D, think about chidori

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)21:56 No. 684495 ID: a6f913
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As the car pulls away, you suddenly realize that in all the bustle of the past half-hour, you'd completely forgotten about Gretchen. You'd fully expected to be ambushed by her when you left the apartment, but no confrontation had happened. You quickly crane your neck to peer out the window back at the complex, just in time to catch a glimpse of her sitting on the same square of sidewalk as before.

Apparently she'd been distracted. You sigh and flop back into your seat. "Chidori?"

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)21:57 No. 684496 ID: a6f913
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"Mm."

"There's some girl outside our apartment. She wouldn't leave me alone earlier. One of the girls under our protection, actually - Gretchen something."

"The eyeball one?" Junko interjects.

"Gretchen Gott," Chidori says quietly. "Been under Sukebun protection for a few weeks now. What did she want?"

"She wants to join."

There's a beat, then Chidori and Junko burst into laughter.

"Holy shit!" Junko barks out. "What did you tell her?"

"No, obviously." You're getting annoyed again and you don't know why. "But she's really set on it. Said she was gonna sit outside our apartment until I change my mind."

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)21:58 No. 684497 ID: a6f913
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Chidori's laughter peters out into a chuckle, and she leans her forehead against her bent fingers, looking out the window. "Fine. Then it's a problem that solves itself. She'll get hot and hungry and scared and go home. Probably before we even get back."

You're not so sure, but you don't say so. Instead you mimic her, letting your head fall sideways and letting your gaze fall out the window, rubbing the fabric of your sleeve between your fingers. You'd honestly kind of hoped that when you came out wearing it, Chidori would have said something nice. She's the one who got it for you, after all.

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)21:58 No. 684498 ID: a6f913
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"Oh, Chidori, what -" You're immediately embarrassed when you open the box, maybe by how nice the garment is, or maybe because this whole thing is corny, maybe because you're still not used to presents. "I mean - it's pretty and everything, but like..."

"Come on! You don't even have a nice one."

"I have a yukata," you protest.

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)21:59 No. 684499 ID: a6f913
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"A plain one! That you stole from a hotel." Chidori leans forward and suddenly she's swinging her leg over to straddle your lap and you aren't used to that yet either. "You needed something cute."

"When will I even wear it?" you demand, raising your voice because you're half-hoping it'll smooth out the tremor.

"We'll make an event," she says confidently. "Get the girls together. Have a cookout or something."

Her face is really close and she smells like beer and weed, in a good way. You don't know where to look. "It's dumb to plan something just so I can wear an outfit ..."

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)21:59 No. 684500 ID: a6f913
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Then she's got your face in her hands and they're bigger than yours, scarred and long-fingered, and she's laughing against the corner of your mouth. "Just say thank you, jackass."

You kiss her instead. You don't like beer but you like her. You like the way she always opens her mouth first and waits for you, and how patient she is when you kiss, and how if she laughs at the way you shake it's always kindly.

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)21:59 No. 684501 ID: a6f913
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And you are starting to shake, just a little, when her phone goes off in her pocket. She pulls away, grinning ruefully at you as she fishes it out.

"Work stuff?" you ask.

She glances at the screen. "Uh, no, it's Lowry. Lemme get this, 'kay? Be right back."

FRACTAL 2015/11/16(Mon)22:00 No. 684502 ID: a6f913
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Oh. Right. That's how that memory ends.

>A. Ask Chidori if she wants to go out or something tonight
>B. Ask Junko how much longer til you arrive
>C. Ask Lowry why she decided to fuck Ne over
>D. Ask Chidori about Gretchen

C

A

C and D.

C

C

C

C

c hell yea

C

A

>>684495
CRAP.
>>684497
Not if she JOINS A RIVAL GANG.

>>684502
B, D

c

D

C

a & c

FRACTAL 2015/12/15(Tue)22:29 No. 689060 ID: 8679fe
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“Hey.” She doesn’t look up and you try again. “HEY.”

She blinks at you. She looks tired, and like she could use a shower. You fucking hate her.

“I wanna ask you something,” you say, and she blinks again, with sleep-deprived slowness.

“Sure.”

“Why’d you fuck Ne over?” You resettle in your seat, arms crossed and back hunched, head craned to look at her. “That’s a big resource to give up. Especially if you’re looking for stuff, which I know you are.”

Her laughter is raspy. “Don’t remind me.” She turns to look out the window and you’re gut-punched by anger. Everything about her pisses you off. Everything she does pisses you off. Even now, the fact that you’re talking to her, you’re talking to her and she won’t even look at you -

“You guys have been good to me,” she says finally, and it’s all you can do not to stuff your fist in your mouth to stop yourself from screaming. She keeps going. “To ignore that and let you guys get fucked over … I don’t know. It’s not how I wanna do things.”

