THE WORLD that Hates You [MASA ZERO}

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

You nodded and took a deep breath.

Pato: Yeah I didn't mean for any of this to turn out this way, like-

Stranger Sunset: Yeah this was a mistake, complete shitfest. 

Pato:  So, like-

???: Three questions. 

Pato: Yeah, getting to that, so... there was a guy online, AbsoluteDante. Might be your guy? Uh.. he promised me a proxy-

???: He? 

Pato: I mean I guess I didn't know but- I dunno we never talked in person. 

???: So it could be anyone. 

Pato: Y-yeah. I guess so, yeah. 

???: And he told you to kill Godhead? 

Pato: Yeah, message just kinda showed up in my wallet to come here. Like-

???: Did you sign for anything?

Pato: I said I'd do the job, but-

???: Proxy?

Stranger Sunset: Yeah, did it for a proxy partially but... Dr. Godhead performed the ritual. 

???: Inheritance... whatever asked you to do this job wasn't a real entity. Poser.  Bothersome, really.

Pato: I'm just broke, place is falling apart and landlord's getting testy, you know? Like... I dunno, everyone says my generation's cooked. Says we got nowhere to go, no future, no chance of living, cops looking for any chance at me fucking up, just..

Stranger Sunset: We got a mom to worry about back home. 

???: You working at your age?

Pato: Yeah.. can we go? We just got paid, and-

???: One last question. 

Pato:...Alright.

???: So you need a proxy to get it all done, yeah? 

Pato: Yeah. 

???: Why something like that? Planning to kill a guy? Shoot up a place? People don't just look for these to get out of poverty you know, especially not a kid like you. 

Pato: Look I-

???: You know what a Ferryman is? 

Pato: Kinda, it came up a little.. Dante brought it up a bit I guess. 

???: So you have pretty much no clue. 

Pato: Not in like, a way that makes sense.

???: No sane entity would give someone like you a contract unless they were planning to start shit. Your Dante probably isn't *the* Dante and getting the sense the guy's either really rogue, or a troublemaker starting shit online. Whatever site you met him through, block it and never look back.

Pato: I-I can do that. But Sunset-

???: Is your responsibility to take care of.

The dog lowers their firearm. 

???: Lot of potential, might have to talk shop when you're older but for now-
 

[Image Description: A zoom in on Ono's eye juxtipositioned against Reyes' eye through the helmet lens.)

Mr. Ono: Reyes, you motherfucker! 

He gives the masked canine a death glare.

Reyes: Here we go... 

Mr. Ono: No showing up in this town without a warning, you made a deal! 

Reyes: It's a bit of a crisis- 

Mr. Ono: Pato?! 

Pato: He uh-

Reyes: You know him? 

Mr. Ono: He works with me, my apprentice. 

Reyes: What, the whole undertaker gig? 

Pato: Y-yeah, kinda. 

Mr. Ono: Why are you both here?! 

Reyes: Caught this one picking a fight with Dr. Godhead, nearly-

Mr. Ono: Nearly what? He's a good kid, why-

Pato: I wanted a proxy so I could help you with night shifts, maybe get more money and-

Mr. Ono: I'm not taking you on night shifts. 

Pato: I mean yeah like, I can't really fight or anything like-

Mr. Ono: In general, you understand? That proxy of yours is green, going to take some time to fully find its footing. Takes years of experience to get to the point where you can handle night gigs and there's no time for that anymore. 

Pato: Yeah but like-

Mr. Ono: He didn't hurt you did he? 

Pato: N-no, nothing like that- Dante-

Mr. Ono: Dante?! 

Pato: Just let me talk-

Reyes: It's not that Dante, we got a imposter situation-

Pato: Yeah like, I met a guy online-

Mr. Ono: Who?!

Reyes: Getting to that part-

Pato: Hey-!

There was a shattering of glass, a rock thrown through the window of Mr. Godhead. Everyone turned to Stranger Sunset picking up another for round two. 

Reyes: Hell are you doing??

Stranger Sunset: None of you are letting each other talk, house is smoking up-

Reyes: Already got emergency services on their way-

Stranger Sunset: Good. Please shut the fuck up for a sec, yeah? Pato first, Reyes second, Ono last. 

Pato: I just wanted to make more money to help my mom, make it out of this town maybe if it gets too bad, protect everyone- I dunno. I heard you could find a entity online and he promised he'd get me a proxy, but then Dr. Godhead gave me one and we were supposed to fight but my guy uh-

Stranger Sunset: Stranger's good for now. 

