Hello! Son Gohan and his friends. Babidi Saga (Chapter 16)
Majin Buu
Clouds raged on from all sides, sparking storms and thunderous electricity scorched the sky with blues, purples, and yellows, dotting and colouring in the black clouds surrounding the barely visible foggy structure beyond. Majin Buu and Babidi warped into existence, the lines drawing their frame into space brushed away by the rain and wind, capitalised by the clapping thunder that roared through the clouds.
"That pest is just up there." Babidi claimed as he put away the crystal ball. "Pippidi Paparapapa!"
DOONN~
A huge dim blue aurora of magic shot out in every direction, pushing against the grain below Kami's Lookout. The clouds around stopped on a dime, the lightning ran its course and so too did the thunder, but after the initial volley of the storm's death throes, everything paused. Babidi and his wrinkly mustard coloured skin bunched up at the behest of his wicked smile and he cackled.
"Child's play. And they call this fool a Guardian? HyeckHyechHyechHyechHyaCaaCaa!"
"..." Buu stared intensely as the fog clouding his Ki Sensing cleared and he felt the pang of his other half reverberate into his being.
Kami felt the same and his pink doughy body shuttered at the thought before the pair promptly popped up in front of the fat Guardian of Majin.
Wshapp! Tupp.
"Do your thing, Buu. This one is yours." Babidi claimed as he towed the line backwards and waited patiently by the flowing fog of The Lookout's 'garden'.
"I'm Going To Turn You To Chocolate And Gobble You Up."
"That's the first thing you say after what..? 700 years? What a statement indeed."
Buu's banana yellow brow furrowed down comically and his whistling train smoke fogged up The Lookout even more than it already did, the black smoke surrounding the palace in the sky corralling in the other kind produced by Buu, a veritable hotbox of all kinds of different gasses. Babidi eventually caved and cast a spell over his body, a blue bubble to protect himself from the constantly rising temperatures and dangerous looking clouds.
Majin Buu VS Kami, The Guardian of Majin
"You still want my position even after all these years?"
"Position?" Buu leaned back all gangly, turning his head almost into a complete upside down mockery, hand on his chest. "I DON'T WANT YOUR DAMN POSITION! I'M GONNA BE A DESTROYER!"
Buu reared his head back as far as it would go and smashed his golden boot into the golden tile, kipping up chalky dust as he came back in with a simultaneous headbutt and right overhand combo. Kami flew back towards the main temple but Buu's hand didn't fully commit to its downward trajectory and instead meandered towards his other half's location like a snake on water.
Wsht!
In a flash, Buu snatched up the white cloak of Kami and pulled himself to it instead of vice versa, turning upside down as he did it, face to face with his other half but reversed. He cackled like a maniac as he barraged Kami's dome with a brutal rush of kick after kick, forcing The Guardian's hands high to block as Buu gathered up all the strength he could in his throat and screeched out something intangible. The volume was so loud it couldn't be deciphered, it was just a blast of raw noise that pushed back all the black clouds surrounding The Lookout, pulling the smoke from near Babidi past the pair as they fought.
…
Silence. It was so loud, the fierce strikes from both sides were tuned out, the lightning and then of course the thunder couldn't be heard either. Kami's gut took the impact and bent inwards a strange degree as The Lookout's golden glittery tiles kipped up and were sent careening off the edge, the temple they clashed in front of was called into disarray from a single yell and Buu's erratic movements turned back straight as he landed on the floor and subsequently ducked low, putting his yellow boxing glove on the ground and limboing the lashback of his own scream that The Guardian reversed outward.
The sound wasn't nearly as loud this time and could be clearly heard as it echoed off Kami's bulbous tummy. Babidi slid along the tile and his bubble popped, cracking and then raining ethereal magic glass over his orange cloak as the roar came back into him. Buu wound up his right hand in a supersonic windmill only to snuffed out by a tight right counterpunch to the teeth from Kami. Buu fell off balance but used the transition to send out a banger of a left boot, simply smashing his left foot into The Guardian's midsection and sending him right through the palace laid in the middle of The Lookout.
Buu fell down only to catch himself with his boxing gloves and then fire off into the night, pushing as hard as he could off the tile, denting The Lookout downwards and forcing Babidi to take to the skies as the palace in the sky could no longer stand upright. It slowly, very meticulously crept downwards towards the clouds at a snail's pace.
Washt! Fshuu! FuuFwuuFuuScu~DOONN! Fshu~FuuFuuSwuu~DOOONN!
They ran circles around the top space of The Lookout, clashing every once in a while with their dancing routine, Buu taking his best potshots and Kami trying to return the same favour. The Guardian found the right angle and stopped Buu cold with a brutal hit to the head with his staff, denting it inwards like his head was made of clay. Buu's boxing gloves came together to try and pry his skin, smoothing it out to the right shape before The Guardian punished his attempt to shift focus, slamming an overhand staff hit right onto his top antenna, and plunging Buu right back down into The Lookout.
THLAMM! FSHUUUuuuuu~wsht! fyUUUUUUUUU! WHAMM!
Buu's right hand snuck right into Kami's gut but this time his squinty eyes opened to reveal the beady white nature of his eyes and the pair separated again as The Guardian sent out a massive bang of Kiai out of his off hand not holding the staff.
Puh-POKK!
Buu pursued feverishly, coming high, his poofy parachute pants and cape flowing wildly in the wind, the rain, and the clouds. His yellow body and royal blue cape shined brightly under the flashbang of a lightning strike behind him.
KAH-KOWWWWWW!
He attempted to slice his other half, in half, but his left leg axe kick missed by a wide margin. He gathered energies in both hands and harassed The Guardian with wave after wave of pink energy blasts, truly a swarm of bullets if there ever was one. Kami relentlessly defended and persuaded the small pockets of energy out of his way until he had enough and released a gigantic shockwave of energy out of his staff, a force field of Kiai, spanning out in all directions, clearing the wind, the rain, the energy symphony, and the clouds once more. At that moment, Buu's foot smashed through The Lookout, looped around, and then smashed through the bottom on the other side. As Kami sent out the shockwave, Buu's foot crashed back around and sent skyward, right onto his location.
Before Kami had realised, his own banana yellow boot was snatched up by his other half's. Buu's calf winded around Kami's and gripped it like a coiling snake, snatching him and pulling him down with the weight of God. Kami couldn't keep a hold on his staff as he plunged right intot the golden tile of The Lookout, smashed through the halls, then breached the other side only to smash through the palace in the sky two more times, all in less than a second.
Both halves met face to face as lighting struck once more and a turquoise bit of energy formulated atop Buu's antenna. Kami put his hands up and defended against the first shot, parrying his chocolate beam the first time.
KAH-KOWWWWWWWW!
Buu's leg folded and shrunk, acquiescing to his needs and pulling Kami closer to his body so he could rain down wicked quick hands right to his foe's face and body without having to fully extend. Ape-like hammerfists, straight punches, crosses, hooks, uppers, downers, he threw everything he could think of to keep Kami from fighting back. The turquoise spark trickled to the top of his dangly appendage and Buu reared back his hair again as lightning ran across the pair from behind.
