#kidklok

I think it would be good to have them age gaps between the kids, which means some of them are in middle school and others are in elementary school.

That being said, it would go like this. Pickles is a 7th grader, so he's that awkward grade in middle school where nothing makes a lot of sense and he's trying really hard to figure out who he is, but he's stuck in the persona he made in elementary school, which was outlandish and bright colors and a class character (He wasn't the class clown, he was just someone that EVERYONE knew). He's trying to branch out and find a new Him. It's his equivalent of Pickles leaving SNB in search of harder music. Pickles is neglected moderately at home. Not in a sense that he's not being fed or that he's being beat, he's just invisible to his parents and often times the scapegoat to Seth's troubles. He's angry and confused and trying to figure out how he's gonna get his next beer without his father noticing. He hangs out with Murderface and tries to steer him away from their bullies at school, but often times finds himself going head to head with Murderface. (Does he see himself in Murderface? Does he view himself in Seth's shoes when he hangs with Murderface? Would he have been a good big brother if given the change? Or is he doomed for always being a failure, belonging in the garbage?)

Magnus is also in 7th grade. Him and Pickles are old playground buddies after Pickles ran away from his brother when he chased him with a snake. Magnus basically picked up the snake from Seth and told him he wasn't afraid of it but he should and chased Seth with it until he left the playground. Pickles and him have been friends ever since. Magnus met a much younger Nathan through Pickles while they were in Elementary School and became friends with him as well. Magnus' homelife is a mystery to his friends and he doesn't speak of his parents at all at home. He even refuses to do family related projects as he does not want to talk about his homelife. Magnus hangs out with Pickles and Murderface while at school, usually keeping to himself. He's academically smart and can filter between different social circles, but likes to stay close to Pickles and Murderface. He is constantly being award for his achievements like perfect attendance or Student of the Month. If there is something to achieve that will gain attention, he wants it. Magnus has a lot of big dreams of doing the impossible, of being noticed and admired. He's also very stubborn and when he wants something done, he wants it done his way or no way. Magnus also has this sort of friendly rivalry with Pickles, always wanting to make sure that he was "on top" of whatever Pickles can do. However, for the most part, Magnus is pretty laid back until it becomes something to grab other people's attention.

Murderface is in 6th grade but he was supposed to be in 7th grade with Pickles but got held back for flunking literally every class. He gets bullied pretty regularly and Pickles was one of the only people to stand up to them for him. I wouldn't say it was because Pickles felt bad per say, but more because he saw himself in Murderface. Pickles is still treated pretty shitty at home and always picked on and picked apart by his brother, so when he saw other kids, usually older kids doing it to Murderface, whether or not Pickles believed he deserve it, he got pissed and fought them off. Murderface's lack luster education career is a combination of his developing mental illness and teachers refusing to help him. Murderface isn't fully the Murderface we know him in canon, he's a little shy and gets upset easily when he's excluded. He's still a kid who wants someone to tell him that he's not "difficult to love and look at." Pickles and him are BFFs but only Murderface knows that. Pickles, him, and Magnus have lunch often and play pranks on the hall monitors together.

Nathan and Skwisgaar are in 5th grade and they share the same classroom. They are constantly together due to their lack of interest in speaking with other people.

Nathan is much larger than a lot of the other kids in his grade, which makes him a target for bullies, either picking on him or trying to recruit him into their group. (I know technically he wasn't when we see him in his flashback but I like to believe in this universe, he's like the large, tall kid.) However, Nathan's lack of interest in anything that isn't music, brutal, or Disney makes a lot of these scenarios fruitless. Also, Canon Nathan was not a bully and beat up a bully for beating up a kid, so this Nathan hates bullies x. He's autistic and selectively mute, which makes it very hard for him to make friends. He doesn't fully get the whole point of school, nothing but music class interest him, but knows he needs to go otherwise his mother may cry. I like to think that Nathan had a year of really difficult days where going to school was a two person job. Daily tantrums, having to be dragged out of the car, kind of thing. It finally stopped when his mom broke down after one of his tantrums because the school had contacted the police and if he missed anymore school, she could be sent to jail for truancy. He didn't miss anymore school after that. Nathan hangs out with Skwisgaar because he is just like him. Similar interests, pretty tall, doesn't talk a lot. Skwisgaar is the only one that Nathan will talk too. They put him with Skwisgaar because Nathan they didn't think Nathan would bother another child who didn't want to talk, but it had the opposite affect and actually had him opening up. The school is not upset about this and actually count this as a great step forward for both students.