Don’t fucking look down on me. You know that’s not what she’s doing, you know that, but the thought is hissing out in your ear anyway. You holier-than-thou bitch. I haven’t done a fucking thing for you. I never will.

You’ve both gone silent and you feel like if you were clenching your teeth any harder your molars would splinter into a cracked bloody mess but before you can really start worrying about it the car stops, and Junko’s voice is loud and jarring and telling you that you’re here.

FRACTAL 2015/12/15(Tue)22:29 No. 689061 ID: 8679fe
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The building the Sukebun uses as a base of operations is usually just referred to as “the main house.” You’ve been here plenty of times before, but not always to see the Oyabun. Junko stays outside, and you’re escorted in quickly and quietly, straight back, to her main room.

It’s thick with smoke. You and Chidori sit, and after a moment of fumbling, Lowry follows suit. There’s an extended silence as the Oyabun finishes her pipe, and it’s not until she sets it down that she speaks.

“So. You wanna explain to me why you suddenly started thinking you can run operations without my say-so?”

Chidori bends at the waist, hands planted on either side of her knees. “With respect, ma’am, it wasn’t an operation. I sent Nanako on my own to pursue a personal matter.”

>>689062
>A. Stay quiet.

FRACTAL 2015/12/15(Tue)22:33 No. 689066 ID: 8679fe
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The Oyabun stands slowly and turns. She’s taller than everyone else here. You avert your eyes. “Who does Nanako answer to, Chidori?” When Chidori hesitates, she speaks again. “It’s not a trick question.”

“To me, ma’am.”

“And who do you answer to?”

“To Sada.”

“And who does Sada answer to, Chidori?”

“To you.”

The Oyabun hands her pipe off. One of the girls behind her taps it out and refills it. Your hands are twitching in your lap.

“As does everyone.” The pipe is relit and handed to her, and she places it between her teeth without looking away from Chidori’s bowed head. “So when you send your kobun out to kill someone, you’re moving my resources without approval. And when she fucks up and you make an enemy, you just made me an enemy.” She squats until she’s at eye level. Chidori doesn’t flinch, but you see her jaw tightening. The Oyabun blows a slow stream of smoke into her face. “That is fucking unacceptable.”

>A. Stay quiet.
>B. Apologize.
>C. “It wasn’t Sukebun business.”
>D. “I didn’t fuck up.”
>E. “It’s not Chidori’s fault.”
>F. “It’s Lowry’s fault.”

D

A

A, and bow your head in acceptance.

You already fucked up once today, and Chidori is paying the price for that. Don't make things worse for her challenging her boss, embarrassing her further, or proving she can't control you.

Maybe if Oyabun gives you a chance to fall on your sword for her (or to apologize) you can take it, but trying to defend her (or yourself), or speaking out of turn are bad moves here.

A. You dun goofed, so take your punishment graciously.

a. the oyabun's not speaking to you, she'd probably get angrier if you spoke out of turn. there's not much you can do right now, but if the oyabun speaks to you we'll see.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

a

D.

A, no use in getting her angrier
Can you tell us more about her so we can figure out what to do?

A. No rhyme or reason about it.

Wow, she sounds like your mother on medication.

Slowly inch towards the door, see what happens.

a, let chidori talk

B), but stay silent in doing so. kind of like a head bow? i'm not sure how to explain it

A. Wait to see what happens.

>>689231
I think apologising would involve self-mutilation as the fuck-up has the undertones of disrespect.

FRACTAL 2015/12/16(Wed)21:15 No. 689261 ID: 8679fe
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“It won’t happen again,” Chidori says quietly.

“You shouldn’t have to fuckin’ say that, Chidori,” the Oyabun snarls, “I’d fuckin’ hope it’s not gonna happen again -”

- And you’re flinching into yourself because again, again, you don’t understand why that was the wrong thing to say, you don’t understand why she’s suddenly angry, you’re tired of women who are bigger and stronger than you suddenly being angry, and the only reason you even came out here in the first place was to get away from that. But she’s not talking to you, and after all this time you should at least remember that there’s no right answers, and you play dead.

FRACTAL 2015/12/16(Wed)21:15 No. 689262 ID: 8679fe
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“Get up.”

Chidori does. Your hands are cold and shaking and you close your fists on the fabric spread over your lap to try to hold them still.

“I understand there will have to be reparations,” Chidori murmurs.

