>First Thread:
https://archived.moe/qst/thread/2424210/#2424210

>Issue #28 Star Knight Edition:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3886230/

>Previous Thread(s):
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=A%20New%20Mutant%20Quest

>Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/r4mTphVV

>Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIla03MZw7Ev6y7u98WYVeV9HuS5-Ez9R

File: ck2_97.png (3.68 MB, 1920x1080)

3.68 MB PNG

I was bored and ended up making Kojo in CK2.

Traits from left to right:

Brilliant Strategist (Martial Education), Strong (Genetic Trait), Genius (Genetic Trait), Attractive (Genetic Trait), Immortal (Biologically), Bastard, Celibate, Taurus (Astrological Sign), Peasant Leader, Kinslayer, Strategist (Lifestyle Trait), Administrator (Lifestyle Trait), Mystic (Lifestyle Trait), Impaler (Lifestyle Trait), Duelist (Lifestyle Trait), Cynical, Ambitious, Lustful (Seven Deadly Sins: Luxuria), Diligent (Seven Holy Virtues: Industria), Proud, Cruel, Gregarious, Brave, Deceitful, Erudite, Wroth (Seven Deadly Sins: Ira), Temperate (Seven Holy Virtues: Temperantia), Possessed, and Depressed.


If they didn't allow you to be simultaneously celibate yet lustful, this trait list wouldn't be completely accurate.

>>4172176
>[ ] Kiss her, why not?
you wanna ? let's give to her

Made the mistake of posting a thread late. Will close voting and update tomorrow morning my time (UTC-8)

Any thoughts or questions, my returning anons?

>>4172243
how you been my dude ?

>>4172244
Life in quarantine is like it was before, only somehow even more online.

Hope you all are doing fine too.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] Kiss her, why not?

It's just a little kiss that will likely lead to nothing else going on. Still pretty pathetic of someone like you to do something so innocently romantic. You should just kill her: she's better off dead. Besides, everyone who's ever slept with you is dead because of you anyway. All you ever do is get those who help you killed. Dan, Abuelita, your mother, your father, and your lovers; she's no different.

Blinking, you let out a sigh.

The minx tilts her head. "Am I making you horny or is this about something else?"

You walk to your would-be concubine's half nakedness, snake an arm behind the small of her back, and tug her close.

"Woah, you're actually into this for once." Alex smiles. "Just what changed?"

Pressing your lips against hers, you snake your tongue in-between them to slither against her own sweet, pink muscle, giving her an answer.

The girl is unresponsive for a good thirty seconds before she closes her eyes to kiss and suck back.

You rise as your concubine hooks her legs around your waist.

This is exactly what you were worried about.

Moving your hands to your lover girl's sides, you pry her upper body back from yours.

"What's wrong?" The Foxy One furrows her brow.

You shake your head. "Nothing, I'm just... Not sure what the hell I'm doing."

"Please, you know exactly what you're doing."

"Alex, you know what I mean."

The girl coos. "Kojo."

You groan.

She wants this more than you do, which would be fine if you were in the mood but you're really not.

>[ ] "Come on, you know this won't be good if I'm not in the right frame of mind."
>[ ] "...Why is getting laid by me so important to you?"
>[ ] "Let's go back to my place, put your clothes on."
>[ ] "...Alright, I guess it's fine."
>[ ] "Do you need some water?"
>[ ] Write In.

>>4172960
>[ ] "Come on, you know this won't be good if I'm not in the right frame of mind."

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "Come on, you know this won't be good if I'm not in the right frame of mind."

She's going to insist on your coupling, but you can easily push her off you into the next several buildings over if you wanted to. Maybe you should do that to spare yourself anymore of her troublesome antics. You know she does it just to get a rise out of you and everyone else. Really, you'd be doing the world a favor and her a favor: she is just another broken thing littering this reality.

"Come on, you know this won't be good if I'm not in the right frame of mind."

Alex caresses your face in her hands. "I'm doing this to set you into the right mindset."

You raise an eyebrow.

"...Something hurt you to make you like this; not just towards sex, but the way you always are." She nuzzles her lips against yours. "It's okay: you won't hurt me."

"Alex, for fuck's sake, all I ever do is hurt people. When me met, I threatened to have you raped to death or at least into a mental breakdown."

"But you gave me a choice."

"That wasn't a choice, it was an ultimatum."

Ms. Forward smiles. "It was the only one anyone ever gave me."

A sigh huffs from your lips.

You are such a piece of shit.

"...I'm not good for you, I'm not good for anyone."

"Of course, you're too good." The girl kisses your cheek.

"Please stop, we both know that's a load of bullshit."

"Since when did you care about being 'good' for anyone?" Alex raises an eyebrow of her own. "Morality is a load of bullshit. You've bettered New York being 'bad' more than you would ever have being 'good.' Why is that important now?"

Frowning, you stare into the blond's blue eyes.

You don't understand either in many ways.

>[ ] "...I'm just not who I want to be is all, not that I know who that is."
>[ ] "Been through therapy, realizing a lot of shit I'm working through."
>[ ] "...Do you love me? Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean?"
>[ ] "By just questioning me, you make me want to kill you."
>[ ] "Let's just go home, I want to sleep and just sleep."
>[ ] "Just stop, please."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4173759
>[x] "...I'm just not who I want to be is all, not that I know who that is."

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "...I'm just not who I want to be is all, not that I know who that is."

All you've ever wanted is power, and now you have more power than you know what to do with. It's all you've defined yourself by. There's nothing left but you, and you don't like who you really are at all. None of this new to you except for the dislike: the old you didn't know what he was though, not that he cared about that or anything. You're still different then him and not him at least.

"...I'm just not who I want to be is all, not that I know who that is."

The girl coos as she caresses your face. "You're who you need to be."

"Needed. I'm not some small time gangster anymore." You relax your gaze. "Neither are you. I'm not going to make you do whatever you don't want to."

"Kojo, there's almost nothing you can order that I wouldn't do. This whole born again act is fine as long as you remember what got you to this point: practical cruelty. Everyone needs to understand who you are and what happens when they cross you."

Grasping her hands, you move them from your face. "I know, I just... hate how much it gets me off."

The girl clucks her tongue. "Wish I could get you off."

"Please fuck off me now."

Sighing, your personal assassin unhooks herself from you before finishing dressing herself.

You plop yourself onto the roof's asphalt and stare up into the sky.

"I swear, your head is always up there, isn't it?"

A non-affirmative hum rumbles in your throat.

In your childhood, the alleyway you lived in only shined strands of the sun's light. After your mutation and move to the old warehouse, it was nothing but blinding. You were too interested in the brightness to advance past the Bronx before that drive-by happened. The violence reminded you of what you were and where you really lived.

>[ ] "...Still feel like you're on that edge? Like you're so close to something beyond all of this, but you're not close enough? That's how I've always felt since that day I..."
>[ ] "...I never taught you how to call on to Gods, did I? Sit down with me, I want to be there whenever you need me."
>[ ] "Want to learn more magic? It involves manipulating a grand wizard supreme."
>[ ] "Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."
>[ ] "Lay down with me, I know you don't want to go home alone."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4174910
>[ ] "...I never taught you how to call on to Gods, did I? Sit down with me, I want to be there whenever you need me."

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "...I never taught you how to call on to Gods, did I? Sit down with me, I want to be there whenever you need me."

You never know what might be gunning for you or your allies in the days to come. Magic, skill, and firepower might not all be enough for the shit you'll have to deal with. It's not like you know the fullest extent of your divine abilities or whatever the fuck you are but people at least can call upon your power and expertise with the ever infinite power of magic. Popping in yourself is also an option.

"...I never taught you how to call on to Gods, did I?" Lifting your upper body, you cross your legs. "Sit down with me, I want to be there whenever you need me."

Alex blinks. "...Are you saying you're Jesus or something?"

