[Ghouligan]

It’s tough to land a gig when you don’t know a lick of Japanese.

After a few arigatos and a daijoubus falling on deaf ears, Antoine had given up on finding work. If it weren’t for his fellow gaijin — the jury’s not out on whether or not the word is a slur — then he would have had to dig in the dumpsters. Again. New country, same problems. Your next meal is never guaranteed.

Whether it was out of pity or a false sense of comradery, a loud-mouthed American offered him a job. More importantly, the American spoke to Antoine in Español. The businessman knew how to sway the hearts of people around him. Being a polyglot didn’t hurt, either. The job was simple and played to Antoine’s strengths.

Stand guard.

The man brings him to a small location, a burger joint sporting enough grease to drown out the local competition. There was an empty building across the street. The restaurant couldn’t keep up with Bernie’s Burgers. Output, quality, and theme blew them out of the water. The WcDonald’s down the road remained an immovable monolith.

Antoine dons the uniform, holsters his walky-talky, and stands by the door as he scans the room. The burgers look good. Once they discuss pay, he might give the place a shot. He’s not here for Japanese cuisine, after all.

“Excuse me,” A customer bows. “Where’s the bathroom?”

Antoine nods.

“Um,” They repeat themselves but slower, more deliberate. “Where is the BATHroom?”

Antoine nods.

What the hell are they saying?

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]Bernie's Burgers

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

Phew, there was nothing better than a good burger. He missed how they were cooked in the United States, as that had to be one of the only things that was lacking in Japan compared to his homeland. After a long shoot, he would immediately look on his phone to see any local areas that were half decent. Huh, a place that hired foreigners? Maybe that would entail that they would give half an ass about making them not fully Japanese tasting. Is that how you say it? Not sure, but Auden didn't really care right now.

Tucking some of his hair behind his ear so that his heterochromia was visible, Auden would squint his eyes as he noticed someone that seemed to be having some difficulties. They didn't look Japanese, so were they having trouble with understanding what was being said. Coming over to the two of them, he'd place his hand on the worker's lower back, leaning to his side and looking to the customer. "It's over there, I believe." Auden would point over to the right, where there seemed to be a semi-visible sign for a bathroom.

Looking up to the worker, he would remove his hand and look up to him, hoping that it would be the end of the struggle with the language barrier. "Not from here, are you?" He'd speak plainly in English, a bright smile appearing on his lips. "Name's Auden, cutie. Yours?" His left hand would extend and be offered to him, just encase he wanted it.

Notes

☼ Felix || Half see through blue dress [o]

Auden Ghouligan

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[Ghouligan]

A stranger offered help to the native before turning to him. Their name was Auden and while they didn’t speak Español they did speak English. It was better than nothing. With a somewhat thick accent that denoted his Carribean heritage, he offered his thanks.

“Antoine.” Something caught his eye. “Move.”

A loud slam brought the restaurant to a halt as the door flew off its hinges. Antoine grabbed Auden and tossed them out of the way as the door slammed to the side of his head. It wasn’t gonna kill him, but the bloodied temple would hamper his eyesight. He knew this job would be a headache but he didn’t think of it literally. And now it was hard to think at all.

The aggressor was barely human. Humanoid at best. With a long face and an overbite, only a mother could love. Their spite-driven discontent transcended language. Antoine didn’t need to understand them. He lifted the door and slammed it back into them, blindsiding them.

“Don’t hit yourself on the way out.” Antoine chimed in. English. At least someone could appreciate the joke.

“You bloody bastard.” They spoke English, too. Like a proper Brit. “I will tear your throat out and then I will serve it like a beef patty.”

“I’m starting to question whether I know English now.” With everyone watching, he couldn’t go all out. “Why don’t we take this outside?”

“You know, love,” The horse-faced vermin scratched the back of his ears and a long mane erupted from his neck. The over-bite turned into comically large chompers that would dramatically tear you to shreds if you let them. “I’d rather not.”

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]Bernie's Burgers

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

Antoine? Nice, that definitely wasn't a Japanese name. It was nice to meet people who had unique backstories that weren't just "oh yeah I'm from Japan, born and raised" that he was so used to. Blinking for a moment as he was told to move, Auden did a quick left right before doing as he was told, but was abruptly pushed to action by his new acquaintance.

Seeing that he got injured though, he half panicked knowing that he should have been the one to get hurt. It wouldn't be the first time that he'd been hurt, and he could definitely heal himself. Was this dude going to let him tend to the wound though, and was it even the time to do so? Snickering at Antoine's joke, he'd place his feet firmly on the ground and move closer to aid him. "Buddy... Come on." With hands on his hips, Auden looked surely unimpressed. "You really want to do this here? Ugh." He'd crack his fingers, looking over to Antoine, before placing his gaze sadly on the horse looking man. "I just want a fuckin' burger, can you gtfo?" A pause, before he'd elaborate. "If you don't, I'll make you regret ever messing with a model's meal time, bitch." His hands would idly flare with flames, just enough to notice, but not enough that anyone but the other two would care to look. Hopefully they could finish this dude off so he could attend to the hottie's wounds.

