Of course its when FFN's acting up that Im able to write more consistently
Alrighty so comments/views are definitely down from normal so FFN's notifications definitely aren't only affecting me, so I'll keep track of updates since my emails went down, in case anyone doesn't know where they left off
so this is the second update since the emails went down
Qinlongfei: character development isn't DBZ's strong suit in general. There are a few exceptions of course, but for the most part things don't affect characters as much as they should
As for the attack Clover's picked up from Nappa, the one i most associate with him is the explosive wave attack that he used to destroy that one city, the one where he points two fingers upwards. She definately has that one because it's neat. Bomber DX she probably has too, as the kids tend to pick up their parents primary attacks. as for mouth beams, those are hard to determine in general. Its not really a Nappa exclusive thing, Piccolo's used it, so has Dodoria, and im pretty sure even Goku has relatively recently in the Super manga. I think the main reason it isn't used much is because its probably less controlled and more dangerous. I'd probably say she is capable of it, but probably wouldn't actively use it often.
ArguableReader: I do already cross post on AO3, which I'm quite glad for with whats been happening here
Clover
Trunks was being so annoying.
She got hurt. She got that. She understood. She didn't remember getting hurt but obviously she did with how everyone was acting.
Her dad was worried too but he got over it in a few days. He just lectured her on how the battleground wasn't for games and to be more careful or whatever and that he'd be upping her training. Then he got over it.
Trunks though, he kept acting like she was gonna get hurt again for nothing! She wasn't some baby that needed protection. In fact, her dad says she might even be the strongest of the three of them now cause of the zen-kai whatever. Though that kinda felt like cheating to her.
It was probably because she was testing different ways to dodge and messed it up. That's the last thing she remembered anyway. Daddy says to stick to the basics. But the basics are boring. She got so bored doing the same moves all the time. What if she tried something new and it worked super well? All the techniques had to come from someone trying something new at some point.
She wouldn't tell him that's what happened though. He'd just use it as another reason why she should "stick with the basics."
She wouldn't even tell Trunks. With how he's been acting he might end up agreeing.
She got annoyed just passing him down the hall now since he'd jump at there being something wrong for no reason.
So when he did just that once again the annoyance bubbled over and she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him outside. She ignored his protests until they were out in the yard.
"Let's fight," she said.
"Huh? What?"
"I want to spar."
She fell into a fighting stance before he could respond.
"Oh, uh, ok." He followed suit.
He didn't move from that stance though.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"What? I'm waiting for you to start!"
"You always go first."
"Well, maybe I don't want to this time."
She frowned. Fine then, if he wanted to play this way.
She shot forward without forewarning. He just barely managed to block her punch.
And for her following attacks, he only blocked or dodged. He didn't try to hit back at all!
"What are you doing?" She demanded.
"What?!"
"You aren't hitting back!"
"Yes, I am!" He said, even though he very obviously was not.
She grit her teeth in a scowl and charged forward again. Each strike became harder until it was well out of the range of normal sparring and he started having more and more difficulty keeping up- until he couldn't. Her fist struck across his face hard enough to send him sprawling to the ground.
She stood catching her breath. Trunks sat up, one hand rubbing the side of his cheek before falling to his lap. He was looking away in a way that made his bangs cover his eyes.
"What's wrong with you?" She demanded when he didn't move or do anything.
"Nothing's wrong," he muttered, still looking away.
"Yeah right! That's obviously why you can't fight back."
"I said nothing's wrong!" He glared back up at her, defiant.
"Of course something's wrong! You've been acting weird all week!"
"No I haven't!" He climbed back to his feet and finally shot forward with a counterattack.
It quickly stopped being anything resembling a spar. They were just fighting. After a certain point, they didn't even bother to dodge or block anymore, too focused on hitting the other until they laid out on the lawn exhausted and bruised.
She didn't say anything until long after she'd caught her breath enough to do so.
"Were you that scared?" She asked.
"I wasn't scared," he muttered, an obvious pout in his voice.
She frowned. "It's ok to be scared you know." She turned over to face him. "What isn't ok is acting like I'm super fragile cause I got hurt once. Against a monster our dads were having trouble with."
Trunks looked away.
"What if, next time it's worse?"
"What if it is?" She asked. Trunks looked over at her surprised.
"People get hurt in fights," she shrugged," that's just what happens. Do you think our dads or Goten's dad or anyone was never hurt super bad before? I'm pretty sure Gohan like, died or something fighting Buu. We all died during the Buu thing."
"That's different," Trunks pouted, "besides, we didn't see Gohan in that afterlife place so she probably didn't actually die."