Skwisgaar is a foster child/student from Sweden after the Swedish government took him away from his mom after she got tangled in an affair case with a prominent Swedish government official. The media tracked the little family and due the constant attention, Skwisgaar's living conditions were exposed and due to public demand, Skwisgaar was removed from the household. Skwisgaar is constantly moving between homes but the agency is refusing to let Skwisgaar move between houses that leave the school he got assigned to when he originally came. The agency figured if they couldn't give him a steady homelife, he should have at least a steady school life. Skwisgaar does not speak a lot of English outside of what he needs to say and he does not speak Swedish with anyone other than Toki. Skwisgaar is shier as a child and prefers not to be the center of attention, especially after what happened with his mother and how his whole life was up rooted. Skwisgaar is afraid to make friends due to lack of cultural similarities and language barriers, however, he does refer to Nathan as a friend in the very beginning. He was allowed to bring his guitar from Sweden but he can't bring it to school, so he has fidgets to keep his fingers busy. He likes Nathan's company, he's quiet and doesn't pick on him or think he's weird. Nathan's blunt way of speaking is a lot easier for Skwisgaar to digest when translating in his head, so he appreciates it. They trade song recommendations and talk about music during lunch. Girls think Skwisgaar is cute so a lot of them try to get with him, but he's not the Casanova we know Canon Skwisgaar as. He's rather shy around girls and would prefer to not have the attention on him all the time. (If you've ever watched "My Love Story" Skwisgaar and Nathan are like Makoto and Takeo)

Toki is in the 3rd grade and just like Skwisgaar, he is also a foster child/student from Norway. Toki is a child under witness protective services as he has a long, drawn out case of extreme child abuse and neglect. The Norwegian government believed it was best to move Toki to America while the trial was still underway due to the nature of the case and the fact that an attempt had been made on Toki's life in Norway while under protection from members of the same cult. The Witness Protection Program had placed Toki with a couple that they believed would be a good fit, only to find out that they were a part of the same cult as his parents and planned to kill Toki. They failed when the chandelier in the dining room fell on their heads, crushing them instantly in front of Toki. Norway stated that because these cult members were never properly identified and registered in their Norwegian database and that their cults were so secretive that it was unsafe to place Toki in anyone's care around the Scandinavian region. So, Toki came to America. Toki, despite it all, is a very happy go-lucky child with a very active imagination. He likes to dance and sing and explore but he is also terribly unpredictable at times. However, he is very lonely. He has no social skills and has not clue how to make or maintain friends. A lot of kids in his grade stay away from him due to his personality being "too much", "too babyish", and "too weird.". He doesn't always know what's going on or is accidently triggered by something and he gets violent. Toki essentially has to be placed in the smaller classrooms with specialized teachers and a lot of IEPs and extra work from Social Workers, the Norwegian government, and the school system. When Toki was first moved there, they had a teacher who could speak Norwegian but he ended up dying a few weeks in. Desperate to find a replacement, the school paired Toki up with another foster student, Skwisgaar, believing that understanding partially what Toki was saying was better than understanding nothing. Toki's been inseparable from him since, thinking he's this cool older kid that can help him and understand him and listen to him. Toki keeps being placed with foster families but within weeks, those foster families would always die. It only stopped when he was placed with a man named Charles Offdensen.

They all but Toki get put into an out of school music class that promised to help their kids learn discipline, make friends, and find an identity for themselves. The man who runs the class is Charles, and he takes Toki with him to teach the class. Toki is an "honorary" member of the class, as the class Charles is teaching is for 10 to 12 year olds. Toki is only 8.

Pickles is forced to go because his parents don't want him home any longer than he needs to be, and wants him to learn some damn discipline. Murderface is also forced to go by his grandma because she is hoping that the structure will drill it in his head to stop being such a nasty boy. Magnus wants to join so he can learn a new skill, while also keeping an eye on Pickles and Murderface. Nathan and Skwisgaar both signed up for it with their parents/legal guardian. Nathan's mother cried when he asked her and Skwisgaar's legal guardian was more than happy to sign him up, especially if it meant more structure in his life.

This is where Pickles, Murderface, and Magnus officially meet Skwisgaar and Toki. Pickles, Murderface, and Magnus already knew Nathan from elementary school when they were younger. The grade difference drew them apart but now was a perfect time to rekindle their old friendship. Skwisgaar enjoys Pickles company and finds Murderface both annoying and really funny. He think Magnus is cool but kind of mysterious. Toki is star strucked at the older boys, especially since they all looked so cool. Pickles, Magnus, and Murderface think Toki is weird but in a good way, like he's got spunk, but he's still weird. Skwisgaar is partially thrilled to see Toki there, only because he knows he can speak some Swedish and Toki will understand him.

