[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

There were three of us on the shore of a tiny island. Farrin, JoJo, and I. Of the three of us, JoJo remained unconscious. You might have thought being stuck on a ship with the heir of your parent’s murderer was bad enough, but to be stuck on an uninhabited island while we waited for heroes to rescue us….

“I’ve got an idea.” I didn’t want to speak to him, let alone work with him. My interactions with him had only been tolerable when I was sabotaging his Sports Festival performance. And there’s no doubt, it’d be a topic of conversation while we're stuck here.

After all… what is there to do on a deserted island? You can watch the ship burn into the ocean. You can watch the debris float away. You can look at the smoke rising into the sky as they met the clouds. But at the end of the day, we were still…

Stranded.

Food? Water? Shelter? My eyes scoured the island but there was little we could use. It was horrendously small. An islet at most. Hanging my head back, I close my eyes and take in the Sun. Think...

"You can slow time." I say. "I'll detonate my rabbits and create a smoke signal. You keep it around longer. They'll either notice the rhythm or the abnormality of the smoke and see us." If we're lucky. "If we're lucky."

---

Farrin

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H

er pulse was strong, so no worries on that front. Ignoring the bruises and scrapes, Josie was in decent shape. There was no reason to believe that would change over the next few hours. So, Farrin deposited her under the shade of a small tree line canopy. The small island's resources were rather sparse, but they had some wood to work with, and that wasn't nothing. 

"We'll make our own luck," Farrin sighed, making some attempt at optimism. "Think I'll take a few trees down first. Yer's bunnies burstin' should be 'nuff ta' dry 'em all out, set 'em ablaze fer' some natural smoke too. Might be at this fer' a while so." 

No need to finish explaining. Quirks were like muscles and just as susceptible to overuse and abuse. If Rahul's bunnies burst with enough force, the kinetic, chemical, and other sorts of energy involved would make any nearby wood easier to burn later. They might need to take a break and possibly keep warm, depending on what nightfall temperatures felt like.

A few moments of personal solitude. He would work with Rahul out of necessity, but that didn't mean he liked it. Fella clearly had it out for him back during the Sports Festival. Miserable shite. 

Chronokinetic speeds and strength made logs out of a few trees further from those he laid Josie under. One by one, he lugged them over to the beachhead and deposited them a fair distance from where they washed up. Hopefully, they were already dried out, but if not, Rahul's quirk could likely handle it. 

"Alright, let's get to it."

They had a few hours of daylight still. Best to make proper use of it.  

[attr="class","FarrinLeft"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Symbol of Heroism [attr="class","fa fa-cog"]

[attr="class","FarrinQuote"]Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!

[attr="class","FarrinBot"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Tags: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲
[attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Notes: Write Notes Here

[googlefont=comic Sans][googlefont=Kaushan Script][newclass=.FarrinLeft]font-size: 28px; color: var(--AC1);font-family: Kaushan Script;text-align:center;padding:5px;transform: rotate(270deg); float:left;position:absolute;margin-left:-180px;margin-top:240px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinLeft i]font-size:20px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinQuote]font-size: 13px;color: var(--AC1);text-align:center;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTrick] }@keyframes FarrinSpin { 0% { -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); -o-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { -ms-transform: rotate(360deg); -moz-transform: rotate(360deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); -o-transform: rotate(360deg); transform: rotate(360deg); }[/newclass][newclass=.Farrin]--BG1:#121212;--AC1:#4874a1;--LC1:#f8f8f8;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBG]width:500px;overflow:hidden;background-color:var(--BG1);padding:0px 0px 10px 0px;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/n8HI7dC.jpg);background-size:cover;border: 10px solid var(--BG1);display:flex;flex-flow: row wrap;align-items:center;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTop]width:500px;height:255px;background-image:URL(https://i.imgur.com/w8WWsMd.gif);background-size:cover;border-bottom: 10px solid var(--BG1);[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent]width:430px;min-height:400px; color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:5px 10px;margin-left:50px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent h1]width:30px;background-color: transparent;height:30px;font: 800 30px Comic Sans;text-align:center;margin-right:3px;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:-2px;float:left;color:var(--AC1);text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;border:3px double var(--AC1);line-height:30px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot]width:425px;border:1px solid var(--AC1);color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:4px;margin-left:55px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot i]font-size:11px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

I wouldn’t lift a finger to help him. If I were going to overexert myself by drying out the trees, then he could deal with the manual labor of gathering the tinder. When they were all in front of me, neatly organized, I optimized the process. Bunnies evenly distributed themselves amongst the wood and the process began.