"Then she was still hurt really bad at least. Probably worse than I was with how people were acting. I'm pretty sure it was inevitable that we'd get hurt at some point."
They were sitting back up by this point. Trunks glared at his feet.
"Besides, it's not like the adults even like us in the fights anyway. So like, if we don't participate it's not like they'd be upset. If it bugs you that much we can just wait til we're older. At least with the bigger things. As long as you promise to stop being weird."
Trunks glared at the ground as he fiddled with a blade of grass.
Eventually he shrugged with a, "'Kay." Which she took as agreement enough.
…
I once again found myself without much to do. Time kept passing, and I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. I trained a bit, but not really enough to count it as a full-time thing.
With the card Mr Satan gave me, it's not like I needed to go out of my way to find work. I felt bad using it often, but I didn't really. Just for like, snacks and small things.
I tried to refocus on my art but while drawing other things was still fine- for my own story. I don't know. I don't think I've come up with anything new for it. Nothing that I wasn't just redoing from before.
Eventually, I decided to finally go and learn Instant Transmission. Just so I could have it. That took up a few months of going back and forth to and from Yardrat. Their clothes were kinda uncomfortable with their layers and seams and stuff but it was better than the Sayain armor was.
But then I was back to not knowing what to do next. I was bored. Videl was slowly taking over the superhero role- which was the point of the whole thing, but it also meant I wasn't needed almost at all.
I just- I don't know. I don't know what I was doing. Or what I wanted to do.
It was usually a coin flip as to whether or not I'd go to Bulma's get-togethers. A lot of the time it seemed like it was mostly the older group of friends. But when this next one was coming up I didn't hesitate to agree- just because it was something different to do.
Besides Bulma really wanted this one to be good. Of course, she said that about all of them but still.
…
"You're going in that?" Chichi asked.
I looked down at my outfit. I mean, it was one of the nicer outfits Erasa convinced me to get. It was still pretty simple but still.
I shrugged. It was Bulma's. I don't think I really have to dress up for that anyway. Still, the comment did make me second-guess it.
Whether or not it was enough to make me self-conscious about it was something I wouldn't know. Instead, Chichi sighed and turned around. "Come here," she stated, leading me to her room.
I, wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to be doing as she started going through her closet.
"Here, put this on," she said, handing me a jacket. It was purely a decorative thing. Black to contrast the white shirt I was already wearing, with thin material. It didn't even have pockets.
I put it on.
She came back over and looped a belt around my waist. Like the jacket, it too was purely an accessory. She tucked my shirt in and stepped back, as if to determine if she needed to make any other adjustments.
I didn't like my shirts tucked in. I didn't like the seam it created nor how it made shirts feel tighter and more confining.
I didn't want to correct it either.
Apparently satisfied with the outfit she led me to a chair and pulled out a comb.
It didn't hurt anymore when it got caught on a knot. I could only feel the vibrations of the comb stopping, and her working on that part for a few extra strokes.
"You don't tend to dress particularly feminine," she commented.
I shrugged. "I don't really care to."
Chichi hummed. "You know, the dragon balls should be about charged up again."
"I know."
Chichi looked at me through the mirror. She sighed and continued combing through my hair. "Alright then."
When she was done, it was still mostly down, but several strands were pinned up or back to make it look, more.
To make up for the lack of pockets she handed me a small purse. It was smaller and daintier than anything I'd carry myself, but I guess since I can carry most of my things in Capsules that doesn't really matter.
I looked in the mirror. I looked nice. It seemed like a lot of effort. The additions were an additional deviation from my usual style, which my initial outfit already was. The jacket felt too thin and too tight. My hair felt strange, especially when I turned my head. It certainly wouldn't survive as is if I tried to fly anywhere.
But I, didn't dislike it.
I'd probably never recreate it myself. It was a lot of effort. But for a one-time thing? It, was nice.
Chichi had already left the room again to make sure Goten was ready. Goku disappeared to who knows where, but he promised he'd be there. He'd have to anyway to justify how Chichi dressed him up.
I looked in the mirror one last time before heading out. It was different.
…
Goku
Goku frowned.
He was just going to check on them real quick. Chichi really wanted them to get to Bulma's place on time. So he was gonna be real quick.
But one of the eggs was missing. There were supposed to be four, but now there were only three pterodactyl eggs in the nest.
But that was fine, he found the fourth one easily. It had fallen through and was sitting in a tree branch just a few feet below. Which was real lucky since it just as easily could have fallen through and off the cliff. Then that egg would have been a goner.
He tried to grab it to return it safely but its mother kept rushing at him for trying. He didn't want to risk hurting the egg or the mother. So he left the egg back in the branch.
