#gear dee

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✨ Gear Dee's Origins ✨

-Raised in a certain City off-world from her birth planet of Popstar, Gear grew up deep in the heart of Air Ride culture, surrounded by roughnecks and gearheads who absolutely adored her. She learned swear words and vehicle terminology before she could write her own name, and she spent more time running around garages than playgrounds (of which there were few in those urban environs). Her father, a trophy-winning racer and all-around decent fellow, taught her all the tools of the trade - mechanics, vehicle operation, pyrotechnics, etc. - and fostered in her a lifelong love of fast starships, faster races, and the heart-stopping thrill of demolition. (He maaaay have also let her test out the Machines before she was old enough to drive one... but the authorities never found out, and she's always been something of a natural behind the wheel, so surely there was no harm done.)

-Once she was old enough to enter, Gear quickly made a name for herself in local Air Ride competitions, her vehicles of choice being the Turbo Star, the Formula Star, and anything else that put speed above all else (including - to her father's near-constant concern - handling and brake efficiency). On the track and in interviews after, she put her bombastic personality front and center, a bold smack-talker with a perpetually-windblown mohawk and a penchant for leaving skid marks a little too close to the sidelines just to keep the crowd on their toes. Though she had plenty of wins under her belt, she lived more for the rush of racing itself rather than victory. Whether she'd win or lose, she'd always have the time of her life, inviting her fellow racers back to her favorite watering hole for a round of drinks and no-hard-feelings.

-Her first relationship was… a messy one. During her early days running in the City Trials, she fell head-over-heels for an awkward but charming Waddle Dee who always showed up for her races, taken in by gifts, pretty words, and - though she didn’t know at the time - empty promises. Her father never approved of him, and her friends would always give her looks that seemed to ask, "Seriously? This loser?" All this did was make Gear double down on her decision, pursing their courtship at a speed coming dangerously close to her personal best on the track, eventually agreeing to move into his grungy apartment once they learned they had a kid on the way. It wasn't the first mistake Gear's made in her life... but it might've been one of the worst.

-She did try to make it work - stars above, did she try - if not for the sake of her pride, then at least for the sake of that sweet little boy they'd brought into the world together. And, if she can be honest with herself, things weren't so bad... at least, for a little while. Unfortunately, her partner was not so conscientious. While he played at parenthood for some of the time - taking Treble on unscheduled trips around the City and spoiling him with gifts they absolutely could not afford - it was usually Gear that shouldered the bulk of their responsibilities, most of which left her tired and overworked and more snappish than usual at the end of each day. It only worsened when her partner began staying out of the apartment more and more, and she started noticing the increasing amount of withdrawals from their shared Point Star account. Of course, when questioned about all this, he'd just put on that winsome charm of his and give her all the reassurance in the world that everything was fine... which only worked until his debts became her problem, the lies both outright and by omission made painfully clear with each overdue bill and collector call.

-By the time they had their second child, the love was curdling fast, sweet nothings turned to shouting matches, punctuated frequently by slammed doors, broken plates, and frustrated tears. Gear's work in the races suffered, her career prospects flagging with each low ranking or busted Machine. It felt like she was holding her life together by the tips of her fingers, losing her grip day by day, feeling her friends' misgivings and her father's warnings taunt her in the back of her mind. She hated the part of her that wanted to run back to him now for help, to choke on her pride and admit she was wrong and cry into his chest until he made it all better. She knew he would do it, too, without question... which is exactly why she wouldn't let herself get to that point. She could handle this, she would get through this, and she'd do it on her own.

-She hadn't been expecting company the day the loan sharks came. She'd just gone to answer the brisk knock at the door and found several tall strangers standing on her doormat. Their suits were sharp, their fins and smiles even sharper, smelling of wealth, cigar smoke, and the stink of a blood-washed sea. They were looking for "her man," their leader had explained as they calmly yet firmly let themselves inside. Apparently, he had a couple "outstanding payments" they'd been waiting on. Figured they'd make a little "house call" to see if his financial situation was really as dire as he kept claiming.

