won't leave you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Please hit me."
"No. Now get up, people are watching."
"Promise me that you won't leave me."
"I promise to never leave you, even when you're being annoying and moody."
He rose to his feet and you used your handkerchief to wipe away his tears.
"Why did you beat up your teacher?"
He didn't answer.
"Was it because he brought up your test scores in front of the whole class?"
"No. I can live with barely passing my class. They can call me an idiot, it doesn't bother me because it's true, but…" Gapryong shut his eyes and murmured something.
"I didn't catch that."
"He said…" Gapryong clenched his fists. "He said he'd raise my grades if you slept with him."
"Ah."
"I didn't mean to beat him up, I swear!"
"I believe you."
"Are you still angry?"
"Yes, but not at you." You sighed and then smiled. "Thank you."
"!"
"Thank you for getting angry on my behalf."
"O-of course."
"But you can't do that again, okay? I don't want to see you behind bars ever."
That wasn't the last time Gapryong lost himself and beat someone to a bloody pulp because they insulted you or looked at you the wrong way. Thankfully, he eventually grew out of it.
Teenage bitchiness was something else.
The only thing left was for him to outgrow his clinginess.
"We should hurry," he said, bringing you back to the present, "it's almost curfew."
He offered you his arm and you two resumed walking.
"Do you think Minseon and the boss will be okay?" you asked softly.
"You're so protective of those two, I'm jealous."
"I'm protective of you."
"But you don't let me cling to you like Minseon. You hug her all the time but flick my forehead and poke my cheeks."
"Can we get back on track?"
He snickered. "Don't worry so much."
"Easier said than done."
He looked at you.
"What?"
"I'll protect them, noona. Everything that is precious to you, I'll never stop protecting them."
He watched as your expression changed from surprise to confusion, and then exasperation.
"You're so cheesy."
The world that makes you smile, the people you treasure, he will save them just like the heroes in the books you love so much.
"I guess I am."
***
Jinyeong Park ran his fingers through his hair. Dozens of Yamazakis lay unconscious at his feet.
Jinyeong Park was a pharmacy student. His older sister and brother-in-law worked tirelessly to put him through school, so what was he doing fighting gangsters on the streets?
"You didn't even break a sweat," said Eunha Lee, his second-in-command in the Liberation Training Corps.[4] Her tone was both impressed and mildly irritated.
"Right back at 'cha." He gestured at the who that had the misfortune of meeting her sword.
"Are you leaving?"
"I have to. My younger sister needs help studying for her exams. I plan to sit there menacingly so she can't even think of procrastinating."
Eunha laughed. "I'll handle everything from here. Take care, captain."
He bade goodbye to his crew and headed straight home.
"Welcome home, big bro! Guess what happened in class today—"
"Welcome home. Are you hungry?"
"Jineyong! Get in here, I got you some watermelons!"
Why was Jinyeong Park fighting?
Why was he risking his life when he was barely surviving each day?
"Jinyeong?" His older sister, Seonhui, furrowed her brows. "You look exhausted. Don't worry about your chores. I'll do the dishes so get some rest after dinner."
"You've been on your feet all day, unnie! I'll do the dishes—oppa, go shower so we can eat."
His brother-in-law, Sangcheol, appeared with a whole watermelon. "Come on, have a snack first. I picked this out just for you."
"Hey, no fair, you said we couldn't eat any before dinner!"
Jinyeong struggled to even maintain the Training Corps, he had no delusion of driving the Yamazakis away completely. But, even if he couldn't save the world, if fighting everyday could protect this small happiness of his, then he'll keep fighting.
[1] This is an excerpt from "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
[2] "Stress, Appraisal and Coping" by Lazarus and Folkman (1984) for those who are interested.
[3] Cirrhosis: late stage of liver disease, wherein most of the liver has been replaced with scar tissue.
[4] The Liberation Training Corps was a group led by Jinyeong Park while he was still a pharmacy student. They fought against the Yamazaki forces even before joining hands with Gapryong Kim.
Eunha Lee is an actual character, but I can't link a photo of her right now because the currently, the most recent Lookism episode on Webtoon is Ep. 604.
a/n: I can't decide whether Gap is a soft yandere or just REALLY clingy and protective lololol whatever, who needs labels.
Anyway~ I was really hoping to include the scene where Jinyeong and Noona are bonding while Minseon tries to piss off Gap, but alas, it was not meant to be.
Crank the Crusher With shell covered skin, 4 arms and a venomous bite, this former work slave is one tough first rank excavator. Just 1 of 8 pre-generated characters included in Muddy Mayhem, an adventure included in our free or ‘Pay What You Want’ Quickstart Rules for The Mutant Epoch TTRPG https://www.outlandarts.com/qsr.htm #mutantepoch #krank #excavator #pregen #adventure #quickstart #rules #roleplayinggame #RPG #ttrpg #apocalyptic #postapocalyptic #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #tabletoprpg #gaming #tabletopgame #indiegame #gamer like #gammaworld or #fallout or #mutantcrawlclassics #gameart #scifi #charactersheet #playercharacter https://www.instagram.com/p/Caz5BEJJAxQ/?utm_medium=tumblr
Rusty the Reckless, a pure stock human excavator featured as a pre-generated, ready to play digger in Muddy https://www.outlandarts.com/qsr.htm #mutantepoch #rusty #pureblood #pregen #adventure #quickstart #rules #roleplayinggame #RPG #ttrpg #apocalyptic #postapocalyptic #outlandsystem #outlandarts #mutants #mutant #epoch #tabletoprpg #gaming #tabletopgame #indiegame #gamer like #gammaworld or #fallout or #mutantcrawlclassics #gameart #scifi #charactersheet #playercharacter https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca5CvmhJPAl/?utm_medium=tumblr
