Necro: Well, wouldn't you know it, I almost gave up. Just a few weeks after becoming an adult and I almost gave up. Not so quick. I'm back and getting to work. Now watch me go!
MP: And remember to check out our Tumblr and let us know if there are any other media you want us to set up on. Just look up the tag Necro's Writings and you should find us.
"So you're an interdimensionally wanted criminal with multiple bounties on your head and now you've brought a very dangerous bounty hunter to this dimension?" Maka summarized slowly, everyone else in the room quiet as they absorbed the information that John had finally given up.
"That sounds about right. You missed the part where I cross-dress for relaxation and call myself Joanne, but yeah, that's about it. Anything else you need to know?" John brushed down his slacks and straightened the collar of his button-up. "What colors am I wearing?"
"Black and a very bright blue," Maka answered. "What could you have done that would result in a situation like this?"
"Many things. None of which you honestly need to know. So black pants and a blue shirt, right? I would hate it if it were the other way around. You can keep asking questions, I don't have anywhere I need to be right now." John moved over to a rack of hats that the bar usually kept for costumes.
"Yes, black pants and blue shirt. I think we do need to know. How else can we trust you?"
"Ooh, a big question that. The answer is, you can't. Part of the reason for most of those bounties is that I am mentally unstable and just barely holding onto my perception of reality. I could quite literally lose my mind right now and cause all sorts of trouble. Or piss my pants. Hard to predict which in such a calm situation." John picked up a bright pink trilby and placed it on his head. "Does this go with what I'm wearing?"
"Not at all." Kid replied. They had already sat through this process earlier when John suddenly decided that he wanted to wear something around his neck. He eventually gave up on it when they shot down so many of his choices. And trying to get him to focus solely on the task at hand was impossible. "It's pink."
"Pink goes with everything." John huffed, putting the hat back and picking up a black flat cap and practically slapping it on his head. "How's this?"
"Put on your jacket with it," Tsubaki suggested, the only one who seemed to be having some fun with John's desire to try on what clothing he could find in the dressing room.
John picked up his jacket and slung it on. "How's this?" While his bomber jacket did not quite fit with the rest of his outfit, it did give an idea of how, with the right outerwear, distinguished he could appear.
"Good, but I think the jacket needs to be changed out," Tsubaki commented.
"What do you mean you're mentally unstable?" Kid butted in, having worked as much out, but never thinking the man would admit it.
"Exactly what it sounds like, I would imagine. You remember Shade, yes?" John examined his jacket, mostly with his hands, then checked it against the clothes he was already wearing. "Maybe a chesterfield would be better. Single column buttons definitely..." John mumbled.
"Can you focus on the discussion?" Kid demanded, finally standing up from his seat.
"I am giving this conversation the attention it deserves and no more," John replied, pulling off the flat cap and setting it back on the small shelf next to the vanity. "Anyway, Shade is part of the reason I am unhinged. Beyond that, I do not currently feel comfortable enough around you all to explain more. Now, I think we've been here long enough." John pulled a pocket watch out of his jacket, the polished brass chain disappearing into the pocket. He clicked the button at the top, the cover popping open and the ticking that had been so quiet suddenly intensifying. "Actually, we're over. Damn it. Hey, Kid, you're a skateboarder, right?" John snapped the watch closed and turned to face the young reaper.
"Yes, I am."
"May I borrow your board? I'm expected somewhere. I'll owe you one if that makes you more willing to lend it." John pulled on his jacket and ruffled his hair one last time. "I might even answer a big question."
Kid opened his mouth to say no, with half a mind to add in other, less pleasant words but stopped to think about it. Kid needed more answers from John, and now he was guaranteed at least one to a big question. The only problem being that he would have to give up his board for however long John would see fit to use it. "Where are you going?"
"The gate to the city. I promise to return the board quickly." John smiled and pulled out his watch again. "I'll even give this to you as collateral. How about it?"
Kid had no idea just how important the watch was to John, but now he had a guarantee for a speedy return as well as an answer. "Alright." John tossed the watch to Kid after unclipping the chain from inside his pocket and Kid brought out his skateboard, Beelzebub, then quickly put away the pocket-watch.