Not a word either. Now that the plan had been set, I saw no purpose in wasting precious calories speaking to him about meaningless prattle. There was nothing worth discussing with him barring a rapid decline on JoJo’s end. If her health was an issue then he’d say something. Probably.

Secrets alone were not enough to warrant murder. Or the tepid indifference that allowed someone’s passing. I would let a word squeak to let him know I had finished the process.

“There.”

That should be more than enough. If he wanted more from me he'd have to pry it from my cold, rotting corpse.

---

Farrin

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W

ith the fire going and the smoke rising, Farrin dropped onto his back, nestled in a mound of sand. His eyes shone gold with chronokinesis. No sense waiting. Once night fell, the smoke signal would be pretty useless, though the fire might catch someone's eyes. Still, better they got off the island sooner than later. Farrin didn't want to be stuck with Rahul anymore than Rahul did with him. 

A thin net-like field corralled the smoke in temporal deceleration. It slowed and gathered, becoming a bolder, easier mark. Maybe he should try shaping the fields into letters. A giant SOS in the sky? The more intricate the field though, the more focus required. The more focus, the more taxing the effort. No, a large blot of inky smoke would do. Rescue heroes and JCG would know what to look for. 

"How many o' those bunnies can yuh' make at once?" He asked. 

There was more kindling than time. Plentiful though the trees were, the human body could only go for a few days without water. Boiling salt water was an option, but with what implements would they catch the freshwater condensation? Vegetation was their best bet, but even then, the odds weren't great if it came to such a timely length. 

"If nobody finds us by tomorrow, we might need ta' burn a lot more, create a larger signal." 

Burning all their resources at once was too great a risk to take prematurely, but each passing hour would shift the scales inch by inch. There was another option, temporal deceleration, but it was not an idea Farrin wished to entertain. And given the rbf pasted across Rahul's visage, he wouldn't like it either. Fella clearly wanted nothing to do with Farrin, a bold inverse in his attitude during the Sports Fest challenge, where his eyes were firmly fixed on the time-turner. Please, just let someone spot the damn signal... soon.   

[attr="class","FarrinLeft"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Symbol of Heroism [attr="class","fa fa-cog"]

[attr="class","FarrinQuote"]Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!

[attr="class","FarrinBot"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Tags: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲
[attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Notes: Write Notes Here

[googlefont=comic Sans][googlefont=Kaushan Script][newclass=.FarrinLeft]font-size: 28px; color: var(--AC1);font-family: Kaushan Script;text-align:center;padding:5px;transform: rotate(270deg); float:left;position:absolute;margin-left:-180px;margin-top:240px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinLeft i]font-size:20px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinQuote]font-size: 13px;color: var(--AC1);text-align:center;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTrick] }@keyframes FarrinSpin { 0% { -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); -o-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { -ms-transform: rotate(360deg); -moz-transform: rotate(360deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); -o-transform: rotate(360deg); transform: rotate(360deg); }[/newclass][newclass=.Farrin]--BG1:#121212;--AC1:#4874a1;--LC1:#f8f8f8;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBG]width:500px;overflow:hidden;background-color:var(--BG1);padding:0px 0px 10px 0px;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/n8HI7dC.jpg);background-size:cover;border: 10px solid var(--BG1);display:flex;flex-flow: row wrap;align-items:center;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTop]width:500px;height:255px;background-image:URL(https://i.imgur.com/w8WWsMd.gif);background-size:cover;border-bottom: 10px solid var(--BG1);[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent]width:430px;min-height:400px; color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:5px 10px;margin-left:50px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent h1]width:30px;background-color: transparent;height:30px;font: 800 30px Comic Sans;text-align:center;margin-right:3px;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:-2px;float:left;color:var(--AC1);text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;border:3px double var(--AC1);line-height:30px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot]width:425px;border:1px solid var(--AC1);color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:4px;margin-left:55px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot i]font-size:11px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

“There isn’t a limit to the amount of bunnies. The limit comes from my body and the resources available.” I wasn’t going to explain further. He didn’t need to know the details of my quirk. If he wanted to, he could have searched it up. But his talent held him back. Instead of researching more of me after the festival, he moved on. Perhaps that’s why he grew so strong, but it was also why his mind was dull and, worst of all, narrow.