"No." You chuckle. "Yeshua was likely some random Jew son of a cheating whore who passed him off as 'God's' child. I am..." The usual blur of your would-be true name distorts in your mind. "Whatever the fuck I am."

The minx raises her brow at you as she seats herself before your vessel.

"I know, it's fucking insane. Just hold my hands: for some reason, I know you'll be capable of calling on me if I... do something."

"Alright, I trust you...kind of." She takes your soft, strong hands in her own.

You close all three of your eyes and breathe.

"Is something supposed to happ—"

All that you are envelops Alex's vessel through your opening third eye.

Seconds, minutes, and hours pass until you open your actual eyes to your minx's crying face. "...What happened?"

The girl embraces you, whimpering a delighted cry. "Meeting you was the greatest moment in my life."

"I don't understand... What did I do?"

"S̷̞̊̿̀̽͝ȃ̸͎͙̹̹̣̺̙̯̗̠̫͍̩͊̉̆͊̐̏̓̇͐̈́̽̃͠ļ̵̨̡͎̻̥̭̜͚͔̦͇̹̯̱̀̓́̓̃̉̿͋̕v̷̧̧̢̢͍̞̳̠̫̩̙͇̻͇̫͌̈́̒̄̚ͅǟ̴̧̦̫̠̽̄͌̚̕t̶͎̯̪͗́͂͋̐̋̇͛̈̑̀̄͆͑̉̀̀i̸̛̱̒̀̄̽̑̓̔͐̾̚͝ò̷̱͖͚̆͑͐ņ̶̢̙̼̖̹̏̊̑̿̆̔̓̀͆͒̋̃̏͐͘͘͜͠"

W͙̗̝̗h̰̱̿ͨy, ͊̆̈w̺̞̳̐͌̓͐h̺y͂̿͛̾͊,̝̮̖͇̟͎̮ͬͦ̉̐̉̽ͯ ̹͕͉̥͒̍̑͆wͬh͋ͤ̚y ̙̼̯͕,̯͙̻͊̾̓ ̄ͯ̿w̟͇hy, ͮͨw͗ͬ̈̑h̙̯̥̟y̼̹̼͓̼?̻͙̣̖

You shake your head.

Great, they're back at it again.

>[ ] "Want to learn more magic? ...It involves manipulating a grand wizard supreme."
>[ ] "...Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."
>[ ] "...Lay down with me, I know you don't want to go home alone."
>[ ] "Seriously, what the fuck did I just do?"
>[ ] What the hell happened now?
>[ ] Write In.

>>4175532
>[ ] What the hell happened now?
also how do you distort words ? been curious for a while

Voting closed; writing now.

>>4175645
Zalgo text generator.

>[X] What the hell happened now?

When it's not one thing, it is always the other. You just can't catch a break from either life or yourself. They'll keep pulling at you fromt wo different ends until you break apart into two if not several pieces. Whatever it is, you can't stay like this forever: you can't afford to be existentially fractured between your past and whatever the fuck the other you is.

A sigh escapes your lips.

What the hell happened now?

She saw me and she knows me now as she knows you.

"That doesn't explain anything." You blink. "Did I just say that out loud?"

Alex nuzzles against your cheek. "It's okay, I understand. You will too."

"Oh goddammit, first... now you? I swear, if everyone but me figures out what the fuck is going on, I'll kill every last one of you before killing myself."

"There, there. Find peace with yourself, and you will be whole."

"I hate you so much right now."

"Hate is where those who cannot bear grief go."

You part you lips and freeze at the truth in the blond's awe-inspired ramblings.

Hatred is all you felt about the past before the sadness set in about Abuelita and Dan's deaths.

"...Seriously, what the fuck did I do to you?"

"You saved me, Kojo." Alex weeps into your shoulder. "You saved all of us."

Groaning, you roll your red-on-black devil eyes.

Mind-raping your subordinates better not become commonplace lest you be surrounded by annoying people you used to find pleasant.

>[ ] "Want to learn more magic? ...It involves manipulating a grand wizard supreme."
>[ ] "I thought you wanted to fuck me, not.... whatever this is. Worship?"
>[ ] "...Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."
>[ ] "...Lay down with me, I know you don't want to go home alone."
>[ ] "Call on my power, I want to see how this works."
>[ ] Write In

>>4176383
>[ ] "Call on my power, I want to see how this works."

Late. WIll close voting and update tomorrow morning my time (UTC-8)

Thoughts or questions?

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "Call on my power, I want to see how this works."

May as well try and figure out what the fuck you did through examining its product in action. If she turns out to be better than you at whatever you do, you may have to switch from magic to divine manipulation or whatever that is. You don't really need more power, but you could always use some just in case, such is the way of this rampantly chaotic reality.

"Call on my power, I want to see how this works."

The weeping girl lifts her head off your shoulder and nods before scooting back. "Kojo, grant me s̹̺̭̫͊́̏͛ͫả̙̦̏l͚̰̥̮̼̒̓̋̾̐;̣̀va͗ͩͨ͗ͨ͂t͈́ḯ̑ͫ̋onͣ͑̔̿."

Reality twists and warps as you feel your will become one with your assassin's.

W̒́ͬ̃̑͑̍ḧ̤̘̺́ͭy, ͕̖̫̬̋̑ͫ̍̓wͣ͆͒̌ͬh̤̫̤͎̆́̽͂ŷ͇̖̼̭̓̔̆,̬̐ ͈̩̦͉ͅͅw͒͂͒ͣ̈̈́h̞ͣy̾̈́, ͉w̃h̯̼̻̤̾́̄̐y̖͈͔͋͂̏,̦̼̻̓͊ͫ w̺̻̟̦h̻ỹ̰̩̣̳͉̣ͮ̿̿ͤ͊, ̤̤̝̬̯͒̌̈ͪ͆ŵ͔̫̹̯̭̦̃ͤ͑̓h̙̭͚̼̤͆ͭͭ̃̏y̼͍̘,͍̪̪ w̭̿h̖͎̻͑̈́̒̑y̟̱̩̩̐̑ͨ̃, ͕̙͍̀̈̏wh͚͚͔̹̫͍̓͛͋͌̆ͩ̆ͅy̌̇̉͂?̮̘̙̻̻̠̓̋ͩ͒̊ͩ

You furrow your brow as the world blurs.

Alex embraces you again, clenching on to you with a ferocity you've only felt Abuelita ever muster.

"I... I don't understand."

"Give it time, you will. Everything will become so clear and nothing will ever be the same for anyone ever again."

Tears stream down your face.

And you thought she got mindfucked.

"Do you have any idea how vague that is?"

"I know, Kojo." She moves to press her forehead against yours. "It will only take time, and you have eternity."

"What the hell did you find out?"

"There, there. You are great and you are powerful. There is only One of you."

A sigh shivers out your lips.

The closer you get, the farther things always seem.

>[ ] "Want to learn more magic? ...It involves manipulating a grand wizard supreme."
>[ ] "I thought you wanted to fuck me, not.... whatever this is. Worship?"
>[ ] "...Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."
>[ ] "...Lay down with me, I know you don't want to go home alone."
>[ ] "Why am I still here?"
>[ ] Write In

>>4177461
>[ ] "I thought you wanted to fuck me, not.... whatever this is. Worship?"

Voting closed; writing now.

File: prayer.jpg (88 KB, 720x720)

88 KB JPG

>[X] "I thought you wanted to fuck me, not.... whatever this is. Worship?"

She really needs to stick to a clear set of intentions for your sake unless she wants you raping her mind an entirely different way. You're getting real tired of her crazy ass bullshit. Bad enough she got involved in your mindfucking horseshit too. Maybe you should've just killed her instead of revealing your somewhat divine demonhood to her primitive mortal existence. Really, killing yourself would've solved so many youdamned problems.

"I thought you wanted to fuck me, not.... whatever this is." You raise an eyebrow as Alex separates from you body. "Worship?"