Pato: Stranger here kinda knocked him out and now I don't know what to do? Like if Mr. Ono doesn't want me fighting with him and I got no school- the fuck is there left? 

Stranger Sunset: Reyes? 

Reyes: I got a tip someone was breaking into Godhead's place, and earlier that day that an entity was active in town, so I hoped I could slip in and out quick. Seemed like, well... I dunno, not sure if the kid would be good to tell. Ono? 

Mr. Ono: If he's in this deep, he has to know. You think someone's trying to continue the Boatman's War? 

Reyes: Yeah but.. I dunno, if it's not a actual Entity and it happened online- it's gotta be some kind of prankster or something, yeah? Pato, you said you got a tip to come here.. 

Pato: In my wallet, was looking through it after Mr. Ono paid me for today's gig and it was there with the money, but... 

Mr. Ono: Wasn't me who did it. 

Reyes: You didn't slip it in? 

Mr. Ono: You know I'd never. 

Reyes:... Yeah. Not after all we've been through. Look... Pato and Stranger? 

Pato: Mmhmm. 

Stranger Sunset: Yep. 

Reyes: Why don't you let Mr. Ono take you home for now, yeah? Paramedics and Firefighters should be here any moment, I'll talk to Godhead once he's awake. 

Pato: Letting us go that easy-

Reyes: You're being monitored 'til we know you're not a threat, but... I'll keep things going on good faith if Mr. Ono vouches on your behalf. 

Mr. Ono: Gonna have a talk with him, but-

Dr. Godhead: Three Ferrymen and a loyal mutt ready to throw hands, and nobody ended up dead in the end. God forbid people have a little fun in life. 

The cat rose to his feet unnaturally, as if held up by thread. 

Dr. Godhead: Kid's proxy couldn't even kill this body in one shot, old man's too tough for his own good. 

Mr. Ono: Reyes? 

Reyes: I see it. Old coot must've kicked the bucket in his sleep and turned.. 
 

[Ono holding a unusual forked sword in one hand, and next to him his snake-like polygonal proxy. They are prepping to fight Dr. Godhead's possessed corpse who stands in the middle of the road.]

Ono's proxy manifested next to him, a polygonal snake. 

Mr. Ono: Change of plan. Take the kid home for me, yeah? 

Reyes: You're not seriously planning to- he's going to kill you! 

Mr. Ono: If any Ferryman gets killed in a duel there's gonna be a scramble, power vacuums this town can't take no more. Plus his kind needs a body with potential, both of you-

Reyes: I got a better shot than anyone else here, yeah? 

Mr. Ono: Godhead was a freak of nature, death itself's the only thing that could've killed him. 

Reyes: Yeah but... it's just wearing him, not the same guy. 

Mr. Ono: Potentially a worse problem, then.

Stranger Sunset: I can keep Pato safe-

Reyes: He's just going to target both of you-

Stranger Sunset: Then I can fight with you-!

Ono: You won't keep up!

Stranger Sunset: Then what's the point, right?! If every option sucks, let's lay down and die!

Dr. Godhead starts advancing toward you and the others, tendrils seeping out from under his suit. 

Reyes and Ono both raise their guard. 

Mr. Ono: Pato! Make the call and we'll move around you!

Stranger Sunset: Let's fight, yeah? There's no point in going through all that and then just running away. If we stick around- 

Pato: What can you do? 
 

---

This is not a interactive project, HOWEVER protecting yourself requires you to balance your grid. 

Stranger Sunset is in PHASE 0, a state where you know nothing and have infinite potential. 

Your current on hand weapon is the "Mr. Tuning Aluminium Bat", a standard bat in lower level circuits. It's reliability comes from its unusual durability due to its particular engineering method, there's stories of folks using them to stop cars in the middle of the street with just the right swing. 


Pick a core MARTIAL Talent: A specialization or two using your hands or weapons to channel your spirit. 
(I'm sure you've read enough manga to think og something)

Pick a MENTAL Talent: Some sort of creative craft or hobby you find yourself passionate for. 
(There has to be something you do for fun.)

Pick a MOTIF: Something as a concept you strongly identity with. 
(I'm sure you think about being able to breath fire or control metal with your brain once in awhile, you nerd.)

These are the embodiments of ENTRY WITCHCRAFT which your Proxy will shape around.