Charles is a music teacher/paralegal. He is the one that helps the band find their instruments, except Skwisgaar and surprisingly Magnus, who already has theirs.

Charles helps Pickles use the drums for the first time and watches as he practically glows while beating on the drums. Pickles has so much energy and anger that the drums are the perfect thing to get out all of that aggression. He tried giving Murderface a guitar but he said that it wasn't "manly" enough for him and he needed something deeper. Charles gets him a bass and the moment he straps it on him, Murderface is practically vibrating. He thinks he looks so cool with it and when he plucks and strums the cords, he feels the deepness in the notes and understands them. Skwisgaar has his guitar and runs him through a small drill to see where he was musically. He was a bit off key and a little janky but he had a lot of potential, which he told Skwisgaar. He practically glowed when Charles said that, never before being complimented on his skills. Magnus also had his own instrument, which Charles noted looked well taken cared of. He had Magnus go through the same drills and was also greeted with the same need for improvement but an excellent starting point with lots of potential. Instead of being happy like Skwisgaar, Magnus took this news harshly, as he believed he was better at them already.

Nathan is very tricky. None of the instruments seem to be speaking to him. They try out so many instruments but none of them are what Nathan's looking for. He feels clumsy and awkward. Charles gives him a recorder in the meantime, which Nathan sadly accepts.

Toki, who in the mean time had picked up an array of instruments, had found himself attracted toward the guitar. Charles had been teaching him the basic scales on a much smaller guitar but he really likes the electric, especially the one that Skwisgaar has. He sits in during their lessons with his little acoustic guitar next to Skwisgaar, trying really hard to keep up with the teachings of his foster father. Skwisgaar will scoff at him when he makes a wrong note but he will fix Toki's fingers and hands, even praise him when he gets it right. Magnus doesn't spend as much time with Toki as Skwisgaar, but he has helped him as well. However, Magnus does like the idea of Skwisgaar wasting the precious minutes he has in class with helping a non-student rather than working on his own skills. Gives Magnus more time to perfect his craft.

Skwisgaar is not used to Toki's praise or adoration or obsession of him at all. It makes him uncomfortable but in the best way possible where he doesn't really want it to stop, he just wants the weird feeling inside his chest to stop. Like the first time someone think you're cool and means it.

Now picture it, all of the kids playing together, poorly, but Charles, ever persistent, can see true potential in these kids. They all have the passion and drive for it. He works with them as a group and individually as much as possible. It isn't until a mock show with all of them together, except Toki, who is sitting next to Charles. It's half way through the song when he hears it, singing. And he sees it's Nathan, who's singing some made up lyrics to the song quietly to himself, and that's when he realizes that this is the instrument Nathan is meant to have, his voice. He immediately starts helping Nathan find his voice, even writing down some lyrics for him.

Not only is Charles able to help Nathan find his voice, he physically sees these children open up and become more confidant. He watches as Skwisgaar gets out of his shell around the other boys, making jokes and participating in the conversation. He's also confidant in his ability to play while still helpful enough to teach Toki. They have an almost big brother/little brother relationship. (Side note, Toki sits in Skwisgaar's lap to play with the electric guitar.) Pickles, who would come in every day like a new person with a new style, was finally settling on something. He was finding his identity in himself, and with it, he found himself around the people he called his friends more and more. Murderface had calmed down a lot, especially since he started playing and hanging out with the other guys. He finally felt safe enough to put down his guard and be his silly self without fear of being ostracized. And Toki was blossoming under their friendship. He's finally learning how to be a friend, how to joke, how to communicate, how to play with others, how to listen to others. He tacks on a few of their personality types here and there, to appease them into liking him more, but its very apparent that they like Toki for being Toki.

However, Charles was nervous about Magnus. He could tell that there is some serious talent in him but he's still not opening up, or better, letting go. There's an edge under his laid back attitude that wants to be the best, that wants to be in charge. He notices it when he sees Skwisgaar perform a certain scale he hasn't mastered yet or when Pickles is coming up with his own drum pattern, even if it sounds like a lot of noise.