“We have to commit to one of two strategies.” Let’s spell it out for him. He needs it. “A signal is wholly dependent on timing. We can either make a steady stream of smoke to keep a signal going for the entirety of the day or we can go full throttle and force people to question where the smoke is coming from.” I thought back to a time I walked out and could smell a Canadian fire. “But we can’t half ass either.” Unfortunately, that's all Farrin knew. “Pick your poison.”

If he had heard me speak to others, he could tell there was a level of condescension — antagonism — that was present here that I didn’t afford to most people. It was earned. And if he didn’t even know how my quirk worked, he sure as hell doesn’t know what his father did to my parents.

---

Farrin

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O

h, to be so hot headed. There was nothing Farrin wanted more than to blow all their resources, burn half the isle down, grab the nearest vessel's attention, and get the hell out of there, but patience, unfortunately, was a virtue. One smoke stack spearing the sky not a mile away from the burning husk of their ship? No one short of an expert rescue hero would notice the difference. One of those options wasn't an option at all. 

"Latter won't work when there's a burnin' ship not too far away, lad," Farrin laid out flatly. He hadn't heard Rahul speak to pretty much anyone, but the attitude laced in his words was obvious enough. "An experienced eye will focus on known quantities, the lifeboats, 'fore they investigate one smoke stack not too far from another. Right now, we're bettin' on low odds because they're better than zero n' because wood is a resource we have at our disposal. After e'erythin' submerges, our chances go up 'til nightfall." 

A few hours at best, but it wouldn't be entirely unreasonable for someone to catch the smoke signal by then. Whether contacted by the ship's personnel during the attack, the heroes who were aboard, or due to their absence at the dock, someone would learn what happened out there and send rescue vessels. They just had to hope it happened sooner rather than later. 

"Barrin' some incredibly unlikely odds, the long game is our only real shot. Whatever problems yuh' have wit' me, yuh' best get comfortable wit' em because we're gonna be here fer' a while still."

Just call it like you see it. Rahul clearly didn't think much of him, and Farrin didn't really care... yet, at least. They had a job to do. So, Farrin's eyes were locked onto the skies above, slowing as much of the smoke as possible to make their signal distinct and noticeable.  

[attr="class","FarrinLeft"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Symbol of Heroism [attr="class","fa fa-cog"]

[attr="class","FarrinQuote"]Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!

[attr="class","FarrinBot"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Tags: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲
[attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Notes: Write Notes Here

[googlefont=comic Sans][googlefont=Kaushan Script][newclass=.FarrinLeft]font-size: 28px; color: var(--AC1);font-family: Kaushan Script;text-align:center;padding:5px;transform: rotate(270deg); float:left;position:absolute;margin-left:-180px;margin-top:240px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinLeft i]font-size:20px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinQuote]font-size: 13px;color: var(--AC1);text-align:center;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTrick] }@keyframes FarrinSpin { 0% { -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); -o-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { -ms-transform: rotate(360deg); -moz-transform: rotate(360deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); -o-transform: rotate(360deg); transform: rotate(360deg); }[/newclass][newclass=.Farrin]--BG1:#121212;--AC1:#4874a1;--LC1:#f8f8f8;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBG]width:500px;overflow:hidden;background-color:var(--BG1);padding:0px 0px 10px 0px;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/n8HI7dC.jpg);background-size:cover;border: 10px solid var(--BG1);display:flex;flex-flow: row wrap;align-items:center;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTop]width:500px;height:255px;background-image:URL(https://i.imgur.com/w8WWsMd.gif);background-size:cover;border-bottom: 10px solid var(--BG1);[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent]width:430px;min-height:400px; color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:5px 10px;margin-left:50px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent h1]width:30px;background-color: transparent;height:30px;font: 800 30px Comic Sans;text-align:center;margin-right:3px;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:-2px;float:left;color:var(--AC1);text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;border:3px double var(--AC1);line-height:30px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot]width:425px;border:1px solid var(--AC1);color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:4px;margin-left:55px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot i]font-size:11px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

At least he wasn’t an idiot. The long game was the obvious solution. Even if the smoke cleared by tomorrow, and we chose to make our gambit then, what were the chances that people would smell smoke and think it’s signaling for help? They’d assume another tragedy. Perhaps a secondary flame ignited some external variable… none of which lead here.

