Fuzzy and Kenji - Monday, July 23rd, 2074 - Evening - Blake Island

Fuzzy gave Puppy some food and water for a few days just in case she was too injured to come back immediately. The bonfire was tonight and she wasn’t sure if it was optional, which meant she had to attend. In the barrens people made fires for a reason. Fuel was rare and so nothing that could be burned was wasted. It wasn't cold yet and she'd been told that the bonfire was a tradition. Also Sasha had mentioned that magic involved initiation, so Fuzzy's mind didn't go to good places as she began to imagine what all of this meant.

She didn't think that the teens looked particularly vicious, but looks could be deceiving. Not to mention that one didn't have to be vicious if they were getting beat into a gang by twenty people which was what she was expecting. Fuzzy groaned, resigned to her fate of being initiated into a gang that she’d come to think of as the "Kab-Eenz".

So far she'd been semi-successful at sussing out what school was through intuition and context clues. It was a place where people learned, but about the school bonfire she was flat out wrong. Under no circumstances was she looking forward to joining a gang, but if they tried to make her do anything she didn't want to do, she'd stay just long enough to get some magic and then head back to the barrens. Hopefully with that animal hunting spell under her belt when times got lean.

She did take her sweet time though as she didn't want to seem eager to join a gang, so by the time she left her cabin it was just past dark. However, this close to the Seattle metroplex it was never truly dark. The light pollution lit up the night to the east like a beacon. Planes and drones dotted the night sky with their own moving lights while buildings provided larger, stationary ones. Ships in the Puget Sound, the body of water that surrounded the Island, moved to the north and south as the Bremerton ferry and Southworth-Fauntelroy ferry made their last stops for the night. They conveyed travelers back home to places far nicer and more importantly, upwind of the smell of the metroplex. Fuzzy knew none of this though. To her, they were just lights and the smells of heavy industry even all the way out in the barrens were normal.

The path to the bonfire was lit by much smaller lights and small arrows in augmented reality that Fuzzy saw with her goggles which brought Fuzzy to the right spot. Plus it was hard to miss the music. She'd obviously heard music before, but not like this. It was something cheerful and upbeat with female vocals which she found a strange choice for a gang initiation. The music grew louder as she grew closer. People danced, chatted, ate food and a few played in the surf. Fuzzy steeled herself for whatever was to come as she stepped into the crowd.

The bonfire on the beach was bright and there were people all around her. She didn't fear for her immediate safety. From what she knew about gangs, initiations would be constrained by ritual as that usually kept new members from being maimed or dying. However, when she looked at the assembled students they didn't look apprehensive or afraid. They just like they were having a good time.

There were drinks on a nearby table as well as snacks. There was a full spread of finger food both fancy and not as well as large, orange coolers for drinks. Seeing that everyone else was freely eating and drinking from the table she grabbed a red cup. She waited to make sure that she wasn't stealing, but like lunch, the food and drinks still seemed to be free.

So she filled her cup with some sort of liquid, tasted it and found it to be delightful. It tasted like the apple slices she had before but in liquid form. Then as no one seemed to care about her drink, she decided to go with what the rest of the students were doing and grabbed some food as well. She slapped together a hot dog with plenty of condiments. Even Fuzzy knew about hot dogs, though she was surprised when it wasn't made of soy. She snacked and waited for something to happen and tried to find a friendly face. Maybe Sasha if she was here.

That something was an arm that was thrown around her shoulder and she froze, her instincts kicking in, hot dog half chewed. She wondered if this was it- If this was the moment she was initiated into the Kab-Eenz gang.

"Hey fellow weirdo," said a familiar voice.

She looked and saw Kenji's pale face and distinctive, fine features. He was taller than her by a foot, had an above average frame and with black hair that recently combed by his fingers.

"Hi," said Fuzzy around a mouthful of food.

She swallowed her food but didn't relax. Normally she would've shoved someone who touched her like that, especially from behind, but she was on her best behavior here so she didn't stand out.

"So I promised someone that I’d keep an eye on you today," he said, "I have to say that you're doing better than I expected. I saw you talking to that girl from my place over at the shame pole. Looks like you found to sit with. Good going."

Fuzzy said nothing in response and so Kenji continued.

"See, I'm trying to carve out a place as a lovable bad kid with a heart of gold. An outsider basically," he said, and lowered his tone, "Because that's what we are, because pretending like we belong won't work forever."

Again, Fuzzy said nothing. Kenji looked at her more closely.