Kami tucked in his giant body like a turtle, expertly avoiding the chocolate beam, the tealy green blast turning chunks of gold into confectionary.
KOWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Kami's body bent strangely and his head broke through his stomach, tearing the priestly Guardian robes to shreds in an attempt to make sure to force contact. It worked superbly and Buu caught the full force of Kami's weighty head.
DMM! Whuwuwuwuwuwuu~
Kami broke off in a series of aerial backflips and cartwheels, spinning out of harm's way and spreading out his arms and legs in a starfish pose as he did it. As his other half hopped along the air, Buu broke out into his own flight path, absolutely zooming right towards his foe. He tackled Kami, grappling onto him and flying with him into the black clouds as they finally coalesced into a whole again only to be ripped apart again as the pair fought all along the space above The Lookout. Buu reared his head back for another nasty slam but Kami caught his head on incoming, gripping with violence around The Yellow Ghoul's neck. Buu's throat bunched up and then so too did his body, after that his arms and legs. Buu's eyes lost their luster and his gummy stone body started to pulse with serious veinage.
Buu shot his left leg towards The Lookout, sending all the force into his opposite leg, building it up into what could only really be called a balloon before he redirected All of it back into his throat. Kami simply couldn't keep his boxing gloves clamped over the surface and the sound was deafening.
"DAA-
…
The scream was so immense it sent Kami down with the weight of the world behind it, slamming him into The Lookout, only it wasn't The Lookout. Buu had ziplined to his left boot and landed a killer right upper right into where The Guardian's spine would be. After that, Kami stalled in the air for just a moment and Buu reared back his head once more.
ZztzzuZwerrett!
And after that, Buu simply ate the candied chocolate with pride.
Cla-Klumn.
"Gul~"
Buu's body changed again, forcing him from the banana yellow back to the glowing pink, his ghoulish skin-and-bones body bounding outward into an impressive athletic physique. His white wraps and thin nostrils were the only thing that resembled Zauyogi as his skin turned back to its state pre-separation, his blue cape following suit and turning back purple. The Madjinni grinned and then howled into the aether. The man resembling Popo simply stood amongst the broken wreckage of The Lookout with a solemn face.
"Popo~" Buu cackled.
WHAMM!
In an instant, he cleared the palace in the sky and splattered the blue man out of existence.
"Well that certainly didn't take as long as I was expecting. But hurry along now, we've got work to do."
"You think you can stop me?" Buu remarked with a wide grin, gripping deeply into his yellow boxing glove, an even more indomitable power seeping out of his very being.
"Go ahead and try it." The Wizard goaded, flaring out his arms wide.
Lightning flowed like butter through the air as Buu hyped up his strike and went for a straight dash lunge.
Vwerrrrrttt!
His yellow boots squealed along the tilted leftover tile of The Lookout and he let out a massive gassy explosion of steam, his veins pulsating in anger as his body Still refused to make contact.
Kuh-KOWWWWWWWWWWW!
"Ah, so sad. You tried your best. Now we're onto the real job. Come." Babidi stated as he pulled back out his crystal ball and dictated the terms of their next destination.
Buu's veins bunched up and while he couldn't strike his effective handler, he could bother him with searing hot steam, forcing The Wizard to cover up with magics to prevent him from just melting on the spot. Buu smiled as Babidi relayed some incantations and shot a stink eye The Madjinni's way. Buu, now whole, pressed his fingertip to his head and his 'ally' latched on.
Va-Vzh!
Hercule
The Orange Star City Police Department, a subsidiary branch of West City. There are five major cities across the entirety of Earth. North, South, East, West, and Central. Allegiances were shifting now that West City no longer had Krillin's watchful eye over it. After being relocated in all manner of places, Krillin had been stationed to North City and Hercule was now going to be forced to do the same, Again.
Ringggringggringgg~
"Chief of Police, Orange Star City Police Department, Hercule speaking."
"..."
"What?"
"..."
"Hehhh~ Yes sir."
"..."
"Mmhmm."
Hercule got out a pen and a pad.
"..."
After a few scribbles and a couple more yes sirs, Hercule put the sleek black receiver in its place and tugged at his scruff-laden stubble. He breathed out a heavy sigh and went on with the rest of his day. After a long drive home, not really even looking at the streets or the cars, and somewhat unsafely not even the lights, Hercule arrived home and hesitated in front of the doorknob. After getting the courage with a palpable inhale, the father thrust open the door and found his child glaring at the TV with arms crossed. He stared at her messy pigtailless hair for a moment before clearing his throat.
"..."
He put his hands on the backside of the couch and spoke plainly:
"Videl?"
"... What?"
"I'm going to have to move again."
"..."
"..."
"And I'm going to just have to Leave everything behind again?"
"... I don't mind. But I know you and Erasa have gotten real clo-"
"No, dad, it's okay. My opinion doesn't matter, it's alright."
"You know that's not what I said."
"But it doesn't. You have to move for your job so that means I do too."
Hercule pinched at the bridge of his nose, taking off his police cap and fanning it out in the stale apartment air.
"Look, Sweet Pe-"
"Don't."
"..."
"When are we moving?"
"... I'm moving on the 3rd. I have enough money to pay for a semester of your stay in Orange Star City."
"... what..?" Barely escaped her mouth, as she turned her head and placed her left hand on the threshold of the couch.
"I know that I'm not around for you very much but… I don't want to take you away from your friends either."
"..."
"I can't realistically pay for two apartments for very long either. But if you can find a job I can cover four months' rent exactly, right at this moment."
"..."
"Do you think you can handle that responsibility?"
"..." Videl stared wide eyed back at the television screen, barely comprehending what was happening.
"And it's not like I won't help. But I just want you to understand that… I might not be here for you physically, but I'm always thinking about you."
"..."
"..."
Hercule moved in close and kissed the top of her hair, leaving her to her own devices as he walked through the living room and into the small kitchen allotted in the apartment. After finishing up some food he walked back to where his daughter was previously located only to find out that the premises had been vacated.
"Videl?"
But not really. She rushed out of her room and slammed him with a hug before shutting the door to her room just as promptly as she had opened it, almost as if it were a hit-and-run.
Gohan
Bu-Bo-Be-Bu-Bu-Be-Bo-Bu~
The door slammed shut just behind Gohan and it locked tight.
"Good. At least some students think it pertinent ta show up on time."
"Hey, Mr. Konkichi."
"Hello, Gohan." The Green Fox replied as he pulled a textbook out from under the podium.
The son of Son Goku looked around and not only was Sharpner not there, neither was Erasa.
"Aww, man." Gohan grumbled to himself as he scratched the back of his head and climbed the steps with a wobbly manner about him.
The eldest son put his head in his hands and went about his day as per the usual of the past two until about halfway through the period. He locked eyes with Sharpner from across the room, seeing the goofball struggle with the handle of the doorknob and fail miserably. Before too long though, the boy ditched it all together and ran out the hall. A few minutes ticked by until Gohan felt like something was off.
"Hmm?"
"-!"
"..?" Gohan turned only to see Shrarpner once again clamped onto the edge of the window, unable to quell himself to the laughter ushered on by the wacky antics of his newfound friend.