There was always the chance he had a way to loop back in time and replay the event, giving us multiple opportunities to capitalize on. So, I made the offer. But of course. While not an idiot, at least not for now, he wasn’t particularly useful. The combat focused types usually were. Although, I suppose, in this case… I was no different.

However… the audacity.

A problem with him? As if I’d give him a second thought.

“If you’re upset about the sports festival, say as much.” If he wants to talk about it, then let’s talk about it. “If not for me, you would have gotten the highest score.” Farrin should put this together. “Think what it says about me.”

---

Farrin

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U

gh, the social games. Was he really going to pretend there wasn't anything bubbling under the surface? The lengths he went to to disrupt Farrin during the challenge. The attitude lining his words now. Bunny boy was batting down some beef with him. What was the point in pretending otherwise? 

"That yuh've a problem wit' me. You were so determined ta' get in me' way that yuh' scored nil," Farrin shot back. "Keepin' a competitor's score low is no worthwhile feat when dey're focused on da' actual goal n' yuh' make it yer' one objective ta' sully their work. So, it had nothin ta' do wit' the challenge er' festival."

Interrupting a distracted target was hardly a mark of skill, especially when it came at the cost of one's own score. Had Farrin followed suit, at least half of the competitors present would have been scoreless, but that wasn't the goal. Now, had Rahul disrupted his efforts while claiming a high score of his own, that would have been a different story entirely. But he didn't. He walked a senseless path that could only be motivated by a rather minuscule list of potential items. 

"Either yuh' honestly think that gettin' in yer' competitor's way is some claim ta' fame, despite yer' own poor placement, which is asinine at best, er' yuh've a problem wit' me. N' if yuh' do, stop playin' games... n' say as much," he turned the words back.  

"We're stuck 'ere anyways, so whatever it is, yuh' might as well get it out." 

[attr="class","FarrinLeft"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Symbol of Heroism [attr="class","fa fa-cog"]

[attr="class","FarrinQuote"]Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!

[attr="class","FarrinBot"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Tags: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲
[attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Notes: Write Notes Here

[googlefont=comic Sans][googlefont=Kaushan Script][newclass=.FarrinLeft]font-size: 28px; color: var(--AC1);font-family: Kaushan Script;text-align:center;padding:5px;transform: rotate(270deg); float:left;position:absolute;margin-left:-180px;margin-top:240px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinLeft i]font-size:20px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinQuote]font-size: 13px;color: var(--AC1);text-align:center;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTrick] }@keyframes FarrinSpin { 0% { -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); -o-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { -ms-transform: rotate(360deg); -moz-transform: rotate(360deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); -o-transform: rotate(360deg); transform: rotate(360deg); }[/newclass][newclass=.Farrin]--BG1:#121212;--AC1:#4874a1;--LC1:#f8f8f8;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBG]width:500px;overflow:hidden;background-color:var(--BG1);padding:0px 0px 10px 0px;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/n8HI7dC.jpg);background-size:cover;border: 10px solid var(--BG1);display:flex;flex-flow: row wrap;align-items:center;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTop]width:500px;height:255px;background-image:URL(https://i.imgur.com/w8WWsMd.gif);background-size:cover;border-bottom: 10px solid var(--BG1);[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent]width:430px;min-height:400px; color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:5px 10px;margin-left:50px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent h1]width:30px;background-color: transparent;height:30px;font: 800 30px Comic Sans;text-align:center;margin-right:3px;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:-2px;float:left;color:var(--AC1);text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;border:3px double var(--AC1);line-height:30px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot]width:425px;border:1px solid var(--AC1);color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:4px;margin-left:55px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot i]font-size:11px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

A barking lapdog. So enamored by his owners he’s crying over lost treats — Sit? Stay? Good boy. Who’s an obedient dog of the state? You are!

I could make a few digs. Deflect more. I thought you had a time quirk, but it turns out you were born with the ability to exclusively think with your fists. The fact that I’d have to explain the strategy of proving my worth through abstraction of goals — using everyone else as a measuring stick against my capabilities. What better way to directly compete with your competitors than assuring your victory through their failure? But even if I explained it, he wouldn’t understand the underlying presuppositions. The young pup might actually believe in the system he’s working for.