-Gear - astonished and irritated at the audacity of these well-dressed strangers (and her good-for-nothing partner for not telling her any of this) - tried to speak up, her usual fire and assertiveness ready to give these bastards what for, to demand that they get the heck out of her home... but they barely even acknowledged her, walking around the tiny apartment like they owned the place, casually rifling through every drawer and closet and storage chest they found, pilfering what few Point Stars she'd had stashed away along with one of her only 1st-place racing trophies. When baby Bow toddled over to see what the fuss was about - passing by the bedroom door where her older brother had hidden himself away during all of this - the biggest of the sharks leaned down and patted her on the head with a friendly smile, making her giggle and jibber happily. Gear felt sick, watching these men so confidently invade her home and lay hands on her children right in front of her, the threat plain as day. The leader even had the gall to thank her for her "cooperation," apologizing for the "inconvenience" and asking her to tell her partner that they'd "be in touch." Once they left, she practically collapsed to the floor, breathing hard and blinking back angry, terrified tears. Enough, she thought. Stars damn it all, I've had enough.

-The little flake came home an hour later to find Gear packing her bags. When he started with the stammering and concern-dripping questions, she favored him with an icy glare, passing on the loan shark's message. Not gonna lie, there was a small satisfaction in seeing his face pale in realization and horror - felt like her first real victory in years. She ignored his attempted explanations as she put a squirming Bow into the baby carrier. She ignored his desperate apologies as she shoved Treble's duffel bag into his protesting arms. She ignored his pitiful cries from the stairwell begging for another chance, please, just give him another chance, as she ferried her kids and her things into the nearest hovertaxi. She had just enough loose change to get the three of them across town - not to the garage where her father still lived and worked (the very same that she'd grown up in) but to yet another grungy apartment where a certain friend of hers lived. A seamstress who - upon receiving Gear's tearful phone call earlier that day - did not even hesitate to promise them refuge...

-Things improved slowly after that. Gear had to suffer through a mountain of paperwork and phone calls just to finalize her separation (and to get out of her former partner's debts), but it was worth it to regain some control over her life, to finally feel like she could breathe again. She'd hoped to return to full-time racing... but raising to two kids basically on her own quickly made that dream an impossibility. It was a hard reality to accept (especially given who's fault it was), but Gear could at least stay close to the races by doing some ancillary mechanic work in the garages like she used to. Eva had suggested that, even offering to watch the kids while she was out. She did a lot to help out in those months of dread and instability, more than Gear could've ever asked of her, more than she could've ever thanked her for.

-As their situation settled back into something of a normal rhythm, Gear's friendship with her roommate gently blossomed into something... more. More than just gratitude for the support of a good friend in her time of need. Gear found so much to appreciate about Eva - her intelligence, her resilience, her passion for what she loved, all things Gear only got to see as their connection grew. It delighted her to see Eva’s meek demeanor open into something bright and personable over time, to know that the pressure of "big city life" had eased off of her friend, that she'd finally found her footing within it. Gear didn't know squat about fashion or textiles or fabric quality or things like that, but listening to Eva gush about all that and more, with a sparkle in her big blue eyes and a fervor in her voice that only came when she was at her happiest... stars above. It sparked something in Gear, plain and simple - a flame coaxed back to life from the ashes left at the bottom of her heart, less the fast-burning rush of a wildfire and more the gently-crackling hearth of home-sweet-home...

-When the phone calls came, Gear blocked his number. When the letters arrived, she tore them up. When he appeared one day on Eva’s doorstep - teary-eyed with his pockets turned out, offering the same empty apologies and poor excuses as before - she slammed the door in his face. No matter how many times she turned the little bastard away, he just kept coming back, begging and pleading and demanding and threatening and right back to begging again. Even the restraining order did little to deter him.

-There were a good few nights spent stifling tears against Eva's shoulder, wrapped tight in her soft, protective wings. They discussed their options in hushed tones late into each night, with arguments always close to sparking... but cooling down before they could (nothing at all like the explosive fights she'd had with him). In the end, it all seemed to point to the one thing Gear dreaded the most: for the safety of her kids, herself, and her own peace of mind, the four of them would have to leave the City.

-So, almost a year to the day that she'd walked out on her old life, Gear found herself preparing to leave another one, packing her things slower and more reluctantly than the first time. She said her goodbyes in secret, receiving bone-crushing hugs from old friends and firm promises to keep in touch (and that no one would tell him where she was going). She hugged her father the longest, seeing him cry for maybe the first time in her whole life as he told her he loved her, was proud of her, and hoped that, wherever she ended up, that she'd be happy there.