But that's no good. It could fall at any time. Or if it hatches there, the baby would definitely fall.
He sat on the cliff trying to think of a solution.
He tugged at the collar of his shirt. He never quite understood why people wear this stuff. It's uncomfortable and doesn't allow for any real movement at all. Chichi said it was because it looked nicer, but he thought his Gi looked plenty nice. It shows who he's learned from. These clothes didn't show anything.
Another pterodactyl came and gave the mother a fish. That must have been the father.
That was nice of him. Taking care of his mate and future kids.
That was kinda like what he did for Chichi and the kids, right? He caught them food a lot. And he protected them too. Well, Gohan can take care of herself for the most part. And Goten's pretty up there too- but he still definitely needed taking care of.
Or like how Grandpa Gohan took care of him.
Goku didn't really know where he'd be without Grandpa Gohan. Probably an evil, murder-happy Sayain or something. He was glad he wasn't. The murder happy part. He was still a Sayain.
Goku was glad Grandpa found him. He's been able to do a lot of things. He's helped people. And gotten to fight a lot of strong guys. That's like, a win-win.
Grandpa Gohan lived here in these mountains. This was where he raised Goku. So now he was the one who had to take care of it. And right now, these eggs were part of it.
Goku knew he couldn't protect every animal. A lot of animals here were carnivores and needed to eat meat so that alone disqualifies it. Plus he enjoyed his fair share of meat too. But that's with animals and fish that there were a lot of. Some of them even needed to be hunted sometimes or else there'd be too many of them and that'd hurt the other animals.
But there weren't a lot of pterodactyls. So every batch of eggs was important. They don't lay eggs often, and not that many at a time. He was sure there were a lot of them he'd missed. Sometimes even the best taken care of eggs just never hatch. He doesn't quite understand why, but it happens sometimes.
He watched as the mother tried to build a new nest around the fallen egg. Which he supposed was better than it just sitting there, but that didn't help much with how flimsy that branch was.
He wondered what Grandpa would have done. He wondered if he would have even put in the effort. He surely would have, right? He took care of Goku after all.
Oh but Chichi was going to be upset. He was definitely late now.
But there was a storm rolling in, and quickly. Way too quickly. The rain had already started when he realized it was going to be a real problem.
And not just for the fallen egg, but for all of them.
He rushed off far enough that he wouldn't disrupt the nest and cut down some trees. It was raining heavily by the time he got back.
He used the trees to reinforce the main nest, but the fallen egg was a way bigger problem. He placed branches the best he could around it but it was already so unstable.
He thought he'd secured an okay support when the branch finally snapped.
Well now he had no choice but to grab it. That was better than the alternative right?
He grabbed it just before it would have hit the river below- a death sentence for certain. It would have been way too cold for the egg even if it survived hitting the water.
The mother bristled at him approaching the nest but he really had no choice. He couldn't hold onto the egg forever. He very quickly held up the mother to place the egg down.
There! Four eggs in the nest. Like it was supposed to be.
They probably would be fine now- but he was already late anyway. And it's not like these sudden storms ever lasted that long anyway. It'd be fine if he waited a tad longer.
And he was really glad he did, because as the storm ended and the sun started peaking through again the first egg finally hatched. And the rest were soon to follow- including the former fallen one. That was so cool. And the setting sun only made it-
The setting sun.
Oh he was really late, Chichi was going to be so upset at him. He should hurry. If he missed it entirely that'd be even worse.
…
Going to Bulma's parties was always neat, even if it was a bit much on the social interactions for me.
It surprised me that even Piccolo had shown up- with the excuse that it was because Dende wanted to go. Piccolo wasn't interacting, but he looked plenty content too.
I happened to cross paths with Yamcha- which was rare in of itself. I don't recall if I've ever had a direct conversation with him.
He blinked at me for several seconds before seeming to recognize me.
"Oh, Gohan! Hey! It's been a while. You've- you've grown since last I saw you!"
I nodded, "yeah it's been a few years. Six or seven at least."
I could see the question burning behind his eyes.
"Yeah at least. How have you been? Any changes?" He asked.
I shrugged. Not indicating anything. Nothing but utmost casual actions. "I went to school for a bit. Now I'm not. I learned Instant Transmission recently."
Yamcha nodded. "Oh, that's cool. Hey, it's been nice talking to you," he politely excused himself. Which I was perfectly fine with.
He walked over towards Tien- which I guess he assumed was out of earshot. It probably would have been if I wasn't actively trying to listen.
"Was Gohan always a girl?" Yamcha asked in a hushed tone.
"I have been waiting for someone else to use a pronoun." Was all Tien stated in response.
