Dragon Ball STEP Special! The Conton City Gracious Gathering Event!
"Alright, testinnng, 1, 2… solid on my end, you?"
"Mic che~ck… good, it's good."
"Live in…"
"RISE AND SHINE, PROUD WARRIORS OF CONTON CITY!" shouted a certain long and lilac-headed leader, grinning as if his life depended on it. "Now I know what you hard workers are wondering; 'Why's both the workhouse and every PQ terminal closed today?' "
"Well, around this time, we Earthlings like to celebrate a holiday known as Thanksgiving. It's during this time that we gather around with friends and family – In my case, my mom, my master, and everyone who wasn't dead or dying in the general area – and take notice of what we're thankful for while stuffing ourselves with food!"
Trunks suddenly snapped his gloved fingers.
"Yeah, that's right! I've got your attention now, don't I? Here's where WE get involved. Today, we've decided-"
"I had no part in this decision, I was not warned, I was naively under the assumption that mortals valued democracy but I guess I was mistake-"
"-WEEE'VE decided," Trunks passive-aggressively maintained to the feminine voice outside the camera's focus, "That you pugnacious patrollers deserve to get down under a planet-sized feast and take some time to chillax! 30 minutes from now, make sure to dress your best, keep those big bellies empty, and think about what makes you most thankful!"
"Big thoughts and big food for big boys and girls like you! We'll have food, water, music… uh… s-sunlight? Y-yeah, that's right, we've got you photosynthetic popstars covered, too! And every other food item under the kinda-sorta sun! Patrollers and Very Important Mentors alike are welcome to join the party!"
"The first-ever Conton City Gracious Gathering Event! Be there, or be square!" Trunks's teeth gleaned as he gave one final thumbs-up.
"Cut." The cameraman gave Trunks a look from behind the tripod. "Next time, talk like you're not having a mid-life crisis?"
"Sheesh, you sound so oooold, Gramps! I'm bringing the 750s back"
"Call me what you will, but there's stuff from that era that stayed dead for a reason."
[BGM: The Caesars – Jerk It Out (0:00-0:11)]
"Whatever, MOM."
"Stop that."
/"You know why Bossman sounded like he was having a mid-life crisis, like 30 minutes ago?"/ a brown-skinned human asked his raven-haired cyborg pal.
/"Haven't a clue. Don't care."/
The camera zoomed out. Now in the shot was Trunks, looking on from a distance with his face drooping.
/"You're gonna cut that out, right?"/
/(Yeeeeah.)/
/"Alright, you're the bomb."/
/(Still bringing back that 750s slang, huh?) "shut up-AND WE ARE LIVE, AT THE FIRST-EVER CONTON CITY GRACIOUS GATHERING EVENT! From the looks of it-"/
Cue a slow pan…
/"- everyone decided to make an appearance, pigging out and making small talk already!"/
Trunks looked genuinely happy.
[BGM: Fatboy Slim – Right Here Right Now (0:46)]
/"Let's find some unstuffed faces and get a better idea of what's crackling in Conton City! Question of the Day: What are YOU most thankful for?"/ announced Trunks, dynamically pointing toward the camera.
/"Right here! Right now!"/
/(Come on, are we doing this or-)/
/"Right here! Right now!"/
The cameraman sighed as Trunks continued.
/"Hey! Sir, we're currently going around the area and asking our residents what they're most thankful for! Mind giving us a bit of insight?"/
/"Food."/
/"Yeah, food's pretty great, but… how about something a bit more… intangible?"/
The Majin narrowed his eyes.
/"Food."/
/"… allLRIGHTY THEN, MR. MAJIN! Keep having a blast!"/
The Majin looked at his breadstick. His narrow glare began to waver.
/"… Food…"/
Was this all there was to his life? No bonds. No rivals. No companions. It was just this. Food. It was all he'd ever had.
/"…H-hey dude are you OK?"/
/"FOOOO-OO-OO-OOD!"/
/"Hey, big guy! Just put down the breadstick, we can go over this-"/
/"Whew, pretty heavy start already. (No comment.) Still, high spirits! Moving out to the next one! Ma'am! Ma'am!"/
/"My, my, if it isn't Trunks…"/
The duo approached a big-busted Saiyan woman.