-The next morning, before the sun even could even kiss the horizon, she and her little family boarded the next starship out of the City, her hair a mess, her makeup smudged, her heart wrung dry. Bow squirmed and whined on her lap. Treble stared fixedly out the window, headphones on. Eva sat calm and resolute at her side, squeezing Gear's hand and letting her rest her weary head on her feather-soft shoulder as they made the long, long trip down to the planet she'd been born on...

✨ Gear Dee Fun Facts ✨

-It’d taken some time for Gear to get used to the whole "rustic living" thing, but she'd learn soon enough that Popstar - for all its much-discussed peace and quiet - is not without its own avenues of entertainment and thrill. She's made plenty of friends in the quaint little village they've settled in, like jovial Bebebe, fun-loving Breadee, and a former-racer Wheelie named Roadburn who'd been on the same starship as Gear and her family. She's always happy to help out during holidays and other events, even becoming the resident fireworks-handler alongside her neighbors, the Poppy Bros. family. Plus, there’s always need for a handywoman around, whether it’s to fix a busted toaster or build a new fence or see what’s wrong with the family warp star (spoiler - it's probably the result of Para's overcurious tinkering).

-She never quite stops missing the City, though - the lively streets, the sunlit skyline, the bustling City Center with its bass-thumping clubs and hole-in-the-wall restaurants that only locals knew about, the nights alive with the sound of jazz and the scent of fried food and the neon lights of Air Ride Machines whizzing down the streets... Stars, she misses the races. The ones they have here are fun and all, but... not quite the same. She has so many letters from back home, asking how she's doing, if she needs anything, if she's ever planning on coming by for a visit. She wishes she could give a better answer than just "Maybe" or "We'll see." Much as she wants so badly to go back, even for a single day... she can't quite bring herself to. Not yet. (Not while he's still there.)

-Gear isn’t entirely sure what happened between her and Treble. He's always been something of a quiet boy, sure, but he used to be so sweet before… well, everything. She’s tried to talk with him about it, to put things into perspective and help him understand why it was so necessary that they leave... but he never wants to hear it, either brushing her off or slipping his headphones back on or starting another shouting match before storming off to go hide in his room or hang out with his friends. It's frustrating, and disheartening, and reminds her far too much herself at that age. Maybe that's why it strains her patience with him to its limit so often. (That, or seeing his father in those blue eyes...)

-Raising Bow has been... well, it's own kind of journey, one that Gear wasn’t entirely prepared for - nothing in those stupid parenting books about atypical Copy Abilities. If it hadn’t been for Eva’s help, she has no idea how she would’ve managed. Even now, Bow’s still a handful, always running off and making noise and getting into all kinds of trouble, especially when she's with her friends... but she’s also Gear’s little firecracker, a tiny spark of excitement and energy who loves fun and danger just as much as her mama does. One day, when she's ready, she wants to take her bubbly little baby with her to visit the City and see the races. She hopes she can, anyway. She's sure that Bow would absolutely love it there, just like she did.

-Gear will never stop talking about how cool her wife is, even when Eva turns into a flustered, feather-fluffed mess about it.

✨ Eva's Origins ✨

-Eva doesn’t talk about her life before the City. Full stop. For all she cares, her years as a hatchling belonged to someone else, and her life only truly began when, desperate and without a single Point Star to her name, she hitched a ride on a passing starship and stepped out a dozen hours later into the blinding lights of that sprawling metropolis.

-The City was hardly kind to her in those early years, destitute and barely scraping by, learning to run with tough crowds and make even tougher choices in order to survive... but she did survive, finding within herself an adaptability and resilience that only had a chance to shine out in the midst of these mean streets. Over time, she found steady work, affordable shelter, good friends, and even the promise of purpose waiting just ahead of her. It was never quite perfect - never quite home - but, compared to the nest she’d clawed her way out of? Well, it might as well have been paradise.

-While working in a laundromat to pay for her meager apartment, Eva bumped into a very punk-rock Waddle Dee who introduced herself as Gear Dee, one of the many Air Ride racers that populate the city. Eva wasn't exactly a fan of the races, put off by all the noise and senseless destruction, not to mention the rowdy behavior she'd observed in some of the more popular riders... That said, Gear proved far more pleasant and engaging than her wild hair and blue language would suggest. They chatted through almost half of Eva's shift until her manager popped in to politely tell her to "save the social calls for after work." Gear seemed ready to give the guy a piece of her mind about that, but Eva quickly slapped on her well-practiced, sales-ready smile and assured her boss that she would get right on it, thanking Gear for her patronage with a not-so-subtle flick of her eyes towards the door. She seemed to get the message... but not before promising to continue their conversation "once my laundry's done." Watching the Waddle Dee walk casually back out into the busy streets, Eva couldn't help but notice that Gear hadn't actually brought any laundry in with her that day...