"No one ever corrected me!"
I refocused on the tables of food to hide a slight laugh.
"You're enjoying this," Piccolo commented through telepathy.
"Little bit," I confirmed.
I feel like after so many years of dealing with it, I should be allowed a little bit of amusement from the confusion it caused.
I socialized some, but for the most part, I was content with hanging out on the side near Piccolo.
It was as the sun was setting that Goku finally showed up. Things were settling down and people were starting to get ready to leave, but they decided to keep going for a bit to include him too.
I was pretty tired by that point so I figured stepping out and taking a quick walk around would be fine.
The cooler night air felt nice compared to the warm inside. It wasn't often I was around the cities at night. The vibes were different. I stepped off the Capsule Corp's property to wander around a bit.
"Yo." I nearly jumped out of my skin at the voice.
I turned on my heels and saw familiar blue eyes looking back from a few feet away.
"Why do you always sneak up on me?" I asked.
"I think you just need better awareness of your surroundings." Seventeen shrugged.
"Well, I'm used to being able to sense people. What are you doing out here anyway." I asked. I hadn't seen him since-
Anyway.
Seventeen glanced over at the Capsule Corp building. "Sixteen mentioned a little get-together here. Said Eighteen was gonna be here too. I considered it, but not really my thing." He said nonchalantly.
"You came all the way out here just to change your mind?"
"Guess so," he shrugged.
He didn't elaborate and I wasn't sure what to say. I mean, what was I supposed to say?
"You look nice," he stated.
"Huh? Oh, uh- thanks. I just-" I trailed off, feeling self-conscious. I felt overdressed- or- I don't know. How was I supposed to respond to that?
I chanced a glance back up I saw him looking back at me with his head tilted.
"Do you want to go out on a date?"
I stared back at him. "…what?" Was all I could say. Everything about his demeanor was still so casual. So calm. Like it was easy.
"I asked you out. Since the subtle route didn't seem to work."
I- I didn't know how to react. I couldn't know how to react. How was I supposed to respond to that?
He tilted his head. "It's a yes or no question. If you don't that's fine."
"I-I don't…know?"
"Well, you don't need to answer right now if you don't want to. If you decide you want to you know where I work."
He turned to leave. He began to walk away. I panicked, lurching forward. He glanced back and down. My hand managed to catch his wrist. I quickly pulled it back to myself.
But- I couldn't. I couldn't just let him leave. If he did, that'd be it. I wouldn't follow through. I knew I wouldn't.
I still didn't know what I was supposed to say.
"It- it couldn't work." I finally managed. "From an outside perspective, the age difference would look- it's just-"
"Isn't it technically the same age difference, just in the opposite direction?" He asked with a slight smirk. "Same age difference between Krillin and my sister too."
"It's…different."
"How so?"
"It's- from an outside perspective, you met me when I was a child. That- that makes it look- it just makes it look weird."
That's a nice way to put it really. But I didn't know how to articulate it differently.
"You've put some thought into this." He stated.
"I mean- not really, I just-" I didn't know how to explain it properly.
"Do you think it's weird?" He asked.
"I- no? I don't know. Me dating anyone was always going to be weird because of the age thing."
Seventeen considered it for a moment. "Well. From my perspective, you were never a child, from the time I knew you at least. And it's not like I had any interest whatsoever when I thought you were one. It was a fair while after I was aware that wasn't the case, in fact. So, from my perspective, I don't see an issue. And from an outside perspective, that's more my problem than yours to worry about."
"But I don't want it to be a problem at all. It's- I don't know. I don't know."
"If it bothers you that much, you don't have to tell anyone right away. It's just a date. If it doesn't work out then no harm done."
And I struggled with that suggestion too. Because year sure, if it didn't work out it'd be fine. But if it did- there'd still be the same problem.
(And I, didn't want it to not work out)
Seventeen sighed. "Let's try this a different way then. What do you want?" He took a step closer.
"What?"
"Ignore what anyone else might think. What do you want?"
"I don't- I don't know how."
"You don't know how to what?" He asked for clarification. But I didn't know how to answer that either. Any of it? That probably wasn't a good answer.
But I did want to. That was the worst part. Obviously, it wouldn't work. But I don't know what I would do if things ended here without anything. I don't know what I'd do if there was a result. I would have preferred it if nothing happened at all. That was so much easier.
He took another step closer- very close- when did he get so close?
He placed a hand against my heated face. It felt cool in comparison. I had to consciously prevent myself from leaning into it. His eyes were so very blue. Almost too much so to be natural.
"What would you do if I kissed you?"
"I don't- I don't know.."
"Would you like to find out?"
"…yes."