“Uplift some, sabotage others.” Nice and slow for the drooling mutt. “If I control the scoreboard, they — the heroes who are worth working for — can piece it together. I chose to get zero, who scored towards the top, and who ended up in the middle of the pack.” Still, as much as I detach myself from them, I’m a slave to my emotions as much as anyone else is. “But you’re right. You’re not the only person I sabotaged, but you were my favorite.”

When it rains, it pours. When venom drips, it spills.

“Everyone sees your trajectory and thinks you’ll reach the stars. But I needed to see how far you were from becoming your father.”

---

Farrin

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I

 t was a castle of sand doomed to the waves and sea. The value of such things was as fleeting as they were fragile. All he needed to do was search below his feet to find it was only a mound he stood upon. It wasn't an uncommon characteristic shared among those who preferred wishes to work. Small efforts that paved the road to nowhere. 

"Yuh sure displayed somethin," Farrin almost chuckled, "but it certainly wasn't control. Raisin' yer own score woulda freed yer targets ta' do the same, so yuh stuck ta' a nice round zero. A chancer's game played ta' personal, pretend triumphs dun' mean squat when yuh can't put a single point on the board. Real control woulda left yer opposition low while yuh' soared up high."

Farrin picked himself up and dusted the sand from his attire. The sun fell, starting a descent that signaled the coming of night and darkness. The smoke above congealed in a slowed mess of airy ink, but it wouldn't be worth the effort much longer. It hardly was now. 

"Glad ta' have entertained, maybe next time yuh might return the favor n' prove an actual challenge," he said, staring above. 

Only a coward took pride in avoiding the competition, in walking the easy path. And cowards rarely found themselves in the position to save lives. He was about to say as much until he realized what had followed him to his new home. 

He didn't look at Rahul. Farrin's stare remained firmly locked on the sea. 

"N' what exactly do yuh know of my father?" He asked.

He hadn't spoken of it to anyone at UAU outside of those that had already known: Sada, who had been gone for months now, handling some family affairs, and Kenta. As far as Farrin knew, neither of them were particularly close with Rahul. The folks at Above & beyond knew, but they would have no reason to talk to the lad either. Maybe it was some sort of head game? Or had the dosser gone digging that deep in Farrin's history and that of his parents?   

[attr="class","FarrinLeft"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Symbol of Heroism [attr="class","fa fa-cog"]

[attr="class","FarrinQuote"]Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!

[attr="class","FarrinBot"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Tags: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲
[attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Notes: Write Notes Here

[googlefont=comic Sans][googlefont=Kaushan Script][newclass=.FarrinLeft]font-size: 28px; color: var(--AC1);font-family: Kaushan Script;text-align:center;padding:5px;transform: rotate(270deg); float:left;position:absolute;margin-left:-180px;margin-top:240px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinLeft i]font-size:20px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinQuote]font-size: 13px;color: var(--AC1);text-align:center;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTrick] }@keyframes FarrinSpin { 0% { -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); -o-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { -ms-transform: rotate(360deg); -moz-transform: rotate(360deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); -o-transform: rotate(360deg); transform: rotate(360deg); }[/newclass][newclass=.Farrin]--BG1:#121212;--AC1:#4874a1;--LC1:#f8f8f8;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBG]width:500px;overflow:hidden;background-color:var(--BG1);padding:0px 0px 10px 0px;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/n8HI7dC.jpg);background-size:cover;border: 10px solid var(--BG1);display:flex;flex-flow: row wrap;align-items:center;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTop]width:500px;height:255px;background-image:URL(https://i.imgur.com/w8WWsMd.gif);background-size:cover;border-bottom: 10px solid var(--BG1);[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent]width:430px;min-height:400px; color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:5px 10px;margin-left:50px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent h1]width:30px;background-color: transparent;height:30px;font: 800 30px Comic Sans;text-align:center;margin-right:3px;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:-2px;float:left;color:var(--AC1);text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;border:3px double var(--AC1);line-height:30px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot]width:425px;border:1px solid var(--AC1);color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:4px;margin-left:55px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot i]font-size:11px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

What an annoying accent.

I could barely make out half of his gibberish. I had more than enough context to compensate, only to find myself horrendously disappointed at how simple-minded he was. There was a certain jock-hero stereotype that he was almost eager to fall into. If I weren’t for a few ‘friends’ that showed me his academic records, I might have fallen for it.