“You’re right.” The Oyabun looks over her shoulder, and Sada - the first lieutenant - comes up to her side. You look up for long enough to see her withdraw a tanto, still sheathed, and suddenly your throat feels like it’s coated in sandpaper. You look back down, struggling to keep your breathing even and quiet.

Chidori’s voice is tight as she accepts the knife. “How much?”

FRACTAL 2015/12/16(Wed)21:15 No. 689263 ID: 8679fe
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“Two inches,” says the Oyabun, and Sada has already turned away to spread the white cloth on the table. Lowry’s shifting beside you and before you can think to stop her she’s speaking.

“What the fuck is going on? Two inches of what?”

You want to kill her. You want her dead. You tighten your grip on your clothes until your knuckles hurt and you know everyone in the room is staring at her. When the Oyabun speaks, though, she doesn’t seem irritated.

”Mimitsume.” She reaches up and runs a finger along the scarred edge of her own truncated left ear. “Repayment.” She lifts her chin to look over Chidori’s ears, whole, and sighs softly. “Until now, Chidori hasn’t fucked up. But everyone fucks up, sooner or later. And this is how we keep the fuckups in check.”

Lowry’s about to say something else and you’re this close to turning and punching her in the jaw but Chidori’s already interrupting, hard and cold. “You don’t belong here, Lowry. You don’t have anything valuable to say about this. Please be quiet.”

FRACTAL 2015/12/16(Wed)21:16 No. 689264 ID: 8679fe
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For a split second you think she’s going to protest. But she’s quiet, thank fucking god, and Chidori walks forward and kneels in front of the table. Something’s pounding in your throat and you think it might be words.

>A. Stay quiet. You’ve already been mutilated once on Chidori’s behalf.
>B. Offer your ear instead. This was your mistake.
>C. Request mercy and offer to fix the problem. You’ll find Ne and apologize to the Junkyard.

b. now's the time to interrupt, because you decided to kill rabies's minion guy, not chidori. you fucked up, did something without permission, and you should pay the price. that being said, the punishment might get worse as you're lower in the ranks, but... it wasn't chidori's fault.

besides, you reason to yourself, one of your ears has a mark anyway... chidori's are perfect. may as well fuck up the already fucked up.

A. there are no right answers, and one chopped ear is better than two. chidori will forigve you for this or she wont, speaking up isnt going to help anything.

b

B.

"Lowry, you got ^&*(?"

If not:

"@#$% IT, JUST KILL ME. It's always the same, disobey orders and you've @#$%ed up, that's common sense, but obey orders and someone @#$%s up for you, and then it's somehow your fault and you're rewarded with a gift' turns your brains inside out, that's apparently the fundamental theorem of the universe!

I'm going to kill Ne. And you're going to stop me now."

Fight the boss to the death. Slaughter for every second of life you can get.

Fuck it. Let's go B.
I know the Oyabun made certain to let Chidori know this was much more HER fault and less yours, but if you don't TRY, well you're in trouble with the missus AND Oyabun might think you're being a coward. Plus, well, dopamine is a BADASS natural drug and it's gonna feel fucking SO GOOD after that pain wears off... maybe.

At least offer to cut yours along side hers. You can't let her show you up.

B

B. You and Chidori need to break up anyway, losing an ear will be one less thing for her to be pissed at you about when you finally leave this all behind

God what a fucking bitch! A

B. Maybe you'll earn some respect from this bitch just for offering to do it instead.

B. Honour among thieves and all that.

>>689289
It's like you don't know how crime syndicates function.

Suggestion 2015/12/17(Thu)05:21 No. 689302 ID: 0878c4

B

B. Own your mistake.

>>689264
D) interrupt: "Chidori still hasn't fucked up and I'm not part of this gang anymore so you can't have my ear either." Take tan to from chidori and, if nessessary proceed to violence.

B.
If it's not accepted, bargain that you'll both do it for half the length. 1 inch each.

。。。 B？

Oh... that's not actually as bad as I thought it'd be, figured she'd be losing a finger. I guess we have to go with B, but I don't expect it to go well. Hell, worst case scenario we both end up losing an ear, and then at least we're in pain together, and she can't resent us as much.

>>689264
Dat as- ohwait you're supposed to be serious right now.

B. I can't imagine how painful that has to be...

B. I can't imagine how painful that has to be...

>>689270
>At least offer to cut yours along side hers. You can't let her show you up.
Both Chidori and Nanako being punished is the only possible outcome to (B). The Oyabun is correct: Chidori is at fault here, for acting without authorisation. Whether or not the decision was a correct one is irrelevant, the failure to follow that hierarchy remains. (B) will also annoy Chidori at you inviting yourself to be hurt for no reason. (C) will royally piss off the Oyabun. (A) is about the only option that won't just make things worse.

will chidori get mad if you interrupt? if not, B

it's your mistake and if you're in a system that makes you pay for mistakes in this way--it's not chidori's place to be punished. it's yours. speak up.

but if speaking up won't end well, if chidori will be punished along with you...A. stay quiet. i still lean towards b.