The blond claps her hands together and inclines her head.

"Oh for fuck's sake."

"None are worthy of your grace."

You groan. "Don't ever do this in front of the others: there's enough obvious crazy shit happening with me as is."

"As you wish it, so it will be." The worshiper prostrates herself.

"Barely a couple minutes of this and I already want to rip the memory of whatever happened from your soul, which I'm pretty sure would just Oblivion you."

"If that is what you will."

"Stoooooooooooop."

Alex lifts her head. "Those who have seen the light will never stop seeking your favor."

"You couldn't even begin to comprehend how annoying this is to me."

"The truth often is so, but it will liberate you in time as you liberate all who witness your majesty."

"...Please tell me you're fucking with me." A groan grunts out your throat. "This is all just some really heavy way of messing with me like you do to pretty much everyone. You can't seriously revere me as your messiah devil."

"Messiah, God, Devil... All are truly One and you are All."

Rising, you sigh.

This nonsense is going to take ages for you to figure out if all the other problems in your life are anything to go by.

>[ ] "...Lay down with me, I know you don't want to go home alone and I could really use some time to think."
>[ ] "Want to learn more magic? ...It involves manipulating a grand wizard supreme."
>[ ] "...Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."
>[ ] "Does that also make me The One Above All of them?"
>[ ] "Why am I still here?"
>[ ] Write In

>>4178514
>>[ ] "...Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."

Voting closed; writing now.

I'm back, caught up, and still missing the vote, as always.

>[X] "...Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."

That's enough insane nonsense for one long ass nonsense-filled day. You've got other shit to do and a long infinite road ahead of you. Best you worry about the things in your immediate vicinity than something that apparently will last for fucking ever. Life or existence really is a massive bitch that will never stop fucking with your greatness.

"...Ready to go home? Let's go. We've got some times ahead of us."

"So long as you are with me, I'm ready for anything."

You roll your eyes and flick a portal into being. "Just step through the fucking singularity."

Humming a joyful tune, the minx skips across the roof asphalt into your house.

A sigh escapes your lips as you join her in one of your many houses.

Several days full of therapy sessions, dealing with Alex's new worshiper shit, and office work pass until you receive news that the facility you had set up for Phineas has finished its preparations.

You pop yourself on to the roof of Mason's cover workshop, hop down, and enter the building proper.

"Hello, Kojo." A familiar, chilling voice greets.

Blinking, you turn and stare at the image of your old self stationed at the cash register. "You're dead, I..." You clutch your chest. "I can't breathe, I can't... W̶̗͚̯̝͍̱͓͓͔͊̋͜h̴̞̼̺͈͚͈̒̆̚͠ẏ̶͍̣̖̞̜͍̖̯͍̮̈́͐̓͑̎̇̏̿?̶̢͖̟͕̠̭̝̈́̿͂̊̈́͐̓̑̽̐̍̈́"

The forlorn soul hops over the counter and sprints to you without a word or a sound.

You blink again as you see one of the only female mutants you've ever met staring in front of you instead of your old self.

"A panic attack... Do I discomfort you so?"

Letting go of your chest, a sigh of relief escapes your lips.

It's just Laura, not you.

>[ ] "Are you going to move in with the old man at the new place? You can visit anytime you want, but he's going to be busy doing even more of his tinkering."
>[ ] "Out of curiosity, did the Facility ever put you under the knife for other mutations? I've got them operating on two of my finest operators."
>[ ] "Phineas has his things packed, right? I gave him word to start prepping some time ago."
>[ ] "...Ever thought of seeing a therapist? I've got one that can be trusted...somewhat."
>[ ] "...Do you ever feel like you're already dead or at least supposed to be?"
>[ ] "Yes, it's primarily me though, not you."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4179614
>[ ] "Are you going to move in with the old man at the new place? You can visit anytime you want, but he's going to be busy doing even more of his tinkering."

>>4179614
>[X] Write In "It's not you. I just- Never mind. It's fine. You're fine. I... will be fine."
Acknowledge her question and your reaction, like a person might, move then move on.

>[X] "Are you going to move in with the old man at the new place? You can visit anytime you want, but he's going to be busy doing even more of his tinkering."

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "It's not you. I just- Never mind. It's fine. You're fine. I... will be fine."
>[X] "Are you going to move in with the old man at the new place? You can visit anytime you want, but he's going to be busy doing even more of his tinkering."

>(1/2)

Best you address the subject before moving on to what you came here to do for everyone's sake. The less people who know what you're going through, the better. Only fuck boy douchebag mutie Garrison gets to hear your private, vulnerable thoughts. He's the only one that deserves to hear your sorry, pitiful nonsense about feeling guilty for killing your family.

"It's not you. I just—" You shake your head. "Never mind. It's fine; you're fine. I... will be fine."

"You are lying. If the small chance you are not, that is very unconvincing."

"For some strange reason, I keep forgetting how socially retarded you are."

"I can understand social cues. I only have trouble discerning their meanings as they differ from person to person. Atypical for a female yet otherwise common in human beings." Laura purses her ruby lipstick lips. "Few could expect a man like you... to be so afraid."

You stare deep into the girl's empty emerald eyes.

Maybe she'll understand if she ever advances past the half-dead phase of things she's in now. It took killing Dan after the mutation to set you on your path, but it wasn't until you secured Hunts Point did you really come into your own. Shame she didn't kill her father when she had the chance: might've also offed herself in the process, but she would've gotten closer to your state.

>(2/2)

"Are you going to move in with the old man at the new place? You can visit anytime you want, but he's going to be busy doing even more of his tinkering."

"I do not wish to disturb Phineas' work, although I have grown fond of him and Triple T."

Groaning, you furrow your brow at the gene-baby daughter. "Why the hell do you and Beck keep indulging that thing?" You blink. "Speaking of Beck, where has he been lately? I know I gave him a fortune, but he shouldn't be neglecting the old man."

"Quentin has paid Phineas a number of visits since your payment. From what Quentin has said, he now spends most of his time learning how to safeguard his fortune and invest. He offered Phineas more than half his funds but Phineas rejected, claiming he had no interest in wealth."

A hum chimes in your throat. "He's not a completely worthless person after all." You cluck your tongue as you remember the subject at hand. "So, where do you want to go?"

"I am fine with wherever you put me... so long as you do not throw me away."

Frowning, you raise an eyebrow at the living doll.

It's more like she went the opposite direction you did now that you give it some more thought.

>[ ] "I have someone back at my apartment that hates being alone. Care to keep her company? I think you two might get along."
>[ ] "...How do you feel about protecting a few temporary flatscans from your former handsy handler?"
>[ ] "...Ever thought of seeing a therapist? I've got one that can be trusted...somewhat."
>[ ] "Come with me, let's checkout some of my properties for something you like."
>[ ] "Just stick with the old man, he likes having homunculi for company."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4180653
>[X] "...Ever thought of seeing a therapist? I've got one that can be trusted...somewhat."
It would be good to get an indication of how satisfied she is with her emotional state. Also it might alleviate some of her concern if we imply that we are getting some help ourselves.

>[X] "I have someone back at my apartment that hates being alone. Care to keep her company? I think you two might get along."
It might actually be really good for both of them and keep Alex from building a shrine in your living room or something.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "...Ever thought of seeing a therapist? I've got one that can be trusted...somewhat."
>[X] "I have someone back at my apartment that hates being alone. Care to keep her company? I think you two might get along."

>(1/2)

Good chance the disturbingly sexy-looking puppet wants to stop being a puppet. The disturbing sexiness is unfortunately a permanent feature of her Canuck French-Anglo mongrel genes, possibly with some Japanese spice. Alex will likely try using her to tease you or convert her to the new religion she made about you. Very least your sacrifices will stop the clinginess of your devout assassin.

"...Ever thought of seeing a therapist? I've got one that can be trusted...somewhat."