Notes

☼ Felix || Half see through blue dress [o]

Auden Ghouligan

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[Ghouligan]

“Two of you?” The criminal knew better. He picked down and lifted up the door, keeping his distance from them. “I’m a piece of shit, not an idiot.” He chuckled to himself. “We’ll call ourselves square for now.”

Once out of the entrance, he would toss the door back inside to keep them busy before running off. Antoine intercepted it and caught it with his hands this time instead of his now bleeding face. With a deep sigh, he’d put the door upright, as if it’d reattach to its hinges. He let go and it immediately became crooked. Not usable, however.

“Ant, please.” Bernard arrived, seemingly out of nowhere. He put his hand on the man’s shoulder before turning to the crowd. “It’s a little stuffy in here, right? That’s no way for a customer to eat. Free desserts on me!”

Their spirits lifted. Maybe it had to do with that literal, silver tongue of his. Maybe he was a naturally charming son of a bitch. Turning his focus back to Antoine he gave a celebratory pat on the back.

“And to think, what woulda happened if you weren’t here?” Bernard said. He turned to Auden. “You, too. Big help.” Bernard walks over and hands them a business card. “In case you ever want to be in a commercial for Bernie’s Burgers. I know it’s not Mask Era but it doesn’t help to diversify, y’know?”

He offers a wink before heading back to his office. He looks back.

“Get yourself cleaned up by the way. You’re getting blood all over the mahogany.” Another wink.

“Does this count as my break?” Antoine chirped back.

“Take the rest of the day off if you want, you’ll be paid for a full day’s of work. Just for saving our skin, capisce?” Bernard doesn’t turn back. Waves him off. Goes back into his office. Desserts start coming out from the kitchen and the chatter resumes.

“Thanks for the help,” Antoine says putting the door to the side of the entrance. A breeze rolls through. “You a hero or something?”

He’s very clearly looking at Auden’s hands. This guy’s either a hero or a dumbass.

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]bernie's burgers

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

Oh, so he was a pussy? Auden was kind of surprised by the conclusion of the exchange, because he was more than ready to get his fists fired up (literally) and to enjoy a few good hits that he'd be able to either give or receive. He sighed, backing up a bit but not flinching as the door was pushed back in their direction. Yet again, Antoine saved him from harm, grabbing it like it was nothing more than Styrofoam.

Auden would just nod to the owner initially, before bowing as he received the business card. "Oh." The dude knew him? Huh, it made Auden wander what had drawn the man to be able to recognize him so easily, but that was a thought for another day. "I'd love to, thank you." Auden wondered how a burger campaign would fit into his image, but he'd make it work.

With the owner gone and Antoine on break, Auden's protector brain went into overdrive again. "Ah shit, your head right?" Without answering his question, Auden's hands would switch to a gentle blue hue, the flames around them circling in what seemed like a infinite loop. "Lemme heal you." He'd motion with his head to a table in the corner of the room, before pulling the chairs together and sitting down. "I'm a hero in training or whatever, but that has nothing to do with me staying beside you." He'd been in too many fights with people to know that there was a safety in numbers. "You? I don't recognize you." If he allowed, Auden would immediately coat Antoine's head in blue flames; they wouldn't damage his hair at all, but instead feel cold and gentle.

Notes

☼ Felix || Half see through blue dress [o]

Auden Ghouligan

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[Ghouligan]

So far, Antoine’s been privy to two types of flames. But there’s no reason other than Auden’s upstanding character in a time of crisis that he should believe them. Furthermore, they needed to leave the public eye as per Bernard’s orders and common courtesy.

“Wait,” Antoine motioned Auden over as they walked into the break room — somewhere private where only the faculty had access. This way, they wouldn’t be disturbing meals and Antoine felt more comfortable inquiring about. It may have been rude considering Auden made himself comfortable on the chairs but it mattered not. Antoine had other priorities.

He closed the door behind them.

“Show me how it works.” Antoine grabbed a roll of paper towels and started wiping the blood off his face. “On yourself.”

Eventually, all that was left was the ooze and the remaining blood that continued to drip in small spurts. He’d keep applying pressure until he was satisfied. In the meantime, Antoine would interrogate the newcomer. How does Bernard know them?

“Does being a professional amateur give you free rein to use your quirk?” He asked. “If so, how would one go about that process in Japan?”

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]Bernie's Burgers

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

Oh shit, he realized that using his quirk in front of a bunch of people, a fire one at that, may not be the best option. Biting his lip when he knew that he'd been the one that had made the mistake. He'd follow behind him like a little anxious dog, worried that Antoine wasn't even going to make it to the break room before passing out form blood loss or getting light-footed.