-In the weeks and months and years to come, Eva would bump into her new friend seemingly all over the City. The bank, the corner store, the wharf, the rail stations, even the skid-marked steps up to City Hall - always, it seemed, she'd spot that tuft of vibrant hair somewhere in the rush-hour crowd, or hear that booming voice calling out to her from down the street. They did finish their initial conversation, only to start many, many more after, sometimes over coffee or street tacos or the best damn margaritas she's ever had at this dingy hole-in-the-wall bar she never would've found without Gear's directions - she seemed to know just about everyone in the area, from the hardworking small business owners to the sax-playing buskers stationed on the corner. An intimidating realization, to be sure. After all, Gear could've hung out with anyone she wanted to... yet here she was, hanging out with meek little wallflower Eva instead.

-In time, she learned all about Gear and her life in the City - her interest in mechanics, her unmidigated love of racing, her hope of one day building a Machine faster than the legendary Dragoon. Again, much of it flew over Eva's head, but Gear spoke with such passion, such joy for the things she did, the people she knew, the life she lived here in this grimy, smog-choked place... Eva could already feel her heart reaching, yearning, her dreams colored rose-pink and her thoughts drifting during the workday towards hopes that left her blushing behind her wings. It took some time before she feel brave enough to share bits of herself, to talk about her tumultuous life in the City, to only hint at what came before.

-Eva also learned of Gear's two kids, her partner, the disintegrating state of their relationship. Eva saw the frustration and misery in those warm eyes, felt her heart bleed even more for what was quickly becoming the dearest friend she'd ever had... but she was afraid to push too hard. Even if her partner was a flake, even if Gear and her kids deserved so much better... well, Eva couldn't stomach the idea of barging into her friend's life like that, to risk breaking it even further... That said, she couldn't just sit back and watch Gear suffer either, so - as a friend - she offered what advice she could, acting as a voice of reason and reassurance, a shoulder to cry on, all the while begging the stars above to let Gear hear what she truly meant beneath it all, the words she couldn't bring herself to say out loud...

-The call came in late one evening, sudden and unexpected. Hearing Gear weep over the phone had scared Eva half to death, but - once she knew why she was crying - it filled her with the biggest sense of relief she'd ever known.

-She'd entertained the idea before - of inviting her dear friend and the kids to just... come and live with her - but never with any real intent or hope that it might actually happen. So, when that exact scenario suddenly became a reality... well, turns out she was a lot less prepared for it than she'd thought. Her life seemed to tilt and turn like a ship in stormy waters as they all struggled to settle into Eva's tiny apartment, full of sleepless nights, empty pantries, and more calls to the plumber than she ever thought she'd need to make... Thankfully, adapting to sudden storms has always been her forte. With time and a little effort, she and Gear made it work, sharing the weight of this new arrangement as evenly as they could. She did her best to give her friend space, to be there when she needed it, and to help put the pieces of her life back together into something... maybe not the same as before, but just as worth living.

-Eva watched in quiet awe as the life slowly returned to Gear’s eyes, her drive returning in earnest as she pursued her passions once again (even if they did have to be tweaked a bit). It was Gear who used her connections in town to help Eva land a job with an esteemed boutique, a dream she’d had since coming to the city. It was Gear who took her to get her first piercing, and the second, and the little skull-and-lotus tattoo on the back of her neck. It was Gear who saved up for months just to take her to the Garden in the Sky, where the smog of the City could not reach, and she finally saw the beautiful, glimmering stars again. After all that, well... how could she not fall deeply and hopelessly in love?

-She'd brought it up on occasion, the idea of leaving the City, long before the calls and letters even started. Nothing serious, usually - just a hypothetical Eva would toss out as casually as she could, trying to hide the fidget in her wings, the urge to pull at her feathers . She didn't hate the City, exactly. Not entirely. In the years it'd been her home, she'd found plenty of little things to appreciate about it - the light displays during the holidays, the variety of drinks at her favorite bar, the feet of real satin between her primaries, and so much more... But, the thing is... Eva might have come to the City seeking a fresh start, and learned so much in her time living there... but, despite her best efforts, it's never been home for her, not in the same way it was for Gear.