>>689264
B.

like it or not, you care about her. you won't be able to forgive yourself if you won't.

A. if you offer your ear the oyabun'll just take four inches, half yours half hers

B, but only if you're prepared to take that risk - having to take four inches instead, two, if not more for your disruption and two for the original offense.

"Hey cunt, if it's her fuckup for picking me then it's your fuckup for picking her, too. Go cut off your tits."

>>690402
You got a fucking death wish, omae?!

>>690402
do /not/ say that

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)13:29 No. 691100 ID: 8679fe
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"Please wait."

You voice sounds weird. It feels weird, too, falling out of your mouth like broken teeth, and at first you worry that you were too quiet - what a novel problem - but Chidori has stopped and so has the Oyabun. There's terrifying, ringing silence, and then the Oyabun gestures for you to continue.

"I am the one who acted out." You usually don't do the talking in the main house, and you're struggling to put your words together in a way that sounds formal enough. "I attacked the dog for ... for personal reasons. It wasn't ... how I should have acted."

You look up, just enough to see Chidori's shoulders stiffening. You swallow. "When I do things in our uniform," you say shakily, and now she's trembling, knuckles white on the handle of the tanto, "it means something. And I disrespected that."

The Oyabun's eyes are moving slowly over your face. She makes a small, considering noise in the back of her throat before speaking. "Are you offering reparation in your superior's place?"

There's a loud buzzing at the base of your skull. "Yes."

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)13:29 No. 691101 ID: 8679fe
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You stand and so does Chidori. Nobody ever taught you the slow, ritualized steps you take to trade places - you're following her lead and it feels instinctive. When she hands you the tanto, it's with both hands, reverently. She's looking at you but you can't meet her eyes. Neither of you speak.

You kneel. You don't do it as smoothly or gracefully as Chidori did. You know you're shaking visibly. You're staring at the white cloth Sada set out and it seems to be vibrating at the edges as you slowly unsheath the tanto - two-handed, reverently. Sada takes the sheath from you, a square of fabric folded over her hand. You reach up and pull your ear taut and set the edge of the blade against the notch in your ear.

You are so, so scared.

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)13:29 No. 691102 ID: 8679fe
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Your arm jerks and you feel nothing at first, but there's a sound like fabric tearing neatly along the weft and suddenly there's a blinding, searing pain - you'd call it a sting but that word has none of the weight you need - your mouth fills with bile and you want to cover your mouth but you can't, you know instinctively that dropping the blade or the ear (the ear, the tip of your ear, it's in your hand, you're holding it) would be unforgiveable so you choke and clamp your mouth shut and swallow it back down.

The entire left side of your head feels hot. There's pressure - Sada is clamping fabric down on the sliced edge, pressing, and you can't process how much it hurts. You watch your hands lay the ear (your ear, a piece of your ear, you're holding it) on the white fabric and slowly slowly slowly wrap it up.

You're breathing loudly and as soon as Sada has stopped the bleeding and covered your ear in gauze she steps away. You swing your head to look at her, wildly, almost just to see a reaction, to confirm that what just happened was real, but with the mask all you can do is wonder if the glint in her eye is disgust.

"Nanako."

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)13:29 No. 691103 ID: 8679fe
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It's the Oyabun's voice and you turn slowly.

"The apology."

You follow the nod of her chin to the bundle still laying on the table. One corner is a slowly spreading red spot. You pick it up with shaking hands and turn back to her. You kneel. You offer. She takes it. You think you must have said something. You probably said "forgive me."

Whatever it was, Sada is at her side again, and the Oyabun hands the package off to her. She leans down. You hold your breath.

"What you did just now," says the Oyabun, "was exactly what I want and expect out of my kobun."

You don't know what to say, so you say nothing. She continues.

"What you've done has wiped the slate clean. For yourself, and for your superior. Even moreso because it has showed me that you are capable of the exact opposite of the disrespect that brought you here." Her hand comes to your cheek and you're too hollow and absent to flinch away. "Thank you, Nanako."

>A. iw ant to go home
>b. i want to go home
>C. i want tot go home
>D. i want tto go home

I'd say go with A,B,C, and D.