Their first rehearsal together with Nathan on vocals is magical. It's like watching a wave begin to form, knowing that there is so much hidden force coming up from just below the surface. Charles can hear where everyone needs fine tweaking and who needs help on what parts, but it's all there, and its so good. He works with them all to hone in on these talents. Toki is their band cheerleader/mascot. He is always there clapping for them and giving them approval and overall being their biggest fan.

Charles gets word that the community is hosting a talent show at this years school fair. The middle school and elementary school share the same day for a fair since they're right next to each other so that all of the kids can mingle together. The fair is filled with fun games, bounce houses, face painting, lots of crafts to make and buy. It's a lot of fun. He brings it up to the boys in their next class about participating. The guys are nervous initially. None of them are necessarily well liked by their peers and if they messed up, it would just be more ammo for their bullies. However, it's Nathan who decides for the band that if they want to be serious about this (music) then they need to at least try. Going from a selectively mute child to someone who took charge of a situation is exactly why Charles took this job in the first place.

Magnus noticeably does not like this shift in leadership. Before this, the group did not have a team leader, rather breaking off into small chunks amongst themselves. Something about Nathan, someone who is selectively mute, someone who doesn't play an instrument, someone younger than him, being the de facto leader rubs him the wrong way. Especially in regards to the possibility of gaining popularity and attention, even prestige. It simmers under the surface.

So the band starts practicing like crazy. Every time they meet up with Charles and Toki, they are practicing their instruments, songs, and even some light choreography.

Charles has been helping with Nathan's small bout of stage freight. If Nathan thinks it's hard to talk to people, he might have a better time at yelling, which he does like. He has no problem yelling his lyrics out and even grows confidant him doing it. Nathan's previous knowledge on metal bands help supply him with skills he wants to incorporate in his singing, like growling. He goes home and practices in the mirror every day until he's happy with his own signature growl. His mom and dad think he's losing his mind while listening outside the door but don't bother him because it's a step in the right direction when it comes to talking. Nathan will use his parents as judges to see which growl sounds better. His mother is very good at distinguishing the type of feelings he wants conveyed in his growls. His dad starts affectionately calling him his "little mutt" after a while.

Pickles is growing worried that by doing this gig, he's solidifying this character to him forever. He's really worried that he may not like it anymore and want to change but won't be able to because of how the other kids see him. Murderface and Nathan are the ones to console him on the fact. Murderface has been his friend through all of his changes and has stuck by him, because it's not how Pickles looks or what group he's trying to mimic, Murderface likes Pickles for being Pickles, the douchebag redhead who always has a way of getting a drink and pulling a fast one on the teachers. Nathan tells him that he looks exactly how he's suppose to, like the outside finally fits the inside. Pickles can't help but agree. When Pickles asks Magnus his opinion, it's a lackluster response. He is reaffirming Pickles fears but he's not denouncing them either. It's a realistic answer, and while Pickles does not like it, he does appreciate the perspective.

Murderface is putting on a brave face throughout rehearsals. He feels like he can't keep up with the others and sometimes fakes some cords because he gets nervous that they'll see him as a screw up or a fraud or decide that he's not worth their time. He's especially afraid of what Charles would do if he found out he was 'fake playing' sometimes. But Charles does catch him and tells him that it's ok to feel nervous and unsure of yourself the first time, that if he needs to spend extra time with him, he will. Charles tells Murderface that he's worth the extra work. So Murderface comes in early or stays lates sometimes and Charles goes over the chords with him again. Toki is by his side, also going over the chords and scales and being a friendly presence next to Murderface. He feels better the closer he gets to the talent show because he knows he knows what he's doing.

Charles tries to be open with Magnus, telling him that he doesn't have to push himself so hard. With the weeks they have been rehearsing, Magnus had grown agitated and angry with the other boys, even yelling at Toki for distracting Skwisgaar when he should be rehearsing, not teaching Toki. Charles wants to calm him down, let him understand that this should be for fun. But Magnus does not want to hear it. He wants to be the best and if needs to other guys to be the best than he's going to make sure they are the best. It works himself into being an arrogant assholes at rehearsal and in school. Charles doesn't give up on him though, even when he starts seeing the splintering begin in the friendships.

It happens only a week before the talent show. Like in canon, Pickles decides to go off script, letting the music flow through him, and play to his hearts rhythm, which sends Magnus into a rage. Nathan, who at this point is really starting to get comfortable with these people, even opening up and being a goofy kid off stage, tells Magnus to stop yelling at Pickles. The canon happens, Magnus tells Nathan this is his band, that he should be the one in charge, that without him, they would all just be a bunch of losers. Nathan tells him point blank if you don't stop, then they won't play with him anymore. Magnus ends up attacking Nathan, which results in them tumbling off the stage. Charles pulls them apart, Nathan with a bruise shoulder and Magnus with a black eye. Charles has no choice but to ask Magnus to leave, calling for his parents to pick him up, and send him home. It's at that point, Magnus tells them he's not gonna play with them anymore and leaves.

