video | UN: deku | CW: Sleeper Membrane detailed on the canon update page

[wannasmash]

[ The plain young man with freckles is frowning sheepishly, shoulders raised. Today he's freshly showered and wearing one of his usual boring shirts. ]

Um... First-time renter, here... Something happened, and now some furniture the owner lent to me is damaged from... slime. A lot of it. It's gross.

[ Midoriya looks much the same, healthy even. Someone who has recently seen him might notice more freckles on his skin, like he got some spring sun. His hair needs a trim again, even though he just got one last month.

He moves out of view to reveal a plain wooden bedframe. On it is a lost cause, a mattress that looks like it's been slimed on a 90's game show. Bits of the Sleeper Membrane are already drying into peels. In it are... dozens of tiny eyelids? ]

I'll have to replace it, but... Do you think I'll get kicked out?

Comments

[wannasmash]

[ He looks up and almost freezes. It's one thing to talk to someone on the small screen of his Omni, quite another to meet the young woman with striking eyes in person. He stands, fighting back a tinge of pink in his cheeks.

I'm Deku [ he confirms unnecessarily. ] It's nice to meet you.

[ His eyes stray to her tea, and he experiences an internal dismay. ]

You didn't have to--I'll get the next one. It's the least I can do for you helping me.

[unphase]

[she smiles warmly at him, trying to convey both kindness and helpfulness]

It's very nice to meet you, too, Deku.

[she follows his gaze to her tea]

All right. If you're sure? But, now, what do we have to work with?

[wannasmash]

[ He finds himself reflecting her smile back. Kindness comes easy to him, even if he's socially awkward. ]

Please sit... It's not much, but here's what I have.

[ He bends to open his backpack and retrieve a sheet of paper. Just one sheet. Trench doesn't have much in the way of laws and regulations, so its denizens just do whatever they think is appropriate. He sits and slides it across the table to her.

It's the most informal lease ever, just a few typewritten paragraphs explaining where the apartment is and that it and its furniture are being rented. Hanging anything heavier than artwork is not allowed, but there is no specification on what kind of art. Pets and Omens are allowed, but no Beasts. Tenants are responsible for keeping the place clean and blood-free. Repeat offenders or people who don't pay rent will be "summarily kicked out", but it's not specific on how many times that needs to occur. Types of payment can be negotiated, but that doesn't change the due date.

At the bottom are the signatures of the property owner and "Midoriya Izuku". ]

[unphase]

[she has a seat across from him, looking curious about what his documents will say.

she takes the paper Deku gives her, reading through it]

...well. It doesn't say that what happened to you is against the terms of the lease, only that there's to be no bloodshed. It's a technicality loophole, but if you want help arguing the case to your landlord, I can help. It should be accepted unless your landlord is a jerk who's brand new to us Sleepers.

[wannasmash]

Sleepers have been washing up here forever, so it couldn't be that. Still, I did make a mess and cause some damage... I should just be careful from now on.

[ As if he had any choice in the matter. He went to sleep just like any other night and woke up in a cocoon. ]

That's interesting to know though. I didn't even think of that. It really helps having another pair of eyes on this.

[ This time his smile is paired with a small relieved sigh. ]

[unphase]

Forever? Really? It's...a lot to think about, that we weren't the first and we won't be the last. And, I've heard things that imply we can't always be careful.

[she's still terribly new, but she certainly expected to be presented with a new source of challenges]

Thank you. I'm really glad I can help, even just a little. Even the most airtight contract has at least one loophole, it's just a matter of finding it.

[and she smiles reassuringly, hoping that the landlord would be kind]

[wannasmash]

There are Sleepers who have lived here for a very long time.

[ Some benevolent, others... very much not so. He flexes his right hand, a habit after so many injuries to it, before picking up his glass for a sip. ]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you learn about contracts? Work back home?