It took all the power in me to not explain every line of thought and how each premise led to the final conclusion — but it wouldn’t matter. He wasn’t engaging at the same level of thought. His presuppositions wouldn’t let him. There was no need to measure against counterfactuals or theoretical outcomes. Dull, so dull. I suppose something had to slip when you spend as much time as he does with his fists.

Yet, patience was a virtue. I was rewarded with my efforts to cut him down, to illuminate my thoughts with something more powerful than an explanation: the facts.

“I know who he killed.” It falls out of my mouth. “Manhattan… my parents…” Fuck. As if I’d let this end there. As if I’d give him the goddamn grace. “Your mother.”

---

Farrin

[Farrin]

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A

mbition, pride, love, and empathy. These were the driving forces behind Oberon. Ambition had fixed his sights onward and upward, number one in the challenge, just as he wanted to be the greatest hero. It was an unavoidable fact. Farrin failed that day thanks to Rahul's intervention. But one fact didn't erase another. Rahul relied on speculative analysis, at best, to outshine the others. Fact: no matter his alleged genius, his efforts amounted to nil.

Pride and love. They weighed far heavier on the scales than his ambition. Love for his family, blood or chosen, and pride in them too. The fact that Rahul referred to his mother, one of the greatest summations of the time-turner's love and pride, might have stirred him into a frenzy had it not been barred by the last item on the list. Empathy.

His fist curled, building his tension into a strength that threatened to tear the world asunder. If he ran, he would become lightning itself, a bolt that might pierce the heart of the earth because the reality he was now faced with was far more painful than any fabrications and diatribes Rahul wove in his mind. His father's sin had found him again; a living juxtaposition staked into the sand just a few meters away. Balor's wanton destruction claimed many lives that day. And here Farrin was, still picking up the pieces. 

Air suddenly burned in Farrin's lungs, and he suffered both frigid numbness and fiery pain. He shut his eyes to the moment, to the world. And there she was, his mother, the Crimson Light, and the moment Balor took her from him, swallowed by darkness not even light could escape. Still, no matter that darkness, his mother and his family shined brighter. There was some comfort in that. Fire to the ice, ice to the fever. 

"Yer- yer parents, who were they?" He asked, word laying low. 

Balor had killed many that day. Heroes, police officers, and countless innocents. He couldn't defend his father's actions. He had never tried. For whatever reason, Kenneth O'Rourke had become something else that day, something Farrin hadn't recognized. Something evil. No sense in denying it. If he killed Rahul's parents, well, even Farrin couldn't turn back time to save them. He could try to know who they were, though. The only way was through. Through right now meant facing the damage his father had done, if Rahul cared to speak on it any further.  

[attr="class","FarrinLeft"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Symbol of Heroism [attr="class","fa fa-cog"]

[attr="class","FarrinQuote"]Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!

[attr="class","FarrinBot"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Tags: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲
[attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Notes: Write Notes Here

[googlefont=comic Sans][googlefont=Kaushan Script][newclass=.FarrinLeft]font-size: 28px; color: var(--AC1);font-family: Kaushan Script;text-align:center;padding:5px;transform: rotate(270deg); float:left;position:absolute;margin-left:-180px;margin-top:240px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinLeft i]font-size:20px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinQuote]font-size: 13px;color: var(--AC1);text-align:center;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTrick] }@keyframes FarrinSpin { 0% { -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); -o-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { -ms-transform: rotate(360deg); -moz-transform: rotate(360deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); -o-transform: rotate(360deg); transform: rotate(360deg); }[/newclass][newclass=.Farrin]--BG1:#121212;--AC1:#4874a1;--LC1:#f8f8f8;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBG]width:500px;overflow:hidden;background-color:var(--BG1);padding:0px 0px 10px 0px;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/n8HI7dC.jpg);background-size:cover;border: 10px solid var(--BG1);display:flex;flex-flow: row wrap;align-items:center;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTop]width:500px;height:255px;background-image:URL(https://i.imgur.com/w8WWsMd.gif);background-size:cover;border-bottom: 10px solid var(--BG1);[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent]width:430px;min-height:400px; color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:5px 10px;margin-left:50px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent h1]width:30px;background-color: transparent;height:30px;font: 800 30px Comic Sans;text-align:center;margin-right:3px;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:-2px;float:left;color:var(--AC1);text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;border:3px double var(--AC1);line-height:30px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot]width:425px;border:1px solid var(--AC1);color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:4px;margin-left:55px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot i]font-size:11px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

“My father was Harecules of the Heavy Hands hero agency. My mother, C4, owned De La Blues — she made gear for heroes. And non-heroes too, I guess.” As much as I disliked sharing a country with him, he had a right to know. If he’s to carry his fathers sins then he should bear the full brunt of its weight. Or maybe it was an excuse to speak to someone who had also lost someone that day.