This is where the shift begins because now they're down a guitar player and all hope feels lost, but Skwisgaar feels it in his bones that he could step up to the challenge. He's feeling confidant, that despite his prior shyness, this is the one thing he can do and wants to prove it. While the band and Charles agree, there's still the question of another guitarist. Which brings us to little Toki, who has been rehearsing with them this whole time on his little guitar, and knows the scales and the music. After deliberation, the band decides to let Toki join on the condition that he follows Skwisgaar's instruction afterwards while practicing. Skwisgaar wants to hear what Toki knows by heart so far, and, for someone who wasn't forced to practice their songs, he knew them fairly well up until the last bit, where he got janky. But the band was happy and Charles was happy and Toki was so happy.

Now officially a part of the band, Toki feels fear for the first time since coming to America. Like he's back home and he's disappointing his parents all over again. He's scared that if he messes this all up for the older, cooler kids, that they won't hang out with him anymore or kick him out of the class, since he's not suppose to even be there, or worse, Charles would be disappointed in him and send him away. But Charles notices, and takes the extra time and care to help Toki practice and stay focus, while reminding him that the other boys like Toki and want to be around him. Skwisgaar, true to his word, helps Toki in the bits that he's missing, spending extra time with the boy.

Pickles and Murderface check in on Nathan after the fight. Other than bruised, he's physically ok but what Magnus sad made him second guess himself about doing this. He didn't tell the guys because he didn't want to let them down, but a part of himself was closing up again behind those barriers and walls. He couldn't stew in the fear for long though, the show was that weekend. However, physically, Nathan began to clam up again. During rehearsals, his voice became quieter, less sure of himself, almost mute all over again. Shouting wasn't working like it used to and the band was worried, and so was Charles.

But the show must go on.

The fair is packed with children and adults alike. The boys are nervously on stage, their parents in the crowd waiting for them. The boys are worried about Nathan. They worry that he may choke up again like he had started during rehearsals. Charles tells them not to worry, that once he's on stage, Nathan will know what to do, as he has done before. Nathan has to believe him because otherwise, the alternative is being boo-ed off stage. He knows if that were to happen, he...he doesn't know what he'll do. But sooner than they wanted, they're on.

Charles is in the crowd with the rest of the parents and other kids. Nathan takes center stage and all of those eyes. All of those kids that know him. He feels faint. He looks at his friends, all with similar expressions on their faces. Pickles and Murderface, he knows, stole a can of beer from Pickles father before coming here. Skwisgaar was dropped off by his guardians with a thumbs up and $20. Toki, who looks so small now, is silently shaking behind Skwisgaar with his electric guitar that Charles had special ordered for his smaller features. Its then he realizes that this is so much more than just a band of misfits, these were his friends, and they trusted him. They were counting on him.

The first note that plays through the speaker is like the start of a lighter. It just opens them all up. Nathan sings, Pickles drums, Murderface fly's confidently through his bass, Skwisgaar and Toki are playing off of each other in a beautiful tandem of twangs and plucks. They feel invincible. And as they continue, they watch as the crowd gets bigger and bigger and bigger, until they notice that over half of the fair participants are there. And when it's all over, the kids in the crowd, their classmates, are going crazy. The adults are all clapping and whooping but the kids are transfixed on them. Suddenly, they weren't the weird kids anymore, they weren't the freaks or the push overs or the 'left behinds'. They leave the stage, full of adrenaline, they can't help but start laughing and yelling and jumping. Pickles is hugging Nathan, Murderface has Toki in a headlock, Skwisgaar is being pulled into a side hug by Nathan, Pickles grabs Murderface and spins themselves around, Toki has Skwisgaar in a massive bear hug. They are so happy.

When the announcer comes up to announce the winner, it's no one surprise when they win. They come out with a thunderous roar from kids of all ages and when the announcer hands the boys their trophy and prize money, the announcer sticks the microphone under Nathan's face and asks what their band's name is. Looking out into the crowd, looking at his parent's faces, then looking at his friends, he confidently states: "We're Dethklok. And we're here to make everything on this miserable earth brutal."