[ He's assumed that Tinya, like himself, isn't one of those Sleepers who have lived here for a long time. He only has a few months on her. And there's not much in the way of contract law in Trench, or law in general. ]

[unphase]

[idly, as she taps a perfectly manicured black nail against the tabletop] I'd like to know whom. Perhaps they have a better idea of what's in store for all of us?

[she wouldn't say that she's entirely benevolent. maybe back home she was, but places like this? she had to prioritize certain things, mainly survival]

No, nothing like that. I was my mother's assistant. She was the diplomat from our home planet and she trusted me with certain documents and doings.

[as long as there had been benefit to herself. her mother could always be counted on to maintain or grow her own power, she wasn't prone to making bets she knew she couldn't pay up. Tinya's learned that much from her, at least]

[wannasmash]

[ He nods. He has a friend, here in Trench in fact, who worked for his father back home. Theirs is a complicated relationship. ]

There are a few immortals who aren't Sleepers. They're very good at surviving here. One of them is like an unofficial leader of the Hunters. She's hard to reach, but that's all right.

[ He's the kind of person who doesn't pry into someone's personal life. He also doesn't entirely agree with the Hunters' loose, not-really-enforced ethos. He operates mostly on his own. ]

There are also very old Sleepers who belong to a cult that hunts other Sleepers down. They're high level magic users who are most active in November. They don't seem to have Omens, or maybe they don't use them in fights...

[ He shifts in his chair and rubs his arms. Must be the cold. He says quietly, ]

I don't think that has to be our future though. Not everyone joins a cult.

[unphase]

[working for family always was. she's only grateful that her own mother has for the most part stayed out of Tinya's misadventures.

other than the dying part. and the being reborn part. but how can she blame her mother for being involved in those?]

Sweet Mistress. That's the first I've heard of any of those. Do they like to stick to certain districts? I don't usually like to leave Cellar Door so that could be a part of it.

[she is the sort to pry into the personal lives of others. at least she was back home. she can't imagine her mother finding value in what her daughter experienced here. a personal planet or a version of Terra as yet undiscovered? her mother would expect Tinya to ferret out the details, either way]

...my, my. They seem unpleasant. Fortunately for me I have my Moonlight at my side at all times. And you? And your Omen?

[she smiles gently. she doesn't feel cold anymore. she doesn't expect to feel heat anymore, either. but that was what little she'd learned about being a coldblood]

No, of course not. Cults prey on multiple factors. Many they prey upon can be found here, it's true. But you don't seem like the one who'd be galactically cut on over by a cult.

[wannasmash]

[ He shivers again, a subtle slight chill prickling his skin. It's not the cold. It's the memory of seeing his friends hurt that burns like ice. ]

They hunt everywhere. Mostly they go after Sleepers who are alone. They can look like anyone. A lot of them are into extreme body modification, but not always. They were most active in November of last year, so that's probably why you haven't seen them.

[ He speaks in the clipped tones of someone relaying a report. He's used to that now, having spent three months working and training at home during one night in Trench. Then he says more warmly, ]

My Omen and I are training to increase my reaction times and cover my blind spot. It's helping.

[ He recalls the time it came in handy in December when he saved someone from a horde of zombie animals, including birds of prey. ]

[unphase]

[she knows she's supposed to do something about others get hurt. she knows she would do it, regardless of what might happen to her]

...sweet Mistress. Not one of those things sound welcome, especially not the extreme body modification. I do have a tattoo, but that's because I chose it, not because I had it forced on me. But...if they haven't done much since November, maybe they're. I don't want to say 'dormant,' because people like them never are. But maybe not so aggressive.

[she recognizes that tone. it's the one she uses whenever someone asks about Daxamites or the White Triangle. matter of fact. to the point]

Really? That's so good. It's honestly amazing what Omens can do for us. Moonlight has gotten me out of some really tough situations, too.

[zombies terrify her. she can't even watch old zombie movies with bad special effects like the original "Night of the Living Dead" without nightmares]