Random Stuff

The illness came on slowly, just enough for you to not really pay attention to the extra fatigue you were feeling. You chalked your sleepiness up to running around a new world and helping Ena with her jobs. And although she didn't quite understand the concept of sleep, Ena understood that you needed it to survive. So, sleep you did, in the small, slightly worn down 'home' Ena provided you.

Then came the slightly dry and sore throat when you woke up one morning (night? You weren't sure anymore.) A feeling that wasn't as ignorable but still something you could live through. Especially since Ena needed to rush out the door for some job about a mother fruit bowl and her banana children...

After that, the sniffing, which Meanie got tired of pretty quickly, especially when talking to clients. Leading to very annoyed comments whenever the more aggressive side took over.

☆

"Are you broken or something?!"

You didn't expect the megaphone in your face when you turned around, taking a step back. You watch as Ena shoves the thing back into her chest void, placing her sharper hand on her hip. You blink twice, expecting her to elaborate, she doesn’t.

"I'm sorry...?"

"You better be!! Good thing I put insurance on you, or this would be an unfortunate circumstance." Salesperson takes over, making Ena look quite proud of herself.

You frown your eyebrows together, "You put insurance on me? Like, life insurance?" When did she time to do that? How did she even do that?

Before you decide whether or not you should be offended from being called a liability, the whiplash from Meanies screaming sends a dull ache through your skull. You bring a hand to your temple in an attempt to smooth it out.

"Of course! Every great entrepreneur knows to put insurance on the things that could be a great liability. NOW ANSWER THE STUPID QUESTION!! WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH YOU?"

You don't know how to explain to Ena that sometimes the human body just does things, and you definitely didn't want to talk about how a runny nose works or what snot is.

You let out a small sigh. "I'm not broken. I have the sniffles or something. It's probably just allergies." Not really caring if she knows what allergies are, you shrug your shoulders and start to walk towards your destination. "C'mon, let's get going."

You don't have an idea where these "allergies" would have possibly come from, especially since you haven't seen a real plant or experienced any noteworthy weather changes; but you decide it's best not to have Ena worry more than she already has.

Little did you know that you failed this task, leaving Meanie glaring at your back with her arms crossed and her mouth in a tight line.

☆

The morning after, it started to go downhill. Your sniffles turned into sneezing and coughing. Your sinuses drained into your throat and nose, making it difficult to talk or breathe normally. You couldn't even stand up without your ears popping and getting dizzy because of it.

You couldn't remember the last time you've felt this deadly ill.

☆

"Ena, poking me isn't going to help." You swat her hand away half-heartedly, squeezing your eyes a little tighter in an attempt to keep the light away.

You were currently lying in the makeshift bed in Ena's home, a place you've also taken to since having her be your guide. Ena is sitting at your side, resting her red hand against the bed while observing you with the other. Almost like if she presses your skin in the right order, it'll make you feel magically better.

It's not that you would usually withdraw from her touch, but every time her skin touches yours, a throb of pain follows close after. You look up to her with a pitched expression to see her eyes boring into yours. A frown decorates the white side of her face.

"What?" You breathe out, your voice predominantly deeper.

"You look awful."

"Thanks..."

Ena tilts her head, lifting her hand once again, though this time not to poke, but instead rest it against your forehead. You make a small noise at the pressure of her hand. Her hands (especially on the Meanie side you've noticed) were always cold, but right now, you couldn't mind less with how good it feels on your flushed skin.

"You lied to me about breaking. You can't even do your stupid human things normally." Meanie gumbles, softer than usual but still bold and clear.

"Stop calling it that. This happens to my species all the time, like 2 or 3 times a year. Sometimes more. It's just a cold."

"Just like how it was just allergies? Tch, whatever that means."

Ah, that's what she's really trying to say.

You let out a deep sigh out of your mouth since your nose isn't effective at the moment. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you, but I shouldn't have brushed it off." You bring a hand to her forearm and give it a tiny squeeze. "I'll be okay, I promise.

Ena stares for at you for a moment, probably to make sure you were telling the truth. Her gaze eventually softens a bit, and she swoops away a piece of hair from your forehead. "How long will this 'cold' be ailing you for?"

"Mm, there's not really a time limit to being sick, but if I had to guess? Three days, if I rest right. Though we don't have medicine here, so..." You trail off.

"And what does this resting entail exactly?"

"Sleeping, medicine, soup or tea, quietness." You emphasize the last part. "I probably won't be able to come with you for the next couple of jobs."