"I'm trying to weave a reputation that I can comfortably fall back on before that day comes. By the time people really figure out what I actually am, I’ll have made enough friends to ride this out."

Kenji eyed her suspiciously as her silenced extended on. Then he smiled.

"I can tell that that you and I, we're embiggened by this place," he said, magnanimously, "But I have a perfectly cromulent way to help us both."

Kenji sighed as Fuzzy continued to say nothing. He drew her in closer and leaned his head down. He spoke quickly and quietly, just barely audible over the sound of the music and the partying students.

"You have no idea what you're doing. You're quiet so you don't betray that. It'll work for maybe a few weeks before you fail. At that point one of us is going to get outed, which will probably out the others. Say nothing if that means yes."

Fuzzy glared at him.

"Fuzzy," said Kenji, in a smooth whisper, "When I first saw you here you looked like you were prepared for a fight. I came to you because if you were going to hit someone, I'd rather it be me so I can play that off instead of you getting into serious trouble. So maybe you just tell me what you think was going to happen when you came here."

To an outside observer it might look like Kenji was flirting heavily with Fuzzy. His body language, his posture and the way he whispered in her ear all betrayed an oily charm that he was attempting to work on her, and that Fuzzy was uncomfortable being near him. For her part, Fuzzy wondered if he was telling the truth. She sighed and decided to put a small measure of trust in her fellow outcast because she had no idea what she was doing. After all, she'd considered him a possible ally hours before. It would be best to test that and if she failed she could always just beat him down enough to disengage and flee into the woods.

"This is a ritual gang initiation for the Kab-Eenz," whispered Fuzzy, "Possibly beating, possibly branding. I don't want to join."

She hoped against hope it wouldn't be any worse than that and she concealed her concern behind a scowl.

"I think I'm being lulled into a false sense of security before it happens,” she finished.

Kenji nodded once in understanding, thought about it for a few seconds before nodding again to himself as he resolved what to do. Fuzzy sighed internally. She was right. He was confirming it.

"Yeah, I can see why you're being quiet now," he whispered, "Fuzzy, you're wrong. This isn't a gang and no one is getting jumped in. This is a party. People are here to socialize. You're in no danger unless you place yourself there. I'm willing to teach you how to talk to people and what's expected so you can get along here. Don't give me an answer right now. Talk to me tomorrow at the shame pole if you're interested."

"I don't understand," she whispered.

Fuzzy felt wildly uncomfortable as Kenji slipped an arm around her waist.

"C'mon girl, it's fine, don't be like that," he said, and projected his voice.

People turned to look at them and Fuzzy’s back stiffened and her fists balled up as she readied herself for a fight. His lips pressed against her ear as he whispered, outwardly projecting a greasy charm.

"So we're going to end this," he hissed, urgently, "When I'm done whispering you'll step away from me, hit me, then walk away scowling. When everyone asks what happened, tell them I grabbed your butt. I won't actually, but tell them anyway."

"Don't you dare touch my..." she began.

"Won't," he whispered again, more urgently, "But if you stay you're going to be expected to mingle and I don't think you can. So I'm your out. Help me set the story straight later and I'll owe you a favor."

Kenji had played himself off as forward with his flirting, even aggressive. Fuzzy looked confused and angry, which was absolutely true. Neither of them had been subtle about it so even more people were looking at them who called attention to others who began to look as well.

Before Fuzzy could agree or disagree, the hand that Kenji had been resting on her lower back dropped lower, but he didn't grab her as he promised. Still, her back stiffened in anger. Whatever his angle was, and she figured that he had one, she didn't like it. If people saw Kenji and thought that they could touch her like he pretended to do, then she absolutely needed to squash that right now. So if Kenji wanted to be hit, she would oblige him. Rat Man had taught her that if you ever needed to throw down with someone, win or lose, you make that person remember you the next time they try and fuck with you. So if he thought she was going to put up with any more of this bullshit, he'd think twice in the future. Him and everyone else who was watching.

So with strength that surprised even her, she reached back and did not slap Kenji like he expected, but punched him. Not in the arm or the shoulder or even the stomach. She punched him square in the face. The blow was perfect and it caught Kenji completely off guard and his eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she connected. There was a smacking sound as she drilled her fist into his face. His head snapped back and he was flung to the ground. He wasn't out, but he was definitely hurt.

The people that had been looking at them now stared. There was a chorus of "Ooohs" and "Ouches" and "What happened's" and more than a few laughs at tonight's "entertainment". Not knowing what else to do she picked a direction and walked away.

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