"Are they effective?"

"Considering how I've had trouble talking to the one person I trust the most in this world but not him, yes."

"Then I would like treatment from him."

"Good." You cluck your tongue again as you remember a crucial detail. "He's also a mutant with strong pheromones he can use to manipulate people. Man doesn't need them for therapy, but he has this bad habit of smelling up the room. Feel free to kill him if he tries anything, just give him a few seconds to readjust; pop out your claws for good measure and he will."

"Understood, I will kill him if necessary and stage his death as a suicide to avoid the scrutiny of a disappearance."

A hum of your approval thrums through the air. "I have someone back at my apartment that hates being alone. Care to keep her company? I think you two might get along."

"If that is what you wish."

"But is it you want?"

"...I want to be of use to you."

Sighing, you shake your head.

>(2/2)

You doubt she could ever change, but somehow you did.

A tear in space-time manifests itself to your side.

"Go on into your new home, I'll follow."

The girl nods and complies.

You follow after to find Ms. Varley sniffing the air. "What?"

"The woman you have smells of sex, but the traces of it on you are faint in comparison."

"For the large part, I am celibate because of certain..." You blink. "Are you saying she had sex with someone that wasn't me?"

"No, she just smells of it."

"Good, and here I thought I was going to have to fuck a whore and castrate or rape a man."

Laura stares back in silence for a good couple of seconds before tilting her head in confusion.

The peculiar mating and domination habits quite possibly caused by your mutations are fucking weird to anyone who isn't you, but should ultimately be understandable.

>[ ] "All animals despise the idea of getting cucked. No one in their natural state would want to raise a child that isn't their's. Fortunately for the living siblings of abortions, adoption has become common these days."
>[ ] "Just don't kill her. No matter how annoying you find her or uncomfortable the slaps she is very likely to make against your fat ass, just don't."
>[ ] "In another time, in another life, you might've gone down her road... Actually, I'm pretty sure you did, not sure how or why though."
>[ ] "What? Kimura fucked you plenty enough, you should be a bit gay yourself by now, sex is weird like that."
>[ ] "Sex is complicated for me, like it should be for you but somehow isn't... I think."
>[ ] "...Wait a minute, are you relieved or just finding my living situation odd?"
>[ ] Write In.

>>4182631
The sex bit seems a bit hard to narrow down:

>[X] Write In. "Sex is complicated for me... I'm more, let's say, protective of what's mine. It's an instinctive animal thing. Actually, with your mutation, you should have something similar. ...but you probably don't because you're the way you are."

And then when that completely fails to clarify anything, we go for the segue:

>"Anyway..."

>>4182631
>[X] "Just don't kill her. No matter how annoying you find her or uncomfortable the slaps she is very likely to make against your fat ass, just don't."
Alex is actually pretty formidable with the magic. Not saying I'd put money on her to win, but she could go a few rounds with Laura if not surprised.

That's my hot take.

Oh god. Heh. Peter can't find out we moved her into our apartment with the slutty former hooker we're "cheating on our girlfriend" with.
He'll call CPS or whatever.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "Sex is complicated for me... I'm more, let's say, protective of what's mine. It's an instinctive animal thing. Actually, with your mutation, you should have something similar. ...but you probably don't because you're the way you are."
>[X] "Just don't kill her. No matter how annoying you find her or uncomfortable the slaps she is very likely to make against your fat ass, just don't."

No harm in telling her about your odd sexual habits as a result of instincts. She's not any other person who would look at you like you were a complete fucking animal. It might be that she's the same way considering how alike you seem to be to Logan, instinct wise. Alex may be able to hold her own against some of the powerful people in this world now, but all it ever takes is a single opening to lose your life.

"Sex is complicated for me... I'm more, let's say, protective of what's mine. It's an instinctive animal thing. Actually, with your mutation, you should have something similar. ...but you probably don't because you're the way you are."

"The 'way' I am referring to my personality being irregular?"

"Yes, putting it very fucking lightly."

A small hum murmurs in Laura's slender throat. "Is your female companion similar?"

"Kind of." Sighing, you twitch. "She's been caught up in a great deal of other nonsense as of late."

"Am I in danger?"

"Just don't kill her. No matter how annoying you find her or uncomfortable the slaps she is very likely to make against your fat ass, just don't."

"I do not understand why you insist my rump is overly proportioned."

You shoot her a look. "Shortstack please, your ass is fat. Tits... look like they might come in within a couple of years, maybe if you get knocked up if not. Although, that'd also mean your ass would get even fatter, which is just... ugh."

"...I excite you more than you are comfortable with."

Turning away, you groan.

She's not retarded, just socially retarded unfortunately.

>[ ] "...What do you think about having sex with yourself? I'd totally fuck myself if I could but I would sooner kill myself than fuck my child self. Really, just thinking about it makes me want to kill myself right now."
>[ ] "...Don't you think it's a bit weird you defend comments about your ass but give no thought about the woman that's going to be molesting it? Did you get used to Kimura's treatment?"
>[ ] "I can't think of you naked without picturing your gene-daddy naked, which is... not that bad but still unpleasant now that I know he's practically a furry."
>[ ] "Oh wow, you just now got that. Congratua-fucking-lations, you can see the obvious... My apologies, you bring out the bitch in me."
>[ ] "Let's go to the therapist, I think it might help him understand me if I show him you."
>[ ] "I'm going to be teleporting you to the therapist now, follow the mutant scent."
>[ ] "Just... wait for her to get here; I need to go to work."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4183723
>[X] "Oh wow, you just now got that. Congratua-fucking-lations, you can see the obvious... My apologies, you bring out the bitch in me."
Kojo has, at times, dabbled in bitchery.
But he's man enough to check himself and apologize if he gives a shit about the person.

>[X] "Let's go to the therapist, I think it might help him understand me if I show him you."
We can get them acquainted and maybe chip away at out past-self barnacle

(Delayed ability to post today.)

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "Oh wow, you just now got that. Congratua-fucking-lations, you can see the obvious... My apologies, you bring out the bitch in me."
>[X] "Let's go to the therapist, I think it might help him understand me if I show him you."

The disturbingly fine ass gene-baby probably thinks she's hot shit behind that dead, still face of hers. You can just feel the non-existent smugness waft off the essence of her existence. It's making the god in you want to strike her down for her insolence. Garrison's blond douchebag ass better start making more progress with you an all of your bullshit.

"Oh wow, you just now got that. Congratua-fucking-lations, you can see the obvious..." You blink as Laura stares at you with her usual dead look. "My apologies, you bring out the bitch in me."

"Was your old self really so despicable?"

You thin your frowning lips.

She really doesn't know how to let some things be.

"Let's go to the therapist, I think it might help him understand me if I show him you."

Laura eyes another of your portal weaves with some interest. "You said we had nothing in common when I said we were similar: you took offense."

"Shut the fuck up and get in the portal before your mouth continues to make mistakes."

Without a word, your female shadow follows you through the rip in space-time to Garrison's room.

Your companion's nose twitches as you wave to a wide-eyed blond mutant. "Sup." Lifting an arm in your foil's direction, a sigh escapes your lips. "This living jailbait sex doll right here is Laura K—"

"Kyle."

"And I thought I was fucking paranoid."

Sean blinks. "Did you just... teleport in here?"

Rolling your eyes, you nod.

You've done that plenty of times to get here, this is just the first time he actually saw you.

>[ ] "Is there some kind of therapy word for people who worship other people? My slutty roomie thinks I'm a god, not that she's completely wrong but she's not completely right."
>[ ] "Hold on, I need to call an old man and tell him where his new home is."
>[ ] "I'll leave you two alone for now, I promise I'll be back."
>[ ] "Let's sit down, we've got some shit to work through."
>[ ] "Alright, grab a seat. Let's therapy Ms. Kyle here."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4184923
>>[X] "Let's sit down, we've got some shit to work through."
I want Kojo to explain how Laura reminds him of how he used to be. Maybe get some insight, then let Laura, get her private session.