A) thank her, let chidori handle the rest. you'll get home soon.

d

Nanako. I know it hurts right now, so much. But this is the start of a better future. Chidori will respect you again. You'll be in good standing with the Oyabun, or at least not watched so critically by her. Just hang on a little longer, just be patient, just wait it out, pay your respects and wait for her to dismiss you. You can cry when you get home. Just hold it in a little longer, please.

A. Get out of there. See if you can leave without Lowry and Chidori, have some time to yourself.

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)14:45 No. 691121 ID: 8679fe
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You're thanking her and doing all the pleasantries of ending a meeting and you don't cry. There's a hand on you, warm and calloused - Chidori's - and you're being guided through a labyrinth of halls full of girls whose ears look like yours and then you're outside, and it's hot and suffocating, and you throw up on the sidewalk.

"What the fuck was that?"

It's Lowry who's yelling, all up in Chidori's face. You half-listen because you don't know what else to do. Chidori's voice is low and rough when she responds. "I told you, Lowry, I told you that you don't belong here and you couldn't possibly understand -"

"What the fuck is there to understand? They just made your girlfriend chop her god damn ear off and you stood there and watched-"

"Oh, my god. Holy shit.” That’s the laugh that only comes out when Chidori is really angry, really really angry. “You are not going to fucking lecture me about standing by while other people get hurt -”

“This isn’t the same fucking THING, CHIDORI -”

“You don’t know anything. You don’t understand anything. Nanako did exactly what she was supposed to do and -”

“And that’s exactly what’s fucked up about it! Jesus Christ! I don't need to be a part of your fucking gang shit to see that something is wrong! What the fuck is wrong with you? I don’t -”

>A. “Stop it, Lowry.”
>B. “Stop it, Chidori.”
>C. “I want to go home.”
>D. Say nothing.

c
:(

c

AB

She couldn't have stopped that. I stopped her from getting hurt, but no one could have stopped it all together without making it worse.

C

what you did was brave and selfless
what you did was difficult and many a person would halt and fumble
it wasn't easy but it's done
it's gonna be okay

C

c or d. i can't imagine any of the first two options to do anything but harm. the both of them are too... angry at the minute to really fix anything by asking them to stop.

also when you get home get rid of the yukata somehow. a cheap one stolen from a hotel is better than one with the memory of having yourself mutilated all around it.

>>691121
B, let her have an opinion.
It's we who don't understand her, we shouldn't disrespect her for it, we might hate her for it, but it's an irrational hate and I still want to punch her in the face.

And Chidori, she stood back and did nothing when she was a different person, a person you liked more than the current one. Don't scold someone over a dead version of them's actions, and don't speak ill of the dead neither.

D

B and C.

Chidori's spewed enough toxin. Let's just get away from this hellhole.

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)15:57 No. 691134 ID: 8679fe
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"I want to go home." Your voice is hoarse and quiet but somehow it still cuts through their arguing, and they stop on the spot. Lowry falls back, scratching at the back of her neck, and Chidori takes a few steps towards you.

"Nana ..."

"I want to go home," you repeat, and this time your voice breaks and you cover your mouth with your hands, feeling your shoulders drawn into your chest by some irresistable force, and you manage one breathless, howling sob before Chidori has you gathered up in her arms.

She's got you crushed against her chest and you don't know if it's helping or not but you know that it's better than being ignored and you take huge shuddering gasping breaths, big loud swallows of air - you're not even really crying, you don't think, just making noise, and she's whispering apologies into your hair.

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)15:58 No. 691135 ID: 8679fe
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When you finally start to wind down, shrinking into a little shivering mass, Junko's ready with the car and Lowry is standing to the side, quiet and uncomfortable. Chidori helps you into the back, but turns to look at her before getting in with you. "Get your fucking head on straight, Lowry."

"That's what I'm trying to do," she spits back, but then she catches sight of you hunched over in the back seat and you guess she decides she doesn't want to fight anymore. "Um." She coughs into one big hand and turns her face away. "I, uh. I hope she's gonna be okay."

Chidori doesn't say anything and the car door closes and you're going home. All you can think is that for once you have to agree with Lowry. You hope you'll be okay too.


END INTERLUDE 1

http://tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/691136.html

It's kind of fucked up, but I think this might actually leave Chidori / Nanako in a better place then they started the thread in.

c, just be honest. also like lets not escalate anything rn

... I don't think it was right for you to self-mutilate just for the Oyabun's demand of respect.

But you did murder someone in blind anger. The mark you've drawn on yourself might stop you from going off the deep end. But only if you choose to interpret it that way.

Maybe now you can find what you stand for. What the two of you stand for. Good luck, kid.