/"Ma'am! Mind telling Conton City what YOU'RE thankful for?"/
/"Of course I don't! Why, I'm thankful for my sweet Kisekai-kun!"/
/" 'Kun' now that's not a honorific you hear often around here!" (For a good reason-) "So then, care to tell us more about this lucky guy?"/
/"Oh-ho, my, my! MY Kisekai-sama happens to be intelligent, strong, handsome, AND kind! Such a rare breed, men like he are!"/
Trunks wasn't expecting the stranger to describe damn-near everyone in Conton City.
/"I dunno, that kinda… kinda seems... boring to me…"/
/"WHAT."/
/"Kinda seems like THANK YOU. YOU BEAUTIFUL SCARY SAIYAN LADY FOR YOUR TIME, DURING THE CCGGE Broadcast! Keep partying to the best of-"/
/"ONLY KISEKAI SEMPAI CALLS ME BEAUTIFUL-"/
Trunks, straight-faced and full eye-contact with the camera, began to break it down, periodically snapping for added effect.
/(stop that.) "…" (C'mon, stop.) "…" (Sir I'm gonna laugh and drop this I swear.) "…"/
Trunks, now nodding his head, proceeded to slowly grin.
/(TRUNKS YOU PIECE OF-)/
Both broke down into giggling fits, camera shaking as Trunks rubbed his face and readjusted himself.
/"OK, OK, let's… let's keep moving!" (That was too close, stop messing around!)/
/"Sir? Loving the color of that exoskeleton, by the way!"/
/"hello."/
/"Yeah, can you tell Conton City what YOU'RE most thankful for today?"/
/"MOST thankful? Hmm…"/
/"Just top-of-your-head, no worries! First thing that comes to mind!"/
/"Well, I'd have to say I'm thankful for the moments of silence after the battle, when I'm able to listen to the bloody gurgles and screams of fallen evildoers as they fade from this plane and into the depths of the underworld, sentenced to eternal torment for their crimes."/
/"OK, MR, uhh…"/
/"Fausbait."/
/"FAUSBAIT, thank you for that in-depth answer! Glad to know someone has such a … detailed little something to be grateful for."/
/"No, no, thank YOU, Mr. Trunks! You know, it's really the small things that matter most-"/
/"Yeah they sure do, hey, you have keep having a good time, Fausbait!"/
/"We find a patroller cut up in an alley one day, we'll know who did it." (I'm gonna wake up in cold sweats thinking about those damn eyes…) "Oh, hey! This should be interesting! Sir!"/
/"Hmph?"/
/"For all those unfamiliar, this gentleman goes by Cell. He's got some… suspect… history involving the warriors of Earth!"/
/" 'Suspect,' that's a funny way of saying 'Killed me twice, one for each timeline.' "/
/"Oh, THAT? Water under the bridge! You're in Conton City now, during the, uh, CONTON CITY GRACIOUS GATHERING EVENT! Wanna give us some insight on what YOU, Perfect Cell, are grateful for today, if anything?"
/"Excuse me, it's MR. Perfect Cell."/
Trunks didn't even try to force a smile. His expression just dropped.
/"You think you're funny?"/
/"… For your sake, I'll stop."/
/"Good." (You don't look so hot, sir.) "I'm fine and SPEAKING OF FINE, what makes YOU, PERFECT CELL, grateful, if anything? Going twice."/
Cell put on a grim smile.
/"The screeching of the innocent as I flay their loved ones slowly, and painfully."/
/"Uh huh."/
/"WHA-THAT'S IT? I'M CERTAIN THAT ACTUAL BOY SCOUTS POINT AT YOU AND LAUGH, HOW DOES THAT NOT PISS YOU OFF EVEN A LITTLE?"/
/"So what I'm getting is, you only said that to piss me off? Is that what you're saying? You value pissing people off?"/
/"Well, yeah? I guess?"/
/"Would you say you're THANKFUL for that?"/
/"I mean… sure?"/
/"Alright, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CELL! STAY POWERFUL, AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, VALUED MENTOR!"/
Every detail of Cell's befuddled face was caught in a stunning 10,080p.
/"Oh, buzz off, I'm gonna go mock Gohan."/
/"Al…Right, let's keep mov-"/
/"Wait, forgot to specify, the one you DIDN'T let die?"/
In real time, a bright smile slowly decayed and twisted.