Before Gohan could unlock the window however, a book came crashing just where his head would have been had he not ducked. Students chattered and laughed it up as Gohan fell back into the seat from his dodge.
"Ayy, tell Galaxy Brain that he ain't welcome back into this classroom unless he's on time. Got it, Brotha'?"
"You hear that?"
Sharpener just shrugged as much as he was able to from the sideled position on the bricks.
"Am I really not allowed to open this, sir? He's here, he's willing to learn."
"It's not enough ta be ready ta learn, this is a lesson about time management, he needs ta be hea' on time."
"Konkichi doesn't want me to let you in."
"-?" Sharpner asked, mouth wide open and miming his left ear and pointing it towards Gohan.
Shuup!
"Mr. Konkichi told me not to let you back in." Gohan claimed as he unlocked the window, opened it, and then shut it right back.
Domp!
"Brah!"
The class giggled as his final outburst penetrated the glass.
"Okay, that's it. I'm finna find another way in this bitch." Sharpner declared as he slid down the brick. "OwwOwwOwwOww! Brah, that hurt~" He cringed, wiping his hands on his pants, red marks everywhere. "Crap~"
"What are you doing over there, young man!?" A woman yelled from across campus on the grass, marching towards him with that unmistakable teacher walk.
"Oop-"
"Hey, get back here!" She yelled as Sharpner absolutely booked it, swinging his arms out wide and running right into the facilities. "This is just great, what a pest, running right into the boy's bathroom like that." The woman shook her head and placed her hands on her hips, the sass also unmistakably teacher-like.
"Well, what's the next move?" Sharpner pondered as he took off the green Orange Star cap sitting atop his head and dusted himself off with it. He moseyed on over to the faucet and winced as the hot water ran over his scuffed palm skin. He winced a bit, his shoulders hiked up high from the heat of the fluid.
"I can wait out here all day, young man! I've Got the time!"
"You gotta be kidding me. Why do these teachers care so much?" Sharpner thought to himself. "..."
Ga-Thunkk! Ga-Thunkk!
After wiping his hands with the paper towels provided by the dispenser the blonde youth looked all around the room only to see the ventilation duck stuck smack dab in the middle of the room.
"First period already started, young man, and I didn't see a hall pass anywhere!"
With careful precision, timing, and the little bit of luck of having a quarter in his pocket, Sharpener undid the screws on the vent and crawled inside, hopping up high to catch the lid of the alcove and making more noise than he wanted to in the process.
DWANN!
"Great…" He lamented, his Orange Star cap still on the edge of the faucet after leaving it. "I'll have to come back for that later, hopefully some punk doesn't steal it. What am I saying, of course someone's gonna steal it." He kept to himself as he crawled along the duct. "Nah, eff that, I'm not gonna let some chump steal my hat."
Dwernt~Bwoump~Flump! Klapp!
His feet touched the tile and he made a b-line for the sink, snatching up his leftover item and making his way back in.
"That's it! I'm coming in on the count of three!"
"Ohshit~"
DLANN!
"What the..?" The teacher outside the boy's bathroom let out as a strange warping sound echoed from within. "What is he..?"
The frustrated teacher raised a brow as the strange sounds filed in from in front, then above, then to her left. She stood there confused, and then angry again, and then just apathetic.
"Why did I have to go to school for this stupid job? I'm just gonna- hey you!" She shouted at another male student perusing the halls.
The boy stopped in his tracks, eyes wide like he was doing something wrong too. The boy double took and then booked it down the hall.
"Ayy!" Her banshee voice yelled before stomping after him in heels, completely to her disadvantage.
Clacc-Clacc-Clacc! Snapp!
"Ouww~" She let out dumbly before tripping over herself onto the hard highschool tile.
Sharpner kept the chuckles at a minimum as he crawled along the ventilation shaft, slowly but surely making his way towards first period.
"This shit is hard~ this ain't built for me at all. Must be because I'm juiced up like a fbb pro~" The youth laughed out in a surfer's intonation, shaking his head. "I'm just too big, chahahah~"
Dwuoin~Dwerrrh~Bwontt!
Gohan's sensitive ears picked up as did Konkichi's and The Green Fox just let out a laugh.
"Oh Brotha'."
Klangg!
"Whoa~ AAAAAAA~" Sharpener shouted at the top of his lungs like a little girl as he busted right through the vent, smacking Gohan in the head with the metal and faceplanting right on the desk. "Ahawhh~" The blonde youth let out as he bounced from the procedure and then slammed onto the desk the level below, forcing a trio of girls to stand up and part the sea.
He laid there limply for a moment only to shoot up straight as a board. He wasn't all with it however, wobbling a bit to stabilise after the fact.
"I'mgoodI'mgood. Yuh! I'm here, Konkichi. Like ready to learn, and stuff."
"Youse got heart, can't deny that."
"Right?" Sharpner answered right back as he laughed again, picking up his hat from the desk. "Sorry, ladies."
Bu-Bo-Be-Bu-Bu-Be-Bo-Bu~
"Right on! I learned a lot today, teach."
"Don't you even start, Brotha'."
"Today I learned about… Time Management."
Gohan lost it at the back of the class as Sharpner waved goodbye to The Green Fox.
"Adios, teach."
Gohan waved goodbye as well after he let the last of his giggles out and continued to second period. He adamantly walked through the door and sat in the same as the two days prior, awaiting Videl. She stepped in and shot a glare his way as soon as she passed through the threshold.
"Ooo~" One of the many girls chirped from her corner clan of classmates.
She held the stare and Gohan simply waved back. She marched up the stairs, pigtails bobbing like a fishing lure in turbulent waters until she met level with him and then marched on through.
"Huh!?"
"Yo, she sat with him?"
"Hollon'! She sat with Him? Ithoughtitwastheotherwayaround~"
The bell rang to signal class and as the old fogey eyed teacher ran through his lectures and projectors, he passed out papers to every classmate.
"Now, I don't want a ruckus in here but you can chat amongst yourselves during this period." Mr. Challenger stated as he counted up the stack. "One, two, three, four, … five." Passing out 10, and then going over to the next row. Videl and Gohan sat at the second row, receiving their study sheets from the row below them and then continuing the chain for the teacher, passing back the remaining six sheets of loose leaf paper.
"Gohan."
"What?"
"We're gonna do another challenge today."
"And what challenge is that?"
"I admit… you're pretty fast. But I definitely beat you in that race."
"You wish." Gohan shot back immediately with a grin, folding his arms over the table and staring into her piercing blue eyes.
"... Do you think you can jump over the school from the track?"
"What?" Gohan asked a bit louder than he should have, pulling practically everyone's attention in the class right to them.
"You heard me."
"The whole school..?" Gohan scratched the top of his head, craning his neck over the desk and looking up at the ceiling in thought.
"If you land on that little ledge at the front that has the Orange Star logo you get a bonus."
"A bonus?"
"Mmhmm."
"Hmm~"
"Well? Are you too chicken?" She asked, finally smiling, albeit a bit fiendishly, her fingerless gloved hands cradled together like a supervillain in a saturday morning cartoon.