The Alex question is 100% a doorkob question as we pick up Laura.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "Let's sit down, we've got some shit to work through."

Best you just get this shit over with before you move on with all the other things on your schedule. Her presence alone is already aggravating enough. Hopefully, you'll be able to tolerate her somewhat better after this. Worst, arguably best, scenario has you killing her out of sheer annoyance with this entire situation. At least Garrison will have a better idea of who you were before all this whatever way it ends.

"Let's sit down, we've got some shit to work through." You turn and walk to the designated therapy couch.

"You're really not going to explain at all how you just materialized into this room?"

Rolling your eyes, you scoff. "I'm a mutant: it's supergene magic. I ain't gotta explain shit; it just works, you should know that."

"Alright." The therapist sighs, making his way to the chair placed to the rest's side. "Now, why exactly have you brought this young woman here?"

"Look into her eyes."

Sean raises an eyebrow.

"Just do it."

Laura, sitting by your side, stares back into the man's green eyes with her own.

"She's... not normal, is she?"

"Looks like you're both perceptive of the obvious."

Your therapist turns his eerie eyes to your magnificent bitchiness. "Is she why you're far more aggravated around me than usual?

"Do you even need to ask questions when the truth is laid so open to your omniscience?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Oh fuck yooou."

Garrison laughs as he turns his attention back to your companion. "Quiet, doll-like, and... ominous... Who is she?"

"...Who are you?"

"You already know who... she is."

"Do I?" The ǹ̵̢̼̟͋̏̀̉̍̈́̚͠é̷͙͕̎̓͌w̵̢̗̪̓ therapist tilts his head. "Do you?"

You raise a hand to clutch the side of your head. "Did we... Have we... I don't understand. This feels familiar, but it's something I can't really remember, something I don't want to."

"...She's like the old you that you described to me."

"Uh-huh, that she is." You turn to the curiously concerned girl. "...A half-dead, half-alive thing that should've never been born."

Silence fills the room as your red-on-black eyes stare into your would-be foil's dull green.

Maybe this was a mistake.

>[ ] "...I don't mean that, not degradingly: we're not the only abortions in this world and I doubt we'll be the last."
>[ ] "Well, go on, Garrison. Start therapueting."
>[ ] "...Why are you still here?"
>[ ] I remember it, but is it y̵̡̳̻̖̰̰̰̯̘̞̤̮͓̬͌͒͂͐̍͒͆̔̾̉̕͠͠ͅǫ̶͙̪̺̻̺̪̃̍u̶̳̙̎̀̒͌̈́̋̐̒̈́͋̑͘ who doesn't want to?
>[ ] Why am I still here?
>[ ] Write In.

>>4188506
>[X] "...I don't mean that not degradingly: we're not the only abortions in this world and I doubt we'll be the last."
>[X] "Well, go on, Garrison. Start therapueting."

I want to try to power through the therapy, despite the resistance.
Without chatting with Boldred or The Autist Formerly Known as Kojo, if we can help it. It depends on if the resistance gets to be more disruptive than the conversation might be.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "...I don't mean that, not degradingly: we're not the only abortions in this world and I doubt we'll be the last."
>[X] "Well, go on, Garrison. Start therapueting."

Meaning that as an insult is far beneath you, being responsibly pro-death and a deliverer of post-birth abortions. It's important you specify that so this stupid dumb, dead bitch doesn't get the wrong idea. Hurting her and insulting her is not your intention: you just want to tell her the truth. She needs to realize just how twisted she is in comparison to you, an already fucked up person.

"...I don't mean that, not degradingly: we're not the only abortions in this world and I doubt we'll be the last."

Laura raises a hand to pat and rub the top of your head.

Blinking, you lean to move away, falling off the side of the couch and hitting the floor.

"Wow." Sean looks down at your shocked self. "And I thought you had issues before."

You sigh. "Well, go on, Garrison. Start therapueting."

"It's treatment."

"Just fucking do it, you Aryan prince-looking motherfucker."

"My eyes are green."

You narrow your own. "Do mine look like they give a shit?"

"Why do you loathe yourself so much?"

"Do I really need to..." Falling limp, you breath out your usual unusual hot breaths of air. "There are many reasons."

"Neither of us are going to get anywhere if you don't tell me any of them."

A grumble rumbles in your throat.

This is far too uncomfortable when Ms. Kyle is here to overhear everything.

>[ ] "...I'm not who I should be, who I'm meant to be or who I want to be... And I don't know who that is."
>[ ] "Both of you have some therapy of your own, I'm heading out to do shit."
>[ ] "I already told you the primary reasons why the first session."
>[ ] "Hold on. 'Kyle,' never do that again, for fuck's sake."
>[ ] "Laura, get the fuck up and get the fuck out."
>[ ] Write I.

>>4194133
>[X] "I already told you the primary reasons why the first session."
Might be able to gloss over that onto...
>[X] "...I'm not who I should be, who I'm meant to be or who I want to be... And I don't know who that is."

I was going to say that Laura might feel this way herself.
Then again, she might say that there is no such thing as what a person ”should" be or "meant to be".
People can't control what they are, only what they do.
If you want to be a pragmatically cruel ruler of men, do things that such a man would do. If you want to be a sweet grandson and considerate friend then do things such a person would do.
Don't worry about being, just focus on doing.
Good and Evil and Perfection don't exist as goals, but they exist as actions and moments.

Maybe the reason why that part of Kojo won't die is that the pragmatic puppet is the only part of Kojo willing to accept that he *isn't* "meant" for something and there isn't anything he "should" be.
Perhaps if Kojo can accept that what is, is, the plucky imp might disappear.

Then we can put Boldred on some Klonopin or something.
Astral diazepam?

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "I already told you the primary reasons why the first session."
>[X] "...I'm not who I should be, who I'm meant to be or who I want to be... And I don't know who that is."

No need for you to repeat what has already been said with enough stress on your behalf. You've been finding out more about yourself and can admit certain things to Garrison now. There's little point in keeping those things to yourself if all it'll do is destroy you anyway. Laura overhearing and knowing that is grating as hell however, which makes this all the more worse.

"I already told you the primary reasons why the first session."

"Kojo, that wasn't your faul-"

"It was!" You lift yourself back up against the couch. "I killed every single one of them. Whether or not I was in a right frame of mind or a child doesn't matter: they're still dead because of me."

"Then why does that matter so much to you? Why must you be the one at fault?"

Shrugging, you relax against the rim of the resting furniture.

Either someone has to be or their deaths would've been absolutely meaningless.

"Let's go back to your self-loathing, why else do you hate yourself?"

"...I'm not who I should be, who I'm meant to be or who I want to be... And I don't know who that is."

A pressure massages your horned scalp again.

You twitch as you resist the urge to tear off another five fingers belonging to the girl.

"Then be whatever makes you happiest. Only you can decide who you are and will be."

Sighing, you look up to Laura's dull emerald eyes.

You've really been projecting your old self hard on to her, but she's not him no matter how alike they may seem.

>[ ] "That's the thing... I've only ever found happiness outside of violence in a few other things. I don't really know what makes me happy."
>[ ] "I know you're trying to help, but that's really aggravating to me right now."
>[ ] "Both of you have some therapy of your own, I'm heading out to do shit."
>[ ] "I think I've gotten what I wanted out of this for now. Let's go home."
>[ ] "...You're adorable, you know that right?"
>[ ] "...I'm sorry for everything."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4195670
>[X] "That's the thing... I've only ever found happiness outside of violence in a few other things. I don't really know what makes me happy."
Give Garrison a shot to say something helpful, then leave her head to get her head shrunk.

>[X] "Both of you have some therapy of your own, I'm heading out to do shit."

