#or focus

Meanwhile the technology's just:

I don't remember if that was one of the edicts set down by Anne or just the common logic/moralism of folks running games in the circles I was in back then. I think I also remember some reasoning like "there'd be no spare time to do it/they wouldn't risk infection" but that didn't make much sense even at the time.

Same with hair dye, although that rule was more aimed at "no purple or pink hair" but natural (temporary) hair dye has been around for ages.

Heathens Au: Ability users are outlawed and hunted

So now I'm going to try to see what year-ago-me meant by this... (manga spoilers ahead. Probably)

Basically, Basically. It's where none of the canon events have happened past the war. If an ability user isn't actively working for a government in power they are hunted down and killed or captured.

Mori, obviously works for the government as a scientist/doctor/ability user handler. The port mafia was destroyed years prior, the world is a bit more dystopian and the government has stronger control.

Almost every one of the ability users of the Port Mafia are a part of a government run and sanctioned ability user strike/assassin unit. The Ada doesn't exist, Fukuzawa and Ranpo went off grid after rescuing Yosano and haven't been seen in years.

(Yosano's orgin is more or less the same as canon)

Dazai's been under Mori's control for much longer, from a much younger age. The whole skk 15 situation is basically him being sent to recapture a lost investment that escaped years prior and has resurfaced as the King of the Sheep.

(The flags are alive btw, so is Oda)

Atsushi is captured by the government. Finds himself in what looks like a high security prison (its where they keep ability users not currently on missions/jobs).

Depending on how strong an ability user is how much security is focused on them. For example, Chuuya. He has to wear a collar that can shock him or inject experimental ability suppressants (they have been trying to weaponize Dazais blood, it's a struggle) and magnetic cuffs. Skk stick close, rarely separate just in case Chuuya slips up, because Dazai wants to be able to nullify him so the collar will stop shocking him. Dazai has similar bonds, simply because of his suicidal tendencies and escape attempts. (He also has a pacemaker that will restart his heart if it stops. It also has a kill switch he doesn't know about, but Chuuya does.)

Atsushi is being trained to work as a unit with Aktugawa and Kouyka. It's going slow. (Remember, none of them have Fukuzawa to help control their abilities). The three of them are considered powerful but low threat, easy to control.

There's also an ability user rebel faction. (Spoiler it's leader is Kunikida) Skk is supposed to be dealing with them but they're hard to locate.