But Farrin asking didn’t bring them back. And while I could reminisce about the good times we had, they were too painful to think of that. I’ve only ever spoken to my Abuela about it. Not even Tanaki was privy to the moments I missed most. He’s done enough. I don’t need him to try to make up for something that was out of his power.

I know, I know.

Manhattan was out of Farrin’s power, too. But god… if I didn’t want him to bite back. We’re trapped on an island in the middle of the ocean next to a burning ship. If there was ever a time to get revenge it would have been now. At the very least I could have joined my parents — if I even believed in any of that nonsense.

“I was hoping you’d be defensive.” My voice hums in defeat. “Because then my assumptions about you would have been correct — you are your father’s son.” By this point I had been staring at the ocean, only to glance once we moved away from more sensitive subjects. “I don’t care about being a hero or saving people. I don’t have to make up for what my parents did. I just have to be strong enough to ensure it never happens again… and to have the legal authority to ensure that is the case.” By now he should understand what I’m saying.

“I sabotaged you to see if you’d break, but you didn’t.” He had never cared about proving himself or his worth to agencies or corporations or his peers. “There were heroes everywhere. You could’ve been afraid. You could’ve been smart. I couldn’t rule out your survival instinct. What’s more impressive is that, even now, you haven’t… ” It hurts to say this. Between the two of us, I saw her in her final moments. “You are your mother’s son.”

There’s a ship in the distance. It sees our flames and starts honking its horn. There are heroes aboard who heard of the accident and they’re quickly trying to scout for survivors. JoJo’s still asleep despite the noise. We got lucky.

“But all it takes is one bad day.”

---

Farrin

[Farrin]

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F

arrin's lungs filled with a long, deep breath. The losses then. Losses now. Brick by brick they built a wall that stretched into the clouds, and it was his duty to climb no matter the cost. Salubrious or suffering, happy or heartbroken, no matter how appealing the many possibilities where he stopped being Oberon, he would keep on climbing. Harecules and C4, two more names he would etch into the stone as he rose to the top.

"Harecules. I remember da' the name. Took down Jester o' the Kortlek Syndicate if I recall correctly," Farrin mused, his sights falling from the skies down to the waves. 

Grasping at his childhood was like reaching through a thick fog. The familiar shape of a cherished memory might sit only an inch away from his fingertips, or they could be stranded a million miles away. He was longer now without his parents than he had ever been with them. Some days, he could barely see their faces in his mind's eye. They were heroes, then one of them wasn't. Morgana, or Ashley O'Rourke, was the first name on Farrin's list of the lost. Harecules and C4 were now the latest. 

"No sense denyin facts. I am me' father's son, n' he was right a right ol' murderous bastard ta' say the least." Farrin paused, picking at and processing Rahul's other admissions. Was traveling the hero's path for such a reason, right? Maybe not, but there were certainly worse motivations. Selfish motivations.

A gloved fist swiftly wiped away the slight wetness building in Farrin's eyes. Someone remembered. A victim of his father's fall remembered how his mother tried. Rahul didn't quite say it exactly, but acknowledging Farrin's likeness to his mother was almost like praising her. Hate him though the bunny probably did, he offered something no one else had, at least no one else immediately effected by those events. 

"After the attack, d'ere were those that thought me' mum knew what was comin. Hadn't a clue, honestly. Woke up that day n' he appeared normal, talkin 'bout birthday cake n plans. That night, I didn't believe it at first. Saw it on the news but thought it mighta been some copycat-type quirk er some shite. But then me' mum took off ta' fight him. From half fa' city away, I felt his quirk, n' I knew it was real."

They beat the odds. Not back then, no. Too many had died to consider that a victory, even if Balor was caught. But Farrin and Rahul had somehow beaten the odds. A ship broke through the distance and started their way.