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "That's the thing... I've only ever found happiness outside of violence in a few other things. I don't really know what makes me happy."
>[X] "Both of you have some therapy of your own, I'm heading out to do shit."

It's pathetic that you have so little in your life aside from being a crime Kingpin, but that's more or less the price of being one in the first place. A man needs more hobbies than work and staring at the sky in his free time. You'll have to find out what you like to do though, which will be time consuming. At least you've got eternity to find out, if you really are a devil god.

"That's the thing... I've only ever found happiness outside of violence in a few other things. I don't really know what makes me happy."

"You'll have to find them then. Otherwise, you'll spend the rest of your life as you are now."

Looking down back to Sean, you nod. "I know and that's exactly what I plan to do." You stand up from the floor.

Ms. Kyle rises from the couch to be motioned back down by your hand.

"Both of you have some therapy of your own, I'm heading out to do shit."

Garrison raises one of his yellow-haired eyebrows. "What exactly will I be dealing with?"

"You already know." Waving a portal into being, a scoff laughs from your lips. "Some real fucked up shit."

A sigh is the last thing you hear behind you before you step through the singularity on to your townhouse rooftop.

You shake your head, taking in the fresh air.

If that man thought your past was traumatizing, Laura's will make him feel some empathy through his condition. There's always something about child abuse the triggers the primal protective urge every human has, whether it's due to how grievous the unfairness of it is or the iron will of humanity to protect its future. Having a vagina in place of a penis also helps with that.

>[ ] Check in with your grandparents, they're all the family you have left and you've been avoiding them as of late.
>[ ] Call the Daily Bugle, it's time you sorted out your silence to the press.
>[ ] Locate Alex, she must be doing something nearby to pass the time.
>[ ] Teleport to the old warehouse, there's a guitar you need to grab.
>[ ] Pop in at Silvio's, it's been some time since you've visited.
>[ ] Return to your office, a bastard's work is never done.
>[ ] Write In.

>>4196625
>[X] Check in with your grandparents, they're all the family you have left and you've been avoiding them as of late.
They might provide a nice dose of sanity and normalcy.
Then we should see to our To Do list.
I gotta fish that out.

Voting closed; writing now

>[X] Check in with your grandparents, they're all the family you have left and you've been avoiding them as of late.

You don't want to hurt them like you did Dan and Abuelita, but you will if you keep up this distancing. With any luck, they'll die of old age before they ever get involved in your real business. They'll find out about it eventually though it's far less worse than having them get kidnapped to be used against you or dying at your hand. Hopefully they'll be content with wherever they end up, whether it be Oblivion or an afterlife.

Waving a portal into being, you step through it on to the roof of your grandparents' apartment.

A hop takes you down to the front door, sniffing and remembering reveals they both have the weekend off, and a press of the doorbell signals a presence at their door.

Ten secends pass until the door opens to reveal your smiling grandmother's sweet face. "Kojo! Where have you been?"

"Uh." You rub the back of your head. "Work and therapy. I've had a lot on my mind, and I didn't want to bother you or grandpa with it."

"Nonsense, come inside! Let's talk all about it." She steps back, making way for your tall self.

A smile forms from your lips.

If only you could bring yourself to tell them about your life before all this.

You enter the motley home and plop yourself on to the couch you lazed about for almost over half a month.

Salomon walks into the living room from the kitchen and raises his eyebrows at your presence. "A week without mail or sight of you, and you're back on that couch."

"It's a very comfortable couch."

"That thing is older than you and very uncomfortable actually. I don't know how you could've stand laying on it during your stay.

You shrug. "I'm used to... rough things I guess."

The aging man's playful look dies.

Blinking, you stare at his dejected expression.

It's weird to have people sensitive about offending you.

>[ ] "It wasn't hard for me, growing up without you two to take care of me. If anything, it's harder with you two in my life now. Surviving, I can deal with, but the thought of having a family... it... it scares me."
>[ ] "Could you two help take care of someone for a while? They're a bit... odd and a lot like how I used to be. Maybe you two could help her break out from that."
>[ ] "Come on, let's have tea and cake."
>[ ] "What? I'm not offended."
>[ ] "...Do you two love me?"
>[ ] Write In.

>>4198197
>It's weird to have people sensitive about offending you.
It seems to me that he's more worried that he might have upset Kojo than offended him, but it's not like Kojo would notice the difference.

>[X] "It wasn't hard for me, growing up without you two to take care of me."
Every child grows up thinking how they live is just how it is. You don't know what you're missing until you're truly aware of what else there is.

>"If anything, it's harder with you two in my life now. Surviving, I can deal with, but the thought of having a family... it... it scares me."
Oof. This is a little rough, but very Kojo. I trust his grandparents to take it in stride.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "It wasn't hard for me, growing up without you two to take care of me. If anything, it's harder with you two in my life now. Surviving, I can deal with, but the thought of having a family... it... it scares me."

People have tried to avoid saying anything you might take offense to in the past, though that was more out of fear than anything else. Now, you have people that don't want to hurt your feelings or bring back past trauma. It's almost enough to make you think they have an agenda, but they're not in the game you're in.

"It wasn't hard for me, growing up without you two to take care of me." You sigh. "If anything, it's harder with you two in my life now. Surviving, I can deal with, but the thought of having a family... it... it scares me."

Akosua hums, stepping into your view. "Why? How is it so scary?"

"There wasn't much I had to lose before all this, and I... I don't really know how to deal with the fact I have a family."

"Is it knowing you don't need us or because you're scared something will happen to us?" Your grandfather asks.

A different old man's bloodied, slack face flashes through your mind.

"...Pretty sure old age will happen before anything else."

Salomon scrunches his brow as your grandmother gasps. "We have a good twenty more years until then, we're not going anywhere, you disrespectful young man."

"I will spoil my great grandchildren so rotten they'll hate living with you, I swear by my gods."

Chuckling, a smile reappears on your face. "Really doubt you'll be able to do that: I'm rich and... the thought of having kids... also scares me."

"Why does having a family make you so afraid? You still haven't answered either of us, Kwadwo."

You shrug.

Maybe it's because of the past or maybe it's because you know what awaits you in the future and what you're likely to get involved with. Or maybe there's something about having a family that you've been avoiding, something important. It's eluded you for most your life and you don't necessarily believe in it.

>[ ] "Could you two help take care of someone for a while? They're a bit... odd and a lot like how I used to be. Maybe you two could help her break out from that."
>[ ] "...People I've cared about have died because of me in the past."
>[ ] "Just unused to this is all. Peace is unnerving in its own way."
>[ ] "Come on, let's have tea and cake."
>[ ] "...Do you two love me?"
>[ ] Write In.

>>4199262
>[X] "...People I've cared about have died because of me in the past."
It's a fair reason for a family to be scary.

>[X] "Just unused to this is all. Peace is unnerving in its own way."
There is also this.
Kojo can't really tell them that he's never really believed in love, but this is edging closer.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "Just unused to this is all. Peace is unnerving in its own way."
>[X] "...People I've cared about have died because of me in the past."

They're more or less the reasons why you find being in a family horrifying. Another reason lurks in the depths of your grey matter/soul, but you're not quite sure what it is, or if you're willing to admit it. Only time will truly tell, you can't rush everything in your life. No harm in sharing with them that incredibly ominous tidbit of your past for now.

"Just unused to this is all. Peace is unnerving in its own way."

Akosua hums. "How? I think we have completely different ideas of what peace is."

"Well, peace is a lie: there is always conflict, only less so during relatively peaceful times."

"I don't think either of us can completely disagree with that, but you still haven't told us what's unnerving about it." Salomon chimes in. "There's a lot of things you haven't been telling us, but we know not to expect you to open up about everything so soon."

You cluck your tongue. "Times of 'peace' only last so long. Violence always rears its head and hangs overhead for when you least expect it. Peace is just an illusion."

"Okay, I can see how that can be uncomfortable."