"I think I'm stronger than a normal person~"
"What was that? Bawk? I dunno know what that means." She tilted her head to the side, putting an index finger on her lip.
"Hmm?"
"Bawkbawk..? You're gettin' a little weird on me, Gohan. I thought you were an upstanding citizen with far better moral fibre than that after those lectures you gave me yesterday."
"Hmm? I'm too busy doing my, Work, Videl, like a good student, sorry, I couldn't hear you."
"Are you in, or not?"
"What do you think?"
"..."
The pair stared at each other and before Gohan knew it, he was in drama class, sitting in a chair at the opposite end of the room from the stage, reading for Romeo.
"Jeez, I kind of just said yes without thinking about it. This is going to be a lot of work."
Sharpner was ditching, raw.
He was meandering through the halls without a care in the world, only a loose journal and a pen tucked in its metal bindings. He strolled the school's white tile and forest green locker-laden hallways until a familiar sounding voice came in on his left side. The boy didn't stop walking until he heard it a second time, turning his head to the wild verbiage used in their speech.
Juliet: Hist! Romeo, hist!
Gohan stood up from his chair and walked back a few paces, taking a kneel as Angela walked up and stood on a shaky metal shelf in the back of the room.
Juliet: Oh~
Angela's delivery flooded with passion like a roaring stream and she flailed her arms around with loving strokes.
Juliet: For a falconer's voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again! Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud, Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies, And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine, With repetition of "My Romeo!"
Erasa frowned and hate-watched with a loose script in her hand as Gohan stood up, swallowing harshly to read for his next lines.
Romeo: It is my soul that call upon my name. How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night, Like softest music to attending ears!
Juliet: Romeo!
Romeo: My nyas?
Ms. Cocoa waltzed around the room, taking a break from the kids on stage to loom over everyone reading their other lines separately. She ran her hand along the wall and settled on Angela's throes and cries. Sharpner laughed his head off at the goofy voices banging out into the halls and just Had to saunter closer. The blonde youth kept his chuckles as minimal as could be and stealthed ever forward towards the open door of the drama room.
Juliet: What o'clock tomorrow shall I send thee?
Romero: By the hour of nine.
Juliet: I will not fail. 'Tis twenty year till then. I forget why I did call thee back.
Romeo: Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Juliet: I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Remembering how I love thy company.
Romeo: And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this.
Angela covered her eyes with her off hand, looking out into a faux sunrise that didn't exist past the stage and the curtains.
Juliet: 'Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone. And yet no further than a wanton's bird, That lets it hop a little from his hand Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silken thread plucks its back again, So loving-jealous of his liberty.
Gohan puffed up his chest, and closed his eyes, running his hand along his white button up and saying calmly to the air:
Romeo: I would I were thy bird.
Juliet: Sweet, so would I. Yet I should… kill thee with much cherishing. Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
Romeo: … Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast. Would I were slee[p and peace, so sweet to rest. Hence will I to my ghostly friar's close cell, His help to crave and my dear hap to tell.
Clapp~clapp~clapp~
"Wonderful. I can see a career on stage for you, Gohan, if you really put your back into it and practiced. Angela, you and Gohan really have that stage chemistry, I think I have to put you down as Juliet."
"Gohan!" She shouted, jumping down from the metal shelf and landing on the ground with her bouncy red hair. "Did you hear that?" She giggled from the chest.
"Yeah… apparently."
Gohan turned away from Angela and walked over towards Erasa. At that, Sharpner dipped and dove behind the large metal tables, chairs, and wooden desks to make his way into the classroom. The boy shot another glance at the teacher across the way and smooth criminal'd into position like he were just another student.
"Is she really all that bad?" He said in a somewhat low tone, but probably not as low as it should have been considering he was pointing right at her with his thumb.
"Gohan, are you crazy!?" She shouted with a whisper, pulling him in close and 'yelling' into his ear.
"No, I don't think so."
"Stop being so loud, and pointing too, why the Hell would you point!?"
Gohan stood up straight, bringing Erasa with him and furrowing his brow as she snatched onto his collar and was lifted off the chair as a result.
"Huh. I guess I didn't realise that, but uhh… I don't know. I think transparency is important."
"Transparency isn't all that important when you're talking shit!"
"I wasn't talking shit, I'm not a scumfuck."
"Scumfuck?"
"... Don't worry about it. I just wanted to ask if Angela was really a bad girl after all because she's been nothing but nice to me."
"Be careful around her, Gohan. Trust me."
"Hmm."
"What's up guys?"
"Dyah!"
"Ahh!" Erasa screamed. "Sharpner!"
Whapp!
"You scared me to death!" She shouted after batting him with her script.
All the boys could do was laugh before Gohan asked:
"What are you doing here?"
"I was just you know… uhh… taking the load off, I guess. My third hour sucks."
"... Do you want to switch electives?" Erasa asked in earnest, eyebrows high. "We don't have enough actors. A lot of the students that were here first day just opted out."
Bu-Bo-Be-Bu-Bu-Be-Bo-Bu~
"That's it, wrap it up and get on out of here, come on, let's go!" Cocoa shouted as the students marched out of the drama room, picking up their bags, folders, binders, and other assorted items as they made their way to the open doorframe.
"You know what..?" Sharpner relayed, hands on his hips and big cheesing.
"Bye, Gohan!"
"Bye, Erasa!"
"Later!" She said back to Sharpner as she practically ran out the room.
"Bye!" The eldest son of Son Goku shouted back as he fell into the rhythm of the stream, following the path outside to the track and field.
"I'm gonna consider it!" Sharpner tried to yell over the crowd as he broke away from Gohan during the school swarm.
"You should! It's fun!"
Gohan strolled onto the grass and looked out at the open space, not a soul in site except for:
"I Hope You Didn't Forget!" Videl's voice carried from across the way, pointing at him with her left before resting her hands back on her hips.
Her green socks stuck out like sore thumbs at the bottom of her interesting half-boot half-converse style shoes.
"No, I didn't!" Gohan yelled in response and sped up his route to a jog.
The coach raised a brow as the pair got ready on either side of the starting line.
"You ready?"
"Wait…"
"What?" Videl asked, turtling her head in with palpable sass and giving him the stink eye.
"How are we gonna validate the contest?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm assuming we take turns, if I jump now, who's gonna stop me from saying that I cleared it and landed on the logo?"
"..?" She sat there dumbly, letting her arms hang limp in the air.
"And who's to say you wouldn't do the same?"
"..."
"We gotta have someone already on the other side of the school."
"No!" She pouted, raising her chest and pointer finger up high in the sky defiantly.
"How so?"
"We just jump at the same time!"
"... Is there enough space on the logo?"
"I mean if there isn't that just means I'll have to push you out of the way when we're about to land."
"What!? We didn't say anything about that!"
"I'm jumping on one so it's your fault if you don't jump with me!"
Gohan cheesed big time as he got low to the ground, ready to jump as Videl counted down. Students gradually poured out onto the field as the time got nearer and nearer to start gym.
"Three… two… one!"
Gohan and Videl both leaped epically, clearing the back half of the school at about the same time before she took ahead in her lead. Her pigtails' hairbands snapped off in the wind and her wavy black hair swooshed before they touched down on the other side. Gohan's more careful deliberation landed him on the tiny alcove above the logo of the highschool as she clamoured on the cement blocks below and rolled out over her arm.