/"Now THAT? That, I am thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!"/
/(Deep breaths. Hhhhhhh…) "Hhhhhhhh…" (Hmmmmmmmm…) "Hmmmmmmm. Alright, I'm fine, I'm fine, we'RE BACK TO THE CONTON CITY GRACIOUS GATHERING EVENT! WE ARE LIVE! Now then- 'SCUSE ME! Young man!"/
A caramel-skinned human donning a tribal-esque vest and a backpack, serving as a makeshift sheath, suddenly stopped.
/"Eh?"/
/(Jeez, guy looks awful…) "Young man, can we-Oh. Wow, are you… are you feeling ok, buddy?"/
The kid was covered in bandages, and it looked like every muscle was focused on carrying his plate of food; compared to most other residents, it was laughably meager.
/"No."/
/"… Mind… Mind answering something for the viewers at home?"/
He shrugged.
/"OK, what are YOU most thankful for?"/
The camera zoomed in onto his dead expression.
/"Food."/
/"…" (…)/
/"Dude I'm about to break down, lemme sit before I die."/
/"YEAH, OF COURSE! Just take it easy, we're all having a good time today."/
/"Get f#$&ed."/
The young man hobbled off before stumbling and dropping his plate. He broke down crying.
/"Hey, no worries, I'll go grab you another! Just hang tight!"/
/(What kind of monster would do that do a kid?) "I know, right?"/
[BGM: Daft Punk – Around the World (1:04)]
/"Standing with us is one of Conton City's finest, a veteran patroller who's going on 7 years of service!"/
/"Ayyy, shout out to my mans Stroga!"/
/"Fantastic teacher, by the way. So, Kaset, mind telling us exactly what YOU'RE thankful for?"/
/"Oh that's easy. I'm thankful every day'a my life for this but… the connections I've made over my time being a patroller. I can say that it's the people I'm able to work with, and sit down and talk to at the end of the day as friends and as equals, that make life worth living."/
/"Wow, that's some hard-hitting stuff."/
/"Mhm. Oh, shout out to the girl Ayeva, Calculations Division, she's the one who convinced me to take up a mentorship side-gig!"/
/"Mentorship? Can you tell us more?"/
/"Oh You know, just helpin' a younger patroller improve himself! We'd be here all day if I went into specifics, but right now, we're just doin' light stuff, and we'll work our way up from there."/
/"Just great words from one of our greatest patrollers, everyone! Pleasure to have you on, Kaset, and best wishes to you and your pupil!"/
/"Aw, thanks, Trunks! And you should do that goofy slang from this morning more often!"/
/"Shucks, you think?"/
/(What an upstart guy.) "I know, right? We should get some more veterans!"/
/"I'm thankful for my friend, obviously!"/
/"You said it best, bestie!"/
/"Here's something I personally can't get enough of, and I'm sure many of you feel the same: two relatively new patrollers in the Thanksgiving spirit of kinship! Can I get your names, girls?"/
/"My name's Kora!"/
/"And I'm Dina!"/
/"You know, bonds like these are becoming more and more infrequent, and I find that kinda heartbreaking, considering one of the Time Patrol's top priorities is ensuring that bonds throughout history aren't broken, no matter how bizarre those bonds may be!" (This is just me but those expressions look kinda forced-) "Now, just from clothing alone, I can tell you two come from drastically different backgrounds. Can you tell us exactly how you came to know each other?"/
/"Oh, it was so happenstance when I think about it now! There she was, right, just a blubbering mess of a bloke, and I personally just couldn't STAND watching someone so down on their luck, right? So, I gave her a shoulder to cry on, told her to chin up, and we just hit it off from there! Inseparable, we are! Ain't that right, Kora?/"
/"Aw, Dina, you joker, you! See, this little bundle of joy just has an AWFUL case of short-term memory! Not her fault, of course! Not all of us are fortunate enough to be born gifted in the brains department, but whew, sometimes it's like no one's home up there! No, no, she's just too shy to admit how much she used to suck up to me! I just had to take her under my wing after a while, and the rest is history!"/
/"Always the overexaggerator! Of course, I'm by no means gifted – above average, easily – but I'd say I more than make up in appeal! Now, my best mate in the whole wide world, however…. Haha, let's just say there are times when height's favorable and times when it's not."/
/"Well in my experience, height's never stopped me from getting attention! Maybe it's because I haven't been smelling like blood, sweat, and sobbing lately! Any thoughts on that, bestie?"/
/"Oh-hoh, I'M sure there are reasons why you draw attention, friend! I mean, I'VE never had any problems with your extravagant fashion sense, but I've reason to believe some would consider it… I dunno, starts with s, rhymes with nutty? Ah, it's nothing!"/
/"Hahahaha, I can't even with this chick sometimes! I could just snap her neck with affection!"/
/"That's so sweet, Kora-love! I'd bash your fat head in if there weren't any cameras around!"/
/(I don't feel comfortable anymore.) "What're you talking about? This is vintage stuff!"/
/"Always a pleasure being around you, daddy's princess!"/
/"Haaah, at least my father loved me."/
/"…"/
/"…"/
/"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-"/
/"AHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-"/
/"And it is ALWAYS a pleasure to capture budding friendships like this here in Conton City! You two enjoy yourselves!"/
/(He seems like he's in a bad mood, sure about this?) "I can't just let a patroller stay glum at a time like this, can I? 'Scuse me! Big guy!"/
The duo encountered a tall Saiyan in black-gold noble armor. Somehow, his eyes were shrouded in sharp, pitch-black shadows as he scowled.