-When she tried to put this feeling into words, Gear had listened, and considered, and tried her best to be sympathetic... but Eva could see the reluctance in her, how she talked so insistently about the "good parts" of this City, how she defended aspects of it that Eva never would have. She understood, of course. After all, Gear had grown up here, had family here, dozens of friends and connections, even a potential career. Eva would never want tear her or her kids away from all that... Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if there might be a better home for them all elsewhere, where the air was clear and the streets were safe and the roof didn't leak every time the baby cried and they could all be happy together…

-It was only when Gear’s ex started coming by that the prospect changed from hypothetical to happening. suddenly Eva was back on the road again, leaving an entire life behind her like a pile of preened feathers, this time with a bag at her feet, a screaming toddler in her ear, and her best friend - affectionately referred to as her "wife" now - passed out against her side. She did her best, in that cramped little starship, to be a bulwark for her new little family, to face the unnervingly-wide-open future ahead of them as she always has - eyes front, wings steady, head held high - for their sake and for her own.

✨ Eva Fun Facts ✨

-Eva would quickly find that the sprawling, verdant countrysides of Popstar suited her so much better than the urban sardine can she'd left behind. Even after they'd settled in to the quaint little village, she still finds herself enamored with it all. The spring-sweet air, the vast blue skies, the flocks of birds and curlicue clouds and the utter lack of skyline - just trees, fields, and sunrise. She’d been so used to the roar of vehicles and commuters that she’d almost forgotten what genuine silence was like, and how much she adored the soft, furtive, living sounds of nature. If there was ever a place that she could comfortably call home... well, this might be the closest she'll ever get.

-Though she still takes commissions for custom outfits and accessories, Eva has mostly relegated her clothing passions to the comfort of a beloved hobby. Most of her time these days is spent working as a community organizer, helping folks like Dedede's mama and Para's dad with holiday setup and event planning for the village (a far cry from the nervous wallflower she'd been during her first year in the city). That said, she’s still the first on call when someone needs fashion advice or a rip repaired, and she’s knitted at least one sweater for almost everyone in the neighborhood.

-Back in the City, Eva had (accidentally) garnered a reputation as being a good listener, the one most folks in her or Gear's social circles would go to when they sought advice of a more... emotional nature. In the village, she's fallen into a similar role. When kids have hard questions their parents can't seem to answer, or a neighbor mentions trouble in their relationship, or a friend stops by simply needing a shoulder to cry on, Eva will do what she can to help out, whether that means offering advice, suggesting a new perspective, or simply letting them get it out of their system. She appreciates the trust people place in her, how they've come to value her compassion and her point-of-view, how her words alone can encourage growth and reflection and positivity her new community... even if the role itself does get rather draining sometimes. She thanks the stars she has Gear to remind her that she's allowed to say no sometimes, that she's not a therapist, and that having a big heart doesn't mean she has to give it away bit by bit.

-If Gear had been unprepared for a sulky pre-teen and a hydrokinetic baby, then Eva even less so. Make no mistake, she loves Bow and Treble dearly, cares for them as if they were her own… but, stars, they can both be a handful sometimes. In entirely different ways. It’s so hard to keep up with Bow’s energy, and Treble looks at her like she’s personally responsible for every bad thing in his life. She tries not to let the hurt of that particular sentiment show through. She understands, or tries to, but... well, what does he want her to say? She didn't ask to be a mother. Heck, she didn't ask for a lot of the things that've happened in her life. But they still happened! And, she had to slog through them all the same! Because what else would she do? What else can she do, when everything in the entire starsdamn universe is just so... so... Hah. Anyway, it’s fine. It's fine. If her time in the City has left her with anything, it’s that she can handle anything life throws at her. She can be patient. She can be strong. And, if she needs to, then she can be a good mother to these kids who absolutely deserve the world and more.

-Eva likes to call Gear her wife despite the fact that they never officially got married (and don't plan to).