"I can't undo what he did, but I can do right by me' mum n' e'eryone else he hurt. That's why I train da' way I do, n' why I took those challenges so seriously, why I take heroism so seriously. Failin them all isn't an option."

Ambition, pride, love, and empathy. They firmed his resolve and held him before the dark depths at the base of his sifting mind. But the possibility was always there, whispering in his ears. It kept him up at night that he might turn out like his father. What if it was something in their abilities? An odd genetic madness passed along by quirk factors. Countless nightmares painted Farrin as the visage of villainy. Nothing was impossible. That was the only certainty in life now. 

"But, if somehow I did end up like that, go ahead n' do what yuh're trainin ta' do." 

Not that Rahul was looking for his consent on the matter, but to deny the possibility, one he knew existed, would be a lie. And Mama O'Rourke didn't raise a liar. At least not when it came to the big stuff. She raised a hero, and he would defy those possibilities to do her proud.           
  

[attr="class","FarrinLeft"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Symbol of Heroism [attr="class","fa fa-cog"]

[attr="class","FarrinQuote"]Even if it's already been decided. Even if it's set in stone. I'll smash that future!

[attr="class","FarrinBot"][attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Tags: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲
[attr="class","fa fa-cog"] Notes: Write Notes Here

[googlefont=comic Sans][googlefont=Kaushan Script][newclass=.FarrinLeft]font-size: 28px; color: var(--AC1);font-family: Kaushan Script;text-align:center;padding:5px;transform: rotate(270deg); float:left;position:absolute;margin-left:-180px;margin-top:240px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinLeft i]font-size:20px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinQuote]font-size: 13px;color: var(--AC1);text-align:center;padding:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTrick] }@keyframes FarrinSpin { 0% { -ms-transform: rotate(0deg); -moz-transform: rotate(0deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); -o-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { -ms-transform: rotate(360deg); -moz-transform: rotate(360deg); -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); -o-transform: rotate(360deg); transform: rotate(360deg); }[/newclass][newclass=.Farrin]--BG1:#121212;--AC1:#4874a1;--LC1:#f8f8f8;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBG]width:500px;overflow:hidden;background-color:var(--BG1);padding:0px 0px 10px 0px;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/n8HI7dC.jpg);background-size:cover;border: 10px solid var(--BG1);display:flex;flex-flow: row wrap;align-items:center;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinTop]width:500px;height:255px;background-image:URL(https://i.imgur.com/w8WWsMd.gif);background-size:cover;border-bottom: 10px solid var(--BG1);[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent]width:430px;min-height:400px; color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:5px 10px;margin-left:50px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinContent h1]width:30px;background-color: transparent;height:30px;font: 800 30px Comic Sans;text-align:center;margin-right:3px;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:-2px;float:left;color:var(--AC1);text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;border:3px double var(--AC1);line-height:30px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot]width:425px;border:1px solid var(--AC1);color: var(--AC1)!important;font: 400 11px Comic Sans;text-align:justify;line-height:12px;padding:4px;margin-left:55px;[/newclass][newclass=.FarrinBot i]font-size:11px;-webkit-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -moz-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; -o-animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite; animation: FarrinSpin 12s linear infinite;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

There were a million things to say and none of them were worth it. We shared a mutual understanding as the ships arrived. They quickly sent the rescue party forward to check the scattered debris and look for people who weren’t as fortunate as us to make it onto land. We’d be escorted onto the ship — including JoJo (who was still asleep) and led to the cabins.

We needed as much room as possible; efficiency was paramount. Who knew how many people would be brought aboard? Whether or not they were alive was a separate issue. Nonetheless, we were all given a private room… all three of us. Not-so-private when you’ve acclimated to having an entire island to yourself. I may not have had the luxury of exploring it, but the option was there.

A knock at the door.

“We’re heading back to shore and have got some space. Just need a medic to get in here to keep an eye on her and you’re clear to move.”

“You only need one of us here.” I stand without hesitation. “Where’s my cabin?”

“Whatever you say, man. Two doors down.” He sighs and you can hear the desperation in his voice as he parts. “Please stay with her ‘til the medic shows up.”

I’m halfway out the door. It’s just us three moments before becoming two.

“Keep an eye on her.” I don’t bother looking back. “She’s stronger than she lets on.”

---

Farrin