"What!? No way!"
"..."
Gohan scratched his temple, just kind of waiting for her to say something.
"Well we both cleared it but you got the bonus… beginner's luck!"
"..." Gohan just sat down on the harsh angle and looked out to the rest of the hustle and bustle of Orange Star City.
Videl's hands shoved right back into her hips and she shouted at him from below, pointing and all.
"Hello!?"
"What's the bonus!?"
"I don't know!"
"You mean you didn't plan it!?"
"No, not really!"
"So then it doesn't matter!"
"But you got the bonus!"
"I don't really care about the bonus!"
"You gotta do something!"
"Like what!? Give me an example!"
"Uhh! Cash it in as a dare or something!"
"A dare!?"
"Yeah! Just don't try any funny business!"
Gohan crossed his legs and took on a thinking adolescent's pose.
"Well!?"
"I think I'm just gonna hold on to it!"
Videl's cheeks ran flush with a bright tomato red and she hollered.
"You don't get to just save it up like that! I'm not gonna let you hold it over my head!"
"But it's My bonus!"
"Ugh!"
"Huh-Heh-Hah-Hah!"
Videl marched back into school right from under him, leaving Gohan to crack up laughing on the roof of the orange and brown brick building. The day progressed as normal and the son of Son Goku was on his way out of school, Nimbus in tow before he was called to action by a familiar voice from below.
"Yo! That you on that cloud, brah!?"
Vyuuuuuuu~ Vwerrrt!
"Holy crap! What is that thing, dude? A goddamn flying cloud?"
"Yup! His name is Nimbus. Say hi, Buddy."
The Nimbus' shifting cloud spots parted and an elongated bit of puffy orange waved at the lad, almost causing Sharpner's baseball cap to fall off his head.
"Whoa~"
"So what's up?"
"I was just… bored as sin. Where are you going?"
"I don't know. I was just probably gonna go back home and study with mom."
"Brah, you study with your mom?"
"... Is there something wrong with that?"
"..."
"..."
"I guess not." Sharpner relayed, fixing the green cap back atop his head.
"I'll text her and ask if company is okay."
The pair conversed for a while until Gohan got the text back, a surprising response.
"She uhh… she said yeah. Well… can you fly?"
"What the hell do you mean can I fly!? Hell no! What do you think I am, Superman!?"
"Hop on." Gohan goaded, smiling and pointing to the cloud as it turned like a tube on water.
Sharpner leaped onto the cloud, about to land in front of Gohan's criss-cross applesauce positioning only for the orange particles to part ways and leave him flat on the dirt.
Whumpp!
"Huh-Heh-Hah!"
"Ayyo~ what the hell was that for!? You moved it, you bastard!" Sharpner yelled out what he could from between his own laughs and Gohan's.
"No I didn't, honest."
"Bullshit!"
"If you're not pure of heart you're gonna have to hold on to me."
"Pure of heart? You're on one right now! Issa damn cloud! It doesn't have a mind of its own. Step off that thing and let me prove it to ya."
Gohan relented, arms high like he was held up at gun point.
"See?"
Whump!
The Nimbus simply sidestepped out of Sharpner's range and he tumbled onto the dirt and grass once more.
"Now do you believe me?"
"No! Do you control this thing with some sort of remote control or sum'?"
"No, Sharpner." Gohan laughed out as he stepped onto the air and The Nimbus replied. "Do you see a remote control anywhere in my hands?"
"Sheesh, I guess not."
The eldest son offered a hand to the blonde boy and after that they were off to the races, or more specifically, the mountain ranges and dangerous creatures of Mount Paozu.
"Brah! That's a fuckin' pterodactyl my guy! Book this shit!"
"Oh… I forgot. Uhm. Don't worry, The Nimbus is faster than those guys. Some of them aren't that bad at all."
"DWAGHK!" Sharpner yelled as he weaved and dodged in time with the orange cloud they inhabited, forgetting that curling up meant that he no longer had his hand on his new friend. "Gohaaaaa~"
"Uh-oh."
Vyuuun~VwaVwerrt!
"Brah. What the hell? You live out here in Mount fucking Paozu?"
"Yeah."
"Are you from some sort of ancient clan of warriors or sum' cause everyone Knows Mount Paozu is where not-so-happy campers go missing, brah."
"Well me and my family keep pretty safe, we live in The East District."
"The East District!? That's where the most missing person's reports were filed! I heard a story about a guy who saw like some 30-foot tall king kong motherfucker like 30 years ago!"
"Now That's ridiculous."
"Nah, that's real, brah. I'm not gonna get stomped on by a giant gorilla. Imma tell you that!"
"... Hmm." Gohan crossed his arms as they shot along the sky at a zipline-level pace, The Nimbus jiving and turning in tune with the debris and obstacles in its wake.
"Ayy! You gonna tell me when you turn upside down next time!?" Sharpner shouted at the top of his lungs as he hung on for dear life from Gohan's black school vest.
"Oh!" Gohan laughed out, slapping his forehead. "I forgot! Nimbus doesn't suck you in when you're not pure. Yeah, I'll tell him to stop doing those fancy maneuvers."
The Nimbus sharply turned right side up and almost flung the young boy off into the wooded region below. The mountains gave way to more trees, and then to more open space. A long path with a winding dirt road followed until a capsule house and an olden shack with a blue roof came into view.
"That you?"
"Mmhmm. That's my brother playing outside."
"Ain't he the one that's best friends with Bulma's son?"
"Yup."
Vwerrrt!
"Hi, Goten!"
"Gohan!" The little tyke shouted before running at him full blast.
Gohan's smile could light the darkest depths as he picked up the small kid and hugged him tight.
"This is my little brother, Goten."
"Wassup, lil dude?"
"Goten, this is Sharpner."
"Sharpner? That name's silly."
"Brah."
"Gohan?" A higher pitched voice called from the door.
"Hi, mom. This is my friend I was talking about."
"Oh dear…" She made sure to keep to herself as she saw the long blond hair and sketchy looking pants. "Hello."
"Hello, Ms. uhh~ Gohan's mom."
"Just call me Chi-Chi."
"Nice to meet you, Chi-Chi."
The pair shook hands and Gohan let his little brother back down on the grass.
"Gohan, Gohan!"
"What is it?"
"Dad's been teaching me how to fight! Can you spar with me?"
"Ehh~"
"Hahahahah~" Sharpner snorted out as his friend's mother sauntered back towards the front door. "You tryna throw hands?"
"Let me spar with you, Gohan!"
"Oh well… okay. Just know that I'm Not gonna take it easy on you."
Sharpner burst out laughing again as he and Gohan made eye contact.
"You trying to fade a little kid, dude? You're heartless."
Gohan bounced on his feet as did Goten, the little kid checking his stance and looking at his limbs pretty goofily.
"You ready, Goten?"
"Yeah! Hya-Ha!"
Gohan smirked a bit before his little brother hopped off the ground at light speed and smacked him right in the nose.
WHAMM!