John snatched up the skateboard and headed for the door, saying over his shoulder, "You lot should probably head home. It's not gonna be pleasant if I have to explain to Lord Death why my students were seen with me near a bar. I could get fired." He laughed to himself all the way out, the small group following after him. "Have a nice night kids, and Kid, try to think of a good question." He called before jumping on the board and skating off for the gates.
"You don't think he'll crash, do you?" Tsubaki asked worriedly, watching their strange teacher disappear into the distance on the board.
"I doubt it. His ability to perceive his surroundings will make it nearly impossible for him to hit anything he isn't aiming at." Kid responded as they all turned to head to their respective homes, Soul and Maka discussing what to eat that night, and Black*Star walking in an unusual silence.
MadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMadMad
John glided smoothly through the streets on the borrowed skateboard, hands in pockets as he thought about the group he'd left behind.
You kinda lead them around, don't you?
"I suppose, but it was rather necessary. I didn't mean to start crying in front of them, though. That was not in my plan." John effortlessly avoided a tipped over trash can, which had spilled its contents all over the street. As he passed it, a wave of black, not much larger than the can itself, righted the can and scooped the trash back inside then quickly dissipated. "I guess at some point I will have to explain myself more thoroughly, huh?"
I think you should.
"You know, most people who take advice from a voice in their head are crazy."
But you are crazy.
"Hmm, true." John chuckled, running a hand through his hair before quickly returning it to his pocket. "So, how did you end up at DWMA?" He guided the skateboard into an alley that cut from one street to another, one much closer to the city gates.
I was actually born here. My mom and dad were students at the academy.
"Oh? Were they a meister and weapon pair?" John brought down one of his feet to pause at an intersection.
You'll go right here. And no, they weren't. They were in the same group of friends for years and it just…happened, from what they'd told me.
"Yeah, I've met a lot of couples who got together like that."
What about you? I assume you have parents, too.
"Yeah, I've got a dad. Mom died." John hopped onto the sidewalk, still gliding towards his destination.
How'd they meet?
"Dad always said that he'd fallen into her arms and that he couldn't imagine life without her." John sighed and stopped the board, stepping on the back end to flip it into his waiting hands.
That's sweet.
"Yeah. My dad had moments like that. Got any siblings?" He started off down the sidewalk, the skateboard slung over his shoulders.
No, I'm an only child. My parents did try for a while, but I guess they gave up.
"Thomas, you know that I'm sorry, right? You had a good life here and…I kinda messed it up."
It was already messed up. My meister died, my parents were in the middle of a massive fight, and I screwed things up with my girlfriend.
"Temporary things. Well, except the death bit. That's sorta permanent. And that only happened a little before I took over, so I doubt it really counts."
Are you going to be like everyone else I talked to about my problems?
"Depends on what you think I'll say next."
I dunno. Something about how I shouldn't let stuff get to me? Maybe tell me not to worry so much?
John let out a small laugh. "No, I'm not gonna tell you anything like that. It's a little late for me to be offering advice, though. You're already dead. Frees you from the worries of this world, I should think." John stopped in front of an imposing gateway, sealed with doors made of wood and metal and bars made of what he assumed to be made of a heavy metal. "Just forget the past. It matters not now. For you, anyway." John examined the door and its bars, running his hands over the surface and using what he could determine, approximated the weight of the bars.
What, are you going to lift them out of the way yourself? We use pulleys to move those things.
"Oh, I think I'll be just fine. Think those bars can hold their own weight?"
Of course they can. They wouldn't be very strong otherwise.
"Well, there's different forms of stress. Guess I'll have to find out for myself." John moved back from the great gate and smiled as two pillars of black rose up from beneath the bars, raising them slowly. "Well, it seems like it'll be just fine."
What are you doing? I can…feel other parts of your mind working.
"I'm moving the bars with their shadows. What you feel is the part of the brain responsible for controlling the shadows waking up. I'll be done soon." The pillars reshaped themselves around the bars, encircling them and raising them even further before engaging the mechanism that held the bars in place when not in use. With their task finished the shadow shapes dissipated, leaving the bars locked in place at the top of the gate.
