Guys I Can't Think of Anything

Lxc: nonprofit ed who got promoted way too young with no management experience who is excellent at executing the mission and whose heart is in the right place but bless his heart you would not put him in charge of a pet rock because the pet rock would die. Gets away with an incredible amount of dysfunction because he's really nice. The person in charge of operations is g-d's strongest soldier and whatever they are getting paid it's not enough.

Nmj: ex military blue collar union guy. Thinks he's very fair and moral and thinks he runs a tight ship because he whips out drill sergeant stuff when people aren't acting right, meanwhile the amount of hazing going on would shame a british prep school. Confuses "yelling at staff" for "addressing the problem." If you're bringing problems with your coworkers to him then you're the one at fault. Man up and work harder. Does inspire big loyalty though.

Jiang Fengmian: checked out head of a family business who swears *he's * not the one bringing his family problems to work, it's his family doing that (he is absolutely doing that). Always says he's going to give people bonuses and always forgets. Actively jeopardizing the business with the family shit he refuses to deal with. Lets his kids and wife terrorize staff and then at most is like "now now, see this is why I can't finalize a succession plan."

Jin Guangshan: do I even need to say it.

Wen Ruohan: fully insane and delusional tech ceo who genuinely believes that like. If they don't build a superintelligence on the moon then the libs will win. Basically peter Thiel.

Wei Wuxian: startup nutcase. Sends you 10 emails for immediate reply at 3am. Misses your scheduled check in because he just HAD to try his new idea Right Now. Ethics and testing are for people who won't be remembered by history. Eats your lunch out of the fridge even when you lable it.

Jiang Cheng: he's on 30 under 30, his org is tight, they are famous for getting things done and done well, but nobody who works there smiles and its because boss man has never said a single nice thing about anyone's work and is always pissed off. Regularly makes staff cry by just saying mean shit. Sadly, he does not mean any of it and doesn't understand why turnover is so high. He does pay really well and the perks are great but is that enough to make up for him taking everything personally and making everything personal?

Nirei doubts he really has the power to clear the miasma, despite the crystal that was used to test for it lighting up in a brilliant glow when he touched it- and despite his hair turning golden shortly afterwards. He was always the weakest in his village- when all the other men and boys left to fight against the demon king, he remained behind. He couldn't possibly be a Chosen One in any capacity.

...and yet, when an assassin slips into his tent during his first week on the road he manages to unconsciously break (most of) the spell that was binding them and forcing them into that role. the would-be assassin is a half-demon named Sakura, who Suo cheerfully tricks talks into helping them in exchange for not reporting this incident back to the royal palace.

(a few other thoughts:

shishitoren isn't trying to kill Nirei. they just want to kidnap him so he can purify the miasma that has infected Choji.

takiishi is the prince of the demon realm who doesn't care one bit about invading the human world. he just wants a chance to fight the hero again.

Grace, haltingly on the keyboard Rocky built for him: Wassup bitches. Fucking jazzed to—

The flower seems to be the Chinese Redbud:

The symbolisms really fits Suo

It’s relatively low maintenance and it thrives in well drained soil.

In Chinese culture: it represents love and romance, delicacy of nature and life, and poetry, and longing for hometown and familial harmony.

An interesting tale consists of three brothers and their love and unity. Who vowed to divide their land equally but caused disarray and the tree ended up near death which led to grief and remorse. They saw their errors and stayed together and the tree survived. Which I think symbolizes RC here and what we have learned so far and will learn in Suo's arc.

Interesting enough, the symbolism in Japan is different: many western and Japanese culture symbolizes this flower as betrayal and distrust. Which greatly symbolizes what furin, sakura, and Suo himself might be feeling. In addition, this flora is also called “Hana Suou” in Japanese. The name itself is Suo, isn’t it? (In addition to the connection to the Judas tree)

The dual meaning is perfect for him, the one we know as Suo Hayato and Sun Fei.

characters: Suo Hayato

word count: 1130

AO3 Tags: Canon Compliant Written Before Suo Hayato Backstory Reveal Suicide Ideation Grief/Mourning Heart Break Hurt Suo Hayato Suo Hayato-centric Suo Hayato Needs a Hug

series: A Wonderfully Wicked Coping Strategy

Summary

"The Chinese Redbud symbolizes family harmony, deep kinship, and brotherly love."

and as suo walks away, the roots are being torn away from sakura's arm, his right arm to be specific since suo was sakura's right-hand man

When exactly did Suo know he had to leave Furin?

My head theory has been, despite Suo's commanding presence among his people and rank in the Red Chanpuru, he's got no real agency when it came to making his own choices, and can only act in accordance with what best serves "the clan's will and interest". Given that he's cautious about maintaining distance from his classmates at the start, it could imply that he probably knew his time at Furin would be temporary and did not want to become too attached to them.

The question then becomes how temporary. My guess is he was allowed to complete his education at Furin - at least a year, or the full three if we're being generous (but also, a Chinese clan/household not expecting their kid to graduate? lol), but he would be expected to return home as soon as he was done with it.

If there's some merit to the head theory, how was Suo even allowed to attend Furin in the first place? Did he have a benevolent master who cared enough about him and somehow tried to free him from Red Chanpuru's grasp on the pretext of securing his education? Or did Suo himself do a bargain with the devil to gain just a small taste of freedom?

The only thing I am quite sure of is, even though it feels as if Suo still had time to make arrangements and tie up loose ends before he left, his time at Furin had indeed been cut short.

For context, Sakura, Nirei and Sugishita disguised themselves as a student band in hopes of catching the mastermind who had been targetting and attacking the music festival participants. What they didn't expect or know beforehand was that Suo had been planning to make a fake stage one week before the actual festival starts so that no civilian were actually hurt. (Something something, Suo being the strategist and the group's brain and heart.....)

His plan worked, btw.

Nirei was in shock and Sakura asked why he didn't tell them earlier, to which Suo replied:

"To deceive an enemy, you need to start with your allies."

.......... Suo.

I'm shaking you and asking you to answer properly. Is Bofurin your enemy, or your ally now?

Nirei is your ally, right? The man who would defend you for life even in front of his doubting friends. That's why you need to deceive him first, right?

That's why you need to deceive Sakura and all of Bofurin, right? Because you know if you went to say goodbye to Sakura or anyone else, but Sakura specifically, it would break your resolve of leaving Bofurin, right?

Is Red Chanpuru your allies too? Is the real enemy the syatemic, outside problem that's encroaching Bankoku-Gai?

What are your intentions??????

The payoff of this arc would be so good, this is the face of the fakest idgafer at the moment, btw.

And his biggest worry is, of course...

Because Jason has rescued him all the other times and will NOT let him forget it.

Of course Tim, being Tim, unties himself as is about to leave, when the trio start talking about a case he's checking up on, so he actually pretends to still be their captive to pump them for as much info as he can, and then promptly ignores them as he puts the pieces together.

And at that moment, of course...

B

I'll BET they are....

Jason's almost proprietorial interest in these guys development is also a fun running gag.

He's a Robin, of course he is...

And, of course, Jason just cannot resist a little sibling taunting..

In the end of course, Tim isn't as annoyed as normal because he's now got information from the Trio that help him crack a case... though the family don't know that yet.

I'd recommend checking out the whole thing at the link:

“I’m just a chill person haha.”