✨ Treble Dee's Origins ✨

-Unlike Bow, who was too young to remember her brief time in the City, Treble has no trouble recalling his early childhood. He remembers their tiny apartment, with its faded wallpaper and water damage stains that looked like animals if he squinted. He remembers his dad carrying him on his back out by the lakeshore, telling him stories and showing him the lighthouse and buying him the best ice cream he’d ever had. He remember his mom coming home smelling like motor oil and letting him play with toy spaceships she brought back from the races. He remembers having friends and going to school and hearing music on the street all the time. He remembers being happy there.

-He remembers his dad being gone a lot, while his mom paced and fumed over the bills on the tiny kitchen table. He remembers hearing them argue a lot through the walls when he was supposed to be asleep. He remembers peering down into the crib with the tiny Waddle Dee inside, feeling crowded despite how small she was.

-His dad would buy him a lot of gifts when he was little. Little expensive things like toys, sweets, the pin he wears on his hat. even a fancy wristwatch once (which he was not to tell his mother about). But all of that pales in comparison to the ukulele his dad gave him for one of his birthdays. He loved that little uke more than any gift he'd ever gotten and played around with it all the time. His mom - in one of her more tolerable moods - taught him how to play it, promising to teach him how to play her own guitar when he got bigger. He even started making up silly little songs in his spare time and performing for anyone who would listen. They always made his dad laugh and cheer the most, exclaiming, "Looks like we got a little star in the making, hehehe!"

-When his mom told him and Bow that they had to leave, that they weren't coming back, he didn't have time to bring the ukulele with him. Sometime he wonders if it’s still there, in his old room, where he left it.

-He didn’t like Eva’s apartment. It smelled weird, and the water stains in the ceiling looked like faces laughing at him. He had to share a room with Bow. She cried a lot, so much that she broke one of the pipes in the kitchen. She did more than once in all the time they lived there. During the first night there, Treble had a nightmare he's long since forgotten and woke up crying for his dad. When Eva found him instead and tried to console him with a hug, he pulled away, embarrassed and angry and demanding to be left alone. He never got to say goodbye.

-Treble didn’t cry when they left the City a year later. Just sat with his cheek pressed against the window of the starship, watching the only home he’d ever known fade behind the clouds, and then the stars. He kept his favorite headphones on and turned up loud so he couldn’t hear Bow crying or his mom talking to Eva.

✨ Treble Dee Fun Facts ✨

-Treble learned to play bass on his own. Mostly out of spite, if we’re being honest. (Gear’s too proud of him to see it that way, though.) Yes, he’s aware of the irony of being named Treble and playing the bass - stop bringing it up. Oh, and not like it's a big deal or anything, but... he and his buddies started a band. Called the Mellow Dees. The name was his idea. It's pretty cool. Mostly, they just hang out together and noodle around on their instruments (maybe pick through Treble's lyric notes if he's feeling confident), but they've already gotten some banger tunes in the works. Nothing finished yet, unfortunately, not even enough for a demo tape... but that's fine. Every big-name star had to start somewhere, right? He knows they're gonna make it big one day, once they're old enough to start booking gigs at some high-end off-world music venues. You'll see.

-He wishes his mom didn’t push her interests onto him all the time. Yeah, it’s cool that she taught him how to write music and dye his hair and stuff, and she lets him swear more than the neighbors do... but then she wants him to listen to all her weird old-people music or go skateboarding with her and Bow or some other dumb thing he doesn’t care about. Then she gets on his case for staying inside all day and not spending time with people. He is spending time with people, just not her. He has a life, y’know? Friends his own age who actually like the things he likes. He’s not gonna hang out with his parents all the time. That’s so lame.

-He wishes Eva wasn’t so nosy. It doesn’t matter that she’s nice or whatever, she’s such a starsdamn busybody. Always asking what he’s doing or what he’s working on or does he want a snack and ugh, stars, just take a hint already. Does she think he’s still a baby or something? Just leave him alone. He doesn’t want to talk to her. He never wants to talk to her.

-He thinks his baby sister is annoying and wishes she’d stop bothering him when he’d busy doing his own thing. Her friends are just as bad, the little brats. Stars, he hates it here.

-Well… okay, maybe he doesn’t hate it here, living in the village. It’s… fine, he guesses. The weather’s always nice. Food’s good. And, his new friends are actually pretty cool. He just… misses the City sometimes, is all. The lights, the music, the tall buildings, the crowds of people, even the greasy smell of the alleyways. He doesn’t miss the races, though. Not even a little bit.