That was...an unpleasant feeling. John was sure that if he could see Thomas, he would be hunched over, struggling to keep down the bile in his stomach. That's how it was for him at first.
"Yep. You get used to it. I imagine it's much worse for humans than it is Ageless." John stepped back, well outside the swing of the gates, and waited.
What are we doing here?
"Remember when I asked you if you had any siblings?" John asked, using the shadows of the gate to begin opening it.
Yeah, you just asked me.
John chuckled and nodded. "Right, I did. Well, that's what we're doing here."
What?
"We're here to meet my brother." Just as the gates thudded to a stop, a black car pulled through, its engine purring quietly as it drove up next to John and stopped.
"You know, brother, there are many easier places meet at and find." A soft purr-like voice said as the passenger side window rolled down, revealing a face very similar to John's, but more feline and much more open.
"Well, Mason, I figured you would have no problem finding the place since it's the only city for miles in this desert." John unlocked the passenger door and pulled it open, carefully placing Kid's skateboard in the back as he slid in. "Besides, you love any excuse to drive your Falcon." Mason could only 'tsk' in return, knowing John was right. Any place that was more than a fifteen-minute walk, he would gladly drive his car to. He loved showing off his fully, and personally, restored 1976 Ford Falcon XB. The engine was the only bit he had had help with, and that was because he didn't want to keep using all his money at gas stations.
"So what were you doing all the way out here, anyway?" Mason locked the doors and rolled up the window. "Not much interesting here, besides this city and the academy. And the perpetually black moon. What's with that, by the way?" Mason started the drive up the winding road, the gate shutting behind them with help from more shadows.
"The moon is black?" John asked in an almost alarmed voice.
"Yeah, did you not notice?" Mason glanced over at his brother.
"Brother, look me in the eye and say that." John turned his head to Mason, staring at him with unseeing eyes.
"I am well aware that you are blind, but surely someone mentioned it. And stop staring at me like that. It's unnerving."
"It's meant to be. My eyes don't react to anything. I'm sure they have a glassy look, don't they."
"I don't know. Do you remember what glass looks like?" Mason had to bite his lip when his brother gasped loudly, hand over his chest in mock offense.
"Brother, how dare you!" John was not as contained as his sibling and began laughing before he had even finished his sentence. "Oh man, it's too long since I honestly laughed. Ooh, Mason, we should go a bar!"
"You hate getting drunk. And I can't get drunk." Mason pointed out.
"I haven't seen you in nearly fifty years and you don't wanna hang out? Especially since we'll eventually be in deep shit?" John pouted and adopted a sad puppy sort of look.
"Brother, I appreciate the offer and the effort that you are probably planning to put into getting me to drink with you, but I do not think our first night together in five decades getting-"
"Wasted as hell?" John interjected. "Why not? Like you said, you can't even get drunk, your body is so hot that it instantly sets the alcohol on fire and leaves whatever else alone." John sat up in his seat and leaned closer to his brother. "Come on, just one night."
Mason was silent for a few minutes before nodding reluctantly. "Fine, fine. But if you start singing karaoke or anything equally embarrassing, I will leave you there."
John's only response was, "I have a wonderful singing voice."
"What do I call you this time? Don't suppose you're still going by Nyx or whatever that was."
"John. This time, I'm John Cooper." He answered after a moment of silence. Mason only glanced at his brother, choosing to remain quiet. "I'd heard that you chose Cooper as your last name. I figured that since we're brothers, I should do the same." John tried to sound nonchalant, but they could both hear the slight waver. Their ears were too good to miss it.
"I appreciate it," Mason said after a long moment of silence. "So, do you know any good bars in the city?"
John smiled and turned to face his brother. "I know them all."
"Then let's go and watch you get drunker than that guy that used to live down the road from us."
"Jimmy the homeless guy?"
"No, the other one."
"Earl the ranch owner?"
"No, the other one."
"Hmm…Benny our cousin?"
"We had a cousin named Benny?"