"Oh shit!" Sharpner shouted as Gohan bit the bullet and flew right onto the grass.
Goten was just giggling like a gremlin as he kept running up to deliver more offence, arms flared out both ways. Gohan checked the spot only to chuckle in disbelief as his index finger ran red with the fluid of a nosebleed.
"Ready or not, here I come!" Goten shouted as he dashed along the grass.
Gohan sat up and blocked as his little brother leaped off the ground and tried to slam in a headbutt. The eldest son took it on his guard only to shake his hands out at the red mark on his forearms. Goten landed on the grass and kept laughing happily as Sharpner's cap fell off his head. The blonde youth snatched it up and dusted it off on his beat up jeans as Gohan's little brother ran roughshod all over him in the spar.
"Hyahaha!" Goten cackled as he laid in goofy attack after haphazard blow. There was little structure to each strike but soon enough the little brother connected with smashing right to the gut, sending Gohan flying across the house into the hot spring just behind it. "Hya-Haha!" Goten cried as he jumped on the roof and pointed down at his older brother. "Now it's your turn, Gohan!"
The older brother, flustered and not sure where he was for a moment, just blinked as the boiling bubbles of the hot spring seeped into his school uniform.
"You win, little bro. I give up." Gohan said, wiping his nose for the second time. "Holy cow."
Gohan was trying. Goten was already better than him by a serious amount at 10 years Gohan's younger.
"Wow." Gohan remarked as he wiped off the last of the injury. "That's crazy." He let out before shrugging and getting on with his day.
Sluoushh!
"You good, brah? That last one didn't look too healthy, I'm gonna admit."
"I'm fine, I'll just need to change. Can you go inside with Goten and get me a change of clothes? Mom doesn't like water in the house."
"You want me to be by myself with that little devil?"
"Are you scared of a little boy?"
Sharpner wormed his jaw around as he furrowed his brow Gohan's way, forcing a laugh from the eldest son.
FWOFFF~
The blonde youth fell onto his ass as he felt the beat of large wings just above.
"Brah! How the hell do you live out here!? They're circling!" Sharpner shouted as he pointed to the skies and attempted to barge right through the front door before Gohan snatched the back of his tank top.
"Relax. That's just Toh Toh."
"Toh Toh!?"
"Yeap. Toh Toh and his mate. Hey, Toh Toh!"
The giant blue pterodactyl touched down on the dirt road, slamming his weighty body into the dirt and cracking it a bit. A second, considerably smaller but still definitely massive blue creature followed suit and the dinosaur pointed his nose to the belly of the other beast.
"Oh? You're pregnant!? Congratulations! Huh-Heh-Hah!" Gohan shouted happily as he touched the rounded khaki coloured tummy of the smaller bird. "Wow."
The two giants furrowed their brows at Sharpner but the youth crossed his arms, putting back on his green Orange Star cap and mean mugging them as their equal.
"Watchu' gonna do about it?"
"Don't antogonise them, Sharpner." Gohan smirked, nudging his elbow into his friend.
"You don't see the way they're lookin' at me?"
"They're nice…" Gohan replied as he felt the pulse of life kick limply into his hand. "Alright guys, thanks for telling me."
"KAWWWWWWW!"
FWOFFFF~
"Gohan, you're nuts."
"Am I? This is pretty normal for me."
"Ayy! Gohan!"
FWOFFFLE~
"Oh my god! How many dragons are gonna show up today!?"
This beast was different, much more muscular and brandishing polished, shiny purple scales instead of slick matted blue skin. The dragon turned its horned nose to the sky and touched down with grace.
"Who's this Earthling?"
"Earthling? …"
"He's one of Those, isn't he?"
"One of those? Who the hell do you think you're talking t-"
Sharpner didn't realise just how massive Raditz really was. The man was practically bursting out the seams, the ripped man looked like he was about to walk right out on stage for a bodybuilding competition, not just attend a visit at Gohan's house. The man wasn't even wearing clothes that accented his physique either, the tan figure wore loose fitting button ups that still had trouble containing his giant chest and boulder shoulders.
"Raditz. Who do I think I'm talking to? I would hope that my nephew would make better friends than timid weaklings."
"Play nice, Uncle Raditz."
"Hmm." The Saiyan just smirked, putting the fear into him.
Sharpner couldn't put it into words but the fear of this man superceded everything he saw today. Just the way he loomed over him with his long mane of half brown half black hair said it all.
"I mean, I ain't scared a you or nun'."
"Good." Raditz replied as he shoved his arm over the boy and manhandled him. "Now, Gohan, you want to tell me why you're drenched?"
"Goten punched me over the house and into the hot spring."
"He did what!? Sounds like he's shaping up to be a true Saiyan." He remarked with a sly smirk.
Gohan just shrugged.
"Can you take Sharpner to my room? I need-"
"Yeah yeah, Chi-Chi doesn't like water in the house, blah blah blah." The Saiyan shot back with a mouthing hand motion as if miming her nags.
Raditz marched in the house and taunted the suddenly meek muscled teenager accompanying his nephew.
"You comin' or not?"
"Right behind you, Brah!"
Gohan smiled as the door closed behind them.
Oolong
"Move it, move it, move it! Come on people, we don't have all day! You're on my time!" A pale blonde man shouted from behind a megaphone as he sat on a particularly high chair with the letters:
Director
Labelled on the back. The Pig scarfed down the last of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich and threw the paper plate into the trash as man and woman alike dashed hurriedly around the crowded set. Oolong chanted a couple of whispers as mimed his right index finger in a wheeling motion.
"stop right there. you two have gone on long enough. stop right there. you two have gone on long enough. stop right there. you two ha-"
"Oolong! Get your piggy little behind on the line!"
"Got it! Sheesh."
Bom!
"Annnd action!"
An enormous black and blue metal robot filled up practically the whole curtain of a green screen. His giant blue pauldrons hung over the thin metal aligning itself to the gauntlets. His hands were huge too, holding onto a giant ceramic bowl of soup. In his right hand the giant robot held two equally large chopsticks that clanged off the metal. The director furiously waved his arms to lead the giant off the mark as he had overstepped the boundary.
"Oop~"
"We're rolling!" The blonde man yelled from behind the chair.
"Help me, help me! They're trying to attack!" A woman shrieked as she ran onscreen, past the tape and all.
Oolong stood without much purpose, checking the watch overlaying the gauntlet on his left hand, almost spilling the ramen broth on his arm.
"Wheww~"
"I'm under attack!" She wailed, second camera zooming in from above.
"Cut! Roll it back."
"..."
"I can't just do this foreva' ya know!" Oolong protested as they brought out the footage and examined it on the projector, laying it along the green screen.
Bom!
The gouty puff of white smoke cleared and out walked The Pig with a wagging and accusatory pink finger.
"I thought we were gonna do My take next."
"Shaddap."
Oolong rolled his eyes as the studio crowded around the footage.
"Okay, looks good. Next shot, we're gonna want a big close up on you. Terrified, shitting bricks, whatever gets you in the mood to look scared kid, got it!?"
"Got it." The brown man replied as he got into position.
The crew got a trash can into position and laid it down.
"Action!"