"Oh, sure." I guess it made sense that he wouldn't want to have fire in his hair or around his face. Auden would nod a bit before moving his hand and biting into it until there was blood. The phoenix didn't so much as flinch to this, and simply did it as he was asked to. Auden would move his hand closer to Antoine as if to show him that it wasn't some type of illusion, before having his other hand coat it in blue flames. Just as quick as the blood had started to drip down his hand, it would stop, the marks going away and leaving his skin flawless as it had been before. "See?"

Auden blinked a bit, tilting his head at the idea of it. "Ah, no." In reality, he was used to using it occasionally to add onto his modelling shoots; a little flair of fire in a picture seemed to sell better than none. "I used to live in America and I guess I forgot that people are a bit more strict here. I use it for work sometimes, but it's more for effect." It slipped his mind that he could have gotten in some trouble for showing it off so casually.

To his question though, Auden crossed his arms in front of himself. "Well... I guess you could illegally. If you do it in ways that aren't... Obvious and you hide your identity or have people that can for you." This was all knowledge from his USA days, but he was sure it applied here as well, right?

Notes

☼ Felix || Half see through blue dress [o]

Auden Ghouligan

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[Ghouligan]

Certified dumbass confirmed.

The only reprieve they had from the unfiltered onslaught of Antoine’s judgment was that they were a foreigner, too. Different countries had different rules. And if you knew the right people, you’d get luxuries others dreamt of. Maybe they were related to a CEO who lined the pockets of local authorities. Or perhaps they were the child of an influential politician. A case of pretty privilege could explain their perspective as well.

“Be careful then,” Antoine said. His warning contradicted his actions as he sat down and prompted Auden to heal his injuries. “Don’t compromise the establishment because you want to play hero without a license.”

If Auden knew of Antoine’s double life, then he might think this an act — a front to cover his true beliefs and support of vigilantism. But that wasn’t the case. Antoine did what he did because it was necessary. He supported the system, a structure designed to handle most of society’s ills. More accurately, systems in a broad sense. They kept everything running, but they were imperfect. Some had more flaws than others.

Antoine lived on its edge, dealing with the consequences of the greedy and the ill-intentioned. People of power will always try to skirt the rules. And they should, as it is their role to exploit the flaws. It’s Antoine’s role to bring them to justice. And maybe it was Auden’s role — and people like Auden’s role — to keep Antoine on his feet.

“If you believe in the system, follow its rules to a tee. If you don’t…” Antoine looked straight into Auden’s eyes. “Then don’t drag us down with you.”

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]bernie's burgers

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

Auden smiled at the warning, using his blue flames to gently heal up the rest of Antoine's head; he didn't seem to care too much when it was him getting healed. "I'm fine, but thank you." Auden knew how to handle himself. Even if he got kicked out of UAU, he would be fine to continue as he was now, helping those who need it. "If the system is going to punish me for helping civilians, then maybe it's not for me." The phoenix shrugged, shaking his hands a bit and letting the flames disperse as the wound seemed to be closed up and healed.

With Antoine's eyes piercing into him, he'd stare back for a moment, before huffing it off. "I didn't believe in America's system, that's for fucking sure." Being left on the streets, with police and adults doing nothing; he only hoped that Japan was better. "If here proves to be the same, then I won't hesitate to do things my own way, to make sure that people like you don't get pushed into the dirt." He wasn't sure if Antoine was stronger or weaker than him, but he hated to see anyone get hurt or discouraged by the events that happened around them.

Patting him on the head, he'd motion that he was good to move about now. "I'm so glad that there are people like you though, trying to take care of someone like me." A big grin, illuminated by his well maintained teeth. "You seem pretty decent, compared to other people my age." Auden would touch at himself, before grabbing something out of his boot. Pulling out his phone, he'd pass it to Antoine. "Maybe we can meet up again?"

Notes

☼ Felix || Half see through blue dress [o]

Auden Ghouligan

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[Ghouligan]

“Some thoughts are better left unsaid.”

They weren’t going to make it. To speak with such reckless abandon to a stranger whose job was security. If Antoine were the type to report this kind of behavior, then Auden might have lost their opportunity to become a hero. He wouldn’t have had the chance to be disappointed in the system because he had already made up his mind about the kind of person he was in full, adolescent naivete.

There were two sides to Antoine. One wanted to reach out and give them the tools they needed to survive. Regardless of the path they walked, they needed a crash course in how the world was. If you were an agent of change there were standards you adhered to. Not only for your sake but for the sake of the people you care about. For the sake of the people you don’t care about, too. Sometimes they get caught up in the details of your second life.

“It’s dangerous to speak your mind.” Antoine paused. “Especially to strangers.”

He’d leave it there. Either Auden understood or would come to understand as life wrung out every drop of innocence left in him.

“Maybe we’ll cross paths again, maybe we won’t.” He stood up. Good as new, huh? I’ll keep this in my back pocket. “But you know where I work.”

Antoine opened the door for him, letting him walk back into the public seating area. He wouldn’t follow.

“Thanks for the help.”

---

Auden