"I think he was our cousin. Oh well, let's just get to a bar! There's one a couple streets over." And with that began a night of drinking that the two brothers hadn't experienced in a long time. Mason, unable to actually get drunk, mostly ordered various mixes that involved different fruit juices that the bar had on hand. John, however, drank enough for the two of them and was completely wasted shortly after they arrived at the first bar. It was not too long afterward that John picked a fight with another drunk who was harassing a young woman at the bar counter. The first fist wasn't swung until the drunk called John a 'faggot with a useless father'. The second ended the fight and the brothers' time at the bar.
That wouldn't be the end of the night for them, however. Instead, they simply moved on to the bar, Mason reminding John to behave so they could actually stay. Unfortunately, John was apparently not in a particularly agreeable mood and they were quickly removed from the premises. They blew through five bars in this fashion until finally settling down in one that, unluckily for Mason, contained a karaoke stage. John, at this point, no longer remembered his promise from earlier and insisted on dragging Mason up to the stage by his coat tails.
Mason was unable to leave the stage for three renditions of Radioactive. Following the third sing through of the popular song, John suddenly collapsed, having finally worn through his ridiculous supply of energy. Mason collected his brother, paid for their drinks, and lugged his unconscious sibling to his car, where he carefully laid in him the back seat. "I will admit, that was a lot of fun, brother." Mason drove around the city for nearly an hour, looking for someplace where they could stay for the night. And likely the next day, given how much John had drunk.
Bolting upright in the car, John suddenly said, his voice slurred, "Mason, take me to the school."
Mason, who had believed his brother wouldn't wake up for several hours, cursed loudly and a gun trained on John before he realized that it was his brother. "I swear, I am going to shoot you one of these days! And why do you need to go to the school?" Mason slipped his handgun back into the holster hidden in his coat and exhaled slowly.
"I live in the dungeons!" John replied enthusiastically, leaning forward and trying to wrap his brother in a hug, despite the awkward positioning and Mason trying to drive.
"You are way too happy about that. Sit back!" Mason took one hand off the wheel and pushed his brother away. "If we crash, I will shoot you." With his brother returned to the back seat, Mason turned onto a road that would take him to the DWMA. "I should have known better than to let you get drunk."
"But I'm not drunk! I'm just soooo happy to see my baby brother!" John giggled, toppling over in his seat when Mason turned again, this time a little sharply.
"We don't even know who was born first. And you only act this way if you are completely smashed." Mason pulled up to the front of the academy and parked, pausing to mentally prepare himself for dealing with his drunken sibling.
"Do not! I looooove my brother!" John climbed out of the car himself and practically launched himself at Mason, pulling his taller brother into a tight embrace.
Mason replied by lifting John over his shoulder and carrying him inside, following directions that were given to him amongst declarations of affection for various people that they had met and seemingly random questions about what Mason had been up to. Eventually, he was able to get his brother to his cell, where he discovered a dismantled cot and almost indecipherable carvings on the wall that Mason recognized as depictions of how John perceived language. "You are a very odd person, brother."
"Hehehe, that's what everyone says!" John giggled, flopping onto the cot's mattress, which had been pulled into the only corner not visible from the door. The window had been blocked with the pillow case.
"You are far too drunk." Mason sighed, pulling the blanket over his brother, who was already blinking his eyes sleepily. "I'll stay here tonight, so you don't get into any trouble." Mason sat down in the opposite corner, legs crossed and cane set on his lap.
"Yay! Sleepover!" John quickly sat up and beamed at Mason. "We should get some…snacks…and…" John fell back onto his thin mattress and was sleeping soundly in an instant.
"Perhaps that last bar was a little much." Mason smiled to himself and, with a snap of his fingers, snuffed out the flame of the lantern on the ceiling. "But I must admit, that was the most fun you and I have had together in a long time." So began the most peaceful night Mason could remember since that night in the hospital so long ago.
Necro: Fucking hell, I'm finally done! I did it! Yessss!
MP: Great, now I have to edit. See you all next chapter. Check the Tumblr to see what night Mason is remembering.