The man's eyes bulged out of his head as he walked down the green screen and hurriedly hid behind a pre-edit 'alleyway'.
There was nothing there of course, they were going to edit all of this later in post-production.
He looked down at his feet before closing his eyes and letting out a solem breath.
"Nahnahnah~" The director waved his hands off, kicking and screaming from the chair. "I can already tell that ain't it. We cut on the alley, and then we get him with some water. I want that natural sweat look, got it!? Take two of you mongoloids! Annnd Action!"
The crew audibly groaned as the brown man got into position again and then hid back in the 'alleyway'. The man stood there as they wiped him down with cold cloths and moist towelettes.
"Is this good?"
"Perfect! Let's go! Action!"
They cut a bunch more times and then came the moment.
"Get in there, piggie! Strut your stuff!"
Oolong stood in front of the man in the same position, Oolong being short enough to be completely hidden away by the trashcan in the perspective that they shot for.
Bom!
Cameras were rolling and Oolong leaped out of the 'alleyway' knocking over the trashcan as he did it.
Klatter!
Goons and the woman ran back in from the starting line and she fell over onto the 'pavement', looking up at the giant body of the robot.
"Help me!"
The goons brandished weapons and they skidded to a harsh halt in front of Oolong's metallic Shapeshift.
"Stop right there! You two ha-"
"..."
"Forgot my line."
"You gotta be fuckin-"
Gohan
Life went on as normal. Gohan attended school, did very well for himself and bonded with the new friends he had made. Gohan's only real tribulation he had with the school system was that while he did like acting and performance theatre, there was a little bit of anxiety that only grew the more into it they got. Several weeks into the program after everything was locked in and students could no longer switch classes, Gohan had the time to let it sink in that he would in fact share the biggest role of the play and have to perform in front of the entire school. An act that equal parts inspired and unnerved. The opportunity tantalising while still distinctly scary. It wasn't something inorganic and binary as getting the correct answers on a sheet of paper or reading the material the night before, he had to account for the cadence of his speech, the consistency of his performance and the growing butterflies in his stomach awaiting release day after day, and he wasn't even halfway through the first semester yet.
"Ms. Amaguri?"
"What is it, Gohan?" She sideyed the boy as he closed her office door behind him, all of the rest of the students practicing their lines through the glass.
"Why did you have us start so early? We've got a lot of time for just one play."
"Oh, darling. This is what it's like." She replied, caressing her cheek with the marker she was just using to highlight key details on the page below her. "Movies don't release the same year they start production, it is almost always at least one, if not many years after the fact. Practice builds confidence. You all could still be terrible actors but after a year of reading the material you'll at least remember the lines."
"..." Gohan looked down at the script in his hands and blinked. "Why do you want Angela as Juliet?"
"She's the best."
"I think Erasa's pretty good for the part."
"Please. Part of performance theatre is looking the part. Do you think she even Looks like Juliet? Give me a break."
"So is that to say I Look like Romeo?"
"Not especially, but you have that skinny boy prince charming aura about you." She remarked, pointing her marker at his lanky body.
"What?"
Ms. Amaguri just chuckled and shooed him out of her office.
"If that's all."
"... I guess so." He replied, walking back out into class only to meet the eye line of Erasa.
"So how'd it go?"
"I mean I got about what I expected. I thought by the end of the year she meant we'd be doing two plays a semester but it looks like we really only have the one."
"Hmm."
"Who are you reading for again?"
"I'm stuck with The Apothecary."
"Really?"
"Yeah." They both laughed.
"What a way to go." Gohan answered.
"Yup."
"..." Gohan looked down and blushed as he met her sharp blue eyes again and he kind of awkwardly strutted around to sit down next to her on the table. He opened up the flimsy stapled papers in his hand and asked: "Do you want to read for it?"
"Yeah~"
Gohan smiled and Erasa and him flipped to near the end of the giant stack each of them held.
"We reading, brah?"
"Mmhmm. Flip to..? Page 248."
FluFluScu~
"Gotcha."
"Okay. Ahemn! You read for Balthasar." Gohan remarked as he slapped on Sharpner's shoulder and scooted towards the edge of the table, putting his butt on it.
Romeo: If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep, My dreams presage some joyful news at hand My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne, And all this day an unaccustomed spirit Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts-
"Brah, hurry up!"
"What do you mean?" Gohan asked with a cheery grin. "This is where it starts."
"Can you not speed it up? I'm tryna' read!"
"But I'm reading for the main guy, he has a lot of lines."
"You're the main guy?"
"Yea."
"Lemme read lemme read."
"Alright." Gohan smiled as he stepped back, drawing another smile from Erasa as she swung her feet from the table just next to the boys.
Romeo: withcheerfulthoughts… with cheerful thoughts. I dreamt my lady came and found me dead!
Slamm!
Gohan and Erasa broke out in laughter as the students nearby turned heads towards the loud hammerfist on wood.
Romeo: Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think- And breathed such life with kisses in my lips. That I revived-
"So you're gonna read for Romeo and you're not gonna put your back into it?"
"Whatchu talking about, brah?" Sharpner shot back at Erasa.
"Romeo is grieving right now. He thinks Juliet got deleted."
"Real shit?"
"Yes!" She laughed again, hopping off the table. "If you're gonna steal this from Gohan at least do it right."
"This shit is goofy though, doth? How am I supposed to take that seriously?"
"You, took the class, dummy."
Sharpner looked down at the page and continued his read through, Gohan shifting slightly on the table.
Romeo: That I… revived and was an emperor. Ah me! How sweet is love itself possessed When but love's shadows are so rich in joy!
Gohan took Erasa by the arm and mimed opening the door from the outside, Erasa doing much the same, passing through the invisible doorway. Sharpner looked back at the two which in turn ushered the response of:
"Uhh. Bro, you're still reading."
"I am?" The blonde boy responded as he gazed down at the paper in his hands.
"Oh my gosh~" Erasa remarked, taking a lap and placing her hand upside her head.
Romeo: News from Verona! - How now, Belthusz..ar?
"Balthasar."
Romeo: Balthasar? Dost thou bring me letters from the friar? How doth… Doth?
"Yeah, doth." Erasa chimed in, all smiles again.
"Dude what Is this stuff? I ain't cut out for it."
Gohan stepped forward again, clearing his throat.
Romeo: How doth my lady? Is my father well? How fares my Juliet? That I ask again, For nothing can be ill if she be well.
Sharpner and Gohan locked eyes and laughed as the son of Son Goku sat on the edge of the table again and the blonde boy rounded the outside with Erasa.
Balthasar: Then she is well, and nothing can be ill. Her body sleeps in… Cappels-
"Capels'."
Balthasar: Capels' monument. And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault.
"That was a big word for you, bro." Erasa nudged the man with her elbow. "Nice job."
"Oh, ha-ha."
Balthasar: And presently took post to tell it you. O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
Romeo: IS it e'en so?
"E-en? What the Fuck are you on, Gohan?"
The son of Son Goku as well as Erasa burst out laughing and stomped about the class.
"Well, if you must know. Language wasn't so developed back in the day. We've come a long time since then. E-en, or what you just heard me say: 'e'en' is the old version of even But if you look on the new timey version on the other side it'll say really. Like: 'Is it really true?' Something to that effect. Ahemn!"