"...You've been through a lot, haven't you?" Your grandmother sighs.

Laying against the couch, you stare up at the crisp ceiling. "...People I've cared about have died because of me in the past."

Silence fills the air.

Of course, you expected this.

A weathered, feminine hand places itself atop your head.

"...Is that why you're afraid?"

You nod.

No one else precious or close to you can die, not ever again.

>[ ] "I'm not going to lie to either of you, I killed a lot of people in Hunts Point, the Bronx, and the world in general. For better or for worse, justified or unjustified. I've done so many things people would look at as horrible without so much as a hint of doubt."
>[ ] "Could you two help take care of someone for a while? They're a bit... odd and a lot like how I used to be. Maybe you two could help her break out from that."
>[ ] "Do you ever feel haunted by your past? Like it's come back to torment you for not making the right choice, even if you probably couldn't?"
>[ ] "If I do end up having children, do you think you could raise them? I don't think I can or should."
>[ ] "Come on, let's have tea and cake."
>[ ] Fall asleep, you're feeling really tired right now.
>[ ] Write In.

>>4199811
>No one else precious or close to you can die, not ever again.
Good luck with that plan, Kojo.
Wait. What the fuck am I talking about? This is the Marvel Universe. Nobody except Ben Parker stays dead.

>[X] "Do you ever feel haunted by your past? Like it's come back to torment you for not making the right choice, even if you probably couldn't?"
Last shot for some elder wisdom.

>[X] "Come on, let's have tea and cake."
Then enjoy the fact that your grandparents are alive, lighten up, and be pleasant. Maybe joke about one day leaving a brood of kojokids at their place to be babysat as they destroy their home. Sometimes making the people you care about smile helps make things feel better, despite it really resolving nothing.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "Do you ever feel haunted by your past? Like it's come back to torment you for not making the right choice, even if you probably couldn't?"
>[X] "Come on, let's have tea and cake."

It's strange how often people are tormented by their pasts figuratively while yours does it so literally. You're hardly a normal case however with all your supernatural and existential oddities. Something from your past can't let you go no matter how much you abandon it, which is insane when you take the time to think about it. Really, you are completely batshit insane in how you can still function normally in spite of everything wrong with your very being.

"Do you ever feel haunted by your past? Like it's come back to torment you for not making the right choice, even if you probably couldn't?"

The older couple share a look and shake their heads.

"If it's a choice you probably couldn't make," your grandmother says, "it's something you can't blame yourself for, though it may haunt you as paradoxical as that sounds."

Salomon sighs. "Guilt is a strong thing. You have to forgive yourself or give up blame if you don't want to feel that grief forever."

A hum thrums out your throat.

If only it really wasn't your fault.

You slide off the old couch. "Come on, let's have tea and cake."

The older couple follows you to the kitchen.

About an hour passes until a freshly baked cake is available for warm family consumption.

Smiling, you eat the delightful sweet with all that remains of your blood.

How wonderful it would've been if you could've shared this moment with Marcus and the two that used to be like your grandparents.

"Kojo?"

You open your eyes to the blurred faces of your kin. "Huh?"

"Are you... you're crying, son."

"Been doing that a lot lately."

The elders raise their eyebrows as you sip your tea.

You really don't deserve their concern.

>[ ] "I'm not going to lie to either of you, I killed a lot of people in Hunts Point, the Bronx, and the world in general. For better or for worse, justified or unjustified. I've done so many things people would look at as horrible without so much as a hint of doubt."
>[ ] "Could you two help take care of someone for a while? They're a bit... odd and a lot like how I used to be. Maybe you two could help her break out from that."
>[ ] "...A friend of mine once told me I was always crying, and another told me that I'm in agony, but I'm too numb to feel it."
>[ ] "If I do end up having children, do you think you could raise them? I don't think I can or should."
>[ ] "What? I'm allowed to cry, aren't I? I'm a person despite how mutant I am."
>[ ] Write In.

>>4201458
>[X] "...A friend of mine once told me I was always crying, and another told me that I'm in agony, but I'm too numb to feel it."
Sad Kojo is sad.

I'd rather not share our killing history with them if we can help it. I think they could deal, but I'd rather avoid it.

Laura staying with them might be best, she could protect them and they could nurture her. Perhaps after Laura learns some stuff from therapy.
But I think Alex needs the presence of Laura's grounded nature right now, lest she goes full-on catgirl-cultist. It's an idea anyway.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "...A friend of mine once told me I was always crying, and another told me that I'm in agony, but I'm too numb to feel it."

Sure, you've been going through the most depressing phase of your life, but it might not be the first. There is a good chance you really were depressed while being an almost empty husk of a being. It might even explain why you were so fucked up in the first place. All the suffering and pointlessness of it could've broken you before you could even remember anything. Maybe you really were crying all those years and still are with how that part of you is alive.

"...A friend of mine once told me I was always crying, and another told me that I'm in agony, but I'm too numb to feel it."

"Do you feel like they're right?" Your grandfather asks.

You shrug.

It's entirely possible: you don't really understand your own feelings towards things sometimes. Hell, you don't even understand your old self. Someone like you would be the type to have always suffered behind that diamond hard exterior. Amazingly poetic and obvious to anyone that wasn't you, which is probably how social retard Laura pointed it out.

"This is all new to you, isn't it?" Akosua's brown eyes gaze into your crying ones.

You bite a chunk out of your piece of overly sweet cake.

Despite how much you've prevailed through and withstood, you're still young and figuring things out through your puberty/newborn celestial phase. Time, in all it's apathetic cruelty, will tell. Existence and the very state of being is cruel like that.

"...Is that a yes or?"

"Yeah, I'm not used to feeling anything that's not joy or anger."

"Feeling sad and scared must be terrifying for you."

Laughing, you shiver in your seat. "It really fucking is."

Akosua folds her still hands over your shaking own.

You look away from your grandparents.

If she had just shooed you away the day you showed up on their doorstep, you'd be perfectly fine. They could've called you a filthy demon bastard, and you would've felt the biggest relief you had ever gotten in your life. Everything composing the essence of who you were was shattered by the antithesis to what you had become in the form of your living foreparents. Your downfall took place before that with your apology to Luiz, Dan, and your father but meeting two genuine kind people who valued you unconditionally destroyed whatever chance of you remaining what you were.

>[ ] "I... I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do! I've done so many things... I can't just, but I'm not who I was anymore and I'm not h̸̡̳͚̗̝̝̙̮̭̑̐̇͋͗̇̃̈͘͠ͅį̵̢̛͖͎̰͚̰̞̣̰̭̰̟̯̍̏͆͘̚̚͝m̸̨̬͗̏̑͛̃͛̉͗͋̆́̃͋̚̕, but I'm still here; why am I still here?"
>[ ] "Think I need to go now. Thank you... for everything."
>[ ] "Oh fuck, I feel like dying right now."
>[ ] "..."
>[ ] Just keep eating your cake and drinking your tea, shit is fucked and there's nothing you can do.
>[ ] Write In.

>>4202351
>[X] "I... I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do! I've done so many things... I can't just, but I'm not who I was anymore and I'm not h̸̡̳͚̗̝̝̙̮̭̑̐̇͋͗̇̃̈͘͠ͅį̵̢̛͖͎̰͚̰̞̣̰̭̰̟̯̍̏͆͘̚̚͝m̸̨̬͗̏̑͛̃͛̉͗͋̆́̃͋̚̕, but I'm still here; why am I still here?"
This if it is internal.

>[X] "Think I need to go now. Thank you... for everything."
Externally.

Voting closed; writing now.

File: bloody dreams.jpg (188 KB, 900x656)

188 KB JPG

>[X] "Think I need to go now. Thank you... for everything."

You've stayed here too long and told them too much; it's time for you to go back to your own home. Best you stay out of their lives for as long as you can without making them feel neglected. Least your dumb scramble-brained ass could do for them. Best thing would be to kill yourself, but you still don't have the nerve or the foresight to end things before they inevitably get worse.