/"Hey! We're here on a survey to know what exactly Conton City's residents are thankful for! Mind filling us in with your personal take?"/
/"Power."/
/"That was… a bit… too quick- anything a bit more, uh, wholesome that you're thankful for?"/
/"I've answered. Now begone."/
/"Aw come on, no reason to be so closed off! Let's know how you REALLY feel!"/
/"Say, you there. How much do you value that contraption of yours?"/
Trunks's eyes widened.
/(HEY. HEY YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY CAMERA.) "Easy, now, we're just being-"/
The Saiyan began rapidly approaching the cameraman.
/(I'M WARNING YOU! I'M SERIOUS NOT ONE MORE STEP OR-)/
After a brief intermission, the duo steadied on their survey. Though a myriad of wholesome individuals gave some typical gushy answers – love, friends, happiness, the second chance Conton City gave them, to name a few – other answers cropped up just as much.
Among those were "The zeni in my pockets," "Hercule saving the planet; Shut up, yes he did," "Age 739," "You, Daddy," and about 5 girls of various species saying various affectionate forms of Kisekai.
To make matters worse, several fights broke out: patroller vs patroller, mentor vs mentor (Several Gohans collectively threw a chair at Cell, reasoning is unknown,) and even a few mentor vs patroller brawls over food. The day wound down, and with a cameraman wielding a cracked lens, Trunks – physically and mentally spent – approached his final guest.
/"Ladies and gentlemen, here we have Son Goku. Greates-ONE OF. ONE OF the greatest fighters in the multiverse, Saiyan raised on Earth, yadda yadda."/
A food wall obscured to aforementioned Earth-raised Saiyan from view. Trunks was too tired to care.
/"Son. Goku. Would you like to tell Conton City. What you. Are most thankful for."/
The clattering of utensils and incessant munching came to a halt.
/"Hmm…"/
He had a good-natured giggle.
/"Well, right about now, I'd have to say that I'm thankful for… FOOD!"/
Trunks stared.
Trunks stared.
Trunks stared.
Trunks stared.
Trunks stared.
/"Alright, people of Conton City! That'll be it for this broadcast, and the Conton City… Gracious… Gathering… Event. Make sure you sleep off all that food and, uh… Goodnight."/
[BGM: Blink 182 - What's My Age Again]
"That was a disaster." Trunks popped a squat, the "sun" setting behind him.
"Ehh. Wouldn't go that far," the cameraman objected.
"Yeah, sure." Trunks walked off. "Gonna go… overdose on off-brand cranberry sauce or something, I dunno."
"Forgot to ask someone what they're grateful for."
Trunks looked back. He sighed.
"What are you grateful fo-"
"The effort you put into this event."
Trunks's dead expression lightened a bit.
"Arguably didn't work out, but… you gave it heart. As always, sir."
The black-coated arranger/host's face crumpled a bit.
"Thanks, man." His voice audibly cracked. "Wanna can of off-brand cranberry sauce for the road?"
"Naah, I'll just down some shots of nitromethane and call it a day."
"Wha-"
…
…
"Oh, yeah, always seem to forget."
"You're an android."
Yo.
OP here.
Here's to the last few hours of 2019's Thanksgiving.
Have a good one, lads.