Romeo: Then I defy you, stars! Thou know'st my lodging. Get me ink and paper, And hire post horses. I will hence tonight.
Balthasar: I do be…seech you, … sir, have patience. Your looks are pale and wild, and do import Some misadventure.
Romeo: Tush, thou art deceived. Leave me and do the right thing I bed thee do. Hast thou no letters to me from the friar?
Balthasar: No, my good lord.
Romeo: No matter, get the gone, And hire those horses. I'll be with thee straight.
Gohan walked back towards the stage at the other end of the room but stopped short and pivoted back, trudging with a heavy heart towards his friends as he closed his eyes, breathed in deep through his nose and threw the script away.
"Come on~" He said to himself many a time, a mantra of power to keep the lines as tight as possible.
Romeo: Well, Juliet, I will lie thee tonight. Let's see for means. O mischief, thou art swift To enter in the thoughts of desperate men! I do remember and apothecary-
Erasa and Sharpner shot duck lips at each other at just how smooth the read was without the need for the visual aid. Gohan's downtrodden ailment and slippery steps told the tale of a man weathered by life, beaten down only to continue to stand for only a moment longer.
Romeo: And hereabouts where he dwells- which late I noted in tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows, Culling of simples. Meager were his looks, Sharp misery had worn him to the bones, And in his needy shop a tortoise hung. An alligator stuffed, and other skins Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves A beggarly account of empty boxes Green eathen pots, bladders and musty seeds, Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, Were thinly scattered to make up a show.
Gohan wiped his brow, shook his head and looked around the room, pale as could be, as if a ghost haunting the abode.
Romeo: Noting this penury, to myself I said. "An if a man did need a poison now"- Whose sale is present death in Mantua- "Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him." Oh, this same thought did but forerun my need, And this same needy man must sell it me. As I remember, this should be the house. Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut. What, ho! Apothecary!
Gohan shot up straight and ran to the door, running back with his off hand held high to flag down said Apothecary. Erasa giggled at his display and mimed moving some curtains out of the way.
Apothecary: Who calls so loud?
"You're gonna dunk on me all class and then read it like That?" Sharpner laughed out at her croakey delivery, forcing her to burst out laughing too.
"What?" She protested. "This mf is poor as shid. He can't even eat. I bet he doesn't even have teeth."
Their laughter could be heard by all and Angela stared a hole through them even so far as being the opposite end of the room and reading on the stage with many others, one in a hokey nursing uniform. Gohan and Erasa settled down soon enough and the son of Son Goku cleared his throat another time.
"Is that your go to?"
"... I guess…" He let out limply before clearing his throat another time after being interrupted.
Romeo: Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor. Hold, there is forty ducats. Let me have A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear As will disperse itself through all the veins That the life-weary taker may fall dead, And that the trunk may be discharged of breath, As violently as hasty powder fired Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb.
Apothecary: Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua's law Is death to any he that utters them.
Romeo: Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness, And fear'st to die? Famine is in thy cheeks. Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes. Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back. The world is not thy friend nor the world's law. The world affords no law to make thee rich. Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.
Gohan tore his eyes away from the script and met hers, miming handing her a baggy which Erasa delicately cradled between her open palms.
Apothecary: My poverty, but not my will, consents.
Gohan turned around with a flare, aiming his back at Erasa dramatically.
Romeo: I pay thy poverty and not thy will.
"Uhh, Gohan?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm supposed to give you the poison, dude. How am I gonna do that if you turn your back to me like a movie villain?"
"Oh! Heh-hah!" He laughed out goofy, scratching the back of his head and gracefully 'accepting' the invisible item.
Apothecary: (Gives Romeo Poison) Put this in any liquid thing you will And drink it off: and, if you had the strength Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
Romeo: (Gives Apothecary Money) There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murder in this loathsome world, Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell. I sell thee poison. Thou hast sold me none. Farewell. Buy food, and get thyself in flesh.- Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave, fore there I must use thee.
Gohan stepped away with chest held high out into the hall before pivoting back and laughing. Erasa did the same as she clapped for him upon reentry. Sharpner relented and added fuel to the fire with modest claps of his own.
After that, Gohan was content to do his exercises and routines in gym class as the students ran around playing flag football and other various activities.
"I bet you can't get my flag."
"We're on the same team. I'm not supposed to get Your flag."
"So?"
"So we're supposed to ya know… Play The Game."
Videl rolled her eyes at Gohan's assertion and the pair completely dominated every exchange, forcing the team to surrender far before class was up.
"Man, Gohan and Videl really need to be on opposite teams."
"This shit sucks!" A particularly enthusiastic kid claimed before he walked off the field and headed for the dirt track.
Gohan looked skyward, simply watching the clouds as they passed by overhead.
"What's so interesting about Clouds, Gohan? They can't be that interesting."
"I mean, they're responsible for the rain cycle. If we didn't have them we wouldn't replenish the world's oceans, lakes, and ponds. Then all the fish in the ocean wouldn't have anywhere to live, that and the natural oxygen it feeds back into the environment is important. Those clouds may look simple but I'm glad they're here."
Videl broke out into an earnest smile as she sat onto the grass and looked up at the man.
"What are you here for, Gohan? You're a whiz in history too. I don't think I've ever seen you fail at anything."
"... Mom said I was supposed to be a scholar. I Still don't really know what that means to be honest because that's not a real occupation but I figure that she wants me to be a scientist of some kind."
"..." She put her legs together and threw her arms over them tight, cradling. "But is that what you want?"
"... Hmm?"
The way Gohan honestly looked back down at her forced her to take away her own stare and gaze back out to the kids running along the track and field.
"I said… is that what You want?"
"I think so."
They shared the moment of silence as the only bustle happening was far away from chattering kids and the stomping of feet in the distance.
"I think it'd be cool to be the first in something."
"First in what?"
"I don't know yet. Haven't thought that far really. I just think it'd be exciting to make some new discovery, Change The World." Gohan claimed as he spread his wingspan as if opening a grand map of legendary scale.
Videl looked at him with the universe in her should-be sky blue irises.
"What about you?"
"..."
The two stared at each other for a long time until Videl finally realised that he even said anything at all.
"... What were you saying?"
"Oh. Uhm… I was just wondering what you wanted to do. You know. After all this." Gohan reiterated, waving his hand out to the students, the faculty, and the rest of Orange Star High School.
"I think I was just gonna do something that makes a lot of money and is relatively easy."
"... That's pretty good."
"Nah. It's trash compared to yours."
"Heyyy~" Gohan let out, genuinely annoyed. "Don't talk yourself down like that."
"If I became like a doctor or something I could have a lot of money. I always imagined myself in a big mansion where the library is bigger than some people's whole houses."
"I don't know." Gohan laughed out, rubbing his cheek with the tip of his index. "That sounds pretty big thinking to me."
"..."
Videl didn't meet Gohan's eye contact for the rest of the day, leaving the little time they had left in a bit of an awkward silence. The son of Son Goku rode home on his orange cloud, laying down and looking up at the different white and grey ones dotting the baby blue skyscape.