Fuck it, I'm back! After waiting so fucking long to work on this story, it is back in action, and should be better, seeing as I've absolutely improved with writing as of late. So hopefully this will be fun to get back in it. The time of not writing this has also allowed me to think shit through, and I think that I've change a pretty major part of the story, but for the better. So, yeah, I'm actually excited for this again, which I wasn't able to say for the longest time. Honestly, up until recently, I only really enjoyed writing The New Champion, and every other story was just a chore. However, I've started enjoying the others more... Still not sure about Life of Odd Luxury, though... Whatever. We'll burn that bridge when we get there. But now, let's get into the chapter!

Philosophy and Newspapers

Doesn't that seem kinda counter productive?" I spoke up, coming up behind the Gallade.

He turned to face me as I dropped down next to him, my feet hanging off the roof.

"What do you mean?" He asked me.

I chuckled slightly, before motioning to the cigarette hanging from his mouth, telling him, "The flaming stick of tobacco in the mouth of a Grass Type."

"Oh, right." Eric said. "I mean… Probably? But, really, I'm not even a fucking Grass Type, so what the hell ever." He took a short drag off the cigarette, before adding, "Besides, it's been a bad habit for years now. I've heard every stupid fucking spiel that can be thrown at me about it."

I shrugged in response, saying, "Fair enough. We all have bad habits, I guess."

"Suppose so." He agreed, chuckling lightly. "Story of life, I guess. Man is all but pure and perfect, and we truly are prone to our vices."

I let out a quiet laugh, commenting, "Didn't know that I was sitting with an amateur philosopher out here." I motioned to the fading orange sky, adding, "Anything to say about this sunset, Aristotle?"

The Gallade snorted slightly at my joke, flicking some ashes off the roof of the house as he replied, "I'm not a philosopher, really. I've always been fascinated by that shit, though. I've been taking a few classes on it in college."

"Why isn't it your major, then?" I asked, shaking my head to remove the light dusting of snow that had accumulated, by dreadlock-esque appendages moving slightly with the motion.

"No one's hiring them." He responded quietly. "Besides, I'm a Psychic Type going into bio. Looks pretty good on a resume, right?"

"I suppose so." I agreed, nodding. "But is it really worth not going after what you really want in life? I mean, why didn't you try?"

"Because it's fucking stupid!" He answered, before letting out a somewhat loud laugh. "You think that there's any place in the world for philosophers anymore? For people who want to question everything, and not accept living with what we fucking think we know! The world is happy with ignorance, so I'm a fucking science major. Philosophy is an outdated practice, and those who follow it are a dying fucking breed."

I froze, my wide eyes on the Gallade, before delicately saying, "S-Sorry for asking. I didn't think that you'd get that deep with a guy you've known for only a few days."

Eric let out a quiet sigh, replying, "Don't be. I've just been stressed the fuck out as of late, and talking about shit like that just gets me pissed off." He flopped back into the snow with a grunt, continuing, "Sometimes it all just breaks, and my anger gets almost heavy-handed. Seems kinda stupid, really."

After his words, we sat in silence, him puffing on his cigarette every now and then.

"Hey, Riku." He spoke up multiple minutes later, as he sat up. "You're eighteen, right?"

"What?" I responded, surprised. "I'm only seventeen."

"Not tonight, kid." He told me, reaching over to ruffle my fur. "I need to unwind, and I can tell you do, too. I know a good place in town that we can go. You ever hear of the mOBSCENE?"

P.O.V Change: Jessica

"Hello?" I called out, attempting to keep my voice from being too loud. "Riku, can I come in?"

I got no response. I let out a quiet sigh, resting my forehead against the bedroom door. Arceus damn it.

I knocked on the door again, saying, "Riku, can I come in?"

Nothing. Again. Whatever. I need to borrow a phone charger, and his is the only one not damaged or in use. I'll just go in, and find it. I grabbed the doorknob lightly, feeling it already start to heat up slightly in my hands, before turning it and opening the door slightly. I poked my head into the darkness, before feeling along the wall to flip the lights on, illuminating the room. He doesn't seem to be in here… Odd. I slid into the room, my eyes scanning my surroundings, before falling on a folded piece of paper resting on the bed. Intrigued, I moved over and grabbed the note, before opening it.

"Jess," I read aloud, "I went to hang out with Eric for a little bit. We'll most likely be home before midnight, but in case we aren't, please cover for us. Riku."

I chuckled slightly at the note, before sitting it back on the bed.

"Nice to see those two are getting along." I commented. "Now, to find his charger."

I thought for a moment, before going for the most obvious spot: the bedside table. I slid the drawer to the one next to me open, stooping down slightly to look in. My eyes immediately fell on the desired item, which I grabbed and placed on the bed. I turned back to the table to close the drawer, only for my attention to catch on an envelope pushed into a corner of the drawer, surrounded by random cords and other items, with what looked like a newspaper clipping sticking out of it. What is this? I reached in again and pulled the envelope out. I really shouldn't be snooping… But… Choosing to ignore my thoughts, I sat down on the bed, and pulled out the exposed paper. I scanned over the headline, only for my breath to catch in my throat as I finished it. What in the fuck? 'Dark Point man found dead on property; home set ablaze'. I quickly dropped that clipping on the bed, before pulling out another one. 'Investigation continues of murder of mining corporation CEO.' What the fuck… That one joined the other on the bed, and I continued pulling more out almost frantically, only to find that each one pertained to the same subject. What in the hell? I remember reading about this a while back, but… Why does Riku have all of these?

I was about to pull out the final clipping, but I froze when I heard a voice call out, "Jessica, can you come help me put the groceries away?"

I hesitated a moment, my hand hovering over the flap of the envelope, before sighing quietly and responding, "Yeah, Maxwell. I'll be down in a second!"

I quickly grabbed the newspaper clippings and shoved them back into the envelope, before putting the envelope back in place and shutting the drawer, doing my best to block that out of my mind. I grabbed the charger from the bed and left Riku's room, remembering to flick the lights off as I left.

So, a short chapter, plus some plot, and other shit. I did enjoy it, though, and it was a relatively quick write/read. It is fun to be back, though, so I'll keep trying to put up chapters for this, and will be trying for updates on New School, as well. I'm not sure when, but I'll try. I've been kinda busy with other shit as of late, and just... I've just been having a lot of issues with my depression and minor anxiety, especially as my Senior year of High School comes closer, in a school that I've never really been to and subsequently have no friends at, and... I don't know... I'm just worried about being an actual adult, and having to get a job, and shit. I've never really done all of this shit, and suddenly in a matter of two months I'll have to register for the draft, I'll be considered a legal adult, and all sorts of other shit...

Whatever. You guys didn't come here to listen to me ramble, and, realistically, this story has my least engaged audience. So for now, I'll say goodbye, Lunar Knights.

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Stay dangerous, Lunar Knights.