It's actually hard to believe that she hasn't left on a job without you. Insisting instead to sit here so you don't "expire on her" as she puts it. You're not sure of what that means, but you kind of feel bad for holding her back.

"Sorry for keeping you here, by the way. I know it's not really your favorite."

Her red side smiles, both her hands go to grasp yours. "Well, what kind of entrepreneur let's their greatest associate suffer?"

You smile back at her, ignoring your skin getting warmer at the thought of being her "greatest associate"

"Thank you, Ena, you're the best"

"Ughh, don't make me sick."

You roll your eyes playfully, "Does this mean I'm technically hiring you for the next few days? I don't exactly have anything for a proper transaction, but maybe we can count it as a favor?"

The salesperson side perks up, swaying in a back and forth motion. You watch as her hair moves in sync. "A transaction without any material gain, but instead spiritual. What a fascinating concept! I suppose a proper business always adapts to the clients' needs, including payment. Do tell me, what will be my first task?"

You utter out a soft laugh at her excitement. Letting out a groan, you sit up right in front of her and gently take off her hat, setting it on the bed next to you.

"Rest with me?"

Ena looks at you with mild astonishment, almost like she's never heard those words in her life. Hell, you would believe that she hasn't with how much she runs around. After a moment of her buffering, she finally speaks up, but in a way you haven't yet heard.

"I'm not sure I know how."

A whisper of uncertainty leaves her lips, formed by both sides of her. It was so quiet that if you weren't just a couple of inches away, you would've missed it. You decide that you never want to as a tender smile pulls at your lips.

"Let me teach you." You voice back almost as gently, pulling her down with you for a long awaited rest.

Chase

When you casually reassure civilians mid-fight (“Don’t worry, folks! This’ll only take a minute!”), he interprets it as reckless confidence rather than emotional support. He’d likely mutter that reassurance doesn’t matter if you can’t guarantee outcomes

Your refusal to panic under explosions irritates him and slightly earns his respect

The thumbs-up during chaos especially annoys him. But if you consistently remain effective- saving civilians, neutralizing threats quickly- he starts recalibrating: annoying doesn’t mean incompetent

If you rely on morale, inspiration, or emotional framing, Chase pushes back hard. His worldview says hope didn’t save Mecha Man Astral- competence did (and even that failed). So your style feels dangerous to him

The more you show up unchanged- still joking, still steady, still effective- the more he has to confront a contradiction: you are not behaving like his mental model of a “reckless performer,” yet you’re still producing results

“If you’re going to do the explosion thumbs-up thing, do it after the blast wave. You’re off by half a second.” It’s basically his version of reluctant coaching.

If someone mocks your powers, Chase reacts instantly and sharply

He may not like your style, but he is extremely protective of functional allies. Insulting you would trigger a cold, cutting defense- less emotional support, more brutal dismissal of the offender’s competence

“They’ve neutralized more threats in that suit than you have in standard gear. Sit down.”

Royd

He’d probably grin and go: “Yo, that’s actually sick. Lotta moving parts though- cape might snag if you’re not careful.”

He’d likely try to fist-bump you immediately, even mid-situation, without reading the room perfectly

He gives you practical, hands-on safety tips instead of criticism

“If you’re gonna do the cape spin, tighten the left clasp. I can reinforce it later if you want.”

He casually builds gear adjustments for you without asking permission (but in a friendly way). Like improved cape clips, reinforced boots, or suit stabilizers for landing after dramatic poses

Royd is very good at reading when people are performing vs. when they genuinely care. Your line- “Don’t worry, folks! This’ll only take a minute!”-he reads as real reassurance, not ego

If they explain your suit or powers, he listens with wide-eyed focus, occasionally interrupting with “Wait wait wait- say that part again.”

Where Chase sees “costly spectacle,” Royd sees “motivation + morale”

Shroud

He initially assumes you are a distraction unit, not a combat threat. His prediction model likely categorizes you as: “morale-based decoy / civilian-facing interference.”

Meaning he expects you to be useful for chaos, not direct damage output

Shroud relies heavily on forecasting behavior. Your style- dramatic timing, deliberate posing, crowd engagement mid-combat- creates noise in his system. Not random, but non-standard enough to resist clean modeling

Once he identifies your patterns (timed thumbs-up, reflective posing, etc.), he begins countering them. But the problem is your adaptability inside the performance style makes full prediction impossible

He escalates to controlling the battlefield instead of just fighting you, mainly separating you from civilians (to remove your “rhythm anchor”). Because he recognizes your strength is partly relational, not just physical