"Think I need to go now." Standing up from your chair, a sigh seeps out your lips. "Thank you... for everything."

"Kojo, don't go."

Tears drip from your face as you walk away. "I have to... go aw—"

"Kwadwo!"

A deafening thud is the last thing you hear before you slip into unconsciousness.

...

...

You open your eyes to a dreadful, familiar world of blood.

It hasn't changed one bit.

Blinking, your two eyes scan your surroundings, recognizing them as sights from Hunts Point.

The scenery is new though.

"How many years has it been?"

F̶̧̡͖̥̜͎͍͕̜̥͍͔̄̃̑͂͌̓̿͆̄̾͗̋̆̔i̷̡̯̫̝͓͈͙̞̊͊̿̄͑̋͐͌́̒̕̚͝͝͝v̵̗͉̯̤̺̔͂̈́̈́͒͊͌͋̓̑̔̕͜ę̶̺͓̟̻̻͈͖̺̟̱͕͉̋̀̓̊̒́̕̚

You blink.

These were ȟ̷̬̣̮̤͍̮̺̔̽ͅi̴̼͙̯͓͍̟̎̆s̷̛̬͉̱̻̭̝͚̱͈͖̒ dreams in the end. Yours became different after the last one where you took a long drink from the blood sea. If you did that again, you'd probably throw up in disgust for succumbing to your base instincts.

>[ ] Recall that which you should not be able to. You know where you must go. Her final words haunt you still.
>[ ] Go to the old warehouse, there's two people you want to see are there.
>[ ] Pay your old blood a visit, maybe he's there or maybe he's not.
>[ ] Find h̵͚̳̙̻̝̟̞̬͇͖̝͌̇͐̆̔̈́̀̏̋̒̌̚͠͠ȉ̴̺͎̖̻͓̰͈̳͎̞͎̀̂̿͊͆̍͛͐̾m̸̛̜͗̂̾̓̒̑̍͝, you know where he is.
>[ ] Write In.

>>4204497
>[X] Go to the old warehouse, there's two people you want to see are there.

This vote was tough. I want to do several, but I can see how each one could go off the rails.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] Go to the old warehouse, there's two people you want to see are there.

There are quite a few people and half-formed ideas in your mind right now. You're sure you'll find ḩ̵̼̭̫̹̺͇͛̆͒̃̽̊͐͊̈́̓̍̕̚į̴͉͓͙̬̾̏̐͝m̵̨̨̭̖̠̘̘̍́ somewhere in here, but they might be here too. Even if it's all inside your head, you need to see them again, hear their voices again, and come to terms with what you've done once more.

You clench your fists and begin wading through the sea of blood.

Along the way, several bodies in varying degrees of decay float up on the red 'water' around you, post-mortem groans seeping from their stiff lips.

The slashes on many of them catch your eye for a second or two, but your old building blocks are left untouched.

It doesn't take you long to reach your destination.

Your eyes widen at a twisted version of a familiar sight by the outside corner of the warehouse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwfpVPLyrSM

"I'd call you Gus if I didn't already know you killed him."

Blinking, an empty feeling replaces the anxious dread within yourself.

The bloodied old man, insides on his outsides, stares into your red-on-black eyes. "What's the matter, kid? Don't tell me you're afraid of a ghost after everything you've done and become. You're not even mortal anymore."

"You're not real... This is all in my head."

"Is it now?" Dead Dan grasps the handles of his chair with his blood-stained hands. "You know what you are, and you know what you're capable of even if you don't realize it consciously." Grasping his guts, the soldier man rises. "I assure you, I am very real: brought back by the rue of a nascent God."

A scoff huffs from your lips.

You're no god, no matter what you keep hearing from Him or the likes of Alex.

"Come on, you little black beaner, don't pretend like this isn't what you wanted. Power was the first and only thing you could want after you killed me. At the very least, my death planted the seeds that would make you into who you are today."

Narrowing your eyes, you stare down the phantom.

He's right, but he's wrong: you've changed.

>[ ] "If you are Dan... If you're really him... No words can express my regret. You deserved so much better, and I am so sorry."
>[ ] "You must know I've changed. Power is meaningless to me now. It was always meaningless, I just didn't see it."
>[ ] "Daniel, that's the name Cuda gave me. Is it yours or are you really just a memory?"
>[ ] "Where's Abuelita? I wanted to see her again just one last time."
>[ ] "Even in death, you can't be the least bit warm, can you?"
>[ ] "The old me is pulling the strings for once, isn't he?"
>[ ] "Why are you still here?"
>[ ] Write In

>>4205722
>[X] "You must know I've changed. Power is meaningless to me now. It was always meaningless, I just didn't see it."
I wouldn't say power is meaningless, I would say "power alone" is meaningless.
I'm not sure Kojo would know this or be able to pull it up from Fisk's rattling recollections at the moment, but power alone is like a vector speed without direction: meaningless.
Power is not enough, you need purpose and drive. For most people, their lack of power is itself a purpose: to gain enough power.
But enough is too much and once you have more power than you need, it is all without meaning, it always was.

Voting closed; writing now.

>[X] "You must know I've changed. Power is meaningless to me now. It was always meaningless, I just didn't see it."

He can't be ignorant to all that's happened to you: old man's likely a mental manifestation so he should know. If this is the real Dan or a partial manifestation of his existence, he could also just be fucking with you. Something like that is absolutely a thing he would do in this crucial moment in which your mental state is at risk. Been half a decade since you killed him so he could be taking this last chance to be an absolute bitch.

"You must know I've changed. Power is meaningless to me now. It was always meaningless, I just didn't see it."

"Killing me was also meaningless if you really think that."

"It wasn't... It wasn't meaningless... It was a mistake." Clenching your fists, you grit your teeth.

Dan sneers. "A mistake, huh? Just a casualty of your power: the first of many. Is that what we all were to you? Footnotes?"

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Power isn't really meaningless then, is it? Do you really think you'd be anything without it? You'd still be that little killing machine who snapped his arms back into place like he was fixing a doll. Better than what you became if you ask me."

"I fucking killed children!" You close the distance between you two with a single hop. "I bashed their brains against the asphalt and painted my alley with their blood! Street orphans, lost brats, foster trash, and hood rats bled out and died like the dogs I slaughtered for lunch over scraps! And you want to put a fucking medal on me just because I killed a couple of gangbangers?!"

Dan thins his bloodied lips into a line. "...You were just a kid."

"And that makes it any better?"

"No, you just don't deserve to take the blame over something you had no control over."

You clutch the dead man's collar and pull him close. "If it's not my fault, then whose is it? If killing you, Abuelita, Gus, or Thema wasn't my fault then whose is it?"

"Son, you already know the answer to that question."

"Yeah." Letting go of the elder phantom's collar, you push him back onto his chair. "...It's h̵̛̤͔͕͖̼͊͆͝i̴̟͚̖̦̙̺̝̓̈̒́̔̾͑͒̈́̀̈́͌̑͜͠s̷̢̪̫̖͈̝͎̻͙̖̪͋̍͗̎̓̀͛̎̉̿̌."

"Don't you think you've had enough? That kid in you at least? Let it go. Put yourself to rest, there's nothing you can change."

"I'm not the one who's already dead."

"Are you? He's still you in the end."

You sigh. "He was."

If there's any part of you that deserves to die or suffer, it's that mockery of life.

>[ ] "If you are Dan... If you're really him... No words can express my regret. You deserved so much better, and I am so sorry."
>[ ] "Daniel, that's the name Cuda gave me. Is it yours or are you really just a memory?"
>[ ] "Where's Abuelita? I wanted to see her again just one last time."
>[ ] "Even in death, you can't be the least bit warm, can you?"
>[ ] "Why are you still here?"
>[ ] Write In